Update: BookExpo, Patricia Wood -- The Orange Prize, WP Openings & William Lobdell

by Kanani Fong

You know the quality of something is to be questioned when they let The Writerly Pause have press credentials, or if their website is so crammed full of "gee whiz" technology that it sends all browsers into a tailspin. Thus is the tale of Book Expo America 2008 as it rolls into Los Angeles with the newest in publishing news and books. I'll be there on Wednesday, to report on the good, the bad, and wallow in the mediocre. This writer is hoping for some pretty good swag, or she's so outta there.

Image stolen from the Orange Broadband Prize for Fiction

While The Writerly Pause appreciates the austere image of our friend Patricia Wood's book Lottery on the official Orange Broadband Prize For Literature (UK), we much prefer the one by us posted here on this blog, prior to her getting all fancy on us and being shortlisted for this prestigious literature prize. We're very happy for Patricia, and to all her naysayers all we have to say is, "We told you so." While you can read the "celebrity" review on the Orange Prize website by Matthew Rhys you can also take the quick and dirty route and just watch the remix we did last year.

A natural pairing for us: literature & books

This afternoon, after our usual "Grit and Crit" at the Pasadena Public Library, we went to Islands for something to eat. On a whim, we called Patricia, who was either on her boat in Hawaii, in England, Scotland, France or Germany. What can I say? Five writers, five scenarios.

Upcoming will be an interview I did with John Robison that I was holding for the "June" paperback release of his book "Look Me In The Eye." This has been pushed back until September, so we'll release it sooner.

Heads up (or about friggen time): Long time LA Times journalist and closet novelist William Lobdell has a book coming via Harper Collins. It's a memoir, "Losing My Religion: How I Lost My Faith While Reporting on Religion in America." William covered religion for six years for the LA Times. His research and writing during this time profoundly changed his life. I took a novel class with William at UCLA, and his writing always stood out. I'm pleased he's having this success.

Are you in the final stages of a novel or memoir? Have you taken writing classes? We have openings for our Grit and Crit sessions at the Pasadena Library.
Please submit a sample of your work to ninewriters@gmail.com, along with information about who you are and why we should't be afraid of you.