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Mary Rosenblum first published
in Asimov's Magazine in 1990 with 'For A Price', one of her Clarion West
stories. Since that first publication, she has published more than 60 short
stories in SF, mystery, and mainstream fiction, as well as three SF novels,
The Drylands, Chimera, and Stone Garden. Her new novel, Horizon, will be out in November from
Tor Books, and her Analog story 'Skin Deep' has been included in the
'Year's Best SF' for 2005. Her SF stories have been published in Asimov's,
The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, SciFiction, and Analog among
others. She won the Compton Crook award for Best First Novel, The Asimov's
Readers Award, and has been a Hugo Award finalist. She has also published a
mystery series and publishes mystery short stories as Mary Freeman.
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She lives in the Pacific Northwest.
When she is not writing, she trains dogs in tracking, sheep herding, and
obedience work and grows all her fruits and vegetables and some sheep on
country acreage. You can find more information at her website: www.maryrosenblum.com
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Jean Lauzier
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Welcome all...and do please be
patient...
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xana
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Have you used your experience in
dog training and sheep rearing in any of your books?
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Jean Lauzier
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There...finally figured out the
right button:--)
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Mary Rosenblum
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Takes a moment. J
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I have, actually, xana. I have
a story in the June issue of Ellery Queen called Back Track
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that includes tracking
Rottweilers...the second story in Ellery Queen with those characters. I
don't think I’ve used sheep shearing yet
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but I probably will. I use
whatever experience I have as much as I can. :-) Write what you know.
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Jean Lauzier
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I've noticed you use a lot of
what you know in your writing....what other things have you used?
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Mary Rosenblum
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Oh, gosh, I use personal
experience all the time in odd ways.
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I've used experience
slaughtering livestock to create realistic fights and wounds and deaths,
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scuba experience to describe
flight or the life of a sub sea human.
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Every moment of my life is
potentially useful....memories of falling off a rock face to give my
character realistic moments of terror as he falls... That sort of thing.
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gskearney
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How did you come to be
associated with LRWG?
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Mary Rosenblum
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Oh, that's SUCH a cool story!
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I got invited to come do a
reading at an arts festival up in White Salmon, Washington. The woman who
ran the festival
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approached me afterward and
told me about LR. She was an ICL instructor. She thought I'd be great and
offered to tell them about me.
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I was VERY ambivalent, LOL. I
had friends who had taught for Writers Digest Schools and I was NOT
impressed...didn't want to be associated with something like that.
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But she convinced me it was a
good school, and when they contacted me and sent me course materials and so
forth I was REALLY impressed.
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The rest is history. :-)
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Jean Lauzier
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So how long have you been an
instructor with LR?
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Mary Rosenblum
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Hmm... I think five years this
fall?
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xana
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How many students does an RWG
teacher have at any given time?
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Mary Rosenblum
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I have a little over 200 Xana.
Which sounds like a LOT, but it really isn't. I do maybe 20 student ms in a
week. I know all my students personally
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in terms of who they are, what
their strengths are, and as much of their personal lives as they choose to
share with me. Some have become long time friends.
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Jean Lauzier
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What do you like most about
being an instructor?
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Mary Rosenblum
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Oh, two things. First I love
working with aspiring writers. I remember vividly being at that stage
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and I really try to reach back
and hand off some of what I've learned by...sometimes bitter...experience. J
Secondly
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I LOVE working with the
variety of fiction and non that I work with. You really learn a lot about
your craft when you have to help someone improve a story
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that is very different than
what you write. It has grown me as a writer.
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xana
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What do you like least?
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Mary Rosenblum
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Well, let's face it, there are
some lovely summer days when I would really rather be out in the garden,
but hey, I feel that way about my own writing at times. J
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Jean Lauzier
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Lore mentioned today about the
"magical moment when you feel like a writer". Did you always feel
like a writer and if not, when did you?
