(no subject)

[cblj_backup]

Holy wow, you guys.

cassie_lee dropped me a comment yesterday to inform me that her house burned down but, and this is why she told me, her copy of Nameless survived.

I was focusing more on "Your HOUSE BURNED DOWN?" but she seems to be taking it with as good a humour as one can muster about these things. Everyone got out okay, and she has family nearby who are helping them out. She shared the news video with me, which is horrific and so sad, and then this morning sent me photos. (Having trouble direct-linking to that -- search "house fire" and choose the second story that comes up.)

This is her after having pulled Nameless from the wreckage.

This is Nameless, with a bit of fire blistering on the spine but otherwise whole.

My book is magic. I mean, I know theoretically what happens: books that are tightly packed together don't burn because there's no air between the pages to feed the fire. It's still stunning to see.

Not to make her house burning down ALL ABOUT ME or anything, but I had a very odd reaction to it, aside from the concern for her. My book is a story but it's out there spawning more stories, like people taking it on airplanes and meeting other people who've read it, and people reading it on breaks from their jobs or reading it to each other, and more than one person has written to tell me about their own experiences with suicide and how I treated it in the book. But this really whacked me between the eyes with a sense of "so this is part of what being published is": this person is standing in the wreckage of their home and holding up my book for me to see, because something I made survived a fire and she's happy about it.

That's amazing. I'm blown away.

Traditional publishing is a huge empire and that's grand and I'm glad it's there, but I think this is a powerful argument for access to self-publishing and someone to offer the tools for talented writers to use it. I made this, which I couldn't have done without a press like lulu.com, and it's got a life of its own now.

cassie_lee, if you need anything, you let us know. You want a new copy of Nameless, drop me a line, it's on the house. I'm going to print out those photos and put them on my wall.

Comments

[cassie-lee.livejournal.com]

Thanks Sam :)

ninemsn changed their website over night, so it's strangely hard to direct link to now, but I copied this link last night and it seems to work fine. http://video.msn.com/video.aspx?mkt=en-AU&brand=ninemsn&vid=42e781d5-6ee5-4a27-b971-72a73ebb0e07 and for embarrassing lolz this is the extended story http://video.msn.com/video.aspx?mkt=en-AU&brand=ninemsn&vid=f14c259c-6b77-4027-b26c-1623a150d852

For an interesting look at how they change news stories, we live in Winmalee not Wilanee or whatever she says in the first story, and our dryer was not old as they keep trying to imply. Also my roommate was not up watching a movie, he was in bed like the rest of us, watching Naruto on his laptop :p My fave part is the headline in the second news video, which is "Home Wrecker" we laughed at that last night. Sounds tawdry :p

The weirdest part about watching those videos is that I was there, yet every time I see the video, I am horrified by the size of the fire. It's like I've already forgotten.

[forest-rose.livejournal.com]

Oh God, that's awful, I'm so sorry. Is there anything we can do or send you or anything at all to help? *hugs you tight*

[mythologian.livejournal.com]

holy shit O_O;

Thank God for Naruto and roommates who stay up late watching it.

I know you've said family is helping out, but if you guys need anything at all just let me know.

[ozisim.livejournal.com]

Suxville.
I'm certain that I speak on behalf of more than myself when I say that the Cafe requires a postal or paypal address for the purposes of helping you out.

[thaddeusfavour.livejournal.com]

Delighted that you and your friends are all safe!

[supermouse.livejournal.com]

Holy crap.

I've been burned out before, too. All the very best.

[copperbadge.livejournal.com]

I did see "home wrecker" and DIED LAUGHING. :D

[iamshadow.livejournal.com]

Just in case you don't see the other comment amid the rush:

You are totally local to my family (my dad's whole side of the family lives in Winmalee and its surrounds - Robin Rd, Wallaby Ave).

My mother lives outside Penrith, and is a librarian, who I can organise to fix your copy of Nameless for FREE, and probably a fair number of your other salvaged books that need TLC.

I'm in the Hunter Valley, but I can organise and co-ordinate it, or even do the picking up and dropping off next time I'm in Sydney. Hell, I'll probably help her with repairs. I've had a fair amount of practice, and I haven't had a chance to use my skills for years.

