Future Creations

The New Year is right around the corner, so I've been going over my plans for 2007. I'm not going to make any new resolutions, but continue with the gradual changes I've been making for the last couple of years: stay on a heart-healthy diet, exercise daily, eliminate material things I don't need, and keep things simple and minimal.

One of the arty stuff catalogs I get in the mail had a plaque in it with a quote from artist and author Sandra Magsamen: "The best way to predict your future is to create it." I liked that so much that I taped those words to my work monitor for the new year.

What words, plans or goals are you taking with you into 2007? Share them with us in comments to this post by midnight EST on Sunday, December 31st, 2006. I will draw one name from everyone who participates and send the winner a signed copy of my January release Plague of Memory by S.L. Viehl, along with unsigned copies of some of my favorite novels of 2006: Closer by Jo Leigh, Tied to the Tracks by Rosina Lippi, Talyn by Holly Lisle, Shadow Touch by Marjorie M. Liu, Tripping to Somewhere by Kristopher Reisz, and Bound by Sasha White. Giveaway open to everyone on the planet, even if you've won something here at PBW in the past.

Twelve Reasons

The winner of the PBW's Eleven giveaway is Joyce, whose comment started with Patti O'Shea - read her first then got into her blog... and who should e-mail me at LynnViehl@aol.com with your full name and ship-to info so I can get these books out to you.

Tonight my dining room table is stacked with books I must ship, wrap, shelve, or sign and send to Mom. This will be daily duty for another couple of days, and a happy one. One more stop to make at the bookstore for some gift cards, and then I'll have finished my shopping for now. I'm already thinking what books I can buy for my daughter's upcoming birthday. I'm pretty sure that Kate DiCamillo has a new book out, and I think she'd enjoy some of Judy Blume's titles.

Some folks have asked why I give away so many books. Aside from the fact that it's fun, books are what we writers read, enjoy, anticipate, search for, collect, appreciate, ponder, pass along, discuss, analyze, fight for, and believe in. To us and our readers, books are like dreams we can hold in our hands. They're constant, uncomplaining companions who will go practically anywhere with us. To be able to write them is a privilege. So is sharing them.

I give books to everyone in my life. Under the tree this year will be novels by Jack London, Robert Louis Stevenson, P. L. Travers and Laura Ingalls Wilder, a guitar how-to guide, a collection of e.e.cummings, some art history books (my idea) and some guides on how to draw Manga (my teenager's idea.) While none of the books I buy as gifts have buttons, can be plugged in, make sound or come with their own collectible action figures, my kids still ask for them -- often by title -- every year. Take that, Nintendo.

I've had a blast over the last twelve days, and I thank all of you for joining in and posting so many great comments.

I have one more author/book story to tell you. The very first erotica book I ever read was one I picked up on a whim while out Christmas shopping. I bought it to see what the genre was all about, and picked the title because the author's name was Emma Holly (which sounded appropriately seasonal.) I have fairly decent luck finding good authors with this method, but Emma Holly's work proved to be so exceptional that it blew me away. Based on the strength of that one novel, I bought up her entire backlist. I've also bought everything she's written since.

From paranormal historicals to steampunk romantica to contemporary erotica, Emma Holly's range keeps expanding and providing readers with a terrific variety of novels every year. She's got a very distinct voice and style that stands out whatever she writes. I also can't think of a better author to warm up someone on a cold night, so I'm making All U Can Eat by Emma Holly the twelfth very cool hot book of December.

For a chance to win today's giveaway, in comments to this post name a favorite author you found by happy accident (or, if you're not accident-prone, just throw your name in the hat) by midnight EST on December 16, 2006. I'll draw one name from everyone who participates and send the winner unsigned copies of All U Can Eat, The Demon's Daughter and Prince of Ice by Emma Holly and Talyn by Holly Lisle. I will also send you the very first print copy of my January '07 release, Plague of Memory (and thanks again to my very kind editor for providing the early copy for the giveaway.) Giveaway open to everyone on the planet, even if you've won something here at PBW in the past.

PBW's Eleven

The winner of the No Thanks Ten giveaway is Paula, whose comment read Porcelain or whatnot figurines. I don't have enough shelf space as it is, I'm too lazy to dust them, and I'm not fond of them anyway (a woman after my own heart.) Paula, please e-mail me at LynnViehl@aol.com with your full name and ship-to info so I can get these books out to you.

Writers who blog were once rare creatures. I got started back in 2001, when weblogs in general were just beginning to snowball. In those days web sites, newsgroups and discussion boards were considered much more the thing for an author to do. I did the web site and had some fun with that, but I've been keeping journals since 1974, and a blog appealed to me as fun and a steady writing challenge. I've been blogging almost daily ever since (even when I retreated to my ivory tower in 2003 to sulk for eleven months, I still kept an online journal. I just moved and renamed it and didn't tell anyone about it.)

I try to read as many new or new-to-me writers as I can every year, but because I read all genres it's impossible to keep up with everyone out there. Luckily weblogs have introduced me to folks whom I might have otherwise missed. Many of these have added great books to my shelves, inspired me to work harder on my own novels, and have motivated me, entertained me and got me in gear when I felt depressed or apathetic.

Among the many, some shining examples:

1. I think I missed reading Douglas Clegg because his books were probably shelved either in horror or literary, two places I usually avoid at the book store. Since he now takes up a good chunk of my keeper shelf, I am pathetically grateful I found him via blogging.

2. & 3. I discovered Donna Hill via Monica Jackson. Monica talked openly about disturbing things that for years I'd been watching RWA sweep under the carpet or pretend wasn't happening. Donna's work was a cache of jewels in a puzzle box. Monica was an epiphany online and in print.

4. I finally met another author who quilted when I ran into Tamara Siler Jones online, and then discovered the nice quilting lady also wrote dark, intense mysteries with the most unique setting and cast of characters I'd seen in a long time.

