Thanks to Malaprop’s Bookstore in Asheville, NC for this three word review of The Good Thief–and for making Ren’s story a staff pick!
Archive: Author: Hannah
While I Breathe, I Hope
Last week I visited South Carolina for the very first time. I learned their state motto: Dum Spiro Spero (While I breathe, I hope) and their state dance: The Shag. I also gave a reading at Coastal Carolina University and took part in “The Moveable Feast,” a very cool reading series organized by Litchfield Books. The poet Dan Albergotti (check out his wonderful poem “Things to Do in the Belly of the Whale”) was my host and guide, and, knowing my interest in old graveyards, he took me to Kingston Church (1756) and All Saint’s Parish (1767). Below are some shots, which pair well with the New England Graveyard Slideshow already up on this site. The owl to the left is from the grave of Maxine Dickey, wife of former poet laureate James Dickey. I had never seen an owl on a grave before. Maybe it’s because I grew up in Salem, Massachusetts, but I have always found old cemeteries inspiring–each stone a mystery to be solved.
Endurability
Author Dani Shapiro (who has been a huge mentor for me, and probably one of the best teachers I’ve ever studied with) has a fantastic essay in today’s LA Times, talking about how to edure as a writer today. She starts off by quoting legendary editor & founder of New American Review, Ted Solotaroff:
“Solotaroff wondered where all the talented young writers he had known or published when he was first editing New American Review had gone. Only a few had flourished. Some, he speculated, had ended up teaching, publishing occasionally in small journals. But most had just . . . given up. “It doesn’t appear to be a matter of talent itself,” he wrote. “Some of the most natural writers, the ones who seemed to shake their prose or poetry out of their sleeves, are among the disappeared. As far as I can tell, the decisive factor is what I call endurability: that is, the ability to deal effectively with uncertainty, rejection, and disappointment, from within as well as from without.”
I can’t help but feel this is the answer to many things–how do you keep going with any new project? It’s all about quieting that voice inside that says you will fail. This article gave me heart today. Go here to read the rest , and be sure to pick up Dani’s wonderful new memoir, Devotion.
New Foreign Sales & Covers
I’ve got two new foreign editions of The Good Thief to share, and two more deals to announce. The first is a traditional Chinese translation, by Ecus House, which has recently been released and has this very cool cover to the left. The second is a Spanish translation, which will be released next month by Anagrama: El Buen Ladrón. Other good news is that two more are on their way. A simplified character Chinese edition, by Tianjin Hua Wen TianXia Books, and a Greek edition, which will be published by Polis. 
It’s exciting to see Ren making his way through all these other countries. This now brings the total to 17, I believe. Even more than Animal Crackers!
Brooklyn Book Babes!
I spent yesterday with the Brooklyn Babes Bookclub, located in Dyker Heights. Their club has been going since 1997, and their meeting (hosted by Joann) included some amazing food, lots of laughs, and conversation about The Good Thief. Their president, Lisa, started the club after having her first child, and they’ve read all kinds of books–from Stendhal to Steinbeck. Thanks for hosting me, ladies! And a special thanks to Roseann for the delicious biscotti, and to Maryann, for the lift home. I’m always happy to talk with bookclubs–just send an email to:bookclubs(at)hannahtinti.com to arrange a call, skype or visit.
At Last, A Class!
For years, old students of mine, schools I’ve visited, and writers I’ve worked with have asked if I would ever teach a class again. (In the past I’ve taught at New York University, Gotham Writers’ Workshop, Colgate Writers’ Conference, Breadloaf Writers’ Conference, the Imagination Conference, & the Sirenland Writers’ Conference, but my focus for the past few years has been doing intensive one-on-one editing with One Story authors.)
At long last, I’ve decided to try an open, intensive 5 day workshop. Details are below. The class will be limited to 10 students, max. If anyone is interested, they should email info (at) hannahtinti.com with a brief statement of purpose, telling me what your writing project is, and what you hope to get from the class.
Intensive fiction class with One Story co-founder and editor in chief Hannah Tinti
This intimate, 5-session class will include a workshop of each student’s fiction, craft talks, close editorial work, and one on one individual meetings. Sessions will last for 2 1/2 hours with Tinti illustrating how to find the heart of a story or novel, as well as how to pinpoint its weaknesses. Each student will leave the class with a greater understanding of revision and a game plan for the next step in their writing career.
