The cover is inspired by the covers of the early-20th century editions of Jane Austen's novels illustrated by Charles E. Brock. The publisher wanted to do something "old-fashioned" and asked me to send some images of old editions of Jane Austen's work. I found some images of first editions on eBay but explained that they had probably been rebound at some point--books in those days did not come bound, you bought them in "boards" and sent them to your bookbinder so that all the books in your library matched. I also sent some images of a set of the Brock editions being auctioned; I own Persuasion and P&P from that set and think they are just beautiful. I guess my admiration carried over and the designer was inspired. I couldn't be more pleased with it. Everyone who has seen the ARC admires the cover...and the "real" book will be prettier! (It will be a hardback, for one thing, and the inside will have color.)
Where do you do your online shopping?
Mostly Amazon, but I buy a lot of stuff from Herrschner's, too. They carry the good DMC and Coats Opera crochet thread that I like instead of the cheap-ass stuff that A.C. Moore sells. And you know, I'm expecting a shipment any day. Joy!
I also like L.L. Bean for clothes and Zappos for shoes; I also buy my Birkis from QVC (good selection and prices). I don't have cable, so I just buy online. I'll buy from any vendor with a good reputation.
Incidentally, Bookfinder is the way to go for used books--they search all the other databases.
This one might be a little easier to read.
But they don't play Duran Duran on shortwave radio!
I bought one of these. Not sure I'm keeping it. It depends on if I decide the usurious rates for service are worth paying. I don't mind paying for data but I am annoyed that all the calling plans are so expensive. If I could combine a prepaid voice plan with a regular data plan, that would be ideal. I don't really use the mobile phone that much. It's for when I'm trying to meet up with people somewhere that is not home and one or both of us is lost or running late, or when I'm on the side of the road with a flat tire, or for when I'm traveling (which is two or three times a year tops). I always laugh when people leave voice mails on my landline, "Oh, I'll try to catch you on your mobile." Why? It's probably not turned on. Yet they expect me to pay $40 a month for the privilege of carrying the bally thing around. Meanwhile, this is an actual conversation I had with a mobile phone provider representative:
She: Well, we can give you a data-only plan for the Treo.
Me: But then I'd still need a voice phone.
She: Yes.
Me: So I'm carrying two devices, though I bought a smartphone so I wouldn't have to do that.
She: Yes.
Me: Could you give me a prepaid voice plan on a separate phone?
She: Oh, yes!
Me: And a data plan on the Treo?
She: Yes!
Me: But you can't give me those on the same phone?
She: No...
The illogic, it burns us, precious. But oh, the Treo is way cool...and no, I can't do a Blackberry or a Q or a Dash or a Sidekick or whatever half-assed thing is hot this week, because I am a WRITER dammit and I need to be able to edit Word docs on my PDA. I need this more than I need e-mail or the voice phone. And I prefer the Palm OS. So why don't I stick with my trusty Tungsten and separate prepaid phone? Because I dig the built-in QWERTY keyboard, that's why! Tho' I have one of these for my Tungsten, and used it to write quite a bit of my book. It's just not the most convenient thing to use while, say, standing on the train platform or during boring meetings. (Not that I would EVER do such a thing. Tho' I did sneak in a bit of writing using Graffiti on my Tungsten waiting for a meeting to begin today.) And the Treo is just more grown-up. It doesn't have Paris Hilton skank all over it like the Sidekick. I guess that's why they charge grownup rates for it.
What are the things in life that you're truly passionate about?
Submitted by Jess.
Jane Austen and her work.
My needlework and historical needlework. (I've never met a piece of lace I didn't like.)
I'm sure I'll think of other things eventually.
I'm at Teresa's favorite place, sucking on the free wireless teat as she so cleverly puts it, testing posting to Vox through my PDA.
EDIT: Home, can delete double comment and add links! La! I declare this experiment a notable success.
Now that I have the digicam, I can upload photos! I posted a few photos here on the blog, and here is my Flickr photoset from my tour of the Grand Canyon, Sedona and Oak Creek Canyon. That's not all the photos, I took around 300! I love digital! Wish I had it when I was in England last year.
I had a great time in Arizona--north and south! I have some more photos from the Sonora Desert down south--I'll upload them later. I really loved the trip up north, and I think I want to go back in a few years and just do Flagstaff, the Grand Canyon and Sedona, a few days in each. My tour was too short.
"I love you too!"
*SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEEE*
P.S. Do my tags count as spoilers?
How do you eat your pizza: folded, flat or with a fork and knife?
Submitted by danimass.
Slightly folded. Why use a fork and knife when they provide a handle? Except for Chicago deep dish, natch.
