The Misenchanted Guestbook
Hello, and welcome to the fifth Misenchanted Guestbook Archive, covering November through December 2000!
The Misenchanted Guestbook existed from January 200 to February 2017, but was only really active the first few years. Because it got unwieldy, every so often I removed older posts, but I always saved copies on my own machine first.
Four previous archives exist, covering the period from January through April, 2000, May through June 7, 2000, the rest of June, 2000, and July through October, 2000. A sixth archive will be added when I get around to it.
Because it's an archive and you can't add anything, I've reversed the sequence -- the oldest messages are at the top, and you can just read down. Nothing else here is changed; outdated information will not be updated and errors will not be corrected. I've kept the original color scheme and illo, but in 2015 I altered the page format to make it more mobile-friendly.
-- Lawrence Watt-Evans
Illustration by Kiri Evans
The Misenchanted Page
Front Page | Main Site | E-mail me!
Lawrence
Aha! My two office copies have finally arrived! It's a book!
Thursday, November 02, 2000, 7:38:32 PM
Arthur
Fantastic!! I read your story in "Graven Images", Very good!
Friday, November 03, 2000, 7:22:50 AM
Andy Hurd
Do you re-read it once you actually get the book?
Just curious,
Andy
Friday, November 03, 2000, 10:09:31 AM
Lawrence
I don't usually re-read it, no -- after all, I've read it several times by then, most recently in page proofs.
Friday, November 03, 2000, 10:11:17 AM
Lawrence
Oh, and thank you, Arthur -- I'm proud of that story.
Friday, November 03, 2000, 10:29:36 AM
Lawrence
By the way -- has anyone else had problems with the front page being slow to load because of the counter? I'm considering dropping that, or at least moving it to the bottom of the page.
Friday, November 03, 2000, 1:12:39 PM
Arthur
On my browser ( IE 5.0) on Mac OS X the front page loads first then the counter. Funny I hadn't noticed before.
Saturday, November 04, 2000, 7:24:41 AM
Andy Hurd
I hadn't had problems until this morning. And it was stuck on the
counter. I have problems with the menu on the side of the spiffy page.
It doesn't expand right. It also starts out squshed together.
I use Netscape Comunicator 4.7
Just helping out.
Later,
Andy
Saturday, November 04, 2000, 10:00:01 AM
Arthur
I don't use the spiffy version--I use the no frills version. I found the page loads first, then the counter..if it loads at all.
Saturday, November 04, 2000, 10:22:00 AM
Lawrence
Yeah, I knew about the menu problem on the spiffy side, and a replacement's half-written. Sigh. There just aren't enough hours in the day.
That counter's a nuisance; I think I'm going to dump it, and I _know_ I'll be moving it to the bottom of the page if I don't drop it.
Saturday, November 04, 2000, 10:55:00 AM
Arthur
Lawrence, I just read your interview on MacGorilla.com, it is great!
Monday, November 06, 2000, 2:48:40 PM
Andy Hurd
Hey Lawrence,
Any chance you will list all your pen names here? I was just curious of the ones you have used.
Thanks,
Andy
Monday, November 06, 2000, 7:14:32 PM
Lawrence
Nope, no chance at all. At least one pen name is used exclusively for stuff I don't want to be publicly associated with.
Monday, November 06, 2000, 8:16:11 PM
Arthur
Lawrence, would some bribery help? I make a kick butt veggie lasgna....
Seriously though, do you write from outlines?
Monday, November 06, 2000, 9:36:08 PM
Lawrence
The problem with lasagna is that I'm allergic to tomato.
And yes, I write from outlines, almost always.
Tuesday, November 07, 2000, 3:35:44 PM
dave
i just noticed your guestbook here and i'm curious, how many pen names do you have?
i was under the impression that you were "just" LWE.
Tuesday, November 07, 2000, 4:09:14 PM
Lawrence
I've been professionally published under three pseudonyms that I remember; also a couple of versions of my real name, which is Lawrence Watt Evans, without the hyphen.
In non-paying markets I've lost count; I remember at least three more names off the top of my head. That was mostly back in the '70s, though.
Wednesday, November 08, 2000, 11:55:36 AM
Michael
All,
I found a copy of "With a Single Spell" from this website: http://www.abebooks.com
My Ethshar collection is now complete... at least until Ithanalin's Collection is released.
