L.J. Smith's Blog, page 8

Happy Thanksgiving, or just Happy Day

Happy Thanksgiving!  I just want to say a word to all my readers, young and old, of all countries, creeds  and affiliations . . . thank you!  I couldn't do it without you, and you are, whether happy or sad, the most polite, literate, and intelligent group of readers an author could ask for.

Since I don't want anyone to be unhappy in what in my country is a holiday, and in others simply another bright day to be thankful to be alive . . . please don't despair, Delena, Bamon, and Stelena fans.  Midnight is coming and, although Damon might be accused of not knowing his own mind, he is beginning to emerge from his shell enough to care deeply for two girls.  And Stefan is coming back into his own as a character as he recovers from prison.  I think that there is reason to be thankful, no matter which side you ship.

And I . . . am simply glad to have fans with the spark of passion that you have.  You remind me of myself with that passion.   Please, on this day of thanks, forgive anything that you feel has wronged you, and wait for my website and Midnight to soothe your hurts.  I am hoping that you will come out—on all sides—feeling better about the "who gets Damon and what about Stefan?" question.

To misquote one more time: "Give me your hand if we be friends/ and Damon shall restore amends."

Happy Thanksgiving, or just Happy Day

Happy Thanksgiving!  I just want to say a word to all my readers, young and old, of all countries, creeds  and affiliations . . . thank you!  I couldn't do it without you, and you are, whether happy or sad, the most polite, literate, and intelligent group of readers an author could ask for.

Since I don't want anyone to be unhappy in what in my country is a holiday, and in others simply another bright day to be thankful to be alive . . . pleasedon't despair, Delena, Bamon, and Stelena fans.  Midnightis coming and, although Damon might be accused of not knowing his own mind, he is beginning to emerge from his shell enough to care deeply for two girls.  And Stefan is coming back into his own as a character as he recovers from prison.  I think that there is reason to be thankful, no matter which side you ship.

And I . . . am simply glad to have fans with the spark of passion that you have.  You remind me of myself with that passion.   Please, on this day of thanks, forgive anything that you feel has wronged you, and wait for my website and Midnightto soothe your hurts.  I am hoping that you will come out—on all sides—feeling better about the "who gets Damon and what about Stefan?" question.

To misquote one more time: "Give me your hand if we be friends/ and Damon shall restore amends."

About these Just For Fun Polls

Whoa, whoa, whoa, my dear readers.  I think I have to say a word or two about the "Just For Fun" polls that some people are taking way too seriously.

First thing, I have an announcement to make.  To the best of my knowledge (I mean, barring an act of God), there definitely will be at least three more books in the Vampire Diaries book series.  There is also a very good chance—especially if you want them—that there will be three more books after this.

Please try to think of it this way: you are not going to get any final answers for a long, long time.  I know that may distress some of you, but that is what the publishers want.   (To keep the series going, I mean—they don't want to distress you.)  The book packagers who package this book (Alloy Entertainment) and the publishers who buy it from them and sell it to you (HarperCollins) want to keep publishing these books for as long as you want to keep reading them.   Therefore we're so far from endgame right now that all bets are off and anything can happen. 

Don't waste your time being distressed by the "who gets Damon in the end?" question.  I mean, knowing him, he might take off all by himself, flashing a 250-kilowatt smile at us all . . . well, no, I supposed he's changed since those days.  But, believe me, the polls will have absolutely no bearing on what happens in the future.   They really are "just for fun polls"—and, I'll admit, I was a little curious about whether Ian Somerhalder's witty wickedness and my own modest contributions had caused Damon to go off the charts in terms of male desirability.  Poor, poor Stefan, is what I say.

In any case, I think that many of my readers are being hurt by the clash in the fandom.  I'm having the latest poll taken down as soon as my genius webmaster (but also busy father and husband—so don't expect anything on Sunday) can do it. 

And as for the Bamon and Delena shippers who write so passionately to me, I have a suggestion.  Since the series isn't going to provide you with an endgame for at least four more books—Midnight and then the new trilogy: The Hunters—why don't you try your hand at fanfic?  Write your own perfect ending and you'll feel much better—I promise.  It might even turn into a hobby, or a profession. :)

In fact, I'll post fanfics along with my stories, if they are good enough in terms of grammar and spelling,  and not too bawdy.  I'd love to see some fans putting all their passion to good use by trying out their maiden writing skills, and I'd welcome the product of any experienced fic writers out there.

