RIASS stuff:
Giveaway: Underdog by Euan Leckie'(open to all!); see also our giveaway of Jane Hellers'Name Dropping.
Book cover trend: smoke spirals'(apparently smoking is cool, after all)
What makes a short story collection? Thoughts on Natalie Serber's Shout Her Lovely Name'Rating: 
Book Review: Woodenface by Gus Grenfell'Witches, hangings, and all sorts of eerie stuff set in seventeenth century England. Rating:
Other bookish stuff:
Ever read a write-up of an art exhibition and felt absolutely baffled? Youre not alone. Alex Rule and David Levine tease out the nuances of International Art English and exactly what makes it so bizarrely alien (and pretentious).
Part II of Katherine Rushs Why Writers Disappear sequence.'This follow-up post includes reasons such as writers getting discouraged, being unable to handle the solidarity of writing, and struggling to manage the financial insecurity of writing. The reasons that she gives and outlines are, to be honest, extremely helpful for hopeful writers as much as they are for readersthey form a valuable check-list of things to bear in mind if embarking on (or attempting to persist with) a writing career.
15 early scathing reviews of classic novels'Lolita'was slammed as not being worth any adult readers attention;'Huckleberry Finn was trashy and vicious. And'Wuthering Heights? How a human being could have attempted such a book as the present without committing suicide before he had finished a dozen chapters, is a mystery, said Grahams Lady Magazine.
Politically incorrect advice to the young from William S Burroughs'Now some of you may encounter the devil's bargain if you get that far. Any old soul is worth saving at least to a priest, but not every soul is worth buying. So you can take the offer as a compliment.
Katherine Applegate (co-author of'Eve and Adam, which Ill be reviewing tomorrow) on her book buddy writing ritual.'Applegate collects a pile of aspirational books to go with each book that shes writing as a way to show herself whats possible. 'These books might be thematically similar, might share certain ideas or styles, or might just be good books that she loves.
Rachelle Gardner on foreshadowing vs telegraphing. Foreshadowing, says agent Rachelle Gardner, is dropping hints about what might come later on in the book. Telegraphing is its unsubtle cousin, where the reader is bashed over the head with'look! Look! This is meaningful! and which actually ruins the suspense of the book. Telegraphing is a huge reason behind why I didnt connect with Laura Powells'Burn Mark.'
An interesting peek into the handwriting of various public figures.'These are fascinating. A graphologist studies the anonymous handwriting samples of a bunch of famous people and comes up with some pretty accurate stuff. Take this, about Prince Charless handwriting: Its curious how it has extrovert qualities ' the loops, the ligatures, the flow ' but also a slight hesitation in the backward lean. Could that be a remnant of an earlier, more withdrawn phase in someones life? Did he or she find happiness late?
Hilary Mantel and the limits of historical accuracy'How can fact and fiction ever be truly disentangled? This is where the impossibility of accuracy blends into the impossibility of authenticity. Not only does the authors character influence the story, the readers expectations do too, says author James Forrester on Mantels work. Sometimes, to give a semblance of authenticity, one has to lie about the past.
Nail Gaiman has announced new novel The Ocean at the End of the Lane
Nanette Vonnegut on Kurt Vonnegut'I have tried hard to keep my father as just my father so, for long periods, I avoided reading his books. Reading my fathers books caused me to hyperventilate. The last time I read'Slaughterhouse-Five, it wasnt long before I was sputtering at the pages, thinking,'My fugging father wrote this?'I have spent no small amount of time trying to square myself with this fact, as I feel embarrassingly ordinary.
Tips on characterisation'The author talks about several approaches such as reading widely, seeing how actors do it and, curiously, playing role playing games. Im quite taken by the advice to read acting books, actuallyhaving recently watched'On the Waterfront and a whole bunch of interviews surrounding it, theres a good deal that authors can learn from actors.
Orhan Pamuk on why he writes'Im not going to ruin this by snipping out a few sentences. Go off and read it for yourself. And then go and write.
The authors among my readers will be equally excited and dismayed about Amazons Author Rank.'Authors can now scrabble to appear on a public top 100 authors list, but they can also constantly refresh their author rank alongside their sales ranks. Analytics at its most sadistic.
I went to an author talk over a week ago with the Moriarty sisters and Jaclyn was sharing that she actually got folders for her characters which could contain anything she came across which makes up her characters and they also have their own fave songs which she listens to when she needs the push. I thought that was totally intense! Absolutely impressed by the work & passion shes put into her creation!
Oh, Im so jealous that you got to attend that talk, Tien! I have Jaclyns latest to read, and now Im even more intrigued after hearing that she does so much research! Nansi Kunze is another author who does astonishing amounts of character and plot development. Apparently she puts together a massive scrapbook for each novel.
Me too! I got more & more excited as she talked about A Corner of White just fascinating!
Ive not heard of Nansi Kunze, I dont think have you a fave of hers?