Liaden Universe® World Tour – Page 9

Podcast and PhilCon Shedule

This just in! Laura Haywood-Cory interviews Lee and Miller! Here’s the link. Please share it widely.

Lee and Miller PhilCon Schedule (be aware that this is our preliminary schedule, and that changes may be made:

FRIDAY

Fri 7:00 PM in Executive Suite 623 (1 hour)
READING: STEVE MILLER (1648)

SATURDAY

Sat 12:00 PM in Autograph Table (1 hour)
AUTOGRAPH: SHARON LEE, STEVE MILLER (1678)

Sat 3:00 PM in Plaza III (Three) (1 hour)
“MUNDANE” SCIENCE FICTION (1593)
[Panelists: Gregory Frost (mod), Barbara Krasnoff, Allen Steele,
Margaret Riley, Steve Miller]
Science fiction can be set in the future without all of the
impossible tropes, such as time travel, faster than light travel,
psi powers and galactic empires. What are some examples, and what
goes into creating it

Sat 4:00 PM in Plaza II (Two) (1 hour)
“DANGEROUS VISIONS” RE-EXAMINED (1541)
[Panelists: Tim W. Burke (mod), Edward Carmien, Tom Doyle, Jim
Freund, Steve Miller]
Taking another look at Harlan Ellison’s ground breaking anthology.
Did this change the field forever? Or is it overrated

Sat 6:00 PM in Plaza III (Three) (1 hour)
ABOUT THE PHILIP K. DICK AWARD (1602)
[Panelists: Gary Feldbaum (mod), Tim Sullivan, Rock Robertson, Steve
Miller, David Walton]
What is the Philip K. Dick Award, and what does it have to do with
Philadelphia area fandom? How is it administered? What are oame
famous works that have won? What influence does it have in the
field

Sat 7:00 PM in Plaza III (Three) (1 hour)
BALONIUM, UNOBTAINIUM AND UPSIDASIUM (1530)
[Panelists: John Ashmead (mod), Darrell Schweitzer, John Monahan,
Sharon Lee]
From cavorite to kryptonite, science fiction fiction writers love to
add new elements to the periodic table. How do you create
convincing imaginary substances and what do you do with them

Sat 8:00 PM in Plaza IV (Four) (1 hour)
EXPANDING A SHORT STORY INTO A NOVEL (1505)
[Panelists: Steve Miller (mod), Sharon Lee, Lawrence M. Schoen, Mike
McPhail]
How do you turn a short work into a longer work without just simply
padding. What are proper ways to expand a story

Sat 9:00 PM in Plaza II (Two) (1 hour)
I WANNA BE A PUBLISHER! (1500)
[Panelists: Sally Wiener Grotta (mod), Brian Koscienski, Steve
Miller, Mike McPhail]
Some people want to go beyond just writing and editing books into
the world of publishing. If you really do want to publish books,
what steps do you take? What pitfalls must you avoid

Sat 10:00 PM in Plaza III (Three) (1 hour)
CHARACTERS YOU CAN NOT STOP WRITING ABOUT (1603)
[Panelists: Peter Prellwitz (mod), Danielle Ackley-McPhail, David
Sklar, Sharon Lee]
There are characters or character types so popular that certain
writers can not stop writing about them even if they want to. Can
you name your favorite examples

SUNDAY

Sun 12:00 PM in Executive Suite 623 (1 hour)
READING: SHARON LEE (1662)

Sun 1:00 PM in Plaza II (Two) (1 hour)
IS THAT A “STORY”? (1611)
[Panelists: Darrell Schweitzer (mod), Jim Freund, David Sklar,
Sharon Lee]
Ever since the days of the “New Wave” we have had this argument.
What is a story? Are there works published that are not stories

Sun 2:00 PM in Crystal Ballroom Three (1 hour)
THE BUSINESS OF WRITING (1621)
[Panelists: Steve Miller (mod), D.H. Aire, Christine Norris, Alex
Lidell]
Everyone talks about the craft of writing, but what are some of the
hidden pitfalls from the business side of… well… the business?
From contract basics to handling taxes, published professionals will
talk about what you need to know, and what traps are out there for
the unwary.