Wednesday, November 08, 2000, 9:54:01 PM
Arthur
I still have all my originals, except "Spell of the Black Dagger" which I never really warmed up to. You can find alot of books on Ebay and at Bibliofind.com
Thursday, November 09, 2000, 3:48:31 PM
Arthur
Lawrence! Great Job with the front page! Very nice looking! A few observations: First, the cover of the German edition of "Dragon Weather" uses the same painting that is on the cover of "Wizard's First Rule" by Terry Goodkind and second, nice count down to X-mas. I love the not-so-subtle hints!
Thursday, November 09, 2000, 7:32:16 PM
Lawrence
Thanks. I knew that German cover art came from somewhere else, but hadn't identified the source yet.
As for the Christmas countdown, that's one of the built-in options in SFF Net's hypertext parsing, so I figured I might as well use it.
Friday, November 10, 2000, 7:08:12 AM
Andy Hurd
What about a count down to Thanksgiving?
Do they have that?
Friday, November 10, 2000, 10:00:57 AM
Lawrence
Just Christmas, so far as I know. I wouldn't mind having other holidays available.
Friday, November 10, 2000, 10:02:55 AM
Arthur
How about this: "Sick of dark lords, epic quests that span thirty-seven books and elves that all seem alike? Then buy an Ethshar book TODAY---you'll get books that are well written, fun to read and self contained. Heck, pick up a dozen!!! Did we mention that any order of 10,000 books or more will be delivered personally by Mr. Evans himself? Just try this with any other author!!" he he!!
Friday, November 10, 2000, 11:59:29 AM
Andy Hurd
Is it me or do other people get sick of having Christmas decorations out in stores in the middle of October? I love Christmas, But I also love other Holidays. It's a strange wrold we live in.
What do people think about the Election?
Friday, November 10, 2000, 12:41:26 PM
Arthur
It isn't you---our local Kmart (Cupertino, California) has had decorations up since the middle of October. Weird.
Oh the Elections are interesting, for sure. Whoever wins will have narrow margin of victory and a deeply divided Congress--good luck.
Saturday, November 11, 2000, 6:56:09 PM
Arthur
Lawrence, I just read your interview on WritersWrite.com and you mention Robert Jordan. Do you read his books? if so, do you enjoy them?
Saturday, November 11, 2000, 9:18:15 PM
Lawrence
I haven't read very _much_ by Robert Jordan, because no, I didn't enjoy the stuff I read.
I'm not sure why; just didn't catch my fancy.
Sunday, November 12, 2000, 11:15:06 AM
Arthur
I can understand your turn off; Robert Jordan is an acquired taste. He said in an interview that he wrote the first book in the "Wheel of Time" series in the style of the "Lord of the Rings" which makes reading it very challenging.
Have you ever considered writing an epic fantasy? I know it's not your tilt but you'd be good at it.
Sunday, November 12, 2000, 12:48:12 PM
Lawrence
I sort of thought I _did_ write an epic fantasy, in TOUCHED BY THE GODS, but maybe not.
As for Jordan writing like Tolkien -- maybe he thinks he did, but I don't agree.
Sunday, November 12, 2000, 12:59:45 PM
Arthur
I haven't read Touched By the Gods--yet..it's on my list after Night of Madness and the new Robert Jordan book. I agree, I don't think he pulled off Tolkien--or his style. Tolkien was difficult to read--I consider digesting "The Silmarillion" (only took me two months!)a feat worthy of Hercules!
Monday, November 13, 2000, 5:39:46 AM
Marcus Mülbüsch
Some of the plot of "Dragon Wetaher" reminded me very heavily on Dumas' "Monte Christo". Is that intentional? Or is it just a coincidence, because it is a "revenge" story?
Monday, November 13, 2000, 10:50:26 AM
Lawrence
It's not a coincidence, exactly. I'd come up with the basic premise for DRAGON WEATHER, and then realized the resemblance was there, so I decided to go ahead and use more of Dumas' plot. Though I did eventually go off in a rather different direction.
Dumas, incidentally, got part of his storyline from a true incident.
Monday, November 13, 2000, 1:30:20 PM
Arthur
I see the resemblence now--yes! Very cool. I like "Count of Monte Christo" alot.
Tuesday, November 14, 2000, 5:02:24 AM
Marcus Mülbüsch
Yes, a different direction indeed. Especially since Arlian is rather rash in his revenge. Not having read the book for quite a time, I think it is only days after he comes back to Manfort that he enters his enemies house. And rather unprepared he is, methinks.
(Though all I remember may be wrong)
Thursday, November 16, 2000, 9:58:22 PM
Arthur
In case you are curious, the readers at Amazon.com have rated "Night of Madness" 4.5 stars and gave it glowing reviews! I just ordered a copy for my Navy friend stationed in Naples, Italy.
