Kirk Farber

Book Titles Unexpected

2012-01-07T15:05:00.000-08:00

One of my favorite things about working in the Interlibrary Loan department of our library is exposure to odd book titles. Because we borrow items that our not currently in our massive collection, the unusual, intriguing and specific are frequent visitors.

The best ones are often do-it-yourself books.

Past favorites include How To Avoid Huge Ships and How To Shoot Your Children (even if it is a subtitle referring to photography).

This week brought this gem: Anyone Can Build a Tub-Style Mechanical Chicken Plucker.

Now, my sister raises chickens, and so do my next-door neighbors, and we have a shed in our backyard that used to be a coop and I'm tempted to raise a few myself, but this title was just so unexpected I thought I'd share.

So what's your favorite unexpected book title? Please share the random, ridiculous, or just plain awesome.

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Music - Lana Del Rey

2012-01-04T17:43:00.000-08:00

Well, since I claim to be blogging about books, writing, MUSIC and mayhem, I guess I could mention some music once in a while!

Just the other day I stumbled upon the song "Video Games" by Lana Del Rey. Wow. She's got a really smokey sultry voice going on. And I love the 60s Hollywood themed video. Cool, haunting tune.

Also digging her song "Diet Mtn Dew." Reminds me of Portishead and that Spy Movie vibe. Groovy, man.

Happy New Year

2012-01-01T18:40:00.000-08:00

It's the first day of 2012, and despite the threat of solar flares, economic collapse, and another election season, I am feeling pretty dang positive. That may have to do with my latest creative project: a baby girl! She's due in May. Pretty excited about that one, for sure.

I've also been scribbling more ideas down that I hope to unleash on the world in some form of story this year.

And while I've been doing that, several of my friends have been independently publishing their own stories, via ebooks. I got a Kindle for Christmas, so I can't wait to read them all!

If you're looking for new reading material, check these out. And I hope you have an amazing 2012. It's looking like it will be quite an adventure...

FAST LANE by Dave Thome
I met Dave at Redbird Studio in Milwaukee, and he was one of the first people to read Postcards from a Dead Girl both in its rough draft as well as its finished entirety. He's an excellent storyteller with a great sense of humor. His novel is a funny and fast-moving story in the realm of Sex in the City. He even has a blog about his experience writing it, aptly titled Man Writing a Romance.

RADICAL EQUATIONS by Robert Spiller
Bob is in my current writing critique group, and gives probably the most thorough critique I know, which is incredibly helpful. He doesn't pull any punches and is a very entertaining guy, much like his books. His latest is the 4th in his Bonnie Pinkwater mystery series that features a math teacher solving crimes.

THE MISSING LINK by Brandon Myers & Bryan Pedas
Bryan and Brandon are fellow Pikes Peak Writers--two very funny, wicked smart guys who have an absolute passion for writing, humor, and delicious beer. In addition to their first comic novel, which is about the mayhem following the end of the internet, these guys have a blog about writing and the publishing world called A Beer for the Shower. Check it out for some outrageous stuff.

I WAS A WHITE KNIGHT ONCE by Nathan Timmel
I've known Nathan since High School, and we even played in a band together in the 90s. He was the jumping bass player to my thrashing drums. Since then he went on to become a successful stand-up comedian, playing clubs all over the country, performing on USO tours, and being a guest on radio shows like Bob & Tom. His book is essentially a memoir about what kind of personality chooses to do stand-up. So while there are funny parts, it's not one of those funny comedian books. More of a look at turning a rough emotional life into a positive life by making others laugh.

Do you have any book recommendations for 2012? I'd love to hear them.

Happy Reading & Happy New Year

-Kirk

Postcards for $.99

2011-08-03T18:16:00.000-07:00

August is here, and that means summer mayhem! As part of the craziness, I'm excited to be included in Harper Perennial's summertime promotion, which is, actually, really kind of crazy.

In a good way.

Because...

Postcards from a Dead Girl is now available for only 99 cents for a limited time.

It's part of 20 Books for $20! Get yer digital copy of Postcards fer only 99 cents!

Check out the other authors, too. Some of my own personal favorites are there, like Josh Kilmer-Purcell, Marcy Dermansky and Dan Fante. See the full list of titles at the Olive Reader blog!

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2011 CBAs in Aspen

2011-06-27T11:55:00.000-07:00

Well, dang, not only did I get to spend the weekend in beautiful Aspen with a bunch of other authors and book lovers, but I won a Colorado Book Award for literary fiction!

I'm pretty stoked about this, and it's not just from the lack of oxygen at 8000 feet above sea level. This is really a great honor. Many thanks to Colorado Humanities and Center for the Book.

And congrats to all the other winners and finalists. It was wonderful meeting with you all and getting a chance to talk to many of you. What a great weekend.

The trip back home got even headier as we drove back over Independence Pass. Gasp.

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Colorado Book Awards

2011-05-06T15:50:00.000-07:00

Just recently found out that Postcards from a Dead Girl is a finalist for the Colorado Book Award for literary fiction. I am definitely very excited and honored.

The other finalists in the literary category are:

My Sisters Made of Light by Jacqueline St. Joan, Press 53

Fast Forward: The Mix Tape, edited by Nancy Stohlman, Fast Forward Press

Looking forward to meeting the other writers and artists in June during the Aspen Summer Words Literary Festival. Never been, should be fun.

Many thanks to Colorado Humanities for the nomination!

Mountain of Authors

2011-03-30T14:02:00.000-07:00

It's that time of year again.

Pikes Peak Library District is hosting their annual Mountain of Authors extravaganza. If you're in the Colorado Springs area, stop by East Library this Saturday, April 2nd, for a full day of writing goodness. Featuring a paranormal fiction panel, publishing panel, local author showcase, keynote speaker and book signing.

This year's keynote speaker is none other than Jerry B. Jenkins, author of the 70 million-selling Left Behind series.

Hope to see you there.

Line Zero - Issue Two

2011-01-24T20:57:00.000-08:00

The good folks at the Indie Arts journal Line Zero were nice enough to have me write an article for their second issue.

Now available for early order!

In Issue Two you'll find a review of my novel, Postcards from a Dead Girl, as well as my piece about instincts and taking risks with writing fiction.

Also included is an interview with Denver indie singer-songwriter Stephanie Mabey, an essay from author Sarah Martinez, a chat with the Tacoma Washington band VIII Days Clean, and much more.

Looks like a good one!

Keep an eye on this upcoming indie for new fiction as well as essays on writing, music, art, and photography.

Special thanks to Renda Dodge for the invite and review.

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Hometown Interview

2011-01-14T14:01:00.001-08:00

Thanks to Heather Krisman for this story/interview in my hometown newspaper, the Oconomowoc Focus!

http://www.livinglakecountry.com/oconomowocfocus/news/113370469.html

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Happy New Year

2010-12-31T14:40:00.000-08:00

Thanks so much for making 2010 such a great year! It's hard to believe Postcards from a Dead Girl came out only ten months ago.

I'm deeply grateful for everyone's support and encouragement throughout this entire year. From readers and writers, to booksellers, libraries and reviewers.

And of course to my agent, Sandra Bond, and most especially all the people at Harper Perennial for making my first completed manuscript my first published novel. Thank you!

Hope you have an amazing 2011.

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Holiday Fundraiser - Pikes Peak Writers

2010-12-09T17:57:00.001-08:00

Hey there, holiday shoppers. If you're out and about this weekend in Colorado Springs, stop by the Borders bookstore at Southgate. I'll be signing books with three other local authors--Parker Blue, Deanna Knippling, and Robin Owens.

It's all part of a fundraiser for Pikes Peak Writers. 1-5pm.

Click here for full information.

Hope to see you there!

