Tag Archives: book-review

Talk about exhausted!

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Okay, I’m not actually exhausted.

However, I woke up with the idea that I might want to take on a part-time job and get back into the world again, starting next month. (There’s a specific part-time job that I’m interested in. )

I figured I should put some sort of a resume together. I haven’t done that in a zillion years.

I found an old resume in a Documents file on my laptop. It’s from when I lived in NYC! And that is what exhausted me, gang — reading it!!

I have to share some of it with you!!

And FYI — in the jobs I had in the 1990s, I was also a full-time writer at the same time.

This one was my first management position in NYC. It was when I was 20-23 yrs old!! WTF!

1980-1983     Manager, Le Café Restaurant, New York, NY

I was the Daytime Manager of Le Café, a health-food/fast food counter- service style restaurant in Times Square. I worked the 5:45 AM – 2:15 PM front-of-the-house management shift, overseeing an average of 800 breakfast transactions and over 2,000 lunch transactions daily. In my area of the restaurant, I had a staff of 9, and oversaw 7 cash drawers in a high-volume, extremely rapid transaction environment. In my capacity as Daytime Manager, I was instrumental in keeping my staff focused, calm, efficient and enthusiastic under all forms of duress associated with a Times Square environment, including in-house thefts and armed robberies, one of which resulted in the killing of the Night Manager on the premises. I scheduled all breaks and daily cleaning assignments, and balanced 7 cash drawers at the end of my shift.

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During that unbelievably exhausting job, above, I was also a budding singer-songwriter in the West Village. So many of the folks who worked in that Cafe were also musicians!

And here’s what I was doing on W. 57th Street, from age 23-25, when I worked for Ralph Ginzburg :

1983-1985     Department Manager, Avant-Garde Media, New York, NY

I managed Avant-Garde Media’s mail order book club department and was in charge of all communications with book club members, specifically handling and bringing to a satisfying conclusion all cases involving the N.Y State Attorney General’s consumer complaint division.

And my “higher education” back then consisted of a 2-year degree in 24-track recording/audio engineering… Mind-blowing that I even got that job.

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This was interesting!

This is what I did at MoMA part-time for 9 years! At this point, my singer-songwriter career was in full swing, and I drank like a fish and took drugs occasionally and generally stayed out all night…and then by 1988, I shifted into publishing, as well.

1985- 1994    Shop Steward, in-House Catering Services, the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) New York, NY

In addition to being the museum’s Assistant Pastry Chef for 1 year, I worked in in-house catering for the museum and was the Union Shop Steward for 8 years. I handled all complaints between the 30 union members and Catering Management and had a reputation for diffusing volatile situations in the workplace. I oversaw all in-house Union meetings and helped set-up and manage picket lines during Union strikes, ensuring that all protests remained peaceful and well-organized.

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Jesus Christ, right??!! I remember drinking a lot at MoMA and fooling around with Valerie constantly. I’d forgotten about all that other stuff!

And then when I was full-time into the publishing business, this was my final “job”, while also being a full-time writer.

2000-2006     Founder & President of the EAA, New York, NY

As President of the EAA, an international writers’ association, I oversaw the handling of daily publicity for the careers of several hundred genre fiction writers and small presses in the US, Canada, the UK, and France. I oversaw all details of the EAA’s online publishing company, including tracking and payment of monthly royalties to all writers. I testified in United States Supreme Court in support of the First Amendment rights of several American EAA writers, as well as the EAA at large, in the case of U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft vs. American Civil Liberties Union, case 535 U.S. 564 in Philadelphia. I also oversaw high-profile book-launch parties and curated related art gallery exhibits in New York.

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Yes, Supreme Court and art galleries…

I guess it’s no wonder my mind is wandering toward some sort of part-time job where I can interact with busy people again.

Not only do I feel really isolated out here in the middle of nowhere, but I am very disheartened by the publishing world these days. Especially the onslaught of AI in every area of it. And impersonal social media apps in every area of it, as well.

Plus I am reasonably convinced that one of the narrators/producers I entered into a contract with to produce one of my audiobooks, has indeed already scammed me and was likely the perpetrator of the scam on my bank account on Monday, too. (I can’t prove that last part. It’s just what my bones tell me when I piece it all together.) Yes! He has vanished. And it was ALL done on banking apps!

I’m not going to give up being a writer, but I’m kinda disillusioned with what “publishing” has become, gang. So we’ll see.

