Actually, Thursday was Lughnasadh, but we postponed our celebration of it until yesterday. I made beer bread and cookies, and we gorged in front of the TV and watched American Pie I and II. Sort of a strange way to celebrate the Autumnal Cross Quarter, but hey, we enjoyed it. And now we’re raring to see American Wedding.
Got The Quiet Ward contract for “The Reign of the Wintergod” in the mail yesterday from Prime Books. It was just a single copy of the contract with no letter or note in it. I assume I’m supposed to sign it and send it back, but I’m more accustomed to seeing a brief letter from the person I’m supposed to address to the “attn of” on the return envelope, as well as receiving two copies of the contract, one of which I get to keep for my own records. No biggie. I’ll just make a copy of it before I mail it. But it was a little, err, brief. I assume they were rushed since everyone’s scrambling to get the book out in time for Horrorfind weekend.
Wow. In one week there will be a book in print with one of my stories in it. How cool is that?
Less cool is the whole “make a copy situation,” primarily because my scanner won’t talk to the computer anymore. I’ll just use a third party copier for the contract, but this whole scanner broken thing is really stressing me out. I hate dealing with hardware. I am totally incapable of interacting in a calm and rationale manner with malfunctioning peripherals. They scare and intimidate me. I’m leaving it to Matthew to fix.
In other news, ten critiques so far on the “weird” story I’ve got up at Critters right now. The comments are mixed. Most people like it but think there are weird bits. Well, I knew it was odd going in, but I’m pleased that people in general are liking it. Readers have given me positive comments on the style and tone I used, which is cool as it was something of a Vonnegut-inspired experiment.
Matthew finally first-readered my “squicky” story and it did indeed totally squick him out. He refused to read it through a second time so gave me my critique verbally rather than in writing. Gleep. I’m much better with critiques in writing. But the funny thing is that despite his gross-out, he still thought it was a good, powerful story. He just doesn’t want to ever read it again.
Yay, I think.
He also had some excellent comments (as usual) which I’m dwelling on before I toss up the first draft for the Critters to savage.
Where is this Critters place you speak of? I would love to read some of your work sometime. 🙂
By the way, it is very cool that you will have a story in print soon! Many congratulations on that!
Ah… the smell of broken hardware in the morning. I understand how you feel. I can deal with hardware, but I prefer not to. It makes that little muscle in the corner of my left eye twitch.
Good luck on it working again soon. If you need help with the copy thing, I have a working scanner, of course, it’s not like I live next door or anything.
Anyway, yay on the contract and being printed soon!
“Where is this Critters place you speak of? I would love to read some of your work sometime. 🙂“
Critters.org is an online writers workshop that I’m a member of. It’s free to join and all the works are password protected. I can’t recommend it enough for folks interested in getting feedback on their fiction.
“By the way, it is very cool that you will have a story in print soon! Many congratulations on that!“
Thank you! I’m incredibly jazzed about it.
“ If you need help with the copy thing, I have a working scanner“
I greatly appreciate the offer, but I think I’ll just splurge the nickle or dime the local grocery store copy machine charges. Unless Matthew can convince our scanner to start talking to our computer again . . .
Very cool. I will check it out sometime, though probably not until after D*C. And since I have no finished works, not really anyway, I think I will just read, possibly comment, assuming that’s an option. 🙂
Thanks for letting me know about it!
Wow. In one week there will be a book in print with one of my stories in it. How cool is that?
Absolute Zero, Baby. That cool.
In other news, ten critiques so far on the “weird” story I’ve got up at Critters right now. The comments are mixed. Most people like it but think there are weird bits.
Ooo… I’m a little scared to read it now. I’ve scanned a bit of the first paragraph, and even that seemed a bit un-Eugie. Anyway, look for my crit Tuesday or Wednesday this time around.
Matthew finally first-readered my “squicky” story and it did indeed totally squick him out.
Yikes. I may have to skip that offering when it comes up. I don’t think I could handle it.
I hate dealing with hardware. I am totally incapable of interacting in a calm and rational manner with malfunctioning peripherals.
I’m the same way. I used to be a Mac person, and I remember how well peripherals harmonized with one another in that architecture. Windows, though, is a constant battle, especially with a custom-built machine like I used to have. Even with my new, integrated box, I still can’t get my LCD screen to look quite right.
Are we going to go see The Merry Wives of Windsor together soon?
“Ooo… I’m a little scared to read it now. I’ve scanned a bit of the first paragraph, and even that seemed a bit un-Eugie. Anyway, look for my crit Tuesday or Wednesday this time around.“
Thanks! I look forward to reading your comments! This one isn’t really going to push your sensibilities on the graphic or gore front; it’s just . . . different from my usual stuff. The next one though. Err, you might want to skip that one. I hate missing out on your feedback, but it appears to be pretty extreme. It seems to make grown men (one at least) cringe.
“Are we going to go see The Merry Wives of Windsor together soon?“
I hope so! I’m sending you an email to discuss scheduling right after I post this comment.