Need a Chuckle?

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As some of you may know, for the past several years Google has made books “searchable” online. In other words, they scanned nearly all books–regardless of whether or not said books were still copyrighted–to make the contents searchable by anyone on the Internet. The Authors Guild brought suit against Google for copyright infringement on behalf of all authors and won. It’s way too complicated an issue to go into here, but the upshot is that all authors have to slog through a registry of their books, in every language and edition, and state whether they “opt in” or “opt out” with regard to making their books searchable. I started this task and clearly realized it would take days to complete, so I asked my trusty assistant to take over. She quickly discovered how onerous a task I’d assigned her, but she at least got to giggle as she searched for my foreign titles. Many of the titles differ from country to country and she could only figure out which book was which by checking the synopsis using an Internet translation tool . So here, for your enjoyment, is the synopsis of the Italian version of Cypress Point, better known in Italy as Fog Over the Sky — or something like that.  

12 Comments

  1. Margo on March 26, 2009 at 3:37 pm

    Oh my gosh! I read the summary of FOG OVER THE SKY thinking ‘Diane has another book out?…when did this happen?’…at first I thought, ‘what on earth?…I know the names Joelle, Mara and Liam but what is this I’m reading?’ So glad you explained Diane…I had to laugh. I pride myself in knowing when you have a new novel ready to be released or a current work in progress and this threw me for a loop!(-O:

  2. Margo on March 26, 2009 at 3:44 pm

    P.S….Diane, I have to tell you that I saw the new release of one of your older books THE COURAGE TREE at Border’s yesterday!…it was displayed nicely as you walked into the store in trade paperback and a lovely new cover! (face out on the shelf, YEAH!) I picked one up and took it over to the cafe to give to a Wed bookstore acquaintance who’s visited Border’s every Wed for as long as I have…I only know her as ‘Sue’ but we always exchange hi’s and speak of fav authors. I told her THE COURAGE TREE is a must read. I saw her buy it before she left the store. (-O:

  3. Diane Chamberlain on March 26, 2009 at 4:19 pm

    Margo, thanks for letting me know that THE COURAGE TREE is available already! I have an e-newsletter nearly ready to go out to my mailing list and will try to bump up the mailing date. (For those of you not on my mailing list, if you’d like to receive my e-newsletters–they’re pretty!–hop over to my website and sign up).
    I’ll have an announcement very soon about a MAJOR contest for my readers. (Remember a while ago I asked how we can celebrate my twenty years in publishing? Well, this will be a big part of it!) I can’t wait to unveil it!

  4. Gina on March 26, 2009 at 5:05 pm

    Yay! I love contests!

  5. brenda on March 26, 2009 at 5:23 pm

    I too, like Margo, thought “Great she’s telling us something about her next book!” Alas!!! I chuckled after reading it…
    For readers who do not turn in to authors’ blogs (I do two authors-Diane and Delinsky)…they have no idea what authors go through…
    Thankfully, our favorites persevere…
    Ironically, I reread COURAGE TREE last night…

  6. Margo on March 27, 2009 at 8:29 am

    Oh!…I can hardly wait to hear about this contest Diane! This is really exciting!
    Diane, I think it was so nice of you to invite Therese Fowler to your blog. It was so interesting to hear how she writes which is so different from you…my mind carries a constant reminder of the photo you shared with us…’Diane covered head to toe with sticky notes consisting of her outline for her new book’…I love how you create!

  7. Krysia on March 27, 2009 at 10:13 am

    Hello everyone. How have you all been. It has been awhile since I’ve been on here. I started my new job last month, I love it. There is a lot more violence than the last treatment place I worked at and I attribute that to the fact that there is half the amount of staff and the same amount of kids. I got a chair thrown at me my first week and slapped 2 weeks ago which I thought was funny. Gunnar is getting big, he’s almost 9 months old now. He has been pulling himself up for a month and is now pulling himself along everything and will walk if you hold his hands. He loves eating table food and will take that over anything else. We have had a pretty hectic week, my grandpa passed away Saturday from lung cancer. I’m am getting excited for your new book, even though I don’t have much time to read right now. Anyways Gunnar is crying again so I better go. Take care all.

  8. Margo on March 27, 2009 at 10:18 am

    Krysia, I’m so sorry for your loss…it’s so hard to lose family members. Take care.

  9. Diane Chamberlain on March 27, 2009 at 10:44 am

    Krysia, great to see you back here. I’m so sorry about your Grandpa. You certainly have a lot on your plate. I had to chuckle reading that you love your job where there is more violence. You must be one tough cookie! Glad Gunnar is doing so well, and we want you here whether you have time to read or not! Just think of all the books that will be waiting for you when Gunnar’s in college!

  10. Denise on March 27, 2009 at 11:47 am

    I love how the synopsis says “…when HE discovers to be pregnant…” Lol!

  11. Diane Chamberlain on March 27, 2009 at 12:00 pm

    My favorite line is the last one: “Joelle and Liam shared the concern for the fate of women, every day except one.” LOL!

  12. brenda on March 27, 2009 at 5:19 pm

    Krysia-We have missed you. I am so sorry about your Grandpa…On a better note-glad your son is doing well. Good luck in your job-I know what it is like…Each day we are lucky if we get through…safely…

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