Friday, November 17, 2000, 12:38:11 AM
Lawrence
I'd noticed, and I'm very pleased about it.
Monday, November 20, 2000, 7:23:39 AM
Marcus Mülbüsch
Sigh!
I got an e-mail from amazon.de that they've send Night of Madness. I expect it in my letterbox today, when I'm home from work. So, why do I sigh, you ask?
Because my kitchen right now needs a lot of attention, and chosing between a brandnew LWE book in your hands and your kitchen, what would you chose?
I hope that the several days that I will spent with "Night of Madness" and reading about a strange new magick will not awaken some of the things that are now in my kitchen. There certainly is something dangerous there that I don't want to encounter at night.
If only these would hear the calling (hopefully from the garbage man).
Marcus
Monday, November 20, 2000, 8:45:08 AM
Arthur
I've had "Night of Madness" since it came out but because I am in college and a Literature major, it has taken a back seat to manditory reading. I hope to get to it this weekend.
Monday, November 20, 2000, 11:28:48 AM
Marcus Mülbüsch
Poor sod. I'd rather face the things in my kitchen than *not* being able to read it ASAP. :-)
Tuesday, November 21, 2000, 11:07:26 AM
Arthur
I actually picked it up last night and read a ton of it since I have no homework this long holiday weekend..I can knock the thing off in five days. Lawrence, I noticed that "Night of Madness" has a brief bio on the back flap but no picture of you. Is this a personal preference or a decision made at the publisher's end?
Tuesday, November 21, 2000, 2:01:14 PM
Lawrence
I honestly don't remember whether they asked for a picture or not.
Generally, I'd just as soon not have pictures of me all over the place, but I'm not obsessive about it.
Friday, November 24, 2000, 5:57:31 AM
Marcus Mülbüsch
Finished "Night of Madness" yesterday. Needless to say I enjoyed it, but the major failure of it is, of course, that it is too short :-)
It seems unfair that what takes one man to write for the good part of a yera, another can read in a good part of a week.
Marcus
Friday, November 24, 2000, 10:06:00 AM
Arthur
I am still bogged down by school work but I was thinking about that the other day: Lawrence spent months and months writing and polishing "Night of Madness" and we digest it in days. How does that make you feel, as an author?
Friday, November 24, 2000, 4:20:53 PM
Lawrence
How does it make me feel? Relieved that there are lots of good authors in the world!
Monday, November 27, 2000, 6:57:43 PM
Lawrence
I have now seen the paperback of DRAGON WEATHER for sale in a bookstore. It exists!
Monday, November 27, 2000, 7:16:54 PM
Arthur
Oh our Barnes and Noble is behind the curve, it seems...no "Dragon Weather" PB or "Night of Madness". Weird.
Tuesday, November 28, 2000, 8:46:03 AM
Andy Hurd
Actually I have seen the Paperback Dragon Weather all over the place. I saw it in Albany NY, Rochester, NY and Syracuse NY, It was when I was looking for Night of Madness....Which I finally found in Albany. The Barnes and Noble in Albany still had a Split Heirs in stock too. I almost bought it but then asked myself what would I do with a second copy.....
Lawrence, How is Dragon society Comming?
Tuesday, November 28, 2000, 9:50:34 AM
Lawrence
Oh, _The Dragon Society_ has been at Tor for most of a month now; I have no idea when I'll hear back on it.
In fact, thanks for reminding me that it's time to noodge a little.
Tuesday, November 28, 2000, 10:59:55 AM
Arthur
My B&N here in Cupertino, CA, has "Dragon Weather" PB now after I asked the manager about it. And they did get "Night of Madness" but their ten copies sold out in four hours (!); they expect more in this week. Congrats, Lawrence!
In a different vein, Stephen King ended his "The Plant" experiment today, citing low returns on Chapter Four. Some say this bodes ill for the e-publishing business, I say Mr. King was a prima donna (a $1 per chapter? how about $1 for the first three then $1 for each chapter after?) Oh well. Back to an author that cares, Ah, "Night of Madness"....
Sunday, December 03, 2000, 11:41:59 AM
Arthur
Kinda quiet around here. What's up in the writing world, Lawrence?
Sunday, December 03, 2000, 12:04:22 PM
Lawrence
Not a whole lot, actually. I took a month off after finishing THE DRAGON SOCIETY, but now I'm back at work, trying to get up to speed on ITHANALIN'S COLLECTION.
And helping my daughter choose and apply to colleges.
And of course, all the holiday stuff, though I hope to have the Christmas shopping done within a week or so.
