Martha Wells's Blog, page 130
August 7, 2013
Stupid Facebook is Stupid Stupid Stupid
If you came in late, earlier today, Facebook suddenly logged me off, told me my account was disabled because of "security reasons" and that to get it back I had to upload an official government picture ID.
It was really Facebook, this is a thing they've been doing: http://www.itproportal.com/2013/01/28/facebook-demands-photo-id-as-part-of-new-verification-process/
And my problem is, Wells is my writing pseud, and have no official ID in that name.
I called my husband to check and see if my account had been hacked and was posting porn or something, and his account was also disabled, for "security reasons." People checked for us, and both accounts no longer existed, you couldn't even tag us.
So he uploaded his ID. Then just now he realized that his account was now back. He checked, and mine was back too, even though I had never uploaded any ID.
So what does that even mean? I'm just an annex to my husband? Or it's okay if I'm a fake person as long as he's real?
So it was all a stupid non-event for no reason and yeah, I have no idea. I do need it because of all the people I keep in touch with there who aren't online anywhere else, and for the people who read it to get news about my book, and I'm in a couple of groups that are organized through FB, including one for a shared world anthology it would be a real pain not to have access to.
It was really Facebook, this is a thing they've been doing: http://www.itproportal.com/2013/01/28/facebook-demands-photo-id-as-part-of-new-verification-process/
And my problem is, Wells is my writing pseud, and have no official ID in that name.
I called my husband to check and see if my account had been hacked and was posting porn or something, and his account was also disabled, for "security reasons." People checked for us, and both accounts no longer existed, you couldn't even tag us.
So he uploaded his ID. Then just now he realized that his account was now back. He checked, and mine was back too, even though I had never uploaded any ID.
So what does that even mean? I'm just an annex to my husband? Or it's okay if I'm a fake person as long as he's real?
So it was all a stupid non-event for no reason and yeah, I have no idea. I do need it because of all the people I keep in touch with there who aren't online anywhere else, and for the people who read it to get news about my book, and I'm in a couple of groups that are organized through FB, including one for a shared world anthology it would be a real pain not to have access to.
For people on Facebook, I've just tried to log on and fou...
For people on Facebook, I've just tried to log on and found out my account has been disabled. There was so explanation of why. It's telling me I have to upload a government-issued photo ID (preferably my driver's license) with my name, address, and birth date on it. I'm not going to do that, so I guess I won't be able to use Facebook again. If you're on my friends list, I'd appreciate you letting people know I won't be logging on again. Also, say goodbye to my family for me, because that's the way I hear from most of them.
ETA: even if I wanted to give them a photo ID, I don't have one under the name Wells. Wells is my writing pseud.
ETA: even if I wanted to give them a photo ID, I don't have one under the name Wells. Wells is my writing pseud.
August 6, 2013
Various Things
Club Jade posted a mini-excerpt of my Star Wars book, Razor's Edge.
New book recs:
Possession by Kat Richardson. Part of a very neat urban fantasy/mystery series. That link goes to Tor.com where an excerpt has been posted.
Codex Born by Jim Hines. Book 2 of the Magic Ex Libris series.
***
links:
* Shark Week Jumps the Shark
Here's what I don’t get, Discovery: Megalodons were real, incredible, fascinating sharks. There's a ton of actual science about them that is well worth a two hour special. We've discovered their nursery grounds off the coast of Panama, for example. Their bite is thought to be the strongest of all time—strong enough to smash an automobile—beating out even the most monstrous dinosaurs. The real science of these animals should have been more than enough to inspire Discovery Channel viewers. But it's as if you don’t care anymore about presenting the truth or reality. You chose, instead, to mislead your viewers with 120 minutes of bullshit. And the sad part is, you are so well trusted by your audience that you actually convinced them: according to your poll, upwards of 70% of your viewing public fell for the ruse and now believes that Megalodon isn’t extinct.
* An article I think everybody needs to read: Do You Suffer from Decision fatigue?
This is a huge issue especially for people who are on a budget and struggling to make ends meet. Being aware of it at least helps a little.
