As You Were

I posted over on SFFNovelists.

I would be remiss in my author-ly duties if I did not point out to you that I was asked to do a Christmas post on some of my favourite things in one of my favourite book blogs, and that post is here.

I show myself to be a person of pretty low moral character, willing to commit murder for Megan Whalen Turner and everything.

I also talk about some of my favourite books of the past year and some in the year to come, and discuss the issue of reading books by people you know, which is something that happens more and more often when you do the writer thing.

You meet people! As for instance this small interlude in a cafe the summer before last.

CASSIE: Hi everyone, Sarah's turned up again, oh cupcakes. Sarah, have you met Maureen Johnson?
SARAH: ... Maureen Johnson...
CASSIE: Do you need me to open that bottle for you?
SARAH: ... Maureen Johnson...
MAUREEN: Um. Hi.
SARAH: *hearts in eyes*
MAUREEN: How're you doing?
SARAH: YOU DAZZLE ME.

I like Maureen's books a lot, okay? As you can see from this small bit of conversation, I am always super smooth when I meet awesome people. (There is one Famous and Acclaimed Author I hit in the head with a breakfast pastry. But I will never reveal which one! NEVER.)

But anyway, yes, reading books by people you know - scary, yet reassuring, sometimes like having a conversation with your friend. Sometimes like being DAZZLED by your friend! It is complicated.

Speaking of conversations with one's friends, I was having an interesting one with Justine Larbalestier yesterday.

Now we all know about fictional couples who we want to get together in books. (Mary and Colin from The Secret Garden got married when they grew up. Yes they did. It is a truth! A truth of my heart.)

But what about fictional couples who get together and who we don't believe in? Who you look at together and go 'Nah... it'll never last.' I've got to say, for me Jane Eyre and Rochester, they are going to break up. (Well, probably not given the time they were in, but I don't think they're going to be happy. Because they have a lot of chemistry, but Rochester is a crazy liar, y'all.)

ROCHESTER: Gosh, I have a crazy wife hidden in the attic who occasionally breaks out and sets fires. And I'd like to bigamously marry my governess. You know what this situation needs?
AUDIENCE: ... what?
ROCHESTER: MORE COMPLICATIONS! I think I'll have a house party and have a fake engagement to a third lady. AS WELL as the secret crazy wife. And the bigamous marriage.
AUDIENCE: ... what?
ROCHESTER: You're RIGHT! I'm not giving this a hundred per cent! What if I dress up as a gypsy woman and tell fake fortunes?

I'm just saying, Jane will come home one day and Rochester will have sold the children to pirates.

Justine believes in even fewer couples than I do. Which fictional couples do you guys think are doomed never to last?

It has been in some respects a tough year (though in other respects a truly marvellous and spiffy and amazing year) so I admit I have had a few thoughts about ringing in the changes in some sort of new and excellent way. So I have this page open which lists awesome cheap flights at all times. But, you know, I secretly knew that I was going to be home for New Year's because I hadn't made any proper plans yet.

Then yesterday I saw amazingly inexpensive flights to Boston. But I didn't really plan to go. I planned to consult with sensible friends.

PLANNED CONVERSATION!

SARAH: Should I go to Boston?
HOLLY: No, that seems unwise.
SARAH: You are right, what was I thinking? I am such a ninnyhammer.

ACTUAL CONVERSATION!

SARAH: Should I go to Boston?
HOLLY: Yes, good idea!
SARAH: Can I come see you as well?
HOLLY: Yes, I am very valiant and can put up with you! Bring a mask.
SARAH: ... Why?
HOLLY: I cannot reveal that at this time.
SARAH: WOW I SEEM TO BE ACTUALLY GOING TO BOSTON? I wonder what I will do there! Perhaps I will have an adventure?

I think I will have an adventure, you guys.

I have never been to Boston before! I am going to take notes on it for Secret Reasons. Can you, oh wise internet, tell me awesome things to do in Boston?

So my lovely people, I hope you are having an awesome run-up to Christmas! I also hope you will tell me awesome things to do in Boston, tell me about fictional couples you think are doomed, and most of all that you will like the Extra Christmas Bonus Excerpt of Demon's Covenant in my BookSmugglers post. (Oh, Nick. Of all the tall dark heroes in the world, you have the distinction of being the least charming of them all...)

You will have to excuse me, you guys. It feels weird and awesome to have a cover for The Demon's Covenant to show you all. The new book, my brain is rejoicing. I get to have more than one! (My brain can be a little slow.)

Anyway, so: this is the UK cover for The Demon's Covenant. And I love eeet.

My publishers are so good, y'all. Because they are very kind to me, and because my UK covers are drawn and not photographic, I kept emailing them and saying 'Oh, could we have - could we change - could we fix-' and now I have this cover and they did not hire ninja assassins to come kill me with poison darts even once.

The title is going to be SILVER and it's going to be even more beautiful when it is REAL but for now - look, there's my girl! And I love it. I hope you love it too!

( The Demon's Covenant UK Cover )

I am working hard. Thus, posting has fallen by the wayside.

Herewith a few links.

David B. Coe posts about
The Ideal Writer.

1. The Ideal Writer hits his deadlines.

Ulp. Anyway, very good post.


via rwglaub: Back from combat, women struggle for acceptance. (I note that this article is in the Marine Corps Times, so this is coming from within.)

“We just want to know that when we come home, America has our back,” Chase said. “That’s the biggest thing. Women are over there. You want to feel like you’re coming home to open arms, rather than to a public that doesn’t acknowledge you for what you’ve just done and what you just sacrificed.”


On a more triumphant note, the Honolulu Marathon was run yesterday, with 20,609 starting and 20,321 finishing (pretty good, eh?). A long article on the male race, but also a long article on the female race, won by Svetlana Zakharova, which I was pleased to see. The top female finisher came in 10th overall (amazing, yeah?). But even better, the level of camaraderie among marathoners, the particulars and details of how one runs a race, and how people help each other out--and, in this case, the respect being shown by elite male athletes to the elite female athletes, really struck me:

While most marathon drama happens late in the race, this one developed early in the dark. Yuko Manabe, the Japanese pacesetter, winced and grabbed her sides, and dropped out three miles into the race that started at 5 a.m. Manabe, who led the pack of five female runners, was to set the pace for Shimahara. Her premature departure forced Shimahara to temporarily lead the pack, but a group of male runners took turns running with the group and set the pace for them. Ironically, the pace increased after Manabe dropped out, and Shimahara said she was able to key off the men.

"She fell off so quickly at 5k, (I) had to then switch over and just run (my) own pace rather than that of a pacemaker," Shimahara said.
. . . . Shimahara said she knew Zakharova's move at 30k was coming, but couldn't go with her. Coming into the race, the biggest question surrounding Shimahara was her condition. Yesterday was her fourth marathon of the year and third since August. She said she was not fatigued from all the racing, but just wasn't strong enough to move with Zakharova.

"I just had a marathon one month ago and this felt more like it was going to be a challenge," Shimahara said. "I did come here aiming to win the race, but I consider it more of a challenge. It's the shortest gap I've ever had between two marathons."

Zakharova continued to push alongside Yasukazu Miyazato of Japan, one of the male runners who had been running with the women's group earlier. By the time she was running through Kahala in mile 22, her lead over Shimahara increased to about 200 meters.

Zakharova had 5:40 splits for the next few miles, running alongside Miyazato. He even offered her a sponge at the 24th-mile water station.

Miyazato also finished in 2:28:34.

If you're still scratching your head in search of ideas for holiday gifts, Paul DiFillippo has his top 5 speculative fiction picks for the year up at the B&N review.

For more book ideas, and not necessarily just new releases, check out the various writers who are providing lists of the books they've read this past year at The Millions. You can get ideas from the likes of Rick Moody, Elizabeth Kostova, Kate Christensen, and Maud Newton, plus many more. I think it's a fun way of trying to find books that might appeal to various readers in your life; figure out which writer has some overlapping interests with the person you're purchasing for and then check out what else they've enjoyed.

Last but not least, if you're looking for intelligent reading choices for the young adults in your life, I highly recommend Colleen Mondor's blog, Chasing Ray. Her "What a Girl Wants" series in particular is a great source of ideas. For boys, check out the Guys Lit Wire blog, where they are particularly diligent about finding great books that appeal to teenage boys.

Happy shopping!

