tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post8845244410396687562..comments2024-03-18T09:09:59.625-04:00Comments on Janet Reid, Literary Agent: Week in Review 2/28/15Janet Reidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00615380335938685231noreply@blogger.comBlogger42125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-76851192305492957372015-03-02T17:07:13.428-05:002015-03-02T17:07:13.428-05:00Great post, Shaun! I want to read the book you'...Great post, Shaun! I want to read the book you're talking about, too.<br /><br />Lynn, I know what you mean - I have a pretty 'neutral' Australian accent, in the sense that I've never had anyone identify me by region. (I have had a lot of people o/s misidentify me as British though). AJ, I don't know if you have the same experience, but I think there's nothing particularly noteworthy about a Canberran accent.Sam Hawkehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05549251130820223139noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-44233200036988680722015-03-02T15:30:44.197-05:002015-03-02T15:30:44.197-05:00Thanks, LynnRodz, appreciate it!Thanks, LynnRodz, appreciate it!AJ Blythehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04529233142099749005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-85387591585994854612015-03-02T13:59:57.806-05:002015-03-02T13:59:57.806-05:00Thanks for the shout outs and bookmarking for my b...Thanks for the shout outs and bookmarking for my blog. <br /><br />I hate both vegemite and marmite. Horrible evil stuff. Did date someone in my early twenties who always had it on her toast for breakfast, and then expected me to kiss her goodbye when we left for work. Heck, no. Eat jam instead, and then I'll kiss you.Jed Cullanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05366003552650790684noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-59264267052044589662015-03-02T09:14:23.684-05:002015-03-02T09:14:23.684-05:00AJ, here's the link to Shaun's post. Thre...AJ, here's the link to Shaun's post. <a href="http://www.publishing-hub.com/2014/12/considerate-craft-three-stages-of-query.html" rel="nofollow">Three Stages of Query</a><br /><br />Sam, are you talkin' to me? (In my best Robert DeNiro voice.) "You talkin' to me?" <br /><br />I guess I should have been more specific when I said my accent was neutral. What I meant was, I have no regional accent. In other words, I don't have a Yorkshire accent. (Although years ago I shared a flat in Amsterdam with two lads from Yorkshire and I found myself picking up the accent quite easily.) I don't have an Aussie accent, nor an Irish brogue. And neither (pronounced neyether, not kneether) do I have a Texas accent, nor a Southern one, but when I speak, you know what country I'm from, just not which region.<br /><br />That said, one day I was visiting a friend in San Francisco (we're both from the same hometown, but far from SF) and we were in a boutique shopping when a man came up to us and said, "I know where you two are from." We looked at him and waited. He was right. And it was all because of one word. So, of course, I have an accent from what country I come from, but not what part of the country, unless I use that one word.<br />LynnRodzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10796099106913990163noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-87993779206629031242015-03-02T06:51:22.355-05:002015-03-02T06:51:22.355-05:00Ah, Sam, see I will eat vegemite under the banner ...Ah, Sam, see I will eat vegemite under the banner of 'smur' quite happily (I have been known to eat it off a spoon, lol).AJ Blythehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04529233142099749005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-2759179983592769472015-03-02T06:16:30.875-05:002015-03-02T06:16:30.875-05:00The comment about accents reminds me of arguing wi...The comment about accents reminds me of arguing with a Canadian couple in Thailand years ago -- the guy was straight faced insisting that they had no accents (to two Aussies, a NZer, an Irish couple and a German lady). He was dead sincere. Canadian English is 'neutral' and everything else is an accent. Turns out he'd formed this view because once a Vietnamese woman told him his English was so easy to understand because he had no accent. Someone had to explain to him (at high volume, possibly under the influence of a lot of Thai beer) that she had probably just learned English from a Canadian...<br /><br />It was very exciting to get a welcome to your lovely commenting community - thanks, everyone! Your welcoming natures will drive me out of my long term lurk state yet.<br /><br />Colin - agreed! Vegemite (and I assume Marmite, though I've never actually had it) needs to be eaten on hot buttery toast and in small quantities. My Dad used to always ask us as kids whether we wanted a 'smidgeon or a smur' on our toast - I never upgraded to the much bitier 'smur'. I also didn't realise my Dad completely made up that word until much later. :)<br />Sam Hawkehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05549251130820223139noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-66322768852567334792015-03-02T04:52:15.904-05:002015-03-02T04:52:15.904-05:00I'm home from a tough day at work (Monday nigh...I'm home from a tough day at work (Monday night Down Under), have made myself a hot chocolate (2nd day of autumn/fall and the temps are dropping already), kicked off my shoes and am rewarding myself with QOTKU WIR. Thanks to a dodgy computer I missed a lot this week so the catch up is muchly appreciated.