Pat Cunningham's Blog
July 18, 2013
All Too Human
I miss Buffy.
What brings on my spate of nostalgia for kick-assery is the last two books I read (got ‘em from the library, so I had to go through ‘em fast), Daughter of Smoke and Bone and its sequel, Days of Blood and Starlight, by Laini Taylor. They’re Young Adult: the protag is a 17-year-old girl and there’s the requisite ultra-hot guy (literally; he’s a seraph with burning wings) and eternal love story. All Twilight comparisons end there. The books contain beautiful writing by someone who obviously loves language and knows how to wield words for greatest impact. Taylor’s world-building and characterization ain’t too shabby either. Even secondary characters are well-fleshed enough for believability, and the mysteries build to a slow reveal that actually is revealed, rather than drawn out for the sake of another bloated trilogy. The “angels” in this universe would kick the posers from Fallen, Halo and Hush, Hush right out the window and toss ‘em their pinfeathers as a parting shot. In another world—say, the 1980s—this book would have been shelved in the Science Fiction/Fantasy section and college kids would be reading it.
The only downside is that it’s a trilogy and the conclusion won’t be out until next year. I wanna read it right friggin’ NOW, dammit! Sadly, books of this quality take time, so I’ll just have to suck it up and wait along with everybody else—first for the release date, then for the library to get it, unless I hang out at Barnes and Noble and try to skim it for free. Yes, I liked it. If I were giving a review, both volumes would get 5 stars.
However …
Partway through the second book a nagging thought occurred to me. Although the main character is human by default—they’re trying to sell this to human readers, after all—pretty much the rest of the cast are aliens from another dimension: the beastial chimaera and their sworn enemies, the winged seraphim. They’ve been at war for hundreds of years. Then a chimaera girl meets a seraph boy on the battlefield, and—well, you know what happens. It’s YA.
I can handle that. I just have to remind myself who the target audience is, and it ain’t some old lady who was weaned on the original Star Trek and New Age science fiction. What started to bother me was how much these alien creatures from this alien dimension, with nothing at all in common with Earth history, thought and behaved just like us.
I know, I know, it’s necessary; target audience and all that. They used to do it on Star Trek too, and all the other books and shows supposedly set on alien worlds or in other time periods. For instance, next time you watch one of these shows or movies, note the number of alien societies that independently invented catsuits and high heels. The characters may be aliens in the far future, but the readers/viewers are modern-day humans, and they want characters they can recognize and identify with. I guess I'll have to live with that.
I just wish the aliens from the other dimension hadn’t evolved sexism.
In far too many of these books, movies, comics, etc., women get short shrift. It happens here. Again. Yes, there are female soldiers, but they’re not exempt if one of the ruling males wants them. The king of the angels has a harem and breeds bastard soldiers for the war effort. The chimera general fixates on the heroine because she’s the most beautiful woman (i.e., human looking) in all the land, and she kind of goes for him in a wishy-washy, spineless, what choice do I have sort of manner, at least until she meets Hot Angel Boy. So General Buttwipe catches her and has her beheaded. Later, when she’s reborn in human form, she ends up working with General BW because, wellll, he’s the hero of the resistance and all and she doesn’t really feel like she has a choice. She also has a skill he desperately needs for the war effort, and he sets up one of his flunkies as her assistant to learn it so he can dispose of her again. I figured that out about ten chapters before she did. He manipulates the holy hell out of her and she just can’t see it, even with two lifetimes of experience.
Jesus Christ, honey. He KILLED YOU. He CUT YOUR FRIGGIN’ HEAD OFF. You were reborn as a human and separated from your one true love, not to mention your homeworld, because THIS GUY IS A SCUZZBAG. How many lives do you have to be hit over the head in? Or have that head cut off? I expect more, or at least different, from someone non-human. The first time around, anyway.
That, to varying degrees, is what we get with the other alien females. No matter how skilled or tough or independent they are, their choices ultimately depend on the whim of some male. The only one who takes direct, decisive action against the evil rulers is Hot Angel Boy. The heroine finally fights back against General Buttwipe, but only when he attempts to rape her. C’mon, sweetie, you’ve known for two lifetimes he was a sleaze of the highest order. You had to see that one coming.
Like I said, I miss Buffy.
