http://www.thevelvetpodcast.com Readers and Writers from The Velvet, They Talk Sat, 04 Feb 2012 06:30:18 +0000 en-US hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4-beta4 Copyright © The Velvet Podcast 2011 caleb@calebjross.com (The Velvet Podcast) caleb@calebjross.com (The Velvet Podcast) 1440 http://www.thevelvetpodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/velvetpodcastlogo-mic.jpg http://www.thevelvetpodcast.com 144 144 Members of The Velvet reading and writing community come together for roundtable discussions about a variety of topics from visual art to music to movies and of course books, including writing, reading, and the publishing industry, all organically connect Members of The Velvet reading and writing community come together for roundtable discussions about a variety of topics from visual art to music to movies and of course books, including writing, reading, and the publishing industry, all organically connected by their visceral themes and darker tones. We don’t have a specific mission statement. I don’t think we need one. If someone should be on The Velvet, they’ll find their way. literature, reading, writing, noir, fiction, The, Velvet, velvet, noir The Velvet Podcast The Velvet Podcast caleb@calebjross.com no no Copyright © The Velvet Podcast 2011literature, reading, writing, noir, fiction, The, Velvet, velvet, noirArts/LiteratureArts/Visual ArtsArts http://www.thevelvetpodcast.com/audio/episode-018-does-being-a-writer-make-reading-unbearable/ http://www.thevelvetpodcast.com/audio/episode-018-does-being-a-writer-make-reading-unbearable/#comments Sat, 04 Feb 2012 06:30:18 +0000 Caleb J. Ross http://www.thevelvetpodcast.com/?p=272    Read More ...]]> http://www.thevelvetpodcast.com/audio/episode-018-does-being-a-writer-make-reading-unbearable/feed/ 0 0:58:32 Up-front apologies for the sound quality for the first 10 minutes of this episode. Though, don’t let this apology deter you from listening; Pablo’s lovely voice (and Caleb’s less lovely voice) still shine through. After the 10 minu[...] Up-front apologies for the sound quality for the first 10 minutes of this episode. Though, don’t let this apology deter you from listening; Pablo’s lovely voice (and Caleb’s less lovely voice) still shine through. After the 10 minute mark, everything becomes crystal clear(er). Caleb J. Ross and Pablo D’Stair discuss a recent tweet sent from @calebjross that speaks to the problem of authors and their reading habits, particularly about how being a writer tends to lessen the enjoyment of reading. Of course, part of the enjoyment that writers get from reading comes from the dissective act of reading, but what about when we just want to enjoy a damn story? Is it possible for a writer to be a passive reader? #bbpBox_158648828218707968 a { text-decoration:none; color:#009999; }#bbpBox_158648828218707968 a:hover { text-decoration:underline; }Being a writer tends to take a lot of the fun out of being a reader.January 15, 2012 8:36 pm via HootSuiteReplyRetweetFavorite@calebjrossCaleb J Ross Mentioned Pablo D’Stair’s crime flash fiction contest: www.outofbullets.wordpress.com Jose Saramago Knut Hamsun Albert Camus Lisa Zunshine Denis Dutton Bret Easton Ellis Stephen Graham Jones photo credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/chrsilee/ literature, reading, writing, noir, fiction, The, Velvet, velvet, noir caleb@calebjross.com no no http://www.thevelvetpodcast.com/audio/episode-017-flash-fiction-is-not-as-sexy-as-it-sounds/ http://www.thevelvetpodcast.com/audio/episode-017-flash-fiction-is-not-as-sexy-as-it-sounds/#comments Tue, 20 Dec 2011 17:44:23 +0000 Caleb J. Ross http://www.thevelvetpodcast.com/?p=264    Read More ...]]> http://www.thevelvetpodcast.com/audio/episode-017-flash-fiction-is-not-as-sexy-as-it-sounds/feed/ 0 0:47:01 Fresh off of his announcement of a contest in which he will challenge any writer of crime flash fiction in a monetarily-prized writing battle, Pablo D’Stair explores with Caleb J. Ross the impetus to his denouncement of the abbreviated medium and wh[...] Fresh off of his announcement of a contest in which he will challenge any writer of crime flash fiction in a monetarily-prized writing battle, Pablo D’Stair explores with Caleb J. Ross the impetus to his denouncement of the abbreviated medium and what exactly it is about the flash form that has elicited such a reaction. Caleb J. Ross (I Didn’t Mean to be Kevin, As a Machine and Parts) and Pablo D’Stair (they say the owl was a baker’s daughter: four existential noirs, you’re dead and i killed you: a conversational anthology of crime, noir, and murder) discuss the idea of flash fiction, particularly how it speaks to the writer’s ego, perhaps more than it does a reader’s interest. Here are a few bullet points to help you understand what this D’Stair contest is all about: 12-20 Crime/Noir authors (for details see the Challengers tab) will contribute Crime/Noir flash fiction pieces of their choosing to compile one collection. Pablo D’Stair will, in one consecutive 8 hour period, write a collection of approximate length (an equal number of stories, the lengths of which are up to D’Stair). This collection will be fully executed, from conception to finished product inside these 8 hours. NOTE: D’Stair is given one additional 2 hour period to make a run through to correct only superficial details such as typographical errors–no new material may be added, no material may be deleted or reworked These collections, labeled simply A and B, will be made available, free of charge, in nearly all e-reader formats, to any interested party for the duration of the contest time via Smashwords.  NOTE: Neither collection will in any way identify authorship of the individual stories, nor will there be any indication which collection is multi-author and which is single author. Readers will approach both collections and vote on them, blind. Readers will decide (1) which collection they prefer and (2) from that preferred collection will pick their three favorite pieces, numbering these in order of quality (#1 is best, #2 is second best, #3 is third best) Find out more about Pablo D’Stair at Blank Verse Dead and his flash fiction challenge at Out of Bullets, Throw the Gun. Find out more about Caleb J. Ross at The World’s First Author Blog. literature, reading, writing, noir, fiction, The, Velvet, velvet, noir caleb@calebjross.com no no http://www.thevelvetpodcast.com/full-episode-list/ http://www.thevelvetpodcast.com/full-episode-list/#comments Tue, 20 Dec 2011 05:46:54 +0000 Caleb J. Ross http://www.thevelvetpodcast.com/?p=51 http://www.thevelvetpodcast.com/full-episode-list/feed/ 0 http://www.thevelvetpodcast.com/what-is-the-velvet-podcast/ http://www.thevelvetpodcast.com/what-is-the-velvet-podcast/#comments Tue, 20 Dec 2011 04:18:15 +0000 Caleb J. Ross http://www.thevelvetpodcast.com/?p=34    Read More ...]]> http://www.thevelvetpodcast.com/what-is-the-velvet-podcast/feed/ 0 http://www.thevelvetpodcast.com/contact/ http://www.thevelvetpodcast.com/contact/#comments Tue, 13 Dec 2011 00:53:02 +0000 Caleb J. Ross http://www.thevelvetpodcast.com/?page_id=2 http://www.thevelvetpodcast.com/contact/feed/ 0 http://www.thevelvetpodcast.com/audio/episode-016-great-writers-edit-bad-writers-discuss-editing-on-a-podcast/ http://www.thevelvetpodcast.com/audio/episode-016-great-writers-edit-bad-writers-discuss-editing-on-a-podcast/#comments Mon, 25 Jul 2011 19:31:00 +0000 Caleb J. Ross http://www.thevelvetpodcast.com/?p=218    Read More ...]]