This is my last post of the year, and, lucky me, I have wonderful news to report: Kailana, over at The Written World, has announced her Best of 2008 list, which includes The Princes of the Golden Cage. Kailana told me that Princes was the first book she read this year, so I’m really happy the story stayed in her mind.
What a great way to end the year! Thanks Kailana!
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Thursday, December 25, 2008
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Sunday, December 21, 2008
Getting there
I’ve nearly finished the second draft (which for me is the story draft) of my Urban Fantasy. All major holes in the plot have been plugged, and its kinks straightened. As it stands, the story has all its bits and pieces and makes sense from beginning to end. However, I still may add one chapter to the manuscript in order to further the character development of my male protagonist, and I also plan to add a scene between my lead female character and her best friend…well, ex-best friend. Once that’s done, I’ll begin the delicate task of adding details, refining emotions and building up the atmosphere, all the while reevaluating everything I’ve written thus far. *Gah.*
Friday, December 19, 2008
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Books make excellent gifts.
Don’t know what to give that special someone (who already has everything) for Christmas? Why not a book? Which one should you buy? Well, that’s up to you. However, I do have a few suggestions that may help you out a little. So here are some books I’ve read and enjoyed that are available at most bookstores and online outlets.
The Living Dead edited by John Joseph Adams
"When there's no more room in hell, the dead will walk the earth!" From White Zombie to Dawn of the Dead, Resident Evil to World War Z, zombies have invaded popular culture, becoming the monsters that best express the fears and anxieties of the modern west. Gathering together the best zombie literature of the last three decades from many of today's most renowned authors of fantasy, speculative fiction, and horror, including Stephen King, Harlan Ellison, Robert Silverberg, George R. R. Martin, Clive Barker, Poppy Z. Brite, Neil Gaiman, Joe Hill, Laurell K. Hamilton, and Joe R. Lansdale, The Living Dead covers the broad spectrum of zombie fiction.
I devoured this book like a zombie devours brains. Mmmm…brains. Mmmm...more zombie stories.
The Courtesan Prince by Lynda Williams
When Earth's first attempt to conquer the far reaches of space was thwarted by the failure of a faster than light transportation system, the first colonists were abandoned.Subsequent colonizations were successful but ideological differences in cloning caused renegade scientists to sever their contact with Earth and establish their own unique world.Now, thousands of years in the future, the scattered descendents of humanity have evolved into two distinct planetary societies: the Reetions of Rire, who rely on advanced computer technology to regulate every aspect of their lives, and the genetically superior and honor bound Sevolites, of Gelion.With one conflict already behind them, these two cultures are once again on the brink of war. But one last desperate mission is launched and somewhere within a dark region of space, Reetions and Sevolites find themselves torn between their own alliances and the inexplicable desire that constantly draws them closer together.
A sweeping space opera with intricate weaving themes and brilliant characterisation that is sure to please any readers.
The Sword-Edged Blonde by Alex Bledsoe
It should have been a case like any other: a missing princess, a king willing to pay in gold for her return. But before he realizes it, private investigator Eddie LaCrosse, a slightly shopworn sword jockey with a talent for discretion and detection, is swept up in a web of mystery and deceit involving a brutally murdered royal heir, a queen accused of an unspeakable crime and the tragic past he thought he'd left behind.First in a series of hard-boiled fantasy detective novels, in the vein of Glen Cook's Garrett series.
If you love noir whodunits, sword and sorcery with a lot of action and adventure, this book if for you, because it has it all.
Legacies by L.E. Modesitt, Jr.
