Stuart Aken's Blog, page 339

Blog Jog Away

Thanks for stopping by my Blog! Please explore what I have on offer here, then jog on over to "Max the Quilt Cat Blog"  http://www.maxthequiltcat.com  contact  MaxTheQuiltCat@gmail.com  This is an initiative by Blog Jog Day to try to get readers to visit other blogs that might interest them but that they might not otherwise get to know about. Visit  http://blogjogday.blogspot.com to find other blogs taking part.

The Dangers of Reviewing Books for Authors Known to You.

As a writer and blogger, I'm often asked to review books by other writers I know or am acquainted with. I almost always decline (unless I happen to be confident about  the quality of their writing already). Why? Firstly, I'm always, but always, honest when I review a book. I'm not in the business of hyping up something just because I happen to know the author. One quality an author needs is integrity, so I would much rather refuse than invite the possibility of offending someone.I do, however, read quite a lot. And I usually review those books I read. Recently, I was sent a book through the post as a gift. I read it. It infuriated me. Why? Because the story was so damned good but the way it was written broke almost every rule in the book (sic). There was a great deal of telling instead of showing. There was continual provision of detail about meals, greetings and banal conversations that added nothing to the story and interrupted the pace. And, yes, before you ask, it was self-published (Not that that is any indication of quality – see my earlier review of 'A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man' for my feelings on this 'great' work of literature, published via the traditional route). So, why did I read it? Because I was compelled to. The story was so captivating, the characters so sympathetically drawn. I cared about them, wanted to know what happened. But I had to wade through great swamps of unnecessary detail to pick out the story.The author of the piece is a nice guy; a genuine lover of humanity. I'd already advertised that fact that I was reading the book on a public website I belong to, so I found myself in the awkward position of having to say something about it there. I said more or less what I've said above, but in slightly more gentle terms. And, to be fair, he was not at all put out by my review when I sent it to him. I'm not convinced I would have had the same generous response from most authors.So, this is my plea and my warning. If you're a writer, and you want your book read and reviewed by a friend who is also a writer, be prepared to have them tell the truth. This may be a risk or it may not: it depends on the quality of the book and the attitude and tastes of the reader. But, please, understand that you lay yourself open to honesty here. Of course, some writers engage in mutual sycophantic reviewing, praising each other's work regardless of merit and often without bothering to read the piece. I'm not such a writer or reader. So, if you're tempted to send me a book and expect me to read it, please be prepared for me to tell the truth about my feelings about it.

Jogging Blogging

Thanks for stopping by my Blog! Please explore what I have on offer here, then jog on over to "Max the Quilt Cat Blog"  http://www.maxthequiltcat.com  contact  MaxTheQuiltCat@gmail.com  If you,d like to visit a different Blog in the jog, go to http://blogjogday.blogspot.com.

Author Interview With K J Rigby

I was born in Crosby, north Liverpool and am now living in Devon, England.  I have been writing for over thirty years. I realized my unhip credentials were mounting up so I decided to write about it. However I'm not completely unhip. My punk novel, Fall Of The Flamingo Circus was published by Allison & Busby (1990) and by Villard (American hardback 1990). Skrev Press published my novels Seaview Terrace (2003) Sucka! (2004) and Break Point (2006) and other shorter work has appeared in Skrev's avant garde magazine Texts' Bones including a version of my satirical novella Lost The Plot.  Thalidomide Kid was published by Bewrite Books (2007).I've had other short stories published and shortlisted including Hard Workers, first published in The Diva Book of Short Stories and now published as part of the Dancing In The Dark erotic anthology, edited by Diane Nelson (Night Publishing 2010)I also received a Southern Arts bursary for my novel Where A Shadow Played.  My latest book Little Guide to Unhip is published by Night Publishing. 
Tell us a bit about your latest book: Little Guide to Unhip.

 Little Guide To Unhip is a departure from my usual fiction.  I would describe it as a quirky look at my own personal unhip top 50, each with its own star rating. My list includes
What inspired you to write this book?

