Inbox Follies

Hello dear readers! While I have no genre-related meditations to offer you today, I can make an announcement: the August issue of The Willows will be on sale this coming week! Featuring an interview with Sarah Monette, another installment by G. D. Falksen, and loads of new art, it's going to be quite the worthwhile purchase, if I do say so myself!

But now, I must share something that I can almost guarantee will make you all guffaw (though this story particularly makes me think of Skadi's wry humor): a little exchange I had with someone who contacted The Willows, ostensibly seeking advertising. Most of our advertisers, like Kaja Foglio and Brigid Ashwood, are an absolute dream to work with, so I let loose a surprised little chuckle when I saw this in my inbox:

Dear Sirs, I request a media kit of your advertising rates and pertainent [sic] details. Please do not respond in any other fashion.

Thank You,
Mr. Grondo

So, feeling a bit giddy this morning, I fired off a rather playful reply:

Hello Grondo,
Our media kit may be found here: http://www.thewillowsmagazine.com/advertisers.htm

Please do not respond in any fashion other than to purchase space with us.

Yours most truly,
The Willows Editorial Staff

Grondo, however, either did not read his own email, or failed to get a simple joke. Grondo, also, has forgotten where his capslock key is located:

NO THANKS, DON'T CARE FOR YOUR UNPROFESSIONAL MANNER

Yes, that was indeed the entirety of Grondo's email. So, to recap:

Grondo: "Please do not respond in any other fashion."
Professional? According to Grondo, apparently.

Me (obviously joking): "Please do not respond in any fashion other than to purchase space with us."
Unprofessional? According to Grondo, yes!

Grondo: "NO THANKS, DON'T CARE FOR YOUR UNPROFESSIONAL MANNER"
Professional? According to Grondo, yes!

And so, there we have it. Beware of Grondos. Or laugh at them, as I did; it's really your choice.

By the way, that photo at the top is what I discovered when I did a Google image search for "Grondo," so perhaps some insight into Grondo's frustrated psychology could be gained by discussing this action figure with him; it certainly is possible. Sometimes it is helpful to be reminded what a gentleman is, by being reminded of what one is not.

I promise with the whole of my blood-pumping organ, dear readers, that these next few issues of The Willows will be well worth the dearth of coherent posts here.