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Mary Rosenblum
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Well, no I didn't always feel
like a writer. I got told by a very trusted English teacher that 'writers
are born' and gently discouraged.
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I believed her a lot more than
I should have!
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I had already been retelling
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stories since I could read,
making up my won (daydreaming my teachers called it and routinely gave me a
C in Citizenship in grade school)
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and even writing some down. It
wasn't until many years later, when I found I could easily write and sell
nonfiction
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that I thought 'why not try
fiction?'
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but it took me until long
after I was published to 'wake up'. About the tenth time someone used the
word 'talented new writer' in conjunction
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with my name it hit me ...I
was in my basement at the time, doing laundry...that I WAS a talented new
writer. Sheesh. Slow learning curve here.
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Jean Lauzier
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I know you have a new novel
coming out soon...and I have some novel questions here. How about telling
us about Horizons?
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Mary Rosenblum
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Horizon is the first really
'big' book I've written...I've tended to be a short story writer even when
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those short stories are 380
pages long, lol.
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It's complex, has several
interwoven plot threads, a lot of character interactions, and I manage to
sneak in a few
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of my usual socio-political
statements.
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I LOVED writing it. J
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janecj333
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Did you use an agent to market
your SF novel, Horizon, to Tor?
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And is it the same agent you've
used in the past for SF?
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Mary Rosenblum
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Oh, yes, I'm stuck with Martha
forever and vice versa. She's a very good agent and your agent handles
EVERYTHING you write (novel length)
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unless you agree otherwise.
And no, Martha wasn't my first agent query.
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I got turned down by a few,
even with my track record at the time, had one who dumped me rather nastily
(found out later he had just found out...
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he was dying of AIDS, so I
guess he was entitled), and then got picked up by Martha.
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geezer
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So a big book has several plots
and doesn't necesarily mean a long novel?
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Mary Rosenblum
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Yeah...the book weighs in at
just over 100,000 words. 'Big' has to do with the size of the issues
involved and the complexity of the plot.
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charie'
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How many combined ideas do you
need to start one story?
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Mary Rosenblum
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Hmmm...well I usually start
with one, and then I keep adding to that until I feel that I have the right
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mix of 'external' issues and
character issues, big and small. Then I go for it. I just reached that
stage with the next novel.
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It was lacking a big issue and
I finally figured one out.
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Jean Lauzier
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Do you sometimes find those big
issues by researching?
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Mary Rosenblum
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Oh yeah...I skim everything
that I can get my hands on in a wiiiide range of fields and when
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something catches my attention
I pursue it. Latest example...wasps as 'sniffers' for disease. They are
MUCH better than dogs.
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Jean Lauzier
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Now that is interesting.
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xana
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Which book has been your most
successful, and why do you think it became so?
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Mary Rosenblum
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In SF, Chimera was my most
successful and cause of some bad blood between Del Rey and myself
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or rather Random House since
they made the decision not to run multiple printings of it, the butts!
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And I think
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it was popular because I
really did the science well on virtual reality where most writers were
using it as magic
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and I had some charismatic
characters.
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It got me called a 'cyber
humanist' as opposed to 'cyber punk'. LOL
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mephistopheles
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Have you ever been trashed in a
review and considered that you may have bitten off more than you can chew?
How did you rebound from the rejection?
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Mary Rosenblum
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I've gotten amazingly wonderful
reviews, actually mephis. The worst I've gotten are some 'excellent
writing, not as outstanding as usual', so I can HARDLY complain! But I've
certainly
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had plenty of rejections!
Gordon over at F&SF just bounced the SF story I sent him.
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Hardly a new thing, LOL
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Jean Lauzier
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And how do you handle those
rejections? Chop wood...haul manure?
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Mary Rosenblum
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Oh worse than that. Swear.
Comment at length on the editor's lineage, mode of birth, DNA, personal
habits...then I get mad,
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write a better story, and sell
it to someone else. JThen I feel better. Meanwhile, I send THAT story out
elsewhere. (This one to Asimov's)
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jyinxy
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Through your years writing what
has been your biggest motivator? What keeps you going when you find
yourself asking "Am I crazy. I'll never finish this! Or do this?"