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On the happier front!!!

Friends continue to help me out financially!! Including some cash from my ex-husband in Seattle. And Wayne in NYC, just now donated to my GoFundMe!!!

And Sandra called last evening to say she could either send me some cash, OR pay for my airfare and hotel room in NYC when I go there in late January!! Wow!!

As of just now, thanks to Wayne, I have officially gotten ALL my money back — in the space of 4 days — from friends and former husbands. It feels so incredible.

And I guess I can at least say this much: On January 20th, at The Laurie Beechman Theatre on W.42nd Street, in NYC, Sandra will be doing a special “birthday cabaret” one-woman show that will be a pre-runner of our play, “The Guide To Being Fabulous.” It will be Sandra’s 75th birthday!! I cannot wait!!

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Okay.

This broke my heart.

From Phyllis Stein.

September 16th was the anniversary of Marc Bolan’s passing. 49 years! I remember it so vividly, gang, the day he died.

And this was the first T. Rex 45 RPM single that I bought– “Bang A Gong (Get It On)” 1971! It is still fantastic!!

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And here’s from Facebook last night!

And I don’t know if this was taken at Susie Cave’s 60th birthday book party on Wednesday night or not — the fan is wearing a Susie t-shirt, so I think it might be:

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And, YES!! I got a ton of housecleaning done yesterday, so I don’t have more than this to post today.

However.

Enjoy your Friday, wherever you are in the world, gang!

Thanks for visiting.

I love you guys. See ya!

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Let’s close with this!

Keith Richards’ wonderful contribution to the upcoming “Grand Theft Auto VI” soundtrack!! The blues classic, “Bright Lights, Big City”!!! You can stream it now on your favorite platform! Movie is coming November 19th. Enjoy, gang!

What I’m Not Doing Today!!

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Answering my phone.

In fact, I might never answer my phone again!! But we shall probably play that one by ear…

I have been on my phone nonstop since the bank fraud thing on Monday afternoon, changing over every account imaginable.

And here is something I want to point out: Only 2 accounts had actual human beings that you could speak to, and the customer service lady on the Best Buy credit card helpline, was the nicest person imaginable!!

She gets my customer service award for the entire year!!

She really cheered up my morning.

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Yes, I have been either on my phone or on my laptop for the last 2 hours, trying to take care of final various loose ends with bank account updates, and I believe I am finally DONE!!

Yay.

And before I forget, I just have to say that the other day, an audiobook audition came in for my novel, Twilight of the Immortal, and wow, gang — did she nail it!! In 3 minutes!

I cannot believe she is willing to undertake narrating the entire novel (it’s a really long book). And I cannot wait to hear what she does with it.

Wow.

So, as of now, it looks like I have audiobook narrators/producers lined up for all 4 novels. (1 contract in place, 2 negotiating, 1 we will revisit soon)

Thanks again to all my friends for donating money yesterday to help me get back on a firm footing with these audiobook projects. It was such an incredible feeling, knowing that my situation mattered to people.

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Okay.

I am going to try to just take it easy today and get “back to normal” now.

And by taking it easy, I of course, mean this!

OOPS! Sorry, no — I meant this:

Yes, my birth mom should be arriving a week from today, so I want to get some serious housecleaning done — stuff I don’t do every week, like polish all the mirrors that the various cats have sneezed on, polish the furniture, really clean both bathrooms, etc.

If I do NOT do this, my mom will do it while I’m gone and I don’t want her to clean my house!! (Although she is incredible at it.) I want her to try to just relax…

With 15 cats….

So, today, I’m going to clean the house, and then I also have a live podcast with 2 writers that I want to listen to this afternoon, and then there’s another one this evening, over with the writers at Lambda Literary.

So, it’ll still be about “writing” today, just not my own!

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Oh!

And this just in!

The first “Story of the Week” of Season 2 over at Brown Hound Press has just been posted!! It is:

“I Am Coming to Asheville to Kill You” by Pearl Reagler.

You can read it HERE!

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And here’s this.

It is a screenshot of a reel that I absolutely LOVED, but it was so tightly edited that it was nearly impossible to grab a good shot.

But here’s what I could get!

Johnny Smoke has returned!!

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And here’s this!!

From Facebook!!

A bunch of framed Christian art!!

Oh wait, I mean — Nick Cave!!! Leaning on a steel guitar!! In color!

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And that is all I have today because I have been living on another planet the last few days.

