iBronco's picture
iBronco from New Jersey is reading White Noise December 5, 2011 - 10:29pm

Hey, guys. I write and act for a film production company. I am the featured actor in the new film, "Treasure." Check it out, Subscribe, and tell me what you think.

 

http://www.youtube.com/narrowlandfilms

JRAllison's picture
JRAllison February 13, 2012 - 8:15pm

Hey, cool. I'll check out your youtube and subscribe.

I've made a few youtubes for my book "LIAR".

Guys, check them out and let me know what you think?!?!

HOT CHICKS LIE FOR $$$ http://youtu.be/7cnWbdry--w

COOL CHICKS ARE CHEAP DATES  http://youtu.be/tdExqleW_4E

AMERICAN MEN LIE http://youtu.be/TbVBj-W1VdQ

Caleb J. Ross's picture
Caleb J. Ross from Kansas City, KS is reading on the toilet by himself April 12, 2012 - 4:01pm

I recently started a video blog section at my blog. So far, 5 episodes (though only the latest two are new). I'm having fun with these. I may do more in the future.

Episode 004: a video book review of Matt Bell's Cataclysm Baby 

Episode 005: I find perverted book covers

Chester Pane's picture
Chester Pane from Portland, Oregon is reading The Brief and Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz April 12, 2012 - 4:29pm

Nice C.R.

These are great.

If you haven't already you should throw one of these over here on Flaminia's Voice Bank thread too.

Caleb J. Ross's picture
Caleb J. Ross from Kansas City, KS is reading on the toilet by himself April 23, 2012 - 8:11am

New episode of The World's First Author Video Blog is now live. This one, episode 6, Three books that break the rules yet still succeed. I hope you like it. I've having quite a bit of fun with these videos. I suggest everyone give video blogging a try.

Rules are important, especially rules that govern how to write effective prose. But, in the hands of masters, those rules can be broken to great effect. I this, this newest episode of The World’s First Author Video Blog, I examine how three well-known books–Brett Easton Ellis’ American Psycho, Mark Z. Danielewski’s House of Leaves, and Jose Saramago’s Blindness–break basic writing rules, but do so successfully.

ReneeAPickup's picture
Class Facilitator
ReneeAPickup from Southern California is reading Wanderers by Chuck Wendig April 24, 2012 - 9:58am

This is cool! I keep thinking I want to start a youtube channel but I never know where to start. You guys have balls!

iBronco's picture
iBronco from New Jersey is reading White Noise April 25, 2012 - 2:12pm

You just got to go for it dude. The more you make videos the more you develope a style. Just like in writing! It's a pinciple that carries over to all art forms. 

 

@Caleb LOVE the vlogs! Keep it up.

Caleb J. Ross's picture
Caleb J. Ross from Kansas City, KS is reading on the toilet by himself April 25, 2012 - 10:29pm

@iBronco Thanks! I'm checking out yours right now.

Caleb J. Ross's picture
Caleb J. Ross from Kansas City, KS is reading on the toilet by himself April 30, 2012 - 5:26pm

Here's another one. Don't hate me. I just have no life.

Easter Eggs, you know, those hidden references in movies, books, websites, and more that aren't necessary but are damn fun in a treasure hunt sort of way. I planted a few (13 to be exact) in my newest novel, I Didn't Mean to be Kevin, not on the assumption that some reader would be thrilled by a find in one of my books, but because the concept actually worked well with the theme of the novel. The theme being that people need validation. Jackson, the narrator, validates himself as a person by telling crazy stories to strangers. I, as an author, validate myself by telling you about all the cool books I've read.

Mark Grover's picture
Mark Grover April 29, 2012 - 8:30am

These are very enjoyable!  Keep doing more!

Caleb J. Ross's picture
Caleb J. Ross from Kansas City, KS is reading on the toilet by himself May 1, 2012 - 9:08am

And another one. In this, part 2, I reveal Easter Egg references to T.C. Boyle, Steve Aylett, Craig Clevenger, Brian Evenson, Will Christopher Baer, Octavio Paz, and Flannery O’Connor in I Didn't Mean to be Kevin

Caleb J. Ross's picture
Caleb J. Ross from Kansas City, KS is reading on the toilet by himself May 2, 2012 - 4:06pm

Part 3 of 4, with references to Joseph Heller (Catch-22) and F. Scott Fitzgerald (The Great Gatsby).

