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What’s a non-bookstore event? Well, obviously it’s anything outside of a bookstore but more than that, it’s a unique location, likely in your city or town. We’ve done events at video stores, electronics stores, grocery stores, restaurants, coffee shops, even Hallmark stores. When you start to dig into this market, the possibilities are really endless. It’s just a matter of finding a place that will make sense to host your event.
Reprinted from “The Book Marketing Expert newsletter,” a free ezine offering book promotion and publicity tips and techniques. http://www.amarketingexpert.com
If you’re tired of hearing “no” every time you try and secure a book signing, take heart. Signings have become a lot more challenging since more books than ever are being published each year and stores are cutting back on events. What’s an author to do? If you’re hungry for an event and not willing to wade through the endless submission process of a bookstore, consider doing events in non-bookstore markets.
What’s a non-bookstore event? Well, obviously it’s anything outside of a bookstore but more than that, it’s a unique location, likely in your city or town. We’ve done events at video stores, electronics stores, grocery stores, restaurants, coffee shops, even Hallmark stores. When you start to dig into this market, the possibilities are really endless. It’s just a matter of finding a place that will make sense to host your event.
Picking the Right Venue
The first piece of this is picking the right venue. The venue can depend on a few things; first, you might look at the topic of your book to help generate some ideas. We once had an author who wrote a book on wine/movie pairings – pairing the right wine with a movie. I placed this author in a Blockbuster Video and the results were tremendous. I had another author with a computer book and I placed him at a computer store on a busy Saturday afternoon. He sold out of some 65 copies of his book in one afternoon. Another great venue is a Hallmark or some other gift shop. Why? Because people are going to a gift shop or Hallmark for one thing: a gift. Autographed books make great gifts.
Selling the Idea to the Venue
This will take a bit of work because it’s likely that the venue has never even entertained the idea of doing an event, let alone an author signing. You’ll need to make sure they are clear on the WIIFM (what’s in it for me): tell them you’ll be promoting the event, marketing it to the media (which we’ll cover further on in this article). Make sure they know that you’ll handle the book orders (meaning getting the books to the store) if need be.
Yes, there is a lot more legwork involved for these events, but the payoff is huge. You may have to sell the books to them on consignment; what that means is that they take the books and can return to you whatever they don’t sell. Encourage the venue, however, to keep a stock in their store after the event in case people come by when you’re gone. I’ve done this before, and nine times out of ten the books never get returned to the author and are sold instead. Also, in many cases the store will often reorder and before you know it, you’re part of their inventory.
The other piece to this is to try, whenever you can, not to go through their corporate offices. Much like doing an event at Starbucks (which I’ve also done) and Hallmark, a pitch to corporate could take weeks and even months to approve. Most stores have the ability to approve from 3-5 events per year, meaning that they can have events at their store without having to go through the corporate offices. Most major corporations do this so that the stores can provide community support without getting bogged down in tedious paperwork for event approval. If you can avoid the red-tape of a corporate approval, do that whenever you can.
Selling the Books
As I mentioned, you will likely have to do a consignment. The inventory part for most major stores gets tricky, and if the books have to be approved for inventory, you’ll end up going through corporate again. More red tape. Try to work with the venue as much as you can so you don’t have to create an inventory of your books. The upside, however, is that if the inventory process is easy, you will be on their reorder list for the future!
Marketing the Event
This is the easy part, believe it or not. Local media loves local authors and while that’s a good foot in the door – the unique venue location will virtually seal the deal. Market yourself to media well in advance of the event and then again the event day. Also, if you’re doing an event in a mall, see if you can get the other stores to participate by doing bookmarks or bag stuffers. Bag stuffers, by the way, are a great way to help the store market your event. You could also do a custom bookmark. With printing so cheap these days, it might be easier to have event-specific bookmarks made up that you can give to the store to help them push the event to their patrons.
Make sure you get the store OK first, before you hand them bag stuffers and bookmarks. Also ask if you can create a poster that includes your book cover and the event information. See if you can get a placement on the venue website and perhaps a notification sent to their mailing list. Unlike bookstores that crank out author events all the time, a unique venue that doesn’t see author events all that much will be much more receptive to promotional ideas.
More Venue Ideas
Once you take your eye off of the bookstore focus, the opportunities for book events are endless. Consider the following: street fairs, farmers markets, gyms, yoga studios, wineries, art stores, Starbucks, coffee shops, restaurants, grocery stores, airports. Yes, I said airports. I’ve traveled a great deal and almost every time I go through the San Diego airport, Dallas Fort Worth or San Francisco, I see an author signing their books. Look out for this: if you’re not paying attention you could miss it while rushing to catch your flight.