It would really be nice if, in one of these books, the alien society held out some hope to impressionable young girls that there’s more to life than pairing up with a scuzzball while waiting for the right hot guy to come along. A female general would have been welcome. I’ll bet if Xena or Red Sonja was commanding that army, the king would think twice before ordering them hauled off to the harem. (One did try that with Red Sonja, with the expected fatal result.) I’ll bet Xena or Sonja wouldn’t hesitate to have some comely young soldier boy brought to her tent, either. (Maybe Xena not so much since she has Gabrielle, but Sonja, definitely.) I’d love to see that in a book just once, boy I tell you what.
There’s some hope for the third volume, maybe. There’s a group of outcast angels out there, ruled by a queen. Please let her be a T’Pau. T'Pau ruled Vulcan on Star Trek. The whole planet decided she was the logical choice to lead them. Who’s going to argue with Vulcan logic? Just pointing out that it can be done, and young girls can be exposed to the concept without it corrupting their lives.
Some day I’ll rant about how superheroines can chase after the bad guys while wearing stiletto heels. Except Wonder Woman, who can fly. And why isn’t she wearing boots or sandals like the other Amazonian warriors? But that’s another blog.
What brings on my spate of nostalgia for kick-assery is the last two books I read (got ‘em from the library, so I had to go through ‘em fast), Daughter of Smoke and Bone and its sequel, Days of Blood and Starlight, by Laini Taylor. They’re Young Adult: the protag is a 17-year-old girl and there’s the requisite ultra-hot guy (literally; he’s a seraph with burning wings) and eternal love story. All Twilight comparisons end there. The books contain beautiful writing by someone who obviously loves language and knows how to wield words for greatest impact. Taylor’s world-building and characterization ain’t too shabby either. Even secondary characters are well-fleshed enough for believability, and the mysteries build to a slow reveal that actually is revealed, rather than drawn out for the sake of another bloated trilogy. The “angels” in this universe would kick the posers from Fallen, Halo and Hush, Hush right out the window and toss ‘em their pinfeathers as a parting shot. In another world—say, the 1980s—this book would have been shelved in the Science Fiction/Fantasy section and college kids would be reading it.
The only downside is that it’s a trilogy and the conclusion won’t be out until next year. I wanna read it right friggin’ NOW, dammit! Sadly, books of this quality take time, so I’ll just have to suck it up and wait along with everybody else—first for the release date, then for the library to get it, unless I hang out at Barnes and Noble and try to skim it for free. Yes, I liked it. If I were giving a review, both volumes would get 5 stars.
However …
Partway through the second book a nagging thought occurred to me. Although the main character is human by default—they’re trying to sell this to human readers, after all—pretty much the rest of the cast are aliens from another dimension: the beastial chimaera and their sworn enemies, the winged seraphim. They’ve been at war for hundreds of years. Then a chimaera girl meets a seraph boy on the battlefield, and—well, you know what happens. It’s YA.
I can handle that. I just have to remind myself who the target audience is, and it ain’t some old lady who was weaned on the original Star Trek and New Age science fiction. What started to bother me was how much these alien creatures from this alien dimension, with nothing at all in common with Earth history, thought and behaved just like us.
I know, I know, it’s necessary; target audience and all that. They used to do it on Star Trek too, and all the other books and shows supposedly set on alien worlds or in other time periods. For instance, next time you watch one of these shows or movies, note the number of alien societies that independently invented catsuits and high heels. The characters may be aliens in the far future, but the readers/viewers are modern-day humans, and they want characters they can recognize and identify with. I guess I'll have to live with that.
I just wish the aliens from the other dimension hadn’t evolved sexism.
In far too many of these books, movies, comics, etc., women get short shrift. It happens here. Again. Yes, there are female soldiers, but they’re not exempt if one of the ruling males wants them. The king of the angels has a harem and breeds bastard soldiers for the war effort. The chimera general fixates on the heroine because she’s the most beautiful woman (i.e., human looking) in all the land, and she kind of goes for him in a wishy-washy, spineless, what choice do I have sort of manner, at least until she meets Hot Angel Boy. So General Buttwipe catches her and has her beheaded. Later, when she’s reborn in human form, she ends up working with General BW because, wellll, he’s the hero of the resistance and all and she doesn’t really feel like she has a choice. She also has a skill he desperately needs for the war effort, and he sets up one of his flunkies as her assistant to learn it so he can dispose of her again. I figured that out about ten chapters before she did. He manipulates the holy hell out of her and she just can’t see it, even with two lifetimes of experience.
