Wednesday, September 10, 2008

Thursday's Thrills: Moonrat

These days, a person can learn a lot from reading blogs:
(cartoon courtesy of Chris Howard, who will hopefully pop in today)





For example, anybody who has been following Moonrat for more than a day realizes that she is too nice to be an editor. She's always trying to help people:





And checking to make sure others are doing good deeds:





But there are other photos, other sides of Moonrat.

She likes to dance:




She likes drinking with friends:





And she's the only editor we know who can have a real partay with books:




As an editor, she's helped her readers learn about the publishing industry.
Excerpts from Moonrat's Guide to Getting Published:
1) Your literary talent alone isn't enough for an editor to publish your book --(Moonie)--
So true. You need to have drinking talents and taser talents.


2) Build up your platform while you're writing--(Moonie)--
And adorn it with nice fluffy pillows so you can nap between opening rejection letters.


3) Do get an agent--(Moonie)--
But make sure he or she is potty-trained before bringing him/her back home.

4) Be a fantastic writer--(Moonie)--
Again, so true. Blogging is an increasingly competitive business. Your writing will need to stand out for people to visit you.

*******************************

What to talk about. Hmmm.... Mice. And rats. Karoake. Sushi. Desserts. Questions about publishing. Oh! And T-shirt slogans.


***PRIZE: Make up a t-shirt slogan. Open prompt. You can write a slogan about anything. The funniest one, as chosen by Moonie, will receive a $25 Amazon gift certificate.***


We heart Moonie very much. If you'd like to join in an e-hug and get some literary culture at the same time, click here.


Just for kicks: Funny Mouse video










174 comments:

Chris Eldin said...

If there's anyone I could never ever roast, it would be Moonie. It would be like pulling a bunny's ears or kicking a puppy.
Don't feel that way about anyone else this week though. Hmmmm....

hehehe!
:-)

Sarah said...

Or beating Tiny Tim with his own crutch, I suppose.

I don't think I could poke at anyone who cried watching Michael Phelp's mother.

Chris Eldin said...

*waves to oh bother*

I know!
:-)

btw, is that your t-shirt slogan? "Don't beat Tiny Tim with his own crutch?"

Sarah said...

*waves back*

That's as good as any I could come up with. But it would be a rather ambiguous message, don't you think?

It's either telling you to be nice to Tim- or to pick a different weapon.

Kiersten White said...

"You Don't Piss on Hospitality"

Which is only funny if you've ever seen the worst movie ever made. Look up Trolls 2 on YouTube.

Other than that, welcome, Moonrat! I'm just now discovering your blog, but pretend like I'm not, because Evil Editor might get mad.

And dangit! I don't drink. I *knew* there was a reason no one wanted my first book. But I drank a lot of caffienated soda while writing the latest one...which is pretty hardcore for me. So my question is, is that enough?

Shona Snowden said...

Ah, Moonrat's blog is a wonderful place that I should visit more often. I lost all my blog links recently, so I'm in the process of rediscovering everything...it's as if the world were brand new...

I like the Momrat stories. Oh, yes, yes, I like the publishing stuff too. But. More Momrat.

Josephine Damian said...

Moonrat, my huckleberry friend, have you read THE GIFT OF RAIN?

Precie said...

Hi, moonie!!!!!!!!!!

You already know, I think, that I HEART you.

Can't wait to hear more vignettes from the world of publishing! More pearls of wisdom from RtheP and Momrat...more yummy culinary jaunts...tell us all about it!

Josephine Damian said...

Moonrat: When, oh when are you going to join me on Twitter?

Josephine Damian said...

Where is Moonie? Is it past her bed time?

Kiersten White said...

Oh, I thought of my real t-shirt idea. Please ignore the former entry. This is a dual one, though, depending on how things are going.

The first, a black t-shirt, says: QUERRIBLE

The second, a bright yellow t-shirt, says:
QUERRIFIC!

Chris Eldin said...

Moonie is currently helping a little old lady cross the street.
:-)

Or she's up to her eyeballs in papers....

She'll be here. But darn all you nightowls--I'm about ready to fall asleep!

Kiersten White said...

Not night owls--West Coasters. It's easier for us.

Go to bed, Chris. The Things will show no mercy tomorrow.

Sandra Cormier said...

Good evening, Moonie!

Natalie Whipple said...

Yay, Moonie! I've been waiting all week! You're my favorite.

Sarah said...

This East Coaster is going to bed.