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Mary Rosenblum
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Sigh. I simply cannot stop,
jyinxy. I don't feel good when I'm not writing. Nothing else makes me feel
the way writing feels.
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I have tried to quit numerous
times. Who in their right mind works this hard for so little money? Can't
do it.
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xana
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Have you ever used a rejecting
editor as a character in a story?
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Mary Rosenblum
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Nah. I've never put anyone in
one of my stories. People have done that and in one memorable instance
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everybody in the SF universe
knew who the woman was. I thought it was highly unethical and my respect
for the author decreased.
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janecj333
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Random House must have based
their decision on sales (the bottom line). So, how do you go about getting
a different publisher to do a reprint?
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Mary Rosenblum
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You get more famous, jane. J
Fairwood Press is bringing Chimera out this year, soon after Horizon hits
the shelves. Yes,
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all sales decisions are based
on numbers...however, in that case (the reason for the bad feelings on my
part)
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Chimera's numbers were very
good. It was a policy decision about publishing less SF that season and it
had a negative impact on my sales figures
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as a new writer.
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Happens. Not a 'fair'
business.
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paminnapa
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Sorry was late not sure if asked
already......As people become more and more attached to the computer
and most kids spend way more time in front of TV/electronics and less time
reading, do you think its going to be harder to get a book published?
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Mary Rosenblum
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No and yes. It's EASY to get a
book published since the technology is getting so cheap.
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You have the vanity presses
like iUniverse and Publish America...but the profit margin for the big
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houses is getting very
squeezed. They make lousy business decisions. I think we're going to see a
huge shakedown in publishing over the next decade.
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xana
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But it isn't fair to compare
sales for a novel not advertised to one where a lot of money was spent on
promotion
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Mary Rosenblum
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Ha, Xana, I WISH my publisher
would spend big bucks on advertising. HA! It's not advertising, Xana, that
makes
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the difference, it's distribution.
My recent books sold about 35,000 copies each.... They were
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in every B&N, Crowne, and
independent bookstore in the country.
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gskearney
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Will you put up something on
your site, so we can order signed copies of Horizon?? Please, with sugar
and honey on it (The request not the book.)
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Mary Rosenblum
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Well, I don't think I dare do
that or the complications of shipping books is going to eat ALL my writing
time! (And my PO is a dinosaur anyway). BUT...I'll offer signed
bookplates for a SASE. How's that?
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Jean Lauzier
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Horizons can be preordered at amazon.com
right?
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gskearney
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Super!
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Mary Rosenblum
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Yep. I'm a totally mercenary
creature and there's a link on the website page, right next to the cover. I
guess amazon.com is getting quite a few preorders, which is way cool!
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janecj333
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Can you tell us the print run
for Chimera at Random House, and is it similar to the print run for
Horizons?
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Mary Rosenblum
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Oh, Horizon will be out in
hardcover first, so the first print run won't be that large...I'd have to go
pull out my contracts to tell you.
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They'll reprint if needed. The
mass market paperback will be out a year later and in much larger numbers.
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Jean Lauzier
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Will any of your other novels
be coming back out?
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Mary Rosenblum
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Yes, I've had several queries
from small press houses. A friend of mine (and fellow writer) runs Scorpio
Digital and we’ve talked about bringing out my first, Drylands, along
with the three
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Asimov's novelettes that
created the main characters. I'd love to have an ebook out and
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she does lovely stuff, so hopefully
it’ll happen.
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megger
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My book club just finished
"The Woman in White." Having multiple POVs telling huge chunks of
the story was an interesting format and one I don't see much of in today's
authors. Is there a reason for that?
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Mary Rosenblum
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Yeah...it's hard to make it
work well, and most writers can't pull it off without
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distancing the reader to the
point it doesn't engage.
