cliterature

I hung in there a little longer.  But this is the official very final post.  If you want to find where I am hanging out theese days, Google is your friend.  There are not too many gals going by “Veinglory”.  :)

Hi all.  This blog will no longer be regularly updated.  Thank you all for reading.  :)

In glib terms you could say there are two main types of fiction.  Literary stories explore the ambiguity of human experience–somehow having the goal of enlightening us and making us better people.  While genre fiction provides a more orderly picture where the good people are rewarded and bad people punished–with a goal of giving people leisure and respite through a satisfying story.

Life does not reliably reward only the good and humble hero.  Sometimes it might seem so when a poor native Alaskan man, orphaned as a child, wins the half a million dollars and pledges to use it to take care of his sisters and help people.  But then we discover he is a not-fully-repentant child molester.  When he needed help, friends took him in, and he abused two young girls who lived in the house.  When released he offended against another young girl.

For such a man to win a big raffle prize is perhaps just one of those things, but this raffle was held to benefit a group called ‘Standing Together Against Rape’ (STAR).  That irony seems almost deliberately cruel.  But the telling point is that this is not really as unlikely as might be thought.

As the spokesperson of STAR states, their group was formed because Alaska struggles with the highest rates of rape of any American state–there is no reason a victim or abuser would not win–and this man was both.  It is the inane TV frontperson who annoyed me most in saying the raffle was just ”bad PR”.  If the point is to raise the profile of the problem I would hope the irony is instructive not just some kind of meaningless blooper. 

This is one of those stories of ambiguity.  It spotlights a person orphaned, institutionalised, bounced around in care, abusing substances and then children, multiple times.  This is abuse, this is rape, this is the cycle of despair.  STAR expresses that tenuous hope that telling the stories of abuse can help the people that hear about  it somehow be better people, living in safer communities–somehow urge them to become in some small way a part of the solution.  And they also do the work on the ground to intervene, to help victims and to try to prevent sexual violence.

 I only hope the winner follows through with his promise to give 20% of the prize to STAR.  That might be one step in the right direction.  Then he could get some job training, drug counselling and psychiatric treatment and pay the remaining money to his victims.  In the real world happily-ever-afters cannot be relied upon; in the real world it is something we have to fight for.

STAR is fighting an uphill battle and if the winner doesn’t follow through in his donation they may struggle to make any profit of their most recent raffle.  But perhaps the twist in the the tale could be that the morbid media coverage might provoke a few more donations to help them keep doing their work for the victims of rape.  Their online donation system is not up and running yet but donations are welcomed at:
STAR (Make checks payable to STAR)
1057 W. Fireweed Lane, Suite 230,
Anchorage, Alaska 99503
USA

They suggest a donation starting at $25 (which I have written and stamped and will mail tomorrow) but I am sure they will be happy to accept whatever you can spare.

I will warn you know that this post will not be anywhere near as titillating as you might hope, based on the title.  I have been at work for the last two days, overnight in a hotel (so no time for a research blog topic today, just some rambling from yours truly).  Today I was talking four and a half hours, to an audience of pretty highly qualified people.  There is a part of me that is always somewhat surprised that anyone listens to what I say, or that they buy my books, or read my blogs.  And as I was taking a break and looking at some Chicago snow I was thinking about two reasons for this.

These days pride is considered a good thing, and self-esteem.  But humility is too.  Historically both pride and vainglory were considered deadly sins, but when the final seven were chose vainglory was out.  (On a side note I have always thought that vainglory is the kind of sin that would have really resented this and spent the subsequent fourteen centuries grumble about how much better he is than pride).  When I chose my pen name of Veinglory I really did not put a lot of deliberate thought into it.  I used the name initially as an information online name–something to separate my work activities from more informal online chat.  I have always liked the word vainglory, to the modern ear there is a natural tension that has ground between vain and glorious and the whole thing rolls sinfully of the tongue.  The alternative spelling is due to little more that the fact vainglorywas taken as a hotmail account name, and I was writing a vampire novel at the time.

And coming from New Zealand I had extra training in humility, as the culture is focused on leveling people out and making sure everyone gets a far go–even if that means holding back some of the front runners.  This is sometimes called the “Tall Poppy Syndrome”.   The saying (with an interesting classical origin) is that the poppy that grows tallest is most likely to have its head knocked off.  This is often spoken off as a cultural failing, stopping people from taking credit that is due and crippling their motivation to excel.  And such cultural humility tend to fall in double doses on women who are already encouraged to be sweet and nurturing rather than bold and entrepreneurial.

