Turns out there’s a story behind the story (OK, when isn’t there?).
Apparently Streep had encountered Childs some years ago when seeking Childs’ endorsement and support to back one of Streep’s ‘we are being poisoned by food’ agendas, which Julia (who seems to feel that most anything in moderation is fine ) was utterly uninterested in.
Childs was also vehemently against the scare tactics and fear mongering utilized by purveyors of these agendas. That seems to have annoyed Streep, who made some accusations in a recent UK Telegraph article about Julia and the American Council for Science and Health.
So then the ACSH had to weigh in. You’ll find Dr. Whelan’s response to the Meryl Streep interview here.
Don’t you love getting a glimpse of the complexities of human relationships, the occasional myopia of personal agendas, and general (IMHO) lack of common sense? It does make me appreciate and strive for a measured assessment of information.
Despite her personal differences, Streep offered a lovely redition of Julia, a woman with a delightful joi de vivre. I really enjoyed the film, and if you have a chance next time you’re in Washington, D.C. go to the Smithsonian’s Museum of American History and visit Julia Childs’ kitchen.
Bon Appetit!
by Shauna Roberts
http://www.ShaunaRoberts.com
http://ShaunaRoberts.blogspot.com
Today’s Guest: Shannon Dauphin
Shannon Dauphin is a writer who has been in the publishing business for more than a decade. She writes romance novels under her real name and erotic novels and short stories under her Gwen Masters pseudonym. Her newest books are Carolina Hurricane (Black Lyon Publishing) and One Breath at a Time by Gwen Masters (Virgin Black Lace). When she’s not writing a book, she’s at the helm of a booming freelance business. Shannon resides with her journalist husband and their spoiled children in a historic home near Nashville, Tennessee.
If you could travel back in time to before you were first published, what advice would you give yourself?
When I was a newbie author, I often felt as though I were swimming in uncharted waters, with no idea of what was ahead or how to get there. I’ve learned quite a bit over this past decade or so, and if I could go back and offer myself a few words of wisdom, these would be at the top of the list.
1. Never Stop Writing! So you’ve finished that fantastic novel, and you’re sure it’s going to be a hit! You send out those query letters. And then … you wait. Right? Wrong! You get moving on the next novel. Take a day off to celebrate—God knows you deserve it—and then get right back to work on your follow-up. Before those query letters work their way through the postal service, you should be done with the first chapter of your next book.
2. Write What You Want. Have you heard that a certain publisher is looking for more of a certain genre? Great—but is it what you want to write? If you choose to write something you don’t like in the hopes that it will lead to a publishing deal, you’re writing the wrong thing. In the long run, it just won’t work. Write what you want, write what you love, and in the end, you will be happier.
3. Research Like Mad. Is it time for an agent? Which publishers are best suited for you? What can you expect from the writing and publishing process? If you’re serious about getting your words out there on the shelves, do your research every step of the way. Network with other authors, pay attention to the latest publishing news, and get to know all the players. By the time you’re ready for publication, your publishing savvy will hold you in good stead.
4. Follow Your Instincts. You’ve done the research, you’ve networked like mad, and you’ve narrowed down lists of agents and publishers. Now it is time for the final vetting process, and that comes from your gut feeling about what you’ve learned. Don’t go with what seems to be the best deal because that’s what everyone else tells you is the perfect route! Pay attention to your instincts and you will not go wrong.
5. Ignore the Trends. The trends are great for those who were writing them two or three years ago. But consider that whatever you write today won’t be published for at least a year, and maybe even longer than that. By then, the trends will have shifted, and you’ll be left scrambling for something new. Just write what you like, write what you’re good at, and rest assured that one day, the market will catch up with you.
6. Rejections Are Lessons. When you get a rejection, take a moment to pout. Take a moment to whine and cry and throw something. And then take a deep breath, and consider the lesson learned. The best rejections are those that offer a bit of advice along with them, such as “too melancholy” or “didn’t like the voice.” Now you have something to use! If the rejection is simply a “not for me” form letter, look back over your query. Look at the agent’s Website. Where did you go wrong? The answers may not be clear, but it’s worth a shot—and sometimes, you find that golden key that leads to a revision of that query. And that leads to a big fat YES.
7. Choosing a Pseudonym? Make it Easy to Live With! If you choose to write under a pseudonym, choose your alter ego wisely. Do an in-depth Internet search on the name you want to use. Ask your friends for their opinion. Test it out on your tongue, over and over. If your novel is a hit, and the next one is too, and soon you find yourself on the bestseller lists, your pseudonym will become your constant companion.
