Victoria Janssen's Blog, page 79

Living in the Future

I have purchased a Kindle! My first surprise, when I announced my purchase of an e-reader on Twitter, was how many people immediately demanded details. So I guess others have been pondering which e-reader, if any at all, just as much as I have.My decision was based on a whole string of factors including reviews, personal discussions, and, umm, me having a gift certificate.Before the actual

E-Galleys - Lost Sales, Gained Publicity

I've had people ask me why I think it's good to give out free books instead of selling them. Having been a reviewer, I know that regardless of my opinion on the matter, publishers want reviews and will send all kinds of things to reviewers in hope, even if the reviewer hasn't published a review in years. (Having served on an award jury, I also know that publicists will send books on the mere

Giveaway - The Duke & The Pirate Queen

I have received my author copies of The Duke & The Pirate Queen! Therefore, it is time for the Traditional Giving Away of A Signed Advance Copy.Comment on this post between now and midnight, U.S. Eastern Time, on November 14th. On Monday, November 15th, I'll use a randomizer to choose a winner and announce it in the blog.It's not required, but I'd appreciate it if your comment was amusing or

Siegfried Sassoon, "Wirers"

Wirers'Pass it along, the wiring party's going out'-- And yawning sentries mumble, 'Wirers going out.' Unravelling; twisting; hammering stakes with muffled thud, They toil with stealthy haste and anger in their blood. The Boche sends up a flare. Black forms stand rigid there,Stock-still like posts; then darkness, and the clumsy ghosts Stride hither and thither, whispering, tripped by

Siegfried Sassoon, "Break of Day"

Break of DayThere seemed a smell of autumn in the air At the bleak end of night; he shivered there In a dank, musty dug-out where he lay, Legs wrapped in sand-bags,--lumps of chalk and clay Spattering his face. Dry-mouthed, he thought, 'To-day We start the damned attack; and, Lord knows why, Zero's at nine; how bloody if I'm done in Under the freedom of that morning sky!' And then

Print Versus E-Book Smackdown!

I'm still--yes, still--thinking about getting an e-reader. As part of my decision-making process, I started thinking of why I would choose e-books over print, and vice versa.1. A good friend wrote the book. Then I might want the print version, so they could autograph it; particularly if it was their first book, which is special. However...I rarely read short stories, despite having piles of

Spotlight on Shveta Thakrar

I first met fantasy writer Shveta Thakrar when her writing group invited me to give a reading or talk about my writing. I chose to answer their questions about writing and my experiences with publishing, and a good time was had by all. My life is the richer for the friends I made that day.I was thinking about Shveta's journal recently as I gave advice to someone about their blog. Shveta

Reading Lessons

One of the reasons for my reading vacation was to refill my brain with stuff that I will, eventually, use to write. Letting new water seep into the well, as it were. Eventually, I will write again, and I don't want to have to dig that writing out of the dry and cracked ground of my brain with a pickaxe.(Another reason was that if I didn't get some hermit-time, I was going to start banging

Linkgasm of Fun

...sounds naughty, doesn't it?It's been a while since I posted a linkgasm, and in keeping with my recent week of vacation, here are some fun websites.Paula's Art and Illustration includes links to a large number of Flickr groups for vintage photos and illustrations.Old Time Candy from the 1950s on. I haven't yet ordered anything from them, but I have been tempted. It could be research.Radio Guy

Books Books Books

I had the most awesome vacation ever. Also, it was cheap!I traveled in my imagination, just like those library posters always told me I could. For an entire week, I did nothing much but read.I could very easily do it again. Right now.I began with White Cat by Holly Black, which I think is her best book so far (Though Valiant remains my favorite of her novels.) For such a short novel, it packs