By: Kathleen Sargeant,
on 11/28/2015
Does culture really have a life of its own? Are cultural trends, fashions, ideas, and norms like organisms, evolving and weaving our minds and bodies into an ecological web? You hear a pop song a few times and suddenly find yourself humming the tune. You unthinkingly adopt the vocabulary and turns of phrase of your circle of friends.
The post The life of culture appeared first on OUPblog.
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By: Sarah McIntyre,
on 5/18/2015
I haven't been doing enough of my own non-work drawing lately, and when I don't, I find I feel rather low, and my work slows down. So last night I got out my pens and did another Dartmoor Pegasus drawing. 
It's part of a story that my Cakes in Space co-author Philip Reeve and I made up as we went along, based on a little painting he once made on a piece of wood. (You can see earlier Dartmoor Pegasus drawings here. 
The thing that got me going was when concept artist Ian McQue tweeted a picture with the #maysketchaday hash tag. People are trying to post one sketch every day, but a lot of these people are concept artists and a lot of what they call 'sketches' look like big, epic finished pieces to me. If I ever start thinking I've figured out this illustration thing, I just need to look over at concept artists' work and realise I still have a long way to go in upping my game. I love line, but I'm not so good at lighting effects and more subtle colours, and some of these guys are masters.
Ian McQue consistently posts amazing work; he's one of the best things happening on Twitter. Here's one, created in Photoshop, with a Blade Runner feel to it:
And another based on his 'Mechadoodles', this one titled 'Flea':
My other favourite person experimenting on Twitter is Jonathan Edwards (@jontofski). Here's a watercolour painting of a street corner in Toronto that most people would probably pass without noticing. He's turned it into total magic:
This #maysketchaday meme has instroduced me to some more concept artists. Check out work by Thomas Scholes: 
Here's one by Paul Scott Canavan (@abigbat):
And another by Lennart Verhoeff (@Pixeltuner):
I'm going to try to post some more drawings for #maysketchaday. I'm not sure they'll be every day because I have a lot of events, but I'll do my best. Thanks for sharing your work, lovely concept artists. You're very inspiring!
By: Carolyn Napolitano,
on 5/4/2015
May the Fourth be with you! Playing off a pun on one of the movie’s most famous quotes, May the 4th is the unofficial holiday in which Star Wars fans across the globe celebrate the beloved blockbuster series. The original Star Wars movie, now known as Star Wars IV: A New Hope, was released on 25 May 1977, but to those of us who waited in line after line to see it again and again in theaters, it will always be just Star Wars.
The post May the Fourth be with you! appeared first on OUPblog.
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By: Shelli,
on 7/2/2014
Kimberly Derting tagged me in a blog roll to talk about writing and the writing process.
(She talks about hers here...and I loved her answers! :)
1. What am I working on?
Oddly enough, I am working on a couple of picture book projects and a middle grade series. I am also continuing the Untraceable series into Book 4. (Book 3 just released in June)
2. How does my work differ from others of its genre?
I usually write very dark teen thrillers. For some reason, I need a short break from those so I'm veering off my main path to have some fun in different genres. But my heart is in YA thrillers.
3. Why do I write what I do?
I love thrillers in general so I love writing them. It's most of what I read and watch on movies. If someone doesn't die or isn't being chased, it's hard for me to get into it. Though I'm getting better about branching out some :)
4. How does my writing process work?
I used to be a pantser but it would take me much longer to finish a book. So now I have a process that seems to work for me. I create a logline and synopsis. Then I do a strawman outline. I pretty much write from that outline (keeping it open so I can make changes along the way.) The simple process gives me structure yet flexibility to be creative.
5. How does my writing process not work?
It works for me :) Right now....at least I think it does.
Three other tagged authors...
Amy Evans - author of one of my favs, Clicks.
Elle Strauss - author of the awesome Clockwise series (and author of Lee Strauss' Minstrel series)
Karen Hooper - author of the gorgeous Kindrily series.
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Posted on 3/1/2013
I just found Blog30. I liked their questionnaire and thought I'd share my own answers:
Where do you look for inspiration?
Life. Truth. Music. Stories. Nature. People.
What's your favorite book?
I have favorite books in different categories. My favorite books include, but are not limited to:
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll (fantasy classic)
The NeverEnding Story by Michael Ende (fantasy)
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald (modern classic)
Body Bags by Christopher Golden (contemporary thriller)
The Boys are Back in Town by Christopher Golden (contemporary horror)
The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin (mystery)
What's your favorite movie?
