David Anthony Durham's Blog, page 33
August 13, 2011
David Liss Interview
There's a nice interview with bestselling historical author David Liss over at Book(ed) Passage. He's promoting his new book, The Twelfth Enchantment.
He says lots of smart stuff, like:
"I always put character and story before research, so as much as possible, I try to bring in historical detail in such a way that it seems like an organic part of the novel, and not something tacked on or a duty to discharge."
Ah, yes, something I say often to aspiring historical novelists, and something I should remember as I return to historical material myself.
(Oh, and he mentions me!)
You can read the whole thing HERE.
He says lots of smart stuff, like:
"I always put character and story before research, so as much as possible, I try to bring in historical detail in such a way that it seems like an organic part of the novel, and not something tacked on or a duty to discharge."Ah, yes, something I say often to aspiring historical novelists, and something I should remember as I return to historical material myself.
(Oh, and he mentions me!)
You can read the whole thing HERE.
August 11, 2011
Fifty Indispensable African-American Novels
I don't know my about Accredited Online Colleges, but I do love this list they've come up with: Fifty Indispensable African-American Novels. It's in chronological order. While it includes a couple of autobiographies, it does strike me as a terrific list of essential African-American texts. Lots of books I've read. A few I suspect I should read.
Of course, I'm not mentioning it purely out of the goodness of my heart. My novel, Gabriel's Story, is on the list! I'm thrilled at that. I'm so deep in epic-fantasy land now that I almost forget that I began being a novelist by focusing on stories of African-American history. I'm still proud of those books, and I hope to write more like Gabriel's Story and Walk Through Darkness in the future.
Nice to reminded that the books aren't forgotten! And rather incredible to be on a list with writers I so admire. Go take a look!
Of course, I'm not mentioning it purely out of the goodness of my heart. My novel, Gabriel's Story, is on the list! I'm thrilled at that. I'm so deep in epic-fantasy land now that I almost forget that I began being a novelist by focusing on stories of African-American history. I'm still proud of those books, and I hope to write more like Gabriel's Story and Walk Through Darkness in the future.Nice to reminded that the books aren't forgotten! And rather incredible to be on a list with writers I so admire. Go take a look!
August 10, 2011
I've Been Punk'd
The NPR story below is about the Verizon workers strike that's currently in effect. Of note - not that they explain it - is when the reporter mentions that Verizon claims to have suffered sabotage at striking workers hands. I wish they made more of this, because I can attest to it. I got punk'd by a Verizon employee, and because of it I haven't had phone service since Sunday and don't know when I will have phone service!
Or... maybe I didn't get punk'd by a striking worker. Maybe it was one of the managers left on duty that messed up my phone because of incompetence. Which is it? I'm not sure. You tell me.
So, as we're about to rent out our house, I've been doing lots of small (and large) projects around the house. One thing I'd noticed was that our phone junction box had come a bit loose and was missing a screw. I called them last week and asked for somebody to come buy and just secure the box properly. Appointment was set for Monday.
On Sunday I was surprised to find a Verizon van showing up. A day early? Well, alright, I thought, nothing wrong with that. The guy was, in retrospect, a little ill at ease, but he was a Verizon employee and I had put in for a service call. So I thought nothing of it. It took him all of five minutes to do the work, and then he left. Fine, right?
Nope. Later I tried to use the phone. Nothing. No dial tone. Not a sound on it. Let me be clear. My phone service was fine before the guy came out; when he left, it didn't work. Not only didn't it work, but I also can't call Verizon because the people who answer the phones are on strike too. I'm screwed. For all I know, Verizon doesn't even know that my phone is out, though I've tried calling, emailing and requesting service online. Nothing really seems to work.
Of course, I didn't know about the strike until after they guy left. Now it seems possible that some workers, like him, were on missions to disrupt service and turn the screws on their bosses. Thing is, the only one suffering in this case is me. Who knows when I'll get my phone back? And the timing couldn't be worse as I'm leaving the country in a week. I have phone calls to make! And I have renters coming in that are going to want a phone. For that matter, I'm pissed because I feel actually endangered. My house in the woods doesn't have cell-phone service. If there's an emergency... If I have a heart attack or something, I'm screwed.
