Libra 16°

Book writing and book business are both bane and boon. But, in this day and age, if you keep your expectations low, you can eek out some kind of living selling e-books under ones own steam, without even much trying. And if you’re lucking enough to have even a small following you can surely beef things up with promotion, advertising and clever ways to amass an audience.

I’m going to say I wrote the forgoing in early October. The subject actually was, in the previous posting, books. So I think I wanted to go somewhere different with this instead of sounding like a how-to manual to self publishing. Good grief. No wonder I stopped writing.

 As those who’ve had success with print-published works from good publishing houses, I count myself lucky to say so and I hope to boast the same again some day soon, but the truth is we needed a break from traditional publishing. To test the waters ourselves with a Sextrology ebook then the H.A. books. Those two commodities alone are appealing and sell relatively well without any help from us. Because, truth be told, we not only backed off publishing but also from any self-promotion whatsoever, keeping a low profile and focusing on our private consultancy and clientele. And in so doing, the natural desire to write in us has again risen up. Writing the H.A. books is a great joy. And now I am turning my head to other ebook projects whilst I research for a hopefully next big one in print. I would actually like to serve as a conduit for rare and out-of-print books that fall under a larger umbrealla of esotericsm.

 I know at this point that I need to be more interactive with audience, both in the flesh, starting with friends and intimates, to the far-flung reaches of the modest fame that we enjoy in bold-faced desire to beef up said audience, yes, but really to enjoy as part of the creative process. Otherwise, we wouldn’t do any of this. We must let the work pay off creatively first and financially second. There is no getting through. All must be savored, squeezed for all appreciation. Said the life experts. So there is an impetus to make this ever the more real, to be ever the more genuine examples of right living. Which makes one realize how far, and in which ways, one is from that objective.

 Still, everything about what I do is appealing to me. I have always been crazy for metaphysics and enlightened beings and mystics and magi of all kinds. I’ve been a ridiculous myth-lete since aged ten when I sew curtains into ceremonial robes and incantated to Dionysus. Now I sometimes stay in a stateroom named for the god, whom I portrayed, quite convivially, in a murder mystery no less. You can’t make it up. And that’s the point—we get glimpses of grace because, well, that’s all we can probably handle, but more to the point: Grace is infinite, by nature. It belongs to the sign of the Water Bearer, that ruled by Uranus named for the god of the infinite Universe.

 Typos happen—I don’t have time or an intern to edit.*
Copyright 2017 Wheel Atelier Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Get your HAUTE ASTROLOGY 2018 Weekly Horoscope ebooks by Starsky + Cox

Libra 15°

Book writing is something I have always had mixed feelings about. It is one of the hardest things a person can do and I feel the all-too-familiar pain in my viscera even speaking about it. One must devise a way to begin; and so I think it best to just begin, now, as the ball is rolling, that is to say be writing a book at all moments. I should not wait to start writing. The Cosmic Blague this year will focus on a fortnight per gender sign, as I read through Sextrology and share my insights. Almost like a radio and/or podcaster. Wait a minute, I could do a bi-weekly podcast and discuss my findings. I could make a schedule. Surfing how to set up a podcast goes to the top of the to-do list.

I can promise you, Self, that we are nearly so-called caught up to ourSelves and feeling the creative juices flowing. Why just this morning at 3:33 you were thinking a myriad things, while lying awake in the cold Cape Cod dark; for instance, how the term content creator can be read two ways. Making that a mantra moving forward. It’s actually February 4, 2018 so it’s fun to stumble upon the previous paragraph written this actual day in Libra, to find yourself doing something you’d have hoped you would. And, anyway, we are damned good writers and good thinkers and we want to make spirits bright. I know that sounded like the title of a Christmas show, but I have so much better than ever a one for this year’s performance.

Typing italically can be quite liberating, sometimes in the moment; especially when you’re in the mood or mode for the sound of the words and their placement to be a pleasing thing, your fingers just typing all the letters, errorlessly, into the white space in a flow of rhythm. Fun. It’s Sunday and I’ve been teatotalling and otherwise treating myself like a new-born baby, to which one must be wont. It’s a good time of year for it. But let’s reflect back on this actual day, Libra 15°, early October, Stella Starsky performed at Dixon Place, and we returned to Cape Cod for two weeks time before our four weeks away in the UK and France. We were collecting marine debris from the Wellfleet beaches and working them into costumes we were to wear at a fancy dress party in Scotland just post Halloween. I wasn’t dealing well with the social clime, neither am I still. Now, though, I feel the stemming tide.

