March 2nd, 2010 / 8:39 pm
Author News
Roxane Gay
Author News
Threadbare Von Barren by Nicolle Elizabeth
Nicolle Elizabeth’s chapbook of flash fiction from the perspective of a teenager diagnosed with infertility, Threadbare Von Barren, will be available Friday from Achilles Chapbook Series. Go here to order.
Tags: achilles chapbook series, Chapbooks, Nicolle Elizabeth
I like the cover a lot.
I like the cover a lot.
I like the cover a lot.
The perspective of a teenager diagnosed with infertility is a very interesting perspective to start from for a work of fiction. I wish more fiction writers would be this bold.
The perspective of a teenager diagnosed with infertility is a very interesting perspective to start from for a work of fiction. I wish more fiction writers would be this bold.
The perspective of a teenager diagnosed with infertility is a very interesting perspective to start from for a work of fiction. I wish more fiction writers would be this bold.
that cover is fucking gorgeous.
yes.
reading the description of the chapbook resulted in a confused but interested facial expression.
that cover is fucking gorgeous.
yes.
reading the description of the chapbook resulted in a confused but interested facial expression.
that cover is fucking gorgeous.
yes.
reading the description of the chapbook resulted in a confused but interested facial expression.
holy crap thanks
holy crap thanks
holy crap thanks
did you create the cover nicolle?
did you create the cover nicolle?
did you create the cover nicolle?
I must say I love the cover too–just beautiful. It reminds me of a children’s book series whose titles I’m blanking on involving a little girl named Madeline and she goes places and is very cute. I’m also intrigued by the premise. Just ordered my copy and let it be known, this book is only $5 so in addition to being interesting, it is also affordable.
I must say I love the cover too–just beautiful. It reminds me of a children’s book series whose titles I’m blanking on involving a little girl named Madeline and she goes places and is very cute. I’m also intrigued by the premise. Just ordered my copy and let it be known, this book is only $5 so in addition to being interesting, it is also affordable.
I must say I love the cover too–just beautiful. It reminds me of a children’s book series whose titles I’m blanking on involving a little girl named Madeline and she goes places and is very cute. I’m also intrigued by the premise. Just ordered my copy and let it be known, this book is only $5 so in addition to being interesting, it is also affordable.
Yes! This reminded me exactly of the Madeleine books (of which the first is just called Madeleine.) I loved those books and there was one my mom gave me when I had to have my adenoids out and it was about how Madeleine had to have her appendix out, and she was very brave and as a result so was I…and I read this book’s description and started thinking about Madeleine having her fertility taken out…and now I think I will purchase this because I am highly intrigued and also sort of warmed by memory, if that makes any sense. Cool find!
Yes! This reminded me exactly of the Madeleine books (of which the first is just called Madeleine.) I loved those books and there was one my mom gave me when I had to have my adenoids out and it was about how Madeleine had to have her appendix out, and she was very brave and as a result so was I…and I read this book’s description and started thinking about Madeleine having her fertility taken out…and now I think I will purchase this because I am highly intrigued and also sort of warmed by memory, if that makes any sense. Cool find!
Yes! This reminded me exactly of the Madeleine books (of which the first is just called Madeleine.) I loved those books and there was one my mom gave me when I had to have my adenoids out and it was about how Madeleine had to have her appendix out, and she was very brave and as a result so was I…and I read this book’s description and started thinking about Madeleine having her fertility taken out…and now I think I will purchase this because I am highly intrigued and also sort of warmed by memory, if that makes any sense. Cool find!
hey thanks on the madeline comment, i particularly enjoyed her bravado :) the cover is by artist james jean, he’s a comic book guy, and i have no idea if we had permission, actually or how any of that worls or doesn’t work sigh
thanks, seriously
hey thanks on the madeline comment, i particularly enjoyed her bravado :) the cover is by artist james jean, he’s a comic book guy, and i have no idea if we had permission, actually or how any of that worls or doesn’t work sigh
thanks, seriously
hey thanks on the madeline comment, i particularly enjoyed her bravado :) the cover is by artist james jean, he’s a comic book guy, and i have no idea if we had permission, actually or how any of that worls or doesn’t work sigh
thanks, seriously
James Jean did all of the covers for the comic book series Fables written by Bill Willingham. It’s an amazing series. Jean has done other stuff too, like art for The New York Times, a series of drawings / paintings of Sasha Grey, etc.