Other Benefits to Doing Non-Bookstore Events
The benefits of these types of events are pretty significant, especially if speaking and events are part of your marketing tool kit. Book events held in these exclusive markets will not only take you off the track of competing for space in a bookstore, but because they are unique they will draw much more attention both from the media and readers.
Having a traditional book signing is always great. It will help you get into the bookstore market and might even get your book on their shelf. But if bookstores aren’t open to an event, don’t let that discourage you from planning one. Being unique will not only help you gain more attention, but it will help to keep you out of the rejection funnel that often comes from competing in a high-traffic market. Also, venue events outside of bookstores are a fun way to build an audience, get your feet wet doing events and speaking and grow your career as an author!
Gottlieb, 37, made the decision to become a single parent after years of searching for Mr. Right. Four years later, when she still hadn’t found him, she decided to take a good look at her dating habits—and the dating habits of women around her—to see if the problem is not a dearth of good men but rather women’s expectations of them. Gottlieb finds that women want it all—and often aren’t willing to compromise on their list of traits their ideal mate must have.
Product Description
Gottlieb, 37, made the decision to become a single parent after years of searching for Mr. Right. Four years later, when she still hadn’t found him, she decided to take a good look at her dating habits—and the dating habits of women around her—to see if the problem is not a dearth of good men but rather women’s expectations of them. Gottlieb finds that women want it all—and often aren’t willing to compromise on their list of traits their ideal mate must have. In their twenties, many women leave good relationships based on an elusive feeling that they could find something more with someone else, and they regret it down the road when their choices dwindle.
It’s not that women aren’t willing to settle; it’s that many refuse to recognize that their vision of the perfect man doesn’t match reality. With the help of dating coach Evan Marc Katz, Gottlieb reconsidered her own standards in the hope of finding happiness. Gottlieb’s honest, astute analysis will resonate with many women and make them uneasy as they recognize themselves in her experiences and those of the women she interviews. Gottlieb makes a strong case in this groundbreaking work. –Kristine Huntley
Reviews
“Marry Him is a frank and funny read, weaving real people’s stories with Gottlieb’s own experiences, and containing sharp examinations of how society and culture-everything from When Harry Met Sally to The Bachelor-come into play when modern women look for love.”
-The New York Observer
“A provocative pop culture treatise… she encourages us to think through our own beliefs and unexamined assumptions.”
-The Chicago Tribune
“A funny cautionary tale of one woman’s journey through the modern landscape of dating.”
-Library Journal
“A well-conceived and convincing argument on how to find a more realistic Mr. Right. If you’ve ever sought your own Prince Charming, your love life will never be the same again. And that’s a good thing.”
-Christian Science Monitor
“A sensible plea to discard the toxic fantasy of romantic comedies and think realistically about what makes a solid partnership.”
-Salon
“This impeccably researched tome is mandatory reading.”
-The Huffington Post
“Funny and relatable… anything but antiromance.”
-People magazine
“This is the smartest relationship book I’ve read in years.”
-AOL’s lemondrop.com
“The buzz surrounding Lori Gottlieb’s newest book, Marry Him, is well- deserved… She writes with honesty and hope, and there are many people who will benefit from reading this book.”
-The Examiner
“An unexpected delight. Honest and darkly comic… the truth can be liberating.”
-The New York Times
“Marry Him is surprisingly, unnervingly convincing.”
-O, The Oprah Magazine
“In business, ‘good enough’ is often ‘very good’. So why should we expect-and demand-perfection in dating and marriage?”
-Forbes Woman
“The buzz surrounding Lori Gottlieb’s newest book, Marry Him, is well- deserved…She writes with honesty and hope, and there are many people who will benefit from reading this book.”
-The Examiner
“I wish I could round up every single woman I know and assign this book for discussion. Gottlieb helps women see how our cultural or private fantasies build up so many expectations that they destroy the possibility of real love and, eventually, marriage. Marry Him is a big fat lesson in how not to get in your own way. Any woman who wants to find true love and hasn’t been able to should read this book.”
-Pepper Schwartz, Ph.D., relationship expert at Perfectmatch.com
“What Gottlieb is saying isn’t subversive–it’s smart. A thoroughly entertaining reality check, it will make single women laugh and squirm, and married people appreciate their spouses even more.”
