War of the Worlds and industry news sends Eugie reeling

Watched War of the Worlds, the Steven Spielberg/Tom Cruise 2005 remake. It utterly and totally reeked, pretty much from the first second. I hated all the characters, couldn’t suspend my disbelief, and even the EFX were lackluster. Yuk. I want to be reimbursed for those 116 minutes of my life.

   


Writing Stuff

Harold Underdown’s The Purple Crayon website, which is an excellent resource for folks interested in writing children’s literature has reported a recent upheaval that has me reeling with shock. The Cricket Magazine Group, the folks who put out the “buggy” magazines–Cricket, Cicada, Spider, Ladybug, and Babybug–are moving from their Peru, IL base to Chicago. And most of the senior staff, including the Executive Editor of Cricket and Cicada, are choosing not to stay on. I feel like I’ve been kicked in the stomach. I’ve had the most amazing editorial response and rapport with Deborah Vetter, and I’ve adored working with her. I’m absolutely devastated that she won’t be with them anymore. I really hope she and all the other staff members had plenty of warning and already have their future projects lined up. The timing of this must be especially awful for them, putting a real damper on the holidays. ‘Course I certainly understand saying “no” when your company asks you to move, but . . . but . . . WAAAAH!!

I feel downright queasy.

Received:
Something like a gajillion crits on “Arachne’s Gift.” (Well, actually 15, but it felt like a gajillion when I opened my inbox this morning.) It’s being well received. I was planning on sending this out to Cricket next week, but now I’m wondering if I should hold off until the dust clears. I guess I could also email my editor, but I really hate to bother her.

New Words: A pair of editing passes on “Rue and Ruin.” I need one more pass to address a remaining outstanding issue, and then it’s set to go.

Club 100 For Writers
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11 Responses to War of the Worlds and industry news sends Eugie reeling

  1. jackzodiac says:

    I am just glad I am not the only one that felt that way about war of the worlds… I thought it was the biggest pile of crap I have ever seen… It is like everyone called it on this project… and I thought it was the worse adaptation of War of the worlds I have ever seen… the tv show did a better job of it then this film…

    d

  2. marksiegal says:

    Yikes! What sucky news about the Cricket magazines. Hope it works out for those editors and for markets where you’d had such success.

  3. gardenwaltz says:

    re: cricket

    that is huge news. although i don’t write children’s lit, i must respect that they have built quite an empire. i hope this move was not taken lightly. changing editors will make a big difference in the magazine.

  4. miintikwa says:

    *GASP!*

    No freaking WAY! I’m from Peru, and I just was up there pointing out the building to Charles when we visited my Mom. *sniffle* That’s not fair! They were a staple of my childhood, and I loved being able to ride by the building.

    *sigh* Too much change, sometimes. That sucks

  5. I still want to see this version of War of the Worlds at least once. What was so bad about it?

  6. keesa_renee says:

    NOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!! They can’t [i]do[/i] that!!

    ….

    Not that I’ve ever sold anything to them. But I did get this lovely rejection from them once…which is totally beside the point. The point is, you have–and they can’t do that to you!!!

  7. Anonymous says:

    Speaking from the vantage point of my pigheaded prejudice, I could have told you that! It’s a Spielberg movie and it has Tom Cruise in it. ‘Nuff said.

    Hmm. I wonder what this tag does.

    Oh. Cool!
    Doug

  8. Sorry to hear about being “orpahned” at CRICKEt. Hopefully Deborah Vetter will wind up somewhere else, and you can work with her there.

    I do wonder what they’re all going to do. Ron Mccutchan (who has also attended some sci-fi conventions over the years and is a fan as a reader) has been there forever, for instance, and it’s not like there’s all that much else in the neighborhood in terms of appropriate jobs. Hmmm.

  9. Cricket

    I was saddened about Cricket when I heard the news. I thought of you instantly and wondered how it would affect your experience with their group. Perhaps they will share their wealth of info with the next editors? I have my fingers crossed for you.

  10. You didn’t like War of the Worlds?

  11. Cricket news is indeed troublesome. Let’s hope for the best, both for the beloved editors and possible new opportunities in the not-too-distant future.

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