Kae Cheatham's Blog: Whoa! Another Author?, page 20

Southern Story Quiz

Southern stories have been in the news of late. See how you do with this quiz.

Which famous novel published in the Depression-era was set in Mississippi?
Delta Wedding
Look Homeward Angel
As I Lay Dying
Their Eyes Were Watching God
none of the above



Didn't get it? Here's the correct answer


Have a great day!

Rethinking the N-word?

Needless to say, the N-word (to be PC) is not one of my favorite words. And the use of it in literature has caused many books to banned by libraries, and not used in many school systems. The re-publication of Twain's Huck Finn is making people rethink this again. Here's a thoughtful article on the Charlotte News Observer's blog, The Reading Life.

There is definite pain involved in hearing slanderous and intentionally cruel terms leveled at you. Being black American and Indian American, I have many times been on the receiving end—often when the speakers thought I was out of earshot and just as often when they sneer and look right at me. I have inured myself to it and can keep on walking with no desire to lash out. That, I know, is useless.

When writing historical fiction, I am conscious of the language of the time-period and like to stay in sync with that. But I also know the reaction to terminology that pops up today, from enlightened non-black Americans to those who still feel the lash in that word. It's a tricky line to tightrope. I've found that in dialogue, an unsavory character can speak all kinds of rough language without using the words many find offensive; the character is still obnoxious and crude. But the intent is the same. I think this is what NewSouth, Inc. intends by changing the Twain text.

I do often wonder, however, if people object to use of words because it puts the character saying them in a bad light—a place they themselves might be because they identify more than they want to admit.

There's a good chance a lot of self-recrimination will be lost with the change in Twain's text. More people might read the American Classic, but will they understand what Twain was intending? I tend to agree with Pam Kelly and Frazer Dobson. I think a lot will be lost.

Tidbits 01-06-11

Of Note:

A great review of Mary McDonald's No Good Deed was posted at Red Adept Reviews. I've read this and liked it, too.

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If you live in Middle Tennessee, mark your calendars for 15 January at 2:00pm. That's when Phyllis Gobbell and Doug Jones will be autographing their December release A Season of Darkness. The signing will be held at Bookman-Bookwoman in Hillsboro Village, Nashville.

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I imagine everyone's read how Amazon is keeping up with the Nobles. You can now lend your Kindle books. More info here..

Looking Back

I'm not one for reminiscing, and this is as close as I'll come. I'm looking back one day to 3 January 2011

I'm happy to report that on this day, my friend and colleague Richard S. Wheeler did NOT have to have a stent put in. His doctors assured him there is no blockage, and he told me he has a photo of his very clear arteries. Yea! He's back blogging and working on his next book (number 70-something).

I am, of course, happy for my friends health; but MY memory of the day is that it was my first child's fortieth birthday. 40! Hmm. Don't do the math, cuz it won't work. I didn't have my kids until most of my friends children were in elementary school.

Anyway, I started thinking about birthdays and how we celebrate them. Very much needed in times (and countries today) when child mortality was high, when surviving to your next birthday was cause for celebration. I suppose that survival is part of it now, but in our society, not as hard to achieve. But I don't see why, after a kid is 25 or so (most often has a job and health insurance and probably his own place to live--maybe a family) parents are still expected to gift said offspring and make a big deal about a birthday. It really should be the other way around. Adults should celebrate their birthdays with cards and gifts to their moms, in particular, and dads, if they hung around for the birth occasion. A great big THANK YOU for giving them life. Or maybe a bucket of ashes and wonderment why the parents decided to have progeny at all.

I didn't do a lot for my kid's 40th. On Facebook, I put up a picture of him when he was a few hours old, (taken by his dad who did hang around) and tagged him in the photo. I wrote, Happy Birthday. But even today, I still wonder how he is catching up to me in age. I mean, I don't feel a day over fifty, so how the h*** can he be forty?

Poetry Quiz

Here's a quiz to start the new year. Enjoy.

Which university press is responsible for the nationally-acclaimed Younger Poet Series?
Cornell

Yale

University of Pittsburgh

University of California-Berkeley
Didn't get it? Click here.

Popular Fiction Anyone?

A few years ago, Richard S. Wheeler had been posting comments on another blog (before he set up his own). In one post he lamented a persnickety attitude he had noticed in his regional writing communities. Wheeler wrote: "...those of us who write popular fiction are constantly being reminded of our inferior status"

My first response, before even getting further into the post was, "Reminded?" I can't be reminded of something I don't know. I don't feel an inferior status. Other people might think I've been relegated to an inferior position and present me with ingratiating smiles and condescending tones, but that doesn't put me there.