Now, I don't plan on doing that - have a heart attack, I mean. But the point is that that worker didn't know anything about me or my family when he guaranteed disruption of my phone. If that's what happened it's stupid. Annoying. Ironic, too. I'm the type of guy that supports workers rights, that's pro-union in general. I want these employees to have decent pay and healthcare, etc. I also want this employee to come back to my house so I can punch him in the belly.
Or... maybe I'm wrong. I have doubt. You see, I just went out saw some Verizon workers picketing. I stopped and had a chat. I explained my support of their complaints, and told my story. The guys I spoke to assured me that no union worker would do that stuff. They say there were all off work all day Sunday, since the strike went into effect before that. What they think happened is that one of the managers came out to the house instead. This manager, not really knowing what he was doing, caused the problem. Snapped a wire. Made a mistake of some sort. Seems kinda plausible...
So now I'm left not knowing what to think. I just wish I could pick up the phone and voice that annoyance to somebody! Get somebody to fix it!
Or... maybe I didn't get punk'd by a striking worker. Maybe it was one of the managers left on duty that messed up my phone because of incompetence. Which is it? I'm not sure. You tell me.
So, as we're about to rent out our house, I've been doing lots of small (and large) projects around the house. One thing I'd noticed was that our phone junction box had come a bit loose and was missing a screw. I called them last week and asked for somebody to come buy and just secure the box properly. Appointment was set for Monday.
On Sunday I was surprised to find a Verizon van showing up. A day early? Well, alright, I thought, nothing wrong with that. The guy was, in retrospect, a little ill at ease, but he was a Verizon employee and I had put in for a service call. So I thought nothing of it. It took him all of five minutes to do the work, and then he left. Fine, right?
Nope. Later I tried to use the phone. Nothing. No dial tone. Not a sound on it. Let me be clear. My phone service was fine before the guy came out; when he left, it didn't work. Not only didn't it work, but I also can't call Verizon because the people who answer the phones are on strike too. I'm screwed. For all I know, Verizon doesn't even know that my phone is out, though I've tried calling, emailing and requesting service online. Nothing really seems to work.
Of course, I didn't know about the strike until after they guy left. Now it seems possible that some workers, like him, were on missions to disrupt service and turn the screws on their bosses. Thing is, the only one suffering in this case is me. Who knows when I'll get my phone back? And the timing couldn't be worse as I'm leaving the country in a week. I have phone calls to make! And I have renters coming in that are going to want a phone. For that matter, I'm pissed because I feel actually endangered. My house in the woods doesn't have cell-phone service. If there's an emergency... If I have a heart attack or something, I'm screwed.
Now, I don't plan on doing that - have a heart attack, I mean. But the point is that that worker didn't know anything about me or my family when he guaranteed disruption of my phone. If that's what happened it's stupid. Annoying. Ironic, too. I'm the type of guy that supports workers rights, that's pro-union in general. I want these employees to have decent pay and healthcare, etc. I also want this employee to come back to my house so I can punch him in the belly.
Or... maybe I'm wrong. I have doubt. You see, I just went out saw some Verizon workers picketing. I stopped and had a chat. I explained my support of their complaints, and told my story. The guys I spoke to assured me that no union worker would do that stuff. They say there were all off work all day Sunday, since the strike went into effect before that. What they think happened is that one of the managers came out to the house instead. This manager, not really knowing what he was doing, caused the problem. Snapped a wire. Made a mistake of some sort. Seems kinda plausible...
So now I'm left not knowing what to think. I just wish I could pick up the phone and voice that annoyance to somebody! Get somebody to fix it!
August 9, 2011
A Ray Of Light
Gloom, gloom, gloom. There's so much to be gloomy about. As I'm packing up the house and readying for my move, I've been listening to NPR pretty much constantly. Shouldn't do that. It's great news, but... well, the news is rather grim and discouraging in lots of ways.
As a writer, publishing news has been pretty dismal the last few years as well. That's why I'm particularly pleased by this article in the New York Times: Publishing Gives Hints of Revival, Data Show. It seems publishing is on the mend, some of that rocky transition to e-books has been made, and - folks - things are looking up!