Funnily enough, Gilbert O'Sullivan was the inspiration for Little Guide To Unhip. Gilbert had me pondering how it was that he'd never enjoyed a comeback, unlike many of his contemporaries such as Slade, Sweet, even Abba.  From Gilbert, I started to reflect on other unhip paraphernalia, people, props, personality traits, and it grew from there.

Did you learn anything from writing this book?

I've learned that I can do non-fiction as well as fiction and that it doesn't have to be lofty, dry or inaccessible – that actually it can be a lot of fun.  

How do you do research for your books?

I'm quite an obsessive note-taker, but research is now easier than it ever was with Google and widespread access to the internet.  They say write what you know and I do try and draw on my own experiences.
What qualities make a successful writer?

I would say, persistence and self-belief. You need that staying power and not to give up at the first or even the tenth hurdle.  You need a balance between developing a tough skin but being humble enough to take on board constructive criticism. You need to learn to be your own critic. Yes, take on board suggestions for improvement, but don't go changing everything on the basis of one comment if you disagree with it,  otherwise you may end up like a boat without a rudder.  I think the general rule of thumb is – if enough people say it, then there's probably something in it. Otherwise, it might just be personal taste.  It also begs the question as to what is successful. Aim for the sky by all means, but if you only get as far as the roof of your house, well, that ain't such a bad thing in this day and age!  Which is another way of saying be proud of small successes.
 
New writers make many mistakes: what do you think is the most harmful?
I would say being too arrogant and not accepting constructive suggestions for improvement.  All other mistakes, whether it be telling too much instead of showing, or sudden changes of tense in the wrong place etc can easily be rectified as long as the attitude of the writer is good and they are willing to improve.   To what extent are grammar and spelling important to a writer?
I would say they're pretty important.  If the story or concept is brilliant, or the spelling and grammar are intentionally breaking the rules, then OK, but it's easy for a sloppy piece to pull the reader up and detract from the piece.
How much revision do you do before you send it off?
This varies.  I do fewer drafts than I used to.  I've learned that you can over-revise. In many cases I tend to try the market when I want to move on to something else. There's nothing like the offer of publication to galvanize you into doing final edits.  There's always scope for a bit more revision, I've found, before it goes into print!

To what extent do you think genre is useful in the publishing world?
It's important for marketers, mainstream book publishers and shops for their shelves, but some of my favourite fiction is often a bit off-beat and doesn't easily sit in a particular pigeonhole – it would probably be classified as literary fiction.
How do you know where to begin any given story?
For me it's organic.  I gradually build the story up and often it's not until you start writing it that you know for sure whether you have started in the right place. This is why many authors leave their beginnings until later or even leave it until the end!
Do you have support from family, friends or a writing group?
Very much so.  My mother was a major influence on me as she was writing a novel when I was 17, so the idea of novel-writing wasn't an alien concept. I was able to pick her brains and get lots of tips passed on from her.  My family are or have been generally  involved in creative ventures be it art, music or writing.  I also have writing friends and even more since I joined several writing network sites, earlier this year, such as Authonomy and Night Reading

What sort of displacement activities keep you from actually writing?
Well, there's the usual household chores that need to be done.  There's emails and Facebook.  I also have fibromyalgia so I suddenly run out of energy late afternoon and need to lie down or sleep.  This, with a late start to the day actually shrinks the window of opportunity for focussed uninterrupted writing.
Which genre or authors inspire you?
My favourite genres are contemporary/literary fiction, popular culture or well-written non-fiction - something to make me sit up, or laugh, or move me.  A good story is important but more important to me is the way it is written.  Original voice and imagery is what floats my boat. Writers I've enjoyed in the last couple of years include Sebastian Barry, Ali Smith, Bill Broady, Paul Magrs, Jane Gardam, Daithidh MacEoichaidh, Markus Zusak, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.  I've also enjoyed books from many writers I've met on Authonomy. I've not long finished reading Gerald Hansen's 'An Embarrassment of Riches' a superb blackly comic novel and I'm now reading Allie Sommerville's non-fiction account of her travels in Europe 'Uneasy Rider: Confessions of A Reluctant Traveller'. I now have a backlog of books I want to read from Authonomy and Night Publishing.
Do you think writing is a natural gift or an acquired skill?
Both. The old adage of 10 per cent inspiration and 90 per cent perspiration still holds true!
What are you writing now?
I've returned to writing fiction for the time being.  It's in the very early stages – I'm still trying to fashion the clay as it were, though a follow-up to Little Guide isn't out of the question. I've had plenty more ideas on that score and suggestions from others!
Do you have a website or blog that readers can visit?
My wesbite: http://kjrbooks.yolasite.com/My blog: Bub's Burble (I've only done two posts so far)! http://bit.ly/aqyG85The facebook pages for Little Guide to Unhip:http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=127345853945903&ref=tshttp://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=161444913868650&ref=mf
Where can you get a copy of the book?
It is orderable from all bookshops in the UK.  Or online from Amazon UKAmazon.com (Kindle edition):Smashwords:

