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SPECULATIONS

for writers who want to be read

Author Topics : Kent Brewster

Kent Brewster is the perpetrator of Speculations, the new (and not-so-new) writer's best friend. A seven-time Hugo and one-time Nebula loser, he lives and works in Silicon Valley, with his beautiful wife Vickie, 3.2 children, and a border collie named Misty who likes to get into the chocolate-covered espresso beans and exceed the speed of light.

Kent's Other Life is on display on Brewster's Field Guide to Web 2.666, where he dinks around with Web pages and posts the results. And for a stunning example of minimalist Web design, be sure to check out Kent's Butt-Ugly Home Page, which hasn't seen a significant update since 1997.

Kent Brewster

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239 comments found - Newest 100 - Newer 100 - Older 100 - Oldest 100

Message 499771 by Kent Brewster on 2006-10-23 23:15:47. Feedback: 0

Sorry, been scarce here. CAC: the Rumor Mill started life as a gnarly little CGI script, went through phases in Perl (remember the guestbook from Matt's Script Archive?) and has settled into middle age in PHP, with a few custom extensions and server hacks. We're on our third major PHP rewrite, and I am currently working up Number Four. The back end is Apache and MySQL, kept running courtesy of the nice folks at Hurricane Electric, which I strongly recommend. (About me: I'm actually pretty qualified to do this, and have some pretty good resources to call on when I get in over my head. In my Other Life, I'm a technology evangelist at a Very Large Internet Company, and I'm fortunate enough to work with the creators of both PHP and Apache, the guy who literally wrote the book on high-performance MySQL, and two other guys who really know their stuff around online community.)

Message 491811 by Michael Greenhut on 2006-09-05 20:21:14. Feedback: 0

I'll third this. Kent, there must be some way of blocking the offending IP addresses. Seems like two of them are causing most of the trouble. What do you program this site in? Just curious, since I used php to code Creative Arts Central.

Message 491791 by =David Leek on 2006-09-05 15:25:27. Feedback: 0

I am in agreement. We're out of witty things to say to the jerk in the Laff Thread.

Message 489719 by Lori White on 2006-08-06 13:52:30. Feedback: 0

Uh--fyi....

Message 489718 by Lori White on 2006-08-06 13:52:11. Feedback: 0

Kent, the spam is getting out of hand.

Message 487001 by =David Leek on 2006-06-17 00:26:29. Feedback: 0

The link you put up for Tesserae in my Tyrian Book thread is borked. :P

Message 485490 by Year Ray on 2006-05-22 17:25:47. Feedback: 0

I had a great time at Mindsack and BUHP. DCL

Message 485484 by Mystery Guest on 2006-05-22 16:40:11. Feedback: 0

Thanks Lindsey! I'll head over to Caveat Scrivener right now :-) Jerry

Message 485469 by Lindsey Johnson on 2006-05-22 12:52:44. Feedback: 0

Hi, Jerry. Kent is usually pretty busy this time of year, so I'm not sure he'll see this any time soon. I don't know much about Xlibris, but there is a topic under Caveat Scrivener for it. You could re-ask your question there, and I'm sure there are others who could lend you their expertise. Or Kent might see this, too, you never know. Hope you find the help you're looking for. -Linz

Message 485465 by Mystery Guest on 2006-05-22 12:17:21. Feedback: 0

Hi my name's Jerry Thorwayn. I read some of your comments about Xlibris. I have recently gotten a book published with them called The Reluctant Adventurer. One of their promotional services is to send out a million e-mails, advertising my book to people who signed up to get info from them. Although before I spend any more money on this sort of thing, I wanted the opinion of a third party. I have my own website for the book: www.ovilstar.com And I intend to have a direct link to that site in the e-mail they send out. I feel that there's a good amount of marketing potential for this book and its website. However, I don't want to make any mistakes along the way. And I'm afraid that I may already have, if the things said on this site about Xlibris are true. Would it be wisdom for me to put up the money in order to have these e-mails sent out... or do you have some other suggestion? Thanks so much for your time.

Message 483719 by Terry Hickman on 2006-04-21 17:41:14. Feedback: 0

This close to BayCon, this is probably hopeless, but - could you check your email, Kent?

