The History of the (Whole) World

Twitter Weekly Updates for 2010-03-07

Susan — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 03:21:00 +0000

Watching closing ceremonies; glad that corruption and tyranny didn't permanently deprive Russia of that heartbreaking national anthem. #
Er. Well, closing ceremonies demonstrate that Canadians are just as good at tackiness as we Americans are. #
Maybe even better. #
Planning family day: horseback riding, cookie-eating, game-playing, room-cleaning. One of these things is not like the other. #
At noon today I'll be talking about public confession on WHRV's Hearsay: http://www.hearsay.org/. #
You can listen to Hearsay's broadcast today here: http://hearsay.org/post/Tuesday-March-2.aspx #
I have a fresh cold. WAAHH. #
Sauteeing lots and lots of garlic. Good for repelling colds (and other life-sucking dangers). #
Have to go in to W&M for pre-midterm student appointments (four hours worth). I will probably sneeze on them (actually, kind of karmic). #
Four hours of student appointments OVER. Dragging my plague-ridden self home through cold rainy streets. Need remote control, blankets, tea. #
DH is at College Park watching MD play Duke. I am seriously worried. This is tough for an aging man… #
Cell phone call from DH: THEY WON THEY'RE STORMING THE COURT GARY WILLIAMS IS AIIGGGHHHH…(end of call). #
Heading off the grid to write and blow my nose. #
Constructing a writing curriculum: no problem. Providing parents with a rubric to grade the writing: excruciatingly difficult. #
Ooh, I have new kitchen toys. Ravioli mold, pasta rack, potato ricer, stock pot. #
DH and I are collapsed tonight & watching four nights' worth of American Idol. This year's contestants are, er, idiots. #
Appreciating Thomas Kane's writing classification (exposition, description, persuasion, entertainment), but what kinds of writing don't fit? #
Spring colds should have their own disease name. Like "Rhinovirus Horrendous Eternalis." Or "Coronavirus Hacknspittius Despairius." #
Have totally lost voice & am forced to communicate w/children w/facial expressions & frantic hand gestures. Guess how THAT'S working for me. #
My mother just brought me a referee's whistle. Best get-well present EVER. #

Blog reviews: here they are!

Susan — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 15:04:26 +0000

Thanks to all of you who responded to my blog review offer!

Here’s a list of the blog reviews that we know of. Enjoy reading, if you feel so inclined. And if you reviewed the book and DON’T see your blog here, post a comment for me.

Canadian Ladybug Reviews

Associated Content

Hill Country Classical Academy

Our Homeschool Adventure

Homeschooling Hearts & Minds

Seeking His Mind

Created for Good Works

Tellin’ It

Homeschooling With Love

Home School Book Review

The Golden Road to Samarqand

The last couple of (scattered) weeks

Susan — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 03:24:51 +0000

For the last couple of weeks I’ve been turning in circles, which is why I haven’t done a long post. It hasn’t been an ineffective sort of circling–I feel more like I’m cooking and I have four or five hot pans in front of me, and a couple more on burners behind me, and I have to keep turning around from one pan to the next, and the next, and the next, so that nothing scorches. (But they all have something good in them.)

So here’s what I’m doing.

1. I’m working on the outline of a course for The Teaching Company. They recruited me to teach for them right before Christmas and I’m thrilled. Can’t post details yet because the course is still in development but I’ll keep you informed.

2. I’ve been keeping track of reactions to the History of the Medieval World, which has only been out for a week and is still in the “review window” for most papers, magazines, and journals. (The window gets ever narrower.)

This is a kind review from The Providence Journal:

Bauer treats her period (from the early fourth century to the late 11th century) with a fine-tooth comb, and as the chapters march across the globe and the battles and treaties, the droughts and famines accrue, there is the distinct danger that readers will be swept away in a sea of names and dates. After all, even 640 pages seem a bit skimpy up against 700 years of world history.
Curiously — and much to Bauer’s credit– the reader who stays the course starts to see the globe differently, at first as the arena for myriad independent clashes, and then, slowly but surely, as a unified whole where no nation is an island.

and a fun one from a blog I read occasionally (and would read more often if they’d ditch the horrible white-on-black type); it is, as you’ll see, co-written by four MEN.

Let me, first, say a word about the genre of a world history book/series. For a historian, this undertaking is their Super Bowl, the World Series, and March Madness all rolled into one. Imagine for one moment what it means to try and write a history of the entire world – including all sections of the globe, covering all time for as long as written history (and a little before) has existed!

3. I’m working on the History of the Renaissance World. Those of you who follow me on Twitter will be happy to know that I’m finally out of India.

4. The spring speaking schedule has begun. Reflections on my first trip of the year are here.

5. I’m finishing up a scope and sequence for the middle-grade writing series; don’t email to ask us when the books will be published (I’ll let you KNOW, I promise) but I’m making progress. Have been reading Aristotle and Cicero and contemplating how to use topics exercises with sixth-graders.

6. I’ve mucked out stalls. A LOT. It keep raining and snowing and the horses hunker down in there and…make a mess.

7. I’m reading student papers: my creative writing students had ten thousand words due by this week.

8. I’ve been filling out college financial aid forms for Son #1. AGGHH. And imagine: I get to do this every spring for the next FOURTEEN YEARS. Hurrah.