-Diablo Cody, Academy Award-winning Screenwriter of Juno
“Finally, here’s a cautionary tale for anyone wondering why she hasn’t found Mr. Right–with a hopeful message about the Mr. Right Nows, the Mr. Close Enoughs, and even the Mr. What the F*#%s.”
-Jill Soloway, writer and executive producer for Six Feet Under
“Engaging, hilarious, brutally honest and eye-opening! Marry Him is an encouraging story about finding love by getting real.”
-Rachel Greenwald, New York Times bestselling author of Find a HUsband After 35
“This is a daring and wise book. Gottlieb tells it like it is: In our modern world of excuses, too many of us have unrealistic expectations about men and love, and even more unrealistic views of ourselves. Women (and men) should take Gottlieb’s message to heart: ‘Look for reasons to say yes.’ It could change your life.”
-Helen Fisher, Ph.D., Rutgers University and author of Why Him? Why Her?
“I have been very happily married for many years, and if my daughters ever ask me for advice about potential spouses, I plan to pass off a lot of what’s in this book as my own sage wisdom.”
-Kurt Anderson, New York Times bestselling author of Heyday and host of public radio’s Studio 360
“Marry Him shows women how to find true happiness when seeking love–by giving them a new way to look at the world. Gottlieb manages to be hilarious yet thought-provoking, light-hearted yet profound on the questions of: Why do we fall in love? What qualities really matter in a marriage? For what reasons do we make the decisions that affect our whole lives? Like provocative realationship classics such as The Rules and He’s Just Not That Into You, Marry Him will set people talking for years.”
-Gretchen Rubin, author of The Happiness Project
“Lori Gottlieb’s smart, insightful, witty observations gleaned on her own unusual romantic path signal and important new voice in single-girl lit. The Rulesturned single women needy, He’s Just Not That Into You made them depresed, and Marry Him finally sets them free, preaching that in the long run, ‘good enough’ might be better than great.”
-Amy Sohn, author of Prospect Park West
“Marry Him is a treasure. A must-read on getting the male and female brain together in almost perfect harmony.’
-Louann Brizendine, New York Times bestselling author of The Female Brain and the upcoming The Male Brain
“By telling you to read Lori Gottlieb’s incisive and insightful book, I hope I can make up for all the unrealistic romantic propaganda I had a hand in spreading as a former editor at a glossy women’s magazine. For anyone who is single but looking, the surprising truths in Marry Him go against just about everything we’ve been brought up to believe about dating and marriage.”
-Megan McCafferty, New York Times bestselling author of the Jessica Darling series
Sure it garnered starred reviews, but who knew that Gilbert’s memoir about her quest for psychic healing, Eat, Pray, Love (2006), would become what she describes as a “megajumbo international best-seller”? Or that she would be in demand as a relationship guru? Or that her relationship with Felipe, the Brazilian businessman she fell in love with in Bali, would get so complicated? An Australian citizen, Felipe was living with Gilbert in the U.S. on a visa-to-visa basis until Homeland Security denied him reentry. As post-traumatic-divorce syndrome sufferers, they swore never to remarry, but marry they must if they want to be together in the States.
Review
Sure it garnered starred reviews, but who knew that Gilbert’s memoir about her quest for psychic healing, Eat, Pray, Love (2006), would become what she describes as a “megajumbo international best-seller”? Or that she would be in demand as a relationship guru? Or that her relationship with Felipe, the Brazilian businessman she fell in love with in Bali, would get so complicated? An Australian citizen, Felipe was living with Gilbert in the U.S. on a visa-to-visa basis until Homeland Security denied him reentry. As post-traumatic-divorce syndrome sufferers, they swore never to remarry, but marry they must if they want to be together in the States. This effort involves a humongous amount of red tape and time, so they set off on a rambling trip across Southeast Asia, and Gilbert tries to banish her fears by embarking on a crash course in the history, practice, and meaning of marriage. Her far-roaming inquiry, much of it focused on the paradoxes in women’s lives, is presumptuous and trite one moment (her observations about women in Asia are cringe-inducing) and incisive and funny the next (her portraits of her grandmother and mother are sensitive and scintillating). Ultimately, she tells an irresistibly romantic tale spiked with unusual and resonant insights into love and marriage. –Donna Seaman
Embarking on writing a major work after the spectacular Eat, Pray, Love, must have been no easy feat. However, undaunted and honest as ever, Elizabeth Gilbert provides an eye-opening and thorough account of the colossal entity we call marriage. We have all grown up accepting marriage as a given. It seems to be taken as common place that people simply grow up and get married- and then (of course) live happily ever after. Or is it that easy?
