Lyda Phillips's Blog, page 3
May 30, 2015
Milestone: Broke the Two Thousand Barrier
Checked my iUniverse sales and royalties page today and I sold 212 copies of Mr. Touchdown in the first quarter of 2015. This puts me over 2,000 total copies sold since it was published in 2005. The sales have always been slow but steady with the high point always the first quarter, for Martin Luther King's birthday and Black History Month.I am really proud of my baby.
2015:
7. (currently reading) Journney to the West, translated, edited by Anthony C. Yu
6. The Three Clerks, Anthony Trollope
5. Out of Oz, Gregory Maguire
4. The Paying Guests, Sarah Waters
1-3. A Discovery of Witches, Shadow of Night, The Book of Life, Deborah Harkness
Re-read:
3. Dept. of Speculation, Jenny Offill
1-2. Barchester Towers, Doctor Thorne, Anthony Trollope
May 17, 2015
China and other things
I am still trying to recover my equilibrium after China. Still feel a bit seasick at times, which I guess is lingering jet lag, from the 14 and 12 hour trips "through the vacuum tube" as Gus called it.
Here a couple more images from my Nikon coolpix camera. Every time I use it, it's like the very first time. When I try to download the pictures I never can find the right cable. I never can remember how to get the pictures to a place where I can edit them. I give up. I'm old, okay?
This one is from the very first day with Zhang Lin out on an island in the mouth of the Yangzte River. We saw 70+ birds, about 60 of them life birds for me. And within two years this fabulous, primeval place will be another manufacturing wasteland, belching smog, unabated.
White wagtail
water buffalo with its very own cattle egret
These next two are from the Jing'an Temple in Shanghai.
This last one is an example of "South Korean Fashion," a term Gus used. I asked him before I left, "How do people dress?" I was wondering whether everyone wore jeans, like here, whether I'd be out of place and should bring a dress. His answer: "They dress like escapees from a lunatic asylum." When pressed he said it was South Korean fashion. I really wanted to take more pictures of it, but I was afraid of offending them, although Gus says the Chinese are completely un-self-conscious about it, since they are always taking pictures of everything themselves.
But SKF also includes tiny little skirts with tights, I mean up to the ass, and lots of metallic gold and silver footwear with huge wedgy soles, for both boys and girls, and Hello Kitty kind of cartoon characters but a little bit more anime than that, and long filmy sleeveless wraps over the teensy skirts. For guys the most advanced fashion is a kind of ninja look, black tight pants with black flowing shirts and studs and boots.
And I should add, this is all for the very young. And a lot of the very young are extraordinarily beautiful.
This has been a strange year so far. I don't even remember what I've read, and I never chose the Dibby Hill Awards for 2014. But I'll make a stab at getting back on my mental feet by trying to reconstruct 2015 at least.
2015:
4. The Paying Guests, Sarah Waters
1-3. A Discovery of Witches, Shadow of Night, The Book of Life, Deborah Harkness
Re-read:
3. Dept. of Speculation, Jenny Offill
1-2. Barchester Towers, Doctor Thorne, Anthony Trollope
Here a couple more images from my Nikon coolpix camera. Every time I use it, it's like the very first time. When I try to download the pictures I never can find the right cable. I never can remember how to get the pictures to a place where I can edit them. I give up. I'm old, okay?
This one is from the very first day with Zhang Lin out on an island in the mouth of the Yangzte River. We saw 70+ birds, about 60 of them life birds for me. And within two years this fabulous, primeval place will be another manufacturing wasteland, belching smog, unabated.
White wagtail
water buffalo with its very own cattle egret
These next two are from the Jing'an Temple in Shanghai.
This last one is an example of "South Korean Fashion," a term Gus used. I asked him before I left, "How do people dress?" I was wondering whether everyone wore jeans, like here, whether I'd be out of place and should bring a dress. His answer: "They dress like escapees from a lunatic asylum." When pressed he said it was South Korean fashion. I really wanted to take more pictures of it, but I was afraid of offending them, although Gus says the Chinese are completely un-self-conscious about it, since they are always taking pictures of everything themselves.
But SKF also includes tiny little skirts with tights, I mean up to the ass, and lots of metallic gold and silver footwear with huge wedgy soles, for both boys and girls, and Hello Kitty kind of cartoon characters but a little bit more anime than that, and long filmy sleeveless wraps over the teensy skirts. For guys the most advanced fashion is a kind of ninja look, black tight pants with black flowing shirts and studs and boots.
And I should add, this is all for the very young. And a lot of the very young are extraordinarily beautiful.
This has been a strange year so far. I don't even remember what I've read, and I never chose the Dibby Hill Awards for 2014. But I'll make a stab at getting back on my mental feet by trying to reconstruct 2015 at least.
