RW: In the Pink

Not counting my own, I've been involved with some strange weddings. One of my friends got married to her honey on Hollywood Beach, and we all wore bikinis to the ceremony (this was way back when I had a bikini bod.) Tom, my technosavior here at the blog, married his lovely wife twice. The first ceremony took place at a hospital chapel in the middle of a work shift (long story) and Tommy barely had time to say I do before we had to leave to respond to a freeway pile-up (later we had a proper ceremony, with all the family present and no radios going off.)

I've also handmade and tailored a traditional white wedding gown with only two days notice, and baked a nine-layer wedding cake from scratch, and catered a reception for 75 people on a shoe-string budget -- three reasons why I won't ever get married again.

Somewhere in hell, I suspect, is a level where the damned have to run disastrous weddings for all eternity. And somehow, I think Jennifer Crusie and Bob Mayer may have gone there to research their latest novel, Agnes and the Hitman. I picked up a copy on impulse over the weekend. I haven't read these two before now, but seeing how hard Jennifer worked at cleaning up her office made me want to show my support at the bookstore. Also, I knew it's one that Darlene wanted to read, and I'm terminally curious about the books you all pick for your TBR stacks. So I jumped in, and discovered why -- these two authors have cooked up some delightfully wicked stuff together.

There is Agnes, a food writer who will lose her house unless she hosts a wedding for the daughter of a childhood friend. The friend's crazy mother, however, is doing whatever she can to wreck the nuptials. Then there's the tiny problem with intruders who keep breaking into Agnes's new house, trying to shoot her and kidnap her dog. There is Shane, the hitman whose favorite uncle persuades him to set aside his latest assignment in order to protect Agnes from the steady stream of hitmen coming after her. Add in felonious families, a flaming pink wedding dress, fine food, missing fathers, flamingos, flying bullets, unfaithful fiances and five million mob bucks, and you've got all the ingredients for a fantastically funny farce.

But as always, you don't have to take my word for it. In comments to this post, name your favorite wedding-themed book or movie (or if you're not a fan of wedding fun, just throw your name in the hat) by midnight EST on Friday, September 21, 2007. I'll pick three names at random from everyone who participates and send the winners an unsigned hardcover copy of Agnes and the Hitman by Jennifer Crusie and Bob Mayer. This giveaway is open to everyone on the planet, even if you've won something here at PBW in the past.

RW: Small Spaces

Jennifer Crusie is taking fifteen minutes a day to tidy up and organize her home office, and has been posting pics on her blog to show her progress. Go, see, and applaud; she's tackling a monster job.

I don't have anything quite as impressive to show off, but here's what I did with one corner of my office back on Labor Day:



This space is very small -- 21 inches by 49 inches, and right by the door, so I scratched my original idea of wall shelves. The minute that door slams, stuff would fall off the shelves. I couldn't fit anything under the shelves, either, except maybe a very narrow credenza, which I don't need there. This is also the corner of a second-floor room under the roof peak, and at five feet up the wall slopes inward at a 45 degree angle, so I thought shelves would look a little weird.

I finally decided to build a non-traditional bookcase. I made this one from two organize-it wire storage unit kits (Target, sale price $14.99 each.) It's the sort of thing college kids use in their dorms and apartments; very light and open (which lets my books and carpet breathe, and discourages silverfish and spiders.) It's simple to assemble, as there are only two components and they all snap together, and if I get tired of it, I can take it apart just as easily.



I fit two rows of paperbacks on the top shelf, and one row of heavier trades and hardcovers on the lower three. Altogether, a total of 269 books. Yes, I counted. I do things like that. I still had enough room to tuck my laptop case between the side of the bookcase and the wall, and I can hang my library book bag from one of the top corners.

Another thing I try to do in little spaces is put some art in them. The wall above the printer table next to the new bookcase needed something, so I hung a lovely SF painting I own by Jose Antonio Torres Jr., aka Tony Taj, that turned out to fit the space perfectly:



What do you guys do with your small spaces? Any ideas on how to make better use of them?