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gskearney
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How did you like the cover for
Horizon? I had a few issues with the way it looks, but it's hard to tell
from the pictures I've seen exactly what it's supposed to represent.
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Mary Rosenblum
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Well, let's face it, the 'New York' stuck on
each end of the platform are entirely the author's doing. :-) But it is SO
hard to make a spinning tin can look sexy that I didn't even grumble. The
cover design is
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lovely and I'm not going to
gripe. It'll give me something to talk about at every con. J
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They'll tweak it a bit before
it goes to press, by the way.
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Jean Lauzier
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How is cover art decided on?
Does the writer have any say in the matter at all?
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Mary Rosenblum
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Nah, none. Cover horror
stories are favorite 'bar conversations'. Connie Willis lost a lot of sales
once
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from a very unfortunate cover.
I've been VERY lucky and have liked all my covers. The artist for Horizon, John
Harris, had the art director
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call me and ask what the
platform looked like.
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xana
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My friend, Charlene Weir, hates
some of the book covers her books were stuck with
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Mary Rosenblum
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Many authors do. You got NO
say in it.
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kashmir
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Who is your favorite author to
read?
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Mary Rosenblum
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Oh, Lord, I'm a dud at this
question. I've never had a favorite author. I like this aspect of this
writer's work
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that aspect of that author's.
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I actually read mostly
mainstream these days.
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Jean Lauzier
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Are there any writers that have
had a direct influence on your writing?
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Mary Rosenblum
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Oh, gosh, many!
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You know, the list would be
enormous.
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Bradbury was a big one...Kate
Wilhelm...Octavia Butler…
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You should see my
library...you can measure it in 'cords' like wood.
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Jean Lauzier
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Sweet sent me this question
earlier. What is the strangest thing you have done in the name of research?
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Mary Rosenblum
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Wooo...I'd have to think.
We'll stick to legal, okay? J Hmmm...I think beheaded a
goat, actually.
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It's really not as sick as it
sounds...
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I used to slaughter my wethers
for meat, and I disbelieved the bone-slicing sword play I kept reading
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so a friend of mine who has a
high rank in Judo and does swords, aided me in my butchering task.
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Mary Rosenblum
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I don't know who was more
shocked...him or me...at how CLEANLY that sword did the job. I stood
corrected!
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gskearney
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Speaking as an old goat myself,
I'd have to say it sounds pretty sick to me.
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Mary Rosenblum
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(And I will NEVER face someone
with a sword in hand, nosirreee)
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LOL gary, believe me its
a painless way to die.
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Jean Lauzier
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You have mentioned attending
the Clarion Writer's Workshop. Do you recommend workshops for aspiring
writers?
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Mary Rosenblum
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Yes. There are a wide range of
workshops out there, and it's a great way
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to get a lot of intense
feedback in a short space of time and also make some long time friends.
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Right, Charie? She went to
Clarion West with me. J
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ashton
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Hi, Mary! What would be the
strongest piece of advice you'd give aspiring authors? And what was the
worst piece of advice YOU were given?
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Mary Rosenblum
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The worst piece of advice I've
ever gotten was from that aforementioned English teacher who told me
writers were born and I’d never be one.
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I wish I had her address...my collection
of books and magazines with stuff by me in them covers about 6 feet of
bookshelf space. I could send her a set, collect freight, lol.
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The strongest piece I’ve
given an aspiring writer? Hmmm... Go send this off!!! NOW! I don't CARE.
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ashton
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Goes to show that if you want
something bad enough nothing will stop you but yourself...We are all glad
you didn't listen to that teacher. Look at all the people you've helped and
inspired through the years.
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Mary Rosenblum
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Well, I should have not
listened to her sooner!!! I was over 30 when I finally started doing this
and applied to Clarion.
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But I guess I needed to grow
up some.
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Jean Lauzier
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As a single mom with two small
sons, the animals, garden and other things, how did you balance then and
find the time to write?
