Joe Borri's Blog

Avatar craze

2010-01-17T18:34:00.000-08:00

So I dropped off two of my kids today to see Avatar at a screen that was showing it in IMAX. We were there 40 minutes early, had pre-ordered the tickets, and the line for the movie was wrapped around the back concession stand. This movie's appeal is unreal. Despite the comparisons to Pocahontas and Dances With Wolves, people love this film. When will the crowds abate? The idea that Cameron's going to make 2 more of these bad boys is mind-blowing for a couple reasons, the least of which is the money it will make him. How about the technology? If this film looks this incredible now, imagine what A2 will look like? What about A3? Will Cameron go the Lucas route? That is to say, if George is to be believed, purposely making all movies in the series with similar FX so they look familial? I doubt it. This guy opened up Pandora's Box (I know, bad intended pun...so sue me) with this flick. I can't wait to see what movies look like a year from now. I liked it so much I changed my avatar, too.

2010

2010-01-04T17:26:00.000-08:00

The New Year brings hope and possibilities to everyone, and I'm no exception. From a personal standpoint, my goal is to find a literary agent that gets my work, believes in what I'm trying to say, and helps me find a national publisher. I've written two more books, these are both novels (the first was a collection of short stories). I've been rejected several times from major agents and though I've got thick skin, there are some weak spots developing from repeatedly getting socked around in the same spot (namely my gut!). I aim to keep writing, knowing that the only way to get better is to keep working. It's draining, mentally and physically, but I feel a calling I can't explain. To a great degree, it's out of your hands as an artist and writer. God, fate, luck all play a major part in it, sometimes moreso (but doubtfully very often) than talent.

My wish is that those who reach for unconventional dreams, can continue to mine the will from their souls to continue working hard and striving toward their goal, stay positive and not let "the bastards grind them down".

May the Season Shine Upon You

2009-12-21T12:10:00.000-08:00

It's been a long time again! I need to try and make a New Year's rez to get on here and post something at least once a week. Well, something relevant. Really shouldn't be that difficult, right? My hope for the coming year is health, happiness and prosperity to everyone out there, or at least those that come across my blog and this post in particular.

As far as the economy, I think things are starting to S-L-O-W-L-Y turn, ever so snail-like in Michigan, but it's definitely getting better. So, in closing, may the mysteries of life shine upon you and yours and may you have a bright and beautiful Holiday Season!

Been a long time since I blogged and rolled

2009-08-07T09:55:00.000-07:00

Yeah, bad reference to a great song. I just felt like posting since it's been a long time. Summer came and went. Been writing as much as time allows. My new job at Indigo Studios has kept me busier into the night than the last place I was at. Namely because most of the activity is out of Michigan and requires more research. Working on my third book, a thriller about a Chicago hitman retired in Detroit and his Detroit cop son. I'm about 52,000 words in. Enjoy the rest of the summer. Hope to see you in stores with my second book, The Claw. All I need is an agent and a publisher. I'll try and keep you all posted.

Journalist, moi? I think not

2009-04-15T05:53:00.000-07:00

Not sure if anyone even reads this blog anymore, but I've been contributing columns to a new sports' website, www.motorcitysports.net. If you come across this blog, check out the site. It's devoted to Detroit and its teams, athletes and news. The writers are mostly journalists. I am certainly no journalist, nor do I pretend to be. My intent is to write a fun, interesting column for people to read. Please take a minute or two to check out the site. My latest piece is called Millen Memories. There are three others; The Sport of Fishing, Bleacher Creatures, and a Q&A with comedian/tv star Dave Coulier. If you read them, send me a comment, even if it's disparaging, just to let me know you care.

Eight Dogs goes international

2009-03-25T17:04:00.001-07:00

So my friend sends me a couple photos telling me about his gal friend that recently went on a mission trip to Tanzania, Africa. He says that the city is known for its famed Masai Warriors; the tall guys in robes that kill rogue lions with spears. He says that now those guys are seen chatting on cell phones and drinking triple espressos at Starbucks. So he sets me up even more by saying that his friend spotted one of these revered warriors reading a book...
Love it. Is that great or what?

New Job!

2009-02-22T14:45:00.000-08:00

I started working as a rep for Indigo Studios in Atlanta on February 1st. It is nothing short of divine intervention that I went fom working at a studio full of unique talent to another studio with equally stellar creatives on staff. After 19 years at a great company, the automotive crisis and the economy hit us, and the time was right for me to make a move. Indigo is based in Atlanta and I'm fortunate to be able to work from home via remote desktop. It's been a challenging transition to acclimate to the new studio culture, namely that I am physically the only one in the new studio culture! Thankfully, because of the Skype camera, I am able to teleconference every day with the folks in Atlanta. It's an exciting time but getting acclimated has found me behind in my writing and the pursuit of agents and national publishers for my next two books. I'm back at it though, slowly and surely. Stay tuned.

Beating winter

2009-01-18T17:00:00.000-08:00

Not entirely possible but after feeling absolutely boxed in the last week due to frigid temperatures, the balmy 18 degree day, with a brisk 20 mph wind beckoned my two youngest daughters to ask, "Can we go sledding, dad?"
How do you say no to that? Answer: you don't! You through on the long ones, thick socks and load em up. We had a right. Them, flying down the hill, and me watching. Believe it or not, they are at the Jonas Brothers concert at Joe Louis. Evidently, they're some kind of "pop band" that is marginally popular amongst young girls.

Popeye Knows Best

2009-01-13T10:05:00.000-08:00

I think about this vocation I'm in, the arts. And it brings up questions. For instance, why was I born right-brained? Why didn't God just switch things, so I wouldn't be filled with all these images and ideas, these ridiculous stories and dreams of what life has in store for me on a creative front. I think it would be so wonderful to have the kind of mind that understands math, science, that can figure out a mechanical problem and apply the principles learned through proper schooling.
Of course, it's a ridiculous wish.
I can't change what I am. Working at an art studio for 19 years, and struggling to break into the writing game is proving as difficult as was getting that first paying job as a free-lance illustrator.
The city stumbles and struggles, but as Detroiters, we keep our head down and trudge forward.
One step at a time.
The footing is precarious. And the temptation to flee is there.
But for me anyway, it's a siren song I'll never answer.
Family and friends.
The beauty of the north country.
All of it keeps me trying to make it here.
So like Popeye was fond of saying, "I yam what I yam."

2009

2009-01-06T20:29:00.001-08:00

Bring it.

Merry Christmas

2008-12-25T10:44:00.001-08:00

Wanted to wish everyone in cyberspace a Merry Christmas and a healthy, safe and prosperous New Year.
God bless.
Joe

2008-12-07T18:44:00.000-08:00

Blogging hasn't been a top priority of late. I've been writing a third book, working on a treatment for Flight of the Hopper and supplying notes on a treatment someone wrote for Measure of a Man. So I'm wondering, do I blog once a week? Month?
I have no idea if anyone reads them. Anyway, felt like I had to post something, though. Maybe it's the negative atmosphere in the city, the economy. I don't know. I saw a girl in Ann Arbor wearing a t-shirt that read, "No One Cares About Your Blog."
Maybe that says it all.

Dave Coulier in Romeo

2008-11-10T14:07:00.000-08:00

Went and checked out Dave Coulier at Youngers in Romeo on Saturday. Amazingly funny show, and not one expletive. It's hard to imagine in today's culture that someone could be so entertaining and not use racial epithets, curse words or salty language to make everyone laugh. It was a really fun night, and I had an opportunity to talk with Dave for about 20 minutes after the show to talk about future projects he's working on and what I'm trying to do. He's a local guy that made it big and hasn't let success spoil him. A great guy that I love to see doing well. Check out his website at Cleanguys.