Added: I've got a guest post up over at Romancing the Blog today on freeware and shareware.

RW: Take Me Away

I started reading romance as a teen, about the same time Harlequin started publishing their Presents line (yes. I am that old.) I used money I made babysitting to buy category romance novels, frankly because they were cheaper than the big historicals. My lack of cash helped me discover terrific authors like Robyn Donald, Ann Mather, and Margaret Rome.

Category romance writers rarely get the respect or attention they deserve, which is a shame. Everyone makes fun of Barbara Cartland for her sugary romances, for example, but that lady taught me more about English history than any school teacher ever did (and her novel Love Under Fire has remained on my keeper shelf for 35 years.) I've learned a lot from reading these authors, and still do.

If you're not convinced, then you should try writing a romance under 75K that adheres to guidelines so stringent and restrictive that they make strait jackets look comfy. Then try to sell it. I tried -- fifteen times -- and I never could.

Author Jo Leigh has done all of the above, over thirty times now, I believe. After meeting her via the publishing blogosphere, I picked up one of her books. It was just out of curiosity; I hadn't read a category in years, mainly because I thought all the good writers had moved on. Stupid me. Jo is a great storyteller, and the emotional realism she invests in her characters gets you in the heart every time. I struggle with that, so I admire and envy that kind of talent. Then there are her plots, which are so seamless and tight you can bounce quarters off them.

Kidnapped! is Jo Leigh's latest release, and I loved it for a number of reasons. It's so audacious, emotionally-charged and unpredictable that it leaves you breathless. You never know what's going to happen next in this novel. Technically speaking, the plotting in this one is insane; it demanded precise balancing in order for it to work, and she pulled it off without a single hitch. By the end I wasn't quite sure how she'd done it. I got so caught up in the story that I stopped paying attention to the mechanics.

But as always, you don't have to take my word for it. In comments to this post, name an author or novel you've read that taught you something, and what that something was (or, if you're still learning, just throw your name in the hat) by midnight EST on Friday, September 7, 2007. I'll draw five names at random from everyone who participates, and send the winners an unsigned copy of Kidnapped! by Jo Leigh, plus a surprise. This giveaway is open to everyone on the planet, even if you've won something here at PBW in the past.

RW: You Had Me At . . .

Liz Carlyle, Anne McCaffrey and Martin Cruz Smith did it in three books; Jane Austen, Mark Kurlansky and Rosina Lippi all accomplished it in one. The quickest, Linda Howard, did it in ten pages. On the other hand, it took Stephen King, Robert Silverberg and Alan Dean Foster at least ten tries each.

That's how many books by these authors that it took to convince me to collect their entire works and/or buy whatever they wrote in the future.

There's no logic to how it happens, but sometimes I think a bit of luck with reading order is involved. Anne McCaffrey had me after I'd read Get Off the Unicorn, Crystal Singer, and Powers That Be , in that order. I don't think it would have happened if I'd read any of the Pern novels first, though; all of those dragons would have sent me running in the opposite direction.

Of the authors I collect, Liz Carlyle is probably the only one I met in person before I read her work. We bumped into each other at a conference booksigning and chatted for a while. At that point I'd pretty much given up on reading historical romance, but I really liked Liz's personality. Talking with her made me curious to see how she handled story. Three books later, I cleared off a shelf for her novels.

How long did it take for one of your favorite writers to win you over as a collector of their work? Let us know in comments to this post (or, if you have no favorite authors, just throw your name in the hat) by midnight EST on Friday, August 17, 2007. I'll draw three names at random from everyone who participates, and send the winners an unsigned copy of Linda Howard's new hardcover novel, Up Close and Dangerous plus a surprise. This giveaway is open to everyone on the planet, even if you've won something here at PBW in the past.