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Writing Inspiration

2010-10-20T14:32:00.000-07:00

Here are a few of my favorite quotes about writing. They inspire me to keep on keepin' on.

“If there’s a book you really want to read, but it hasn’t been written yet, then you must write it.”
~Toni Morrison

"You must stay drunk on writing so reality cannot destroy you."
~Ray Bradbury

“Writing a book is a horrible, exhausting struggle, like a long bout of some painful illness. One would never undertake such a thing if one were not driven on by some demon whom one can neither resist nor understand.”
~George Orwell

“Just do it.”
~ Nike ad campaign

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UFOs Over China

2010-10-19T22:39:00.000-07:00

I must confess, I love hearing about the UFOs.

I’ve never seen one, but the latest story about UFOs hovering over a Chinese airport got my blood pumping. I mean, it shut down an airport for three hours. And that was the eighth episode in China since June. Why do they get all the UFOs?

Well, okay, we had the floater over O'Hare airport that left a hole in the clouds. And just last week there was a report of shiny objects over Manhattan.

But there always seems to be an explanation. Swamp gas. Ball lightning. Optical illusions.

But what about the Phoenix Lights phenomena, where thousands of people reported seeing a silent, mile-long craft over their city? That was no Good Year blimp. So what, then?

I figure, our best case scenario is that benevolent multi-dimensional beings are watching over us, keeping us from nuking the planet, like the ones USAF personnel recently reported.

And worst case, we’ve got some meddling humans spending loads of money to do scary things with secret technology for who knows what.

Maybe it’s both.

Or maybe it’s all in our imagination.

Maybe we just need a novel distraction from our hectic, mundane lives, and flying saucers do the trick.

But with all these reports coming out about possible extraterrestrial life all over the universe, I gotta wonder.

What do you think? Have you ever seen a UFO?

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Going to the Movies. The Social Network.

2010-10-18T17:56:00.000-07:00

I love going to the movies. The whole ritual of it. Standing in line outside the box office. The smell of the popcorn in the lobby. Paying too much for Junior Mints at the concession booth and knowing the entire box will be eaten before the previews are over.

Every once in a great while you‘ll find that the entire place is yours. Not a seat taken. An empty house. Your own private movie theater.

Such was the case when we went to see The Social Network last night. It was the Sunday late show, so I didn’t think there would be too many people there, but lo and behold—empty.

Once the projector rolled, we kicked off the shoes, put our feet up on the seats, and began rapid consumption of Junior Mints as the previews rolled on. This was a successful night regardless of how the movie turned out.

Lucky for us, The Social Network delivered. And while it was sort of odd watching a movie about social networking with nobody else in the theatre, I thoroughly enjoyed it, and highly recommend it. Even if you’re not on Facebook or Twitter or Youtube or any other social network. It’s really a story about friendship and ambition and greed, and it’s fascinating. With Aaron Sorkin on script duty, there is a lot of talking, but David Fincher keeps a His Girl Friday pace going, so it moves right along.

I still can’t my head around the fact that in the past six years, Facebook has acquired 500 million users and is worth 25 billion dollars. And it was all created by a 20-year old. Amazing.

And as far as the movie goes, if I had a “Like” button, I would click it.

Because often the best part of going to the movies is the leaving, and having something really interesting to talk about on the way home.

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Kindles and Nooks and iPads, Oh My

2010-09-25T08:30:00.001-07:00

I've been reading a lot about eReaders these days. One article that stood out was how 30 million people in the U.S. will own eReaders by 2015.

Zoinks! That's an incredible number.

This, on top of the news that ebooks outsold real books last Christmas, and this summer the news that ebooks outsold hardcovers by 50% according to Amazon.

Seems the digital revolution is upon us.

With Kindles coming down to a very reasonable $139, I can see why people are snapping them up. And I'm not much of a "gadget guy" but when I finally saw the Nook and Kindle and iPad in person, I became suddenly enamored. I must have one.

So I'm taking recommendations. Kindles? Nooks? iPads? Sony Readers?

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Colorado State University

2010-09-17T12:48:00.000-07:00

Had a great time at Colorado State University's Pueblo campus for their Southern Colorado Reading Series last night. Thanks everybody for coming out! Special thanks to Juan J. Morales for inviting me, and to his graduate fiction class for having me as a guest.

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The Irony of Impossible

2010-08-19T15:49:00.000-07:00

I'm sharing some thoughts about the odds of getting published over at the Guide to Literary Agents blog today. Stop by, say hello, or add a comment if you like. Thanks to Chuck Sambuchino for having me as a guest.

Read the blog here.

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Largehearted Boy

2010-08-12T11:45:00.000-07:00

Largehearted Boy recently invited me to be part of their Book Notes series. I'm really excited about this, as it's a series where authors create and discuss a music playlist that relates in some way to their recently published book. How fun is that?

You can read my playlist here.

Check out the other author playlists while you're there. Cool stuff.

Many thanks to Largehearted Boy.

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One More Time! Denver Local Bestseller List

2010-07-27T14:04:00.000-07:00

Postcards from a Dead Girl made it back on Denver's local bestseller list this week at #4!

Many thanks to the students at the Denver Publishing Institute who bought copies after I spoke at The Tattered Cover (They weren't required to buy any, I promise!) and anyone else who took a chance on the quirky orange book with the little guy in the window.

What a wonderful surprise on this hot July day.

PAPERBACK FICTION

1. The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo,by Stieg Larsson, $14.95

2. The Girl Who Played With Fire, by Stieg Larsson, $15.95

3. Little Bee,by Chris Cleave, $14

4. Postcards from a Dead Girl,by Kirk Farber, $13.99

5. Cutting for Stone,by Abraham Verghese, $15.95

The Denver area's best-selling books, according to information from the Tattered Cover Book Store, Barnes & Noble in Greenwood Village, the Boulder Book Store and Borders Books at Arapahoe Crossings.

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Denver Publishing Institute

2010-07-17T11:54:00.000-07:00

This past Monday & Tuesday I was fortunate enough to spend some time with the students at the Denver Publishing Institute, an intense 4-week course at Denver University.

I did a talk and reading/signing at The Tattered Cover Monday evening, and then sat on a panel with my literary agent Sandra Bond. We discussed "How a Book is Born." Karl Weber, the editor of Food Inc and many other books, was the moderator.

I had an incredible time. It was an honor to be around such wonderful, intelligent people. The students were fantastic, and the staff were most generous and inviting.

Many thanks to DPI for having me be a part of your program. And best of luck to you students who will be the next editors, agents, writers, and book marketers of the industry!

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Songs inspiring Books - The Silver Seas

2010-07-17T11:16:00.000-07:00

When I first saw The Silver Seas (formerly The Bees) play in Nashville, I immediately loved their sound and songwriting. Their breezy pop sensibility immediately hooked me, and so I bought their CD Starry Gazey Pie right at the show. Then I listened to it over and over and over.

One of the songs, "Letters from the Dead," ended up inspiring the idea for Postcards from a Dead Girl. So I'm a big fan in more ways than one.

That's why I'm very excited to announce that they are re-releasing Starry Gazey Pie on Amazon and iTunes for only $4.99! This coincides with the release of their latest CD Chateau Revenge, which I've been listening to and enjoying immensely.

It's always a good feeling to tell your friends about a great book or a great band, and today I'm happy to spread the word about The Silver Seas.

Do you have any music/book recommendations to share for the summer?

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M West article online

2010-07-17T11:03:00.000-07:00

The M West Magazine article about me and "Postcards" that originally ran in the May 2010 issue is now available online for your reading pleasure.

Also, a full color photo of me trying to see through a book. Thanks to Dan Bishop for the creative photography.

Swapna Krishna - Insatiable Reader

2010-06-28T22:03:00.000-07:00

Many thanks to S. Krishna's Books for the really nice review of Postcards from a Dead Girl. Her tag line "thoughts from an insatiable reader" is no joke. How does she read so many books?! I'm happy to be one of them.