Fables has won several Esiner awards, too.
James Jean did all of the covers for the comic book series Fables written by Bill Willingham. It’s an amazing series. Jean has done other stuff too, like art for The New York Times, a series of drawings / paintings of Sasha Grey, etc.
Fables has won several Esiner awards, too.
James Jean did all of the covers for the comic book series Fables written by Bill Willingham. It’s an amazing series. Jean has done other stuff too, like art for The New York Times, a series of drawings / paintings of Sasha Grey, etc.
Fables has won several Esiner awards, too.
I just pre-ordered my copy. I’m really looking forward to this.
I just pre-ordered my copy. I’m really looking forward to this.
I just pre-ordered my copy. I’m really looking forward to this.
i’m a little worried he is going to sue us? i don’t know how that works. yeah his stuff is great. also thanks for the bold comment, te work is informed by the time i was a teenager and underwent my first inter-uterine corrective surgery. i’ve had two since. anyway thanks again. read brian foley’s post too!!
i’m a little worried he is going to sue us? i don’t know how that works. yeah his stuff is great. also thanks for the bold comment, te work is informed by the time i was a teenager and underwent my first inter-uterine corrective surgery. i’ve had two since. anyway thanks again. read brian foley’s post too!!
i’m a little worried he is going to sue us? i don’t know how that works. yeah his stuff is great. also thanks for the bold comment, te work is informed by the time i was a teenager and underwent my first inter-uterine corrective surgery. i’ve had two since. anyway thanks again. read brian foley’s post too!!
I’m sure Barry secured permission. I wouldn’t worry too much.
I’m sure Barry secured permission. I wouldn’t worry too much.
I’m sure Barry secured permission. I wouldn’t worry too much.
haha. roxane. you know how i do. if he sues, oh well. whats he gonna get from me. i’ll default on that shit like auto insurance.
sorry nicolle. i should know better.
haha. roxane. you know how i do. if he sues, oh well. whats he gonna get from me. i’ll default on that shit like auto insurance.
sorry nicolle. i should know better.
haha. roxane. you know how i do. if he sues, oh well. whats he gonna get from me. i’ll default on that shit like auto insurance.
sorry nicolle. i should know better.
Haha. I hear you. I doubt it will ever be a problem. The cover is amazing.
Haha. I hear you. I doubt it will ever be a problem. The cover is amazing.
Haha. I hear you. I doubt it will ever be a problem. The cover is amazing.
James Jean of the famous James Jean pens. I tried for a long time to track those down for a present and never succeeded.
James Jean of the famous James Jean pens. I tried for a long time to track those down for a present and never succeeded.
James Jean of the famous James Jean pens. I tried for a long time to track those down for a present and never succeeded.
I don’t care who made it, this cover “spiritually” belongs to B. Graham and N. Elizabeth.
I don’t care who made it, this cover “spiritually” belongs to B. Graham and N. Elizabeth.
I don’t care who made it, this cover “spiritually” belongs to B. Graham and N. Elizabeth.
Hi Nicolle,
I’m posting there here because I found your blog but didn’t see an e-mail contact listed. No doubt you’ll hear this from others, but you should contact Mr. Jean to discuss your use of his work without his permission. Be prepared to offer him some form of compensation. You can both negotiate what that might be. You might talk to other cover artists and designers (Steve Seighman comes to mind), to find out if there is a going rate or a standard arrangement. Maybe a small percentage of the sales. Maybe he will be happy with a credit on the back cover. I don’t know. But I do know he’ll be more likely to be receptive to this kind of arrangement if he hears from you first. In in any case this consideration is what you owe him as an artist.
Also, it’s a great cover and it sounds like a great book. Good luck!
Sean
Hi Nicolle,
I’m posting there here because I found your blog but didn’t see an e-mail contact listed. No doubt you’ll hear this from others, but you should contact Mr. Jean to discuss your use of his work without his permission. Be prepared to offer him some form of compensation. You can both negotiate what that might be. You might talk to other cover artists and designers (Steve Seighman comes to mind), to find out if there is a going rate or a standard arrangement. Maybe a small percentage of the sales. Maybe he will be happy with a credit on the back cover. I don’t know. But I do know he’ll be more likely to be receptive to this kind of arrangement if he hears from you first. In in any case this consideration is what you owe him as an artist.
