Blog – Page 209 – Sharon Lee, Writer

Procrastinators Take Note

Uncle Hugo is taking pre-orders for signed and/or personalized* copies of the hard-bound edition of The Gathering Edge, by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller.

The deadline for ordering personalized copies is April 1.

Repeat: The deadline for ordering personalized copies is April 1.

Here’s your link to instructions and order form: Pre-order The Gathering Edge from Uncle Hugo.

__________

*”Personalized” means that the authors will write, in addition to their names, a salutation requested by the reader. The authors retain the right to refuse to inscribe any salutation for Reasons.

16. The Cold Eye, Laura Anne Gilman
15. The Cat Who Could Read Backwards, Lillian Jackson Braun (read aloud w/Steve)
14. Memory, Linda Nagata (e)
13. Bonita Faye, Margaret Moseley (e)
12. Burn for Me, Ilona Andrews (e)
11. Snuff, Terry Pratchett (read aloud w/Steve)
10. A Taste of Honey, Kai Ashante Wilson (e)
9. Some Danger Involved, Will Thomas
8. Thud!, Terry Pratchett (read aloud w/Steve)
7. White Tiger, Kylie Chan
6. The Hanging Tree, Ben Aaronovitch
5. Trading in Danger, Elizabeth Moon (e)
4. The Wolf in the Attic, Paul Kearney (e)
3. The Cat Who Saw Red, Lillian Jackson Braun (read aloud w/Steve)
2. Inside the Texas Chicken Ranch: The Definitive Account of the Best Little Whorehouse, Jayme Lynn Blaschke (e)
1. Sand of Bone, Blair MacGregor (e)

Books read in 2017

15. The Cat Who Could Read Backwards, Lillian Jackson Braun (read aloud w/Steve)
14. Memory, Linda Nagata (e)
13. Bonita Faye, Margaret Moseley (e)
12. Burn for Me, Ilona Andrews (e)
11. Snuff, Terry Pratchett (read aloud w/Steve)
10. A Taste of Honey, Kai Ashante Wilson (e)
9. Some Danger Involved, Will Thomas
8. Thud!, Terry Pratchett (read aloud w/Steve)
7. White Tiger, Kylie Chan
6. The Hanging Tree, Ben Aaronovitch
5. Trading in Danger, Elizabeth Moon (e)
4. The Wolf in the Attic, Paul Kearney (e)
3. The Cat Who Saw Red, Lillian Jackson Braun (read aloud w/Steve)
2. Inside the Texas Chicken Ranch: The Definitive Account of the Best Little Whorehouse, Jayme Lynn Blaschke (e)
1. Sand of Bone, Blair MacGregor (e)

In Which Rolanni’s Opinions are Offensive to Others

So, a minor kerfuffle on Twitter last night, in which I was asked to stop talking politics, or at least to have the common decency to create another Twitter account in which I only spoke about politics, thereby saving the feelings of people who disagree with my politics and safeguarding my livelihood.

Ahem.

There are so very many things wrong with this, but it did make me realize that perhaps a list might be in order.

I therefore offer the list of where Sharon Lee hangs out on the internets, with commentary, so that you may choose the size that fits you.

This blog, which is mirrored at Eagles Over the Kennebec — Combo blog, personal and professional. Minimal, if any, political commentary. You will, however, have to put up with cat pictures. Some folks have complained about having to put up with cat pictures, so I feel this should be mentioned.

Twitter — Combo stream; pointers to Liaden Universe® news, this blog, and political commentary. Some days more commentary, some days less.

Facebook — Combo; lots of political, historical, real-life discussion interspersed with professional news and discussion of writing/the writing life. Wide-ranging in a word, and occasionally freewheeling.

If you are a person who only wants writing and publication news from the Liaden Universe®, without any messy personal stuff, or politics, here are your options:

Welcome to Liad: Clan Korval’s home on the web. Publishing news, sneak peeks of covers, announcements of contests, Lee and Miller appearances. That’s it.

You may sign up for the Liaden Universe® InfoDump. This emailed newsletter goes out very infrequently and includes only news, such as where to pre-order signed books, convention appearances, news of eArcs, publications, sales. Here’s your link to sign up.

