Dearest Backers,

Sorry for the silence but we've been thinking of you. Thanks to your support we filmed the first episode of Amateur Thursdays two days ago! Authors Uzo Iweala, Jamin Brophy-Warren, and Esther Perel had a lot to say about The Diary of a Seducer and The Pickup Artist. We're heading into the edit room later this week and looking forward to sharing the show with you. In the meantime, here's a peak behind the scenes.

We hope the show seduces you and others into reading at least one of these books. How you choose to use your newly acquired knowledge, well, that's up to you.

And we haven't forgotten about your rewards, just bear with us a little longer.
With gratitude,
Alison & Giovanna

Hello dear readers,

Thank you for all your support! We're nearly there. Just $1619 and 3 more days to meet our Kickstarter goal. Please spread the word -- shout it from the rooftops, take out an ad, tattoo it on your forehead, or just forward this update to fellow book lovers. We need to raise $9000 to film the first three episodes of AT in NY at the end of the month. Here's what we're planning:

1. Writers (and their dogs) at the New York Review of Books discussing J.R. Ackerley's My Dog Tulip and the animated film adaptation.

2. Kierkegaard's The Diary of a Seducer and Mystery's The Pick-Up Artist in action at a party in Manhattan.

3. Poets flying on trapeze and discussing Rimbaud. It's all about trust. (Which is what you'll have to have in us when we say you'll want to see this.)

These episodes will premiere at the Frankfurt Book Fair on October 8th, where we'll film two more episodes.

Thanks again for all your interest, enthusiasm and support!

Yours,
Alison

Hello and thanks to all of you who helped us reach and surpass the $4000 mark! We're almost half-way there with just over 20 days to go. We can make it, we know we can, so please keep helping us by spreading the word. And here's a great way to do it: The New Yorker magazine posted a very nice note about us on their blog today. Please forward this link to all your friends, foes, relatives and favorite strangers
http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/books/2010/07/amateur-thursdays-draft.html

Yesterday we got a nod from another beloved institution, Powell's Books:
http://www.powells.com/blog/...

ALSO, we are now accepting video submissions to post on our website. Tell us about your favorite book in 30 seconds or less. For details please go to our website (www.amateurthursdays.com)

Right now I am reading with delectation Knut Hamsun's Mysteries. He's a Norwegian writer, the preface is by Henry Miller. What are YOU reading?
Best,
Giovanna

YOU: My, you look happy. Care to share?

ME: Yes! We have a new Reward! 4 one-year subscriptions to Tin House magazine (www.tinhouse.com) for a $ 35 pledge!

YOU: Wow. Tin House! Since when did you become so cool?

ME: Since this morning, when we met with Rob Spillman, the editor of Tin House.

YOU: Wonderful, let’s celebrate.

ME: Sorry, too busy. We’re getting everything ready to start filming in time for the launch at the Frankfurt Book Fair. It’s in early October you know.

YOU: Wait. What?

ME: Oh, I didn’t tell you? The organizers of the Frankfurt Book Fair offered us a chance to launch Amateur Thursdays at the next Fair that starts October 6. They’re offering us the biggest screening room in the Fair.

YOU: Way to go! Congratulations. Actually, now let’s celebrate.

(YOU take ME by the hand and we start dancing a waltz.)

END OF SCENE

Hello all. I'm happy to report that Publishing Perspectives posted an article on AT to help raise awareness about our project.
PB is affiliated with the German Book Office, a subsidiary of the Frankfurt Book Fair. Here's the link:
http://publishingperspectives.com/...

Also, if anyone cares to let me know what they are reading right now, I'm ever curious to know.
I'll start: Just picked up Rebecca Newberger Goldstein's "36 Arguments for the Existence of God," after I saw her speak at the World Science Festival last week --the most exciting festival in NYC, hands down.

Have a good day,
Giovanna

Dear friendly backers,
Kickstarter just selected our project for a Q & A. To read the interview please click here or go to K's blog. More press on Amateur Thursdays is on its way.

I am also happy to say that we are making progress in three key areas: first, the securing of institutional and private venues to host our shows; secondly, we are discussing possible partnerships with established cultural organizations that will increase our visibility and give our burgeoning venture solid grounding without compromising our independence. Finally, we are reaching out to deep-pocketed potential donors to help cover the many expenses that our Kickstarter campaign leaves out.
I am tempted to be more specific and tell you about some of the wonderful connections we are establishing, but I'm afraid I may jinx it and would rather wait for things to be confirmed.
If all goes as planned we will start filming in the early Fall. And even if some of it doesn't go as we planned it, we'll still start filming.

More from us soon and many thanks to each and every one of you,
Giovanna

One week into our fundraiser we would like to thank all of you who have given your support to Amateur Thursdays. We are busy working to make this book show a reality and we'll give you more details in the coming weeks.
In the meantime, we have a special new reward for the $100 level pledge:
A book by ITALO CALVINO "autographed" by his newest direct descendent.
Her name is Violette, please see video below.