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(Or answering email or responding to IM requests or to comments or been on Twitter or read many blogs.)
Like almost every writer I know, I have a number of chronic---though not particularly bad ((I know people who have been crippled by RSIs and now can only write with voice recognition software.))---injuries, that were caused by (or flare up when) I spend a lot of time at my computer.
Sitting at a computer for long hours is not good for your body. Which is why so many writers, receptionists, data processors, computer programmers etc etc ((There are bazillions of jobs that involve long hours sitting in front of a computer.)) have repetitive strain injuries, headaches, chronic back and neck problems, ...
Posted by Justine at 21:15, February 28th, 2010 under Bloggery/Internetty Stuff, Excuses, RSI, Whingeing, Writing life |
Due to boring circumstances beyond my control, I will not be online much in February. Fortunately I’ve been able to line up a number of stellar guests to fill in for me. Most are writers, but I also thought it would be fun to get some publishing types to explain what it is they do, teach you some more about the industry, and answer your questions, as well as one or two bloggers.
Malinda Lo debuted in 2009 with Ash, which has made an enormous splash, getting shorlisted for gazillions of prizes and being loved by readers all over. I have heard wonderful things about it. ((Yup, Ash is on my to be read list. My reading for my 1930s book ...
Posted by Justine at 3:30, February 26th, 2010 under Guest post, Reading, State of the World |
Due to boring circumstances beyond my control, I will not be online much in February. Fortunately I’ve been able to line up a number of stellar guests to fill in for me. Most are writers, but I also thought it would be fun to get some publishing types to explain what it is they do, teach you some more about the industry, and answer your questions, as well as one or two bloggers.
Today's guest blogger is
Baby Power Dyke whose blog I discovered last year and instantly fell in love with. She's rude, smart and funny. We have shared crushes on Rachel Maddow and Melissa Harris-Lacewell. So, clearly, she has excellent tase. She is my kind of a gal. ...
Posted by Justine at 0:00, February 25th, 2010 under Guest post, New York City/USA, Praising, Ranting, State of the World |
Due to boring circumstances beyond my control, I will not be online much in February. Fortunately I’ve been able to line up a number of stellar guests to fill in for me. Most are writers, but I also thought it would be fun to get some publishing types to explain what it is they do, teach you some more about the industry, and answer your questions, as well as one or two bloggers.
Today's blogger, Lauren McLaughlin, is a crazy talented YA writer, who has one of the more unusual backgrounds of all the YA novelists I know. She used to be a Hollywood producer. This means that she has more confidence than anyone else I know and is extraordinarily good ...
Posted by Justine at 0:00, February 24th, 2010 under Guest post, State of the World, Writing goals & milestones, Writing life, Writing process, Young Adult literature |
Due to boring circumstances beyond my control, I will not be online much in February. Fortunately I’ve been able to line up a number of stellar guests to fill in for me. Most are writers, but I also thought it would be fun to get some publishing types to explain what it is they do, teach you some more about the industry, and answer your questions, as well as one or two bloggers.
Varian Johnson is not only a wonderful writer---you must read
My Life as a Rhombus---he's also an engineer who builds bridges. Real ones that you can walk or drive on. Why, yes, I am very impressed. Varian's yet another writer who has a job in a completely ...
Posted by Justine at 0:02, February 23rd, 2010 under Guest post, Writing goals & milestones, Writing life, Writing process |
Due to boring circumstances beyond my control, I will not be online much in February. Fortunately I’ve been able to line up a number of stellar guests to fill in for me. Most are writers, but I also thought it would be fun to get some publishing types to explain what it is they do, teach you some more about the industry, and answer your questions, as well as one or two bloggers.
Today's guest bloggers are two Allen & Unwin editors. Allen & Unwin publish me in my home country ((Which is why they say lovely things about my books.)) and I think they are absolutely wonderful. One of the two editors might even be my editor there. They are ...
Posted by Justine at 20:45, February 21st, 2010 under Guest post, Publishing business, Sydney/Australia, Young Adult literature |
Due to boring circumstances beyond my control, I will not be online much in February. Fortunately I’ve been able to line up a number of stellar guests to fill in for me. Most are writers, but I also thought it would be fun to get some publishing types to explain what it is they do, teach you some more about the industry, and answer your questions, as well as one or two bloggers.
I have known Lili Wilkinson for many years now. She's one of the most talented, driven, organised people I have ever met. I am in awe of her. (Yes, even when I'm asleep.) She has had many wonderful books published in Australia as well as the UK and ...
Posted by Justine at 0:26, February 19th, 2010 under Guest post, State of the World, Sydney/Australia, Young Adult literature |
Due to boring circumstances beyond my control, I will not be online much in February. Fortunately I’ve been able to line up a number of stellar guests to fill in for me. Most are writers, but I also thought it would be fun to get some publishing types to explain what it is they do, teach you some more about the industry, and answer your questions, as well as one or two bloggers.
