Dru, Steinbeck and the Book of Deer

Dear Juliet Just one thing bothering me, so I'll say it once and say it quick: If you do go for that table read, please know that you're under my protection (I am the author of all that stuff, after all), and if anyone even thinks of giving you a hard time, you simply explain that James will not then comply. You are my dear Miss Landau after all, and that's all there is to it. There. It's actually a bit like this wonderful scene in Rocky II ... I guess I'm Mickey. Marvellous actor, Burgess Meredith. A trainer always has to love his fighter. To paraphrase Mickey, I don't think you were lucky just that one time with Buffy . I think you're a hell of a lot more than that, but I'll stand with you whatever you decide to do and that's the beginning and end of it. Okay, that's all I wanted to say. Relax. Have some Ben & Jerry's. Love, James

Deer Juliet I'm still somewhat influenced by that I Play Rocky trailer, and there is one pretty exact analogy: I was never willing to sell out. Some well-meaning friends suggested I change the names in the Dru Quartet, some well-meaning friends now sleep with the fishes. Well, no they don't but I just ain't gonna. I love my dear old Dru and that is true, but the moments and interplay as they stand could only take place between Spike, Dru and Xander. That's just how it is. I wrote about once in this old HuffPost blog . Anyway, that's it. Just thought I'd say so, get it off my chest. It's a healthy thing to do. Okay, on other matters I had to go to somewhere called Much Wenlock the other day. I found out there's an ancient historic priory there (the house next door is owned by the former actress Gabrielle Drake ) which sounds vaguely similar to the original Monastery of Deer. They both have the remains of libraries, although I called the one at Deer the ...

  Dear Juliet I'm probably going to be shot at dawn for this (and I'm really not a morning person...) but I thought you'd like this metaphorical bouquet from Bridgnorth! I didn't really have the stuffing to climb up to the High Town again and, walking over the bridge, noticed these beautiful flower baskets. I lined up a couple of shots, I hope you like your flowers. I really liked doing that. You're really worth it. Love, James

Dear Juliet I found this one hour spiritual travelogue about Point Lobos the other day. It begins at Gibson Beach, I'm pleased to say. I hope you'll enjoy it. I'd write more, but I have to do the ironing... Remember, you don't have to be perfect to be liked, and I like you just the way you are. Even when you're doing the ironing! Love, James

Dear Juliet Maybe I'm being a bit self-indulgent, but I just saw the trailer for I Play Rocky and it gave rise to a few mushy thoughts... Back in the days of Dear Miss Landau , it did seem like I was washed-up . I'd taken the literary beating of all time about Macnab in 2009 and, creatively exhausted, I shelved it. Then, for a bit of fun, I thought I'd write a short story about a certain character in Buffy . It was maybe a bit like suddenly getting a shot at the title. Hollywood royalty and one of the greatest IPs in the world. It takes a while for heavyweights to hit peak form, and I had no idea that grinding away chiefly on Macnab for twelve or thirteen years had beaten my neural networks into top shape. As Dear Miss Landau  and New Scientist explained: “It seems you have to put in at least a decade of focused work to master something and bring greatness within reach ...  both the number and strength of the nerve connections associated with a memory or skill increase ...

Dear Juliet I hope you enjoy the upcoming convention in San Diego. I think you reread The Glorious 14th , amongst a few others? Well, it's all up to you (see Timshel and the Big Toe ) but I could send you the updated Dru Quartet if you'd like? Graveyard has had some modifications and exposition. Actually, there's no one else on the planet I'd send them to... Anyway: Love, James