DIARY OF A GIRL-NEXT-DOOR HEAVY METAL NOVELIST
(...go
back a page)
July 25, 2005
So, yeah, a fellow
from NYC who acquires material that might have the potential to become
a movie script called me yesterday. I don't know much about what types
of work he's drawn to, and he probably knows the same amount about Won't
Get Fooled Again, but it sure is cool to have someone from a
different medium show enthusiasm.
My big trip to New York State for the second of two hometown homecomings is just around the corner. In order to prepare, I decided it would be a good idea to query a college housing publication about three possible articles. Oy. My priorities! For better or worse, the high school reunion I was supposed to attend seems to have fallen off the map (or at least I've fallen off theirs). That can only mean one thing: more time for the best chili dogs in the entire world!
Psst. Don't miss my hottie friends Ruby and Carlos this Thursday night on the Daily Show with John Stewart. You remember Carlos from the photo session for our multinational ad campaign. Darn him for getting more famous than me. Get my agent on the phone! Oh, yeah. I'm my agent. Crap.
July 26, 2005
I was quoted in the BookConnector.com
newsletter this month in an article about interesting venues for book
signings:
Keep it Simple, Scribes
The best book signings for Colette Shaw have taken place at KISS fan conventions. While her book has only a loose tie-in with the group, the KISS Army fan base is passionate and supportive of the project because she has taken something with iconic value and put her own spin on it."Until you've seen a guy in full Gene Simmons makeup taking out his wallet for a signed book," she says, "I don't know if you can understand the rabid subculture that binds KISS and literature."
‹ Colette Shaw, www.KISSfiction.com
False alarm. Carlos and Ruby won't appear on the Daily Show until next week. I still have a few more days to become famous. While it's a start, I don't think BookConnectors counts.
But there's always...WWKB Radio in Buffalo, where I'll be on the air Friday morning at 9:00 a.m. The signal isn't broadcast over the web, so you'll have to actually get in your car and drive to Buffalo. 'kay?
July 27, 2005
Off to conquer New York State. Be back soon.
July 28, 2005
The est question of the day came from the Friendship, NY librarians when
I stopped by to say hello. "We've been wondering... Are you a member
of KISS?"
There's no doubt, a theme of homecoming has to be at the core of my next novel. With the time I had alone with myself on my long car trip today, the story started coming together.
In real life, I'm nestled in bed at the home of the real-live Tootsie Chase.She and her partner in crime-solving, J.R., made me steak and potatoes. Not bad for a starving artist! Seems like people here know I'm coming to town. That's a good sign. Tomorrow is my big radio gig with Dan Neaverth. I'm not nervous anymore since I'm going to the studio in person. Unlike KISS, whom I would still have loved even if they hadn't been nice to me (but they were!), I really really want him to be kind. He's a legend from my childhood and teenage years.
July 29, 2005
Oh yeeeeeeah. I love Dan
Neaverth, and his cohost Tom Donahue. LOVE THEM!!! Tom is a communications
professor, and he extended an informal invitation for me to come back
to talk to his class someday. Of course I will! If I can upload a recording
of the show, I'll post a link. They
were hosts in every sense of the word, and I don't think it was just
because of the doughnuts I provided. They'd done their homework and asked
interesting questions. Score!
After my KB interview, I met up with an old college friend, Bob. He is perhaps the most rock & roll non-rock star I've ever met, and he deserves the credit for at least part of my foul mouth and my appreciation of Beavis & Butthead as closet intellectuals. His wife is equally kick-ass. She wears hot boots, handles Ani Difranco's administrativia, and created her own one-woman gothic cabaret act. My grad school friend, Tom, joined us for lunch, and we caught up on a decade of news. I came home to Aunt Paula (a.k.a. Detective Tootsie Chase) and the love fest was complete.
In case there was any doubt about my decision to quit my dean job, the smile I've been unable to wipe from my face for the past 48 hours gives me an indication.
August 1, 2005
I have the plot of my next novel written. Now, I just have to write the
novel itself. Tomorrow, I'll start.
I'm back from my trip, and I have a lot to do in the coming weeks. Bring it on.
Thanks to Aunt Paula, Uncle Jim, Dad, old friends and classmates, and everybody who rocked my weekend.
August 3, 2005
I wrote the first 750 words of my second novel tonight. Every single one
of those words sucks, but that's what rewriting is for. You can't edit
if you don't write the book first.
I spent most of the day sending out press releases for my next two trips. I think I might have a radio interview lined up to coincide with my trip to Virginia in next week. In the meantime, I'm on the cover of my hometown newspaper again. Hooray for small towns.
I started getting nervous about finances today, and like magic, an invitation for a paid percussion gig appeared. The performance is the same day as KISS Nation's show in NYC. No problem. I'll just have to wear something that will be suitable for wind ensemble, driving and rock & roll. (continue)
