Archives
The 5 September issue of the New Yorker has
an informative piece by James Surowiecki on tipping. Apparently it didn't become widespread in the US of A until after the Civil War and some states were so appalled by it they even banned the practice. Who knew?
There's just one problem with the piece, he claims that Australia and Japan are countries where they don't have tipping. Now, I don't know about Japan, but it ain't true about Australia. Tipping isn't as widespread back home as it is here (thank God!), but tipping wait staff in restaurants is standard. Though unlike the USA, you don't have to tip if the service sucks; and unlike New York City, 20 per cent ...
Posted by Justine at 17:59, August 31st, 2005 under New York City/USA, Ranting, State of the World, Sydney/Australia, Whingeing |
Posted by Justine at 13:12, August 31st, 2005 under Bloggery, Words & Language, Writing life |
Israeli editor,
Didi Canoch, just read Magic or Madness, and while he enjoyed it, thinks it's
untranslatable into Hebrew. Colour me disappointed, but I found his reasons why, and the enusing discussion in
the comments fascinating.
So far, the book has sold to Taiwan, France and Thailand. I confess I have been wondering how those translations were going to get around the linguistic play in the book between Australian and USian English. Especially as I don't speak any of those languages and don't know much about them. Didi reckons a French translation could make use of Quebecois French.
Which got me wondering: wouldn't using Quebecois French or, say, Mexican Spanish---were Magic or Madness ever to be translated into ...
Posted by Justine at 0:47, August 30th, 2005 under Magic or Madness trilogy, Viewing, Words & Language |
Posted by Justine at 13:44, August 29th, 2005 under Magic or Madness trilogy, Writing life |
I just found out that Australia's today, 29 August 2005, is the official publication date for
Magic or Madness in Australia.
Woo hoo! I've finally had a book published in my homeland!
Go forth and buy it! Or, you know, have a peek in a bookshop and tell me if it's there . . .
Posted by Justine at 22:00, August 28th, 2005 under Magic or Madness trilogy, Sydney/Australia, Vainglory |
So England need 129 runs to win and have 41 overs and a whole day to do it in . . .
Just a flesh wound. We've still got our teeth! We'll bite you to death!
Gulp.
Posted by Justine at 10:27, August 28th, 2005 under Cricket, Sport |
The follow on has been enforced. England cricket fans are in transports of delights. Clearly they've forgotten 1981 Headingley---a test match can be won by the side what has had the follow on enforced on their arses. Taint over!
Do I begrudge the English their gloating? Well, of course, I do! They're England. The enemy! I shall have to lie back and think of cricket and wait for the reasons for their gloat to dissipate. The sound of Australia getting their batting shit together is helping a great deal!
What a cool day of cricket it's been thus far! Many wickets fallen, many runs scored. If only, only, only I could be seeing it on the tellie and not just listening to ...
Posted by Justine at 10:35, August 27th, 2005 under Cricket, Sport |
There's a lively conversation going on over at
Making Light set off by this amusing piece, "
Everyone does not have a novel inside them", by Tim Clare in the Guardian. Clare rails against the myth that publishing is an evil cartel bent on keeping new voices out and longs for a way to discourage all the crap writers who dream of instant fame and fortune from even thinking about getting published.
In amongst (ha,
Margo, I say, ha!) the conversation at Making Light some yet-to-be-published writers worry that they are the ones aimed at and make noises in the direction of quitting, or not bothering to try to get into print, which leads Patrick Nielsen Hayden to write ...
Posted by Justine at 2:49, August 26th, 2005 under Bloggery, Publishing business, Writing life |
I dunno, but sometimes I reckon us Australians are just a wee bit too insecure about our doings. There's been
much debate around the traps about whether oz genre stuff now is as good as it used to be, or world beating, or in a crisis, or something.
Sonya Hartnett (bless her)
reckons it's all crap (except her). I reckon she's bloody good and so are
other Oz writers (sticking to children's/YA writers). But I also reckon they'd be fine writers were they born somewhere else (providing they got the same opportunities). Obviously, they wouldn't be the same writers, but they'd still be excellent.
Hmm, dunno what I'm trying to say here. Go read a ...
Posted by Justine at 14:43, August 25th, 2005 under Bloggery, Reading, Sydney/Australia, Whingeing |
Bugger writing, I'm off to see the
dinosaurs with
Scott and
Cat.
Someone else loves the
Liberty almost as much as I do.
Our Shane's talking big about us crushing England in the fourth test. On ya, Shane!
Enjoy your day. See youse later!
