I spoke with Brian "Head" Welch yesterday about his new book, "Save Me From Myself." We talked about spirituality, Bakersfield church leaders, his writing process and more.
His inspiring book recently reached the top 15 of the New York Times Best Seller list.
Here's an excerpt from my interview on ABC23:
Interview:
ABC23: First off, I want to say “Save Me From Myself” is an honest look at the reality facing many people today who are caught in the culture of drugs. Its rawness—though honest and inspiring—is filled with language and graphic drug use. What kind of feedback are you getting?
Welch: I’m getting some pretty good feedback. A lot of broken people are getting inspired by it. I’ve had no negative comments about the rawness and realness of it. It’s I think what people expected, you know. It could actually have been worse. If I wasn’t just trying to be real or tell my story; it could have been one of those tell all books. But I just wanted to tell my story…it’s inspiring people. Listen: Audio 1
ABC23: I have a few questions about the writing process. Now, some people write books, whether fiction or non-fiction chronologically. Did you start at the beginning? Or did you maybe write the second half first, or a bunch of parts simultaneously?
Welch: I think the preface in it I wrote last. But the story I wrote it all how it happened. I went way back and went chapter by chapter.
I just wanted to get the whole story to the people about who I am, where I came from, and I wanted to throw the whole Korn story in there too to about how we all met, because it’s interesting.
I wanted it to be interesting too. I think a lot of people go through what I went through inside and they don’t tell anybody. We have problems when we’re kids, with whatever, with friends, bullies, with life in general what we go through, with drugs, and we don’t talk about a lot of it it. And I wanted to talk about it. Listen: Audio 2
Apparently the folks over at ProSoft Technology (the very same people responsible for the downtown UFO hoax and where Bakersfield internet porn king Justin Berry once worked) have been having quite the show.
OK, the sexcapades taking places have likely been seen by a lot more folks.
What I have heard from three inside sources is that folks at ProSoft have been using binoculars, and have set up their own porn cams to catch the action...or should I say, watch the action.
Is that in full view of management? And what about sexual harrassment training courses? Better throw those books out the windows...
ProSoft is located on the top floor of the Washington Mutual Building.
The weekly sexcapades are being committed on top of another downtown building: The Sill Building.
In the image you see here, the frisky couple are putting their clothes on in broad daylight.
Bakotopia has gone a step further. Though I helped tip them off to the fun, they wanted to see if they could, well, get a little video exclusive.
Jason Sperber asked me a long time ago to write about this mysterious event. I dropped the ball, but he and some other locals were gung ho enough to write about it.
One of the hardest things in the literary world other than getting published is connecting authors and readers. Setting up book tours, promoting appearances and actually getting readers to show up to your book signing and hopefully buy a copy of your book is a dreaded but necessary evil for most authors.
Finally, there is an online service to help authors connect to readers. BookTour.com.
From BookTour.com’s About Us page:
“BookTour.com was founded in late 2006 by three authors who believe that technology can transform how authors find receptive groups of readers.
We're a free online service that connects authors and potential audiences of all sorts, from book groups to civic organizations, from bookstores to corporate events. Authors create their own page (biography, books, tour dates and availability) and any group looking for speakers can find them and contact them directly to arrange for an appearance. Relevant information for both authors and venues can be added in minutes through a simple fill-in-the-blanks interface. Connecting authors with potential audiences then becomes as easy as searching (by geography, book titles, subject, dates of availability) and sending an email.
For authors, BookTour.com serves as a one-stop tool for book promotion, allowing authors at all levels of their careers to locate receptive live audiences. For readers and audiences, BookTour.com makes finding when a favorite author is coming to your town as easy as checking the weather.
BookTour is based in San Francisco, the city that buys more books (and wine) per capita than any in America.”
I found BookTour.com on the Booksquare blog recently. Have I told you lately how much I love Booksquare? I LOVE Booksquare! The writers at Booksquare are just fabulous at finding literary gems in the publishing world like BookTour.com. And once found I just have to pass these gems along to you all.
Booksquare had this to say about BookTour.com:
“Thanks to easy-to-use, modern technology, you can get out the word about your appearances. But wait, there’s more! By combining authors, books, and places, you get personalized content. Like, oh, a weekly newsletter telling you about author appearances in your neighborhood and, once you’ve registered, the home page gives you a listing of upcoming appearances (dates would be helpful here).
By taking a multi-pronged approach to getting author appearance information into the database, this increases the breadth and depth of information for readers. Since they’re the ones who matter, this is very good indeed.”
BookTour.com is still in Beta phase and will only get better from here.
So authors, what are you waiting for? Get on over to BookTour.com and register and list your upcoming appearances. BookTour.com is not just for authors. So all you readers out there get on over to BookTour.com and sign up and start receiving news of when your favorite authors will be in your town promoting their books.
I know Noveltown will be registering on BookTour.com and using it as a tool to help connect authors to readers and vise versa.
