Paulette Jaxton's Blog
November 22, 2011
Raise Your Cup to Anne McCaffrey (1926-2011)
Whenever I am asked which authors influenced me the most, I usually have to pause and think about it for a moment. Not because one name didn't instantly come to mind, but rather because I often feel inadequate listing Anne McCaffrey as my only influence. But truth be told, I was so wrapped up in the world of computers when I was younger, that writing stories wasn't even an after thought. I read a lot of science fiction and fantasy in those days, trying to escape the often mind-numbing advance of computer science in the 70s and 80s. Nothing touched the storyteller within me though, until I discovered The Dragonriders of Pern. The series, about futuristic humans who had a psychic bond with telepathic dragons, not only offered me a fantastic escape from the world of semiconductors and structured programming, It also showed me what a masterful storyteller could do with a simple concept and a vivid imagination. Therein lies my inspiration to write.
With every new book, Ms. McCaffrey impressed me with her ability to tell a great story. Every detail of that world, those noble people, and the amazing dragons, was clear and crisp and jumped off the page. I yearned to fly on the back of a warm blooded dragon. Yearned to help it fight the plague of thread that threatened all life on Pern. And eventually I yearned to tell a story as well as Anne McCaffrey could. I'm not there yet, and her passing at the age of 85 just serves to remind me that I haven't got all the time in the world.
The light of science fiction and fantasy is a little dimmer tonight. Pern is not gone, the books will live on, and her legacy has been passed to Anne's son Todd, who writes a mean Pern story himself. I still contend that Hollywood is finally ready to make a Pern movie, and I'm sorry Anne won't get to see that. I don't want to cry tonight, because I am just so happy that she lived, that she wrote her stories down, that she shared them with all of us, and that she could tell such good ones. Tonight I shall raise a cup of Klah in honor of Anne McCaffrey, the best storyteller I know.
October 8, 2011
NaNoWriMo 2011
I just signed up for NaNoWriMo. For those unfamiliar, NaNoWriMo stands for National Novel Writing Month and is an annual contest held every November around the world. The idea is to write a 50,000 word novel between Nov. 1st and Nov. 30th. That's an average of 1666 words per day and somehow you also have to work in Thanksgiving and early other holiday preparations. If you make the 50,000 word goal you only win the right to call yourself a winner, but you also have the beginnings of a real, potentially publishable, novel!
This year I'm going to be writing the novel that inspired my short story Regarding the Barry Fitzpatrick's Navigator which I podcast on Form Letter Rejection Theatre back in 2008. That story is about the navigator, but my original idea centered on the first mate, a woman named Allison Grant who joined the crew of the Barry Fitzpatrick to escape her past. Set in the early days of galactic colonization, where massive cargo ships jump the wormholes between Earth and new planets, the crew is subject to a time dilation effect known as The Rip. That is until a medical advancement changes everything.
I'll be updating you all on the progress during November right here, but you can also follow my progress on my author page at NaNoWriMo.
September 19, 2011
TES Accepted into the Lambda Literary Awards
The Empress Sword has been accepted for consideration to the 2012 Lambda Literary Awards. The Lambda Literary Awards are presented annually by the Lambda Literary Foundation to the finest examples of lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans literature available in the United States. For more than two decades the Lambda Literary Awards has brought attention to and honored exceptional writing about queer lives across multiple genres published by large and small presses.The "Lammy" is the most prestigious, competitive, and comprehensive literary award offered specifically to LGBT authors.
The Empress Sword was submitted for consideration in two categories: Best Transgender – Fiction; and Best LGBT Children's / Young Adult. It's not common for an epic fantasy story to show up in these categories, so even being accepted into them is exciting. The short list of nominations should be out sometime in March of 2012, and I will keep you posted on how TES fairs. Whatever the outcome I would like to acknowledge the efforts of Gabrielle Harbowy and Dragon Moon Press for their efforts in making this possible.
June 16, 2011
Review of TES on Lambda Literary
There's a wonderful new review of The Empress Sword up on Lambda Literary. Written by fellow DMP author J.M. Frey, it looks at the story from a slightly different point of view. Please take a look and then tell me what you think.
J.M. Frey reviews The Empress Sword for Lambda Literary
LambdaLiterary.org has been the leader in LGBT book reviews, author interviews, opinion and news since 1989. Their mission is to nurture, celebrate, and preserve LGBT literature through programs that honor excellence, promote visibility and encourage development of emerging writers.
June 8, 2011
Post-Balticon Regrets
It's been a week since Baticon 45 ended and I'm trying to come to grips with several regrets. Don't get me wrong, this Balticon was fantastic for me. The book launch, my reading, and the autograph session out in the foyer were all great fun and a wonderful ego boost. I thoroughly enjoyed the few panels I was on, but looking back I realized I didn't get to see many panels or events featuring other writers, podcasters, and friends.
In fact, I seem to have spent most of my time in the dealer hall or in transit to or from there. I don't begrudge being asked to oversee the publisher's table. And the other three authors in attendance certainly held up their share of the hours. I can't complain about all my books selling out either. But I can't help thinking my time could have been better spent elsewhere.
I say this because while I was sitting there at the table I can't remember a single person coming up, seeing the books, picking one up, and then buying it. Most of the books I sold were to people who came looking for the table, either because they knew about them before coming to Balticon and had finally made their way to the table, or because they had seen one of us at a reading or panel and wanted to get a book.
