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ABH NEWSLETTER NOV/DEC 2009

ARTHURBOOKHOUSE

http://www.arthurbookhouse.com

FROM THE EDITORIAL LOUNGE

Dear readers,

We are proud to announce the maiden edition of our newsletter. We hope that you will enjoy every bit of our story.

If you did, feel free to pass on to your friends.

EDITOR

QUOTE OF THE MONTH

“The future depends on what we do in the present.”—Mahatma Gandhi

NEWS FROM THE WRITING WORLD

Kindle

Did you know that you can carry a mini library in your pant pocket? Just download hundreds of your favorite books, magazines and newspapers in this portable electronic device called kindle. And read as you go. Or as you jog. Or as you dance.

OK, readers, spruce up your life. Get kindling!

Expresso

Paperbacks are endangered “species.” Because soon you will be able to visit the electronic department of a nearby bookstore, punch in some numbers and before you could spell T.E.C.H.N.O.L.O.G.Y your favorite book is printed in four colors and delivered into your waiting hands. The same way you slot in your ATM card and money comes out of the machine.

The sweetest part is that you are the first to touch and smell the book. The earth is rotating too fast. Isn’t that “Expressoingly” interesting?

THE GRAMMARIAN

Banished Words

GREEN

"If something is good for the environment, just say so. As Kermit would say, 'It isn't easy being green.'" Kevin Sherlock, Hiawatha, Iowa.

"This spawned 'green solutions,' 'green technology,' and the horrible use of the word as a verb, as in, 'We really need to think about greening our office.'" Mike McDermott, Philadelphia, Penn.

CARBON FOOTPRINT

Mike of Chicago says that when he hears the phrase 'carbon footprint,' "I envision microscopic impressions on the surface of the earth where an atom of carbon forgot to wear its shoes."

MAVERICK

"You know it's time to banish this word when even the Maverick family, who descended from the rancher who inspired the term, says it's being mis-used." Scott Urbanowski, Kentwood, Mich.

"I'm a maverick, he's a maverick, wouldn't you like to be a maverick, too?" Michael Burke, Silver Spring, Md.

BAILOUT

"Use of emergency funds to remove toxic assets from banks' balance sheets is not a bailout. When your cousin calls you from jail in the middle of the night, he wants a bailout." Ben Green, State College, Penn.

ICON or ICONIC

Overused, especially among entertainers and in entertainment news, according to Robyn Yates of Dallas, who says that "every actor, actress and entertainment magazine show overuses this." One of the most-nominated words of the year. "Everyone and everything cannot be 'iconic.' Can't we switch to 'legendary' or 'famous for'?

DESPERATE SEARCH – "Every time the news can't find something intelligent to report, they start on a 'desperate search' for someone, somewhere." Rick A. Hyatt, Saratoga, Wyo.

WINNER OF FIVE NOMINATIONS – "It hasn't won an Academy Award yet. It has only been NOMINATED!" John Bohenek, Abilene, Tex.

IT'S THAT TIME OF YEAR AGAIN – Nominated by Kathleen Brosemer of Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., for "general overuse and meaninglessness. When is it not 'that time of year again?' From Valentine's sales to year-end charity letters, invitations to summer picnics and Christmas parties, it's 'that time' of year again. Just get to the point of the solicitation, invitation, and newsletter and cut out six useless and annoying words."

Courtesy: Lake Superior State University

THEY WROTE WELL

Charles Dickens

He was the greatest novelist of his time.

He is picturesque in description.

His characters are exaggerated.

He has contributed to our vocabulary. Like Ebenezer Scrooge (miserly) and Oliver Twist (he asked for more).

Emily Bronte

She was the most imaginative of the three Bronte sisters.

Her novel, Wuthering Heights, is considered the most imaginative work in English literature.

Source: How to Write a Bestseller by Arthur Zulu

WRITERS RESOURCE

Literary Market Place

http://www.literarymarketplace.com

Visit the site, register and access it for the latest in the publishing business, from publishers, distributors, agents, editors, the media, etc.

