Woke up to a temperature of -9 (that's Fahrenheit to my international readers) and it's supposed to go all the way up to a whopping -3 (as of my latest check) and despite that cold, I am planning on making a cold call to a book store up the street to see if they will take my book, "A Rose by any Other Name" on consignment. That's part I to the request, the part II then involves asking permission to have a reading/signing there as well.

Meanwhile, a friend is having an event later this week and I am not sure if me and my words meet the agenda, but I'll ask if I can come read a tale or two and try and sell some drinkers some books. Working on the campaign for IndieGoGo to try and raise some real publicity monies so that I can finally begin to take "Rose" on the road. Wisconsin gigs upcoming notwithstanding, it's really time to try and connect with an audience.

Looks like I have decided to make the youthful protagonist in my next book an arsonist - or a fantasy arsonist (haven't figured that out yet. Perhaps that's what the reader will do for me) and that could be fun to scribble. Actually, with the pain in my writing hand, my days of handwriting may have run their course. That said, one of the "prizes" for contributors to the "Rose" campaign will be one of the original, hand-written tales from the collection. No Brian Mazo collection is complete without one...

Strongly considered watching the early NFL game yesterday and root half-assed for the 49ers, but when push came to kickoff, I decided to keep reading. Finished Jim Carroll's posthumous, final book, the novel "The Petting Zoo" in the early afternoon and then picked up Don Winslow's "The Dawn Patrol" later in the day. Working my way through Winslow's lead-ups to "Savages" and the superior, "Kings of Cool."

Watched "Looper" last night and it's pretty darn good sci-fi. Bruce Willis is one of the better cinematic time travelers: I think a screening of "12 Monkeys" makes sense after "Looper."

Gave the next novel, "Live Fast! (Die Out of Town)" to another set of eyes as I await my draft copy to come back in the mail and then I will return to the editing process on that one (reading it aloud to DTA) as I make my PR mistakes with "Rose."

Stay warm ... wherever you may be reading this...

Cheers
B.

As much as I had been looking forward to seeing "Ted" it was ultimately a rather disappointing movie. The Family Guy style humor that I expected from the likes of Seth MacFarlane was there, but the rather generic romantic comedy script really made the entire affair rather predictable and somewhat boring. When I found myself watching my cat play on the floor with a piece of plastic, I had to shake my head at the work of Alex Sulkan, who I think a comic genius. Oh well...

Meanwhile in the Mid-West, I may soon be big in Wisconsin. Finally launching a promotional campaign for my book, "A Rose by any Other Name" this winter. As of now, nothing is set up in my home city, but February will see me and the book well represented in the neighboring state. I will be reading from the book on air on a radio show transmitted out of Viroqua, WI the first weekend in the shortest month and then returning the following weekend for readings at Driftless Books in the aforementioned Viroqua on Saturday night and then at Pearl Street books in LaCrosse on Sunday.

All of this is part of the Valentine's Day push to finally get the words out in front of the public which is the hardest part for me. I suspect that nerves will be high for both the on-air and personal appearances. As a writer, I am far more comfortable hidden in the office as opposed to standing behind a podium with the small, pink book as my only shield. Wish me luck...

But the plan remains the make this a regular occasion - the readings, etc. (not the nerves and the whinging) - for the first half of the new year. Perhaps we call it a "relaunch" as how it's been described to me. So watch this space: I may be coming your way in the coming months. Hopefully, I can kill a few birds with one big stone and get to go to some cities to see some baseball while I plug my book.

Thanks
B.

Right or wrong -- and we may never, ever know -- the Baseball Writers of America spoke yesterday and it's going to be a quiet day in Cooperstown, New York come induction day. For the eighth time ever and the first since 1996, the BBWA elected no player into baseball's Hall of Fame. This didn't come as an utter shock although there were many that were hoping Dale Murphy - after an intriguing campaign by his kids - would get the nod. Perhaps Biggio. Or Jack Morris.

But on the soiled coattails of Bonds, Clemens, Piazza et al no player received the requisite 75% of the ballots required for election. Bonds and Clemens, both in their first year of eligibility (although the Rocket did make a half-assed attempt at extending his 5-year retired status which was quickly deemed exactly what is was: a desperate move by a crazy man to prolong the memory time of the writers) didn't come close as both received less than 40% of the vote.

And as much as I have enjoyed seeing one of my personal favorite player's name dragged through the debate, Gaylord Perry's cheating at least was something visible. Despite his coming-clean in his book, "Me & the Spitter" Perry was more psych-out than out-and-out cheater. He bent the rules and he fucked with the heads of opposing batters for twenty seasons -- he needed the pitch less than he needed the head game.

