The autumn is almost mid-way and the shadows are getting longer. Long shadows are so much better than none. The summers close to the equator are often harshly baked and shadowless, something that tourists ought to be informed about when contemplating a trip to the tropics or semi tropical regions. The waving stalky palms don’t offer shade as an ageing nodding oak would in milder climes.
Both of us have been re-planting things at the front of our home together with spreading cow manure and hardwood mulch. It looks better already. One sometimes wonders if gardening is not a better occupation than getting a book off the ground. In the past books could be used as door-stops or even hurled around when locked in a frustrating temper or to emphasize an argument knowing full well, we were wrong.
With e-books on Kindle or Amazon, even that little benefit might be harder to achieve. I remember and wrote previous about using a public toilet in Paris, realising too late it was sans toilet paper. In desperation I used a couple of travel cheques, noting first down the numbers for a reclaim. What was I to do; use a sock or my cotton hanky?
It took a while to understand the complexities of getting something published and thought that a friendly edit with the occasional inclusions or deletions of a couple of commas here and there would be about the worst of it.
In any case, at least with the 10 ISBN’s in possession, I feel it is at least getting there. The next move will be to push it towards a self-publish e-format that can be done through the service of the ASA ( Australia Society of Authors) which will also then suitably format it. I’ll be so pleased to actually find the book ‘Almost There,’ after searching it on the internet. I might even consider buying a couple of copies to kick it along. 😉
The published hard-print version by Austin Macauley is also still bubbling along even though, in case of a refusal or worse , the option of ‘print on demand’ by CreatSpace will be followed. The next book will be better, and having the benefit of hind-sight with better knowledge of Micro-soft Word 2013, it will be a cinch. At least a taller and larger shadow might be cast when asked; what is your occupation? ‘Oh, I am an author.’ This response has to be practised carefully and ought to be given without a slipping or sliding of dodgy eye movements. A nonchalant manner needs to be acquired, not an easy task.
In the previous picture painting days, the answer used to vary from house- painter to bank accountant, building contractor, renovator, share trader-dealer, art teacher, but rarely artist. Why was that so? I did answer ‘artist’ at the Dutch Government employment agency soon after our arrival back to Holland in 1973 with our three children. To my utter surprise a job was provided as an artist within a few days. It involved painting Dutch scenes on clock dials used in the manufacture of ‘antique’ Grandfather clocks. The following months I painted hundreds of those kind of scenes with windmills and lots of seagulls. The manager of this clock factory was very happy with them. For years I still look at shops selling those upright clocks but not once did I find an original Oosterman.
Tags: Almost There, Amazon, ASA, ISBN, Kindle, Micro-soft, Paris, Word 2013
April 10, 2016 at 2:23 am |
Will you be using one of your own Dutch scenes for the cover?
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April 10, 2016 at 4:43 am |
Something to think about, Carrie. On the other hand I was thinking of having a photo of one of my real paintings. The clock dial paintings had to be as kitsch as possible. I don’t mind a Dutch windmill on a tin of biscuits but on a book?
Did I tell you the clock dial paintings were varnished a sepia colour to age them, make them more authentic!.
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April 10, 2016 at 1:00 pm
We could have made a working pair — you could paint, and I could varnish.
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April 10, 2016 at 1:58 pm
Sounds perfect!
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April 10, 2016 at 11:40 pm
Shoreacres&Oosterman Pty Ltd; ‘your varnish and paint specialists,’has a nice sound to it.
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April 10, 2016 at 4:18 am |
Posting writing on a website is seeming to be more and more like the simplest option every day.
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April 10, 2016 at 4:45 am |
Yes, and it saves forests too. You write well and I like your poems.
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April 10, 2016 at 5:23 am
Thank you very much. I was interested in your story about your strata title unit, though I have not had experience of them.
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April 10, 2016 at 4:51 am |
I like, “Long shadows are so much better than none.” Isn’t there a Dutch fairy tale about the man without shadow?
You are an author and that description will leave a shadow.
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April 10, 2016 at 11:43 pm |
Thank you Pethan. Shade shows colours so much more and like my dad, never really enjoyed sun baking and have to squint seeing people stretched out on a beach in the full sun.
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April 22, 2016 at 6:16 am
You cast your shadow at Kindle.
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April 22, 2016 at 7:01 am
Thank you.
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April 10, 2016 at 1:06 pm |
What you say about the quality of tropical light is on target. During the summer, even here at 29N, the sun is high enough that the light changes, and becomes harsher. Mad dogs, Englishmen, and just about everyone not forced by circumstance to be out and about disappear until later in the afternoon.
I laughed at the book-as-doorstop reference. I once had a one-volume Oxford English dictionary that served that purpose. Now, I’m puzzled as to where the thing went. I wish I had it again, and I don’t have any memory of giving it away, selling it, etc. It’s just gone. That’s life!
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April 10, 2016 at 11:46 pm |
Perhaps the English dictionary went overboard. Did you ever read the story of Berkelouw’s historical book selling efforts back in Holland and now in Australia?
Here it is;http://www.berkelouw.com.au/pages/about
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April 11, 2016 at 10:09 am
We would like to go to Berkelouw’s Book Barn again, Gerard, but not this month. We would like to meet you and Helvi there some time in May. How about it?
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April 11, 2016 at 10:18 am
May would be good. We are getting the grandchildren this week as well. Pancakes and garlic prawns is what they like, also racks of lamb marinated with lemon sauce, lots of garlic and rosemary. I will disengage the WiFi, wish me luck, Aunty.
