New Writing Scotland 27 is out! My excitement is only slightly tempered by my strong urge to find where my postman lives and punch the living daylights out of him. But after all, why should he knock on the door when he can shove two bubblepacked books through the tiny letterbox, helping them through with a kick, no doubt, crumpling the back pages and creasing the back flap of one, and actually cutting into the hardback cover of another. And it is unfortunate that the one he really fracked up is the signed copy of AL Kennedy's book, so I am very sorry in advance, prize winner of the Short Story comp, there are marks on the cover of your lovely new book. Don't worry though, a) I will put an extra prize in, to make up for it and b) the postman is going to meet a mysterious and bizarre end (they will call me the letterbox killer. That's all I'm saying).
Right, now I've got that out my system, I opened the book to read my story this morning, and I felt alarmed and excited (and angry at the same time, what an intriguing and unwelcome new sensation, courtesy of Royal Mail). I'm really looking forward to putting a night aside this week to read the book.
Ok, whats next?
Posts
9 comments:
"the one he really fracked up is the signed copy of AL Kennedy's book, "
Ouch! Shame, it's a good collection. Should still be readable.
If I see the NWS when I'm out and about, I'll have a read of your story.
Ouch! yes, that's what he'll be saying when the letter box killer finds him.... Yes it's still readable, but I will avenge the battering of innocent book covers, just me and my hammer, like always, hanging out, dispensing justice. Hope the NWS story is ok, not much more I can do now, it's done. black and white.
Good ALK review, by the way ;). I am half way through the book.
I'm fizzing on your behalf.
It's like chocolate Easter Eggs. Much easier to deliver flat.
Esther
Esther's Boring Garden Blog
P.S. Oh, and congratulations! (Lots of them.)
How clever of you to have a picture of the postman running away on the front cover.
I tried to buy this on Amazon and they said it's not out yet - are those advance copies that you have?
Lucy,
Thank you! It's a really good collection, I've had a chance to read bits of it now, I'm happy they let my story in there. I have a monster writing deadline (final uni portfolio, 18th August....), after which I CANNOT WAIT to sit and read the whole collection, read lots of books in fact, and sleep a bit, stop worrying so much, stop getting so violently angry at strangers (like that evil postie)... I did appreciate your fizz though! I fizz, all the time. It's a stress thing.
Your flat easter eggs comment cracked me up (geddit?)! I am eggstreamly funny.
Sorry. I'll stop now.
Fifecat,
He'd better run! Me and my precious axe are hungry for a special delivery.
Yes, I think that this must be an advance copy, confusingly, I just had a look on book depository and it's saying 'out of stock'. I think it's not out yet. It is up on Amazon, at £7.55, which is much more expensive than book depository (which is a great site with free postage, which I found out about from Stewart at booklit - thanks Stewart!). Mmmmm. If BD doesn't get it up soon, I'm ordering some contributor's copies for £5.50, I could get one extra and post it to you if you like. email me on elisabeth.ingram@gmail.com if that sounds useful. I know you like your book a day!
Now that I know about Book Depository I'm going to hang out there! But I will contact you if no luck (then you could ask about the postman while you are at the post office)
Lis,
Be happy that you actually got copies so promptly!Be glad you didn't receive them a year and a half later, or not at all...Maybe the copies were all ready altered and wrinkly and the Postman thought pushing them through the nice thin opening would straighten them out; make them flat and smooth for you.
Is the story on your web somewhere?I would love to read it!
Love the messengers in your life!
Nancy
Hi Nancy! Sorry for several decades too late reply! I will be happy, I am happy - time and distance has calmed my more murderous instincts. I can almost imagine the postman, trying to help me out...almost... The story isn't on the web, just in the anthology. I have not published online, I often wonder about it - I read a lot of online stories from small journals or big uns like The New Yorker and so on (no subsciption yet, being a broke student)and love the convenience.
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