Can you believe it’s been a month and a half since I contributed? Well, I feel worthless. But hey, tomorrow’s Thanksgiving Day! A lot has happened in the last month and a half that I guess you should know about. I got a job (a real one). I work with an old high school buddy of mine now at an IT place doing – well, doing IT stuff. I no longer dread going to work.
The baby has gotten bigger, though it still remains within my wife’s belly. I’ve tried repeatedly to get it to come out and join the world, as we’re no doubt ready for it. All to no avail though, I’m afraid. And we have decided on a name if it be a boy. His name will be Kissel Ramon. Has a touch of class, you know?
I’ve almost finished rewriting my second book. Well, not really. I mean yes, I’ve almost finished, but no, I’m not really rewriting it entirely. Well, okay, I kind of am because a few small changes in characterisms mean big changes in plot. Yes I made that word up. My first book is doing well, I suppose. We’ve sold the movie rights and Nina Persson has agreed to play Callie. That’s good news I guess. I’ve come up with some pretty good twists to throw in at the end, but – again – that means reworking most of the book. For instance, if someone was an alcoholic in the first draft, and now you’re making him sober, there are a lot of little things that affects, and a lot of paragraphs you have to read and reread, and rereread to accommodate the changes. But that’s all okay. I love what I do.
Stellar music. I’d like to introduce to you a musician you’ve probably not heard of. He’s actually an author, but does a little dabbling in music on the side. His name is Noah Hawley, and I’m a big fan of his book. Yeah, he’s only written one book – and though it took me a while to get used to his stylistic prose, I enjoyed it thoroughly. I then checked out his website, and found he’s very accessible. So I sent him an email. And he responded. Here’s the dialog:
Noah,
I delight at the thought of being able to write the author directly, and only hope you actually read this mail. I just spent the last six hours of my Sunday morning finishing your novel. I really don’t know what to say, but that I’ve never read anything like it. I’m well read, I suppose. I read a lot of Clarke, Crichton, King, Nance… I like it all. But I’ve not been swept away by a book like I was with Conspiracy in a long, long time. Your characters are intense and bold, witty and realistic. I loved the interactions, and the inner monologue. I was intrigued by the glances into their past lives and their sometimes shocking though short-lived futures. Overall, I think this work was a masterpiece. I will read it again, and probably again. And then maybe again. Thanks for opening my world and my mind. I will be spreading the word about this book, as well as buying anything and everything else that appears on the bookshelves bearing your name.
I write an occasional review of some of the books I have read on my web site, and will be writing my own review of your book, however small and meaningless my site is. If you’re interested in seeing my praises of you publicly spoken, you might check out my site. It’s at spacebrew.com.
I’m also seeking publication of my first book right now. Hopefully someday soon, we can exchange autographs.
Your newest fan,
Space
And his response, edited down as it was waaaaay too long to include in its entirety:
Thanks for the note. I’m glad the book moved you.
Noah
Ahem. Okay, so that was all he wrote. But at least he replied to my scrub ass. Anyway, I check back on his site every now and again, and recently I found some music therein. I was quite impressed. Check it out on his site, under music. And give it a chance – listen to the whole thing. It will grow on you. If it doesn’t, I’ll buy you a drink.
I’d like to leave you with a brilliant quote from another musician, similarly as grand. “So I wonder this – as life billows smoke inside my head. In this little game where nothing is sure, why would you play by the rules?”