Tiah Beautement's Blog, page 132
May 15, 2011
A Lovely Day
Still in Cape Town. All is going well. See, pessimism is great because then you are not disappointed and then can be so happy about all the good that happened. I did get to the literary fest. I had no idea what to expect and I confess, I can't tell you much about it. Other than the main bookshop, I did nothing festival wise. I looked at the schedule and saw lots and lots of things I would have swooned to have gone to on the other days. Today's schedule was fine but...but it was a stunning day and I...
May 13, 2011
Wall Flower Itis
We are going to Cape Town. After much 'we are, we are not, we are but..., okay it is fine' we are leaving tonight in the cover of darkness. My godchildren are turning 7. I missed their (yes, their) party last year due to Thing 2 being between hospital stays. Husband and Thing 1 went, had great time. But this year we're all going. Haven't seen each other for ages. But I can't say I'm thrilled. Perhaps I am a bit odd, but I prefer visiting people for no bloody reason at all. Going for birthdays and holidays is chaotic....
May 10, 2011
Slow Motion by Andie Miller
I can't stop talking about Andie Miller's non-fiction collection of essays Slow Motion. They claim it is stories about walking. But really, it is about life, how we live it, and don't. It is about the importance of history, and the consequences of school systems that ignore it. It is about identity, social interaction, pets, guide dogs and golf. It is about children that play in the streets and those that sit in front of the TV. It is about our elderly, race and class. It is about watching your neighbourhood deteriorate and taking back the streets. It is about...
May 9, 2011
Guest Post by Lori Widmer: Fiction Writers: What are you worth?
Every day, I write a blog aimed at freelance writers who want to build and grow a business. Four years ago, I started a now-annual movement called Writers Worth Week, where writers of all genres celebrate their value and raise awareness among our peers. As fiction writers, you face the same challenges that your non-fiction counterparts struggle with. Fiction writing is as much a business pursuit as is non-fiction writing. Yet are you treating it that way? There is a misconception in the writing community – and among fiction writers, as well – that fiction is not "real work." Those...
May 8, 2011
Guest post tomorrow
About a month ago Damaria of Storypot asked me if I'd be wiling to host Lori Widmer as a guest blogger in honour of Writers Worth Week. It is a subject I've never given that much attention, mostly due the fact that the focus tends to be on freelance writers. I conveyed these sentiments to Lori, who offered to write an entire post dedicated to those of us struggling in the realm of fiction. Her post will be out in its entirety tomorrow. Her words have got me thinking. Thus, I really love to hear your thoughts on what she...
May 5, 2011
Waiting for normal
1. In a grand stroke of motherhood I took my children to school today. School started Tuesday. Thursday and Tuesday share many of the same letters. 2. No they are not ill. But I am. And so is Husband. But that isn't why they missed school. I simply read the schedule wrong. Again. 3. I've had many people tell me I am the most organised person they know. 4. I leave you to your own conclusions of what that says about humanity. 5. I had lovely friends over for the long weekend. We had a lot of fun. My daughter...
April 28, 2011
The Edge of Things
The Edge of Things, edited by Arja Salafranca and published by Dye Hard Press is out. It will be sold at bookstores in South Africa and can be bought directly from the publisher: dyehardpress@iafrica.com Whose in it? So glad you asked. From the link: Jayne Bauling, Arja Salafranca, Liesl Jobson, Gillian Schutte, Karina Magdalena Szczurek, Jenna Mervis, Jennifer Lean, Fred de Vries, Margie Orford, Aryan Kaganof, Bernard Levinson, Hamilton Wende, Pravasan Pillay, Beatrice Lamwaka, Hans Pienaar, Rosemund Handler, Tiah Beautement, Angelina N Sithebe, Jeanne Hromnik, David wa Maahlamela, Perd Booysen, Gail Dendy, Silke Heiss and Dan Wylie. Okay, the 'link...
April 27, 2011
Learning to bake again
By the age of ten I could bake my mother's oatmeal chocolate chip cookies with only an occasional oops. I never knew if I'd have children, but if I did, I swore I would make these cookies for them. I'd wait until they were tucked in bed and then turn the mixer on, while they struggled to keep quiet. As the oven door opened with the first batch, they would tip toe out of bed, looking sleepy and too darn cute, and beg for 'just one' and then many, as I did when I was young. The chocolate chip cookie...
April 26, 2011
Tuesday Links
Still no book to highlight. I am in the middle of Andie Miler's Slow Motion. I don't normally mention what I am currently reading for fear I won't like it and then get asked, 'So what did you think of...' I am not against voicing my opinion on most subjects in this blog, but when books are concerned I try to follow the mantra, 'If you have nothing nice to say then say nothing at all.' (For this blog. Ask me in person and you may struggle to shut me up.) As far as Andie Miller's book goes, think we're...
April 24, 2011
Happy Easter!
We're home this year. Children survived a two hour church service. I still can't figure out how MY children behaved that well. Do you think it had anything to do with the chocolate they ate for breakfast? In the meantime, it is a Beautement family tradition to conduct an egg rolling race. I cannot explain how this tradition began or why, it is something I married into. This is the first year since coming to SA we have had Easter away from THE egg rolling course. So Thing 1 and Thing 2 built their own. Thing 2 has a habit...