Not so fast, Gilbert warns us. Do we completely know what we are getting into? What happens to us as independent beings when we marry? What makes a marriage more likely to succeed, and what makes it more likely to fail? What are the economic, social, and legal ties that bind us and do we even understand the significance of them? How are we able to somehow throw love in the mix as well? Extremely timely and pertinent questions with serious implications. Some of the most interesting and thought provoking aspects of the book- a glimpse into the lives of the Hmong women in Asia (who view marriage not as a solution to all of life’s problems and seem to have no qualms whatsoever about this), how marriage was viewed by different religions throughout the centuries- not always so ‘sacred’, and the way marriage has been used to secure money, power, and property throughout history. Quite simply, Gilbert explains this institution has been pulled, prodded, and changed for centuries- yet still it remains. There is something, then that draws us still to marry. Gilbert (thrown rather harshy into marriage by the US government) walks away with a brokered peace with marriage and a deeper understanding of what it means to be married- as she embarks on her own marriage. The reader has a deeper understanding as well.
As a final note, what is more important if not the subject of who we spend our lives with? Who we share our faith, time, children, money, and precious moments with? As a new mother who married five years ago at the age of 24 (I know this puts me into the danger zone 
, this book has given me fuller understanding of what it means to be married and coming to respect my own marriage as an imperfect, changing, and totally lovable creature- much like my own baby son. (Quite simply, the white gown and endless talks about the church and reception hall didn’t really matter- the chats we had about faith, child-rearing, navigating our political differences, and in-laws definitely mattered.) It has once been said that ‘The unexamined life is not worth living.’ Gilbert’s book suggests that perhaps an unexamined marriage is not worth having- and I’d agree. - Amazon Customer Review
Eat, Pray, Love might not be that deep, wise voice representing the deep, wise journey into the deep, wise self. But this book’s packaging and tone, hell, its WORDS, never did say it was. It is a fumbling–almost child-like in its guilelessness–show of the ego’s awareness and needs, and its attempt at searching for what many people from all walks of life only wish they could go out and find: THEMSELVES. SELF, being the keyword here. And in this memoir, ultimately, God, being in each of our selves.
I find it so surprising–reading the angry, negative reviews–that the people who hated the book hated it for exactly the reasons why some steer clear away from the the spiritual-journey-memoir genre. Yes, the author is self-absorbed, yes, she seems to think of only trite stuff, yes, she seems self-indulgent with her problems. And yes, she’s allowed. It is after all a book that is positioned to address these things in the author’s self; who otherwise would not be searching for something more: more meaning and more appreciation in/of her life.
Here is a woman who shows all the possibly-perceived-as-lacking-substance thoughts of hers and we are throwing tomatoes at her. One thing, she obviously wasn’t afraid of that. She wasn’t aiming to be coming off as some deeply wise woman but a fumbling girl-woman trying to break out of what she felt was imminent disaster (had she had the baby and delayed her need to find out what she truly wants from her life she might have left not only her husband, but their child, or most probably ending up not leaving out of guilt and becoming crazy instead: exposing her family to that for years; not an uncommon reality). She is not one for anti-depressants, remember.
This memoir falls in the same category as the TV show Sex and the City (of which it was compared to in a review here). Both get trampled for being supposedly superficial, covering the silly plights of city girls who don’t know what they want and yet have everything. But this book–as the TV show–actually are part of a wider story that is illiciting reactions from the public because it reflects the transition in which women in the modern world are experiencing: now that we have equality with men professionally, now that we are liberated from all the limitations being a woman dictated two generations ago, how does that affect us? From a distance, in a glance, it seems that women have all the cards to play with now. But this book and many other works by women and/or about women of this generation show that having all those cards does not mean Happiness.
There are still things in society–in regards to a woman’s role–that grates. And then there are things within our Modernised, Westernized, Individualized, Ambitious selves, that are lacking.
This is what Miss Gilbert’s search is about, and what she represents.
On a collective level, much of the modern world is in search of God, Spirituality (one just needs to walk through bookstores in the US and see the plethora of soul searching self help books on the shelves). This is what needs to be observed and understood as a phenomena in the West; the small voices, small cries, here and there by those who come up with the balls to share their journeys and thoughts with us–no matter how trite-sounding, how shallow-seeming–are part of a collective howl for the meaning of life.
