Bozeman's Haufbrau Open Mic Highlights

Here are the video clips and photos from our Montana Open Mic Adventure, as promised. Viva the vibrant Montana music scene! Granted, the lighting is low and these really don't do the performers justice, but you can get a tiny taste anyway...

We Heart Montana Musicians!

"If you don't know where you're going, any road will take you there."
                                                                                                         --George Harrison

Our random open mic journey continues; we're now hitting the home stretch. We've splashed out on a hotel in Pocatello, Idaho after five days of camping in gradually colder and colder weather. Grungy showers and chilly winds finally got the better of us, and we're luxuriating in the Best Western (thank you, Yelp, for your awesome roadside guidance!) While we've got internet access and a cozy haven to hang in, we wanted to post a quick blog. Stay tuned for roadside pictures and videos of our favorite performers.

Before we go any further we need to give a quick shout-out to Montana, home of a seriously rocking open mic scene! If you ever find yourself in the mood for eclectic music, zero pretense, and an amazingly good time, wander your way to big sky country and check out Sean Kelly's in Missoula or the Haufbrau in Bozeman. We've cruised through five states now, and man, Montana really knows how to make the musical traveler feel welcome. As soon as we get to a speedier internet connection we'll add a few clips of Montana-style bad assery from dive bar extraordinaire, the Haufbrau. We especially loved Thom, a heartbreakingly authentic cowboy guitar guy; The Awesome Awesomes, a one man drum and trumpet band; and Eric, a metal-head with a heart of gold who grew up playing country music with his dad right here in Pocatello. Oh, and lurking in the shadows of several video clips you might spot Dean, the host of the open mic, a professional country-western drummer, and (incidentally) a fine brewer of kombucha, which he let us sample. Mmmm...basil-gingery deliciousness!

Tonight we'll join an acoustic jam session at Portneuf Valley Brewing in Old Town Pocatello, a place we explored a bit today. I have to say this was the first time I've ordered a mocha in a store that sells secondhand baby gear, but that's exactly what we did at Tiny Treasures Baby Boutique, also the home of Deja Brew. Just one of the many novel experiences one encounters on the road. Stay tuned for videos, pics, and more...

Open Mic Tour 2012: Jody and Dave do the Weird States

After twelve years playing music in our living room, my partner Dave and I have blasted out on the road to play our songs for a wider audience—meaning someone besides our cats. Max and Fang show precious little appreciation for what we do, and even have the nerve to yowl in bitchy protest when we experiment with dissonant harmonies. We’ve been traveling for a week now, and have hit the following venues:

1)    College of the Redwoods, Crescent City, California: Played one song at the culmination of the Redwood Coast Writers Conference. It’s a little awkward singing a honky-tonk song in a library, but everyone was very supportive and sweet.

2)    Wild Goose Cafe & Bar, Ashland, Oregon: Had a great time playing with a small group of very accomplished singer-songwriters as well as a motley crew of poets displaying a wide range of mental health conditions. Check out the video of Michael Jackson Montgomery, country singer satirist who made up for somewhat primitive guitar skills with serious bravado. His showstopper? A song he claimed was scientifically proven to be the ideal pop country song; its only words were “ice cold beer and a pickup truck.” 

3)    Pub at the End of the Universe, Portland, Oregon: Um…wow. This place was dank, stinky, depressing and filthy, but we heard some talented, eclectic musicians. Also in the lineup: two jugglers and an autistic rapper. Awesome.

4)    Station Bistro, Auburn, Washington: This was a first; when we mentioned our tour, the enthusiastic host proceeded to interview us like we were on the Today Show, in spite of the fact that the place was virtually empty. Very surreal. There were literally five people there in addition to us: some young, adorable teen musicians, two aging hippie guys on electric guitar, and our host, Tim, who did some gospel tunes and then surprised us by reading a few poems in a British accent. Check out the video. Definitely memorable.