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Crested Butte, Colorado

2010-06-28T21:56:00.000-07:00

I heard about a disease people get from vacationing in places so beautiful they are psychologically incapable of handling it. Their intimate contact with pure unadulterated beauty makes them come apart at the seams. This may be such a place.

Penrose 1905 Carnegie Garden

2010-06-06T20:49:00.000-07:00

Hey, on Tuesday I'll be in Colorado Springs at the Pikes Peak Library District's beautiful Penrose 1905 Carnegie Garden at 5:30pm, talking about the process of getting a book published.

PPLD has dubbed it "A Conversation with Kirk Farber," which is nice, because I'm interested in what questions you might have about publishing or writing or anything really. It should be a fun, casual time.

So come on down and join me. I'm pretty sure there will be refreshments, and the weather in Colorado Springs on an early evening in June can't be beat. Hope to see you there.

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Pikes Peak Writers Fundraiser

2010-05-29T07:36:00.001-07:00

This afternoon I'll be at the Briargate Barnes & Noble in Colorado Springs signing books to help raise money for the Pikes Peak Writers Fundraiser. 2-4pm. Please come on down, grab an iced coffee, and say hello. Or check out a free workshop!

Here's more about this weekend's fundraiser, from PPW rep DeAnna Knippling:

Please come and help us raise money for the 2011 PPW Conference Scholarship Fund at the book signing at the Briargate Barnes and Noble store on May 29 and 30 at 2 p.m.

Here's what we'll have:

May 29:
Book signings by Kirk Farber, with Postcards from a Dead Girl, and Nancy Williams (Wisgirda), with Hawkmoon (from 2-4) Workshop by Ron Heimbecher, on Social Media and Marketing (from 2-3)

May 30:
Book signing by Carol Hightshoe with Chaos Challenged and other books (from 2-4) Workshop by Carol on Suspending Disbelief (from 2-3)

When you purchase anything from the Briargate Barnes and Nobles store in Colorado Springs from May 29 to June 2 (Wednesday), let them know that you're participating in the PPW Fundraiser OR show them our voucher. If you don't have a voucher, the clerks at the registers should have the codes at their registers regardless.

Depending on how much money we raise, PPW gets at least 10% of the total.

Consider buying a mocha at the cafe--that counts, too.

Thank you so much, and our scholarship recipients thank you, too :)

Denver PBS - KBDI

2010-05-24T15:18:00.000-07:00

The Denver PBS arts show "In Focus" with Eden Lane aired an episode about the Pikes Peak Writers Conference last night. The three interviews included me, talking about Postcards from a Dead Girl, local author and friend Cicily Janus, promoting her upcoming release The New Face of Jazz, and an interview with agent Scott Hoffman from Folio Literary Management.

If you're interested in how first books get published, the new jazz, or what a top literary agent has to say about what he's looking for, this is definitely worth a watch. The show replays this Wednesday.

Thanks, Eden, for the great interview!

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Bookstore Sighting

2010-05-19T15:46:00.000-07:00

My friends Andrew & Jenn spotted Postcards as a staff pick in WI last night. Thanks to the good people at the Brookfield B&N!

If anyone out in blogland spots Postcards in stores, I'd love to hear about it. Shoot me the pic and I'll post it on my blog. Send to: kirk(at)kirkfarber(dot)com

Thanks!

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Half Deserted Streets reviews Postcards

2010-05-19T15:39:00.000-07:00

Wanted to share this really nice review of POSTCARDS from Half Deserted Streets. It's always so great to hear positive feedback. And I also appreciate the link love. Thanks, Half Deserted Streets!

Almost let this one slip away. It's from late April, but here's the link.

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Bookreporter.com guest blog - Mother's Day

2010-05-11T22:48:00.000-07:00

Stephen Bedford at Bookreporter.com recently asked me to write a tribute piece for their Mother's Day blog series which is now up and can be READ HERE.

The other entries are primarily authors and their mothers talking about writing and books and creativity. Fun stuff. See what Cokie Roberts, Janet Evanovich, Robert Dugoni and others have to say. READ THE FULL ARCHIVE.

Special thanks to Stephen--who I met through the Denver Publishing Institute--for the opportunity to be part of this series.

M West magazine in May

2010-05-11T22:29:00.000-07:00

Hey, the nice folks at M West put me on the cover of their magazine this month!

They also wrote a really great article about writers who came from the Lake Country area in southeastern Wisconsin, including Josh-Kilmer Purcell, David Wroblewski, and Kris Radish.

Many thanks to Kirsten Korosec for the nice story, Dan Bishop for the cool photography magic, and editor Amy Siewert for making it all happen.

No digital versions are available, but you can pick up a copy if you live in the area: M West.

Postcards from a Book Tour

2010-04-26T18:02:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Ian T. Healy for having me as a guest on his blog this weekend, where I talk about book tour anxiety, clean teeth, and the streets of San Francisco.

Postcards from a Book Tour

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Pikes Peak Writers Conference

2010-04-23T12:06:00.000-07:00

Looking forward to the Pikes Peak Writers Conference all this weekend, right here in Colorado Springs at the Marriott.

On Saturday, I'll be at:
8:30, on the New Authors panel.
2:00, at the bookstore signing.
3:50, part of a panel about social networking. Hoping to learn a few things myself at that one.

Hope to see some old friends and make some new ones.

Two Free Library Events this Weekend

2010-04-08T13:55:00.000-07:00

Looking forward to two great library events this weekend.

On Saturday, I'll be participating in “Mountain of Authors” at PPLD in Colorado Springs.

It’s Pikes Peak Library District’s fourth annual writing & publishing event held at East Library. If you love to read or want to learn more about writing, this is a great event. And it’s FREE. No registration required.

Highlights include a panel on Getting Your First Book Published (my agent Sandra Bond and I will be on this one), a panel on Genre Fiction, and New York Times best-selling author Margaret Coel is the Keynote Speaker.

Also featuring an Author Showcase and Book Signing Reception.

Other authors scheduled to be there: Nancy Atherton, M.J. Brett, Laura Reeve, Rod Summit, Beth Groundwater, and many more. Hope to see you there.

Get the full low-down here.

ON SUNDAY, in Englewood, Colorado, I'll be at the Englewood Library with 59 other authors. Come out and say hello.

Meet the Faces Behind the Books
Sunday, April 11 - 1:00 - 3:00 p.m.
Englewood Library • 1000 Englewood Parkway
The 11th annual “Meet the Faces Behind the Books” program for Colorado Authors will be held in the library. There will be 60 authors present.

Bookfoolery and Babble

2010-04-01T20:14:00.000-07:00

I love this review from Bookfoolery and Babble: http://bit.ly/b3Z01k

She liked the book so much she kindly asked me to do a guest blog. Read my musings on postcards here: http://bit.ly/b54o4I

Thanks, Bookfool!

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Maria's Bookshop video interview

2010-03-30T13:41:00.000-07:00

The wonderful folks at Maria's Bookshop in Durango, Colorado, recently did a video interview with me about POSTCARDS FROM A DEAD GIRL: http://bit.ly/d5AY9q

And if you love obscure, fascinating words, make sure to check out their new video feature "THE WORD." Starring Shay, with cameos by Libby, Joe, Joni, David, and Jeanne--master of video.

http://www.mariasbookshop.com

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Colorado Springs Independent story

2010-03-26T13:04:00.001-07:00

Huge thanks to Bill Forman and the Colorado Springs Independent for featuring me and Postcards from a Dead Girl in this week's paper.

Kirk Farber Goes Postal

Love that title.

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Cool News from Seattle

2010-03-24T14:41:00.000-07:00

Just found out Postcards from a Dead Girl is a bestseller at Fremont Place Books in Seattle!

