Category: General

Waiting for breakfast with Yolanda. One more of our party, Julie, fell to the flu, and it scuttled her evening of dressing up and going to the dessert salon, but my friend Laura had Immodium in her room, so after a walk over to the Inn on the Park, I hope we procurred a solution for her. Didn’t do much in the way of parties last night, because I thought we might be down on the flu farm. 🙂 But Sunday will wait its turn.

Warning: Panel rant about magical realism and the academy ahead. If you’re interested, click more. If not, stick with the nice stuff above the cut.

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Saturday morning, a batch of us went to the farmer’s market, an Arabic spread out by the Capitol. I was keen to recreate my wholesome experience from last year and sought out the whole wheat muffin and a giant coffee. Dan, Lisa, Yo and I ate by, on, and around modern art while Julie scoped the bazaar. We talked about Yo’s job, Dan talked technical, I ate what tasted like Kansas. Then it was back to the convention for our first panel.

Yo and I visited Balancing Creativity and the Day Job. We heard much of the usual, but we didn’t learn a whole lot that was new. We learned not tips on how to balance, but rather heard a lot about how hard it was balance. It felt like a support group for busy people who wanted to write. A lot of the old chestnuts were presented: Set some time to write. How do you get back to writing and working out if you sacrifice it? Do you tell your work about your writing? How does your family feel about your writing?

It was interesting to hear degrees of openness and what other’s experience was. On this panel, Caroline Stevermer, half of the Sorcery and Cecelia team, said at the end something that was meaty, something that I’ve been chewing on all convention. I paraphrase.

“When I was working, I spent every spare cent on eating out and travel, trying to numb the pain of the day job.” The overall implication seemed to be that we might be poorer without work, but we might have happier lives if we were doing what we wanted, and it might be easier than we think, if we could release ourselves from the illusion of security, which Stevermer suggests could be popped at any time. *blink* How’s that for an existential exercise? She’s right, but most of us are in the security/hoarding/horribleness of being penniless state. (Boy, that was some sentence. I must be exhausted!) Some of the other panelists thought they could never do that. I myself think I can’t right now. It is, however, a perspective to mull. Am I held prisoner by my work, rather than my work allowing me freedom and financial independence? Hmmm…

Continue reading “Wiscon: Saturday Early: Working, Reading, Magical Realism”

It’s time to take a little time to talk more specifically about the convention I’ve been at for 4 days. Right now the dessert salon is happening. Dan and Lisa and I usually sit this one out and sort of catch our breaths before the Guest of Honor Speeches. Highlights, though, are appropriate.

We three arrived in Madison about 11 am on Friday, deciding that the theme of this year’s convention would be cracking open a tall cold can of justice. Well, it sound good as we were driving through the limestone canyons of Dubuque. Dan and Lisa are old friends of mine. She’s a feminist studies technology arcade librarian from the University of Iowa. He’s a man feminist computing geek at the student union. Together…they fight crime! Wait…

*takes a deep breath*

Lisa and I used to make this trip alone, and Dan horned in on the action last year. It’s a three musketeers kind of gig. This year, fellow writers Julie Rose, Jenn Racek and Yolanda Joosten, plus topnotch artist Catrina Horsfield came to meet up as well. With the exception of me missing Bryon, this is as good as it gets.

Continue reading “Wiscon Recap: Friday”

I’ve retreated to the room on Saturday party night for a little while to say hello to everyone, and to wait until the parties heat up a little bit here at the convention.

It’s been a good convention. There have been some highlights, and some spots that make me go hmmm. In the spirit of Tamago-ism, when I describe those hmmm moments, there will be no names or specifics mentioned, but there have been some problematic slants and biases in regard to topical panels this year that have made me think they’d be good examples for advanced composition students on how NOT to argue, explain and present.

That’s for later. Right now I’m run down. I was up much too late last night, and after eating rich foods and drinking, my new body, without gall bladder, decided that digestion was a young woman’s game. With that in mind, today has been careful, like walking on egg shells, and tonight I am much more parsimonious.

The reading went well. We had a small audience, but it was still good. For all my peeps for whom it was the first reading, I think they enjoyed themselves. I was pleased. I’ll let you know when Julie gets it up on the Las Habladoras site for your perusal.

