Funy, things one finds when one is not looking

[kerravonsen]

Last night, I discovered that there was a new SF bookstore near where I work, as I passed it by after it had closed for the night. This lunchtime, I went in and discovered that Narelle Harris has written a (childrens?) fantasy novel, called "Witch Honour" or something like that. I did consider buying it out of loyalty if nothing else, but it was in hardback, and there's only a few authors I'll buy hardback for (Bujold, Lee&Miller, and at one point, Weber). I have mixed feelings, because I looked at the blurb and thought "This doesn't sound immediately interesting. There are far too many lead characters, even though the background could have potential, it could also fall flat on its face and I don't know which one." What I gathered from the blurb is that we have about four lead female characters, and a wishy-washy male lead character, and it's set on a planet where technology is weak and magic is strong, and yet, for no logical reason, witches are persecuted. Oh, and there's an evil witch whom they have to fight.

Now, this could simply be the result of bad blurb writing. It certainly wouldn't be the first time that's happened. And I want to like it, because, like, y'know, B7 fan whom I think of with vague fondness, even though we've hardly been in touch and that's even more pathetic considering that we both live in the same city (though she used to live in Perth).

But still, hardback, no buying. On the other hand, may be only opportunity, since no guarantee of existance of paperback.
Wish I could read it first, then I'd be able to judge it on its own merits. (sigh)

Well, at least the plot doesn't sound cliche'd, not with four lead characters...

Comments

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

I acquired a Narelle Harris B7 play in a job-lot and sold it on. I must tell the person who bought it that she's a pro author. It was an S4 play with Tarrant just being a voice off, not sure why.

[sallymn.livejournal.com]

Ummm, that doesn't sound good.

Trying to recall any fanfic by the lady...

[temeres.livejournal.com]

Wish I could read it first, then I'd be able to judge it on its own merits. (sigh)

Public library? You could at least check if it's available to borrow.

[hawkeye7.livejournal.com]

I remember Narelle. I used to work with her brother Richard. She was a pretty good writer.

[kerravonsen]

She wrote a PGP series called "Phoenix" which she put out in zine form and then years later, put up on the web.

[kerravonsen]

Good point. I think my local library network even has a website somewhere...

[pinkdormouse.livejournal.com]

Well, at least the plot doesn't sound cliche'd, not with four lead characters...

How would you define lead characters? Just asking because I still have problems explaining my novel succinctly. I've got two narrative characters, two other central characters (plus Gran, who seems to be sneaking onto centre stage at the moment), and a bunch of background antagonists/suspects/witnesses.

Am currently redefining the whole as detective fiction with a fantasy background.

Gina

[kerravonsen]

How would you define lead characters?

Good question. Of course, I can't tell, since I haven't read the book in question, whether my surmise that there are four lead characters in the book is, or is not, correct...

Your book, on the other hand, I would probably say that you have two lead characters, two (or three) supporting characters, and then the rest. I'd consider a lead character to be a narrative/PoV character, usually.

Am currently redefining the whole as detective fiction with a fantasy background.

As distinct from? Fantasy fiction with a detective background? Though considering (if this is the same novel you spoke of at Redemption) that this is set in more-or-less contemporary England (one step to the side) then I can see the reasoning. That wouldn't necessarily mean it would be marketed that way, though.

[pinkdormouse.livejournal.com]

I'd consider a lead character to be a narrative/PoV character, usually.

Yep, that's the way I'm thinking too. Andrew's been quiet recently, but that's partly because Richard's been doing a lot of detecting that hasn't involved Andrew being a suspect, and mostly because he's lying low after his last attempt to thwart Richard's plans/moral-stance went a bit wrong.

As distinct from? Fantasy fiction with a detective background? Though considering (if this is the same novel you spoke of at Redemption) that this is set in more-or-less contemporary England (one step to the side) then I can see the reasoning. That wouldn't necessarily mean it would be marketed that way, though.

Yep, I'm still on with the same novel, after a phase when it just wouldn't flow. I'm not too worried about how potential publishers are going to market it right now, so much as how I'm going to sell it to them. One good thing I picked up from servalan is that people (either in general, or those working in publishing) like to know what genre they're reading from the start.

So making it clearer that this is a story about someone who investigates mysteries (whether in his academic work, or in his spare time) right from the start is probably the way to go. I really need to (re)read a few crime novels before I rework the prologue.

Gina