Karla Huebner's Blog, page 29
June 3, 2020
We Protest, in Dayton as Elsewhere, Police Brutality
It's been awhile since I've blogged as I've been largely focused on just writing and doing some gardening and course prep for fall, and there hasn't been any exciting news on my books to report. But with recent events shocking us out of our coronavirus isolations, it seems appropriate to comment.
Like people across the country and around the world, I was appalled to learn of the death of George Floyd, although not terribly surprised; what I found surprising was that even after years of video documentation of such crimes, and even after the outcry at the shooting of Ahmaud Arbery while he was jogging, police in the city of my birth felt free to mistreat and kill, on camera, a man who was no threat whatsoever to them. A man who at worst may have passed a counterfeit $20 bill and who was on the ground, subdued. How do I know--how do any of you know--that we have not at some point passed a counterfeit twenty? But George Floyd was black, and so one policeman felt free to kill him in front of horrified witnesses, unimpeded by his fellow officers.
It is no surprise, then, that despite our remaining in the throes of a pandemic, Americans have felt obliged to take to the streets in protest. Not just one day of protest, and not protest only by the black community, but days of protest by outraged human beings from many communities.
Here in Dayton, where the police have enjoyed almost a year of public adulation after their success at rapidly taking out our mass shooter last August, I would have thought we might be one of the cities where public and police came together to mourn George Floyd. But no. On Saturday evening, after a day focused on writing and chores rather than the news, I went out to gather dandelions and plantain for Felicia and Mikko's supper, and heard honking and chanting. Once the rabbits were fed, I hurried out and found a crowd of protesters facing a line of police across Keowee, a major street two blocks from my house. In the distance near the line of police, I could see clouds of something. At that point I didn't know whether something was on fire or what. I moved in to join the protesters. We chanted "Black lives matter!" and "Hands up, don't shoot!" We took a knee several times. The line of police just stood there, repeating announcements that we must disperse or run the risk of serious injury. The police lobbed something at us and we ran back. As the hours went by, we walked all over downtown Dayton, past groups of police from Dayton reinforced by police from all the suburbs--cars marked Fairborn, Beavercreek, Huber Heights, Centerville, etc. were parked all over. Over by Sinclair Community College, a line of police threw canisters of tear gas at us, so we had to run a retreat with wet cloth over our noses and mouths. I heard someone say that this was relatively quiet compared with earlier in the day, when there had been rubber bullets. I can't confirm the rubber bullets, but there was tear gas. We kept asking police we passed to join us, but they did not. Retreating from the tear gas, we passed a huge humvee painted in camouflage and marked Police. The Wikipedia entry on humvees shows photos of numerous versions of this type of vehicle; the one on Third Street towered over us and I wasn't sure passing it that it wouldn't lurch forward and run over us, or that someone safe inside wouldn't open fire. To my relief, neither of these things happened.
Eventually, though before the end of the evening, I peeled off and headed home, wanting to get there while I still could walk and before anything more violent occurred. At 9:30, an automated call came through announcing that a curfew would begin at 9:00. I'd gotten home around 8:30, but had I been less tired, I might well have been out after 9:00.
Was there property damage? Yes, some. I personally only saw two kids of approximately junior-high age using spray cans plus one young man kicking a dent into a police car. Some windows were broken too, but I didn't see that. On the whole, our protesters were peaceful and were met with aggression. Our police had the chance to keep the community's regard, but in my opinion they did not.
It is time for the police of this nation to serve and protect, not bully and kill. My thoughts are on my black family members in Minneapolis and elsewhere, and on our grieving and angry country as we attempt to right what is wrong.
Like people across the country and around the world, I was appalled to learn of the death of George Floyd, although not terribly surprised; what I found surprising was that even after years of video documentation of such crimes, and even after the outcry at the shooting of Ahmaud Arbery while he was jogging, police in the city of my birth felt free to mistreat and kill, on camera, a man who was no threat whatsoever to them. A man who at worst may have passed a counterfeit $20 bill and who was on the ground, subdued. How do I know--how do any of you know--that we have not at some point passed a counterfeit twenty? But George Floyd was black, and so one policeman felt free to kill him in front of horrified witnesses, unimpeded by his fellow officers.