5)    Sean Kelly’s, Missoula, Montana: This Irish pub in downtown Missoula hosted a vibrant, well-attended open mic filled with wholesome, college-aged music lovers. In fact, despite showing up an hour early, we almost didn’t get to play because performing here is so popular. Our waitress told us the sign-up sheet goes up at 10 a.m. and fills by 10:15. Only by begging the host with a desperate story about traveling hundreds of miles just to be there were we able to secure a spot. Hooray to Mike Avery for his kindness! Highlights of this gig: a brother-sister band from North Carolina doing kind of a White Stripes thing with her on drums, him on guitar; this was the only other male-female duet we’ve seen so far—actually, the only chick we’ve seen perform at all! They were very hip, complete with ironic aviator sunglasses and hints of southern attitude. Another major perk of this venue: we had a long talk with a Choctaw-Swedish-Gypsy “minstrel” in his seventies who’s been playing Flamenco guitar for fifty-eight years. His favorite phrase? “I’m an asshole, not an idiot.”

6)    Zootown Brew: This spacious, well-lit gallery-turned-coffee shop became the location of our first full-on gig. When we called to see if they planned to host an open mic they said, “No, but you’re welcome to audition.” Voila! We played for a full hour to an almost empty room. Our audience included a couple watching YouTube videos, a guy with headphones on, and James, our very sweet and accommodating barista. Oh, and a guy in a bandanna we thought was drawn by our dulcet tones, but it turns out he just wanted to use the bathroom. Aw, the glamourous life of touring rock stars!

My Fifty Shades of Grey Theory: The Top Five Reasons So Many Modern, Intelligent Women Long to be Dominated by a Hot Billionaire

Okay, full disclosure: I only read the first fifty pages of the runaway bestseller Fifty Shades of Grey. Obviously I can hardly pretend to be an expert on the topic. The English teacher in me just couldn't deal with the repetitive phrasing and amateurish characterizations. But that's just me being picky, I guess, because most of America's totally smitten.

I do have some theories about why this trilogy has become such a massive success practically overnight. Sure, it's horribly presumptuous to posit a five-part hypothesis about books one hasn't even read, but I'm feeling cocky, so I'm going for it.

1) Women Today Are Sick of Being the Bossy Pants: Whether we're calling the shots at work or ordering our toddler to stop biting the dog, today's average thirty and forty-something female (Fifty Shades' prime demographic) has tons of responsibility. Most are mothers and employed, leaving precious little time when they're not tending to some sort of duty or crisis. For the mommy who's tired of keeping up with the sippy cups and the CEO sick of sending bossy memos, Anastasia Steele's total surrender to hottie-who-tells-her-exactly-what-to-do provides the ultimate escapist fantasy.

2) We Want to be Worshipped: If there's one common denominator in every romance I've ever read from Twilight to Danielle Steel, it's this: the heroine gets worshipped. It's not enough to be just loved or respected; we long to be the consuming obsession at the center of someone's life. Anastasia gets her share of worship, even if it is of the handcuffed variety.

3) Hot Boy Billionaires Are So Hard to Find: With the economy in its ongoing state of brokenness, beautiful twenty-seven-year-old billionaires are incredibly scarce. Lots of real world women have to deal with partners who can't find work or whose income has been slashed to ribbons. That makes Christian Grey one seriously yummy serving of fantasy man.

4) Make That a Hyper-Masculine Hot Boy in Emasculating Times: Keep in mind that Grey isn't just a billionaire, he's a self-made man. At the tender age of twenty-seven he's managed not only to dominate the business world, but to do so without the help of any pesky inheritance or trust fund that might tarnish his virility in any way. Just as Superman spoke to a Depression-ravaged America with the fantasy of righteous power, Christian Grey distracts women from recession-era worries. Real world husbands plagued with unemployment, debt and paunchiness can be quickly forgotten as readers devour Grey's power in the bedroom and in the boardroom.

