75k

That's what I hit last night. Seventy-five thousand words on the novel, which also happens to leave me at almost precisely the half-way mark. It took sixteen months to get here.

Sixteen months from now, I'll buy you all a drink. 

Release of LOLA, CALIFORNIA Today

Edie Meidav's third novel, LOLA, CALIFORNIA hits the stores today. Edie's an old friend from my Sri Lanka days--her first two novels were fantastic and I expect nothing less from the newest one from FSG. Here's what's already being said:

--One of the "most anticipated books of 2011." - Max McGee, The Millions; Ed Champion, WNYC-New York

--"Brilliant . . . awesome." - Publisher's Weekly

--"In this intense and tumultuous tale, Meidav adeptly limns the dark and sinuous obsessions of friendship with penetrating insights." - Booklist

PS Here's some musical honey: get the new free songs for LOLA, from the score composed by Kevin Salem, at http://www.kevinsalem.com/Lola.html 

Readings: 

July 9 (Rhinebeck/Oblong)

July 16: (Woodstock/Kleinart)

July 20: (Seattle/Elliott Bay)

July 23 (Mendocino/The Gallery)

July 28: (Berkeley/Mrs. Dalloway's)

July 30: (Gualala/Four-Eyed Frog)

August 4: (San Francisco/Book Passage)

August 5: (Montclair/A Great Good Place for Books)

"Someone" Has Been Remiss

I don't want to name names, but it seems that someone (nudge nudge) has not posted on his blog in quite some time. I'm sure he has all kinds of great excuses for being out of commission for so long. But instead of harping on these, perhaps "someone" could just come out and admit that he might have done better. What's past is past. Yes, he may have been spending every free second working through his novel. Yes, he may have just passed the 52,000 word mark, but surely he owes something to the rest of us. An apology is not going to be enough, of course--but it seems like a reasonable place to start.

Maybe "someone" could take the hint, own up to the mistake, and issue said apology...when he can pull himself away from his other "writing project" for a moment.