Contests and Critiques

There are a couple of contests with COOL prizes available. The first is at the Alliterative Allomorph’s blog. Head over there as she’s posted the competition to honor her first 200 followers and the competition will close when she reaches that milestone.  Her prizes include a free critique of your first chapter, up to 20% off of an entire ms edit by a professional editior, critiques of queries or synopsis, or a gift card.

The second contest was announced at Query Tracker.net and if you’re not following them, you might want to check and see if you’re alive. (Have you recently been bitten by anyone with a thirst for blood or brains?) Seriously, follow them and get their newsletters. You won’t regret it. This is yet another “Dear Lucky Agent” contest and this time, it’s for writers of Fantasy and Science Fiction. Winners will receive an agent’s comments on their first ten pages plus a year’s subscription of Writer’s Market. WELL worth the effort.

Good luck in all your efforts!

Cover Contest Results Are In

Contest Winner of Under Heaven

This week was a huge privilege and thrill for me. Not many people get to interview a favorite author, and I’m so thankful to Mr. Kay for the opportunity.

Now, what you’ve all been waiting for…

pulled by the hand of my darling child from her little Chinese purse,

the winner is …

Shannon O’Donnell!

Shannon, I’ve already sent you a message via your contest/blog posting. If you’ll please email me your address, I’ll make sure you receive your copy of this marvelous book.

Thanks so much to all the participants and followers!

Until next time, zai jian. 🙂

In Conclusion: More Information

Welcome to the conclusion of Under Heaven Week. Tomorrow, I’ll announce who receives a free copy of Under Heaven, but for now I thought I’d leave you with some additional links and information.

In case I didn’t ask all the questions you thought I might, “Whatever” and Penguin books printed different essays detailing Under Heaven’s creation.

I considered asking Mr. Kay about his book tour schedule, but decided against the question because I could look up the information myself. For a book tour schedule, please check this link. You can also use the site to request a tour visit from Mr. Kay.

There are numerous links to check out on Mr. Kay’s website including the Forum and the News page. There’s also a page detailing his readings and screenings.

If, like me, you collect signed books by your favorite authors, try this site, which I discovered while reading Mr. Kay’s Forum Page: Under Heaven Journal.

An Interview with Guy Gavriel Kay

I conducted the following interview with Mr. Kay via email and am indebted to his generous response to my ten thousand questions! I’ve divided his answers between this blog and the Historical Novel Review site, so that both blogs provide you with a fascinating insight into this amazing author’s writing and a chance to win a free copy of “Under Heaven.”

1. This is your first foray away from Europe and a Christianity-based world and out of all of China’s massive history, you chose the Tang Dynasty during the An-Lushan rebellion (circa 763) as your focus. Why did you choose this time and place?

I truly never know what a next book will be when I finish one. I am wide open at that time. With The Sarantine Mosaic, I ended up researching that world because three reviews of Lions of Al-Rassan (the previous book) made reference to my ‘Byzantine’ characters and plotting … so I took it as a ‘sign’ to learn more about Byzantium! As I said … wide open.

With Under Heaven, I originally approached it with an idea for a ‘Silk Road book’ but gradually as I read, and corresponded with people, the Tang period began to impose itself on me – the combination of high drama, brilliant figures, flux and chaos, dazzling wealth, and themes that ‘worked’ for me made it ultimately feel like a place I’d want to spend three years. One academic I know wrote me after, ‘I always knew you would do the Tang.’ I wrote back, ‘I’m glad at least one of us did.’

2. Were there any other times in China’s history that appealed to you and do you plan on visiting them?

Absolutely: there were and are other deeply compelling periods. This is a history over two millennia with overwhelming richness for a writer. But as to visiting in the future: see previous answer. I truly never know.

3. Language barriers must have been a challenge when conducting research. What other challenges did you face writing “Under Heaven” that were unique to this book?

Interesting query. Every book has its own issues that confront me, from trying to make sure the names aren’t daunting to looking for legitimate ways to explore the role and scope of women (something I am always engaged by). Language tends not to be a serious barrier, given how much scholarship is available in English. It did enter as I tried (very hard) to come to terms with the staggering achievement that is Tang Dynasty poetry … but so many translators and scholars have felt the same fascination that I did have guides and signposts there.

4. Your characters tend to have depths of intelligence and humor hard to find in many genre novels. How do you approach character development?

It honestly isn’t a grand plan or anything like that. As I have often said, those of us working carefully tend to write the books we’d enjoy if someone else wrote them. I like reading about intelligent, witty characters, and try to invest my own with those traits – when it feels appropriate. I also have my share of flat-out chowderheads, I think. May I give you Pronobius Tilliticus from the Mosaic (Still one of my own favourite character names. I think Dickens would have approved!).

5. Every author works in a different way – would you share how you approach writing a novel? The way you set out the plot, your workplace, anything that contributes to the process.

In general (and I stress that!) I start with period and place and theme. From these I start finding characters and at that point the nucleus of a plot usually emerges. I don’t outline, I do not tend to know my ending (except, at times, in the broadest sense). The writing is legitimately a journey of discovery for me. But this is purely offered as my way of doing things, not as a prescription for anyone else.

6. What has been the biggest stumbling block in your writing?

The constant, chronic, inherent inability to say exactly what I want to say. To make it work perfectly. I don’t know a serious writer who doesn’t feel that, mind you.

7. Can you share any advice which may help others get past similar problems?

Ultimately, an acceptance of one’s built-in imperfection as a human being and artist. But not to allow this to become an excuse for taking the easy route through a problem in the work. We mustn’t indulge in obsessive-compulsive desire for uttermost perfection, but we need to chase it some way.

8. What sparks your creativity and keeps you working?

Right now (and probably for some years) it seems to be the journey that each book represents. I learn so much with each novel, about the past, about today, about myself. This is fiercely challenging at times, but also deeply enriching.

9. Have you ever started writing a novel you couldn’t finish?

I’m one of those who can say ‘no’ to that … but at the same time I don’t think that writers who have unfinished manuscripts in a drawer or hard drive file have ‘failed’ because of that. Those pages or pixels very often produce something important down the road, in unexpected ways.
That’s a comforting thought!

10. You’ve written eleven novels of historical fantasy (and one book of poetry) and I’m curious if you’ve ever considered a different or additional genre? For instance, an historical mystery with or without fantastical elements.

Of course I have. One considers almost everything at some point or another (often when dodging the burden of getting back to a difficult chapter!). I may yet surface with a book of seafood recipes for you. Or a baseball novel. I’d enjoy that.
Many thanks again to Mr. Kay for the generous response to my many questions!