Recently I stepped away from my normal behind the scenes role of marketing relations and printer wars and connected with erotica author Lacey Alexander. She was gracious enough to be my ‘first’ Noveltown book review. I found her to be as ‘deliciously decadent’ as her novel Voyeur and you will too.
In Voyeur, Alexander takes the reader on a steamy ride with Laura a writer suffering writer’s block who travels to Colorado in search of inspiration. She soon discovers more than she bargained for as she embraces her sexuality and imagination. Read Voyeur with a pitcher of ice cold water within arm’s reach. Believe me, you’ll definitely need it!
Lacey Alexander is an intoxicating, erotic writer using sensual and sexual prowess to embrace your inner passions and desires. Sexual discovery at its best, Voyeur entices you from beginning to end.
Typically erotica fiction is predominately read by women, Voyeur, however, is a book that men would enjoy as well. In fact if you dare, read Voyeur aloud with your partner. It might just be the thing to spice up your love life!
An arousing read, I definitely enjoyed Voyeur and would absolutely love to read whatever project she has next!
Alexander had some great insight into the world of erotica fiction. Check out the interview:
Noveltown: I love that Voyeur is super steamy, romantic erotica. You must get a lot of satisfaction from pleasing your audience. Thoughts?
Lacey Alexander: The reader response to my books has been overwhelming and helped me to realize that I’ve unexpectedly tapped in to something a lot of women relate to and even need – the “permission” to explore their most forbidden sexual fantasies. Readers also often tell me that my books have enhanced their marriages and I can’t imagine anything more gratifying than that.
Noveltown: One day you made a decision in your life to become the type of author that you are. Was there a certain influence on your decision? And, do other authors inspire you?
Lacey Alexander: I actually started writing erotica because my mainstream romance career (written under another pseudonym) was in a downturn and the erotica market was beginning to flourish. So it was a strictly strategic move in the beginning, to be honest. Kind of an “I think I’ll take a stab at writing that kind of book” decision. But it worked out to be very serendipitous since I gained a loyal readership very quickly. As it stands, both careers are going strong and I couldn’t be happier.
And no, I actually have avoided reading most other erotica, deciding early on that I was going to make my books what I thought “a woman’s perfect erotic fantasy” should be and that if it worked, it worked, and if it didn’t, then I wasn’t meant to write erotica. But apparently I was meant to write erotica.
Noveltown: Do you consider yourself more sensual or sexual when it comes to erotica? And your audience?
Lacey Alexander: Both, actually. And my readers seem to respond very positively to the combination of both sensuality and sexuality. I actually think that’s what makes them work, and hopefully what makes them feel a little unique among erotica offerings.
Noveltown: I love how your website says, “Discover your inner bad girl.” Do you think erotica fans find themselves discovering their “inner bad selves” when they read Voyeur?
Lacey Alexander: I certainly hope so. I hope every one of my books invites readers to recognize and embrace that part of themselves. I should add that I don’t advocate that people go out and “live the fantasy,” but I think it’s very healthy to recognize that it’s okay to think about “forbidden” things.
Noveltown: Was there research for Voyeur? Dare we even ask?
Lacey Alexander: Ha! No, not really. But the setting came from a vacation home I stayed in a few years ago, and I concocted the idea while on the trip.
Noveltown: Laura Watkins and Braden Stone mirror the characters of Riley Wainscott and Sloane Bennett. Since Laura uses acquaintances as well as herself as inspiration for her characters and character experiences, do you as the author do the same?
Lacey Alexander: No, I never really draw characters from real life. They’re all in my head.
Noveltown: You must receive a lot of feedback from your fans. Give us some of the goods about what men have been saying versus women…
Lacey Alexander: Actually, when I hear from men, it’s usually short and sweet, something like: I enjoy your books. And that suits me fine. I really don’t want to get into sexual discussions with guys I don’t know and when I get e-mails from men who seem to want to have cyber sex, I hit the delete button quick. I’m a happily married woman, after all. So I don’t know exactly how men perceive the books, only that I do have male readers who enjoy them. It’s the women who tell me they find my books very liberating and also the books have made them bolder with their partner, more comfortable with sex, etc., and if that’s all I accomplish before I die, I’m pretty happy with it.
Noveltown: Did anything get in the way of your imagination when deep into discovery and fantasy regarding writing Voyeur?
Lacey Alexander: When I’m writing erotica, it’s very necessary to turn off my internal “edit button,” to simply not censor myself. When I first started writing these books that part was a challenge – I had to pretend no one would ever read them but me. And I will admit that there are a few scenes in my books that I can’t quite believe I wrote, because they’re so contrary to the real me. But I’ve written enough erotica now that it comes pretty easily and is just part of the job.
Noveltown: Thanks for taking part in this interview. Just one more thing. What's coming next?
