Dave White's Writing Block

The Cow and the Milk

2009-07-12T18:30:00.005-05:00

There's been a lot of talk about giving away content for free lately. Authors, I've heard, should give away their stories and their books for free to build an audience. There are many sites which do this. You can Google them if you'd like.

I have no problem with this. In fact, I think it's a good idea.

Give away stories, give away novels, give away podcasts. It's a great way to build an audience, sure. I've picked up tons of free books in my day and it's introduced me to many of my favorite authors. Guys who's later books I've shelled out countless dollars for.

The problem lies when authors giveaway content and then try to sell the same content. If I get a book for free, I'm unlikely to go out and buy that book. You want to give something away, great. But if you then want me to buy something, it better be different.

Lou Lamoriello, General Manager of the New Jersey Devils, was at one point head of the Nets as well. Before he took over, the Nets had a bad habit of giving away tickets and never selling out seats. The moment Lou took over, he ended that process, believing you can't sell something that you're willing to give away.

The same goes for the recent trend of pumping up Amazon sales with a small press or self-published book. Weekly I get on Facebook, and as I'm about to update my status for the seventh time that day about what I'm going to have for dinner, or my exact latitude and longitude at that moment, there's someone else telling me I have to go on Amazon at this exact moment and buy some book to pump up its sales rank on Amazon.

Apparently it's a plan to show New York publishers they can get people to buy their book. And sometimes it works. (Mostly because if you get 300 people to buy your book in one day, it's going really mess with the sales rank. Hell, 30 people over 2 hours is probably going to put you up pretty high, numbers wise.)

But I have a question about that... let's say the person sells their book to a big time publisher. What are the odds the author is going to get someone who ALREADY bought the book to buy it again?? It cuts into sales. It's very hard to sell and re-sell a book without some form of new content. An introduction. A new short story sequel in the back of the book.

You have to give the customers something new.

Now, I don't have a Bookscan account or sales numbers in front of me. I could be dead wrong. A free book followed by trying to sell the same book may work. These books may be selling like gangbusters.

I know there's some great stuff out there. Seth Harwood is out there doing it, and he's written a quality novel. From what I understand, so has Scott Sigler is a bestseller according to his website. David Wellington too.

But each one of them is giving free content that is different as well. Harwood has the great Crimewav website, for example.

So, what's the solution?

First, write a good book. No publisher is going to buy a crappy self-published book, no matter how well you bumped the Amazon numbers. And no reader is going to buy it either.

Second, I think publishing has to think about giving away a first book for free. Draw an audience in that way. THEN, sell the second, and the third. Sell NEW content.

(For example, I've given lots of stories away for free. You can check most of them out @ Thrilling Detective. If you like what you read, you can purchase either of my books in the sidebar.)

Will it happen in publishing? I don't know.

Will the attempts to sell the same thing three times over continue? Probably.

Again, I don't have sales numbers. I could be way off. But, as a consumer, I think it's common sense. If I can get the milk for free... I'm not going to buy the cow.

What do you think?

The Dave and Krewer Show--Episode 2

2009-07-09T00:48:00.003-05:00

Click here for Episode Two--"Sports Guys"--featuring an interview with Ed Champion.

Or download it on iTunes! Please subscribe!

Big thanks to Brian Witte for the logo!

More on Fear

2009-06-30T12:06:00.000-05:00

So, I've been reading Lee Child's fantastic GONE TOMORROW. In the opening chapters, Jack Reacher is watching a woman on a subway. She's giving off the 11 signals that people give off before they're about to blow themselves up... a suicide bomber.

The day after I read that chapter, I got on the PATH train. As I was on the train, I noticed a guy who was giving off seven of the signs. My stomach twisted in knots, and I watched him the entire trip.

Obviously, I was fine.

But that brings me to a thought. Books can do something to me that movies can't. They can frighten me. JAWS never made me scared to go in the water. Modern movies are too computer generated to frighten me long term. They can startle me, but they can't fill me with dread.

IT made me think twice about walking past sewers. THE SHINING made me nervous about shrubbery (though not too much.).

And most thrillers find a way to make me nervous.

I think it's about the amount that's on the page. Books can back things up with facts. They can give me enough information to make fears legitimate. A suitcase bomb is much more likely on the train from Penn Station to Union Station in DC. Yikes.

Greg Rucka convinced me that there is no way to survive a subway bomb.

Books bring the facts. TV... movies... bring pictures. I know it's fake. I can rarely apply it to myself... my life.

Planes... well, that's a different story.

But what about you? What's more frightening? Books or movies? Why?

New Jersey: The Promised Land--THE JERSEY SHORE

2009-06-29T19:59:00.002-05:00

Never has something ever been so synonymous with a state. The Jersey Shore is where it's at over the summer.

Want to swim and sunbathe? Jersey Shore.

Want to eat and drink? Jersey Shore.

Want to surf, boogie board, fish, boat, parasail? Jersey Shore.

Want to rid roller coasters, play boardwalk games, and avoid stepping on used syringes? Jersey Shore

The Jersey Shore is like 8,000 tropical resorts wrapped into one. It is warm and scenic and relaxing. It's even sponsored several MTV specials, from their summer at the Shore to their "True Life: I Have a Summer Shore Share." Never has some spurred more stereotypes, attracted more tourists, and had more drunken fist fights and arguments. You can swim for an hour and then clog an artery or two.

Who else has that? Louisiana (#18)..? PLEASE. Louisiana has, what? The mouth of the Mississippi? Please, a river that's not even named after the state is ends in... Yeah, they have New Orleans, but you can't find any stereotypes there. Are there even beaches in LA? Maybe something kinda along the Gulf of Mexico... but it's not much.

The Jersey Shore... stereotypical, sanitary (at least lately), and fun. You can have crazy (Belmar), fun and relaxed (LBI), nude (Sandy Hook), historic (Cape May), or kid friendly (Wildwood)... TAKE YOUR PICK!

Jersey rules.

