I have so many friends right now who either just got married or are in the process of planning their weddings. There’s so much to consider: venues, wedding cake ganache, narrowing down the guest list, who sits next to whom, DIYing centerpieces, the dress.
Eloping sounds better and better…. And what better way than eloping on the road?!
Green Wedding Shoes featured a couple who got married on the road. Their wedding photos feature retro suitcases, maps, and the classic hand-out-the-window shot.
Did you know that when Jack Kerouac, the author of On the Road, got married he was quite the opposite of being on the road? He’d been arrested as a material witness of a murder. His dad was so upset he refused to post bail. But his girlfriend, Edie Parker, came from a wealthy family. She said she’d post bail—on one condition: that Kerouac agreed to marry her. You can read the whole story in Burning Furiously Beautiful.
It’s Independence Day here in the US, but did you ever stop to consider that each country has its own unique independence story? (This is Greece’s independence day story.)
Not only that, in some way, every person has their own independence day story, their own coming-of-age story. The moment they realized they were independent, free, but also responsible for themselves.
I knew I was getting old the day I saw a car commercial where the driver was clearly younger than I am.
So here’s an interesting bit of news: Generation Y doesn’t like to drive. According to Reuter’s “America’s Generation Y not driven to drive,” the Millennials think driving is more of a hassle than it’s worth. A California think tank analyst, Tony Dudzik says instead of a driver’s license, a cell phone is the new rite of passage for young adults.
The article points to a few different reasons why Generation Y may be less interested in driving:
Smart phones make it easier to know public transportation schedules
More Gen-Yers are riding bikes
People are more concerned about saving the planet
Car-sharing services are making it easier not to have to own a car
From a cultural perspective, this makes total sense. Gen Y is the hipster culture. The kids in Williamsburg who listen to low-fi indie music on their hi-tech iphone, knit water-bottle cozies that they sell on etsy, ride their bicycles to work, buy their clothes from Buffalo Exchange, spend their weekends at the food coop, brew their own craft beer, and vlog on YouTube. If they drive, they drive hybrids. Because they’re all about the i-this and the i-that, they seek out community more intentionally. Who needs a car, if your friend or parents (they also happen to be the Peter Pan Generation, living at home after college) have one?
I personally fall somewhere between Gen X and Gen Y, making me part of Generation Flux. Generation X refers to people born between the early 1960s and 1980s, while Generation Y refers those born between the late 1970s and the 2000s. I know when I was growing up, there were a lot of cultural arts programs in the school about saving the rainforest and saving the whales, we studied acid rain and the ozone layer, and we joined KAP: Kids Against Pollution. In drivers ed, they pretty much terrified you with statistics, photos, and videos that suggested it was likely you were going to die if you got behind the wheel. The shows that were popular when I was a teen were Mad About You, Seinfeld, Friends, Will & Grace, and Sex and the City, all of which were set in New York City. Other popular shows like Ally McBeal, Frasier, and ER were also set in cities. Our stars didn’t drive. They took cabs and rode the subway. Is it any surprise that we moved into the city and followed suit?
So will a generation who grew up watching Paris Hilton, Lindsey Lohan, and Snooki getting arrested for driving under the influence and/or crashing their cars, a generation coming of age during the Great Recession, a generation who doesn’t care about driving, embrace the 1950s road trip adventure of On the Road when the movie comes out and the novel by Jack Kerouac it is based on? Well, here’s another interesting twist: Jack Kerouac didn’t like driving either. If you read his novel, you’ll see that most of the time, the character based on him in the novel is on the bus or in the passenger seat.
How do you feel like the era you grew up in influenced you?
So many people I talk to seems to have this idea, driven by the media and not personal experience, that Greeks are lazy and aren’t doing anything innovative. This is simply not true.
Greeks were ranked third in Europe for the number of hours they work in a year, according to a poll surveying 1995-2005.
Greek healthcare is amongst the best in the world. It’s universal.
The Greek maritime industry is recognized as incredibly powerful in the world economy. It’s not as high as it was in the 1970s, but Greek shipping heirs still seem to be attracting the likes of Paris Hilton and an Olsen twin.
