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“I’m a writer, you monsters! I create for a living!”

Ah, if I only had a dime for every time I’ve screamed that, Barton Fink style, to a bunch of soldiers and sailors at a USO club and ended up getting my teeth knocked out. We’ve all done it, haven’t we? Because the sensation of finishing a writing project—let’s call it “that Barton Fink feeling”—is one of the few measly pleasures of the writing life. Which is why the Camp NaNoWriMo experience of writing a novel in one month is so…is there a word with a combined meaning of “agonizing” and “contains some surprisingly satisfying moments?”

This month, a bunch of Worst-Case Scenario eBooks have been added to the Apple iBookstore's Laugh Out Loud Books promotion (note, that link will open your iTunes). The books are in good company, hanging out with the two of my favorite humor books, All My Friends Are Dead and Go the F*ck to Sleep. 

The promo runs through August 13th. Check out the deals below! 

Complete Worst-Case Scenario Man Skills ($3.99) 
Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook: College ($1.99)
Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook: Life ($1.99)

You can also get a number of the Worst-Case Scenario Pocket Guides, including Breakups, Cars, Cats, Dogs, Meetings, New York, San Francisco, and Retirement for the regular price of $4.99. 

And in addition to those sweet deals, Chronicle Books are spotlighting the Worst-Case Scenario Middle School eBook at a discount price of $0.99. Check that out here on their eBook deals site. 

Performance art in the street is pretty cool. The art of The Resurrectionist is really cool. Bring the two together live, on a sidewalk? Amazing.

On August 18th, from 11 to 2, come on out to New York City's fabulous Strand bookstore to see author/illustrator E.B. Hudspeth recreate his book cover in chalk, in 3D—on the sidewalk. Stop and watch on the store's Broadway side and see the cover take chalky shape on the ground, then stop inside for your own (portable) copy of The Resurrectionist. (And, in the meantime, check out this interview with the author)

Dear, Dear J.K. Rowling,

Today it’s your birthday. Well, yours and Harry’s. My present to you is a Why You’re Awesome list. Because, homegirl, without you, I’d just be some random muggle. Now I’m an informed muggle.

When JK Rowling approached the end of the tales of Harry Potter, and announced it was truly the end and to not be continued, I wasn’t fazed. By all means, end it! But this isn’t the say that we should depart from this world entirely. After all, Rowling crafted such a rich one, and it’s frankly criminal that our playtime ends with the conclusion of Harry’s adventures. I am, of course, arguing the point that Rowling and fans could come to a win-win agreement over the subject easily: give us some spin-offs and side stories based on characters who aren’t Harry Potter.

Here are some of my ideas—seven(ish) characters for seven books dedicated to Harry Potter’s story—free of charge.

(image via flickr)

It’s funny how most of my favorite camping memories are about food. Like the time, two days into a camping trip in Big Sur, friends pulled profiteroles from deep inside their cooler like a magician pulling a rabbit from a hat. They warmed rich, creamy chocolate sauce on the fire and drizzled it over the ice-cream-filled pastry puffs. We devoured the unexpected treat around the campfire, licking every last bit of gooey, rich chocolate goodness from our fingers. Decadent, delicious, unforgettable.