Traverse Magazine Interview/Bow Season

2008-10-30T18:15:00.000-07:00

I had the recent honor of being interviewed by Traverse Magazine's Emily Tyra. She first did a piece on the book last November, when she recommended my story, Measure of a Man to be excerpted in the magazine. I was introduced to Emily from a good friend, writer Patty LaNoue Stearns. Patty hooked me up with Emily and fortunately for me, she liked the story. Now I'm excited to say that in addition to the interview, the online version of Traverse, www.mynorth.com is posting the entire short story, Bow Season as well. The story has been edited for "strong language". I know, hard to believe, but totally understandable! Anyway, my thanks to Patty, my thanks to My North, but a heartfelt thanks to Emily Tyra, for continuing to believe in me and support my work.

Aunt Agatha's Bookshop Review

2008-10-24T22:22:00.003-07:00

I'll be there today, from 1:30-3-ish. If you're around Ann Arbor, come on by.

NaNo WriMo at Schuler Books & Music

2008-10-20T07:46:00.000-07:00

I've been invited to be a participant in the NaNo WriMo Boot Camp Author Series at Schuler Books & Music in Lansing. The event is this Wednesday, October 22nd. Here's what Schuler's web posting says:

Join us for the second in our series of author panels leading up to National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) in November. The Fiction Author panel will feature Joe Borri (Eight Dogs Named Jack); Colleen Gleason (The Gardella Vampire Chronicles); Jill Gregory, award-winning author of over 30 novels; Jim Hines, (Goblin Hero series); and Karen Tintori (Unto the Daughters, co-author with Gregory of Book of Names).

From what I've been told, there will be a discussion held regarding the publishing experience from an author's standpoint. I believe there will be a Q&A session followed by a book-signing.

ADDRESS:
2820 Towne Center Blvd.
Lansing, MI 48912
888-612-6657 (Michigan only)
517-316-7495

Hope to see anyone that may live in the Lansing area.

Aunt Agatha's Bookshop Review

2008-09-26T07:02:00.000-07:00

Robin Agnew and her husband Jamie own Aunt Agatha's, a bookstore in Ann Arbor that is a favorite among crime fiction and mystery lovers. While my book isn't necessarily full of mysteries (except how it ever got published! HEY-O!), there's enough Michigan in it for her to have been kind enough to give it consideration. Here's what she said:

Eight Dogs Named Jack, Joe Borri, Momentum Books, $24.95.

Joe Borri is new to writing — or published writing, anyway, I doubt he's new to writing — he's instead long worked as an artist. His collection of short stories, Eight Dogs Named Jack, are illustrated as well as written by him. The black and white illustrations look very much like woodcuts, but I encourage you to ask him the actual process, which he explained to me and which, like the man himself, is both original and unique. The stories are set either in urban Detroit or in the wilds of Michigan, and all seem to include some kind of life defining moment for the character as well as a real richness of tone, atmosphere and character detail. These are very Italian stories, and their very specificness lends them an extra air of originality.
The opening story, "Honest John", is set in the Detroit of 1968, and told from the point of view of a seven year old boy, who gives the nickname "Honest John" to his uncle, a nickname that, to judge by his family's reaction, is an entirely inappropriate one. Borri doesn't deviate from the understanding of events that a seven year old would have, so while uncle John's lack of honesty may have been apparent to an adult, to a child it's vague. What isn't vague are the details of the Italian neighborhood in Detroit where Richie lives, and the catholic school he attends, with this classic description of the nun who is his teacher: "The nun was an evil, broad-shouldered woman just shy of six feet with ringlets of oily, jet-black hair. She looked like a man in a habit..." The rest of the story is equally vivid.

The title story, "Eight Dogs Named Jack", is just as distinct, though it's told not from a child's point of view, and rather than being set in Detroit, it's set in the thumb. Two friends, Tom and Mike, take Tom's new dog, Duke, out for his first attempt at hunting. Mike, who has eight dogs named Jack (it's a perfectly good name, after all), razzes Tom about naming his dog after Duke Ellington. By the end of the story, both men and the dog have come through a life changing event of sorts for all three. It will stay with you after you finish it. While these aren't mystery stories, they are terrific and memorable stories, and the Michigan setting couldn't be more vivid.

Millen FIRED!

2008-09-24T07:09:00.001-07:00

YES!!!!

Kerrytown BookFest and Hemingway

2008-08-26T13:48:00.000-07:00

I've been invited to be on a panel of short story writers at next week's Kerrytown BookFest in Ann Arbor. This is my first time being on any kind of panel, and to be honest, I have no idea what to expect. Oh, I'm sure there will be a few folks that might ask a question or two, most likely regarding how to get published, process, etc. But in terms of reception, not a clue if anyone there will have ever picked up my book for other than a cursory glance. The other authors on the panel are Peter Ho Davies, Dorene O'Brien & Lolita Hernandez. Dorene is a good friend, and I'm hopeful the other two are as giving and supportive as she has been.

I also was asked to judge a cover contest for The Nick Adams Stories, submitted by high school students. There was a lot of great design work at hand, and I had the opportunity to do that alongside Steve (forgot his last name-sorry Steve!) at Huron River Press and get this--Edward Hemingway, a descendant of Ernest! I believe Edward is a children's book illustrator. In any case, that was a lot of fun, too.

Please come to the event and say hello this Sunday, September 7th. The info is linked on the title. The book cover award winner is being presented at 11 am, but the panel is at 1 pm and books are available for signing and purchase. Hope to see you there.

Kwame Please Cop a Plea!!!

2008-08-07T12:18:00.000-07:00

i just want him to go away. He's ruining anything good he ever took credit for. God, what a mess.
He will set race relations back in this city 30 years with his race baiting antics. Good riddance.

The Dark Knight

2008-07-31T20:36:00.000-07:00

Okay, I just got back from The Dark Night at the IMAX at Henry Ford. HOLEEEEE CRRRAPPPOLA!!! One of the only movies I've ever seen that has lived up to the hype! I won't bore you with my review, because I know I'm late to the party, but some impressions:

*IMAX!-Can't imagine seeing this film on anything other than IMAX. Absolutely visually assaulting. Tremendous cinematography, design, the whole thing.
*Heath Ledger-Honestly, I think even had he lived, this performance would go down as one of the absolute most memorable one on screen. Riveting, compelling and as complex as any method actor's performance. What a shame he died, and wasn't able to witness the celebration for his performance come Oscar time. I would hate to be an actor nominated this year in a best supporting role.
*Screenplay-What a great story. I told the buddy I went with, that it seems to me when they hit a point in the script that required drama or sensitivity, they went a 180. This especially true with the Joker. Great lines, tension, playful repartee between characters.
*Cast-Freeman and Caine, can't beat them. Bale is sensational, although I would prefer his voice be a little less forced. I actually like Keaton's Batman voice a bit better. But it's what he does with his face that makes it so watchable. That Maggie Gyllenhall, strange looking woman, and I almost wonder if they used her instead of a more classically beautiful actress who could've proven too distracting and not "complex" enough for a man of Wayne's tastes. Aaron Eckhart was very good, as was Gary Oldman, whose ability to shape-shift into roles as varied as he's played is nothing short of staggering.
*Sound-The use of natural sound, and high-pitched noise to convey terror, pain, sorrow was a real throwback. IMAX enhanced it dramatically.

LAST BUT NOT LEAST:
TOM LONG, local movie reviewer from The Detroit News, gave this a B-!!! WTF movie was he watching? This guy also gave "Over Her Dead Body" with Eva Longoria-Parker the same grade. Huh? He said not enough Ledger, too long and Batman too dark and serious. Right. Sorry Tom,you are wrong on all counts. And the restrained use of Ledger was genius as the anticipation of his re-appearances was made even more tantalizing and anticipated.

Swimming season over

2008-07-29T14:56:00.000-07:00

This year's swim season went by quick! Bad weather at the start of the season caused for make ups and that gave the whole summer a quickened pace. It never felt like we had a spring, instead slipping between rainy, cold and brutal hot weather.
The kids had a great A Finals meet, and Marina is in Maryland now competing in the Y Nationals. My free spirited son, Gino, proudly displayed his back tattoo, designed by yours truly (rendered in Sharpie). It reads, El Gino, Spanish for The Gino.
(apologies to the late Chris Farley).

