Elizabeth Bonesteel's Blog, page 2

CONDITION OF WAR preorder is up!

Believe it or not, it’s coming out on June 3. Here’s the blurb:

Accused of destroying a Corps warship, the crew of the starship Galileo must prove sabotage—or face the wrath of what’s left of Central Gov.

When the Central Corps warship Capricorn—silent and unresponsive, light-years from her last reported position—threatens a civilian space station, the former Corps starship Galileo comes to the station’s aid. But Commander Elena Shaw’s attempt to disarm the warship culminates in its de...

About Trade Publishing, Part 2: Publishers

Introduction

So, Liz, wtf do you know about publishers?

This is a fair question. It’s a big topic. I’ve had contact with exactly four publishers, and published with two. I have no experience at all with direct-sub (non-agent) publishers. My first publisher was a Big 5, and publishing scales in really weird ways.

But I have spent time with a lot of people who’ve had a lot of different types of publishers, and what I learned was this: the entire industry is not a monolith. It’s a set of s...

About Trade Publishing, Part 1: Agents

So, here’s the thing.

I’ve got a book coming out this year. I don’t have a pre-release up yet (I know, I know), but it’s in final revisions, and I’m tearing my hair out over a blurb. So soon.

Once that book is done, I’ll be writing the final one in the series, because I have learned I have to get this series out of my system before I can properly focus on something new. And I have something new! It’s skeletal at this point, with some chunks of chapters written, but it’s ready for its close...

About Trade Publishing, Part 1

So, here’s the thing.

I’ve got a book coming out this year. I don’t have a pre-release up yet (I know, I know), but it’s in final revisions, and I’m tearing my hair out over a blurb. So soon.

Once that book is done, I’ll be writing the final one in the series, because I have learned I have to get this series out of my system before I can properly focus on something new. And I have something new! It’s skeletal at this point, with some chunks of chapters written, but it’s ready for its close...

Holiday Recommendations, Day Eighteen

Sirens of the Sea (2008), by Oceanlab. This album, a side project of trance artists Above & Beyond, hit cult status almost immediately, largely due to Justine Suissa’s etherial vocals. But for me, the main draw has been the lush arrangements–and, yes, the beats. There are some lovely ballads on this record, but I do love music I can work out to.

My favorite track is “On A Good Day,” a little breath of optimism in a world that needs it badly.

This isn’t the record that got me into ...

Holiday Recommendations, Day 17

Prey (2017). No, not the Predator prequel, but the video game. I reviewed it on this blog back in 2019.

How is this game almost 8 years old? One could criticize, a little, the graphics, although I’m reluctant to do so; they are beautiful, if not perfectly photorealistic. The battle mechanics are configurable, depending on what sort of weapons you like. The power-up system is elaborate enough to make every playthrough different, if you choose; I’ve done some all-alien-ability as well a...

Holiday Recommendations, Day Sixteen

Star Trek: Lower Decks (2020-2024).

I have to admit, when I first heard about Lower Decks, my reaction was “Oh, God, people, why are you doing this???” And then I watched it. Yes, it’s a cartoon. Yes. it’s played largely for laughs. But it’s also smart, nuanced, and faithful to the universe that’s been built up in the shows before it. There’s a thread of fannish worship for the earlier shows throughout–never overdone, but enough to keep the show from becoming parody. It’s threaded the Galaxy ...

Holiday Recommendations, Days Thirteen, Fourteen, and Fifteen

Day Thirteen

Control (2019). This game from Remedy Studios (also responsible for Quantum Break, Alan Wake, and Max Payne) is my second favorite video game of ever. I reviewed the game and the DLCs on this blog, but if you think I’m not going to say anything else about it, you are mistaken.

I have played this game a lot now. I’m unconvinced it’s keeping many more secrets from me, but it’s possible. For years I mourned a dream I had of a new area I hadn’t frequented, only to learn earlier...

Holiday Recommendations, Days One through Twelve

This is a slightly embellished transcript of what I had posted on Bluesky and Mastodon December 1 through 12, so it’s long. Next post will be 13-14-15, and then one a day through the end of the year.

Day One

Animal Crossing: New Horizons (original release date: 2020). No, really. It’s weird, it’s wholesome, it’s gentle and addictive. Although I really do wonder wtf is going on with Tom Nook.

A bit embellished, but pretty close to how the actual game looks.

AC:NH is essentially a build...

December Thoughts

I have been studiously avoiding social media for the last several days. I’m not living in isolation; I’m surrounded by people who pay attention to the news. But I’m trying to recharge, to realign my thinking, so I can be steady when I need to be. I have not been very steady lately, and that needs to change. I have a book to finish, and I’m hoping to get it into production by the beginning of next year. Writing requires my head to be more clear than it’s been.

I’d started the month by posting ...