Tag Archives: reviews

Jul
19

Camp NeCon or Bust

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Look! Books! I finally got some prints in for Magpie’s Song – most of these are going off to reviewers and whatnot, but I do plan on giving some away, including this weekend over at Camp NeCon! I’m not entirely sure how I will be doing that – maybe just at random, or as part of the panel on Worldbuilding that I’m on.  (Saturday morning at 10 am, yo.) Of course, yes, it is the day before I leave for the con and I haven’t packed yet and I still have so much to do, so yes, I’m blogging instead. (Do I bring Cards Against Humanity? Subversive cross stitches to make and give away? Ack, I don’t know!) But it’s nice to be doing the author con thing again – it’s been at least three years since I’ve been able to manage it and even though this one is smaller,… Read more
Apr
17

Review Advice

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I get a lot of questions sometimes about my writing methods, such as they are. I always feel vaguely uncomfortable answering them because there isn’t any real big secret. The way I do things may not be the way you do things, and there certainly isn’t any sort of magic pill. Except the Ass-In-Chair-Fingers-On-Keyboard sort. Because really, having all the writing rituals in the world isn’t actually going to write your story for you. Rituals are all well and good if they help you get into the proper mindset to work, but if you’re using them as an avoidance technique? That’s no good. (“I can’t write, right now! I don’t have my special candle/footwarmers/chocolate jellybeans, etc.”) But one thing I can say that I don’t do around revision time? Read reviews. Reviews can be a bit of a mindfield at the best of times, particularly on a site like GoodReads… Read more
Feb
1

Vision to the Voice

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I finally wrapped up the first chapter of something new the other night. I let a few people read it and the overall feedback was good, but the more I looked at it, the less happy I was. So…I’m starting it over. Which is odd, because I’m a big fan of at least getting a full draft done before I start mucking with everything (otherwise it’s way too easy to fall into the habit of the constant edit/rewrite. I don’t want to go there.) But I do think a story has a better chance at successfully being told if the “voice” is consistent with the muse. Part of my issue may be because I’ve spent three years in Abby’s head. It’s hard for me not to look at a new story and not see her in there. As much as I love writing her, this isn’t her story or her… Read more
Nov
23

Mini Pre-Turkey Day Updates

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Just a little post today to wish everyone safe travels and a Happy Thanksgiving. (I probably won’t be blogging for a few days – everyone needs a break, right?) But a few small things of note: 1) A Brush of Darkness was listed as one of Vampire Book Club’s Best Books of 2011 – go check it out and leave a comment for a chance to win a copy of it (or one of the other fab books listed. ) 2) All Things Urban Fantasy gives the cover for A Sliver of Shadow two thumbs up. Huzzah! 3) A lovely review of BoD over on Literary Escapism today as well.. I’ve got some swag ordered for SoS – I should have bookmarks and stickers sometime next week, and Darchala is hard at work on the next set of character trading cards, so hopefully those should be done soon. Also –… Read more
Nov
9

Honest

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There’s been a tweet I’ve seen going around the last few weeks telling readers that the best way to thank an author they like is to leave a review for one of their books. Makes a lot of sense, since usually people only tend to review things when they have a negative reaction to it. Happy people are quiet. Angry people will speak up. With the constant lessening of paid publicity available to authors (mid-list in particular), so much of our sales depends on word-of-mouth, so I do agree with this sentiment. (Although, I have found that book lovers as a whole tend to be way more vocal about what they like/don’t like, which is a fabulous thing.) Since the galleys have gone out for A Sliver of Shadow, I’ll admit I’m feeling a bit more nervous about its reception. It’s a different this time around. For A Brush of… Read more