About the creation of the Borderlands...Part 3 by Terri Windling Around this time, first Will, then Emma, conceived ideas for Borderland tales that couldn't be squeezed into short-story length. Through their agent Valerie Smith, we worked out a contractual deal allowing them to borrow the Borderland setting for works of novel length. Will wrote two moving Young Adult novels, *Elsewhere* and *Never-Never* (published by Jane Yolen Books/Harcourt Brace in hardcover, Tor Books in paperback.) Emma wrote the heart-breaking novel *Finder* (published in hardcover and paperback by Tor.) All three books made wonderful new additions to the Borderland cannon...and I'm pleased to say that we plan to present more Borderland novels in the future. (Midori Snyder, Delia Sherman and "Bellamy Bach" all have stories on the drawing board.) The fourth Borderland anthology (*The Essential Bordertown: A Traveller's Guide to the Edge of Faery*, co-edited by Delia Sherman) was turned in to Tor in 1996--publication keeps getting delayed, but let's hope we'll see it out before too long. Tor is more interested in Borderland novels than anthologies (which are always difficult to sell), so it's possible this may be the last short story collection for a while. As a result, we wanted to make this collection something special, and I think we've done it: a *very fat* volume chock full of great new tales. The writers in the volume include Borderland regulars Ellen, Charles and Midori, plus Delia Sherman, Patricia A. McKillip, Steven Brust, Caroline Stevermer, Ellen Steiber, Felicity Savage, Michael Korolenko, and even a few new kids on the block, if only to keep the rest of us on our toes! As for media rights, keep your fingers crossed...but don't hold your breath! Phil Lucas Productions (a Native American company in Seattle) first purchased the rights ten years ago, but was unable, despite heroic efforts, to raise the cash for production. The series was then bought by Lynda Guber Productions in Los Angeles, who signed a development deal with Sony Studios and NBC Television. A script was written, and Brian Froud was hired to create conceptual designs, but this deal too eventually languished...and the rights were subsequently picked up by Dananxi Studios. Another heroic effort ensued, but the bulk of Dananxi's resources were tied up with another, larger project (a film version of the Earthsea books). Currently, the rights are in the hands of an independent producer in New York, a terrific script has been written, and all we can do is wait and see what happens. back a page.. Continue...