Sunday, 20 January 2013

International Stories, Linking Fun, and Hot Chocolate!

Link love!

I missed out on so much blogging while I was sick that I've got a backlog of visits and commenting to do. I thought I'd take you with me...

First up, the Word Wenches - authors Jo Beverley, Nicola Cornick, Cara Elliott/Andrea Penrose, Anne Gracie, Susan Fraser King/Sarah Gabriel, Mary Jo Putney, Patricia Rice, and Joanna Bourne - answer the question: "Do you get angsty and anxious at any part of the writing process? And, if you do, does it make you more productive?"

I love Jo Bourne's line: "The only cure for the pain of writing is writing."

Lots of cover art reveals recently, including India Drummond and Melanie Macek! Have you seen any others? Please share!

The fifth issue of Vine Leaves Literary Journal is out!

Has anyone ever applied to Clarion West?:


I thought I was going to, but now I'm not sure any of my current stories qualify. Unfortunately.

I posted about our snowstorm the other day; now we're having a North Pole blast. Temperatures ranging from -15 to -40 degrees Celsius (sometimes counting the wind chill factor, sometimes not) all week. The only thing to do is have some real hot chocolate, courtesy of Outlander Kitchen:


ROW80: I might need something to spike my hot chocolate, as I continue editing. Progressing, but slowly. I'd like to be finished all the on-screen editing by 10 February, so I'll have to add a third editing day to my weekly schedule - likely on a weekend. Which is dangerous, because turning on the computer means the possibility of accessing the internet... Need a little dose of Write or Die!

Meanwhile, The Reading Life has a very ambitious project: to read at least one short story each from 196 countries worldwide! She just completed number 20, with an Orhan Pamuk short story, translated from Turkish. I haven't read that story yet, but I'll add it to the list!

Meanwhile, here are the countries she's read stories from so far: Georgia - Canada - United States - Republic of Korea - Antigua and Barbuda - Haiti - Trinidad and Tobago - Ukraine - Cameroon - Botswana - Sudan - Dominica - Israel - Syria - Ethiopia - Zimbabwe - Peru - Chile - South Africa - Turkey

I've read stories from Canada, the US, and Turkey. That's kind of sad. I thought there'd be at least one Israeli or South African author in there. I'm deliberately not counting Tolkien, of course... There are other countries I've read stories - and novels and poems - from though, so I shouldn't feel too guilty: Germany, Sweden, Senegal, Australia, United Kingdom, Ireland, Italy, Norway, Russia, Japan, Colombia, Finland, France, and... well, there might be a few others, but I can't recall.

Not counting North America or the UK, what's your favourite story from a different country?

24 comments:

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

I'm not sure!
Christine Rains also revealed her new book cover.

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi Deniz .. hot chocolate would be good now - it's snowing, damp, cold and about to get dark ...

A good book .. I posted about an amazing book from South Africa ..

http://positiveletters.blogspot.co.uk/2011/09/dancing-in-shadows-of-love-book.html

Very African and very evocative ... I hope you'll give it a go ...

Congratulations on being such a good reader - I must do some catching up ...

Cheers from a snowy south coast of England .. it's not so cold out - but that white stuff is around! - except it won't be nearly as bad as yours ... Hilary

Mia Hayson said...

Oh wow. Favourite story from a different country, that's a hard one. I'm really not sure. I think I need to improve upon my international reading selection!

:)

<3

S.P. Bowers said...

Interesting, I'm going to have to check into how many countries I've read books from. What if the countries don't exist anymore.

Favorite book from another country? Well, I'm very partial to Russian lit as it was what I studied. I'd probably say, Anna Kareninna, war and peace, day in the life of Ivan Denisovich, or notes from the underground.

Nas said...

Hi Deniz!

I read an Australian authors book recently, African Hearts. To me, it was interesting, evocative and wrenched emotions from me!

Lara said...

Glad you're feeling better. That hot chocolate looks amazing! :)

Jessica Bell said...

You are so sweet to mention Vine Leaves. Thank you :-)

outlanderkitchen.com said...

Thanks for the link! Write like the wind... :) Theresa

Michael Di Gesu said...

Hi, Deniz,

SNOW and frigid temps... stay warm! We are really lacking in snow this year, but are temps have dropped to single digits and 0 wind chills. Brrrrrr. But it isn't the worst I have felt.

Take care....


As for stories from other countries, I love Chekov plays and Dosteyevsky novels from Russia.

featherpenstartandreams said...

Deniz! Thanks for the shout out on the cover reveal! I was able to get the first book uploaded this weekend and it is now available for purchase - squeeeeeee!

