Thank you!

The author's analogy at the end is a little crass, but otherwise, agreed!

"The problem, rather, is the patterns that emerge when you consider the film as a whole. One subplot about an older man wooing a much-younger subordinate? Fine. But three? And on it goes: not one, but two gags (three, if you count the Colin subplot) about how the only possible way a man could overcome heartbreak is with the assistance of one or more supermodels; two storylines in which women (never men) see their romantic lives shattered by obstacles that ought to be surmountable; and, most important, upwards of half a dozen subplots in which characters go directly from initial physical infatuation to (presumed) happily-ever-afters, without remotely bothering to get to know one another in between. These repeated themes are not coincidental."

And from his original article: "it is emphatically, almost shockingly, anti-romantic."

- Cranketrice

In memoriam

I hadn't heard of the passing of Lindy Hess till the other day, when the Columbia Publishing Course announced an upcoming memorial for her. I'm sad I can't be in New York on that day to honor her, but I thought I could at least share this on All Souls' Day.

- L'Editrice

Yes!

So spot on. ". . . [M]oney is also how our culture defines value, and being told that what you do is of no ($0.00) value to the society you live in is, frankly, demoralizing. Even sort of insulting. . . . [But] Oh, dammit, I thought. I knew then I was going to do the talk. And after all, they were student social workers, who were never going to make much money either because they’d chosen to go into the business, which our society also deems worthless, of trying to help people"

- L'Editrice

Be on the lookout for . . . Smelly Baby!

Amazing news! 

"Christy Ottaviano of Christy Ottaviano Books at Henry Holt has acquired Smelly Baby, a picture book debut by Betsy Devany to be illustrated by Christopher Denise. Everybody thinks Smelly Baby is gross, but she is beloved by Lucy. No one understands how amazing Smelly Baby is – or so Lucy thinks until Smelly Baby is ripped from the family car. Publication is scheduled for spring 2016; Emily van Beek at Folio Literary Management did the deal on behalf of both Devany and Denise."

Congratulations, Betsy! No one deserves this more than you. Can't wait to hear about your next deal(s!).

- L'Editrice

In this case, judging a book by its cover is quite appropriate

How gorgeous is this cover?! The story inside is just as spectacular, which you'll find out when you read Sharon Biggs Waller's A Mad, Wicked Folly when it comes out January 23rd (start the impatient countdown now) . . . Which, appropriately, is right when we Americans will be delving back into "Downton Abbey" (season 4 starts January 5) and, as I think I mentioned before, this book has so many parallels it will fulfill all your cravings for that time period and setting.

This would also be an amazing tale to listen to, and wouldn't you know it, the recording of the audio book is starting next month! Congratulations, Sharon!

(I don't know if this is coincidence or fate or what, but the book Amazon says customers of AMWF also bought is . . . How My Summer Went Up in Flames, by Jennifer Salvato Doktorski--which is another book I edited! I am so proud of my authors, and feeling pretty blessed by the universe right now.)

- L'Editrice

So-Called Life, For-Real Awesomeness

I am so jealous of my friend and former college colleague Posh Deluxe! And thrilled to learn about the ATX TV Fest.

- L'Editrice

It's June . . .

. . . so naturally I'm thinking of Halloween costumes.

Here are my current contenders:
- Jenny Lewis
- The Morton Salt Girl
- Madeline
- Amelia Earhart
- Miss Frizzle
- a pastel goth or Day of the Dead gal
- Amelia Bedlia
- Hello Kitty
- Daria
- a Downton Abbey-ist
- a suffragette
- Little Red Riding Hood

Five months ahead,
L'Editrice

Best. Show. Ever. + Redhead Pride

I agree with every sentiment in this article. 

Especially this one: "Random Notebook Dump: Between Jenny Lewis and the hot xylophone player, I have never wanted to be a redhead so badly. And I pretty much wish I were a redhead every day."

I am a redhead, and it made me want to be Jenny Lewis herself--or at least emulate her style exactly.

