The Misenchanted Newsletter #191: The Sidewalks of New York
No, I haven’t really been to New York in years, but virtually I’ve been spending a lot of time there — in 1884.
I’ve been making pretty good progress on Tom Derringer & the Sinister Statue. The plot really doesn’t look anything like my original outline anymore, but it’s coming along reasonably well. I estimate I’m not quite halfway through.
And I may be spending more time on researching the period than on actually writing. I’ve been exploring maps — a lot of streets from 1884 have different names now, if they still exist at all — and learning about horsecars, garbage removal, men’s fashions, pawn shops, and so on. I’ve caught an error back in Tom Derringer & the Aluminum Airship — the description of the location of the Pierce Archives isn’t possible. That location doesn’t exist. Since it’s too late to change it, I’m assuming Tom made a slip of the tongue and said “a few blocks” when he meant “a block or so.”
On a whim, one day when I didn’t feel like thinking about Tom, I added a little to Swordsmen of the Fallen Empire. Mostly, though, I’ve been focused on Mr. Derringer and company.
I’ve gotten my schedule for the Seattle Worldcon next month:
Wednesday Aug. 13 4:30 pm: Table Talk
Thursday Aug. 14 1:30 pm: SFF in Comics! (panel)
Saturday Aug. 16 1:30 pm: Autograph session
And other than that, life in semi-retirement goes on as usual. We’re getting our usual beautiful summer weather, the island swarms with tourists every weekend, and I’m catching up on a thirty-year backlog of reading. Hope you’re all surviving as well.
— Lawrence