Tim Pratt: Because Everybody Likes Books.: seanan

Tim Pratt: Because Everybody Likes Books.

So when I was in high school -- yes, it's time to date myself -- I used to hang out in various online chatrooms, like so many other high schoolers of my generation. And I wound up spending a lot of time chatting with Some Guy On The Internet. No, not in that way. We talked about poetry, and the books we were going to write someday, and shoes, and ships, and ceiling wax, and yes, cabbages and kings. We had entire email conversations in poetry, some of which was actually decent (and considering the condition of the majority of my high school poetry, this is an impressive statement).

Eventually, we lost touch. Then one day, I got an email from someone asking whether they could publish one of my poems -- not one of the bad ones -- in an online magazine. Yup. It was Some Guy. And that was, in fact, my first professional sale under my own name. I did not frame the check. I considered it. Hard.

A few years after that, I stumbled over a book called The Strange Adventures of Rangergirl, written by Some Guy...also known as Tim Pratt (

tim_pratt). I was enchanted by the fact that he'd actually managed to get a book published, so I bought it. And read it. And discovered that it was REALLY GOOD. Like, squeal, dance, recommend to your friends, write songs about the book good. Which makes sense, given that he's, y'know, one of the youngest Hugo winners ever.

Why am I telling you all this? Two reasons.

First off, Tim is appearing at Borderlands Books, home of the freaky alien demon suede kittyfaces, tomorrow at three. It's going to be a lot of fun, and if you're local, you should absolutely come out. Support your home town authors and your totally kick-ass local bookstore at the same time.

Secondly, well, I know that not all of you can make it to Borderlands tomorrow. For one thing, the bookstore's not that big. Luckily for you, Tim is running a fiction sale, via which he will happily and enthusiastically hook you up with the sort of books that are well worth the reading. Also chapbooks and 'zines and damn near anything else you might need, all of it fabulous.

Tim Pratt. He used to be Some Guy. Now he's living in fear of my unleashing his ancient poetry on the world. Show the love!

spectralbovine

April 10 2009, 20:47:51 UTC 8 years ago

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Aw, cool! I didn't know you guys had a History. I'd never heard of Some Guy before. I love that you just stumbled upon his book. Oh, world.

seanan_mcguire

April 11 2009, 01:03:24 UTC 8 years ago

We do! It's awesome. Plus he can actually write, which is always a nice surprise when it's somebody you Knew Back When.

April 11 2009, 01:08:01 UTC 8 years ago

Or even when it's somebody you Know Right Now!

April 11 2009, 01:09:22 UTC 8 years ago

Very true!

twfarlan

April 10 2009, 20:49:50 UTC 8 years ago

First of all, the phrase "date myself" when uttered by you conjures a number of images relating to cloning, two-part harmonies involving the Black Plague, and inappropriate behavior in the back row of theaters playing Stephen King films.

Second, I LOVE that book, and you can quote me.

April 11 2009, 01:03:40 UTC 8 years ago

I love you that this is genuinely where your brain went. Just as an FYI.

April 11 2009, 02:55:00 UTC 8 years ago

I told

codecattx the other day that someday, I want to produce a TV crime show like NCIS just so I can have you guest star as an wise-ass epidemiologist. So, y'know, I love you, too. ;)

songwind

April 10 2009, 22:57:28 UTC 8 years ago

I just tried one of his books for the first time recently (Blood Engines) and quite liked it. He's on my list for the next time I am out of books and start spending money.

April 11 2009, 01:03:53 UTC 8 years ago

Awesome!

ladyqkat

April 11 2009, 00:59:09 UTC 8 years ago

I've used sealing wax but I don't think I've ever heard of ceiling wax. Do you use it on paneled ceilings? @;>

April 11 2009, 01:04:13 UTC 8 years ago

Painted ones. It protects against water damage.

trektone

April 11 2009, 14:57:09 UTC 8 years ago

Liked Rangergirl and some short stories, and went to Pratt's Borderlands appearance a year or so ago. I'd originally planned to go to today's event with him & Nick Mamatas, but am feeling less than swell at moment. Have fun if you go!

April 14 2009, 16:17:40 UTC 8 years ago

It was awesome. Missed you!

antonstrout

April 12 2009, 02:48:43 UTC 8 years ago

Watch out for that Mamatas fellow reading with him! Nogoodnicks, the two of them!

April 14 2009, 16:17:55 UTC 8 years ago

They have both eaten my brownies. THEIR SOULS ARE MINE.

professor

April 14 2009, 18:10:48 UTC 8 years ago

I must have missed that particular fairy ballad. Adds to list, which already includes "always carry iron" and "keep super soakers filled with holy water within easy grabbing range", "don't eat the brownies."

April 16 2009, 01:28:10 UTC 8 years ago

I write my own ballads. Mwuahahahahaha.

tim_pratt

April 14 2009, 21:44:50 UTC 8 years ago

Thanks for all the kind words! It was great seeing you at the reading -- sometime we'll get to hang out for longer in a smaller crowd and talk more.

Oh, the poetry, oh, the humanity...

April 14 2009, 21:56:49 UTC 8 years ago

Agreed: it was awesome seeing you. Now, we'll have to do it again sooner, or I'll release the hounds. ;)

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Tim Pratt: Because Everybody Likes Books.

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