Article on editors

If you've ever been mystified by the editorial process or even nervous about sending your work to an editor, "Let us now praise editors" is a great article to read. Written by an editor-gone-writer, the article not only praises editors (thank you!) but also clarifies the purpose of the editorial process--to make the writing stronger. Editors really aren't scary, and this article proves it. Take a look at Salon.com.

Local Events of the Week

Wednesday, July 25
Matthew Pearl—author of The Dante Club—presents his lastest novel, The Poe Shadow
Where: Powell's Books at Cedar Hills Crossing, 3415 SW Cedar Hills Blvd., Beaverton
When: 7:00 p.m.
Cost: Free

Wednesday, July 25
Local writer, Erin Ergenbright, reads from The Ex-Boyfriend Cookbook
Where: The Press Club, 2621 SE Clinton St
When: 7:30 p.m.
Cost: $5 suggested donation

Wednesday, July 25
Two local poets read: Judith H. Montgomery and Kate Gray
Where: Northwest Library, 2300 NW Thurman St.
When: 7:00 p.m.
Cost: Free

Saturday, July 28
Eva Rutland will sign copies of her memoir, When We Were Colored, A Mother's Story
Where: Talking Drum Bookstore, 446 NE Killingsworth St.
When: 4:00 p.m.
Cost: Free

Saturday, July 28
Award-winning poet and PSU Professor Primus St. John will read work
Where: Collins Gallery, Central Library, 801 SW 10th Ave.
When: 2:00 p.m.
Cost: Free

Sunday, July 29
Editor Justin Taylor presents The Apocalypse Reader
Where: Powell's City of Books, 1005 W Burnside St.
When: 7:30 p.m.
Cost: Free

Monday, July 30
Lisa See presents her historical novel, Peony in Love
Where: Powell's Books at Cedar Hills Crossing, 3415 SW Cedar Hills Blvd., Beaverton
When: 7:00 p.m.
Cost: Free

Tuesday, July 31
Jasper Fforde presents Thursday Next: First Among Sequels
Where: Powell's Books at Cedar Hills Crossing, 3415 SW Cedar Hills Blvd., Beaverton
When: 7:00 p.m.
Cost: Free

The New Release We've All Been Waiting for...

That's right! Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, Eleventh Edition.

This latest edition contains almost 100 new entries, including the ever-popular ginormous and fabulous Bollywood. To see more examples of newly indoctrinated words (by Merriam-Webster, at any rate) or learn more about their word-recognition process, visit Merriam-Webster OnLine.

BEA Spotlight: Discover Wellness

Discover Wellness: How Staying Healthy Can Make You Rich, by Dr. Bob Hoffman and Dr. Jason A. Deitch

Discover Wellness had a strong presence at BookExpo America this year. Readers lined up to receive their signed copies and to chat with Dr. Hoffman.

Doctors Hoffman and Deitch tackle a sensitive topic in Discover Wellness—health care. They argue that people’s individual wellness choices not only affect their own budgets, but all of America’s. The high numbers of unwell people in America are forcing the rest of us, our employers, and our government to pay exorbitant prices for health care benefits.

The first half of the book breaks down seven of the most common illness issues Americans face, analyzing their causes, impacts, and financial effects in great detail—to the point of reiterating common knowledge. The second half focuses on steps Americans can take to improve their wellness, including eating right, exercising, and reducing stress. The doctors’ mantra: “we need more people who are less sick.” They theorize that this will bring health care costs down while bringing national wellness statistics up.

While this concept is intriguing, it’s a bit optimistic. Illness doesn’t happen solely as a result of dietary or exercise choices. And while the authors acknowledge this, their math does not. The book is filled with statistics skewed to support their argument, averaged health care costs across the country to figure the money each person would save if health care costs disappeared—not exactly an accurate representation on who is spending, or saving, what on health care costs. Their advice for achieving wellness is to surround ourselves with a “Board of Directors” of eleven health care professionals. But they neglect to point out the costs involved in hiring nearly a dozen health care professionals. The redeeming trait of Discover Wellness is an extensive section on exercises busy people can do at their desks and a list of recommended products to help to improve wellness. However, while the doctors take extra time to explain common knowledge about the effects of stress, they skimp on the information about some of these products—such as the “special patented cotton bedsheet” that channels the earth’s electrons to your body’s benefit. While Discover Wellness might complement corporate health care seminars, it’s not the fountain of knowledge and wealth it claims to be. Individuals concerned about their health and finances should probably just remember their home ec teachers’ advice: walk when you could drive, eat an apple when you could eat an apple fritter, and save when you could spend.

Review by Ali McCart, Indigo Editing, LLC

Local Events

Friday, July 13
Gabe Kaplan
Where: Powell's City of Books, 1005 W Burnside St.
When: 7:30 p.m.
Cost: Free

Sunday, July 15
Andrew Ferguson Presents Land of Lincoln: Adventures in Abe's America
Where: Powell's City of Books, 1005 W Burnside St.
When: 7:30 p.m.
Cost: Free

Sunday, July 15
Christina Henry de Tessan & Lara Triback
Where: Powell's on Hawthorne, 3723 SE Hawthorne Blvd.
When: 7:30 p.m.
Cost: Free

Sunday, July 15
Biodiesel America Author Joshua Tickell
Where: Powell's Technical Books, 33 NW Park Ave
When: 7:30 p.m.
Cost: Free

Monday, July 16
The Back Room Farwell to Creator Matthew Stadler
Where: Podkrepa Hall, 2116 N Killingsworth St.
When: 6:30 p.m.
Cost: $8, $16 with a copy of The Back Room Anthology

Monday, July 16
Robin Romm Presents Mother Garden
Where: Powell's City of Books, 1005 W Burnside St
When: 7:30 p.m.
Cost: Free