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Robert Weinberg |
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BIO
Bob Weinberg sold his first short story when he was a junior in college in 1967 and hasn't stopped writing since. He has worked as a freelance newspaper journalist; contributed hundreds of articles for books and magazines on topics ranging from mathematics to collecting art; edited over a hundred anthologies; and authored sixteen books and numberous short stories.
A prolific author, Weinberg has written extensively in the horror, science fiction, humorous fantasies, and suspense genres. Recent short stories include "The Skeptic" in DARK DESTINY II from White Wolf; "The Apocalypse Quatrain" in the SECRET PROPHECIES OF NOSTRADAMUS from Daw Books; and "The Midnight El" in RETURN TO THE TWIGHLIGHT ZONE from Daw. His short story, "Endure the Night," has recently been optioned for film.
His latest novel, THE ROAD TO HELL, published by White Wolf Books, is the first of a trilogy of novels collectively titled THE HORIZON WAR, based on the bestselling White Wolf game series, Mage: The Ascension. In early 1998, he changes direction with his new novel, THE TERMINATION NODE which is a near future computer thriller done for Ballantine Books.
Well known for his non-fiction, Weinberg has been nominated five times for the prestigious World Fantasy Award for his contributions to the field of fantastic literature. He won the award in 1978 for THE WEIRD TALES STORY, and again, in 1989 for his massive BIOGRAPHICAL DICTIONARY OF SCIENCE FICTION ARTISTS. His study of western writer, Louis L'Amour, THE LOUIS L'AMOUR COMPANION, was a bestseller in trade paperback and in mass market formats. His work as been translated into Japanese, French, Polish, Spanish, Italian, Russian, Roumanian, and Bulgarian.
An authority on genre fiction, Weinberg has edited over a hundred books in the science fiction, fantasy, horror, mystery, young adult, and western fields. He has written columns on all these branches of fiction and is a well-known lecturer at conventions and book discussion groups. He has acted as consultant on genre fiction for a number of paperback publishers and is widely regarded as one of the leading experts on horror and fantasy fiction in the world. His personal library of genre related material consists of over 25,000 items and is considered one of the finest collections of such literature ever assembled.
As an editor, he has compiled collections of stories by such diverse authors as Cornell Woolrich, Ray Bradbury, Louis L'Amour, Poul Anderson, Hank Searles, Carroll John Daly, and many others. Some of his most recent anthologies include 100 TINY LITTLE TERRORS from Barnes & Noble and BETWEEN TIME AND TERROR from ROC Books (a division of Penguin Books.)
Along with his writing and editing, Weinberg teaches a course in "Writing Thriller Fiction" for Columbia College of Chicago. Over the past several years, he has also been involved with the TV and movie industry, acting as a consultant for several horror and adventure television products. And, he served for two terms as vice-president of the Horror Writers Association.
Weinberg makes his home in Chicago's south suburbs where he lives with his wife Phyllis and son Matt.
The May '97
Q&A
JanCyberC: Bob...you've been writing fiction for quite a while now...is there any particular genre you prefer?
RWeinberg: Jan, I have always considered myself a thriller writer. No matter what type of book or story I write, I feel that basically they are thrillers
I have written fantasy, horror, sf and mystery. But all are thrillers. Even my humorous fantasy stuff are thriller style novels
JanCyberC: LOL. So you set out to write a thriller when you sit down to the keyboard...do you usually decide before hand...which genre you'll be writing in?
RWeinberg: Believe it or not, I have never written a story without a particular market already in mind. I usually write stuff that I am asked for and just about nothing on spec.
JanCyberC: Really...that's excellent. It hasn't always been that way for you though has it? When you were starting out?/ga
RWeinberg: I wrote stuff back in the 1960's which was just aimed at breaking into the sf magazines but when I started writing again in the 1980's, I started with novels. Sold them on proposals. Ever since, everything I have written has been done by people asking me for specific stuff. Or selling novels by a proposal. I am very mercenary in that sense that I do not like writing a story that has no definite market
JanCyberC: You're not a man who wastes his time then.
RWeinberg: Only at signings!
JanCyberC: LOLOL.
JanCyberC: I wouldn't say that's a waste of time...you had quiet a few fans at the signing I attended.
RWeinberg: I think I have three unpublished stories. All written for books that either were never published or had too many stories in all cases, though, I was paid for the story anyway.
JanCyberC: Ah...so would you suggest that new writers learn the art of the proposal letter?
RWeinberg: Unfortunately, the market now is much more difficult than it was a dozen years ago. And I did have some help selling my first book or two. I have a lot of friends in the writing community so I knew a lot of the editors who bought horror material before I submitted stuff
JanCyberC: So you were lucky to have contacts in the Horror Market when you started writing horror...Bob...why is the market worse now than it was then? horror seems to sell in waves, Jan. It is popular for a while, then slows down, then becomes popular again
RWeinberg: Also, a lot of publishers put out some pretty dreadful books and that hurts the field I think horror is starting to come back soon. There are more horror novels starting to appear lately and the sequel to Rosemary's Baby will energize the field too.
