Did You Know ... Roald Dahl

I have always loved books by Roald Dahl, from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory to James and the Giant Peach. He wrote so many interesting books in his lifetime, it's amazing to me that he came up with so many great ideas. I thought it would be fun to see it I could come up with some little known facts about his life and his books. Turns out, he led a fascinating life. Here's what I discovered.

Did you know...

• He was born in Wales in 1916? His parents were Norwegian.
• Dahl grew to be six and a half feet tall?
• The Cadbury chocolate company sent boxes of new chocolates to his school to be tested? Dahl dreamed of devising a new flavor that would impress Mr. Cadbury. The idea inspired Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
• He was a fighter pilot in World War II and shot down five enemy aircraft, making him a flying ace?
• He was attache to the British ambassador to the U.S.? 
• During this time Dahl provided intelligence to an organization called the British Security Coordination? This was a group that was working to combat the American isolationist movement. It's members included Ian Fleming and David Ogilvy.
• In 1953 he married actress Patricia Neal?
• In addition to his children's books, Dahl also wrote short stories for adults? These were usually darker stories of the macabre.
• Tales of the Unexpected, a collection of his adult stories, was made into a TV series? 
• Dahl wrote the screenplays for the film version of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and You Only Live Twice?  Both were rewritten and finished by other screen writers. The Child Catcher in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang was his creation.
• He died in 1990 at the age of 74?

Did You Know...J.R.R. Tolkien

I was thinking of something to post last night and I realized that it's been a while since I wrote a Did You Know...post. So, guess what I'm posting today? You've got it--Did You Know!

I'm surprised that I haven't done this one yet. J.R.R. Tolkien is my all-time favorite author. I know all sorts of things about him and his two most popular books--The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. Do you? Let's find out!

Did You Know...

• That Tolkien was born in 1892 in South Africa? His father had accepted a job there as a bank manager.
• That Tolkien's father died when he was three and his mother died when he was 12?
• By the end of World War I all but one of his closest friends was dead? The war had a profound affect upon Tolkien that would surface in his writing (such as in his description of the Dead Marshes).
• His father was Catholic and his mother converted to Catholicism? Tolkien was a staunch Catholic all his life, somewhat of a trial in England, and this affected his writing as well.
• Tolkien distrusted machines in general and cars in particular? Whenever possible, he rode his bicycle. He thought the world was being overwhelmed by machines and loved the green, peaceful English countryside.
• He fell in love with his future wife, Edith Bratt, when he was 16, but was forbidden by his guardian to communicate with her until he was  because Edith was Protestant? He kept his promise. On his 21st birthday, he wrote to Edith asking her to marry him. She was engaged to be married to someone else, but cancelled that engagement, converted to Catholicism, and married Tolkien. They were married over 50 years.
• He did the illustrations for The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings himself? Although he downplayed his artistic skills, he was better than most and his publisher, much to his surprise, agreed to use his illustrations.
• Tolkien's devout faith was a major reason than his friend and fellow author C.S. Lewis converted from atheism to Christianity? Lewis chose the Church of England over Catholicism, which dismayed Tolkien to some extent, but I believe he got over it.
• The Lord of the Rings was intended to be a children's story, like The Hobbit before it, but became darker as the writing progressed? It touched more on the myths and legends of Middle Earth that Tolkien had been working on for years. This was Tolkien's true love and would be published posthumously by his son Christopher as The Silmarillion. 
• The Silmarillion was Tolkien's attempt to write a distinctly British mythology? The lack of a truly British mythology was a gap that Tolkien tried to fill through the history of The Silmarillion and his poetry.
• The Lord of the Rings took more than ten years to write? As Tolkien so aptly said in the forward, "The tale grew in the telling."
• Tolkien was a professor of languages and knew 13 languages including Latin, French, German, Middle English, Old English, Greek, Italian and Welsh? He had a working knowledge of eight others? He also developed his own Elvish languages; Quenya and Sindarin.
• Tolkien died on September 2, 1973 at the age of 81? He was buried in the same grave with his wife Edith who had passed away 21 months earlier.
• Tolkien's translation of Beowulf and a transcript of a paper he delivered on the ancient poem was published this week (no, I am not receiving money from the Tolkien estate!)?