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April 12, 2016 at 1:17 am
Oh, I think you and Helvi are going to manage very well with your grandchildren’s visit. Have a lovely time with them!
Peter sent you today an e-mail, suggesting a meeting shortly after Anzac day, that is in two weeks. Should this not suit you, I think it’s possible that we see you some time in May. Our daughter returns from China on the first of May. On the 3rd of June we’ll be off on our big trip to Berlin!
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April 10, 2016 at 8:17 pm |
Moving from being a ‘writer’ to becoming an ‘author’ is a HUGE step. Congratulations!
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April 11, 2016 at 6:42 am |
I am an author in waiting, or, ‘on the cusp’ of one. The book has yet to be published, but it is happening. Thank you Elizabeth.
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April 18, 2016 at 1:48 am
Can’t wait to read it!
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April 10, 2016 at 11:43 pm |
One thing for sure, Gerard, becoming an author is darned hard work. It should be worn proudly! –Curt
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April 11, 2016 at 6:44 am |
Yes, Curt. The next one will be easier. Still, when I think of a bike ride of 10 000 miles I feel encouraged to tap away here behind the desk.
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April 11, 2016 at 2:25 pm
I think the 10,000 miles were easier than my book. 🙂 –Curt
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April 11, 2016 at 10:03 am |
I do like shade at times, but bright sunshine is what I am mostly looking for. The Australian summer is most beautiful very early in the morning and later towards evening. In summer I try to avoid the sun around midday. But in the Australian winter the midday sun is truly precious.
E-books have a bit of a place in my life right now. I like it, that I can set them on large print. However a lot of the e-books that I’ve been reading, I would also like to have in printed form. To leave through pages and find certain passages, I am not very good at doing this with an e-book.
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April 11, 2016 at 10:11 am |
I looked it up now, it is leaf through pages, isn’t it?
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April 11, 2016 at 10:20 am
Perhaps, Uta. But both give the meaning.
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April 11, 2016 at 10:15 am |
Of course, in the cold of winter it is nice to snatch sunshine and catch up on vitamin D.
As for E books I have read a few and I like the large print. It also remembers where the last page was read. They are also a lot cheaper to buy. The disadvantage of E books is that one can’t leaf through them and read something at random.
I like reading and open the book wherever it chooses to open.
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April 11, 2016 at 11:33 am
That’s exactly what I like doing too, Gerard. I recently read an e-book about the life of a koori detective, who feels that he belongs to both world’s, the koori world, for his mother and stepfather were kooris, but he also belongs to white society, for his birth-father had been a Dutchman. In his career he often feels not totally accepted. He falls in love with a Swedish girl. They marry and he feels very much supported by her. Eventually he feels he becomes his own person. He then feels that he is able to be a link between both worlds and being appreciated in both worlds. I intend now to go through the whole e-book again to find the significant passages that I would like to take some notes of. The author is an Australian woman who writes about this koori man in a way that shows a great deal of understanding about the feelings and problems a person of mixed heritage and cultures might experience.
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April 11, 2016 at 11:22 pm
I wonder what the title and writer’s name of the book is, Uta? I don’t read as much as I should. So many things to divert attention away from reading.
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April 12, 2016 at 5:31 am
You find it here:
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April 12, 2016 at 6:07 am
Thank you for pointing this out, Uta. I noticed the book is open for comment. As yet, no one seems to have commented on this book or gave a critique. Seeing you like the book very much, I wonder if you could be the first one to do so. Of course, only if you choose to do so.
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April 11, 2016 at 5:03 pm |
It’s so exciting to read about your path to publication. And yes, why do we find it so hard to say, I’m a writer, or I’m and artist? Perhaps it’s because we want someone else to say it first, to validate it? Well, for what it’s worth, you Gerard Oosterman, are very definitely a writer, a story teller of great wit, sensitivity, poignancy and imagination.
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April 11, 2016 at 11:28 pm |
Thank you Julia. Once the book takes on a concrete form I’ll be more likely to say that I am a writer. It used to be hugely popular and sophisticated to introduce one’s marital half as, ‘ meet my partner’ instead of my wife/husband.
Of course now sometimes it is; meet my ex wife/husband. I doubt one could become an ex-writer except perhaps when long gone pushing daisies and forgotten.
This from Christina Rossetti;
When I am dead, my dearest,
Sing no sad songs for me;
Plant thou no roses at my head,
Nor shady cypress tree:
Be the green grass above me
With showers and dewdrops wet:
And if thou wilt, remember,
And if thou wilt, forget.
I shall not see the shadows,
I shall not feel the rain;
I shall not hear the nightingale
Sing on as if in pain:
And dreaming through the twilight
That doth not rise nor set,
Haply I may remember,
And haply may forget.
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April 11, 2016 at 8:12 pm |
I did wonder whether a grandfather clock I saw on the Antiques Road Show was an original Oosterman. ISBNs – now that’s progress and at least you have a plan. This time next year you will either have a self-published book in your hands, or it will be in the pipeline with Austin Macauley. You’ll be relaxing into the marketing, promotion, launch party, selling at the local market stall fun.
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April 11, 2016 at 11:39 pm |
Yes, Hilary. At the local markets and with own stall, perhaps combined with nicely marinated sate chicken on skewers, charcoal grilled.
I am now supposed to register the ISBN with the national Library as well. Never a dull moment. I enjoy getting back in doing my short pieces.
All the best with your launch of your latest book, ‘Surviving the Death Railway.’
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April 27, 2016 at 8:21 pm |
You have done so well!!!
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