I'm thrilled to hear about the Best Ertoica series coming back into print (and as ebooks!! For those of us with older eyes, that's a blessing), and doubly excited for your novel!!
Cyntha, you are inspiring me, thank you! I am right there with you, about needing to adjust text for my eyes. I will never read a mass-market paperback again . . .
I want to frame that first photo of you and place it near my desk in my study (well, it's a converted guest room, but I call it that). I'm not quite just getting to know you; your mark on my Good Things Book has been indelible for over a decade.
If an afterlife actually exists, looking up Bill is on the to-do list (after I fly-fish with my Dad, because that's what I know he's doing right now). A conversation with Bill, even for 30 minutes, would have been a genuine highlight.
That roster from your BAEs includes a few who poked their heads into my chosen genre of science-fiction, especially Sera Gamble and William Harrison---to say nothing of our beloved Octavia Butler, who broke enough new ground to make an entire fucking planet out of. Who knew? I didn't. I learn something new from you with every Stack. Thou anointest my mind; my heart warmeth over.
I want that novel. You *did* say "novel, yes? I loved the novella and the film, and your take on it will doubtless be redefining. After a "naughty leave of absence," as if there's another kind. Speaking of novels, late last month I finally completed my first novel after three years, and now I'm up to my axillas in due diligence with choosing a publisher---and you are quite correct in that publishing, as if it hasn't mutated enough, will morph even further.
Now, even as a writer, who the week-old-pink-popcorn fuck am I to tell Susie Bright to just keep her mouth shut?
Both of these pictures of you are EVERYTHING. And, selfishly, I'm excited about all your film reviews. (We are blessed to have a good indie house so I may even get to see some of them.) Rock ON!
Aw, Gwynne, thank you. I was wondering about Rewriting it, because although the CRAFT part is still as right-on as ever, the publishing part . . . Hahahahaha. Things have changed so much. I want to contemplate what I could say about publishing/marketing that would be “timeless.”
It's true that publishing has changed a lot since the book came out--and if you were to update it, it would probably change again before too long! I guess the timeless stuff might be about creative freedom vs. market constraints (and how that impacts publishing with a large house, small presses, and self-publishing), info about contracts, rights issues, etc.
Such happy news about your rights! And thank you for mentioning Shay Youngblood. I'm teaching (our first) Georgia Writers class in the spring, and I want to find something of hers to include.
Also, I am totally here for your novel! It's in the air this week. My book club had a zoom date with Ann Patchett yesterday, after we finished reading Tom Lake, and some of her comments had me wanting to return to my fiction-in-progress. And when I got off the call, a dear friend who is an editor had emailed me with her very insightful comments on my work in progress.
(I mean, I also figured out last week the focus of my next academic book, too. It's an auspicious time for writing!)
Fantastic news you have your rights back!! That said, your to do list leaves me exhausted, though I 100% commend you focusing on your own work, Susie. And I’m excited you’re writing a novel! They are fun to write aren’t they? I’m on my 5th, though none published. I would say, tempting as it is to want to send out your first chapter, I think common wisdom is to not do that. After all , by the time it’s actually published, you might have hacked back that first chapter along with a character or two.
One of our retirement ambitions was to go to film festivals. We went to Toronto and did a few of the New York FF as well. You are right, there are great films out there that never get to theatres. It seems to do with getting distribution. One of our favorite films at TIFF was Eternal Return, which still does not have a US distributor. It's romance meets Nietzsche, and beautifully done. I cried. I hope you get to watch it.
Oh, I’ve always wanted to go to Toronto TIFF, and missed it by inches. What was it like? “Eternal Return” is on my critics’ group radar, on my spreadsheet to review! I keep an eye out for when such films get streaming deals… which I think a lot of them will, when the critics weigh in.
love this picture of you! how great do you look with the boots, the colors - and confidence exudes from your walk - thank you for writing this! so glad I read it the very first thing this morning!
I'm thrilled to hear about the Best Ertoica series coming back into print (and as ebooks!! For those of us with older eyes, that's a blessing), and doubly excited for your novel!!
Cyntha, you are inspiring me, thank you! I am right there with you, about needing to adjust text for my eyes. I will never read a mass-market paperback again . . .
And yeah, I’m plowing away on Dear Novel.
