I got letters yesterday and today letting me know that Into the Fire and Heat of the Moment are going out of print. Those were the last of my JH books on the shelf, so that's a rap. For those who were hoping to finish out the fire trilogy with Caine's story, I'll see what I can do. Worst case scenario, I'll put it out in e-book form just to finish up the trio.
I've only had a few books go out of print since I turned pro, so I can't really complain. I will miss Jessica, though. Her books were fun to write. Now to work on stop speaking about myself in the third person.
Any questions out there to distract me from my grieving process?
How do you know that something's officially out of print (as opposed to just hard to get)?
ReplyDeleteAwww... I was looking forward to more Jessica Hall. I guess you'll just have to write the e-book for all your fans. Does this mean you no longer have multiple personalities and are simply... bi-polar? (Better get Lynn, to ask S.L. about that.)
ReplyDeleteI'm debating pen names. At what point do you start using one? When you write a different kind of story, when your agent says you should, when your editor says you should?
ReplyDeleteAlso, if I use pen names, do I have to refer to myself in third person? *g*
aw, i'm sorry PBW!
ReplyDeleteI don't know what to say but "blech, what a drag for you."
Still stalking the shelves for your other new books since I'm dim enough to forget when they're being released and that rampaging optimist in me is convinced they're out already.
I've been thinking about jumping genres (SF to technothriller) and going with a slightly modified version of my name to differentiate; the thing is, I'm not sure how to approach publishers. Should I play down my SF work? What advice do you have for someone wanting to move into a new genre?
ReplyDeleteNot that I'm an expert or the one who was asked, but I have some thoughts on pseudonyms. I decided to go with a pseudonym for a couple reasons.
ReplyDeleteMy original sort-of pseudonym would lead people to my doorstep if they googled it enough. There are websites out there that have all your legal names and addresses available for free. Who knew?
Secondly, I think maybe people remember your name more if it creates a picture, i.e. Michelle Stone just to give a bad example.
Anyway, I'm really here for a question. It has come to my attention that MS Word has features which can be used to edit manuscripts. I do not know how to use those features. Does PBW or anyone else know where there is a tutorial on MS Word for writers/stupid computer users? I hear rumors that you can 'tell' MSWord to highlight overused words in some sort of macro menu.
Does anyone know what I'm talking about?
Thanks
M
I grieve with you, PBW. :( I love your Jessica Hall books, and have in fact been wondering if there was more.
ReplyDeleteWell, I don't have any questions to distract you, but I just wanted to say that I love your books and even if Jessica Hall is out of print, S. L. Viehl will always be there. :D
Did you see Lawrence Watt-Evans' experiment with his book The Spriggan Mirror last year? I gather his publishers didn't want it but his fans did, so he wrote it as an e-book serial and asked for donations. If he got enough donations for each instalment, he posted the next one, and so on. Could something like that be a way to finish the trilogy?
ReplyDeleteSince Carla beat me to the Watt-Evan's experiment, I'll suggest Holly Lisle's e-Shop. She's publishing some of her backlist, non-fiction targeting writers' needs and looking for more.
ReplyDeleteShe a great royalty schedule too.
Nalini wrote: How do you know that something's officially out of print (as opposed to just hard to get)?
ReplyDeleteThe author and the publisher know, although they don't always make the info public. Online booksellers will often put the information on the book sale page as "out of print" or "new copies not available." You can also have your local bookstore check on the title; they'll either have it listed as OOP on their database or can find out the status from their distributor.
Alison wrote: Yeah, you got any copies to give me???
ReplyDeleteAnything for you, pal (btw, book lovers should get over toAlison's place because she's giving away a pile of books starting on July 24th.)
Jaye wrote: I guess you'll just have to write the e-book for all your fans.
ReplyDeleteI have to check with my agent, but if she has no objections, I'll likely do it as a freebie e-book for my readers.
Does this mean you no longer have multiple personalities and are simply... bi-polar?
I'm still actively published under six other different names, so I think it'll be a while before I can relax and simply be bi-polar. :)
Charlene wrote: I'm debating pen names. At what point do you start using one?
