Blog – Page 245 – Sharon Lee, Writer

Follow up to yesterday’s conversation

This has gotten too long and complex for a Facebook post, so I’m bringing the discussion over here where it can be seen.

The Question, posed by Gareth Griffiths is:
Has anyone figured out the readership ratio for SF? I’ve commented on the writer side before – probably 60:40 on my shelves in favour of women but I wonder if there may be a hidden bias that more men prefer books written by men regardless of genre. There may be a unconscious reinforcement of society where there is still a lot of male bias in many places that gets reflected in books by men that other men unconsciously find more natural and attractive.
Is there a correlation between readership and authors’ sex.

My response:
Let me see if I can remember this correctly. . .

I’ve been on a couple panels about this (Toni Weisskopf was in the audience for at least one, and might be able to help me out, if she’s not on a plane by now), which is that, since the inception of female editors (who naturally buy books that appeal to them as females (because what other criterion does an editor have available to them, save their gender?)) and stories featuring female protagonists (this being a different thing, note, than female writers, and also whacks the men who are writing female leads), Boys Have Stopped Reading. That’s reading anything — because there are Girl Cooties everywhere and there are no role models in fiction for boys anymore.

Now, this thesis bothers me profoundly. Reading is one of the great joys of my life, and I don’t want to be the reason that this joy is somehow withheld from anyone else. Jeebus, what a terrible, terrible thing, to be stuck in a world where there was nothing for me to read.

In fact, as we’ve said many times in many different venues, the reason that Steve and I decided to write the sort of science fiction that we do was to open the genre, and make it easier and more enjoyable for girls to play, too.

Note, “easier, and more enjoyable.” I read male POV scifi forever, growing up, because, mostly, that’s what there was. And I kept reading it, despite the proliferation of Boy Cooties, because I was fascinated by the form, by the so-called sensawonda, occasionally the protagonists, but, let’s face it, characterization was Pretty Basic, back in the day. You wanted mysteries, for characterization, and romances, for heart — and I read those, too.

I’m told girls are more empathic than boys — that’s part of our job, see? — and there were a lot of girls in my position, who loved scifi, and science — the children of the Moon Walk, that’s us, and Science Can Do Anything — and who also wanted to buckle some swash and bend some time their own selves.

And some of those girls, when they grew up? They became writers. And some of them became science fiction writers; and they naturally enough wrote what they wanted to read. To be fair, I don’t think that a one of us thought we’d be excluding any readers; we thought, if we thought about it at all, that we would be expanding the field and including more readers.

The idea that we’re somehow excluding male readers simply by existing. . .is starting, frankly, to bother me less, the more I read comments in discussions about how girls can’t write SF, Epic Fantasy, Thrillers, Pick Your Favorite Genre. But, I still find it in me to feel sorry for those little boys, who somehow can’t make a connection with a female protagonist, and I wonder why is that?

Are men that much less empathic, naturally, that they can’t relate to a character of a different gender? Is not honor, honor, no matter the gender of the hero? Does adventure and derring-do not speed the heart, despite the gender of the hero? Are there not, in fact, more similarities than differences between bold, honorable, and great-hearted persons?

So — how do we fix this, for those readers of all genders who are coming up? How do we not exclude readers, while expanding the field? Clearly trying to shout people down on the internet is not working. Is there anything else?

Some will rob you with a six-gun, and some with a fountain pen

So! The pictures are rolling in for the Do It Like A Delm Challenge. You can see the first gold contestants at this link.

Wanna play? Here’s the link to the rules. Steve and I look forward to your entry — and remember! Every week, one lucky entrant will win a coupon from Baen, for a free ebook of the winner’s choice.

* * *

For those who haven’t seen it, Judith Tarr did a guest post on Charlie Stross’ blog regarding the [insert tongue in cheek] lack of women writers in the genre of science fiction [remove tongue from cheek, save for later use]. Here’s the link.

Now, honestly, when I saw the topic, I thought something along the lines of Oh, please, there cannot be a single person connected to the internets who doesn’t now know that women write SF. Why are we having this discussion, again? But, you know what? The commenters pretty much prove that this is a discussion we still need to have. My favorite comments are the ones stating that the female experience, while interesting, really has nothing to do with them* (because they know no women?); and the ones that state categorically that any book with a woman’s name on the cover is, ipso facto, a feminist rant, and therefore of no interest to the reader.

