Waking the witch.

[greygirlbeast]

Here, on the last day before we leave for Rhode Island, it seems just barely possible that we'll get everything done that has to be done before tomorrow morning. Yesterday was a long day. I had to find epigraphs for Daughter of Hounds, which led to William Wordsworth and Lord Byron and William Blake and a dozen or so others before I finally settled on three quotes from Emily Dickinson and one from Samuel Taylor Coleridge. I like the epigraphs, though I am disappointed that the two lines from The Decemberists' song "Of Angels and Angles" that I'd originally intended to use as the opening epigraph won't be appearing in the novel, because I never got around to contacting the band or their label for permission and now there's no more time for such things. I will post the lines here, though:

There are angels in your angles,
There's a low moon caught in your tangles.

I tweaked and fiddled with the ms., finally rewriting a paragraph near the end, and, That's enough, I said to myself and pushed it away. Today, it goes back in the mail to NYC. For all intents and purposes, it's done. I'll get one last read-through, but only very minor corrections can be made at that point. There were so many other things yesterday, but just now, none of them seem interesting enough to write down. I did assist Ignatius with a letter of introduction which he was supposed to write weeks ago, a letter for poor Snapdragon who leaves us today for California. He was surly and kept tipping over the inkwell and breaking nibs, pretending it was all accidental when I knew otherwise. I can hardly blame his reticence, but I have assured him she will be in good hands.

I was sort of appalled by the Publisher's Weekly review of Neil's new collection, Fragile Things. As quoted in his journal, the reviewer wrote, "most of these stories rely too heavily on the stock-in-trade of horror, sci-fi and fantasy." I'm not sure if the reviewer just hates fantasy — in which case I have to wonder why sheheit was given the book to review — or if hesheit is saying that the stories in question weren't innovative. The charge is patently absurd, in either case.

I'm still dithering over the fate of Nebari.net, but I do agree with those who've written in to say that if I allow the domain to expire, it'll be squatted. That's one reason I'm reluctant to let it go.

Also, thanks to everyone who's had kind words for Sirenia Digest #8 so far. It's not too late to get #8. Just subscribe today. I am growing increasing fond of the digest. I think it has turned out to be a very successful experiment. Not only is it paying the rent, it's allowing me to write things I probably would not have written otherwise. I hope that it will still be going strong this time next year — stronger — as it has proven a wonderful vehicle for my short fiction.

Last night, when we were finally too tired to do anything more, we watched Star Trek: Insurrection (1998), which I still cannot recall if I saw in the theatre. It felt more like a long episode of ST:TNG than a film, and the whole thing between Riker and Trois just oogs me out, but, still, as Star Trek movies go, it was quite enjoyable. Night before last, we watched John Wayne, Jeffrey Hunter, Ward Bond, Natalie Wood, and a whole bunch of other people in the 50th-anniversary DVD release of John Ford's The Searchers (1956).

Okay, it's almost noon. And there's still more to do than I care to think about.

Comments

[styggian.livejournal.com]

I agree with you about Insurrection, there was something about it that just didn't make it seem like a movie.
But then, I pretty much felt the same way about Nemesis.

[toruokada.livejournal.com]

I find the Publisher's Weekly quote ludicrous; I think "A Study In Emerald" and "The Problem of Susan" and, in particular, "October In The Chair" are not only among Gaiman's best stories but are also far from traditional fantasy.

But the reviewer's fighting a losing battle. I mean, Stephen King is going to be editing Best American Short Stories. It seems to me--and I'd be interested in your thoughts on this, Caitlin--that genre fiction is slowly, and perhaps surely, becoming recognized as legitimate.

[greygirlbeast.livejournal.com]

It seems to me--and I'd be interested in your thoughts on this, Caitlin--that genre fiction is slowly, and perhaps surely, becoming recognized as legitimate.