Jesus Christ, honey. He KILLED YOU. He CUT YOUR FRIGGIN’ HEAD OFF. You were reborn as a human and separated from your one true love, not to mention your homeworld, because THIS GUY IS A SCUZZBAG. How many lives do you have to be hit over the head in? Or have that head cut off? I expect more, or at least different, from someone non-human. The first time around, anyway.
That, to varying degrees, is what we get with the other alien females. No matter how skilled or tough or independent they are, their choices ultimately depend on the whim of some male. The only one who takes direct, decisive action against the evil rulers is Hot Angel Boy. The heroine finally fights back against General Buttwipe, but only when he attempts to rape her. C’mon, sweetie, you’ve known for two lifetimes he was a sleaze of the highest order. You had to see that one coming.
Like I said, I miss Buffy.
It would really be nice if, in one of these books, the alien society held out some hope to impressionable young girls that there’s more to life than pairing up with a scuzzball while waiting for the right hot guy to come along. A female general would have been welcome. I’ll bet if Xena or Red Sonja was commanding that army, the king would think twice before ordering them hauled off to the harem. (One did try that with Red Sonja, with the expected fatal result.) I’ll bet Xena or Sonja wouldn’t hesitate to have some comely young soldier boy brought to her tent, either. (Maybe Xena not so much since she has Gabrielle, but Sonja, definitely.) I’d love to see that in a book just once, boy I tell you what.
There’s some hope for the third volume, maybe. There’s a group of outcast angels out there, ruled by a queen. Please let her be a T’Pau. T'Pau ruled Vulcan on Star Trek. The whole planet decided she was the logical choice to lead them. Who’s going to argue with Vulcan logic? Just pointing out that it can be done, and young girls can be exposed to the concept without it corrupting their lives.
Some day I’ll rant about how superheroines can chase after the bad guys while wearing stiletto heels. Except Wonder Woman, who can fly. And why isn’t she wearing boots or sandals like the other Amazonian warriors? But that’s another blog.
April 5, 2013
We Need More Peter Davids
Confession: I read media tie-in books. Not as many as I used to, but occasionally. I've got a pile of Star Trek-related novels on my shelves, and I just finished the latest Supernatural book. If somebody writes a Grimm tie-in book I'll probably read it, especially if there's lots of Monroe in it. Love them wolf boys.
The trouble with tie-in books is that too often they fail at their main intention, which is to recreate the feel and fun of the show in a reading experience. The writer doesn't get the characters right, or the dialogue doesn't ring true. Then there's all the backstory that has to be shoveled in to bring new readers up to speed. That can be a pain.
It can be done, and done well. Some novelists really can pen dialogue that echoes an actor's voice, and hit their characters spot on. But it's rare. This is why we need more Peter Davids.
I picked Mr. David because, in my opinion, he set the bar for what a Star Trek tie-in novel could be. (Star Wars fans probably feel the same way about Timothy Zahn.) He knew the people and their voices. He knew the universe. His plots were tense and exciting. Best of all, he added humor. And just when he had you laughing over something Data just said to Geordi, he'd throw in a plot twist that punched you in the gut. You could read those books and enjoy them without ever watching the show.
Most of the Trek books I fondly remember had Mr. David's byline on them. To this day, if I see the words "Star Trek," "Q," and "Peter David" in the same sentence, my reaction is, "I gotta read that."
This is what the Supernatural tie-in series needs. Its very own Peter David.
The series has had its ups and downs, quality-wise. Good books, bad books, mediocre books. With the right author at the helm, they could all be good. All they need is someone who knows and loves the show, and can transfer that love to the printed page. There are plenty of fan writers out there right now doing just that. (I don't think we're quite ready for professionally-published slash, but you know what I mean.)
Maybe Mr. Kripke himself would want to write one. Revolution will probably be getting cancelled any day now, so he should have some time on his hands.
In the meantime, I'll keep reading the occasional tie-in book as my tastes in TV change. Who knows? Publishers may be skimming the fanfic sites even now for the next Peter David, though they're more likely to be looking for the next E. L. James. Who knows? It could be one of us. And if you write that Grimm book with the big Monroe subplot, I'll be first in line to buy it. Make me happy.