Road trip with optional connectivity woes

I believe that I’m just going to have to accept that I’ve become one of Those Ladies Whom Technology Always Bests. Especially when its wanted most. That’s rather lowering, since I used to be at least competent with tech. Ah, well.

For this morning, at least, I can actually access my blog. Let’s not waste the moment.

Here, then, on the morning of Tour Day Six, I can report that we’re having a splendid time meeting and talking with (and to) y’all! Look at all these happy faces!

Today we are blessed with a long morning, and a short shift to Holyoke. We took advantage by sleeping in, and having a leisurely late-ish breakfast. Right now, the music is on random (yay! for hotel clocks that accept an mp3 player’s franching wire), we’re redistributing the cargo balance between our bags — well, Steve is — and catching up on the news.

Massachusetts is still in Fall; the leaves had pretty much fallen at home. Here in Worcester, we can look out our window and see trees in their full formal yellows, oranges, and reds.

Yesterday, we had a lovely visit with readers at Annie’s Bookstop, and a delightful dinner with owner Patty Cryan at Zorba’s Taverna. We hope to see more of y’all at the Barnes and Noble at 7 Holyoke Street, tonight from 7-9.

Also, for Albany-area fans, we’ve just learned that there will be a group dinner preceeding our event at Flights of Fantasy on November 5 (that’s tomorrow!) Check with Joe Berlant — or call the store — for details and to sign up.

In other news, Don Blyly at Uncle Hugo’s reports that all preordered signed Trade Secrets, saving a few outstanding credit card and postage problems, were shipped over the weekend. If you need a signed copy, Don reports that he does have more in hand. Here’s the order page.

Below are the remaining stops of the tour. See you soon!

Monday, November 4, 7-9 pm
Barnes and Noble, 7 Holyoke Street, Holyoke MA

Tuesday, November 5, 7-9 pm
Flights of Fantasy, 381 Sand Creek Road, Albany NY

Wednesday, November 6, 7-9 pm
Book Trader of Hamilton, 2421 Nottingham Way, Mercerville NJ

Thursday, November 7 (be careful! there are two events today)

Noon-2 pm :
University of Pennsylvania Bookstore, 3601 Walnut at 36th Street, Philadelphia

7-9 pm:
Chester County Book Company, 967 Paoli Pike, West Chester PA

Friday, November 8 — Sunday, November 10
PhilCon, Crowne Plaza Hotel, Cherry Hill, NJ

Sunday, November 17, 2-4 p.m.

Books-a-Million, South Portland, Maine

Ride with your brindled hounds at heel and your good grey hawk in hand

Last reminder: Steve Miller and Sharon Lee will be on the road in support of Trade Secret, the seventeenth and newest Liaden Universe® novel. We’ll be signing books, reading excerpts, talking trash, drinking coffee and eating cookies (cookies!). This is the roadshow of the century, here, and you don’t want to miss it.

Are we going to be in your town? Here’s the schedule. We hope to see you — yes, you! and your friends and family, too! — at one or more of our stops along the way.*

Now! As you see from the schedule, our very first stop on the tour is tomorrow night — that’s Halloween! — at Pandemonium Books, in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Which means? — anyone?

Yes, you with the curly green beard. . .thank you, very good!

It means that I’ll be on the road, with limited connectivity.

This is important to you, because. . .

. . .Madame the Editor, who is, it must be admitted, a bit of a tease, has made reference to All Hallows Eve as perhaps a Day of Interest for those who have been waiting for the eArc of Carousel Sun. This is not, understand, in any way a promise on Madame’s part, though the date would be particularly apt.

So! This is what I’d like you to do for me, if you would be so very kind:

If the eArc comes up — shout the news from the rooftops. Tell all your friends, post it to Facebook, Twitter, relevant listservs, and on your blog. It would be a big help for the title, since it’s been so long — 2010! — since Carousel Tides came out, and after a while people forget to look for a sequel.

