Tuesday, August 19, 2008

Come on over to my main author site (and blog)

Looks like I haven't posted anything here in awhile!

So come on over to my main author site at www.blairkilpatrick.com.

My author site links to my more active blog at Red Room, the SF-based writer community where I hang out.

Lots of exciting developments as I prepare for the launch of Accordion Dreams in January.  The first official launch event is scheduled for January 23 at The Booksmith, a great indie store in SF. We have a Cajun-Creole dance party/book signing scheduled in February at Ashkenaz, the well known world music club in Berkeley.  Yesterday I got my first invitation to speak in Louisiana, which tickles me!   And next month Sauce Piquante will be playing for the opening reception at the NCIBA (Northern California Independent Booksellers Association) annual trade show.





Sunday, June 8, 2008

June Contest: Send me your best accordion joke!

I've decided to launch the official "Accordion Dreams" monthly contest.

So here's the June Contest:

Send me your best accordion joke. 

The Prize:  You'll be our guest at the Sauce Piquante show at Ashkenaz in Berkeley on June 17
 
(Or I'll mail you a free copy of our CD, Sauce Piquante Live.)

Deadline:  June 16

I'll post some of the good ones!

Here's one I heard from one of my teachers (Steve Riley, if you must know!)

Q:  How many Cajun accordion players does it take to change a light bulb?
A:  Six.  One to change the bulb, and five to stand back and say, "Oh, I can do that."





Saturday, June 7, 2008

Happy National Accordion Awareness Month!

Happy National Accordion Awareness Month!  
 
This strikes me as an auspicious time to launch my blog for "Accordion Dreams: A Journey into Cajun and Creole Music."   Welcome!

In the past couple of weeks, I've passed a few milestones.  The fall-winter catalog from my publisher, the University Press of Mississippi, turned up in my mailbox.  There we were on page 3:  me and my accordion, along with a synopsis for the book.    The online booksellers now list "Accordion Dreams" for sale.  Bookstore signings are in the works.

And I still haven't seen the final page proofs. Or the cover!

It's been quite a journey, this path to publication, with seven months to go.  I'll be offering updates and other assorted reflections here.  Maybe a monthly contest, with some some free stuff as prizes.  You never know.  Laissez les bon temps rouler!