5. & 6. Alison Kent had one of the most energetic and polished blogs I'd ever read, and in turn led me to Jo Leigh, who is truly one of the nicest authors I've (virtually) met, and who got me back to reading category romance. So where were you guys when I belonged to RWA?

7. Marjorie M. Liu I had seen on the lists, but the down-to-earth fun contained in her journal convinced me to overcome my aversion to Clarion alumni and give her books a go. She not only turned me into a fangirl, but now I have to take back all the bad things I've said about Clarion.

8. Kristopher Reisz's weblog has made me laugh so hard I almost dislocated a rib, multiple times. Given his blog, how could I resist his work in print?

9. I don't think Shannon Stacey knows it, but her weblog is the reason I enabled comments on PBW (now she'll drive herself crazy wondering why.) She reminded me daily that it's okay to be who you are and not to sweat the small stuff. She's also one hell of a writer.

10. Sasha White's blog reminded me of my nefarious youth (among other things, I once moonlighted as a bartender.) In the south we'd describe Sasha's books by fanning ourselves and uttering two words: Have mercy.

11. Last but not least, James R. Winter snagged my attention with a comment on another blog (a comment that I wished I'd made); I tracked him down to see what else he had to say. Not one to suffer fools, is our pal James. I like that attitude in the fiction I read, and when I bought his book I wasn't disappointed for a moment.

I know for a fact how much work goes into being a writer who blogs, and how little that effort is recognized and appreciated. For the many hours of reading pleasure off and online that the above named writers have given me, I'm making them the eleven very cool writers of December.

For a chance to win today's giveaway, in comments to this post name an author/blogger you enjoy reading in print, and whether you discovered their books or weblog first (or, if you don't read any author/bloggers, just throw your name in the hat) by midnight EST on December 15, 2006. I'll draw one name from everyone who participates and send the winner one book by each of my eleven very cool authors: unsigned copies of Mordred, Bastard Son by Douglas Clegg, Getting Hers by Donna Hill, Mr. Right Now by Monica Jackson, Valley of the Soul by Tamara Siler Jones, Beyond a Shadow by Alison Kent, Closer by Jo Leigh, Eye of Heaven by Marjorie M. Liu, Tripping to Somewhere by Kristopher Reisz, Forever Again by Shannon Stacey, Gypsy Heart by Sasha White, Northcoast Shakedown by James R. Winter and Talyn by Holly Lisle. Giveaway open to everyone on the planet, even if you've won something here at PBW in the past.

No Thanks Ten

The winner of the Nine Lives giveaway is Maureen, whose comment read I would say Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen (and I agree, wholeheartedly.) Maureen, please e-mail me at LynnViehl@aol.com with your full name and ship-to info so I can get these books out to you.

After moving my household four times over the last three years, I discovered that I had become a repository for every sort of junk collectible known to man. My mother, the main culprit, initiated things by passing along to me my grandmother's button collection. That wasn't enough, so because I liked to quilt she started a thimble collection for me.

Then a friend got into giving me those pretty ornamental dinner plates you can't eat off but must hang on the wall like art, and a sibling sent me cutesy Christmas ornament series with the numbered boxes, and an aunt decided I could not live without the bug-eyed angel statues that look like albino children with an extra 21st chromosome. Not to mention the bells, spoons, designer-dressed Barbies, salt and pepper shakers, wine glasses and tumblers you get one at a time from a drive-through, etc.

What's bizarre is that the only thing I've ever cared to collect -- books -- no one would give me. By the time I was thirty, though, I could have opened my own Hallmark gift shop and not have needed to buy stock for it.

Finally (purely out of self-defense) I made a gift rule: if I can't eat it, burn it or bathe in it, don't give it to me. This has saved me countless new collections of things someone else just knows I would love to spend days and days boxing up and moving to my next house. But just in case someone has forgotten that rule this year:

Ten More Things I Don't Want for Christmas

1. Anything Made Out of Molded Resin: I already own 72% of all molded resin gift industry products made in the United States, thanks.

2. Champagne and Caviar: I don't drink. Ever. I had caviar once; that was enough. Forever.

3. Cookie Jars: Sorry, but cookies do not survive long enough in this house to make it into storage.

4. Desk Signs: I don't have the desk space to display little stand-up plaques with such witty sayings "Genius in Action!" "Do Not Disturb!" or "Woman at Work!" My new bazooka takes up a lot of room.

5. Diamond Jewelry: I don't like diamonds anyway, but have you seen the latest jewelry being pushed by all the diamond chain companies? This squiggle and a big O are supposed to represent "the journey of love." Yeah? So the fact they look exactly like sperm and ovum is just...coincidence?

6. Gift Certificates to Beauty Salons: I'm silver now. Deal with it.

7. The Purpose-Driven Life: I've actually had three people give me this book already, which I finding rather insulting. Am I running around aimless here?

8. Scrapbooking Kits: Please. What's next, paint-by-numbers? Loop potholders? The Play-Doh Fun Factory? 1001 Things to Make Out of Your Own Drool?

9. TShirts With Pictures of People Taken at Mall Kiosks; I find these moderately creepy, especially when the cheap decal material starts cracking and peeling after so many washes. Then your best friend's smiling six year old looks like Amy The Child Zombie From Hell.

10. Wine: Again, I don't drink, and I read too much Peter Mayle. Any wine that comes into the house goes down the disposal to sanitize it. Think about that before you spend $30 on what will be my new bottle of drain deodorizer.

One thing I did want for myself this year was Stuart MacBride's latest novel, Dying Light. I haven't been able to find a UK bookseller willing to deal with American credit cards and shipping across the pond, and none of my Eurofamily have been over to England to shop for me, so I had to wait until it hit the shelves over here before I could get my hands on it. It's on the top of my TBR pile for after I finish reading the e-book challengers' stories, but I did sneak a peek at the first chapter, which instantly made it the tenth very cool book of December.

