Missing Books!!!

[Louise Willow]

Read somewhere about a book called Night Stair released in 1994, was that published under a different name? Also, a book called The Ink and The Paper, 1984? Just wondering if any one had heard of them.

[natasha lewis]

i havent but the ink and the paper has got ringing bells in my head now lol :) have heard the title before. interested to know if they are though :)

[Erika]

Yay! Someone else who noticed the "Night Stair" ad at the end of one of her adult novels. I asked Richie about this myself and she answered it in her first newsletter. Here goes:

"Hi Richie, My name is Erika and I have been a huge fan of yours since I was in 6th grade (over ten years ago). You not only got me into reading, but also inspired me to be a writer (I just graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Creative Writing this past May).

Anyway, there are so many things I would love to ask you, but one question that's been on my mind is:

On the very last page of the book "Blood Roots," there is an ad for the novel "Scarecrow" and at the bottom of the page it says "And look for her next horror novel... "Night Stair" Coming in 1994. I was just wondering what ever happened to that novel? Did it end up being published under a different title or did it just never make it to print?

-Erika


Hi, Erika--

I've always considered it a great gift if my books could inspire someone to read. But to write, too? That's a greater gift than I could even hope for! I'm so touched by your words, and so delighted that I might have played even a little part in opening up those magical doors for you. Thank you so much for telling me.

As for your question, yes, I know exactly what you're talking about, and here's what happened:

I had written the book NIGHT STAIR, which I ended up changing to ONCE UPON A NIGHT. My editor loved it, I loved it, and the two of us had worked really hard on it. It was a book we were both immensely proud of. My editor had promised me the book would be my big "breakout" novel for the adult market. My editor had basically "ok'd" it--I was only working on a very few "touch up" revisions. Then...my editor left. Just like that. Called me and told me she was going to a different publisher, and it was against company policy for her to take me with her. I was devastated, to put it mildly! Another editor was assigned to me--I was told he was great and would be well-matched with me, etc. Well, Mister Well-Matched turned out to be Mr. Totally Clueless! He had NO idea of what the book was about, he just didn't "get" it. Every single thing my former editor loved about it, he told me to change. Every single thing my former editor felt really "made" the book, the new editor didn't like and didn't understand. Finally, my agent stepped in, told Mr. New Editor's boss that he was being a jerk (though I think she said it politely!) and we pulled the book. I still have the book, though I haven't looked at it in years (too painful at first!) BUT I have always dreamed that someday I would submit that book again and get it published. Probably would need updating, rewriting, etc. But I still think it would be a great book!!!

So there you have it. And yes, it was awkward, too, the book being mentioned and advertised--then falling into a bottomless black hole forever!

I just want to thank you again for reading my books and for finding some inspiration in them. I wish you all the best. Perhaps I'll be visiting your website someday, asking for information about books by Erika Bluemel?????

All my best,
Richie"

So there you have it.

I don't know about you, but because this novel puzzled me for so many years, I would absolutelty DIE to get my hands on it. lol. I hope it does get published one day.


And as for The Ink and The Paper, I was actually fortunate enough to buy it on eBay a few years ago. It's a tiny little book and it's not a horror novel, it's a fable about writing. It's really neat. It looks to be self-published. I think since I got a new scanner for my birthday, I will scan it for you and put it on here.

Hope I answered all your questions :D

[Louise Willow]

Wow, thanks Erika. I was not actually expecting any replys so that was great. Really sad about The Night Stair, I'm intrigued by it even more now than before. I hope it eventually gets published. As for the Ink and the Paper I'de love it if you could get a copy to me or how I could find one, it sounds interesting. I was beggining to think I'de actually imagined the two books :-P so thanks again, you were very helpful.

