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| a little shameless self-promotion... [message #37488] |
Tue, 14 December 2010 20:38  |
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 Black Bear
Messages: 3216
Registered: September 2008
Location: Indianapolis, IN USA |
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...and some whining.
"The time is always right to do what's right."--MLK Jr.
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| Re: a little shameless self-promotion... [message #37494 is a reply to message #37488 ] |
Tue, 14 December 2010 22:23  |
Eliza B.
Messages: 1
Registered: August 2010
Location: Ohio |
Junior Member |
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I remember that you told my husband and me once that the cover of the current edition of Beauty made you think of a Kotex box. This is well over 20 years ago, now, and, frankly, I can't get that image out of my mind! Thanks a bunch. But Beauty and Blue Sword are both comfort books for me, regardless of the covers, which have all fallen off at this point anyway.
This new one looks a lot like the black/red/bloody vampire themed books they're selling these days. So I suppose marketing is bang on. Well, whatever it takes to get another generation of kids to grow up with the McKinley vision of a heroine. Yay!
Now, back to listening to my husband read Pegasus out loud. God it makes me giggle when he tries to speak Pegasai. Did you try it out loud when you were writing it?
[Updated on: Tue, 14 December 2010 22:26]
Eliza B.
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| Re: a little shameless self-promotion... [message #37496 is a reply to message #37495 ] |
Tue, 14 December 2010 23:01 |
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| Jabenami wrote on Tue, 14 December 2010 22:28 |
I admit, I was reading the review and blinked in surprise when I got to the moment where Con is called "handsome" and then started snickering to myself as I realized what the rest of the blog post would likely be about.
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LOL! That is *exactly* what I did too.
Smooshes!
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| Re: a little shameless self-promotion... [message #37497 is a reply to message #37488 ] |
Tue, 14 December 2010 23:19 |
EMoon
Messages: 664
Registered: March 2009 |
Senior Member |
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Beautiful, beautiful cover.
I have not (to my growing shame) read SUNSHINE because I had heard it had vampires, and I'm not a reader of vampire books (despite friends saying, of other peoples' vampire books, "Oh, this one is DIFFERENT," and always, when I looked at it, it wasn't.) Then I peeked (gingerly, and only because I'd met her) into one of Charlaine Harris's Sookie Stackhouse books, and still loathed the vampires (all of them, ick) but loved Sookie and the little roadhouse with the shapechanging owner (who turns collie.) But every time Sookie looks at Bill or Eric, I flip over some pages until she's flipping burgers or something.
No one told me it had baking in it until I came here. It was always presented as "Robin McKinley's written this really cool vampire book" and my reaction was (I'm ashamed to admit) "Oh, NO, she's gone the way of A, B, C, D..." and I refused to look. But now. Now I have to.
Another guilty secret is that I never found Mr. Rochester sexy. Not in the book. Not in movies.
E
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| Re: a little shameless self-promotion... [message #37500 is a reply to message #37488 ] |
Wed, 15 December 2010 00:46 |
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Ford of Rivendell
Messages: 20
Registered: May 2010
Location: Family Farm Country |
Junior Member |
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Well from the review it sounds as though the list-maker kinda skimmed the book instead of reading it. "Sunshine, is driving home from a baking stint at her stepfather’s café" uh, wasn't she out at the lake on movie night?
Also I may be missing something, and if I am I apologize, but Colin Firth never played Mr. Rochester of Jane Eyre to my knowledge, however he was Mr. Darcy from the BBC mini-series of Pride and Prejudice.
Robin, in many of your notes that I have read it seems you are quite overly...is self-concious the word...about Beauty. It is a wonderful story, one I have reread for nearly 20 years, at least a couple times a year. Though I could probably quote it word for word, I still love getting taken into the story by the pages. I have three copies of the 1993 Harper Collins Trophy edition and have given away a couple more. Sadly I have never found a hardcover. I too would love another version, if it were US bound.
I find a great many people lack imagination, let alone a vivid one, or at least the effort to actually use it and it seems increasingly so with todays modern technologies that involve too much video games and Facebook time. This most certainly must be the problem if Beauty or any other of your books do not sell well in the UK.
For myself I have never looked at nor cared to look at critics results, reviews, book lists, or anything else like that.
And yes I know that "young adult" genre is kinds of restricting, as there are a great many who consider themselves to cool to read anything that is not what the other people who consider themselves cool are pretending to read; if they can even bring themselves to read-some circles consider themselves too cool to read...which is way off topic and another story entirely.
Anyway, look at it in another light. The books that get placed there, for the most part, are for all ages to read and enjoy. Many are classic.