Message 481787 by Terry Hickman on 2006-03-19 10:06:58. Feedback: 0

Sounds like you had a great time, Kent! I checked out your "things online" and "ready to demo" links and of course, they're over my head. But hey - they're not aimed at me, so congrats anyway! When you become a multi-millionaire in your new career, are you going to host a RumorMillCon? lol - just kidding.

Message 481774 by Kent Brewster on 2006-03-18 21:07:02. Feedback: 0

I went for the Interactive portion, Terry, which is not nearly as entertaining as the Film or Music parts, unless you are a die-hard Web geek. Probably the best part for me was having a few things online and ready to demo ... the sensation was exactly like running into your favorite agent and having a story in Asimov's when she asks what you've done lately. Mostly there were the usual things: panels, keynotes, awards, and a fair-sized huckster room, dominated by film-related stuff. The conversation is split about even between the interesting content people have generated for the Web over the past year or so and new tools and methods that the developers have created so that the artists and writers can do their thing. There's a meeting of the WaSP (Web Standards Project) folks that's easily as interesting as the SFWA meeting, if not more. And there's always that feeling of high-energy one-upping and auditioning in the air; the place crawls with recruiters, and it's possible to go home with a pocket full of new contacts, sit down, bang out a letter or two, and have a whole new career in a week. The parties are legendary, and full of king-hell Bad Craziness. Worldcons can be fun, but there's only so much the Dell magazine folks are going to pay for. At SXSW, companies like Google and Yahoo! foot the bill, so it's utterly and completely out of control. Austin's the perfect town for something like this; WFC will be there in November, and it sounds like it's going to be a really good one. If you go, I strongly recommend a side trip to the Halcyon Coffee Shop, on 4th Street. Good writer-friendly vibes, excellent food, and free Wi-Fi.

Message 481764 by Terry Hickman on 2006-03-18 14:52:56. Feedback: 0

I am so jealous, Kent! I *dream* of going to SXSW!!! I'm looking forward to ANY goodies you want to share!

Message 481757 by Kent Brewster on 2006-03-18 13:02:20. Feedback: 0

I'm back after my second jaunt to South By Southwest, which is sort of like Worldcon for Web nerds. (Actually it's more like WFC; the parties are better, and there are smaller crowds are in between you and the people you most want to meet.) There are a lot of crossovers and parallels between our two universes; someday When I Have Time(tm) I plan an article or six.

Message 481285 by ET on 2006-03-11 01:06:23. Feedback: 0

Hi, Kent. I have a problem with Fresh Stuff on the new RM. First of all, I rarely turn my computer off, only on standby, and my Mozilla sessions last for days an weeks. Therefore I'm always logged in anyway, and Fresh Stuff keeps an old time. Making the login cookie time could probably solve this by returning behaviour to about what it was on the old RM.) Strangely, last time I logged out specifically, and logging in just now still showed me an older Fresh Stuff. But this doesn't seem to be something that happens every time. Another problem is that Fresh Stuff no longer has the date search option it had in the previous RM. I used to use that occasionally, when the default search didn't work perfectly for some reason. I'd be happy to see it come back. Thanks, Eyal

Message 480981 by Lori White on 2006-03-06 17:13:35. Feedback: 0

Hey, Kent--off the RM topic but on the you topic--don't forget me if'n you need people for critiquing for the Baycon writers' workshop. law

Message 480954 by =David Leek on 2006-03-06 07:22:00. Feedback: 0

Hey kent. Suggestion. Can we have an HTML linker tool? Over at Clan Eve we have one in our forums. Pops up asking you for the website and the name. Just click ok and it formats it for you. Same for images. Maybe i'm lazy, but i thought it was cool.

Message 480889 by Kent Brewster on 2006-03-05 10:22:43. Feedback: 0

Yaaargh ... I knew that, ET. Fixed, thanks.

Message 480887 by ET on 2006-03-05 09:52:12. Feedback: 0

LOL, Kent, that description of the 90-90 rule was hilarious. Should have been "the other 90%" at the end there, but it's just so funny knowing what's supposed to be there and reading the straight man version. I'm in tears.

