tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-57913592421655613662024-03-05T03:06:13.562-08:00Journal of RuddThis blog describes the writing of the Journal of Rudd. Written at the encouragement of Nancy Turner and her fabulous 'These is My Words' journal.
Describes, in journal form, a (forced) journey in 1897, made by Frank Rudd Bybee from Iowa, USA to Cape Town, South Africa.Jack Bybee, author, The Journal of Ruddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13403816704596297747noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5791359242165561366.post-9199694135317178412014-03-25T22:25:00.002-07:002014-03-25T22:25:24.207-07:00Jor - Journey North - Land...! Cape Town, Cape Colony - 1901.<span style="font-size: large;">Standing at the bow, my mouth hang open I think. I sees this in the vision I had in the woods in Ioway. The most beautiful mountain, in front of me. Bart, the First Mate, he call it Table Mountain, and at its foot lies, above a thin white strip of sand, the city of Cape Town.<br /><br /> Cause I save Bart's life with the great swell that hit us out in the ocean, he say I be Free when we reach land. There be land. Soon, I be Free. <br /><br />But above the white strip of sand at the bottom, there be, the mountain above it, an' on top of the mountain, just like in the vision in the woods, there be a white cloud, a true table cloth, like what the muckity-mucks have on their tables. The cloud rolls in and down the face of the mountain, till just above the city... then it disappears.
Soon as we pass this island to port, Bart say it called Robben Island, we will drop anchor. Bart tell me he will honour his word, as I kept my word to him.We'll see. And Rippens, the ship cat, who kept the brig real free of rats for me. We can not part, he'll just have to come along.
<br /><br />I am trying hard to make my writing better - but I will still spell Freedom with a big F. Just because it be so important to me. As Mister Franklin Rudd say, Ma's father, you can not appreciate something, till you do not have it.
This be my Journal, the Journal of Rudd.
--FRB.
Sometime, 1901.
</span>Jack Bybee, author, The Journal of Ruddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13403816704596297747noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5791359242165561366.post-35785634237641728732014-03-15T20:35:00.002-07:002014-03-15T20:38:12.619-07:00I, Frank Rudd Bybee, master of me...er fate... now write the Journal<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Somewhere on BIG water. 1897.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Let it be known to all, that I, Frank Rudd Bybee, the writer
of The Journal of Rudd, have thrown this other fellow, Jack, overboard. An' that he be now shark-food, jus’ as Bart say. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">For I have now assumed control of this er… blog thingy. My
Journal continues. Writers need to write. I ain’t writing. I ain’t also not a
writer. I jus' keep a record of how I be caught and thrown on board this tub. That
bastard's name be Kelly… Blunko Kelly. Well, it be me sketches as well. I like
sketching. These be my sketches. Come back sometime soon. Right now, we be
heading for someplace called Chile.
Valpariso, Chile. So Bart say.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Bart he say, he can’t find Rippens. Everyone on ship to search for
Rippens. Black and white, and furry – with long black tail. I see Bart’s eyes
twinkle. He not be human. Rippens, he be a cat. Rippens is the ship’s cat! Soon, he
become my friend.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">An’ who is not my friend no more. Ha. Who is not?! No more
silly writer stuff. For I now be a man, after
I run away from the farm in Ioway and Pa’s whipping. I am now a man – I be 17
years old. Cheeze! That be old.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Come back to read me blog soon.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">--FRB.</span></div>
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Jack Bybee, author, The Journal of Ruddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13403816704596297747noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5791359242165561366.post-89911152037637290882014-03-14T21:50:00.001-07:002014-03-14T21:50:02.279-07:00<span style="font-size: large;">As the saga of the <b><i>Journal of Rudd</i></b> starts to reach it's climax, I research the Boer war. The classic is a book by Thomas Pakenham, titled...: <b><i>The Boer War</i></b>. Whereas, under <i>apartheid</i>, most, if not all, British or South African English speakers were anti-<i>apartheid</i>, it would appear that the British war analyst, Lord Milner, back before the Second Boer War (1890 something) had actually laid plans for a similar, if not harsher version, of what eventually became the disgrace of <i>apartheid</i> in 1946. Here I thought it was solely due to original members of the <i>apartheid </i>regime studying in Germany just prior to WW II, that they emulated what Hitler had described as '...preservation of the races....' and that horrible concept came back to South Africa just before the outbreak of hostilities.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">However, we view it, Thank God, that era is over - for now - I hope. So... on with the <b><i>Journal</i></b>, and it's time that Frank meets Mini-Clara and in turn he gets sent off to help with the siege of Mafeking.