Writer, Interrupted

So it's been f*o*r*e*v*e*r since I have posted a new blog. I must say (in my own defense) that I have been super busy with all things "book related." For those of you who don't know me, are stumbling upon this page for the first time or are a friend of mine who has simply been busy with their own life, I have been consumed with writing my first memoir. Actually, I call it a "menoir." A menoir is a memoir about men ;) (Got all that?!) Whew!

Well over the course of a month I have been reading tons of books: The Complete Artist's Way, Jarhead, Only as Good as Your Word, The Virginia Woolf Writer's Workshop...magazines: Art and Life, ArtFreak, Psychology Today, Writer's Digest, Poets & Writers...and blogs: Kelly Kilmer, Teesha Moore and ZaZaZu (see the bottom of the page for their links). In addition to all of that reading, I attended the super-cool-way-cheap-I can't believe this is real-Independent Book Fair in New York City the first weekend of December. Let me tell you, I walked away with so much FREE knowledge from their workshops and panel discussions that catapulted me into a whole new stratosphere in Book World. And, I'm loving every minute of it! Everything from writing ideas to marketing to attracting literary agents...you name it, they discussed it.

In addition to my usual visits to my fav blogs, I've been snooping around cyberspace to explore other blogs and websites to find more cool artists. I stumbled upon Judy Wise who is actually featured in the magazine, Cloth Paper Scissors, http://www.clothpaperscissors.com/ and she has her own website, http://www.judywise.com/ I have been thinking of ways to infuse my art into my book...breaking that black and white print tradition. I think you'll understand why when you see her work and Kelly Kilmer's work as well. If I had to categorize my art under any umbrella, it would fall under theirs. Imagine reading a book printed on beautifully decorated pages? I think we need more risk takers, more Sabrina Ward Harrison-types...but original of course! http://www.sabrinawardharrison.com/ I'm on a journey to make my dream of publishing my book a reality. I want my vision of marrying mixed media art and memoir...creating a mixed media menoir = a memoir based on men sprawled across mixed media journal pages. Hmmmmm, I think I'm onto something here folks! Well, for more info and snippets from my book, please check out: www.myspace.com/dawnturzio

Happy Reading!