If you wish to discuss the Liaden Universe® with other enthusiasts, there are several Facebook groups available to you:

Clan Korval

Flaran Cha’menthi

Friends of Liad

There you are. Choose wisely, choose well.

Oh, and hey! Have a cat picture:

Counter-clockwise: Sprite, Sharon, Belle, Trooper. Photo by Steve Miller

In Which the Pace Picks Up

Alert readers will recall that Steve and I turned Neogenesis in to Madame the Publisher on January 28, thereby entering that magical and too-fleeting time known as, I Never Have to Write Again.

During that time, we went to Minneapolis as Writer Guests of Honor at MarsCon 2017, turned “Cutting Corners” in to Baen.com; reworked “Dawn’s Early Light,” for All Hail Our Robot Conquerors!; fixed up an outtake from Neogenesis into short story “Street Cred” (now available as eChapbook Change Management: Adventures in the Liaden Universe® Number 23). We also sold a reprint story, and have a big, crunchy interview to finish this week. I want to write one more short, for eChapbook Number 24, but I can’t quite get a handle on it, and the window is getting narrower, as I start laying the groundwork (which involves a lot of staring at nothing, and flipping through the notes in the story file) for Fifth of Five.

In addition to Not Ever Writing Again, Life has continued to happen, including doctor appointments, and the coming home to roost of the bills from Steve’s Marvelous Medical Adventure back in November. Bread has been baked, laundry washed, worn, and washed again; cats have been brushed; clocks — most notably including the clock in the car, and the clock on the coffeemaker — have been set one hour ahead.

We viewed two movies — our first on the new television set — “Arrival,” and “The Fifth Element.” I find myself a little. . .put off by the picture, which lacks what I think of as “movie texture,” and feels very much like “soap opera texture.” Well. I guess I’ll get used to it.

Today. . .today, includes some Life: grocery shopping; a go at the gym, now that the knee’s been cleared; and back home to do some laundry, which is getting done as can be this week; and getting down with the big, crunchy interview.

So! That’s what’s been going on, here. How’s by you?

This is what my office looked like in the aftermath of Neogenesis.

Today in the Liaden Universe®

It is a truism of the freelance lifestyle that one lives always in pleasant anticipation of the arrival of money, and this morning was no different than any other in that regard.

I make a clean breast at once. Today, we did not get money in the mail.

Today, we got something better.

I have here in my hand a letter from David Mattingly, enclosing the first of 50 prints of the wrap-around cover for Neogenesis, the twenty-first novel in the Liaden Universe®. David also kindly compliments the book, letting us know that he felt a “special connection.”

We also find that Amazon today has put up a catalog page for Neogenesis, which includes the publisher’s synopsis. Here’s that link.

And here is the cover art:

There are forty-nine more prints available. Apply to David Mattingly, if you would like to purchase one. Here’s a link.

Series Hugo eligibility

A question has arisen regarding the Liaden Universe® eligibility for the Series Hugo. I believe that the question was merely for 2016’s “qualifying title,” but in case there should be more information required, here it is.

Agent of Change, Del Rey Books, February 1988
Conflict of Honors, Del Rey Books, June 1988
Carpe Diem, Del Rey Books, October 1989
Plan B, Meisha Merlin Publishing, February 1999
Pilots Choice (original two-novel omnibus including Local Custom and Scout’s Progress), Meisha Merlin Publishing, February 2001
I Dare, Meisha Merlin Publishing, February 2002
Balance of Trade, Meisha Merlin Publishing, February 2004
Crystal Soldier, Meisha Merlin Publishing, February 2005
Crystal Dragon, Meisha Merlin Publishing, February 2006
Fledgling, Baen, September 2009
Saltation, Baen, April 2010
Mouse and Dragon, Baen, June 2010
Ghost Ship, Baen, August 2011
Dragon Ship, Baen, September 2012
Necessity’s Child, Baen, February 2013
Trade Secret, Baen, November 2013
Dragon in Exile, Baen, June 2015
Alliance of Equals, Baen, July 2016

Scheduled:
The Gathering Edge, Baen, May 2017
Neogenesis, Baen, January 2018

Five Minutes of Fame

I am reminded to remind you (which sounds like a Cheap Trick song, but isn’t) that!

