"I will brush off all the dirt, and I will pretend it didn't hurt."

[greygirlbeast]

This afternoon, I just need to get this blog entry done, and then send corrections to an editor ("Houses Under the Sea" for Lovecraft Unbound), and answer a few emails, and then the day is mine, all mine. Half a day off before I try to write two issues of Sirenia Digest in what remains of August. This is called attempting to get a little breathing room. September will be consumed by the next new novel, getting it up and off the ground, and October is all Mars. This is my plan, though I am reminded that a plan is just a list of things that never happens. Was that Elmore Leonard? I think it was.

I am trying very, very hard not to obsessively watch the Amazon.com sales rank for The Red Tree. I'm trying to step back, get all Doris Day, and accept that what will be, will be. Last night's signing heralded the end of seven weeks of hardcore promotion, during which I got little else done. I shall continue, of course, to add additional "evidence" to the website, and Spooky's begun editing the book "trailer," but that's about all I have time to do. There's too much else to get done, and I won't get it done if I sit here and obsess and post a new link to Facebook and Twitter every time the book's Amazon numbers dip. I have sent it out into the world. I have done the best by it I was able, with the time and resources allotted. Are you listening, Kiernan?

Sure, sure. I hear me.....

Last night's signing in Boston (well, Cambridge, actually), at Pandemonium Books and Games, went well. Good crowd, and many books were sold. I do have to admit it was not the best reading I ever gave. I was hoarse from reading aloud all day (working on "Houses Under the Sea"), and there was ambient noise I hadn't expected, so I had trouble hearing myself. I find I cannot read well if I cannot hear myself reading. But, my thanks to all who came, and to Tyler Stewart and everyone else at Pandemonium for a great night. I read most of Chapter One, which, in retrospect, was a poor choice. I should have gone with Chapter Four or Chapter Two.

The weirdest moment of the evening was opening an old copy of Silk (first edition, first printing, 1998), to sign it for someone, and discovering that it was already signed. Sadly, it wasn't dated. I was surprised to see it, and far more surprised to find it already signed. No idea how it wound up mixed in with the mountain of new stuff. But there you go. So, yes, good reading. I don't think I got out of the store until about 9 p.m.. Oh, and I scored a set of Elvish 20-sided dice. Also, as it turns out, that was my first in-store signing in seven years, not eleven. I'd forgotten about an in-store signing I did in Chicago in early 2002. Also, be advised that I signed all the Pandemonium stock that didn't sell last night, so there are signed copies of The Red Tree available at Pandemonium Books and Games (4 Pleasant St., Cambridge, Mass.; 617-547-3721). Also, there's a signed copy of A is for Alien, and signed copies of Silk, Threshold, Low Red Moon, Daughter of Hounds, and the trade paperback edition of Alabaster. Don't know how long they'll last.

Spooky just renewed the website for another two years, so I suppose I won't be retiring next week, after all. I think I've had that domain since 1997.

Today, I'll try to get around to picking a winner from all the tree photographs and artwork that were sent to me over the last three weeks or so, and the winner will get a free signed copy of The Red Tree, as promised. But I think I have about 200 images to sift through, so bear with me.

Okay. Time to make the doughnuts, so we can take the afternoon off, the platypus and I, the dodo and Spooky. Downtime will be good, even if it's brief.

Here are photos from yesterday:





Entering Boston on I-93. View to the north.



Mass Ave. View to the north.



Crossing the Charles River. View to the southeast.



I was in no mood to have my photo taken, so, instead, I photographed a bunch of the folks who came to the reading. Turnabout and all.



The mysterious pre-signed copy of Silk. I'm guessing it was probably signed in 1998, when I was in NYC doing signings, but that's just a guess. It was a nice old book, going yellow, taking on that "old book" smell.



A squiggly Boston skyline, on the way home, crossing back over the Charles River.



Pretty lights. I was just goofing around with the camera as we passed road construction on I-95, heading back to Providence. But I love this photo.

All photographs Copyright © 2009 by Caitlín R. Kiernan and Kathryn A. Pollnac

Comments

[sovay]

I read most of Chapter One, which, in retrospect, was a poor choice. I should have gone with Chapter Four or Chapter Two.

I liked how it sounded aloud.

I am reminded again that I hate most photographs of myself, but Boston and the construction lights are beautiful.

[greygirlbeast.livejournal.com]

I liked how it sounded aloud.

It's just not as dynamic as the other two.

