Category Archives: Cold Fire

A quick update

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I’m basically on hiatus (although you can find me on Twitter, tumblr, and Facebook where I keep up some connection to the rest of the world) until I finish revisions for COLD STEEL.

I’m almost done, at which point my editor reads again and decides if there is anything else she wants me to do. Then the long process of putting the book through production begins.

Semi-regularly posting will resume at the end of the month, when the mass market (small format) paperback of COLD FIRE is released. If you’ve been waiting for the less expensive edition of book two, it will be available then — the ebook has already dropped in price.

I leave you with fanart of Cat and Rory (if you follow me on the above social networks, you’ll already have seen this link). I only link to fanart if the artist has themself brought it to my attention.

 

Possibly my only bookstore signing this year: July 28

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Just one more reminder:

I will be signing with Lynn Flewelling at Mysterious Galaxy Redondo Beach on

Saturday 28 July, 2:30 pm.

I will be reading from Cold Steel.

I will also have a very few copies of the paper pamphlet of the Cold Fire bonus chapter 31.5 (you know which one if you’ve read the book).

I would be delighted to see you there if you live in the area. If you don’t live in the area, you can still get a signed copy of the book (personalized to you or anyone else, if you wish, although that is not required) through Mysterious Galaxy if you order ahead of time. They’ll then have me sign it while I’m in the store.

 

ALSO: I’m basically on hiatus from posting until I have completed the revisions for Cold Steel. I probably will reappear online at the end of August in time for the release of the mass market paperback (and lower ebook priced) edition of Cold Fire. I do intend to maintain a light presence on Twitter and Facebook and, to a lesser extent, on tumblr. If you’re on tumblr, feel free to ask me questions there. Actually, feel free to ask me questions here, too. Like: Is your daughter bugging you to write a YA series with her? Why, yes, she is! We even have a concept, as one does these days. A HIGH CONCEPT. Now all we need is a plot.

 

Maps (and miscellaneous)

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1) Thank you to all who offered recommendations for light, humorous reading material. It is much appreciated. I’m going to get a selection of things and then see what sticks. Should be fun.

2) The winner of the copy of THE SHADOWED SUN by N.K. Jemisin was Kate P from the UK. Congrats!

3) There is a map of Europa in Cold Magic, and a map of North Amerike and the Antilles in Cold Fire. There may be a slightly more detailed map of Europa (or at least a part of it) in Cold Steel. Here’s your chance to request other map subjects, if indeed you have any. Is anyone interested in a map of the cities of Adurnam or Expedition?

I know that some love maps, some are indifferent, and some dislike them. That’s as it should be.

I personally like maps, because I’m geeky that way but also because I process information both visually and kinesthetically, and thus maps make it easier for me to negotiate certain kinds of plots. Yet with other stories, I don’t even think of wanting a map. I wonder if there is a kind of story that seems more to benefit by a map while others just don’t have any call for them.

There are narratives in which there are things about the world you can’t learn from the story but which you can glimpse if the book includes a map, so in that sense a map can add a bit of extra dimension to a world. One of the challenges of writing the Spiritwalker books in first person is that there is a lot of information about the world that can never get into the narrative because it isn’t something a) the narrator would reflect on much less know &/or b) that is necessary to the plot.

In world building as it happens on the page, I believe there is another way at looking at “mapping.” By this I don’t necessarily mean an actual drawn graphic map as a representation of a place, but a map of geography and society and history that is created in the mind of the reader as s/he walks through the story.

Secondary world stories (a term commonly used to describe stories that are set in worlds that are not this world) have to walk a fine balance. If you pile in too much detail, then it slows down the pace and drive of the story (I’m not immune to this writing flaw). However, if you put in too little detail, then the danger becomes that readers will mentally fall back to a “standard.” That is, they may read onto the world a kind of generic medieval-Europe (or British Victorian or whatever) setting regardless if that is the one there. If a story is set in a Europe-inspired setting, then this is not a problem. But if the story is not meant to be set in that landscape, the writer (I think) has to invest a little more detail and explanation to differentiate their world from the sort of world people so often expect to see in, say, fantasy novels. Of course, again, too much detail and the narrative bogs down. The endless cycle thereby continues: What to show? What to leave out?

