If you’re one of the bazillions of fans of romance novels, there’s a new documentary film about to hit the circuit called “Love Between the Covers.” Director Laurie Kahn interviews over a four-year period several romance authors and their fans, as well as many industry professionals, about what makes romance the most fascinatingly vibrant, and by far the best-selling genre in fiction.
The movie’s getting awesomely rave reviews! I particularly like this one, from Marsha Lederman in “The Globe and Mail:”
“It’s easy to dismiss this H.E.A. (Happily Ever After) literature, but the film surprises with its feminist message: Romance fiction is sneered at, we’re told, because it’s written by, read by, and is about women. This is the one place where you will consistently find women’s sexuality treated fairly and positively. As one author puts it: “You can have sex without dying horribly, which I thought was a plus.”
It’s having its premiere at the Los Angeles Film Festival, and I definitely plan to be there. If you come to the LA screenings, Kahn’s is giving away gift baskets full of – what else – romance books 🙂
If you can’t be at the premiere, visit the movie’s website to check it out and see where it’ll be showing near you. There’s so much cool info on their site – I honestly spent quite a while clicking through it all!
In case you’re not online today, or don’t use Google as a search engine, someone has generously recorded and posted a YouTube clip of Google’s excellent Martha Graham doodle, in honor of what would be her 117th birthday. I don’t remember seeing such an intricately designed doodle for anyone or anything else. Do you guys? How awesome for the dance world!
The Guggenheim’s Works and Process event this coming Sunday and Monday nights (May 1st and 2nd) is entitled “ABT: On to Act II” and focuses on what awaits a principal ballet dancer upon retirement from an illustrious career. The focus of course is on Jose Manuel Carreno, who will retire in June during the company’s Met season, and who’s long been one of my personal favorites in ABT and in the world. I remember when Julio Bocca gave his farewell performance I thought how upset I’d be when it was Jose Carreno doing the same. That day in late June is not going to be a happy one for me…
The W&P panel will consist of Carreno, Susan Jaffee, Frederic Franklin, and several ABT administrators, and there will be excerpts from the company’s upcoming Met season performed. (It hasn’t yet been announced who the dancers will be.) There will also be a slide show of the photography of Rosalie O’Connor, who successfully transitioned from ABT dancer to company photographer (and who took the above picture of Carreno in Don Quixote).
As with all of the Guggenheim’s W&P events of late, this one will be live-streamed on the Guggenheim’s ustream channel. So even though the event is sold out, we all get free admission 😀 Just tune in at 7:30 p.m. ET either night, and again, you can also participate in the live-chat which takes place on that channel alongside the live video.
So, my reading Thursday evening is now archived on the Reading is Sexy Kindle Party ustream; I embedded it here. I’m the sixth reader on the list – out of eight. The readings were so diverse. The only similarity between us is that we all happened to be women (though the event definitely wasn’t excluded to men)! Each of the books seemed to be of very high quality – really the quality of self-published books is not at all what those in traditional publishing seem to want to make it out to be – and the authors were quite adept at reading from their own work, which surprised me – usually authors don’t make such good readers 🙂 Many of the authors have won awards for their writing (either for their books or short stories), some have been published in anthologies, some have MFA degrees, and some are Amazon bestsellers.
I think the event was really a success. The live audience was packed – I’d say there were about 50 seats set up in the reading room, which was completely full. And we had an internet audience as well, actively asking questions of the readers. So a big huge THANK YOU if you were one of the online participants!!!
Someone asked me if my next novel (the legal / urban drama about the group of men who witnessed a shooting) was based on a true story. I’ve been kind of working on two novels simultaneously – that one, which is taking a while because I needed to take a little writing break and do some research, and a sequel to Swallow, that will include dance. I thought the second might have more sales potential, which is why I was working on it as well, trying to get it out as soon as possible. But several people (mostly outside of the dance world 🙂 ) keep telling me they’re eagerly awaiting the legal drama. So the person who asked that question prompted me to work hard on that one, because there is interest, and in my heart that’s what I want to write about. So, thank you person who asked me that question!! The answer to the question is yes, but I’m taking a lot of liberties with the actual event it’s based on, completely creating new characters, etc.
