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Words of Wisdom?
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Sep. 25th, 2008 @ 08:11 pm
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In honor of the ten-year anniversary of my dear friend (truly!) Cynthia Leitich Smith's terrific blog Cynsations, she asked me (and other writers) to answer this question:
Over the past decade, what are the most important lessons you've learned about your craft, the writing/artistic life, and/or publishing, and why?
Here's the answer I came up with:
That I'm absolutely crazy-insane to make my living as a writer of fiction, and that I wouldn't have it any other way.
Lately I've been doing some work for some friends producing online content, so I've had a chance to really compare the two mediums: publishing versus the Internet.
And after ten years in publishing, I kind of have to describe it as something of a harsh, desolated crack expanse of earth, where you maybe can grow enough food to eat, but it's really, really hard. You have to know exactly what you're doing and, frankly, you have to have a lot of luck.
Meanwhile, the Internet world is like that scene in The Magician's Nephew [by C. S. Lewis, 1955] where Narnia is only a couple of hours old and everything is lush and rich and productive. Bury a toffee in the ground, and a couple of hours later you have a toffee tree!
Basically, if you're smart and you have talent and you work hard, you'll be a huge success in the world of the Internet. But in publishing? Well...that's just not necessarily true.
Okay, now that I've completely depressed you, let me know also say that working in publishing can still be extremely satisfying--more satisfying than working in the Internet.
Why? Because the people who still read books, though they're decreasing in numbers and influence, are some of the best, smartest people in the world.
And the people who still choose to work in publishing, they're some of the nicest people in the world.
Finally, the whole process of creating characters and inventing stories for them to inhabit?
It's just so phenomenally, wonderfully satisfying. That's why a lot of people do it even without getting paid. So imagine a situation where you do get paid for it--and get gushing fan mail to boot! It's still a pretty heady thrill.
What am I saying? Basically, that it's an incredibly tough business, getting tougher every day. And yet, somehow, it's still a wonderfully satisfying life.
I confess, I might change my mind in a few years if things get too much worse. But for the time being, it's still a pretty easy call: I absolutely love being a writer.
It's all cool,
Brent Hartinger
My Books:
* Project Sweet Life (coming in February 2009!)
* Dreamquest
* Split Screen: Attack of the Soul-Sucking Brain Zombies/Bride of the Soul-Sucking Brain Zombies
* Grand & Humble
* The Order of the Poison Oak
* The Last Chance Texaco
* Geography Club
Explore "Brent's Brain"
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USA Today Likes Me!
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Sep. 20th, 2008 @ 11:05 am
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- USA Today had very nice things to say about my Russel Middlebrook series this week in a list of "twenty five great high school books," saying Geography Club was an "emotional and funny story" and that the whole series is "entertaining for all readers, regardless of their sexuality."
- Been busy here as usual, getting ready for the publication of Project Sweet Life, my latest teen book, coming in February (about a group of guys who are forced to get summer jobs by their dads, invent fake jobs to satisfy them, and then embark on a series of get-rich-quick schemes to make the money they should have made from the summer jobs). I'm also just finishing my 2010 novel, Rob Hood, about a guy who decides to reorder the social order of his high school, using schemes and tricks to "steal" popularity from the popular and give it to the less-popular. I guess I'm entering the "comedy of errors" or "comic farce" phase of my career. But the thing is, I've always loved writing humor, and these books also lend themselves to intricate plotting, which is very important to me. Let's hope readers follow me down this new path!
- I have yet another editor at HarperCollins (my eighth overall, I think). Her name is Susan Rich, and she discovered and edited the Lemony Snicket A Series of Unfortunate Events books. She seems very nice so far. I introduced myself as the Editor Destroyer, which I guess I am. (Not really. Turn-over in editors has always been high, and lately it's gotten very, very high. You know how they say it's never a good time to try to get a job in publishing? They're still right.)
It's all cool,
Brent Hartinger
My Books:
* Project Sweet Life (coming in February 2009!)
* Dreamquest
* Split Screen: Attack of the Soul-Sucking Brain Zombies/Bride of the Soul-Sucking Brain Zombies
* Grand & Humble
* The Order of the Poison Oak
* The Last Chance Texaco
* Geography Club
Explore "Brent's Brain"
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The Wrap (with Two Gay Guys) #4: Did George Lucas Have a Brain Aneurysm?