> http://www.thevelvetpodcast.com/audio/episode-016-great-writers-edit-bad-writers-discuss-editing-on-a-podcast/feed/ 0 0:50:12 All writers must edit. Most writers despise editing. Therefore, writers tend to look for ways to make the editing process, if not easier, at least more digestible. Authors Gavin Pate (The Way to Get Here), Gordon Highland (Major Inversions), Cale[...] All writers must edit. Most writers despise editing. Therefore, writers tend to look for ways to make the editing process, if not easier, at least more digestible. Authors Gavin Pate (The Way to Get Here), Gordon Highland (Major Inversions), Caleb J. Ross (Stranger Will), and Richard Thomas (Transubstantiate) gather to discuss how each approach the task of editing, including ways to make editing fun and tricks to editing easier. Show Mentions Scrivener Write Club (shhhhhh) Warmed and Bound, The Velvet Anthology How they were found by Matt Bell The Samaritan by Fred Venturini My Father’s House by Ben Tanzer Cape Cod Noir The Devil All the Time by Donald Ray Pollock Zazen by Vanessa Veselka Follow Me Down by Kio Stark Recipes for Endangered Species by Traci O’Conner Pale King by David Foster Wallace Good Omens by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman Photo credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/yaritzalovesong/ literature, reading, writing, noir, fiction, The, Velvet, velvet, noir caleb@calebjross.com no no http://www.thevelvetpodcast.com/audio/episode-015-interview-with-alan-emmins/ http://www.thevelvetpodcast.com/audio/episode-015-interview-with-alan-emmins/#comments Thu, 24 Mar 2011 19:26:34 +0000 Caleb J. Ross http://www.thevelvetpodcast.com/?p=209    Read More ...]]> http://www.thevelvetpodcast.com/audio/episode-015-interview-with-alan-emmins/feed/ 1 0:36:20 Caleb J Ross interviews author Alan Emmins about his book Mop Men: Inside the World of Crime Scene Cleaners, for which the author spent time with a California crime scene cleaning company, scrubbing away the stains left by the dead. Mop Men could[...] Caleb J Ross interviews author Alan Emmins about his book Mop Men: Inside the World of Crime Scene Cleaners, for which the author spent time with a California crime scene cleaning company, scrubbing away the stains left by the dead. Mop Men could have easily steered into true crime territory, adhering to all the formalities and he-said-she-said that defines the genre. Instead, Emmins allows the reader to experience the morbid situations as an invested voyeur. As Alan writes of his own self-reflection – disturbed, intrigued, and changed by the horrific crime scenes he helps clean – the reader must reflect as well.   Top of the fold promotion Mop Men: Inside the World of Crime Scene Cleaners 31 Days: A New York Street Diary Breaks From the Norm: Collected Articles Read these Dracula by Bram Stoker Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson Disgrace by J.M Coetzee The Lastlies Caleb J Ross Alan Emmins literature, reading, writing, noir, fiction, The, Velvet, velvet, noir caleb@calebjross.com no no http://www.thevelvetpodcast.com/audio/episode-014-impress-me-with-your-live-skills-author/ http://www.thevelvetpodcast.com/audio/episode-014-impress-me-with-your-live-skills-author/#comments Fri, 11 Mar 2011 19:23:43 +0000 Caleb J. Ross http://www.thevelvetpodcast.com/?p=205    Read More ...]]> http://www.thevelvetpodcast.com/audio/episode-014-impress-me-with-your-live-skills-author/feed/ 2 0:36:36 Fresh from their own live readings, Caleb J Ross (Stranger Will), Ben Tanzer (You Can Make Him Like You), Ryan W. Bradley (publisher, Artistically Declined Press), Nik Korpon (Stay God), and Brandon Tietz (Out of Touch) have a sit down at Bourbon in[...] Fresh from their own live readings, Caleb J Ross (Stranger Will), Ben Tanzer (You Can Make Him Like You), Ryan W. Bradley (publisher, Artistically Declined Press), Nik Korpon (Stay God), and Brandon Tietz (Out of Touch) have a sit down at Bourbon in Washington DC to discuss the hows and whys of author performance. Performance is part of the author’s life. Many of us may prefer the romance of the hermit writer to the reality of the performing writing, but as the culture shifts to a system of ever-spilling minutia (Twitter) and increasingly fragmented media distribution channels (hundreds of TV channels, YouTube, Hulu, and on and on), the author is expected to play an active role in selling both his book and himself. Performance—live author readings—offers a unique opportunity to do both. literature, reading, writing, noir, fiction, The, Velvet, velvet, noir caleb@calebjross.com no no http://www.thevelvetpodcast.com/audio/episode-013-interview-with-jane-friedman/ http://www.thevelvetpodcast.com/audio/episode-013-interview-with-jane-friedman/#comments Sat, 26 Feb 2011 19:20:55 +0000 Caleb J. Ross http://www.thevelvetpodcast.com/?p=202    Read More ...]]> http://www.thevelvetpodcast.com/audio/episode-013-interview-with-jane-friedman/feed/ 1 0:22:32 Caleb J Ross and Nik Korpon sit with Jane Friedman during the AWP (Association of Writers and Writing Projects) conference in Washington DC to discuss the role of social media in the author’s life. Jane’s passion for the world of e-media is evident.[...] Caleb J Ross and Nik Korpon sit with Jane Friedman during the AWP (Association of Writers and Writing Projects) conference in Washington DC to discuss the role of social media in the author’s life. Jane’s passion for the world of e-media is evident. She is the former publisher and editorial director of Writer’s Digest, has spoken at 36 billion writing events since 2001 (give or take a few), and is known within the publishing industry as an innovator, cited by sources such as Publishers Weekly, GalleyCat, PBS online, and Mr. Media. Jane currently serves as a visiting professor of e-media at the University of Cincinnati, and is a contributing editor to Writer’s Digest. Playing the role of the tech-deficiant, Nik Korpon (Stay God) joins us for this hallway conversation (please, pardon the background noise). Interview Notes 00:01:21 Jane Friedman introduces herself“The intersection of literary culture and tech culture” 00:02:52 What are writers so attached to the physical book as an object? Books have been around so long “Author” from “authority” Technology pushes us faster than our hearts would like A book can become a luxury item Kevin Smokler’s comment about the biggest growth area of the music industry is vinyl 00:06:11 Is the aversion to electronic media generational? Interestingly, studies are actually showing that the YA market doesn’t buy eBooks. Why is this? Older people seem to be more accepting of the eReaders, because of accessibly and feature issues 00:08:17 Does spreading content throughout multiple platforms make any single platform weaker? Multiple platforms makes sales tracking difficult Time and investment may make multiple platform development impossible 00:11:43 What is the ultimate benefit of being able to track reader habits? Traditional publishers are publishing into a void. They have no idea who buys the books. They publish for bookstores and libraries and middlemen. Authors could have the power when they know their readers 00:15:36 What are some tools authors can use to establish R.O.I formulas for their book sales? 00:17:24 Al Katkowsky’s comment about the level of engagement required of writers; what sort of social media tools allow for building trust with readers? Twitter is about sharing information and building awareness, so it’s not directly about selling products Email newsletters are under-utilized 00:19:56 What should authors stay away from in terms of social media? 00:55:13 The Lastlies Caleb J Ross Jane Friedman Kevin Smokler Andy Hunter (Electric Literature) Al Katkowsky literature, reading, writing, noir, fiction, The, Velvet, velvet, noir caleb@calebjross.com no no http://www.thevelvetpodcast.com/audio/episode-012-the-art-and-authenticity-of-social-media-using-online-tools-to-grow-a-community/ http://www.thevelvetpodcast.com/audio/episode-012-the-art-and-authenticity-of-social-media-using-online-tools-to-grow-a-community/#comments Mon, 14 Feb 2011 19:15:22 +0000 Caleb J. Ross http://www.thevelvetpodcast.com/?p=198    Read More ...]]