Message 480600 by =David Leek on 2006-02-28 20:29:34. Feedback: 0

yes! *agreed!*

Message 480484 by Heather P Knight on 2006-02-27 21:51:52. Feedback: 0

Multiple projects can sometimes be dizzy-making, but MUCH better than creative emptiness. Rule Zero works for me too. HPK

Message 480447 by =David Leek on 2006-02-27 16:01:25. Feedback: 0

i agree with rule zero.. i started on my second book 2.5 seconds after finishing my first, and came up with ideas for two more books in that interim. =)

Message 480440 by Kent Brewster on 2006-02-27 15:50:04. Feedback: 0

Please report bugs in The Future Of The Rumor Mill, thanks! It's going to be sketchy for a while now ... possibly you saw the borked-up version while I was changing the main index from an unordered list to a definition list this morning.

Message 480412 by Mystery Guest on 2006-02-27 10:38:35. Feedback: 0

Oh, I see it ... at the BOTTOM of the page. I don't think that's where you want it Kent. SueO2

Message 480411 by Mystery Guest on 2006-02-27 10:37:50. Feedback: 0

Help! Where did the menu go? SueO2

Message 480395 by Heather P Knight on 2006-02-27 08:13:05. Feedback: 0

Sounds like an ideal article for 'Speculations'. ;) HPK

Message 480393 by Kent Brewster on 2006-02-27 07:02:29. Feedback: 0

I need to gather up all the lessons I learned my first year writing and get them online. "No simultaneous submissions" was a huge one, but I wouldn't have had trouble if I'd followed Rule Zero: "Don't stop writing after you send in the first one; if it sells, you're going to want to have a bunch of followup material already in the pipeline."

Message 480374 by Heather P Knight on 2006-02-26 23:19:29. Feedback: 0

Crystal Spider and simsubber! Sorry that one splattered you so badly. I guess when the Big Guys say NO SIM SUB, the REALLY DO mean it. Thanks for sharing the lesson for all of us to beware. I hope the next one gets huge rave and fat $$. :) HPK

Message 480307 by Kent Brewster on 2006-02-26 14:36:11. Feedback: 0

And once more.

Message 480290 by Kent Brewster on 2006-02-26 13:25:52. Feedback: 0

Testing. Again.

Message 479871 by Lori White on 2006-02-19 13:10:58. Feedback: 0

Kent walks on water so much the bottom of his feet are perpetually pruney. :-) law

Message 479869 by Heather P Knight on 2006-02-19 12:52:19. Feedback: 0

---Following comments cross posted from new topic to be sure you see it--- Kent, I am nominating you for this year's "Walks On Water" prize. :))) (that's for all my chins 'cuz the smile is that big) Thanks and Gratitude, O Azim of the Electric Ether. **salaami, boloney, pastrami on rye** ;) HPK

Message 479525 by Amy Sisson on 2006-02-16 15:41:51. Feedback: 0

Kent, Is there anything you can do about the spam-bot that has completely highjacked David Levine's topic? Thanks!

Message 479157 by Mystery Guest on 2006-02-15 08:45:11. Feedback: 0

Terry, I am often too lazy to sign in, so I can appreciate the sentiment. I posted below before reading over the LOOONG discussion about this on the main page. I often overlook that. (Old habit.) I have re-posted my new position there. And I am thinking how a bot might work, program-wise. Maybe we need to remove the tab feature so you have to point and click to get into the box. Don't know if that is possible, but that would stop the program (unless they go to the trouble to program cursor location on their screen.) Still would like to know who's behind this. This isn't advertisement, this is harrassment. SueO2

Message 479156 by Jim C. Hines on 2006-02-15 08:44:51. Feedback: 0

And I see all of this being discussed in the main page , so I'll take it over there.

Message 479154 by Jim C. Hines on 2006-02-15 08:43:17. Feedback: 0

For a long time, this site has been my home page, and one of the sites I check most often. If spam can be squashed without killing the anonymous postings, that's great. But if things simply continue as they have for the past weeks- Bleah. That started to sound like I was threatening to leave the Mill. I'm not trying to do that. But it's not worth it for me to keep reading and killing 3-6 spam messages for every posting of actual content.

