So I'm at the local branch of the New York Public Library looking to score a couple of DVD's to watch and/or books to read. Not much in the movie department so I move to the back where the non-fiction stacks live. Let's see! A McCartney biography? That'll work! And a book about baseball eccentrics written by Spaceman Bill Lee? Looks interesting. And then the jewel: "I Have Fun Wherever I go!" Hey! Paul Schaefer's book. I always wanted to read that. Cool!
By the time I get home and open book #3, I come to realize that it is not Paul Schaefer's book as I thought...but Mike Edison's instead, a guy I know from Screw Magazine and a dude I employed to write reviews for Escort Mag after Screw folded. Bummer! Just because I know Edison and was aware he scored a book deal a few years back doesn't mean I'd rather read his misadventures over Paul's!
Now don't get me wrong. I don't have a problem with Mike Edison - even if he's a legend in his own mind if not mine. Edison (as I said) was the Editor of Screw Mag in its final days...and I assume an off-and-on contributor over the years (not sure - I haven't read his book yet). While it was clear he knew how to write and had an intelligent point of view, Mike had a problem - no Copy Editor. And thus errors along the lines of "they're" appearing in the text when "there" was what he meant...or "cant" where "can't" was what he wanted were ubiquitous in his writing.
I once gently asked Mike about these obvious elementary school errors and his response was "I was doing jury duty at the time. What do you expect?" What I expected was that somebody as thoughtful and intelligent as he - and with a book deal - and a long list of publications of which he'd been Editor - would be conscientious enough to not make glaring errors of that nature.
Whatever...there came a time at Escort Magazine when we needed a reviewer who would see chosen escorts and then get paid to relate the experience. Nice work if you can get it I'm sure we can all agree. And Mike was more than smitten when we called him. Book deal and Editor of Screw notwithstanding, I didn't get the idea that he had a line of groupies outside his door. Edison was definitely down with the program although he refused to use his real name - something I wasn't that happy about.
I can't remember how Mike's first review went...but the second was awful. It was way too short...contained the word "dont" instead of don't" (back to that again)...and boasted an ethnic slur along the lines of "her slanty twat" (the girl was Asian). Given the reality that Edison's performance in the review arena had more downs than ups, he got the hook.
Whatever...regardless of my appraisal of Mike's work, I sit here green with envy as I eye his published and in-the-library book. And having just finished Baseball Eccentrics last night, I will soon be moving on to his account of life as Editor of Screw, High Times and High Society. If nothing else, I'm sure I'll know a lot of the people he writes about. And I'm guessing he had a Copy Editor so the text will be without all those mistakes he used to make at Screw.
But before I go... a little commercial welcoming back HIGH CLASS ASIAN! Outcall girls with real pix! Who'd a thunk it?
P.S. I just finished the first chapter of Edison's book. It's excellent - and not one typo.
some people have bad grammar but are good story tellers. you going to cut someone down who has an innate ability to spin a great yarn or quibble about their use of "there, their and they'res "?
ReplyDeleteSounds like you're feeling pangs of regret for not writing it first.
Edison's life is not mine. And btw...he got the deal and then wrote the book, and not the other way around. I think I acknowledged his talent properly while criticizing his numerous errors. I've already read the first two chapters (which are very good albeit a little hyperbolic) and know or have known two of the characters (Al Goldstein and Alec the guitar player in his first band). And so far I love his book.
DeleteWell it's clearly your next move-to write that book or secure that deal, whichever comes first.
ReplyDeleteWasn't trying to dis you for not writing a book. In reading your posting it seems that 95% of it is "publish envy" and kind of attacking the guy, then at the end under page 6 you add that you like it
ReplyDeleteNow adays very few people get publishing deals, they write, self publish and then distribute through amazon. If you're creating enough buzz the publishers will find you and make a deal to help market it. (that's what my publishing pals tell me the new model is)
Anyways, you're a good writer, who's got a lot to say, you should damn the torpedos, implants and get thee to an IBM selectric and bang out a tome or two. Don't wait for a publisher to offer you a deal. We did that in the music biz already, and we all know what happened to that bubble. Publishing is going through the same thing now.
If you were going to write a book what would it be?
You're wrong! 99%! But not really. I had an agent reader who was interested but didn't think this blog was bookworthy - though he loved reading it. It was he who let me know that book publishing is dying and that there's no shame in being a blogger. I don't think Edison sold very many copies of his book and I doubt he made very much money. Books are like records. For every one that sells and earns money for all parties involved there are at least a dozen that stiff. But your point is well-taken about self-publishing books and self-pressing music (or just putting it on iTunes). I'm aware and in contemplation. And if I were to write a book, it would be about cabs or whores and such. Ya know...stuff I know inside out.
DeleteA book is a lot more solid accomplishment than a blog. Take this TV critic blogger Alan Sepinwall who's just self-published a title called "The Revolution Shall Be Televised" He's gotten some excellent reviews. And now I want to read his book while before I would have never known about his blog. Even more than TV, there always been a fascination with the business of prostitution and there will always be a niche market for the inside scoop.
ReplyDeleteYour blog is an incredible read and would definitely be a great e-book at the least. you should consider publishing through amazon and/or apple appstore, there are a lot of resources on self-publishing on electronic platforms if you do the research online.
ReplyDeleteon a separate matter, are you sure this outcall has real pics? I googled the phone number and there are some old ads where they used fake pics...not sure if they've changed their operations or not.
Does high class asians have a website?
ReplyDelete