> http://www.thevelvetpodcast.com/audio/episode-012-the-art-and-authenticity-of-social-media-using-online-tools-to-grow-a-community/feed/ 1 1:14:49 Caleb J Ross (thirstygerbil at The Velvet) was kindly invited to participate in a panel on social media during the 2011 AWP (Association of Writers and Writing Programs) conference in Washington DC. Joined by Tanya Egan Gibson, Dan Blank, Bethanne P[...] Caleb J Ross (thirstygerbil at The Velvet) was kindly invited to participate in a panel on social media during the 2011 AWP (Association of Writers and Writing Programs) conference in Washington DC. Joined by Tanya Egan Gibson, Dan Blank, Bethanne Patrick, Christina Katz, and moderator Jane Friedman, the panel succeeded in opening up and emphasizing both the possibilities and importance of social media in developing an author’s platform. Though this topic may not initially seem like The Velvet Podcast fodder, our recent website redesign and ongoing efforts to integrate our forums into the social media sphere make this topic actually quite relevant. Here’s the official description: The Art and Authenticity of Social Media: Using Online Tools to Grow a Community. (Jane Friedman,Tanya Egan Gibson, Dan Blank, Bethanne Patrick, Christina Katz, Caleb J. Ross) Social media is easy to disparage as meaningless socializing, undignified shilling, or time better spent writing. Yet sharing information online and having conversations with readers is critical to spreading the word about what you (or your organization) does. Online community building can help develop a long-term readership, plus open up new opportunities. literature, reading, writing, noir, fiction, The, Velvet, velvet, noir caleb@calebjross.com no no http://www.thevelvetpodcast.com/audio/the-velvet-live-jesus-angel-garcia-reads-at-the-velvet-lounge/ http://www.thevelvetpodcast.com/audio/the-velvet-live-jesus-angel-garcia-reads-at-the-velvet-lounge/#comments Thu, 03 Feb 2011 19:12:57 +0000 Caleb J. Ross http://www.thevelvetpodcast.com/?p=196 http://www.thevelvetpodcast.com/audio/the-velvet-live-jesus-angel-garcia-reads-at-the-velvet-lounge/feed/ 0 0:10:28 Jesus Angel Garcia (BadBadBad) reads at The Velvet Lounge, Washington D.C, 2/3/11 Jesus Angel Garcia (BadBadBad) reads at The Velvet Lounge, Washington D.C, 2/3/11 literature, reading, writing, noir, fiction, The, Velvet, velvet, noir caleb@calebjross.com no no http://www.thevelvetpodcast.com/audio/the-velvet-live-jillian-weise-reads-at-the-velvet-lounge/ http://www.thevelvetpodcast.com/audio/the-velvet-live-jillian-weise-reads-at-the-velvet-lounge/#comments Thu, 03 Feb 2011 19:11:24 +0000 Caleb J. Ross http://www.thevelvetpodcast.com/?p=194 http://www.thevelvetpodcast.com/audio/the-velvet-live-jillian-weise-reads-at-the-velvet-lounge/feed/ 0 0:09:16 Jillian Weise reads from her novel The Colony at The Velvet Lounge, Washington D.C, 2/3/11 Jillian Weise reads from her novel The Colony at The Velvet Lounge, Washington D.C, 2/3/11 caleb@calebjross.com no no All Episodes, Live Readings http://www.thevelvetpodcast.com/audio/the-velvet-live-caleb-j-ross-reads-at-the-velvet-lounge/ http://www.thevelvetpodcast.com/audio/the-velvet-live-caleb-j-ross-reads-at-the-velvet-lounge/#comments Thu, 03 Feb 2011 19:08:53 +0000 Caleb J. Ross http://www.thevelvetpodcast.com/?p=191 http://www.thevelvetpodcast.com/audio/the-velvet-live-caleb-j-ross-reads-at-the-velvet-lounge/feed/ 1 0:09:57 Caleb J Ross reads from his forthcoming novel Stranger Will at The Velvet Lounge, Washington D.C, 2/3/11 Caleb J Ross reads from his forthcoming novel Stranger Will at The Velvet Lounge, Washington D.C, 2/3/11 literature, reading, writing, noir, fiction, The, Velvet, velvet, noir caleb@calebjross.com no no http://www.thevelvetpodcast.com/audio/the-velvet-live-michael-sonbert-reads-at-the-velvet-lounge/ http://www.thevelvetpodcast.com/audio/the-velvet-live-michael-sonbert-reads-at-the-velvet-lounge/#comments Thu, 03 Feb 2011 19:07:00 +0000 Caleb J. Ross http://www.thevelvetpodcast.com/?p=189 http://www.thevelvetpodcast.com/audio/the-velvet-live-michael-sonbert-reads-at-the-velvet-lounge/feed/ 0 0:11:39 Michael Sonbert reads from his forthcoming novel We Are Oblivion at The Velvet Lounge, Washington D.C, 2/3/11 Michael Sonbert reads from his forthcoming novel We Are Oblivion at The Velvet Lounge, Washington D.C, 2/3/11 caleb@calebjross.com no no All Episodes, Live Readings http://www.thevelvetpodcast.com/audio/the-velvet-live-nik-korpon-reads-at-the-velvet-lounge/ http://www.thevelvetpodcast.com/audio/the-velvet-live-nik-korpon-reads-at-the-velvet-lounge/#comments Thu, 03 Feb 2011 19:04:44 +0000 Caleb J. Ross http://www.thevelvetpodcast.com/?p=183 http://www.thevelvetpodcast.com/audio/the-velvet-live-nik-korpon-reads-at-the-velvet-lounge/feed/ 0 0:11:39 Nik Korpon reads from his novel Stay God at The Velvet Lounge, Washington D.C, 2/3/11 Nik Korpon reads from his novel Stay God at The Velvet Lounge, Washington D.C, 2/3/11 literature, reading, writing, noir, fiction, The, Velvet, velvet, noir caleb@calebjross.com no no http://www.thevelvetpodcast.com/audio/the-velvet-live-brandon-tietz-reads-at-the-velvet-lounge/ http://www.thevelvetpodcast.com/audio/the-velvet-live-brandon-tietz-reads-at-the-velvet-lounge/#comments Thu, 03 Feb 2011 18:58:58 +0000 Caleb J. Ross http://www.thevelvetpodcast.com/?p=180 http://www.thevelvetpodcast.com/audio/the-velvet-live-brandon-tietz-reads-at-the-velvet-lounge/feed/ 0 0:11:31 Brandon Tietz reads a short story at The Velvet Lounge, Washington D.C, 2/3/11 Brandon Tietz reads a short story at The Velvet Lounge, Washington D.C, 2/3/11 caleb@calebjross.com no no All Episodes, Live Readings http://www.thevelvetpodcast.com/audio/episode-011-road-to-awp-in-washington-dc/ http://www.thevelvetpodcast.com/audio/episode-011-road-to-awp-in-washington-dc/#comments Thu, 30 Dec 2010 18:53:32 +0000 Caleb J. Ross http://www.thevelvetpodcast.com/?p=177    Read More ...]]> http://www.thevelvetpodcast.com/audio/episode-011-road-to-awp-in-washington-dc/feed/ 0 0:29:00 Authors Caleb J Ross (Stranger Will) and Brandon Tietz (Out of Touch) talk about their expectations going into the upcoming Washington DC AWP Conference in February. Caleb calls from his five-time attendance history to help first-timer, Brandon, ge[...] Authors Caleb J Ross (Stranger Will) and Brandon Tietz (Out of Touch) talk about their expectations going into the upcoming Washington DC AWP Conference in February. Caleb calls from his five-time attendance history to help first-timer, Brandon, get the most out of the four day event. And Brandon teaches Caleb a little about how to be a rockstar. This episode is a little different than other The Velvet Podcast episodes in that it was recorded in a public setting. Let us know what you think of the format. We will continue our standard studio recordings for the most part, but it’s nice to know that bar talk is possible. We welcome comments. We love them. We need them. You are free to leave comments here, but to really join the conversation, we invite you to post at this episode’s dedicated thread over at The Velvet Boards. Episode Panelists: Brandon/brandon.tietz Caleb/thirstygerbil Episode Topic: Preparing for AWP 00:00:40 What’s different in this episode Recorded live, at The Bulldog Bar & Grill in Downtown Kansas City 00:01:42 What are we going to talk about? What do we expect out of AWP? Why do writers meet up? The Velvet After Dark presents Live Nude Words (our reading) 00:05:45 The secret to getting published in 3 words: “Hard fucking work” 00:07:25 The writing pool has a lot of swimmers. But the pool is small. 