Your books sit on the shelves in our local book stores in young adult. To your left sits Jane Austen, James Fenimore Cooper, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, and Anthony Hope, and to your right sits Robert Louis Stevenson, J.R.R. Tolkien, Mark Twain, and Jules Verne. Their books are also sometimes distributed elsewhere but that is the one place they all gather...and that is good company to be kept in.
As to the title "Young adult" yes it should be more of something like All ages or Everyone or something more interesting but appropriate, but common sense isn't exactly common.
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| Re: a little shameless self-promotion... [message #37501 is a reply to message #37488 ] |
Wed, 15 December 2010 00:51 |
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rhymeswithcarrot
Messages: 34
Registered: October 2010
Location: Illinois |
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"He’s powerful and enigmatic all right, but the kind that makes you want to throw up."
YES. I read Sunshine right before I first watched Buffy, but a couple of years after I'd read Twilight (which I'd read when it first came out. I found it totally underwhelming and mostly forgot about it until 2009 when tween girls were pushing Robert Pattison into the paths of oncoming taxis and buying underwear with his face on them).
I loved Sunshine the first time through, of course, but after reading more of the modern vampire mythos I came back to Sunshine with a whole new appreciation for how creepy Con is. Vampires are not sexy! If your boyfriend wants to eat you, you probably do not want to be dating him.
I've been booktalking Sunshine a lot lately, and my sell is almost always something along the lines of "It's basically the anti-vampire vampire novel...it takes all of the standard vampire tropes, acknowledges them, and then completely turns them upside down. These are not sexy vampires; they are evil, terrifying monsters who will kill you for funsies." And then I gush about how amazing it is until I have extracted a promise from the listener that they will request it from the library RIGHT AWAY.
I also second you on the Colin Firth diving into the lake thing. Underwhelming.
[Updated on: Wed, 15 December 2010 00:53]
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| Re: a little shameless self-promotion... [message #37506 is a reply to message #37488 ] |
Wed, 15 December 2010 02:15 |
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Diane in MN
Messages: 2729
Registered: October 2008
Location: Twin Cities, MN, USA |
Senior Member |
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The cover for Beauty is very nice indeed, and hopefully will be a serious attention-getter when it's stacked face out on bookstore shelves.
I retweeted a quote from JD Salinger last night: ‘ There is a marvelous peace in not publishing.’
Yes, well, I suppose there's a marvelous peace in not doing a lot of stuff. This made me think of two things: Samuel Johnson's remark that "No man but a blockhead ever wrote except for money", which may be too sweeping a statement but has a certain relevance if a writer has a mortgage, and Ezra Pound's poem "The Lake Isle," which ends "install me in any profession/Save this damn'd profession of writing,/where one needs one's brains all the time." Turkey is an apt response, too. 
Although you might want to know that I’m the only (mostly) het woman on the planet who did not find the diving-into-the-lake scene particularly interesting.
No you're not. Plenty of company here!
"The point of books is to have way too many but to always feel you never have enough . . . " Louise Erdrich
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| Re: a little shameless self-promotion... [message #37507 is a reply to message #37488 ] |
Wed, 15 December 2010 03:28 |
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I would quite probably get a second copy just for the cover (and as I am always lending out my McKinley books I should probably have two of everything eventually)
For those of you who want a copy and may not be able to get in your country then
www.bookdepository.co.uk
is your friend - SHIP WORLDWIDE FOR FREE!
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| Re: a little shameless self-promotion... [message #37511 is a reply to message #37488 ] |
Wed, 15 December 2010 08:54 |
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anne_d
Messages: 208
Registered: October 2008
Location: Orange County, California |
Senior Member |
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Con? Handsome? Wait, what??? To quote the Elder Daughter, "What is this I can't even".
Con is compelling. Con might even be described as charismatic, in the scary evil sense, but handsome, no. A world of no.
I like the new Beauty cover. Come to think, I could probably stand to replace my original elderly paperback with a new shiny copy. Will it be available on this side of the pond?
[Updated on: Wed, 15 December 2010 08:55]
"The creative urge can come out in any form: in embroidery, in... cooking, in painting, drawing and sculpture, in composing music, as well as in writing books and stories... the artist's inner satisfaction was probably much the same." ~ Agatha Christie
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| Re: a little shameless self-promotion... [message #37512 is a reply to message #37506 ] |
Wed, 15 December 2010 09:03 |
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anne_d
Messages: 208
Registered: October 2008
Location: Orange County, California |
Senior Member |
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| Diane in MN wrote on Tue, 14 December 2010 23:15 |
Although you might want to know that I’m the only (mostly) het woman on the planet who did not find the diving-into-the-lake scene particularly interesting.
No you're not. Plenty of company here!
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Here as well. I enjoyed P&P, I thought Firth did quite nicely as Darcy, but they could've left that scene out entirely for all of me. It wasn't as if it was in the source material, after all, and I prefer my adaptations hew as close to the originals as possible, especially when it's something I love.
