The Razor's Edge: 4/29/11

Today instead of prompts, below are two short videos from Jennifer Egan in the My New York series. She is one of the authors to recently win a Pulitzer Prize. I've enjoyed her novels and thought I'd see what I could find on YouTube from her.
The third video is from "Cooking the Books" in which Ms. Egan specifically talks about her process of writing the Pulitzer winning novel, A Visit From the Goon Squad.

Pulitzer for Fiction goes to Jennifer Egan

The first book Jennifer Egan book I read was "The Keep." I was immediately drawn in and it was a difficult book to put down. I saw a little while ago - via a Twitter feed from friend, writer, editor, and dramaturg Mead Hunter - that Jennifer Egan was awarded the Pulitzer Prize in Fiction for her book, "A Visit From the Goon Squad." When I went to her website to get more information, I saw that this book has received many recognitions and awards.

from the Associated Press 4/18/2011

Jennifer Egan wins fiction Pulitzer Prize

NEW YORK (AP) — Jennifer Egan's inventive novel about the passage of time, "A Visit from the Goon Squad," won the Pulitzer Prize for fiction Monday, honored for its "big-hearted curiosity about cultural change at warp speed."

Egan, 48, has been highly praised for her searching and unconventional narratives about modern angst and identity. Her other novels include "The Invisible Circus," ''Look at Me" and "The Keep."

Critics were especially taken with "A Visit From the Goon Squad," with its leaps across time and its experiments with format, notably a long section structured like a PowerPoint presentation. Earlier this year, she won the National Book Critics Circle prize.

"The book is so much about how change is unexpected and always kind of shocking," she said by phone. Egan said she was inspired by Marcel Proust's sprawling novel "Remembrance of Things Past," which explored the passage of time.

"His book of time is all about how the work of time is unpredictable and in some sense unfathomable," she said. "So there's no question that winning a prize like this feel unpredictable and unfathomable."

Another book to add to my must-read list!  And I'm looking forward to it.

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Prolific Blogger Award

Today Christi Craig, at Writing Under Pressure, gave me the Prolific Blogger Award. Christi is an enthusiastic blogger and a talented writer - thank you!

It's hard to believe that I am entering the third year of this blog; and that I still don't have my website up to where I had originally envisioned it. But it's all good. I have been able to maintain my blog and it has been a wonderful experience and given me a reason to keep writing.

Sometimes when I feel like my creativity is tapped out and I could never string two sentences together to send out into the world, I remember this blog. I've had to lighten up on myself a bit - to not feel bad when I don't post daily as I originally thought I would.

My stated goal when I started was three times a week. And I secretly hoped I would be able to do it daily. But I'm not there yet. And I have kept up with the three times a week minimum. I'm still evolving what I'm doing with it - and still dream of getting my website up in full working order - and I am keeping it going.

Thank you, again, Christi. For your website and this award.

Click on over to Advance Booking, to see the rules of this award, which includes

Every winner of the Prolific Blogger Award has to pass on this award to at least seven other deserving prolific bloggers. Spread some love!

So - here is my list of seven prolific bloggers! (A girl's gotta be conventional and follow the rules sometimes!)

1. Serena Barton / Art of Your Life
An artist, counselor, educator. She posts news of upcoming workshops and classes, found objects to inspire, helpful hints, updates - including pictures - of beautiful artwork from her new studio and from her students.

2. Sven Bonnichsen / the Scarlet Letters
This one should be for both Gretchin and Sven of Scarlet Star Studios; but I listed Sven since most of the posts have been his recently. But they both have earned the award for prolific blogger and prolific creative artists and writers and arts advocates.

3. Mead Hunter / BLOGORRHEA

Writing, theater, creativity, editing. Life! In his own words: "[blaw-guh-ree-uh] –noun: 1. pathologically incoherent, repetitious blogging. 2. incessant or compulsive holding forth on-line. 3. wearisome volubility aimed at an unsuspecting virtual readership."

4. Shell / A Cabin in the Woods: One Mama and Her Pursuit of a Writing Life
A brave woman, admirable writer, awesome mother, whom I met at a writing workshop in beautiful Oaxaca, Mexico. One helluva human being who is writing about "Creating the Life I Dream About."

5. Lois Leveen / macaronimaniac
Writer, performer, creative human whom I had the pleasure of sharing a writing workshop with a couple of summers ago.

6. Kelly Johnson / Run Oregon
There are a few other contributors to this blog; but most of it is from Kelly. No, I am not a runner (as readers of my blog know); but I am a walker and many of the events she writes about include walking portions. She provides tips and tricks and shares stories of events. It is inspirational and funny and she does an excellent job of keeping us up on what's happening with running/walking events.

7. Ariel Gore / Ariel Gore
Ariel is, well, Ariel. She was my inspiration (teacher) to jump back into writing and a force (mentor, workshop facilitator) that keeps me going, even when I wonder why I'm writing again. She is insightful, witty, open, and one of the most excellent editors I've ever had give feedback and suggestions on my writing. She is an excellent teacher/facilitator and a presence this world needs. Her writing is honest and real and complex, whether it's fiction, memoir, journalism, or psychology (like her just released book on women and Happiness).