The trouble with tie-in books is that too often they fail at their main intention, which is to recreate the feel and fun of the show in a reading experience. The writer doesn't get the characters right, or the dialogue doesn't ring true. Then there's all the backstory that has to be shoveled in to bring new readers up to speed. That can be a pain.
It can be done, and done well. Some novelists really can pen dialogue that echoes an actor's voice, and hit their characters spot on. But it's rare. This is why we need more Peter Davids.
I picked Mr. David because, in my opinion, he set the bar for what a Star Trek tie-in novel could be. (Star Wars fans probably feel the same way about Timothy Zahn.) He knew the people and their voices. He knew the universe. His plots were tense and exciting. Best of all, he added humor. And just when he had you laughing over something Data just said to Geordi, he'd throw in a plot twist that punched you in the gut. You could read those books and enjoy them without ever watching the show.
Most of the Trek books I fondly remember had Mr. David's byline on them. To this day, if I see the words "Star Trek," "Q," and "Peter David" in the same sentence, my reaction is, "I gotta read that."
This is what the Supernatural tie-in series needs. Its very own Peter David.
The series has had its ups and downs, quality-wise. Good books, bad books, mediocre books. With the right author at the helm, they could all be good. All they need is someone who knows and loves the show, and can transfer that love to the printed page. There are plenty of fan writers out there right now doing just that. (I don't think we're quite ready for professionally-published slash, but you know what I mean.)
Maybe Mr. Kripke himself would want to write one. Revolution will probably be getting cancelled any day now, so he should have some time on his hands.
In the meantime, I'll keep reading the occasional tie-in book as my tastes in TV change. Who knows? Publishers may be skimming the fanfic sites even now for the next Peter David, though they're more likely to be looking for the next E. L. James. Who knows? It could be one of us. And if you write that Grimm book with the big Monroe subplot, I'll be first in line to buy it. Make me happy.
March 14, 2013
The Worst Job There Is
I'm double-dipping today. I posted this same blog over at Title Magic. But it's about books and books I read, so ...
When it comes to jobs, what could possibly be bad about writing? You work from home. You set your own hours. You can put in your eight hours or whatever on the back porch or in front of the TV or in bed in your jammies. Sure, the pay might not always be the best and it’s kind of hit or miss. Weigh that against having to deal with bad bosses and back-stabbing, gossipy co-workers and money pales in comparison. You get to do what you love in your own time and in a place of your choosing and not have to work for or with jerks. If you work hard and luck runs your way, you can even make a living at it. That’s a better deal than WalMart offers.
Sometimes.
Along with all the genre fiction I’ve read over the years, media tie-in books have found their way into my to-be-read stack on more than one occasion. You know the ones I mean; you’ve seen them on the shelves. Star Trek and Star Wars predominate, and even have whole sections of their own. A lot of popular (or at least cult favorite) TV shows have tie-in novels available. (In the case of Castle, the books are supposedly produced by the show’s writer protagonist.) Some cancelled shows, like Buffy and Smallville, have continued their storylines in comic books. No more dealing with actors demanding raises, and the budget’s limited only by the artist’s imagination.
Now that would be the job to have, if you’ve got a favorite show. No world building, no creating characters. All the heavy lifting’s been done. It would be like writing fan fiction, except you get paid for it. Somebody’s gotta produce these things, right? Why not you and me?
It can turn out to be a lucrative gig. Some publishers consider these books work for hire and only pay a flat fee, but others offer standard advances and royalties. With a built-in fan base and guaranteed sales, even mediocre writers can come out ahead. Your books will reach the shelves and readers’ hands, and money will reach your bank account.
And the books don’t have to be routine, by-the-numbers crap. I can name several Trek novels that are just as well-written and exciting as an original universe book. Timothy Zahn’s initial Star Wars trilogy stands out in this regard. For comic book readers and Buffy fans, I recommend the Angel and Faith series. I was never that big a fan of either of those characters, but I’m enjoying this run even more than the current Buffy comic series. (Summary: Giles is dead. Angel’s trying to resurrect him. Hijinks ensue.) As with any form of fiction, it’s all in the execution.