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Aug. 21st, 2008 @ 10:05 pm
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Another week, another vlog! This week, we're feeling cranky, but only because we watched some pretty terrible stuff, including the awful new Star Wars movie and the BBC American series Skins.
It's all cool,
Brent Hartinger
My Books:
* Dreamquest
* Split Screen: Attack of the Soul-Sucking Brain Zombies/Bride of the Soul-Sucking Brain Zombies
* Grand & Humble
* The Order of the Poison Oak
* The Last Chance Texaco
* Geography Club
Explore "Brent's Brain"
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The Wrap (with Two Gay Guys) #3: New Media, Kathy Griffin, and Gay Movies!
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Aug. 14th, 2008 @ 11:19 am
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This week, Michael and I discuss "new media" (it's not as boring as it sounds!), whether Kathy Griffin has finally gone too far, and the top fifty gay movies of all time!
( Watch the vlog! )
It's all cool,
Brent Hartinger
My Books:
* Dreamquest
* Split Screen: Attack of the Soul-Sucking Brain Zombies/Bride of the Soul-Sucking Brain Zombies
* Grand & Humble
* The Order of the Poison Oak
* The Last Chance Texaco
* Geography Club
Explore "Brent's Brain"
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The Wrap (With Two Gay Guys): Vampires Suck!
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Aug. 12th, 2008 @ 07:00 pm
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Vampires suck as a gay metaphor! Or so Michael and I say in this week's installment of The Wrap.
We also spread some love for Mamma Mia and the criminally underappreciated Christine Baranski, debate Weeds' big gay reveal of two weeks ago, and Michael shares an anecdote about his recent TCA meet up with actor Justin Kirk.
Check all this and more out, after the break!
( Read more... )
It's all cool,
Brent Hartinger
My Books:
* Dreamquest
* Split Screen: Attack of the Soul-Sucking Brain Zombies/Bride of the Soul-Sucking Brain Zombies
* Grand & Humble
* The Order of the Poison Oak
* The Last Chance Texaco
* Geography Club
Explore "Brent's Brain"
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| » New Vlog! The Wrap (With Two Gay Guys) |
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It's the debut of our new vlog, where we "wrap up" the week's gay entertainment news! This week...homophobia in the new X-Files movie, why the critics might be dissing Mamma Mia!, and the controversy/debate over some extremely bigoted comments by science fiction writer Orson Scott Card, after the jump!
Jul. 30th, 2008 @ 09:22 pm
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| » The Story of My Life! |
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Hey, there's a really great bio of me (written by Kimberly Pauley of YA Books Central who has a book of her own, Sucks to be Me, coming out this month) over at GLTBQ.com, an "encyclopedia" of gay issues:
Although best known as a prolific writer of young adult fiction, Brent Hartinger is also a playwright and a mentor for other writers and students. In addition, he is an activist against censorship, particularly of works intended for children and young people. Born in 1964, Hartinger attended Catholic grade school and high school. He graduated from high school in June 1983. He received his B.A. in psychology and political science from Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington in 1986, completing a four-year program in three years. He also completed the coursework for a master's degree in psychology at the same university, though, much to the chagrin of his mother, he declined to write his thesis. Hartinger began writing at an early age by publishing his own newspaper called The Weekly Worm in the third grade, though it was not until after college that he made the decision to write full-time. His work has been wide-ranging, including novels, plays, articles, essays, newspaper columns, and even greeting card copy. As with many authors, success for Hartinger did not come early or easily. He spent fifteen years trying to get a novel published while supporting himself as a freelance writer and teen counselor. He even worked as an extra in the movie Come See the Paradise (1991, directed by Alan Parker), which starred Dennis Quaid.
READ THE REST
It's all cool,
Brent Hartinger
My Books:
* Dreamquest
* Split Screen: Attack of the Soul-Sucking Brain Zombies/Bride of the Soul-Sucking Brain Zombies
* Grand & Humble
* The Order of the Poison Oak
* The Last Chance Texaco
* Geography Club
Explore "Brent's Brain"
See my gay entertaiment video blog, "Two Gay Guys"
Jul. 26th, 2008 @ 11:50 am
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| » TWO GAY GUYS: Sex and the City...and Same-Sex Marriage |
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Michael and I take on the California marriage decision...and parody the new Sex and the City movie at the same time!