Monday, December 04, 2000, 12:08:33 PM
Andy Hurd
How do you pronouce that? Is it a long I or an i like "it"?
I was just curious.....
Monday, December 04, 2000, 11:15:03 PM
Lawrence
It's a short I. To be honest, I have two pronunciations I use, and I haven't yet decided which is correct.
Probably "ith-ANN-ah-lynn," "ith" rhymes with "pith," Ann and Lynn like the names.
Tuesday, December 05, 2000, 5:40:37 AM
Bill Austin
Hi-
Just visited your /personal/trips/kentucky 1997.
Sorry you missed the best, new attractions in and around Horse Cave. www.horsecavetheatre.org, 1977 and completely renovated in 1997, www.cavern.org, American Cave Museum and Hidden River Cave, 1997, and www.kdu.com / www.kycaverns.com, 1990. (Kentucky Caverns was originally opened in 1921 by my grandfather under the name Mammoth Onyx Cave)
Please look at us the next time you are in the area, as these facilities are the results of my family's interest in Horse Cave since 1888 and wonderful support from Kentucky and across the country...
Sincerely, Bill Austin
Tuesday, December 05, 2000, 8:28:34 AM
Bruce Boston
Lawrence,
Haven't checked out all of it's various limbs yet, but very impressive and well-organized site. And colorful!
Tuesday, December 05, 2000, 10:44:42 AM
Arthur
Is Kiri who is gearing up for collge? I like her artwork on your site.
Tuesday, December 05, 2000, 11:21:41 AM
Lawrence
Bill, we did see some of those when we visited the first time, back in the '80s; on the 1997 trip we didn't have the time.
Thanks, Bruce -- but well-organized? It's a sprawling mess, the spiffy side is an unfinished buggy mess... I really ought to clean it up, but I just don't seem to find the time. Still, I'm glad you like it.
And Arthur, yes, Kiri's applying to colleges. We've narrowed it down to nine possibilities -- four liberal arts colleges and five art schools -- and she'll be applying to at least three of them. We'll see what happens.
Tuesday, December 05, 2000, 2:20:25 PM
Andy Hurd
What does she plan on Majoring in?
Tuesday, December 05, 2000, 3:52:33 PM
Arthur
Kiri certainly has art talent! The only art school I can vouch for is the Chicago Institute of Art, where my cousin graduated from.
Tuesday, December 05, 2000, 10:13:45 PM
Lawrence
Oh, she'll major in art or graphic design or communications art or toy design, depending where she winds up.
The School of the Chicago Institute of Art was on her list for awhile, but didn't make the final cut. Too snooty and artsy, where she's more commercially oriented.
Wednesday, December 06, 2000, 4:57:01 PM
Arthur
My cousin would be the first to agree with you on that one; the School has changed since he graduated in the 80's. Kiri has talent and she'll go far wherever she goes!
Wednesday, December 06, 2000, 7:54:02 PM
Arthur
Lawrence, on Ebay I noticed some authors are auctioning off manuscripts for charity. Would be something you'd be willing to do, in theory?
Wednesday, December 06, 2000, 8:52:48 PM
Lawrence
In theory, yeah.
In practice, manuscripts generally don't bring all that much, and in the past I've done better just donating signed books, or promising to use someone as a character in an upcoming story.
Thursday, December 07, 2000, 11:23:15 AM
Andy Hurd
so what is Ithanalin's Collection going to be about? And when is the target date?
Thursday, December 07, 2000, 6:04:26 PM
Arthur
Can us guestbook regulars be in a story? =)
Thursday, December 07, 2000, 8:04:33 PM
Lawrence
ITHANALIN'S COLLECTION is an Ethshar story about a wizard's apprentice (named Amari) who has to collect all the various scattered pieces of her master Ithanalin's soul after a spell goes wrong.
And no, I'm not gonna put you guys in a story, I don't think. Sorry.
Thursday, December 07, 2000, 8:32:01 PM
Arthur
Is this the one where the Spriggan starts it off by ruining a spell?
Friday, December 08, 2000, 5:40:46 AM
Marcus Mülbüsch
Will "Ithanalin's Collection" contain a guestbook, then? :-)
Friday, December 08, 2000, 10:11:26 AM
Lawrence
The spell is ruined when a spriggan trips Ithanalin, yes.