Message 479150 by Terry Hickman on 2006-02-15 08:32:04. Feedback: 0

Kent's made it pretty clear he's not going to do away with anonymous posts. I'm behind him on that. I think he's working on other ways to deflect spam...

Message 479136 by Jim C. Hines on 2006-02-15 07:52:11. Feedback: 0

Having just despammed another 8 posts this morning, and having lost count of the ones I did yesterday, I heartily second Sue's suggestion. The Rumor Mill is rapidly becoming useless to me as a resource, since the majority of posts now seem to be spam.

Message 479118 by SueO2 on 2006-02-15 06:33:00. Feedback: 0

Well, reviewing my posting history, you will know the "sacrifice" I am making/suggesting here. As someone said, in order to END THE SPAM, perhaps we need a feature that only allows logged on people to post. (Not to view, just to post.) That would probably fix it, or at least slow it down. Of course, if there is social engineering afoot, it will not stop the annoying "mystery guest" posts as we all know how easy it is to manufacture identities, but it will stop robot posting. SueO2, who doesn't have to sign this thing, but did anyway (I just de-spammed a couple dozen posts)

Message 477766 by Mystery Guest on 2006-01-31 21:43:49. Feedback: 0

Wow. I need to bookmark this discussion... First off, thanks for your kind words. The decision not to be the DJ at BayCon anymorem, was not mine. If you wish to let them know your feelings, email them, thru baycon.org I will be at PantheaCon in a couple of weeks tho. Hope to see you all there. Gary Alexander Former BayCon DJ Still Pantheacon DJ.

Message 477150 by Mystery Guest on 2006-01-25 07:19:51. Feedback: 0

Thanks for the topic, Sue02. I suppose it's a test of the community -- a community united by an interest in spec fiction, made up of creative individuals capable of problem solving and working together. There's potential. Sincerely, Dot

Message 477137 by John Savage on 2006-01-25 00:18:09. Feedback: 0

Here's a frightening statistic on "earning a living as a writer:" In tax year 2003, more taxpayers made a living above the poverty line for a family of four solely from employment as an athlete in one of the big four professional sports than made a living above the poverty line for a family of four solely from writing freelance works. That's even more frightening when one realizes that the latter group includes both nonfiction and fiction, both books and shorter works. It really is hard. It has always been hard. There's something to be said for that; there's more to be said for not putting up with it unnecessarily. The latter is one of the goals of the RM.

Message 477097 by SueO2 on 2006-01-24 14:27:54. Feedback: 0

Okay, I've created a topic to productively discuss (quoting Dot) what we -- as fans, publishers, or writers -- can and should do to improve this situation, to increase readership, publisher's revenue, pay rates, etc. This is it: Taking Back the Streets In the Land of What-If BTW, Dot, you could have started a topic like this yourself, you know.

Message 477094 by Mystery Guest on 2006-01-24 13:45:56. Feedback: 0

Okay, Dot, you've brought up some interesting points. Do you have any ideas for addressing the concerns you've mentions? We'd love to consider them. You will find that most of us are, indeed, proactive. SueO2

Message 477093 by Mystery Guest on 2006-01-24 13:36:24. Feedback: 0

"...why is she so angry at the idea that writers need a community to bounce around ideas and troubles and so on?" For the reasons mentioned in the earlier post: the community thrives on this attitude of persecution, on --"the best paying markets are few and fewer, but, HELLO, the writer has little control over that" -- such defeatism! Misery loves company, right? and clearly everyone hates what I'm trying to do -- suggesting that we _do_ have a little control over that, that there is hope, that we can change things for the better. I've yet to see a productive, ongoing discussion on what we -- as fans, publishers, or writers -- can and should do to improve this situation, to increase readership, publisher's revenue, pay rates, etc. Instead, the community as a whole has given me every impression that it is quite satisfied with the status quo, with this idea that everything is beyond our control, and there is nothing more that we can do. This, in spite of the fact that we're talking about a system of supply and demand, in which we -- as readers and writers -- play a not-insignificant part. Sincerely, Dot

Message 477079 by Terry Hickman on 2006-01-24 11:29:49. Feedback: 0

I'm glad Jim & Sue commented because I was wondering how I'd missed Dot's participation in the Rumor Mill so completely. But it turns out - DOT has missed the whole point of this community.

