It’s time for the 2012 Writers’ Festival & Book Fair held at the Bloomington Theatre and Art Center.
Mark your calendars for Saturday, March 24 and plan to submerge yourself in the world of books, authors, workshops. Plus, get your chance to hear from Minnesota native, TV, film and comedy legend, Pat Proft!
Every day 800 books are published in the United States, and if you love to read, write or talk about books, the Book Fair is a great place to get new information, meet local authors, find the next good read for your book club, or just browse.
Several authors who have been featured on Reading Minnesota will join the dozens selling and signing books at the event. Many of the authors, including me, will present live readings of their current works throughout the day. Over 80 authors and resource agencies will be available.
Keynote speaker, Pat Proft, began his lifelong career early—as a high school student in Columbia Heights, MN. Receiving recognition in radio and stand-up comedy, he branched into theatre, TV sitcoms, and eventually films.
Proft’s humorous talent can be witnessed in his screenwriting for The Smothers Brothers Show (1975), The Carol Burnett Show (1976), and television programs like Welcome Back Kotter and Police Squad. In the last thirty years, he has enjoyed great success by scripting comedy hits in feature films such as Police Academy, Bachelor Party, Real Genius, The Naked Gun, Hot Shots, Brain Donors, Wrongfully Accused, and several installments of the Scary Movie series.
Admission for keynote, workshops, and panels is $12 each and pre-registration is required. The Book Fair is free. Hear Pat at 9:30 am, then starting at 11 am attend your choice of the workshops and panels led by local experts and leaders in various aspects of writing, publishing, promotion, social media, poetry, publicity, the future of publishing, etc. Lunch is also available for purchase.
For additional information and to register for the keynote presentation, workshops, panels or to order lunches, go to www.BloomingtonArtCenter.com or call 952-563-8575.
Showing posts with label David Fingerman. Show all posts
Showing posts with label David Fingerman. Show all posts
Friday, March 23, 2012
Monday, November 7, 2011
Review: Spyder by David Fingerman
Bottom line:
This book is hard to classify, but tantalizingly good. Great read for mature readers--describes sex scenes, drug usage, and violence.
Premise:
A streetwise thug named Spyder struggles to overcome his drug addiction, while the world around him keeps trying to drag him back in.
Likes:
o Lots of plot twists that keep you guessing throughout the story
o As a drug addict, Spyder's an unlikely protagonist. I found myself sympathizing with him because he took a hard view on all other addicts--thinking they were weaker/whinier than him. Spyder had an outlook on life that I could respect, even as I disagreed with his choices.
o Eye-opening revelation for me on the difficulty of breaking out of the addiction cycle. Excellent consideration on how hard it is to change one's base character.
o Spyder grows throughout the story, but also suffers relapses as events trigger instinctive reactions.
o Spyder's voice remains true to the character throughout the story. There was definitely a feeling of "here's the way I am, whether you like it or not" that made me respect and enjoy the character.
Dislikes:
o Very few. I disagreed with some of Spyder's decisions, but that's because those weren't the choices *I* would make--it was my own bias that got in the way. For his character, they were justifiable, even when the decisions led him to dangerous consequences. And that part I liked: his bad decisions had realistic consequences for him.
I'd recommend this book to mature audiences who enjoy suspense, plot twists, dark humor, and unlikely heroes.
Full disclosure: How did I obtain this book?
Purchased myself
Purchase link
This book is hard to classify, but tantalizingly good. Great read for mature readers--describes sex scenes, drug usage, and violence.
Premise:
A streetwise thug named Spyder struggles to overcome his drug addiction, while the world around him keeps trying to drag him back in.
Likes:
o Lots of plot twists that keep you guessing throughout the story
o As a drug addict, Spyder's an unlikely protagonist. I found myself sympathizing with him because he took a hard view on all other addicts--thinking they were weaker/whinier than him. Spyder had an outlook on life that I could respect, even as I disagreed with his choices.
o Eye-opening revelation for me on the difficulty of breaking out of the addiction cycle. Excellent consideration on how hard it is to change one's base character.
o Spyder grows throughout the story, but also suffers relapses as events trigger instinctive reactions.
o Spyder's voice remains true to the character throughout the story. There was definitely a feeling of "here's the way I am, whether you like it or not" that made me respect and enjoy the character.
Dislikes:
o Very few. I disagreed with some of Spyder's decisions, but that's because those weren't the choices *I* would make--it was my own bias that got in the way. For his character, they were justifiable, even when the decisions led him to dangerous consequences. And that part I liked: his bad decisions had realistic consequences for him.
I'd recommend this book to mature audiences who enjoy suspense, plot twists, dark humor, and unlikely heroes.
Full disclosure: How did I obtain this book?