<br /><br />The comments are brilliant (as per the norm). Already my day is a distant memory.<br /><br />Vegemite is a whole food group for Aussies. Love the stuff personally (Amy Schaefer, your comment cracked me up), but apparently to everyone else (with the exception of Colin) it's our lima bean (sorry Diane). <br /><br />Amazing to bump into another Aussie on Janet's blog who is in the same town as I am. Chances!<br /><br />LynnRodz, I missed Shaun's link to the 3 stages of a query letter. Any chance you or Shaun would repost? Thanks.<br /><br />And a comment to the great lady herself... Damn it, Janet! More books! Meet Your Baker (loved it) and now Murder at the Brightwell (already added to my kindle) - and don't get me started on the dent Gary Corby's books are having on my bank account balance. Reading your blog is becoming expensive (at the moment Amazon won't let me get The Five Stages of Andrew Brawley for my kindle, but I guess that will be an expense for the future).AJ Blythehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04529233142099749005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-27567054777444886832015-03-02T03:52:54.941-05:002015-03-02T03:52:54.941-05:00I am a lurking Australian who loathes Vegemite. An...I am a lurking Australian who loathes Vegemite. And Marmite is not the same - I'll eat Marmite (I prefer Promite).Tamlynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14525165288826101469noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-36692739736818001402015-03-01T22:13:04.377-05:002015-03-01T22:13:04.377-05:00My oldest son has been in the Navy for two years. ...My oldest son has been in the Navy for two years. He told me today that he's thinking about applying for EOD.<br /><br />http://www.navy.com/careers/special-operations/eod.html#ft-key-responsibilities<br /><br />Sometimes getting thru the day requires a sense of humor and a lot of prayer. Glad my comment gave a few of you a giggle :)<br /><br />Dena Pawlinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14444683810125395220noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-2991487878617914222015-03-01T20:48:59.207-05:002015-03-01T20:48:59.207-05:00Dena, you had me giggling all the way through your...Dena, you had me giggling all the way through your comment.Stacyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03365582623380288038noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-85061281819598691022015-03-01T20:44:49.708-05:002015-03-01T20:44:49.708-05:00Crud, it looks like I missed my scant seconds of f...Crud, it looks like I missed my scant seconds of fame. Maybe next time. In truth it has been a while since the Queen bestowed a star upon my name. Hopefully I can come up with something else that tickles her fancy before I fade into the invisible instigator again.<br /><br />How about a vegetable a week? My pick for this week is the Rutabaga.Craig Fhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07157301156577795781noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-73654203228846765192015-03-01T20:28:23.883-05:002015-03-01T20:28:23.883-05:00Jeez Louise, of all the days to go AWOL, I had to ...Jeez Louise, of all the days to go AWOL, I had to pick the one with a story involving Alvin the pig, Dube and his wife Carolyn with 1N.<br /><br />Gee here's some exciting news from the northeast, surprise, it's snowing again, has been all day and is expected to continue until tomorrow. I need Amy's palms and nuts, right here, right now. Ugh !<br />Carolynnwith2Nshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18394998702410764388noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-83240268118115408272015-03-01T19:56:11.757-05:002015-03-01T19:56:11.757-05:00Loved the Alvin story, Julie! And I agree with you...Loved the Alvin story, Julie! And I agree with you about this community here--it's fabulous. And, after this week, more of us are bookmarking each other's blogs too.<br /><br />Thanks so much for the mention. A very swimming day (and week) indeed!Karen McCoyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02640324898284007337noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-74310762511090873942015-03-01T19:22:53.132-05:002015-03-01T19:22:53.132-05:00I've been informed today is national pig day, ...I've been informed today is national pig day, so in honor of that, I'll share the Alvin story. This is what has B&W wanting a book about Alvin. I don't think I've shared this before. If I have, ignore me. I'm getting old.<br /><br />It started with a comment on B&W that we once had a pig that cured a neighbor of drinking.