Comment back, and I will set it up.

[schnoogle.livejournal.com]

I live in Sydney (Randwick). Just let me know if there's anything I can do, seriously.

[violent-rabbit.livejournal.com]

Hey! Im a local, but down south a little, and if you would like anything, including movies etc, just lets us know. We Aussies in Sam's cafe gotta stick together. :)

[bodlon.livejournal.com]

[insert stunned and amazed look.]

Wow.

[brewsternorth.livejournal.com]

Same here.

iconlove

[shezan.livejournal.com]

I think you should let lulu.com know, too.

[copperbadge.livejournal.com]

I did, though it took me FOREVER to find a way to do so properly (support just routes to India; I emailed their PR guy for the US. I suspect it also routes to India, but whatever. :D)

[paragraphs.livejournal.com]

It went up so FAST! Am glad they all escaped safely, the fire didn't spread.

And yes, Nameless is magical... *pats my well-read copy*

[shadowedkit.livejournal.com]

Ouch, I've been burned out before- its not fun. Although it was an electrical wiring fault in the Hot water cabinet of all things! Thankfully you guys stayed up late!

Goodluck in the next wee while on getting everything sorted- and glad your families are looking after you guys. Please let us know if you need anything.

And oww, your bookcase!

[cassie-lee.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I've never been more glad for our crappy sleeping habits :p

Yes, I just found a photo of my books on the case just after we moved in, and I just sat here staring at it.

[swordage]

I think it would be fabulous and entirely appropriate if we could help by donating books to replace the ones that DID get burned.

[forest-rose.livejournal.com]

Seconded!

[imaginarycircus.livejournal.com]

Holy crap. I'm glad she is OK! D:

Dude, people have been telling stories to other people and so on since there were people who could tell stories. But getting a photo of Cassie outside her house with her war torn copy of Nameless the next day? That's striking.

[valancy-joy.livejournal.com]

certainly if there are books I'd be more than happy to help replace... and anything else can do...

[ojuzu.livejournal.com]

Obviously, I need to get around to buying a copy of Nameless. YOUR BOOKS ARE MAGIC, SAM.

[lavinialavender.livejournal.com]

*blinks* Wow. When I suggested the photo-with-Nameless meme, this is not what I imagined.

But yeah, that has to be...a pretty dizzying experience. I understand why you want the photo on your wall.

[copperbadge.livejournal.com]

I know, right? Still, pretty awesome photo :D

[sharklabyrinth.livejournal.com]

Glad everyone's safe. Amazing story.
*brainstorms for appropriate pimpage*

[matt_doyle]

That is astounding.

[slushlily.livejournal.com]

I'm usually a lurker, so, uh, hi, but in case cassie_lee reads these comments, I felt compelled to write. Anyway, been there done that about two years ago with a window-unit air conditioner, and god, it SUCKS, so with every cell in my body, I wish all the best wishes in the entire world to you and your flatmates. It's hard and the reality doesn't set in immediately, but things get better eventually.

On a more general note, about three feet from where our fire started, everything but two objects burned completely. A Virgin Mary medallion thingy survived and didn't even get sooty, as did my grandfather's laminated prayer card from his memorial service. I'm not actually religious, but it was really spooky.

[cassie-lee.livejournal.com]

Wow, freaky about the medallion. We had a few weird things survive that probably shouldn't have, but nothing religious cos I don't think we owned anything, lol.

Thanks for the well wishes, it's all appreciated :)

[cat63.livejournal.com]

Ouch. Thank goodness everyone got out safely, at least.

[firesprite1105.livejournal.com]

Wow. I really don't know what to say, but it seems somehow symbolic.

[cassie-lee.livejournal.com]

My roommate (who took the photo) read this entry and all the comments yesterday and was amazed! She was also as amused as I was that the Cafe were the first people to offer the things we miss the most, books!

The Cafe is amazing, and we thank you muchly!

P.S. She also asked if she could pretty please have a non-charred copy of Nameless since she hadn't got around to reading it yet :p

[copperbadge.livejournal.com]

LOL, tell her sure. :) Can you send me an address where it'll reach her? I'll send it out with the next international shipment.