***
Still working on the first Raksura novella, which keeps getting longer. People ask occasionally what they can do to get more Raksura books, and it's basically the same things you can do to support any books that you enjoyed:
- add the books to your GoodReads or LibraryThing lists,
- leave reviews on Amazon or B&N or wherever you bought it (these reviews do help, because after a certain number of them the book shows up more frequently in Amazon's recommendation system)
(the new eBook Bundle could really use both reviews and being added to GoodReads and LibraryThing, so more people know it's available)
- if your local library doesn't have the books, request that the library get them. Libraries are usually glad to get requests for books, and have request cards to fill out either at the front desk or online.
- and the biggie, recommend them to people you think would enjoy them too.
New book recs:
Possession by Kat Richardson. Part of a very neat urban fantasy/mystery series. That link goes to Tor.com where an excerpt has been posted.
Codex Born by Jim Hines. Book 2 of the Magic Ex Libris series.
***
links:
* Shark Week Jumps the Shark
Here's what I don’t get, Discovery: Megalodons were real, incredible, fascinating sharks. There's a ton of actual science about them that is well worth a two hour special. We've discovered their nursery grounds off the coast of Panama, for example. Their bite is thought to be the strongest of all time—strong enough to smash an automobile—beating out even the most monstrous dinosaurs. The real science of these animals should have been more than enough to inspire Discovery Channel viewers. But it's as if you don’t care anymore about presenting the truth or reality. You chose, instead, to mislead your viewers with 120 minutes of bullshit. And the sad part is, you are so well trusted by your audience that you actually convinced them: according to your poll, upwards of 70% of your viewing public fell for the ruse and now believes that Megalodon isn’t extinct.
* An article I think everybody needs to read: Do You Suffer from Decision fatigue?
This is a huge issue especially for people who are on a budget and struggling to make ends meet. Being aware of it at least helps a little.
***
Still working on the first Raksura novella, which keeps getting longer. People ask occasionally what they can do to get more Raksura books, and it's basically the same things you can do to support any books that you enjoyed:
- add the books to your GoodReads or LibraryThing lists,
- leave reviews on Amazon or B&N or wherever you bought it (these reviews do help, because after a certain number of them the book shows up more frequently in Amazon's recommendation system)
(the new eBook Bundle could really use both reviews and being added to GoodReads and LibraryThing, so more people know it's available)
- if your local library doesn't have the books, request that the library get them. Libraries are usually glad to get requests for books, and have request cards to fill out either at the front desk or online.
- and the biggie, recommend them to people you think would enjoy them too.
August 5, 2013
WorldCon and First Audiobook Dates
I've got three things I need to finish before WorldCon starts on the 29th, and I'm trying to concentrate on that and not just think about WorldCon. I haven't been to the San Antonio Riverwalk for several years, and I'm really looking forward to going again. (There's a neat map of it here) It's a great site for a con, and with the weather being so hot (it's been over 100 here since, uh, forever) it's nice that you can use the riverwalk to move between the two hotels and the convention center, and to get to lots of restaurants, since it's considerably cooler than street level and a lot of it is shaded. There's a new short film festival at WorldCon now too, with 35 pages of entries from all over the world, so that should be awesome, if I have time to see any of it. I'll post my schedule here when I get the complete/final version.
I'm going to be one of a group of authors hosting a party Thursday night at 8:00 (we don't know the suite number yet). The others are members of the Booksworn group and this is our usual WorldCon party with lots of food and drinks, and free books will be given out as prizes throughout the night. I should have copies of The Serpent Sea and The Siren Depths in paperback and ebook to give away, plus a few copies of Emilie and the Hollow World. The Cloud Roads is in short supply because the paperbacks are nearly sold out, so I probably won't have any of those.
My husband will also be doing a historical tour of the area around the Alamo, which will be on the schedule, though I think you need to sign up for it.