Then you have the downsides. A lot of these tie-in novels are routine, by-the-numbers crap. That’s not necessarily the writer’s fault. Remember, when you’re playing in somebody else’s sandbox for pay, you have to abide by the homeowner’s rules. That means no slash, you Destiel shippers. No Spock or Data suddenly developing emotions, unless they return to normal by the end of the story. No introducing permanent love interests, or killing main characters, or doing anything that can’t be reversed before the final page. You need to leave the status at quo for the next writer. This can lead to a lot of bland books. I know; I’ve read them.
Back in my SF writing days I briefly had an agent. It didn’t work out in the end, but that’s another blog. While it was working out, I asked him about the possibility of writing a Star Trek novel. I was really into NextGen at the time and had some plot ideas.
His professional advice: okay, if that’s what I really wanted. However, I should make the plot as generic as possible because there was only one market, and if they turned it down I’d have spent a lot of time and effort for nothing. Therefore, I should write a book that could easily be converted to an original-universe novel in case I had to recycle.
That would explain the general suckage of the Trek tie-ins of that period. Also the introduction of so many original characters interacting with the Trek casts. Somebody needed to grow and change and learn by the end of the book, since that was off-limits for the regulars.
You think that’s bad, try writing a book, or a comic series, while the TV show is still on. Months of writing and dramatic buildup can be negated by next week’s episode. I saw this happen a couple of times in DC’s Star Trek comic series. The early Marvel Star Wars comics had it even worse. No Luke vs. Darth confrontations or exploring the Luke-Leia-Han triangle or any good stuff like that. No anything until after the next movie came out. Somehow Marvel and DC managed to put out entertaining comics under creativity-smothering circumstances. I sure wouldn’t want to be that writer, though.
And that’s why I feel being a tie-in writer tying in to a still-running series has to be the worst job out there. You can’t do anything to shake up the world or the characters, which is the heart of fiction. Every idea you come up with has to be approved by the copyright holders, the studio, the lawyers, and who knows who else. You could see your whole plot air on the CW the night you type The End, or have your book rendered obsolete by the next episode’s plot twist. Or one of the main actors leaves the show (I see a lot of X-Files fan heads nodding out there). Depending on the deal you get with the publisher, the money might not even be that good. That’s assuming you even get a deal. If you don’t, you’re stuck with an unsellable novel. Writing in your favorite TV world may be fun, but you have to ask yourself: is it really worth it?
Luckily for us media fans, there is a way to have our cake and eat it too. That’s fan fiction writing. It’s unsanctioned because no money’s involved, so you can do anything you want. If you make it AU enough, you can even rewrite it as an original book, self-publish, build a huge following, and get picked up by a major publisher. Hasn’t happened to me yet, but I hear it can be done.
When it comes to jobs, what could possibly be bad about writing? You work from home. You set your own hours. You can put in your eight hours or whatever on the back porch or in front of the TV or in bed in your jammies. Sure, the pay might not always be the best and it’s kind of hit or miss. Weigh that against having to deal with bad bosses and back-stabbing, gossipy co-workers and money pales in comparison. You get to do what you love in your own time and in a place of your choosing and not have to work for or with jerks. If you work hard and luck runs your way, you can even make a living at it. That’s a better deal than WalMart offers.
Sometimes.
Along with all the genre fiction I’ve read over the years, media tie-in books have found their way into my to-be-read stack on more than one occasion. You know the ones I mean; you’ve seen them on the shelves. Star Trek and Star Wars predominate, and even have whole sections of their own. A lot of popular (or at least cult favorite) TV shows have tie-in novels available. (In the case of Castle, the books are supposedly produced by the show’s writer protagonist.) Some cancelled shows, like Buffy and Smallville, have continued their storylines in comic books. No more dealing with actors demanding raises, and the budget’s limited only by the artist’s imagination.
Now that would be the job to have, if you’ve got a favorite show. No world building, no creating characters. All the heavy lifting’s been done. It would be like writing fan fiction, except you get paid for it. Somebody’s gotta produce these things, right? Why not you and me?
It can turn out to be a lucrative gig. Some publishers consider these books work for hire and only pay a flat fee, but others offer standard advances and royalties. With a built-in fan base and guaranteed sales, even mediocre writers can come out ahead. Your books will reach the shelves and readers’ hands, and money will reach your bank account.
