Laura Anne Gilman's Blog, page 33
June 10, 2015
grrr. argh.
"Hi, yeah, we forgot to pass along your payments but we're not admitting any culpability in your account being suspended for non-payment" strikes again.
I don't want to burn the world. Just parts of it.
I don't want to burn the world. Just parts of it.
My .02, from a purely business POV....
Since everyone else has their .02 on the recent Tor/Puppies kerfuffle, here's mine from a purely (mostly) business perspective.
(backstory for those who've missed it and want to catch up)
If you are not a corporate officer, or an acknowledged Corporate Spokesperson, you should not be presumed to speak for the company. If an employee says something that could hurt the company (negatively influencing a merger, causing stock prices to fall, etc) then they should be dealt with internally (NOT on the front page of your website). Merely expressing personal opinions on a matter affecting the entire industry? Is still free speech, for good or ill, unless said employee has signed an NDA/gag order, which to the best of my knowledge is not part of Tor's employment package.
And if someone complains about someone else's free speech? That's also free speech. That's how it works, however annoying it may become.
In my observation, Tom Doherty's reacting the way he did - while ignoring other comments on the topic, interestingly enough said by MEN - has caused more potential harm to Tor Books than anything any employee could have done.
(and this comes AFTER Tor Books allowed a reported sexual predator in their employ to quietly resign, without a similar public apology from Tom to those the employee had abused. Which...yeah.)
*sighs*
(backstory for those who've missed it and want to catch up)
If you are not a corporate officer, or an acknowledged Corporate Spokesperson, you should not be presumed to speak for the company. If an employee says something that could hurt the company (negatively influencing a merger, causing stock prices to fall, etc) then they should be dealt with internally (NOT on the front page of your website). Merely expressing personal opinions on a matter affecting the entire industry? Is still free speech, for good or ill, unless said employee has signed an NDA/gag order, which to the best of my knowledge is not part of Tor's employment package.
And if someone complains about someone else's free speech? That's also free speech. That's how it works, however annoying it may become.
In my observation, Tom Doherty's reacting the way he did - while ignoring other comments on the topic, interestingly enough said by MEN - has caused more potential harm to Tor Books than anything any employee could have done.
(and this comes AFTER Tor Books allowed a reported sexual predator in their employ to quietly resign, without a similar public apology from Tom to those the employee had abused. Which...yeah.)
*sighs*
June 9, 2015
That's the plan, anyway...
This morning will be spent Responding to Emails. This afternoon will be spent Pouring Wine (or, if it's slow, doing inventory, wooo!). The rest of this week.... DEADLINE KILLING.
Ahem. Someone bring me my sword and a bucket of red ink
Ahem. Someone bring me my sword and a bucket of red ink
June 6, 2015
excuse me while I preen....
Occasionally (often) I pause and wonder WTF I'm hoping to do with these books - these incredibly complicated yet seemingly simple books, with their short story voice and their long-form goals, their delicate language and blunt characterizations, and I kinda weep for any of it ever working.
And then I write something like this, and I think "yeah, fuck it, who cares, this is fucking gorgeous."
-----------------------
Gabriel dreamed of death.
He stood in the middle of a creek bed, dry and mud-cracked, the sun cold and heavy on his bare shoulders, and knew that he should not turn around, that the night bird waited for him.
Not for you.
“That doesn’t make it better.” His dream-voice was higher, lighter, the voice of a child, not a man. That was how the dreamspace saw him, Old Woman had said. Foolish, but teachable.
Be careful, Two Voices.
He was always careful. Too careful, Old Woman had said, in a tone that said it wasn’t a good thing, not like a hunter was careful, but like a coward.
Gabriel had never denied it.
And then I write something like this, and I think "yeah, fuck it, who cares, this is fucking gorgeous."
-----------------------
Gabriel dreamed of death.
He stood in the middle of a creek bed, dry and mud-cracked, the sun cold and heavy on his bare shoulders, and knew that he should not turn around, that the night bird waited for him.
Not for you.
