Author Wendy Corsi Staub stops by... (& a Giveaway - closed)
Tuesday, November 17, 2009CONGRATS TO LUCKY WINNER - MARY!
The other day, as I was writing my new thriller, the electrician was here working on the wiring. He had to shut down the internet for a few hours, he said—would that be a problem? I didn’t think it would. Even though I was on the computer, I was writing a book—not surfing or emailing.
Let me tell you, those hours made me realize just how dependent I, as an author, have become on the internet. As I constructed the scenes of my thriller, it seemed that every few minutes, I would forget and click over to the internet to look up some fact that would make my book more authentic—or my day more organized.
For example, I wanted to mention that Coco Chanel had had brief contact with my heroine, a former fashion model. Was that possible? When did Coco pass away? The usual solution: Google Coco Chanel. Not today.
The phone rang; it was my friend wanting to know what time the kids had to be at school for an extracurricular activity that night. Ordinarily, I’d have looked it up on e-chalk. Today, it would have to wait until I could ask my son in person—and he’s hardly the most accurate source of information when it comes to school.
Back to writing my scene: I couldn’t remember if there was a bus stop on the west side of Broadway between 73rd and 74th Streets in Manhattan. The usual solution: go to Google Maps, zoom in on the intersection, and drag the little man icon down to the street for a closeup. Couldn’t do that. Oh! I could email one of my friends who live in the neighborhood! Oops—couldn’t do that either. Sigh.
This wasn’t working. I decided to flesh out an earlier scene. Hmm… one of my characters had been a little girl in the nineties and she was really into music. Which artists were on top of the charts that year? The usual solution: go to Billboard.com. Not today.
Frustrated, I went to the kitchen for a snack and remembered, while rummaging through the cupboard, that we were almost out of Splenda. The usual solution: go to Amazon.com and it would be at the door two days later—probably sooner than I’d actually get to a store or, if I did manage to get to a store, remember to get the Splenda. Oops. No Amazon=no Splenda.
Back at my desk, I started working on a scene involving teeth and it occurred to me that I’d scheduled an appointment with my dentist for sometime in November. Hmm… when was it? The usual solution: go to my AOL calendar and check.
It went on and on like this for hours. I’d like to say that I learned some valuable lesson about the pleasures of a simpler, non-electronic world, but the truth is, I felt crippled. How on earth did I ever run my life and keep track of my kids without the internet, let alone write books without online fact-checking capability
I know what you mean, Wendy. Earlier this spring we lost power due to a tornado. I felt like I'd lost a limb without internet, music, tv... couldn't even read a book in the flickering candlelight! Those five hours were the longest of my life. I hate how dependent we all are on electricity these days. What did people do before?!Let me tell you, those hours made me realize just how dependent I, as an author, have become on the internet. As I constructed the scenes of my thriller, it seemed that every few minutes, I would forget and click over to the internet to look up some fact that would make my book more authentic—or my day more organized.
For example, I wanted to mention that Coco Chanel had had brief contact with my heroine, a former fashion model. Was that possible? When did Coco pass away? The usual solution: Google Coco Chanel. Not today.
The phone rang; it was my friend wanting to know what time the kids had to be at school for an extracurricular activity that night. Ordinarily, I’d have looked it up on e-chalk. Today, it would have to wait until I could ask my son in person—and he’s hardly the most accurate source of information when it comes to school.
Back to writing my scene: I couldn’t remember if there was a bus stop on the west side of Broadway between 73rd and 74th Streets in Manhattan. The usual solution: go to Google Maps, zoom in on the intersection, and drag the little man icon down to the street for a closeup. Couldn’t do that. Oh! I could email one of my friends who live in the neighborhood! Oops—couldn’t do that either. Sigh.
This wasn’t working. I decided to flesh out an earlier scene. Hmm… one of my characters had been a little girl in the nineties and she was really into music. Which artists were on top of the charts that year? The usual solution: go to Billboard.com. Not today.