Glad you're feeling better and I saw the temps and thought about you. Stay warm! [Spiking the hot chocolate - not a bad idea ;)]

Melanie

Zan Marie said...

Yum, hot chocolate!

Check out Charlotte Rains Dixon's cover for her new book, Emma Jean's Bad Behavior, that's coming out Feb 12.

http://www.wordstrumpet.com/emma-jeans-bad-behavior.html

Zan Marie said...

P.S. I'm interviewing Charlotte on Feb 19 at In the Shade of the Cherry Tree. Her book is a great read!

Elizabeth Anne Mitchell said...

I'm in upstate New York, and it is cold and snowy here, with temperatures plummeting even more over the next few days. The hot chocolate is definitely on my list!

Thank you for taking me along on the tour of the links--wonderful, enticing, ones all.

I am woefully insular in my reading as well. I will check out some of the books listed in your other comments.

Have a wonderful week, and stay warm.

nutschell said...

my goodness! I dont think I can survive those temperatures. Drink lots of hot cocoa!
Nutschell
www.thewritingnut.com

natashaguadalupe said...

Jo Bourne's line: "The only cure for the pain of writing is writing."

Is soooo true!! I have to remind myself of this, every day!

Deniz Bevan said...

Thanks for coming by everyone! And for the book recommendations! Darn that wishlist that keeps getting longer and longer...

I love Notes from Underground, too, Sara. Hmm, you're right - what if the country doesn't exist anymore?

Kelli C said...

Glad to hear that you are feeling better!

Deniz Bevan said...

Thanks Kelli! So nice to be back to normal :-)

Scribbles From Jenn said...

I'm making that hot chocolate. Yummy!

Deniz Bevan said...

I'm making some more too, Jenn!

Cate Russell-Cole: Artios Communications said...

Hi Deniz, it looks like Kait has hit some trouble and we have no mid-week check-in. So no one is left out, please come over to our Facebook group and leave a link to your check-in post and we will be over to visit. The page address is https://www.facebook.com/groups/row80/ Alternatively, email me at katiecrcole@gmail.com and I'll pass your post on. I know Facebook isn't everyone's cup of tea!

Should we have no Linky on Sunday, we'll just keep working this way until things sort themselves out.

Cheers!
Cate (Round 1 Sponsor)

Deniz Bevan said...

Thanks Cate! I shared on FB at one point, but I see the link is up now. How nice of you to check up on all of us!

P V Ariel said...

Hi Deniz,
Nice post, its really good to read stories of other nations, sad to note that in your list mentioned i couldn't find my nation. so sad. I am sure in the next list it will definitely appear LOL :-)
Keep inform
Best Regards
Phil

Deniz Bevan said...

I'll try, Phil!

