Thank you, Carol, for a calming word.
I sincerely apologize for getting on my high (and very bloody) horse this morning...and yesterday, if that's where it started. I've spent thousands of dollars now in training courses, workshops, and buying up all sorts of gimmicks and books trying to learn a new profession and just got a little impatient being told what I already knew...and had found out didn't work.
After working for thirty years as a historical archaeologist, I wanted to try another way to get the word out to the public about the world as I saw it...one full of adventure, romance, intrigue and the kinds of surprises that no one could invent from whole cloth. I've been lucky enough to work in National Parks all over the western United States, from Alaska to New Mexico...even a January trip to Antarctica, so I don't have to make up a thing. I thought the stories would sell themselves. I thought all I had to do was find an agent, and I'd be home free. I thought (foolish me) that my credentials would count for something, and the fact that I could string a sentence together with all the verbs and nouns in the right place would help me out a little.
It doesn't work that way, folks.
When I get that first archaeological mystery published, I'll put together the symposium at SHA, and round up Michael Gear, and Jean Auel, and others that have made it, too, and we'll share our success stories. Until then, I guess I'm going to have to keep dodging the bullets and watching for those "I'm too busy with my best-selling author clients" letters from agents.
Bitter? A little. Ready to give up. Not yet.
And I DO apologize to all of you who got caught by my wild swings. I'm frustrated.
Cathy
Catherine H. Spude, PhD
Montana Dawn, Enterprises
7 Avenida Vista Grande #145
Santa Fe, NM 87508
505-466-1476 home
505-913-1326 cell
[log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>
"Life is not tried, it is merely survived if you're standing outside the fire." Jenny Yates and Garth Brooks.
----- Original Message -----
From: Carol McDavid<mailto:[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Tuesday, September 25, 2007 1:31 PM
Subject: Fiction writing as Public Archaeology (was: an archaeological mystery)
C'mon, folks, these snarky replies are sorta mean. While I would agree that
some Catherine's replies to various bits of well-meaning advice were a tad
high-handed, they didn't deserve this sort of response. To her credit,
rather than simply ignoring the suggestions that didn't apply to her
situation, she took all suggestions seriously and answered in detail. Most
of us haven't gone down this road before, and there was good information in
most of the postings, whether they were relevant to her original query or
not.
That being said, another issue I'd like to put on the table is to point out
that writing fiction based on archaeological research is a legitimate PUBLIC
ARCHAEOLOGY activity, worthy of both DOING and ANALYSING. As can be seen
from this thread, it is a difficult enterprise. How can we encourage our
colleagues who are trying to do this? How can we encourage our publics to
read it? How can we evaluate whether it is successful in countering all of
the myths and stereotypes about archaeology?
Related to this...does anyone know of any creative writing programs
affiliated with archaeological sites? It's an area I've considered
developing as part of my site's PA efforts, but it would be great to have
some good examples if others have already attempted this.
Anyway, kudos to Catherine, and anyone else who makes the attempt to enter
this very challenging area of publishing. You are doing good public
archaeology.
cheers,
carol
**************************************
Carol McDavid, Ph.D.
Project Director, Public Archaeology, Yates Community Archaeology Project
Adjunct Asst. Professor, University of Houston
1638 Branard
Houston, TX 77006
www.webarchaeology.com<http://www.webarchaeology.com/>
www.publicarchaeology.org<http://www.publicarchaeology.org/>
----- Original Message -----
From: "Bob Skiles" <[log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>>
To: <[log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>>
Sent: Tuesday, September 25, 2007 1:01 PM
Subject: Re: an archaeological mystery
> What a snotty know-it-all ingrate! Thanks for giggin' her!
>
> Bob
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Mark Branstner" <[log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>>
> To: <[log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>>
> Sent: Tuesday, September 25, 2007 12:11 PM
> Subject: Re: an archaeological mystery
>
>
>> >I have already published one historical novel, so I have a game plan.
>>
>>
>> Then, why, oh why are you wasting your time and ours by posting your
>> question to this list?
>>
>>
>> --
>>
>> Mark C. Branstner, RPA
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