It's all cool,
Brent Hartinger
My Books:
* Dreamquest
* Split Screen: Attack of the Soul-Sucking Brain Zombies/Bride of the Soul-Sucking Brain Zombies
* Grand & Humble
* The Order of the Poison Oak
* The Last Chance Texaco
* Geography Club
Explore "Brent's Brain"
See my gay entertaiment video blog, "Two Gay Guys"
Jun. 18th, 2008 @ 11:41 am
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| » Lambda Award Winner! |
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Hey, my book, Split Screen: Attack of the Soul-Sucking Brain Zombies/Bride of the Soul-Sucking Brain Zombies (the latest Russel Middlebrook book, which is two books in one) just won the Lambda Literary Award (which is the award given every year for the best in GLBT literature).
It was recognized for its portrayal of bisexuals--Min is bisexual in her "book." I've long felt get ignored in literature, especially teen lit, so I'm thrilled!
I'll post a picture of the trophy once I get it, because I'm curious to see what it looks like.
It's all cool,
Brent Hartinger
My Books:
* Dreamquest
* Split Screen: Attack of the Soul-Sucking Brain Zombies/Bride of the Soul-Sucking Brain Zombies
* Grand & Humble
* The Order of the Poison Oak
* The Last Chance Texaco
* Geography Club
Explore "Brent's Brain"
See my gay entertaiment video blog, "Two Gay Guys"
Jun. 1st, 2008 @ 10:55 am
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| » INDIANA JONES AND THE TEMPLE OF *REALLY SERIOUS*, *RIDICULOUSLY DANGEROUS* DOOM |
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So every year I participate in something called the DoubleShot Festival, wherein playwrights such as myself are given a topic at 9 PM Friday night and expected to turn in a one-act play at 8 AM the following morning, which is then rehearsed and performed that night. A new fully produced play in less than 24 hours!
The topic this year was "History's bitch! Or the problem with being so damn modern."
So, in honor of the new Indiana Jones movie (which I didn't really like and hadn't seen when I wrote this), here's the play I came up with:
INDIANA JONES AND THE TEMPLE OF REALLY SERIOUS, FANTASTICALLY OVERWHELMING, RIDICULOUSLY DANGEROUS DOOM
By Brent Hartinger
SETTING: (It is an ancient temple. A golden idol sits on a pedestal.)
AT RISE: (The music to the Indiana Jones movies plays. INDIANA JONES enters (wearing a leather jacket, khaki pants, brown shoes, a safari hat, and a coiled whip at his waist). As the music continues to play, he creeps to the pedestal, glancing cautiously around. Once at the pedestal, he pulls a small bag of sand from his jacket. He looks between the bag and the idol, scratching his chin thoughtfully. He lifts the bag of sand, pours a little out, all the while gauging its weight with his hand. When he thinks it’s about the same weight as the idol, he lifts it next to the idol, then quickly snatches the idol with one hand while replacing it with the bag of sand with the other; the pedestal is rigged to release a trap the moment the idol is removed, but bag of the sand will hopefully keep the trap in check. Indiana glances around, expecting the worse, but nothing happens. He has succeeded in capturing the idol! The music swells. Note: this is all taken from the opening sequence of Raiders of the Lost Ark).
INDIANA JONES: Yes!
(Pleased by his success, he turns to go. But that moment, BOKLAVA VON SNIPE enters from the opposite side. A villainess of the highest order, she is dressed all in black, holds a riding crop, and speaks with a thick accent of indeterminate origin. Note: it is impossible to camp up this role too much!)
BOKLAVA: Not so fast, Dr. Jones!
(Indiana whirls in surprise.)
SFX: the music fades out.
INDIANA JONES: Well, well, well, if it isn’t Boklava Snipe.
BOKLAVA: At last ve meet again!
INDIANA JONES: What do you want, Boklava?
(She waves her riding crop, perhaps seductively.)
BOKLAVA: Vhat do you think? I vant the idol, of course.
INDIANA JONES: Well, you can’t have it! This thing belongs in a museum, and that’s exactly where I’m taking it.
(He puts the idol in his jacket pocket and turns to go. Boklava speaks, stopping him.)
BOKLAVA: But you still need to get out of this temple, Dr. Jones. And there are certain, shall ve say...traps still to be evaded! But just say the vord, and I’ll show you the safe vay out. In exchange for the golden idol, of course!