The Secret Project

2009-06-22T15:54:00.005-05:00

This is something I've wanted to do for ages. Since college at least. And I know it's goofy, but at the same time, it's going to be a ton of fun. I've always been a fan of radio shows. Whether it was Z-100s Z Morning Zoo in middle school, to Scott and Todd and Rocky Allen in high school, up to today and the Opie and Anthony show.

And with a lot of podcast popping up in the mystery world, I thought it was time to try out my own. But it's something I wanted to do on my terms. I didn't want to just read stories. I didn't want to only podcast short stories or talks about writing.

So I contacted my friend Krewer, a musical and technical genius, and got him involved. We decided to put together our own wacky radio show. So without further ado, I give you "The Dave And Krewer Show." You can decide whether I actually sound like Paul Giamatti.

Episode 1: "Bookworms," where--as the theme song tells you--we attempt to talk about our favorite novels. Featuring an interview with Sarah Weinman.

Listen to the show by clicking on the link. It'll either download it, or you can open it via iTunes or any mp3 player. I expect the show to appear on iTunes soon. It will be linked when it is.

UPDATE: It's on iTunes now.

LIVE BLOGGING: Twilight

2009-06-15T17:40:00.048-05:00

So, in an effort to be involved with all the cool kids, my friend's sister LeeAnn lent me TWILIGHT. And what else could I do, but watch it... So here we go:

6:41: First trailer on the DVD... Hannah Montana? Nope, but it sets the move... More after the jump.

6:42: I just may have eaten some pink chicken. So now I have two reasons to puke tonight.

6:45: Shhh, movie's starting. What if I love it? OMG, thatz totes my wurst nitemare!

6:47: So, Bella or whatever is just going to mumble her way through this narration? I mean, seriously, she seems so happy.

6:51: This has Teen Movie written all over it. Wacky Ethnic guy comes to help out Bella with terribly witty dialogue. He wears a tie to school. He has no interest in her whatsoever. THAT WE KNOW OF.

6:53: HAHAHAHAHA NEW GIRL IMMEDIATELY ACCEPTED BECAUSE SHE CAN SPIKE AND IS FUNNY. Well, sort of funny. Okay not so much.

6:55: OMG IT'S EDWARD. He's so sullen. And pale. Just like Bella. Sullen and pale. It's like a scene from a movie.

7:00: Her line delivery is awesome. Especially in the narration. Can totes see why this swept the MTV movie awards.

7:01: Though I have to say, it's an interesting twist... having the new girl really liked, but she hates everyone.

7:03: Um, the sun is shining on Edward right now. He's not melting. Or sparkly. Or anything. Oh, wait it's raining. My bad yo.

7:05: Forty minutes later, Edward knows what questions to ask. The teacher never told them to shut up. Plus, does he have a really bad accent?

7:07 Okay, yes Edward just saved her using super strength, but the more important thing here is BELLA IS A TERRIBLE PARALLEL PARKER.

7:14: Is there a reason Bella looks like she's about to throw up the whole time. And Edward for that matter? Are they watching the movie with us? Because surprisingly, I'm making the same face.

7:27: Jacob's story. RANDOM. He's exposing them to the palefaces... without doing it... He's terrible. Stupid Jacob.

7:28: Woooooo random creepy people kicking boaters. Wooooo random bad special effects!

7:31: Wait... Bella can read?

7:32: Why does pensive and a constipated face=every woman thinks you're hot?

7:40: Text version of Kristen Stewart's delivery. "Whoa. What. is. going. on." Meanwhile, Edward can get all the answers.

7:43: Lady, eat something. Have a burger. See a comedy show. Lighten up. Sheesh. Dashboard Confessional is more cheerful than you.

7:45: "How old are you?" "17." "How long have you been 17?" "A while." Clever, but, um, not exactly true.

7:46: Why does she have to say it? Why can't he admit to being a vampire? WHY DOESN'T ANYONE MAKE EYE CONTACT IN THIS MOVIE? Holy Christ, this is stupid.

7:47: I love how she has to say "It's like diamonds" because the special effects are so bad.

7:50: "You have to tell me what you're thinking." Also, we have to get really close but never kiss. You see, there's this sexual tension... I can figure out why she loves him, but why does he love her? "So the lion fell in love with the lamb..." What a stupid l----ine.

7:53: Okay, he's been outside a TON in this movie, but has only glimmered or glowed or whatever... ONCE.

7:57: Wait, if you only survive on the blood of animals... that's technically STILL NOT A VEGETARIAN.

7:58: Recap: Edward loves Bella for no discernible reason. Bella loves Edward because he looks constipated and saved her life. There are other bad vampires out there. Bella is rarely happy. Everyone else loves her too.

8:03 "As in I would become the meal." HAHAHAHAHAHAH everyone laugh good naturedly. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA. Why isn't she RUNNING NOW???

8:05: Okay, see now I've got it. Bella is EVERY teenage girl ever. She can't dance, she's insecure, she's afraid, but doesn't want anyone to know it even though everyone can read it on her face. Edward loves her because that's what every teenage girl ever wants. The mysterious, tough, creepy guy to love her. However.... why does the story Edward love Bella? Like in the reality of the story?

8:08: OF COURSE HE CAN PLAY THE PIANO.

8:09: Oh hey, in the coffee shop... it's Stephanie Meyer on her computer. Maybe that's how the next novel got leaked? Too busy drinking her coffee. Meanwhile, Bella's dad is extremely forthcoming to the public.

8:11: Edward says, "I like watching you sleep, it's uh..." How about creepy, Edward? How about that? OMG, BELLA WAKE UPPPPPPP. This is not a healthy relationship.

8:14: The dad's about to meet Edward and the dad is loading a shotgun. CLICHE CLICHE CLICHE...

8:16: They're playing baseball??? They're timing their hits with the thunder? The dude with the hat just cheered "OUT WOO!" but made a safe signal. And they're playing in a thunderstorm with aluminum bats. This is not smart. Also... it's not raining.

8:21: I love how the Cullen's automatically know these vampires are bad, but have no idea who they are. Lots of good staring here.

8:24: Wow, Edward is making some rash decisions here. They promised they'd leave.

8:29: The Cullens accepted her pretty quickly. I suppose she's a really good umpire.

