A new interview with author J.K. Rowling is online today via PotterCast, Harry Potter newsite Leaky Cauldron's weekly podcast by fans Melissa Anelli, John Noe and Sue Upton. According to Leaky News, which posted a preview of the segment yesterday, "It's a rare, informal, discussion which slides between detailed canon, larger statments about the series and writing, and casual banter."
This interview is part one of two. The second will air next week.
To hear it, sidle on over to the PotterCast site. As it was just posted today, no transcripts of the episode have been made. However, Leaky assures that they are forthcoming.
But I'm not waiting for them. So, now that I've posted this wonderful news, I'm off to go listen to that podcast.
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Monday, December 17, 2007
Glossaries
I was browsing Absolute Write, when I noticed a title with something about glossaries in it, and this post came to me. Like magic. Or not really, anyway, Glossaries tend to be pretty popular in fantasy books.
My question is, do you, the reader, enjoy them? Personally, I don't mind them so long as the author doesn't rely on them. That means, I don't want to read a passage that says something like, "And the beautiful heroine stepped on the Zog and left" and then have to go look up in the back of the book what a Zog is, because the author doesn't explain it in the actual story. That's annoying, and it breaks the flow of the book.
However, with really complex stories, I don't mind a glossary I can go back to and check things in, so long as, like I said before, I read it in the book first and then just use the glossary as a reminder later on.
How about everyone else?
Offbeat Quick News
News from the Rest of the Web
No offsite links today, because I'm working on the site layout.
My question is, do you, the reader, enjoy them? Personally, I don't mind them so long as the author doesn't rely on them. That means, I don't want to read a passage that says something like, "And the beautiful heroine stepped on the Zog and left" and then have to go look up in the back of the book what a Zog is, because the author doesn't explain it in the actual story. That's annoying, and it breaks the flow of the book.
However, with really complex stories, I don't mind a glossary I can go back to and check things in, so long as, like I said before, I read it in the book first and then just use the glossary as a reminder later on.
How about everyone else?
Offbeat Quick News
News from the Rest of the Web
No offsite links today, because I'm working on the site layout.
Sunday, December 16, 2007
Best Book of the Year: Harry Potter
Newsweek Magazine's Malcom Jones, in a Newsweek Web Exclusive, has chosen fifteen of the best books of 2007. Topping the list is J. K. Rowling's Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.I have to completely agree with this decision, and so, no further comment will be made.
Future Plans
Just thought I'd stop in to announce that Offbeat will be participating in Absolute Write's 2007 December Holiday Flash Fiction Carnival! It was always my intent to, along with news and commentary, give you guys a few short stories and the like to read.
So, look for a New Year's (I've decided on a NY story instead of any other holiday) themed short to be posted here soon.
Other than that, I'd also like to say that I'm entertaining the idea of serializing a novel here on Offbeat, one written specifically for the purpose of being posted here. I'm not sure I'm going to, though. I'll let you know more about that in the future.
So, look for a New Year's (I've decided on a NY story instead of any other holiday) themed short to be posted here soon.
Other than that, I'd also like to say that I'm entertaining the idea of serializing a novel here on Offbeat, one written specifically for the purpose of being posted here. I'm not sure I'm going to, though. I'll let you know more about that in the future.
Wheel of Time To Be Finished by Brandon Sanderson
December 10th, on his official site and livejournal, author Brandon Sanderson posted that he has been asked to finish late author Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time Series.
Sanderson states that, "Mr. Jordon left detailed notes, and readers need not fear. The Wheel of Time will continue to turn."
In an interview with Dragonmount, a Wheel of Time community, Sanderson says, "There was only one person who could have written this book the way it was supposed to be written, and he is gone now. I think I'll do a good job (to be honest, I think I'll do a great job) but I can't do the job he would have done."
The full interview with Mr. Sanderson can be read here, on the Dragonmount site.
The official press release states that, "The new novel, A Memory of Light, will be the 12th and final book in the fantasy series which has sold more than 14 million copies in North America and more than 30 million copies worldwide."
Sanderson states that, "Mr. Jordon left detailed notes, and readers need not fear. The Wheel of Time will continue to turn."