The first book of the Corean Chronicles: Millennia ago, a magical disaster caused the fall of a great worldwide civilization, the end of a golden age. New civilizations have fought their way up from the ancient destruction and chaos, knowing little of the lost world that preceded them or the details of its fall. Corus today is a world of contending countries, of humans, but also of strange animals and supernatural creatures. It is a place of magical powers, and of a few people who are talented enough to use them. Alusius, the hero of the story, is one. Although born into a successful herder family, Alusius never knew his father, who was killed in action while serving in the Militia. So he is raised on a Nightsheep ranch by his mother and grandparents, and schooled at home. As a child, he shows very strong Talent. He is
warned gravely that he must never reveal this outside the home lest he spend his life in servitude to some rich and powerful person. But as he grows to young manhood, Alusius must serve in the Militia like his father before him. When his country is invaded by the slave armies of The Matrial, an immortal ruler in a nearby land, Alusius is captured and enslaved. A time of changes has come upon all of the world of Corus. If the evil surrounding The Matrial is not brought to an end, those changes will not be happy ones. Gradually, Alusius realizes that he and his Talent have a central role to play.
A great story set in a rich world with well-rounded characters; it’s the perfect series starter. I really enjoyed the adventure too.
Crystal Rain by Tobias Buckell
John DeBrun lives, mostly peacefully, on Nanagada with his wife, Shanta, and son, Jerome, troubled only by the fact that he remembers nothing of his past. War is brewing, however, with the Azteca preparing to finally cross the Wicked High Mountains in search of new sacrifices for their gods, the teotl. As the mongoose-men, defenders of Nanagada, struggle to hold out, John discovers that what he has forgotten may hold the secret to saving Nanagada. Pepper, clearly one of the mysterious old-fathers--wonder-workers from a distant planet who fought a war that left the land devastated and deprived of functional metal technology--claims to have known John long ago. Haidan, leader of the mongoose-men, and Dihana, prime minister of Capitol City, coerce John into leading an expedition to find Ma Wi Jung, which, according to the Loa--godlike beings who interfere with human affairs--is their only hope for defeating the Azteca. Buckell's first novel conjures a vividly imagined world, spiced with intrigue and adventure that unfolds at a breakneck pace.
The Living Dead edited by John Joseph Adams"When there's no more room in hell, the dead will walk the earth!" From White Zombie to Dawn of the Dead, Resident Evil to World War Z, zombies have invaded popular culture, becoming the monsters that best express the fears and anxieties of the modern west. Gathering together the best zombie literature of the last three decades from many of today's most renowned authors of fantasy, speculative fiction, and horror, including Stephen King, Harlan Ellison, Robert Silverberg, George R. R. Martin, Clive Barker, Poppy Z. Brite, Neil Gaiman, Joe Hill, Laurell K. Hamilton, and Joe R. Lansdale, The Living Dead covers the broad spectrum of zombie fiction.
I devoured this book like a zombie devours brains. Mmmm…brains. Mmmm...more zombie stories.
The Courtesan Prince by Lynda WilliamsWhen Earth's first attempt to conquer the far reaches of space was thwarted by the failure of a faster than light transportation system, the first colonists were abandoned.Subsequent colonizations were successful but ideological differences in cloning caused renegade scientists to sever their contact with Earth and establish their own unique world.Now, thousands of years in the future, the scattered descendents of humanity have evolved into two distinct planetary societies: the Reetions of Rire, who rely on advanced computer technology to regulate every aspect of their lives, and the genetically superior and honor bound Sevolites, of Gelion.With one conflict already behind them, these two cultures are once again on the brink of war. But one last desperate mission is launched and somewhere within a dark region of space, Reetions and Sevolites find themselves torn between their own alliances and the inexplicable desire that constantly draws them closer together.
A sweeping space opera with intricate weaving themes and brilliant characterisation that is sure to please any readers.
The Sword-Edged Blonde by Alex BledsoeIt should have been a case like any other: a missing princess, a king willing to pay in gold for her return. But before he realizes it, private investigator Eddie LaCrosse, a slightly shopworn sword jockey with a talent for discretion and detection, is swept up in a web of mystery and deceit involving a brutally murdered royal heir, a queen accused of an unspeakable crime and the tragic past he thought he'd left behind.First in a series of hard-boiled fantasy detective novels, in the vein of Glen Cook's Garrett series.
If you love noir whodunits, sword and sorcery with a lot of action and adventure, this book if for you, because it has it all.
Legacies by L.E. Modesitt, Jr.
