I once got nominated for a Grammy for the liner notes I wrote for a big G.D. box set, and a) was positive I wouldn’t win and b) thought that getting nominated was a real victory. Really. But I don’t recall ever winning an award-type award…until now. So in the music world, among the most … [Read more...]
Moremoremore
I’ve been slow – nothing new there – to catch up on sharing this material with you, mostly because every time I think it’s time to catch up, I become aware of more coming. But now in the new year it seems to be slowing down a little, and it really is time to bring you all up to date. Boy, it adds up … [Read more...]
Almost Embarrassing…but I’ll Try Not to Blush
The reviews of On Highway 61 are coming in, and they’re almost embarrassingly positive. Check ‘em out…two from the Austin Chronicle and Santa Fe New Mexican. There’s also a really nice piece about the writing of the book from the San Francisco Chronicle, Music historian retraces Highway 61 from … [Read more...]
A Superb Review and a Visit to West Marin
It’s nice to get good reviews, but it’s even better to get a review from a complete stranger that suggests the reviewer really understands what you’re after. Ron Jacobs is that guy. Read his article at Counterpunch.org, Going Down to Highway 61, Again. If you’re not already sick of my voice, … [Read more...]
More of Everything
I’ve probably said this elsewhere, but I guess it bears repeating. My first two books had subjects that were so polarizing that I found myself generally getting reviews that weren’t of my book but of the subject; if they hated Kerouac, they hated my book, if they loved the GD they loved the book, … [Read more...]
The First Review
The first line of my first review – for my bio of Jack Kerouac, Desolate Angel – was in the Boston Globe, and it started, “Dennis McNally isn’t going to like me.” Not promising. Actually, after I read it I ended up not being terribly depressed, because it wasn’t a review of my book, it was a review … [Read more...]