Dog Days Coming

2008-07-22T15:53:00.000-07:00

Summer has flown by, and I wonder if it's more because of the awful start we had. There was never that nice transition into spring. It seems that now all we have is fading winter then BOOM! Hot summer days. This year it was cold/hot/cold/hot then boatloads of rain. I can't believe all the rain. Everything looks so much greener than normal. The canopies up north are more lush, the grass at home is greener. But now I'm starting to feel that drag-ass weather coming, where soon we'll just melt the days and wait for fall.

I'm polishing my novel, working on the 3rd rewrite. It's around 123,000 words, though I have no idea what it will be pared down to.

Michigan Authors Homecoming

2008-07-10T21:07:00.000-07:00

I was fortunate enough to attend the Michigan Authors Homecoming last night at the Wharton Center in East Lansing on MSU's campus. Was I glad I went. Seeing and listening to Jim Harrison, Thomas McGuane and Richard Ford talk about their experiences as writers was nothing short of inspirational. Unbelievable and historic, to have three of the nation's most celebrated authors, and Michigan State graduates, on the same stage. The three are good friends, and it was apparent in the way they played off each other. Harrison didn't disappoint with bawdy sexual banter and stories of Hollywood. McGuane was polished and very witty, telling hilarious stories of flyfishing adventures and his time at MSU. And Ford was a southern gentleman with a cutting wit and self deprecating way about him--I'm eager to read his book, The Sportswriter, the first of his famous Bascombe trilogy.

Afterwards, I was able to get Harrison to sign his Memoir, and got him to mumble something about our mutual friend and owner of Dog Ears Books, Pamela Grath: "Arrr, a lovely woman. How's she putting up with that husband of hers?" Delightful. McGuane was gracious as was Ford, signing my copies of Gallatin Canyon and The Sportswriter, respectively. What a night.

Vacation

2008-06-29T19:45:00.000-07:00

Taking a week to chill up north with the family. Looking forward to doing nothing but fish, golf, write and relax. Hope everyone is safe and healthy. God bless.
Joe

Mission work

2008-06-23T11:58:00.001-07:00

My son, Gino, is off for several days on a mission trip with a local church. He's in Gulfport, Mississippi with a group of 60+ kids from our area, helping rebuild homes destroyed or torn up from Hurricane Katrina. We talked to him yesterday and he told us that the first thing his crew and him would do was rebuild a porch and put up a wheelchair ramp. This heartened me. Realizing that even though much of the community service kids do these days is motivated because colleges require it for consideration, it's my hope that he's changed by it. Seeing others out there who by geographic chance had their lives turned upside down can only help ground him to the fact that there is so many blessings in life that can't be bought. I miss him already, and know that the young man who returns will be different than the one who got on the bus last Friday.

Tiger!

2008-06-16T15:58:00.000-07:00

Did anyone think he wouldn't make the shots he needed to make, when he needed to make them? The guy is steel.
Gotta give it up to Eldrick. The man can flat out play. Even with a bad leg, he's better than almost anyone out there. Get ready for the "clever" Nike commercials. They're coming.

Happy Birthday Toby

2008-06-11T21:54:00.001-07:00

This is a shout out to a great friend of mine, Toby. The man, the myth, the legend. He stands tall, battling bad men from the Pacific Northwest and abroad. One of the brightest, funniest and most honorable men I've ever known. It's been over 20 years, but our friendship remains strong.

Happy Birthday good friend. Hope to share a cold Leinenkugel or two one day soon.

Happy Birthday Marina!

2008-06-10T19:58:00.000-07:00

I'm a little late with this post, as I've been doing caricature portraits for my oldest daughter's aunt (40th Birthday) and favorite teacher's farewell. My lovely daughter turned 14 the other day. She was the first girl of our four children, and as oldest daughter sets the most wonderful example to her younger sisters we could ever hope for. She's a tremendous friend, beautiful person inside and out and a great student. We're proud of her swimming and academic accomplishments, but it's her character and soul that we are so proud to have been blessed with. Marina, you're one of the shining lights of my life, and I love you with all my heart. God bless you little lady. Dad.

HOCKEYTOWN!

2008-06-04T20:06:00.000-07:00

Now I can post this! One of the most exciting finishes that I can remember--and it went our way!

OOPS.

2008-06-02T22:10:00.000-07:00

Guess we planned that parade a little too early, eh? Shit. Revised art. Note emerging penguin.

Go WINGS Game 5!

2008-06-02T13:50:00.000-07:00

Tonight's the night, we all hope and pray! Especially after that Pistons' debacle last weekend. So eat up those Penguins boys.
GO WINGS!!!

Tin Man and Toby shout out

2008-05-27T07:47:00.001-07:00

Here's the second in a series of characters from the Wizard of Oz. Not sure where my schedule will take me, but the Scarecrow will be the next I'll try to tackle.

Also, hello to my good friend, Toby. The man, the myth, the legend. You can't tame the wind. Let's do a better job of keeping in touch my good friend.

GO WINGS!

2008-05-22T20:53:00.000-07:00

Heading "Up North" for the holiday, and as such am going to miss the first Wings' game, which sucks to no end. Anyway, I'm hoping for a great series, with the men in red destroying the Pens in 5, but could see it going 7. Bring the cup home fellas.
GO WINGS!!!

Basal cell & my wish for a Bruce Jenner nose

2008-05-21T20:48:00.000-07:00

I don't know about you but I am really looking forward to warm weather. The last vestiges of fall have attached themselves to me and give me the blahs. But I'm posting today to urge everyone who comes across my blog, that's right, all 3 of you, to check yourself for any unusual spots. These could be freckles that have gotten bigger, moles that have changed shapes, and other age spots that a body gets. You don't have to be fair-skinned to fall victim to it either, as I found out.

There was this little bump on the right tip of my nose, above the nostril. The dermo biopsied it just to be on the safe side, telling me that because I was Italian, I probably had nothing to worry about. Wrong-O! She called me and told me it was a basal cell skin cancer, "the best skin cancer" she called it. So they set me up with a specialist and he took it off. But not before digging deep. I was hoping he could've whacked a little off here and there (have you seen my nose?), but instead of coming out looking like Bruce Jenner, all I got was a tic-tac sized gauge that a plastic surgeon sewed up. Note: 15 shots of local anesthetic in the old schnozz. Ouch. So now it's a continued life of SPF 500.

Get checked everyone. In case that spot is not the "best skin cancer" and something worse.

Corporate Tree Hugger

2008-05-15T09:49:00.000-07:00

This is an illustration I did for the Detroiter, a magazine about well, business in Detroit. The assignment was to come up with an illustration that conveyed the benefits of going green in the office environment. I chose the newfangled light bulb as an icon that represents the change in our ideas about conserving energy.

Plus it looked cool.

Borri's Books

2008-05-12T09:46:00.000-07:00

My friend and former colleague, artist Gary Cooley, just returned from a trip he took to Italy. He sent me this photo he snapped of a bookstore at the Rome train station. How cool is that?
Needless to say, they don't stock my book there, but fuggedabout it! THEY SHOULD!

Cowardly Lion

2008-04-29T13:02:00.000-07:00

It's been a bit of time since I've posted. Been trying to get back in the swing since Aruba. Not easy. Anyway, here's the latest piece I've been working on. It's part of a series of detailed editorial illustrations I'm trying to put together. I plan on doing the Tin Man and the Scarecrow. I'll pass on Dorothy, though.

Back in Detroit

2008-04-22T19:32:00.000-07:00

Came back from a week in Aruba sans chillen. That's the view from the lanai. The ocean is off to the right and we overlooked a massive pool from our fourth floor suite. Went with my three brother-in-laws and sister-in-laws, along with my lovely wife. Man, tough to get back in the swing of things. I decided to start back heavy into my writing, and have started the second draft of my novel, The Claw. Definitely needed the time away more than I thought, and aside from the constant FREAKING WIND, Aruba is a beautiful island. The people are extremely nice, VERY LAID BACK, which drove me crazy most of the time (especially waiting for dinner), and the water is as blue as Windex. Drank the local brew (Balashi) and it tasted so damn good I probably pounded more than I had since college. Anyway, I'm going to dedicate myself to becoming a better artist and writer so that I can afford to visit more places without such huge gaps of time in between. Good to be back in the USA.