In an interview with Dragonmount, a Wheel of Time community, Sanderson says, "There was only one person who could have written this book the way it was supposed to be written, and he is gone now. I think I'll do a good job (to be honest, I think I'll do a great job) but I can't do the job he would have done."
The full interview with Mr. Sanderson can be read here, on the Dragonmount site.
The official press release states that, "The new novel, A Memory of Light, will be the 12th and final book in the fantasy series which has sold more than 14 million copies in North America and more than 30 million copies worldwide."
Fantasy Author: I Am Not Dead
Author Terry Pratchett, 59, best known for his gargantuan Disc World Series, announced December 11th via artist Paul Kirby's website that he has, "been diagnosed with a very rare form of early onset Alzheimer's, which lay behind this year's phantom 'stroke'."
According to Pratchett, he is "continuing on the completion of Nation and the basic notes are already being laid down for Unseen Academicals."
Also, he would like everyone to note that he "is not dead." He states, "I will, of course, be dead at some future point, as will everybody else. For me, this maybe further off than you think - it's too soon to tell."
The following day, December 12th, a post by Mr. Pratchett was yet again added to the site. This time, he implores fans to stop sending him plot ideas, for he has plenty of his own. Also, he states that he is not going to be granting interviews, because he said what needed to be said in the December 11th post.
According to Pratchett, he is "continuing on the completion of Nation and the basic notes are already being laid down for Unseen Academicals."
Also, he would like everyone to note that he "is not dead." He states, "I will, of course, be dead at some future point, as will everybody else. For me, this maybe further off than you think - it's too soon to tell."
The following day, December 12th, a post by Mr. Pratchett was yet again added to the site. This time, he implores fans to stop sending him plot ideas, for he has plenty of his own. Also, he states that he is not going to be granting interviews, because he said what needed to be said in the December 11th post.
Saturday, December 15, 2007
Robin Hobb Wins 2007 Endeavour Award
This news is slighly old (Locus Magazine announced it November 29th), but since my site wasn't up then, I'm going to post it now: Robin Hobb has won the 2007 Endeavour Award for her book Forest Mage. 'Mage is the second book in Hobb's Soldier Son trilogy, which I haven't read, to be honest. But I probably will, since I'm a huge Hobb fan. Congrats to her for the win.
According to Endeavour's own site, the award "represents a collaboration between writers and fans of Science Fiction and Fantasy to encourage the growth of literature in the field and recognize works of excellence. It is named for H.M. Bark Endeavour, the ship of Northwest explorer Capt. James Cook."
Endeavour has also announced that the next award will be given out at OryCon 30 in November of '08, "for a book published during 2007. The award is accompanied by a grant of $1,000."
Entries for the next award must be in by Feburary 2008, addtional information is on their site.
Also, for those interested, SFF World conducted an interview with Robin Hobb back in August, where she talked about the Soldier Son trilogy. It's still archived on their site and can be found here.
Offbeat Quick News:
News from the rest of the web.
According to Endeavour's own site, the award "represents a collaboration between writers and fans of Science Fiction and Fantasy to encourage the growth of literature in the field and recognize works of excellence. It is named for H.M. Bark Endeavour, the ship of Northwest explorer Capt. James Cook."
Endeavour has also announced that the next award will be given out at OryCon 30 in November of '08, "for a book published during 2007. The award is accompanied by a grant of $1,000."
Entries for the next award must be in by Feburary 2008, addtional information is on their site.
Also, for those interested, SFF World conducted an interview with Robin Hobb back in August, where she talked about the Soldier Son trilogy. It's still archived on their site and can be found here.
Offbeat Quick News:
News from the rest of the web.
Friday, December 14, 2007
So Cliché!
I had to blog about this, I really just did. For months, I've been seeing an increasing number of writers worry over being "cliché." It's one thing to look at those "Top Clichés" lists and joke about them, it's totally another to alter your entire story based on the fact that you can check off ten things on the list.
In my humble opinion, it doesn't matter. It doesn't. Okay, so yes, if you can check every item on the list, you're in a sad, sad place. Go rewrite. Other than that. It's just not something to obsess over. But, a lot of writers are - especially fantasy writers, because we have those fun lists that drive people like me bonkers.
