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What I'm Reading
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May. 3rd, 2008 @ 11:38 am
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I checked out some books that have hit at least one Best of the Year lists. Overall, I'm amazed, as ever, how different people's perceptions are. Feel free to argue with me; I'd really like to hear other opinions.
Thirteen, by Richard Morgan. Man, can he write. I just love a book with the kind of finesse Morgan brings to the page. However this plot seemed to fall apart in the middle. The story switches gears and the things you thought you cared about become irrelevant or torn away. That was disappointing, but his writing remained strong.
Shelter by Susan Palwick. A future where consciousness can be downloaded. A thoughtful, indirect book--normally qualities I like, but this one moved so slowly that I found my interest waning.
Water For Elephants by Sara Gruen. Delightful, easy read with a fascinating glimpse of a 1930s circus. This shows the power of a rich and unusual setting. I also loved how she handled the scenes with the retired circus guy in the rest home. What an excellent book.
Ilario by Mary Gentle. The story of a hermaphrodite I think I'll look for other work by Gentle. But the plot of this one just didn''t grab me after the middle of the book when I kept putting it aside. After some fascinating events in the first half, the remainder of the book coasts, it seems, in readiness to deliver some resolutions in Book Two.
Catching up on older books that I hadn't got around to reading yet:
A Great Deliverance by Elizabeth George. Immensely entertaining and smart writing. Most of the fun is in the relationships of the Scotland Yard folks, never mind the murder.
The Maker of Universes, Book One in the World of Tiers by Philip Jose Farmer. Um. I know it's a classic, but this one is so dated. I had to read it, because aspects of my new series are being compared to World of Tiers. I now understand how hard it is to do something unique, since it appears that I unwittingly stole quite a few ideas from World of Tiers, without ever having read a word of it!
Aegypt by John Crowley. Largely impenetrable. Some amazing writing, though. I have to say that I didn't enjoy it much, because I was constantly annoyed about being lost.
And in the books-by-friends category:
Airs and Graces by Toby Bishop. I really liked the first book in this fantasy series about the Academy of the Air, teaching young women to master the winged horses of Oc. But I loved the second book. Toby Bishop, of course, is Louise Marley, and her fine wordsmithing is a voice I think I could pick out of a crowd. Highly recommended.
Kay's Website
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Interview on Pat's Fantasy Hotlist
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Apr. 19th, 2008 @ 07:26 pm
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Patrick of Pat's Fantasy Hotlist website and Rob Bedford of SFFWorld.Com teamed up to interview me about my latest book, A World Too Near. It's posted now on Pat's Fantasy Hotlist (see April 17 entry) and soon, on SFFWorld.Com.
Kay's Website
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Pointless and Possibly Cosmic Stuff About Me
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Apr. 18th, 2008 @ 10:07 am
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Questions taken from Hornswoggler the Great Antimucker.
1. What is in the backseat of your car right now?
A toner cartridge ready to be shipped back for recycle. Two empty polycarbonate/BPA water bottles that will contribute to changes in animal hormonal systems.
2.When was the last time you threw up?
Last October in the parking garage of Swedish Hospital when being wheeled out to the car after a surgery.
3.What's your favorite curse word?
Unimaginatively, I guess it's the F word.
4.Name 3 people who made you smile today.
My husband leaving on a trip (but not because he left.) It's too early for me to have seen anybody else today.
5.What were you doing at 8:00 a.m. today?
Picking up the house to get ready for the housecleaner.
6.What were you doing 30 minutes ago?
Reading my interview as posted on Pat's Fantasy Hotlist.
7.What will you be doing 3 hours from now?
Working on a short story that has the word polycarbonate/BPA in it.
8. Have you ever been to a strip club?
No.
9. What is the last thing you said aloud?
"I know you hate it." Said to my cat about this week's $5000 remodel of his favorite room.
10. What is the best ice cream flavor?
Pralines 'n Cream.
11. What is the last thing you had to drink.
Have decaf coffee with cream.
12. What are you wearing right now?
Um. Well, what you can see is: Lime green velour sweater, beige polyester/spandex slacks, sandals.
13. What was the last thing you ate?
A piece of toast.
14. Have you bought any new clothing items this week?
A golf shirt.