9. I’m editing a new series for Peace Hill Press.

All good things. But disorienting to do so many at once. And I feel like I’m leaving something out…

Twitter Weekly Updates for 2010-02-28

Susan — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 03:21:00 +0000

Fresh pasta experiment: sage tortellini with ricotta & mozzarella filling, served with browned butter. DS13 SNARFED them, vacuum-like. #
Release date for The History of the Medieval World! (Book's been shipping for weeks, but today's the OFFICIAL pub day=good excuse to party.) #
"When in trouble or in doubt/Run in circles, scream and shout." Turns into my motto every time I start getting stuff together for taxes. #
Tomorrow, leaving for Atlanta with DH for two nights. Today, making up schedules for kids to follow EVERY MINUTE of EVERY HOUR we're gone. #
Planning out interlocking kid schedules for next three days is more complicated than organizing major land war with multiple fronts. #
Scrolling message on gas station pump tonight: "How was your day? We hope it gets better soon!" Sounds like answer has been predetermined. #
Husband is currently getting the heck screened out of him at Richmond International. #
Just arrived in Atlanta. Plane bounced so hard that flight attendant thanked us for dropping in. #
At Hyatt in downtown Atlanta. VERY SCARY elevators. Also enormous hanging lobby sculpture like spider descending onto our heads.. #
Getting ready to talk about "Learning for a Lifetime in the Classical Tradition" at Heritage Prep School's "Lectures in the City" (Atlanta). #
Planning on the Botanical Gardens in Atlanta this morning. Any recommendations for a fabulous lunch place nearby? #
So far have not eaten a single meal in Atlanta that arrived in a timely manner. Every restaurant: long wait, server not making eye contact. #
Heading to the Atlanta aquarium this morning. #
Sitting in the Delta lounge, waiting to catch flight home. Loved Atlanta, don't want to live there. #
The History of the Medieval World featured at the Page 99 Test: http://tinyurl.com/ylzf3h2. #
College aid forms: Just submitted financial info to feds via FAFSA. Fail to see why I should submit it again to for-profit College Board. #
There is a special place in hell for the bureaucrats who designed college aid forms. And for the techies who designed their web interfaces. #

Publication day!

Susan — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 18:25:14 +0000

Today’s the formal release date for The History of the Medieval World.

It’s actually been shipping for weeks; “publication day” is a myth, as I’ve noted before. But as of today it’s officially shipping. Also, over the next couple of weeks the book should get decent positioning closer to the front of bricks-and-mortar stores, before returning to the “History” shelves to hang out with its own kind for the rest of its life.

Contrary to what you might think from reading about the glamorous lives of authors, publisher-sponsored publication parties are few and far between. You probably get one if you 1) live in Manhattan and/or 2) hit the New York Times bestseller list on a regular basis, and/or 3) work in publishing, thus rendering it embarrassing for your colleagues not to throw a party.

The rest of us get to throw parties for ourselves.

So we’ve having dinner with friends, and I’m baking. I’ve just finished making a white velvet cake with a chocolate ganache frosting for us to party with here, and I’m getting ready to make a German chocolate cake with coconut and pecan filling to take to dinner tonight.

In this house, celebration equals carbohydrates. So grab a cookie or a handful of chocolate chips and join me in a virtual publication party. (And hey, if you happen to see the book stacked on a front table at a nearby store, snap a picture with your cell phone and send it to the webmaster at welltrainedmind.com.)

Twitter Weekly Updates for 2010-02-21

Susan — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 03:21:00 +0000

A werewolf would have eviscerated loud paper-crumpling whispering couple next to us, thus improving movie tremendously. #
Watching Olympic snowboarding. I know this is supposed to be a real sport. It doesn't LOOK like a real sport [age showing]. #
Tuesdays are my Mondays. #
Working on tonight's lecture, editing a manuscript for Peace Hill Press, hoping to get back to Renaissance Europe before 3 PM… #
One out of three isn't too bad… #
DS16 has brand-new learner's permit! Hurrah, hurrah! #
Some cosmic intelligence-sucking force must compel NBC interviewers to ask, "How does it FEEL to triumph/epically fail at the Olympics"? #
I think Tiger Woods read my book. #
Getting ready to comment on Tiger Woods apology for Channel 13. #
WVEC in Hampton, 5:30 news–if you're local, tune in to catch me comment on Tiger! (Unless, of course, it gets cut. Always a possibility.) #
William & Mary asked me to comment on Tiger Woods via the W&M YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=blhH39g2xtc #
Yesterday was busy. Can't…get…moving…today… #
Not sure making cherry streusel coffeecake is really the most theologically sound way to kick off the first Sunday in Lent. #
Nearly sixty degrees and sunny. Going riding this afternoon, for the first time in weeks. #

Quick photo update on the gap year trip…

Susan — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 15:56:16 +0000

My oldest son is currently on his gap year trip, which began with a volunteer stint at a wildlife rehabilitation center in South Africa. He just sent a few photos…