Posted by Justine at 10:26, August 24th, 2005 under Basketball, Cricket, New York City/USA, Sport, Viewing |
Posted by Justine at 12:25, August 23rd, 2005 under Bloggery, Frippery, Reading |
Peeps, Peeps, Peeps, Peeps, Peeps, Peeps, Peeps, Peeps, Peeps, Peeps, Peeps, Peeps, Peeps, Peeps, Peeps, Peeps, Peeps, Peeps, Peeps, Peeps, Peeps, Peeps, Peeps, Peeps, Peeps, Peeps, Peeps, Peeps,
Peeps, Peeps, Peeps, Peeps, Peeps, Peeps, Peeps, Peeps, Peeps, Peeps, Peeps, Peeps, Peeps, Peeps, Peeps, Peeps, Peeps, Peeps, Peeps, Peeps, Peeps, Peeps, Peeps, Peeps, Peeps,
Peeps, Peeps, Peeps, Peeps, Peeps, Peeps, Peeps, Peeps, Peeps, Peeps, Peeps, Peeps, Peeps, Peeps, Peeps, Peeps, Peeps, Peeps, Peeps, Peeps, Peeps, Peeps, Peeps, Peeps, Peeps, Peeps, Peeps, Peeps, Peeps, Peeps, Peeps, Peeps, Peeps, Peeps, Peeps, Peeps, Peeps, Peeps, Peeps, Peeps, Peeps, Peeps, Peeps, Peeps, Peeps, Peeps, Peeps, Peeps,
Peeps, Peeps, Peeps, Peeps, Peeps, Peeps, Peeps, Peeps, Peeps, Peeps, Peeps, Peeps, Peeps, Peeps, Peeps, ...
Posted by Justine at 23:37, August 22nd, 2005 under Scott's books, Young Adult literature |
A
month back I confidently announced that the
New York Liberty would make the 2005
WNBA playoff season. This has now come to pass. The Liberty are on a
five-game winning streak despite having lost
Anne Wauters, one of their top performers this year. Now it's just a battle to see whether we get homecourt advantage or not. Here's to our winning streak going on and on all the way to the WNBA finals.
I also predicted that Australia will win the Ashes and like
Michael Slater I'm sticking to that prediction. Nor do I have any of his "healthy" doubt. It'll be tough but we will do it.
Thursday sees the beginning of the fourth ...
Posted by Justine at 9:49, August 22nd, 2005 under Basketball, Cricket, Sport |
Just came across this on
Agent 007's blog:
Some [agents] even go so far as to say that they don't want to take on anyone who doesn't understand publishing. From one such agent: "It becomes my thankless, frustrating and largely UNPAID job then to coach you about the industry if I were to take you on."
This baffles me. First of all, how can agents and editors expect authors to understand this industry when most of us in it are still trying to figure it out.
What she said! (I'm assuming Agent 007 is a she.) Yes, someone looking for an agent should do research on how to do so, but how can a newbie writer be expected to know how ...
Posted by Justine at 17:41, August 20th, 2005 under Publishing business |
Posted by Justine at 14:47, August 20th, 2005 under Fans & readers, Praising, Reading, Words & Language |
Posted by Justine at 12:44, August 19th, 2005 under Publishing business, Whingeing, Words & Language |
I'm suffering from post-Third Test malaise, especially as I just realised that there are only ten more days of the best Ashes series of all time left. Only ten days! And if it rains (not that
that would ever happen in England) or either Test comes to a precipitious close, then it could be less than ten days.
Sigh.
In the meantime there's plenty of cricket reading to be doing.
Much of it on Australia's inability to figure out the
mysteries of reverse swing. Here's hoping that they find their zen master of Irish. Maybe Imran Khan's available?
Posted by Justine at 13:57, August 18th, 2005 under Cricket, Sport, Whingeing |
Read
this article in the New York Times about art by the stolen generation. Gorgeous, gorgeous work produced under the most appalling circumstances.
The Picker Art Gallery
"Down to Drink," by Parnell Dempster.
Australian young adult writers are
conquering the entire universe. I was dead proud that
Magic or Madness had already sold in five countries (USA, Australia, Taiwan, France, and Thailand), now I see that I'm underachieving.
This article by Rosemary Neill is also startling because it's so well-researched. It's refreshing to read something in a mainstream news source about publishing and actually learn something. Via
Yoof Literature (thanks, Lili!).
Speaking of research . . . Did anyone else watch the NBC so-called "news" report on the ...
