Where in the World are You?

 

Pin It Now!

Maps of Note

There are sites where you can 'stumble upon' interesting web sites by accident. I have never used those, because I know I would spend many more hours glued to the computer than I already do. After all, as a writer, a university instructor, and an ex-pat, there are a significant amount of hours that necessitate the use of the computer. Today, I just by chance came across this blog, which piqued my interest and I felt a compelling need to share it. Myself, I am not a map person. Regardless of just missing being an Eagle scout in Boy Scouts by one merit badge, maps are still an anomaly to me. However, when a good map comes along that does not require me to go from point A to point B, my appreciation level does go into overdrive. The map collections on this blog are fun, funny, weird, interesting, historical and generally amusing. http://strangemaps.wordpress.com/2008/08/ If you go to the link, don't forget to return to me. : )

Pin It Now!

I am back

It seems like a lifetime ago since I was able to write here regularly, but yesterday, I sent off my manuscript for "Budapest & the Best of Hungary" to the editor. I was actually ahead of schedule since the deadline was not until October 22nd, but for some reason, I had October 1st in my mind. Actually, when I realized I was pushing myself toward the first needlessly, I maintained that schedule just to be free of it. I was becoming obsessed with reviewing everything that came my way. With the maps, it came to 328 pages. Yes, the authors have to do the maps too. Fortunately for me, Ron loves maps and he spent over 24 hours cumulatively plotting all of the different things on each map. The worst was the restaurant map; I had over 75 restaurant reviews that needed to be plotted on the map. What makes it most difficult is that they don't give you a clean map, but the preexisting one, so you have to cross out old markers and re-do everything. Even if a restaurant is still the same, the numbering will change with the new list. This writing project started on June 5th and other than our ten days in Scotland in August, I have spent 6-12 hours a day working on the book and the chapter for the Rail guide. Normally, over the summer, I would have devoured at least thirty books, but I did not pick up one book. My compulsive personality would not stop with one and the conflict between reading or writing would be too great. I still have photos on my camera from the end of May that I have not put onto the computer yet. My contract arrived when we returned from Rome when Earl was here, so I never did anything with them. The most difficult part about writing a travel book is trying to make 40 hotel rooms sound different and engage a reader as they read 70+ restaurant reviews. Imagine making 25 Hungarian menus sound diversely appealing. My thesaurus, Flip Dictionary, and Illustrated Reverse Dictionary are in tattered condition. Now I can read again. Now that I have some free time, the student papers are starting to come in and I am actually looking forward to reading them. I need the diversion. It is good to be back, but if this brings more travel writing work in the future, it will have been more than worth the effort. It was exhausting, but fulfilling. It will be thrilling to see my name on a book. Sadly, my reader rate for this blog is almost as low as Bush's approval ratings. I am sure in time, I will be able to get them back up faster than he will. I have also added an Amazon.com store to our web site with books from Hungary on it as well as the current Frommer's guides, so when it changes I will have my own there as well. Soon, Ryan

Pin It Now!

The Results Are IN!!!

Hi, Ryan. This is Stephen from Frommer's. I have some good news. I've reviewed the resumes I received for the Budapest & Hungary guide, and I'd like to offer you the book update. I enjoyed your clips, and I was impressed that you did some legwork at the hotel for the sample reviews. And it's great that you live in Budapest and seem to have explored it so thoroughly, and you're a business-owner to boot. I think you'd do a great job with the book and bring a unique perspective to it--and I think this may be the first time we've offered a book to a message board commenter, so it's always nice to start another first. Here are all the logistics for the assignment, so please review and let me know ASAP if you're interested and able to do the project. Note that this contract also includes a few other Budapest/Hungary-related assignments, such as an update of the Hungary chapter for our Frommer's Rail Europe guide (due before the main Budapest deadline) and an online update for our website (due after the book deadline, so we can post updates online just after the book comes out). Let me know if this is all doable. And note you'd also be updating maps, so I can send you thorough instructions for those as well. Here's all the information I have for the contract: Title: Frommer's Budapest & the Best of Hungary, 7th Edition Release month: April 2008 Page count: 320 pages (roughly 30 pages longer than the last edition, so there's room for new material and maps) Page count minus the front matter and Index: 300 pages (text and maps)

Pin It Now!