But speaking of heads -- and in both cases -- head cases -- Bonds and Clemens would have most likely put up stats that garnered them enough votes for HoF election. Possibly not as 1st time electees as their numbers alone and as the men who won more MVPs and Cy Young awards respectively than any other player in the history of the game. But it's their attitudes - both serious assholes - that are counting against them and the invocation of the integrity clause that kept them out this year and may very well keep them out forever unless the HoF and the BBWA re-vamp, nay overhaul, the voting system. And if you pay attention, no change happens terribly quickly in the grand old game. Baseball IS its history. More asterisks? Only time will tell.

The amusing thing about the HoF's integrity clause was that it was added to help get some guys - notable war heroes - enshrined despite less than HoF statistics. In the cases of Bonds and Clemens, who have the stats and then some, it worked against them ... and very well may continue to do so until the writers come to grips about the actual effects of PEDs on game play and stats.

And with the bumper crop of players coming eligible in 2014 - Maddux, Glavine, Frank Thomas, Jeff Kent - the writers may just dismiss the class of 2012 and let the many years pass for the Veteran's Committee to decide what to do with the overly-amped statistics of the late 1980's - early 2000's players who may have - or not - been using PEDs to inflate their numbers as well as the seasons in which they were able to accrue them. If I had a vote, none of the aforementioned guys get in although I would vote for Pete Rose. Go figure...

What says you?

Cheers,
B.

So while some readers will know that much like the book release itself, I have long been threatening to make some personal appearances to read from and sign copies of my book, "A Rose by any Other Name." It looks like I will be in Wisconsin for two appearances around Valentine's Day weekend, but currently working on promotional support to make that a reality in the Twin Cities as well.

And then? Who knows? Thinking about raising some funds for actual promo and perhaps a limited, but well-chosen, mini book tour. Want me to come to your city? Please let me know...

GIVE YOUR VALENTINE A ROSE

“A Rose by any Other Name: An Alphabet of Tales about a Man & a Woman”

26 short tales that will make that special someone laugh, cry, smile, slap your face or slip into something a little more comfortable be her a “Mustang Sally,” a “Hail Mary” or a “Victoria’s Secret” kind of Rose by any other name…

“This book is a perfect balance of what a collection of short stories should be.”

 “ It's sweet and romantic in a pink and punky sort of way!”

“I’m actually weirded out by how much I loved it.”

(Amazon reviews)

                     Author Brian Mazo will be appearing at:

                                  to read from and personally inscribe copies of “Rose” for your Valentine

And while there is snow on the ground and the locals are more excited about football -- or at least they were before the team from the neighboring state dismantled them -- it is but five weeks until pitchers and catchers report for Spring Training. And as far as the former part of the arrivees - the pitchers - the Yankees look pretty well set. With the winter priorities of re-signing Andy Pettitte, Mariano Rivera and Hiroki Kuroda, the Yankees have maintained the very good, albeit very aged, pitching staff. As for now, and perhaps through the duration of the overly long grapefruit league, who will be catching them on a daily basis yet to be seen. Right now it looks like a battle between some prospects and some erstwhile back-up backstops.

All last season everyone but the ghost of Earl Weaver got on the Bronx Bombers for their HR-reliant offense. The Yanks slugged their way to the division title and you can't blame a power outage per se for the failure against the Tigers in the ALCS-- the entire team pretty much stopped hitting. But with the long-ball threats lost this winter: Swisher, Martin, Chavez, Ibanez, and potentially for the season, A-Rod, the 2013 version of the Yanks will rely much more on the speed of Gardner and Ichiro to manufacture some of the runs that won't be trotting across the plate this year.

Cano, Texeira, Granderson and the incoming Youkilis will be relied upon the knock it out behind the place-setters. There very well may be more 3-2 games than 8-5 ones this season. But I would expect that GM Brian Cashman will answer the question of where the right-handed power will come this year before the opener vs. Boston on April 1st. Scott Hairston is the name that still keeps getting bandied about after a number of the guys the Yanks had been eyeballing - most recently seeing Fat Elvis (Lance Berkman) sign with the Rangers for a Yankee-esque $10M one-year deal with incentives. The thing with Hairston is that the guy has been saying all along that he wants to return across town to the Mets which speaks to where his heart and mind stand on where winning matters to the guy. Right?

I'll keep an eye and ear open on the above for y'all...

Cheers
B.