In My Mailbox (16): Just the fanciest book ever!

This meme is hosted by The Story Siren.

This week I left my job in publicity at an academic and non-fiction publishing house. It's been a wonderful two years there and it was my very first "real" job. But the position became part time and while it was good to have extra time to write, my bank balance wasn't looking so hot. I want to do a lot of travelling next year to see friends in faraway places. I kept telling myself that it would be okay because Lharmell will sell and that will pay for my trip. But I got sick of playing "What if?" On Thursday I had a job interview with a magazine publisher, working in subscriptions, and it went very well. (I've never had a personality test in a job interview before! Bizarre! Is this what the corporate world is really like?) Subscriptions is away from the production stuff I got to dabble in at my last job but at least I'll be keeping my foot in the industry door. It's also the sort of work that will stay at work, and not haunt me with typos at 4 am. (I hope.) Second interview on Wednesday. Wish me luck!

As a going away gift my boss gave me the most bee-yootiful Folio Society edition of Lord of the Flies by William Golding. It is a hardback with a slipcase (a slipcase! see? Fancy) and is beautifully illustrated.




Lord of the Flies has one of those famous rejections stories attached to it. Originally it was twice as long and no one would touch it. Then finally some whizz-bang editor realised it was the second half of the book that really had something going for it and lopped the first half off.



I also got The Running Man by Stephen King (Bookmooch; I have never seen the movie and I was rather surprised to see Arnie on the cover) and Lonely Werewolf Girl by Martin Millar (for review; Piatkus, Australian released January 2010).

Stuff you should know about:

• The Longstockings will read and critique a sample of someone's WIP every month in 2010!
• Conan the Grammarian has posts on farther vs further, Myself, I & Me, and Pronouns. Plus heaps of other stuff. I love Conan's blog. He (she?) knows his shit, and he makes grammar interesting.
  
• If you don't follow Mary at Kidlit.com, you are missing out. Recent posts include What "Show, don't Tell" really means, How to Write Satisfying Endings and Writing a Hot Plot. There is an absolute wealth of information at this site.

This week on the blog:

• I'm about a third of a way through The Maze Runner and so far it's pretty great. Review up later in the week.
• The best books I read this year, from Brave New World (1939) to Ice (2009).
• Manuscript polishing: format, layout and editing quickie tips. Basically, stuff I learned from the slush at work.

I am either on holidays for two weeks, or unemployed. The second interview on Wednesday shall decide. Urk!

Poached eggs are calling to me. Happy holidays!