Laura Anne Gilman's Blog, page 11
September 3, 2016
What was that I was saying about new reviews a year later?
http://binwallaradio.com/silver-on-the-road-book-review/
"[SILVER ON THE ROAD] has the rare ability to suck readers into a new world from the first chapter. Gilman lures the reader in with what appears to be a familiar setting, but surprises the reader with a bold reimagining of the Western myth and the Devil....The internal mythos of the Territory is a strange amalgam of Christianity, Native American Shamanism, and the inherent magic of the land. This strange mix sounds like it shouldn’t be able to meld into a coherent whole, but Gilman is able to mix these elements into something that feels authentic and real to the reader.
While Gilman adheres stringently to the steps of a hero’s journey, it doesn’t feel forced or just a list of events that the main character has to go through. Instead there is a freshness and purity to the story that is lacking in many other novels.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and had a hard time putting it down. The book’s sequel Cold Eye, which will be published January 2017 is already on my pre-order list."
My only caveat in that interview is that it's Not A Trilogy, Damn It.
"[SILVER ON THE ROAD] has the rare ability to suck readers into a new world from the first chapter. Gilman lures the reader in with what appears to be a familiar setting, but surprises the reader with a bold reimagining of the Western myth and the Devil....The internal mythos of the Territory is a strange amalgam of Christianity, Native American Shamanism, and the inherent magic of the land. This strange mix sounds like it shouldn’t be able to meld into a coherent whole, but Gilman is able to mix these elements into something that feels authentic and real to the reader.
While Gilman adheres stringently to the steps of a hero’s journey, it doesn’t feel forced or just a list of events that the main character has to go through. Instead there is a freshness and purity to the story that is lacking in many other novels.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and had a hard time putting it down. The book’s sequel Cold Eye, which will be published January 2017 is already on my pre-order list."
My only caveat in that interview is that it's Not A Trilogy, Damn It.
September 1, 2016
I love it when readers point me at things...
Particularly, things that say of SILVER ON THE ROAD, "this book is SPECTACULAR."
BoookRiot discusses "10 Great Books that Feature the Devil."
Oh, and this, too!
Obsidian Wings' Summer Roundup
The idea that people are still finding the book a year after it was originally published gives my withered and battered soul hope, it does.
BoookRiot discusses "10 Great Books that Feature the Devil."
Oh, and this, too!
Obsidian Wings' Summer Roundup
The idea that people are still finding the book a year after it was originally published gives my withered and battered soul hope, it does.
August 24, 2016
Vacation!
Well, not exactly. Still chugging away at the words, because Deadline. But my mom is visiting from NYC, so we're going to be playing tourist for the next five days...
August 23, 2016
An Occasional Reminder of Stuff I wrote, part the second...
I started out authorial life as a horror writer. I still feel, in my darkest corners, like a horror writer (although not of the slash-and-gore variety).
The best example of my horror work (currently in print, anyway), is DRAGON VIRUS. Seven connected stories, or a linked-piece novella, however you want to consider it.
It began soon after the Millennium. Reports of newborns with strange malformations, too weak to live . . . caused by a single genetic mutation. Or, as the press quickly dubbed it, the Dragon Virus. Scientists predicted that it was an evolutionary dead end; that the mutation would burn itself out quickly; that it was nothing to be worried about.
They were wrong.
Every racial type. Almost every continent. No known cause. Human-created, maybe. Or just God, throwing the dice. Infecting us, warping us. Tied into our genetic code, from here on in. No known treatment. No idea where even to begin.
Everything was about to change.
With an introduction by Walter Jon Williams.
DRM-free ebook form Book View Cafe
Amazon
B&N
Audible
Signed & numbered hardcover from Fairwood Press (very few still available)
The best example of my horror work (currently in print, anyway), is DRAGON VIRUS. Seven connected stories, or a linked-piece novella, however you want to consider it.
It began soon after the Millennium. Reports of newborns with strange malformations, too weak to live . . . caused by a single genetic mutation. Or, as the press quickly dubbed it, the Dragon Virus. Scientists predicted that it was an evolutionary dead end; that the mutation would burn itself out quickly; that it was nothing to be worried about.
