letters from Mr. Rodkey

 Yesterday I received this email:

Hello! I notice that in your latest blog post (http://indietutes.blogspot.com/2013/07/books-of-june.html), the list of recent books you've read includes The Chronicles of Egg: Deadweather and Sunrise, by Geraldine McCaughrean. 

Are you quite certain Geraldine wrote that book? Because I believe I did. 

Unless Geraldine ALSO wrote a book called The Chronicles of Egg: Deadweather and Sunrise. Which would be a rather extraordinary coincidence -- and in which case, could you please let me know how I could get a copy? I would be fascinated to read it, and a perfunctory Google search only yields editions of Deadweather which were written by me.

In the event that this was a mistake of attribution, and you did in fact read the Deadweather and Sunrise that I wrote, I'd suggest (per your stated request for good book recommendations) checking out its sequel, New Lands. It is quite a good book! 

Although to be honest, I'm not only biased on the subject, but I have a financial interest in making such a recommendation. So take it with a grain of salt. 

If, again, this was not a mistake of attribution, please let me know if Geraldine is planning any sequels, and whether any of them are also called New Lands.

Have a great day!

Best wishes,

geoff rodkey

http://geoffrodkey.com

I went and checked out my reading list post and, yes indeedy, I did have it all wrong.  Awkward.  Here is my response to  Mr. Rodkey:

Hello,

You are quite right, of course, I apologize.   In the little journal where I record what I am reading I have you listed correctly as well as Geraldine McCaughrean's The Death Defying Pepper Roux.  Obviously, I accidentally squished the two of you together.  I was in a hurry to get my list out so I could go read something.  Also, I have atrocious handwriting.

Thank you for taking the time to point out my error.  It would also be unfortunate to completely leave out the name of McCaughrean's book.  I have corrected the list on Indietutes.  

I do already have your second book, New Lands, sitting on my desk here beside me but as it is a library book I'm not sure it will benefit your financially.  I will, however, most likely recommend your work again to people who do purchase books. I can almost guarantee that I will attribute your name correctly in the future.

Since I do have your attention, I would like to tell you how much I enjoyed Deadweather and Sunrise, particularly the character of Guts.  I hope he bites somebody in New Lands.

Best wishes,
Charity Beasley

P.S., You've given me the rather naughty idea to purposely mess up other author's names to see how many I can get to contact me.  Just for sport.

Evidence (artfully arranged) - Mr. Rodkey's second book sitting on my side table.

If you read my post yesterday, you'll see what inspired it.  Actually having to tell an author, uh, I didn't pay to read your book, but it was great, thanks!  More awkward.

From Mr. Rodkey:

No need to apologize! I should actually be thanking you, because you gave me fodder for a blog post:

 http://geoffrodkey.com/2013/07/04/more-excerpts-from-my-personal-correspondence/

Which is actually obsolete if you've changed your post to the correct attribution. Any chance you could leave it incorrect? No? I thought not.

Glad you liked book 1! Not to spoil anything, but Guts doesn't bite anybody in book 2. Although he does learn to swear in a foreign language. And is revealed to have a previously unknown skill. And some other stuff. 

No sweat about getting the book from the library. They had to buy their copy from somewhere.

Good luck getting other authors to bite! In the unlikely event that you go through with your plan, let me know how it goes -- I'd be curious to know if other writers monitor their title mentions online as NSA-level obsessively as I do.

Cheers!

geoff



So, what did I learn from all of this?

First, don't bother worrying about editing too much because if it's wrong, someone else will tell and then you can go back and correct specific items rather than having to read the whole thing again.

Second, I have a power to make people pay attention to me by buggering things up.  To date, this is the most famous and successful person to have pointed out my mistake.  I feel like this could be a starting point for something bigger.

Third, Geraldine McCaughrean probably doesn't Google herself as often as Geoff Rodkey does and as strange as it seems, everyone should have a little self-Google every once in awhile, just to see how everyone else is screwing it all up for you.