So, I had the opportunity to do an Author Spotlight over on Reddit (see the /r/books sub-reddit) last Sunday. If you missed it, you can see the full thread of Q&A here. In fact, I’ve been keeping tabs on it and answering additional questions as they trickle in.
The event was…well, terrifying at first, frankly. In the run-up to zero hour I kept thinking, ‘OMG THEY’LL ASK ME QUESTIONS AND EVERYONE WILL THINK I’M A HACK!’ Once I got warmed up and the questions started rolling in, though…amazing. So enjoyable. I was overwhelmed by the participation, the interest in Serengeti, and the many-many-many new writers who stopped by to ask for advice.
I honestly didn’t expect that last part. Honestly never imagined being the one giving advice, but I really loved the interaction and the opportunity. I’ve been there, staring down that long tunnel of ‘JUST STARTING OUT WHAT THE HELL DO I DO??!!’ and it was great to be able to give back some of the advice and help I got along the way.
You go, new writer dudes and dudettes. You write the hell out of those books and show ‘em who’s boss.
Other topics during the Author Spotlight were all over the map—yay! We discussed AIs and the pros and cons of nanites as plot points, shared books recommendations, fangirled (or fanboyed, as the case may be) over our favorites authors, and generally just had a good time. One of the more interesting rabbit holes involved spaceships and vampires and vampire spaceships and I’m pretty sure I got challenged to write a book about a nuclear waste sucking vampire starship designated L33-CH…
How do I get myself talked into these things??!!
The vampire spaceship thread was a favorite and had me just about falling out of my chair laughing. Another favorite was a post that came in after the Author Spotlight was officially over. A 72-year-old sci-fi fan just wanted to tell me he’d picked up a copy of my book and couldn’t wait to share it with his wife. This post—so honest and simple and truly amazing—brought a tear to my eye. A reader and sci-fi fan of my father’s ‘vintage’ had bought my book and wanted me to know how much he was looking forward to reading it. Can’t ask for anything better than that.
So, here’s the part where I get to share a little secret. Well, not a secret really, just a tidbit most people don’t know. My Dad introduced me to sci-fi and fantasy, and in many ways he inspired me to write. Dad passed away on February 2nd, 2015 (remember all that snow New England got last year? Yeah, he was out shoveling it) and never got a chance to read Serengeti. Never even knew it existed because I was saving it as a surprise, hoping to give him a copy when I someday got it published. Well, February 3rd, 2016 rolls around and there’s Serengeti, all shiny and new and available for purchase thanks to Severed Press. Almost one year to the day after I lost Dad, Serengeti was officially born.
Think Dad would’ve been proud. Serengeti will always remind me of him. He never read it, but Serengeti is his book. Always will be.
So, rock on, vintage sci-fi dude. And thanks for leaving that post. It honestly meant the world to me.
Phew! Ok, enough of the teary-eyed stuff! How about a real secret? Well, maybe not so much a secret anymore since it’s in the Reddit posts…Anyway, something you guys will hopefully be excited to know. Several readers have asked if there’s going to be a sequel. One reader pretty much begged for one—way to flatter a writer’s ego! So, since you asked, the answer is…
I honestly didn’t expect that last part. Honestly never imagined being the one giving advice, but I really loved the interaction and the opportunity. I’ve been there, staring down that long tunnel of ‘JUST STARTING OUT WHAT THE HELL DO I DO??!!’ and it was great to be able to give back some of the advice and help I got along the way.
You go, new writer dudes and dudettes. You write the hell out of those books and show ‘em who’s boss.
Other topics during the Author Spotlight were all over the map—yay! We discussed AIs and the pros and cons of nanites as plot points, shared books recommendations, fangirled (or fanboyed, as the case may be) over our favorites authors, and generally just had a good time. One of the more interesting rabbit holes involved spaceships and vampires and vampire spaceships and I’m pretty sure I got challenged to write a book about a nuclear waste sucking vampire starship designated L33-CH…
How do I get myself talked into these things??!!
The vampire spaceship thread was a favorite and had me just about falling out of my chair laughing. Another favorite was a post that came in after the Author Spotlight was officially over. A 72-year-old sci-fi fan just wanted to tell me he’d picked up a copy of my book and couldn’t wait to share it with his wife. This post—so honest and simple and truly amazing—brought a tear to my eye. A reader and sci-fi fan of my father’s ‘vintage’ had bought my book and wanted me to know how much he was looking forward to reading it. Can’t ask for anything better than that.
So, here’s the part where I get to share a little secret. Well, not a secret really, just a tidbit most people don’t know. My Dad introduced me to sci-fi and fantasy, and in many ways he inspired me to write. Dad passed away on February 2nd, 2015 (remember all that snow New England got last year? Yeah, he was out shoveling it) and never got a chance to read Serengeti. Never even knew it existed because I was saving it as a surprise, hoping to give him a copy when I someday got it published. Well, February 3rd, 2016 rolls around and there’s Serengeti, all shiny and new and available for purchase thanks to Severed Press. Almost one year to the day after I lost Dad, Serengeti was officially born.
Think Dad would’ve been proud. Serengeti will always remind me of him. He never read it, but Serengeti is his book. Always will be.
So, rock on, vintage sci-fi dude. And thanks for leaving that post. It honestly meant the world to me.
Phew! Ok, enough of the teary-eyed stuff! How about a real secret? Well, maybe not so much a secret anymore since it’s in the Reddit posts…Anyway, something you guys will hopefully be excited to know. Several readers have asked if there’s going to be a sequel. One reader pretty much begged for one—way to flatter a writer’s ego! So, since you asked, the answer is…
Can’t promise when it’ll see the light of day but Serengeti II (I’m calling it that for now but I promise it’ll have a better name once things get serious) is in the works. Can’t wait until I can share the sequel with you guys!
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