monoceros blogsI attended a talk by a literary agent yesterday. Encouraging and discouraging information. Next year, as a second-year, we'll have one-on-one appointments with visiting agents. This one in particular worked with Dave Eggers - A Heartbreaking Work Of Staggering Genius - and one of her colleagues handled Dan Brown's The Da Vinci Code. Impressive clients they have. How does one compete with that?
Meeting #2 was a teaching meeting. Informative and made me nervous about my approaching teaching duties. I'll have loads of planning to do this summer. I just checked my course and section online and I've already got 12 students enrolled in my class. I'm doing a Tues, Thurs 10-1130 section; maybe I should have requested an 830-10 time slot and wound up with fewer students.
I plodded on to meeting #3, which was the MFA end-of-year meeting. And then met with the director of the program to talk about my work.
Third recital of the week in the evening. This week alone, I attended a trumpet and harpsicord recital and two piano recitals. Music and prose...a good life indeed. After the recital, I sneaked into a practice room and played for a bit. It's been four months since I touched a piano.
Lin Kiat is in Bintan for a company retreat so I couldn't get hold of him last night. I didn't want to do any editing so I did the next best thing, called up the editorial department in Singapore and talked to old pal, Barney. He's finally caught the Cowboy Bebop train.
Posted by Monoceros at April 23, 2004 10:26 AMHi! posting here so that you'll not miss my reply to your query on eygpt. Yes, I went on tour but there were only 4 of us. bought 4 to go special SQ ticket (about S$1000 each_ from Sin-dubai-cairo return. my friend emailed lots of eygptian tour companies for quotes and BARGAINED -- we got a good deal - USD350, accomodation, food, guides (different guides for different regions). Whatever u do, DON'T arrive in cairo and start shopping for tour company -- by then u will have no bargaining power (tour company tried to sell us extra side trips for 45USD each). It is relatively safe, but i think it is more fun to go in a group or couple (nile river cruise highly recommended!). Email me and I can pass u contacts of my tour agency and even the guide -- we had one in Luxor who is very knowledgeable.
Posted by: Queenie at April 27, 2004 3:38 AMHi Van,
I am into Dan Brown's books recently. I am reading his 'Angels & Demons'. Intriguing! Will be heading to read his 'Da Vinci Code' soon. Have you read his books? Highly recommended!
Hi Queenie, thanks for the info...very interesting. Might very well get those contacts from you!
Karen, ha ha, you picked good titles. Dan Brown's Da Vinci Code has been on the bestseller list for a very very long time here! How did you find out about the books? I haven't yet had the chance to read his books yet but will do so when I get home this summer.
Posted by: Van Heng at April 28, 2004 11:09 AM