Honestly, I just don't know. Partly, it's because I make such an effort not to think genres. I can point to any number of bestselling "genre" novels, from sf to "horror" to fantasy to mystery to westerns and etc. But there are still very definitely "genre" ghettoes, so far as publishers and reviewers are concerned.

[toruokada.livejournal.com]

That's a good point...I still like Kelly Link's idea, of bookstores arranging books by color, and not genre.

I guess the assumption is that Updike readers have no interest in Gene Wolfe, and vice versa.

The point I should have made--and it might just mean I'm too optimistic--is that it seems like critics have come around to the idea that a book can have a ghost, or a spaceship, and still possess merit.

[http://users.livejournal.com/__hecate__/]

I am growing increasing fond of the digest. I think it has turned out to be a very successful experiment. Not only is it paying the rent, it's allowing me to write things I probably would not have written otherwise. I hope that it will still be going strong this time next year — stronger — as it has proven a wonderful vehicle for my short fiction.

Any increase in reader numbers and do you send it out to anthology editors/publishers or does Sub.press have "dibbs" on the material.
I seem to remember that you where concerned that it wasn't public/out there
enough to get new CRK readers?

[greygirlbeast.livejournal.com]

do you send it out to anthology editors/publishers or does Sub.press have "dibbs" on the material.

There are a number of editors on the comp list, yep. Subpress doesn't exactly have exclusive dibs, but I do have to continue to supply them with the erotica collections. Which means I'm not having much of it reprinted, unless it's a "Year's Best" sort of anthology. So far, "Madonna Littoralis" (Sirenia Digest #1) is the only piece to be reprinted (in Fantasy Magazine #2).

I seem to remember that you where concerned that it wasn't public/out there
enough to get new CRK readers?

This does continue to concern me, to some degree. But, right now, the pros seem to be suprassing the cons.

[brokensymmetry.livejournal.com]

I'm still dithering over the fate of Nebari.net,

I'd like to see what's there preserved, even if it's never expanded.

Would you be at all interested in having a wiki on the site, perhaps starting with pages for the current encyclopedia entries? That way you could add bits piecemeal in those rare free moments. If you were so inclined you could also open it up for others' contributions while maintaining editorial control.

[greygirlbeast.livejournal.com]

Would you be at all interested in having a wiki on the site, perhaps starting with pages for the current encyclopedia entries? That way you could add bits piecemeal in those rare free moments. If you were so inclined you could also open it up for others' contributions while maintaining editorial control.

That would be very nice. :-)

[brokensymmetry.livejournal.com]

That would be very nice.

I should have some free time in August and would be happy to try setting this up. I'd need some details about your hosting service and such, but that can all wait until you don't have a major trip to worry about or recover from.

[greygirlbeast.livejournal.com]

I should have some free time in August and would be happy to try setting this up. I'd need some details about your hosting service and such, but that can all wait until you don't have a major trip to worry about or recover from.

Drad. It's a date!

[kiaduran.livejournal.com]

Poor Ignatius - I feel like a home wrecker for taking Snapdragon from him. Please assure him that she will be treated well and he will always be welcomed to visit her. Maybe when things are safer for her she can come back for a visit - I am sure she would like to see everyone again. But for now, her protection is of utmost importance to us all.

Liza and I are excited to know she is on her way. We will have strawberry punch with rose petals and croissants with sweet butter and honey to celebrate her arrival.

[greygirlbeast.livejournal.com]

We will have strawberry punch with rose petals and croissants with sweet butter and honey to celebrate her arrival.

Oh, if only we could be there.

[happyspector.livejournal.com]

Insurrection, from what I recall, was an enjoyable enough two-parter glorified to big-screen status, but was just a hellish let-down after the beyond satisfying cinematic experience of First Contact. I held out hope for Nemesis to kick ass, based on the pretty trailer and the even-numbered rule... Then I couldn't decide if it felt like a lame two-parter glorified or a lame movie with a few "what could have been..." strong moments.

The Searchers, however, is forever the shiznit.