Kalayna Price's Blog, page 6

Hallo Deutschland!

There are milestones in every career. In publishing, the first of these milestones is probably the very first time you write the magical words "The End" followed by new markers at each stage of your career. Each is new and exciting, and I'm very happy to announce that today I've crossed one of those milestones.

Today my very first foreign language book hits shelves!


DER KUSS DER EWIGKEIT is the German language version of ONCE BITTEN, the first novel of Haven. As has probably become apparent in previous posts, I don't speak a word of German, so I'm using a translator. But,  to my new German readers who stumble on this post, I just want to say:

Vielen Dank für das Lesen der Kuss der Ewigkeit! Ich hoffe, Sie genießen das Buch! 
(That should translate to "Thank you for reading The Kiss of Eternity. I hope you enjoy the book!" --or at least I hope that's what it says and that I haven't announced I'm a jelly doughnut. ^_^)

Have a great Monday everyone!  -Kalayna Price

Reasearch: Folklore

Hey everyone. This is a fly by post as I am counting down the hours (and words) until a looming deadline.

I've received a lot of questions recently about the research books I use in my writing, particularly for my Faeries and magic. Of course, I make a lot of things up (I am a writer after all) but especially in the Alex Craft novels, I like to incorporate some traditional folklore. And as I can't run off to the UK to hear these stories first hand (those that are left in the oral tradition, that is--so much has been lost). My main source for research is from books.

 I've slowly been scanning my research books into goodreads (love their iphone bar-code reader--though some of my books are too old to have bar codes) and I've finally managed to get a decent number of my folklore books scanned into the goodreads system.  Which means I can share them with you!  The ones I recommend most have the highest star ratings, but just because I haven't added stars yet doesn't mean I don't like the book--it might be that I haven't decided yet or just haven't had time to review it recently enough to to make my suggestion (as a whole, I only have a few complete flops on my shelves, but I don't think I scanned any of them into this list).

Anyway, for those looking for more information on Faeries and Folklore, here is a decent list to start perusing.  Enjoy!





Kalayna's bookshelf: folklore




More of Kalayna's books »



And, for anyone curious, here is my wishlist of books I'm hoping to get my hands on in the futre (at least, the ones listed on Amazon). As I haven't actually read any of them, I can't vouch for their quality, but they do look interesting: Wishlist .

And that's a look into one aspect of my research reading habits. I hope this helps those looking to learn more about classic folklore!-Kalayna Price

A Signing and the German cover for Grave Witch

Hey everyone. I have two exciting bits of information to share today. The first is that I will be participating in the Booknack's annual Author Festival this Saturday (December 10th). There will be authors signing books throughout the day, and I'm slotted to sign between 5 and 7pm, so if you're in the Rock Hill or surrounding area, I hope to see you there!

As my second bit of news, I'm very excited to share that a facebook friend linked me to the German cover for Grave Witch (yes, a friend found it before I did, these things happen).  According to Babel Fish translator, the German title is Of death entices. (If you speak German and that translation is wrong, please let me know as I'm trusting a computer translator and they tend toward unreliable.) I thought that title sounded skeptical. Thank you Mary Lee for the correct translation of the title as Seduced by Death.  (Gee, I wonder which character the German editor likes best. LOL)

So what do you think?

Personally, I think it's a striking cover, and the model is definitely cute--but I have no idea who he is supposed to be. No dark haired, blue eyed, mustached hunks in this particular book. That is a kickass tattoo though. ^_^

Okay, that's it for me today. I hope to see you this weekend at the signing!-Kalayna Price

Shameless Plug--Goodreads Choice Awards

Hey everyone. I just found out GRAVE DANCE is in the semifinals of the 2011 Goodreads Choice Awards in the Paranormal Fantasy section! This is apparently the second round of the competition, so everyone who voted in the first--you totally rock! Thank you!

The selection in this category is awesome--many of my top favorite authors/books from this year are in there. I can't believe I'm grouped in with such awesome writers! To check out all the nominees and cast your vote, click HERE. (I'm not begging for votes because let's face it, there are lots of really awesome books on the list, but if you read and enjoyed Grave Dance, I'd definitely appreciate the vote!)

In other news, I saw the cover for Grave Memory today. So pretty. I can't wait until I can share it with you. (Yes, I'm a tease ^_^)

Happy Monday everyone!-Kalayna Price

11-11-11 is World Hoop Day

Every year hoopers celebrate world hoop day by going out to spread the joy of hoop dance to others. While I plan to attend local outreach events in my community, I decided that this year I'd also attempt to reach all of you out in cyber land. So I recorded a  quick video about WHD, why I love hoop dance, and some very basic starting steps for those interested in picking up the best dance partner you'll ever have--a hoop! And, of course, I jam out a little at the end.