As with books (and anything else you can categories), I have favorite movies in different categories. For example:
Favorite musical picture: Singin' in the Rain
Favorite film noir: The Strange Love of Martha Ivers
Favorite Hitchcock film: North by Northwest
Favorite screwball comedy: Bringing Up Baby
Favorite Barbara Stanwyck comedy: Ball of Fire
Favorite John Hughes film: Ferris Bueller's Day Off
Favorite Cary Grant/Irene Dunne performance: My Favorite Wife
Favorite Jack Lemmon/Walter Matthau movie: The Odd Couple
Favorite book-to-miniseries adaptation: Anne of Green Gables, 1986 version starring Megan Follows
Favorite Disney animated musical: The Little Mermaid
Again, give me a genre, theme, time period, director, writer, or actor, and I'll tell you my favorite film for that topic or person.
What's your favorite line from a play?
I just realized I don't have any lines from plays listed on my page of favorite quotes. I'm going to have to think on this and get back to you.
What play or production changed your life?
Since I've been on the acting/performing/writing/creating path since birth, I don't know that any play has changed my life, but many have touched me - either the script or the storyline really spoke to me, or the experience I had performing them. This includes but is not limited to Spring Awakening, The Polar Express, and the first school play I ever did. I'm also a writer - screenwriter, playwright, (hopeful) novelist, and poet, so I've performed original works, and had works published, and all of those experiences mean a great deal to me.
Is there anything you still dream of doing?
Everything I haven't done yet, but will: Have a great career, working regularly in television (including work as a series regular), film, and theatre (both musicals and straight plays) as an actress, writer, and director, creating and sharing roles and shows and songs that make me happy and inspire others.
I feel most like myself when I... am performing, singing or acting - or discussing something I'm really passionate about, or retelling the story of something I've experienced.
What is your best escape?
Performing. Writing. Reading. Watching films and TV.
What's the one thing nobody knows about you?
If I told you, then someone would know.
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By: Little Willow,
on 1/13/2013
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By: Aaron Polson,
on 3/27/2012
Jarmara Falconer was kind enough to take me to different place with this meme. I'm terrible about tagging others, but I don't mind sharing 7 lines starting at line 7 from page 77...
From Badlands:
...including the couple walking on the other side of the lot, until he slammed the passenger door shut. He pressed his sweaty palms against his jeans.
The couple, a man and woman in their mid-forties, had stopped to watch.
Ryan took a breath.
The woman tugged on the man’s arm. The man didn’t move, his eyes fixed on Ryan.
“Had too much to drink,” Ryan said.
“Is she okay?”
No, she isn't. And Ryan isn't either, but I haven't sorted that end yet.
I'm terrible about tagging others, so let's just say the seven dwarves are on my list. Go!
By: Jennie,
on 3/20/2012
Hi Guys! It's my very first TOP TEN TUESDAY. Today's topic is "Top 10 Books on your Spring Reading List"
Like I could narrow it down to 10! So, I have 20, or rather, 2 Top 10 lists. 1 is for sequels/series books, one is stand alone (or first in a series).
Top Ten Books That Aren't a Sequel That I Want to Read This Spring
I'll be straight up and tell you that Molly and I go waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay back (we were both in high school when we first met) and I have read many versions of this book (including the final one) AND SOON IT WILL BE A REAL BOOK AND OMG YOU GUYS IT IS AWESOME.
Last spring, Paige and her friends were in a car accident. This fall, after being sent away for the summer so her mother could do damage control, Paige sees her friends and her life in a new light and realizes there's more than the Homecoming Court and her "perfect" boyfriend. Molly says it's a reverse Cinderella.
This is how good of a writer Molly is-- after over a decade of struggling with it, she taught me to use eyeliner. OVER EMAIL. With no visual aids. TRUE STORY.
This is only on my radar because Hunt contacted me to be on her blog tour. I'm not accepting a lot of ARCs right now because I have so much to read, but something about this one grabbed me. Then, when I got it, I was flipping through and started reading in the middle right away before I realized I should probably, oh, I don't know, start at the beginning? I haven't finished it yet, but it's looking very promising right now.
Carley ends up in foster care and gets assigned to the Murphys, who show her a stable family life she thought only existed in fantasies. First up, can we just say "yay" to a positive foster environment? I know the system has serious problems, but I've known so many dedicated and wonderful foster parents and families over the years, I'm happy to see them shown in a book. (I really hope they don't end up being secretly evil.)
