Well, dear readers, I think I’ll write these here notes in a hurry and get them posted early because I must be up at six in the morning to announce the new Kritzerland title. So, let me dive right in, like a gazelle eating a pudding cup, because lest we forget, the early notes catches the worm. No, that’s not right. The early notes catches the bird? No. What exactly is it that the early notes catches? A cold? No. Well, in any case, the early notes catches the bird and the worm and maybe even the tostada. What the HELL am I talking about? Yesterday was another nice and relaxing day, which is what I needed. I got up around eight-thirty – that was nice and relaxing. I answered e-mails and whatnot, then did a three-mile jog in my new jogging footwear. I have to say that my new jogging footwear is much more comfortable and much better than my old jogging footwear. Then our very own Mr. Nick Redman came by and we had a lovelier than lovely chat and exchanged some items. Then it was time to mosey on over to the Hamburger Hamlet, where I had some lunch with a photographer I haven’t seen since 1980. She looked great and we had a lot of fun catching up. She’s going to do a photo shoot with me, hopefully within the next two weeks – I’m really excited about it as she’s the only photographer who’s taken my photo (professionally) and made me feel completely at ease and knew just what to say to get great shots. I had a sandwich and fruit – the fruit was good, the sandwich less so. I then came home and got everything prepped for this morning’s announcement. I then sat on my couch like so much fish.
Yesterday, I watched a motion picture on DVD entitled Backfire, directed by Vincent Sherman and starring Edmund O’Brien, Gordon MacRae, and Virginia Mayo. It’s a Warners noir and not a bad film. In fact, its first half was quite excellent and really held my interest. But then the writing got very lazy. A character was introduced and yet they carefully avoid ever showing us who he is. That can only mean one thing: One of the cast members we’ve met is the bad guy under a different name. And since it’s a pretty small cast, it doesn’t take much brainpower to instantly figure out who it is. Still, I enjoyed it, although at ninety minutes it had definitely overstayed its welcome. I then watched another motion picture on DVD, this one entitled The Girl Who Kicked The Hornet’s Nest, the third part of the Millennium trilogy. I must say, I thought the film terrific from start to finish. It was really suspenseful and wrapped up everything beautifully. And it points out how right the filmmakers were with the second film – which is really there to bring us into the third. I have heard that the second film does leave out tons of stuff from the book, but I since I didn’t read the books I can only judge the films, and as a trilogy they work really well. Everything about the third film is terrific, especially Noomi Rapace. It’s 140 minute running time flies by and one of my favorite things about it is that at the 120 minute mark the film is essentially over and you’re so happy with the wrap-up until you realize that one piece of the story hasn’t been resolved – and that’s the rest of the film. The direction is excellent, and Jacob Groth’s score really gives these films great atmosphere. Next weekend, I am going to watch all three of these back-to-back, which I think will be really fun. If you don’t want to wait for the US DVDs or Blu-Rays of the second and third film, all three are available on DVD on eBay for thirty bucks and it’s well worth it. The DVD transfers are fine, the subtitles are easy to read. Of course, the DVDs are region 2 so you have to have an all-region player. For me, it’s a real shame that they’re going to be remade in the US – the first film to be directed by David Fincher, so I think we know exactly what we’re in for with him at the helm. I’ll stick with the Swedish films, thank you very much.
After the movie, I did some more work on the computer and then decided to write these here notes and get them posted early. Well, why don’t we all click on the Unseemly Button below so I can hit the road to dreamland.
Today, I shall be up at six to announce our new title, after which I hopefully will print out lots of orders. Then I’ll do a jog. Then the helper will arrive and we have a lot of packages to address, for Juggernaut and the single CD Promises release, both of which will hopefully be here by Thursday or Friday. After that I have errands and whatnot to do, and then I have a meeting with writers Sam Bobrick and Ron Clark about a project we’ll be working on (with Barry Pearl). Then I’ll probably go have a meal.
Tomorrow I’ll be having a long conversation with Mr. Kevin Spirtas about the new show we’re creating, and then I’m seeing a play reading in the evening, said play by our Kritzerland designer Doug Haverty, who is quite an accomplished playwright. The rest of the week is filled with meetings, meals, and whatnot.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, do a jog, announce a CD, address packages, do errands and whatnot, and have a meeting and then meal. Today’s topic of discussion: What is your favorite book written by a non-US writer – UK, France, Italy, Japan – wherever. Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst we remember that the early notes catches the worm or the bird or the tostada.