The writing contest was so much fun, and enough people asked for more that I figured why the heck not! It's summer, let's frolic!
The contest opens at 9:00pm EDT tonight 6/25. It will close 24 hours later (ie 9:00pm Sunday 6/26). Comments are closed until the contest opens.
Contest rules: Write a story in 100 or fewer words. Post the story in the comments section of this blog post. Use the following words in the story:
lyrical
angst
conspiracy
reluctant
swoop
Yes the words are related. Be the first to tell me how and you win the bonus round. (Don't assume the answers posted are correct! I'm not moderating comments during the contest!)
Enter only once. If you need a mulligan, delete your first answer and post again. If you can't delete your comment, I'll take ONLY the last one.
I'm not sure what the prize will be but I've got some terrific books in the stack that need new homes!
Ready?
Set?
...oops, too late. Contest closed.
Sabtu, 25 Juni 2011
Contest winners!
As usual, it took forever to post the contest results because it was so hard to decide! Thanks to everyone who entered. It's really fun to see what you come up with.
Here are the results
What connected the prompt words:
Jacqui L. Landry 7:21pm (you missed that Claire Dewitt was compared to The Intuitionist)
Brandon 10:43pm got it totally right!
Terri Coop 9:53pm got it more than right (I loved the "pretty dope" list reference!)
Special recognition for outstanding achievement in word usage:
Matthew 4:32 am for "Poppa Rotsy"
Briandbuckley 8:19am for "And a silette is?" "A female silo"
Kregger 9:15am for "ornithomoron"
Amazing use of the word prompts
Becca 8:36pm
Cherylangst 10:11pm
These entries made the first round of finalists:
J.P. Kurzitz 8:07pm
http://mr-jordan(etc) 10:43pm
Rocket 9:43am
Steven 9:43am
David 2:52pm
Richardh 3:30pm
Joel Q Aaron 3:57pm
These entries made the second round of finalists:
Modwitch 9:39pm
Justwritecat 1:05am
Amychrispark 2:28am
Kelly S 6:03pm
These entries made the third round of finalists:
The Daring Novelist 8:15pm
Cherylangst 10:11pm
Thepopeofbeers 3:16am
Kregger 9:15am
The next three are the final choices:
ClothDragon 9:41pm
“What are you willing to do for it?” She balanced the bottle at the tip of her fingers as if it meant nothing. My mind went blank as it wobbled.
“Do? For it?” Christ, what was I? A parrot?
A dope, I reached to catch the water not noticing the Silette until both hands slid behind her back.
“Not an intuitionist then.” Her eyes could have cut glass.
Then it was gone; she was gone. The door sounded final. I scrambled, stopped by the chain on my ankle.
Anything. I’d do anything. But the words caught, dry, in my throat.
Shaunna 12:59pm
When (experimental) linguist Henry married (recovering) intuitionist Virginia, people wondered. And rightly so, for despite their intelligence, they never quite assumed the gravity of their parental charge.
Their first child swallowed language as all toddlers do--more a parrot than a proficient, but a willing pupil all the same. He entered the wider world, however, to discover the legacy he had inherited.
This Silette snapshot, taken his first day of kindergarten, captures the essence of his profoundly confused discovery that Henry and Virginia, out of caprice or simply too much dope, had only taught him to speak pig Latin.
Sarah 4:30pm
Walking in, the first thing I see is the camera on the pawnshop counter.
“Is that a vintage Agfa Silette?!” I cry.
“Vintage?” parrots the bargain hunter. I ignore him - a weekend dabbler who thinks intuition is the only tool needed to find that magic sale.
“Frankie,” I say to the clerk, “If you’re willing I can give you seventeen bucks today, another fifty tomorrow.”
“Forget it!” says Dabbler. “I’ll give you sixty now!”
Frankie sighs at me but takes Dabbler’s cash. The poor dope swans out the door.
“You are evil,” Frankie says. I grin and slip back behind the counter.
I had to read each of those final entries three times again to decide. It was HARD!
The winner of the contest, and an autographed copy of CLAIRE DEWITT AND THE CITY OF THE DEAD by Sara Gran is Sarah 4:30pm.
Sarah, if you'll email me your mailing address we'll get the book in the mail to you!
Congratulations!
Here are the results
What connected the prompt words:
Jacqui L. Landry 7:21pm (you missed that Claire Dewitt was compared to The Intuitionist)
Brandon 10:43pm got it totally right!
Terri Coop 9:53pm got it more than right (I loved the "pretty dope" list reference!)
Special recognition for outstanding achievement in word usage:
Matthew 4:32 am for "Poppa Rotsy"
Briandbuckley 8:19am for "And a silette is?" "A female silo"
Kregger 9:15am for "ornithomoron"
Amazing use of the word prompts
Becca 8:36pm
Cherylangst 10:11pm
These entries made the first round of finalists:
J.P. Kurzitz 8:07pm
http://mr-jordan(etc) 10:43pm
Rocket 9:43am
Steven 9:43am
David 2:52pm
Richardh 3:30pm
Joel Q Aaron 3:57pm
These entries made the second round of finalists:
Modwitch 9:39pm
Justwritecat 1:05am
Amychrispark 2:28am
Kelly S 6:03pm
These entries made the third round of finalists:
The Daring Novelist 8:15pm
Cherylangst 10:11pm
Thepopeofbeers 3:16am
Kregger 9:15am
The next three are the final choices:
ClothDragon 9:41pm
“What are you willing to do for it?” She balanced the bottle at the tip of her fingers as if it meant nothing. My mind went blank as it wobbled.
“Do? For it?” Christ, what was I? A parrot?
A dope, I reached to catch the water not noticing the Silette until both hands slid behind her back.
“Not an intuitionist then.” Her eyes could have cut glass.
Then it was gone; she was gone. The door sounded final. I scrambled, stopped by the chain on my ankle.
Anything. I’d do anything. But the words caught, dry, in my throat.
Shaunna 12:59pm
When (experimental) linguist Henry married (recovering) intuitionist Virginia, people wondered. And rightly so, for despite their intelligence, they never quite assumed the gravity of their parental charge.
Their first child swallowed language as all toddlers do--more a parrot than a proficient, but a willing pupil all the same. He entered the wider world, however, to discover the legacy he had inherited.
This Silette snapshot, taken his first day of kindergarten, captures the essence of his profoundly confused discovery that Henry and Virginia, out of caprice or simply too much dope, had only taught him to speak pig Latin.
Sarah 4:30pm
Walking in, the first thing I see is the camera on the pawnshop counter.
“Is that a vintage Agfa Silette?!” I cry.
“Vintage?” parrots the bargain hunter. I ignore him - a weekend dabbler who thinks intuition is the only tool needed to find that magic sale.
“Frankie,” I say to the clerk, “If you’re willing I can give you seventeen bucks today, another fifty tomorrow.”
“Forget it!” says Dabbler. “I’ll give you sixty now!”
Frankie sighs at me but takes Dabbler’s cash. The poor dope swans out the door.
“You are evil,” Frankie says. I grin and slip back behind the counter.
I had to read each of those final entries three times again to decide. It was HARD!
The winner of the contest, and an autographed copy of CLAIRE DEWITT AND THE CITY OF THE DEAD by Sara Gran is Sarah 4:30pm.
Sarah, if you'll email me your mailing address we'll get the book in the mail to you!
Congratulations!
Jumat, 24 Juni 2011
Friday Night at the Question Emporium!
I've read on your blog that you place value in a writer's voice, and other agents, such as Jessica Faust and Rachelle Gardner, agree that it's important.
I've also taken classes and read writing tips, such as Allen Guthrie's, that say one's voice should not creep into one's writing as this authorial intrusion detracts from the substance of a work. (Ref: Hunting down the neoplasm, item 11) or here
Should I assume people are using the word 'voice' to apply to different stylistic aspects? Or that there is good voice and bad voice? Or merely that different readers want different things, so while some consider a strong voice a plus, other consider it an annoyance?
Yes.
Hmmm- that's not very helpful is it?
I had to think about this for awhile. Voice is one of those ephemeral "musts" that drive querying authors mad because there is no objective answer. Unlike spelling, format and word count, there's no way to measure voice...but I know it when I see it.
I know it by its energy and confidence. I know it because it stays in my head. I know it because it makes me believe in things like talking cats, invisibility suits, and happily ever after.
None of that is at all helpful, I know.
I tried to think of places where voice failed. The best example I can think of is one that greatly pains me: Rita Mae Brown. I'm a devoted fan of the writer herself, and of her work. I love her SneakyPie books a LOT. But what drives me to distraction is when her own voice creeps in to the story. And by her own voice, I mean that she has her characters most often the animals (yes they talk...but only to each other) voice opinions about politics and the human condition that I know for a stone cold fact are the opinions of Ms. Brown. Ms. Brown is venting her spleen in feline dialogue and it stops the story cold.
I love those books, but I skip over the section where the cat discusses economics. I can suspend my disbelief that cats can talk; I lose it when the cats pontificate on the world beyond their ken.