Ava's 7 and Aruba, here we come

2008-04-11T20:40:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone. Going south, really south, to Aruba. I think that's south. First vaca for my wife and I in 10 years sans children. Thanks to my sisters and my mother-in-law, the kids will be in good hands.

Anyway, I'll be back in a week. Maybe I'll post some photos, who knows. Here's a tribute of my youngest, little Ava. She turns 7 and is quite the poster. We'll be away for her actual birthday, but we celebrated today and made it a special time for all of us. Take care all and God bless.

Pat Caputo Rules!

2008-04-08T14:12:00.000-07:00

I love columnist and radio talk jock (97.1 The Ticket) Pat "The Book" Caputo. The guy is a native and knows his stuff. Rock on Pat. Don't let the haters get you down. And there is nothing, NOTHING gay about you! (not that there's anything wrong with that).

Obama sucks at bowling

2008-04-02T17:21:00.000-07:00

Did I really hear on the radio that Obama bowled a freaking 37? Seriously. I thought I "mis-heard" it. I mean, a 137, sure. A 1-0-7, even. But how un-athletic do you have to be, barring certain handicaps, to bowl a 37? It seems you can bowl close to 100 by accident. I heard a guy on the radio say he's now not even sure how comfortable he is with the prospect of Barack as his President. That's sarcasm steeped in machismo (well, it is bowling, which I'm not even sure you'd call a sport. Similar to darts, or even golf). The guy played basketball in college. I hope he's not asked to throw out a first pitch! Heaven help us. It does connect to all the crap these candidates are expected to answer to; from kissing babies, eating bad regional foods (while smiling), listening to the populace drone on with their particular issues. And of course, bowl. This is going to be fun to watch develop down the stretch run until November.

What about the old guy?

2008-03-27T12:52:00.000-07:00

Every time I see a news item on Barack or Hilary, I keep wondering what the election will reveal about the two candidates that we don't already know. It just feelslike one of them is a candidate the general voting population wants. Then there's "Pastorgate" for Barack (in the form of Rev. Wright) and "Snipergate" for Hilary (in the form of being outed by none other than the "comedian", Sinbad, no less!) that clouds the positions the two candidates take. But how about McCain? He had an alleged relationship with a lobbyist, but what else is out there? Can he beat either of the Dems? Is he just too damn old looking? I mean, I wouldn't use that as a pre-requisite for my vote, but it's hard to get past his appearance sometimes. I wonder if when people are in the privacy of that booth, what will compel them to pull--or not pull--the trigger on a certain candidate. Will age, race or gender play a role? Anyone who doesn't think so is fooling themselves. Maybe it will all come down to which running mate is chosen to assuage the fears of the voters to the shortcomings they feel for a particular candidate.

Your Life (in 6 words or less)

2008-03-26T08:14:00.000-07:00

Local columnist Neal Rubin had written a column where he touched on the compilations contained in the book, "Not Quite What I Was Planning-Six-Word Memoirs by Writers Famous & Obscure (Harper Perennial $12). Since I'm a HUGE Neal Rubin fan, I sent him an email to say hello and offered my own 6-worder. You can see what I contributed by clicking the headline to go to the article online. I'd love to hear what you all would put as your own sparse memoir. It's not as easy as it sounds.

My Favorite TV Show

2008-03-24T12:53:00.001-07:00

Just a little homage to my favorite TV show. The Office is one the best pieces of writing and acting on TV. These four; Jim, Dwight, Michael and Stanley, are my favorite characters on the show.

Where did the time go?

2008-03-19T10:49:00.001-07:00

My oldest child and only son, Gino, turns 16 today. He's a truly unique kid, a description which seems to be fading with every week. His voice is deeper than mine, and he can probably grow a better beard already (he got the Sicilian genes from my wife's side). More than that, he's mature and has a sophisticated sense of humor that I love. And the kid can really dance, truly. I felt compelled to depict him standing on the rock in front of Harrison, surrounded by two of his favorite characters and pictures of his sisters and buddies. Happy Birthday, Gino. I love you kid.

Favorite Shows

2008-03-18T15:43:00.000-07:00

There are a lot of funny shows on TV. During the writes' strike, I missed The Office, 30 Rock, heck, even Desperate Housewives. But I really love House, M.D. The show really grew on me. Hugh Laurie, the lead character, possesses a wry inflection that never tires. He's really created one of the more iconic, memorable characters in television. While much of the plots are merely window dressing to allow House to espouse his cynical take on the cast and the emergency situation at hand, it's all great fun. Do you have a favorite show now? And what shows from the past are untouchable as far as Top 10? Mine are below, in no particular order:
1. All in the Family
2. M*A*S*H
3. Taxi
4. Seinfeld
5. Barney Miller
6. NYPD Blue
7. Hill Street Blues
8. Cop Rock.
That was a joke.
8. The Bob Newhart Show (the Suzanne Pleshette one)
9. The Jeffersons
10. Night Court

Review and giveaway

2008-03-12T21:14:00.000-07:00

Diane Kidman, the author of the writing blog, Carp(e) Libris Reviews, has posted a really nice review of the book, along with a giveaway. Thanks Diane, for helping get the book into the hands of people who might have missed it otherwise. To read the review, click the headline of this post.

Nicole Kidman

2008-03-12T08:11:00.001-07:00

I always thought Nicole Kidman was a beautiful woman, especially considering the coloring she was blessed with. And I also prefer her pre-whatever the hell plastic surgeon she visited. Looking at her in recent photos, I don't know what the hell she was thinking. Anyway, here's my take on her when she was just in the post Billy Bathgate era, probably around the time she starred with her future nutjob husband, Tom Cruise.

More Favre Love

2008-03-10T20:49:00.000-07:00

I was listening to the national take on Brett Favre retiring and much of it centered on John Madden's "Man Crush" on the venerable number 4. So yesterday I came across Gladiator, and like any other red-blooded male, I of course stopped and watched it. Why not just pop the DVD into the machine that was sitting there? Because this way I could watch it and still flip through other channels. Anyway, an image of Maximus as he was wearily defeated blended with "the Louisiana Gunslinger" stumbling off to sell Wranglers and whatever else, while a blubbering John Madden is left to mourn for the rest of his days. Whatever, it made for a fun drawing.

Brett Favre

2008-03-07T08:58:00.000-08:00

God knows how John Madden and Tony Kornheiser will ever make it through another football season now that the object of their desire has retired. Yes, Brett Favre has hung up the spikes, and the biggest Lion killer since I've been cognizant enough to follow the Leos will be removed from the picture. Not that it will matter, they still will suck, of course. As much as the media fawns over the guy (it's not his fault that there's a Brett-lovefest) I have to give it up to him. There aren't many football players like him and he made watching football a lot more fun to watch. Damn, I wish the Lions could get a QB like him.

Kwame

2008-03-05T22:12:00.000-08:00

Kwame, Kwame, the Kwamenator. Who would've thunk that such a promising, intelligent up and comer could fall so fast? I've thought through this whole debacle, "That has to be the worst phone contract in history. Eight + million for 14,000 text messages". I really can't believe the citizens that live in my former hometown will put up with him anymore. He needs to go, and soon. Later K. LOL.

You Like Me! You REALLY Like Me!

2008-03-05T10:49:00.000-08:00

I told anyone that would listen that the Clinton Machine isn't dead yet. It will be really interesting to see where the Dems go with their candidate selection given the political hot potatoes of having a woman running against a person of color. I think there will be great division in their ranks as Hillary tries to gently suggest that Barack's just not experienced and ready to lead the country without setting off all kinds of claims of said suggestions being perceived as condescending by the black community. For the time being though, like Sally Fields after snagging the Oscar for Norma Rae, old Hillary knows she still has pals in the country.

Who gets your vote?