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Started the sketches for <b><i>The Journal</i></b>, as Frank has very little training in sketching, and most meager art supplies, the sketches that turn up in his Journal, are not the greatest works of art - but they are sketches that he treasures.<b><i> </i></b></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Leave a comment, if you like.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">--JSB.</span>Jack Bybee, author, The Journal of Ruddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13403816704596297747noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5791359242165561366.post-80444993498047497982014-03-13T23:30:00.003-07:002014-03-13T23:30:36.332-07:00<span style="font-size: large;">March 13, 2014. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">One thing a writer must have - a good (working) relationship with every reference librarian within 30 miles of his or her keyboard.</span> <span style="font-size: large;">Again, this was exemplified at Pima Community College West Campus Library, where Jim spent more than 30 minutes searching for two books - two appropriate books - and found them for me. <i>The Boer War</i>, (that one I knew about) but, <i>The Scramble for Africa</i> - that I had no knowledge of. All this to provide background information as Grandfather [fictitiously] heads north, at the bidding of Cecil John Rhodes, to help in the relief of Baden-Powell at the Siege of</span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahikeng" target="_blank"><em><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></em><span style="font-size: large;"></span></a><span style="font-size: large;">Mahikeng (English = Mafeking).<br /><br />The absolute shocker that I have received? Baring in mind that Thomas Pakenham is/was regarded, even by the Afrikaner who preferred his version of the Boer War, as the authority on the Boer War (and Pakenham is English at that) </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">Aaah! Yes, the 'shocker'. </span>I suppose it comes as no surprise to the American reader, but the English in South Africa, most of whom were the 'good guys' trying to oppose <i>apartheid</i>, but now I read in <i>The Boer War</i>, that what evolved into <i>apartheid</i>, in 1946, actually was also foreseen, and nearly instituted, by Lord Milner, a British war tactician working with Rhodes, Baden-Powell, Kipling and others in 1899. [Not, let me hasten to add, did my esteemed literary hero, Rudyard Kipling have anything to do with British politics, but hey... you never know.]<br /><br /> Kipling and Rhodes were great friends. After all, Rhodes gave Kipling Woolsack House, still standing and occupied on the University of Cape Town campus. <i>Politicitians - dey don't change much, do they</i>? Why not ask my Grandma? She [fictitiously] had a crush on Mister Kipling - or so it seemed, as I sat on her knee listening to stories from <i>Kim</i>, <i>Just So Stories</i> and the like.<br /><br />Read the <i>Journal of Rudd</i>. When? Soon, Dearly Beloved, soon to be available.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I have now come to the realization that the writing will end - and the tweaking will begin, real soon. This tweaking entails the creating illustrations that I have been working on studies for, for insertion in the <i>Journal of Rudd</i>. After all, that is how grandfather survived - creating sketches and bartering. [Pssst ! Sounds like a recent artistic tactic with a recent recession?]</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">That's it! Stay tuned. Leave me a comment or two. Know an agent looking for an ms? Let them know about me. THKS!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">-- JSB.</span>Jack Bybee, author, The Journal of Ruddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13403816704596297747noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5791359242165561366.post-88079657442332462062014-03-12T21:06:00.001-07:002014-03-14T09:23:18.315-07:00The Journey South continues...July 18th, 2013<span style="font-size: large;">July 18th, 2013. <b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: red;">This page out of sequence - sorry. Blogspot issue.</span></span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">The Journey South continues. Off the coast of South America, heading for Valparaiso, Chile, it seems that FRB is slowly, and reluctantly finding his sea legs - slowly.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">A storm strikes suddenly... leaving the Shornet-II badly crippled, and limping toward port. Seemingly simultaneously, a clipper, recognised as belonging to arch-rival Bunko Kelly, the scoundrel who got FRB into the mess in the first place, is seen abaft and to starboard. Could Kelly, well be on board - and what about his politico cronies? But crippled by the storm... what can FRB, Bart and the crew do... but wait it out?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Will FRB encounter Bunko et al? We'll have to see - the moving finger, has not yet writ.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">The writing of this Middle Journey, once seen as difficult to describe, seems to be flowing more easily.