Moonrat, I just visited your blog recently, so I hadn't heard about Momrat until Shona mentioned it. My Mother Has a Condition was so funny.

G'night!

cindy said...

MOONIE! MOONIE! MOONIE!

cindy said...

oh, wait, i was just a chantin'. not a slogan. i'm so awful at those things. *sighs*

Shona Snowden said...

I'm thinking she's gone to bed. Hey, let's talk about her while she's gone! Maybe make up a story...

One day Moonrat crept out of the slush pile to find...

Janet Reid said...

One day Moonrat crawled out of the slush pile to find a pair of ruby slippers on top of a hot dog vendor's steam bin.

Andromeda Romano-Lax said...

Ah, you're all a bunch of wussies -- already going to sleep. Oh wait. I'm the only one on Alaska time. Also called Sarah time. I'll check back in tomorrow.

By the way, we have fantastic sushi here. Lots of fresh fish, lots of disposable income. In fact, the first person who made sushi famous in California tried to make it famous in Alaska FIRST but his restaurant burned down and he moved, in a fit of depression, to California. (No kidding. I read that.) What's your favorite sushi, Moonrat? And then tell us (the question I always want to know but can't get any editor to answer): what constitutes decent sales for a literary novel of the type you publish. (It's my best friend asking. I mean, my little sister. Not me.) Also, what book are you most proud of having published?

McKoala said...

She wiped the blur of too many adverbs out of her eyes and peered through the steam at the slippers. Should she? Would she? Yes! She slipped them on to her feet - well, she slipped on the right one, the left one was a little tricky, but it went much better once she remembered to take her sneaker off first.

Janet said...

My slogan: Eschew obfuscation

Ello - Ellen Oh said...

Everytime Cindy chants Moonie Moonie! I keep thinking of bald headed people asking if I want to buy a flower. Oh wait, those are hari krishna's right?

Here are my t-shirt slogans:

Moonielicious
Got Moonrat?
Full Moonie
READ A BOOK, DAMN IT!!!
Moonies
Everytime a book goes unread, a kitten dies.
If you can read this, you are too close to my tatas.
Don't touch the merchandise
Yeah they're real, why do you think one sags lower than the other? (ok that might just be a t-shirt for me...)

I'd better go to sleep before I offend somebody. Hey that's a good slogan too!

Shona Snowden said...

Everytime a book goes unread, a kitten dies.

I'd have to buy that one.

Bernita said...

I heart MoonDear too.
Have trouble calling her "Moonie" - everytime I see that name I have a vision of a cute little bare ass hanging out of an office window.
Robert would not approve.

Chris Eldin said...

Good Morning Everyone!

LOL--You all were in rare form last night!!
:-)

Ello, your "If you can read this, you're too close to my tatas" made me laugh out loud!

Whirlochre said...

Psychopaths Anonymous Straightjacket Eating Champion 1978

none said...

Rats! I miss the days when we kept rats. But the cat we have now would find them, perhaps, too interesting!

none said...

Oh, wait, what, I'm responsible for 63 dead kittens?

Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah....

Michelle H. said...

Good morning, Moonrat and everyone!

I can only think of one t-shirt slogan:

Shoot for the Moon, baby!

Of course there would be a picture of a mouse's butt on the back.

Sorry for the flyby, I'm off again. Busy in the mornings.

Precie said...

LMAO at "every time a book goes unread"!!!

Natalie Whipple said...

Yeah, the "Every time a book goes unread, a kitten dies" is pretty touch to beat.

Stuart Neville said...

Moonrat is the best, bar none. All hail Moonrat!

Precie said...

Where is our dear Moonie? She must be in the middle of a sudden rough-and-tumble auction for a hot new manuscript. Or in heated debate with the designer about fonts...Or beating the bushes for more good copy editors.

Sigh.

Jaye Wells said...

Yay Moonrat! Your support of all us up-and-comers has been fantastic.

Now, I've mentioned this slogan elsewhere in the past, but I want a t-shirt that says:
"Writers do it with a climax."

Charles Gramlich said...

I thought of Moonrat yesterday as I got home and a wild rat ran across the road in front of my house. Perhaps that's where Moonie is.

I don't think I can top that "book unread" thingie. How about: "Reading: It's not just for bathroom time anymore."

Chris Eldin said...

AHAHAHAHA!
These slogans are great!!!
:-)

I feel like we're all in a darkened room, a surprise party waiting to happen. But the guest of honor got a flat tire....
{sigh}

Well, funny thing is, she's unwittingly building dramatic tension....