8:33: The mom just decided to come home... immediately. I thought they were on the road... She was home in like... ten minutes.

8:34: Maybe the mom was only around the corner. They lied to Bella because she was so mopey. "Yeah, um... me and your stepdad are going to travel." And then they went to 7-11.

8:35: From Oregon to Phoenix in 30 seconds. The travels of Bella Idontknowherlastname.

8:37: He broke her leg. Her expression barely changed. Okay, do these vampires even have fangs? And he just kind of gummed her. Not even really bit her.

8:41: "Death is peaceful. Easy." I was waiting for her to say "Comedy is hard." But nope... she mopes about life.

8:44: Kristen Stewart... MTV movie award winning actress.

8:47: "Bella." "Jacob!" "Hey, I'm here just to remind you I'm going to play an important role in the next movie, 'kay?"

8:49: Bella starts dancing. Everyone leaves as the song still plays. Take a hint. You were right the first time.

8:51: I look forward to the episode where Bella moves out of town for college and breaks up with Edward after an all night Frat party. Edward's heart shatters and he blood dials her every night.

8:52: They he eats her and catches something.

8:53: Radiohead gave out the rights to a song to this movie... Wow.

New Jersey Books Festival

2009-06-13T09:25:00.003-05:00

Tomorrow I'll be participating in the Books NJ Festival. It's being run by the Bergen County Cooperative Library System. There are going to be a ton of writers there doing panels on everything. I'm going to be on the "Murder and Mayhem in New Jersey" Panel with Peggy Erhart, Chris Grabenstein, Ed Rand, and Brad Park at 2:30.

Please, if you have a chance, stop by... it's going to be fun.

Of Lyrics, 8th Grade Me, and the 1993 New York Mets

2009-06-03T15:58:00.003-05:00

One of my former teachers approached me today with a stack of papers.

"Remember this?" he asked, showing me my own handwriting.

From 1993.

It was a poem (or song lyrics--the teacher was a music teacher) I had written in class. I have to share it with you. Commentary after:

"The 1993 Mets"

Alas the Mets-you do me wrong

To swing the bat-and miss the ball

And I have rooted for you so long-

Then watching you hit a triple play

The Mets-you stink this year

With the worst record in base-ball

I laugh as I watch you play-

You Mets-will lose-again today.

Okay, first of all, the obvious. I am a New York Yankees fan. I've always been a New York Yankees fan. So what's with the, "And I have rooted for you so long-" line? I remember in 1986 my father trying to talk me into rooting for the Mets. And it worked for a while too, mostly because in the game he had us watch Gary Carter hit a grand slam, and then Darryl Strawberry got plunked and started a bench clearing brawl. But that was 1986... I was in 1st or 2nd grade. I was a Yankees fan before that, and I've been a Yankees fan since. So.... why... why was I putting in writing that I rooted for the Mets?

My only guess is this: desperation. It worked for the song or the poem, and I wanted a good grade. Note the digs at the team "I laugh as I watch you play-"... Does that seem like a line from a fan of the team? No. So it's clear I just wanted a good grade.

Next... I can't quite figure out what the assignment was. It appears to be lyric writing or poetry. And I've seen of the other papers (from 1993), the theme was doing something for "so long." I picked the Mets. It was easy to laugh at a bad team, I guess, and I needed to do something for "so long." But were we supposed to rhyme all the line? Just a few of them? Hit a certain rhythm? If that's the case I swung and missed, just like the 1993 Mets.

And finally, the format is very weird. The dashes I typed in are all in the exact places where they are on my paper. I don't know why there are dashes in certain places. Was I trying to accent something? What? Any help here would be appreciated. Not to mention there are some very strange words underlined as well--or at least syllables... "las," "Mets," "do," "swing," "bat," "miss," "I," "root," "you," "watch," "you," tri," "play," "The," "Mets," "stink," "year," "the," "rec," "base," ball," "I," "laugh," "watch," "play," "Mets," and "day." There is no rhythm here either. The underlines just seem to be random.

Overall, this is a disturbing look at my 8th grade mentality. I was just trying to get through the class, randomly inserting lines and dashes, grasping at any little straw to make fun of. It's now clear why I'm a novelist, not a poet.

Memorial Day Musings

2009-05-25T12:34:00.004-05:00

-First off, thanks to all the troops and veterans. We all support what you do. Happy Memorial Day!

-Was watching FRED CLAUS this morning on HBO. The story of Santa's brother. I'm starting to wonder about Santa Claus' work ethic. He only has to work one day a year (come on, you know the elves do everything else), but every year some sort of crisis appears and someone else has to deliver the presents. Seriously, Santa, bring in a new Claus if you want out of work that badly.

-Irregardless. Has this "word" regained popularity since THE SOPRANOS? I mean, it's not even a real word. According to dictionary.com, it is considered "not standard" and was popularized by a comedian in the 30s. But now I hear and see it all the time.

-By the way, another thing that bothers me: "I could care less." Really? How much less could you care? What you're trying to say is "you couldn't care less." It's not even a grammatical mistake. It is a logical one.

-Yes, I know. Who am I to criticize grammar? I am, after all, the typo king.

-The Rutgers basketball team is in Spain. Freddie find us a point guard!!!

-Enjoy your BBQs!!

The Line-up #2

2009-05-23T09:48:00.006-05:00

My experience with poetry lately has been wrapped in a world of Frost, Donne, Shakespeare, and Whitman. Heavy hitters, for sure, speaking about the world of summer days, winding forest roads, Lincoln, and eternal love. An 8th graders' crash course.

So, when I opened my copy of The Line-up #2 (edited by Gerald So, Patrick Shawn Bagley, R Narvaez, and Anthony Rainone), I wasn't sure what to expect. Was I going to get quick rhymes telling stories of bankrobbers? Was I going to see a murder compared to a summer's day?

Of course not.

I got small, dark moments. A dying man in the back of an ambulance, his identity a mystery. A woman mourning her son's death in Baghdad. Not bank robberies, not many mass murders. Just the darkness the world can bring on a daily basis.

