No Blog

Because my mother was admitted to intensive care this week, I needed to make an unplanned trip to Arkansas and have had no time to think about blogging or my manuscript.

I am happy to report that her condition is improving and it looks like I’ll be back in my own little writing corner by this time next week. I hope you’ll stop by then.


Jane Kennedy Sutton
Author of The Ride (to be released by ArcheBooks Publishing)
janekennedysutton@gmail.com
http://janekennedysutton.googlepages.com/
http:/www.authorsden.com/janesutton

Meme

I was tagged for a “meme” (rhymes with dream) this week by my friend and fellow author Tina Murray. I’m going to assume that I am not the only one that had never heard that term.

I looked through my approximately 2500 page, Second Addition, Random House Unabridged Dictionary, shocked that meme was not listed, (it’s never let me down before).

From my ‘research’ on the web, I learned the word became popular in 1976 when mentioned in the book, My Selfish Dream by Richard Dawkins.

The Urban Dictionary (http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=meme), defined meme as: an idea, belief or belief system, or pattern of behavior that spreads throughout a culture either vertically by cultural inheritance (as by parents to children) or horizontally by cultural acquisition (as by peers, information media, and entertainment media).

Or, in blogspeak, meme is an idea that is spread from blog to blog.

In this case, it’s a set of questions. So okay, I can be a good sport and play along. Here goes:

Getting Away With It (I’m not sure what this title has to do with the questions)
1) If you could live for a month in one world or time period from a novel you've read, which would you choose?
Because I like modern conveniences such as nice bathrooms, dishwashers, computers, etc., I wouldn’t want to go back in time. I haven’t read any futuristic books lately and since it would only be for one month, I’m going to select the elite world of the rich and famous of Naples, Florida, from Tina Murray’s soon to be released novel, which I was lucky enough to preview, A Chance to Say Yes.
2) If you could be one character from a comic book or fiction series, who would it be?
Wonder Woman. All those super powers could sure come in handy, she can fly without getting on an airplane and she does have a fantastic figure.
3) Where (in the real world) is your dream vacation spot?
Sanibel, Florida (I know, I seem to be hung up on Southwest Florida but it is Paradise)
4) Name a celebrity or TV personality whom you would like to have lunch with.
I’d probably pick Stephen King, but if George Clooney insisted on joining us, I wouldn’t turn him down.

Okay, now I’ve participated in a meme and it reminds me of a chain letter, so I think I’m probably done with them.

I only have a few additions to the blog list.
http://lakesparkfortmyers.blogspot.com/
http://sandylender.blogspot.com/
http://sirjohnnyray.blogspot.com/

Here are the participants so far (that I know about).
http://janekennedysutton.blogspot.com/
http://www.mbweston.blogspot.com/
http://oldavonladysorders.blogspot.com/
http://todaythedragonwins.blogspot.com/
http://www.greetingsfromthepolebarn.blogspot.com/
http://www.jamiesonwolf.blogspot.com/
http://www.achancetosayyes.blogspot.com/
www.alisonkent.com/blog
http://wokandpan.blogspot.com/
http://heidirubymiller.blogspot.com/
http://willifordblog.com/

If you're not on the meme list of participants above but you want to get in on the game, visit http://todaythedragonwins.blogspot.com/2008/03/meme-to-take-you-away-orthe-dragon.html for Sandy’s instructions. It’s easy.

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/
http://www.authorsden.com/janesutton




Tags: The Ride, ArcheBooks, meme, Richard Dawkins, My Selfish Dream, Random House Dictionary, Urban Dictionary, Getting Away With It, : Tina Murray, Sandy Lender

Celebrations

The next step for a manuscript (MSS) after editing is the galleys (prototype of the book to show how it will look when printed). Because changes are easier before formatting galleys, my editor, Vickie, asked if I’d like to go through The Ride one more time. I groaned and said, “I don’t really want to, but I probably should.”

