Solar Clipper Diary

One of Robin Sullivan’s recent posts reminded me that I’ve not really done much here lately except stop by and tell you what’s happening. Some people are getting insights into the why of my brain with the Talking On My Morning Walk podcast but that’s pretty scattered. I’m about to dive into another month of frenetic activity – and while I should be writing – I also need to stop and take stock.

“Why” is an interesting word. Why do I write? Why do I tell stories? Why do I tell the stories I do?

I believe in the power of the everyday hero. I am tired of the “we have to blow up the world” stories. I remember the wonder and joy I found in Heinlein, Bradbury, and Asimov. I miss those stories and I want them to come back. I figure the only to get them to come back is to write them.

To be clear, I don’t really remember the stories that well. What I remember is how they made me feel. What I know is that, as a kid, I found them strangely empowering, wonderfully engrossing. They were stories about people I could grow up to be — people I might want to grow up to be. I want to tell stories that give those feelings to others. As Hugh McLeod says, “The market for something to believe in is infinite.” I like that idea–that people want something to believe in. If I can inspire them to find it through my story telling, that seems – for lack of a less corny phrase – a worthy goal.

Key to this effort is telling the stories I want to read. A few people are very upset by the ending of Owner’s Share. I understand. It’s an upsetting ending. It’s not a Hollywood ending. It’s not happily-ever-after. It is the story I needed to tell. It’s the story I wanted to read. While some are wondering how this “something to believe in” meshes with the ending of the series, I think it makes perfect sense.

Before I wrote Owner’s Share, listeners made me promise not to kill him. The last Harry Potter book had just come out and there was a great deal of angst over the ending of that book. My listeners didn’t want that to happen to Ishmael. The more I thought about it, the better I liked the idea of continuing on, of telling more stories – different stories – set in this universe with Ishmael doing the exploration. The idea of “something to believe in” kept ringing in my head. How does one pick up the scattered pieces of a shattered life and move on? How do you find something to believe in?

These aren’t trivial questions, but are they questions that we ‘common people’ have to deal with. Ishmael is an Everyman. For all that many find him to be a Mary Sue (or Gary Stu, as the case may be), he’s still a common guy. The ending of Owner’s Share leaves him with something to believe in — and a new course to follow. He has a new guide and a new outlook. He has to do what anybody would have to do. Carry on.

For me, that’s a much more interesting challenge than happily ever after and it’s why I think the next series will be better. I’ve got new stories, and a new outlook to tell those stories with. I’m really looking forward to telling them and I hope you’ll all be with me when I do.

Oh, why do I write?

Because I have to.

Balticon was a blast and the photos are beginning to surface. I have a new set coming from JR Blackwell and I’m really looking forward to them. What really surprised me was how many people said they like the Talking On My Morning Walk podcast and how many more were looking forward to the Ravenwood sequel.

I had several meetings with Ridan and we talked about the future. There’s a lot happening and not all of it is mine to share but …

Hardcovers. They are coming. The problem we’ve had is quality and Robin is looking at actually doing a real print run of 250 if she can find an offset printer who will do them with the quality we need. Since we now have two titles that need them, we’ll probably run them both at once. A lot of them will zip out so the warehousing of the remaining few cases won’t be too much of a burden on my basement.

Schedule. I’m moving to a four month release schedule instead of the six month. That means we’re looking to finish the last three share books by this time next year. I know that’s slow if you’re waiting for the books but fast considering all we need to do to make them really work in print. Sad but true.

New works. I’m still thinking about the novellas. Odin’s Outpost is a key element in the universe that we haven’t explored much yet and I want to get into that part of the Golden Age a bit before we turn Ishmael loose again. Then there’s the Ravenwood sequel and Cape Grace — both of which I’ve been promising for far too long.

While you’re waiting, there’s a lot of good stuff out there and coming out in the near future.

Scott Sigler’s Galactic Football League series will release the third book – All-Pro – in a few weeks and his second book, The Starter, is on podiobooks and in print already. If you’ve never run into this series, this is a good time to pick up the first book, The Rookie, on Kindle and get a taste for it. Even if you’re not a football fan, I really do think this might be some of Sigler’s strongest work.

Debora Geary has her sequel to A Modern Witch coming out to beta readers soon (yes, I’m one – yay!) and if A Hidden Witch is half as much fun as A Modern Witch was, you’ll wanna keep an eye open for that.

Also Brand Gamblin’s The Hidden Institute is still looking for an audience. Steampunky with a lot of social commentary, I still can’t recommend it highly enough.

