The Page Flipper’s IWBYJR review and the first chapter of IWBYJR online!

Once again I am feeling all warm and fuzzy inside over a great review from an awesome teen book reviewer who I really respect. So check out the Page Flipper’s review of IWBYJR! BTW, thanks to everyone who reassured me that they didn’t feel like I was bragging when I share these things and thanks for sharing in my excitement in reading them.

Okay, so many of you may have already read the excerpt of “Rock Gods,” the first chapter of IWBYJR on my website here. And I know that at least some of you have told me, “Man, I wish I could read the whole thing…” Well, now you can! The amazing online journal Black Oak Presents has the exclusive preview of the *whole first chapter* from I WANNA BE YOUR JOEY RAMONE in their spring issue which is online now at http://www.blackoakmedia.org/ (or you can directly download the PDF of the issue by clicking here.)

Now this version may differ slightly from what is in the book because it is the pre-copyedited version (and I may eventually put the final version on my website, but that wouldn’t be until right before the book’s release and you want it now, don’t you?) and if you saw the beginning part of this chapter on my website it might differ slightly from that because honestly I can’t remember what version is on the website. None of the differences are major. In fact, my editor and I might be the only ones who notice them. But the point is the whole chapter is now online and you can read it!

I’d also like to say something about why I chose to work with Black Oak Presents to do this. Obviously there are other online ‘zines and print literary magazines I could have submitted the first chapter to. But I’ve worked with Black Oak Presents before—you can read my short story “Blood Lines” in their Spring 2007 issue (this is also a PDF)—and most important to me you will see that they are “A Journal of Midwestern Culture.” What better a place to debut the first chapter to my Midwestern novel? And I was recently talking about what I’ve applied from punk rock to my writing and life in general and one of the biggest things would be the idea or ethic to “support your local scene.” I hope that this chapter appearing in Black Oak puts the spotlight on a great local publication and inspires writers to submit to it. I’m going to be doing more “support your local scene” type blog entries in the future where I spotlight some great events, authors, musicians, etc from Chicago and the Midwest, so keep your eyes peeled.

But in the meantime, go enjoy the first chap and please feel free to come back here and share your thoughts!