They were wrong.
Every racial type. Almost every continent. No known cause. Human-created, maybe. Or just God, throwing the dice. Infecting us, warping us. Tied into our genetic code, from here on in. No known treatment. No idea where even to begin.
Everything was about to change.
With an introduction by Walter Jon Williams.
“Stunningly successful…A potent ride through a changing future, exploring themes and ideas that resonate as much in the modern day as in her darkly evolving future.” —SF Signal
“A gripping adventure from start to finish, Dragon Virus is highly recommended.” —Midwest Book Review
“What would happen if a new, genetically linked virus should spread through the world? Laura Anne Gilman takes us on a tour of the aftermath of a change in the very nature of human society….with colorful characters and situations and an innovative slang to set the atmosphere.” —Critical Mass
DRM-free ebook form Book View Cafe
Amazon
B&N
Audible
Signed & numbered hardcover from Fairwood Press (very few still available)
August 21, 2016
An Occasional Reminder of Stuff I wrote, part the first...
I am reminded that I haven't done a full-on shill in a while. So hey, here goes some...
When magic and murder collide, a half-trained seer and a former NYC cop-turned-PI may be your last chance....
Four novellas, no waiting!
When magic and murder collide, a half-trained seer and a former NYC cop-turned-PI may be your last chance....
Four novellas, no waiting!
August 17, 2016
not so much killing time as tickling it until it pleads for mercy....
Taking a break while the second pot of coffee brews, and saw this over on
kradical
's blog, and figured, oh what the hell, let's.
1. ARE YOU NAMED AFTER SOMEONE? Not really. Jewish tradition is to take the first inital of a deceased relative of a different gender, and use that. So somewhere there's a male relative whose name began with L, but I don't know who it was.
2. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED? Breaking-down crying? A few days after my dad's funeral, this spring. But in general, letting tears escape is a healthy stress-reliever, and I don't keep track of it.
3. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING? Yes, because I can see influences of both my parents in it. It's not particularly pretty, but it gets the job done.
4. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT? Deli-roasted turkey.
5. DO YOU HAVE ANY KIDS? No (not counting anything with four legs)
6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON, WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS W/YOU? Yes, but I'd call myself out on my bullshit a lot.
7. DO YOU USE SARCASM? Less than I used to - it's better as a seasoning than the main dish.
8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS? *checks* ggh-huh.
9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE? I think about it periodically. I may yet.
10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL? Cheerios. No milk.
11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF? Only if they have laces.
12. DO YOU THINK YOU'RE STRONG? Are we talking mentally, emotionally, or physically? Because the answer varies.
13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM? really good home-made French Vanilla.
14. WHAT'S THE 1ST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT SOMEONE? Depends on how I encounter them! Voice, definitely. Hands. Eyes.
15. RED OR PINK? They're just different shades of the same appreciation.
16. WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVORITE THING YOU LIKE ABOUT YOURSELF? my overwhelming ability to procrastinate.
17. WHAT COLOR PANTS & SHOES ARE YOU WEARING RIGHT NOW? Grey, and none.
18. WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU ATE? Whole wheat toast with peanut butter.
19. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW? Construction outside, a cat snoring inside.
20. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE? Fleshtone.
21. FAVORITE SMELL? Mountain air.
22. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE? My mom. No, wait, my agent.
23. FAVORITE SPORT TO WATCH? n/a
24. REAL HAIR COLOR? Brown-ish.
25. EYE COLOR? Brown.
26. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS? Occasionally.
27. FAVORITE FOOD? Pick one? Forget about it.
28. SCARY MOVIE OR HAPPY ENDING? I prefer happy endings, but am not adverse to scary middles.
29. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED? SEA OF LOVE, on cable.
30. WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING? Blue
31. SUMMER OR WINTER? Winter.
32. HUGS OR KISSES? If you have to ask, you shouldn't be touching.
33. FAVORITE DESSERT? Brownies.
34. WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING? ...don't you mean BOOKS? Currently, "The Sorcerer of the Wildeeps" by Kai Ashante Wilson, and ROSES AND ROT by Kat Howard.
