>
>Dear Maryelizabeth Hart,
> Sorry it's taken so long to get back to you on this.....
>Nalo Hopkinson forwarded your email about putting the intros at the beginning
>or end of each story of Terri Windling and my fairy tale antho series. I
>don't remember either of us (or our editor at the time, John Douglas) giving
>it much thought as we put together the first volume and this is the first
>time anyone has commented on it (negatively or positively). I passed the note
>to Terri and Jennifer Brehl, our current editor at Avon. Neither of them feel
>strongly about it with regard to hurting or enhancing the reader's enjoyment
>of each story.
>
>I feel, though, that putting the intro at the beginning isn't an issue
>because our fairy tales' genesis(es?) are not meant to be a "surprise" --each
>story should be fresh enough to transcend the original in some
>way--Obviously, when a story's punch is dependent on the reader's ignorance
>giving certain info away upfront won't work. eg. I took Michael McDowell's
>"Halley Passing" for the Year's Best many years ago and was very careful not
>to give away it's "punchline."
>
>Also, since we're already up to the fourth volume of the fairy tales, it's
>seems a little strange for us to switch format in midstream. I personally
>like intros that flow smoothly from author bio to a bit about the upcoming
>story. But if a reader finds that hurts the pleasure of the story she/he can
>ignore the front matter until after having read the story.
>Best,
>Ellen
Maryelizabeth
Mysterious Galaxy 619-268-4747
3904 Convoy St, #107 800-811-4747
San Diego, CA 92111 619-268-4775 FAX
http://www.mystgalaxy.com
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