I never used subject lines at Blogger, so why do I need them here?

[greygirlbeast]

Eight hours sleep last night, but, as has been usual of late, an assortment of nightmares that will require most of the day to clear from my mind. And we're on our fourth consecutive day of grey, rainy, March-like weather, with more coming tomorrow. I need summer. Real summer. Too hot to walk barefoot on the sidewalk without blistering your feet summer. Sweltering after dark summer. There's no sign of it in the extended weather forecast. Right now, it's 58F Outside, here in Providence.

You should all know this: Charles Harvey, in The Red Tree, is not a parapsychologist. He's an anthropologist and folklorist. Recently, it was pointed out to me that synopses of the book appearing online speak of him as a parapsychologist, which, as I've said, he is not. I wrote my editor at Penguin, who very apologetically told me that somehow the copy was rewritten after I approved the supposedly final version, and, so, on the cover (the covers are already being printed) Harvey will be described as a parapsychologist, even though he's nothing of the sort. But, what the hell. Maybe it'll sell more books, if people think they're getting a parapsychologist (even though they're not). It should have upset me, hearing about this, but it didn't. I am vaguely concerned that it hasn't upset me. I fear I am losing the ability to care about what happens to the books once I have finished writing them.

Also, I never meant to give the impression that my publisher is paying for the book trailer. I'm paying all the production costs myself. I'm pretty sure I never said otherwise, but there were comments yesterday that indicated some readers had drawn that conclusion.

Yesterday, I wrote 1,281 words on "The Alchemist's Daughter." I hope I can find THE END of the story by Saturday evening.

Please have a look at the current eBay auctions, as we're hoping to defray the cost of my attending ReaderCon in July with this round of auctions. Thanks. I honestly do not know how writers afford to attend more than a single convention a year, and even that's a stretch. Well, there are those very few authors who make a lot of money, and have their expenses covered by cons, because it's all a vicious circle.

I have got to escape this house soon. I've got to see the sun. And the moon. Just now, I'd trade any number of valuable possessions for one muggy night.

Comments

[corucia.livejournal.com]

When I was a grad student in Boston, the first few years I was there it seemed that summer never arrived. The third summer, however, we went through a heatwave where it hit the upper 90s with equivalent humidity. I realized then that the heat/humidity was what I was missing - it never felt like summer without it, after growing up with it. Recognizing the issue let me get past it, and enjoy the summers for what they were. Of course, when we moved to North Carolina it then felt like the summers went on forever and we never had any winters...

[greygirlbeast.livejournal.com]

I realized then that the heat/humidity was what I was missing - it never felt like summer without it, after growing up with it.

Oh, we have no shortage of humidity. Providence is very, very humid, in all seasons.

[jtglover.livejournal.com]

I don't know if this will make you feel any better, but annoying as the name change is, it isn't in the text of the work, correct? Everything that's on the outside, while part of the actual codex within which The Red Tree will be contained, I view as a fundamentally marketing/promotion. Yes, it affects the physical object in the long-term, but if the short-term purpose is to get people to lay down $$$ for your writing, then maybe it's not so horrible. I don't think anyone out there is wandering around thinking you don't care about your work.

[greygirlbeast.livejournal.com]

I don't know if this will make you feel any better, but annoying as the name change is, it isn't in the text of the work, correct?

There wasn't a name change (or, at least, none that I've noticed).

[timesygn.livejournal.com]

I fear I am losing the ability to care about what happens to the books once I have finished writing them.


That may be a good thing.

[greygirlbeast.livejournal.com]

That may be a good thing.

Somehow, I don't think so.

[martianmooncrab.livejournal.com]

Harvey will be described as a parapsychologist, even though he's nothing of the sort

as in real life, what you have your degree in may not apply to what you work as. Sorry that someone changed the copy on you, but I will still buy the book despite the error.

[greygirlbeast.livejournal.com]

as in real life, what you have your degree in may not apply to what you work as.

But...Harvey doesn't work as a parapsychologist.

[readingthedark.livejournal.com]

I appreciate your understanding that my bringing it up was from a place of goodness. Further, I, personally, will never use the word again, in your honor.

[greygirlbeast.livejournal.com]

Further, I, personally, will never use the word again, in your honor.

Well, that's probably for the best. It is a rather silly word. Or maybe it's just that parapsychologists tend to be rather silly people.

[nullmode.livejournal.com]

Well I hate to say it but the weather you crave it probably not coming till July and August. Growing up in Maine my experience was that summer really didn't start till sometime after the actual first day of Summer. Right now the rivers and lakes where I was raised are still pretty chilly for swimming and forget about the ocean. Look at it this way the moisture your getting now will make sure summer stays green and doesn't go brown on you at some point.

[greygirlbeast.livejournal.com]

Well I hate to say it but the weather you crave it probably not coming till July and August.

Last year, we had a scorching June here in Providence. I'd hoped for something a little milder this year, but not this mild.

[nullmode.livejournal.com]

LAst year was not the usual. Most of New England, well the East Coast actually, was in severe drought conditions.

[sovay]

I wrote my editor at Penguin, who very apologetically told me that somehow the copy was rewritten after I approved the supposedly final version, and, so, on the cover (the covers are already being printed) Harvey will be described as a parapsychologist, even though he's nothing of the sort.

. . . That's not helpful.

I fear I am losing the ability to care about what happens to the books once I have finished writing them.

I hope it will come back. They are worth caring about.

[greygirlbeast.livejournal.com]

. . . That's not helpful.

Nope.

I hope it will come back. They are worth caring about.

I find it repulsive, this lack of concern for my own creations. I suspect it may be developing as a sort of defence mechanism.

[mrs-ralph.livejournal.com]

I expect your lack of reaction is down to self-preservation. Your brain has over-ruled your emotions on this to keep you from getting too stressed over it, not from any lack of caring what happens to your work.

Meanwhile it may be a fortunate turn of events. Maybe a few sparkly vampire lovers will get converted to reading real stories with some meat to them instead of slapped together vamp-mances.

[greygirlbeast.livejournal.com]

I expect your lack of reaction is down to self-preservation. Your brain has over-ruled your emotions on this to keep you from getting too stressed over it, not from any lack of caring what happens to your work.

See my above response to Sonya.

Meanwhile it may be a fortunate turn of events. Maybe a few sparkly vampire lovers will get converted to reading real stories with some meat to them instead of slapped together vamp-mances.

Nice word, "Vampmances." I may adopt it. Sadlly, though, it's more like that they'll whine on Amazon that the blurb misrepresented the novel.

[tsarina.livejournal.com]

I would gladly swap my weather, though you probably don't want the heat. I'll give you a discount! Three days for the price of one! Free shipping!

[greygirlbeast.livejournal.com]

I would gladly swap my weather, though you probably don't want the heat.

At this point, I would take the heat.

[ardiril.livejournal.com]

"It should have upset me, hearing about this, but it didn't."

This is one of those lines you must decide for yourself where to draw. I rarely read cover blurbs because too often, they give away far too much of the the story. But that's just me.

What disturbs me as a reader is the number of typos in the actual text, mainly because I find them distracting. To me, these do not detract from the reputation of the author, but that of the publisher. Although I will continue to buy a favorite author's books regardless of publisher, I may be hesitant about investigating a sloppy publisher's other authors.

[greygirlbeast.livejournal.com]

What disturbs me as a reader is the number of typos in the actual text, mainly because I find them distracting. To me, these do not detract from the reputation of the author, but that of the publisher.

They drive me insane, and yet, no matter how many times a manuscript is proofed, and no matter how carefully, a certain number of typos appears to be inevitable. Which I suppose should not be so surprising when dealing with a 100,000-word ms.

What I hate is when people tell me they've found a typo, like there's something I can do about it after the book's been printed. Or like I want to know.

[kody-boye.livejournal.com]

Honestly, I don't think you--or any author--should feel guilty about how a back-cover blurb comes out after you submit it. If the publisher changes it and doesn't ask/tell you, that's their fault, not yours.

*shrug*

Good luck on finishing the story! :D

[greygirlbeast.livejournal.com]

Honestly, I don't think you--or any author--should feel guilty about how a back-cover blurb comes out after you submit it. If the publisher changes it and doesn't ask/tell you, that's their fault, not yours.

I never said I feel guilty. Or even responsible. I may feel some guilt for not caring more that this has happened, but that's another matter.

[hannahmia.livejournal.com]

If you come down to Florida you'll get a nice handful of muggy nights, though I can't promise it won't start raining again.

[prynnesneedle.livejournal.com]

If you're looking for an incentive to get out, according to the Providence Daily Dose (http://providencedailydose.com/2009/06/11/summers-coming-allegedly/) tomorrow's the last day for this season's Providence Art Windows on Westminster. The installation includes a large plush squid, and some gorgeous paintings of albino animals.

If you can't see it up close, the internet provides: Architeuthis
by Meg Powers (http://www.flickr.com/photos/providenceartwindows/3406299957), Marshmallow Life by Jillian Clark and Eric Rice (http://www.flickr.com/photos/providenceartwindows/3407108098/)

[greygirlbeast.livejournal.com]

If you're looking for an incentive to get out, according to the Providence Daily Dose tomorrow's the last day for this season's Providence Art Windows on Westminster. The installation includes a large plush squid, and some gorgeous paintings of albino animals.

Unfortunately, a combination of this shitty weather and a desperate need to find the end of thsi short story will likely keep me indoors. But thanks for the link. Cool.

[wolven.livejournal.com]

When I can see the synopsis, I'm going to replace "Parapsychologist" with "Anthropologist and Folklorist." I can think of at least three people, off the top of my head, who'll buy it just for that.

[greygirlbeast.livejournal.com]

When I can see the synopsis, I'm going to replace "Parapsychologist" with "Anthropologist and Folklorist." I can think of at least three people, off the top of my head, who'll buy it just for that.

Thanks.