For a chance to win today's giveaway, in comments to this post name something you would rather not receive as a gift (or, if you love everything you're given, just throw your name in the hat) by midnight EST on December 14, 2006. I'll draw one name from everyone who participates and send the winner unsigned copies of Dying Light in hardcover by Stuart MacBride and Talyn by Holly Lisle. Giveaway open to everyone on the planet, even if you've won something here at PBW in the past.

Nine Lives

The winner of the Eight Characters giveaway is xmaggiexjanex, who should e-mail me at LynnViehl@aol.com with your full name and ship-to info so I can get these books out to you.

It's assumed that the average life cycle of a book begins when it's created and written by an author, then printed by a publisher, sold by a bookseller and finally either bought by a reader or stripped and destroyed. Given the ever-decreasing shelf life and sales of books, people outside the industry often wonder why we writers even bother.

They don't know it, but books, like babies, bees and the brain have secret lives. Being written and sold is only the beginning for a book. Like cats with nine lives, books are hard to get rid of or control once they're set free. Readers rarely destroy them, so a sold book can expect to join personal collection, become part of a public library or be passed along to another reader. Books are carried around the world by folks on airplanes and ships, into combat by soldiers, imported and exported and smuggled across borders, and are routinely passed down through generations.

Books are no longer confined to print or brick-and-mortar libraries, either. On the internet, works in the public domain are being made available to the public via electronic collections of literature like Project Guttenberg and Bartleby.com. You've seen how willing writers are to publish their own works as free e-books. The ease of electronic publishing -- not to mention the infinite number of downloads -- allows any author to go global.

The author rarely if ever knows where their books will go or how many lives they'll have. Lord Byron, for example, had no idea that a collection of his poetry published back in 1860 in England would end up in the collection of a 21st century housewife/novelist. It took 124 years from the day it was printed to make it to the junk shop in California where I found it; there were at least three other owners, judging by the names written on the inside cover. If only the book could talk, imagine the stories it would have to tell.

I send as many books as I can out into the wilderness of the world because, well, I'm obnoxious that way. Along with what I give away here at the blog, I send out books every month to American soldiers stationed in combat zones. One novel that I've been putting in every box of books that I send to Iraq is Tied to the Tracks by Rosina Lippi. Not only because I think it's brilliant, funny and a great story, but because it's a book about home, and what home means. I've been a soldier who was far from home, so I know how important it is to be reminded of that. This and the many secret lives that I think Tied to the Tracks will have is why I'm making it the ninth very cool book of December.

For a chance to win today's giveaway, in comments to this post name the title of a book that you think will have many secret lives (or, if you can't think of any titles, just throw your name in the hat) by midnight EST on December 13, 2006. I'll draw one name from everyone who participates and send the winner unsigned copies of Tied to the Tracks by Rosina Lippi, Into the Wilderness by Sara Donati (Rosina's alter-ego) and Talyn by Holly Lisle. Giveaway open to everyone on the planet, even if you've won something here at PBW in the past.

Eight Characters

The winner of the Seven by George giveaway is leatherdykeuk, who should e-mail me at LynnViehl@aol.com with your full name and ship-to info so I can get these books out to you.

Before I wrote my fourth Darkyn novel, Night Lost, I spent some time creating character journals for eight of the characters in the novel. Writing a journal in character may sound slightly demented, but it's a good way to get into the character's head and get to know them a little better. I have a lot in common soul-wise with Gabriel, the protagonist of the book, and Alexandra, the protagonist of the series, so their personas were the easiest to slip on.

From Alex's character journal: If Michael doesn't show up soon and get me out of here I swear to GOD I am going to kick some immortal high lord ass. Richard is out of his mind if he thinks I'll help him stop what's happening to him. Or maybe I should fix him. I could start feeding him hamster blood. Watch the high lord of the Darkyn run circles in the wheel for the damn portcullis. Michael, where the hell are you?

Gabriel only wanted to write bad poetry in his journal, and I let him. He tended to doodle when the verse got truly pathetic. Michael and Nicola, both veteran schemers, used their pages to outline plans and timelines and stuff. Likewise with Richard and Elizabeth, but they were more on the scary side and I think that's probably the last time I let Richard set up house in my brain for any longer than ten minutes.

The most fun character journals were those I wrote to flesh out suzerain Aedan mac Byrne and his seneschal, Jayr. Although these two only make a cameo appearance in Night Lost, they have a lot of history with each other and the Kyn. I was finally able to get them fully realized in their journals, which helped me a lot with writing the synopsis for their novel, Evermore. All eight of these characters are the reason I'm going to be a total self-promo slut today and deem my upcoming May '07 release Night Lost as the eighth very cool book of December.

For a chance to win today's giveaway, in comments to this post name something you do to get to know your characters better (or, if you don't do anything in particular, just throw your name in the hat) by midnight EST on December 12, 2006. I'll draw one name from everyone who participates and send the winner a signed unbound galley copy of Night Lost, an exclusive sneak preview of Evermore, and Talyn by Holly Lisle. Giveaway open to everyone on the planet, even if you've won something here at PBW in the past.

Monday Ten, Seven by George

The winner of the Six by Six giveaway is Lis, who should e-mail me at LynnViehl@aol.com with your full name and ship-to info so I can get these books out to you.

Ten Things For Holiday Fun

1. Stop three ghosts from scaring the nice kid by playing Casper's Haunted Christmas.

2. Cooking Light magazine's annual cookie countdown is in full swing now, and will even deliver 25 different recipes to your inbox to satisfy your inner cookie monster.

3. Snowdays Create Your Own Snowflake is having a Flake-A-Thon this year; the more snowflakes you create, the more money PopularFront.com will donate to the Salvation Army.

4. Play with Chabad.org's Chanukah Concentration or Dreidel Spin game.

5. Can't figure out what to give Old Uncle Harry, who already has everything? Get some expert advice from FindGift.com's Gift Wizard.

6. For those of you who can't bear to throw them away, Abigail A. Beal's article How to Make Craft Projects Out of Your Christmas Cards.

