MZD tour video blog finally complete!

After a couple of months of delays, the video blog is finally complete on YouTube. We've added some Dallas and Austin content and hope you've all enjoyed MZD's journey as well as bits of our own.

You can check out the videos at mzdinfo's YouTube

The full web documentary is available here.

Thanks to those of you that contributed, and stopped by to say hello along the way. It was a great trip that took us to places we'd never been.

MZD on KCRW's Bookworm

On Thursday, MZD was a featured guest on KCRW's Bookworm.

THU, OCT 5, 2006, 2:30P-3:00P
Bookworm
Mark Z. Danielewski

Host: Michael Silverblatt

Only Revolutions
(Pantheon)
There's no mistaking a novel by Mark Danielewski for any other. This new one can be read forward, backward and upside down. It has multi-colored inks; two sewn-in bookmarks (green and gold); and a circular structure. Here, we explore how the book's design reflects the joy-ride/killing spree of its two perpetual teenagers as they careen through time and space.

KGB Bar audio link

The KGB Bar audio of Ken Kalfus and Mark Z. Danielewski's reading from 9/24/06 has finally been posted by KGBBar.com here. (MZD starts halfway through)

You can also read their feature and review of the event at this link.

Only Revolutions Youtube Documentary Part 1

The official Exploration Z web documentary of the Only Revolutions tour (Part 1) is now available in order for your viewing pleasure at The MZDinfo youtube channel. This playlist includes each video in the director's intended order. Enjoy!

Bonus material including previously unposted sections that MZD has read thus far on the tour and some more Q&A will be posted within the next few weeks, and the conclusion of the web documentary will be posted after the conclusion of the tour, and Exploration Z's next two MZD tour dates in Dallas and Austin.

MZD Event Video: Columbia University 9.25.06

Mark Z. Danielewski did a reading and Q&A session for Columbia University's Writing Division on 9.25.06. Exploration Z's crew and a small group of students were lucky enough to attend. Now you get the opportunity to watch and listen to the entire event. We've divided it into five clips, and put them here in order.

Part 1 - Introduction and H1-8:


Mark Z. Danielewski reads pages H1-8 from his novel Only Revolutions at Columbia University.


Part 2 - S209-216:


Mark Z. Danielewski reads pages S209-216 from Only Revolutions at Columbia University.


Part 3 - "How did you write it?":


Mark Z. Danielewski answers the question "How did you write it?" about his novel Only Revolutions.


Part 4 - More Q&A:


Mark Z. Danielewski talks about the following:
What has changed in publishing to allow you to use more color?
Collaborating process with Poe and TZD.
The last page of House of Leaves.
The language of Only Revolutions.


Part 5 - The rest of the Q&A:


The last part of the Q&A at Columbia University, where Mark Z. Danielewski discusses:
Suggested way to read Only Revolutions.
Lessons learned from House of Leaves used in Only Revolutions.
Which philosophers inspired Only Revolutions and how much of their work did you logically implement into the book?
 

MZD Event Video: Brookline Booksmith, Boston, MA 9.26.06

Mark Z. Danielewski reads pages H137-144 from Only Revolutions at the Brookline Booksmith in Boston, MA.


Mark Z. Danielewski reads pages H225-232 from his novel Only Revolutions at the Brookline Booksmith in Boston, MA.


Mark Z. Danielewski describes a conversation he had with French Translator Claro at the Brookline Booksmith in Boston, MA.
 

MZD Event Video: Barnes and Noble, 6th Ave (Chelsea) New York, NY 9.25.06

Mark Z. Danielewski reads pages S89-96 from his novel Only Revolutions at the Barnes and Noble on 6th Ave (Chelsea) in New York City.


Mark Z. Danielewski answers a fan's question regarding the audiobook of Only Revolutions at Barnes and Noble in Chelsea, NYC.
 

MZD Event Video: KGB Bar, New York 9.24.06

The video is dark, but you'll get the sense of being there from it.


