In which Rolanni is tossed in a sea of stormy emotion

[rolanni]

Sigh.

The Bad Thing has Happened.

No, let me phrase that more accurately: We have now been Officially Notified that the Bad Thing has Happened. I still can't talk about it, but I suspect it will start hitting the airwaves pretty soon from other sources.

On the subject of Good Things, of which there haven't been nearly enough of late, I see that Baen will be publishing Pat Hodgell's books detailing the life and times of Jame Priest's-Bane as Webscriptions on April 15, which is Tax Day in all of the country except in Massachusetts and Maine, where it is Patriots' Day. No, the other ones. If you have somehow missed Pat's work, you owe it to yourself to snap these up.


In another part of the forest, and despite many assertions in several public venues, including our own dern newsletter, that Web of the Trident has been indefinitely delayed, has not been printed, does not exist, damn it!, at least one guy who knew better went off and "bought" it from an online bookseller who did not sell in good faith, because I'd written to them myself with the news. That'll show me, oh yes it will. Quite a number of things.

What I can't figure out is why somebody would assume that I was lying about this. If the book existed, you betcha I'd be telling people to buy it early and often. In fact, I have a lengthy record of announcing when my books are available for sale and keeping on about til the cows come home. What on earth would I have to gain by insisting that a published book doesn't exist? Why, oh, why would someone believe an Amazon.com listing over one of the authors?

It is, to be sure, A Mystery.


Those who don't take theo_waitley may have missed the announcement that new rules for donations have been posted on the Fledgling index page.

The short form is that we will continue to post chapters-to-donation through Chapter 36 (the project is now funded through Chapter 32). After Chapter 36 has been funded, we the auctors will guarantee the publication of the rest of the draft, no matter how many chapters it runs. Those who wish to donate after that point of course may, and the auctors (but not their cats) will be very grateful.


Speaking of Fledgling, Chapter Twelve has been wrestled from the hands of Daav yos'Phelium and sent over to kinzel for tweakage and or rewrites, as necessary. As soon as I've finished here, I'll get a start on Chapter Thirteen.

kinzel and I have a movie date this evening. Hmm. The Illusionist or Monty Python and the Holy Grail? Decisions, decisions...

Comments

[difrancis.livejournal.com]

Sympathies on the bad thing. And may everything improve soon.

Best,

Di

[rolanni.livejournal.com]

Thanks. It's actually been one of those good things happening in the midst of bad. Unfortunately, the bad has kind of overwhelmed our appreciation of the good.

I *hate* that...

[gryphonlsb.livejournal.com]

I was impressed with The Illusionist, it took a while but the pay off was worth the wait

[rolanni.livejournal.com]

I'm thinking that I'd like to watch "The Illusionist" and "The Prestige" back to back. This, however, is not what we have in the house at the moment...

[gryphonlsb.livejournal.com]

We saw The Prestige at the theatre.
I liked it but I need to see it again because during the first half hour the sound was horrible and difficult to get into the storyline

[wouldyoueva.livejournal.com]

Sorry about the bad thing, and my mind is racing with thoughts about what it might be.

[rolanni.livejournal.com]

Thanks, Eva.

[lagilman]

The Illusionist is based on a World Fantasy award-winning story by (my former writing teacher) Steve Millhauser, if that influences your decision any. Despite that (*grin*) I thought it was quite wonderful.


And I wonder if the Bad Thing is the Thing I think it might be....

[rolanni.livejournal.com]

It looks like it may be a magical evening *g*

...and yeah, it's almost certainly the Think you think it might be...

[(Anonymous)]

I heard about the Bad Thing via another route. I'm sorry.

I am really glad that Baen will be doing your two fantasy books. While I own a book or two that says "Baen Fantasy" on the spine (with a nice crouching griffin logo in place of the space ship), they are way outnumbered by Baen SF. For years your readers have talked up your books on the Baen board (which is allowed -- sometimes I think it is how Baen scouts out more writers to acquire).

I hope that sometime you will donate something to the Free Library. Most writers see a huge backlist surge when they do this.

[rolanni.livejournal.com]

I know that the folks over on Baen urged Jim to sign us on. That was very kind of them, but we were committed elsewhere. Baen did act with alacrity when the erights became available.

I hope that sometime you will donate something to the Free Library. Most writers see a huge backlist surge when they do this.

It's not a bad idea, mind you; I just don't think we have a thing to donate.

[kalimeg.livejournal.com]

After a year or so of e-publication, Conflict of Honors might be a good choice. David Weber has On Basilisk Station there, and Ringo has A Hymn before Battle. Each is the first of a series, and likely they have encouraged people to buy everything.