RW: Holiday Wishlist

Every summer I started preparing for the winter holidays. I work on handmade gifts all year long, but I usually do my shopping from now until October, and have everything bought, wrapped and tucked away by Thanksgiving. It feeds my obsessive need to be organized, but it also frees me up from having to battle the holiday shopping crowds so I can bake, decorate and hang out with the kids during their vacation.

To celebrate the holidays here at PBW I'll be doing my usual giveaways, but I'd also like to put together something for all my readers. An e-book is the most practical gift, as I can get that to everyone. In years past I've published collections of short stories or series tie-in novellas that were fairly popular.

My question to the readers this week is: what would you like to read in a holiday gift e-book from me? Short stories, a novella, SF, dark fantasy, romance, a holiday-related story? Or something completely different? I've never published Caine and Moriah's story from the last Jessica Hall trilogy, that's one possibility. I could put together some of the unpublished Darkyn or StarDoc short stories. Or do a multi-genre collection with a little bit of everything in it.

I'm open to all suggestions, and I'd appreciate some feedback, so if you like anything I've mentioned or have something else in mind, please post your idea in comments.

RW: Fruit, Strange & Otherwise

My editor sent me this promo info on my latest publication:

"The New Writer’s Handbook 2007 is the inaugural edition of a new annual collection of articles to refresh and upgrade any writer's skills, with advice on craft and career development. It offers an eclectic mix of expert how-tos, short pieces on creativity, marketing, and professional issues, and other insights on being a successful writer today."

[Note: You see how he doesn't specifically mention my topic. Understandable. When you're marketing a new how-to writing book, the last thing you say is "Oh, and there's this thing about mutant grapefruit by that multi-genre chick with 486 pseudonyms."]

He continues:

"The 63 selected articles mostly are drawn from pieces published in 2006–early 2007. Contributors include winners of the National Book Award, Newbery Medal, and other honors, along with working journalists, writing instructors, authors with books on bestseller lists, editors, literary bloggers, and more."

[I believe I would be in the "and more" category here.]

Sections include:

• Creativity, Motivation & Discipline
• The Craft of Writing
• Pitching & Proposals
• Marketing Your Work
• Internet Skills
• Literary Insights & Last Words

Seriously now, it's really a lovely book, and in addition to my adventures at the pack-n-ship in town contains a lot of interesting advice from some very experienced, successful writers. But as always, you don't have to take my word for it.

In comments to this post, tell us about something strange or odd that inspired you in some way (or if you are feeling uninspired of late, just throw your name in the hat) by midnight EST on Friday, July 27, 2007. I'll draw three names at random from everyone who participates, and send the winners a signed-by-me copy of The New Writer's Handbook 2007. Giveaway open to everyone on the planet, even if you've won something here at PBW in the past.

RW: Heart and Soul Songs

I'm suffering from a severe case of cover art envy this week. Yes, this means that Marjorie M. Liu's latest novel is out.



He's like Adonis of the Waves, right? Yeah. I thought so too.

Having a new installment of Marjorie's Dirk and Steele series to read does take most of the salt out of the wounds, though. In addition to beautiful covers, Marjorie has gorgeous titles for her novels, and I really like this one. Soul Song fits the novel perfectly. It's also a great analogy for the way Marjorie writes; her prose sings to you from the page and her heart. From what she's just posted over on her LJ about her novel soundtracks, it sounds like music is as much a writing partner as an inspiration.

Having spent the afternoon writing Valentin's book with Bach constantly playing in my head, I can definitely relate.

What performer, musician, band or composer plays your soul songs? Let us know in comments to this post by midnight EST on Friday, July 20th, 2007. I'll draw five names from everyone who participates and send the winners an unsigned copy of Soul Song by Marjorie M. Liu. This giveaway is open to everyone on the planet, even if you've won something here at PBW in the past.

RW: Hopefully Ever After

From reader e-mail: Would you explain why you don't write HEA endings for your Darkyn books?