Keep the slogans rolling in!!
:-)

moonrat said...

sorry guys!!! believe this or not... and i can't even make this up... i was at a karaoke date that got really out of hand. 3 am on a work night, never a good thing. maybe you should have grilled me a little harder after all!!

and now i'm running from one meeting and into another! i probably won't be back to these parts until NOON east coast time. booo.

however, think of all the opportunities you have to beat tiny tim with your crutches while i'm gone.

i love you guys so much! i'll be better attended once i get this lit agent out of the way! erm, i mean, when my meeting ends.

<3

ps: re: "a kitten dies": LMAO. i want five of those.

rats don't like kittens.

laughingwolf said...

wilkommen, moonie ;) lol

'edit-or-die!'

moonrat said...

yesterday, there was a survey distributed to publishing professionals. but included amongst them are "what do you think is the biggest perk of your job" and "what's your beverage of choice?" the beverage selections included red wine, white wine, and whisky sours. TEN BONUS POINTS to the first person who knows what i put in the "other" blank!!

moonrat said...

also, Bernita, re: your comment on my blog: i wouldn't mind that raise too much. roast away!

Janet Reid said...

She shoulda blown off the agent for the roast. I mean really now, can we say "prioritize?"

My slogan: When the Cat in the Hat needs an editor: Moonrat!

Haste yee back ;-) said...

My T-shirt...

Everytime a kitten dies...
Someone stops sneezing!

Haste yee back ;-)

Precie said...

Oh, I know, I know!

Avocado shakes.

moonrat said...

ello--it just hit me--

"if you can read this you're too close to my tatas"

hahahhahaaha

precie, you're evil. i simply don't have time for a trip to Queens today before lunch!

Sandra Cormier said...

Moonie is the name of a great character in New Waterford Girl. That's the face I see when I read Moonie.

cindy said...

here's my t-shirt slogan :

the OTHER mrs. michael chabon.

Sandra Cormier said...

Hmm.. a T-shirt slogan...

"Smile! Right now somebody in a gym is pulling a hamstring."

cindy said...

dang, i want an avocado shake.
i'm going to the chinese market and all! /bootay shake!

cindy said...

MOONIE MOONIE MOONIE!
okay, am i like totally spamming
the moonie roast thread? =)

i want to know if moonie can go holiday abroad anywhere next, where would she go??

Chris Eldin said...

I want to know what are Moonie's favorite Karoake songs?
:-)

Ello - Ellen Oh said...

Favorite drink - Mojito!

Or that Filipino fresh melon drink. I remember that post! The avocado one did not work for me but that fresh melon drink had me real thirsty.

And what were you singing til 3AM?

Ello - Ellen Oh said...

Moonrat's t-shirt slogan should be

Karaoke Goddess!

Or "It's 3AM and that crazy drunk girl won't stop singing ABBA and let us close up for the night."

You choose.

cindy said...

i often wonder if "singing" is code word for other moonie shennanigens.
okay, i have no idea how to spell that.

and who stays out till 3am on a week night?? i BOW DOWN to the moonrat!!!

Bernita said...

I so suck at this:

T-shirt:
"Reverent Moonie."
"Buy a book and I'll Moon you."

Precie said...

LMAO! Bernita came to Play! That "buy a book" one is fantastic!

Precie said...

How about this...

On front:

Get into some Mischief
(moonie's blog address)

On back:

Moonrat's Mischief list
author - book title - pub date

Susan Adrian said...

Yay Moonie!

I actually own a t-shirt that says "Kickass Writer Chick: Careful, or you'll end up in my novel."

but for Moonie:“Three things cannot be long hidden: the sun, the moon, and the truth." (Buddha)

moonrat said...

THE OTHER MRS. MICHAEL CHABON!!!!

dang, cindy!! who squealed?!?!

moonrat said...

chumplet! i love it. my gym membership has been money down the toilet, officially, since... umm... sometime in June. that's right. haven't even been once.

moonrat said...

cindy: re: holiday abroad: i refer you to my list of magical islands...

juet kidding. at this moment, i'm OBSESSED with egypt. well, i've always been obsessed with egypt, just in kind of a distant and mythical way. recently it occured to me that it's an actual place that one can actually go visit if one scrapes together some funs. which, unfortunately, would involve one cutting back on one's karaoke.

cindy said...

moonie, you need to hit that rowing machine again!

slogan :

don't hate me cause i haven't been to the gym since june and i STILL look a HOT rat.

ps. the OTHER mrs. michael chabon.
(in smaller script.)

hahaha!

