Hey, kids–
I’m getting ready to launch a romance novella on Kindle. (OMG, yes, Andi does indeed write romance! F/F, in case you wondered)
It’s an indie project and the manuscript is currently with an editor (because I’m all about other people looking at my stuff to determine its suckage factor [hopefully it’s low]) and I hired someone to do a cover for it.
But covers totally stress me out, people. Like, super stress.
Read on to find out why. . .
Hi, all. I’m being interviewed in a couple of weeks by Liz McMullen.
So with that in mind, I’m wondering what readers would like me to chat about with regard to my work and whatever else you think would be cool to know (within reason, of course).
Liz also wanted to know if I want to do a reading on the show. Well, I haven’t been asked to do a reading in years, so it hadn’t crossed my mind. If that’s something you’d be into, let me know and also let me know what you want me to read from.
Drop me a comment here or an email or send a carrier pigeon or whatever works.
Happy reading, happy writing!
Hi, kids–
So I’m getting ready to release another novella on Kindle (and other self-publishing outlets).
And that requires a few steps. Here are some of the quick n’ dirty things I do.
As some of you know, I blogged about DC Comics hiring openly anti-LGBT writer Orson Scott Card to write for its digital Superman series the other day. You can see that HERE.
Well, DC Comics has responded to the controversy over hiring Card to write on the digital Superman series. Here’s the gist, via The Advocate (link above):
. . .a company spokesman said, “As content creators we steadfastly support freedom of expression, however the personal views of individuals associated with DC Comics are just that — personal views — and not those of the company itself.
The spokesman also mentioned the new digital Adventures of Superman comic is an anthology series and would feature an ever-changing group of guest writers, of which Card would be one, and should not be confused with the long-running flagship titles Superman or Action Comics.
HMMMM.
I was a comics freak back in the day. And then I kind of stopped reading/buying them during a long stretch of grad school and whatever else, but I followed comics news peripherally because I love superhero stuff and all the attendant angst they go through. Plus, I’ve developed an affinity for particular artists and writers.
A couple years ago, I started reading/collecting again. Most of my stable is DC-related, though I do have a Marvel series I’m following. That’s why when this particular bit of news hit, I was interested. And as expected, it has generated a lot of controversy.
The news: DC Comics has hired award-winning sci fi writer Orson Scott Card to write the latest Superman digital series. His book Ender’s Game has also been turned into a movie, starring Harrison Ford, which is forthcoming.
The issue: I have long since stopped supporting Card or his work because of his public anti-gay stances, and apparently, a lot of people have taken exception to DC’s hiring of him to write the storylines for Superman. A larger issue here, of course, is whether or not to take the personal beliefs of people into consideration when we purchase their books or go to their movies. We all make choices about those things, which is a wonderful thing. But I want to address this specific incident, since that’s the one in the news.
Hey, peeps–
As some of you know, I write a mystery series based in New Mexico. You can find all the info and excerpts here on my site, if you’re so inclined. But one of the other things I do now and again is I’ll interview my characters. I’ve interviewed three from the New Mexico series.
K.C. Fontero is a sociologist and some-time college professor. She’s the main character in odd-numbered books. That is, so far, books 1 and 3 are K.C. Fontero mysteries. That would be Land of Entrapment and The Ties That Bind, respectively. Her best friend is Albuquerque Police Detective Chris Gutierrez. Chris is the main character in even-numbered books. Book 2, State of Denial, is her first and I’m hammering away at Book 4, which is titled but I have this weird superstition and I don’t release the names of the titles until I send the manuscript to the publisher. Photographer and woo-woo cowgirl/art chick Sage Crandall is K.C.’s love interest. All the characters make appearances in each other’s books, so nobody gets left out. So with all that in mind, here:
Conversation with Chris Gutierrez
Happy reading, happy writing, happy Thursday!
Hi, kids–
First, go see the movie (just released) Warm Bodies. Even if you’re not much of a fan of zombie movies, I think you’ll like this one. It’s got a great comic sensibility, and the underlying message is super-sweet and exactly what the world needs, about the power of human connection. I loved it. And yes, it’s based on a book by Isaac Marion. Read that, too.
Second, I will now answer a question put to me by a reader. This particular reader really enjoyed my novella, “Some Kind of River,” which is available on Kindle. Here’s the link, if you wanna see. It’ll set you back $0.99.
WARNING! SPOILER BELOW! Read no further if you haven’t read “Some Kind of River!” FOR REALZ, yo.