It is no surprise, then, that despite our remaining in the throes of a pandemic, Americans have felt obliged to take to the streets in protest. Not just one day of protest, and not protest only by the black community, but days of protest by outraged human beings from many communities.
Here in Dayton, where the police have enjoyed almost a year of public adulation after their success at rapidly taking out our mass shooter last August, I would have thought we might be one of the cities where public and police came together to mourn George Floyd. But no. On Saturday evening, after a day focused on writing and chores rather than the news, I went out to gather dandelions and plantain for Felicia and Mikko's supper, and heard honking and chanting. Once the rabbits were fed, I hurried out and found a crowd of protesters facing a line of police across Keowee, a major street two blocks from my house. In the distance near the line of police, I could see clouds of something. At that point I didn't know whether something was on fire or what. I moved in to join the protesters. We chanted "Black lives matter!" and "Hands up, don't shoot!" We took a knee several times. The line of police just stood there, repeating announcements that we must disperse or run the risk of serious injury. The police lobbed something at us and we ran back. As the hours went by, we walked all over downtown Dayton, past groups of police from Dayton reinforced by police from all the suburbs--cars marked Fairborn, Beavercreek, Huber Heights, Centerville, etc. were parked all over. Over by Sinclair Community College, a line of police threw canisters of tear gas at us, so we had to run a retreat with wet cloth over our noses and mouths. I heard someone say that this was relatively quiet compared with earlier in the day, when there had been rubber bullets. I can't confirm the rubber bullets, but there was tear gas. We kept asking police we passed to join us, but they did not. Retreating from the tear gas, we passed a huge humvee painted in camouflage and marked Police. The Wikipedia entry on humvees shows photos of numerous versions of this type of vehicle; the one on Third Street towered over us and I wasn't sure passing it that it wouldn't lurch forward and run over us, or that someone safe inside wouldn't open fire. To my relief, neither of these things happened.
Eventually, though before the end of the evening, I peeled off and headed home, wanting to get there while I still could walk and before anything more violent occurred. At 9:30, an automated call came through announcing that a curfew would begin at 9:00. I'd gotten home around 8:30, but had I been less tired, I might well have been out after 9:00.
Was there property damage? Yes, some. I personally only saw two kids of approximately junior-high age using spray cans plus one young man kicking a dent into a police car. Some windows were broken too, but I didn't see that. On the whole, our protesters were peaceful and were met with aggression. Our police had the chance to keep the community's regard, but in my opinion they did not.
It is time for the police of this nation to serve and protect, not bully and kill. My thoughts are on my black family members in Minneapolis and elsewhere, and on our grieving and angry country as we attempt to right what is wrong.
May 19, 2020
Not Quite Ready to Reveal Yet... But...
I've received a bit of rather exciting news, but you'll have to wait to get the details. Not only is
Magnetic Woman
moving toward its November launch, and not only has
In Search of the Magic Theater
become one of the latest titles to grace the list of forthcoming books at Regal House, but I've received word that another project is a finalist for a prize!
No, I can't yet reveal which prize, and it'll probably be awhile before the list of finalists is made public. In the meantime, the same project, as well as two others, is under consideration for other prizes as well.
Prizes, in the literary world, are varied, and while some are awarded to books newly published, others are for manuscripts and publication is part of what you win. So if this particular manuscript wins--if--I'll have a third book forthcoming plus a nice check. That would do a lot to make 2020 a happier year for at least a few people!
No, I can't yet reveal which prize, and it'll probably be awhile before the list of finalists is made public. In the meantime, the same project, as well as two others, is under consideration for other prizes as well.
Prizes, in the literary world, are varied, and while some are awarded to books newly published, others are for manuscripts and publication is part of what you win. So if this particular manuscript wins--if--I'll have a third book forthcoming plus a nice check. That would do a lot to make 2020 a happier year for at least a few people!
May 15, 2020
And Ask Your Library to Buy It...