Did You Know...Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Since today is Martin Luther King Day, I decided to step out of the writing/author genre for this week's Did You Know and go in search of some interesting tidbits about the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. As always, credit goes to Wikipedia where yo can always find a zillion facts on just about anything.

Did you know...

• He was originally named Michael King, but his father changed it five years later? He was renamed after Martin Luther.
• He skipped the 9th and 12th grades and began college when he was 15?
• King was mentored by activist Bayard Rustin? Rustin believed in non-violent activism as practiced by Gandhi and Christian pacifists.
• King visited India? He went in 1959 and the trip strengthened his conviction that non-violent resistance was the proper path to take.
• He was stabbed and almost died at a book signing in 1958? A mentally ill black woman stabbed him in the chest with a letter opener.
• The FBI tapped his phones due to concerns that Communists were trying to infiltrate the civil rights movement?
• King was arrested 29 times?
• Part of King's I Have a Dream speech was improvised? 
• Thee original copy of the speech is owned by George Raveling? He was standing near the podium and asked King if he could have it. Raveling later became the first African-American basketball coach at the University of Iowa.
• The autopsy conducted after King's assassination noted that he had the heart of a 60 year old? King was only 39, but the condition of his heart indicates the tremendous stress he was under.

Here's a portion of King's "I Have Been to the Mountaintop" speech, which he delivered the night before he was killed.

Did You Know...C.S. Lewis

This week we take a look at an author known not only as a writer of fantastic children's books, but someone who was one of the greatest religious and philosophical thinkers of the 20th century. I'm talking of course about C.S. Lewis.

Let's see what little known facts I was able to dig up about him online.

Did you know...

• His full name was Clive Staples Lewis, but his friends called him Jack? Jack was short for Jacksie, which was the name of his dog when he was a child.
• When he was young, he loved the works of Beatrix Potter? When he was a child he was so fascinated by talking animals that he and his brother made up stories about a world called Boxen which was populated by talking animals.
• When he was a teenager he became an atheist? His regained his faith in his early thirties.
• In his teenage years, Lewis was interested in Norse, Greek and Irish mythology and literature?
• He fought in World War I and was wounded by friendly fire?
• Lewis taught at both Oxford and Cambridge?
• He married Joy Davidman Gresham in 1956 when he was in his late 50's? She was an American who grew up Jewish, but became an atheist and a communist. She converted to Christianity before coming to England with her two sons after separating from her husband.
• Lewis was part of a literary discussion group called the Inklings? It included J.R.R. Tolkien, Lord David Cecil and Nevill Coghill among others. They met every Tuesday morning to discuss literature and read from their works in progress.
• Tolkien was a major influence in bringing Lewis back to Christianity, although Tolkien was Catholic while Lewis was Anglican?
• Lewis took an "everyman" approach to his explanation of Christianity and God? His writings and lectures acknowledge the difficulty some have in believing and his arguments are focused on those who find it difficult to believe. This is most likely a direct result from having walked in those same shoes himself.
• Lewis die the same day John F. Kennedy was assassinated? Author Aldous Huxley died the same day as well.

Here's a trailer for the film Shadowlands, which chronicles the relationship between C.S. Lewis and Joy Davidman Gresham. It's a really nice film, although a tad over-dramatized.

Did You Know...Maurice Sendak

Well, this is it, the last post of 2013. I can't believe that New Year's Day is the day after tomorrow. With that in mind, I've decided to change things up in the coming year. I'll be cutting back on my Between the Lines character interviews and will be bringing back the popular Did You Know? series. For those of you not familiar with Did You Know?, I feature little-known facts about a different children's book author each week.

Before we continue I wanted to wish you all a very Happy New Year, may all your dreams come true in 2014! Thank you all for the love and support you have given me this past year. I really appreciate it!

This week, we'll be discovering some fun facts about illustrator/author Maurice Sendak. Thanks to Wikipedia for the facts! If you have a fun fact about Maurice Sendak that I did not list here, please share it by leaving it in the comments.

Did you know...

