Fresh Loaf

Thanks to the Decatur Book Festival and Dragon*Con, writers will be descending upon Atlanta like a horde of Visigoths this Labody Day Weekend. In advance of two of my favorite local events, in the Arts section this week, the story “Books vs. Blogs” explores the virtues and pitfalls of author’s blogs. Since so many writers have blogs, the story focused on a few noteworthy examples, including science fiction author John Scalzi and his popular, 10 year-old old blog  Whatever (anthologized in the upcoming volume Your Hate Mail Will Be Graded); horror novelist Cherie Priest and her Livejournal blog; and cartoonist Rich Tommaso’s Seattle Sketchbook.

Since there are soooo many author’s blogs out there, I won’t claim to offer a complete list of blogging guests of the Decatur Book Festival, let alone Dragon*Con, but here’s a few interesting ones. If you have suggestions of the “How dare you not include this one!” variety, please offer them in the comments field. (No, really.)

Kristen Chase: Motherhood Uncensored

Mir Kamin: Woulda Coulda Shoulda

The Place Where Jack Pendarvis has a “Blog” (featuring “McNeil’s Gold Medal International Emergency Exit Theatre”)

(more…)

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1) Slotin Folk Fest opens at the North Atlanta Trade Center in Norcross.

2) Jack Pendarvis discusses and signs his novel, Awesome, at Wordsmiths Books for its Save Our Bookstore fundraiser.

3) Lost in Yonkers opens at Blackwell Playhouse.

4) Forfeit, Foundation, Get Out and Roam Alone perform at Drunken Unicorn.

5) Pop to Patriotism continues at Wentworth Gallery Buckhead.

(Artwork by Lanier Meaders)

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Wordsmiths Books could be shutting its doors soon.

The Decatur bookstore responsible for scores of literary workshops, quirky local music showcases and inventive author events can’t pay the bills. Debt left over from its former location on W. Trinity Place (it’s now located around the corner in the old Sun Trust building on N. McDonough Street) and an unprofitable recent event have left owner Zachary Steele in the red.

From a blog by Steele:

The reality of Wordsmiths is that, though it began with a great push, it did so in the wrong location. That location drained its resources and left a lagging parachute of debt … to compound our difficulties, we handled the sales for a large scale event recently that did not return the investment that we were required to pay up front. Such is the way, I could say, but the timing was incredibly poor.

For the next couple of weeks, Wordsmiths will be collecting donations to help pay off the debt and keep the store open. The fundraising push culminates Aug. 15-17 with the Saving Bookstores is AWESOME!!! Night of AWESOME!!!! in conjunction with PASTE magazine and BabyGotBooks.com. The event features local fave Jack Pendarvis and his new robot-love novel Awesome, a performance from Atlanta indie outfit the Sealions, and a silent robot art auction. E-mail Wordsmith’s director of marketing Russ Marshalek (russ@wordsmithsbooks.com) about creating and donating a robot for the auction.

The shop’s also accepting donations of all sizes at its website or mailed to 545 N. McDonough St., Decatur, GA 30030. It wouldn’t hurt to visit the store and buy some books either.

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