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tim
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Really getting into it |
Location: UK, West of London in Ber...
Registered: February 2002
Messages: 842
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Look what I just received by email:
BEGINS
This is to inform you that (not tempting providence here) would like to publish your submission, Chris and Nigel. If you are still interested in being published by us, please answer yes to this email. I will then forward pertinent information to our Contracts person who will contact you to negotiate your contract with (unnamed) Publishing, Inc.
I don't normally add anything else to this letter but congratulations, but I want to make sure there is no miscommunication between you and me. (unnamed) Publishing is a
young company still, and (subdivision) , as the alternate romance division, has yet to publish a gay romance. Yours would be our first. All other books in this imprint to date have been lesbian romances.
ENDS
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But, ummm, lesbian romances mostly, huh?
I suppose if it doesn't sell as Chris and Nigel, you could do a slight re-write and make them Christine and Nichole, using dildoes, right?
But seriously, congrats and many kudoes!!
If yours goes well, maybe they'll buy other ones. The first one that comes to mind is Driver Nine's connected works..."Sudden Storm", "The Quarry", "Falling Off a Log", with all the strands from those being now woven together in "Everyday Love".
"Always forgive your enemies...nothing annoys them quite so much." Oscar Wilde
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Steve
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Really getting into it |
Location: London, England
Registered: November 2006
Messages: 465
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Tim, there is nothing to say except, CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!. You really do deserve this. I wish you all the luck in the world. Hugs, man, hugs - millions of 'em. 
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tim
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Really getting into it |
Location: UK, West of London in Ber...
Registered: February 2002
Messages: 842
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I first submitted this to them in May 2001. I had a hint that they were open to unconventional stories and I submitted the book to the company. Back in June they moved it to a different reader's queue and a different imprint. We had a bit of correspondence about my being unsure whetehr the imprint would "cope" with male/male romance.
Then I waited.
Then did a lot more waiting.
The rest is not "history" because we are still making history, and the deal is subject to contacts being acceptable. But subject to that issue and subject to editors' judgement, the novel will so far be unaltered.
But it IS encouraging.
I have the feeling that an imprint may ration the quantity of each class of work, otherwise it will get a particular brand image. But, as soon as contracts are signed, I'll let you all know who is going to publish the book.
It DOES mean that I will need to withdraw the book from the site, probably. It has not "seen print", and is being test marketed here. But I do nto think a commercial publisher wil wish for a free edition to be available.
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I'm so happy for you, Tim!
My sincerest congratulations!
This is fantastic news!
-Lenny
"But he that hath the steerage of my course,
direct my sail."
-William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet, Act One, Scene IV
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Guest
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On fire! |
Registered: March 2012
Messages: 2344
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No Message Body
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Charlie Smith
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Toe is in the water |
Registered: January 1970
Messages: 46
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No Message Body
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brian
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Toe is in the water |
Registered: January 1970
Messages: 60
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No Message Body
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tim
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Really getting into it |
Location: UK, West of London in Ber...
Registered: February 2002
Messages: 842
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I wonder if it is filmable?
Who would YOU have playing the parts? You get to choose ANY person alive or dead and make them the correct age.
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trevor
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Really getting into it |
Registered: November 2002
Messages: 732
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If you can't have future chapters/books on the web site, you will still need a few proofreaders before sending it into the publisher, right? 
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He'd need to bleach his hair though, no biggie there. And he's American, but even they can be taught to speak properly... (Just kidding, you yanks don't have to go and get upset )
Maybe not as athletic a build as "your" Nigel, but it could work, I think...
-Lenny
"But he that hath the steerage of my course,
direct my sail."
-William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet, Act One, Scene IV
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Congratulations, Tim, and keep us posted. I know I will want to add that little masterpiece to my ever growing library.
Hugs, Charlie
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cossie
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On fire! |
Location: Exiled in North East Engl...
Registered: July 2003
Messages: 1699
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First of all, many congratulations to Tim for breaking new ground in the far-from-easy world of publishing. We wait with bated breath and open cheque books ....
And for stars in the film version, the late (and much lamented) River Phoenix simply WAS Chris. Not so sure about Nigel. At the risk of admitting my age, I remember a black-and-white film called 'Blue Jeans', which starred Carol Lynley and Brandon de Wilde (also 'the late', alas - he was the young kid in 'Shane' some years earlier). I seem to remember fantasising to visions of his character. He'd fit the bill for Nigel - can anyone else remeber him?
