Katrina (Kindred Dreamheart) wrote: "Thanks so much for friending me! *checking out that "Lexical Funk" preview now*"

That makes me happy.

Thanks so much for friending me! *checking out that "Lexical Funk" preview now*

Thanks James. If for some reason you don't win a copy, there is an extensive preview of the book on GR.

James wrote: "Thank you for the friend request.

You're book 'The Lexical Funk' looks very intriguing! I can't wait to read through it all, keep up the good work! After that I'll have definitely have to be on ..."

Thank you for the friend request.

You're book 'The Lexical Funk' looks very intriguing! I can't wait to read through it all, keep up the good work! After that I'll have definitely have to be on the lookout for 'Ghosts of Nagasaki'.

Amanda wrote: "Thanks for the friend request.
i am posting to let you know that you've successfully answered my challenge question :D"

Arrrr, there be pieces of eight to be had through digital friendship, arrrrghhhh.

How was that?
:)

Thanks for the friend request.
i am posting to let you know that you've successfully answered my challenge question :D

Aerin wrote: "Thanks for the add, it's nice to meet you - we've got the same birthday. :)"

Hey Aerin, I love it. It's these happy coincidences that make me think life is not as random as it first appears. If you know of any indy GR writers that are deserving of exposure, let me know. I love finding new authors, especially if they are active on GR.

Ajeng wrote: "We're friends! Hello from an Indonesian living in The Netherlands :)"

Ajeng, Hello from an American living in Japan. I've always wanted to visit Indonesia some day. I can't to see more of your reviews and chat with you more on GR.

We're friends! Hello from an Indonesian living in The Netherlands :)

Thanks for the add, it's nice to meet you - we've got the same birthday. :)

Shawnee wrote: "Hi Daniel,
You asked my opinion on You Shall Know Our Velocity. First you should know I listened to it on audio- which can sometimes have an affect on the experience. However, my opinion is that i..."

Well, I think that's about all you could ask for from a Dave Eggers book, I suppose. I'll add the book to my to-read list. But I think I may consider reading What is the What first. Cheers on the recommendation Shawnee.

Aloha wrote: "Hi Daniel, thank you for the friending! I heard a lot about PKD's VALIS, which is supposed to be autobiographical."

Aloha, I read VALIS at a time when I needed a novel to be earth-shaking. The book did not disappoint. I don't want to give anything away, but yes, PKD puts himself in the book. I think if you read the first chapter, you'll be hooked like I was. Alas, I have not ready much PKD lately. For some reason, I've been hooked on reading business management books--I'm not sure how that came about.

Hi Daniel, thank you for the friending! I heard a lot about PKD's VALIS, which is supposed to be autobiographical.

Hi Daniel,
You asked my opinion on You Shall Know Our Velocity. First you should know I listened to it on audio- which can sometimes have an affect on the experience. However, my opinion is that in this case it probably wouldn't. I enjoy Eggers because of his quirkyness and I found myself laughing out loud a few times while listening to this book. However, there were times that I was a bit lost when the main character would have an internal conversation with himself- they tended to come up randomly and out of the blue. I also found the ending to be quite strange. Of course I have to remember this is Eggers,right? My conclusion, I think it is worth the read, it's just to funny and wierd to pass up. I enjoyed Heartbreaking Work more but if you enjoy Eggers then give Velocity a try.

Daniel wrote: "Cheryl wrote: "Thanks for the friend request, Daniel."

You're welcome. I'd love to exchange notes on book promotion sometime if you're up for it. I'm in the middle of writing a marketing plan for ..."

That would be great. I'm still relatively new at this publishing game so I'm not sure how much help I can be at giving promotion tips. But, we can certainly exchange notes.

Cheryl wrote: "Thanks for the friend request, Daniel."

You're welcome. I'd love to exchange notes on book promotion sometime if you're up for it. I'm in the middle of writing a marketing plan for my next book right now.

Thanks for the friend request, Daniel.

Southern Fried Britt wrote: "Yes, it is a picture of Daria! I love her to pieces. Hi, Daniel! For some reason, your name sounds so familiar."

Entirely possible that we've met either in this universe or in another. Maybe another discussion board, or perhaps on Librarything.