I think you can tell when voice slips or is inconsistent by comments like "I didn't believe this." If I can believe in talking cats, I can believe pretty much anything; if I don't it means it doesn't fit with the world you've created for me.
Kamis, 23 Juni 2011
Is this real?
There's an interesting email exchange here on the Seattle Mystery Bookstore blog between an author who wanted to arrange a signing and the store owner.
The author is published by Amazon. The store owner said "no dice."
In reply the author said Amazon is actively promoting indie store events. Quoting now "The results have been spectacular. Hundreds have been showing up at these events. It is a tremendous show of support for the independents."
This is in the past tense. As in this has happened.
My question is this: has it?
I'm very VERY interested to hear from bookstore owners, authors, or event attenders who have been part of any reading at all (not just crime fiction) held at an indie store that was promoted by Amazon.
I'm skeptical simply because I don't think the crime imprint at Amazon, Thomas and Mercer, has actually printed a book yet. Their website refers to the books as "coming soon."
But I don't want to start jumping up and down screaming "fowl" (yes that's intended as a joke; an oblique reference to Mr. Little and the velocity of the sky) without doing some research.
So, is this real?
The author is published by Amazon. The store owner said "no dice."
In reply the author said Amazon is actively promoting indie store events. Quoting now "The results have been spectacular. Hundreds have been showing up at these events. It is a tremendous show of support for the independents."
This is in the past tense. As in this has happened.
My question is this: has it?
I'm very VERY interested to hear from bookstore owners, authors, or event attenders who have been part of any reading at all (not just crime fiction) held at an indie store that was promoted by Amazon.
I'm skeptical simply because I don't think the crime imprint at Amazon, Thomas and Mercer, has actually printed a book yet. Their website refers to the books as "coming soon."
But I don't want to start jumping up and down screaming "fowl" (yes that's intended as a joke; an oblique reference to Mr. Little and the velocity of the sky) without doing some research.
So, is this real?
Quote of the Day
Dear Query Shark,
I chose to query you because most of the characters in my book are surfers. You should find it very appetizing.
I chose to query you because most of the characters in my book are surfers. You should find it very appetizing.
Rabu, 22 Juni 2011
"Damn you, Keith Kahla"
And I'm not the only one who feels that way!
Once I started reading, it was impossible to stop. Howling clients, burning toast, nothing pried me from the couch!
If you're looking for a great summer read, this is it. If you need to email me a particularly damning response, my email is listed on my website: jetreidliterary.com
Once I started reading, it was impossible to stop. Howling clients, burning toast, nothing pried me from the couch!
If you're looking for a great summer read, this is it. If you need to email me a particularly damning response, my email is listed on my website: jetreidliterary.com
Senin, 20 Juni 2011
Suzy and her kitten
Jumat, 17 Juni 2011
Friday Night at the Question Emporium!
I have written a book. It is unpublished and undergoing revisions. My book was read by a former co-worker at a major national newspaper (circulation around 600,000). This co-worker was a book reviewer in my genre (she had a column for 8 years) and had many positive things to say about my book. Should I include this fact in my query letter to agents? Or is this just a snootier variation of “My friend read my book and loved it!”
I thought my instant reply of "fuck no/fuck yes" might be a tad too abrupt so I called in reinforcements.
Herewith, the colleague's replies:
"At this first stage, the work, not its accolades, needs to speak to the agent. Blurbs are fabulous- but can be discussed later." --Agent Who Looks Fantastic in a Unitard
"Unless this person can give a blurb ("[NAME], [GENRE] reviewer for [PAPER I’VE HEARD OF], says [TITLE] is a fresh new voice in [GENRE], and will appeal to readers of [FAMOUS AUTHOR],”) I wouldn't bother." --Beth Miller (Writers House)
I would include it. I would say something like, "X, formerly the book reviewer for X newspaper (circulation 600,000) had this to say about the book: XXXX" Keep the quotation short and snappy though and leave out the part that you are friends. --JennyBent (The Bent Agency)
"This wouldn't matter to me in the slightest. I don't need to know." --Joanna Stampfel-Volpe (Nancy Coffey Literary Mangement)
"Vague, so it sounds like embellishment. All endorsements should include name and credential—if you’re wondering if it’s impressive enough, it’s probably not." --Meredith Barnes (Lowenstein Associates)
Rabu, 15 Juni 2011
Writer's block?
I had drinks today with my most talented author. Sadly, after seven books, two screenplays, a book of poems and another of haiku (not to mention three children), he was running low on creative juice. The dreaded Writers Block.
I suggested he try visiting this site. Originally begun to help creative types in advertising, it soon expanded to help all sorts of other industries, like publishing.
Just type in two or three key words from your novel-- "spy" "buxom" "blonde"-- and you get back a host of suggestions!
Try it, it's amazing!
I suggested he try visiting this site. Originally begun to help creative types in advertising, it soon expanded to help all sorts of other industries, like publishing.
Just type in two or three key words from your novel-- "spy" "buxom" "blonde"-- and you get back a host of suggestions!
Try it, it's amazing!
Chris Benz x Lancome Limited Edition GWP for Saks
It's another stellar collab effort between prestige beauty company Lancôme and American fashion designer Chriz Benz. This time he's partnered with the brand for a sweet little limited edition gift with purchase, which will be sold exclusively through Saks Fifth Avenue from June 14 - June 25.
Beauty fanatics will remember Benz's wildly popular Chris & Tell lippie from Lancôme's Pout-a-Porter designer lip collection last Spring. We all raced to get our hands on one. The celebrated designer and frequent Lancôme collaborator is loved by celebrities like Jessica Szohr, Susan Sarandon, Elettra Wiedemann and Eva Amurri and now he’s created a tote solely for Lancôme customers.
Customers will receive the complimentary Chris Benz-designed tote with any $60 purchase, up to a $119 value. Printed with a chic, stylized silhouette, the exclusive design makes the perfect summer accessory. And although receiving the tote would certainly be gift enough, Lancôme has packed the tote with must have products (Définicils Precious Cells Mascara and Absolue Hand), you have the option to select your moisturizer (Absolue Premium BX or Absolue Precious Cells) and your pink (L’Absolu Rouge in Pink Sapphire, Juicy Tubes in Moulin Rose & Blush Subtil in Rose Fresque) or coral (L’Absolu Rouge in Fleur Impressioniste , Juicy Tubes in Coral Rush & Blush Subtil in Shimmer Coral Sunset) makeup trio to tote inside the Benz bag.
To celebrate the collaboration, Chris Benz will make a personal appearance at Saks Fifth Avenue in New York City on June 23rd from 5 -7 p.m. (ET), toasting the fashion-forward partnership.
Ummmm ... can you say, "Run! Don't walk for this particular GWP event!" ? Yes, well, do so. Fair warning, I'm posting this for you, then quickly clicking over the Saks to take advantage of this myself. It's only while supplies last. Enjoy! xo
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When it's ok to quit
Prompted by this post at Chuck Wendig's blog, I'm going to rescind my statement that the only way to fail is to quit.
Instead, let me say this: stopping is not failure. It's entirely possible writing isn't your art form. If you've tried, really REALLY tried, and writing no longer brings you joy, then think about doing something else.
I don't agree with Chuck that one of the ways to measure this is by the number of rejections. Rejections from agents or general trade editors is hardly ever a measure of the quality of your work.
If you've gotten a lot of those, look at other ways of getting your work in front of readers.
But the true measure of whether you want to keep writing is whether you feel joy. If you love to write, keep writing. If you don't, stop.
I consider myself very fortunate to have a job I love, working with people I admire and respect. If writing doesn't make you feel that way most of the time, think about doing something that does.
You can change what you do to express yourself. It's not failure. Failure is not doing what you love.
Instead, let me say this: stopping is not failure. It's entirely possible writing isn't your art form. If you've tried, really REALLY tried, and writing no longer brings you joy, then think about doing something else.
I don't agree with Chuck that one of the ways to measure this is by the number of rejections. Rejections from agents or general trade editors is hardly ever a measure of the quality of your work.
If you've gotten a lot of those, look at other ways of getting your work in front of readers.
But the true measure of whether you want to keep writing is whether you feel joy. If you love to write, keep writing. If you don't, stop.
I consider myself very fortunate to have a job I love, working with people I admire and respect. If writing doesn't make you feel that way most of the time, think about doing something that does.
You can change what you do to express yourself. It's not failure. Failure is not doing what you love.
Selasa, 14 Juni 2011
Now THIS is how to write a book review!
KD James on COUNTY LINE by Bill Cameron.
She got my attention cause she reviewed a book by Bill Cameron, one of my Fabulous Clients.
She's KEEPING my attention cause her voice just shines through.
She got my attention cause she reviewed a book by Bill Cameron, one of my Fabulous Clients.
She's KEEPING my attention cause her voice just shines through.
Senin, 13 Juni 2011
Get thee behind me, Greenlight Books!
I first snapped up Dope by Sara Gran (not seen here cause it's in the mitts of Brooks Sherman trusty FPLM knight in shining armor),
then I snagged Sag Harbor by Colson Whitehead while looking for The Intuitionist.