Let's not forget that, whether or not you personally want/need a copy of Magnetic Woman, this pre-order period before the book actually comes out is a great time to encourage your library to buy it. While public libraries may want to wait to see the first reviews, it can't hurt to let them know you think they should add it to their art section. And university libraries, although always struggling with tight budgets these days, tend to respond to requests from faculty.
Many libraries, especially university libraries, are nearing the end of their fiscal year, so I'll try to remember to do a reminder post closer to when they might be starting the new budget period. But put the book on their to-do list and send them the link to University of Pittsburgh Press.
Many libraries, especially university libraries, are nearing the end of their fiscal year, so I'll try to remember to do a reminder post closer to when they might be starting the new budget period. But put the book on their to-do list and send them the link to University of Pittsburgh Press.
May 12, 2020
You Can Pre-order Magnetic Woman
That's right, you don't have to wait until it's in the stores (which we hope will be open again by November!)--you can pre-order Magnetic Woman either directly from University of Pittsburgh Press or from my new "bookshop" at Bookshop.org, a new service where "every purchase you make supports independent, local bookstores." In addition to my own book, my shop features several lists of recommended books--I'll try to have a mix of old favorites, books by people I know, and interesting new titles I've discovered.
May 11, 2020
Laboring Behind the Scenes
With the semester over, a shelter-in-place order, cold and rainy weather, and two books on their way to print, I'm not exactly out hiking or biking as I might like (although even with our shelter-in-place, these are permitted if done with social distancing). I'm not short of things to do around the house, but the infamous cabin fever is finally setting in, later for me than for perhaps most people. And I just don't enjoy putting the house in order when it's terribly dim; laundry and loading the dishwasher are about the extent of it in this weather.
Usually--but not much lately--I'm writing or working on family history or reading. (OK, I'm still reading, but mainly the news, which I don't really count)
However, writers do have a lot of writing-related tasks beyond creating books, articles, and stories. These works need to be sent forth to prospective publishers (assuming one isn't self-publishing), which can take up a lot of time as one researches the different presses and their desires and open reading periods. And then, some of these also require submissions to be formatted in some special, nonstandard manner, which is annoying but a fact of life (I'm willing to do formatting once a piece is accepted, but less willing at the submission stage, although now and then I assent).
While in theory I could be sending out more work at the moment, I'm not in high gear for that, as along with the two books in the publication pipeline I've got two further novels submitted to five places, a story collection also submitted to five, and a proposal for an anthology out as well. (No, I did not write all of this overnight, this constitutes the work of more than one decade, so don't think I'm the world's overachiever.)
The tasks with which I'm presently distracting myself from stuck-in-the-house fretfulness are the kind of tasks that non-writers and beginning writers don't always realize need to be done once a book is accepted. Namely, preparing the manuscript for press and preparing what's often these days called author platform to make publicity and bookselling easier.
The copyedit stage is over for Magnetic Woman, I am glad to say, and the layout isn't yet done, so I don't currently have deadlines to meet for my publisher. For In Search of the Magic Theater, I don't have pressing deadlines either at the moment, but I do need to do some reformatting of the manuscript and check through it in a first-level author-copyedit stage so that when the publisher's copyeditor gets it, they don't have to pepper it with queries and corrections. Now, since I've worked as a copyeditor and proofreader, my own manuscripts go in pretty clean, but I always do miss stuff, as does everyone, and every press has slightly different requirements. They may want a specific font, or specific margins, or headers or no headers, or page numbering at the bottom or the top, etc. It saves copyedit time and expense if the manuscript already uses em-dashes rather than double hyphens. Likewise if the author consistently spells words the same way (grey or gray? while personally I envision these as two different shades, no publisher will agree with me).
So, I'm prepping Magic Theater in all those nitpicky ways, but also working on my online presence, creating my writerly Facebook page, my Amazon author page, my Goodreads author page, and updating LinkedIn. And some of this includes trying to fix stuff--for instance, Amazon keeps showing the wrong book cover for Magnetic Woman and so far they have not responded to my plea to correct it. Ah well! Behind-the-scenes work is never done, but rainy days during a pandemic are a good time to make a little progress.