The first book of the Corean Chronicles: Millennia ago, a magical disaster caused the fall of a great worldwide civilization, the end of a golden age. New civilizations have fought their way up from the ancient destruction and chaos, knowing little of the lost world that preceded them or the details of its fall. Corus today is a world of contending countries, of humans, but also of strange animals and supernatural creatures. It is a place of magical powers, and of a few people who are talented enough to use them. Alusius, the hero of the story, is one. Although born into a successful herder family, Alusius never knew his father, who was killed in action while serving in the Militia. So he is raised on a Nightsheep ranch by his mother and grandparents, and schooled at home. As a child, he shows very strong Talent. He is
warned gravely that he must never reveal this outside the home lest he spend his life in servitude to some rich and powerful person. But as he grows to young manhood, Alusius must serve in the Militia like his father before him. When his country is invaded by the slave armies of The Matrial, an immortal ruler in a nearby land, Alusius is captured and enslaved. A time of changes has come upon all of the world of Corus. If the evil surrounding The Matrial is not brought to an end, those changes will not be happy ones. Gradually, Alusius realizes that he and his Talent have a central role to play.
A great story set in a rich world with well-rounded characters; it’s the perfect series starter. I really enjoyed the adventure too.
Crystal Rain by Tobias BuckellJohn DeBrun lives, mostly peacefully, on Nanagada with his wife, Shanta, and son, Jerome, troubled only by the fact that he remembers nothing of his past. War is brewing, however, with the Azteca preparing to finally cross the Wicked High Mountains in search of new sacrifices for their gods, the teotl. As the mongoose-men, defenders of Nanagada, struggle to hold out, John discovers that what he has forgotten may hold the secret to saving Nanagada. Pepper, clearly one of the mysterious old-fathers--wonder-workers from a distant planet who fought a war that left the land devastated and deprived of functional metal technology--claims to have known John long ago. Haidan, leader of the mongoose-men, and Dihana, prime minister of Capitol City, coerce John into leading an expedition to find Ma Wi Jung, which, according to the Loa--godlike beings who interfere with human affairs--is their only hope for defeating the Azteca. Buckell's first novel conjures a vividly imagined world, spiced with intrigue and adventure that unfolds at a breakneck pace.
Fast-paced, action-packed and suspenseful, Crystal Rain transports you into an exotics Caribbean-like world inhabited by fascinating characters. A lot about this book is out of the ordinary: its unique voice, its genre, closer to steampunk than sf or fantasy, and its usual setting. Awww, sun, sand and sea!
Goblin Quest by Jim C. Hines
Jig is a scrawny little nearsighted goblin-a runt even among his puny species. Captured by a party of adventurers searching for a magical artifact, and forced to guide them, Jig encounters every peril ever faced on a fantasy quest.
Okay, I confess I fell in love with a goblin. Oh my God, this book is SO MUCH FUN!
Saturday, December 13, 2008
The King’s Daughters coming in 2009
Night Shade Books has just posted the new release line up for all their late titles of 2008, including THE KING’S DAUGHTERS and over a dozen other books, which are now all scheduled to hit the bookstores early 2009. Check out the complete list here.
Thursday, December 11, 2008
The Princes of the golden Cage makes Top 10 list
Kimber An over at Enduring Romancer has announced her 2008 Top 10 Books of the Year, which includes The Princes of the Golden Cage. Here’s what she said:
“This story has such well-rounded characters, fully realized world-building, logical magic, and suspenseful pacing that I had no idea who the real bad guy was until the end. Then, I screamed and threw the book in the air! This one would be great for young men to mommies pushing forty like me. It's that good.”
This honor was extended to books in the “SF/Fantasy/Romance” genre. See ER’s website for the complete list.
Thank you so much, Kimber An. You made my day!
“This story has such well-rounded characters, fully realized world-building, logical magic, and suspenseful pacing that I had no idea who the real bad guy was until the end. Then, I screamed and threw the book in the air! This one would be great for young men to mommies pushing forty like me. It's that good.”
This honor was extended to books in the “SF/Fantasy/Romance” genre. See ER’s website for the complete list.
Thank you so much, Kimber An. You made my day!
