even before the editors saw it. (My prophecy proved correct. Ace/Sunridge bought
her manuscript, and a major promo campaign is currently underway. The book
should be on the stands when you see this anthology.)
SUNDAY: Wonder of wonders. Over cognac at the Ace dead-dog party, Jim Baen
expresses a solid interest in the anthology … if ‘I succeed in filling the
remaining slots with authors of an equal quality to those already committed.
Leaving the party, 1 encounter Jim Odbert in the hall and do a little bragging.
He brings me down to earth by asking about the street map. I hadn’t even thought
about it, but he was right! It would be absolutely necessary for internal
continuity. Thinking fast, I commission him on the spot and retire, harbouring a
nagging hunch that this project might be a bit more involved than I had
imagined.
Back in Ann Arbor, I face the task of filling the remaining openings for the
anthology. My magic wand for this feat is a telephone. Having been a fan for
many years, I have had passing contact with several prominent authors, many of
whom don’t know that I’m writing now. I figure it will be easier to jog their
memories over the phone than trying to do the same thing by letter.
The problem now is … who? Solid authors … that’s a must. Authors who know me
well enough that they won’t hang up when I call. Authors who don’t know me so
well that they’ll hang up when I call.
Andy! Andy Offutt. Our paths had crossed several times at cons, and I know we
share a mutual admiration of Genghis Khan.