Tag Archives: books

Off to a great morning here!

September 10, 2026 marilyn jaye lewis Leave a comment

Wow, gang.

If you saw my quick update from yesterday afternoon — about how all 8 of my self-published books on Amazon got approved for audiobooks at the very same time…

By early evening, I was already getting audition tapes from narrators/producers (are they still “tapes” if it’s all done virtually??)

Anyway.

Wow, were they good!

I got 2 auditions for The Guitar Hero Goes Home, and one for 1954 Powder Blue Pickup. And my jaw kinda dropped open, all 3 guys were just so good.

(And, yes, I have to say that while I was listening to the auditions, I was wondering: Who the heck WROTE this filthy dirty stuff??)

Anyway. Wow. I’m just so happy with how this is developing.

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Okay!

I don’t know about you, but I had great dreams last night. And I woke up feeling like everything had shifted, energy-wise.

I’m in such a positive mood, today.

And THIS was so exciting to wake-up to!!

It appears Warren Ellis is finally satisfied with the shade of blue that the London Council chose for his street sign!

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And it turns out the rumors were true!

Some of the Bad Seeds did indeed have beverages while in Munich recently!!

And it appears that at least 3 of them also play their own instruments!

Colin Greenwood, George Vjestica, and Carly Paradis!

And here, George and Carly are — well, I’m not sure what they’re doing, but at least we now have proof that it happened!

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And here’s proof that both Lou Reed and Mick Rock used to exist.

Thank god.

Lou, taking aim. One of my all-time heroes:

And no, I’m not going to post this song again because I’ve posted it here a million times already… But if I were posting it, it would be my song, “Lou.” Demo produced by Peitor Angell! (1984)

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Oh!

And in case you were thinking I wasn’t busy enough…

Yesterday afternoon, James Tabor sent us 6 pdfs to download and read before the conference in 2 weeks. Along with a couple of books to re-read (did that already!! whew), and some documentaries to watch, and some maps to study…

Yes. Okay. Sounds good… I’m on it.

But wait!!!

When am I supposed to find time to do THIS?? My plane leaves in only 2 weeks!!

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All right.

Meanwhile…

Nick Cave has it figured out.

If there are TWO of him, he can get more done…

Even leaves him time to paint…..

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Anyway!!

All right.

As you can guess, I gotta get started — I’ve got some wrok to do. (And after the “wrok” is done, I have a lot of work to do, too.)

I hope you have a great Thursday underway, wherever you are in the world, gang!

And please don’t forget! TOMORROW, my new novel is officially out!!

If you don’t pre-order it TODAY, then you’ll end up being just like everybody else and having to simply “order” it instead…

So, if you haven’t already, pre-order it HERE!!! Thanks, gang!!

Meanwhile!

Thanks for visiting!

I love you guys. See ya!

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Let’s close with this today!!

The only song whose lyrics appear in my new novel, The Curse of Our Profound Disorder!!

The old Kentucky mountain song–

“On Top of Old Smokey”, 1952, Gene Autry’s version, Enjoy, gang.

On Top of Old Smokey (traditional lyrics)

On top of Old Smokey, all covered with snow,
I lost my true lover for courting too slow.

For courting’s a pleasure but parting is grief,
And a false-hearted lover is worse than a thief.

A thief will just rob you and take what you have,
But a false-hearted lover will lead you to your grave.

The grave will decay you and turn you to dust,
Not one boy in a hundred a poor girl can trust.

They’ll hug you and kiss you and tell you more lies
Than crossties on a railroad or stars in the sky.

So come ye young maidens and listen to me:
Never place your affection in a green willow tree.

For the leaves they will wither, the roots they will die,
And you’ll be forsaken and never know why.

What were you doing at 2:43am??

September 9, 2026 marilyn jaye lewis 2 Comments

I’ll tell you what I was doing —

I was lying in bed, in the dark, thinking about the new novel coming out in 3 days.

And I was thinking that this will be my 8th published novel.

And I was thinking that it would be my 21st book, until I really started adding everything up. And it was a LOT of math to do in the dark at 2:43AM!!

Not just the novels, but all the many short story collections of mine that have come out, the books I edited of other writers’ and photographers’ works, and then I also added in the various different editions of my books that came out, too.

And I was astounded to discover that The Curse of Our Profound Disorder will my 32nd book.

How did that happen??

Gang, I do not know where the time went. But I do remember every single book I worked on, wrote, or edited, as well as every different edition that came out — in the US, UK, France, Mexico.

And every single one of those events made me so happy. There were just so many publishers back then.