Blog Jogging - Find something new

Thank you for stopping by my Blog! Please explore all this Blog has to offer, then jog on over to "Max the Quilt Cat Blog"  http://www.maxthequiltcat.com  contact  MaxTheQuiltCat@gmail.com  If you would like to visit a different Blog in the jog, go to http://blogjogday.blogspot.com.

Why is Assisted Suicide Illegal?

Cover of Terry Pratchett
It has long struck me that the 'authorities' take serious liberties with us as individuals. Don't we all 'own' our lives? If we don't have control over the outcome of our lives, then what do we really have that we can call ours? My assumption (and I'm ready to be corrected on this) is that the major religions see our lives as 'gifts' from their particular gods and therefore not something we should be allowed to spend as we wish. But, for those of us who don't have a god complex, and see no need of some divine power to oversee our existence, this requirement for servile gratitude to a higher power as an imposition. When such belief is enshrined in law to make our lives the property of the State, it becomes more than an imposition; it infringes our rights. I believe that our life here is the one and only, and there is no afterlife in any sense that we can understand. We have one chance to live, or not to live, as we will. So, it's perfectly logical and sensible for us to determine the manner, time and place of our death, when we are given that opportunity. Of course such a liberty would be abused, and of course some individuals would use such freedom to end the lives of others and disguise this as a self-administered demise. But such evil behaviour already exists regardless of such freedoms. And, of course, it is a given, in my view, that a decision to end your life is taken under the understanding that you have considered the feelings and needs of those who love and depend on you.We have the means to prolong life artificially, frequently by placing the individual into an impossible position over which he or she has no control. We keep alive mere shells. If you don't believe me, visit any accommodation devoted to the preservation of the elderly demented. You will see there the remains of people who once were vital, alive and whole, people who could contribute and lead full lives before their demise. They exist only as shades of their former selves with no awareness of who they are or what is happening around them. The very essence of being human is the capacity for self-awareness. Once that has left, the shell is no more than meat. We hear so often, 'You wouldn't treat an animal that way.' And, of course, we wouldn't and don't. It seems we reserve this living hell for the humans we love. It seems a strange form of love to me. And, I suspect this form of 'caring' has more to do with the needs of the carers than with the poor individuals in their care.I have no wish to linger on this Earth once I've lost the capacity to think. It haunts me to imagine that I might be made to drift on in an unliving existence once my mind has gone, so I've signed an Advance Decision (available from Dignity in Dying) to ensure that I'm not kept alive artificially once that time comes. And I've made clear to my wife and my daughter my wishes in this regard.Dignity in Dying has patrons as well-known and respected as I'd far rather be able to legally decide the date of my death. That way I could plan it, inform those who cared that it was going to happen, and prevent the inevitable shock and distress that comes with the unexpected death of a loved one. Seems far more civilised to me than this dreadful habit we've developed of clinging to life at any cost, regardless of its real worth. Surely the measure of life is its quality, not its quantity?Let me go when I'm ready to go, and remove the legal barrier that currently makes it a crime. My life is just that; mine. It belongs not to the State, not to any religion, not to any god you care to name. It is mine, mine alone, and should be mine to end when I so desire.I know many people will be troubled, incensed even, by these thoughts. I'm sorry for that, but it doesn't make my case any less valid. If you're one of those who believes we are the children of some divine power, prove it to me. Not by quoting passages from dubious sacred works (such books are the words of man, not of any divine being, and therefore of no more value than any other story) but by demonstrating the love and concern of your creator by examples that have no negative counterparts. After all, any creator with a concern for the created can hardly be considered a positive force if what is created is also destroyed with equal energy and disdain.I'd love your feedback on this topic.

