Question Day

Ask me any question at all, and I’ll do my best to answer it either here on the blog in the next few days, or as a reply in comments.

To start us off, I’ll answer a couple questions I’ve recently received in email:

1. Where is the audio version of MAGIC WITHOUT MERCY? When will it be out? 

I don’t have an answer to this yet, but I am looking into whether or not we’ll have an audio version of the book available.  As soon as I find out, I will let you know. (And thank you for asking! It’s great to know there are a bunch of you out there enjoying the audio books!)

2. How many books are there in the Allie Beckstrom series?

Nine. MAGIC FOR A PRICE is #9 and will be out in November.

3. Why don’t you post a picture of your dog?

Because I am a sucky photographer and every time I take a picture of him his ears go down and make him look sad.  But here’s one I took through my office window a couple summers ago when he wasn’t looking.

Mojo was a pound puppy, and no one wanted to adopt him because they were afraid he might be a Rottweiler. (He really looked like a Rottweiler when he was a pup, and was separated from his litter mates.  I don’t know why.  He was the most docile little guy ever.) He is a sweet, kind boy who is, as far as we can tell, part Australian Shepard, mixed with collie or border collie.

If you have a question, ask away!

9 Comments

  • Readsalot81

    Ok, I’ll bite. Woohoo! K.. My ? has 2 or 3 parts lol First off, when things are a little more difficult (ie: sick, family business, bad news.. what have you) how do you motivate yourself to write? Do you stick to a schedule or a current project or do you let yourself do something else?

    And secondly (err ok, thirdly).. since you’re an established author with 2 series under your belt, how do you keep complacency at bay? I’m asking because I like your books and don’t feel like I’m getting the same thing over and over (which is not unheard of with authors).. and since *I’m* not a writer, I’m curious as to the process of how you make things happen.

  • Dawn Young

    I’ve been trying to teach myself to be better at developing characters. Do you have any tips? Tricks? Resources you could recommend? I enjoy self-teaching myself how to do things, if I can just locate the right resouce(s) to get started 🙂

  • Tobi Summers

    Aw, my dog does the thing with the ears when I try to take her picture too. And she hides. Mojo looks so sweet and adorable, and it looks like you’ve given him a great home. Pound puppies and rescue dogs are the best.

  • Nicole L.

    I’ve got some for you, if you don’t mind. I’d ask more, but that’d be selfish. 😛

    1) Would you say there’s really any preparing for getting an agent, or into the published world? I ask because I’ve come across people who believe the only way to get published is to be published in what I call the mini-markets (literary magazines, competitions, etc) and or to attend writing conferences first. Not saying it’s not true, but, I’m not sure I’m convinced that of everyone published in the commercial markets, most of the them have their roots in pre-published mini works.

    2) How much say does the author really get…in anything? I’ve heard about how the faucets of publishing (mostly the editor) will change this and that in story, trash one thing and demand the author add such-and-such, etc to the point the author has pretty much gone back to the drawing board. Or, even if the storyline isn’t completed, the author is unable to publish future books slated for the series (for whatever reason), or the author is told they need to add books to a series, though they’re done with it. Then there’s the lack of consultation on other things, like covers (and don’t even get me started on movie adaptions!)……it just seems like somewhere along the line, the author really isn’t much of the author anymore. (I have to say, I freaked a little some time ago when you weren’t sure all 9 Beckstrom books would be picked up! That would’ve been very, very sad.)

    3) Are you going to sell stuff for the Beckstrom novels anytime in the future, such as Stone (like the ones you’ve knitted), or t-shirts, etc? For some reason, I kept thinking that there should be at least a Shamus Flynn lighter and an Allie coffee mug. 😛 (Please say yes!!! I can design and print my own shirts – and I have for this series…designed that is, I won’t print it without authorization, lest I be copyright infringing or something – but I don’t really have the skills for much else).

    4) This isn’t a question, but I wanted to address it – your dog is so pretty! 🙂

  • jenette

    You can add me to the list of hopeful audiobook listeners. 🙂 I have been looking for your new book every day since it came out. I hope you hear good news soon!

  • Northwoman

    Will you do a series on Shame next or Cody? I love them. If you did, I’d want Stone in it also.

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