Susan Spann's Blog, page 82

Fact from Fiction: Shinobi vs Ninja

At signings, I’m often asked why I refer to my ninja detective, Hattori Hiro (or Hiro Hattori to those who put surnames last), as a “shinobi” instead of a “ninja.”

The answer is simple: the two are one and the same.

Many Japanese words are written using Kanji, or characters, originally borrowed from Chinese. In Japanese, the word many English speakers pronounce as “ninja” looks like this:

The Chinese pronunciation of those characters is “nin sha” – from which the English language derives the word “ninja.”

That pronunciation is used in Japan, but more often, the Japanese pronounce those characters “shinobi” – meaning that shinobi  is the Japanese word for “ninja.”

(Give it a minute. I bet that makes you smile.)

CLAWS OF THE CAT was originally titled SHINOBI–a reference to Hiro Hattori, the ninja detective sleuth who features in all the Shinobi Mysteries (along with his Portuguese Jesuit sidekick, Father Mateo). My editor at Minotaur decided that we should change the title, in part because we wanted “Shinobi” to name the series rather than just a single book. We also renamed the novel because we wanted to ensure that readers wouldn’t pass it over because the name was unfamiliar. To Western ears, “Shinobi” sounds very foreign, whereas “ninja detective” makes sense to everyone.

I made the decision  to opt for “shinobi” in the books for several reasons.

First, even though the word is less familiar to Western ears, it’s more authentic to the period when the Shinobi Mysteries are set. The 16th century marked the high water mark of Japan’s shinobi clans.  Foreigners had just begun arriving in Japan, and tensions ran high. The country remained politically fractured, though unification was just around the corner. Shinobi–professional assassins and spies–flourished in this environment, and since my ninja detective, Hiro, is based on real shinobi assassins (as opposed to the smoke and mirrors we often see in modern film) I wanted to use an authentic word to describe him.

Second, the use of “shinobi” makes it clear the book is not a kids’ adventure or a pop-culture take on the subject of ninja detectives. Although I’ve heard that many teens like the books, the Shinobi Mysteries are definitely written for an adult audience.

Finally, the series will send both Hiro and Father Mateo on a murder-based journey through the multi-faceted spectrum of Japanese life in the 16th century. The first book, CLAWS OF THE CAT, is set in the geisha houses of the “floating world.” Hiro’s second adventure, BLADE OF THE SAMURAI, moves the action to the shogun’s palace, and the third installment, FLASK OF THE DRUNKEN MASTER, sends the ninja into the world of brewers and moneylenders. The word “Shinobi” gives an exotic first impression, and the novels will deliver on that promise.

Have you ever read–or written–a book that used a less-familiar word in place of a popular one? Did it add to or detract from your reading experience?

Congratulations, @DakotaRaeblog

The winner of the Shinobi Prize Pack – a signed hardback of CLAWS OF THE CAT and a fun ninja coffee mug – is @DakotaRaeBlog!

Thank you to everyone who entered – your photos were fantastic (so good that it made me glad the contest involved a random drawing instead of a choice!).

Here’s the winning tweet:

#SHINOBIMYSTERIES pic.twitter.com/O610ULRyEk

— Dakota Rae (@dakotaraeblog) July 17, 2013

Just look at that cute little ninja! Dakota Rae, if you’ll send me an email (or twitter DM) with the address where you’d like your prize pack sent, I’ll get it in the mail ASAP!

Endings, Paying it Forward, and the Other Side of Yes

Today, I’m sending you outward for content – not because I’m lazy but because I know I cannot do as well for you as I’ve already done in other spots today.

Hazel Gaynor’s Whims & Tonic features authors talking about the difference between pre-publication and publication–”Now & Then.” I’m talking with her today about how it feels to be on “the other side of yes” and why I truly believe that every writer can get there.

At The Debutante Ball, I’ve discovered why it is that I don’t like endings. The answer came as a surprise to me, and I think it may surprise you, too.

Finally, I’m Swimming North with Kerry Schafer and discussing a recent opportunity I had to “Pay it Forward,” as well as sharing my thoughts on why all authors should encourage those behind them on the road to publication.

I could have written new content here, but these are some of the better posts I’ve written, and I’d hate for you to miss them.

If, however, you don’t want to click the link, I’ll give you what the other half of you came here for:

Since my return to Sacramento, my female seahorse, Ceti, has been supervising my writing progress. That, and begging for treats.

 

Taxes 101 for Authors

I’m currently on book tour for Claws of the Cat, but here’s a #PubLaw re-post from April 2012 to keep you thinking about your legal rights and publishing business during the #PubLaw “summer break”:

Taxes, and Why Authors Care About Them

(originally Posted April 25, 2012)

Most people in the United States work as employees of someone else. This is true of writers also – many of us do something other than write full time.

