Email from the author

[andrewducker]

I have a wants list. I originally put it together to keep track of the various books I've seen reviewed, and it also serves as a useful link for people who say "What do you want for your birthday?" or "Andy, you're so wonderful, we'd like to shower you with riches.", one of which happens annually and the other happens (unbelievably) even less often.

I don't think about the list that often (there's about 40 items in my inbox in Scotland that need to be added to it, and there's items that need to be removed from it following my last birthday), and it was therefore a very nice surprise to receive this email:

Hi Andrew

Apologies for the unwanted intrusion - I'm Gary Greenwood and, while doing
the usual author ego-stroking search on the net, came across your want list
with my two books on it!
Needless to say, I'm kinda flattered and am wondering if you've managed to
track them down yet. Yeah, I know they're still on the list but, being a
compulsive list maker myself, I know it's very easy not to keep the thing
updated.
Anyhow, if you haven't got them, drop me an e-mail and, if I can track my
damn publisher down, I'll see if I can wangle you a free copy of one if not
both on the condition you then read them and let me know what you think!
Send me a mail if you get 5 minutes spare.

Cheers

Gary

Needless to say, this has gone down extremely well and I've promised to read both books and send him feedback. And then tell all of you lovely people to go out and buy them (provided they are good, but all the reviews I've read so far indicate that they are). I feel quite tremendously flattered to be spotted by a real author. Which is pretty dumb, because I know that being an author isn't really that special, but author's have been my heroes ever since Luke Skywalker stopped. When I realised that these fabulous stories and ideas were written by someone, and that I could get a kind of reliability by buying more books from the same author, it was like a light went on in my head, and I've been fascinated by author's ever since. Pretty much all of my ideas come from the numerous author's who brainwashed me over the last 25 years (Sad to say that the majority of my philosopho-political beliefs would be heard if you got Robert Anton Wilson to argue with Robert Anson Heinlein for long enough).

Ahem, anyway, I'm now really looking forward to the books. I think I'll go and tidy the list up a bit. If either Jonathan Carroll or China Mieville is reading this right now, I can promise them a reivew too. If they make it worth my while...

Comments

[immanentized5.livejournal.com]

"Sad to say that the majority of my philosopho-political beliefs would be heard if you got Robert Anton Wilson to argue with Robert Anson Heinlein for long enough."

First, I nearly snorted milk when I read that.
Second, that's charming.
Third, I come from almost the same reality tunnel, although I'd need Bashou thumping heads every now and again.

Yanno, I don't remember how we ended up on each other's friends lists, but thanks for the connection.

[andrewducker]

I don't recall either, so it was presumably a loong time ago. I went wandering back when I first got an LJ account and snagged a few people who looked interesting. I'm willing to bet one of them was you.

Who, by the way, is Bashou?

[(Anonymous)]

La email/ le email? It'd be l'email for a start of course.

The actual official word in french is le mél (which sounds like 'mail'), possibly the worst made-up word ever.