The Imaginary Self
Here‘s an article by John Scalzi about the odd experience of being famous. Any published writer is, a little bit, public property (ditto any parent of a baby).
“I think she’s essentially correct when she notes that the fictional version people have of you in their heads in more about them than it is about you; everything gets filtered through their brain and how people fill in the blanks is by sticking in bits based on their own experiences, sometimes from others but mostly from themselves.”
“Red Dirt Diary” by Katrina Nannestad
“We have an extra special coffee and dessert evening planned for you !” said the woman at the front of church. “With a guest author!”
“Oh dear,” I thought.
A name was mentioned – Katrina Nannestad. I hadn’t heard it before.
“Oh dear,” I thought.
Someone beside me whispered that the author was somebody’s wife’s something.
“Oh dear,” I thought. “I bet it’s someone who’s busily congratulating themselves on the decision to self-publish their utterly awful drivel, and who is now desperately self-promoting while putting off the realisation that no-one would willingly buy their book except through sheer face-to-face embarrassment.”
And everyone at church knows I’m a writer, too. I bet they think I’m SO pleased.
Oh dear.
I went home and googled Katrina Nannestad. The word “diary” in the title rang loud alarm bells – but she WAS published by Harper Collins, so she had to be pretty all right. I emailed the woman from church saying I’d come, and ordered “Red Dirt Diary” from the library. If it was awful, I could just keep quiet at the ladies’ evening and no-one would get hurt.
The rest of the review is at Comfy Chair, where I get paid for it.
On The Move
As of literally this morning, Louisette can do this:
Probably many of you are able to get on hands and knees quite easily. But this is where she was earlier this year – barely able to open her eyes, because the dimmest light was too much.
Things not to do when one’s child is less than a year old
1. Diet
2. Travel
3. Get sick
4. Renovate
5. Move house
On the up side, if we do manage to hit all five (keeping in mind that #3 and #4 are not our fault, despite their marvellous synchronicity), #5 will quite probably be a move into our own house. . . blogging all the way.
Fire Twirling
is always cool.
[I’m still posting early due to tradies. Yes of course I’m taking photos – though sadly only of our house, not the tradies.]
The girl is actually swinging a hula hoop – something I haven’t seen before.
Facebook and regional cultures
[I’m posting this somewhat early due to the fact that my ceiling is being replaced on real-Monday. Just pretend I posted it then, okay?]
Here is an article about facebook photos from different parts of the world. Can you guess the results before you read it?
I’m sure there’s an article on the cultural differences in cat photos, but I don’t know where it is. In the meantime, here’s a cat in a box.
Wardrobe Malfunction, circa 1922 (safe for work)
These women are being arrested for being out and about in (horrors) their bathing suits.
Self-Publishing
I’m toying with the idea of self-publishing one of my books online, and I’d welcome your thoughts. It needs to be one that is good, but has been rejected by at least six publishers (sadly, that still gives me a choice of book). Realistically, self-publishing is just a new kind of slushpile, with an even smaller statistical chance of success. Still, I may as well try something new – it’s not like I don’t have an online presence!
This is why it will cost readers more than ninety-nine cents.
Artemis Fowl and the Lost Colony
Oddly enough, I haven’t written a review of the first Artemis Fowl book – it’s excellent, believe me. So here’s a review of the second, and there are more Eoin Colfer reviews on the way.
The rest of this review is at Comfy Chair, where I get paid for it.
Girl Time
Yesterday, Louisette saw her cousin for the first time in many months.
My sister and her family have just moved back to Canberra from Perth. There isn’t much that is more awesome than that.
Felicity Banks 