Friday, December 08, 2000, 1:33:18 PM
Arthur
If I am ever in one of your books, make me a spriggan. I love spriggans. Do spriggans have names? a society among themselves? "Arthur the spriggan" hmmm..I like that =)
Friday, December 08, 2000, 10:02:59 PM
Lawrence
Nope, spriggans don't have names -- well, except "Spriggan." Their society is rudimentary. You'll see more if I ever write THE SPRIGGAN MIRROR, which I hope will be in about a year and a half.
Friday, December 08, 2000, 11:50:00 PM
Yabs
You kind of sound like a spriggan, Arthur :)
On another note, I just wanted to say "thanks," Lawrence, for Night of Madness.
It was nice to return to Ethshar after all these years. One thing I liked in
particular was the gargoyles. You only gave them a dozen paragraphs or so, but
in that short space you somehow managed to create some very compelling,
interesting characters. I wanted to see more of them, maybe a short story or
something.
So last week, I was browsing through the local comic book store, and they had
Graven Images on display, and I impulse-bought it. And what do you know? A story
about... well, not a gargoyle, but a magic-stone-creature nonetheless. And if it
wasn't Ethshar, it was close enough to make no matter. So, thanks again!
Saturday, December 09, 2000, 12:05:57 AM
Lawrence
I'm glad you liked the gargoyles; so did I. They were fun to write.
And I'm glad somebody picked up GRAVEN IMAGES, because I haven't heard it mentioned much, and I think it's a pretty good book.
Saturday, December 09, 2000, 10:48:22 AM
Arthur
I consider being called a spriggan the highest form of flattery, thanks =) Is "The Spriggan Mirror" next in the Ethshar series?
Saturday, December 09, 2000, 9:38:33 PM
Arthur
As I read various Ethshar book (except the first) I notice the guards and solidiers in the cities of the Hegemony are poorly armed and their weapons described as "ceremonial". What would happen if someone went to war with the Hegemony? It seems like they are ill prepared for such an event.
Saturday, December 09, 2000, 10:06:46 PM
Lawrence
The next Ethshar novel is ITHANALIN'S COLLECTION, and I expect THE SPRIGGAN MIRROR to be next after that -- but my editor might have other ideas, as MIRROR isn't yet under contract.
As for the guards' armament, Ethshar has enough unpleasant memories of the Great War that the Hegemony really doesn't ever want to fight again. If anyone did attack them, though, they'd discover that magic is more effective than swords.
I believe there's a mention in SPELL OF THE BLACK DAGGER that the overlords know perfectly well that their military is inadequate, but they don't consider it worth fixing.
Sunday, December 10, 2000, 11:26:32 AM
Arthur
Hopefully "Night of Madness" and "Ithanalin's Collection" will sell well enough so your editor will snatch up "The Spriggan Mirror"! I did my part, by the way, by buying a copy of "Night of Madness" for myself, one for my Navy friend in Italy and one has a x-mas gift.
Sunday, December 10, 2000, 8:15:01 PM
David Leberry
Wow! I just found your website Mr.Evans! Great place! I just finished "Touched By The Gods"; do you plan on writing any more books in this world?
Sunday, December 10, 2000, 8:35:09 PM
Lawrence
NIGHT OF MADNESS seems to be selling well -- it's sold out of all the stores around here, apparently.
More stories in the Domdur Empire? I don't really know. I had a couple of vague ideas, but neither one is on the high-priority list at present. Maybe someday.
Sunday, December 10, 2000, 10:18:18 PM
David (again)
Well, At least you are thinking aboutit and have vague ideas---I can't ask for anymore than that. I think a book set in the early days of the Empire or perhaps before would make a good story that doesn't rehash "Touched By The Gods"
Monday, December 11, 2000, 1:14:12 AM
Jukka Halme
After a far too a long gap between reading _anything_ I finally found Dragon Weather at bookstore and bought it. Almost done now and boy is it a good one! Gripping and fast-paced entertaining galore. Hurrah and Huzzah!
Thank you for yet another excellent tale and more to come.
Monday, December 11, 2000, 10:54:11 AM
Lawrence
Thanks; I'm proud of DRAGON WEATHER.
One of the Domdur stories I was mulling over as a possibility involved Rubrekir the Destroyer, which would indeed be set hundreds of years earlier than TOUCHED BY THE GODS.
The other was a sequel involving Aldassi Nazakri.
Monday, December 11, 2000, 4:34:24 PM
David
Oh go with Rubrekir the Destroyer! THAT would be cool! Thanks for listening to my input, I appreciate it!
Monday, December 11, 2000, 8:18:40 PM
Chris (Back from the dead, sorta)
I have fixed Mac Gorilla...if anyone is interested our interview with Mr.Evans can be found at:
http://www.macgorilla.com/lawrence.shtml
Monday, December 11, 2000, 9:59:27 PM
David
Hey pretty good interview, Chris! Lawrence, why don't you link to it?