Monday, December 8, 2008
The Princes of the Goolden Cage is in ebook format
I have an announcement for Kindle owners and anyone else who loves ebooks: The electronic version of The Princes of the Golden Cage is now available through Baen Books’ e-publishing site, webscription.net.
Saturday, December 6, 2008
Thursday, December 4, 2008
One Year Later
Tia Nevitt was kind enough to invite me to participate to her One Year Later post series at Fantasy Debut. The piece is part interview and part update. In brief, how becoming a published author has changed my life.
At the same time, check out her post on publicizing your blog. It is extremely interesting and chock-full of good advice.
Here’s a section I found particularly useful:
Comment on other blogs. People know you exist this way. I still check out every new commenter.
Answer your comments. You want to appear accessible. Plus, when you answer comments, you encourage conversation.
Thank reviewers. Even thank reviewers for bad reviews. We feel all special when authors thank us. We may not be special at all, but it is in your best interest to encourage such feelings anyway. Don't kiss our ass; we can see right through that. Just thank us. We're more likely to remember you and to blog about you when we have warm and fuzzy feelings about you.
Consider blogging about bad reviews as well as good ones. This makes you look uber-cool, like nothing can touch you. You may be crying your eyes red, but we don't know that. We're just marveling at how awesome you are. Of course, if you're only getting bad reviews, this will simply make you look pathetic, so use some balance here.
Shout-out other blogs that you admire, and include a link to that blog, or the particular post that caught your eye. We'll most likely notice (see below for how) and we'll appreciate it.
Consider using Twitter. I have not taken the plunge yet. Try it and see if it's for you. If you like it, include your Twitter feed on your sidebar. Twitter should have instructions on how to do this.
Join science fiction and fantasy forums and participate. Yeah, I know. I need to take this advice, myself.
Ask! Email the blogger/site owner and make a request. Offer to trade links, or to do an article or guest post, or to send a review copy. The worst they can do is say no, but most of the time, bloggers are happy (read: giddy) to help authors out.
Did I miss something? Leave a comment and share the knowledge, please!
But don’t stop there! Go ahead and read the entire article. Here
At the same time, check out her post on publicizing your blog. It is extremely interesting and chock-full of good advice.
Here’s a section I found particularly useful:
Comment on other blogs. People know you exist this way. I still check out every new commenter.
Answer your comments. You want to appear accessible. Plus, when you answer comments, you encourage conversation.
Thank reviewers. Even thank reviewers for bad reviews. We feel all special when authors thank us. We may not be special at all, but it is in your best interest to encourage such feelings anyway. Don't kiss our ass; we can see right through that. Just thank us. We're more likely to remember you and to blog about you when we have warm and fuzzy feelings about you.
Consider blogging about bad reviews as well as good ones. This makes you look uber-cool, like nothing can touch you. You may be crying your eyes red, but we don't know that. We're just marveling at how awesome you are. Of course, if you're only getting bad reviews, this will simply make you look pathetic, so use some balance here.
Shout-out other blogs that you admire, and include a link to that blog, or the particular post that caught your eye. We'll most likely notice (see below for how) and we'll appreciate it.
Consider using Twitter. I have not taken the plunge yet. Try it and see if it's for you. If you like it, include your Twitter feed on your sidebar. Twitter should have instructions on how to do this.
Join science fiction and fantasy forums and participate. Yeah, I know. I need to take this advice, myself.
Ask! Email the blogger/site owner and make a request. Offer to trade links, or to do an article or guest post, or to send a review copy. The worst they can do is say no, but most of the time, bloggers are happy (read: giddy) to help authors out.
Did I miss something? Leave a comment and share the knowledge, please!
But don’t stop there! Go ahead and read the entire article. Here
Monday, December 1, 2008
Twisted much
I’ve reached the middle of the book—that’s the good part. The not so good part is that I need to reconfigure a couple of chapters in order to straighten, and also strengthen the plot. Right now, it’s a bit too contorted for my taste. Don’t get me wrong, a few cleverly placed, well-thought-out twists and turns can make the story more exciting, but too many can be a pain.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