The crimes here aren't big, thriller moments. They're small crimes. Crimes of the heart.

A book full of melancholy. A book full of small emotions expanded by words.

I loved every line. Nice job, folks.

PAPER TOWNS by John Green

2009-05-19T17:50:00.004-05:00

"It's easier to leave than be left behind."--REM, "Leaving New York"

I haven't read much YA fiction on my own lately. Usually what I read has to do with work, and I've read it six or seven times already. But I picked up John Green's Edgar winning PAPER TOWNS on the recommendation of a former student and Sarah.

Wow.

This is the YA book I've been looking for.

Quentin Jacobsen (the original draft of this post said his surname was "Richardson." Clearly, it was because I was reading about basketball before I posted this... whoops) is on the verge of ending high school sitting in his room, not wanting to go to prom. Suddenly the girl next door, Margo Roth Spiegelman shows up to take him on an all night adventure. The next morning Q can't wait to get to school and talk to Margo. Only to find out she's disappeared. And left clues for Q to find her.

The search is suspenseful and it has all the twists and turns of a mystery novel, but that's not what got me. What suckered me in was the exploration of nostalgia, identity, and leaving. Q thinks about leaving high school, how much he wants to grow up, start a new life, leave high school. But at the same time, he's drawn to the memories, the moments of friendship he'll lose.

I haven't encountered characters this complex in my YA experience. No one is who they seem to be, and yet they are exactly who they seem to be. Everything they say makes complete sense, and fits who they are. I can remember all these feelings when I left high school. I remember wanting to get out so bad, and at the same time never wanting to leave.

This is a book for every dorky guy in high school who was also really cool. For anyone who ever hung out around the bandroom. For anyone who was quick witted and funny and incredibly shy.

It's a book about how easy it is to leave, even when it's better to stay behind.

It's highly recommended.

(If you want to hear John talk about the book, click here.)

A JJ Abrams Kinda Night.

2009-05-13T23:07:00.002-05:00

Saw Star Trek tonight and really enjoyed it. Way to keep the core fans relatively happy and yet start over at the same time. Very, fun popcorn movie. The smartest thing to do was focus on Kirk and Spock. Create their characters, mine them for some depth, show their differences and find a way to make them both heroic. Well done. I wonder if the sequels can keep it up....

Okay, that out of the way, let's get to LOST.

LOST can always be counted on to give you a great finale. And this year was the best of the bunch. I watched with a knot in my stomach the entire time. Would the bomb go off? Would Locke kill Jacob? Who is Jacob?

We got the answers to those questions, and of course more questions.

But wow. I mean... I need more time to digest this. But it's been a long time since I've gotten emotional over a TV show. Whether it's a lump in your throat, a knot in your stomach or a pain the brain... when that screen had gone to white I had it all.

I honestly hope next season opens with everyone getting off the plane.

What a finale.

Nine long months to go...

Come on down to Cleveland Town, everyone

2009-05-06T19:56:00.001-05:00

These crack me up! (NSFW, a few choice words.)

LIVE BLOGGING: The Wrestler

2009-05-03T19:03:00.033-05:00

Gonna start watching THE WRESTLER in a minute. If you've seen it, follow along after the break!

8:08: Is it me or should it be required that the 20th Century Fox (Fox Searchlight) theme legally have to be followed by the Star Wars theme?

8:10: Nice, movie opens with a montage much like the Rocky movie and the end of THE USUAL SUSPECTS. There's two flicks you rarely see in the same sentence.

8:12: After listening to--and seeing pictures of--Iron Sheik peeing himself on Opie and Anthony this week, I'm curious how this movie is going to play out. And we have a Jersey reference with Rahway.

8:18: Drug use, beer, and a trailer park. Hmmm. Maybe he's only CLOSE to New Jersey.

8:21: Ha! The Funky Samoans. Wish we could watch that match.

8:25: Hmmm. There's some wrestling going on here. What a plot twist!

8:27: It appears to me that Mickey Rourke does not have the panache or sho.... oh waiiiiitttttttt there it is. The leap off the top rope!

8:33: Did I just see Marissa Tomei nude? Did I? Hmm. +1

8:36: They talk really fast in this movie. And naked Marissa Tomei has been counteracted by Mickey Rourke butt.

8:37: Rats. This movie does take place in New Jersey, but judging by the locale... South Jersey, so it doesn't really count....

8:42: The chants by the crowds in this movie are hilarious. "You sick F---!"

8:48: I can't read the NOTE at the hospital!!!

8:52: Books or old school Nintendo?

8:54: He ran about fifteen feet and was winded. Seems like me.

9:02: I knew i recognized that voice... Judah Frielander looks so much different not on 30 ROCK.

9:04: Now knowing where this movie was filmed I am going to embrace its hardboiled/noir Jersey side.

9:07: "Isn't that when you sit on other dude's faces?"

9:10: Now I feel like I should be playing a game of "I've been there. I've been there!"

9:14: Mr. Rourke should never dance. Though, a lot of hairbands in this movie... "Round and Round" sounds a whole lot like "Panama" by Van Halen.

9:17: Love how the walk to the deli parallels a walk to the ring. Very funny, even adding the crowd chanting.

9:23: This boardwalk is very close to where I was this afternoon.

9:35: I USED TO LIVE ACROSS THE STREET FROM THERE!!!!!!!! (Oh well, this live blog has just degenerated into nonsense, hasn't it?)

9:38: Sometimes you just have a bad day. He quit the supermarket better than I did way back when.

9:47: We get one more nude scene with 15 minutes to go, and plenty of time for a tragic, tragic ending. That's my guess.

9:53: Takes a while to get this wrestlin' rant going. There we go. Now we're wrasslin'.

9:55: She leaves. That's perfect. Anti-Adrian.

9:57: The Wrestler is like a Ray Banks novel without the accents and the crime. Good movie.

9:58: Oh no wonder the movie got such ridiculous good reviews. Good acting and a vague ending.

