(That is, assuming you are not carrying copies of THE LUNATIC'S BIBLIOGRAPHY TO THE WATCHTOWER)

Good to hear. I have yet to see the book. I have, however, seen a check.

The McCammon story you'll find in there is just wonderful, one of his best short fictions--which is why I wanted it and fortunately wasableto swing it for the graphic novel format version of MASQUES that Innovation put out.

But truly, them thar MASQUES books are among my the publications of which I am most proud.

And something writers and beginning writers and would-be writers need to hear...

Original publisher John Maclay, Maclay and Associates, and Jerry Williamson, editor, define professional both in artistic and business terms. (And having recently had a *business dealing* with a guy/outfit who defines *jerk*, I especially apprecite that.)

Best,

Mort


107 Thu December 06 2001 - 21:30:19
Fullname: Joel Arnold
Email: joelarnold@mn.rr.com
Comments: I saw a whole bunch of DARK MASQUES at our local B&N. I bought one and look forward to digging into it.

One thing I've noticed is that since B&N got rid of their Horror section, they actually seem to have a LARGER selection of horror titles. Before, they'd have a shelf or two of King, one of Koontz, and one of Rice, and maybe one copy of a few other books. Now, withing their general fiction section, they are well stocked with many different horror titles. So I'm thinking that can't be an entirely bad thing.

Joel

108 Sun December 02 2001 - 23:31:19
Fullname: Mort
Email:
Comments: To Jevo---

Amazing how even one who believes in tolerating all religions can get vexed with the followers of any faith who happen to be jerks--and who therefore stigmatize their faith as well suited to jerks.

Go away. Go ye unto the high places, holding a copy of the WATCHTOWER or verily, there shall come a blood transfusion unto ye and ye shalt know what transpireth when the single needle stitching on your leisure suit is rent and they Polydent doth slip.

Mort

109 Sun December 02 2001 - 02:16:06
Fullname: Devo
Email: quickcity@earthlink.net
Comments: DEVO'S WITNESSES Retribution The doctine of a burning hell where those who cannot stomach New Wave music are tortured eternally by listening to Adam Ant records cannot be true (Are We Not Men, track 11).

A music hater is a man of bad taste, slothlike. This man is SILLY (Friend or Foe, track 2).

The Bruce Willis lookalike tournamount will take place after Armageddon (Entertainment Tonight, 1997).

The final test will come by the loosing of John Tesh out of his Government-imposed restraint (at the end of the Super Bowl) (TV Guide, 2001).

Those supporting Gary Condit (at the end of his trial) will, with Chandra Levy, be cast into the "lake of rum and Coke." They are drowned in everlasting yumminess (plotzed) and for them there is no hangover (Peter O'Toole's biography, p. 330).

All who reject Devo will be tickled into submission (Annie Sprinkle's biography, p. 41).


110 Tue November 27 2001 - 16:18:26
Fullname: Michael Kelly
Email: mikelly@pathcom.com
Comments: Hey Mort

Thanks for the update. Really appreciate it. I also enjoy your erudite observations over on the HWA message board. We're lucky to have you on side.

Please tell Jerry I'm looking forward to the reprints. I look forward to reading your contribution, and I hope he's added something from John Maclay. In fact, you wouldn't happen to know the TOC would you, Mort?

Take good care.

Mike

111 Tue November 27 2001 - 05:24:03
Fullname: Mort
Email:
Comments: Mike--

Jerry Williamson, dear friend (hell, spiritual big brother), fine writer and editor is still working hard at it.
All four of the Masques series are scheduled for reprint, with I & II as a single volume out this coming month from Zebra. AND! There will be a new MASQUES from Gauntlet Press; because Jerry has been good enough to ask me for a story, I will have the weird distinction of being the only living author in all the books in the series--that wasn't so some years back!
The mass market MOON ON THE WATER from Leisure will be out in July; as "value added," it will also include the novella "The Old Man and the Dead."

But, hey! If your anticipation is making you crazy, feel free to visit DarkTales or an indy bookstore and pick up the tpb of MOON--that's the version that seems to be doing extremely well in colleges and high schools, with many AP classes using it to (I'm thankful to say) illustrate "Genre doesn't have to mean junk."
Appreciate your comments and will pass along your good words to Jerry. Mort



112 Tue November 27 2001 - 03:19:21
Fullname: Michael Kelly
Email:
Comments: Ooops! Sorry, Mort, I meant MOON ON THE WATER!

Mike

113 Tue November 27 2001 - 03:10:25
Fullname: Michael Kelly
Email: mikelly@pathcom.com
Comments: Hi Mort

I agree, I think Writing Horror, and J.N. Williamson's book are indispensable. Wonderful, wonderful books for anyone who wants to learn the craft.