Thank you.

On the Getting Ready to Rhumba Front, packing has been accomplished. There are a couple more house chores to be finished ere we leave — the sheets are washing now, for instance; and we have a late-breaking business conference call to deal with, mid-afternoon, then the Ritual Handing Off of the Key to the House Sitter.

The cats, of course, are taking all of this in stride. I have the pictures to prove it:

Scrabble taking a bath, with heffalumps. Note the rare footage of the toes, like little pearls.

Mozart napping on the pillow at the bottom of the bed, also displaying footage.

Trooper in his Plan B box, in my office, overseen by a Motley Gaggle(tm) of stuffies.

________________

*If we are not going to be in your town this time, and you are, or know of, a bookstore or convention who would like to host us, please pass this information on to Baen. Thanks!

#SFWAPro

And I think somebody somewhere must be tolling a bell

We have now reached the Point in the Proceedings where I’m avoiding packing. I’ve gotten all my devices together, and their various cords, and have put the files I’ll need onto Number Ten Ox, but as for packing clothes — nuh-uh. Don’t wanna. As a matter of fact, I’m for scrubbing the whole trip, if it means packing clothes. Who thought this was a good idea, anyway?

Oh, wait.

I did.

Well. I’m sure it’ll be fine. Even fun. Once I get past the packing stage.

Did I mention that I hate packing?

Argh.

*flails*

While I’m in avoidance mode, I’ll just mention that two of my colleagues have books out today.

Allegiance, by Beth Bernobich, is new from Tor. Read all about it here.

And!

Janni Lee Simner is re-releasing Tierney West, Professional Adventurer (previously published as The Secret of the Three Treasurers), with a whole new look. Check it out here.

Also!

Cats are good for you. No, really.

*wonders if she can sneak Trooper into her luggage*. That would solve the whole packing clothes thing, anyway.

OK, I can do this. I just need a plan. Jeans. Jeans and turtlenecks — that’s a plan, right?

Regarding scheduling and the “next REAL book”

Good morning.

I hope everyone’s weekend is going well.

Here at the Cat Farm and Confusion Factory, we’re shredding and cleaning, and getting ready for the book tour — you’ve heard about the Trade Secret Book Tour, right? Here’s the link. Hope to see you at one or more of our stops!

So, last week the ebook edition of Trade Secret hit virtual bookshelves at Baen, BN, Amazon &c. This means that a number of people have read the novel; and that, of that number of people, a smaller, but very eager, number have written to me wondering when they can read (choose one) the sequel/the next Theo book/the next book in the REAL timeline/what happens to Daav/fill in the blank.

I’m answering those questions here in part because I don’t want to have to answer every single one of those emails individually, and also in the hope that all the rest of the people who are wondering these same things will read this before they feel compelled to shoot off an email.

Regarding the title of the new next book to be published by an Author of the Confusion Factory — that will be, to the best of my knowledge, Carousel Sun, in February 2014. (~~Yes, I do realize, as a couple folks have pointed out, that Carousel Sun is not listed on the Baen website as an upcoming book~~; UPDATE: A kind friend points out that Carousel Sun is, indeed, on the Baen Publication Schedule. Here’s the link. I take the word of the young man who told me that it was not listed as being part of any “bundle,” since the ways and means of “bundles” are obscure to me. I don’t know why any of these things are so — or not so. My information is this: Carousel Sun is listed on Amazon and BN as a February book. Further, I’m told by Baen that the galleys will possibly be ready for me to read when we return home from the book tour. That’s all I got.)

OK, so: Carousel Sun, February 2014 is the next “new” book; after that — perhaps Carousel Seas (which was turned in in August, so it could possibly appear in the Spring of 2014 — this is, please note, pure speculation on my part; I don’t make the Baen publishing schedule.)