Elizabeth Gilbert’s voice is just one of many that calls for recognition as part of a chorus for something that firstly, many women are hollering about, and secondly, humanity in general–humanity in the first world–are crying for: some kind of guidance, indication, that the collective paths we fought for and chose (the best education, career ambitions realised, a certain amount of money needed to live that certain kind of magazine-lifestyle life–which is what Liz Gilbert’s life is a reflection of, remember–love in the form of marriage and what society dictates) are truly the things that give us peace and happiness in the infinite sense.
Eat, Pray, Love might not be that deep, wise voice representing the deep, wise journey into the deep, wise self. But this book’s packaging and tone, hell, its WORDS, never did say it was. It is a fumbling–almost child-like in its guilelessness–show of the ego’s awareness and needs, and its attempt at searching for what many people from all walks of life only wish they could go out and find: THEMSELVES. SELF, being the keyword here. And in this memoir, ultimately, God, being in each of our selves.
To the people who were disappointed that the author didn’t seem to give a hoot about India’s poverty, they must have not read the book through: Miss Gilbert never ventured out of her ashram and the little village it is located in, after making a decision to further develop her meditation skills and thus skipping the rest of India. She also ignored Italy’s corruption with her indulging in good food and focus on learning and enjoying the Italian language. Again, the critics missed the point of this memoir. It’s a book about a writer, a New Yorker, a recently-divorced-woman-in-her-early-thirties’ journey to heal and find spiritual strength through various means: pleasure first to recover (Italy), spiritual examination and purging (India), combining the two for balance (Bali), which would result hopefully in the kind of substance and depth and balance that so many critics mentioned she lacks.
One doesn’t pick this book up to: 1. Be exposed to India’s poverty and expect the author to discuss that in depth. 2. Be exposed to Italy’s corruption and expect the author to discuss that in depth. 3. Be exposed to Balinese wiles and expect the author to discuss that in depth. (which she actually did in the account of the Balinese woman she raised money for to buy the land the woman needed to build a home).
Next time you pick a book up at the bookstore, call up your powers of perception before purchasing it. A book IS pretty much its cover. Did everyone really expect a book titled “Eat, Pray, Love” A Woman’s Search for Everything, to be an experience of religious fervor, one that would reveal the secrets of the universe? It’s a story about a girl who thought everything she thought she wanted, would bring her happiness. It didn’t. It didn’t for her, and possibly not for many other women. If it took this one woman to go to Italy, India, and Indonesia, to get away after a difficult and painful divorce to heal and get perspective–instead of festering and turning into a pile of flesh in depression–then by all means. Yes, she financed her travels through her book advance–after giving away the suburban home and NYC apartment to her ex-husband. And if she wrote this book for us, it’s really for us to appreciate and enjoy the ride with her. Anybody else who got so upset needed only to put the book down and pick another one to their taste. If anything, that’s this book’s lesson: Do what makes you smile and thankful for life.
- Amazon Customer Review
Mash potatoes with a mixer, add rest of the ingredients (except topping), and mix until well-blended. Spread in a 13 x 9-inch pan. Mix topping ingredients together until well blended (will be stiff and crumbly). Spread over sweet potato mixture.
Servings: 8
Ingredients:
One 29-ounce can sweet potatoes, drained 1/2 cup sugar 2 eggs, well beaten 1 teaspoon vanilla 1/2 cup milk 1/2 cup butter, melted 1 cup light brown sugar Topping 1/3 cup butter 1/2 cup flour 1 cup pecans, chopped
Mash potatoes with a mixer, add rest of the ingredients (except topping), and mix until well-blended. Spread in a 13 x 9-inch pan. Mix topping ingredients together until well blended (will be stiff and crumbly). Spread over sweet potato mixture.
Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees and grease an 8 x 8 inch baking dish. Cream sugar and butter. Add eggs and beat well. Add pineapple and beat in bread and nutmeg. Pour into baking dish. Bake for 45 minutes or until browned.
Servings: 9
Ingredients:
3/4 cup sugar 4 eggs 5 slices bread, crusts removed 1/2 cup butter, softened One 16-ounce can crushed pineapple, drained Dash of nutmeg
Preheat oven to 350 degrees and grease an 8 x 8 inch baking dish.
Cream sugar and butter. Add eggs and beat well. Add pineapple and beat in bread and nutmeg. Pour into baking dish. Bake for 45 minutes or until browned.