15. When was the last time you ran?
About six weeks ago when a rain squall came through and I was taking a walk, but figured if I ran I could get home before becoming drenched. I think running in the rain gets you wetter.
16. What is the last sporting event you watched?
The superbowl.
What happened to 17?
Eaten by my cat when it tried to crawl away.
18. Who is the last person you emailed?
Patrick at Pat's Fantasy Hotlist to ask him to correct "bind-bending" to "mind-bending." So much for spell check.
19. Ever go camping?
Yup. Big backpack expeditions into the mountains got replaced by car-camping, and then by hotels that for some reason never use fitted sheet on the bottom.
20. Do you have a tan?
Try not to, but can't help it. I'm outdoors a lot and it's very sunny in Eastern WA.
OK, now what happened to 21, 22, and 23?
Eaten by the great internet maw, that voracious time-eater that is making havoc of my morning.
24. Do you drink soda from a straw?
Once only, when acting in "Our Town" in high school.
25. What did your last IM say.
I swore off IM, so don't remember.
26. Are you someone's best friend?
Used to be.
27. What are you doing tomorrow?
Cook a pork roast, spend time with friends visiting from over the mountains (Seattle.)
28. Where is your mom right now?
Oh, that is too sad.
29. Look to your left, what do you see?
The back of my living room couch, with a big sag in it where my cat has worn a depression in it. Beyond, out the window, a big rhody, a line of arbor vitae trees all moving in a stiff breeze. Bright blue skies.
30. What color is your watch?
Silver.
31. What do you think of when you think of Australia?
Drunks and crocodiles.
32. Would you consider plastic surgery?
Do I need it, is that what you're saying? But no.
33. What is your birthstone?
Ruby.
34. Do you go in at fast food joints, or just hit the drive through?
Good idea.
35. How many kids do you want?
For what?
36. Do you have a dog?
Do they still stink when they're wet?
37. The last person you talked to on the phone.
A volunteer for Write on the River.
38. Have you met anyone famous?
Other than writers, no. But I had a taco next to the table where Tim Allen was sitting in Sante Fe a couple years ago. On that same trip I drove through a small town where there were filming a movie, and I saw a director's chair with John Travolta's name stenciled on it. Do these things count?
39. Any plans today?
Must write! Grocery shop. Watch junk TV while husband is gone.
40. How many states have you lived in?
Five: Minnesota, Wisconsin, Georgia (don't ask), Colorado and Washington (currently.)
41. Ever go to college?
Sure, a bunch of times. Started masters degrees in both English Lit and Urban Planning.
42. Where are you right now?
On my couch in my living room.
43. Biggest annoyance in your life right now.
Politics as soap opera.
44. Last song listened to:
Sugar Baby, Bob Dylan.
46. Are you allergic to anything?
Something in the air on April evenings.
47. Favorite pair of shoes you wear all the time.
Espadrilles I bought in Spain.
48. Are you jealous of anyone?
Yes.
50. Is anyone jealous of you?
Only those who don't know me well.
51. What time is it?
11:16
52. Do any of your friends have children?
Yes.
53. Do you eat healthy?
I try not to be obsessed with food. I cook from scratch, that's about my only rule.
54. What do you usually do during the day?
Write, garden, write, work on conference, write, read.
55. Do you hate anyone right now?
Nope.
56. Do you use the word "hello" daily?
Does "hi" count? Yup, I'll bet I do, but sometimes it's typed.
58. How old will you be turning on your next birthday?
The cat ate my homework.
59. Have you ever been to Six Flags?
What?
60. How did you get one of your scars?
Bit of a scar on my forehead. In high school I drove into a tree driving too fast.
Kay's website
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U Bookstore Thoughts
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Apr. 16th, 2008 @ 01:07 pm
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I got over to the big city last week. Yup, a bookstore signing in Seattle. When you've been on the rural side of the mountains and drive into Seattle, it is strange how, um, big the place looks. All that concrete, oh my. But it also has a marvelous cadre of sf/f writers and readers, one of the main reasons I go back.