JanCyberC: That's very exciting Bob...I know that Rosemary's Baby caused quite an upswing and stir when it first came out.
RWeinberg: Rosemary's Baby is the second best selling novel of all time. Fourteen million copies sold
JanCyberC: Bob, I just finished reading the first book of your new trilogy THE ROAD TO HELL...can you tell me what got you interested in doing these books?
RWeinberg: Jan, actually when I was working on my third novel in my Vampire series for White Wolf, the publisher asked if I would like to do another trilogy. I proposed another vampire series, a follow-up to my first trilogy. Unfortunately, right around then, the game designer for White Wolf quit the company. White Wolf was not sure exactly what they wanted to do with vampire. So, the editor in chief of the book division asked me to focus my trilogy on another game.
Sweetkill: Was it Ryan who quit?
RWeinberg: Andrew Greenberg, Sweetkill. The guy who was the original developer of Vampire. So I developed a trilogy based on Mage and Werewolf. Then, the Werewolf developer, Bill Bridges, said he didn't want werewolves to be involved in mage novels so I rewrote the proposal to be just Mage
JanCyberC: It sounds like you went through an amazingly convoluted set of proposals to get this trilogy out Bob...when are the next two novels due to hit the stands?
RWeinberg: That was how it sold. Then afterwards I asked the publisher if I could use vampires again. And I did. The second book will be published in November. The third is sometime in 1998. The second book is finished, though I am waiting to see what the game designer thinks of it.
RedCyberC: How long have you been writting, Bob?
RWeinberg: I sold my first short story in 1967, Red. Then after a few more sales, wrote non-fiction for years as a sideline. I started writing fiction seriously again in 1986 have had 11 novels published since then, two non-fiction books, and a bunch of short stories.
Amp: What got you interested in writing horror?
RWeinberg: I like reading horror. And I think that it is the type of fiction that gets the most emotional response from your readers and you can have the best climaxes of any fiction go ahead
Sweetkill: How do you think of endings for your stories? Do you ever worry you're doing a bad one? Go ahead....
RWeinberg: Actually, I usually plan the endings of all my stories and novels first. When I teach creative writing, that is the first thing I tell my students. Plan the ending of your story first, and then you always know where you are headed. I wrote the final chapter of the Red Death trilogy before I wrote any of the novels, did some minor revising, but it is pretty much the way I planned it from the very beginning. I don't start writing a novel until I have an ending I like . ga.
Brian: What led lyou to get back into Mythos fiction, Bob?
RWeinberg: Brian, I was asked by several editors if I would contribute stories to Chaosium books. I have not written a mythos story in nearly 25 years. So I thought it would be fun I just finished my first one. I was supposed to be frightening. Unfortunately, it turned out to be funny! But I like it ga
Brian: Seems to be one of the few active horror markets nowadays, no"? ga
RWeinberg: Unfortunately, while there are a good number of Mythos books being published, they pay very poorly. I would hate to be a writer depending on my income at their pay rates. It is better than nothing, but not that much better! ga
Brian: Well said!
Sweetkill: Who's your mentor and how has he/she influenced your writing?
RWeinberg: Dean Koontz is the only writer I would consider my mentor. Not only did he review my earliest writings but he continues to give me good advice about the business of writing. Dean and I have been friends for more than 15 years and his advice has been a big plus in my career and Joe R. Lansdale has always given me great advice and been a good friend as well. ga
RedCyberC: Is writting more a labor or labor of love? /ga
RWeinberg: Red, I enjoy writing a lot. I truthfully like composing fiction, especially novels. It is work, but it is work I truly enjoy when I am working on a novel, I write seven days a week. I find myself feeling nervous when I am not working! ga
JanCyberC: Thanks Bob...Bob, though you write a lot of horror I hear you're coming out with something a little different next...am I correct that your next ... book is going to be Science Fiction? /ga
RWeinberg: Jan, I am working in collaboration with SF writer, Lois Gresh, on two near future techno-thrillers. They will be published by Del Rey in hardcover. They are borderline SF, as they are set in the future. The technology is somewhat advanced from today, but not a lot. Both books are about the computer field, in which Lois works. The first is called THE TERMINATION NODE and is about high-tech computer theft it will be published in spring 1998. ga
Sweetkill: Do you ever make a character somewhat based on a person in your personal life? . . . GA
AtvarHsial: If you had the chance to write with any author, living or dead, who would you choose?