Interview with Author, J E Taylor

J.E. Taylor is a writer, an editor, a manuscript formatter, a mother, a wife and a business analyst, not necessarily in that order.She first sat down to seriously write in February of 2007 after her daughter asked:"Mom, if you could do anything, what would you do?"From that moment on, she hasn't looked back and now her writing resume includes four novels either published or targeted for release in late 2010 and early 2011 along with several short stories on the virtual shelves including a few within upcoming eXcessica anthologies.Her first book, DARK RECKONING was released by FIDO Publishing on July 5, 2010 and introduced Special Agent Steve Williams to the masses.  The follow up VENGEANCE was released on November 1, 2010.She also released her first erotic thriller in July 2010 - SURVIVAL GAMES, which received a Grade-A Recommended Read from Romance At Heart.  The final two books in the Games Trilogy - MIND GAMES and END GAME will be released in November 2010 and February 2011 by eXcessica.Ms. Taylor moonlights as an Assistant Editor of Allegory, an online venue for Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror, and as a "slush slasher" for Dark Recesses, an online venue for literary horror. She also lends a hand in formatting manuscripts for eXcessica as well as offering her services judging writing contests for various RWA chapters.She lives in Connecticut with her husband and two children and during the summer months enjoys her weekends on the shore in southern Maine.Visit her at http://www.jetaylor75.com/

Tell us about Vengeance in a few sentences.
After an undercover bust goes to hell, Special Agent Steve Williams becomes the target of an assassin and his wife's visions escalate, forecasting a brutal assault on their family. Escaping from the city and armed with scant details from Jennifer's dreams, Steve trudges through a litany of past connections, searching for the key to stop the course of fate.  A brother with a grudge, a serial killer and a mafia assassin are all on his trail and the hunt begins . . .

Where and when is your novel set and why did you make these specific choices?
Vengeance takes place in modern times and the first half takes place in New York City and the second half takes place in Brooksfield, New Hampshire with a quick cameo in Italy.   I happen to love New York City and what better place to be as a backdrop for my FBI agent to go undercover in a drug ring.   

How can people buy your books?
Both my e-books and paperbacks can be found on Amazon and the quickest way to find them all is through my Amazon page here:  Amazon.com: J. E. Taylor: Books, Biography, Blog, Audiobooks, Kindle. 
I also have a slew of short stories on Smashwords ranging from middle grade all the way to erotic romance.  You can also obtain a copy of my full length novels here in e-book format:  http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/JETaylor75
Another avenue for purchase is through my publishers websites: www.eXcessica.com  and www.fidopublishing.com

What qualities make a successful writer?
Beyond raw talent, I believe a writer has to have patience to wait until they are sure the story is the cleanest it possibly can be before sending it on the agent query-go-rounds, tenacity and thick skin to get through the hard times, the rejections and the less than glowing reviews.  They need to be open to critique partner feedback and editors rewrite suggestions but they also need to have enough of a backbone to stand up for a passage they believe in – as long as it moves the story forward.  If a passage doesn't move the story forward, they can't be so in love with their words that they refuse to cut these extraneous babies out.  
So in a nutshell:  Talent, patience, tenacity, thick skin, open to different ideas and flexibility.   


Beginning writers make many mistakes; what do you think is the most harmful?
Querying before they are ready.  This can kill any chance the writer has of getting their dream agent.   Get yourself in a writing group or a good critique group – one that will be honest about where you need to focus your efforts but won't cut you a new one just for the hell of it and then submit your query.  All the critiques you receive will give you a clue as to what is wrong (or right) with your query and will lead you into areas you need clarification.  In diverse groups, you will get different and often conflicting critiques, but try to look at the underlying problem – not necessarily what the person is pointing you toward. (i.e. it isn't compelling enough,  it's too Hollywood – things like that.)