And finally, just so that I'm sure I've said it enough: I have no idea of what's going to happen at endgame.  You can quote e on that. No idea at all, not even the faintest clue.  Writing is my life, but I can assure you that I have never even started to imagine how the series should turn out.  And no by-then-long-forgotten polls will have the slightest influence on the ending; I give you my word.

So let's all hold hands and sing the Barney song, cos we all love each other and the war is officially over.  If there's one thing I try to get into my books, it's the idea that we all can get along.

Bonnie's Opal Ring and Cassie's Unicorn Egg

For those who have been wondering who won Bonnie's opal ring in the contest—well, the winner has been twice contacted but has not replied.  So I am desperately seeking:

Arrien of Ormond Beach, FL  – You are the Winner of Bonnie's Opal Ring!

Arrien, please contact me at info@ljanesmith.net.  Put in the subject field Winner!  so that I can be sure of finding it among the other emails I get.

Also,I hope a lot of people will enter the Cassie's Unicorn Egg contest.  The prizes are really so beautiful that I can't imagine anyone not wanting them, and the contest is already open.  You don't have to use the directions on the contest page to send me an email, just send it to (here it is again) info@ljanesmith.net  with Cassie's Unicorn Egg in the subject field.  You don't have to write anything inside the email, or you can write "Hi" or something if you haven't read The Secret Circle.

As for strange manifestations on my site recently—I'm sorry that right now I can't explain about them.  Just believe me that a true life-or-death emergency was in progress.  For the time being, try to forget it, please.

Thanks to everyone who entered the Bonnie's Opal Ring contest.  Here are a couple of memorable quotes:

OH MY GOSH! Sorry, but I am overly excited about this. The creepy thing is that I was thinking about this when my Internet was loading.....maybe I'm psychic...that would be fun.· -- Katie D. of Middletown, NJ

Hoooooooly taco. REALLY?!?!?!?!?!?!· --· Alex M. of Sioux Falls, SD

I'm such a HUGE fan! Where I read that I had won an autographed copy of Shadow Souls I thought I would scream! :D"· --· Gabriella M. of Tustin, CA

I'll let everyone know what the Grand Prizewinner says when she does reply.  (Arrien, reply, please!)

Bonnie's Opal Ring and Cassie's Unicorn Egg

For those who have been wondering who won Bonnie's opal ring in the contest—well, the winner has been twice contacted but has not replied.  So I am desperately seeking:

Arrien of Ormond Beach, FL  – You are the Winner of Bonnie's Opal Ring!

Arrien, please contact me at info@ljanesmith.net.  Put in the subject field Winner!  so that I can be sure of finding it among the other emails I get.

Also,I hope a lot of people will enter the Cassie's Unicorn Egg contest.  The prizes are really so beautiful that I can't imagine anyone not wanting them, and the contest is already open.  You don't have to use the directions on the contest page to send me an email, just send it to (here it is again) info@ljanesmith.net  with Cassie's Unicorn Egg in the subject field.  You don't have to write anything inside the email, or you can write "Hi" or something if you haven't read The Secret Circle.

As for strange manifestations on my site recently—I'm sorry that right now I can't explain about them.  Just believe me that a true life-or-death emergency was in progress.  For the time being, try to forget it, please.

Thanks to everyone who entered the Bonnie's Opal Ring contest.  Here are a couple of memorable quotes:

-- OH MY GOSH! Sorry, but I am overly excited about this. The creepy thing is that I was thinking about this when my Internet was loading.....maybe I'm psychic...that would be fun....  Katie D. of Middletown, NJ

--   Hoooooooly taco. REALLY?!?!?!?!?!?!  Alex M. of Sioux Falls, SD

"I'm such a HUGE fan! Where I read that I had won an autographed copy of Shadow Souls I thought I would scream! :D"    Gabriella M. of Tustin, CA

I'll let everyone know what the Grand Prizewinner says when she does reply.  (Arrien, reply, please!)

For Kristyne D., who said an answer would make her life . . .

. . . but whose server won't accept my email.

Hi Krissy--

I definitely want to make your life, but I'd have answered your email anyway, because you seem to understand that Damon is dealing with all sorts of pressures. Not simply because he is suddenly human (and in danger of dying because he can't eat even steak tartar), but because the great stone ball where he kept his feelings away from him is shattered. So he's dealing with suddenly degraded senses and reflexes, suddenly released sexual feelings (which my publishers won't let me say outright in the book), and a lot of unhappiness that he, being Damon and no saint, wants to spread around.

I'm really pleased that you read the books before watching the TV show. Several readers have the two mixed up, or think that I write both (I'd have to have multiple personalities).

I think it's wonderful that you write!  Are you going to try to get your stories published?

