tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post114861345390079173..comments2023-10-11T09:22:33.136-04:00Comments on Paperback Writer: Friday 20Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger48125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post-1160967136465004912006-10-15T22:52:00.000-04:002006-10-15T22:52:00.000-04:00If I keep wanting more Dragon books from Anne and ...If I keep wanting more Dragon books from Anne and Todd McCaffrey and my husband and I want more Xanth from Piers Anthony, you know that 20 books in a series is only the beginning! Too sad that Andre Norton passed and there are no more Witch World books to wait for. So Please, keep on writting Stardoc novels! And yes my husband has read every Destroyer novel and was disappointed to hear they will end it soon. I'm glad you're so young as to keep 'em coming for a good long while, God willing!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post-1149102964323860892006-05-31T15:16:00.000-04:002006-05-31T15:16:00.000-04:00Hey PBW. I'm still around, but no internet regular...Hey PBW. I'm still around, but no internet regularly over the summer. Nice cover art! I missed the Friday 20, but that's ok, I don't have a question for once. Just chugging along on my WIP - I'm at 45k in the rewrite (of around 70k. Yay.) <BR/><BR/>Oh! Thought of a question, oops. Bad guys. I just never seem to write a single bad guy. It always shifts throughout the story, or it's characters v. nature, or whatever. I just don't do well with one supremely surely evil guy, I think. Any words of advice? (I know I know, I missed it, but if you could find the time or inclination...?)<BR/><BR/>JessAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post-1148889419638016632006-05-29T03:56:00.000-04:002006-05-29T03:56:00.000-04:00Please disregard my earlier comment. I found the a...Please disregard my earlier comment. I found the answer right here in these postings.(I knew that would happen as soon as I posted it, What a dummy, Huh?) I would like to know if there really is a novel titled "Clanson".<BR/>Of course, I'll probably find the answer to that as soon as I send this. lolAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post-1148888955466652222006-05-29T03:49:00.000-04:002006-05-29T03:49:00.000-04:00I've been searching the web trying to find some in...I've been searching the web trying to find some info on the reales date of the next Stardoc novel, but with no luck. Any info? I did find a website a couple of months ago that said the next book was Clanson, due sometime paste the Jan '07. But then I saw the posting for Plauge, and now I am really confused. Any help?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post-1148790970244748932006-05-28T00:36:00.000-04:002006-05-28T00:36:00.000-04:00lleeo, if I ever get published, I think you'll lov...<B>lleeo, if I ever get published, I think you'll love my stuff. No romance in the first book of my trilogy, but in the seccond and third, there's a hot trans-species relationship between a giant spider and a giant fly. Think Romeo and Juliet, West Side Story, with aliens. And nothing is hotter than giant alien critters having sex.<BR/></B><BR/><BR/>Doug, my man, I think this calls for a promotional negotiation. As in you sending me your first book for free. :D Just a suggestion...<BR/><BR/>But, yes, I've never been adverse to the idea of a male author having more of an emphasis on romance in his books. Especially if it's damn good romance! ^_~<BR/><BR/>In fact, I'm still trying to figure out how to convince these guys: http://www.romentics.com/non_flash/Romentics.html to break into other genres or subgenres. Liiike, sci-fi or paranormal romance. Deep, brooding gay vampire warriors in leather. Hehehehe. >:DAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post-1148790191533352472006-05-28T00:23:00.000-04:002006-05-28T00:23:00.000-04:00lleeo wrote many kind complimentsSome of my favour...<B>lleeo wrote many kind compliments</B><BR/><BR/>Some of my favourite authors get me so excited and squealy that I want to write them long emails telling them how cool they are and how obsessed I am with them. But then I turn into a big lazy bum and they never get written.<BR/><BR/>You'll get that email someday, PBW. I don't know when, and I don't know how, but it'll be sure to inflate your head a t least a couple more centimetres. =)<BR/><BR/>Thaaaank you for the author recs. I thought you and Linda Howard would get along nicely if you ever discovered each other. I've been reading her since I was 13. <I>Shh!</I> :D<BR/><BR/><B>There is a lot of opposition to putting excerpts from one genre in the books of another (which I think is stupid.) I've only been permitted to do it a couple of times, and that was because I have a very supportive publisher. I know romance readers read everything, not just romance, so I will keep trying to get different genre excerpts out there.</B><BR/><BR/>Romance readers are also apparently very loyal and obsessive about their authors. *nods sagely* So it's good to have them around. Also, I'm finding it very difficult to find your <I>Darkyn</I> series in regular bookstores. Are they not in the romance section?