The key is to write something worthwhile, that people will enjoy. Yes, it's a good idea to strive for originality, but a little cliché never killed anybody. One of my favorite books is a really, really predictable love story. But the characters were so engaging, I couldn't put it down!
So, am I saying go to these lists and start getting ideas? No, that I would avoid. But if you find you've got a couple things that match the list? You're cool man, don't freak. Yes, even if your story features an orphaned farmboy. I know you can make it work.
Now that I've shared my opinion, what about everyone else? Of the same mind, or do you disagree? Let me know!
In my humble opinion, it doesn't matter. It doesn't. Okay, so yes, if you can check every item on the list, you're in a sad, sad place. Go rewrite. Other than that. It's just not something to obsess over. But, a lot of writers are - especially fantasy writers, because we have those fun lists that drive people like me bonkers.
The key is to write something worthwhile, that people will enjoy. Yes, it's a good idea to strive for originality, but a little cliché never killed anybody. One of my favorite books is a really, really predictable love story. But the characters were so engaging, I couldn't put it down!
So, am I saying go to these lists and start getting ideas? No, that I would avoid. But if you find you've got a couple things that match the list? You're cool man, don't freak. Yes, even if your story features an orphaned farmboy. I know you can make it work.
Now that I've shared my opinion, what about everyone else? Of the same mind, or do you disagree? Let me know!
Welcome to Offbeat!
I have arrived!
Okay, so most of you (the polite and less sad way of saying zilch, since I never announced Offbeat before it launched) weren't eagerly awaiting my online debut like I was, making that exclaimation slightly much. But now I've got it out of my system, and we should all be thankful for that.
Offbeat is my new and shiny blog, which features commentary on fantasy books and comics (and occasionally general book news, since fantasy books are books, after all, and things effecting the industry as a whole are interesting to post about). So yes, no movie or game stuff, but you wouldn't want me commentating that anyway. Just trust me.
So, why Offbeat? Well, for those of you wondering, and those who weren't, I wanted to name the site Fantasy Fan (which became my pen name). But of course, someone else had taken it. That pushed me to plan B, Offbeat, because I'm an offbeat fantasy fan who doesn't really like a lot of traditional stuff that's filling up bookshelves.
In the coming months I hope to invite authors to post, (or at least convince them to let me interview them), share news and other tidbits with you, and generally waste the time I'm supposed to be using for writing.
Offbeat's Quick News:
Daily Dose of The Web
On most days, if I'm feeling up to it, I'm going to give you a couple of tidbits to chew on from the rest of the web, that I found particularly interesting. Here are today's!
Okay, so most of you (the polite and less sad way of saying zilch, since I never announced Offbeat before it launched) weren't eagerly awaiting my online debut like I was, making that exclaimation slightly much. But now I've got it out of my system, and we should all be thankful for that.
Offbeat is my new and shiny blog, which features commentary on fantasy books and comics (and occasionally general book news, since fantasy books are books, after all, and things effecting the industry as a whole are interesting to post about). So yes, no movie or game stuff, but you wouldn't want me commentating that anyway. Just trust me.
So, why Offbeat? Well, for those of you wondering, and those who weren't, I wanted to name the site Fantasy Fan (which became my pen name). But of course, someone else had taken it. That pushed me to plan B, Offbeat, because I'm an offbeat fantasy fan who doesn't really like a lot of traditional stuff that's filling up bookshelves.
In the coming months I hope to invite authors to post, (or at least convince them to let me interview them), share news and other tidbits with you, and generally waste the time I'm supposed to be using for writing.
Offbeat's Quick News:
Daily Dose of The Web
On most days, if I'm feeling up to it, I'm going to give you a couple of tidbits to chew on from the rest of the web, that I found particularly interesting. Here are today's!
- Amazon.com Posts First Reviews of J.K.Rowling's Tales of Beedle the Bard
- Author Adrienne Kress announces Alex and the Ironic Gentleman is Magical Realism (That's so not stopping me from blogging about it, though. I'm calling Magical Realism a sub-sub-sub genre of fantasy.)
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