Garth Stein reads at Jackson Street Books

Second Life:

Real Life:



Jackson Street Books is proud to welcome Garth Stein to discuss his latest award winning novel, The Art of Racing in the Rain. Monday September 7, 6pm PDT.

Heartbreaking and achingly perfect this book is really impossible to describe.Narrated by the big hearted Enzo, this story reminds us of the grace of everyday, the preciousness of each moment. Enzo is a dog who can explain what it is to be human. You can see my earlier reports here.

We have copies available (or pre-order signed copies for 9/14 shipment)

I always regretted not being able to have a signing while we were still in Seattle, but now we'll be able to have an event in Second Life!

UPDATE! Larkworthy's machima is on youtubes now. Thanks Lark!

Here's the podcast of tonight's reading

It's a race!

who will post first? Me or Idella? I challenged her and now I'm copying as fast as I can!Yeah, she might have a nice picket fence, and a stage that would make Garrison cry, but I have a ride! The Sit-n-Spin cube.
Here's our pal Stormbear! Won't you send a book to a soldier?
The Canadians are coming! Look out!
Oh, wait. They want to explain Healthcare to us.
Here's an intersection where you can snag a free pair of Rainbow Mittens or Ask Sarah a Question.
Moody Loner will help you get your WoW on.


Okay, isn't that enough reasons to come to NetRoot Nations in Second Life? What are you waiting for? Jump in. The water's fine.

Stormy will tell you here and here. Mala jumps in today!


UPDATE!!!! Idella won!

David Neiwert in Second Life

We have an exciting event coming up tonight. David Neiwert, founder and award-winning journalist and blogger at Orcinus and of late, at Crooks and Liars discusses his latest book The Eliminationists with Jesus' General, GenJC Christian. Eliminationism: a politics and a culture that shuns dialogue and the democratic exchange of ideas in favor of the pursuit of outright elimination of the opposing side, either through suppression, exile, and ejection, or extermination. Rich in historical and journalistic detail, the book offers a fine overview of the uglier strains in American politics.
Order the book at Jackson Street Books.
This event is a fund-raiser for the up-coming NetRoots in SL09. Join us to find out more. Here's a nice primer to get you started.

*UPDATE!* Here are some pics from earlier tonight at the Arena. Thanks to all attendees, it was a great discussion!



Here's the audio.

Serenity has been Muppet-Rolled.

This promises to be much fun!


And another SL friend, Larkworthy, has made this powerful video:

A Soldier's Peace

When Army journalist Marshall Thompson came home from a tour of duty in Iraq, two things were clear to him – the war is wrong and he needed to do something to stop it. Marshall sets off on foot to walk the entire 500-mile length of his conservative home state of Utah in the hopes of getting people talking about war and peace. All along his 27-day journey, Marshall meets other peace-minded Utahans, as well as those who vehemently oppose the idea of a solider calling for an end to war. No matter what your views are on the War in Iraq, A Soldier’s Peace will leave you with something to think about.

Last weekend, our SLgroup tried to host Marshall Thompson's movie, but it turned out to be the day all things Second Life crashed. The movie didn't get aired, but a very enlightening discussion ensued. You can catch up by going to Marshall's website, or watching the Young Turks tomorrow. Check at 25 minutes past the hour, every three hours. But, you will be a better person if you show up and watch the whole hour.

The movie will be re-scheduled so stay tuned!

How to stalk an author

Garth Stein announced a contest this week; download the "lost dog" poster and snap a picture in a cool location. Sure I coulda gone around Hoquiam and posted it, but I thought it'd be fun to take it to Second Life. I spent all afternoon serial Tweeting my search for Enzo. Here's a re-cap:
First I put it up at Cafe Wellstone, where I'm hosting the Album Cafe tonight: Nick Lowe's Jesus of Cool, 30th anniversary edition.
Michele's lovely rooftop garden. Enzo got to drink from the pond.
Enlisting the help of the Tiny Troops at the Tiny Yak. Enzo! don't drink from the toilet! Tinys pee there!
The beach at the Blue Footed Booby. Dances every Thursday after Virtually Speaking.
I didn't tweet this pic of the lovely Luna as it was so hard to see Enzo begging scraps under the table at the Barefoot Lass Tavern.
Night time at the General & Witchy's gazebo. Don't go into the woods, Enzo! There are bears at the Hetstance Ranch!
Back to the Blue Footed Booby Bar to drown my sorrows with flat Jack Sparrow.
Returning home. Hey! There's Enzo waiting on the steps! Isn't that the way it always goes?
Finally a moment to relax. Good boy, Enzo!

Big Thanks to all my Second Life friends who helped with these photos.

