A new star born out of a diamond. I think it'll be beautiful.

[greygirlbeast]

A paragraph I wrote in this journal on this day three years ago, and I think it bears reposting:

Something I've harped on a million times, but I'm gonna harp on it again, because it came up yesterday, and it's important. My books, though they might be scarce in many American bookshops and absent in most foreign bookshops, are equally available to everyone who is in possession of a credit card (with credit) [or PayPal account] and an internet connection. Everything I've done that is in print is available from Amazon, B&N.com, booksamillion, subterraneanpress.com, my eBay auctions, and at least dozens of other places. Poppy says that every time someone says to an author, "I can't find your books," the Baby Jesus cries. Damn straight. So, don't say it. It's not true. Bookselling has changed a great deal in the last ten years, and book buying must change as well, or many authors, those of us who don't get mountains of publicity from publishers (and that means most of us), who have publishers who don't pay the chain stores to stock heaps of our latest title right up front, will most certainly perish. It might not have all the romance of the old days, browsing the shelves of a dusty Mom & Pop store, but it's easier, reliable, cheap, and almost everyone, everywhere, can do it. No, really. My books are not hard to find. Not even in Peru, Thailand, and New Zealand. All you have to do is look.

To wit, here are some specific links:

Daughter of Hounds

Silk

Threshold

Low Red Moon

Tales of Pain and Wonder

As for yesterday, I got all the signature sheets for Subterranean: Tales of Dark Fantasy signed, and they'll go back in the mail on Monday. I got news that Tales of Pain and Wonder is back from the printer, and I should have my copies next week. Also, two stories that first appeared in Sirenia Digest are being reprinted in Trisha Telep's The Mammoth Book of Vampire Romance — "Ode to Edvard Munch" and "Untitled 12." I received my itinerary for the O'Neil Literary House appearance on March 21-22, and I cannot recall whether or not I have mentioned that S.T. Joshi will be there, as well.

Today, I need to start something new for Sirenia Digest #28. I know that the issue will include a longer piece based on the Russian Snegurochka fairy tale (thank you, Sonya!), but I'm still doing research on it and am not ready to begin writing. First, I'll write something shorter. Anyway, yeah, today I go word hunting. Oh, and don't forget, eBay auctions end tomorrow, and this is the only copy of the Japanese translation of the Beowulf novelization I will be offering, and it comes with a free copy of the UK edition. As yet, it has no bid, which rather surprises me.

A great Torchwood last night, and, though I will not commit spoilage, wow, I didn't see that coming.

As I said, I've been spending less time in Second Life, up until the last day or so. And last night, Sissy (scarletboi) and Kat (memkhet) finally made the leap into the metaverse, and we were up until some perfectly ungodly hour, the two of them meeting the Professor's daughter, Elenore Darwin, in New Babbage. But it was enormous fun, even if Elenore is no more than the beginning of something Very Bad. There was more, but I shall not geek on about Second Life for the next ten minutes.

Right. Coffee. Check. Platypus. Check. Engage...

Comments

[sovay]

Also, two stories that first appeared in Sirenia Digest are being reprinted in Trisha Telep's The Mammoth Book of Vampire Romance — "Ode to Edvard Munch" and "Untitled 12."

Congratulations!

I know that the issue will include a longer piece based on the Russian Snegurochka fairy tale, but I'm still doing research on it and am not ready to begin writing.

Still, yay.

[greygirlbeast.livejournal.com]

Congratulations!

Thank ye.

[wolven.livejournal.com]

Is it okay if I repost the first part of this?

[greygirlbeast.livejournal.com]

Is it okay if I repost the first part of this?

Absolutely. Please do.

[wolven.livejournal.com]

Done.

[ninevah.livejournal.com]

I guess I don't understand how people can think that way. Living in what used to be rural Minnesota, I've been shopping mail-order for years to get any decent music I've wanted.

I remember calling in orders to Projekt and the like before they had a real web presence, and the internet has made everything times easier.

I have seen most of the more popular books on the local B&N shelves for at least a year or more, so that's a good thing.

[greygirlbeast.livejournal.com]

I guess I don't understand how people can think that way.

In 1997, it was understandable. In 2007, it baffles me.

[blubeagle.livejournal.com]

A great Torchwood last night, and, though I will not commit spoilage, wow, I didn't see that coming.
______________
Me neither. Congrats.

[morganxpage.livejournal.com]

Canada loves Kiernan, apparently. Not only does The World's Biggest Bookstore here in Toronto carry copies of your books, but so does Toronto Women's Bookstore, and several Chapters/Indigo locations throughout the city that I've visited.