Leightongirl said...

I have nothing witty to say--but I do love Moonrat and read Editorial Ass every day.

moonrat said...

chris, that brings us to your question. and yours, ello.

some of my old standards include:
I Wanna Dance with Somebody (the great Whitney)
Everything I Do (Bryan Adams)
Total Eclipse of the Heart, or any of the 80s classics, really
everything from RENT, the musical
anything corny

last night, I debuted:
Bleeding Love (Leona Lewis, who I am recently obsessed with)
I Will Always Love You (the great Whitney)
No One (Alcia Keys, who I'm ALSO obsessed with right now, as is Momrat)

moonrat said...

oh yeah. and ABBA. good call.

"The Winner Takes It All" is actually much more difficult to sing than you imagine. humph.

Leightongirl said...

and PS I once knew the Other Mrs. Michael Chabon. Shh...

moonrat said...

Bernita: Buy a book and I'll Moon you!! giggle

moonrat said...

ooo, precie! i like your mischief list idea. we might have to make it some kind of annual collection, though.

moonrat said...

Susan-- "Careful, or you'll end up in my novel!"

I LOVE IT!!

moonrat said...

Oh Bother--I need to make a point re: Mrs. Phelps: THAT WAS A VERY MOVING MOMENT. you would have cried too. and at the gymnastics. and definitely at the decathalon. and all the way through the marathon. and maybe even a little at the diving.

luckily, the olympics is only every four years, or you might have gotten dehydrated.

cindy said...

egypt, great answer. i have an artist friend (in her 70's?) who was born in alexandria. i find that fascinating!

and i love bleeding love song. that's a hard song to sing! you ain't messing!

moonrat said...

Shona: the Momrat stories have abated because she's largely been behaving herself. There was an episode (a misunderstanding, as it were) last week that doesn't bear repeating, because it ends much at my sister's expense. It's too bad, though. It was totally blogable, if only it had happened to people I didn't know. I'll leave you a teaser, though--it involved a misprint on an insurance claim after a doctor's appointment. maybe you can make up the details for yourself.

Natalie Whipple said...

These are all so funny. I think you might have to start selling these on your website, Moonrat. There's your real money maker:)

moonrat said...

so many conversations to catch up on!!

JD--I haven't read THE GIFT OF RAIN. do you reccomend? (recommend? rats, rats. definitely the latter, isn't it? how heavily i rely, relie, relly, realie, on MS Word squiggly red line!! you should have roasted me for my inability to spell!)

moonrat said...

Kiersten--I like "Querrible" and "Querrific." When I finally put together my automated response letter, perhaps I'll use them both! (check the box that applies!)

cindy said...

i want to know from readers :

if you could use MOONRAT in a recipe, what would you make?

i think i'd bake a rattie pie!
or perhaps, moonrat scramble.
with jalepenos!

moonrat said...

Andromeda: I mean this in the nicest possible way, but, THPBPBPBPBPBT!! (that's a virtual raspberry). Tossing all that Alaskan sushi in my face. Sniff, sniff. If only you were tossing it literally!!!

I haven't had any sushi since... 10 pm last night!!

My favorite sushi, to answer your question, is EVERY SUSHI EVER. EVER.

except maybe sea urchin. ::jiggle::

your other questions are serious and publishing-related. hmm. perhaps i detect a potential future blog post.

moonrat said...

McKoala--please don't tell anyone, but...

I secretly love adverbs. SO. MUCH.

(not being sarcastic.)

moonrat said...

chris, do you ever sleep? you seem to be ALWAYS PRESENT!!! woooooo!

cindy said...

moonie, i don't think that's really chris, but CHRISBOT.

she looks exactly like the femmebots from austin powers! =)

moonrat said...

Jaye--WRITERS DO IT WITH A CLIMAX!!! both naughty and true!!!

at least, i hope it's true. if there's no climax, there might be just a little too much editorial work for me!

Janet said...

You like adverbs?

"My kind of editor," she said excitedly.

moonrat said...

Charles: READING: IT'S NOT JUST FOR THE BATHROOM ANYMORE

<3

maybe we can have a t-shirt of t-shirt slogans?

moonrat said...

special needs mama: did you REALLY?!?!?!? pleeeeeease give me gossip!!! you can send it to me in a long-winded email if that feels more private!!!

moonrat said...

janet: i LOVE them. dickensianly ;)

Sandra Cormier said...

