I've been reading Mr. Lumley's fine work for many years, with great pleasure.

 

Imagine my mortification when I discovered I had mad free with one of his characters in some of my recent work at 'Fantastic Horror'('Journey to Irem') I didn't get paid for it, if that means anything.

 

Now my use of Queen Nitocris was brief, peripheral and not central to the story-no, my big swipe was Quachil Uttaeus, but that's a Clark Ashton Smith thing, and as far as I know, nobody has defended CAS' copyright for years(pity, that). I think of it as more homage to a great master, fallen into sad neglect.

 

But, respect for living authors, and all that. My trespass was accidental, having seen the name Nitocris in passing, with mention of her mirror. I have a trick memory, things float to the surface and I have no idea of from where-I never read the story-I'm going to spend some time looking for it, too.

 

I chanced to discover that this homicidal and suicidal Queen was one of Mr. Lumley's creations, at least the version I was using, there were several queens of that name in history when I happened to glance at an entry in the Encyclopedia Cthuliana while working on something else. Honestly, I had no idea it was protected work until then, I thought it was PD from long ago.

 

Considering we're both old soldiers and retired coppers, could you give a guy a break?

 

Now, to tell the truth, and shame the Devil, I used the name in one I wrote this morning-I needed a mummy, she was handy, but that was the real Nitocris(yeah, right!). I like the name, it sounds sinister..

 

I never used the character but with respect-I don't think she'd be one you'd want to irk.

 

If this is in any way a problem, I'll do whatever I can to make it right.

 

Again, I humbly beg pardon, it was an honest mistake, but still, a mistake.

 

Let me know.

 

(btw, Brian Keene, who lives close to me, is writing interesting Mythos tales. I'm writing some of my own, with a new take on the Great Old Ones, considering them as cosmic gangsters with a very definite reason for wanting to take back the Earth. I have always admired your works, and count thewm as a major influence. Perhaps too major, as it falls out!):eek:

My trick memory again!

 

I never read 'Fruiting Bodies, but I remember it in the bookstore in Baltimore, next to "House of Doors" That I read.

 

That was close to twenty years ago.

 

Again, very sorry. Stuff floats up. like a fortune in the Magic Eight Ball, sometimes all it takes is a wee prompt.