Today, I’m taking part in Authors Against Bullying (#AuthorsAgainstBullying), having seen Mandy M. Roth talking about it on Twitter. The following post is about my experiences and how I got past them. The post may contain some triggerish things. Just to warn you. Many years later, when I described this to some friends at a writing conference, I suddenly found myself surrounded by shocked and silent faces. Oops. Continue reading Authors Against Bullying – 19th October
This weekend is Octocon weekend! The full timetable is here. And general details here. Liz Williams is GOH and a host of wonderful guests including C.E. Murphy, Celine Kiernan, Oisín McGann, Michael Carroll and me!
This is what I’ll be up to: (busy busy busy)
Saturday
11am Room 101 – putting away all those SFFH tropes
1pm – Realistic Relationships in SFF – What makes for a realistic relationship, and does a different world change what is realistic in a relationship?
3pm – LGBTQ in YA – What is the impact of having LGBTQ characters in Young Adult Books? What are the possible
pitfalls?
4pm – Reading – I’ll be reading from The Treachery of Beautiful Things (and maybe more)
6pm – What does the term strong female character actually mean? – We use the term all the time, but there seems to be a lot of disagreement as to what is and is not a “Strong Female Character”
Sunday 14th
(phew! A lie in)
Noon – Why so violent? – Why do so many stories resort to violence? Surely we can all just get along
1pm – Roots of Irish fantasy – Irish Myths and Legends go back thousands of years, and have been changed by interaction
with the Catholic Church, and the Catholic Church has been changed by the Irish people and our myths (I accidentally talked my way into this. Be warned, I have been doing research!)
5pm – Is there space for religion in Science Fiction? – Some see science as being about facts and figures, and believe that science fiction shouldn’t include relgion. We hope to explore these ideas.
I always have an awesome time at Octocon. (And collapse in a heap afterwards). But don’t forget that there is also the Friday night welcome drinks and the Dead Dog party on Monday!
Copies of The Treachery of Beautiful Things, Soul Fire, The Scroll Thief and Songs of the Wolf will be available in the Dealers room.
Come and say hello if you’re there. And come to the reading so I’m not talking to an empty room! Pleeeeeeease!
I’ve had a couple of tweets about this, and as I’ve bought a book I’m going to suggest you do too.
Guys Lit Wire: Budget Cuts in DC Schools Mean We Step Up to Help Ballou SR High.
They clearly have an awesome librarian, and awesome taste in books! *ahem*
So go on, one book. Give it a go. Easy peasy.
I’m a little late writing this one up for a number of reasons, but they basically boil down to lots to do and no energy to do it with. Plus finishing my WiP, the Space Opera. Well, now that has gone off to my wonderful critters, I can’t put blogging off any more, can I?
Titancon was fantastic fun. So well run and entertaining for all of us. We had a ball. One of the really awesome thing was that Leigh Bardugo (author of SHADOW AND BONE) and Joanna Volpe from New Leaf Literary were there and we got to hang out. I have photos, which are all slightly wobbly as my camera decided to play up.
So first, on Friday night, we had readings in McHughs as part of Culture Night Belfast
Titancon was Saturday. We had panels on Romance in SFF, on becoming a professional author, on working in the Internet age. We met people from the TV show, A Game of Thrones. We had lots of fun and a lovely lunch.
Some of the encounters were pretty action packed. (that’s why its blurry, honest!)
Many thanks to Miltos and Johannah!
A great day was had by all. And here is a wobbly picture of Joanna, Leigh and myself with the Game of Thrones banners.
We stayed for the Masquerade, which was fab and then the next day we decided to go to the Giant’s Causeway, little knowing we would be stalked by the Game of Thrones bus tour!
The Causeway was fantastic. I’ve never been before and always wanted to. Here’s a slideshow of some of my photos (my camera suspiciously decided to cooperate once the con was over!)
This afternoon I’m heading up to Belfast for the kick off of Titancon.
Really looking forward to this one.
Tonight, as part of Culture Night Belfast, a group of the visiting authors will be reading in McHugh’s Bar, including Ian MacDonald, Peadar Ó Guilín, Leigh Bardugo and myself amongst others.
Tomorrow is a full day of panels and events, lots of Game of Thrones. My schedule (from the Titancon website) looks like this:
11.30 am – Is there still room for romance? Panel: Ruth Frances Long (mod), Peadar Ó Guilín and Leigh Bardugo
In this age of dark and gritty fantasy is there still room for romance? If so, what does it take to write a convincing and uncontrived love story or subplot?
2.00 pm – Foreshadowing in the Internet age Panel: Ian McDonald (mod), Peadar Ó Guilín, Ruth Frances Long and Ken Magee
Twenty years ago SF/F writers could include subtle hints and clues about the future direction of the story knowing that maybe one reader in a hundred would guess what would happen next. Now with the Internet that one reader can share their ideas with everyone else and suddenly an authors’ brilliant twist becomes an obvious thing that everyone knew ages ago. Is it more of a challenge to foreshadow stories in the Internet age? How can you successfully keep the twists and turns hidden and surprising whilst avoiding being overly subtle and obscure or turning to dues-ex-machina?
Our guests including authors, a literary agent and a publisher discuss what it takes to go from amateur to professional writer, the pitfalls to avoid and tips on how to succeed.
