OK, I know, this post is coming a bit late. But I’ve decided today is the official beginning of 2010 for me. Hooplah!
Why am I getting such a late start on the New Year? Well, book edits. For the past two weeks I have been utterly immersed in book edits, to the exclusion of everything else in my life, including commitments to friends and colleagues. Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa!
Despite the all-consuming nature of my work over the past two weeks, I have to say that book editing is rewarding. Not fun, heavens no, but deeply rewarding in that, if you do it right, you end up with a book (or books) that are vastly improved from what it (they) started out being. And yea, it (they) is (are) good.
So, here are the particulars … I handed in the edited version of THE NATIVE STAR last Monday, and my wonderful fabulous editor Anne Groell accepted the edits and moved it into production on Wednesday. I handed in the edited version of Book 2 (TTC — we’re still discussing that) on Friday, and my fingers are most powerfully crossed that Anne will be as satisfied with those edits as she was with the edits on Book 1. There was a lot more to do in Book 2, but having done it, I am over the moon with how much better the whole thing works now. I extracted a lot of stupid. It’s very gratifying to extract stupid.
And then, that task completed, I spent most of the weekend either sleeping or watching movies. I rewatched “Barton Fink”, which is the perfect movie to watch after one has assayed literary. I also watched “Watchmen” (thus finally answering the age-old question with the resounding answer, “me!”) and found it quite good overall. Despite the incredibly silly hair and even sillier purple suit he was forced to work, I now have an extremely powerful cougar-crush on Matthew Goode. Upon revealing this crush to pal Karindira, she threw fire on the flames by emailing me (within SECONDS) a topless photo of the young gentleman which made me clutch my pearls. It is good to have friends who have topless photos at their fingertips, if rather disturbing.
Then yesterday I caught up on a few things … took down one of the Xmas trees (one still remains) … went out to lunch … worked on several podcasts which are *horrifically* late … you know, the usual. Also picked up a copy of the December Locus to see what Rich Horton said about my story in Postscripts 19 (he enjoyed it). All in all, a very good weekend.
Now, on to 2010!
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BARTON FINK: the graphomaniac's guilty pleasure. John Goodman's turn as the Thing That Wouldn't Leave rivals his Machiavellian Glenn Walken from WEST WING as creepster of the decade. “I'LL SHOW YOU THE LIFE OF THE MIND!” In*DEED* …
Speaking of crushes from WATCHMEN … One of mine from adolescence, Jackie Earle Haley (so yeah, I happen to like guys too) plays Rorschach. He played Kelly Leak, the fastball-slinging bad-boy from BAD NEWS BEARS. 'member? (He was cuter then …)
Good on ya for the edits. Can't wait for the novel …
John Goodman is really a good actor. He turned out a perfect performance in Barton Fink, which was a movie full of perfect performances.
Jackie Earle Haley was superb in Watchmen. What a back-scratcher of a voice that man has! Unfortunately, I kept seeing Danny Bonaduce every time I looked at him without his mask. For the record, though, I also kept seeing Robert Downey Jr. every time I looked at the Comedian, so obviously I need to get my eyes checked.
Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa!
If I had been Robert Culp, and if I had a daughter, I wonder if my wife would have gone along with my suggestion to call the kid Mia Maxima.
That being said…
Yay!
Your literary travails are over.
Nowwe have to wait for our own turn at reading those words of yours.
Ah, my literary travails shall never be over. But at least I have earned a brief respite from my Sisyphean efforts.
And me being a fan of 7/11, if I were Robert Culp, I would have nicknamed my first son “Big Culp.” ;-P
Of course, I meant those specific literary travails. We expect – no, we demand that you resume new such efforts as soon as possible.
As for Mister Culp… Decades ago, Mad Magzine spoofed “Columbo”, and the urderer was one Robert Culpable.
Happy New Year!!!
Greg insists on taking down Christmas decorations the day after Christmas. Who does that?!?!?
Patrick
The day after Xmas? That's weird, Greg. I concur. But if I had an army of minions, I would insist on having the decorations down the day after New Year's. Because nothing's more gross and depressing than having your Xmas trees still up on January 11.
Oh, and Happy New Year! Here's wishing you Peace, Prosperity, Productivity, and whatever else you want that begins with P!
M.K.:
Was chatting with Camille Alexa and she recommended your short story “Domovoi.” Is that on-line anywhere? If so, please point me to it. Camille says it's one of her all-time faves, so I wanna check it out.
Oh yes, you can find it here: http://www.demimonde.com/short-stories/domovoi/
Thanks to Camille for recommending it!
Your book sounds fabulous! I love the idea behind it, and the historical setting. And no wonder Anne's not doing my book 2 edits – she's on YOURS!! Isn't she great?
Thank you for the kind words! And yes, Anne is absolutely fantastic.
The critical eye she brought to my work was spot-on. It's always a joy
to work with a talented editor!
Toddling off now to have a look at *your* book …
And now, having toddled and returned, I can say that Mind Games sounds really great. What a very cool concept! I can't wait to pick it up in March!
Oh, hey MK, thanks so much! Good luck with everything!!
PS: Loving the Adam Ant.