Here’s a new literary website for you: transgressivefiction. It’s pretty cool. And God knows the world needs more readers now.

People sometimes ask if I read a piece about myself or my work and the answer is always, “No.”  When I was a young novelist, my editor advised me against reading my reviews or profiles, good or bad. Eventually I understood the wisdom of this.

I read emails from readers and constituents. I read blogs by readers and writers. I might read a tweet, but I do not read reviews or any other kind of press if I’m the subject. This is a good rule for artists and public officials. Never read about yourself. If you slip, which happens, you won’t learn anything about yourself or your work. You’ll only learn about the person writing about you.

As Anais Nin noted, “We don’t see things as they are, but as we are.”

I’m running for reelection. We have everything you would want in a campaign, except an opponent. Robert F. Kennedy said, “About twenty percent of the people are opposed to everything all of the time,” but I still picked up more than 96% of the vote in the primary.

The kick-off party featured musical guest stars Molly Ringwald, Peter Buck of R.E.M., and local greats The Beatniks. You can see pictures at www.marklindquist.org. I also posted some on my semi-new Facebook page.

Meanwhile, I’ve updated this site with more book reviews, including one of my favorite non-fiction books of the year, Walter Kirn’s Blood Will Out, and James Ellroy’s new crime fiction, Perfidia.

Thanks for reading.