Found the cats

[rachelmanija]

When I got back just now from Mel's place and saw that the litter box hadn't been used, I worried enough to embark upon a search. They are in a two-shelf kitchen cabinet thing, Nuala (the gray tabby) on the top shelf and Ripley (the tortoiseshell) on the bottom, which recapitulates their dominant-submissive pattern. I wish I could inform them that no more strange men will be visiting the house any time soon, but still to come are the landlord to open the jammed window in the bathroom, and the bookcase people and loveseat-and-armchair people.

While I was at Mel's place her mother called and, when told that I was there, started saying stuff like, "Tell her I love the back cover! And the little thingies on each page!" Just then my cell phone rang. It was the manager of the Century City Brentano's, to whom I had given an ARC. She wanted to let me know that she had mentioned it to a customer who was a film producer, and the customer had given the manager her contact info to give to me so I could get her an ARC.

I swear I will also tell you guys once the bad reviews and crushing disappointments start coming in.

Comments

[(Anonymous)]

Heh, heh. That's just the effect we're hoping the website will have.

I'm really sorry about your year. I had an accident way back in 1994--broke my wrist and some bones in my back. It's amazing how long it takes to heal.

So, when you say it was going to be about martial arts, was it going to be more non-fiction? Do you plan on writing novels as well? Not that I have a preference for one over the other. I'm just curious as so much of All the Fishes is about reading fiction.

Justine

[rachelmanija.livejournal.com]

How long did your back take to heal? It's been a year for me, and they're still not even sure what's wrong with it-- which is not helped by my insurance fighting every single test and treatment into multiple appeals.

Yes, I was going to write a non-fiction book about my experiences with martial arts. Way too depressing now, though, even though my main manga is all about martial arts, and I'm not finding that too hard to write. It seems that for non-fiction, I need some emotional distance, whereas for fiction, being emotionally involved is a plus.

I do write fiction, but most of it has been in visual and collaborative media-- plays (not any more, though), TV, and now comics. I also have a looooong fantasy novel that I need to revise and complete before I'd want to submit it anywhere. I learned so much about prose by writing Fishes that I think it would be a disappointment if I tried to sell the novel as is.

[(Anonymous)]

The main damage was my wrist, not my back (though three of the vertebrae were broken--they healed fine). The wrist was not diagnosed properly for six weeks so I kept using it when it should've been in a cast. Turned out it'd been a bit crushed--lost about 3 millimetres in density (which is a lot) they estimated at least five bones were broken, but couldn't be sure. Anyway, took two operations before I could use it properly again. Two years in all before it was sort of back to normal. But this was in Australia with nationalised health care. I wasn't insured so there was no fighting with insurance companies. Not very helpful to you, I know. The American system seems, um, less than optimal.

That's exactly how I feel about non-fiction and fiction. The idea of writing a memoir is just too much. (Yet another reason I admire All the Fishes so much!) Writing about yourself has to be the hardest kind of writing of all. If you do it well, I mean. Making yourself go to places you don't want to go . . . Ouch. Then the other kind of non-fiction--all heavily researched and such--is a nightmare cause you have to get everything right, cross every t etc. The kind of fiction I write is much easier on the old brain pane. (I'm not saying it's easy, mind, just easier!)

I look forward to whatever you publish next.

Justine

[(Anonymous)]

The main damage was my wrist, not my back (though three of the vertebrae were broken--they healed fine). The wrist was not diagnosed properly for six weeks so I kept using it when it should've been in a cast. Turned out it'd been a bit crushed--lost about 3 millimetres in density (which is a lot) they estimated at least five bones were broken, but couldn't be sure. Anyway, took two operations before I could use it properly again. Two years in all before it was sort of back to normal. But this was in Australia with nationalised health care. I wasn't insured so there was no fighting with insurance companies. Not very helpful to you, I know. The American system seems, um, less than optimal.

That's exactly how I feel about non-fiction and fiction. The idea of writing a memoir is just too much. (Yet another reason I admire All the Fishes so much!) Writing about yourself has to be the hardest kind of writing of all. If you do it well, I mean. Making yourself go to places you don't want to go . . . Ouch. Then the other kind of non-fiction--all heavily researched and such--is a nightmare cause you have to get everything right, cross every t etc. The kind of fiction I write is much easier on the old brain pane. (I'm not saying it's easy, mind, just easier!)

I look forward to whatever you publish next.

Justine