tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-57130541332443494442011-11-27T18:21:40.913-05:00All about words and the places we seek them--lit, media, advertising & what falls in between.Kay Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18275071321640008940noreply@blogger.comBlogger1081100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5713054133244349444.post-51952052840151106942008-08-04T14:08:00.002-04:002008-08-04T14:14:21.587-04:00

Someone flagged this blog as a SPAM blog, requiring an investigation by Google. This practice seems to be increasing--a reader will react negatively to the editorial content and decide to cause problems for the blogger.I don't post here regularly anymore. I maintain a blog at Squarespace, The US Report. I pay for that blog, so flagging it will not have the same effect it does at Blogger.I have

Kay Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18275071321640008940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5713054133244349444.post-40807626213863094602008-03-04T16:00:00.003-05:002008-03-04T16:04:11.989-05:00

I'm taking a break from blogging here at Creative Writer US. Too many work projects and two regular columns are demanding my time right now; it's a good problem to have, though.For the time being, please visit me at my other blog, Covering Florida.Or catch the two freelance columns I write on a regular basis at The Writer or Beneath the Brand. Stay tuned for book news!

Kay Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18275071321640008940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5713054133244349444.post-69289808651510105922008-02-14T11:56:00.003-05:002008-02-14T12:11:43.000-05:00

In December I wrote an article, War of the Words, here at Creative Writer US. That article dealt with some mainstream media’s atttempted character assassination of a journalist I’ve known and admired for years, W. Thomas Smith, Jr. Smith got ensnared in a political dogfight between conservative and liberal publications. None of those publications checked all the facts. One of the first

Kay Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18275071321640008940noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5713054133244349444.post-8503759758473840602008-02-13T17:49:00.005-05:002008-02-13T18:02:29.658-05:00

Salman Rushdie introduced the world to radical Islam when a death threat was issued against him by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini of Iran. The threat not only extended to the author of The Satanic Verses, it also extended to his publisher. Recently, Ayaan Hirsi Ali experienced a similar threat, fleeing to America after her friend filmmaker Theo van Gogh was brutally murdered on a city street in

Kay Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18275071321640008940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5713054133244349444.post-44126560043575406242008-02-12T16:41:00.000-05:002008-02-12T16:45:00.845-05:00

I did a column this morning at Beneath the Brand about a contest 'Lucky' magazine is sponsoring. If you can write clever ad copy, take a look and give this a try. Details are in my column, 'Aspiring copywriters: get creative in the 'Lucky' contest and win $1,000 spree.'

Kay Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18275071321640008940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5713054133244349444.post-16714569288522288982008-02-08T18:10:00.000-05:002008-02-08T18:21:10.745-05:00

The 2008 U.S. Presidential Campaign gets hotter by the day. MSNBC's David Shuster was doing an interview, and he asked,"But doesn't it seem like Chelsea's sort of being pimped out in some weird sort of way?" Shuster was referring to Hillary Clinton's daughter's very public involvement in presidential campaigning. Shuster promptly got raked over the coals for his remark.This is a culture thing. I

Kay Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18275071321640008940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5713054133244349444.post-14812508259354252442008-02-05T12:16:00.000-05:002008-02-05T12:34:31.867-05:00

Martin H. Samson, a partner in the New York law firm of Davidoff Malito & Hutcher LLP, is a top authority on Internet Law. He authored the Internet Library site comprising extensive analysis of over 430 court decisions shaping the law of the Web. Samson also publishes the newsletter Internet Law Update. After reading my Dec. 21 post, 'Blogs move beyond original concept, some carry liability for

Kay Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18275071321640008940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5713054133244349444.post-45714123923112827582008-02-01T18:10:00.000-05:002008-02-01T18:18:05.878-05:00

I just mailed the new contract for my column Web Savvy to continue at The Writer. I was thrilled the editors are pleased with the response to my column because I’m passionate about the opportunities technology is opening up for writers. In coming months, I’ll cover a variety of topics and hopefully, find an expert (top bloggers who'd like some exposure, where are you?) who will help explain

Kay Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18275071321640008940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5713054133244349444.post-13065145500890093612008-01-29T15:27:00.001-05:002008-01-29T15:45:17.487-05:00

I wrote a column last week about a writer opting to work as a generalist. This morning I realized it probably isn't for everyone, but it really suits me. The first email I opened was a request from Sky News to come up with some commentary about the Florida Primary. Covering Florida was staring me in the face, a hungry blog begging for a mouthful of content. I remember wishing for 50 visitors a

Kay Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18275071321640008940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5713054133244349444.post-53597399296870422782008-01-25T18:43:00.000-05:002008-01-25T18:47:42.026-05:00

A couple days ago I finished up an interview and dropped by a bookstore on my way home. I’ve been visiting bookstores in a purely clinical way lately. Rather than wandering around mindlessly and coming out with a bag of books, I’ve been studying the way books are arranged in stores and especially the way they’re categorized. Either way, I still come out with a bag of books. When I visit stores I

Kay Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18275071321640008940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5713054133244349444.post-9937586969456699522008-01-23T11:25:00.000-05:002008-01-23T11:31:37.090-05:00

Publishing has increasingly become a forum for experts. If you are a weight-loss guru, a financial expert or a spiritual sage and, more importantly, if you have succeeded in making money off your area of expertise, you automatically have an edge in pitching an article or even a book. And this phenomenon isn’t confined to nonfiction—look at Patricia Cornwall who, after working as technical writer

Kay Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18275071321640008940noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5713054133244349444.post-42922801178384142392008-01-21T17:41:00.000-05:002008-01-21T22:58:03.709-05:00

Message boards are a great resource for writers—you do a story about kumquats you look for a hobby group. Need to know about the effects of a disease or medical treatment? People are inexplicably eager to share. Amazing what grass roots research, a simple search in cyberspace, can do for you.But I also come across messages that I suspect are placed by political plants. If an individual touts a

Kay Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18275071321640008940noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5713054133244349444.post-62725562545627677632008-01-17T16:35:00.000-05:002008-01-17T16:47:38.237-05:00

