I’m Going to Need Some Shoes

On Sunday, The Debutante Ball blog announced the incoming “Class of 2013” – and my name is on the list. Starting in September, I’ll be joining a fantastic group of debut authors whose novels are scheduled to release between September 2012 and August 2013. My own novel, Claws of the Cat – a Shinobi Mystery, is now scheduled for publication in July 2013, and I’m honored and delighted to be sharing the pre-release months with the lovely, talented ladies of The Debutante Ball. If you’re not familiar with the Debutantes, consider this your invitation. The conversations are lively, the topics

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Keep Calm and Carry On: Liveblogging the Olympic Opening Ceremonies

I’m a big fan of liveblogging. (The snarks need exercise from time to time) And since there’s a little sporting event taking place in London the next few weeks, I plan to take advantage of the opportunity. For those not interested in Olympics or liveblogging commentary, feel free to skip this one, but if you’d like to see the snarks at play….click away and find more below the fold.

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I’m a Geek….Will You be a Geek With Me?

For those who don’t know John Scalzi (author of Redshirts, Whatever-blogger extraordinaire, and much, much more) you should. This post alone explains why: Who Gets to be a Geek? Anyone Who Wants to Be. It took me years decades to grow comfortable with my inner geek, and even longer to develop the level of confidence required to let my banner fly where others could see it. I am an author, a gamer, a fan of science fiction and an unabashed murderer of imaginary friends. I love Star Wars, World of Warcraft, my aquarium, and technology of every possible variety. I

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Copyright vs. Trademark…Fight!

Today we’re taking a brief time-out from our publishing-as-business series to answer a reader’s question about the difference between copyright and trademark: “What’s the difference between copyright and trademark? As an author, do I need to register both?” The short answer is no, most authors don’t need trademarks. Though trademark may become relevant if you want to market merchandise featuring your series or characters’ names and likenesses. But what’s the difference between trademark and copyright? Read on: COPYRIGHT LAW covers creative works which are “fixed in a tangible medium of expression.” Protection is automatic and begins at the moment of

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Siri, I Need a Gun

Yesterday I stepped into the 21st Century and bought an iPhone. A new one. Complete with imaginary friend. My son spent the ride home from the Apple Store (and it wasn’t a short one) playing “how much can she Siri-ously parse.” A few things we learned along the way: 1. Siri must have children. She doesn’t like it when you mumble, and won’t listen when you whine. 2. She steadfastly refuses to open the pod bay doors. (And if you keep asking, she gets peevish.) 3. She will, however, eventually tell you a story. (Thanks to a new friend, I

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Finding the Agent Who Gets You

I’ve talked a lot of late about writing as a business, but writing is an emotional subject too. Everyone  – author or not – has a favorite book, one in which the characters sometimes seem more real than imagined. I joke about “killing off my imaginary friends” on a regular basis. (I’m a mystery author – it’s what we do.) Authors have passion for their work – and for publishing generally. We have to. There’s no other reason to stick it out as a wordsmith. In honor of that, and of this morning’s fantastic news that my writing-group sister Heather

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Write Short to Write Long

It may surprise you to learn that Twitter improved my writing skills. (Take a minute. Quit laughing. Then listen.) Unless you’ve lived under a rock since 2005, you’ve heard of Twitter. The basics are simple: say whatever is on your mind … in 140 characters or less. Follow the people you find interesting. Ignore the ones you don’t. It lets you shout barbaric yawps to a world that probably couldn’t care less about the deal you found on soap. But Twitter also connects individuals who otherwise would never meet. It allows people to discuss their passions – and forces them

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Working with Independent Editors (Part 2)

Welcome back to the Wednesday series on publishing as business. Today we’re continuing last week’s discussion about authors working with independent editors. (Find part 1 here.) Working with independent editors has many similarities to working with an editor at a traditional publishing house. The author provides the editor with a copy of the manuscript, generally in electronic form, and the editor works with the author to make revisions to the work. Generally speaking, the editor will offer specific line-edits on grammar and form, and make suggestions where more extensive change is required. Few editors will rewrite a book on an

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A Lesson From Hitchhiking Palythoas

One of my favorite moments in the novel Jurassic Park is where the scientists discover the “all female” dinosaur population is breeding. (Note: the scene isn’t in the movie, and it’s worth reading the novel to know the difference.) I’ve had several similar moments in my eighteen months as a reef-keeper. I’m frequently finding things in the tank that I didn’t (intentionally) put in there. Most are good. Some are not. And sometimes it takes months to tell the difference. Case in point: hitchhiking palythoas. When I set up my aquarium in December 2011 I added about 70 pounds of

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This is Heather … and Nylon Rope

When looking through the blog statistics this weekend, I noticed an incoming referral search for “Heather Nylon Rope.” I’m afraid they probably found me disappointing. I do know about heather – one Heather at least. That would be author-editor Heather Webb, my friend and the Fearless Leader of the SFWG. Her blog, Between the Sheets, is one of my regular reads (and today she’s posted an interview with bestselling author C.W. Gortner that’s well worth the click-though and read). I also know a bit about nylon rope. I use it for tie-downs on the truck, for holding unruly boxes closed

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