People of the Internets, I need your help!
Korval.com has lost its FAQ. We think it may have run off with the Highlander FAQ, but — whatever.
The problem before us, obviously, is producing another FAQ – which is where you come in!
What questions are Frequently Asked regarding the Liaden Universe®? What questions would you like to see addressed? What questions would be helpful to people trying to decide if this universe is worth their reading time?
All suggestions welcome!
It’s Monday here at the Cat Farm and Confusion Factory! Y’all know what that means, right?
Right!
The first chapter — actually, the prologue — of the (incomplete) novel Shan and Priscilla Ride Again is up and ready to be read.
Dragon is Exile has now entered the Review Arena, by which I mean that reviews are beginning to appear in various venues, in anticipation of the June 2 manifestation of the Hardcover Itself.
We have, first, a review from Publishers Weekly, which is a very good venue in which to see your book reviewed. Publishers Weekly — aka PW — is the weekly industry news magazine for the publishing industry. It also reviews books (though not, by any means, All The Books). Booksellers use PW reviews to choose stock; some libraries also choose new books from the PW review lists (though I hear nowadays more librarians are depending on Library Journal and not referencing PW — is there an acquiring librarian in the house? Can you tell me if this is correct?).
So, anyway, a PW review is a good thing, and a good PW review is doubleplusgood.
The whole review will appear in tomorrow’s (April 13) edition of PW; I’m just going to excerpt some shiny bits here.
In Lee and Miller’s sprawling and satisfying 18th Liaden Universe novel (after Trade Secret), the spacefaring Clan Korval settles into its new home on the crime-ridden planet of Surebleak after being exiled from Liad.
Space opera mixes with social engineering, influenced by Regency-era manners and delicate notions of honor. For established fans, it’s like spending time with old friends; however, many ongoing story lines are still unresolved by the end of the book. Newcomers are advised to choose an earlier entry point to the series.
*stands back and considers the above*
Not bad. Not bad, at all.
Oh, and about that “Newcomers are advised to choose an earlier entry point”? We hear that a lot. Mostly established fans, who have been reading along with us, are of the opinion that newbies cannot possibly comprehend the action in any new book you’d like to name (including those volumes that Steve and I wrote deliberately to be portal books) unless they start with Agent of Change and go forth, systematically, until they arrive at the new book.
They are, let me hasten to say, perfectly reasonable and within their rights to hold and express this opinion.
However. Because this is How They’ve Done It, they don’t have the perspective of a Brand New Reader coming to the universe for the first time with New Title Of Your Choice. (I also lack this perspective — but my perspective isn’t that of a reader, either.) Among other things, this insistence on starting from the beginning reveals a touching tenderness for the sensibilities and story-sense of new readers.
Steve and I, however, like to think that most people who seek out SFF as their reading drug of choice are tough, savvy readers, with an excellent sense of story and character, who can therefore come up to speed with frightening quickness, no matter how strange the terrain.
Occasionally, we’re vindicated in our belief, as in the following review, from Otherwhere Gazette:
The 18th book in the Liaden Universe®, Dragon in Exile, is as gripping as the rest most likely are. Readers of the series will buy the book as a matter of course. However, there are people (such as this reviewer) who have never read anything in this series. The good news is that this book can stand alone quite well. The bad news is that people (such as this reviewer) who pick this book up will now be on the hook for seventeen more books.
The new reader will be introduced to a complex cast of characters who will interact based in part on seventeen books worth of prior history. However, the authors do paint their characters quite well. It is quite easy to believe in and root for the characters without knowing the back story.
For folks who like their plots spare and their characters few, perhaps this is not the book. But for those who like high adventure and fascinating cultures and plots and characters so intertwined that the book should be written on a mobius strip; here’s your book, the first of eighteen that you will buy.
You can read the whole review here
*smiles fondly at the above shiny bits*
I particularly like the moebius strip comment, because that’s exactly what writing these five (well, OK, two, so far) books feels like, from here.
So! Today around the Cat Farm is Terrorizing the Cats (also known as vacuuming), washing dishes (gave that a miss, yesterday, in order to work with Padi), and packing what I hope will be the last box of papers to go to the archives. Also, writing.
It’s a clear and sunny day here at the Confusion Factory. If it’s not too windy, I may even go for a walk.
I hope everyone’s enjoying a pleasant Sunday.
There were gifts in today’s mail at the Cat Farm and Confusion Factory.
First, there was a check for the munificent sum of $29.77 from the Treasurer of the State of Maine, said sum representing a check sent to my attention at the Post Office Box in Unity, Maine, which has been closed for at least 12 years. Somehow the Unclaimed Property Division got hold of it, and contacted me via my State Representative. I filled out a form, returned it, and lo! Money in the mail.