Duane Wilkins hosted Louise Marley (![[info]](http://p-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif) lmarley ), Alma Alexander, and myself at the University Book Store, and we read from our new books, ate Louise's brownies, and signed a bunch of books. The place was filled, so we were happy, and I'm pretty sure Duane was happy. Got to keep Duane happy. What would the Seattle SF scene be without him? He must never leave the U. Book Store. I hope they're paying him heaps of money; but, if not, remember to make him brownies when you have a signing.
Last Seattle comment: Needed a new pair of shoes. Went to a big Nordstrom's. There were, like, a million kinds of shoes: strappy, clunky, leather, rope, suede, sequined, flat, heeled, pointy, and trimmed in alligator. It was very cool, and also a bit horrifying. Similar to the bizarre hyper menus for ordering espresso. Is there no end to the parade of merchandise and the assault on the mind (not to mention pocket book) of all that Stuff?
But you should see my EXcellent heels trimmed in faux lizard!
Kay's Website
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See you in the Twin Cities
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Mar. 31st, 2008 @ 04:13 pm
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Happy to announce that I'll be going to the Twin Cities in Minnesota next year as Guest of Honor for Diversicon. The con will be held July 31-August 2, 2009. Right, not this year. Next year. This is a con I haven't been to yet, despite the fact that I was raised in Minnesota. It'll be fun to return to my old stomping grounds. Looking forward!
Kay"s Website
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| » My Series on Audiobooks |
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Very jazzed to report that the four books of The Entire and The Rose will soon be available for digital download from Audible. They may also offer CDs and audio cassettes. Audible is eager to get Bright of the Sky and A World Too Near out there, so I presume no long delays. Books three and four will be available at Audible.com simultaneous with the hardcover publication, which, in the case of City Without End, will be February, 2009.
I'll announce here when they're up on Audible.com.
Kay's Website
Mar. 27th, 2008 @ 02:57 pm
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| » New Interview |
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For my home-town launch of A World Too Near, here is an interview that Jefferson Robbins of the Wenatchee World did with me.
Kay's Website
Mar. 24th, 2008 @ 01:24 pm
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| » Pod Promo |
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Here's a cool thing: I have a 60 second promo for Bright of the Sky on a podcast. Shaun Farrell of Adventures in Scifi Publishing put together a terrific promo with music, and I'll be reaching 3,000 to 7,000 listeners with it. This time the promo is with episode 46, one that features an interview with Timothy Zahn. I think Shaun did a terrific job on the promo, and it was fun to hear it. And Adventures in Scfi Publishing is a little gem of a site, if you haven't yet discovered it!
Kay's Website
Mar. 23rd, 2008 @ 05:52 pm
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| » OmegaCon '08 |
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Just got back from OmegaCon in Birmingham, AL. A bunch of attendees told me they were thrilled to have a con of this size in their backyard. The con staff went out of their way to help authors when things went awry, as was maybe inevitable for the first try. So again, thanks to all the volunteers for hard work.
This and that: Books-A-Million brought, um, a million or so books into the dealers room. I hung out with Louise's old band (see below--man can that lady sing) and met David Drake, David Webber, Steven Brust--all fun. Mike Resnick collected on the backrub I owed him. Also saw my editor--Pyr's Lou Anders--in his home stomping grounds. A good time. He was very fun on a panel on horror stories from the publishing world.
Note: It is almost impossible to get to and from Birmingham from where I live. It took well over 12 hours to get from the con to Seattle, and then I still had a snowy mountain pass to go over. Home now, cat on lap while blogging. All is well.
Launched A World Too Near at OmegaCon.
Louise Marley performing with Earthwood.
Mike Resnick at the Pyr dinner.
Kay's Website
Mar. 17th, 2008 @ 04:57 pm
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| » Desert Gets Bling |
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Just returned from the desert near Palm Springs. I managed to tuck in a con in San Diego, see relatives, and have a week at golf and hiking. The Anza Borrego State Park has had a phenomenal 9 inches of rain in the past year, much of it this spring. Result: an explosion of wildflowers that was just getting started when Tom and I were down there. They say this is the beginning of a big show, of the sort that is seen only in the deserts of Nevada and California as well as Namibia and Western Austalia. I ain't no nature photographer, but here are some pics, inlcuding of my son Matt and a coyote that came about twenty feet from us. (Hope you can tell the difference.)