5) Twilight Was the Foreplay, Fifty Shades is the Climax: As you probably already know, the Fifty Shades trilogy started as Twilight fan fiction. Stephenie Meyer took unrequited sexual tension to an almost unbearable level, stringing readers along from book to book as we begged Edward to bite her already! Though of course Bella and Edward did finally consummate their relationship (sorry if that's a spoiler!) for many fans the lovers' wedding night paled in comparison to the steamy tension Meyer set up for hundreds and hundreds of pages. The Fifty Shades trilogy gives readers a chance to live out similar relationship dynamics but in a much more explicit, overtly erotic way, providing a release from all that pent up angst at last.

Before I wrap up here, I just want to add that I don't judge readers who love this series; I had my own reasons for putting it down, but I'm all for an excellent escapist fantasy in any form; this one just wasn't for me.

I want to hear from you! Did you get into this series? Does my hypothesis ring true in any way, or am I way off base? Fifty Shades fans and detractors, please, leave your comments below!

Simple Love Spell for Beginners

Love spells are powerful juju, and should be performed with care. Keep in mind that it's not the ingredients or the exact steps that matter so much as your intent and personal investment. If your heart is in the right place and your belief in the spell is pure, this is the most powerful magic of all. 

Perform this spell under a full moon. The Harvest Moon coming up on September 30th will be especially ripe for love, since this is a time of abundance and reaping, but any full moon will do.

Ingredients:

• A sheet of paper
• A red pen, especially one you use often for private writing such as journaling
• Pink or Red rose petals (other types of flower petals can work, but roses are best)
• Your signature scent (perfume, essential oil, etc. If you don't usually wear a scent, choose one that appeals to you--one you would wear if you were a perfume kind of girl)
• Your signature red or pink lipstick (if you don't usually wear lipstick, choose a shade you like)
• One bottle with a tight-fitting cork
  
  

1. On the night of the full moon, list the qualities you're looking for in a lover on the sheet of paper using the red pen. Do not write the qualities of a specific person; just record your wish list. Be honest.

2. Anoint the paper with your signature scent.

3. Roll the paper into a tight scroll and gently place it inside the bottle.

4. Hold the rose petals in your right hand. Visualize yourself radiant and in love. 

5. Squeeze the petals tightly in your hand. Hold this vision of yourself for as long as you can. See it clearly. Savor the joy of it.

6. One by one, drop the petals into the bottle. Seal the bottle with the cork tightly.

7. Apply your lipstick and kiss the bottle, imprinting the glass with an impression of your lips.

8. Under the full moon, launch the bottle into a moving body of water. This can be a river, creek, or ocean, anything that flows.

Get ready for some breathtaking surprises!

Advice for Writers Seeking Reviews: A Blogger's Persective

Melanie (aka Busy Bookblogger)
with her little sprite in zebra print.

Hello, everyone! Today I've got a guest post from Melanie, aka busy bookblogger. Her site, Reviews of Young Adult Literature, is one of the most articulate and practical ones out there, offering straight-forward reviews aimed primarily at librarians and teachers. Since I could see she has both experience and a teacher's ability to break things down with ease, I asked her to put together her tips for writers seeking reviews from book bloggers. Here's what she had to say...


A Force to Be Reckoned With:  The Power of Book Bloggers

When I started my Young Adult book review blog in 2008, I joined a community without even realizing it. I was a new teacher, just beginning to build an in-classroom library as part of the Alabama Reading Initiative that mandates this in my home state.  At that time, the Book Blogging community was made up of very few bloggers who spent a great deal of time and effort requesting ARCs from authors, agents, and publishers. Plus a few more that were just reviewing the books they purchased.

Fast forward to 2012, that very same community has expanded exponentially, is still gaining some serious momentum, and the Young Adult literary genre has exploded. Presently, many established book review bloggers get a steady flow of books from agents, authors, and publishers without even having to ask. Even those of us, like myself, who target a specific group—my particular book blog is aimed at middle and high school teachers and librarians—still get quite a few personal requests for reviews. As bloggers move from beggars to choosers, many of them now have reputable relationships with individual authors and literary agents—quite a shift from 2008.

