Come Together

This weekend, coinciding with the public release of "All Things Must Pass," Colin Hanks and Sean Stuart's documentary about the rise and fall of Tower Records, two of my former colleagues organized a giant three-day reunion that saw over 500 members of team Tower descend upon Sacramento. I've tried, with little success, to explain to non-Tower people (yes, I do actually know a few) how it is that a job I lost nine years ago can still have such an emotional hold on me. Well if you have to ask...

(Side note to my book industry pals, since I met you because of Tower, and you made me a part of your community, I consider you part of the tribe).

Humans have been organizing themselves into tribes since the beginning. And though we may not realize it or think about it, we still do that. We naturally seek out those with common values and interests, and band together. Music, books and movies were the common interests that drew us to Tower initially, but once there, we discovered an environment that encouraged and fed creativity and welcomed being different. We often proudly referred to ourselves as the Island of Misfit Toys, and in the documentary, Dave Grohl says that Tower was the only place he could get a job because of his hair. Colin Hanks spoke at our gathering Saturday night, and reflecting upon his experience in the movie, "Band of Brothers," he likened the depth of the connections between Tower colleagues to those of people who have served in the military together. I don't think that's a stretch.

Anyone who was in the vicinity of 16^th and Broadway over the last few days saw the Dimple Records store draped with familiar red and yellow banners reminiscent its former glory. I arrived late Friday afternoon, when the press conference was already underway. Standing there with my tribe, across the street from the Tower Theatre where it all began, I felt an intoxicating mixture of nostalgia, pride and love. For the rest of that night and throughout the next day and night, I reconnected with people I hadn't seen in years, hung out and had a great time. We're all nine years older and have gone on with our lives, but what a gift to be able to come together and celebrate our shared history. Turns out we can go home again, at least for a little while...

Of Convictions, Growing Pains and Mockingbirds

It's such a pleasure to find a book that stays with you long after turning the last page, one that introduces characters you fall in love with, who stay in your head. I recently finished one of those books, Harper Lee's Go Set a Watchman, which she first submitted to her publisher in the mid-1950s, before To Kill a Mockingbird. The manuscript was discovered late last year, after having been presumed lost.

There was of course much hype surrounding the release, and I purposely avoided all reviews and conversation with anyone who'd already read it, wanting to go in with no preconceived notions or expectations. I needn't have worried; Watchman will live up to the expectations of Lee's most ardent fans. Her ability to tell a story that captivates and charms the reader is why Mockingbird has permanent residence on so many must-read lists. Yes, I know I’m "supposed" to love Lee's perennial bestseller, and contrary to my sometimes obstinate nature, I do.  I know very little about the South, and have never set foot in Alabama, but I was drawn in on page one. I'll wager that ten different readers will give ten different reasons why they fell in love with six-year-old Scout when they first met her. Besides her being a scrappy little tom-boy who hated wearing dresses (like a certain blogger, although for the record, I never beat up boys twice my size), it was her fierce love and admiration for her father that really endeared her to me.

In Go Set a Watchman, we get to know Scout, or Jean Louise as she's now known, as a young woman of 26, living by herself in New York City. She comes home to Maycomb to visit Atticus, in his 70s but still practicing law, and is confronted by the inevitability of change as civil rights tensions and political turmoil are transforming the South of her childhood. She also learns harsh truths about her family and her town. Childhood memories give us further insight into the Finch family while they cause Jean Louise to question her assumptions and illusions of the past. Challenging her convictions and those of her nearest and dearest sets her on a path she must navigate alone.

Watchman is now next to Mockingbird on a bookshelf. I know I'll want to re-read it at some point, but not for a while; Jean Louise won't be leaving me any time soon.

Saint Ashbury

It's always exciting to hear of a local band—especially a favorite—releasing a CD. While it's true that nothing comes close to the experience of live music, there’s something about taking home a CD, your own personal connection with the band.

Saint Ashbury's debut album will be released later this month. Trying to summon the words to describe such a musical feast evokes the old idea that writing about music is akin to dancing about architecture, but here goes.

The word soulful comes to mind upon hearing singer Jamie McCrary's country-flavored, alt rock-infused vocals. She has the kind of voice that brings you along on her journey, wondering where she’ll take you next. The first track, "Life of Crime," makes it clear that Saint Ashbury is fueled by stellar song writing as well as first-rate vocals. Ashley Mitchell and Jeremy Cozakas blend their writing styles to create rich melodies that beg diving into, treating us to lush guitar riffs, solid bass lines and mandolin. Bryan Gessaro, equally at home on keyboards or bass, and Louie Senor on drums seamlessly adapt to fit the mood of each song.

Stand-out tracks include "Matches and Gasoline," "Border Streets" and "Broken," but the entire album will remain on heavy rotation. It's perfect for a road trip or summer evening on the patio. Local bands come and go, but Saint Ashbury is one to keep an eye on. 