RWeinberg: Sweetkill, I base lots of my characters on people I know or have met. And many of the names I use in my books are friends or relatives I also killed off several Vampire LARP people I knew in my vampire trilogy so they could see their names in print!
RWeinberg: Atvar> collaborating is difficult, but I would have enjoyed the opportunity to write with Robert E. Howard! Tho I suspect collaborating with Howard would have been difficult to say the least ga
Tabia: Flavia is a character that intrigued me quite a bit. Where did you get the inspiration for her?
RWeinberg: I think Flavia is one of those characters I have always wanted to write about. I have a tendancy (as my wife has noted) to like women in leather and I thought the Assamites were one of the most interesting of all clans in VtM so Flavia (and Fawn, her sister) came into being based on a lot of ideas I had been considering for a long time. In my humorous fantasy novels, A LOGICAL MAGICIAN and A CALCULATED MAGIC I have a very similar character. I guess I just find the concept of women with deadly fighting skills intriguing ga
AtvarHsial: What's the one story you wish YOU had written? /ga
RWeinberg: Oops, and I should mention of course, that Shadow of the Dawn in the Horizon Trilogy is another deadly woman. Too many to list, Atvar! but Queen of the Black Coast by Robert E. Howard is one. Shane, the western novel is another. Christmas Carol by Charles Dickins. Watchers by Dean Koontz Call of Cthulhu by Lovecraft...and on and on and on... !ga
Tabia: How would you write A Christmas Carol? Ga
RWeinberg: Tabia, I wouldn't change a word! (I think it is pretty perfect just the way it is. which is why I wish I had written it!) ga
JanCyberC: Thanks for joining us this evening, Bob!
RWeinberg: Thanks for inviting me, Jan
The June '98
Q&A
Bob hi Baryon
ZedCyberC Baryon would like to know: Will the Jules De Grandin books ever be reprinted?
Bob I doubt it, Baryon. There is talk of reprinting de Grandin in hardcovers, but nothing has come of it yet
ZedCyberC How much interest does it take to issue a reprint?
Bob more than there is at the moment, Zed
ZedCyberC Robert, please tell us a bit about THE HORIZON WAR trilogy...
Bob It's a trilogy set in White Wolf's World of Darkness. Specifically based on the storytelling games, MAGE and VAMPIRE THE MASQUERADE
Bob as with most of my books, it deals with a battle between good and evil with the fate of the world at stake
ZedCyberC Hmm...horror/fantasy mix?
Bob exactly, Zed.
ZedCyberC Sounds interesting, love that type
Bob I tried to write the books so that people unfamiliar with White Wolf material would still be able to read and enjoy the books
ZedCyberC Bob, do you prefer fantasy, SF, or horror?
Bob Zed, I like them all. I've written all three. Horror gives a writer the most chance to be dramatic I feel. But the other two fields are just as much fun
ZedCyberC I noted on your board that it appeared you mixed genres....
Bob my novel based on the computer game, DARK EARTH, mixes SF and fantasy, with a touch of horror. It will be out next year
ZedCyberC Is there a set amount you try to release a year?
Bob I write, publishers release! The DARK EARTH book is tied in with the release of the Playstation version of the game
ZedCyberC Playstation Game??
ZedCyberC That is intriguing...
Bob DARK EARTH was released in the USA as a computer game and seems to have been quite successful. So it is going to be released in a somewhat different version for Playstation, to reach a larger audience
Bob same people who also did NIGHTMARE CREATURES which was very popular for Playstation
JohnnyD What company marketed Dark Earth?
ZedCyberC Hmm, have not played those, but will look for!
Bob Johnny, I"m not sure who released it in the USA, but the game developer is Kalisto (from France)
JohnnyD I DLed a demo of Nightmare Creatures fron C|NET's DOWNLOAD.COM pretty cool game
Bob Part of my deal to write the DARK EARTH novel was that I got a trip to France to meet the game developers
JohnnyD Same type of game?
Bob more plot in Dark Earth. Spectacular graphics.
ZedCyberC Hmm, how much control do you have, when they convert to a game?
Bob Zed, the game came first (I got a test version). But, my novel was based on the basic background of the game, not the story. So I had pretty free reign to write what I liked
Bob fortunately, the game designers were fans of my White Wolf books. So they were very pleased that I agreed to work in their world
ZedCyberC Oh, I see. Is that an unusual premise? Working in an existing world?
Bob not anymore. no different than Star Trek novels, or Star Wars. I actually had more freedom, as I was able to take the novel in different directions than the game
JohnnyD would you ever consider a Star Wars novel?
Bob I would be quite happy to write one, Johnny.
ZedCyberC Hmm, Bob, is your writing targeted at a specific audience?
ZedCyberC Bob, what are you currently working on?
Bob at present, I'm co-writing THE COMPUTERS OF STAR TREK with my friend and co-author, Lois Gresh
ZedCyberC It is too bad she has not been able to join us, as yet, this evening, Bob!
