If you're interested in Urban Fantasy/Paranormal or Futuristic Romance, either as a reader or a writer, here's a terrific site to follow:
http://www.scifiguy.ca/2009/12/urban-fan
Or the lj feed, here: http://syndicated.livejournal.com/ca_sci
And who doesn't enjoy and "Author behaving badly" story? http://jetreidliterary.blogspot.com/2009/1
lj feed to Janet's blog: http://syndicated.livejournal.com/jetrei
Industry reporter Galley Cat is doing a year in publishing in review: http://www.mediabistro.com/galleycat/
You should probably friend them, too: http://syndicated.livejournal.com/gally_
If you wish to check out the writing and publishing related blogs I have friended, I've made an lj filter, here: http://storm-grant.livejournal.com/frien
- Location:Toronto
(Just a reminder, the rules of the contest are here on Gretchen McNeil’s blog)
Today’s stop is over at Dorothy Winsor’s journal, where we discuss the long wait between offer and the book landing on the shelf. 
Mirrored from Jill Myles Dot Com.
My resolutions? I've got the basics: eat better, write more, and one new one learned the hard way: Don't offer help unasked for. (With the caveat: Unless the person is in physical danger.) That's right. I'm still the same helpful person as ever, but if you want my help, you have to ask for it. Yeah, there's a story behind it--a lot of stories actually--but I'm sure you know exactly what I mean without a lot of examples.
Best book I read this year: Hands down: Josh Bazell's Beat the Reaper. Nope. Nothing paranormal about it, although that's how I found it--while doing research for my Reaper novel. It's about a mafia hitman turned doctor. In addition to being brilliantly structured, the writing is clean--ever single little thing he mentions has a purpose later on. So pay attention to the footnotes. (Yes, footnotes.)
Neil Gaiman's The Graveyard Book runs a close second. I listened to both on audiobook. You know you can download audiobooks free from your library, if your library is participating in the Overdrive program. Just put your postal/zip code in the search engine to find a library near you: http://overdrive.com/
Biggest event of 2009 for me? I became a grand-aunt. Audrey Elizabeth was born 2 days ago... and already has her own Facebook. Awww. I also published my first novel, GYM DANDY, finished my second, SHIFT HAPPENS (currently being shopped around), and started my third, SCYTHE DOES MATTER.
An apology: After a dozen years of living on a steady diet of gay and m/m and slash fiction, I'm afraid I've OD'd on it. Erotica in general, too. So I apologize now, but I haven't been keeping up with anyone else's books. The only books I'm reading are research material and funny books (which are still research, really). Sorry. I still love you, though.
The future of this blog--is to revisit the past: I came across a post from a year or more ago. It was someone I didn't know telling someone I didn't know that they just had to friend Storm Grant's journal since I provided a lot of useful information. This year, between getting several pieces published and making the choice to concentrate on my own writing, I posted very little stuff that was of interest to others. (Yes, I realize my ongoing word count is not that fascinating to you. ;-D ) I figured there were enough helpful journals out there. But I miss being thought of as a useful, helpful person. I think a compromise between me spending a lot of time writing helpful posts and therefore having less time to write my own novels, is that I'll post a lot of useful links--sort of a writer's portal. I still cruise a lot of writing-related blogs so I'll just post the links. After all, most of you friended this journal in the first place because it offered interesting content.
If you see something you think would be good for other writers to know about, please post in the comments or email me or DM me on Twitter. Not just today, but all year long.
So here's the first useful link: A prediction post for the publishing industry from a break-out publisher: Excerpt: Instead of auctions for the highest advance, there will be auctions in which a basic advance is established by the agent, with the auction winner being the publisher who bids the most in marketing committed to the book.
I'll post lots of small linky posts as I read on through my flist.
Congratulations to everyone who has had successes this year, writerly or otherwise.
So what's up with you as we leave 2009 and head into 2010?
- Location:Toronto
Also, he makes this page look very very pretty.
- 22:28 And... I have now completed my 5th novel of the year. A first draft, mind you, but still. Five books! Woot! (Must go collapse.) #
162 / 450 pages. 36% done!
