I think that the problem with Spider Robinson was the continuing decline of his writing rather than the market in general, but then I'm mean.

Huh. We really do appear to share a brain at times.

Interesting stuff about publishing, warehousing and contracts with authors. I learn stuff here every day, I swear. Tanith doesn't seem to me to be a person who groks the business world. She's been home writing books all along, and holding out for favorable terms, and I suppose that's good, what with the making a living part.

That said, I got this back from Egerton House this morning:

There are whispers here about the 4th Scarabae book but as yet we don’t have a date. We are very committed to the idea of publishing this addition to the Blood Opera series and are very confident that readers, such as yourself and your friend, would greet it enthusiastically. For now though, other projects command our attention. Of course, as soon as there is any news, Tanith’s website will be updated. Thanking you for your interest and support Sincerely, Chris Holroyd

So woot! I am happy. And I would really like to read "Girl with the Silver Eyes."

Whoops, formatting.

I think that the problem with Spider Robinson was the continuing decline of his writing rather than the market in general, but then I'm mean.

That may in fact be true. I don't know, I haven't read Spider in years, although his column is usually insightful and funny. I just remembered him being outspoken at the time. There was another author who spoke up, and I remember people snerking about his output then too. However, Spider, for example, does seem to have a market and has sold books since that time, so generic meanness does seem misplaced, in his case.

Although never unwelcome. (If you can't find something nice to say ... come sit next to me.)

There are whispers here about the 4th Scarabae book but as yet we don’t have a date. We are very committed to the idea of publishing this addition to the Blood Opera series and are very confident that readers, such as yourself and your friend, would greet it enthusiastically. For now though, other projects command our attention. Of course, as soon as there is any news, Tanith’s website will be updated. Thanking you for your interest and support Sincerely, Chris Holroyd

Rock on! That is good news.

Huh, I should go check her website. I haven't done so in a while.

People who were horror fans at the time may remember the horror sections in bookstores literally disappearing, as the big-selling names like Straub and King got shelved in general fiction and the rest of the section got axed.

One of the reasons I prefer Borders to B&N is that Borders still has a horror section. A teeny-tiny one, usually on the other side of the romance novels, but they at least have a horror section, unlike B&N.

Of course, then there's the local bookstore, complete with cantankerous old guy owner, who made a point of re-organizing their horror section; the last time I was browsing, the owner smiled and informed me that he put all the vampire novels together on their own shelf, so I could have an easier time finding ones I hadn't read yet. (yes, I am happy in my gothy cliché-ness. Vampire books! Wheeee!)

Vague memories of a book I read as a child have been bugging me for years now, and I don't know why I never thought to ask in here if anyone remembered it.

My sister received a book for her birthday once that I coveted beyond belief. She let me read it once, but then wouldn't ever let me borrow it again. It was a paperback collection of short fairytales that had been turned around. Rapunzel was rewritten as man, for example, and there were pen and ink illustrations. What I remember most about it was the humor. The rapunzelesque guy was sleeping in a tower and the heroine had a terrible time getting him to wake up and stay awake.

There was also a story where one of the fairy godmother wishes for a princess was that she always have long flowing golden hair. When she got tired of it because of the weight and heat, she cut it off... and it went crazy and grew and grew and no one could figure out how to stop it until a guy had them put her on one scale, the hair on another, and then chopped it so girl and hair weighed exactly the same. I believe said guy and princess then married and lived happily ever after.

Do any of you remember this, what it's called or the author? I think the author was a woman, but I don't know why I think that. I believe the book was published in the early to mid-70s.

However, Spider, for example, does seem to have a market and has sold books since that time, so generic meanness does seem misplaced, in his case.

His writing, which I used to really like, went downhill with no brakes and last I checked, still hadn't hit the bottom yet.

I know I'm not the only former SR fan who stopped bothering to buy his stuff after repeat disappointments.

You certainly aren't, Plei.

I can't place the book, Deena. Sorry.

Oh, Deena, I remember this. Damn. I don't remember the author, but I think the title was The Practical Princess ? Maybe? I remember it was "The something-that-begins-with-P Princess". Practical? Prudent? Hell. Off to check Amazon.

Edit: Yes!

I don't remember that book either, Deena. You could post it on Fiction-L, and see if it pings anyone's memory there.

[ETA: xpost, of course!]

Just finished Laurie King's latest standalone, Keeping Watch, and really enjoyed it. It's tied in with Folly, but you don't need to have read that to follow the plot.

About half of the book is a pretty standard (but still well done) Vietnam vet memoir, the other half is a mystery involving an abused child, and whether he's turned out to be as psychotic as his abuser. Creepy and very good at making you second-guess everything the kid does.

Thanks, Kim, you're awesome. I'm going to add that to my list of things to get for Kara as she grows.