Zetta Elliott's
A Wish After Midnight was one of my favourite YA novels of 2009. I still can't believe no mainstream publisher picked it up and I am hoping the book's re-realease by Amazon will get this wonderful book into many more hands.
Zetta's blog ...
Posted by Justine at 9:00, February 18th, 2010 under Bloggery/Internetty Stuff, Guest post, New York City/USA, Publishing business, State of the World, Young Adult literature |
Due to boring circumstances beyond my control, I will not be online much in February. Fortunately I’ve been able to line up a number of stellar guests to fill in for me. Most are writers, but I also thought it would be fun to get some publishing types to explain what it is they do, teach you some more about the industry, and answer your questions, as well as one or two bloggers.
Today we have an editor, Alvina Ling, who's more than happy to take your questions about her job of editing. Remember, that she's writing specifically about what it's like to work in publishing in the USA. The job of editing is different in different countries. I'm hoping to ...
Posted by Justine at 18:00, February 17th, 2010 under Guest post, New York City/USA, Publishing business |
Due to boring circumstances beyond my control, I will not be online much in February. Fortunately I’ve been able to line up a number of stellar guests to fill in for me. Most are writers, but I also thought it would be fun to get some publishing types to explain what it is they do, teach you some more about the industry, and answer your questions, as well as one or two bloggers.
Today's guest blogger is debut author, Karen Healey, whose first book is coming out quite soon, I believe. She may mention it in her post below. Possibly. She's a busy woman. She's prolly not paying much attention to things like that. I can tell you that her debut ...
Posted by Justine at 0:00, February 17th, 2010 under Guest post, Whingeing, Writing goals & milestones, Writing life |
Due to boring circumstances beyond my control, I will not be online much in February. Fortunately I’ve been able to line up a number of stellar guests to fill in for me. Most are writers, but I also thought it would be fun to get some publishing types to explain what it is they do, teach you some more about the industry, and answer your questions, as well as one or two bloggers.
Today we have Randa Abdel-Fattah and not just because she's a Sydneysider like me. She's one of those amazing writers who manages to produce novels while holding down a demanding job and looking after her kids. (Little known fact: the majority of novelists have day jobs.) Enjoy!
- - ...
Posted by Justine at 0:23, February 16th, 2010 under Guest post, State of the World, Sydney/Australia, Young Adult literature |
Due to boring circumstances beyond my control, I will not be online much in February. Fortunately I’ve been able to line up a number of stellar guests to fill in for me. Most are writers, but I also thought it would be fun to get some publishing types to explain what it is they do, teach you some more about the industry, and answer your questions, as well as one or two bloggers.
Doret Canton loves sport as much as I do. In fact, I
interviewed her about that very subject right here on this blog and she said many smart and sensible things. (Except about American Football not being boring.) The reviews on
her blog are amongst my ...
Posted by Justine at 0:01, February 15th, 2010 under Guest post, Ranting, Reading, Viewing, Young Adult literature |
Due to boring circumstances beyond my control, I will not be online much in February. Fortunately I’ve been able to line up a number of stellar guests to fill in for me. Most are writers, but I also thought it would be fun to get some publishing types to explain what it is they do, teach you some more about the industry, and answer your questions, as well as one or two bloggers.
*********
Sarah Cross is the author of Dull Boy, a YA superhero novel. She
blogs intermittently, posts random videos on
tumblr, and is hiding in a unicorn-and-zombie-proof bunker until this whole mess is over.
Sarah says:
You may be wondering where Justine is.
And I am sorry to tell ...
Posted by Justine at 19:59, February 12th, 2010 under Excuses, Frippery, Guest post, Toilets, Unicorns, Viewing, Zombies, Zombies v Unicorns |
Due to boring circumstances beyond my control, I will not be online much in February. Fortunately I’ve been able to line up a number of stellar guests to fill in for me. Most are writers, but I also thought it would be fun to get some publishing types to explain what it is they do, teach you some more about the industry, and answer your questions, as well as one or two bloggers.
Today we have Jennifer Laughran, with whom I have spent many hours IMing about Very Important Matters. She's pobably the best handseller of books in the land both as a bookseller and an agent. Truly she is phenomenal. Pay close attention to what she says. (Except about what ...
Posted by Justine at 18:15, February 11th, 2010 under Guest post, New York City/USA, Publishing business |
Due to boring circumstances beyond my control, I will not be online much in February. Fortunately I’ve been able to line up a number of stellar guests to fill in for me. Most are writers, but I also thought it would be fun to get some publishing types to explain what it is they do, teach you some more about the industry, and answer your questions, as well as one or two bloggers.