Last but not least, don’t forget D.A. Boulter’s The Courtesan. It’s been doing very well in Kindle sales lately and his fantasy book The Steadfasting was a joy – very much in the flavor of Ravenwood in terms of common people caught up in magic and the fantasy quest.

I need to get back to work now, but I wanted to let you know what’s happening here.

Safe voyage.

In case anybody wants to know where to find me this weekend, here’s the list of panels and activities I’m scheduled for. There’ll be unscheduled ones, too.

5/27/11 7:00 PM Room: Chesapeake Track: New Media

Podiobooks Free Serial Audio
Free audiobooks that are worth it

Let’s face it, most free stuff is crap. However, Podiobooks.com stands out as a gem among the poo. Find out about the authors on podiobooks.com that you know and the ones you don’t who have chosen to release some of their works for free.

5/28/11 7:00 PM Room: Chesapeake Track: New Media

Creating The Brand
Crafting a Recognizable Presence for Your Podcast

Our panel of professionals take you through the perilous journey of creating a concrete presence for their podcasts. Learn what you’ll need, who to hire and what questions to ask. Formulate a sensible budget for your story and create a brand that will attract more listeners than ever before.

5/28/11 8:00 PM Room: Derby Track: New Media

Making Stories Worth Hearing

It’s been over six years since the first podiobook appeared on the internet, and in that time, audio fiction has exploded into a variety of styles and formats. Authors have grappled with the often conflicting demands of story, serial format, audio presentation and immersion. Having just a good story does not always lead to a good podcast, and while expansive voice casts and custom-composed music can help draw the listener in, they come with their own problems. Join some of the best fiction podcasters as they discuss their solutions to making the written word worth hearing.

5/28/11 9:30 PM Room: Chase Track: Readers

Nathan Lowell — Reading

5/29/11 11:00 AM Room: Maryland Foyer Track: Autographings

Nathan Lowell, Phil Rossi, and Roberta Rogow

Autograph Session

Nathan Lowell and Roberta Rogow Autograph Session

5/29/11 12:00 PM Room: Derby Track: New Media

Book Launch: The Empress Sword

The Empress Sword by Paulette Jaxton is a newly published book from Dragon Moon Press. Come meet the author, hear a reading from the novel, try some Trader’s Stew, refreshments served, games and giveaways.

A brave prince, a ferocious dragon, and a magic sword are all familiar elements of the classic adventure story. But for thirteen-year-old Prince Aster of Caledon, the quest for the Empress Sword — the only magic strong enough to defeat the dragon menacing his kingdom — is just the beginning. Even though the royal sorcerer forbids it, the prince sets out on the epic quest alone with only a stable boy as escort. A chance encounter with a lovely shop girl threatens to send the prince on a different sort of quest, one of the heart, but he perseveres and eventually discovers the sword’s ancient resting place. Aster has always been told that wielding great magic requires a sacrifice, but what the Empress Sword demands from him is the last thing he ever expected to lose: his own identity as crown prince and the king’s only son.

5/29/11 3:00 PM Room: Salon C Track: Publishers (Mini-Program)

Ridan Publishing Presents

The Changing Face of Publishing. Meet publisher Robin Sullivan, along with science fiction writers Nathan Lowell, Mashall Thomas, and best-selling fantasy author Michael Sullivan who will explain how ebook and POD technology is permitting indie authors to earn a living writing full time. All three will be signing books (including the launch of Full Share – the third book in Lowell’s Solar Clipper Series), and answering questions. In addition, there will be plenty of door prizes including book giveaways, T-shirts, and Special Edition Coffee Mugs. Come on by and see how publishing has changed — forever.

5/29/11 6:00 PM Room: Derby Track: New Media

Tech for Writers

Does anyone else find it peculiar that Science Fiction authors tend to be technophobic? Well, not all authors tend to feel that way. With gadgets, software, and hardware at their disposal, authors are embracing technology that is not only surpassing what the legends were writing about, but helping them be better writers. Find out what tech toys are appealing to writers out there.

5/29/11 10:00 PM Room: Chesapeake Track: New Media

Geek Parenting and New Media

Our panel of geek parents chime in with their thoughts on raising young geeks. What is the right age to show the kids Star Wars? Do you show them all 6 or only the good ones. What websites are good and safe for kids at what age? How do you teach your kids about Internet privacy? How do you prepare them for “Greifers” on gaming systems? When is it OK for them to use their real name?

5/30/11 10:00 AM Room: Salon C Track: Literary

Network vs Platform: Can you tell them apart?

Most authors know they need to develop a platform but many seem to be building networks instead. Knowing the difference can help sell books. This panel will discuss the difference and explore the opportunities that social media tools provide to foster both.