I started reading romances when I was a kid. I found my first at the library, from which I tore out the last page order form and used my babysitting money (Mom kindly wrote a check) to order two more. All three novels ended with the heroine and hero married, or two seconds from getting married. Every other romance I read after that trio ended with the same HEA (Happily Ever After.)

I loved the books, but I thought the endings were boring. I knew that the couple didn't go into suspended animation after the last page. I wanted to know what happened after the insanely expensive wedding and exotic honeymoon. But I quickly discovered that one novel was all I was going to get, no matter what romance author I read, because the HEA was like the money shot in a porn flick; it was there whether it was appropriate or not because it was expected. HEA also meant NMS (No More Story.)

I think that was the first sign that I was destined to be a series writer.

All of my published traditional romances do have HEAs, and you can thank my romance editors for that. But writing a SF series, however, allowed me explore an intense, sometimes romantic relationship between two very complicated characters, whose story simply couldn't be told in one novel. To date, I've written seven novels developing Cherijo and Reever's relationship while completely avoiding the HEA (and have gotten away with it, too; not one reader has ever complained about that aspect of the story.)

What I learned from writing around the HEA in the StarDoc novels gave me a new perspective on writing romance. I didn't need to put in the money shot at all. Instead of the story-killing Happily Ever After, I could explore more of the relationship in the next book. And that's how I ended up writing Hopefully Ever Afters.

Today I'm giving away a complete set of my Darkyn novels, all of which have a Hopefully Ever After ending (you have been warned.) If you'd like a chance to win the set, in comments to this post name a book whose ending you really enjoyed, whatever type ending it was, by midnight EST on Friday, June 30, 2007 (or if you can't think of one, just throw your name into the hat.) I'll draw one name at random from everyone who participates, and send the winner signed copies of If Angels Burn, Private Demon, Dark Need and Night Lost, along with a sneak preview of Evermore. This giveaway is open to everyone on the planet, even if you've won something here at PBW in the past.

RW: Raintree, Part II

Added today to the Win What PBW Reads This Week box: Quantico by Greg Bear, The Ruthless Marriage Proposal by Miranda Lee, Abandon by Carla Neggers, Woman's Day magazine June 19, 2007 issue and Veranda magazine August 2007 issue.



That's beautiful cover art, isn't it? I love lightning. Well, not so much when it strikes within ten miles of the house, because it knocks out the electricity, the land phone lines, the cable, and anything else that isn't powered by Duracell. But aside from the way it messes with our gadgets, lightning is a beautiful part of Nature.

Back in April I did a giveaway for Raintree: Inferno by Linda Howard, the first novel in a new Nocturne trilogy. Last week when I saw the second novel, Raintree: Haunted by Linda Winstead Jones, was out I grabbed all the copies left at BAM (four.) And some of you, my Wednesday readers, are going to get your hands on them.

In comments to this post, tell us what element of Nature you admire most, and why, by midnight EST on Friday, June 22, 2007. I'll draw four names at random from everyone who participates and send the winners an unsigned copy of Linda Winstead Jones' Raintree: Haunted (also, if the winner hasn't yet read it, I'll throw in an unsigned copy of the first book in the trilogy, Raintree: Inferno by Linda Howard.) Giveaway open to everyone on the planet, even if you've won something at PBW in the past.

Reader Wednesday: Over There

Today I heard for the first time from my nephew, who is in the reserves and is presently stationed in Iraq. He reports that during the day where he works it can be as hot as 120 degrees, and he works twelve hour shifts, six days on, one day off. He also misses his girlfriend. I've been writing to him since he left the States in hopes that my letters would catch up to him. We're all counting the days until he comes home.

My nephew is a doll. He's tall, blond, built, and extremely charming. He has his mother's wicked green eyes, which routinely cause palpitations in the hearts of many young co-eds. When he's not serving in the reserves or going to school, he works as a waiter, and makes a small fortune in tips. He loves all things Superman, and has watched every episode of Smallville at least a dozen times. His brother is taping the show for him while he's over there so he won't miss any of the season.

