Too Busy to Blog

Time for another (long overdue) update:

1. In case you haven't heard by now, I've started producing a podcast with my friend Karen Shimmin. We've now released eight episodes of All Write Already!, and plan to keep doing the show far into the foreseeable future. This endeavor has turned out to be both more fun and more work than I anticipated. It takes up the majority of my would-be blogging time, which means that this is probably my last post here for quite some time. Maybe ever. If you want to keep tabs on me, subscribe to the show on iTunes. Or follow me on Twitter.
2. In addition to the podcast, Karen and I will also be taking over as hosts for the monthly reading series Essay Fiesta. We're taking the reins from co-founders Keith Ecker and Alyson Lyon. Keith and Alyson were great hosts, and we're extremely lucky to be offered the opportunity to carry on their show. Our first show will be Monday, January 21st, at the Book Cellar in Lincoln Square, 7pm. And if you can't make it then, we'll be there on the third Monday night of every month thereafter.
3. 2012 was a very transitional year for my big Aurora project. I made a lot of meaningful progress (finally) and feel like I have some serious momentum going into the new year. I'd say more but I don't want to jinx it.
4. After a series of events that pushed back the sentencing date again and again, the Cellini trial finally wrapped up in October, nearly a year after we turned in our verdict. Cellini received a year and a day prison sentence, and is scheduled to report to prison sometime in January. I still plan to write about the experience, and have been doing research and putting some things down in draft form. One might argue that this is the sort of story with a shelf life, and perhaps I'm already long past the expiration date. But if I find the right angle I'm not too concerned about that; in Illinois, corruption will always be near the front pages.

Although 2013 will be a relentlessly busy year, it will also be relentlessly productive. I'm looking forward to it.

The Podcast Cometh.

Remember a few months ago when I said a podcast was on the way? Well I wasn't kidding. Here's what I've been working on for the last month or two - a neato home recording studio:

Often when I sit in my office I hunger for Creamsicles.

My podcast POV.

Mission Control.

Now all we have to do is record a theme song, schedule guests, decide on a format, and actually record ourselves talking.

New New Writing, New Old Writing, and New New New Podcasting

Time for a quick update:

1. As you may have heard, on Tuesday Judge Zagel denied Bill Cellini a retrial. I went to the courthouse to hear the decision, and afterwards I did a short interview with a reporter from the Tribune. I thought he captured my thoughts pretty well. Barring another major appeal, it sounds like the next step is sentencing. I have started working on a long essay about my experience on the trial. So far it's pretty murky, but it feels good to work on something brand new. And somewhat time-sensitive. Aiming to have a solid draft by end of March. Hold me to it.
2. After spinning my wheels for most of 2011, I had a bit of an epiphany on my big Aurora project. The catch is that the epiphany included having to start over. Yep. I'll write a lot more about this later. The good news is that, for the first time in quite some time, I don't hate every single word I write about it.
3. Another big writing project in the works: My good friend Karen Shimmin and I decided it would be a great idea to make a podcast about writing. Just who in the hell do we think we are? Your guess is as good as ours. The show does not yet have a name or a format or really much of a plan. What we do know is that it will include readings and interviews with some very talented writers. Also it will not be stuffy or boring. Look out for more news about this as we roll into warmer months.