Techyo Hi ALL!
Baryon Bob, we've met, I publish the fanzine Baryon and have done mail order with you over the years
Bob I though so, Bary
ZedCyberC Are there certain criteria in working in an existing universe, such as Trek?
Bob the Star Trek book is non-fiction, so most of the usual rules don't apply
JohnnyD non fiction Trek? sounds interesting
Bob usually, in writing in an existing universe, killing off a character is a no-no
ZedCyberC Ah, I had wondered about the guidelines, and staying within. Since Trek is so heavily licensed, does it have to be reviewed by Paramount?
ZedCyberC LOL, good point, Bob.
Baryon Any chance of more books in the Dark Man's Kiss series?
Bob I'd like to, Bary, but horror is in a downswing.
Baryon Enjoyed those immensely, read like pulp novels
Bob novels, do, Zed. But most non-fiction books are unauthorized, just based on the shows, so not covered by Paramount.
ZedCyberC Oh, did not realize that, thanks.
Bob like an unauthorized biography.
heshima Must be nice to have so many irons in the fire.
ZedCyberC I hear you are also a book, and art collector???
Bob we are writing our Computers of Trek book for Basic Books who published The Physics of Star Trek
Bob it is an ongoing obsession with me, Zed
ZedCyberC Hmm...computers of Trek? Is this slated as a paperback, or oversized?
Bob hardcover, Zed
Bob Physics of Star Trek sold 140,000 copies in hardcover. We are hoping for similar results
Baryon Do you think more publishers should follow White Wolfs policy of returning whole books and not stripping covers?
Bob I do, Bary, but doubt it will happen anytime soon.
Baryon Just trying to save a few trees
ZedCyberC Bob, perhaps you could explain 'stripping covers'?
Bob If stores would keep books in better condition, then full returns would work a little better
Bob Zed, when a bookstore decides a book has stopped selling, instead of returning the whole book to the publisher for credit..
Bob ... they just strip off the cover and return that. They get a credit on their bill for the unsold book, and throw away the actual book
ZedCyberC Ahh...so that is why they have the lil' message inside, denoting that 'If you purchase this book with no cover...' (or do they self-destruct? )
Techyo And the suprime court has ruled trash is anyones.
heshima That is sad but true
Bob the practice started to encourage bookstores to buy books that they otherwise might not order because they were afraid they would be stuck with them
ZedCyberC Hmm...so youngsters hang by the dumpster?
Folken Ah, that's a plus to the policy, then. Thought the return policy was a little strange.
Techyo So the books make it into circulation but without being sold.
Baryon Usually turn up at flea markets
Bob that is why you see so many hardcovers as remainders. because hardcovers must be returned complete for credit.
Techyo Worse yet don't some stores blackmarket them or some employees do?
Bob and if a publisher gets a huge number of hardcovers returned that were unable to be sold at stores, they just dump them at a low low price to some remainder outfit
ZedCyberC Oh, so when we find an author in there.... :)
Bob It happens, Techyo. And needless to say, since the paperbacks are listed as UNSOLD (the store having in a sense returned them), authors do not get any royalty for the ones stripped and sold
JanCyberC Which is very very bad. If we want writers, we have to feed them.
Baryon usually, they are not paid for the remaindered hardcovers either
Bob right Bary. authors, are the lowest of the low on the food chain of publishing!
ZedCyberC Bob, may I ask, how you first became published?
Bob Zed, I was always an SF fan (from age 10 on). I always wanted to be a writer. I sold my first SF story to IF when I was in college in 1967
Techyo So how about second hand is that much different than unsolds going out?
Bob Techyo, at least if a book shows up in a used book store, it means it was sold once. If it is sold a second time, authors don't mind as much as if it was listed as unsold forever
Techyo Thanks Bob was wondering about that. I try to by what I can new I feel it's the right thing.
ZedCyberC Bob, a few in Cybling are 'trying to write'...any tips?
Bob Zed, I taught creative writing for a number of years at Columbia College in Chicago. I always told my students the best way to finish a story...
Bob ... is to figure out the ending first. Most stories are unfinished because the author can't figure out the ending
heshima Bob, do you still teach there?
Bob I stopped this year, Heshima. Commuting into the city was a drag. And I just did not have the time. But I did enjoy doing it.
ZedCyberC Hmm, do you prefer to write from point A, to point B, or write in scenes?
Bob Zed, I write a book straight through from beginning to end
ZedCyberC Really, Bob?? I hear that is a bit rougher...
Folken Any tips on middles? That's usually where I run into problems. I come up with where I want to go in a story, but then have problems getting there :-)
ZedCyberC LOL, Folken!
