One More Detour on the Writing Road

Because I've seen it crop up on other lists, it's time to post here.

...there is a requirement that books nominated for the PKD see their North American release in the year of the award. For this year's award--the 2008 award--that means that the books need to have come out in 2008.

ENDGAME came out in November 2007.

I don't know how the judges wound up getting the book, but once I realized what had happened, I let someone know, and they let someone know.

I am disappointed because I like this book a lot, and because it was the last book in a middlin' series that came out about three years late...well, I was glad to see it get some attention. And I was very happy that fellow pros thought it worthy of nomination. But rules is rules.

And so it goes.

PKD noms came out today

EMISSARIES FROM THE DEAD by Adam-Troy Castro (Eos Books)

ENDGAME by Kristine Smith (Eos Books)
FAST FORWARD 2 edited by Lou Anders (Pyr)

JUDGE by Karen Traviss (Eos Books)

TERMINAL MIND by David Walton (Meadowhawk Press)

TIME MACHINES REPAIRED WHILE-U-WAIT by K. A. Bedford (EDGE Science Fiction and Fantasy Publishing)

UPDATE: thanks to all for your good wishes. Unfortunately, ENDGAME needed to be pulled from the list because it came out in November 2007. The books to be considered for the 2008 PKD need to have seen first North American release in 2008.

Every week or so, John (does this man ever rest?) Scalzi runs a feature in one of his many blogs entitled The Big Idea, in which an author discusses a major plot point/idea in their latest work.

Well, guess who's featured this week?

Courtesy of Harpercollins.

I tried to embed the code in my LJ profile, but it didn't work. Maybe I'll try again, seeing as it's working here.

I think this is very neat.

ENDGAME won't be out for three months, but there are already "2 New & Used" copies being offered on Amazon. One is through Amazon, which I think is just the standard stock. But the other is a new vendor who is offering a copy for $1000.99...+ $3.99 shipping.

One is compelled to wonder whether this is a serious case of mistyping. One doubts one's books could command such lofty prices. If they can, one has a few boxes of old books in the basement and some home remodeling to finance.

UPDATE: it was a case of mistyping. The price is now $10,000.99...+ $3.99 shipping.

I can offer a signed galley for, say, $5000. I'll even cover the shipping.

A question for folks who have had contests...how do you set them up, and what types of contests do you have? Questions about past works? Best answer to a hypothetical question (What would Jani do...?)

Any info appreciated.

My editor informed me today that the ENDGAME galleys arrived at her office. They are apparently quite spiff, and I should have my copies shortly.

I'm considering giving a copy away in some sort of contest, but I've no clue as to what sort of contest it should be. I need to think...

The latest, greatest, all-over-but-the-copyedits versions of chapters 1 and 2 of ENDGAME are posted on my website. I've also included a section from the first draft, which was edited out thanks to the change in plot course. It's in Torin's POV, which is now an ex-POV. Writing can be cruel that way.

Note--icon made with the permission of the artist, Chris McGrath.