Also, three of the authors happened to be lawyers or former lawyers, and someone asked the third what was up with that! What’s drawing lawyers to a profession that’s so much less lucrative than their original career? Leibow, the last lawyer to read, laughed and said it just so much more creatively rewarding. I’d strongly second that, adding, in my case, that it’s also far more rewarding to write for intelligent, open-minded readers, than for judges, most of whom are conservative, jaded and cynical.
I had such a good time doing this and am so glad I went down to Virginia for the day. I realized though, in doing so, that I’m not as young as I once was. Funny though, because I got carded ordering a rum-based Hurricane with my lunch at the Pizzeria Uno in Union Station. I always seem to get carded when I order alcoholic beverages down South. So, apparently to some I don’t look as old as I feel 🙂 Anyway, such a long one-day trip there and back really kind of took the wind out of me and it took me most of yesterday to recover. I should have stayed overnight in DC and gone to the AWP (Association of Writing Programs) conference yesterday, but for some odd reason I decided to catch the 1:40 a.m. bus back to NY.
I always travel like this and, I know, I’m weird. My third year in law school I had an interview for a federal clerkship, down in Albany. Not Albany, NY, but Albany, GA, about two hours out of Atlanta. I was living in Hoboken, New Jersey at the time. I left my apartment at 6 in the morning, bussed to Newark airport, flew to Atlanta, caught a connecting flight to Albany (one one of those 10-seater planes, which I don’t think I’ll do again…), took a long cab ride to the courthouse, had my interview, then went back all the same way, arriving at my Hoboken apartment nearly 24 hours after I left it.
And, during my first dance competition, which was in Miami, I decided last minute I just had to see Key West. I only had one day until my first day of competition, and then my flight back to NY was the evening of my last comp. So, I took a day trip from Miami to Key West the day before the comp. It’s about 3 1/2 hours each way. I spent about six hours out on the island, and I still managed to get a full night’s sleep (part of it on the bus) and was up early and ready for morning practice the following day. I don’t know how I did that…
Anyway, I had a wonderful time in Vienna, met so many wonderful writers and readers. The Soundry, a multi-room venue kind of like the KGB Bar in NY, was an excellent place to have a reading. Thank you so much to the Soundry’s Jennifer Crawford for including me in the roster at the last minute. Thank you so much to Karen Cantwell for telling me about the event in the first place (on the Kindleboards), and for carting me between the Soundry and the Vienna metro station! So nice to meet several Kindleboards authors I’ve been chatting online with for months now. Can’t wait for the next event!
My friend, Oberon, told me about this exhibit – a video installation by Robert Wilson showcasing Roberto Bolle, showing at Center 548 in Chelsea, as part of Milano New York Isaloni. So I went to check it out yesterday.
Scared the absolute crap out of me! I don’t really want to say too much or it will ruin the mystery for people who go, but I’ll just say, definitely go see it – I’ve never really seen a gallery exhibit, or even a museum exhibit quite like this before. Just try not to go alone. I think that’s partly why I was so spooked. It’s very dark in there; the first room is lit only by the small amounts of light emanating from some x-ray-like photos of light bulbs.
At the beginning there’s some nice classical music playing, but then the sounds get more ominous, and at points become quite harsh.
The second and fourth rooms really scared me the most – the rooms with three-dimensional art depicting scenes both classical and apocalyptic. Some of the three-dimensional art – well, it just looked too real… I’m not even sure if I saw the entire exhibit because I was just too nervous to go to the very end of the second big room and see if there was anything around the corner. It’s like a dark maze after you enter the first room. I almost couldn’t find my way out. I think if there are more people, though, if would be obvious where the entrances and exits were. As I was exiting, there was an art critic speaking with the curator and the critic said she thought this exhibit was really compelling and should be expanded to a museum, but then said the danger of doing that would be to diminish its mystery precisely because it would be more crowded.