Caleb J. Ross's picture
Caleb J. Ross from Kansas City, KS is reading on the toilet by himself May 9, 2012 - 12:34pm

Here's another one, part 4 of 4, with references to Chuck Palahniuk (Fight Club) and Geoffrey Chaucer (The Canterbury Tales).

Caleb J. Ross's picture
Caleb J. Ross from Kansas City, KS is reading on the toilet by himself May 14, 2012 - 4:35pm

Here's my video review of Growing up Dead in Texas. All around, a great book. Definitely recommended. Feel free to share this everywhere you think people may be interested in a mighty fine novel/memoir about a cotton fire (no, "cotton fire" is not a euphemism for scabies).

Caleb J. Ross's picture
Caleb J. Ross from Kansas City, KS is reading on the toilet by himself May 20, 2012 - 6:41pm

With two Kansas City area readings coming up, and a few people asking me what the heck an author reading is, I decided to make this quick video, as a bumper of sorts, to preface any future events. If this doesn't get people in the door, what the hell will?

underpurplemoon's picture
underpurplemoon from PDX May 21, 2012 - 12:51pm

Caleb, I have no life too!

Caleb J. Ross's picture
Caleb J. Ross from Kansas City, KS is reading on the toilet by himself May 23, 2012 - 10:51pm

In this newest episode, I take a look at two examples of book design: the die-cut cover and the Photo Finish (or ImageWrap) while touching on the the embossed hardcover. Examples include Denis Johnson's Nobody Move, Chuck Palahniuk's Rant, Donna Tartt's The Little Friend, Tim Etchells' The Broken World, Brian Evenson's Baby Leg, and Will Christopher Baer's Hell's Half Acre.

Caleb J. Ross's picture
Caleb J. Ross from Kansas City, KS is reading on the toilet by himself May 27, 2012 - 12:35pm

I hope the others are cool with me posting these. Below are 3 (of the 5 total) author readings recording last Thursday at the Czar Bar in KC, MO (the "$@!# Authors Say" reading). You'll see me (Caleb J. Ross), Gordon Highland, Phil Jourdan, and snippets of Brandon Tietz introducing each of us. It was a damn fun time.

(as a bonus for Jason Webley fans, I open my reading with a section from his song "Drinking Song." The entire bar participates.)

Many thanks to Gordon for recording this. He can make anyone look passing.

Caleb J. Ross's picture
Caleb J. Ross from Kansas City, KS is reading on the toilet by himself July 17, 2012 - 7:58pm

I haven't posted one of these directly to this thread in a while, so I think it's about time, right?

My newest video. A much different format. Twas fun.

Caleb J. Ross's picture
Caleb J. Ross from Kansas City, KS is reading on the toilet by himself July 24, 2012 - 8:24am

Book review for Room by Emma Donoghue. Yippee. Click image to view.

avery of the dead's picture
avery of the dead from Kentucky is reading Cipher Sisters July 24, 2012 - 9:33am

You should be ashamed.

Or, that was entertaining.  Thank you!

Caleb J. Ross's picture
Caleb J. Ross from Kansas City, KS is reading on the toilet by himself July 30, 2012 - 5:50pm

A new one. This, a video review of Mark Z. Danielewski's The Fifty Year Sword, which gets released in the US in October 2012. Not many people have read this one. And if I can help it, not many more will.

Help me spread the good word by clicking the Like button under the YouTube video. Also, why not subscribe while you're at it?

Caleb J. Ross's picture
Caleb J. Ross from Kansas City, KS is reading on the toilet by himself July 31, 2012 - 11:46am

I want to make a call to action for all of you Reactors here to make a video book review. It doesn't have to be polished, pristine, or even that watchable. Though, it could be. For inspiration, here are a few of the book reviewers that I watch regularly. Strangely, I don't even share much in the way of book taste with these people, but something about the passion these people have with their words is pretty inspiring.

Do it!

Caleb J. Ross's picture
Caleb J. Ross from Kansas City, KS is reading on the toilet by himself August 4, 2012 - 7:44pm

You guys are never going to get away from me and this thread!

