Quivering Pen: Big Love for PEOPLE LIKE YOU

My First Time & Trailer Park Tuesdays:

The fantastic David Abrams has shown a lot of love for People Like You this week on his literary site The Quivering Pen.

Yesterday he posted the essay I wrote for My First Time – this is where writers get to share their experiences about doing something book-related for the first time.

I wrote about the exhilarating and dreamy first time I hand-sold copies of my book at a reading event.

Check out this section on his site – writers have written on just about kind of first time (now, now) that you can imagine.

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The next day was Trailer Park Tuesday where he highlighted the seriously awesome trailer made by filmmaker Brian Padian for People Like You.

Here’s an excerpt from David’s thoughts on the title story in the collection: On the surface, it’s an ordinary evening; but what sets this story apart, what gives it an electric buzz that tastes like you just licked a lamp socket, is what doesn’t happen. With remarkable restraint, Malone takes us on a tour of the tip of the iceberg without feeling the need to state the obvious: there’s a massive, continent-sized chunk of ice right below our feet.

To read his full post about the book trailer and the opening story in the collection, please go here.

Thanks so much to David Abrams for all the love he’s show to the collection, and for tirelessly supporting books and writers every single day. We love you, David!

 

 

 

KBOO Interview

Just back from a great conversation this morning with Leigh Anne Kranz on the KBOO show Between The Covers. You can listen to the half hour show here.

We talked about character and dialogue and detail in a scene and how to find hope inside a story even when your characters aren’t living the most uplifting lives.

When you’ve got a few minutes, give it a listen.

 

Late Night Debut Podcast

The wonderful folks at Late Night Library were kind enough to feature People Like You on their Late Night Debut Podcast, which also happens to be their inaugural selection for the Late Night Library Book Club. Thanks guys!!

Take a listen to this amazing podcast – I still can’t believe it’s about my book. I might have died and gone to heaven. It features Amelia Gray, author of Gutshot, and Don Waters, author of Sunland, discussing and laughing out loud (!!!) about the stories and the characters. Their hilarious and intelligent conversation was so damn good I was almost certain it was about some other book. How I got so lucky is beyond me. Give it a listen.

In the last section of the podcast I’m interviewed by Late Night Debut host Amber Keller about how the collection came together, recurring characters Bert & Cheryl and if they really love each other, writing funny and other stuff you just might like.

Thanks so much to Late Night, Amber, Amelia and Don for making me sound so smart and funny. I love you guys.

Shelf Awareness: Image of the Day

Don’t ask me how, but the stars aligned and Shelf Awareness Pro used this cool photo of me reading at Wordstock: Portland’s Book Festival in front of the beautiful painting by Moses Soyer, Girl With a Cigarette, as their Image of the Day.

Lucky and grateful both.

Shelf-Awareness-Malone-300x247

Wordstock 2015

Many thanks to the folks who braved the endless rain, wet crowds, and acres of overwhelmed book fans to attend Wordstock 2015. Despite some potential areas for improvement (don’t we all have those), the festival still felt like a huge success. I thought it was incredible to pair literature with visual art in downtown Portland.

Also, I had the privilege of reading one of the stories from People Like You beside this fantastic painting by Moses Soyer, “Girl With A Cigarette.” I won’t forget this.

Hope you found some goodness in the day too.

PLY Reviewed in The Oregonian

It’s my first review. I’m trying to practice non-attachment about reviews in anticipation of the less-positive ones I’m sure are forthcoming.

That said, there’s not much more a writer can hope for that to find someone who gets you, gets what you’re doing, likes it, and then tells you so.

Reviewer Kirsten Rian did just that.

Biggest of thanks for such a thoughtful review of People Like You.

 

 

Late Night Library Book Club – Deadline for inaugural book is Nov 6

Late Night Library, the hub of all things literary and full of goodness, has started a monthly book club – they’ll send you a just released, debut book in the mail every month, hand-wrapped with a sprig of rosemary if I’m not mistaken – for the low, low subscription price of $9.99/month. Every other month, they’ll throw in a free book too because they are just that kind of awesome.

The selections will be weighted toward indie publishers, titles by authors of color and women authors, and they’re always debut books.

There is absolutely no good reason for you not to join. I did!

xo

Connotation Press Interview

The kind folks at Connotation Press are featuring PEOPLE LIKE YOU in their November issue of Crazy Rabbit Review. There’s an interview with me about how the book came to be, among other questions, as well as a video reading of the title story, and a re-printing of the story itself.

Thanks so much to feature editor Meg Tuite and editor-in-chief Ken Robidoux for the chance to talk about the book.

People Like You Book Trailer Is Up!

Many thanks to filmmaker (and all around awesome man) Brian Padian for creating such a beautiful trailer, and thanks to 31Knots for permission to use “Take Away the Landscape” from their album Worried Well. The photos used in the trailer were all my photographs taken over the years, with the exception of one (young me & young Brian asleep, holding hands) that was taken by Corrina Repp.

Take two minutes and three seconds to check it out. I’d be most grateful.

Hang in!

M