Rebeca Schiller

There’s been some discussion on the writing list at The Internet Writing Workshop concerning the marketing of Eat, Pray, Love. According to the Los Angeles Times, the book has evolved into a much bigger franchise with gee-gaws thrown into the mix.

What are my thoughts about this?  I don’t look at it too favorably. Don’t get me wrong, I have no issue with writers creating a marketing platform to spread the word about their book, and I certainly don’t have any problem when a good book is adapted into a good film with a respected screenwriter, director, and actors on board, but I frown when a writer allows his work to be turned into a theme park, video games, fashion, toys, or whatever under the sun the genius marketer thinks will turn a buck.

I personally feel that literary work has been cheapened when becomes

I spent this past weekend in Manhattan. I stayed with my good friend, stained glass artist Joseph Cavalieri. Joseph was extremely generous to put me up in his place in the East Village, and I had a blast walking in my old neighborhood, going to a fantastic show in Dixon Place and eating.

The purpose of my visit was twofold: the first, to see my friend; the second, to do some visual recognizance of the old neighborhood. You see, I lived on the Lower East Side for almost three years and Julius takes place on East Broadway and Essex Street. So I had to remind myself where certain landmarks are situated, and I’m glad I did. For instance, one of the minor characters notes that he can see The Bialystok Home for the Aged from Corinne’s penthouse loft window on Essex. Uh-uh, not possible.

I’ve been missing in action for a few weeks because I’ve been busy with articles for HAND/EYE, I’m also writing weekly book reviews for Dan’s Papers, but what really slowed me down has been biological. I’ve reached that new phase in a woman’s life, and I can honestly say that it sucks. My malady, if you want to call it that, is the Hot Flash. I get them mostly at night. A sporadic one or two during the day. The problem that slowed me down quite a bit was the sleep deprivation, and thanks to that my double vision issue recurred.

But all is well now. The flashes are under control and . . . I can see normally again. It took exactly two weeks for the double vision to clear up. So, now it’s catch up time with a lot of writing!