Tuesday, September 25, 2007

PEMBERLEY HOUSE - 9/25/07

I heard from the Powers That Be today regarding the manuscript, and they are Pleased.

For my part, I am Relieved and Thrilled. Mostly Relieved.

Saturday, September 15, 2007

Farmer Immersion: A PEMBERLEY HOUSE reading list

These are the books I've read in preparation for writing The Evil in Pemberley House--or in many cases, reread. Some of them I am reading simultaneously in order to help maintain the mood.

By Philip José Farmer
  • Tarzan Alive (of course)--I've lost track of how many times I've read this. 5 or 6?
  • Doc Savage: His Apocalyptic Life--ditto.
  • A Barnstormer in Oz (2)
  • The Dark Heart of Time: A Tarzan Novel (2)
  • Escape from Loki: Doc Savage's First Adventure (3)
  • Love Song (1)--highly recommended if you've never read it.
  • The Other Log of Phileas Fogg (4)
  • Time's Last Gift (4)
  • Image of the Beast (2)
  • Blown (2)
  • Traitor to the Living (1)
  • The Adventure of the Peerless Peer (4 or 5?)
And the others....
  • Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen (1)
  • The Man of Bronze by Lester Dent (3 or 4?)
  • The Golden Peril by Harold Davis & Lester Dent (1)
  • The Golden Man by Lester Dent (1)
  • They Died Twice by Lester Dent (1)
  • "The Adventure of the Priory School" by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (3 or 4)
  • "The Adventure of Charles Augustus Milverton" by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (2)
  • Tarzan of the Apes by Edgar Rice Burroughs (2)
  • The Return of Tarzan by Edgar Rice Burroughs (2)

Wednesday, September 5, 2007

Pemberley feedback

I had an interesting exchange with one of the folks here, which I'll reproduce in part:

Blog member:
"All I can tell you about is whether I can follow the story and if it makes sense. Or if I hit a sentence that I have to read two or three times before I understand it.

Anyway, if you don't think having all this input will just drive you to distraction, then I'd be happy to read the chapters as you go along. I will be reading it on a different level than most of the others. While they will get most of the WN references, and enjoy the book because of them, I will not get most of them and therefore will almost be reading it like someone not familiar with the WNU. It will be interesting to see how the book is when you don't know all the really cool background information.

Does that make any sense? So does Pemberley work if someone only recognizes a few of the WN references and therefore doesn't know all the background of the story."


And my response:
"I think it would be great if you read it from the perspective of, does it tell a good story and does it work if someone is not immediately familiar with all the WN references? Also, I am trying not to overwhelm the reader with too many references, and am trying to slip the background mythology in as part of the natural storytelling.

I think you could also tell me if you think I deviate from Phil's style too much anywhere. It would be interesting to see if you can discern where I start writing. I am not actively and consciously trying to emulate Phil's style, but am hoping to capture or get close to it via osmosis.

I am comfortable enough with the state of the latest chapters to send them Phil and Bette; if I get input from you that calls for changes, I can still make them down the road."


So there you have it. I have two takers for chapters 1-9, so I will send them out today.

Thanks.

Tuesday, September 4, 2007

Pemberley House Chapters 1-9

Chapters 1-9 are now in good, 2nd draft shape. I find it easier to write a several chapter chunk, then set it aside for a few days, come back to it and proof/edit, and then move on to the next chunk.

Or perhaps that's just an artifact of needing to send sets of chapters to certain reviewers in Peoria in digestible amounts.

Either way, it works.

I haven't heard from anyone regarding whether they are interested in previews as the novel is written, or whether folks prefer to wait for the final.

As I said in a previous post, my feelings won't be hurt if no one wants to see in-progress previews. But I would like to know one way or another, so that I can either continue to offer the previews or dispense with them.

Thanks.