Merci Beaucoup
Probably one of the most gratifying things about being a writer is seeing how one’s work inspires other people, either creatively or in their daily lives. There is no author I know that doesn’t love reading their fan mail, and who doesn’t have some prized letter or gift displayed in their office that came in the mail from a reader. Back in the day, this correspondence was usually done by way of the author’s publisher, and was often delayed and sometimes never reached the author at all.
I am incredibly fortunate to live in a time when technology has allowed me to easily interact with readers all over the world. Between the Peephole, Facebook, Myspace, and plain old email , Painted Man readers from all over the world have a way to interact with me and with each other. Still, I am continually amazed when people who speak a different language than I do, or who live across the ocean, or on the other side (or underside ^^) of the friggin’ planet take the time to write to me, or to blog about my book, or make their own warded items, or to create art or poetry based on the Painted Man’s world.
Writing is a lonely and often frustrating business, and these rays of sunshine are my personal wards. As someone who was always the wallflower at the party, words fail when I try to describe how much they mean to me.
Take Jessica and Marilia from France, for instance. Both bilingual (and then some), they read The Painted Man in English months ago, and are totally excited about the recent French release, l’Homme Rune, because now their friends who don’t read English can finally enjoy the book. They wrote and asked permission to create a French Fan Forum for my work. Of course I said I would love it, and you’ll have to agree it is awesome. They have included TONS of stuff, including discussions of the book, talk of the upcoming movie, translations of my old blog entries, and even Leesha’s Recipe Book.
Literally something for everyone.
To celebrate the new forum, they threw a party, and warded their faces. No, seriously. This actually happened:
Cat demon. Vicious little beasts.
These next two are my favorites!
And of course the Forum Plug:
Jess, the warded woman in gray, also just sent me two more entries in the Painted Man Fan Art Contest (submit entries to peat@www.petervbrett.com by Nov. 15!). Check them out:
Young Rojer with his talisman:
And beautiful Leesha:
In other French news, there have been a few early reviews of the book on le Blog de Stupidboy as well as the Milady Blog review, the Bragelonne Forum, and the Library Critic. The blog If is Dead claims the book is this year’s Bragelonne Coup de Coeur, which I’m not sure how to translate exactly. Maybe Punch the heart? Heartstopper? BMFG?
Anyway, I assume that’s good.
I have more blogs updates planned to mention some of the exciting things going on in Germany, Poland, Portugal, Spain and more, but for now I’m off tomorrow to the World Fantasy Convention in San Jose.
Merci beaucoup.
Coup de Couer, would be “Cut of the heart” literally. I think the translation is clear – it gets you right there!
A Coup de Coeur is one of the books they prefer and that hold a special place in their heart 🙂 It’s like you love it so much that it punch you in the heart, squeesing it with emotion!
Thank you so much for your kindness! If all the authors were like you!!!
It’s weird to have my face on the blog of one of my favorite authors *blushing*
That’s awesome! The first official Forum, great job Jessica and Marilia!!
Ahhhh! The awesomeness is never ending!
The picture of the girl in the green doing the stare-down would make even a demon pee itself.
I am IN LOVE with the Rojer drawing, and Leesha looks damn sexy.
GOOOOOO FRANCE!
Damn, did you read our critic ? 😀 We loved your book. To tell the truth, I remember my partner tipping that L’Homme-Rune was Milady’s “coup de coeur”, Bragelonne’s one is Le Nom Du Vent (The Name of the Wind, by Rothfuss). But both are two different sections of the same editor, I think you know it anyway.
What we call a “coup de coeur” in France is something that isn’t the best, in an objective way, but what you prefer the most and can’t tell why. I hope I made myself clear.
It’s really pleasant to see foreign authors reading our critic !
Good luck / work for the next book !
(my english is poor, shame on me)
1000 messages in just one week!!! 5 members! It’s a pretty good start I think 😀