Tweaking, I’ve discovered, is like a compulsive disorder and once started, there’s no stopping. I don’t know that my minor modifications actually make the story any better; I just know that I had to make them. When I sent the changes back to Vickie, I asked if she thought it was possible read a manuscript without tweaking something. Her reply was, and I quote, “It is physically impossible to Not make changes to a MSS. Well, you might be able to do it, but it will cause hives. ;-)”

Now, I’m back in the relax mode and ready to celebrate. According to the 2008 Chase’s Calendar of Events, March is a great time to do just that because it is:
International Mirth Month - to encourage more mirthful moments
National On-Hold Month - to recognize everyone who has been placed “on-hold” and the businesses that make that time more enjoyable
Optimism Month – to encourage people to boost their optimism
International Expect Success Month – to make good things happen, you must work like there is no other option.
National Umbrella Month – dedicated to the use of, purchase of and conversations about umbrellas
Irish-American Heritage Month –declared by a Presidential Proclamation and how appropriate since March 17th is St. Patrick’s Day.
Small Press Month – honoring independent publishers for publishing unknown authors

So pop the cork on a champagne bottle, go out for an expensive dinner or treat yourself special in whatever way makes you happy, because, regardless of the day, there is obviously something to celebrate.

I am quite excited about it being Small Press Month, so I am going to treat myself to an extra large slice of key lime pie. How will you be celebrating this month?

Thanks for stopping by. Hope to see you next week.

Jane Kennedy Sutton
Author of The Ride (to be released by ArcheBooks Publishing)
janekennedysutton@gmail.com
http://janekennedysutton.googlepages.com/
http://www.authorsden.com/janesutton

Tags: The Ride, ArcheBooks, galleys, Chase’s Calendar of Events, Mirth Month, Optimism Month, Expect Success Month, Umbrella Month, : Irish-American Heritage Month, Small Press Month

“Library a Go-Go”

With the first phase of editing on The Ride complete, I relaxed a little bit this week and caught up on some magazine and on-line reading.

As an author, reader and lover of books, I became disheartened when I read “The Grim Reader” article in the March/April issue of Poets & Writers Magazine, discussing the latest report by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA). According to the article, less than a third of thirteen-year-olds read for pleasure everyday, a 14% decline from two decades ago. The percentage of non-reading seventeen-year-olds doubled over the same period. Americans between the ages of fifteen to twenty-four watch television for about two hours a day and read for seven minutes.

Then I came across some good news on Nathan Bransford’s blog. Apparently, Contra Costa County in California is starting a program called “Library a Go-Go.” It may be a silly name, but the plans are to install book ATMs at BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) stations so that commuters can pick-up or drop off books without leaving the train platform. See http://nathanbransford.blogspot.com/2008/02/this-week-in-publishing_29.html for the entire article.

Obviously, if there is this type of demand for books, then someone must be reading. Is it possible that the idea of using an ATM to select a book will appeal to the younger generation? If the idea catches on, perhaps schools will install them in their hallways, cafeterias, gyms and even libraries.

Maybe such titles as, I Was Tortured by the Pygmy Love Queen and If You Want Closure in Your Relationship, Start With Your Legs, might attract a younger audience. These two, among others, are finalists in the Oddest Book Title Award Contest. Last year’s winner was The Stray Shopping Carts of Eastern North America: A Guide to Field Identification. The odd title article was sent to me by my friend and fellow-writer Tina Murray, author of A Chance to Say Yes, (http://achancetosayyes.blogspot.com/). The entire article is at http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080222/wl_uk_afp/entertainmentbritainpublishingoffbeat;_ylt=AiRqidahktNFhCspbjBy.2YDW7oF
or visit http://www.bookseller.com/ to vote on your choice of oddest title.

If you’ve run across funny or unusual book titles while cruising through a bookstore or library, I’d love to hear about them. Simply click ‘comment’ at the end of this blog to share the titles and to give us all a good laugh.

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/
http://www.authorsden.com/janesutton

Tags: The Ride, ArcheBooks, Poets & Writers Magazine, NEA, Nathan Bransford, oddest book title, Library a Go-Go, Tina Murray, : A Chance to Say Yes, Bookseller.com