7. RealSimple.com can help you through those gift-wrapping woes with the tips from their article How to Wrap Anything.

8. East meets west when you play Santa Mah Jong.

9. Barkley Evergreen & Partners's Make-A-Flake is another place to exercise your flake-making skills.

10. On Christmas Eve, watch the big guy in the red suit circle the globe with his reindeer over at NORAD Tracks Santa 2006.

Speaking of fun, I have adored George Carlin since I first heard his Seven Dirty Words routine, which went all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court in 1978 during FCC vs. Pacifica Foundation. Tragically the justices decided once again to stomp all over the Constitution to support the government's censorship of George's routine. Some people have no sense of humor whatsoever.

Over the last couple of years George Carlin has also become an author, hitting the New York Times Bestseller list as hard as he does his audiences with Napalm & Silly Putty and Brain Droppings. God knows we need a little humor during the holidays, so I'm making George's most recent book, When Will Jesus Bring the Pork Chops?, the seventh very cool book of December.

For a chance to win today's giveaway, in comments to this post name something about the holidays that makes you laugh (or, if you find nothing amusing, just throw your name in the hat) by midnight EST on December 11, 2006. I'll draw one name from everyone who participates and send the winner unsigned copies of When Will Jesus Bring the Pork Chops by George Carlin and Talyn by Holly Lisle. Giveaway open to everyone on the planet, even if you've won something here at PBW in the past.

Six by Six

The winner of the Five for Jeanne giveaway is Caroline, whose comment read: Thanks so much for this and for the story of Jeanne. May the holidays land and equally lovely surprise or three on your doorstep, and who should e-mail me at LynnViehl@aol.com with your full name, ship-to info and title of the book you'd like for your bookwish so I can get these all out to you.

Six is a very creative number. A perfect number, when you consider that it is both the sum (1 + 2 + 3) and the product (1 ´ 2 ´ 3) of the first three numbers. The sixth element on the Periodic Table is carbon, without which life as we know it would not exist. There are six spectral colors: red, yellow, orange, green, blue, and violet; and six sides to a cube. Even God was reported to have created Adam on the sixth day (well, nobody's perfect.)

There are always new voices coming out in any genre, but 2006 was a very cool year (because it ends with a six, no doubt):

1. Around this time last December I wrote about one of my favorite authors, Patricia Briggs and her debut urban fantasy Moon Called, which really took off when it was released a few months later. See? I'm not gloating. Much.

2. The beautiful cover art for Marjorie M. Liu's Shadow Touch grabbed my attention in February, but the story delivered so much more, as did the sequels. That and I think Marjorie is just getting warmed up.

3. I was wowed by the great copy for Stephanie Rowe's Date Me, Baby, One More Time in May -- a novel lives up to its copy, too. Delightful.

4. Shiloh Walker, who is always trying to drag me away from the joys of doing laundry, railroaded me with her novel Hunting the Hunter in July. This book is so hot it should burn your fingers when you read it.

5. Nalini Singh got folks all around the blogosphere talking about her September release Slave to Sensation. Beautiful writing, elegant flow, great story.

6. In October I had the pleasure of virtually meeting author Michelle Rowen when she joined in with the e-book challenge, which prompted me track down a copy of her terrific January release Bitten & Smitten. Another reason to love Canada: they have Michelle Rowen.

I enjoyed these books so much that I couldn't choose between them, so the sixth very cool book of December is actually six very cool books.

For a chance to win today's giveaway, in comments to this post tell us the name of an author that you discovered and enjoyed this year (or, if you've not found anyone new to read, just throw your name in the hat) by midnight EST on December 10, 2006. I'll draw one name from everyone who participates and send the winner unsigned copies of Moon Called by Patricia Briggs, Shadow Touch by Marjorie M. Liu, Date Me, Baby, One More Time by Stephanie Rowe, Hunting the Hunter by Shiloh Walker, Slave to Sensation by Nalini Singh, Bitten & Smitten by Michelle Rowen, and Talyn by Holly Lisle. Giveaway open to everyone on the planet, even if you've won something here at PBW in the past.

Five for Jeanne

The winner of the Four Score & Friday 20 giveaway is Amy S., who should e-mail me at LynnViehl@aol.com with your full name and ship-to info so I can get these books out to you.

Something I've always liked about the holidays are surprises. My sister-in-law Jeanne was the mother of five children, and one of the most generous people I've ever known. She loved to throw parties for her kids, grandkids and the rest of the family. Because she worked in hotel catering and was used to cooking for a small army at home, she made even the most ordinary get-together into a banquet.

Twelve years ago this week, Jeanne pulled off the granddaddy of all surprises for me and my husband. She asked me to bring my husband over for his surprise birthday party (and swore me to secrecy), and asked my husband to bring me over for my surprise baby shower (and swore him to secrecy.) We walked into a small riot of his, mine and our friends and family yelling Surprise! Jeanne kept her word to both of us and held two parties simultaneously on either side of the house.

We lost Jeanne to heart disease a few years ago, but I catch a glimpse of her whenever my daughter is happy (she has her aunt's big smile.) Jeanne inspired me to be more giving in my own life, and I never have a party without feeling her there with us, celebrating in spirit. To honor my sister-in-law, and the love and happiness she brought into the lives of so many others, I'm making the fifth very cool book of December the winner's choice.

For a chance to win today's giveaway, in comments to this post tell us the title of the book you most want (or, if you can't think of a title, just throw your name in the hat) by midnight EST on December 9, 2006. I'll draw one name from everyone who participates and give the winner a bookwish* and Talyn by Holly Lisle. Giveaway open to everyone on the planet, even if you've won something here at PBW in the past.

*A bookwish is any book of the winner's choice available for order online and that costs up to a maximum of $30.00 U.S. dollars (I'll cover any additional shipping costs involved.)

Four Score & Friday 20

The winner of the Three Wise Women giveaway is Joely Sue Burkhart, who should e-mail me at LynnViehl@aol.com with your ship-to info so I can get these books out to you.