8. Surround Yourself with Positive People. The last thing you need is someone asking when you’re going to get a “real” job. You don’t want to deal with those who constantly bring you down. Focus on the positive and surround yourself with people who believe in you without reservation.
9. Writing is a Passion—Publishing is a Business. The rush of pouring your heart and soul into the written word is heady and can be downright addictive! But the world of publishing is a business, and it is important to be prepared for the moment when your passion is translated into cold, hard numbers. When you learn to navigate both worlds and travel between them with ease, you have earned the title of “seasoned author.”
10. Celebrate! When you finish a novel, sign that contract, complete that revision, or see your book on the shelves for the first time, you’ve just done something huge! Something grand! It deserves an honest-to-God celebration. Go out to dinner and toast your good fortune. Open that special bottle of wine and share it with the person who has encouraged you all along. Give yourself the credit you deserve … tomorrow is another day for writing, but no one is going to begrudge you this moment of happiness and success. Here’s to many of them in your future!
✥✥✥✥✥
To learn more about Shannon Dauphin, please visit her Web page at http://www.shannondauphin.com or her blog at http://shannondauphin.blogspot.com. You can find her books at your local bookstore and at online booksellers:
Carolina Hurricane: Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, Borders
One Breath at a Time (written as Gwen Masters): Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, Borders
ASUS, maker of the popular Eee netbook computer, is planning to enter the burgeoning e-book reader market by the end of the year. Their reader could be the first to have dual screens and, according to Slash Gear, may come in two sizes, 6-inch and 9-inch touchscreens.
According to Times Online, ASUS “confirmed last week that it is planning to shake up the market in the same way it did when it launched the first netbook — the low-cost alternative to the laptop.” Click here to read the complete article.
I love the idea of a dual-screen device, even though I’m quite used to reading on a single screen now. It would be great to not have to turn the page as often, and it might win over people who are resistant to the idea of e-book reading. Two screens would seem more like a “real” book.
So far there’s no word on what formats will be available for the device, but the cost of the device is rumored to be about $165. (Information Week, Sept. 9, 2009)
What do you think? Would an inexpensive, dual screen e-book reader tempt you?
While most of you got a visual of your heroes from books, I got mine, at an early age, through movies and TV. Perhaps that’s the reason I wanted to work for a studio in the first place. I wanted to meet my heroes in person or at least the actors who portrayed them, hoping I’d find a trace of the characters that they had played. Most of the time I wasn’t disappointed, if anything, it was just the opposite. There was always some special thing they would do or say to make our meeting memorable. Like the time I met Paul Newman and the only thing he had to say to me was, “Sorry, Ma’am, I don’t give out autographs.†Okay, that’s not the memorable thing I was hoping for–nor was I thrilled to be called “Ma’amâ€, when I was barely sixteen years old…but at least I got to look into those magnificent, electrifying blue eyes of his. Oh, y-e-a-h, they were something to behold.
There once was a mini series on television called “The Gangster Chronicles†which was based on real life gangsters of the thirties and forties. And just like they do with all shows, they embellished on both the storyline and characters. Playing the lead was actor Michael Nouri, who went on to play “Nick Hurleyâ€, the hunky blue-collar boyfriend of Jennifer Beal in “Flashdanceâ€.
In much the same way this year, as I was drawn to Johnny Depp’s characterization of “John Dillinger,‖back then, I was drawn to Michael Nouri’s depiction of “Lucky Luciano†in “The Gangster Chroniclesâ€. Supposedly, Lucky didn’t believe in violence, disliked drug trafficking, was loyal to his friends and above all, respectful of women. Who couldn’t like a guy like this? Apparently I wasn’t alone in my feelings, because the network got tons of fan mail praising the likeability of Michael and his two co-stars ( Joe Penny and Brian Benben). Not exactly the reaction the studio was looking for, since they wanted to show the downside of crime and not the making of the next American idols.
After “Chroniclesâ€, Michael went on to appear in numerous movies and TV shows. Eventually, he ended up landing himself another series called “Bay City Bluesâ€. As luck would have it, the filming of the show was done at Studio Center, CBS’s sister studio, which was over the hill from where I worked at Television City.
When I walked on the set, I was hit with a double whammy. Not only had the shooting schedule been delayed by hours, but Michael’s call time had been pushed back until much later in the day. As much as I wanted to stay, it was impossible. I was needed back at my office. So reluctantly, I headed for the parking lot. The one pleasant thing about my visit was the warm welcome I got from all of the crew members. A few even asked me if I was going to the wrap party that night–okay, not even the best of crews are this friendly.
