The only new year’s resolution I’ve ever made and then kept was the one I made last year to publish my novel Monster Talk in 2012. But I think I was cheating because the decision to do the thing was made before the close of 2011 by a couple of days–so the ball was inContinue reading “Of Resolutions”
Author Archives: michaeljarmer
Of Smoking Jackets and Product Endorsement
Okay, so, here I am wearing what they call a smoking jacket, and I don’t smoke. Maybe it’s a drinking jacket. I do drink, but that’s not a real drink. Actually, it is a real drink, I’m just not drinking it, because, first, it was a family photo shoot before the noon hour, and second,Continue reading “Of Smoking Jackets and Product Endorsement”
Of a Holy Secular Christmas
The only times I go into churches any more are for weddings and funerals, and, on rare occasions, when there’s no service, for a quiet space. I am not attending mass or any other church service on Christmas. And I guess, it needs to be said, and I’ll say it here publicly for perhaps theContinue reading “Of a Holy Secular Christmas”
Of Of and On
What’s it about. What’s the subject. Why no question marks. One could perhaps ad an of or an on to any title and the title would still function properly. Check this out: Of The Great Gatsby. Of Shades of Grey. It would not work so well, though, if one’s title begins with a preposition, ifContinue reading “Of Of and On”
Of Social Networks: Is Real Dialogue Possible?
First off, I offer my apologies, to anyone who’s actually following this blog, for my lengthy absence from the sphere. It was August the last time I penned anything for this venue, and that’s been weighing on me pretty heavily during this most difficult first few months of the school year—over 200 high school studentsContinue reading “Of Social Networks: Is Real Dialogue Possible?”
Well, That Was Mostly fun., Wasn’t It?
First of all, what a strange name for a band. Dorky, really; nevertheless, these fun. kids have become my favorite contemporary pop thing of the last couple of years. And I’ve been sort of astounded, surprised, and heartened by their recent and rip-roaringly fast rise to megastardom. So, I got my tickets months ago andContinue reading “Well, That Was Mostly fun., Wasn’t It?”
Monster Talk: Of a Race of Devils
Wherein Michael Jarmer reads an entire chapter from his novel in one take with only two negligible errors; wherein the author taxes the attention span and patience of his readers/watchers/listeners with a 12 minute video blog; wherein he learns never to do that again; wherein Michael Jarmer uses the natural lighting to freaky advantage; andContinue reading “Monster Talk: Of a Race of Devils”
Monster Talk Prologue: Of the Children of Monsters
Wherein Michael Jarmer reads the two epigraphs and the prologue from his novel, Monster Talk; wherein he struggles with the natural lighting, producing an unintentional but potentially appropriate ghostliness; wherein he informs us once again where one could procure a copy of his wonderful new novel; after which, he wonders whether or not video readingsContinue reading “Monster Talk Prologue: Of the Children of Monsters”
The Inaugural Video Blog
Wherein Michael Jarmer introduces himself, his novel, and the purpose of this particular blog medium; wherein Michael Jarmer learns about video recording himself, where to look, for example, where to place the microphone, how everything on the screen is the opposite of where it is in the room; and finally, wherein Michael Jarmer demonstrates rudimentaryContinue reading “The Inaugural Video Blog”
Only A Bad Dream: Record Store Paradise Lost
I had a nightmare last night that Music Millennium, the oldest independent record store in Portland, closed its doors, and I wandered around the store weeping while the employees packed everything into boxes. It was a terrible, suffocating dream, vivid, emotionally as real as they come. You know the kind, one of those night timeContinue reading “Only A Bad Dream: Record Store Paradise Lost”
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