The fine fellows at Booked Podcast, Robb Olson and Livius Nedin invited me over to discuss the reissue of Chuck Palahniuk’s Invisible Monsters. Here’s a bit from the episode description:

Booked reviews Invisible Monsters REMIX by Chuck Palahniuk, with special guest host Caleb J. Ross. It’s more of a book discussion than a review this episode, since this is not technically a new-new book, and there’s a good chance that lots of people listening will have already read it. So we talked a bit about the book, Palahniuk, and (of course) felching. As you do when you talk about Invisible Monsters.

Click here to listen to the latest Booked Podcast episode, featuring Caleb J. Ross.

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Though this episode is actually part of Tanzer’s (and CCLaP’s) New York Stories virtual blog tour, I recorded it originally as part of the 99 Problems book relase tour a year or so ago. Unfortunately, my participation in that tour  never materialized. I don’t remember why, but it was probably my fault.

Also, please pardon the technical issues with this episode. My recording software malfunctioned at the last minute,  forcing a less than optimal work-around. Also, the buffering audio may give the impression that I am either  interrupting Mr. Ben Tanzer or reacting inappropriately to his comments. Simply put, I couldn’t hear him all the  time. Luckily, Ben is such a well-spoken man that the less I talk, honestly, the better.

Follow along if you wish (though it’s not necessary)

• Comment 1
• Comment 2, part 1; comment 2, part 2
• Comment 3

Like Ben Tanzer? Be sure to check out the limited, handmade New York Stories book from CCLaP. Also, for this part of the tour, the price has been knocked down from $75 to $50. Not a bad deal at all.

Be sure to check out the rest of the Ben Tanzer virtual blog tour stops:

• Friday, 6/15: Mourning Goats
• Monday, 6/18: Caleb J. Ross
• Tuesday, 6/19: Patricia Ann McNair
• Wednesday, 6/20: Pete Anderson
• Thursday, 6/21: Burrow Press
• Friday, 6/22: Baby Got Books
• Monday, 6/25: Mel Bosworth
• Tuesday, 6/26: Ryan Bradley
• Wednesday, 6/27: Curbside Splendor
• Thursday, 6/28: Cort Bledsoe
• Friday, 6/29: Another Chicago Magazine
• Monday, 7/2: The Next Best Book Blog
• Tuesday, 7/3: Dead End Follies
• Wednesday, 7/4: WordPlaySound
• Thursday, 7/5: Artifice Magazine

Visit Ben Tanzer
Visit The Chicago Center for Literature and Photography

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The version linked here contains a few sound effects as well.

A lot of my fiction deals with what I call domestic grotesque situations. None are perhaps more fitting to this term than “Click-Clack.” If you like it, pick up more of my fiction, specifically my two story collections Charactered Pieces and Mumurs: Gathered Stories Vol. One.

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The fellows over at Booked Podcast are gents in the truest sense of the word. By that I mean they are whimsical placcards on the bathroom doors of bar restrooms. Also, they happen to be amazingly active participants in the podcast and reading communities, so much so that they are dedicating many future episodes of their podcast to live readings as recorded during the 2012 AWP Conference in Chicago, IL.

Though my reading, done at The Meshuggah Cafe in St. Louis on February 28th, wasn’t officially part of the AWP Conference (which started February 29th in Chicago), the entire week blends for me into a single mess of drink, friends, and drunk friends.

This recording captures the first time I had read “The Lipidopterist” out loud in front of an audience. All-in-all, I think it worked.

Have a listen, then check out Booked Podcast for more. Be sure to subscribe to the podcast so you will never miss an episode.

Lastly, head over to Amazon to buy “The Lipidopterist,” why doncha? It’s even available for FREE if you have that Amazon Prime thing.

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November is NaNoWriMo. December is UhOhWriLess.

November 19, 2011 8:18 pm via HootSuiteReplyRetweetFavorite

@calebjross

Caleb J Ross

NaNoWriMo is a month-long event in which writers of all experience levels attempt to write a 50,000 word novel during the month of November. Sounds good, right? There is a sense of accomplishment for accomplishment’s sake with vomiting so many words, with setting and meeting a goal. However, I’m not so couch-therapy optimistic about it.

Send any comments on this episode, or any writing and publishing related questions to caleb [at] calebjross.com. I will answer them in a future episode.