To what extent are grammar and spelling important to a writer?
Huge – at least from an editorial standpoint.  It is very frustrating to review a piece where spelling errors are rampant or grammatical errors leave you scratching your head as to the meaning of the sentence. 
I will reject work if it isn't clean.  That's not to say a mistake here and there, I'm talking repeat errors – things easily caught by spell check or by reading the story aloud.  It irks me so yes - I think it's very important. 


How do you know where to begin any given story?
Me personally?  Well, I just start it where it begins in my head.  Then I test out the beginning to see if it makes sense and if it really matters to the story.  If it doesn't, then I cut it or move the timeline back to a point where it does make sense.  
I think that's the key.  I've seen situations - and experienced some of my own early on - where I've looked at the submission and thought it was laden with back-story.  Those are the situations where it's wrong.  The writer shouldn't stack the beginning like that – it slows down the momentum and that's a dream killer.
Start with the action – the hook – the mystery that will make the reader turn the page and pepper back-story throughout the first hundred pages instead of using an info dump.     

Do you have support, either from family and friends or a writing group?
Yes, yes and yes.   I found the best writing group on the planet.  Backspace (www.bksp.org) and through that venue have found the most shrewd and supportive writers in all walks of publication, from award winning New York Times selling authors to the newbies on the block along with agents and editors and public relation folks that give their time to regularly answer questions. 
My family has also been the supreme definition of supportive – especially since I also have a day job and my writing actually eats into significant "family" time.  But my kids see me reaching for my dreams and they are inspired. 

If there's a single aspect to writing that really frustrates you, what is it?
I get especially frustrated when a word escapes me.   I know in my head what I'm trying to say, but sometimes my brain seems to stall and that word remains just beyond the tip of my tongue.  Those are times I want to fling the keyboard across the room. 

Is there any aspect of writing that you really enjoy?
Absolutely.  The telling of the story, creating different worlds, being the master of the universe for my characters - I love all of these things and they are the reason I write. 

Do you think writing is a natural gift or an acquired skill?
Both.  I believe the natural gift is in the storytelling but crafting it on paper is a skill that can be acquired through training and practice. 
Given unlimited resources, what would be your ideal writing environment?
99 Nubble overlooking the Atlantic ocean.  J It's my dream house in York, Maine and I would love to create office space overlooking the bluff in the back of the house.   

Where do you actually write?
I write in a chair in the family room.  You can see pictures on my website on my About Me page.  Not exactly your quiet recluse.  I can write with all sorts of chaos surrounding me. 

What are you writing now?
I'm working on edits to my YA crossover Dome Warriors and on my next Steve Williams novel – Hunting Season. 

Do you have a website or a blog that readers can visit?
I available in several places – my website: www.jetaylor75.com has details of all my books, my calendar of events and my books and blog.  I'd love for folks to drop by and sign my guestbook!  
I also have a blog at http://jetaylor75.blogspot.com – where I interview authors and people can follow my Jenny Craig weight loss journey. 

What Does Genre Really Mean?