Having family and friends on both sides of the Atlantic makes the holidays a bit hectic, especially when we try to juggle airport dropoffs and pickups with the seasonal school, church, and neighborhood functions. Then there are the translation duties (Ou sont les toilettes?) the minor culture clashes (your children eat breaded fish with cheese and tartar sauce on a bun? Yes? And they do not puke after? No?) and the occasional wardrobe malfunction (Why can't I sunbathe topless in the yard? Don't Americans like tanned breasts?)

I've celebrated my holidays in a lot of different places, including Lackland AFB during basic training. I'd rather be home with the family than anywhere else, but if I had to spend Christmas elsewhere, it would be near Yosemite National Park in California. Ansel Adams got me hooked on the place with his photographs, and when at last I was able to visit, I saw things that my beach-girl brain almost refused to grasp: waterfalls frozen into ten story-tall crystal sculptures, eternities of trees and silence, and mountains so towering that clouds floated below them.

One of my favorite authors, Peter Mayle, shares that same kind of love for Provence in his books, and has a reprint of A Good Year out this month in the stores. You might notice it because it shows Russell Crowe laughing on the cover; he's playing Max Skinner in the Ridley Scott film based on the Peter's book. I'm sure there will be plenty of hoopla about it because of the movie, but I think the book itself is one of the author's best, which is why it's the fourth very cool book of December.

We're going to do the regular Friday 20 today, so if you'd like a chance to win today's giveaway, in comments to this post ask a writing or publishing-related question as usual (or, if you have none for me today, just name a place other than home where you'd like to spend the holidays) by midnight EST on December 8, 2006. I'll draw one name from everyone who participates and send the winner unsigned copies of A Good Year by Peter Mayle and Talyn by Holly Lisle. Giveaway open to everyone on the planet, even if you've won something here at PBW in the past.

Three Wise Women

The winner of the Two 2 Tango giveaway is Anmada (whose comment started with: Taking a whole weekend to make different kinds of holiday cookies...), and who should e-mail me at LynnViehl@aol.com with your ship-to info so I can get these books out to you.

I was going to write a little post today about the three wise women and their gifts who have helped me most as a writer: my grandmother and her poetry, my mother and her self-discipline, and author Holly Lisle, who has been my friend and mentor since I got into this game. But some interesting e-mail came in about Holly Lisle, Talyn and me, and I thought I should talk about that.

Only on the internet could I be accused of having ulterior motives in giving away another writer's books for free. Yes, rumor has it that my holiday giveaways are all part of a master plan to help Holly Lisle's career. Evidently when you winners get the free copy of Talyn, nanites sprayed on the pages will take over your brain, force you to go out and buy all of Holly Lisle's books, and continue buying Holly Lisle's books forever.

Makes sense. I mean, why else would I give away copies of Talyn? Not because this is happens to be the month that the novel was finally released in mass market, or because I loved it so much I gave away a stack of copies over a year ago when it came out in hardcover, or that the book is dedicated to Sheila Kelly (hey, isn't that my name?), or that I was one of if not the first person who read the book the minute Holly Lisle finished writing it in 2003.

You're right. It has to be the nanite thing.

Anyway, to get back to brainwashing you people, in A Hand to Guide Me, Denzel Washington and 73 other famous folks give credit to the people who have helped and influenced them along the way. Disclaimer: I also have another ulterior motive in giving away this book; the author is donating his proceeds from the book to the Boys & Girls Clubs of America. So you're not just getting a free book, you'll be involved in a hideous plot to donate money to a charity organization for children. That and Denzel Washington's gorgeous face on the cover are what make A Hand to Guide Me my third very cool book of December.

For a chance to win today's giveaway, and have your brain totally under my power, in comments to this post name a person who has had a hand in guiding you (or, if you haven't met that person yet, just throw your name in the hat) by midnight EST on December 7, 2006. I'll draw one name from everyone who participates and send the winner unsigned copies of Denzel Washington's hardcover debut A Hand to Guide Me and Talyn by Holly Lisle. Giveaway open to everyone on the planet, even if you've won something here and been subjected to mind control by PBW in the past.

Two 2 Tango

The winner of the One Very Cool Book giveaway is Bethany K. Warner, who should e-mail me at LynnViehl@aol.com with your ship-to info so I can get this book out to you.

Today I'd like to talk about Alison Kent, one of the hardest-working writers in publishing. Not only does she write a gazillion books a year, but she blogs pretty much daily, designs web sites and blogs for other writers, is active all around the online writing community, teaches online classes, conducts innovative marketing experiments and now she's talking about starting up her AK bookclub again.

I know. I get tired just watching her.

This past September Alison also shared her genre expertise with the very cool TCI Guide to Writing Erotic Romance. What surprised me is how enormously practical and useful the information in the book is, not only for writing in this specific slice of the market, but for writing any type of romance. It's as if she wrote two books in one, which is why this is the second very cool book of December.

For a chance to win today's giveaway, in comments to this post tell us one of your holiday guilty pleasures (or, if you're driven-snow pure, just throw your name in the hat) by midnight EST on December 6, 2006. I'll draw one name from everyone who participates and send the winner unsigned copies of Alison Kent's TCI Guide to Writing Erotic Romance and Talyn by Holly Lisle. Giveaway open to everyone on the planet, even if you've won something here at PBW in the past.

One Very Cool Book

I've gushed before about how much I love Holly Lisle's novel Talyn. It is a masterpiece of world building, writing, and storytelling, and remains the #1 book on my keeper shelf. Let's put it this way: if I were into shrines, I'd build one around this novel.

I wanted to do something a little different for the holidays, so I'm going to borrow the theme from The Twelve Days of Christmas and do it with books instead of birds, pipers, ladies dancing and golden rings. As in, "For the first very cool book of December, PBW gave to me: Talyn by Holly Lisle."

