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August 2, 2007
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There have been a slew of reports on the problems in the book industry, including recent stories about book store closings such as Murder Ink, the first (and oldest) independent mystery bookstore, and The Black Orchid Bookshop, both in New York City. And if New York City can’t support independent stores, what city can? Yes, you can still shop at the chain book stores, both brick-and-mortar and online, but every time we lose another book store, we lose a little part of our collective literary soul. So get out there and shop at your favorite local book stores and help support them before it’s too late.
The Public Radio show “Marketplace” weighed in recently about the publishing end of the industry, with a report on the death of the publisher-sponsored book tour (at least for everyone but the already rich and famous): http://marketplace.publicradio.org/. This isn’t news to most authors, but it may surprise the general reader to hear that close to 100% of all marketing by the majority of authors these days is done by the author, even book signings, which they often have to set up themselves. So take the time to visit the web sites and blogs of your favorite authors and see what they’re up to. Show up at book signings, readings, and conferences to show your support, and more than anything else, read, read, read! Remember my New Year’s Resolution: read at least one chapter of a book every day, maybe three chapters, if they’re short. Since most books average 20-50 chapters, you could read seven to twenty books a year using that formula.
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June 3, 2007
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The protagonist of my mystery series, Scott Draco, was a concert pianist before a tragic accident cut his career short and he turned to law enforcement.
There have been many stories in the media over the past few years about either the death or the resurrection of classical music, depending upon how you interpret any given set of data. Recent articles such as one in the New York Times have stated classical music sales are actually up, if you factor in online downloading. For instance, on Apple’s iTunes site, classical music reportedly accounts for 12 percent of sales. Still, there are accounts that symphony orchestras are struggling to fill seats, and some orchestras have even folded.
A web page on the Arts Journal site has a good overview of how classical music has been reported in the news recently:
http://www.artsjournal.com/issues/deathofclassical.htm.
So I wondered: What would Scott Draco think about the issue? My mad muse of music and manuscripts decided to find out by asking him in an interview:
Muse: Is classical music an endangered species?
Draco: I don’t think so. I think future generations will always look back and appreciate the high points of creative human achievement, be it a play by Sophocles, a painting by Van Gogh, or a symphony by Beethoven. But art isn’t stagnant, it’s dynamic. And classical music is just evolving into new ways of creating, performing, listening, and procuring.
Muse: Any examples of this evolution?
Draco: The Internet is the biggest player, of course. You can download practically any CD in print from sites like arkivmusic.com. The New York Philharmonic has download-only concerts, and an all-Mozart program had 3,000 downloads on iTunes. Then there are new ideas like Peter Gelb’s broadcasts of Metropolitan Opera concerts on movie theaters around the world, which have performed beyond anyone’s wildest expectations.
Muse: Are any of your piano CDs available on the Internet?
Draco: (laughs) My last one was 24 years ago, so maybe, if you’re willing to plumb deep enough.
Muse: What would you like to see happen with this evolution of classical music?
Draco: I would love to see a time when classical music is no longer considered “elitist.” And I think the Internet can help accomplish that. Someone new to the genre can download individual tracks from a variety of composers and ensembles to see what they like. They can research backgrounds on composers and works in the blink of an eye. They can even learn how to read music online if they want to. You can do this whether you’re in New York City or Katmandu, if you have an Internet hookup. I also like the idea of having a variety of concert types and venues—pops, informal, family and kids, along the more traditional. Of course, it would be nice to see music and arts education added back into school curricula again, too.
Muse: So you would say that when it comes to the state of classical music today and into the near future, your glass is half full?
Draco: More than half full. Of course, on something like Ben Franklin’s glass and water harmonica, that would be about an “E” on the musical scale. Sorry—bad musical joke. I’m actually excited about classical music in the future. It’s stood the test of time for over two thousand years, give or take a few, and I think one day the Captain Picards of the future really will be listening to Bach on a spaceship like the Enterprise.
Muse: Thanks, Scott. I hope you’re right.
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January 8, 2007
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I’m not a huge fan of New Year’s Resolutions because they’re so difficult to keep, probably because they’re often unrealistic. Here’s a resolution I’d like to see everyone make: read at least one chapter of a book every day, maybe three chapters, if they’re short. Since most books average 20-50 chapters, you could read seven to twenty books a year using that formula. Considering there are at least 500 books on my current reading wish list, it would only take me 23-71 years. Cliff Notes anyone?
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December 12, 2006
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In this conflicting season of giving thanks while at the same time giving in to the lure of holiday commercial trappings, I’d like to take a moment and mention something for which everyone should be thankful, especially considering it’s still the best bargain in town — namely, our public libraries.
My mother the librarian certainly instilled in me a love for these institutions, but it didn’t take much encouragement. Where else can you check out books on a variety of subjects, take home a CD or audio book to listen to, or a DVD to watch, use the Internet, do research, listen to lectures and demonstrations and appreciate local arts and crafts displays — all for free?
As a writer I rely upon libraries for research, and I also have a selfish motive for appreciating them — libraries help promote reading, and reading helps promote book and magazine publication, which in turn keeps writers like myself in business creating more work for the enjoyment of readers everywhere.
According to the NEA, less than half of the adult population in the U.S. now read literature (http://www.nea.gov/pub/ReadingAtRisk.pdf), with reading also declining in all other age groups and across all educational levels. Obviously, the Internet has played a role in this decline, but even though the Internet can be a wonderful tool in its own right, its usefulness as a means to promote literacy and book and magazine publication is still in its infancy and filled with controversial issues that have yet to be worked out.
So take a moment out of your hectic holiday schedule and pay a visit to your local public library. And don’t forget to encourage and lobby your local government to keep or increase their level of financial support. You can also visit the Friends of Libraries web site for more information (http://www.folusa.org/).
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[Archives] |
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Short Story “Una furtiva lagrima” to be published in October 2007 edition of Cantaraville
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Short Story “Elementary, My Dear Abraham” published in Spring 2007 edition of Mysterical-E
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