The edits in this round are mostly at the very beginning and very end, so I'm able to power through the middle fairly easily. I'm also trimming where I can, and I've found that even though the book is long (to the tune of 133,000 words) it's not especially wordy. There's one big scene to chop out in about 100 pages and replace with something shorter, but otherwise I should have this back on my 1/2/10 deadline.
I used to be completely rigid about my process--outline, draft, edits, copyedits, proofs, done. I've evolved a lot this year, and I think that I've become one of those writers who works on a book-by-book basis rather than setting a straight routine for every project. Sometimes I outline, sometimes I just jot down a few framework notes and questions to be answered in the course of the story. For shorts, I don't usually start with anything more than a high concept and a ballpark wordcount.
I also spend a lot more headspace time before I start writing than I used to (for example, I finished the first draft of Witch in Feburary 2009 and I've been thinking about the sequel, The Nightmare Clock, ever since.) I've got a couple of novels knocking around in my head that I likely won't start until 2011. I need the prep time now, which I didn't before.
It's a crazy, backwards process but it works. I'm turning out much better stuff than I used to--I started writing seriously for publication in 2005 and in four years I like to think I've leveled up, at least a little.
---
I admit--I am totally sucked in by that Hoarders show on A&E. Even moreso than Intervention, it's a trainwreck I can't look away from. I'm massively untidy, but I have never, even in the darkest depths of my college dorm, approached that level of filth. It's oddly fascinating, to see how someone can be so overwhelmed with things. It also makes me want to clean my apartment in an almost compulsive fashion, and since it's on every week my living space has been a lot tidier.
Speaking of tidying, we've set a closing date for the new house in Massachusetts, and when I go home I've got to start sorting and packing. I normally loathe moving with every bone in my body but this time, I think it'll go fairly smooth. I purged a ton of stuff when I moved out of the Batcave, and aside from books, my vintage clothing/costuming collection, and some furniture, I really don't have a lot of worldly goods.
Back to editing. I would really like to enjoy New Year's without this deadline bugging me.
| Originally published at Caitlin Kittredge. |
Slow and steady wins the race, sure. But it’s also frustrating as hell.
Steady output helps when it comes to writing for publication. Slow and steady weight loss helps one remain fit longer. But Jesus wept, sometimes I just feel like Veruca Salt stamping my feet and declaring that I want it now, dammit!
This is one of those impatient days, where the world is far too cold and slow to suit the fire in my veins. Deep breathing is in order, and reminding myself that it took decades to get here and things aren’t going to change overnight. Reminding myself that I’ll feel better when I achieve in a set of small steps, it will mean more, yadda yada.
Can you tell I don’t quite believe it? Not today.
In the meantime, here’s a guest review I did for the lovely folks of YA Reads (who had Betrayals as their featured book through December). They’re so nice over there, go take a look! The review is of one of my very favorite YA books, Sarah Dessen’s Dreamland. Otherwise known as “the awesome book that got me reading YA again after a long dry spell”.
Anyway. Off I go with my impatient self. I hope your day is gratifying, either instantly or in the long run.
But all things considered, today I’d take the instant. I’m just saying.
Posted from A Fire of Reason. You can also comment there.
Hi all,
Sorry I’m late to posting! Yesterday was, in short, not fun. Thank you, Day Job!
Here are the winners of the signed copies. I did not count anyone that commented after 12 noon yesterday (luckily everyone commented before!). Everyone that commented on my Jill Myles journal was assigned 1-69, and the LJ comments were 70-87.
#1 — True Random Number Generator Min: 1 Max: 87 Result: 39 =
Calila says:
December 22, 2009 at 1:29 am (Edit)
Congrats! I can’t wait to read it!
#2 — True Random Number Generator Min: 1 Max: 87 Result: 65 =
Rebecca says:
December 25, 2009 at 11:54 pm (Edit)
Fantastic cover! I’d love to read it. Please enter me.