In addition to growth in numbers, the book blogging community went from obscure to “a force to be reckoned with” as Ms. Gehrman so tactfully put it in an email to me. Quotes from book blogger reviews can be found on several young adult books. I can still remember the excitement/shock of seeing one of my own review blurbs on Jennifer Echols’ author website. When I came across the paperback edition of Robin Benway’s “Audrey, Wait!” with book blogger quotes on it, I nearly fell over in my local Barnes and Noble. I remember thinking, Hey, I KNOW these people. Well, sort of.

I have a theory that this shift in power—or maybe power is the wrong word, importance or significance maybe? Anyhow, my hypothesis is that this shift has lot to do with the recent reduction of traditional book reviews in newspapers and mainstream media. While many bloggers are just simply reviewing the books they read—regardless of how they got them, those reviews have started to have a major impact – one that can be positive or negative. And that impact matters to agents, authors, and publishers. Book review blogs have begun to do more than just summarize, rate, and review. Most book bloggers promote books by doing cover reveals, author interviews, giveaways, and online book tours.  I can’t even tell you the last time I purchased a book without checking out some of the reviews on my favorite book blogs as well as on Amazon. Times are tough and book buying budgets are tight, for individuals and for schools. No one wants to waste 16.99 on something they won’t enjoy.

Just as literary agents have preferences when it comes to query letters and submissions, book reviewers have personal preferences that are important for authors and agents to consider when sending out review copies. A few other things are pretty important too, so I have compiled a brief(ish) list of things to think about when preparing to send your book out for review.

*Book blogging takes TIME. Most bloggers have full-time jobs, school work, children, a growing TBR pile, and other hobbies. When you send a book or a request for a review, a blogger might not be able to get to yours right away.  Or they might not be able to accept your book at all at that time. Don’t get angry and set fire to that bridge; chances are they will do what they can to help promote your book even if they can’t review it right away. Maybe suggest a cover reveal, prepared interview, or giveaway instead.  (Tread carefully though, book bloggers like original content so maybe don’t give a dozen bloggers the same prepared interview or guest post—not that you would do a silly thing like that!)

*Review Policies. This is simple. Every good book review blogger has one. Read it. It will probably answer a lot of questions like what specific genres they prefer, what they need from you such as bio info, cover art, etc. Some may even give a specific time frame for when they can post the review. They took the time to write it, take the time to read it before you contact them.  If they include an About Me section, maybe read that too.

*They’re just not that into you(r) book. Ouch. Talk about awkward. Sometimes you read the review policy, contact the blogger, they agree to review your book, but when they post their review, it’s not a good one. Or worse, they say they couldn’t even finish your book, much less think of anything nice to say about it. It’s like a stab to your soul, I know. Honestly, bloggers feel a certain amount of pressure to say mostly positive things when the author or agent has contacted them personally, but that doesn’t guarantee a positive review. Writing a book and getting it published are huge accomplishments, the last thing any reviewer wants to do is to diminish someone else’s hard work. Try and remember that bloggers have an audience just like you do; they have a responsibility to that audience to be honest so that their blog maintains its voice and integrity.

*Do your homework before you ask a specific blogger to review your book. What is the blogger’s preferred genre? Do they accept self-published books? Do they mention their policy on negative reviews? Will they post it or give you an opportunity to veto? Will they let your read the review before they post it? Do they also post reviews to Amazon, Goodreads, Barnes & Noble? Have they written some seriously scathing reviews of books similar to yours that make you cringe? If the blogger hates Sci-Fi and has said so on their blog but you send your teen alien love story to them anyways, don’t be surprised if you don’t like their review.  And if they do post that soul stabbing negative review on every social media site known to man, remember you chose to send it to them.  Avoid retaliation at all costs, even if you didn’t send them your book and they obtained it all on their own. Chin up, it’s just one review. Slap a Hello Kitty Band-Aid on your soul and keep going.

