"And this was odd, because it was The middle of the night."

[greygirlbeast]

Ugh. Presently 86F Outside (feels like 93F with heat index), and 84F indoors. Since last night, I've been running my homemade AC in the office: a small electrical fan blowing across a metal bowl of ice. It helps a little. Still much too hot to work, though. We're supposed to get some relief day after tomorrow. I fall ever farther behind.

And today I have to go to the damn, dratted doctor, in less than five hours. I'm waiting on a pardon from the governor.

No writing yesterday. About 3 p.m., Spooky and I finally couldn't take the heat inside any longer, so we fled into the heat Outside. Well, as a means to AC. We had lunch at Trinity Brewhouse, and I had my first hamburger since last summer, only my second since moving to Rhode Island. I needed red meat desperately. After lunch, we crossed the street to the central branch of the Providence Public Library, and spent maybe an hour more hiding from the sun, browsing the shelves. We thought about a late matinée of Hayao Miyazaki's Ponyo, but it's not showing at the theatre we usually frequent, and I wasn't up to anything new. Instead, we went to the market and got watermelon and the makings for a cold dinner.

Back home we did manage to get a little work done editing the "book trailer" for The Red Tree. It's slowly coming together, though we may need to shoot a little more footage. We have a musical score now, thanks to Mike Watson of the Providence band Spinde Shanks. Also, I was invited to show the trailer, and read, at The Fledgling Festival here in Providence. However, I'm not at all sure the film will be ready in time. So much left to do, and this heat has really slowed us down. So, I'll likely read there, but screening the film is only a maybe.

That was pretty much yesterday, except for a little reading, a lot of sweating, and level grinding in WoW.

My thanks for all the feedback regarding the cover of The Red Tree. The consensus seems to be that yes, a lot of men are uncomfortable with, or simply disinterested in, covers that smack of PR, as the cover of The Red Tree does (more consensus), even though it isn't a PR book (still more consensus). Anyway, thanks. By the way, it would definitely not be showing support for me if you refused to buy this book because I dislike the cover. That would be exactly the opposite of support.

However, at this stage, what would be very, very helpful is if every single one of you who has read and enjoyed the book would say so on Amazon.com (or wherever), on your own blogs, Twitter, Facebook, wherever. It doesn't have to be an in-depth review. It doesn't have to be artful and articulate. Just a positive mention, spreading the word. Putting in a link to the novel or my website (or both). And if you could request your local library to order, that's another good way of helping with promotion. Word of mouth is probably the best promotional tool I could hope for at this point. Thanks.

Also, I will remind you of the current eBay auctions.

I thought I would post all the titles in my current "to be read" stack, some of which are presently being read (they have an asterisk after the title). It is my goal to get through these titles by the end of the year:

Spook Country* by William Gibson
Steampunk edited by Ann and Jeff VanderMeer
Mister B. Gone by Clive Barker
Dune Messiah by Frank Herbert (re-read)
Children of Dune by Frank Herbert (re-read)
Dinosaurs of Italy* by Cristiano Dal Sasso
Doomsday Men* by P. D. Smith
Palimpsest by Catherynne Valente
Generation Loss by Elizabeth Hand

And now...I should be going. Feed the Tree.

Comments

Mister B. Gone

[prose-lover.livejournal.com]

As much as hardcore Clive fans read this book with disdain, I found it loving. I really enjoyed it, even more so that it was his first adult related work in a while (I think it was released in 2007). Ah well to those fans who were hostile towards it. The novel is not so much epic/dark fantasy like he had made himself known for. It returned my lovely Clive back to a BoB (books of blood) feel. These people should remember that BoB is what Clive his boost into the writing world.

Either way, read it and enjoy it! It was great.

Re: Mister B. Gone

[greygirlbeast.livejournal.com]

As much as hardcore Clive fans read this book with disdain, I found it loving.

Spooky and I instantly fell in love with the look of it.

Re: Mister B. Gone

[scarletboi.livejournal.com]

What?

Mister B. Gone is a wonderful book. I simply can't imagine holding it in disdain.

Re: Mister B. Gone

[greygirlbeast.livejournal.com]

Mister B. Gone is a wonderful book. I simply can't imagine holding it in disdain.

I gather there are people who were put off by it's central "Don't read this or you're doomed" conceit, though I find it damn cool.

Re: Mister B. Gone

[prose-lover.livejournal.com]

yes, YOU can't imagine holding it with disdain, but get yourself a review of the book and you will see what I mean. Most of them end with something to the vibe of "although I enjoyed this book, it has done nothing to move me like "The Great and Secret Show or Weaveworld or Imajica."

But like I said, those people were expecting an epic dark fantasy novel. Why don't these people understand that writers are not robots and do not continue to slave to the same form they once produced. Don't they know about growth? Pity for them.

But I am glad at least you and Ms. Caitlin (and Spooky who loved it from the look of it) like the book as much as myself. I loved the entire thing from cover to cover.

Re: Mister B. Gone

[scarletboi.livejournal.com]

Blah. This is an altogether different book from those three. Personally, while I loved Imajica and the Great and Secret Show immensely, I have no desire to turn poor Clive into some sort of transhumanist, blood-splattered Robert Jordan.

I'd be overjoyed to see a third Book of the Art, or another book set in the Cabal world, but that doesn't mean I want everything he does to be that.

Like Azeem says, "Allah loves great diversity."

