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Post by Chirugal on Jun 10, 2010 13:01:23 GMT
Hi Scott - good to have you here! Do you find yourself repeating any overall themes in your writing, and if so, why do they inspire you?
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Post by marianne on Jun 10, 2010 21:52:04 GMT
How did you come across each other. Where you deliberately searching for this kind of partnership? Or did it just evolve?
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Post by scottsigler on Jun 10, 2010 23:14:56 GMT
Hi Scott - good to have you here! Do you find yourself repeating any overall themes in your writing, and if so, why do they inspire you? Chirugal, very good to meet you. Seems like you're the one in charge of keeping folks in line around these parts. I don't know about overall themes, but there are a few methods to my writing and my style that are consistent. 1) My stories are reality based. With very few exceptions, the stories I write are grounded in real life, real biology and real physics. (THE ROOKIE, the football book I mentioned earlier in the thread, has aliens with alien biology, for example. But they still function in this universe. Because while I can take a little latitude with what other species might look like 700 years from now, the physics of the universe will be the same.) Then, once grounded in reality, I take it the one step further to the horrific, twisted outcome that my readers seem to enjoy. 2) My stories seem to be a mash-up of several ideas. For INFECTED, I was inspired by Carl Zimmer's Parasite Rex, but also by the challenge of writing a story that all took place in one apartment. I think they inspire me because I'm a rational, reality-based person, and think that giving readers that real world reality to hold on to makes it easier for them to say "I've Googled that, I know that's true." And that makes it easier for them to go along for the ride when the ride starts to go off into the rest. And the mash-up thing? That's easy-- that's how my brain works. I'm always thinking of the three things at once anyway.
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Post by scottsigler on Jun 11, 2010 1:16:21 GMT
How did you come across each other. Where you deliberately searching for this kind of partnership? Or did it just evolve? A (my partner at DØM) and I met at a convention, just like I met you. In early 2009 I asked her for help prepping for a series of radio interviews for CONTAGIOUS, and we realized we had complimentary skill sets. She's great at project management, long term strategic planning, and, basically, getting shit done. She runs her own project management consultant business, and had some experience working with what she calls "sole creatives"-- sole proprietor businesses working in creative jobs. Like me. I had tried to manage myself, and tried to have scheduling help in the past. I've known for a long time what my skills sets are and are not, and they are just not A's. So I asked her if she'd like to help me set up a weekly routine, and it just grew from there. The more we worked together, we found we had similar work ethic, goals, etc. We both work hard, and enjoy the work. It's unusual for an author for sure, but like I said, I know I'm easily distracted, and sometimes hyperactive, and always trying to do 10 things at once. These are things A helps me manage and still output lots of work. I'd been looking for someone to help me get/stay on task before, but hit the jackpot with this partnership.
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Post by marianne on Jun 11, 2010 21:55:48 GMT
Scott, I'd be really interested in your opinion on the future of publishing (hah just a small topic!). And do you plan to continue podcasting?
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Post by trentj on Jun 11, 2010 23:24:44 GMT
I think if we'd all had fewer obligations (we were quite a busy crew) it would have taken about 3 months to put it all together. In any case, I'm happy folks seem to be enjoying it.[/quote]
Thanks, Scott!
It's certainly a great trailer, and it gives a real feel for the book. It must be harder and harder to make a book trailer stand out. You've certainly thrown down the challenge with this one!
How important are book trailers to you?
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Post by stellar on Jun 12, 2010 3:08:28 GMT
Hi Scott,
Where does the border between inspiration and original ideas lie for you?
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Post by Chirugal on Jun 12, 2010 16:10:07 GMT
Chirugal, very good to meet you. Seems like you're the one in charge of keeping folks in line around these parts. Ha! They're generally not a rowdy bunch. Except that Marianne - she can be a little tough to handle. Doesn't that give you a headache?! Wow. Okay, new question: What's the most bizarre thing you've ever wanted to write about?
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Post by scottsigler on Jun 12, 2010 23:40:44 GMT
Scott, I'd be really interested in your opinion on the future of publishing (hah just a small topic!). And do you plan to continue podcasting? I think publishing is changing, but it will survive. There is something about holding a book in your hands that never really gets replaced by digital media. Maybe the smell, maybe the feel. Maybe I'm wrong. But I think it will survive. That said, the changes are already pretty large scale. I think every author who wants to publish needs to be actively involved in their own marketing and they need to have an online presence. The days of the Ivory Tower Author is over -- now every writer hoping to publish must also be an expert at their own marketing. And an online presence? As important as the book itself, in a lot of ways. The good news is I think any author can use my techniques. There are around a half-billion English-speaking Internet users out there. With that many people, whatever genre you write you can bet there are people online that will be interested. Will I keep podcasting? At least for the next few years, yes. I think a big part of my relationship with my readers is that my podcast is consistent and weekly. They get free content each week, and get to keep up with what's going on with me, and that seems to make a difference.
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Post by scottsigler on Jun 12, 2010 23:43:18 GMT
How important are book trailers to you? Good question trentj. For me, they're an important part of trying to reach new people in a new and innovative way. We're a society that's very used to seeing teaser/trailers, and also we're a society that are reading less and less. If I can reach folks who might not otherwise find my work by making a mini-movie for the book? I'm all in.
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Post by scottsigler on Jun 12, 2010 23:47:23 GMT
Hi Scott, Where does the border between inspiration and original ideas lie for you? Hi Stellar, thanks for the question. I think for me, the mash-up concept I talked about earlier helps send me off on an original path, and since my books intertwine those separate ideas in such a complex way, I don't often think too much about it once I'm off and running.
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Post by scottsigler on Jun 13, 2010 0:07:15 GMT
Ha! They're generally not a rowdy bunch. Except that Marianne - she can be a little tough to handle. No need to tell me, I was out late with her when I was supposed to be writing. Trouble, I tell you. She's nothing but trouble. Well, it could well be an American football game where each position is played by the best-suited sentient race for the demands of the position … Or, it might be the idea of tiny alien parasites terra-forming the human body, and using one's own central nervous system as an internet of sorts to communicate with each other … No, no: Xenotransplantation gone bad, on a remote island in the winter … Seriously, I do have a couple of things I think are crazy, and A thinks are pretty crazy, but I'm not at liberty to say just yet, as the stories are not yet begun.
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Post by scottsigler on Jun 13, 2010 0:13:43 GMT
So, I'm bad with the timezones, but I think today might be my last day guesting here. It's been great fun, and I thank Marianne for the chance to come and hang out with you guys. I leave for the ANCESTOR (North American) book tour a week from today, so it's a crazy fun time around these parts. I'll try and stop by one more time this week in case I missed any questions. In the meantime, check out the cool fun stuff we've got going on for ANCESTOR over at my site, where you can watch and see if I survive the crazy 19 city tour. Nineteen cities in 25 days or something. Hoo boy. I'm going to need a lot of coffee. scottsigler.com/ancestor
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Post by marianne on Jun 13, 2010 3:18:25 GMT
Thanks, Scott. It's been an absolute pleasure having you. Good luck with the Ancestor tour. And many thanks to A for organising your visit.
bests MDP
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Post by Chirugal on Jun 13, 2010 9:05:31 GMT
Thanks for coming over, Scott - good luck with your tour! Hope you have a lot of fun.
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