I am hoping that once all the housecleaning is done, I can focus on getting the tribute anthology for M. Christian ready to be front & center on my desk.

The deadline for submissions is Oct. 1st — right after I get back from North Carolina. And if everyone contributes who has said they are contributing — I’m going to be a busy gal in October.

So I want to be ready for that.

RIP M. Christian

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All righty. I’m gonna get started here.

Enjoy your Thursday, wherever you are in the world, gang!

Thanks for visiting.

I love you guys. See ya!

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Let’s close with this!!

There is a Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers 50th Anniversary collection coming soon!

Celebrating the first 7 years of their career, specifically: Origins 1971-1978

This has some great little interviews of Tom from a LONG time ago, as well as snippets of interviews with the remaining Heartbreakers today.

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers – Origins 1971-1978 (Official Album Trailer) (5 mins). Enjoy, gang!!

I could not resist a 3rd post today!

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Well, gang.

Between friends who donated directly to me today because they did not want to use GoFundMe because of the fees, and one friend who did use GoFundMe to donate–

I am already HALFWAY to my goal!!! In just a few hours.

I just want to thank everybody for all the help, generosity, and encouragement today.

These are going to be terrific audiobooks, gang. I really mean that!

And I also wanted to share this incredible thing, too.

A poet/friend in NYC, Ron Bass, received an advance review copy of my new novel a while back, and this afternoon, he submitted his review to Amazon. He sent me a copy of it:

“The Curse of Our Profound Disorder is extremely hard to put down. I read through it in just a couple of sittings. I found myself completely wrapped up in this first-person narrative of Jemima Callahan’s life. The author, Marilyn Jaye Lewis, is such an astute observer of human nature. The characters Jemina encounters, both good and bad, as well as those who are a combination thereof, ring totally true and serve to pull the reader further into the story. How to properly classify the novel in the terms of genre could be a bit tricky unless you take the expansive view that it can be shelved in a number of different categories. It’s definitely a coming-of-age novel describing not only the pitfalls facing the young narrator but also her strong will to survive her adverse circumstances. It’s also a spiritual journey in which the narrator’s own very real religious orientation is tested repeatedly. And it’s a worldly exploration of a young woman’s sexual encounters while trying to stay alive, and her later involvement in a love relationship that changes her way of looking at the world. In a sense, The Curse of Our Profound Disorder is three books in one, and all three of them fire on all cylinders. I could not recommend it more highly.”

What a great day. Thanks, everybody!

A better day rapidly approaching!

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I did manage to salvage yesterday by making a trip into town and chatting with actual people, so that I could get out of my own head.

The bookstore where I’ll be doing my book signing next month, was looking for donations of children’s books.

I actually have a ton of children’s books. Most of them have sentimental value for me, but I had about 8 books that were basically brand new — meaning, never been read. And they weren’t connected to my childhood in any way, so it gave me a good excuse to get in the car and get out of my house.

A few of maybe a total of 50 children’s books, very used, that I won’t ever part with:

From the old “Dr. Suess I Can Read All By Myself” book club!

And while I was at the Historic Arcade, dropping off the children’s books that I would part with, I stopped in at my friend’s art gallery and chatted with him and one of his customers for a little while. And then headed to my favorite health & wellness store, and chatted with my girlfriends in there for a while. So I was feeling a lot better by the time I got back home.

Yesterday was not a fun day. Between the horrible Twin Towers “anniversary” and all those awful memories, and then getting the news that my new novel was experiencing some sort of shipping delays (fixed now, btw).

Also, my publisher had spent a good chunk of money on getting advanced reviews for my book — and of all the many total strangers who downloaded a digital copy several weeks ago — not a single person reviewed the book.

I was hoping for at least one good review, but I wasn’t planning on no one at all reviewing it.

Plus, it was sad to be at a stage in my life where I had no one at all to go out with last night and celebrate having such an important book (to me) finally published after nearly 3 decades.

I was also missing my long-gone family, since it was the start of the Jewish holiday, Rosh Hashanah, last night, too.

But I tried to put my thoughts elsewhere. Focus on everything that’s going well, overall. So I got through it.

And now here I am. A whole new day — and I see that I have 3 new auditions awaiting me from a potential narrator for my audiobooks!

And Sandra called this morning and she had GREAT news. (I will keep you posted about all that — but I can at least say that I will likely be in NYC for 1 or 2 nights in late January, and I can never get enough of NYC in late January!!! Yay!!!)