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Mary Rosenblum
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You know, my busy life is not
accidental. J I intentionally stay busy because it makes me a
better writer. If I have tons of time
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I sit in front of the screen
and can't think may way out of this dead end, I butt my head against the
same brick wall.
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But if writing time is
precious, I don't do that. I go do the stuff I have to do and the right
brain has time to work. When I can't STAND it anymore
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I throw everything aside, sit
down and write until I run out of words. Which is 15 minutes to 12 hours
later.
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janp
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Maybe that teacher did you a
favor--jump started you :-)
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Mary Rosenblum
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And lo! The problem is solved.
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Well, the teacher really
didn't do ANYTHING to me. You have to have the desire to write and it has
to be strong
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enough to overcome your self doubts.
I don't think I could have overcome my self doubts if I had started at 19
or 20.
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I could a decade later.
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paja
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What was the pivotal moment of
decision to apply to Clarion?
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Mary Rosenblum
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I had been thinking about it,
but when I saw that Orson Scott Card was going to be there as well as
Gardner Dozois, editor of Asimov's, I decided NOW! That was a huge
undertaking. I had to
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Mary Rosenblum
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get the money and find someone
to take care of my sons for 6 weeks! I had just read Enders Game by Card,
and loved it
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xana
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And you have to overcome your
self doubt and fear of failure
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Mary Rosenblum
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Well, xana, in that case, I
jumped off that particular cliff before I had a chance to doubt. J
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Jean Lauzier
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This was from a bit ago but
isn't the fear and doubts something we all have to overcome?
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Mary Rosenblum
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It is the thing all writers
have in common, and it is the reason a lot of talented people never submit
or publish.
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I'm not entirely free of 'em,
I just know their names and call 'em by them.
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info
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Do you ever find that there are
people out there, whether it be fan or novice writers, who follow you
around and look at you as if you were at or near 'god' status? If so, how
do you handle it?
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Mary Rosenblum
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Oh, lordy, yes. Sigh. :-)
Who's going to deny that it's not flattering? But it's rather dangerous to
'listen' to that. :-) I see that happen at the cons, all the time.
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But it occasionally does get
annoying.
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charie'
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You need passion to write well.
Even if it's from anger. lol
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Jean Lauzier
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How important do you think
passion is in our writing?
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Mary Rosenblum
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Oh, no kidding! You said it
there, charie!
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I think it's critical, Jean.
You have to care a LOT about what you are saying....
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You have to BELIEVE that this
book is really good, that people want to read it, that it will touch
readers in the same
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way books have touched you. If
you do, that is the energy that readers will feel.
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ashton
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That's a scary thought...guess
that's why you should consider a pen name if you aren't up to such hype?
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Mary Rosenblum
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Well, actually, you've put
your finger on something ash. It shocked me...really shocked me...when I
realized that a LOT of people
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Jean Lauzier
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Any thoughts on pen names?
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Mary Rosenblum
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had read my stories and made judgments
about who I was as a person. Frequently wrong judgments...but they thought
they KNEW me, they felt we were friends in a way
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and I had never met them. It
was kind of spooky at first. Doesn't bother me now. (And I DO live with
three Rotts).
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As to pen names
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that's up to you. I love it
that people know who I am. J I use Freeman so readers
can instantly
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know if it's mystery or
SF/fantasy/mainstream.
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If you want personal privacy,
use a pen name.
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xana
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I've used several to go with
different writing persona, and I'm in good company - Mark Twain
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Mary Rosenblum
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Oh yeah...lots of writers have
one name per genre.
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It's also a good move in the
'numbers' business of publishing. J
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Jean Lauzier
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Any negatives with using pen
names?
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Mary Rosenblum
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Sure. Nobody recognizes you in
the restaurant. LOL
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Other than that, no.
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codeblue
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What if your all is there and
then just shot full of holes
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Jean Lauzier
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This came in when we were
talking about passion. Any advice?