<BR/><BR/><B>I am always mindful of the fact that StarDoc has been my foundation series. Darkyn may be more successful at the moment, but that's short term. After six years all of the StarDoc books are still in print and continue to sell well. StarDoc readers have kept me going, too, even during times when everyone else had written me off. Whatever happens, I won't forget that.</B><BR/><BR/>You know what? I take back what I said about 20 <I>Stardoc</I> books getting tiring. I ADORE that series and all of the interesting, unique characters in it. As long as you're writing it, how could I get tired of it? =)<BR/><BR/>And thank you very much for your insight into writing a believable sci-fi book. Since I'd someday like to break into the sci-fi/romance genre myself, you're the foremost authority I look to. :D<BR/><BR/><B>PS</B> I would not be adverse to seeing some homosexual romance and more of Emily Kim in books to come. *hint hint* *nudge nudge*Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post-1148739134592590142006-05-27T10:12:00.000-04:002006-05-27T10:12:00.000-04:00[slaps forehead] Of course! I forgot about the v...[slaps forehead] Of course! I forgot about the visual effects some glass exhibits. Naturally, in this case, the Hsktskt would appear smaller in a medical containment unit.<BR/><BR/>I get a kick out of how heartless the Hsktskt were originally portrayed as being, but lately, at every turn, they have become almost endearing. But would I really want one as a guest in my home? Well, after living here for nearly a year, I'm finally having some friends over early next month, so I can't say I'm ever big on having anyone as a guest in my home. The Hsktskt may take a few more years to invite.Jeanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01805501348812702651noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post-1148730610518479102006-05-27T07:50:00.000-04:002006-05-27T07:50:00.000-04:00I really like the cover. I sit here waiting for a...I really like the cover. I sit here waiting for artwork on the first book, wondering if I'll like it. It must be a relief to have such talented people doing yours.<BR/><BR/>As for series, I've always wondered how some writers can sustain a series through ten or more books. Hell, I wonder how they manage TWO books. You'd REALLY have to be in love with the characters to want to deal with them over and over again.<BR/><BR/>Not sure I could do it.Rob Gregory Brownehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11952008139132652259noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post-1148704476546857132006-05-27T00:34:00.000-04:002006-05-27T00:34:00.000-04:00Jean wrote: The Hsktskt look much smaller than I e...Jean wrote: <I>The Hsktskt look much smaller than I envision them in my mind, but other than that, they look great.</I><BR/><BR/>Hsktskt in alien medical containment units may appear smaller than they really are. :)<BR/><BR/>I have to dig out my old sketches of the beasts from back in the 90's now, although I think they're very close to what the artist did.<BR/><BR/>Happy Memorial Day, Jean.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post-1148704293436931852006-05-27T00:31:00.000-04:002006-05-27T00:31:00.000-04:00Nico wrote: I did a little dance and hope they enj...Nico wrote: <I>I did a little dance and hope they enjoy!</I><BR/><BR/>That's very cool to know. Thanks for checking -- I'm dancing with you. :)<BR/><BR/>One more thought on getting back into the writing habit: if the WIP from 18 months ago doesn't work for you, and you find yourself excessively editing or rewriting it, you might consider putting it aside and starting a new novel. You don't have to abandon it or trash the old WIP, but sometimes starting with something new gets you going and in a better place to work on something you set aside.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post-1148696640372723292006-05-26T22:24:00.000-04:002006-05-26T22:24:00.000-04:00Doug, feel free to date yourself anytime you like....Doug, feel free to date yourself anytime you like. Just remember, when you start driving yourself nuts, it's tough to get away from yourself.<BR/><BR/>Sheila (Lynn for today) -- gorgeous cover. As with all the Star Doc universe books, I'm looking forward to getting this one. (I'll be picking up Dark Need, too.) The Hsktskt look much smaller than I envision them in my mind, but other than that, they look great.<BR/><BR/>Good luck with the contract negotiations for the future of the universe. (I love the way that sounds -- no pressure, of course)<BR/><BR/>I love the idea of keeping a list with various pseudonyms and their associated publishers/series. Something to aspire to -- maybe by the time I'm 70 at the rate I'm going. I think I'll start with the first one.<BR/><BR/>Happy Memorial Day.Jeanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01805501348812702651noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post-1148687932110370262006-05-26T19:58:00.000-04:002006-05-26T19:58:00.000-04:00Thanks Sheila! I look at my writing after that lon...Thanks Sheila! I look at my writing after that long and go...Ok. Who's got the map? <BR/><BR/>I was at the bookstore today and the gaps in the shelf where your Stardoc series is looked just like someone had bought one of each. There's never less than 4 copies of each of the stardoc novels on the shelf here and they occupy a very impressive chunk of real estate on that shelf. <BR/><BR/>But the 3 books/book sized space/3 books was rather fun. I did a little dance and hope they enjoy!