Linguistics Are Fun

Here's your bizarre linguistic coincidence of the day:

Four years ago I was looking up root words in obscure languages to invent a name for a region in a fantasy book I was working on. I took a root found in the Igbo and Yoruba languages, "Amadi," which is the same word but with interestingly complicated disagreements on meaning; then I fashioned an ending for it, and had a place name: Amadahy. My interest with the area grew, and I realized the book I was working on was really about that place. Eventually, that became the working title.

(Note that the original meanings were inspirational for me as writer, an inside-joke with myself that also served as a reminder about the people I was writing, and had nothing to do with the region the name was affixed to.)

Today I was researching names and words in various Native American languages for a new project, and found the word I thought I'd invented four years ago--Amadahy--already exists in the Cherokee language--and that it means "forest water," which is the exact same thing as the region I was using the word to describe. (In the book, Amadahy is frequently called the waterwood and the forest of water.)

I love moments like this. It's just an odd coincidence, but it sure feels a bit like validation, too.


*Update: now that I've bothered to Google it, Amadahy appears on a lot of name lists.  It's also apparently the name of a very web-active dominatrix, who according to her website is currently touring.  I probably should start googling all the words I come up with before I get too attached to them...

Cheap E-Book Notice

Hey Guys,

Just letting you know that for a limited time, you can get all 5 books of George R. R. Martin's Song of Ice and Fire series for $9.99.  The five books and their normal prices are:

A Game of Thrones ($4.99)
A Clash of Kings ($5.99)
A Storm of Swords ($5.22)
A Feast for Crows ($4.99)
A Dance with Dragons ($2.99)

The first four books are available as a box set for $21.99, but (for now at least) all five are available for only $9.99.  That's 4,272 pages of the greatest modern epic for less than ten bucks.

(Hint for holiday shoppers: these can also be gifted, and Amazon allows you to schedule when the e-gift is delivered--for instance, a little less than four weeks from today...)

If you haven't read these yet, or you have but want them in e-format, do yourself a favor and pick these up while the deal still lasts.  Here's the link again: Song of Ice and Fire

Best Books of 2013?

The New York Times Book Review has just released its year-end roundup (a little early?) of 100 Notable Books of 2013.

I'm still catching up with the books on my list from 2012, but many of the 2013 titles were already on my to-read list, and now I've got a lot more to add.

In the meantime, I'd love to hear recommendations for your favorite book(s) of 2013 in the comments below.

A Few Updates to the Website

I have a few new updates to the site to announce:

I added a recently finished section to the What I'm Reading page, with ratings.

I also added individual pages for each of the books under What I'm Writing.  Eventually, this is where the sample chapters will be uploaded.

Check it out over at ASMoser.com

In the meantime, i appreciate your continued feedback.

Time to get to work... Next week

I got four books in the mail this week, and made my way through the first 20-30% of each so far.  Two of them I'd classify as how-to manuals, and the other two as reference books.  The reference books seem fine, and well organized.  The how-to manuals, so far, are really useful, and I definitely recommend them--particularly if you're working on a non-fiction project (the tips for fiction markets are less than robust).

Here they are:

How to Write a Book Proposal by Michael Larsend (4th ed.)

The Essential Guide to Getting Your Book Published by Arielle Eckstut and David Henry Sterry  [This one, though more geared toward non-fiction markets, is really good]

2014 Guide to Literary Agents, edited by Chuck Sambuchino

2014 Novel & Short Story Writer's Market, edited by Rachel Randall [This one is well organized, and has very useful classification information.  While you'll still want to consult the agents' websites first, this one provides a good way to winnow down the options]

Anyone out there have any other useful manuals, websites, or personal tips to offer on the proposal writing process?  I'd love to hear about them.

Happy writing.

Facebook Page

I have a new Facebook page set up.  If you Like it you'll be able to keep up to date with what I'm doing in the world of words.

New Website

ASMoser.com is officially live!  Have a look around, share it with your book-loving friends, and send me a message on Twitter, Facebook, or via Email to let me know what you think.