A Small Press Life: Books. Art. Writing. Life. Tea.

Not just a blog, a philosophy

[Book Nerd Humour] Let’s Use Slate’s Travoltify Your Name Generator on Some Dead Writers

Posted on March 4, 2014 by maedez

TRAVOLTIFY YOUR NAME

CHARLES DICKENS=CARYS DORNIELS
VIRGINIA WOOLF=VICTOR WHAYTE
JANE AUSTEN=JOE ALLORN
LEO TOLSTOY=LUKE TAYZLOR
KATHERINE MANSFIELD=KRISTOPHER MCEEZALD
JACK KEROUAC=JIA KEENEEDIA
F. SCOTT FITZGERALD=F. STUART FERZGUSON
ZELDA FITZGERALD=ZARA FERZGUSON
GEORGE ELIOT=GRACE EDJANS
ERNEST HEMINGWAY=ELLIOT HARGISION
ANNE BRONTË=AVA BORFES
CHARLOTTE BRONTË=COLE BORFES
EMILY BRONTË=ELIJAH BORFES

What does this alternate world look like?

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Thanks to Vickie Lester for letting me know about the Travoltify Your Name generator!

Shopping for the Bookworm: Victor Hugo Edition

Posted on February 26, 2014 by maedez

“He never went out without a book under his arm, and he often came back with two.”-Victor Hugo, Les Misérables

Les Misérables Notebook by Constarlation. $6.99.

The Works of Victor Hugo, 1928, at Picard’s General Store. $29.00.

Victor Hugo Print by Terrific Friends. $15.00.

Continue reading →

[Alternative Muses] Coming and Going: Pierre-Auguste Renoir/Tennessee Williams Mashup

Posted on February 25, 2014 by maedez

The Umbrellas by Pierre-Auguste Renoir, circa 1881-1886

The Umbrellas by Pierre-Auguste Renoir (born on 2/25/1841), circa 1881-1886.

“Life is an unanswered question, but let’s still believe in the dignity and importance of the question.”-Tennessee Williams (died on 2/25/1983)

The Splendiferously Bearded Writers Social Club: Leo Tolstoy

Posted on February 24, 2014 by maedez

Name: Leo Tolstoy
D/O/B: 9/9/1828
Member since: 1868
Status: Charter Member
Important Role: Spiritual advisor
Hobbies: Raising his large brood of children; nonviolent resistance; austerity

Leo Tolstoy

Some of My Favourite Literary Biographies, Part One

Posted on February 22, 2014 by maedez

I own a sizable collection of literary biographies. These are some of my favourites:

Auden by Richard Davenport-Hines
The Secret Life of Aphra Behn by Janet Todd
Louise Bogan A Portrait by Elizabeth Frank
Truman Capote by George Plimpton
Secrets of the Flesh A Life of Colette by Judith Thurman
My Wars Are Laid Away in Books The Life of Emily Dickinson by Alfred Habegger
Herself, Defined H.D. and Her World by Barbara Guest
George Eliot A Life by Rosemary Ashton

Do you have a favourite?

Edna St. Vincent Millay: 22 February 1892

Posted on February 22, 2014 by maedez

Edna St. Vincent Millay was born on 22 February 1892.

Edna St. Vincent Millay.

“I am glad that I paid so little attention to good advice; had I abided by it I might have been saved from some of my most valuable mistakes.”-Edna St. Vincent Millay

Daily Diversion #194: Auden

Posted on February 21, 2014 by maedez

Auden by Richard Davenport-Hines.

Hey There, W.H. Auden! It’s Your Birthday!

Posted on February 21, 2014 by maedez

Acclaimed poet Wystan Hugh Auden was born on 21 February 1907.

W.H. Auden by Carl Van Vechten, 1939.

“Poetry might be defined as the clear expression of mixed feelings.”-W.H. Auden

Happy Birthday, André Breton!

Posted on February 19, 2014 by maedez

André Breton, poet, writer, and father of Surrealism, was born on 19 February 1896.

André Breton, 1924.

“Let us not mince words…the marvelous is always beautiful, anything marvelous is beautiful, in fact only the marvelous is beautiful.”-André Breton

Jane Austen Cookie Cutter!

Posted on February 18, 2014 by maedez

This is entirely unnecessary. No one in the world needs a Jane Austen cookie cutter. However, I give not one fig about practicality. I want one. I want one, like yesterday. Yes, please!

Curious? Go here to see it for yourself.

R.I.P. Norman Lloyd (1914-2021)

Norman Lloyd, long a personal favorite of mine, was a fascinating man and performer. Norman Lloyd Dead [THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER]

R.I.P. Geoffrey Scott

Geoffrey Scott was from a younger generation than the performers I normally write about, but his handsome presence was ubiquitous during my 1980s childhood. From Dynasty to The Love Boat, Night Court, and Battle of the Network Stars, his charisma and acting ability lit up the small screen for decades. He will be missed. Geoffrey […]

Kirk Douglas: 1916-2020

[2019 Reel Infatuation Blogathon] But Baby Think of Me Once in Awhile: On Andy Travis as Television’s Best (and Hunkiest) Boss

Welcome to the 2019 Reel Infatuation Blogathon! Baby, If You’ve Ever Wondered: It still seems like yesterday that the idea for RI popped in my head. It was actually in December 2015, while in a hotel room getting ready for a holiday party, when it occurred to me that there was a gap in the classic […]

Announcing the 2019 Reel Infatuation Blogathon!

This is one of my favorite events of the year, and not just because I’m the co-hostess. It’s simply that good. And fun. Oh, so much fun! Here’s my original announcement. ANNOUNCING THE 2019 REEL INFATUATION BLOGATHON I hope you’ll join us!