For all editors and agents:

Front: In answer to your Query...

Back: No.

Kiersten White said...

Okay, actual question: How would a 25-year-old stay-at-home mom go about building a platform?

I'm kind of cute, but by no means a babe...and I don't have any great survival stories...or missing limbs...or anything cool like that.

Kiersten White said...

Ha! Chumplet, that's gonna make me cry.

Man, these t-shirts are great.

And thanks, Moonie--I really like Querrific and Querrible. Use them on my blog a lot. No wonder I don't have more readers...

Josephine Damian said...

"I secretly love adverbs. SO. MUCH."

Then Moonie need never wonfer why I stopped reading her book (or any she edits and forgets to delete the adverbs).

The HOT TRUTH BEAM strikes again!

Moonie, I highLY recommend THE GIFT OF RAIN: it just might be the death knell for me ever again reading what passes for "literary" fiction in these (not so much) United States of America.

Sandra Cormier said...

"Okay, actual question: How would a 25-year-old stay-at-home mom go about building a platform?"

You mean platform shoes, right Kiersten?

cindy said...

chumplet, haha!

and i've got a few adverbs in my ms as well. JD will smite me down. eeeee!

kiersten, you are writing non-fic? if so, maybe start with magazine articles? if it's fiction, you don't really need as much platform. tho it doesn't hurt!

moonrat said...

chumplet! i love it!!!

moonrat said...

kiersten: that's another blog post inspiration piece! too much to answer here. you know how long-winded i am. ahem.

Kiersten White said...

At not quite five feet tall, I could probably use platform shoes more than an actual platform.

And thanks, Cindy. I was worried the platform thing applied across the board and was starting to panic. I write YA novels. Whew.

Well, and non-fic, but I'm already paid for those.

Natalie Whipple said...

Kiersten, make a killer Youtube video. With platform shoes.

Kiersten White said...

Okay, POST! Thank you ; )

Just no one tell EE I'm here. I'm not supposed to be cheating on him with other editors.

moonrat said...

Book Roast editors--I owe you guys one. Just from these comments, I've been inspired for like 8 new blog posts!! Just when the tap was running a bit dry.

(Haha. I'm sure I could have wetted it with some liquor and the words would have flown freely. But they'll be more interesting and helpful with this direction!!)

THANK YOU!

moonrat said...

also i fear my lunch break is over so i won't be posting quite as frequently. i'll stop back over the afternoon!

Kiersten White said...

Yay for Moonrat and Book Roast.

This whole week has been more bearable...

moonrat said...

but kiersten--if you're already paid to write nonfiction, you HAVE a platform! that was going to be my first piece of advice--publish in a small way, on anything. stuff tends to grow.

cindy said...

yes, we love MOONIE and CHRISBOT for book roast. and all the lovely people who help to run this funtastic gig!

kiersten, fwiw, i, too am a sahm (tho ten years older than your whippersnapper self) and sold my debut YA novel without platform--shoes or anything. =) GOOD LUCK! don't give up!!

Natalie Whipple said...

Yay, looking forward to the new posts:)

Cindy, your an inspiration. I totally lurked when all your good news happened. I'm in the same boat as Kiersten...just 7 months younger. (We're unbiological twin sisters.)

Kiersten White said...

Oh, good. That's what you meant by platform then. I was thinking more along the lines of a hook or persona--like what's-his-face Eragon kid. Sure, it's not the best, but he was FIFTEEN WHEN HE WROTE IT! BUY IT NOW! And I'm ten years too late for that.

Thanks, Moonrat, I feel so much better now. I'll go stroke the journal that published my novelette and purr.

And Cindy, you are actually one of my inspirations. I'm buying your book as soon as it comes out.

Kiersten White said...

It's true. Fortunately Natalie and I live too far away from each other to borrow each other's clothes and get into catfights. So we get along great.

none said...

T-shirt: I'm not here for your amusement.

Whirlochre said...

(sobs)

All this talk of Moonie brings back memories of my favouritest ever cat, lost to spectacular curiosity in 1996.

Other than that, this comment trail has rendered me semi-liquid in a positive way.

cindy said...

aww, thank you, natalie.

i'm in the midst of revisions now and blogging about it! learning so much.

and honestly, moonie helped me tremendously--when i was just writing my first novel, then when i began to query, and even when i was asked for an author bio, i referred to moonie's post as guidance.

i think as writers, when we work hard for our dreams, we're all inspirations! i'm so cheesy, but that's how i feel.

someone dip a chip in me. haha!