I get email frequently from different people but with the same question. How do I get started in freelancing? I always view these with frustration, because there’s no easy answer and of course because there’s so much information about this on the Web free of charge. But one of the first things I point an aspiring freelancer to is a network. You can do one physically or on the Web. You can do one

Kay Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18275071321640008940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5713054133244349444.post-59949678417448351942008-01-16T16:54:00.000-05:002008-01-16T17:02:39.061-05:00

Bill Lamin found letters written by his grandfather Harry Lamin during World War I. Bill created a blog, WW1: Experiences of an English Soldier, posting each letter on the day it was written almost a century ago. The result has amazed him. He’s received so many letters and email messages he had to create another blog just for those. He doesn’t mind the hard work though, noting in a message to

Kay Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18275071321640008940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5713054133244349444.post-1537355489379830502008-01-14T17:16:00.001-05:002008-01-14T17:26:07.725-05:00

The Web is a great resource for writers because so many professionals make information available free. I’ve come across some sites that are useful to me, and hopefully, they’ll be useful to you as well. Most writers focus on process and that’s the way it should be. But if you want to sell your work, or if you want to market your book, information from insiders comes in handy. It's true that I

Kay Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18275071321640008940noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5713054133244349444.post-61971798284823918942008-01-11T14:00:00.000-05:002008-01-11T14:10:52.642-05:00

COMMENTARYIt’s all over the news. Tina Brown, former editor of the New Yorker and another in a long line of authors of books about Princess Di, is writing a book about those darlings of the “intellectuali” The Clintons (the ‘T’ on ‘The’ is capped on purpose). I’m not really sure why we need another book aimed at the populace on a topic as worn as my 10-year-old Birkenstocks, but I suppose the

Kay Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18275071321640008940noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5713054133244349444.post-18407552925751263422008-01-08T16:57:00.000-05:002008-01-08T17:08:28.237-05:00

Comedian Jerry Seinfeld has been very outspoken about accusations of plagiarism levied against his wife Jessica by author Missy Chase Lapine. During appearances on TV shows, Seinfeld has implied Lapine is a “wacko” and among other things, he called the author “angry” and “hysterical.” An attorney for the Seinfelds said Lapine’s claims were “unfounded and untrue.” Both authors’ books deal with

Kay Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18275071321640008940noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5713054133244349444.post-7485629226724500632008-01-07T14:39:00.000-05:002008-01-07T14:58:43.954-05:00

A story in the New York Times (Jan. 7) reveals the founder of GigaOm, a hot blog in the tech industry, recently had a heart attack. And although associates of Om Malik say the 41-year-old writer also smoked cigars and cigarettes, a friend of his notes the stress created by Malik's successful blog. I have to admit, blogging can be stressful. The Florida blog I write really creates headaches at

Kay Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18275071321640008940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5713054133244349444.post-22985893320135158552008-01-04T18:26:00.000-05:002008-01-04T18:41:28.733-05:00

I’ve forced myself to dig into the haphazard manuscripts on my desk, because I know I need to get a book out. My newest book is two years old. I left an agent and a couple publishers hanging. My frustration isn’t over writing the book; I do that almost without trying. It’s the business end of the book that puts me off. For one thing, dealing with contracts and rights to future works (aka ‘slave

Kay Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18275071321640008940noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5713054133244349444.post-76250094598988047602008-01-03T20:11:00.000-05:002008-01-03T20:17:07.848-05:00

If you want to really have fun with a book, pick up a copy of The Old Farmer’s Almanac. I first read this book as a girl in my grandmother’s kitchen. It’s become a lifelong habit. If I want to raise a crop of chickens or grow a bunch of herbs, this book has the info I need. There are weather pages for each section of the U.S., and as far as I can tell, the forecasts are pretty accurate. The

Kay Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18275071321640008940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5713054133244349444.post-2224068814546494912008-01-02T18:08:00.000-05:002008-01-02T18:30:42.515-05:00

Maybe it’s the unusual chill in the Florida air (temp in the 20s tonight), but I had an uncommon amount of spring in my step this morning. I’d left the office early on Christmas Eve in a mess, having run out of time. Normally, I’d have dreaded returning to work. But once I took the hound out about 7 a.m. this morning, I was revved up and ready to go. Nothing like a little icy wind to wake up a

Kay Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18275071321640008940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5713054133244349444.post-51587822715791843182007-12-24T10:12:00.000-05:002007-12-24T10:15:04.569-05:00

South Carolina artist Valerie Lumpkin creates each Carolina angel from natural materials like seashells and moss, adding glitter and paint. Lumpkin creates a distinct personality for each angel she crafts. I've purchased dozens of these from her over the years, for decorating at Christmas and for gifts.We hope all our Creative Writer US readers have a holiday filled with joy and peace.

Kay Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18275071321640008940noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5713054133244349444.post-84227988104485784222007-12-21T11:05:00.000-05:002007-12-21T11:09:37.747-05:00

Of late, I’ve discussed blogging with many different writers. Looking to the not so distant past, I remember when people first began to dash off Weblog confessionals. Most, but not all, early blogs tended to repeat the word “I” ad nauseam, were inclined to offer lots of personal information we don’t really want or need (who cares if you smoke two cigarettes after sex?), and came wrapped in

Kay Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18275071321640008940noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5713054133244349444.post-51448195648353940282007-12-17T17:19:00.000-05:002007-12-18T16:57:28.681-05:00

Online political content can sometimes pit left against right in a war of semantics. Even seasoned journalists can get caught in the conflict. That’s exactly what happened to a colleague who is also my friend after he blogged for National Review Online. I felt compelled to share his story.When blogs first began to appear on the Internet, hobby writers created a virtual stampede. The format alone

Kay Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18275071321640008940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5713054133244349444.post-17819517574861691402007-12-14T19:21:00.000-05:002007-12-14T19:32:08.765-05:00

A writer’s best friend is the news. Whether you’re a journalist, poet or novelist, you can always find something to inspire you. You then simply translate your epiphany to a published work. Many of my poems have been written as a result of something that happened, something that inspired me to speak. I recall seeing the story of a river that flooded a community. Ironically, this was the second