Bob Folken, you need to make sure that you know how your characters are going to react to any situation. Then get them in a lot of trouble
Bob I am very devious, Zed. So I weave multiple plot threads as I write
ZedCyberC Hmm, do you base your characters on real people, Bob?
ZedCyberC LOL, Bob!
Bob just some of their traits, Zed.
heshima Right now, I am reading War In Heaven.
Bob how do you like it so far, Heshima?
heshima It's a roller coaster ride! Thanks again!
ZedCyberC Umm, Heshima...don't forget to strap your safety harness...park rules!
ZedCyberC And your plots; do they just pop into your head, or must you search them out?
Bob actually, I try to think out the basic concept and plot before I write a book. Then I figure out the ending...
Bob ... after that, I just start writing, and throw as much trouble and disaster at the main characters as I can
ZedCyberC LOL, poor characters!
Baryon especially when he uses magic
Bob Dean Koontz told me the secret of successful writing is to make sure you push your characters as far as you can. Then push them further!
ZedCyberC Good point!
heshima Sage Advice
ZedCyberC LOL, double entendre, Hesh!
Techyo So then your writting is action based mostly?
Bob Techyo, I try to weave a complex plot. But I know a good book needs to move along fast. So I push the events along at a fast clip using the action.
Folken Can I ask what your view is on fan fiction? That tends to be what I write, so it would be interesting to hear an authors point of view on the subject. Do you mind people writing fanfics based on your characters and worlds, for example?
Bob Folken, fan fiction is fine, as long as it does not involve copyright problems. Plenty of people write White Wolf adventures (after all, their world is a storytelling setting). But if they try to sell their work, then it becomes a problem
JanCyberC Bob, you mentioned earlier that horror is on the downswing...does this mean you're tabling your horror ideas for novels now?
Bob Jan, I have outlines for 3 or 4 horror novels, all of which I think are good ones. But there just is not a market for them at present.
Techyo Bummer
ZedCyberC Bob, if someone has not read your works, as yet, what would be a good book to start with?
ZedCyberC No room for horror...hmm...::looks at Tech:::
Bob I'd like to write the 3rd novel involving the Devil's Auction for example
Bob Zed, at the moment, I think my best all around book is BLOODWAR, first in the Red Death trilogy. But be warned, it is first of a trilogy and does not end at the finish of the book
ZedCyberC Hence the trilogy tag?
Bob I think the Red Death trilogy is the most popular fiction I've written
ZedCyberC DO you write your books as Stand-alones, too, in other series?
Bob White Wolf asked me to write a trilogy for Vampire the Masquerade. Thus the Red Death threesome...
Bob The situation with the Horizon War was similar. They wanted a trilogy with the same scope for Mage, another one of their games
Bob Dark Earth the contract was for one book, so no trilogy.
Baryon Unless things have changed, first printing on most SF/Fnatasy/Horror hardcovers is only 2500 to 3000
ZedCyberC Those looked good on your webpage, BTW!
Bob sad but true, Bary.
Bob but my collaborations with Lois Gresh in 1999 are scheduled for much higher printings
JanCyberC What's the title on that again?
Baryon Glad to here that, I think the White Wolf printings are larger also
crStarlyt Why not werewolves in space?
Bob for Del Rey, we have a computer thriller, The Termination Node, in January in hardcover. Computers of Star Trek from Basic Books in hardcover in March
Baryon Moon's always full in space
ZedCyberC Good point, Star
crStarlyt sun's always out, too
Folken Any plans for future books from White Wolf? A Werewolf trilogy, perhaps? Or Werewolf: Wild West, to allow you to add a Western flair to a story?
Bob Folken, at present, I'm not scheduled to do any more writing for White Wolf. But that always could change
JanCyberC Hope so for your fan's sake.
ZedCyberC Bob, does that mean you can work for different folks?
Bob depends on the terms of your contract, Zed. certain publishers make it difficult to write for anyone else while you are writing for them.
Bob for example, Lois and I have another novel we are writing for Del Rey. So we can't write a novel for anyone else in the meantime
ZedCyberC AH, I see...had noticed some seem to be 'owned'
JanCyberC Then it's important to know what you're going to write, and get it out quickly.
Bob Jan, it depends on the length of the contract (how many books you sign to write). And how fast the publisher gets your books out!
Baryon Bob, do you think the publishing mergers will make things better or worse? (Worse I fear)
Bob Bary, probably a little of both.
Bob less competition, that's for sure
Baryon It may just be me, but attitiudes seem to change also. Iknow DAW has really changed since Don and Elsie are both gone.
Bob Bary, I think DAW is somewhat more focused on what they feel they can sell well. Since I am friends with Betsy Wollheim, I am somewhat biased
JanCyberC Ah...so even if you've finished your allotted number of books with a publisher, they can hold you under contract until they've released them? Yikes!