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Mary Rosenblum
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Write something better next
time, code. My 'all' has been in every story I've written. They didn't all
get published. Code, you're not a well
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with a finite volume, and you
don't have 'one masterwork' in you that you'll do and then never do again.
When you get shot down, get mad, call
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the creeps the names they
deserve for not appreciating you, and then write something that'll really
show the so-and-sos.
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You'll get better every time,
trust me.
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Jean Lauzier
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In your time as a LR
instructor, you've seen a lot of students come and go. What is the main
difference you see between those do well and publish and those who don't?
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Mary Rosenblum
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ONE thing. Desire.
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Every student I have had so
far who REALLY wanted to get published....has.
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Maybe not during the course,
but I get letters later on.
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ashton
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Well, it scares me, Mary. I've
dealt a little with what you were saying when it comes to my
paintings...people wanting just to "touch" me. Made me laugh
inside, but gave me the creeps too. There are so many nuts out there...and
it seems even worse when you live in a small community where everyone knows
you.
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Mary Rosenblum
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Well, it's true...anything you
do that makes you stand out...makes you stand out. If that's a scary
thought, use a pen name. The publishers won't reveal it.
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janecj333
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Maybe it's not the better story,
just that you have more out there. By the law of averages, with fifty
stories sent out the chances of getting one published is better than if
only 10.
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Mary Rosenblum
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Nah, it's the better story,
Jane. Believe me, I've read slush, I read LR submissions. When one is good
it just shines...when one is close, editors pay attention.
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Most are really poor, and then
you have a layer that are technically good but not outstanding.
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xana
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10 good stories have a better
chance than 50 bad ones
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Mary Rosenblum
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Or 50 mediocre ones, you're so
right, xana.
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ashton
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Have you ever had to fail a
student?
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Mary Rosenblum
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Yeah, I have. He really
shouldn't have been accepted to the course. I read his test and I suspect
he got someone to do it for him.
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info
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I have a sister in law who seems
to look at me as someone on a pedestal and I find it very eerie to say the
least and I'm not even published yet not to mentioned not showing her any
of my work. Makes me wonder if it would be worse once I am published.
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ashton
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How do editors/publishers keep
track of people who are up and coming? You said they'll remember you....do
they like jot your name down in a file or record you in their memory banks
for stories you'll send 'em in the future?
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Mary Rosenblum
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Well, info, it really won't
unless you're at a conference or you're on the bestseller list. :-) I doubt
Stephen King can shop the mall without someone bugging him...
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but I don't run into too may
'aren't you...' questions outside of conferences.
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As to editors, I think they
just remember them...dunno...they may make a note of names. I never asked. J
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I recognize someone I’ve
critiqued at a writers workshop as soon as I see another story from them
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even if the last time that
person submitted to me was a year or two ago.
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seigfried007
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Wait a minute. We get graded?! (eek!)
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Mary Rosenblum
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Nah, seig. You either pass, or
you don't. (You do)
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Jean Lauzier
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I got a lecture on this not
long ago:--)
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Mary Rosenblum
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Passing or failing, she asks
innocently?
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Jean Lauzier
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The "It isn't for a
grade." thing...
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I've repeated it many times
lately:--)
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Mary Rosenblum
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More than one lecture, as I
recall!
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Jean Lauzier
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But don't you find new writers
do think it is for a grade or we have to write to someone else's expectations?
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Mary Rosenblum
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All the time. I say it over
and over to students....'I'm not your English teacher, this isn't for a
grade.... J Broken record.
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codeblue
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What if you are on 12 for 2 or
more yrs?
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Mary Rosenblum
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Finish it, code, and send it
in! J Set yourself a deadline.
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Hi, Galatyne! J
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Jean Lauzier
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I know you have before but want
to talk about the novel course?
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Mary Rosenblum
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Sure. I’m loving it now
that it's actually up and running.
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Jean Lauzier
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I'm enjoying the novel course.
About how many students do you have for it?
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Mary Rosenblum
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Hmmm...I haven't kept count,
but I've gotten quite a few over the past few weeks. People are really
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tearing through those first
few assignments.
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xana
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Folks, I just turned in #2 - and
it was due last fall -- not the novel course - the regular one
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Mary Rosenblum
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Yeah, some students are just
slow. Life gets in the way.
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The average person takes two
years for the Breaking into Print course.
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paja
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Hints on restarting an old ms,
like 10yrs old?
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Mary Rosenblum
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Gosh...I think I'd probably
start from scratch, myself. I think after ten years, I'd do a lot better
job integrating a new story rather
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than fixing the old one.
Just remember what it was about, paja...and start over.
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xana
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Yeah, when i signed up for the
course I had no idea I'd be selling my house and moving across the country
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Mary Rosenblum
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Yeah, xana...that's that life
thing.
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paminnapa
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Don’t you think now the
regular course time has sped up since starting email lessons?
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Mary Rosenblum
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Oh yes! That two years
estimate was based on snail mail. Email is SO much faster
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and I can put live links to
markets, articles, websites. I love it.
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Jean Lauzier
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I did the BIP by snail mail and
am working on the novel course by email. It is much better:--)
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Mary Rosenblum
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I agree!
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Jean Lauzier
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Time for promo. What do you
have coming out? I know the Modern Magic Anthology just went on sale...what
else?
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Mary Rosenblum
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Let's see... I should have Chimera
coming out probably early in 07 from Fairwood, I have some stories coming
out in anthologies...I'll post links on the website when they're in print.
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I try to keep 'upcoming stuff'
updated on my website. I'm not usually too far behind. J
I'll even post my schedule there for WorldCon, so people can find me.
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Jean Lauzier
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Back Track is in the June issue
of Ellery Queen right?
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Mary Rosenblum
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Yes, Jean, so a student tells
me. :-) I don't have my contributors copies yet.
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Jean Lauzier
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Great. What other cons will you
be attending this year?
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Mary Rosenblum
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Let's see...WisCon over
Memorial Day weekend in Madison Wisconsin,
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WorldCon in LA in August.
Oh yes..I'll do a couple of panels for Willamette Writers Conference in
August, too.
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World Fantasy con in November
in Austin, OryCon, of course, here in Portland in November. I think that's it for this year.
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writermom
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Hmm must be nice my instructor
and I are still doing snail mail.
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Mary Rosenblum
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Yeah, writer, not all instructors
are comfortable editing onscreen. It's different than on the paper page.
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codeblue
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Do you ever do stuff in Colorado?
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Mary Rosenblum
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I haven't recently code. :-) I
have a limited travel budget
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so I have to pick my
conferences carefully.
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janecj333
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The Random House print run for
Chimera was in paperback, and higher than the Horizons print run in
hardback?
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Jean Lauzier
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This was from a bit earlier:--)
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Mary Rosenblum
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Of course. Paperback runs are
always higher. Hardcovers cost more and some people will wait for the
paperback.
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You get much higher royalties
on hardcover than on paper, too. For that reason.
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Jean Lauzier
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This has been such fun. Any
last words for us new and aspiring writers?
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Mary Rosenblum
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Believe in yourself and your
writing. No matter how many rejections, no matter what anyone tells you.
Keep writing, keep striving to get better, and keep sending your work out.
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You know what?
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About 32 years ago, I wrote
Ursula LeGuin a fan letter and I asked her how to become a writer.
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This is essentially what she
told me. It was good advice. So I’m passing it on.
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paminnapa
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Thank you Mary, and thank you Jean(speckeldorf)
for a great time!!!!
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Mary Rosenblum
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Thanks for coming all. And
thank you Jean, for doing such a great job of moderating!
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Jean Lauzier
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Night y'all!
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Mary Rosenblum
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Night Jean!
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Night all!
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