Category: My Books
I am the author of STONE MOTEL: MEMOIRS of a CAJUN BOY (University Press of Mississippi); and was the principal editor of 120 HIAS STORIES (Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society). I am also working on two new books: FIX ME A PLATE (a companion cookbook to Stone Motel), and the novel MOTEL CONFESSIONALS (working title).
70,000+ Words & 15 Confessions
Today I surpassed 70,000 words on my new novel, Motel Confessionals (working title). I mentioned last time that 70,000 is the goal for novels and 100,000 words is the standard cutoff point (my memoir is about 98,000 words). I expect to complete this first draft in the next couple of weeks. It’s not just the word-count that get’s you there. “There” is that point when … Continue reading 70,000+ Words & 15 Confessions
Motel Confessionals
I’m sure nobody noticed, but I’ve been largely out of sight over the last few months. Oh, to be sure, I popped in here and there, but not much. I’ve posted about an interview I did for the New Books Network, where I co-host a new podcast focusing on books by or about LGBTQ people with two of my University Press of Mississippi book-writing pals … Continue reading Motel Confessionals
Review of STONE MOTEL in ‘G&L Review’
Below is a NEW review from the GAY & LESBIAN REVIEW. The G&L Review is a big deal for us LGBTQ writers, so I’m quite thrilled. (One quibble: my sibs and I were paid for working in the motel – so we were not “free” labor as the writer says. ‘Cheap,’ yes, but not free.) Get Out (but not yet) By DANIEL BURR STONE MOTELMemoirs of … Continue reading Review of STONE MOTEL in ‘G&L Review’
What Readers Are Saying About ‘Stone Motel’
My book Stone Motel – Memoirs of a Cajun Boy has gotten some very nice comments from readers. These remarks were made on Amazon, Audible, Barnes & Noble, Goodreads, Facebook, and here on Parenthetically Speaking. (Some have been edited to exclude personal details of the writers, and/or for length.) I’ve compiled them here for easier access. There are also several nice newspaper and magazine articles … Continue reading What Readers Are Saying About ‘Stone Motel’
The DIY Audiobook: Recording at Home in a Pandemic. Ugggh.
On April 15, the University Press of Mississippi released my new book “Stone Motel – Memoirs of a Cajun Boy.” To help launch it I had arranged a nearly three-week tour of Cajun Louisiana and New Orleans. The tour was to include appearances in bookstores, readings, book signings, media interviews, and a whole lot of travelling around in a rental car. I had also managed to cram … Continue reading The DIY Audiobook: Recording at Home in a Pandemic. Ugggh.
Here’s a snippet from my upcoming audiobook for “Stone Motel.”
The main recording work for the audiobook for “Stone Motel – Memoirs of a Cajun Boy” is done. There is some technical work to complete, but I am hopeful it will be ready some time in July. In the meantime, here is a snippet. Featured image: “Eliza’s Beauty Shop,” acrylic on canvas, by Morris Ardoin. Video intro music by Isadar. (www.isadar.com) C’est tout! M © … Continue reading Here’s a snippet from my upcoming audiobook for “Stone Motel.”
Un Petit Glossaire Cajun
The Cajun language is a mixture of ancient and modern French, some Franglais, as well as many words that are unique to the region of Louisiana where our Canadian ancestors originally settled. My new book, “Stone Motel – Memoirs of a Cajun Boy,” has lots of words and phrases whose meanings might prove a little challenging for non-Cajuns. This very selective glossary includes terms I … Continue reading Un Petit Glossaire Cajun
Video Ya-ya! Subscribe to my YouTube Channel for all Stone Motel readings.
I’m just warming up – these first five videos – each a reading from my new book, “Stone Motel – Memoirs of a Cajun Boy,” are only the beginning. I plan to add videos to accompany the recipes I feature here on in (Parenthetically Speaking). To subscribe, click on the logo above and you won’t miss a thing! C’est tout! M © All Rights Reserved … Continue reading Video Ya-ya! Subscribe to my YouTube Channel for all Stone Motel readings.
Gather ’round, y’all. Uncle Moe’s fixin’ to read from his book!
If you’re hanging out this Good Friday all alone or with your family in sequester, hopefully eating fried catfish and/or boiled crawfish to commemorate the day – then you’ll probably want to finish that first. BUT then, surely, you’ll be needing a nice nap-time story to help you doze off. Well, below is the first installment of a series of virtual readings I’ll be doing … Continue reading Gather ’round, y’all. Uncle Moe’s fixin’ to read from his book!
It’s here!
Late yesterday afternoon we got a delivery of three boxes from UPS. I assumed they were for a friend who has things shipped to us because where he lives is so remote, the delivery people can’t find him. So, being compliant with the Covid-19 recommendations for safety, I asked the delivery guy to just leave the boxes outside by the kitchen door. And that’s where … Continue reading It’s here!
You will be able to ‘check in’ at ‘The Stone’ in a matter of days.
In addition to finally taking care of a few long-neglected chores around the house, I’ve been using these unusual days of Staying-The-Hell-Home to better prepare myself for the upcoming release of my book, “Stone Motel – Memoirs of a Cajun Boy.” Here’s an update on the book launch: Books o’ Goshen! The publisher, University Press of Mississippi, tells me that, despite all the weirdness out … Continue reading You will be able to ‘check in’ at ‘The Stone’ in a matter of days.
I Was a Teenaged Chambermaid
I was a teenaged chambermaid. (The adult me wrote a book about it – and resisted the urge to name it just that.) I was part of a large family that ran a little motel in Eunice, Louisiana, from the late 1960s to the late-1990s. At one point or another, we were all chambermaids. I was also a lawn barber, who each week got clobbered … Continue reading I Was a Teenaged Chambermaid
Here’s the Book Jacket for “Stone Motel”
The book is scheduled for release around April 15. You can preorder it here: From the publisher: https://www.upress.state.ms.us/Books/S/Stone-Motel From Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Stone-Motel-Memoirs-Willie-Biography/dp/1496827724 From Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/stone-motel-morris-ardoin/1134145898 From Indie Books https://www.indiebound.org/book/9781496827722 Continue reading Here’s the Book Jacket for “Stone Motel”
Canasta’s Trip to the Bayou
This week I’m running this post about the game of Canasta once more (originally posted in May 2019). It’s a bit wonky to read but if you take it slow, you should be able to set up a rousing game for yourself and at least three others. Christmas break is the perfect time to unplug from our phones, tvs, and whatnots, and, you know, face … Continue reading Canasta’s Trip to the Bayou
(Parenthetically) Speaking 