2008-03-03T13:47:00.000-08:00

With a form of Super Tuesday approaching Ohio and Texas, and the empty feeling left for us in Michigan (because the Democratic party from our state and the national post screwed things up) I wonder who people are leaning towards. I still don't know who I'm going to vote for. But the guy who I think would be most fun to draw is Barack. I just added a very distraught, disheveled Hillary. She's got that look that says, "Hey mister! Wait your turn!"

I'll try a McCain at some point, but let me know if you feel like sharing your political leanings.

Eight Dogs on YouTube

2008-02-27T12:47:00.000-08:00

Check out my new attempt to help move books. Hey, if the dude who sang Chocolate Rain and that Star Wars light saber kid can get "hits", I figure why can't I. To go to YouTube and view the video, please click HERE
Maybe if enough folks view it, I'll be the next Tay Zonday. FYI, the dude who sings Chocolate Rain. His voice makes James Earl Jones' sound like Minnie Mouse

Detroit News' Neal Rubin clears my reputation

2008-02-25T07:07:00.000-08:00

I am not a porn freak, OK? So God bless Neal Rubin. Because of him the neighbors in my sub will know it without me having to convince them of it.

CLICK THE HEADLINE ABOVE to get redirected to the online version of the article.

The Detroit News columnist has been a friend to many aspiring artists, musicians and writers over the years by mentioning their efforts to get their work in front of the public. Neal and I became acquainted when I called him out of the blue the day after a Sugar Ray concert. My wife and I had taken my son, Gino and daughter, Marina, to the show, and they made it onstage with Mark McGrath of Sugar Ray. He wrote a great article (which you can still find online). Anyway, Neal found the Craigslist article hilarious, and told me he'd try to get it into print. Well into print he did. The article is in today's paper, with primo placement, right next to all the Oscar coverage. He even put the cover in the beginning of the article. What a guy.
Neal also graciously notes that I'm working on a second book, an adaptation of an unsold screenplay. That's The Claw. As a big dreamer, the irony that that appeared next to all those stars with their Oscars wasn't lost on me. I sure hope I get it closer to Hollywood than Neal's article, but if I don't, I'm still so appreciative for the help and support I've received from people all over, and for the few media folks that have used their forums to give me more exposure.

Thanks again, Neal, not only for the support but for clearing my rep. It's much appreciated.

The original Big Joe

2008-02-20T13:41:00.000-08:00

I love old photos. Here's one of my father when he worked for the Detroit Police Department. That's him 2nd from the end on the right side. The mustache is not there, which was a rare occurrence. It's almost white now and crawls across his face. Taken in 1968, a year after the riots, he's probably my age in this pic, around 45. Hard to believe that I was 6 at that time and remember how he looked, the smell of his cologne, and the easiness of his laugh. Every day he's here is a gift, and for that I am truly thankful.

Salute Big Joe; the greatest father a man could ask for.

Blood Meridian

2008-02-19T19:45:00.000-08:00

I just finished reading an earlier McCarthy book at the urging of my buddy Mike Besch. Mike's one of the best-read men that I know and has turned me on to many great books. After reading The Road, I delved into Blood Meridian and have to say it is a war- and terror-filled tome where Indians certainly are not portrayed with any Hollywood-stereotype nobilities. There are scenes of death and destruction that you simply have to read to believe, and given the strangely unique style McCarthy has, I doubt anyone could make it all sound so poetic. It's like poet apocalyptic scribe sat down to craft a myth based on real events of the early 1800s at the Mexican border area of the West. McCarthy draws a fair amount of criticism from all spectrums. I can't say I agree with any of it. Folks much smarter than me all have their apparently erudite opinions. All I know is that I wish I could write like this man. I thinks he's one of the rare artists of our time.
Apparently the ol' Cormanator is a very private man. You can YouTube his interview on Oprah (she picked The Road as an Oprah Book). But you'll find more on a fan site of his at:

If you want to read up a little on the characters featured in Blood Meridian, at least what I dug up, check out this link:

There Will Be Blood worth the time

2008-02-11T13:37:00.000-08:00

I love movies, though I don't get to see them as first-run at the theaters much any more. When I do though, I usually make sure it's a film with actors whose work I respect, am entertained by, and more importantly, inspired by. So when I saw the trailer for There Will Be Blood (TWBB) with Daniel Day Lewis, I earmarked it for a trip to the show. At nearly 2 hours and 40 minutes, I eschewed all beverages and found my seat in the middle of the Star Theater in Southfield. The movie absolutely flew by, and Daniel Day's initials once again could stand for Doesn't Disappoint. The man is simply one of those actors who so immerses himself in character that you feel like a voyeur to the world he lives in at that moment. And I think he makes everyone around him even better than they are. The score by Johnny Greenwood (Radiohead) is reminiscent of John Ford, John Huston (Treasure of the Sierra Madres) and Sergio Leone movies (Spag Westerns like The man with no name trilogy, Once Upon A Time in the West, etc) where Hugo Montenegro's musical hand weighed heavily in the essence of the film. The cinematography borrows the feel of John Ford and Leone with vast landscapes and asymmetrical the film's make up and composition. There is not one false note in this film, and I can't stop thinking about it. You absolutely will be left waiting for DDL's Daniel Plainview to explode at any moment. Plaiview's not a likeable man, but he infuses the character with a driven quality that is nuanced and replete with much under-the-surface rage. I've read reviews where they claim he's bordering on bombastic, and I'm sure these critics know way more than I do about the history of film, but this guy is the real deal. He makes Brando seem as method as Ben Affleck.There's a persistent rumor that Paul Dano (playing a dual role as Paul & Eli Sunday) was a replacement for a more famous actor who couldn't take the intensity of DDL. I don't know if it's true or not, but Dano is wonderful in the role, a fine 180 in his portrayal to the bully of DDL's Daniel Plainview. I can't wait to buy the DVD of this and watch all the behind the scenes extras. Try to catch TWBB on a big screen without any distractions. It's a tremendous film.

NOTE: A much more professional, albeit at times like most critics' work, PERSNICKETY review can be read by going here:

This is a review by David Ansen of Newsweek. He was supposedly on-set and has a lot of inside info. Worth reading.

Lansing State Journal's The Hub review

2008-01-30T21:00:00.000-08:00

Here's a nice, positive review of the book. Please note that I never stated that I needed "street smarts to survive", but hey, I guess that's creative license. Check it out if you have a moment by clicking the HEADLINE to this post.

The Road is stunning

2008-01-29T15:36:00.000-08:00

I recently spent the weekend in Indianapolis for a swim meet that my two oldest daughters were in. Swimming, while a great sport, is replete with sitting and waiting, and then sitting some more. Because the girls are in two separate age groups, the waiting (and sitting) is made longer making it a day-long event. I sat down with the Cormac McCarthy apocalyptic tome figuring I'd slog through it. The guy's vocab is over my head most of the time, but he's got such a unique, original style. I read The Road in one sitting and plan on reading it again. It was quite simply one of the most well- and efficiently-written books I've ever read. It was stark, beautiful writing. The book presents a terrifying world view of a burned and scalded America, but there's a faint glimmer of hope laid bare. Like most of his work, (No Country For Old Men) it's no day at the beach, but it will leave you thinking about it for days. I plan on re-reading it again, it was that good. A friend told me that Cormac's probably near the end of his life, and that much of what's in there by way of themes echoes his remaining days on Earth, and the fear of death vs. living and trying to survive. He's probably right. Either way, I highly recommend it.

Eight Dogs for Christmas

2008-01-21T13:16:00.000-08:00

I was thrilled when a friend of mine, Linda Petty, told me she wanted to buy my book as Christmas gifts for her the male members of her family. This included her father, brothers and brother-in-laws. I signed the books pre-holiday, and getting bogged down in my own Yuletide madness, forgot about it. Today Linda sent me a photo from the holidays with a very thoughtful note. Hopefully the men are still smiling after reading the book, not hoping they'd received ties or socks instead. Thanks again Linda for making my day.

Dirty Book for Sale--CHEAP!