2015:
4. The Paying Guests, Sarah Waters
1-3. A Discovery of Witches, Shadow of Night, The Book of Life, Deborah Harkness
Re-read:
3. Dept. of Speculation, Jenny Offill
1-2. Barchester Towers, Doctor Thorne, Anthony Trollope
December 30, 2014
The Turning of the Year
[image error]
Mixed feelings about 2015. Always have mixed feelings at the change of the year. May this be a very good year for everyone I know and love. Merry and bright.
2014 List:
54. The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry, Gabrielle Zevin
53. Endurance, Shackleton's Incredible Voyage, Albert Lansing\
52. Fallen Giants, Maurice Isserman, Stewart Weaver
51. The Infatuations, Javier Marias
48-50. The Iron King, The Iron Daughter, Julia Kagawa
48. Greenglass House, Kate Milford
47. Ghost in the Canteen, Jen Rasmussen
46. Quiet, Susan Kain
43-45. Delirium, Pandemonium, Requiem, Lauren Oliver
42. Station Eleven, Emily St. John Mandel
39-41. Mistborn, Well of Ascension, Hero of Ages, Brandon Sanderson
37. The Rithmatist, Brandon Sanderson
36. We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves, Karen Joy Fowler
35. Seraphina, Rachel Hartmann
34. Under Magnolia, Frances Mayes
33. A Natural History of Dragons, Marie Brennan
32. Old Filth, Jane Gardam
31. Orphan Train, Christina Baker Kline
30. Beautiful Ruins, Jess Walter
29. Our Mutual Friend, Charles Dickens
28. Americanah, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
27. The Gift of Wings, Mary Henley Rubio
26. Dancing Lessons for the Advanced in Age, Bohumil Hrabal
20-25. The Comfort of Muddy Saturdays, The Lost Art of Gratitude, The Charming Quirks of Others, The Forgotten Affairs of Youth, The Uncommon Appeal of Clouds, Alexander McCall Smith
19. The Homesman, Glendon Swarthout
18. The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, Rebecca Skloot
17. The Hollow Hills, Ransom Riggs
14-16. Divergent, Insurgent, Allegiant, Veronic Roth
8-13 44 Scotland Street, The Sunday Philosophy Club, Friends, Lovers, Chocolate, The Right Attitude to Rain, The Careful Use of Compliments, Alexander McCall Smith
7. The Blythes Are Quoted, L.M. Montgomery
6. Moonkind, Sarah Prineas
5. The Goldfinch, Donna Tart
4. The Golden Day, Ursala Dubosarsky
2-3. The Haunted Hotel, The Queen of Hearts, Wilkie Collins
1. The Luminaries, Eleanor Catton
Re-read:
5. The Fellowship of the Ring, JRR Tolkein
1-4. Anne of the Island, Anne of Windy Poplars, Anne's House of Dreams, Rilla of Ingleside, LM Montgomery
November 5, 2014
Ghost in the Canteen
[image error]
Jen Rasmussen is one of my two constant and fantastic critique partners. I read the first draft of Ghost in the Canteen and loved it even in its protean state.
That said, I am also a reviewer for Chapter 16, the literary website of the Tennessee Humanities Council. I read a lot of books for them and for myself and write about them.
I have read horror all my life, from H.P. Lovecraft, Edgar Allen Poe, and Wilkie Collins to Charlaine Harris and Stephen King. Jen's novel and her heroine, Lydia Trinkett, hold their own in this genre. In terms of voice, which Jen calls "dark snark," it raises the bar.
The plot is intricate, the demons satisfyingly evil, and the imbalance of baking cupcakes for PTA with one hand and fighting off biting baby spirits with the other is fabulous.
She ties the bundle off with a bow and best of all puts more books in the pipeline for our reading pleasure, unlike other series writers who shall remain loathed but unnamed.
So step aside, Sookie, there's a new series in the netherworld. If you don't believe me, check out the first pages on Amazon and that Newfoundland dog.
2014 List:
47. Ghost in the Canteen, Jen Rasmussen
46. Quiet, Susan Kain
43-45. Delirium, Pandemonium, Requiem, Lauren Oliver
42. Station Eleven, Emily St. John Mandel
39-41. Mistborn, Well of Ascension, Hero of Ages, Brandon Sanderson
37. The Rithmatist, Brandon Sanderson
36. We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves, Karen Joy Fowler
35. Seraphina, Rachel Hartmann
34. Under Magnolia, Frances Mayes
33. A Natural History of Dragons, Marie Brennan
32. Old Filth, Jane Gardam
31. Orphan Train, Christina Baker Kline
30. Beautiful Ruins, Jess Walter
29. Our Mutual Friend, Charles Dickens
28. Americanah, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
27. The Gift of Wings, Mary Henley Rubio
26. Dancing Lessons for the Advanced in Age, Bohumil Hrabal
20-25. The Comfort of Muddy Saturdays, The Lost Art of Gratitude, The Charming Quirks of Others, The Forgotten Affairs of Youth, The Uncommon Appeal of Clouds, Alexander McCall Smith
19. The Homesman, Glendon Swarthout
18. The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, Rebecca Skloot
17. The Hollow Hills, Ransom Riggs
14-16. Divergent, Insurgent, Allegiant, Veronic Roth
8-13 44 Scotland Street, The Sunday Philosophy Club, Friends, Lovers, Chocolate, The Right Attitude to Rain, The Careful Use of Compliments, Alexander McCall Smith
7. The Blythes Are Quoted, L.M. Montgomery
6. Moonkind, Sarah Prineas
5. The Goldfinch, Donna Tart
4. The Golden Day, Ursala Dubosarsky
2-3. The Haunted Hotel, The Queen of Hearts, Wilkie Collins
1. The Luminaries, Eleanor Catton
Re-read:
5. The Fellowship of the Ring, JRR Tolkein
1-4. Anne of the Island, Anne of Windy Poplars, Anne's House of Dreams, Rilla of Ingleside, LM Montgomery
View all my reviews
September 7, 2014
Heat has finally broken here in East Nasty.It may b...
