Ciao a tutti! Thanks to a busy day yesterday, and preparing for a brief visit from a guest today, I hadn't quite prepared anything for this week's Thursday Thirteen. So here's a glimpse into the chaos of my surroundings, at the moment, instead.

Please allow me to present to you:

1) A Concise English Desk Reference Dictionary.

2) A 3-Disc Collectors' Edition of Spaced.

3) My eyeglasses cleaning cloth.

4) My camera.

5) A packet of tissues. ('tis the season for runny noses, eh?)

6) My old day planners from last year and the year before. I have no idea why.

7) A book bag with this image and saying on it.
(It says: A cat would never sleep on a mediocre book.)

8) My Kindle ereader.

9) My denim purse.

10) My Paddington Bear keychain (from London).

11) My medicine for my itchy skin rash.

12) My mobile phone.

13) A copy of 501 Italian Verbs. I really need to study. ...sigh...

And there you go. A fascinating glimpse into this writer's life.







I sincerely hope you've enjoyed it.












It's form of anthropology, in a way, I suppose.

















Maybe not. I dunno.










It's getting hard to think, as it's cold now and I want a cup of tea and a book.









Or maybe getting active is the best solution?


















Hockey, anyone?

Oof! Ciao a tutti! I had a rough night last night, so I'm a little behind in prepping a post. Since I'm short on time, I thought I'd share a few pics with you, and I sure hope you don't mind.

So now, please allow me to share with you:

So there you go - 13 Random Images!











I reckon you'll agree it doesn't get more random than that.




















And if you don't agree, well... I tried.





















And speaking of tries...
















Rugby, anyone?

Ciao for now!

Whoops! Running a bit late, this week - but I've got a good reason, honest! I've been writing, and today I had a nice walk around the neighborhood with a friend to enjoy the gorgeous weather. Can't beat that, right? Anyway, now I'm here and here's my list for this week's Thursday Thirteen:

1) First and foremost: Finish this list.

Yeah, that'd be good.

2) I need to assemble this lovely buffet the hubby and I purchased at IKEA last weekend.

Well, actually... *We* need to assemble it. That's our Sunday project, then. What's next?

3) I need to get more time on the bike(s). Definitely need to do that.

4) I need to find a different photo to use for the cover of None So Blind - this photo has been used too many times by other writers - but since the story isn't finished yet, there's not much of a rush on that.

The photo here is of the "mock-up" of the cover, so yes, those watermarks will be gone when I do the final cover.

5) I need to make a final decision on whether or not I'm going to do the "Expanded" edition of Ask Me if I'm Happy to raise money for the Emilia Earthquake recovery efforts.

6) I need to start selecting Christmas gifts, soon. Wow! Time sure does fly!

7) I need to select a new slow cooker recipe for next week. Hmmmm....

8) I need to call my mom.

9) I need to look into getting some of my photos printed as posters, for myself and for family members.

10) I need to finish putting my photos of my niece on this flashdrive so I can give them to her mother. Why is this taking me so long?

11) I need to spend a lot less time on Facebook. Ugh.

12) I need to wrap up my rewrites on 27 Stages. Definitely.

13) And, finally, I need to do a book trailer for Alternate Rialto, along the lines of what I did for Ask Me if I'm Happy.

So, there you go: 13 Things I Need to Do.




















Of course, there's no desperate rush to get things done.






















Everything in good time, right?

























Besides; a little rest does a body good, don't you agree?

Hello, everyone! This week, I'm going to provide you with a musical interlude - mostly because I'm writing and editing and have been listening to music endlessly while I work (it's part of my process, y'see).

So now, please allow me to present to you:

First up are three songs by Amanda Palmer (formerly with the Dresden Dolls, once upon a time). I bought her most recent album (Theatre is Evil, with the Grand Theft Orchestra) and quite enjoyed it, along with some of her older work. She might not be everyone's cup of tea right away, but I find she grows on you, and her original lyrics are frequently intriguing and stunning pieces of art.

Of course, I can't write without Samuele...

Well, there you go. Now you know how I've been spending my (musical) time, lately.




















I hope you've enjoyed this extended musical interlude.




















And now, if you don't mind, I'm going to get back to writing.



















And since I'm writing another story with Davide Magnani in it...


















It's only fair to feature Luca Argentero again.























I've missed him.

























Haven't you?

Ciao for now!