So now my question is — How do you inhabit a universe wherein there are No Women Writing Science Fiction? Do you never visit a bookstore? Do you instruct your bookseller to put a monthly bundle of books together for you that only have masculine names on the cover — and no initials, either! Sneaky things, initials; you never know who’s behind lurking behind initials.

I can’t even.

Mind you, this is not my fight — I’m invisible to the no-women side, and to the all-men-all-the-time side, because I have a male co-author (worse! I have a husband co-author, of many, many years standing.). The worst hassle I’ve gotten was the guy who thought it was “nice” that my husband let me put my name on his books. Steve’s worst, I think, was the guy who chastised him for not asserting his rights as The Man in the partnership and allowing his wife to drip Romance all over what ought to be SciFi books.

But, still, I wonder, how the hell you find, and continue to live in, this particular cocoon. Women have been writing science fiction since before there was science fiction. And it seems the more that proposition is put forward, the more — rather than the less — resistance it generates.

I used to be a fan of the internet; I used to think the internet would foster understanding between diverse peoples and viewpoints.

Yeah. . .too naive to live.

Today’s blog post comes to you from Woody Guthrie by way of Ramblin’ Jack Elliott, “Pretty Boy Floyd.” Here’s your link.

_____________

*Mind you, I read SF books from the male viewpoint for years, and years, and years, and years. I credit this circumstance with teaching me how to write believable alien characters. So, yanno, it can be a good thing to read about an experience that’s different from your own.

Words could never explain, I just wish it would rain

So, let’s see. . .

It’s hot, for Maine values of hot, and it’s gonna get hotter. Next week, in fact, is looking to be a scorcher from edge to edge. Well. . .it is August.

Let’s see, today started with the arrival in the mail of the eroyalty checks. Steve and I will therefore be having a week at the ocean, for a much-needed ohmighodwillthisyearjustSTOPalready break. We have Planned this excursion so that we will have two viewings of fireworks over the sea. Clever, no?

Today also encompassed Cleaning, which meant a strategic deployment of the Cat Eating Machine, which did not find favor with the Feline Contingent, as Per Usual, though they seem to have forgiven me, now. I suspect it may be too hot for even a cat to hold a grudge.

I’m taking a blog-writing break from cleaning off my desk, which has become cluttered with notes that had been sitting on the kitchen table, Awaiting Attention. Sigh. We really need a House Desk. And a House Secretary, why not, while we’re at it.

In other news, the Alien Artifacts and Were anthology Kickstarter campaign has passed the $9,000 mark, which means that! Two new anchor authors have been added: C.S. Friedman, and David Farland/Dave Wolverton.

Though the goal of this campaign is $10,000; I would just like to point out a stretch goal to those who may be on the fence. If funding reaches $15,000? All the authors in both anthologies will receive a penny a word raise! Lest you scoff at the power of a mere penny — for a 5,000 word story, that’s an extra $50, which is more than enough to buy a lobster dinner where I live.

Here’s the link to the Alien Artifacts/Were Kickstarter.

Also! Monday, August 17 — that’s the day after tomorrow! — we will begin receiving and posting your photographs in the Do It Like a Delm challenge. Rules and general information may be found at this link.

Today’s blog title brought to you by The Temptations, “I Wish It Would Rain.”

And — there are three cats in my office. Photographic proof:

Books read in 2015

31. The Emperor’s Edge, Lindsay Buroker (e)
30. Trick or Treat, Kerry Greenwood (e)
29. The Golden Hawk, Frank Yerby (reread; six pages fell out at various spots during this reading; it was reread many times, when I was 14)
28. The Wave in the Mind, Ursula K. Le Guin
27. The Boy from the Burren, Sheila Gilluly (e)
26. Dead Heat, Patricia Briggs (e)
25. Girl Genius: The Beast of the Rails, Kaja and Phil Foglio
24. A Bollywood Affair, Sonali Dev
23. Who Buries the Dead, C.S. Harris
22. Killer Instinct, Zoe Sharpe (e)
21. Devil’s Food, Kerry Greenwood (e)
20. The Making of a Marchioness, Frances Hodgson Burnett (e)
19. A Little Princess, Frances Hodgson Burnett (e)
18. Geekomancy, Michael R. Underwood (e)
17. The Perfect Rake, Anne Gracie
16. The Martian, Andy Weir
15. Blaze of Memory, Nalini Singh
14. Tracker, C.J. Cherryh (read out loud with Steve)
13. Chanur’s Legacy, C.J. Cherryh (re-read, read out loud with Steve)
12. Chanur’s Homecoming, C.J. Cherryh (re-read, read out loud with Steve)
11. The Kif Strike Back, C.J. Cherryh (re-read, read out loud with Steve)
10. Why Kings Confess, C.S. Harris
9. Chanur’s Venture, C.J. Cherryh (re-read, read out loud with Steve) (Note: the publisher’s note at the end of the book states that the next-in-series is Chanur’s Revenge. This is false. The next-in-series is The Kif Strike Back.)
8. Angels’ Blood, Nalini Singh (read out loud with Steve)
7. The Pride of Chanur, C.J. Cherryh (re-read, read out loud with Steve)
6. What Darkness Brings, C.S. Harris
5. When Maidens Mourn, C.S. Harris
4. Where Shadows Dance, C.S. Harris
3. What Remains of Heaven, C.S. Harris
2. Where Serpents Sleep, C.S. Harris
1. When Gods Die, C.S. Harris