When I was studying in high school classes I started writing poems. As I felt no satisfaction in my poems, I wanted to correct them with the help of some talented persons. I could get acquaintance with celebrated poet Vayalar Rama Varma. He was a friend of my father. I went to his house with one of my poems. With reluctance I showed I showed the matter to him. He was pleased knowing that I was writing poems. He made some corrections in it and returned it back.
Joy J. Kaimaparamban is the author of The Ayurvedic Healer, a novel published by Copperhill Media. For further information log on to his blog at http://www.kaimaparamban.com.
When I was studying in high school classes I started writing poems. As I felt no satisfaction in my poems, I wanted to correct them with the help of some talented persons. I could get acquaintance with celebrated poet Vayalar Rama Varma. He was a friend of my father. I went to his house with one of my poems. With reluctance I showed I showed the matter to him. He was pleased knowing that I was writing poems. He made some corrections in it and returned it back.
I had gone to the tip of joy. After it I used to write poems and got corrected them by the celebrated poet. I supposed him as my preceptor or Gurunadhan writing. One evening, while I was coming back from school, I happened to see a boy in the middle of a small crowd. He had worn only a knicker and he had been singing a film song with the help of the orchestra, which he himself had adjusted by beating the both sides of his stomach with his hands.
For me it was a heartbreaking event. Despite the crowd was giving him small coins I had nothing to give him. I walked home with a heavy heart. In my heart the black scars of the singing boy’s stomach were remaining.
I tried for writing a poem on the subject. Unfortunately I could not. But I had to write something about the boy. So I wrote a short story under the title ‘Paattukaaran Cherukkan’, (The Singer Boy). Several times I rewrote it. At last I showed it to my father. I got appreciation from him.
On a Saturday I went to the house of my preceptor. Reading the short story he opined that I had chosen the correct way. I stopped writing poems and wrote stories in both languages, Malayalam and English. I sent Malayalam stores to several periodicals and some of them were published. I did not dare sending English stories to any publication, because I was not enough courageous. I concentrated on publishing my Malayalam works, but I had not stopped writing in English. Being an undergraduate I was rather inferior to take out my English works in sunlight.
But still I was writing in English. I was unable to come out from the charming beauty of English language. I believed that one day my English books too will come out. After retirement from service, I began trying to enter into the vast world of English literature. At last, my first English novel, ‘The Azure of Solicitude’ was published in 2009, the second novel ‘The Ayurvedic Healer’ was published in 2010.
The world of literature is a wonderful one. If you refer its history you can convince the fact. From my childhood I read fiction and non-fiction aw well. I was interested to know the lifestyles of ancient and modern writers. I am having a special interest in reading the biographies of Artists too. Many Artists as Michaelangelo, Leonardo Da Vinci, Raphael and Rubens and the like are shining in my memory. Several novelists have written fiction based on the lives great artists and writers.
Joy J. Kaimaparamban is the author of The Ayurvedic Healer, a novel published by Copperhill Media. For further information log on to his blog at http://www.kaimaparamban.com.
The world of literature is a wonderful one. If you refer its history you can convince the fact. From my childhood I read fiction and non-fiction aw well. I was interested to know the lifestyles of ancient and modern writers. I am having a special interest in reading the biographies of Artists too. Many Artists as Michaelangelo, Leonardo Da Vinci, Raphael and Rubens and the like are shining in my memory. Several novelists have written fiction based on the lives great artists and writers.
A novel about the colossus fictionist Dostoyevsky has been published in Malayalam language under the title ‘Oru Samkeerthanam Pole’ (Like a Hymn). It has been written by Perumbadavam Sreedharan, a celebrated novelist. I have read numerous works of old and new writers. I could not have seen such a genius writer as Dostoyevsky who had brought out the pearls from the very depth of minds.
Kerala is a small land. But many talented writers and artists had born here. You cannot forget the of Raja Ravi Varma the celebrated artist of Kerala. I could have befriended with efficient artists. Many of them had disappeared behind the curtain of death.
When I think about the writers of Malayalam language, Muttathu Varkey comes into my mind first. He was the Thomas Hardy in Malayalam language. He wrote a lot of novels in Malayalam and he had translated the outstanding Russian novel ‘Doctor Zhivago’ into the language.
There were several talented writers in Malayalam as P Bhaskaran, Uroob (P.C.Kuttikrishnan), S.K. Pottakkat, Vaikom Muhammed Basheer, and the like. Many writers and artists are still active with their works. When I think about Indian writes Rabindra Nath Tagore comes first. Despite a Bengali he wrote in English. For his work ‘Gitanjali’ he received the Nobel Prize. He was the only Indian writer who had won the Nobel Prize.
