"Margaret Weis - Amber and Ashes" - читать интересную книгу автора (Weis Margaret)

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acknowledgements
I would like to thank Deb Guzman of Delavan, Wisconsin, and her border collies,
Coy, Tell, and Bizzy, for instructing me and my border collie Tess in the fascinating
work of the herd dog.
My thanks to Joshua Stewart of Beaumont, Texas, who suggested the word
"ernmide" for Rhys's staff.
I would like to thank Weldon Chen, "Granak" of Reno, Nevada, who made a khas
board for me so that I could learn to play the game. Thanks also to Tom Wham of
Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, who played numerous games of khas with me and helped
me understand the rules.
dedication
To Jamie and Renae Chambers.
We've faced some severe storms at sea. Your friendship and dedication kept our
ship afloat.
With my love and thanks, Margaret



introduction
I remember the first time I came across Margaret's work as clearly as if it was
yesterday. It was the mid-'80s and I had just sent out the manuscript of my first
novel, Echoes of the Fourth Magic. Making myself crazy watching the mailman
every day, I decided to divert my attention. I had heard of some new fantasy books
that were making quite a splash, so I went to my local book store and bought the
first dragonlance® novel.
I was immersed in that book when the bad news began to arrive. Rejection letter
after rejection letter showed up at my door; I had no idea of how badly I wanted to
get published.' Frustration turned to outrage, which I took out on the book I
happened to have in my hands at the time. I remember declaring in no uncertain
terms that "I can write a better book than this!" And all the while, I didn't even realize
the declaration as an expression of my own pain.
A few years later, I landed the deal with TSR and was subsequently asked to
come out to Gen Con. My editor, Mary Kirchoff, took me aside to where two
people, Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman, were preparing for a signing.
Watch these two," she told me. "Learn how a pro handles a signing line."
I sat down, a bit embarrassed, given my reaction to that dragonlance book those
years before. Let me say here that I hadn't finished that novel then. I was just too
angry and frustrated.
I met Margaret and Tracy and we exchanged a few pleasant words.
Nothing too substantial, because the line had started to form. The things that most
struck me during that book signing were the questions and the remarks of the
readers. Fan after fan came up and breathlessly and reverently spoke of Kitiara and
Tanis and Raistlin. These people, numerous, intelligent and erudite, had been deeply