On why we change our minds about dinner...

[desperance]

I was going to cook a mallard this evening, slowly, in red cabbage and onion and apple, with wine and vinegar and star anise and such; and while it cooked I was going to do a bucketsworth of work, and...

And, and, and. I just heard from my American agent, and Ace have turned down the new proposal. Apparently not enough of you guys bought the last book, damn your cold blue eyes.

Which means that I don't actually have a publisher at the moment, for the first time in twenty years. Which leaves me feeling very pale & shaky; and while no doubt the cooking would be good for me, I'm really not sure I'd want to eat it afterwards.

Don't really know what to do with myself, right now. Don't want to cook, can't work. I'd go out, but I can't think where to go, and I am - I think - past the stage of just walking the streets when I'm upset. But staying home and drinking doesn't hold that many attractions either. One of those moments where I actually wish I still smoked; I'm absent a due response to crisis...

Comments

[julesjones]

Oh bugger. And other bad words.

I'm sorry, Chaz. It would knock me back to get such news, and I'm not doing it for a living.

If you can't cook, go out and get a decent takeaway for dinner tonight, if you have such available in the area. You need comfort food right now.

[j-luc-pitard.livejournal.com]

On behalf of Americans... I apologize.

[fjm.livejournal.com]

That;s awful. Many, many hugs.

[mizkit.livejournal.com]

Oh. Oh, crap, I'm really sorry to hear that. :/

[mantichore.livejournal.com]

Damn. "Ace", they call themselves? Pfahhh. False advertising, I say.

[matociquala.livejournal.com]

Oh, *boooooooooo.*

[rezendi.livejournal.com]

Ow.

Hang in there. This too shall pass.

[durham-rambler.livejournal.com]

desperance has just arrived chez nous where shewhomust and I will do our best. I believe it's sausages and mash, and an attempt to taste a number of wines to work out which should be served at (my) approaching significant birthday.

This will appear in the next Vector... my top 5 books for 2006

[(Anonymous)]

In alphabetical order:

Chaz Brenchley, Bridge of Dreams, Ace (US), 2006
Max Brooks, World War Z, Duckworth (UK), 2006
Ken Macleod, Learning the World, Orbit (UK), 2005
Alastair Reynolds, Pushing Ice, Gollancz (UK), 2005
Geoff Ryman, Air, Gollancz (UK), 2005

This year, I have been mostly writing. And judging. So three books are re-reads from the Clarke Award shortlist, and I make no apologies for that whatsoever. Max Brooks continues to keep me awake at night (you utter git) with his brain-munching undead. But I want to take the opportunity to highlight a fantasy gem – Bridge of Dreams. Chaz is a proper wordsmith: he knows his craft, he knows how to tell a story, he knows how to entertain. He also drenches the reader with atmosphere, imagination and emotion: his prose is sensuous and lovely, even while describing horrors beyond comprehension. It’s still astonishing and depressing in equal measure that Brenchley can’t get a UK publishing deal when his writing is as good as this. The second book – River of the World – of this diad is out in April, but only in the USA, with a faux romance cover that does no justice to the work inside. Aust Gate will have imports, though, and if you’re a fantasy reader looking for something which is magnificently different, get these two books.

--

I know it doesn't make up for the lack of cold hard cash - but perhaps someone will read it and think, hey, why don't *we* publish these.

Simon

[synedrian.livejournal.com]

Oh, but this sucks, Chaz. So sorry {{{{hugs}}}}}

[guipago.livejournal.com]

*is sorry*

I'll try to buy all your books :/

[esmeraldus-neo.livejournal.com]

Hugs. I don't have our cooking mojo right now--today I burned mashed potatoes in the slow cooker, which takes a pointed lack of talent.

I know what, I'll go snag one of your books. That'll make us both feel slightly better...me more than you, probably.

[samarcand.livejournal.com]

Well. Shit. Bastards, all of them.

I'm really, really sorry to hear this.

Buggeration...

[desayunoencama.livejournal.com]

Sorry about being orphaned.

It sucks. Although these things are very cyclical. So hopefully something in one of the many genres you work in will sell soon.

[gauroth.livejournal.com]

Chaz, that's awful. I hope you find some other publisher very soon.

[devonellington.livejournal.com]

What a bunch of idiots!

[angelsasha.livejournal.com]

I'm so sorry to hear that, how awful :( Wish there was something I could do...