"You crying, tragic waste of skin..."

[greygirlbeast]

Something like eight and a half hours of sleep last night, the antidote to my recent insomnia, and now I'm groggy and not awake. At least the weather's turned cooler again.

I'm glad to see "The New Weird in Music Videos" entry was a hit last night. I'd not expected it to be. I'll keep it up. Thanks to people who made suggestions. Most were already on my list, but one or two were things I'd forgotten over the years.

Yesterday was spent (again) hammering away at the table of contents for the "best of" volume. Finally, late yesterday, I emailed the whole thing away to Bill Schafer at subpress. Right now, we're looking at twenty-eight pieces (including The Dry Salvages). The final tally will likely be shorter, twenty-six pieces or so. Many stories are more than 10,000-words long; five have never before been collected. I'll post the ToC here as soon as I can. Now, I have to start contacting six artists who've illustrated my writing at various times and whose art I'd like to see in the bonus section of the lettered/numbered state of the book.

Any day now, I'll be getting started on the second half of "The Yellow Alphabet." And another story for Sirenia Digest #57. By the way, thanks to Karina Melendez, the new website for the digest should be fully functional within a few more days, and we're going to be slowly making it possible to purchase back issues from the site, beginning with #s 56-50.

The platypus, dodo, and the mothmen (such a retinue upon my desk) say it's time to wrap this up and get to work. I ignore them at unspeakable peril.

Comments

[sovay]

Now, I have to start contacting six artists who've illustrated my writing at various times and whose art I'd like to see in the bonus section of the lettered/numbered state of the book.

Oh, nice.

[greygirlbeast.livejournal.com]

Oh, nice.

It made me very happy.

[papersteven.livejournal.com]

Dame Darcy, Ted Naifeh, Vince Locke, and Richard Kirk... who am I forgetting?

[greygirlbeast.livejournal.com]

Dame Darcy, Ted Naifeh, Vince Locke, and Richard Kirk... who am I forgetting?

I'll post the list when things are finalized.

[handful-ofdust.livejournal.com]

The whole of The Dry Salvages?! Yes, yes, yes!;)

I love that novella with great intensity, and have always believed it deserved wider distribution.

[greygirlbeast.livejournal.com]

I love that novella with great intensity, and have always believed it deserved wider distribution.

I was very pleased when Bill agreed it should be in the book. I actually had a pretty solid nibble from Hollywood on that one, from which, of course, came nothing.

[papersteven.livejournal.com]

"I love that novella with great intensity, and have always believed it deserved wider distribution."

I completely agree. This is one of my favorites of your sf stories. I was surprised that this never came out in a trade paperback for a wider audience to enjoy. I'm glad that more people will be able to read it now.

[chris-walsh.livejournal.com]

(such a retinue upon my desk)

When will they start singing and dancing?

[greygirlbeast.livejournal.com]

When will they start singing and dancing?

Long, long ago.

[nykolus.livejournal.com]

greedy guts, i know... but any other extras/bonuses with the "Best of..."??? chapbook??? detailed chronology??? lockets of hair??? NOT that the collection itself isn't enough, mind you!!!

[greygirlbeast.livejournal.com]

"The Crimson Alphabet" will be included as chapbook with the lettered and/or numbered state (unclear at the moment whether there will be both a lettered and a numbered state).

I'm also planning a complete bibliography at the end of the book.

[nykolus.livejournal.com]

grand!!!

[gargirl.livejournal.com]

Oh, that's wonderful. So much to look forward to!

[alvyarin.livejournal.com]

Dame Darcy! She and the review in Realms of Fantasy were a big part of the reason I picked up my first book of yours. Loooooved her illustrations. =) So excited for this book! Especially Dry Salvages, which I've never read.

[greygirlbeast.livejournal.com]

Dame Darcy! She and the review in Realms of Fantasy were a big part of the reason I picked up my first book of yours.

I haven't spoken with her in years, and I have to track down a contact. I know she's in Portland, OR now.

[alvyarin.livejournal.com]

No pressure - it is YOUR book after all. I just remember her illustrations very fondly. She made Aramat and her spooky Southern belle friends come alive.

Speaking of, I need to revisit them with a reread.

[papersteven.livejournal.com]

"I know she's in Portland, OR now."

I met her at a nice reading/signing she did in Portland, a few years ago when my band was on tour. Very nice lady.

Also, I wonder, will you write any sort of foreword or introduction for the new collection? Or maybe story notes? I very much enjoyed that about To Charles Fort, with Love, and kinda miss it in the other collections. Anyway, just a thought. I will leave you to decide the fate of the collection, uninterrupted by me again. Except to say that I would like the idea of a lettered edition very much.

[greygirlbeast.livejournal.com]

Also, I wonder, will you write any sort of foreword or introduction for the new collection? Or maybe story notes?

There will be a very short introduction by me, around a thousand words. Their might be a sentence or two after each story, but nothing like I did for To Charles Fort, With Love.

[papersteven.livejournal.com]

That sounds pretty great to me.

Sanderlings

[wolven.livejournal.com]

Thank you for this story; it keeps unfolding, in my mind. Particularly The Boy on the beach. Watching the transition, watching The End, Clara's only interaction with the "Outside World;" and, throughout their interaction, after the light in the room, I kept hearing the line "whatever it is that Sanderlings eat." The colour, the Life leeching simultaneously into and out of Mary.

But always the boy. Always his civil, pitying response. The Recording "Angel" holding vigil over all that Clara has lost the ability to appreciate, in her choosing to not see the terrible things. This vigil feels like... an inventory, or a survey, or an engaging and deep meaningful rumination on that which will soon be passed on to him.

There's no malice, there. Just an inevitability and a weight.

As the only perspective external to the , it is... arresting.

Thank you.

[xjenavivex.livejournal.com]

I've enjoyed the first two videos. I showed them to David when he got home last night. Congratulations on assembling the TOC! I am really excited that illustrations will be included. The new site looks fabulous.

Should we lay offerings for the platypus, dodo, and the mothmen? Will that save you from peril?