There lived in India, several great writers who wrote in their won languages. Some of them are Munshi Prem Chand, Dr. Mulk Raj Anand, Kishen Chandar, K.A. Abbas, Yashpal, and the like. Still there are active writers and artists in the Indian Art world. There are few English writers from Kerala. The name of Arundhathi Roy stands first in the line. She brought a Booker Prize for Kerala. I wish to be one of the English writers in India.
Roadsongs is a document of the Derek Trucks Band at its collective musical peak, recorded live in Chicago during their 2009 Already Free Tour. Featuring extended live versions from their Grammy Award-winning album Already Free along with classic Derek Trucks Band originals, Roadsongs captures the band reaching new heights on-stage and beyond.
Product Description
Roadsongs is a document of the Derek Trucks Band at its collective musical peak, recorded live in Chicago during their 2009 Already Free Tour. Featuring extended live versions from their Grammy Award-winning album Already Free along with classic Derek Trucks Band originals, Roadsongs captures the band reaching new heights on-stage and beyond.
Amazon Customer Review
Two discs,48,58 minutes each approximately. The sound is very crisp and clean,with an almost “you are there” feel. The discs are slipped, bare, into a tri-fold cardboard holder, which has some interesting color photos inside, along with a pertinent quote from Eric Clapton about being on the road constantly. The booklet lists the song titles, and lengths. There’s a short written piece by singer Mike Mattison on his first concert experience as a member of the band, playing live,and how blues music is the foundation of THE DEREK TRUCKS BAND. The remainder of the booklet is taken up with color photos of members of the band.
With this new release, the DEREK TRUCKS BAND proves that they are one of few bands that can deliver great live versions from their previous, bluesy, studio release “Already Free”, combined with their take on a (lengthy) jazz classic “Afro Blue”, the well known “Anyday” (DEREK AND THE DOMINOS), and the old blues warhorse “Key To The Highway” (among others), and inject them with their own sound. Songs like “Down In The Flood” (Dylan), “Days Is Almost Gone”, and “Down Don’t Bother Me”, for example, are injected with the excitement of a live recording in front of an appreciative audience. Trucks and his band are capable of playing in virtually any genre of music they choose-from blues, gospel, rock, r&b, country, to world music, all combined into one broad style-and it’s all here.
On this live set Trucks and his band (which range in age from their 20′s to their 40′s) show they have the skill, confidence, and depth to assimilate many styles of music and take that music (and the listener) in virtually any direction. Trucks, who came out of THE ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND, who had a penchant for improvisation, has that rare combination of technique, style, and soulfulness that elevates him into the upper echelons of guitar players. His playing with musicians like Eric Clapton and Warren Haynes has only deepened his approach to improvisation. He has continued to define his guitar tone, and whether picking single notes or playing full chords, his sound is rich and full. His slide playing is very warm, soulful, yet visceral, with an almost understated excitement.
The 2003 set “Live at Georgia Theatre” (now available for approximately $10), is a good comparison in defining Truck’s tone and style. On this 2 CD set his sound is closer to Duane Allman’s, with Trucks just beginning to step into his own style. The core band (as on “Roadsongs”) members do their usual good job of holding/advancing everything together. Both of these sets are companion pieces when it comes to great live music from this band. If you haven’t heard “Live at Georgia Theatre” (with great sound) you’re missing some fine music.
The bands sound, which is a combination of razor sharp chops, and a relaxed, honest, organic approach is the perfect combination that seamlessly blends straightforward, no frills playing with several of the better tracks from their last album, with some newer live renditions of other songs. Throughout, the well thought out arrangements (with the inclusion of occasional horns), which constantly ebb and flow, keep the music fresh and interesting-along with the (sometimes subtle) always exciting playing of Trucks. The vocals, handled by Mike Mattison, allow Trucks to concentrate on his guitar playing and the direction of the music, which is vital when weaving seemingly disparate styles of music into one organic whole.
This live set is a continuation, a refinement of this bands sound. Trucks (and the band) continues to forge ahead in whatever direction the music takes them (and us), which is the hallmark of a band that’s choosing to stretch the boundaries of music and not be satisfied with playing the same music in the same repetitive style. This group is one of few bands to play across and assimilate different genres of music, and weave them into an honest style all their own. So sit back and let this music take you where it will-you won’t be sorry.