Show Notes and Mentions

• National Novel Writing Month official website
• Follow comedian Doug Wilson at @idigthedoug

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Seriously, no Foursquare check-in at this funeral?!

November 17, 2011 12:03 am via HootSuiteReplyRetweetFavorite

@calebjross

Caleb J Ross

I’ll start by saying that the recording for this episode cut off prematurely due to dying batteries. I was going to re-record, but the considering the content of the episode, dying off seems especially relevant.

Though short, I think this episode addresses some important ideas. What happens to our work when we die? And, more importantly, should we even care? How much should we try to control our future reputation?

These questions, and more, will be asked in this episode (but will not be answered; see paragraph one above).

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Twitter is like looking for constellations; in the morning, i’ll regret having stayed up late to experience it.

February 23, 2011 1:33 am via TweetDeckReplyRetweetFavorite

@calebjross

Caleb J Ross

What good is Twitter, really? How do authors use it? How should authors use it? How can readers use it? How can readers and authors use it together? How many more questions can I type here that essentially ask the same thing? In this episode I talk about how I, as an author and reader, use Twitter. But most importantly, I address its limitations. Enjoy.

Send any writing and publishing related questions to caleb [at] calebjross.com. I will answer them in a future episode.

Show Notes and Mentions:

• Yes, again, Jane Friedman teaches at the University of Cincinnati. Twitter handle: @JaneFriedman
• Personal examples of professional success using Twitter:
• Invited to contribute a story to a Rainstorm Press horror anthology
• Live tweeting at literary events such as the reading at Czar bar in Kansas City and the social media panel at AWP in 2011.
• Many bloggers and authors have contacted me via Twitter about doing guests posts for my blog tour: The Stranger Will Tour for Strange
• Summary:

1. Chances are, nobody is listening on Twitter anyway
2. The best way to get people to listen to you is to be honest. Leave the sales pitch at the door.
3. Use Twitter as a notebook or mini-workshop
4. Cultivate your own personal PR department
5. Engage with the reading community even before you have a book deal. Read Christina Katz’s Get Known Before the Book Deal.

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Virginia Woolf was an advocate of a writer having a dedicated place to write, as examined in her famous essay “A Room of One’s Own.” I know, the essay speaks specifically to women and how their treatment as lesser citizens prevented them from potential as serious writers. Hence, having the financial and social freedom afforded (or perhaps implied) by having a room of one’s own would be what makes the writer as woman a more accepted presence in the world of books. But me, I just read the title of the essay and have taken from it what I want.

Most writers would agree a dedicated writing space is important. But is it really? Is there something to be said about the paralyzing effect that comes with such a freedom? Is the wish of a dedicated room just an excuse some writers use to explain lack of productivity?

Show Notes and Mentions:

• Rainstorm Press
• Paris and the Hiltons
• LitReactor
• My blog tour: The Stranger Will Tour for Strange
• Send any writing and publishing related questions to caleb [at] calebjross.com
• Watch the new Stranger Will promo video here: Caleb J. Ross Answers Reader Questions about his novel Stranger Will

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A few days ago I had the pleasure of being the first writer to participate in the 2011-12 ESU Visiting Writers Series. This was an enormous honor for me, as my time at ESU, those many years ago, was a formative (and formidable) time in my life both as a writer and as a person. Unfortunately, those times did not serve my tech savvy side well, as I failed to change the batteries in my audio recorder and thus came away with only the first 15 minutes of the 2 hour presentation. Oh well, hopefully ESU will invite me back soon.

This episode contains a reading of a couple of stories I’ve read before. But it’s worth checking out this new episode if only for the immensely humbling introduction from my ESU professor, Amy Sage Webb.

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That blog post title, she jests. In fact, this episode contains a few minutes of me talking to myself in preparation for being a good influence at ESU. ESU approached me a few weeks ago to be the first of their authors to participate in the Fall 2011 Visiting Writers Series. I was and still am honored.

Click the download button above to hear me fill some time in my car alone with a few words about the then upcoming reading.

Show Notes and Mentions:

• Ron Carlson
• Dorthy Allison
• Peter Rock
• Yes, Jane Friedman teaches at the University of Cincinnati
• Here is the link to my interview with Jane at the 2011 AWP conference

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photo credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lifeontheedge/

Way back in June 2011 when I started this podcast, my goal was to post a new episode each week. For those of you who look forward to weekly episodes I apologize for the absence as of late. I have good reason. But I’ll be back soon enough.