Mark Z. Danielewski is introduced to the capacity crowd at the KGB Bar.


Houseofleaves.com forum member pills23 checks in from the KGB Bar.

 

MZD at Columbia University 9.25.06

MZD did a reading and Q&A for the Writing Division of Columbia University this afternoon. Thanks to tips from fearful_syzygy, MZD and his publicist, and many thanks to the visitors center at Columbia, Exploration Z's crew of two was able to attend.

MZD read two passages, one Hailey and one Sam. He then went on to answer around thirty minutes worth of attendee's questions. Michele's request for "please read the part where Sam is mad at his boss and keeps changing the boss's name" was honored at this reading with around 20 in attendance.

We got video and audio from this event and will be sharing most if not all of it with you upon our return home later this week.

Non-Sam Cam report from the event... Someone asked about Poe and Tad's influence on House of Leaves but used Poe's given name. Later when he was getting his book signed, Mark corrected him and said "She goes by Poe" and when the same student asked Mark to sign under his name on the title page instead of on the dedication page, he was denied that request as well.

Michele says "He was 0wned twice" and wanted to share.

Thanks again to all involved in getting us there!

KGB Bar NYC

MZD read at the KGB Bar on the lower east side of New York City tonight. The bar was jam-packed and incredible warm. Mark was preceded by another author, Ken Kalfus, whose reading did not inspire US to buy a copy of his latest novel. The reading talked a lot about stock portfolios and 401(k) and how the male protagonist was pissed at his ex-wife for having more money saved than he did. Then they took a short break to allow the bar to make some money and for Ken to sign copies of his book.

Eventually Mark came out from behind the curtain (he was sitting in the window, probably the only cool place in the whole building) and read five passages from Only Revolutions. Michele had passed him the list of requests from all of you, but he did the same five passages that he had done at Booksmith in San Francisco.

Due to the huge crowd and our position in the back of the bar, we don't have any video footage of the reading. We may have a couple of small Sam Cam clips to put up upon return, but the most we can offer as far as actual reading coverage is audio. The even better news is that there should be better audio than ours, officially available direct from the KGB Bar. Check out http://kgbbarlit.com for more details of the podcast, which should be available to download on Wednesday.

Our forum regular Sam Cam testimonial from tonight was from Pills23. Unfortunately, due to loud noise in the bar and bad lighting conditions, it is not usable. Thanks for being a willing participant, Pills23 and maybe we'll redo it tomorrow night at Barnes & Noble.

Sorry for all of you we didn't get the chance to meet. We're sight-seeing and such as well, being tourists in this fine city. That didn't leave enough time for food throughout the day and we were very hungry. Plus the heat was a pretty big factor as well. Either way, we walked a few blocks to Katz's Deli and split a pastrami on rye. Great sandwich, however if we never post again, it was because of the heart attack we just suffered.

MZD Booksmith San Francisco Event 9.22.06

MZD did a fantastic reading and Q&A at Booksmith in San Francisco. My early favorite of the tour thus far. He changed up the story to introduce his reading, this time focusing on first love, and never mentioning ghosts. However, he did mention that even though they didn't realize it, Sam and Hailey were going to die.

Tonight's reading consisted of five passages, two Hailey and three Sam.

Mark is also interested in your requests for future readings, so please respond here or on the houseofleaves.com book tour thread.

H1-8
S89-96
S137-144
H241-248
S313-320

Since we're about to embark on a cross-country journey and we don't want to keep you waiting until late next week, here are the video clips from San Francisco:


MZD's author escort for the San Francisco Bay Area says hello to MZD and his fans on the internet.


Sam Cam #7 - Allways...


Mark Z. Danielewski answers a question asked at the Booksmith reading about how he reacts to the houseofleaves.com forums when he's sitting at home reading them.


MZD reads pages H241-248 from Only Revolutions at Booksmith in San Francisco.