00:08:30 Best advice received at AWP: from Tod Godberg, think of writing as a trade. 00:11:48 What is first-timer Brandon expecting? Paying a lot of money to go, so he’d better learn something Play with homeless people Will the advice translate to Brandon’s non-traditional promotional efforts? 00:13:45 If we had a panel, what would it be about? 00:16:05 How do you sell books at AWP? 00:17:44 Shaker’s Vodka, sponsor for Brandon Tietz’s book release party on January 14th. 00:18:37 Documenting the AWP Conference Blogging from www.calebjross.com/awpblog Tweeting at @awptweets YouTubing at www.youtube.com/awpchannel 00:22:00 Why writers meet up? How Brandon and Caleb met. 00:23:48 The Bulldog and Bazooka’s conspiracy 00:26:10 The ideal writer: Fauxkowski vs. DJ Un Sleazy literature, reading, writing, noir, fiction, The, Velvet, velvet, noir caleb@calebjross.com no no http://www.thevelvetpodcast.com/audio/episode-010-youre-a-writer-eff-you/ http://www.thevelvetpodcast.com/audio/episode-010-youre-a-writer-eff-you/#comments Fri, 17 Dec 2010 18:17:32 +0000 Caleb J. Ross http://www.thevelvetpodcast.com/?p=171    Read More ...]]> http://www.thevelvetpodcast.com/audio/episode-010-youre-a-writer-eff-you/feed/ 0 1:24:04 Chris Deal (author of Cienfuegos), Sean Ferguson, Anthony David Jacques, and Tim Beverstock discuss the life of a writer. Where does appropriate pride in a writer’s work and overt egotism intersect and is there a definitive line to be drawn betwe[...] Chris Deal (author of Cienfuegos), Sean Ferguson, Anthony David Jacques, and Tim Beverstock discuss the life of a writer. Where does appropriate pride in a writer’s work and overt egotism intersect and is there a definitive line to be drawn between the two. Get ready for some personal introspection from these four fantastic writers.We welcome comments. We love them. We need them. You are free to leave comments here, but to really join the conversation, we invite you to post at this episode’s dedicated thread over at The Velvet Boards. Episode Panelists: Chris Deal/enjoi (Moderator) Sean Ferguson/ferg Anthony David Jacques Tim Beverstock/Timb5 literature, reading, writing, noir, fiction, The, Velvet, velvet, noir caleb@calebjross.com no no http://www.thevelvetpodcast.com/audio/episode-009-does-this-novel-make-me-look-fat/ http://www.thevelvetpodcast.com/audio/episode-009-does-this-novel-make-me-look-fat/#comments Tue, 16 Nov 2010 18:06:14 +0000 Caleb J. Ross http://www.thevelvetpodcast.com/?p=165    Read More ...]]> http://www.thevelvetpodcast.com/audio/episode-009-does-this-novel-make-me-look-fat/feed/ 1 0:57:07 Authors Gordon Highland (Major Inversions), Brandon Tietz (Out of Touch), and Caleb J Ross (Stranger Will) have a spirited conversation about self- and vanity-publishing, debating its legitimacy, logistics, and financial aspects, as well as insig[...] Authors Gordon Highland (Major Inversions), Brandon Tietz (Out of Touch), and Caleb J Ross (Stranger Will) have a spirited conversation about self- and vanity-publishing, debating its legitimacy, logistics, and financial aspects, as well as insights from their own experiences in this oft-scorned segment of the industry. We welcome comments. We love them. We need them. You are free to leave comments here, but to really join the conversation, we invite you to post at this episode’s dedicated thread over at The Velvet Boards. Gordon Highland Caleb J Ross Brandon Tietz Episode Panelists: Gordon/Flash (Moderator) Brandon/brandon.tietz Caleb/thirstygerbil Episode Topic: Vanity in Publishing 00:01:54 Distinguishing between traditional, vanity, and self-publishing distribution, printing, consumer fake it til you make it, selection, risk, Yog’s Law examples: Author Solutions POD explained 00:09:42 How much does vanity publishing cost? contacts, volume, editing, charges “marketing,” time 00:13:06 How much money can you make? word of mouth, reviews, reinvestment, advances, royalties Amazon’s and Kindle’s industry influence 00:19:55 Success stories vs. typical results Chicken Soup, Amy Fisher average sales numbers, author copies, Lulu’s philosophy what if a famous author self-published? 00:25:46 Ideal vanity publishing customer-authors short run, niche, nonfiction 00:28:23 The stigma of self-publishing no marketing, simplicity, credibility, exclusivity hypocrisy compared to other mediums, prestige 00:32:40 Otherworld Publications and Brandon’s experience 00:34:47 The vanity business model and process 00:36:33 Signed copies and personalization 00:39:00 Is there a legit place for vanity publishing? entry level, why not just POD? increasing author responsibility 00:42:00 Advice for new authors considering self-publication pitch, MFA, agents shorts, community, platform 00:44:26 Author self promotion Goodreads, follow-ups, advocacy readings, events 00:48:35 How to gauge your success milestones, commercial skepticism 00:52:46 What are you reading now? 00:55:13 The Lastlies Stranger Will, I Didn’t Mean to be Kevin – Caleb J Ross Out of Touch, Vanity – Brandon Tietz Major Inversions – Gordon Highland caleb@calebjross.com no no All Episodes, Roundtable Discussions http://www.thevelvetpodcast.com/non-episode-posts/nic-young-on-sex-violence-it-all-seemed-to-amount-to-motive-in-the-end/ http://www.thevelvetpodcast.com/non-episode-posts/nic-young-on-sex-violence-it-all-seemed-to-amount-to-motive-in-the-end/#comments Thu, 21 Oct 2010 17:59:16 +0000 Caleb J. Ross http://www.thevelvetpodcast.com/?p=160    Read More ...]]> http://www.thevelvetpodcast.com/non-episode-posts/nic-young-on-sex-violence-it-all-seemed-to-amount-to-motive-in-the-end/feed/ 0 http://www.thevelvetpodcast.com/audio/episode-008-dont-pull-my-hair-unless-you-mean-it/ http://www.thevelvetpodcast.com/audio/episode-008-dont-pull-my-hair-unless-you-mean-it/#comments Thu, 23 Sep 2010 17:54:32 +0000 Caleb J. Ross http://www.thevelvetpodcast.com/?p=157    Read More ...]]> http://www.thevelvetpodcast.com/audio/episode-008-dont-pull-my-hair-unless-you-mean-it/feed/ 1 0:50:15 Writers Richard Thomas (Transubstantiate), Nik Korpon (Stay God), Pela Via and Nic Young grind out the topic of sex and violence in fiction and their complex relationship to sadistic bedfellows, love and shock. We welcome comments. We love them. [...] Writers Richard Thomas (Transubstantiate), Nik Korpon (Stay God), Pela Via and Nic Young grind out the topic of sex and violence in fiction and their complex relationship to sadistic bedfellows, love and shock. We welcome comments. We love them. We need them. You are free to leave comments here, but to really join the conversation, we invite you to post at this episode’s dedicated thread over at The Velvet Boards. Episode Panelists: Pela/pela-via (Moderator) Nik/nikronomican Nic/Ridiculous Richard/wickerkat Episode Topic: Sex and Violence in Fiction 00:01:04 The graphic line between literary fiction and erotica character truth, tone, intent Glamorama 00:04:06 Appropriate sexual terminology 3rd vs 1st person, bodily/sensate, detachment, fuck as verb Birdsong, Disintegration 00:10:14 Handling violence contrast, emotion/passion, pacing intensity American Psycho, Stay God  00:13:12 Sex and violence across genres 00:15:36 The shock factor reader baggage/threshold, story expectation, manipulation, honesty Irreversible, The End of Alice, Palahniuk personal taboos 00:22:45 Why are we drawn to writing sex and violence? intensity of emotion, visceral reveal of character, vicarious, catharsis writing masturbation, The Color Purple, Nik’s novel 00:28:30 Dynamics of the femme fatale archetype manipulation, fantasy, likability/vulnerability, emotionless, gender bias Phineas Poe trilogy 00:33:12 Love as destiny between characters “one and only,” tragedy of noir, the pursuit love’s place in noir, consequence, emotional drive, shorts vs novels 00:40:36 Homosexual storylines in dark fiction Comeau, Maupin, Ellis, Lansdale alienating audiences, author interest/honesty, subtlety 00:43:24 What are you reading now? 00:46:13 The Lastlies Stay God – Nik Korpon Transubstantiate, Shivers VI – Richard Thomas Pela Via  (above photo taken from Tin House’s collection, Do Me) caleb@calebjross.com no no All Episodes, Roundtable Discussions http://www.thevelvetpodcast.com/audio/episode-007-interview-with-blake-butler/ http://www.thevelvetpodcast.com/audio/episode-007-interview-with-blake-butler/#comments Fri, 30 Jul 2010 17:48:49 +0000 Caleb J. Ross http://www.thevelvetpodcast.com/?p=151    Read More ...]]