Hey, all–
Caught this cool post at Writer Unboxed from January 28 (okay, so, most of their posts are great) about what readers can do for writers. Specifically, writer and editor Chuck Sambuchino provides 11 tips with regard to supporting a writer’s new book. Number 1?
Buy the author’s book.
Here’s what he says:
An obvious point, sure, but important nonetheless. Naturally, we must buy new copies of books, not used copies, for the sale to “count” and the author to get a royalty. So buy new. Heck, consider pre-ordering the book. Publishers pay attention to pre-orders to help get a sense of what titles are getting buzz and attention. Impressive pre-orders help the author.
source
No, authors do not make money off of used copies, no matter where you buy those used copies. Just wanted to clear that up. And we certainly don’t make money off pirated copies of our work. Now before you start in on how you can’t afford a new copy and all that, hey. It’s cool. I get it. I understand why you buy used. I also understand why you borrow a book from a friend or a library. I totally get that. That said, I am not down with piracy. Sorry.
At any rate, if you buy used and/or borrow a book, how about if you really like the author, could you do her a favor and tell your friends about her? And about her books and stories? Especially if you buy used or borrow a book. And if you do buy new and you loan your copy out to a few friends so they, too, can discover a new author, THANKS. So yes, ideally, authors REALLY appreciate it when you buy new. But we also appreciate it when you tell your friends about this cool author you discovered and how about giving her a read.
Moving along, Sambuchino also offers these tips (and I’ve been known to do stuff like this for authors I enjoy): face the book out at bookstores and read it visibly. The latter, I’m afraid, is going to be much harder to do these days, because many people no longer read actual physical books where you can show off your book cover. Instead, you’re on an ereader, and that makes it harder. But if you do have a physical copy of a book and you enjoy that author, hey, let the world see the title and author’s name. Another good tip is to spread the word about the book/author via your social media channels.
Basically, Sambuchino offers easy things for readers to do to help spread the word about an author and her new book(s). And believe me, authors appreciate it SO much when readers talk up authors whose work they enjoy. So thank you, readers. Thanks for buying our work, thanks for reading it, thanks for letting others know about your fave authors. You’re part of this whole publishing thing, too. And I think sometimes some writers forget that, much to their detriment.
Anyway. Happy Tuesday!
A couple weeks ago, I saw a story on Dateline, NBC about 4 college-aged women who “gave up” technology for a couple of weeks.
That is, no smartphones or computers. What was interesting and horrifying to me about the story was one, that they basically went through withdrawal for a while without the devices and, two, how absolutely clueless they seemed to be about interacting with people and the world around them without an electronic device.
WTF?
Hiya, peeps!
When I find interesting-ness on the intertubes, I like to pass it along to you, to do with as you please.
First, author and awesome savant Chuck Wendig often re-posts things from his blog “Terrible Minds.” This one is one of my faves, “Ode to the Editor.” Read it HERE.
Remember the other day I blogged on the importance of editors and those urban fantasy books I was reading? And how I said I would definitely not read further in one series, but would in the other? Well, I’m reading the second in the series I enjoyed, but once again, the editor made a boo-boo. In the first of that series, the word “allusion” rather than “illusion” appeared. In this one, the word “allude” rather than “elude” appeared. Grammar monster will explain the difference here. Even though I’m 200 pages past it, it still bugs me. And sadly, I know what page it’s on. Sigh. The editor-ness in me sometimes is SUCH a burden. 😀
Anyway. Here’s another cool thing I found today. Jennifer Niven writes on women spies at HuffPo in the 20th century. Super-cool, and if you’re looking for some inspiration or ideas for an espionage novel/thriller, this piece might offer you some.
Oh, and James Blaylock, one of the dudes integral in the establishment of steampunk as a genre, tells us how that came about in his piece at HuffPo, “On Steampunk.”
I’m currently reading Phoenix Rising (by Pip Ballantine and Tee Morris), the first in the Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences series. Fun stuff, great characters. If you haven’t read much steampunk, I also recommend Cherie Priest‘s work.
Heh. And the January 15 Bloggess entry, about the Eye of Sauron. [NOTE: if you have issues with ladyparts words, don’t click that link.]
And finally, this cool song, “All of Me,” by the Brooklyn duo Tanlines. They remind me of my Erasure days in the 80s, when I wore pegged jeans, Docs, and retro bowling shirts. Oh, wait…
Anyway, this vid has an 80s cold war feel to it, too. Love the juxtaposition of the bippy tune and the grim interior of that bar/club.
All rightie! Happy reading, happy writing, and put your music on and DANCE!
Andi Marquette 