There are, as most writers and readers will know, almost infinite genres and sub-genres available. So, how do you define the book you've written or the books you're most interested in reading?I suppose we have to start by listing the most popular genres with their sub-genres. And I will immediately offend some writers/readers, because I will inevitably exclude some of their favourites. That is the nature of the beast.
First, are we talking FACT or FICTION – not so much genre as a label to identify whether a book is a work of imagination or a piece of writing depending on factual information.
Under FACTUAL we could include the following:AutobiographyBiographyComedy (or humour)EducationalTrue StoryDocumentaryAnd these are themselves generic terms to cover wide-ranging subjects as diverse as History, Travel, Arts, Science and Collecting, to name but a random few.
But my interest is in the genres that appear under the heading of FICTION:ActionAdventureComic (or humour)CrimeDetectiveEroticFan-fictionFantasyHistoricalHorrorGothicLiteraryMysteryRomanceSagaScience Fiction SequelThrillerTrue StoryWestern  Just 20 separate genre headings there. Let's break one of them into some sub-genres, and see where we go.
Romance:Adventure African-AmericanBisexualCategoryChick-litContemporaryDark FantasyErotic FantasyFuturisticGayGothicHistoricalInspirationalInterracial LesbianLiterary MainstreamMilitaryMulti-CulturalMysteryNovel With Strong Romantic ElementsParanormalRegency Science FictionSuspenseSweetTeenThrillerTime-TravelTraditionalTransgenderUrban FantasyWorld War II-EraYoung AdultSo, only another 35 sub-genres there – no problem!
No wonder the issue of genre is difficult for both writers and readers. This imposition of pigeon-holing by the industry does, however, have a purpose. Most readers want a clue to the sort of book they are picking up and genre is a reasonable, if sometimes less than accurate aid.
My own novel, Breaking Faith, is listed as a Romantic Thriller. But what does that tell you about it, as a book? Does the term 'Romantic' put you off, as a male reader, or the term 'Thriller' make you wary, as a female reader? (sorry for stereotyping here, but sometimes it's necessary to generalise to make a point). The story is basically a love story set against a historical backdrop (1976), but it examines relationships, familial domestic and romantic. Murder, rape, love and erotic sex lurk within the pages. In some senses, there is an element of the adventure novel and there is also the softer romance depicting a man and a woman in love. The story has made readers of both genders cry, laugh, exclaim with indignation, rant at injustice, sigh with frustration and smile with satisfaction. So, Romantic Thriller does not really do it justice. But how else would you label it?
In the end, we are stuck with genre as a way of classifying books into defined areas of treatment. But it is clearly wise for readers to remember that the labels attached are not by any means accurate or exclusive of other themes and topics than those expected from the genre.
If you use genre as a buying/reading guide, you might be well advised to read the blurb, the opening page and another random page in order to get a more accurate flavour before you commit yourself. Sometimes, you might be offended, disgusted, horrified or disappointed, and at others you might find yourself reading something that delights, surprises, elevates and astounds. I just ask that the simple label or genre doesn't prevent you considering a book.