Hello, all! While I'm excitedly making preparations for a visit to the Museo del Ciclismo in Magreglio, Italy, I didn't have a lot of time to prepare a full-bodied Thirteen for today. So I've decided to share a portion of my TBR pile (that's "To Be Read" for those unfamiliar with the term) with all of you, as I've well over the requisite number of books waiting for my attention.

Shameful, I know.

So now, please allow me to present to you:

4) Matt Shaw: 9 Months - Book One (9 Months Trilogy) (e-book)

8) Kurt Vonnegut: 2 B R 0 2 B (e-book)

And there you have them: Thirteen books which are currently resting atop my TBR pile. Maybe you'll feel compelled to check them out, too, now you've seen them listed here?

















At least you'd be reassured of a lovely selection of books for yourself as the autumn nights grow longer and cooler.


















You could curl up on the sofa with a cup of cocoa, or coffee, or tea...




















And then, you know...




















Select a good book and...















Enjoy.

Ciao for now!

Hello, all! This week, I thought I'd continue the bookish themes from previous weeks and give you another glimpse into the creative mind of an indie writer. This time around, I've interviewed my new friend Jill Pennington, author of the slightly unusual ex-pat memoir The Diary of a Single Parent Abroad.

So, here are:

1) First, please tell us a little about yourself.

I am a ‘Britalian’ Originally from Yorkshire (England) I have been living in Italy for 8 years, I have three teenage children and far too many animals. We live in the Apennine mountains and love it.

2) Could you sum up your book in one sentence for us?

An expat story with a difference.

3) Had you ever considered being/Were you a writer prior to writing this?

I have always written about my life and observations since childhood. I thought everyone did it but apparently not.

4) What was the hardest thing about writing the book?

Re-living the hard times.

5) Since The Diary of a Single Parent Abroad is a memoir, did you have to resist the urge to fictionalize any of it?

Oh no, the material just piled up in a corner, in fact there is still so much that I didn’t capture. My friends say that more things happen to me in a week than happen to most people in a year!

6) Have you considered writing fiction? Why/Why not?

Yes, I am currently considering this idea.

7) Is this book traditionally published or self-published?

I self-published.

8) Why did you choose that route to publication?

It appears in the current publishing climate, that unless you are a celebrity or already published there is very little chance of being taken on by a traditional publisher, so I decided to try going it alone.

9) What has been the most challenging part of publication for you?

Marketing, the hard work starts after you publish.

10) Are you considering writing another book yet?

Yes, I hope to write many more.

11) What will it be about?

Probably a sequel to the first but I have other ideas to explore as well.

12) What is your favorite book you've read this year?

Ooh I would have to say ‘Ask Me if I’m Happy’ by Kimberly Menozzi (sorry I am biased due to living in Bella Italia)

13) What is your favorite book ever?

Stig of the Dump by Clive King –My favourite book as a child, I read it over and over, then got the chance to enjoy it again as a parent.

Or use the following links:
Amazon.com
Amazon.co.uk
Paperback
You can also follow Jill on Twitter (@jillipen) and Facebook. Her promo for the book can be found on Youtube.

Ciao for now! :)

Hello, everyone! I've been away for a long while, it's true, and haven't posted much until the last couple of weeks. Well, I'm back, and hope to get "back in the saddle" again now I'm in Italy once more.

I thought I'd take advantage of this week's Thursday Thirteen post to share what I've been up to lately, so if you'll permit me, here are

1) Recovering from Jetlag. After four months in the US (from April to the end of August), it's hard to get back into my normal schedule in Italy. I'm still not quite completely adjusted (if my plans allowed it, I could easily stay up until four a.m. with no problem), but I can get up in the a.m. without wanting to hurt myself or somebody else, so I'm doing as well as can be expected.

When I'm awake, I have, of course, been reading. It feels great to get some reading in, as I've been too distracted and busy all summer to just settle in with a good book. Here are the last three books I've read - all since I've been home.

2) Will You Love Me Tomorrow - Danny Gillan

Some aspiring musicians wait a lifetime for that elusive record deal. Bryan Rivers waited a lifetime plus three days. As if dealing with the suicide of her clinically depressed husband wasn't difficult enough, to Claire Rivers' amazement one of the biggest record companies in the country suddenly wants to offer him a contract. When his status is viewed as only a minor inconvenience, she begins to wonder if someone, somewhere, is playing a very distasteful joke on her. Will You Love Me Tomorrow is a comedy about death, depression, grief, loss, friendship, family, haircuts and the music business.

