Trader’s Diary

Comment from Anne
Time: July 15, 2008, 4:34 am

I thought Miss Jaxton was Julia or Juliette rather than Paula or Paulette. Perhaps the name changed at some point during the writing process?

Comment from Nate
Time: July 15, 2008, 5:21 am

Right you are! Thanks for catching it.

Comment from Anne
Time: July 15, 2008, 11:06 am

Obviously this a silly question, but how do you decide on the ethnicity of names? You mention several times that a certain person does not resemble a Xin Xhang for instance, and in an earth based universe that would make a lot of sense. Do you retain some sense of earth heritage from some fairly distant past that defines naming rituals? I would imagine over several centuries naming cultures would evolve on planets separately from earlier earth ethnicity. Not a complaint, I am just interested.

Comment from Nate
Time: July 15, 2008, 11:12 am

Well, it’s only 250 years in the future … this whole diaspora is relatively new and racial genomes are easier to erase than cultural stereotypes.

As for the naming — my vision is that certain people settle in various places. The Scot-Irish-English influence is pretty strong across the Diurnia quadrant with some pockets of other heritage. In the Diurnia quadrant we have a strong Latin influence with a strong oriental influence.

And I just get a little silly sitting around making up names so they get a bit .. strange …

Comment from Anne
Time: July 15, 2008, 11:16 am

interesting, thanks.

Comment from The Bee Lady
Time: July 16, 2008, 7:36 am

Thanks so much for posting the roster. I know this is an “audible” universe, but I do much better at remembering who is who when I can see the names at least once. Giving someone with an Asian name red hair and freckles helps me remember who is who, too. It also helps to see exactly who supervises who, as that helps the logic of the story stay in place. You left one off, though. Took me a very long time to figure out who “Billy” is. :-p If I were reading this straight through, instead of listening in pieces, I still would be imagining these people in my head – but this really helps!

Looking forward to seeing Ish solve this puzzle!

Comment from Nate
Time: July 16, 2008, 9:47 am

I can’t wait to find out how it ends myself!

Oh, wait …

Comment from The Bee Lady
Time: July 19, 2008, 8:07 pm

Nathan – So, how did you like the ending? I loved it! One thing though. 9 minutes into episode 25, David became Daniel. I know he was a changed man, but that’s a bit more than you meant, right?
And, last for today – do you see the Deep Dark through Ishmael’s eyes, or does he see it through your mind’s eye?

Comment from David
Time: July 21, 2008, 12:45 pm

Another excellent story Nathan! Your first person perspective on the story makes for a refreshing change. Your stories make one wish to be 250 years in the future, riding ships in the Deep Dark. I find myself listening to all the stories over and over, and passing them on to my friends. Please keep up the great work!

Comment from Andreas
Time: July 23, 2008, 10:25 pm

I was surprised to hear a familiar name for the Spec/3 Power! Is she any relations to the first queen of Morevi? Or is it coincidental?

(http://www.teemorris.com/morevipodcast/the-cast)

Comment from Nate
Time: July 23, 2008, 10:32 pm

One and the same. i don’t know if she knows she’s in my book tho

Comment from Maria
Time: July 29, 2008, 4:40 pm

I’m not quite through yet, just a few more eps to go and I’m already dreading the end and anticipating some pretty horrific Ish withdrawals. I just wanted to commend you, from the perspective of a rape survivor, on how you wrote those parts. It was just enough detail to horrify without going overboard.

I’m also a huge fan of your turn-of-phrase ability. For example “She looked like a cat full of canary”. Excellent!

Comment from Nate
Time: July 29, 2008, 5:02 pm

Thanks, Maria. These are not trivial subjects and I tried very hard to treat them respectfully. Your feed back means a lot.

I have great fun messing with expectations on the phrasings … when I wrote that one I had an odd mental picture of a unit of measure — One Catfull. Which took me immediately into a darker measurement involving fractional cats. It wasn’t pretty.

Comment from Jason
Time: July 30, 2008, 2:25 pm

First off, excellent job on Double share! My wife and I recently took a road trip from the Seattle area to Salt Lake City, she had never listened to any of your work, and as we got closer to our destination she begged and pleaded me to take detours and scenic routes to keep on listening So, thank you so much for the world you’ve created to entertain! You have an old and new fan, in Washington, and we’ll keep spreading the word. Oh, and keep ‘em comin!

Comment from Digamma
Time: August 4, 2008, 1:41 pm

After enjoying the first three, Double Share got off to a bumpy start for me with the Off-Story cleanup from Full-Share. And The Parting from Bev was a little disappointing. But, Once it got started I enjoyed the story just as much. Ish’s as the great white hope while predictable was enjoayble as it didn’t go too overboard. The ending was cute as it turns out the Captain was at least partially right about why Ish was there(even though Ish didn’t know it.). More Ish Tales please or at least a cameo passing the torch to the new person.

Comment from Nate
Time: August 4, 2008, 2:01 pm

We’re not done with Ishmael yet.

And we haven’t even begun exploring the opportunities of economy as plot device

Comment from Ari B.
Time: August 14, 2008, 9:06 am

I just listened to chapter 18 on my way to work today, and damned near fell out of my seat on the subway when I learned that I’m actually working in the environmental section on the Billy!

