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The Free Book Day Haul

It was Free Book Day at Macmillan—which was perfect since I’d planned on going in this Thursday anyway to attend an editorial meeting. The meeting itself was interesting, most of the editors and assistants there discussed works to be acquired, illustration samples, non-fiction book proposals. The editor I usually work with was extremely keen on a re-imagining of Jekyll and Hyde, a prequel of sorts, set during the siege of France just before Robert Louis Stevenson’s novel begins. It’s a young girl’s story, and basically explains how Jekyll ‘acquired’ Hyde, though the focus is mainly on the protagonist.

The first thing I thought was–hmm, fanfiction! But good fanfiction. I read the first 80 pages and the summary, and while the others noted anachronisms, problems with pacing, and the overload of historical details, the editor maintained that all these things could be fixed. They all grinned and said, “Well it depends on how much work you’d like to do?” This made me think. A book has to have that special spark of something. Writing can be remedied, through patience and constant revision. But that something still needs to be there… and it won’t be there for everyone, which is why you have to find an editor who recognizes it in your book.

Enough of that divergence! I got free books! Most of them were airport bookstore fare, but there were some great finds, and some that just looked like they might be good. My haul mostly came from Tor and the children’s divisions. I’d welcome any thoughts!

In War Times, by Kathleen Ann Goonan—Sherwood recommended this to me ages ago, and now I finally have it!

Half a Crown, by Jo Walton—I read Farthing and started Ha’penny, and pounced when I saw this…

Nine Gates, by Jane Lindskold—I see her name pop up whenever I peek at a recommended thread

The Last Knight, by Hilari Bell—I know some of her books are on the Sirens reading list, so I picked this up.

Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac, by Gabrielle Zevin—haven’t read Elsewhere, but I heard it was good, and there were tons of copies of this. I took two, thinking it might be a nice gift for someone as well.

The Joys of Love, by Madeleine L’Engle—I saw the author and pounced. Didn’t even know this book existed, but… it may be good!

And that was my haul.

Also, I have finally joined Goodreads. I am newsboyhat, and so far all I’ve done is try to remember all the books I’ve read in the past ten years. I plan to use it as a record, so that includes books read for school. Ratings and reviews will come later. If you have an account too, feel free to add me.