Lori Devoti, paranormal romance and urban fantasy author

This was my second Wiscon, and all and all I had a pretty good time. I was on three panels: Authors Blog, Overnight Sensation (or something like that) and Boy Books/Girl Books. I went to panels on Rich and Supernatural (really about alpha heros in paranormal romance), Using Objects in Fiction, Wicked (whole wicked stepmother type thing), Comics, I Feel Your Pain (telepathic etc.), Underground (caves, etc. in fiction), and Babba Yaga and the Armless Maiden. (note these are my short hand terms for the panels from what I remember.)

The best one was probably the comic session. It was really interesting to hear what was going on in this world. Honestly, it sounded like a lot of the same issues romance faced in the 70’s–rape scenes, stereotypical roles for women, that kind of thing. The whole rape thing was disturbing–sounds like they can be pretty graphic and young men are the biggest target audience. That just seems more dangerous than books read mainly by women containing such scenes–although I personally would not spend my money on either.

The comics thing has appealed to me for sometime–I just wasn’t sure what to try. Actually, when I was writing Unbound I really felt like I was writing a graphic novel–there is so much action in it and it just felt visual to me… Anyway, I was able to waylay Rachel Edidin, one of the panelist, and get a list of comics to try so that was great. I bought my first three today: Neil Gaiman (who I love anyway) The Sandman volume one; Watchmen; and Hellblazer Original Sins. I’ll let you know what I think of them. (The guy at the comics shop was way impressed with my list.) And here are a couple of web sites for you all to check out: Girl-Wonder and Comic Fan Girls.

So, overall I had a good time at Wiscon. Like all conferences it’s a crap shoot, but I only went to one truly painful panel–my friend said it was like watching a table of chattering monkeys, yes, seriously painful. I really enjoyed the comics one and the Babba Yagga one. If I had one major complaint it would be that the panels are just too long–an hour and 15 minutes. Just about always 45 minutes in it seems like the topic has been covered and everyone veers off course–sometimes those veers are tres annoying. I also think Wiscon needs to look at what RWA does so far as bathroom allocation. RWA turns most of the bathrooms (mens and womens) over to women. I don’t suggest that Wiscon does that–but why not crossgender? First come first serve? Cut those lines in the women’s room by having a bathroom not decided by your sex. Seems to fit with the Wiscon way–why not give it a try?

That’s it for now. I need to write…(you know the contracted stuff)…

Lori

I’m blogging at To Be Read today. It’s about stripping books…check it out.

From the much passed around news regarding what many are terming Simon & Schuster’s rights grab is this… perpetual copyright.

What do you think? Should copyrights be something that can be handed down generation to generation? Or should at some point all works move to public domain? As the article points out Mark Twain made similar arguments 100 years ago, except his were a lot easier to read and understand.

I have to say I agree with my fellow Missourian that 42 years is a tad short, but the 70 after death seems fairly reasonable. And in perpetuity? I don’t think I’d go quite that far. There are an awful lot of works that would never have been as widely dispersed and that generations would have missed out on if that was the case. I guess I’m saying my great-great-great-grandchildren can write their own masterpieces just like everyone else. ;-)

Lori

Amazon rankings are like potato chips for an author–You KNOW you should shut the bag and walk away, but you can’t resist just one more (peek)…then another…then another.

That said everyone also knows they mean nothing. We’ve all been to the panels put on by older and wiser authors who tell you over and over Amazon is less than 5% of sales. And that one book being sold can change your ranking by thousands–but still you look.

So, today I am here to tell you my Amazon ranking dropped (as in lower number higher ranking) by approximately 60,000 over night. Woohoo, you think. But then I realized I sold…are you ready? TWO books. That’s right TWO. (at least I didn’t buy them myself) How do I know, you ask? Because Amazon also includes a lovely little tag “Only four in stock order soon” which now reads “Only two in stock order soon”.

Sigh

But hey…there are only two left–so you better get out there and order soon…I’ll be checking…

Lori

Unbound is now shipping from both Amazon and Barnes and Noble.com. :)
Lori

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From Talia Ricci at Joyfully Reviewed…

“Oh what a tremendous read Unbound was! The title alone was enough to make me read it and as I opened the pages, I settled in for a pleasant read. Pleasant doesn’t even begin to describe the utter amazement I experienced at the hands of author Lori Devoti! Unbound knocked my socks off with its complete and unrelenting plot. I love shape shifters and Risk is my first hellhound and for that alone I fell in love with him. Despite the cruelty he faced at the hands of his owner, he continued to search for ways to end his imprisonment. His loyalty to and adoration of Kara was written in such a way that I could feel the emotions pouring out of him at the thought of his being unable to save her.

Lori Devoti has a new fan! Unbound is now happily filed on my keeper shelf under “O” for outstandingly wonderful!”

Books–

“The Stunt Book Trend Must Die” Book about a man who had sex with his wife every day for 100 days…

Another “NetFlix for Books” Idea
This time the company is BookSwim, and the Minneapolis Star-Tribune has more on the fledgling company based out of New Jersey. For $15 to $20 per month, the company will send your top five book choices. Return three books in a prepaid envelope, and your next three choices will be mailed to you.

Television–

Moonlight Gets Green Light From CBS

The vampire-themed pilot Moonlight (formerly known as Twilight) has received a series order from CBS for the fall television season, the network announced.

CW Gives Reaper A Go

The CW has picked up the supernatural series Reaper for the fall television season, Variety reported. The network also announced that it has renewed Smallville and Supernatural for another year.

Kathy Griffin Wants To Date Her Way Off The D-List
Could a date with Sanjaya move Kathy Griffin, the comedienne and star of Bravo’s Emmy-nominated “Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List,” off the D-List?

note from Lori: I love this show. I know she is rude, but she cracks me up.

So, a couple of weeks ago I went to a writing seminar. It was great–great info (Donald Maass), got to see some of my friends, and it was close (so no big drive time). But I left feeling a tad unsettled.

Here’s the deal. Every writer type thing you go to has a different mix of pubbed and unpubbed, a different mix of writers in different genres and a different mix as to said writers worldliness (in regards to how much they hang with other writers).

At RWA I am nobody. I mean people are nice to me and all, but let’s face it I have two books out and another on the way. I am no one special. Strange as it sounds, I kind of like being nobody. I grew up in a small town where everyone knew not only who I was, but who my parents were and who their parents were. When I went to college and no one knew who I was nor cared, it was heaven. I guess I haven’t lost my love of that feeling yet.

At some other conferences which will remain unnamed I am pond scum–or at least the person who works with pond scum. At one such conference romance was being discussed on a panel and another author said “I can’t believe people are admitting they read this stuff.” Uh, yeah, and I write it too. Then add to that I write what I have heard even my relatives refer to as “those skinny books” with a properly curled up nose. For the record let me say I don’t approach writing my Nocturnes any differently than I did my single titles. There is no less plot, no less characterization and only a few less words–but I digress, point being the prejudice is there.

So, at this conference there happened to a small group of published authors and a big group of unpublished. Also they weren’t romance writers who (IMO) have a lot more experience hanging out with the published and aren’t as easily impressed as those who don’t. SO, that all said what happened was someone would ask what you write–are you published, expecting the no–but when you said yes, there was this strange transformation. A light goes on behind the eyes, they take a step forward…you have become the last eclair on the buffet table.

So freaking weird!!

Made me realize how agents and editors must feel at conferences….poor things.

Lori

that cries about the falling sky…