Very cool!

Thanks, Fremont Place Books and Seattle readers.

Seattle Graphics & Seattle Pictures

Good Times in Wisco

2010-03-19T18:18:00.000-07:00

Well, it was a whirlwind homecoming last week in Wisconsin. I can’t say enough thanks to everyone who came out to support me and my book. It really was something. Special thanks to Vanessa Hope Schneider at Harper for keeping me busy with such great bookstores and media visits.

Some highlights…

Fox 6 Wake-Up News - Mark Concannon interviewed me at an incredibly early hour, but I had a blast talking with him about the book. He was very enthusiastic and easy to talk with. A great guy. See the interview. Thanks, Robyn Turner!

Lake Effect - I had a wonderful conversation with Stephanie Lecci at local radio station WUWM.

Milwaukee Midweek – Ann Dekorsi and I talked in-depth about Postcards on WMSE’s 91.7FM. See the March 10th stream.

Next Chapter Bookshop – What a great turnout for my first bookstore visit back home. Owner Lanora Hurley gave me a fantastic introduction, and was an excellent host. So nice to see old friends and even nicer to see strangers. This is a great store up in Mequon.

Morning Blend – Another TV visit! This time with I was interviewed by Molly Faye & Tiffany Ogle. Very nice hosts, really great to talk with. Also, TMJ-4 had a green room, producers, interns, and a killer set. Very smooth operation. See the interview.

Barnes & Noble Brookfield – Stopped by this B&N and visited with Sadie, Mary Lou, Carol, and several others. They all took the time to talk with me about Postcards from a Dead Girl. It was invigorating to hang out with such a great group of passionate booksellers.

Boswell Book Company – Another really nice turnout. Owner Daniel Goldin has transformed the store into an open, inviting space, and there aren’t too many booksellers out there with more enthusiasm. Boswell really rocks. My Redbird Studio writing “coach” Judy Bridges gave me a wonderful introduction, and it was great to see other writers from the roundtable group there. Side note: all my ex-bandmates were there together, which was very cool to see.

Redbird Studio Publishing Panel - Sat on a panel about getting published and ended up learning a tremendous amount about marketing, social media, self-publishing, and the Kindle. Thanks to other panelists: Shannon Jackson Arnold, Karen McQuestion,Eva Augustin Rumpf and Stacey Kannenberg. Also had some interesting conversations with other Redbird writers about the different paths people are on to get their work in print.

Books & Company - The really big homecoming happened in my hometown of Oconomowoc. Over 50 people came out to celebrate the publication of my novel, and I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t a little overwhelming. In a positive way, of course. Family, friends, neighbors, old classmates, people in the community. It was a packed house. Owner Lisa Baudoin even catered the event with wine and h’ors doeurves and desserts. Felt more like a party. Thanks, Lisa, for hosting such an incredible night.

Bookworks in Albuquerque

2010-03-19T17:55:00.000-07:00

I drove solo to Albuquerque's Bookworks to read near beautiful Sandia Peak. Thanks to Rebecca for setting up a really nice event, and getting some cool press in ABQ Journal, as well as Miranda Gonzalez's article in Alibi. The audience here was really fun to talk with, had tons of great questions, and I even got to speak with a couple of other writers afterward. A fun night.

By the way--what a great store! If you're ever in New Mexico, make sure to visit Bookworks.

I snapped a couple pics of their welcome with my phone...

Barnes & Noble - Colorado Springs

2010-03-19T17:40:00.000-07:00

My visit to Barnes & Noble right here in Colorado Springs had a great turnout. Thanks to everyone who stopped by on such a sunny day when you could have been hiking. Special thanks to Lora for her warm welcome and enthusiastic support of Postcards.

New Reviews for Postcards

2010-03-18T20:32:00.000-07:00

Some wonderful new book reviews came in while I was traveling in the Midwest last week, ya know. And good news is always fun to share.

A.V. CLUB
Grade: A-
Farber delivers dark insights into Sid’s damaged soul with a quick, torrid prose that creates a strong empathy for Sid. The great energy of Postcards comes from its simple portrayal of love’s manic grip, life’s absurdity, and death’s paralyzing gaze.
Read the Full Review.

DURANGO HERALD NEWS
Postcards from a Dead Girl is a gripping and stunning debut novel from Kirk Farber, a newly transplanted Coloradan. Open the first page and enter Sid's world. Bam! You are now in Sid's head, and it's a very strange place. Thus begins a story that is engaging, compelling, tragic and comic.
Read the Full Review.

STEELE ON ENTERTAINMENT
Infused with dark sarcasm and witty humor, Postcards from a Dead Girl is a fabulous and extraordinarily written debut novel from Kirk Farber. Biting, disturbing and hysterical. Trust me: it’s a winning combination.
Read the Full Review.

WINSTONSDAD BLOG
This is Kirk Farber’s debut novel and what a novel to debut with. It is a long time since I've read a book that has so engrossed me. I read this in one day.
Read the Full Review.

Wisconsin On Deck - A Great Week Ahead

2010-03-03T22:48:00.000-08:00

Really looking forward to getting back to Wisco next week. Time has been flying, and soon I'll be back home again. Here's what's on deck...

Tuesday, March 9th, 7pm
Next Chapter Bookshop, Mequon
Reading, Q&A, Signing

Wednesday, March 10th, 7pm
Boswell Book Company, Milwaukee
Reading, Q&A, Signing

Thursday, March 11th, 6:30pm
Redbird Studio, Milwaukee
Getting Published in 2010: Panel of Local Authors

Saturday, March 13th, 7:30pm
Books & Company, Oconomowoc

Colorado Springs B&N - Citadel

2010-03-03T22:24:00.000-08:00

Hey Colorado Springs friends,

If you get a chance, please stop by the Barnes & Noble by The Citadel on Saturday. I'll be doing a reading at 2pm.

Hope to see you there!

Albuquerque

2010-03-03T22:22:00.000-08:00

Headed to Bookworks in Albuquerque tomorrow. Can't wait to visit the store and get a look at a watermelon sunset at Sandia Peak.

Denver Post Bestseller!

2010-03-03T22:16:00.000-08:00

This week I got some amazing news. Postcards from a Dead Girl made it to the #3 spot on the Denver Post local bestseller list. Not much else to say, except we're very excited about it. Thanks to the folks at Tattered Cover and Boulder Bookstore, and to all you readers who bought a copy. You really made a dream come true this week.

Beautiful Book Review from Sasha & The Silverfish

2010-02-24T15:29:00.000-08:00

Sasha & The Silverfish reviewed POSTCARDS FROM A DEAD GIRL today, and had lots of goodness to share. Here's one of my favorites:

"These are odd times that Sid chronicles, and I’m glad I’m with him for the ride–because, really, we need voices in our head to tell us that as absurd as things tend to seem, as heartbreaking as they actually are, there’s always something out there that will make us breathless, make us realize that the world doesn’t have to be a terrible place."

Wow. Many thanks, Sasha.

Read the Full Review HERE

*

POSTCARDS jacket artist: Marc Johns

2010-02-24T15:00:00.000-08:00

Artist Marc Johns was the illustrator for the cover of POSTCARDS FROM A DEAD GIRL. I think he did a smashing job, and many folks have told me the same. He recently wrote about it on his blog: http://bit.ly/ceiFrW

If you liked the cover art on Postcards, then you'll really dig his book of Serious Drawings: http://bit.ly/bXt3eb

Take some time and visit the rest of his shop. There are original drawings, post-it note drawings, and prints, all with his signature humor. Something for everyone!

A wonderful review from Blogcritics

2010-02-21T22:01:00.000-08:00

Blogcritics.org gave Postcards from a Dead Girl a fantastic review today.

