Voyages
CK arrived in HK on the 7th, and this Saturday we're off to Jakarta. The return flight is a little under two weeks later, but it'll only be me on the plane on the way back. Well, I presume there'll be other passengers, but CK won't be there, is what I'm saying. Shouldn't be for too long, I hope. However, she's moved out of her Beijing flat and all the stuff has to go somewhere.
We went out shopping in Kowloon on Saturday, and found the main branch of Tom Lee music. I got myself a music stand, so now I don't have to stoop over the desk when I'm practising my violin (which, incidentally, I totally suck at after two years away, unsurprisingly). We also picked up a brass guitar slide, a new harmonica for me, and for her a tiny keyring harmonica and a castanet shaped like a koala. As you do.
Now we just need to get CK's niece a present (I'm still pushing for the swanee whistle), and pick up some mooncakes for the family in Jakarta. I'm glad I'm not in Beijing at the moment. Right now I'd be avoiding mooncakes like crazy.
Monday, September 17
Friday, September 7
Publishing is fun
So, today I'm sorting out the manuscript for the teachers' guide to our graded reader version of King Solomon's Mines.
I realised this was not going to be the best MS ever when the introduction began "In the book of First Kings in the Old Testament, there is a story of King Solomon, who was said to be very rich and very wise."
Yes, I think you mean 'the first book of Kings'.
Anyway, a scant two sentences later is this gem:
"The story of King Solomon has since gained popularity with the 1885 publication of the best-selling novel, King Solomon’s Mines."
Firstly, saying "has since gained popularity" implies that the event occurred in the recent past. Even allowing for the maxim 'the British think 100 miles is a long way, the Americans think 100 years is a long time', 1885 is not the recent past.
Secondly, and more importantly, I'm fairly sure King Solomon's Mines is not more popular than the Bible.
Not sure why I'm surprised. This is the second edition of the reader we're doing. The first edition, which has been in print since 1992, has the main character's name spelled incorrectly all the way through, and don't even get me started on the artwork errors.
So, today I'm sorting out the manuscript for the teachers' guide to our graded reader version of King Solomon's Mines.
I realised this was not going to be the best MS ever when the introduction began "In the book of First Kings in the Old Testament, there is a story of King Solomon, who was said to be very rich and very wise."
Yes, I think you mean 'the first book of Kings'.
Anyway, a scant two sentences later is this gem:
"The story of King Solomon has since gained popularity with the 1885 publication of the best-selling novel, King Solomon’s Mines."
Firstly, saying "has since gained popularity" implies that the event occurred in the recent past. Even allowing for the maxim 'the British think 100 miles is a long way, the Americans think 100 years is a long time', 1885 is not the recent past.
Secondly, and more importantly, I'm fairly sure King Solomon's Mines is not more popular than the Bible.
Not sure why I'm surprised. This is the second edition of the reader we're doing. The first edition, which has been in print since 1992, has the main character's name spelled incorrectly all the way through, and don't even get me started on the artwork errors.
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