Inkwell: Authors and Artists

    
I wouldn't be surprised if it was _Doonesbury_.  Thanks, Holley.
  

    <scribbled by dfowlkes Tue 3 Jul 12 10:14>
  

    
Let me go on record as saying I would not want Lorraine's job.
  

    
It seems that it's too late to get a room in the hotel block (and one must
do it by streetmail).  I suppose I could pay extra and get a room outside
the block though....
  

    
Room with Dan Guy!
  

    
Too selfish.  So much of my misspent youth was spent at cons with like seven
roommates that I'm spending the rest of my life trying to average it down.
  

    
Heh.
  

    
Alas. Not going me. Must live vicariously off'n all y'all.

Somebody IS recording the Halloween every night though? Please? A copy
for me?

Just got the Neverwhere official discs from Amazon. Will have fun the
rest of week checking it out. Yay. 
  

    
Hotel deadline was extended to the 29th - so act fast!
  

    
One becomes so spoiled by technology--it's weird to have to download, print,
and streetmail.
  

    
Press Release #5

FIDDLER'S GREEN HOTEL DEADLINE EXTENDED

FIDDLER’S GREEN, A SANDMAN CONVENTION
PO Box 527, Grand Blanc, MI 48480-0527

info@fiddlersgreencon.org - http://www.fiddlersgreencon.org/

For Immediate Release: 17th October, 2004


The Fiddler's Green special group rate for rooms at The Millennium  
Hotel has been extended. Reservations must be received via mail by  
*October 29, 2004* to enjoy our special group rate ($115 per night
plus  
tax for standard rooms for 1-4 occupants).

The hotel reservation form and mailing instructions are available on  
the Fiddlers Green website at  
http://www.fiddlersgreencon.org/hotel.htm. If you have any difficulty
downloading the form, please contact innkeeper@fiddlersgreencon.org

The hotel reservation form should be mailed to: Fiddler's Green, PO
Box  
527, Grand Blanc, MI 48480-0527, USA. If you reside in the U.S.,
please  
note that Express Mail will deliver to PO boxes, and should take 3-4  
days for delivery. If you anticipate difficulty in getting your  
reservation in on time, please contact innkeeper@fiddlersgreencon.org 

or mailroom@fiddlersgreencon.org.

For more information on Fiddler's Green, please visit the convention  
web site at http://www.fiddlersgreencon.org/

The registration form for Fiddler's Green (including the option to
join  
the CBLDF) and mailing instructions are available at  
http://www.fiddlersgreencon.org/membership.htm


===========================================================

Contact: Mimi Ko, Randi Mason press@fiddlersgreencon.org

Fiddler’s Green, A Sandman Convention, will take place at The  
Millennium Hotel, Minneapolis, MN from November 12 through November 14
 
2004. All of the proceeds from the convention will be donated to the  
Comic Book Legal Defense Fund (http://www.cbldf.org/). More
information  
about Fiddler’s Green is available from its web site  
(http://www.fiddlersgreencon.org/) or by writing to  
info@fiddlersgreencon.org.

To be removed from the Fiddler’s Green press release mailing list  
please write to press@fiddlersgreencon.org.

Sandman created by Neil Gaiman, Sam Kieth, and Mike Dringenberg.  
Sandman and all related characters are trademarks of and copyright DC 

Comics.
  

    
Press Release #6

FIDDLER'S GREEN ADVANCE MEMBERSHIP DEADLINE AND AT-THE-DOOR RATES

FIDDLER’S GREEN, A SANDMAN CONVENTION
PO Box 527, Grand Blanc, MI 48480-0527

info@fiddlersgreencon.org - http://www.fiddlersgreencon.org/

For Immediate Release: 17th October, 2004

The advance rate for attending memberships at Fiddler's Green is  
$100/person for registrations received via mail by *25 October 2004*. 

Afterwards, attending memberships will be available only at the  
convention, until the convention is sold out (500), at the following  
rates:

Full Weekend $120
Friday only $ 50
Saturday only $ 75
Sunday only $ 50


All attending memberships, including one-day memberships, include a  
copy of the Fiddler’s Green Souvenir Book  
(http://www.fiddlersgreencon.org/souvenir.htm).

The Fiddler's Green registration form (including the option to join
the  
CBLDF) and mailing instructions are available at  
http://www.fiddlersgreencon.org/membership.htm.

The membership registration form should be mailed to: Fiddler's Green,
 
PO Box 527, Grand Blanc, MI 48480-0527, USA. If you reside in the
U.S.,  
Express Mail will deliver to PO boxes, and should take 3-4 days for  
delivery.

Please note that attending memberships may be transferred to another  
person, with proper documentation to the FG registrar, but they are
not  
refundable.