How do you write or read through this balance?

 

Long Update & Linkage: January 2011

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Work proceeds on Cold Steel (Spiritwalker 3) which will, indeed, complete the Spiritwalker Trilogy. It’s going slowly because it is complex, but I’m pleased with my progress even though I wish it were writing more quickly. However, my chief goal is to write the best book I can, rather than the speediest book I can.

Strangely, google’s search engine is currently blocking my web page (and therefore also my wordpress site, which is on my web page) from all searches, but it is still there at (if you’re reading this on Live Journal) at www.kateelliott.com

Other search engines like Bing and Yahoo do still find the web site and wordpress blog. We are looking into it but have yet to get a satisfactory response from google.

Meanwhile, I expect to be online less than usual until I complete a draft of Cold Steel. I’m seriously considering a couple of pieces of short fiction in the Spiritwalker world as well to go with the Rory short story, one featuring Rory and one featuring Bee (the tale promised at the end of Cold Fire, in fact).

I do intend to write a series of posts on World Building but I really can’t work on them concertedly until I have a complete draft of Cold Steel in hand.

In the meantime, I don’t intend to post on my blog much until 1) said draft is complete and 2) the google search engine issue is resolved.

However, you can find me on Twitter, Facebook, and Tumblr. (although honestly I’m not there as often as I have been either due to, you know, needing to write)

Do please feel free to ask me anything, here or on Tumblr or the other social media (although I realize not everyone is on the various social media — no reason anyone should be on any of them). Answering a direct question is generally a little easier than coming up with “dedicated” posts. Also, I’m answering email at kate.elliott at sff.net

I’ll finish with four links to reviews, just because (there are other reviews I would love to link to but I’ll limit myself). Be aware that any or all of these reviews may contain spoilers for those who don’t care for that type of thing.

Beyond Victoriana: A Multicultural Perspective on Steampunk: “Characters with white, brown, and black complexions and curly tight hair, coarse braided hair, and thin hair swept up in lime-washed spikes bring racial diversity to the story.” [I was so very pleased to be reviewed on this blog.]

A one star review of Cold Fire at Fangs for the Fantasy: “The problem is that Elliot never uses 1 or 2 words where she can insert 10.”  [I have to say this is probably the single most consistently seen criticism of my writing throughout my career. I want to note that this is a very thoughtful review by a careful reader, thus proving the adage that just about any review that engages thoughtfully with the material is a “good review” regardless of whether the reviewer ultimately liked or disliked the book.]

Fantasy Book Cafe gives Cold Fire a super positive review so click through at your own risk if you don’t want to feel the love. “Also, Cat can be quite funny (especially when drunk).” [A scene I very much enjoyed writing.]

Finally, this review of Cold Magic/Fire on tumblr has what may be the best “single sentence description of the Spiritwalker books that we can’t quote on the book” ever. It reads best in context.

There’s a part of me that feels it is wrong for me to link to positive mentions of my work like the ones above, as if I am thereby somehow self aggrandizing or bragging or trying to act like I’m better than others or something. This is some of the baggage I carry from growing up as a girl in the 60s and 70s. I’m not quite sure from whence it stems, and I can certainly only speak to my own experience. Partly, it seemed to me that girls were meant to do well but never excel more than boys and certainly if they did excel weren’t ever to say anything of it because it was unseemly and boastful and something one ought to be ashamed of. In fact, there is a little piece of my psyche that feels ashamed (yes: ashamed!) when I read a review like the really fabulous one from Fantasy Book Cafe. This little bit of my psyche rubs alongside the part that is gratified and thrilled by reading a review that gets the things I have been hoping readers will get, as well as the part of the psyche that secretly feels I did a good job and deserve to see some good reviews, as well as the part that is always saying “but I need to do better next time because I can see all the things I did wrong!” We contain multitudes, as the poet said. So me and my multitudes are headed back to work.

My thanks to all of you readers. I mean that quite seriously.

