Gordon Meyer

Book Review: Make your own Twine Games!

Author: Anna Anthropy

As might be suggested by the exclamative title, this is a book for young adults. Well, this old adult is here to remind you not to judge a book by its title (or artwork). If you have an interest in Twine, this is a great introductory work, no matter your age.

Twine, in case you don't know, is an open source framework for developing interactive text-based games and stories. The very first game I ever wrote was inspired by Advent and Colossal Cave, so Twine really tickles my interest.

However, I've never had the time to really figure it out for myself. This book was a quick read, but now I feel like I not only understand Twine, but that I could put together a game in it, and really enjoy the process.

The book is clear, charming, and fun to read. (And it's written by a fellow Chicagoan!) If you or a young friend are interested in creating art and fun, this is a good place to start. I bought my copy direct from the publisher at a pre-publication price, but you can also get it on Amazon, of course.

Book Review: The Battle of Lincoln Park

Author: Daniel Kay Hertz

The subtitle of this book is “Urban Renewal and Gentrification in Chicago” and it covers a period that began before I was born and ended prior to me moving to the city. Therefore, nearly every page had a revelation that was new to me. (Isn’t it a shame how local history is largely a mystery?)

I guarantee that after reading this book you’ll never look at the Magnificent Mile, the Gold Coast, Cabrini Green, or Lincoln Park in the same way. Hertz deftly writes about the history and issues that shaped each area, and the aggressive neighborhood groups that, in some cases, bullied their way into preserving (or condemning) them.

For example, consider North Avenue between Halstead Ave and Clark Street. For the most part, buildings on the south side of the street are old construction, while those on the other side are relatively new construction. It’s as if the north side of North Ave was completely bulldozed at some point. Well, that’s because it was. In the book you’ll find out why. (Spoiler alert: to hold the line against Cabrini Green encroachment.)

It might seem that “battle” in the book’s title is hyperbole, but when you get to the part about the violence (including firebombing!) and political maneuvering, it’s an apt choice.

Shortly after I finished reading this book, the Lincoln Yards project came to the forefront of Chicago news. I’m struck at the contrast in how that’s being handled, and a little sad that those who oppose it are settling for ranting on Facebook as their form of “community activism.” Not that I’m suggesting bombs, mind you, but certainly the folks involved in the organizations and efforts described in the book would find today’s situation lame.

I bought my copy of the book at neighborhood gem VolumesBookCafe, but of course you can get it from Amazon too. If you’re interested in local Chicago history, I think you’ll love it as much as I did.

Book Review: Chicago’s Best Dive Bars

Chicago’s Best Dive Bars: Drinking and diving in the Windy City
Author: Jonathon Stockton

What a fun read! Although this book is almost 15 years outdated, I loved reading Stockton’s descriptions of the dive bars. He's a clever writer and it's easy to imagine that you’re right there with him for each of his visits. He perfectly balances his reviews with both remarkable and mundane details —all of it well-observed. And unlike many “best of” books, he does an admirable job of covering the entirety of the city. (Equally worthy of mention is that he eschews the ‘burbs, a pandering trap other books can fall into.)

“In the rickety men’s room, there’s no soap dispenser. One dips a finger into a lowball glass of pink liquid as if it were a font of holy water.”

I don't know how many of the places he chronicles are still around. I was surprised at how many I've visited, and of those about half still survive, if that's any measure. But in the end, it doesn't matter if they are still there because in this book bar aficionados and neighborhood historians can appreciate them forever.

I picked up my copy at Quimby's but you can get it from Amazon too. And Mr. Stockton, if you're out there, cheers to you! Well done.

Book Review: True Ogden Scandals

Author: Jamie Carter Park

This collection of stories emphasizes "Scandals from Ogden's Glory Days" and some of them certainly do make for great gossip. Having been raised in the Ogden area, this satisfied my itch to learn about some of the more lascivious tales from the city's past. (But don't expect much from the supposed "wicked" days during prohibition and so on, these are mostly adulterers and the like.)

The author has done a lot of the work of digging through the Ogden Standard-Examiner and finding interesting stories, but there didn't appear to be any supplemental research to add depth, or answer questions that even the author posed in the text. The book also could have been improved with some photos -- or even a screenshot of the story as it appeared.

That all said, I enjoyed this short book. It's written in a very informal style and reads more like a neighborhood newsletter, or perhaps, like stories told around a campfire. There are some threads here that could be developed into a narrative with more digging.

Would it be of interest to people without ties to Ogden, Utah? Probably not so much, but if you are an Ogden-ite in spirit or fact, it's enjoyable enough. And, bonus, it's part of Kindle Unlimited so it costs you nothing to check it out if you have a membership.

The Reader

I was thrown out of a tavern today.

It was early afternoon and I was seated at the otherwise empty bar, reading a book. The bartender was filling my second draft and said to me “You can’t read at the bar.” “Pardon me?” I replied, even though I had heard him perfectly well. I expected a joking comment about the poor lighting. (Which it was.) Instead he simply repeated himself, then turned and walked away.

I put down my book, took a sip of beer, and made a quizzical sound of acknowledgement. The type of sound you make when the grocery store cashier tells you that it was much busier at the store yesterday.