Okay, so the words don't exactly fit the tune. Listen, be grateful I didn't make this a podcast. People pay me not to sing.

For a chance to win today's giveaway, in comments to this post tell us the name of your favorite winter holiday song (or if you don't celebrate a holiday this month, just throw your name in the hat) by midnight EST on December 5, 2006. I'll draw one name from everyone who participates and send the winner an unsigned mass market edition of Talyn by Holly Lisle. Giveaway open to everyone on the planet, even if you've won something here at PBW in the past.

I also have eleven more copies of Talyn to give away in the days ahead, along with some other very cool novels and holiday surprises, so stop in if you get the chance.

Contest Ten

Ten Things to Enter and Win for the Holidays

1. Access Romance is having a whopping 31 straight days of giveaways during the month of December; see contest schedule page for prizes and more details, various deadlines.

2. Author Anna Campbell is giving away an ARC of her next release, Claiming the Courtesan, on her web site contest page. To win, you have to e-mail her the names of the hero and heroine from the book by December 31st (answer is on her books page.)

3. Our blogpal Jean at Rantings and Ravings of an Insane Writer is once more generously giving away a stack of very cool books. And one by me, too. To enter, make up a brief story using words from the titles of the giveaway books and post in comments (read complete details at her place.) Deadline to enter is 8 pm Central US time on Wednesday, December 6th.

4. Over at her newly redesigned, ultraslinky, anything-but-Blah blog, Alison Kent is giving away four of her interlinked novels. To win, leave a comment about your Christmas decorations. Alison will pick her winner on Wednesday, December 6th, at 8:00 p.m.ish central.

5. The Literary Chicks are giving away a prize basket worth $200. Looks like you have to e-mail answers to a list of blog-related questions to enter; winner's name will be drawn on December 20th.

6. Takin' Chances for the Holidays is only one of the books author Monica Jackson is giving away over at her web site. To enter, send her a letter that rings her holiday bells on the linked form with the subject line of Holiday Contest Entry (I love that.) Deadline: not specified, probably December 31st (but I will e-mail and ask and update the post.)

7. For the next twelve days, Paperback Writer (why, that would be me) is giving away The 12 Very Cool Books for December, starting with the mass market release of Talyn by Holly Lisle. To win, all you have to do is leave a comment to giveaway post as usual. For more details, stop in back here tomorrow.

8. Angel with Attitude author Michelle Rowen is giving the winner of her December contest a $50 gift certificate to either B&N.com or Amazon.com; to enter simply fill in the form here to sign up for the contest and her newsletter by midnight EST on December 31st.

9. Mary Stella is putting her money where her mouth is by giving away five copies of Lori G. Armstrong's Hallowed Ground. All you need do to win is leave your e-mail in comments to the post (or e-mail your addy to Mary); she'll be picking her winners on December 8th.

10. The ladies over at WriteMinded are having twelve days of daily giveaways from December 4-15; see blog for details and deadlines.

If you are holding a book giveaway at your web site or blog for the holidays and want to post a link in comments, please do.

World Check

On Friday Tamith asked some interesting questions about world building:

I don't know if this has been asked before, but how much world-building do you recommend someone do before they get into a novel? I'm fleshing out a YA Fantasy, and I'm not sure if I should have all the details in place beforehand, or make things up on an as-need basis. Or should just being aware of character motivation be my main concern? What do you usually do?

What I usually do is fast but thorough. My writing schedule doesn't allow me the luxury of spending years in the construction phase of world building, so I build rapidly. I also like to know more about my world than the reader ever will, so I always build more than I spell out in the novel.

I make the time constraint and my need-to-know work together by taking only what I need from essential research sources and convert it into a cohesive, precise outline versus detail mapping or writing out tons and tons of research notes from nine hundred different sources that I then have to reread and condense in my head before I write. Think fast, bold strokes (and this approach will probably not work for all world builders, especially indecisive or organic writers.)

Here's my checklist for any world building, regardless of genre:

I. Define your world

a. Name the present age or time period
b. Review or invent the history for your world
b. Review or create the major sentient players, their origins, history, cultures and language
c. Work out the major players' habitats and socio-political status
d. Review or invent this time period's major conflict(s), encumbrance(s) and achievement(s) as they relate to your major players
e. Review or invent a biosphere and name your major flora, fauna and climate conditions as they relate to your major players
f. Define what technologies (real or magic) are available and who uses them
g. Chart the timeline of the your story plot in how it affects this world

II. Define your protagonist

a. Create a personal profile: name, description, personal history, relatives, current life situation, strengths, flaws, etc.
b. Outline how your protagonist relates to his world as relevant to the story
c. Outline how your protagonist relates to the other characters in the story
d. Outline how your protagonist reacts and responds to the conflict in the story

III. Define your antagonist

(same as the protag)

IV. Define your support cast

a. Create a simple profile for each of the secondary characters
b. Define your cast as to how they relate to your protagonist and antagonist and their own corner of this world.
c. Outline a simply timeline of what each secondary character does in the story

V. Detailing

a. Select and develop a reasonable number of the major players' most interesting cultural aspects to highlight in the story
b. List the most obvious similarities and contrasts between this world and ours to highlight in the story
c. Define your characters' most unique personal quality/qualities to highlight in your characterizations

How much is enough?

How detailed you want to get with your world building is really up to you, but try to make your building fit naturally. The authors who build the best worlds are the ones you never notice doing it (and I've got a list of books below of writers who are masters at this.) Don't feel compelled to give up world building aspects that you love just because they're not on my checklist, either. If you're able to relate your vision of your world to the reader without drowning them in floods of infodumps, go for it.

As for me, probably the most reliable resource I've used is my own knowledge of history and biology through reading nonfiction. Once you've studied enough real civilizations, cultures and species you get a feel for what you need to make the ones that inhabit your worlds more believable.

