Sunday, August 30, 2009

Zombie Week



Hey everybody. I got so caught up with my niece's wedding (beautiful, beautiful, beautiful) that I forgot yesterday was the start of Zombie Week. Yes, zombie lovers it's ZOMBIE WEEK. I just got back from the wedding and will post a few photos tomorrow. But today is about all about zombies.

Because of the recent surge of zombies in the YA world, and to celebrate my debut novel, the hosts are presenting a week of YA zombies. How cool is that? There are contests, giveaways, book reviews and a lot more. So shuffle on over to September Zombies Click here: September Zombies: Day 2 - September Zombies Week 2009 and check it out.

Today I review the camp zombie flick Flight of The Living Dead. If you haven't see the movie (or even if you have seen the movie), come on over and check out my review, and while you're there, enjoy the site. The hosts put lots of cool work into it.

September Zombies is being presented by Velvet Click here: vvb32 reads, Carrie Click here: Carrie's YA Bookshelf, Kathy, The Brain Lair, Celia Click here: the epic rat and others. There will be daily postings starting yesterday going thru September 6th. Zombie Lovers, you do not want to miss this.

Sunday, August 23, 2009

My First Reading Ever!


My first reading ever at Book Soup on the Sunset Strip was AWESOME. I was really worried about attendance but it was SRO--standing room only. Wow! When I arrived 45 minutes early, fans (Whom I didn't know I had) Elizabeth and DJ were sitting up front. The book store was practically empty, and they were seated right in front of the podium. THANK YOU, Elizabeth and DJ for the big ego boost. They'd been following me on Twitter. THANK YOU Twitter.

As it turns out, they were the smart ones. The book store ran out of chairs, and most people were left standing. And for my second ego boost--THEY RAN OUT OF BOOKS. Of course it would have been nice if they had more books, but they were very nice and asked me if I'd come back and sign again. One of the clerks said it was one of the best signings they'd ever had. Ego boost number three.

Thank you everyone who attended from the bottom of my heart. And thank you Book Soup, you all made the night special for me.

I posted a few photos on my website. If you'd like to check them out Click here: e. van lowe - Where friends of E. Van Lowe can come and chat

And special thanks to Cousin Pam who catered the goodies. They were yum, yum, yummy! I am so glad I worked on my belly fat for three weeks. But I brought some of her famous deserts home so I'm sensing the return of belly fat.

By the way, that photo at the top that has me looking like a carnival barker or a rapper, is me greeting the crowd--grooving to the Black Eyed Peas. What better way to get the party started.

Saturday, August 22, 2009

Tonight!


If you're in LA please stop by for my first EVER reading/signing at Book Soup (Click here: Book Soup, Sunset Strip, Los Angeles, California) tonight. I have a new hat and a new T-shirt. I may not read well, but I'll read cute!


I will post photos tomorrow on my website http://www.evanlowe.com/

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Gone

The big day has come and gone. This morning after I played tennis I went to the Bookstar on Ventura Blvd. in Studio City to see if they had it (I play tennis near there). It was there! First thing in the morning, and it was there--face out, so everyone could see it.

The rest of the day was pretty calm: I got a haircut, listened to the Black Eyed Peas, and tried to fix a problem in my current novel. I didn't fix it.

Don't forget if you're in LA this weekend I will be reading at Book Soup this coming Saturday the 22nd at 7PM Click here: Book Soup Author Events, Author Apperance , Sunset Strip, Los Angeles, California. Hope to see some of you there.

Monday, August 17, 2009

The Big Day!


When I wake up in the morning I will be a published YA author. I want to thank those of you who listened to me and helped with ideas and comments over the past several months. Your support really meant a lot to me. If you get the book I hope you enjoy it. This has been a very exciting time for me.


In the morning after I work out, I am going right to a book store and look for the book. I'll let you know how that works out. I keep telling myself to be cool about the whole thing, but I can't help myself. I'm like a kid at Christmas. I will probably be incredibly annoying over the next several days (more annoying than I've been over the past several days) but what the heck ;-)

Thursday, August 13, 2009

5 Days


Not that I'm counting, but the book does come out on Tuesday. When I stopped by Book Soup earlier this week, Julia told me the books were in, but they had strict orders not to put them out until next Tuesday. Exciting.

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

10 Days


NSDWAZ will be in stores in 10 days. It should be available everywhere. If your bookseller isn't carrying it, tell him I said "shame on him." ;)


It's a fun, funny read I think adults will love as much as teens and pre-teens... But then I wrote it. What do I know? Please go out and buy it, or go to your library and request it. You won't be sorry you did. And if you'd like to purchase it on line Click here: E. Van Lowe


Sleep tight. Don't let the zombies bite.