<a class="twitter-follow-button" data-show-count="false" data-size="large" href="https://twitter.com/TechwriteJacque">Follow @TechwriteJacque</a></span>
<script>!function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],p=/^http:/.test(d.location)?'http':'https';if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src=p+'://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js';fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}}(document, 'script', 'twitter-wjs');</script>Jack Bybee, author, The Journal of Ruddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13403816704596297747noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5791359242165561366.post-64881480786326540562014-03-12T19:52:00.003-07:002014-03-12T20:51:55.194-07:00<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">March 12th, 2014.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I'm reasonably technology literate, I mean, I got to this country in 1982, just as the Commodore 64 was launching. Technology-wise it has been a fabulous trip. So what has this to do with the <i><b>Journal of Rudd</b></i> - (hereafter JoR)? Not much and everything.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">What made my mouth drop open, and stay open, (for almost 15 seconds - a near record) was that writer's absolute gem of a research tool... Google Earth !</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Let me explain. Having reached the point in JoR that Grandpa has reached Cape Town, a new character, my Grandmother, Mini-Clara Harriman, needs to arrive on the scene. A few days ago, what with Grandmother's birth certificate in hand, I accessed Google Earth, and typed <b><i>Plumstead, Woolwich, Kent</i></b>. That, Dearly Beloved (as Kipling used to put it) is when my mouth dropped open - and stayed open. (see above.) I was looking at a rather decent view of where, or at least, the town where, my Grandmother was born.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Now... realizing that Plumstead, in South-East London is only a few miles north of Batesman, where Rudyard Kipling lived, I decided to access that address. And by gosh ! There was Kipling's farm-house skirted by walls covered with green-creeper and paths ... winding little country paths... BUT WAIT! I'm sitting in Tucson, Arizona, USA. That was a shocker. So... THANK YOU ALL at Google Earth! A marvelous research tool. All I'm hoping for now, is, as an author of historical fiction, would it not be great to have a 'Historic View of Earth' so I could go back and see what Cape Town loooked like back in the 1900's. ENOUGH ! Be grateful for what I have. Not so?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">-- JSB. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
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<script>!function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],p=/^http:/.test(d.location)?'http':'https';if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src=p+'://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js';fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}}(document, 'script', 'twitter-wjs');</script>Jack Bybee, author, The Journal of Ruddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13403816704596297747noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5791359242165561366.post-4250696718492948522014-03-10T22:22:00.002-07:002014-03-12T21:32:57.809-07:00<span style="font-size: large;">March 10th, 2014. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Seems that the <span style="background-color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="background-color: yellow;"><b><u>Tucson Festival of Books</u></b></span></span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span></span>spurs me on each year; and each year, I am a good bit closer to finishing <b><i>The Journal of Rudd</i></b>. (fictitiously) written</span><span style="font-size: large;">, by my grandfather, after he fled Iowa, got shanghaied in San Fransisco, and via the Straights of Magellan and a mutiny in the South Atlantic, landed up in Cape Town, South Africa.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Recently, I was stuck for a month or two. The description of the journey around Cape Horn was complete and, I believe, well written - at least it is very descriptive. The tsunami and mutiny scenes, ditto, and then it was arrival in Cape Town - and wham!, I stuck. OK... so... Frank Rudd Bybee arrives in Cape Town - so what? And stuck... and stu...! BINGO, for a writer to write, a writer must read - so read up on the Boer War and other events circa 1900 just before Grandpa met Mini Clara Harriman (my Grandma). One of the beautiful synchronous events I feel, that will make this whole ms, is that Grandma grew up in SE London (Plumstead, Woolwich, Kent) and... drum roll please, Rudyard Kipling, whom with me on Grandma's knee, said she adored Kipling and read me the Jungle Book etc. Kipling lived in Batesman, Kent. only 26 miles south of where Grandma lived. Now the will meet in Cape Town, also Cecil John Rhodes joins the fray.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">We'll see what transpires.</span> <span style="font-size: large;">This is going to be fun to write this Journey North... even more fun to get this published... and then. As dad would say, "...it's in the lap of the mountain gods." </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Stay tuned - let me know what you think.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">--JSB. </span>