2 Comments on Top Ten Tuesday: Spring TBR, last added: 3/20/2012
Posted on 2/19/2012
The Broke and the Bookish has a fabulous weekly feature called Top Ten Tuesday. This past week, they asked for The Top Ten Books That Broke Your Heart, which I discovered via Harmony Book Reviews. (Thanks!)
Here, in no particular order, are ten books that broke my heart a little. I'll refrain from posting the reasons why these books broke my heart, because, in most cases, that would reveal too much: detailing those scenes and turns-of-events would spoil the books for those who haven't read them yet. I will, however, link to my reviews of the books in case you'd like to learn more.
1) Thief of Hearts by Christopher Golden
2) The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
3) Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson
4) The Broccoli Tapes by Jan Slepian
5) See You at Harry's by Jo Knowles
6) Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver
7) The Alison Rules by Catherine Clark
8) Swollen by Melissa Lion
9) Stay with Me by Garret Freymann-Weyr
10) What Happens Here by Tara Altebrando
Which of these books have you read? What did you think? I'd love to discuss these books further, so please leave your comments!
By: Tara,
on 2/2/2012
The internet has been abuzz with Ryan Gosling memes—there’s the feminist Ryan Gosling, Silicon Valley Ryan Gosling, and even a Ryan Gosling who reads young adult literature. Just like NaNoWriMo, I’m feeling like picture book writers are being left out of the fun. So, I’m jumping into the fray with these:
(Special shout-out to Julie Falatko who inspired some of these.)
But you know, Ryan is a little young for me. I need an older, more experienced man for my picture book meme. So I’m thinking about him instead:
Posted on 1/23/2012
I discovered this book meme interview through Awakening Lisa, who, in turn, found it at Booking Through Thursday.
Part 1 simply asked:
If you could sit down and interview anyone, who would it be?
As a curious girl and a freelance journalist, I've been fortunate enough to have interviewed many wonderful people.
In the coming weeks, I'll be posting new, exclusive interviews with Gaby Rodriguez (The Pregnancy Project, which inspired the Lifetime movie), Susan Lee (Mastermind), Mary Lowry (The Earthquake Machine), and Trina Robbins (Lily Renee, Escape Artist).
If you'd like to read my past interviews, please click here for my interview archive or scroll through the tagged interviews on the Bildungsroman blog.
There are many people I'd love to talk to that I can't - Cary Grant. Gene Kelly. Barbara Stanwyck. Jack Lemmon. Natalie Wood. Charles Dodgson. F. Scott Fitzgerald. Relatives who passed away before I was born.
What would I ask them? Oh, so many things.
Part 2 was a longer questionnaire:
1. What's your favorite time of day to read?
In the morning, before work, or during lunch.
2. Do you read during breakfast? (Assuming you eat breakfast.)
I read emails during breakfast. I read books during lunch. I read scripts at night and throughout the day as needed.
3. What's your favorite breakfast food? (Noting that breakfast foods can be eaten any time of day.)
I eat oatmeal for breakfast 4 or 5 times a week most weeks.
4. How many hours a day would you say you read?
Two, if you're referring strictly to books. In general, I read every word I see all day long. My eyes zero in on words and numbers like... well... Have you seen the new version of Sherlock? When words and such pop up around him? Goodness, that's delightful.
5. Do you read more or less now than you did, say, 10 years ago?
About the same, but technically, I suppose a little more.
6. Do you consider yourself a speed reader?
Yes.
7. If you could have any superpower, what would it be?
Telekinesis and (selective) telepathy.
8. Do you carry a book with you everywhere you go?
Yes.
9. What KIND of book?
Typically, I have at least one novel and/or one script with me at all times.
10. How old were you when you got your first library card?
Two, I believe.
11. What's the oldest book you have in your collection? (Oldest physical copy? Longest in the collection? Oldest copyright?)
I am not certain. Most of my used books are classics, but I don't believe any of them are first editions or early editions (not to be confused with Early Edition, starring the fantastic Kyle Chandler!) My copy of A Midsummer Night's Dream by William Shakespeare may appear to be the oldest, but I don't think it is.
12. Do you read in bed?
No.
13. Do you write in your books?
No. I mark favorite passages in books with sticky notes or scraps of paper. I write blocking notes in my scripts.