Like so many American families, we would very much like to have him come home in one piece. So we pray a lot, too.

Every month I pack up a box of books to send to troops. In the grand scheme of things it's not much, but it gives me a chance to express my appreciation to the men and women who serve our country, and hopefully give them a couple hours of entertainment. This month, the box will be for my nephew and the soldiers who serve with him.

I want to get this box out of here, so I'm going to hit the bookstores this weekend to finish filling it up. I would love to get some suggestions from you readers out there on some titles you think would appeal to my nephew. Think superheroes, humor, restaurant- or food-related fiction or nonfiction, or anything that might entertain a smart guy in his early twenties. Share your recommendations in comments to this post by midnight EST on Friday, June 1, 2007. I will draw one name at random from everyone who participates and grant the winner a Bookwish.* This giveaway is open to everyone on the planet, even if you've won something here at PBW in the past.

*A Bookwish is any book by any author of your choice, provided that 1) the book is currently available for order from an online bookseller and 2) the book is priced up to a maximum of $25.00 US dollars. I will throw in whatever shipping costs are involved for free.

RW: StarDoc Series Finale

Today I'd like to have a discussion with my StarDoc readers, and talk about the future of the series.

The hardest part of being a series writer in today's industry is that we never know if we'll get a chance to finish. That's been the case with StarDoc since I sold the first two novels. I planned the series to work as an open-ended story, which helped keep me writing without any guarantees or contract safety nets, but I also hoped I'd be given the opportunity to finish what I'd begun.

On the plus side of things: nine years after signing that first contract, StarDoc is still going strong. All the books remain in print, I just sold two more, and the readership continues to grow every year. Things have never been better for the series.

The thing is, the longer a writer's series goes on, the more likely it will end unfinished. I'm not getting any younger, either. Not that I plan to check out any time soon, but I'd hate to get hit by a truck tomorrow and leave things hanging.

Which brings me to my point. I want to write the final draft of the last StarDoc novel this year. I'll put copies of the manuscript in care of some family and friends so that it's safe, in the event the Fed Ex guy makes me into roadkill or something. But in order to write Cherijo and Reever's finale, I need to decide exactly when to end the series.

Book ten is starting to look good to me as the final novel. That would give me two books to resolve some things and bring the story to a graceful close. I believe I could sell one more novel in the series by 2008, but if I couldn't, I'd have no problem with publishing it as a free e-book. It would be the greatest way to pay you guys back for all you've done to promote the series.

I also think that ten books is a decent run for a SF series. I'd rather not keep writing blind, never knowing when it will get dumped again. I can and probably will write more books set in the StarDoc universe. It's an immense place and I've got plenty more stories there to tell.

StarDoc is the foundation series of my career, though, and I feel very strongly that the readers who have stuck by me on this ride deserve a completed story. This is not about the money; I can make money doing other things. Nor is it something I want decided by Publishing, the agent, the editor, or anyone else but us. We've been through a lot together, and this is our business.

Let me know what you think in comments.

RW: Readerisms

Ten Things Readers Say, and What They Really Mean

1. A book store gift card would be the perfect gift for me.

I want a book store gift card. That's all. Nothing else. Got it? Or do I have to write it in Sharpie marker on your forehead again?

2. Books keep my mind occupied.

Books keep my spouse out of divorce court.

3. Excuse me, but I'm looking for Rosina Lippi's new release and it isn't on the shelf.

Grab that box cutter, pal, because you're going to be opening cartons until you find it.

4. I read because it relaxes me.

I read because if I have to sit through one more episode of RAW with you, my brain will implode.

5. Just because I read a little every day doesn't mean I'm addicted to books.

Man, I really need to score some Mary Higgins Clark. You holding?