Today's guest blogger, Doselle Young, is not only one of my favourite people on the planet, he's also every bit as opinionated as me. (Though frequently wrong, like his love of Madmen and Henry Miller. Ewww.) I enjoy Do holding forth on any subject at all. He's also ...
Posted by Justine at 19:36, February 10th, 2010 under Bloggery/Internetty Stuff, Cons & Other Gatherings, Frippery, Guest post, Ideas, Liar, Reading, Sport, State of the World, Words & Language, Writing life, Zombies v Unicorns |
Due to boring circumstances beyond my control, I will not be online much in February. Fortunately I’ve been able to line up a number of stellar guests to fill in for me. Most are writers, but I also thought it would be fun to get some publishing types to explain what it is they do, teach you some more about the industry, and answer your questions, as well as one or two bloggers.
Today's guest, Robin Wasserman, is one of my fave YA writers. She mentions her brilliant recent trilogy below, but she's written many other novels besides. If you have not read any of them, I insist you go forth and do so now. Well, not, now now, after you've ...
Posted by Justine at 19:25, February 9th, 2010 under Guest post, Ideas, Writing life, Writing process |
Due to boring circumstances beyond my control, I will not be online much in February. Fortunately I’ve been able to line up a number of stellar guests to fill in for me. Most are writers, but I also thought it would be fun to get some publishing types to explain what it is they do, teach you some more about the industry, and answer your questions, as well as one or two bloggers.
Today we have one of my favourite YA lit bloggers, Ah Yuan, whose blog,
GAL Novelty, should be on your blogroll if it isn't already. I love how no-holds-barred her reviews are. Thoughtful, smart and conversation provoking. If you want to know a bit more about Ah ...
Posted by Justine at 18:39, February 8th, 2010 under Guest post, Reading, State of the World, Young Adult literature |
Due to boring circumstances beyond my control, I will not be online much for the next week or so. Fortunately I've been able to line up a number of stellar guests to fill in for me. Most are writers, but I also thought it would be fun to get some publishing types to explain what it is they do, teach you some more about the industry, and answer your questions, as well as one or two bloggers.
Today we have Sarah Rees Brennan, who is quite mad, which is often quite an advantage for the writing of fine fiction, as you will discover if you read any of SRB's books. She was last here for
an interview where she revealed ...
Posted by Justine at 6:04, February 5th, 2010 under Feminism, Guest post, Ranting, Viewing |
Today mine & Holly Black's Zombies v Unicorn anthology was featured on
EW's Shelf Life, the press release went out, and the Simon & Schuster's
official Z v U page is officially official. ((Yes, those of you on Twitter already know about it. That's because being on Twitter makes you special. Give yourself a special Twitter hug.)) Go there to
vote Team Zombie---my team---because zombies are superior to unicorns in every way.
Over the next few months leading up to the antho's publication in September I will have much to say about it. But today I wanted to talk about the art because it is so spectactular that I'm still pinching myself. I love it! ((For those ...
Posted by Justine at 19:03, February 4th, 2010 under Zombies v Unicorns |
Due to boring circumstances beyond my control, I will not be online much for the next week or so. Fortunately I've been able to line up a number of stellar guests to fill in for me. Most are writers, but I also thought it would be fun to get some publishing types to explain what it is they do, teach you some more about the industry, and answer your questions, as well as one or two bloggers.
Today we have Lauren Cerand, who is a freelance publicist. I know that many people are confused as to what exactly a publicist does. (I know I frequently am.) It took me ages to realise that there are basically two kinds, freelancers like Lauren, ...
Posted by Justine at 5:49, February 4th, 2010 under Guest post, Publishing business |
Due to boring circumstances beyond my control, I will not be online much for the next week or so. Fortunately I've been able to line up a number of stellar guests to fill in for me. Most are writers, but I also thought it would be fun to get some publishing types to explain what it is they do, teach you some more about the industry, and answer your questions, as well as one or two YA lit bloggers.
First up we have a fellow Australian, Tansy Rayner Roberts, who's not only a fine fiction writer, but her reviews and blogging skills are second to none. After reading this post I was overcome with the urge to curl up with a ...
Posted by Justine at 18:31, February 3rd, 2010 under Guest post, Reading |
Most of you will know that Amazon has stopped selling books by Macmillan authors. (If you don't know about it
read Scott's take.)
John Scalzi has just called for people to support the affected authors: ((If you're wondering, no, neither Scott nor I are directly affected. The bulk of our books are not with Macmillan publishers.))
So rather than focus on what should happen to Amazon or Macmillan, here’s an idea, and here’s my point: let’s us focus on the writers, who are getting kinda screwed here. None of this is their fault, it has nothing to do with them, and they don’t deserve to lose sales and their livelihood while this thing goes down. If you want to ...
Posted by Justine at 19:35, February 2nd, 2010 under Publishing business, Writing life |