Anyway, another thing that startled me – I kept forgetting it was a video installation because many of the projections looked like still photos … until Bolle would move ever so subtly. It’s like the moving eyes in the portrait effect… And I never realized how doll-like he can look… And, had I not seen Black Swan, there are additional associations I probably would not have made but…
I’ve said too much! Just go see it! I do hope they someday expand it into a larger project.
For now, it’s at Center 548, which is at 548 W. 22nd Street in Chelsea. It’s only showing through December 18th so hurry.
So psyched – I’m going to be on popular Claws author Stacey Cochran‘s internet show, Book Chatter, this Friday, 10/22. The show begins at 9 p.m. EST. It’s live-streamed so you can participate if you want by going to the website where you can send in questions or comments via IM Chat. I’ll be on the show with a couple of other authors. I’ve never done this before (not a live-streamed show anyway), and have no idea what to expect, so it should be fun!
Also, Swallow has recently received several more interesting blog / website reviews, at: Read All Day; A Nut in a Nutshell; Spellbound by Books; and Style Substance and Soul. I’m really grateful for all of the reviews I’ve received, both positive and more critical. I’m really thrilled that people are taking the time to read it closely and really think about it.
Several reviewers now have said they found the part about 9/11 very compelling – in fact one of the most engaging parts of the book. I’m so glad because before I published, some had told me they thought including 9/11 in the plot may be a big turn-off to readers. So I’m glad readers have felt drawn in by that part of the narrative, and that they felt like they were there. My next book is about, not 9/11, but something unsettling as well that’s based on an event that really happened. And I feel that most of this next book is written in a style similar to the latter part of Swallow.
Anyway, maybe I’ll hear from you Friday night. If the time is not good, he records the shows and keeps them on the Book Chatter website, so I’ll link to it!
So excited! I’ve been hearing about this ballroom-based movie Melanie LaPatin has a role in for a while now and it’s finally being released. It stars SYTYCD season three winner Benji Schwimmer as well.
Here’s the synopsis:
“Nothing matters more to the Campari family than ballroom dancing. When star daughter Tasi reveals she’s pregnant, larger-than-life stage mom Sheri reluctantly turns to her other daughter, Toni, to win the upcoming dance competition. But Toni’s a little distracted since she’s fallen madly in love with Mona. Now Toni is under pressure to pull it together, train for the dance, and find the courage to publicly declare her exciting new love. Packed with astounding dance sequences and an infectious pop soundtrack, Leading Ladies is alternately outrageous and touching, and sure to please everyone from film buffs to dance lovers to Hairspray fans.”
So far it’s hit several film festivals, and if you’re in New York, it’ll be showing at BAM on August 29th. There will also be a pre-showing Q&A with directors Erika Randall Beahm and Daniel Beahm. It’s at 7 p.m.
Melanie is a natural actress, and this sounds like the perfect role for her (I’ve often imagined her in the Patti LuPone Gypsy role). And will be fun to see Benji on the big screen too. I can’t wait
My interview with So You Think You Can Dance all-star tWitch Boss is now up on the Huffington Post. He has a role in the new movie Step Up 3D, out in theaters nationwide August 6th. It’s his first big role (more than just a dance part) and he’s very excited about it. Big kudos to him!
I received this email yesterday from the marketing department of the Sydney Opera House in Australia announcing a competition they’re having as part of their upcoming Spring 2010 Festival. They had the same competition last year and it was a huge success. I thought some of you guys might be interested in entering. There’s no geographical limitation; it’s a YouTube contest and anyone can enter.
Here’s the info they sent me:
MyMutation is an online dance competition, where competitors dance their take on a starter solo choreographed by Kate Champion (Director of Force Majeure and Judge of the competition) and then dance a further 20 seconds in their own style. The entries are submitted online through our YouTube competition webpage, the link can be found on the e-card below. Entries close 10 August and the competition is open to dancers of ALL ages and styles. If you get your dance moves on early and upload your entry before August 1 you will also to go in the draw to win a SONY bloggie.