“That doesn’t make it better.” His dream-voice was higher, lighter, the voice of a child, not a man. That was how the dreamspace saw him, Old Woman had said. Foolish, but teachable.
Be careful, Two Voices.
He was always careful. Too careful, Old Woman had said, in a tone that said it wasn’t a good thing, not like a hunter was careful, but like a coward.
Gabriel had never denied it.
June 3, 2015
On writing, and the side-gig
Sometimes the right word, historically, is the wrong word for modern comprehension. This never fails to frustrate. *glares at vocabulary* Also, having the perfect line, and realizing that it requires the reader to remember a worldbuilding fact that was given to them about 40,000 words prior (and once in the previous book), without a trigger to recall said context.
I am able to accept that I'm being too subtle/expecting too much of 98% of readers. But perfect line was still perfect and I shall mourn it.
I have also realized that some of my characters are written so certain actors will be the right age to play them in 5-10 years. Wise - and ever-hopeful - lizard brain!
Meanwhile, it is June, and I am informed that Tourist Season is about to hit the wine tourism industry. Which means that my (relatively) quiet weekday shifts will likely be less quiet. This is all to the good (slow shifts are boring) but also means that - between adjusting to that and the book being due in a month, plus the fact-checking road trip coming up - the next 4-6 weeks are going to be.... well, exhausting on all fronts. I apologize in advance for any incoherence.
I am able to accept that I'm being too subtle/expecting too much of 98% of readers. But perfect line was still perfect and I shall mourn it.
I have also realized that some of my characters are written so certain actors will be the right age to play them in 5-10 years. Wise - and ever-hopeful - lizard brain!
Meanwhile, it is June, and I am informed that Tourist Season is about to hit the wine tourism industry. Which means that my (relatively) quiet weekday shifts will likely be less quiet. This is all to the good (slow shifts are boring) but also means that - between adjusting to that and the book being due in a month, plus the fact-checking road trip coming up - the next 4-6 weeks are going to be.... well, exhausting on all fronts. I apologize in advance for any incoherence.
June 2, 2015
Home! (and updatery)
I had a lovely, if brief visit in NYC, getting to see friends and have meals with friends, and just hang out with friends, despite our incredibly busy, indeed hectic lives.
(in one instance we literally had time for HALF a cup of coffee. But that was lovely too)
And then to Boston, for my mom's 80th birthday party with family and friends and friends-who-are-family. And the weather was PERFECT (sunny, warm, not TOO warm), and then the rains came and did not stop for two days. Gilman weather luck strikes again.
And now I am home, and the cats have been reclaimed, and the new book is due in 29 days, plus graduations and editorial work and social gatherings, and a short story I need to revise, and the side-gig shifts, and the Research* Road Trip....
Hi! How're YOU doing?
*actually the Fact-Checking Road Trip, but that is less tripping on the tongue
(in one instance we literally had time for HALF a cup of coffee. But that was lovely too)
And then to Boston, for my mom's 80th birthday party with family and friends and friends-who-are-family. And the weather was PERFECT (sunny, warm, not TOO warm), and then the rains came and did not stop for two days. Gilman weather luck strikes again.
And now I am home, and the cats have been reclaimed, and the new book is due in 29 days, plus graduations and editorial work and social gatherings, and a short story I need to revise, and the side-gig shifts, and the Research* Road Trip....
Hi! How're YOU doing?
*actually the Fact-Checking Road Trip, but that is less tripping on the tongue
May 28, 2015
Currently on the Road...
Well, no, I'm currently in the city - NYC to be exact - and thence on to Boston, for Family-Related Celebrations And Stuff.
Also: under deadlines.
Content and Connectivity will be variable for a while.
Meanwhile - have you ordered your copy of CLAWED yet?
Have you pre-ordered your copy of SILVER ON THE ROAD yet?
Have you caught up with the first two Sylvan Investigation novellas, before the 3rd one comes out?
/obligatory promotional memo, cause the kittens need their kibble
Also: under deadlines.