INDIANA JONES: No chance, Boklava! There’s nothing I can’t handle. I’ve already gotten past the pit trap, the giant rolling ball trap, and the toasted s’mores trap...
BOKLAVA: Oh, but those vere all mere trifles compared to this last challenge!
INDIANA JONES: What challenge?
ANDREA (from off-stage): Indiana? Indiana Jones?
BOKLAVA (dramatically): The Challenge...of the Potentially Pissed-Off Girlfriend!
May. 31st, 2008 @ 10:59 am
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| » On Paperback Releases...and "Branding" as an Author |
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 Can I make a confession? I hate promoting my hardcover releases. It always makes me feel like a hypocrite: I occasionally buy hardcovers of beloved books as gifts, but I rarely buy books for myself when they're new releases (even when I hear good things, I usually wait for the paperback). Who has $16.99 to spend on a book you may not even finish? And it's even worse for authors of brand new "adult" books who are asking readings to take an utterly ridiculous $24.99 leap of faith!
But the hardcover is where it's at as far as publishers are concerned; this is where they make their money, and it's basically when they determine whether a book is a "success" or not (which plays into how much subsequent attention they give a book and/or author, and how much they pay an author for future books!).
So I can't afford to not promote my hardcovers; my career depends upon it. I just end up feeling really, really guilty about it.
All this brings me to my point: my last novel, Dreamquest, is now out in paperback (with a snazzy new cover, above!). So now I can enthusiastically urge you to run to your nearest independent bookseller to pick up a copy immediately.
Dreamquest is my first children's book (for readers 8 and older). It's the story of a young girl plagued by nightmares who wakes up one night in "Slumberia," the magical land inside her own brain where they "film" her nightmares. Feeling powerless in "real" life, but determined to put an end to her nightmares for good, she goes on a quest to find out who is responsible for her nightmares: the hapless, powerless dreamwriter? The shadowy dream-producer who lives in a far-away castle? The mysterious dream-executives who live in towering Nightmare City? Along the way, Julie meets a group of Oz-like friends: a gentle shark, an optimistic glowworm, and a handsome boy named Roman.
(Needless to say, all this is based on my experiences living and working as a screenwriter in Hollywood in the late 1990s. So while this is technically a "children's book," I'd like to think this element of satire gives it far more adult-crossover potential than most other children's books.)
I'm very proud of Dreamquest, which I hope will be the first in a series, Tales of Slumberia. So pick up a copy now! (It's only $5.99! What a bargain!)
But this brings me to my second point. Dreamquest is very different from my other books; not only is it for kids, it's a fantasy. Which I know causes no end of confusion on the part of readers and book-buyers. When people buy a book by "Brent Hartinger," they expect a certain kind of thing (which is cool; I'm proud of all my books and my little niche in the teen lit genre).
That said, every author I know, while absolutely appreciating existing readers, yearns to try different things, to explore different stories and characters--and hopes fervently that his current fans will be sporting enough to follow him to new and (hopefully) exciting places and genres.
That's my hope anyway. And that's my pitch for Dreamquest!
It's all cool,
Brent Hartinger
My Books:
* Dreamquest
* Split Screen: Attack of the Soul-Sucking Brain Zombies/Bride of the Soul-Sucking Brain Zombies
* Grand & Humble
* The Order of the Poison Oak
* The Last Chance Texaco
* Geography Club
Explore "Brent's Brain"
See my gay entertaiment video blog, "Two Gay Guys"
May. 11th, 2008 @ 07:15 pm
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| » Which Narnian King Am I? |
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 Did a brief interview with Teen Libris about an essay I wrote for Through the Wardrobe, a new Narnia anthology. Here's a bit:
Q: Which king or queen of Narnia would you say you're most like? A: What an interesting question. I would say I'm like Lucy or Peter-- sensitive and kind or noble and brave. But the truth is I'm probably more like Edmond-- flawed, but ultimately decent. Q: Why did you decide to write for teens? A: A complete fluke. My book was about a teen character, so my agent said, "This is young adult." I was, of course, completely offended. Then I started reading the books, and I realized how unbelievably strong the genre is. The average teen book is far better than the average adult book, I'd say. Because we're supposedly writing for media-addled "reluctant readers," we're supposed to pay more attention to plot and economy of language. But I happen to think that's just plain good writing! In retrospect, I can see it's the perfect fit. I always say about teen lit, almost everyone alive today either is teenager, or was one once. So they're truly universal stories! Everyone can relate. Q: The Chronicles of Narnia were initially written for Lewis's niece Lucy. Do you ever have so specific an audience for your books? A: I try not to think too much about my audience. Though I think, like all authors, I wrote mostly for myself-- the book I would like to read. As a general rule, though, it's essential to assume your audience is really, really smart-much smarter than you. That's been the case with my readers anyway. (See how I flatter them shamelessly?) READ THE REST
It's all cool,
Brent Hartinger
My Books:
* Dreamquest
* Split Screen: Attack of the Soul-Sucking Brain Zombies/Bride of the Soul-Sucking Brain Zombies
* Grand & Humble
* The Order of the Poison Oak
* The Last Chance Texaco
* Geography Club
Explore "Brent's Brain"
See my gay entertaiment video blog, "Two Gay Guys"
May. 2nd, 2008 @ 10:33 am
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| » TWO GAY GUYS: The Late-Night Comedy Needs a Make-Over |
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This week, Michael and I take on late-night comedians, from Jay Leno to Saturday Night Live, suggesting they need a "make-over." While we're at it, Michael and I get make-overs too!:
It's all cool,
Brent Hartinger
My Books:
* Dreamquest
* Split Screen: Attack of the Soul-Sucking Brain Zombies/Bride of the Soul-Sucking Brain Zombies
* Grand & Humble
* The Order of the Poison Oak
* The Last Chance Texaco
* Geography Club
Explore "Brent's Brain"
See my gay entertaiment video blog, "Two Gay Guys"
Apr. 20th, 2008 @ 07:20 pm
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| » Must Share! |
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 So several months ago, Michael and I were relaxing in the hot tub at the YMCA, talking about some kids of our friends. A woman overhead us and leaned over and, thinking I was talking about my own kids, said to me, "There is no way you're old enough to have kids!" Having just turned 43, I was, shall we say, over-the-moon that she had mistaken me for someone that much younger.
Then Michael and I watched as she talked to some of the other folks in the hot tub, and it became clear that she had some sort of learning disability.
Michael's been teasing me about it ever since (to which I have responded, "Just because she's disabled doesn't mean she's blind!")
Well, today I was out walking, and I happened to pass a wedding cake shop. I stopped to look at the fake wedding cake display in the window. An older woman was passing by, and she looked and me and said, "Honey, you're far too young to be getting married. Wait five years at least."
Once again flattered and over-the-moon, I came home and told Michael, to which he responded, "She probably was blind."But I'm choosing to think (a) she wasn't blind and (b) Michael, who went gray years ago, is just jealous. ;-)
It's all cool,
Brent Hartinger
My Books:
* Dreamquest
* Split Screen: Attack of the Soul-Sucking Brain Zombies/Bride of the Soul-Sucking Brain Zombies
* Grand & Humble
* The Order of the Poison Oak
* The Last Chance Texaco
* Geography Club Explore "Brent's Brain"
See my gay entertaiment video blog, "Two Gay Guys"
Apr. 3rd, 2008 @ 05:02 pm
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| » T.R. Knight Out as Katherine Heigl's "Best Gay Pal" |
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An article I wrote for AfterElton.com:
 Knocked Up star Katherine Heigl shocked Hollywood today by announcing her split with her BGFF, or “best gay friend forever,” T.R. Knight. Both appear on the smash hit ABC show Grey’s Anatomy and were one of the world’s highest profile celebrity gay guy/straight girl pairings.