I hope you enjoy:




Happy World Hoop Day everyone!-Kalayna Price

Changing times--A look at ebooks and the evolution of digital media

Things are changing quickly these days. Some of these changes inspire wonder as new technology entertains us or makes our lives easier. Some inspire dread and fear as many of these same changing technologies seem to be the harbinger of destruction for traditions and institutions we've come to know and love.

And yet, things have always changed. Perhaps not so quickly as they do now where most high-end tech is outdated within six months of hitting the shelves, but they've always changed. In visual entertainment, reels gave way to Beta to VHS to DVD to Blueray/HD and digital. In music, records gave way to cassette tapes, to CDs, and now to digital. Movies/television and music are two popular de-stressing pastimes most people partake in. Reading is another. Should we be surprised that traditional printed books are also moving toward digital in the form of e-books?

The transition between technologies seems to grow ever shorter. I'll admit that though I still have some favorite VHS tapes from childhood, I haven't owned a VCR since highschool, and even my DVD's I find to be a less preferred format to digital which with home sharing and apple tv I can watch anything in my library from any tv (or ipad) in my house with just a couple clicks of a button. I don't have a CD player in my house, and only purchase CDs when I'm at a concert and want to get them signed. Of course, once I get home I import them to itunes and permanently shelf the CD. Movements toward such digital dependence never would have occurred without MP3 players and streaming devices like the apple TV. Now that dedicated e-reading devices are easily accessible and reasonably priced  (the new kindle is cheaper than an ipod nano) will they become the preferred vehicle for reading?

The benefits are much the same with all media moving toward digital. A definite plus is the drastic reduction of physical space needed for storing a collection, which means not only more room in your house, but one can carry a plethora of choices in a small handbag with minimal added weight. The ability to buy digital copies at any time  day or night from nearly any location is also a bonus (though can lead to dangerously impulsive splurges). As a whole one doesn't have to worry about damages associated with previous formats such as scratched cds/dvds or torn/smudged pages.

But there are frightening negatives as well. File corruption is always a fear, though that one is decreasing now that most companies offer offsite backups of purchases, but I acutely remember several friends who lost hundreds of dollars in music when their hard drives gave up the ghost, taking all their digital purchases with them. Some had backups of most of the music. At least two did not. As stated earlier, this is becoming less of an issue as most media providers allow you to redownload previous purchases, but what happens if their company goes under? Or if something happens to their servers? A physical book could get destroyed in fire or flood, but you will never pull a book off your shelf, open it, and suddenly find the book has glitched and is now filled with a jumble of indecipherable code (unless you spontaneously lose the ability to read the language it is written in, I suppose. LOL). Then there are compatibility issues. I'm sure this will eventually be resolved, but most e-stores sell e-books in proprietary formats which other e-readers will not open. If you switch devices (because let's face it, how long do most people hold onto tech these days before upgrading, 3-4 years? maybe less?) you have a possibility of losing access to your previously purchased library. Digital music has become much more standardized, so I imagine other media will be eventually, but when it does, will you be able to upgrade your library or are your purchases lost and stuck in a time vortex?

All of that said, books are different than other entertainment media in a very important way. Music and movies have always required special hardware to be enjoyed and once those formats became outdated not only were the formats hard to find but the hardware needed to play them eventually broke down and replacements became scarce and/or expensive. A physical book is and always has been self contained.  Barring disaster, any book you own will always 'work' when you go to read it, its format will not become outdated, and it will never need to be recharged. The movement toward digital changes that, putting it on the same level as other media. How many of you have found yourself once again buying an old favorite movie because the previous format(s) no longer play with your current setup?

I don't think anyone makes VHS or Cassette tapes anymore. I can't even remember the last time I saw these formats on a shelf. DVD and CD formats can be found, but walk into any store that sells them and you'll probably notice that the sections devoted to them are much smaller. Of course, almost all stores carry less physical product on the shelves than they used to, and bookstores are certainly not immune. The midlist authors are all but gone. New titles have less time than ever to make their mark, and even titles which sell are restocked at smaller numbers.

Hard economic times, increased online shopping, e-books, or any combination of the above could very well be to blame. And yet, studies show that more people are reading more books than ever, and that is being contributed to the rise of e-books and the ease e-readers enable people to impulse buy books. Of course, at the same time, e-readers all but eliminate browsing so while more books are selling, they tend to be only those that make a big enough splash to show up on e-reader charts or under recommendations. With a glut e-books hitting the market every day, breaking in and finding an audience is actually getting harder.

So what will happen to the paperback? Is it to go the way of the Betamax and VHS? Or does its physicality and simple, self contained usefulness guarantee its continued existence? Or, will paperbacks fall somewhere in between, like vinyl records which are feverishly collected and cherished by some but largely forgotten by many?

It's hard to say. I guess only time--and consumers voting with their dollars--will tell.

