Thoughts on Tuesday

First, a couple of strange things I’ve seen on the Internet…

1. The publisher of Kunati Books advises authors to create not one, not two, but twelve blogs to promote their books. (Edited to add : As of August 27, 2009, Kunati is no longer in business and the publisher's blog is no longer available -- Marian)

Create multiple blogs, at a minimum twelve or more, each on separate themes

Writers are also advised to blog every day. I couldn’t help noticing, though, that this post (the most recent) was from May of this year and none of the previous posts on the front page of his blog had any comments. Perhaps as a result of Kunati’s problems with writers.

Hopefully no writers contracted with this press at the time took the publisher seriously and tried to maintain twelve or more blogs.

2. But it’s Internet law that no matter what odd thing you find, there’s something even odder out there, and that’s Alphar Publishing’s offer to readers.

Alphar… offers you, the reader, the opportunity to achieve a new form of immortality--by having either:

1) You or loved-one included as the character in a book...Just enter your name below.

2) Or... For a fee (except in the case of special promotions), we will include your preferred characteristics--such as appearance, location, idiosynchrasies, and even the additional character of a friend or adversary, and perhaps the name of your hometown or favorite hang out... enter in form below.

Where to start?

Firstly, it’s spelled idiosyncrasies.

Secondly, what author is prepared to write this kind of thing? I’ve included the names of a few people I know in my work – modified, done with their consent and not bearing any resemblance to the actual person. Not only were they my friends rather than strangers, they fitted into my world. They weren’t jammed in because they or someone else paid a fee for admittance.

Thirdly, I don’t want to imagine the possible legal repercussions of including a person’s “adversary” in the story, real name and identifying details and all.

Finally, if having your name in something printed and bound is immortality (which makes me imagine Brad Pitt in Troy shouting at his men, “Immortality! Take it! It’s yours!”), write a story starring yourself and have it bound by Kinko’s, or buy a copy from Lulu. Then put it in a strongbox and bury that deep underground, as a sort of time capsule that future generations can dig up.

On to something more cheery.

Marge at Muse Mountain awarded me a Kreativ Blogger award.



Thank you, Marge. :) I also have to name seven of my favorite things, so in no particular order…

1. Raindrops on roses Writing of every kind.

2. Tea. Tea is the drink of queens, specifically this one. Whether it’s grown in Sri Lanka or dumped into harbors in the United States, whether it’s drunk from billycans in Australia or futuristic teacups in space (in which case it should be Earl Grey and hot), tea is always a good thing.

3. The Internet. I’m very happy for my hi-speed connection and ability to look at so many sites. Back when I lived in the Middle East, not only was I on dial-up but a lot of sites were blocked by the government-controlled ISP.

4. The people who are part of my life.

5. Biology. Studying how life works has fascinated me ever since I was a wee one, and the more I learn about it, the more I want to know.

6. Music of every kind. I listen to Enya and Evanescence, to Grieg’s “In the Hall of the Mountain King” and Prince’s “When Doves Cry”, Genesis’s “Jesus He Knows Me” and Clay Aiken’s “Mary Did You Know”.

7. Canada. I gripe about the weather and the taxes now, but when I was in the Middle East I thought of this as the Promised Land. And things have worked out pretty well for me here.