Message 477074 by Mystery Guest on 2006-01-24 10:45:55. Feedback: 0

Addendum: Dot writes: I'm afraid that many have pulled together with an attitude of persecution. "Nobody appreciates this stuff but us." They either aren't aware of or won't recognize the opportunities for success, and scoff at those "hacks" actually trying to earn a living in this business. If they realized their attitude has always been just a pose, perhaps their sense of community would dissolve like a wicked old witch. Hello? Have you been reading the same threads that I've been reading? Most of the people here are interested in being published and exploring that market as best they can. There are active threads on agent hunting, scam avoidance, markets. Yes, there is some lamentation that the best paying markets are few and fewer, but, HELLO, the writer has little control over that and that is also a FACT OF LIFE. Dot almost sounds like she's replying in the PA thread or something. Her rhetoric is suspicious. SueO2

Message 477073 by Mystery Guest on 2006-01-24 10:41:41. Feedback: 0

I must agree with Jim. There is a wealth of information available that suggests that making a living as a spec fic writer is dubious at best, and is getting iffier as the market shrinks and the available publishing arenas consolidate or disappear. There are threads here that try to get a useful definition for "professional" and my guess would be that a professional writer of fiction may live by a different definition than a professional freelance writer of non-fiction. (From what I have read, that is where "living making" as a writer lies.) I would like to know if Dot considers herself a professional spec fic writer, and if so, what has she written and has it earned her a living wage? If not, why is she so angry at the idea that writers need a community to bounce around ideas and troubles and so on? SueO2

Message 477068 by Jim C. Hines on 2006-01-24 10:11:02. Feedback: 0

I wonder if Dot is aware how very few writers actually make a living at this... At midlister rates, I would need to write and publish 4-5 books per year to match my current salary, and that doesn't even address issues like health insurance. Guess that makes me a fan and hobbyist. Better go get my poser beret out of the closet... I'm curious that Dot has been so quick to judge ... as far as I know, I've never seen her (his?) name around here, so I'd love to know how she decided this was an insular, "wannabe" community.

Message 477061 by Mystery Guest on 2006-01-24 09:28:02. Feedback: 0

Kent, That discussion you started on the main page illustrates the priorities of the rumor millers, I think. They seem much more interested in the technical aspects of a message board, in their ties to their community, than in discussing the state of the writer's market or what it takes to earn a living in the field. I'd say this makes them fans or hobbyists, not professionals. You'd have to sell more than 50 SFWA qualifying short stories (4k words at .05, $200) per year just to reach the poverty line, but a person who sells only three such stories in his or her lifetime can join this association as a "professional". This tells me the SFWA too is more concerned with a sense of community than the ability of writers to earn a living. If they set the bar much higher -- at the poverty line, for ex. -- the SFWA would be starved for members and dues. I can see three directions for _Speculations_ and the Rumor Mill. 1) You can basically be a fanzine and a place where lots of fans and hobbyists come to hang out, get to know one another, etc. 2) You can appeal to those few writers out there who are truly concerned with the problems of earning a living through spec fiction, with increasing readership and a more viable marketplace. Paradoxically, your own publication is probably more viable if you chose option 1) and appealed to the spec community, because most serious writers in these trying times probably don't have a dime to spare. But why can't you 3) do both? Fans/hobbyists, publishers, and writers depend on each other. Perhaps there's a way to mobilize everyone for their mutual benefit. I'm afraid that many have pulled together with an attitude of persecution. "Nobody appreciates this stuff but us." They either aren't aware of or won't recognize the opportunities for success, and scoff at those "hacks" actually trying to earn a living in this business. If they realized their attitude has always been just a pose, perhaps their sense of community would dissolve like a wicked old witch. If we're to have a viable marketplace, such a revolution is probably necessary. Sic semper tyrannis. Sincerely, Dot

Message 476640 by Renae on 2006-01-17 19:39:16. Feedback: 0

Hello Kent, I feel guilty saying it, but I haven't visited in many months and suddenly I'm getting hundreds of emails from my own email address that have a subject line as follows: Re: [Speculations] : New Message: Speculations. I tried to "unsubscribe" but they're still coming! Help! Renae.

