Matt Posner's Blog: You've Been Schooled, page 3
April 12, 2012
Short reflections from Europe
Julie and I are on our sixth European vacation since 2003. When we get back I will begin posting pictures and video. Meanwhile, here are a few short notes
Best features of Europe:
1. Architecture. Attractive buildings everywhere you look. Statues too.
2. Fewer people. Less crowding. Easier to get around. Except London.
3. Walking. I like to do vacations that involve walking.
4. Inspiration. I get creative ideas for fiction constantly here.
Worst features of Europe.
1. prices. You seriously pay far too much for everything. Clothing prices especially are effing INSANE.
2. Phone calls. You can't make a damn phone call to the US any more. Phone cards are rare now.
3. Stamps. Everyone sells postcards but no one sells stamps for them. We spend 1-3 hours per vacation dealing with this..
4. Water. Water is expensive and you can't drink the tap water. I probably spent already 50 dollars on water this trip.
More later.
Best features of Europe:
1. Architecture. Attractive buildings everywhere you look. Statues too.
2. Fewer people. Less crowding. Easier to get around. Except London.
3. Walking. I like to do vacations that involve walking.
4. Inspiration. I get creative ideas for fiction constantly here.
Worst features of Europe.
1. prices. You seriously pay far too much for everything. Clothing prices especially are effing INSANE.
2. Phone calls. You can't make a damn phone call to the US any more. Phone cards are rare now.
3. Stamps. Everyone sells postcards but no one sells stamps for them. We spend 1-3 hours per vacation dealing with this..
4. Water. Water is expensive and you can't drink the tap water. I probably spent already 50 dollars on water this trip.
More later.
March 28, 2012
"Me Talk Pretty One Day"
I'd like to welcome to my blog a guest who is a great writer and a great friend, Cyprus' own Chrystalla Thoma. I suggested that Chrystalla, who is a native speaker of Greek but now writes in English, tell us about being a bilingual writer. After the post I will put links to Chrystalla's books.
Here's Chrys:
“Me talk pretty one day” is the title of a collection of (quasi-fictional) essays by David Sedaris, who is American but also half Greek, and I thought it applied nicely to me.
Not that I’m half anything. I was born and raised in Cyprus, speaking Greek, and if that wasn’t bad enough, it was a Greek dialect.
Okay, so it wasn’t really bad. I love my language and the history behind it, the moments when I look at an ancient text and familiar words jump out at me, when the etymology of words is crystal clear and ancient place names have a meaning. It’s part of my identity, of my childhood, of my past.
But I’m also a writer of speculative fiction (fantasy and science fiction). Greeks, philosophical and cynical beings that they are, always looking back to their glorious past, don’t have much love for my genres of preference. They don’t write them, don’t read them, don’t buy them – don’t like them. “Children’s genres” they call them – often to my face.
I see things slowly starting to change, but it’s a long haul.
Gradually I realized that I should be writing in English. For a while I raged against my parents for not raising me bilingual (actually they’re both Greek speakers, so I don’t know why they would do that – but I needed to rage against something).
As it was, I starting learning English when I was ten, and managed to read my first unabridged novel at sixteen. I went on to study English language and literature (in France – no university fees!), but didn’t feel confident enough to write directly into English. Translating from Greek, though, didn’t quite do the trick. The text sounded contrived and the word associations were all wrong.
No way out.
So about ten years ago, I decided to give it a go. I was terrified. Major writer’s block. A wall.
Don’t be ridiculous, I told myself. How can you write in English? There are millions of native speakers of English, thousands of writers among them. How can you compete with them?
But I began nonetheless – scribbling in notebooks, writing down conversations in English. And one grand day, I opened a document on my computer and started writing in English.
I guess my mind works with language like photographic memory works with images: it stores phrases I heard or read and spits them out when I need them. I’m lucky, I guess – sort of a human parrot, or dictionary. That really helps when you’re trying to write in a language not your own.
I’ll always be at a disadvantage compared to native speakers. Yet I have wonderful friends who correct all those pesky “foreigner” errors (mismatched expressions, wrong words...) I make. Dictionaries and thesauruses are my gods.
Still, I always have this gut-clenching fear that someone will point a finger at me and declare me a fake – a non-native speaker daring to sneak among the thoroughbreds.
But it hasn’t happened so far, thank all the planets.
