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Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Top 10 signs you are a Design Snob

10) You find yourself sneering at other people's incorrect use of hyphens and asterisks.

9) You develop a fondness for certain typefaces/fonts. (However, Times will always be your first love, even if you've outgrown it.)

8) Centered headlines. Ech! Are you kidding me?!

7) A beautiful use of white space can bring tears to your eyes.

6) The look of 10 pt. or thicker lines makes you physically ill.

5) A photo without a bevel and emboss effect? Or even cropped? Come on, what are we living in the stone ages or something?

4) When you refer to Robin Williams, your hero, you are soooo not talking about the actor from "Mork and Mindy."

3) You wondered why you were being forced to take design classes in college — Until you realized you were addicted to Pagemaker and spending hours designing one element of a single flyer.

2) Microsoft Publisher? Yeah, it's cute and inexpensive, but why drive a Corolla when you can be behind the wheel of a Mercedes?

1) Design something on Word? I might as well get out a box of Crayons and some colored paper.

Monday, August 16, 2010

Pit bull book

I'm thinking about writing another pit bull book, possibly one tracing the experiences of five new pit bull "owners" and their adopted pit bulls. If you are thinking about adopting a pit or have one (can be a pit mix), and are interested in being interviewed, please let me know.

Also, if you have other possible suggestions for what a pit bull book should include, let me know that too.

(No pit bull haters please!)

barbbullington@yahoo.com -- please use "Pit Bull book" in subject line

Friday, August 13, 2010

If you're a literary agent looking for a great women's memoir...

...please feel free to read this query letter I am sending out to agents and publishers:

Dear Sir or Madam,

I'm interested in writing a memoir chronicling my experiences starting a local rock band (in Greenville, North Carolina) and that band's initial performances over a period of six months to one year.

I think this story could be edgy, funny and engaging for several reasons:

1) I'm 41 years old and live in a college town that is full of students, many of whom treat anyone over 30 as if they are ready to move into an assisted living facility. I believe it will be interesting to find out a primarily young audience's reactions to a band headed by someone who is not only in their 40s, but also--by day--an (journalism) instructor at the university.

2) Although, for most of my life, I have been afraid to sing in public, I want to be the lead singer of the band. The reason: I always dreamed of being able to sing beautifully but wasn't very good at it. About four years ago, I started vocal training and am now ready (hopefully) to face my fear of singing in front of those who are not blood relations or pets. (My cats think I'm wonderful by the way.)

3) I'm a long-time lover of music and although, chronologically-speaking, I'm not exactly part of the hippest demographic in the music market, I do feel like being in a band could help me to stay in touch with a more youthful, rebellious part of myself that might otherwise be overshadowed by my days of grading papers and grocery shopping.

I have a pretty extensive writing history as a journalist and freelance writer for magazines. I am also the author of four books:
•"Defying Gravity: Tales of a Reluctant Cougar," (written under the pen name of Maya Avery)
•"Then Along Came Barney: The Story of a Dog Who Changed My Mind About Pit bulls"
•"After the Break"
•and "The Work of Life.

You can also view some of my writing samples at:
•www.lifesajourneypackwell.blogspot.com
•www.nchumor.blogspot.com
•www.bullingtondesigns.blogspot.com
•www.softandcozy.blogspot.com

I look forward to hearing from you and very much appreciate your time and consideration regarding your representation.

Sincerely,
Barbara Bullington

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

North Carolina lawyer ad parody

I wrote, directed and edited this ad parody for nchumor.blogspot.com

The Law Firm of Curds and Whey. They're just like you -- except they're wearing a tie.

Parody of those really bad North Carolina lawyer commercials where the lawyers are always standing out somewhere in a field, stream or sitting on a tractor to prove they're just like you!