So! Rebecca and Calila, please send me an email with your address information, and I’ll send out the books this weekend. Email me at jillmyles AT gmail dot com.
Also, check out the Blog Tour as it continues here at Shelli’s blog. She’s got a great overview of what’s scheduled.
Mirrored from Jill Myles Dot Com.
Although since I'm posting this, everyone could post your good news of the week!
- LOL, dirty fuckers! RT @ceotty: @mark_henry - Cougars across the globe rejoice. #
- Yoda gives visiting sycophant the side-eye in today's poignant #yodabreak yfrog.com/3nporyj #
- WTF? @HeatherOsborn milking the shit out of some eggs. Them hash browns is soaked. yfrog.com/1d5ctxj #
- Getting ready for 3-D smurf action with @HeatherOsborn and @caroline_henry. If we're not better people when it's done blame @nicolepeeler. #
- In line for Abbatoir 3D. I hear the smurf vivisections are soooo real! #muhahaha #
- Avatar was some crazy ass predictable shit and I loved every minute of it. #
- Woke up with the dryest mouth and throat ever. Someone forgot to turn on the humidifier. #notme #
- Awake since 5:30, yet I've done nothing to get ready for the Forks trip. I think I have brain cloud. #
- Twitter snarkfest of Forks trip all day. Follow @mark_henry, @HeatherOsborn, @RichelleMead, @psynde, & @caroline_henry for all the #forking! #
I enjoyed it. I always enjoy those sorts of buddy-swashbuckly-clever plotline-snarky dialogue-thrillers, from RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARC to SAHARA to NATIONAL TREASURE. (The problem with DA VINCI CODE is that it's way too serious and severely lacking in buddies (and therefore homoerotic subtext), so it doesn't get to be part of this BSCPSDT genre I have just invented. (Also I am envious of Dan Brown's writing success and therefore not entirely objective.))
So here's my question: Has there ever been a FEMALE-buddy-swashbuckly-clever plotline-snarky dialogue-thriller? (No, Themla and Louise was a tragedy. I want a feel-good movie.) A sort of Buffy & that smart chick from NCIS take on the Illuminati.
- Location:toronto
![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small}
lolcatz has been off from work too, so our household has been filled with games and TV. I'm kind of amazed at how often we can stumble across Back to the Future or Star Wars and watch them like we've never seen them before. I've also had the time to do some of the hobbies I never have time to do: cooking, genealogy, and reading travel books to plan hypothetical non-work vacations. Good times.Since our wedding was small and had no reception,
lolcatz and I have also been celebrating our marriage with family and friends in the form of cake parties. Here's a shot from one we hosted at our house:
Let's zoom in on the cake. One of those tiers is vanilla with a layer of raspberry mousse filling and a layer of passion fruit mousse filling. The other two tiers are chocolate cake with layers of coconut mousse and chocolate mousse.
We ate a mess o' cake that night and then had another party the next day with more cake still. And that, my friends, is why people start to lose their figures during marriage.
Christmas was pretty awesome too. I had brunch with a bunch of friends (and tested my culinary skills by making two dozen scrambled eggs) and then went and saw Sherlock Holmes. Growing up in a time when everything (really--EVERYTHING) was closed, I'm continually enchanted by the fact that I can see movies on Christmas day.
So, that's the rundown. Sorry again for the blog lag, but my next post should make up for it. Why? Because tomorrow I'm taking an epic one-day trip which I will report faithfully on when I get back.
I'm going to Forks, Washington.
You've been warned.
- Location:Living room
- Mood:
chipper
- 14:54 View last moments of 2009 as opportunity to REALLY give myself something to overcome in 2010. I.e., have just eaten my weight in chocolate. #
- 17:10 Just rec'd this fab gift in the mail: tinyurl.com/y8v4kzo BUT I don't know who it's from! (And wld our girl kill such a pretty one?) #
- 19:01 @michellerowen Right? She'd be like, "no really, spider-monkey, maybe YOU should hold on." And then break a few houses. #
It's occasions like this I wish I could grow a beard so I could stroke it as I murmur "Iiiiinteresting."
