One day this week, after checking my email for the umpteenth time only to find nothing of interest, (i.e. any communication from my editor or publisher), I started to do some research. Okay, ‘research’ is stretching the truth a bit—I was surfing the net rather aimlessly trying to get my mind off the slow-moving publication world.
I consider it time well spent because I ran across an article by Garrett Santos, dated October 2007, called 15 Ridiculously Useful Websites. Although familiar with a few of the sites, like Web MD, Kayak and Epicurious, the others were new to me. Other than http://bartleby.com/ (a thorough reference site) they have nothing to do with the world of writing, but he’s right—they really are ridiculously useful sites
For instance, when you finish reading a wonderful book and wonder what to read next, http://www.whatshouldireadnext.com/ can help. Simply enter the name and author of the book you enjoyed and it’ll recommend other books you may also like.
Or, if you hate packing (and who doesn’t), check out http://upl.codeq.info/ for a universal packing list. You answer a few questions about the trip you are planning including activities you enjoy and average temperatures for the destination (if you don’t know, a simple click will help you find out) and voilá, a packing list is created just for you. My favorite question had to do with size of bags because the choices range from “I’ve hired Sherpas,” to “extremely small.”
The article by Garrett Santos and the full list of websites can be found at http://www.webupon.com/Web-Talk/15-Ridiculously-Useful-Websites.50487.
If you have any ridiculously useful sites you’d like to share, I’d love to hear about them.
Thanks for stopping by. See you next week.
Jane Kennedy Sutton
Author of The Ride (to be released by ArcheBooks Publishing)
janekennedysutton@gmail.com
http://janekennedysutton.googlepages.com/
Tags: The Ride, Archebooks, Garrett Santos, 15 Ridiculously Useful Websites , what should I read next, universal packing list, Bartleby, Web M.D., Kayak, Epicurious
Friday, November 30, 2007
Friday, November 23, 2007
Busily Waiting
I recently attended The Florida Writers Association Conference in Orlando. What a fun and informative environment for getting to know a few friends from my local writing group better as well as for meeting many new writers.
I enjoyed a presentation by William F. Nolan, the author of Logan’s Run. Although he writes mostly science fiction, his advice and expertise covered all genres. He’s a direct and funny speaker, with the enviable writing ability of describing his observations with a minimum of carefully selected words that easily engage the one’s imagination.
Richard Paul Evans told an incredible tale of his road to success. He wrote The Christmas Box, his most popular book, for his daughters and not for the publishing world. Simply giving the book to his family members, a few friends and neighbors, started a snowball effect. The book became an authors dream; a bidding war by the big publishing houses, a lucrative contract and popularity beyond anyone’s wildest imagination. I have not read his books yet—but after hearing him speak, I plan to read them all.
There were many other sessions and presenters, and I took away some valuable nugget from each. I returned home realizing I still have so much to learn.
In this competitive field, filled with talented writers, I am so grateful that The Ride has found a publisher. I’m hoping my renewed sense of appreciation for the manuscript making it to this stage will help to make the long drawn out publishing process a little easier to bear.
I was home for one full day before leaving for the bright lights of Las Vegas. Although I left Las Vegas with no money and most likely two damaged lungs from all the second hand smoke I absorbed in the casinos, I had a great time with our friends. We numbered nine this year and everyone seems as anxious as I am to have my book come out. It’s great having their support and encouragement. I can’t wait to do it all again next year.
In total, I was away from home for about a week but it felt as though I’d been away for a much longer period. I have no idea why. But, whatever the reason, I expected to find many things changed in my absence and my e-mail chock full of encouraging communications from my editor, Vickie, at ArcheBooks Publishing.
Although I did miss my grandson’s first haircut, home was pretty much the same as when I left and not a single message from Vickie appeared among the numerous e-ads and spam that occupied my inbox.
“Maybe next week,” says the proverbial optimist in me.
To which my pessimistic side responded, “You must be nuts if you thing anything will happen during the holiday season.”
I hope the optimist gets to gloat, but only time will tell.
Thanks for stopping by. See you next week.
Jane Kennedy Sutton
Author of The Ride (to be released by ArcheBooks Publishing)
janekennedysutton@gmail.com
http://janekennedysutton.googlepages.com/
Tags: The Ride, Archebooks, Las Vegas, Florida Writers Association, William Nolan, Logan’s Run, Richard Paul Evans, The Christmas Box
I enjoyed a presentation by William F. Nolan, the author of Logan’s Run. Although he writes mostly science fiction, his advice and expertise covered all genres. He’s a direct and funny speaker, with the enviable writing ability of describing his observations with a minimum of carefully selected words that easily engage the one’s imagination.
Richard Paul Evans told an incredible tale of his road to success. He wrote The Christmas Box, his most popular book, for his daughters and not for the publishing world. Simply giving the book to his family members, a few friends and neighbors, started a snowball effect. The book became an authors dream; a bidding war by the big publishing houses, a lucrative contract and popularity beyond anyone’s wildest imagination. I have not read his books yet—but after hearing him speak, I plan to read them all.
