Archive for September, 2009

Thirsty: The Inspiration

You know we like to support debut novelists here at Writer Unboxed. Today I’d like to introduce you to Kristin Bair O’Keeffe, whose debut novel, Thirsty, releases tomorrow. Kristin wrote a short essay for WU, detailing her inspiration behind the novel and giving us a teasing glimpse into the world of this book. Enjoy! – [...]

The Donald Maass Experience

WU reader and friend Richard Mabry recently participated in one of Don Maass’s well-known and highly sought after workshops. We asked that if he took any notes or jotted any impressions, that he consider sharing them with us. Happily for us, he agreed. Thanks for being here, Richard! The floor is yours. ————— If you’re [...]

Take Five: Ann Aguirre and Doubleblind

WU contributor Ann Aguirre has a book out today–the third book in her rocking Grimspace series, Doubleblind. We know you have inquiring minds; we know you want to know. So we asked Ann five questions about her new book to learn more. Q: What’s the premise of your new book? AA: Doubleblind is the diplomacy [...]

Ch-ch-ch-changes!

I’m sure y’all have noticed a few changes on our portal. We are in the process of upgrading our WordPress interface, long overdue. There was a nasty worm going around the old WordPress blogs which we luckily never had to deal with, but the thought of losing our huge archive of posts and interviews made [...]

INTERVIEW: Lee Montgomery, editor, Tin House Books

I adore indie publisher Tin House Books for its committment to finding unboxed writers and publishing authors whose work fits outside the mainstream. So I was delighted to be given the opportunity to interview Tin House’s editor Lee Montgomery. Montgomery was one of two editors who selected essays for Tin House’s The Writer’s Notebook, a collection of essays on [...]

Make friends! It’s good for business.

Please welcome J.C. to Writer Unboxed! This is his first official post with us as a monthly contributor, and we are thrilled to have him. – There comes a point in the life of your Work In Progress when — hot dog! — it’s no longer a Work In Progress. The sucker’s done, you did [...]

The Deceptive Art of Balance

As I write this, it is just past ten pm. I’ve left my partner to go to sleep on his own, since this column must be posted before morning, and I haven’t had a chance to get to it. It’s just been one of those days…at the end of one of those weeks…at the end [...]

A brief opening act

Barbara Samuel’s post will be up shortly (we have east-coast, west-coast issues!), so let me take this opportunity to tell you that–woot!–I’m getting early copies of The Last Will of Moira Leahy today! I’m not at all excited. Also, if you’d like to read a mini-view with me, head on over to STET!, the Backspace [...]

Something isn’t right: Is it my query or my manuscript?

In our 100 Interviews post, Kath and I asked what you might want to see from us in the future. Vic replied, … maybe some help with queries? Not so much how to structure a good one – there are great sites out there that help with that. (Thank you Nathan Bransford) but I think [...]

From the Mailbox 2.0

We’re getting a bunch of goodies in our inbox these days. Aggie Villanueva dropped us a line about the American Library Association’s Banned Books Week. She has a request: “Hello all. I’m doing a live interview with Angela Maycock, Assistant Director at the ALA’s Office for Intellectual Freedom about their annual Banned Books Week and year-round [...]

From the Mailbox

Valued contributor Sophie Masson just sent us this note: “Just uploaded a clip for my forthcoming historical novel for young people, The Hunt for Ned Kelly. Hope you enjoy. The music is by my son Bevis and a friend, Nick–I’ve had them (and two of the other boys in their band) writing soundtracks for various [...]

AUTHOR INTERVIEW: Maggie Leffler

It’s not easy juggling two high-powered professions, but Maggie Leffler manages it splendidly. Leffler had been bitten by the writing bug early in life, and like many of us who write, crammed it around a busy life that includes a day job as a practising physican, being a wife, and motherhood. Her highly-regarded debut, THE DIAGNOSIS [...]