ReplyDeleteI think the ideal time is when you're changing genres or taking a new direction in one where you've been writing under another name.
When you write a different kind of story, when your agent says you should, when your editor says you should?
My pseudonyms all came about by publisher demand; I really had no option but to go along with it if I wanted to publish in multiple genres. If this is your idea, I would talk to your agent and see what the advantages will be and decide if it's right for you.
Also, if I use pen names, do I have to refer to myself in third person?
Only when the bitch gives you a hard time. :)
I am sorry that you're retiring a pseudonym. That must feel a little like an amputation.
ReplyDeleteSince you want a DISTRACTING question:
What's the most extreme thing you've done to get time and privacy to write?
Nico wrote: I don't know what to say but "blech, what a drag for you."
ReplyDeleteOh, I'm not too depressed. Being remaindered is a fact of the writing life, and I had a good run. Anyway, Gena was getting lonely being the only pseudonym in remainderland.
Demented M,
ReplyDeleteFor checking on repeats of the same words/phrases, you can use:
http://www.cro-code.com/forewords.jsp
It's a Microsoft Word plug-in that calculates "word and phrase frequency in the text", and searches for sentence patterns.
Also, this page:
http://harris-donahue.tripod.com/id4.html
got me started with Microsoft Word formatting (scroll down the page, it's at the bottom). Hope that helps.
James wrote: I've been thinking about jumping genres (SF to technothriller) and going with a slightly modified version of my name to differentiate; the thing is, I'm not sure how to approach publishers. Should I play down my SF work? What advice do you have for someone wanting to move into a new genre?
ReplyDeleteIf you were making the jump from SF to writing Regency Romance, substantial writing credits such as yours might be a problem. SF and technothrillers aren't that far apart in terms of genre, however, so I think your credits assure the publisher of an established readership who will follow you. Check with your agent first to get his/her point of view, but I'd use them in a standard C.V. and enclose it with your book proposal.
M wrote: It has come to my attention that MS Word has features which can be used to edit manuscripts. I do not know how to use those features. Does PBW or anyone else know where there is a tutorial on MS Word for writers/stupid computer users? I hear rumors that you can 'tell' MSWord to highlight overused words in some sort of macro menu.
ReplyDeleteJohn Faughnan has a pretty decent tutorial page, written in plain language, that might be of help: Microsoft Word: Living with the Beast. Another excellent site is MS Word How-to Articles.
Milady wrote: Hmm... I don't know how to distract you. I have those two books, and they will be the beginning of my OOP section. Does that help? Oh and I love those books! That must help, right?
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely. Thank you, kind lady.
Also, is it possible for you to republish them in ebook-form? *looks hopeful* Especially the White Tiger Swords trilogy--I got the entire set from the library, so I don't have my own.
The rights for the books don't revert back to me for a while yet, but when they do I will probably bring them out in e-book form. I've got some extra copies of the WT books sitting around here, though, so I can send you those as thanks for cheering me up -- just e-mail me your ship-to address. :)
Crys wrote: ...I just wanted to say that I love your books and even if Jessica Hall is out of print, S. L. Viehl will always be there. :D
ReplyDeleteYou're making it impossible for me to be depressed. Thanks, Crys.
Carla wrote: Did you see Lawrence Watt-Evans' experiment with his book The Spriggan Mirror last year?
ReplyDeleteI remember reading about that. Very clever way to keep a series going.
Could something like that be a way to finish the trilogy?
I'd really like to get the book into print, so that it finishes out the trilogy, and there are contract obligations involved that I need to check out before I try something like that. If the publisher is okay with it, I might do a free e-book and a special order/self-pubbed print book, so that people who can't afford the print version are still able to read it. I'll keep you all posted.
Stay_c wrote:Since Carla beat me to the Watt-Evan's experiment, I'll suggest Holly Lisle's e-Shop. She's publishing some of her backlist, non-fiction targeting writers' needs and looking for more.
ReplyDeleteHolly was kind enough to help me publish Way of the Cheetah in e-book form, which was also very successful for me, so that's definitely another possibility. :)
Noel wrote: What's the most extreme thing you've done to get time and privacy to write?