There were many other sessions and presenters, and I took away some valuable nugget from each. I returned home realizing I still have so much to learn.
In this competitive field, filled with talented writers, I am so grateful that The Ride has found a publisher. I’m hoping my renewed sense of appreciation for the manuscript making it to this stage will help to make the long drawn out publishing process a little easier to bear.
I was home for one full day before leaving for the bright lights of Las Vegas. Although I left Las Vegas with no money and most likely two damaged lungs from all the second hand smoke I absorbed in the casinos, I had a great time with our friends. We numbered nine this year and everyone seems as anxious as I am to have my book come out. It’s great having their support and encouragement. I can’t wait to do it all again next year.
In total, I was away from home for about a week but it felt as though I’d been away for a much longer period. I have no idea why. But, whatever the reason, I expected to find many things changed in my absence and my e-mail chock full of encouraging communications from my editor, Vickie, at ArcheBooks Publishing.
Although I did miss my grandson’s first haircut, home was pretty much the same as when I left and not a single message from Vickie appeared among the numerous e-ads and spam that occupied my inbox.
“Maybe next week,” says the proverbial optimist in me.
To which my pessimistic side responded, “You must be nuts if you thing anything will happen during the holiday season.”
I hope the optimist gets to gloat, but only time will tell.
Thanks for stopping by. See you next week.
Jane Kennedy Sutton
Author of The Ride (to be released by ArcheBooks Publishing)
janekennedysutton@gmail.com
http://janekennedysutton.googlepages.com/
Tags: The Ride, Archebooks, Las Vegas, Florida Writers Association, William Nolan, Logan’s Run, Richard Paul Evans, The Christmas Box
Thursday, November 8, 2007
The Wait Goes On
I heard from my editor, Vickie, this week.
“Wonderful,” I hear you saying, “now you finally have some positive news to share.”
Oh, how I wish. My very brief communication from her said that although I was in the red zone (I think that’s publishing speak for the production process), she was still working on several books ahead of mine and had not even started to edit The Ride.
Not exactly the sort of news I hoped to hear.
Sigh.
On the positive side, I now know I haven’t been forgotten; my editor hasn’t been ignoring me; she wasn’t abducted by a UFO; and, that the editing delay has nothing to do with the condition of my manuscript.
Vickie did go on to say, “But the good news is, it should not be long.”
I have a funny feeling that my definition of “long” is entirely different from hers.
I hope that the old adage, “Good things come to those that wait,” is true, because ‘waiting’ has been a major pastime of mine since writing The Ride. And, it looks as if the wait has only just begun.
Another sigh.
This week, while I wait, I’ll be attending the Sixth Annual Florida Writers Association Conference at the Coronado Springs Resort at Walt Disney World.
When I return, Kim and I leave for our annual trek to Las Vegas where we meet up with some of our wonderful friends for a few days. Since I plan to be sitting in front of slot machines instead of my computer, there’ll be no blog on the 16th.
I’ll be back here on the 23rd. In the meantime, Happy Thanksgiving and thanks for stopping by.
Jane Kennedy Sutton
Author of The Ride (coming soon from ArcheBooks Publishing)
janekennedysutton@gmail.com
http://janekennedysutton.googlepages.com/
Tags: The Ride, Archebooks, Florida Writers Association, Sixth Annual Florida Writers Association Conference , Coronado Springs Resort at Walt Disney World
“Wonderful,” I hear you saying, “now you finally have some positive news to share.”
Oh, how I wish. My very brief communication from her said that although I was in the red zone (I think that’s publishing speak for the production process), she was still working on several books ahead of mine and had not even started to edit The Ride.
Not exactly the sort of news I hoped to hear.
Sigh.
On the positive side, I now know I haven’t been forgotten; my editor hasn’t been ignoring me; she wasn’t abducted by a UFO; and, that the editing delay has nothing to do with the condition of my manuscript.
Vickie did go on to say, “But the good news is, it should not be long.”
I have a funny feeling that my definition of “long” is entirely different from hers.
I hope that the old adage, “Good things come to those that wait,” is true, because ‘waiting’ has been a major pastime of mine since writing The Ride. And, it looks as if the wait has only just begun.
Another sigh.
This week, while I wait, I’ll be attending the Sixth Annual Florida Writers Association Conference at the Coronado Springs Resort at Walt Disney World.
When I return, Kim and I leave for our annual trek to Las Vegas where we meet up with some of our wonderful friends for a few days. Since I plan to be sitting in front of slot machines instead of my computer, there’ll be no blog on the 16th.
I’ll be back here on the 23rd. In the meantime, Happy Thanksgiving and thanks for stopping by.
