Book Research with a Side of City Life
When I started my research back on 9 October, I maintained office hours...same time, same place every day. This made sense, as the work I initially did was computer-based and very intensive. I tried to sit down at my desk, a mug of hot tea in hand, by 9:30 AM. After the first month, my … Continue reading Making My Studio Spiffy for the New Year
One of the many hardships of being a touring performer is spending holidays away from your loved ones. J faced this challenge more than once. She was close to her mother and stepfather; spending Christmas across the country from them in California couldn't have been easy. In this telegram, J's vivacious personality and laid-back wit … Continue reading December 25th, 1921: A Holiday Greeting from J
*Unless explicitly stated otherwise, all book reviews on Alternative Muses are for volumes I’ve read as part of my J biography research. I hesitated to use the word review, as this series heavily focuses on WHY I chose to read a book and what I got out of it research-wise. As a compromise, I’ll end each post … Continue reading [Book Review] Frommer’s Nashville & Memphis
*Unless explicitly stated otherwise, all book reviews on Alternative Muses are for volumes I've read as part of my J biography research. I hesitated to use the word review, as this series heavily focuses on WHY I chose to read a book and what I got out of it research-wise. As a compromise, I'll end … Continue reading [Book Review] The American Plague
This little book doesn't seem very promising, does it? 7 1/2 x 9 1/2. No cover. What did it look like the day it was purchased? Was it colorful? Textured? Patterned? We'll never know. Why was it preserved? It looks like trash, inconsequential. Maybe it meant something to someone, long ago. Let's find out. 120+ … Continue reading The Serendipitous Scrapbook
I have a lot to do, wouldn't you say? My brainstorming sessions have produced hundreds of items, most of which you would find yawn-inducing. The above chart, however, is a nice representation of the topics I'm researching for this biography. It's a good thing that I love weird minutiae. A QUESTION FOR YOU: Are visuals … Continue reading Brainstorming Chart
Hi there! I'm Mae. I write things. Some of you probably know me from A Small Press Life, which I started in December 2011. My favorite blogging subjects are old books, dead writers, classic movies, tea, and random musings about whatever catches my fancy. Two months ago, I started a colossal real-world project: researching and … Continue reading Writing a Life Not My Own
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