6. My husband knows I enjoy well-written erotica.

My husband knows he's not getting a whole lot of sleep tonight.

7. Someone dog-eared all the pages in this book.

Call CSI. I want this dusted for prints.

8. There's nothing wrong with reading romance novels.

Sneer at my romance novels one more time, and I'll yank your tonsils out through your nose.

9. Why, yes, I do have quite a large book collection.

Hey, where do you think you are, the library? Step back behind the velvet rope.

10. You lost my book?

You lost my book? And you're not running for your life?

Now it's your turn -- in comments to this post, tell us one of your original readerisms (as above, what you say, and what you really mean) by midnight EST on Friday, May 18, 2007. To keep it fair for everyone, please post only one time, and only enter one readerism.

I'll pick the entry that I think is the funniest, and send the winner a signed copy of any book I've written that is still in print (your choice) along with a surprise. This contest is open to everyone on the planet, even if you've won something here at PBW in the past.

RW: Wild Rides

I enjoy reading well-written romantica and erotica. I wouldn't be an Emma Holly and Alison Kent fan if I didn't. When this kind of fiction is done right, it transcends the coy purple-headed prosiness or the mechanical insert slot A into tab B stories we see so often in this category.

You won't find any turgid throbbing manroots or unlikely robotic positions in Lush by Sasha White. What you will discover is a trilogy of interconnected stories about three couples who find and explore each other, body and soul. Yes, the stories are explicit, so be warned: this is hands-on, right there, in-your-face erotica. It's beautifully written, but it never apologizes for the content by masking it with a lot of idiot euphemisms.

What I enjoy about Sasha White's storytelling is the combination of playfulness and soulfulness. This book, like all her work, is both fun and touching. Very few writers in this category can pull off something like that; Sasha White is already an expert at it. It's going to be very interesting to see where she goes from here.

As always, you don't have to take my word for it. In comments to this post, name your favorite romantic food (or, if you don't think food is romantic, just throw your name in the hat) by midnight EST on Friday, May 11, 2007. I'll draw five names at random from everyone who participates, and send the winners an unsigned copy of Lush by Sasha White and a surprise. This giveaway is open to everyone on the planet, even if you've won something here at PBW in the past.

Home front news: you people have certainly been busy. Four days after its release, Night Lost hit the Borders Group Inc. romance mass market bestseller list at #1 for week ending 5/5/07. My editor tells me the book also debuted at #4 on Barnes & Nobles' romance BSL list, and #17 on their overall mass market BSL list.

I've got thirty-seven books in print, but none of them have ever made it to #1 on any list. Not a place I ever expected to be, frankly, so I have nothing prepared or rehearsed. To the buyers and booksellers of Borders Group, Inc., who have been incredibly generous with their support of Night Lost, and to all of you who went out and spent your hard-earned money to buy the book, may I simply say: thank you.

Oh, and if you see a nice little old lady circling the earth sometime today, that would be my mom.

RW: Cleanup

I'm running late again today, so let's start off with the winners of the Raintree: Inferno giveaway. They are:

Marianne Arkins

Diane M

Applejacks0711

Kerry (whose comment started with ooh. Me, me!)

Ashlyn

Sherryr (whose comment started with I would love to have this book by Linda Howard)

Janice (whose comment started with Well I seem to be finding a bunch of good writers lately.)

DiDi

B.E. Sanderson

Lisa

Winners, please send your full name and ship-to information to LynnViehl@aol.com so I can get these books out to you, and thanks to everyone who joined in.

A couple of masochists folks have asked me to list the fifteen finalists for the Name This Ship contest, and here they are by ship name submitted, in no particular order:

Skycall
Moonsprint
Skyflame
MoonFire
Nightwave
Rainsphere
Stormrise
Snowdrift
Winglight
Starpath
Raindance
l'eau reve (water dream)
Moonrunner
Skyfall
Stormhunt

Also, more than a few people e-mailed to ask why I didn't post a photo of the artwork portion of the contest prize. To be honest, I wasn't quite finished with the piece at the time -- it was a mini-quilt, about 10" X 16", and I was still applying the binding as I began the contest. Also, I like to keep some things a surprise. But if you want to see it, you can click here for a look.