 

Bookshop Santa Cruz

Just got back from the Bookshop Santa Cruz reading/Q&A/signing. The reading was interrupted twice by a special guest, who seems to drift from place to place in Santa Cruz and had a guitar with him. Mark remarked later in the night that he was hoping he would play for him. The crowd was very enthusiastic to hear Mark and asked some questions that were different from the norm. Mark again read five passages from the book tonight, but this time read two from Hailey and three from Sam.

H1-8
S89-96
S137-144
H233-240
S313-320



Mark also did an interview on KUSF this afternoon. If we can obtain a copy, the audio may appear here on the blog. This was a testout for the Hailey passages. Mark still isn't sure he is comfortable reading the female side of the story. He also fears that fans will get confused if he reads passages from each. I suggested that as long as he didn't read the same 8 pages from each that it shouldn't be a problem.

There was a very cool crowd tonight and we will have more articles, Sam/Hailey Cam and event footage up soon.

Sam Cam #1-5

Sam Cam #1 - The OR Symbol behind the Powerhouse Bar


Sam Cam #2 - Poe says something for Onlyrevolutions.blogspot.com


Sam Cam #3 - Outside Skylight Books


Sam Cam #4 - Skylight Books Window Display


Sam Cam #5 - Entering Hollywood
soundtrack: "Jack The Ripper" by Error
 

MZD at the West Hollywood Book Fair

This afternoon, Mark Z Danielewski was a part of the HISTORY REPEATING: On Writing Historical Fiction panel at the West Hollywood Book Fair. He was joined by Aimee Liu, who writes stories that deal with characters historical times from China and India, Janis Cooke Newman, who has written a novel about Mary Todd Lincoln told in the first person from Mary's point of view, Denise Nicholas, who has written a book about a voter registration worker in 1964 Mississippi, and the panel was moderated by Leslie Schwartz, who has not yet published any historical fiction.

What was strange was that they considered Only Revolutions to even be a part of the category Historical Fiction. All of the "rules of writing historical fiction" discussed seemed to be ones that Mark had either deconstructed, broken, or ignored in all of his works. The most appropriate response from Mark came when a fan asked him why the historical information in the margins is blank starting in 2006. It was a bit ironic, because this fan was asking Mark to create future historical fiction.

As mentioned yesterday, Exploration Z will be updating this very blog with video tidbits, including some things captured from the "sam cam" that were not a part of the two MZD appearances. Stay tuned!

MZD Book Tour Coverage Begins

The first public readings from Only Revolutions took place this evening at Skylight Books in Los Feliz. Exploration Z was proud to be there and have plenty of video highlights coming your way when we get back to our homebase later in the week.

For now, a brief review of some of the highlights.

MZD did five readings from Only Revolutions. He only read from Sam.
Whether or not this is a ghost story, I will leave up to you...

S1-8
S89-96
S137-144
S281-288
S313-320

Mark answered about his writing process that he uses the Jane Goodall method. He sits in the same place in the jungle and waits for the gorillas to approach and finally they do. He writes everyday. His process starts at 5:30AM with meditation and goes on for at least ten hours. He answered a bit about the deliberate colors for the book to help you not lose your place. Someone remarked that the layout of the book reminded them of the bible. Mark thinks it looks like a road.

Poe and several members of different incarnations of the Poe band were in attendance, as were several of Poe's Angry Psychos and several houseofleaves.com forum regulars.

It was a great turnout, a good crowd, and a hot debut for Danielewski's sophomore effort.

More soon!

Updated content at Exploration Z

The Only Revolutions section of Exploration Z has been updated with new content!

mzd.info and onlyrevolutions.com go live

The newly redesigned markzdanielewski.info is finally live!

Even better news is that the official http://www.onlyrevolutions.com website is live and has been for two days. Mark's official site is amazing, and much more professional than ours will ever hope to be. But they'll complement each other well and we hope you get as much enjoyment out of both sites as we do!