Book of the Month

Shuts and Failures

by Michael Maiello

Michael Wolraich's picture

Blowing Smoke in Washington DC: Tuesday, Nov 9 at Borders Bookstore

by Michael Wolraich 11/8/2010 - 5:11 pm   |

Dear DC-area readers,

Please join me at Borders at 18th and L at 6:30pm Tuesday, November 9th for a reading from Blowing Smoke: Why the Right Keeps Serving Up Whack-Job Fantasies about the Plot to Euthanize Grandma, Outlaw Christmas, and Turn Junior into a Raging Homosexual.

If you don't live in the area but know people who do, please recommend the reading to them. It will be a big help, as it's always a challenge for first-time authors to fill the room and spread the word.

Here is a link to the main event: http://www.borders.com/online/store/EventView?selectedStoreId=10597&even...

And here is the Facebook event page for easy friend-sharing: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=153319998043302

I hope to see some of you there. Thanks for the support.

Regards,

Michael aka Genghis

I have called my friends in DC, and hope they will be there for you. Now come on down to Charlottevile, VA and you'll get a roomful!
by CVille Dem 11/8/2010 - 8:45 pm

Thanks, CVille! I would like to come down to Charlottesville, but as yet, my publisher isn't springing for much of a book tour.

by Michael Wolraich 11/8/2010 - 10:39 pm (re: CVille Dem)

By Metro, looks like Farragut North on the Red line or Farragut West on the Blue/Orange line.

by Donal 11/9/2010 - 12:17 am

Yes, 1 block from Farragut North on red line, 2 blocks from Farragut West.  I emailed Genghis that I am majorly bummed about not being able to be there tonight.  We are in homework hell with our kids and I am needed at home.  Really wanted to meet Genghis, Jan, and any other daggers who will be there! I have bought a copy of Blowing Smoke and am very much looking forward to reading it soon--it's 1 or 2 slots away from my on-deck reading circle now.  I'm contacting folks I know locally who might be interested and letting them know that I am personally guaranteeing laughs and an entertaining evening if they go!

by AmericanDreamer 11/9/2010 - 11:19 am (re: Donal)

Laughs and entertainment? That's pressure. Thanks for spreading the word. I'm sorry to miss you.

by Michael Wolraich 11/9/2010 - 11:49 am (re: AmericanDreamer)

Oh, I get the sense that laughs and entertainment come naturally for you, genghis.  I don't think you could avoid being funny if you tried!

by AmericanDreamer 11/9/2010 - 11:52 am (re: Genghis)

It's only in DC denizens best interest to attend.

Like let's say you're a landlord that rents to House members, or a waitress in a restaurant that caters to the same. Doncha wanna know more about what you're in for with some of those newcomers to town? Surprised

by artappraiser 11/9/2010 - 2:12 am

I like the marketing creativity there.  We need to sign you up to go to work for the Democrats!

by AmericanDreamer 11/9/2010 - 11:54 am (re: artappraiser)

Mike, The Elliot Bay BookStore is our oldest independent book seller and they do schedule readings all the time, and often promote the type of book you've written. I go to many readings there. I love it, it is one of my favorite past times.  Maybe, just maybe you can promote your book in liberal Seattle! So talk to your agent, I mean we really are liberal readers out here, for a small city we have a big book market.

by tmccarthy0 11/9/2010 - 3:16 pm

Thanks, Tmc. I love Seattle and would be delighted to go there for a reading, but public readings are apparently not a cost-efficient way to promote new authors. I'm fortunate to be able to do the readings in NYC and DC. My publisher has been focusing on bookstore placement and radio promotion instead. If the book really takes off, then a national tour could be possible, and then I'm sure that Seattle would be on the list.

by Michael Wolraich 11/9/2010 - 3:26 pm (re: tmccarthy0)

It is purely selfish on my part of course! Once we get that teleport equipment working it will be easier to do get here to read. :D

by tmccarthy0 11/9/2010 - 3:46 pm (re: Genghis)

I was there a few summers ago and you're right--that's a terrific book store and Seattle is a really good bookstore city, especially considering its size.  Is Elliot's holding its own against the online book challenge? 

We've lost at least four independent bookstores in downtown DC in the last several years. 

Politics and Prose, in northwest DC a ways away from downtown, is awesome.  They have readings almost every night and more than one some days.  I get there when I can, maybe 3 or 4 times a year.  Some of them have been televised on C-SPAN.  One of the co-owners and co-founders died recently.  Am crossing my fingers hoping they choose her replacement well.  Smaller but also excellent Kramerbooks & Afterwards seems to be holding its own, in the DuPont Circle area adjacent to the main part of the downtown business district.   

by AmericanDreamer 11/9/2010 - 3:34 pm (re: tmccarthy0)

Elliot Bay Books had to move from Pioneer Square after being there for 8 millions years or so, up to Capital Hill, they got a better deal of course and booksellers always struggle with their bottom line. We still have several around here, Elliot Bay of course, University Bookstore, giant and by far the best one here and Powells in Portland, Oregon, and of course a few smaller local ones like Seattle's Mystery Bookstore, Belltown, I love that place, they have lots of readings too, we are a reading city. So we are lucky that way, so far. I am always glad to see independent book sellers stay in business.

by tmccarthy0 11/9/2010 - 3:51 pm (re: AmericanDreamer)

Too expensive to make the jaunt. Let me know when you hit the European circuit.

by Beetlejuice 11/9/2010 - 9:22 pm

Latest Comments

more