Heat has finally broken here in East Nasty.
It may be back. It may be back tomorrow. I will enjoy it now. Have hope now.
The beloved dogs do not like it hot. Cid doesn't like to walk on the sidewalk even, prefers the grass.
2014 List:
36. The Rithmatist, Brandon Sanderson
35. We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves, Karen Joy Fowler
34. Seraphina, Rachel Hartmann
33. Under Magnolia, Frances Mayes
32. A Natural History of Dragons, Marie Brennan
31. Old Filth, Jane Gardam
30. Orphan Train, Christina Baker Kline
29. Beautiful Ruins, Jess Walter
28. Our Mutual Friend, Charles Dickens
27. Americanah, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
26. The Gift of Wings, Mary Henley Rubio
25. Dancing Lessons for the Advanced in Age, Bohumil Hrabal
20-24. The Comfort of Muddy Saturdays, The Lost Art of Gratitude, The Charming Quirks of Others, The Forgotten Affairs of Youth, The Uncommon Appeal of Clouds, Alexander McCall Smith
19. The Homesman, Glendon Swarthout
18. The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, Rebecca Skloot
17. The Hollow Hills, Ransom Riggs
14-16. Divergent, Insurgent, Allegiant, Veronic Roth
8-13 44 Scotland Street, The Sunday Philosophy Club, Friends, Lovers, Chocolate, The Right Attitude to Rain, The Careful Use of Compliments, Alexander McCall Smith
7. The Blythes Are Quoted, L.M. Montgomery
6. Moonkind, Sarah Prineas
5. The Goldfinch, Donna Tart
4. The Golden Day, Ursala Dubosarsky
2-3. The Haunted Hotel, The Queen of Hearts, Wilkie Collins
1. The Luminaries, Eleanor Catton
Re-read:
5. The Fellowship of the Ring, JRR Tolkein
1-4. Anne of the Island, Anne of Windy Poplars, Anne's House of Dreams, Rilla of Ingleside, LM Montgomery
August 8, 2014
East Nashville iconic festival begins tonight.Check...
East Nashville iconic festival begins tonight.
Check out this most wonderfully random art for this year's T-shirt.
And speaking of wonderfully random art work and iconic Nashville events, here's the art for this year's Southern Festival of Books.
[image error]
And check out my Chapter 16 review of Orphan Train by clicking on the link below.
Ya'll come on down!
2014 Reading List:
32. A Natural History of Dragons, Marie Brennan
31. Old Filth, Jane Gardam
30. Orphan Train, Christina Baker Kline
29. Beautiful Ruins, Jess Walter
28. Our Mutual Friend, Charles Dickens
27. Americanah, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
26. The Gift of Wings, Mary Henley Rubio
25. Dancing Lessons for the Advanced in Age, Bohumil Hrabal
20-24. The Comfort of Muddy Saturdays, The Lost Art of Gratitude, The Charming Quirks of Others, The Forgotten Affairs of Youth, The Uncommon Appeal of Clouds, Alexander McCall Smith
19. The Homesman, Glendon Swarthout
18. The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, Rebecca Skloot
17. The Hollow Hills, Ransom Riggs
14-16. Divergent, Insurgent, Allegiant, Veronic Roth
8-13 44 Scotland Street, The Sunday Philosophy Club, Friends, Lovers, Chocolate, The Right Attitude to Rain, The Careful Use of Compliments, Alexander McCall Smith
7. The Blythes Are Quoted, L.M. Montgomery
6. Moonkind, Sarah Prineas
5. The Goldfinch, Donna Tart
4. The Golden Day, Ursala Dubosarsky
2-3. The Haunted Hotel, The Queen of Hearts, Wilkie Collins
1. The Luminaries, Eleanor Catton
Re-read:
5. The Fellowship of the Ring, JRR Tolkein
1-4. Anne of the Island, Anne of Windy Poplars, Anne's House of Dreams, Rilla of Ingleside, LM Montgomery