A quote from the article: "It shows that the industry as a whole is really healthy," Ms. Raccah said. "That, I think, is exciting. You're seeing an industry that is transforming itself."
Good news. How about that?
As a writer, publishing news has been pretty dismal the last few years as well. That's why I'm particularly pleased by this article in the New York Times: Publishing Gives Hints of Revival, Data Show. It seems publishing is on the mend, some of that rocky transition to e-books has been made, and - folks - things are looking up!
A quote from the article: "It shows that the industry as a whole is really healthy," Ms. Raccah said. "That, I think, is exciting. You're seeing an industry that is transforming itself."
Good news. How about that?
August 6, 2011
Clarkesworld Interview Part 2
The second part in a large round table discussion on epic fantasy at Clarkesworld Magazine in online. It includes input from a wide array of authors, including James Barclay, Elizabeth Bear, Terry Brooks, Trudi Canavan, Rowena Cory Daniells, Kate Elliott, Steven Erikson and Ian C. Esslemont, N. K. Jemisin, Peter Orullian, Patrick Rothfuss, Brandon Sanderson - and many others. Me too!
If you're interested, take a look HERE.
If you're interested, take a look HERE.
August 2, 2011
Enough About Me...
My wife, the knitwear designer Gudrun Johnston, just posted about her most recent sweater pattern on her blog. It's lovely. All of her designs are, but with this one I'm reminded how unique her style is, how recognizable. Perhaps I appreciate it all the more because I'm going into like a fourth week without her - or my kids!Can you believe she not only knit this garment, but designed it? I see her do it all the time, but it's totally beyond me. (Although, that said, she's famous for having very clear and accurate instructions in her pattern designs.)
Anyway, I just wanted to mention it. The image here is of the sweater (on a model). If you had any interest in checking out more of her stuff (or want to send any knitters you know toward her) you could enter her site HERE.
August 1, 2011
The Sacred Band... REVIEWED!
The first of the big pre-publication reviews just came in. It's from Publishers Weekly, probably the main industry magazine for book reviews and news about publishing. I'm very pleased to pass on their words to you, a STARRED, very positive review...
(Regarding spoiler stuff. The review doesn't really give away anything from this book, but it does mention something that happens at the end of the previous book. If you don't want to know what that is, you might not want to read this. In that case, suffice it to say that the called the book a "triumphant conclusion". But if you want the details of what they said, read on...)
The Sacred Band: Book 3 of the Acacia Trilogy
David Anthony Durham
Doubleday, $26.95 (576p) ISBN 978-0-307-73968-1
This triumphant conclusion to the Acacia trilogy vindicates Durham's resurrection of a major character in 2009's The Other Lands. Corinn Akaran, queen of Acacia, used her ever-growing magical powers to revive her brother Aliver to aid her defense of her kingdom. But there are no simple resolutions to the challenges facing Corinn and her siblings, and the gap widens between the means she employs and the ends she pursues. Durham provides a graphic and chilling look at how far Corinn is willing to go to advance her cause as she brutally massacres opposing armies, and that's just the beginning. A smooth plot, Corinn's well-developed character, and Durham's stellar prose and rich imagination will have many traditional fantasy fans hoping for future books set in this turbulent world. (Oct.)
(Regarding spoiler stuff. The review doesn't really give away anything from this book, but it does mention something that happens at the end of the previous book. If you don't want to know what that is, you might not want to read this. In that case, suffice it to say that the called the book a "triumphant conclusion". But if you want the details of what they said, read on...)
The Sacred Band: Book 3 of the Acacia Trilogy
David Anthony Durham
Doubleday, $26.95 (576p) ISBN 978-0-307-73968-1
This triumphant conclusion to the Acacia trilogy vindicates Durham's resurrection of a major character in 2009's The Other Lands. Corinn Akaran, queen of Acacia, used her ever-growing magical powers to revive her brother Aliver to aid her defense of her kingdom. But there are no simple resolutions to the challenges facing Corinn and her siblings, and the gap widens between the means she employs and the ends she pursues. Durham provides a graphic and chilling look at how far Corinn is willing to go to advance her cause as she brutally massacres opposing armies, and that's just the beginning. A smooth plot, Corinn's well-developed character, and Durham's stellar prose and rich imagination will have many traditional fantasy fans hoping for future books set in this turbulent world. (Oct.)
