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By Jennifer Nagle
English instructor, Geoff Schmidt, has recently published his first book, "Write Your Heart Out: Advice from The Moon Winx Motel." Schmidt’s book parodies the required reading how-to-write books that are popular among English students.
The book and it’s skewed writing advice come from the fictional Gus Jones, a self absorbed divorcee and writing veteran who, according to Schmidt, "is cracking up a bit."
Gus’ story is Schmidt’s nightmare. "I hope no one likes Gus," remarked Schmidt on Gus’ character, "I wanted him to be all the things I’m afraid of becoming."
It is short novel that’s advice is not to be taken seriously. It began as a chapter making fun of books that, "are bad, silly, or too full of themselves" and after some criticism, Schmidt committed to creating an entire book on the matter.
Schmidt has previously published stories and poems in various literary magazines and essays in the Chicago Tribune Book Review. "Write Your Heart Out: Advice From the Moon Winx Motel" is on sale exclusively at the bookstore for $24 and will soon be available through Amazon.com, Barnes and Nobles.com, and Smallmouth Press.
Schmidt will be signing copies of his book from noon to 1 p.m. Nov. 8 and 9 in the bookstore. He will also be reading an excerpt at 7 p.m. Nov. 15 in the Fireplace Lounge in an Arts and Letters presentation that is free and open to the public.
At 2 p.m. Nov. 15 he will discuss writing the book, "It Seemed Like a Good Idea at the Time: How to Write a Novel," in an Honors Colloquium held in F-113. That discussion is also free and open to the public.