For more information on Fiddler's Green, please visit the convention  
web site at http://www.fiddlersgreencon.org/

===========================================================

Contact: Mimi Ko, Randi Mason press@fiddlersgreencon.org

Fiddler’s Green, A Sandman Convention, will take place at The  
Millennium Hotel, Minneapolis, MN from November 12 through November 14
 
2004. All of the proceeds from the convention will be donated to the  
Comic Book Legal Defense Fund (http://www.cbldf.org/). More
information  
about Fiddler’s Green is available from its web site  
(http://www.fiddlersgreencon.org/) or by writing to  
info@fiddlersgreencon.org.

To be removed from the Fiddler’s Green press release mailing list  
please write to press@fiddlersgreencon.org.

Sandman created by Neil Gaiman, Sam Kieth, and Mike Dringenberg.  
Sandman and all related characters are trademarks of and copyright DC 

Comics.
  

    
Christy - (#223) Dunno how long ago... just know it's been an open
channel for announcements since we started taking memberships.

DanGuy - Yay!!! Huzzah to more people going and bringing costumes! :D
As for info, to the best of my knowledge, you'll be getting an email
confirmation any day now. If you don't get one in the next few days,
shoot off another email to registration@ and make sure they got it. I
know some of the credit card processing is taking a while because
they're doing it in batches, but I don't think that's effecting your
registration for the con. I'm so glad you're going! What questions did
you have for the con? (or were they all reg-related?)
  

    
Dan -- just read your comment here on the Well. I didn't reply to your
email when you sent it (10/14) because you asked me to confirm that
there was still space available -- that is on the website and has been
mentioned in Neil's blog -- and whether or not the convention was
actually taking place -- er . . . I didn't think that one even
required a response. I do try to answer every single email that is
dropped into my inbox, and 99.99% of the time I succeed. However, I
get _a lot_ of email regarding the convention, and something like the
one you sent (unfortunately) takes low priority because you'd already
told me your reg was in the mail and your two questions seemed, well,
low-priority. Thank you for emailing your registration in to us, but
we can not accept them that way, and you will receive a confirmation
email and an invitation to Gilbert's List when we receive your
registration in the mail. Thanks!  -- Maure
  

    
Oh, so Maure isn't on the Well anymore!  I thought there was a
significant dearth of Maures and Taras lately.
  

    
Went shopping last night for the wedding I'm going to in Bethlehem, PA
this coming weekend.  Among the registered gifts I bought...

...was a Zoidberg.  >;) 
(http://www.neilgaiman.com/journal/2004/06/morning-catch-up.asp)
  

    <scribbled by dfowlkes Tue 3 Jul 12 10:14>
  

    
Sorry for all the FG spam, but I do know that there are some of us
going:

Press Release #7

FIDDLER'S GREEN SOUVENIR BOOK

FIDDLER’S GREEN, A SANDMAN CONVENTION
PO Box 527, Grand Blanc, MI 48480-0527

info@fiddlersgreencon.org - http://www.fiddlersgreencon.org/

For Immediate Release: 17th October, 2004


Fiddler’s Green is a unique convention, and the convention’s Souvenir 
Book will also be a unique compilation for Sandman fans and
collectors.

This limited edition Souvenir Book features:
- A never before published, full-color Dave McKean cover, originally 
made for a special sketchbook for Neil Gaiman when he moved from 
England to the U.S.
- Several of the sketches in that gift book, drawn for Neil by Sandman

artists and other friends
- Neil Gaiman's full original script of Sandman #70 “The Wake: Chapter

One”

The Souvenir Book will also include articles by and about, interviews 
with, and art by, the Fiddler’s Green Guests of Honor (Neil Gaiman, 
Karen Berger, Charles Vess, Todd Klein, Jill Thompson and Caitlin R. 
Kiernan) , as well as text and art contributions from many Sandman 
creators and friends, including:

Gary Amaro
Chris Bachalo
Clive Barker
Poppy Z. Brite
Jonathan Carroll
Richard Case
Mike Dringenberg
Duncan Eagleson
Will Eisner
John M. Ford
Bob Greenberger
Scott McCloud
Steve Oliff
Shea Anton Pensa
Will Shetterly
Lisa Snellings
Alec Stevens
Barron Storey
Bryan Talbot
Lawrence Watt-Evans
Gene Wolfe
Michael Zulli

A copy of the Souvenir Book is included with every Fiddler’s Green 
membership (attending memberships, including one-day memberships, and 
supporting memberships).

The Fiddler's Green registration form (including the option to join
the 
CBLDF) and mailing instructions are available at: 
http://www.fiddlersgreencon.org/membership.htm

The advance rate for attending memberships is $100/person for 
registrations received via mail by *25 October 2004*. Afterwards, 
attending memberships will be available only at the convention, until 
the convention is sold out (500), at the following rates:

Full Weekend $120
Friday only $ 50
Saturday only $ 75
Sunday only $ 50

Please note that attending memberships may be transferred to another 
person, with proper documentation to the FG registrar, but they are
not 
refundable.

The membership registration form should be mailed to: Fiddler's Green,

PO Box 527, Grand Blanc, MI 48480-0527, USA. If you reside in the
U.S., 
Express Mail will deliver to PO boxes, and should take 3-4 days for 
delivery.