4.00 pm – The eBooks Debate Panel: Peadar Ó Guilín (mod), Ruth Frances Long, Leigh Bardugo, Joanna Volpe and Ken Magee
With eBook sales now overtaking physical books the publishing industry is undergoing a radical transformation. What does this mean for publishers and have they taken the right steps to transition into this new medium? Are prices fair and acceptable for consumers whilst still offering enough growth for publishers to enable them to keep doing the vital jobs of editing, proofing and promotion? Or is self publication the way forward cutting out the middleman? eBooks is a topic sure to spark a strong debate that will pull no punches.
Our author guests will be signing copies of their books. Many of them will have a small stack of books with them that are available for purchase.
Yes, I am bringing a small stack of books. Most of them are The Treachery of Beautiful Things but some of my R. F. Long ones are coming too. As Treachery as never been to a convention before and might panic.
So if you’re in the Belfast area, come and say hello!
What a wonderful night. With photos to prove it…
Having spent the two previous days getting apologies from those who couldn’t make it (with perfectly valid reasons of course), with a major concert on in Dublin, the Junior Cert exam results out that day, and traffic chaos, I was expecting no one to make it but we had a great turnout in the end. Yay! I didn’t get to talk to everyone, nor as much as I would have liked to but it was fantastic to see so many people, new friends and old. (Yes, I got into trouble for mentioning my “oldest” friends — I think I am forgiven now, barely. “The people with whom I have been friends the longest” isn’t quite so snappy though.)
Bob from The Gutter Bookshop introduced us,and Celine Kiernan spoke so kindly about The Treachery of Beautiful Things.
And I thanked … well everyone in the world really, virtual, imaginary, and real.
But eventually I shut up again and we had cake.
Did I mention the cake? 😀
I didn’t actually get any cake because I was signing books
but I’m told people enjoyed it and the hoard of small children surrounding the table earned themselves the nickname “The Cookie Monsters”.
And then it was time to go home. Thanks so much to everyone who was able to make it, who sent good wishes and celebrated online. I had a fabulous evening. I hope you did too!
Next up, it’s Titancon, from the 21st of September, in Belfast. I’ll be on the literary panels, and signing books. Check out those guests! Can’t wait!
The Treachery of Beautiful Things is now available, from Dial Books at
Indiebound | Book Depository | Amazon.com
Amazon.co.uk | Barnes & Noble | Powells
and at your local bookshop.
eta: I forgot to add – The Treachery of Beautiful Things got a STARRED REVIEW in the ALA Booklist – their review is here.
The countdown is on to the book launch. My brain has switched into its usual stress management mode – BAKE ALL THE THINGS!
Venue: The Gutter Bookshop
Date: Wednesday 12th September – 6.30pm until 8pm
Free and Everyone welcome. Encouraged even.
There will be cake. Just saying.
The book will be launched by the wonderful and talented, not to mention award winning Celine Kiernan.
There should be photos (if I charge my camera and find a photographer). And there might be wine. (*ahem*)
So come one, come all to the Gutter Bookshop tomorrow evening and see what happens.
~~oO0~~
The Treachery of Beautiful Things
by Ruth Frances Long
Now available:
Indiebound | Book Depository | Amazon.com
Amazon.co.uk | Barnes & Noble | Powells
and your local bookshop!!!
So for the last two weeks we’ve been in the sunny Loire Valley in France, visiting Chateaux (only slightly for research purposes), a zoo, a Templar Commanderie (only slightly for research purposes). And stairs. So many stairs!!!
So here is the by now photo heavy “what I did on my summer holidays” post. I’m splitting them up into sections with short slideshows so its easier to skip if you want to. Please forgive my typos. I’m tired, it’s been a long post. Skip what you need to.
And what a wonderful day it has been so far.
All the lovely wishes, the people saying hello and congrats, friends and strangers, and the photos people have been sending of the book appearing on their eReaders!
I’m so happy that we’re here, and that Treachery (which was once just May Queen) is out in the world. So thank you to everyone who helped — friends, crit partners, gnats, agents, editors, everyone. You’ve all been amazing.
Now available:
Indiebound | Book Depository | Amazon.com
Amazon.co.uk | Barnes & Noble | Powells
and from your local bookseller
Oh my goodness – only one more day to go. How fabulous! It’s so exciting. Tomorrow is the Book Birthday!
This week we’ve had: an interview with me at Xpresso Reads, a wonderful Dream Cast at Book Me! and a guestpost from me about some of the things that went into writing The Treachery of Beautiful Things at Nick’s Book Blog.
It’s the last day of the The Itching For Books Blog Tour but there are still a few coming up over the next few days, so keep your eyes pealed!
Thanks to the joy of Irish weather (which went from unpredictable to biblical today) the last video was filmed entirely indoors but as its about the Ridgeway, the Uffington White Horse and Wayland’s Smithy, that didn’t really matter. Last year while researching The Treachery of Beautiful Things I took a trip to the Ridgeway, so there’s lots of pictures taken there. And it was lovely and sunny!
I hope you’ve enjoyed the videos, the glimpses of some of the inspiration of this book and I hope you’ll enjoy The Treachery of Beautiful Things. It can be bought everywhere from tomorrow (and in a couple of places already) or it can be ordered from (among other places) …