Frustrated, I went to the kitchen for a snack and remembered, while rummaging through the cupboard, that we were almost out of Splenda. The usual solution: go to Amazon.com and it would be at the door two days later—probably sooner than I’d actually get to a store or, if I did manage to get to a store, remember to get the Splenda. Oops. No Amazon=no Splenda.
Back at my desk, I started working on a scene involving teeth and it occurred to me that I’d scheduled an appointment with my dentist for sometime in November. Hmm… when was it? The usual solution: go to my AOL calendar and check.
It went on and on like this for hours. I’d like to say that I learned some valuable lesson about the pleasures of a simpler, non-electronic world, but the truth is, I felt crippled. How on earth did I ever run my life and keep track of my kids without the internet, let alone write books without online fact-checking capability
GIVEAWAY
The Prize
A copy of Wendy's latest book, The Best Gift will go to one lucky winner.
To Enter
- What's the best gift you've ever received? A Book, a car, jewelry...?
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Deadline Midnight CST of December 18, 2009.
Eligibility US only.
Please read the Disclaimer. Good luck!
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51 People said
Fascinating article- it certainly made me think about how much I use the internet too.
ReplyDeleteBest gift was a surprise: a watch that I really needed for my birthday from my husband who I thought never did surprises and never noticed what I'd need.
Oh, and an email address: sdeeth at msn dot com. Sorry.
ReplyDeleteMy best gift........My 3 yr old son.
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I get emails
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heidi
I have the button for yr blog.
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heidi
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heidi
your on my blog
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forgot to add my email with #10
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added to my blog
heidi330.blogspot.com
The best gift that I have ever received was the time I spent with my grandparents. My mother and I always lived with her parents, whom I adored. Both of my grandparents passed away shortly after my high school graduation. Without their love, guidance, and amazing hearts and souls, I would not be here today.
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I am a Google Friend Connect Follower.
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I am an email subscriber.
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I am a Google Reader subscriber.
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Best gift was my tenth anniversary ring from my husband...twenty years ago! Very much a surprise...
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Get update via email
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Friend on Facebook
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The best gift I ever received would I guess be my engagement ring. I was totally surprised!
ReplyDeletedcf_beth at verizon dot net
I'm a follower- google friend!
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Follow on google reader!
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follow on twitter! @dcf_beth
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Oh! and I get book blogger diary emails!
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dcf_beth at verizon dot net
We were just talking about this! For our first Valentine's Day, the man who is now my hubby gave me two tires for my car! That was love!
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I subscribe via google reader.
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I'm a follower.
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My best gift, three long stemmed red roses when I needed consolation.
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Email subscriber.
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Follower.
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Subscribed to A Book Blogger's Diary Email Updates.
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Following your blog.
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Become a fan of A Book Blogger's Diary on Facebook(says I am waiting for you to confirm as a friend)
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katsrus@gmail.com
My best gift would be a digital camera my son bought for me for Christmas(2009). Even though he already gave it to me. LOL.
ReplyDeleteSue
katsrus@gmail.com
A trip to France for my 20th birthday compliments of my parents.
ReplyDeletemytyme2 at gmail dot com
My hubby gave me pearl earrings
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justpeachy36@yahoo.com
ReplyDeleteThe best gift I ever received, was the gift of salvation from the Lord, Jesus Christ. Not pushing it on anyone, just saying... there ain't nothing better... lol!
justpeachy36@yahoo.com
ReplyDeleteI am a subscriber.
The best gift I ever received was an opal and diamond ring from my husband after our daughter was born. Please enter me. Thanks!
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I am a subscriber!
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I guess the best gift I ever got was my tenth anniversary band.. I get so many compliments on it.
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I am a facebook and email follower
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The best gift I ever got was my laptop!!
ReplyDeletenancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net
A Disney Cruise with my son and Dad!
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I follow. :)
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Thank you all for stopping by and leaving your comments. The Winner has been notified.
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