• Forest for the Trees
  • THE FOREST FOR THE TREES is about writing, publishing and what makes writers tick. This blog is dedicated to the self loathing that afflicts most writers. A community of like-minded malcontents gather here. I post less frequently now, but hopefully with as much vitriol. Please join in! Gluttons for punishment can scroll through the archives.

    If I’ve learned one thing about writers, it’s this: we really are all alone. Thanks for reading. Love, Betsy

State of the Union

Congratulations to Patti Smith. Just Kids hits the New York Times Bestseller List at #7

Front page New York Times Book Review to run this Sunday: “the most spellbinding and diverting portrait of funky-but-chic New York in the late ’60s and ’70s that any alumnus has committed to print. ..this enchanting book is a reminder that not all youthful vainglory is silly; sometimes it’s preparation. Few artists ever proved it like these two

Congratulations to Temple Grandin’s Animals Make Us Human hits the New York Times paperback bestseller list at #16.

HBO movie “Temple Grandin” airs on Saturday, February 6, 8 pm starring Claire Danes, Julia Ormond (exquisite), Catherine O’Hara and David Strathairn.


Congratulations to Dave Cullen on his Edgar Nomination in the non-fiction category for Columbine, and appearing on over 20 “Best of 2009” book lists.

This blog will return tomorrow to its regularly scheduled posting of mean-spirited, self-aggrandizing, attention mongering, publishing malcontentedness, and potty-mouthed bile to bring to those of us determined to write just a little less hope. But not today. Love, Betsy

14 Responses

  1. Very cool news about JUST KIDS (dang, can she write), and thanks so much for cluing me into Temple Grandin – I hadn’t heard of her life and work, and now I have a new heroine.

  2. Temple actually made one of the big gossip blogs, Crazy Days and Nights:

    http://www.crazydaysandnights.net/2010/01/random-photos-part-two_27.html

  3. I’m cheering madly for Dave Cullen to win.

  4. Veddy nice — methinks it’s time for Congress to pass the Betsy Lerner Economic Stimulus Plan. Congrats.

  5. Interesting–I read both Animals Make Us Human and Columbine and loved them…no, I’m not sucking up–it’s the truth! And I’d llike to read the Patti Smith book, too.

  6. Inspiring examples of why, in these changing and challenging times, book people don’t just crawl in a corner and die. Congrats.

  7. Congratulations! To all of them, and to you, of course.

    I wish the NYT reviewer had found another way to say “funky-but-chic”–it sounds like a Seventeen magazine fashion ‘editorial’…

  8. “Love Betsy,” indeed.

  9. Would you believe, I came for the Patti Smith bit? I love her, can’t wait to dive into that book.

    But then I got to the end, and I liked that even better. haha. It’s going to be my first author awards dinner–how cool is that? (And thanks, Janet.)

    I’m setting my tivo for the Temple Grandin show, too. I’m afraid I’m about to lose all cred, but I love her, too. I’m honored by the company.

    • Good luck, Dave! I think everybody here is rooting for you. I’m glad you’re able to celebrate even coming this far. Your first author awards dinner is indeed very cool, what to speak of all those “Best of” lists. May you have many more.

  10. What goes around comes around. đŸ™‚

  11. Thought you might like this: http://ta-nehisicoates.theatlantic.com/archives/2010/02/just_kids.php

    I’m sure Coates already has an agent. You oughtta try stealing him.

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