It is not uncommon for one writer to compose an introduction or preface for another writer’s book. I was thinking about this idea today–who I would like to write an introduction for my book Maledicus: The Investigative Paranormal Paranormal Society, Book 1. For me, I would have liked Edgar Allan Poe to write this preface or introduction. He would have been a perfect choice.
My question to all of you is this: What dead author would you like to write the preface or introduction to one of your books?
Gallows Hill can be found here in ebook.
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An interview about Gallows Hill can be found here.
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Thank you!
The book trailer:
Maledicus:Investigative Paranormal Society Book I
My radio interview:
This is a really interesting question — I have to think about this for awhile.
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Thank you, and I look forward to hearing your answer.
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Have been thinking about this via commuting to work on the train/at the copier at my job while scanning thousands of pages, etc. and I think who I would ask would depend on what I am writing. My first novella/because it was short was written in the late 1990’s/in my late 20’s and I would probably ask the two/2 writers I was able to study the craft with in college to do an introduction or a blurb: Oscar Hijuelos, author of the Mambo Kings Play Songs of Love, who sadly has passed away and Vince Passaro author of the book Violence, Nudity Adult Content — he still writing and kicking. Writing a book is a hard challenge, finding an agent/publisher is also a hard challenge, that novella probably was too short and why agents/small indie publishers I queried like it to an extent but passed. My 2nd novel attempt started in the early 2000’s and I wrote it though my 30’s into my early 40’s–and was like painting a mural (to borrow from my mum who is a painter/artist). Many characters narratives and plot lines. It also required a lot of research and I fell down the hole especially with keeping up with science although it was a mixture of sci fi/dystopian fiction/magical realism: I would have loved to have asked the great Octavia Butler, a visionary writer, sadly also no longer with us for an intro/blurb or perhaps Margaret Atwood since the book focused on many feminist themes. I worked on it for over ten/10 years, and I hope to return to it at some point. It needs TLC and major narrative surgery/clean up. In May 2018, when my mother’s breast cancer returned and she need surgery I started writing my current book/project, it’s quite different as well, with older characters, working class, that have experienced death, loss/grief, struggle with debt/making ends meet, along with chronic anxiety (one lead character), PTSD (the other lead character), parenting, and other everyday/typical stress and due to luck/fate find joy in each other. If this ever is published I would like to ask Alice Hoffman for an intro and blurb because while it is not full blown magical realism, her work did greatly influence me. There are some Austen-type influences as well but asking Ms, Austen for an intro/blurb would require time travel and sort of loop me back to the second book! Thank you again–such an excellent question/exercise!
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You are very welcome, and thank you for the well-considered and thoughtful answer. I wish you good fortune in your writing.
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Thank you. And I should also add–it was interesting to think about past the bounds of time, logic, etc. If I ever finish the book, I will probably ask Vince as he is a writer I still respect/and correspond with, and I would understand if he refused. I’m sure many former students must ask him. In theory, it’s nice to say Alice Hoffman but in reality I don’t think it would be a good idea to cold call/ask for a clip or for an introduction from a writer that I have never never studied with or met, except briefly from attending one of her readings, etc.
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Still, it couldn’t hurt to ask. And you are welcome.
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I would have been honored to have Mark Twain write an introduction for my novel, “The Bright Side of Darkness.” Twain had a keen understanding of the hearts and minds of teenage boys; so much so that the protagonist in my book, himself a reluctant reader, was introduced to “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” as a way to meet his first literary friends.
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What a wonderful choice!
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Thank you. Mark Twain has always been a favorite author of mine because of his wit and his ability to fall seamlessly into the dialect of his characters.
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Yes! His work is brilliant.
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Maya Angelou! 🙂
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That is a fantastic choice!
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Jack London. High adventure, conflict, action and consequences. That’s what I try to portray.
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A great choice.
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Interesting question! I would like Hildreth Wriston to write the introduction to Telling Sonny. She was from Enosburg Falls, Vermont, which is where my book begins and ends. She wrote children’s books about Vermont; I write adult fiction about Vermont.
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You have made a fascinating and excellent choice.
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Thank you!
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You are welcome.
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I’m sure my answer won’t surprise you, give my guest post a while back. If I were to write a book, and had my choice of any late great author, I would definitely choose Ray Bradbury, because of the incredible influence he had on me as a reader.
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Amanda, the choice of Ray Bradbury is excellent!