I want to frame that first photo of you and place it near my desk in my study (well, it's a converted guest room, but I call it that). I'm not quite just getting to know you; your mark on my Good Things Book has been indelible for over a decade.
If an afterlife actually exists, looking up Bill is on the to-do list (after I fly-fish with my Dad, because that's what I know he's doing right now). A conversation with Bill, even for 30 minutes, would have been a genuine highlight.
That roster from your BAEs includes a few who poked their heads into my chosen genre of science-fiction, especially Sera Gamble and William Harrison---to say nothing of our beloved Octavia Butler, who broke enough new ground to make an entire fucking planet out of. Who knew? I didn't. I learn something new from you with every Stack. Thou anointest my mind; my heart warmeth over.
I want that novel. You *did* say "novel, yes? I loved the novella and the film, and your take on it will doubtless be redefining. After a "naughty leave of absence," as if there's another kind. Speaking of novels, late last month I finally completed my first novel after three years, and now I'm up to my axillas in due diligence with choosing a publisher---and you are quite correct in that publishing, as if it hasn't mutated enough, will morph even further.
Now, even as a writer, who the week-old-pink-popcorn fuck am I to tell Susie Bright to just keep her mouth shut?
I'm so excited to watch you doing all of this!
Both of these pictures of you are EVERYTHING. And, selfishly, I'm excited about all your film reviews. (We are blessed to have a good indie house so I may even get to see some of them.) Rock ON!
I hope you can also reissue How To Write a Dirty Story. Such a valuable guide!
Aw, Gwynne, thank you. I was wondering about Rewriting it, because although the CRAFT part is still as right-on as ever, the publishing part . . . Hahahahaha. Things have changed so much. I want to contemplate what I could say about publishing/marketing that would be “timeless.”
What do you think?
It's true that publishing has changed a lot since the book came out--and if you were to update it, it would probably change again before too long! I guess the timeless stuff might be about creative freedom vs. market constraints (and how that impacts publishing with a large house, small presses, and self-publishing), info about contracts, rights issues, etc.
Such happy news about your rights! And thank you for mentioning Shay Youngblood. I'm teaching (our first) Georgia Writers class in the spring, and I want to find something of hers to include.
Also, I am totally here for your novel! It's in the air this week. My book club had a zoom date with Ann Patchett yesterday, after we finished reading Tom Lake, and some of her comments had me wanting to return to my fiction-in-progress. And when I got off the call, a dear friend who is an editor had emailed me with her very insightful comments on my work in progress.
(I mean, I also figured out last week the focus of my next academic book, too. It's an auspicious time for writing!)
Not to mention my autumn return to fountain pen mania…
I’m sitting here with my everyday (but probably favorite) pink Pilot Prera and field notebook containing three Moleskine notebooks.
Sweet to write about your papa. Tis the season
Fantastic news you have your rights back!! That said, your to do list leaves me exhausted, though I 100% commend you focusing on your own work, Susie. And I’m excited you’re writing a novel! They are fun to write aren’t they? I’m on my 5th, though none published. I would say, tempting as it is to want to send out your first chapter, I think common wisdom is to not do that. After all , by the time it’s actually published, you might have hacked back that first chapter along with a character or two.
Haha, yes, “Whoops, already killed the protagonist!”
One of our retirement ambitions was to go to film festivals. We went to Toronto and did a few of the New York FF as well. You are right, there are great films out there that never get to theatres. It seems to do with getting distribution. One of our favorite films at TIFF was Eternal Return, which still does not have a US distributor. It's romance meets Nietzsche, and beautifully done. I cried. I hope you get to watch it.
Oh, I’ve always wanted to go to Toronto TIFF, and missed it by inches. What was it like? “Eternal Return” is on my critics’ group radar, on my spreadsheet to review! I keep an eye out for when such films get streaming deals… which I think a lot of them will, when the critics weigh in.
TIFF was great! We are planning to go again next year. Let me know if you can make it.
BAE is BACK! You aren’t going to believe what treasures await you below!
love this picture of you! how great do you look with the boots, the colors - and confidence exudes from your walk - thank you for writing this! so glad I read it the very first thing this morning!
Pan, thank you so much. If you want to trade paid-comps, let me know!
You inspire the ever-lovin' squirrels outta me! XO!