My theory is that in many cases, poor books get published because the author knows the right people. Good books get rejected because the author doesn't know anyone in the field. It's all about who you know. Most publishers won't glance at a book unless it is represented by an agent. Finding an agent, again, unless you know someone who knows someone who's step-brother is in the business can be very difficult. I know this is a very pessimistic view of the industry, but I think it is all in the connections. Stephen King's wife and son are both published writers... is the son any good? Have you ever read his stuff? Likewise, S.K.'s wife was published before he was and took S.K.'s manuscript of Carrie to her agent. Would he have been able to find an agent on his own without her connections? We will never know. The days of tossing book manuscripts over the transom are gone. There are too many unsolicited manuscripts and the people reading "the slush pile" are the lowest guys on the totem pole. Over-worked and under-paid. I say that it is akin to breaking into modeling or the movies these days. Yes, unknowns DO get in, yes, unknowns do become successful, but when a big money-maker like John Grisham comes to you and says, "Hey, my cousin wrote a book that should be published.", you tend to do what he wants because he brings in so much cash for you and ignore the unknowns because you've only got the money and the time to publish a finite number of books. (this is just an example and not based on any facts at all.) And it's no longer about publishing the best books, but the books that will make the most money. And I tend to think of RP-ers as the minority of readers who look for both content and quality of writing... we are not necessarily the mainstream. Just my two little pennies. PAM

Just read this short summary & thought of this thread. Basic & aimed primarily @ weight loss, but still helpful, IMPO... The 3 Biggest Mistakes People Make When Going Low-Carb Ditching carbs to lose weight really sucks, but it works, which is why so many people have joined the low-carb craze. If you're cutting carbs to lose a few, just be careful not to make these three mistakes. Going Completely Carb-Free Think of your body as a car and its fuel is carbs. A car won't run without gas, and your body can't function without carbs. Your brain runs on glucose, which comes from carbs, so without it you'll feel tired, foggy-headed, slow-moving, and cranky. Plus, ditching carbs altogether will only make your cravings that much stronger, so when faced with a delivery of office pizza, who could blame you for devouring four slices in a row? Eating mostly protein and going completely carb-free just isn't a diet you can sustain. Certified dietitian Leslie Langevin, MS, RD, CD, of Whole Health Nutrition says you want to make sure you're eating at least 120 to 130 grams of carbs a day - about 30 to 40 percent of your diet.Not Eating the Right Carbs Not all carbs are created equal, so you don't want to slurp down a soda with your Instagram-worthy salad and grab a chocolate chip cookie afterward. Skip the refined and overly processed carbs like white bread, pasta, bagels, and sugary beverages and baked goods, and fuel up on carbs that are also high in fiber - they'll add to the fullness factor. Leslie recommends one-half to one cup of whole grains like quinoa or oatmeal and one to two pieces of fruit each day. That will keep your carbs low enough to lose weight and allow your body to have the energy to function. Plus, they also offer valuable vitamins and minerals your body needs to have a strong immune system.Not Watching Portions Low-carb doesn't automatically mean low-calorie, and just because you're not eating spaghetti, rolls, or rice doesn't mean you're not overeating other foods! Watching your portion sizes is still very important when it comes to weight loss, so be sure to monitor how many calories your meals and snacks add up to." HTH

I'm going to join this bookclub when I retire. They call themselves 'Faith and Fiction', and a friend has invited me and sent me a list of the books they have read. They have been together since 2002. Here are the most recent ones on their list: January The Melody of Secrets by Jeffrey Stepakoff February Mr. Perumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan March Orhan’s Inheritance by Aline Ohanesian April The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah May The Cold Dish by Craig Johnson June The Sound of Gravel by Ruth Wariner July The Japanese Lover by Isabel Allende August Queen Sugar by Natalie Baszile September The Tilted World by Tom Franklin and Beth Ann fennelly October The People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks November The Professor by Robert Bailey December Dollbaby by Laura Lane McNeal 2017 January My Name is Lucy Barton by Elizabeth Strout February Dear Carolina by Kristy Woodson Harvey March Commonwealth by Ann Patchett April Hillbilly Elegy by J. D. Vance May Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi June The Autobiography of Mrs. Tom Thumb by Melanie Benjamin July Swing Time by Zadie Smith August The Wonder by Emma Donaghue

I am actually ruminating on an idea for creating a shelf in my room dedicated to a book theme. And then have a series of displays I can rotate out. I think that would be a great hobby for a young person, particularly one stuck at home during a pandemic. One could create their own mini-worlds. This is an outgrowth of my fairy garden hobby. I had it as a kid and now with my own yard finally am picking it up again but realizing I can take it inside to one of my window shelves . . . The one I am working on now is based on "Peter Rabbit." But other busier life pursuits keep moving it to the back burner . . .