Also, it’s a great cover and it sounds like a great book. Good luck!
Sean
Hi Nicolle,
I’m posting there here because I found your blog but didn’t see an e-mail contact listed. No doubt you’ll hear this from others, but you should contact Mr. Jean to discuss your use of his work without his permission. Be prepared to offer him some form of compensation. You can both negotiate what that might be. You might talk to other cover artists and designers (Steve Seighman comes to mind), to find out if there is a going rate or a standard arrangement. Maybe a small percentage of the sales. Maybe he will be happy with a credit on the back cover. I don’t know. But I do know he’ll be more likely to be receptive to this kind of arrangement if he hears from you first. In in any case this consideration is what you owe him as an artist.
Also, it’s a great cover and it sounds like a great book. Good luck!
Sean
Oh, I jumped the gun. I’m sorry. I didn’t see Roxane’s post. If someone else was involved in publishing the book, then I’m sure it’s fine. Ignore my unasked-for legal advice. Sorry! That’s the problem with us lawyers . . . geez
Sean
Oh, I jumped the gun. I’m sorry. I didn’t see Roxane’s post. If someone else was involved in publishing the book, then I’m sure it’s fine. Ignore my unasked-for legal advice. Sorry! That’s the problem with us lawyers . . . geez
Sean
Just posting again to say I didn’t see Roxane’s comment, so my advice was probably not necessary. Sorry about that; I jumped the gun. Us lawyers, always wanting to hear ourselves talk . . . geez….
Just posting again to say I didn’t see Roxane’s comment, so my advice was probably not necessary. Sorry about that; I jumped the gun. Us lawyers, always wanting to hear ourselves talk . . . geez….
Just posting again to say I didn’t see Roxane’s comment, so my advice was probably not necessary. Sorry about that; I jumped the gun. Us lawyers, always wanting to hear ourselves talk . . . geez….
hmmm. well, without really knowing what’s going on, let me put in a plug for not using the work of a visual artist without his or her permission. A lot of visual artists take this kind of thing quite seriously. Of course, they don’t have the resources to go around filing lawsuits, but they very much expect people, especially other artists, to respect the ownership of their work.
So, on the very unlikely chance Barry is not joking, the thing to do is contact Mr. Jean and ask for a license to use his work. Yes, there’s a chance he will not let you use the cover, but that is the small price we pay for honoring the idea that artists own their work.
In any case, it looks like a great book, and sorry again for distracting from the beauty of the cover and the great premise of Nicolle’s work.
And now, finally, I can stop posting on this subject. Whew.
— Sean
hmmm. well, without really knowing what’s going on, let me put in a plug for not using the work of a visual artist without his or her permission. A lot of visual artists take this kind of thing quite seriously. Of course, they don’t have the resources to go around filing lawsuits, but they very much expect people, especially other artists, to respect the ownership of their work.
So, on the very unlikely chance Barry is not joking, the thing to do is contact Mr. Jean and ask for a license to use his work. Yes, there’s a chance he will not let you use the cover, but that is the small price we pay for honoring the idea that artists own their work.
In any case, it looks like a great book, and sorry again for distracting from the beauty of the cover and the great premise of Nicolle’s work.
And now, finally, I can stop posting on this subject. Whew.
— Sean
hmmm. well, without really knowing what’s going on, let me put in a plug for not using the work of a visual artist without his or her permission. A lot of visual artists take this kind of thing quite seriously. Of course, they don’t have the resources to go around filing lawsuits, but they very much expect people, especially other artists, to respect the ownership of their work.
So, on the very unlikely chance Barry is not joking, the thing to do is contact Mr. Jean and ask for a license to use his work. Yes, there’s a chance he will not let you use the cover, but that is the small price we pay for honoring the idea that artists own their work.
In any case, it looks like a great book, and sorry again for distracting from the beauty of the cover and the great premise of Nicolle’s work.
And now, finally, I can stop posting on this subject. Whew.
— Sean
Sean, I almost posted the same kind of response but wouldn’t have done as good a job anyway. Glad to see you around here.
Sean, I almost posted the same kind of response but wouldn’t have done as good a job anyway. Glad to see you around here.