Jane Kennedy Sutton
Author of The Ride (coming soon from ArcheBooks Publishing)
janekennedysutton@gmail.com
http://janekennedysutton.googlepages.com/
Tags: The Ride, Archebooks, Florida Writers Association, Sixth Annual Florida Writers Association Conference , Coronado Springs Resort at Walt Disney World
Thursday, November 1, 2007
Multiple Personalities
Can you believe it’s November already? That means my grandson is now a year old, Halloween is over and we’re officially into the holiday season. Will that mean the publishing/editing world comes to a standstill while publishers/editors are out wheeling, dealing, and celebrating with booksellers? I certainly hope not, but I think it’s a good possibility.
Since March, I’ve believed The Ride would be released by Christmas. Miracles happen and that’s still a possibility. At this point, however, Christmas 2008 is more of a probability.
The length of time it’s taking my editor to contact me, brings back bad memories of my disappointing experience with my agent who wouldn’t talk to me. (http://janekennedysutton.blogspot.com/2007/08/serendipity.html and http://janekennedysutton.blogspot.com/2007_05_18_archive.html for more on Susan Graham at the About Words Agency). What if I have this same effect on my editor? That’s enough to give me nightmares.
Recently, I read the book Set This House in Order by Matt Ruff. I’m not going to do a book review (because there are a zillion other blogs for that) other that to say I think it’s an interesting, well-written and thought provoking book. The main character, Andy, suffers from multiple personality disorder and meets a co-worker, Penny, with the same disorder. There is never a dull moment in their lives (or in the book).
While reading the book, I decided that we all are creatures with multiple personalities; though I think I’ll speak for myself here and not all humankind. I, much like a thousand layer pastry, consists of, well…a thousand very thin layers. The difference between Andy, Penny and me is that I have not been mishandled in a way that shattered the cohesiveness of the layers. In other words, my various personalities don’t go by other names, they all look and talk like me and are all the same age, (although it is tempting to think about a younger offshoot).
Normally I’m just easy-going Jane, but writing seems to bring out more of these other layers of personalities. In this blog alone, you can spot the worrier in the first paragraph; in the second, naivety peeks out, the optimist briefly appears and logical wraps it up; in the third paragraph there’s a glimpse of my paranoid side.
There’s also my serious layer and a silly one; a confident side and an insecure one; a polite side and a rude one (that mostly surfaces in reference to the current Administration); the neat me, the messy, the…well, I’m sure you have the idea and it’s not necessary to list all thousand layers.
If my layers continue to hold together for another week while I wait for word from my editor, I’ll see you next Friday.
Thanks for stopping by.
Jane Kennedy Sutton
Author of The Ride (soon to be released (I hope), by ArcheBooks Publishing)
janekennedysutton@gmail.com
http://janekennedysutton.googlepages.com/
Tags: The Ride, Archebooks, Susan Graham, About Words Agency, Set This House in Order, Matt Ruff, multiple personality disorder
Since March, I’ve believed The Ride would be released by Christmas. Miracles happen and that’s still a possibility. At this point, however, Christmas 2008 is more of a probability.
The length of time it’s taking my editor to contact me, brings back bad memories of my disappointing experience with my agent who wouldn’t talk to me. (http://janekennedysutton.blogspot.com/2007/08/serendipity.html and http://janekennedysutton.blogspot.com/2007_05_18_archive.html for more on Susan Graham at the About Words Agency). What if I have this same effect on my editor? That’s enough to give me nightmares.
Recently, I read the book Set This House in Order by Matt Ruff. I’m not going to do a book review (because there are a zillion other blogs for that) other that to say I think it’s an interesting, well-written and thought provoking book. The main character, Andy, suffers from multiple personality disorder and meets a co-worker, Penny, with the same disorder. There is never a dull moment in their lives (or in the book).
While reading the book, I decided that we all are creatures with multiple personalities; though I think I’ll speak for myself here and not all humankind. I, much like a thousand layer pastry, consists of, well…a thousand very thin layers. The difference between Andy, Penny and me is that I have not been mishandled in a way that shattered the cohesiveness of the layers. In other words, my various personalities don’t go by other names, they all look and talk like me and are all the same age, (although it is tempting to think about a younger offshoot).
Normally I’m just easy-going Jane, but writing seems to bring out more of these other layers of personalities. In this blog alone, you can spot the worrier in the first paragraph; in the second, naivety peeks out, the optimist briefly appears and logical wraps it up; in the third paragraph there’s a glimpse of my paranoid side.
There’s also my serious layer and a silly one; a confident side and an insecure one; a polite side and a rude one (that mostly surfaces in reference to the current Administration); the neat me, the messy, the…well, I’m sure you have the idea and it’s not necessary to list all thousand layers.
If my layers continue to hold together for another week while I wait for word from my editor, I’ll see you next Friday.
Thanks for stopping by.
Jane Kennedy Sutton
Author of The Ride (soon to be released (I hope), by ArcheBooks Publishing)
janekennedysutton@gmail.com
http://janekennedysutton.googlepages.com/
Tags: The Ride, Archebooks, Susan Graham, About Words Agency, Set This House in Order, Matt Ruff, multiple personality disorder
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