Of course, a number of bookstores have closed or announced their impending close over the past year or so, which seems to counter Crain's claims of a breakeven with last year, but they're crediting a large number of sales to Amazon's price war with Wal-mart, neither of which is exactly a bookstore.
Yeah. Like this:
You and I got something
But it’s all, and then it’s nothing to me, yeah
And I got my defenses when it comes to your intentions for me, yeah
And we wake up in the breakdown
In the things we never thought we could be, yeah…I’m not the one who broke you
I’m not the one you should fear
We’ve got to move you darling
I thought I lost you somewhere
But you were never really ever there at all… (Goo Goo Dolls)
Yes, I want to get free. But you don’t need to talk to me. I’m done talking. Now I’m moving.
There are hard days and easier days. Today is somewhere in between. But when I’m on the treadmill and running, I find pieces of myself I left behind so I could fit in your cupcake tin. They slide back into place like they were never gone, and I feel more and more like myself. Each day is better as the other physical things migrate out of the house–kind of, I don’t know, like bits of shrapnel leaving a wound.
I’ve made my way out of the cocoon. The wings are dry. I’ve climbed the damn tree I was hanging in.
Now I’m going to fly. I’m scared, and there’s no net…but the worst has already happened, and I’ve not only survived. I’ve just plain thrived. I guess I didn’t need what I thought I did. Lesson learned, I won’t forget it. Ever.
Now I’m gone. Really gone. Gone gone gone.
And it feels good.
Posted from A Fire of Reason. You can also comment there.
And here's what I've done since Christmas Eve:
The Witch's Alphabet
91 / 447 pages. 20% done!
"The Curse of Four"
Things accomplished in fiction: Moved the plot, sewed some backstory and foreshadowing.
Things accomplished in real life: Got through the holiday, got my home loan approved and a closing date set (!!!)
---
I've been doing a lot of reading, too:
30. Richard Kadrey, Sandman Slim
This is without a doubt the best damn urban fantasy I've read this year. It's everything the genre should aspire to be, with none of the bullshit I've come to expect. If I sound like a fangirl, it's because I am. I want to write like this when I grow up.
31. Ed Brubaker and Greg Rucka, Gotham Central: Book One
More great detective fiction comics from two of the best. My mom got me this for Batmas because she's awesome.
32. Caitlin R. Kiernan, The Red Tree
This was really excellent. A horror novel hasn't actually bothered me this much since Heart-Shaped Box. Properly scary, peopled with not one but a host of unreliable narrators, Gothic without being overwrought and making perfect use of New England folklore and mosaic techniques. Thoroughly enjoyable, even if the ending felt a little hurried. Must-read for anyone who enjoys quiet, exquisite, deeply disturbing horror stories.
All right. Time to make the little meters move.
| Originally published at Caitlin Kittredge. |
- One more 750 word writing sprint before I call it a day. #thankyouwriteordie #
- 3000 words today. And all before 2:30. **pats self on back** #
- Almost forgot to post a pic of the sled dogs! #yodabreak yfrog.com/1dwn8vj #
- RT@Amanda_Feral Consider your ass clued! ;) RT@kittyism Happy Hour of the Damned. Why didn't someone clue me to this fabulousness long ago? #
- Just spent an hour and a half cleaning the guest bathroom. Jesus we're pigs. But you could eat ice cream from the base of the toilet now! #
- Returning shit at the mall on. Our way to pick up the elusive @HeatherOsborn. Here's what that looks like...twitgoo.com/aobcj #
- Look not just at the hideous discount cuddle chimp, but also on its banana-nippled baby bottle. Scary. yfrog.com/4aj8dij #
- Sitting in the cell phone lot. Bored. The cutting is about to start. Halp. #
- Damn y'all are up early. Why didn't one of you make the coffee? Ingrates. #
- Oh Noes!! RT @GossipCop: BREAKING - Taylor Swift and Taylor Lautner break up! @GossipCop with details: bit.ly/7oKp93 #
A short but worthwhile post from Lori Perkins who is an agent, an erotica writer, and an e-publisher.
http://agentinthemiddle.blogspot.com/200
What's Selling
Writers always want to know what editors are buying, and I'm happy to report that editors seem to be buying again, although very slowly.