Greek companies, such as Korres and Apivita, are leading the natural skincare and makeup revolution.
Greece is leading animal rights activism by banning the use of animals in circuses.
Greeks are often considered the most hospitable people. It’s no wonder tourism continues to thrive, despite the media’s ploy to scare people away from the country. Time + Leisure magazine named Santorini “The World’s Best Island” last year.
Greece’s Peloponnese region hardly needs to market itself to attract surfers and golfers from around the world.
Greek wine is currently having a revival. Greek wine is very trendy right now in the United States.
Greece is home to the longest cable-stayed bridge in Europe.
Greece is working hard to bridge the gap between its rich history and its present. The country is respecting its past, its traditions, its natural landscape, and its flora and fauna, while simultaneously capitalizing on these strengths.
Aunt13 over on 8tracks made a mix called Music and Poetry for On the Road. It’s inspired by Jack Kerouac’s On the Road and in the blurb she mentions Burning Furiously Beautiful! How cool is that?!
I have the coolest friends! I am going to be listening to this while I write, for sure, and daydreaming of hitting the road. Aunt13 has over 300 mixes, so be sure to show her some love.
You may recall I posted a while back the soundtrack for the On the Road film. It was just announced yesterday that the film will be making its US debut in late fall.
J. Haeske also made a mix for the soundtrack he’d envision for the film. Teaser! I have an interview with him about his new book on Kerouac lined up for you, so stay tuned.
What songs would you put on a mix for On the Road?
Also, I took my own advice about social media, and created a Facebook page for Burning Furiously Beautiful: The True Story of Jack Kerouac’s On the Road, the book I’m co-authoring with Paul Maher Jr. Be sure to “like” the book on Facebook! We’ll be posting news about the book, information from Across the Underwood, updates on the film, and so much more!
One of my favorite aspects of working in book publishing is my involvement in social media. I absolutely love crafting Tweets! It’s so much fun coming up with fun and unique ways to promote the books I’ve loved working on and want the world to know about.
Social media is also important to me as a writer. Even before an author publishes a book, she must have a “platform”—she must be cultivating readers interested in her expertise and enthusiasm on a given subject. I’m on this blog, Twitter, Facebook, and Pinterest so I can share with you my latest obsessions and ideas, give you a little sneak peek into my so-called literary life, and hopefully inspire other writers and readers to do the same. The world’s a lot cozier when we know we’re not alone in our endeavors.
That’s why I’m also addicted to following other social media gurus. One of my favorite is DKNY PR GIRL.
I love reading her #PR101 tips and her blog in general. If you’re just starting out in social media, check out the social media tips she gave to Teen Vogue.
Dear readers, what social media platforms do you use? Will you do me a favor and post them in the comments section? I’d love to subscribe/follow/friend you! xoxo
I went to brunch at Ovelia in Astoria with my sister and cousins when they visited. Ovelia is one of my favorite Greek restaurants in New York. I love their modern take on traditional Greek foods! And it’s got a great funky vibe going on with the decor.
I had such a blast reading at The Penny Farthing in the East Village on June 18. The event was hosted by C3 Storytellers, and the crowd was one of the best I’ve ever had. The audience had so much energy, and the other performers were absolutely dynamic and thoughtful.
One of the other performers just happened to be Lamont Hiebert, of the band Ten Shekel Shirt, whom I’d seen perform years ago. He’s also the co-founder of Love146, a nonprofit working to end child sex slavery. He shared some stories about working with survivors.
The last person to present was poet Steven Bono Jr., who did a mashup of everyone’s work. Since his poem so perfectly captured the spirit of the evening, I asked if I could reprint it, and he said yes:
A piece applicable for the despicable last minute poet that I have become. I think halfway through my dungenouse ahi tuna bar-room salad I thought, “I should write about…tonight.”
