I shall carefully skirt the morsel tree, and only pick up the wizened ones.....let's see. My morsel I think is the writer Kelly Link, who I had heard of and read many years ago. But recently I learned that not only is she exclusively a writer of very amazing, award-winning fantastical short stories, with an editor, and an agent, but she also runs her own small press with her husband. And if she wasn't cool enough, she also a few years ago opened a small local bookstore. I think this might be the dream career I never knew I wanted until now!
Hurrah for your delightfully circular logo! And thank you for sharing such delicious morsels. I have never read Thomas Pynchon either. When I think about how there are more books in the world than anyone can possibly read in a lifetime, I feel that mortality gives me a pass on feeling bad about not reading any one book in particular. 😊
This is my morsel: Yesterday evening I attended the live event The Art of Livin' with Matthew McConaughey and his invitees, one of them been Tony Robbins. It was surreal, because just last week I finished reading 'Greenlights' by said Matthew McConaughey and then I immediately found this online event (which was free btw and last 5 hours). There were 2.5 million people watching. It was surreal.
I was awake until 2 am but it was worth it. Well, at least for me. I never participated in such events before but it just happened that I had finished the book last week and then found this event by chance. I must say that in terms of marketing, there were a few learnings or two. It was amazing how the event organisers kept the participants engaged in the week prior to the event. It's amazing the work it takes to keep people's attention nowadays with all the online distraction and have them commit to a time and place. Even for someone as big McConaughey.
I am looking forward on your thoughts on Lolita. For me, the writing was the impressing part.
I like maps! I need to draw a better map. I also need morsels, so thanks, this will help find my way... breadcrumbs! In regards to not finishing books, it’s tough, I don’t like not finishing but I understand and you saved me from starting a certain book here! Olive Kitteridge was the last one I found hard to finish, I did not enjoy that one at all...
Nikka Coffey Malt, my friend. It will tide you over until Monday (my time). You planted that seed or morsel! So here we are. It's my new favourite Nikka. Cheers!
I will join you in and let it defragment the mind until Monday. Well, it's 6:43am here right now, so perhaps a tad too early for a tipple, but once that evening clock rolls around...
Dreamorsels, comment-seeds, curious content - I feel delighted that I stumbled into your weird and wonderful (I mean that in a good way) Substack. That sentence! Goodness me...
Hey, anyone who likes maps has my vote. This Substack is an odd place, I find myself treading in places I wouldn’t usually go. I now appear to be getting interested in sci fi thanks to the magical draw of Alexander Ipfelkofer’s name (I mean, who could resist that?) And now, Slake. Love it. Look forward to reading more. Yours, and in general. Ahhh fab - enjoy Lolita!
You must be a time traveler to have autumn right now, or somewhere in the Australia continent? I've been enjoying reading your dream stories and dreamorsels. I'll be sure to always press the like button. I look forward to your novella. The logo is exquisite!
Heh, much as I'd love to live down in Australia, I am indeed from the future! ;)
But no, you're right. Melbourne, Australia. Thanks for the comments Nadia. I'm thoroughly enjoying your Substack and will be diving into it further this weekend.
Nathan, thanks for the mention, it was very kind of you. You are clearly a man of intelligence and discernment.
Regarding your points, in no particular order:
1. I have been working on and off on an experiment in style in the style of Raymond Chandler. I haven't managed it yet (thanks for the suggestion, by the way), but the profound disappointment with which you will no doubt greet this news will, I hope, be ameliorated by an unrelated story I've started called Deadly At Midnight: https://terryfreedman.substack.com/p/deadly-at-midnight
2. I have never read Pynchon, so thanks for that excerpt. After battling through that self-satisfied pile of s- slush, I was going to say, I think your review is extremely generous. Mine would consist of one word, beginning with 'b' and ending in 's'.
3. Nice to learn that you have a generous number of subscribers. That's great news. It seems to take a while though, doesn't it?
I’m here to normalise not finishing bad books. Don’t like it? Put it down, walk away, and never think of it again. Life is too short.
But, saying that... I have recently revisited some books I initially struggled with and have thoroughly enjoyed them (The Colony - Audrey Magee).
Also books which were the wrong emotion for me at the time, but I think I would like at a later date? (Crying in H Mart - Michelle Zauner)
Oh, all the books, so many books.
Normalising not finishing books, that's something the world needs more of I'm sure. Well said.
But nice point about the right/wrong time for certain books. Noted those ones down.
I always feel guilty if I don't plough on with a book I don't like. Bonkers, right?
Nah I get it and have felt the same, but Annie's point is great.
Yeah I used to feel majorly guilty and plough through, but since I embraced this new life of just quitting I have felt so free!!
😃Maybe I'll give it a whirl, Annie
Yes! Completely agree. Crying in H Mart requires a particular mood.
I shall carefully skirt the morsel tree, and only pick up the wizened ones.....let's see. My morsel I think is the writer Kelly Link, who I had heard of and read many years ago. But recently I learned that not only is she exclusively a writer of very amazing, award-winning fantastical short stories, with an editor, and an agent, but she also runs her own small press with her husband. And if she wasn't cool enough, she also a few years ago opened a small local bookstore. I think this might be the dream career I never knew I wanted until now!
Hurrah for your delightfully circular logo! And thank you for sharing such delicious morsels. I have never read Thomas Pynchon either. When I think about how there are more books in the world than anyone can possibly read in a lifetime, I feel that mortality gives me a pass on feeling bad about not reading any one book in particular. 😊
A very wise mindset to have!