I am reminded again that I hate most photographs of myself

Which is why there are no photos of me today.

the construction lights are beautiful.

Oddly, yes.

[robyn-ma.livejournal.com]

Is that Spooky on the left-hand side?

Aaand now I have "Pass the Spooky 'pon de left-hand side" in my head.

[greygirlbeast.livejournal.com]

Is that Spooky on the left-hand side?

Yep.

[humglum.livejournal.com]

I think I somehow thought that by leaning on the table I would be safely out of frame. Heh. No such luck.

[greygirlbeast.livejournal.com]

I think I somehow thought that by leaning on the table I would be safely out of frame. Heh. No such luck.

I got you!

[readingthedark.livejournal.com]

My efforts to turn invisible through magick were equally as ineffective. At least the reading itself was wonderful enough to counteract the fact that we did not manage to dodge the frame.

[humglum.livejournal.com]

I vote next time we hide in back...

[chris-walsh.livejournal.com]

Or hide in the vents. Read from there. Be all omnipresent voice person. It'd be atmospheric.

This post makes me smile. I'm happy the reading went well for y'all, with receptive listeners. Peace.

[gargirl.livejournal.com]

I am so glad the signing went well, I wish I could have made it!

[kaz-mahoney.livejournal.com]

I'm glad it went so well, despite your worries re. choice of chapter. I have my own copy of The Red Tree that I scored in Forbidden Planet (London) yesterday. Very excited to read it; makes me think fondly of House of Leaves just looking at the typescript and the idea of stories-within-stories. Though of course, this was not Danielewski's invention.

Anyway... Yes, when I finish my current manuscript revisions, I will reward myself with your new book. :)

[greygirlbeast.livejournal.com]

Though of course, this was not Danielewski's invention.

I'm waiting for a reviewer to accuse me of ripping off Danielewski. I was glad to see one review already point out that the device appears in an early Gothic novel (Castle of Otranto).

[kaz-mahoney.livejournal.com]

Of course! And to take that further, the whole story-within-a-story structure has been used numerous times. Both in previous centuries and more recently. I remember Margaret Atwood's Blind Assassin having multiple layers; it had a novel within the novel written by one of the characters, and then *another* novel (a science fiction book) appearing within *that* one. I think... (Okay, I'm confusing myself!)

Darn my Englishness

[ruby-star.livejournal.com]

I pre-ordered aaaages ago, and realised on the 4th that UK Amazon have the release date as September 10th.
I was hoping to take my copy on holiday to Cornwall. Damn and blast! They must be shipping it to the UK by carrier pigeon or some such.
Ah well.

Wish I could have been at the reading - we were in Cambridge for a few days back in May, so your pics brought back happy memories.

Re: Darn my Englishness

[greygirlbeast.livejournal.com]

Wish I could have been at the reading - we were in Cambridge for a few days back in May, so your pics brought back happy memories.

I am quickly growing to adore Boston.

[txtriffidranch.livejournal.com]

Don't kill yourself on the Amazon listings. That way only leads to pain and disappointment. (Of course, this comes from someone who was crushed when he finally saw his real sales numbers, and not just the Amazon algorithm. I'm starting to realize that the number of sales I get by promoting online are the average of zip, bupkis, and the number of Riddell family members who will actually attend my funeral. Putting together collections of my old stuff: what the fuck was I thinking?)

[greygirlbeast.livejournal.com]

Don't kill yourself on the Amazon listings.

I am trying. Really.

[txtriffidranch.livejournal.com]

Look at the bright side. Your books are the sort where your readers want to get them in hand to buy them, and you won't have any breakdowns on sales in indie or chain bookstores until the end of the year. That's another reason why you should ignore the Amazon listings, because I suspect that you're going to rate abnormally low on them. Keep pushing the purchases in actual stores, and you'll probably be fine: Amazon is the place where the cheapasses go because they think they're saving a few bucks, so keep that in account.

If it helps, I already ordered my copy, and I figure I'll see it any day now, if it isn't already in my PO box. See? That's another sale that you know you have.

[greygirlbeast.livejournal.com]

If it helps, I already ordered my copy, and I figure I'll see it any day now, if it isn't already in my PO box. See? That's another sale that you know you have.

And for for which I am grateful.

[mckenzie34.livejournal.com]

There are those of us too, who refuse to have anything
to do with Amazon. So... not sure how "our" numbers
figure into any of this, but my copy of The Red Tree
is on its way from a private bookseller in New Jersey.