I leave you with this excerpt from Cold Steel:

     When one of Kofi’s brothers appeared escorting Rory and Aunty’s granddaughter Lucretia, I sighed with relief that Rory had made it here safely. Then I saw that he was holding Luce’s hand in a most inappropriately intimate manner, their fingers intertwined like those of a courting couple. I rose, feeling a towering rage coming on that diverted me from my other looming problems.
Rory released Luce’s hand. He sauntered right past me to greet the older women, his smile as bright as the lanterns. With his lithe young man’s body well clad in one of Vai’s fashionable dash jackets and his long black hair pulled back in a braid, he surely delighted the eye. The men watched in astonishment but I knew what was coming. He offered chastely generous kisses to the women’s cheeks and tender pats to their work-worn hands.
“My apologies. I mean no offense by charging in to your territory without an invitation. But I must obey my sister. You understand how it is with a sister who speaks a bit sharply to one even though she is the younger and ought, I should suppose, look up to her older brother. Please, let me thank you. Your hospitality honors and humbles me. The food smells so good. I’m sure I’ve never smelled better. ” He had routed two already and turned to the remaining skeptic. “That fabric is beautifully dyed, and looks very well with your complexion, Aunty.”
A cavalry charge at close quarters could not have demolished their resistance more devastatingly. He turned his charm on the old men, drawing them out with irresistable questions about their proud and memorable youth.

Rory gets his own story, plus a giveaway

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For months now I have been promising a short story about Rory, Cat’s half brother who is a sabertooth cat.

It is now finished, and you can find it right here on this website by clicking through onto the Extras page. Or by clicking here.

Also, until Dec 17 there is a giveaway on this guest post now up on the excellent book blogging site, BookSmugglers.

I also mention three 2011 books that were among my favorites of the year as part of Book Smugglers’ Smugglivus celebration.

Cold Fire Word Cloud & NaNoWriMo Day 1 (2011)

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For the first day of NaNoWriMo I offer up the Cold Fire Word Cloud. Click through to see the Cold Fire Wordle

Today included some discussion of the problem of too much research and/or worldbuilding bogging down stories. It’s received wisdom, and I think reasonably true, that YA calls for less world building on the page. My one concern about that is that by stripping out too much world building in an sffh YA setting, one unintended result is that the setting smooths more and more into a default generic American or Euro/Am.

Wordage:

1250 on Cold Steel (for the first day after a week off as I get back into the flow, that’s decent; I’m aiming for 2K/day).

850 on my new secondary project, which I’m doing in part to write something I have no expectations of, so I can get more relaxed into writing for the pure pleasure of working on a story for the delight of the process. This does NOT mean I don’t enjoy writing Cold Steel. It’s just that writing the first draft of Cold Steel has a lot more built in pressure because of expectations raised by the first two books.

Extras in the Spiritwalker world of Cold Fire

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In the USA/North American region, September 26 is the official release day for COLD FIRE, Spiritwalker 2. The print version has been available for about twelve days, but the ebook versions are just being released now as the clock ticks over in the various time zones. (The UK/Aus/NZ version has been out in both print and ebook form since 1 September.)

I have written a bonus chapter for COLD FIRE which takes place during the course of the book but which is not in the published version because the chapter is not written from Cat’s point of view (she otherwise narrates the entire story) and because it contains explicit sexual content. In fact, I believe I have never written any sex scene as explicit as this one is. One might go so far as to call it smut in some circles. And I totally own that.

I wrote it for no other reason than that it wanted to be written. Because it belongs in this story and no where else (it is not a standalone short story nor will it have any emotional resonance for a reader who is not familiar with the narrative and characters), I offer it online for those who are interested.

For those who choose to read it: Enjoy!

Updated to add: I do have pamphlet style paper copies of the chapter, some of which I signed and gave to people who bought copies of the book at the Powells signing on Sept 20 (and who preordered the book from Powells before the signing). I still have a number of the paper pamphlets, and I will be signing them in person for people — my next signing will be at Mysterious Galaxy in San Diego on Wednesday 26 October during their pre-World Fantasy Convention Open House at the store (open to all!) from 6:30 – 8:30pm. I will also sign some copies for booksellers in the WFC dealers room, and I will post afterward which dealers may have copies of COLD FIRE signed and with the bonus pamphlet.

