the tactile impressions of the absence of sound

There is something quite lovely about early mornings (pre-dawn) in the summer. I suspect part of it has to do, simply, with the fact that its actually cooler. Birds chirp, breeze stirs, and otherwise it's totally still and fresh and filled with unbaked potential.

In a few hours, all that will be gone (It's supposed to be in the upper 80's and humid again, and for the near future).

Part of my fondness for summer mornings probably dates back to when I was a wee meerkat kit, and my family would take two weeks off at the end of August to go off on a family vacation, usually to Vermont. My dad and I, at least once, would wake up at oh god early, take out the canoe or rowboat or whatever came with the house we were renting, and go fishing.

Catching fish was a plus, but it wasn't the point. Sitting in that stillness, the only sound the slapping of water against the sides of the boat, and the occasional water-carried noise of another early morning riser across the lake, munching on granola bars... wordless father/daughter bonding that stood the test of the rest of the year, when he and I could get into an argument over pretty much anything, at the drop of a hat.

(and every now and again we actually did catch something worth eating, and there's nothing quite like fresh-grilled trout and toast for breakfast, especially when someone else cleans it for you)


Soon enough, it'll be time to pour the caffeine, get to work. I have deadlines to keep. And miles to go before I sleep. But for now, I can sit here and enjoy the breeze, and the quiet, and be still. And remember.

Tagged by Scarlettina...

Instructions:
List five songs that you are currently digging...it doesn't matter what genre they are from, whether they have words or even if they're any good but they must be songs you're really enjoying right now. Post these instructions, the artist, and the song in your blog along with your five songs. Then tag five other people to see what they're listening to. Do or do not, as you feel moved...

My songs:
Foo Fighters, "Best of You"
Damn Yankees, "Where You Going Now"
Melissa Etheridge, "All-American Girl"
Jackson Browne, "I am a Patriot"
David Bowie, "As the World Falls Down" (from the soundtrack of Labyrinth)

wow (publishing style)

Jonathan Karp, the editor in chief of the flagship imprint of Random House Inc., resigned unexpectedly yesterday, saying he wanted to seek new opportunities, possibly outside publishing.


full New York Times article here


Mr. Karp, who has been at Random House for 16 years, said the decision to leave was his own. "Sometimes in life you have to take risks," he said in an interview. "One of my favorite writers, Jane Jacobs, talks about the benefits of drift in life. After 16 years, I want to do a little creative drifting. I honestly don't know what is out there, but I'm certain there are exciting opportunities."



And another seeming Lifer burns out on Corporate Crap. *sigh*

meanwhile, in another country...

"Seeking to expand its offerings in the fast-growing market for popular fiction by African-American writers, Simon & Schuster said it had acquired Strebor Books, the publishing company founded by Zane, the best-selling author of "Afterburn" and other erotic literary novels. Simon & Schuster, which is part of Viacom, would not disclose the purchase price. Among the assets of Strebor Books being acquired are its backlist of about 50 previously published titles by more than 30 authors and its contracts to publish books by a variety of African-American authors. Previously, Simon & Schuster distributed Strebor’s books to retail stores; its Atria Books imprint had signed Zane to a multibook publishing contract. Zane, known publicly only by her one-name pseudonym, will serve as publisher of Strebor, overseeing 15 to 25 new books a year and reporting to Judith Curr, publisher of Atria."


And those're your post-BEA publishing updates, as officially reported.