That said, I don’t actually see a cultural emphasis in humility as a problem.  Because although I am somewhat surprised and grateful to be heeded, I do not undervalue myself or my achievements.  I am highly qualified, when I open my mouth I have something to say that is novel, substantive and that I sincerely believe.  I write well.  I almost said “quite well”, but in my own private opinion the qualifier is not needed.  I have never felt held back in what I achieve, or devalued in my worth, just because I hesitate to sing my own praises and am acutely grateful for recognition I received from others.

And to the extent this is also a traditional feminine trait, that does not necessarily make it inferior to more assertive ways (in men or in women).  When there are both men and women with a range of personality types in power, humility will not be an obstacle to success any more than it is to achievement. (Indeed, one could argue that it is more crippling to raised children with the idea that is bragging is not allowed, and andevor is not worth doing–that it, confusing self-praise with self-worth.  Ultimately shouldn’t we be doing a thing because it is a thing worth doing for its own sake and taking most of our pleasure from that).

My audience appreciated what I did, my colleagues and my (female) boss noted and commented favorably.  I didn’t need to strain my neck upwards when those I work with are happy to give me a boost–as I am more than happy to recognise their skills, hard work and achievements.  I am not a poppy knocker, but I also feel no desire to be the tallest poppy in he field if that means blocking anyone else’s access to the sun.

#1: The ladies are so dedicated to stilettos they even wear them into combat.

#2: When a scantily clad lady in red boots ties you up with a lasso that ain’t exactly subtext.

#3: How many time does the villain have to capture, bind, and “torture” the hero and then accidentally let him escape– before you realize they totally have a safe word.

#4: The Black Canary Barbie doll is deemed S&M “filth”–albeit by Christian Voice.

#5: Spiderman wears a zentai, and you can too.  (And the ones that don’t go for full encasement wear scanty bikinis in all weather).  (Oh, and capes.  Dude).

 …and I am sure there must be more.

Thanks to Celebriosity for sending me 120 Entrecard points as part of his Celebrity January Jumble EC Giveaway.  And I include below a general shout out to the other Entrecard users (that I know of) blogging for Today.com

 http://30somethingandsearching.today.com/
http://amalaysianabroad.today.com/
http://anxiety.today.com
http://answers.today.com/
http://apoetsview.today.com
http://beingbipolar.today.com
http://breenibooks.today.com
http://celebchitchat.today.com
http://celebritytoday.today.com/
http://cheapeats.today.com
http://cleanandsober.today.com
http://cliterature.today.com
http://cluttercontrol.today.com
http://cookwithme.today.com
http://dratiffarid.today.com
http://exoticbirds.today.com/
http://flittingonfiction.today.com/
http://fromaworkingmom.today.com/
http://frugalliving.today.com/
http://generalparenting.today.com
http://godschild.today.com
http://greenburb.today.com
http://insanfrancisco.today.com
http://lezwife.today.com
http://lifeandliving.today.com
http://livinginlasvegas.today.com
http://maturestudents.today.com/
http://mentalhealthhumor.today.com/
http://millioninforex.today.com/
http://peaceandquiet.today.com/
http://politics2000.today.com
http://recoveryrocks.today.com/
http://retroyakking.today.com
http://reviewme.today.com/
http://route66.today.com
http://sanerdudette.today.com/
http://smalltownsexy.today.com
http://sms4smile.today.com/
http://spinningfacts.today.com
http://sports2000.today.com
http://sportsfanatic.today.com/
http://stammering.today.com
http://stitchwitch.today.com
http://thecostumer.today.com
http://themortgageandmoreblog.com
http://www.thorninmyside.today.com
http://todaystyle.today.com/
http://upstatesc.today.com/
http://usfreeworkfromhome.today.com
http://writingandreading.today.com

I have been watching a PBS series on the deadly sins.  Sin is not something I relate to very well.  I had a very secular up-bringing in a very secular country.  But as I watched it did strike me that the idea of the major sins have changed over time–including since the time that the big seven were encoded.

For example, let’s take gluttony.  Now there is still condemnation for those considered too big, but for enjoying food?  No.  Nothing is considered wrong with loving food and strong flavors.  Instead of eating plain meals the TV ads are full of ‘food porn’ and products try to sneak nutrition into strongly flavored packages made to cater to our sweet and salty desires (V-Fusion, water-soluble fibre, artificial sweetener etc).  Basically these are the kinks, fetishes and promiscuity of the food world–and nobody sees this a morally objectionable.