2008-01-10T19:49:00.001-08:00

I have to confess that at the advice of Kelly Gehart, the lovely and talented marketing specialist at my publisher, Momentum Books, I keyed on a Google Alert for my name and the title of the book. In case you've been living in Amish country, the alert can "alert" you either daily, weekly or monthly, whatever to the information you input being searched on the web. This is helpful if you're an unknown hack desperately seeking support and/or love from SOMEBODY regarding your quickly evaporating pub--or whatever your interest may be. Anyhoo, I saw an alert (it comes by email) that my book was for sale on Craigslist, which forgive me, but shouldn't there be some kind of apostrophe in that title? I was struck to see the book was being discounted to the nearly wholesale price of 15 clams, but it was the description that had me snorting java through my nose. Read on:

Eight Dogs Named Jack by Joe Borri and fourteen other storides from the Detroit streets and Michigan wilderness.
Hard cover and jacket. Excellent condition. (Was $24.95 new.) Hardly read as mother-in-law started to read it but found it was too dirty.
She said to get ride of it.
We are near the Detroit Zoo.
Thanks,

I'll tell you what, grammatical deficiency aside, this dude needs to grow a pair and tell his mother-in-law that we all didn't grow up in the pretty "zoo world" she lives in. Hey, I kid. But wow, did this make me laugh. Better hurry--at this price, smut like mine is sure to sell.

Happy 2008

2008-01-03T12:56:00.000-08:00

I don't know about you all, but I am still living in food hangover, and in my case, all Dago food. From stuffed shells overflowing with monicatti to frutti di mare from Volare Ristorante in Wixom, I feel a tad sluggish. Slow. Lazyish, if that's a word. But I wanted to take a moment to, along with Baby 2008, wish all of you out there much prosperity, happiness and health in the new year. God bless us and the brave men and women of our country who fight to keep the USA the greatest nation on Earth.

Merry Christmas

2007-12-24T13:14:00.001-08:00

I haven't put up a post in quite a while, so thought I'd take a moment to wish everyone in cyberspace a very Merry Christmas and a safe and prosperous 2008. God bless you and yours.

USA Book News Short Story Finalists

2007-12-12T08:26:00.000-08:00

Eight Dogs Named Jack is now listed live, along with the other finalists and winner in the short story category for 2007. Check it out by clicking the title or here: http://www.usabooknews.com/fiction/shortstoryfiction.html

The Bruise online magazine

2007-12-07T13:33:00.000-08:00

I graduated from Northern Michigan University in 1984. One of the things I remember with fondness from my time there in the 80s, besides my six-pack abs (really!) and mullett, was a cat named Mark Shepherd. Mark was maybe the most laid-back dude in the world, perhaps challenged only by Spiccoli in Fast Times at Ridgemont High or "The Dude" in The Big Lebowski. Anyway, in addition to having really cool surfer looks, Mark was a very talented artist and designer. I later found out he has had his work published in mags ranging from Esquire to Playboy. The man's work is solid. His magazine, The Bruise is available online. I really have no accurate way of describing the Bruise other than to say it's totally unique and visually arresting. But there's all kinds of images, and if you want a take on what's now in pop culture, The Bruise is the place. I've added it to my links, so check it out. You can even submit work for consideration.
Way to go Mark!

It's A Guy Thing is hilarious

2007-12-06T16:00:00.000-08:00

My buddy Scott Seegert's book, It's A Guy Thing, (Three Rivers Press) is a flippin' hilarious take on the goofy ideas us men come up with. There are over 70 actual patents in it, accompanied by the drawings that were submitted with the papers. The great thing about the book though is Seegert's witty, dry take on each "invention". Make no mistake, even though his tongue is planted in his cheek as he's commenting on the absurd nature of these "contributions to mankind," there's a trace of awe and envy in his voice as he describes Jack's No-Slip Hairpiece, or Albert's Helmet-Mounted Pistol. I'm not making that up and neither is he; you couldn't try to make this stuff up. It's a great gift for anyone who is a handyman, or better yet, thinks he is a handyman. Show Scott some love and buy his book for the inventor in your life. Click the title of the post to go to his Amazon page, or look for it at the bookstore in the humor section.

Sports Inferno shows me some love...

2007-12-05T13:12:00.000-08:00

Yesterday my publisher sent copies of the book to, in my humble opinion, two of the best sports guys in the D. Hosts of the formerly titled The Sports Inferno, Mike Valenti and Terry Foster's talk show is now called, well, Valenti & Foster (regular listeners know the station and show have went through myriad names since 1270 AM went simulcast-crazy with the switch to 97.1 FM). Of course, being the shameless promoter of my work that I am (it's dog-eat-dog out there, pun intended), I was angling to maybe get shown a little love from these two fine gentlemen (i.e., interview). Terry Foster is a well-respected sportswriter for the Detroit News, and Mike Valenti continues his meteoric rise as the most entertaining and energetic man on the local airwaves (he'll be national one day-heard it hear first). If you haven't listened to them, their show airs from 2-6 p.m. Mon-Fri. Mike, being Italian, seemed a receptive audience for the kinds of stories that are in my book. He's spoken at length of disobedient hunting dogs, pinky rings and chesty women, and who doesn't like that combination?

Anyhow, I received a really nice email from Mike, saying he got the books, and that he said he'd give me a shout out during the week. Also, that he ordered two copies for gifts, etc. Again, a real thrill for me that folks actually find it interesting and worthwhile enough to go through the process of ordering or buying it, let alone shelling out hard-earned dough for it. But then, as I'm driving to the optometrist, listening to him and Terry on the radio, he thanks me for the book, gives a nice little synopsis of what the stories are about, and tells the audience where the last two signings are! Needless to say, I was knocked out. I'm hoping to maybe get on their show for a short interview, though with the BLOCKBUSTER trade the Tigers just pulled off (YEE-HA!), that looks doubtful, at least this week.
Anyway, check them out. There's a link to the right to go to their home page. They are truly knowledgeable and entertaining.

Come out of the cold for the last two signings of the year

2007-12-04T06:57:00.000-08:00

Hey out there. If you're looking to give a unique holiday gift this year, I've got a great suggestion. A gift card to Best Buy is always the schizzle. What did you think I was going to suggest? Anyway, I have my last two signings of the year coming up. I'll be at the Borders on Orchard Lake this Friday from 7-9 pm, and the following day, Saturday, from 2-4 at the Borders on the Hill in Grosse Pointe. The addresses for each is listed on my Appearances page (see link above). If you have a chance to stop by, just to say hello, I'd truly appreciate it as it's always nice to have bodies milling around, even if they're not purchasing. Thanks for all the continued support.

No Country For Old Men is no pick-me-up

2007-12-01T19:27:00.000-08:00

I was anxious to see the new Coen Brothers film, No Country For Old Men, especially after having read the Cormac McCarthy novel a couple years ago. I was anxious because I thought if anyone could somehow convey the sheer emotionless landscape the film takes place in, not just geographically (Texas) it would be the Coens. I just got back from the theater and ol' Ethan and Joel didn't disappoint. Javier Bardem in the role of Anton Churgar makes Hopkins' Hannibal Lechter seem like a pansy. The movie is probably almost too true to the novel, both in dialogue and scene. I'm actually surprised it's getting the wide rave reviews I've seen given its adherence to McCarthy's bleak prose (NOTE: The worst review I've read was from the Metro Times, whose reviewer gave it a B, but they hate all kinds of good stuff, so I don't really count them). The cinematography is sparse and raw, and there's absolutely no score to guide you along. You barely catch your breath when WHAM! more tension. A buddy of mine joined me tonight, and at one particularly grisly scene, with perfect comic timing, he whispered, "This ain't High School Musical, that's for sure!" Indeed, although given the bloodshed, Carrie comes to mind. Bardem's character is a psychopath that sticks to a strict code of his own ethics, and it becomes apparent that he will do everything necessary to stick to his word. This is really a guy's movie, and the other male actors, Tommy Lee Jones and Josh Brolin, give very good performances, though Jones plays a character we've seen before. This is not really a date movie, unless you're dating Eileen Wournos. Still, I give it an A-.