Lacey Alexander: Thanks for asking! I actually have lots in the works! As you know, VOYEUR came out in May, and it went back for a second printing after just a week on the shelves! In July, CITY HEAT becomes available – which combines the first two novellas of my City Heat series in one print volume (the novellas are available individually as e-books through www.ellorascave.com). In September, I have a short story in an anthology called SEASONS OF SEDUCTION III. My contribution is called THE PIRATE AND THE PUSSYCAT and is a fun Halloween romp. Then in April 2008, Penguin will release my second novel with them, SEVEN NIGHTS OF SIN, which is an erotic odyssey through Las Vegas. Readers can learn more about these and my other books by visiting me online at www.laceyalexander.net.
Thank you so much for a great interview. I enjoyed it!
Pick up your copy of Voyeur here . Also check out Lacey’s myspace .
Apparently the folks over at ProSoft Technology (the very same people responsible for the downtown UFO hoax and where Bakersfield internet porn king Justin Berry once worked) have been having quite the show.
ProSoft is located on the top floor of the Washington Mutual Building and have been bringing binoculars for weekly sexcapades being committed on top of another downtown building.
In the image you see here, the frisky couple (never the same woman) are putting their clothes on in broad daylight.
A local barista is rocking his way to the big time thanks to your votes. Local Starbucks employee Brian Boozer entered his band Soulajar into a statewide competition called “Does Your Barista Rock?”
Out of thousands of bands, they won the grand prize of performing at the House of Blues in West Hollywood, opening for Mat Kearney on Aug. 31.
Tickets are on sale for $25 at all Ticket Master locations.
I was sifting through archival footage from Friday, July 20, and discovered this plug for the ABC 23 Harry Potter Survival Guide, which includes a plug for Dirty Spanglish.
I noticed phat site Wizrocklopedia.com, which had been down for a few days, is back and mentioned Dirty Spanglish in their article, "Wrock Hits the News."
You could say that Dirty Spanglish is the perfect band to write the Harry Potter song, “Hots For Hermione.” Pop culture influenced? Likely. “Harry Potter came out when I was in the third grade,” says vocalist/guitarist Landen Belardes.
He’s 15 now, and like the rest of Bakersfield punk band Dirty Spanglish, was more than ready for the release of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows at Pasadena’s Vromans: the oldest and largest bookstore in southern California.
Vromans: a bookscape of Potterness and wiz-rock
For Dirty Spanglish, it was all about Harry Potter fans. They even brought their new song “Hots For Hermione” just for all the fanatical book lovers dressed as their favorite black-robed wizards, tie-loving students, and one-eyed prestidigitators. “We wrote it just for the event; for all the book fans,” Belardes said. He’s also a big fan of the Harry Potter books and films.
What was the book release party like?
Dirty Spanglish talks to L.A. media
Dirty Spanglish talks to more L.A. media
Wall-to-wall screaming fans of all ages were dressed in their best Harry Potter themed garb as representatives from KTTV Fox News 11, KNBC Channel 4, KABC Eyewitness News, the Pasadena Star, and me from ABC 23/Noveltown/Bakotopia were in the Vromans house to watch the excitement build to earth-shattering levels. There couldn’t have been a better time for a Bakersfield band to hit a scene filled with wild young fans and a media frenzy.
Dirty Spanglish: Kris Smith, Shaun Alaniz, Landen Belardes, Nick Alvarado
Dirty Spanglish latest song is a catchy Harry Potter pop punk piece that’s part of the new genre of rock called wizard rock, or ‘wrock’ songs. Believe it or not there are nearly 200 bands around the world who sing exclusively Harry Potter themed songs. Although Dirty Spanglish isn’t a full-fledged ‘wrock’ band, they don’t feel so bad. The entire genre started off that way: one ‘wrock’ song by a rock band. I won’t get into details. It gets complicated.
Posing with fanatical fans
Anyway, Dirty Spanglish has been on a wild media ride lately as a result of their new song. They were mentioned in the L.A. Times story, “Harry Potter, the guest of honor: Booksellers are enlisting Snape debaters, wizard rockers and more to make the launch an event.” I found their ‘wrockiness’ media worthy and wrote a piece for ABC 23 titled, “Local Harry Potter Song 'Wrocks': Youth Band Takes Potter Pop Culture To Their School Of Rock”.
Their song was even on KTTV Fox news L.A. as can be seen by the cameraman Sean Patrick Lewis filming these two ‘wrockerettes’ wildly dancing to “Hots For Hermione”. Band members made several attempts at interviews with KABC Channel 4 and L.A.’s Eyewitness News. It made for good schmoozing from these young teenage rockers.
The party was already well underway by the 10 p.m. start of LA kid band Wild Youth. They’re Disney friendly with a bit of Alanis Morissette meets Avril Lavigne mixed with a dash of 1990s band, the Sundays.