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<script>!function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],p=/^http:/.test(d.location)?'http':'https';if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src=p+'://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js';fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}}(document, 'script', 'twitter-wjs');</script>Jack Bybee, author, The Journal of Ruddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13403816704596297747noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5791359242165561366.post-41933718635753693842013-06-20T10:18:00.002-07:002013-07-01T21:16:18.381-07:00"Happy Birthday, Madiba !" [July, 18th, 2013]<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><u><b>"Madiba" ! (Father of Our People)</b></u></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The world rejoices in your upcoming birthday, celebrating 95 years.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpQ2lG4d9HG8EltEt6FwEOLLgSPw_dIxY90snKoh_To_nLrQDEH31Nb_CJNqZByOS6AQEUkprYyED6Dr5xys2wO2T2gMT4QspFieCmeVNjT8RbXmmzD1D8Mctbpv_V9b8U2HQdqsc3S_4/s1600/mandela.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpQ2lG4d9HG8EltEt6FwEOLLgSPw_dIxY90snKoh_To_nLrQDEH31Nb_CJNqZByOS6AQEUkprYyED6Dr5xys2wO2T2gMT4QspFieCmeVNjT8RbXmmzD1D8Mctbpv_V9b8U2HQdqsc3S_4/s1600/mandela.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>From Prisoner to President - and still smiling</b>. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I wish you many, many more years Madiba.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Jack Bybee.</div>
Jack Bybee, author, The Journal of Ruddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13403816704596297747noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5791359242165561366.post-22594583885076813572013-06-18T14:07:00.001-07:002014-03-14T11:15:01.899-07:00e-books / e-articles by Jack Bybee [6/17/13]<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Thank you for your interest in my writing. I have numerous works that have been written over the years. </b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>I am now publishing as e-books or e-articles</b>.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><u><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Fiction:</b></span></u></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">e-Book:<i><b> Kimdog's Tale... er Tail</b></i>. (Complete) </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">___________ </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">e-Book: <b><i>Stepping Off the Edge of the Ledge</i></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i> </i></b></span><span style="font-size: large;">___________</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>Journey West</b></i> <b>- Written.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">This first of four 'journeys' deals with the shanghaiing of the character, Frank Rudd Bybee, from the Barbary Coast of San Francisco, in 1897. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>Journey South</b></i> - <b>Written</b>.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Life aboard a clipper, as forced labour, heading south around Cape Horn.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>Journey East</b></i>. <b>- W</b></span><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><b>ritten</b></span></b>.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">After encountering, in the South Atlantic, an 'enormous swell' (tsunami?); 'persuading' the captain to change course (mutiny), and head for the closest
land, Frank jumped ship in Cape Town, South Africa.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>Journey North </b>-</i> <b>Work in Progress</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Meeting Mini-Clara Harriman, Cecil John Rhodes, Rudyard Kipling and others, FRB as a sharpshooter joins the British in relieving the Siege Of Mafeking during the Boer War, then it is back into the arms of the anxiously awaiting Min-Clara Harriman. Does this tale temporarily end? ...for is there truly an end to anything? The Ultimate Journey Continues.</span><br />
<h3>
</h3>
<h4>
<span style="font-size: small;"> <u><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Slice of (African) Life</span></u></span><span style="font-size: large;">:<br /> Out of Africa - Eventually. <span style="background-color: lime;">AVAILABLE</span> - $2.50<br /></span></h4>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">___________</span> </span></h3>
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<span style="font-size: small;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><u>Non-Fiction / Metaphysical</u></span></span><span style="font-size: large;">:</span></h4>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">___________ </span></span></h3>
