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For self-published and niche authors, I’ve also got some recommendations from my 15-plus years in the biz for resources on getting your stuff out there in the wild world of 21st-century publishing.
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Feb 08 2012
I had edited one of Paul’s previous books, Will War Ever End?
Paul comes from a family life where his father, a Korean War and Vietnam War veteran, was plagued by nightmares from those experiences, and unfortunately transferred that violence onto his family when the nightmares consumed him. In addition to learning about how the violence of war can destroy the mind, Paul also lived with the challenge of growing up in Alabama part white, part black, part Korean. Although times have changed since his father’s time prior to the civil rights movement, social attitudes take many years to shift, so even though Paul is only in his 30s, he dealt with his share of prejudice and ridicule and the desire to hide his ethnic origins. His obsession with finding our underlying reasons for and a solution to war actually took him into one, in Iraq. After going to West Point, Paul deployed to Iraq and saw the impact of war first hand on both his army comrades and the civilian populace.
Peaceful Revolution is the latest in a series of books (preceded by Will War Ever End? and The End of War) that have developed Paul’s thought on the basic nature of humans (non-violent, actually), the reasons we get into wars, and the ways we can get out of the mentalities that lead us there. Paul’s mind is so clear and his reasoning so cogent that anyone who reads his story will be alternately moved by his personal journey and inspired to a) believe that humanity can be peaceful, and b) that it starts with all of us letting go of the mental contortions that lead to fear of the stranger and then hatred of that unknown.
And, OK, I also cried, and laughed, more than once. So, not only a great mission clearly outlined, but but a great story. And don’t be surprised if you end up being part of the new peace movement. The world is definitely going to be a better place with Paul K. Chappell in it. He deserves your serious attention.
Go get Peaceful Revolution.
Permanent link to this article: http://aweditorial.com/peaceful-revolution-chappell/
Feb 02 2012
Now, I’d never heard of this Portuguese novelist, although I’m sure others have, since I see he’s quite popular. And now I know why. I was asked to proofread the latest translation of his novel The Relic, and although I can’t speak specifically to the faithfulness of the translation, not being conversant in Portuguese, I will say that the translator, Aubrey F. G. Bell must have given an excellent rendition, since the story sucked me in and kept me occupied until I was finished.
It’s not a common thing for me to edit fiction yet, but I’d sure like to do more of this storyteller’s work. The plot sketch is as follows: Young boy of no means is adopted by a really uptight religious (Catholic) Aunt with lots of money, but oh, does she hate men and sex! So, our young protagonist tries to hide his sensual adventures and appear a devout ascetic (timeframe seems to be late 19th/early 20th century?) in order to win her favor, and most of all, her money. Ah the prices of hypocrisy!
Tense in many places, but above all fraught with humor and biting satire on the restrictions of Catholic prudery. I felt the moral dilemma the young man had gotten himself into, yet wanted him to be himself and quit sucking up to the Aunt. The author is a master storyteller. I could see the walnut-stained furniture, the Catholic icons, the becandled rooms and thick doorways, the narrow, crooked streets, the domes of the churches, the deserts and dealings on his trip to the Middle East. Very rich in setting, description, emotion, and action, all paced exquisitely.
Nothing like it. No regrets.
I think you can pre-order it here. I get to see them before they get published, of course. This translation is due out in April of this year (2012).
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Aug 06 2011
Who’d a thunk it? A guy from the 18th century using common sense philosophy in attempting a synthesis of the then new rational Enlightenment thought and the validity of religious belief and practice. Normally, one would think, oh, right! Too long ago, obscure, not applicable to today, obtuse philosophical mumbo jumbo. But, no.
Here’s the deal. Mendelssohn was a Jew in the newly Jewish-tolerant (well-somewhat) Prussia that arose out of Enlightenment thought. He still had to be a bit careful not to piss off the ruling Christians too much, but he did have more leeway to engage in conversation and debate over religion and the idea of reason being able to apprehend the mind of God. The biggest heresy back then was to take God out of the picture altogether; atheism was still a reputation-killing position to take, although some rational folks like Baruch Spinoza still did it or flirted with it. But Mendelssohn didn’t have that problem. He was a faithful and observant Jew who thought that Judaism was actually more in line with reason than Christianity; and if you read this great translation of excerpts from his writings, you’ll see what he’s talking about.
Although I don’t buy the idea that a proof of God’s existence is arguable by reason and logic, Mendelssohn takes a really convincing stab at it. But the thing I like best about him is the clarity of his thought processes and the direct style of his writing. Very refreshing compared to later modern philosophical obtuseness. He’ll just about convince you that reason can indeed look the Divine in the eye and know its essence.
I’d like to thank Michah Gottlieb in particular for pulling together these particular excerpts of Mendelssohn’s writings. They really flowed well together (many are letters as part of debate correspondence with Christians).
If you have any interest in philosophy, not just from a historical perspective, I recommend including Mendelssohn on your reading list. Quite refreshing.
If you’re interested in seeing the index and/or buying the book:
Permanent link to this article: http://aweditorial.com/moses-mendelssohn-writings-on-judaism-christianity-and-the-bible/
Jul 23 2011
The Russell Sage foundation is publishing this scholarly analysis of what the social scientists call “collective memory.” In this case, of atrocities, both at home and abroad. It’s a well-focused look at how we choose to remember or forget things that cause human suffering and violate human rights. Americans tend to think of their nation as a hero in the defense of liberty and human rights. We like to think of ourselves as the liberators of the victims of the Holocaust, for instance, but at the same time, we tend to gloss over our own atrocities, such as the My Lai massacre during the Vietnam War, or more general evils, like slavery. The authors’ contention is that shining the light of legal action on atrocities tends to make them stick better in our collective memory, and that the more higher-level perpetrators are targeted (Holocaust, Balkan wars), the more we take seriously the need to remember to avoid future evil. If the courts prosecute just a lowly lieutenant (as in My Lai), then the memory tends to fade. And if no court of law is involved, we tend to avoid responsibility as a society (slavery, internment of Japanese citizens during WWII). The authors do a nice comparison of the way American collective memory works vs. German collective memory. It makes a big difference if you are the hero vs. the villain in atrocities that receive lots of spotlight legal attention (like the Nuremburg trials for the Germans). Overall, an interesting look at how collective memory works.
Permanent link to this article: http://aweditorial.com/american-memories-by-savelsberg-and-king/
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