For those of us who qualify as self-employed, business owners, or independent contractors of one type or another, the purpose of this post is probably already clear. For those who work as employees, however, a writing career means it’s time to think outside the W-2.

U.S. residents (and citizens living abroad who pay taxes in the United States) who earn income from writing or publishing will not receive a W-2 from the publisher (or from Amazon or Smashwords, in the case of independently-published authors). Instead, an author receives Form 1099 – a report of income other than wages, salaries or tips.

People who receive Form 1099 are considered self-employed or independent contractors- and people who fall into those categories must pay quarterly estimated taxes during the year. Four times a year, in April, June, September and December, authors and other self-employed people must estimate the taxes due to the IRS and their state of residence (assuming the state has an individual income tax – some don’t) and send that amount of money to the IRS and state along with appropriate estimated tax forms.

If you fail to pay estimated taxes on time, or fail to pay enough, the IRS and/or state will assess a monetary penalty.

The obligation to pay estimated taxes often comes as a shock to authors who previously received only wages and had an employer withholding taxes from his or her checks.

Don’t incur a penalty because you were unprepared! As soon as you (a) sign a publishing contract or (b) self-publish your first manuscript:

1. Find out what you need to know about paying estimated taxes. Get the necessary forms and mark your calendar.

2. Set aside a portion of every royalty check or distribution to cover your tax obligations – don’t anticipate having enough left over from then-current income when the payment comes due.

3. Don’t forget to document your deductions! Authors may be able to deduct certain costs, expenditures and expenses associated with writing and publication. Consult a tax advisor to learn more, and don’t forget to save receipts to document your deductions thoroughly.

I’m not a tax advisor, and this post should not be taken as tax advice. Consult a qualified accountant or other tax advisor before making decisions on tax issues.

Hello, Pleasanton!

One of the greatest joys of publication is having the opportunity to meet and talk with readers and other bibliophiles. If you’re in the area, and have the time, I hope you’ll join me today for a reading and signing at Towne Center Books in Pleasanton, CA. I’d love to meet you there.

Pleasanton, CA: Tuesday, July 30, 2013: 11:00 AM

Reading & Signing: Towne Center Books

555 Main Street

Pleasanton, CA 94566

Map Link

A Cover Reveal! GIRL ON THE GOLDEN COIN

GIRL ON THE GOLDEN COIN: A NOVEL OF FRANCES STUART

Marci Jefferson’s first novel is about Frances Stuart, who rejected three kings and graced England’s coins for generations as the model for Britannia. The book will release February 11, 2014 from Thomas Dunne Books / St. Martin’s Press. But pre-order this week and comment on Marci’s blog for a chance to win a pair of sterling-silver pearl-drop earrings like the ones Frances wears on this elegant cover (be prepared to present your receipt).

MORE ABOUT THE BOOK:

Impoverished and exiled to the French countryside after the overthrow of the English Crown, Frances Stuart survives merely by her blood-relation to the Stuart Royals. But in 1660, the Restoration of Stuart Monarchy in England returns her family to favor. Frances discards threadbare gowns and springs to gilded Fontainebleau Palace, where she soon catches King Louis XIV’s eye. But Frances is no ordinary court beauty, she has Stuart secrets to keep and people to protect. The king turns vengeful when she rejects his offer to become his Official Mistress. He banishes her to England with orders to seduce King Charles II and stop a war.

Armed in pearls and silk, Frances maneuvers through the political turbulence of Whitehall Palace, but still can’t afford to stir a scandal. Her tactic to inspire King Charles to greatness captivates him. He believes her love can make him an honest man and even chooses Frances to pose as Britannia for England’s coins. Frances survives the Great Fire, the Great Plague, and the debauchery of the Restoration Court, yet loses her heart to the very king she must control. Until she is forced to choose between love and war.

On the eve of England’s Glorious Revolution, James II forces Frances to decide whether to remain loyal to her Stuart heritage or, like England, make her stand for Liberty. Her portrait as Britannia is minted on every copper coin. There she remains for generations, an enduring symbol of Britain’s independent spirit and her own struggle for freedom.