I’d like to have a little more detail in the Story of This Check, but the above is apparently all the State thinks I can handle.
So, that’s looking like lunch out. Or maybe a viewing of Cinderella at the local theater. I don’t want to make a hasty decision, here…
Also in the mail, a sample pen for Tree and Dragon Trading (except on the pen it says “Tree Dragon Trading”), and an offer to imprint many, many more pens, all I have to do is say the word, and send a check.
It is a classy pen, though it’s a ballpoint; Shan would be pleased to have it in his breast pocket, if Shan had a breast pocket, which, of course, he doesn’t.
In Other Exciting News, the Kickstarter campaign to fund the printing of the next Girl Genius graphic novel: Girl Genius: The Second Journey, Book One, has gone live. Here’s your link.
Also, for those who share my interest in Heyer and in Austen, here’s Sherwood Smith talking in her usual cogent fashion about the differences between the two writers. Here’s your link.
Also! Monday will see the Prologue of Shan and Priscilla Ride Again go live on Splinter Universe! Watch the Skies!
So yesterday Steve had a doctor’s appointment, after which we achieved K(entucky) F(ried) C(hicken) for a take home lunch (hot grease and salt still do the trick, and that’s the second KFC meal in four months. Given that KFC is the Ultimate Comfort Food, and reserved for times of stress, we’ll hope that the next is a long time in the future).
After lunch, Steve hit the mattress. I finished getting the InfoDump in order, then sacked out on the couch, where Trooper joined me. May I just say? Trooper gives excellent nap.
Once we were all awake again, we reviewed one of our favorite documentary films, Who Framed Roger Rabbit?, before supper, read aloud a chapter of Chanur’s Legacy, and so to bed.
A strenuous day.
Today, there is checkbook wrangling, and writing, and laundry on the schedule.
Also, watching the rain disappear the snow:
I hope everyone has an excellent Friday.
HERE’S YOUR LINK TO PRE-ORDER FROM UNCLE HUGO’S
Baen Writes Contract for Two More Liaden Novels
Toni Weisskopf, publisher and woman of all work at Baen Books, has contracted for two additional Liaden Universe® novels, to be handed in during 2018/2019. These two novels are in addition to the Five Book Dash, of which Dragon in Exile is First (of Five) and Alliance of Equals is Second. Lee and Miller are calling these two newly contracted novels, the Mask Books, for Reasons.
This means that there are currently six more Liaden books in your (and our) future. If you see Toni at a con, or online, or, yanno, at the grocery store — be sure to thank her for supporting your reading habit.
Shan and Priscilla Ride Again
We have posted, on Splinter Universe, an introduction to, and two outtake chapters from, Shan and Priscilla Ride Again, a Liaden novel which was never finished, though it was written out to 15 chapters (about 22,000 words). Here are your links:
For the next 16 weeks (aka through August 3, with one week off (the week of June 8) because, Book Tour), we will be posting a chapter from Shan and Priscilla Ride Again on Splinter Universe. The reason it’s 16 weeks for 15 chapters is because there is a prologue, which we will post next Monday, April 13.
Lee and Miller Commit Patreon
Over the years lots of you have asked us for a mechanism to show extra support for what we do, to avoid the necessity of our taking time and energy away from our writing when the slings and arrows of coincidence, cat illnesses, people illnesses, and even car breakdowns.
At one point in our career, we thanked folks, and said we’re OK, we’ve got SRM Publisher to help us through. That’s because SRM’s purpose was to fill-in the cash flow freelancers see, which comes in lumps (or sometimes even big lumps) a few times a year and which then leave in big lumps to pay the bills that have accumulated during the in-betweens. But SRM closed because of Steve’s medical issues that ended up with an ICD implant and a long recovery period. Alas, those sling and arrows of life, didn’t stop.
We’ve had a few readers and fans recognize that situation, and volunteer to support us with a few extra dollars through a monthly direct Paypal donation, or through the mail. Others of our readers participate through our Splinter Universe offerings — again, some on a per story basis, some through a scheduled donation.
In the face of our house-hunt and approaching deadlines on a whole bunch of books, we finally agreed to test the waters of a more formal crowd-funded system, since we can’t **always** come up with a story, chapter or splinter when we’re in the midst of book stuff. So we’re testing Patreon, a well-known system that in some ways is similar to Kickstarter — but which doesn’t need to meet a number of Kickstarter’s not uncomplicated rules and assumptions.
If you’d like to kick in an extra $buck or two every month, you can help. We’ll continue to feed Splinter Universe with odds and ends of things as we can and we’ll be able to concentrate and knock down the medical bills and the cat bills and car replacement bills along the way while having a clearer idea of how much house we should be looking for — it might even help us move closer to the ocean!