ONE

The Liaden Universe® as a Thing is eligible for the Best Series Hugo being test driven at this year’s worldcon.

Also eligible are Alliance of Equals (Best Novel category, Baen); Wise Child (Novelette, Baen.com); Friend of a Friend (Novelette, Pinbeam Books, Sleeping with the Enemy); Shame the Devil (Short Story, Zombies Need Brains, Alien Artifacts ), by Lee and Miller

And! These titles by Sharon Lee are eligible: The Wolf’s Bride (Novelette, Splinter Universe); Will-o’-the-Wisp (short story, Splinter Universe)

Hugo Nominations close on March 17.

TWO

Lee and Miller will be Author Guests of Honor at MidSouthCon 36, March 9-11, 2018, Memphis, TN.

THREE

Change Management: Adventures in the Liaden Universe® Number 23, including novellas “Street Cred,” and “Wise Child,” is now available for purchase at Baen Ebooks. Here’s your link.

FOUR

Monday morning adverts

Remember! The Uncle is now taking pre-orders for signed and/or personalized hardcover editions of The Gathering Edge, the twentieth novel in the Liaden Universe® created by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller; the fifth book in the Theo Waitley story arc. Procrastinators Take Note: Orders for personalized copies must be made no later than April 1. Here’s your link.

Change Management: Adventures in the Liaden Universe® Number 23, including two novelettes, brand-new “Street Cred,” and reprint, “Wise Child,” is now on sale at All the Usual Suspects, and will be coming to Baen ebooks realsoonnow. This ebook has 15 5-star reviews on Amazon!

Those who can’t wait until May 2 to find out what happens in The Gathering Edge, may purchase the eArc (with all its flaws and warts) directly from Baen ebooks. (Yes, the authors receive royalties on eArc sales.) Here’s your link.

In other news, a Humongous Winter Storm is headed for the Cat Farm, with a predicted fall of heavy snow from 14-18 inches. I will, therefore, be going into town to take on supplies just as soon as I finish this blog entry.

Everybody stay safe.

There is too much. I shall sum up.

Last Wednesday, early, O! early, Steve and I left the Cat Farm in the capable hands of the housesitter, and started out for the Albany-Rensselear train station. The first couple of hours were somewhat of a strain on my nerves, as the driver. It was raining, slightly. Just enough, in fact, to encourage the snow to sublimate, creating the ever-popular Snow Fog, which is an interesting and rather pretty weather phenomenon, so long as you don’t have to drive in it.

But, drive in it, we did, and eventually arrived at the train station, parked the car, gave our luggage into the hands of the baggage checker and boarded, all in good time, and so off we went to Minneapolis and MarsCon 2017, where we had a terrific time.

Mickie Erickson is a Hero of the Convention. She provided transportation to and from the train station, schlepped boxes, and made sure we were more or less on a even keel throughout. This involved not only physical stamina, and a whole lot of patience, but the power of will to get up at 6:00 am on her day off to get us back to the train station for our return trip.

We arrived back at the Cat Farm this past Wednesday, and got back into the social whirl of doctor’s appointments, and gym excursions, with sides of doing the laundry and catching up on email. Yesterday, I got out the manuscript of Neogenesis and am giving it a cold(ish) read. So far, so good, and a pleasant surprise to this fond author.

Despite the thaw which was underway last week, it turns out that winter is not yet done with us. The weatherbeans are calling a snowstorm starting Tuesday morning and continuing in to Wednesday. In the meantime, just to get us ready, the temperatures have taken a nose-dive back into the low teens for daytime and below zero at night.

Variety is good, I guess.

One thing I did discover on our recent trip is that — the holes in my ears have entirely closed up, which means I can no longer wear earrings. Not that I was wearing earrings much, obviously. So I am faced with a dilemma. Do I get them re-pierced, and if so, do I go with the conservative one-hole-in-each ear, or should I do what All the Cool Kids are Doing and get multiple piercings in one ear — say three in my right ear, in which I shall set three diamonds, each symbolizing a decade of being a published writer?

Or should I, as Steve suggests, Respect my Immune system and acknowledge that I am so old that I’m cool even without earrings?

First World problems. . .

So! What did y’all do while I was away?

Oh. Today’s blog title comes from The Princess Bride.

Here’s your link.