What has Mr. Williamson been up to? I caught Frights of Fancy last year. Good stuff, and I'm looking forward to your own Moon Over Water. I loved the Masques series. That and Monteleone's Borderlands series gave me a deep love and appreciation for short fiction. Sadly missed. Anyway, I've prattled enough. Good luck in all your future endeavors and say hi to Jerry.

Mike

114 Thu November 22 2001 - 18:08:25
Fullname: Mort
Email:
Comments: I appreciate your putting the book in the hands of a teacherly type, Nick.


As I think you know, I use MOON in my classes at several high schools, and selections from it for my WRITING HISTORICAL FICTION at Columbia College. The book is also used in several AP English classes at other Illinois high schools.

And I guess I can help students "discern the theme" or "explain the importance of the setting" on most of the stuff in MOON.

Best,
M



115 Sat November 17 2001 - 17:13:58
Fullname: Nick Kaufmann
Email: quickcity@earthlink.net
Comments: Hey, Mort! I just wanted to let you know that I'm giving a copy of MOON ON THE WATER to a friend of mine for his birthday (even ordered it from a local indie bookstore and paid full retail for it!).

This fella, Jeff, is a high school teacher, and he's always looking for new books to use to teach his "kids" how to write well (he showed them a page out of BLACK HOUSE, for instance, to demonstrate certain writing techniques). I figured MOON was the best I could give him--a book he'll not only enjoy, but one he can teach from!

Nick

116 Fri October 26 2001 - 16:16:12
Fullname: Jon F. Merz
Email: zrem@earthlink.net
Comments: Hiya Mort, Just found this guestbook here and wanted to say hi. I think it's a real shame that WH is getting such a bum rap. That book is priceless in my opinion. I was especially thrilled to get my hands on it after reading what you write about "reality and the waking nightmare" in HTWTHFSF. Writers Digest should reissue WH and get firmly behind it. Anyhow, hope you're doing well! all the best, Jon F. Merz www.zrem.com

117 Thu October 25 2001 - 01:20:50
Fullname: Mort
Email:
Comments: Great and sad question from Nick--

I had thought WRITING HORROR would be around for... ever.

I had thought that it offered ideas and concepts that would speak to the concerns and needs of would be and working at being horror writers for a long time.

Certainly, the 1987 HOW TO WRITE TALES OF HORROR, FANTASY, AND SCIENCE-FICTION helped my thinking. That book has sold and sold and sold. (I recently had a note that I might have seen my last royalty check on that one, but...)

But WH has not sold that way.

Why?

Well, initially Writer's Digest Books backed this heartily and heavily...

After all, this was a good book and it had the *power* of the HWA behind it.

But when sales fall way off...

& they have.

Why?

You got me.

I do know that, though this is *the* HWA handbook, there have been officers in the org who did not know it existed.

It is obvious there are members in the organization who have no idea it does exist: check the HWA bulletin board.

And so--

You know, WRITING HORROR came out in '97; I dare to say it was a damned good book then and is now--and with an update could be of even more use to today's horrorphiles.

But that won't happen.

And in about a year, those who want this one will have to go to e-bay and pay $65.00 for a really good $20.00 book.

(Sigh)

Mort


118 Tue October 23 2001 - 15:38:56
Fullname: Nick Kaufmann
Email: quickcity@earthlink.net
Comments: Hey, sorry to see the discussions have dropped off here for a while. Hope everyone's doing well.

Mort, got a question for ya. How come in every issue of Writers Digest they advertise a ton of books from their series, but I never see Writing Horror included in those ads?

What's up with that?

Nick

119 Tue September 25 2001 - 10:22:05
Fullname: M.J.Euringer
Email: deadscrypt@aol.com
Comments: I was roaming the newsgroups, trying to get my psyche up to head back to my e-mail box after the deformity and the creation of the mass grave that is now my hometown, and, after I was done looking for pornography, I stumbled across the announcement of your board, Mort. I remembered I said I'd join the fun over here, but I haven't been much in the mood for fun, so I thought I'd post anyhow. I thought it'd be busier. Oh well. Big ups to everyone, and I can't wait until they get the stench of death out of the subway system. Was that morbid? I'm sorry. All my "happy thoughts" have gone in the shitter. I did want to take a moment to say "howdy," and congratulations on the web real estate, though, and I guess I'll leave it at that.

Sleepless in Manhattan,
-Markus

120 Sun September 02 2001 - 15:23:20
Fullname: Mort Shagnasty
Email:
Comments: Ah, Mikey, those who have disparaged the Boing Boings sleep with the fishes.

And man, you ever roll over on top of a flopping flounder, uh-uh... Not nice.

Mort