Daily Archives: September 1, 2013

All Roads Are Connected

No single decision you ever made has led in a straight line to where you find yourself now. You peeked down some roads and took a few steps before turning back. You followed some roads that came to a dead end and others that got lost at too many intersections. Ultimately, all roads are connected to all other roads. – Dr. Deepak Chopra, Physician, author, teacher and businessman.

A vision I had just over one year ago, for an innovative way to connect authors and their books with booklovers, became reality on July 8th, when Booked launched the debut of my webcast shows. The shows are the third and brightest jewel in the Booked crown, joining my eight-month-old website that offers Book Excerpts, a weekly Blog, useful links and other features.

In just eight weeks, Booked webcasts quickly established a large audience in the U.S. and abroad. Several of the books I reviewed won prestigious awards or were best sellers. The genres and formats are varied and the authors have fascinating backstories they shared with my viewers. The feedback from authors and viewers alike has been incredibly rewarding and I look forward to the road ahead for all of us.

My road has taken an unexpected turn in the past week. Some urgent family matters have sprung up that must be tended to. I must take a hiatus from my webcasts for a few weeks to take care of my family. Anyone who has a family understands this decision. That does not make it easier for me to step away from Booked webcasts, which I love doing.

I will continue to do my weekly blog. Authors, editors, publishers, agents, bookstores, and anyone involved with bringing books to readers are encouraged to get in touch with me through my website at www.bookedwebcast.com. Although I will not broadcast new shows for a few weeks, I will be reading books and communicating with people in the industry as I plan for the resumption of my webcasts.

While I am on hiatus, you can catch up on any of the shows you may have missed by visiting the Archives at www.bookedwebcast.com. While you’re at the website, peruse the Book Excerpts and enjoy my timeless blog posts.

Acclaimed author Joyce Carol Oates noted that, “Reading is the sole means by which we slip, involuntarily, often helplessly, into another’s skin, another’s voice, another’s soul.”

Thank you to all who have supported Booked so far, and welcome to all newcomers. Please join me in the celebration of books!

Recommended

For obvious reasons, the focus of Booked is books. Great writing can also be found in literary periodicals. A favorite of mine is Glimmer Train. One of the most respected short-story journals in print, Glimmer Train has been discovering, publishing, and paying emerging writers since 1990. In addition to publishing stories for readers, this journal provides excellent advice for authors in their Writers Ask publication. Glimmer Train also offers free monthly bulletins in which you’ll find essays by creative-writing teachers and other published authors on craft, perspective, and the particulars of writing and getting published.