grin and bare it
A blog by Matthew Dicks
Book clubs: A good use of my time? Or just plain fun?
As a first-time novelist, the publishing process is new to me, so I’m not quite sure what typical authors do to promote their books, communicate with readers, and make themselves available to the general public.…
Read MoreThe Dark Tower: A must read
The Guardian recently charged its readers to “stop sneering at fantasy readers,” arguing that fantasy and science fiction should no longer be considered the realm of the geek, the dork, and the socially awkward. “The…
Read MoreThe actual book!
A carton of books arrived at my home today. My book! Something Missing. The honest-to-goodness version of the book. The same that will be found in bookstores in two weeks. As required by my contract…
Read MoreOdd business combinations. Again.
In the spirit of odd but perhaps brilliant business combinations, The Spin Cycle Cafe in Newington is a laundromat/bar/restaurant. They advertise dry cleaning beside the lunch specials. Happy hour alongside wash-dry-fold. I almost wish I…
Read MoreProduct placement
In reading some of my Amazon reviews (I know I shouldn’t, but they’re still very good), I noticed that two people commented on the specificity to which I wrote about specific brand names in Something…
Read MoreWriter’s Digest feature
An article about me and my book, Something Missing, appears in the July/August issue of Writer’s Digest. It’s great. A full-page article that includes a photograph of me (27 pounds heavier than I am today)…
Read MoreOdd business combinations
I spent the evening at the Latchis Hotel in Brattleboro, Vermont, for a writing and booksellers’ conference. My publicist arranged the accommodations, so I was unfamiliar with the hotel when I arrived. According to its…
Read MorePride and Prejudice and Zombies!
I don’t often recommend books sight unseen, but I saw this book on the NY Times bestseller list (trade paperback) and couldn’t resist immediately purchasing it. It’s published by Quirk Books, which also sounds right…
Read MoreDrippy and syrupy and just plain inexplicable
Being a novelist and an English major, I truly believe that I love books just about as much as a person can, and while I hate to criticize the legitimacy of any written text, could…
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