"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.

[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

[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?

[sovay]

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

That's cool.

[ninevah.livejournal.com]

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

[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

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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.