I had asked Garth last week to read The Art of Racing in the Rain at the SL bookstore and when he asked "Where/what's SL?" I sent a lengthy essay with links. His reply: "Oh, god, you're a nut. This is too much for me to learn." But the pictures today did the trick! From Twitter: "garthstein@jacksonstbooks Oh, that is quite brilliant. I am definitely doing a reading at SL. As soon as my 13 yr old teaches me how."

My work here is done :)

Grand Opening of Jackson Street Books

We'll be having a big party on Sunday, to celebrate our new location next to the General's Cafe Wellstone. We have a lovely custom built store and I've been busy stocking the shelves with clickable books that take you to an order blank.



The party gets started at 6pm, with Nick Northman playing live from Boston. Then at 7:30, we switch over to L.A. and Idella Quandry will take the stage. At 9, Klipe Wirefly comes to us from Michigan with his piano jazz stylings. These are amazing musicians and you don't want to miss this fantastic line-up. Crap Mariner will be storytelling for his podcast isfullofcrap. We are also fortunate to be partnered with Jimbo Hoyer's Virtually Speaking and have the featured author's books for sale. Upcoming inworld events include the August NetrootsinSecondLife convention. Now is a great time to get started and we can help get you up to speed as an experienced avatar by then.


I'm working on making a limited edition book that will be available in-world and at the party for just this one evening. I'm not going to mention who the illustrator is, but let's just say he's now hugely successful and was pretty unknown when this volume was published in 1991.

It doesn't take long to download the free software of Second Life and if you send an IM to BookemJackson Streeter, I'll help you get the music going.






In real life news, Janet Brown, author of Tongue Tied in Bangkok (and other places) will be at Elliott Bay Bookstore next Friday, June 5th at 7:30pm. This promises to be a grand home coming as Janet was a bookseller there for several years. We'll be there, and you can order a signed copy from us.

SL Photography

My Second Life friend Nickee Ninetails has entered a photo she created the set for and took, in world. If you have a Flickr account, please go favorite her picture. She wrote about her inspiration for this piece:

If you are interested in peeking at how this set (stage) was built, I'd be happy to show you in world. Just message me!

Here's a link to see Tim Burtons version of this scene
Big Fish Trailer, the first scene is my motivation

...and HERE, is my story

This past March marked the 4th anniversary of the day I gathered with family and friends to say a final goodbye to one of the classiest women I've ever known. Michel and I met when we were 6, did Girl Scouts, school, emotions and life with each other close in heart. We shared our baby stories and love stories and LIFE stories. My friendship with her has outlasted any relationship outside of family.

Her body held an old soul, who seemed to understand things far beyond the 'sight' of others.
She loved deeply.
She fought for what she believed to be right.
She learned to stand up for herself.
She learned how to be completely broken and rebuild.
My respect and love for her has no end.

Michel's legacy is one of honesty, strength, laughter, a love of holidays and of family. Her legacy lives on in those of us who knew her and were ever so fortunate to be graced with her smiles.

When she was so bravely battling the cancer that robbed us of her, she watched Tim Burton's Big Fish over and over again. Somehow it helped her start to say goodbye. She feared not being remembered by her youngest son, but she also told me this movie helped her remember the bright and happy things about life.

She is the inspiration for my Burtonesque choice.

Thank you for your consideration
~Nickee~

Open House

We had a sneak peek Open House party at the new bookstore and the General took some pictures for us! What a lovely evening. Dano DJed until it was time for The Super Pink Thing to take over the airwaves and play labor rights tunes to celebrate workers around the world.

Jane2
Hypatia
Griffin
Me!
DJ Dano
Bianca, who gave me that super knitting rocking chair as a house warming prezzie!
The General! Whose help has been invaluable and I'll never be able to thank enough.

Thanks for coming over, my friends, we'll do it again soon!

los Gatos

Tonight we were in a band! Klipe played the live recording from yesterday's RL performance, and several of us were recruited to be stand in band members. Dano played Bass, I was on Timbales (and cymbal!) ZeroOne was awesome on the Vibes, and Michele and the General kept the beat on Congas.

Oh, and here's the guys who, like actually make the music:


hugs & fishes to Ilsa and her drunken friend who helped!

Nick Northman at JSB today!

In honor of Vinyl Record Day, Virtual jackson Street Books will host Virtual Musician Nick Northman, 5 to 6 pm. Get a Second Life and come on over!

The book report is up, and it is very dear to me. Janet is a long-time friend. Go look at her book!

Real Life vs. Second Life

There is a big difference and you need to be very careful at those scary virtual worlds.
Oh, wait...

Virtual Friends

Last week, Skal told us about a program that Scott Simon had done on virtual schools on Second Life. There was also a video, and at the end, Scott Simon invited listeners to friend him virtually. So I did!

Scott Simon is a Friend of Jackson Street Books! Woooot!