I hadn't heard of Kelly Link, but how wonderful. Earlier this year I went to a small bookstore+wine/cocktail bar with my wife. So cosy and lovely.
That sounds cozy and lovely!
Love the start of your comment, Elnora, made me smile.
Thank you! 🥰
This is my morsel: Yesterday evening I attended the live event The Art of Livin' with Matthew McConaughey and his invitees, one of them been Tony Robbins. It was surreal, because just last week I finished reading 'Greenlights' by said Matthew McConaughey and then I immediately found this online event (which was free btw and last 5 hours). There were 2.5 million people watching. It was surreal.
I read and love Lolita by Nabokov. 💚
Thank you for sharing my story. 🙏
Oh wow. I heard about this the other day and thought it sounded crazy. 2.5 million?!
Unfortunately, it was at some wee hour of the morning for us here in Melbourne.
I really need to get onto reading Lolita.
Thanks for comments, Claudia.
I was awake until 2 am but it was worth it. Well, at least for me. I never participated in such events before but it just happened that I had finished the book last week and then found this event by chance. I must say that in terms of marketing, there were a few learnings or two. It was amazing how the event organisers kept the participants engaged in the week prior to the event. It's amazing the work it takes to keep people's attention nowadays with all the online distraction and have them commit to a time and place. Even for someone as big McConaughey.
I am looking forward on your thoughts on Lolita. For me, the writing was the impressing part.
Crazy stuff. Hard to believe it required that for McConaughey.
I will be sure to let you know once I get to it :)
Yes, it makes me reflect on what we're up against when we try to get people to read our fiction on Substack. 😂
🤣🤣
Oh! How funny. I watched some of that (not live, I was in London) and I also adore the book Lolita. It’s utterly beautiful writing.
Well, you and Claudia will be pleased to hear it will be my next read!
Finally! Can’t wait to read your impressions!
It was a crazy event, I like his energy!
Me too!
Lolita is a work of genius. I read it as a teenager. My thoughts haven't changed now that I'm old.
And it moves even higher up the TBR list!
Thanks Caz.
I like maps! I need to draw a better map. I also need morsels, so thanks, this will help find my way... breadcrumbs! In regards to not finishing books, it’s tough, I don’t like not finishing but I understand and you saved me from starting a certain book here! Olive Kitteridge was the last one I found hard to finish, I did not enjoy that one at all...
Not heard of, and now I don't need to worry about hearing of that book, thanks!
Looking forward to your next post Alexander, whenever that may be! It's Friday now, so some defrag might be required...
Nikka Coffey Malt, my friend. It will tide you over until Monday (my time). You planted that seed or morsel! So here we are. It's my new favourite Nikka. Cheers!
Hah, yes! Lovely.
I will join you in and let it defragment the mind until Monday. Well, it's 6:43am here right now, so perhaps a tad too early for a tipple, but once that evening clock rolls around...
Dreamorsels, comment-seeds, curious content - I feel delighted that I stumbled into your weird and wonderful (I mean that in a good way) Substack. That sentence! Goodness me...
Hi Emma, thanks for finding your way here. It's delightful that you're here ☺️
Hey, anyone who likes maps has my vote. This Substack is an odd place, I find myself treading in places I wouldn’t usually go. I now appear to be getting interested in sci fi thanks to the magical draw of Alexander Ipfelkofer’s name (I mean, who could resist that?) And now, Slake. Love it. Look forward to reading more. Yours, and in general. Ahhh fab - enjoy Lolita!
Hehe, that's awesome. (Make sure you go pop over to Claudia's too.)
And have you heard Alexander's voice on his latest post? Who couldn't resist those deep tones!
/ Did not finish; could not parse/ !!! I feel that way about so much I read!
😅
Hopefully you're better than I am and actually put any such books down at an early stage.
Lovely photo, where in inner Melbourne?
Thanks. Hawksburn. Are you a fellow Melburnian?
Sure am! I thought the surrounds looked a bit familiar.
Not finishing Pynchon causes me zero regret. Ditto Ulysses and Moby Dick.
You must be a time traveler to have autumn right now, or somewhere in the Australia continent? I've been enjoying reading your dream stories and dreamorsels. I'll be sure to always press the like button. I look forward to your novella. The logo is exquisite!
Heh, much as I'd love to live down in Australia, I am indeed from the future! ;)
But no, you're right. Melbourne, Australia. Thanks for the comments Nadia. I'm thoroughly enjoying your Substack and will be diving into it further this weekend.
I knew it! I hope you're taking it easy with the changing of the seasons. And thank you so much, I appreciate your work and also our connection!
Nathan, thanks for the mention, it was very kind of you. You are clearly a man of intelligence and discernment.
Regarding your points, in no particular order:
1. I have been working on and off on an experiment in style in the style of Raymond Chandler. I haven't managed it yet (thanks for the suggestion, by the way), but the profound disappointment with which you will no doubt greet this news will, I hope, be ameliorated by an unrelated story I've started called Deadly At Midnight: https://terryfreedman.substack.com/p/deadly-at-midnight
2. I have never read Pynchon, so thanks for that excerpt. After battling through that self-satisfied pile of s- slush, I was going to say, I think your review is extremely generous. Mine would consist of one word, beginning with 'b' and ending in 's'.
3. Nice to learn that you have a generous number of subscribers. That's great news. It seems to take a while though, doesn't it?
Ah yes, of course, your crime noir piece. I was immediately thinking of the waking+banging head pieces. Disappointment suitably ameliorated.
Hahaha re: review. That should be it in itself. "b+s"
Slow but steady. I'm just glad to have made some great connections and getting to discover some great writing on here.