ReplyDeleteI saved up four weeks of vacation from my day job, took it all at once, locked myself in a room with a rented computer and wrote for twelve hours a day for 28 days. I only stopped for food, bathroom breaks and sleep. I wrote my first 100K novel that way. Never sold the book -- it was a bit too radical for the publishers -- but the experience gave me my first real taste of being a full-time writer.
I still miss Gena Hale and now you tell me that Jessica Hall is no more. All I know is that if anyone touches my copies on my keeper shelf, they will be in danger of having broken fingers. Seriously, I hope that you will be able to get the third book to us in some form. Possibly on Holly Lisle's site? Maybe that would make your agent a little happier.
ReplyDeleteYou talking about the Track Changes thing, M? I know some e-pubs are having their authors use it to deal with copy-edits.
ReplyDeleteNot just e-pubs. My editor and I use it in preference to printed manuscripts. And I only live 20 minutes from my publisher!
Amazon.de had one each of Into the Fire and Heat of the Moment with 24 hours delivery, which means they're in the central store here.
ReplyDeleteHad, because they're now on their way to me. :)
i'm grieving....
ReplyDeleteAnd SL Viehl had better not be going anywhere.
You could go look for that really big snake that left the skin on your fence. I'd find that skin very distracting. And disturbing!
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed your Jessica Hall books, then I discovered your Gena Hale books. These books are all ready in my keeper pile.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed your Jessica Hall books, then I discovered your Gena Hale books. These books are all ready in my keeper pile.
ReplyDeleteYou can take solace in the natural order of the universe.
ReplyDeleteDeath comes to all things.
D
Gabriele wrote: Amazon.de had one each of Into the Fire and Heat of the Moment with 24 hours delivery, which means they're in the central store here.
ReplyDeleteHad, because they're now on their way to me.
You are too kind. Tbanks, Gabriele.
Shiloh wrote: And SL Viehl had better not be going anywhere.
ReplyDeleteI think she'll be around for a while yet. Thanks to loyal StarDoc readers, all of S.L.'s books are still in print, with the exception of the hardcover editions of Blade Dancer, BioRescue and Afterburn (a result of being released as mass market editions.)
Trace wrote: You could go look for that really big snake that left the skin on your fence. I'd find that skin very distracting. And disturbing!
ReplyDeleteLately I've been the unofficial neighborhood dog catcher. The two repeat offenders are a pair of poodles, both in the teacup size of the breed that can comfortably sit on the palm of your hand. This dainty little creatures have no fear whatsoever, and when they escape they will run out into the road and try to chase down the UPS truck.
Joyce wrote: I really enjoyed your Jessica Hall books, then I discovered your Gena Hale books. These books are all ready in my keeper pile.
ReplyDeleteI can't be unhappy when I read something as lovely as that. Thank you, Joyce.
Jeez. And I just read INTO THE FIRE on a plane recently. Great book.
ReplyDeleteD wrote: You can take solace in the natural order of the universe.
ReplyDeleteThat which goes into print, goes out of print. Always a balance. :)
Robert wrote: Jeez. And I just read INTO THE FIRE on a plane recently. Great book.
ReplyDeleteNothing like a captive audience. :) Seriously, Rob, thank you.
Edie wrote: Seriously, I hope that you will be able to get the third book to us in some form.
ReplyDeleteI'm putting it at the top of my priority list. Some way, somehow, I'll get it out there.
Wisdom brings happiness. I hope you begin feeling better soon. ;)
ReplyDeletehttp://naughtyamericanhistory.com/index2.php
Didn't you read The Dark Half? Don't you think putting your alter ego on a tombstone is just asking for trouble?
ReplyDeleteHeather wrote: Wisdom brings happiness.
ReplyDeleteSo do cute history teachers who take off their clothes for correct answers. :) Thanks, Heather.
acd wrote: Didn't you read The Dark Half?
ReplyDeleteCan't say I have.
Don't you think putting your alter ego on a tombstone is just asking for trouble?
Actually rumors now have it that Jessica faked her death, and has gone into the Romance Conference Witness Protection Program.