Apex Magazine did an article on various authors' Top 5 Con Necessities, but for the San Antonio WorldCon I'd recommend a) sunblock b) a floppy hat you can roll up in your bag and carry with you (you may not need it in the Riverwalk, but if you walk to the museum or Market Square or the Alamo, or anywhere else, it will help a lot) c) a water bottle d) snacks to keep your blood sugar in line. I tend to have problems with this at cons because I use up energy talking and interacting with people at a lot faster rate than I ever do anywhere else, and I tend to forget that I need to eat more and more frequently to compensate. Like, normally I avoid drinks with sugar except for a little in tea occasionally; at cons I actually need them to keep going, and I tend to forget that. So if in the late afternoon or evening you're trying to talk to me and I seem drifty and am calling people by the wrong name, that's what's going on.
If you are new to cons, FYI the hotel will probably try to freeze people to death with its air conditioning in the panel rooms, so an overshirt or jacket is always a good idea. Also a shoulder bag to carry your purchases and free items.
Audiobook dates:
They are coming quicker than I thought!
The Element of Fire narrated by Derek Perkins, 9/16/2013
The Death of the Necromancer, narrated by Derek Perkins, 9/30/2013
They have City of Bones listed but no date for it yet. I'm guessing maybe early October?
I'm going to be one of a group of authors hosting a party Thursday night at 8:00 (we don't know the suite number yet). The others are members of the Booksworn group and this is our usual WorldCon party with lots of food and drinks, and free books will be given out as prizes throughout the night. I should have copies of The Serpent Sea and The Siren Depths in paperback and ebook to give away, plus a few copies of Emilie and the Hollow World. The Cloud Roads is in short supply because the paperbacks are nearly sold out, so I probably won't have any of those.
My husband will also be doing a historical tour of the area around the Alamo, which will be on the schedule, though I think you need to sign up for it.
Apex Magazine did an article on various authors' Top 5 Con Necessities, but for the San Antonio WorldCon I'd recommend a) sunblock b) a floppy hat you can roll up in your bag and carry with you (you may not need it in the Riverwalk, but if you walk to the museum or Market Square or the Alamo, or anywhere else, it will help a lot) c) a water bottle d) snacks to keep your blood sugar in line. I tend to have problems with this at cons because I use up energy talking and interacting with people at a lot faster rate than I ever do anywhere else, and I tend to forget that I need to eat more and more frequently to compensate. Like, normally I avoid drinks with sugar except for a little in tea occasionally; at cons I actually need them to keep going, and I tend to forget that. So if in the late afternoon or evening you're trying to talk to me and I seem drifty and am calling people by the wrong name, that's what's going on.
If you are new to cons, FYI the hotel will probably try to freeze people to death with its air conditioning in the panel rooms, so an overshirt or jacket is always a good idea. Also a shoulder bag to carry your purchases and free items.
Audiobook dates:
They are coming quicker than I thought!
The Element of Fire narrated by Derek Perkins, 9/16/2013
The Death of the Necromancer, narrated by Derek Perkins, 9/30/2013
They have City of Bones listed but no date for it yet. I'm guessing maybe early October?
August 1, 2013
Upcoming Books
Doing an aerobics class this morning, and during a complicated exercise a small part of my body just said "no." Fortunately the exercise didn't last long so I don't think anyone noticed that I was just huddled on the mat in a pretzel position.
Stuff I have coming out, a round-up:
* If you didn't see it yesterday, there is now a discounted ebook compilation of the three Books of the Raksura (The Cloud Roads, The Serpent Sea, and The Siren Depths) on Kindle, Nook, and Kobo.
* The Star Wars novel Empire and Rebellion: Razor's Edge will be out in hardcover, ebook, and audiobook on September 24.
* You can preorder the paperback of Emilie and the Sky World at Amazon and Barnes and Noble. It looks like it will be out March 4, 2014.
Also upcoming is the audiobooks for all my fantasy backlist novels from Tantor, and the four ebook Raksura novellas, and I don't have dates for those yet.
Stuff I have coming out, a round-up:
* If you didn't see it yesterday, there is now a discounted ebook compilation of the three Books of the Raksura (The Cloud Roads, The Serpent Sea, and The Siren Depths) on Kindle, Nook, and Kobo.
* The Star Wars novel Empire and Rebellion: Razor's Edge will be out in hardcover, ebook, and audiobook on September 24.
* You can preorder the paperback of Emilie and the Sky World at Amazon and Barnes and Noble. It looks like it will be out March 4, 2014.