And this doesn’t count the short stories and essays that I’ve had published in other people’s books. I can’t even begin to remember all of those.

There were just so many books over the course of 28 years. And almost all of them are out of print now. So I’d kind of lost track of how many there actually were. (And before the books, my short stories were published in underground zines for 8 years! That whole zine culture was so cool, gang.)

And then next year, The Muse Revisited Volume 4 will come out, along with the M. Christian tribute anthology I’m editing.

I couldn’t wrap my mind around where the time went to, though, you know?

And this doesn’t count the 24 years of songwriting that I did, or the plays, screenplays, TV pilots I wrote or co-wrote. Or the diaries & journals I kept in NYC for 16 years — until I began working online for a film production company in 1997 and then started building publishing-related websites. Which started me writing my journals online and brought my blog into the world!

I’ve continuously kept an online blog now for 29 years.

I don’t know, gang. I felt like I was looking at someone else’s life. Even though I remembered every minute of it.

For instance —

When I was 10 years old (1970), I wrote my first real song. I composed it on the piano. It was a song about air pollution (I was against it!). And it was used in a short film that my art teacher, Mr. Quinn, at my elementary school made. It starred my Girl Scout troop! And we all sang my song in the film. And the film was shown at an exposition in downtown Cleveland.

Wow, was I thrilled!

And then the Synagogue my family attended, printed the lyrics of my song in the members’ newsletter. And my parents and grandparents — and my piano teacher!! — were really proud of me.

It’s like everything I ever wrote came back to me last night while I was trying to go back to sleep. But it took a while.

I don’t really know why I have become so obsessed with TIME. And how fast it’s flying and how little of it I have left, compared to what’s already gone by.

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Okay.

I’m not going to go into the details because it was absolutely traumatizing — it involved a car accident that happened yesterday, right in front of me.

But I had a really bad day yesterday. And then to top it all off, THIS happened when I answered my phone at 5PM!!

Yes! I’ve been called up for fucking JURY DUTY. AGAIN!

Next Tuesday… Jesus Christ.

Here’s hoping it goes pretty much the same way it went last month and then it will just be over for a few years.

But the long and the short of it is — I got NO writing done yesterday!! (But I did get a little writing done over the last 56 years…)

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Anyway.

The Public Theater in NYC announced yesterday that the play I posted about here recently, “How Shakespeare Saved My Life,” has already been extended!

It will now run from Sept 15th through October 25th! The play looks like it will be really great. You can read about it and buy tickets HERE!

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Did you know that Elvis Costello is on a North American Tour??

Including CLEVELAND! Yay!

You can buy tickets HERE!!

And in celebration of the 49th anniversary of his fantastic first record, My Aim Is True, he has a special 5-CD box set coming October 2nd. You can read about it HERE!

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And from Lambda Literary today:

“Lambda Literary has teamed up with Fine Arts Work Center to celebrate the successes of our Retreat Alumni!

“Join us for a free, virtual event Thursday, September 17th at 6pm EST to hear more about how these storytellers found success in their journeys from emerging writer to celebrated author.“

Find out more and register here! Free!

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Oh!

Simon Parkes had a great update yesterday, about upcoming healing centers and MedBeds, and also banking system changes, worldwide. You need to be a member of Connecting Consciousness to hear Simon’s updates, but it is FREE to join. Check it out HERE.

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Okay!!

And here’s this!!

Mick — bored with golfing??? It seems to be affecting the attitudes of the other Rolling Stones…

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A great Polaroid of Keith! Mid-1960s, in front of Olympia Recording Studios in London!

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Keith and the late, great horn player, Bobby Keys! Drinking!! On a plane!!

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Joe Strummer! Leaning!!

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And last but not least, gang!

Nick Cave and some of those Birthday Party boys! Smoking, not smoking!!

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And that is it for now.

I am seriously hoping I will have a much better day than the one I had yesterday, gang.

We will soon find out.

Meanwhile, have a wonder-filled Wednesday, wherever you are in the world!

Thanks for vistiing.

I love you guys. See ya!

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Let’s close with this!

Tom Petty and the Heartbreaker’s entire story in 60 seconds!!

Happy Labor Day from the sunny Hinterlands!

September 7, 2026 marilyn jaye lewis Leave a comment

Wow, what a spectacular day here today.

The windows are open, the house is cool, the skies are sunny for as far as the eye can see!

I am in a much better mood this morning about everything.

Oh! I forgot to post this, in case you or someone you know was having the same problem– about the wireless printer no longer working right with a new fiber optic Internet connection.

