Two Notes, one reflection, and some noise

26Sep08

Notes from the Narrative Whiplash Wing

My brain still smarts from the gear change I put myself through in August. First I turned in a 95,000-word draft of the second novel to my editor at Del Rey, and then after WorldCon I started work on a very short story — maximum length: 2,000 words. A couple days ago I finished what I think is the final draft of “Glass”, a tale of mirror neurons, drugs, conscience, and psychopathic prisoners that squeaks in at 1,900 words. In about a month it’ll be appearing on the web and print editions of Technology Review Magazine. Not my usual venue, but I was pleased as punch that assistant editor Erica Naone invited me in. 

Oh, and my story “The Illustrated Biography of Lord Grimm” will be out next month in the original anthology Eclipse 2, edited by Jonathan Strahan. The table of contents is chock full of loveliness. 

(Cliff) Notes from the “I’ve Got Class” Department

Thanks to a connection made by My Favorite Nephew (Stephen Delafield, son of my good friend Gary, who earned that title years ago when the boy worked at Barnes & Noble and I heard that relatives could receive his employee discount), I was invited to inflict myself on a couple of creative writing classes at Penn State. So on Tuesday this week I woke up early to talk to the students of the poet Camille-Yvette Welsch. Evidently, and I’m a little shocked at how far standards have fallen since I was in school, there are college students who sign up for creative writing classes that meet at 8am—and show up for them. This just wasn’t done in my day. I excpected nothing but slack jaws, but really, the students were lovely, and asked a load of questions, from “how do you start” to “how do I find an agent” (answer: Go to a sci fi convention, kid, and walk into the hotel bar). I also read the opening scene of Pandemonium, as well as the short story “Unpossible”  – though with the second class I ran out of time before I could finish — donk. 

Noise from the Blog-Rhymes-with-Flog Echo Chamber

Reviews continue to roll in on Pandemonium, and jiminy, people are being nice. Here’s the latest from the San Francisco Chronicle, Chris Roberson, the Kansas City Star, ConNotations, Matt Stagg and the Watha T. Daniel Library (!). And for you Spanish-speaking folks, here’s a review by the coolest Colombian editor I know, Hernán Ortiz of Proyecto Liquido. 

And of course, I keep talking about myself. 

In the September edition of DRIN — the Del Rey Internet Newsletter — I opine about “plus 1″ stories and why I think Pandemonium is one. On Sci-Fi Wire I talk some more about myself. More online interviews are on the way. And in October I’ll even have a radio interview to talk about.  It’s a Festival of Me. 

Daryl on WPSU's Bookmark

In the WPSU studios, avec book and cheesy smile

 

Reflections from the Meta Mirror Room: State College Writers on State College Writers

Finally, flogging someone else’s book.

Back in May, 2008 I recorded a review of James Morrow’s The Philosopher’s Apprentice for the Bookmarks program on my local public radio station, WPSU. 

You can listen to the MP3 of the review.


Filed under: Blatant self-promotion, Pandemonium, Writers   |  1 Comment

The Pandemonium Synopsis vs The Ruthless Red Pencil

20Sep08

Friend and fellow-writer Joshua Palmatier has been organizing a pretty cool series of projects that are of interest to new writers, or anyone else curious about the unseemly sausage-making process that is book selling and publishing. First there was the Plot Synopsis Project, in which Joshua invited writers to post up the synopses of their books all on the same day, followed by the Query Letter Project. Now there’s Plot Synopsis Project Part 2, which I jumped on board for.  All the posts went live on September 19.

On my main site you can find four drafts of the Pandemonium synopsis. Why four? because it took me that long to do it adequately. And the only reason I know it was adequate is that I eventually found an agent and the book sold—so at the very least, the synopsis didn’t sabotage the novel entirely. 

Other writers participating in PSP Part 2:


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Signing my life away

13Sep08

Another one of those firsts that come along with a first novel: my first ever book signing, followed closely by my first ever book launch party. Both were a blast, and the turnout from friends and neighbors was a little mind-blowing. 

First, the signing, which was held at 3pm on Sunday, Sept. 7, and was put together by the wonderful Meredith Rogers, community relations manager at the State College Barnes & Noble. We think about a hundred people show up for my combination reading / signing / discussion. To start the Q&A, I handed out index cards with questions that Kathy had helpfully written out. Such as question #4: “There’s a steamy sex scene in chapter 14. Who were you thinking of?” And  #5, a followup to #4: “You have children who can read. They have friends who can also read. So… what were you thinking?” (Okay, I admit it was a double scam: I wrote the questions myself.)

Henry Gong took these pictures (thanks, Henry!)

Exercising my extroversion at the Q&A
Signing and Smiling
Signing for Pat, Marnie, Steve, and other folks in line

Yes, I'm near-sighted.

We sold out of all the books B&N had on hand, as well as 19 books I’d brought from my publisher (Meredith sold those, and she paid me back in books when her next shipment arrived). Frankly, the best kind of problem to have. 