The full review can be read here: http://bit.ly/bKy2mr

But I posted their final thoughts below...

From Blogcritics.org:
When I began reading Postcards from a Dead Girl, I thought “this is why I read.” Kirk Farber is a gifted story-teller. He leads us down a dark path, then lets us see the sunlight. Told with familiarity, the story feels right from beginning to end. Readers may suspect what’s coming, but the denouement makes us feel more “aaaah,” then “aha.” Since this is Farber’s first novel, we look forward (as Sid must) to what is to come.

Bottom Line: Would I buy Postcards from a Dead Girl? Absolutely.

Coming Up: Boulder Bookstore!

2010-02-20T09:47:00.000-08:00

Really looking forward to visiting Boulder Bookstore on Monday night. Boulder is such a beautiful city, and their indie bookstore is amazing. Hope you get a chance to stop by. They’re right on the Pearl Street Mall at 1107 Pearl Street.

http://boulderbookstore.indiebound.com/event/kirk-farber-postcards-dead-girl

Redbird Studio’s Warm WI Welcome

2010-02-20T09:25:00.000-08:00

Just yesterday, Redbird Studio founder Judy Bridges posted this update about my return to Milwaukee: http://www.redbirdstudio.com/RBNewsPages/2-19-news-flash.htm

I’m very grateful for such a warm welcome. If you’re going to be in the Milwaukee area March 9th-13th, I sure hope you can come out and say hello.

I’ll be at Next Chapter Book Shop in Mequon (3/9), Boswell Book Company on Milwaukee's East side (3/10), and Books and Company in Oconomowoc (3/13).

And a special night that Thursday (3/11) because Redbird Studio is hosting a panel of local writers who will talk about their experiences getting published in 2010. Including: Douglas W Jacobsen, Karen McQuestion, Shannon Jackson Arnold, Eva Augustin Rumpf, Stacey Kannenberg, and myself. Judy Bridges will host and moderate.

If you’re a writer, or just interested in how the publishing world works, definitely check this out. Should be a great night!

Book Successfully Launched - Tattered Cover

2010-02-19T16:57:00.000-08:00

Thanks to the Tattered Cover, and specifically Joyce Meskis and Lisa Casper, my debut novel successfully launched on Wednesday night at the historic LoDo store in downtown Denver, Colorado.

Many friends, fellow writers, Denver Publishing Institute grads, and new faces were there to join me. I had an amazing time, and couldn't have asked for a better turnout. Thanks so much for all your support.

Thanks also to Vanessa (Harper) and Charles (Tattered Cover), working behind the scenes. It was a great night!

Fictionaut Five!

2010-02-19T16:45:00.001-08:00

Meg Pokrass over at Fictionaut--a literary community for adventurous readers & writers-- was kind enough to have me as part of the "Fictionaut Five" interview series this week. I got to talk about mentors, websites, and creative tricks.

Read the interview HERE.

Thank you, Fictionaut!

Humor & Heavy Things - Reading Group Guides

2010-02-19T16:40:00.000-08:00

I was invited to guest blog this week over at Readinggroupguides.com, the online community for reading groups. If you're looking for something to read and discuss with your group, this is the place.

In my entry, I talk about Humor, Heavy Things, and The Unexplained.

Thanks, Reading Group Guides!

Postcards from a Dead Girl RELEASED TODAY!

2010-02-16T06:37:00.000-08:00

Well, the novel is officially out today. And thanks to some fancy internet technology, you can now take an early look by using the cool "Browse Inside" feature below. Take a look!

Browse Inside this book

Get this for your site

March 2010 Indie Next selection - Postcards is Indiebound

2010-02-01T06:43:00.000-08:00

Some great news this morning.

The March 2010 "Indie Next" list will include Postcards from a Dead Girl.

Here's the official news from the American Bookseller's Association headlines.

This is a huge honor, as this monthly Top 20 list is chosen by over 1,000 independent booksellers across the country. Many thanks to those indie bookstores!

You can view the current list on the Indiebound website.

Special thanks to Chris Grabish from MacDonald Book Shop in Estes Park for her wonderful quote.

Postcards From a Dead Girl: A Novel by Kirk Farber
(Harper Perennial, $13.99 paper, 9780061834479)
"Kirk Farber's quirky debut novel explores themes of love, loss, grief, and what they do to our psyches. Told via the darkly hilarious actions and musings of the hapless Sid as he tries to solve the mystery of a series of postcards from his dead?, missing?... or not, girlfriend. A great read!" --Chris Grabish, MacDonald Book Shop, Estes Park, CO

Writing Groups & Quantum Leaps

2010-01-29T18:57:00.000-08:00

Several years ago, I had this weird idea for a novel. I wrote a lot of pages of this novel, but then I wasn’t sure how it was really going. I couldn’t take it into a creative writing class for feedback, because I'd already graduated college years earlier. And while I had one or two friends who were willing to take a look at it, I felt like I needed something more--something to stoke the fires, to keep me working and believing in this imaginary story I was writing in silence, alone in my room.

Enter the writing group idea.

One of my favorite authors, Chuck Palahniuk, was always talking about his Portland writing group in interviews I read. And when I saw him live, again, his advice to new writers--you should try to find a writing group. He made it sound fun and helpful, and really, invaluable. This was the next step.

So I searched the independent paper in Milwaukee and found an ad for a place called Redbird Studio. They met every other week, and read pages aloud, and gave critiques.

I went to my first session, admittedly very nervous about what they might think of my pages, and also worried what they might think of my feedback. It’s a risk to “get yourself out there” and share your creative side, and I had never read my stuff out loud, to strangers, who were armed with sharpened pencils.

But I’m so glad I took that risk, because it was exactly what I was looking for--a room full of people who all had their own novels, short stories, memoirs, and screenplays to share. People who just wanted to be writers.

(Funny thing, I attended Redbird regularly for almost three years before we moved out of town, and not until my very last week did anyone ask me what I did for a living. They were only interested in what I was writing. I always loved that.)

I really felt like my writing took a quantum leap after my first week there. The bi-weekly schedule gave me time to work on new pages alone, but was frequent enough to keep me on task. The feedback was invaluable because not only was I hearing from ten other writers, I was getting gut-level responses from ten other readers. And the environment was always encouraging while still critical, a tone set by founder Judy Bridges.

So now that weird idea for a novel is going to be published in two weeks. On the shelves. A dream come true. And I have to say, if it weren’t for that writing group, I don’t know that I would have finished it. They certainly made the whole process much more enjoyable. And I made some great friends to boot.

Now that I live in Colorado, I'm part of a great writer's group called Pikes Peak Writers, and attending their events is what ultimately lead to me meeting my agent. Networking, it turns out, is best done with other people.

So if you’re out there, writing, alone in your room, and you have a weird idea for a novel but you’re not quite sure how to get it off the ground, I highly recommend checking out a writing group in your town. Take the risk and share your work. They just might take you on a quantum leap.

* * *

I’ll be back at Redbird Studio on Thursday, March 11th, talking on a panel with five other local writers about Getting Published in 2010. Hope you can stop by if you’re in Milwaukee.

Colorado Kick-Off

2010-01-20T19:52:00.000-08:00

Hey, Colorado friends--Save the Date! Four weeks from tonight, Wednesday, Feb 17th, I'm honored to be launching my debut novel at Denver's amazing Tattered Cover in LoDo. 7:30pm. Hope you can make it! I'd love to see you there.

Maybe you might even join me afterward at nearby Wynkoop Brewing Co for some celebration, conversation, and delicious libation.

Soon after, I'll be at the Boulder Bookstore on Monday, Feb 22nd, in, you guessed it--beautiful Boulder, Colorado. Right down on the Pearl Street Mall.

Many more dates to follow and my full event schedule is also now up on my website. Hope you can find your way out to one of my events.