Kay Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18275071321640008940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5713054133244349444.post-40487909114490540902007-12-10T18:22:00.000-05:002007-12-10T18:56:54.814-05:00

This is the time of year when my family gets annoyed with me. My younger daughter is a perfect example. She asks, "What do you want for Christmas?" Then before I can utter a syllable she says with disdain, "Oh, I know! Legal pads and stamps, right?" Truth is, I like practical gifts for myself--things that can be used in my home office-- though I don't apply that to others. When I select a gift

Kay Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18275071321640008940noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5713054133244349444.post-23251844501950837962007-12-06T12:35:00.000-05:002007-12-06T13:17:28.698-05:00

There's an interesting post at the blog TechCrunch, about how easy it is to use portable media devices for "stealing books." The writer notes the technology known as BitTorrents conveniently enables this act. What's even more interesting is the discussion following the post. One fellow, Chris, who describes himself as a writer, offers some interesting views about compensating writers. He posits

Kay Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18275071321640008940noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5713054133244349444.post-41115751738272763352007-12-05T15:29:00.000-05:002007-12-05T15:35:19.636-05:00

The Writers Guild of America strike and the recent ruling over content rights for print journalists reflect discord in the entertainment industry and in traditional publishing. In all corners of the content world, dialog is in progress over a number of issues, with new media at the forefront. Who could foresee the impact technology would have on the writing profession? New developments are

Kay Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18275071321640008940noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5713054133244349444.post-34004731851990385962007-12-03T22:06:00.000-05:002007-12-03T22:12:53.877-05:00

Posted with permission from The Authors Guild, a statement emailed to members Nov. 29 about the reversal in the Freelance Class-Action settlement:We received surprising and disappointing news in our freelance class action suit this morning. The 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals reversed, in a 2-1 decision, the district court's approval of the settlement.That settlement, valued at up to $18 million,

Kay Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18275071321640008940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5713054133244349444.post-46383386919836413222007-12-03T11:15:00.000-05:002007-12-03T11:33:08.883-05:00

The U. S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit in Manhattan voided a settlement on Thursday, resulting in widespread implications for freelance writers. The New York Times reported Judge Chester J. Straub contended in his decision, “… federal copyright law allows claims for damages only by writers who have registered their work with the United States Copyright Office. The vast majority of

Kay Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18275071321640008940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5713054133244349444.post-54854002959255479852007-11-30T17:34:00.000-05:002007-11-30T18:04:56.228-05:00

Love him or hate him, William F. Buckley has led a charmed, interesting and productive life. His book, Cancel Your Own Goddam Subscription, Notes and Asides from National Review, plunges the reader into the author’s experiences by way of letters, commentary and memos related to his work at the iconic conservative magazine Buckley founded in 1955. Reading the book is akin to surfing a Web site

Kay Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18275071321640008940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5713054133244349444.post-3241707065911928012007-11-27T13:49:00.000-05:002007-11-27T13:57:28.368-05:00

I picked up the November issue of Vanity Fair a few weeks ago, and the content reflects why this is one of my favorite magazines. The cover shot of the late president John F. Kennedy and his wife Jackie stopped me in my tracks in the bookstore. It’s a remarkable photograph by Richard Avedon, perfectly capturing the crinkles around Kennedy’s eyes when he smiled, and evoking instant recall of

Kay Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18275071321640008940noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5713054133244349444.post-14984522847790537112007-11-26T15:41:00.000-05:002007-11-26T15:46:49.690-05:00

The first day back after any holiday always hurts. Like when you get one of those little paper slash cuts as you lick an envelope. You get the wince and the ouch. It hurts whether you had a good holiday or a bad holiday.My Thanksgiving ended up Turkey Perfect. As soon as I closed the laptop last Wednesday, I managed to ditch every single work-related thought. I’d spent several weeks trying to get

Kay Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18275071321640008940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5713054133244349444.post-22049012202401138912007-11-21T16:53:00.000-05:002007-11-21T17:03:30.447-05:00

“Autumn Begins in Martins Ferry, Ohio” by James Wright is one of my favorite poems, especially this time of year. These lines are stuck in my head:Therefore,Their sons grow suicidally beautifulAt the beginning of October,And gallop terribly against each other's bodies.Wright’s poetry is remarkable. Read the whole poem and other info about Wright at the Academy of American Poets site.I’ll keep his

Kay Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18275071321640008940noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5713054133244349444.post-76902378657307535362007-11-20T15:34:00.000-05:002007-11-20T15:40:50.747-05:00

Charles Kaiser at Radar Online says the New York Times news desk has (reportedly) proposed omitting dates stories were filed. Kaiser says there’s a suggestion “circulating." Kaiser quotes a NYT memo stating, "We'll still call them datelines, but they will now give only the name of the place, with no date." Apparently, staffers want stories to retain that fresh feel. Maybe they could come up with

Kay Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18275071321640008940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5713054133244349444.post-25089843034922745522007-11-19T18:12:00.001-05:002007-11-19T18:15:20.009-05:00

A writeup in Time magazine (Nov. 12) suggests women’s magazines are bucking industry trends by thriving. Ad revenues in one division of the Hearst Corp.—the division that publishes O and Cosmopolitan along with 17 other titles—increased to $2.5 billion from $841 million over a ten year period. Freelancers can take heart because this field, dominated by glossies, tends to pay more than creative,

Kay Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18275071321640008940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5713054133244349444.post-8996189791323845652007-11-15T13:37:00.000-05:002007-11-15T13:50:35.391-05:00

Two sources—the Huffington Post and newsbusters.org—say Newsweek has tapped enterprising liberal Markos Moulitsas to help cover the 2008 U.S. presidential election. Moulitsas founded Daily Kos and parlayed the blog to a Technorati rank of 11 and a Google page rank that any dedicated blogger can envy—a 7. The blog is a great place for reading progressive political content. My first impulse is to

Kay Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18275071321640008940noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5713054133244349444.post-67273590562442261362007-11-13T10:25:00.000-05:002007-11-13T10:27:09.157-05:00

