07/09/03 WED:
---Here now:
Braunbeck, Gary A. GRAVEYARD PEOPLE: The Collected Cedar Hill Stories, Vol. 1, Earthling, 6/03, 1st edn, one of 776 SIGNED copies, (the first of several projected volumes), new in dj 40.00

---From Meisha Merlin, this email word:
“Dear GRRM customers,

Here’s the latest in the world of GRRM titles from Meisha Merlin:

Tuf Voyaging
Tuf Voyaging is now at the printer! After going over the page proofs, I
must tell you that Janet Aulisio’s artwork looks spectacular! As you’ll
recall, the book includes the 8 original illustrations she did for the
stories in the early ’80’s, as well as over 20 new ones that she’s done for
this edition, most of them half- or full-page (there are a couple that are
2-page-ers). They really make this excellent book special. Both the
hardback and the softcover trade editions will debut at World Con this year
in Toronto, and the limited editions will be available shortly after that.

Thank you to all who weighed in on the “size vs. cost” question regarding
the Tuf limited editions. It was running neck-and-neck for a while, but
when everything was counted those preferring lower cost outnumbered those
preferring same size as the Song of Ice and Fire limiteds. What that means
is that McNaughton and Gunn is printing the limiteds at the same time
they’re printing the hard and soft covers, which reduces our cost on the
limiteds greatly. It will still take about 4 months for the limiteds to be
done (they have to be sent elsewhere to be bound, have the slipcase made,
have the frontispiece and the autograph page laid in, etc.).

In keeping with our revised policy in the wake of what happened with the
delays on A Clash of Kings, now that the Tuf limited editions are at the
printer, we will begin taking orders for them. They will be on our website
for order very soon, but you will have first option at purchase. Priority
goes to those who want to have the same number or letter as their copies of
SoIaF. After that, those of you who might want to upgrade (maybe from a
numbered edition to a lettered) get second pick. After you’ve all had a
chance to order Tuf, it will then be made available to the public.

The price of the edition should be:

Lettered: $150
Numbered: $125

This could change slightly, as we’re awaiting the final price quote on the
slipcases, but this should be very close to ‘right.’

A Clash of Kings
At long last, A Clash of Kings will be going to the printer middle of next
week. George has finished with all his corrections, and Stephe has gotten
them all entered into the body of the book. As you know, it will take about
4 months from this point, unless we have a hang-up like we had with the
gilding on the first book.

A couple of you have asked about the possible inclusion of the large colour
painting of Red Keep as a fold out insert. When the book goes to the
printer, they will then give us a price quote on this, and we’ll see if we
can pull it off.

The slipcase will be a russet red, the colour George chose as representative
of autumn.

Concerning the sale of the John Howe artwork: this has been made a little
more difficult this time around by the way that John delivered the artwork,
with many small illustrations on a single board, arranged in a way that
would make it impossible to cut. Which means that some of the work bid on
will be full boards of small illustrations. We will provide more details as
we get closer to the date this will happen.

Thank you all! Hope you’re doing well. Look for more updates very soon!

Alan Siler
Meisha Merlin Publishing, Inc.
www.meishamerlin.com

Available in July:
Sime~Gen: The Unity Trilogy (Jacqueline Lichtenberg and Jean Lorrah)
The Kedrigern Chronicles vol. II (John Morressy)
Alan@MeishaMerlin.com”

---And then this email, which I will see what I can do with in terms of answering:
“...if you have the time, and the inclination, I was hoping you could answer a few
questions...

1. What does one have to do to publish a chapbook of Lafferty's book? The reason I ask is
because a friend and I are interested in getting some of Lafferty's hard-to-find stuff back in
print in chapbook form. Both he and I have published chapbooks and zines so we know how to
physically put them together. We are also both enormous fans of Lafferty's work and would love
to help make his lesser-known works available. What I would like to know is what are the legal
steps to take? Did Lafferty leave an estate that handles these arrangements? For what it is
worth, neither my friend nor I wish to make one penny of profit. The chapbooks would be priced
only to cover materials. It would purely a labor of love. If you could share any knowledge or
information with me, I would appreciate it greatly. I can send you a few chapbooks I've done as
an example of their quality.

I would also like to create a Lafferty website, which I hope would serve as a repository of
essays, reviews, and general insights into Lafferty's work. If we were to put out a Lafferty
chapbook it would make sense to make it available through the site. My own website is
http://www.postcardfrominsomnia.com. My friend, who would probably do the art on the Lafferty project, is the one who designed the image of the city at the top.

2. I know at one point in the past you put out a book of Lafferty's called "Four Stories". By
any chance is a copy of that still available? If not, do you know where I could acquire one?

3. Please put me on your email update list.

I hope my questions are not too much of an inconvenience.

Thank you again, Chris, and take care”

---My reply:
“As to your questions:
I don't know if I can give much good advice about how to go about publishing Lafferty now. When I did it I had nary a clue myself, but Ray was alive then and willing to send me a bunch of stories he deemed still publishable even if established editors had not yet concurred. Although I did not have dealings with his literary agent, I believe Virginia Kidd (since deceased as well, but here Agency lives on, I believe) might have something in their files. Ironically I had an interesting conversation on the telephone yesterday with the husband of Lafferty's literary executor, who wants to find a buyer for the rights to his published works. It seems Lafferty left 151 beneficiaries to his estate, who get to divide some $5000 a year in royalties. Or at least the executor gets to do the dividing. They are interested in having the money go into a foundation instead, perhaps endowing a short story award or something that would be a boon to Ray's ongoing literary reputation. They are in the process of trying to figure out what to do. Anyone interested or with ideas could contact:
Ned Kennington
1415 Pennsylvania Ave
Durham, NC 27705
919-286-9519
nkennington@juno.com
Ned was also kind enough to forward to me a listing of the Lafferty holdings at the University of Tulsa. I have not yet tried to unzip the document, but I was glad to hear his papers and MSS have found a safe harbor.
I am glad you have Lafferty enthusiasms. I encourage you to pursue it and see if you can find something worth doing.
FOUR STORIES I sold out of many years ago, thanks to the A.J. Budrys review in F&SF that also gave my mailing list a major boost. I still have the reduced electric-typewriter original layouts in my files I could run off more copies. I will try to go ahead and do that, if my copier holds out. Lately it has been showing signs of going down for the count. Tell you what: if you add $2 to your remittance I will make it a point to get you a copy. See how it turns out. I could always send you a refund if it doesn't work out.

Yours,
Chris”

---Music played:
- Bill Evans THE COMPLETE RIVERSIDE RECORDINGS: Discs 3 & 4
- CD COMP #3 (six months further on this pops up in my second-listen pile -- anyone wanting one of the few extras I burned, they are free for the asking with any book shipment; CD Comps 4, 5 & 6 are also available now too)