Mar. 9th, 2008 @ 03:15 pm
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| » Giving Away My Books |
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Do you feel lucky? In conjunction with Pyr, two websites are hosting giveaways of Bright of the Sky and A World Too Near. Check out these great review sites, and follow the sign-up rules. The first is Fantasy Book Critic giving away two sets of both books (giveaway ends March 25), and the second is Pat's Fantasy Hotlist, giving away three copies of A World Too Near.
Kay's Website
Mar. 6th, 2008 @ 08:48 pm
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| » More of Near |
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Pyr has the the opening of A World Too Near up on their website (pages that can be downloaded as a pdf file), with a cool banner treatment. Nice job, Lou! This is about 40 pages more than I'm offering on my website. Warning: Ya know this is a series of four, right? A World Too Near is Book Two, and therein lie big spoilers. Here are the first 60 pages. Book One, of course, is Bright of the Sky.
Kay's website
Mar. 6th, 2008 @ 08:37 am
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| » Report From Condor |
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Here I am in my secret get-away in the So Cal desert, where I've been hiking around with Thomas taking in the spectacular wild flower blooms after the recent desert rains.
But that's not my report from Condor. This is:
Condor in San Diego came off with what I expect is their usual flair, with a good attendance (um, I would guess 350?) and great fun from the theme: Death and Beyond. We got to talk about dying, and pretending to die, and dying metaphorically, and rebirth (with all those connotations) and how life can continue without the body. Timothy Zahn made a smart and engaging GoH, and David Brin held forth on the glories of humanism as opposed to life-after-death-ism. I have pictures, but forgot my memory card reader, so you'll just have to wait. Caught up with Sheila Finch, Eldon Thompson, and the good folks at Mysterious Galaxy Bookstore.
Spent some time talking books and industry stuff with the exceptionally talented Shaun Ferrell of the podcast Adventures In Scifi Publishing, and also with Gary Babb, who's up to his ears in OmegaCon, helping that brand new con get off the ground. Or should I say blasting? It has 10,000 people registered so far. March 14-16, folks. More later.
Kay's Website
Mar. 3rd, 2008 @ 06:04 pm
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| » City Without End Wins Silver Spectrum Award |
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Here is the "freaking gorgeous" cover artwork (as one reader put it) for City Without End, next year's third book in my series, The Entire and The Rose. For this cover, Stephan Martiniere has just won the Silver Spectrum award, novel category. This cover may surpass the covers he's already done for The Entire and The Rose--and that's after I thought he'd already created the ultimate knock-out covers for Bright of the Sky and A World Too Near! (To see these covers, click here.)
I am enormously grateful to Stephan Martiniere for so gloriously capturing the world of the Entire, and lavishing his amazing talent on my stories.
Since I don't seem to be able quite yet to negotiate LJ renditions of these kinds of files, I urge you to take a look at this cover on Pyr's blog.
Kay's Website
Feb. 28th, 2008 @ 12:52 pm
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| » The Non-Themed SF Anthologies |
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This year two of my short stories will appear in publications that are a vanishing breed: the non-themed original science fiction anthology. The first just came out, George Mann's The Solaris Book of New Science Fiction, Volume Two, with Lou Anders' Fast Forward Two to be released this fall. Solaris is a UK publisher of science fiction, fantasy, and dark fantasy.
As George Mann points out in his introduction to this second volume, most anthologies these days are themed or, if not, are reprint anthologies. He quotes James Sallis of "The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction" who noted in his review of Mann's first anthology in the series that there may be a resurgence of interest in this "new breed of original anthology." Let's hope George Mann and Lou Anders are catching a wave.
I've read about half the stories and the book is, in Mann's words, "feeding my addiction." I have especially enjoyed the tales iCity by Paul Di Filippo and Sunworld by Eric Brown for their concept-driven magic.
Kay's Website
Feb. 27th, 2008 @ 06:54 am
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| » ConDor On Its Way |
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Heading off to a new con on Friday. This one in San Diego. I like the theme: Death and Beyond. They've got some great programming centering around dying and heroism and the technology of immortality. Timothy Zahn is the GoH, and among others attending will be David Brin and Vernor Vinge.