More to come, including my thoughts on writing groups, and some really exciting news...

Kirk reviewed by Kirkus, and a great new quote.

2010-01-11T14:58:00.000-08:00

Kirkus Reviews reviewed my novel in their most recent and final edition. Here's some of what they had to say:

"A witty, tormented hero surrounded by fascinating, compassionate supporting characters makes this slender debut a surprisingly compulsive read."

Also, one of my favorite authors, Josh Kilmer-Purcell, who wrote the bestselling memoir I AM NOT MYSELF THESE DAYS and the very funny CANDY EVERYBODY WANTS, gave the book a wonderful quote:

"Dark. Funny. Bizarre. Mysterious. Fantastic. Kirk Farber’s Postcards from a Dead Girl is a polished gem. Farber’s uniquely quirky protagonist reflects our own personal obsessions, pinning us in limbo while simultaneously prodding us towards adventure."

Publisher's Weekly also did a review this week, calling it a "poignant, funny" debut.

More news soon about bookstore appearances and perhaps something in the general mayhem category...

Official Cover is up!

2010-01-08T16:41:00.000-08:00

The official cover is up on Harper Collins' website, and should be showing itself online at places like Indiebound, Amazon, and B&N soon. (Pre-order now!)

I think the cover design is really great. It was done by the artist Marc Johns, who has a growing collection of odd, humorous drawings. See more at his site: marcjohns.com

It's now prominently featured at the top of my blog, but you can see a larger version HERE.

Final book event dates, review news, and a great quote coming soon...!

Coming Soon...

2009-12-12T12:08:00.000-08:00

Now that winter has returned to a reasonable 40F and my fingers can move again, I wanted to share some goings-on with my first novel, POSTCARDS FROM A DEAD GIRL.

Looks like a book tour is shaping up, thanks to the wonderful people at Harper Perennial. Highlights so far include a book launch in February at Denver's famed TATTERED COVER, a March trip to Berkeley's new BOOKS INC, and of course a visit home to Wisconsin with Milwaukee's BOSWELL BOOK COMPANY. I'll post more details soon.

Also, my final cover art is just around the corner! Hopefully next week. More soon.

Author Fest of the Rockies

2009-10-09T16:52:00.001-07:00

Well, last week's "Author Fest of the Rockies" turned out to be a lot of fun. Met lots of new folks, drank some literary branded wine at D'Vine Wine's kick-off party, talked to students at Manitou Springs High School, and attended a couple of great sessions on social networking and teen fiction.

I also gave my own presentation on getting my first novel published. Over 40 people showed up with lots of great questions and feedback. Many thanks!

Also thanks to Author Fest of the Rockies, Black Cat Books and Cliff House for a wonderful two days by the mountains.

Back to School

2009-10-01T15:49:00.000-07:00

Had fun visiting with Mrs. Wecks’s class and Mrs. Holladay’s class today at Manitou Springs High School for Authorfest of the Rockies week. We talked about writing, banned books, and even a little bit about music.

Thanks for all the questions and the cool shirt! And thanks Ron Cree (author of Desert Blood) for keeping the conversation going.

THE GREAT LAKES READER

2009-10-01T15:11:00.000-07:00

Now on the shelves at your local independent bookstore—THE GREAT LAKES READER.

A collection of essays written by local booksellers and librarians. Edited by the estimable Carl Lennertz.

My essay about living in Wisconsin is in there (even though I live in CO now).

Stop into your local indie bookstore and buy a copy! This book benefits the American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression, and who doesn’t like those guys???

Mountains & Plains

2009-09-26T10:07:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I attended my first book trade show, the Mountains & Plains Independent Book Sellers Association (MPIBA).

What a great experience--two giant conference rooms filled with books and people who love selling, reading, writing, and talking about them.

I met so many wonderful people: booksellers, publishers, agents, authors. I also got to meet the HarperCollins reps who are working hard getting the word out--thanks Bob for making Postcards your rep pick!

Also signed advanced reading copies for interested independent booksellers. Can't wait to stop into all these regional stores and say hello next spring. What a great group of passionate book people.

Support these independent bookstores--visit INDIE BOUND

Here Comes the Snow!

2009-09-25T12:39:00.001-07:00

Living in Colorado has developed in me an unhealthy obsession with snow. Just this week, the snow has begun to fall. And while it's only in the mountains for now, it's there on the peak, staring back at me, letting me know it's time to start thinking of powder days. I can't wait.

Literary vs Mainstream

2009-09-13T11:06:00.000-07:00

I just read a great blog & discussion titled "Why Must the Novel Be Boring?" over at author Alexander Chee's blog: http://koreanish.com/2009/09/09/why-must-the-novel-be-boring/

Good question.

Do you find literary novels to be boring? And what the heck is a "literary" novel anyway? I never understood that term.

Wikipedia says: In broad terms, literary fiction focuses more on style, psychological depth, and character, whereas mainstream commercial fiction (the page-turner) focuses more on narrative and plot.

I guess I like ALL of that in a novel. What's that called?

American Icon 5

2009-08-15T18:54:00.000-07:00

Last night I attended the Pikes Peak Writer's "American Icon" contest--the writing/reading equivalent to American Idol. Held at the Marriott Hotel here in Colorado Springs, American Icon has twenty local writers read two-minute segments in front of a panel of guest judges--an agent, author, and publisher.

This year had a huge amount of talent, and was a highly entertaining night. Contestants' excerpts ranged from urban fantasy and science fiction to creative non-fiction and literary fiction.

The Overall prize went to Samuel A. Johnson, for his mainstream fiction excerpt called "The Evangelist in the Bathtub." And the Audience Favorite went to Erin Spradlin for her humorous essay "Mazel tov!"

(Okay, I actually read too--an excerpt from my upcoming novel--as the winner in 2007, I was invited back to start off the night with a guest reading.)

If you'd like to take part in American Icon 6, contact Pikes Peak Writers. It's a fun chance to get immediate feedback on your writing from professionals, possibly win some great prizes like literary agent critiques, and socialize with other writers.

Thanks, PPW, for putting on another great event.

Cryptic Message from Kirk

2009-08-02T19:00:00.000-07:00

A Book Deal for Litpark creator!

2009-07-19T10:35:00.000-07:00

I've been reading Susan Henderson's LITPARK blog for a couple of years now. She interviews people who can speak to issues like writer’s block, fear of public speaking, professional jealousy, deadlines, etc.

If you're a writer or artist, or interested in the arts in any way, you'll probably find some inspiration or support there. It's a great place to vent or celebrate or just read some darn good interviews with bestselling authors, photographers, you name it.

So I'm happy to share some celebratory news about Susan. She just got a book deal with Harper Perennial for her novel THE RUBY CUP. Very excited for her. I happen to share an affinity for her publisher, so that's a bonus. ;)

Congrats, Susan. Can't wait to buy a copy.

Happy Birthday, Nikola Tesla

2009-07-10T14:31:00.001-07:00

Nikola Tesla was an inventor and electrical engineer born on this day in 1856. His contributions to society included amazing things like A/C current, wireless communication, robotics, and wireless energy transfer.

But he also had a bizarre side.

One of his experimental labs used to be within walking distance of my house in Colorado. Rumor has it that at this lab he received unusual signals which he believed were extraterrestrial communications, and he built a "Teslascope" to talk with beings on other planets.

To celebrate his birthday, I rented the DVD "The Secret of Nikola Tesla." I hope it's electrifying, illuminating, and maybe a little shocking.

The Deadliest Catch is my Star Trek

2009-07-02T13:53:00.001-07:00

I'm definitely guilty of talking about Deadliest Catch too much. Sorry about that, but it's my favorite show.

