Mid-March 2024 - I was promised sea monsters
where are my sea monsters?
Hi Everyone,
I expect The Lost Star Chart back from my editor this weekend, and I’m excited to dive into revisions.
In the mean time, I’ve been puttering away on a story bible for my Case Files - which are short, fun stories of investigations on Indigo Station (a space station where weird things happen). I’m working on a bunch of ideas for new stories which I’d like to weave together and having a story bible will help with that.
Maybe I should define what I mean by a story bible. I’m gathering up all the details about characters, places and events into one (messy) binder. I suspect I’ll even break down and draw up some maps to situate myself on the station. Putting this together is kinda fun, a nice easy task before I dive deep into more editing.
Reader expectations
I recently put down a book I was reading because it wasn’t delivering what the back promised. In this case, I was promised sea monsters. At a third of the way through all I’d gotten was Victorian ladies discussing Victorian society. I’m sure there would be sea monsters eventually, but I decided not to continue on.
This is actually the number one reason I put down books. If I’m promised action (and I like books with plenty of action), the last thing I want is endless discussions. If I’m promised one type of main character and they turn out to be a different type that I struggle to find interest in, I’m also likely to put that book down.
It all boils down to what’s in the book description—and they are very difficult to write. How does one summarize 80,000 words into two paragraphs and make it sound interesting? I find book descriptions harder to write than the book itself. But, they are critically important.
Have you ever put down a book because it didn’t contain what the back promised?
Something Awesome
These blobby specimens, by French artist Monsieur Cailloux, have captured my heart! And to add to their whimsy, they are based on the imaginary scientific study of life on planet MRCX—I always love an imaginary scientific expedition.
What I’m reading (that are true to what the back promised)
I just finished Star Trek: Picard: Firewall by David Mack. After the sea monster disappointment, I went for a book I knew would be exactly what I’d expect, and I wasn’t wrong about this one. There’s action and adventure combined with a great protagonist.
I’m working my way through A City on Mars: can we settle space, should we settle space, and have we really thought this through? by Kelly and Zach Weinersmith. It’s nonfiction, and as the title suggests, about settling space. So far, I’ve taken tones of notes for future stories. I might write a longer review once I’m done. As an added bonus, the book has made me snicker more than once.
Cheers,
Jeannette
There’s a lot of great promotions this month! A perfect time to pack your ereader.
My Books:
Hope is the Thing With Feathers - direct or from the shops
Encoded Orbits
Fractured Orbits - direct or from the shops
The Alien Algorithm - direct or from the shops
Subject 34 - direct or from the shops
Settler Chronicles
Day 115 on an Alien World - direct or from the shops
Far Side of the Moon - direct or from the shops
Abandoned Ships, Hijacked Minds - direct or from the shops
The Alien Artifact - direct or from the shops
And if you aren’t already a subscriber, what’s stopping you (especially if you have read this far)?
