Hey Literary Agents, Quit bothering me

Looks like an empty beach right? But as all writers know, you can't walk down even an abandoned beach without some literary agent jumping out from behind a palm.

"Here's my card," they say smoothly.

"I don't except business cards with that format." I patiently explain. It's no use, they're like paparazzi. 

The writers are giggling. The Literary agents, not so much, mostly because they don't read author blogs.

Breaking into the "book world" is like trying to get into the Merchant Marines. You can't get a job aboard a ship without a Seaman's Card. "How do you get a Seaman's Card?"  You ask. It's easy, they mail it to you once you have a job aboard a ship. Similarly, if you want your very own literary agent to help you secure a great contract with a major publishing house ––it's easy––  first write a "Bestseller." 

The odds of me working on a ship, or landing a literary agent are about even. Lucky for me, the chances of walking down this beach are pretty high, it's near my house. If you're a literary agent, I have some free advice ––watch out for the coconuts.

If it sounds like I've given up on finding an agent or writing a best selling novel you would be mistaken. I found my literary agent a coconut's throw from the beach at the Kauai Writers Festival. Now I just have to finish my manuscript and send it to her. Then all my dreams will come true and I'll finally be able to get off this tropical island.

East is East and West is West

 "Oh, East is East and West is West, but never the twain shall meet."  I believed Mr. Kipling until I moved to Hawaii. One of the most interesting thing I've learned from my Japanese friends and teachers is how the East and the West have been connected since their earliest beginnings. 

 Western Civilization, as we all know was founded upon Greek ideals; the concept of democracy, Aristotle, and Plato's foundations of reason, and let's not forget Homer's Iliad and The Odyssey.  A certain young pupil of Aristotle, Alexander the Great, reached India in  326 B.C. establishing a connection between the two cultures and Empires.

Much of what was once considered Greek Thought is now known to be the result of a rich exchange of ideas in the ancient world. Richard Mckeilley's wonderful book, The Shape of Ancient Thought details how even the earliest writings of Greek thinkers like, Heraclitus, and Thales closely parallel the Upanishads of India. It is remarkable to read how closely linked the cultures of East and West were through the centuries. The mobility of ideas in the ancient world should not surprise us too much, though I admit this book has bee a bit of a shock.

When we consider that English is a Proto-Indo-European language, a clearer picture begins to emerge. Ancient Sanskrit and English share hundreds of words in common. These twain, (two) East and West, have been connected since their earliest beginnings. It's exciting when you learn that everything you thought you knew ––turns out to be ridiculously incomplete. The world becomes new.

I highly recommend Richard Mckeilley's book. I think that you will be delighted and amazed.

Tiny Slippers and Jizo

This pair of tiny slippers were left at the old Shingon Buddhist Temple in the Lawai Valley many years ago. Chance are, we'll never know who made them, or for whom. One thing we do know ––these two small offerings that were left at the Temple–– tell a big story. 

Photo by Jennifer Arnold

One gets the sense that these Japanese zōri, flip flops, did not come from Walmart. We can see that lots of care and love went into the making of them. Perhaps this parent didn't have money to buy footwear. The materials themselves look as if they experienced many lifetimes. 

Photo by Rebecca Stone

Some of you may recognize Jizo. He is an important Bodhisattva, revered throughout East Asian Buddhism. In Japan, Jizo is one the most respected and loved divinities. Among his many roles, he is the guardian of children. Although we don't know who made the tiny slippers, or why they were left at the Lawai Shingon Temple, I think we can make a guess that Jizo was part of the story. This image carve in hard stone radiates a softness, a gentleness that is hard to put into words.