If you live in the Sacramento area, you'll have the chance to see Saint Ashbury and get a copy of their debut CD, Friday, August 28th at Harlows.

Sunrise Doesn’t Last all Morning

Last night I went to an extended family reunion. Colin Hanks and Sean Stuart's documentary All Things Must Pass: The Rise and Fall of Tower Records, kicked off the Sacramento Film Festival, appropriately enough, at the Tower Theatre, the site of where it all began, in Clayton Solomon's drugstore. It may sound like the stuff of legends, but it's true. Tower Records/Video/Books founder Russ Solomon built a $1 billion international empire from a card table in a Sacramento drug store where he sold used 45 RPM records from jukeboxes.

The filmmakers, who now live in L.A., grew up in Sacramento. They hung out at Tower like most of their friends, but had no idea how the company came to be. It wasn't until after the 2006 demise, that Hanks had a friend tell him about the company starting in a drugstore and thought, "Now that's a story." So began his quest to get that story on film.

Watching the history, from humble beginning to heart-wrenching end, of the place I spent my formative years was emotional to say the least. I was 22 when I walked into the bookstore that used to be on Macy Plaza Drive in Citrus Heights and filled out a paper application (remember those?) Twenty-two years later, it was all over. But I don't for a second regret staying until the bitter end. I grew up on that ship; it was only right to go down with it, surrounded by the people who had become family.

Last night was surreal at times, catching up with friends, looking around at familiar faces I hadn't seen in a decade or more, riffling through the mental rolodex to come up with a name, and feeling an energy that's very difficult to describe. We've all obviously gotten older, but nostalgia and pride are a powerful combination and I'll bet every one of us lifers was remembering what it felt like to be a twenty-something newbie realizing that we'd just landed the coolest job ever.

Hanks and Stuart were at the after-event, allowing us to meet and talk to them. I was able to introduce myself to Hanks and thank him for telling our story. At the end of the Q & A after the film, Hanks told the crowd he hoped they'd one right by us. I assured him that they had. I also got to chat with Russ for a bit. At 89, he's still as sharp as ever and still maintains that it was us, the "kids in the stores," who made Tower successful. That's true. But it was his vision that allowed us to avoid getting boring grown-up jobs and get paid to have fun doing something we loved. I'm forever grateful to have been a part of that amazing story. And while it's true that all things must indeed pass, some will live in our hearts forever.

So Vain

I almost got sucked in by a vanity press...actually I did, because I not only sent them my manuscript, I asked for an author agreement when they told me my novel had been approved by the submission committee. The agreement looked great, laying out step by step all the great things they'd do to promote my book – even more in detail than in the author packet they sent. They'd convert it to an e-book, but I'd get hard copies too! It would be available to Amazon and Ingram, and they'd give me my own web page on their site and help me manage social media! This was it – it was really happening. 

So I was riding high for a few hours, thinking I'd actually found a publisher, and then, there it was, line item #10, the amount of money I'd have to shell out for said publisher to do all those great things. I was pretty miffed because the subject of "author contribution" had never come up in email or phone conversations, and wasn't even hinted at in the author packet. I had a few hours (okay, days) of righteous indignation, feeling like they were trying to hide what kind of publisher they are (how dare they!) Then I realized why I was so irked. I should have known that it just wasn't going to work like that. An email, a phone call, a publisher. Nope, it just doesn't happen like that. And of course, I should have asked up front if I'd be expected to pay. After all, I spent 22 years in the book business. But, I didn't...this little voice was whispering that I'd done it – I was about to get published. My ego was driving and we were off at full speed. Guess that's why we call them vanity presses...

Ego plus art is an interesting combination; a symbiotic relationship. They drive each other, feed off of each other, but ultimately must find a way to (somewhat) peacefully co-exist. My goal from the beginning was finishing the book – I needed to see if I could. I had no delusions of making any money and hadn't even thought that much about being published. It was about getting. It. Written. But once I did, and started thinking, well, why not see if I can get it published, ego jumped into the driver's seat and away we went. The wonderfully witty and wise Anne Lamott thinks of being published as something you have to recover from. I'm still pondering that, while my ego and my creativity square off. Will my book get published? Dunno. I will keep writing though...thanks, Anne.

Say the Word

True language geek that I am, I can't resist quizzes like this one, that test our knowledge of new words and phrases. I've always been fascinated by the evolution of language and new terms showing up in songs and movies, but thanks to Twitter and the like, things are changing more quickly than ever. One celebrity tweet or vine can instantly make a given word take off. Others rise and fade so quickly they nearly go unnoticed. Why do some words hang around long enough to make it into the OED and others disappear in days? What's the difference between permanently cool and oh so five minutes ago? That's part of the fun. Full disclosure: I took the quiz and missed three. Can I claim a disadvantage because I don’t have a teenager in the house?

