Rachel Hartman's Blog, page 9

The ecstatic intellect

So I’m at the stage of writing where my mind is being blown all the time. I don’t know if this is part of most people’s process or if it’s just me. I don’t recall reading about it anywhere, and I don’t think I’ve written about it before, but it always happens. Even with Shadow Scale, though the going was slow, I arrived eventually at this state, where ideas come gushing out of the ground and everything feels connected and meaningful and pertinent.

It’s not my writing that’s amazing me, just s...

You missed me talking about music

And I don’t know that this will satisfy you, but I have two small things to say.

First: My friend Karen New has done it again. Go listen to her rendition of “My Faith Should Not Come Easily.” This is another song from Seraphina, the one her mother’s writing during one of the maternal memory scenes. Love (I command thee) the draconic, orderly harpsichord obbligato! Marvel at the soaring flute, and notice the fluttering and the possible snatches of birdsong! Just lovely, although harder (I susp...

This and that

* Over at the Lytherus Book Club they’re readingSeraphina andShadow Scale. Part 1of the Seraphina discussion is up today, and tune in tomorrow for more. If you leave questions in the comments, I will be answering them in person soon.

* In other news, I remind you of my Burnaby event AGAIN. Because it’s going to be awesome. We’re practising our songs tonight. If you’re planning to go, please do click that link and RSVP, because the room only holds 60 (including me and the madrigal choir).

* My...

Coming soon: Chicago and Burnaby

Those two great metropolises! Whaddaya mean you never heard of Burnaby?

Here are my events upcoming, in greater detail than previously:

April 24th (tomorrow!) – 7pm – panel discussion with authors Arwen Elys Dayton and Melissa Grey at Anderson’s Bookshop, 123 W. Jefferson, Naperville, IL. Discussion, Q&A, and signing.

April 25th (Saturday!) – at C2E2, McCormick Place, Chicago, IL

1:45-2:45 — panel: WTF Is Going On? Room S402 3:00 — signing at Table 18

April 28th (Tuesday!) – 7pm at McGill L...

Shadow Scale on InnerSpace

Why look, I was on the teevee! Specifically, on the SPACE Channel’s InnerSpace show, talking to host Teddy Wilson at Bakka Phoenix Bookstore in Toronto. I talked to him for ten or fifteen minutes, in fact, and they trimmed it down to just two — understandable, but slightly sad because we’d had a nice convo about prog rock. That Floyd reference at the end wasn’t quite as out of left field as it seems, see.

In other news: I’m at C2E2 in Chicago next weekend! I will post more closer to the time...

My fabulous editor

I have sung his praises before. Indeed, I’ve never been coy about acknowledging that Seraphina and Shadow Scale wouldn’t be the books they are without him.

Well, aspiring writers, you’re in luck: now he’s freelancing. If you’re looking for a professional editor for your work, Jim Thomas is the best you could ask for.

Even if you’re not looking for an editor, you should go look at the picture on his About Me page because the caption just about made me fall out of my chair laughing.

Coming soon: Emerald City Comicon, Seattle

Hello friends! I seem to have pulled something in my neck whilst travelling, so this will be brief. I’m going to be at the Emerald City Comicon in Seattle this weekend, speaking on two panels:

Saturday, March 28th, 2:30-3:30pm, Hall B (WSCC 602-603) Level 6

Beyond the Children’s Section: Young adult novels require more than a teenage protagonist. Learn the specific characteristics of the YA market and how to weave them into your narrative, with authors Lisa Mantchev, Holly Black, Arwen Elys D...

A song from Seraphina

My friend Karen New, a fabulously talented composer, has written music to “Blessed is he who passes, love,” the last set of lyrics in Seraphina. And not just a melody, no, but a madrigal in four voices which we will sing in Inchoiring Minds next quarter. It’s beautifully done, very Renaissance-y (pretty sure that’s a word, since I’m a writer and all).

My babbling intro is inadequate, so you’re just going to have to go have a listenand then join me in marvelling awe-struck at it.

The Soundclou...

So this morning…

…I was on The Morning Show Toronto to talk about Shadow Scale. Before I went on there was one other guest waiting his turn, a gregarious black man who introduced himself as Chad, asked me about myself and the book, and then took a picture and had one of his assistants post it to Instagram. The whole time I’m thinking, “His voice sounds really familiar! I feel like I should know who he is. He’s not Isaac Hayes, because Isaac Hayes is dead — but who is he?”

I quietly asked one of his assistants...

O Torontonians!

OK, I’ve been kind of bad about announcing my own events, but there’s a big one tomorrow in Toronto, and I just wanted to remind you it was happening.

They’ll be selling books, and I’ll be signing them. Please do come, if you’re in town! I’d love to see you all!