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Death - and the Life Review</span><span style="font-size: large;">___________ </span></h3>
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Death - What it is and is Not</span>
<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">___________ </span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">___________ </span></span></h3>
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Death - Three Important Questions</span></h3>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">___________ </span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><u>Essays:</u></span></h3>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">___________ </span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">___________ </span></span>
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Jack Bybee, author, The Journal of Ruddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13403816704596297747noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5791359242165561366.post-89043363542087505952013-06-18T12:38:00.001-07:002013-06-18T12:38:12.247-07:00Publishing e-Books for Dummies - my review of Ali Luke's title on Goodreads.comJune 17, 2013.<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13838936-publishing-e-books-for-dummies" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><img alt="Publishing E-Books for Dummies" border="0" src="https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1340810052m/13838936.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13838936-publishing-e-books-for-dummies">Publishing E-Books for Dummies</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5352094.Ali_Luke">Ali Luke</a><br />
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/644463578">5 of 5 stars</a><br />
<br />
As a technical writer, I have been busy writing technical stuff, creating art,and some shorts on Africa, apartheid and all that - just sitting on my hard-drive. I allowed the e-book scene to (partially) bi-pass me. I needed a book on... e-publishing. Now, I have an historical fiction title in the works <i><b>The Journal of Rudd</b></i><br />
<br />
Then... one gorgeous Arizona day, I was browsing the local library - to stay cool - and happened on Ali Luke's Publishing e-Books for Dummies.<br />
<br />
THANK YOU Ali Luke! A whole new vista has opened for me. Let's be clear on one thing. I have never been a fan of For Dummies titles. Ever. Why? I'm NOT A DUMMY! <br />
Then again, neither is Ali. The title is very well written, bit of humour here and there, and lots and lots of stuff I did not know about.<br />
<br />
Issues I never suspected I would find, and am delighted the author mentioned was formatting your Word.doc with styles before creating and saving in various e-book formats; never heard of numerous e-book portals, one of them (e-junkie.com) right here in Tucson, AZ (!); in fact had never heard of EPUB or Mobi, whatever. <br />
<br />
I enjoy Guerrilla Marketing, and Luke has come up with a good many tips, while not too many are pure G/M issues, some cost, I still learnt from the entire book. What I really like, and I know this from years of frustrated paging through computer titles - Luke keeps the sections SHORT! There are lots of them - that's OK - but they are short and can be read and absorbed in minutes.<br />
<br />
I'd better go back and delete NOT from I am NOT a Dummy (!) Sigh.
Before I do that... I'll have to return the title to the library.
Thanks again Ali Luke. Because of you, I am in the process of being formatted as an e-booker - A truly GOOD READ!
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/21123290-jack">View all my reviews</a>
Jack Bybee, author, The Journal of Ruddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13403816704596297747noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5791359242165561366.post-80600286306848817722013-06-16T12:49:00.001-07:002013-06-16T18:02:12.925-07:00Of Love, Loss and Longing... and other post-partum issues after clicking SEND<span style="font-size: large;"><b>June 16th, 2013. Launch Date + 1</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">While numerous assignments in writing technical documentation have been accomplished, mostly successfully, with the proverbial pay-check received, the feeling of accomplishment that swept over me yesterday, seconds after pressing '<SEND>' was absolutely enormous and with absolutely no financial reward in sight - yet.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">So... the fact that I logged in to see if anyone had posted a feedback comment at 03:00 in the morning, was, to me, an indication that, yes, I truly was proud of the manuscript.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Ooh, certainly, as usual, and as my ex- used to berate me, "...one issue scrolls off the top of the screen, another pops up from below." Why do I remember that so well. With a pinch of salt here and there, it was probably true - still is.