Our being at the table at any particular time, didn't seem to matter as I was happily signing books whenever and wherever someone asked. (The experience of being chased down the hallway one evening by someone desperate to get his book signed really floored me. One of those new author firsts I'll never forget.) I'm thinking I would have gladly traded all the money I made on selling my books for more time to attend panels and talk to people. Something to consider before next year.
I'm also regretting not being on more panels. I had been scheduled for two more panels, but they were canceled when the publishers couldn't make it — leaving me with more time to just sit at the table. I like being on panels, I want to do more of them, but last minute changes are hard to bring about. Especially with all the problems in the scheduling this year (a rant I won't bother you with just now).
Then there's my regret about taking so few pictures. This was a combination of not being out-and-about and having my carpal tunnel syndrome flare up just before the convention. I also never got my H2 out of it's case. (Someone did kindly get it out at my book launch though.) Now I'm left hoping others took pictures and made recordings of all the things I attended as well as those I missed.
So, here I sit, a week after Balticon, wishing I had more to show for my best Balticon ever. I've only got about 350 days to make sure I don't have the same regrets next year. I need a plan. I think the first thing I need to work on is saying the magic word. "n-n-n…" Sigh "n-n-n-n-no" There, I said it, now to work on really meaning it.
June 2, 2011
Posters for sale
I have a limited number of TES posters for sale. The price is $15.00, which includes personalization, shipping & handling. Be sure to add a note telling how you would like me to sign the poster and where (upper-left, lower-right, etc.)
June 1, 2011
TES Book Launch Party at Balticon 45
Well, Baticon 45 has come and gone. I had a wonderful time and it was a fantastic kick-off for The Empress Sword novel.
On Friday I had a whole hour to sit out in the foyer and sign books and greet people walking through. Lots of friends and fans stopped by to chat and talk about the book. The bench was kind of hard, but the feelings were warm. I was energized by the whole thing, and a good thing too because I had been scheduled for a surprise reading just a half hour later. It was a surprise for everyone else too, as the reading did not appear in the printed schedule. Only the awesome Press family showed up (they'd caught my name by the door and remembered to stop in), but we had a lovely time as I gave them a private reading of Chapter 1.
Come Sunday I was a nervous wreck over the launch party, but as soon as it got started I settled down into a state of wonder and amazement — the room was packed! It might have been the aroma of two full pots of Trader's Stew wafting down the corridor (one spicy, one mild) or the plates full of rainbow cupcakes, dragon cookies and lollypops. Whatever brought them in, everyone got something good to eat.
As they came in the door everyone was given a medieval rubber ducky as a souvenir and game piece for the prizes. Younger fans got a glowing sword of their own, these were a big hit. We gave away copies of TES and TES posters. I asked Nathan Lowell to pick the first number because his honesty is well known to be above reproach. So of course the first number he picked was his own!
Then came the reading. This time I asked Brand Gamblin (who played Mandrake in the podcast) to read the first part of Chapter 1, and Nathan Lowell (who played King Cosmos) to read the second half. People recognized Brand's voice right away and somehow Nate got more laughs than when I read that part on Friday. I'm not complaining you understand, their readings were wonderful.
We gave away more books and posters. Then I signed all the prizes and we cleaned up. I left for my next panel a very happy author. When I returned to the dealers hall, and the Dragon Moon Press table, that afternoon I was very surprised to find that we had sold out of The Empress Sword!
You can find some pictures from the party in the Galley under Events at TES Book Launch Party.
I'm ecstatic over the reception The Empress Sword received. Everyone seemed very interested in reading it and I was happy they all enjoyed the party so much. Now I need to settle down and get TES2 finished. Maybe we can have another great party next year!
May 26, 2011
Final Balticon 45 Schedule
Here is my schedule for Baticon 45 happening this weekend in Hunt Valley, Maryland.
Friday 5/27
5pm, Maryland Foyer – Book signing
6:30pm, Chase Room – Book reading
Saturday, 5/28
4pm – Salon D – Antigone's Wrath, a full cast reading (I'm in the cast)
5pm – Chesapeake Suite – Full Cast Podcasting
Sunday, 5/29
Noon – Derby Room – TES Book Launch Party
2pm – Derby Room – Open Source Software for Everyday Use
I will also be spending lots of time at the Dragon Moon Press table in the Dealer's Hall not to mention the Bar, the Lobby, the Bar, the Pool, the Bar and… hmmm, oh yes, you might occasionally find me in the Bar.
April 29, 2011
Review of TES by Allison D. Duncan
Speaking of awesome reviews, a bit more recently The Empress Sword was reviewed by Allison D. Duncan on her blog SVAllie.net
Allison D. Duncan reviews The Empress Sword for SVAllie.net
Allison blogs about all sorts of things from media to politics; gaming to social media. She also hosts the BlogsAloud podcast, where each week she reads some of the more interesting and topical posts gleaned from other people's blogs.
Review of TES by Sequential Tarts
Somehow I missed this review when it first came out in March. Sheena McNeil over at Sequential Tart gave my book an excellent review and I wish you would go over there and read it. She really seems to "get it" and I think you might enjoy her perspective on the story and the characters.
Sheena McNeil reviews The Empress Sword for Sequential Tart
SequentialTart.com is a webzine about the webcomics industry, published by an eclectic band of women. It's a publication dedicated to providing exclusive interviews, in-depth articles, reviews, and news, while working towards raising the awareness of women's influence in the comics industry and other realms.
