Find this Metafilter novelist

March 17, 2021 11:51 AM

Yesterday, I was hanging out on the site, and in a conversation about the pandemic, a Mefite mentioned having written a book, and feeling like it was published into the abyss because of the pandemic. Several people piped up to say they had just bought a copy. I would like to find that thread, or that Mefite.

I wanted to join in and buy the book yesterday, but couldn't get it as an ebook in the US (it was published in the UK originally). This morning, I glanced at my bookshelf, and there it was, in a small pile of unread books. I don't remember buying it, or why I did, whether a friend recommended it or it was in a list of queer paranormal romance, or what. But I already owned it!

I started reading it, and could tell from the first page that the writing was going to be superior to most genre writing. I am enjoying it immensely and would like to tell the author so.

I can't find the thread, and I can't remember the author's Mefi username. I feel fine giving the title and author of the book, as these are included or linked to from the user's profile page: The book is Love Bites, by Ry Herman.

posted by Orlop to MetaFilter-Related at 11:51 AM (12 comments total)

this one?
posted by mochapickle at 12:00 PM on March 17, 2021

That user, in this thread.
posted by daisyace at 12:06 PM on March 17, 2021

Hi! Yes, that is me, as the MeFi sleuths have already uncovered.

I'm so very happy to hear you're enjoying my book! Thank you. (And I'm finding it very funny that you already had a copy, because that happens to me ALL THE TIME. I have to shop for books with an "I bought this one already / I haven't bought this one yet" list.)
posted by kyrademon at 12:28 PM on March 17, 2021 [15 favorites]

kyrademon, I also shop with a list like that.

The further I get into the book, the more I like. I hope it finds its readership.

Thanks, friends!
posted by Orlop at 1:21 PM on March 17, 2021 [2 favorites]

By the way ... I wanted to add that your reaching out to tell me this honestly means a lot to me.

As the pandemic thread probably made clear, I'm often having a rough time of it right now because, well, we're all mostly having a rough time of it right now. Knowing that someone liked my oddball serious-but-humorous-queer-romance-with-fantasy-creatures enough to seek me out and say so was a real bright spot in my day.

So, yay for moments of human kindness. And in the spirit of that, I'm going to pass it on by raving about some books by other MeFites:

thesmallmachine's The Breath of the Sun -- A book about belief, truth, and both the impossibility and necessity of touching the numinous. And mountain climbing. Plus, it's a super queer fantasy novel.

Ballad of Peckham Rye's The Psychology of Time Travel -- A locked-room murder mystery, a love story, and a deep look at how time travel might seriously mess with your mind. Also, queer SFF. Hey, I have tastes. And for that matter, also Ballad of Peckham Rye's The Thief on the Winged Horse -- I love fantasy that gives physical forms to emotional themes, and makes metaphors real. This book does exactly that, both thoughtfully and inventively.

Jeanne's A Love Story Starring My Dead Best Friend -- Often charming, sometimes very sad, and in general extremely good queer YA romance.

PhoBWanKenobi's Starglass and Starbreak -- Thoughtful, well-written YA SF.

And while I doubt jscalzi needs any promoting from me, Redshirts pulls off being serious comedy, which is tough trick indeed. (Another SF, in case anyone wasn't already aware.)
posted by kyrademon at 3:08 PM on March 17, 2021 [35 favorites]

I've already used March's one acquisitions request per month at Toronto Public Library but I know what I'm asking for come April! And May, ....
posted by seanmpuckett at 3:43 PM on March 17, 2021 [3 favorites]

Also if anyone reading this is a Canadian author, you should add your books to the library payout rolls at Public Lending Right. Deadline is May 1.
posted by seanmpuckett at 3:44 PM on March 17, 2021 [1 favorite]

The only rain on this parade is, I still haven't gotten my damn book yet from Amazon!

Hey kyrademon, can I get a signed bookplate or note or whatever you big-time writers do to paste in? :7)
posted by wenestvedt at 7:54 PM on March 17, 2021

I'll MeMail you.
posted by kyrademon at 6:06 AM on March 18, 2021 [2 favorites]

I had no idea The Breath of the Sun was a mefite novel! Friends gave it to me for my birthday in 2019 and I have given it away in the holiday gift exchange twice now, and recommended it in several threads on Ask. kyradaemon, thank you for making that connection for my brain! I wish you all the success in your own publishing ventures.
posted by Lawn Beaver at 7:29 PM on March 18, 2021 [4 favorites]

This is a curious bit of synchronicity.

A couple of days ago, I saw a link to this tweet on Slack, about a Federal judge issuing a memo against the use of the Garamond font, and I had a vivid flashback to a MeFi comment a long time ago, a playful short story about legions armed with Garamonds in these Times New Roman.

So I went poking around for it, and there it was - a comment from kyrademon, back in the pre-politics-megathread era, in 2012.

I remembered thinking that it was a fantastic short-short - and it's stuck with me, almost a decade later. I'm very happy to know that you're a successful author, kyrademon.

(I'm barely active on MeFi any longer, but digging through old comments sure brings back memories.)
posted by RedOrGreen at 12:14 PM on March 19, 2021 [5 favorites]

I, too, have held the memory of the Times New Roman short-short in my heart for these many years. I just re-looked it up myself the other week.

The only other comment which holds a similar level of esteem in my mind is physicsmatt’s LHC thought experiment.
posted by notoriety public at 4:03 PM on March 22, 2021 [1 favorite]