Maybe everyone is being very polite...
Chrystalla Thoma
Dioscuri
Smoke and Mirrors
The Angel Genome
Dreamwater
Rex Rising
Rex Cresting
Chrys interviewed on my website: http://schooloftheages.webs.com/apps/...-
Here's Chrys:
“Me talk pretty one day” is the title of a collection of (quasi-fictional) essays by David Sedaris, who is American but also half Greek, and I thought it applied nicely to me.
Not that I’m half anything. I was born and raised in Cyprus, speaking Greek, and if that wasn’t bad enough, it was a Greek dialect.
Okay, so it wasn’t really bad. I love my language and the history behind it, the moments when I look at an ancient text and familiar words jump out at me, when the etymology of words is crystal clear and ancient place names have a meaning. It’s part of my identity, of my childhood, of my past.
But I’m also a writer of speculative fiction (fantasy and science fiction). Greeks, philosophical and cynical beings that they are, always looking back to their glorious past, don’t have much love for my genres of preference. They don’t write them, don’t read them, don’t buy them – don’t like them. “Children’s genres” they call them – often to my face.
I see things slowly starting to change, but it’s a long haul.
Gradually I realized that I should be writing in English. For a while I raged against my parents for not raising me bilingual (actually they’re both Greek speakers, so I don’t know why they would do that – but I needed to rage against something).
As it was, I starting learning English when I was ten, and managed to read my first unabridged novel at sixteen. I went on to study English language and literature (in France – no university fees!), but didn’t feel confident enough to write directly into English. Translating from Greek, though, didn’t quite do the trick. The text sounded contrived and the word associations were all wrong.
No way out.
So about ten years ago, I decided to give it a go. I was terrified. Major writer’s block. A wall.
Don’t be ridiculous, I told myself. How can you write in English? There are millions of native speakers of English, thousands of writers among them. How can you compete with them?
But I began nonetheless – scribbling in notebooks, writing down conversations in English. And one grand day, I opened a document on my computer and started writing in English.
I guess my mind works with language like photographic memory works with images: it stores phrases I heard or read and spits them out when I need them. I’m lucky, I guess – sort of a human parrot, or dictionary. That really helps when you’re trying to write in a language not your own.
I’ll always be at a disadvantage compared to native speakers. Yet I have wonderful friends who correct all those pesky “foreigner” errors (mismatched expressions, wrong words...) I make. Dictionaries and thesauruses are my gods.
Still, I always have this gut-clenching fear that someone will point a finger at me and declare me a fake – a non-native speaker daring to sneak among the thoroughbreds.
But it hasn’t happened so far, thank all the planets.
Maybe everyone is being very polite...
Chrystalla Thoma
Dioscuri
Smoke and Mirrors
The Angel Genome
Dreamwater
Rex Rising
Rex Cresting
Chrys interviewed on my website: http://schooloftheages.webs.com/apps/...-
March 22, 2012
Great interviews with indie authors
This blog entry will be a place to find the links for all the author interviews I have done on my website.
Leading off is my writing partner, Jess. C. Scott, co-author with me of May's Teen Guide to Sex and Relationship:
Jess C. Scott (romance, erotica, cyberpunk): http://schooloftheages.webs.com/apps/...
The prolific Jess writes everything from Elvish cyberpunk to tasteful relationship-based erotica to business advice.
Sarah Barnard (young adult fantasy): http://schooloftheages.webs.com/apps/...
Sarah writes lovely YA fiction and co-edits charity anthologies.
Katherine Mayfield (personal memoir, acting): http://schooloftheages.webs.com/apps/...
We talked about serious subjects in this interview.
Barbara Silkstone (romance): http://schooloftheages.webs.com/apps/...
Barbara's follow-up to Wendy and the Lost Boys is a huge hit!
Jeremy Rodden (cartoon novels): http://schooloftheages.webs.com/apps/...
A novelist focused on the world of cartoons, Jeremy has since organized an anthology about stay-at-home dads that is really cool.
Ian Davies (nonfiction): http://schooloftheages.webs.com/apps/...
Ian has reissued a diary account of the Gulf War and a book about Mikhail Gorbachev.
Mysti Parker (fantasy romance): http://schooloftheages.webs.com/apps/...
Mysti really makes me laugh in this one! Her second novel has since been published.