Tuesday, December 12, 2000, 9:48:04 AM
Lawrence
Linking would involve updating something, which right now I don't feel up to tackling. I'm under the weather, and with the holidays coming...
But eventually, yeah.
Tuesday, December 12, 2000, 10:21:57 AM
Chris
Under the weather? must be going around! myself and my entire household has some nasty fever bug.Ick! I hope you feel better soon. Writing sucks when you are sick.
Friday, December 15, 2000, 1:58:54 PM
Daniel
Well, I just wanted to say that I am REALLY looking forward to more Ethshar novels to be written. And I am going to get a copy of DRAGON WEATHER.
Monday, December 18, 2000, 10:04:21 AM
Marcus Mülbüsch
If you ever write another Domdur story, I'd be the least interested in a story with Aldassi Nazakri. After all, being so utterly defeated I don't believe you can come up with a story that is similarily earth moving and still beleivable.
Going with Rubrekir the Destroyer might be better, but then, since we all know that this will happen when the gods were still united, a defeait of the Empure is not possible in the least. True, the heroes have died, but only after their task was solved.
Sounds like a boring plot: The hero can't die until the task is (almost) over, and the world is not at stake.
And you already have written about a hero that can't die (Misenchanted Sword), so a similar idea seems out of question.
Marcus
Monday, December 18, 2000, 12:00:00 PM
Lawrence
That's exactly why no new Domdur stories are in the works right now.
Monday, December 18, 2000, 6:35:56 PM
David
You are right Marcus, those two ideas wouldn't really work as Domdur stories. Perhaps one set way back in history,before the empire, might work nicely.
Wednesday, December 20, 2000, 3:49:53 AM
Marcus Mülbüsch
David, that is maybe not a bad idea. After all, when the gods decided to help the Domdur, they will begin to tell someone.
Provided they do decide not to do it all flashy, but instead simply choose the oracles, all those priests are not going to be believed for a while.
Marcus
Wednesday, December 20, 2000, 10:23:49 AM
Andy Hurd
Hey Pink!!!!! What a nice new color.....
Hey lawrence is that the cover of the English version of the misenchanted sword on the Spiffy front page?
Does anyone know where I can get a copy of that version?
Wednesday, December 20, 2000, 11:53:33 AM
Lawrence
You mean on the pink front page? That's the new Wildside Press edition, which was released in the U.S. the day before yesterday. That's what prompted me to update the page.
It's available from Books-A-Million, or directly from Wildside; I don't know if anyone else has it yet.
Wednesday, December 20, 2000, 11:59:03 AM
Lawrence
Oh, yeah -- the new edition of THE MISENCHANTED SWORD is $14.95, trade paperback, and includes a reprinted short story at the back as a bonus, though I admit I've just gone blank on _which_ short story. "The Bloodstone," I think.
Wednesday, December 20, 2000, 1:04:18 PM
Arthur
Besides the nifty short story, did you "revise" or "correct" anything in the "Misenchanted Sword"?
Wednesday, December 20, 2000, 1:09:22 PM
Arthur
Great cover, I might add, though I must say I didn't picture Valder looking so much like Elric.
Wednesday, December 20, 2000, 2:31:17 PM
Lawrence
Nope, didn't change anything in THE MISENCHANTED SWORD.
And to be honest, the cover art was originally done for someone else, and Wildside picked it up second-hand. It seemed to fit well enough.
Wednesday, December 20, 2000, 4:55:27 PM
Arthur
Well, in general terms it fits but the package as a whole is really, really nice. A fitting tribute to a classic.
Wednesday, December 20, 2000, 7:29:42 PM
Chris
OOOOOOO a new "The Misenchanted Sword"! my original Del Rey copy has seen better days! I have spiffied up your interview page on Mac Gorilla, Lawrence and I am happy with it now. Still needs work, though. I want to add a byline about your latest novel and some book covers, all of which I'll update as you write new books.
Speaking of gorillas, would Kiri would interested in doing a new gorilla for Mac Gorilla? Nothing fancy, just something you could scan and I could use as the new Mac Gorilla gorilla to replace that upbeat gorilla I have now. Of course, I'd pay her for her services.
Thursday, December 21, 2000, 12:39:45 PM
Sean
I can't claim to have yet laid hands on the wonderous new text. Just revelling in the collection of older dog-eared and love-worn volumes adorning my glass doored book shelves.