Here’s where you go for details, and to sign on to Patreon. https://www.patreon.com/leeandmiller
If instead you’d like to send direct via Paypal you can do that too — see the links at Splinter Universe (add links), and if you prefer a snailmail connection — we’re at Steve Miller, PO Box 1586, Waterville, ME 04903 … thanks!
Lee and Miller Mini-Tour in June
Baen Books and Simon and Schuster are sending Steve and Sharon on a mini book tour in support of Dragon in Exile, in June. Here’s where we’ll be:
Tuesday, June 2, 7-9 pm — RELEASE DAY PARTY at Pandemonium Books, 4 Pleasant Street, Cambridge MA http://www.pandemoniumbooks.com/event/author-signing-sharon-lee-and-steve-miller
Wednesday, June 3, 6:30-9 pm — The Toadstool Bookstore, Colony Mill Marketplace, 222 West Street, Keene NH http://www.toadbooks.com/
Thursday, June 4, 6-8 pm — The Toadstool Bookstore, 586 Nashua Street, Milford NH http://www.toadbooks.com/
Friday, June 5, 7-9 pm — Annie’s Book Stop of Worcester, 65 James Street, Worcester MA http://www.anniesbooksworcester.com/
Saturday, June 6, 7-9 pm — Northshire Books, 424 Broadway, Saratoga Springs NY http://www.northshire.com/northshire-bookstore-saratoga
Sunday, June 7, 3-4 pm — Flights of Fantasy, 381 Sand Creek Road, Albany NY http://www.fof.net/
2015 Publication Schedule
May 15: Short story for Baen.com, title TBA
June 2: Dragon in Exile, 18th novel of the Liaden Universe(R)
August 4: A Liaden Universe® Constellation, Volume 3
Delivery Schedule (NOTE: these are deadlines for turn-in Madame the Editor, NOT publication dates)
April 15, 2015: Short story for Baen.com, title TBA
May 29, 2015: Alliance of Equals
November 15, 2015: Sequel to Alliance of Equals (aka Third of Five)
August 15, 2016: Fourth of Five
May 15, 2017: Fifth of Five
June 15, 2018: Mask One
April 15, 2019: Mask Two
Blogs and Other Webly Things of Note
Sharon Lee’s blog, Eagles over the Kennebec: http://rolanni.livejournal.com/
Sharon Lee’s “Professional” blog: http://sharonleewriter.com
Splinter Universe Discussion List: http://splinterverse.livejournal.com <http://splinterverse.livejournal.com>
Facebook Connections — please feel free to add us!
http://facebook.com/kinzel — Steve Miller
http://facebook.com/rolanni — Sharon Lee
Pinbeam Books: http://www.pinbeambooks.com an online catalog, with vendor links, to all Lee-and-Miller eChapbooks
Splinter Universe: http://www.splinteruniverse.com features outtakes, splinters, oddities from the Lee&Miller writing career, currently changes irregularly.
Welcome to Liad — The official homepage for Liaden Universe® news — http://www.korval.com
The Hyperspatial Boardwalk Shop: T-shirts, mugs, more! — http://www.cafepress.com/hyperspatial
Several people have written to ask me this question; I am therefore posting the answer here in hopes that it will find others who are baffled by reading the sample chapters for Dragon in Exile. Which are here, free for the reading.
Rys Lin pen’Chala figures prominently in a novel entitled Necessity’s Child, published in February 2013 by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller. This novel is currently available from Baen, as a hardcover, a paperback, and an ebook. It is also available as an audiobook, from Audible.
If you gave Necessity’s Child a miss because it was only a side book, you will, yes, have missed Rys entirely.
* * *
So, yesterday, we ventured forth in the snow to do a spot of house-hunting with our agent. We went armed with three houses, one at the lower edge of our price range, one in the middle range, and one at the top of our range.
I had thought, going in, that the middle house would prove to be an acceptable compromise, despite it was an older house (most of the houses in this part of Maine are older houses; they built ’em to last, back in The Day). As described, it had much of what we’re looking for in a house, including a sun porch, two offices, a bedroom, and two baths.
Sadly, it quickly became clear that the middle house was. . .not for us. So much for my powers of precognition.
The lowest priced house had plenty of space, was wired for a generator, and had a backup heat source (belt-and-braces, a Maine tradition!). No sun porch, but a ginormous back yard, and what are reputed to be “extensive gardens,” which we couldn’t see, because — snow. It needs what our agent refers to as “updating”, but we could move in without, and then “update” around ourselves. The trouble with that being freelance income. We’re really, really trying to come up with a house that can run what it brung. This may not be realistic of us, but, really, trying to buy a new house isn’t particularly realistic of us, either, so why not shoot for the moon?