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post-1148685840391265172006-05-26T19:24:00.000-04:002006-05-26T19:24:00.000-04:00Jill wrote: I'm not a sci-fi fan, my mind just doe...Jill wrote: <I>I'm not a sci-fi fan, my mind just doesn't work that way, but I really dig your cover. So did my son, who's 8 and heavily into all things Alien and asked after seeing your cover why I don't write books like that!</I><BR/><BR/>Tell your son I said thank you. I got a similar request from my thirteen year old, who brought me Christopher Paolini's novel <I>Eldest</I> to show me the cool cover. He asked me if I wrote something with dragons in it, would I get the same artist? Lol.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post-1148685651198131072006-05-26T19:20:00.000-04:002006-05-26T19:20:00.000-04:00Nonny wrote: When you consider the gap between Sho...Nonny wrote: <I>When you consider the gap between Shockball and Rebel Ice ... a lot of series don't have the same readership afterwards.</I><BR/><BR/>True. Readers have so much talent out there to choose from that I owe a debt of eternal gratitude to those who have stuck it out with me all these years. They're the ones responsible for getting the word out and keeping the series rolling.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post-1148685313168522642006-05-26T19:15:00.000-04:002006-05-26T19:15:00.000-04:00Doug wrote: lleeo, if I ever get published, I thin...Doug wrote: <I>lleeo, if I ever get published, I think you'll love my stuff. No romance in the first book of my trilogy, but in the seccond and third, there's a hot trans-species relationship between a giant spider and a giant fly. Think Romeo and Juliet, West Side Story, with aliens. And nothing is hotter than giant alien critters having sex.</I><BR/><BR/>Unless they're first chased by a bigger, meaner alien who wants to make lunch out of them. :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post-1148685006377951872006-05-26T19:10:00.000-04:002006-05-26T19:10:00.000-04:00I'm not a sci-fi fan, my mind just doesn't work th...I'm not a sci-fi fan, my mind just doesn't work that way, but I really dig your cover. So did my son, who's 8 and heavily into all things Alien and asked after seeing your cover why I don't write books like that!jill terryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14811303555984256109noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post-1148684707514690432006-05-26T19:05:00.000-04:002006-05-26T19:05:00.000-04:00Zornhau wrote: What's the knack to making a series...Zornhau wrote: <I>What's the knack to making a series just arced enough, without being impossible to pick up 12 books through?</I><BR/><BR/>I hope I'm interpreting this question correctly -- let me know if I'm not, Zornhau.<BR/><BR/>Every book in a series should stand on its own as a story, and that means writing standalone main conflict that works within the series running threads and conflicts, and also serves to progress them.<BR/><BR/>If you think of your life as a novel series, and all the people in it as characters, and where you live as setting, you can pick out problems, relationships and other events that are standalone conflicts and those that are running threads. A love affair or a job that makes you crazy probably won't last your entire life; that's a standalone. On the other hand, your rivalry with your little sister's husband, who is a jackass and drives you nuts, may be an annoyance until you're both in rocking chairs; that's a running thread.<BR/><BR/>Balance is vital. A collection of novels that are nothing but a series of unfortunate incidents may make a great kid's book, but if there's nothing else it may prove too episodic for the adult reader. <BR/><BR/>Too many running threads, in contrast, make a book hard for a new reader to follow. A good example of this is the first novel I recently read written by a very famous author. Great writing, but the book had way too many running threads and almost no effort made to pull in a reader who is new to her series (this was book nine or ten, I think.) The end result was incomprehensible. <BR/><BR/>You want your standalone conflicts and your running threads to have equal weight with the reader. To ref. the famous author's book, her standalone conflict was okay, but it was eclipsed by her running threads, which were not that great; they didn't make me want to go back and want to read the eight or nine books that came before this one so I could sort them out. It almost came across as if the author figured she's so famous that everyone who picks up her books is an avid fan who reads everything she's written -- and screw anyone who hasn't. She immediately lost me as a reader.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post-1148683299042955772006-05-26T18:41:00.000-04:002006-05-26T18:41:00.000-04:00Nico wrote: Gorgeous cover. When's the book out?Ja...Nico wrote: <I>Gorgeous cover. When's the book out?