Since I don’t really like wireless printers, in general, and since I could not for the life of me understand the written instructions online about how to fix it myself, and since the HP printer tech support line involves NO HUMAN BEINGS WHATSOEVER and I was ready to tear my fucking hair out….

It finally occurred to me to check the back of the printer for a USB cable port and VOILA!!!! It had one. So I went and bought a USB printer cable and then carefully did this very complicated procedure:

I plugged one end of the cable into the printer and the other end into my laptop and in 0.2 nanoseconds, suddenly the printer was working just fine….

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Okay, gang!

It is official!

On Saturday, October 3rd, from 1-5PM, at Holland’s Book Nook in the really lovely Historic Arcade in downtown Newark, Ohio–

I will be singing — well, I won’t be doing a whole lot of singing, mostly I’ll be signing copies of my brand new novel, The Curse of Our Profound Disorder!

2 other local writers will also be there, but I don’t know who the writers are yet.

If for some inexplicable reason you will be in the area that day, please stop by!!

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Okay, I don’t have a lot to post about today since I spent a good chunk of yesterday in town, running errands. And then the remainder of the afternoon working on the new MEMOIR… and I finally found a way to approach it without totally depressing myself.

But here’s this!

From the wonderful Phyllis Stein!

Richard Hell in NYC in 1977!! (Photo by Stephanie Chernikowski)

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And here are 2 great ones from that Nick Cave/Facebook account that I love!

Absolutely SMOKING!! (Nick Cave, and then The Boys Next Door)

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And honestly, that is it for today, gang.

I’m hoping that I have a productive day of writing ahead of me here. We shall soon find out.

Meanwhile, if you live State-side, have a fabulous Labor Day. Otherwise, have a great Monday, wherever you are in the world.

Thanks for visiting.

I love you guys. See ya!

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Let’s close with this!!

Continuing from yesterday’s post…

A little more Lou Bega!! (Get in the car and drive, gang!!)

“Mambo No. 5 (A Little Bit of…)”, 1999. Enjoy!!

Rain now, sun later!

September 5, 2026 marilyn jaye lewis Leave a comment

Happy Saturday — and if you’re State-side, I hope your holiday weekend is off to a great start.

Here in the Hinterlands, we’ve already had a couple hours’ worth of thunderstorms, but it is supposed to clear up here soon and then the rest of the holiday weekend looks like it is going to be PERFECT!!

Sunny and not too HOT! Yay!

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Okay, before I forget–

I decided to remove my short story collection, A Man in Her Arms & Other Stories, off of Lulu and publish it on Amazon, instead.

Lulu had removed it from global distribution almost the moment after I’d published it there, because they wanted me to reformat it. So I’ve now published it with Amazon, instead.

You can buy the eBook HERE (print edition will be live later today).

The eBook is $2.99, or free (!!) in Kindle Unlimited.

The collection includes a never-before-published novelette, “A Man in Her Arms.” The other stories have either been published in print or online, 2005 -2021.

Table of Contents:

A Man in her Arms
A Path to the Woods (A Ghost Story)
Score
Code
Alter/Soldier
To My Beloved I Am a Stranger
Common Place
Wanted
Legacy of Boy
Half- Moon Bride

Most of these stories are erotic, so Adults Only please!!

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Yesterday, I also got my remaining self-published books uploaded for audio books on Amazon. So now all of them are in the queue, awaiting producers & narrators! (A total of 8 books.)

And at the risk of becoming the blog that’s all about how “publishing used to be so much better in the old days”– I have to say that, for self-publishing, LULU used to be the absolute best & easiest.

But I’m talking 20 years ago… it is SO different now.

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And, you know, part of what made the Indie Press world “better” in the old days, is that it was so much easier to find!!

This has to do with pesky algorithms, gang. In the event you are a writer, poet, zine-ster, you might be interested in my GROWING list:

Eggtooth Editions: https://eggtootheditions.wordpress.com/ (poetry, fiction, nonfiction, hybrid)

Spurl Editions: https://spurleditions.com/

DUMBO Press: https://dumbopress.com/

Clash Books: https://www.clashbooks.com/

Rinky Dink Press: https://rinkydinkpress.com/ (poetry)

Cosmorama: https://www.cosmorama.site/

Diode Editions: https://www.diodeeditions.com/home (poetry)

Able Muse Press: https://www.ablemusepress.com/

Milkweed Editions: https://milkweed.org/

Outpost 13: https://www.outpost13.com/ebooks.html (sci-fi eBooks)