Books I recommend as superlative examples of world building:

Valley of Horses by Jean M. Auel
The Ice People by René Barjavel, translated by Charles Lam Markmann (in French, La Nuit des Temps)
Mordred, Bastard Son by Douglas Clegg
Talyn and Diplomacy of Wolves by Holly Lisle
Kingdom of the Wall and Man in the Maze by Robert Silverberg

Related Links:

Astrofantasy's step-by-step online tutorial Create a Fantasy World.

Tina Morgan's article The Ethics of Worldbuilding

Holly Lisle's Questions about World Building page and How Much of My World Do I Build workshop (Tamith, if my checklist doesn't work for you, Holly's workshop may be just the thing you need.)

SpecFicWorld's World Building Resource Links page

A transcription of a World Building 101 panel with Robert R. McCammon and Jennifer Roberson

Steven Swiniarski's WorldBuilding: Constructing a SF Universe

Friday 20

First up: the winners of the Tied to the Tracks giveaway are:

MiaZ

Dean

Joy (who picked Talyn by Holly Lisle, as the comment profile link doesn't want to work for me.)

Winners, please send your full name and ship-to address to me at LynnViehl@aol.com so I can get these books out to you, and my thanks to everyone who joined in sharing the people and books that teach, wow and comfort them.

A couple of new visitors have e-mailed asking what's the deal about Fridays here at the blog. This is a weekly feature we started doing here a few months back; each Friday you can post writing- or publishing-related questions for me in comments. I'll answer them to the best of my ability, or at least give you an opinion or refer you to a better source if I don't have an answer. I don't enforce the 20 questions limit unless I'm swamped or in the midst of a hurricane.

Debby's still out in the Atlantic, so any questions for me this week?

VW#4

Sorry I've been scarce, folks. Real life snarled this time instead of the usual techno tangles, but all is well and back to what passes for normal around here.

The winner for the VB Party Left Behind Goody Bag is Monica, who should e-mail me at LynnViehl@aol.com with your full name and ship-to address.


Virtual Workshop #4:
Extending Your Writing Range

I. The Call of Writing

Anyone can be a writer, but the journey to becoming a writer is different for everyone. Some writers seem to be born with a pen in hand, while others find writing like an oasis after years of searching for a creative outlet. Many writers are the children of other writers, either born to them or devoted fans inspired by their work. Avid readers make the leap from loving books to wanting to create their own. Still others fall into writing as the result of a happy accident: a school assignment that flips an inner switch, or joining NaNoWriMo on a lark, or throwing some ideas and words together on a boring, rainy afternoon.

How you became a writer doesn't matter, and neither does what you write. All writers who are born or made or accidentally fall into the gig all share the same calling: storytelling through words.

II. Story as Mind Cuisine

Because my parents are from the northern U.S. and moved to the extreme southern U.S. when I was very young, I was raised on a hodge-podge of Northern and Southern cuisine: New England boiled dinner with hushpuppies and Key lime pie; pancakes with maple syrup, grits and grapefruit we picked from the tree in the yard. Hanging out with Latina friends from school I picked up a love for Cuban coffee, black beans and rice and mariquitas. My chef stepdad taught me to set aside my mother's Crisco, Ragu and seasoned salt and experiment with olive oil, plum tomatoes and fresh herbs. My military years added French, German, Japanese, Korean, English, Thai and dormitory food (anything that can be made in one pan on a hot plate) to my repetoire.

Writing novels allows us to explore the cuisine of the mind. Most writers start out with a favorite, comfort genre that feeds their imagination. They come to know that genre so well they don't even have to think about measuring the ingredients. This comfort can make every other genre seem a bit foreign in comparison. Combined with a (to me) very weird attitude around the industry that writers can only write in one genre, it often works to inhibit writers from striking out and trying new things.

I was fortunate in my writing education. When I began to devour books as a kid, I didn't know what genre was. I went to the library, started at the "A" author shelf in fiction and began picking up books. I checked out the ones that grabbed me, read them, and went back for more every week until I hit the end of the "Z" section. Reading other authors' books was my only writing education, but it was a great one. Wide-variety reading broadened my horizons and helped me to see the structure of novels versus the genre label they were slapped with.

Any writer who wants to extend their writing range should not be inhibited by the comfort genre or the opinions of limited imaginations. You don't have to give up writing in your favorite genre, either. Just because you try making stirfry now and then doesn't mean you have to stop making spaghetti and meatballs.

III. Novel Recipe

All fiction novels begin with the same two ingredients: characters and conflict. Every book you read has characters who encounter conflict and an account of how they handle it. The who, what, where, when and how determine genre, but a novel about a private investigator hired to solve a series of murders is no different than a book about a cowboy who must chase after his runaway pregnant bride. You put characters with conflict, and it leads to an end result, or

Character + Conflict = Conclusion

Alone, each ingredient does nothing. Characters need something to do. Conflict needs someone to resolve it. Throwing them together in the novel skillet and turning up the story heat makes them change each other; the character is affected by the conflict, the conflict is affected by the character. Neither come out of that skillet unchanged by the other.

IV. Inhibitors

As a young writer I completely stayed away from writing stories and novels with male protagonists. My reason? I thought boys were dumb.

Once I got through puberty, I still shied away from male protags, until I saw many female authors had written books with male protagonists. I attacked my inhibition by reading novels written by male authors in order to compare the differences in my writing style and theirs.

Call it getting in touch with my masculine side, but once I had done enough of that I began to catch myself "being female" when I was writing in a male POV. Eventually I got up the nerve to write a couple of novels with male protagonists. It was definitely different, but not quite as scary as I'd imagined. I just had to think differently; step outside myself and tell the story from the character's POV instead of my own.

A common trap writers fall into is the need to make their protagonists mirror images of themselves. There is a certain vicarious thrill involved in the author making the protag a fictional identical twin. The author doesn't have to imagine what the protag will do, they already know. They don't have to write outside their personal comfort zones, either. Problem is, the author ends up with cookie-cutter protagonists.

