Monday Book News: 7 Links For Your Morning Coffee Break
Static Shock, by Dwayne McDuffie
Good morning book people! It snowed yesterday. Seriously, it snowed! And it’s almost spring! I blame the groundhog. Even Phil didn’t run and hide this year, I’m sure he has something to do with yesterday’s mini-white out.
A lot of reading for the coffee break this morning, so without further ado…
Robert Crum at The Guardian has some thoughts on creative writing and deadlines. I can definitely attest to the value of deadlines. Without them, I’d hem and haw my way through a manuscript in which nothing would happen (unless a lot of coffee drinking and chocolate scarfing count).
Comic Book Resources has a truly excellent memories post of writer Dwayne McDuffie, who died last week. Although a lot of folks may not have heard have Dwayne, he was big in children’s media–including cofounding Milestone Media (distributed by DC) , a comics house with a focus on black superheroes, including his original creation, Static Shock. If you’ve never seen Static Shock, go look it up. We moved to the US in 2001, not long after it began, and I watched it religiously. Minority superheroes have existed for a long time, but Static was the first one I ever really related to. Check out Dwayne’s blog, too–definitely worth reading.
Racialicious has an even greater Dwayne post, including video, and more tributes from folks who knew him. Please, please watch the video–it’s about being a black writer in the comic book industry and it’s seriously eye-opening.
For just a quick overview of some the kids’ stuff Dwayne was involved in, Disney has a list, and a really brief obit in last week’s roundup. If you knew who Dwayne was before last week, you can probably skip this.
The New York Times has a review of Il Sung Na’s new picture book, Snow Rabbit Spring Rabbit. The featured illo is stunning; the book is, fittingly, about changing seasons.
Over at the WSJ, John L’heureux has a very useful (if a bit intimidating) piece on how Hemingway’s dialogue powers a story. Also check out A Clean, Well-Lighted Place, a Hemingway short that is almost entirely dialogue, and one I’ve loved since the moment I set eyes on it.
Finally, a little lightness at the end, via the Waiting for Godot videogame. This isn’t the first (nor will it be the last) great lit game, but this is the first one I think I’ve really wanted to try.
Later, the next installment of Cover Notes; tomorrow, a video of Bill Cosby at Tufts! And later this week, an option to subscribe to the Coffee Break by email!
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