Sunday, September 18, 2011

How Jeff Mark is Like Jay-Z

We both sell out.

Boom.

Officially, Into the Everything's first run is completely sold out. This comes from a long list of wonderful friends and family who supported my maiden endeavor into longform prose (I don't have delusions of grandeur over here; I'm pretty well aware that only maybe 50 strangers have ITE on their shelves).

I'm not exactly sure how many books were part of the first run, but the words "sold out" certainly have a pleasant ring to them, yes? Now, don't worry, Punkin is printing a second run of the book sometime soon, just in time for my television appearance on CCPTV (Philly comcast 53) this Fall. So any literary slackers will have opportunity to make up for your shameful summer of tanning over reading.

In unrelated news, this Fall I am working on a second draft for a new novel that has taken me the last couple of years to research and write. It's a huge departure from Into the Everything, which, in a lot of ways is solopsistic and nubile. I wrote ITE when I was 25 so I'm hoping that being so near 30, that rough Nick Carroway decade, my writing style has changed (nee improved). More news to follow in that regard.

There's also a collection of poems in the works, just to see if there's any market interest.

Until next time, adieu crew. Jay-Z and Jay-Mark out.

Tuesday, September 6, 2011

La La Land









So, I'm back from California and dare I say the literary scene there was almost more receptive than my home base of Philadelphia. A huge thank you goes out to Meghan BOB out in LA for single-handedly setting up the book reading and inviting all of the beautiful people in LA to attend. Also, thanks to Vlad the Retailer (cool, huh?) for the venue space and hospitality.


I am so humbled by the enthusiasm of the LA crowd and all my terrific friends (old and new) who showed up to a little book reading by a little author from a little town on the other side of the country. (editor's note: I'm not so little, and Philly's quite big too; it was for affect, people).


I actually kind of miss CA. Don't tell the Atlantic I said so.


Some more readings coming up, including one at my home base at CCP this week. There's also in the works a television interview deal down in the First State. Hmm.


Cheers!