Um…remember that beautiful new skirt I bought for the reading? It ripped tonight as I swung my leg to get off the bed. That was money ill spent. The top is gorgeous and still perfect. Sigh. I had planned on taking that skirt to Japan. Since today was the first time I wore the skirt, I’ll most likely take it back, but I no longer have the receipt, so hope does NOT spring eternal. Little nuisances are magnified when you’re tired, I’m sure.

Overall panorama of the convetnion: not the epiphany of last year. Still, good. Programming chairs must make sure to shoot for bias rather than balance in topical panels, at least for 2 I’ve read about, one of which I’ve seen. The readings I’ve been to this year have been FI-INE. Girl Wonder and Ceres rock the planet and hard.

I met Caroline Stevermer. She was kind enough to sign my copy of Sorcery and Cecelia and I gushed about the book and how much I enjoyed it. She thought I was being kind, but I was saying nothing that wasn’t true. It is one of the finest books I’ve read. And y’all know I’m picky. So read it. She’s a genuine, wonderful person to boot.

One final note for the Mindbridge Book Club: I’ve talked to Sarah Prineas. She’s agreed to talk to us on July 14th at 6 pm at Coffee Talk. I’ve begun her book. It’s a delightful book with depth and overtones. I think kids will love it, and parents will love reading it to their kids. One has the sensation of a brook playfully tumbling over rocks when you read it, at least in Conn’s chapters.

Oookay. I should get back out there.

Catherine

ETA: Edits for Yellow Cat and The Man appeared in my inbox. Something else to work on next week besides the Portus YA Reading Series. I foresee not sending out agent queries next week, and doing these things instead. Oh, yeah, and that pesky Japan trip…

It’s a wet, cold May morning. Water spattered bags and boxes have made it inside Panera, and all of us are waiting for Dan and Lisa, so we can trek to Madison. I suspect the bags and boxes will be quiet on the trip. They’re a studious lot.

I will be coming back with less than I’m going with. Drollerie sent many bookmarks and fliers for new publications. John Rosenman sent me some fliers for his latest works. I’ve got some equipment and materials for Las Habladoras’ reading on Friday. My academic paper on Monday is compact by comparison.

One year ago, Wiscon made me settle down and try again with my writing. Strangers heard me read, and all weekend long I was cajoled and supported into the idea that I ought to be doing this, instead of wishing I was doing it. My fruits for the first year are tiny, but sweet. I’m building that sturdy platform from which I will find an agent. As with all the things I do, there will be a slow and steady building. Fifteen years from now, I’ll nod and be satisfied.

Meanwhile, where am I as a writer? Almost done sending out agent queries for The Substance of Shadows. One partial out there. Sister Night, Sister Moon out from Drollerie this year. Hulk Hercules out from Cats Curious next year, the fall semester giving me lots of time to write it and a curriculum guide for kids. I have work I think through December. In December, we’ll send Hulk to Henson and Startz.

And we’ll see what comes of this year at Wiscon. I look forward to seeing Sonya, my writing group friends, and spending time with two dear friends who always make the Wiscon trek with me. I look forward to seeing the Girl Wonder crowd. I want to see the parties, meet new people. It all sounds lovely.

Work has been horrible this week. I make the mistake of giving myself to things because of a lack of strong family roots, I think. I need to sink more into myself than my work, and writing is the best way I know to follow the dreams I have for myself. I’m not giving up my work, but even though I can pretend that they do deserve my all, they don’t. I deserve my all. Wiscon is a chance to reinforce this ideal.

Happy first birthday, Writer Tamago. Keep trying to peck your way out and revolutionize the world.

Catherine

Work has just become chaotic and disillusioning. The mistakes that make more work for me are less problematic than a couple of moral issues I’m grappling with. I’m trying to decide whether the issue is deeper than my stubbornness, but I can’t escape the feeling that someone is being allowed a special dispensation that is unfair to the other students. I think the college would just shrug at me if I brought this up though.

I don’t want my job to be morally ambiguous. It gnaws at my insides.

***

Well. Trying not to think about that, then, I’m off to my Russian lesson. Wiscon is a load of laundry and final packing away. I’m going to stopper my ears, go la-la-la about the student in question, and enjoy the company of friends and writers.