As I'm running behind, today we'll have a quickie giveaway: all four Darkyn novels, signed by me, in a little book tote I made, with some surprises added in. If you'd like to win, in comments to this post list a place outside your home where you enjoy reading a book. Post your entry by midnight EST tonight, May 2, 2007, and I will draw one name at random and send the winner the books, tote and surprises. This giveaway is open to everyone on the planet, even if you've won something here at PBW in the past.

RW: Past and Future

It was insanely hard to judge the Name This Ship contest, as you all came up with some fabulous names for Cherijo and Reever's scout. To avoid any subconscious bias, I put all the entries on a spread sheet, shuffled them around and then went through a process of elimination based on the name only.

It came down to fifteen semi-finalists, and me seriously wishing I could write a little scout fleet into the book so I could use all of them (this is why I hate contests. I want everyone to win.) There could be only one, though, so after a few more days of dithering, I found I kept coming back to one name over and over. It really resonated with me as a fitting and beautiful name for the ship. So the winning name is:

MoonFire submitted by Joely Sue Burkhart

Congratulations, Joely (e-mail me at LynnViehl@aol.com when you get a chance), and thanks to everyone who joined in.

This week I have another giveaway for the readers, this time for a new novel by one of my favorite writers. Years ago I picked up one of this author's category romances at random during a church rummage sale. I'd never read any of her work before then, but after I finished the novel I went out immediately, hunted down and bought everything she'd written to date.

Raintree: Inferno by Linda Howard is the first book in a paranormal trilogy being written by Linda Howard, Linda Winstead Jones and Beverly Barton. Finding this book on the shelves (I had not heard that Linda was writing a paranormal) delighted me, as it took me back to some of my happiest book-hunting days. When you discover a talented, unique author, they always grab your imagination from page one, and you just can't get enough of their work. For me that's Linda Howard.

If you'd like a chance to read Linda's latest novel along with me for free, in comments to this post name an author who sets your imagination on fire by midnight EST on Tuesday, May 1, 2007. I'll draw ten names at random from everyone who participates, and send the winners an unsigned copy of Raintree: Inferno by Linda Howard. This giveaway is open to everyone on the planet, even if you've won something at PBW in the past.

RW: Name This Ship

First, the big announcement:

I've accepted an offer from Ace/Roc to publish Drednoc (StarDoc book #8) and Crystal Healer (StarDoc book #9.) No firm pub dates yet, but I expect Drednoc will hit the shelves sometime in 2008 and Crystal Healer in 2009. Thanks to Shiloh Walker for nagging motivating me, Cathy G. for your thoughtful e-mails, and all my SF readers for keeping the faith and continuing to support the StarDoc series.

I have a HouseClan Torin scout ship in Drednoc that Cherijo and Reever are going to be flying around, but it doesn't have a name yet. I thought you guys might enjoy a contest to christen it (btw, Enterprise and Millennium Falcon? Are taken.)

To give you an idea of what I'm looking for, all of my previous Jorenian ship names combine two words that are related to nature, sky, flight, or the journey, i.e.:

Cloudwalk
Sunlace
Windmaze

In comments to this post, tell me what you'd name the Torin scout ship by midnight EST on Tuesday, April 24, 2007. I will select the name that I like best out of all the entries, announce my choice on Reader Wednesday (April 25) next week, and use the name in my novel Drednoc.

The commenter who has the winning name will receive a personal thank-you from me in the acknowledgments for Drednoc, my original artwork for the ship you've named (created and signed by me), a complete signed set of all seven StarDoc novels in print, and the very first copy of the final print edition of Drednoc that I get when it's published next year (also signed.)