Then Brooks bought Horns for me,
and then I saw The Brothers K by David James Duncan, and realized it's been too many years since I read it last.
Then I saw Half A Life by Darin Strauss and I've been meaning to read that, so I grabbed it up.
By the time I got to the cash register I was determined to STOP buying, but holy moly, there's the Akashic books phenom Go The Fuck To Sleep. Well of COURSE I had to have that.
So now I have them all.
Damn you Greenlight Books, you temptress of readers!
To delve or not to delve that is the question
The QueryShark had found herself in a bit of hot water lately over a recent evisceration. Taking a writer to task for putting the word "delved" into the dialogue of a 14 year old, the Shark challenged thus:
Also, I'll give you a hundred bucks cold hard cash if you can produce a 14 year old who uses the word "delved" in conversation.
Well, that certainly brought a flurry of comments, most of them accompanied by a thump or two across the fin. (ow)
What I left unstated, and in fact assumed (incorrectly) would be clear was that there is a large (vast!) difference between the number and kinds of words people use in conversation, and the number and kinds of words people recognize.
In other words I know many more words than I use. You do too.
And kids, being people, are included. So yes, they recognize 'delved' and can use it correctly in a sentence. It doesn't mean they do so in regular conversation.
And that's the trick of dialogue. It has to sound real. I have to believe that's something a kid WOULD say. Not something a kid COULD say.
Getting dialogue and voice write is very difficult. It can't be verbatim (have you ever heard actual surveillance tapes; or even just plain old phone messages!) but it has to feel real.
I have no idea if slingers on the corners of Baltimore sound like Bodie and Poot, but I believe them when they talk. Even when Bodie says "I'm standing here like a asshole holding my Charles Dickens, 'cause I ain't got no muscle, no back-up" I believe.
Part of your job as writers is to know that delicate balance between what IS right and what FEELS right. I actually keep a list of words somewhere that are gender specific: that is a man would not say "munched" for eating lunch; a woman would not generally say she's taking "a piss." Think about it before you join the SharkBashing mob ok?
I'm pretty sure there is research on this but the closest I could come with the five minutes I spent on google was this article at Slate. (paragraph 7)
If any of you have better resources to add, I'd like to see them. And if you think I'm all wet, tell me why.
Also, I'll give you a hundred bucks cold hard cash if you can produce a 14 year old who uses the word "delved" in conversation.
Well, that certainly brought a flurry of comments, most of them accompanied by a thump or two across the fin. (ow)
What I left unstated, and in fact assumed (incorrectly) would be clear was that there is a large (vast!) difference between the number and kinds of words people use in conversation, and the number and kinds of words people recognize.
In other words I know many more words than I use. You do too.
And kids, being people, are included. So yes, they recognize 'delved' and can use it correctly in a sentence. It doesn't mean they do so in regular conversation.
And that's the trick of dialogue. It has to sound real. I have to believe that's something a kid WOULD say. Not something a kid COULD say.
Getting dialogue and voice write is very difficult. It can't be verbatim (have you ever heard actual surveillance tapes; or even just plain old phone messages!) but it has to feel real.
I have no idea if slingers on the corners of Baltimore sound like Bodie and Poot, but I believe them when they talk. Even when Bodie says "I'm standing here like a asshole holding my Charles Dickens, 'cause I ain't got no muscle, no back-up" I believe.
Part of your job as writers is to know that delicate balance between what IS right and what FEELS right. I actually keep a list of words somewhere that are gender specific: that is a man would not say "munched" for eating lunch; a woman would not generally say she's taking "a piss." Think about it before you join the SharkBashing mob ok?
I'm pretty sure there is research on this but the closest I could come with the five minutes I spent on google was this article at Slate. (paragraph 7)
If any of you have better resources to add, I'd like to see them. And if you think I'm all wet, tell me why.
Minggu, 12 Juni 2011
Writing Contest! (opens 6/12 at 7:18pm)
First writing contest of the summer!
I just finished reading CLAIRE DEWITT AND THE CITY OF THE DEAD by Sara Gran, and I'm pretty sure this one will be on my sox-knockers list for 2011.
My copy of the book is the prize for the writing contest. Here's how to enter:
Write a story in 100 or fewer words. Post it in the comments section of this blog post. Comments are closed until 7:18pm EST (Eastern Shark Time) today 6/12. The contest will run for 24 hours. It closes on the stroke of 7:18pm EST 6/13.
Use the following words in the story:
willing
parrot
intuitionist
dope
silette
There's a bonus prize for the best answer to how those words are connected.
One entry per person is eligible for the contest. If you need a mulligan, I'll take the LAST entry (based on time)
Ready? Set! WRITE!
I just finished reading CLAIRE DEWITT AND THE CITY OF THE DEAD by Sara Gran, and I'm pretty sure this one will be on my sox-knockers list for 2011.
My copy of the book is the prize for the writing contest. Here's how to enter:
Write a story in 100 or fewer words. Post it in the comments section of this blog post. Comments are closed until 7:18pm EST (Eastern Shark Time) today 6/12. The contest will run for 24 hours. It closes on the stroke of 7:18pm EST 6/13.
Use the following words in the story:
willing
parrot
intuitionist
dope
silette
There's a bonus prize for the best answer to how those words are connected.
One entry per person is eligible for the contest. If you need a mulligan, I'll take the LAST entry (based on time)
Ready? Set! WRITE!
Agent speed dating!
Of course I stole this idea from BookEnds LLC! Their blog is terrific, and if you're not reading it regularly, you're missing out on great information.
Here's my entry:
Name: Janet Reid
Speed date bio: Literary agent with FinePrint Literary Management. I work with an extraordinary group of talented people. I keep the QueryShark blog that eats queries for breakfast.
Currently reading: I always have several books going at once. Right now it's Claire DeWitt and the City of the Dead by Sara Gran; and The Metaphysical Club by Louis Menard.
Next on your reading list: (subject to change!) GOOD NEIGHBORS by Ryan David Jahn; IN THE GARDEN OF BEASTS by Erik Larson.
Facebook or Twitter:
Twitter definitely: Janet_Reid
Three authors living or dead you would want to have dinner with:
Margaret Mitchell, Mark Twain, Richard Hugo
Three characters you would want to have dinner with:
Jack Reacher, Jack Reacher, Jack Reacher
Ok, that's cheating.
Jack Reacher, Elvis Cole, Rhett Butler
Jetsetter or armchair traveler:
Armchair these days. I used to love to travel but now you need a crowbar to pry me out of NYC.
Glass ½ full or ½ empty:
I love what Jessica Faust said: "1/2 full and then some!" Me tooo!
Tea or Coffee:
Iced tea; hot coffee
Ereader or Print book:
I love print. I didn't know how much I loved it till I got my Kindle. I love my Kindle for mss and for quick peeks inside books, but for Sunday morning on the couch, nothing beats a print book. I'm glad I don't really have to choose.
Morning person or Evening person:
Night owl by nature; morning person by necessity. I should move to London so I can start work at 5pm!
Working soundtrack:
This and this
Here's my entry:
Name: Janet Reid
Speed date bio: Literary agent with FinePrint Literary Management. I work with an extraordinary group of talented people. I keep the QueryShark blog that eats queries for breakfast.
Currently reading: I always have several books going at once. Right now it's Claire DeWitt and the City of the Dead by Sara Gran; and The Metaphysical Club by Louis Menard.
Next on your reading list: (subject to change!) GOOD NEIGHBORS by Ryan David Jahn; IN THE GARDEN OF BEASTS by Erik Larson.
Facebook or Twitter:
Twitter definitely: Janet_Reid
Three authors living or dead you would want to have dinner with:
Margaret Mitchell, Mark Twain, Richard Hugo
Three characters you would want to have dinner with:
Jack Reacher, Jack Reacher, Jack Reacher
Ok, that's cheating.
Jack Reacher, Elvis Cole, Rhett Butler
Jetsetter or armchair traveler:
Armchair these days. I used to love to travel but now you need a crowbar to pry me out of NYC.
Glass ½ full or ½ empty:
I love what Jessica Faust said: "1/2 full and then some!" Me tooo!
Tea or Coffee:
Iced tea; hot coffee
Ereader or Print book:
I love print. I didn't know how much I loved it till I got my Kindle. I love my Kindle for mss and for quick peeks inside books, but for Sunday morning on the couch, nothing beats a print book. I'm glad I don't really have to choose.
Morning person or Evening person:
Night owl by nature; morning person by necessity. I should move to London so I can start work at 5pm!
Working soundtrack:
This and this
Sabtu, 11 Juni 2011
Art for heart's sake
An email this morning from Tim Hallinan:
The Gods of Nature
The most ancient Japanese religion is Shinto.
The name is taken from two Chinese words, shin, meaning "spirit," and to, which is a derivative of tao (as in Taoism), a path or a course of study. So I suppose you could say it's a spiritual path of study. It's sometimes translated as "the way of the gods."
Shinto holds that the natural world is the home of kami, or spirits.
Many of them are spirits of place: stones, trees, hills, bodies of water.
The Japanese reverence for nature has its roots in Shinto.