Brooklyn Arts Press: https://brooklynartspress.com/

Augury Books: https://augurybooks.com/ (connected to Brooklyn Arts Press)

Abalone Mountain Press: https://www.abalonemountainpress.com/ (indigiqueer, trans, non-binary, Black Indigenous, and Indigenous feminist-friendly press)

Cardboard House Press: https://cardboardhousepress.org/ (Latin American and Spanish poetry in translation)

La Cartonera Collective: https://cardboardhousepress.org/Cartonera (one of Cardboard House Press’s community projects; bi-lingual Latin)

Wasted Ink Zine Distro: https://www.wizd-az.com/ (an alt zine distribution shop in Phoenix AZ; also has workshops)

Vishnu Temple Press: https://www.vishnutemplepress.com/ (Grand Canyon art and poetry)

Soulstice Publishing: https://soulsticepublishing.com/ (Books with Soul celebrating the Southwest)

Salina Bookshelf: https://salinabookshelf.com/ (multi-cultural indigenous publishing for children; Flagstaff, AZ)

Write Bloody Publishing: https://writebloody.com/ (poetry books with beautifully designed covers)

F*%K IF I KNOW//BOOKS: https://www.fiikbooks.org/ (handmade and limited-run poetry and art chapbooks; indigenous and Spanish-speaking)

Torrey House Press: https://www.torreyhouse.org/ (literal arts and environmental advocacy)

Noemi Press: https://www.noemipress.org/ (Non-profit prose and poetry identity politics)

Black Lawrence Press: https://blacklawrencepress.com/ (fiction, poetry, chapbook contests)

The Sapling (weekly small press updates — pay)

Lit Hub (daily) https://lithub.com/ (free or pay)

Collapse Press: https://collapsepress.com/about-cp/ (poetry, prose, monthly online poetry reading with open mic)

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Sorry. That was long!

But it’s good to know that there’s still a world out there, where you can get published and not have to go the self-publishing route if you don’t want to.

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All righty!!

Here’s this!

Such a great photo of Keith and Marlon, a long time ago!!

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And from Phyllis Stein–

Another great one of Willy Deville — smoking in NYC in 1977!!

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And here are 2 sort of related things–

The statue of Keith, made by sculptor Amy Goodman SEA. It is part of a tribute to Mick & Keith, and it is located in Dartford, Kent (England), where they both grew up:

And here is a mural in Canberra, Australia, that a man there just had painted on the side of his house!

Fellow Australians, Nick Cave & Kylie Minogue!! (Artist is Lawrence Tan)

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And that is actually it for today, gang.

But the good news is that — except for the Writers & Artists podcast that we have still not launched — everything on my To Do List is DONE!!!!!

Can you believe it??

I have been retired from caregiving for 47 days (as of today) and my To Do List is at long last Done!!!!

And even though I do have a new novel coming out this coming FRIDAY (on the 25th anniversary of 9/11, which kind of freaks me out since 9/11 was such a traumatizing day for us in NYC), but yes, the new novel comes out on Friday– after languishing somewhere in the dark recesses of my desktop for 27 years...

However, I am still taking time right now to focus on getting my memoir at least on the page and underway.

So with that— I’m off!

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

Thanks for visiting.

I love you guys. See ya!

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It’s Friday! It’s better!

September 4, 2026 marilyn jaye lewis Leave a comment

I say that as if “Friday” means anything to me at this point, now that I have every day off, basically.

But still.

Yay!

And I had a long talk with Wayne yesterday afternoon, about how terrorized I was feeling — about that AI-generated “review” with my name in the byline, suddenly attaching me, after over 25 years, to a photographer who turns out to have been a snuff-filmmaking serial killer…

WTF??!! — in a great big WTF way!! Why did they fucking choose me?? (Not that I liked the guy, but still…)

Anyway.

Wayne ultimately encouraged me to let it go and keep moving forward, and to concentrate on writing the memoir now. He even said, “Send me the pages as they get written. You know I always love reading your stuff.”

That meant the world to me, gang. Not only that he said that, but it also gives me a sort of goal. A reason to write. Because Wayne’s going to be reading it…

Sort of like in the old days, when I would come in from the other room and thrust new pages at him, saying:

ME (thrusting new pages at him): “Here, read this!”

HE (glancing up from his coffee cup): “Ah, yes! Please allow me to drop everything and read this!”

So, anyway. I feel a lot better today! And now, onward to that memoir…

“And so then we got arrested for stealing the car, but we explained to the Sheriff that we were only borrowing it…”

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And speaking of my memoir about my life in the 1970s… Here’s this!!

