Monthly Archives: April 2022
The Big Idea: John Dodd
Posted on April 15, 2022
As writers, we all have the Story The Got Away From Us. For John Dodd, however, that story was the one he came around to once more. Here he is to talk about Ocean of Stars, and how it was written, when the time was right. JOHN DODD: It started with a book that couldn’t […]
Reader Request Week 2022 #7: Space Exploration
Posted on April 14, 2022 25 Comments
Joseph asks: What is your relationship to and opinion of, as a science fiction author and just as a person, the present-day effort of space exploration? (Human astronauts, robotic probes, astronomy with ground-based telescopes, or any other aspect of it.) I don’t think it’s going to be a surprise when I say that I am […]
The Big Idea: EC Ambrose
Posted on April 14, 2022 1 Comment
Footnotes, side comments, errata, vague asides — sometimes these don’t matter much. But sometimes, as E.C. Ambrose discovered, they do. And sometimes, as in the case of Drakemaster, you get a book out it! E.C. AMBROSE: Sometimes, the big ideas come from very small places… I was happily reading along for no particular purpose, in […]
Reader Request Week 2022 #6: High School Reunions
Posted on April 13, 2022 13 Comments
Laura S asks: My 50 year high school reunion was last fall. Actually 50+1 because of COVID. Have you attended any high school reunions? Or have you kept in touch with childhood friends post high school? I’ve been to several high school reunions: Specifically the 5th, the 10th, the 20th and the 30th, and I […]
Reader Request Week 2022 #5: The Clawback of Rights in the USA
Posted on April 13, 2022 47 Comments
Nellie asks: I’d love to get your perspective specifically on the rash of anti-trans legislation getting pushed all over the US right now – Alabama just today passed their version, making it a felony to help someone transition under the age of 19, and there are a LOT of bills under consideration in other states […]
The Big Idea: Nancy Werlin
Posted on April 13, 2022 9 Comments
Hey, do you remember the 90s? Nancy Werlin does, and one of the reasons she does involves her latest novel, Healer & Witch. Her latest novel… but perhaps not her most recent novel. Werlin is here now to explain how that works, and why she’s delighted this novel is now out in the world. NANCY […]
Reader Request Week 2022 #4: Rogue One
Posted on April 12, 2022 50 Comments
David asks: Ranked from worst to best, the Star Wars movies, and why is Rogue One the best? Rogue One isn’t the best — that’s still, and is likely to remain, The Empire Strikes Back — but at this point I would rank it a solid #3. Before I get into why, here’s that ranking […]
Reader Request Week 2022 #3: Travel in the New Age
Posted on April 12, 2022 8 Comments
James asks: I’m curious about your experience with travel. How has your experience of travel changed now that you are able to travel again after a year or two of break? Are there things you do to maintain normalcy during heavy book tour travel? Do you try to get other things done while traveling, or […]
The Big Idea: Wil Wheaton
Posted on April 12, 2022 27 Comments
For most of the readers here, the name Wil Wheaton is a familiar and even beloved one: Actor, television host, famous nerd, and award-winning, best-selling audiobook narrator. And also, in case you didn’t know, an accomplished writer and essayist. In Wil’s new book, Still Just a Geek, he revisits an earlier work, revises and expands […]
Reader Request Week 2022 #2: How to Be Pretty Happy
Posted on April 11, 2022 13 Comments
LEA asks: You seem pretty happy. This is something I seem to be bad at. Any advice? I am in fact “pretty happy” on a day-to-day basis, and now having said that, let me roll out a couple of caveats before offering any advice. First caveat: As a general practice, I would recommend against estimating […]
Reader Request Week 2022 #1: My “Man-Cred”
Posted on April 11, 2022 37 Comments
Hello, and welcome one and all to Reader Request Week 2022, where you offer up the topics, and I offer my thoughts on your topics. Let’s start this week off on a manly topic, shall we? “Just Sayin’” asks: You have occasionally been criticized by meatheads for being a “girly man” type, and you have […]
New Books and ARCs, 4/8/22
Posted on April 8, 2022 18 Comments
After a brief(ish) haitus whilst I was on the road, the New Books and ARCs feature is back, and with a very fine stack of reading if I do say so myself. What here is calling to you? Share in the comments! — JS
Reader Request Week 2022: Get Your Questions In!
Posted on April 7, 2022 129 Comments
So, next week is literally the only week in the next two months where I am not traveling and/or have something on a deadline, so you know what that means: It’s a perfect time for the annual Reader Request Week! That’s when you, the faithful reader of Whatever, provide a topic that you want to […]
Church Update: 4/7/22
Posted on April 7, 2022 28 Comments
Many of you have asked for updates on the church we bought, so here’s that update: We’ve begun the renovations. We’ve engaged the services of a building contractor who specializes in churches, which is fortunate because these spaces are in many ways unique and have singular issues. We’re starting with big stuff first: We’re redoing […]
Hey, Look, the 2022 Hugo Finalists Have Been Announced
Posted on April 7, 2022 15 Comments
And I’m delighted that many dear friends and colleagues are nominated this year. Congratulations to everyone who has made the finalist list! The whole list, as emailed to me (and many others) by Chicon 8, this year’s Worldcon: Best Novel Light From Uncommon Stars, Ryka Aoki (Tor; St. Martin’s)The Galaxy, and the Ground Within, Becky […]
The Big Idea: Adam Oyebanji
Posted on April 7, 2022 4 Comments
In his novel Braking Day, author Adam Oyebanji wants to take humans into deep space. But just because he wants to take them into deep space doesn’t mean he’s going to make it easy and simple for them to get there… or stay there. ADAM OYEBANJI: I fear I’m here under false pretenses. I don’t […]
“Kaiju” a New York Times Bestseller (Again)
Posted on April 6, 2022 19 Comments
This time on the NYT Audio Fiction Best Seller list, where it pops in at #14. As it also appeared on the NYT Combined Print & eBook list, we can say that the book is officially a hit in every format it’s come out in. Which is a lovely thing to be able to say. […]
Double Vaxxed, Double Boosted
Posted on April 5, 2022 49 Comments
If you’re wondering if people are actually getting a second COVID booster, well, hello, I’m people, and I just got my second booster shot. Why did I get my second booster shot? Let me count off some reasons: 1. COVID is still out there! And still infecting people! And still killing people, alas; this is […]
The Big Idea: Leah Cypess
Posted on April 5, 2022 2 Comments
Reuse and recycle: If it’s a good idea for physical things, can it also be a good idea for story concepts? Leah Cypess suggests that it might be — and explains how this has direct bearing on her novel Glass Slippers. LEAH CYPESS: Let me start with a confession: I used the same Big Idea […]
A New Story For You: Grizzly Bear Conflict Manager
Posted on April 5, 2022 40 Comments
Whenever I go on book tour, I like to write up a short story to read at the events; a thank you, as it were, to the people who show up, who get to hear me read something no one else has gotten to yet. The stories are usually short, usually funny, and hopefully enjoyable […]
Whatever Everyone Else is Saying