Then after 90 minutes of signing (I sign as slowly as I write fiction), it was off to the really fun part, the beer and chili party at my house. We had over a hundred people wandering through. At one point, Jim Morrow asked me, “So, all these people were strangers before now?” I said, “Yep, they were all brought together by the power of literature and a love of science fiction.”  Jim said, “Well, it looks like they’re bonding.”

Jim, his wife, Kathy, and son Chris had stopped by on their way home from Pittsburgh (they hadn’t even turned in their rental car yet or freed their dog from the kennel). And so many other friends! Our neighbors, my coworkers from Minitab, the various psychologists we hang with, various Delafields, and the random assortment of folks we’ve met over the course of 18 years in this town. I got a little verklempt. 

A shoutout to all the people who helped this thing come together. We borrowed tables and chairs from our neighbors the Heiningers (who, conveniently enough, had just rented a load of them for David Heininger’s retirement party two nights before). Altheda Hughes and Jody Crust made extra chili, Wendy Moran and Kimber Hershberger made cookies, and my mother and sisters sent an edible bouquet (but strangely, no edible underwear), my daughter’s boyfriend Mark stayed late to stack tables… and probably lots of other people I’m forgetting. Oh, my kids — they were great. But most of all, my thanks goes to my local PR agent, that Lady O’ the Lists, the supremely organized whirlwind known as Kathy Bieschke. I am stunned.

My only complaint about the whole affair is that people didn’t drink enough beer. I have enough in my house to support several more parties. Which raises an interesting question…


Filed under: Blatant self-promotion, Pandemonium   |  1 Comment

5 Things

20Aug08

Some things that have been on my mind, or recently escaped from it:

  • I want my Sean Stewart. On the SF Novelists blog a few days ago, I wrote an open letter to Sean Stewart demanding that he stop working on ground-breaking interactive games and write new novels. I don’t think it’ll work, but dammit, I love his books, and nobody said bloggers have to be rational.
  • Russians, however, want Georgia and Pandemonium. The Russian rights to the book sold weeks ago, evidently prompting them to invade countries that do not support new science fiction.
  • Books are here! Del Rey sent my author’s copies, and they’re lovely to look at it. At WorldCon, Borderlands Bookstore owner Alan Beatts told me I’d won the cover lottery, and explained how the cover “read” very well from 10 feet away. So, let me give another shout out to Greg Ruth, the cover artist.
  • You can get your own at the Book Launch Party. Come to Barnes & Noble of State College on Sunday, September 7, at 3pm, then over to my house for beer and chili — directions to the homestead will be distributied at the signing, or you can email me.

Filed under: Blatant self-promotion, Pandemonium   |  9 Comments

Packing for WorldCon 2008

31Jul08

So I’m trying to get my act together for this year’s World Science Fiction Convention — AKA Denvention 3 — taking place next week in Denver. I just got word that I’ll be one of the featured writers at a “Rising Stars” reception on Thursday afternoon, and I’m hoping to get a few advanced copies of Pandemonium to sell or give away there.

The rest of the time will be serving on a couple panels, hanging out with friends, doing a couple of interviews with websites and magazines, hanging out with friends some more, and mooching a free meal off my publisher. Del Rey editor Liz Schier is hosting a dinner for several of Del Rey’s authors, including the legendary Fred Pohl. Pohl worked with Arthur C. Clarke’s notes to produce The Last Theorem, what will be Clarke’s last novel.  (There’s an interesting interview about the book with Pohl and others in this recent Chicago Tribune article.) The book was edited by my editor, Chris Schluep — so that’s one degree of separation for now, and zero degrees once I meet him.

Dinner with Fred Pohl, people! It doesn’t getter cooler than that.

Oh, if you’re going to Denvention, here’s my schedule:

Thursday, 8/7, 11:30 am

104: Panel: Science Fiction & Religion: How readers and writers mix the two
CCC - Room 504

Religion and science fiction can be an uneasy mix. Readers can sometimes read the story through their own preconceptions - how does the writer handle this? Can you successfully make religion the foundation of a story? — (m) Alexis Glynn Latner, Daryl Gregory, Janice Gelb, Samantha Henderson

Thursday, 8/7, 1:00pm

154: Signing (45 minutes) –
CCC - Hall D

Thursday, 8/7 — afternoon — Rising Stars Reception

Saturday, 8/9, 4:00 pm

547: Panel: A Passion for Electronic Publishing
CCC - Korbel Room 501

Why should we prefer electronic publishing to other formats such as audio, video, or paper copies? Will eBooks open up the publishing market to new talent? How can we convince mainstream publishers to add eBooks to their repertoire?
Daryl Gregory, (m) Jim Minz, Peter Bullock


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Pandemonium Launch Party

29Jul08

Books, beer, and chili, people!

If you’re in the State College area on Sunday, September 7, 2008 you’re invited to the Pandemonium Two-Stage Launch party.

Stage One will be a reading and signing at the State College Barnes & Noble at 3pm. B&N will have books on hand for sale.

