Posted by Terry on 12/24/2001, 12:45 pm

Here's wishing everyone a safe and joyous holiday season, and a bright new year of peace, promise, and fulfillment. Terry

Posted by Angi-Kate on 12/27/2001, 4:57 pm, in reply to "Happy holidays!"

Happy holidays to you, too. I found it very strange to see so many stores closed on Christmas Eve. The whole city was quieter than I've ever seen it, it was amazing! Now it seems like the holidays are already a month or so over and it's back to work we go. At least there isn't any school for another week. Happy New Year everyone!

Posted by Terry on 1/4/2002, 2:13 am, in reply to "Re: Happy holidays!"

Yeah, back-to-work does seem to come all too soon! It was quiet around here, too, including on New Year's Eve. (There was one guy roaming around outside shouting unintelligibly just after midnight, but it was a lone voice in the wilderness. {g}) Hope you have a great year, Angi-Kate!

Posted by Terry on 1/19/2002, 2:47 pm

The January 2002 Eiden Myr newsletter went out a couple of days ago, with news and updates about the books, the Website, and more. Subscribers can read back issues of the newsletter at the Topica site, but at some point I'll probably start archiving them here as well. To subscribe to the newsletter (which does not inundate your inbox!), visit http://www.topica.com/lists/eidenmyr or send a blank email to eidenmyr-subscribe@topica.com. Folk using the framed part of this site can also click on "Mailing List" at left. Would be great to have you aboard.

Posted by Terry on 1/19/2002, 2:38 pm

The paperback of Illumination is on the Tor schedule for June 2002. Hooray! I just got cover flats, and they look awesome. Raised foil for the title, the byline, and the knotwork ornamentation below the title and above the byline--way, way cool.

Posted by AngiKate on 1/22/2002, 6:55 pm, in reply to "Illumination scheduled for paperback"

Just out of curiosity, is there a tour in the works anytime soon? (Hint, hint, *fingers crossed*)

Posted by Terry on 1/26/2002, 10:51 am, in reply to "Re: Illumination scheduled for paperback"

Hey, Angi-Kate! There's no tour scheduled per se, but I'll be visiting with some fan groups, doing as many SF conventions as I can, and setting up bookstore signings where possible. I especially enjoy doing readings and just hanging out with folks and talking about books. I'm always up for a bookstore visit! There's a list in progress here, and I'll keep adding things as I schedule them. Let me know if there's anything you have in mind!

Posted by Angi-Kate on 2/21/2002, 2:05 am in reply to "Re: Illumination scheduled for paperback"

I can't go to Norwescon, :( but you will be really close to my area of the world in March. I'll see how hard I have to twist the author coordinator's arm to get him to invite you over here. I can't offer you anything myself except a couple great big "PLEASE"'s and lots of begging and grovelling--it's not that pretty so I'll just beg my people to call your people (however that works)and that way the headlines don't read "Fantasy Author Terry McGarry Survived Emergency Surgury--Raving Fan Removed Successfully From Leg"

Posted by Terry on 2/26/2002, 1:30 am, in reply to "Re: Illumination scheduled for paperback"

"Raving Fan Removed Successfully From Leg"--now I'm laughing so hard I'm snarfing my Dr Pepper. I would love love love to come see you at the store. I don't know if the timing will work out in March, but if not next month then definitely the next time I'm anywhere near the Northwest. Fingers crossed....

Posted by Angi-Kate on 2/27/2002, 2:57 am, in reply to "Re: Illumination scheduled for paperback"

YES! I got the message earlier today and people thought I was a little off--dancing around the store will tend to give people that impression. I can't wait! Dr. Pepper? Score another point for the drink of the gods. :) hehehe

Posted by Terry on 3/5/2002, 12:56 pm, in reply to "Re: Illumination scheduled for paperback"

Dr Pepper is absolutely the drink of the gods! And the demigods, and demiurges, and probably lots of demiotherthings too.... I am so looking forward to visiting the store!

