Sharon – Page 230 – Sharon Lee, Writer

The hurrier I go…

. . .the behinder I get.

Yeah.

So! Book the Next has shrunk again, as last night I Officially Removed that questionable 5,652 words, and placed it in a file named “Five of 5.”

This brings the word count for Book the Next right down to 32,777. As a colleague said, “It would be so much easier, if writing a novel were only about stringing words together until you have enough.”

So, that.

One more question from the Roll Call: Will there be a Jethri and Tan Sim story?

…one assumes that this is not a request for slash, but for a novel, and the answer is — Don’t know. It’s not on the current list, but we’re pretty sure to have another list, sometime in future. What we chose to write about is predicated on a number of factors, the most important of which is — What do we feel like writing? As people frequently mention, it takes us a long time to write a book — far too long, in fact, to live with characters we dislike or a story we didn’t really want to write.

Several people in a number of venues have asked where they can find more of Tolly Jones. This is pursuant to yesterday’s posting of “Wise Child” (which is here, if you missed it). Tolly, of course, makes an appearance in Dragon in Exile, and is also present in Alliance of Equals and! Book the Next.

There is some curiosity about Where Disian Came From. First I heard of her was in Book the Next, when Tolly casually said something, and I was like, “Wait, what?”

Folks also want to know the “rest” of Disian’s story — which, she having arrived fully formed, so to speak, I happen to know! Sorta. What I don’t know yet is where that story belongs. And, no (to forestall a frequent variation on a theme) I won’t just tell you. Just telling you is not a story, but it very well may ruin the story, in that, having just told you, I’ll be bored, and won’t write it.

Writers are twisty wights, no getting around it.

Steve and I have had a go at putting together a blog tour for Alliance, and our first stop was at YA Authors You Never Heard Of.

He’d asked Disian, once, how moving through Jump looked to her. And she’d waxed rhapsodic enough that he’d decided right then and there that a man might have no better use of his time than to seek out the Uncle and offer to do whatever it took, so long as he ended up downloaded as the main brain of a spaceship.

Liaden Universe® InfoDump No. 113

. . .or possibly 114; there seems to have been some slippage, somewhere.

New Liaden Novelette

“Wise Child,” a Liaden Universe® novelette, is now on Baen.com, where it can be read for free! It begins on the front page, or you can read the whole thing here.

Please take a moment to like it on FB or tweet about it (buttons at the bottom of the story) so the boss knows people care. Thanks. If you don’t Facebook or Tweet, consider sharing the link on your blog, if any, or email it to friends who may like SF or who Just Need To Have a short taste of the Liaden Universe(R).

Thanks.

Alliance of Equals Book Tour Changes!

There have been changes in the Alliance of Equals micro-mini tour. Short form: the Pandemonium Books event has been cancelled, but our local indie bookstore, Childrens Book Cellar, has signed on! Also? We’re going to Wichita.

Here’s the schedule as it now looks:

July 5, 7 pm: Flights of Fantasy Albany, NY
July 8, 7 pm: Annie’s Book Stop of Worcester, MA
July 9, 2 pm: Toadstool Books, Milford NH
July 14, 7 pm: Pandemonium Books Cambridge MA *Cancelled*
July 16, 2 pm: Children’s Book Cellar, Waterville ME
August 14, 2 pm: Barnes and Noble, 1920 N. Rock Road, Wichita, KS

Want a Signed Copy of Alliance of Equals?

You can still order one from Uncle Hugo’s SF Bookstore in Minneapolis. Here’s your link.

PLEASE NOTE: Preorders for personalized copies closed on June 1.

Where in the World are Lee and Miller?

In addition to the micro-mini book tour, above, Steve and Sharon will be attending the following conventions during the latter half of 2016:

MidAmeriCon II, the 74th World Science Fiction Convention, August 17-21, Kansas City Convention Center, Kansas City, MO. Guests of Honor Kinuko Y. Craft, Patrick Nielsen Hayden, Teresa Nielsen Hayden, Tamora Pierce, and Michael Swanwick; Toastmaster Pat Cadigan.

Rhode Island Comic Con, November 11 – 13, Rhode Island Convention Center, Providence, RI.