• Many of his extended family members died in the Holocaust?
• When he was 12 he decided to become an illustrator after watching the movie Fantasia?
• Older brother Jack Sendak was a children's book author,, too? Maurice illustrated two of them.
• In addition to illustrating his own books such as Where the Wild Things Are, In the Night Kitchen, and Chicken Soup With Rice, he illustrated many books by other authors, including Else Holmelund Minarik's popular Little Bear series?
• One of his first jobs was creating window displays for F.A.O. Schwarz in Manhattan?
• His first job as an illustrator was illustrating a textbook? The name of the book was Atomics for the Millions by Dr. Maxwell Leigh Eidinoff in 1947.
• His book In the Night Kitchen is one of the most frequently banned/censored books? The book features illustrations of a boy running naked through his dreams.
• Sendak was on the original board of advisors for the Children's Television Workshop when the concept of Sesame Street was developed?
• In addition to illustrating and writing books, Sendak designed sets for a number of ballets and operas? He also consulted and designed numerous movies, television shows and plays for both children ad adults.
• Sendak was born in 1928 in Brooklyn, New York and died in 2012 in Danbury, Connecticut? 

Now, here's a little interview with Maurice Sendak about his views on childhood among other things:

 

Did You Know? Winnie-the-Pooh

Since I had a chance to interview Winnie-the-Pooh this week, I thought it would be fun to see what kind of interesting facts I could find about the book Winnie-the-Pooh and its author, A.A. Milne. Here's what I found.

Did you know...

• Milne named Christopher Robin after his son, Christopher Robin Milne?
• Christopher Robin Milne's stuffed bear was named Edward was renamed Winnie-the-Pooh after a black bear named Winnie, which was used as a military mascot in World War I? "The pooh" comes from a swan called "Pooh".
•  E. H. Shepard illustrated the original Pooh books, using his own son's teddy, Growler as the model? 
• The rest of Christopher Robin Milne's toys, Piglet, Eeyore, Kanga, Roo, Owl, Rabbit and Tigger, were written into A. A. Milne's stories and are now displayed at what used to be the main branch of the NNew York Public Library?
• The Hundred Acre Wood where the Pooh stories take place is based on the Five Hundred Acre Wood in Ashdown Forest in East Sussex, South East England?
• One of A. A. Milne's teachers was H. G. Wells?
• Milne was one of Britain's first film writers? He wrote a series of four films in 1920?
• Milne also wrote a play based on Kenneth Grahame's novel The Wind in the Willows called Toad of Toad Hall?
• In 2008, a collection of original illustrations featuring Winnie-the-Pooh and his animal friends sold for more than £1.2m at auction in Sotheby's, London

Did You Know? A Christmas Carol

Earlier this week we spoke with Ebenezer Scrooge. I thought it might be fun to see what kind of interesting facts I could dig up about A Christmas Carol and its author, Charles Dickens. Check out these facts:

Did you know...

• Dickens published the book at his own expense? High production costs made for disappointing profits in the first year of its release, although it sold well.
• The book has been made into a film at least 28 times?
• Dickens conducted public readings of the book? From 1853 until 1870 he read it 127 times.
• Before Carol's publication, Christmas was generally a more somber and serious occasion?
• Charles Dickens worked in a factory as a child while his father was in debtor's prison?
• He published most of his novels in weekly installments? This gave him a chance to judge the public's reaction and make changes to the story.
• Dickens worked as a reporter for four years, covering legal proceedings?
• Dickens wrote 15 novels and hundreds of short stories? He was generally thought to be the greatest writer of his day.
• He frequently incorporated autobiographical elements in his novels?

Did You Know? Charlotte's Web

After yesterday's interview with Charlotte, I thought it would be a good idea to see what interesting facts I could dig up about Charlotte's Web and it's author, E.B. White. Let's see what I found out.

Did You Know...

