Authors are known to be a cantankerous lot who disapprove of just about everything their publishers are doing, including (frequently) the selection of the cover. I am no different, disliking virtually all the covers of my books, except the original 1972 trade paperback of The Big Fix displayed in the right column (it won a design prize) and a few Dutch translations published in the seventies and eighties. [Didn't you like the old Warners reprint of California Roll with the sushi gun?-ed. Yes, that was pretty good.]
But that’s over. I am pleased to say that the cover of my first non-fiction book BLACKLISTING MYSELF: Memoir of a Hollywood Apostate in the Age of Terror (to be published by Encounter Books in January ) is terrific - at least I think so. Designer Nick Collier has done a superb job with an old photo of me, taken by my father in, I think, 1967, when I was still in my early twenties. He overlaid it with some burning film stock (hey, it’s a Hollywood memoir - at least in part). It’s eerie for me to compare that photo with the fedora-clad man in his sixties whose image sits near the top of this blog. Tempus fugit is a cliché for a reason.
One note about the book: I would like to thank the long time readers of this blog who in many ways inspired me to write it. The immediacy and, let’s admit it, often slapdash quality of blogging made me wonder if I could ever write in a longer and more permanent form again. Also, my responsibilities at Pajamas Media were often all consuming. But I felt that I owed it to my readers and to myself to tell my story with a bit more fullness and complexity. So I burned the midnight oil and did it. Again thank you. (Maybe some more fiction will even be in the offing.)
If you would like to pre-order the book, you may do so here. When you receive it (yes, I know it will be a while), if you would like me to personally inscribe a copy, send it to the Pajamas Media office in El Segundo. Not only would I be delighted - I would be honored.
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25 Comments
1. John Moore:Already ordered one. Good luck!
Oct 5, 2008 - 1:34 pm 2. Linda Frank:I too. I hope you burned some bridges. That would be fun.
Oct 5, 2008 - 1:48 pm 3. heather:also moi! What would we do without amazon.com??
Oct 5, 2008 - 1:56 pm 4. Richard Bienvenu:Moi aussi, il y a quelques jours! Yes, good old Amazon, for the nonce!
Can’t wait to read it; in the meantime I’m trying to remember some of the many, many good one-liners from An American Carol.
Oct 5, 2008 - 2:09 pm 5. Newcomb Carlton:I ordered mine a few days ago and can’t wait until it’s published.
Oct 5, 2008 - 2:19 pm 6. Michael J. Totten:I ordered one also. Thanks for writing it.
Oct 5, 2008 - 2:33 pm 7. Promoguy:Well, if you’d like to thank the readers, how abouts a big old party. Those that live in the area would be very happy and those that can travel would be happy.
And for those who can’t make it, well there’s Pajamas TV or live blogging of the event. Another thought. Do a Hefner pajamas type party which would fit with the theme. I’d probably buy a couple of books.
Oct 5, 2008 - 4:05 pm 8. Roger L Simon:That’s a thought, Promoguy. Will think about it for the new year when books are out.
Oct 5, 2008 - 4:13 pm 9. Sunlight:Roger - I can’t wait to read it. Any chance an audio could be made so I can download it from audible and listen on my ipod on hikes, at the gym, and driving around town? Seems to be the main way I find time to “read” lately. If not, I’ll get the real book and make time.
Oct 5, 2008 - 4:29 pm 10. heather:another thought: talk to those guys who are making American Carol, and have them put out a super deluxe DVD for Christmas! Maybe one with a Michael Malone bobble head (I am thinking about what the Lord of the Rings did with Gollum)
(Since the movie is extremely unlikely to come to my town; and I’ll bet there is a big market for that there DVD, for gifts, etc. Also, July 4th, nice tie-in. But Christmas definitely!)
Oct 5, 2008 - 4:59 pm 11. Promoguy:Heather just gave me an idea. Buy two books and get a Roger Simon bobble head with a copy of the jacket somewhere on doll. Kind of like a Kobe bobble head in a Laker jersey, but the shirt will be the cover.
Oct 5, 2008 - 5:06 pm 12. A. N. Pierson:You sold another one. Looking forward. Too bad it’s not out for Christmas. (What were your publishers thinking?)
Oct 5, 2008 - 5:46 pm 13. Mike Lief:Roger, this is the first book I’ve ever pre-ordered, so you might say I’m looking forward to reading your tale of life in the Hollywood nuthouse.
Congrats!
Oct 5, 2008 - 9:45 pm 14. PC14:I had to look twice. First glance, looked like you were wearing a Nehru collar. That alone would be reason enough to be blacklisted.
Oct 5, 2008 - 10:02 pm 15. David Thomson:I have also placed an order with Amazon.com. Needless to add, I will also write a customer review. Best wishes.
Oct 6, 2008 - 4:37 am 16. Belladonna Rogers:Warmest congratulations. I’ve pre-ordered three, one for myself and two for friends I would like to know you better. It is an amazing life story, one I have followed since http://picasaweb.google.com/belladonna.rogers/PS6# and I look forward to January 25th. Mazel tov, Roger.
Oct 6, 2008 - 7:17 am 17. Kirk Parker:Roger,
While you’re thinking about parties, think about one for the Seattle area too. I can guarantee at least one attendee!
Oct 6, 2008 - 7:46 am 18. ElMondo:Put in a request for my local public library to purchase this book; they’ve actually followed all but one of my recommendations in the past, so I’m reasonably certain this book will get picked up.
And this way, too, it’ll be available to more people.
Oct 7, 2008 - 5:39 am 19. saltmarsh:I, like most of my fellow democrats am iliterate and unable to read. Any chance of an audio version? Many thanks to the folks at Acorn for typing this for me.
Oct 7, 2008 - 12:05 pm 20. donlove:saltmarsh
You really made me laugh out loud.
Oct 7, 2008 - 12:49 pm 21. Jeff:Pre-ordered; though I work in Hollywood (not The Business) and as I type this am listening to raucous Obama supporters at lunch. By January I may need to remove the lovely dust jacket and replace it with a plain brown wrapper to read it safely.
Oct 7, 2008 - 12:57 pm 22. PJ:Congratulations, Roger. I sure am going to order my copy.
I have gone through the same changes as you and David Zucker and many others. I saw An American Carol and it made me cry. In a way, I felt like I had come home again. I’m sure your book will ring with the same truth.
Oct 7, 2008 - 2:49 pm 23. david levavi:Thanks.
Make a deal with you, Roger. I’ll pay for a copy of your book if you’ll agree to read mine and, only if you like it, recommend it to three able people for adaptation to film. Crime novel set in Manhattan with Jewish detective for protagonist. Far better book in every way than Michael Chabon’s The Yiddish Policemen’s Union.
I know book people in NY but no film people in LA.
Oct 8, 2008 - 11:45 am 24. Sadly, No! » Diary of a Yoostabee*:[...] went to a town in which plenty of blingnuts live and thrive, and all Roger L. Simon got was this lousy self-pity (not to mention geenormous persecution [...]
Oct 23, 2008 - 3:48 am 25. Kevin K.:PJ said: “I saw An American Carol and it made me cry.”
I want to read that comment over and over for the rest of my life. PJ, you rock.
Oct 23, 2008 - 8:32 am