Anyway!! On we go!

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Guess what amazing thing happened 60 years ago today, gang??!!

YES!

A true highlight of my wee bonny girlhood in Cleveland–

The Monkees premiered on TV!! I was 6 years old and I loved it!!!

And I will never forget this opening theme song as long as I live!! And if you have TUBI, you can watch the old Monkees re-runs for free right now:

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Okay.

Here’s this!!

Not a lot of people remember that when the Rolling Stones toured Europe in 1976, Marlon Richards was briefly part of the band!

But here’s proof!!

And here are a couple more photos of Keith that I liked:

And — No! As loyal readers of this lofty blog no doubt recall, Keith was NOT the one who turned me on to Jack Daniels!! (It was a little Jewish girl named Karen!!) (I don’t think Keith knew Karen… but not sure.)

Keith, July 1972!!

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I loved this photo!

A couple of Bad Seeds on Portobello Road yesterday!!

George Vjestica and Larry Mullins!

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And I loved this photo, too.

Peitor Angell and I once had a really great time in Mel’s Drive-in on Sunset Blvd. It was when we were first getting our micro-mini film production company, Abstract Absurdity Productions, off the ground, creating the first scripts.

We laughed so hard that whole night! Great memories.

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And here’s this!!

Nick Cave smoking, Kylie laughing(?), in 1996!!

And I liked this photo, too!

Eye catching!! (Photo by Will Collier)

And speaking of Nick Cave–

A few updates!

It is the 10th Anniversary of the release of the album, Skeleton Tree, by Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds. A beautiful album, whose timing was intense, since one of Nick’s sons died at the same time.

You can listen to the whole album on your favorite streaming platform HERE.

And it is also the 10th anniversary of the documentary, “One More Time With Feeling,” that was filmed at the same time:

I’ve watched the film a couple of times. It is really good, but, of course, very emotional.

And Nick Cave’s ceramic figures, “The Devil– A Life” return “to Museum Voorlinden in Wassenaar, Netherlands as part of Celebrating the Icons of Art, marking the museum’s 10th anniversary.”

“The exhibition also features work by artists including Francis Bacon, Louise Bourgeois, David Hockney, Yayoi Kusama, Henri Matisse, Claude Monet and Gerhard Richter.”

You can get more info HERE (but it is not in English).

What an amazing line-up of artists, right?? Congratulations, Nick Cave!!

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And I guess that’s it for today.

I hope you have a great Saturday, wherever you are in the world, gang.

Thanks for visiting.

I love you guys. See ya!

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Let’s close with this!

Even though I have a TON of reading to get through before I head to James Tabor’s conference in North Carolina in 2 weeks…

I’ve been reading Conversations With Tom Petty by Paul Zollo (2006), for the past several nights.

In my opinion, it is so much better than the popular biography that came out about Tom in 2015, because in this book it is just Tom talking about his whole entire life, and all the music he created along the way, for 302 pages!! With many photos.

I just finished reading the chapters on The Traveling Wilburys. It seems like it was such an incredibly fun time for all the musicians who were involved with that. (Bob Dylan, George Harrison, Tom Petty, Roy Orbison, Jeff Lynne.) And I love that album.

So here’s this!

“Handle With Care,” The Traveling Wilburys. 1988. Enjoy, gang.

“Handle With Care”

Been beat up and battered around
Been sent up, and I’ve been shot down
You’re the best thing that I’ve ever found
Handle me with care

Reputation’s changeable
Situation’s tolerable
But baby, you’re adorable
Handle me with care

I’m so tired of being lonely
I still have some love to give
Won’t you show me that you really care?

Everybody’s got somebody to lean on
Put your body next to mine, and dream on

I’ve been fobbed off, and I’ve been fooled
I’ve been robbed and ridiculed
In day care centres and night schools
Handle me with care

Been stuck in airports, terrorised
Sent to meetings, hypnotised
Overexposed, commercialised
Handle me with care

I’m so tired of being lonely
I still have some love to give
Won’t you show me that you really care

Everybody’s got somebody to lean on
Put your body next to mine, and dream on

I’ve been uptight and made a mess
But I’ll clean it up myself, I guess
Oh, the sweet smell of success
Handle me with care

c – 1988 – George Harrison, Bob Dylan, Jeff Lynne, Tom Petty, Roy K. Orbison

Mixed-Bag Here, Today

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I am, of course, trying to focus more on the fact that a book that has meant so much to me has at long last been published today…

The Curse of Our Profound Disorder (No reviews yet!)