<br /><br /><br /><br />Well, I'm sure he did, just not as our bacon. Alvin loved watching tv, especially Green Acres, and knew when we were allowed to have the tv on, so he'd make a beeline to the house to watch with us. A lot of times, he'd sleep with me in the bunkhouse. He followed us around like a dog, but he loved candy and loved to rock more than anything.<br /> <br />Bud knew the entire family would be on a rampage if he killed Alvin, so he hauled him to the sale with his brothers and bought different hogs to butcher.<br /><br />Bud, my stepdad, would come in and see him sleeping in the rocker next to the door and say, "Oh, poor little porker, he's been working hard." Then he'd take his jacket off the peg and cover him up. Alvin would pull his blanket up around him if it was in the chair, but often it wasn't, hence the need for the jacket.<br /><br />Now, you have to realize, the ranch was on the other side of the fence from Teddy Roosevelt National Park. It's beautiful country, but it's hard country with hard men who also drink hard. The bars in Grassy Butte had corrals behind them so the ranchers who rode in could put their horses up while they tied one on. If they went to town, most of them would drive home drunk on some terrible dirt roads. How they didn't die, I don't know.<br /><br />Our neighbor and Bud were so drunk one night David got down in the floorboard and operated the foot petal with his hand while Bud steered.<br /><br />Dube Trotter was cut from the same cloth and lived about ten miles down the road from us on the river. He always stopped in to get some coffee before he headed home so Carolyn wouldn't know he'd been drinking. She, being a wily woman, could usually figure it out anyway, but that was the ritual.<br /><br />So, late one night, Dube drove in and staggered up to the door. Mom started making coffee and getting some eggs and bacon going. Then she called Carolyn and told her Dube was there and she'd send him down the road as soon as he ate.<br /><br />Dube and Bud stood there talking for a while, then Dube collapsed into the rocker on top of Bud's jacket. Unfortunately, Alvin was already there.<br /><br />Alvin squealed in that high pitched squeal only pigs can manage and tried to squirm out from under Dube. Dube scrambled, fell, and rolled out of the chair. He was sure a demon had him and was screaming something about "God, help me!" He managed to stumble out the door and into his truck.<br /><br />Mom called Carolyn and let her know Dube was on his way home. Dube got home, surprisingly sober.<br /><br />Carolyn talked to Mom a few weeks later and asked us what we did to Dube.<br /><br />"Nothing, why?"<br /><br />"He refuses to go to town. I have to run in for parts and he hasn't had a drop to drink since that night." Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05397201685135490220noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-45972490302904116272015-03-01T18:40:08.075-05:002015-03-01T18:40:08.075-05:00I just bookmarked you too, Jed.
I love stuff like...I just bookmarked you too, Jed.<br /><br />I love stuff like that little brain test.<br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-22469937355891411912015-03-01T18:36:58.601-05:002015-03-01T18:36:58.601-05:00Awww, Susan! That's so nice of you to say. :)
...Awww, Susan! That's so nice of you to say. :)<br /><br />My blog's down, and I don't mean depressed. I'm hoping to fix it soon, but just so you know, I'm bummed about it, so I'm glad for y'all and your wit. A bright spot in an otherwise not-very-bright afternoon. :)Colin Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03292997431935215499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-72184629525727088142015-03-01T17:51:49.797-05:002015-03-01T17:51:49.797-05:00Nope, your posting a link is good. Because I just ...Nope, your posting a link is good. Because I just discovered that apparently I have NOT clicked through to it before - and missed out on this: http://jvcullan.blogspot.co.uk/2015/01/jack-and-jill.html.<br /><br />Hee. Bookmarking you!DLMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08768285199864217885noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-76939036235194167432015-03-01T17:39:46.330-05:002015-03-01T17:39:46.330-05:00Donna is right about brains skipping over typos, p...Donna is right about brains skipping over typos, particularly your own typos. That's why it's so important to get someone else to read over a submission before sending, so they can pick up on simple errors. <br /><br />Your brain is a wonderful thing. It adapts very quickly to what it expects to see, and adjusts as quickly to mistakes, which become invisible to your mind's perception filters. <br /><br />Hate to post a link to my blog. Forgive me Sharky. I can edit it out if you wish. But this post proves how your mind adapts to mistakes in writing. The more you read of it, the less you notice the blatantly obvious spelling mistakes. http://jvcullan.blogspot.co.uk/2014/11/how-brainy-is-your-brain.htmlJed Cullanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05366003552650790684noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-674487344323999832015-03-01T17:31:44.465-05:002015-03-01T17:31:44.465-05:00Yikes, what a great recap.