 Typos happen—I don’t have time or an intern to edit.*
Copyright 2017 Wheel Atelier Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Get your HAUTE ASTROLOGY 2018 Weekly Horoscope ebooks by Starsky + Cox

Libra 14°

I wrote the following on this actual day:

Working on Gemini book on the weekend. Found out Stella went to high school with Johni Marchinko which is a really fun name. And speaking of “Will & Grace” there have been good and bad episodes, back to back; but on the whole the show is on the up. It’s fast and furious. Rosario’s death was so sad and so funny.

And that was about it. Now, looking back, I realize I was struggling a bit to come up with things to say. I’m not usually at a loss for words like this.

(Note: That which is in ital is being written at a much later date then when this above Blague was originally meant to appear. That which is unitalicized were notes I jotted at the actual time to trigger me into writing something on that day. Over 90 days total went by where I didn’t publish Blagues. I’m guessing that some time late January 2018 I might “catch up” to myself.)

Typos happen—I don’t have time or an intern to edit.*
Copyright 2017 Wheel Atelier Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Get your HAUTE ASTROLOGY 2018 Weekly Horoscope ebooks by Starsky + Cox

Libra 13°

I was looking forward to the upcoming trip: I don’t know what’s on my mind but I know I have to get the costumes ready for the Scotland party. People typically speak in present tense when recalling a past dream. If I were to look back on this week on a calendar, I would see that on October six, I was in New York, staying at the Marlton, meeting clients, days after Stella performed her show, Birth of the American Baroness, at Dixon Place.

It was very warm in early October, I was reeling from some events that entwined personal feelings with professional aims, mainly thwarted. I was happy to be in New York and even happier to have a bit of time to myself to sort out sadder feelings and indulge more desirious ones, which is always fun. It is always a balancing act for we Libras for whom certain enlightenment always comes at a cost, be it material or friendly relational.

 I was so proud of Stella for putting on yet another grand incarnation of her piece and was so happy that synchronicity brought her good friend Griet from Belgium to NYC for that night by gum. Also in the house were new friends who flew down from Toronto and a heartwarming array of fellow performers, mainly women, who came out to show support. We ended up in our hotel suite with the Toronto pals dancing into the wee hours. So much fun, but not so much the next day when having to drive back to Massachusetts. Funny to think that just three weeks later we would be on a flight to London. I had a dozen ebooks to prepare for publication. But mainly, as I recall, I worked with clients and took daily beach walks—all October was beautiful—collecting debris for our party constumes.

(Note: That which is in ital is being written at a much later date then when this above Blague was originally meant to appear. That which is unitalicized were notes I jotted at the actual time to trigger me into writing something on that day. Over 90 days total went by where I didn’t publish Blagues. I’m guessing that some time late January 2018 I might “catch up” to myself.)

Typos happen—I don’t have time or an intern to edit.*
Copyright 2017 Wheel Atelier Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Get your HAUTE ASTROLOGY 2018 Weekly Horoscope ebooks by Starsky + Cox

Libra 12°

Holy Crap. It’s been over 90 Blagues since I’ve written and (if you know me at all) I will hoe the tough road of filling in each and every one. I may “cheat a bit” but not really because I would only be cheating myself. I have to learn to love to write again. Today is actually Capricorn 12° not Libra 12° so, yeah, I’m 90 days and Blagues “behind”. So behind in fact that I hadn’t checked to see what it is I last wrote. Only to discover….no the fuck wonder I haven’t written this Blague in over 90 days. Holy Fawke. It was the day I learned of a certain rejection that sent me off this particular rail. However, in the meantime I did write an entire new show for performance and twelve year ahead horoscope books for 2018. Not to mention the fact I took a trip to Europe and I’m currently now on a boat somewhere off Grenada. Coriacou I think the island is called. So I now revist this Blague, full circle and will italicize new bits I’m writing whilst leaving unitalicized and bits and bobs I managed to quickly type into the word document I keep as home base for formulating my ideas before cutting and pasting them onto the site you’re reading. It is January 3, 2018 and I’m full of cautious intention. Last year I spent that first whole full week of 2017 writing a book proposal which has not seen any real light of day. I am actually “giving myself another year” to accomplish that which I wanted to see take root last year. Come March 20 I will start my fourth? fifth? year of Blague. (I’ll find out which and get back to you) and I have plans on that score as well. Anyway the following bit is what I had as a placeholder here for this day, October 12, 2017:

Russell Brand has been working his book tour. The title of the book is Recovery subtitled Freedom from Addictions. Okay where to begin. I like Russell (and not just because I hear he is a fan of our work). But because he has an astounding way of communicating and a extraordinary breadth of knowledge on which he draws. I don’t really know his comedy but I will call him a genius, a word I reserve for reals (many people say that but throw that word around wantonly). He has a genius mind. You see it in the way it works. And yet, hmmmm. Many celebrities have been and are in recovery. They keep it personal and don’t exploit it. And along comes Gemini Russell Brand who is genius at expressing himself and, in this case, reinterpreting the twelve steps for…the masses?

