| Most HATED Mainstream Novel Plots |
[Jul. 8th, 2009|04:13 am] |
(Simultaneously posting this starter post here and on Facebook and on SFF Net, so everyone can reply wherever they prefer.)
Still on the mainstream novel track -- quick question to all: what's your LEAST favorite story/plot that you can remember reading in a mainstream novel?
What were the specific details that you truly HATED about it?... Minor annoyances? |
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| Shameless Hussy Request! |
[Jun. 29th, 2009|06:50 am] |
Ok, I realize this is utterly shameless on my part, but can someone please, PLEASE go and plug me (in other words, mention my name) and my work in this article's comments?
Thanks, O ye who are fans of my writing! :-) |
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| Sky Whales and Other Wonders - Preliminary Mockup |
[Jun. 24th, 2009|02:43 pm] |
Sky Whales and Other Wonders edited by Vera Nazarian
Coming December 1, 2009 from Norilana Books...
An anthology of "wonder" stories based around a stunning lead story about flying pods of whales in alternate SFnal Ancient Egypt... by Tanith Lee!
Gorgeous artwork is: "Sky Whales" by Ahyicodae
Hey, do you guys realize this is my OWN editorial debut? Yeah! :-)
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| Another Film Rights Inquiry... |
[Jun. 19th, 2009|04:50 pm] |
Posted it on Facebook earlier this week but forgot to put it here too...
Just got another film rights inquiry from yet another production company -- this time for one of my short stories... Namely, this one. |
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| FOR SALE - Global Warming I: Snow Over the Grand Canyon |
[Jun. 6th, 2009|06:36 pm] |
(click on image above to see larger image)
This photo is darker but shows slightly better detail:
(click on image above to see larger image)
TITLE: "Global Warming I: Snow Over the Grand Canyon"
ARTIST: Vera Nazarian
MEDIA: Oil on Canvas
SIZE: 23" x 29" with black wood frame (22" x 28" unframed canvas)
PRICE: $2,000
This piece is an original oil painting done by me, and has been exhibited at the LA Con IV Worldcon Art Show.
I am offering it FOR SALE NOW because I really, urgently need the money.
You may not be aware of this but I am an award winning artist.
And, no, I am not just talking worldcon-level art show (not to put down the genre art convention circuit, but unfortunately it's not in the same "respectability" category as mainstream contemporary fine art), but real major urban fine art galleries and juried competitions and exhibitions.
My work has been exhibited here in Los Angeles, at The Wirtz Gallery in Miami, and in other cities and states. And, among other awards, in the BRAND XXV Anniversary Exhibition (Brand Library and Art Center, Glendale CA. Dec. 2 - Jan. 9 1995.) I was the winner of the Burbank Fine Arts Federation Award for "Peace, Or Shakespearean Lovers," (16" x 20" oil on oval canvas [apologies for the poor quality image, this is an old pre-digital photo]).
So, the $2,000 price (which includes insured shipping anywhere in the US) for this painting is a major loss for me.
This painting is going to be worth far, far more with time -- it's a simple fact.
And now, I am willing to part with it to a good home, because I'm financially desperate.
I don't sell much of my own personal in-home pieces, just the ones I have been commissioned to do (and I have done a number of commissioned pieces, such as this "Portrait of Sarah," over the years.) Here's some more of my art that you can see, if curious.
Please contact me if interested, and please spread the word to any other possibly interested original art collectors. (Note, if you are outside the US, it's still OK, contact me about shipping arrangements.)
So...if you are interested in buying this piece, please contact me. |
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| More on Tired... |
[Jun. 4th, 2009|09:24 pm] |
The scan and OCR is DONE.
HALLELUIJAH!!!
Now I just need to concatenate and clean up 13 text files, proof and compare with book original line by line, and make a book out of it.
*back to the salt mines* |
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| Tired... |
[Jun. 2nd, 2009|07:21 am] |
I am SOOOOOOO tired.
I've been scanning and OCRing (on semi-inadequate equipment) a very important book, for days now, which has been cutting into my ability to do all other work and other immense responsibilities in my life.
It is taking me FOREVER, and it is something I cannot put off.
I honestly don't know how I remain alive and not drop dead from exhaustion.
Seriously.
It is 7:25 AM after another allnighter, I am about to crawl into bed, and then have to be up in about 5 hours to take mom to the doctor, then bank, stores, errands.
It will take me at least an hour to come close to relaxing and fall asleep as I lie with muscle spasms and tension tremors and shiver at every sound, barking dogs, cars, constant collector calls ringing the line, thoughts stifling me.
Ok, going to bed now.
This needs to be over, I need a break, or I simply drop dead. This is not a complaint, I am not suicidal, it's simply an expression of serious fact. I have NOT HAD A DAY OFF (including weekends, birthdays and holidays for years. I count the Nebulas as work, and not vacation, because I am "on" in my social persona.)
Anyway, going to bed now. |
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| It's Ah Mah Birthday... :-) |
[May. 25th, 2009|05:12 pm] |
So today I am 43.
It's the same age that my mom tells me she was when we first came to America as refugees.
Wow, what an odd feeing. It's like, I can see the future -- the whole second chunk of my life stretching forward into the gray immediate moment -- if I live as long as my mom. It's a huge long stretch, and I can imagine accomplishing so much, if I had the chance...
