Writers in Wonderland

How can writers avoid a Lewis Carroll Wonderland of defamation lawsuits, plagiarism scandals, and IRS proceedings?

By reading my book.

Writers in Wonderland: Keeping Your Words Legal (KP/PK Publishing 2013) is coming out May 1, and it's time for some shameless promotion.

Many writers see the law as a Lewis Carroll fantasy--inside out and totally illogical. They would rather write than worry about legal issues. But authors who ignore the law are the real residents of Wonderland.

Michael Poore, author of Up Jumps the Devil, says:

Kathryn Page Camp's Writers in Wonderland isn't just informative and wise, it is FUN! A big part of writing is learning how to cause trouble without getting into trouble, and this book is an easy course for accomplishing that. You can read it straight through, or keep it on hand as a reference tool. Either way, you'll find what you need to know in here. You will find it easily, it will make sense, and the reading will be a pleasure. Finally, a lawyer who can be helpful without making us want to scream.

Writers in Wonderland was written for writers, not lawyers. It uses everyday language and shares cases with interesting facts to explain the basic legal principles of interest to writers. These include copyrights and defamation and book contracts.

Here is some information:

ISBN: 978-0-9892504-1-2
Available May 1 at Amazon.com, coming soon from other retailers.

So if you are a writer, join Lewis Carroll and his characters as they help you avoid the King and Queen of Hearts' courtroom. And if you know a writer or two, pass this information along.

Because lawsuits aren't nearly as much fun as this book is.

It's Not a Win if We Don't Give In

Not a win for the terrorists, that is.

America--no, the world--was saddened this past week by the events at the Boston Marathon. But terrorism didn't win. We will go on. Terrorism didn't stop yesterday's London Marathon, and it won't stop the Chicago Marathon, either. Oh, the organizers will take a few extra precautions, but thousands of marathons will continue to be held.

Take the London Marathon. The organizers increased security but went ahead as planned. Great Britain is used to terrorism attacks and has long known how to minimize them at events with large crowds.

Roland and I took the kids on vacation to England and Scotland in 1996, and while there we went to see the Tattoo. The Tattoo is an annual review presented by military bands and (bag)pipe and drum corps. It is held outdoors on the Edinburgh Castle esplanade during three weeks in August. As you can see from the picture, it's a big event.

On the way to the performance, we stopped and got ice cream bars. Three of us had finished ours and thrown the garbage away before we went through the gate, but John was still eating his. When he finished, we looked around for a trash can. We couldn't find one, so Roland asked a guard where they were. The guard told him that there weren't any garbage cans because that is where the IRA likes to plant its bombs. He told Roland to throw the trash on the ground, but as well trained as we are not to litter, Roland put the messy stick and wrapping in his pocket, instead.

The point is, there are precautions that event organizers can--and probably should--take, but terrorism threats can't stop us from holding those events. If they do, the terrorists win. And that isn't an option.

Psalm 27 says, "The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?" (Psalm 27:1, ESV)

Not terrorists.

Gone Again

I love being an empty nester.

I also love it when my children come home for a visit.

And when they leave again, I have mixed feelings.

That probably makes me an average mother of adult children, which is okay.

John has been home on leave for a month after finishing his Navy schooling. Yesterday he left for his first ship, the U.S.S. Abraham Lincoln, which is currently refueling the nuclear reactors that power the ship and undergoing an overhaul in Newport News, Virginia. These overhauls take so long that John could spend the rest of his Navy career on a ship that never leaves the dock. (Unlike the U.S.S. John Stennis in the picture, which Roland and I saw when we were in Hawaii several years ago.)

Roland is cheering because he got his office back. (It doubles as John's bedroom.) I'm cheering because I won't worry about my 26-year-old son when he is out with friends until 2:00 a.m. Yes, I know he is a responsible adult, but I'm still a mom. (Not that parents ever stop worrying about their children, but I'm less likely to worry about things I don't know.)

And I'm happy that my adult children have lives of their own. We raised them to be independent, so should I complain because we succeeded?

Not I.

Images of Spring

I've been busy preparing a book for publication, so I decided to keep my blog post simple. Enjoy these images of past springs.

© 2012 by Kathryn Page Camp

© 2011 by Kathryn Page Camp

© 2009 by Kathryn Page Camp

© 2011 by Kathryn Page Camp

Happy Spring!

Hallelujah!

I've performed the "Hallelujah" chorus with several choirs, singing alto at times and soprano at other times. But I hadn't sung it in years--probably not since I joined my current church in 1979.

Then our small amateur choir of four sopranos, three altos, three tenors, and four basses sang it at two services yesterday. Our first performance was far from perfect, but we got through it. While still not perfect, the second was better, especially since we had assistance from two violins and a couple of former choir members who had sung it recently. And it did have the joyful feel and message that are really the point.

Although the words and the music are familiar, it's surprising how little people really know about this chorus. Take the name, for example. Almost everyone calls it the "Hallelujah Chorus," but technically it is simply a chorus titled "Hallelujah."

It isn't even an Easter chorus. It is in Part II of The Messiah, an oratorio by G.F. Handel. Part II covers not only Christ's death and resurrection but also his ascension, his reception in heaven, the preaching of the Gospel, and the world's rejection of that Gospel. Part II culminates in the "Hallelujah" chorus, which rejoices in the knowledge that God is in control. As you read the words, however, you will notice that they talk about God's kingship, not Christ's resurrection.

Hallelujah! for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth. The kingdom of this world is become the kingdom of our Lord, and of His Christ: and He shall reign for ever and ever. King of Kings, and Lord of Lords, Hallelujah!

Some people would also be surprised to learn that the "Hallelujah" chorus is not the last song in The Messiah. It is followed by three airs, two recitatives, a duet, and three more choruses. These come in Part III, which celebrates God's final judgment and victory over death.

But in spite of all that, the "Hallelujah" chorus is perfect for Easter. If God were not King of Kings and Lord of Lords, there would have been no resurrection and we would be lost in our sins. We may not fully experience the victory until the times celebrated in Part III of The Messiah, but the battle was won when Christ rose from the dead.

Hallelujah!