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
By the way, this myspace Robin Hobb http://www.myspace.com/robinhobb1991
is not me. Sorry to disappoint anyone. J
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 theUS 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 ..ke..ep 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
OryCon 31
Portland DoubleTree Hotel at Lloyd Center
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.
Friday, November 27 12 to 1 PM. Madison Room
“I Have a Story Idea. Where do I Start?”
Beginnings, middles and endings. Characters and situations. What is required to translate your great idea into a real story.
Panelists: David D. Levine, Mary Robinette Kowal, Mary Rosenblum/Mary Freeman, Robin Hobb
Friday, Nov. 27 ..3 to 4 PM.. Multnomah Room
“Alternate History Fantasy”
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.
Panelists: M.K. Hobson, Alma Alexander, Michael Ehart, Robin Hobb, John P. Alexander
Saturday, Nov. 28
“Building a Balanced Mythos”
How to balance the mortal, immortal, mythical, legendary and cultural elements when world building
Panelists: Lou Anders, Mary Robinette Kowal, Alma Alexander, Rebecca Neason, Robin Hobb
Sunday, Nov. 29 12 to 1 PM Roosevelt Room
“Theme”
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
Panelists: Robin Hobb, Marilyn Holt, A.M. Dellamonica, Bill Johnson, Kristin Landon, Karen L. Azinger
Sunday, Nov. 29 1 to 2 PM Idaho Room
“That’s Gotta Hurt”
Why wounding, maiming and torturing your characters is good, why it should be done often.
Panelists: 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 s..ke..leton 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 La..ke.. 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.