<br /><br /> No sooner had I dutifully thanked the powers that guided the years of stewing on <b><i>The Journal of Rudd</i></b>, when I started berating myself for not producing a cleaner, more succinct manuscript - but, "... no, it needs a bit description here... but less there, and, will they think that it's like this...? ...and the voice, ooh the issue of the voice. Too many dashes?"</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Now... what will happen if...? If the crimp, the fellow responsible for Frank's abduction (shanghaiing) had to experience the feelings FRB had for the rest of his life, landing up in a totally strange country, after being terrified by weather at sea. Would Bunko Kelly, after his Life Review, and ready to pass on to the next life, not have second thoughts in hurting others? Could this character type, the Trickster archetype, I suppose Jung would call it, not make for interesting exposition? But then, I find myself asking - why? Why would anyone, any sentient spirit, try to trick another? In the case of Bunko Kelly, it was money. He could care less whom he hurt, as long as he could supply human bodies to man the ships - steal their pay, and pocket any financial income due the shanghaied sailors. But I am certain Kelly learnt his lesson. Money merely has the value a society places on it - and in the end is totally worthless.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">But that isn't the major issue. The major issue, what I believe in feminine psychology is called <i>post-partum, </i>is the issue with regards to <i>JoR/The Journey West, </i>and that<i> </i>is, just like a child, taking it's first hesitant steps into first day at school... coming out a few hours later with wonderful words: "Hi, Dad... I think I'm going to like school!" Is the manuscript about to succeed in the glare of public scrutiny? Or...be ripped apart, torn to shreds, as a waste of the reader's time? Like the child, toddling off to school, time will tell, how that spirit, how that manuscript survives, succeeds - or not. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">All I can do now is try to steer the manuscript here a bit, there a bit. And go on, to complete the next three sections.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">If the sense of accomplishment I still feel is like this now, after just one segment - what will it be like after all four are completed? I'll have to find out, won't I?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Things are as they are - they will end as they must.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">-- JSB.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
Jack Bybee, author, The Journal of Ruddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13403816704596297747noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5791359242165561366.post-59828065825624912372013-06-14T11:34:00.000-07:002014-03-14T09:22:17.551-07:00Journey West - DONE (!) [6/15/13]<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMsnh_ujsIBVH1uybR9CQMAMn3KhShNTeCkmQZVzn-3qsUPrNbaJsKTD3OLvzobK1hksF8qGjZTJQxLrA0bxv7iL34w7ARFgdSEnFLG1WsHIJbO1iCZKUO0mgSFmU1qM0cJdbitE51tRQ/s1600/South+Africa+flag.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMsnh_ujsIBVH1uybR9CQMAMn3KhShNTeCkmQZVzn-3qsUPrNbaJsKTD3OLvzobK1hksF8qGjZTJQxLrA0bxv7iL34w7ARFgdSEnFLG1WsHIJbO1iCZKUO0mgSFmU1qM0cJdbitE51tRQ/s1600/South+Africa+flag.gif" /></a><b><span style="font-size: large;">June 15th, 2013. 19:44 -To-day Saturday:</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">I MET DEADLINE!</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">The first 'Journey' of the <i>Journal of Rudd</i> - is done! </span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Completed ! </span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">It has been years and years in the stewing. At 19:45 I clicked <SEND> and into the ether, on it's way to a 'First Reader' editor, went all 50 pages of what has been a very long slog - held up by my inability to get the voice right. We'll see!</span></b><u><b><span style="font-size: large;"></span></b></u><br />
<u><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></u>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Now? Now, the 'Journey South'. But first sleep.</span></b><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Grandpa was crimped in SF back in
the 1890's. That is shanghaied. When, as I sat on the old man's knee, I
used to believe it was all fiction, as any civilized American, as far as my understanding of it went, did not go lacing other
people's drinks at a birthday party on-board a ship, and then... force
them into, what can only amount to slave labour..., or did they? <br /><br />I
approach John, a librarian at my library around the corner: "John I have
a (self-imposed deadline) for to-night. I need from one of your books, a
description of a 'crimp'." Well, (after a rather curious look) says
John, "...you could type wiki-pedia. See they even say that Portland, OR
was the crimping capital of the 1890's and there is a section on
'notable crimps'."</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Thank you John, you are hereby
promoted to Head Librarian of whatever ship Grandpa got shanghaied to.
