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Magiguy Inner circle Seattle, WA 5467 Posts |
Steve,
It goes without saying that I am a huge fan of The Trapdoor and, of course, the Semi-Automatic series. I am surprised, however, that there has been no mention (other than that in Steve Brooks' introduction) of your book on Mogar's thimble magic, "Digital Effects." This book rarely rests on a shelf in my library, since it already has a permanent spot on my nightstand with a very select group of other books that pass through my hands daily. Thinking back, I can't say for sure what it was about the book that mesmerized me most. Was it the absolute brilliance of Mogar's magic or the perfect written descriptions of the material that almost defied the need for the carefully drawn illustrations that served to elevate the profundity of the material or was it simply the recognition of truth in Beam's Law #18 ("More vulgar gestures are illustrated in thimble magic books than in any other type of magic book")? Nope... I can't say for sure, but I do want to pass along my thanks to you, nonetheless, for producing an encyclopedic tome for those of us who count ourselves among the legions of the macho magic Seamsters Union. Best regards, Evan (aka Magiguy) |
Steve Beam V.I.P. 169 Posts |
Thanks Evan,
Digital Effects was *way* off the beaten path for me. I remember saying, "I'm a card guy, not a thimble guy" right up until the time I started writing it. Joe was the all-time best to work with. He had one complaint after staying up all night and reading the draft for the first time at 4F. I asked him what it was. He opened the galleys to page 160, pointed at the object in figure 5 and said, "What the hell is that?" I explained that it was a thimble. A discussion ensued about how ugly the thimble was. (He was tired...) I told him I'd redraw it since it was his only complaint. Later, I decided to leave it in and turn it into a small page-filler discussion on page 163. Digital Effects was the hardest thing I've ever had to write and illustrate but it may be my best effort. I still do things from it today and in fact, I'm wearing 11 thimbles as I type this. It will soon go out of print as I recently split the remaining stock with Joe. Best, Steve Thimble/Card Guy Seamsters Local 253 |
Steve Beam V.I.P. 169 Posts |
Publishing Digital Effects was a risky investment for me, one I never thought would breakeven. (It did, and quickly, and then did much better - surprising me more than anyone.) But this is like The Trapdoor. I'm sure a year from now I'll frequently be on a bulletin board or at a convention and I'll be asked why I don't reprint the book because everyone who didn't buy it when it was available now wants a copy. This is not a sales pitch because I will soon sell all I have - but it *will* shortly go out of print. If you're going to want one, it's now or e-bay.
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JasonEngland V.I.P. Las Vegas, NV 1728 Posts |
Steve,
Can't remember if I told you this before or not. Among the many rules that guide my life are these: 1. I'll buy anything that Steve Beam has written. 2. I don't do thimble magic. What to do? Well, I bought Digital Effects, read it, liked it (but kept rule 2 in mind above), and shelved it. A few years later I ran into a Las Vegas-based card/slot cheat that in addition to being able to faro shuffling while holding a break, is really, really into thimble magic. He's now the proud owner of my copy. It remains the only magic book I've ever owned that I've given away on purpose.* Just thought you'd like to know that your books are ending up in the hands of the LV criminal underworld. Jason *I accidentally gave away Harry Lorayne's Close-up Card Magic 15 years ago. A Japanese exchange student thought my offer to let him borrow the book was a gift. He brought me a very nice, brand new book (on a non-magic topic) the next day in return. I didn't have the heart to correct him, and I've never replaced the copy in my library. As good as CUCM is, somehow I think replacing it would ruin the story, which I'm still amused by to this day.
Eternal damnation awaits anyone who questions God's unconditional love. --Bill Hicks
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Steve Beam V.I.P. 169 Posts |
Jason,
Great story. If you REALLY want to make it amusing, how about I send you a Nancy Drew novel and you send me your unpublished Hofzinser manuscripts - you know, as loaners. Steve |
Steve Beam V.I.P. 169 Posts |
And we have a poster on the wall at my office listing the rules of working there:
Rule #1 - The boss is always right. Rule #2 - When the boss is wrong, refer to rule #1. I understand your inner conflict, but I suggest you honor your first rule, and that your guiding principle should be not only that you buy every SB book but also that you continue to own every SB book. Please let me know if you need further help young grasshopper. |
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