Catherine

And here are some gems of wisdom from tonight’s book group. The subject: Michael Chabon’s Yiddish Policeman’s Union. If you’ve read the book, join in the discussion!

The group says: Recommended to mystery readers, but not to SF readers. Don’t expect this to be SF, in spite of the Nebula. Striking a blow for Speculative Fiction as a fantastic genre, we wonder.

Also, does this book help the reader understand Jewish history, or does this perpetuate Jewish stereotypes? What does someone Jewish think of the book? Tracie says she’s Jewish, and she’s okay with it. A lot of fruitful discussion here. Michele actually want out and did culture research.

Is genre more important than character here? Can we push the chess metaphor?

Spoiler’s Ahead. (NOTE: There is a Michele and a Michelle. Just so you know.)

Continue reading “Book Group Discussion: Michael Chabon’s Yiddish Policeman’s Union”

I’m at home today working on a project or two for Convergence with friends, but I’m at the point where I’ve started sending out my queries. So far, I’ve sent out

Rachel Dowen of Talcott Notch
Jennifer Schober of Spencerhill
Lucienne Diver of The Night Agency
Laura Blake Peterson of Curtis Brown
Alexia Paul of Joy Harris

There will be two more this week via snail mail. I’m officially out of e-query opportunities, and the twelve agents who remain on my list will be sent letters the traditional way.

And in today’s post, rejections from Jennifer Weltz and the Lazear Agency.

Over the weekend, I’ve begun preliminary research for Neville Longbottom and the Hero’s Journey, but my next major project is putting together our Japan trip. It goes without saying that there will be Wiscon preparations right up to the last minute this week.

So, probably ought to get a couple of query letters ready for the post office, and get them off after I’m done catching up with all of you.

Catherine

Azazello’s Cream is done. Yes!

I await a student’s results ‘ere I can leave the school, else I would go shopping. Since the Wiscon program mock up is partly done at home, I will start working on the Japan agenda while I wait.

Meanwhile, for all you Master and Margarita groupies, here’s the world’s best website on the subject, versions available in 4 languages.

One more academic paper left: Neville Longbottom and the Heroic Journey for Portus 2008.

Catherine

Jane Dystel said no.

Here’s the beginning of what I’m working on currently. It will be out of my life, for better or worse, by next weekend. I’m also pulling together the last disparate bits for Wiscon. Gonna need an extension cord…

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The Master and Margarita has had a checkered reception. Originally banned in its native country, it eventually became a rallying point for the liberal branch of the Russian Communist party (Barratt 14). Two novels in one, it has been analyzed as a religious commentary, a rejection of the materialist world view (Barratt 16), a parody, and a romance. In this paper, I wish to focus on Margarita, suggesting that she is worthy of a second look as a feminist character.

My fascination with the novel began when I was introduced to Bulgakov through a trip to his museum in St. Petersburg while on a Fulbright-Hayes GPA to Russia. In 2006, Bulgakov’s work was beloved by the Russian people. In 2007, a Russian citizen broke into Bulgakov’s museum and destroyed significant parts of his archives. Bulgakov’s life, works, and political views continue to be controversial.

Bulgakov began the novel in 1928. By 1937, the novel was finished for the fourth time “Bulgakov’s archives preserve eight versions of the novel which took 26 years to be published” (Natov 92). Currently, two separate versions of the novel are published in English. Bulgakov’s third wife, Elena Sergeyvna edited the novel after his death, and published it posthumously (Curtis 132).

The idea of Margarita as a feminist character has not been examined much in the literature. Margarita has been considered a romantic character and an idealized woman in a patriarchal society. It is hard to know what Bulgakov’s intent for Margarita was, as his biographical commentaries on his work were few. There is strong evidence of a link between his third wife Elena Sergeyvna and the character (Natov 102). Margarita is a character of action. “Whereas [the Master] represents primarily a state of being, she represents in large measure a course of activity” (Ericson 111).

This paper lays out some discussion of feminism, focuses on previous interpretations of the character of Margarita, and finally applies feminist criticism to Margarita’s actions in the novel.

First draft is done!

First draft is also an inchoate mass of notes.

TIME for the power of rigorous outlining!

Catherine