• Publishers Weekly named Charlotte's Web the best selling children's book of all time?
• Charlotte's full name, Charlotte A. Cavatica, was based on the scientific name for a barn spider, Araneus cavaticus?
• Illustrator Garth Williams originally drew Charlotte with a ladies head, but E.B. White wanted her drawn as a regular spider?
• The book originally started in the barnyard, but White added the what became the opening scenes with Fern and her family?
• White's Maine farmhouse and barn were the inspiration for the book? His will stipulated that it remain off limits to the public to preserve the property.
• The E.B. stands for Elwyn Brooks?
• He wound up marrying the editor that hired him for The New Yorker magazine, Katharine Angell?
• He updated and edited The Elements of Style? Today, it's known as Strunk & White's Elements of Style, the most commonly used grammar and usage guide.
• White won an honorary Pulitzer Prize for his writing, including Charlotte's Web, Stuart Little, and Trumpet of the Swan?

Here's the trailer from the animated version of Charlotte's Web. I love Templeton. Paul Lynde was great:

Did You Know? Mary Poppins

Yesterday, we had the pleasure of speaking with Mary Poppins. Today in Did You Know? we'll be checking out some little known facts about the Mary Poppins series of books by P.L. Travers. Let's seee what we've got here...

Did you know...

• The first book, Mary Poppins, was published in 1934 and thee final book, Mary Poppins and the House Next Door was published in 1988? Overall, there were eight Mary Poppins books published in that 54 year period, all written by P.L. Travers.
• Jane and Michael Banks had two other siblings? In the books, younger twins John and Barbara share in the adventures. They were left out of the Disney film.
• The Disney film version depicted selected events from the first four Mary Poppins books?
• Bert the chimney sweep was also a compilation of several characters in those first four books?
• P.L. Travers was approached by Walt Disney about making a film version of Mary Poppins as early as 1938? She did not think that a film would do the book justice. She finally relented and agreed to a film version in 1961.
• P.L. Travers' real name was Helen Lyndon Goff? She was an actress in her younger days and adopted the Travers name as her stage name.
• P.L. stands for Pamela Lyndon?
• She admired Peter Pan creator J.M. Barrrie?
• P.L. Travers did not care for the Disney adaptation, particularly the animation sequences?
• Although she never married, she adopted a baby boy from Ireland?

Although Ms. Travers disliked the Disney film and animation, I happen to really like it. So, with all due respect to her, here is a classic clip from the film:

Did You Know? The Adventures of Pinocchio

After our interview with Pinocchio yesterday, I decided to see what kind of fun facts I could find out about him and author Carlo Collodi. So, here's what I found.

Did You Know...

• Pinocchio was written by Italian author Carlo Collodi?
• It was released in serial form between 1881 & 1882, then published as a children's book in 1883?
• The story is set in the Tuscan region of Italy?
• In the story, Pinocchio starts out as a talking block of wood?
• In the original story, Pinocchio is hanged? Collodi later added to the story. The Fairy with Turquoise Hair rescues him and turns him into a real boy.
• Pinocchio actually kills the talking cricket in the original story? He accidentally kills him with a hammer. The cricket returns later to rebuke Pinocchio about his behavior.
• The story was translated into English in 1892, two years after Collodi's death?
• Geppetto is a nickname for Giuseppe?
• Over 14 films have been made based on the story?

Here's a bit from one of those films, Disney's 1940 version:

Did You Know? Louisa May Alcott

After my fascinating conversation with Jo March yesterday, I thought it would be fun to go in search of some fun facts related to the author of Little Women, Louisa May Alcott. Here's what I was able to find out.

Did You Know...

• Little Women was published in two volumes? The first, Little Women, was published in 1868, and the second, Little Wives, was published in 1869.
• The book was one of the first novels to portray women as independent and strong-minded? It's views were decades ahead of its time.
•  Little Women was popular with women of many different social backgrounds because there was something in there that everyone could relate to?
• The book opened up a new market of young women and girl readers?
• Growing up in New England, Louisa May Alcott and her family were transcendentalists? They rubbed elbows with folks like Emerson, Hawthorne, and Thoreau.
• When she first started writing, she used the pen name of A.M. Barnard?
• During the Civil War, she spent six weeks as a nurse in a field hospital in Washington?
• The character of Jo is based on Louisa May Alcott?
• While serving in the field hospital during the war, she contracted typhoid fever?
• She died in 1888 at the age of 55, just two days after her father?

Interesting stuff, that. Now, here's the trailer from the 1994 film version of Little Women. I have to admit that I love this movie--there's so much great stuff going on, and it's very well done!