And finally, Driver Nine. Yes, David, I agree that 'Sudden Storm' and 'Falling off a log' are classics well worth publication. But 'The Quarry' and 'Everyday Love'? I think not. I love his style of writing, and no-one else writing gay fiction comes near him as a writer of convincing dialogue, but he's lost touch with reality in these two tales. I expect the Pope to announce the canonisation of Dave Devino and Michael Waters any day now. Unlike the Queen of Hearts, impossible things before breakfast give me indigestion. I wish Driver would retreat from his ideal world into the real world we all live in - a harder edge would make his stories the classics his writing ability deserves to achieve. Incidentally, you didn't mention his short-story series 'Tales from the Quarry' - now that's full of real people and a delight to read!
Sorry to have been so elusive of late - it's the day job, y'know - but I HAVE been lurking, and I love the way this board is developing. Back soon!
For a' that an' a' that,
It's comin' yet for a' that,
That man tae man, the worrld o'er
Shall brithers be, for a' that.
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This is going to sound eminently weird, but you know what? I am really not surprised by Tim's news. I think that in the grand cosmic scheme of things, it was just all too inevitable that "Chris and Nigel" would someday (in Tim's lifetime!) be immortalized in print. This, however, does not diminish one whit the happy and joyous feelings this all-too-long-overdue news brings with it; and if I may, I'd like to join with everybody here by saying, "Congratulations, Tim! Best wishes for every success!"
I do hope, Tim, that using a computer as much as you do has not made your forget how to sign your name in the conventional way. You know all too well that the denizens of this message board are each going to want their copies personally autographed by the author himself; not to mention how handy that skill will be when those royalties checks (my spelling of that word certainly betrays which country I'm in, doesn't it!) start arriving in such quantities as to rival the number of letters Harry Potter received inviting him to come study at the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry!
Now, as for who to play our two heroes in the (again, all-too-inevitable!) film adaptation of the story. It's fun to speculate, but I'm afraid there are certain realities that would need to be addressed. I mean, it would be so wonderful if we could somehow go back to the mid 1980's, Tim's book in hand, and have River Phoenix (how I miss him!) and Wil Wheaton (who, by the way, I think is still quite good-looking!) follow up their heart-breakingly beautiful performances in "Stand by Me" with "Chris and Nigel" (I would say Wil Wheaton as Chris and River Phoenix as Nigel, although valid and convincing arguments to the contrary could very easily be made.) Be that as it may. As I understand it, Tim plans to take the story all the way through high school and into university (and then perhaps even beyond that). Even if they are seen doing nothing more than hold hands, kiss and hug, the film's producers would (I'm sure) insist that the two actors be 18 or over. These actors (whoever they end up being) would have to be able to be made to look convincingly young enough for the first part of the story (I've SO had my fill of these "teen" TV shows and films in which the actors are so obviously pushing 30!), and then appear to age naturally as the film progresses (even to the point of playing themselves as adults, although adult look-alikes might have to be settled for).
One thing at a time, though! After the book is published (and Tim has sold the film rights to the highest bidder who will whole-heartedly swear an oath insisting on remaining tenaciously faithful to the book, as was the case with Harry Potter!), I think we can then start to engage the cast of our dreams (which, I would guess, be different from any "dream cast" we may assemble today).
Just some random thoughts. I feel I can speak for all of us here in wishing Tim a success to at least equal that of J.K. Rowling!
We do not remember days...we remember moments.
Cesare Pavese
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richard lyon
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Toe is in the water |
Location: San Francisco
Registered: February 2002
Messages: 55
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No Message Body
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richard lyon
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Toe is in the water |
Location: San Francisco
Registered: February 2002
Messages: 55
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Sorry to disagree with you Cossie, but I believe that the title of the film in question was "Blue Denim". I remember it well and not from the late late show, so I guess we are both showing our age.
Richard
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cossie
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On fire! |
Location: Exiled in North East Engl...
Registered: July 2003
Messages: 1699
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No Message Body
For a' that an' a' that,
It's comin' yet for a' that,
That man tae man, the worrld o'er
Shall brithers be, for a' that.
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cossie
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On fire! |
Location: Exiled in North East Engl...
Registered: July 2003
Messages: 1699
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Umm. According to my well-thumbed copy of Halliwell's Film Guide, the film was distributed in the US and elsewhere as 'Blue Denim', but was issued as 'Blue Jeans' in the UK. So we're both right. But did you find the teenage Brandon de Wilde a turn-on? I did - I saw the film at least five times and had a number of sticky situations as a result! It also gave rise to my very first writing venture - I wrote a story precis which was published in a local underground magazine to some acclaim. I was flogged at school (well, you were in those days!) for my moral deviation, but congratulated on my literary style! Ah, sweet bird of youth!
For a' that an' a' that,
It's comin' yet for a' that,
That man tae man, the worrld o'er
Shall brithers be, for a' that.
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I remember that film well, of course! And young Master brandon was certainly a hottie...I even loved him in Shane!
