by Melinda Snodgrass | Jun 7, 2014 | About Writing
So, I ran across this pompous, annoying, infuriating, fug-headed article on Slate. The title alone should tell you all you need to know — against_ya_adults_should_be_embarrassed_to_read_children_s_books.html. Among her many complaints is that YA books give readers a “satisfying” ending — as if that is a bad thing! Happy, sad or somewhere in-between I think the failure to deliver a satisfying ending to “stick the landing” if you will is a near crime on the...
by Melinda Snodgrass | Jun 2, 2014 | About Writing
So a new fight has erupted in science fiction over the fact there have only been 4 women given the Grand Master award by SFWA. One should keep in mind that there have only been 30 given thus far. You can find a list here Grand Masters. (Apologies for it being a Wiki entry, the entry over at the SFWA site is out of date.) In addition the recipient has to be alive to receive it and have had a major impact on the field. When this award was first instituted it was understandable that the...
by Melinda Snodgrass | Jan 15, 2014 | About Writing
A friend of mine and a terrific writer just landed a job with a miniatures gaming company as their head writer. Up until now they have been using folks in the gaming community who fancied themselves writers, but hadn’t really put in the blood and sweat like my buddy. My friend attended Viable Paradise and Taos Tool Box. He’s written several novels and lots and lots of short stories. He has a tool box that’s pretty well stocked with the tools of our peculiar trade. And now...
by Melinda Snodgrass | Dec 16, 2013 | About Writing
If you hang out on my wall on Facebook it’s probably clear I’ve been struggling with this latest urban fantasy novel. Some of that was due to getting picked as one of the top S.F. and fantasy novels of 2013 — Kirkus – Best fiction 2013 science fiction & fantasy. Boy has this ever left me frozen. Here’s the mind games I’m playing with myself. Oh my god! This is awesome! But wait, the new book sucks! This will be the one that proves I have no...
by Melinda Snodgrass | Dec 14, 2013 | About Writing
That’s my excuse for why I’ve been a stranger for so long, and it’s just so easy to pop up a little post on Facebook. Anyway, we had the big DANGEROUS WOMEN launch party at the Jean Cocteau theater on Monday. 7 writers, 2 editors and a partridge in a pear tree. Okay, there wasn’t actually a partridge. It was a lively evening with interesting questions posed by George, brilliantly witty comments by Gardner Dozios, and insightful comments by the likes of Carrie...
by Melinda Snodgrass | Aug 1, 2013 | About Writing
Speaking of covers — Tor is going to be re-releasing the first two EDGE books but with brand new, more contemporary covers. My original covers were beautiful, but they didn’t give you much sense of what the books were about. My editor, Stacy Hill, and I have had fun picking out several artists who have the right look and feel for the books. I’m really excited. I think the first two books will come out as trade paperbacks, and maybe the third book as well. I’m...