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That’s tough. For my novel, either Dostoevsky or Walker Percy. For my next history, the late Sir Geoffrey Elton. That’s a good question.
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Thank you! They are excellent choices, and I hope you are having a great summer.
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H.P. Lovecraft.
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An excellent choice!
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Thank you for the link to your interview, Professor French. I enjoyed it immensely!
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You are very welcome, and thank you for listening to it!
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I think, Charles, I would chose Bram Stoker for my forthcoming Through the Nethergate and HG Wells for my WIP sci fi dystopian novel. I was very disappointed in Frankenstein. Have you read it? what did you think of it?
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Hi Robbie, They are excellent choices. Yes, I have read Frankenstein, and I teach this book in several classes. Please remember this short book was written by a young woman of 19 and was her first novel. It is also important to remember the subtitle, which is often dropped, but establishes Greek tragic themes: The Modern Prometheus. Sorry about launching into teacher mode!
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Thanks Charles, I do hear you but I just can’t finish this book. I am not finding the amazing philosophical thought processes that are present in other great novels. I understand why this book is famous because her idea and concept were outstanding for the time. Her presentation is just not interesting enough to hold my interest.
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Also, not everyone likes all books. There is nothing wrong in this.
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Actually, I think I will do some research around the characterisation of the book and maybe that will rekindle my interest. I did this for Dracula and H.G. Well’s books but only after I had read them. Thanks.
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You are very welcome!
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I would ask Lester Dent to write mine because it would have to be somone who used to the weird and strangeness that life can bring us.
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Great choice.
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Thank you sir….I had a feeling you would dig that….
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You are welcome!
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My favorites would be an automatic choice. Jonathan Swift or George Orwell. However, I am reading Leo Tolstoy at the moment and perhaps…
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All are wonderful choices!
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I agree whole heartedly.
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pat conroy
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Great choice!
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From the not too far distant past but I loved him
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I would say Terry Pratchett, but my work isn’t silly enough for him.
What I write is more an Ursula K. Le Guin kinda thing- but I couldn’t ever presume any of them would want to write an introduction to my work!
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They are all excellent choices, and you would not have to make that presumption. It is simply a question of who you would like to do it.
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If and when I write a book I think it would be something fitting for Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings to write an introduction for. I visited her old homestead in Cross Creek a few years back, not far from me.
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Thank you!
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What a great question! I’d probably like Maya Angelou, or Margaret Wise Brown, or Virginia Lee Burton to write my introduction.
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Thank you, and wonderful choices!
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You’re welcome, Charles!
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Oh that’s tough. My favorite, most respected author is J.R.R. Tolkien, but we don’t dabble in the same genres. Well, I guess I’d still pick him.
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He is a fine choice.
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Either Jack London or Robert E. Howard.
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both are wonderful choices!
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Mary Shelley
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Excellent choice!
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Good choice!
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Reblogged this on The Reluctant Poet.
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Thank you!
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Interesting question! I have to think which story. If it’s a horror, I would like Stephen King to write the preface. If a thriller, Jeffery Deaver. If a literary or mainstream, Oprah Winfrey. If a humor book, Dave Barry.
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Thank you! All are wonderful choices!
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As for dead writers: Ambrose Bierce for horror; Kurt Vonnegut for literary. I guess I covered most genres for live writers (though you didn’t ask for that) in my first comment.
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I don’t mind when answers go in different directions from what I asked.
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It would be Olive Schreiner for the novel I’m busy querying, at the moment.
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Wonderful!
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I wrote an essay called Earth Tribes and I really wanted Floyd Red Crow Westerman (Dances with Wolves) to narrate the whole thing. Not exactly book length but he would have been perfect!
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Yes, a wonderful choice. Did you have it published?
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I published it on my very first website back in 2000 which is now gone.
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Would you consider putting it back up?
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You know, I’m putting together a second edition of a chapbook Sleeps with Knives – it would work in this book! Thanks for making me think!
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You are welcome, and please let us know when that book comes out.
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If I ever write a book (which I want to, someday) I would like Richard Bach to give an introduction. His books, particularly Jonathan Livingston Seagull, has such in dept philosophy and imagery that never fails to amaze me even after reading the book for more than 6 times!!
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An excellent choice!
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Have you read any of his works?
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Yes, I have. Jonathan Livingston Seagull.
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Ok 😄
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I would like an intro by Edgar Cayce for my book “Escorting the Dead.” Although he’s not really an author, his words would mean a lot (to me).
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That works!
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