Kristine Kathryn Rusch » Archive
Falling in Love with Leipzig
I learned music before I learned to speak. We always had music on in our home, and often, it was classical music. My first career choice was musician, although my utter terror of performance made that career impossible (I thought) along with my mother’s extreme unwillingness to have a piano in the house. (I eventually learned more than 12 instruments before I was 20, but piano only after 40.) Still, I was blindsided today by my reaction in Thomaskirche where Bach served as cantor for 27 years. He was in charge of the church music throughout Leipzig. Anyway, his grave is now in the church, although it wasn’t originally. And there is, of course, quite a monument to him there. But standing in there, thinking about that music— Well, when I saw … Read entire article »
Filed under: Travel
The Business Rusch: A Lawsuit Waiting To Happen
The Business Rusch: A Lawsuit Waiting To Happen Kristine Kathryn Rusch I knew I’d get ideas for this blog while I was here in Germany. I just didn’t realize I wouldn’t have time to write them. Tonight, after I finish this, I must make notes about Nuremberg and maybe try to get some sleep. I learn a lot about myself and my own country when I travel. Even though I try to do a one-size-fits-all business blog, I’m acutely aware that one size does not fit all when we’re talking about a worldwide readership, which this blog has. I think of it most in the areas of taxes, which are different in every country, and health insurance, which also differs from country to country. But I forget about the little things, until I … Read entire article »
Filed under: Business Rusch, free nonfiction, On Writing, Travel
Neither Here Nor There
It’s raining today in Nuremberg. That’s my fault, really. I said in the Business Rusch blog last week that I’d happily walk through wind and horizontal rain while I was here. I didn’t mean that someone should provide wind and horizontal rain. I did walk through it, though, when even the locals had given up. Many of the outdoor fruit and merchant stands closed. Their mistake. It’s sunny now. Of course I’m inside at the moment. I’ve returned to the hotel to work for two hours while waiting for the taxi to take me to the train. I’ll be back in Leipzig later tonight to start Phase Three of my journey. If Phase One was the Never-ending Plane Ride, and Phase Two was researching the trials, then I really have already begun … Read entire article »
Filed under: On Writing, Travel
In Which I Depend Upon The Kindness of Strangers
Me & Blanche Dubois. Okay. We’re not quite the same. What a strange and fascinating day. I’m researching the Nuremberg trials for a long piece I’ve promised to an editor friend of mine. The story takes place at the Trials. I already wrote a piece of it, but didn’t like what I had done because I had no real sense of the setting (to me) in the story. So… Here’s the thing. The Palace of Justice (yep, that’s what it’s called) is still the courthouse of Nuremberg. And they’ve been remodeling Courtroom 600 for the past year or so. My guidebooks said I couldn’t go in; the hotel said I couldn’t go in; everyone said I couldn’t go in. But, I asked, I can go into the courthouse itself, right? The answer to … Read entire article »
Filed under: On Writing, Travel
Yet Another Day of Travel…
First, let me share with you the view from my Nuremberg hotel window: Isn’t that lovely? I’m on the second floor (American third floor), with a view of the garden. The multicolored building is an apartment complex. This afternoon, someone inside there was practicing the cello–and it was utterly lovely. Brahms, I think. Most of my other photos are great for writing research and lousy for sharing. Pictures of building details, or ceilings, or interesting people. If I want pretty photos of places, I buy postcards. I promised more on Leipzig from yesterday, but seriously, I was so jet-lagged that my impressions don’t count for much. Leipzig on Thursday. I promise. I’ll be awake then. I’m awake now. (Finally.) Took the train to Nuremberg. Had a lovely conversation with a socio-anthropologist who was my … Read entire article »
Filed under: On Writing, Travel
The Never-Ending Journey
I knew I was getting punchy when I laughed at the kind German physicist whom I’d just slept with. The U.S. Army guy, who had slept with us as well, looked on in confusion. It’s not as bad as it sounds. In fact, I could make it sound worse since, if you’d like another part of the truth, I spent the night with six men, two elderly ladies, three children and a baby. Or with more than 200 people, most of whom I had never met. Yes, I was on the plane from Philadephia to Frankfurt—forever, I think. And to be fair, the kind German physicist—who was a fascinating man—had just pulled a Charlie Chaplin with a blanket in that half inch U.S. Airways so arrogantly calls “an aisle.” We were all in … Read entire article »
Filed under: Travel
All Things Considered, I’d Rather Be In Philadephia.
Oh, wait! I am. I have a 4-hour layover because my flight was early. Have changed currency, eaten the obligatory cheese steak, and will soon board the 8+ hour flight to Frankfurt. From there, I take a 1 hour flight to Leipzig. I don’t have much interesting travel stuff to report, except that so far, the flying has been easier than expected. However, did want to talk about reading for a moment. The flight from Portland to Philly was 5+ hours, with no TV, no nothing. People read. And they read everything. The guy next to me was reading a baseball book that I hadn’t heard of, Field of Screams. A number of people were reading Stieg Larsson’s trilogy. Four people reading various Lee Child books. One person reading Michael Connolley’s 9 Dragons. Everyone … Read entire article »
The Business Rusch: Fun, Fun, Fun
The Business Rusch: Fun, Fun, Fun Kristine Kathryn Rusch I have just spent the entire day on what I call business. I revised and mailed a manuscript to a major market. I read and signed contracts. I completed banking forms, and then I completed taxation forms. I visited the bank, was on the phone with the same bank’s 800 number, and I made lists, lists, lists. But weirdly, I had fun. Let’s look at this for a minute. The story surprised me on my run earlier in the week. I had planned to write some minor stuff, considering I am leaving on Friday. I figured my brain would be preoccupied. Instead, it served up a major story that Dean (my first reader) approved of. I had to make a few tweaks, which I … Read entire article »
Filed under: Business Rusch, free nonfiction, On Writing