And the books don’t have to be routine, by-the-numbers crap. I can name several Trek novels that are just as well-written and exciting as an original universe book. Timothy Zahn’s initial Star Wars trilogy stands out in this regard. For comic book readers and Buffy fans, I recommend the Angel and Faith series. I was never that big a fan of either of those characters, but I’m enjoying this run even more than the current Buffy comic series. (Summary: Giles is dead. Angel’s trying to resurrect him. Hijinks ensue.) As with any form of fiction, it’s all in the execution.
Then you have the downsides. A lot of these tie-in novels are routine, by-the-numbers crap. That’s not necessarily the writer’s fault. Remember, when you’re playing in somebody else’s sandbox for pay, you have to abide by the homeowner’s rules. That means no slash, you Destiel shippers. No Spock or Data suddenly developing emotions, unless they return to normal by the end of the story. No introducing permanent love interests, or killing main characters, or doing anything that can’t be reversed before the final page. You need to leave the status at quo for the next writer. This can lead to a lot of bland books. I know; I’ve read them.
Back in my SF writing days I briefly had an agent. It didn’t work out in the end, but that’s another blog. While it was working out, I asked him about the possibility of writing a Star Trek novel. I was really into NextGen at the time and had some plot ideas.
His professional advice: okay, if that’s what I really wanted. However, I should make the plot as generic as possible because there was only one market, and if they turned it down I’d have spent a lot of time and effort for nothing. Therefore, I should write a book that could easily be converted to an original-universe novel in case I had to recycle.
That would explain the general suckage of the Trek tie-ins of that period. Also the introduction of so many original characters interacting with the Trek casts. Somebody needed to grow and change and learn by the end of the book, since that was off-limits for the regulars.
You think that’s bad, try writing a book, or a comic series, while the TV show is still on. Months of writing and dramatic buildup can be negated by next week’s episode. I saw this happen a couple of times in DC’s Star Trek comic series. The early Marvel Star Wars comics had it even worse. No Luke vs. Darth confrontations or exploring the Luke-Leia-Han triangle or any good stuff like that. No anything until after the next movie came out. Somehow Marvel and DC managed to put out entertaining comics under creativity-smothering circumstances. I sure wouldn’t want to be that writer, though.
And that’s why I feel being a tie-in writer tying in to a still-running series has to be the worst job out there. You can’t do anything to shake up the world or the characters, which is the heart of fiction. Every idea you come up with has to be approved by the copyright holders, the studio, the lawyers, and who knows who else. You could see your whole plot air on the CW the night you type The End, or have your book rendered obsolete by the next episode’s plot twist. Or one of the main actors leaves the show (I see a lot of X-Files fan heads nodding out there). Depending on the deal you get with the publisher, the money might not even be that good. That’s assuming you even get a deal. If you don’t, you’re stuck with an unsellable novel. Writing in your favorite TV world may be fun, but you have to ask yourself: is it really worth it?
Luckily for us media fans, there is a way to have our cake and eat it too. That’s fan fiction writing. It’s unsanctioned because no money’s involved, so you can do anything you want. If you make it AU enough, you can even rewrite it as an original book, self-publish, build a huge following, and get picked up by a major publisher. Hasn’t happened to me yet, but I hear it can be done.
March 1, 2013
And the winner is ...
Congrats to Tina Zalewski, who won my free giveaway copy of Slayer for Hire. Here's hoping you enjoy it. Don't be afraid to laugh; it really is supposed to be funny.
Now Serena's on my back to write a book about Dina. This may or may not turn into a series. It'll depend on whether I get to work or keep procrastinating.
The rest of you -- good luck in the next giveaway. Keep on reading!
Now Serena's on my back to write a book about Dina. This may or may not turn into a series. It'll depend on whether I get to work or keep procrastinating.
The rest of you -- good luck in the next giveaway. Keep on reading!
February 25, 2013
A Cautionary Tale
Yesterday I took a drive from Lancaster County to neighboring Berks County a) to get out of the house and b) to check the Barnes and Noble near Reading for a book I was looking for. I'd already checked the B&N in Lancaster and they didn't have it. The demise of Borders and Books a Million's hit-or-miss selection necessitated this action.
Fortunately, thanks to the highway system and Ephrata's central location, the drive time's about the same for both. Also fortunately, the B&N over there had what I wanted. On my way home I stopped at a WalMart and picked up another book at a reduced price, so it was a good Sunday all around.
