Short fiction out in three new anthologies
October 1, 2014 § Leave a comment
Excited and honored to be included in all three of these newly released anthologies! If you like to support emerging writers and are interested in new directions in quality short fiction, you can order any of these by clicking on the links. Enjoy!
“The Money Pill.” An American tour guide living in Cuba discovers hidden powers and comes to understand the costs of putting them to use. Everywhere Stories: Short Fiction from a Small Planet. Press 53.
“Six Feet Under the Prairie.” A college kid takes a summer job on an electrical construction crew as Denver’s sprawl encroaches. Manifest West. Western Press Books /University of Colorado Press.
“Tower Eight.” A pair of teenage misfits experiment with LSD and put themselves into dangerous situations in rural New Hampshire, establishing a tight friendship as they hurtle toward a tragic end. Grand Prize Winner, The Mountain. Outrider Press. (Order directly from Outrider Press by emailing outriderpress@sbcglobal.net)
Interview up at Fiction Writers Review
September 29, 2014 § Leave a comment
Very pleased to mark the publication of this interview with Alden Jones and the Fiction Writers Review. We had a nice discussion about the “genre” of historical fiction, the process of researching Will Poole’s Island, the differences between writing novels and short stories, and more.
A brief excerpt:
“Here’s the thing about writing historical fiction: you’re not trying to reconstruct or mimic history, which would be altogether boring even if it weren’t impossible. What you’re trying to do is to create a new version of it that will tell a good story while simultaneously capturing something essential, not only about the period, but also about contemporary life.”
Read the complete interview here.
Brattleboro Literary Festival
September 23, 2014 § Leave a comment
What an honor to be included among the stellar group of authors participating in this year’s Brattleboro Literary Festival (October 2- 5, 2014) which for thirteen years has been one of the most dynamic and well attended celebrations of books and readers in New England. And what a blast to hang out with old friends, meet new ones, hear talented and interesting people discuss their work and read from it, all the events well attended, and the streets of good old Brattleboro teeming with readers and writers of every stripe. Thanks to the organizers and volunteers, my friends and fellow writers, and everyone who came out to celebrate the power and beauty of the written word!
I had the privilege of introducing two very special women, critically acclaimed emerging writers Alden Jones and Eleanor Henderson
What a pleasure and an honor to read and discuss books alongside the talented Don Bredes, a fellow Vermont writer
Signing books with Don and the luminous Dede Cummings, publicist, agent, and publisher of Green Writers Press
Giving a little pre-reading context for Will Poole’s Island
So great to see the streets and venues of Brattleboro filled with writers and readers. Reports of the death of the book have been very much exaggerated!
Burlington Book Festival
September 15, 2014 § Leave a comment
It was great to revisit the city of my birth and participate in the Burlington Book Festival the weekend of September 19 – 21. A terrific group of featured authors and I’m glad to have been included in their ranks. Proud to be from Vermont!
Saturday, September 20, 2014, at 3:00 pm
Back to Iberia with National Geographic
September 8, 2014 § 3 Comments
As always, it’s a thrill to be heading back to Portugal and Spain in my capacity as a featured expert with National Geographic Expeditions. We’ll be starting out in Lisbon and making our way east through Evora, Mérida, Sevilla, Ronda, Granada, and Madrid. We will of course hit the major historical landmarks, and quite a few of the lesser known sights as well. We’ll have a chance to hear some of the world’s great fado and flamenco artists, learn how to make ceramic tiles Portuguese style, taste freshly pressed olive oil, and sample some of the best cuisine and wine the Iberian Peninsula has to offer.
I’ll be giving talks about the sweep of Spanish history from Iberian origins to the Roman Empire, the Moors and the Reconquest, the Habsburgs and the rise of the Spanish Empire, Goya and the Bourbons, and, of course, Ernest Hemingway and the Spanish Civil War. I always look forward to these trips as a chance to revisit a region I know and love with fresh eyes, and to learn as well from my fellow travelers and the outstanding local experts we encounter throughout the program. Over all, not a bad way to spend eleven days in September. ¡Viva!
Fall writing courses at GrubStreet
September 5, 2014 § 1 Comment
Hey everyone, I’m pleased to announce a new series of day-long workshops on the writing craft that I’ll be conducting at Grub Street in Boston. If you’re not familiar with this organization and you live anywhere in a 100 mile radius, you really ought to check it out. My experiences with Grub Street have been overwhelmingly positive. It’s a magnet for blazingly creative people following all kinds of interesting paths in writing, and their classes are top-notch in terms of providing inspiration and the ongoing work every writer must do in honing the craft.
Click on the titles to read full descriptions and logistical info. I’d love to see you in Boston!
September 26, 2014: Opening the Historical Novel
October 31, 2014 (Halloween!): Harnessing the Dark Side: Suspense, Resonance, and the Archetypal Shadow in Fiction
November 1, 2014: Reaching for the Sublime: Image Systems in Fiction
December 5, 2014: Cracking your Sentences Wide Open
Launch Party!
September 2, 2014 § Leave a comment
Weeks later and I’m still basking in the glow of the big Will Poole’s Island launch party, which took place on the evening of September 7, 2014, at Next Stage in Putney, Vermont!
We had an amazing turnout. I am eternally grateful for the enthusiasm and support from old friends and new. Special gratitude to my amazing publicist Dede Cummings, the luminous Suzanne Kingsbury, who gave me a better introduction than I ever could have dreamed, Julia Jensen, Maria Ogden, Evie Lovett, Jaja Laughlin, Billy Strauss, Barry Stockwell, Maria Bacescu, Nancy Raus, and so many others! We shared plenty of wine and cheese, good conversation, a reading, a book signing, and a brief multi-media presentation including a showing of Ben Shumlin’s wonderful trailer on the large screen! In case you missed it, or want to watch it again (yes, it’s that good!), here it is:
If you couldn’t make it to the launch but still want to buy a book, the hardcover and paperback editions are available from major on-line retailers including Amazon or (via Indiebound) your own local bookstore. If you’d like to order a signed copy, click here to contact Tim directly.
Will Poole’s Island featured in prizewinning newspaper
August 28, 2014 § Leave a comment
Very pleased to note than an article about Will Poole’s Island appeared today in Nantucket’s prizewinning paper, The Inquirer and Mirror. I met with the I & M’s wonderful Kimberly Nolan when I was on the island last week. Kim is an organic farmer in addition to being a reporter. We discussed the research behind the book, Native American perspectives, Nantucket connections, and much more, and then Kim set us up with some delicious fresh eggs and tomatoes. All in all a very positive experience with the press! Click here to read the full article: “Historic Nantucket Reimagined“
Spotted this lovely old ship from the ferry as we were leaving the island. Ah, Nantucket!
Will Poole’s Island officially launched
August 15, 2014 § Leave a comment
I am delighted to announce that today, August 15, 2014, marks the official release date of my debut novel, Will Poole’s Island. The book is now available for purchase from Amazon, Powell’s, Barnes & Noble, Books A Million, Indiebound, Nantucket Book Partners, or your own local bookstore!
You can read all about Will Poole’s Island here. If you’re on Facebook, it would be great if you would take a second to “like” my author page. It’s a small thing, but every little bit helps and this kind of social media exposure can really make a difference in getting the word out. Thank you for your support, one and all!!
Tim Weed 