Content and Connectivity will be variable for a while.
Meanwhile - have you ordered your copy of CLAWED yet?
Have you pre-ordered your copy of SILVER ON THE ROAD yet?
Have you caught up with the first two Sylvan Investigation novellas, before the 3rd one comes out?
/obligatory promotional memo, cause the kittens need their kibble
May 26, 2015
Drink, er, READ up!
The 4th Gin & Tonic mystery,CLAWED, is out today!
Which means all 4 Gin & Tonic mysteries are now available for your binging pleasure.
Read Responsibily!
(ah, screw that. Read irresponsibly! Read wildly, flagrantly, with mad abandon. Wallow in words!)
Which means all 4 Gin & Tonic mysteries are now available for your binging pleasure.
Read Responsibily!
(ah, screw that. Read irresponsibly! Read wildly, flagrantly, with mad abandon. Wallow in words!)
May 25, 2015
progress...
Sent agent email with proposed title of new book. Have not yet gotten panicked "oh god no that's horrible no!" response.
Next up: editor.
Here, have some non-spoilery bits:
The ‘post’ wasn’t a post at all, not like she’d been expecting. Instead, there was a collection of bones hung on the stockade wall, some held there by thick rusty nails, others seemingly wedged into the wood like they’d grown there. Some were the size of her hand, others longer, some bleached white and others crackling-brown with age and weather, and Isobel reached out her own hand to touch one, only to pull her fingers back as though she’d been slapped.
“What is this?”
Lou’s brows drew together in confusion, her head tilting as she looked first at Isobel, then at the bones, then back at Isobel. “The wards,” as though a child should have known that.
Next up: editor.
Here, have some non-spoilery bits:
The ‘post’ wasn’t a post at all, not like she’d been expecting. Instead, there was a collection of bones hung on the stockade wall, some held there by thick rusty nails, others seemingly wedged into the wood like they’d grown there. Some were the size of her hand, others longer, some bleached white and others crackling-brown with age and weather, and Isobel reached out her own hand to touch one, only to pull her fingers back as though she’d been slapped.
“What is this?”
Lou’s brows drew together in confusion, her head tilting as she looked first at Isobel, then at the bones, then back at Isobel. “The wards,” as though a child should have known that.
May 24, 2015
This is only just to say...
This is my first time working a holiday weeken at a tasting room, and so far all I have to say is that it's the fun, happy-making kind of ohmyfuckinggod exhausting. :-)
And one of the more amusing moments came when a group of 30-somethings came in on Friday, and were teasing each other, and one of them said something that was on the surface reasonably innocent but really wasn't, and I cracked up - and they saw that and were all "she knows what that meant!"
Oh, children. Yes, you invented innuendo and gay slang, you totally did. But we rolled with it, causing me to at one point say "don't tease the person pouring your wine." And they became perfect little angels. :-)
ANYway...
The next three days are going to be kind of CRAMMED with things offscreen (I've got a draft to finish, plus two tasting room shifts to work and cats to haul to the catsitters before I head to NYC/Boston), so I may be least-in-sight for a bit.
And one of the more amusing moments came when a group of 30-somethings came in on Friday, and were teasing each other, and one of them said something that was on the surface reasonably innocent but really wasn't, and I cracked up - and they saw that and were all "she knows what that meant!"
Oh, children. Yes, you invented innuendo and gay slang, you totally did. But we rolled with it, causing me to at one point say "don't tease the person pouring your wine." And they became perfect little angels. :-)
ANYway...
The next three days are going to be kind of CRAMMED with things offscreen (I've got a draft to finish, plus two tasting room shifts to work and cats to haul to the catsitters before I head to NYC/Boston), so I may be least-in-sight for a bit.
And I seem to have a book launching into the world somewhere in there. Huh. Fancy that.
So if you miss me, you could always show the love by, oh, going to pick up a copy of CLAWED, which lands on Tuesday, officially, or maybe leaving a review for one of the earlier Kornetsky books on your favorite social media or bookselling site...