Blogs and Other Webly Things of Note
Sharon Lee’s blog, Eagles over the Kennebec
Sharon Lee’s “Professional” blog
Splinter Universe Discussion List

Lee and Miller Patreon Support Page

Facebook Connections — please feel free to add us!
Steve Miller
Sharon Lee

Pinbeam Books: an online catalog, with vendor links, to all Lee-and-Miller eChapbooks
Splinter Universe: features outtakes, splinters, oddities from the Lee&Miller writing career, currently changes irregularly.
Welcome to Liad — The official homepage for Liaden Universe® news

Liaden Interest Groups on Facebook
Clan Korval
Friends of Liad
Flaran chamenthi

Twitter
Steve’s on Twitter
Sharon’s on Twitter, too
Pinterest

Disclaimer Stuff
This InfoDump is a product of the Liaden Universe®, accept no imitations. You have received this message because you asked for it. If you wish to subscribe to the Liaden Universe® email list, to unsubscribe from the Liaden Universe® email list, or to change your delivery email address, go here.

New Liaden novelette

“Wise Child,” a Liaden novelette by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller, is now live. It starts on the Baen.com front page, or you can read the whole thing here: http://www.baen.com/wisechild.

Please take a moment to like it on FB or tweet about it (buttons at the bottom of the story) so the boss knows people care. Thanks.

Books read in 2016

27. To Have and to Hold, Nalini Singh (e)
26. The House of Shattered Wings, Aliette de Bodard
25. Bride of the Rat God, Barbara Hambly (e)
24. Every Heart a Doorway, Seanan McGuire (e)
23. Maximum Ice, Kay Kenyon (e)
22. War for the Oaks, Emma Bull (re-re-re-re-read)
21. Wheel of the Infinite, Martha Wells (e)
20. Algonquin Cat, Val Schaffner, illustrated by Hilary Knight
19. Karen Memory, Elizabeth Bear
18. Ancillary Mercy, Ann Leckie
17. When Falcons Fall, C.S. Harris
16. Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day, Winifred Watson (re-re-re-&c-read)
15. Uprooted, Naomi Novik
14. Strong Poison, Dorothy L. Sayers (re-re-re-read)
13. Written in Red, Anne Bishop
12. Andy & Don, Daniel de Visé
11. The Thief of Time, Terry Pratchett (read aloud with Steve)
10. Foxglove Summer, Ben Aaronovitch
9.   Broken Homes, Ben Aaronovitch
8.   Soul Music, Terry Pratchett (read aloud with Steve)
7.   Whispers Underground, Ben Aaronovitch
6.   Moon Over Soho, Ben Aaronovitch
5.   Reaper Man, Terry Pratchett (read aloud with Steve)
4.   Conflict of Honors, Sharon Lee and Steve Miller (e) (re-read)
3.   Mort, Terry Pratchett (read aloud with Steve)
2.   The Sculptor, Scott McCloud
1.   A Short History of a Small Place, T.R. Pearson

Be chivalrous to strangers you meet along the road

In which we prove that writing is a science.

Or not.

Astute readers will recall that I reported having broken 40,000 words on Book the Next on Monday evening.

Yesterday, I had what we’ll call A Better Idea, ripped out about 6,000 words, wrote 4,000 new ones, cut/pasted/re-worked a few existing bits, and! Realized a net loss of only 1,800 words.

Result: Book is stronger (I think), but 40,000 is once again ahead of me.

Answers to more questions received in Roll Call.

*I can probably Reveal the raw number of Roll Call answers at the end of June

*Roll Call is pinned to the top of Blog Without a Name until the end of June in order to give everyone who reads a chance to see it and respond, if they so desire. Some folks only check in once a week or twice a month, and we are at summer (for some of us), and people are on vacation

*The Roll Call was not mirrored on LJ because LJ has ongoing problems with spam, and I have had to sternly restrict the list of people who can post there. And, yanno, I wanted all the answers in one place. Thank you for your patience and understanding

*Nope, you are in no way obligated to read Blog Without a Name instead of Eagles Over the Kennebec. In most cases, content appears on both sites

*Returning for a signing at the Uncle’s in Minneapolis is, perhaps, in the future. Steve and I will be guests of honor at Marscon in Bloomington, next March and have been talking with Don about when would be best for us to come visit him while we’re in the area

In theory, yes, the new story goes live on Baen.com today. I stress that this is Only A Theory; I have not have confirmation of this from the folks who would know best. Also! I am scheduled to vanish into my volunteer gig for most of the day, so will be out of pinbeam range. So — you’re kinda on your own, here. Happy hunting.