Now, suppose the Berks B&N hadn't had what I wanted (a new release, but not from a major publisher). What then?
No prob. I just would have ordered it on Amazon. Along with one or two other paperbacks that I saw on B&N's shelves, but Amazon's offering for less.
I like print books. Sure, they take up space and I live in a trailer, but so what? I grew up with print. Force of habit. Print doesn't crash or get deleted (unless your house catches on fire) and pages don't have pop up ads. Sooner or later somebody's going to figure out how to program pop up ads into a Kindle, and then you'll hear screaming. Why not? They run commercials in movie theaters. And e-books from the big publishers don't cost any less than paperbacks, so I've noticed.
What's my point? When it comes to print, B&N may think it's now the only game in town. But I've got a laptop, and access to WiFi. With a couple of taps and a click I can get any book you don't have, and get discounts on others. You're not the only game in town, as long as that town has the Internet.
In a side note, our local Blockbuster is shutting its doors. They've already stopped renting and are selling off the inventory. At one time they were also the only game in town, until Netflix and Red Box and Hulu and those opened up the town's borders. I can't remember the last flick I rented at Blockbuster. I've been getting my movies (and whole TV seasons) from the library. For free. Top that, BB.
Take that for what it's worth, B&N. If you find yourself travelling Blockbuster's path, you have no one to blame but your business practices.
Fortunately, thanks to the highway system and Ephrata's central location, the drive time's about the same for both. Also fortunately, the B&N over there had what I wanted. On my way home I stopped at a WalMart and picked up another book at a reduced price, so it was a good Sunday all around.
Now, suppose the Berks B&N hadn't had what I wanted (a new release, but not from a major publisher). What then?
No prob. I just would have ordered it on Amazon. Along with one or two other paperbacks that I saw on B&N's shelves, but Amazon's offering for less.
I like print books. Sure, they take up space and I live in a trailer, but so what? I grew up with print. Force of habit. Print doesn't crash or get deleted (unless your house catches on fire) and pages don't have pop up ads. Sooner or later somebody's going to figure out how to program pop up ads into a Kindle, and then you'll hear screaming. Why not? They run commercials in movie theaters. And e-books from the big publishers don't cost any less than paperbacks, so I've noticed.
What's my point? When it comes to print, B&N may think it's now the only game in town. But I've got a laptop, and access to WiFi. With a couple of taps and a click I can get any book you don't have, and get discounts on others. You're not the only game in town, as long as that town has the Internet.
In a side note, our local Blockbuster is shutting its doors. They've already stopped renting and are selling off the inventory. At one time they were also the only game in town, until Netflix and Red Box and Hulu and those opened up the town's borders. I can't remember the last flick I rented at Blockbuster. I've been getting my movies (and whole TV seasons) from the library. For free. Top that, BB.
Take that for what it's worth, B&N. If you find yourself travelling Blockbuster's path, you have no one to blame but your business practices.
February 15, 2013
Promo Envy
First off, let's get the commercial out of the way. My new book SLAYER FOR HIRE releases today. It's a YA novel that grew out of two erotic romances I wrote for another publisher. Don't ask me how that happened. I've heard some YA authors are continuing their characters' stories into adult novels to take advantage of the market created by 50 SHADES OF GREY. So far, no one else (that I know of) has gone in the other direction. I tend to do things bass-ackwards.
Now comes the hard part: promotion. Getting my name out there and selling the thing. For me, that's even more difficult than actually writing the book. When it comes to social media, I'm more of a lurker. I watch, but don't participate. I'm about as anti-social as social media allows.
I'm not on Facebook. I'm not on Twitter. Occasionally I'll make a comment on the Absolute Write forums. I'd been dropping in here on Goodreads for at least a year before I finally took the plunge and signed on. I haven't posted a picture and probably won't. If you've ever seen a picture of me you'd understand why. Gak.
I really envy those folks who have no trouble at all promoting themselves and their books all over the Net. The ones with thousands of Facebook buddies, the people whose tweets are a must-read, and the folks able to update their blogs more than once a week. I have one (count her, 1) friend here on Goodreads so far. (Hi, Serena!) I understand I have fans. I wish I could acknowledge you, but I'm still learning how. Ignorance of technology is another of my faults. I know only as much about the laptop as I need to in order to write a book on it and send it off to market. That's it. I'm trying to customize my Goodreads page. I also have boxes in my house from my last move that I haven't unpacked yet, and the move happened six years ago, so don't hold your breath.
