Lit Bits & A Bit About Writing

• Chris at Escapegrace attends the Martin Amis reading that took place a few blocks from me. And yet, I didn't make it. I must live vicariously.
• The week in LA author readings is rather slow (Book Soup taking a random hiatus with nothing booked for a full week...odd) but some good stuff is coming up tomorrow. If you've got some openings in your schedule to fit a lit event in, check out my Get Your Lit On event roundup at LAist.
• If you don't feel like checking out my LAist link, pencil this in: Vikram Chandra discusses Sacred Games at Vroman's tomorrow at 7pm.  So much press about this massive tome. Aren't you curious? I am, but I can't go so I tag you. 
• And this (with the usual Silverblatt caveat): Dave Eggers discusses What is the What on Bookworm tomorrow at 2:30pm. I'll be listening with partially covered ears and will try to keep eye-rolling to a minimum.
• I've begun writing a new book. Can I just say that ditching the first person has made all the difference? I'm free to run about, to see things differently, to get out of the limited view of my character! So obvious, I know, but here's what always happens: just as I'm about the make the third person jump, I seem to read several excellent first-person books and then fall into the trap all over again. Consider me out of the trap and none too eager to go back!
• I am a promiser of many things that I've not yet delivered: final Julavits wrap-up, Vida (vida! vida!) rundown, Mr Y. love and my response to Michael Redhill's lovely new book: The Consolation.  All in good time.  Working on so many things, I'm falling behind.
• But the reason for the falling behind is the best reason I can fathom: I'm writing!