Will you forgive me for talking work for a sec? It’s fun-work, I swear. OK, thanks. I’m breathe-into-a-bag excited about a new project, and I want to share, because some of you might enjoy it. Here it is:
Ta-da! It’s Musing – a laid-back literary journal. Today it’s being launched out into the world by Parnassus Books.
As you may know, Parnassus is the exquisite little gem of a shop in Nashville that breathed new life into the story of independent bookstores everywhere. (Take that, Amazon.) It’s owned by best-selling novelist Ann Patchett and booklady extraordinaire Karen Hayes, and its star-power brings a roster of authors into town the likes of which you don’t normally see outside major hubs like New York, DC, etc. The Southern literary scene and the world literary scene collide delightfully here, and the conversations that happen in this one little shop, among this group of people and their guests, would blow your mind. So that’s what Musing is all about. Sharing those conversations. And y’all, they’re letting me be the editor of the thing.
Know anyone who’s into this kind of thing? Feel free to spread the word… You can even subscribe (it’s FREE) to get stuff like this directly in your inbox:
- A regular column by Ann Patchett (Like her essays? You’ll love her candid monthly posts about what she’s been doing and reading.)
- What-to-read book lists, so you’ll never be bored again
- Interviews with a wide range of authors (check out our first one: bestselling novelist Sue Monk Kidd)
- Shop Dog Diaries (Fact: Writing in the voice of a dog is 10 times as much fun as writing in the voice of a person.)
Anyway, that’s it. You can read more about it here, and even a little word from me here — but I’ll stop talking now. Back to normal (abnormal?) next time here. Just wanted to share this. I feel tremendously lucky to have the chance to hang out with such smart, funny, interesting folks. Thanks, friends!
PS: I disabled all the likey-sharey buttons on this post (I think), but if your trigger finger is itching, feel free to aim it over at Musing and give it a click.
Oooh, so exciting, congrats!
Thanks, Stacie!
Congrats ML!
Thank you! I think you’ll love it, especially Ann’s column.
Wonderful! So happy for you!!
Thank you for crossing your fingers and toes for it!
How lucky you are to be near that store! I don’t think I’d ever get any work done though…
It can be rather distracting. But fun.
I can’t decide who I am more envious (in a good way) of: Ann P for being friends with you or YOU for being friends with Annie P, one of the best writers ever. Is it weird if I move to Nashville to hang out with ya’ll?
Come on!
I am so freaking excited – this is the kind of shizz that makes me want to be your best friend (in a non-creepy, non-stalker kind of way).
You are my non-creepy friend!
Wow. This is way cool. I just started following you recently and now it feels like kismet! Ann Patchett is one of my very favorite authors, and I have been following with interest her bookstore venture. Do you live in Nashville? I would love to go to the book festival there. Anyway, so happy to have found you and now Musings.
Oh, thank you! I am a part-time Nashvillian. My home and family are 300 miles from here, but I’m up here a lot for Parnassus. The book festival is really fun — you should come for it sometime!
The Like button was there still. I clicked it. But I’m also following the Parnassus blog now – so thanks for the heads up and congrats!
Yay!
Whoa. Running out of admiration adjectives for you. Congrats!!
Sent from ann iMig
You’re too sweet. Thanks!
That is splendiferously amazing! Enjoy editing this fantastic project, and I will go sign up to read!
Oh, good! I think you’ll really enjoy it. Check out the staff picks book list!
Ann Patchett? Are you kidding me?? I love her work! We have a fine little place in my “hood”, The Little Professor Book Shop, which has been in business for as long as I can remember living here (40+ years). Get JD to contact them to bring you all in for a signing-I’m tired of nagging him to do it.
JD, DO WHAT YOUR MAMA SAYS.
Carla, he doesn’t listen to me either.
Thanks for the kind words!
Well, that’s awfully nifty.
Did you know I LOVE the word “nifty”? I do.
Congrats! That sounds like an awesome project to be involved in!
Thanks so much. It’s really fun so far, and a great group of people to boot. Hope you’ll follow along!
Wow, that’s wonderful! And I had no idea about Ann Patchett’s bookstore or the book festival. My husband and I were just talking about possibly visiting TN this spring…now I have a concrete reason to!
There’s so much fun stuff to do in Nashville (I actually don’t live there — I go back and forth from where I live). It’s kind of an “it-city” right now. If you google things to do, you’ll find lots of recent articles about new restaurants and art/music/literary scene. It’s hoppin’! Hope you can make a visit, and definitely put Parnassus on your list.
That looks really exciting! Off to have a good poke around there. 🙂
(Found you either directly or indirectly via The Blogess)
Such a nerd fan of yours already – this is such cool news. I’m looking forward to crawling through the journal – it sounds wonderful!