Our day began in cloud, but before noon we had blue sky moving in. Now we're all set for three full days of clear blue skies and temps in the 50's! Whoo hoo! I just have to work tomorrow afternoon-evening, but have Saturday off. My Main Squeeze is headed over to Daughter's to work on the house, but I'll be here putting the last few finishing touches on my book. It will be good to have that behind me!
Cat...I have some links to sites that help you self-publish your book, if you're interested. Some will allow you to make only a small number of copies, so it keeps costs down. I think it comes out to about $3 per book.
42: The Search for the Answer to the Ultimate Question of Life, the Universe and Everything
That Old Black Magic: Clarke’s Law, Quantum Mechanics and Superstring Theory
I guess what I should ask is: Are these believable titles of books written by a physicist whose boss regards him as a cross between Paul Dirac and Caracticus Potts?
I don't recognize the name "Caracticus Potts," so I may be missing the point. But those titles strike me as simply too long. And both include science fictional references that would probably go right over the head of the average reader.
I like the second. But warning: I'm a title freak. Total sucker for a great title, lol! In the 70's, all my friends warned me NOT to see "The Sailor Who Fell from Grace with the Sea." With a title like that, I couldn't NOT. As we were standing in line waiting for the next showing, the peeps exiting were saying: "Get your money back. RIGHT NOW!!" "Awful." "Worst movie, ever." Some did. Not me. And yanno? It was just about the worst movie ever. Twas totally gorgeous, visually; there were some great love making scenes between Sarah Miles and Kris Kristofferson, but Lord a Mighty, the most senseless plot line I've ever witnessed. Ironically, as I was watching the credits, it turns out the title and the plot was from a prize winning *Japanese* novel. And it would have made sense if they'd left it in Japan. But, no, they had to move it to the English countryside. . . .
So an eccentric genius. Which means he may not be greatly concerned about the commercial viability of his titles. And I'm getting the impression that the whole story may be a spoof. In which context the titles could work.
Hey all. Got word a short while ago that Hubby's brother got diagnosed today with pancreatic cancer. That's what their Mom died of 29 years ago, at age 61. But they caught it early. He'll have surgery next week at Beth Israel and they feel fairly optimistic. They are recommending that his 9 siblings get tested to see if they have any signs of it and whether they have the predisposition and that all the grandchildren (that includes our 5 kiddos) be tested to see if they have the predisposition. This is apparently just a blood test. So we just got off the phone talking to all our offspring. We feel a little older, but optimistic. I tell you, nothing feels more spooky to me than cancer. I am so lucky to be from a family that has NO history of cancer. We all merely die of heart attack or stroke...and most of us die in our sleep. But ALL my own little nuclear family members have history of cancer. It affects us all.
Google is very funny. I keep trying to turn instant search off, and it keeps coming back. Until yesterday, when I got the message: instant search is off (low line speed) Duh.
Well, I guess it depends what you mean by "the whole story." These are titles of books written by, yes, an eccentric genius who is a character in a Science Fiction story. The story in which he, Mark Collier, is a character is not a spoof, certainly not meant to be one. But, now you give me pause to wonder how it will be received by the members of my writers group. It has happened before now that people have taken my serious work to be funny or a spoof. *sigh* We'll see.
I'm hoping to get away with being rather fuzzy on the science because the first person narrator is a Medievalist. It's her best friend who's the quantum physicist.
You know, it's funny. I'm not all that scared of cancer. Maybe because it was quite common in my family of origin. (Not any one particular type of cancer, though.)
But I'm really glad to hear that they caught your-bro-in-law's cancer early and think the surgery can get it all.
Good heavens. Let's hear it for optimism. I understand that they have made considerable strides with treating pancreatic cancer in recent years, and are having considerable success. Early detection is very important, though. Is the blood test for some sort of identifiable genetic predisposition? Must be, from the sound of it. Did they give him a CT scan because of his family history? If it isn't being too nosy. (If it is, please ignore.)
It's not too nosy at all, Alan! I don't know the answer, though, as to what they did. We were told there is a test to see if one is predisposed to it. That might be a blood test. It might be a genome test. Not sure. We're on a learning curve, to be sure.
Howard's awesome and so is that pic!
ReplyDeleteGood fun: Spiral Dance and Dahm the Bard, Spirit of Albion (live):
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FrMhjYDU3H4
Guest is me...
ReplyDeleteBe our Guest, Alan! ;-)
ReplyDeleteBright, blue, warm. NOT gonna waste it by going to town. Better things to do than *shop*. . . . (Sorry, George. . . .)
ReplyDelete:lol:
ReplyDeleteI'll bet he really regrets having said that.
Thanks for the encouragement, everyone!
ReplyDeleteAlan, I stole the title from Shakespeare, which accounts for its being so good. I'm not much of a hand with titles myself.
Cold around here, but at least it's sunny. Sunshine always helps.
Our day began in cloud, but before noon we had blue sky moving in. Now we're all set for three full days of clear blue skies and temps in the 50's! Whoo hoo! I just have to work tomorrow afternoon-evening, but have Saturday off. My Main Squeeze is headed over to Daughter's to work on the house, but I'll be here putting the last few finishing touches on my book. It will be good to have that behind me!
