Oh, man, it has to sell. It *has* to. I completely disagree, but I think we're also not talking about *young* rock star wannabes, which has been done in YA and not been successful. For the readership you're going for, and the fucking dead on writing, I think it would be huge. But I am totally biased, of course.

I'll talk to Jenn whenever she wants! She can email me, or me her, whatever. Or we can do the phone thing. The next few weeks are crazy, with the move -- we have to be out of here sometime the week of the 27th (of June, mind you) and I have to finish this goddamn book first and I have no packing done yet -- but just let her know how to reach me, and we'll talk. Because I'll call whoever you want me to, and do my very best persuasive nudging.

Except...with this move up to Syracuse, I looked up the Central New York chapter. And it's small, and the members look great, and it will probably be a lifesaver just in terms of meeting people and getting out of the house to talk writing from time to time. So there's that.

Yup, I think it's all about the individual chapters. Some of my closest friends in this city are from the Seattle one, and the Beau Monde Regency hivemind is worthy of awe.

Since you're here, AmyLiz, how long has it been since you were last an editor? I ask only because you're still listed in the 2005 Jeff Herman guide, and I'm trying to guage how up-to-date and useful his stuff really is.

how long has it been since you were last an editor?

August of 2002. And his stuff isn't terribly accurate -- I filled out a questionnaire for them once, and they got everything wrong. And I mean, everything. How, I have no idea, but it pissed me off.

Good to know, and makes me glad I didn't spend my own money on it--I got the library to buy the 2005 to evaluate whether I wanted the 2006. I caught one other bit of outdated info, but it was an agent who'd left over the summer of 2004, so I could excuse him not getting that on time.

Amy, I passed the info on. And I agree with you, and not just because R&RNF is such a huge piece of me - I think the concept of a frail, ageing rocker with the kinds of conflicts he has going on make it an entirely different deal.

And because I seem consitutionally incapable of writing nice simple fluff - man, I wish I could - of course the damned book tackles a couple of grand themes: loyalty, protectiveness, nurturing that can become destructive. Also, it has kickass shoes.

I sent her the manuscript, through chapter 9, this morning. She asked for the first three chapters. BWAHAHAHAHAHA!

Most people don't know it like Deb does. It's like, when I was in creative writing class, a couple people wanted to write about stripping, but they weren't, to my knowledge at least, strippers. They were just all "Ooh, naked people, and drugs, and seediness!"(Oh my) Now, if one of them had stripped and could write, that would be something I'd read.

Music is the easiest thing in the world for me to write. This one has been drawing blood, just because it's so damned personal.

But yeah, I know what goes into a major 18-city tour. I know how to cost out a venue, what the roadies should pack, how to mount a Helpenstill or Countryman on a piano to get it ready for full band use.

Man. Old now.

Oh, brother. Nepotism, much?

The following snippet was on "Publishers Lunch". I wonder if Amazon will be selling her used books -- the week they come out, the same as they do for everyone else?

Mr. and Mrs. Bezos

Jeff Bezos's wife MacKenzie's debut novel THE TESTING OF LUTHER ALBRIGHT will be published by Fourth Estate in August.

Amazon's own reviewer already hails it as "a debut novel that heralds the beginning of what bodes to be a substantial writing career," though the author ID simply says: "She lives in Seattle." Amazon isn't offering used copies yet, but Alibris and AbeBooks have galleys available for about eight dollars, and Half.com has a couple for under five dollars.

I've...um, seen Mr. B. She may earn it, for all that he seems nice for a gazillionaire. Just not with writing.

Just got an email from RWA announcing a special board meeting tonight, with the following agenda:

1. Suspension of Graphical Standards

2. Creation of Graphical Standards Ad Hoc Committee

Huh.