This is a torii, a gate for the kami to pass through. They stand outside virtually every Shinto Shrine and also provide passageways for spirits of place in spots where their influence is strongest. Many of them stand in bodies of water.
On March 11 of this year, something unprecedented in modern memory rose up out of nature and struck Japan.
Following a massive earthquake, the waves invaded an enormous area in the northeast of Japan. In a matter of moments, both the natural and the man-made landscapes were altered, perhaps forever.
Watching the devastation, all I could think was that writers should be able to pool their talents to raise money as musicians and actors do. And it occurred to me immediately that we can. With the immediacy of e-books, writers can join together to try to bring some small solace in the face of tragedy. People who have lost children, parents, loved ones, friends, communities, livelihoods -- they deserve our best efforts, however humble.
Less than three months after the disaster, nineteen wonderful writers have donated their talent to make this possible.
This is a collection of original Japan-themed short stories, almost all written since March 11, inspired by the desire to help.
The writers who responded with such wonderful stories are:
Another fine writer, Gar Anthony Haywood, designed the cover.
Taken as a whole, these people have won every major mystery prize and sold hundreds of thousands of books.
Two remarkable translators of haiku, Jane Reichhold, whose 2008 volume translating all the haiku of the 17th-century master Basho has been hailed as a new standard, and David Lanoue, who has done beautiful translations of Issa, allowed us to use their renderings without charge.
Kimberly Hitchens and her first-class crew turned the manuscript into a beautiful a-book.
One hundred percent of the writers' royalties from the purchase go directly to the 2011 Japan Relief Fund administrated by Japan America Society of Southern California, which has already sent $750,000 to organizations working on the scene.
You can buy SHAKEN: STORIES FOR JAPAN as a Kindle e-book on Amazon right here http://www.amazon.com/SHAKEN-Stories-for-Japan-ebook/dp/B00556WX9A/ for only $3.99.
If you don't have a Kindle, you can download Kindle for PC here
http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html/ref=kcp_pc_mkt_lnd?docId=1000426311
or Kindle for Mac here
http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html/ref=kcp_mac_mkt_lnd?docId=1000464931
and read the book on your computer.
If you have a Nook, buy the book and e-mail me, and I'll send you an epub file you can transfer to the reader.
But buy it, please. Nobody gets anything out of it except people who need it badly. This is art for heart's sake, but it can't do its work without you.
Thanks in advance from all of us.
The Gods of Nature
The most ancient Japanese religion is Shinto.
The name is taken from two Chinese words, shin, meaning "spirit," and to, which is a derivative of tao (as in Taoism), a path or a course of study. So I suppose you could say it's a spiritual path of study. It's sometimes translated as "the way of the gods."
Shinto holds that the natural world is the home of kami, or spirits.
Many of them are spirits of place: stones, trees, hills, bodies of water.
The Japanese reverence for nature has its roots in Shinto.
This is a torii, a gate for the kami to pass through. They stand outside virtually every Shinto Shrine and also provide passageways for spirits of place in spots where their influence is strongest. Many of them stand in bodies of water.
On March 11 of this year, something unprecedented in modern memory rose up out of nature and struck Japan.
Following a massive earthquake, the waves invaded an enormous area in the northeast of Japan. In a matter of moments, both the natural and the man-made landscapes were altered, perhaps forever.
Watching the devastation, all I could think was that writers should be able to pool their talents to raise money as musicians and actors do. And it occurred to me immediately that we can. With the immediacy of e-books, writers can join together to try to bring some small solace in the face of tragedy. People who have lost children, parents, loved ones, friends, communities, livelihoods -- they deserve our best efforts, however humble.
Less than three months after the disaster, nineteen wonderful writers have donated their talent to make this possible.
This is a collection of original Japan-themed short stories, almost all written since March 11, inspired by the desire to help.
The writers who responded with such wonderful stories are:
Brett Battles
Cara Black
Vicki Doudera
Dianne Emley
Dale Furutani
Stefan Hammond
Rosemary Harris
Naomi Hirahara
Wendy Hornsby
Ken Kuhlken
Debbi Mack
Adrian McKinty
I.J. Parker
Gary Phillips
Hank Phillippi Ryan
Jeffrey Siger
Kelli Stanley
C.J. West and
Jeri Westerson.
Another fine writer, Gar Anthony Haywood, designed the cover.
Taken as a whole, these people have won every major mystery prize and sold hundreds of thousands of books.
Two remarkable translators of haiku, Jane Reichhold, whose 2008 volume translating all the haiku of the 17th-century master Basho has been hailed as a new standard, and David Lanoue, who has done beautiful translations of Issa, allowed us to use their renderings without charge.
Kimberly Hitchens and her first-class crew turned the manuscript into a beautiful a-book.
One hundred percent of the writers' royalties from the purchase go directly to the 2011 Japan Relief Fund administrated by Japan America Society of Southern California, which has already sent $750,000 to organizations working on the scene.
You can buy SHAKEN: STORIES FOR JAPAN as a Kindle e-book on Amazon right here http://www.amazon.com/SHAKEN-Stories-for-Japan-ebook/dp/B00556WX9A/ for only $3.99.
If you don't have a Kindle, you can download Kindle for PC here
http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html/ref=kcp_pc_mkt_lnd?docId=1000426311
or Kindle for Mac here
http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html/ref=kcp_mac_mkt_lnd?docId=1000464931
and read the book on your computer.
If you have a Nook, buy the book and e-mail me, and I'll send you an epub file you can transfer to the reader.
But buy it, please. Nobody gets anything out of it except people who need it badly. This is art for heart's sake, but it can't do its work without you.
Thanks in advance from all of us.
Jumat, 10 Juni 2011
MINTBOX: New! Sephora Event
So, if you read me yesterday you know I'm newly addicted to a fab little site called Mintbox. It's invitation only (don't worry, your invitation is below) and the sales and deals from the best of "yumminess" brands are located there.
Today begins a new event for Sephora. Now, we all know Sephora. Well, those of us addicted to beauty do, right? Here's what you may not know. Sephora's name comes from a combination of "Sephos", Greek for beauty, and the Greek form of "Tzipporah", which means bird. That explains why goddesses everywhere flock to the wonderland that is Sephora for all their beauty needs. Shop all of Sephora! Mintbox editor picks appear below but you can purchase whatever you want of Sephora through Mintbox.
Featuring over 200 classic and emerging brands across all categories including skincare, fragrance, bath & body, smilecare, and haircare, in addition to their own private label, Sephora guarantees to keep you properly primped and preened whatever your style may be.
Mintbox's Sephora event features tempting cash back options, fabulous multi-sample packs (one from Lancome is delicious) and combinations of both. There are lots of other fantastic stores (beauty, fashion, home decor, children's wear, etc.) with deals abundantly available there now too. You can even donate your cash back to charities Mintbox has partnered with if you like that idea. But you can't get these deals and options anywhere other than Mintbox. So what are you waiting for? I wouldn't steer you wrong or waste your precious minutes if this wasn't truly swoon-worthy. Your invitation appears below. Enjoy! xo
source/images: Mintbox
Kamis, 09 Juni 2011
The Unbridled Books 25cents deal
I've been reading about this interesting new promotion by one of my favorite publishers for a couple days. 25 books, 25cents each. Sounds like a good deal, but truthfully, I've got a LOT to read and the idea of buying books just cause they're essentially free doesn't really get me to the buy button.
But I got an email from Unbridled tonight (of course I'm on their mailing list!) reminding me of this offer again, this time with a list of the indie stores that were part of the deal.
Here's the first paragraph:
Curiosity more than anything got me to click.
I landed on a page with a long list of stores, and it took me a moment to recognize they are organized by STATE first, and then store name (hint to people posting lists: use headers)
I scrolled down to the store that's nearest my office geographically, and one I haven't been to, thinking I'd use this opportunity to "meet the store" too.
Here's what I found.
Yea. Useless. Clearly no one from the store, Unbridled, or Indiebound went through this list of stores and just clicked to make sure each link works, and gets you to a page that actually helps you find what you're looking for.
So, I clicked on the next store I know: McNally Jackson
I'm a long time customer of the store. I've been to dozens of events there, including ones for my authors. I love buying from McNally Jackson.
Except there's NOTHING on the front page that says "Unbridled Book deal" or even "buy Google Ebooks"
In other words, the page that launched me to that site was linking to a general site about the store, NOT a page about the offer. And thus, useless.
So, I looked at the list again. And there's Greenlight Books. I'm going there on Monday to hear Sara Gran talk about her new book. So I clicked.
And there's how it's done. Front page of the website is EXACTLY the info I came here looking for.
And I bought 24 books. All of them except the one I'd already read.
They download to my google home page, which means I had to give the store access to my google account. Given it was Greenlight Books in Brooklyn, I was ok with that. I'm pretty sure I would NOT have done it with a store I didn't feel like I knew.
And the books are right there on the screen. They look nice, the covers are beautiful, and the books are easy to read (by which I mean font size and style, not a comment about the content!)