Yes, it is a picture of Daria! I love her to pieces. Hi, Daniel! For some reason, your name sounds so familiar.

Travis wrote: "In response to your question, I've been meaning to read Valis for an eternity now. I currently have a huge book pile to tackle once I'm done writing something, and Valis is among it. So soon, very ..."

From what I can tell, it's not one of the obvious Dick classics. But when I read it, it absolutely knocked my socks off.

In response to your question, I've been meaning to read Valis for an eternity now. I currently have a huge book pile to tackle once I'm done writing something, and Valis is among it. So soon, very soon.

Thanks Lukacs, that sounds like an interesting volume. Edward Newman has some interesting ideas about the Critical Security Studies versus Human Security debate that he wrote down in his ISA summary on the topic. You can find it on the ISA website if you're a member.

Yeah, I still have to update a lot of fiction / easy-reading non-fiction stuff and list some more reviews when there's time. I see you are now reading Booth's Theory of World Security. What I like is that it is a kind of an intellectual reflection of a person that's academically been "through it all", although I am not fully convinced with his "grand" security-as-emancipation vision. There will be some interesting debates on this in the recent volume on critical approaches to Human Security edited by Chandler and Hynek, since I know both of those guys, recommended for later...

Milly wrote: "Daniel wrote: " What motivated you to start this project? ..."

I think that it was mostly the idea that I love to write, and I love to read, so why not mix the two together, and get my ideas and m..."

That's fantastic. In a lot of ways, I still see myself as a "young" writer, even though I'll soon be in my thirties. I think I still need to go through that phase where I read a lot of books (sometimes twice) to learn from the methods of the masters. There are a lot of great books I have yet to read.

What writing project are you working on now?

Daniel wrote: " What motivated you to start this project? ..."

I think that it was mostly the idea that I love to write, and I love to read, so why not mix the two together, and get my ideas and my views on the two together. I say on my website that t could be that I wanted a space for me to discuss books and things about books. Perhaps it is because I wanted my opinion out there, stored in a database forever, sharing my passion with others who accidentally got onto this page. Maybe I just wanted to share things about writing, and my novel.

As for the author interviews, it was to get their ideas on writing, and get their thoughts on the writing world. It was to help myself and other young writers. You have helped contribute to that.

No, thank you Milly. I had a lot of fun answering the questions. I really had to put some thought into some of them. I look forward to reading future interviews on your website. What motivated you to start this project?

I want to thank you again for the opportunity to let me ask you a few questions about being an author and about how you got there personally. The interview is now up on my website, at http://whataboutthatbook.wordpress.co...

Thanks again!

Milly

Michael wrote: "I merely made the comparison because it won the Locus award and was nominated for the Hugo, though I think it lost. Anyway, cheers. Thanks for the read. I'll share the book with what Goodreads peop..."

That sounds great. One thing about my projects, though, is that each one is drastically different than the one past. I'll let you know when my next book is out.

I merely made the comparison because it won the Locus award and was nominated for the Hugo, though I think it lost. Anyway, cheers. Thanks for the read. I'll share the book with what Goodreads people I can, with promises to review it on the site. Good luck and if if you have any others in the future I'll review them as well.

Just let me know if you need anything. Ciao.

Michael wrote: "Okay, I finished the review. It's not excellent, but I did my best to make it completely fair. I ended up giving it as much as Accelerando, which was a fantastic book. Of course, if the scale was 1..."

I appreciate the effort Mike. Accelerando or no accelerando, I'm sure it did the trick. Cheers.

Okay, I finished the review. It's not excellent, but I did my best to make it completely fair. I ended up giving it as much as Accelerando, which was a fantastic book. Of course, if the scale was 1-100 instead it might not have come out quite equal.

Jennifer wrote: "Hey! Thanks for the add. I think it's awesome that authors like you are willing to give away copies of your books. It's very appreciated (especially to starving college students such as myself). So..."

Thanks Jennifer, I humbly accept your thanks. I see you that you like things with substantial content: I would go with a Philip K. Dick book like VALIS if you're looking for something mind-blowing, Haruki Murakami's Sputnik Sweetheart if you're looking for something close and personal, the kids book Maniac Magee for something light but thoughtful, or Cambodia: A Book for People Who Find Television Too Slow if you're looking for a book that no one has ever heard of and which is challenging yet rewarding to read.