Books I'm Reading and Finished Books

  • Sandman: Dream Country by Neil Gaiman
  • The Return of the Shadow - Book 6 in the History of Middle Earth series by Christopher Tolkien and J R R Tolkien (reread)
  • ***Reading At Intervals***
  • Stories in Words by C S Lewis
  • Poison by Bridget Zinn
  • Medieval Comic Tales (Folio Society edition)
  • Moby Dick by Herman Melville
  • Lessons for a Sunday Father by Claire Calman
  • Shadow Show (Anthology in Honour of Ray Bradbury, including Neil Gaiman!)
  • Looking Backward by Edward Bellamy
  • The Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan
  • Warriors (anthology) edited by George R. R. Martin and G. Dozois (featuring a new Lord John story by Diana Gabaldon)
  • The Jerusalem Bible
  • ***Finished Books***
  • Acquainted With the Night by Rober Frost (read by Amanda Palmer) (here: http://amandapalmer.net/blog/20120510/)
  • The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald (reread)
  • Star Trek Book of Opposites (board book)
  • Alligator Baby by Robert Munsch
  • Causeries: l'Etat Civil du Comte de Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas (essay)
  • Le Comte de Monte-Cristo par Alexandre Dumas
  • About the B'nai Bagels by E. L. Konigsburg
  • Parragon's Encyclopedia of Animals a Family Reference Guide (skimmed)
  • Throwing Shadows by E. L. Konigsburg
  • The Devil on the Staircase by Joe Hill (short story)
  • Horns by Joe Hill
  • Altogether One at a Time by E. L. Konigsburg
  • Orders From Berlin by Simon Tolkien
  • The King of Diamonds by Simon Tolkien
  • Quick Fix by Linda Grimes (arc!)
  • Jack Absolute by C. C. Humphreys
  • The Lost Road - Book 5 in the History of Middle Earth series by Christopher Tolkien and J R R Tolkien (reread)
  • The Roots of Betrayal by James Forrester
  • Leaf by Niggle by J. R. R. Tolkien (short story) (reread)
  • The Lord of the Rings by J. R. R. Tolkien (reread)
  • Sandman: Doll's House by Neil Gaiman
  • secret beta read!
  • An Easter Walk by Zan Marie Steadham (reread)
  • Celtic Myths and Legends by Mike Dixon-Kennedy (reread) (skimmed)
  • Rainy Days with Bear by Maureen Hull
  • Down to a Sunless Sea by Neil Gaiman (short story) (http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2013/mar/22/down-sunless-sea-neil-gaiman-short-story)
  • Sandman: Prologues and Nocturnes by Neil Gaiman
  • Uncle John's Bathroom Reader, the Music edition
  • The Circus by Emma Trevayne (short story) (http://the-cabinet-of-curiosities.blogspot.ca/2013/03/the-circus-by-emma-trevayne.html)
  • Ghost Stories of Canada (compilation) (read a few)
  • Red Shoes and Doll Parts by Claire Legrand (short story (available at: http://the-cabinet-of-curiosities.blogspot.ca/2013/02/red-shoes-and-doll-parts-by-claire.html)
  • In A Fix by Linda Grimes
  • A Calendar of Tales by Neil Gaiman
  • It Came from the Far Side by Gary Larson
  • Boy O'Boy by Brian Doyle
  • Mary Ann Alice by Brian Doyle (so sweet! I wish there was a sequel)
  • The Man Who Loved Flowers by Stephen King (short story) (reread)
  • Celtic Myths and Legends by (forgot) (skimmed)
  • Night Surf by Stephen King (short story) (reread)
  • On This Day I Complete My Thirty-sixth Year by Lord Byron (poem)
  • 11/22/63 by Stephen King (brilliant)
  • When Summer Comes by Brenda Novak
  • All My Life Before Me - the diary of C. S. Lewis (finally! after 15 years!)
  • The Franchise Affair by Josephine Tey
  • The Cake Made Out of Teeth by Claire Legrand (short story) (READ IT! Here: http://the-cabinet-of-curiosities.blogspot.ca/2013/01/the-cake-made-out-of-teeth-by-claire.html)
  • Brat Farrar by Josephine Tey (wonderful!)
  • Real Mermaids Don't Need High Heels by Helene Boudreau (ARC)
  • The Great Explorers (Folio Society edition) (skimmed)
  • The Shaping of Middle-Earth - Book 4 in the History of Middle Earth series by Christopher Tolkien and J R R Tolkien (reread)
  • Medieval Civilisation by Jacques le Goff (skimmed)
  • A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson (sooo many questions!)
  • Highland Moonlight by Teresa J. Reasor (skimmed very fast)
  • Not So Funny When It Happened (a travel humour anthology; I read a few of the essays, specifically by Douglas Adams, Dave Barry, Bill Bryson, Anne Lamott, etc.)
  • Over Sea, Under Stone by Susan Cooper (reread)
  • Greenwitch by Susan Cooper (reread)
  • The Magician's Nephew by C. S. Lewis (reread)
  • Emerson (bits and pieces of his essays on his travels through England and Scotland; read aloud to me)
  • The Long Dark Tea Time of the Soul by Douglas Adams
  • Old Man's War by John Scalzi
  • The Cove by Ron Rash
  • see the 2012 list and statistics here http://thegirdleofmelian.blogspot.ca/2012/12/the-hobbit-review-and-year-end-books.html
  • see the 2011 statistics on http://thegirdleofmelian.blogspot.ca/2012/01/books-read-in-2011-statistics-fourth.html
  • see the 2011 list at http://thegirdleofmelian.blogspot.ca/2012/01/books-read-in-2011.html
  • see the 2010 list at http://thegirdleofmelian.blogspot.com/2010/12/books-read-in-2010-listed-here.html
  • see the 2009 list at http://thegirdleofmelian.blogspot.com/2009/12/books-read-in-2009-part-ii.html
  • also in 2009 at http://thegirdleofmelian.blogspot.com/2009/12/books-read-in-2009-part-iv.html
  • see the 2008 list at http://thegirdleofmelian.blogspot.com/2008/12/books-read-in-2008-part-ii.html
  • also in 2008 at http://thegirdleofmelian.blogspot.com/2008/12/books-read-in-2008-part-vi.html
  • also in 2008 at http://thegirdleofmelian.blogspot.com/2008/12/books-read-in-2008-part-iv.html