Posted by Justine at 7:44, August 17th, 2005 under Magic or Madness trilogy, New York City/USA, Ranting, Reading, State of the World, Sydney/Australia, Viewing, Young Adult literature |
My friend, Ron Serdiuk, proprietor of the wonderous Pulp Fiction bookstore in Brisbane, just added
this comment to the long ago
puce thread. I think it worthy of elevation to a post of its own. He wrote:
I know that the historical origins were worked over and the flea blood/shit thang was put forward and everyone was fairly happpy with that and it seemed to be the end of the discussion . . .
but I don't think that's all there is.
I think the actual colour changed---and relatively quickly in hostorical terms---and became something else entirely.
Certainly now - according to Richard (source: decorator and paint charts) and Leanne (source: printers' colour guides)---t's either a cherry-ish red or an orange-y ...
Posted by Justine at 20:05, August 15th, 2005 under Reading, Words & Language |
Australia has
saved the third test and grabbed the draw. It was unbelieveable. I've never seen (actually heard) anything like it. There is no game like test cricket. Nothing compares. This is one of the most incredible Test series of all time.
Should you wish (though I can't think why you would) you can read a somewhat overexcited exchange about it between
Niki,
Jonathan and me
here.
I'm going to go take a cold shower. I'm all aquiver, I am.
Posted by Justine at 13:56, August 15th, 2005 under Cricket, Sport |
Miyazaki's
Spirited Away is, and I quote, "too scary! too scary! too scary!" for two year olds.
At first
Marlowe was enchanted. Then it got dark, the parents turned into pigs, and demons started appearing out of nowhere. And that was the end of Spirited Away for Marlowe. "Too scary! Too scary! Too scary!"
Never give up on the
Liberty. They always come back in the second half. (Unless they don't.) Um, Coach Coyle? How come
Erin Thorne got more minutes than
Shameka Christon?
Never give up on the Australian men's cricket team (not that I didn't already know that). Yeah, yeah, England have declared. Yeah, yeah it would be a miracle to get four hundred on ...
Posted by Justine at 19:38, August 14th, 2005 under Basketball, Cricket, Liquids, Sport, Viewing |
I've just put up a new musing. Yeah, yeah, it's been a long time between drinks, but I've been busy, okay?
Too Young to Publish
Recently I've had a number of letters from teenagers wanting advice on how to get their novel published and wondering whether their age will make it harder for them to get it into print. Specifically, would they be discriminated against because they were only thirteen or fourteen or fifteen or sixteen or whatever?
The simple answer is no. When you submit a query letter to a publisher or agent you don't have to tell them how old you are. You'll be rejected or accepted on the quality of your submission.
Continue reading Too Young to Publish.
Posted by Justine at 17:28, August 13th, 2005 under Musings, Publishing business, Reading, Writing life |
What
Mr Roebuck said:
Timid umpiring has cost Shane Warne at least seven wickets in this series. Repeatedly, legitimate lbw appeals have been rejected.
Couldn't have said it better meself.
And in case you were wondering: yes, I am having a shit writing day. What of it?
Posted by Justine at 15:16, August 13th, 2005 under Cricket, Sport |
Watched the
New York Liberty beat the
Charlotte Sting in double overtime last night. Wonderful close fought game, which you wouldn't expect given that Charlotte have only won four games this season and are already out of playoff contention. But they've got a new coach---the glorious
Muggsy Bogues (whose height is anywhere between 4ft 11 and 5ft 3 depending on who you ask---whatever---for an ex-NBA player he ain't tall)---and many amazing players:
Sheri Sam,
Helen Darling,
Tangela Smith,
Tammy Sutton-Brown.
I think I know one of the reasons the Sting have been having such a rotten run. There was almost no crowd. The arena in Charlotte was echoingly empty. Surely having almost no-one ...
Posted by Justine at 13:22, August 13th, 2005 under Basketball, Sport |
Just as the follow-on was avoided and Warne was cruising towards a century the skies open up again. Bloody England with its bloody rain.
Update: The emaciated fourteen-over day is over and Warne finished on 78, including 6 fours and a six. Gallant Gillespie screamed along to 7. Well blocked, lad, well blocked! Australia is now only 180 runs and three wickets behind. No rain predicted for tomorrow or Monday. We can still win this! We can!
Aussie! Aussie! Aussie! Oi! Oi! Oi! Warnie! Warnie! Warnie! Oi! Oi! Oi!
Posted by Justine at 11:56, August 13th, 2005 under Cricket, Sport |
Posted by Justine at 1:08, August 13th, 2005 under Best of Blog, Musings, New York City/USA, Publishing business, Ranting, Sydney/Australia, Writing life |
Scott finally wrote a new post and it mocks a New York Times
book review. Also he has news of yet another foreign sale of his books.
Enjoy.