(Sidenote:  Beth Revis, author of the Across the Universe trilogy, wrote a post on accepting negative reviews and I literally cannot say it better so stop by her blog and check it out sometime.)

*Etiquette. Sometimes the Internet makes us brave. In a really dangerous, “why on Earth did I tweet that?” sort of way. Some reviewers dislike being contacted anywhere other than the particular email address given on their blog. Stick to the protocol and avoid calling them out on Twitter, Facebook, or GoodReads, unless their handy dandy review policy says it’s okay.  Bonus points if you send your book with a nice little handwritten note and/or signed to them personally. It won’t change the review, but bloggers are people too and it’s a nice touch.

And okay, this wasn’t as brief as I’d planned but I included everything I felt would be helpful. Utilized correctly, book review blogs are an excellent (and free!) way to generate some buzz around your book. Are there bloggers out there who will post only happy-fluffy-sparkly positive reviews of books sent to them by authors, agents, and publishers, regardless of how they actually feel about the book? There are. Just as there are, sadly, bloggers who are in it for the free books—though, in my experience, their blogs don’t have much staying power.

Overall the book blogging community is a wonderful place filled with wonderful people who want to promote fantastic books and fabulous authors.  I can’t describe how happy it makes me when someone comments on a review of mine, saying it made him or her want to run out and buy that book! As an English teacher, I am absolutely thrilled by the astounding amount of Young Adult books available today. As a blogger, I am wholeheartedly grateful to be a part of an online community that goes above and beyond to generate publicity in celebration of these books and their authors.

Links to some sites I mentioned:

My blog

Alabama Reading Initiative

Jennifer Echols’ Website

Beth Revis’ Post on Negative Reviews

About Me:

Busy BookBlogger is my not-so-secret blogger identity. My real name is Melanie. I’m originally from Ohio but currently live in Alabama and have been reviewing Young Adult books, mostly school appropriate ones, since 2008. I am “Busy” because I am a High School English Teacher, a mom, a wife, a Sunday School teacher, and I do a little writing of my own. I recently finished my own YA novel, loosely based on Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s classic poem “Christabel,” and am in the process of agent-seeking. Over the past 4 years I have developed many deeply cherished relationships with some seriously awesome authors and fellow bloggers. I consider myself a little fish in the book blogging community, and I like it that way! I am currently accepting YA novels for review and can be found online via twitter @BusyBookBlogger and at http://reviewsofyalit.blogspot.com . 

Protection Against Black Magic

Do you suspect someone's put a curse on you? Do you have more than your share of flat tires, computer malfunctions, and bad hair days? Learning about the tricks of a witch has been my job ever since I started researching Audrey's Guide to Witchcraft, so I've been extra aware of both dark and light forces at work in our everyday lives.


Here are some links to spells intended to guard against voodoo curses, hexes, and the evil eye:
http://www.everythingunderthemoon.net/spells/protection-banishing-curses.htm
http://voodoospellsproject.tumblr.com/
http://www.whitemagic.ca/spell/Protection-Spells.html

Or, if you're in a more whimsical frame of mind, try...

Sadie's Basic Protection Spell For Beginners:

Ingredients: 4 pinches dried New Mexican sage, a handful of powdered adder’s tongue, seven drops lavender oil, a sprinkling of cayenne pepper, 2 scoops pulverized bat wing, 1 drop hummingbird urine, 7 toadstools (moist, preferably gathered at night by a river), 3 crushed magnolia seeds.

Directions:

1.   Add ingredients to a medium-sized cast-iron cauldron in the order listed.

2.   Pour boiling water over the mixture until steam begins to form.

3.   Blow on steam until it rises in a thick swirling motion and begins to emerge as an             ephemeral blue cloud. (Note: it should swirl in a clockwise motion. If it swirls             counterclockwise, your toadstools are not fresh enough and you must begin again. If moist toadstools cannot be procured, try iguana droppings mixed with melted silver crayon instead.)

(Reprinted from Audrey's Guide to Witchcraft)