Bob not exactly, Jan. But if you are contracted to write three books, and it takes the editor time to read and edit them, you can be waiting for a while before you can work for anyone else
Baryon Agreed, but I still like the Farmer, and weird stuff they put out earlier
JanCyberC Thanks Bob.
Bob I think Don had a very wide taste which made DAW very interesting.
crStarlyt Seems to me, with the mergers, less publishers are willing to gamble on unproven stuff
ZedCyberC Bob, what do you have pending, that is due out soon??
Bob Zed, War in Heaven just came out around a week or so ago in stores. after that...
crStarlyt or writers
Baryon Don was "One" of a kind for sure. Terrific friend
Bob I have four anthologies I co-edited for Barnes *Noble due out this fall.
Techyo Typical biz growth patterns early on take more chances than later?
Bob Techyo, a lot of speculation about the future of the book field says that authors in the middle range will see more money
Bob as publishers will try to push their work harder to get them into bestseller status.
Bob but that new authors will have a difficult time selling first books
johnange Thanks
Techyo Sure names are known of the older writers.
ZedCyberC Bob, do you recommend trying to write short stories first, to get published?
Bob depends entirely on the author, Zed...
Baryon If it is a good first novel it will sell. Too many people are trying to write first trilogys instead
ZedCyberC Ahh, good point, Bary!
Bob when I got back to writing in the 1980's, after a 20 year break , I sold two novels before I even tried a short story
ZedCyberC Bob, in today's market, what would YOU choose?
Bob I agree with Bary. A good novel will sell. There are more publishers of novels than there are publishers of short stories.
Bob at least ones who pay reasonably well
ZedCyberC Bob, I wonder...is there room for MORE SF/Fantasy?
Bob it sure seems like it, Zed. Lots of new novels by first time authors coming out from most of the major sf publishers
ZedCyberC When perusing the shelves yesterday, I saw a lot I have not heard of...wondered at that...
Baryon There are some folks on the shelves who must never sleep to have as many out as they do
Bob the market for fantasy seems very strong. SF is a little weaker.
Techyo What's the best way to find good new authors to read?
Bob Techyo, ask book store clerks what they like and if you share their taste, then ask them to recommend stuff.
Bob they read more than just about anyone
Baryon Pick up a book by a new author read the back cover, then read page 49, if it looks good, try it
JohnnyD page 49, eh?
ZedCyberC What are the publishers looking for there days? Long, short...shared universe?
Bob Zed, publishers seem to want long fantasy epics.
Techyo ROFL
Bob and hopefully technothrillers
ZedCyberC LOL, Bary!
Baryon its,just a page at random I pick out
ZedCyberC LOL, Bob!
Techyo That's how I found out about Card Bob good advice.
ZedCyberC Bob, since, as I mentioned, some in here are aspiring writers, how does one choose who they submit to?
Bob read some recent books from the different publishers, Zed. Ace Books have a certain style. As do DAW, and Ballantine, and Del Rey. Look at your own stuff and see what publisher it fits
Bob oops, make that Bantam and Del Rey (as Ballantine is Del Rey)
Baryon ROC, DAW, Ace, Berkley, Putnam, Signet, Dutton, Onyx all same company now as are
Baryon Bantam, Doubleday, Dell, Random House, Ballantine, Fawcett
Bob true, Bary, but each imprint has different editors and do buy books that the other imprint does not
Techyo They don't share?
Baryon That helps
Bob the big problems is that they will not bid against another branch if two imprints want the same book.
Bob so authors loose a lot of bargaining power with these mergers.
RAfrCC Is there any market for mixed genre stories/novels?...i.e....fantasy /sci fi?
Bob as far as I can tell, there is NO market for short story collections unless you are Stephen King...
ZedCyberC lol, Bob!
Bob but novels that combine fantasy and sf, or horror and sf, or dark fantasy, etc. seem to sell fine
Baryon I think you and Stephen Alphabet have done well with short story collections
JanCyberC Yikes! Not even anthologies of several authors?
Bob Jan, anthologies sell fair. but most houses don't publish them.
ZedCyberC I do not see them on shelves much, is there a reason, Bob?
JanCyberC Shame. That's how I became interested in fantastic fiction in the first place.
Bob story collections are usually considered to be books of stories by one author. anthologies are stories by many authors.
Bob anthologies do well if they offer a lot for a very inexpensive price.
Bob which is why the big thick books I edit for Barnes & Noble do well at $8.99
ZedCyberC LOL, good timing...
ZedCyberC I noticed you have edited, as well? I think it listed anthologies, as well...do you prefer editing?
Bob editing is fun, Zed, as I get to reprint stuff I like by other writers. Or sometimes I can buy new stories from authors whose work I enjoy publishing...
Bob ... but I like writing better.
ZedCyberC LOL, thought so, Bob!