I'm glad, too, that Damon has doubters, or I wouldn't be doing my job.  But, as you know, it's always more fun writing about a bad boy who suddenly regrets his actions and has to come to terms with them. I think that you'll find that in Midnight, Damon is both more angry and nasty, and more repentant, than he has ever been before. And although he's a bad boy, if he were cruel to either Bonnie or Elena, and then didn't repent and try to make amends, he would just be a horrible person and not worthy of anyone's attention.

Thank you for a lovely letter. And thanks for taking a balanced view on a book that isn't even out yet!  I don't even know if you have an affiliation!

Lisa

For Kristyne D,, who said an answer would make her life . . .

. . . but whose server won't accept my email.

Hi Krissy--

I definitely want to make your life, but I'd have answered your email anyway, because you seem to understand that Damon is dealing with all sorts of pressures. Not simply because he is suddenly human (and in danger of dying because he can't eat even steak tartar), but because the great stone ball where he kept his feelings away from him is shattered. So he's dealing with suddenly degraded senses and reflexes, suddenly released sexual feelings (which my publishers won't let me say outright in the book), and a lot of unhappiness that he, being Damon and no saint, wants to spread around.

I'm really pleased that you read the books before watching the TV show. Several readers have the two mixed up, or think that I write both (I'd have to have multiple personalities).

I think it's wonderful that you write!  Are you going to try to get your stories published?

I'm glad, too, that Damon has doubters, or I wouldn't be doing my job.  But, as you know, it's always more fun writing about a bad boy who suddenly regrets his actions and has to come to terms with them. I think that you'll find that in Midnight, Damon is both more angry and nasty, and more repentant, than he has ever been before. And although he's a bad boy, if he were cruel to either Bonnie or Elena, and then didn't repent and try to make amends, he would just be a horrible person and not worthy of anyone's attention.

Thank you for a lovely letter. And thanks for taking a balanced view on a book that isn't even out yet!  I don't even know if you have an affiliation!

Lisa

And for all the Delena shippers. . .

I didn't mean to hurt anyone when I gave assistance and comfort to Bamon fans in my last blog.  I just wanted to assure them that there would be many interesting moments—a nice relationship, really, is what it adds up to—between Bonnie and Damon in Midnight.  I mean, face it: Bonnie definitely got the short end of the stick in Shadow Souls, and I was glad to see more of her in all of her different moods in the next book.  But that doesn't mean that Damon has suddenly lost his interest in Elena in Midnight, either. 

Remember, this series started out as a love triangle between Stefan (poor Stefan!  But he develops quite a bit in Phantom, the book after Midnight), Damon, and Elena.  Now it's some polygonal shape in eleven dimensions, and includes most of the characters as they become "more than friends."  A very witty and literate Nova Scotian even cited some passages that might indicate that Sage was developing a little tendressefor Bonnie. (She was a Delena fan, of course, but I'd give her message a perfect 10 for inventiveness, politeness, and felicity of expression.  Not that I ever criticize for grammar or spelling mistakes—as long as I can understand an email, it's fine.  And some of the readers from other countries write such excellent English that I wish I could reply in their native language.)

All I want to do now is to set the record straight for Midnight.  I can't give away the plot, but Damon has quite a tumultuous relationship with both Elena and Bonnie.  With each of them, separately, I should say.  He is initially angry and defensive towards each, but he eventually shows his true feelings, which run deep in both cases.  I can't guarantee that the Bamon and Delena camps will be satisfied, but then I don't really control Damon; he does what he likes, is reasonable or unreasonable, and all I can do is follow him and write about his adventures.  He wouldn't be Damon if I could control him.

The only other news is that someone kindly explained to me what Delena (or Bamon) "shipper" meant.  I appreciated that.

Naturally, nothing new on the A and E and A (the agony and ecstasy and the agony) with Secret Circle.  I've decided not to fret about it.  Que sera, sera, sirrah.

Writing a Book, Secret Circle, news for Bamon fans

I was going to write yesterday, but I simply got too busy. One thing I was doing was answering several people's questions about how to write a book, or how to publish a book once it's written.  The answers are already in Ask L. J. or in the FAQs.  Please, please, try to look through these before writing to me.  Also, please remember that the Internet is your best friend if you have questions about how to get an agent or format a manuscript.  Just Google "literary agent for (say, horror fiction).  You'll get all sorts of helpful hits.  And manuscript format depends on the publisher, which is something your agent can tell you about.  In any case, the first thing for first-time writers is to write a book.