Y'all don't ne...Yikes, what a great recap.<br /><br />Y'all don't need to be ganging up on me. The crew at Books and Writers is already yammering about publishing books about Alvin the pig and the Native storyteller stories.<br /><br />Yes, I need to send my fevered brain spinning off in new directions.<br /><br />I love hanging out with y'all. No matter how bad the day is, I can' count on you to pick me up. What a great crew.<br /><br />Julie, shaken, not stirred.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05397201685135490220noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-39321820781018014942015-03-01T17:12:32.509-05:002015-03-01T17:12:32.509-05:00YES, (to Shark's favorite story of the week wi...YES, (to Shark's favorite story of the week with terrible clickbait headline) love the Mom's abrasive pushback to the school authority's buckled-inside-the-box coping mechanism. <br /><br />And it's wonderful to come home to read the news of the week according to the SharkLisa Bodenheimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17809067722921953857noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-29888118045572529952015-03-01T17:09:00.309-05:002015-03-01T17:09:00.309-05:00Susan, perfectionist habits are hard to break, I g...Susan, perfectionist habits are hard to break, I get it. Hey, I made a typo above too, but my eyes auto-corrected it like they did with your comment. <br /><br />Kinda funny, how that works.<br /><br />I enjoyed reading your homeless man story. I felt for the guy, I really did - I think I commented on it earlier this week but as I post this, I can't recall b/c I've done so much blog hopping.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-66238382091316912622015-03-01T16:57:12.395-05:002015-03-01T16:57:12.395-05:00*"become" so determined, not "becam...*"become" so determined, not "became." Sorry, I tried to let it go, I just couldn't. Susan Bonifanthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05889354888091500881noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-78637163159310758002015-03-01T16:54:28.675-05:002015-03-01T16:54:28.675-05:00I've been away visiting the college boy (my hu...I've been away visiting the college boy (my husband to me on the plane: "Well, at least he never has to worry about slipping on that kitchen floor in his socks") but the first thing I opened once I was one with laptop again, was "The WIR." <br /><br />Of course I loved the reference to a couple of my comments, but I thank you Janet, for the shout out on the blog. Even I don't understand why I have suddenly became so determined to speak out for the homeless but I can't look away. <br /><br />The WIR makes me really value the little community we've grown here. I've come to check in just to see what everyone has to say, and now I even know when someone is missing. For example, if the day comes that Colin doesn't show up, I'll fret like a woodland creature and probably email someone. <br /><br />Appreciate you all, and especially you, Janet.Susan Bonifanthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05889354888091500881noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-5373888720729446282015-03-01T16:21:36.369-05:002015-03-01T16:21:36.369-05:00Still lovin' the WIR and not the limas.
be bo...Still lovin' the WIR and not the limas.<br /><br />be bold, <br />Be Bold, <br />BE BOLD!<br />don't be a wuss, <br />Don't Be A Wuss, <br />DON'T BE A WUSS!<br /><br />Now, not only is getting a title page a goal, getting a shout-out like Shaun did, from the sleek-skinned-beady-eye is another. <br /><br />Carolynnwith2Nshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18394998702410764388noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-9208545569849970202015-03-01T16:02:48.098-05:002015-03-01T16:02:48.098-05:00When the Shark recommends a book using the "f...When the Shark recommends a book using the "f" bomb and amazing in the same sentence, everyone takes notice. Even me. And I don't eat lima beans or kale. Going to take a trip into town to the bookshop this week to look up Shaun's book. Must also remember to buy some kale to throw at kids who don't read books.Jed Cullanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05366003552650790684noreply@blogger.com