Important message for Mr. Sakai

[RCee]

Dear Mr. Sakai:

Today I was greeted with good news that a story of mine was accepted for publication on a sci fi online webzine in late August (hopefully).

My joy was met later with a "faux pas horror" when I discovered that I did not have on file a notification from you confirming your awareness of a scene in my sci fi story where my character makes reference to Usagi Yojimbo (and to you). Something I thought I had sent out a long time ago.

It is a "holo-deck, Star Trek - like scene" of the battle at Adachagahara Plain where Usagi hides his master's head. My character further explains how he is a fan of the ancient art form of comic books and how he likes to relive that scene and how you were a great influence not only to him but your work was required study in universities around the world.

From the FAQ I see that I can contact Diana Schutz at Dark Horse and I am sending her an email with an RTF attachment with the story excerpt -- as it appears -- but I am also posting this message here in order to speak/appeal to you directly.

Again, I apologize for not confirming this situation with you earlier.

Please contact me as soon as possible: rcruz61@hotmail.com

For what it's worth, I am an avid fan of your work (even had a letter published in Usagi back in '95 - 96) and I am still just a struggling writer that simply wants to do things right.

Again, I apologize for this situation.

[Stan Sakai]

Hi RCee,

I apologize for not getting back to you sooner, but I just returned from Comic-Con this afternoon.

I also received an e-mail from Dark Horse. They have no objection to running your story as is. You should receive a confirming e-mail about this soon.

Thank you,
Stan

[RCee]

Dear Mr. Sakai:

Thank you for taking time to reply. And thank you for understanding.

That "sigh" you just heard came from me and it was from relief.