But, they're not on my Kindle. And my Kindle is where I read my electronic books. I tend not to read on the computer cause I'm already reading a LOT of stuff here. The backlighting hurts my eyes after awhile, and sitting at my desk with a computer is really not the same as lounging in my hammock with a physical book.
But, this is a promotion to get out from under Amazon, so why in the hell I thought I'd be downloading to my Kindle is beyond me. (Yes, customers can be stupid, even when they're not!)
So, what did I learn?
If you're directing people to a website for a promotion, work with the website owners to have those folks land on a specific page for that promotion OR put that promotion on the front page. Even if its just a "Looking for the Unbridled deal, click here" kind of thing.
TEST the links!
On a promotion like this it would have been great to have a button that said "buy all" As it was I had to click a title, then click "back to shopping" then click a title. It took a while to buy all of them, and make sure I didn't duplicate or miss a title. For 25cents a title, bookstores can't afford to do much template changing, but one rule of good selling is make it easy for people to buy more than they intended. (thus the Amazon "add this book for only X, and VistaPrint's offer to increase your order quantity for X in the next ten minutes etc)
Would I do this again? Probably not. I have a feeling those 24 books are going to sit unread on my virtual bookshelf for a long time. Unlike physical books, they're hidden from me as I wander around my Lair looking for something good to read on the subway. And I'd have to read them on the computer...something I'm not likely to do.
Did anyone else do this? What was your experience?
But I got an email from Unbridled tonight (of course I'm on their mailing list!) reminding me of this offer again, this time with a list of the indie stores that were part of the deal.
Here's the first paragraph:
Dear Janet,
For the next three days -- June 9, 10 & 11 -- twenty-five of our favorite titles will be available in ebook form for 25c each, exclusively via independent bookstores who sell Google eBooks. You can find a list of these stores here...
Curiosity more than anything got me to click.
I landed on a page with a long list of stores, and it took me a moment to recognize they are organized by STATE first, and then store name (hint to people posting lists: use headers)
I scrolled down to the store that's nearest my office geographically, and one I haven't been to, thinking I'd use this opportunity to "meet the store" too.
Here's what I found.
Yea. Useless. Clearly no one from the store, Unbridled, or Indiebound went through this list of stores and just clicked to make sure each link works, and gets you to a page that actually helps you find what you're looking for.
So, I clicked on the next store I know: McNally Jackson
I'm a long time customer of the store. I've been to dozens of events there, including ones for my authors. I love buying from McNally Jackson.
Except there's NOTHING on the front page that says "Unbridled Book deal" or even "buy Google Ebooks"
In other words, the page that launched me to that site was linking to a general site about the store, NOT a page about the offer. And thus, useless.
So, I looked at the list again. And there's Greenlight Books. I'm going there on Monday to hear Sara Gran talk about her new book. So I clicked.
And there's how it's done. Front page of the website is EXACTLY the info I came here looking for.
And I bought 24 books. All of them except the one I'd already read.
They download to my google home page, which means I had to give the store access to my google account. Given it was Greenlight Books in Brooklyn, I was ok with that. I'm pretty sure I would NOT have done it with a store I didn't feel like I knew.
And the books are right there on the screen. They look nice, the covers are beautiful, and the books are easy to read (by which I mean font size and style, not a comment about the content!)
But, they're not on my Kindle. And my Kindle is where I read my electronic books. I tend not to read on the computer cause I'm already reading a LOT of stuff here. The backlighting hurts my eyes after awhile, and sitting at my desk with a computer is really not the same as lounging in my hammock with a physical book.
But, this is a promotion to get out from under Amazon, so why in the hell I thought I'd be downloading to my Kindle is beyond me. (Yes, customers can be stupid, even when they're not!)
So, what did I learn?
If you're directing people to a website for a promotion, work with the website owners to have those folks land on a specific page for that promotion OR put that promotion on the front page. Even if its just a "Looking for the Unbridled deal, click here" kind of thing.
TEST the links!
On a promotion like this it would have been great to have a button that said "buy all" As it was I had to click a title, then click "back to shopping" then click a title. It took a while to buy all of them, and make sure I didn't duplicate or miss a title. For 25cents a title, bookstores can't afford to do much template changing, but one rule of good selling is make it easy for people to buy more than they intended. (thus the Amazon "add this book for only X, and VistaPrint's offer to increase your order quantity for X in the next ten minutes etc)
Would I do this again? Probably not. I have a feeling those 24 books are going to sit unread on my virtual bookshelf for a long time. Unlike physical books, they're hidden from me as I wander around my Lair looking for something good to read on the subway. And I'd have to read them on the computer...something I'm not likely to do.
Did anyone else do this? What was your experience?
MINTBOX FEATURE SALE: It's All About NARS
So my newest obsession has become Mintbox! If you're not familiar, you'll want to acquaint yourself quick like. Mintbox features % off, cash back and other exclusive deals on brands we all love and covet. Think Sephora, Bluefly, Crate & Barrel, Nordstrom, Bliss, Barnes & Noble, Bloomies, Space.NK, Shopbop.com, Rebecca Minkoff, Zappos ... the list goes on and on.
Today I want to show you their NARS feature. As if the image above isn't enough to entice any beauty addict not just a NARS fan, consider the fantabulous notion that you can buy with 12% off and 8% cash back! Oh, and um FREE SHIPPING. Are you kidding me?
Sophisticated, witty, and effortlessly seductive, NARS embraces your individuality providing you with rich colors and luxurious textures and confidence to express yourself. It is an invitation to make a statement and be who you want to be: YOU. ~ NARS
The NARS feature runs through 6/13/11.
I've been playing around on Mintbox all afternoon and I tell you I am obsessed now. Now, here's the catch. You have to be a member. Here's the best part of that. It's free to join. You'll need the special Mintbox codes to take advantage of their wonderful deals, so sign up now (link below) to join. Go ahead and shop till your heart's delight! xo
source/images: Mintbox
"Teens are not other; they are us."
Jennifer M. Brown's elegant response to the WSJ article about "dark YA" is posted on Shelf Awareness this morning. If you don't subscribe to the ShelfAwareness free daily email, you're missing the single best source of industry news, book reviews, and pieces like this.
Here's what Jennifer M Brown wrote.
Deeper Understanding: The Dark Is Rising
Is the Dark rising?
I do not mean the series by Susan Cooper,
though it is perhaps an apt metaphor.
In those five books, she explored
the forces of good and evil and
received a Newbery Medal (1976) and Newbery Honor (1974)
for her efforts--through fiction--
to lay out moral dilemmas for young people to ponder.
These past few days many of us have been atwitter about
the piece in the Wall Street Journal
by Megan Cox Gurdon: "Darkness Too Visible."
Gurdon suggests that "pathologies
that went undescribed in print 40 years ago...
are now spelled out in stomach-clenching detail."
Most of us trace the birth of the YA genre back to
The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton (1967)
about gang violence, and to
Paul Zindel's The Pigman (1968)
In which two misfit teens play a prank on
Mr. Angelo Pignati,
then befriend him,
and then, possibly, unwittingly contribute to his death.
Undescribed pathologies?
When M.E. Kerr wrote Night Kites in 1986,
it was one of the first novels in YA or adult literature
to mention AIDS,
narrated by a teen whose older brother
was infected with the virus.
It dispelled myths that ran rampant about
how you could catch "gay cancer"
as it was then called, just from eating off the same dish.
It also won the California Young Reader Medal,
Voted on by teens themselves.
Today we have books like Will Grayson, Will Grayson
by John Green and David Levithan,
in which a straight guy and a gay guy can be best friends,
and a confidently "out" gay guy can help a closeted gay guy
feel more comfortable in his own skin.
It won the 2011 Teen Choice Book of the Year
(sponsored by the Children's Book Council),
again, voted on by teens.
Yes, The Hunger Games are violent.
Suzanne Collins has said that the seeds of that trilogy
came to her while she was watching reality television
and thinking about the Coliseum of gladiator days.
Teens watch reality television.
The Hunger Games gives them something to
(forgive the pun) sink their teeth into.
What would they do if they were Katniss?
Would they sacrifice themselves for a sibling?
Would they save the boy who kept them alive
With the gift of a loaf of bread?
These are the questions Katniss asks herself.
Teens get to stand in her shoes
and ask themselves these questions.
Teens don't purge or cut because of a book they read.
If they are looking for triggers, they will find triggers.
But they might also find in a book like Patricia McCormick's Cut
or Laurie Halse Anderson's Wintergirls
that there are other people like them.
They are not alone.
We need to trust that teens will set aside
the books they're not ready for or simply don't like.
They will.
Girls will also read Will Grayson, Will Grayson,
and boys will read The Hunger Games.
Teens are not other; they are us.
They read sports books and comics
and nonfiction and romance.
They read literary stand-alone novels
and Vampire Diaries one after another.
They want to read what everyone's reading
or they could care less.
So let's turn away from the Dark for a moment
to the Light.
And by "light" I do not mean insubstantial,
I mean authors grappling with
more "mainstream" situations
like Sarah Dessen and Maureen Johnson.