“I have decided to terminate my relationship with T.R. Knight, effective immediately,” Heigl said in a statement through her publicist. “Katherine who?” Knight said, pointedly appearing on a recent red carpet with Star Wars star Natalie Portman. “I’m sorry. I don’t know anyone by the name of Katherine.” According to a friend of Heigl, speaking on the condition of anonymity, the problems began when Knight appeared at Elton John’s recent Oscar party and AIDS fundraiser with a new boyfriend, 19 year-old Mark Cornelsen. The two have been inseparable ever since leading Heigl to feel abandoned. “It’s always the same story,” said Grace Adler, one half of TV’s Will & Grace, formerly an interior designer, but now a therapist specializing in break-ups between straight women and their BGFFs. “It’s fine when the gay guy is single. You complain together that all the good guys are taken, you eat ice cream while watching the Colin Farrell sex tape. But then the gay guy gets a new boyfriend, and we ‘fruit flies’ get tossed away like used condoms.” As therapy, Adler suggested that Heigl, who almost certainly has a key to Knight’s house so she can take care of his dogs while he’s away, break in and replace all his hair care products with Nair. She also recommended leaving a boiled rabbit on his stove. “Of course that’s easy for me to say,” Adler said. “I’m fictional.” Elizabeth Taylor, president of Friends And Girls Harboring Affection for Gays, or F.A.G. H.A.G, urged cautious optimism. “Knight will be back,” Taylor said. “Cornelsen is a total twink. Does Heigl really think this is anything other than a gay mid-life crisis? Monty [Clift] went through this, Roddy [McDowell] went through this, Rock [Hudson] went through this. Jake Gyllenhaal is going through it right now. Wait, I didn’t just out Jake Gyllenhaal, did I?” “Anyway, get used to it. Gay men have a terrible time with commitment,” added the octuply-married Taylor.  It may already be too late for Heigl and Knight. Heigl is reportedly fast-tracking a replacement BGFF, having been spotted lunching with out actor Neil Patrick Harris. In addition, The National Enquirer recently printed a photo of Heigl emerging from the house of Lance Bass with freshly-braided hair.
Meanwhile, in addition to Portman, Knight has been seen browsing a farmer’s market with legendary queer peer Margaret Cho. Spectators also reported him participating in a sumptuous “party dress montage” at Rodeo Drive’s Dolce & Gabbana with Keira Knightley, a flagrant rejection of Heigl’s recent romantic comedy 27 Dresses. This isn’t the only high profile gay guy/straight gal break-up in recent weeks. Liza Minnelli reportedly threw a plate of spaghetti in the face of Cabaret lyricist and longtime BGFF John Kander after he suggested her trademark “pixie” haircut had finally grown tired. Meanwhile, Madonna is said to have stormed out of the studio where she was recording her new CD Porn Star, after BGFF Rupert Everett suggested that perhaps she’d dipped once too often into the well of sexual controversy. Former Grey’s Anatomy co-star Isaiah Washington has sided with Katherine over her break-up with Knight. “I told Katherine that Fruity McMunchkin was a backstabbing bitch,” Washington said. “But did she listen to me? No-o-o. Well, she was hardly the only one taken in by that little faggot’s act.” A moment later, Washington added, “By the way, I didn’t just use the word ‘faggot’.” In the end, Adler had the wisest words of all regarding the whole affair. "April fool," she said.
It's all cool,
Brent Hartinger
My Books:
* Dreamquest
* Split Screen: Attack of the Soul-Sucking Brain Zombies/Bride of the Soul-Sucking Brain Zombies
* Grand & Humble
* The Order of the Poison Oak
* The Last Chance Texaco
* Geography Club Explore "Brent's Brain"
See my gay entertaiment video blog, "Two Gay Guys"
Apr. 1st, 2008 @ 10:20 am
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| » TWO GAY GUYS: When Gays Attack! |
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Our latest vlog, on the controversy over the lack of same-sex kissing on As the World Turns, and on the effectiveness of certain kinds of "attack" political activism.
It's all cool,
Brent Hartinger
My Books:
* Dreamquest
* Split Screen: Attack of the Soul-Sucking Brain Zombies/Bride of the Soul-Sucking Brain Zombies
* Grand & Humble
* The Order of the Poison Oak
* The Last Chance Texaco
* Geography Club Explore "Brent's Brain"
See my gay entertaiment video blog, "Two Gay Guys"
Mar. 28th, 2008 @ 03:25 pm
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| » Lambda Award, etc. |
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Split Screen: Attack of the Soul Sucking Brain Zombies/Bride of the Soul-Sucking Brain Zombies (my second Geography Club sequel) is a finalist for the Lambda Book Award! I suspect it's the very first time a "flip-book"--two books in one--has ever been nominated.
The book was also named a New York Public Library "Book for the Teen-Age."
I've said this before, but I'll say it again: I don't take getting on these lists too seriously, because then you have to take it seriously when you're not on them (as inevitably happens--life is like that). But hey, life is good.
It's all cool,
Brent Hartinger
P.S. Did anyone see Sweeney Todd? Zzzzzzz! The songs are irritating musically and really obvious and clunky lyrically. What am I missing?