For more information on Fiddler's Green, please visit the convention 
web site at http://www.fiddlersgreencon.org/

===========================================================

Contact: Randi Mason, Mimi Ko press@fiddlersgreencon.org

Fiddler’s Green, A Sandman Convention, will take place at The 
Millennium Hotel, Minneapolis, MN from November 12 through November 14

2004. All of the proceeds from the convention will be donated to the 
Comic Book Legal Defense Fund (http://www.cbldf.org/). More
information 
about Fiddler’s Green is available from its web site 
(http://www.fiddlersgreencon.org/) or by writing to 
info@fiddlersgreencon.org.

To be removed from the Fiddler’s Green press release mailing list 
please write to press@fiddlersgreencon.org.

Sandman created by Neil Gaiman, Sam Kieth, and Mike Dringenberg. 
Sandman and all related characters are trademarks of and copyright DC 
Comics.
  

    
I'm getting new car syndrome. My car will be paid off in December and
the bank that has the note is sending me reams of offers to finance my
next one. I WANT a Z BMW. Prefer the 3 or 4 to the more recent ones and
they are reasonably priced and and and...

So that's why I don't have money to come. Along with starting to pay
off my school loans and other bills and stuff.
  

    
Every time I see something about this Fiddlers Green con, I have to
wonder if you are aware of a poem we recited in Basic Training when I
went to train as a 19D Cav Scout in the Army.

Fiddler's Green

Halfway down the trail to hell
In a shady meadow green,
Are the souls of all dead troopers camped
Near a good old-time canteen,
And this eternal resting place,
Is known as Fiddler's Green.

Marching past, straight thorugh to Hell,
The Infantry are seen,
Accompanied by the Engineers,
Artillery and Marine,
For none but the shades of Cavalrymen
Dismount at Fiddler's Green. 

Though some go curing down the trail
To seek a warmer scene,
No trooper ever gets to Hell
Ere he's emptied his canteen,
And so rides back to drink again
With friends at Fiddler's Green. 

And so when man and horse go down
Beneath a saber keen,
Or in a roaring charge or fierce melee
You stop the bullet clean,
And the hostiles come to get your scalp,
Just empty your canteen,
And put your pistol to your head
And go to Fiddler's Green. 
 
In a way, it ties in really well with the Sandman mythos, which is one
of my favorite stories to read when I can get it.  (Neil, you are a
pehnominal talent.  Thank you.) But I was wondering if there's any U.S.
Cav tie ins in the Sandman stories that I was unaware of?
  

    
Wouldn't surprise me too much, knowing the tapestry of allusions in
Neil's work....

Wow, Tony, I didn't know you were military!  Learn something new every
day.  And welcome!

(To all who don't know him, (randomize27) is extremely cool.  But of
course I would be saying that about the only other Christopher Titus
fan I know of.  ;)   )
  

    
Yep.  Served in the 24 Infantry Division, 2/4 Cav.

Not in any more, but it was a life-changing experience.
  

    
Has anybody figured out the "13 Nights of Fright" Mystery Word for
today?  (http://www.foxmoviechannel.com/month/fright_gaiman/index.asp) 
After reading the synopsis of the _Tales from the Crypt_ episode that
was allegedly shown last night, the only appropriate word I could think
of that filled the right number of blanks was VENGEANCE -- which
apparently is incorrect.
  

    
Well, it finally happened.

I lost a student.

He was in my 9th period Drama class last year.  He was the star of the
basketball team, despite being only about 5'5".  The parties were
always at his house, and I delighted in the look of pure terror that
would cross his face when I would say, "Now, how do I get to your
house, again, Earthworm?" (a nickname he earned because he went *under*
all those taller players on the basketball court, moving like
lightning).  He was too polite to tell me a teacher wouldn't be wanted
at a student party (and he was afraid I was serious).  He had the most
beautiful smile.......

I saw him last week at the Homecoming festivities.  He was working at
UPS, and taking some college classes.  He said he was going to transfer
to a four-year school next semester.  I looked at him slyly....."Gonna
play a little ball?"  "Well, I hope so.  I'm gonna try."  He was too
small to have been recruited, but he was gonna try out for the team,
and see what happened.

He'd have made it, too.  Terrence never played without giving it all
of his heart.

He was at somebody's house, and they came out and got in the car. 
Thet's when the shooting started.

I feel like I'm carrying something really heavy, and I keep trying to
put it down.  Then I realize that I can't.

My kids are a mess.  The counselors have been working their asses off
all day.  A lot of students just left school.  God knows where they
went.

Think kind thoughts for them.  They lost a friend 2 years ago on the
16th of December, shot in front of the school.  Now this.  One of last
year's seniors told me today, "I'm afraid that when our 10-year reunion
comes, there won't be anybody there."

Mary, in hell
  

    
I am so sorry, Mary.