Then afterward — Stage Two, if you’re digging the organizational structure I’ve laid down in this post — we’ll have everyone over to my house at around 4:30 for appetizers, beer, lesser beverages, and chili. The chili will be provided in two spice levels, “Sane” and “Demonic.”  (Persons possessed by vegetarianism will also be accommodated.) If you need to skip the B&N portion, just show up at the house around 4:30. If you’ve pre-ordered a book, just bring it to the house and I’ll sign it there.

For directions to the house, email me at daryl.gregory@gmail.com. Hope you can come!

My thanks to B&N’s Meredith Rogers for hosting the signing, and to my in-house public relations manager, Kathy Bieschke, for hosting the Stage Two party.


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Reading at ReaderCon

25Jul08

A couple of days ago at ReaderCon 2008 I did my first ever reading from Pandemonium. Two scenes, one of which involved singing. (Note to self: skip the singing next time.) 

Reading at ReaderCon

Reading at ReaderCon -- click to see the full-size version (with annotations)

I’d like to personally think all the people who showed up. Most people who say that—I’m thinking Celine Dion here—aren’t really going to think everyone personally. She’s a big ol’ French-Candian liar. But me, I totally can. Why? Because there were only five of you in the room, and all of you I begged personally to show up, even offering bribes. So:

Elaine Isaak, you’re a champ and I still owe you a non-beer beverage. David Louis Edelman, nobody looks better in a hat, and I still have to buy you something wet as well.  Sarah K. Castle, thanks for making time in the middle of what was for you a weekend-long family reunion. Sandra McDonald, you’re a star. No, you are! No, you are…And Paolo Bacigalupi, stop heckling me.


Filed under: Blatant self-promotion, Pandemonium   |  4 Comments

Short and Sweet Interview with PW

08Jul08

More blatant self-promotion: Publisher’s Weekly ran this interview with me today about what the heck I was thinking of when I wrote Pandemonium.

Some day I should write something in this blog that doesn’t involve flogging the new novel.

So… How ’bout them Cubs?


Filed under: Blatant self-promotion, Pandemonium   |  3 Comments

Starred Review from Publisher’s Weekly

07Jul08

Well, this is pretty cool. Publisher’s Weekly, the industry’s leading news and review publication, gave Pandemonium a starred review. (And already I can hear my Mom wondering what a star means, and I don’t really know. My rough count says that about 10% of the reviews get a star.  So, harder to get than a star from Mrs. Melbaum, my kindergarten teacher, but much easier to get than a star on the Walk of Fame.)

Here’s the review:

Believable characters, a multilayered plot and smooth prose define Gregory’s darkly ambitious debut novel. In this fascinating alternative time line, thousands of demon possessions have been carefully recorded by scientists each year since the 1950s. Each case is always the same: a recognizable, named “strain of the disorder” possesses a person, wreaks havoc and then jumps on to its next victim. Del Pierce’s case is unique: when the Hellion possessed him at the age of five, it never left. Now an unhappy 20-something, Del undertakes a dangerous quest to exorcise the Hellion as it fights him for control. The trim prose keeps the pace intense and the action red hot through some emotionally disturbing scenes and heavy backstory. Absorbing psychological discussions of possession abound, from Jungian archetypes to the eye of Shiva. Readers will delve deeply into Gregory’s highly original demon-infested reality and hope for a sequel. (Sept.)  PW page.

My only problem? The next book (the latest draft of which is going to my publisher on August 1) has nothing to do with the world of Pandemonium.

I did an interview with one of the PW reporters a few weeks ago — I’m not sure when they’ll be running that.


Filed under: Pandemonium   |  9 Comments

First reviews and quantum cats

16May08

Consider Schrodinger’s famous cat, hovering between life and death until someone opens the box to observe it.  Now consider the first novel, after it’s been sent to reviewers, but before a review has been posted.

You can see why that can be stressful. Have I written a deceased feline, or a lively one? Or is it merely half-dead– say, a cat missing a major organ or two?

Now, I’m not one to put my self esteem into the hands of reviewers. (I put that into the hands of my dog, who loves me unconditionally, even if I forget to feed her. ) But still, what writer doesn’t want his or her book to be liked?

A couple weeks ago my publisher sent out the advance review copies of Pandemonium. I’d been too busy to think about it much (a slight lie) because I was cramming to finish the first draft of my new book. But I happened to notice (okay, I happened to google for “Pandemonium” and my own name) that a few of the reviewers out there who keep blogs had received the book, and one had read the opening. But there hadn’t been a review yet.

Until this morning, when my old editor, since moved on to another publishing house, sent me a link to this article on the Agony Column, an sf book review site.

The short answer: to at least one observer, the cat shows signs of life. If I could I would stop there– take my one positive review and tell everybody to drive safe and tip their waitress — but there are more reviews to come (I think). And then of course, it will be up to the opinion of the people who really get to decide whether you get to publish a second book, or a third one– the readers. But they won’t get the book until August 26.

So, the quantum indeterminancy continues. The cat is out of the bag. Or box. And if it turns out that the cat is decomposing, at least my dog likes my compositions.


Filed under: Pandemonium   |  7 Comments
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