Lou Reed in 1974!! (Photo by Mick Rock)

And while we’re at it!! From Lou Reed in 1974 — I love this fucking song!! “Sally Can’t Dance”!!

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And here’s a bundle of Keith stuff!

Keith, thinking about drinking, and looking, I don’t know — sort of shiny in 1981!

Keith smoking! And looking sort of, I don’t know — thuggy in 1981! (On St. Mark’s Place with Mick)

And just being Keith! Smoking, attitude, guitar, etc.!!

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Yesterday, a posthumous Sid Vicious wished guitarist Steve Jones a happy birthday!! (Steve is in the bath)

And directly after I saw that photo on Instagram, I saw this!!

Warren Ellis, doing it HIS WAY! (Although I’m not sure exactly what he’s doing “his way” — driving, wearing a seat belt, wearing really huge sunglasses. driving on the wrong side of the road?? You decide!!)

And of course we can’t forget THIS!!! (And if you’ve never seen this before, gang, you gotta watch it. It’s legendary.) Sid Vicious, “My Way”.

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And here’s Nick Cave!! Smoking!!

And Nick Cave more recently, sort of easily confused by the presence of little dogs?? Not sure!

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All right, gang. On that happy note…

I’m gonna refill my cup o’ joe, and get back to the memoir!

It’s a gorgeous day — a little hot, so the AC is cranking. But it’ll be a nice day to sit at my desk and relive the insanity that was the 1970s!!

Have a terrific 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!

From some of the insanity that was the 1970s!

David Bowie, “The Jean Genie”, 1972.( Although I didn’t have his album, Aladdin Sane, until 1973… ) Okay. Enjoy, gang!!

Another Happy Sunday in the Hinterlands!

August 30, 2026 marilyn jaye lewis Leave a comment

I think today the heatwave officially begins creeping in, so the AC is back on, but other than that, it is yet another really gorgeous morning here!

I did indeed complete the book edits yesterday evening, and this afternoon, I’ll chat with the writer and make sure he’s okay with everything. But as of now, it is complete.

And YES! I’m heading back to town here soon to buy more groceries and never-ending food for the cats! But it should be another really lovely drive to town and back.

Me, going to town! The guy driving is A.I.

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Wow, so, yesterday’s Zoom call with James Taber was so exciting!

Basically, all we talked about was our upcoming conference in Charlotte, North Carolina, the last weekend of September. I can’t discuss on the blog what we will be discussing at the conference, but I can at least say: Historical Jesus, John the Baptist, and things concerning ossuaries!! (This is primarily an archeology conference.)

Even though I have never been to Charlotte, I’m planning to just stick around the hotel, even when the lectures are over for the day. I love hotels, and this one sounds like it will be a really nice one to just hang out in– and of course, chat with other conference goers!!

And I recently discovered that going there and back, I have a layover in Detroit!!

I have not been to Detroit in a really long time. I realize I will only be in the airport, but I’m actually kind of looking forward to that, too.

So, the plane ticket is purchased, the hotel room is reserved, the cat sitters are lined up, and my girlfriend is taking me to and from the Columbus airport so that I don’t have to pay for an Uber!!

So, pretty soon, off I go!

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Oh, and before the trip, of course, I have a new novel coming out and a book signing!!

And the minute I come back from the trip, I start editing the tribute anthology for M. Christian!!

(I’m guessing that somewhere in the middle of all that, SANDRA will suddenly call and say, “I need you to come to Rhinebeck ASAP…” (I sure hope I am just kidding about that!!)

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Today is the final day of the Kindle eBook sale for my novel, The Guitar Hero Goes Home (2020). It is 99 cents in Kindle Unlimited. You can purchase it HERE!!

Thanks, everybody!!

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I don’t really have much to post about this morning, because yesterday was booked solid with the Zoom meeting and the book editing.

But I do have this!

A photo of Keith playing a guitar a long time ago and not smoking in black & white!!

And there were a TON of just beautiful videos of the final Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds show in Paris, but no photos that jumped out at me.

So here’s this instead!

Nick Cave & Mick Harvey not smoking in London in 1981!!

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Other than that, I guess that is it for now.

Tomorrow will be FUN! I get to wait around all day for the Visiting Nurse from my Medicare Insurance Company to stop over and give me my annual “how long until you will be dead” checkup!!

Of course, while I’m waiting I can always do this!! Yay!

All right, gang, I’m going to head to town now.

Enjoy your Sunday, wherever you are in the world!

Thanks for visiting.

I love you guys. See ya!