Friends make East Side signing enjoyable

2007-11-28T19:38:00.000-08:00

Heading back to the East Side, albeit on "OSM" or Other Side of Mack, in this case, the side growing up I could only dream of, was really a great experience. The signing at the Barnes & Noble tonight was more than exciting, it was fulfilling. Don't get me wrong, I'm still THRILLED--nay, tickled--that anyone finds my stuff interesting enough to merit shelling out hard-earned bucks for it, but to take the time to come out specifically for me to sign it? That's not only humbling, but it's a great honor and a real thrill. I was able to meet a really nice woman named Ann Marie who had corresponded with me a few months ago. If you're reading this ANN Marie, it was brought to my attention that I added an "e" to your name that doesn't belong. My apologies. This was brought to my attention by another fine woman, also named ANNE Marie, who happens to be pals with the aforementioned A.M. Another couple folks came out, friends from the ad business. Tom Kozak, a talented artist and former art director from the Detroit Ad scene, wandered in and lent his support. It was great to catch up with him and hear that he and his wife have their own marketing/pr/art business and are doing great. Andy Ayrault, one of the funniest men I've ever been around, stopped by with his beautiful wife Kim and their 14 children. OK, I embellished; they have four kids--TWO SETS OF TWINS! And if you have ever seen Andy and Kim, they're like 7 foot tall, so collectively they have maybe 14 normal kids' worth of kids, if you know what I'm saying. My sisters Janet and Nancy came out as well as my bro-in-law, Paul. Always nice to have familial support. And lastly, my best friend growing up, Russ Beigas (see pic from summer), had a sixth sense that he'd be seeing me, and made the trip to Grosse Pointe. "Rusty" is one of the true great guys I've known in my life, and whenever we see each other, which is too infrequent, it's like we never miss a beat. I grew up mere miles from that bookstore, and it was a strange sensation being there with a guy I spent so much time with as a kid, playing baseball, riding bikes and endless hours drawing pictures. Even though he doesn't own an email address, I want to say, "Thanks Rusty. You're the greatest."

Barnes & Noble signing, Grosse Pointe Wednesday

2007-11-27T20:23:00.000-08:00

Hey everyone. I'll be at the Barnes & Noble on Mack Ave tomorrow, from 6-8, signing only. If you're out that way, please stop by and say hello. Signings can be very lonely, at least for hacks like yours truly. So if you're looking for last minute holiday gifts for the 16+ loved one in your life, here's your chance. Or just come by and make fun of me.

Detroit Noir worth losing sleep over

2007-11-16T18:54:00.001-08:00

Sometimes I work way too late. Like until 2, or 3 am. Most of the time by the end of the week, all I want to do is check out at around 11 and sleep until 10 in the ayem.
Yeah, right.
What usually happens is I'm off to one of my girls' (or all three) swim meet, usually out of the house by 7 in the morning. So the thought of working all day coloring animatic frames then high-tailing it to Birmingham tonight for a 7 pm book reading wasn't at the top of the list of things to rejuvenate my weary bones. But man am I glad I went. I was able to meet two extremely talented authors who until this point were either voices on a telephone or email pals. They being Michael Zadoorian (he wrote the wonderful Second Hand) and Dorene O'Brien (she wrote Voices of the Lost and Found, among other things). The two of them, along with Roger K. Johnson (his story in Detroit Noir is Hey, Love) and Craig Bernier (his contribution to Noir is Migration)read excerpts of their stories. It was really exciting to hear four distinctly different voices express their vision of the city, and the people that inhabit it. There are many other stories in the book, from authors I've heard of and some I haven't, but what I find fascinating is that the two editors, E.J. Olson and John C. Hocking, had enough drive and vision to contact the Akashic folks (the publisher) and say, "Hey man, what's the deal? How can you have a noir series and not include the D?" They convinced Akashic that they were the two men to edit it, and we're all the richer for it. A book like this will inspire more fiction from local authors looking for an outlet. The readings were spirited, touching, funny and sad, sort of the feeling I get thinking of my old neighborhood on the city's East Side. I had my book signed by the four authors who read as well as the editors. It was also noteworthy that all the authors were students of WSU professor Christopher T. Leland, who was also in attendance. There was a great crowd, and I think everyone left feeling that it was an evening well spent. Dorene O'Brien, whose book I'm devouring right now, read an excerpt from her contribution, Honesty Above All Else. The stories from her collection of short stories are dark, startling and at times absolutely haunting, and seeing this woman and meeting her in person, it was hard to picture her putting those words on paper. I always find it amazing what disparate images can come from the soul of artists whose exteriors do not match their words. Mike read a touching and witty, The Lost Tiki Palaces of Detroit, with verve and the adman in him was just below the surface. Pick up the book and let me know what you think. Maybe if we're lucky, some of us will get a chance to submit to Detroit Noir, Volume 2. A special shout out to Andrew Brown, an author whose work fits perfectly into that setting. With a little luck and hard work, he'll probably be published nationally before Akashic decides to Call for Entries on DN II.

Sunshine in November

2007-11-15T11:33:00.000-08:00

I feel fortunate and blessed to be able to make a living doing something I love. After 20 years in commercial art & design sales, 18 of them at a leading Detroit creative studio, being employed as a staff artist, and having the chance to draw every day keeps me invigorated and aware of how important it is to take the gifts God gives us, even if we're not the best in our field. By using them every day, they become stronger, just like any muscle when we try to stay in shape (something I've struggled with since the onset of children). So even on a dreary day like today started out as, I feel alive and connected to the world, because that part of my soul that needs creativity feels sated. Hope all of you out there are making the effort to continue developing the gift within you that makes you unique. JB

The conundrum of bookstore support

2007-11-09T17:05:00.000-08:00

I received an email from a friend and bookstore owner, Pamela Grath today, that offered an article that appeared in todays issue of Shelf Awareness, a newsletter for booksellers. It was somewhat scathing in reference to authors posting an Amazon link on their websites for their book, but no link to Booksense.com. The article contained some comments from independent bookstores that offered various reasons why links to indies should also be on their website's home page. An overwhelming theme was to not only give consumers a choice as to where to spend their money, but also to highlight an obvious dilemma; why should we, as indies, prop up you authors and not get a little love in return? It got me thinking how confused I am as a just-published author. My publisher, Momenum Books, is a regional press out of Troy, Michigan. They've set me up with signings at both indie stores and chains such as Barnes & Noble and Borders, throughout the northwestern part of Michigan and the Detroit area. New to the game, I asked many times if I should direct people intrerested in buying the book to go to the chains, the indies or Amazon. The answer is always Amazon. This is because sales flow on the web, especially for a regional book (Eight Dogs Named Jack is available only in Michigan and parts of Ohio) attract the distributors to make bulk purchases from the publisher. What's even more confusing is that the indies oftentimes order their books from these same DISTRIBUTORS!
But I confess, that my homepage (www.JoeBorri.net) lacks links to indies. It's got the ol' Amazon logo right there, ready to be clicked on and direct folks outside of Michigan (that was my intent) to my Amazon page (currently plum full of 7 reviews). I do list Dog Ears as a favorite link, but that's on my bio page.
Soooooooooooo...
I will soon be making an adjustment to my home page. I am going to actively seek out the indies that carry my book and return the favor by posting their website links on my HP.
However, here's another interesting side-bar. I was recently fortunate enough to have a story from the book, Measure of a Man, exerpted in Traverse Magazine's November issue. The magazine has a 50-state subscribership, but primarily appeals to the upper northern part of the lower penninsula. So I was puzzled that a couple of indies up there refused to carry a display sign that reads, "As featured in Traverse Magazine." But the lack of support is not limited to the indies. There's the Borders by my house, less than 3 miles away, and that I have a signing at in November. My book is there on an "order-only" basis, yet the Borders on the East Side of the city featured my book prominently displayed next to some little-known thing titled, "Harry Potter and the something-something" (tongue totally wedged in cheek). People in my community that want to support me, and the local economy, by buying the book from a local bookstore (I know it's a chain, but a few indies don't stock my book) can't do so as readily as clicking on Amazon and getting it delivered to their door.
Man, all I'm trying to do is write stories and sell enough books to get the next one published. It gets to be crazy, confusing, and zaps the energy out of you.
Neal Rubin, a local columnist, told me upon a garbled congratulations for being published, that he'd love to have a book and not have to do any signings. I am totally down with what he means.