Several months ago, I offered to pen a dedication poem for a park in my neighborhood, the Billard Commemorative Park and Veteran’s Memorial developed by the Mandarin Community Club. Mandarin reminds me a lot of my hometown in South Carolina, so this place spoke to me in a very personal way. The Billard property was a family homestead for many years, but the home itself was deemed unsalvageable. I

Kay Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18275071321640008940noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5713054133244349444.post-55885586868411765512007-11-07T16:26:00.000-05:002007-11-07T16:31:22.631-05:00

Sunset over the St. John's River.Tuesday evening I had the pleasure of reading poetry with some of Jacksonville’s finest writers. The library’s Southeast Branch organized the “Meet the Poets” event, with Michael Platzer coordinating for the library. A driving force behind the event was Florida poet Bonny Barry Sanders (Touching Shadows, 2005) who helped assemble the poets and publicize the

Kay Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18275071321640008940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5713054133244349444.post-41927703744022942862007-10-26T12:47:00.000-04:002007-10-26T13:00:13.741-04:00

I recently had the pleasure of doing an interview with former U.S. poet laureate Donald Hall for The Writer. In the preliminary stages of setting up my questions, I searched for books and articles about Hall, who happens to be one of my favorite writers. I came across the book ‘Giving Their Word, Conversations with Contemporary Poets,’ by Steven Ratiner. In addition to interviews with Hall,

Kay Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18275071321640008940noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5713054133244349444.post-90255483812729997872007-10-17T15:25:00.000-04:002007-10-17T15:32:30.779-04:00

Florida Community College’s Downtown Campus will host two acclaimed writers during International Education Week this November.In celebration of International Education Week, the Downtown Campus of Florida Community College at Jacksonville will host Celia Lisset Alvarez and Marisella Veiga on November 19, 2007. Both writers will read selections from their works. A reception and book signing will

Kay Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18275071321640008940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5713054133244349444.post-68620501419487924692007-10-11T17:39:00.001-04:002007-10-11T17:42:51.696-04:00

It’s about time poet David Kirby receives the attention he’s due. The professor teaches at Florida State University, with specialties in poetry and 19th century U.S. literature. We were delighted to see his inclusion as a finalist in poetry for the 2007 National Book Awards for 'The House on Boulevard St.'Months ago, I was link hopping poetry sites on the Web, and I came across the Florida page

Kay Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18275071321640008940noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5713054133244349444.post-60165367184976660312007-10-09T18:54:00.000-04:002007-10-09T19:02:49.314-04:00

COMMENTARYThe Authors@Google® series is one more in a long line of pleasures from the company that began by offering a better way to search. Christopher Hitchens spoke in August at Google Headquarters in Mountain View, California. He set out to defend the subtitle of his book, ‘God Is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything.’ Hitchens employs his characteristic razor-sharp wit and intellect

Kay Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18275071321640008940noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5713054133244349444.post-10377398820226821442007-10-04T11:17:00.000-04:002007-10-04T11:56:03.953-04:00

Howard K. Stern wants $60 million, alleging journalist Rita Cosby and her publisher are guilty of false and defamatory accusations against Stern. Cosby’s book,Blond Ambition, says the South Florida Sun-Sentinel in a story on Tuesday, figures in the lawsuit because the book alleges Stern committed, “among other things, criminal lewd acts, homosexual acts, illegal possession and use of cocaine,

Kay Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18275071321640008940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5713054133244349444.post-61980750477678283522007-10-02T10:42:00.000-04:002007-10-02T10:50:11.221-04:00

In Monday’s mail, a contest announcement arrived. The Tampa Review invites poets to submit manuscripts for the annual Tampa Review Poetry Prize. I’ve researched the contest and feel comfortable sharing the news with my readers. The fee is reasonable--$20. The prize is worthwhile—hardcover book publication, $1,000 in prize monies and selected poems published in the Tampa Review. This is one of the

Kay Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18275071321640008940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5713054133244349444.post-85613302870731540522007-09-27T10:12:00.001-04:002007-09-27T10:20:08.860-04:00

I agreed to join other members of the Blog Catalog community in writing an advocacy column today. Members are participating in an effort called “Against Abuse.” Each of us could select our own good cause. I chose advocacy for animals. Some of the stories I found are sickening.Last week the Humane Society of the United States posted a news release about the death of a carriage horse in New York.

Kay Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18275071321640008940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5713054133244349444.post-26235488367555525562007-09-24T20:15:00.000-04:002007-09-24T20:20:08.423-04:00

So I had a meeting with an agent. I pitched a nonfiction book. The agent was positive about the idea. He asked for a proposal and gave me his card.So I tried. But I couldn’t see the book in my head. And I couldn’t figure out what to do. I wrote about 100 pages. And I still couldn’t see the book in my head. So I dropped it.I didn’t do the proposal. And of course I worried because I needed to come

Kay Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18275071321640008940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5713054133244349444.post-38915141437272272382007-09-21T17:57:00.000-04:002007-09-21T18:00:36.950-04:00

The video says it all.Only thing I can add is thank God for the good editors I have--you know who you are.Thanks to a fellow ASJA member for sharing this link.

Kay Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18275071321640008940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5713054133244349444.post-43771640892644757452007-09-19T16:17:00.000-04:002007-09-19T17:49:56.607-04:00

It can be so frustrating, this blogging habit. You pour your words onto the screen, diligently post, and sit there wondering who will read it. If readers loved me like my hound dog, I'd be writing on easy street.My Creative Writer US blog seems to be at a plateau—maybe because there are so many writing blogs. I get thousands of unique visitors at Covering Florida each month. At Creative Writer US

Kay Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18275071321640008940noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5713054133244349444.post-54406455728884026302007-09-17T16:43:00.000-04:002007-09-17T16:54:19.974-04:00

I read a post at a discussion forum—the author found a Web site had copied her content verbatim. She contacted the owner of the site, who basically told her to shove it—there was nothing she could do. The site owner did remove the content, however. In August, I wrote a column about a lawsuit filed by an author who took issue with a bad review of his book. The reviewer didn’t just bash the book;

Kay Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18275071321640008940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5713054133244349444.post-34803953473432757362007-09-14T16:47:00.000-04:002007-09-14T16:53:28.738-04:00

