I only get to America once a year, so I don’t get the chance to do many book events over there, but this year, if you’re in or near Michigan in August, I’ve got two events coming up. I’m going to be alongside the lovely, talented Jim Hines, Merrie Haskell, and Stephanie Burgis. We’re going to be doing short readings and a panel Q&A.
Hopefully we’ll see some of you there!
August 9, 2017 – Okemos, Michigan
Schuler Books & Music
1982 W Grand River Ave, Ste 715, Okemos, Michigan 48864
It looks like the publication date of SECRETS OF THE DRAGON TOMB has been pushed back once again, this time until January 12th, 2016. Sometimes publishing feels like being Alice through the looking glass: no matter how fast your run, things never get any closer.
Image copyright to me (Patrick Samphire).
So, yeah, I can’t say I’m over thrilled by this development, but, you know, it gives me the incentive to just get on and write something else entirely. With so long until SECRETS OF THE DRAGON TOMB comes out (and who knows for sure that it won’t get bounced again), I can probably write an entirely different novel between now and then. I’m thinking of having a go at an urban fantasy, because I’ve been reading a lot of urban fantasy and really enjoying it (and I have some ideas, which always helps…).
So, does anyone have any recommendations for good urban fantasy? I love Jim Butcher and Laurell Hamilton and I’ve enjoyed books by Patricia Briggs and other similar writers. I also love some of the more British urban fantasy writers (who often edge into horror) like Mike Carey and Ben Aaronovitch. Steph has recommended Ilona Andrews.
So, what else should I be reading in the genre?
Update: Over on twitter, C.G. Cameron recommended Tanya Huff, so that’s going on the list, if you’re looking for UF books yourself.
Yesterday I said I was going to blog my way back into writing, because I’d been distracted by life things and then fallen into procrastination. Yeah, I do see the irony in this…
Anyway, yesterday’s target was to go through my notebook and figure out what to start working on next. Well, I managed to get a bit of time in the early afternoon, and then some more time in the early evening while Mr D was at his first ever Drama Class (which he absolutely loved).
I think I’ve pinned down a story (possibly chapter book, possibly young middle grade) to do some work on, and so that’s what I’m going to be doing more of today. Just jotting down ideas, structures, maybe trying to get started on pinning down a voice.
Sequels are what happens as an aftermath to a scene.
I realised that I’d never really thought about sequels before. I write them, but I’ve never consciously thought about them. In fact, most books on writing focus exclusively on scenes, and sometimes I’ve found myself trying to force sequels into the structure of a scene, and that’s not been good for them, because they’re not scenes.
Here’s what Butcher says is the structure of a ‘sequel’, as opposed to a scene:
Here’s the basic structure to a sequel. It’s another little worksheet you can fill out when you’re thinking about it ahead of time:
It’s an interesting blog post, and I’m not going to try to justice to it here, but take a look. It’s certainly making me more conscious of what may be a slightly neglected part of my own writing.
Anyway, I’ve been reading a lot of Butcher’s stuff (his books as well as blog), and although I was initially skeptical (don’t know why; maybe I just tend to react instinctively against popular stuff, often to my disadvantage and later regret), but I’ve come to admire how well he does his stuff.
A couple more links, while we’re at it:
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