Digitally remastered and expanded two CD Legacy Edition of the Blues guitarist’s 1984 album. This edition contains 16 previously unreleased tracks, studio outtakes and the live recording of Vaughan & Double Trouble’s 1984 performance at the Spectrum in Montreal. A 24 colour page booklet completes the package with liner notes by Guitar World Associate Editor (and Stevie Ray Vaughan authority) Andy Aledort as well as commentary by Double Trouble band mates Chris Layton and Tommy Shannon.
Product Description
Digitally remastered and expanded two CD Legacy Edition of the Blues guitarist’s 1984 album. This edition contains 16 previously unreleased tracks, studio outtakes and the live recording of Vaughan & Double Trouble’s 1984 performance at the Spectrum in Montreal. A 24 colour page booklet completes the package with liner notes by Guitar World Associate Editor (and Stevie Ray Vaughan authority) Andy Aledort as well as commentary by Double Trouble band mates Chris Layton and Tommy Shannon.
Amazon Customer Review
Two discs 79, 75 minutes each approximately. The digitally remastered sound is crisp and clean. The 24 page booklet goes into some depth on SRV and his music. Comments from his rhythm section (DOUBLE TROUBLE) give added depth, along with an overview by a knowledgeable writer from Guitar World. There are also photos of SRV and a 2 page spread of various advertising items to promote the album-a nice touch.
First I must confess that for me, this (original) album still stands as possibly Stevie Ray Vaughan’s finest release. While valid arguments could be made for other albums, this set of songs gets to the heart of who Vaughan was. Blessed with a ragged, worn sounding voice and large hands, when Vaughan sang you knew he wasn’t kidding. But its when he wrapped that big hand around the neck of his guitar that you knew he was the real deal when it came to the blues. The music was intense, and just seemed to pour out of him (“The Things That I used To Do”) in a desperate, pleading torrent of sound. Yet he was capable of playing Wes Montgomery/Kenny Burrell/Joe Pass jazz-like passages (“Stang’s Swang”), intense guitar driven instrumentals (“Scuttle Buttin’”-which has its origins from the great guitarist Lonnie Mack, “Wham!”-a Lonnie Mack composition, and Freddie King’s “Hide Away”), and moody songs (“Lenny”), which show how sensitive and mature his playing could be. This album is proof that SRV was a truly multi-faceted musician. and could (and would) take his music wherever it suited him.
The first disc, which includes the original album, also contains a number of tracks (8) that have been previously released on other albums. Is this another example of a record company padding out an already fine album with tracks we’re all familiar with? Perhaps. Or is it an attempt to give, in one package, a better picture of just who SRV was? Whether you decide to purchase this for the live disc and the remastered original album, which includes 3 previously unreleased tracks (along with the 8 previously released songs) is something every listener will have to decide for themselves. While I don’t like padding an already fine album with tracks I own elsewhere, their inclusion does help paint a better picture of Vaughan’s music at this stage. The 3 unreleased studio tracks, “The Sky Is Crying” (an awesome trio version), “Boot Hill”, and an alternate of “Stang’s Swang” (a trio version different from the original), are welcome additions for those (like me) who can’t get enough of SRV during this period.
The second disc, live from 1984 (when the original album was released), is, in a nut shell, full of the guitar work that Vaughan is revered for. Its also where the rhythm section (DOUBLE TROUBLE) proves how valuable they were to Vaughan’s sound. In this live context Chris Layton (drums) and Tommy Shannon (bass) play intuitively as equals, not just backing musicians for Vaughan’s guitar. His combination lead/rhythm style, his crying, pleading, bent notes, his hurt-sounding sustain, and his searing single notes that sound as if they could pierce you like a knife-point are all over this disc. From slow blues (“Tin Pan Alley”), to shuffles (“Love Struck Baby”), to fiery guitar pyrotechnics (“Voodoo Child (Slight Return”), Vaughan’s command of his guitar (and the blues) is evident. Tracks like Guitar Slim’s “The Things That I Use To Do” (whose original 1950′s version is smokin’), “Texas Flood” (by the late Larry Davis-a good blues singer/guitarist) and “Couldn’t Stand The Weather” help show SRV as one of the best blues players from the modern era. Add some uptempo tracks along with a bit of funk and you have a complete picture of just who Stevie Ray Vaughan was, and what his music was all about.
So, if you can get past the already released tracks, and think of them as completing a better picture of SRV, this updated release, along with the live second disc is certainly worth purchasing. Sony Records has certainly priced this set at a fair (low) price, which is added incentive. For anyone who likes modern era blues guitar-look no further.
