October 8, 2006
Whew. What a week, properly accompanied by an inordinate amount of running around, chaos, heartbreak, and hopes.
Before we close out Buy a Friend a Book Week, let me say the following things…
1. I had a blast reading all of your entries and the things you had to say about music. I hope you’ll invite your friends over here to hang with us and get to know my fictional crew. Not just because it’ll sell more books when Trevor’s Song comes out, but because I do this — write books, blog, create fiction non-stop — so that I can share it with people. While I dream of a huge publishing deal, I think I’d be happy with anything that would allow me to share my world with you.
2. I’ve made friends with some of the other BAFAB contest hosts. Be sure to check them out; I’ll leave the links up at the bottom of this page for a bit. Tell them you proudly come from West of Mars.
3. Even though my friend Penina never sent an official entry, she’s done so much for me over the years, in so many ways, that I picked up a second copy of This Monster Lives just for her. So while she’s not an official winner and I can’t tell you how I will never forget her story of trying really hard not to yell the now-defunct and perhaps forgotten refrain of “Die, Die, Die” during Metallica’s Creeping Death during her VERY observant Passover seder, I bought her a book, anyway.
And when you get down to it, that’s the spirit of BAFAB week.
We’ll do it again in a few months. In the meantime, stay tuned. I have planned a fun fall outtake from the newly introduced Chelle LaFleur for your reading pleasure. Once I get back from the post office, expect to see it…
Once again, thanks for making my first BAFAB contest so successful. You guys are important around here.
Remember that, now.
cheesygiraffe
October 8, 2006 11:12 pm
I’m sorry I never got to do a story. I’m glad that you did have a decent amount of entries for your contest. When you do another maybe I will be more with it to do one. I love you babe. You’re a good friend.
Susan Helene Gottfried
October 9, 2006 7:49 am
Hey, sometimes the stars don’t align the way we want them to. You’ll just have to save up your stories for next time!!!BR/BR/There WILL be a next time, have no fear. I may be disappearing from other places, and this one’s look may be changing a bit, but I’ll be here awhile yet. BR/BR/You’re an IMPORTANT friend. Remember that. Don’t let people take advantage of you. *wink*
Penina
October 11, 2006 7:32 am
Woman!BR/You are as usual nuts and fantastic, all rolled into one, a perfect combination in my book.BR/BR/So for those that never heard the story:BR/BR/I was born into a quite Orthodox Jewish family, and was estranged for Bmany/B years. Of course, after the twins were born, suddenly I was off the persona-non-grata list, and that was how I found myself sitting at the ‘rents large dining room table, covered in ironed white damask, laiden with freshly polished silver, listening for the In/Ith time in my life the long, Hebrew language version of the Seder service which details the enslavement and liberation of the Jews in ancient Egypt. Of course it begins with a nice glass of wine (or two), which may explain why this happened….BR/BR/At a certain point in the service, the 10 plagues are discussed, then as they are listed, you dip your finger in wine and drip some in memory of each plague… only I was sitting there, with an ear-whig of Metallica’s “Creeping Death” going round and round my head, my feet itching to move, and only with a super-human effort did I not start headbanging at the table…. It was torture I tell ya, pure TORTURE not to ‘bang along to the incessantly loud song in my head, Jason screaming “DIE! DIE! DIE!”BR/BR/BMetallica – “Ride the Lightning” 1984BR/Creeping DeathBR/BR/BR/Slaves BR/Hebrews born to serve, to the pharaoh BR/Heed BR/To his every word, live in fear BR/Faith BR/Of the unknown one, the deliverer BR/Wait BR/Something must be done, four hundred years BR/BR/BR/So let it be written BR/So let it be done BR/I’m sent here by the chosen one BR/So let it be written BR/So let it be done BR/To kill the first born pharaoh son BR/I’m creeping death BR/BR/BR/Now BR/Let my people go, land of goshen BR/Go BR/I will be with thee, bush of fire BR/Blood BR/Running red and strong, down the nil BR/Plague BR/Darkness three days long, hail to fire BR/BR/BR/So let it be written BR/So let it be done BR/I’m sent here by the chosen one BR/So let it be written BR/So let it be done BR/To kill the first born pharaoh son BR/I’m creeping death BR/BR/BR/Die by my hand BR/I creep across the landBR/Killing first born man BR/Die by my hand BR/I creep across the landBR/Killing first born man BR/BR/BR/IBR/Rule the midnight air the destroyer BR/Born BR/I shall soon be there, deadly mass BR/I BR/Creep the steps and flood final darkness BR/Blood BR/Lambs blood painted door, I shall pass BR/BR/BR/So let it be written BR/So let it be done BR/I’m sent here by the chosen one BR/So let it be written BR/So let it be done BR/To kill the first born pharaoh son BR/I’m creeping death /B
Susan Helene Gottfried
October 11, 2006 7:52 am
Of course I’m nuts and fantastic. It’s the only way I can stay sane! :DBR/BR/Thanks for reprinting the story — and lyrics. Man, James can be hard to understand sometimes!
Penina
October 11, 2006 9:31 am
You KNOW I give you permission to use the concept in one of you books… just want some signed copies!
Susan Helene Gottfried
October 11, 2006 4:31 pm
I can do that. In fact, I have a character in mind who rebells against her ultra-Orthodox upbringing, so stay tuned for that; I know we’ve talked about her before. BR/BR/As for signed copies, you buy and I’ll sign, okay? As many as you want; the more, the merrier! 😀