It has been a little over a year since the last time I discussed ebooks on the blog. A lot of people weighed in on previous print vs ebook discussions, but as it has been a while so I'd like to ask again--get a temperature of the changing situation, if you will. What are your thoughts? E-books: love them? Hate them? Haven't tried them yet? What about print? Are you done with dead trees or will someone have to pry your beloved tomes from your fingers before you give them up? Anyone want to make predictions on the market? I'd love to hear from you, so chime in!-Kalayna Price

Author Chat With Rachel Aaron and John Hartness

Hey everyone. As you've probably noticed, October has been a month full of events for me. I also have a book due in a couple days--talk about being busy. I apologize for not being around as much as normal. I will attempt to get back on a regular blogging schedule soon.
Anyway, one of my favorite things to do while at an event is to steal a couple of the other attending writers for a quick chat about their books and ask them for some tips for aspiring authors. At RoundCon last weekend, my victims lovely volunteers included Rachel Aaron and John Hartness. I hope you enjoy!

-Kalayna Price

RoundCon This Weekend!

I know I mentioned RoundCon a few posts back, but I'm giving it another post just in case you are in the area and want to come, but maybe forgot or missed the first post. (Besides, it's not like I'm exactly clogging the blogsphere with posts right now--deadlines and some aspects of my personal life are killing me at the moment, but I'll start blogging regularly as soon as I get caught up on everything. Promise. You'd rather books than blogs, right?)

Anyway, RoundCon 2011.1 starts TODAY. The writer's track is new for 2011, so if you're in the Columbia area and want to hear professionals from all different walks of publishing--from nationally bestselling to small press to self published--talk about writing, craft, the business, the market, and I'm sure any topics  you guys might desire us to discuss please make plans to come check out the Con. Seriously, we have several great tracks lined up, but if there is a topic you'd like to know more about or hear our take on (as it relates to writing) we will most likely be more than happy to indulge you. This is a small con, so it's the perfect time to really grill the attending professionals. Besides, writers spend most of their time alone with their keyboards, so when you get us out in public, we sometimes forget to shut-up. ^_^

A full schedule of panels is up on the con website, but here is my official schedule

Friday:

Detectives & Mysteries -- 7pm Sex & Violence - Writing Emotional Action Scenes -- 8pm Saturday:  
Writing a Series -- 1pmThe New World of Publishing -- 6pm Sunday:
World-Building --11 amTension - Build it or Break it? -- 1pm
When not on panels, I will likely be hanging out at my table (unless the hotel has a bar and you guys would like to buy me a drink *hint hint* ^_^ ). No, seriously, I have a table for the event which I will be sharing with the fabulous Rachel Aaron.  I'll have free swag, candy, books to sell/autograph, and I might even bring some of the t-shirts I have left over from dragon. If you don't get all your questions answered in a panel, please feel free to stop by the table and chat with us--we don't want to sit there all by our lonesomes. Stop by, chat, pick up free stuff--can't beat that, right?

Okay, I'll stop rambling now. I hope to see you at the Con!-Kalayna Price

Guest Release Day Post: AJ Hartley with Darwen Arkwright and the Peregrine Pact

[image error] Today I'm wishing a very happy release day to my friend and fellow Magical Words author, A.J. Hartley, for his brand new release  Darwen Arkwright and the Peregrine Pact. This book marks the first in a series and AJ's first adventure into middle-grade fiction. I haven't yet had the pleasure to read it, and while middle-grade fiction isn't usually added to TBR, this book certainly sounds intriguing so I plan to pick up a copy soon!

AJ sent me some additional information I can share with you guys, so please welcome him to the blog!


A. J. Hartley:
So you're a kid: a boy of about 11. You're in the mall in an unfamiliar city, feeling lost, alone and a bit home sick. You look up and you see a bird in one of the plastic trees. You like birds, so you watch it, trying to figure out what type it is. Then there's a shadow overhead and the little bird gets hits hard by something much bigger, something hawkish but with leathery bat-like wings and the face of… well, if it wasn't for the cruel-looking beak, you'd say it was the face of a man.

This is how Darwen Arkwright and the Peregrine Pact begins, though the voice is different, and oddly enough, it's how the story began in my head. It was a half dream, I think, a series of images that popped into my head before I fell asleep proper. I liked it. I had no idea where it went from there, but I liked it, and quickly connected it with another idea I had already had, about a boy looking into a mirror and seeing something inside, something beside his own reflection. I put the two ideas together and added a transitional sequence in which the boy chases the strange winged creature through the mall and into a curious shop selling still more curious (curiouser?) mirrors into one of which the flittercrake (for that is what it's called) has just vanished…

Darwen is my first middle grades book (and will be followed by at least another two in the series). After publishing 6 adult novels, I decided to revisit my roots, remembering what it was like to lose myself in a story that didn't centre on what I used to call (not so much hopefully as merely inaccurately) grown-ups. I'm not done with adult fiction, but this is more than a change of gears for me: it's a lot like coming home.