This NPR story caught my eye for obvious reasons, including the use of "Old-Timey" in the headline, one term that still grates on me. (Apparently I'm in the minority though; Microsoft Word doesn't flag is as a misspelling. Really?? And yes, I'm fascinated by slang, but I don't have to like all of it, right?) Then there's the notion that the actual idea of slang is passé. I suppose that makes some sense, given the flood of words we now have that would give Miss Leslie fits, but I tend to agree with Professor Adams. Slang does exist, and doesn't happen by accident. Humans have been developing what could be described as slang terms since we first formed tribes. What better way to solidify a group identity? Anyone who created a "secret" language with a friend can relate. I feel for future linguists trying to make sense of this time period though; just trying to interpret Twitter alone will leave them rekt.

About a Book

High Fidelity was my introduction to Nick Hornby, and I've been hooked ever since. Besides the fact that the story and characters are so incredibly Tower-esque it's spooky, there's something endearing about their flaws and vulnerabilities. That's one of Hornby's great strengths: creating believable characters whose weaknesses hold up a mirror to our own, but stop short of making us squirm. Record store manager Rob from High Fidelity. Would-be single dad Will from About a Boy. Once brilliant songwriter turned recluse Tucker, from Juliet, Naked. Each has his own delightful quirks.

His latest effort, Funny Girl, which takes place in 1960s England, introduces us to Barbara Parker, a reluctant beauty queen who would rather make people laugh, like her heroine Lucille Ball. After moving to London and finding an agent, she becomes Sophie Straw and lands the lead role in a new comedy series that turns her into a star. With the writers, producer and her co-star, Sophie discovers the joys of working toward a common goal while becoming a family of sorts along the way (yet another thing that felt Tower-like to me). Of course nothing lasts forever, no matter how badly you want it to, and Sophie and her TV family eventually realize the show has run its course and they must figure out what comes next.

Another wonderful thing about a Hornby novel is going along for the ride as his characters go about figuring out what comes next. We get to witness their missteps, well-meaning but misguided attempts to get things right and share their victories when they do. Funny Girl is as sweet, charming and funny as the title character herself.  

Trial by Fire

Much has been written about how good it feels to push yourself and test your limits, physically, mentally and creatively. I tend to agree, whether I'm doing a January de-tox, a new Daily Burn routine, or accepting a freelance job with a tight turn-around time. I just completed such a gig, an article for Yuba-Sutter Community Magazine...in 3 ½ days. And, it actually wasn't that difficult. It was easy to say yes, especially to the publisher of the mag, who is a good friend. It was easy to come up with a brief outline after reading the parameters and doing a little research. It was also easy to have the inevitable "How the hell am I going to do this??" freak out Friday evening as I looked at my very brief outline and thought about how quickly the Monday deadline was approaching.

But as I started to write, I found the words, the article took shape, and pretty soon I had a decent first draft. After a little more research and some fact-checking, I was on my way to the finished draft. Could it be that seven years of copywriting have done more than I realized to expand my skillset? Between skin care articles, press releases, and email copy, apparently so. Writers get better by writing is the simple truth. I'm not sure I'll ever face an empty page without at least a little doubt, but the time between wondering how I'm going to pull it off and hitting the final "save" is definitely decreasing. Of course I still have to admit that pushing myself sounds like a good idea after the fact...

Sooner or Later

The dictionary definition of procrastination (proh-kras-tuh-ney-shuhn):

n. the act or habit of procrastinating, or putting off or delaying, especially something requiring immediate attention.

My personal definition:

n. the things I do instead of sending out more agent pitch letters, even though I really want to land an agent, and ultimately, a book deal.

I could make all sorts of excuses, like my new exercise schedule, my determination to get enough sleep, a friend sending me his novel that I want to read every spare moment I can find. But if I really want to get my novel out there, I need to send more pitch letters.

So what gives? Is it just a part of human nature to put things off and not only give in to distractions but actually seek them out? A favorite college professor once told me that to avoid grading papers one evening, she had cleaned and sharpened every pair of scissors in the house. Since then I've thought of active procrastination as "sharpening scissors." I find it creeping into my work day too (I know, shocking). Write a press release about a new brand? Sure...right after I organize my new cubicle, update my calendar, go through the files from my old desk and separate what gets recycled from what gets shredded...the list goes on.

According to Psychology Today, at least 20% of us chronically avoid what we don't want to do and deliberately look for distractions. And while the tendency to put things off is indeed part of our very nature, attitudes about it vary greatly by culture. The French nobility becoming a leisure class and distaining work created an attitude that reaches into the present, as the call for an International Procrastination Day illustrates. And anyone who has visited Hawaii has encountered "Island Time."

Is it our Protestant Work Ethic/American "Get 'er done" attitude that makes procrastination a bad thing? Perhaps it's just a matter of balance and I should make a deal with myself: One chapter of my friend's book for each pitch letter I send. Seems reasonable; I'll get on that. Right after I brush the cats...