In fact, the same could be said for the desire of wealth, desire for leisure, feelings of frustration, self-esteem and even envy of the achievements of others if it serves to motivate us.  Extremes of expression might still be condemned, such as anger expressed in the form of violence or excessively envious griping or overt spite.  But the feelings themselves are privileged, accepted.  Except, of course, for lust.  There remains some seedy, disreputable… immoral about the very feeling of lust–as well as its extreme of expression (sex addiction, promiscuity, sex working).

The condemnation of taking too little pleasure is a relatively recent one.  For a wide swathe of time from the medieval period to the early modern period a woman who had no sexual desire and ate very little would be considered a pure religious ideal–spurning all pleasure to focus on God.  Indeed any person was meant to have sex to have children, eat to live and not for fun.  But those days are gone when it comes to money, food and emotional ranting of various kinds–but not in the case of sex where words like ’slut’ retain the bite of condemnation that no other sin retains.

And yet, it is equally interesting that the corresponding virtues show a reverse pattern.  While temperance, charity, diligence, kindness, contentedness and humility remain admirable–what of chastity?  While the nymphomaniac might get no respect, neither does a woman considered frigid (nor indeed one who remains single and/or childless). Sexuality remains a secular sin, a tightrope where either extreme might be condemned not only in actions, but even just in thoughts and desires (too much, not enough, the wrong type).

But not to worry, I think sexual transgression will be joined by new modern sins, however many will now surfice.  The abuse of substances (smoking?), of the helpless (children, animals), ignorance–especially prejudice.  Each age has its vices, the failings it particularly condemns.  Sexuality just happens to bridge from the old reasoning (pleasures and feelings that turns us from God) to the new (actions that harm us, and more importantly can harm others).  When we eat, we eat for ourselves–but smoking, violence and sex are things we do with and to others.  They bind us into the human community and so when done properly they are harmonious and make up a community–when done improperly they harms us and cause dischord.

The difficulty, as ever, is knowing the difference.  How much sex, what kind, with whom–what things really matter?  What is just a choce from a menu and what is second hand smoke hovering over the baby’s bassinet.  Each of us thinks we know.  But then, so did Pope Gregory back around 600 AD.  But these things, they will probably continue to change, in some future post-secular (post-sexual?) age.

My fantasy novel Father of Dragons became available today through Samhain Publishing’s ‘Discover New Authors’ promotion.

You can now download the first half of the book in pdf form totally free. And you can read the blurb, excerpts and order Father of Dragons in ebook or paperback here

You know the deal, someone picks your blog and you are meant to pass it on to x other blog.  But what the hey.  This is as good a time as any to share some of my favorite blogs.

 I was nominated by A Poet’s View and Mikey Writes Well.

The instructions are:
“1. Put the logo on your blog or post.
2. Nominate at least 10 blogs which show great Attitude and/or Gratitude!
3. Be sure to link to your nominees within your post
4. Let them know that they have received this award by commenting on their blog.
5. Share the love and link to this post and to the person from whom you received your award.”

So here we go. The logo:

Ten blogs with attitude:
1) Karen Scott’s Blog: Lots of attitude. Always worth a look.
2) Boone’s Journal: Just fun, check out the ‘Inappropriate Soundtracks’ videos.
3) Page Smith: a no nonsense blog about the craft and business of writing.
4) Picked Cupid: a satire blog with a focus on small press romance culture.
5) Dear Author: a great genre romance blog.
6) The Pinup Blog: What is say on the box….
7) Bo Flexler: a writer’s blog.
8) Erosblog[ADULT CONTENT] about all things erotic; not work safe.
9) Dark Roasted Blend: Regularly updated with also sort of weird facts and interesting pictures.
10) Daily Puppy: self explanatory, I think ;)

I may not notify all of the nominees if I don’t think they would be interested in perpetuating the meme.  But these are all good blogs and I hope it will help readers find new and interesting blogs.  I know I have been checking out some of the other nominees.

Little did I know that while I was amusing myself thinking of more positive archetypes for the female hero than the femme fatale, the folks over at Literotica were coming up with a much more extensive discussion.

 My suggestion was pussy puissant: the action hero who is a woman, without any conflict between the two roles.

Stella Omega came up with  femme vitale:  a powerful, AND responsible, AND sexual woman.

Anyway, meanwhile I have started working on a femme fatale sculpture, the idea being that the archetype is really just a twisting/reversal of female stereotypes.  So it is made out of domestic objects (scissors, clothes pins, Barbie, jewelry).

Not to mention two typewriter keys.  Because, ultimately, writers who use lazy stereotypes feed and perpetuate them.