Posted by Justine at 18:55, August 12th, 2005 under Bloggery, New York City/USA, Scott's books |
First one ever to bag
600 wickets, top scored for Australia, and hasn't trodden on his stumps this test, nor has there been any new scandal in the past few days!! What is not to love about
Our Shane?
From the BBC site
* For the record I do not have a crush on Daniel Vettori, but a friend of mine is going to marry him when she grows up. I haven't had a crush on a cricketer since Michael Holding. Sigh.
Posted by Justine at 13:56, August 12th, 2005 under Cricket, Sport |
Posted by Justine at 18:56, August 11th, 2005 under Ranting, Reading, State of the World, Words & Language |
I've had some inquiries from folk who want to know what they're missing out on by not having the Australian edition of Magic or Madness with its unique-to-the-Australian-edition afterword. One person was convinced that the Oz afterword contains the answers to all the questions left unanswered at the end of the book.
Not so.
It's just this wee little thing that you wouldn't understand if you aren't Australian. Nothing to bother your non-Australian heads about. So you can just relax and get on with your day.
If it makes you feel the better the USian edition has a
glossary and the Oz edition doesn't. So it's special too. As are you!
Posted by Justine at 14:11, August 11th, 2005 under Magic or Madness trilogy, Sydney/Australia |
Two copies of the Australian edition of Magic or Madness just arrived. They're beautiful. All tradepaperbacky and shiny and lovely and Australian, complete with the unique-to-the-Australian-edition afterword. It'll be available in book stores there next month. My birthday month. Yay! Only sad thing is I won't be there to see 'em till November. Sob. Why am I never in the country in which my books are coming out
when they come out?
Here's what it looks like being read by Marlowe, one of our Aussie house guests:
Marlowe thought the book was okay, but a bit lacking in train engines and explosions. I shall attempt to correct that in the sequel.
Posted by Justine at 19:30, August 10th, 2005 under Magic or Madness trilogy, Sydney/Australia, Vainglory |
I've been receiving some mail that is a little, um, miffed that my
so-called con report doesn't talk about any of the panels and readings I attended, or people I hung out with (not true: I mentioned Russ, Darren, Fiona and Richard), or give any sense of what the con was actually like.
a) That's what my con was like: a cricketfest.
b) Sorry.
Here are people I hung out with who did write reports:
Gwenda,
Jed,
Lauren,
Scalzi.
Other than the cricket and catching up with my friends, my highlight was getting to hang out and gossip with
Connie Willis---yes, I'm a pathetic fan girl---and you know what? As good a writer as she is I ...
Posted by Justine at 10:52, August 10th, 2005 under Cons & Other Gatherings, Cricket, Sport, Travelling |
Posted by Justine at 8:31, August 10th, 2005 under Excuses, Reading, Travelling |
Look, I know it was supposed to be all about science fiction blah blah blah, but I spent the five days of
Glasgow's WorldCon thinking, talking, breathing, and whenever possible (sadly not nearly enough) watching the cricket. Blissful. And I even had the luxury of being able to talk about it with actual Australians! Thanks to Russ and Darren and
Fiona and the rest of the many Aussies I wasn't stuck talking about it with
gloating poms preening about their victory barely snatched from the jaws of defeat. (Though to be honest my best cricket convos were with
Justina's fabulous and very English husband, Richard.)
Almost as good, I got to read about it in actual offline ...
Posted by Justine at 21:58, August 9th, 2005 under Cons & Other Gatherings, Cricket, Sport, Travelling |
a) our hotel is a long way from the con
b) intermittent web access
c) there's an incredibly exciting test match on
d) there are many excellent people to talk to and parties to attend
e) too damned tired!
Posted by Justine at 13:17, August 6th, 2005 under Bloggery, Cons & Other Gatherings, Excuses, Travelling |
We're in Glasgow. It's gorgeous and fun and you just can't get bored by
Charles Rennie Mackintosh.
Trip so far:
London: great (though bloody expensive) food (
Niki and
Lauren &
Andrew have been most excellent guides), brilliant markets, cheap clothes (bought the most gorgeous 15 pound skirt). It's not the city I remember, though I did get some awe-inspiring rudeness---so it hasn't completely changed. Best restaurant was David Thompson's Thai one in Soho (I forget the name). Thompson's Australia's guru of Thai food. Was wonderful watching Lauren and Andrew's delight in finally trying decent Thai food. I also gave them their very first mangosteens. Heavenly!
Glasgow: gorgeous, love all the Rennie Mackintosh everywhere. Had the most brilliant black ...
Posted by Justine at 9:31, August 4th, 2005 under Cons & Other Gatherings, Cricket, Excuses, Food, Liquids, Mangosteens, Sport, Travelling |