Did You Know? Mother Goose

Yesterday, I chatted a little with the Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe, so today, I thought it would be fun to find out a little about Mother Goose. So that's what this week's Did You Know? is about. Without further ado, here are this week's facts.

Did You Know...

• The earliest written version of the Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe appeared in 1794?
• In the earlier versions, the old lady whipped her children soundly and sent them to bed? Ouch!
• Some speculation, although no hard proof, that the identity of the old woman in the rhyme is Queen Caroline, the wife of King George II? She had eight children.
• In England, Mother Goose was a generic term to describe a country woman?
• No specific writer has been identified as the creator of the Mother Goose nursery rhymes?
• The first tale attributed to Mother Goose appeared as early as 1650?
•  Some scholars believed that Mother Goose lived in Boston in the late 1600's and was the wife of Isaac Goose? This line of thought is generally discounted today.
• In 1695, Charles Perrault published a collection of Mother Goose fairy tales? These were the first collection of fairy tales attributed to Mother Goose.
• In 1791 John Newbery published a book of Mother Goose nursery rhymes? This became the prevailing Mother Goose association until recently.

Fun stuff. Now here's a little video from Sesame Street in which Kermit the Frog meets the old woman and a couple of other people in her neighborhood.

Did You Know? Aesop

For the last couple of weeks, I've posted interviews with characters from Aesop's Fables, specifically, the Grasshopper and the Tortoise. So, this latest edition of Did You Know? serves up some little known information about Aesop.

Did You Know...

• Aesop is believed to have been born about 620 B.C.?
• No one is certain that Aesop ever really existed? There are many conflicting stories about his life, none of which have ever been substantiated.
• No writings by him survive?
• Some stories of his life say he was a Greek slave who was extremely ugly? In these versions, he was a hunchback.
• Still other stories say he was an Ethiopian?
• There are over 200 fables attributed to Aesop?
• Socrates converted some of Aesop's fables to verse when he was in prison?
• The fables have been changed and adapted so much that they are very different from the original versions?
• It is believed that Aesop died in Delphi? Supposedly, he was on a diplomatic mission there, and insulted them. They sentenced him to death, and threw him off a cliff.

Now, here's a clip from the Merrie Melodies version of The Tortoise and the Hare called Tortoise Beats Hare, starring Bugs Bunny. I love these cartoons!

Did You Know? The Brothers Grimm

Since we featured an interview with Rumpelstiltskin yesterday, I thought it would be a good idea to feature the brothers Grimm in a Did You Know? post. We haven't had one of those in a while, and those Grimm lads always seemed so interesting.

Jacob & Wihelm Grimm

Did you know...

• In the Grimm's original edition in 1812, when the miller's daughter  guessed his name, Rumpelstiltskin ran away? This was later revised in 1857 where he sank one foot deep into the ground, got real angry. pulled his other leg and tore himself in half.
• A gnome-like character resembling Rumpelstiltskin appears in stories from many other cultures? 
• The Grimm brothers collected and rewrote many German and European folk stories? The first edition of their collected folk tales contained 86 stories. That number eventually grew to over 200.
• The brothers also published a collection of German mythology as well as a German dictionary? It was not finished in their lifetimes.
• Some of their folk tales were transcribed directly from traveling storytellers? They were greatly modified as they were being transcribed.
• A pre-1812 manuscript containing 53 tales was discovered in a church in Alsace in 1920?
• From 1815 on, Wilhem edited and rewrote the stories? 
• Many changes were made after unfavorable reviews stated that some of the stories were not suitable for children? Because of this, many sexual references were cut out, but the violence in the stories generally increased.
• Both brothers were strong advocates of German unity? Germany was made up of separate states during their lifetimes.

Here's the story of Rumpelstiltskin as performed by our friends, the Muppets.

Did You Know? Johnny Tremain

This week, I decided to find out a little bit more about one of my favorite children's historical fiction novel, Johnny Tremain by Esther Forbes. I have not read this book in a number of years. I've decided that I've got to go back and read it again!

Did You Know...

