truepenny: artist's rendering of Sidneyia inexpectans (Default)
Sarah/Katherine ([personal profile] truepenny) wrote2010-07-02 05:41 pm

Q&A 4, plus...

1.
Q: What does Felix see (or what is he able to see) when he looks off the battlements?

A: I'm not quite sure what you're asking: what the view is, or how good his eyesight is. The view from the battlements is of all the rooftops of Mélusine, as the Mirador is both the tallest building in the city and on high ground; Felix tends to gravitate toward the view to the south: the Lower City.

If you're asking about his eyesight, he can certainly see well enough to pick out major landmarks like the cathedrals and the Judiciary. (My shorthand for Felix's eyesight is that he can see about as well as I can without my glasses on--which, as legally blind goes, is actually pretty good.)

2.
Q: Did you research Labyrinths for this series or did you make up your own ideas about them and if you did have particular books, can you tell us books you read or books that you recommend.

A: Mostly, I made up my own ideas, as I could not find any books on labyrinths that were not cloyingly New Age (for my tastes). I suspect I was also heavily influenced by Barbara Hambly's Dog Wizard and M. R. James' story, "Mr. Humphries and His Inheritance." And there's a certain amount of the Minotaur and the actual ancient labyrinths on Crete as well. But mostly, sorry, it's just me.

3.
Q: How old are Steven, Victoria, and Shannon at the end of "The Mirador"?

A: Victoria was born in 2242, Stephen in 2244, Shannon in 2257. Mélusine starts in 2279, at which point Shannon is 22, Stephen is 35, and Victoria is 37. The Mirador takes place in 2283, so Shannon is 26, Stephen is 39, and Victoria is 41. Assuming my math is correct, which may or may not be the case.



And, from the Department of "If Locus says it, it must be true," I have sold a short story collection, Somewhere Beneath Those Waves, to Prime Books. I will provide more details when and as I can, but for now, let's go with, this will be a collection of my published non-Booth short stories. Also, I'm very psyched.

[identity profile] mrissa.livejournal.com 2010-07-02 10:48 pm (UTC)(link)
Short story collection yay!

[identity profile] bad-latin.livejournal.com 2010-07-02 11:11 pm (UTC)(link)
I concur: YAAAAAY!

Also, I was too nervous to tell you in person at 4th Street, but thank you ever so much for your "the writer is leading the blindfolded reader down a passage with a candle" analogy, which I have invoked (with proper credit, I promise!) approximately eight trillion times.

[identity profile] truepenny.livejournal.com 2010-07-02 11:16 pm (UTC)(link)
You're welcome!

Also, your icon made me howl with laughter in a way that seriously alarmed my spouse.

[identity profile] bad-latin.livejournal.com 2010-07-02 11:32 pm (UTC)(link)
All credit to the great Steve Jackson for the line; I am just an icon-making line-stealing stealer. :)

[identity profile] hermetic.livejournal.com 2010-07-02 11:02 pm (UTC)(link)
Congratulations! I'm looking forward to the new collection.

In these Q&As, what's the question you've always wished someone would ask, but hasn't? (Please consider this me asking that question.)
sovay: (Lord Peter Wimsey: passion)

[personal profile] sovay 2010-07-02 11:09 pm (UTC)(link)
I have sold a short story collection, Somewhere Beneath Those Waves, to Prime Books.

Congratulations!

[identity profile] britmandelo.livejournal.com 2010-07-02 11:17 pm (UTC)(link)
Awesome! Short stories! *g*

[identity profile] alan-yee.livejournal.com 2010-07-02 11:57 pm (UTC)(link)
Congratulations! I can't wait for the new collection. Now I won't have to fish out all the anthologies and magazine back issues to get the rest of the non-Booth stories.
heresluck: (book)

[personal profile] heresluck 2010-07-03 01:24 am (UTC)(link)
YAY and CONGRATULATIONS on the story collection sale! The lazy among us are very, very grateful to Prime for being so clever as to collect all the non-Booth stories in one place.

[identity profile] truepenny.livejournal.com 2010-07-03 01:27 am (UTC)(link)
Given the weird places these stories have been published, I think even the non-lazy are allowed to be grateful. *g*

(Anonymous) 2010-07-03 03:18 am (UTC)(link)
Ohh...so Stephen isn't the first-born, but becomes Lord Protector over his elder sister? (That's mentioned somewhere no doubt, and my mind just skipped over that bit.) Melusinien patriarchy, or what? Was there ever a Lady Protector?

Lin (not my question, just interested)

[identity profile] truepenny.livejournal.com 2010-07-03 03:21 am (UTC)(link)
There have been several women among the Lords Protector, including Stephen's grandmother Jane. Victoria is ineligible because she is a wizard.

(Anonymous) 2010-07-03 04:18 am (UTC)(link)
Oh, of course, I do remember the rule of Jane Teveria being discussed now that you mention it...guess I also assumed she must have been exceptional, or an only child, or something, since Stephen being the eldest was stuck in the back of my mind. That was a bit stupid of me. Thank you for clearing that up! On the whole I imagine Victoria would prefer being a wizard to being Lord Protector...?

Lin

[identity profile] stephanieburgis.livejournal.com 2010-07-03 01:36 pm (UTC)(link)
Hooray! I can't wait to read Somewhere Beneath Those Waves!
ext_6283: Brush the wandering hedgehog by the fire (Brush the wandering hedgehog dancing)

[identity profile] oursin.livejournal.com 2010-07-03 02:55 pm (UTC)(link)
Wheeeeeee short stories yay yay yay!!!!
pameladean: (Default)

[personal profile] pameladean 2010-07-03 08:49 pm (UTC)(link)
Short story collection! I can't wait.

P.

[identity profile] kitgordon.livejournal.com 2010-07-03 09:33 pm (UTC)(link)
I generally prefer novels to short story collections, but make exceptions for writers I really like: this means you! Congrats.

Short Story Collection!!

(Anonymous) 2010-07-03 11:22 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh, squeee! Most un-librarian like squeeee!

I am not the greatest fan of short stories has a medium, but I absolutely love yours. There isn't one I have been able to get my hands on that didn't make my mind do sit-ups in surprise or jumping jacks of joy.
I will be so glad to have them in one place, and probably find some new to me that missed.

Wahoo!

Oh, and congratulations.
Kitty

[identity profile] librarianinwindsor.blogspot.com (from livejournal.com) 2010-07-04 11:05 pm (UTC)(link)
Short story collection: WANT

[identity profile] ashnistrike.livejournal.com 2010-07-06 07:50 am (UTC)(link)
Hurray short stories!