3) Conversations with S. Teri O'Type -
Christopher Allen

Curt Child is a man who just can't seem to get gay, so he's enlisted the help of his oldest--and gayest--friend S. Teri O'Type to drag him a few inches down The Road to Greater Gayness.

(Some of you might remember this title from last week's Thursday Thirteen where I interviewed the author - I'm currently reading the book and am laughing with every page.)

4) The Diary of a Single Parent Abroad - Jill Pennington

When Jill and her family moved to Italy she expected life to change but she had no idea how massive that change would be. Shortly after the move, she discovered her husband had been having an affair and had no intentions of staying in Italy.

Despite being in a foreign country with no income, limited language skills, a house that needed rebuilding and three young children to care for, she never once considered returning to the UK. With strength and determination she accepted any challenge, dismantling a derelict house to ground level, digging out a three metre deep well with her hands to get free water and overcoming her fear of the chainsaw to cut the winter wood. When there was very little money for food she made risotto with nettles collected from the roadside. She overcame many problems, learned new skills and discovered that money is not important, the only things in life that matter are health, happiness and her children.

Jill's story is delivered with an ever present hint of humour because, as she says, 'Without laughter life wouldn't be funny'.

5) I built a bookshelf - at least, that's what I'm calling it. Yes, it's from IKEA. Yes, the kitty seems to approve.

6) In addition to the bookshelf, I've also built two IKEA chairs for the kitchen. Unfortunately, they're a tad wobbly. (Uh-oh.) I'll see if I can sort that out, shortly.

7) I've watched several episodes of Big Bang Theory - including a few I didn't see while in the US!

8) Since the hubby had the chance to stay home and use up some vacation time the first week we were back from the US, we got some serious housework done. As suspected, I needed some good, strong muscle to get it all taken care of. There's more to do (Autumn cleaning?), but the place is looking better all the time!

9) As mentioned above, there was a spur-of-the-moment trip to IKEA.
I maintained control, much to my own astonishment, and walked out having purchased ONLY WHAT I'D GONE IN FOR!!!!! I should have written that day down in my diary...

10) I did another voiceover job. As before, it was fun to do, and Paolo, who does the recording on a professional-grade video camera (no, I'm not filmed, we just tape the audio), is a really sweet guy. Luckily, my hubby was home this time to keep tabs on the kitty and make sure she didn't get into mischief which would have ruined the recording.

11) I renewed my Italian I.D. card. Belatedly.
Very belatedly.
As in, one year late.
Oops.
Upon my return home, I found this snail on my sidewalk.
Et tu, Snail?

12) I started sketching out ideas for my next project(s). Included among them are The Off Season (a sequel to 27 Stages) and an untitled novel (a sequel to Ask Me if I'm Happy)

13) Due to my efforts over the summer on my mother's exercise bike, my hubby and I decided to purchase a bike for me when we got home. We selected this one.
Unfortunately we've had some mechanical issues with it, so were trying to get those sorted out. Once we have, I'm hoping to get back to my twenty- and thirty-mile rides again.

Wish me luck!

And there you have them: Thirteen Things Which Have Been Keeping Me Busy!

I'm willing to bet we have some of these in common, right?

Because I know just about every one of you is a busy, busy bee.









And I know the reason most of you normally stop by here.











It's been a long summer, but I haven't forgotten. No way!










And as summer fades into autumn...












How about a little musical interlude?

Yeah, it's good to be back.

Ciao for now!

Four years ago, while I workshopped the original short-story form of Ask Me if I'm Happy on a writing site called URBIS, I read some excerpts from Christopher Allen. We got to be online friends after I rated the excerpts and shared my thoughts on them, and soon we were chatting about things other than books or writing. I thought he was funny and definitely talented - ask other folks, they'll tell you the same! - and I expected to see more of his URBIS project soon.

Well, it took a little longer than expected - these things often do - but now the big day has come! So please, allow me to share with you:

1) What one thing would you want readers to know about you?

That I mean them no harm. I want them to laugh until their bellies jiggle. I want their tear ducts to be cleansed through uproarious giggling fits.

2) Is there a genre you'd like to write in, but haven't tried? If so, why not?