And this actually made me really happy this morning when I discovered it online–

My beloved Strand Books in NYC, on my beloved E.12th Street, is carrying the book!!

I actually began writing The Curse of Our Profound Disorder back in the mid-1980s — it began as a short story. I was living on E.12th Street at the time. So the woman I was way back then is feeling really happy that the book is real and being sold at Strand Books today!

The actual woman I am today, however, is dealing with all the sadness of this, and all the trauma and all the loss that came along with it: :

Wayne and I were still technically living in the same apartment back then, we were still on decent terms, but we had already decided to divorce.

On 9/11, he was in the South of France, vacationing with his family. So I was alone in the apartment that day and during the week that followed. What an awful time that was.

But here’s something happier that I found — me at the Statue of Liberty, sometime in the 1980s:

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And here’s this–

Joe Strummer, NYC, 1985. (Photo by Bob Gruen)

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And I liked this —

From Phyllis Stein.

Johnny Thunders in Paris, 1973 (Photo by Alain Dister)

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And here are a couple of cheerful things from yesterday–

From Facebook.

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And that’s it for now, gang.

I did have a great day yesterday, though. For so many reasons.

One is that I have officially begun the audiobook project for 1954 Powder Blue Pickup . (And maybe Freak Parade with the same producer/narrator. We’ll decide further along.)

And I am close to finalizing negotiations for The Guitar Hero Goes Home, as well.

So I’m really happy about all that.

Meanwhile, I am going to try to rescue this day somehow, and celebrate. Even if it’s just here with my many happy cats.

Have a good day, wherever you are in the world, gang.

Thanks for visiting.

I love you guys. See ya.

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Let’s close with this.

Taken from the Martin Scorsese documentary on George Harrison, “Living in the Material World”.

Tom Petty remembers. Really delightful.

George Harrison, Tom Petty and Ukuleles… (1 min 30 seconds):

A relaxing Saturday, indeed!

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Okay, gang. Happy Saturday!

And it’s another truly gorgeous day here in the Hinterlands. (I haven’t even needed to have the AC on for about 5 days!) (However, another heatwave is on its way next week…)

I am almost done editing the writer’s book. I will try to complete the edits this afternoon, after the James Tabor Zoom meeting. But I will most definitely have it done by tomorrow. A day before it’s due!

What a book, gang. I do not know how this man lived through what happened to him.

And I also am curious indeed how his book landed on my desk — of all people to be editing a book like this! (Referring to my 4 recent years of nonstop digital soldiering…)

Anyway. It is definitely a story that needs to be told.

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Okay!

Here’s a happy thing!

Last evening, I got a text from my 93-year-old uncle down in Virginia. I had sent him a review copy of my upcoming novel, The Curse of Our Profound Disorder.

He has read everything I ever wrote, but he wasn’t sure he was ready to read the new book, since it is just really raw, with some unhappy things that are always sort of just right in the reader’s face. But he said he would try his best to read it all the way to the end.

His text last evening said, in part:

“Just finished reading your book.  It was strangely entertaining and a shift from my usual reading material.  You have an unusually creative mind…”

He said some other nice things, but I don’t want to spoil the book for you! But it made me really happy that he had not only finished it, but that he also liked it! (You can pre-order it in print or eBook HERE. It will be released on Sept. 11th by Parisian Phoenix Publishing.)

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Speaking of writing!

This newsletter for writers is the best! Not only is it very informative, but she gives you all the information for FREE. Including all sorts of calls for submissions!

I get so disheartened how, nowadays, writers often need to pay someone to get access to calls for submissions or other paying publishing markets. It was never like that in the old days.

But now it seems there are so many people out there who just want to make money off of writers.

Here is Erica Verrillo’s The Publishing … and Other Forms of Insanity Newsletter

You can read her current newsletter HERE and also sign up for it, for free!

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Okay!

Get ready for THIS today!

It’s Australian musician (and former Bad Seed) Mick Harvey’s birthday!! He turns 68 today!

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And on a similar theme–

It’s the 40th Anniversary of the release of the Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds album of cover songs, Kicking Against the Pricks! From August, 1986!

You can listen to the entire remastered album HERE. (Choose your preferred platform.)