I combat this by seeing myself as the protagonist's biographer versus their RL twin. Whenever possible, I deliberately create characters who are very different from me physically, mentally and situationally; the more so the better. It allows me to observe and record rather than steer and impose my will on a protag who is just me in a fictional mask.

V. Practical exercises

Here are some methods that may help extend your range:

1. Try writing a scene or chapter from your WIP from the POV of a character in the story other than your protagonist (I did this by writing Illumination, which is the story of StarDoc totally from Duncan Reever's POV.)

2. Set your usual story in a different place, time or circumstance. Fond of writing cowboy/runaway bride romances? Set one on an alien world 500 years in the future. Have a penchant for private investigators? Have yours investigate a soldier being court martialed for sedition during the American Revolution. Into family sagas? Make the family slaves, and chronicle what happens to them during the collapse of the Roman Empire.

3. Test drive different types of protagonists. Try writing a story from the POV of a victim, or the antagonist, or a young child, or the family pet. If all your protagonists are of one gender, switch to the opposite gender. Give your protagonist a significant handicap that deprives them of one of the five senses. Write a protagonist whose situation, philosophies or lifestyle are completely opposite your own.

4. Take a classic fiction story or myth and write it in a modern setting. Romeo and Juliet, Pride and Prejudice and Taming of the Shrew have all been updated into modern stories; how about your version of Pygmalion, Beowulf, Les Miserables or Snow White?

5. Pick a famous figure from history and write a story about one day in their life. The day can be an ordinary day, their birthday, their wedding day, or the day before they die.

VI. No Limits

Whatever attitude our peers and the industry have, the first person to impose restrictions on a writer is the internal fraidycat. We decide at the keyboard what we feel we can or cannot do, and we're always our own worst censors. So the next time you approach a story idea and something inside you says You can't write that, tell something to shut up and write it anyway. You may be surprised to find out that there really are no limits to what you can do on the page.

Post your thoughts, comments and questions about writing range in comments to this post by midnight EST on Monday, July 31, 2006, and you'll have a chance at winning the final Mega Left Behind Goody Bag: signed copies of my S.L. Viehl hardcover novel Blade Dancer and all three of my Lynn Viehl Darkyn novels in paperback, an unsigned hardcover copy of Talyn by Holly Lisle and paperback copies of Love's Potion by Monica Jackson, Moon Called by Patricia Briggs, Tiger Eye, Shadow Touch and Red Heart of Jade by Marjorie M. Liu, Threads of Malice by Tamara Siler Jones, The Attraction by Douglas Clegg, I See You and Last Girl Dancing by Holly Lisle, Dark Lover and Lover Eternal by J.R. Ward, Hunting the Hunter by Shiloh Walker, as well as a hardcover copy of The Writer's Book of Matches and Flow Chart Maker Software (good for outlining, mind mapping and organizing), all packed in a red and beige canvas tote from Books-A-Million. I'll draw one name from everyone who participates and send you the goodies; giveaway is open to everyone on the planet, even if you've won something here at PBW in the past.

Related Links:

Peder Hill's The Basic Three Act Structure

The Elements of Fiction.

ArtWish Granted

I'm back, and we're fine. I appreciate all who worried and e-mailed. The only things Alberto wrecked here were a basket fern I forgot to bring in and a baby tomato plant in the garden.

The magic hat went back in action today for the third wish -- have I mentioned how much fun and torture being a Publishing Fairy is? -- and one artwish is granted to:

Little Lamb Lost (posting as Anonymous, inspired by Gustav Klimt's The Kiss)

Little Lamb (now, how often are you going to get to call a giveaway winner that?), please e-mail me at LynnViehl@aol.com and let me know your full name, an e-mail address to which I can send your Art.com gift certificate, and your ship-to address for the quilt and copy of Dark Need.

The Publishing Fairy has once more taken back his powers, but there's still some magical things going on out there. Stop by our pal Jean's blog before midnight CST on Wednesday, June 14th, 2006, because she's giving away to one of her readers a bookpack of Talyn by Holly Lisle, Muse by Lazette Gifford, your choice of one of Tamara Siler Jones' books, and Dark Need by Yours Truly.

Thanks to everyone for sharing your wishes with us.

CCC Giveaway

One of my favorite characters created by another writer is Talyn, from the novel of the same name by Holly Lisle. I could give you a thousand reasons (and will, if you encourage me) why I am so fascinated by this character. I learn something new about Talyn, from her or through her every time I read the book. The best characters do that.

Some writers compare memorable characters to great artworks, and in a way they are like a magnificent portrait that you see a little differently each time you study it. But painting is motionless, offering only a single moment captured on canvas, like a gorgeous butterfly trapped in amber you can only see from a few angles. Fiction defies frames and spotlights, refuses to be frozen in time and, when it's done right, pours countless images of its characters inside your head.

Who are some of your favorite fictional characters? Answer that question in the comments to this post by midnight EST on Thursday, 2/23/06. I'll draw four names from all those who participate and e-mail the winners a copy of Holly Lisle's ebook*, Create a Character Clinic. Winners will be announced here by noon EST on Friday, 2/24/06. Giveaway open to everyone on the planet, even if you've won something at PBW in the past.

*Fine print: this is an e-book, not a print book, in .pdf format, for which you'll need the Adobe Reader, which you can download here.

Gifty

Family members are thoughtful enough to give me bookstore gift cards every year -- or they simply hate shopping for me that much -- and I've just started making up my gotta-buy list with Dean Koontz's Forever Odd and Monica Jackson's Mr. Right Now as my first two picks. I may not be able to wait three weeks for Monica's, although I know it means I have to venture into the damn Fic/Lit section at BAM to get a copy.

For gifts, I'm wrapping up a bunch of my favorite reads from 2005: The Priest of Blood by Douglas Clegg, Talyn by Holly Lisle, Cold Granite by Stuart MacBride, and Dark Lover by J.R. Ward.

What book(s) are at the top of your wish list this holiday season, and/or what book(s) are you buying as gifts for others?