by Melinda Snodgrass | May 22, 2015 | The Craft of Writing
As I indicated on my Facebook page I really liked this book. Primarily because it was a character study and I read for the people not for the problem. Katherine Addison evokes the insecurities of an 18 year old who is suddenly thrust into the role of ruler when his father and half-brothers are all killed. The elven/goblin culture is fascinating with a mix of swords and airships and there is enough touch of archaic language to ground you in the world without making it difficult to read....
by Melinda Snodgrass | May 11, 2015 | The Craft of Writing, TV & Movies
I have to add an addendum to my thoughts about the Avengers flick. Apparently a lot of people are very upset about Black Widow in this film because of the scene with Bruce Banner about her inability to have children. That is not a sexist moment. Listen to the dialog. She isn’t saying she’s a “monster” because she can’t have kids. She’s saying she’s a monster because she was trained to be a killer from childhood. She’s regretful she...
by Melinda Snodgrass | Mar 28, 2015 | The Craft of Writing
So I’m adapting my Edge books as a potential TV series. There is a reason I picked a novel — in fact a series of novels — and I have George RR and the success of Game of Thrones to thank for that. Hollywood is now eager to pick up properties based on novels, particularly novels where there are multiple books. I’m writing the pilot now, and even if it doesn’t got as as show it’s a new writing sample for my manager which is all good. As for using my own...
by Melinda Snodgrass | Jan 11, 2015 | The Craft of Writing
I want to give a shout out to Pat Rothfuss index.asp. There is a very valuable writing lesson in his novel A WISE MAN’S FEARS. I had read THE NAME OF THE WIND when it first came out, and now I finally picked up Wise Man’s for my trip home to New Mexico for the holidays. I’m very much enjoying this book. Kvothe is a terrific character, and the framing device selected by Rothfuss works beautifully. But today I’m here to praise a choice that he made in Wise...
by Melinda Snodgrass | Aug 14, 2013 | The Craft of Writing
So Library Journal has weighed in with a very nice review of BOX OFFICE POISON. I am baffled by the reaction to these Linnet Ellery books. Is it just because I broke the urban fantasy trope by having the supernaturals be in positions of real power and authority instead of hiding in the shadows? Because I had my protagonist be a professional woman who doesn’t have a stiletto up her sleeve? I have joked to my editor and my agent that when we reissue the Edge books I ought to have them put...
by Melinda Snodgrass | Jun 28, 2013 | The Craft of Writing
I just finished reading Daniel Abraham’s third installment, THE TYRANT’S LAW, in the Dagger and the Coin series. This is a terrific novel and just continues to up the stakes and tension from the first two novels. I adore the characters, particularly Clara. I love the fact that banking and the role of money plays such an integral part in the plot. It’s rare that economics is mentioned much less analyzed in most science fiction or fantasy novels, but money is a superpower,...