Saturday, August 8, 2009

Thanks, Dad



Like most writers, I grew up loving books. But while I have always loved books, I haven't always loved to read. I believe I was nine or ten years-old when I got my first library card. This was a big deal for me. No longer did I have to go to the library with my mother. I can't tell you how embarrassing it was for me to wait in line with my mother, while other kids checked out their own library books. I could practically feel their eyes on me. "Look at the little baby. He can't even check out his own books." When I was of age--it may have even been on my birthday--I walked to the library with my best friend, Lawrence (who was still too young. Poor kid.), and applied for my very own library card.

The feeling of elation I had leaving the library that day was like none I’d had before. A bridge had been crossed. I was practically a grown-up. Each week I went to the library accompanied by Lawrence (poor little kid), and checked out six books, the maximum allowed. The following week I would return the books and take out six more. I strolled around the children's section of our local library like I owned the place. I was a big kid. And soon my sites were set on the day I would be allowed to check out books in THE ADULT SECTION. After that I knew it was marriage and a job and children of my own. I couldn't wait for the next milestone in my life--to be a thirteen year-old.

But before I turned thirteen something happened that changed me forever. I was packing up my six books, getting ready for my weekly trip to the library. Lawrence was waiting for me outside. He was still too young to check out his own books. Perhaps I'd throw him a bone, and let him read one of mine (poor little, baby kid). Just as I was about to leave, my father stepped into my room and said: "Going to the library, huh?"

My chest swelled with pride. "Yeah, it's about that time."

"Did you read those books?" he asked pointing to my stack.

"Yes, of course I did."

"No you didn't. You skimmed them. I've been watching you. You haven't read one book cover-to-cover."

Cover-to-cover? Who reads like that?

"Tell you what," he said. "This time you get just two books. And you READ them. And you take them back ONLY after you've read them both."

Oh, the outrage! Dad was raining on my grown-up parade. Didn’t he understand going to the library was about more than reading? But I was a dutiful son. So after making an excuse to Lawrence as to why a big kid like me would only be getting two books (he was still getting none! Poor little baby, child, kid), I went to the library and checked out two lousy books.

I don't remember the name of the second book, but the first was called Horse On A Houseboat. It was an ancient little kid’s reader with just enough pictures for me not to feel overwhelmed. It was the first book I ever read cover-to-cover, and I LOVED it. Thus was born my love of reading.

Reading transported me from our South Bronx apartment to other states, other countries, other worlds. Lawrence never developed my love of reading (poor guy) and eventually we drifted apart. My life, my career, has been built on the foundation provided by my love of reading, my love of books. I have often wondered how my life would have turned out if my father hadn’t stopped me that day, or if I’d hated that first reading experience. Fortunately for me it happened the way it did.

On the eve of the publication of my first YA novel, Never Slow Dance With A Zombie, I hope that my book falls into the hands of a reluctant reader somewhere, and it spawns a love of books.

My dad passed away March 2008. He did not get to witness the publication of my novel. However, he did witness how a love of reading grew me into the man I am today. All I can say is, thanks, Dad.

Wednesday, August 5, 2009

Hunger

I am starving. Okay, not literally, but I am pretty hungry. I'm sitting here writing with thoughts of food dancing in my head. Not even food. Worse--donuts. I love donuts. But I will not have a donut or any other sugary, fatty snack for the next two weeks. Why? Because I am vain. My first ever public reading of Never Slow Dance With A Zombie is on August 22nd. I want to look GOOD on August 22nd.

Truthfully, how I look will have nothing to do with how well I read or how well the book is received. It's not like I'm going to look emaciated and people are going to say "My, God! What happened to him?" Truth is, the people who don't know me can't notice, and my friends who attend probably won't notice either. But in my vanity-filled mind my evening will not be perfect if my belly is protruding over my trousers--even just a little bit. My tummy needs to be trim for the reading. I really do read better with a flat tummy.

I tell myself I am like an actor, losing weight for a role. I've known Russell Crowe to gain weight for a role (oh, I wish that's what I was doing) and then when we see him at the movie premiere he is handsome and svelte, shedding the pounds with seeming ease. I want to be handsome and svelte for my first reading. Handsome I can't control, but svelte? So, I am starving... and doing crunches. Ah, the life of a very vain writer.