"HOW I LOVE ALL OF THE VERY SIMPLE THINGS OF LIFE"

Timothy Schaffert's mini-book, The Lovers of Vertigo, is out from Feathproof, which you can download and assemble yourself for free. J'adore, j'adore.

"IF THERE'S SOMETHING YOU'D LIKE TO TRY"

As promised, I have an announcement. (Ahem)

I think that wonderful things happen when you bring people together that have common interests. Or, slightly compatible interests. Since my first novel came out, I've traveled a lot and gone to many places and met a lot of people. I have gone to Atlanta and enjoyed meeting and talking and brainstorming with writers and publishers at Darren Wang's Decatur Book Festival. Then, I went to Omaha and enjoyed meeting and talking and brainstorming with writers and publishers at Timothy Schaffert's (Downtown) Omaha Lit Fest (Something is going on with that usually-beautiful site, but I'm sure it'll be back up shortly). Then, I went to New Orleans, and did the same at Paul J. Willis' Tennessee Williams/New Orleans Literary Festival. Then, I went back to Omaha and did it all again.

Somewhere, during all of that, I realized that these three festivals were more than something I enjoyed attending. There was something about the execution of these three festivals that I wanted to bring to Chicago. And, as I had this stuff all in my head in New Orleans last spring, I was standing outside watching a "Stellaaaa!"-shouting contest with Paul Willis and he turned to me suddenly and said, "Do you have any interest in curating a festival? You should. You'd be great." Two months later, I was sitting having fancy cocktails with Timothy Schaffert and I started to pick his brain, and, well...

Introducing Pilcrow Lit Fest. Brought to you by me.

There is a whole sea of things to say about it all coming together, filled with really helpful people that I brought in to help like Mommas Boy Design (to make things look beautiful as they come into being), like online/social/media shaker Leah Jones (to do all that stuff I just said), like Adam Deutsch of Ninth Letter (to organize his head off) and A Moveable Bit (to document the crap out of everything and then some). Just for starters.

It's going to be held May 22nd-25th all around the intersection of Belmont and Sheffield here in Chicago. You know, near where The Fixx is, where I host those readings every month. It all starts with the regularly scheduled Fixx reading on May 22nd, with very special guests Jami Attenberg and Katie Schwartz. And possibly another special guest, too. The rest of the weekend is a series of panel discussions, readings, lots of authors (local and from far away), a cocktail party or three, workshops, and ends on Sunday morning with an author brunch.

And, it's going to be really fun.

There is a blog, too.

You can be friends with us on Facebook.

So, that is the first of the big seven announcements of 2008. The Big Seven. Six to go.

"SECONDS TO SPARE"

Blogging via Blackberry again. From my cozy bed in the art studio in Omaha. Yawn.

Yesterday was bizz-ay. Remember how last year I blogged all weekend during the lit fest? Not a moment to spare this year! But, tomorrow, I will write a long post with all the goods. In a nutshell, though, Omaha is lovely as ever, my hosts are charming and generous, the panels were a hill of fun yesterday, the Dollar Store Show went well, I met a lot of great people, I talked with a few people I already know and/or met last year, the weather is chilly and I couldn't be hapier about that, Jami Attenberg and I are driving back to Chicago today just after the author brunch this morning, I now own a t-shirt with Timothy Schafert on it, and... I think that's it. For now.

"NEWS ON THE RADIO HAPPY BIRTHDAY"

Let's all wish a big Happy Birthday to the charming, kind, fun, witty, supportive, brilliant and wonderful Mr. Timothy Schaffert!

To celebrate in style, I suppose you could pop over to his (fabulous) website and email his ass, but you might not know him and that'd be weird. So, what you could do that would be even cooler is get yourself outfitted with copies of his wonderful books, The Singing and Dancing Daughters of God and Devils In The Sugar Shop. Just an idea. I'm just saying it would be nice of you, is all.

In any case, let's all raise a glass of something to Timmy, a wonderful friend on a very special day. Salut!