Progress on Book the Next
38,191/100,000 OR 38% complete

The delmae, like Liadens had it. Smart woman, as far as he’d ever heard. Haz had a high opinion, but then, Captain Robertson, as she’d once been, was twice a hero in battle, and that was the kind of thing that would count for somebody with Haz’s bringing up.

Today’s blog title brought to you by Warren Zevon, “Ourselves to Know,” because, really, who can resist a rock song about the Crusades? Here’s your link

And I think to myself, What a wonderful world

Thanks to everyone answering the roll call. As I said in the original post, I am keeping the responses private. That means they won’t show up on the blog page.

Many people have taken the time to write me a note, or ask a question. Below are answers to those questions, in no particular order.

*Yep, still have the stone turtle; he hasn’t gotten any bigger, though.

*The book format that earns us the most is a moving target. By contract, we are paid royalties at a rate of 50% of cover, for ebooks; 25% of cover for hardcovers; 8% (I think — too lazy to get up and open the file cabinet) for mass markets to a Certain Point, when it goes up to 10%, and, at another Certain Point, rises to 12%, where it remains Forever; and I forget for trade editions.

*No, I don’t necessarily demand an answer every time “you” click onto the blog. In fact, I don’t demand any answers, really. Except for certain Special Projects, of which this Roll Call is one.

*Yay! The extra foreign language editions have found a good home in a school.

* No, I am not going to be shutting the blog down anytime in the near future.

*I’m not really sure that Theo would enjoy lace on her sleeves. She doesn’t strike me as a lacy-sleeve kind of girl.

*I doubt that Maine Life will commission Jen to do a piece about Archers Beach, as the author has Her Reasons for keeping those two Maines separate.

*No, I haven’t seen the video of the Buggati changing colors. I’ll look for it; sounds cool.

*Haven’t given any thought at all to the “next set of five.” We still have two books left on this set of five, and then two books on the next contract. We’ll see where we are when those obligations are met.

In other news, “Wise Child,” a Liaden Universe® novelette is, I believe, scheduled to appear on Baen.com this week. Possibly on Wednesday. So, yanno. Watch the Skies.

With the end of today’s work session, Book the Next has broken 40,000 words, which is pleasant to contemplate, at least for a couple minutes.

Tomorrow is primary elections, here in the State of Maine. Why, yes, we did long ago caucus for the presidential candidate; our primaries apparently address in-state housekeeping. Or do I mean house-cleaning?

Also, I am surrounded by coon cats. Who are asleep. I’ll foil their nefarious scheme by removing to the kitchen for the evening meal.

Progress on Book the Next
40,004/100,000 OR 40% complete

“Will you stare all day, sir?”
“May I?” he returned, opening his eyes wide.

Today’s blog post is brought to you by Louis Armstrong, “What a wonderful world.” Here’s your link.

Books read in 2016

26. The House of Shattered Wings, Aliette de Bodard
25. Bride of the Rat God, Barbara Hambly (e)
24. Every Heart a Doorway, Seanan McGuire (e)
23. Maximum Ice, Kay Kenyon (e)
22. War for the Oaks, Emma Bull (re-re-re-re-read)
21. Wheel of the Infinite, Martha Wells (e)
20. Algonquin Cat, Val Schaffner, illustrated by Hilary Knight
19. Karen Memory, Elizabeth Bear
18. Ancillary Mercy, Ann Leckie
17. When Falcons Fall, C.S. Harris
16. Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day, Winifred Watson (re-re-re-&c-read)
15. Uprooted, Naomi Novik
14. Strong Poison, Dorothy L. Sayers (re-re-re-read)
13. Written in Red, Anne Bishop
12. Andy & Don, Daniel de Visé
11. The Thief of Time, Terry Pratchett (read aloud with Steve)
10. Foxglove Summer, Ben Aaronovitch
9.   Broken Homes, Ben Aaronovitch
8.   Soul Music, Terry Pratchett (read aloud with Steve)
7.   Whispers Underground, Ben Aaronovitch
6.   Moon Over Soho, Ben Aaronovitch
5.   Reaper Man, Terry Pratchett (read aloud with Steve)
4.   Conflict of Honors, Sharon Lee and Steve Miller (e) (re-read)
3.   Mort, Terry Pratchett (read aloud with Steve)
2.   The Sculptor, Scott McCloud
1.   A Short History of a Small Place, T.R. Pearson

Roll Call

I’m going to pin this to the top of the blog until the end of June. That means that any new posts will appear under this note. Thanks for your patience and understanding.