Here's my newest, a video book review of Um: Slips, Stumbles, and Verbal Blunders and What They Mean by Michael Erard

Caleb J. Ross's picture
Caleb J. Ross from Kansas City, KS is reading on the toilet by himself August 12, 2012 - 8:46am

Hear the amazing, 100% true(ish) story of how I got my copy of Jonathan Franzen’s Freedom signed by the author during an author reading in Kansas City on September 22, 2010. You’ll hear the first-hand account of my bravery in the face of an elderly security guard, the strength of punches needed to take babies down, and why I’m glad Franzen is an author rather than a professional investment broker.

Courtney's picture
Courtney from the Midwest is reading Monkey: A Journey to the West and a thousand college textbooks August 12, 2012 - 9:32am

Caleb, I like your challenge. I might see if I can figure out my webcam and try my hand at it.

If more people got into it, it would be really cool to see what happens if two people took opposing positions on a book and each did a video.

Caleb J. Ross's picture
Caleb J. Ross from Kansas City, KS is reading on the toilet by himself August 13, 2012 - 7:01pm

^^^Yeah, that'd be great. There could even be a LitReactor playlist (hell, or even a channel) with the videos all gathered together.

avery of the dead's picture
avery of the dead from Kentucky is reading Cipher Sisters August 13, 2012 - 7:28pm

Ask and ye shall receive.

Courtney's picture
Courtney from the Midwest is reading Monkey: A Journey to the West and a thousand college textbooks August 13, 2012 - 8:52pm

Somebody want to start a thread suggesting it? I'd do it.

Caleb J. Ross's picture
Caleb J. Ross from Kansas City, KS is reading on the toilet by himself August 16, 2012 - 8:31pm

I can start one. Off to do so now.

Caleb J. Ross's picture
Caleb J. Ross from Kansas City, KS is reading on the toilet by himself August 18, 2012 - 11:09am

UPDATE: the LitReactor channel discussion is here.

Caleb J. Ross's picture
Caleb J. Ross from Kansas City, KS is reading on the toilet by himself August 18, 2012 - 3:21pm

I’ve never hidden my love for the work of Brian Evenson. In fact, overly enthusiastic may be a good way to describe my infatuation. His stories are like none other, both in concept and execution. So, know that this review of Windeye, Evenson’s latest story collection, comes to you with a deep history of appreciation. You aren’t getting a first-time reader here. You are getting a fan’s true perspective. With that being said, WHAT A DAMN FINE BOOK!

Caleb J. Ross's picture
Caleb J. Ross from Kansas City, KS is reading on the toilet by himself September 9, 2012 - 2:31pm
Video book review of Fuckload of Shorts by Jedidiah Ayres

This stories of Fuckload of Shorts by Jedidiah Ayres, which includes the stories that inspired the short film Fuckload of Scotch Tape, are the best kind of short stories. Each one takes an idea that, realistically should make for a horrible, shock-driven story, and instead delivers amazing noir fiction with beautifully rendered characters. Ejaculating a dead man? Yep. Selling corpses to a dog foot plant? Yep. In the hands of a lesser writer, these ideas would amount to nothing more than throwaway snuff fiction. But in the hands of Jedidiah Ayres, these ideas are simply climaxes of and catalysts for truly compelling stories.

This video book review examines one of those scenarios in-depth: how exactly, logistically speaking, can one ejaculate a dead man? Yes, there is a whiteboard and drawings included.

Caleb J. Ross's picture
Caleb J. Ross from Kansas City, KS is reading on the toilet by himself September 16, 2012 - 6:52pm

My new top book of 2012 so far. And we're getting to the end of the year. So, good luck rest of the authors in the world.

The Orphan Master's Son by Adam Johnson. Read it now.

Caleb J. Ross's picture
Caleb J. Ross from Kansas City, KS is reading on the toilet by himself October 10, 2012 - 5:08pm

It's been a little while since I've posted one of these here (though I'm still pumping videos out weekly at my YouTube channel). This one's writing-related. Enjoy.

Caleb J. Ross's picture
Caleb J. Ross from Kansas City, KS is reading on the toilet by himself November 14, 2012 - 6:41pm

You haven't been subjected to one of these in a while. So, no complaining.

This is probably the greatest thing I've ever done with my life.

Caleb