The fine print: the name you post must be original, as in your own creation, and not copied from any other source or named ship. To keep things fair, please only post one name. This contest is open to everyone on the planet, even if you've won something here at PBW in the past.

Reader Poll

As Reader Wednesday is still under construction, I've got some questions for you guys this week:

1. If I started posting free stories online regularly again, would you rather read a new short story every month, or a chapter of a new novel every week?

2. Of the following genres, which is your favorite: alternate history, biblical fiction, christian fiction, dark fantasy, historical fiction, nonfiction, romantic suspense, or science fiction?

3. Other than books, what sort of giveaway/contest prizes do you most enjoy winning?

Share your answers to any or all of these questions in comments to this post by midnight EST on Thursday, April 12, 2007. I'll draw one name from everyone who participates and grant the winner a Bookwish* as well as a surprise. Giveaway open to everyone on the planet, even if you've won something here at PBW in the past.

*A Bookwish is any book by any author of your choice, provided that 1) the book is currently available for order from an online bookseller and 2) the book is priced up to a maximum of $25.00 US dollars. I will throw in whatever shipping costs are involved for free.

For the Readers

Plague of Memory, StarDoc book seven, made #10 on the Locus SF bestseller list. To my knowledge, my publisher didn't do anything to promote the book (and other than a couple of copies I gave away, neither did I.) All this means is that my readers get 100% of the credit for putting it there. Thank you. Patricia Briggs's second Mercy Thompson novel, Blood Bound (which I did promote) came in at #4, and I know a lot of you helped spread the word, so thank you again.

I'm still waiting to hear from my SF editor on the revised proposals for StarDoc books eight and nine, Drednoc and Crystal Healer. I'll pass along whatever news I receive as soon as it comes in.

Links from around the publishing blogosphere:

Romance author Ann Christopher is giving away three ARCs she found while cleaning her office (see, I'm not the only one who does that); details can be found over at her April contest page.

Our tireless blog pal Alison Kent is always finding giveaways and contests as well as holding her own for both readers and writers.

Vampire Genre's April News page has a long list of reader giveaways and contests (scroll down), including chances to win a signed set of seven of Michelle Rowen's novels and a $100 gift card from Jenna Black.

I'm going to copycat Ann Christopher's idea and give away two ARCs I found when I was cleaning out some gratis copy boxes yesterday: Into the Fire by Jessica Hall and Dark Need by Lynn Viehl. In comments to this post, list which one you'd prefer to win (or, if you have no preference, just throw your name in the hat and you'll be entered into both drawings) by midnight EST on Thursday, April 5, 2007. I'll draw two names at random and send the winners the ARCs, signed, along with a surprise. Giveaway open to everyone on the planet, even if you've won something here at PBW in the past.

Reader Wednesdays

From this point on Wednesdays at PBW will be for the readers out there. I'm still debating on what sort of stuff I can post that will be of interest to you, so bear with me as I work out the kinks.

In May, Borders Group will be doing some special promotions for Night Lost along with the first three Darkyn novels. I've written a letter for Waldenbooks's monthly reader e-mail, and I've been told there will be a $1 off coupon on any book from the backlist. The publisher sent me my first ever book dump featuring the artwork from Night Lost; looks like they'll be stocking them with all four novels.

Evermore is scheduled to be released in January 2008, but don't put any money on that date yet. Over on the fiction blog, I've put up an excerpt from the first draft of Evermore that gives a little more insight into the intense relationship between a Kyn lord and his seneschal (and how it almost gets out of hand between Byrne and Jayr.)

I'm proposing Valentin's story to my editor as Darkyn book #5 #6*, which is (working) titled Swan Fire. I hope to soon have some news on Drednoc and Crystal Healer, the next StarDoc novels. That's all for this week; stop in next Wednesday if you get a chance for more reader-friendly info.

*Added: I can't count. Evermore is book five, Swan Fire is book six. Thanks to Lesley for catching this.