MLA Style Sheet

http://mla.org

Visit the site for the modern writing style.

http://www.write101.com

Write101 has been part of the Web's writing community since 1998 and continues to offer detailed insights into the workings of the English language presented with just a touch of humour. Voted one of the 101 best websites for writers, Write101 has more than 800 pages of articles about all aspects of writing as well as a free online writing course, vocab quizzes, writing tips and more. Whether you write for profit or pleasure, whether you're working or retired ... there's something for every writer! Click now to visit http://www.write101.com

NEWS FROM THE WRITING WORLD

SPECIAL PROMO NOV. 29-30

Queen Esther by Arthur Zulu

Buy copy or copies of the above controversial Bible-based drama Nov. 29-30 and get all the free bonuses listed below:

http://arthurbookhouse.com/estherview.html

Amazon top bestsellers

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days by Jeff Kinney

The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown

Going Rogue: An American Life by Sarah Palin

DID YOU KNOW

Mary Bysshe Shelley

She wrote Frankenstein, the most horrific title before Harry Potter.

She got idea for the story when she was vacationing in Switzerland with her husband and others.

Her husband, the poet Percy Shelley, forecast he would die by drowning.

He actually drowned on his yatch at sea, and his body was burnt on the beach.

Mary snatched her husband’s heart from the burning fire, which she carried in a silken shroud everywhere she went till she died of brain tumor at 53.

Source: How to Write a Bestseller by Arthur Zulu

CRACK YOUR RIBS!

Looking to buy a frog?

A man walks into a bar and asks the bartender, "If I show you a really good trick, will you give me a free drink?" The bartender considers it, then agrees. The man reaches into his pocket and pulls out a tiny rat. He reaches into his other pocket and pulls out a tiny piano. The rat stretches, cracks his knuckles, and proceeds to play the blues.

After the man finished his drink, he asked the bartender, "If I show you an even better trick, will you give me free drinks for the rest of the evening?" The bartender agrees, thinking that no trick could possibly be better than the first. The man reaches into his pocket and pulls out a tiny rat. He reaches into his other pocket and pulls out a tiny piano. The rat stretches, cracks his knuckles, and proceeds to play the blues. The man reaches into another pocket and pulls out a small bullfrog, who begins to sing along with the rat's music.

While the man is enjoying his beverages, a stranger confronts him and offers him $100,000.00 for the bullfrog. "Sorry," the man replies, "he's not for sale." The stranger increases the offer to $250,000.00 cash up front. "No," he insists, "he's not for sale." The stranger again increases the offer, this time to $500,000.00 cash. The man finally agrees, and turns the frog over to the stranger in exchange for the money.

"Are you insane?" the bartender demanded. "That frog could have been worth millions to you, and you let him go for a mere $500,000!" "Don't worry about it." the man answered. "The frog was really nothing special. You see, the rat's a ventriloquist."

Giving sad news to a troop

The Captain called the Sergeant in. "Sarge, I just got a telegram that Private Jones' mother died yesterday. Better go tell him and send him in to see me."

So the Sergeant calls for his morning formation and lines up all the troops. "Listen up, men," says the Sergeant. "Johnson, report to the mess hall for KP. Smith, report to Personnel to sign some papers. The rest of you men report to the Motor Pool for maintenance. Oh by the way, Jones, your mother died, report to the commander."

Later that day the Captain called the Sergeant into his office. "Hey, Sarge, that was a pretty cold way to inform Jones his mother died. Couldn't you be a bit more tactful, next time?"

"Yes, sir," answered the Sarge.

A few months later, the Captain called the Sergeant in again with, "Sarge, I just got a telegram that Private McGrath's mother died. You'd better go tell him and send him in to see me. This time be more tactful."

So the Sergeant calls for his morning formation. "Ok, men, fall in and listen up." "Everybody with a mother, take two steps forward." "Not so fast, McGrath!"

Courtesy: Ahajokes

OUT OF THIS WORLD

Mississippi, USA

Woman Sees with Tooth

Sixty-year-old Sharon Thornton was helped by doctors to recover her 9 years of total blindness. Doctors removed a canine tooth, drilled a hole in it placing a lens in between and inserted the tooth into the center of the woman’s eyes. Surprisingly, she regained sight with a 20/70 vision.

Scientific tsunami!

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Lions save Girl

Three lions saved a 12-year old girl, kidnapped by a gang of 7 men for a week, who wanted one of them to marry the girl against her wish. The men were continuously beating the girl but the dangerous lions rushed to her rescue and chased the men way.

The lions remained guarding her in the forest until police and her relatives came. The lions then handed her over to them and went to roam in the forest.

Talk of wicked men and caring lions. The world has turned upside down!

Monkey Typing