Hannah Tinti is co-founder and editor-in-chief of One Story magazine, a journal that has helped launch the careers of writers across the country, and for which Hannah recently won the 2009 PEN/Nora Magid award for her editorial work. Her short story collection, Animal Crackers, has sold in sixteen countries and was a runner-up for the PEN/Hemingway award. Her novel, The Good Thief, is a New York Times Notable Book of the Year, recipient of the American Library Association’s Alex Award and winner of the John Sargent, Sr. First Novel Prize from The Center for Fiction.
Class will meet in 5 sessions, Feb. 24-Feb. 28, 2010:
Wednesday, Feb. 24th, 6:30-9 pm
Thursday, Feb. 25th, 6:30-9 pm
Friday, Feb. 26th, 6:30-9 pm
Saturday, Feb. 27th, 2:30-5 pm
Sunday, Feb. 28th, 2:30-5 pm
All Classes will take place at the Brooklyn Creative League (540 President Street, btw. 3rd & 4th ave. Brooklyn, NY).
Cost: $750 Includes workshop, lectures, a six-month subscription to One Story magazine, and one-on-one meetings for each student with Hannah to set goals and discuss individual projects.
To apply, send a brief statement of purpose to info (at) hannahtinti.com
3 Events this weekend in NYC
I’ll be doing three events this weekend in NYC. The first is tonight at KGB Bar at 7 pm with One Story author Andrew Porter, whose great collection, The Theory of Light & Matter, has just been released in paperback. The second will be Saturday at Cornelia St. Cafe at 6pm with the Italian-American Writers Association, and the third will be Monday, Jan. 11th at 8 pm at the Franklin Park Reading Series, hosted at Franklin Park Bar & Beer Garden in Brooklyn. Hope to see some friendly faces, and meet new ones. For more details, go here.
The Paideia School, Atlanta GA
Just before the holiday began, I spoke with a group of students from the Paideia School in Atlanta, GA who had been studying The Good Thief. Their teacher, Greg Chagnon, a talented writer and Sirenland alum, organized a skype talk with the class, where we talked about the different characters, and which actors would be best to play Benjamin and Dolly in the movie (Paideia says Johnny Depp and Vince Vaughn). Later, they emailed me book trailers that they’d made for my novel as part of a class project. Check them out below! Many, many thanks to these talented students, and to Greg for pulling it all together. Now I know who to hire to make the trailer for my next book…
Book Trailer #1: by Ellery Koelker-Wolfe and Grace Garlow
Book Trailer #2: By Kristiana Perryman & Leah Gilbert-Odem
Trailer #3: By Courtney Ford
Trailer #4: By Will Feldman & Eliot Harrison
Girls Write Now, Santa Claus & You
Today I did a workshop with Girls Write Now, a great organization that provides guidance, support, and opportunities for New York City’s underserved or at-risk high school girls. Each girl is matched with a female NYC author who mentors them through the program, takes monthly creative writing classes with them, and helps them to navigate the most difficult years of teenager-hood. I gave a reading from Animal Crackers, handed out copies of One Story, did a Q&A, then gave a lesson on point of view, where the girls tried out a writing exercise and shared their work. These teens were all incredibly smart, brave and talented, and the women organizing the event did an amazing job putting it all together. On my way back to Brooklyn, I passed a flash mob of Santas, gathering on the steps of the 34th street post office. It put me in the giving frame of mind. Looking for a place to donate those tax-dollars? Why not give to Girls Write Now, or Behind the Book, two very deserving organizations that are filling in where arts funding is being cut from our schools. It’s sure to move you from the “naughty” to the “nice” list this year.
Books & Bars
Last night I appeared, big brother style, on a giant screen at Bryant Lake Bowl in Minneapolis. This was all part of a very cool bookclub called Books & Bars, that brings about 100 or so readers in each month to have a drink, skype-style, with authors and talk about their books. Highlights last night were: a dissected frog encased in glass (given to me by Rob Weisbach), an appearance by One Story author John Jodzio & Minneaplis based Replacement Press, who are publishing his fantastic collection, If You Lived Here, You’d Already Be Home in March 2010, my dog Canada barking, a display of my paper targets (congrats to Ben Trappey–who won one by guessing which character I had originally killed off at the end of the book), and readers telling me their favorite parts of The Good Thief. Top choices were: Dolly coming back from the dead, Ren reading The Lives of the Saints, the sharing of the dwarf’s toys with Brom & Ichy, and Ren’s big story at the end. Below are a few shots from the night. I’d be happy to raise a skype-glass with you anytime, Minneapolis. May you live long and prosper.