My Books:
* Dreamquest
* Split Screen: Attack of the Soul-Sucking Brain Zombies/Bride of the Soul-Sucking Brain Zombies
* Grand & Humble
* The Order of the Poison Oak
* The Last Chance Texaco
* Geography Club Explore "Brent's Brain"
See my gay entertaiment video blog, "Two Gay Guys"
Mar. 19th, 2008 @ 04:01 pm
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| » TWO GAY GUYS: Older, Wiser, Gayer |
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Michael and I discuss what it means to get older. Wait, it's not boring! I promise!
It's all cool,
Brent Hartinger
My Books:
* Dreamquest
* Split Screen: Attack of the Soul-Sucking Brain Zombies/Bride of the Soul-Sucking Brain Zombies
* Grand & Humble
* The Order of the Poison Oak
* The Last Chance Texaco
* Geography Club Explore "Brent's Brain"
See my gay entertaiment video blog, "Two Gay Guys
Mar. 15th, 2008 @ 03:53 pm
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| » Hey, I'm in That Narnia Anthology! (Free Book Contest!) |
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So I'm part of this new anthology about Narnia called Through the Wardrobe, now available at Borders bookstores. Basically various authors (including Sarah Beth Durst, Ned Vizzini, Diane Duane, and many other authors) write about why particular books in the Narnia series were/are important to them. The title of my essay is "Forgotten Castles and Magical Creatures in Hiding," and it's all about Prince Caspian, and how that's the one book in the series where the world of magic and the world of the ordinary are in conflict and at war: the Telmarines versus the talking animals! But I argue that it's the one Narnia book that's the most "relevant" to my life, because "magic" has been in conflict with the "ordinary" all my life!
How have I reconciled the two? Well, you have to read the essay to find out!
Anyway, the publishers, Ben Bella Books, have generously offered to make a couple of copies available free. How do you get em? Drop me a postcard with your name, age, and address on it. I'll randomly select winners, and we'll mail you a free copy. Pretty simple huh?
Here's where to send the postcard (postmarked by 3/14/08):
Brent Hartinger
PO Box 720
Tacoma WA 98401
Hey, free stuff here! Don't delay!
It's all cool,
Brent Hartinger
My Books:
* Dreamquest
* Split Screen: Attack of the Soul-Sucking Brain Zombies/Bride of the Soul-Sucking Brain Zombies
* Grand & Humble
* The Order of the Poison Oak
* The Last Chance Texaco
* Geography Club Explore "Brent's Brain"
See my gay entertaiment video blog, "Two Gay Guys
Mar. 8th, 2008 @ 10:40 am
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 So Geography Club (the play) premiered last night. We had a very good house--something like 90 people showed up. I used to say the job of a playwright is easy, because by the time of opening night, your job is done. And I thought that until I took my seat, the lights went down, and I realized that all these people had come to see my play.
Fortunately, the cast was more than up to the challenge of making what I wrote seem entertaining. It's (mostly) a bunch of students from the Tacoma School of the Arts where I taught for a semester last year (loved it!). They took what I hope is a pretty good play and really made it sing. At one point, I thought to myself, "You know, I really like this Russel character. We have a lot in common." Then I was embarrassed, because I remembered that I wrote him and he is based on me. I mean, duh! But Galen Wicks, the leader actor, just did a terrific job in a very demanding role (he's on stage for the whole play!). The others were just as good.
I confess, it's been frustrating finding venues for the play (too "teen" for gay and regional theaters, to "gay" for children's theaters). But the comment everyone seems to make is, "It's a play that everyone can relate to. It's about so much more than being gay." I do think it's ironic that the road to getting this thing on movie screens seems to have been so much smoother than the road to getting it on stage. I would have thought it would be the other way around. (As always, if you're interested in a copy of the script, email me.)
And if you want to see the play, check us out next Saturday, March 1, 8 PM at Tacoma's Broadway Center for the Arts (the old TAG theater). Visit www.northwestplaywrights.org for more information. Single tickets are $9 for students and seniors, $12 for everyone else, available at the door.
It's all cool,
Brent Hartinger
My Books:
* Dreamquest
* Split Screen: Attack of the Soul-Sucking Brain Zombies/Bride of the Soul-Sucking Brain Zombies
* Grand & Humble
* The Order of the Poison Oak
* The Last Chance Texaco
* Geography Club Explore "Brent's Brain"
See my gay entertaiment video blog, "Two Gay Guys
Feb. 23rd, 2008 @ 09:34 am
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