Usually--but not much lately--I'm writing or working on family history or reading. (OK, I'm still reading, but mainly the news, which I don't really count)
However, writers do have a lot of writing-related tasks beyond creating books, articles, and stories. These works need to be sent forth to prospective publishers (assuming one isn't self-publishing), which can take up a lot of time as one researches the different presses and their desires and open reading periods. And then, some of these also require submissions to be formatted in some special, nonstandard manner, which is annoying but a fact of life (I'm willing to do formatting once a piece is accepted, but less willing at the submission stage, although now and then I assent).
While in theory I could be sending out more work at the moment, I'm not in high gear for that, as along with the two books in the publication pipeline I've got two further novels submitted to five places, a story collection also submitted to five, and a proposal for an anthology out as well. (No, I did not write all of this overnight, this constitutes the work of more than one decade, so don't think I'm the world's overachiever.)
The tasks with which I'm presently distracting myself from stuck-in-the-house fretfulness are the kind of tasks that non-writers and beginning writers don't always realize need to be done once a book is accepted. Namely, preparing the manuscript for press and preparing what's often these days called author platform to make publicity and bookselling easier.
The copyedit stage is over for Magnetic Woman, I am glad to say, and the layout isn't yet done, so I don't currently have deadlines to meet for my publisher. For In Search of the Magic Theater, I don't have pressing deadlines either at the moment, but I do need to do some reformatting of the manuscript and check through it in a first-level author-copyedit stage so that when the publisher's copyeditor gets it, they don't have to pepper it with queries and corrections. Now, since I've worked as a copyeditor and proofreader, my own manuscripts go in pretty clean, but I always do miss stuff, as does everyone, and every press has slightly different requirements. They may want a specific font, or specific margins, or headers or no headers, or page numbering at the bottom or the top, etc. It saves copyedit time and expense if the manuscript already uses em-dashes rather than double hyphens. Likewise if the author consistently spells words the same way (grey or gray? while personally I envision these as two different shades, no publisher will agree with me).
So, I'm prepping Magic Theater in all those nitpicky ways, but also working on my online presence, creating my writerly Facebook page, my Amazon author page, my Goodreads author page, and updating LinkedIn. And some of this includes trying to fix stuff--for instance, Amazon keeps showing the wrong book cover for Magnetic Woman and so far they have not responded to my plea to correct it. Ah well! Behind-the-scenes work is never done, but rainy days during a pandemic are a good time to make a little progress.
May 10, 2020
A Novel Finds a Publisher!
I've been waiting awhile to announce this bit of good news--the contract needed to be negotiated and signed, that sort of thing--but now I can reveal that my novel In Search of the Magic Theater has been acquired by Regal House Publishing and is scheduled to launch in spring 2022. While it's too early for the book itself to have a page on their site, I do already have an author page there! I've also now got an author page at Facebook so head on over there and "like" it!
And what is this novel about? Well, if you've ever read Hermann Hesse's Steppenwolf, imagine it set in 1999 with the genders switched for the main characters. Stay tuned for more as we get closer to publication.
And what is this novel about? Well, if you've ever read Hermann Hesse's Steppenwolf, imagine it set in 1999 with the genders switched for the main characters. Stay tuned for more as we get closer to publication.
April 30, 2020
Support the US Post Office and a Small Business!
For reasons somewhat beyond my understanding, President Trump is eager to defund the Post Office. Apparently he thinks this is the best way to attack Jeff Bezos, owner of Amazon.com and the Washington Post--he doesn't like the Post's coverage of him so he wants to make it harder and more expensive for Amazon to send packages.
Yeah, right--destroying a public service that benefits every American, just because Bezos happens to own a newspaper that is usually critical of this president. I think that no matter what one's political leanings might be, we can probably all agree that this is just not smart, not a good idea. So, how to support the Post Office, which we all need?
Leaving aside the big structural changes that Congress should consider (although we can and should all make suggestions to our Congress-people), one thing we can all do is buy stamps, tell our postal workers we care, and send cards and letters to our friends and family members.
