Happy Friday, everyone! I thought I’d toss out an open thread for you to ask me questions and also to let me know what topics or questions you’d like me to write about in more detail. All writing and creativity and publishing and book-related (and possibly other, if I know anything about it) stuff is fair game.
And since I know it’s been a week of scary, stressful news (my thoughts are with the people of Ukraine and all those directly impacted), here’s a quote borrowed from Terri Windling’s wonderful Myth and Moor:
"To be hopeful in bad times is not just foolishly romantic. It is based on the fact that human history is a history not only of cruelty, but also of compassion, sacrifice, courage, kindness. What we choose to emphasize in this complex history will determine our lives. If we see only the worst, it destroys our capacity to do something. If we remember those times and places -- and there are so many -- where people have behaved magnificently, this gives us the energy to act, and at least the possibility of sending this spinning top of a world in a different direction."
- Howard Zinn
It’s easy when you’re a creative person to fall into the trap of facing the page or whatever you’re doing and finding it feels less important in the face of things like actual war. But creating is a hopeful act, and creative work is one of the things that helps us survive — both as creators and people who read and watch and listen. Stories bring us other journeys, other emotions. And that is important. As is how we behave in our own little corners of the world. Thanks to all of you for being part of mine.
Here’s a Phoebe helpfully standing on the Match Made in Hell books. What a kittyspokesmodel!
Now, what do you want to know? Leave a comment to ask or tell. And please feel free to share and recommend Shaken & Stirred to your friends. I hope you all have a fantastic weekend.
p.s. I'll start us off with what I'm reading at the moment -- I just started Dead Collections by Isaac Fellman which is a vampire love story and really beautiful so far. And then I'm moving to an art crime book for research (for a novel, not for crime).
This is just lovely. My question is this. What art are you taking in--reading, listening, watching--that is providing comfort or solace in this scary time?
My question is about the business if publishing. Do you consult a lawyer before signing a contract? Is there something no one really talks about when people talk about writing as a busines?
I am still bummed we never got another fantastic Young Lois Lane book from you :-( If you can, can you tell us if you were going to have Lois discover Clark's secret? What would have been your plans for our intrepid journalist and her beau? I just loved her and them so much!
Feb 27, 2022·edited Feb 27, 2022Liked by Gwenda Bond
How did you get started writing IP? Is it somethine...anyone could do, provided they had strong samples? I've seen a lot of talk about in in Twitter, but I'm still not clear. And what was the process of pitching to Audible like? What did it entail?
And are Sally, Izzy, and Puck good dogs??! Of course they are, but give them a pet for me.
p.s. I'll start us off with what I'm reading at the moment -- I just started Dead Collections by Isaac Fellman which is a vampire love story and really beautiful so far. And then I'm moving to an art crime book for research (for a novel, not for crime).
This is just lovely. My question is this. What art are you taking in--reading, listening, watching--that is providing comfort or solace in this scary time?
Of course I live with you, so this is for the benefit of other readers. As for myself, I'm playing a lot of tabletop RPGs via virtual tables.
My question is about the business if publishing. Do you consult a lawyer before signing a contract? Is there something no one really talks about when people talk about writing as a busines?
My question is HI PHOEBE CAN I PET PHOEBE?
I am still bummed we never got another fantastic Young Lois Lane book from you :-( If you can, can you tell us if you were going to have Lois discover Clark's secret? What would have been your plans for our intrepid journalist and her beau? I just loved her and them so much!
How did you get started writing IP? Is it somethine...anyone could do, provided they had strong samples? I've seen a lot of talk about in in Twitter, but I'm still not clear. And what was the process of pitching to Audible like? What did it entail?
And are Sally, Izzy, and Puck good dogs??! Of course they are, but give them a pet for me.