I mean authors asking teens to examine
the messages coming to them from the media:
M.T. Anderson's Feed and Scott Westerfeld's So Yesterday
and Libba Bray's Beauty Queens.
I mean worlds in books that allow teens to step back
and look at their own lives and moral codes in relation to others:
Joan Abelove's Go and Come Back,
Holly Black's White Cat series.
Lauren Oliver's Before I Fall.
Perhaps the protagonist of Gurdon's article,
46-year-old Amy Freeman,
a mother of three stymied in the YA section of her
local B&N in Bethesda, Md.,
could not find someone to ask for a recommendation, or
does not have an independent bookstore nearby
or a public library branch near her.
Maybe her teen's school librarian was laid off
or the book review section of her paper has been omitted.
That is the darkness too visible in this tale.
I wanted one knowledgeable book-loving person
to approach Amy Freeman and ask,
What kinds of books does your 13-year-old like to read?
Who is his or her favorite author?
Teens have been reading grim books
since the Brothers Grimm and Romeo and Juliet.
I trust them to set aside the books they don't like.
What we need are better ways to reach them.
Here's what Jennifer M Brown wrote.
Deeper Understanding: The Dark Is Rising
Is the Dark rising?
I do not mean the series by Susan Cooper,
though it is perhaps an apt metaphor.
In those five books, she explored
the forces of good and evil and
received a Newbery Medal (1976) and Newbery Honor (1974)
for her efforts--through fiction--
to lay out moral dilemmas for young people to ponder.
These past few days many of us have been atwitter about
the piece in the Wall Street Journal
by Megan Cox Gurdon: "Darkness Too Visible."
Gurdon suggests that "pathologies
that went undescribed in print 40 years ago...
are now spelled out in stomach-clenching detail."
Most of us trace the birth of the YA genre back to
The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton (1967)
about gang violence, and to
Paul Zindel's The Pigman (1968)
In which two misfit teens play a prank on
Mr. Angelo Pignati,
then befriend him,
and then, possibly, unwittingly contribute to his death.
Undescribed pathologies?
When M.E. Kerr wrote Night Kites in 1986,
it was one of the first novels in YA or adult literature
to mention AIDS,
narrated by a teen whose older brother
was infected with the virus.
It dispelled myths that ran rampant about
how you could catch "gay cancer"
as it was then called, just from eating off the same dish.
It also won the California Young Reader Medal,
Voted on by teens themselves.
Today we have books like Will Grayson, Will Grayson
by John Green and David Levithan,
in which a straight guy and a gay guy can be best friends,
and a confidently "out" gay guy can help a closeted gay guy
feel more comfortable in his own skin.
It won the 2011 Teen Choice Book of the Year
(sponsored by the Children's Book Council),
again, voted on by teens.
Yes, The Hunger Games are violent.
Suzanne Collins has said that the seeds of that trilogy
came to her while she was watching reality television
and thinking about the Coliseum of gladiator days.
Teens watch reality television.
The Hunger Games gives them something to
(forgive the pun) sink their teeth into.
What would they do if they were Katniss?
Would they sacrifice themselves for a sibling?
Would they save the boy who kept them alive
With the gift of a loaf of bread?
These are the questions Katniss asks herself.
Teens get to stand in her shoes
and ask themselves these questions.
Teens don't purge or cut because of a book they read.
If they are looking for triggers, they will find triggers.
But they might also find in a book like Patricia McCormick's Cut
or Laurie Halse Anderson's Wintergirls
that there are other people like them.
They are not alone.
We need to trust that teens will set aside
the books they're not ready for or simply don't like.
They will.
Girls will also read Will Grayson, Will Grayson,
and boys will read The Hunger Games.
Teens are not other; they are us.
They read sports books and comics
and nonfiction and romance.
They read literary stand-alone novels
and Vampire Diaries one after another.
They want to read what everyone's reading
or they could care less.
So let's turn away from the Dark for a moment
to the Light.
And by "light" I do not mean insubstantial,
I mean authors grappling with
more "mainstream" situations
like Sarah Dessen and Maureen Johnson.
I mean authors asking teens to examine
the messages coming to them from the media:
M.T. Anderson's Feed and Scott Westerfeld's So Yesterday
and Libba Bray's Beauty Queens.
I mean worlds in books that allow teens to step back
and look at their own lives and moral codes in relation to others:
Joan Abelove's Go and Come Back,
Holly Black's White Cat series.
Lauren Oliver's Before I Fall.
Perhaps the protagonist of Gurdon's article,
46-year-old Amy Freeman,
a mother of three stymied in the YA section of her
local B&N in Bethesda, Md.,
could not find someone to ask for a recommendation, or
does not have an independent bookstore nearby
or a public library branch near her.
Maybe her teen's school librarian was laid off
or the book review section of her paper has been omitted.
That is the darkness too visible in this tale.
I wanted one knowledgeable book-loving person
to approach Amy Freeman and ask,
What kinds of books does your 13-year-old like to read?
Who is his or her favorite author?
Teens have been reading grim books
since the Brothers Grimm and Romeo and Juliet.
I trust them to set aside the books they don't like.
What we need are better ways to reach them.
Rabu, 08 Juni 2011
A great opportunity for a kid you know
This announcement from the Mayborn School of Journalism sounds like a pretty cool deal!
I wanted to go to this but I found out about it too late. I'll be there next year for sure!
The Mayborn School of Journalism at the University of North Texas is conducting a national biography contest and writing seminar for high school and community college students.
The competition will provide scholarships to 10 winners and a teacher of each winner’s choice to attend the Mayborn Literary Nonfiction Conference July 22-24 in Grapevine, Texas.
The Mayborn Conference is a gathering of renowned nonfiction storytellers from across the nation. Focusing exclusively on non-fiction, the Mayborn has risen from obscurity to become, in the words of Esquire, “one of the most vital gatherings of writers in America.”
Last summer, Harvard's Nieman Narrative Digest sent its editor, Andrea Pitzer, to cover the Mayborn Conference.
The summer before, the Columbia Journalism Review covered the conference.
The 2011 conference will feature some of the nation’s most prominent narrative nonfiction storytellers. Topping the list is the Mayborn’s Saturday night keynote speaker, Ted Conover, who has ridden the rails with hoboes, snuck across the border with Mexicans, traveled with truck drivers on East Africa’s “AIDS highway,” worked as a prison officer and much more to live inside his subjects’ stories.
Susan Casey, the editor-in-chief of O, The Oprah Magazine, puts herself in harm’s way to write about gigantic rogue waves that sink massive freighters and great white sharks, giving new meaning to the term “immersion reporting.”
And, at age 24, Joshua Foer, a science writer for Slate magazine, spent a year training for the U.S. Memory Championship by extracting secrets from the world's memory savants. Not only did he become a memory champion, he was also offered a $1.2 million contract to write a book about his adventures.
Besides Conover, this year’s keynote speakers are Diane Ackerman, author of One Hundred Names for Love, a memoir that Joyce Carol Oates describes as “intimate, richly documented, and beautiful,” and The Zookeepers Wife: A War Story, a WWII saga of a courageous zookeeper’s wife who sheltered 300 Jews and Polish resisters in her villa and in animal cages and sheds, and the only two-time winner of the Pulitzer Prize for feature writing, the Washington Post’s syndicated-columnist Gene Weingarten. One of his Pulitzer Prize winners began as a stunt. He put a world-class musician in the basement of a Washington, D.C., subway station to see if passers-by would stop and listen.
In total, the conference will feature more than 25 of the nation’s pre-eminent journalists and authors. Bob Shacochis, a National Book Award Winner (Swimming in the Volcano) who spoke at last year's conference, says the Mayborn is "the most compelling, remarkable writers' conference I've attended in more than 20 years of writers' conferences around the nation. Thanks to the Mayborn tribe of storytellers, I think of Dallas as a preferred destination, a center of literary gravity, perhaps the very heart of the universe these days for nonfiction writers in America.”
Biography Contest Details
The competition will provide scholarships to 10 winners and a teacher of each winner’s choice to attend the Mayborn Literary Nonfiction Conference July 22-24.
The 10 winning students and their teachers will be recognized at the Mayborn Conference’s Saturday's night Literary Lights Dinner, and their biographies will be published in The Dallas Morning News. In addition to free conference registration, the 10 winning students will get to participate an all-day workshop with Pulitzer biographer, James McGrath Morris.
Our partners in this endeavor include Shirley Hammond, Barbara Bush's education director in Texas, and Dallas-based Big Thought, a nationally renowned non-profit building partnerships that allow all children access to quality learning opportunities. The contest is funded by Lee Hancock, a reporter at The Dallas Morning News, and Jim Moroney, publisher of The Dallas Morning News.
The deadline for entering the Mayborn's Biography Contest is Monday, June 20, at midnight.
To enter the competition, teachers and their students must register and listen to the archived recording of James McGrath Morris's lecture on narrative nonfiction and biography writing at the George Bush Presidential Library and Museum. To do that, please go to: http://dl.esc6.net
There's a three-step process to enter our biography writing contest:
1) Register by filling out the registration information at the bottom of the homepage.