And I have a suggestion for you on where to get cards, if you don't have a stockpile of nice stationery at home (or even if you do)!
Archelaus Cards is a small business in Washington, DC, which sells cards wholesale to stores all over North America (and even to Australia)... and also, retail, to individuals. Since stationery stores and bookstores are not generally open for visits just now, buying direct from Archelaus gets you a nice supply of cards while supporting a small business that is currently seeing lower sales from its usual customers.
Here's a link to the newest designs, which include some particularly pandemic-suitable items. You might also want to stock up on get-well cards and (I hate to say this) sympathy cards. A Welcome Back card is also very suitable for returns from the hospital or practically anywhere else someone may have gone (even the supermarket)! Archelaus also offers many birthday options, as well as Mother's Day cards and cards for all manner of other occasions.
(You can see the card below more clearly here.)
Yeah, right--destroying a public service that benefits every American, just because Bezos happens to own a newspaper that is usually critical of this president. I think that no matter what one's political leanings might be, we can probably all agree that this is just not smart, not a good idea. So, how to support the Post Office, which we all need?
Leaving aside the big structural changes that Congress should consider (although we can and should all make suggestions to our Congress-people), one thing we can all do is buy stamps, tell our postal workers we care, and send cards and letters to our friends and family members.
And I have a suggestion for you on where to get cards, if you don't have a stockpile of nice stationery at home (or even if you do)!
Archelaus Cards is a small business in Washington, DC, which sells cards wholesale to stores all over North America (and even to Australia)... and also, retail, to individuals. Since stationery stores and bookstores are not generally open for visits just now, buying direct from Archelaus gets you a nice supply of cards while supporting a small business that is currently seeing lower sales from its usual customers.
Here's a link to the newest designs, which include some particularly pandemic-suitable items. You might also want to stock up on get-well cards and (I hate to say this) sympathy cards. A Welcome Back card is also very suitable for returns from the hospital or practically anywhere else someone may have gone (even the supermarket)! Archelaus also offers many birthday options, as well as Mother's Day cards and cards for all manner of other occasions.
(You can see the card below more clearly here.)
April 29, 2020
My Bread Recipe
I never expected, when the pandemic began to take hold in the US, that bread-baking would become a major American pastime. Maybe this was short-sighted of me, because when people are spending more time at home, this potentially makes it easier to engage in baking projects. On the other hand, lots of people are simultaneously working from home and trying to home-school their kids, or are working stressful hours at essential jobs where they may be exposed to coronavirus, and so may not feel up to embarking on intensive baking.
Well, had I realized this frenzy of baking was about to occur, I would have bought yeast, because I'm one of those people who bakes bread even in normal times, and I was about due for a new jar of yeast!
Not that I bake lots and lots of bread--I'm not someone who eats bread every day. But I certainly average at least a loaf a month, and probably more than that--sometimes I make bread very regularly and sometimes I go for a month or two without baking any. I use an easy bread-machine recipe developed by my sibling, which produces a dense, compact loaf suitable for one or two people (or for more people to eat it up more quickly).
This recipe was developed for the Zojirushi Home Bakery Mini machine and takes about 15 minutes to put together, then three hours to bake.
Add the ingredients in the order listed (well, basically wet to dry, yeast must be last) in the bread machine's baking pan.
1 cup water (if substituting yogurt for dry milk, put 2 T yogurt in your cup measure first, then add enough water to bring it to 1 cup)
2 T oil (I normally use olive oil)
2 cups whole wheat flour (or add in some rye flour for rye bread)
2 T honey, molasses, or sugar
1/4 cup (4 T) other whole-grain flour(s) such as flax-seed meal, buckwheat, rye, spelt (I usually use one T of each of those); other options are teff, oatmeal, corn meal, amaranth; don't use 1/4 cup of potato flour--always try a new flour with just 1 T
2 T dry milk unless substituting yogurt
1 t salt
6 T nuts and seeds (whatever strikes your fancy)
Optional: 1 T herbs of your choice
1 t dry-active yeast
Optional: 1/4 cup of dried fruit (add when the first timer rings)
Once the ingredients are in place, plug in the bread machine and press the "Mode Select" button twice to choose the "Soft Course" option (3 hours). Then press the Start/Reset button. With this recipe, it is best to scrape down the sides of the baking pan when the first timer rings (or a little before).