Sean, I almost posted the same kind of response but wouldn’t have done as good a job anyway. Glad to see you around here.
yeah sean, i think i agree and disagree. fundamentally, i believe in audience ownership once something is published. im not acknowledging myself as its creator, that would be different. only that once something has been created and given to its respective audience, it belongs to that person as well.
but your right nonetheless. maybe i’ll shoot him an email.
yeah sean, i think i agree and disagree. fundamentally, i believe in audience ownership once something is published. im not acknowledging myself as its creator, that would be different. only that once something has been created and given to its respective audience, it belongs to that person as well.
but your right nonetheless. maybe i’ll shoot him an email.
yeah sean, i think i agree and disagree. fundamentally, i believe in audience ownership once something is published. im not acknowledging myself as its creator, that would be different. only that once something has been created and given to its respective audience, it belongs to that person as well.
but your right nonetheless. maybe i’ll shoot him an email.
Since most of you aren’t terribly concerned about the rights or compensation of artists, allow me to reprint your work in my new anthology World’s Shittiest Writing, from my recently founded Shitstain Press. Don’t worry, I’ll make sure you get proper credit. As an auditor, I own your work, so why should you have any say in what context it appears?
Since most of you aren’t terribly concerned about the rights or compensation of artists, allow me to reprint your work in my new anthology World’s Shittiest Writing, from my recently founded Shitstain Press. Don’t worry, I’ll make sure you get proper credit. As an auditor, I own your work, so why should you have any say in what context it appears?
Since most of you aren’t terribly concerned about the rights or compensation of artists, allow me to reprint your work in my new anthology World’s Shittiest Writing, from my recently founded Shitstain Press. Don’t worry, I’ll make sure you get proper credit. As an auditor, I own your work, so why should you have any say in what context it appears?
Interesting. Surely an artist who is PAID by major publishers like New York Times and DC Comics to use his art won’t care that your book reproduces his work without his permission and without compensation. It’s not as if he makes his living off his art.
Interesting. Surely an artist who is PAID by major publishers like New York Times and DC Comics to use his art won’t care that your book reproduces his work without his permission and without compensation. It’s not as if he makes his living off his art.
Interesting. Surely an artist who is PAID by major publishers like New York Times and DC Comics to use his art won’t care that your book reproduces his work without his permission and without compensation. It’s not as if he makes his living off his art.
Shitstain Press…really? You actually read that before hitting “submit comment”?
You broke weak at the end, going with the question mark.
Shitstain Press…really? You actually read that before hitting “submit comment”?
You broke weak at the end, going with the question mark.
Shitstain Press…really? You actually read that before hitting “submit comment”?
You broke weak at the end, going with the question mark.
Sasha has been painted by lots of guys
Sasha has been painted by lots of guys
Sasha has been painted by lots of guys
wax lion:
if you think its shitty than go for it.
i think this argument is age old and will not be resolved or agreed upon here. but for me it all comes back to artist intent. why are you creating? why are you publishing? i think once something is published, by nature, it is the artists intent to have it shared with the world, good or bad, for better or worse. you can’t dictate how an audience is gonna respond to or be influenced by your “work” (what a fucking douchebag term) once you put it out there. all you can do is create and unleash.
again, this argument did not originate here and won’t end here. im just throwing this out there.
besides. lighten up man. you’ve never made a mix tape, burnt a dvd, recorded something on vhs, used free file sharing software, installed a friends copy of a cd-rom to your own computer, etc etc etc??? sure you have so calm the fuck down. you aint noble or righteous. save your holier than though bullshit chatter for something else.
wax lion:
if you think its shitty than go for it.
i think this argument is age old and will not be resolved or agreed upon here. but for me it all comes back to artist intent. why are you creating? why are you publishing? i think once something is published, by nature, it is the artists intent to have it shared with the world, good or bad, for better or worse. you can’t dictate how an audience is gonna respond to or be influenced by your “work” (what a fucking douchebag term) once you put it out there. all you can do is create and unleash.
again, this argument did not originate here and won’t end here. im just throwing this out there.
besides. lighten up man. you’ve never made a mix tape, burnt a dvd, recorded something on vhs, used free file sharing software, installed a friends copy of a cd-rom to your own computer, etc etc etc??? sure you have so calm the fuck down. you aint noble or righteous. save your holier than though bullshit chatter for something else.
wax lion:
if you think its shitty than go for it.
i think this argument is age old and will not be resolved or agreed upon here. but for me it all comes back to artist intent. why are you creating? why are you publishing? i think once something is published, by nature, it is the artists intent to have it shared with the world, good or bad, for better or worse. you can’t dictate how an audience is gonna respond to or be influenced by your “work” (what a fucking douchebag term) once you put it out there. all you can do is create and unleash.
again, this argument did not originate here and won’t end here. im just throwing this out there.
besides. lighten up man. you’ve never made a mix tape, burnt a dvd, recorded something on vhs, used free file sharing software, installed a friends copy of a cd-rom to your own computer, etc etc etc??? sure you have so calm the fuck down. you aint noble or righteous. save your holier than though bullshit chatter for something else.
