Shane Castle
asked
Lois McMaster Bujold:
The news today is that Philip Roth has died. In the NPR story about him, there's a reference to an interview in 2013: https://www.npr.org/2013/03/23/174949848/at-80-philip-roth-reflects-on-life-literature-and-the-beauty-of-naps . Where are you on the spectrum of retirement? Obviously, not fully retired yet, but I suspect you might be slowing down?
Lois McMaster Bujold
On the spectrum of retirement, I am choosing my own adventure, which is a lot slower than most people think of as adventure. To the greatest degree possible, it consists of avoiding the things about an author's career that I found most wearing -- book tours, for instance, or speaking or teaching engagements, or most cons, or in general anything that involves getting on an airplane. Or deadlines. Or contracts for anything that is not all the way finished at least in first draft. (Some parts are not sluffable ever -- keeping business and tax records, ferex.)
It also consists of reading or watching whatever the heck I want, and not ditto what I don't want. Less self-improvement -- I figure it's all downhill from here anyway -- and more brain candy. Because when someone my age or older says, "Life is short," they kinda mean it. Personally, I blame my mitochondria -- see https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3... (Granted, the recent anime binge has more to do with new accessibility and the dratted epiretinal membrane/macular pucker issues.)
The indie self-publishing experiment, so far quite successful, suits this plan well. Shortest possible route from story in my brain --> text --> most succinct possible technical transmission --> text --> story in reader's brain.
Ta, L.
(Many people, when they gas about retirement, say "I want to travel and write a book!" Um...
It also consists of reading or watching whatever the heck I want, and not ditto what I don't want. Less self-improvement -- I figure it's all downhill from here anyway -- and more brain candy. Because when someone my age or older says, "Life is short," they kinda mean it. Personally, I blame my mitochondria -- see https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3... (Granted, the recent anime binge has more to do with new accessibility and the dratted epiretinal membrane/macular pucker issues.)
The indie self-publishing experiment, so far quite successful, suits this plan well. Shortest possible route from story in my brain --> text --> most succinct possible technical transmission --> text --> story in reader's brain.
Ta, L.
(Many people, when they gas about retirement, say "I want to travel and write a book!" Um...
More Answered Questions
Russell Hobart
asked
Lois McMaster Bujold:
Hello Lois, You've brought me endless hours of joy. Thank you. How are you able to bring so many dark aspects (I'm thinking specifically Mirror Dance with Mark and Ryoval, etc.) but the story feels uplifting? I compare this to The Road which I still feel scarred by. Character trajectory is part of the answer but I feel I am missing something.
Jon Hurst
asked
Lois McMaster Bujold:
I have been consistently amazed by your deep understanding and clear depiction of people: how they think and feel, their motivations and fears, how they can be led effectively and influenced. How did you develop your understanding of people and leadership? It seems uncanny and wonderful.
Matthew B. Tepper
asked
Lois McMaster Bujold:
An sf reader for >50 of my 62 years, I had until recently only heard of Miles. I'm now 3 books in (Warrior's Apprentice), & hooked. Work of this quality is why I read sf. Thank you for this great pleasure. I have minutes ago learned of Michel Petrucciani, a French jazz pianist of astonishing musicianship & refinement. He suffered from brittle bones, & was short of stature. Were you aware of his work before Miles?
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