Wild Rockers: Dirty Spanglish meets the Wild Youth
Interesting band connection: Wild Youth’s self-taught keyboardist, Hank is the grandson of Bakersfield music legend, Tommy Collins, one of the fathers of the old Bakersfield Sound. Landen Belardes, guitarist/vocalist for Dirty Spanglish grandfather once did a photo shoot of Collins and Buck Owens. A portion of a street in downtown Bakersfield was closed to shoot the cover for Collin’s album, “Callin’”.
Dirty Spanglish headlined and rocked the house with an 11-song set. Girls and boys danced, although I noticed many wizard girls grooving. Their song “Hots For Hermione” was off the hook as every Harry Potter fan within earshot energized to frightening wizrockish levels. They performed their Harry Potter themed song twice. Their final hurrah was a rousing encore that led right up to the midnight book frenzy.
While Dirty Spanglish signed autographs I wandered in the store to capture the historic first purchase. Hilarious, the girl who bought the book refused to talk to media and ran off, disappearing into the crowd.
The moment of truth. A 'must see' video. Girl runs away with book!
Outside, Dirty Spanglish talked to young wizards while people literally poured out of the store, some with arms filled with Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.
I popped in the store to follow a cameraman and the lines as they were let in.
Chaos in the book store...
More organized chaos...
The moment of truth. First book sold at 12:01 a.m.
Harry Potter fans can purchase “Hots For Hermione” on a special collectors $5 CD that Dirty Spanglish made for the book event. Supplies are limited.
I just posted this article on www.turnto23.com, "Ex-Korn Member On NYT Best Seller List, Will Sign Books: Brian “Head” Welch Reaches Top 20 On NYT, Will Have Book Signing For ‘Save Me From Myself.’"
Excerpt:
Brian “Head” Welch, ex-guitarist for rock band Korn will make a rare public appearance on Aug. 1 at Bakersfield’s Russo’s Books at the Marketplace. He will be at the store to promote his memoir, “Save Me From Myself: How I Found God, Quit Korn, Kicked Drugs, and Lived to Tell My Story.”
There's more to come on the Dirty Spanglish gig at Vromans (Pasadena) on the release of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows... Watch for the kid in the Superman costume.
As fans line up outside bookstores all over the world on the eve of what is to be the biggest book release in history and bookstore employees prepare for their Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows release festivities, I wonder just how good Harry Potter is for booksellers.
The Harry Potter series is a literary phenomenon. No other books have had people lining up outside bookstores and flocking to buy their copy! Let’s face it, most authors today are lucky to have sales of 10 at their book signing, so to have millions and millions of people pre-ordering and lining up to buy the Harry Potter book on the day its released is truly an amazing feat. It’s a real testimony to the beloved magical world and characters J.K. Rowling created.
And if all goes as predicted, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows will be the biggest selling book ever! In fact the LA Times reports:
“The numbers are staggering: More than 12 million copies of the final Harry Potter book have been printed and are ready for shipment. Booksellers expect 7 million copies to be sold in the first 24 hours. Even more copies are being rushed into print, even though the hotly awaited title will not be released until midnight Friday.”
“Booksellers are not dancing in the street. Make no mistake: booksellers fully anticipate roaring crowds and record sales. It doesn’t matter if you’re a so-called big box retailer or an independent bookseller. Customers will come through the front door (virtual or physical) in droves. They will buy.
The problem is that market pressures have required steep, steep discounts for the new title. There’s a word for it…hold on…yes, competition. The free market system. All that stuff you learned in econ that you were sure would not be useful in the future is now coming into play. Probably even supply and demand. Who knew that supply and demand would be important?
Oh right, anyone who has tried to purchase gasoline over the past six months. As with unleaded gas, the price crunches are borne by the retailers”.
The price war forced upon booksellers for the Harry Potter books make it relatively impossible for Independent bookstores to compete with the big retail chains like Barnes and Noble and Borders. If they discount the books 40% to 50% like the bigger chains they will be selling the books for little more than they paid the publisher. Harry Potter is a spell for vanishing profits for the Independent’s. As the LA Times article states:
“These independent stores, in fact, may be the biggest losers of all, because they operate on smaller economic margins and cannot afford to offer such deep discounts. In Southern California and across the nation, many are offering the book at or close to its full $34.99 price, hoping that the elaborate Harry Potter parties they throw on the night the book is released will attract large crowds of loyal customers.”
Along with Independent and big retail chain booksellers across the nation, Bakersfield’s own local bookstore, Russo’s Books , is also planning an elaborate Harry Potter party tonight hoping to capture as much of the Harry Potter crazed populace as possible. Most likely it will be their biggest selling night ever. In an article on turnto23.com Mike Russo stated:
“We’re very efficient, we can sell hundreds of books in just 20 minutes.”
But at what price? Will Russo’s be offering a big discount on the book in order to compete with Barnes and Noble and Borders? Or will they depend on their loyal customers to pay near to full price for the book? I guess we will all have to go to Russo’s Harry Potter party tonight to find out.
Festivities at Russo’s: at the Marketplace and at East Hills take place from 10 p.m. to midnight. Events include a costume contest, live magicians and actors (Marketplace only), lots of games including Pin the Pigtail on Dudley, a “Bet on Snape” contest, Sandy Candy Potions Class, and even a sorting hat.
The big question is why is the publishing world forcing a price war where profits for booksellers are near to none? Are they afraid that people won't come out in droves to buy the book if it isn't discounted?
Perhaps the publishing industry should learn from Hollywood. When audiences of record-breaking size line up to see the latest Harry Potter movie, Star Wars, or Pirates of the Caribbean (all movies with a cult following who wait in line and dress up in costume to attend premiers) the theater’s don’t discount the ticket prices in order to attract more movie viewers.
People will buy Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows even if they have to pay full price. They have to know what happens to Harry Potter in the end.
Booksquare states the plight of the Independent bookstores best:
“It makes no sense at all that one side of the business makes enormous profits while the other struggles to stay afloat. Just as we hear stories about gas stations that are going under because pricing pressures from consumers require that profitability be sacrificed — while oil companies post record high numbers — we will see the same thing happening to booksellers.”
Are you buying a copy of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows tonight? Attending a Harry Potter release party at a bookstore tonight? If you are, support your local Independent bookstores. They still need your help on the biggest night in publishing history.
And soon enough, we’ll all know if Harry Potter dies or not.
I wrote a piece this morning on the Bakersfield.com blogs speculating a bit about the West Nile Virus Cluster in East Bakersfield.
It's disturbing.
There's a problem that's going on that I think blends migratory bird patterns, poor follow-up by city officials, stagnant water from a hot and dry summer, and a slumping housing market...
From the ABC 23 Files on Bakersfield.com:
This may be total speculation related to this article yesterday on ABC 23 about the East Bakersfield West Nile Virus Cluster, but I can't help but wonder about factors not even mentioned.
Of course we have to think about so many factors involved in why there is a cluster of West Nile Virus infections in Bakersfield. 22/25 confirmed cases in the entire state, with most located in east Bakersfield.
Other factors? Migratory bird patterns, bird feeding habits, underground water systems that could sometimes get blockages and cause standing water. Sumps, park ponds...Is the city doing its fair job of fending off mosquitos from such stagnant areas that are especially dangerous during dry years?
There's a lot of talk in the newsroom today. I hope to capture some of it soon in a comedic blog titled the Newsdesk. Think sitcom meets real life meets the movie Anchorman. OK, maybe not the movie Anchorman, but there sure are some colorful characters at ABC 23 that would make for some fun newsroom pieces.
In other blog news...I started an ABC 23 blog today that so far was met with kindness. A big thanks to Jason Sperber for appreciating my Ninja humor...
This story of how Harry Potter influences pop culture takes a looks at a band out of Bakersfield, California.
Dirty Spanglish is to perform their 'wrock' song at the oldest and largest bookstore in southern California on the night of the Harry Potter book release: Vromans.
Excerpt:
“It’s ‘Hots for Hermione,’ not ‘hot’,” says 15-year-old Landen Belardes.
He’s with bandmates Shaun Alaniz, Kristopher Smith, and Nick Alvarado in a Bakersfield recording studio. Alaniz just finished laying down a track, singing, “We think all the girls are pretty. But we’ve got the hots for Hermione.” Minutes later, Belardes and the rest of Dirty Spanglish listen to a mix of the song. He decides to add another layer of guitars. This is serious work for young rockers who are busy building their new radio-friendly three-minute song, “Hots For Hermione.”
This lengthy letter showed up in my email today regarding Edna Molina-Jackson's stance on tonight's city council meeting that Bakersfield people concerned with the David Couch proposal should attend.
Meeting at 5pm
Read on:
This proposal of Couch's would mark a sad and backward move for a city that was part of the struggle for the civil rights of Mexican/Chicano people that began with migrant workers and extended to all Mexican American people. This region was the cradle of the Chicano Civil Rights movement, a movement that understood that those thought to be the least among us were indeed the heart within us; human rights activists Sra. Dolores Huerta and Cesar Chavez made this point very clear.
How many of you are willing to attend this meeting tomorrow?
Perhaps if enough people are interested we could meet a couple of hours prior to the meeting to formulate a response to this proposal.
Regardless of where people stand on immigration reform--these kind of actions generate ethnic antagonism, divisiveness and DOES germinate the seeds of racism. Even "legal" Latinos (and other U.S. minority groups) end up targeted by those who would labor hard against the "illegal" segment of OUR Population.
I recall when Prop 187 passed in CA, my sister (who is U.S. born, very white in appearance and speaks fluently in BOTH English and Spanish) was shocked when one of her white neighbors came over to ask if she and her family were legal! She was so dismayed by this action, she said her welcoming smile quickly gave way to the sight of something so ugly she could not respond with words...she simply closed her door. Do we wish to have Bakersfield become this...something so ugly we close off from each other? I don't. This is a wonderful town, filled with great spirit and community and it needs to be strengthened in this regard. We can't allow a few election-oriented politicians to drag Bakersfield down to the murky waters of fear and contempt they find so appealing.