When the second timer rings, the bread is finished. Press and hold the start/reset button until the machine beeps; then unplug the machine. Be very careful removing the bread from the baking pan--it's very hot and easy to burn yourself even with hot-pad holders in each hand! The wire handle in particular is hot! Let bread cool, ideally on a wire rack, for about 15 minutes before serving.
Boursin cheese pairs well with this bread!
Well, had I realized this frenzy of baking was about to occur, I would have bought yeast, because I'm one of those people who bakes bread even in normal times, and I was about due for a new jar of yeast!
Not that I bake lots and lots of bread--I'm not someone who eats bread every day. But I certainly average at least a loaf a month, and probably more than that--sometimes I make bread very regularly and sometimes I go for a month or two without baking any. I use an easy bread-machine recipe developed by my sibling, which produces a dense, compact loaf suitable for one or two people (or for more people to eat it up more quickly).
This recipe was developed for the Zojirushi Home Bakery Mini machine and takes about 15 minutes to put together, then three hours to bake.
Add the ingredients in the order listed (well, basically wet to dry, yeast must be last) in the bread machine's baking pan.
1 cup water (if substituting yogurt for dry milk, put 2 T yogurt in your cup measure first, then add enough water to bring it to 1 cup)
2 T oil (I normally use olive oil)
2 cups whole wheat flour (or add in some rye flour for rye bread)
2 T honey, molasses, or sugar
1/4 cup (4 T) other whole-grain flour(s) such as flax-seed meal, buckwheat, rye, spelt (I usually use one T of each of those); other options are teff, oatmeal, corn meal, amaranth; don't use 1/4 cup of potato flour--always try a new flour with just 1 T
2 T dry milk unless substituting yogurt
1 t salt
6 T nuts and seeds (whatever strikes your fancy)
Optional: 1 T herbs of your choice
1 t dry-active yeast
Optional: 1/4 cup of dried fruit (add when the first timer rings)
Once the ingredients are in place, plug in the bread machine and press the "Mode Select" button twice to choose the "Soft Course" option (3 hours). Then press the Start/Reset button. With this recipe, it is best to scrape down the sides of the baking pan when the first timer rings (or a little before).
When the second timer rings, the bread is finished. Press and hold the start/reset button until the machine beeps; then unplug the machine. Be very careful removing the bread from the baking pan--it's very hot and easy to burn yourself even with hot-pad holders in each hand! The wire handle in particular is hot! Let bread cool, ideally on a wire rack, for about 15 minutes before serving.
Boursin cheese pairs well with this bread!
April 28, 2020
Masks Received
Around the world, kind people are sewing and donating masks to health workers and the public. I've been using scarves and bandannas since I don't go out all that much, but in preparation for things opening up somewhat more in our state, I accepted a neighbor's offer of masks and picked up four, two for me and two for my housemate.
Once I get some more yeast (or maybe with my last teaspoon--I think I have that much left), I'll make her a loaf of bread!
Once I get some more yeast (or maybe with my last teaspoon--I think I have that much left), I'll make her a loaf of bread!
April 27, 2020
NWU Webinars on Internet Archive and Our Books
There are still seats available for the National Writers Union's public educational webinars on, "What is the Internet Archive doing with our books?"
TODAY: Monday, April 27, 7 p.m. Eastern Time
Tuesday, May 5, 10 a.m. Eastern Time
These webinars are organized by the NWU, but all are welcome. Please let your friends know about these events.
More info and links to register:
https://nwu.org/what-is-the-internet-archive-doing-with-our-books/
TODAY: Monday, April 27, 7 p.m. Eastern Time
Tuesday, May 5, 10 a.m. Eastern Time
These webinars are organized by the NWU, but all are welcome. Please let your friends know about these events.
More info and links to register:
https://nwu.org/what-is-the-internet-archive-doing-with-our-books/
