BR E-News for 11/21/10

Happy Sunday to all you friends of BAMBOO RIDGE. I hope everyone had a great weekend. My turkey is now defrosting in the fridge in anticipation of a Happy Thanksgiving — sadly for everyone except the turkey — and I'm happy to say that I've finally finished all my holiday season shopping —

for last year.

So what to buy this year? Hmmm . . . . I was so puzzled by my holiday shopping quandary, that I finally requested once again to meet with the legendary founders of Bamboo Ridge Press at their super secret underground headquarters not in the Blaisdell Hotel.

The large escorts hooded me once more, drove me around for several hours, and then deposited me in the darkened entrance way that smelled oddly like Liliha Bakery cocopuffs. The familiar whoosh of doors at the bottom of the several mile stairway maze let me into the inner sanctum. Darrell Lum and Eric Chock sat in the darkened room behind the familiar polished desk. They wore their matching mirrored sunglasses.

I sat but did not speak until spoken to.

"So whatchoo like already?" Eric finally asked.

"Uh, Gentlemen, I'm having trouble coming up with holiday shopping ideas, and, ah, I was hoping you two wise men might be able to help me out. Any ideas for the holiday gift list this year?"

Both of them nodded slowly, then relaxed into their seats. Their breathing gradually slowed as they sunk into deep, meditative states. As the moments fled, the tension mounted, cutting through the air like the red pen of an English teacher grading papers at 11:00 p.m. on a Sunday night.

"Are they asleep?" I wondered. I became acutely aware of the ticking of the clock on the wall. It began to sound like the bass line of the In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida drum solo. I wondered if they wanted me to leave.

Just as I was about to get up, Darrell suddenly exclaimed, "Book 'em, Danno! Get Kono!"

I leaped two feet, four and three-quarter inches out of my chair. Darrell jumped to his feet and shouted "Hawaii Five-for-4-0!" at the carved stone ceiling. Then slumped back in his chair, and his head fell forward on his chest. It was quite dramatic, believe me.

"Darrell?" I whispered. Then louder, "Darrell. Darrell, are you okay?"

Eric stirred in his chair. "He'll be all right," he said, rousing himself.

"Geez, Eric, that was scary. What did Darrell mean?"

"Pretty cool, huh?" Eric chuckled. "I love it when he does that bursting out of deep meditation thing he does."

"But what did he mean?"

"Simple," said Eric. "Darrell meant that everyone can now buy all five of Juliet Kono's BRP books, including ANSHU, for just $40 at the BRP online site. And you know what? That was so cool — and catchy too — and because I'm in a real holiday mood myself, I tell you what. Not only can folks buy all five of Juliet's books for $40, but I've just decided that they can buy ANY five books at the BRP online store for just $40."

I thought I heard Darrell let out a small moan.

"Happy Holidays!" Eric shouted, and with a burst of smoke, the two of them were gone.

Wow! All five of Juliet Kono's books for $40, or ANY five books for $40. I don't know how they do it, so before Eric and Darrell come to their fiscal senses, hurry over to the BRP online store to stock up on BRP books for holiday gift giving.

http://www.bambooridge.com/bookstore.aspx

And read Brien Hallet's review of Juliet Kono's ANSHU here:

http://www.bambooridge.com/feature.aspx?fid=182

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

Come join us for the M.I.A. Art & Literary Series reading on Wednesday, December 8, 2010 at 7:30 p.m.:

The Mercury Bar

1154 Fort Street Mall

A special reading hosted by Bamboo Ridge Press!

Emcee: Brenda Kwon

Readings by:

Lisa Linn Kanae (author of ISLANDS LINKED BY OCEAN)

Michelle Cruz Skinner (author of IN THE COMPANY OF STRANGERS)

Joe Tsujimoto (author of MORNINGSIDE HEIGHTS: NEW YORK STORIES)

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

Congratulations to the October winners of The Great BR Short-Short Story Contest. Each of the authors below wins a $10 Bamboo Bucks credit to be used at the BRP online bookstore. The winners are listed below with their "whatevah" category award:

Da mos Finding Parking in San Francisco Can Be Tricky Award:
"Andrew," by angelani:
http://www.bambooridge.com/bambooshoot.aspx?bid=715

Da mos How Fo Tell What Mail Is Really Junk Award:
"Junk Mail," by O. Younomi:
http://www.bambooridge.com/bambooshoot.aspx?bid=727

Da mos Language of Love Barriers Award:
"Newlywed," by Freedivers:
http://www.bambooridge.com/bambooshoot.aspx?bid=716

Da mos Defining Benefits for Veterans Award:
"Thank you for rescuing me," by Carrie Takahata
http://www.bambooridge.com/bambooshoot.aspx?bid=710

Make sure to get your November entries in by Tuesday, November 30th at 2:00 p.m. Hawaiian Standard Time (midnight GMT : ).

Read the rules here:

http://www.bambooridge.com/bambooshoot.aspx?bid=741

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

Not only is time running out for the Short-Short Story Contest, but the December 31st postmark deadline for submitting your 100-line stories or poems for the landmark 100th issue of BAMBOO RIDGE is right around the corner:

http://www.bambooridge.com/submission.aspx

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

And if you've still not read the November issue of the BRP newsletter, you can catch up here:

http://www.bambooridge.com/bluesun.aspx?bid=665

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

A huge MAHALO! to all of you who made donations to BRP through Foodland's annual community matching Give Aloha program. BRP is always most thankful for your kind donations:

https://www.bambooridge.com/donate.aspx

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

Happy Birthday! to all the November folks. For those who celebrate it, have a wonderful Thanksgiving. Everybody stay well, love your families, and keep on writing.