….you heard Freddie Mercury died?
I’ve had a terrific idea for a new book: to compile all your stories answering this question into one nice volume. Yes, I will finish part III of my trilogy and get it out before I start real work on this project, but meanwhile I can send some feelers out for an agent, and collect some initial stories.
Too young to remember that particular day, but learning about his death still affected you? That’s fine too. Just write about that.
This will be a book to let others share–and read–how the death of this brilliant musician and soul affected each of us firsthand.
I’ve set up an Earthlink address just for collecting your stories in English, from 100 - 5000 words:
thedayfreddiedied@earthlink.net
It should be “live” as of now. Comment here if you have any problems with bouncing.
I’ll take comments left in this blog post as well – I can track that easy enough. But please – even if you know me and have my normal email – please email stories on THIS topic to the ABOVE address. That keeps them all in one place.
For the legalese:
Permission granted to post links to this blog post wherever you like. Please, however, contact me for permission before copying/posting the text of this call for stories anywhere else. Copyright is reserved.
I cannot guarantee or make any promise whatsoever of compensation for your participation in this book project. I can give you a byline by your story, so you see your name in print. (If at all possible, depending on how any publication contract goes, I would hope to extend at least a discount if not a free copy to contributors, but that’s in my heart, and I may not be able to, financially or otherwise.)
Sending in your story authorizes me to edit and publish your story in the upcoming book. When possible, I will review any edits with you before publication. Again, bear in mind that this may not be possible, especially if you write in as “anonymous” or some other false or unfindable name, your email address bounces, etc., so again, I am not promising; I can only say I will try.
Please include at the top what name you wish to be published under. If you don’t sign a name, I will have to make one up for you. Bwahahahahhaaaa.
I am a Freddie and Queen fan, so replies/stories such as, “That guy was a freak, he deserved to die” will not, repeat, will NOT be published and will be deleted.
This will not, again I repeat NOT, be any type of expose’ or tell-all piece of garbage: I want no part of that drivel whatsoever. This is a tribute book. Meaning: any risque’ or sordid stories or thoughts will be deleted on sight. Curse words will be deleted or toned down. I believe it is entirely possible to come up with a family-friendly book.
If you did meet or know him and have a kind, personal reminiscensce of him to share, that’s fine, even encouraged. However, please expect to be asked to verify either your identity or the story, or both, before I will agree to print it. I will be diligent about proving anything celebrity-related whatsoever before publication. I deplore gossip and tabloids with an ultimate passion. No secondhand accounts will be considered. Period. Find the actual person and encourage them to write in. Otherwise–no dice.
I reserve the right to select stories for publication based on merit, lottery, whim, or whatever other method I so choose. Sending your story in does not guarantee publication. I will make every attempt to let you know if your story is included. Again, no promises, since if you move, give out a phony, blocked, or broken email address, die, or otherwise fall off the face of the earth, I can’t tell you you’re in.
Depending on volume of replies, I will try to let you know if I can’t use your story, but again, this is not a promise. This kind of project may take some time to complete, and if I’m flooded with thousands of emails to comb through– seriously, I just can’t make any promises. I can’t predict how this is going to go.
Let’s make the initial deadline midnight December 31, 2009. But if you’re like me, you’ll forget about this by next week - so take a minute or two now, while you’re thinking about it.
Can’t type more than 5 wpm? Prefer to hand-write? Have no computer, email, or internet access? Or have a handicap which makes typing difficult? Drop an email to the above address (or have someone do it for you) and we’ll work out another contact method.
OK, are we all clear? Great! As Freddie would say, “Let’s do it!”
(C) 2009 Linda P. Adams. All Rights Reserved.