> http://www.thevelvetpodcast.com/audio/episode-007-interview-with-blake-butler/feed/ 1 0:42:51 “If I made it I might as well destroy it by eating it” – Blake Butler In this interview episode of The Velvet Podcast, Caleb J Ross interviews Blake Butler, author of Ever(Calamari Press), Scorch Atlas (Featherproof Books) and the forthcoming T[...] “If I made it I might as well destroy it by eating it” – Blake Butler In this interview episode of The Velvet Podcast, Caleb J Ross interviews Blake Butler, author of Ever(Calamari Press), Scorch Atlas (Featherproof Books) and the forthcoming There is no Year (Harper Perennial). Blake and Caleb discuss the impact of eReaders on visual-dependent literature, the novels vs. movies fallacy, and the importance of humility in a predominantly stuffy industry. We welcome comments. We love them. We need them. You are free to leave comments here, but to really join the conversation, we invite you to post at this episode’s dedicated thread over at The Velvet Boards. Show Notes: 00:00:52 Why has there been a sudden Blake Awareness with these last two books, Ever and Scorch Atlas? 00:02:25 Tell me about your style. Is there a connection between your interest in computers and your seemingly scientific style of writing? 00:04:10 The visual format of Ever 00:06:37 Is there a disconnect between the implied “edginess” of eReaders and their current inability to translate literature with visuals? 00:14:12 All about HTML Giant 00:17:16 Blake Butler eats Page 1 of Scorch Atlas from blake butler on Vimeo. 00:17:43 Is there a necessary distinction between gimmick and traditional promotion? 00:19:49 Scorch Atlas (destroyed) by Blake Butler from featherproof books on Vimeo. 00:20:11 How successful was the destroyed copies of Scorch Atlas promotion? 00:23:50 Was Baby Leg‘s blood really Brian Evenson’s? 00:24:20 Tell me about your deal with Harper Perennial. 00:30:47 Does knowing that you have an editor whose paycheck depends on your book put pressure on you? 00:33:45 Instead of charging books to compete against movies, why not write books that do something that movies cannot? 00:37:50 Tell me all about your forthcoming Harper Perennial books, your novel There is No Year and your non-fiction book about insomnia. Whoring Ever, Calamari Press Scorch Atlas, Featherproof Books There is No Year, Harper Perennial (forthcoming April, 2011) Interviews caleb@calebjross.com no no http://www.thevelvetpodcast.com/audio/episode-006-jennifers-lost-overboard-body-cinemuck-boogaloo/ http://www.thevelvetpodcast.com/audio/episode-006-jennifers-lost-overboard-body-cinemuck-boogaloo/#comments Tue, 06 Jul 2010 15:07:48 +0000 Caleb J. Ross http://www.thevelvetpodcast.com/?p=97    Read More ...]]> http://www.thevelvetpodcast.com/audio/episode-006-jennifers-lost-overboard-body-cinemuck-boogaloo/feed/ 1 1:05:44 Discussion of other mediums like film and television has always been an important aspect of The Velvet, because we find that our shared tastes in books translates well to art and entertainment in general. Inspired by one of our most popular forum[...] Discussion of other mediums like film and television has always been an important aspect of The Velvet, because we find that our shared tastes in books translates well to art and entertainment in general. Inspired by one of our most popular forums, this episode features three Velvet staffers and author Stephen Graham Jones waxing about the big and small screens, both as consumers and creators, cinners and cineastes wading through the Cinemuck. We welcome comments. We love them. We need them. You are free to leave comments here, but to really join the conversation, we invite you to post at this episode’s dedicated thread over at The Velvet Boards. Episode Panelists: Gordon/Flash (Moderator) Stephen/StephenG.Jones Logan/Logan_Frost Jesse/JesseLawrence Episode Topic: Film/TV Criticism & Creation 00:01:17 “Best” vs. “favorites” tastemaking: No Country for Old Men, Apocalypse Now, Suspiria, Nosferatu, Amelie Can’t Hardly Wait, Jennifer’s Body, Overboard, This is Spinal Tap, The ‘burbs 00:08:05 Guilty pleasures: a misnomer? The Last Boy Scout, The Adventures of Ford Fairlane Ruthless People, Serendipity, Up, Breakin’ The Notebook, Showgirls, Rock Star, Kevin Smith 00:13:15 Moviegoing as a social experience 00:16:05 Underrated films: [REC], A Very Long Engagement, Spartan Psycho Beach Party, New Waterford Girl All the Boys Love Mandy Lane, Cry Wolf, Henry Fool, Jack the Bear 00:19:55 Why the hell did/am I watch(ing): Nip/Tuck, Saving Grace, Ugly Americans 24, Burn Notice, White Collar Magnum PI, Star Trek: The Next Generation 00:21:56 A case for studying/writing genre films as well as classics 00:28:51 New delivery technologies’ impact on content creation 00:34:55 How do you watch most of your content? 00:36:19 The emergence of web series: advantages and limitations 00:39:02 A comprehensive debate about 3D home entertainment 00:39:13 Why is TV so fucking awesome right now? Breaking Bad, Dexter, Lost, The Wire, Mad Men Archer, The Mighty Boosh, Futurama, Outer Limits 00:43:56 Writing teleplays vs. screenplays: structure, research, characterization, formatting 00:52:11 Pros/cons of formal English or journalism backgrounds when writing for visual media 00:56:28 Adapting content for the big screen: The Last Airbender, Holes, Marathon Man Justified, Adaptation, Jesus’ Son, American Psycho The Rules of Attraction, No Country for Old Men 01:03:40 The Lastlies The Ones That Got Away by Stephen Graham Jones Tubefilter.tv web series reviews by Logan Rapp Major Inversions by Gordon Highland literature, reading, writing, noir, fiction, The, Velvet, velvet, noir caleb@calebjross.com no no http://www.thevelvetpodcast.com/audio/episode-005-interview-with-matt-bell/ http://www.thevelvetpodcast.com/audio/episode-005-interview-with-matt-bell/#comments Sat, 05 Jun 2010 06:34:45 +0000 Caleb J. Ross http://www.thevelvetpodcast.com/?p=79    Read More ...]]> http://www.thevelvetpodcast.com/audio/episode-005-interview-with-matt-bell/feed/ 1 0:27:35 In this interview episode of The Velvet Podcast, Caleb J Rossinterviews Matt Bell, author of The Collectors (Caketrain Press),Wolf Parts and the forthcoming How They Were Found, both fromKeyhole Press. Matt’s short fiction has been published and ant[...] In this interview episode of The Velvet Podcast, Caleb J Rossinterviews Matt Bell, author of The Collectors (Caketrain Press),Wolf Parts and the forthcoming How They Were Found, both fromKeyhole Press. Matt’s short fiction has been published and anthologized just about everywhere and is forthcoming to Ninth Letter, the ML Press chapbook series, and Kill Author. We talk about live-writing with an audience over at Everyday Genius, editing for The Collagist, teaching writing to fourth graders, and mucho more. We welcome comments. We love them. We need them. You are free to leave comments here, but to really join the conversation, we invite you to post at this episode’s dedicated thread over at The Velvet Boards. Show Notes: 00:01:04 Why did it take me so long to find Matt Bell? 00:02:04 Involvement with Dzanc Teaching 4th grade writing Emerging Writers Network Best of the Web 00:05:46 All about Wolf Parts? Fairy Tale Review Is Wolf Parts still available? 