This isn’t likely to be the best political reporting you’ve ever seen. But I spent the morning today waiting out on Holt Avenue in Pomona to catch a glimpse of President Obama as his motorcade passed after leaving the Electric Vehicle Testing Center. I was surrounded by screaming, waving people, and caught up in the moment. I humbly present to you my YouTube clip.
For those of you who have been waiting to get your hands on a copy of the latest issue of Faraway, today is the day! Copies still warm from the presses are now on display at Second Story Books of Claremont, California. In the coming days there will also be copies in Borders Bookstore in Montclair, California, and in Needlesandpins Records of Pomona. Now you can read all one hundred splendid pages without burning your retinas off looking at a computer screen.
Allow me also to take this opportunity to plug Second Story Books of Claremont, which has been one of our staunchest supporters. They’ve got a great selection of new, used, rare, hard-to-find and interesting titles to choose from. More importantly, they are one of a rare breed of independent bookstores. If you’re tired of going into Barnes and Nobles and seeing a million copies of the latest James Patterson or Dean Koontz book, stop by Second Story. More importantly still, the proprietors of Second Story support writers and artists like those who contribute to and publish Faraway.
So stop in to pick up the latest copy of our journal and browse around for a book to read afterwards. And don’t forget to let us know what you think!
Today was the first day of November, which means it was the first day of National Novel Writing Month. I met with a friend at CK Cafe in Claremont, a little hidden cafe filled with comfy chairs and tables that are just the right height. Soon there were nine writers there, plugging away at their manuscripts–some on laptops, some with good old-fashioned pen and paper, and one woman on a 1930s typewriter. Best of all were CK Cafe’s $2.25 Thai Teas, which are the best beverages in the world.
All together, I kicked out 2,890 words! In order to write 50,000 words in thirty days, you have to write about 1,600 words a day, so I’m really happy that I’m ahead of the game at the moment. If I can get up to 5,000 words tomorrow, I’ll be 10% done. I was also expecting that I was just going to spew out a bunch of words, just to get the story on the paper, which I would later have to go back and fix. Not so! I’m actually happy with most of what I wrote–at least for now–and the good thing about where I’m at in the story is that it’s going to be pretty fast-paced and action-packed from here on out. It should be relatively easy and fun to write.
It looks like the gathering at CK Cafe are going to become regular, so I encourage any Claremont/Montclair/Rancho/Ontario/Pomona writers to come on down and soak up some of that great energy that develops when you get a lot of creative people working in one place. And if you’re taking part in NaNoWriMo this year, be sure to comment and let us know how you’re progressing! You can also watch my progress here on the NaNoWriMo site, or send me a buddy request so we can both do this together: http://www.nanowrimo.org/eng/user/419938.
The new issue is shaping up nicely. So far we’ve gotten contributions from ten writers and artists, several of them new to Faraway. From Faraway veterans the work we’ve received is, in my opinion, the best writing they’ve done, or at least the best that has been submitted to me.
We’re in the process of trying to include more people, particularly from the artist colony in Pomona. There is a lot of great talent there that we have yet to even try to tap. Including some Pomona artists would be great exposure for us, and it would also up our profile amongst the audience most likely to be receptive to what it is we’re doing. We’re also going to try and include some advertisements, which could in time lead to revenue and wider distribution.
The aesthetic theme under consideration is what we’re describing as “Victorian.” The poster to the side should give some indication of the look we’re going for.
All in all, I’m very excited to get started on this issue. I think the new website and our contacts in the Pomona art community have given us a great opportunity to expand and to come back from hiatus with a bang.
If you want to submit something for the inclusion in the next issue, there’s no better time than the present.