The high-priced spread was. . .very nice, indeed: Sunroom, dual furnace (oil/wood), fireplace with a stove insert, nice, workable kitchen, plenty of good cat windows, half-finished basement — everything goomeki. Except — at the top of what we can theoretically afford.
So. . .the hunt continues.
Today, I need to write one more scene for the as-yet titleless story, so it can sit for a couple days before we do a cold read. I should also pack some more boxes for the archive, so we can get rid of the pile at the end of the hall before Sprite declares it her summer fortress.
In other news, BN tells me that our copy of Tracker will arrive via UPS tomorrow.
In the meantime, the experimental $500 Patreon goal has, as of this morning, hit $1,166, via the kind subscriptions of 149 Liaden readers. Thank you all. (Here’s the link, if anyone would like to stare in wonder at that number.)
And, so — to work.
So, it was a busy weekend, here at the Cat Farm and Confusion Factory. For those who were away, and/or celebrating the holiday of their people, if any, I shall sum up:
1. Madame the Editor has purchased two additional Liaden novels, to be completed after the Five Book Dash, of which Alliance of Equals (to be turned in at the end of May) is the second. Steve and I are calling these the Mask Books, to differentiate. No, we don’t know what, or who, they’ll be about, yet. Make sure y’all thank Madame for her care of your reading habit.
2. We have posted, on Splinter Universe, an introduction to, and two outtake chapters from, Shan and Priscilla Ride Again, a Liaden novel which was never finished, though it was written out to 15 chapters (about 22,000 words). Here are your links: Introduction Outtake Chapters
2a. For the next 16 weeks (aka through August 3, with one week off (the week of June 8) because, Book Tour), we will be posting a chapter from Shan and Priscilla Ride Again on Splinter Universe. The reason it’s 16 weeks for 15 chapters is because there is a prologue, which we will post next Monday, April 13.
3. At the urging of many, Lee and Miller set up a Patreon account, with an experimental goal, in order to measure interest. The experimental goal was subscriptions totaling $500 per month. As I write this, 123 patrons have subscribed, for a total of $958.99. Which is. . .awesome. Thank you all.
Today in East Winslow, I am working on the short story commissioned for Baen.com, in support of Dragon in Exile. It doesn’t have a title yet, but I’m about 2,000 in and feeling good about the character. With luck and a lack of persons needing to view the house, I’ll have the rough draft done today. Hopefully, a title will also suggest itself.
Fans of Scrabble, Sprite, and Trooper will be glad to know that they haven’t let the events of the weekend throw them off stride. I provide photographic proof:
Today’s blog title is courtesy of Harry Belafonte, “Jamaica Farewell”
As I write this, the Patreon account has long passed its Exploratory Goal of $500, rocketing to $705.50 in 17 short hours. That’s. . .pretty amazing. Steve and I thank everyone who has subscribed. We’ve had a couple people apologizing because their donation is so small. Please, there’s nothing at all to apologize for. Your generosity and goodwill is very, very much appreciated.
Speaking of good news, we have some for you.
Madame the Editor has, with the agreement of ourselves, and the cooperation of Madame the Agent, written a contract for. . .
. . .two as yet titleless Liaden novels, to be consummated after we turn in the final novel in the Five Book Dash. We’re calling these the Mask Books.
So, what that means is that we have work through 2019, and you have Liaden books coming through, oh, 2020? 2021?
We hope that makes y’all as happy as it makes us, and! If you happen to see Toni Weisskopf, yanno, at a con, or around the intertubes, or someplace, you might want to thank her.
And, now?
Steve is making us soup to go with our salad, because, for a change, it’s snowing. After lunch, it’s back to work on Alliance of Equals.
Thank you all.
Per our discussion the other day, and the subsequent input from y’all, we have put up a Patreon page. Here’s your link.
As noted several times at Patreon, this is a Complete Experiment, for us, and for you. We’re going to be riding the wave for a little while and we’ll see where it takes us. All of us.
So! Housekeeping details: Patreon apparently charges patron credit cards at the end of each month. They take out their piece of the action and pass the rest on to the artist. There’s a tiny fee for getting the money out of Patreon’s account and down to our bank.
Since this is an experiment, and we haven’t committed to any Creation or Rewards, yet, you will for the first three months — April, May, June — be supporting the authors’ peace of mind as they finish writing Alliance of Equals, and embark on the Dragon in Exile book tour in early June. At the end of June, we’ll reassess.
Someone had asked for the option to make quarterly donations. I’m very sorry, but Patreon’s control panel allows for only two sorts of payments: Per project, or per month. Since we’re not at the moment doing a project, we set the switch to “per month.”
Thank you all very much for your support, and for your input.
Oh. I should probably mention that your patronage may also go to support Trooper’s long-held wish to travel to Angkor Vat. I caught him reading a guide book this morning:
