Richard Laymon is my favorite writer. I'd read all of his stuff except this one. The Holy Grail. I'd searched for a decently priced edition of this book for around 20 years.
And then, a miracle.
Someone sent me a copy from the UK. And this is how I know that angels live among us; they just aren't in North America.
The book was everything I was hoping it to be. It advertises itself as a writer's guide, but it's essentially an autobiography. Any Laymon fan would find value in this book. Tons of personal anecdotes about Laymon's career; virtually step-by-step. The majority of his career is laid bare: the frustration with US publishing while enjoying success overseas, the long hours, the part-time jobs, the fretting over plot points, etc. Sprinkled in are his list of favorite books and movies, which I love.
It's all in here. There is also a breakdown of each novel's inception, with anecdotes on its road to publication.
A Writer's Tale was published in 1998, so it covers around 75% of his tragically shortened career. I've often wondered where Laymon would stand in the genre today, since he was seeming to gain traction here in the States.
We probably got more than we deserved from him in the first place.
Laymon = Legend
Grade: A
Review by Jason Cavallaro
jcavallaro42@gmail.com
Twitter: @pinheadspawn
And then, a miracle.
Someone sent me a copy from the UK. And this is how I know that angels live among us; they just aren't in North America.
The book was everything I was hoping it to be. It advertises itself as a writer's guide, but it's essentially an autobiography. Any Laymon fan would find value in this book. Tons of personal anecdotes about Laymon's career; virtually step-by-step. The majority of his career is laid bare: the frustration with US publishing while enjoying success overseas, the long hours, the part-time jobs, the fretting over plot points, etc. Sprinkled in are his list of favorite books and movies, which I love.
It's all in here. There is also a breakdown of each novel's inception, with anecdotes on its road to publication.
A Writer's Tale was published in 1998, so it covers around 75% of his tragically shortened career. I've often wondered where Laymon would stand in the genre today, since he was seeming to gain traction here in the States.
We probably got more than we deserved from him in the first place.
Laymon = Legend
Grade: A
Review by Jason Cavallaro
jcavallaro42@gmail.com
Twitter: @pinheadspawn
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