Purchased myself
Purchase link
Thursday, November 3, 2011
Playing the Hand She's Dealt - David Fingerman
BIOGRAPHY
As a student at the University of Minnesota, David Fingerman realized that if he switched his major from journalism to speech, he could graduate that quarter. It was a no-brainer. After twenty years of working for the Hennepin County court system an opportunity arose and he left the court system to do what he loves to do – write. It was a no-brainer. He has published a number stories in magazines and anthologies. “Playing the Hand She’s Dealt” is his third novel. David is married and presently lives in Minneapolis.
SIGNINGS
Reading & signing at:
True Colors Bookstore
4755 Chicago Avenue S.
Minneapolis, MN
November 10, 2011 at 7PM
4755 Chicago Avenue S.
Minneapolis, MN
November 10, 2011 at 7PM
WEBSITE:
PURCHASE INFORMATION
OTHER PUBLISHED WORKS
PUBLISHER
L&L Dreamspell
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
SPYDER - David Fingerman
Spyder by David Fingerman
Meet Spyder—a street-wise antihero of inner city society. Experience his strange wisdom, and his twisted sense of humor.
Thirty-year-old Spyder doesn't waste time thinking how much lower he can sink. When he finds his girlfriend dead as the result of drugs he supplied, Spyder contemplates his life and decides it’s time to do what he's avoided most of his days—join mainstream society. All he needs to do is kick the drug habit, find a job, a place to live, and earn some money. Easy. He’s done it hundreds of times, but never all at once. As always, Fate steps in and knees him in the groin. All the dregs he's ever known want their say. George won't stop his pestering, Sal needs a huge favor, Coon is hunting for a certain arachnid, and Spyder's dealer doesn't want to lose one of his best customers. As things spiral out of control, Spyder tangles himself in a web so tight that even he might never be able to escape.
BIOGRAPHY
I was born in St. Paul, but once out of the hospital I've lived my entire life in Minneapolis. During the summer months when the sun is shining and birds singing, I'm perfectly content to sit in my office, with blinds drawn, typing away at my computer. My favorite day of the year is the first day I pull a flannel shirt out of the closet. After 24 years of working in the court system, I walked away to write full time. Edging past Reality is my first book of short stories. Spyder is my second novel and quite a switch from the first. While Silent Kill is a suspense/thriller, Spyder is more of an urban adventure.
WEBSITE
www.davidfingerman.com
BLOG
http://davidfingerman.blogspot.com
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Silent Kill - David Fingerman
Silent Kill
by David Fingerman
Police must follow a labyrinth, leading into the darkest tunnel of a twisted mind. A mind that carries no value for human life... Minneapolis police officer Louise Miller has attitude. Not only does she have to deal with the good old boy mentality of the department, but she's also a gay police officer who has to deal with harassment on a higher level. When one of her few friends on the force goes missing Miller investigates, despite her captain's order to leave it to the detectives. As Miller scours the precinct for any sign of the missing officer, Elias Boughton is on a psychopathic rampage. Kidnapping and murder are games he plays, blindly obeying a voice from his past. As the body count rises, Miller is convinced the detectives are heading in the wrong direction. Trying to fit the puzzle together, each clue revolves around a particular Rottweiler. As the mystery unravels so does her life, and the case becomes more personal than she ever dared imagine.
BIOGRAPHY
I was born in St. Paul, but once out of the hospital I've lived my entire life in Minneapolis. During the summer months when the sun is shining and birds singing, I'm perfectly content to sit in my office, with blinds drawn, typing away at my computer. My favorite day of the year is the first day I pull a flannel shirt out of the closet. After 24 years of working in the court system, I walked away to write full time. "Edging Past Reality" is my first book of short stories. "Silent Kill" is my first novel.
PUBLISHER
L & L Dreamspell
WEBSITE
www.davidfingerman.com
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
David Fingerman - Edging Past Reality
Edging Past Reality
by David A. Fingerman
Two Harbors Press
ISBN: 1-935097-07-5
Edging Past Reality is a book of twenty-two short stories of speculative fiction. A number of reviewers have compared them to "Twilight Zone" episodes. As the forward states ". . . be ready to walk through a world of unhinged assumptions." Imagine a mirror that holds more than mere reflections, a lush meadow that thrives while drought kills everything around it, or a pocket watch that can bring back the dead. Some stories will frighten, others will fill you with wonder (maybe an uneasy wonder, but wonder none the less). All the stories will keep you guessing up to the last page.
BIOGRAPHY
David Fingerman was born in St. Paul and presently lives in Minneapolis. He graduated with a BA from the University of Minnesota. With a Journalism degree almost certain, he realized that
if he switched his major to Speech, he could graduate a quarter earlier. He has no regrets. After working over twenty years in the Hennepin County Court system, he walked away to do what he loves to do - write. Again, no regrets.
He has published over twenty short stories appearing in magazines and anthologies, and recently published "Edging Past Reality" a book of speculative fiction short stories. His novels, "Silent Kill" and "Spyder" have been accepted by L & L Dreamspell and are expected to be released in 2010. He is currently working on a sequel to "Silent Kill."
WEBSITE
www.davidfingerman.com
http://twitter.com/davfin23
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