Lyta
Moderator
Excerpts from Jeanne Cavelos\' Newsletter
Normally I would post this in the "General" forum but since Antony posted his news item about Jeanne's newest book in this forum, I figured I might as well do the same.
I have removed the descriptions of the techno-mage books #2 and #3 simply because I am sure most of you are aware of them. Hope I am not sharing too much and some of this is probably old news to some of you. Finally, this post will be long so I apologize in advance.
PS: I thought the story about her iguana was hilarious!
JEANNE CAVELOS NEWSLETTER
Issue 2--November 2001
Happy Thanksgiving! You're receiving this newsletter either because you're a friend or because you've expressed interest in my books, which include several BABYLON 5 novels, THE SCIENCE OF THE X-FILES, and THE SCIENCE OF STAR WARS. I send out around 1-4 newsletters per year, updating people on my activities and publications. If you'd like to be removed from this mailing list, or if you change your e-mail address, please drop me a note at [see her web site].
[snip]
**TRILOGY SECRETS REVEALED!**
I've been tiptoeing around for almost three years now, not wanting to give away anything that's going to happen in the trilogy. It's been so hard to keep my mouth shut! Now that Book 3 is coming out at last, I can finally discuss the books in a completely open way, and not hold anything back. Here's a special offer for newsletter recipients. If you have a question about the trilogy (or about anything) that you'd like to ask me, send it in, and I'll answer as many questions as I can in the next issue.
[snip]
**APPEARANCES**
I'll be doing a fair amount of publicity for INVOKING DARKNESS throughout the winter. Most of my personal appearances will be in the Northeast, though I sometimes venture into other regions. You might also catch me on the radio, or in an Internet chat. I have a new page on my website devoted exclusively to my appearances, and it is regularly updated:
http://www.sff.net/people/jcavelos/appear.htp
**RECENT INTERVIEWS**
If you'd like to know my thoughts on the writing of the trilogy, and my advice on writing in general, take a look at these
features:
Transcript of chat at About.com on the publication of SUMMONING LIGHT
http://worldsofjms.com/b5/features/cavelos-chat.htm
An interview about the techno-mage trilogy and writing in general http://www.strangehorizons.com/2001/20010611/cavelos.shtml
**UPDATES**
[snip]
THE SHADOW WITHIN:
Del Rey has announced that they will be reissuing my first BABYLON 5 novel, THE SHADOW WITHIN, in December 2002 with a new cover. This book, which has been out of print for about a year, serves as a sort of prequel to THE PASSING OF THE TECHNO-MAGES trilogy.
[snip]
**AUTOGRAPHED COPIES**
If you'd like autographed copies of any of my books, for holiday gifts or for yourself, drop me an e-mail and we can make arrangements.
[snip]
**IGMOE, THE HORNY IGUANA**
My 12-pound, 4 1/2-foot-long iguana declared mating season open on August 22, and since then he's been tireless in his efforts to conquer all competition and have sex with me. Every day he goes through the house, finding male iguanas in every reflective surface. With a smart snap he extends the dewlap beneath his chin and bobs his head vigorously, informing the competition that he's the man. When repeated head bobs aren't enough to teach them who's the boss, he charges head-first into the impudent upstarts. Since he sometimes gets a good running start--or leap--these collisions can be significant. He's got a really bad raw spot on his chin from his many battles, and he also pulled a muscle in his leg in a recent bout of Igmoe-psychosis. He's limping around the house, determined to maintain his domination of this giant tree he lives in (a two-story white colonial with red shutters) and of the female who lives within.
As I work at my computer, he comes into my office, gives me a couple slow, seductive head-bobs, and then cocks an eye up at me, giving me that "come hither" look. It's hard to resist.
**MY NEXT NOVEL**
I've finished the research stage of my next novel and have started plotting it out (i.e., figuring out all the characters I need to create and how I'm going to kill them off). This science thriller is set 20 years in the future, and involves cloning and genetic
manipulation.
For the writers out there, I can briefly describe my process thus far. I realized this book is going to have a complex plot, with about five intertwining plotlines (more complicated than the trilogy, and in only one book). So I developed a five-color flowchart, and wrote it out on three pieces of paper taped together to create an 8 1/2" x 33" long diagram. Each major incident is described in tiny handwriting in a color that indicates which plot it's part of. Then arrows extend from that incident to any other incidents that are caused by it. This reveals how an event in one plotline can cause a development in another plotline, and so on.
After completing this, I started writing a scene-by-scene outline. You may remember I wrote a 200-page outline for the trilogy (approximately 67 pages per book). My current outline is 42 pages long so far, and I'm not even half done with the plot. So this outline looks to be a record-breaker, even more ridiculously long than the last one. I was hoping to finish the outline by Thanksgiving; now I'm hoping to make it by Christmas.
By the way, if anyone is an expert on genetics, cloning, obstetrics, schizophrenia, manic/depression, or related issues, and would be willing to answer periodic questions from me, I'd love to have you join my list of science experts.
[snip]
**END NOTE**
Hope you've enjoyed this newsletter. If I've left out something you'd like included next time, let me know. If you have any friends who would like to subscribe, feel free to have them contact me.
For further information, visit my website.
Until next time . . . Igmoe, what are you doing in here? Igmoe, what do you want? Stay back! Igmoe, I love you, but not in that way. Igmoe don't--wait--uh--oh--
Igmoe here. This newsletter is over. I'm dominant here.
http://www.sff.net/people/jcavelos
------------------
Monica Hübinette | Seattle, WA | Send a Warm Fuzzy!
They knocked down two tall towers. Graft now their echo onto your spine. Become girders and glass, stone and steel, so that when the world sees you, it sees them. And stand tall. Stand tall. --JMS (Amazing Spider-Man #36)
[This message has been edited by Lyta (edited November 23, 2001).]
