More News and Fun Stuff
Jun
01, 2011 |Filed in:
Uncategorized
I’ve never used Twitpic and probably never will. If you do, please be aware that in the fine print of their contract is the stipulation that any images you send through their service are theirs to do with as they please. Yeah. That’s right. You do still own the rights to the images, but you’ve given them the legal right to use those images in whatever way they wish. So do be careful and aware. And curse all EULAs with me. 🙂
And now onto happier tidings: I was recently tagged by one of my wonderful followers, Medeia Sharif. I’m supposed to share bits of my day with you all, so here goes:
Do you think you’re hot?
Not after regaining the forty pounds I lost five years ago. Thanks in large part to depression and an inability to avoid chocolate.
Upload a picture or wall paper you are using at the moment.
Sorry, my wallpaper is a picture of my daughter riding on my father’s shoulders, but I want to keep online pictures of her to a minimum.
When was the last time you ate chicken meat?
Two days ago, if chicken fingers really count???
The Song(s) you listened to recently?
Okay, you’re going to laugh, but the hubby picked up School House Rock on DVD several days ago and our daughter has watched every single ditty many times now. I go to sleep with “I’m Just a Bill,” “Rufus Xavier Sarsaparilla,” etc on my brain. LOL
What were you thinking as you were doing this?
Medeia wished her cat would leave her alone, I wished my daughter had slept in for ten more minutes so I could have finished yesterday morning!
Do you have nicknames?
Let’s see, the GYN called me a Tiger when I was born because I peed on him. (So? You wanna make a deal about it?) Dad still calls me Tiger to this day.
Also, there’s Mrs. Nezbitt (See Toy Story 1 when Buzz is a little off his rocker. That’s me.), endearments my husband invites that I will NOT share here and those things one gets called for being strong-willed, but those don’t really apply as nicknames, do they?
Tag eight Blogger friends.
(You are it!)
8. Laurel Garver
Who’s listed as number one?
Who’s listed as number one?
Julie Flanders. “What Else Is Possible” is the name of her blog and that says so many wonderful things about her.
Say something about number 5.
Her blog is utterly fascinating and recently, quite moving.
How did you get to know number 3?
We belong to Crested Butte’s writing community. Also, I judged her entry this year and am thrilled she is a finalist!
How about number 4?
We first met in the Historical Fiction Online Critique group. Sandi is an amazing writer of historical Christian fiction and even more important, she walks the walk. You have to read her testimony and recent trials to know what I mean, but she’s someone I’m so thankful has entered my life.
Leave a message for number 6.
Why the snapping turtle? Not that I don’t like snappers. I do. My then boyfriend (now husband) and I once saved one from squishdom on the highway. I love them. From a safe distance. LOL
Leave a lovey-dovey message for number 2.
Lisa has been such a rock of support recently – both through reading my mistaken drafts and comforting me when I got dropped from Amazon’s Breakthrough contest. She’s a super friend and author.
Do number 7 and number 8 have any similarities?
They’re both writers and tweeters and extra nice people. (For instance, I first met Laurel when she had her 111 followers contest and I won a nice big prize in which she said some very kind comments about my work. If you hurry over there this week, she’s wrapping up her 333 followers contest and there are some mighty nice gifts to be had. Margo comes and talks in here all the time – you’ve probably seen her – and she always has the most thoughtful responses. I don’t think she’s every dropped the “How interesting,” comment yet. LOL)
Links and Other Publishing Information of Note
May
30, 2011 |Filed in:
UncategorizedThis is a neat link I got from Vanessa Di Gregorio at Let the Words Flow. If you’re looking farther afield for authors to read and/or compare your work to, this Lit map is a God-send. Check it out and get your library card or Borders/Barnes&Nobel membership cards out. You’ll need them.
In other news: Scholastic has hired Duriya Aziz as vp, educational publishing, international group, reporting to Shane Armstrong, president, Scholastic international and growth markets. Aziz was at educational publisher Marshall Cavendish International (Singapore). Based in Singapore, she will be “responsible for building a publishing team to develop and adapt existing product for international markets, with a particular focus on the Southeast Asian region” along with directing the publishing operations at Scholastic India.
The Sandalwood Tree by Elle Newmark
May
25, 2011 |Filed in:
Uncategorized
Synopsis:
A sweeping novel that brings to life two love stories, ninety years apart, set against the rich backdrop of war-torn India.