Simon Palmer: http://schooloftheages.webs.com/apps/...
Simon has published another book, along with writing partner Claudia Modie, since this interview was conducted, and his third novel, his first venture into horror, is coming out soon.
Pam Howes: http://schooloftheages.webs.com/apps/...
Since this interview was conducted, Pam's books have all become bestsellers. She's now on her fifth!
Debbie Bennett: http://schooloftheages.webs.com/apps/...
Debbie works for the police force in England. I'm scared of her. ;-)
Revital Shiri-Horowitz: http://schooloftheages.webs.com/apps/...
Revital does know some English, but she writes in Hebrew and works with a translator.
Bernard J. Schaffer, El Presidente: http://schooloftheages.webs.com/apps/...
Bernard has written many bestsellers, including Superbia, a top bestseller whose sequel is coming out next week!
Mel Comley: http://schooloftheages.webs.com/apps/...-
Mel has published several volumes since this interview was done. She writes both gritty crime and sensitive romance. Quite a combination!
Lia Fairchild: http://schooloftheages.webs.com/apps/...
Note this interview was conducted before she signed with Amazon's own publishing house.
Junying Kirk, multicultural icon: http://schooloftheages.webs.com/apps/...
The best of both worlds are united in this lady.
Carolyn Chambers Clark: http://schooloftheages.webs.com/apps/...-
An expert nurse who has written medical books also, Carolyn has written with skill on all sorts of subjects!
Sibel Hodge: http://schooloftheages.webs.com/apps/...-
Sibel writes mostly chick lit, but she has also written an important book about enslaved women.
Karen Lenfestey: http://schooloftheages.webs.com/apps/...
Karen now has a new book out that is a big hit!
Ey Wade: http://schooloftheages.webs.com/apps/...
Ey is now writing, drawing, and publishing beautiful children's books also.
M.H. Gerber: http://schooloftheages.webs.com/apps/...- Maureen has several books out that all sell briskly!
Cynthia Myers-Hansen: http://schooloftheages.webs.com/apps/...
Cynthia writes about life after death. She has an active twitter feed also.
Mande Matthews http://schooloftheages.webs.com/apps/...
Mande's first novel Bonded puts a new spin on Norse mythology.
Ruby Barnes http://schooloftheages.webs.com/apps/...
Ruby writes thrillers with a UK flavor.
Harri Romney http://schooloftheages.webs.com/apps/...
Harri's many children's picture books are beginning to appear now in print.
Ethan Dempsey http://schooloftheages.webs.com/apps/...
Ethan's a teacher, like me. Rock on, brother Dempsey!
Catherine Czerkawska http://schooloftheages.webs.com/apps/...
Catherine is a respected veteran of the publishing game.
Prue Batten http://schooloftheages.webs.com/apps/...
Prue comes from New Zealand, which is synonymous with being cool.
Catherine Kirby http://schooloftheages.webs.com/apps/...
Catherine's writing career has really exploded since this interview was done.
Chrystalla Thoma http://schooloftheages.webs.com/apps/...-
Chrystalla's Rex Rising series now has two superb volumes. Plus she's from Cyprus, which is a plus in my book any day.
http://schooloftheages.webs.com/apps/...
Jennifer's book is about a clerk in Hell. Or was that Syracuse, NY?
Cara Bertoia: http://schooloftheages.webs.com/apps/...
Cara writes about cruise ships, casinos, and romance along with her husband and life-partner Ray.
Sherry Roberts: http://schooloftheages.webs.com/apps/...
Sherry is a lady who really knows how to laugh.
Leading off is my writing partner, Jess. C. Scott, co-author with me of May's Teen Guide to Sex and Relationship:
Jess C. Scott (romance, erotica, cyberpunk): http://schooloftheages.webs.com/apps/...
The prolific Jess writes everything from Elvish cyberpunk to tasteful relationship-based erotica to business advice.
Sarah Barnard (young adult fantasy): http://schooloftheages.webs.com/apps/...
Sarah writes lovely YA fiction and co-edits charity anthologies.
Katherine Mayfield (personal memoir, acting): http://schooloftheages.webs.com/apps/...
We talked about serious subjects in this interview.
Barbara Silkstone (romance): http://schooloftheages.webs.com/apps/...