After a few more sips, and having thoroughly examined the bar top, each of my fingernails, and everything else within my limited visual range, I returned to my book.

As my glass reached empty, the bartender returned. I expected him to ask if I wanted a third drink. (Which I did.) Instead he said “Get out.” This time I wasn’t sure I heard him, but he was in no mood to repeat himself. “Leave now and don’t come back. I told you, no reading.”

I blinked in the bright light of day, and a block later realized I left my book behind. Perhaps it will serve as a warning to others.

Book Review: A People's Guide to Publishing

A People's Guide to Publishing: Build a Successful, Sustainable, Meaningful, Book Business the Ground Up
Author: Joe Biel

This is a relatively short review because I didn't give this book the in-depth reading it deserves. As an author, I was interested in learning marketing and other strategies that could be useful to me. While I learned a few, this book surprised me by opening my eyes to a whole part of the book business that I really didn't know very much about.

Biel has a lot cred in this world and the book is straightforward, easy to read, and detailed. There is plenty of advice, anecdotes about hard-earned lessons, and practical matters of day-to-day business. In addition to his own experience, Biel brings in examples from other independent presses, such as Chicago's beloved Haymarket Books.

As an author, there were many things I learned that I wish I had understood earlier in my career. Biel explains very clearly where the money is in publishing (and where it is not, hello CreateSpace) and exactly what publishers have to contend with across the entire chain -- from printing to distribution to retail. (I now have even a deeper appreciation for my publisher, O'Reilly.)

I can't imagine that if you're interested in running an actual, profitable book publishing business that this book won't become your dog-eared bible. While you can buy a copy at Amazon, you'll probably regret it after you read the book. Go get it direct from Biel, or your local bookseller instead.

Book Review: Cemetery Maps

Cemetery Maps
Author: Amy Martin

How can a book about cemeteries be so completely charming? I don't know, but it certainly is delightful and fun to read. The book features 32 hand drawn maps from all over the world. There are many different authors (including Chicago's own Joe Mason) and this results in a quirky collection of different styles and approaches. It's fascinating to see what each cartographer included, and read their tips about visiting and utilizing the maps. (Some even call out nearby places to grab a post-mortem snack.)

The care and creativity that went into these maps is inspirational throughout, but I have to admit the little touch that first brought a smile to my lips was Amy's own headstone on the cover.

Cemetery Maps, published by Amy Martin Comics, is available at Quimby's for a measly $12.

Book Review: Barrel-Aged Stout and Selling Out

Barrel-Aged Stout and Selling Out: Goose Island, Anheuser-Busch, and How Craft Beer Became Big Business. Author: Josh Noel

Whew, I'm parched after typing out that title. Talk about a mouthful. I have to wonder if it's not a nod to short attention spans or indecisiveness on the part of the publisher.

Anyway, I have a friend who likes beer, so I decided to get him a copy. (Note, my friend likes beer, but not like Judge Brent Kavanaugh likes beer. Nor is my friend a rape-y privileged asshole.) I ended up reading the book before sending it my friend -- becasue it's so compelling that I found myself drawn in just flipping through the pages.

Although the local Goose Island Brew Pub used to be one of my absolute favorite places in Chicago, but after a long remodeling process in which they completely ruined the place, Goose Island isn't of much interest to me. (The details of how that happened are described in the book, and I found myself cheering for the regular customer who punched the person responsible for it happening. Oh, btw, spoiler alert!)

I am a big fan of Chicago history, and local stories. This definitely falls under "recent history" at best, but Noel has pulled out so many fun tidbits that it's hard to put the book down. Even if you're not a craft beer aficionado, you can skim over the details of that obsession and still enjoy the overall intrigue and stories.

Hexopedia: A review

I was fortunate to see an advance copy of The Young Wizard's Hexopedia: A Guide to Magical Words & Phrases. It's a terrifically fun book, and a peek at what Harry Potter might have been like if it were a little more, well, thoughtful. Here's the reviewer's blurb I provided:

"Craig Conley's Hexopedia not only surprised and delighted me, it changed my opinion about what young adult books could be. What a treat!"

If you have a young person in your life who might enjoy it, please do check it out.

Digital vs Print publishing in a niche market

Two years ago, Craig Conley, Fredrick Turner, and I published a book, The JINX Companion. It's a reader's guide for a magazine that is very important in the community of performing magicians.

As you might imagine, publishing books for magicians is a small and specialized business. Although there are very highly-regarded and successful publishers in the field, Conley and I both have publishing experience, so we decided to tackle the project ourselves. Additionally, among our team of four (Michael Warwick is our contributing production specialist), we have technological expertise than is atypical in both publishing and magic.

We sell The JINX Companion in three formats:

• Print-on-Demand: Production and fulfillment is provided through CreateSpace, which as an Amazon company also provides access to that marketplace. Additionally, we sell the printed copy on our own website (via a CrateSpace storefront) and at select magic shops.
• PDF: Order processing and delivery is using Payloadz.
• iBooks: Apple provides order processing and delivery via the iBookstore.

We are releasing the sales and lifecycle snapshot below with the hope that it will be useful to magic publishers who are considering digital releases. (Click to view a larger version.)