The Anti-Wife said...

Love Rats - especially Moonrat! Hope you're enjoying the roasting today.

Whirlochre said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
cindy said...

kiersten, thank you, too!

now i'm all mushy like peas. (i promise i don't write like this in the novel. not much anyway. haha! =)

i can't believe i've inspired others. *sniffs* but truly, i'd never have made it this far without my writing community, both online and off.

no one understands the joys and trials as much as we do. =)

and (yes, i bring it back to the moonrat) when i saw how much passion moonie had working with her clients and books, it really inspired me, too.

GROUP HUG!!!!

Sandra Cormier said...

She lightened things up a little, after a survey about white type on black backgrounds.

Chris Eldin said...

WOW! I go out for a while, and this thread explodes!!!

Moonie, Dare I talk about Egypt? I'm not sure how much of a dream that is.... But I've been there (sounding bratty here, and not meaning to) a few times. We have family there...
The place is filthy. Filthy, filthy, filthy.
Two years ago, took kids for camel ride around the pyramids. Camels had to wade through discarded cigarette boxes, soda cans, papers, etc. I really hate it. Constant traffic noise. Terrible air pollution. This is Cairo.
Southern Egypt--Luxor and Aswan, now these might be different. Not sure. Alexandria was also getting crowded, but not as much as Cairo.


What I've been told is that Jordan is very beautiful if you want to go see antiquities.

But if you insist on going to Egypt, I can give you phone numbers.

Whirlochre said...

Interesting, I've just checked out Moonrat's blog, having followed the link like a loyal Roaster.

Am I right in thinking that the colour scheme has changed? I seem to recall visiting a few times before only to discover that my monitor didn't like the hue selection.

Whatever — it's now firmly bookmarked.

Sandra Cormier said...

Hang on, I have to squeeze into the group hug. There.

Sandra Cormier said...

Whirl, you deleted your question and I commented up there! Now it looks like I was talking to myself.

Whirlochre said...

Chumplet — I cut out a couple of words that made me look like more of an idiot than I actually am.

You've got to be careful in these group hug situations.

cindy said...

chumplet! *wiggles* for group hug. =D

and don't all writers talk to themselves? haha!

MOONIE MOONIE MOONIE! =D

Kiersten White said...

It's true, especially since you're the only man, Whirl.

But Cindy, you're exactly right (and, nerd that I am, when I typed that it came out write...jeez, woman, sleep more)--I couldn't go through this process without Natalie and Whirl and other bloggy friends that know what I'm doing. Because normal friends and family are great, but they just don't get it. They can't.

Whirlochre said...

"the only man."

OK — that's my own T shirt slogan sorted.

Kiersten White said...

Perfect, Whirl.

Ello - Ellen Oh said...

Ok I'm back! Did I miss Moonie again???!!!!

Sheesh - Moonie has left the house.

Whirlochre said...

It's like a giant trampoline of balance-challenged infants, Ello. You never know who's on or off at any given moment.

Natalie Whipple said...

Group hug:) Aw, feeling the love. It's true, having a few good writer buddies makes all the difference.

Ello - Ellen Oh said...

Moonie - Can you seriously sing "I will always love you?" Now that is a hard song. Ok - let me ask again, can you seriously sing that song well?

My favorite Karaoke song in my old karaoke days was Only the Lonely - the motels. Damn good song.

Whirlochre said...

It's the abnormal friends and family I can't hack.

cindy said...

ello! yes, moonie is back to work. then karaoking and sushi'ing into the early hours. who knows when we will get a glimpse of her rattiness again?

and is it surprising that the moonie roast has turned into a weepy love fest? okay, maybe just for me. haha!

whirl, that's some slogan. i dig it. hee!

cindy said...

whirl, you use the abnormal ones for your stories, natch. =D

Chris Eldin said...

It's like a giant trampoline of balance-challenged infants, Ello. You never know who's on or off at any given moment.

AHAHAHHAAHAHAHAH
:-)

none said...

Aha! While you're all group-hugging over here, I can hug EE all by myself.

Sees you laters, suckers!

Ello - Ellen Oh said...

Whirl - that was too funny!

I think that is a new slogan but I would revise it as such:

Life is like a giant trampoline of balance-challenged infants. You never know who's on or off at any given moment.