I recently posted this one from that album, but here it is again!! Their cover of “Something’s Gotten Hold of My Heart”!!

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And speaking of Nick Cave!!

The final show of the tour is over!! And here’s what he had to say this morning!

Dear All,

Our tour has come to an end: thirty-two shows across Britain and Europe. Thank you to everyone who came along to make it what was, by any measure, a momentous summer. You were the most amazing, engaged and responsive audience, and it has been a true privilege to play for you.​

People often ask how I stay so emotionally engaged night after night. The answer is, The Bad Seeds – the greatest live band a singer could wish for. So powerful, so vulnerable, so nimble, gloriously anarchic, and utterly committed to their own brand of lunacy. They really are the best. And it is you, the audience, who give so much. That connection sweeps us all away. People call it transcendent, even religious. Well, it is exactly that. The audience becomes a vast church into which the band pour their love, and that love, that devotion, comes surging back. For me, this is where the power resides. It’s love, plain and simple.

My manager just sat down with me at breakfast here in Paris and said, “The tour’s over. You did a good job. Now, let’s talk about The Bad Seeds and 2029. I have a very interesting idea.” Weirdest thing, I felt a surge of excitement.​

Love, Nick

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And here’s a photo from last night’s show in Paris!

Here’s the set list!

And from Bad Seed Jim Sclavunos in Paris yesterday–

And the tour is officially over!!

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Okay, gang.

That’s it for now.

I’m gonna finish up the laundry. Maybe take a quick walk out there in the glorious sunshine, and then settle in for James Tabor‘s Zoom meeting. (They usually last at least 2 hours.)

Then, editing!!

Enjoy your Saturday, wherever you are in the world, gang!

Thanks for visiting.

I love you guys. See ya!

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Let’s close with this!

From up there on Jim Sclavunos’ post from Paris yesterday!!

Perry Como, 1955, “It’s A Good Day”!! It certainly is! Let’s enjoy it, gang.

It just gets better and better!

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This idea that I now have TIME, gang. Yay!!

Today at noon is the monthly Zoom meeting for the Tabor Research Group. I almost never get to join in on that when it’s LIVE. I almost always have to listen to the recorded playback. But not anymore!!

I am so looking forward to joining that meeting live today, gang. (And I might actually leave my room! I’m thinking I might just hang out in the family room and totally chill-ax in the AC during the 3-hour call! We shall soon see!)

Me! Maybe!

And tomorrow at 3pm, is a live Zoom call with Ross K. Nichols’ Yachad Group! Again, I almost never get to listen to that one live, either. So I’m excited about joining that meeting tomorrow, as well.

And yesterday, I had another really productive day, gang.

I submitted everything I needed to submit for my proposal to speak at the writers conference in Pennsylvania in the Spring . I feel really positive about it but I will keep you posted.

Also, the bookstore in the Historic Arcade sent me an email yesterday about joining their “book cafe” to introduce my new book to local readers. So that felt very promising that I might actually get to do that book signing there, as well. It will still be a couple weeks before I will know for sure, but at least I now know I can get my book in the store.

That makes 2 local independent bookstores in 2 nearby towns! Yay!

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Okay!

To celebrate all these great new things in my life–

Keith and Anita, smoking while getting out of a taxi!! In 1973!!

Patti smoking a pen, while sitting on a couch with Theodora when she had that early Coke habit!! (BTW — pens are so much healthier for you, gang. Remember that, the next time you wanna light up a cigarette!!) (And depending on the pen, it can be a lot cheaper.)

And Keith not smoking, while leading the glorious Rolling Stones Mobile Recording Unit onto the Villa Nellcote property, on June 7th 1971!! (That was what led to the thing that absolutely changed my life forever, gang!)

And here’s that thing that changed my life forever — made in the Mobile Recording Unit!!

Exile on Main Street, in that glorious Year of Our Lord –1972!!

The BACK cover, for a change!! I just loved staring at this while listening to the records in my room.

Who can forget these opening chords?? Not me!! They changed my life forever!!

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And here’s this–

Joe Strummer hard at work on Friday!!

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Okay.

They did start posting some photos from Johnny Depp’s visit to Comic Con to promote Ebenezer. Here are a couple of them — but the actual videos are just really, really cute!

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And as we await Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds’ upcoming homecoming bash in Brighton — (you cannot buy tickets here because it is SOLD OUT!!) —

We go to the desktop stash for a trip back in time!! August 1991, to be exact!!