00:07:52 Chosen by Brian Evenson 00:09:42 Live-writing at Everyday Genius 00:18:31 What is Matt Bell’s writing process? 00:23:22 About the AWP (Association of Writers and Writing Programs) experience 00:25:36 Whoring Best of the Web 2010 (Dzanc Books) The Collagist celebrates its one year anniversary How They Were Found (Keyhole Press) literature, reading, writing, noir, fiction, The, Velvet, velvet, noir caleb@calebjross.com no no http://www.thevelvetpodcast.com/audio/episode-004-why-cant-i-write-i-write-or-inventing-trans-fat/ http://www.thevelvetpodcast.com/audio/episode-004-why-cant-i-write-i-write-or-inventing-trans-fat/#comments Wed, 26 May 2010 06:33:28 +0000 Caleb J. Ross http://www.thevelvetpodcast.com/?p=76    Read More ...]]> http://www.thevelvetpodcast.com/audio/episode-004-why-cant-i-write-i-write-or-inventing-trans-fat/feed/ 0 0:46:53 Most writers, whether hobbyists or professionals, would defend that writing is a compulsion. Yet despite this apparent need, writers find a lot a lot of ways to procrastinate (creating this podcast being one). In this episode, three Velvet membe[...] Most writers, whether hobbyists or professionals, would defend that writing is a compulsion. Yet despite this apparent need, writers find a lot a lot of ways to procrastinate (creating this podcast being one). In this episode, three Velvet members discuss why writing is so necessary, what keeps us from writing when we know we should, what keeps us writing once we start, and how helpful are writing exercises (Writers Digest would say “very;” their bottom line depends on it).(WARNING: We like tangents. Be weary) Episode Panelists: Caleb/thirstygerbil (Moderator) Mark/PocketFives Rob/MuttersomeTaxicab 00:01:39 Episode Topic: Why aren’t you writing?! Is getting a book on a shelf still a reasonable goal? Writing allows us to deal with people. William S. Burroughs could only truly communicate through writing. Writing keeps us from doing worse things to ourselves Writing/reading offers a window to other people dealing with situations that may be similar to our own In the same way folktales engage us, modern fiction, especially crime writing, engages us by passing on morality lessons What inspires or motivates? Knowing other people do it (and knowing about people like Stephen Graham Jones who writes a novel in 3 days AND has the time to keep a journal about the experience) University writing workshops (with credit given to Tamas Dobozy and his story “The Encirclement” and Padgett Powell of The University of Florida) Constant rejection What are your writing goals? Session-based word count goals Truly writing for yourself (not for academics or any other specific audience). Academics are still skittish about an author like Paul Auster, and he’s relatively not threatening. Rob wants to gain eligibility to apply for a grant from the Canada Council for the Arts Have you tried writing Exercises? Max Berry’s 500 word maximum Shotgun writing – just sit down and go; turn off the internal editor Binge writing – hole up in a motel for a few weeks, just you and the laptop. Create your own prison. Blogging as a character Gilbert Sorrentino and art as the shattered mirror Recommendations for books on writing Pat Walsh’s 78 Reasons Why Your Book May Never Be Published and 14 Reasons Why it Just Might Read interviews with authors 00:33:16 Other Voices, Other Rooms Tracks by Louise Erdrich The Comintern: A History of the Third International by Duncan Hallas Ulysses by James Joyce My White Planet by Mark Anthony Jarman 2666 by Roberto Bolano “The Encirclement” (short story) by Tamas Dobozy Queer by William S. Burroughs The Broken World by Tim Etchells Tell-All by Chuck Palahniuk 00:39:51 What are you currently jamming to? Deftones, Diamond Eyes The Dead Weather, Sea of Cowards Burning Love Broken Social Scene, Forgiveness Rock Record Dillinger Escape Plan, Option Paralysis Murder By Death, Good Morning, Magpie Ha Ha Tonka Elliot Smith Bruce Springsteen, Nebraska 00:45:26 The Lastlies: Buy Caleb J Ross’s Charactered Pieces: stories Rob is awaiting a response from subTerrain Magazine. Good luck! We welcome comments. We love them. We need them. You are free to leave comments here, but to really join the conversation, we invite you to post at this episode’s dedicated thread over at The Velvet Boards. literature, reading, writing, noir, fiction, The, Velvet, velvet, noir caleb@calebjross.com no no http://www.thevelvetpodcast.com/audio/the-velvet-live-deleon-demicoli-reads-at-leela-european-cafe/ http://www.thevelvetpodcast.com/audio/the-velvet-live-deleon-demicoli-reads-at-leela-european-cafe/#comments Fri, 09 Apr 2010 17:45:29 +0000 Caleb J. Ross http://www.thevelvetpodcast.com/?p=148 http://www.thevelvetpodcast.com/audio/the-velvet-live-deleon-demicoli-reads-at-leela-european-cafe/feed/ 0 0:07:57 DeLeon DeMicoli (Lick Me, White Belts) reads an excerpt of his novel, White Belts, at Leela European Café, Denver CO, 4/9/10 DeLeon DeMicoli (Lick Me, White Belts) reads an excerpt of his novel, White Belts, at Leela European Café, Denver CO, 4/9/10 literature, reading, writing, noir, fiction, The, Velvet, velvet, noir caleb@calebjross.com no no http://www.thevelvetpodcast.com/audio/the-velvet-live-colin-mckay-miller-reads-at-leela-european-cafe/ http://www.thevelvetpodcast.com/audio/the-velvet-live-colin-mckay-miller-reads-at-leela-european-cafe/#comments Fri, 09 Apr 2010 17:43:43 +0000 Caleb J. Ross http://www.thevelvetpodcast.com/?p=145 http://www.thevelvetpodcast.com/audio/the-velvet-live-colin-mckay-miller-reads-at-leela-european-cafe/feed/ 0 0:09:29 Colin McKay Miller reads “All The Pathos and Pain” at Leela European Café, Denver CO, 4/9/10 Colin McKay Miller reads “All The Pathos and Pain” at Leela European Café, Denver CO, 4/9/10 caleb@calebjross.com no no All Episodes, Live Readings http://www.thevelvetpodcast.com/audio/the-velvet-live-mark-jaskowski-reads-at-leela-european-cafe/ http://www.thevelvetpodcast.com/audio/the-velvet-live-mark-jaskowski-reads-at-leela-european-cafe/#comments Fri, 09 Apr 2010 17:41:33 +0000 Caleb J. Ross http://www.thevelvetpodcast.com/?p=142 http://www.thevelvetpodcast.com/audio/the-velvet-live-mark-jaskowski-reads-at-leela-european-cafe/feed/ 0 0:10:25 Mark Jaskowski reads an excerpt of his novel, South City Blues, at Leela European Café, Denver CO, 4/9/10 Mark Jaskowski reads an excerpt of his novel, South City Blues, at Leela European Café, Denver CO, 4/9/10 literature, reading, writing, noir, fiction, The, Velvet, velvet, noir caleb@calebjross.com no no http://www.thevelvetpodcast.com/audio/the-velvet-live-mark-grover-reads-at-leela-european-cafe/ http://www.thevelvetpodcast.com/audio/the-velvet-live-mark-grover-reads-at-leela-european-cafe/#comments Fri, 09 Apr 2010 17:35:17 +0000 Caleb J. Ross http://www.thevelvetpodcast.com/?p=139 http://www.thevelvetpodcast.com/audio/the-velvet-live-mark-grover-reads-at-leela-european-cafe/feed/ 0 0:10:49 Mark Grover reads “Stolen Promise” at Leela European Café, Denver CO, 4/9/10 Mark Grover reads “Stolen Promise” at Leela European Café, Denver CO, 4/9/10 caleb@calebjross.com no no All Episodes, Live Readings http://www.thevelvetpodcast.com/audio/the-velvet-live-axel-taiari-reads-at-leela-european-cafe/ http://www.thevelvetpodcast.com/audio/the-velvet-live-axel-taiari-reads-at-leela-european-cafe/#comments Fri, 09 Apr 2010 17:33:22 +0000 Caleb J. Ross http://www.thevelvetpodcast.com/?p=136 http://www.thevelvetpodcast.com/audio/the-velvet-live-axel-taiari-reads-at-leela-european-cafe/feed/ 0 0:05:30 Axel Taiari reads “Grandma” at Leela European Café, Denver CO, 