After that? I dunno. The next book set in the Liaden Universe® is due on Madame the Editor’s desk in May 2014. Again, pure speculation, and assuming such variables as a very clean manuscript and space in the schedule, it could, maybe, appear at the very end of 2014. Could. Maybe. See above re my involvement in making the publishing schedule.

For those who are “turned off,” as one correspondent put it this morning, by the Carousel books — you’ve got, yes, a long wait before you. While I know you may be disappointed, I will ask that you please keep your disappointment to yourself — done is done. The particular set of delivery schedules that created this inconvenience for yourselves was set years ago, ‘k? And I happen to like the Carousel books, and hearing how they’re minor, or disappointing, or whatever, makes me sad. It’s far more difficult for me to write anything when I’m sad. Just sayin’.

So, moving onward, what can the longtime readers of the Liaden Universe® expect?

You can expect, eventually, five books. I can say with complete confidence at this point that NONE of those five books concerns the doings of Jethri Gobelyn ven’Deelin, so those of you who are jonesing for a third (!) Jethri novel are going to have to find solace elsewhere.

Will any of those five books be in the REAL storyline? Well, that’s more difficult to say, there being a number of definitions of what, exactly, the REAL storyline is. Steve says all of them are in the REAL storyline (he can say so, if he likes; after all, he was there at the beginning), but some readers interpret the series differently than he (and I).

Let’s put it this way: The books — as pitched, and purchased — concern the ongoing adventures encountered by members of Clan Korval as the Clan tries to settle into its new role, on Surebleak, and in the wider Galaxy. The next book — the book we’ve started work on just recently, is not a Theo book, by which I mean that Theo is not the main character.

Those of you who have been with us since September 2012, at least, will recall that these five books — The Five-Book Dash, as we’ve been calling it — are, in their entirety, the “sequel” to Dragon Ship. I am made to realize, from email, and other comments, that this is, in essence, “pulling a Wheel of Time.” Which is apparently a Bad Thing. Whatever*.

The way we look at is that the five books coming are sequels to all the books preceding them: Agent of Change, Crystal Soldier, Fledgling, and all the etceteras of them — every one of the seventeen prior Liaden novels feed into the action of the melded storylines you’ll be seeing. Remember how we say, over and over again, that the Liaden Universe® is not a straight-line series? We really mean that.

Think of it this way: The Books of Before are a short road that intersects and flows along with another little street, The Space Regencies. That combined street makes a slight bend and suddenly we’re on the main thoroughfare of the Agent of Change Sequence, down which we proceed for quite a number of blocks until it crosses The Theo Waitley Sequence, with which it runs parallel for a time, eventually merging with it onto the interstate — The Five-Book Dash.

If this seems unnecessarily complicated to you — well. . .it’s the way our shared mind-space works, so we’re all sorta stuck with it.

Now! Not to belabor the point, but in the interests of Absolute Clarity, I offer here the publication schedule as it is known As Of This Moment:

November 2013: Trade Secret
January 2014: A Liaden Universe® Constellation Volume 2
January 15, 2014: “The Gift of Music,” free short story, Baen website
February 2014: Carousel Sun~~; Necessity’s Child~~ ~~mmp~~
March 2014: Necessity’s Child mmp

Here is the delivery schedule for the next five Liaden Universe® novels (aka the date that each novel is due in Madame the Editor’s hands):

May 15, 2014: First of Five
February 15, 2015: Second of Five
November 15, 2015: Third of Five
August 15, 2016: Fourth of Five
May 15, 2017: Fifth of Five

* * *

OK. Who has questions?

________________

*The published Liaden Universe® is almost exactly two years older than the Wheel of Time. Just so you know.

Reminder, Explanation, Tour Schedule Update

Frequent auditors of this journal will recall that Lee and Miller will be embarking in the near future on a book tour. The complete tour schedule is reproduced at the end of this blog entry, for your convenience.

PLEASE NOTE that we have added one more stop, in Maine, at the end of the tour. We’ll be signing, reading, talking and doing who knows what other crazy things at Books-a-Million on Sunday, November 17, from 2-4 p.m.

Please feel free to distribute the schedule below wherever it may be of interest.