Twitter Weekly Updates for 2010-02-14

Susan — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 03:21:00 +0000

Taking DD9 out for Girl Day, her choice of activities. Not sure what we're doing, suspect will involve nail polish & visit to craft store. #
Making peanut butter & jelly muffins for breakfast. #
Many…pages…of…manuscript…to…read… #
Today was grey and wet and the first day of my workweek and filled with emails and business problems and vacuuming. Ate a LOT of chocolate. #
There seems to be quite a bit of "insignificant accumulation" in our front yard. #
Oh, look. It's snowing sideways. #
Snow day at William & Mary! (Yes, it makes the faculty happy too.) #
Wind's howling in the dark; ice crystals blowing against the windows; I have a fire in my bedroom. #
Heading off the grid to write; have been looking forward to this all week. #
I am out of India! I am out of India!!! #
My husband just got an invitation to join the AARP. With free membership card. We're observing a moment of silence. After howls of laughter. #
DD9 is eating her lunch in a cardboard box. I don't know why. #
Kids and DH headingto movies, I'm going to Williamsburg to work at coffee shop. Otherwise I'll just go to bed, cause today's GREY and COLD. #
I have fun new books to read! Connie Willis, Iain Pears, Michael Ruhlman, Brooks Hansen. #
Look! Snow!!! (Those are sarcastic exclamation points.) #
Today's fact: Henry II of England, couldn't stand to be idle; his favorite priests were the ones who could say the daily Mass REALLY FAST. #
DH and I both think that a werewolf flick would be the perfect Valentine's date movie. For so many reasons. #

Medieval World sightings!

Susan — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 19:22:05 +0000

(Not to be equated with “Big Foot Sightings” or “Jersey Devil Sightings.”)

This, from Tantor Media; The History of the Medieval World will be on audio! Twenty-two and a half hours (whew).

The audio version is being read by British actor John Lee, who also did Patrick O’Brian’s audio narrations. I’m delighted that the book will have such an accomplished narrator, but it’s going to be an odd experience; I hear my own voice when I read my own work, and now I’ll suddenly be British.

And male.

But I’m totally up for the transformation. I’ll be in good company. I mean, powerful wizards and elves always have British accents, right? And anyone who grew up watching Easter mini-series on TV knows that the voice of God is pure BBC.

Second sighting: front page (at least temporarily) at the History Book Club:

And finally (you have to humor me here)–an appearance at #1 on the medieval history bestseller list at Amazon.

I know, I know, I shouldn’t be checking Amazon rankings (I’m the first to say so), but I’ve written 160,000 words of Renaissance history and haven’t yet found a narrative thread (or gotten east of India), so you have to allow me SOMETHING to revel in. However briefly.

The Virtual Book Tour: want to take part?

Susan — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 19:23:50 +0000

A few months ago I saw this news item:

LONDON, 2 November 2009 — This November HarperCollins and Skype have created an innovative world first event – ‘Cecelia Ahern’s Virtual World Tour’ – to promote the publication of her latest novels….Cecelia, one of the UK’s best selling authors…will join events around the world via Skype video.

Unable to embark on her regular worldwide promotional tours this year due the arrival of her first baby this autumn, HarperCollins and Skype are bringing Cecelia together with her fans through real-time Skype video. Cecelia will join events live from her home in Dublin and will appear on screens at selected retailers in central city locations. Events will range from celebrity-hosted evenings to invite-only retailer events. Fans will be able to speak to Cecelia and buy pre-signed copies of her new books….

Kate Fitzpatrick, Digital Marketing Manager says: “Our partnership with Skype has given Cecelia a fantastic opportunity to reach her fans in all corners of the globe at a time when she is unable to travel. As a first truly international PR event for HarperCollins the use of Skype has proved that distance doesn’t have to be a barrier for fans to engage and interact with their favourite authors.”

Ms. Ahern wasn’t the first, actually: four months earlier, Mark D. White did the same thing.

Mark D. White, editor of “Watchmen and Philosophy: A Rorschach Test” from John Wiley & Sons, has held what may have been the first virtual book signings via video calling with Skype….

White was pleased that his first stop was at Joseph-Beth Booksellers in Cincinnati, where he attended graduate school. His image was projected on a screen in the author event space.

He said he could easily see the fans and they could see him as he called via Skype from the kitchen in his New Jersey home….

White, who also had a virtual signing at Schuler Books & Music in Lansing, Mich., said virtual touring saves time for authors. “An actual in-person book tour would be a significant burden. I have young children and lots of responsibilities,” he said. “This way I could tour–and sleep in my own bed.”

Instead of trying to convince bookstores to project me into their author space (which I would DO if asked, naturally), I thought it might be fun to connect with some of you more directly.

So here’s the Wise Bauer Virtual Book Tour Experiment.

If you have a webcam and microphone and can get five or more people together for a book party, I’ll join you. (For how long is up for negotiation–that will largely depend on when you want to have your party.) We’ll provide technical assistance–we can help you out with a choice of methods and make sure ahead of time that your web-portal is up and working.

So are you interested? If so, please email my intrepid assistant Pattie Kirkland (pattie at welltrainedmind dot com) to work out details.