</I><BR/><BR/>January 2007.<BR/><BR/><I>...how do you get back into your writing after um, an unplanned 18 month hiatus?</I><BR/><BR/>If you've got a novel in progress and want to work on it, I'd read through your notes, research, and the entire WIP before starting to write again. You might want to edit the ms., too, before you start adding new stuff; I think how we write changes subtly over time and what pleased you 18 months ago may not do the same now.<BR/><BR/>I'd also work on something short and new right away, like a short story or article. Completing things gives a sense of satisfaction and accomplishment, and that's something you need to get back on track.<BR/><BR/>Don't make too many demands on yourself, either. Give yourself permission to write crap and focus more on getting back into the routine of writing regularly until you feel comfortable with it. Also, it's a good idea to keep any daily wordcount quota modest so you don't overwhelm yourself right off the bat. You can build back up gradually to where you were writing before you took a break.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post-1148682293394393332006-05-26T18:24:00.000-04:002006-05-26T18:24:00.000-04:00Julie wrote: After looking on Amazon I came up wit...Julie wrote: <I>After looking on Amazon I came up with the following titles in this order, is it correct?</I><BR/><BR/>Your list is correct, except that <I>Blade Dancer</I> is a standalone written in the <I>StarDoc</I> universe, and not part of Cherijo's storyline (other SF standalones are <I>Bio Rescue</I> and <I>Afterburn</I>, which feature some characters from <I>StarDoc</I> book one but are also not part of Cherijo's storyline.)<BR/><BR/><I>Also, do you have your other series books listed anywhere? (I’ve been to the Darkyn website – I believe you have at least one other series though . . .)</I><BR/><BR/>No, and I should put something somewhere. Thanks for the nudge, Julie.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post-1148664853919083272006-05-26T13:34:00.000-04:002006-05-26T13:34:00.000-04:00Awesome cover, Sheila! :)It makes sense, at least ...Awesome cover, Sheila! :)<BR/><BR/>It makes sense, at least to me, for them to refer to it as a "long-running series." When you consider the gap between <I>Shockball</I> and <I>Rebel Ice</I> ... a lot of series don't have the same readership afterwards. They've stayed in print that long -- and gathered more readers. (Unless you count the other books in the setting as <I>Stardoc</I> novels, which I don't, from a reader's perspective.)<BR/><BR/>So, yeah, I'd consider it a long-running series. :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post-1148662055595569902006-05-26T12:47:00.001-04:002006-05-26T12:47:00.001-04:00Ooooppps. Second.Ooooppps. Second.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post-1148662027412109792006-05-26T12:47:00.000-04:002006-05-26T12:47:00.000-04:00lleeo, if I ever get published, I think you'll lov...lleeo, if I ever get published, I think you'll love my stuff. No romance in the first book of my trilogy, but in the seccond and third, there's a hot trans-species relationship between a giant spider and a giant fly. Think <I>Romeo and Juliet, West Side Story,</I> with aliens. And nothing is hotter than giant alien critters having sex.<BR/><BR/>Sorry, Sheila. I mean Lynn. Just had to put in my 2c.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post-1148658853563400002006-05-26T11:54:00.000-04:002006-05-26T11:54:00.000-04:00What's the knack to making a series just arced eno...What's the knack to making a series just arced enough, without being impossible to pick up 12 books through?M Harold Pagehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08949772130509527838noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post-1148658333341838482006-05-26T11:45:00.000-04:002006-05-26T11:45:00.000-04:00Trace wrote: WOW! Gorgeous cover art!Thank you, Ma...Trace wrote: <I>WOW! Gorgeous cover art!</I><BR/><BR/>Thank you, Ma'am. I'm in love with it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post-1148658258669150062006-05-26T11:44:00.000-04:002006-05-26T11:44:00.000-04:00Kate wrote: How do you cope with having different ...Kate wrote: <I>How do you cope with having different writing names?</I><BR/><BR/>I assign them days of the week. Today I'm Lynn.<BR/><BR/><I>Do you prefer one?</I><BR/><BR/>I really have no preference. I can't. ;)<BR/><BR/><I>How did you pick them?</I><BR/><BR/>The publisher says "we need a new pseudonym" and I start making lists of names I can stand.<BR/><BR/><I>Initials are de rigueur for fantasy science fiction--or used to be. Has that changed?</I><BR/><BR/>Used to be, not so much anymore. <BR/><BR/><I>(I think I'm not built for this pseudonym stuff--I really truly don't appreciate my alter ego and I actually feel competitive. Yes, it's as stupid as people who refer to their characters as real people. But stupidity doesn't seem to slow people down. )</I><BR/><BR/>Lol. I have to juggle so many that I now keep a card taped to my desk with which name I use for what genre/publisher/editor.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com