Yes, I'm weird that way. [eyerolls]
"The creative urge can come out in any form: in embroidery, in... cooking, in painting, drawing and sculpture, in composing music, as well as in writing books and stories... the artist's inner satisfaction was probably much the same." ~ Agatha Christie
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| Re: a little shameless self-promotion... [message #37515 is a reply to message #37513 ] |
Wed, 15 December 2010 12:20 |
greenmother
Messages: 4
Registered: May 2010
Location: The Great White North |
Junior Member |
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*wiping hand over worried brow*
Whew! I finally figured out that everyone was referring to the Colin-Firth-diving-into-the-lake scene from Pride and Prejudice and not the Colin-Firth-diving-into-the-lake scene from Love Actually.
I love the new UK cover for Beauty and covet it (in the "I will stroke it and I will pet it" version of covet but not the "My precious" version). After my credit card stops its pre-holiday hyperventilating and plotzing, I will hie myself over to the Book Depository site!
Con is not sexy or handsome, but he is compelling. That's probably a useful trait for a predator, no?
May your gods go before you in all the dark places you walk.
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| Re: a little shameless self-promotion... [message #37522 is a reply to message #37513 ] |
Wed, 15 December 2010 17:17 |
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Ford of Rivendell
Messages: 20
Registered: May 2010
Location: Family Farm Country |
Junior Member |
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Thanks Black bear. :0) I told ya I missed something, dyslexic ya know. And when I read through the replies nobody mentioned Darcy so I thought I missed something again. I generally watch Jane Eyre movies and Colin Firth is classy in most stuff; thought I missed a combination of the two.
Like I said I never read lists or critics, as I never buy a book based on ads or lists, so I don't believe I had ever heard of Nancy Pearl before. Just based on the blue quote Robin posted there seemed to be a number of mistakes everybody on here caught.
I think it's great when anybody promotes Robin's books, repeatedly, but they should kinda get the facts more correct. Just my opinion and perspective, no offense meant. I understand reviewers and list-makers often mince words in their susmmaries or say certain things to appeal to what's in fashion now...course that is why I don't like 'em, I like to make my own decisions and choices. Possibly not a good standing point for an author, but I'm a bit stubborn.
Uh, how'd you get a smilie in here? I could only see where to add them in the subject.
[Updated on: Wed, 15 December 2010 17:22]
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| Re: a little shameless self-promotion... [message #37526 is a reply to message #37523 ] |
Wed, 15 December 2010 22:28 |
greenmother
Messages: 4
Registered: May 2010
Location: The Great White North |
Junior Member |
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| Aaron wrote on Wed, 15 December 2010 18:08 |
| greenmother wrote on Wed, 15 December 2010 09:20 |
Whew! I finally figured out that everyone was referring to the Colin-Firth-diving-into-the-lake scene from Pride and Prejudice and not the Colin-Firth-diving-into-the-lake scene from Love Actually.
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The Love Actually scene is to be preferred, but hardly for reason of prurient content. His proposal scene in Love Actually may also be preferable to the one in Pride and Prejudice. So much of Austen's appeal is the interplay between what she says and what her characters say that screen (and stage) productions have a distinct problem preserving the tone when you hear only the, lovingly preserved, dialogue.
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I've never seen P&P, so I can't comment on the prurience or lack thereof of the Colin-Firth-diving-into-the-lake scene. However, I chortle aloud whenever I watch the Love Actually lake scene. The proposal in Love Actually is clever and touching. It may not be the best of theatre but it's become my family's favourite Christmas time movie.
May your gods go before you in all the dark places you walk.
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| Re: a little shameless self-promotion... [message #37527 is a reply to message #37519 ] |
Wed, 15 December 2010 22:39 |
greenmother
Messages: 4
Registered: May 2010
Location: The Great White North |
Junior Member |
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| Robin wrote on Wed, 15 December 2010 16:36 |
Snork snork snork snork SNORK. I'm doing a sort of round-up of reactions to last night's blog for this night's blog but this is probably over the line for the blog itself. But . . . yeah. I'm there.
Pollyanna *does* rule, but even she turns a blind eye to TWILIGHT. And I *have* said this on the blog proper--I hate TWILIGHT's *politics*. I hate it that Bella is a little drip who doesn't do anything but be sort of permanently crushed on by this undead bozo who hasn't used his years to any purpose. *Ewwww.* THIS BOTHERS ME. I GET TO SAY THAT IT BOTHERS ME. IT REALLY, REALLY BOTHERS ME THAT TWILIGHT HAS MILLIONS OF FANS WHO ALL WANT AN EDWARD CULLEN OF THEIR OWN. What is *wrong* with this world that so many of us *don't* want to have, you know, real lives of our own???? I get fantasy and daydreaming and perfect lovers and all that, but I *don't* get fantasy and daydreaming and perfect lovers that turn you into a zero.