• According to Publisher's Weekly, Johnny Tremain is the 16th most popular children's paperback of all time? This was as of 2001.
• Johnny Tremain won the 1944 Newbery Medal?
• Esther Forbes began writing the book the day after Pearl Harbor was bombed? She finished it in 1943, two years later.
• In addition to the Newbury Medal, Esther Forbes won the Pulitzer Prize? She won that her biography of Paul Revere.
• Esther Forbes was an editor and journalist? She worked at Houghton Mifflin and wrote for the Boston Evening Transcript.
• Forbes' mother helped her with the research for Johnny Tremain?
• Esther Forbes wrote a number of historical novels set in New England before writing Johnny Tremain? 
• Clark University awarded her an honorary Doctor of Letters degree?
• She was the first woman member of the American Antiquities Society?
• She willed all royalties from her books to the American Antiquities Society after her death?

All in all, a fascinating person. I would have loved to have met her and picked her brain on New England history during the Revolution. I think I'll have to see if I can get my hands on some of her other books, especially Paul Revere and the World He Lived In. 

This week, the clip I'm including is a promo from the Disney film version of Johnny Tremain. I recommend this film. Disney cuts some deaths out of the picture, but it's still reasonably true to the book, especially compared to some film adaptations of the mid 20th century.

Did You Know? The Wind in the Willows

It's been a couple of weeks since the last Did You Know. This time around, we'll be taking a look at The Wind in the Willows and its author, Kenneth Grahame. Here are some interesting things I bet you didn't know.

Did You Know...

• A stage adaptation, Toad of Toad Hall, was written by A.A. Milne in 1929?
• English novelist William Horwood write a series of sequels in the 1990's? In spite of the huge popularity of The Wind in the Willows, Grahame never wrote a sequel.
• Grahame was originally a banker, and was the Secretary of the Bank of England? It gives this banker/writer some hope!
• The character of Mr. Toad was inspired by Grahame's infant son, Alastair? He was headstrong and independent, much like Mr. Toad.
• Grahame originally told the stories contained within the book to his son at bedtime?
• Grahame's son, Alistair, was blind in one eye, and had impaired vision in the other? Always troubled, he committed suicide days before his 20th birthday.
• Winnie the Pooh creator A.A. Milne was such a big fan that he would read it to guests at parties?
• The Wind in the Willows was the last major work that Grahame wrote? 

Hmmmm, not so many interesting facts this time. Oh well, here's a fun clip that is not from the Disney version.

 

Did You Know? The Tale of Peter Rabbit

After yesterday's interview with Peter Rabbit, I'm interested to see what little known facts we could find about the story and it's author, Beatrix Potter. This has always been one of my favorite stories, and one of the first that I can remember hearing.

Did You Know...

• The story was written for Noel Moore, the five year old son of Potter's former governess in 1893?
• Potter published it on her own in 1901? It was picked up by Frederick Warne & Co. in 1902.
• The book was one of the first to be merchandised? In 1903, Potter released a Peter Rabbit doll, as well as a board game.
• The book has been translated into 36 languages and sold 45 million copies?
• Potter owned a pet rabbit named Peter Piper which she used as the model for Peter?
• In 1938 Disney was interested in producing an animated version of The Tale of Peter Rabbit, but Potter and Disney could not agree on marketing rights?  
• Potter wrote and illustrated 23 books?
• She was interested in science and wrote and illustrated a paper on fungi and their germination?
• Potter loved country life, and became a leading breeder of Herdwick sheep?
• When she died, she left most of her property, over 4,000 acres, to the National Trust? This ensured that the land would be preserved.

Here's a clip from a video adaptation of the story. We had this on video for the kids. I really like the live action beginning, which shows Beatrix Potter coming in from the rain to write a letter to little Noel. It really sparks the imagination. I also love the animation, which is done in the style of Potter's illustrations.



Did You Know? The Call of the Wild

Today, we've got some fun facts about The Call of the Wild and its author, Jack London. Let's see what we dug up.

Did You Know...