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Let’s close with this!!

Late-night-listening-in-the-dark music from last night!

I don’t recall why I was suddenly compelled to listen to Neil Diamond’s album of cover songs, Rainbow (1973), but that’s what I did.

My mother was a huge Neil Diamond fan and had a lot of his records. I liked him, too, and would usually abscond with one of the records and take it up to the record player in my room.

Rainbow was an album that I not only absconded with, but kept!!

All these decades later, though, I stream it on my phone… It’s just as beautiful as ever, although it has some really intense memories attached to it, seeing as how it was a record I listened to a lot in 1974 (the Nadir of My Existence year)…

Anyway.

YOU don’t have those memories!!

Here’s the opening song from the record. Neil’s version of “Everybody’s Talkin'”. Enjoy, gang.

A relaxing Saturday, indeed!

August 29, 2026 marilyn jaye lewis Leave a comment

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.

I guess you can tell it’s one of those mornings…

August 26, 2026 marilyn jaye lewis 4 Comments

I’m not sure what’s going on because I actually slept great and woke up feeling really great– until I’d been out of bed for awhile. Then, suddenly, this weird energy started creeping in and, so far, I can’t really shake it.

I am trying to ignore it, though.

So, let’s get started!

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Sorry I couldn’t really post here yesterday, but I did get a lot done.

Updated Sandra’s bio/resume. Waiting on her to tweak it and send it back to me.

I’m halfway through editing the local writer’s book. However, it is such an intense topic that it takes a lot out of me. My deadline to complete it is Monday and it will likely take me right up through Monday to finish the edits.

Okay.

Here are some things that happened since I last saw you!!

The Go Fund Me drive for guitarist Richard Lloyd surpassed it’s updated goal (!!) and they have reset the goal now for $100K!! They have already raised $84,400 in just a handful of days.

If you would like to help Richard Lloyd fight cancer, please donate HERE!

And here’s this, while we’re at it!

From Phyllis Stein. Richard Lloyd, back when he was in the band Television. (And that’s Richard Hell, holding the TV set!)

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And also while we’re at it!

Also from Phyllis Stein!!

Somebody had a birthday yesterday!!

Happy belated birthday Elvis Costello!!!

And here’s this! While we’re at it… 1977! “The Angels Wanna Wear My Red Shoes”!!

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And while we’re on the topic of birthdays…

Happy Heavenly Birthday, Mom. RIP.

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Okay.

If you write for streamers or films, this was very interesting.

A blog post on Stage 32 early this morning– among some of the very interesting things she talks about, she clarifies that movie theater attendance has not gone back to pre-COVID numbers.

Foot traffic is still down 27% since 2019, it’s just that the ticket prices are higher now.

Overall, a very informative read. And very helpful if you’re trying to sell to streamers right now.

The Industry Pulse: The Industry Is Reorganizing, Not Contracting – by Laura Hammer

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Here’s this!

Another beautiful photo of George Harrison!!

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OH! This made me so happy!

The other day on Instagram, a young Iranian man I follow, re-posted my post about The Guitar Hero Goes Home being on sale this week:

When I thanked him for doing that, he said: “You’re welcome. I loved that book!”

Wow, gang. You know? You just never know anymore who’s reading your stuff… I sort of feel like my books are in this weird floating void. It made me so happy to read his comment.

The Kindle eBook is 99 cents in Kindle Unlimited until Sunday:

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A couple of photos from the Kafka Museum in Prague!

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It took FOREVER, but I finally found a photo of Keith where he is in NO WAY intoxicated!!

Keith and Anita, smoking, Mod, and in no way intoxicated!

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And speaking of Keith….

A cool photo of Bobby Keys and Jim Price in Keith’s basement at Villa Nellcote in the South of France, recording the horns for Exile on Main St, 1971!

And meanwhile — I know I’ve posted this trailer here before, but this was a really good documentary about the making of the now legendary Rolling Stones’ double-album, Exile on Main St. What an incredible thing the Stones achieved back then, when everything was pretty much working against them:

Stones in Exile (trailer) (2 mins):

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Here’s a lovely photo of Rowland S. Howard, smoking!

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And here’s a lovely photo of Nick Cave that lit up my heart!!

And speaking of Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds playing Bonn, Germany yesterday…

Here’s Warren Ellis, surfin’ around town before the show!

At the No. 4711 Fragrance store — I love that cologne!!

And that couple I began following on Instagram when they were at the Brighton show back in late July, were also at the Bonn show last night!

