Welcome to Biting-Edge, a blog shared by authors and vampire experts, Mario Acevedo and Jeanne Stein. We’ll cover urban fantasy, vampires, pop culture, and all things Joss Whedon. Unlike other fantasy blogs, we don’t insist on body cavity searches (unless you ask politely). Snarkiness is most welcome...though we won't promise not to bite back!
Sunday, May 20, 2012
Shine...sparkle...
Mario here:
A management-type person once told me there is one personality trait that HR doesn't like in an employee.
Charisma.
Funny you might say as we all like to stand next to someone charming in the hopes that some of that glitter will cling to us.
The problem for HR is that charisma brings its own form of authority that can circumvent the hierarchy. The guy in the corner office might be the boss because the organizational chart says so. He's got his walls plastered with management certificates, proof that he's punched all the tickets that crown him a leader. But there's this other guy who people defer to because being around him, getting his okay, makes you feel good about yourself. His blessing adds sparkle to your work.
What's this got to do with writing?
Plenty. The charisma you bring to the page, through your voice, is what adds authority to your prose. Authority in the sense that you're someone worth paying attention to and that your words will enrich the reader.
Enrich the reader? That's a big meatball. All you want to do is tell a story. That's just it. You have to tell an interesting (i.e., charming, engrossing, compelling) story to keep the reader coming back hour-after-hour, page-after-page.
Don't try to be the boss guy in the corner office, ticking down the list of writing do's and don'ts, convinced you've got all the literary bases covered, when in fact your work is an eye-glazing snoozer.
To succeed as a fiction writer, you gotta project style, character, personality. Charisma...cool.
Cool? Oh God, you say, now I gotta be cool? Me in my ratty sweats, flip-flops, cheap readers, and a bad haircut?
Okay, not you...your work. Your words. Your story.
No guarantee you'll gain any cool points but here's a plug for my class with the Lawson Writer's Academy.
Fang It to Me; Writing Vampires, Fantasy, and the How-to's of World-building.
June 4-29, 2012. For you, my friend, only $30
Wait! There's more!
How about a cemetery's worth of undead charisma for only $2.99? The you're in luck with the Kindle version of Jailbait Zombie, now on sale.
Mario here:
A management-type person once told me there is one personality trait that HR doesn't like in an employee.
Charisma.
Funny you might say as we all like to stand next to someone charming in the hopes that some of that glitter will cling to us.
The problem for HR is that charisma brings its own form of authority that can circumvent the hierarchy. The guy in the corner office might be the boss because the organizational chart says so. He's got his walls plastered with management certificates, proof that he's punched all the tickets that crown him a leader. But there's this other guy who people defer to because being around him, getting his okay, makes you feel good about yourself. His blessing adds sparkle to your work.
What's this got to do with writing?
Plenty. The charisma you bring to the page, through your voice, is what adds authority to your prose. Authority in the sense that you're someone worth paying attention to and that your words will enrich the reader.
Enrich the reader? That's a big meatball. All you want to do is tell a story. That's just it. You have to tell an interesting (i.e., charming, engrossing, compelling) story to keep the reader coming back hour-after-hour, page-after-page.
Don't try to be the boss guy in the corner office, ticking down the list of writing do's and don'ts, convinced you've got all the literary bases covered, when in fact your work is an eye-glazing snoozer.
To succeed as a fiction writer, you gotta project style, character, personality. Charisma...cool.
Cool? Oh God, you say, now I gotta be cool? Me in my ratty sweats, flip-flops, cheap readers, and a bad haircut?
Okay, not you...your work. Your words. Your story.
No guarantee you'll gain any cool points but here's a plug for my class with the Lawson Writer's Academy.
Fang It to Me; Writing Vampires, Fantasy, and the How-to's of World-building.
June 4-29, 2012. For you, my friend, only $30
How about a cemetery's worth of undead charisma for only $2.99? The you're in luck with the Kindle version of Jailbait Zombie, now on sale.
Labels: bad haircut, charisma, Jailbait Zombie, Margie Lawson, voice
¶ posted by Mario Acevedo @ 8:38 PM 4 comments
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Why Write?