4/9/10 Axel Taiari reads “Grandma” at Leela European Café, Denver CO, 4/9/10 caleb@calebjross.com no no All Episodes, Live Readings http://www.thevelvetpodcast.com/audio/the-velvet-live-christopher-j-dwyer-reads-at-leela-european-cafe/ http://www.thevelvetpodcast.com/audio/the-velvet-live-christopher-j-dwyer-reads-at-leela-european-cafe/#comments Fri, 09 Apr 2010 17:31:27 +0000 Caleb J. Ross http://www.thevelvetpodcast.com/?p=133 http://www.thevelvetpodcast.com/audio/the-velvet-live-christopher-j-dwyer-reads-at-leela-european-cafe/feed/ 0 0:05:28 Christopher J Dwyer reads at Leela European Café, Denver CO, 4/9/10 Christopher J Dwyer reads at Leela European Café, Denver CO, 4/9/10 caleb@calebjross.com no no All Episodes, Live Readings http://www.thevelvetpodcast.com/audio/the-velvet-live-rayo-casablanca-reads-at-leela-european-cafe/ http://www.thevelvetpodcast.com/audio/the-velvet-live-rayo-casablanca-reads-at-leela-european-cafe/#comments Fri, 09 Apr 2010 17:28:08 +0000 Caleb J. Ross http://www.thevelvetpodcast.com/?p=130 http://www.thevelvetpodcast.com/audio/the-velvet-live-rayo-casablanca-reads-at-leela-european-cafe/feed/ 0 0:05:12 Rayo Casablanca (6 Sick Hipsters, Very Mercenary) reads an excerpt from his novel, Future Imperfect, at Leela European Café, Denver CO, 4/9/10 Rayo Casablanca (6 Sick Hipsters, Very Mercenary) reads an excerpt from his novel, Future Imperfect, at Leela European Café, Denver CO, 4/9/10 literature, reading, writing, noir, fiction, The, Velvet, velvet, noir caleb@calebjross.com no no http://www.thevelvetpodcast.com/audio/the-velvet-live-bradley-sands-reads-at-leela-european-cafe/ http://www.thevelvetpodcast.com/audio/the-velvet-live-bradley-sands-reads-at-leela-european-cafe/#comments Fri, 09 Apr 2010 17:24:48 +0000 Caleb J. Ross http://www.thevelvetpodcast.com/?p=127 http://www.thevelvetpodcast.com/audio/the-velvet-live-bradley-sands-reads-at-leela-european-cafe/feed/ 0 0:11:44 Bradley Sands (My Heart Said No, But The Camera Crew Said Yes!, It Came From Below The Belt) reads an excerpt from his upcoming novel, TV Snorted My Brain, at Leela European Café, Denver CO, 4/9/10 Bradley Sands (My Heart Said No, But The Camera Crew Said Yes!, It Came From Below The Belt) reads an excerpt from his upcoming novel, TV Snorted My Brain, at Leela European Café, Denver CO, 4/9/10 literature, reading, writing, noir, fiction, The, Velvet, velvet, noir caleb@calebjross.com no no http://www.thevelvetpodcast.com/audio/the-velvet-live-paul-eckert-reads-at-leela-european-cafe/ http://www.thevelvetpodcast.com/audio/the-velvet-live-paul-eckert-reads-at-leela-european-cafe/#comments Fri, 09 Apr 2010 15:48:17 +0000 Caleb J. Ross http://www.thevelvetpodcast.com/?p=124 http://www.thevelvetpodcast.com/audio/the-velvet-live-paul-eckert-reads-at-leela-european-cafe/feed/ 0 0:05:09 Paul Eckert reads “Mystery Box” at Leela European Café, Denver CO, 4/9/10 Paul Eckert reads “Mystery Box” at Leela European Café, Denver CO, 4/9/10 literature, reading, writing, noir, fiction, The, Velvet, velvet, noir caleb@calebjross.com no no http://www.thevelvetpodcast.com/audio/the-velvet-live-gavin-pate-reads-at-leela-european-cafe/ http://www.thevelvetpodcast.com/audio/the-velvet-live-gavin-pate-reads-at-leela-european-cafe/#comments Fri, 09 Apr 2010 15:43:05 +0000 Caleb J. Ross http://www.thevelvetpodcast.com/?p=120 http://www.thevelvetpodcast.com/audio/the-velvet-live-gavin-pate-reads-at-leela-european-cafe/feed/ 0 0:12:09 Gavin Pate (The Way to Get Here) reads at Leela European Café, Denver CO, 4/9/10 Gavin Pate (The Way to Get Here) reads at Leela European Café, Denver CO, 4/9/10 literature, reading, writing, noir, fiction, The, Velvet, velvet, noir caleb@calebjross.com no no http://www.thevelvetpodcast.com/audio/the-velvet-live-nik-korpon-reads-at-leela-european-cafe/ http://www.thevelvetpodcast.com/audio/the-velvet-live-nik-korpon-reads-at-leela-european-cafe/#comments Fri, 09 Apr 2010 15:41:16 +0000 Caleb J. Ross http://www.thevelvetpodcast.com/?p=117 http://www.thevelvetpodcast.com/audio/the-velvet-live-nik-korpon-reads-at-leela-european-cafe/feed/ 0 0:07:02 Nik Korpon reads excerpts from his novel, Stay God, at Leela European Café, Denver CO, 4/9/10 Nik Korpon reads excerpts from his novel, Stay God, at Leela European Café, Denver CO, 4/9/10 caleb@calebjross.com no no All Episodes, Live Readings http://www.thevelvetpodcast.com/audio/the-velvet-live-gordon-highland-reads-at-leela-european-cafe/ http://www.thevelvetpodcast.com/audio/the-velvet-live-gordon-highland-reads-at-leela-european-cafe/#comments Fri, 09 Apr 2010 15:20:55 +0000 Caleb J. Ross http://www.thevelvetpodcast.com/?p=107 http://www.thevelvetpodcast.com/audio/the-velvet-live-gordon-highland-reads-at-leela-european-cafe/feed/ 0 0:08:25 Gordon Highland (Major Inversions) reads an excerpt from his in-progress novel, Flashover, at Leela European Café, Denver CO, 4/9/10 Gordon Highland (Major Inversions) reads an excerpt from his in-progress novel, Flashover, at Leela European Café, Denver CO, 4/9/10 caleb@calebjross.com no no All Episodes, Live Readings http://www.thevelvetpodcast.com/audio/the-velvet-live-caleb-j-ross-reads-at-leela-european-cafe/ http://www.thevelvetpodcast.com/audio/the-velvet-live-caleb-j-ross-reads-at-leela-european-cafe/#comments Fri, 09 Apr 2010 15:17:19 +0000 Caleb J. Ross http://www.thevelvetpodcast.com/?p=104 http://www.thevelvetpodcast.com/audio/the-velvet-live-caleb-j-ross-reads-at-leela-european-cafe/feed/ 1 0:06:13 Caleb J Ross reads a non-fiction piece called “The Author Who Gets Free Drinks: A (Hopefully) True Story,” at Leela European Café, Denver CO, 4/9/10 Caleb J Ross reads a non-fiction piece called “The Author Who Gets Free Drinks: A (Hopefully) True Story,” at Leela European Café, Denver CO, 4/9/10 literature, reading, writing, noir, fiction, The, Velvet, velvet, noir caleb@calebjross.com no no http://www.thevelvetpodcast.com/audio/the-velvet-live-richard-thomas-reads-at-leela-european-cafe/ http://www.thevelvetpodcast.com/audio/the-velvet-live-richard-thomas-reads-at-leela-european-cafe/#comments Fri, 09 Apr 2010 15:13:58 +0000 Caleb J. Ross http://www.thevelvetpodcast.com/?p=101 http://www.thevelvetpodcast.com/audio/the-velvet-live-richard-thomas-reads-at-leela-european-cafe/feed/ 0 0:00:01 Richard Thomas reads excerpts from his novel, Transubstantiate, at Leela European Café, Denver CO, 4/9/10 Richard Thomas reads excerpts from his novel, Transubstantiate, at Leela European Café, Denver CO, 4/9/10 literature, reading, writing, noir, fiction, The, Velvet, velvet, noir caleb@calebjross.com no no http://www.thevelvetpodcast.com/audio/episode-003-interview-with-brian-evenson/ http://www.thevelvetpodcast.com/audio/episode-003-interview-with-brian-evenson/#comments Tue, 06 Apr 2010 03:41:47 +0000 Caleb J. Ross http://www.thevelvetpodcast.com/?p=17    Read More ...]]