"I WAS HAPPY TO STAY"

Tonight, I went to Timothy's second reading in the area, at a Borders. I function poorly in suburban settings, and was a few minutes late, but it was a marvelous reading, of course. While there, I crossed paths with the wonderful and dear Melanie Lynne Hauser, who I'd met for a nanosecond last year at the (Downtown) Omaha Lit Fest but didn't get the pleasure of sitting down and really talking with until tonight. So great. So energetic. Love her. (Uh, you know what I'm going to say. Books don't buy themselves. Ahem.)

Anyway. I got all of my plants in order today. Green onions and dill planted, basil, Roma tomato, and lavender seedlings moved to respectable terra cotta pots.

I got some good writing done today that I was glad to have written at the end of the day. I don't know where it'll find a home, but it's a sweet, shy little short story. I'm happy with it.

Anyway, I have a bi of work to get finished this evening before I retire. I don't know that I've yet caught up on sleep from the past few weeks of state-hopping and friend-seeing. Worth every minute, though.

"I WILL SEE YOU"

Photos, as promised. Look at Timothy Schaffert, reading his little heart out last night. You guys, seriously, he is so funny.


And, here I am, too. I'm not really trying to make reading in tank-tops the new reading in the purple skinny scarf (the item I was accidentally photographed in repeatedly last fall), but, you know, it's warm these days. And, I'm on a new fitness kick of a different ilk, so I want to show off my guns. Uh, when I get them. Har.

"SO IGNORE ALL THE CODES OF THE DAY"

The reading last night was small but fun. Timothy Schaffert is so funny and such a delight to be around. And his book! If you have not yet read Devils In The Sugar Shop you are missing out on a beautiful book with such sharp and smart laughs. Get it. Get it now.

I'll post some pics in a bit when I can. I also want to tell you all about some very exciting bits of news I have coming together this week in the writerly world. but that's all going to have to wait.

My grandfather was taken into surgery this morning and we're all waiting to hear what's what. The grandfather I just saw last week. Good vibes to Louisiana, if you don't mind. It sits on my mind heavily today, obviously.

"I WILL SEE YOU"

TONIGHT!

Amy Guth and Timothy Schaffert Reading
The Fixx Coffee Bar, 7:30 pm
3053 N. Sheffield Ave. in Chicago

"YOU'RE GONNA NEED SOMEONE ON YOUR SIDE"

Tomorrow night I have the pleasure of reading with Timothy Schaffert at The Fixx at 7:30pm. C'mon out. Just hop the brown, red or purple line to the Belmont stop and head south on Sheffield a few blocks. Just south of Matilda's. Easy-peasy. See all of you there!

"ASSEMBLE THE WAYS"

Hello, hello! Plenty to discuss today. First, another piece of news I've had to keep quiet is now yours to know. I am reading with one of my very favorite people. It doesn't get much better.

May 22nd
Amy Guth and Timothy Schaffert Reading
The Fixx Coffee Bar, 7:30 pm on
3053 N. Sheffield Ave. in Chicago

This is that awesome little coffee bar right by the Vic Theater. Know it and love it. The place is great, the owners are great. You'll never want to set foot in a Starbucks again. This reading, ladies and gentlemen, is going to be great. You'll love Timmy and his writing so, so, so much.

Next item on the agenda is a shameless vanterie sans scruple. I have another piece up over on Six Sentences today called "At Sevens". Feel free. I'll wait here while you check it out.


Thanks!

So, last night, a relative I haven't seen in yeeeeears was in town, so we got together for dinner and caught up, which was a lovely time. After, a series of evens led me to be reminded how easily threatened I am when it comes to feeling vulnerable or weak. When did I turn into a fratboy? Feel vulnerable and act out? Great plan, Ames, great plan. It really accomplishes little but making me look neurotic instead of vulnerable, then feeling as if I must explain myself, which only leads to vulnerability anyway. Oy.

Anyway.

I'm working today on odds and ends today and getting ready to take off to Austin on Monday. Must go to the post office. Must. No fooling around. Oy.