Travels

Authors on Editing: Interview with Dean King

People don’t always think of wordsmiths as adventurers, of book writing as exploration, or of fine-tuning a manuscript as a process of discovery, but if that’s the case, they probably haven’t heard from award-winning, bestselling, documentary-producing author Dean King.

From the subject matter he chooses to investigate to his extensive research to the captivating storytelling that results, Dean is a master writer. I’m thrilled to welcome him to my Authors on Editing interview series.

Writing Tip 348: “Alumnus,” “Alumna,” “Alumnae” & “Alumni”

"alumnus," "alumna," "alumnae" & "alumni" Nothing makes you feel less like a graduate than failing your first real-world spelling test. Do you know the difference between “alumnus,” “alumna,” “alumnae” & “alumni”?

When people start talking Latin origins and uncommon spelling forms, tension begins to build in some secret place where childhood spelling bee angst hides. When we start adding word gender form into the conversation, there’s a tendency for hands to be tossed into the air. But sometimes, there are moments for tossing up graduation caps rather than hands. And in these cases, you need to make sure you’re prepared.

When the conversation drifts from wild chickens in Kauai to the mongoose population across the Hawaiian islands, one question comes up every time. Actually, a lot of questions come up every time—ranging from reckless introductions of invasive species to the potential collection of wild chicken eggs—but most importantly for our discussion is the question of the word “mongoose.” When you have one, we have no doubt about the singular form, but…

What is the plural of “mongoose”?

Library Envy: The Festetics Castle

In a time where sophistication wasn’t measured by the size of flat-screen televisions or smart-phone apps, the personal library was where one proved one’s merit. In my travels, the library of the Festetics Castle in Keszthely, Hungary put my own personal library to shame.

Icy Inspiration: The Hotel de Glace

St. Augustine once said “The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page.” I’d argue further that new places allow you to transform the pages of your own writing. My recent inspiration: The Hotel de Glace in Quebec, Canada.