Author Interview with SueAnn Jackson Land

SueAnn Jackson Land is an author who lives in Sudbury, Ontario. She has been published in The Globe & Mail, The Outer Banks Sentinel, on Soul's Code (a webzine) and was featured recently on Authors on Show.This is the pitch: 
When the rage of living settles down and age relieves us of blame - then we are ready to look in the mirror. After everything we encounter as human beings, after every trial and joy, everything we have chosen this lifetime for - we eventually answer to the human being staring back at us from the mirror. I have suffered at the hands of others, child abuse, sexual abuse, rape, suicides in three generations of my family. I have also suffered at my own hands, addiction, obesity, depression. Along with the memoirs that talk about "what they did to me" I wanted to write one that said, "These are the people who helped me. These are the memories that I had to go back and revise because I was wrong. These are the things I could not change and here are the things that I could. This is how I found peace." Ultimately, this book is about survival and the grace that time offers us to change our perceptions and move on.
Tell us about The Truth About Whales in a few sentences.
The Truth About Whales is a memoir and it was written with the purpose of helping survivors of suicide, specifically family members of people who have completed suicide.
How did you come to write this particular book?
Three members of my family completed suicide: my grandmother, my mother and my seventeen year old son.  I started the book to explain my history to myself, to write down all of the research, notes and questions I had about my family's story.  So it began as a journal of sorts.  When I finished it, 20 some odd years later – I realized that I had told the best story I have, my own.
If you have a favourite character in your novel, why that particular one?
My gramam, Anna Fizel Geshan, is my favorite character in the book.  She was mean, volatile and unpredictable.  She was also soft, squishy and taught me what it was to value family. 
Where and when is your novel set and why did you make these specific choices?
The book moves in and out of many geographic areas.  I am originally from North Carolina, grew up in Pennsylvania; did "geographic cures" to North Dakota, Michigan, New Jersey, Texas and Sudbury, Ontario (Canada).
How can people buy your book?
The book is available on Amazon.com and on Lulu, as well. 
What qualities make a successful writer ?
I have learned so much about what it takes to put together a book.  I thought I would have "the book" and Oprah would just magically find me.  Wrong!  I think self-confidence, persistence and networking are some of the qualities you need to be a successful writer.  You also need a great network of people who believe in what you are trying to accomplish and are willing to help you push through the days when you wonder exactly what it was you were thinking to begin this process at all!
How do you set about writing a piece?
I wish that I had the discipline to write every day, but I do not.  I write when I am moved to write.  Having sat down many times with the "I need to find a way to do this every day" I found myself with a lot of stuff even I didn't want to read.  When people affect me, I write. When memories are painful or I find some nugget of information about my family, I write.  When I have no other choice – I write.
Beginning writers make many mistakes; what do you think is the most harmful?
Thinking that they are hack writers or that they don't have the talent to "make it" as a writer.  That's why it took me so long to finish my book.  I went into the "lit crit" circles and was completely underestimating my writing ability and my right to have something good for SueAnn happen.
To what extent are grammar and spelling important to a writer?
I think the attitude of "that's the editor's problem" is mistaken.  Getting published, or even to be seen by an agent, is like finding a needle in a haystack.  So if you are coming to a professional without something that is presentable; well, it's like going to a company fundraiser naked.  You want to look your best, but there is the problem of the dangling participle.
How much revision of your MS do you do before you send it off?
I read through it once.  I sleep on it for a couple of days and read through it again.  I usually send it to a friend to have a gander (because I miss things) – then I hit "send."
To what extent do you think genre is useful in the publishing world?
I think that readers have niche markets that interest them.  Not everyone wants to read the same thing.  The sad part about genre is that it limits readers at the same time.  If I read "romance" on the description, I immediately think "Harlequin" and turn my head.  I read a classic "romance" novel this year as a favor to a friend and it turned out to be one of the best books I read all year.
How do you know where to begin any given story?
Having written a memoir – of course the story begins with "I."
What sort of displacement activities keep you from actually writing?
Authonomy (sad, but true)… I find myself reviewing so many manuscripts that any writing time I have budgeted is forfeited.  Having said that, if I hadn't gotten on Authonomy and started meeting other writers, I would still be thinking that I had the "it" book and waiting by the phone for Oprah to call.
Do you have support, either from family and friends or a writing group?
I have been a part of a writing group for eleven years.  We are friends who came together out of a love for music and have emailed the details of our lives, every day.  It is amazing to me how many "writers" there are out there who have no desire to be published.  They write because it is their art and how they express themselves.
Is presentation of the MS as important as most agents and publishers suggest?
Honestly, I have almost no experience with presenting my book proposal.  I got aggravated at the process early on and self-published.  I am certain is it extremely important because of the sheer volume of the manuscript on-line.
How long did it take you to write your book?
Twenty years.  I am currently working on my second book and I certainly hope that it doesn't take me another twenty.
Who or what inspires you?
Human beings, the human condition inspires me.  How we respond to one another emotionally, the spiritual search for why we chose this lifetime – I could write another twenty books about how much I love watching human beings discover their purpose here, how we touch one another's lives.
If there's a single aspect to writing that really frustrates you, what is it?
Having to critique someone else's writing frustrates me.  I want to get out my red-pencil and mark up the text.  I lack the courage to say, "Hey… really… your manuscript could be so good if…you stopped using those ellipses and finished the quote with the quotations outside of the punctuation."  That, and reading so many serial vampire killer stories.  Of course, I'm of the smarmy Stuart Smalley emotional variety, so…
Is there any aspect of writing that you really enjoy?
Self-disclosure – I am a flasher of the emotional variety.  I want people to know that I'm searching, the same way that they are – and what answers I manage to find.
Do you think writing is a natural gift or an acquired skill?
I think that writers have a desire to express their perceptions of the world, of their lives.  My writing came from the inability to tell the secrets that were happening all around me.  Writing gave me a voice and an ally.  I believe that our brains and abilities are limited only by our ignorance.  If we don't know it, if we don't seek it, if we don't discover it within ourselves – how are we to ever have something naturally?  Even savants have to play the instrument or put the pen to paper, right?
What single piece of advice would you give to writers still hoping to be published?
Don't give up.
What are you writing now?
I'm writing, "After All" which is a memoir, go figure. It's about the women who raised me and the chosen family that gave me the love I sought after.
Do you have a website or a blog that readers can visit?
I have a Facebook fan page for The Truth About Whales http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Truth-About-Whales/100551756663247
and I have a blog as well, but I am not great about keeping the blog up to date.http://www.sueannjacksonland.blogspot.com/
Given unlimited resources, what would be your ideal writing environment?
I would love a beach house in Nags Head, North Carolina with a view of the Atlantic.
Where do you actually write?
I attempt to write in my living room in Sudbury, Ontario with the television blaring.  We live in a two-bedroom apartment and it doesn't allow for office space, really.  The best writing times are Sunday morning before anyone is up and breakfast isn't even an option, yet.
Stuart – thank you very much for this opportunity to speak with you about The Truth About Whales.  I admire your effort in helping authors get the word out about their books and wish you luck on your next book!  I'm looking forward to reading it.