I want to underline that fact - they're buying but at a slower pace, and, often, for less than you might have gotten a year ago.
OK, so what's selling is paranormal romance and young adult fiction. And, as I've said countless times, you can never have too many vampire novels, with zombies following close behind. And don't forget to set those paranormal YA romances during the vampire/zombie apocalypse (seriously).
However, it's become increasingly difficult to sell any genre fiction from a male protagonist's perspective, unless he's really hot. But even if he's a really hot teen vampire, it's better to tell the story from a female point of view. If you have a male character, I'd almost suggest that you change the gender of your main character to sell a novel in this climate.
And as far as erotica goes, it is nearly impossible to sell any sexually explicit material from the male point of view, unless it's gay or M/M.
I have never seen a time in publishing where women's tastes have driven the market. I'm hoping that it produces a whole new crop of books that are unique (and profitable for all).
I submitted to SHIFT HAPPENS to Lori just a few days ago. Let's hope she likes it.
Happy New Year!
- Location:Toronto
Hi Everyone! It’s here! It’s finally here! The book AND the blog tour!
What is the blog tour all about, you ask? Well, hop on over to Gretchen McNeil’s blog and hear all about it. Twenty brief interviews! Twenty days of madness! Twenty chances to enter!
What you need to know: It’s all about me. And my books! And writing in general. Actually, mostly about writing.
What you want to know: You can win a query letter critique from my agent, Holly Root.
Check Gretchen’s post for all the details first!
Then, the Official Blog Tour starts over here at Amy Bai’s journal…
Mirrored from Jill Myles Dot Com.
The e-book enthusiasts are celebrating the increase in e-book sales, and the bookstore huggers are predicting doom and gloom. I shall do neither, not only because both opinions are all over the blogosphere but because this was a one-time spike. Yes, it shows a slow increase in e-book sales, but let's face it, e-book sales will not surpass paper book sales again until... well, probably next December 25.
I do have to wonder, though, what exactly does the term "e-book sale" mean? The kindle e-book bestseller list is dominated by books available for free. According to Galleycat, 64 of the top 100 "bestsellers" are free kindle books. Should these count as bestsellers, if they're available to be downloaded for free? How do the books which are actually being sold for money compete? Wording aside (we'd have the same problem if they changed the label from "bestseller" to "most popular downloads" or something equally neutral sounding), would we rather know the list of books people are most willing to actually pay for, or do we prefer the freebies included in there, too?
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Page Summary
- storm_grant : Linky Goodness [+0]
- irysangel : The blog tour continues! [+0]
- storm_grant : Bye-Bye 2009, Hello 2010 [+0]
![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/community.gif)
genrereviews :: _ocelott_ : In Which I Speak Of Nothing To Do With Books At All [+1] - megancrane : (no subject) [+0]
- blackaire : Edits, evolving process, and background noise [+1]
- lilithsaintcrow : Slow And Steady [+0]
- irysangel : Winners & Blog Tour Continues [+1]
- katiemacalister : Gah [+6]
- mdhenry : All the Blather That's Fit to Print (or blogging shmogging) [+0]
- storm_grant : SHERLOCK HOLMES AND A QUESTION [+30]
- blue_succubus : Long live the blog! [+33]
- megancrane : (no subject) [+0]
- genrereviews :: _ocelott_ : A Little Less Doom [+1]
- lilithsaintcrow : All and then it’s nothing to me, yeah… [+0]
- blackaire : Metric Ton [+0]
- mdhenry : All the Blather That's Fit to Print (or blogging shmogging) [+0]
- storm_grant : What's selling at the moment--I think it's good news, overall [+2]
- irysangel : Release Day Blog Tour! [+5]
- genrereviews :: _ocelott_ : Bestsellers and Freebies [+0]
