tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-757509958916289741.post2584917522431702784..comments2023-05-01T07:08:33.419-06:00Comments on Text Crumbs: The Soul Mirror Reduxcarolwriterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01256696323017219424noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-757509958916289741.post-64555907389622459932009-09-23T03:47:06.629-06:002009-09-23T03:47:06.629-06:00My husband is finally reading Transformation! I...My husband is finally reading Transformation! I've been trying to get him to read it since 2001. Ha! And he was reading during dinner yesterday and while waiting for the taxi to the airport this morning and he even took the second volume along to read on the plane.<br /><br />So, I've managed to persuade 50% of all the people of my acquaintance who read novels in English -- and 100% of the people I know who read fantasy novels in English -- to read my favorite author. ;o)Anjanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-757509958916289741.post-48226167816025519282009-09-20T20:34:35.470-06:002009-09-20T20:34:35.470-06:00Thanks mtbikemom! Good words getting out on the i...Thanks mtbikemom! Good words getting out on the internet are just GOLD!carolwriterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01256696323017219424noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-757509958916289741.post-24963287984982844212009-09-11T07:55:10.250-06:002009-09-11T07:55:10.250-06:00Not "small" for long, I think. I have p...Not "small" for long, I think. I have personally been posting Carol Berg plugs on Brandon Sanderson's forum called The Time-Waster's Guide lately and some are promising to discover you, including their resident book reviewer. They are in for treat after treat and I am eagerly awaiting Spirit Lens. Thanks for this candid blog, Carol! The insights into the modern copy editing process was illuminating.mtbikemomnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-757509958916289741.post-87288111715488970732009-09-10T10:57:48.080-06:002009-09-10T10:57:48.080-06:00Small writer? Hm. I don't think I've been ...Small writer? Hm. I don't think I've been in a Barnes and Noble or Borders that doesn't carry your books, which suggests your popularity is such that they don't stop carrying your books :) After all, a couple books I'm reviewing right now for sfreader.com I've never seen on bookstore shelves. That's sad. I like the books.Kashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01589521620459660522noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-757509958916289741.post-88566737989988881712009-09-08T08:02:24.354-06:002009-09-08T08:02:24.354-06:00Thanks, Anja.
And yes, Anne's crawling skin...Thanks, Anja. <br /><br />And yes, Anne's crawling skin is part of her typical reaction to what she calls the natural energies that sorcerers call magic - sort of like her hayfever. She believes that all magic that works has a scientific explanation.carolwriterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01256696323017219424noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-757509958916289741.post-69473756338803985752009-09-08T02:14:23.340-06:002009-09-08T02:14:23.340-06:00Back from reading the interview ...
I noticed you...Back from reading the interview ...<br /><br />I noticed you often call yourself a "small" author. Well, despite the quotes, let me just say that to your fans, you aren't small, but the greatest. Your stories, characters, and prose are truly memorable and really stand out. <br /><br />Seriously, you are my favorite fantasy author, and I don't have many favorite authors at all. There's only Butcher for Urban and Bujold for Scifi (and recently fantasy too.) And of course Tolkien. Those are the ones I read and reread.<br /><br />So I just wanted to thank you for all the wonderful books you've written and are still going to write!<br /><br />Cheers,<br /><br />AnjaAnjanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-757509958916289741.post-42503224016512942322009-09-07T14:36:30.414-06:002009-09-07T14:36:30.414-06:00OK, now I'm suspecting now that the crawling s...OK, now I'm suspecting now that the crawling skin and buzzing skull has a magical explanation. Oh, no, wait, it's the hayfever. ;o)<br /><br />Anyway, the passage does seem tighter and clearer to me now, and more shivery. Amazing, what a couple of ... can do. ;o) The "roving" gaze does stand out more now (and I like "roving" -- it suggests that he is worried.)<br /><br />One thing I have just noticed, probably because it's closer together now: if the disturbances are INSIDE the city, how can closing the gates stay the wind? The gates would only keep the wind locked up inside the city, and I don't think that's what you mean.<br /><br />I'm also a bit puzzled as to what Duplais expects the king would want to add to his explanation if he were there and where amidst the sea of faces I am supposed to imagine him (the king) appear or to be standing if he were giving an address to the people.<br /><br />Ah, sorry, I should probably just keep my mouth shut. I'm sure you will come up with a wonderful solution without help from some nitpick who doesn't know more than two paragraphs of the story. :o) <br /><br /><br />P.S. Belated congrats on the Mythopoeic Award! I devoured the Lighthouse Duet. And I've just discovered the Spirit Lens excerpt and I love it. Now I'm off to read the interview at RisingShadow...<br /><br />Cheers,<br /><br />AnjaAnjanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-757509958916289741.post-88410981683956130422009-09-07T13:28:45.397-06:002009-09-07T13:28:45.397-06:00OK, Anja. Good points. So let's try it THIS wa...OK, Anja. Good points. So let's try it THIS way and see if the music gets slightly clearer.carolwriterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01256696323017219424noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-757509958916289741.post-80078878532039541732009-09-07T12:31:54.655-06:002009-09-07T12:31:54.655-06:00Hi Carol:
I only dare to comment since you have a...Hi Carol:<br /><br />I only dare to comment since you have asked!<br /><br />Spooky music -- yes, for the first paragraph, though you were probably going to cut "trying to distract ... closer to the city" anyway, so I don't have to suggest it, right? OK, I think it reads spookier without it. WAR is the spooky word, not crawling skin. Buzzing sounds like a leisurely summer's day.<br /><br />The explanation Duplais offers is too long-winded and vague, with few scary words in it. Fools I think is the scariest (a city or country run by fools in a time of crisis -- that's scary, isn't it?) Perhaps you could somehow start with it. King Philippe is the only other scary word (not knowing anything about him, but King means someone who has the power to help or hurt a great many people.)<br /><br />I am mildly intrigued by "stay the wind" though it's a bit too vague? Perhaps because I have no idea what the story is about. I'm not sure if I should suggest a metaphor stronger than wind (storm, tide, or more sinister like: you can't keep the plague out by closing the doors), or something more specific: what is it that Duplais sees coming? Mass panic? Riots? Uprising? Revolution? Civil war?<br /><br />Also, what is it that King Philippe is doing? One specific action (like: he's gone up north himself to crush the peasants' revolt) would be scarier than a vague: the spring risings have grown serious enough to engage King Philippe himself. The king isn't seen to act, only shown to have an opinion, which makes it feel passive. Give me something so that I can anticipate, and fear, the dangerous consequences of his -- possibly rash or cruel or foolish -- actions. <br /><br />Hope some of my comments were helpful.<br /><br />BTW, I love all the French names!<br /><br />And I can't wait to read Spirit Lens. I've already preordered it.<br /><br />Happy writing!<br /><br />Cheers,<br /><br />AnjaAnjanoreply@blogger.com