Red Lemonade: Democracy At Last

What if the hierarchical gaps between publishers, writers and readers were smaller? What if an entire community was engaged in the process of producing a book, just as much as the publisher or the author?

These are the questions Richard Nash, publishing entrepreneur and founder of Cursor and Red Lemonade, is asking. It’s no secret that the book market is becoming increasingly one-dimensional, and to become a best-seller it seems that you need the solid prerequisites of fame, fortune or connections. How many small-town genius writers are out there querying publishers with their manuscript, only to be rejected in lieu of the next Twlight or Fifty Shades of Grey series?

Richard Nash’s goal is to bring the publishing industry back into the hands of the people – democracy at last. Simply put, it’s a website where individuals post their manuscript up on a forum to receive critique and feedback from fellow writers and readers. The format is incredibly similar to Scribophile, but there’s a catch – Red Lemonade seeks to publish the best works written and voted for by the people.

A quick glance at Red Lemonade’s site will tell you that it still needs some work – the layout and color scheme is less than engaging, and the origins of the name dubious – but the idea behind this platform is wonderfully innovative, and I sincerely hope it takes off.

Interested in submitting your stuff? Check out Red Lemonade’s About page to learn more.

-Genevieve

Lit Missives 02/24 – 03/02

No matter what, YA mythology books will never go out of style. Even now in my 20′s, they’re my comfort reads, and there’s nothing better than sinking into a good Madeleine L’Engle or Francesca Lia Block novel at the end of a cold winter’s day. Here’s a few events around town that may spark your interest if these writers are your favorite, too. Have fun!

Feel like what you write may be geared more towards adolescents than adults? A panel of young adult authors, including Yelena Black and Robin Benway, will be having a discussion on young adult literature, as well as upcoming fads in the genre. Come on over and take some notes on Wednesday, February 27th, 7 P.M. at The Book Cellar, 4736 N. Lincoln Ave.

Doesn’t matter what time of year it is – I still love a chilling horror story! The Chicago Writers Conference will be having a reading on all matter of things supernatural – from ghouls and ghosts to prancing unicorns. Bring a buddy and see you there on Thursday, February 28th, 6:30 PM at Open Books, 213 W. Institute Pl.

Who’d have thought that escorting souls into the afterlife involved so much…paperwork? Well, at least it does in Christina Henry’s fast-paced urban fantasy novel Black Wings, which features a female protagonist with new found magical powers and a stranger-than-customary roommate. She’ll be having a book signing on Friday, March 1st, 7 PM at Challengers Comics & Conversations, 1845 N. Western Ave.

Versu Storytelling Platform

Remember reading those “create your own adventure” books when you were a kid? Well, now you can enjoy your favorite novels as an adult and get to pick a cool new ending! The creators of Second Life have come out with an awesome storytelling platform called Versu, in which you can become a character in a famous book, like Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, and as you read the story you can pick and choose the actions your character does to create a unique ending to the book.

Pretty fun way to start your day, eh? You can read more about the new app here!

Lit Missives 02/17-02/24

If you’re reading this: congratulations! Not only have you survived the Mayan apocalypse, but you’ve lived through one more Valentine’s Day, and won’t have to endure the sore sight of roses and hearts galore for another year. To help place it all behind you, we’ve put together a list of literary events to put the spring back in your step.

Curious about economics, but hesitant about picking up the For Dummies version? Have no fear, Charles Wheelan is here! His new bestseller, Naked Economics: Undressing the Dismal Science unravels the jargon of fiances and makes it accessible and easy-to-understand for the everyday layperson. Plus, not a bad book to read with tax season dawning upon us. Pick up a signed copy! Tuesday, February 19 at 12 pm, University Club of Chicago, 76 E. Monroe

Many of us would love to bask in the limelight of fame and fortune – but what would it be like, really? Christine Sneed gives us a glimpse of this sought-after lifestyle in her debut novel Little Known Facts, about two grown children of a star who struggle with forging identities away from the dazzling fame of their father. Hear her read on Thursday, Feb 21, 7:30 pm at Women & Children First, 5233 N. Clark St.

We’d all travel the world…if only we had the money. But maybe we don’t need the big bucks after all! Matt Kepnes’s book How To Travel the World on $50 a Day: Travel Cheaper, Longer, Smarter is an excellent resource for post-college grads looking for the ultimate backpacking experience. Lucky for us, he’ll be landing in Chicago for a reading on Thursday, February 21, 7:30 pm at The Book Cellar, 4736 N. Lincoln Ave.

Literature isn’t all studious thought and dusty libraries. Funny Ha-Ha: The Triumphant Return! will be having a reading, and it’s sure to be a riot. 21+ only, $5 at the door, and proceeds benefit the Neighborhood Writing Alliance. See you there Friday, February 22, 6:30 pm at The Hideout, 1354 W. Wabansia Ave.

Have a great week and hang in there, Chicago: just a few more weeks until spring!

-Genevieve

 

 

Lit Missives 02/10 – 02/17

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner! Don’t have plans yet? Yeah, me neither. Though I have a funny feeling that around 6 PM Thursday evening a 2009 bottle of The Prisoner is going to be singing my name in warm, seductive tones. Sigh. But enough about my fantasies. What about yours?

Lucky for you, I’ve put together a list of events that are sure to keep your heart pumping. A lover, a glass of wine and a reading are all you need to get those endorphins going.

If biology is what does it for you, be sure to stop in and see the discoverer of Tiktaalik Neil Shubin, who will be promoting his new book The Universe Within, which takes us on an intimate exploration of our bodies to understand how humans evolved from the earth and galaxies around us. Pretty steamy, eh? One could do worse. Monday, February 11th, 6 PM at Harold Washington Library, 400 S. State St.