The lesson taken from my sister's experience is...those that would discriminate (closet ethnocentrists of many backgrounds) come out of the wood work to do so when empowered by such policies and especially when they are left unchallenged!
What's the purpose of Couch's proposal except to make the good people of Bakersfield complicit in the latest xenophobic attack on people of color in this nation? Why not wait for the federal government to act prior to enacting local legislation? Not too long ago (less than 60 years), White legislators in the South also rushed to implement policies to control the increased threat Blacks posed to their lifestyle and Jim Crow laws were passed that cultivated white supremacy and advocated racial segregation. At the time that generation of "good people" in the South were convinced by a few of their fear-inducing political leaders that such laws were the best solution to the "Black problem" and even many "good people" in the South came to see segregation laws as "natural" and right.
Recall a bit of Southwest history...Latinos (especially those of Mexican origin) in the Southwestern U.S. were THE target of extensive discrimination--so much so that Mexican people have the dubious distinction of having been lynched in the Southwest at a rate greater than that of Blacks in the South. Today we, like many of our similarly oppressed brothers and sisters, stand on the shoulders of those who struggled before us to secure our civil rights and today our immigrant brothers and sisters look to us for support against this latest wave of oppression that in the end will negatively impact on us all.
Dr. Martin Luther King said, "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere." And the renowned Latina scholar and author, Cherie Moraga said, "We must end the many silences that protect oppression."
There are better ways to resolve the immigration debate, ways that bring fair minded, good people together and that unite Americans of varied ethnicities...like you and me.
Please send me an email if you're willing to attend this Council meeting tomorrow to suggest alternatives to Couch's divisive and antagonistic policy proposal.
Edna
***************************************************** Edna Molina, Ph.D. Department of Sociology and Anthropology California State University, Bakersfield-------------
ORIGINAL MESSAGE BELOW:
Have you seen this?
I think our presence is required. --TM
>>> 7/17/2007>>> Councilman to propose immigration stance for city The Bakersfield Californian | Tuesday, Jul 17 2007 2:28 PM Last Updated: Tuesday, Jul 17 2007 2:28 PM
City Councilman David Couch is bringing the border battle to Bakersfield.
In an appearance on KERN Radio this morning, Couch announced a three-point plan for staking out the city's position on immigration.
Under Couch's proposal:
* City staff would be instructed to determine what city services can be denied to illegal immigrants. * English would be declared the official language of Bakersfield. * Bakersfield would be declared not a "sanctuary city."
Couch said he plans to introduce the proposal at Wednesday's (July 18th) City Council meeting, although he wasn't sure when. The Council meets at 5:15 p.m. for a short meeting, then again at 6:30 p.m.
Just finished up my third Harry Potter article for turnto23.com.
I'll probably update it tomorrow...
Here's an excerpt:
Mike Russo had just gathered a group of Harry Potter books in his arms and politely posed for a photo. Behind him stood a cardboard Harry Potter cutout that had a countdown calendar attached. He gave a slight grimace, then smiled big.
Russo knows the value of the upcoming Harry Potter books that he will soon have in his hands.
“It’s going to be the largest book release in the history of our bookstore,” he said.
Around Russo’s bookstore, the world of Harry Potter catches the eye: the magical color of various toy stands, book stands, piles of Harry Potter books, posters, wizard hats and more. All of it is a sign that Harry Potter is far more than a movie premiere. It’s really about a book craze.
Remember when you were a kid and your teachers would send a recommended summer reading list home with you at the end of the school year hoping you would do more than just play video games, like improve your mind. How many of you were good boys and girls and actually read a few books on the recommended summer reading list? How much did your summer reading influence your life as a child? As an adult? Is reading a passion in your life?
I don’t know about you, but I’m always reading. I have a stack of books at home that are in my “to be read” pile, but I continue to buy more books. I can’t help myself. My logic is I’ll eventually read them all.
Noveltown is not only passionate about writers, we’re passionate about readers too! Without readers the Indie literary presses and the publishing world would come to a screeching halt and eventually cease to exist. Books would become coasters, or those things you press flowers in, or worse! I don’t even want to imagine a world without books, its too horrible a thought. For in books our imaginations run free within world’s writers create for us. J. K. Rowling is the most successful author ever because of readers!
It’s mid summer and Noveltown just wanted to check in on you to make sure you’re doing your summer reading…
For all of you Paperback Writer readers who are book sluts, word whores, always carry a book with you in your purse or backpack, read while laying out by the pool, on the beach or by a lake, and plan what books you’re taking with you on vacation we’ve got some fabulous recommended summer reading for you.
Salon.com put together a great four part recommended summer reading list:
Mysteries and Science Fiction:“Thrills and chills: These mysteries and science fiction novels will transport you to a higher plane.”