ADVANCE PRAISE for GIRL ON THE GOLDEN COIN

“In her wonderfully evocative debut, Girl on the Golden Coin, Marci Jefferson recreates the fascinating story of Frances Stuart, whose influence over England’s Charles II became the talk of a nation. As vibrant and delightful as the woman it’s based on, Girl on the Golden Coin is a jewel of a novel!” —Michelle Moran, New York Times bestselling author of The Second Empress and Madame Tussaud

“Beauty is not always a blessing, as young Frances Stuart finds out when her lovely face pits her between the desires and politics of rival kings Louis XIV and Charles II. Frances makes an appealing heroine, by turns wary and passionate, sophisticated and innocent, as she matures from destitute young pawn to the majestic duchess whose figure would grace Britain’s coins for centuries. Her struggles to support her loved ones, uncover her family secrets, and somehow find a life of her own amid the snake-pit courts of the Sun King and the Merry Monarch make for lively, entertaining reading in this lush Restoration novel by debut author Marci Jefferson.” —Kate Quinn, New York Times bestselling author of Mistress of Rome

“Girl on the Golden Coin is a fantastic novel. I couldn’t put it down. The plot is fast-paced and compelling, with intriguing characters, lush settings and captivating narrative voice. Jefferson’s debut paints an intriguing portrait of Frances Stuart, a novel worthy of the determined, golden spirit of the woman whose face became the model for Britannia herself.” —Susan Spann, author of Claws of the Cat

“Girl on the Golden Coin is a sexy, exciting tale featuring vivid characters, rich historical detail, scintillating court intrigue, and a complexly rendered heroine in Frances Stuart, Maid of Honor to the Queen of England, who will capture the reader’s heart — as will the man she loves, that rascal King Charles II.” – Sherry Jones, author, FOUR SISTERS, ALL QUEENS

FIND IT HERE:

Barnes & Noble

IndieBound

Amazon

You can also learn more on Goodreads.

This is a lovely cover, and a fantastic book. I can’t wait to see a copy on my shelf!

Ninja Detectives: Fact from Fiction

When writing historical mystery novels, an author needs to straddle the line between fact and fiction. When the novel involves a ninja detective, that line can grow very thin indeed.

By the 16th century, shinobi (ninja) clans held significant power in Japan. Assassins were feared and respected even by powerful samurai warlords, and the myth of the ninja already included “abilities” like the power to turn to smoke by force of will.

In truth, shinobi were as human as anyone else–though highly trained in stealth and covert tactics as well as weapons skills.

For those who want to know more, I’m starting a Friday series focused on historical “fact vs. fiction” looking at ninjas, samurai, and other parts of medieval Japan.

If you’d like to know more right now, I invite you to take a look at the author’s notes on my Fact vs. Fiction page — a launching point for the conversation about the differences, and difficulties, in writing about a fictitious ninja detective living in 16th Century Kyoto.

See You Tonight, Santa Monica!

Tonight (Thursday, July 25) at 7pm, I’ll be reading and signing my debut ninja mystery CLAWS OF THE CAT at the Barnes & Noble on 3rd Street Promenade in Santa Monica, California.

We had a delightful time at last week’s Northern California launch, and I’d love to see you in Santa Monica tonight!

Praise for CLAWS OF THE CAT:

“While Spann demonstrates admirable attention to detail in her ninja detective debut, it’s the contemporary tone of her prose that makes this intriguing 16th-century historical so accessible. Laura Joh Rowland fans will like this book for the time period, but the ‘buddy tone’ is reminiscent of Ian Morson’s ‘Nick Zuliani’ series and Gary Corby’s ‘Athenian Mysteries’ series.”—Library Journal (starred review, mystery debut of the month)

“[A]n absorbing look at Japanese culture along with a sharp mystery.”—Kirkus Reviews

“Spann matches period detail with a well-developed whodunit plot in her promising debut”—Publishers Weekly

 

Engineering an Alternate Reality…With Ninjas!

Please join me at Tammy Salyer–Alternative Reality Engineer, where I’m explaining why it took me half a million words to learn how to make a “one-shot kill,” and why I believe any author can succeed, provided he or she has the fortitude to keep on putting one word after the other.

For those who don’t already know her, Tammy is the author of the SPECTRAS ARISE trilogy, a fantastic military science fiction series featuring former space marine turned smuggler Aly Erickson. I’ve read, and loved, both CONTRACT OF DEFIANCE and the sequel, CONTRACT OF BETRAYAL, and am eagerly awaiting the third installment.

Tammy is also a freelance editor, short story writer, blogger, and reviewer, and I’m honored and delighted to call her a friend. When she asked me to write a piece for her blog about my lengthy journey to publication, I was more than happy to oblige.

Please head over to Tammy’s place and enjoy!

When you’re finished there, mark your calendars for tomorrow, because I’ll be signing and reading from CLAWS OF THE CAT at 7pm tomorrow night at the Barnes & Noble on Santa Monica’s Third Street Promenade. I hope to see you there!

Ninjas, Velociraptors, and MY BOOKISH WAYS

Please join me today at MY BOOKISH WAYS for an interview about CLAWS OF THE CAT, ninja detectives, and why I find inspiration in battle schools and velociraptors.

Click the link. Really. You know you want to.