After imploding his career—profitably—with his alleged memoir, ‘A Million Little Pieces,’ James Frey continues his—profitable—success with the sale of his novel to HarperCollins. The book is scheduled for publication in summer, 2008. Jonathan Burnham, senior vice president and publisher at HC, said in a corporate news release, “James Frey is an immensely talented writer who has written a truly

Kay Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18275071321640008940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5713054133244349444.post-31405067663296253372007-09-12T10:33:00.000-04:002007-09-12T13:43:57.494-04:00

A poetry group I belong to at Facebook came up with a contest. Write a poem beginning with 'Face' and ending in 'Book.' I did that, but my poem is too long for the contest guidelines. I mentioned I'd written one, here at my blog and on Facebook. Well, that spurred curiosity. People have visited this blog in hopes of finding the poem, according to the keywords showing on search inquiries. Others

Kay Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18275071321640008940noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5713054133244349444.post-33531727258420546342007-09-10T13:11:00.000-04:002007-09-11T12:04:15.433-04:00

Visit links noted below to learn more about Snell's work.Most authors are glad to get a contract for one book. Cheryl Snell can celebrate getting two, and one of those contracts is a double deal, so technically, she hit three home runs.Snell says it was hard to find a publisher for her novel ‘Shiva’s Arms.’ In an email interview, she wrote, “It took awhile. The first publisher I sent the

Kay Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18275071321640008940noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5713054133244349444.post-83876013472834900552007-09-07T14:03:00.000-04:002007-09-07T14:17:25.597-04:00

Marié Digby came across as a budding musician, naïve in the ways of the music world. Her apparently ‘homespun’ performances have been viewed more than 2.3 million times on YouTube, according to an article in the Wall Street Journal. Imagine all those other budding musicians who, hearts full of goodwill, cheered Digby’s success in signing with a major record label. Imagine all those same budding

Kay Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18275071321640008940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5713054133244349444.post-11274701478319671202007-09-05T14:25:00.000-04:002007-09-05T14:34:53.645-04:00

Kim Addonizio’s work first engaged me when I read her poems. There are gems in her collections, poems that just stop you cold. Poems like “Therapy,” “The Divorcee and Gin” and “Mermaid Song” should become classics—they’re like a favorite song replayed, instantly winging into your world like exotic little birds catching your eye. Her new novel My Dreams Out in the Street: A Novel is equally

Kay Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18275071321640008940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5713054133244349444.post-63765387113201809232007-09-04T12:57:00.000-04:002007-09-04T13:08:40.453-04:00

Last week I was on the phone, talking business with a meeting organizer. She’s younger than me. When I told her I had a Facebook page, she giggled. I told her age doesn't mean much to me. I forget how old I am; most days I have more energy than I did at 20 because I don’t keep the late (often rowdy) hours I did then.My older daughter, a grad student at a Florida university, actually talked me

Kay Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18275071321640008940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5713054133244349444.post-28474731685413778842007-08-31T13:33:00.000-04:002007-08-31T13:47:37.211-04:00

Read a message from author Judy Gruen and smiles are inevitable. “Can’t decide whether to stay friends with a size two woman who won’t eat a carrot because of its high-carb content?” she wrote. Gruen’s keen sense of humor is making her latest book, ‘The Women’s Daily Irony Supplement,’ increasingly popular. Her wit has also earned one of her quips a spot on 5 million Starbucks® cups. How did

Kay Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18275071321640008940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5713054133244349444.post-58780323617376889042007-08-30T14:45:00.000-04:002007-08-30T14:59:50.800-04:00

I came across this statue at Marywood Retreat as I finished interviews for a newspaper story. I'll gaze at the photo tacked to my bulletin board until, one day, my pen will begin to crawl across my notebook.I was interviewing an author this morning for my Web Savvy column, and I mentioned inspiration. To me, the process is sort of like finding a penny on the sidewalk. Since I was a girl, I’ve

Kay Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18275071321640008940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5713054133244349444.post-61863856616611571902007-08-29T11:29:00.000-04:002007-08-29T11:36:48.923-04:00

Poems are ridiculous, insecure creatures. They show up at all hours with no warning, demanding immediate attention like a troubled friend who believes you exist for him or her on demand. I joined the "Poetry" group on Facebook recently, and noticed a contest. The challenge: write a poem beginning with the word face and ending with the word book. The impossible—for me—challenge: confine the

Kay Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18275071321640008940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5713054133244349444.post-76205218690237195692007-08-28T22:13:00.000-04:002007-08-28T22:24:01.583-04:00

A late afternoon email from Rebecca Pepin brought good news. Wal-Mart has ordered 10,000 copies of the book ‘Faces of Freedom’ for outlets in parts of Virginia and South Carolina. Pepin conceived and edited the book as a tribute to U.S. troops who have lost their lives in Iraq and Afghanistan. Fellow Florida author Jenn McCollum and I hope to set up a signing here in Jacksonville.Pepin pulled

Kay Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18275071321640008940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5713054133244349444.post-22448050035285790252007-08-27T15:16:00.000-04:002007-08-27T15:30:59.533-04:00

Wired [1-year subscription]There’s a lot of great content in the September issue of Wired Magazine, starting with a story about a botnet attack on Estonia. The attack, says the article, “nearly shut down the most wired country in Europe.” This orchestrated attack constituted Web War I against a country, the magazine says.The attack involved a variety of methods, including computers forwarding

Kay Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18275071321640008940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5713054133244349444.post-78235759343543232832007-08-24T18:21:00.000-04:002007-08-24T18:48:37.853-04:00

I learned to navigate Facebook by enlisting help from my daughter, a graduate student at a Florida university.I read part of an interview with Mark Cuban in Lloyd Grove’s column at Portfolio.com. Cuban made his primary fortune by plying his entrepreneurial skills as a partner in Broadcast.com. This Web TV company was sold to Yahoo for $5.7 billion in stock, and then, Lloyd writes, “cashed out

Kay Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18275071321640008940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5713054133244349444.post-32607641850708680062007-08-23T14:39:00.000-04:002007-08-23T15:02:22.745-04:00