- L'Editrice

Yet another!

Look who won the 2013 IndieReader Discovery Award in Photography! That's right: Rice's Owls.

Wowled (that's "wowed" + "owl"),
L'Editrice

"It's about time my characters met."

In celebration of the publication of her first book, How My Summer Went Up in Flames, Jennifer Salvato Doktorski has done the coolest thing: created a conversation between the protagonist of that book and the protagonist of her upcoming second one, Famous Last Words.

It was so wonderful working on both of these--along with Rekha on HMSWUIF. And I feel like such a lucky insider to have already read the first 50 pages of Jen's next manuscript. (Spoiler alert: It's another winner!)

Congratulations, Jen!

- L'Editrice

RICE'S OWLS continues to sweep the awards

- First Place, Anderbo Publishing: "Best Self-Published Book of the Year" 

- First Place, San Francisco Book Festival: Arts/Photography

- Runner-Up/Second Place, Paris Book Festival: Arts/Photography

- Honorable Mention, New England Book Festival: Photography/Art 

- Honorable Mention, Green Book Festival: Animals

- Finalist, International Book Awards: Photogaphy, Nature

Congratulations, Robert! (And I'm pretty proud to be listed on Amazon as the publisher.)

- L'Editrice 

An unforgettable book

Look what I got in the mail today! Miranda has written yet another showstopper, and Rekha and I are so honored to have played a small part in it.

Pick up a copy of your own, peeps!

- L'Editrice

Astro-dreams

I couldn't care less about sports, but I don't like history/important architecture to be torn down, especially when Houston is already guilty of scrapping so much of its history for new buildings and parking lots. And, hey, it is a part of my childhood--we went to the rodeo there, the circus, and the one and only baseball game I have ever attended.

I love the park idea! Keep Mid-Century Modern alive.

- L'Editrice

An actual email exchange with my mother-in-law. (Names obscured to protect to the innocent and not-so innocent)

 

5/13/13, evening

From: MIL

To: Me; Family-Acquaintance-who-happens-to-work-at-the-same-place-as-Mr.-L'Editrice-and-thus-has-the-same-email-extension; BIL; BIL's girlfriend

Subject: Heiiko

 

Hellos from south each Oridaf

[Photo of in-laws attached]

 

(Translation: Hello from South Beach, Florida.)

 

 

5/13/13, evening

From: Me

To: MIL; Family-Acquaintance-who-happens-to-work-at-the-same-place-as-Mr.-L'Editrice-and-thus-has-the-same-email-extension; BIL; BIL's girlfriend

Subject: Re: Heiiko

 

Good drinks there, huh? : P

 

 

5/13/13, evening

From: MIL

To: Me

Cc: Family-Acquaintance-who-happens-to-work-at-the-same-place-as-Mr.-L'Editrice-and-thus-has-the-same-email-extension; BIL; BIL's girlfriend

Subject: Re: Heiiko

 

The old gin Angela Toni

Love u
Sent from my iPhone

 

(Translation: The old gin and tonic.)

 

 

5/13/13, evening

From: Me

To: MIL; BIL; BIL's girlfriend

Subject: Re: Heiiko

Ha, and you know you sent this to Family Acquaintance instead of Mr. L'Editrice . . . : ) [Which I'd only realized right as I hit "send" with my first reply.] I took Family Acquaintance off the chain now.

 

 

5/14/13, 7:47 am EST

From: MIL

To: Me

Subject: Re: Heiiko

 

Thank you for catching it i guess it was too dark to send email
Love

MIL
Sent from my iPhone

To add to my Netflix queue

I know re-posting is kind of a lame way to get back into the blog after several months away, but I've been very movie-inspired lately, so that's my excuse.

Here are some documentaries to add to my super-long "to-watch" list. I have only seen The Education of Shelby Knox, Hands on a Hardbody, Mariachi High, and Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room out of all of them, so I have a lot of viewing to do. And I don't think I've seen any of these final 10.

- L'Editrice