Also upcoming is the audiobooks for all my fantasy backlist novels from Tantor, and the four ebook Raksura novellas, and I don't have dates for those yet.
July 31, 2013
Books of the Raksura eBook Compendium
Links
Quickie link post
Shipwrecks discovered near Galveston:
* Mystery at sea deepens
* Texas State excavates centuries-old Gulf of Mexico shipwreck
Other:
XOJane: Michelle Rodriguez Made Me Cry at Comic-Con
AI: Walmart Losing To Quirky Florida Based Publix – Employee Owned Company Touted By Forbes As Wal-Mart Slayer
NewStatesman: After the Jane Austen announcement I suffered rape threats for 48 hours, but I'm still confident the trolls won't win
Bosom Buddies: A Photo History of Male Affection
Book recs:
A Thousand Perfect Things by Kay Kenyon - ebook will be out in August
Heart of Briar by Laura Anne Gilman
The Labyrinth Gate by Kate Elliott, in ebook for the first time
Shipwrecks discovered near Galveston:
* Mystery at sea deepens
* Texas State excavates centuries-old Gulf of Mexico shipwreck
Other:
XOJane: Michelle Rodriguez Made Me Cry at Comic-Con
AI: Walmart Losing To Quirky Florida Based Publix – Employee Owned Company Touted By Forbes As Wal-Mart Slayer
NewStatesman: After the Jane Austen announcement I suffered rape threats for 48 hours, but I'm still confident the trolls won't win
Bosom Buddies: A Photo History of Male Affection
Book recs:
A Thousand Perfect Things by Kay Kenyon - ebook will be out in August
Heart of Briar by Laura Anne Gilman
The Labyrinth Gate by Kate Elliott, in ebook for the first time
July 30, 2013
Lots of Things
I got to choose from a list of narrators for the Tantor audiobooks versions.
For The Element of Fire and The Death of the Necromancer it's going to be Derek Perkins, for the Fall of Ile-Rien trilogy it's Talmadge Ragan, and for City of Bones it's going to be Kyle McCarley. For Wheel of the Infinite, I asked if they had a black woman narrator who might be interested in doing it, and the casting director was immediately on it and got Lisa Reneé Pitts, who you can see from her bio is pretty awesome. So I'm really happy with all the choices.
***
I got attacked by fireants last Thursday, not too bad on my legs and feet but my lefthand looked kind of nasty. I soaked the bites in vinegar for about half an hour (I know this is not supposed to work, but it does on me, if I get it on the bites fast enough. Chlorinated pool water works even better) and they don't itch or hurt, but they still look pretty awful.
***
The signing at Murder by the Book with Joy Preble, Mary Lindsey, and P.J. Hoover was a huge amount of fun. I really enjoy group signings. We talked a bit about our books, did short readings, and then took questions. Later that night I went out to a place called Sweet Paris and had a crepe stuffed with marshmallow and chocolate and graham crackers that was the size of my head.
For The Element of Fire and The Death of the Necromancer it's going to be Derek Perkins, for the Fall of Ile-Rien trilogy it's Talmadge Ragan, and for City of Bones it's going to be Kyle McCarley. For Wheel of the Infinite, I asked if they had a black woman narrator who might be interested in doing it, and the casting director was immediately on it and got Lisa Reneé Pitts, who you can see from her bio is pretty awesome. So I'm really happy with all the choices.
***
I got attacked by fireants last Thursday, not too bad on my legs and feet but my lefthand looked kind of nasty. I soaked the bites in vinegar for about half an hour (I know this is not supposed to work, but it does on me, if I get it on the bites fast enough. Chlorinated pool water works even better) and they don't itch or hurt, but they still look pretty awful.
***
The signing at Murder by the Book with Joy Preble, Mary Lindsey, and P.J. Hoover was a huge amount of fun. I really enjoy group signings. We talked a bit about our books, did short readings, and then took questions. Later that night I went out to a place called Sweet Paris and had a crepe stuffed with marshmallow and chocolate and graham crackers that was the size of my head.
July 28, 2013
Snippet from Raksura Novella
I want to post pictures from the group signing at Murder by the Book on Friday, but I haven't downloaded them yet and a cat is preventing me from getting up to get the camera.