Message 473313 by Jason Andrew on 2005-11-26 01:59:29. Feedback: 0

I did not get an issue. What's up?

Message 473019 by Mystery Guest on 2005-11-21 21:08:41. Feedback: 0

How do we fix this? How do we get you back, Gary? law

Message 473013 by Mystery Guest on 2005-11-21 19:57:52. Feedback: 0

The Baycon DJ is leaving? NOOOOO!!!! We love you!!! You play all the best songs to dance to. Baycon is the best dancing con ever because of you. Baycon dances just won't be the same. I can't speak for Kent (and who can, really) but those of us who love the Baycon dancing and boogie till we can't no more will miss your DJing very much. -Linz

Message 472976 by Mystery Guest on 2005-11-20 23:44:21. Feedback: 0

Hi Kent, I wanted to let you know that after 10 years, it appears I'm out as the BayCon DJ. As one of my "fans", I wanted to say thank you, personally. It's people like you who made doing the dances such fun. Sincerely, Gary Alexander scrap@baker-tech(nospam).com

Message 472402 by Aleta Daknis on 2005-11-09 20:39:38. Feedback: 0

Hi Kent -- I was just wondering if there's any possibility that the Abyss & Apex topic could be listed under markets along with Strange Horizons and other, similar publications? Thanks so much! Aleta Daknis aleta@klio.net

Message 469885 by Clyde on 2005-09-22 04:46:38. Feedback: 0

Dear Kent, I have mysteriously added myself twice onto this site; one under CLYDE and another under CLYDE ANDREWS. Could you please delete the CLYDE ANDREWS one. I think it will be a bit confusing for people who want to contact me otherwise. Thank you. Clyde.

Message 468352 by Terry Hickman on 2005-08-21 10:38:01. Feedback: 0

Tom, and Mystery Guest: This is not the best topic to post those sorts of questions. This is Kent's Author Topic. If you want to find better topics in which to post questions like yours, click on Site Map in the menu on the left, and browse all the currently active topics.

Message 468333 by tom trinko on 2005-08-20 21:39:03. Feedback: 0

newbie question. I submitted query letters to several agents who represent fantasy. How long should I wait for a reply before sending a follow up? All agents accepted e-mail queries. It's been nearly a month now. thanks.

Message 468301 by Mystery Guest on 2005-08-19 13:38:01. Feedback: 0

I am a new writer trying to publish my first 250,000 word fantasy novel. I am looking at the Dunham Literary agency to represent me and was wondering if you have any background on them. Or would you recomend someone else?

Message 467883 by Isabeaulia on 2005-08-09 20:25:10. Feedback: 0

Oh my gosh, I think it worked. Thanks, Joe. :)

Message 467809 by Joe Mahoney on 2005-08-08 13:40:56. Feedback: 0

Right under the "post as so and so" dialogue box there should be a sentence which reads, "To receive e-mail copies of all messages posted here, subscribe." If you are already subscribed, it should read "unsuscribe." At least that's what I'm seeing. Hope that helps.

Message 467808 by Isabeaulia on 2005-08-08 13:36:54. Feedback: 0

I'm getting way too many emails and I need to unsubscribe to the messages(I'll still keep in touch via the board) but I can NOT find a link to do this. :(

Message 467771 by Jason Andrew on 2005-08-07 17:08:44. Feedback: 0

A few weeks ago I paid for my subscription via Paypal. Did you get it?

Message 465446 by Mystery Guest on 2005-06-27 05:23:54. Feedback: 0

Click on SIGN IN and fill in stuff then click START NEW ACCOUNT (or maybe just click START NEW ACCOUNT) ... it's been a while

Message 465436 by Mystery Guest on 2005-06-26 20:35:58. Feedback: 0

could someone tell me the secret of "signing" in.. startinga new log-in, etc? pat thewriter@mssitrans.com thank you

Message 463071 by Mystery Guest on 2005-05-31 13:49:37. Feedback: 0

Hey, Kent, post a link to the Baycon pics here in your topic, or in the con reports, or something. I can't find the place you were talking about.... Please? With sugar? -Linz

Message 462821 by Mystery Guest on 2005-05-26 11:29:07. Feedback: 0

It's Kent! Holy Cow! Hey there, Kent - how was the alien abduction? -Linz

Message 462820 by Carol Orosco on 2005-05-26 11:28:15. Feedback: 0

Kent!!! We've missed you, man!