I love that there are always multiple problems to overcome: forty-foot waves, freezing rain, broken gear, fatigue, sleep deprivation, ego battles. Will our heroes survive? Will they catch a million dollars worth of crab? Or will they fall into the icy Bering Sea in need of imminent rescue? Tune it to find out.

I heard there will be a fan event much like Star Trek fans have for their beloved show. I think they're calling it CrabCon. If it comes to Denver, I suspect I'll be there wearing a hat with foam claws.

Any fans?

Centenarian Celebration

2009-07-01T14:08:00.000-07:00

What with the string of celebrity deaths as of late, several of whom seem far too young to be dying, I think it's time to talk about something on the other side of the spectrum. My grandma is totally and utterly not famous, and she celebrates her 100th birthday on Friday. Way to go, grandma. You didn't write a pop song or star in a TV show, but you survived Influenza, owned a Model T Ford, and remember the day The Great War ended.

Writing and music - together?

2009-06-30T21:07:00.000-07:00

Anyone out there a writer/musician? I wonder how much music affects writing. Do you think the rhythms and flow of music seep into your pen? Have you ever read a book that felt musical?

I play the drums. Last night I played my kit for quite a while. Plugged in the iPod, and started out with some funky soul grooves. Then moved into some rock and ended on an all-out solo.

There must be some kind of connection with music and writing, what with all the rising and falling and timing and tone. I just haven't put my finger on it...

Moving Things With Your Mind

2009-05-29T16:41:00.000-07:00

I just finished reading Douglas Coupland's The Gum Thief, which I thought was very funny and poignant. Wonderful book. A character in the novel-within-a-novel finds himself occasionally trying to bring down airplanes using only mental telepathy.

Once I had a dream that I moved a coffee mug across a table with my mind. I woke up and was absolutely sure I still had this psychokinetic power. I carried around my dark secret all morning but was disappointed when I tried to move my co-worker's coffee mug and it just sat there. I was truly devastated.

FYI: The cool kids call psychokinesis "PK."

My short story "Salting the Walks" now online

2009-05-18T21:03:00.000-07:00

My short story “Salting the Walks” is now online thanks to the University of Wisconsin’s Digital Collections. Originally published in Wisconsin People & Ideas magazine, this story was a finalist in a statewide fiction contest judged by novelist Charles Baxter.

CLICK HERE to read "Salting the Walks"

3rd Annual Mountain of Authors

2009-04-01T21:38:00.000-07:00

This year's Mountain of Authors was another rousing success. Thanks to the Pikes Peak Library District for putting on such a wonderful, day-long event that showcased local authors. And it was free!

I moderated the Publishing Panel this year, and the guests made my job easy. Mick Silva from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group shared his insights about what it takes to be a career writer, and the importance of knowing your own literary heritage. Doris Baker from Filter Press gave great advice on how writers must market themselves as well as write well, and Lisa Gilman from About Books spoke on the current state of the self-publishing industry.

Other highlights included the Words & Pictures panel moderated by Karin Huxman,a romance writer and children's picture book author. Many laughs were had with the entertaining and informative guests: photographer Todd Caudle, writer Maria Faulconer, and illustrator Michael Hague.

NYT Bestselling Author Beverly Lewis gave a fascinating keynote speech about Amish culture, and had fans out the door waiting for her autograph.

Thanks to everyone who stopped by during the Author Showcase and said hello, took some swag, and signed up on my email list. It was great meeting y'all--readers and writers and artists alike.

Book Cover Art

2009-04-01T21:29:00.000-07:00

Yes, you can judge a book by its cover. Well, you can at least be irresistibly drawn to a book by its killer cover art.

I'm really looking forward to seeing what the wizards at Harper Perennial will cook up for my first novel. And then I learned about FaceOut Books on the Olive Reader blog.

It's a website all about book cover design. Very cool! Check it out: FaceOut Books.

My new favorite SNL skit

2009-03-29T20:05:00.000-07:00

Bill Hader's Keith Morrison impression kills me.

Dateline investigates Real Life Crimes and Bad Situations

Mountain of Authors

2009-03-26T13:03:00.000-07:00

If you're in the Colorado Springs region this weekend, stop by Pikes Peak Library District's East Library for their 3rd Annual "Mountain of Authors" event.

It's FREE, and has panels on Publishing and Book Illustration, a local author showcase, and NYT Bestseller Beverly Lewis doing the keynote and book signing. Free food will also be served.

Learn more at: http://www.ppld.org/blogs/ppld/?p=855

I'll be moderating the Publishing Panel at 1pm. Hope to see you there. Stop by my booth and say hello.

(The sun should be out by then--hope hope)

Kirk

New Website Design

2009-03-25T17:27:00.000-07:00

Howdy. I just updated the design on my website: http://www.kirkfarber.com.

Stop by and let me know what you think.

Cheers,
Kirk

Kindle Curious

2009-03-12T17:46:00.000-07:00

I've been reading a lot about the new Kindle lately. Bloggers are blogging about it. News sites are reporting on it. Publishers are raising questions about it. And Amazon, of course, is busy selling it.

I've always waved off these electronic book reading devices as mere gadgetry for the wealthy of the world ($400?!), a toy for people who need to spend money on such things. That is, until I read a positive review--I believe in Entertainment Weekly.

While I'll always be a tangible-pages-and-cover-art book kind of person (especially trade paperbacks--LOVE the trade paperbacks), I'll admit several Kindle features seem pretty cool. Searchable text. Adjustable type face. Writing notes in your e-books on-the-fly.

And it does seem smaller and more portable than I imagined. And the screen not as negative-ion producing as a computer monitor, nor as bright, so it could be read in bed without keeping one's sleeping mate awake. And books are only $10 instead of $25. Huh. Could it be something...worth while? Useful? A must have?

It is according to an old high school friend of mine, who says he swears by it because of his constant travel. With the Kindle, he can have dozens of books all in one slim gadget. Great for planes and hotels.

I would love to see one. Touch it. Turn it on. Take it for a spin. But you can't find them at the local bookstore. You can only get them from Amazon. I guess there are meet-up websites where you can find people in your city that are willing to enthusiastically share their devices. Not sure I'm up for that. But I'd like to hear your thoughts.

Anyone else out there tried a Kindle? I can't see ever replacing my beloved trade paperbacks, but I am kindle curious.

Sunny Days at the ALA

2009-01-26T10:57:00.000-08:00

This weekend I got to attend the Midwinter ALA (American Library Association) conference in sunny Denver, Colorado. It’s an annual meeting of librarians, book publishers, and other various library-related vendors who gather to share the latest and greatest book titles, software, and services. There’s an even bigger ALA in Chicago in the summer.

Being a writer with a book coming out, I have to say it was pretty exciting to see thousands of librarians meandering around the Colorado Convention Center, reading through new book titles, talking with book reps, checking out galleys, and so on. For all the gloomy stories about the economy and the publishing industry in particular, the ALA seemed like a pretty hopping place.

I was especially happy to see the HarperCollins booth so active. Virginia Stanley, Harper’s director of library marketing, was nice enough to chat with me and my wife for a while, and then we perused through up-coming Harper Perennial titles as well as the current list. Such great stuff! Scott Heim’s WE DISAPPEAR. Jeffrey Ford's THE DROWNED LIFE. Looking forward to reading these soon.

And some of my other faves: Josh Kilmer-Purcell's CANDY EVERYBODY WANTS, and a re-issue of Douglas Coupland’s GIRLFRIEND IN A COMA.

It all felt like a small ray of light amongst the dark headlines of today. Coupled with the recent news that fiction readership is actually going up, I might soon start feeling optimistic. Cautiously, anyway.

So here’s to cautious optimism, librarians, books, and more people reading fiction.

Anyone have a story or feeling of cautious optimism?