In which all the cats are sleeping. . .on my desk

So, what a day!

First, the mail: If there were no checks in today’s mail, there were at least no bills.

Also! My new pedometer arrived, which it wasn’t supposed to until Friday, and I’m very glad it did because today! was the day that my old pedometer, which had been tottering along for some weeks, showing half-numbers and fuzzy screens, this despite a new battery — died the real death. The new pedometer is blue (Sprite picked it out), and has a slightly larger screen, while being itself slightly smaller overall than the now-deceased machine. Set up was extremely easy and there’s a simple lock/unlock switch to get into the battery compartment, instead of a teensy-tiny little set screw, as in the previous model.

Maisie Dobbs was also in today’s mail from my good friends at Yankee Clipper Used Books. As is often the case with them, the book appears to be brand-new. This is speedy, speedy service, as I only placed my order on Sunday.

Finding ourselves so very fortunate in the mail, I decided to drive in to town to do some errands, while Steve finished up his read of Alliance of Equals, with an eye toward proposing some sell copy. When I left, he was being ably assisted by Sprite, who aspires to a career of writing promotional copy from home, in order to make millions, though she’s not exactly clear on millions of what. I’m sure she’ll get it all worked out eventually.

In town, I actually found a pair of (women’s) Columbia sandals to fit me at Super Shoes. These sandals replace a pair of men’s Columbia sandals from at least a decade ago, which had finally given up their soles.

A swing by KMart for some needed items, and likewise the grocery store, and so to home in plenty of time to join Steve for the midday meal.

After the meal, I did some online shopping — I’ve decided to keep my hair purple/indigo for the next while, so I made an order at Overtone. And, for those who were following the debate on Facebook, yeah, I bought the quick-drying pants of many pockets.

Not only that, but the Alien Artifacts/Were Kickstarter Joint Campaign is going great guns. If you missed the announcement yesterday, here’s the link.

And! Lest I forget — Steve and I will be announcing a little something different later in the week, so I guess that’s a Watch the Skies.

Quite the exciting day, yes, indeed.

And now? I need to do some work.

Sharon, purple hair, Selah Tea tshirt, Chattacon denim. A plate of fashion, indeed. Photo by Steve Miller.

In which doin’s are being done

Lee and Miller are part of some exciting new projects that you — yes, you! — want to know about!

First! The Kickstarter campaign to fund anthology projects Alien Artifacts and Were have gone live! Anchor authors for these projects include: Phyllis Ames (Phyllis Irene Radford), Jacey Bedford, Patricia Bray, David B. Coe, Walter H. Hunt, Faith Hunter, Gini Koch, Gail Martin, Seanan McGuire, Juliet E McKenna, Danielle Ackley-Mcphail, Steve Miller, Sharon Lee, and Jean Marie Ward. The Kickstarter page has been up for just over an hour and already 65 eager and generous people have donated over $2,000 toward the $10,000 goal.

You know you want to be part of this, so!

Here’s your link!

Also!

BaltiCon 50 has determined on the Goal of having as many of their previous 49 Guests of Honor join the 50th GoH, George RR Martin, at the con. They are asking for funding. . .in a rather novel way. . .in order to make this happen. Read all about it at —

this link!

