Perspective

It's hot.

Pretty much everywhere you go, except the southern hemisphere where it's currently winter -- let me go check my geography and meteorology lessons :-)

Today is the 200th day of the year. 165 days to go in 2005. We still have many days left of summer. Remember how exciting it used to be, when in elementary school, looking forward to summer break?

So... just to put things in perspective... on a hot summer day like today... in NYC, in Detroit, in L.A., in Houston, in Atlanta, in Chicago, where I know it's HOT... I hope you're making the most of the day today.

That you're having the summer you want to have. Making some memories that will keep you warm and entertained when the weather gets like the photos listed above. Living summer like you're 21 again...

And if you're not... it's not too late to "Say Something" or "Make It Happen" (aka Mariah lyrics...)

So... what you gonna do? :-)
fs

P.S. I'm having a fabulous summer, by the way. Creating some GREAT memories and FUN stories that my friends and I will share forever...

Feedback

I appreciate and value feedback.

Always have. I guess that's why I was always a teacher's pet, or an employee/colleague people tend to enjoy working with. I listen to feedback, both good and constructive, and decide what to use for future use. I'm secure about receiving feedback. Never defensive. Don't take things personally. (Don't like it when someone talks to me like I'm 5-years-old, but can handle those situations when they happen) Because I know it's the "work" that's being feedbacked, not my existence as a human being. I know some people have different views on feedback, take it in different ways, and I appreciate that.

I know that for every book, every movie, every television show, and every piece of art produced, there will be a million different ways the work is perceived. Two people can see the same thing/incident, and have two different stories to tell about it. That's a given. And that's the beauty of the human experience. One thing can be perceived in different ways... and all those perceptions can be "right" based on whatever has influenced the perceiver's point of view.

Got that. Cool. Fine. Dandy.

I like and appreciate reviews. Both good and constructive ones. It helps me see what people perceive about a piece of work... and hopefully, how that work is resonating in their life. Hopefully, the reviewer is thinking about how that work may or may not have meaning in their life, and explains in very thorough ways how that connect or disconnect happens for them personally.

And it also makes me wonder about where feedbackers and reviewers come from.

Are they closet writers, singers, artists, performers... and their work has never been published, recorded, displayed, or contracted for performance? Are they happy or unhappy with the state of their finished or unfinished work? How do their particular life experiences with race, class, weight and gender issues shape how they view work by people perceived to be like them or different from them? Are their views shaped by larger, political issues such as writing a positive review about one writer, singer, artist, performer so that the awards selection committee they serve on will reward with an award? Or do they snark at a work because they realize reviews can make or break others' perceptions, and they just don't want a work to succeed?

Just something I'm wondering about lately on the subject of feedback. What do you think?
fs

LGBT Book Fair, Los Angeles

More than 20 leading LGBT authors and four bookstores will participate in what is believed to be the first-ever LGBT book fair in Los Angeles this Saturday, July 23 from 10 am - 4 pm at the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center's Village at Ed Gould Plaza, 1125 N. McCadden Pl., Los Angeles.

At this free event, authors will be on hand to discuss and autograph their books which will be available onsight through exhibiting bookstores, and most will participate in lively and interactive panel discussions throughout the day.

These are some of the panels that will be offered throughout the day:

11-11:45 am
"Telling Our Stories: The Evolution and Importance of Gay Narrative," facilitated by Felice Picano

11:45 am - 12:30 pm
"The L Word: Lesbian Culture, Humor, Sexuality in the 21st Century," facilitated by Terry DeCrescenzo

12:30 - 1:15 pm
"Gay or... Race, Sexuality, and Identity: Colorful Authors Speak Out," facilitated by Noel Alumit (I will be participating on this panel)

1:15 - 2 pm
"Sexing the Word: Poetry and Erotic Poetry," facilitated by Keeter Scott

2 - 2:45 pm
"The Hard Truth: The Role of Books in Addressing Issues Facing te LGBT Community," facilitated by Karen Ocamb

2:45 - 3:30 pm
"The Killing Kind: Gay Mystery Writers Talk About Their Craft," facilitated by Hal Bodner

3:30 - 4:15 pm
"How to Get a Literary Agent," facilitated by Ken Sherman

For updated list of participants and panels, please visit the LA Gay and Lesbian Center website (www.laglc.org)

Where Have You Found Yourself Lately?

I been a lot of places, seen a lot of faces... aww he... OK. Enough of the Lil Kim lyrics. One of my faves on the dance floor from back in the day.