I’ve written in just about every genre out there except western. Is that still what they call it? I remember reading several western mysteries as a teenager, and I liked them very much. I wouldn’t want to write a western, though. Although I have dabbled in science fiction, I’ve never finished a story. Definitely science fiction. Something like Stargate. Big fan.

3) Your previous stories have often had a contemplative or bittersweet quality to them. The new book seems to be a departure from that. Was there a reason for this?

I think contemplative and crazy are just two parts of me that come out at different times. Conversations with S. Teri O’Type has been a wild book to write, and I hope it will be just as wild to read. It’s humor and parody and most of all satire. Nothing here is serious except everything.

4) How much of your real life informs your writing?

My inner life—my worries and my dreams—informs my writing a great deal, but if you mean my day-to-day life of teaching and mowing the lawn and making dinner, etc. I try to keep that separate. There are times that certain situations will spark an idea for a story. The oak in the backyard keeps giving me stories. Then the hedge gave me one. I should spend more time out there.

5) Where have you been published previously?

Most of my work has been published at literary ezines, most recently at SmokeLong Quarterly. Others include A-Minor Magazine, Blue Five Notebook Series, Gone Lawn, Referential Magazine, Every Day Fiction, The Legendary, Pure Slush and Metazen (where I’m an editor). I’ve had non-fiction published at Connotation Press and BootsnAll Travel, and several of my creative non-fiction pieces have appeared in Chicken Soup for the Soul (print, mass market). I’ve also been very fortunate to have landed in cool short story/flash collections like Flash Fiction Fridays and STRIPPED, a collection of anonymous flash fiction.

6) You live in Europe but you're from the US. Does being an expat affect your writing style?

It certainly does, I’m just not sure how. I wish I could go back and forth between parallel universes and see Christopher Allen in Nashville vs. Christopher Allen in Munich. I’m sure I’ve become a different person, so of course my writing style has developed differently. Maybe this is the science fiction novel I’ll end up writing. Or not. I am certainly more secluded her than I would have been if I’d stayed in Nashville. Seclusion is good for writing.

7) What is your typical writing workday like?

I wake up at around 6a.m. I used to get up at 5a.m. but I’ve trained my body to lie there and suck it up for another hour. I turn on my computer and let the old bag boot while I make coffee. I check my e-mails, I check facebook, I check my blog, I sip my coffee, I check Twitter. I chat with people in the US who’ve not gone to bed yet. I sip my coffee. I notice the piles of reminders on my desk. Here are the ones I’m looking at today. March AWP! Indie Author News! Check SmokeLong! Message classes about tomorrow!! Gay Book Club NYC!!! Edit “Furniture”! My notes tend to scream at me. I start checking off the things on the list, which is much longer than this. I haven’t listed the names of people I’m working with on interviews and such. I take a nap because my shoulder is hurting. You get the picture. I should be writing, but I’ve just come back from vacuuming the kitchen.

8) Which writers have influenced/inspired you?

I love writers like Chuck Palahnuik and Daniel Handler and Lucy Ellmann and Julie Innis. One of my favorite writers is Jincy Willett. I love all these people for their sharp wit and exciting prose. I want to be all of them when I get taller. I’ve never lost hope.

9) Do you have a "target audience"?

All people on planet Earth would be nice. Doing the math, I think that would make me the richest man on planet Earth. But let’s say that doesn’t happen. I would hope that people—not just gay men—who love humor and stories that break away from the mold just a bit would love, or at least read, or at least buy, Conversations with S. Teri O’Type. The cover is very pretty, so it would look great on coffeetables and bathroom shelves. It is a story about a man in his mid-forties who has never learned how to be gay, so . . . um . . . I see this is the next question. Moving right along . . .

10) What is this book about?

So Curt, a dysfagtional man in his mid-forties, enlists the help of a self-proclaimed “gayru” to help him get gay. It’s a farcical jaunt down the Road to Greater Gayness, an absurd tale, a train wreck of sorts between a guy who thinks he knows nothing and a monster who thinks he knows everything.  

11) When did you first get the idea for this particular book?

I wrote the first Conversation on an online workshop in 2008 I believe. Fifteen of the 30 Conversations were born in the online workshop, but the story actually took shape much later. It has been a long process. Deciding what Curt, the narrator, really wants came much later than 2008.

12) Was this book inspired by anyone in your life?

