Yesterday evening, the publication of my mosaic novel Amarcord was launched at the Film Archive Theater in Belgrade.
First, a short film, “The Confessional” (15 minutes), based on my story from Impossible Encounters, was screened. Then, Alexander Yerkov, a professor of contemporary Serbian literature, talked about Amarcord. After that, I read a story from the book (“Dead Souls”). Finally, another short film was screened, based on the ninth Amarcord story, “The Book of Laughter and Forgetting.”
Last night was the opening of the movie Two, based on my stories “The Train” (which was broadcast as a reading by BBC Radio 4 in 2005) and “The Hotel Room” (both from Impossible Encounters) at the Belgrade International Film Festival FEST. It was glamorous as expected, with my humble self presented to the audience as well.
Two was very well received by the premiere audience and received massive applause at the end. I understand it is already invited to a number of European film festivals.
Here is an exclusive photo from the ceremony: the leading actors Ana Sofrenovic and Predrag Ejdus, director Purisa Djordjevic, and the general manager of FEST.
And a still from the film:
If I ever needed an undeniable confirmation that I was not writing in vain, I finally got it.
I am sure you’ll be delighted to read this strange and beautiful account.
Here is a photo taken last night in the Absinthe Bar in Belgrade (where, yes, absinthe and other exotic drinks are served). The bar was the setting of the first episode (“The Book of Laughter and Forgetting”) of the new Amarcord TV series (based on my new book of the same title), being produced by an independent producer for a Serbian TV company.
My story, “The Alarm Clock on the Night Table” (from Steps Through the Mist), will be read by Anna Massey on digital radio station BBC 7 at 6:30 p.m. UK time on Sunday, March 11. It is part of a series called Fantastic Tales.
I am honored to announce that the Aio Publishing hardcover edition of my mosaic novel Seven Touches of Music has taken top honors at the 55th Annual Chicago Book Clinic Book and Media Show on November 9th.
The design won the Award of Excellence in the General Trade Category. The Book and Media Show honors excellence in the planning, supervision, and execution of the physical and visual aspects of publishing in all genres across fourteen U.S. states. The General Trade Category heads the list of thirteen award categories.
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Book printer McNaughton & Gunn, Inc., which prints more than 6,000 titles per year and manufactured Seven Touches of Music as well as Ian R. MacLeod’s novel The Summer Isles, which took top honors in the general trade category at the 2005 Chicago Book Clinic Book and Media Show, nominated the book for the award.
The design was produced in-house by Aio publisher Tiffany Jonas and art director Patrick Jonas. It was the company’s second book design. Incorporating a supple European-styled, premium-grade Skivertex cover in a deep charcoal color custom-mixed for this cover, foil embossing in black and green, and ridged black end sheets as well as black-edged interior paper, the novel was produced using animal-friendly materials and recycled, acid-neutral paper.