One of my grand visions (initially) for this blog was to encourage the writers I review to respond or to just say something about writing or whatever floats their boats. That went well from about Ruel to Bhagwandin, with a warm behind-the-scenes exchange with two other writers I reviewed or featured. But then I started feeling like I had these eyes watching over my shoulder every time I wrote about somebody's work, and I felt restricted.
I felt my writing was being guided or (worse) influenced by my anticipation of what the writer might say in response. And so I just cold quit seeking them out. But now I'm going back to that...with a slight twist: I'm only going to hunt down (I use the word hunt, but they're usually not that hard to find) the writers whose works I find favorable. Fair? I figure that way I'll keep it reasonably nice and civil around here. So if I review a book that I think sucks, I can say so freely and just pray I never run into the writer anywhere.
(Which incidentally is why I'm not changing the 2007 profile pic I have on facebook, twitter, and some places on this blog. I'm now happily 10 pounds heavier than I was when I took it, and my hair is different. I'm not unrecognizable, just not exactly the same. And even as I write this, my ass is morphing into a whole 'nother dress size).
I've already made positive contact with a writer whose work I'm currently reading and enjoying. And he has kindly agreed to come on here and say something. I'll review his book and then I'll introduce him to those of you who don't yet know him. I'm very excited about it and I'm also excited about giving my blog a kick (back) in the direction it started.
To those of you who are celebrating because you think that means I will cease my unbridled, largely uniformed comments on Guyana's politics, politicians, and media, stop the noise. That won't end. But I will spend less time trying to decipher the online news sources and more time reading and writing (about) fiction.