In 1947, American historian and veteran of WWII, Martin Mitchell, wins a Fulbright Fellowship to document the end of British rule in India. His wife, Evie, convinces him to take her and their young son along, hoping a shared adventure will mend their marriage, which has been strained by war.
But other places, other wars. Martin and Evie find themselves stranded in a colonial bungalow in the Himalayas due to violence surrounding the partition of India between Hindus and Muslims. In that house, hidden behind a brick wall, Evie discovers a packet of old letters, which tell a strange and compelling story of love and war involving two young Englishwomen who lived in the same house in 1857.
Drawn to their story, Evie embarks on a mission to piece together her Victorian mystery. Her search leads her through the bazaars and temples of India as well as the dying society of the British Raj. Along the way, Martin’s dark secret is exposed, unleashing a new wedge between Evie and him. As India struggles toward Independence, Evie struggles to save her marriage, pursuing her Victorian ghosts for answers.
Bursting with lavish detail and vivid imagery of Calcutta and beyond, The Sandalwood Tree is a powerful story about betrayal, forgiveness, fate, and love.
The Sandalwood Tree by Elle Newmark is the interweaving of two poignant stories set in two of India’s most turbulent periods – the Sepoy Rebellion in 1857 and Partition in 1947.
The novel alternates back and forth between the two stories flawlessly. Using rich, descriptive prose, the author truly recreates the resonances and aromas of daily Indian culture. There is a pervading exoticism throughout that touches the reader’s senses. I especially enjoyed the mystery surrounding the hidden letters and the path of discovery the heroine ventured upon to learn the full story of Adela and Felicity nearly one hundred years prior.
This novel had all the hallmarks of a great story – mystery, conflict, and a fascinating historical period. Add to that some heart-wrenching scenes and a nicely complex plot, and you’ll find yourself reading long into the night with this novel. For an easy to read, enjoyable novel about some basic facts in Indian history, this is definitely one to read!
This review was written by Mirella Patzer at the Historical Novel Review site and is reprinted here with her permission.
What Makes a Book Good
Today’s post is brought to you on behalf of book review responsibilities. I’ve signed up to read several books for review and I’ve had one of them on my nightstand, reading a chapter a night for about a month. Or at least that’s what I shot for. Imagine my shock when I realized I was not even halfway through a comparatively short book! I’m afraid I find all sorts of reasons not to read it before I go to bed. It’s too late, I’m tired, I have to get up early in the morning and write my own stories. The real reason is, the book has endless chapters where nothing happens. This was brought home to me last week when I picked up a different review book to take with me while I’m on errands. This second book, “Hidden Voices,” (if you’re interested in music or Renaissance Italy, take a look at it. I will have a full review up within a week at Historical Novel Review, but not here because of the setting) is a joy to read. The characters are so well done and the author clearly knows Venice and music. So I’m faced with the juxtaposition of these books and I know why I dislike one and have devoured the other. But I enjoy other books for different reasons, which does lead to this week’s question:
What are must-have points for you in a good book? One of my best friends and I discussed this a while back. For one of us, setting was important, but another wanted stronger characterization. I wanted some sort of plot if either one of these weren’t a strong-point, but she didn’t care. For me to love a book, I need to identify with or admire the characters and be lifted up emotionally by them. So what draws you in?
I Have a Confession
May
16, 2011 |Filed in:
Uncategorized
Lord, forgive me for writer’s block. Or whatever you want to call it.
Have you ever been at a place where you have loads of ideas and no interest in doing any of them? I’ve been there since I came back from Crested Butte last year. I just keep rewriting, editing previous works. Submitting them. And not moving forward.
I’m not sure if I need new stimulation. I cleaned all day yesterday, which hardly made a dent in the house, to be honest, but cleaning has helped in the past. At least I have my workstation for the first time in a year. If I’d gone for a walk this morning, maybe with a notebook, that might have helped, but I’m still in my housecoat and the kidlit will be up any minute wanting breakfast. Can you tell I’m just spinning my wheels? My hubby complained over the weekend that I spend too much time at the computer and he’s right. But what have I accomplished? I think perhaps that’s what has me paralyzed. The question of whether or not what you’re doing has any importance, value, or relevancy is agonizing.
Maybe I’ll wade through some more of my mountain of email. Enter a contest. Maybe I’ll make cookies. Or weave a basket underwater while listening to Beethoven and thinking of other useless activities. Do you ever get to this place? What do you do?