Gavin Writes Books

A Review From a Redditor

Anonymous people on the Internet are the world’s harshest critics, which is why I love this comment about Soothsayer in Aisle Five from Reddit user chakradiva.

I love reading the sample page of redditors self published books to reassure myself that they’re shit before passing on without comment so I don’t hurt their feelings. Yours wasn’t shit. It was rock solid and as a consequence I might even buy it.

I’m way too happy about that quote. I want to use that as a blurb, especially the last two sentences. Thank you, chakradiva!

MFA Reading Tonight

Well, here we are! Three years of writing, editing, bookmaking, and designing comes to a crescendo tonight at the Creative Writing & Publishing Arts MFA final reading! And not only is it the end of grad school, Soothsayer in Aisle Five will make its debut in print, Kindle, and Nook formats. I’m working on the enhanced iBooks version, which will be out later this month and include some behind-the-scenes video from tonight’s event.

If you’re in the Baltimore area, I’d like to remind you that the reading is free and open to the public. Just show up at the University of Baltimore Student Center at 1420 North Charles Street, Baltimore, Maryland, at 7 p.m. The reading will begin promptly at 7:30 and will be followed by a book fair for the graduating class.

Hope to see you there!

A Detailed Run-Down for Reddit

I posted that photo of Willow and my book to the awesome /r/writing community on Reddit, and I got a number of questions about how I put the book together. I’m working on a video to explain it all in vivid detail, but in the meantime, you can read my run-down in the comments.

Willow, Director of Marketing, Promotes Soothsayer in Aisle Five

It’s really great to have her on the team. Soothsayer in Aisle Five comes out on Friday, May 4, eight days from today!

Read This Next:

1. Soothsayer in Aisle Five: Three Weeks to Go
2. The Proof is Here!

The Proof is Here!

Last night, UPS delivered the proof of my book, Soothsayer in Aisle Five. I wasn’t prepared for how exciting it would be to hold this book in my hands. The weight of it, the feel of the cover, and the sound of the pages flipping caught me off-guard. I mean, it’s a book, right? I own hundreds of books.

But this one is mine. I wrote and designed it from cover to cover.

I felt a switch flip in my brain. This is a thing now. It’s not pixels on screen, or a mockup I printed out. It’s real.

The MFA reading is on Friday, May 4. I plan to release ebook versions for the Kindle and Nook on the same day, and a special enhanced iBooks version with some video and audio extras, some of which you’ve seen on this site, other content which will be brand new.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to dance around my apartment for a while.

Soothsayer in Aisle Five: Three Weeks to Go

My short story collection, Soothsayer in Aisle Five, comes out in three weeks. Holy crap. Three weeks. I’m excited finish it and push it into the world.

This also represents my completion of the Creative Writing & Publishing Arts MFA program at the University of Baltimore. Three years ago, I entered the program hoping to become a better writer, and I ended up discovering what kind of writer I am and want to become. Finishing my MFA feels like the start of something big.

If you’re going to be in the Baltimore area on Friday, May 4, you’re invited to the MFA reading where I and the other graduating writers will read from and present our books! It’ll start at 7 p.m. in the UB theater on the fifth floor of the student center.

Read This Next:

1. 1: An Introduction

Joss Whedon on Writing Stories

It’s no mystery to people who know me that Joss Whedon is one of my favorite writers. Not only did he create classic television series like Buffy the Vampire Slayer and and Firefly, he’s also one of the best living storytellers in any medium. It makes me very happy that he’s written and directed the upcoming Avengers movie, which happens to come out on the same day as my book.

So, right now on Reddit, Joss is answering fan questions, and he had this to say about writing and creating stories.

“I don’t think of myself as being inspired to create. I can’t imagine doing anything else. It’s like breathing.”

Word.

Update: More gold from Joss:

“All worthy work is open to interpretations the author did not intend. Art isn’t your pet — it’s your kid. It grows up and talks back to you.”

On days like today I really love the Internet.

Meet My New Writing Partner

My new roommate/writing partner/antidepressant/pet kitten moved in yesterday. Her name is Willow and she is fantastic. Here’s a picture of her helping.

Yes. I realize I am now one of those people who posts photos of his cat on the Internet. I am also okay with this.

C. S. Lewis Offers Writing Advice

In June of 1956, C. S. Lewis responded to a letter written by an American girl, a fan of The Chronicles of Narnia. Instead of offering a short, generic response, he took time to give some advice on writing to the young lady.

The whole thing is worth reading. The fourth item rang true for me. I might print it out and tape it to my desk.

4. In writing. Don’t use adjectives which merely tell us how you want us to feel about the thing you are describing. I mean, instead of telling us a thing was “terrible,” describe it so that we’ll be terrified. Don’t say it was “delightful”; make us say “delightful” when we’ve read the description. You see, all those words (horrifying, wonderful, hideous, exquisite) are only like saying to your readers, “Please will you do my job for me.”

(Via Letters of Note.)