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Where do these rumors get started? Harlan Ellison did not make me cry. I don’t believe he could. One, I find him charming; always have. But having said that there are cavets to his charm. If you are offended by foul language you will not enjoy Harlan’s conversation. But since I am not offended by strong language, and in fact, use it myself, it’s cool by me. People sometimes think he is abrupt and take that as unkindness. I can also be abrupt, and know it for just wanting to get things said, or done. I do remember the panel that we shared, I believe at Dragon Con. He was his usual self, which means entertaining, harsh, but he burns on stage, very, very on. He is a bright light, sort of like a harsher version, and less frantic of Robin Williams. It was the last day of Dragon Con for Jon and I. Something in the air vents of our room had given us both allergy hang-overs. I was wearing the black t-shirt, and letting my hair do it’s thing, because we were going home that day. In fact, Harlan remarked on how much hair I had. I said yes, and fluffed it around and taught him a word he did not know. Fessoning, which is what it’s called when someone with long hair uses the head shake to get the hair to settle behind their shoulders, or anywhere, I guess. I took it as a mark of pride that I could teach him a new word since his vocabulary is frightening in size. Yes, he did pick on me, but it’s a mark of honor to be picked on by Harlan Ellison, because he only picks at you if he thinks you are capable of defending yourself verbally and mentally. He does not waste his time challenging the unarmed. To cross verbal swords with Harlan is a compliment. My one complaint, he is a terrible microphone hog, but it didn’t come as a surprise. It’s Harlan. He did say something late in the panel, and if I had heard it, I would have said something back, but, my hand to God, I didn’t hear it.(People told me later what he said. No I will not print it here. He apologized later.) He was sitting beside me, we were trying to share a microphone, but I did not hear it. My end of the table had gone to a quiet humming place in my head, where I hoped that the allergy hang-over would eventually abate. It didn’t by the way. The allergy shots have made my life sooo much better. But getting back to that one panel with Harlan. He apologized after the panel, just in case anything he’d said, I’d taken the wrong way. I had not. But an apology from Harlan Ellison is a rare and valuable thing, and I treasure it. So, in conclusion; Harlan did not make me cry. But because the rumor seems to have legs, here is what Harlan has requested we put up somewhere that fans can read it. So, here it is, Harlan Ellison’s note on my blog. Let me fan girl just a second; It’s Harlan Ellison!

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HARLAN ELLISON
– Friday, September 12 2008 11:26:46
REPLY TO PAM CROSSLAND

Dear Pam: I must hasten to disabuse you of a misconception. Not only have I NEVER made Laurell Hamilton cry, I think she is a very very nice woman, and I commend her success. I am not a fan of vampire stories. Literarily-speaking, I think it has been–for decades–a Spent Force, now bereft of virtually all but aficionado interest. The genre is popular as hell, but it leaves me cold. That’s just me: I have a few personal favorite vampire stories, but all of them are at least a decade or three old…I haven’t paid any attention to that sub-genre in years’n’years, purposely. But please mark this: it has nothing to do with Laurell or her work. I have no dog in that hunt, so I would never say anything that might make her smile OR cry; I am witless on the subject.

The one time Laurell and I had more than a passing hiya, kiddo, a wave, and a smile, was when we were on the same panel at some convention or other, quite a while ago, and I said pretty much what I just reiterated. Laurell wasn’t over-the-top in love with my comments, naturally; I mean, after all, it IS her metier; but the exchange between us was absolutely affable, she was uncommonly charming and gracious and forgiving of my opinion, and ever since we have exchanged pleasantries and notes on a number of occasions.

Laurell K. Hamilton, thus, is peaches in my book. I have many auctorial friends whose work is not my banquet, but it isn’t hard to separate Person from Work if there is mutual respect.

So, no, I never made Laurell cry, and hope never to do so.

Somebody might want to copy the above and send it where it’ll hit Laurell’s attention. I’d appreciate that, on just the off-chance that what Pam had heard is a "Chinese Whispers" recurrence.

Yr. Pal, Harlan

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