It’s funny you ask that. My partner, who read half of the book on a plane last week, thinks he’s Curt. And maybe there are aspects of Curt in him. I remember once when we were living in London in 1998, he hung all the pictures in the living room very very close to the ceiling. I was shocked, and we had a “little” argument about it. Everyone knows pictures are supposed to be hung at eye-level, don’t they? This may have been the first time I thought, Hmmm not all gay men can hang a picture. And this might have been the germ for the book. Other than that one moment, Teri and Curt represent an elephant-in-the-room dialogic among gay men: To Be or Not to Beyoncè—which became one of the later Conversations.

13) You really are adorable, aren't you?  (readers of Christopher's I Must Be Off blog will get that one...)

Yes! I really really am adorable. It’s true. Some people don’t believe it, but when they meet me in person, they often pinch my fat little cheeks. Just don’t shove past me in a bar. 

Christopher Allen is the author of the adult cartoon satire Conversations with S. Teri O'Type. In 2011, Allen was a finalist at Glimmer Train and a Pushcart Prize nominee. He blogs at www.imustbeoff.com.

I've been terribly lax about posting Thursday Thirteens lately, but there's a reason for it. Honest!

Now I'm back to work for the language school, it turns out I'm working every Thursday. So, my normal routine of getting up in the morning on Thursday and putting out a T13 has been altered considerably. Also, I've been writing like crazy to get 27 Stages completed, so that's taken up a lot of time.

I've felt rather guilty, so I've made an effort to do a quick post this week - and next week I'll be posting because I've got Thursday off from work (woot!)

So, with that out of the way, please allow me to share with you:

1) On April 1st, I watched the Tour of Flanders.

Alas, my favorite rider (Fabian Cancellara, for the two of you who might be unaware of this fact) suffered a fall which broke his collarbone in four places.

Yes. Four.

Yes, I was disappointed - but of course, not nearly as much as he was.
The only upside of this was that I actually found inspiration for another cycling story. We'll see if I write it.

2) The next day, I had an intensive writing session in which I ironed out a few wrinkles in the final chapters of 27 Stages.

In other words, I finished the first draft.

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!

3) Having finished the first draft, I needed to take a little time off from the project. I felt antsy for the next couple of days.

4) On Thursday, I had a guest post on Women's Fiction Writers. It went over pretty well, and I'm reasonably sure I got a few sales as a result of it.

5) On Saturday, I cooked. Sort of.

I used a pre-made Korma sauce with chicken for our lunch. One day I'll be bold enough to make it from scratch.

Maybe.

6) For Easter Sunday, we had lunch at my father-in-law's house. Naturally, this means eating lots more food than I normally eat, and then I have to evade having my drinking glass filled with wine (which I can't drink). It's always an adventure, and the conversation is always lively. Heh.

7) Also on Easter Sunday, while eating lunch, we watched Paris-Roubaix. Tom Boonen's rather epic win was something to see, for sure, but we couldn't help wondering how things might have gone if my boy could have been there.

...sigh...

8) On Monday we had another lunch at my father-in-law's house. The Monday after Easter Sunday is called Pasquetta (literally, "Little Easter") in Italy, and we opted to stay in town (like many other Italians did this year) for more family time. My not-quite-four-year-old niece got my camera and took this photo of my hubby.

9) On Tuesday I sold one paperback copy each of Ask Me if I'm Happy and Alternate Rialto to a former student of mine.

10) That same day, I also donated a number of books to my language school's lending library. I cleared off a shelf to do so - it felt good. Now I have more space for my books at home.
*ahem*

11) I also found out that I'd sold four paperback copies of Ask Me if I'm Happy on the same day - naturally, I was pleased to learn this.

12) On Wednesday I was able to find several people to help me with the translations of German, Dutch and Polish I needed for 27 Stages. To say this is/was a relief is an understatement.
Now, the revisions/rewrites/hatcheting edits can begin in earnest.

13) And, last but not least:

I got my first one-star review. Finally.
Alternate Rialto was the victim, on Amazon.com.

I'm not kidding when I say that this actually helped cheer me up a bit this week. I was having a great day on Wednesday, and when I spotted this, I had a good laugh. There's a part of me which was worried I'd never be taken seriously because I've had so many positive reviews. (Only in the writing world is this possible, I reckon.) Now, I've had a proper bad review. I have arrived!

Ciao for now!