I feel a bit over the hill. *grin*
If anyone feels like giving me a gift -- besides that fabulous, fantastic Starred Review from Publishers Weekly that Clockwork Phoenix 2 has just received (Supreme kudos to editor Mike Allen ![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif) time_shark and all the amazing brilliant authors!) -- the best possible gift you can give me is to buy a Norilana book.
Any book.
The Norilana Books complete catalog is huge, with plenty to choose from for all readerly tastes.
Want one of the classics, in hardcover or paperback? There are plenty of gorgeous editions to choose from.
How about fantasy?
Or science fiction? *hint* Warrior Wisewoman 2 is available for pre-order (with an especially great discount at Barnes & Noble Online)!
Or how about some unclassifiable delights?
Maybe you're in the mood for swashbuckling romantic fantasy or intense women's fiction?
How about some exciting YA? *hint* Discover the equivalent of Peter Pan... for girls!
Maybe you would like striking speculative-flavored literary and general fiction?
Whatever it is, Norilana's got you covered.
So, if you want to make my day...
You know what to do. :-) |
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| Privilege - Meme |
[May. 21st, 2009|01:58 am] |
The privilege meme, via bcholmes by way of rosefox:
Bold the items that apply to you.
1. Father went to college
Yes, but it's an equivalent in the USSR.
2. Father finished college
Yes, but it's an equivalent in the USSR.
3. Mother went to college
Yes, but it's an equivalent in the USSR.
4. Mother finished college
Yes, but it's an equivalent in the USSR.
5. Have any relative who is an attorney, physician, or professor
Yes, many doctors in my father's family but we're talking back in the former USSR, and that was one of the lowest paid and low-prestige positions, so it is not a good comparison. A doctor and a teacher were at the same financial level back there.
6. Were the same or higher class than your high school teachers
Huh?
7. Had more than 50 books in your childhood home
At some point yes, mother was a Russian schoolteacher in Moscow.
8. Had more than 500 books in your childhood home
9. Were read children's books by a parent
All the time, and then became voracious reader on my own -- before school, in Russian.
10. Had lessons of any kind before you turned 18
11. Had more than two kinds of lessons before you turned 18
12. The people in the media who dress and talk like me are portrayed positively
13. Had a credit card with your name on it before you turned 18
14. Your parents (or a trust) paid for the majority of your college costs
15. Your parents (or a trust) paid for all of your college costs
16. Went to a private high school
Yes, but mostly on scholarship. Had to work in the principal's office, helping with grading, worked with dad at BINGO games our school sponsored, mostly translating for dad since he didn't speak English.
17. Went to summer camp
18. Had a private tutor before you turned 18
19. Family vacations involved staying at hotels
20. Your clothing was all bought new before you turned 18
Yes, but I had almost no clothing. Had two pairs of shoes all through high school, taped the holes daily with scotch tape. Other well-off kids made fun of me for smelling but I wasn't allowed to take daily showers, in order to conserve water. My high school even paid for my eyeglasses.
21. Your parents bought you a car that was not a hand-me-down from them
22. There was original art in your house when you were a child
Yes, but that's because grandfather (the poor doctor) was a hobbyist artist, very talented, and had many oils, and I was later an artist too, had my own artwork up.
23. Had a phone in your room before you turned 18
24. You and your family lived in a single family house
25. Your parent(s) owned their own house or apartment before you left home
26. You had your own room as a child
27. Participated in an SAT/ACT prep course
*edited answer to no* Took AP English in High School.
28. Had your own TV in your room in High School
29. Owned [an investment] in High School or College
30. Flew anywhere on a commercial airline before you turned 16
Yes, first time was on a plane with my family on a short flight from Yalta to Simferopol, in Crimea, Ukraine, then of course the huge intercontinental flight when we immigrated, flying from Armenia to Lebanon.
31. Went on a cruise with your family
32. Went on more than one cruise with your family
33. Your parents took you to museums and art galleries as you grew up
Yes, whenever we could, usually for free.
34. You were unaware of how much heating bills were for your family
Not quite applicable -- Russian heating bills were fixed.
rbowspryte added these questions:
35. I am for the most part healthy and have no significant disability.
36. I have been born into a gender which I am comfortable with.
Not always.
37. My sexuality is viewed positively in the media and by the majority of my society.
38. My sexuality is not visible to others just by looking at me.
39. My peer group is represented positively in the media and embraced positively by the majority of society.
40. My ethnic group is represented positively in the media and rarely stigmatized or stereotyped.
Not really -- people love to make fun of Russians as militaristic automatons, and Armenians as hairy gas station owners and haggling small merchants.
41. The language spoken by teachers in school was the same language as that I spoke with my family at home.
42. My parents and teachers took it for granted that I would attend university.
Definite yes, it's what people in my family did.
43. Any money I earned at part-time jobs before I turned 18 was mine to keep or put towards my education.
44. I know what my family's genetic history is.
I guess, not quite sure what to make of this question -- geneology?
45. When people see me with my parents, they assume we're related.
46. I graduated from college or university with no debt.
47. During college or university, I could use income from part-time jobs to supplement my spending money (rather than for tuition, books, or living expenses).
And here are my own additions:
48. I tasted fruit juice for the first time before I was 6 years old.
49. I did not go to school on complete financial aid.
50. I had fewer than three simultaneous work-study jobs when I was in college. |
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