And here’s this, while we’re at it! The Bad Seeds in the US last year, singing :”Cinnamon Horses”!

And here’s Ruby with the set list last night!!

And here’s Nick Cave!!

Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds’ summer tour of Europe & the UK ends on Friday, in Paris!! Buy tickets here!!

And that reminds me, gang — I was incorrect! The kids around here went back to school YESTERDAY. Can you believe it? The summer is gone….

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And that is it for today. And just in time–

Sandra just texted that her tweaks to her new bio are in my inbox!!

So I’m gonna get started around here, gang.

I hope you have a wonder-filled Wednesday, wherever you are in the world!

Thanks for visiting.

I love you guys. See ya!

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Let’s close with this.

I watched this during breakfast.

You know, back then, the Rolling Stones were always up against so fucking much. It’s amazing they survived it all. It really is.

The Rolling Stones Recording of Sticky Fingers (31 mins):

Let’s Get This Monday Started!

August 24, 2026 marilyn jaye lewis Leave a comment

Before I forget, the GoFundMe drive for guitarist Richard Lloyd met it’s goal yesterday!! And now they have increased it to an additional amount.

If you can donate any amount, here is the link! (They have currently raised $47,792!)

From bassist Sean Seymour:

“Richard is currently unable to tour. For a working musician, that’s devastating—not only because performing is what he loves, but because touring is his primary source of income. Richard and his wife, Sheila, are now facing serious financial pressure. Sheila is Richard’s full-time caregiver and is unable to work because Richard needs constant support. …Richard is being overwhelmed by crushing medical expenses and the ongoing costs of simply getting through each month while he is unable to work….”

Please donate if you can!

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Well, yesterday was sort of interesting, gang.

I got a lot done — laundry, a little vacuuming, took a magical walk! Did yoga, washed my hair. Got a lot of editing done of the local writer’s new book. AND–

I listened to that live Zoom meeting I was so excited about — with Ross K. Nichols and James Tabor, discussing important Bible translations.

And after one hour of listening, just as they were getting ready to reveal the best English translation of the Bible out there right now–

YES!!

Sandra called.

How does she always manage to DO that??!! I’d been waiting on her call for 3 weeks… (she was taking a break after having had a really busy summer).

Obviously, I wanted to take her call, but the timing was just too funny.

Anyway. We had a GREAT chat!! And as soon as I can give you additional details about the upcoming Staged Reading of our play “The Guide to Being Fabulous”, I will post it here.

Meanwhile, just know that I am really, really happy with the developments , gang.

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Don’t forget, the Kindle edition of my novel, The Guitar Hero Goes Home, is on sale this week for 99 cents in Kindle Unlimited on Amazon!

This is the link!!

And if you do buy it and you do read it and you do like it, please leave a review! Thanks, gang. (Suitable for mature readers, not erotica.)

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Rolling Stone guitarist Ronnie Wood’s FEARLESS tour is underway, and the set list lithograph of his London show from the other night, is now available!

You can purchase it HERE!

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Meanwhile…

On a sort of related note — here’s another Rolling Stone — someone I really miss. Gone 5 years today:

Life-long drummer for the Rolling Stones

Should we do it again, gang?? Why not! Best rock & roll drummer, ever.

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And here’s Mick, Keith, and BB King backstage in 1969!!

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And here are some photos from Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds’ show in Munich last night!

Here’s the set list — posted by Bad Seed Carly Paradis! (The encore sort of looks as long as the entire show…)

And here’s George Vjestica!

And here’s George and Nick Cave!

And here’s Nick Cave! (Although I’m not 100% positive this is Munich…)

And here’s Warren Ellis!

Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds play Bonn, Germany, tomorrow (8/25) and then the final show of the tour is on Friday in Paris! Buy tickets here!

(And yes, gang, on Wednesday, August 26th, the kids here in Muskingum County head back to school! Can you believe the summer is over???)

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This morning, Nick Cave sent out another Red Hand File that was sort of heartbreaking. He was replying to a devastated young woman whose husband is in the hospital, dying from cancer. At the end of his letter, Nick says, in part:

“…[you are] a woman of courage measuring her love against the vastness of its tragedy. I wish I had words to comfort you. Perhaps there are no words, except to say that all of us who read your letter can feel the love you have for your husband, and for a while we sit with you, in recognition and love.”

You can read his reply in full HERE.

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Okay.

Before I get down to the editing work today, I need to head back to town for more groceries. (Not sure how this is possible, because it feels like I was just there doing that!)

But it is another gorgeous morning so it will be a really lovely drive.

I hope you have a magnificent Monday, 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!

