Scott Muskin, Writer

I had a blast being on TPT’s Almanac with Cathy Wurzer. It was live TV, so even doubly thrilling. Cathy’s incredible at managing the process of getting that show down, btw. She made it look easy, and they seem to have a lot of fun on set.

I am so thrilled to be a finalist for a Minnesota Book Award this year, I did a video all about the exquisite pain of waiting for the awards gala to arrive. Enjoy!

How to Find My Novel: MN Book Awards from scott muskin on Vimeo.

How to Find My Novel: MN Book Awards from scott muskin on Vimeo.

That's me in the blazer.

I’ve done several book clubs now, and each has been such a great experience, it’s time I did a post about them. Most recetnly was a group of Grinnell alum (and a couple special non-Grinnellians), most of whom i didn’t know that well. They were celebrating their club’s (wait for it) 100th book. That’s right, they have read 100 books as a group. Which is more than ysome of you reading have probably read since college.

Not only do they read that many books, with kids and jobs and the whole deal also on their plates, but they also make dinner inspired by the book, they keep meticulous notes on their get-togethers, and they vote each book thumbs up or thumbs down (not finishing the book is not an option). And with all these rules, they still manage to laugh…a lot.

So kudos to them, and kudos to books in general. I thought reading serious books was supposed to be passe? Apparently not. I was so glad to see my “core demographic” is alive and well (and cute).

I consider myself a veteran of radio at this point. I have done drive time spots, “phonies,” in-studio meanderings, and pre-recorded, “make me sound good in post” interviews as well (that one was with KAXE in northern Minnesota…it was awesome and you can listen here).

But Thursday I was on KFAI’s “Write On Radio!” started by J. Otis Powell! back in the day, and I was sweaty nervous. It didn’t help that I was to be on the show with one of my favorite writers, period, Charles Baxter. it also didn’t help that Jim Lenfestey read some of Bill Holm’s poems and sounded so much like the late poet that I started to tear up. Finally, it didn’t help that the damn literary calendar was CRAMMED with literary events such that it ate into my segment. Thanks ever so much for making the calendar rock, Rain Taxi. And to think I gave you 25 bucks. (BTW, the calendar is awesome and you can check it out here.)

Luckily, like any writer, when you ask me about my work, I can go and go. Steve McEllistrem, who said he normally does sci-fi and fantasy books, so thoroughly understood what my book was doing that it was like talking with myself. I loved every minute of it. And as Andrea and my mom both commented, I didn’t even say um or ah. AND I managed to make an unabashed pitch for agents to come snap me up. BTW, “unabashed” is the only way to pitch something.

Another in my series of step-by-step videos leading you right to the shelf where my novel awaits…sort of. This time we go to the wonderful Morris Book Shop in Lexington, Kentucky.