Double Bird Strike

2009-01-17T17:53:00.001-08:00

Well, by now, we’ve all heard about how US Airways Flight 1549 took off over the Bronx and sucked some geese into one of its engines. And then sucked some more geese into the other engine. And how the jet lost power, and they started going down, headed directly over the icy waters of the Hudson River.

Game Over. Fait Accompli. The Point of No Return.

We’ve got a new term to add to our doomsday lexicon: the Double Bird Strike.

I’ve been thinking a lot about doomsday scenarios lately, possibly many of you have as well. The economy is going down, we’re told. It’s going to get worse before it gets better. Banks are failing. Jobs are vanishing. Wars are intensifying. The super-volcano in Yellowstone is rumbling.

I feel like the country has been hit by the granddaddy of all double bird strikes.

Amidst all of this turmoil, and the inevitable anxiety caused by feeling totally helpless to such massive undoings, I now have a new image to hold in my mind: US Airways Flight 1549 going down over the Hudson, with everyone on board bracing for impact, arm in arm, hoping for the best.

Let’s hope it turns out the same way.

2009-01-14T16:35:00.000-08:00

LATEST NEWS...

NOVEMBER 2008

Great big news this month!!!

Harper Perennial, an imprint of HarperCollins, picked up my first novel, POSTCARDS FROM A DEAD GIRL. They will publish it in March 2010.

Unbelievable news. Really, really excited about it.

Shelf Awareness recently wrote about it on their website:

"Speaking of our favorite advocate for booksellers, (Carl) Lennertz, who edits in his spare time, has just acquired his sixth book. The debut novel is Postcards from a Dead Girl by Kirk Farber, a librarian in Colorado Springs, Colo., and was a semi-finalist in the 2007 Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award competition. Lennertz writes that he met Farber's agent, Sandra Bond, through the Denver Publishing Institute. "I read the first 15 pages under the Brooklyn Bridge late one afternoon this summer, waiting to have dinner with Dennis and Karen of Melville House, and I fell in love with it."

Perennial will publish the book in winter 2010. Farber will appear at some fall regional shows next year and library shows as well."

AUGUST 2008

It's been a while since my last entry, but not because there isn't anything to talk about. Turns out someone in New York has shown interest in my novel, and I've been busy this summer working on revisions. If anything pans out (hope hope) I'll let you know. In the meantime, back to the keyboard...

MAY 2008

I read at Redbird Studio's 15th Anniversary celebration this month, as part of the Wisconsin Book Festival. Quite an honor to be asked to read at an event that celebrated Judy Bridges and her great efforts to create such an encouraging place for writers. She's helped me tremendously. Thanks, Judy, for all the people you've supported over the years!

APRIL 2008

April was a very good month.

Really big news! I signed with literary agent Sandra Bond from Bond Literary Agency. I'm very excited to be part of her client list, and look forward to working with her in the future. She actually made the initial call on my birthday, so that was really cool.

The Mountain of Authors event at Pikes Peak Library District also a success, with a full house and plenty of authors selling books, networking, and speaking at panels. I managed to moderate the fiction panel without falling over, and met many fascinating minds to boot. Thanks, PPLD.

MARCH 2008

Pikes Peak Library District was nice enough to invite me to participate as a moderator for the fiction panel at the 2nd annual regional authors' event, “Mountain of Authors."

The event showcases authors of the Pikes Peak region, and offers presentations about writing and publishing. The free program will be held from 10am-330pm, Sat, April 12 at East Library, 5550 N. Union Blvd. No registration is required.

You can read more about it on their BLOG. Please come join us. Should be a cool event!

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Redbird Studio also graciously invited me back home to be a part of their 15th Anniversary Celebration in May. I will be a showcase reader and there will also be a "talk back."

This is a free event, and will be held at 630pm, Thurs, May 1st, on the main floor Social Room at the Marian Center, 3195 S. Superior St. in Bay View. Visit their WEBSITE for more information. Fun will be had by all!

FEBRUARY 2008

Well, although I didn't make it to the Top 100 in the Amazon ABNA Breakthrough Novel Award contest, I did get lots of positive feedback which I really appreciate.

Here's a blurb from Publisher's Weekly review of the whole manuscript:

"Told from Sid's point of view, this novel is a surreal and engrossing tale of a man in denial, coping with tragedy and learning how to stop being alone and move on with his life."

And here's what an Amazon Top Reviewer had to say about my excerpt:

"From what I've seen so far, Postcards from a Dead Girl is a wickedly funny and original story."

Thanks to everyone who posted a review and/or supported me through this contest. What a great experience.

JANUARY 2008

Exciting News! The Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award contest has selected my novel POSTCARDS FROM A DEAD GIRL as a semi-finalist. I'm now 1 of 836 from a pool of 5000 unpublished novel-length manuscripts. Visitors to Amazon.com are encouraged to read excerpts online and leave reviews to help choose the Top 100.

Publisher's Weekly also reviews the semi-finalists' full manuscripts, and Penguin editors will eventually choose the Top 10 finalists. Amazon customers then ultimately choose the winning manuscript, which will be published by Penguin with a $25,000 contract. I think there's also a 50" plasma TV at stake here, so help a guy out and leave a review! ;)

Several of my friends at Redbird Studio (where I spent many roundtable sessions getting this manuscript in shape) also made it to the semi-finals:

THE GHOST MOTHER, by Felicity Librie
EASILY AMUSED, by Karen McQuestion
THE PETOSKEY STONE, by Jon Olson

And I'm in the good company of many Pikes Peak Writers as well:

Beth Groundwater, VIRTUAL DEATH
Ian Healy, DEEP SIX
William Mason, PRIMORDIUM
Chris Myers, OFFSHORED
Bret Wright, NASTY
Rebecca Noel, THE VENTARI INCIDENT

Best of luck to everyone!

OCTOBER 2007

The fall issue of Wisconsin People & Ideas just came out. My story "Salting the Walks" is in it, and it looks great. Nice layout, cool photos. I feel like a proud papa. This is my first official print story, so I'm pretty excited about it. There's something about feeling that tangible paper. There is a reading for all the winners of the 2007 Wisconsin People & Ideas' short story competition on Thursday, October 11th. It's at Avol's Bookstore (5p-7p) in Madison, and it's part of The Wisconsin Book Festival. Sadly, I can't make it back from Colorado to participate, but I'm just happy to have gotten this far.

AUGUST 2007

This month I made the transition to high altitude, and became a member of Pikes Peak Writers here in Colorado. I participated in their 3rd annual live-reading/contest they've playfully dubbed "American Icon." About 70 people attended, including celebrity judges Carol Berg, Charles Kaine, and Barbara Samuel. I read an excerpt from my novel POSTCARDS FROM A DEAD GIRL.

The response was incredibly positive. I was awarded Audience Favorite, Best Overall, and Best Character. What a great reception from my new state! Thanks, Pikes Peak Writers, for a wonderful night and new beginning here in the West.

JULY 2007

Relocated to Rocky Mountains...

APRIL 2007

This month I was given the honor of reading at Redbird Studio's "Writer's Showcase." This annual event gives the general public a chance to meet the Redbird community (founded by Judy Bridges), sample some writer's work, and most importantly, eat cookies and drink wine. About sixty people attended, ten writers read, and fun was had by all. Novelists Lauren Fox, Shauna Singh Baldwin, Elaine Bergstrom, and poet John Lehman were there as well, to meet and greet with their latest books.

MARCH 2007

Just found out some exciting news. My short story "Salting the Walks" won second place in a statewide fiction contest held by the Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts & Letters. The lead judge was acclaimed novelist Charles Baxter, and the story will be published in the fall issue of Wisconsin People & Ideas magazine. My thanks to the Academy. (I always wanted to say that.) But really, it's a wonderful honor.

FEBRUARY 2007

My short story "Forever Girl" appears in the February 2007 issue of HOBART. It's about unrequited love and carnival rides.