I have never posted here before, just been a watcher from behind the electron curtain. With the holiday season upon me, even though I had nothing noteworthy to say, I wanted to chime in with a note for all you have given us before, and all that is yet to come.
My meager writings have always been my greatest joy when someone sent me their appreciation. With that in mind, I just have two words that go beyond their simplistic keystrokes.
Thank-you.
Sunday, December 24, 2000, 1:20:03 PM
Chris
I just wanted to wish everyone a happy and safe holiday season!
Monday, December 25, 2000, 1:15:47 PM
David
Hey lawrence, Happy Holidays! I also found an uncorrected proof of "Night of Madness" on Ebay. Is thing for real (here is the addy):
http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1400508266
Monday, December 25, 2000, 11:28:23 PM
Lawrence
Yup, it's for real; that's one of the bound proofs they sent out to reviewers. I don't know who the seller is, or which reviewer's copy it is, but it's legit.
Technically, some advance copies (known as ARCs, for "Advance Reading Copy") are still the property of the publisher and are on loan, rather than the property of the reviewer, and in those cases it can't legally be resold, but (a) people re-sell them all the time anyway, and (b) this particular item doesn't appear to be an ARC, just a bound proof, and there's nothing illegal about selling those.
I don't remember any significant changes in the text after the proof stage, so it's basically the same interior as the published book, but with a cheap card stock cover instead of the regular boards and dustjacket. These can sometimes become collectibles, especially if signed (and I haven't signed any proof copies of NIGHT OF MADNESS), but most of 'em are pretty much worthless.
If you want it as a curiosity, or to save a couple of bucks over the hardcover, go ahead and bid. I don't get royalties on review copies, but there are so few of them out there (a few dozen, maybe a couple of hundred) that I don't really care.
Monday, December 25, 2000, 11:33:32 PM
Lawrence
Oh, two more things --
It's definitely not an ARC, because those say on the cover, in big clear type, ADVANCE READING COPY, NOT FOR RE-SALE. This one doesn't say that, it says ADVANCE UNCORRECTED PROOF. So it's entirely legal.
And I hope you've all had the happiest of holidays -- here at the Evans house it's been a lovely Yuletide, and we're looking forward to the real start of the twenty-first century.
Tuesday, December 26, 2000, 1:31:29 PM
David
Oh well I wouldn't buy the uncorrected proofs; I have the hardcover and I believe authors should get paid for their hard work though getting the uncorrected proofs autographed is a good idea. Maybe if the proofs for the "Misenchanted Sword" ever showed up.
I am having a great Yultide! Thank you! I hope yours is happy as well!
Tuesday, December 26, 2000, 6:57:15 PM
Chris
I think this got lost in the shuffle so I'll ask again. Lawrence, would Kiri be interested in drawing a gorilla for Mac Gorilla? She'd be paid for her services, of course.
Tuesday, December 26, 2000, 9:09:05 PM
Lawrence
Chris, it didn't exactly get lost, it just... well, okay, it got lost in the holiday madness.
Anyway, I'm afraid she says no -- she's not good with gorillas and is very busy right now with her college application s.
But she's flattered that you asked.
Tuesday, December 26, 2000, 9:23:02 PM
Chris
Well, that's okay! I understand. Well, I'll just have to live with my current gorilla for a while longer.
Wednesday, December 27, 2000, 9:04:40 PM
Shannon
Reading Dragon Weather now and LOVING every page! My father is already telling me to hurry up so he can read it. (Hmmm... maybe he shold buy his OWN copy?) Thanks!
Thursday, December 28, 2000, 1:26:33 PM
Chris
Lawrence, you might be interested in this:
http://news.cnet.com/news/0-1007-200-4293951.shtml?tag=st.ne.1002.bgif.ni
It seems Amazon is selling used books now and the Author's Guild is upset that people will buy used books instead of new books, depriving authors of income. As an author myself I can understand where they are coming from but people read books for free in libraries and read books friends loan them so I don't "get" what they are trying to achieve. As an aside, usually the only used books I buy are out of print books I can't find them anywhere else.
Thursday, December 28, 2000, 7:30:16 PM
Lawrence
I know about the Amazon/Authors Guild dispute, thanks.
The complaint is that Amazon is now offering to sell used books to people who have specifically gone looking for NEW books. It looks like a deliberate attempt to steer them AWAY from the new books -- because Amazon makes more money from the used ones. (Yes, they do -- their commission is really high.)
