In just a few days it will be the anniversary of Edgar Allan Poe’s birthday again. Born on January 19 back in 1809, perhaps one of the most referenced writers of all-time and still making an impact from the grave. His leadership into new written territory later proved to be influential even to writers born in the last few decades. And, in a world of constant change it seems, it’s nice to take a moment to reflect on this classic contributor who’s quotes pop up regularly. January also marks the anniversary of the 1845 publication of his famous poem “The Raven,” which was a quick and widespread success!

Poe was not only an American writer, poet, editor and literary critic, he was considered to be part of the American Romantic Movement, and is best known for his tales of mystery and the macabre. Poe was one of the very early American practitioners of the short story and is considered to be an inventor of the detective-fiction genre, according to the collection of data on the subject found on Wikipedia. He is also further credited with contributing to the emerging genre of science fiction. Wow! Did you know that Poe was also an orphan? Pretty amazing that he was able to accomplish what he did back then. Thanks to the kind-hearted nature of John and Frances Allan during his younger years, Poe was able to work through challenges and come into his own.

To honor Edgar Allan Poe, literary legend and master of the macabre, I’m taking a look back at his renowned works that were later adapted into popular culture references in film, television and music (even the Beatles made reference to Poe!). I thought it might be a nice remembrance to start a dialog about where we’ve seen his influence in main stream media, and our thoughts and opinions on his classic works.

Can you think of other places “The Raven” has served as inspiration, or other works by Poe that have appeared? What other Edgar Allan Poe pieces do you like? Join the dialog about Poe in the BookRix Forum Thread, Edgar Allan Poe Remembered!

In case you’ve never read “The Raven,” here’s your chance! It’s available (along with several others by Poe) on BookRix as a download or readable online with ViewRix:

A poet, storyteller, BookRix contest winner, moderator of the BookRix Poet Society group… these are all synonyms for BookRix community member, Dr.Wardha. Below she describes how she gets inspired to write her poetry.

Poetic Secrets shared by Dr.Wardha

There are these moments of trance-like brilliance when my awareness of all things real becomes, ever so slightly, vague. Generally, these happen during my long drives when I feel compelled to entertain myself with the ministrations of my own Mind and philosophise upon an Idea for poetic expression.

I talk to myself. Often. Yes, that’s my big secret, my most incriminating habit, if I were to be analysed by a psychiatrist. I do it even when in company (of course, not out loud, I mean THAT would be crazy). Many of my ideas for poems come from these mental monologues based on observations of the human psychology. Man, the phenomenon, the chemical, volatile being — oscillating rhythmically between deceit and faith — fascinates me.

Human nature — its failings and its strife, its inexhaustible desire to rise above and beyond the call of the hour, its fragile psyche, its strong passions — all serve as my Muse. I watch people with an eye, which I feel, is compassionate and nonjudgmental. I listen to their views with a mind, I feel, is ever interested in understanding the definition of “human.” I often deliberately don my trance to do a bit of role-playing where a certain set of circumstances I wish to write about prevail, and I imagine the emotional ague of the sufferer. Most of my cherished (by me mostly) verses have been written in such a way.

I find great inspiration in the works of renowned authors of the nineteenth century. Their mode of expression was, to me, an art in its very construction. I often find myself re-reading, and marveling at their acumen in sentences phrased like a sphinx, descriptions sculpted like a Madonna, brilliant-like gems, in their perfect use of the perfect word.

Yes, that is my wonderment at the art of writing, discovering the perfect word.

Dr.wardha was the winner of the BookRix Cowboy Contest with Kat and Sable and a finalist in the BookRix Drabbles Contest.

You can read her other work here:

"Shades of Grey" by dr.wardha

"Known Stranger" by dr.wardha

"Sweet Treats" by dr.wardha

Popular BookRix author Steven Nedelton says that American fiction is far from “culturally irrelevant”, as cultural critic Lee Siegel recently wrote in The New York Observer.

WRITING ANOTHER ‘FOR WHOM THE BELL TOLLS?

They say this is the end of American fiction. “For about a million reasons,” Lee Siegel claims.

I believe I heard of Mr. Lee Siegel, but I doubt that he is right in his rather far-fetched prediction. For most of fiction comes from actual events and characters disguised into the fictitious, and so, fiction and non-fiction are inseparably intertwined.

L.A., June 17 (UPI) — Film stars Clive Owen and Nicole Kidman have been cast in an upcoming HBO film about late U.S. author Ernest Hemingway, TVGuide.com said.

Hemingway, even vampires, are still very much alive. Thank you UPI.

The first books I had read were Gogol’s short stories and then Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn, my presents for my twelfth and thirteenth birthday. And they hooked me. Since then, I never stopped reading.

I began writing seriously about ten years ago. My first novel ended after thirty thousands words with a firm writer’s block. Whatever it was, I was flat out of ideas. For a while, I thought I would never write again but then, quite unconsciously, I recalled a short sentence I read in a major newspaper back in ‘92. And that was it, I just had to write a suspense novel based on paranormal. My Crossroads was the result, the novel of espionage, of international and extrasensory, and based on true happenings. I did a lot of research for that book and rewrote it — at least twice.

