Alice Lichtenstein's Blog
July 9, 2019
I.I. Rabi Rises From the Dead!
Imagine how proud I was to read novelist and historian, Kevin Baker, in the NYT, touting my grandfather, I. I. Rabi, in a rebuttal to Trump's immigration policy.
I often wish my grandfather was alive to take on Trump. He would have cut him to shreds.
Please take the time to read!
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/24/op...
I often wish my grandfather was alive to take on Trump. He would have cut him to shreds.
Please take the time to read!
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/24/op...
May 9, 2019
Blurb Joy
In a past post, I wrote about "blurb angst." Today, I am thrilled to write about "blurb joy"!
Blurb joy is finding a lovely, concise endorsement in your Inbox for your heretofore hidden (to the public) novel.
It's a joy akin to spotting the first crocus; hearing the bright trill of the red-winged blackbird after the long winter. It's simply GREAT!
“Brilliantly written, filled with edge-of-your-seat suspense and wisdom, Lichtenstein’s tale of a hate crime’s polarization of ‘the perfect village’ is both timely and timeless, a moving and necessary book.
--Elizabeth J. Evans, “As Good As Dead”
Thank you!
Blurb joy is finding a lovely, concise endorsement in your Inbox for your heretofore hidden (to the public) novel.
It's a joy akin to spotting the first crocus; hearing the bright trill of the red-winged blackbird after the long winter. It's simply GREAT!
“Brilliantly written, filled with edge-of-your-seat suspense and wisdom, Lichtenstein’s tale of a hate crime’s polarization of ‘the perfect village’ is both timely and timeless, a moving and necessary book.
--Elizabeth J. Evans, “As Good As Dead”
Thank you!
April 23, 2019
Blurb Angst
You write the book. You are dazzled by the good fortune of finding a publisher for the book. You revise the book (a lot). And then--you must ask for blurbs.
"Blurb" is one of the ugliest words in the English language. A watery burp. A word that erupts from and sinks into a stagnant murk.
Still, your publisher insists: Find the blurbs! So you do, dressing up the inquiry as a request for an endorsement; a quote. And by god when you get one--from a writer whose work you admire--a writer who is not related to you (you've checked 23 and Me), a writer far too famous to want a blurb in return--you rejoice!
Here's mine:
"Alice Lichtenstein's novel—as gripping as it is timely—excavates the complex roots of hatred and need for hard-won, radical empathy. A deeply human, fully-imagined story for our divided times." —Elizabeth Graver, author of The End of the Point
Thank you!
"Blurb" is one of the ugliest words in the English language. A watery burp. A word that erupts from and sinks into a stagnant murk.
Still, your publisher insists: Find the blurbs! So you do, dressing up the inquiry as a request for an endorsement; a quote. And by god when you get one--from a writer whose work you admire--a writer who is not related to you (you've checked 23 and Me), a writer far too famous to want a blurb in return--you rejoice!
Here's mine:
"Alice Lichtenstein's novel—as gripping as it is timely—excavates the complex roots of hatred and need for hard-won, radical empathy. A deeply human, fully-imagined story for our divided times." —Elizabeth Graver, author of The End of the Point
Thank you!
April 16, 2019
Spring and Uncorrected Galley Proofs!
I sit in my office, the printer churning out the double-sided pages of the uncorrected galley proof, a PDF, of "The Crime of Being." The pages fly hither and thither. It's a little like being pitched a bucketful of softballs all at once. Fear-inducing and exciting. I'm madly snagging and flipping the pages this way and that, constructing a neat, sequential pile of GALLEY PAGES!
The thrill is ENORMOUS! This is the first time I've seen my work in its true design. Real font, real spacing, real dingbats, and a Title page and Dedication and Contents and Part I. Do you get it? The book that started out as scribble on a dozen different notepads and backs of envelopes, receipts and whatnot is manifesting as an aesthetically pleasing object. It's just too cool.
The thrill is ENORMOUS! This is the first time I've seen my work in its true design. Real font, real spacing, real dingbats, and a Title page and Dedication and Contents and Part I. Do you get it? The book that started out as scribble on a dozen different notepads and backs of envelopes, receipts and whatnot is manifesting as an aesthetically pleasing object. It's just too cool.
April 11, 2019
A Strange and Lonely World
It's a strange and lonely world launching a new novel after 8 years of being out of the marketing loop. I am tripping over myself in every possible way--hitting the wrong keys; using the wrong photos; describing the plot in way too much detail. Sigh.
It's intimidating to think of how many wonderful books are already out there. And they keep tumbling forth in an unending "Socerer's Apprentice"-type of nightmare. I feel symptoms of a panic attack coming on just at the thought of what readers have to choose to read (myself included!)
So, I ask, very humbly, to put a space in your list around mid-November 2019 for my offering: THE CRIME OF BEING. Fast-paced, controversial, a deep read. (OK, that's what my BFF said to write. I can trust her, right???)
Best,
Alice
It's intimidating to think of how many wonderful books are already out there. And they keep tumbling forth in an unending "Socerer's Apprentice"-type of nightmare. I feel symptoms of a panic attack coming on just at the thought of what readers have to choose to read (myself included!)
So, I ask, very humbly, to put a space in your list around mid-November 2019 for my offering: THE CRIME OF BEING. Fast-paced, controversial, a deep read. (OK, that's what my BFF said to write. I can trust her, right???)
Best,
Alice
April 10, 2019
A NEW NOVEL!!!
I am super-excited to let you wonderful Goodreads Readers know that I have a new novel, THE CRIME OF BEING, forthcoming from UPPER HAND PRESS in NOVEMBER 2019.
I am fortunate to have found a fabulous press run by a visionary publisher and marvelously astute editor, Ann Starr.
I welcome all questions on the experience of publishing through an independent vs. commercial publisher, on the process of finding the right publisher, on overcoming writing obstacles (both physical and mental), and anything else pertaining to your writing and reading you might want to run by me.
I will post on these topics as well. Please stay tuned.
All the very best,
Alice
I am fortunate to have found a fabulous press run by a visionary publisher and marvelously astute editor, Ann Starr.
I welcome all questions on the experience of publishing through an independent vs. commercial publisher, on the process of finding the right publisher, on overcoming writing obstacles (both physical and mental), and anything else pertaining to your writing and reading you might want to run by me.
I will post on these topics as well. Please stay tuned.
All the very best,
Alice
December 15, 2014
I answered my questions!
Hello to the 8 fans who check into this sort of non-blog. Goodreads has offered a way to receive and answer readers' questions. An anonymous reader, whom I suspect is Goodreads, asked some excellent questions which I have just answered.
check them out and send more!
All the very best,
Alice
check them out and send more!
All the very best,
Alice