> http://www.thevelvetpodcast.com/audio/episode-003-interview-with-brian-evenson/feed/ 0 0:26:46 This is a very special episode of The Velvet Podcast. Caleb J Ross interviews author Brian Evenson about his upcoming AWP Conference panel, Crime, Horror, Sci‐Fi, and Fantasy… Seriously. Extract below: (Anthony Smith, Brian Evenson, Stephen Graham J[...] This is a very special episode of The Velvet Podcast. Caleb J Ross interviews author Brian Evenson about his upcoming AWP Conference panel, Crime, Horror, Sci‐Fi, and Fantasy… Seriously. Extract below: (Anthony Smith, Brian Evenson, Stephen Graham Jones, Tod Goldberg, Mark Smith, Seth Harwood) Six writers of genre fiction who also teach and/or have graduated from university creative writing programs discuss how they approach genre fiction as a serious literary pursuit rather than as a lesser form of fiction. In addition, they discuss attitudes towards genre fiction in the university and how those attitudes have changed over the years. Though this podcast doesn’t deal directly with The Velvet community, Evenson is a highly respected author around those parts, and there is a plug or two about The Velvet Podcast. I want to personally thank Mr. Brian Evenson for taking time out of his day to chat with me. He has made this fanboy quite happy. Be sure to visit his website for details about this amazing author. We welcome comments. We love them. We need them. You are free to leave comments here, but to really join the conversation, we invite you to post at this episode’s dedicated thread over at The Velvet Boards. Illustration by Dave Crosland literature, reading, writing, noir, fiction, The, Velvet, velvet, noir caleb@calebjross.com no no http://www.thevelvetpodcast.com/audio/episode-002-hey-is-that-a-copy-of-kiss-me-judas-on-your-desk-professor-meriweather/ http://www.thevelvetpodcast.com/audio/episode-002-hey-is-that-a-copy-of-kiss-me-judas-on-your-desk-professor-meriweather/#comments Sun, 04 Apr 2010 03:37:54 +0000 Caleb J. Ross http://www.thevelvetpodcast.com/?p=14    Read More ...]]> http://www.thevelvetpodcast.com/audio/episode-002-hey-is-that-a-copy-of-kiss-me-judas-on-your-desk-professor-meriweather/feed/ 0 1:04:20 Why the disparity between genre fiction and literary fiction? Why are these two modes so often thought of as mutually exclusive? Though genre fiction (the big ones: mystery, sci-fi, horror) are taught at the university level, there is a palatabl[...] Why the disparity between genre fiction and literary fiction? Why are these two modes so often thought of as mutually exclusive? Though genre fiction (the big ones: mystery, sci-fi, horror) are taught at the university level, there is a palatable disinterest among much of academia. In this episode, four The Velvet members discuss these questions and more. Episode Panelists: 00:00:41 Caleb/thirstygerbil (Moderator) Bob/vandamage Boden/Mycroft Holmes Chris/enjoi 00:04:49 Episode Topic: Literary vs. Commercial OR Genre vs. Literary Is literary the converse of genre How literary fiction uses genre Why genre fiction works so well as commercial fiction Where are the intersections? Where are the divergences? 00:39:43 Other Voices, Other Rooms Tours of the Black Clock by Steve Erickson (Bob/vandamage) Elmord Leonard’s complete collection of Westerns (Bob/vandamage) East of Eden by John Steinbeck (Bob/vandamage) Bloodroot by Amy Greene (Chris/enjoi) Empty Frames by D.B Cox (Chris/enjoi) Cienfuegos by Chris Deal (Boden/Mycroft Holmes) Identity by Milan Kundera (Boden/Mycroft Holmes) i poisoned you by Pablo D’Stair (Caleb/thirstygerbil) The Manual of Detection by Jedediah Berry (Boden/Mycroft Holmes) 00:45:43 Think Tank What is the role of an outline? How detailed should one be? 00:56:37 Cinemuck Is the director of Repomen is working on The Contortionist’s Handbook? Cormac McCarthy distances himself from adaptations of his books Philip K. Dick is proud of Bladerunner Could Demon Theory be made into a movie? (Feel the Noise) Evelyn Evelyn story album (Amanda Palmer and Jason Webley) Did The Decemberists have a tough time with their “story album”? The Lastlies: Caleb will be reading at Leela’s Cafe in Denver, Colorado on April 6th Buy Chris Deal’s Cienfuegos Buy Caleb J Ross’s Charactered Pieces: stories We welcome comments. We love them. We need them. You are free to leave comments here, but to really join the conversation, we invite you to post at this episode’s dedicated thread over at The Velvet Boards. literature, reading, writing, noir, fiction, The, Velvet, velvet, noir caleb@calebjross.com no no http://www.thevelvetpodcast.com/audio/episode-001-of-members-and-horse-nostrils/ http://www.thevelvetpodcast.com/audio/episode-001-of-members-and-horse-nostrils/#comments Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:53:02 +0000 Caleb J. Ross http://www.thevelvetpodcast.com/?p=1    Read More ...]]> http://www.thevelvetpodcast.com/audio/episode-001-of-members-and-horse-nostrils/feed/ 1 1:04:14   Online writing communities can seem, to outsiders, as a self-felicitating, collection of self-proclaimed capital-W “Writers,” appearing more cliquish than communal. To insiders, the writing community is a necessity. In this episode, three[...]   Online writing communities can seem, to outsiders, as a self-felicitating, collection of self-proclaimed capital-W “Writers,” appearing more cliquish than communal. To insiders, the writing community is a necessity. In this episode, three The Velvet members who have been on both the inside and the outside discuss the benefits and unfortunate hindrances of the writing community.   Episode Panelists: Caleb/thirstygerbil (Moderator) Gordon/Flash (Talkerator) Rob/MuttersomeTaxicab (Dominator) 00:08:23 The origin of the name “The Velvet” 00:09:09 Episode Topic: Why writing/reading communities? What are they? Why are/aren’t they important? What makes them work? What brings them to a grinding halt? 00:09:53 Rob doesn’t like Writers; “writers write!” 00:10:58 Passion is important 00:12:20 The importance of moderating 00:13:04 When a pissing contest overshadows the content 00:16:22 Rob still doesn’t like Writers 00:16:45 A bit of tongue-in-cheek whoring (ewwww…) 00:17:35 The community as a trusted taste-maker 00:18:25 Why don’t publishers create author forums? Should publishers model themselves like independent record labels? 00:20:45 How important is it for a writing community to have a workshopping arm? 00:22:02 Is a gatekeeper important? 00:25:50 Online vs. University critique groups 00:29:26 GOATSE! 00:30:08 Mount Olympus From a Huffington Post article titled Dudes Don’t Read: The Book Biz’s Self-Fulfilling Prophecy? The Velvet discusses all aspects of the topic So many books are written for women Men would read if publishers gave them a chance Book clubs are primarily made of up women (fist bump to the Lit Bitches) Chicken vs. Egg, where did the disparity start? Creating a market vs. riding trends 00:38:14 Publishers don’t know how to deal with the increasingly visual media landscape 00:39:14 Praise to Palahniuk for bringing men back 00:40:03 Novel in the age of cinema 00:41:41 Will publishers mistake technological advances as an evolution in reading? 00:43:56 Other Voices, Other Rooms Angel Falls by Michael Paul Gonzalez (Gordon/Flash) Inherent Vice by Thomas Pynchon (Rob/MuttersomTaxicab) Imaginative Qualities of Actual Things by Gilbert Sorrentino (Rob/MuttersomTaxicab) Optical Media by Friedrich Kittler (Rob/MuttersomTaxicab) Fugue State by Brian Evenson (Caleb/thirstygerbil) 00:50:07 Think Tank How should Rob approach a 2nd person perspective flash story? 00:58:22 Feel the Noise Brand New‘s new album Matthew Good Band | Beautiful Midnight (Canadian version) At The Drive In Tegan & Sara Sarah Slean (specifically her cover of “Climbing up the Walls” by Radiohead) Hide Your Daughters 01:01:44 The problem with moose head The Lastlies: Gordon and Caleb will be reading at Leela’s Cafe in Denver, Colorado on April 6th. National Novel Writing Month Buy Gordon Highland’s Major Inversions Buy Caleb J Ross’s Charactered Pieces: stories Rob recommends Fred Wah’s Waiting for Saskatchewan We welcome comments. We love them. We need them. You are free to leave comments here, but to really join the conversation, we invite you to post at this episode’s dedicated thread over at The Velvet Boards. literature, reading, writing, noir, fiction, The, Velvet, velvet, noir caleb@calebjross.com no no The Velvet PodcastnonadultMembers of The Velvet reading and writing community come together for roundtable discussions about a variety of topics from visual art to music to movies and of course books, including writing, reading, and the publishing industry, all organically connect