Presenting at SF Book Passage 7-11-11
Life is good when I see all the generosity around me. I don’t mean monetarily, I mean in gesture and in deed. You’d think it was November, the Thanksgiving month, I’m so full of gratitude for the wonderful people in my life.
I’m still reading my collection of writing craft books. Today I came upon some of the best words of advice I have ever read. Ray Bradbury in Zen in the Art of Writing, on page 47 said, “Who are your friends? Do they believe in you? Or do they stunt your growth with ridicule and disbelief? If the latter, you haven’t friends. Go find some.” Hallelujah!
On Monday, Book Passage hosted an event for my writing friend Tami Casias and I. That book store deserves a lot of credit for encouraging and supporting my writing efforts. They were there at the beginning when I took their “Is There A Book In You” class. Book Passage does all it can to promote writers and writing. From beginners to best sellers, all are welcome. It’s amazing to be part of such an active, supportive and giving community.
Bonnie never fails to deliver a smile. It was great having her at BP.
Speaking of all are welcome, last Saturday night was the monthly Readers’ Books event called “Random Acts,” where $5 gets you a seat in the audience and, if you’d like, an opportunity to perform for five minutes. The participants share their talents, and the audience shares their appreciation. I was thrilled to see my artist friend, Jonqui Albin, among the observers. She’s a multifaceted artist who works in several different mediums, often in larger-than-life scale. Her website, http://www.jonqui.com/art/index.html, absolutely is worth a visit. She teaches, models, and performs when she not sculpting with wire or painting.
Jonqui Albin, artist extraordinaire
Andy and Lilla Weinberger own Readers’ Books. Their outrageously talented, sword swallowing son, Tobias, belongs to a theatrical and musical group like you’ve never seen, The Yard Dogs Roadshow. If you don’t know about this itinerant, madcap band of vaudevillian dazzlers of the stage, then please let me introduce you. If you’ve ever felt weird or out of place, these performers will become your new heroes. Nothing says celebrate your own uniqueness and creativity like the YDRS. If you Google Yard Dogs Road Show, Wikipedia has an interesting entry about their history. Currently, they’re endeavoring to create a Yard Dogs Road Show documentary. This one is guaranteed to be an award winner. Of course, they’re fundraising for the project, but I like their approach. They have a cash goal, but the donors won’t be charged until they’ve met the goal. If the project can’t get funded enough to complete it, then it won’t get started. Their goal date is Friday, August 5th, so if you’d like to support brilliant, uninhibited art, I encourage you to go to http://www.yarddogsroadshow.com/, and join the circus.
Yard Dogs Road Shop - Photographer: Hilary Hulteen
Have a great week, and I will post again next Friday.