Two for the Show

“It looks crowded,” Justin said as they came in sight of the Universes entrance.  Streams of Vattas, including the stream in which they moved, flowed in, directed by Waystation staff and four Universes staff in their somewhat different uniform.  He jumped a little as Shar’s elbow found his ribs.  “Look ahead,” she muttered.  “Those aren’t Read More…

First Sighting

My UK editor sent me a “hot off the press” copy of COLD WELCOME.  Remember embossed titles?  This one isn’t, but my name at the top and the title at the bottom are in shinier ink.  Very classy.   This book-ended the week beautifully, since I had sent INTO THE FIRE to my US editor on Read More…

And It’s Off to Agent

Yes, INTO THE FIRE is now with Agent, and will go to Editor on Monday morning.   All the square brackets have been dealt with, all the timing issues I found have been fixed, lots of little errors have been fixed,  and the working file (with old filename…like the barn name for a show or race Read More…

Audio Book & Other Stuff

This week I learned that Brittany Pressley will be narrating the audiobook of COLD WELCOME.   She emailed me about characters, pronunciation of names, etc. , and I may have drowned her with information (writer of long novels.  Not really good at the elevator pitch.)   I also heard from Audible’s Author Care, which has suggestions about Read More…

Of Time and Orientation

If you write a novel with a linear structure and only one POV character–no skipping off for flashbacks, for alternate points of view or “meanwhile back at the ranch” segments–keeping the temporal continuity is simple.   First this, then that, then the next thing, and the solid singular POV keeps even the writer perfectly oriented to Read More…

The End

Sweetest words a writer ever types.   Mind you, INTO THE FIRE isn’t yet all spiffied up for travel, hooves trimmed and polished and painted with gold glitter, mane brushed and combed and braided and beribboned, tail ditto, and coat gleaming, ready to be trotted out at the Spring Show.   The front half (about) of the Read More…

And a Reviewer said…

From Booklist‘s review: “Moon returns to hard sf after nearly eight years, visiting familiar characters from the Vatta’s War series. Though it is intended as an alternate entry in the series, readers need not have read the previous books to enjoy this one; Moon provides enough backstory to fill in any blanks. A gripping page-turner Read More…

When the Magic Works

Yes, I know, it’s a science fiction blog, not a fantasy blog, but sometimes when things finally go right after a struggle, it’s tempting to equate great skill with magic.    Things were not working out for reasons that–it turned out–had nothing to do with my stuff, Ruta who built the sites and customized the blog Read More…