* * *

I’d like to take just a moment to clarify something about the book tour. The tour is in support of a few things: Lee & Miller, the Liaden Universe®, Baen — but it is in Direct Support of Trade Secret, the 17th novel in the Liaden Universe® which, yes, is scheduled to be “published” on November 5.

There seems to be a little bit of confusion regarding this word “published,” which more correctly ought to be rendered, “available in bookstores.”

See, the books have already been “published,” which in this usage means “printed.” We know this because Steve and I received our authors’ copies a week or so ago. This means that, even now, there are Trade Secrets in the S&S warehouse, and Trade Secrets on their way to distributors, and Trade Secrets directly on their way to bookstores. . .

. . .and Trade Secrets on their way, via the Sekrit Publicist Underground, directly to all of the stores where we will be signing, and! to the nice folks who will be escorting us during the various stages of our tour.

Which is the long way of saying that, Yes, Trade Secret will be on hand at our signings — even those signings that happen before November 5 — and if you come to one of our signings, you will be able to buy a book and see us sign it for you in front of your very eyes.

Which, you gotta admit, is kind of cool.

* * *

One more reminder — “Out of True,” a Liaden Universe® short story will be available to read for! free! on the Baen front page, starting. . .call it mid-day, Eastern Daylight Time, on Tuesday, October 15. You will have to scroll down a bit (fiction on the Baen front page is published, as we used to say in the newspaper biz, “below the fold”) to find it.

* * *

The Official Lee and Miller Book Tour Schedule

Thursday, October 31, 7-9 pm
Pandemonium Books and Games, 4 Pleasant Street, Cambridge MA

Friday, November 1, 7-9 pm
The Toadstool Bookstore, 586 Nashua Street (Lorden Plaza), Milford NH

Saturday, November 2, 2-4 pm
Barnes and Noble, 98 Middlesex Turnpike, Burlington MA

Sunday, November 3, 1-4 pm
Annie’s Bookstop of Worcester, 65 James Street, Worcester MA

Monday, November 4, 7-9 pm
Barnes and Noble, 7 Holyoke Street, Holyoke MA

Tuesday, November 5, 7-9 pm
Flights of Fantasy, 381 Sand Creek Road, Albany NY

Wednesday, November 6, 7-9 pm
Book Trader of Hamilton, 2421 Nottingham Way, Mercerville NJ

Thursday, November 7 (be careful! there are two events today)

Noon-2 pm :
University of Pennsylvania Bookstore, 3601 Walnut at 36th Street, Philadelphia

7-9 pm:
Chester County Book Company, 967 Paoli Pike, West Chester PA

Friday, November 8 — Sunday, November 10
PhilCon, Crowne Plaza Hotel, Cherry Hill, NJ

Sunday, November 17, 2-4 p.m.
Books-a-Million, South Portland, Maine

#SFWAPro

In the mail…

We have here in our hands the Official Tour post cards and bookmarks. I especially like the tag-line on this one:

Star-spanning galactic trader Jethri Gobelyn returns!

It may, in fact, be my second-favorite Liaden tag-line ever. First place in my heart being always held by the inspired tag for Pilots Choice, which has, for Sheer Chutzpah never been equaled:

The new Liaden Universe® novel is here!

So! the front of the post card:

Back of the Trade Secret Official Tour bookmark (the front is the same as the post card)

Lee and Miller Book Tour 2013!

Also known as The Next Stage in the Liaden Universe® World Tour*

AsyouknowBob, the nice folks at Baen are sending us on a small book tour in support of Trade Secret. The tour is of the Upperish East Coast, starting on October 31 (that’s Halloween!) at Pandemonium Books, in Cambridge, MA, and finishing off on November 10 (hey! that’s the end of PhilCon!)

We now have the Full and Complete Itinerary of the tour, and have reproduced it below, for your convenience. Please do plan on coming out to see us, if we happen to land at a bookstore (or a convention!) near you. We love to meet our readers; heck we’ll even sign a book for you!