RSW continued: "...Back in the 1950s, if you were to ask Ernest Hemingway, or John Dos Passos, or John Steinbeck, whether he wrote literary or popular fiction, you would have gotten a blank stare."

I wonder what would have been the response from "pulp" writers of the day--Nelson Nye, Erle Stanley Gardner and ilk? Hemingway and Dos Passos would not have been thought of in that realm, yet weren't the Pulps really the popular fiction of the '50s? I don't see any difference then to now, except that now seemingly incontrovertible tags have been given to the categories and have taken an academic vs. nonacademic slant.

With many of the literary offerings I've recently read, the authors appear to be more interested in being "different" by presenting circumvented stories that have unique locution with interesting metaphors and similes, but are lacking in compelling features to hold this reader. I will often complete a book, working hard to find nuggets of purpose and "meaningfulness"; usually several weeks later (even days and sometimes while I'm in progress of reading the title), I can't recall the protagonists' names or the story line--when there is one.

This style of writing leads me to agree with Wheeler, "...popular novels are often better written, explore the human condition in richer terms, incorporate more absorbing and complex characters, and affect readers more deeply." I know my published popular titles have done that; in 2011 I intend to write on with no negative feeling about my writing style.

Cold Day Musings

I'm listening to the wind blow at about 35mph and know the accompanying snow is drifting heavily on my drive and into the hay shed. I hope it lets up when it's time to go feed my critter. Predictions are this will be the most severe storm we've had so far this season. Of course, it's not much compared to what happened on the East coast. They say 10 - 12 inches of snow. I don't expect more than 5--mostly because it's coming horizontally! Negative temps the next few nights, and with the wind, that's down right chilly. I've no excuse but to get some work done, eh?

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Congratulations to my friend, Michael Sims, for his most recent "success" (one of many). School Library Journal has listed his Dracula's Guest as one of 5 top Adult Books for Teens. Check out the article (They incorrectly spelled his name, but WE know who he is.)

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David Wisehart maintains an interesting blog, Kindle Authors, and I was an interviewee there. Posted on 29 December, I give a bit of insight into Child of the Mist--characters, story development, etc.

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The GITP blog has #3 in the Good Start for 2011 posts. I don't think many people read blogs or do much online this time of year. These tips would have been better put up in January. Oh well.

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Back to snow watch, hot coffee and my WIP.

True Crime Top 30

The True Crime Books Reviews site is taking reader votes on their top 30 picks of TC books for 2010. I rarely read this genre, and was surprised/pleased to see two authors I know.

Phyllis Gobbell (A Season of Darkness) and I have been friends for several decades, and Amanda Lamb (The Evil Next Door) I met (in cyberville) just recently.

Congratulations to both of them.

Rights

On my Xmas message post, I had a neat clip of the original classic Nat King Cole version of "Christmas Song," but, lo!, the site I took it from didn't have rights to distribute it, and blogger.com took it down. Good for Google, who has been in court, mucho, regarding "rights."

One of those Internet things you can't foresee. I wonder how you can tell, when a site is pirating and when they aren't?

MERRY CHRISTMAS

At a recent art/craft sale a woman looked at my seasonal note cards and wrinkled her nose. "I only by cards that say Merry Christmas." I thought she was taking things a bit too far, considering the inside of the cards were blank and she could write whatever she wanted. But it got me thinking how the over-abundant PCness of our culture has removed one of the best phrases from many segments of our lives.

MERRY CHRISTMAS! It connotes happiness and good will. Saying it elicits smiles from most.

Christmas isn't my holiday (a word developed from Holy Day), and when my children were young, involvement in festivities was limited. I tried to teach them the power of giving--not getting. When my daughter was in third grade, she came home in mid December looking perplexed. "My friends keep saying Merry Christmas to me, and we don't do Christmas. What do I say back?"

My response was immediate: "They're your friends. You want them to be happy, don't you?" She nodded. "So you say, Merry Christmas, and you say it with feeling, because you truly wish good things for them."

She smiled then, and said Merry Christmas to everyone, adding a hug for her friends and family. Joy in giving, not getting.

Merry Christmas! I truly wish good things for you. May the warmth and happiness of this special time of year remain with you and yours for many days to come.

All the Best,
Kae