A period of silence stood between
Amalgam’s two most valiantly fought wars.
During those decades, nothing had been seen:
a sea of _____ between two lettered shores.
Monthly Archives: February 2010
ballicatter n, usu pl. Variants chronologically arranged: ballicadoes, ballacarda, ballicater, balacadas, batlicaders, belly-carders, ballicatters, ballycatters, belly-catter, batlycadders, ballacarters, ballycater, ballaclauters, ballacaters, ballacatters, ballacader
1 Ice formed by the action in winter of spray and waves along the shore-line, making a fringe or band on the landward side.
2 A narrow band of ice formed in winter in the salt water along the foreshore or ‘landwash’; … ~ ICE; large slabs, chunks and fragments of this ice after break-up.
3 A floating ice-pan.
4 Frozen moisture around the nose and mouth.
– Dictionary of Newfoundland English edited by G. M. Story, W. J. Kirwin, and J. D. A. Widdowson.
As you may have read last time, I am going to start posting my link soups in three categories: writers, agents, and publishing types. I know, there’s a lot of overlap, particularly among authors who are also editors or agents. But, I’m going to try.
And today? Links from publishers and editors. Enjoy!
After yesterday’s announcement about writer Mandy Morgan, I thought I would follow up today with some more writer links — partly to catch up on my link souping, and partly to begin dividing up my link soup posts into authors, agents, and editors so that they aren’t so overloaded.
And, introducing my latest thematic icon, specifically for author link soups! Major points for whoever recognizes the writer without having to cheat.
First up to bat, Jade Smith tells us about her latest published work, “Gallows Tree,” and addresses the odd dynamics of vision and social expectation by asking “Is your soul naked?”
Marie Mutsuki Mockett tells us about being a debut novelist in hard economic times. (Thanks to Editorial Ass for pointing me toward that one.)
In other authorial news: Kelly Morgan receives Lesa’s Bald Face Liar “Creative Writer” Blogger Award, and Lydia Sharp discusses the writerly virtue of “Containment.”
Enjoy!
Last October I stumbled over a writer who had posted a bit of supernatural fiction online with an idea so … neat, I think is the best word … that I just had to tell my readers about her. The story was Mandy Morgan’s “The Sky Goes Black.”
Mandy then posted a teaser for a young adult novel called Zombie Is An Inflammatory Word (And I Resent That). Now, I am not a fan of supernatural YA (don’t get me started on Twilight) but Mandy’s concept was so intriguing and funny that I included it in my Christmas link soup posting, and again after the New Year when she added another teaser.
Well, I am happy to announce that Mandy is now being represented by Mary Kole of the Andrea Brown Literary Agency!
And, to be totally honest, I do feel a bit of narcissistic satisfaction that I recognized her talent “back in the day.”
BELLY
What the educated call an abdomen, the uneducated a stomach, and the puerile a tummy.
Belly is a good practical word of Anglo-Saxon derivation which is being edged out of use by the over-sensitive. It is closely related to bellows: their common ancestor being a Saxon word for bag. It
– The Wordsworth Dictionary of Obscenity & Taboo by James McDonald.
A savage from the village over there
came to Amalgam in his savage dress.
We stripped him down to nothing in the square:
he then looked native, no more yet no less.
Happy Valentine’s Day! Here’s a big ol’ heart-shaped sampler of writing and publishing links. Okay, okay … you’re very creative, so imagine that it’s heart-shaped! And delicious.
My loves, you can resume your diet on President’s Day. For now, indulge yourselves!
Joe and Lydia Sharp at The Sharp Angle answer the question “How do you know when to start and end a scene/chapter?” while Jessica at BookEnds responds to a writer who asks why agents keep telling her that her books are not the genre she insists they are.
Over at Dystel & Goderich, the other (but equally awesome) Jessica asks her readers how much they allow bad reviews to affect their reading decisions, while D&G’s Lauren ponders the future of browseable, brick and mortar bookstores.
Janet Reid explains why the final say in your book’s title lies far beyond you, your agent, and your editor, and also pointed me toward a funny piece at the Editorial Anonymous blog about what editors can and cannot fix.
Jennifer Jackson passes on more two more “letters from the query wars” while Kristin Nelson discusses the submission reading cycles agents go through, and the end of advanced reading copies.
Nathan Bransford offered up his own link soup on Friday, including a hilarious list of awful book covers from the past.
Rachelle Gardner tells authors how to keep money in its place, asks authors whether agents should edit, and reveals what makes her say “yes” to a book: craft, story, and voice.
Editor Alan Rinzler explains how to blend backstory into your narrative, while the Editorial Ass offers query letter advice from an engineer.
And yes, blog reader, I do love you even if I don’t say except after you’ve already said it. :-/ You know how I am about expressing myself.
عمّارية _ ‘ammáríya _ camel-borne sedan and the virgin riding in it to battle.
– The Hans Wehr Dictionary of Modern Written Arabic edited by J M. Cowan.
A lady of a warm and rustic charm:
twelve miles she rowed, Amalgam to her farm,
avoiding all the bandits on the road,
but losing to the damp her floury load.