New Jersey: The Promised Land--SONG

2009-05-02T19:19:00.003-05:00

New Jersey may have the greatest love ballad written about the state, and the woman who lives there. Tom Waits penned the classic "Jersey Girl." It's a song that sounds like the old doo-wop crossed with the sounds of the shore. It's clear that Waits was trying to bring out the feel of the Jersey Shore in the song.

And then Bruce immortalized it. If there's a song that gets Jersey, gets Jersey girls, sounds romantic, and also feels dirty...It's this.

Even Jovi took a shot.

What does Kentucky (#17) have? They have a song they all sing together at the Kentucky Derby, "My Old Kentucky Home." It pretty much sounds like a version of something John Denver wrote or even James Taylor. But it's not Kentucky like "Jersey Girl" is Jersey. It's common. It's fine. It's blah. It's a middle state. No identity.

Jersey owns the Best Song crown too!

Ryan Adams Rules

2009-04-29T22:20:00.000-05:00

Flipping Out by Marshall Karp

2009-04-22T17:19:00.002-05:00

The other day when doing his "New Jersey the Promised Land" post, Marshall Karp asked me to review his book. Actually, I think he told me to tell you the book is better than THE DaVINCI CODE. Well, with all the uproar over THE LOST SYMBOL, I'm not even going to touch that one.

But I did read Flipping Out.

Fun book.

When the wife of a cop friend of police partners Lomax and Biggs is murdered, the duo catch the case. What follows is a series of funny twists and turns, ultimately leading to a tricky ending.

The draw here is clearly the main characters. Playing like a well adjusted version of Riggs and Murtagh, Lomax and Biggs wisecrack their way through the case. Their banter is well done and each character feels comfortable in their own skin. I enjoyed watching the two peel the layers away with each passing clue.

If you're looking for a fun read, with plenty of one-liners, check this one out.

Fear

2009-04-21T14:45:00.003-05:00

I'm afraid of flying.

Like palms sweaty, knees shaking, mumbling to myself scared. Ask Jason Pinter, he witnessed it first hand. Sitting on the plane, I woke the poor guy up at every sound. And every non sound (like the engines shutting down).

The night before I couldn't sleep. I couldn't think about anything else. I had convinced myself the plane was going to crash. All because when I was a kid (third grade, I think) I was on a plane that flew through a storm. People were puking and screaming. One of my clearest memories was the woman behind me suddently yelling out "I NEED A BAG!!" and my mom reaching in front of her, grabbing a puke bag and just flipping it into the seat behind her. It was not fun. And then I waited way too long to fly again--until freshmen year of college. And then once more--through 9/11--until last summer. The fear sits in my gut. Occasionally it flares up.

I went to get a passport last weekend and got nervous. The guy taking my picture kept telling me to calm down. And I thought I was handling it well. I'm supposed to fly to Cancun this summer. I'm less nervous than I was this time last year, but I'm still nervous.

What does this have to do with anything?

Well, it came into play with my current novel. It's becoming my most personal novel. In it, the main character has a fear, though it's not a fear of flying. The fear--of course--pops up several times in the novel.

Did I look up symptoms of this fear? Well, not exactly. I looked up causes, triggers. And then I used my own feelings. I tried to remember what it felt like to approach the plane. What it felt like to be sitting on the plane as it lifted off.

Then I applied it to the scene in the book. And I hope it comes through as real and knowing. I want to use my own emotions at every turn. Because if I use my own, then I know those emotions are real. They have to be, they're what I'm feeling.

Obviously, that's a lot of "write what you know"-itis.

At the same time, it's a way for me to deal with things. Writing is my psychologist. Writing is my way to vent and to deal with my own issues.

I put a lot of me in my books. I put a lot of me in the blog.

Writing helps.

And, with flying, I need all the help I can get.

New Jersey: The Promised Land--MALLS

2009-04-20T15:38:00.010-05:00

Whoa. Two days in a row? This is crazy, but I'm just in a Jersey mood, folks, so here we go!

New Jersey has a lot of malls. Within half an hour of my home, I can think of the Bergen Mall (or whatever it's called now), Garden State Plaza, Jersey Gardens, Willowbrook, Wayne Towne Center, Paramus Park, Livingston Mall, Rockaway, not to mention multiple strip malls and big stores on the highways. Now, you might think this is silly. You might even say, "But Dave, how is this a good thing? It's a mall."

Well I will ask you back, what is America built on? Capitalism. Commerce. Buying stuff. Stuff you need, and stuff you don't need. Also, malls create JOBS, and in this economy... you need a job.

Why?

So you can buy stuff.

And where can you get that stuff? New Jersey. That's right. You need it, we got it. Sitting right here, just minutes from you door. You can go out and buy a dress, get a cinnabon, leave that mall go to another one, have some Long John Silver's fish, buy a book (at an Indie, some malls have 'em, oh yeah in Jersey---Styertowne Shopping Center is one that does!!!), leave again, hit a TGIFriday's and then check out LIDs. I'm excited and broke just thinking about it.

We have Macy's, Sterns, Lord and Taylor's--ALL IN ONE PLACE! We have kiosks, cell phones, people asking you to fill out surveys and take your time away. It's all very, very important. And very, very America.

And how does that compare to Kansas (#16)? A quick Yahoo search shows that there are only TEN malls in Kansas. Now that information may be false, but it only has ten malls that rate a Yahoo search? I just named eight malls within a half hour from my house?

So I ask you, what is Kansas doing to promote capitalism? Nothing, they're just a bunch of kids shooting basketballs outside their homes dreaming of hitting that game winning shot. They're fixing their trucks. They're watching football.

The American Dream. Feh. Dreaming never works if you're not doing something about it!

They're not helping out the economy.

That's where NJ comes in. We help out. We dream and we do.

Plus this song by John Gorka, which contains one of my favorite lines: "I'm from New Jersey, I don't expect too much. I'm from New Jersey, if the world ended today, I would adjust."

New Jersey: The Promised Land--Embroidery

2009-04-19T08:51:00.004-05:00

Every once in a while someone asks me if they can use my blog to help promote their book. I don't mind as long as they come up with a reason why New Jersey is the promised land. Marshall Karp, a former New Jersey-ite, and author of the very funny FLIPPING OUT agreed. And his take on NJ is out there. Of course I'll have my take after his post. Enjoy!