 

Cold Fire Spoiler Thread

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If you want to discuss Cold Fire, Cold Magic, and the Spiritwalker Trilogy so far, OR if you want to ask specific questions about either of the books or the series, this is a place you can do so, with spoilers.

I’ll start with a great line from a very thoughtful review of COLD FIRE over on abookandashortlatte:

Though I was initially disappointed to read what appeared to be the start of yet another love triangle, I am so glad Elliott included it in this installment, for it is one of the only instances I have encountered where the triangle was not merely a plot device.

Also, over at the Orbit Books blog, I’ve posted on the subject “Why the first chapter of Cold Fire covers much the same ground as the last chapter of Cold Magic.”

Don’t forget there is an extra chapter, which I plan to post online after all editions and regions of the English-language-edition are available. For now, email me if you want the chapter and I’ll email the file to you.

If you want a paper copy (pamphlet designed by Lucy Softich), come (or send a minion) to my signing (with the most excellent Blake Charlton, of Spellbound and Spellwright fame) at Powells, Portland OR (Beaverton branch) 20 September 7 pm. OR order a signed copy via Powells before the signing which will come with the pamphlet of the extra chapter.

I will also be attending an open house for writers at Mysterious Galaxy in San Diego on Wednesday 26 October 630 – 830 pm, and I will have the pamphlet there as well. And also at World Fantasy Convention in San Diego (October 27 – 30).

Cold Fire is now available in the USA

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Unexpectedly, I woke up this morning to find COLD FIRE shipping in the USA from Barnes & Noble and Amazon (the only two places I checked). That’s for the paper version. The lay-down date (date it was originally scheduled to be placed on shelves for sale) is Sept 26, and indeed the e-book versions will evidently not release until that date.

As for other bookstores, like the wonderful independent bookstores I love to give business to, I just don’t know, but you can call or visit and check.

This does preempt my once-generous offer to sign pre-release copies at the Sept 20 signing at Powells Bookstore (Cedar Hills branch) in Portland, Oregon, but life is full of these sorts of surprises. I mean, I’ll still lovingly sign mail-ordered copies at Powells and enclose a physical copy of the bonus chapter with each book ordered from there. And it is still the only place I’m doing a signing for Cold Fire (as of now, although I will be in San Diego for World Fantasy Convention at the end of October).

So I guess this is by default some manner of book release day.

I hope you guys enjoy the novel. I did a massive amount of revision on this novel, and as much research as I could manage, although I have to say that I literally could not have written the book it became without the help of Dr. Fragano Ledgister and Dr. Kurtis Nishimura (as well as my son Alexander and my other beta readers, the list of whom is too extensive to list here, but I love all you guys).

I have two favorite lines in the book, both of which only work in context, so I won’t quote them here except to say that one includes the word “cow” and the other includes the word “goose.”

Oh, hey, I’m going to add a link to one of my favorite lovely and generous songs and its beautiful video, Balance (by Sara Tavares). I would embed it here from YouTube if I knew how (haven’t done that yet), but meanwhile, the link leads to the fabulosity.

Balance by Sara Tavares

Watching ATLA, Cold Fire the First Chapter, & Comfort Food

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Later this week, I will begin a series of posts in which I describe my reactions to watching Avatar: The Last Airbender (the animated series). I haven’t seen the series before, my children were in high school when it came out, and we didn’t have cable anyway, so Nickelodeon was inaccessible to us at the time regardless. My goal is to post once a week, late on Wednesday night my time, and I hope interested parties will join in a discussion. I was put up to this by a person on Twitter. He knows who he is.

The first post will cover episodes 1 and 2, since together they comprise a single introductory story. Join me!

 

Orbit Books has posted the first chapter of COLD FIRE and you can find it HERE.

 

I’ve contacted the winners of the Cold Fire giveaway but I won’t announce until I’ve heard back from all of them.

I really want to thank everyone who entered, because I have to say that reading your descriptions of comfort food was some of the best reading I’ve done this year. Also, it made me hungry and contented at the same time, no small feat.

Of course no discussion of comfort food is complete without a photo, this one courtesy of Melanie Ujimori.