In which there is music, and words, and coon cats

A couple weeks ago, Steve and I were the delighted recipients of Violet, the first CD from the ensemble Reverie, of which includes Marni Rachmiel, who in addition to being a Friend of Liad, is a flutist. The story behind the CD is that, in early 2014, three musicians were doing what musicians do after a full day of making music; they were — making music together, as it happened, for the very first time. That jam session was a magical thing, in the way that music often is, and four months later, the three musicians — Karina Wilson, Terry Wergeland, and Marni Rachimel — all having cleared their schedules in respect of art, and magic, they met at a recording studio, with virtually no plans, except to recreate that first jam session, this time in a form that they could share.

The result of that is Violet, featuring seven variations on English Country dance music, three original compositions, and two free improvs. I wish I could tell you how much I enjoyed this album — well, here — I enjoyed this album, and it’s playing as I type this. If this sounds like your kind of thing — or even if it doesn’t, y’know, because life is risk, and risk so very seldom pays off so pleasantly — you might check out the Reverie Music Facebook page, here. Ordering information for Violet is also available. Here’s your link.

In other news, Steve and I have been story conferencing, writing, and rearranging. As of right now, The Gathering Edge stands at 12,343 linear words, many of them dealing with Theo, and another few thousand more regarding events that do not necessarily have to do with Theo. Steve is lead on this book; and he is concentrating on the Theo line. I am writing the around-pieces. Yes, this will be another woven book.

Tomorrow. . .is Monday. Tomorrow, therefore, I have a dental appointment, the office having come up with one somewhat ahead of September 29 — go office! After that. . .we shall see.

Hope everyone’s Monday is grand!

No, really, I do.

Here, have a picture of Steve and Scrabble, hard at work:

Yes, today my hair was purple

There was a call for a photo of the purple hair. Here we have Sharon modelling the purple hair and the always-stylish John Picacio art t-shirt from Chattacon 37.

Last Saturday night I got married; me and my wife settled down

All righty, then! You say you forgot to pre-order a signed copy of A Liaden Universe® Constellation Volume 3 from Uncle Hugo’s?

Well, honestly; what can I say to that?

Oh, wait! I know what to say to that!

Of the 200 Constellation Threes that Steve and I personally signed with our own personal names, with copious assistance from the Feline Contingent, Uncle Hugo has about 30 left.

So if you want that signed copy, run, do not walk to Uncle Hugo’s website — here’s your link — and order your book now, because you know they’re gonna go like hotcakes.

Today, Steve and I were out, walking — well, actually, driving — up and down the world, and we decided that, since we were hungry, we’d get lunch. As we were in Augusta, we thought we’d try the new Italian place on Water Street. We found a parking place right in front, got out, looked at the sign on the door with the hours (in Maine, in the summer, most especially on Friday, you Just Don’t Know what’s going to be open), saw that we fell in the sweet spot of after 11:30 am and before 11 pm, pushed open the door, strolled in to the very pleasant dining room. . .

. . .where we were greeted by the manager, who said, “I’m sorry, but we’re not open.”

We mentioned the sign, and the fact that the door was open.

“Yes,” he said. “I am sorry; we try to do lunch, but last night — we had a really good crowd last night, and they ate all our food. The chef just went out to go shopping.”

Ah.

We nodded, and wished the young man a nice day, got in the car and went to hunt and gather elsewhere*.

So ends today’s adventure.

Hope everyone has a wonderful, and stress-free weekend.

Today’s blog post brought to you by The Weavers (Ghod, my mother had this exact sheet music; I learned to play the song FROM this exact sheet music), “Goodnight, Irene.” Here’s your link.

______________

*Which turned out to be Ruby Tuesday, in Waterville, where we had a very pleasant meal in a quiet after-lunch restaurant, which made the lady who stopped at the table to geek out over my hair even. . .more astonishing. I’d forgotten that my hair is purple today. . .

Thursday Cat Spam

I haven’t Utterly Spammed the intertubes with cat pics for a while. Let’s make up that deficit, now.

For those fans of Belle, who have been wondering how she’s integrating into the household — I can report that, aside a certain tendency to swat Scrabble collegially in the butt, which Scrabble (amazingly) seems to accept in the spirit it is offered — that Belle is the Soul of Peace. One receives the impression that not having five kittens hanging off ears, toes, and tail is a Tremendous Relief. She does not sleep with Scrabble — which honors Scrabble’s preference in these matters — but she is perfectly at home snoozing with the Rest of the Coons, with us, or, with the cat toys.

Here, a photo of Belle and Sprite, hanging together:

Belle and Sprite

Here’s a picture of Sprite and her dad, sharing a sun spot. It’s nice to see that their Special Relationship continues, apart from the relationship each is building with Belle.