[corucia.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the photos of Boston - they bring back great memories. I walked over that bridge hundreds and hundreds of times. I remember Pandemonium's opening, above the German restaurant in Harvard Square. I picked up either the Gauntlet Press version of Silk or Tales of Pain and Wonder from them, I believe.

Dropped by our local B&N on Wednesday and picked up a copy of The Red Tree. They had front-faced it on the shelves, and on the new arrivals rack. They were down to their last three copies (two after my purchase). I hope the sales go well! I'll email you a pic of the book in the wild...

[greygirlbeast.livejournal.com]

I remember Pandemonium's opening, above the German restaurant in Harvard Square.

Yeah, Spooky was telling me about the old location last night. She also lived in Boston for a time.


Dropped by our local B&N on Wednesday and picked up a copy of The Red Tree.

Got the photo. Thanks!

[c0rporatetrash.livejournal.com]

My copy arrived today; I'm excited to crack it open after running to the door every time I've seen a UPS truck for the past few days.

[greygirlbeast.livejournal.com]

I love enthusiasm.

[mellawyrden.livejournal.com]

Kathryn looks so beautiful!!!! HI Kathryn..!

I'm upset the place did not offer a microphone for your convenience and comfort. This should be standard in bookstores where there are Author's Readings.

I wish I had been there!

[greygirlbeast.livejournal.com]

I'm upset the place did not offer a microphone for your convenience and comfort. This should be standard in bookstores where there are Author's Readings.

It's just one of those things about in-store readings. You never know what the environment will be like, and so you make do. I kind of think it bothered me more than anyone else. I should have had enough since not to spend the afternoon proodreading aloud.

[birgitriddle.livejournal.com]

I want to buy a copy of The Red Tree, but I do not have the money at the moment nor can I persuade my mother to buy it for me. But I will as soon as I can. ;)

It's just between buying college books and a computer game I must have, I don't have money. :(

[xpeacock-eyesx.livejournal.com]

Just delurking to say that I love your work, ever since I stumbled across Low Red Moon in the Las Vegas Library last summer! Just ordered my copy of The Red Tree, which I am dying to read. Reading your blog is pretty awesome, too, I'm just now learning that I can actually see some of the proccess that my favorite authors put into the works I enjoy so much, which make the books even more fun to read!! Thank you for letting us see such a glimpse of another world.

[greygirlbeast.livejournal.com]

You're welcome.

And I love your icon.

[fusijui.livejournal.com]

Just read it straight through starting mid-afternoon. Awesome, awesome, awesome :) Best horror novel I've read since "The Ceremonies". And brought back horrific memories of the years I lived in that neck of the woods, when every woman I met seemed to be a writer, usually Southern, and always fleeing from their own head. Perfection, I tell ya :) :)

The next copies I buy as gifts, though, are coming off local bookstore shelves, not Amazon -- like other posters are saying, *forget* them :)

[greygirlbeast.livejournal.com]

Best horror novel I've read since "The Ceremonies".

I consider that high praise, indeed.

[kathryn-aka-kat.livejournal.com]

I read most of Chapter One, which, in retrospect, was a poor choice. I should have gone with Chapter Four or Chapter Two.

I just finished Chapter Four last night. It's... wow. Intense. Scary. Very, very so. I wouldn't spring it on people cold at a reading, though. I think it's the slower build-up that gives it such a punch? and I'd almost have hated to know it was coming, if hearing it before I'd read the beginning chapters.

Very much looking forward to the rest.

[greygirlbeast.livejournal.com]

I think it's the slower build-up that gives it such a punch? and I'd almost have hated to know it was coming, if hearing it before I'd read the beginning chapters.

That's a good point. The novel relies on that slow build up. But that also makes it a bitch to pull off at readings.

I'm in that photo ...

[runester.livejournal.com]

I see the top of my head, way in the back, in the corner. I'm famous! ;)

Good reading. That store is always kind of annoying during author events. The last one I went to, there, was for Charles Stross. They had it in the basement, provided a little PA system and a lot more room ... but then had the rest of the room filled with noisy gamers playing mini's combat. MASSIVELY distracting.

In comparison, yours was quiet, if a little cramped.

In any case, I was MORE then happy to finally get to one of your signings. Been reading your material for years, including Sirenia Digest, and had been eagerly awaiting The Red Tree since I heard it was coming out and you asked us to pre-order from Amazon.

Finally, I wanted to thank you for taking my questions during the Pandemonium signing. It was interesting and learned a little as well.

Thank you; take care; and good luck!