Now I have always thought that it shouldn’t be something to capitalize upon—ones own recovery—but I guess if anyone can pull it off he can. Everyone I know who has read the book loves it. I might get around to reading it myself this year.

Typos happen—I don’t have time or an intern to edit.*
Copyright 2017 Wheel Atelier Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Get your HAUTE ASTROLOGY 2018 Weekly Horoscope ebooks by Starsky + Cox

Libra 11°

I honestly feel sometimes, as we likely all do,  as if I’m born under an unlucky star. I would much rather have no opportunities than false ones, dangled in front of me, getting my hopes up only to have them dashed. I didn’t ask for the great assistance I was supposedly being given. It was offered. And I suppose I’m supposed to feel bad for having waited patiently for six months while people mull over the proposed work I handed over to them, only to have some great conference call, long-awaited, being just one more Unfortunately….

The whole reason I left the business of managers and lawyers and agents who lie for a living was so I didn’t have to feel this way. But the most incredible seeming opportunity lands in your lap, an offer really, let’s be frank. So you say okay. And then half a year later it’s turned into an excuse to wield some power of rejection. I never asked for it in the first place. People are freaking sadistic they really are. And what? I’m supposed to comfort myself with some belief in karma that they’ll get theirs? I’m not sure it works that way. Sometimes good things continue to happen to bad people. And this is exactly why I took myself out of the game: I am nobody’s reject. I am nobody’s victim of whim or avoidable circumstance. I decided long ago not to be led up some garden path. But you figure it’s such a close friend presenting you with the opportunity. And a very good friend indeed who shall remain so—not their fault. And what were we supposed to do? Say no to the opportunity. But how these things get turned around is beyond me. I just don’t want this sort of energy in my life as I did nothing to invite it. So I must just as easily let it fall to the wayside.

Meanwhile I’m mostly pissed off that I will lose another day to upset. I waited six months for a call to discuss the opportunity but instead the call was to dash it. Did not see that coming. And now I’m so upset I can’t even focus on the work that is at hand. My own work. The work nobody assigns me. The work I do for myself. Because I am a self-sufficient person who has never been really worked for anyone nor been on any kind of assistance nor had anyone give me any handouts. I have been working a job since I’m fourteen years old. And, like my father once said in the handful of praiseful things I remember him saying: “you live by your wits”. He meant that as a compliment.

Oh well live and learn; this too shall pass; insert cliche here. At least now there is no sense of being beholden. And, as is my blessing/curse, I already see the bright side. But I’m bone weary of wear from this emotional running raggedness, which is only the result of sloth. Still that bright side of not feeling pressured or to owe anyone anything. I have what I need and to have more or less is a choice. I don’t owe you or anyone anything.

Typos happen—I don’t have time or an intern to edit.*
Copyright 2017 Wheel Atelier Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Get your HAUTE ASTROLOGY 2017 Weekly Horoscope ebooks by Starsky + Cox

Libra 10°

Targeting bigger Boston-based regional press we secured highly visible TV and print coverage this year. (PBS WGBH, Boston Globe, Boston Herald, others) Our PR-marketing plan focusses on editorial and broadcast, promotional events, posters, postcards, e-blasts, newsletters, web campaigns, new media and social networking, vehicle advertising, staged events, tours and cross-promotion with Dixon Place and The Public Theater in NYC, ART in Cambridge, UnCabaret in L.A., to name a few. We print programs touting our sponsors, but fail to afford advertising. Our branding is ubiquitously praised—a classy, recognizable logo, identity and collateral—with eye-catching posters and other imagery. We hope our new line of offense will be Adversiting with support from PR, shifting more to the national and international level. The impact of local coverage is arguable, while social media among local people and businesses is impactful. We launched a Playbill-Instagram initiative, via a photoblog led by our participating artists. We’ve scored national coverage from the Boston Globe (circulation 232,432 daily) The Huffington Post ( 4-11 million readers, daily) New York Magazine (circulation: 600K ); Media targets include The New York Times, (1,150,589 weekday; 1,645,152 Sunday, Online: 30 million/month);); Style.com, the Daily Beast (3-10 million daily);; DailyCandy.com (600,000 daily). Travel, in-flight and arts magazines will be a focus, as our global profile grows. Media websites will include NYPress.com, BroadwayWorld.com, TheNewYorker.com, Culturebot.com, Vogue.com, www.Out.com, www.Playbill.com have all provided coverage. Print advertising could be focused on Provincetown Magazine, Provincetown Banner, Cape Cod Times, Boston Globe; Providence Phoenix (80K); Time Out NY (86K); Boston Magazine (92K) given financial resource.