Blue jeans...Blue Denim... And then there was a FRENCH film, also called Blue Jeans, also with yet another very cute young guy starring...at least, I THINK it was another film...couldn't have been the same one was there?
Some of those French films were great..."This Special Friendship", "Au Revoir Les Enfants", and so on and on...
"Always forgive your enemies...nothing annoys them quite so much." Oscar Wilde
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richard lyon
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Toe is in the water |
Location: San Francisco
Registered: February 2002
Messages: 55
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That's very interesting. Any idea why they would change the title for distribution in the UK?
I certainly did drool over Brandon. I was sooo jelous when it ended with his going off with Carol - pppppttttt!!!
Richard
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cossie
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On fire! |
Location: Exiled in North East Engl...
Registered: July 2003
Messages: 1699
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It's a curious fact, but ever since cinema established itself as an art form there have been title variations across the Atlantic. As an illustration, I opened my 'Halliwell' at random and in the space of four pages found the following:
THE LODGER (GB 1926, director Alfred Hitchcock). US Title: 'The Case of Jonathan Drew'.
THE LODGER (GB 1932, director Maurice Elvey). US Title: 'The Phantom Fiend'.
LONDON AFTER MIDNIGHT (US 1927, director Tod Browning). GB Title: 'The Hypnotost'.
LONDON BELONGS TO ME (GB 1948, director Sidney Gilliat). US Title: 'Dulcimer Street'.
THE LONDON BLACKOUT MURDERS (US 1942, director George Sherman).
GB Title 'Secret Motive'.
LONDON MELODY (GB 1937, director Herbert Wilcox). US title: 'Girls in the Street'.
LONDON TOWN (GB 1946, director Wesley Ruggles). US title: My Heart goes Crazy'.
THE LONG AND THE SHORT AND THE TALL (GB 1960, director Leslie Norman). US Title: 'Jungle Fighters'.
THE LONG ARM (GB 1956, director Charles Frend). US title: 'The Third Key'.
It still happens. The film of J. K. Rowling's book 'Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone' appeared under that title in most of the world, but as 'Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone' in the US. I'm not sure why these changes are thought necessary. Our tabloid press thinks it's because Americams are stupid. It was alleged that the successful London west End play 'The Madness of George III' was filmed as 'The Madness of King George' because if released under its original title US citizens would stay away, believing that they would have lost the plot since they hadn't seen 'The Madness of George I' and 'The Madness of George II'. But of course that's not true. Is it?
For a' that an' a' that,
It's comin' yet for a' that,
That man tae man, the worrld o'er
Shall brithers be, for a' that.
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and I'm not Lost (in Space), I think. Now was that George Wahington or George Wahington Carver? Which George are you talking about? Or is that Boy George?
Hugs, Charlie
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richard lyon
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Toe is in the water |
Location: San Francisco
Registered: February 2002
Messages: 55
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No it's not true. We would have thought that it had to do with George Washington running for a third term.
Richard
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I fear it is sad but true.
A case in point is right here in the great state of Connecticut. Recently, the government here was most eager to spend close to four million of the taxpayers' dollars to build a new football stadium which would have been a win/win situation for the professional football team in question; while, at the same time, right next door to me in the town of Stratford, there is the Shakespeare Festival Theatre which, for lack of just a couple of million dollars from the state to jump-start it, lies languishing and dark. That deal for the football stadium, fortunately, came to nothing; and yet it seems most taxpayers would have preferred four hundred million of their tax dollars go towards building that stadium over two million of those tax dollars go to the Shakespeare Theatre.
In this country, that's what passes for "priorities", and is yet another example of what is termed "The Dumbing Down of America".
To call that film "The Madness of George III" would have indeed caused Americans to wonder why they never saw the other two "prequels". So yes, for that same reason, they had to change the title of the first "Harry Potter" book and movie for U.S. consumption. In the rest of the English-speaking world, the concept of "the philosopher's stone" is quite well-established (and not just in literary circles, either). In the U.S., however, it definitely would leave most people scratching their pointed little heads (they are just intelligent enough to know that "sorcerer" is a synonym for "magician", so that they can understand).
Here's one more example of an inexplicable change in title. The British film "Dangerous Moonlight" (for which Richard Addinsell composed his world-famous "Warsaw Concerto") was titled "Suicide Squadron" when it was shown in the U.S. Go figure....
We do not remember days...we remember moments.
Cesare Pavese
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trevor
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Really getting into it |
Registered: November 2002
Messages: 732
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No Message Body
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WOO HOO! 
YYAAAAAYY 
A thought (well I do have them sometimes) 
How about a 14-year-old Wil Wheaton as Nigel? 
Blue Denim 
