May 11, 2008
Release Date for Single Copies of A Life at Home?
Yep -- September 1. It's finally happening -- and in better fashion than I anticipated. Heitzman-Hill bought the distribution rights (Which means I sort-of got paid for it twice. Sweet!), so all ordering will now be done though their fullfillment/distribution people, whomever they may be. There'a also still some talk of a novella/short story collection, but I have the voice of Reggie McKnight ringing in my head ("Are you sure this is what you want to do for a living, Newman?"), so I'm not so comfortable with the quality of what they want to release at this point. It's no Monkey House. Then again, I'm no Vonnegut -- I just never looked right with that mustache.
February 3, 2008
No News. No, Really.
So the printer screwed up some things with A Life at Home, and there still aren't any available.
Gray. is still being edited/fought over/put on the back burner/procrastinated/sucked into a vicsious cycle. I have to say, most of that is my fault. I put so much of myself into it for two years straight writing and two with all of this business stuff. I came to a point about six months ago where I just needed to take a break from it for awhile. I think I'm almost ready to get back to working on it, though ...
November 2, 2007
New Music
Ladies and gentlemen, the fabulous Eric Landes is back.
I'm still messing around with the look/function of the player at the moment, but at least we have tunes! Eric's music (along with many, many others) got me through seemingly endless hours of staring at the computer screen thinking Gray. would never be finished. So if you enjoy Moon on the River, check out some more of his tunes -- and his gorgeous new baby girl, Panama -- on his MySpace page.
Heitzman-Hill has some distribution rights to A Life at Home now, which means they can officially sell it. However, they don't have any copies at the moment.
October 4, 2007
Quick little Update
I'll go ahead and give you the highlight of this update right off the bat -- the traffic to this site has gone nuts over the last week or so. Why? Because the "other" Leah Newman is starring in some UK reality show called Celebrity Wife Swap with her boyfriend, Razor. Yeah. Not me. But thanks for dropping by!
In other news ...
No word yet on A Life at Home. BUT - After he finishes his current round of Gray. revisions, Daniel is going to take a look at Lost and Found (from the International 3-Day Novel Contest) to see if he thinks it's worth the work it's going to take. Come on, Dan, you write a novella in 72 hours and see if it makes any sense!
I'm headed out of town the next two weeks -- off to do a cool little jazz thing with a bunch of kids who lost their school and comunity center in Katrina.
September 7, 2007
New site is up
Check out the new Web site design!
Still a little work to do -- Eric's tunes will be back in the next few days.
Also -- I've been trying to get in touch with the publisher of A Life at Home to try to find an easier way to order single copies. You have to e-mail Heitzman-Hill (my current publisher), who has a few stashed away, and they send it to you.
September 4, 2007
Finally -- Some News!
Well, sort-of.
I have a new editor (cheers to Daniel!) who is working on Gray. He has a great ear for rhythm, a passion for realistic conversation and a distinct dislike for the word ‘that.’ And he loves the "forgotten dinosaurs" passage. Hopefully there are only good things to come!
Because we're planning to query it to mainstream publishers, it needed a little extra work. Of course, once I get a deal with one of them, the editing process will begin again ...
My boys over at H-H, meanwhile, are brainstorming ways to get some of my other work on the market. There's a chance even my 3-Day Novel, Lost and Found, could find it's way into publication.
Of course, A Life at Home is still floating around out there, too. It's actually being produced this fall by a private school in Mississippi, so I may try to make it down there and check it out -- it's hard to believe it's been 8 years since it was published!
January 16, 2007
"What's up with your book?"
I know, I know ... You all want to know. But the answer is, I don't know. I'm keeping my eyes open for another publisher, which I've been given permission to do. I've been extraordinarily happy with the guys (and Gina) over at H-H, but I've been very frustrated by many things that were out of their immediate control. Hopefully a time will come very soon when things will settle down at Heitzman-Hill's parent company, and Gray. can be released.
Either way, it's going to come out. I'm just not sure when. I'll keep you updated.
January 1, 2007
Update from Leah
or
Holy Schnikees, Batman, we've been foiled again!