~Morgan

[greygirlbeast.livejournal.com]

Canada loves Kiernan, apparently. Not only does The World's Biggest Bookstore here in Toronto carry copies of your books, but so does Toronto Women's Bookstore, and several Chapters/Indigo locations throughout the city that I've visited.

And Kiernan loves Canada...

[robyn-ma.livejournal.com]

The chapbook looks beautiful, by the way. Just looked at the eBay auction.

I just ordered Tales of Pain and Wonder 2.0, so I can has chapbook. I mean, in addition to the Spooky-tested, Cait-approved ToPaW.

[greygirlbeast.livejournal.com]

I just ordered Tales of Pain and Wonder 2.0, so I can has chapbook. I mean, in addition to the Spooky-tested, Cait-approved ToPaW.

Thank you. I think this would actually be Version 3.0, though. Which is really kind of absurd.

[robyn-ma.livejournal.com]

We're counting the paperback with the fugly cover?

[greygirlbeast.livejournal.com]

We're counting the paperback with the fugly cover?

Sadly, yes.

[chris-walsh.livejournal.com]

That edition might be the one case where Cait wouldn't mind the defacing of a book. (I just imagined taping a picture of Borat over that fugly cover, and that amused me more than it probably should.)

I get ToPaW this week! I get ToPaW this week! Looking forward to this, I am. (It supports Cait, it supports SubPress, it supports my need for snazzy books: everyone wins.)

Speaking of: hey, Caitlin, what led to Meisha Merlin doing its own cover? Had you hoped to use the Richard Kirk illo from the first limited edition but couldn't use it? And the answer to the first question can just be "Because the Meisha Merlin people were dumbasses" and I'd understand that...

[greygirlbeast.livejournal.com]

That edition might be the one case where Cait wouldn't mind the defacing of a book.

Indeed, I have publicly advocated mutilating or defacing that cover, or simply ripping it off entirely.

Speaking of: hey, Caitlin, what led to Meisha Merlin doing its own cover? Had you hoped to use the Richard Kirk illo from the first limited edition but couldn't use it?

Long story made short. The so-called "art director" at MM wanted a colour cover, so they commissioned one from Rick. But, for some reason, they hated what he did for them. I think they said it wasn't commercial enough. Then there was talk that the cover would be done by another artist, someone I approved, but whose name now escapes me. That fell through, and the "art director" came up with the guy who finally did do the cover. This was summer 2001, I guess. I looked at the artist's portfolio, and while it wasn't a perfect match, I figured it could work. I gave some suggestions, which were summarily ignored. The painting that wound up on the cover looked like nothing in this guy's portfolio. And that is, pretty much, that.

[chris-walsh.livejournal.com]

Understood, and appreciated.

[kiaduran.livejournal.com]

Couldn't stand it anymore - just bid on Beowulf. If I win it, it will bypass my to-be-read pile and go directly to-be-fondled-and-giggled-over display section of one of my bookcases, because, you know, I don't read Japanese. But it has your name on it so I MUST HAZ.

[greygirlbeast.livejournal.com]

Danke.

[scarletboi.livejournal.com]

I really didn't need to like Second Life quite so much.

I must forestall my full addiction until my final drafts have been turned in, but yeah. Yeah.

[greygirlbeast.livejournal.com]

I really didn't need to like Second Life quite so much.

Ah, but you do.

I must forestall my full addiction until my final drafts have been turned in, but yeah. Yeah.

;-)

[chris-walsh.livejournal.com]

I'll continue to avoid Second Life because I need to spend less time online. I have a feeling that if I even started a MySpace page, my computer would implode like the house in Poltergeist...

(Still, it seems more my speed than World of Warcraft, were I ever inclined to get into the online gaming thing...)

[mb2u]

No spoilers, but Torchwood threw me a HUGE curve last night. I was very happy to see Martha Jones, and to watch the others try to find out more about Jack from her. But the end? Geez...

[humglum.livejournal.com]

yep.
I think haven't even processed it yet, it was so rapid. I think I need to watch it again next week, before the new episode.

[ariandar.livejournal.com]

"Everything I've done that is in print is available from Amazon, B&N.com, booksamillion, subterraneanpress.com, my eBay auctions, and at least dozens of other places."

To add to that, if people are really bent on buying through their local bookseller, said bookseller has all sorts of access to ordering systems and will most likely order whatever people want if those people make the effort to ask for it rather than wandering the aisles, giving a shrug when it can't be found, and walking back out the door.

[lindorm.livejournal.com]

Science Fiction Bokhandeln in Sweden, with stores in the three largest cities, has your books in stock (or on their internet shop). No reason to go without here, even if you want to touch the book before you buy it!

http://www.sfbok.se/asp/sokresultat.asp
http://sfbokhandelnmalmo.blogspot.com/2008/02/en-lysande-frfattares-hrda-vardag.html