Looking for something a little more…bittersweet? Less optimistic, perhaps? Next on the menu is Gillian Flynn, appearing to chat about her career and sign copies of her novel Gone Girl, about a wife’s sudden disappearance and the town’s insistence that her husband was the murderer. Probably not a recommended read if you’ve already sent out your save-the-dates. Wednesday, February 13th, 6 PM at Harold Washington Library, 400 S. State St.

If you’re single and looking to add some digits to your little black book, why not attend the perfect medley of a reading-mixer? Especially one that prides itself on “destroying fake holidays by celebrating them.” Titled “Angela Merkel is Dead” (I’m sure you’ll find all the answers to your questions on attendance), the mixer is sure to be a riot. Thursday, February 14th, 6:30 PM at Township, 220 N. California Ave.

They say diamonds are a girl’s best friend, don’t they? And literary gems are sure to abound at Poetry Made of Diamonds, an event that features Chicago’s own poets – some published, some not. Sunday, February 17th, 7 PM at Uncharted Books, 2630 N. Milwaukee Ave.

-Genevieve

On Language: The Rumpus Interview With Constance Hale

I consider myself a pretty standard grammar Nazi. I double-check emails to make sure everything is spelled correctly. I’m insistent upon the correct use of “your” vs “you’re” and “there” vs “their” vs “they’re.” And I’ll admit that I take secret pleasure in correcting someone’s word use in a sentence.

But I’m human, and I make mistakes. I abbreviate heavily on G-chat, and I’m not above substituting a “U” for “you” when I’m rushing through a text message. But does this make me less literate? And what about the hundreds upon thousands of electronic device users running rampant through the country? We tweet, Facebook and IM, inhale information and spit it back out at an alarming rate. Do the language decisions we make on the internet say something about our literacy, our culture, or both?

Enter in this just-posted Rumpus interview with Constance Hale, journalist and language goddess, and a much more severe grammar Nazi than I’ll ever be. If you relish in words – their form, their sound, their vast array of meanings – then you’ll love this article. I’ve included an excerpt below, or you can read the full interview.

“What makes us different from everything else on the planet? We have language. We have the capacity to communicate and to touch each other intellectually or emotionally. It’s completely central to who we are, to our core being. And it matters a lot that we be able to communicate effectively. And yet, despite this, it isn’t taught very effectively in schools, and it isn’t taught very effectively, necessarily, within families. Your parents may make you feel kind of uptight about language if they correct you a certain way, or don’t correct you, or you might be ashamed of your parents. There’s a lot of stuff that isn’t taught very well.

That’s why I think it stirs up passions in two very different and kind of paradoxical ways. On the one hand, people love great language. We all love a great Bob Dylan song, and we all respond to a politician that’s able to speak really eloquently. We respond to good advertising. And all of us have our favorite writers, and part of the reason we love them is the way they use language. So there’s that positive passion.

And then there’s this negative passion, or anxiety, which is we don’t feel that we do it right and we haven’t been taught it in a particularly good way. As a culture, Americans don’t talk about language very much. We don’t talk about language at the dinner table. In some other cultures, they do. In some other cultures, they talk about language and grammar a lot more easily. It’s an interesting paradox to me, but it’s why I think people get so riled up about it.” – Constance Hale

 

-Genevieve

Lit Missives 02/03 – 02/10

Well, folks, we’ve made it to Month #2 of 2013! How are your resolutions holding up so far? Don’t let them stagger under the oppressive weight of the dreaded V-word – Valentine’s Day. Instead of basking in the illusory glow of red roses and Godiva chocolates, we’ve conjured up a list of cool literary events that honor the day without going overboard. More coming up next week!

As part of their Committee on Creative Writing and Poetry Series, the University of Chicago will be hosting artist of the long form poem Campbell McGrath to read from his enormous collection of published poetry, most notably In the Kingdom of the Sea Monkeys, which celebrates its one year publication anniversary on Valentine’s Day. What better way to warm your heart than with humorous and satirical contemplations on American society? There is none. Monday, February 4, 5 pm at Lorado Taft House, 6016 S. Ingleside Ave.

Got your manuscript typed up, ready to go – but haven’t the foggiest idea what to do next? For $15 you have the opportunity to attend the Chicago’s Literati Networking Event, where you can munch on tasty appetizers whilst mingling with and learning from bestselling authors and literary agents. If you get there early enough, you can even get a take-home bag of goodies! Pretty sweet deal, eh? Tuesday, February 5, 6 pm at The Hidden Shamrock, 2723 N. Halsted St.

If you’re not big on spending, 19th United States Poet Laureate and Poet Laureate of Mississippi Natasha Trethewey is coming to town for a free reading. Her work focuses on issues of multiracial identity and explores the geography of the South to encounter the history of humanity lingering beneath the surface. See her Tuesday, February 5, 7 pm at the Poetry Foundation, 61 W. Superior

Bitter about the upcoming Hallmark holiday? Have no fear – there are plenty of other literary geeks out there who share your exact sentiments. For $3 you can attend RUI’s (Reading Under the Influence) get together and hear them wail about the unending woes of tainted love. But don’t worry, comedian Adam Guerino will be there to make sure things don’t get too depressing. Wednesday, Feb 6, 7 pm at Sheffield’s, 3258 N. Sheffield Ave.

Amy Andrews will be reading from her just published novel Love & Salt, a story of remarkable friendship between two women, and their individual tales of struggle with marriage, careers, and their spirituality told through letters. Andrews will be reading on Friday, February 8, 7:30 pm at Women & Children First, 5233 N. Clark St. 

-Genevieve