Cool masthead, too!
Kay's website
Feb. 25th, 2008 @ 11:12 am
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| » A World Too Near Arrives! |
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Thrilled to announce that A World Too Near is now in stock at Amazon! (And signed copies can be shipped from A Book For All Seasons.) A World Too Near is Book Two of the series that began with Bright of the Sky. It has received a starred review in Publishers Weekly, and was described by Booklist as a story of "Intense action," with the world "a vibrant, fascinating place."
A peek at the plot: Titus Quinn is chased by his past. He's done things people hate him for. (Those of you who've read Book One know what I mean.) In A World Too Near he comes back to The Entire--a place of terror and wonder--a universe that tunnels through our own. He wants to redeem himself, but what he'll be asked to do cannot be done: to bring down the ancient fortress of Ahnenhoon. After all, it was built by the masters of the universe. And someone he loves dearly is held captive there. He has to choose. The dilemma is enough to make you believe in the Miserable God of the Entire. But Titus does win a prize. It's just not the one he was expecting.
To start at the beginning of the series, Bright of the Sky is now available in trade paper format.
Kay's website
Feb. 19th, 2008 @ 04:34 pm
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| » RadCon At Its Toxic Best |
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Those of you who thought you knew RadCon in Washington's Tri Cities, think again. This weekend just past it had a few people short of 2,000. Harry Turtledove was the writer GoH, and the whole deal was smoothly run by Bob Brown and crew. A good time, and no fire alarms went off in the middle of the night.
Why, you might ask, is RadCon toxic? Because they want to be. They are celebrating the Hanford nuclear reservation and Richland (one of the tri in Tri Cities) --the city with the most PhD's per capita in the nation, and the sheer grit of local fans who are not afraid to hoist a tot of toxic waste in celebration of science fiction. Bring it on. And hey, city folk, suck it up and get in the spirit! You, too, have a chance to win the John Dalmas award, but no sissies, you hear?
The big news in Eastern Washington (aside from the fact that former Tri Cities native Patty Briggs is regularly hitting the NY Times best seller list,) is that a new con is coming to our neck of the woods. SpoCon. That's right, those that have mourned the passing of InCon, take heart! Now there'll be two E. WA sf/f cons.
Patty Briggs and me
Brenda Cooper
Janna Silverstein
Bob Brown and the Secret Squirrel Con-Com
Kay and Alma Alexander at the book signing
Kay's website
Feb. 18th, 2008 @ 11:25 am
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| » How to Promote Your Favorite Author |
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Got some great laughs out of David Edelman's post on how to keep your favorite author prospering (or at least not vanishing.) Includes the surprising facts about The Rules for moving your author's books around in bookstores. For those of you who thought no one knew you were doing this, think again!
Kay's Website
Feb. 15th, 2008 @ 11:19 am
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| » Writing contests |
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In front of me is a stack of writing contest entries. I look at this pile of letters and emails and feel a jolt of nostalgia. My career started with a literary contest, and now our local writing conference is giving new writers that same chance. It gives me pause to remember how it felt to write alone, hoard my manuscripts, and wonder what is the point, and is this stuff any good?
I won a novel contest in a big conference (PNWA) some years ago... geez, a lot of years ago now, and in the audience for the awards ceremony was someone named Don Maass. The next day I pitched him on The Seeds of Time, and he offered representation. That book launched my career. He's been my staunch supporter and adviser (and agent) ever since.
Write on the River is a small conference with a modest contest Entries must, in a 1,000 words or less, finish the sentence "On the river . . ." The contest (closed now) will have winners announced in May, and the winning entry published in the Wenatchee World. Thanks to hardworking Write on the River organizers Penny Smith and Susan Lagsden for putting this all together.
I pat the nice-sized stack of envelopes sitting in front of me. I hope someone in there will take heart from a small win and keep writing.
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Unrelated item: Locus on Line has listed their best of the best, tallying number of lists last year's books got onto. (Gee, is this like double counting?) Bright of the Sky is in the list. Topping off the list are titles I guess I'd better read, staring with Dan Simmons' The Terror.
Kay's Website
Feb. 14th, 2008 @ 09:18 am
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