Archive for November, 2009
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Home From Orycon!
And back to work already!
I’ve tidied my house a bit, paid all my bills, organized my afternoon, and decided to make a quick post before settling into my writing for the day.
Orycon offered me the chance to connect with many friends I haven’t seen in years. I said hi to some, glimpsed even more in the halls, and actually managed to have one or two conversations with old friends. Odd to think that the more we change, the more we stay the same, and that I’ve been running into these friends at conventions for over two decades now!
In good news, I had a bit of a chat with Rebecca Neason. I was sad to hear she’d been ill and that was why I hadn’t seen her in so long, and glad to hear that she is better and about to take up her pen again. Well, about to start rattling her keyboard is a better way to say it I’ve always enjoyed the meticulous historical accuracy in her posts so I’ll look forward to her next effort.
I had flyng glimplses of Louise Marley, and found and bought an omnibus edition of her Nevya stories from Patrick Swenson who was manning the Talebones/ Fairwood Press booth in the dealer’s room. Got a virtual hug from Elizabeth Ann Scarborough via Lea Day, and had a fleeting connection with Lenora Rainlee Good. Lady Jayne and Conrad were there with books; we need to actually meet for coffee in Tacoma sometime. Ditto for Michal Ehart. Conventions can be so frustrating; so many old friends and mostly just quick ‘hellos’ in passing. And I’m going to stop dropping names now, as it’s beginning to sound like a who’s who of Pacific Northwest SF. David, Jerry, Amy, Mary, Almalinda . . . . Well, I just wish I’d had more time to chat with anyone.
New friends? Well, I got to know Almalinda much better as she helped us out in hospitality. And I met a wonderful couple, Chris and Sara who are just venturing into writing. Had a great time with Ben and Norita of ZOE, with finally the opportunity for some real conversation. And seeing Molly again was just great. She really needs to come visit us in Tacoma.
I actually went to bed fairly early both nights I was at the convention, making me wonder if my sleep schedule is just too out of sync with conventions for me to attend them anymore!
The convention attracted far more members than were expected. Hotel staff at the Doubletree were great, so many thanks to them. I did stop and put in a ‘feedback’ form to give them all ’10’s for what the did.
Thanks to the concom folks also. I always think they are under-thanked for all they do to put on these great parties for all of us.
But, well, Party is Over! And it’s back to work time for me!
Robin
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Signed Copies of Dragon Keeper
I know, it’s not out yet. It won’t be published until January in the US.
However, if I waited until then to pass this on, it might be too late. So, for those of you who collect signed first editions, here is the information.
My friend, Shawn Speakman, runs a site called the Signed Page. http://www.signedpage.com/authors/hobb-keeper.html
For the price of the book, you can get a signed, or even a personalized and signed book. (It’s not just Robin Hobb books, by the way. Shawn has a lot of authors who do this with him. Terry Brooks. Brandon Sanderson. Brian Herbert and Kevin Anderson. Go take a look.
Here’s how it works. You order a book from Shawn, pay for it and let him know what you want written in it. A simple signature? Signature and date? To Josephine, best wishes, signature? It’s up to you. Shawn orders the books, I go to his apartment, sign the books, and he ships them, carefully packaged, on to you.
So there it is. Just a reminder!
Robin
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November Updates
Welcome to the November News-Letter from Robin Hobb
Welcome!
Well, October and Halloween are behind us here. Meant to get this out November 1st, but here it is the 4th already. I hope everyone in the US found their ways to the polls and voted!
Book and Publication News
Italian rights to Shaman’s Crossing have been sold to Fanucci Publishing. The paperback edition of Fool’s Fate is out and about by now.
Indonesian Rights to The Farseer Trilogy have been sold to Matahati Publishing.
In Mainland China, The Soldier Son Trilogy will be coming out soon from China Woman publishing.
Upcoming Stuff
I just did an on-line interview with Randolph Carter of http://grindingtovalhalla.wordpress.com/ Visit his site to read it. If you enjoy gaming in any of its multitudinous forms, or reading in-depth author interviews, don’t delay in visiting the site. He asks good questions!
Look for Eos Books to bring out the US hardback edition of Dragon Keeper, book one of The Rain Wilds Chronicles in January of 2010. And here you may see the cover.
http://harpercollins.com/books/9780061561627/Dragon_Keeper/index.aspx
In early January, visit Coffee Time Books (http://www.coffeetimeromance.com/) for an advance review of the US edition of Dragon Keeper. (I’ll keep putting this reminder up until it’s actually there!
In January, Seattle and Tacoma University Book Stores will celebrate the 110th anniversary of their founding. They were created as a student co-op to get textbooks. Pretty cool! In honor of the anniversary, they have invited some authors to submit 110-word stories. The stories will be published in a booklet entitled 1-10-110. People purchasing a volume by one of the contributing authors will receive a copy for free. Celebrate in January 2010 with University Book Store.
Personal Appearances
Portland DoubleTree Hotel at Lloyd Center
1000 NE Multonah Street
Portland, Oregon 97232
November 27-29
The writer guest of honor is
Patricia Briggs!