First, the bad news: Gray. has been delayed. Again. No new date has been set for the release, and I asked that no date be announced until it is confirmed with the publishing house, promoters, printers and distributors. So hopefully the next date will be the correct date.
The extra time, however, has given me more time to bargain with editors about somethings which frustrated me during the editing process, and I had at least one victory -- the infamous "forgotten dinosaurs" passage has been returned to its proper place in chapter two! It was quite a victory for me, albeit, a small one in the whole scheme of things.
Thanks for all of your e-mails and support, and for never letting me go a single day without some one asking me what's up with the book! You don't know how much your support means. Thanks!
December 25, 2006
Merry Christmas!
October 24, 2006
A "slightly more than pint-sized" update from Leah
It's looking like April is going to be the month! It's still very tentative, but things are looking very good for Gray. to be released in April of 2007. I'll be glad to get it out there, and plan to have a huge party to celebrate. If you're reading this, you're invited!
How do you like the new song? It's Nashville songwriter Eric Landes, who is an amazing writer, huge inspiration and great friend. You can check out more of his tunes here: www.myspace.com/ericlandes. You can also catch him with The Farm -- Jared Blake, Tawnya Reynolds and Paul Johnson -- the third Monday of each month at 12th and Porter in Nashville.
I also recently received word that my 3 Day Novel Contest entry was being read by judges. The winners will be announced in January, and hopefully I'll at least make the short list of finalists.
Lastly, thanks to everyone who encourages me when I'm frustrated and asks me when they can finally get their hands on this thing. Really. Thanks. You don't know what a difference it makes.
September 5, 2006
2006 3-Day Novel Contest in the books
From midnight on Friday, Sept. 1, until Monday Sept. 4, Leah B. Newman spent 72 consecutive hours writing and editing her entry for the 29th Annual International 3-Day Novel Contest.
The result: a novella tentatively titled Lost and Found.
"I don't know that it's something I want to do every weekend, but it taught me a lot about myself as a writer and also as a person," she said. "I'd recommend it to anyone who has ambitions to be an author."
Leah was just one of more than 300 writers who took the 72-hour challenge in 2006. The entries will be judged, with the winner having his or her 3-day work published by 3-Day Books/Arsenal Pulp Press. Second prize will be awarded $500.
Results will be announced in January.
September 1, 2006
Note from Leah about 2006 3-Day Novel Contest
Today's my last day of freedom. At midnight tonight, I begin the International 3-Day Novel Contest. Just me, my computer, and the scary, scary blinking prompt who tells me I still have thousands of words left to write.
Please help me stay sane (or as sane as usual) by dropping me a note at leah@leahbnewman.com. I'll need the encouragement come Monday afternoon!
Also - look for new music on the site in the very near future. Thanks to my good buddy Eric Landes, we've got an amazing new tune coming!
August 24, 2006
Leah to participate in 2006 3-Day Novel Contest
Leah B. Newman will participate in the 29th annual International 3-Day Novel Contest September 2-4, 2006. The goal of the contest is to produce an entire novel in a mere 72 hours. A novel is typically classified as a written work of at least 50,000 words, so that means Leah will be writing, on average, about 30 words a minute!
Fell free to send her notes of encouragement here: leah@leahbnewman.com.
More info: www.3daynovel.com
August 1, 2006
Release of Gray. Rescheduled
The release of Gray., the debut novel by Leah B/ Newman, has been delayed. Originally scheduled to be released in October 2006, the novel's debut is not scheduled for early 2007.
June 1, 2006
Note from Leah on book blurbs
Just wanted to pay homage to one of my inspirations and make everyone aware that the term 'blurb' was coined by American poet/cartoonist Gelett Burgess in 1907. Yes, it's the same Burgess who wrote "I never saw a purple cow, I never hope to see one; but I can tell you, anyhow, I'd rather see one than be one." Who can argue with that?
May 28, 2006
Jacket blurb from Gray. to debut on LeahBNewman.com
The synopsis of Gray. by Leah B. Newman is now available.
October 2, 2005
Leah B. Newman signs with Heitzman-Hill Publishing
Heitzman-Hill Publishing, based in Nashville, announced this week they will publish Georgia playwright Leah B. Newman's debut novel, Gray.
Leah recently inked a one-book deal with the publishing house.
