Another Titlepage.tv episode

I just completed my second episode of Titlepage.tv (their actual episode #2), which highlighted four provocative young writers; Julie Klam, Sloane Crosley, Keith Gessen (Franzen's a fan--I'm impressed) and Ceridwin Dovey, who had her first book published while a doctoral student, in anthropology.

All had an interesting take on books, particularly Klam (who actually had a gig at one point before writing her book, doing pop-up videos on VH1), talking about the completion aspect of writing a book. She spoke about books being different than other things (blogs, music videos, MP3s), “…a book actually happens; there’s something so satisfying (in the process) … if you sell your proposal, you actually have a book.”

It might end up on the remainder table, or discounted at Reny’s, or Marden’s, but you have a physical product that is validation of your efforts.

Programming for book lovers

I confess, the posting has been sparse this week; that's what happens when Moxie takes over your life. I'm not complaining, however. If nothing else, this beck and call to tell my own story, in the context of Moxie, has yielded the world's first concise, but complete history of the enigmatic drink that Mainers (and others) either love, or hate. That, in and of itself, makes my project worthwhile.

I just wanted to let others know about Titlepage.tv. It was Mary Herman, membership director of Maine Writers & Publishers Alliance, in her weekly E-Newsletter to members that made me aware of this provocative new Internet-based talk show, where four authors, sans commercials, are given an hour to talk about books they've written.

My first foray into Titlepage.tv makes me want to revisit. The episode I viewed, their third one, was their first all non-fiction gathering. "The Horror! The Horror!" features David Hajdu, David Gilmour, Louis Masur and Mary Roach (who has written a book called Bonk: The Curious Coupling of Science and Sex, which is, yes, all about sex, but as the title intimates, with a unique take on the subject).

The beauty of the Internet format, is that you can watch episodes at your leisure, like late at night, or while taking a break from your writing, which is always appreciated by anyone on a deadline. If the first month is any indication (55,000 viewers), co-founders Lina Matta and Odile Isralson may have something on their hands. So much for the prediction of reading's demise.

Calling themselves a "virtual soapbox" and "a 21st century version of the Algonquin Round Table," it's smart programming for sophisticated types.