I enjoyed sharing my poems with members and guests of a historical society in Jacksonville.When I was young my mother, when I repeated my ambition to become a poet, advised me in typical no-nonsense fashion.“Poets are dead before anybody knows who they are.”Years later, as I worked steadily at trying to survive as a freelance writer, I continued to write poetry on the side. I published many

Kay Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18275071321640008940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5713054133244349444.post-1641927916159744062007-08-22T10:53:00.000-04:002007-08-23T10:20:53.561-04:00

COMMENTARYNow comes the latest in a long line of those pop polls mass media loves. What better way to grab attention? An Associated Press-Ipsos poll reveals 1 of 4 of American adults didn’t read a book in 2006. This begs the obvious question: what about the other 3? And it begs a question I love to ask. Who has time to squander yapping on a phone with a pollster? What type of personality agrees

Kay Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18275071321640008940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5713054133244349444.post-34655717715819566172007-08-21T13:41:00.000-04:002007-08-21T14:00:34.111-04:00

Fellow American Society of Journalists and Authors member Joshua Berman has called our attention to a post at boingbong.net, wherein there’s a revelation about a professor at the University of Minnesota Morris being sued, along with Seed Media, for a negative book review.The professor ripped into a book by Stuart Pivar, who has morphed from author to plaintiff. Pivar’s case was filed August 16

Kay Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18275071321640008940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5713054133244349444.post-10422323826460211722007-08-20T14:42:00.000-04:002007-08-20T14:48:34.694-04:00

Want to know which digital camera is best for your budget and your purpose? Or how to shorten that URL to an easier-to-remember Web address? Or whether a Web site has published your content without legal permission? How about finding information about fair poetry and writing contests? Or maybe just find a site with forums, markets and writer-bewares (not to mention a free newsletter). Here are

Kay Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18275071321640008940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5713054133244349444.post-79548110281558776152007-08-15T18:30:00.000-04:002007-08-15T18:44:15.290-04:00

I often have aspiring writers ask me if they should write for free. I usually tell them if something’s good enough to publish, you should be paid for it. I confess I often see things published that weren’t good enough to see the light of day, in my humble opinion, but yesterday I saw something that completely blew my mind.There was a “job” listing by a publication at the freelance board for the

Kay Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18275071321640008940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5713054133244349444.post-90481069106160428172007-08-14T21:02:00.000-04:002007-08-14T21:23:25.776-04:00

A fellow member of the American Society of Journalists and Authors recently recommended a book on blogging. Start your Own Blogging Business by J. S. McDougall delivers what she said it would and more.The book covers blogging from startup to revenue earning, offering information for hobby bloggers and those who blog for business purposes. There's a chapter on blogging services; I thought I knew

Kay Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18275071321640008940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5713054133244349444.post-9331704673089893862007-08-13T14:41:00.000-04:002007-08-13T14:49:16.261-04:00

My new poetry collection is almost complete, and I’m considering different options for publishing it. I had the benefit of a traditional publisher with my last two books. But copyright developments in the marketplace as well as thoughts about profitability are leading me to take a hard look at self-publishing.If you’ve been following the columns I’ve written about the Faulkner vs. National

Kay Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18275071321640008940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5713054133244349444.post-3230334884346801612007-08-11T02:08:00.000-04:002007-08-11T11:42:15.100-04:00

After days of emails and message board comments flying back and forth between freelancers who belong to the Society of Professional Journalists, I bit the bullet. I re-read the legal decision handed down by Lewis A. Kaplan, judge for the U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York.This is not riveting reading. It is rather like reading, in succession, the breakdown in nutrients on 100

Kay Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18275071321640008940noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5713054133244349444.post-84798477759910305132007-08-10T14:16:00.000-04:002007-08-10T14:27:57.725-04:00

When my younger daughter was enrolled in the creative writing program at a public arts school, she frequently told me she liked to write but she had no intentions of becoming a writer. I told her, “Too late.” I told her a writer writes because she does it, not because she really intends to do it. My daughter really wants to be a musician. She writes songs and lyrics. She’s won awards, not just

Kay Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18275071321640008940noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5713054133244349444.post-22119134231451624262007-08-09T14:20:00.001-04:002007-08-09T14:45:27.471-04:00

Absent the front pages of most newspapers today is a story about an organization ensconced in the newspaper realm for almost a century. The story actually impacts publishers and content providers in all media. In simple terms, the Society of Professional Journalists has filed an amicus brief supporting National Geographic in a lawsuit brought by a photographer whose last name is Faulkner and

Kay Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18275071321640008940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5713054133244349444.post-85590202993127593772007-08-08T10:51:00.000-04:002007-08-08T21:13:58.550-04:00

I met a few SPJ members in Washington at the D.C. chapter's Christmas party. I'd traveled to the capital to read poetry at 'Florida Poets Arrive' at the U.S. Library of Congress.The Society of Professional Journalists signed on to an amicus brief supporting National Geographic in a lawsuit involving contributors’ rights relating to collective works produced by publishers. How does this serve SPJ

Kay Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18275071321640008940noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5713054133244349444.post-66436415047023247092007-08-07T12:09:00.000-04:002007-08-07T12:22:30.276-04:00

Nine out of ten (89 percent) of American adults believe that sending text messages or emails while driving is distracting, dangerous, and should be outlawed, according to a new survey commissioned by mobile messaging service Pinger, Inc. and conducted by Harris Interactive(R). Similar numbers (91 percent) of adults thought that drivers distracted by sending text messages or mobile email were

Kay Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18275071321640008940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5713054133244349444.post-4851726188956433502007-08-06T16:15:00.000-04:002007-08-06T16:24:07.730-04:00

Jeff Reich has been named editor of The Writer. Elfrieda Abbe has moved into the publisher’s slot. Congratulations to both as they continue to manage a magazine known for nurturing writers since 1887.I met Jeff for coffee during a conference in New York. He is a genteel sort of fellow, very well read and very “thinkative.” He’s one of those editors writers are glad to be able to work with. Part

Kay Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18275071321640008940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5713054133244349444.post-89615592726896883612007-08-05T18:57:00.001-04:002007-08-05T23:08:08.026-04:00