Let's hear it for librarians who know how to find information !</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Deadline approaches - writing this is pure procrastination. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Jack OUT (for now.)</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><u><b>June 14th, 2013</b></u></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>Yes, </b></i><b>The Journey West</b><i><b> is a work in progress... but not for long. It is nearly written. Nearly complete. Nearly</b></i>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">It seems like ages have passed, but for some reason, the voice issue has clicked, the Pima Writer's Workshop I attended gave me the proverbial kick in you-know-whatsit, and I am hours away from completing the <i><b>Journey West</b></i> - Grandpa's arrival in San Franscisco back in 1897.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I caution myself repeatedly, that the research for this 'Journey' was the easiest, and I am bracing myself for the next two 'Journeys.' The immediate, <i>Journey South</i>, is, at the moment formidable. Having no criminal record (touch wood), having never been in a jail cell, nor, for that matter a brig aboard any ship, let alone a clipper out of the late 1800's, I must now figure a way to describe Frank Bybee's incarceration for two-to-three weeks, as they cleared the coast, and eventually allowed him on deck aboard the clipper he was shanghaied onto.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Then comes <i>The Journey East</i>. That Journey, I will tackle, when I tackle it. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">After which, comes the easy part again. <i>The Journey North</i>, into Africa.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The decent bit of writing, achieved this morning (Friday) after meeting with a friend for coffee, merely emphasized one thing. Carrying a notebook with me all the time, allows for writing after coffee, writing while waiting for the bus, etc. etc. But, a peer, Nancy Mair's is correct. Nancy spoke at the Writer's Workshop (above). Says Ms. Mairs: "I re-write every sentence 3-5 times, often five times. I analyze every word carefully." Well, I can honestly say, I enjoyed re-writing the ending of <i>The Journey West</i> 5 times, until now, I do believe it works. To-morrow, if I return for an edit - rewrite number 6. Who knows? Problem? Now to go back, and re-write all 48 pages of this missive. And do that 3-5 times. And analyze every word? Well, the re-writes I agree with. It worked for the ending, it is working for the beginning (<i>in media res</i>) now all that is need, is to re-write the entire middle 3-5 times. Phew!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The lot of the historical fiction writer. But so far, I am loving the research and the writing. How can I not? What else is left?</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">So, stay tuned. The next few hours should produce a finality that I have been striving for since 2005. At least it is the end of the first Journey. Now, comes the true life changing events for Frank Rudd Bybee.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><u><b>June 8th, 2013</b></u>. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Greetings:</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> <i>The Journal of Rudd</i> is a fictitious journal based largely on fact, of my grandfather, Frank Rudd Bybee, and his rather unwilling journey away from the farm in Paradise, Iowa to eventually land in Cape Town, South Africa.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I have modeled this Journal on <i>These is My Words</i> by award winning author, Nancy Turner. Thank you for the encouragement, Nancy.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The <i>Journal of Rudd</i>, is divided into four separate "journeys" <i>per se</i>. <i>The Journey West</i> (from Iowa); <i>The Journey South</i> (after being shanghaiied); <i>The Journey East</i> (Across the South Atlantic and encountering 'the big swell'); <i>The Journey North</i> (into Africa).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: large;">Where is the current work in progress</span><span style="font-size: large;">? </span></h4>
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>The Journey West</i> has been stalled for many years as I have searched for a voice in which to pen the Journal. Regrettably (<i>sic</i>?) I speak English, and have a reasonable vocabulary - Grandpa did not. He could barely write, although he enjoyed sketching. But a voice had to be found. A voice from a farm on the terribly flat plains of Iowa, in the 1890's. Steinbeck? Maybe - too cultured. Willa Cather? Closer, she lived and wrote from Red Cloud, Nebraska - still not Grandpa's voice, she was educated - well educated. So... Grandpa will 'write' his Journal as simply as possible, with a dose of regional grammatical 'mistakes' thrown in for flavor.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Anyone help with the issue of voice?</span><br />
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Excerpt from <i>Journey West</i> as an example of voice issues:<br /><u>April, 21<sup>st</sup>, 1898. Arion Depot (Early morning.)</u>
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<span style="font-size: large;">It’s not that I know Ol’ Jebb that well, but seeing the
gleam in Ol’ Jebb’s<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>eye, I reckon he has one of those ‘good for you, son’ half-smiles that Ma sometimes