So here's a snippet from the Raksura novella I'm working on.
FAQ:
1) Remember this is a novella, not a novel, so the whole thing will be around 30,000 words long, about a fourth the length of one of the Raksura novels. The good news is, it is the first of four.
2) They will be ebooks, and I don't know yet when they will be published or if there will ever be a paper version. I'll post as soon as I know.
3) If you're coming to the San Antonio WorldCon, and I get to do a reading, I'll be reading a longer section there.
4) If you're new and you don't know what Raksura are, the site for information on the books, the free short stories, the world, the fan art, etc is www.raksura.com
***
With the hunters in charge, the minimal camp went together fast, including a dirt hearth and shelters constructed from stretches of fabric made water resistant with tree sap. There weren't any rocks handy, so Merit used chunks of mountain tree wood that was too old and hard to burn, spelling them for fireless heat.
Moon sent River, Drift, and Briar with two of the hunters, Plum and Salt, to take a kill from the grasseater herd on a lower platform. He wanted to keep them all fed at every opportunity, to be prepared for anything. Once they were gone, Moon shifted to groundling, but he was so tense it didn't help much to lose the weight of his wings.
He paced on the flattened grass near the hearth. The other warriors distributed themselves around the camp, stretching and talking quietly. Floret stayed near Moon, as if waiting for instructions. He wished he could think of some.
Bramble brought the water kettle and set it on the wood to heat. Then Venture strolled up. She said, "You've done well today, consort."
There was no rational response to that, so Moon didn't make one. Bramble, crouched near his feet, hissed deep in her throat.
Venture asked Floret, "Are we waiting here for the line-grandfather?"
Floret, rather pointedly, asked Moon, "Moon, are we to wait here for Stone?"
Moon nodded, still lost in thought.
Floret told Venture, "Yes, we're waiting for the line-grandfather."
Venture gave her an ironic nod. "The consort spoke freely at the court, with a reigning queen present. Why not now?"
Floret tilted her head, annoyance turning to something more dangerous. That's it, Moon thought. He said, "Venture, why are you with Cerise?"
A flicker of surprise and something else crossed Venture's expression. She said, "Queens are always accompanied by female warriors. Maybe with your background you haven't had that explained to you--"
"Queens are accompanied by their clutchmates. You're supposedly the clutchmate of the reigning queen of Ocean Winter. Did she not want you? Or does she not trust Cerise?"
Venture stiffened in offense. Floret and Bramble watched her with fixed expressions. Bramble, in groundling form, flexed her shoulders as if raising spines she didn't have at the moment; under her sleeveless shirt her muscles rippled.
Venture showed her teeth briefly. "I was sent to Cerise as an honor to her," she said, and walked away.
Floret and Bramble both relaxed. Floret muttered, "If I said something that idiotic, Pearl would slap me so hard my fangs would fly out."
Bramble, dipping the metal travel cups into the tea, snorted. "I guess it's no fun for her to scratch when someone scratches back. Why did she ask you about Stone, Floret?"
Floret sat beside the hearth. "She's pretending she thinks I'm in charge to make us angry."
Bramble took Moon's wrist and put a cup in his hand. "Oh, wonderful. It's lovely enough having her along without that."
"I know. It's not as if we can't argue and fight on our own, we don't need an outsider poking us."
She was right about that.
Merit came to the hearth, carrying his pack, and Moon asked him, "Can you do an augury?"
Merit nodded. "I'll get started right away."
So here's a snippet from the Raksura novella I'm working on.
FAQ:
1) Remember this is a novella, not a novel, so the whole thing will be around 30,000 words long, about a fourth the length of one of the Raksura novels. The good news is, it is the first of four.
2) They will be ebooks, and I don't know yet when they will be published or if there will ever be a paper version. I'll post as soon as I know.
3) If you're coming to the San Antonio WorldCon, and I get to do a reading, I'll be reading a longer section there.
4) If you're new and you don't know what Raksura are, the site for information on the books, the free short stories, the world, the fan art, etc is www.raksura.com
***
With the hunters in charge, the minimal camp went together fast, including a dirt hearth and shelters constructed from stretches of fabric made water resistant with tree sap. There weren't any rocks handy, so Merit used chunks of mountain tree wood that was too old and hard to burn, spelling them for fireless heat.