2) Watch the video of the March 3 event at the Bush Library on the Art and Craft Nonfiction Event. To do that, please click on the streaming link on this page. If the streaming link doesn't function on your computer, please click on the "download" function.
3) Read the contest rules carefully, fill out the application form and send your biography to George Getschow at the address listed on the application form.
Details about the contest can also be found at the Mayborn Conference website
I wanted to go to this but I found out about it too late. I'll be there next year for sure!
Selasa, 07 Juni 2011
Oh my god, YES
I'd be a delighted patron of any movie theatre that tossed people out for talking or texting.
My favorite part: "I've texted in all the other theatres in Austin and no one cared"...yea knucklehead, no one tossed you out maybe, but every single person in the theatre was silently hoping you'd be struck by popcorn poisoning and never be able to set foot in a theatre again without breaking into hives!
Senin, 06 Juni 2011
THE CAT WHO WAS VERY VERY SAD
She had a long life, was loved by many, and will be missed by all of us who know who Koko and Yum-Yum are. And what pasties aren't.
Her obituary is here.
Minggu, 05 Juni 2011
Stuff it
A recent article in the Wall Street Journal about YA books has generated a firestorm of response on Twitter. Here's the article.
And here's my reply:
Stuff it.
I'm not apologizing for reading, representing and selling YA books. Not the ones with violence. Not the ones with sex. Not the ones you scoff at that have "images not of joy or beauty but of damage, brutality and losses of the most horrendous kinds."
Yea, stuff it.
Cause in the world I live in, kids are people too, and reading this kind of "crap" is how they learn to be people in the real world.
Cause YA is about kids learning that bad stuff can happen to good people. If something bad happens to you, it's not cause you ARE bad.
Cause YA is about kids learning to be brave.
Cause YA is about kids learning to affect their own lives, not just be affected.
Cause YA is about kids failing, and not giving up.
Cause YA is about being able to read about fearsome frightening things, and come out on the other side unscathed.
So yea, stuff it.
And while we're here, let me point out that anyone who can't find a "suitable" book among 78 on a general trade booksellers shelf (let alone a staffer who hasn't read a single one!) is probably in the wrong section.
There's nothing wrong with Charlotte's Web or Stuart Little, books I love with all my heart, but they are shelved most likely someplace else. (And let's all remember that Charlotte's Web that great American classic starts with Fern's dad heading out to the pig shed with an ax.)
News articles like this aren't news. They're opinion pieces. Verily, the world of publishing is going to hell in a handbag.
Well, here's my opinion, in case you missed it: Stuff it.
And here's my reply:
Stuff it.
I'm not apologizing for reading, representing and selling YA books. Not the ones with violence. Not the ones with sex. Not the ones you scoff at that have "images not of joy or beauty but of damage, brutality and losses of the most horrendous kinds."
Yea, stuff it.
Cause in the world I live in, kids are people too, and reading this kind of "crap" is how they learn to be people in the real world.
Cause YA is about kids learning that bad stuff can happen to good people. If something bad happens to you, it's not cause you ARE bad.
Cause YA is about kids learning to be brave.
Cause YA is about kids learning to affect their own lives, not just be affected.
Cause YA is about kids failing, and not giving up.
Cause YA is about being able to read about fearsome frightening things, and come out on the other side unscathed.
So yea, stuff it.
And while we're here, let me point out that anyone who can't find a "suitable" book among 78 on a general trade booksellers shelf (let alone a staffer who hasn't read a single one!) is probably in the wrong section.
There's nothing wrong with Charlotte's Web or Stuart Little, books I love with all my heart, but they are shelved most likely someplace else. (And let's all remember that Charlotte's Web that great American classic starts with Fern's dad heading out to the pig shed with an ax.)
News articles like this aren't news. They're opinion pieces. Verily, the world of publishing is going to hell in a handbag.
Well, here's my opinion, in case you missed it: Stuff it.
Sabtu, 04 Juni 2011
"Hello, I have come to kill you"
This blog post about Megladon did a couple things.
First, it made me laugh so hard I had to put down my coffee lest I destroy yet another keyboard. Given he's writing about fierce predators, laughing that hard is a sign the guy can really write.
Second, because the guy can really write, I immediately hunted down the "about the author" button. Further investigation revealed that of course he'd already been snapped up by Farley Chase of the Waxman Agency, but if he hadn't I was ready to lob an offer over his gunwales.
What this means for you: good blog writing gets attention. The kind of attention you as a writer want. Notice there's nothing in that blog post about query stats or his book. You have to, in fact, HUNT to find the book.
Yup, that's EXACTLY the kind of writing I'm looking for, and there's a drooling, slavering pack of agents right behind me looking for the same thing.
First, it made me laugh so hard I had to put down my coffee lest I destroy yet another keyboard. Given he's writing about fierce predators, laughing that hard is a sign the guy can really write.
Second, because the guy can really write, I immediately hunted down the "about the author" button. Further investigation revealed that of course he'd already been snapped up by Farley Chase of the Waxman Agency, but if he hadn't I was ready to lob an offer over his gunwales.
What this means for you: good blog writing gets attention. The kind of attention you as a writer want. Notice there's nothing in that blog post about query stats or his book. You have to, in fact, HUNT to find the book.
Yup, that's EXACTLY the kind of writing I'm looking for, and there's a drooling, slavering pack of agents right behind me looking for the same thing.
Fall 2011: Too Faced Midnight in the Garden of Glamour
Exclusive only to Too Faced for the entire month of June, take a gander at Midnight in the Garden of Glamour new for Fall 2011! That's right, Sephora and Ulta don't even have this yet.
With a garden of gemstone and shimmery neutral colors to play with, this collection rocks my green-eyed world! Green-eyed in that it's the color of my eyes, not that I perceive the world with envy. Ok, that clarified, just imagine how these shades will enhance green eyes. Really, the shades of the new palette will enhance all eye shades beautifully. Let me share more of the deets of the collection.
A smokey eye is the most requested makeup look by women seeking a smoldering, sexy style. Too Faced reintroduces this popular collection with a slimmer package and new, color-saturated formulas. Created for this deeply blended technique, the wearable shades add a modern drama to all eye shapes.
Shades include: Firefly (silvery taupe), White Lie (sugar white), In A Flash (silver shimmer), Cloves (bronzey brown), Nice Ash (charcoal), Smoking Jacket (black plum), Up In Smoke (black brown), Smokin Hot (matte black), Smolder (matte navy)
Personally, I fancied their shadow before, but Too Faced has amped up their shadows with this dangerously rich collection of exotic shadows. These intense sating shades were created as the must-have accessory to compliment their best-selling eye shadow collections.
Introducing Shadow Insurance Lemon Drop Color Correcting Eye Shadow Primer!
World-famous Shadow Insurance primer has been infused with a perfect lemon-yellow tone that neutralizes redness and ruddiness while ensuring eye shadow shades are clear and true every time.
Their creamy, long-wearing eye liners glide on with the ease of a liquid liner and are said to lock down for 8 hours of budge-proof, smudge-proof wear. These high-impact pencils come in six waterproof shades ranging from the necessary classic to cutting-edge couture. Each includes a flexi-firm, beveled smudger to allow for a smokey blend or precise line.
Shades include: Black, Peacock (teal), Black Orchid (blackened plum), Purple, Brown, and Storm (charcoal)
The Midnight in the Garden of Glamour collection also features a dual-helix, keratin-infused, curl-setting mascara (Size Queen tis its name) and a 3-piece brush set created by founder Jerrod Blandino that are "must-haves for all eye makeup application". Visit TooFaced online today to learn more about the collection and for purchase.
Jumat, 03 Juni 2011
Today on QVC: Beauty Newsmakers
Look who's back on QVC! Experience beauty industry genius during Beauty Newsmakers Face-to-Face on QVC today. Meet leading experts in the beauty industry, and get to know the “brains” behind the brands, up close and personal.
Tune in today at 9 AM and 7 PM (ET) for the latest innovations at unbeatable prices. Learn exactly how to use these top beauty products and what they'll do for you through expert presentations complete with tips and how-to's straight from the professionals who created these brands. It's like having your own professional beauty lesson right in the comfort of your own home. Tivo it if you can't watch, or visit QVC online to get video playback, customer reviews and more.
Presentations will include those from Josie Maran, Dr. Adrienne Dense, Mally Roncal, Chaz Dean, Laura Geller, Bobbi Brown and more! Plus, take advantage of value pricing, extra value pay options and bulk sizes for a limited time. Stock up on your favorite WEN cleansing conditioner, which is hugely discounted today and available in pro sizes. (Look at that gallon size bottle ... wowza!)
WEN by Chaz Dean Cleansing Conditioner, One Gallon
QVC Item #/A73764 $160.80 FEATURE PRICE! (Reg. QVC Price $177.00)
I use this product and loooove it! No stripping, gently cleans, and soft, shiny hair results. I even create cleansing conditioning "cocktails." For instance, I love to apply Tea Tree on my head and scalp and Sweet Almond Mint on the length and ends. Sweet aromatherapy treat and hair treatment in one!
