Sean Williams

Of his experience studying English at university level, Garry Disher says (in the latest issue of Lumen, the University of Adelaide Alumni Magazine):

"I hated it. Back then I was already keen on becoming a writer, and it seemed to me that English was going to ruin my love of reading and books. I found the analysis of the novels we were reading too academic, too difficult, and in some respects wrong-headed. But I was just a kid, what did I know? I wasn't ready for that way of looking at literature."

I had the same experience at high school. It feels very weird to be a PhD candidate now.

(Received my first knock-back for a conference paper the other day. It didn't occur to me that by entering this world I'd be opening myself to rejections from a whole new sector!)

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Listening to: Harold Budd & Robin Guthrie - How Close Your Soul

This is one of my favourite pictures that David drew for The Changeling. It's hard to explain why without giving away the plot, but this picture comes at a relatively upbeat point in what has been up to then a pretty dark story. And it features the camel, which has a character all of its own. While writing this novel as part of Adelaide Uni's Creative Writing Program, the call to spare the camel was overwhelming from my fellow students. That was as surprising as it was gratifying.



"The world was a blur by the time he reached the back door. He slipped twice before reaching the camel and clambering awkwardly onto its back. Whether it recognised the smell of its former master, hoped for better treatment from Ros, or simply responded to the command in his voice, it raised itself up on knobbly knees with a weary sigh and then clambered to its feet."

Next...

Herein a few newsworthy items I've accrued in recent weeks but haven't done anything about, partly out of laziness, mostly out of not having enough time, thanks to

(1) The Devoured Earth, which became half a book a couple of days ago. That is, I'm halfway through the expected word length of around 150k. It's been fun, which has come as an immense relief, as it's the last in the Books of the Cataclysm and if I wasn't enjoying it I'd be worried that no one else would be either. The book before it,

(2) The Hanging Mountains, hit the shelves in Adelaide today, a hefty tome with a beautiful Greg Bridges cover. The cast gets larger with every book, but Sal and Shilly and Skender are still there. I can't promise that I won't kill them off at some point, though, especially after the bloodbath of

(3) The Crooked Letter, which went into its fourth reprint this week. The US edition is currently being laid out ready for its publication in hardcover by Pyr in April next year. The second book in the series, The Blood Debt, is due out in the States in October. That'll make three US hardcovers in one year, thanks to

(4) Geodesica, recently picked up in omnibus form by the SF Book Club for a February release. Both books will soon be reviewed in Locus. Watch this space.

(5) Good news comes in fives, but ways of linking them don't. Oh well. The final snippet concerns my Masters in Creative Writing from Adelaide University, which I seem to have passed. And passed with a High Distinction, what's more. That makes up for lots of things. I'm very pleased--and looking forward to wearing a silly hat and gown at the ceremony in a couple of weeks, and finally being able to put letters after my name. Woohoo! (The Changeling's ultimate fate remains in limbo. Will report here in due course.)

There may be more news before the end of the year. Using "#1" in the subject line definitely implies a certain hopefulness. I will keep my fingers crossed, but won't be disappointed if there isn't. It's been a good month. I'm grateful.

Sean

I've been invited to join the Golden Key International Honour Society based on my "commitment to higher education and...outstanding work as an author". I'd never heard of this mob until receiving the letter, so I've been asking around my academic friends to see what the feeling is. The feedback ranges from positive to sceptical, so I've decided to go ahead with it. I'm quite flattered to be invited, since my academic track record is pretty average (to change this year, fingers crossed). And anyway, after my previous associations with George Lucas, Rupert Murdoch and L. Ron Hubbard, I figure I have no soul left to steal. :-)

S