My husband has often asked why anyone would want to be an author. Usually the question comes after I’ve had a crisis of some sort—worry about a new release, about a new book, about the next contract. I realize I’ve been lucky—I have seven books published, stories in a dozen anthologies, two more books on the way, a contract for a new series in the works. And yet the insecurities are as real and as overwhelming as they always were. Mario talked about branding on Monday. When I released my first book in 2004 I remember asking my friend Charlaine Harris for marketing tips. She couldn’t help. She never did any marketing. She built her career book by book—two series and 13 books before she hit gold with Sookie Stackhouse and the Southern Vampire series.
Can’t do that anymore. Publishers aren’t willing to wait for you to build an audience. You have to network, have a social presence, put up a website, blog. You have to attend conferences, teach classes, become active in writing organizations. You have to come up with cute swag items and spread them around. Hold contests and give lots of stuff away. You have to be a social animal and everyone who knows me (I mean really knows me) understands that I'm not. I'm scared to death before every signing, panel appearance or talk. I have to play the game, but it's through pain. I marvel at how easy it is for Mario and good pal Margie Lawson.
And in between all of this, you have to come up with the next book idea. You have to find the time to actually write the books.
Publishers want a winner right out of the chute. They’re farming the suddenly fertile field of e-publishing, snapping up novels they originally rejected because the writers now come with built-in audiences. Friends that Mario and I know are e-pubing and having some success at it (see Jeff Shelby), even though they started they way we did, writing for years, querying agents and finally receiving the call. But for one reason or another, their series were dropped, their contracts not renewed. They’re starting over on their own. They’re getting their stories out and reaching readers.
Which is what we as writers want, isn’t it? To reach readers. Which brings me full circle and answers the question I posed at the beginning. Writers write because they want to reach readers. How to do that seems to be the new question. Hold out for that agent and hope to find a traditional house to publish your book? Or go it on your own?
What do you think? As readers, how do you pick from the thousands of ebooks out there? Are you buying more ebooks than print books? Do you look for writers you know? Is pricing a consideration? Writers, are you considering e-pubing on your own? Going both the epub and traditional route? I really am interested in hearing your answers.
February has been a busy book release month for our League friends.Next book up is Allison Pang's A Sliver of Shadow
Just when her new life as a TouchStone—a mortal bound to help OtherFolk cross between Faery and human worlds—seems to be settling down, Abby Sinclair is left in charge when the Protectorate, Moira, leaves for the Faery Court. And when the Protectorate’s away . . . let’s just say things spiral out of control when a spell on Abby backfires and the Faery Queen declares the Doors between their worlds officially closed. The results are disastrous for both sides: OtherFolk trapped in the mortal world are beginning to fade, while Faery is on the brink of war with the daemons of Hell. Along with her brooding elven prince Talivar and sexy incubus Brystion, Abby ventures to the CrossRoads in an attempt to override the Queen’s magic. But nothing in this beautiful, dangerous realm will compare to the discoveries she’s making about her past, her destiny, and what she will sacrifice for those she loves.
Read the first chapter on Amazon here
Quiz: match famous literary authors with their non-literary obsessions:
Martin Amis ........................ Birds
Tom McCarthy .................... Tap Dancing
Henry Miller ........................ Video Games
LevGrossman .......................Drawing
Truman Capote ................... Tintin
Patti Smith ...........................UFO's
Flannery O'Connor ..............Brian Jones
Victor Hugo ..........................Samuel Beckett
How many did you get right? Check answers on Flavorwire here
My husband has often asked why anyone would want to be an author. Usually the question comes after I’ve had a crisis of some sort—worry about a new release, about a new book, about the next contract. I realize I’ve been lucky—I have seven books published, stories in a dozen anthologies, two more books on the way, a contract for a new series in the works. And yet the insecurities are as real and as overwhelming as they always were. Mario talked about branding on Monday. When I released my first book in 2004 I remember asking my friend Charlaine Harris for marketing tips. She couldn’t help. She never did any marketing. She built her career book by book—two series and 13 books before she hit gold with Sookie Stackhouse and the Southern Vampire series.
Can’t do that anymore. Publishers aren’t willing to wait for you to build an audience. You have to network, have a social presence, put up a website, blog. You have to attend conferences, teach classes, become active in writing organizations. You have to come up with cute swag items and spread them around. Hold contests and give lots of stuff away. You have to be a social animal and everyone who knows me (I mean really knows me) understands that I'm not. I'm scared to death before every signing, panel appearance or talk. I have to play the game, but it's through pain. I marvel at how easy it is for Mario and good pal Margie Lawson.
And in between all of this, you have to come up with the next book idea. You have to find the time to actually write the books.