35. WHAT IS YOUR PROFILE PIC? a photo I took on a trip to Paris, years ago.
36. WHAT DID YOU WATCH ON TV LAST? the local news.
37. FAVORITE SOUND? cats snoring.
38. ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES? Neither.
39. WHAT IS THE FARTHEST YOU'VE BEEN FROM HOME? Israel.
40. DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT? Yes.
41. WHERE WERE YOU BORN? [redacted for security purposes]
kradical
's blog, and figured, oh what the hell, let's.1. ARE YOU NAMED AFTER SOMEONE? Not really. Jewish tradition is to take the first inital of a deceased relative of a different gender, and use that. So somewhere there's a male relative whose name began with L, but I don't know who it was.
2. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED? Breaking-down crying? A few days after my dad's funeral, this spring. But in general, letting tears escape is a healthy stress-reliever, and I don't keep track of it.
3. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING? Yes, because I can see influences of both my parents in it. It's not particularly pretty, but it gets the job done.
4. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT? Deli-roasted turkey.
5. DO YOU HAVE ANY KIDS? No (not counting anything with four legs)
6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON, WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS W/YOU? Yes, but I'd call myself out on my bullshit a lot.
7. DO YOU USE SARCASM? Less than I used to - it's better as a seasoning than the main dish.
8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS? *checks* ggh-huh.
9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE? I think about it periodically. I may yet.
10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL? Cheerios. No milk.
11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF? Only if they have laces.
12. DO YOU THINK YOU'RE STRONG? Are we talking mentally, emotionally, or physically? Because the answer varies.
13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM? really good home-made French Vanilla.
14. WHAT'S THE 1ST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT SOMEONE? Depends on how I encounter them! Voice, definitely. Hands. Eyes.
15. RED OR PINK? They're just different shades of the same appreciation.
16. WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVORITE THING YOU LIKE ABOUT YOURSELF? my overwhelming ability to procrastinate.
17. WHAT COLOR PANTS & SHOES ARE YOU WEARING RIGHT NOW? Grey, and none.
18. WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU ATE? Whole wheat toast with peanut butter.
19. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW? Construction outside, a cat snoring inside.
20. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE? Fleshtone.
21. FAVORITE SMELL? Mountain air.
22. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE? My mom. No, wait, my agent.
23. FAVORITE SPORT TO WATCH? n/a
24. REAL HAIR COLOR? Brown-ish.
25. EYE COLOR? Brown.
26. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS? Occasionally.
27. FAVORITE FOOD? Pick one? Forget about it.
28. SCARY MOVIE OR HAPPY ENDING? I prefer happy endings, but am not adverse to scary middles.
29. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED? SEA OF LOVE, on cable.
30. WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING? Blue
31. SUMMER OR WINTER? Winter.
32. HUGS OR KISSES? If you have to ask, you shouldn't be touching.
33. FAVORITE DESSERT? Brownies.
34. WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING? ...don't you mean BOOKS? Currently, "The Sorcerer of the Wildeeps" by Kai Ashante Wilson, and ROSES AND ROT by Kat Howard.
35. WHAT IS YOUR PROFILE PIC? a photo I took on a trip to Paris, years ago.
36. WHAT DID YOU WATCH ON TV LAST? the local news.
37. FAVORITE SOUND? cats snoring.
38. ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES? Neither.
39. WHAT IS THE FARTHEST YOU'VE BEEN FROM HOME? Israel.
40. DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT? Yes.
41. WHERE WERE YOU BORN? [redacted for security purposes]
August 15, 2016
It's not even a rant, it's exasperation from the grown-up seats.
I wasn't going to wade into the current WFC bruhaha (as opposed to past WFC bruhahas), because honestly this will probably continue until those who venerate Lovecraft et al over all other influences are dead, or at least out of the active field.
But look: if your idea of a celebration of world fantasy relies heavily on an old, long-dead, relevant-only-to-some-readers white male American literary figure, you're wrong. Not because you're racist or sexist, but because you're stuck in the 1970's. There has been fifty+ years of evolution in the world of fantasy the field that you're willfully blind to/ignored - more than an entire generation of readers and writers.