Posted by juan on 3/15/2002, 9:20 pm

Terry: A head full of sea dragons. What a wonderful concept! Well, metaphorically, not literally.... :) Isn't it amazing, to have a whole world expand inside what seems like a fairly small circumference of bone? Heads are really cool. Juan: It looked like we were running out of margin on this thread, thought I'd start back on the left side. Not only are heads cool, but the space designated for the imagination is what amazes me. That inner mind can't be in a very big space, but it sure has taken me to many beautiful worlds. Trips that have sometimes affected my physical being..... ;-)

Posted by Terry on 3/16/2002, 10:56 am, in reply to "Thread continued:"

An excellent idea, to start back over here. That thread was enormous! Subjective mental space is really one of the most amazing things about the universe. It may be *the* most amazing thing--that beings have evolved that can be aware of all the other amazing things. The scientist and the mystic in me are in continual battle. One says, "It's just neurochemical pathways." The other says, "Yeah, *right.*" One of my favorite postulations--which has appeared in many places, from Philip Pullman's books to JMS's Babylon 5--is that we, thinking beings, are the universe trying to understand itself. When I applied to go to the United Nations International School, a high school, one of the application questions was about all the places you had been to on your travels. They expected you to be a well-traveled kid. I had been to Saratoga (upstate NY), and Montauk (way east NY), and New Jersey, and that was about it. So I wrote an essay about all the places I'd traveled to in my mind, through reading. It seemed to work! :) How have your trips affected your physical being, Juan? That's really interesting. Say more. Terry

Posted by juan on 3/17/2002, 9:49 pm, in reply to "Re: Thread continued:"

You know, the entire gambit of emotions, all the way from laughter to tears. Isn't that why you write? Or should I as a reader blame your muse? Need I mention the other physical reaction your writing caused during the tent sequence (for one example)?

Posted by Terry on 3/18/2002, 10:18 am, in reply to "Re: Thread continued:"

The emotions are definitely a big part of why I write, no question. And I fall in love with the characters, and *I* want to know what happens to them, so I have to write it to find out! :) The muse, I think, is responsible for the sense-of-wonder stuff. It sits there whispering, "Hey, wouldn't it be cool if..." And I say, "Oooh, yeah, that would be way cool, let's do that!" LOL re: the tent sequence!

Posted by juan on 3/19/2002, 10:49 pm, in reply to "Re: Thread continued:"

So, should I have a mental image of you at the keyboard with a box of kleenex handy, ala "Joan Wilder"? ;-)

Posted by Terry on 3/20/2002, 11:48 pm, in reply to "Re: Thread continued:"

That image definitely works. :)

Posted by juan on 3/23/2002, 1:38 pm, in reply to "Re: Thread continued:"

I guess you know that future readings of your work will now have me saying to myself: - She was sad here, was using the kleenex. - She must of been laughing here. - Oh,oh, she was breathing heavy here and squirming in her seat. ;-) juan

Posted by Terry on 3/25/2002, 10:46 am, in reply to "Re: Thread continued:"

It's funny the relationship you develop, as a reader, with an author while you're reading. You imagine me as I imagine you...it becomes an interesting regression. Actually, I think that writing is most often like dreaming. When you're really involved in it, your body is often shut down except for autonomic functions. Although under "autonomic" I would have to include the action of typing and the action of consuming Dr Pepper. :)

Posted by juan on 3/29/2002, 9:49 pm, in reply to "Re: Thread continued:"

Dr. Pepper is nice, but I prefer some "hot" coffee while creating, at work anyway, "Amber Bock" at home. Interesting regression, yes, but this interaction with "the" author of something I've read is definitely a first for me. I'm finding it as stimulating as your imagination... ;-)

Posted by Terry on 4/2/2002, 4:18 pm, in reply to "Re: Thread continued:"

I'm very flattered to be your first interaction with an author of a book you'd read! And I am glad that it's stimulating for you. That's absolutely the idea of the message board. :) I got into coffee again this winter, although usually I prefer hot drinks (strong Irish tea, if not coffee) in the morning, and then I switch to soft drinks in the afternoon. I drank some orange juice yesterday. Something healthy! What a concept! {g}

Posted by juan on 4/12/2002, 10:35 pm, in reply to "Re: Thread continued:"

The combo juices are the best, "orange-banana-strawberry", "peach-cranberry", etc. Now a little "Kalua" in the coffee does wonders for the head. Does that combo qualify as Irish?