By then I had started my second one, The Raven Affair. I was almost done with my third, Dawn for the Fearless, when I found a publisher interested in Crossroads.

I would say that in order to get accepted by a publisher, one must have a well-edited manuscript. A high score in BookRix competitions is a great help, witness Scott Kelly’s Frightened Boy.  However, getting published is only the first step along a very muddy road to acceptance by readers. Good reviews are important, yet, I am not yet sure which ones are the most beneficial. Midwest Book Review is one of the prestigious and so is the Kirkus Review. Which one results in a larger readership, if any, I really don’t know. I must add that Preditors & Editors is a very useful service for all, published and unpublished writers.

You can read samples of Steven’s published novels on BookRix. They’re also available for purchase at Amazon.com and other major book retailers. You can also learn more at his website, snedelton.com.

In 2007 when I brought the New York Times bestselling memoir Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert on a summer trip to Europe, I had no idea that I would end up reading parts of her story while actually visiting Italy – one of the book’s captivating settings!

Since this novel is based on true adventures for Gilbert, I suddenly became engrossed with noticing details as she did while I roamed the streets in a small town in Italy.

I knew that if enjoying simple pleasures like gelato or pasta could be that life-changing and descriptive for her that they could be for me as well (and they were). I began to eat gelato at odd hours and pasta a few times a day and found myself appreciating her vivid journey as I connected with the pleasures of taste and texture as she once had.

Fast forward from that memorable summer in 2007 (a year after the book’s release) to now, 2010, when this delectable, divine and desirable written story comes to life in a block-buster film starring Julia Roberts!

This movie will surely fill my mind with vibrant visuals as she tries to convey Gilbert’s journey as her own on screen in front of millions of readers like me.

My trepadation is simple. Will watching the movie change how I feel about this beloved book I personally connected to? Despite my hesitation my curiosity will surely out win and I will go see, “Eat Pray Love.”

Below is an interview with Gilbert before the movie was made about her reflections on the bestseller and spending that fateful year of her life in Italy, India and Indonesia.

Interview with Elizabeth Gilbert – Eat, Pray, Love bestselling author

Gilbert’s memoir captured my heart. Will the movie do the same for me? Will I feel connected to the screen the way I was connected to the pages that summer?

Gilbert’s novel was a New York Times Best Seller as “Paperback Nonfiction” for over 182 weeks. With over seven million copies in print, and lord knows how many downloads for kindle, this movie will surely be seen by millions across America and beyond.

I’m on a mission now to ask readers like me, what they thought about the movie, and if they were glad to have read the book first. I’ll report back what my findings are after I see the movie as well.

Grazie, Namaste, & Terima kasih,

Amber

One of our most prolific (20 books) and popular writers, Valerie Byron, aka Gooduklady, recently shared some of her thoughts on writing with us:

I never considered writing until I found my late mother’s auto-biographical stories, which I transcribed and uploaded to Bookrix. My friends had asked me for years to write about my "interesting" life, but it was not until I found this site that I was inspired to start telling my story.

When I discovered the wonderful contests on Bookrix, I was spurred on to try writing more than an autobiography. I regret not having the imagination to make up wonderful stories of fiction, but do have lots of real tales to tell. I have suffered no writer’s block in spilling them out in a matter of hours ("The Lover," "Mr. Wrong," etc.). My pets have also been a source of inspiration, so I am now dabbling in short, funny children’s stories with a surprise ending ("The Bickersons," "A Morning with Tessa").

Since I was a very small child, I have always loved to write poetry. I never thought anyone would be interested, so I saved my poems for birthday cards and special occasions. Bookrix has encouraged me to shyly put forth my funny poems, and I have enjoyed writing in that vein for the smaller Battle of Words contests.

Now that I am older and have more time on my hands, writing has become more important to me, and there is even a sense of urgency in getting my story finished before I “check out”. I hope to complete "Valerie" (my memoirs) very soon and am already feeling a huge sense of accomplishment at having nearly completed my very first (and probably only) full-length book.

Valerie has been very successful in our writing contests. Check out some of her contest winners below:

1st Place, Poet’s Week:

3rd place, Worst Summer Jobs – Battle of Words X:

3rd place, Summer Nights:

4th place, My Best Fiction:

We received some great news from BookRix author Michael M. Pacheco recently:

Because of your support, I have good news to share. Nayeli’s Nightmare has been accepted for publication by an anthology sponsored by the University of Houston. After 828 reads, 81 stars and 61 comments on Bookrix, I’m thoroughly thrilled.

Congratulations, Michael!

Unfortunately, to protect the publisher’s rights, Michael had to pull Nayeli’s Nightmare from BookRix, but you can stop by his profile to congratulate him and check out his other books: