November/December 2005 Memo

Welcome to our last memo of 2005! I should really be saying, “my” memo and not “our”. A few have mistakenly assumed that these memos are the opinions of everyone who has ever done anything in anyway for my publisher, who, we all know is ShortHand Publishing.

Well, these folks are sadly mistaken. These memos are written by me, and me alone, hence the heading, “Memos by Kat”. These memos are solely my opinion, and only my opinion. So, now that we have that cleared up, let’s move on.

It’s been a busy few months, some very interesting and entertaining stuff has happened. Some we’ll, oops there I go again, let me start over. Some I’ll talk about, and some just isn’t worth mentioning.

First of all, let me thank all the faithful Memo visitors I’ve had in the last year. They range from the Atlantic to the Pacific Coast, not to mention overseas! Thanks to you, visits to the Web site have increased enormously and driven the “hit” count beyond expectations. So, you’re going to want to stay tuned, because you just never know what is up my sleeve in the New Year!

Early in November, as a part of George Ryga week, Valdy (that's him to the right) and Gary Fjellgaard (that's him on the left) played at our local high school once again. This is a yearly event, and one I very much look forward to attending. And as always they put on quite the show! For more info about Valdy, check out his Web site. If you’ve never heard of Valdy, well, all I can say is “Pull yourself out of that cave and check him out!”  

As most of you know by now, I’ve started doing hospital visits and after reading to the children, I give them a copy of the book. (For more about these visits or becoming a sponsor, be sure to check out our “Special Memo.”)

I’m pleased to announce some very generous people/companies have stepped up to aid me in putting more books into more children’s hands. I’d like to say a big Thank you to Lumby I.D.A. Pharmacy for being our very first sponsor! I’d also like to thank Winn Automotive in Kelowna. Bruce, you are more than generous with your sponsorship! Special thanks go out to you as well.

I’ll be posting more sponsors as they come in, and as time permits of course. J So, keep checking back.

For the last couple of months, ghostwriting has been on my mind. I think it started when I read one of my “writing newsletters” and the author of the letter, was saying she’d turned down a ghostwriting assignment. You see, the thing about ghostwriting is that no ones know you wrote the book! Webster’s definition of ghostwriter is, “intransitive senses: to write for and in the name of another” and, “transitive sense: to write (as a speech) for another who is the presumed author”

This person said they turned down the job, because they wanted their name on the book. How do you feel about this? I’ve thought about this, and one thing I came up with was, it’s a great way to say something and not worry about what people think it. It’s someone else’s name on your take on things. (Depending of course what the book is about.) Then again, no one would know it was you who wrote a wonderful piece of literature.

I’ve been hearing in the news these last few days about people paying others to print stories or report things that have been embellished. In some cases, apparently, these statements are out and out untrue! I have to wonder.

If you read a book by a certain author you naturally believe the book was written by that person, right? Well how do you know for sure? If they used a ghostwriter, you’re not really getting what you’re paying for, are you?

I’d be very disappointed if I were to learn that one of my favorite authors didn’t really write the books I’ve been buying. I’d feel very betrayed. I have to question why in the world, if someone can’t write, or is too lazy to write, why would they want to be known as a writer? I suppose only they can answer that.

It would be hilarious, at least to me, if one of these pretend authors were doing an interview and someone asked them how they came up with a certain scene. Or what was their inspiration for any given idea. If they couldn’t even remember the scene, now that, would be hilarious! Wait, maybe the ghostwriter prepares statements for the “author” to read when confronted with such situations.

There are many ways to look at ghostwriting I suppose. If you have strong feelings one way or another, please share them with me. If they are thought provoking, you may just see your comment in the next memo, with credit of course given to you, the writer!  

I suppose that’s it for now. There’s much to do before we hit year end. Thanks for being a part of my life this past year. Thanks to all those who purchased my books and sent so many wonderful e-mails! Thanks too, for your encouragement. You are the reason I do what I do, that, and because I love what I do!

So until 2006, travel safe, read much and be well. J

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