Reviews, Part 29

Standard

1) The person writing at “The Entropy Pump” seems to think that Ray’s successes in the first couple books show that he’s a “million-to-one snowflake” and disapproves.

2) Paolo Gabriel V. Chikiamco writes a very interesting (and positive) review of Child of Fire at Fantasy Faction: “While the characters are the heart of the novel, and the reason why I enjoyed it so much the first time I read it, what I grew to appreciate in subsequent readings is the way that Connolly manages to both hew to and eschew a tried and tested fantasy formula.”

3) LiveJournaler Zornhau really enjoyed it: “It’s what you’d get if James Ellroy spent a month reading Lovecraft. Macho. Dystopian. Touching. Disturbing. The horror is horror, but the heroes go up against it and gain not entirely futile victories.”

4) Alice at All there is… and the rest of it liked Child of Fire: “I like the main character, Ray Lilly. He changes, almost against his will over the course of the book. It’s a matter of regaining a moral compass. He doesn’t necessarily want to be a better person, but he knows he has to. I will definitely read the rest of the series.”

5) Garrett at The Ranting Dragon gives Child of Fire a big thumbs up: “This novel is an exhilarating addition to the urban fantasy genre.”

6) Bill Martell, the screenwriter at Sex in a Submarine, really liked Circle of Enemies: “I really liked that this is Ray dealing with people from his past – that made this more than just an entertaining story. It deals with lost loves and ex-friends and guilt and remorse and every messy friendship situation you’ve ever had.” It’s nice when a reader really sees what I was trying.

7) Drew Bittner at SFRevu gives Circle of Enemies a “Recommended”: “Harry Connolly delivers another high-powered and fast-paced adventure, with a great protagonist in Ray Lilly.“

TV Tropes has a story generator?

Standard

It sure does.

I’ll never struggle with a story again, although I’m not sure if that’s because the generator will give me what I need or I won’t surface from TV Tropes long enough to write one.

Seen via Fred Hicks

My #FridayReads is still The Name Of The Wind

Standard

Jeez, that book is slow.

Yesterday I sent a short story for an anthology over to the editor. It’s a little long, but maybe it will work for them anyway. At the moment I can’t see what else to cut from it, but in about two weeks I’ll probably think it’s twice what it should be.

Anyway, the story is called “Don’t Chew Your Food” and as I mentioned before it’s set in the world of Don’t Rest Your Head an indie horror rpg by the folks at Evil Hat. If you play with character sheets and dice, you should check out their site. My story is about a celebrity chef and… well… eating. Can you tell I’m reducing, as they used to say?

I was also paid for a short story I wrote for a different anthology, although I’m not sure if it’s meant to be talked about in public. It’s a shared world anthology with a growing background, and my story is about a mage who specializes in love magic.

Fun! Short fiction, it was nice to hang with you for a while. Don’t be such a stranger, okay?

Today I’m walking across the bridge to work on the new newest book, an epic (hopefully) fantasy with the working title A Blessing of Monsters (aka “Fantasy with gate magic”).

No, it’s not a Twenty Palaces book, but I can’t sit around doing nothing until I hear the official word, right? Must work work work.

Anyway, I’m turning off the internet for a few hours so I can get a long walk in, plus writering. And today I’ll remember my house keys. Happy October.

The Write Agenda

Standard

I’m not a part of Writer Beware, but I think they do great work. So I was surprised to see that they’re taking a fair bit of abuse from someone (or someones) called The Write Agenda. I guess it first came out while I was on my internet fast.

I don’t know Ann Crispin at all, but I’ve been a fan of Victoria Strauss for years. I really enjoy her brainy fantasies about zealots and fanaticism, and she was the first professional who ever told me there was something of value in my writing. Of course it was a huge thrill for me when she agreed to blurb Child of Fire.

She’s spent years helping writers navigate the minefield of bad/useless agents and publishers. Whoever this anonymous creep at The Write Agenda might be, I support Writer Beware unreservedly.

Keep doing your good work, guys.

Randomness for 10/6

Standard

1) This is the guy who should be redesigning DC’s rebooted heroes.

2) Artwork created in rice fields.

3) The 20 Biggest Idiots on Facebook. via Marisol

4) Spooky Victorian Mansions made of Legos.

5) Who Killed Videogames, A Ghost Story

6) Microphotography contest winners.

7) “We are the 1%.”

Jumping ahead of the usual NaNoWriMo question

Standard

I’m not doing it.

I never do it. Some people actually seem offended when I say that, but NaNoWriMo doesn’t make sense for me. The daily wordcount isn’t that high and it’s what I ought to be doing anyway, right? Every month, not just November.

This isn’t a condemnation of the event itself. If you want to register and write along with other people, I think that’s great. Have fun and remember that you should keep going once December arrives.

But for me, no.

Occupy Wall Street

Standard

And other cities, too.

This is not the political post I promised. This is something I dropped in comments on Chuck Wendig’s G+ and thought should be reposted here, regarding the protestors who kicked off the formerly much-ignored Occupy Wall Street demonstrations.

“Here are my thoughts: Hippies protest something. The rest of the country responds in this order:

Sneers at them.
Punches them.
Lectures them about how they should dress and behave so their fellow citizens will take them seriously.
Accuse them of being unrealistic.
Accuse them of being insincere.
Declare them “the fringe” and exclude their ideas.
Finally, years later, silently admit that they were right.”

At some point, the mainstream is going to stop attacking them and will start paying attention.

Apparently, I’m a “special snowflake”

Standard

I just returned from NW Bookfest where, on a panel, author Mark Teppo referred to urban fantasy authors who make up their own monsters as “special snowflakes.”

Well guess what? I am special, because I think UF has to open itself beyond the same stock supernatural characters if it’s going to survive long term.

I’m also a snowflake, in that I melt when you touch me with your tongue.

I hope that’s clear.

NW Bookfest

Standard

I’m going. At least, as soon as I pack up my computer, refill my coffee and drop off these two library books down the street, I’ll be starting the long bus trip over there.

If anyone reading this plans to be there, I intend to attend the UF panel at noon. Come look for me in the audience. I promise to be the most socially-awkward author you’ll ever meet.

Okay, okay, you guys, jeeze

Standard

Since folks are pestering me about it*, here’s a list of the old games I bought at Half-Price Books:

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Part 1)
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
Dragon Lair
Legendary
Elven Legacy Collection

My general rule is that I don’t buy games based on other media because they suck so often, but I made an exception for Harry Potter since my boy is a fan.

In truth, I have no idea if these are good games or not. I played Dragon Lair way back in the day when you had to put coins into a machine for it, but the others are completely unknown to me.

We’ll see how lucky I am.

* Note: This is not true. I just wanted to post this list.