Her name is Shelly Shapiro, and in the world of science fiction and fantasy she is legend. She’s also an editor which is why you may not automatically recognize her name. I first met Shelly when I started at Del Rey Books in the fall of 2000. I was new to New York (fresh off the dog sled – Canadian joke) and in awe of pretty much everything. What fascinated me about Shelly was that she was there in the early days, working for Lester Del Rey and Judy Lynn. She’s worked (and in some cases still works) with authors like Clarke, Asimov, Brooks, McCaffrey among many, many others, and is the steady hand on the rudder of the SS Star Wars publishing juggernaut at Del Rey. She’s probably spent more time at Skywalker Ranch than anyone except Lucas. She’s seen publishing at its high points and low points and has stories that would make a killer publishing memoir if she ever decided to write them…and the lawyers signed off on it. She started young working at the Science Fiction and Fantasy Book Club and is, lest I give the wrong impression, still young (late 30s I think…early 40s at the most.) And she’s my friend, and sage council.

We had lunch at the Heartland Brewery in Union Square and talked all things publishing and life. Shelly was in town for the preview screening of the new Indiana Jones movie (and yes, she is the editor for the novelization.) It’s always great to hang out in person, even if yesterday was monsoon-like.

I’m sure there are any number of similar analogies, but seeing as I both run and write this seems apt. In running, I find the first mile or so is rough. I’m hyper-aware of every little pain, sore, ache and twitch. My mind is still out wandering and visiting work, relationships, what to have for dinner etc. Then something magical happens. At some point everything just flows into sync. I am one with me, if I’m not sounding too new agey for you. The run smooths out, my breathing steadies and my mind goes deep. I’ve found the writing process to share many of the same characteristics, although without quite as much sweat. When I first start a new sentence, chapter, whatever, it can be a bit jarring as I search for the right path. There are invariably false starts and mistakes, but then, as with the running, something magical happens and everything just flows. Jumbled fragments of ideas suddenly coalesce into precise scenes and characters find their voices. And like running, at the end, I feel both spent and exhilarated by the experience and already looking forward to the next one.

On the east side of Central Park between the 79th and 72nd crosstown streets there is a cat statue about halfway up the hill on Park Drive North. At the bottom of the hill is the Boat House. In a scene reminiscent of Sean Connery in the movie The Hill (ok, not really, but I’m going for dramatic effect) a small group of runners including myself ran up and down that hill what felt like a thousand times (but was probably more like eight) while doing some strength and speed training. Left to my own devices I know I wouldn’t have pushed nearly as hard, but in a group, and with a wonderful instructor, I did more than I otherwise would have. It was a helpful reminder that we are almost always capable of more, in pretty much everything we do. We’ve all heard that fallacy about only using 10% of our brain, but I think a truer truism would be to say we often only use 10% of our spirit.

Chris

The pollen is flying fast and furious in Central Park and sunbathing is in full effect. The files for A Darkness Forged in Fire are off to the printer and my focus, and that of the publisher, has turned to publicity and marketing…and running, but I think that’s mostly me. I’m really looking forward to all of it. At the same time I have several big books coming out from my authors which have me equally excited. There’s everything from the media and the military in Iraq to the thorny issue of the US-Mexico border to the Sherman tank in WWII. I knew this year would be busy, and now that spring is in bloom I’m starting to appreciate just how busy (but I’m not complaining.) The great thing about spring is that everything seems possible at this time of year. All the gray and dull has been washed away and replaced with color and vibrancy…and sunbathing in Central Park…which makes running while not running into things a bit more challenging.

Some time in the near future I’ll be shooting my very first podcast. Not quite sure what it’s going to entail, but it’s being set up by my publisher. I’m thinking of going with an accent, either New Jersey mob or Nova Scotia fisherman.

The final cover, copy and blurbs (quotes from other authors) are now up on Amazon for A Darkness Forged in Fire. It made me realize just how close the book is. Final revisions are done, everything has been signed off and the files have, or are in the process of being, transmitted to the printer. The laydown is June 2 or 3. In less than a month my first book will be in my hands.

I signed up for a speed training course to improve my running. The idea being you run faster for a shorter distance to build up your muscles…I think. All I know is it was fun to get out of my comfort zone and run faster. It also helps that the instructor is amazing. She could motivate me through a brick wall…so I’m hoping she doesn’t read this.