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I've always been fond of my sister's suggestion for the sequel to Twilight. It's short, pithy and to the point.
"There was a plague and they all died. The End."
The. Best. Sequel. Ever.
Does it show that we both cordially loathe Twilight? Would it be rude to say that, in our view, Meyers can't write her way out of a wet paper bag, not even armed with a blowtorch? I am tickled that my daughter used Sunshine (and Beauty, along with Patricia Briggs' books) as a way to bribe her best friend away from the twee and wifty Twilight twaddle!
May your gods go before you in all the dark places you walk.
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| Re: a little shameless self-promotion... [message #37535 is a reply to message #37488 ] |
Thu, 16 December 2010 00:48 |
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danceswithpahis
Messages: 380
Registered: October 2008 |
Senior Member |
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My favorite image of Con is from when Sunshine first meets him and compares him to dried up mushrooms at the back of the fridge. A few months ago I was looking through my fridge and found some ancient mushrooms. My first thought was, "These look like Con; it's time to use them!" I will confess that this is one of the things that I particularly like about your writing. Most of your characters are NOT stunningly beautiful or amazingly handsome; the only exception I can think of was Lissar and that was at least partly because it was necessary for the story. I've read so many books, stories, etc. where the characters are automatically described as physically attractive that it gets to be nauseating. This is more so for women (I admit that when I read a book or story and a female character is described as beautiful I usually roll my eyes and think, "Stop being lazy and come up with a real description," since so often the theory is, "She's a woman in a story, she MUST be beautiful,"), but even male characters have this issue. Since most of us in real life are not stunningly attractive, at least not in the airbrushed Hollywood manner that seems to be indicated, it's nice to read about characters who are different.
"Oh good! My dog found the chainsaw!"
-- Lilo ("Lilo and Stitch")
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| Re: a little shameless self-promotion... [message #37542 is a reply to message #37519 ] |
Thu, 16 December 2010 05:09 |
aperry1027
Messages: 17
Registered: December 2010
Location: Portland Or |
Junior Member |
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| Robin wrote on Wed, 15 December 2010 13:36 |
What is *wrong* with this world that so many of us *don't* want to have, you know, real lives of our own???? I get fantasy and daydreaming and perfect lovers and all that, but I *don't* get fantasy and daydreaming and perfect lovers that turn you into a zero.
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I don't get it either now, but at the risk of shooting myself in the foot, I will say that a lot of Twilight's more rabid fans seem to be teenage girls... Im 28 now, but if I recall correctly teenage girls can be pretty shallow (not all of them, or even some of them all of the time, but enough) And Twilight offers Supper Hot, Super Rich Dude, who Promises to 'love you forever; every single day of forever' When your 16, and middle class, and feel ugly, awkward, and just generally like a misfit, that would be pretty powerful stuff (one day someone will love me like that).
Also Bella was a zero to start with (I read the books when I was desperate. I was stuck in a small town in Tenn for 4 months, had run out of my own books, and the only book store in town mostly had Christian self help books)So it's not like Edward sucked the awesome out of her or anything.
In my personal opinion there are many many many books that would fill that void, with much better ideas. But to be fair, the books are bloody everywhere, even book stores that only sell Christan self help books. Hell at this point it's even in Graphic Novel form. That's simply not true of most other sci-fi fantasy books. So people who otherwise don't read for recreation are picking it up. The Twilight books are what my mom used to call bubblegum books. Easy to read, but interest (flavor) fades quickly and it needs to be replaced with the next book (piece). Do I ever hope shes right this time.
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| Re: a little shameless self-promotion... [message #37546 is a reply to message #37542 ] |
Thu, 16 December 2010 08:01 |
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Black Bear
Messages: 3216
Registered: September 2008
Location: Indianapolis, IN USA |
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[Moderator] |
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| aperry1027 wrote on Thu, 16 December 2010 05:09 |
So it's not like Edward sucked the awesome out of her or anything.
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***dies laughing***
[Updated on: Thu, 16 December 2010 08:01]
"The time is always right to do what's right."--MLK Jr.
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| Re: a little shameless self-promotion... [message #37620 is a reply to message #37497 ] |
Sun, 19 December 2010 06:33 |
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Marina
Messages: 245
Registered: January 2009
Location: Near San Jose CA |
Senior Member |
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You never found Mr. Rochester sexy, in either book or film.
I'm with you there! Just not my type. Broody is for hens.
I used to adore Sara Teasdale's love poems. I was quite the stupid, ignorant girl then. I still love her nature and history poems, though.
A. Marina Fournier
❦If you want a golden rule that will fit everything, this is it: Have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful ❧ William Morris❦
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Re: a little shameless self-promotion...