Typos happen—I don’t have time or an intern to edit.*
Copyright 2017 Wheel Atelier Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Get your HAUTE ASTROLOGY 2017 Weekly Horoscope ebooks by Starsky + Cox

Libra 9°

I really hope you don’t mind my using this time to work on grants while double-dutying this copy for the Blague I currently have no real time for. I keep trying to get to the point of being caught up in the day and then also free in the day enough to just use this Blague to be funny and creative. I wear too many hats and have way too little help.

We have yet, in our eight year history, been alloted the funds necessary for a print and broadcast advertising budget. We work miracles with the press, but to go to the next level, we require more investment from the VSB and other sources. We could advertise in other festival towns around the world and draw, mainly LGBTQ, audiences from abroade. Meanwhile we want more local audience, too. And we hope to increase our ability to provide discounts to students and seniors especially, “gifting” Sparklerships (donations of $100), from donors not using them. This boosts attendance and good will among locals. We learned that social media like Instagram is essential for consciousness raising and seek to expand that. We find that private and business funding is unpredictable and seek to partner with more business owners who are the direct beneficiaries of audiences coming to town. We wish to engage local artists more and create more of a residency atmosphere whereby visiting artists can interface with locals. We strive to move works we’ve premiered to other venues with the “Made in Provincetown Afterglow seal of approval. We want more coverage on our work to preserve Provincetown’s little known theatrical heritage.

Typos happen—I don’t have time or an intern to edit.*
Copyright 2017 Wheel Atelier Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Get your HAUTE ASTROLOGY 2017 Weekly Horoscope ebooks by Starsky + Cox

Libra 8°

Each Afterglow has been more successful than the previous one. We measure success in sales. And despite presenting many unknown artists, our sales per show were the highest ever. This means our curation is trusted and successful. Success is seen, too, in increased press. An entire segment of Open Studio on WGBH was dedicated to our work, added to features in Boston Globe, Boston Herald, Cape Cod Times, Playbill, The Huffington Post, The Dig, Edge, Boston Spirit,. Success is measured in increased awareness and attendance and in the uptick uptick in local audience and sponsorship. Collaborations with the Public Theater and American Repertory Theater mean more scope and renown. As works premiered and developed by Afterglow move to other stages—from Off-Broadway to London’s Soho Theater and beyond, our program credits are duly noted. More grants and sponsorships spell success: The Newlson Trust and the Mass Cultural Council continued their support along with successful artists and entertainment figures like Jim Hodges, Alan Poul, Mary Birdsong and David Bowd & Kevin O’Shea. Success is more artists seeking participation; and raising more money for other charitable causes via collaboration. Success is in the growth of subscribers and in the expansion of social media. Success derives from strangers in around the world showing support and visiting Provincetown during festival.

Typos happen—I don’t have time or an intern to edit.*
Copyright 2017 Wheel Atelier Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Get your HAUTE ASTROLOGY 2017 Weekly Horoscope ebooks by Starsky + Cox

Libra 7°

Given our new venue, we presented 1/3 fewer shows this year over last, and yet attendance was way up. We measure attendance in ticket sales plus Sponsor passholders and “Sparklers” receiving half-price tickets. We offer Missionary Sponsorships to local businesses whereby 5 employees receive 1/2 price tickets. This further augments audiences, allowing more locals to attend. Afterglow’s hosting venue keeps precise records; and though we didn’t stage a free “townie” show this year, our ancillary events brought an additional 400 audience members to the attention of the festival. Afterglow has introduced Provincetown, now, to upwards of 70 artists, many of whom have become beloved of locals. Returning Afterglow artists now command bigger sold-out houses, just as the festival mission remains dedicated to presenting new artists and acts never before seen in Provincetown.

Typos happen—I don’t have time or an intern to edit.*
Copyright 2017 Wheel Atelier Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Get your HAUTE ASTROLOGY 2017 Weekly Horoscope ebooks by Starsky + Cox