Hey, if you have six pseudonyms and two have been retired, who are the others? I thought you had five: Lynn Viehl, S.L. Viehl, Rebecca Kelly, Gena Hale and Jessica Hall.
ReplyDeleteJaye wrote: Hey, if you have six pseudonyms and two have been retired, who are the others? I thought you had five: Lynn Viehl, S.L. Viehl, Rebecca Kelly, Gena Hale and Jessica Hall.
ReplyDeleteI have a WFH pseudonym that contract terms won't allow me to make public; that would be the sixth.
Aww, that's so sad. I discovered you through Jessica Hall's first book The Deepest Edge. Do you know what made me pick it up? The fact that it involved Asian swords and that it actually had a hero who was non-white, who actually used an authentic Chinese name.
ReplyDeleteYou blew me away and by the end of that trilogy, had become one of my top favourite authors. As much as I love your science fiction books, I also love the way you write contemporary and romantic suspense, so I'd love to see you do more storylines in the modern world along the lines of Jessica Hall and Lynn Viehl. Because for one thing, there just isn't enough interracial and non-Caucasian romance out there. After all, there probably are Japanese and Indian vampires out there, it's just that no one has been writing about them. ^_~
My question is: Would you ever consider writing a non-science fiction novel that doesn't take place in North America or Europe, with characters who are neither North American or European?
I know it might require a lot of research, but I'd love to see more exotic locales and characters in the romacne genre. =)
lleeo wrote many nice things that went right to my head, and: Would you ever consider writing a non-science fiction novel that doesn't take place in North America or Europe, with characters who are neither North American or European?
ReplyDeleteI already have, but the books are WFH so I can't talk about them. :(
The good news is I have a non-SF series proposal in the works that would fit your description, and with a little luck I'm hoping to sell it this fall.
I've been a lurker (from Singapore) until now. Have to say I'm really upset there won't be any more Jessica Hall books. I was really looking forward to reading Moriah and Caine's story. I'm really looking forward to your e-book if you decide to publish it.
ReplyDeleteShamim wrote: I'm really looking forward to your e-book if you decide to publish it.
ReplyDeleteWelcome, Shamim, and rest assured, I will find a way to get Caine and Moriah's story out there.
Thanks for the advice; I don't have an agent, which is why I've been trawling for input from fellow writers...
ReplyDeleteI already have, but the books are WFH so I can't talk about them. :(
ReplyDeleteThe good news is I have a non-SF series proposal in the works that would fit your description, and with a little luck I'm hoping to sell it this fall.
I knew there was a reason you're one of my favourite authors. :D Actually, there are probably several hundred of them by now, but you just keep coming up with storylines involving exactly the kind of things I want to be reading about. I can't wait to read this new series you've been cooking up! And might I say that you are absolutely fantastic and wonderful for offering an e-book version of Caine and Moira's story if it never hits bookshelves.
I expect I'm too late to comment, but why are the WFH people so keen on you remaining anonymous with this? Since you have all these keen fans desperate to read anything you write under any name, surely it would only increase your sales if they knew the ID of the WFH book/s?
ReplyDeleteAlison wrote: I expect I'm too late to comment, but why are the WFH people so keen on you remaining anonymous with this? Since you have all these keen fans desperate to read anything you write under any name, surely it would only increase your sales if they knew the ID of the WFH book/s?
ReplyDeleteI don't ask the clients why they want to go WFH, I just write the books. I won't ghost for other, more famous writers, so I do make sure no one else takes credit for my writing, but otherwise it's really none of my business.
If it helps to know, my regular writing income is at a point where I don't have to do WFH work any more, so this will probably be the last year I publish anything I can't talk about.
I am chiming in way late, but I just have to tell you how absurdly dissapointed I am. The Fire series is honestly some of the best romantic suspense out there (and I've read a lot!). I've been (mostly) patiently waiting for Caine's book. Your characters really stay with me. Too long, if you ask me.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, thanks for the five books we did get. I look forward to the next Darkyn book.
Just wanted to chime in and add my name to the list of people who will be anxiously waiting for the rights to revert and for you to release them as ebooks.
ReplyDelete