Nick Cave in a great shirt!! (And please ignore the “send a gift” thingie!! No one is in need of any gifts at this time.)

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And I believe that is it for now.

This morning is the final morning where we will have really beautiful weather. The heat’s going up this afternoon, followed by several days of rain and thunderstorms. So I’m gonna head out for another walk before the Zoom meeting gets started.

And I want to say thanks again for continuing to visit my (mostly inactive until the podcast begins) Substack page, for continuing to buy my books and eBooks, for checking out my out-of-print books on the Internet Archive, and for pre-ordering The Curse of Our Profound Disorder.

These things really help me to stay positive and to keep on going at this lofty age of 66. So thank you, thank you, thank you.

I hope you have a happy Saturday, wherever you are in the world, gang.

Thanks for visiting.

I love you guys. See ya!

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Let’s close with this!!

Here on the Oldies FM Radio Station on the retro boombox next to my bed, Saturdays are “Amazing 80s” Day!!

So, fresh from 1984, here was this morning’s first offering!!

“Shooting at the walls of heartache bang bang!!” — Yes!!

“The Warrior” by Scandal ft. Patty Smyth! Turn it up loud because you have NO CHOICE!! Enjoy, gang!!

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Update! It is officially a great day!

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Okay, so not only are all 3 volumes in The Muse Revisited collection now re-published on Amazon Kindle (available for sale in the next day or so), but I also got the official press release for The Curse of Our Profound Disorder (I hired a small PR firm in NYC). And here it is! I really love it.

THE CURSE OF OUR PROFOUND DISORDER BY MARILYN JAYE LEWIS EXPLORES A FEARLESS COMING OF AGE JOURNEY THROUGH TRAUMA, IDENTITY, AND TABOO

An unflinching literary novel that confronts generational pain, survival, and the search for the truth in a fractured world.

New York, NY — April 16th, 2026 — Acclaimed author Marilyn Jaye Lewis delivers a bold and emotionally charged narrative in her forthcoming novel, The Curse of Our Profound Disorder, set for release on September 11, 2026. This deeply introspective work introduces readers to Jemima Callahan, a young woman shaped by abandonment, hardship, and a relentless desire to understand her origins.

From the very beginning, Jemima’s life is marked by instability and stigma. Born to a teenage mother under controversial circumstances and raised in the shadow of small town judgment, she inherits not only her mother’s story but also her struggles. As her mother’s mental health deteriorates, Jemima is thrust into the foster care system, where she endures further emotional, physical, and psychological challenges that test her resilience and shape her worldview.

At its core, The Curse of Our Profound Disorder is a coming of age story that does not shy away from difficult truths. Lewis crafts a narrative that examines the intersection of trauma, sexuality, belief, and identity. Jemima’s journey unfolds through a series of encounters with complex and often unconventional characters, reflecting the unpredictable nature of survival on the margins of society. Her path eventually leads her to an unexpected opportunity working for a lawyer, offering a fragile sense of stability while reigniting her longing to uncover the truth about her father.

The novel’s emotional depth is driven by Jemima’s internal conflict and her mother’s haunting philosophy that passion and divinity are intertwined. This belief influences Jemima’s understanding of love, self worth, and purpose, adding a provocative layer to an already powerful story. As she searches for Reverend Parker Peabody, the man she believes to be her father, Jemima must confront whether the truth will bring healing or further fracture her sense of self.

Lewis was inspired to write this novel as an exploration of how early life experiences shape identity and the ways individuals seek meaning despite adversity. Her storytelling is both raw and poetic, offering readers a deeply human portrait of endurance and self discovery.

This book will resonate with readers who appreciate literary fiction that challenges societal norms and explores complex emotional landscapes. It speaks to those interested in stories of resilience, identity, and the enduring quest for belonging.

Marilyn Jaye Lewis is an established author known for her fearless approach to storytelling and her ability to illuminate difficult subjects with honesty and depth. Her work often centers on unconventional lives and the emotional truths that define them.

The Curse of Our Profound Disorder will be available for pre order through major retailers and is published by Parisian Phoenix Publishing. The book is now available — secure your copy here: https://www.amazon.com/Curse-Our-Profound-Disorder-Coming/dp/1957863633/ref=sr_1_1?sr=8-1

For review copies, interview requests, or additional information, please contact: Marilyn Jaye Lewis
Email: marilynjayelewis@protonmail.com