Support local authors: Buy Detroit Noir

2007-11-05T07:08:00.000-08:00

A friend of mine, Pamela Grath, who owns Dog Ears Books and runs the Painted Horse Gallery in Northport (visit her blog at http://booksinnorthport.blogspot.com/) connected me with Dorene O'Brien. Dorene's compelling book of short stories (Voices of the Lost and Found-Wayne State University Press) is a must read for anyone who wants to discover an original voice from someone who knows how to lay it down. Dorene and another local author of note, Michael Zadoorian, known for his debut and excellent book, Second Hand (Dell) are included in Akashic Books' latest Noir series, Detroit Noir. Dorene mentioned in a recent email that some of the authors will be at local readings/signings in the area. I look forward to one coming soon at the Borders in Birmingham. Below is a description of Detroit Noir from the Amazon page: http://www.amazon.com/Detroit-Noir-Akashic-E-Olsen/dp/1933354399/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/104-0072933-3908703?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1194275304&sr=1-1)

Book Description
From crime stories in the classic hard-boiled style to the vividly experimental, from the determination of those risking everything to the desperation of those with nothing left to lose, Detroit Noir delivers unforgettable tales that capture the city's dark vitality.

Includes stories by: Joyce Carol Oates, Loren D. Estleman, Craig Holden, P.J. Parrish, Desiree Cooper, Nisi Shawl, M.L. Liebler, Craig Bernier, Joe Boland, Megan Abbott, Dorene O'Brien, Lolita Hernandez, Peter Markus, Roger K. Johnson, Michael Zadoorian, and E.J. Olsen.

Give it a try.

Eight Dogs a finalist in the USABookNews Awards

2007-11-02T13:38:00.000-07:00

The publisher let me know that 8DNJ was selected as a finalist in the USABookNews Awards, Fiction, Short Story category. My first reaction to this news (after, "is there a cash prize?") was the old, "Any organization that would give me an award is one I wouldn't want to belong to." But then I got to thinking, even though I have absolutely no idea what the USABook News is, I'm sort of happy that they selected my book as a finalist. So I thank you USABN, wherever you are.

Drawing on experience

2007-10-30T11:39:00.000-07:00

I've been drawing now at my "new job" for a few weeks. It's been great having been in sales for so many years, I've had to retrain my eye and my hand to be able to get in the flow. I'm fortunate in that I've never stopped drawing and painting while I was selling other people's art, but more importantly, I was blessed to have watched closely the techniques and professionalism that they carried to the job. I'm hoping that being able to be more hands-on-creative will make my days less stressful, even when the stress of deadlines looms over me. I was able to do some illustrations for Creative Director of TeamDetroit, Toby Barlow's website for his new book (US release Feb 08) Sharp Teeth. The book is about packs of werewolves living in LA. It's pretty cool, and the excerpts I read (the book's written in free verse) are edgy and risky.

Lately I've been reading some non-fiction. I finished Philip Carlo's true crime book, The Ice Man, which chronicles the life of Mafia contract killer, Richard Kuklinski. It's one of the most chilling profiles I've ever read. Kuklinski killed nearly 200 people with methods ranging from the traditional hit methods of guns and knives to the more obscure, such as cyanide, crossbows and rats. That's right, rats! He allegedly found a cave where hundreds lived and would put the mark in the cave with a video camera set up so the person who hired out the hit could witness the suffering. He was paid extra for the victim to suffer. It's fascinating stuff for anyone who likes reading about the dark underbelly of society, and that would be me.

Also, I'm rereading Into the Wild, the excellent accounting of Chris "Alex Supertramp" McCandless and his demise in the Alaskan wilderness' Stampede Trail. Aside from Krakauer's writing prowess, I'm intrigued by the fact that McCandless was able to do all the things he did while alone. That's always been a topic I've found enthralling; that people can sleep at night in desolate places without any human companionship, support, camaraderie. I personally think the kid comes off like a spoiled kid who couldn't appreciate all that he had, and who romanticized Jack London and Hemingway too much, though it's still a tragic story on many fronts. Namely for the pain his parents must've felt reading some of the things he said about them to his sister, Carine, in letters he sent to her.

Royal Oak Barnes & Noble Signing

2007-10-25T19:55:00.000-07:00

I'll be at the Barnes & Noble on Main Street tomorrow, from 7-9, for a discussion and book signing. I'l read a few excerpts from selected stories, and then take any questions from the "audience". Hopefully an audience will constitute a group of three or more people, but you never know at these things. The November issue of Traverse Magazine came out today. They actually put my name on the cover! I was stunned to see it there. The first 4,200+ words of Measure of a Man are excerpted, and they built a widow page where their readership can finish the story. I feel honored and blessed that the people at Traverse thought enough of my story to feature it in their publication. I have Patty LaNoue Stearns to thank for showing my book and illustrations to the staff at Traverse, most notably Emily Tyra, who gave me so much consideration.

The Tiger

2007-10-22T13:37:00.000-07:00

I received a really wonderful email from a person I never met before. He's a lawyer from Ann Arbor that sent me some kind words regarding the fact that my book resonated with him. "Paul" grew up on the east side, on Chalmers where it hit the river. Among the many humbling things he pointed to within the stories of the book was his connecting the tone and content to a William Blake poem called, The Tiger. Paul referenced a scene in Mean Streets, one of the best Scorcese films that many folks who claim to love movies have never seen, where the owner of a bar shows DeNiro a tiger in a cage. The poem is beyond my intellect (hey, not hard to do, really) but the point Paul referenced a "fearful symmetry", i.e., the fact that beauty and terror live within close range to each other. Here's a sample:
THE TIGER
William Blake

Tiger! Tiger! burning bright
In the forests of the night,
What immortal hand or eye
Could frame thy fearful symmetry?

In what distant deeps or skies
Burnt the fire of thine eyes?
On what wings dare he aspire?
What the hand dare seize the fire?

There's quite a bit more, and you can probably find it on the internet pretty easily. But here's the part Paul referenced that gave me a chill, because it's so close to the tension I try to build within most of my stories. Don't get me wrong, I'm not giving myself this kind of credit; that I can consciously paint with these exquisite and layered themes to build toward one underlayment of plot. That said, here's the part of the poem that feels like the true root:

When the stars threw down their spears,
And watered heaven with their tears,
Did he smile his work to see?
Did he who made the Lamb make thee?

That God (for those of us who believe in Him) can create such gentle creatures as the lamb and such terrifying creatures as the tiger, is the fearful symmetry of life in most big cities. Maybe the riot influenced much of my early perceptions of the situations that I experienced, and that my and my wife's families did. Either way, it's what excites me in literature and art.

Agent search is tough

2007-10-17T04:14:00.000-07:00

One of the things people ask me at signings, is how did I get published. What was the process; Do you have an agent, etc. Lately I've been trying to get an agent to handle things because I don't want to wear that hat and try to write, too. It's difficult enough to sit down late at night and put stories down, transcribing them from that place in your brain onto paper before they're forgotten or diluted, without having to try and find a home for them. Even with a book in print, albeit a regional press, it's an uphill battle to try and get someone to rep you. Juggling kids and a day job, I've decided to not get too high, not get too low and try and enjoy the ride this book has been.

2007-10-13T10:46:00.001-07:00

Hey everyone. I shoud have started this sooner, but I had a blog on my website, www.joeborri.net, and figured that would suffice. Hopefully with this blog, people can communicate with me, and each other. My book, Eight Dogs Named Jack, has been out since early July, and I'm hoping this blog will increase the visibility of it, and help further my aspirations to be a writer.
Thanks for checking in. I hope to actively post things that I find relevant and entertaining. Please drop me a line.
Best regards,
Joe Borri

2007-10-13T10:42:00.000-07:00