It wasn’t until I was stopped by the Stage Manager, did I realized why all the cheerful hellos. Looking over his schedule, he confessed to not knowing I’d had a call for that day. He became doubly embarrassed when he realized I wasn’t the person he thought I was. As it turns out, I bore a strong resemblance to the actress who occasionally played Michael Nouri’s ex-wife on the show. To this day I don’t know who the actress was, nor do I care to find out. I like to think she was some beautiful, thin and talented actress. And I’m sticking with that thought.
To say my visit was a disappointment would be putting it mildly. This was the final taping of the season and the ratings were low. Which could only add up to one thing. The show most likely would be canceled, which meant I’d never get another opportunity like this again. But just as I was about to cross the road for my car, a brand new shiny black Porsche passed in front of me. Sitting behind the wheel, wearing a pair of dark sunglasses and looking every bit the part of the proverbial hunk, was Michael Nouri.
As soon as he got out of his car, I greeted him with a handshake and introduced myself. I think what surprised him the most, wasn’t that he was being stopped by a fan, but that someone who was in the “business†was complimenting him on his work.
“I’m so flattered you came here to see me,†he said several times. But more than his words, it was the sincerity I saw on his face that made me believe he meant it. Alright, I was a little distracted by his big black olive eyes, and his full sensual lips…but I did believe him.
We talked about “The Gangster Chroniclesâ€, his present show and then somehow he started to talk about his family and his grandfather. Being a fan, I whipped out my camera and asked if I could have a picture taken with him. Of course, wouldn’t you know it, there was no one around to be found. I can be at home in my pajamas and run five feet to the trash bin and twelve neighbors and their friends will come out of nowhere and spot me. But now when I was looking for someone to snap our picture, there was nobody.
At the end, I took a picture of him standing alone, next to his Porsche. As I was about to leave, I mumbled something about this being the best birthday treat I could have given myself. He asked when my birthday was and I told him that it was in a few days. And then he asked if he could give me a birthday kiss. Like I was going to say no? He pulled me near and gave me a full kiss on the lips. It’s hard to remember what I said after that…I vaguely remember trying to be coy and saying something like, “Oh, that was nice.†(Probably a line I remembered from some old movie).
After getting inside my car which was only steps away from his, I started the engine. He waited for me to drive away, and as I passed him, we waved good-bye to each other.
Outwardly I seemed to be cool and in control…inwardly I was falling apart. My heart was pounding and my legs were wobbly. Once I was out of sight , I parked my car in an isolated area on the studio lot. With no one around to see me, I punched the steering wheel with my fists, as I let out a loud girlie shrill. Which confirms what I have feared all along…deep down inside of me I’m a little bit of a groupie. Da ya think?
by Jina Bacarr
9/11. It’s a number that resonates with anyone who reads this blog, picks up a newspaper or checks out a news website. A day no one will ever forget where they were when they heard the news.
In one morning our world changed forever.
What can I say about 9/11 that hasn’t already been said?
I shall leave that to the pundits and reporters on this eighth anniversary and instead ask you a question: how has your writing changed since 9/11?
I don’t mean what you write, but how you submit what you write.
Before 9/11, few agents, editors and publishing houses accepted queries, proposals and manuscripts by email. Many still don’t, but back in 2001 it was a novelty to send material as an email attachment. The Anthrax scare contributed to that change since snail mail could be dangerous to your health. Since then, we’ve all discovered that email has its own dangers (is your anti-virus software up to date?).
It seems like it all started with 9/11. Something changed in us that day. We weren’t as safe as we thought we were in our own backyard. We never expected that. If you traveled abroad, you understood the risks.
But 9/11 happened here, on American soil.
An urgency was born in us that day to know instantly what was going on as the horrific scene of the Twin Towers coming down unfolded before our eyes. I believe that same urgency has carried over to our daily lives, and that includes our writing.
We want to know without delay if our editor or agent loves our latest work, what our Amazon numbers are by the hour (admit it, you check more than you should), how many hits we have on our blog that day. E-books and Kindle have made it easier for us to transport reading material with us everywhere we go.
The submitting process may have changed since 9/11, but writing your manuscript hasn’t. You still put your butt in the chair with a cup of your favorite java nearby and write from the heart.
I believe that will never change.
Jina Bacarr is also the author of The Blonde Geisha , Naughty Paris, Tokyo Rendezvous, a Spice Brief, and Spies, Lies & Naked Thighs, and Cleopatra’s Perfume.
Coming in February 2010: The Blonde Samurai
“She embraced the way of the samurai. Two swords. Two loves.”
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More info →A Slice of Orange is an affiliate with some of the booksellers listed on this website, including Barnes & Nobel, Books A Million, iBooks, Kobo, and Smashwords. This means A Slice of Orange may earn a small advertising fee from sales made through the links used on this website. There are reminders of these affiliate links on the pages for individual books.
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