Barbara's follow-up to Wendy and the Lost Boys is a huge hit!
Jeremy Rodden (cartoon novels): http://schooloftheages.webs.com/apps/...
A novelist focused on the world of cartoons, Jeremy has since organized an anthology about stay-at-home dads that is really cool.
Ian Davies (nonfiction): http://schooloftheages.webs.com/apps/...
Ian has reissued a diary account of the Gulf War and a book about Mikhail Gorbachev.
Mysti Parker (fantasy romance): http://schooloftheages.webs.com/apps/...
Mysti really makes me laugh in this one! Her second novel has since been published.
Simon Palmer: http://schooloftheages.webs.com/apps/...
Simon has published another book, along with writing partner Claudia Modie, since this interview was conducted, and his third novel, his first venture into horror, is coming out soon.
Pam Howes: http://schooloftheages.webs.com/apps/...
Since this interview was conducted, Pam's books have all become bestsellers. She's now on her fifth!
Debbie Bennett: http://schooloftheages.webs.com/apps/...
Debbie works for the police force in England. I'm scared of her. ;-)
Revital Shiri-Horowitz: http://schooloftheages.webs.com/apps/...
Revital does know some English, but she writes in Hebrew and works with a translator.
Bernard J. Schaffer, El Presidente: http://schooloftheages.webs.com/apps/...
Bernard has written many bestsellers, including Superbia, a top bestseller whose sequel is coming out next week!
Mel Comley: http://schooloftheages.webs.com/apps/...-
Mel has published several volumes since this interview was done. She writes both gritty crime and sensitive romance. Quite a combination!
Lia Fairchild: http://schooloftheages.webs.com/apps/...
Note this interview was conducted before she signed with Amazon's own publishing house.
Junying Kirk, multicultural icon: http://schooloftheages.webs.com/apps/...
The best of both worlds are united in this lady.
Carolyn Chambers Clark: http://schooloftheages.webs.com/apps/...-
An expert nurse who has written medical books also, Carolyn has written with skill on all sorts of subjects!
Sibel Hodge: http://schooloftheages.webs.com/apps/...-
Sibel writes mostly chick lit, but she has also written an important book about enslaved women.
Karen Lenfestey: http://schooloftheages.webs.com/apps/...
Karen now has a new book out that is a big hit!
Ey Wade: http://schooloftheages.webs.com/apps/...
Ey is now writing, drawing, and publishing beautiful children's books also.
M.H. Gerber: http://schooloftheages.webs.com/apps/...- Maureen has several books out that all sell briskly!
Cynthia Myers-Hansen: http://schooloftheages.webs.com/apps/...
Cynthia writes about life after death. She has an active twitter feed also.
Mande Matthews http://schooloftheages.webs.com/apps/...
Mande's first novel Bonded puts a new spin on Norse mythology.
Ruby Barnes http://schooloftheages.webs.com/apps/...
Ruby writes thrillers with a UK flavor.
Harri Romney http://schooloftheages.webs.com/apps/...
Harri's many children's picture books are beginning to appear now in print.
Ethan Dempsey http://schooloftheages.webs.com/apps/...
Ethan's a teacher, like me. Rock on, brother Dempsey!
Catherine Czerkawska http://schooloftheages.webs.com/apps/...
Catherine is a respected veteran of the publishing game.
Prue Batten http://schooloftheages.webs.com/apps/...
Prue comes from New Zealand, which is synonymous with being cool.
Catherine Kirby http://schooloftheages.webs.com/apps/...
Catherine's writing career has really exploded since this interview was done.
Chrystalla Thoma http://schooloftheages.webs.com/apps/...-
Chrystalla's Rex Rising series now has two superb volumes. Plus she's from Cyprus, which is a plus in my book any day.
http://schooloftheages.webs.com/apps/...
Jennifer's book is about a clerk in Hell. Or was that Syracuse, NY?
Cara Bertoia: http://schooloftheages.webs.com/apps/...
Cara writes about cruise ships, casinos, and romance along with her husband and life-partner Ray.
Sherry Roberts: http://schooloftheages.webs.com/apps/...
Sherry is a lady who really knows how to laugh.
You've Been Schooled
I'm Matt Posner, author of the School of the Ages series and more. I'll be using this blog slot to post thoughts, links, advertisements, interviews, and generally whatever I think is interesting and i
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