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[greygirlbeast]

Yesterday, the postman brought my contributor's copy of the new Penguin Classics volume, American Supernatural Tales, edited by S.T. Joshi, which reprints "In the Water Works (Birmingham, Alabama 1888)." Since then, I've been trying to decipher my feelings about being chosen for this book. It goes without saying that I am immensely pleased and flattered to have this story included alongside the likes of Lovecraft's "The Call of Cthulhu," T.E.D. Klein's "The Events at Poroth Farm," Ray Bradbury's "The Foghorn," Fritz Leiber's "The Girl With Hungry Eyes," and Shirley Jackson's "A Visit" — authors and stories who/that have had an enormous influence upon my own writing. But there is something more here, something I cannot quite wrap my brain around. This is a Penguin Classics volume, and in his introduction, Joshi grants me "tentative canonization," and, I don't know. I think it's just sort of cool, and I want to be glad for myself, because I've been banging away at this writing and publishing thing for the last fifteen years (I'm not counting all the crap I wrote in college and high school). It certainly hasn't made me wealthy — or even financially secure — and it's not hyperbole to say that it's taken a toll on my health and my nerves. But...I do have this, the inclusion of one of my stories with all these authors who helped to get me here, in a Penguin Classics volume that will likely remain in print for a decent span of time. And so I think I am actually proud of me, which is not the sort of thing I have often been heard to say. By the way, "In the Water Works (Birmingham, Alabama 1888)" was first printed in Tales of Pain and Wonder (2000), then reprinted in The Mammoth Book of Best New Horror: Volume Twelve (2001) and Trilobite: The Writing of Threshold (2003); it was also the inspiration for my second novel, Threshold (2001).

As for yesterday, I sent "The Bed of Appetite" away to Vince Locke to be illustrated for Sirenia Digest #23. I exchanged several emails with my mother in one afternoon, which is a very unusual thing. I read Chapter Four of Carole G. Silver's Strange and Secret Peoples: Fairies and Victorian Consciousness, "Little Goblin Men: On Dwarfs and Pygmies, Racial Myths and Mythic Races." I had a bath. I redecorated the altar for Samhain. I got an idea for a new piece for Sirenia Digest #24, something about a lycanthropy, only turned back upon itself. There was rain much of the day, drizzle and clouds, but the sun came out late. No walk, because I just couldn't seem to get interested in Outside. And that was yesterday.

I'm trying to decide whether or not to be excited about Frank Darabont's adaptation of Stephen King's novella, "The Mist." It has long been one of my favourite King stories, and it could be very good. Darabont is one of the few directors capable of getting King right (see The Shawshank Redemption). But, always, I am cautious.

Now, it's time to slay the coffee beast...

Comments

[wolven.livejournal.com]

Congratulations.

[papersteven.livejournal.com]

I can't wait for this one!

I got an idea for a new piece for Sirenia Digest #24, something about a lycanthropy, only turned back upon itself.

[jtglover.livejournal.com]

Wow, congratulations! It's got to feel good to see your name surrounded by literary lights (so to speak). You should be proud!

I'm having similar Mist anxieties. Reading it was one of my turning points in life, making me aware of the other worlds out there.

[sovay]

to have this story included alongside the likes of Lovecraft's "The Call of Cthulhu," T.E.D. Klein's "The Events at Poroth Farm," Ray Bradbury's "The Foghorn," Fritz Leiber's "The Girl With Hungry Eyes," and Shirley Jackson's "A Visit"

That is wonderful. You can entirely be proud of yourself.

[heron61.livejournal.com]

Many congratulations, from what I've read of your work (Threshold, Daughter of Hounds, and most of Alabaster at this point), I definitely agree with Joshi's assessment.

On a slightly related note, one of my disappointments with the fact that ebooks are likely to only become more common is that for me at least there is a very special joy found in receiving a print copy of my work that electronic media does not share.

[setsuled.livejournal.com]

the new Penguin Classics volume, American Supernatural Tales, edited by S.T. Joshi, which reprints "In the Water Works (Birmingham, Alabama 1888)."

Quite well deserved. You are at least that good, as far as I can tell.

something about a lycanthropy, only turned back upon itself

I really like the sound of that. Though I'm not exactly sure what you mean. I'm sort of picturing a pumpkin turning into Cinderella for one evening. It'd be interesting seeing the prince waking up with only a smashed pumpkin in bed beside him . . .

[darkdescent-13.livejournal.com]

It goes without saying that I am immensely pleased and flattered to have this story included alongside the likes of...

This is awesome! Congratulations. You deserve this.

[kiaduran.livejournal.com]

Adding my congratulations to the rest. You are an amazing and unsettling writer who makes my brain get all tickle-ly.

[kittygoth.livejournal.com]

I picked up "American Supernatural Tales" when I was in Nagoya at the weekend and was going to put it back down, having read most of the stories in it, when I clocked you right at the bottom. I read "In the Water Works" last night before bed and had dreams of black tentacle things snatching teenage boys from thier bedrooms. Thanks for the weird dreams.