Message 462801 by Terry Hickman on 2005-05-26 08:22:08. Feedback: 0

He's ALIVE!!!

Message 462793 by Kent Brewster on 2005-05-26 00:23:59. Feedback: 0

(scanning through old posts, regretting my scarceness) Writing your congressman ... actually there's a Democratic congressman from Oklahoma named Billy Kent Brewster ... occasionally Google gets confused and sends people who are looking for him over here, much to everybody's chagrin.

Message 462644 by Allan Hansford on 2005-05-23 15:33:10. Feedback: 0

Lori Zett, I received the same offer of representation from Harris Literary Agency and proposed agreement, just this morning. Luckily for me, I had found this website a month ago. I declined their offer, telling them that, to charge an author is against the normal protocol of Agent-Author agreement/contract. I received an email back an hour ago, "Dear Allan Thank you for the message and we wish you the very best in your publication efforts." Reading through the agreement you can 'give them notice' to terminate the agreement with 30 days notice, in 'certified' mail, return receipt requested. The bad news is, that according to the agreement they can continue to market/sell/promote your work for that period... and are entitled to any monies made. I suggest you see a lawyer.

Message 461847 by Mystery Guest on 2005-05-12 16:12:54. Feedback: 0

I suggest the Latest Issues topic.

Message 461840 by John T. Cullen on 2005-05-12 14:42:45. Feedback: 0

Kent, Far Sector SFFH is launching a new series of interviews and articles spearheaded by new staffer Shaun Farrell. This month, we feature interviews with Ray Bradbury and Michael A. Stackpole. Other exciting contacts with the majors will follow in upcoming months, along with original new fiction, as well as content by media critic John K. Muir and my monthly rants and announcements. Is there an appropriate place at Speculations to announce the new monthly content? Among others, we have Neil Gaiman coming up. Thanks/John Cullen

Message 460203 by Carol Orosco on 2005-04-18 19:48:27. Feedback: 0

This one ain't mine, I swear! 8) Lori, you need to post in the Harris topic under Caveat Scrivener.

Message 460189 by Mystery Guest on 2005-04-18 17:56:21. Feedback: 0

Hi, I joyfully signed a contract with Harris Literary Agency on Friday before I checked this site. How do I get out of the contract. I don't want to paralyze my book for 6 months and even more, I don't want to pay them for any work I intend to do. PLEASE HELP THIS SCHMUCK! Lori Zett

Message 459603 by Carol Orosco on 2005-04-07 21:10:00. Feedback: 0

*blush* My fault, I forgot to 'splain navigation. But he got where he needed to go. Sorry for the clutter. :}

Message 459570 by Mystery Guest on 2005-04-07 12:08:25. Feedback: 0

MG 459569 - you have posted your complaint in the WRONG thread. Please visit the site map and explore the Rumor Mill to find the thread that is appropriate for your concern. SueO2

Message 459569 by Mystery Guest on 2005-04-07 12:05:07. Feedback: -3

This message has been hidden because of its poor Feedback total.

Message 458170 by Mystery Guest on 2005-03-12 21:59:58. Feedback: -1

Why would Kent Brewster know this? Call your congressman. That's what you pay him for.

Message 458167 by JAMES M.SHEPARD on 2005-03-12 21:27:06. Feedback: -3

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Message 455384 by Terry Hickman on 2005-01-30 10:21:09. Feedback: 0

Matthew, if you go to http://www.speculations.com/, the first item on the menu on the left side is "Subscribe."

Message 455378 by Matthew Warner on 2005-01-30 07:05:04. Feedback: 0

How do I subscribe to the newsletter?