Q: Who is your target readership for this book?
A: The official answer to that, I guess is, 9-12 year olds, but I expect the readership to be quite a bit wider than that. It's a fairly dark fantasy, and I think it will push into the YA and even adult crowd as Harry Potter did. The protagonist will age with subsequent books, as I hope my readers will.


Q: What's the hardest thing about writing for younger readers?
A: Getting the voice right. Kids (understandably) hate to be patronized or treated like they aren't that bright, so telling stories aimed at readers who are not supposed to be ready for or interested in the stuff of adult books is a bit of a high wire act. At first I worried about making sure the vocabulary wasn't too sophisticated but I soon realized (at least after R.L. Stine had pointed it out to me!) that that was to sell the book and the readers short. Now I find that 99 times out of hundred I use the word I want and don't worry too much about supposed 'reading level.'

-So back to the world and plot of Darwen Arkwright and the Peregrine Pact:

Q: How would you characterize the fantasy world of the story?
A: Silbrica is a series of linked locuses, all different, though they tend to the natural, particularly forests. The links are mystical portals like great shimmering mirrors, but there are other connectors—strange, steam-punky trains which move between smoky, deserted stations, for instance. It's a magical world, but one with echoes of our own, and it's in crisis.

Q: I take it that all is not well in Silbrica?
A: Right. Strange things are afoot, odd shifts in the landscape itself, and rumors of terrible creatures that have not been heard from for ages.

Q: Monsters?
A: For want of a better word, yes: hulking goblin-men on massive steam powered motorcycles, and blind, headless ape-like creatures who find their way by using the long tongues which protrude from the shark-mouth gashes across their chests…

Q: And what of our heroes?
A: Darwen is a mixed race English boy from Lancashire who fails to fit into the swanky Atlanta private school into which he has been dropped in about every way possible. He makes friends with a farm boy called Rich (but isn't) and a girl called Alex who manages (I think) to be both the most annoying and funniest character I've ever written.

Q: They are the Peregrine Pact?
A: Right, named after the old shopkeeper who gives Darwen the mirror through which he first enters Silbrica, Mr. Octavius Peregrine. He is their expert on everything to do with the world beyond the mirrors, but he's decidedly odd and may not be completely trustworthy.

Q: So it's scary and funny?
A: I think so. Of course, my sense of humor is notoriously strange so you'll have to see for yourself, but yes, I think it's funny. And the scares and suspense elements are as real as I could make them, using the same techniques as I would in adult fiction. I don't pull any punches on that score. Kids like being scared. I hope.

Q: When will the next Darwen book be out?
A: Fall 2012. The precise date is still being nailed down.

Thanks so much for telling us about your book, A.J. And again, Happy Release Day!
Have a great Thursday everyone!


British born writer A.J. Hartley got his first taste for archaeology touring sites in Greece and Rome as a child with his family. As an English major at Manchester University he took extra classes in Eqyptology and got a job working on a Bronze Age site just outside Jerusalem…

Since then, life has taken him to many places around the world, and though he always leaned more towards the literary than to the strictly historical, his fascination with the past has continued unabated.

He has an M.A. and Ph.D. in English literature from Boston University and is currently the Distinguished Professor of Shakespeare in the Department of Theatre and Dance at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. As well as being a novelist and academic, he is a screenwriter, theatre director and dramaturg (and has a book explaining what that is). He has more hobbies than is good for anyone, and treats ordinary things like sport and food and beer with a reverence which borders on mania. He is married with a son, and lives in Charlotte.

Find out more at his website www.ajhartley.net or visit the Darwen Arkwright website at www.darwenarkwright.com

 (Edited to add: Guys, I totally fail. I scheduled this post several days ago and it was supposed to automatically go live--except I hit the wrong button. Sorry it's a little late.)-Kalayna Price

October Events!

I can't believe it's already October. That said, I have two events coming up that I hope I'll be able to see some of you at.

Next weekend, October 15th and 16th, I will be in North Carolina for the literary weekend at the Carolina Renaissance Festival. I think this event will be a ton of fun not only because of the great writers I'll be there with, but because, well, it's Ren Faire--how can you go wrong with that?

The following weekend, October 21-23,  I'll be in Columbia, SC for RoundCon 2011.1. The writer's track is a relatively new add-on for the convention, so if you have a chance, I hope you'll come check it out. A full schedule of panels is up on the website, but here is my schedule for the con:

Friday:
Sex & Violence - Writing Emotional Action Scenes Saturday:  
Writing a SeriesThe New World of Publishing Sunday:
World-BuildingTension - Build it or Break it? 


It's going to be a busy couple of weeks, but I hope I get a chance to see several of you at the events!-Kalayna Price