The curtain draws on an old grey toothed Greek woman fondling your brothers…well you know.(___) So the journey started off hilariously and moved to a Janis Joplin show stoppin’ mysterious girl whom I don’t know so sorry,(___) but next it was a large profound thought from a more miniature man who’s plan is to live in some house next to a highway, sounds a tad more homeless to me.(Josh Colon) Like Soni and Cher, or the ying to joshs Yang Miriam came to flutter love filled words of 2 birds with one stone cold poem.
Show em your souls Mims, it’s dark side is as fascinating as the moons is. Did I forget a comic in there? oh yeah, Rodney and his fun drum jokes, if this is too offensive please don’t choke me. (said in an African dialect)
Willem tickled some ivory’s so fast and furious I thought even Tony would be proud. Mr. Big black specs was next, Sir Adam Mcdowell whom I must say has never felt more like family, I hope you feel home homes. Being a man who actually was born in Nashville you did us proud and I’m thankful to be called your friend.
Holy Moses Batman! Your wise beyond your beard and what I feared when you stood was true that my poetry is pretty lame when compared with you. But I’m thankful for your soul sewed into that page where love and age blend like a favorite red wine of mine. I couldn’t come off it as you rhymed new favorite lines of this dream-aholic. I pray for the day I get choked up at my 40 year dear buttercup. You allow me to see Henry V say “from this victory stock” that you have surely come from Josh. Fresh to death Guitar don Roni told us how to love monsters and men and taught us how to continually use a pick for an entire song and to over come fear.
She carried the key to my pad-locked and shocked aspirations for becoming an actor and now teaches me poetry- she Vel-coughed visual motion pictures containing elixers of your past and people’s healed futures. Keep writing, for it is in your fighting we onlookers drop 2 cups of hope in our hearts cookers and begin to bake destiny. Courtney I too am tiny but you are indeed mighty my fine feathered friend. High falsettos- like heavenly in tune balloons floating away in meadows that no one can reach but you. You worship God with your smile Court.
Lamont- his name in Spanish means “the mont.” A rock star founded and pounded as a foundation for the lost- tossed and torn these children born right into sin and as they are you hit your cue in for the rescue. I am a believer that you reap what you soe. Lamont May your children stand as tall for righteousness as you do, may your foundation be fueled beyond every expectation you have ever had for it and may your survivors be your descendants as numerous as the stars that they wish upon to meet you. Sam went Bam into the beyond of her career- a sultry singing buttery bouquet of HeY! Darryl barryrled through the inner soul of purpose and colleen spanned and conquered yet another medium which expands the list of reasons to be envious of her. I pray I seeze every opportunity to do the things I love, to face the fears I hate, to have grudge matches with with rough patches and to bless beloved duos with song and send them off into the sunset, humming your words.
Christine- your children including blue. Holy and whole
Josh- Round 2 blew us away. What construction workers really do in their vans.
Lamont-the bigger the battle, the more daunting the cause, the greater the party!
Looking forward to the next one!
Sincerely,
Steven
Can you guess which part is about my story?? Haha.
Truly a fun night getting to hear and meet so many creative people. The Penny Farthing had a real intimate, chill vibe that made for a great setting.
Thanks to all of you who came out! You’re awesome!! xoxo
Last month I attended mediabistro.com’s Book Club party at Stone Creek Bar & Lounge, hosted by the always lovely Carmen Scheidel. I have so much fun every time I attend a mediabistro.com event, and May 16 was no exception. I got to catch up with various friends in the media industry, meet some new people, and hear some authors read.
The night’s readings included:
Susie DeFord reading her Brooklyn dog poetry Dog’s of Brooklyn. As it turns out, Susie got her MFA at The New School too!
Jane Hodges reading from her informative Rent Vs. Own: A Real Estate Reality Check for Navigating Booms, Busts, and Bad Advice and answering the audience’s’ questions. She said it’s not always better to own than to rent, despite the fact that many people still think home ownership is important.
Jillian Medoff reading a dramatic scene (oh how she hooked me in) from her novel I Couldn’t Love You More and sharing her experience as a writer dealing with the book publishing industry.
Here’s a picture mediabistro.com snapped of me at the event.
Stephanie Nikolopoulos 