But I am finding myself in some really cool places via my addiction to Google-ing myself every now and then... and various links and stories/reviews I'm finding. If you're in L.A., the latest iN Los Angeles weekly has an article about me that I have yet to read... but have heard about. Cool. Someone sent me this story featuring a short review on Down For Whatever, which was nice. And Rashid... love this entry comparing some of us to characters in Kill Bill. If you find stuff, please send it my way.

The other places I've been spending a lot of time in is independent and chain book stores. Mostly to do readings... or to visit the booksellers and sign whatever books they have in stock. It's been interesting the places I've found my book. Some have it on that front table, right when you walk in, featuring the newest paperback releases. Some have it tucked in LGBT areas. None have it in the small spaces set aside for books by or about Latinos. One store had it in with the fiction and literature section. Period. I've found it mostly in the African American section of bookstores.

But it's interesting to see how different stores decide to categorize my book. It's got gay folks, black folks, and latinos. It's an L.A. story.

I don't know how I feel about how books are categorized, but I'm wondering if books get a fair shake if the book is placed somewhere and no one in the store has read it. Or, if when you're book shopping, if you go to certain section first and then elsewhere? Or do you just stop at the front tables and don't explore further.

I'm realizing there are a ton of books released all the time. It's hard to find some. It's easy to find others. But I know the places books are put... or the places in bookstores customers are willing to search can make or break any book.

Don't know if I'm making any sense. But it's just something I'm thinking about regarding the book selling industry.
fs

Castro

San Francisco has some really fun places to hang and have a cocktail... any time of the day. I'm staying with my buddy Matt in the Castro District, where fun is just a doorstep away. As soon as I leave this $800 a minute internet cafe, I'm on my way to have some afternoon libations with friends. Probably my last time in San Fran for a minute... Matt's giving up his Castro apartment for a larger condo in San Jose. Progress.

What'll it be today? Margaritas? Cape Cods? A light Pilsner? Been writing/revising the second novel most of the day... ready for some Castro happy hour fun.

And your weekend plans? Be down. Be safe. Be good. Be bad. :-)
fs

Restored

OK. My faith is restored in doing readings and events. My blahs from yesterday are a thing of the past. Had the best time with the Guy Writers group in San Francisco at the SF LGBT Center. These guys are regular everyday people who get together to share their writing and progress with each other.

I was the featured reader for their monthly social. Great turnout and great questions and great material from the various members. One name to look out for: Miles Murch. His excerpt from a novel he's just completed had me rolling on the floor laughing my butt off. It was great. He's a great personality. And I'm convinced that he'll be picked up and published in no time soon.

Anyway, it's still hot in San Francisco. Feels very SoCali today. Feeling restored and ready for a hot weekend... and a fun party in Oakland tomorrow afternoon... a friend of Rashid's.
fs

San Fran... Again

At one of those $800 a minute internet cafes in San Francisco. The Castro District. So this'll be quick.

Great events at Books Inc on Market Street... and Alexander Books on 2nd Street. Small crowds, but very interested and energetic crowds. Great questions. And book buyers. Each person bought multiple copies. Which of course is a good thing. Saw cool friends from my past... Sara, Faith, Ryan, Merve, Bernard, Kurt... so cool for the support of new and old friends.

Been thinking a lot about this "on the road" thing as it relates to book promotion. More on that later. Unless you're Jackie Collins or like Terry McMillan (who's doing a reading at Laney College in Oakland on Saturday afternoon), getting a crowd of a dozen or more at a bookstore reading is a lot of work. Community organizations and literary panels at book fairs are the way to go. But who knows. I stay grounded in knowing I'm new, but that people are reading, and e-mailing me good things about reading the book. That's cool.

San Fran is hot this week. It's never really over 70 degrees here, but this week pushing 80 and sometimes 90.

More later. Hope you're cool!
fs

Equal Writes

Thank you to Dan and the staff at Equal Writes Bookstore in Long Beach, CA., for putting together a great space. On Saturday, I read, discussed, and signed copies of Down For Whatever. Great crowd. About a dozen people. Some had read the book already and were ready for a book club discussion. Others hadn't read it, but picked it up. Either way, it was really exciting to be with people who were engaged in the subjects that came up that evening.

And it goes to show the power of media... even just a little media exposure. All the folks who attended saw my big old face in an article in The Blade, a monthly LGBT magazine, in Orange County. And that's how they decided to come.Kinda cool. Dan, the owner of Equal Writes, went out of his way to make sure the event was a success. Thanks!
fs

P.S. And to that cute young couple I met at the end of the event... C & S... I hope you explore your educational options. Realize you do have options and choices... and hopefully you won't make the one that will send you to Iraq.