ReplyDeleteCat...I have some links to sites that help you self-publish your book, if you're interested. Some will allow you to make only a small number of copies, so it keeps costs down. I think it comes out to about $3 per book.
Let me know if you're interested.
Thanks, listener. I'm not at that stage yet.
ReplyDeleteSo, is self-publishing the way you're going?
How do these strike you guys as titles for books?
ReplyDelete42: The Search for the Answer to the Ultimate Question of Life, the Universe and Everything
That Old Black Magic: Clarke’s Law, Quantum Mechanics and Superstring Theory
I guess what I should ask is: Are these believable titles of books written by a physicist whose boss regards him as a cross between Paul Dirac and Caracticus Potts?
I don't recognize the name "Caracticus Potts," so I may be missing the point. But those titles strike me as simply too long. And both include science fictional references that would probably go right over the head of the average reader.
ReplyDeleteI thought the first had been used. . . . ?
ReplyDeleteI like the second. But warning: I'm a title freak. Total sucker for a great title, lol! In the 70's, all my friends warned me NOT to see "The Sailor Who Fell from Grace with the Sea." With a title like that, I couldn't NOT. As we were standing in line waiting for the next showing, the peeps exiting were saying: "Get your money back. RIGHT NOW!!" "Awful." "Worst movie, ever." Some did. Not me. And yanno? It was just about the worst movie ever. Twas totally gorgeous, visually; there were some great love making scenes between Sarah Miles and Kris Kristofferson, but Lord a Mighty, the most senseless plot line I've ever witnessed. Ironically, as I was watching the credits, it turns out the title and the plot was from a prize winning *Japanese* novel. And it would have made sense if they'd left it in Japan. But, no, they had to move it to the English countryside. . . .
Bill, Caracticus(sp?) Potts is the father in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, a mad but lovable inventor.
ReplyDeleteBut, if they'd left it in Japan, they wouldn't have been able to cast Sarah Miles and Chris Kristofferson.
ReplyDeleteI know, I know. But they *might* have had a great movie, lol!
ReplyDeleteSo an eccentric genius. Which means he may not be greatly concerned about the commercial viability of his titles. And I'm getting the impression that the whole story may be a spoof. In which context the titles could work.
ReplyDeleteYeah. My book is not mainstream enough for publishers.
ReplyDeleteHey all. Got word a short while ago that Hubby's brother got diagnosed today with pancreatic cancer. That's what their Mom died of 29 years ago, at age 61. But they caught it early. He'll have surgery next week at Beth Israel and they feel fairly optimistic. They are recommending that his 9 siblings get tested to see if they have any signs of it and whether they have the predisposition and that all the grandchildren (that includes our 5 kiddos) be tested to see if they have the predisposition. This is apparently just a blood test. So we just got off the phone talking to all our offspring. We feel a little older, but optimistic. I tell you, nothing feels more spooky to me than cancer. I am so lucky to be from a family that has NO history of cancer. We all merely die of heart attack or stroke...and most of us die in our sleep. But ALL my own little nuclear family members have history of cancer. It affects us all.
ReplyDeleteOMG, I just realised that Hubby's brother is the same exact age (61) that their Mom was when she got pancreatic cancer.
ReplyDeleteGoogle is very funny. I keep trying to turn instant search off, and it keeps coming back. Until yesterday, when I got the message: instant search is off (low line speed) Duh.
ReplyDeleteDidn't see that when I posted. Bummer bummer bummer. Love and light from here to there.
ReplyDeleteI feel the same way about cancer, my family of origin just doesn't get it; any kinds of it. And so far, my nuclear family's been safe.
Well, I guess it depends what you mean by "the whole story." These are titles of books written by, yes, an eccentric genius who is a character in a Science Fiction story. The story in which he, Mark Collier, is a character is not a spoof, certainly not meant to be one. But, now you give me pause to wonder how it will be received by the members of my writers group. It has happened before now that people have taken my serious work to be funny or a spoof. *sigh* We'll see.
ReplyDeleteI'm hoping to get away with being rather fuzzy on the science because the first person narrator is a Medievalist. It's her best friend who's the quantum physicist.
Hey, who cares about a great movie? It's star power, baby. That's what it's all about.
ReplyDeleteLove and hugs, listener.
ReplyDeletelol
ReplyDeleteYou know, it's funny. I'm not all that scared of cancer. Maybe because it was quite common in my family of origin. (Not any one particular type of cancer, though.)
ReplyDeleteBut I'm really glad to hear that they caught your-bro-in-law's cancer early and think the surgery can get it all.
Not having read the story, I don't know what my reaction would be. It's just that the character sounds like he would fit into a spoof.
ReplyDeleteGood heavens. Let's hear it for optimism. I understand that they have made considerable strides with treating pancreatic cancer in recent years, and are having considerable success. Early detection is very important, though. Is the blood test for some sort of identifiable genetic predisposition? Must be, from the sound of it. Did they give him a CT scan because of his family history? If it isn't being too nosy. (If it is, please ignore.)
ReplyDeleteIt's not too nosy at all, Alan! I don't know the answer, though, as to what they did. We were told there is a test to see if one is predisposed to it. That might be a blood test. It might be a genome test. Not sure. We're on a learning curve, to be sure.
ReplyDeleteThanks, everybody! ♥
ReplyDeleteYou're good people.