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Wednesday, June 27, 2007

Jack, since it's just you and I for the moment (come back you DHNettes and DHNers, we miss you!!!), I have a question for you... ... I guess you have already talked about self-publication with your writers friends... I've just checked about the French lulu.com ... and it sounds really kewl ! If I understand everything, your book can be published for free (I mean you don't give money to make your book), you keep the authors'rights, etc and the publishing costs are paid when a book is sold (the book is printed when the book is bought, no stock, no money to put in advance). The only thing, for the French site, is that your book can only be sold via lulu.com or you have to pay for a national registration (then your book is registered and can be sold in bookshops, amazon.com, etc All that sounds pretty tempting, it will cost less anyway than the shipping cost to send all my manuscripts to publishers. What is your opinion about all that? Any advice? Why have you not tried it already? (done with my questions!)
		from Candy Froggie 2:07 PM

Sunday, June 24, 2007

Embarrassment Go have a look at this site and then clik on Glen's video. Brillient Idea Both created by/with friends on my writing site!
		from Jack 9:55 AM

French writer savaged by his characters · Trial begins for villagers accused of revenge attacks · Novelist writes of 'gods of alcohol, shit and solitude' Angelique Chrisafis in Paris Friday June 22, 2007 The Guardian Pierre Jourde Pierre Jourde has never returned to his father's village since his family were reportedly set upon by locals. Photograph: Jean-Pierre Muller/AFP/Getty It's every urban writer's dream: setting up in a stone cottage in rural France and describing life among the local eccentrics. But when the natives take umbrage at their literary personas and turn violent, things can go terribly wrong. Five farmers from the Auvergne countryside appeared in court yesterday for attacking the writer Pierre Jourde over his novel inspired by their tiny village. Incensed by Jourde's depictions of heavy drinking, adultery, intermarriage, filthy homes and accidents with farm machinery, some locals say the novelist will never be forgiven. But Paris's literary elite is horrified by the tale of an acclaimed writer "attacked by his own characters". Article continues Lussaud is a tiny hamlet of 25 inhabitants with old stone cottages perched at an altitude of 1,000 metres, in a landscape framed by the ancient volcanoes of central France. Jourde's father was born and buried there; his ancestors had houses and a family farm, and the writer spent long periods there in his holiday home. In 2003, he published Pays Perdu, (Lost Land), a novel recounting the reality of life in this bleak and under-populated area he likened to Outer Mongolia. He described a place where the gods were called "Alcohol, Winter, Shit and Solitude"; where having one tooth was a status symbol akin to wearing a monocle and where an old lady let dead dogs decay in her bed, tucking herself up beside them every night. Paris's literary critics seized on it as a fascinating warts-and-all depiction of La France Profonde. But villagers thought differently. The owner of the nearest shop, "which sells everything, from cheese to underpants", propped a few copies near the till. It took a while for the reaction. A year after the book was published, Jourde heard that villagers were unhappy. Locals felt their ancestors' secrets had been betrayed - a 40-year-old adulterous affair, stories of death and disabilities. To ease tensions, Jourde wrote to each family of his love of the village and how his novel changed dates, places and family relationships. "You mustn't look to it for an exact representation ... I'm proud to be from Lussaud," he said. But anger festered for another year. In July 2005, when Jourde arrived with his family for a summer break, six villagers appeared outside his house shouting insults. Things turned violent, blows were exchanged and stones were thrown. Jourde's 15-month-old baby was slightly hurt and his mixed-race daughters were called "dirty Arabs". Jourde and his family locked themselves in their car and fled. They have never returned. Three women and two men, including a 72-year-old, appeared in court yesterday at the start of a trial that promises to grip literary Paris. "Imagine Victor Hugo thrashed by the Thénardiers [from Les Misérables]," exclaimed Le Figaro. When urbanites venture into France's countryside in the name of art, it has not always been smooth. In 2002, film-makers had a surprise box-office hit with Être et Avoir, a documentary about a one-class village school in Auvergne. After the film's surprise success, the schoolteacher sued for a cut of the £1.3m profits, but failed. Jourde is defiant about his novel and love of Lussaud. In interviews, sometimes near to tears, he emphasises his family ties. "I regret some people might be hurt. But it's a novelist's work to write about the complexities of human nature," he said. Extracts "Few are the houses where alcohol doesn't have its victims, its slaves. There are those that it has ruined, those it has mutilated." "That curious tradition of having only one tooth could have been taken for a fashion, a form of dandyism, like wearing a monocle. It seemed an aesthetic expression rather than a necessity. Because one lone tooth - is it any better than having none?" "One old woman complained that her head itched ... Someone decided to take off the dirty scarf wrapped around her head, from which she had doubtless never been separated. The puss accumulated under it ran down her forehead." From Pierre Jourde's Pays Perdu
		from Jack 9:33 AM

Saturday, June 09, 2007

In 1967, Israel attacked the USS Liberty with unmarked jets and motor torpedo boats, machine gunning it's lifeboats and tried very hard indeed to kill everyone on board. The ship's captain was awarded his countries highest honour, but unlike every other recipient, the President didn't personally award it. And so it goes on ... Read more here. "Is there any criminal act that Israel can do without being protected from criticism from the United States? If there is I haven't seen it. And I haven't seen it from the Bush Administration or from the Clinton Administration or from any administration before them. But when you consider the influence of Israel's lobby and its political action committees and the more than $41 million they've given to Congress and the White House, is it any wonder Israel is shielded from any shame?" --U.S. Brigadier General James J. David (Ret.)
		from Jack 9:16 AM

just to see if I can stick to old habits sometimes, I'll jump in the DHN chatroom from time to time (but if some of ewws use MSN, just let me know, even more practical)! There won't be any display in the DHN of who's in the chatroom (it does not work) But if you use MSN, really, I'll re-use mine again! While I'm here, the weekend's just starting and Lola seems to be pretty sick! My poor baby's feeling pain in the joints and head, and has much fever since yesterday evening :( We must cancel some plans, swimming pool and a lunch out, but I hope she'll be on her feet again for tomorrow (were supposed to meet Mahie and her lil family. Okies, time for a cuddle to my shrimpette! have a great Saturday! See you all in chat :P
		from Candy Froggie 7:29 AM

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