[algernon33.livejournal.com]

Fed the Tree 2 times, happy to report you are selling well in my part of Maryland. Have not cracked it open yet but to me, the Cover does not bother me at all.
I did have to tell my son, this will NOT be one of his bedtime story books, Spook Country..perhaps.

You and Spooky should come down to Dragon*Con for a little R&R. I'm pretty sure you would have lots of Hotel Crash Space offers.

-A

[greygirlbeast.livejournal.com]

Thanks for pimping the platypus in Maryland.

You and Spooky should come down to Dragon*Con for a little R&R.

I'd love the chance to costume, but the drive would make it anything but R&R (I cannot presently fly).

[whiskeychick.livejournal.com]

to assist my local librarian buyer...would you link me the latest of The Red Tree reviews, that I know I've read on your blog most recently? Perhaps you have a few jewels that will assist her in solidifying such a recommendation?

[greygirlbeast.livejournal.com]

to assist my local librarian buyer...would you link me the latest of The Red Tree reviews, that I know I've read on your blog most recently? Perhaps you have a few jewels that will assist her in solidifying such a recommendation?

Don't really have time just now. It got good reviews from Library Journal and Kirkus, and more reviews are forthcoming. I'll try to put in links tomorrow. Also, you might simply scan through old entries, because I've either linked to them all, or posted them in full. Also, some are on the Barnes & Noble page.

[sovay]

Also, I was invited to show the trailer, and read, at The Fledgling Festival here in Providence.

That's cool.

[greygirlbeast.livejournal.com]

That's cool.

I thought so.

[ninevah.livejournal.com]

Feeling kind of thick today, but what does 'PR' mean in this context?

[greygirlbeast.livejournal.com]

Feeling kind of thick today, but what does 'PR' mean in this context?

"Paranormal romance."

Don't apologize. Yesterday, I had to ask what UF stands for.

[mb2u]

Thanks, I was about to ask that same question. I guess I don't keep up with the cool acronyms.

[greygirlbeast.livejournal.com]

Thanks, I was about to ask that same question. I guess I don't keep up with the cool acronyms.

That's okay. Neither do I.

[ferine]

I hope your doctor visit is palatable, if not helpful.

Sent you an LJ private message--hopefully it scurried its way to you through the series of tubes known as the internets. >;-)

I'll tweak what I wrote about The Red Tree and, for the first time ever, post it as an amazon.com review.

Take care,
Sarah

[greygirlbeast.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

[mb2u]

I actually had to go back and look at the cover again, because I couldn't really remember. That's not unusual; I rarely am attracted to a book because of the cover. The only exception was docbrite's Lost Souls, and I still don't understand why.

[greygirlbeast.livejournal.com]

The only exception was docbrite's Lost Souls, and I still don't understand why.

It's a nice cover.

[ardiril.livejournal.com]

I am about 2/3 through The Red Tree, and I am marveling at how well you developed such a distinct voice for Sarah. Since the bedrock of the story is such that it could support virtually any ending, I should be writing a 5-star Amazon review soon.

[greygirlbeast.livejournal.com]

Thank you, all round.

[gargirl.livejournal.com]

I had already posted a review over at amazon and at some book-chat type sites but I went today and put one up over at Barnes & Noble dot com. Hope it helps! Your writing is original and fantastic, you deserve much success.

[greygirlbeast.livejournal.com]

Just read it, I think. Thanks!!!

[gargirl.livejournal.com]

If it said "by gargirl" it was probably mine, and you are more than welcome.

[tobyspit.livejournal.com]

Speaking of a to be read stack, I am 30 pages into Alabaster and absolutely loving it. After this I am tackling The Red Tree, so I have a good block of reading your work.

Also, Emerson is starting in on A is for Alien soon, so our whole house will be abuzz with your writing.

[greygirlbeast.livejournal.com]

Also, Emerson is starting in on A is for Alien soon, so our whole house will be abuzz with your writing.

Marvelous! Thank you.

[tobyspit.livejournal.com]

Dear Amazon.com Customer,

As someone who has purchased or rated The Red Tree by Caitlin R. Kiernan, you might like to know that Jabril is now available. You can order yours for just $15.00 by following the link below.

Just got that in the mail and I wanted to let you know that this is a book that they are trying to push on your readers. I haven't read it or your book yet, so i can't say how similar they are.

[stsisyphus.livejournal.com]

A bit late in the day for comments, but checked the evidence page and was surprised by what I found. I'm sorta confused by the implications.

[greygirlbeast.livejournal.com]

I'm sorta confused by the implications.

On the one hand, as well you should be. On the other hand, how so?

[stsisyphus.livejournal.com]

I'll have to go back and re-read "Pony" to see if I can find any connections (no chore there, it's one of my favorite in the Sirenia catalog), which is part of what is tickling my brain.

The part that's really getting me is the metaplay between Caitlin R. Kiernan's presence as an author in this, our concurrent reality, and the projection of her work upon Ms. Crowe in the other reality. That, and how readers unfamiliar with CRK's work would (or are intended to) interpret discovery of these "fictional fictions" as actually being published works which predate their fictional author by nearly two years.

Then again, there is the video footage. This is film shot, presumably, by Ms. Kiernan and Ms. Pollnac, and yet is the viewer supposed to presume it was gathered by the characters of the novel?

Maybe I'm overthinking this.

[greygirlbeast.livejournal.com]

Maybe I'm overthinking this.

Or maybe not. It's a puzzle (though I'm not claiming there's any objective solution).