Thanks!

Comment from Nate
Time: August 14, 2008, 11:27 am

You’re welcome

Comment from Burlbear
Time: August 17, 2008, 9:55 am

Nate, in the next book, are you going show how Ish earns his second mate and first mated ratings? That would lead to the next book with adventures as captain. I listen to Quarter, Half, Fullshare, and South Coast.
The reason I ask the question is because of his experiences on “Billy”. There has to be more!

Comment from Nate
Time: August 17, 2008, 10:34 am

I dont know yet.

It’s not my intent, but he’s got a mind of his own.

Comment from Brian
Time: August 18, 2008, 11:32 pm

I just want to say these are some excellent books. I have read 4 of the five. Currently starting South Coast. As an over the road truck driver I have listened to many audiobooks. I did notice you used a few other authors names in Double Share, did they know? I have listened to most of there stuff as well… I was surprised that Ish didn’t offer up some of the recordings her made. But then again Ish does think outside the box some days. Keep up the writing. I look forward to the next book.

Comment from Nate
Time: August 19, 2008, 5:17 am

Most of them know.

Comment from Quonundrum
Time: September 23, 2008, 2:50 pm

Nate, Your books are terrific and I feel very connected with the stories of Ishmael. I have corresponded with you about my grandfather. I am listening to the stories again and it feels like coming home. I hope that you will do more, but I am curious; what would you like to do next?

Comment from Nate
Time: September 23, 2008, 2:58 pm

Next up is finish the “Sekrit Projekt” .. in November I’m planning Cape Grace for NaNoWriMo, and it looks like Captain’s Share and Owner’s Share get pushed into next year. :\

Comment from PattyB
Time: September 26, 2008, 7:49 pm

Even though I’m sure everyone is upset that you won’t be getting to captain’s share and owner’s share for a while…just to hear that they are planned makes me have something to look foward to. I devourered Double Share in a weekend and I’ve listened to the other books 4-5 times each since I downloaded them. They are the only books that have a permanent place on my ipod!

Comment from Steve
Time: October 14, 2008, 2:47 am

All I Can say is a big THANK YOU and congratulations!! I am a 50+ year aussie (atypical though) and I was greatly impressed and really moved to laughter and tears by your writing. This is some of the most amazing material that I have ever heard.

Congratulations – I think that your work is as good as, if not better than Heinlein at his best! Really inspiring and encouraging for ‘ordinary folk’ to listen to. I have just fininshed listening to all of the “Share” books and will listen to them again/

I have had an amazing roller coaster ride. Laughing at the ‘mateship’ while being genuinely moved at Ishmael’s grief over leaving the Lois. Your writing in the last episode of “Full Share” is some of the most moving and honest writing of emotions that I have heard (I had to keep reminding myself – “It’s just a book!” – but WHAT a book!). I suppose that you have been around a bit, like I have, and that you can fully understand, feel and know what genuine loss is all about. Anyway it shows through here.

Thanks again for your excellent podioboooks – you have also inspired me to take up the challenge of writing.

Comment from Nate
Time: October 14, 2008, 4:47 am

Thanks, Steve! And good luck with your efforts! The world needs more podiobooks!

Comment from Robert Bayless
Time: October 20, 2008, 7:30 pm

Nate… I can’t tell you how surprised I was when I listened to Double Share for the first time and there was Bayless skulking out of officer country. I know there are a few of us around, but it was still amusing. I love the books and go back to all 5 of them every couple of months for another round. Thanks for the great entertainment and please keep it coming.

Comment from Billy Uno
Time: March 11, 2009, 9:44 am

Hey Nate. I’ve very much enjoyed listening to these stories, and in the last one here I really kinda missed some of the previous characters, but overall it’s been very good. However I do have some questions about some dangling plot threads. Did anything useful come out of Ish’s recordings? What were the Captain and David Burnside talking about when Ish left the inducer on? What was going on with Simon and Bayless in the cabin? I was really interested in all these things, and nothing ever came about from them.

Anyway, thanks!

Comment from Nate
Time: March 11, 2009, 3:45 pm

Anything useful from the recordings? No. At some point I’ll post the transcript. You’ll be disappointed.

The Simon and Bayless plot is actually in there. You’ll have to listen again.

Comment from Skoota Hamilton
Time: March 13, 2009, 4:21 am

I just finished this marvelous book. The only disappopintment is that it FINISHED. I can’t wait for more

Comment from Michael
Time: June 12, 2009, 11:20 pm

Mr. Lowell,
Were Simon, Bayless, and Capt. Rossett lovers? Or did the Captain order them into his cabin for that purpose? I’ve gathered that that’s true, but i can’t help but beg the question.

Thank you,
Michael

Comment from Nate
Time: June 13, 2009, 5:50 am

Very good question.

Comment from Robert Escamilla
Time: February 27, 2010, 3:02 am

Nate, I very much enjoyed your audiobooks. My wife and I were planning a fun drive to the hills and I was rather disappointed when she pulled out her iPod. However, we were both so engrossed with the story, we found ourselves really connected by it. We just sat, hand-in-hand listening to Ish have his adventures while we drove to our winter get-away. Your story added to the wonderful experience of a great ski trip and vacation from our everyday routine. I’m very much looking forward to Half Share and our next trip together.