Message 454610 by Mystery Guest on 2005-01-20 18:57:06. Feedback: 0

Geoff, I think I did this once. You need to access the last message and hide it. SueO2

Message 454606 by Geoff Nelder on 2005-01-20 17:30:37. Feedback: 0

Hi Kent, for some reason the page with my Author Topic has a dialogue box plastered over it in the wrong place. I thought it might have been my puter but others have gone cross-eyed trying to cope with it. Is there a simple fix or should I start a new Author Topic, somehow? Geoff

Message 453809 by Mike Broemmel on 2005-01-09 00:37:19. Feedback: 0

Kent -- I would like to discuss your site with you.

Message 451021 by Terry Hickman on 2004-11-14 22:20:48. Feedback: 0

Hey, Kent! HelllOOOOOoooooo? *tink tink tink* Anybody in there? You getting any of this, big guy?

Message 451019 by Justin Stanchfield on 2004-11-14 21:26:45. Feedback: 0

"everyone be honest with yourselves and remember businesses whose images were less than impressive because they'd let their nephew Finster draw their logo" Poor Finster... nver gets a break. ;) Good idea about the logo!

Message 451016 by Terry Hickman on 2004-11-14 18:52:02. Feedback: 0

Maybe we should have a contest! The winner to be rendered by a pro artist, if it's appropriate. (I know I might have some great ideas but my artistic skills are not up to rendering them in the professional appearance that would be right for this fine establishment; everyone be honest with yourselves and remember businesses whose images were less than impressive because they'd let their nephew Finster draw their logo.) Now. What would the winner, win, exactly? (My first idea is out since both Kent and I are happily married to others. wink wink nudge nudge) Not that I even have an idea for a logo...just saying, is all.

Message 451015 by Joe Mahoney on 2004-11-14 18:12:21. Feedback: 0

Hey, that is a good idea. I would love to display one on my homepage. Lawrence M Schoen... smarter than your average Klingon!

Message 450071 by Terry Hickman on 2004-10-24 22:05:46. Feedback: 0

Ewww, Lawrence! Kewl idea! ...Kent? RM logo? And if not, why not???

Message 450047 by Lawrence M. Schoen on 2004-10-23 22:55:21. Feedback: 0

Is there a RumorMill logo? I'd like a small graphic to use as a link from my website.

Message 449758 by Kent Brewster on 2004-10-19 20:55:08. Feedback: 0

Thanks, you guys. Life is icky but I keep on shoveling; there has to be a pony in here somewhere. :) Armand: looks like you figured it out. Did you want me to close the Armand at Carnifex author topic?

Message 448201 by Terry Hickman on 2004-09-30 21:14:41. Feedback: 0

Hang in there, dood. Here, I've *bumped* the message back to the top, for awhile. Maybe Kent will see it soon...

Message 448098 by Armand at Carnifex on 2004-09-30 10:44:04. Feedback: 0

Kent, My e-mail account that I used for your site has been eliminated, but now I have no way of getting into the site to sign in or get messages sent to me. What do I do now? I need my daily fix of the RM. I tried signing up with my new e-mail address but then I can't use my name... my e-mail address is a hotmail account, it is: CarnifexPress . please help me! Armand Rosamilia

Message 447836 by Mystery Guest on 2004-09-27 15:26:23. Feedback: 0

HA! Well, your Stained Glass game works in XP, I have discovered ... well, IT works, not necessarily can *I* work it. (It reminds me of a "buttons" game in javascript I downloaded - I can't work that either - yet.) Thanks, SueO2

Message 447825 by Lindsey Johnson on 2004-09-27 12:02:00. Feedback: 0

Hey Kent, take care of yourself. We like ya around here. -Linz

Message 447725 by Lawrence M. Schoen on 2004-09-25 16:35:00. Feedback: 0

Kent, I don't have adequate bandwidth to send much in the way of good vibes, but how about some magic beans instead? I'm sure they'd do great in the fertile California soil, amd you don't even need to part with a cow. Hang in there. Somewhere high overhead and just out of your sight is a funky goose popping out golden eggs. Lawrence

Message 447721 by Christopher Stires on 2004-09-25 15:13:00. Feedback: 0

Kent: I enoyed the story, too. Thanks for the tip and best of luck to you and yours.

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