Blatella Transmitus

June 30, 2005 @ 1:44 pm

In the beginning, the Dream Factory was built of sugar cubes and belched rainbow smoke over gardens where the butterflies sang and the hummingbirds shat glitter. The process of finishing the first book was all anticipation and newness, but this isn’t the first book. Oompa Loompas don’t wake me up in the mornings, anymore. This time ’round, I’m in the MacAdam/Cage offices the night before the Gray Ripper comes calling, inputting the last of Jason’s edits and even more of my own, having recently shaken a furious head cold and trying to finish this second book before the wedding (and preceding bachelor party) of a close friend. As I write this, Dermaphoria is in the hands of the typesetter, and the list of post-op complications grows in my head by the minute.

The last month has seen my roommates enduring my schizophrenic work habits, having set up camp in our living room after trashing my own room with a mixture of dirty laundry and scattered notes. I found a desk in the street late one night, and hauled it up our stairs at about 3:00 in the morning, and have since turned our collective space into a sort of hellish study hall. I’ve neglected friends, dishes, trash, laundry and the Velvet, in no particular order. I’ve refused all interview requests over the last year, swearing I wouldn’t do another until I had a new novel. I’ve avoided the Interrogation Room, as it grows more daunting by the week, and will do my best to start chipping away at some of the unanswered questions.

For now, the house has returned to normal, minus the yellow police barrier tape over the entrance to the Pit. I’m going to avoid the place for a while, let my brain breathe a bit. I’m happier than I thought I’d be with the story at this point but, in truth, I still feel a long way from the shore. Nonetheless, I’m going to force myself to not write for the next few weeks and let the ideas ferment.

Godspeed to Mirka and Dennis. Thanks to everyone at the Velvet for the kind words, thus far. I hope the finished work exceeds expectations.

By all accounts,

Craig