Jon’s Comments (group member since Aug 04, 2010)

Jon’s comments from the Q&A with Jon Sprunk group.

Yep. I'm hoping it survives to be one of his favs for the entire year.

Wow! I met Peat at World Fantasy last year -- a very cool guy.

Hey folks,

Just wanted to say a big thank you to everyone who has taken the time to review SHADOW'S SON on Amazon or some other online site. You guys are helping spread the word in a big way.

If you haven't reviewed the book, please consider it.

Thanks!

I agree!

JM: No idea. lol

Clare: You guys just hosted World Con! My agent was there for like 2 weeks. :)

No problem. I met the authors at Dragon*Con. They are very cool people.

JM: Yeah, a little. I didn't want to have another writer's assassin stories in my head while I composed my own.

Clare: If you like vampire series, Pyr Books is putting out a new one this November (I believe). Vampire Empire by Clay and Susan Griffith is getting some great buzz.

JM: I read the first four Malazan books and enjoyed them. I keep meaning to get back to the series.

Clare: I'm holding off reading the Night Angel series until I finish my Shadow Saga, but I've heard good things.

Besides Son (insert cheesy smile), what are you favorite books and authors?

As I've said in other places, I'm a fan of "classic S&S like Robert Howard, Michael Moorcock, and Fritz Leiber ... and more gothic horror such as Lovecraft.

I draw inspiration from every good book I read, because it makes me want to achieve something great. I enjoyed Abercrombie's First Law series, A Song of Fire and Ice (Martin), the Black Company (Cook), and many many others.

Thanks, Joe. :)

Aside: on my blog you can hear about my Dragon*Con experience.

Melissa, I wish I could say more. :)

I know what you mean about being your own worst critic (and I tend to think that's a good thing).

About the short story, I have similar experiences where I felt a piece was too long and bulky. In the end, I shelve them. One of the best things about short fiction is that if a story doesn't work, you can abandon it without feeling like you've wasted a couple years of your life.

Thanks, Joe. Those are words to live by.

Hehe. Not at all, Joe.

It is different with short stories, where I, too, pretty much sit down with an idea and let it take form. Sadly for me, that all-too-often results in junk that no one else would want to read.

You've not seen the last of Josey.

Welcome JM and Clare!

JM: No pressure at all! And that's a good suggestion.

Glad to be of service!

Without a doubt, publishing is a tough business to break into, but my experience is that publishers aren't so scary -- they are good people who love books and writers.

I wrote about this a little on my blog (http://jonsprunk.blogspot.com/2009/11...), and I'll add that if you really want to write and be published, you have to be bold, and you have to be persistent. Don't let rejection end your dream.

I'll be at Dragon*Con this coming weekend, and I will post a full report on my blog afterward. Should be a blast.