I wonder if Stephen King goes through stuff like this?
No ... I don't think he does. He doesn't have to promote himself because he's Stephen King. At this point, his books are his promo. Come to think of it, the big authors over at my romance publisher, the ones eternally at the top of the bestseller list, never seem to do any promotion that I'm aware of. They just write good books.
Hmmmm. Write a good book. There's an idea. Maybe I should give that a shot. Beats posting racy photos of myself on Facebook (double gak).
One last promo bit: Evernight Teen and I are offering a paperback copy of SLAYER as a free giveaway here on Goodreads. Signup ends March 1. As for me, I promised my one friend I'd write another one. Back to the real hard work.
Now comes the hard part: promotion. Getting my name out there and selling the thing. For me, that's even more difficult than actually writing the book. When it comes to social media, I'm more of a lurker. I watch, but don't participate. I'm about as anti-social as social media allows.
I'm not on Facebook. I'm not on Twitter. Occasionally I'll make a comment on the Absolute Write forums. I'd been dropping in here on Goodreads for at least a year before I finally took the plunge and signed on. I haven't posted a picture and probably won't. If you've ever seen a picture of me you'd understand why. Gak.
I really envy those folks who have no trouble at all promoting themselves and their books all over the Net. The ones with thousands of Facebook buddies, the people whose tweets are a must-read, and the folks able to update their blogs more than once a week. I have one (count her, 1) friend here on Goodreads so far. (Hi, Serena!) I understand I have fans. I wish I could acknowledge you, but I'm still learning how. Ignorance of technology is another of my faults. I know only as much about the laptop as I need to in order to write a book on it and send it off to market. That's it. I'm trying to customize my Goodreads page. I also have boxes in my house from my last move that I haven't unpacked yet, and the move happened six years ago, so don't hold your breath.
I wonder if Stephen King goes through stuff like this?
No ... I don't think he does. He doesn't have to promote himself because he's Stephen King. At this point, his books are his promo. Come to think of it, the big authors over at my romance publisher, the ones eternally at the top of the bestseller list, never seem to do any promotion that I'm aware of. They just write good books.
Hmmmm. Write a good book. There's an idea. Maybe I should give that a shot. Beats posting racy photos of myself on Facebook (double gak).
One last promo bit: Evernight Teen and I are offering a paperback copy of SLAYER as a free giveaway here on Goodreads. Signup ends March 1. As for me, I promised my one friend I'd write another one. Back to the real hard work.
February 1, 2013
This Is Only a Test
Howdy! I'm new here and still figuring out how everything works. I can sign in, so we're halfway home. As I get better at this I'll be adding favorites, plugging upcoming releases, and maybe even talking to people. I talk a lot better on a keyboard than I do in person, so maybe that'll work.
In case any SF/F fans with long memories are wondering: yes, I'm the P. E. Cunningham who appeared in Fantasy and Science Fiction back in the '80s. I switched genres and started writing paranormal romance. Then I switched to M/M romance. My next book, due out this month, is a YA paranormal with a boy, a girl, a vampire and no sex. God only knows what I'll be writing next month.
Until I get the hang of this, you can check out my other blogs at www.titlemagic.blogspot.com and www.shapeshifterseductions.blogspot.com. I share those with other paranormal/shapeshifter/romance writers, so they're worth taking a look at.
Now: how the hell do I add Stephen King to my "Favorite Authors" section?
Pat Cunningham, confused technophobe
In case any SF/F fans with long memories are wondering: yes, I'm the P. E. Cunningham who appeared in Fantasy and Science Fiction back in the '80s. I switched genres and started writing paranormal romance. Then I switched to M/M romance. My next book, due out this month, is a YA paranormal with a boy, a girl, a vampire and no sex. God only knows what I'll be writing next month.
Until I get the hang of this, you can check out my other blogs at www.titlemagic.blogspot.com and www.shapeshifterseductions.blogspot.com. I share those with other paranormal/shapeshifter/romance writers, so they're worth taking a look at.
Now: how the hell do I add Stephen King to my "Favorite Authors" section?
Pat Cunningham, confused technophobe