I don't really care much for myself, since nobody's offering my current titles used, but some people -- romance writers in particular -- are seriously upset. Romance readers traditionally don't re-read -- they buy a lot of books, read each one once, then sell it. The used-book market in romance is gigantic, and a lot of people feel that Amazon is expediting that turnover, so that one copy will go through even more owners than it does under the present system.
So they're angry.
SF and fantasy readers tend to keep their books, so it's much less important for us.
Thursday, December 28, 2000, 7:31:20 PM
Lawrence
Thanks, Shannon -- hope you like it all.
Thursday, December 28, 2000, 9:38:32 PM
Chris
Amazon is doing that? Steering people away from new to used? Ahhhhhhh that is a whole different story. I'd be upset too!
Thursday, December 28, 2000, 11:49:25 PM
Sean
Lawrence,
How does it work for an authors royalties when a book is sold from a warehouse book retailer?
I'm not sure if I am phrasing that correctly. We have a local store that is part of a chain that buys the copies of books that are not sold by a conventional store.
For example: Waldenbooks buys quantity X of your book and ships 100 to one of their local retail storefronts. Only 50 copies are sold, and they only want to keep 25 on their shelves. I can't imagine that happening. They ship these copies back to their main warehouse. These books are marked by a marker slash on the bottom and sold "by the pound" to this retail outlet chain I mentioned.
I had previously understood books that were not sold were then "destroyed" by having their covers torn off or the like. This put a new spin on things and made me wonder. The local chain couldn't give me an answer, and I thought you might know how it worked (being on the receiving end).
Friday, December 29, 2000, 12:54:57 AM
Lawrence
Books that aren't sold are dealt with in various ways. Those "warehouse" book discounters are selling remainders -- left-over books that nobody thinks worth trying to sell at full price. The publisher sells these very, very cheaply to get them out of the warehouse without actually pulping them. I understand there's usually an auction, but in most cases... well, if anyone wanted them enough to bid decent money, they wouldn't be remainders in the first place.
Anyway, selling remainders is legal (unlike selling stripped books), and whether they pay royalties depends on how much they went for at the remainder auction. If the publisher was paid more than the price of printing and binding them, the author does get reduced royalties. If they're sold below production cost, the author gets _no_ royalties.
They usually sell just below cost. I sometimes suspect publishers do this not out of actual malice, but just to save themselves the hassle of doing the bookkeeping on royalties.
Friday, December 29, 2000, 10:28:52 AM
Sean
Thanks. I understand the publishers want to recoup any losses, but it just strikes in my mind that there is something seriously wrong with the "no royalties" concept there.
A publisher may be going out on a limb in some cases publishing a book and investing that much money, but so does an author with his or her time and devotion to its creation.
Having typed that in, I see the mutual risk/loss a bit clearer. Funny how things become clearer whenever Im forming the written word. I still don't "like" the system but cant see a way it could be improved.
What are your thoughts on it? (Noting your statement regarding hassle of royalties). Perhaps a third party auction house would work better, or is that wishful thinking? (It seems like it in my mind anyway). I can not picture them taking on the "hassle" of royalties and a 3rd party auction house for what would I imagine be slim returns.
I'd rather take 10 thousand pennies than a 10 dollar bill.
Friday, December 29, 2000, 9:51:17 PM
Lawrence
I'm not bothered by the remainder system, really; better to have the books getting to readers, I guess. The publisher doesn't make any money on them, just cuts some of the loss.
Most book contracts require the publisher to give the author a chance to buy the remainders himself -- that's where I got the hardcovers of SPLIT HEIRS I have for sale -- but they don't always remember to let the author know they're available. If they were more scrupulous about that, I don't think I'd have any problem with the remainders system -- if the author thinks the books are still worth having, he can buy 'em at or below cost and sell them himself.
Saturday, December 30, 2000, 11:12:52 PM
Sean
I suppose thats not bad for those authors that are active such as yourself. With a site like this those readers that truly love their author are honored to have a book shipped from the author him/herself. Especially when it is a friend that has been introduced to an author that they previously did not know and the books are noww out of print. In that case it is a bonus that sembles a blessing from above!
Saturday, December 30, 2000, 11:14:46 PM
Sean
Im thinking I will order a copy of Crosstime Traffic for now, and wait to see if you get any extra copies that I might beg and buy a signed copy from.
Sunday, December 31, 2000, 10:36:53 AM
Chris
I have been a frequent visitor to the guestbook for a long time now and I agree, there is something special here, the connection I feel with Lawrence and the others who write here. It's a sense of this being a small, tightly woven community, I guess.
That's it; here's your list of handy exits:
The Misenchanted Page
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