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January 30, 2018:

VIP AUTHOR

Bruce Kimmel Photograph bk's notes

Well, dear readers, in figuring out this year’s book contract with Author House, I was being pitched all manner of extras to add on to the usual contract I do, because, after all, I am Author House’s most published author. And as this fellow was clicking around on my various contracts or books every time a big STAR would appear saying VIP AUTHOR! Who knew? Literally every time he clicked that came up. In any case, I accepted a few extras and that deal is done.

Otherwise, yesterday was certainly a day, mostly fine, but with the last remaining merde rearing its ugly little merde head, so please keep sending those strongest most excellent vibes and xylophones for the final miraculous miracle of January, which is coming to a close all too soon. I got about seven hours of sleep, got up, answered e-mails, continued entering the approved fixes, then went and had an egg salad sandwich and a side Caesar salad whilst I continued proofing. Then I picked up one package and no mail, then came back home. I continued proofing and quite nicely into part two of the book, making lots of little notes, but mostly just adjusting commas, periods, hyphens, and semi-colons and colons. Then I entered more approved fixes until I was all caught up.

Then I had a conversation with Muse Margaret and we went over the latest stuff, some of which we did and some of which we didn’t. I then read her two slightly revised paragraphs, both of which she liked. We then talked at length about one little thing she wants me to add somewhere in part two. I kind of understand it but simply don’t know where to put it. She doesn’t know either, but we both decided it had to come after a certain event happens, so that at least narrows down the where. Any earlier than that feels totally wrong to me. But I simply could not think of one thing that would work – until I took a hot shower and an idea came to me. If she likes it, then I have to add one little thing to part one to set it up, and one or two paragraphs to part two, and what it is kind of dictates where it has to come. I sort of like it so if she does then I’ll figure that all out. At some point I sat on my couch like so much fish.

I began watching the new Blu and Ray of The Hanging Tree, starring Gary Cooper. Somehow I’ve missed this one completely – I do remember when it played and I don’t know why I wouldn’t have seen it since I liked oaters and I loved Gary Cooper, but I didn’t. I watched the first forty-five minutes and it’s kind of peculiar, with a too bombastic Max Steiner score – but I love Cooper and I’m a fan of Delmer Daves, the director, so I’m enjoying it. And it’s an interesting cast, including George C. Scott (his first film), Ben Piazza (he gets an “Introducing” card), and Karl Malden. I’ll finish it up tonight.

Then I proofed more and now have fifty pages to go. Then I took the hot shower, got my idea, and wrote it down so I could read and decipher it. I often scribble stuff quickly that I then cannot decipher, so that’s always a problem.

Today, I’ll do the morning stuff then go eat and finish proofing the book. Then my plan is to probably figure out where this added bit will go in both parts and maybe I’ll just write it so I can read it to Muse Margaret, which is maybe better than trying to explain it. It probably won’t take me more than thirty minutes once I figure out where it goes, and if I do add that and this one other thing I’m definitely adding, I do think the manuscript will then be 300 pages – it’s currently at 296 and a full 296 at that. I’ll hopefully pick up packages, then Muse Margaret and I will have our conversation. I’m hoping by the end of that that I’ll be able to enter the final fixes and get this off to all the proofers.  And I have no doubt that part of the day will be spent dealing with the final bit of merde.

The rest of the week is more of the same, meetings and meals, and planning the Kritzerland show.

Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, do morning stuff, eat, finish proofing the book, write the new bit to see if it works, converse with Muse Margaret, and then enter the rest of the fixes. Today’s topic of discussion: What are your favorite films of Gary Cooper and Karl Malden? Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland, happy that every time an Author House rep clicks on anything to do with me they get a big star and VIP AUTHOR.

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