Publishers want a winner right out of the chute. They’re farming the suddenly fertile field of e-publishing, snapping up novels they originally rejected because the writers now come with built-in audiences. Friends that Mario and I know are e-pubing and having some success at it (see Jeff Shelby), even though they started they way we did, writing for years, querying agents and finally receiving the call. But for one reason or another, their series were dropped, their contracts not renewed. They’re starting over on their own. They’re getting their stories out and reaching readers.
Which is what we as writers want, isn’t it? To reach readers. Which brings me full circle and answers the question I posed at the beginning. Writers write because they want to reach readers. How to do that seems to be the new question. Hold out for that agent and hope to find a traditional house to publish your book? Or go it on your own?
What do you think? As readers, how do you pick from the thousands of ebooks out there? Are you buying more ebooks than print books? Do you look for writers you know? Is pricing a consideration? Writers, are you considering e-pubing on your own? Going both the epub and traditional route? I really am interested in hearing your answers.
# # # #
February has been a busy book release month for our League friends.Next book up is Allison Pang's A Sliver of Shadow
Release date: Feb 28
From Amazon: WAR IS HELL. AND WAR WITH HELL IS NO FUN EITHER.
Just when her new life as a TouchStone—a mortal bound to help OtherFolk cross between Faery and human worlds—seems to be settling down, Abby Sinclair is left in charge when the Protectorate, Moira, leaves for the Faery Court. And when the Protectorate’s away . . . let’s just say things spiral out of control when a spell on Abby backfires and the Faery Queen declares the Doors between their worlds officially closed. The results are disastrous for both sides: OtherFolk trapped in the mortal world are beginning to fade, while Faery is on the brink of war with the daemons of Hell. Along with her brooding elven prince Talivar and sexy incubus Brystion, Abby ventures to the CrossRoads in an attempt to override the Queen’s magic. But nothing in this beautiful, dangerous realm will compare to the discoveries she’s making about her past, her destiny, and what she will sacrifice for those she loves.
Read the first chapter on Amazon here
# # # #
Quiz: match famous literary authors with their non-literary obsessions:
Martin Amis ........................ Birds
Tom McCarthy .................... Tap Dancing
Henry Miller ........................ Video Games
LevGrossman .......................Drawing
Truman Capote ................... Tintin
Patti Smith ...........................UFO's
Flannery O'Connor ..............Brian Jones
Victor Hugo ..........................Samuel Beckett
How many did you get right? Check answers on Flavorwire here
# # # #
All right...looks like Mario, Warren Hammond and I are heading down to Colorado Springs for Galaxyfest on Saturday. Don't have any kind of schedule yet except that we know we're participating in the Literacy signing on Sunday...don't even know the time. Sorry. I know the location, though: Antlers Hilton 4 South Cascade, Colorado Springs. Tele: 719-955-5600
If you're in the area, stop in and say hello.
If you're in the area, stop in and say hello.
Labels: A Sliver of Shadows, Allison Pang, Jeff Shelby, Margie Lawson, Warren Hammond
¶ posted by Jeanne Stein @ 7:51 AM 3 comments
Wednesday, September 08, 2010
The week after...
a book release is a nerve-wracking time. To writers and readers, it's a new book. To the publishing world, it's business. The bottom line above all. Well, it looks like Chosen is doing well enough to have made #16 on the bookscan list for fantasy. A nice beginning and a reflection on the loyalty of Anna's readers. I thank you all.
I'm still in promo mode. DragonCon last weekend was fun but exhausting. I came down with a head cold the day after I got back and since I have two more trips and signings coming up, I'm laying low this week.
Friday at 7:30 Mario and I will both be signing at the free open-to-the-public Colorado Gold signing fest. It's held at:
Renaissance Hotel
3801 Quebec Street
Denver, Colorado 80207 USA
Then on the 13th, I'll be at the Broadway Book Mall at 7PM:
WhoElse! Books
200 So. Broadway, Denver CO
303-744-BOOK
If you are interested in dissecting writing styles, Margie Lawson, teacher extraordinaire, used Chosen as her deep editing analysis for the week. Check here . If you are an aspiring writer, subscribe to her newsletter. She knows her stuff.
Something else you might want to look into-- Writer's Digest 101 best sites for writers.
I'm part of an anthology entitled Whedonistas--women who love the Jossverse--along with Elizabeth Bear, Sharon Shinn, Emma Bull, Nancy Holder, Jackie Kessler and more.