Every now and then, I make a deal with the devil. In this case the devil is Dave White, and the deal was that if I wrote one of his New Jersey is Better Than blogs, he’d pimp my new book Flipping Out. Well maybe he said he’d review it, but once you’re coughing up a blog gratis for another writer, you pretty much assume he’s going to publicly wet his pants over it.

Which bring us to Jersey.

I grew up there. From age 4 to 22 I lived in a little town that was annoyingly named West New York. West New York, New Jersey — an identity crisis with its own zip code. West New York, along with the adjacent town, Union City was (and still is) the center — the pulse — of one of the most exciting industries in America.

Embroidery.

How many sweltering summer days did I sit in my Aunt Gizzi’s yarn factory in West New York, slicing the remaining thread off industrial sized spools with a single edge razor blade, so they could be recycled and rewound with fresh yarn? These are the kinds of events that shape a young man’s life. And that’s the kind of summer fun a lot of lucky young kids can still look forward to. But only if they live in Jersey.

Oh sure, maybe it could happen for a few well-connected kids who live in Switzerland, but I’ll tell you where it can’t happen. Iowa.

And that’s the state I drew in the New Jersey Is Better Than lottery. Did I luck out or what? Iowa? Do they even have factories in Iowa? What do their kids do on a hot summer’s day — wander through the cornfields? Puh-leze. All that sunshine. It’s like Summer Camp for Future Melanoma victims.

When it comes to industry, New Jersey kicks Iowa’s ass. That smell on the Jersey Turnpike? Chemicals, baby. Six billion bucks worth. And what about pharmaceuticals and the biomedical industry? They don’t make Valium, Vioxx, and Viagra in Iowa.

What they have in Iowa is corn. Jersey has corn too, but it’s roasted, buttered, popped, or frittered — not distilled down so you can put it in your gas tank. And Jersey has tomatoes. The best tomatoes. Are tomatoes better than corn? I don’t know — try walking into a diner and ordering a bacon, lettuce, and corn sandwich.

A few weeks ago Iowa got something that Jersey doesn’t have yet. They legalized gay marriage. Before you get all PC and say, well that trumps Jersey, let’s take a closer look. So let’s say you’re gay and you live in Iowa. You get married and you decide you really want to spend your honeymoon on the beach, frolicking in the ocean, body surfing on the waves. Where the hell does a newlywed gay couple go for that in Iowa? Let’s see — New Jersey has 130 miles of beautiful coastline. You want to know how many miles of coastline Iowa has? Zero. Looks like the best time to get married in Iowa is October, and you can spend your honeymoon wandering aimlessly through a corn maze.

I think it’s pretty clear here that New Jersey leaves Iowa in the dust. It’s also pretty clear that I have held up my end of the bargain. And now, I’m going to leave lots of room for Dave White to write about my latest book. His topic: Why Flipping Out is better than The DaVinci Code.

Embroidery? Wow, I never would have thought of that one on my own! But that being said, NJ is the embroidery capital of the world. We don't mess around. Our shirts and pants are properly embroided and decorated. We make kids' blankets and stocking for Christmas like nobody's business.

Iowa (#15), however, what do they do? They Bedazzle! There's no skill involved in Bedazzling.

So take my word for it.... New Jersey is great for its embroidery skills!

Official Dave White is Awesome Day (Take 3)

2009-04-15T17:25:00.003-05:00

Tomorrow marks the third annual Official Dave White is Awesome Day.

What is this special day, you ask?

Well it is the day we recognize Dave White's Year Round Awesomeness. That's right, an official day!

How did this holiday start?

It came from meek beginnings. An empty day on the calender in April back in 2007 suddenly marked as "Official Dave White is Awesome Day." The rumors began, "Well Dave White is awesome, so why not recognize his awesomeness on one special day a year."

Last year was a bit low key, but people started to notice. It was then declared that ODWiAD should be celebrated on the 3rd Thursday in April yearly. Why? To bring some joy into people's hearts. Spring is starting to pop through the clouds, people are optimistic, and they want to recognize awesomeness. This day is for them.

Now it even has its own acronym in ODWiAD (pronounced Odd Wad).

How to celebrate:

Have a drink. Beer, gin and tonic, water, Jameson, Gatorade. Anything but soda. In years past, I've been given a six pack of beer. Feel free to send one along, if you wish.

Reflect on the year.

Read or purchase my books.

Common misconceptions:

"So this is the only day you're awesome?"

-No, it is quite clear I'm awesome year round. However, one day is official placed aside to recognize it. That's why it's OFFICIAL Dave White is Awesome Day and not just Dave White is Awesome Day.

"Is it okay to play hooky from work?"

-I am not. I want to be able to spend the day with the people I spend it with daily. We can celebrate together and enjoy the moment. However, if you use this as an opportunity to call in sick, let me know how that goes over.

"You're going to get your ass kicked for this."

-No. I don't think I am.

I think that's it. Any other questions about this day, leave them in the comments section and I'll get back to you.

Happy Official Dave White is Awesome Day!

God, I Love Jon Stewart

2009-04-08T10:03:00.000-05:00

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart

M - Th 11p / 10c

Baracknophobia - Obey

comedycentral.com

Daily Show
Full Episodes

Economic Crisis

Political Humor

Good book I've recently read

2009-04-08T08:35:00.003-05:00

THE SCARECROW by Michael Connelly: Jack McEvoy is back! The hero from THE POET is trying to write one last, great story before leaving the paper he works at. Of course the last story involves a murder, a serial killer, the FBI, and Las Vegas. This is a typical Connelly novel, fast paced and full of emotion. McEvoy is well drawn. I enjoyed it.

LIFE SENTENCES by Laura Lippman: Laura really outdoes herself here. A novel about memory, publishing, and crime, the story really is emotional. There are some great characters here, especially the main character's father Cedric Fallows. I really don't want to say too much about this book, because you need to experience it for yourself.

