Alexander M. Zoltai's Blog, page 154
March 11, 2014
A Fun Way To Learn The English Language?
I have people from about 40 countries visiting my blog every day.
Image courtesy of Colin Adamson ~ http://www.sxc.hu/profile/Col6085
Sure, the USA, UK, Australia, and India are the top ones since I write in English.
But, the other 30-some countries are are always changing and, over the last 3 years, there are only about 12 countries that haven’t shown up in my visitors’ stats.
Part of me is astonished that folks from so many countries come to a blog in English.
Another part of me has a hint about...
March 10, 2014
Writing On A Long Train Ride ~ For Free?
I’ve written here before about Writers Residencies.
Image courtesy of Subhadip Mukherjee ~ http://www.sxc.hu/profile/subhadipin
Basically, a writer packs up and goes somewhere to relax and focus and Write…
And, now, Amtrak (in the USA) is accepting applications for [according to The Wire] “…one free round-trip ticket on a long-distance train, complete with a sleeper car that has a bed and a desk [and outlets] and ‘a window to watch the American countryside roll by for inspiration’.”
The Wire also...
March 6, 2014
Friday Fantasy ~ Number Fourteen
Tribal Queen
~She was praying to her most illustrious ancestress.
Image courtesy of Michael & Christa Richert ~ http://www.sxc.hu/profile/Ayla87
The Fire-Breather was afield and not just harrowing the upland villages.
Luenza intoned her propitiations to Launesis:
“Forgive me for my indiscretions…
“Give me the fortitude to argue my husband into action…
“BE PRESENT!“
Luenza saw the spirit rise and float before her.
~~~
Agwen sat on his throne and spoke with authority to his priests:
“Say all the prayers y...
Is The Success of Indie Authors Just A Bunch of Hype?
There’s a war going on.
Image from Wikipedia ~ https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Mia5793
One side has been around for a long time and has lots of money.
The other side is the new kid on the block and has an unquenchable spirit.
The rich old ones are playing dirty and the young upstarts haven’t quite figured out the “rules”.
Yet, the old ones are scared…
The pundits are having a heyday but contradict each other like the most fickle of winds.
So, what’s really happening with the Indie Author Ups...
March 5, 2014
Do You Have To Give Something Up To Collaborate?
I blog about Reading, Writing, and Publishing; but; most of what’s said can be applied in many other areas of life.
Image courtesy of Adrian ~ http://www.sxc.hu/profile/vancity197
Today’s topic is easy to apply to nearly any activity.
Lots of people, in the work they do, feel they are the only ones who know how to “get it right”.
And, as a writer, I must admit to such feelings…
But, the least I can do, if collaboration could help me, is to explore how it might make my work better.
March 4, 2014
Is Selling Books The Only Validation Authors Seek?
Finding writers who don’t care about selling books might seem like a silly pursuit.
Image from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Shakespeare_and_Company_store_in_Paris.jpg
Still, most serious writers are Way more concerned with writing books than selling them.
That seems true even in this new era of self-publishing.
Do authors still crave seeing their books in a brick-and-mortar store?
Do E-shelves, crammed to overflowing with not-so-serious authors’ wares, feel wrong?
But, bottom-line, selling en...
March 3, 2014
Who Decides Which Books Should Be “Classics” ?
Which books are classics?
Image courtesy of Benjamin Earwicker ~ http://www.garrisonphoto.org
Does anyone still read “The Classics”?
How in the world could certain individuals, even if they’re educated and wise, decide that certain books should be Classics?
If I pop up my WordWeb dictionary, “Classics” is defined as, “Study of the literary works of ancient Greece and Rome.”
But, using a term like “The Classics” and saying a certain book is a classic can be quite different things.
March 1, 2014
Get Free E-books during Read An E-book Week :-)
“Read an Ebook Week kicks off this Sunday. Smashwords is again sponsoring the event for the sixth year running.
“Thousands of Smashwords authors will offer free and deep-discounted titles starting Sunday March 2 and running through Saturday March 8.”
Readers, visit the catalog page of participating titles — “…nearly 40,000 multi-format books regularly priced at free, and thousands more that are free or deep-discounted for one week only.” [the page will be active Sunday, March 2nd]
Or, check out...
February 27, 2014
Friday Fantasy ~ Number Thirteen
Grief of The Artisan
~ He was struck down to worthlessness.
Image courtesy of Dirk L ~ http://www.sxc.hu/profile/dkcandle
His body would barely function.
His mind was thin and brittle.
Calefas felt he had been cursed and thought he knew why.
He had made pottery with shapes that were forbidden—shapes that went beyond functionality—shapes that were sensuous.
Calefas had sent for the Shaman, Tezil, and prayed he would still be alive when the Shaman appeared…
~~~
Tezil was on his way to Calefas’ workshop....
Is There Any “Moral” Merit In Reading Fiction?
Why do you read fiction?
Image courtesy of Michal Zacharzewski ~ http://www.sxc.hu/profile/mzacha
I think there are as many reasons to read fiction as there are people on this earth.
Sure, some of those reasons are common to lots of people — entertainment, pleasure, exploration, excitement.
But, reading fiction to become more moral?
Perhaps a bit of definition is called for…
My dictionary says moral means:
“Concerned with the principles of right and wrong behavior and the goodness or badness of huma...