Bob I've written or co-written 15 novels so far and 5 non-fiction books. edited 130 anthologies.
ZedCyberC Bob, I also noticed you have garnered a few awards!
Heshima Wow, Bob, you stay busy.
Bob Heshima, as an author and editor, you stay busy or you don't eat
Bob I've won the World Fantasy Award twice, Zed.
Bob for non-fiction books
Baryon Howard bookends!
ZedCyberC Wow!
ZedCyberC And those were?
Bob The Weird Tales Story, a history of the pulp magazine, Weird Tales in 1978...
Bob and A Biographical Dictionary of SF and Fantasy Artists, in 1989. That also was nominated for a Hugo, but came in 3rd
ZedCyberC Bob, may I ask about your hours? Do you set aside 8 hours a day, as if in an office?
Bob Zed, I just try to get a certain number of words done a day. And when working on a book, I try to work 7 days a week.
Bob most of the time it works. sometimes it doesn't.
Bob I do a lot of my writing at night.
ZedCyberC Those reference books, on SF/Fantasy come in handy...I take it they sell well?
StoOdin Lovecraft wrote better at night, or so he believed
Bob actually, they paid peanuts. But I did them because I liked the subjects
Bob I find that as the day goes on, my mind gets more active. At night, I am the most awake and hyper
Bob so I often write till 2 or 3 am. then sleep late.
Baryon Speaking of Lovecraft, do you think he could published in todays market?
ZedCyberC Hmm...sounds like a good schedule, Bob!
Baryon get published
Bob I doubt it, Bary. tho I suspect if HPL was alive today, he'd be writing much different type material
Bob his stories are firmly rooted in the period he was living.
Baryon Prolly give Barker a run for the money
StoOdin He would be an SF author, not a horror writer. His style was heading that way in his last stories
StoOdin But he is unreadable to alot of the public today. Too big a vocabulary, alas!
RAfrCC I don't know, there are a couple of Lovecraftian type authors out there...Brian Stableford comes to mind
Techyo The publics loss then.
ZedCyberC Bob, being a book collector, do you have any faves?
Bob Zed, I love hardcovers, so have thousands of books. as to authors I like, Dean Koontz, Dan Simmons,...
ZedCyberC Odin, that seems to be the reason folks avoid Shakespeare, too...lol
StoOdin Stableford and McNaughton...Ligotti....
Baryon Brian Lumley
Techyo Lumley
Bob I have really enjoyed Peter Hamilton's two novels about the Reality Dysfunction
ZedCyberC Oh, have not read those, Bob...a must read?
RAfrCC I'm reading those now...great concepts
Bob if you like very complicated, end of the universe sf, they are great Zed
Bob ditto Simmons Hyperion novels
JanCyberC <==Loves post-apocalyptic books.
ZedCyberC Thanks, I will get them from Raf...lol. I like that style, as well.
RAfrCC Living egg grown spaceships with a mental connection to their pilots...wonderful!
Bob Jan, Zed, they are set in a very complex future, with the galaxy well settled. but major developments threaten all human life
ZedCyberC Oh, I like a well turned Galaxy!
GailW Hi Jan, Bob!!!!
Bob I found the 2nd book (each book has been published in two paperbacks in the USA) somewhat slow. But great ending.
Bob hi Gail
ZedCyberC Bob, I will definitely read those...sound good!!
Bob only problem, Zed, is that book 3 is not due in England till early next year. very frustrating.
GailW ACTION big Bob Fan!
GailW {Hugs!} How are you????!!!!Sorry, I wasn't online sooner, would have jumped on!
Bob I'm pretty good, Gail, after many travails with publishers
ZedCyberC LOL, Gail...Bob, meet Gail...she obviously is a fan of yours...
GailW Oy.
Bob Gail's husband is a very lucky guy. And a great artist
GailW Zed, we're freinds- known each other for a long time.
ZedCyberC I thought as much, Gail...was teasing you!!
GailW ACTION {blush} thanks guys!
Baryon Have to get together at DragonCon
GailW So Bob, sorry to be late. which trilogy are you speaking of?
Bob my second and final one for White Wolf, Gail. tho we seem to have drifted away from that
GailW Final, eh? Too bad, they are losing a wonderful writer.
GailW Which publisher are you working with now?
Bob instead, I was mentioning that my computer thriller with Lois will finally be published in hardcover by Del Rey in January (with a big promotion)
Baryon I'll fuss at Stephen Pagel about that
Bob and then Lois and I have The Computers of Star Trek coming out from Basic Books in hardcover in March
GailW that's excellent news, Bob! Break a leg! Tell Lois I said hello.
JanCyberC Excellent! Looking forward to reading that one Bob...now it's a thriller and not Science Fiction?