The other thing is that legions of Bamon fans have contacted me—and I do get the point.  You want delicious Bonnie and Damon moments.  I think I can promise you that in Midnight.  The best of all Bonnie and Damon moments so far is in this book, I think.  Meanwhile, yes, I am going to publish a slightly revised (all to the good) version of After Hours, the Bamon library story.  I hope it will be new to some new visitors to this site.

As for the optioning of Secret Circle—well, I'm afraid I don't have any information that can't be reached by Google or Yahoo.  And I have to say it: I just don't have a good feeling about this option. With Vampire Diaries, I knew that it had been picked up by Kevin Williamson, and that he was "serious" and "loved the books."  With Secret Circle, I'm so far out of the loop that I might as well live on Neptune.  But here is what I know:

First of all, none of this is official.  This info was first released by Vulture and then that article was cited by MTV etc.  But for what it's worth:

Two of the writers, Elizabeth Craft and Sarah Fan, consult and write for The Vampire Diaries.  They are also cited as being affiliated with Josh Whedon (the creator of Buffy The Vampire Slayer) although they wrote for  Angel (a Buffy spin-off) and Dollhouse (a recent Josh Whedon creation).  They're said to know about science fiction and fantasy.

Andrew Miller, writer for the series Imaginary Bitches, is writing the pilot script and is also executive producer.  Imaginary Bitches was a web series that was popular and also got a fair amount of acclaim.  Andrew Miller created it, directed it and appeared to be the only writer for it.  It was about a girl whose imaginary friends turn out to be, well, bitches. :)

So there's the first agony.  Not knowing anything official and having a vague bad feeling.  Sigh. For all I know everything reported could be wrong, so it's hard to take comfort in the past success of hypothetical writers and producers.  I guess what it comes down to is that I'll believe it when the CW shows the pilot and confirms that it wants the show.  Then I'll at least have something to root for.

Meanwhile I'll be posting the first half of a Secret Circle novella at the next site update, and I have a contest for a SC something so gorgeous you won't believe your eyes! 

Writing a Book, Secret Circle, news for Bamon fans

I was going to write yesterday, but I simply got too busy. One thing I was doing was answering several people's questions about how to write a book, or how to publish a book once it's written.  The answers are already in Ask L. J. or in the FAQs.  Please, please, try to look through these before writing to me.  Also, please remember that the Internet is your best friend if you have questions about how to get an agent or format a manuscript.  Just Google "literary agent for (say, horror fiction).  You'll get all sorts of helpful hits.  And manuscript format depends on the publisher, which is something your agent can tell you about.  In any case, the first thing for first-time writers is to write a book.

The other thing is that legions of Bamon fans have contacted me—and I do get the point.  You want delicious Bonnie and Damon moments.  I think I can promise you that in Midnight.  The best of allBonnie and Damon moments so far is in this book, I think.  Meanwhile, yes, I am going to publish a slightly revised (all to the good) version of After Hours, the Bamon library story.  I hope it will be new to some new visitors to this site.

As for the optioning of Secret Circle—well, I'm afraid I don't have any information that can't be reached by Google or Yahoo.  And I have to say it: I just don't have a good feeling about this option. With Vampire Diaries, I knew that it had been picked up by Kevin Williamson, and that he was "serious" and "loved the books."  With Secret Circle, I'm so far out of the loop that I might as well live on Neptune.  But here is what I know:

First of all, none of this is official.  This info was first released by Vultureand then that article was cited by MTV etc.  But for what it's worth:

Two of the writers, Elizabeth Craft and Sarah Fan, consult and write for The Vampire Diaries.  They are also cited as being affiliated with Josh Whedon (the creator of Buffy The Vampire Slayer) although they wrote for  Angel (a Buffy spin-off) and Dollhouse (a recent Josh Whedon creation).  They're said to know about science fiction and fantasy.

Andrew Miller, writer for the series Imaginary Bitches,is writing the pilot script and is also executive producer.  Imaginary Bitcheswas a web series that was popular and also got a fair amount of acclaim.  Andrew Miller created it, directed it and appeared to be the only writer for it.  It was about a girl whose imaginary friends turn out to be, well, bitches. :)

So there's the first agony.  Not knowing anythingofficial and having a vague bad feeling.  Sigh. For all I know everything reported could be wrong, so it's hard to take comfort in the past success of hypothetical writers and producers.  I guess what it comes down to is that I'll believe it when the CW shows the pilot and confirms that it wants the show.  Then I'll at least have something to root for.

Meanwhile I'll be posting the first half of a Secret Circle novella at the next site update, and I have a contest for a SCsomething so gorgeous you won't believe your eyes!