Three Bags Full - By Leonie Swann, Anthea Bell, trans. Mr. Dixon Disappears - By Ian Sansom Up in Honey's Room - By Elmore Leonard Body of Lies - By David Ignatius Brasyl - By Ian McDonald The Margarets - By Sheri S. Tepper
Memoirs: “Great escapes: From a journey down the Nile to the chronicle of a professional basketball player, these memoir recommendations will whisk you away.”
Four Seasons in Rome: On Twins, Insomnia, and the Biggest Funeral in the History of the World - By Anthony Doerr Down the Nile: Alone in a Fisherman's Skiff - By Rosemary Mahoney Can I Keep My Jersey? 11 Teams, 5 Countries, and 4 Years in My Life as a Basketball Vagabond - By Paul Shirley Dog Days: Dispatches From Bedlam Farm - By Jon Katz The Cure for Anything Is Salt Water: How I Threw My Life Overboard and Found Happiness at Sea - By Mary South
Chic lit:“Chic lit: From a saga of 17th century maidens to a 21st century mom flirting with disaster, our novel recommendations will make you feel cheap and sexy in the best possible way.”
Little Stalker - By Jennifer Belle Peony in Love - By Lisa See Slummy Mummy - By Fiona Neill The New Yorkers: A Novel - By Cathleen Schine Sheer Abandon - By Penny Vincenzi
Thrillers:“Killer thrillers: From the pursuit of a lost Shakespeare manuscript to a chilling tale of missing sisters, these recommendations will add sizzle to your beach book list.”
The Book of Air and Shadows - By Michael Gruber What the Dead Know - By Laura Lippman Nerve Damage - By Peter Abrahams The Broken Shore - By Peter Temple The Grave Tattoo - By Val McDermid
Noveltown put together our own recommended summer reading list by some of our favorite authors:
Contemporary Fiction:From a road trip to the war in Iraq these novels will take you on adventures to new places.
Moonpies & Moviestars – By Amy Wallen - A wild road trip adventure. Attention. Deficit. Disorder. – By Brad Listi - For those who don’t pay attention to how life affects them. Last One In – By Nicholas Kulish - A satire about the war in Iraq. Mulligan’s Pennies – By Robbie Byrne - A story about Irish tragedy and triumph.
Memoirs:Drugs, culture and dysfunctionality, these memoirs explore the deeper side of human nature.
Drugs are Nice – By Lisa Crystal Carver - A modern post-punk tale. The Oracles – By Pati Poblete - A story about appreciating culture. Dark at the Roots – By Sarah Thyre - A story about a dysfunctional family.
Mystery & Suspense:Murder, suspense, this mystery will keep you on the edge of your seat.
If it Bleeds – By Bonnie Hearn Hill - A California Central Valley Newspaper mystery.
Women’s Fiction & Erotica:From globe-trotting adventurers to a victorian wife these women's fiction and erotica novels will bring out all your inhibitions.
Bicoastal Babe – By Cynthia Langston - A double life? Love and adventure on two coasts. A Thousand and One Nights – By Lara Tupper - A lounge singing duo's adventures and misadventures in love. Vertigo – By Lauren Baratz-Logsted - Spellbinding historical fiction with erotic suspense. Three Days in New York City and Another Bite of the Apple – By Robin Slick - Humorously satirical and wickedly delicious erotic fiction.
Just for fun:Astrology, decorating and farming for when you want to discover something new.
Born on a Rotten Day and Love on a Rotten Day – Hazel Dixon-Cooper - Learn how you ruin your life and the lives of others. Punk Shui: Home Designs for Anarchists – By Josh Amatore Hughes - Home decorating punker style. Blithe Tomato – By Mike Madison - A journey through California’s small farms and farmers’ markets.
And don’t forget to include Noveltown in your summer reading:
Lords: Part One – by N.L. Belardes - A Central California urban myth? Or the true tales of the Lords of Bakersfield. (Buy your copy of Lords: Part One)
Some of the big talk related to Hollywood lately has been speculation as to what kind of monster infestation might be in J.J. Abrams new Cloverfield Project.
Parasites? Godzillas? Giant felines?
Movie fun aside, let me just say Bakersfield has its own real life infestation on Cedar Street.
Believe it or not, cats are crawling the neighborhood in droves.
I didn't believe it myself until I drove past with a camera and snapped this whopping photo of just one of the yards!
How many cats can you count?
Within four houses I easily counted more than 20 cats. Within a block I can almost guarantee a head count of 40.
The police cruiser slowed down near Backstage and turned the corner of 20th and ‘M’. An officer waved to some of the youth as large groups of young people packed the sidewalk. The car then sped off and I went inside.
I’d already missed Nicholas Allen perform by the time I got to the show. Far Country, a local Bakersfield/Azusa band performing with Alex Mitts at guitar were hard into a set.
From what I gathered, it was a farewell show of sorts for a band with only one true member, Kyle Neal.