We finally managed to cull through all the stacks of paper I'd accumulated in my former office. I learned something about myself: I am better off with a smaller office. I am teaching myself to use a trash can. I'm a fanatic clipper--always snipping an article or fact collection for possible future pieces. I'm trying to save files in folders on my computer, and trying to keep a clip notebook so

Kay Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18275071321640008940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5713054133244349444.post-73158971018024406592007-07-15T23:33:00.000-04:002007-08-05T18:55:51.529-04:00

Drop by my new column Web Savvy at The Writer magazine. In this column I feature information about all aspects of sharpening your pen with knowledge about the Web. If you want to know how to make the Web work for your writing career, Web Savvy is a great place to visit. My first columns focused on social networks for writers and digital photography as a means to increase freelance sales.I'm still

Kay Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18275071321640008940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5713054133244349444.post-46163005222083365582007-05-22T16:12:00.000-04:002007-07-15T23:33:07.720-04:00

Summer's almost here, and my posts at the Creative Writer US site will be less frequent.I have some freelance assigments to finish and two books to whip into shape. I also plan to take some time off.I'll be posting every week day at the 451press.com site, where I write a column about Jacksonville, Florida.I'll also continue to post regularly at my personal blog Covering Florida.Please visit me

Kay Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18275071321640008940noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5713054133244349444.post-1722287813771390422007-05-17T13:25:00.000-04:002007-05-17T13:30:47.659-04:00

I inked the contract yesterday, so it’s too early to tell how things will go. But I signed on to write the Jacksonville, Fla. blog for 451press.com.I’d been searching for a good blogging gig for several weeks, simply because (and obviously to readers) I like to blog. This type endeavor will fit well with the other work I do, for clients like the Florida Times Union, The Writer, UPI, and Coastal

Kay Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18275071321640008940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5713054133244349444.post-20375951678514036942007-05-15T14:23:00.000-04:002007-05-15T14:36:01.774-04:00

This morning, on the Blog Catalog discussion board, someone asked a question about resources for freelancers. I get similar questions by email.Frankly, I don’t think there’s ever been a better time to be a writer. Consider all the content we take in each day, via the Web, TV, radio, newspapers, magazines and products. If you’ve ever read a cereal box, you know what I mean by “products.” Somebody

Kay Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18275071321640008940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5713054133244349444.post-42507348496526429392007-05-14T09:25:00.000-04:002007-05-14T09:45:51.380-04:00

Conceived by “Monawea,” founder of iwebis.com, the Blog Catalog Mass Buzz experiment gets underway today.Basically, participating bloggers post a story about our experience with Blog Catalog.I listed Creative Writer US and my other two blogs at BC a few weeks ago. Since then I’ve met a number of bloggers and visited their sites. The “Recent Viewers” box in my sidebar on this page shows members

Kay Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18275071321640008940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5713054133244349444.post-73045370978398269982007-05-09T10:00:00.000-04:002007-05-09T10:03:29.276-04:00

For bloggers hoping to increase readership and income, iwebis.com is a great resource. Mona Weathers, who writes under the pen name monawea, offers information about earning opportunities, social networking, communicating with readers and other topics of interest to those of us bitten by the blog bug.Monawea says she blogs as a personal “outlet,” and for the extra family income. She tells her

Kay Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18275071321640008940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5713054133244349444.post-44001014317817164522007-05-04T17:19:00.001-04:002008-02-13T17:48:31.347-05:00

When Ayaan Hirsi Ali scheduled an appearance at the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown in Western Pennsylvania, Islamic leaders wanted her stopped. One Islamic center leader who had immigrated to America from Egypt told the Tribune-Review the author had “defamed the faith.” He further noted, "If you come into the faith, you must abide by the laws, and when you decide to defame it deliberately

Kay Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18275071321640008940noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5713054133244349444.post-23807523014166925462007-05-02T09:36:00.000-04:002007-05-02T09:49:45.660-04:00

Last week I did a reading at Daytona Beach Community College. I had such a good time with the students. We hung around afterwards, talking to one another about poetry, writing and music. Poetry is pure pleasure. My apart-ness is probably the primary reason I can enjoy it. I don’t have to answer to a university. I don’t have to publish or even submit unless I want to. As I toured with A Poetry

Kay Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18275071321640008940noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5713054133244349444.post-57846570689492883322007-04-29T16:49:00.000-04:002007-05-01T18:38:57.729-04:00

If a student writes a story of death and destruction, is it reasonable to assume he or she is capable of the type of violence Cho Seung-Hui committed at Virginia Tech?I don’t think so. I’ve worked with hundreds of students in different writing situations. Teens are particularly moved to write stories filled with victims losing limbs and over-done descriptions of mayhem and murder. Perhaps because

Kay Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18275071321640008940noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5713054133244349444.post-84028017064040535602007-04-27T17:00:00.000-04:002007-04-27T17:12:55.987-04:00

(From left to right) The flutist at the World Trade Center played hymns as tourists milled around. Tour guide Stan O'Connor drives a pedicab in New York.___________________It’s been years since I visited New York. I used to travel there monthly, when I was on the staff of a magazine with a New York consultant. One thing I quickly remembered: a Southern accent draws comments, mostly benign, along

Kay Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18275071321640008940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5713054133244349444.post-9468962210450166752007-04-23T18:59:00.000-04:002007-04-23T19:09:39.472-04:00

I took this shot when we visited the Empire State Building. You can see the form of the Statue of Liberty in the distance.____________________________________(First in a series about visiting New York for the American Society of Journalists and Authors Conference)If you could pick one word to describe New York City, that word would be adrenalin. The cabbies run on it, pedestrians walk at an

Kay Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18275071321640008940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5713054133244349444.post-12057409154467355252007-04-18T09:47:00.000-04:002007-04-18T09:58:29.758-04:00

I haven’t read a lot of poet Nikki Giovanni’s work. But yesterday, she read a monologue at the memorial service at Virginia Tech.I listened as she moved through her lines with typically strong delivery—lines that addressed, in a way, tragedy as a democracy for all species. Baby elephants, African children who die of AIDS, Mexican children who lack clean water, Appalachian children who die in