What Does it Mean to Be Green?

Image via Wikipedia
For some, the Green movement is a political choice, for others, it's a spiritual matter and yet others see it as a social issue, especially relevant to the future lives of their children. Many people see it as all three, of course. And yet others think it is all so much hype and hysteria – though who, exactly, would gain from such a programme of disinformation about the environment is difficult to pin down.
As a parent, I want to leave behind a world fit for my daughter, and any children she may have, to inhabit. I would prefer to leave the place better than I found it. So, I belong to Greenpeace, and have done since the 1980s. My wife belongs to Friends of the Earth. We pool their information and do what we can to support both organisations.
Are all the warnings about climate change (or global warming, if that's your preferred term) justified? The climate is a hugely complex system and local weather, on its own, is no clue to what is happening on a global scale. It is the accumulation of changes, extremes and effects that point to serious movement in the way our climate works. Almost without exception, the statistics indicate that the Earth's atmosphere is altering to the detriment of humankind. I have no fear for the planet itself or life in general: they will continue for untold eons, with or without us. But there are signs that our input to the climate is generally destructive in the way it affects humans as a species. Already, some crops are failing, the water table in many areas - India's Punjab and Israel's disputed territory are obvious examples – is dropping to a point where it will soon be unusable. We are experiencing many examples of extreme weather in the form of floods, droughts, hurricanes, ice storms, forest fires etc. Some people believe that because their own local weather is improving, there is no problem. But local weather patterns on their own are no indicators of the general health of the climate over the planet.
Way back in the early 80s, Greenpeace predicted that we would see extremes in the weather all over the world due to global warming. And what do we have today? Extremes in local weather all over the globe. Isn't that a surprise?
If we accept that mankind is the prime mover in this change (and the naysayers will blame the Sun – a long discredited theory; or cyclical changes – also not a valid defence, as the rate of change we are experiencing is unprecedented) then we need to know whether there is anything we can do about it as individuals. We cannot trust governments to take the necessary steps, unless we are prepared to back their unpalatable changes with action.
Recycling comes a poor second to making things last longer and repairing stuff that needs replacing. We consume as though the planet's resources were inexhaustible but there are already signs that we will run out of some our basic needs in the near future. It is not unlikely that the next round of wars and conflicts will arise over claims to drinking water. Then will come disputes over food production, as the world's population exceeds the planet's ability to support it. Millions are starving today; if they were fed to the level of the most highly consuming societies, there simply wouldn't be enough food to go round. So, we would struggle to feed a world with its current 6.5 Bn; what will we do with a population of 9 Bn, due around 2050?
Is it feasible to slow down population growth, surely a prime cause of our problems, or better, to reduce it?Can we persuade people to reduce car use? Will increased nuclear power help reduce the effects of growing fuel use? Will commercial and political interests allow the introduction of factors other than purely material one to be included in pricing, so that the real costs to the planet can be reflected in what we use and buy?
I put these statements and questions to attract comment and debate and invite you to make your contribution here and now.