Apparently, it is cued up to be first on my playlist for my drive to town!!

The Monkees!! “The Kind of Girl I Could Love”!! 1967, from their album, More of the Monkees. I’m thinking I’ll be playing it really loud. Okay. Enjoy, gang!!

Another happy Saturday at my desk!

August 22, 2026 marilyn jaye lewis 2 Comments

It’s not really that extreme — I do get outside and take walks. Still get the laundry done and the house vacuumed. Still do yoga, wash my hair, eat meals and take care of 15 cats…

But all that stuff aside, I’m once again spending a whole lot of time at my DESK!!

Yay!

Oh, and speaking of cats — yesterday I lined up Rasha’s mom & her baby boy, Jude, to cat sit for us while I’m in North Carolina next month for James Tabor’s TRG conference! (1st century archeology pertaining to Jerusalem and the historical Jesus and John the Baptist.)

Now I’m just waiting to hear if one of my girlfriend’s in town can take me to & from the airport, or if I need to plan on Uber. But the trip is basically on my horizon for sure now and I can’t wait!

And speaking of James Tabor — tomorrow afternoon, Ross K. Nichol‘s private Yachad is having a Zoom meeting with James Tabor!! We’re all going to be discussing the various English translations of the Bible (Hebrew and New Testament). It should be so much fun, all together like that on Zoom!!

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Okay.

An important message from Phyllis Stein on Instagram.

Guitarist Richard Lloyd (one of the founding members of the seminal NYC band, Television, along with Richard Hell, Tom Verlaine, and Billy Ficca, back in 1974), has cancer.

You can donate to Richard Lloyd’s go fund me account HERE.

They are already closing in on $10K of their $40K goal!! Any amount helps!

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All right.

Look what we forgot yesterday!!

That’s right! It was Joe Strummer’s heavenly birthday!

Happy belated heavenly birthday, Joe Strummer!

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And look at this!

TODAY is Roland Orzabal’s 65th birthday!! Happy birthday, Roland!!

And here’s this, while we’re at it!! Tears For Fears! “Everybody Wants to Rule the World”, from their hugely popular album Songs from the Big Chair, 1985!

And here’s a pop quiz for loyal readers of this lofty blog!!

TRUE or FALSE:

Every time I hear the song “Everybody Wants to Rule the World”, I am instantly reminded of hanging out in the bar next door to the Museum of Modern Art in NYC in 1985, with my co-worker and best friend Valerie from Brooklyn, both of us smoking and drinking and laughing on our work-break! And then that song came on the bar’s radio…

If you replied TRUE, then you know me really, really well! Congratulations!! And– Yay!!

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And here’s something I don’t think we have EVER seen!!

NO!! Not Mick talking on a telephone!

KEITH, stubbing out a cigarette!!

Smoking, not smoking — all in the wink of an eye!

And here’s something I wish we could see ALL THE TIME!!

Keith drinking and smoking in his rented home in Bel Air (Los Angeles) back in 1970!! Yay!!!

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Oh, gang, here’s something that made me SO happy!

I checked in on the Facebook app on my phone last evening, and found this message from my long-time friend in NYC, the poet Iris N. Schwartz!!

(Honestly, it made me so happy. Especially since I have gotten a lot of not so great feedback on that same book, my upcoming novel, The Curse of Our Profound Disorder. Iris has a review copy.)

It kinda made my whole evening.

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Okay!!

Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds played the Cabaret Vert Festival in France last night.

Prior to the show, from Bad Seed George Vjestica —

And as of right now, this is my FAVORITE photo of Nick Cave from Cabaret Vert !! (It was the first photo I saw posted last night!)

I’d recognize the bottom of that Gucci shoe anywhere!!

Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds play Munich, Germany, tomorrow (Sunday, 8/23). Then they play Bonn, Germany, on Tuesday 8/25. Then Paris on August 28th!

And then the tour is OVER!! Buy tickets HERE!!

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And that is it for this sunny, happy Saturday in the Hinterlands.

I’m gonna put that editor’s cap back on now, and get down to editing that local writer’s new book.

Have a superb 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.

Another HUGE hit from early 1985.

By this time, my guitar player and his wife (who were both from Buenos Aires, Argentina) had had their first baby, a girl. And one evening, while hanging out in their apartment in Brooklyn, this video came on MTV and he raised a glass to the TV set and dedicated this song to his brand new baby girl.

What a happy evening. I always think of that whenever I hear this song.

“I Want to Know What Love Is”, by Foreigner, 1985. Enjoy, gang.