Kay Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18275071321640008940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5713054133244349444.post-49771800366616550062007-04-11T09:36:00.000-04:002007-04-11T09:59:48.802-04:00

Prayer for Our TroopsWith the setting of a hostile sunmost of us will never see,when you might welcome dreamsif you could safely drift away,Know your perils slip into our prayerslike footsteps behind us on a lonely street.We may not bring our palms together; we may pray from our kitchen or our car.But even if we do not know your name,in your darkest corridor we wrapour prayers around you, like

Kay Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18275071321640008940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5713054133244349444.post-8374469242593103202007-04-04T18:28:00.000-04:002007-04-04T18:52:29.922-04:00

Judy Sheklin, secretary for Jacksonville’s chapter of the National Organization for Women, was my contact for the March 28 Women’s History Month reading. One reason National Poetry Month makes me so happy is it’s something I look forward to in a month that also brings a date I dread: April 15. I despise all the paperwork that goes into filing taxes. Small comfort came this year because the filing

Kay Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18275071321640008940noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5713054133244349444.post-15092859480196116102007-03-27T13:27:00.000-04:002007-03-27T14:41:32.936-04:00

We’ve always colored eggs for Easter, and of course the mythical bunny left a brimming basket of chocolates and filled plastic eggs for our daughters every year. My family says I’ll make a holiday at the drop of a hat, and I figure that has to do with my German-speaking ancestors who came from Switzerland, according to our family historian. Many customs I grew up with reach to a distant time and

Kay Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18275071321640008940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5713054133244349444.post-19958970819998197202007-03-25T18:42:00.000-04:002007-03-25T18:45:56.822-04:00

I’ve tried to watch Katie Couric, sole female anchor on an evening news program. And despite my best intentions, I end up switching to CNN or Fox. Funny thing is I want Couric to work because she’s female. I liked her okay when she did the peppy morning show with that other guy, the one who’s losing his hair. She seemed genuine then. She was a little perky, but I found that actually helped wake

Kay Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18275071321640008940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5713054133244349444.post-60624421375036277542007-03-22T20:28:00.000-04:002007-03-22T20:37:58.796-04:00

My beagle hound Shadow is in the same boat I'm in. He can afford to be lazy.The gush of spring is strong enoughto play with the globe of earth like a ball on a fountain...--from ‘Craving for Spring’ by D. H. LawrenceFlorida can be very challenging to productivity as spring comes on. I can’t really figure why. Here, there are no sharp definitions between seasons. A coral rose on my deck bloomed on

Kay Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18275071321640008940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5713054133244349444.post-90706428968533624182007-03-18T20:56:00.000-04:002007-03-18T21:18:15.946-04:00

The phrase “boy soldier” seems like an anachronism to an American. We know young boys were caught up in our own Revolutionary War and in the War Between the States. But those wars conjure another place and time long distant from the present.Not so in many parts of the world today. Ishmael Beah recounts his journey to redemption in 'A Long Way Gone', beginning with the destruction of his village

Kay Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18275071321640008940noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5713054133244349444.post-83565151821597168172007-03-14T08:55:00.000-04:002007-03-14T09:06:56.213-04:00

The Web is heating up with news of another copyright battle, Viacom’s $1 billion lawsuit against YouTube. I predict lawsuits will continue to increase in the next few years because technology available on the Web creates gray areas in copyright and other intellectual property rights issues. I don’t think disputes will be limited to sites owned by media conglomerates, and I think a number of

Kay Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18275071321640008940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5713054133244349444.post-25847597790802269122007-03-08T10:36:00.000-05:002007-03-08T11:03:01.362-05:00

On Tuesday I drove down Historic U.S. 1, heading for Flagler College in St. Augustine. This highway runs alongside the East coast of the United States, beginning in Key West and ending in Maine near Canada’s border. The stretch I’m on still bears vestiges of mom-and-pop tourist stops from an era before the nightmare that has become I-95. There are long stretches of green space. You can follow U.S

Kay Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18275071321640008940noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5713054133244349444.post-41366368995351487322007-03-05T19:00:00.000-05:002007-03-05T19:04:49.235-05:00

I’ve followed the saga of the new book The Jesus Family Tomb and the related documentary produced by the Discovery Channel.Headlines have been impressive—Jesus’s Tomb Found! The mystery of Christianity is now cracked!And just in time for Easter, no less.We have a book out, a documentary, and even a Discovery Channel Web site just for this topic, set up where visitors can quiz a high profile

Kay Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18275071321640008940noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5713054133244349444.post-90767919636801516892007-03-01T20:54:00.000-05:002007-03-03T11:33:12.954-05:00

I admit it. I’m a fan of Google™ . I discovered this search engine in its infancy and shortly thereafter, began to turn to it first. One reason Google stays on top is the focus on developing products that help users and customers. No one comes close, in my opinion.I discovered this cool page, Zeitgeist: Search patterns, trends, and surprises. Part of the company’s press center, this page lists

Kay Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18275071321640008940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5713054133244349444.post-79241428806191476552007-02-27T10:41:00.000-05:002007-02-27T10:56:16.754-05:00

I will write the evangel-poem of comrades and of love.--Walt WhitmanGlobally, we’re a celebrity-driven culture. In America, personalities like Anna Nicole Smith and Britney Spears get way more ink than is justified by their contributions. Other countries have their own celeb circuits. Otherwise, bin Ladin wouldn’t be a household name and Bollywood favorite Hrithik Roshan wouldn’t be in hot water

Kay Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18275071321640008940noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5713054133244349444.post-8223463422585162692007-02-22T08:40:00.000-05:002007-02-22T08:49:56.674-05:00

This morning the Washington Post reports Egyptian blogger Abdel Kareem Nabil, who writes under the pen name Kareem Amer, has been convicted of “insulting Islam and President Hosni Mubarak.” Nabil has been sentenced to four years in prison.An advocacy blog,Free Kareem!, vows to continue to fight for the 22-year-old who attended Egypt's Al-Azhar University, an Islamic school. The blog says Nabil’s

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