International Stories, Linking Fun, and Hot Chocolate!

Link love!

I missed out on so much blogging while I was sick that I've got a backlog of visits and commenting to do. I thought I'd take you with me...

First up, the Word Wenches - authors Jo Beverley, Nicola Cornick, Cara Elliott/Andrea Penrose, Anne Gracie, Susan Fraser King/Sarah Gabriel, Mary Jo Putney, Patricia Rice, and Joanna Bourne - answer the question: "Do you get angsty and anxious at any part of the writing process? And, if you do, does it make you more productive?"

I love Jo Bourne's line: "The only cure for the pain of writing is writing."

Lots of cover art reveals recently, including India Drummond and Melanie Macek! Have you seen any others? Please share!

The fifth issue of Vine Leaves Literary Journal is out!

Has anyone ever applied to Clarion West?:


I thought I was going to, but now I'm not sure any of my current stories qualify. Unfortunately.

I posted about our snowstorm the other day; now we're having a North Pole blast. Temperatures ranging from -15 to -40 degrees Celsius (sometimes counting the wind chill factor, sometimes not) all week. The only thing to do is have some real hot chocolate, courtesy of Outlander Kitchen:


ROW80: I might need something to spike my hot chocolate, as I continue editing. Progressing, but slowly. I'd like to be finished all the on-screen editing by 10 February, so I'll have to add a third editing day to my weekly schedule - likely on a weekend. Which is dangerous, because turning on the computer means the possibility of accessing the internet... Need a little dose of Write or Die!

Meanwhile, The Reading Life has a very ambitious project: to read at least one short story each from 196 countries worldwide! She just completed number 20, with an Orhan Pamuk short story, translated from Turkish. I haven't read that story yet, but I'll add it to the list!

Meanwhile, here are the countries she's read stories from so far: Georgia - Canada - United States - Republic of Korea - Antigua and Barbuda - Haiti - Trinidad and Tobago - Ukraine - Cameroon - Botswana - Sudan - Dominica - Israel - Syria - Ethiopia - Zimbabwe - Peru - Chile - South Africa - Turkey

I've read stories from Canada, the US, and Turkey. That's kind of sad. I thought there'd be at least one Israeli or South African author in there. I'm deliberately not counting Tolkien, of course... There are other countries I've read stories - and novels and poems - from though, so I shouldn't feel too guilty: Germany, Sweden, Senegal, Australia, United Kingdom, Ireland, Italy, Norway, Russia, Japan, Colombia, Finland, France, and... well, there might be a few others, but I can't recall.

Not counting North America or the UK, what's your favourite story from a different country?

Comments

I'm not sure!
Christine Rains also revealed her new book cover.
Hi Deniz .. hot chocolate would be good now - it's snowing, damp, cold and about to get dark ...

A good book .. I posted about an amazing book from South Africa ..

http://positiveletters.blogspot.co.uk/2011/09/dancing-in-shadows-of-love-book.html

Very African and very evocative ... I hope you'll give it a go ...

Congratulations on being such a good reader - I must do some catching up ...

Cheers from a snowy south coast of England .. it's not so cold out - but that white stuff is around! - except it won't be nearly as bad as yours ... Hilary
Mia Hayson said…
Oh wow. Favourite story from a different country, that's a hard one. I'm really not sure. I think I need to improve upon my international reading selection!

:)

<3
S.P. Bowers said…
Interesting, I'm going to have to check into how many countries I've read books from. What if the countries don't exist anymore.

Favorite book from another country? Well, I'm very partial to Russian lit as it was what I studied. I'd probably say, Anna Kareninna, war and peace, day in the life of Ivan Denisovich, or notes from the underground.
Nas said…
Hi Deniz!

I read an Australian authors book recently, African Hearts. To me, it was interesting, evocative and wrenched emotions from me!
Unknown said…
Glad you're feeling better. That hot chocolate looks amazing! :)
Jessica Bell said…
You are so sweet to mention Vine Leaves. Thank you :-)
Anonymous said…
Thanks for the link! Write like the wind... :) Theresa
Michael Di Gesu said…
Hi, Deniz,

SNOW and frigid temps... stay warm! We are really lacking in snow this year, but are temps have dropped to single digits and 0 wind chills. Brrrrrr. But it isn't the worst I have felt.

Take care....


As for stories from other countries, I love Chekov plays and Dosteyevsky novels from Russia.
Anonymous said…
Deniz! Thanks for the shout out on the cover reveal! I was able to get the first book uploaded this weekend and it is now available for purchase - squeeeeeee!

Glad you're feeling better and I saw the temps and thought about you. Stay warm! [Spiking the hot chocolate - not a bad idea ;)]

Melanie
Zan Marie said…
Yum, hot chocolate!

Check out Charlotte Rains Dixon's cover for her new book, Emma Jean's Bad Behavior, that's coming out Feb 12.

http://www.wordstrumpet.com/emma-jeans-bad-behavior.html
Zan Marie said…
P.S. I'm interviewing Charlotte on Feb 19 at In the Shade of the Cherry Tree. Her book is a great read!
I'm in upstate New York, and it is cold and snowy here, with temperatures plummeting even more over the next few days. The hot chocolate is definitely on my list!

Thank you for taking me along on the tour of the links--wonderful, enticing, ones all.

I am woefully insular in my reading as well. I will check out some of the books listed in your other comments.

Have a wonderful week, and stay warm.
nutschell said…
my goodness! I dont think I can survive those temperatures. Drink lots of hot cocoa!
Nutschell
www.thewritingnut.com
Anonymous said…
Jo Bourne's line: "The only cure for the pain of writing is writing."

Is soooo true!! I have to remind myself of this, every day!
Deniz Bevan said…
Thanks for coming by everyone! And for the book recommendations! Darn that wishlist that keeps getting longer and longer...

I love Notes from Underground, too, Sara. Hmm, you're right - what if the country doesn't exist anymore?
Kelli Callahan said…
Glad to hear that you are feeling better!
Deniz Bevan said…
Thanks Kelli! So nice to be back to normal :-)
Unknown said…
I'm making that hot chocolate. Yummy!
Deniz Bevan said…
I'm making some more too, Jenn!
Anonymous said…
Hi Deniz, it looks like Kait has hit some trouble and we have no mid-week check-in. So no one is left out, please come over to our Facebook group and leave a link to your check-in post and we will be over to visit. The page address is https://www.facebook.com/groups/row80/ Alternatively, email me at katiecrcole@gmail.com and I'll pass your post on. I know Facebook isn't everyone's cup of tea!

Should we have no Linky on Sunday, we'll just keep working this way until things sort themselves out.

Cheers!
Cate (Round 1 Sponsor)
Deniz Bevan said…
Thanks Cate! I shared on FB at one point, but I see the link is up now. How nice of you to check up on all of us!
Hi Deniz,
Nice post, its really good to read stories of other nations, sad to note that in your list mentioned i couldn't find my nation. so sad. I am sure in the next list it will definitely appear LOL :-)
Keep inform
Best Regards
Phil