The Gradual Interview

[wayfriend]

Yeah not really a spoiler...read without fear.

Twas a joke. Hardy har har. It is to laugh.

[Romeo]

Better safe than sorry when it comes to spoilers.

Don - the "Songs of the Land" are in the "From the Author" section under Poetry (bottom of the list).

[dlbpharmd]

"Live Poets Society" is at the bottom of the list when I look under that link.

[Relayer]

Thanks! I had a feeling it was a joke but wanted to make sure...

[wayfriend]

I have "Songs of the Land" under "Live Poets Society".

(Try hitting Refresh.)

[dlbpharmd]

Got it now, thanks.

[Relayer]

Romeo, nice! (and thank your son)...

[Romeo]

My pleasure! And my son's, since he got paid for it <grin> - he's working for me this summer, taking a bunch of things off my To Do list that keep getting pushed to the back burner. I feel like Kramer - an unemployed guy with an intern.

[dlbpharmd]

Perry Bell: Hello Stephen,
Are you slated for the best seller list yet? My pre-order is in.
Anyway, I was wondering, is there a reason Linden seems so much, how shall I say, weaker (?) than she was at the end of the second chronicles? It seems like she isn't dogged by the past as much, but she seems very dependant on others. Just curious.
Thank you for all you do,
Perry Bell
Reno, Nevada.

Interesting. Other readers have had the opposite reaction. In fact, one described Linden as "large and in charge." Another went so far as to express disapproval because Linden acts "too much like a man." Covenant himself never took a step in the Land that wasn't dependent on someone else. The only difference that is obvious to me is this: Linden is *very* aware of--and frustrated by--her dependence on other people. (Other differences may be more obvious to readers who are not as intimately involved with Linden as I am.) Her obsessive desire to DO SOMETHING about Jeremiah's plight makes it difficult for her to accept her imposed reliance upon other people's needs, agendas, knowledge, guidance, whatever.

I hope I don't have to point out that "dependence" is thematically germane to "The Last Chronicles"--and in fact to *all* of the "Chronicles". <grin>

(07/27/2007)

[Avatar]

See? I told you she was obssessed!

--A

[dlbpharmd]

Michael (NOT from Albuquerque) G: I was checking for new posts, since there haven't been any for a few days, but then I realized- "OF COURSE there are no new posts, Steve was at Borders at midnight last Saturday to get his new Harry Potter book!" We can't expect any new posts from you until you find out if Harry survives, how to pronounce "Hermione", and why anyone would name their child "Hermione" to begin with. Can't wait for the review.

Well, duh! How could I miss it? But *wait*! I haven't actually read the SECOND Harry Potter book yet. Or the third. Or the--well, how many ever there are. So why I am I still standing here in line?

(08/02/2007)

[dlbpharmd]

Anonymous: I seem to remember in previous responses also that the author has no real input on cover art for their book. ROTE cover was beautiful, a sweeping vista that (for me) evoked the image of the Land. If what I have seen for cover art of FR is accurate, the change in style is pretty dramatic. Does the Publisher not see a need for consistency in cover art by theme or artist? Or are you able to explain their rationale?

First (although you didn't ask this), yes, I've been away from the GI for a while, proofreading frantically. But now I'm back. I think?

Now.

The issue of the US cover for "Fatal Revenant" has been coming up more and more. It's true that I have "no real input on cover art." Publishers ask my opinion (mostly out of courtesy), but they trust their own judgment. That said: Putnams wanted a packaging change for FR because, frankly, ROTE hasn't sold very well. In addition, some people (like my editor and agent) feel that the ROTE cover isn't distinctive enough. As a result, everyone involved in the project has been looking for new approaches. On its own terms, this is a Good Thing. It means that Putnams believes in the books; believes that they deserve to sell better; and is trying hard to make that happen.

I personally think that "consistency in cover art" is a plus. Now that Putnams has decided to make a change for FR, I hope that Ace will commission a new (consistent) cover for the mass market paperback of ROTE. But when I ask questions about things like that, I don't get answers. <sigh> If I knew more than that about what's going on, I would tell you.

(08/13/2007)

[dlbpharmd]

steve sp: could you please change it back to Should Pass Utterly? that was so much better.

Sorry. No can do. "Should Pass Utterly" is a good title--if you've read the previous "Covenant" books often enough, or recently enough, to get the reference. Otherwise it conveys very little. Or so I'm told by virtually everyone who doesn't, well, get the reference. (Is it a question? An assertion? To what does it refer? And where should the emphasis fall? On "should"? "Pass"? "Utterly"?) As a gratuitous exercise in mental gymnastics, you might try analyzing the difference between, say, "Against All Things Ending" and "All Things Ending".

In any case, editors always have the last word on titles. That's just one of the facts of a writer's life.

(08/13/2007)

[aliantha]

Bah. The emphasis is on "Utterly", of course. Everybody knows that the "power position" in a sentence is at the end.

A pox on these idiots.

[Seareach]

Probably the wrong spot to put this but this is from the SRD site:

"The Last Chronicles" in other formats (US)

I've just learned that Ace has no plans to (ever?) release "The Runes of the Earth" as a mass market paperback. The book is not selling well enough to justify the additional expense. In addition, Putnams will NOT be releasing "Fatal Revenant" as an audio book. (Again, poor sales.) However, Scott Brick (who read "The Runes of the Earth") is apparently negotiating with Putnams to produce and sell his own audio version of "Fatal Revenant". We'll see what happens.

On the plus side, Putnams does plan to release "Fatal Revenant" in a variety of e-formats.

8/16/07

So, I'm just wondering (because I'm kinda slow )...what does that mean (when it comes to the paperback). Runes was obviously released in paperback in the US. ie:



Is this a big paperback, whereas the Ace ones would be smaller (standard sized) paperbacks?

Anyway, the news sucks.

[lucimay]

trade paperbacks are the big ones, pocketbooks are the small ones.

Putnams probably means pocketbooks. but...that's WEIRD!!! NOT release the 7th book in a series in pocketbook???? that makes no sense whatsoever.

i think that pic you posted is the pic of the trade pprbk, Sea, which i have seen on shelves (and thought about getting, i think i will now, for sure!!)

[Seareach]

Thanks Luci. That makes sense.

I've seen Runes as a pocket paperback (or, ya know...a small book...couldn't fit Runes in your pocket ) here in Oz but it's the UK publication.

[Relayer]

...Scott Brick (who read "The Runes of the Earth") is apparently negotiating with Putnams to produce and sell his own audio version of "Fatal Revenant". We'll see what happens.

Go Scott!!!!! I hope Putnams lets it happen.

BTW, Luci and Sea, what's with your avatars? Are you ganging up on us?

[dlbpharmd]

Go Scott!!!!! I hope Putnams lets it happen.

Yeah, best of luck Scott, I'll buy it.

[Damelon]

So, I'm just wondering (because I'm kinda slow )...what does that mean (when it comes to the paperback). Runes was obviously released in paperback in the US. ie:



Is this a big paperback, whereas the Ace ones would be smaller (standard sized) paperbacks?

Anyway, the news sucks.

Basically, yes. It is the big paperback, and the news does suck. The mass market paperback is where new fans are made.