• The Alaska natives called the Yeehat that appear in the book were made up by London?
• The dog, Buck, was inspired by a dog owned by London's landlords?
• The Call of the Wild first appeared in 1903 in The Saturday Evening Post? Macmillan bought the book rights and published it later that year.
• Egerton R. Young claimed the book was taken from his book, My Dogs in the Northland? London admitted using it as a source.
• London spent a year in the Klondike, which inspired the book?
• London was an advocate of socialism and unions? He wrote several books and articles in support of those ideals.
• He worked on a sealing schooner that sailed to Japan? He also worked in a mill, a power plant, and spent time as a tramp. 
• London spent 30 days in jail for vagrancy?
• When he was in the Klondike, he contracted scurvy?
• London died young? He passed away from acute renal colic and late stage alcoholism in 1916 at age 40.

Here's a scene from the 1935  film version of The Call of the Wild starring Clark Gable and Loretta Young.

Did You Know? 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea

Since we were able to spend some time with Captain Nemo yesterday, we'll be featuring some fun facts about 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea and it's author, Jules Verne. Every time I research these facts, I always discover something that I never knew. Often, I learn about something that influenced the writer, or that I can relate to as a writer. Let's see if that's the case this time around.

 Did You Know...

• That 20,000 leagues doesn't refer to the depth that they travel, but to the distance? If you traveled 20,000 leagues, you would circle the Earth six times.
• In the original version, Nemo was a Polish nobleman whose family was killed by Russians?
• The book's sequel, Mysterious Island, reveals Nemo's Indian heritage? This was changed at the request of Verne's publishers, because at the time France was an ally of Russia.
• The book was first published in France in 1870 and was translated into English by Lewis Mercier in 1872?
• The Nautilus accurately foreshadowed today's modern submarines in its high speed capability and covert operations? Unlike today's subs, however, it was able to dive to any depth.
• Jules Verne was way ahead of his time, writing about space, air, and underwater travel among other things? Many of his descriptions of these futuristic adventures were eerily similar to what mankind has actually achieved.
• Verne began writing libretti for operettas before turning to novels?
• In his school days, Verne received writing advice from Victor Hugo and Alexandre Dumas?
• Verne was shot by his nephew? One bullet hit him in the leg, which left him with a limp for the last 19 years of his life.
• In 1863 Verne wrote a book entitled Paris in the 20th Century? In the book he describes glass skyscrapers, gasoline powered automobiles, high speed trains, and calculators. Verne put the manuscript in a safe for future publication, where it was discovered by his great-grandson in 1989. Weird, huh?

So, that's the scoop. Now, here's the trailer from the Disney version of 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. Funny how Disney has a version for just about every great classic children's story.



A Writer's Week #14: What's In A Name?

I've been chugging along this week. As I noted last week, I'm at the point in the new book where I'm just plugging away, putting down one word after another, much the same way as a marathon runner picks one foot up and puts one foot down to keep moving forward.

This week, I managed to write 1,400 words or so, which is not a thrilling total. But at least it's progress. So now, I'm up to chapter 27 and over 24,000 words. Just for comparison's sake, my first book, The Deliverers: Sharky and the Jewel, has a total of 27 chapters, but is 53,000 words long. Quite a difference.

I'm not sure if this book is going to be quite as long as the first one. I'm not sure there are 29,000 words left to write. But I do know that this one will have more chapters. The pace, I think, is going to be quicker in this book as it weaves in a couple of storylines. We'll see how long it will takee for the rest of the story to play out.

But I'm kind of getting tired of referring to this book as "the new book' or, "the new Deliverers book". I'm beginning to think that I have to try and figure out what to call it. The first book was called The Deliverers for just about the entire time I was writing it. I didn't add the Sharky and the Jewel bit until I was sure that I'd be writing another one.



So I know that this book is part of The Deliverers series, so that automatically means I've got part of a title, The Deliverers. But what comes next? I'm going to have to think about that. So far, nothing has grabbed me and shouted "here I am!" But I guess I still have some time. But the name is important. It's what give a book its identity. So I think I'll have to give this some serious thought and see what strikes me. If I come up with something this week, I'll be sure to let you know!

Oh, just a heads up. Next week is looking pretty busy, especially the early part, so I won't be posting on Monday. I'll try to do an interview on Tuesday, probably with a character from an author I've done previously so that I won't have to do a Did You Know? Anyway, we'll see. Have a great holiday!