July 31, 2011
Wishing I Could Talk To The Dog
I can, of course. I do all the time.
"There's a good boy."
"Want a treat?"
"Leave the cat alone!"
"Saba, go to your mat!"
I say all those things daily, but I mean really talk to the dog. I mean explain to him in-depth why most of his pack has abandoned him. Why it's only him and I in a house that's a little bit more packed away and empty every day. I wish I could've explained to him why I left him with some guy he didn't know for three weeks. I'm back now, but we're hardly a pack of two.
Alas, I can't, so we get a lot of this...
We have a little over two more weeks of this. And then?
And then I'll be wishing I could explain to him why I'm putting his crate in a van and driving to Boston, why I'm putting him on a plane and flying him across the Atlantic, and then why we'll be spending another day driving from London dead North until we hit the heart of Scotland. I wish I could explain to him that once all that's done his pack will be there to greet him. They'll shower him with love. There will be that boy that plays Saba-stick with him. And that girl that cuddles him. And the alpha-mom, she'll be there too. They'll be a lovely enclosed lawn and garden to dash about in, and lots of cows nearby to eyeball. I wish he knew that he'll soon be taking epic walks through Scottish moorland, up mountains and through hills swarming with rabbits.
Alas, I can't.
It's funny being a dog owner. It doesn't at all occur to me that I should be saying all the same things to the cat. The cat's fine. The dog, however...
Well, we'll take walks. He'll get extra treats. And all will eventually be well.
"There's a good boy."
"Want a treat?"
"Leave the cat alone!"
"Saba, go to your mat!"
I say all those things daily, but I mean really talk to the dog. I mean explain to him in-depth why most of his pack has abandoned him. Why it's only him and I in a house that's a little bit more packed away and empty every day. I wish I could've explained to him why I left him with some guy he didn't know for three weeks. I'm back now, but we're hardly a pack of two.
Alas, I can't, so we get a lot of this...
We have a little over two more weeks of this. And then?
And then I'll be wishing I could explain to him why I'm putting his crate in a van and driving to Boston, why I'm putting him on a plane and flying him across the Atlantic, and then why we'll be spending another day driving from London dead North until we hit the heart of Scotland. I wish I could explain to him that once all that's done his pack will be there to greet him. They'll shower him with love. There will be that boy that plays Saba-stick with him. And that girl that cuddles him. And the alpha-mom, she'll be there too. They'll be a lovely enclosed lawn and garden to dash about in, and lots of cows nearby to eyeball. I wish he knew that he'll soon be taking epic walks through Scottish moorland, up mountains and through hills swarming with rabbits.
Alas, I can't.
It's funny being a dog owner. It doesn't at all occur to me that I should be saying all the same things to the cat. The cat's fine. The dog, however...
Well, we'll take walks. He'll get extra treats. And all will eventually be well.
July 27, 2011
Hear Me Roar!
Not really. Hear me... talk. How about that?
Shawn Speakman at Suvudu.com was kind enough to carve out some interview time for me at Comic-Con. I was in there with the big hitters, literally. (Just after my interview, I had to clear out for Pat Rothuss to interview Jim Butcher!)
Anyway, I don't think I did too poorly, but you can judge for yourself: the interview is HERE.
Shawn Speakman at Suvudu.com was kind enough to carve out some interview time for me at Comic-Con. I was in there with the big hitters, literally. (Just after my interview, I had to clear out for Pat Rothuss to interview Jim Butcher!)
Anyway, I don't think I did too poorly, but you can judge for yourself: the interview is HERE.
July 25, 2011
MTV Geek On The Wild Cards Panel At Comic-Con
Just back from the West Coast, where I did a number of cool things, including Comic-Con! I could tell you all about it, but I'm knackered. I'll let this wonderful person from MTV Geek tell you about one of the things I did - a Wild Cards panel with George RR Martin. Tons of fun. Huge audience. And, if you can believe it, I got through without saying anything really stupid. Relief on that.
The MTV piece is HERE.
The MTV piece is HERE.