Bob Jan, it's set about 8 years in the future, so is technically SF. but much of it is possible now.
GailW ACTION tell them you know a wonderful artist...(sheepish grin!)
JanCyberC Cool...I like near future SF, personally.
Bob copyeditor just wrote us and said it was one of the most frightening books she ever read
ZedCyberC LOL, Gail!
Baryon need to see a galley of it then
GailW Keep me informed, please.
Bob Gail, you know if I had my choice, Ron would be doing my covers!
GailW LOL! Yea, I know!
GailW Haven't read a good 'frightner" in a long time. Will be refreshing.
Bob the book is scary because it is about money and the internet. And it is very believable
GailW LOL! that I can bet!
JanCyberC I agree Gail, I'm ready for a good scare but don't know if I can wait until January, LOL.
GailW ditto, Jan.
ZedCyberC LOL, Bob...love internet based books...
Bob we have a great quote from the former head of DARPA (Department of Defense Advance Planning Agency, that invented the internet) saying how believable it is
GailW Any other projects in the works or are your hands full at the moment?
Bob Lois and I are working on a sequel to The Termination Node right now. Another computer thriller with the same heroine.
JanCyberC Excellent.
JanCyberC A Heroine.
GailW Darn, I missed the first one.
ZedCyberC Good deal...
GailW I remember the t-shirts!
Bob Gail, the first one is the Del Rey book . Not yet published
GailW Oh okay, then I'm not too far behind.
Bob took them forever to finally get it scheduled in a slot they liked
JanCyberC TERMINATION NODE...putting that on the Sigoth's list.
Bob Jan, our heroine is female security specialist. Which strangely enough is what Lois has done during her varied computer career
GailW what's the date of arrival?
Bob January 1999
GailW "just the facts, please"
JohnnyD Bob...any book signings planned for New York City?
Bob Johnny, Del Rey and Basic Books both have said they are sending us on tour. But it is too early to say where. But I suspect NYC would be a very likely spot
GailW Doing world con this year?
Heshima Let me know where when you can, Bob.
Bob not sure, Gail. possible but still up in the air
GailW Ron's going in, I had to bail out this year. it's a first for me.
Bob Del Rey originally was talking about Silicon Valley as the book is set there. We shall see. Chicago pretty sure, for obvious reasons
Baryon You will be at Dragon this year won't you Gail?
GailW Dragon's an absolute. They'd have to fire me.
JanCyberC Excellent...look forward the signing in Chicago Bob...at Stars Our Destination, I hope.
AtvarTheGreat Hello
Baryon Bob, are you going to be there this year?
Baryon DragonCon
Bob Jan, since I still am involved with Stars in business, I am sure I will be there
Baryon Lo Atvar
JanCyberC 8^D, Love that store.
Bob doubtful, Bary, but my schedule for the summer is up in the air.
AtvarTheGreat Sorry, Bary...But I just had to be first on the names list :)
ZedCyberC ROFL
ZedCyberC DO the publishers decide your schedule on signings?
GailW What's the situation with White Wolf?
Bob We have parted ways. I am getting paid too much from other publishers at present for me to be able to work for them
Baryon No problem, Zed's #1 on my list
Bob they sure do, Zed. They own you
ZedCyberC LOL, thanks...Bary.
ZedCyberC I thought so, Bob!
GailW Well, it's only business after all. don't blame you a bit.
GailW I hate to do this, but I do need to get offline. Bob, e-mail me.
Bob publishers arrange tours, decide on advertising, pick cover artists, etc. etc. authors write books and pray
Bob will do, Gail
GailW and artist's just pray!
ZedCyberC lol, Gail
Baryon Been a lot of fun tonight. Bob, was good talking to you again
ZedCyberC Bob, do you have any say in it? Perhaps decline some legs of trips, etc?
Bob obviously, some, Zed. not every author can tour when and where a publisher wants. but most authors are anxious to do whatever they can to promote a book
GailW Wonderful to hear that everything is going so great, Bob. Our best to the family.
Bob I have one of Ron's paintings hanging in my dining room.
JanCyberC His work is wonderful...envy you.
ZedCyberC Really??
Techyo Got a print right here, Bob.
Bob Ancient Echoes, Zed.
JanCyberC Acrylic?
JanCyberC Bob, was really great having you out here with us tonight.
ZedCyberC Folks, I think it is time for us to thank our Guest, Bob, aka Robert Weinberg, and call it a night!!!
JohnnyD THANKS BOB
Techyo Woa look at the time!
ZedCyberC Thanks, Bob!!!!!
JohnnyD IT's a night
Bob It was fun everyone. Thanks for coming!!
Techyo Thanks BOB wonderful evining!
JanCyberC .:::applauding furiously:::
Techyo evining = night
JohnnyD LOL, Tech
ZedCyberC ACTION applauds Bob...
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