Far Country
Their music had strong pop appeal. Kyle seemed to love to talk to the audience. Similar to the time I saw his other band, Courage Overdue at the now defunct Station 3:16 in downtown Bakersfield.
He talked about love. He sang an acoustic number. And during the final two songs of the set I was finally hooked on the band.
It was Alex Mitts guitar work. Sure, the band as a whole had gelled for me toward their final rock hurrahs of the evening. Kyle has a decent pop-sounding voice. But there came shredding melodic riffs that pulled me close to the stage. I had to snap photos of Mitts with his paws in pure form.
Alex Mitts
Afterwards I stood outside and Kyle Neal walked up to me and thanked me for coming to the show. He politely corrected me when I thought his other band had a different name.
I think he, like Sarah from Backstage, was surprised at such a large crowd turnout. Sarah is bubbly, cute and a big fan of music. According to her, she’s banned from attending shows at Jerry’s Pizza. That to me sounds like some kind of weird music scene turf war. If true, that would be just another indicator that downtown Bakersfield music fans to some venues are often thought of as cattle that should be herded into one venue rather than another.
I don’t really get venue politics and scenes within scenes. Just hold shows and promote them. Who cares if there are other venues in town? Multiple venues make for a ripe scene.
Friday night, the fans just poured into the Bakersfield music scene at Backstage. From where? This was definitely another Bakersfield music scene offshoot, with bands sharing members, fans and compliments. And somehow, these bands got the word out.(There's a Blueprint Record connection. Can you figure it out?)
The Seasons Fight was another local band who I have seen members perform. One of the last times I’d seen Nicholas Allen, he wore a big cape. Now he performed keyboards for Seasons Fight. Waving his arms in the air, open-mouthed at times, he head-banged, and even went cross-eyed when he hit certain high vibrato notes. He was really into his keyboard performance that made for some rather big-time blizzardy dramatics.
Seasons Fight keyboardist about to eat the audience. Arrummmph!
If anthemesque is a word, that’s what I’d call their music. Some of their intros were bigger than the stage.
Although I laughed at some of Sean Kimberlin’s jokes before the band performed, I wanted them to get to the music portion. Loud and silly when he spoke, he was quiet when he sung.
There was some good music amid the over-dramatics—which the fans loved and cheered for. Like I said, everyone supported everyone in this sub-scene of friends, bands and music.
The night was also a CD release for the final band, Intruder Alert. That’s why I came. If not for Jarod Palmer politely nudging me to attend at least a month in advance, I would not have even showed. Not that I don’t like the Bakersfield music scene. But with a job shift to ABC 23 and working on my own novel, I’ve been distant from the Bakersfield underground.
Intruder Alert
I felt compelled to see what this kid and his music were all about.
A keyboard-driven techno band with a guest drummer, Intruder Alert’s music is a post-modern blend of 90s techno spirit, an 80s video game style name, and over-synthed vocal styles from today’s leading dance-pop music.
I’ll admit right now that during part of the 1990s I listened to far too much techno, having gotten bored with the overbearing grunge movement. While I worked, techno music and all its often keyboard-laden compositions made for great inspirational music.
Technical difficulties... problem solved.
A smiling young performer in his first show ever, Palmer’s Intruder Alert fell into a few difficulties. “This iPod sucks!” Jarod said working through one brief lull.
Partly inspired by Lost Ocean, you can hear similar pop keyboard sounds, minus the full band’s melodic vocals and atmospheric guitars.
The mostly solo style of Intruder Alert made for an interesting scene moment: further support in an alternative indie scene heavy on pop keyboards and pop vocals.
Is Bakersfield metal on its way out? I don’t know. I’m not in the scene enough to even tell.
My favorite song of the Intruder Alert was actually the repetitious music box quality of “The Memory Could Not Be Read,” a song that is whimsically sad and robotic, with buzzing gears in the background, a bit mesmerizing, and used a different vocal tactic. Palmer’s spoken word bit at the end was a refreshing change from other songs’ vocal effects. It would have been fitting to use during the rest of the set's more dancy numbers.
The overblown pop vocal effects on his other songs should have been turned off while he spoke to the audience, and only used in one song. I wanted to hear Palmer sing, not sound completely robotronic.
Thank goodness “The Memory Could Not Be Read” seemed to have been extended because of technical difficulties. I couldn’t get enough of it. It’s a moving song that you can listen to on the Intruder Alert Myspace.
Palmer’s gleefulness of singing for peers, friends, and at a packed house was fun to watch. You have to be excited for young performers getting out into the scene with new music, CDs and shirts.
A bit too expensive ($15 dollars!), I bought a shirt and can now consider myself a fan and glad to be in touch with some techno roots again because of the retro techno appeal of Intruder Alert.
At the end of the night some of the youth lit fireworks on a sidewalk. A cone shot sparks in a fountain of color, while a couple young girls waved sparklers around as if celebrating the techno-happy music of Intruder Alert coming to a celebratory end.