It's the last full work week before Christmas, so we at The Knight Agency are celebrating every day over at the TKA blog. We have special guest bloggers and giveaways each day, plus on Thursday, December 17th, we'll be having our Cyber Holiday Party in the agency chat room starting at 9pm ET/ 6pm PT. All are welcome to drop by for some virtual egg nog, lots of chatting, and some fabulous prizes. Check out the blog here for complete details, and don't forget to check out each day's guest blogger as well, starting with today's guest, author Carol Berg.

So I worry about presents.

I used to worry about presents so much that I had to get them out of the way early. In the July sales, you would see little Sarah with her bowl haircut, solemnly shopping for Christmas presents. Had I waited for winter, I would have gone into a spiral of agony and self-doubt.

Much taller Sarah with much longer hair, i.e. me of the present day, does not have the organisational skills or the storage space to shop for Christmas presents in July. But I do generally spend November and December making anxious calls.

SARAH: Why can't you just tell me what you want! Anything! I'll buy you anything!
MY LITTLE BROTHER SAUL: Oh. Hmm. I'll have a... Well now. Okay. Give me a moment. Maybe-
SARAH: Yes? YES?
SAUL: Maybe I'll have to call you back.
MY LITTLE SISTER GENEVIEVE: But I've told you what I want. I keep telling you what I want.
SARAH: No, you haven't.
GENEVIEVE: I want a Team Jacob hoodie.
SARAH: I don't know why I keep forgetting that.
GENEVIEVE: If it's because you're Team Edward, you are NOT WELCOME HOME this Christmas.

My sister the ingrate aside, I had a much more important present to give out this year.

Obviously, all those who have read my book are my most favourite people in the world. This only makes sense. My most favourite people in the world deserve presents. Also very logical!

However I cannot find them all and ask for their addresses. So clearly a story present, then.

But! I worried to myself. When would be a good time to give them the story present? Obviously not on Christmas Day, as people would have better things to do than reading internet presents, like unwrapping their real presents and going 'A titanium suit of armour with inbuilt time-travel device! Awesome!' So I asked twitter, and they seemed to feel the thirteenth was a good day.

Today is the thirteenth.

So, this is a present for those who have already read The Demon's Lexicon: it is set eleven years before the book, but there are hints of things to come. So if someone hasn't read the book and hates spoilers, probably best to avoid. If one doesn't mind them and is minded to try the story (with a view to later reading The Demon's Lexicon and thus achieving the status of one of my most favourite people in the world) then they may go right ahead!

Should you guys like it, spread it 'round: I would like everyone who might enjoy it to read it, so my present reaches all those who want it.

And in Christmas and Demon's Lexicon news, people in the UK might be interested to know there is a Demon's Lexicon fan meet-up in London going on. I won't be there, but I will be sending presents!

For now, though, this present is for everyone.

And it comes with an illustration: the illustration is done by Entropy_Incarnate and not specifically for this story, but it does show the main characters as kids and thus I feel is appropriate!

( Tiny Baby Cuteness! With Knives )

This one's for my most favourite people in the world. I very much hope you enjoy it.

Nick's First Word: A Christmas Story.

I call this a Christmas Cookie, but of course, it is not yet Christmas and of course it is not my present to you all!

My present to you all is a short story called Nick's First Word and I have sent it off to my web designer, so it should be up some time between now and Christmas, and I hope you will enjoy it! But this is not that story.

Since I put up the first chapter last month on this day, it has become Official Cookie Day, and thus you are due a cookie.

I chose this bit of The Demon's Covenant because it has lots of Nick in it, and chapter one cruelly deprived those who like that sort of thing. Feedback on what sort of thing you wish for in Cookies of the Future much desired.

Major, huge, world-ending spoilers for Demon's Lexicon within.

( Christmas Cookie for The Demon's Covenant )

I am so happy to announce that The Knight Agency authors have made a fabulous showing in this year's Romantic Times BookReview Awards nominations. We have several cited for career achievement and a whole slew nominated in the Reviewers' Choice categories. The whole TKA list is up at the agency blog, but I have to offer a few shout outs for my own clients here:

Nalini Singh is nominated in the Best Urban Fantasy category for Best Urban Fantasy Protagonist for ANGELS' BLOOD and is also nominated in the Best Contemporary and Paranormal Romance category for Paranormal Action Adventure Romance for BRANDED BY FIRE.