And if this slogan wins, I'll split credit with you 50/50, plus a 25% "I'm so awesome" fee that I like to tag onto all my collaborations. After US taxes, licenses and usage fees, you may end up owing me for the collaboration. Ain't that a bitch? ;o)

Julie Weathers said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Andromeda Romano-Lax said...

My favorite tshirt slogan so far: READING, IT'S NOT JUST FOR THE BATHROOM ANYMORE. That's the one I would buy for my husband in a flash. He reads about three times as many books as I do, and let's just say it isn't because he's more literary than me, just more likely to lock himself behind a certain door.

Re: Egypt. Yes, a less-touristy alternative (without the pyramids, but still...) is Petra, Jordan. UNBELIEVABLE archaeology; looks like Raiders of the Lost Ark. And for even fewer tourists: Syria. (I went to both places 2 years ago.) And for even fewer tourists, just head east from Syria and try not to talk to the border people too much...

P.S. Re Moonie not answering the lengthy publishing questions here. We wanted her to tell US secret-handshake stuff that she wouldn't tell all those OTHER people who read her blog. Oh well.

Julie Weathers said...

Try to imagine the images without the wording, though many of them are not bad.

/salute, Miss Moonie.

I Luv Moonie


My inner critic hates me.




You’re Rejecting Me?



Chick Lit Fan


Oh, Poopz. Another Rejection.


I’m In Ur Bathroom Stalkin Ur Agent



Moonrat Has It Covered



Moonie Dealing With The Slush Pile



Another Revision?!



My Muse Is Amused



I Think It Belongs In The Epic Fantasy Category

moonrat said...

buffysquirrel: but i AM here for your amusement. outside your amusement is a vaccuum, and without your good-natured indulgent laughter i'm not sure i exist!

moonrat said...

awww, cindy, i think maybe you're giving me too much credit there! but the cockles of my heart are duly warmed. ::glow::

moonrat said...

chris: i've met a camel!! it was REALLY SMELLY and the drool in its beard was DISGUSTING.

but im obsessed with historical ruins! jordan, israel, syria, morocco, algeria, crete... all on my wishlist re: historical sites. and honestly, iran and iraq would be absolute top of my list, but they feel less possible for political reasons etc. i'm hoping that that will shift a little during my lifetime... perhaps by the time i have enough money to afford Le Grande Trip of the World. so basically, the world has quite awhile to get its act together!

hmm, or perhaps i'll suddenly become a millionaire off my t-shirt empire...

moonrat said...

ello, of COURSE i can sing "I Will Always Love You"!!! humph.

can i sing it well? umm. plead the 5th. forever.

moonrat said...

Julie!!! I LOVE your links!!!

Chris Eldin said...

Julie!!!
OMG!! The "I'm in your bathroom stalking your agent" is tooo funny!

Julie Weathers said...

Julie!!! I LOVE your links!!!

I'm glad.

Julie!!!
OMG!! The "I'm in your bathroom stalking your agent" is tooo funny!

I'm seriously thinking of having some cat tee-shirts made to take to Surrey for my relaxing time. I hope the agents have a sense of humor.

Precie said...

Okay, so my synapses aren't firing as quickly as I'd like today...Dickensianly...

Have you, moonie or any other Roasters, been to Dickens World? Is it really Not a joke?

moonrat said...

precie: i've never been there, but now i'm NEVER COMING BACK

cindy said...

moonie. i spoke the truth!! man, too many good slogans to compete with today. =D

peggy said...

Oh pooh, this looked like such fun, all this rain has kept me offline today. You guys were sooo fun to read! I love moonei too now :)

cindy said...

PEGGY! it's never too late for moonie lovin' and fun! HOP IN! i'm still wiggling for a group hug. nevermind whirl's anxieties. haha!

peggy said...

I have to clean the beer off my keyboard after seeing those I stalkin ur agent and other kitties, Those are soo funny! I'm collecting lots of fun blogs this week too!

cindy said...

peggy, you spewed booze on your keyboard? oh yeah, you'll fit right in. haha!! =DDDD

Whirlochre said...

I know references to rugby will be utterly meaningless, but, having been in numerous scrums with Dean Richards, I've grown to be wary of group hugs.

Great if you're a gibbon, though, I'd imagine. I bet they can pack in the lurve.

cindy said...

rugby group hugs?

THAT'S HOT!!!!!!!!!

gibbons?

must think on that one. haha!

peggy said...