Why a roll call, you ask?

Good question.

As Steve and I go to and fro on the earth, I often meet people who tell me that they read my blog. Some read it for the cats, some for writing/publishing news, some because they feel a connection and like to check in with what Sharon and Steve are doing — all fine reasons to read, and thank you. (The cats would thank you, too, if they were, say, dogs.)

But here’s the thing: Apparently not everyone feels comfortable commenting on various blog posts. And that leaves me in something of a pickle. About the only way I can tell if this blog is reaching anyone is through reader engagement (yes, I have a stats page, and can read the hits, but that’s. . .not as satisfactory as it could be).

So, here’s what I would like you — yes, you — to do for me.

If you read here, would you just post a message in reply to this note? You don’t have to introduce yourself, or say anything at all beyond, Hi, or Yo, or Present. . .

I will keep the replies private so as not to embarrass or endanger anyone. I do reserve the right to use the raw number of replies in relevant discussions with publicist, and/or editor, type people.

Thank you very much for your help, your interest, and your care.

In which the writers goof off

So, yesterday. . .was too nice a day to stay inside and adult, so we decided to play hookey. It was, mind you, a brisk and breezy day, with Interesting Clouds against an azure sky. It was, in fact, much too breezy to go to the ocean and be in any way comfortable, so we cleverly went to Greenville.

Which is situated on the banks of an inland sea known as Moosehead Lake.

Duh.

It was 60F/16C when we left home, with a pleasant breeze, the aforementioned Interesting, and blue! sky.

At Greenville, it was 46F/8C with a strong breeze whipping directly off the water and into your face — yeah, yours, too.

Also? The town was, for our intent, at least, Not Open. Tomorrow, said the guy at the outfitter/internet cafe we stopped at, hoping for, yanno, a cafe — tomorrow, the place would be hoppin’. Well, one hopes so, for the sake of the town.

For our ownselves, We’d missed Auntie M’s, where we had more-or-less planned to lunch, by 20 minutes, the shoreside restaurant had, by the looks of it burned out over the winter, we did not wish to feast upon Chester-fried chicken in the car, so lunch was tuna salad in those weird little squishy white-bread finger rolls that Mainers do so love out of the Indian Hill Hannaford, which, alone in all of Greenville, was doing a booming business.

Allow me just to say here that fleece is a marvelous invention, and I don’t know what we ever did without it.

We decided against shopping at the Indian Hill Trading post, adjacent to the Hannaford, and, after our sandwiches were done, motored on home through Shirley, and Monson, and Guilford, and all, returning at last to the Metropolis of Waterville, where we took on groceries and stopped at the post office.

Speaking of the post office! If Candace reads here (and evidence indicates that she must), In the Teeth of Evidence, and Hangman’s Holiday arrived yesterday. Thank you very much.

We finished up the day of non-adulting by (me) reading for a couple hours, and (Steve) watching the ball game on the computer, after which we dined on grilled cheese and minute steak sandwiches, and read Chapter 12 of Visitor to each other (Chapter 12’s kinda long, so I read +/- half and Steve read the rest).

This morning, we went to gym, and I made pork-and-rice casserole for lunch, improvising! cream-of-something soup, of which we had none, by stirring some warm broth into about a cup of sour cream and pouring that over the pork chops. Worked fine.

Now, it’s time to get to work, by which I mean getting Hazenthull into trouble. When I mentioned to Steve that this was today’s goal, he said, “Well, that should be easy,” so, yanno, time to find out if it is.

Hope everyone is having a lovely Friday and that there’s a day — or at least an hour or two — of not-adulting scheduled for the coming weekend.

Updated Book Tour Dates

There has been a change in our book tour schedule. Short form: Pandemonium Books had a scheduling conflict, so we will not — that is NOT — be visiting them on this tour.

The new! improved! Alliance of Equals book tour looks like this:

July 5, 7 pm: Flights of Fantasy, Albany, NY
July 8, 7 pm: Annie’s Book Stop of Worcester, MA
July 9, 2 pm: Toadstool Books, Milford NH
July 14, 7 pm: Pandemonium Books, Cambridge MA Cancelled
July 16, 2 pm: Children’s Book Cellar, Waterville ME
August 14, 2 pm: Barnes and Noble, 1920 N. Rock Road, Wichita, KS