Next up is Shannon K. Butcher, also with two nominations. Shannon's BURNING ALIVE, the debut volume in her Sentinel Wars series, is also up for Best Paranormal Action Adventure Romance, and her romantic suspense, LOVE YOU TO DEATH, is nominated in the Best Romantic Suspense/Ingrigue Novels category under Romantic Intrigue.

Congratulations, ladies, and to all the other nominees as well!

iPhone application 'Forget Me Not'

In my previous blog post I discussed Locke's CommonPlace book and information overload in the 16th century. Now, my attention turns to what we use today.

Whilst Google manages our common knowledge extremely well, it does not help us remember the most basic and arguably important data for success, people's names.

Dale Carnegie, in his infamous book, How to Make Friends and Influence People, said that "a man's name is to him the sweetest and most important sound in any language". He gives an example of a useful strategy to remember people:

Whenever he met a new acquaintance, he found out his complete name, the size of his family, the nature of his business and the color of his political opinions. He got all these facts well in mind as part of the picture, and the next time he met that man, even if it was a year later, he was able to slap him on the back, inquire after the wife and kids, and ask him about the hollyhocks in the backyard. No wonder he developed a following! [1]

The new iPhone application Forget Me Not is designed to merge Google's search functionality with the Dale Carnegie's recommendation. What I find particularly interesting about this application, are the clue recommendations:


Clue Helper screen capture from Forget Me Not

These recommendations suggest that the 21st century iPhone user is just as interested in business connections as they were in 1936, but they no longer prioritize a person's core, such as their family or values (i.e. political opinion). I can't help but feel that remembering a person's sport's team is going to make less of an impression than remembering the name of a person's child.

Does this reflect the nature of conversation amongst strangers today, particularly those preoccupied with mobile phones? Do we converse about our sport or club affiliations more than we discuss the controversial, global issues that face the world? What sort of question do you ask of someone you just met to make a good impression?

On the mnemonic side, taking the time to record details of the location you met someone is a great way to jog memories of the person. Combining spatio-temporal information and facial features is likely to enhance subsequent remembering.

Forget Me Not, would surely be ideal to utilize when attending a professional conference. You could record a person's name, their field of study, their philosophical views and so forth. Probably asking about their family will yield better networking for further occasions.

I admit that I'm struck by the degree of alien interaction that occurs at philosophy conferences. Fellow philosophers might not discuss Britney Spears or the Mets, but they often come up and talk to you by blathering about this or that argument without ever really engaging with you on a personal level. This goes for both sexes, although I'm sure female philosophers feel under pressure to avoid as much 'small talk' as possible to appear intelligent. This is yet another arena where social intelligence is ignored for the glory of analytic capacity.

Anyway, I've bought the application. I'll let you know how it goes. :)

UPDATE: This application focuses on what is memorable, memory-hooks, but not what is strategic to remember about a person.

References

Carnegie, D. (1936) How to Win Friends and Influence People. New York: Simon and Schuster. 74.

First, thanks for all the recs.

Second, I've been really really busy, thus the general radio silence. Busy continues apace (revisions under hard deadline and of course December which is always busy for other reasons).

Third, for those of you looking for a unique, inexpensive, but TOTALLY AWESOME present for that child in your life, here's a great little coloring book, Onoraptor Makes a Friend, now available on Etsy.

EAT: link edited to new stock (old link became "sold out")

Okay. I have some ideas of my own, but I want to throw this open.

I need recs for a fantasy novel for someone who loves both Lord of the Rings and Twilight. It can be the beginning of a series, or a standalone. it can be YA, adult, or whatever (oh, these labels, I do not like them so much even though I know they are in some ways useful). It can have been published last month or twenty years ago, etc.

The salient point is that it must not be too deep genre (for an example, Steven Erikson's Malazan book of the Fallen is right out, as is Glen Cook, much as I value both those writers), and it must fit the parameters of someone who likes LotR & Twilight. This is for a college student, so middle grade fantasy is not quite what I am looking for.

Thanks in advance. I can't wait to see what you guys come up with!

FYI: this will be the third book in a three book set being given as a gift. #1 is A Wizard of Earthsea by Le Guin, and #2 is Daggerspell by Katharine Kerr.