Have I said recently how much I don’t like traveling. (grin)
Anyway, off to Eugene to work on Bill’s estate for the week. And then to a party at a major book dealer’s house in Portland on Saturday, then back here and back to work starting Sunday, I hope.
I’m learning slowly how to use the iPad Kris and I bought for me when we left town for Idaho and Reno two plus weeks ago. (Seems like a year ago now.) So I am gaining on being able to use that and keep up a little better while on the road.
But I have a hunch that by the time I get back to the hotel room I will be too tired to care. (grin)
And thanks for all the kind comments on my friend Bill. He was a true one-of-a-kind and he pissed off so many people and had intense close friends and helped so many people. I’m just glad so far that I can stay with the wishes in his will.
One aspect about my friend Bill that I didn’t mention in the last piece was that he had the disease that caused him to be unable to toss anything away. I always had to do it for him over the years, often over objections. If you have seen the show on television about this problem, you can imagine Bill’s house. Thousands of old book catalogs and flyers stacked on books or other garbage, to the point that there was only a path through the place. His home became so full, he moved into an apartment in downtown Eugene ten years ago and the apartment got just as bad. And I have to look through it all to find paperwork and anything of value at both places. Thus the long weeks. And it’s just started I’m afraid, but after this week I can pace it and get help.
So after the holiday weekend (holiday?) I will be back on on normal track here. I’ve started working on the last few chapters in the middle section of Think Like a Publisher and then will fire into the agent section, which should be really interesting in this modern moment in history. I also almost have done the update about Worldcon and about ebook cards and how they worked.
I also have “Think Like a Publisher” out in both ebook and trade paper and will start contacting those who donated to see if you want a copy of the ebook. That will take me some time this next month or so.
So stay tuned. I’ll be back on Sunday. And back writing again with a focus on short fiction for some reason. (grin)
And again, thanks for the kind comments about my friend Bill. Very much appreciated.
So sorry for your loss. Bill was a great guy, although I didn’t know him well. Just wrote a post about hoarding earlier this morning as I’m reading a nonfiction book about it. Such a debilitating thing and I’m watching my daughter, who’s only 8 and really strong-willed, move in that direction. I’m trying to find ways to open other doors for her or stand back and let her find the way out herself. To push or not to push?
Glad you’re not overwhelmed with all the stuff that’s going on and I’m looking forward to your upcoming posts!
My mom and I had to clear out my dad’s apartment last fall. He was a moderate packrat — not to the extent that stuff was piled on the floor, but his place was full of shelves to the point that it was something like a maze.
It was exhausting, but we did manage to find homes for all of his stuff that wasn’t trash. You get into a zen mode on doing it, wehn you just keep going and take one pile at a time.
However, now my own office is now stacked to the roof with his notebooks and things which I still haven’t had time to go through. I plan to scan some of his sketches and such so I can get rid of the volume….
Good luck sorting the collectors items from the dross. I hope you remember all the good things each book or flyer triggers as you sort them.
Godspeed, good luck, and rest when you can. Your write-up of Bill meant a lot to me. I look forward to your next pieces, but I even more am impressed with your relationship with him. Thanks so much for sharing it.
The name of the disease is “hoarding.” It is a form of OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder). My condolences on the loss of your dear friend.
Lissa from Alaska
Dean, I live in Eugene. I could spend some time helping with the cleanout process. I have a van.
Peace,
Dave
Thanks, Dave. Too soon to do much at the moment, but might shout later. This job of cleaning out the junk is just huge. This morning I found important papers in a huge stack of old book catalogs. Also discovered that Bill had three or four college degrees.
Thanks
That was typed on my new iPad while waiting for lunch. Cool! My wife will be stunned that I have joined this century.
I just read your post about Bill. I’m so sorry for your loss, for you and Kris. I remember sitting in the living room of the old workshop house listening to stories about you and Bill, and I never knew until now that Bill was a major behind-the-scenes reason I was there in the first place. I never met him, but I will always be grateful to him for that.
I hope you enjoy your iPad. I’m using mine more and more. I actually used the heck out of the WorldCon app, and there’s a notecard app I want to try when I start the next novel. I’m hoping it will be a good way of jotting down chapter by chapter info as I write since I don’t outline.