14. If you had one piece of advice to a new reader, what would it be?
Read what you like. Learn what you love. Enjoy!
By: Casey (The Bookish Type),
on 12/10/2011
Who would have guessed that four minutes could change everything?
Today should be one of the worst days of seventeen-year-old Hadley Sullivan's life. She's stuck at JFK, late to her father's second wedding, which is taking place in London and involves a soon to be step-mother that Hadley's never even met. Then she meets the perfect boy in the airport's cramped waiting area. His name is Oliver, he's British, and he's in seat 18B. Hadley's in 18A.
Twists of fate and quirks of timing play out in this thoughtful novel about family connections, second chances and first loves. Set over a 24-hour-period, Hadley and Oliver's story will make you believe that true love finds you when you're least expecting it.
15 Comments on In My Mailbox: December 5 - 11, 2011, last added: 12/13/2011Display Comments Add a Comment
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By: Read Now Sleep Later,
on 11/30/2011
By: Casey (The Bookish Type),
on 11/27/2011
They call me 'New Girl'...
Ever since I arrived at exclusive, prestigious Manderly Academy, that’s who I am. New girl. Unknown. But not unnoticed—because of her.
Becca Normandy—that’s the name on everyone’s lips. The girl whose picture I see everywhere. The girl
I can’t compare to. I mean, her going missing is the only reason a spot opened up for me at the academy.
And everyone stares at me like it’s my fault.
Except for Max Holloway—the boy whose name shouldn’t be spoken. At least, not by me. Everyone thinks of him as Becca’s boyfriend…but she’s gone, and here I am, replacing her. I wish it were that easy. Sometimes, when I think of Max, I can imagine how Becca’s life was so much better than mine could ever be.
And maybe she’s still out there, waiting to take it back.
Alec and Sabrina are crazy in love. Problem is: Sabrina’s really crazy.
Sabrina, an artist, is diagnosed with schizophrenia, and her parents check her into the Wellness Center. There she meets Alec, who is convinced it's the world that's8 Comments on In My Mailbox: November 21 - 27, 2011, last added: 11/27/2011Display Comments Add a Comment
By: Casey (The Bookish Type),
on 11/23/2011
Keeping up with the high-priced deals, Liesa Abrams, executive editor at Simon & Schuster, took North American rights to three books, in a six-figure pre-empt, by newcomer Shannon Messenger. Laura Rennert at Andrea Brown Literary brokered the deal for the middle-grade fantasy series, and the first book, Keeper of the Lost Cities, is scheduled for fall 2012. In Cities, a 12-year-old girl who can read minds, and is something of a social outcast, discovers the reason she has her abilities when she meets a mysterious boy. Rennert elaborated: “She’s never felt at home because she isn’t. There are secrets buried deep in her memory, secrets about her true identity and why she was hidden among humans, that others desperately want and would even kill for.” Messenger is in her 20s and is one of the founders of the free, online writer’s conference, WriteOnCon. (via Publisher's Weekly)
Twelve-year-old Sophie has always been different -- she's years ahead of the other kids in school and can read minds. She's always assumed there's some kind of logical explanation for her talents, but when she meets an adorable and mysterious boy, she finds out the shocking truth. She's never felt at home because she, well, ... isn't.
There are secrets buried deep in her memory, secrets about her true identity and why she was hidden among humans, that others desperately want and would even kill for. And she must figure out why she is the key to her brand-new world, before the wrong person finds the answer first.
By: Casey (The Bookish Type),
on 11/21/2011
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| This awesome button was made by Lindsi at BSAOT. |
By: Casey (The Bookish Type),
on 10/30/2011
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| Credit: http://www.advancedanime.com/displayimage.php?pid=304601 |
By: Casey (The Bookish Type),
on 10/30/2011
By: Casey (The Bookish Type),
on 10/29/2011
(Farrar, Straus and Giroux BYR, 10/11/11)
(Atria, 10/18/11)
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14 Comments on In My Mailbox: October 3 - 30, 2011, last added: 10/30/2011
Nice lines.
I'm sorry to hear about your grandfather passing, Aaron. I'm also very sorry about all the trouble you've had with Amazon. I hope it gets sorted.
My condolences to you Aaron. A loss of a loved one is never an easy period to deal with, regardless of how prepared we believe ourselves to be for the event.
As for the Amazon thing, well, I can't really comment as I've no experience on that matter, but I've every confidence that you'll bounce back, more resilient than ever.
Regards
Mark K