Prizes for the winner include $2000 cash, a wonderful SONY prize pack and also the opportunity to work with Kate and dance on the forecourt of Sydney Opera House on 26 September as part of our Spring Dance Festival (expenses paid trip to Australia!). The festival runs from 31 August until 26 September, and involves some of the world’s leading choreographers. Some of the top names include Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui, world’s greatest tap dancer Savion Glover and Gideon Obarzanek (in his first solo performance in 20 years!). There are also some free events, including the MyMutation winning performance, Transports Exceptionnel and Dance on Film.
Click here for more information, demo videos, and instructions on how to submit.
Have fun, good luck, and let me know if any of you submit anything!
(Middle photo of Fancy Free – with Sasha Radetsky and Herman Cornejo – taken from Ballet.co; other photos from ABT website)
Jose Carreno is my dancer of the season this ABT season, mainly because I love him and am trying to see him in everything possible so in case, as people are surmising, he retires next year or the year after. I’m trying to get my fill. Not that you can ever really get your fill of a dancer like him. But it seems to be what everyone is doing — I’m hearing, “Oh, I’m trying to see Jose as much as I can!” everywhere around the Met right now.
This season, I’ve seen him in La Bayadere with Julie Kent, Sleeping Beauty with Alina Cojocaru, of course Don Quixote with Natalia Osipova (twice if you include the night honoring Alicia Alonso) and a host of mixed rep fare including Fancy Free — he’s by far my favorite cocky Latin sailor EVER, Tharp’s Brahms-Haydn Variations which would have been a great deal more boring without him, he was still a real standout among a cast full of huge principals the day I saw it, and what else have I seen him in? Seems like something else, but maybe it’s just that I’m looking forward to tomorrow night’s Manon pas de deux with Diana Vishneva.
If and when he retires I’m going to be a hysterical wreck. He’s 42 this year and dancing, in my eyes, as well as he ever has, so I don’t know why it even needs to be an issue at this point. But he’s said years ago that he planned to retire at 40, and it seems most ABT men stop dancing in their early 40s at the latest (Julio Bocca was only 39) so … whatever… He’s the most advanced artist at ABT, the most advanced artist I know of currently dancing; he’s a legend. And he’s the only dancer who’s ever brought me to tears (with his Romeo).
So, since this is a long weekend, here are some videos so you can enjoy him too:
Dancing with Irina Dvorovenko in Le Corsaire:
In Coppelia:
Diana and Acteon:
With Gillian Murphy in Don Quixote:
And rehearsing for a Kings of Dance performance with David Hallberg, Joaquin De Luz and Nikolai Tsiskaridze:
So, if you missed THE performance of the season last week at ABT (that’s Natalia Osipova’s American debut as Kitri in Don Quixote, with legendary Jose Carreno as her partner), here are some vids I found of her dancing the role at the Bolshoi.
There are actually a couple of videos posted on YouTube that are of the exact performance I’m talking about at ABT, but I know ABT didn’t approve them so I feel weird embedding them here. Click on this link (but fast forward to around the 2:57 mark, when it really starts) and this one to view them – and hurry up before someone orders them taken down! I really hope ABT makes a film of this ballet sometime – with this same cast, but with Marcelo Gomes as Espada and Veronika Part as Mercedes. Although, I have to say … Jared Matthews (who I didn’t like in the role when I saw him live) looks pretty good in those videos. I think I just got spoiled by seeing Marcelo first.
If you’re one of the bazillions of fans of romance novels, there’s a new documentary film about to hit the circuit called “Love Between the Covers.” Director Laurie Kahn interviews over a four-year period several romance authors and their fans, as well as many industry professionals, about what makes romance the most fascinatingly vibrant, and by far the best-selling genre in fiction.
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