The 16oz product sells for $28.00 on QVC; a savings of more than $60!
Take a revolutionary step toward beautiful, healthy, shiny hair. These formulas replace shampoo, conditioner, deep conditioner, detangler, leave-in conditioner, and even shaving cream. Choose from Pomegranate, Sweet Almond Mint, Cucumber Aloe, Fig, Tea Tree and Lavender.
Josie Maran Deluxe Argan Oil with Bonus Color Stick
QVC Item #A216380 $83.76 FEATURE PRICE! (QVC Price $92.00)
This 100% organic argan oil, a legendary, lightweight oil grown in Morocco, is ideal for all skin types. Rich in vitamin E and essential fatty acids, it's effective as a fast-absorbing daily moisturizer. People also use it to heal and condition anything from cuticles to split ends. The argan oil-infused color stick is a sheer tint that provides lasting, natural-looking color to cheeks and lips. Its universally lovely shade, Glow, was specifically created by Josie to flatter every skin tone.
Dr. Denese Pro C Illuminating Cell Defense Pads 100 ct.
QVC Item #A210055 Approximately $49.50
A unique, daily vitamin C facial pad system that helps to brighten and illuminate the complexion and rejuvenate dull, uneven skin into luminous skin. It delivers essential hydration to the skin to help soften the look of lines and wrinkles, smoothes the skin for a more youthful appearance, and delivers superior protection from free radical attack.
Mally Set of Two Light Wand Eye Highlighter and Brightener
QVC Item #A87872 Approximately $35.00
Who doesn't adore Mally? Of course we ALL love her ... and for good reason, she gives us fantastic, professional quality products at unbelievable prices. Love you, Mally xxxx. These Lightwands help give you a gorgeous, wide-awake appearance. The creamy, long-wearing pencil lets your lighten and brighten your eyes, while the extra-soft sponge on the other end gives a touch of light to the inner corners of the eye or anywhere you need it.
Watch Beauty Newsmakers on QVC today or tune in online for the video presentations, pro tips, special pricing and lots of fun!
Kamis, 02 Juni 2011
"What do you look for in a writer," you may ask
Good writing is of course the first answer to that.
But there is a lot of good writing out there. How do you assess whether a writer will be a good fit or has what it takes to survive in this crazy Publication World.
Well, you pay attention to the little things they tell you.
I've been in touch with a prospective author for about three years now, off and on. Recently she sent me her full manuscript. We've had back and forth emails about it, and today very casually she mentions this:
My laptop died two months ago, so 50% of what you are hopefully reading was written on my iPhone.
Yea, that. That's dedication. That's perseverance. THAT'S what I look for.
But there is a lot of good writing out there. How do you assess whether a writer will be a good fit or has what it takes to survive in this crazy Publication World.
Well, you pay attention to the little things they tell you.
I've been in touch with a prospective author for about three years now, off and on. Recently she sent me her full manuscript. We've had back and forth emails about it, and today very casually she mentions this:
My laptop died two months ago, so 50% of what you are hopefully reading was written on my iPhone.
Yea, that. That's dedication. That's perseverance. THAT'S what I look for.
Hypnoteyezed: Starring Jessica Biel and Revlon Grow Luscious Plumping Mascara
Jessica Biel for Revlon Grow Luscious Plumping Mascara
Come hither.
I've a tale to tell. A tale of romance, glamour and flirtation. A tale of phat, plump, dramatic lashes that will knock him off his feet. One of intrigue, anticipation and ....... always better to let our own imaginations do the visualizing. Let yourself go while that scene plays out.
Or, inspire the vision with a playful little peek at Revlon's new film. A Revlon movie? Well, sort of. Revlon’s brand ambassador Jessica Biel stars in “Hypnoteyzed,” a new commercial for their new Grow Luscious Plumping Mascara.
Biel and musician Pharrell Williams star in the 60 second film noir-inspired commercial, which was shot entirely on black and white film. In “Hypnoteyzed,” Biel draws Williams in with her plumped eyelashes and with each bat of her lashes, nearly knocks Williams off his feet. Revlon Grow Luscious Plumping Mascara claims their new product conditions and plumps eyelashes by 200% with every use!
Revlon Grow Luscious Plumping Mascara uses a thickening formula that paired with the innovative precision tapered brush grabs and coats every lash individually for plumped perfection. The volumizing mascara also contains the award-winning Revlon Grow Luscious Mascara technology, including a lash enhancing phyto-peptide formula that conditions and stregthens lashes to compliment their natural growth cycle. The result is lashes so plump, healthy and strong they rival unnatural lash enhancements, says the company.
As of today, Revlon Grow Luscious Plumping Mascara is available in the shades Blackest Black, Black and Blackened Brown (retail: $7.99) in drugstores and mass retailers nationwide, and “Hypnoteyzed” will begin running in US movie theaters on June 13. Enjoy! xo
source/photos: Revlon
Jessica Biel for Revlon Grow Luscious Plumping Mascara
Come hither.
I've a tale to tell. A tale of romance, glamour and flirtation. A tale of phat, plump, dramatic lashes that will knock him off his feet. One of intrigue, anticipation and ....... always better to let our own imaginations do the visualizing. Let yourself go while that scene plays out.
Or, inspire the vision with a playful little peek at Revlon's new film. A Revlon movie? Well, sort of. Revlon’s brand ambassador Jessica Biel stars in “Hypnoteyzed,” a new commercial for their new Grow Luscious Plumping Mascara.
Jessica Biel starring in Revlon's Commercial for Grow Luscious Plumping Mascara
Biel and musician Pharrell Williams star in the 60 second film noir-inspired commercial, which was shot entirely on black and white film. In “Hypnoteyzed,” Biel draws Williams in with her plumped eyelashes and with each bat of her lashes, nearly knocks Williams off his feet. Revlon Grow Luscious Plumping Mascara claims their new product conditions and plumps eyelashes by 200% with every use!
Revlon Grow Luscious Plumping Mascara uses a thickening formula that paired with the innovative precision tapered brush grabs and coats every lash individually for plumped perfection. The volumizing mascara also contains the award-winning Revlon Grow Luscious Mascara technology, including a lash enhancing phyto-peptide formula that conditions and stregthens lashes to compliment their natural growth cycle. The result is lashes so plump, healthy and strong they rival unnatural lash enhancements, says the company.
KEY FEATURES/BENEFITS/INGREDIENTS:
• Plumps lashes up to 200%* instantly for maximum volume
• Thickening formula instantly plumps lashes leaving them more voluminous with each use
• Lash enhancing phyto-peptide formula conditions and strengthens lashes complementing their natural growth cycle;
• Won’t smudge, flake or clump.
*non-waterproof formula only
As of today, Revlon Grow Luscious Plumping Mascara is available in the shades Blackest Black, Black and Blackened Brown (retail: $7.99) in drugstores and mass retailers nationwide, and “Hypnoteyzed” will begin running in US movie theaters on June 13. Enjoy! xo
source/photos: Revlon
Rabu, 01 Juni 2011
Snarl
Here is a list of things I can say with certainty I don't care about:
1. Whether Rep. Anthony Weiner was hacked/bamboozled/justplainstupid about the crotch shot. You've seen one pair of boxer briefs you've seen them all.
2. Sarah Palin's Excellent Adventure. I don't care if she's avoiding reporters or giving Fox an exclusive. I know her opinion on everything: Not-Obama's. I don't want to hear about the 2012 election until ...surprise surprise...2012.
Doesn't the news media have something more interesting to talk about: like the absence of air conditioning my office? Or even better: I just got finished copies of Bill Cameron's COUNTY LINE and it's so GORGEOUS it cured my snarl.
1. Whether Rep. Anthony Weiner was hacked/bamboozled/justplainstupid about the crotch shot. You've seen one pair of boxer briefs you've seen them all.
2. Sarah Palin's Excellent Adventure. I don't care if she's avoiding reporters or giving Fox an exclusive. I know her opinion on everything: Not-Obama's. I don't want to hear about the 2012 election until ...surprise surprise...2012.
Doesn't the news media have something more interesting to talk about: like the absence of air conditioning my office? Or even better: I just got finished copies of Bill Cameron's COUNTY LINE and it's so GORGEOUS it cured my snarl.
Showing (not telling!) how to pitch!
This is absolutely the best example I've seen of How To Pitch if you meet an agent at a conference.
Don't Miss Glamour's Month of Beauty Giveaways
click to enlarge for detail
We're about 2/3 of the way through Glamour's month long celebration of beauty giveaways, but it's not too late to get in on this, ladies and gents. Each day, now through June 9th, beauty products in all categories are being awarded. Still to come:
DHC's Iconic Deep Cleansing Oil - 25 will win!
Perfect Formula's Pink Gel Coat - 30 will win! I love this product; has done wonders for my thin, peeling nails.
Brow Queen Anastasia Soare's Beverly Hills Brow Gel - 25 will win!
L'Occitane's Angelica Protective Lotion with SPF 15 - 25 get this!
and more ...
All the details are in Glamour magazine. You can access the giveaways online here. Good luck, everyone! xo
Source: Glamour, Conde Nast
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