Posted by Terry on 4/13/2002, 11:52 pm, in reply to "Re: Thread continued:"

Naw, I think that it has to be Bailey's Irish Cream in the coffee to qualify as Irish. Irish Mist is good, too. I sort of discovered cran-apple juice on an airline flight recently. I was thirsty, I was tired of OJ, and I wanted something without caffeine so that I could sleep if I decided to. Somebody ahead of me ordered cran-apple, so I did too. A revelation! Yummy and refreshing. But way too healthy ever to usurp Dr Pepper. (No worries, Angi-Kate! {g})

Posted by Angi-Kate on 4/16/2002, 1:14 am, in reply to "Re: Thread continued:"

Don't worry, I understand. Have you tried Cran-Grape yet?

Posted by Terry on 4/17/2002, 4:44 pm, in reply to "Re: Thread continued:"

I haven't tried cran-grape yet! This is getting a little scary. What will the next combinations be? Cran-asparagus? Cran-arugula?

Posted by Angi-Kate on 4/18/2002, 1:57 am, in reply to "Re: Thread continued:"

Asparagus? Arugula? Terry, you do have a sick mind now and again, don't you? :) How is TBR doing? I've cornered one of the Tor reps and she's been trying to locate a reader's copy or manuscript for me because of my lack of patients (and, quite possibly, lack of spelling ability). I've got a space next to my sturdy copy of Illumination waiting for the hardcover of TBR to sit next to it. Is TBR going to be the same yellow with metalic blue writing on the cover? Or is it going to be another color combination (like the ones you are playing with now...or turquoise and purple???). Any news on visiting??? I'll show you around town, we can play pool, or you can just chill at the hotel shouting, "Thank God it's over, now hand me my Dr. Pepper and leave." (j/k) Just noticed the length of the post, chat with ya later!

(Reply will be in the Fourth Chamber when it's archived from the current thread "The Binder's Road")

Posted by Terry on 4/17/2002, 5:48 pm

No, you haven't gone crazy (well, at least not that I can vouch for {g})--I've been fiddling with the fonts and color on the site to make it more readable in the most common browsers. The Garamond I was using looked fabulous in Netscrape 4.7 under Windows, but only in that browser, and I may be the last person in the known universe to use it. (I'm getting converted to Opera, though....) So little by little the look of the site will be changing over to Century Schoolbook. This also gives me an excuse to start using CSS, so that I never have to make all these changes by hand again. :) Hope the new font seems more readable. As always, feel free to post comments.

Posted by juan on 4/18/2002, 9:58 pm, in reply to "Fiddling with fonts and color"

It all fits better in my browser with the smaller font. According to Corel7 the color of your slicedproxy.jpg background is #0D0D0D, try that as your bgcolor for your message frame it may appear more seamless.

Posted by Terry on 4/22/2002, 1:13 pm, in reply to "Re: Fiddling with fonts and color"

I'm glad the text fits better--that was another reason I wanted to change the font. You're right about the border jpegs! I usually have my monitor set on a somewhat low brightness, and so the difference was minor. But I brightened it to play Riven, and now I really see it. I'll fix those borders next thing. Thanks!

Posted by juan on 5/21/2002, 8:24 pm, in reply to "Re: Fiddling with fonts and color"

You did it, it looks great ( the seamless frames with black colors).

Posted by Terry on 5/22/2002, 10:00 am, in reply to "Re: Fiddling with fonts and color"

Thanks for the heads-up about the "black" that wasn't black, Juan! I might never have noticed otherwise.