The contest is still going on over at Larissa's Bookish Life. Check it out . Contest runs until September 10th.
Media stuff. From Shelf Awareness this morning:
Universal Pictures and NBC Universal Television Entertainment will adapt Stephen King's Dark Tower novels into a film trilogy and a network TV series. Deadline.com reported that the project, which had been in discussion last spring (Shelf Awareness, May 4, 2010), "will be creatively steered by the Oscar-winning team behind A Beautiful Mind and The Da Vinci Code. Ron Howard has committed to direct the initial feature film, as well as the first season of the TV series that will follow in close proximity. Akiva Goldsman will write the film, and the first season of the TV series. Howard's Imagine Entertainment partner Brian Grazer will produce, with Goldsman and the author."
Deadline.com compared the project--which will use "a major studio's film and TV platforms simultaneously to tell a story"--to Peter Jackson, who "directed three installments of the Lord of The Rings, back to back, so that they could be released in three consecutive years."
This will either be very good or a disaster.
I'm watching Wiseguy-- the series starring Ken Wahl created by Stephen J. Cannell in 1987. Got it on Netflix and I love it as much now as I did when it first came on. Have any of you seen it? Television at his best.
Oh, and one last thing. I'm still waiting for someone to explain the ending of Clooney's new movie, The American.
I'm still in promo mode. DragonCon last weekend was fun but exhausting. I came down with a head cold the day after I got back and since I have two more trips and signings coming up, I'm laying low this week.
Friday at 7:30 Mario and I will both be signing at the free open-to-the-public Colorado Gold signing fest. It's held at:
Renaissance Hotel
3801 Quebec Street
Denver, Colorado 80207 USA
Then on the 13th, I'll be at the Broadway Book Mall at 7PM:
WhoElse! Books
200 So. Broadway, Denver CO
303-744-BOOK
# # # #
If you are interested in dissecting writing styles, Margie Lawson, teacher extraordinaire, used Chosen as her deep editing analysis for the week. Check here . If you are an aspiring writer, subscribe to her newsletter. She knows her stuff.
Something else you might want to look into-- Writer's Digest 101 best sites for writers.
# # # #
I'm part of an anthology entitled Whedonistas--women who love the Jossverse--along with Elizabeth Bear, Sharon Shinn, Emma Bull, Nancy Holder, Jackie Kessler and more.
The contest is still going on over at Larissa's Bookish Life. Check it out . Contest runs until September 10th.
# # # #
Media stuff. From Shelf Awareness this morning:
Universal Pictures and NBC Universal Television Entertainment will adapt Stephen King's Dark Tower novels into a film trilogy and a network TV series. Deadline.com reported that the project, which had been in discussion last spring (Shelf Awareness, May 4, 2010), "will be creatively steered by the Oscar-winning team behind A Beautiful Mind and The Da Vinci Code. Ron Howard has committed to direct the initial feature film, as well as the first season of the TV series that will follow in close proximity. Akiva Goldsman will write the film, and the first season of the TV series. Howard's Imagine Entertainment partner Brian Grazer will produce, with Goldsman and the author."
Deadline.com compared the project--which will use "a major studio's film and TV platforms simultaneously to tell a story"--to Peter Jackson, who "directed three installments of the Lord of The Rings, back to back, so that they could be released in three consecutive years."
This will either be very good or a disaster.
I'm watching Wiseguy-- the series starring Ken Wahl created by Stephen J. Cannell in 1987. Got it on Netflix and I love it as much now as I did when it first came on. Have any of you seen it? Television at his best.
Oh, and one last thing. I'm still waiting for someone to explain the ending of Clooney's new movie, The American.
SPOILER ALERT
SPOILER ALERT
If his handler wanted him dead, why did he kill the girl BEFORE she shot him? WTF??? My husband and I left the theater shaking our heads. We should have gone to see Machete. Danny Trejo is who Phil thinks would make a great Culebra.
SPOILER ALERT
If his handler wanted him dead, why did he kill the girl BEFORE she shot him? WTF??? My husband and I left the theater shaking our heads. We should have gone to see Machete. Danny Trejo is who Phil thinks would make a great Culebra.
Labels: Chosen, Larissa's Bookish Life, Machete, Margie Lawson, Stephen King's Dark Tower, Whedonistas, WhoElse Books, Wise Guy
¶ posted by Jeanne Stein @ 2:50 PM 8 comments