Normally I would post this in the "General" forum but since Antony posted his news item about Jeanne's newest book in this forum, I figured I might as well do the same.
I have removed the descriptions of the techno-mage books #2 and #3 simply because I am sure most of you are aware of them. Hope I am not sharing too much and some of this is probably old news to some of you. Finally, this post will be long so I apologize in advance.
PS: I thought the story about her iguana was hilarious!
JEANNE CAVELOS NEWSLETTER
Issue 2--November 2001
Happy Thanksgiving! You're receiving this newsletter either because you're a friend or because you've expressed interest in my books, which include several BABYLON 5 novels, THE SCIENCE OF THE X-FILES, and THE SCIENCE OF STAR WARS. I send out around 1-4 newsletters per year, updating people on my activities and publications. If you'd like to be removed from this mailing list, or if you change your e-mail address, please drop me a note at [see her web site].
[snip]
**TRILOGY SECRETS REVEALED!**
I've been tiptoeing around for almost three years now, not wanting to give away anything that's going to happen in the trilogy. It's been so hard to keep my mouth shut! Now that Book 3 is coming out at last, I can finally discuss the books in a completely open way, and not hold anything back. Here's a special offer for newsletter recipients. If you have a question about the trilogy (or about anything) that you'd like to ask me, send it in, and I'll answer as many questions as I can in the next issue.
[snip]
**APPEARANCES**
I'll be doing a fair amount of publicity for INVOKING DARKNESS throughout the winter. Most of my personal appearances will be in the Northeast, though I sometimes venture into other regions. You might also catch me on the radio, or in an Internet chat. I have a new page on my website devoted exclusively to my appearances, and it is regularly updated:
http://www.sff.net/people/jcavelos/appear.htp
**RECENT INTERVIEWS**
If you'd like to know my thoughts on the writing of the trilogy, and my advice on writing in general, take a look at these
features:
Transcript of chat at About.com on the publication of SUMMONING LIGHT
http://worldsofjms.com/b5/features/cavelos-chat.htm
An interview about the techno-mage trilogy and writing in general http://www.strangehorizons.com/2001/20010611/cavelos.shtml
**UPDATES**
[snip]
THE SHADOW WITHIN:
Del Rey has announced that they will be reissuing my first BABYLON 5 novel, THE SHADOW WITHIN, in December 2002 with a new cover. This book, which has been out of print for about a year, serves as a sort of prequel to THE PASSING OF THE TECHNO-MAGES trilogy.
[snip]
**AUTOGRAPHED COPIES**
If you'd like autographed copies of any of my books, for holiday gifts or for yourself, drop me an e-mail and we can make arrangements.
[snip]
**IGMOE, THE HORNY IGUANA**
My 12-pound, 4 1/2-foot-long iguana declared mating season open on August 22, and since then he's been tireless in his efforts to conquer all competition and have sex with me. Every day he goes through the house, finding male iguanas in every reflective surface. With a smart snap he extends the dewlap beneath his chin and bobs his head vigorously, informing the competition that he's the man. When repeated head bobs aren't enough to teach them who's the boss, he charges head-first into the impudent upstarts. Since he sometimes gets a good running start--or leap--these collisions can be significant. He's got a really bad raw spot on his chin from his many battles, and he also pulled a muscle in his leg in a recent bout of Igmoe-psychosis. He's limping around the house, determined to maintain his domination of this giant tree he lives in (a two-story white colonial with red shutters) and of the female who lives within.
As I work at my computer, he comes into my office, gives me a couple slow, seductive head-bobs, and then cocks an eye up at me, giving me that "come hither" look. It's hard to resist.
**MY NEXT NOVEL**
I've finished the research stage of my next novel and have started plotting it out (i.e., figuring out all the characters I need to create and how I'm going to kill them off). This science thriller is set 20 years in the future, and involves cloning and genetic
manipulation.
For the writers out there, I can briefly describe my process thus far. I realized this book is going to have a complex plot, with about five intertwining plotlines (more complicated than the trilogy, and in only one book). So I developed a five-color flowchart, and wrote it out on three pieces of paper taped together to create an 8 1/2" x 33" long diagram. Each major incident is described in tiny handwriting in a color that indicates which plot it's part of. Then arrows extend from that incident to any other incidents that are caused by it. This reveals how an event in one plotline can cause a development in another plotline, and so on.
After completing this, I started writing a scene-by-scene outline. You may remember I wrote a 200-page outline for the trilogy (approximately 67 pages per book). My current outline is 42 pages long so far, and I'm not even half done with the plot. So this outline looks to be a record-breaker, even more ridiculously long than the last one. I was hoping to finish the outline by Thanksgiving; now I'm hoping to make it by Christmas.
By the way, if anyone is an expert on genetics, cloning, obstetrics, schizophrenia, manic/depression, or related issues, and would be willing to answer periodic questions from me, I'd love to have you join my list of science experts.
[snip]
**END NOTE**
Hope you've enjoyed this newsletter. If I've left out something you'd like included next time, let me know. If you have any friends who would like to subscribe, feel free to have them contact me.
For further information, visit my website.
Until next time . . . Igmoe, what are you doing in here? Igmoe, what do you want? Stay back! Igmoe, I love you, but not in that way. Igmoe don't--wait--uh--oh--
Igmoe here. This newsletter is over. I'm dominant here.
http://www.sff.net/people/jcavelos
------------------
Monica Hübinette | Seattle, WA | Send a Warm Fuzzy!
They knocked down two tall towers. Graft now their echo onto your spine. Become girders and glass, stone and steel, so that when the world sees you, it sees them. And stand tall. Stand tall. --JMS (Amazing Spider-Man #36)
[This message has been edited by Lyta (edited November 23, 2001).]