has too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know he likes me. I show him
the sketches I’ve done so far, as I sit there sketching his coffee mug – he
gets up, he says, “I’ll trade you a mug, that you can keep, with hot coffee
now, until you leave – and I’ll give you warm supper to-night.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large; font-weight: normal;">“You will?”<br />“Sure,” Ol’ Jebb says, “…in fact Frank, you can keep that
old cream mug, it is chipped and dented – you want it, it’s yours.”<br />“But, Jebb, you say you’ll trade me. Trade me what?”<br />“Frank…,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>boy, you’ve
got talent. I don’t think you realize how good you are. I want that sketch of
my coffee mug. And I want you to sign it too. Will you do that for me boy? I’m
going to make a wooden frame for it – hang it on my wall. You come see it when
you get back, all right?”</span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: -.5in; margin-right: -.5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-prop-change: "Jack Bybee" 20091031T2028;">
<span style="background: yellow; font-size: xx-small; mso-highlight: yellow;">**</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large; font-weight: normal;">I don’t know whether to laugh or cry.<br />“Really! You’ll do that?” I nearly shout. “I’ve never signed
any of my sketches. Sure I’ll sign it. And you gonna frame it? Gee – wait till
Ma hears this! Y’know…, it’s not <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">that</i>
good, I’ve done some in ink, that are better, far better, this here, is in
charcoal. You know that, right, Jebb?”<br />“I still want it. I love the look and feel. I can feel the
warmth of the coffee coming through.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large; font-weight: normal;">“Gee whiz. Gee whiz!” That’s all I can say. GEE WHIZZIKERS!”</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">***</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: large;">Brief Backgrounder</span><span style="font-size: large;">: </span></h4>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0ac8NOWcd5PvTOVxCt9NMjg0JOFgXB4FHw2SksFKKR7R8Je3n8lCPKtsIoOwwnVXDXAPIQERqpqS2-sgRWy4uDtRLzKBbPIpfQgBX01iINBJfX3BKR12BMup0OsXUpn4I8J7tfoyRJIQ/s1600/Frank+Rudd+(GrandPa)+Bybee.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0ac8NOWcd5PvTOVxCt9NMjg0JOFgXB4FHw2SksFKKR7R8Je3n8lCPKtsIoOwwnVXDXAPIQERqpqS2-sgRWy4uDtRLzKBbPIpfQgBX01iINBJfX3BKR12BMup0OsXUpn4I8J7tfoyRJIQ/s320/Frank+Rudd+(GrandPa)+Bybee.jpg" height="320" width="222" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Frank Rudd Bybee - a sad, confused, sullen man, only wanting to "... go back to the farm" and find Hunter (his dog).. and Ma... and, of course, his first love, Clarissa.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-Kgo19b5U_GASLZzhrZ_jYhuuxNWGl_WPHVOXeSKKvJO7D49G271Hn11c2BAZLjJ-lz6gGvGxKIYtsWZPmerekOzqo9wkTlGaL3s3pGiHuMJpavy5oMCDoiT6KEEyoCYhZmPKo3CoE-4/s1600/Hex+River+001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-Kgo19b5U_GASLZzhrZ_jYhuuxNWGl_WPHVOXeSKKvJO7D49G271Hn11c2BAZLjJ-lz6gGvGxKIYtsWZPmerekOzqo9wkTlGaL3s3pGiHuMJpavy5oMCDoiT6KEEyoCYhZmPKo3CoE-4/s320/Hex+River+001.jpg" height="217" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">The Hex River Valley in the Western Cape of South Africa where Frank eventually settled. His cottage (much like the little white thatch roofed dot in the middle of the image) lay up the valley to the right hand side of the image. This is where Frank Rudd Bybee's three sons (Jack, Leland, and Ellis [my father and uncles]) earned their mountaineering stripes. BTW - Frank worked for many years for the Cape Orchard Company, a concern storing deciduous fruit for export. The yellows, reds and browns are autumn leaves on the vines. Right at this moment (May - July) that scene is probably playing out in the Hex River Valley. All this is in <i>The Journey North</i> and is quite a long (writing) <i>schlep</i> away - as it physically was, as well.</span><br />
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Searching for images of the North Platte River from ground level.</span></h4>
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<span style="font-size: large; font-weight: normal;">Is there anyone out there reading this who has traveled the North Platte River out of Omaha, Nebraska. and who is willing, for research purposes, to share those images with me? I'll credit you in the title.</span></h4>
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<span style="font-size: large; font-weight: normal;">I have been to Google Earth, and have a few "Street Level" views from the banks of the river. Looking for more, from "higher up" in the passes.</span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: large;">The Brig</span><span style="font-size: large;">. </span></h4>
<span style="font-size: large; font-weight: normal;">"Please... please officer, I'm a writer, and I need to experience what it is like in a ships brig (jail)... please officer, lock me up. "</span><span style="font-size: large;"> (Yup! Got another looney here. Send the cruiser.") It's a bit drastic, but how else, can I get a sense of what being confined to a brig in a clipper going around Cape Horn is like? I'm talking about smells, sights, sounds, lights, fixtures etc. etc. Help!</span><br />
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Jack Bybee, author, The Journal of Ruddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13403816704596297747noreply@blogger.com0