You are running out of time if you want to buy your membership online. You can still get a great deal ($60) until November 15. The hotel block closes November 6, however.
Below is the schedule for the panels I will be on. I hope to see some of you there.
Fri Nov 27 12:00:pm
"I have a story idea, where do I start?"
Madison Room
Beginnings, middles and endings. Characters and situations. What is required to translate your great idea into a real story.
David D. Levine, Mary Robinette Kowal, Mary Rosenblum/Mary Freeman, Robin Hobb
Fri Nov 27 3:00:pm
"Alternate History Fantasy?"
Multnomah
Fantasy is often written in a pseudo-medieval society. Some authors bring freshness to the setting by traveling the world, while others go backward, or forward, in time or just adopt technology or lack thereof on a secondary world. Lace and blade, prehistoric, and other choices in fantasy, and how magic fits in, if it even has to at all.
M.K. Hobson, Alma Alexander, Michael Ehart, Robin Hobb, John P. Alexander
Fri Nov 27 8:00:pm
"Proofreading, Smoofreading: Copy Editors Untie!"
Hamilton
Inconsistencies, plot holes, typos. Are books being proofread anymore before going into print? Was the author not careful or did the errors get inserted? Everyone wants to look good in print. Get the skinny on how things go bad.
Robin Hobb, Deb Taber, A.M. Dellamonica, Kristin Landon
Sat Nov 28 12:00:pm
"Building a balanced mythos"
Roosevelt
How to balance the mortal, immortal, mythical, legendary and cultural elements when world building.
Lou Anders, Mary Robinette Kowal, Alma Alexander, Rebecca Neason, Robin Hobb
Sun Nov 29 12:00:pm
"Theme"
Roosevelt room
What is theme? How do you develop theme in your writing, or should you even try? For the sake of future graduate students studying your brilliant prose, learn about this often-neglected aspect of storytelling.
Robin Hobb, Marilyn Holt, A.M. Dellamonica, Bill Johnson, Kristin Landon, Karen L. Azinger
Sun Nov 29 1:00:pm
"That’s gotta hurt!"
Idaho room
Why wounding, maiming and torturing your characters is good, and why it should be done often.
Robin Hobb, Pat MacEwen, Judith R. Conly, Rhea Rose, Phoebe Kitanidis
Not on this schedule is my secret plot to take over Hospitality (the free food room at Orycon) from 2 to 4 on Saturday. Ben Dobyns, owner of Zoe, a Seattle based production company will also be on hand, as well as the ever gracious Askable Kat. You may recognize Ben Dobyn’s name from Dead Gentlemen (http://deadgentlemen.com/) producers of the cult hit movie The Gamers and Dorkness Rising. Visit http://www.myspace.com/deadgentlemen for a free sample. And if you plan on attending Orycon, do drop in on Saturday to say hi, look at our film stuff, and have some tea with us!
I’ll also be contributing a nice shopping tote of books and things for the convention auction. Every year, Orycon puts on the Susan C. Petrey Auction to raise funds for Clarion scholarships. Read about it here: http://www.osfci.org/petrey/
What is Clarion? A wonderful workshop for would be writers of SF. http://www.clarionwest.org/
For six weeks, aspiring writers live away from home in a writing intense atmosphere. Each week is taught by a different instructor drawn from the SF/ fantasy professionals.
Miscellaneous Bits
I will be attending Rustycon 27 on January 15, 16, and 17, at the SeaTac Marriott Hotel. Guest of Honor is James P. Blaylock. This is the same hotel that was used for SteamCon, and once again, the convention will have a Steam Punk theme. I’m looking forward to those gorgeous hall costumes again. http://www.rustycon.com/
You can still buy a $45 membership until November 29th! That’s a very good deal! If you hurry, you may still be able to get a room at the convention hotel, too.
When I know my panel schedule, I’ll put it in a newsletter.
And, of course, in conjunction with the January publication of Dragon Keeper I will be doing a localized book tour. Here’s the skeleton list. I’ll fill it out with details as the dates get closer.
January 26 7PM The Release of DRAGON KEEPER in the US! The party is at University Bookstore in the Seattle University District.
January 29 7PM Powell’s Books in Beaverton, Oregon.
January 30 2PM Barnes and Noble on Black Lake Blvd. in Olympia Washington has invited me to come by and sign some books.
Feb. 6 Noon. For the first time ever, I get to sign on Fort Lewis! I’ll be at Building 528 on Pendleton Avenue.
Far distant future department:
Tentatively, I’ll be at Imaginales in Epinal France in 2011.
It’s our tenth anniversary, so I’m looking forward to getting back to my French hometown and see all my friends again!My current read
Boneshaker by Cherie Priest
Concise Review: Still reading. Big YES so far.
Upcoming Appearances
- 04/22/11 - 04/24/11 in in Mons, Belgium at
Trolls & Legendes - 05/26/11 - 05/29/11 in in Epinal, France at
Imaginales - 06/11/11 - 06/13/11 in in Saint-Malo, France at
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