books
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Holiday Gift Ideas: Edward Gorey
Speaking of tragedy, is it just me or was there an Edward Gorey phase around twenty years ago that has since died down? Too bad if that’s true: he’s one of America’s dark little treasures. Maybe go with this one for that lurid lady or macabre man in your life: Or this little stocking stuffer: Amphigorey:… Continue reading
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Restless Mind Show #7 – Literature and Loneliness
On the eve of a holiday, author and host of the History of Literature podcast Jacke Wilson considers the consolations that total immersion in literature can provide. Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 28:29 — 19.9MB) Subscribe: iTunes | Android | RSS | More Subscribe Options Continue reading
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Sappho’s Ghost in Western Washington
Hello! We’re hard at work getting ready for the Sappho episode of the History of Literature podcast, which we’ll release on Monday. Brilliant reader MAM posted this comment: Did you know that Sappho influenced the name of what is now a ghost town in Western Washington in the late 1800’s? Whaaaaaat!? There was a community… Continue reading
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On Protecting the Creative Process
Brilliant Reader (and hard-at-work novelist) CH considers our offer to share her first line and responds: Although I’ve decided not to share my opening sentence here, I’m grateful for your post, Jacke. 18 K-plus words later, I honestly couldn’t remember what my first sentence was. Today was one of those days when I wondered if… Continue reading
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Sneak Preview: Abandoning a Goddess
Dear Readers and Listeners, It’s a heavy-hearted weekend for the world. All of our very best wishes for peace, love, and safety to our friends in Paris. Let’s hope we somehow learn to end the madness of hatred and violence. This week on the History of Literature Podcast, we’ll take a deeper look at the… Continue reading
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The Restless Mind Show 5 – Gar Discovers a Lost Recording of Walt Whitman!
Gar finds a lost recording of Walt Whitman reading his own poetry! Plus: Author Jacke Wilson gives an update on the Greatest First Lines contest. Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 29:27 — 20.5MB) Subscribe: iTunes | Android | RSS | More Subscribe Options Continue reading
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Well Now, This Changes Everything…
It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man of Good Fortune must be in want to go. –Google Voice, attempting to transcribe the first line of what it believes to be “Pride and Prejudice: Fight in Action” [known to human beings as “Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen”] (And yes, this means I’m enjoying listening… Continue reading
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Calling All NaNoWriMoers! Tell Us Your First Line and Win a Free Book!
Don’t cross the streams! Don’t cross the streams! Well, guess what? [waiting] I’m crossing the streams! What are these streams? First: the fabulous contest we’re running on the best opening sentences ever. You can still enter that one if you want. And second: our full-throated support for National Novel Writing Month, aka NaNoWriMo. We renewed our… Continue reading
Jacke Wilson 