Let all the Baen folks become addicted to Liad, and it will be good eatin'.

[robotech-master.livejournal.com]

Definitely. I'd go so far as to say put Conflict of Honors out there now. It's addictive enough that you shouldn't lose much from people failing to purchase it, especially if it hooks more people into buying the two 5-packs. And a lot of people will buy the ebook version of something they get free if they like it.

And get it stuck onto the next Baen hardcover pack-in CD.

[jessara40k.livejournal.com]

It's not a bad idea, mind you; I just don't think we have a thing to donate.

Feel free to ignore me if I'm suggesting something inappropriate, but I know that at least one author only has a short story in the free library as an advert so to speak. Do you have any Liad short stories that might work? Perhaps something that's at the end of a print tun and unlikely to be reprinted?

[hoosier-red.livejournal.com]

I've also heard about the Bad Thing through other channels -- you have my sympathy, :-(

As for movies, I'd vote for The Illusionist.

[rolanni.livejournal.com]

Thanks, Mel.

And another call for The Illusionist...

[klingonguy.livejournal.com]

Boo the Bad Thing. Boo, I say.

[rolanni.livejournal.com]

Boo, Bad Thing! Hiss!

[kristine-smith.livejournal.com]

I am sorry about The Bad Thing.

Very glad Baen bought books from you.

[rolanni.livejournal.com]

Very glad Baen bought books from you.

Me, too. One of the worst aspects of the Bad Thing is that it's dragged on soooo long and been soooo confusing that it's been like Pooh's little black raincloud gone horribly wrong, making it the devil to properly appreciate the Good Things...

[saruby.livejournal.com]

Dare I ask what has happened to poor Gem/Anjamalti? Did he forget to write home?

Boo to all Bad Things, but now I am balanced on the knife edge and it is very uncomfortable. Sort of like having to put the book down in the middle of the climax. I hope this is not a health related Bad Thing.

[celticdragonfly.livejournal.com]

We have now been Officially Notified that the Bad Thing has Happened. I still can't talk about it, but I suspect it will start hitting the airwaves pretty soon from other sources.

Okay, I'll just be over here in the corner convulsively twitching and wondering what on earth you're talking about... don't mind me...

[mbarker.livejournal.com]

Being disconnected from most sources, I'll just say sympathies for the Bad Thing (tm) and hope that the good things quickly overlay it with joy.

I believe the gent who went ahead and purchased Web of the Trident despite all warnings must have thought that the vendor simply had a product which you didn't know had come out. After all, at times publishers do release books without sending the authors proper notification, ARCs and such get traded and sold early all the time, why couldn't this vendor have something that none of the rest of us knew about? What was the thought process involved (if there was one)? It is, indeed, a mystery.

Hey, when can we start pestering you about another project like Fledgling? I mean, you seem to be planning the end of the project, so we could start suggesting which one we'd like to pay-and-play for next? Come on, it's fun, right?

[groblek.livejournal.com]

My sympathies on the Bad Thing, whatever it may be.

Stormy Seas

[baggette.livejournal.com]

Please accept my sincerest sympathy on the bad tidings.
Is there anything I/we may do for you?

Know that we are with you and you are in our thoughts and prayers.
And also, that Some of us are within easy distance for hands-on help, if it is needed; or just company for a coffee clatche.

most sincerely,

Bridget

[elbales]

I'm sorry to hear there's been a Bad Thing. Best wishes for things to improve soon.

[alfreda89.livejournal.com]

I'm so sorry about the Bad Thing. Wish I could do anything other than buy a copy of Fledgling, which I've already done.

{{Hugs}}

Surely we are all too good at writing for such things to continue? Surely Karma must swing both ways?

(I didn't realize Theo had a community...)

[orlacarey.livejournal.com]

I am also sorry that there is a bad thing going on. I will sit on the edge of my seat to find out what it is and the reassurance that it's not something awful.

Thanks for the info on fledgling - I haven't posted it to my LJ yet but will probably mention it when I put up the link to the new chapter on Monday.

[technomom]

I'm sorry that Bad Thing has happened. If I had my druthers, you would be forever insulated from Bad Things, and have a Man of Business to take care of everything but actually WRITING! And having fun, of course. That's rather required in order to fuel the writing.

[graykin.livejournal.com]

My condolences on the Bad Thing. And the necessity of a trip to Atlanta. And the possible cutback in trips to the beach and NASFIC. Although I'm bittersweet about NASFIC as I'm not planning on going right now so won't be missing you if you don't make it there and don't need to try to talk myself out of going as I would if you were going to be there.

May your ebooks signal the start of your takeover of Baen (WEG).