Writer Ferrets: Chasing the Muse (Ferret Chronicles) - Hardcover

Bach, Richard

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0743227549 ISBN 13: 9780743227544

Publisher: Scribner, 2002

Synopsis

Presents a tale of a married ferret couple, both aspiring writers, who, in their quest to write the great ferret novel, learn how important it is to be loved by one another, as well as achieving the ultimate success by satisfying one's inner circle.

About this title

About the Author

Richard Bach is the author of thirteen books, including the bestselling Jonathan Livingston Seagull and Illusions. A former USAF fighter pilot, gypsy barnstormer and airplane mechanic, he flies a seaplane today. He writes this series with his ten ferret advisors. His Web site is www.richardbach.com

Reviews

Bach stumbled in the first two volumes of his new series of fables (Air Ferrets Aloft and Rescue Ferrets at Sea), but this effort recaptures some of the sense of wonder that made Jonathan Livingston Seagull a runaway bestseller. The protagonists are a pair of aspiring writers, Budgeron Ferret and his mate, Danielle, who are keen to climb the literary ladder. Budgeron, despite bouts of writer's block, has high hopes after selling a few short stories to some low-level magazines, and he hits it big when he publishes a series of novels for young ferrets (called kits). Meanwhile, Danielle pens a controversial romance "for the fun of it," which quickly becomes a bestseller. Much of the second half of the novel deals with the book tour that Danielle and Budgeron undertake together after becoming a successful literary couple. As hackneyed as the plot sounds, Bach's love of animals and reverence for the creative process keep the novel from becoming overly mawkish and sentimental; the icing on the cake is some tongue-in-cheek insight into the publishing process. The book also features crisp plotting, which was missing from the first two volumes of The Ferret Chronicles, and Bach's decision to avoid dwelling on the differences between the human world and his imagined ferret equivalent helps keep the prose economical. This is a lovable, entertaining story, which will tug at the heartstrings of even the most jaded.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

As part of a longstanding series, Bach's book here introduces Budgeron and Danielle, two married writer ferrets in conflict: she writes best sellers, he is striving to craft the great ferret novel.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

Chapter 1

Budgeron Ferret drew the shades of his tiny attic writing room, unplugged the wall lamp, slipped a white silk scarf around his neck.

What's wrong? he thought in the gloom. Can my trouble be the ceremony itself?

Hollow, tense, he turned to his task, the tips of his ears bending now and then against the low angled ceiling of the room. He lifted the typewriter from the desk, set it on the floor. From the closet he took a wide green blotter, a rosewood case, an ancient oil lamp. He set the case gently at the rear of the desktop, the blotter in front, squaring the edges precisely, placed the lamp alongside.

He was a handsome ferret, the golden fur of his body darkening to ink at the tip of his tail. The mask around his eyes, equally dark, shaped a crisp W, a feature that other animals found compelling.

If it's my ceremony that's wrong, he thought, how do I fix it? Does it work because I believe it will work? What happens if I stop believing?

Next the writer struck a match and touched it to the lamp, a flame never lit but for this occasion. He watched the glow lift and settle, the color of an ancient key, peaceful soft reflections in polished silver.

Placing the chair just so in front of the desk, he seated himself. Everything the same, it had to be, as the day he wrote the first sentence.

Sliding open one of two small drawers, he lifted a tiny crystal pot of violet ink and set it in its place on the desk. He removed the cork and put it carefully by the jar, closed the drawer.

From the second drawer he selected a goose-feather quill, its point clean and bright. He laid the quill carefully to the right of the ink and cork.

He nodded, satisfied. Save for the growing terror within him, all was in order.

With the side of his paw he polished the rosewood case, slowly opened the lid. His heart fluttered as he touched his unfinished manuscript.

Where Ferrets Walk

by

Budgeron Ferret

Though he knew it word for word, he read his book yet another time.

Sadly, Count Urbain de Rothskit stood upon his paws by the edge of the castle turret and watched rosy-whiskered dawn push her nose under the tent of night.

The...

Here the manuscript ended.

Thus launched into the process of creation, the author sighed. It had a wonderful tension, he thought, yet something wasn't right with the novel that would set the world of ferret literature on its tail.

Did sadly mean "without happiness," which the writer intended, or "unfortunately," which he did not?

Was it necessary to write stood upon his paws? What else would his hero stand upon?

Did by the edge of the castle turret hint that Rothskit was about to jump? His count was not suicidal.

Rosy-whiskered dawn sounded as fresh as the moment he wrote it, and he liked the tent of night. That was good.

He dipped quill-point to ink, lifted it toward the paper. It was time to continue the sentence.

He sighed again, waiting for the adventure that would follow The...

He wrote dawn...and stopped. He could not imagine a word to follow that one.

Silence curled in about him, tightening, the coils of a jungle constrictor.

Copyright © 2002 by Saunders-Vixen Aircraft Company, Inc.

Edition details

• Publisher: Scribner
• Publication date: 2002
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0743227549
• ISBN 13: 9780743227544
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 208