I don’t actually think anyone’s writing is shitty. I’ve read and enjoyed your work, Barry, and the work of most of the writers here, and I hope Nicolle’s book is a success. I just meant that as an example of why it might be nice for artists to at least be made aware of how their work is being used. Obviously, you’re not going to make a ton of (or probably any) money on a chapbook, so perhaps you’re right that it would be unreasonable to have to pay to use his artwork. However, I don’t see any reason not to get in touch with the artist, express your admiration, and ask for permission.
Have you not done this because of your belief in audience ownership, or because you don’t want to acknowledge that your use of his art is, if not morally, at least legally, problematic. (No question mark this time, oily scarecrow.)
I don’t actually think anyone’s writing is shitty. I’ve read and enjoyed your work, Barry, and the work of most of the writers here, and I hope Nicolle’s book is a success. I just meant that as an example of why it might be nice for artists to at least be made aware of how their work is being used. Obviously, you’re not going to make a ton of (or probably any) money on a chapbook, so perhaps you’re right that it would be unreasonable to have to pay to use his artwork. However, I don’t see any reason not to get in touch with the artist, express your admiration, and ask for permission.
Have you not done this because of your belief in audience ownership, or because you don’t want to acknowledge that your use of his art is, if not morally, at least legally, problematic. (No question mark this time, oily scarecrow.)
I don’t actually think anyone’s writing is shitty. I’ve read and enjoyed your work, Barry, and the work of most of the writers here, and I hope Nicolle’s book is a success. I just meant that as an example of why it might be nice for artists to at least be made aware of how their work is being used. Obviously, you’re not going to make a ton of (or probably any) money on a chapbook, so perhaps you’re right that it would be unreasonable to have to pay to use his artwork. However, I don’t see any reason not to get in touch with the artist, express your admiration, and ask for permission.
Have you not done this because of your belief in audience ownership, or because you don’t want to acknowledge that your use of his art is, if not morally, at least legally, problematic. (No question mark this time, oily scarecrow.)
thanks for wishing nicolle’s book to be a success. we both appreciate it very much. the reason i didnt get in touch wth him is because i didn’t think it was a big deal. thats all. nothing deeper. if i would have thought it a big deal and asked him and he said no, then again no biggie, i would have used something else.
thanks for wishing nicolle’s book to be a success. we both appreciate it very much. the reason i didnt get in touch wth him is because i didn’t think it was a big deal. thats all. nothing deeper. if i would have thought it a big deal and asked him and he said no, then again no biggie, i would have used something else.
thanks for wishing nicolle’s book to be a success. we both appreciate it very much. the reason i didnt get in touch wth him is because i didn’t think it was a big deal. thats all. nothing deeper. if i would have thought it a big deal and asked him and he said no, then again no biggie, i would have used something else.
shrouded in controversy. its so dramatic and exciting. so much like the author and publisher. identical. i thought we were donating what we make (if anything after printing costs) to hpv caused cervical cancer research. maybe that guy will sue us less if he knows that part too
shrouded in controversy. its so dramatic and exciting. so much like the author and publisher. identical. i thought we were donating what we make (if anything after printing costs) to hpv caused cervical cancer research. maybe that guy will sue us less if he knows that part too
shrouded in controversy. its so dramatic and exciting. so much like the author and publisher. identical. i thought we were donating what we make (if anything after printing costs) to hpv caused cervical cancer research. maybe that guy will sue us less if he knows that part too
The drawing is actually a commission Mr. Jean did for the group The Fading Collection for their cd Supertron.
The drawing is actually a commission Mr. Jean did for the group The Fading Collection for their cd Supertron.
The drawing is actually a commission Mr. Jean did for the group The Fading Collection for their cd Supertron.