But hey, that in itself is not a terrible thing - everyone has their interests and if you don't want to pay attention to current trends and/or events, that's a personal choice. Just like many folk don't really care about writers who were working before 1980. But then recuse yourself from doing the programming for an event that is supposed to acknowledge ALL of the field: past, present and future. It's not that difficult: don't take on a volunteer job you know you're not qualified for or interested in.
But if you do, then getting pissy and throwing comments about "social justice warriors" (like that's something offensive) and the passive-aggressive version of "the lurkers support me in email" when many of your peers speak out against those choices? Just makes you look and sound like a badly-socialized five year old.
Nobody was impressed.
But look: if your idea of a celebration of world fantasy relies heavily on an old, long-dead, relevant-only-to-some-readers white male American literary figure, you're wrong. Not because you're racist or sexist, but because you're stuck in the 1970's. There has been fifty+ years of evolution in the world of fantasy the field that you're willfully blind to/ignored - more than an entire generation of readers and writers.
But hey, that in itself is not a terrible thing - everyone has their interests and if you don't want to pay attention to current trends and/or events, that's a personal choice. Just like many folk don't really care about writers who were working before 1980. But then recuse yourself from doing the programming for an event that is supposed to acknowledge ALL of the field: past, present and future. It's not that difficult: don't take on a volunteer job you know you're not qualified for or interested in.
But if you do, then getting pissy and throwing comments about "social justice warriors" (like that's something offensive) and the passive-aggressive version of "the lurkers support me in email" when many of your peers speak out against those choices? Just makes you look and sound like a badly-socialized five year old.
Nobody was impressed.
August 13, 2016
Somber Thoughts
Yesterday I went to visit a friend who has been hospitalized for more than a week with a yet-undiagnosed illness (they're ruled out most of the truly terrifying things, but not-knowing takes its own toll). I was reminded, quite starkly, of my own week's+ hospitalization nearly 20 years ago, and my recent stint in the hospital with my dad, at his life-end.
There are many things you don't think about, or don't consider urgent to have done, until you're stuck in a hospital bed. Life decisions that you might not be able to make, in an emergency.
Think about them now. Get them in writing. Get them witnessed/notarized, and then make sure that people know where this information is on file, in case you're not able to tell them in an emergency.
Yeah, we think we don't need any of this, not until we're older. Except emergencies and catastrophies don't GAF how old you are.
There are many things you don't think about, or don't consider urgent to have done, until you're stuck in a hospital bed. Life decisions that you might not be able to make, in an emergency.
Think about them now. Get them in writing. Get them witnessed/notarized, and then make sure that people know where this information is on file, in case you're not able to tell them in an emergency.
Yeah, we think we don't need any of this, not until we're older. Except emergencies and catastrophies don't GAF how old you are.
August 10, 2016
August 10th
Today would have been my dad's 85th birthday.
Raise a glass (or mug) if you would, please.
You did not go gentle. But you went with grace.
Raise a glass (or mug) if you would, please.
You did not go gentle. But you went with grace.
August 2, 2016
Moody's Weighs In.
For those who're hewing to the fiscal side of the election more than the social:
"This morning, Moody’s Analytics released a report concluding that Clinton’s economic plan would create 3.2 million jobs and accelerate growth of the nation’s gross domestic product (GDP). By contrast, earlier this month, a similar (albeit contested) Moody’s analysis of Trump’s economic plan estimated that it would reduce employment (by about 3.5 million jobs), reduce economic output, and prompt a painful recession."
(source)
Moody's assessment of Trump
Moody's assessment of Clinton
"This morning, Moody’s Analytics released a report concluding that Clinton’s economic plan would create 3.2 million jobs and accelerate growth of the nation’s gross domestic product (GDP). By contrast, earlier this month, a similar (albeit contested) Moody’s analysis of Trump’s economic plan estimated that it would reduce employment (by about 3.5 million jobs), reduce economic output, and prompt a painful recession."
(source)
Moody's assessment of Trump
Moody's assessment of Clinton