So, what the hell have I been up to?

• Submitting my final I Didn’t Mean to be Kevin edits before submitting the final manuscript to Black Coffee Press
• Completing a 6,000 word short story for an upcoming fake biography of the band Paris and the Hiltons
• Completing a 3,000 word short story for an upcoming horror anthology
• Completing a 3,000 word short story for a Sri Lanka literary publication
• Starting a 25,000 word novella for a top secret project. More details to come when I’m given permission to spill the beans.
• My wife and I just bought a house and are in the process of moving. Moving sucks.

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I’ve noticed that this podcast is slowly becoming less a weekly self-discussion platform for me to ramble on about crap and more a database where I can store audio snippets of my various non-self-discussion rambling ons about crap. You’re welcome.

With that in mind, this “episode” is a recording of a live reading at Czar Bar in Kansas City, MO on August 7th. The event was a huge load of fun. The roster consisted of myself, Brandon Tietz, Michael Gomez (as the emcee), DJ Preston, and the always amazing Jesus Angel Garcia. You’ll love this “episode,” quotes and all.

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How do authors prepare for live readings? What is the draw of a live reading? In this episode I talk about how I approach live readings, set within the context of my upcoming reading in Kansas City with authors Brandon Tietz and Jesus Angel Garcia. Spoiler alert: I agree with you, live author readings tend to be kinda boring. And I agree with you too that the boring angle should be exiled.

Show notes and mentions:

• The Czar Bar reading with Brandon Tietz and Jesus Angel Garcia
• Jesus Angel Garcia’s nationwide book reading tour
• The Slap n’ Tickle gallery event

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They’ve got an enormous number of authors lined up, so please check back there often for more Warmed and Bound-ery.

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Yes, another episode about the role of the whore personality among the writer’s many bank of guises. This time, I approach the idea that perhaps an author shouldn’t take the largest advance offered to him. What does such a gesture mean in terms of the author’s career? When is it okay to take whatever money you’ve been given and run?

Show Notes and Mentions:

• Paris and the Hiltons, and project mastermind Phil Jourdan
• The other contributors: Gordon Highland, Richard Thomas, Michael Gonzalez, Brandon Tietz, and Michael Sonbert
• Denis Dutton, The Art Instinct: Beauty, Pleasure, and Human Evolution

photo credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/stuckincustoms/

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This week I talk about the necessary entrepreneurial spirit of the contemporary author. I know; “boooooooooo” you say. Me too. But the fact is that publishers, even (perhaps especially) independent and small press publishers are relying more and more on the marketing savvy of the author. Is this fair? Probably not. Is it the reality? Definitely yes.

Show Notes and Mentions:

• Ebooks: the latest frontier for spam (via The Guardian)
• E singles by Axel Taiari and Richard Thomas
• Broadcastr

Photo credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/rainerebert/

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Authors, you have to promote yourself. You can’t avoid it. But you can reinterpret what “promotion” means. Gone should be the negative connotations and skewed associations. Promotion should be embraced. At its core, promotion is simply a way to get readers to you books. As an author, you want people to read your books, right? No. Oh. Then go write a diary and quit muddying the waters for the rest of us!

Show Notes and Mentions:

• Outsider Writers Collective
• Goodreads.com / Redroom.com
• The Stranger Will Tour for Strange blog tour
• Listen to The Art and Authenticity of Social Media: Using Online Tools to Grow a Community (from the AWP Conference, February 2011)

photo credit: Chris Devers

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The post Episode 002: Attention, Author Promotion! One Night Only! appeared first on Caleb J Ross The World's First Author Blog. If you are reading this post anywhere else, please return to the original source when sharing.

Here I talk a bit about the importance of a writer to claim ownership of his/her location. Too many writers, especially newer writers, still equate capital-P Publishing with the East coast (in the US, anyway). The problem with limiting scope to the coast is that it doesn’t allow writers to understand their existing context. In fact, I would say that it takes a better writer to leech from barren landscape. Anyone can siphon material from a crowded city.

Show Notes:

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This episode zero is basically a kick-start to what I hope to be a long and mutually beneficial podcast series. You, the listener, maybe get a nice lull to sleep and I, the talking, get to pretend you are listening. Win win.

Take a quick listen. If you like, even a little, be sure to come back often for more.

Show Notes:

• I stole this podcast format from Mur Lafferty. Check out her I Should be Writing podcast.

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