The New Yankee Stadium and a team preview

2009-04-04T09:01:00.003-05:00

I watched a preseason baseball game last night. I never watch preseason baseball, but this one was special. It was the opening of the new Yankee Stadium, and you can't not watch that.

My initial impression: Weird. The stadium looked weird. The original Yankee Stadium looked beat up. It looked worn down, and ready to pack it in, but man, when the post season came around it looked like it was brand new. It was magical. The new one looks cleaner, more state of the art. It looks like all the other baseball stadiums. Though I must say, it does have a bit of Yankee charm. Maybe the fans can bring back the magic.

Now I need to see it in person for a true interpretation.

As for the new team...

I expect much of the same as we've seen before, offensively. The ability to blow out people 15-2 on a nightly basis. But the question is going to be what happens when they're down 2-1 in the 7th or 8th inning. Will the new players be able to step up and get that clutch hit? Is Texiera a clutch guy? What about Nady or Swisher?

And what does A Rod do when he comes back? I think he'll be fine.

Starting pitching:

Wooo! I love the two new pitchers. There's always a chance that CC Sabathia got worn down last year, but he's not going to have to be a superstar every night. He has a good bullpen behind him. AJ Burnett, if he can stay healthy, is going to be a big game pitcher. Plus you have a healthy Wang, Pettite, and Joba. Should be a good team.

So what do I think? I think we'll see a marked improvement. This team missed the playoffs last year, and I don't see that this year. They might be a wild card team--I don't know enough about Boston or Tampa Bay right now--but they will be in the playoffs.

Beyond that? Who knows?

LIVE BLOGGING: Casino Royale AND Quantum of Solace

2009-03-24T17:44:00.098-05:00

I've wanted to do a Double Feature Live Blog and couldn't seem to find a better set of movies than these. So, after the jump (the link is below the tags), get ready for the BIGGEST LIVE BLOG of them all:

6:53: About to put the DVD of Casino Royale in. Testing out the jump feature first!

6:55: Now that it works, I'm going to put in the DVD. So, a here... we.... go!

7:00: Forgot how good the trailer for Spider-man 3 was. Especially compared to the movie (which I enjoyed... but the trailer ROCKED!)

7:01: Always wondered what audiences who hadn't seen any previews for the movie and limited Bond knowledge thought when they walked into this movie. Did they know it was a reboot? Loved the black and white.

7:03: Unloaded gun pointed at Bond, trigger pulled, bad guy surprised. First time that happens in this movie... NOW.

7:04: When Bond shoots the guy in his chair, there's a quick cut of the guy's family photo. Love it. Shows Bond is a tough m'f'er with little conscience. And then the quick gun barrel sequence. Just a GREAT Bond opening. I put it in top 3. Which is probably where I put this movie as well.

7:06: Chris Cornell theme? I put at Top Ten. But then I love grunge rock too.

7:09: Man, Mr. White as a bad guy. Wonder if my students feel the same way about me.

7:11: And now probably the greatest action sequence in all of the Bond movies, the free run up to the construction site. (Not to be confused with best fight sequence, which is the train fight in FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE.)

7:12: Any other best of Bond moments? Post 'em in the comments!

7:14: Love how Bond is the blunt instrument in this scene, destroying any and everything in his path to catch his target.

7:15: Unloaded gun pointed at Bond... number 2.

7:20 Bond kill count, 3.

7:24: M: "You've got a bloody cheek?" Wonder what the translation is on that one, because at this point Bond's cheek is not bleeding.

7:28: My first thought when Bond takes the guy's Range Rover to park it... Is that truck REALLY a step up from your Ford?

7:31: Hot Girl: "He has a house just up the beach." Bond: "Thank you." That's it? That's all the direction you need? Man, it would be great if he walked into someone else's house randomly. Nope, instead he shows up bare chested in a Speedo.

7:40: Love how Bond is making out and still trying to get answers to questions about the case, yet doesn't ruin the make out mood. That's quality.

7:43: When casting Daniel Craig, they must have looked at his eyes and said "Let's have as many staring scenes as possible."

7:44: What... is that? Why yes, it's Richard Burton being searched at the airport!

7:47: David Arnold is almost John Barry. Almost.

7:52: Er... why exactly are they debuting a new airplane in the middle of the night?

7:56: Miami Air Traffic control? Worst in the world!

7:58: Director Campbell, you hired such a tricky editor!

8:00: Bond Body Count: 4

8:03: Good Lord Eva Green is hot.

8:05: My dad was so proud that he got the skewered joke at the end of this "Let's read each other" scene. It's a nice little pun.

8:13: This scene when Green is putting her make-up on is when Green looks the best. When I saw this in the theater, I literally gasped. And if my gal is reading this...you're much better looking.

8:13: Love the hint of the Bond theme when he puts the tux on.

8:19: I call the Frenchman who helps Green understand the game of poker "Captain Exposition."

8:22: Machetes and hotel rooms never mix. I love how these guys got all good and dressed up to attack LeChiffre.

8:24: Stairwell fight scene is up there with the From Russia With Love. If only it had Robert Shaw.

8:27: Yeaaahhhh, all that death makes me want scotch too. Bond Body Count 5.

8:28: Apparently for the famous "cry in the shower" scene, Eva was supposed to take all of her clothes off (sigh.). She argued that in that state her character wouldn't have waited. Ever notice how all the credit is given to an actor or actress when they make that leap, but never a writer or director when they tell the actor to do something other than what they want?

8:35: Bond just lost. Movie over?

8:36: Hm. Nope seems to still be going on.

8:38: Felix Leiter's "Does it look like we need the money?" line is freakin' laced with irony tonight.

8:40: Good thing someone was there to pick up the phone, run down the hall, and tell M that you've been poisoned, eh Bond?

8:45: I haven't read the book in ages. How close is the 2nd half of the movie to the novel? I mean, there wasn't a fight in the stairwell right? There were guys who blew up a car... and the torture scene is still there.

8:47: Wow Bond, you kinda really hung around on a bad hand for a while, didn't you? If Eva Green knew ANYTHING about poker, she may have killed you right there and then.

