Off to Japan . . . Almost!

Later this week – Wednesday before dawn, to be exact – I’m heading off to Japan! Due to my travel plans, I won’t be posting reliably here at the blog until my return on November 14. However, I do plan to hop in periodically and share a few photos and highlights of the trip, so please check in – and I’ll return to my usual blogging schedule on November 15! (Also: don’t worry about the seahorses and other residents of my reef. My husband is staying home this trip, so he’ll be here to take care of the house, the cats,

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The Noh Stage at Itsukushima Jinja, Japan

Nō (sometimes Romanized as “Noh”)  is one of Japan’s oldest theatrical forms, and the oldest form of traditional theater still being regularly practiced today.   Nō plays involve masked lead and supporting actors, a chorus, and accompaniment by flutes and drums; the stories are based on Japanese legends and histories (popular subjects for drama around the world) and often feature a “transformation” of the lead actor between the first and second acts. At 440 years old, the nō stage at Itsukushima Jinja (Shrine) on Miyajima Island (Hiroshima Prefecture) is one of the oldest in Japan:

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Keeping Track of Deductible Expenses

Today, the ongoing Wednesday series on managing the legal side of your writing career takes a look at an important tax issues many authors struggle with: keeping track of deductions. First, a disclaimer: this post is not, and should not be construed as, legal or tax advice. Consult an accountant or licensed attorney for assistance with your personal tax issues, including (but not limited to) legally permitted tax deductions. Today’s post isn’t about what you can deduct – that varies based on your personal situation, writing income* and other factors. Instead, we’re looking at some ways to document potentially deductible expenses, to ensure

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A Visit to Itsukushima Jinja (part 2)

During last summer’s research trip to Japan, I visited Itsukushima Jinja, an important Shinto shrine on Miyajima island in Hiroshima Prefecture. (If you’d like to start from the beginning, you can find part 1 here.) The approach to the shrine follows the island’s shoreline to the natural inlet that protects the shrine from the strait beyond. Today, visitors approach the shrine by land. Visitors enter the shrine itself. Like most Shinto shrines, there is no admission fee (though donations are happily accepted, and freely given by most of the visitors). Here’s the view from the entrance hall, looking out toward the shrine’s main buildings: In

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Income Tax Basics for Authors

Today’s installment of “Managing the Business Side of Your Writing Career” takes a look at another business-related topic: income taxes. Most authors hope to become full-time writers, supported entirely by income from sales of their works. However, many authors continue to work a “day job” in addition to writing, at least during the early years of their careers.  Once an author begins receiving income from his or her writing, however, the author needs to be aware of special tax issues this income creates. For those who already work as independent contractors, these issues should be familiar. However, authors whose previous work experience

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The Joys of Japan’s Seasonal Cuisine

Japanese cuisine is heavily seasonal (and regional), with different “specialties” popping up across the country as the seasons turn. From “street food” and snacks to desserts and main courses, menus across Japan change–often radically–with the seasons, making a visit to Japan in the summer a very different culinary experience from a trip in the autumn, winter, or spring. Certain staple flavors, like matcha (a powdered form of green tea), remain on the menu year-round, though the form may change throughout the year. Matcha-flavored cakes, like this one I purchased in Tokyo Station while waiting to catch a shinkansen (bullet train) for Kyoto, are available in any

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An Introduction to Sales Taxes for Authors

Many authors know about the obligation to pay personal taxes (if you don’t, you’ve been under a rock for far too long), but confusion often reigns when it comes to sales tax issues. Today, let’s take a look at when authors might (and might not) have to collect and pay sales tax on book sales. Sales Taxes (and Rules) Vary by State and Jurisdiction Unfortunately, there is no “one-size-fits-all” rule about sales taxes (except that you’ll have to pay penalties if you don’t collect and remit them when due). Each individual who sells products (including books) is responsible for knowing and obeying applicable tax laws.

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In Search of: Momiji Tempura (Fried Maple Leaves)

Momijigari, or “viewing autumn leaves,” is a traditional Japanese pastime during the autumn months, when many Japanese trees (including maples, ginko, and other deciduous species) transform from lush, green summer tones: Japanese cuisine is seasonal by nature, and autumn favorites like roasted sweet potatoes (yaki-imo) and chestnuts begin to appear as the season turns. Regional specialties appear in autumn, too, including one I’m hoping to try when I head to Japan later this month: tempura maple leaves (momiji no tempura), a specialty served at Minō Park in Northern Osaka. The maple leaves are pickled in salt for a year, and then fried in a sweetened sesame batter, producing

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