Andy and Poul want to know about the structure and nationality of names.

A call comes in from Ace. Jim Baen wants the manuscript a full three monthsahead of the contracted deadline. I point out that this is impossible - the newdeadline would give me only two weeks between receiving the stories from theauthors and submitting the complete manuscript to New York. If I encountereddifficulties with any of the stories or if any of the submissions came in late,it would disrupt the schedule completely. They point out that if I can meet thenew schedule, they'll make it their lead book for the month it's released. Theavaricious side of me is screaming, but I stick to my guns and repeat that it'simpossible to guarantee. They offer a contract for a second Thieves' Worldanthology, suggesting that if a couple of stories are late, I can include themin the next book. Under attack now both from my publisher and my own greedynature, I roll my eyes heavenward, swallow hard, and agree.

A new note is rapidly dispatched to the contributors, politely reminding them ofthe approaching deadline. Also included is Gordy's character sketch for Jamiethe Red which he had finally submitted under mild duress (his arm will healeventually).

Andy calls and wants to know the prince's name. I haven't given it any thought,but am willing to negotiate. An hour later, I hang up. It occurs to me that Ihaven't written my story yet.

Gordy notifies me that he can't get his story done in time for the first book.Terrific! With Gordy and Roger both out of the first volume, it's starting tolook a little short.

Andy's story comes in, as does Joe's and Poul's.

Andy's story includes a discussion with Joe's One-Thumb character. Joe haskilled One-Thumb off in his story. A minor sequencing problem.

Poul's story has Cappen Varra going off on an adventure with Gordy's Jamie theRed. Gordie's Jamie the Red story won't be in the first book! A major sequencingproblem! Oh, well. I owe Gordy one for talking me into editing this monster.

I look at the stories already in the bin and decide that the first draft of mystory needs some drastic rewriting.

A note arrives from Phil Farmer. He had sent me a letter months ago, whichapparently never arrived, withdrawing from the project. (It hadn't!) Realizingthat withdrawing at this late date would leave me in a bad spot, he is nowrearranging his writing schedule in order to send me 'something'. Of course, itwill be a little late. I am grateful, but panicky.

Lynn finishes her story and starts to gloat. I threaten to beat her head in withmy Selectric.

Ace calls again. They want additional information for the cover copy. They alsowant a word count. I explain the situation as calmly as I can. Half-way throughmy explanation, the phone melts.

Ma Bell fixes my phone in record time (I am rapidly becoming their favouritecustomer), and I hurriedly call Marion to ask for a rough word-count on herunsubmitted story. She tells me she sent me a letter which must not havearrived. (It didn't.) She tells me she'll have to withdraw from the projectbecause of time pressures in her other writing commitments. She tells me to stopgibbering and say something. I calm myself and explain I'd really like to have astory from her. I explain I really need her story. I mention that her characteris on the cover of the book. She observes that the water gushing from the phoneis threatening to flood her living room and agrees to try to squeeze the storyinto her writing schedule ... before she flies to London in two weeks.

With steady hand but trembling mind, I call Ace and ask for Jim Baen. I explainthe situation: I have six stories in hand (yes, I finally finished mine) and twomore on the way ... a little late ... maybe. He informs roe that with just sixstories the book will be too short. He wants at least one more story and anessay from me about how much fun it was to edit the anthology. To calm myhysterics, he suggests I commission a back-up story in case the two en routedon't arrive in time. I point out that there are only two weeks remaining beforethe deadline. He concedes that with such a limited time-frame, I probably won'tbe able to get a story from a 'name' author. He'll let me work with an'unknown', but the story had better be good!

Christine DeWees is a kindly, white-haired grandmother who rides a Harley andwants to be a writer. Lynn and I have been criticizing her efforts for some timeand have repeatedly encouraged her to submit something to an editor. So far, shehas resisted our proddings, insisting that she would be embarrassed to show herwork to a professional editor. I decide to kill two birds with one stone.

In my most disarming 'nothing can go wrong' tones, I give my spiel to Christineand pass her a Thieves' World package. Three hours later, my phone rings.Christine loves the character ofMyrtis, the madam of the Aphrodisia House and isready to do a story centring around her. I stammer politely and point out thatMyrtis is one of Marion's characters and that she might object to someone elsewriting her characters. Christine cackles and tells me she's already cleared itwith Marion (don't ask me how she got the phone number!), and everything iseffervescent. Two days later, she hands me the story, and I still haven't gottenaround to looking up 'effervescent' in the dictionary.

With seven stories now in hand, I declare Thieves' World I to be complete andbegin writing my 'fun fun' essay. The stories from Marion and Phil can waituntil the second book.

Then Marion's story arrives.

Marion's story interfaces so nicely with Christine's that I decide to use themboth in the first book. Rather than cut one of the • other stories, the volumeis assembled with intros, maps, eight stories, and essay, crated, and shippedoff to New York.

Endo volume one! Print it!

The whole whirlwind process of editing this monster child was only vaguely as Ihad imagined it would be. Still, in hindsight, I loved it. With all the worriesand panics, the skyhigh phone bills and the higher bar bills, I loved everyminute. I find myself actually looking forward to the next volume ... and that'swhat worries me!