8:51: Okay Bond, you've been poisoned, in a horrific car accident. You're unconscious and taken by the bad guys. What possibly could happen next? Seriously, it's all uphill from here, isn't it?

8:55: Oh. That's going to happen. Ouch.

8:58: Everybody say it with me. Thank God Mr. White showed up when he did.

9:04: Oh, Vesper... your emotional reactions late in this movie seems to go to extremes.

9:08: Been a long time since Bond's killed someone. Can't believe his body count is only 5. Wait until QoS when it's like four gagillion.

9:12: Bond walking fast and looking angry. Good sign for Death number 6.

9:14: "I'll kill her!" "Allow me." Go angry Bond, Go.

9:17: Bond makes building sink. Dave looses body count. It's probably at around 8 right now.

9:23: I want Elton John to chime in with "THE BITCH IS DEAD...."

9:24: Oh, Mr. White, you are in soooooooo much trouble. The Bond, James Bond... totally earned.

9:26: Okay, movie over. Will be back with QoS after a very short break.

9:40: Popping in the QoS DVD right now, courtesy of Scott! So here we go. Part two of a double feature!

9:45: When this movie started without a gun barrel scene in the theater, I was ticked. Now let's take a look at Bond as this is supposed to start about 20 minutes after CR. Looks like he's gained some weight in 20 minutes.

9:48: I recall feeling like there were a lot of references to other Bond films in this one. Let's see if I can spot 'em as we go.

9:49: I think this is one of the first times we've had two quality Bond themes in a row. Or maybe it's just my musical tastes.

9:53: No, it's not the weight. He's grown his hair in 20 minutes though. He's also killed 4 guys so far, though not with his hands. They were kind of forced off the road in a car chase. Not sure if it counts. By the way, if you're a twitter follower: www.twitter.com/jamesbondlive

9:59: We'll start the body count at 4. It's now 5.

10:00: It's actually pretty cool, what the Twitter Bond is doing... you may want to follow him too.

10:02: They talk pretty damned fast in this movie. I had trouble following in the theater. Will probably slip up here as I'm looking for lines to post and joke about.

10:03: Okay, surprisingly, Twitter Bond, not as funny as I am. Probably has a writer or something going for "super cheese."

10:04: Love when there are just random fights in Bond movies. Bond Body Count 6.

10:05 Random girls in crappy cars. This really reminds me of a Timothy Dalton film.

10:06: Twitter Bond just said "My bad." Sigh.

10:07: I gotta say, the writers really found a way to make M a viable and compelling character. No longer just exposition.

10:12: "We've already begun destabilizing the government" is an old school Bond cheese line. Love it. This guy is a Robert Davi type villain.

10:15 Bond is on a boat. I will have to keep an eye on the body count, that's for sure. Ah, there are the machine guns. Yeah, this reminds me of License to Kill a lot.

10:16: TWITTER BOND referencing his win with Pegasus in VIEW TO A KILL. You have my respect, sir.

10:17: I'm saying no way those guys survived that crash. Bond Body Count 7. Total 15 for the evening. I think.

10:20: The CIA agent's name is Mr. Bean. But he's not all that bumbling. Boooo!

10:22: How do CIA agents with this kind of attitude pass the training? Seriously, way too goofy, right?

10:23: CIA guy recognizing James Bond. Bond relegated to being the worst SECRET spy ever.

10:25: They always find a way to get him into a tux.

10:26: Love how they all wear earphones at the opera to talk to each other. If I was sitting next to one of them in the audience I was be MEGA pissed. SHUT UP, evil organization, I'm trying to listen to Tosca!

10:28: Bond, clever way to get pictures, but again... WORST SPY EVER in terms of staying a secret.

10:30: Body count now 11, including a direct reference to THE SPY WHO LOVED ME.

10:33: He didn't kill the one guy, so we'll knock it down to 10.

10:36: I think the bartender on the plane has been in other Bond films. Might be time for some IMDB trivia.

10:40 TEACHERS WIN LOTTERY! Oh Bond, how you fantasize. (still nothing on the IMDB trivia search.)

10:43: Twitter Bond: When I get home the Quantum members will have their pictures taggged on Facebook, too. HA!

10:45: Her name maybe Strawberry Fields, but that does not detract from her cuteness.

10:47: Oh, the random cop killing scene where Mathis is able to become Captain Exposition again.

10:48: Love the way Bond hold Mathis parallels him hold Vesper in the shower.

10:52: Airplane search scene reminiscent of THUNDERBALL. Chase scene TOMORROW NEVER DIES.

10:54: I've completely lost count of the kills in this movie. 12?

10:59: Sorry, Bond and the girl are soul searching. I'm just chillin'.

11:01: Bond makes a huge jump in logic, plot moves along thanks to a MONTAGE!

11:04: Another dead girl. Randomly, the villains find a way to NOT get oil anywhere else. Bond is angry and sad. And we all think of Goldfinger.

11:06: I need to learn how to walk like Bond. I'm hot shit, you ain't. I'm in a hurry, but not really. How do you do that?

11:09: Ah. A random hotel in the desert. Makes complete sense super villains. Complete sense.

11:11 WOOOOO TWITTER BOND NOTICED ME: "@Dave_White more to come!" Yeah, I know it's not much, but still.

11:15 Bond is assaulting the desert hotel. I have no chance of counting dead bodies.

11:16: Mr. Greene, that is one ugly shirt. This scene is very Tomorrow Never Dies.

11:18: If CR was Bond learning how to kill with a license, than QoS is Bond learning not to kill. Or better yet, when to kill. Me like.

11:19: Another reference to Bond holding Vesper. Thank God God in the Machine showed up.

11:22: Glad Camille is aware enough to psycho analyze Bond.

11:23 Oooh, Bond, you're so stern with your gun.

11:24: Canadian Intelligence. Oxymoron? (Sorry Sarah! Couldn't resist.)

11:26 A fine coda in Russia. And then we get the gun barrel! My verdict: Casino Royal is a top 3 Bond film. Quantum of Solace is a good Bond film. But stand the two together and it's pretty damn entertaining. Thanks for sticking with me tonight folks!