2007 November at SF Novelists

Archive for November, 2007

Kristine Smith November 29th 2007

This ‘n’ that

Some observations made over the course of the week. Nothing profound–it’s all been said before. It’s just that it makes a greater impression when it happens to you.
A question occasionally asked in Amazon reviews is “I wonder what the writer was thinking/trying to do”? The reviewer then goes on to posit what they believe to […]

S.L. Farrell November 27th 2007

David vs. Goliath

Here’s a question I’m asked relatively frequently at cons and other gatherings of fledgling writers: “Is writing short stories first a good way to start ‘breaking into’ writing novels?”
It’s a question to which I really don’t have a good answer. For the writers of my generation (I’m old, after all…), yes, many of […]

Lyda Morehouse November 26th 2007

Writers as Readers… Or Worse (?) Fans

True confession: I’m a fan.
I don’t read SF/F nearly as much as I’d like – I’m a slow reader thanks to mild dyslexia and an easily-distracted personality (a bad combination if ever there were one, IMHO.) But, I love SF/F. Though I read lots of other genres, I still reach first for SF/F. But I’ve found […]

Jim C. Hines November 24th 2007

Copyright and DMCA

Apparently, the past few months have been copyright season, at least in my little corner of reality. SFWA* had a bit of a copyright mess a little while back, and I ended up serving on the committee to explore what the organization wanted in terms of copyright activism. (Our report is available online.)Then this week, […]

Gregory Frost November 23rd 2007

There Will Be Warheads

The opening statement seemed to be that it doesn’t matter if you alter anything in history, what you will ultimately get because of that is war. So, everybody all together: War, war war. It’s the only subject that matters.

Diana Pharaoh Francis November 21st 2007

What do you do with a bad review?

As some of you probably know, many writers are notoriously undone by bad reviews. (do you remember the Anne Rice Amazon Debacle of a few years back?) We write in solitude and much of our egos hang on whether people like the product of our work. And of course, our ability to […]

Chris Dolley November 20th 2007

Say It Ain’t So, PO

It would appear that the International Reply Coupon, after one hundred years of service to overseas authors everywhere, is no more. It has pined for the fjords and posted itself - without an enclosed SASE - into the great PO Box in the sky.
And no one told me!
I only found our last month when I […]

Kate Elliott November 18th 2007

A Reader Reading Reviews

Years and years ago, the local film reviewer of the local newspaper where I then lived reviewed Dark Crystal. The reviewer made abundantly clear that he despised the fantasy genre as a whole and thought it stupid. Naturally, he found the movie lacking and described its badness with great intensity, but none of […]

Marie Brennan November 16th 2007

Warning: Contains Language

Don’t read this post if you have a problem with vulgar language. You have been warned.
***
It used to be, in English, that you had two reliable sources of offensive language. One was the body, especially its parts and cruder functions. The other, of course, was religion. (The very word “profanity” points […]

S.C. Butler November 15th 2007

If Only All You Had To Do Was Write

Ah, for the good old days when I thought being a writer meant holing up in a garret with a Smith-Corona and a bottle of bourbon. (Sorry. I’m showing my age.)
In reality, that’s just the start. For example, my latest book, Queen Ferris, came out two weeks ago, on Oct. 30th. What follows was my […]

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Author Information

Kristine Smith

I'm a scientist by day, spec fic writer by nights and weekends. Author of the Jani Kilian SF series. Owned by two overgrown puppies. Visit site.

S.L. Farrell

S.L. Farrell is a Cincinnati author with 21 novels and several dozen short stories published. Booklist called his latest book "Good enough to cast in gold." He teaches creative writing at Northern Kentucky University, and is a frequent speaker to writers groups. Visit site.

Lyda Morehouse

Lyda Morehouse is the author of the science fiction AngeLINK series. She's won the Shamus and the Philip K. Dick Special Citation for Excellence (aka 2nd place). Her books have also been nominated for the Romantic Times Critics' Choice and preliminary Nebula ballot. She lives in the deep-freeze of Saint Paul, MN with her partner of twenty-odd years, their son, and lots and lots of cats (and fish!) Visit site.

Jim C. Hines

Jim C. Hines is the author of the goblin trilogy from DAW Books. The third book, GOBLIN WAR, came out in March, 2008. THE STEPSISTER SCHEME will begin a new series in January of 2009. He made his first professional fiction sale in 1998 with "Blade of the Bunny," an award-winning story that appeared in Writers of the Future XV. His short fiction has since appeared in over 30 magazines and anthologies, including Realms of Fantasy, Turn the Other Chick, and Sword & Sorceress XXI. Jim lives in Michigan with his wife and two children. He's currently hard at work on a sequel to THE STEPSISTER SCHEME. Visit site.

Gregory Frost

Gregory Frost's latest book is SHADOWBRIDGE volume I, from Del Rey (Random House). In their review, Publisher's Weekly praised it as "a sparkling gem of mythic invention and wonder," and Booklist in a starred review said, "Frost has created a world containing all manner of fantastic story." Gary K. Wolfe in Locus Magazine added: "Surpassingly lovely prose...Frost could be on his way toward a masterpiece." Volume II will be out in June. His short story collection, ATTACK OF THE JAZZ GIANTS & OTHER STORIES (Golden Gryphon Press) was hailed by Locus as "a notable collection, likely to stand as one of the best of 2005" and Publisher's Weekly once again,in a starred review (!), went even further in saying, "Frost demonstrates his mastery of the short story form in what will surely rank as one of the best fantasy collections of the year." Other recent works include the novel FITCHER'S BRIDES (Tor Books), an International Horror Guild Award and World Fantasy Award Finalist; "Ill-Met in Ilium" in The Secret History of Vampires; and "The Fortunate Dream" in the YA anthology Magic in the Mirrorstone. Visit http://www.gregoryfrost.com for excerpts, publishing info and appearance dates. Blogs at http://frostokovich.livejournal.com/ and http://gregoryfrost.blogspot.com More on Shadowbridge at http://www.randomhouse.com/delrey/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9780345497581 For more information on Attack of the Jazz Giants, visit http://www.goldengryphon.com Visit site.

Diana Pharaoh Francis

Diana Pharaoh Francis has written the fantasy novel trilogy that includes Path of Fate, Path of Honor and Path of Blood. Path of Fate was nominated for the Mary Roberts Rinehart Award. Recently released was The Cipher, first of The Crosspointe Chronicles, which will be followed by The Black Ship in November 2008. Diana teaches in the English Department at the University of Montana Western, and is an avid lover of all things chocolate. Visit site.

Chris Dolley

Chris Dolley is an English author of SF mysteries, a pioneer computer games designer, and the man who convinced the UK media that Cornwall had risen up and declared independence. His novel Resonance (2005, Baen) was the first book to be plucked from Baen’s electronic slush pile. His second novel Shift (2007, Baen) has just come out. He now lives in France with his wife, a dolmen, and a frightening collection of animals. Visit site.

Kate Elliott

Kate Elliott is the author of multiple fantasy and science fiction novels, including the Crown of Stars series and the Novels of the Jaran. She's currently working on Crossroads; the first novel, Spirit Gate, is already out, and Shadow Gate will be published in Spring 2008. Visit site.

Marie Brennan

Marie Brennan is the author of several fantasy novels and short stories, including the upcoming Elizabethan faerie spy fantasy Midnight Never Come. Visit site.

S.C. Butler

Butler is the author of The Stoneways Trilogy from Tor Books: Reiffen's Choice, Queen Ferris, and The Magician's Daughter. Find out what Reiffen does with magic, and what magic does with him... Visit site.

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