Gibbons, sounds like monkey buisness to me.

I get group hugs all the time, with 13 cats I am the only one who can use the electric can opener. Now thats a hug! ;)

Precie said...

Damn, I wish I'd thought up this slogan.

cindy said...

precie, haha! that's a great one!

peggy said...

hahaha, some of my grammar nazi friends would love that hahaha..

Brian Jay Jones said...

Darn it, I keep making it to the dance really, really late....

How about: Karaoke. One American can't be wrong.

Hmm, I don't get it.

cindy said...

brian, i think i almost get it! if i squint my brain hard. but how do i squint my brain?

moonrat said...

spewing booze on keyboards!!! yes, peggy, you're one of us. (spewing highly caffinated beverages is also a good sign you're one of the cool kids.)

caffienated? caffeinated? boooooo to spelling. boo.

moonrat said...

I'm so adjective, I verb nouns

priceless, precie.

moonrat said...

look, brian. one american CANT be wrong, especially with most of asia and some parts of europe behind her!

none said...

It's really not a joke. Unfortunately. But I have no plans to go there.

Moonie, you don't tell us how the camel thought YOU smelt :D.

cindy said...

moonie, kafinated.

right?

haha!

i'm ready to revise soon during bub napping. may disappear for a bit. will channel adverbs like mad! =D

peggy said...

better channel some adverbs my way I'm stuck on nouns..man, it's hard to type with stickey keys but when I tried to whipe them off the page closed :)

Precie said...

Oh, right...In Moonie's particular, it would be...

I am so adverb adjective I adverb verb nouns.

;)

Sandra Cormier said...

Here's a T-shirt for Buffy Squirrel:

"May Contain Traces of Nuts"

none said...

Very cool, chumplet! I want I want!

Sandra Cormier said...

My kids rode a camel at the Toronto Zoo when they were little. I have video of my four year old son yelling, "This animal is killing me!"

moonrat said...

good luck on revisions, cindy!

peggy said...

may contain nutz. hahaha. excellent!

Precie said...

"May contain traces of nuts"?? In my case there's no "may" or "traces." Just nuts.

ooh, I had an actual moonie question....What's your most favoritest thing about being an editor??

moonrat said...

oo, precie! that's a good one. that was on the publishing industry trends, too.

honestly, as much as we all moan about so many thing, there are tons and tons of perks. the biggest one for me--and i know this sounds really corny and like i'm lying but it's actually true, really, honestly--is waking up each morning and thinking that i'm going to spend the day distributing messages i believe in. it's this huge power trip. one of my friends chided me about this, saying that "we all have to convince ourselves our jobs matter, don't we, or we wouldn't be able to get up and do them." but the thing is, i have so TOTALLY convinced myself that my job does matter that i love to get up in the morning and do it. i'm one of those people who is excited to come to work, even on the stressful days.

i told you it was corny. but i hope (sincerely) that everyone has some version of that feeling about their own jobs. either that, or has a passion outside their job they feel that way about.

the big number 2 perk, though, is working with authors. i LOVE authors (most of them). i'm excited to hang around with them, exchange ideas with them, and hear their crazy life stories. i've found that regardless of how high- or low-profile you might be, if you've published a book, or even just written a manuscript, you're probably a pretty interesting person to talk to.

that's a huge perk of publishing--there are so many interesting people stuffed into such a small industry. "nut stuffing." teehee.

Sandra Cormier said...

That's the number one thing about being in the workforce. Love what you do.

We had this discussion today at our newspaper. Some co-workers bitch and whine about their jobs, but they've been there for umpteen years and keep coming back. There must be something good about it, or they'd be over the wall by now.

moonrat said...

it's true, chumplet. i have met people, though, that just work for the money and don't love it. even though (i hope) most of them are filling up their lives with other joys, i'm still sad for them, since such a large part of your week is necessarily used up by your job. you might as well love it, right?

peggy said...

I've always ran my own buisness, It's so much easier to report to me. Who else would understand cats at work, words on papertowels, words scribbled on walls. My customers smile and ask me silly things all the time. Okay, who got abducted this week. Being self emplyed solves work related problems. But alas, has problems all their own..like arseholes who show up to ruin my day. Life is such a grand adventure, waking up is a blast every single morning :)

Chris Eldin said...

Hi Everybody,

On my way out to take Things to soccer, but will return.
I'm going to open a new thread so it doesn't take as long to refresh, although I hate to see the number go back to zero...