Moon sent River, Drift, and Briar with two of the hunters, Plum and Salt, to take a kill from the grasseater herd on a lower platform. He wanted to keep them all fed at every opportunity, to be prepared for anything. Once they were gone, Moon shifted to groundling, but he was so tense it didn't help much to lose the weight of his wings.
He paced on the flattened grass near the hearth. The other warriors distributed themselves around the camp, stretching and talking quietly. Floret stayed near Moon, as if waiting for instructions. He wished he could think of some.
Bramble brought the water kettle and set it on the wood to heat. Then Venture strolled up. She said, "You've done well today, consort."
There was no rational response to that, so Moon didn't make one. Bramble, crouched near his feet, hissed deep in her throat.
Venture asked Floret, "Are we waiting here for the line-grandfather?"
Floret, rather pointedly, asked Moon, "Moon, are we to wait here for Stone?"
Moon nodded, still lost in thought.
Floret told Venture, "Yes, we're waiting for the line-grandfather."
Venture gave her an ironic nod. "The consort spoke freely at the court, with a reigning queen present. Why not now?"
Floret tilted her head, annoyance turning to something more dangerous. That's it, Moon thought. He said, "Venture, why are you with Cerise?"
A flicker of surprise and something else crossed Venture's expression. She said, "Queens are always accompanied by female warriors. Maybe with your background you haven't had that explained to you--"
"Queens are accompanied by their clutchmates. You're supposedly the clutchmate of the reigning queen of Ocean Winter. Did she not want you? Or does she not trust Cerise?"
Venture stiffened in offense. Floret and Bramble watched her with fixed expressions. Bramble, in groundling form, flexed her shoulders as if raising spines she didn't have at the moment; under her sleeveless shirt her muscles rippled.
Venture showed her teeth briefly. "I was sent to Cerise as an honor to her," she said, and walked away.
Floret and Bramble both relaxed. Floret muttered, "If I said something that idiotic, Pearl would slap me so hard my fangs would fly out."
Bramble, dipping the metal travel cups into the tea, snorted. "I guess it's no fun for her to scratch when someone scratches back. Why did she ask you about Stone, Floret?"
Floret sat beside the hearth. "She's pretending she thinks I'm in charge to make us angry."
Bramble took Moon's wrist and put a cup in his hand. "Oh, wonderful. It's lovely enough having her along without that."
"I know. It's not as if we can't argue and fight on our own, we don't need an outsider poking us."
She was right about that.
Merit came to the hearth, carrying his pack, and Moon asked him, "Can you do an augury?"
Merit nodded. "I'll get started right away."
July 25, 2013
Signing and Book Recs
Friday, tomorrow, July 26, I'll be signing Emilie and the Hollow World at Murder by the Book, at 6:30 pm in Houston, Texas, with Joy Preble (The Sweet Dead Life), Mary Lindsey (Ashes on the Waves), and P.J. Hoover (Solstice). The store does do mail order, so if you want a signed book, you can call and order one.
***
Book recs:
* The ebook of Beth Bernobich's fantasy novel Passion Play is on sale for $2.99. This is the first book in her River of Souls series. The second book is already out and the third is coming soon.
* There's a GoodReads giveaway for The Golden City a new fantasy novel set in Portugal, by J. Kathleen Cheney.
* I'm reading Cold Steel by Kate Elliott, the third book in the Spiritwalker trilogy and really enjoying it.
* I'm also reading The Guild: the Official Companion, all about how the series was written and filmed.
***
Book recs:
* The ebook of Beth Bernobich's fantasy novel Passion Play is on sale for $2.99. This is the first book in her River of Souls series. The second book is already out and the third is coming soon.
* There's a GoodReads giveaway for The Golden City a new fantasy novel set in Portugal, by J. Kathleen Cheney.
* I'm reading Cold Steel by Kate Elliott, the third book in the Spiritwalker trilogy and really enjoying it.
* I'm also reading The Guild: the Official Companion, all about how the series was written and filmed.