Erika said:

Yay! Someone else who noticed the "Night Stair" ad at the end of one of her adult novels. I asked Richie about this myself and she answered it in her first newsletter. Here goes:
"Hi Richie, My name is Erika and I have been a huge fan of yours since I was in 6th grade (over ten years ago). You not only got me into reading, but also inspired me to be a writer (I just graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Creative Writing this past May).
Anyway, there are so many things I would love to ask you, but one question that's been on my mind is:

On the very last page of the book "Blood Roots," there is an ad for the novel "Scarecrow" and at the bottom of the page it says "And look for her next horror novel... "Night Stair" Coming in 1994. I was just wondering what ever happened to that novel? Did it end up being published under a different title or did it just never make it to print?

-Erika


Hi, Erika--

I've always considered it a great gift if my books could inspire someone to read. But to write, too? That's a greater gift than I could even hope for! I'm so touched by your words, and so delighted that I might have played even a little part in opening up those magical doors for you. Thank you so much for telling me.

As for your question, yes, I know exactly what you're talking about, and here's what happened:

I had written the book NIGHT STAIR, which I ended up changing to ONCE UPON A NIGHT. My editor loved it, I loved it, and the two of us had worked really hard on it. It was a book we were both immensely proud of. My editor had promised me the book would be my big "breakout" novel for the adult market. My editor had basically "ok'd" it--I was only working on a very few "touch up" revisions. Then...my editor left. Just like that. Called me and told me she was going to a different publisher, and it was against company policy for her to take me with her. I was devastated, to put it mildly! Another editor was assigned to me--I was told he was great and would be well-matched with me, etc. Well, Mister Well-Matched turned out to be Mr. Totally Clueless! He had NO idea of what the book was about, he just didn't "get" it. Every single thing my former editor loved about it, he told me to change. Every single thing my former editor felt really "made" the book, the new editor didn't like and didn't understand. Finally, my agent stepped in, told Mr. New Editor's boss that he was being a jerk (though I think she said it politely!) and we pulled the book. I still have the book, though I haven't looked at it in years (too painful at first!) BUT I have always dreamed that someday I would submit that book again and get it published. Probably would need updating, rewriting, etc. But I still think it would be a great book!!!

So there you have it. And yes, it was awkward, too, the book being mentioned and advertised--then falling into a bottomless black hole forever!

I just want to thank you again for reading my books and for finding some inspiration in them. I wish you all the best. Perhaps I'll be visiting your website someday, asking for information about books by Erika Bluemel?????

All my best,
Richie"

So there you have it.

I don't know about you, but because this novel puzzled me for so many years, I would absolutelty DIE to get my hands on it. lol. I hope it does get published one day.


And as for The Ink and The Paper, I was actually fortunate enough to buy it on eBay a few years ago. It's a tiny little book and it's not a horror novel, it's a fable about writing. It's really neat. It looks to be self-published. I think since I got a new scanner for my birthday, I will scan it for you and put it on here.

Hope I answered all your questions :D

[Erika]

No problem. Anytime someone says or asks something I know about, I'll answer. I love chatting. And I think it's really cool that you caught on to that "Night Stair" thing, too. I think you're the first person I've talked to that noticed it. It drove me crazy trying to track it down online and not finding it. lol.
As for Ink and the Paper, I don't really know where you could get a copy. I kind of just got lucky. I'm not sure I can scan the whole thing, as now that I look at it, it says it was put out by the Lowell Press. I'm not sure if that'd be a copyright infringement :/

[Louise Willow]

Thanks for the information, I did try and contact the publisher but no one replied :(. Any way, I was wondering, how did you contact Richie Tankersley Cusick, is there a fan mail address or did you have a direct contact?

Erika said:

No problem. Anytime someone says or asks something I know about, I'll answer. I love chatting. And I think it's really cool that you caught on to that "Night Stair" thing, too. I think you're the first person I've talked to that noticed it. It drove me crazy trying to track it down online and not finding it. lol.
As for Ink and the Paper, I don't really know where you could get a copy. I kind of just got lucky. I'm not sure I can scan the whole thing, as now that I look at it, it says it was put out by the Lowell Press. I'm not sure if that'd be a copyright infringement :/

[Erika]

The "Ask Richie" feature on the website.
richiecusick.com