Have you read any great short story collections lately?

Hey! Thanks for the add. I think it's awesome that authors like you are willing to give away copies of your books. It's very appreciated (especially to starving college students such as myself). So please, don't thank me for entering; I thank you for posting :). If you have any book recommendations for me, I will graciously accept them. I'm about to go into Summer break from school and will go out of my mind if I don't have a substantial book list to tackle ;). Have a wonderful evening and take care.

Michael wrote: "Oh it's cool I just thought I'd point it out. Also you say over hear on the last part of page 103. Also, everyone knows the *original* is better. What's this about sequels always being better! (72i..."

Sweet, glad it warranted a second read. Yeah, anytime you want to ask questions about anything just fire away.

Oh it's cool I just thought I'd point it out. Also you say over hear on the last part of page 103. Also, everyone knows the *original* is better. What's this about sequels always being better! (72ish?)

Alas, I jest. I'm nearly through my second read. I can't say I liked all of the shorts but I've enjoyed it. I'm also interested in self-publication of sorts.

Michael wrote: "I may save you the trouble and pass around the book to some people and have them make a profile on the site. Also, I don't typically comment on grammar because it can be changed stylistically, but ..."

and so it goes...I'd cut off my editors fingers, but then I'd have nothing to type with.

I may save you the trouble and pass around the book to some people and have them make a profile on the site. Also, I don't typically comment on grammar because it can be changed stylistically, but on page 46 it seems like you might be missing something. "...what she wants is dictator who will emasculate..."

Michael wrote: "Received. I'm reading it, but got some exams over the next few days and going over the rough draft of my own Science-fiction novel. It's a smooth read so far, shouldn't take me long even with the a..."

Great. I appreciate the effort. If you know of anyone else who is interested in reading and writing a review, I might have some review copies kicking around.

Received. I'm reading it, but got some exams over the next few days and going over the rough draft of my own Science-fiction novel. It's a smooth read so far, shouldn't take me long even with the aforementioned delays.

Michael wrote: "No problem, I am getting a copy whenever it sends out. Depending on the day it arrives I'll have it read in a day or two. Looking forward to it."

Sweet!

No problem, I am getting a copy whenever it sends out. Depending on the day it arrives I'll have it read in a day or two. Looking forward to it.

Michael wrote: "Thanks, I'll be sure to read it if it comes, if not I'll put it on my to-do list."

Thanks Mike, I appreciate the support.

Thanks, I'll be sure to read it if it comes, if not I'll put it on my to-do list.

Cambridge wrote: "Hey, nice to meet you Daniel, thanks for the add I look forward to more of your comments on TC and poking through your shelves :) I am just beginning to list my books and getting my feet wet here...."

Good luck Cambridge. I find GR is a great form of escapism and a great forum to float some of my ideas.

Hey, nice to meet you Daniel, thanks for the add I look forward to more of your comments on TC and poking through your shelves :) I am just beginning to list my books and getting my feet wet here....wish me luck :)

cheers, Daniel

A potentially unlikely source of music without lyrics that you could write to would be video game soundtracks. They usually have no lyrics. Though what would you consider "tragic"? Any good examples?

Ali wrote: "Hey Daniel,

The link you posted below does not send us directly to 'The Ghosts of Nagasaki' but it does connect us with Lulu where we can type in your name...I was able to download the sample fr..."

--That sounds great. The book is still in the works. I just posted a sample so that a few of my most hardcore fans new that progress was actually being made on it.

Hey Daniel,

The link you posted below does not send us directly to 'The Ghosts of Nagasaki' but it does connect us with Lulu where we can type in your name...I was able to download the sample from the book...I'll post a small review!

Thanks for sharing!

:)

Officially, I'm an IR geek (International Relations) as I'm currently a PhD student. But my passion is for the written word. Thus, I moonlight as a writer, trying to hook in as many fans as possible. The novel I'm almost finished with "The Ghosts of Nagasaki" (to see preview: http://www.lulu.com/content/paperback...) tries to do magic realism in a way similar to Toni Morrison. Do I succeed? Probably not. But she's Toni Morrison, and well, I'm a guy moonlighting as an author.