153 posts tagged with authors.
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Not Who Done Its
Help me find mysterious novels not mysteries. [more inside]
Figuring out pseudonyms, posthumously?
This question reminds me that my mother's father, who had a career as a PR bureaucrat for the US Atomic Energy Commission (and later, nuclear energy companies), released a novel in the mid-90s under a pseudonym. I'm unsure if it was self-published or not. How might I identify the book today, given that he passed away 15 years ago and I'm not on speaking terms with that side of my family? Where would one start? [more inside]
A page-turner written by a trans or NB author?
For the Seattle Public Library's book bingo, I need to read a book by a trans on non-binary author. Because of *gestures widely* I have the attention span of a flea and the book needs to be in English, fiction, entertaining, and a page-turner, and ideally have some humor. I like mysteries and don't like reading about children in peril or people making bad decisions. Suggestions? [more inside]
Who are the authors who celebrate the banal?
After having spoken to people who've lived in war and other conflict zones, I always appreciated how lucky most of the Western world is enjoy simple freedoms such as going to a mall or enjoying a coffee in a cafe with relative peace of mind. [more inside]
Finding New Authors
Back in the day (mid- to late 1970’s), I read a type of author that I don’t see anymore. They were generally taught in university level contemporary literature courses, and while not best-sellers, were somewhat recognized and popular (I bought a paperback copy of Gravity’s Rainbow at the grocery store.) Has that kind of writing died out, or am I just not aware of it? [more inside]
Want an apolitical Crime/Detective writer
Does anyone know of a writer of crime fiction who is modern, nonleftist (or even obviously conservative), and good? I've already read John D. MacDonald, Ross Macdonald, Connelly, Westlake/Stark, Rob't Parker, and am now reading John Sandford but he's becoming too liberal for me. I'd like to go with someone well-known but need to know whom to avoid. I also like horror, but Stephen King's "Under the Dome" I had to drop. Have also already done the Dan Simmons trilogy... Thanks.
"All great achievements require time"
I see this listed everywhere as a Maya Angelou quote, but I can't find the source. Is this actually a quote of hers or is it generic pablum?
X marks the [literary] spot
For 2019, I'm doing an A-Z reading challenge (one book for each letter of the alphabet, all published in 2018). I'm having trouble coming up with some of the letters, particularly X -- I guess no one was writing about Xena Warrior Princess last year or something -- so I'm turning to the Hive Mind for help; open to suggestions for other books on the proposed list as well. Full list inside. [more inside]
Help me find this novel
Please help me ID a novel I read several years ago. My memory is vague, but I think it was about siblings who grew up together on a farm, and then had sections about their separate adult lives. Gambling in Nevada was involved, and there was an extended section about an artist in France? [more inside]
Help me remember the title of historical novel set in Paris
A friend is trying to remember the title of a historical novel he read in the last 5 years which he thinks was recently published when he read it. [more inside]
Fiction authors/editors/publishers: How do you purpose chapters?
MeFite authors, editors and publishers who have written, edited and/or published novels or novellas: what are your ideal intentions for your readers, when it comes to chapters and chapter breaks? Should a chapter be read in a single sitting? Ought a reader to pause and reflect between chapters (and if so, for how long)? Or are chapter breaks just dramatic milestones? Or something else? Obviously there's no way to dictate how readers consume fiction; but if you could indicate your intentions to your readers, what would they be, with regard to chapters?
I want to write a book! How do I make sure I write it?
I have an idea for a non-fiction book. I think it's a good one. Tell me authors: What do I do now? [more inside]
Female literary dog names
My family is in the process of adopting two bonded female treeing walker coonhounds, and looking for literary names for them (especially ones that make sense as a pair). Can you provide us with some good suggestions? [more inside]
I want to read more Native American authors.
Recently read There There by Tommy Orange and LOVED it. I now want to read more Native American voices - old, contemporary, fiction, poetry, non fiction. Anything.
PS: I’m familiar with Louise Erdrich and Sherman Alexie. I have Zitkála-Šá’s American Indian Stories on my kindle waiting to be read.
Books by folks with disabilites?
It’s been my mission lately to read books by non-cishetwhitedudes, but I realize I should change that to non-cishetwhitedudeswhoareablebodied. My tastes screw towards literary fiction and academic historical non-fiction. Also always down for a good memoir. But honestly, I’ll read most things happily and have no problem returning your recommendation to the library unfinished, or being pleasently surprised by something I never would have picked up. RAIN YOUR RECOMMENDSTIONS UPON ME! [more inside]
Notable Literary Dog Names.
We need names for our upcoming (female) dog... preferably on of notable literature ancestry to match our (male) cat named Tobias Wolf (Toby). She is an English Cream Golden Retriever... so
Thusfar I've proposed Virginia Woof and Jane Arfsten, but we're looking for your best names...
SFF Readalikes... for My Own Writing
I'm winding up a writing project (hurrah!) and am preparing to query literary agents in the next couple months. I am hoping to develop a list of writers whose work resembles my own - not to name-drop in my query letters, but to help me become aware of literary agents who might be interested in my work and other publishing opportunities. [more inside]
Women authors for an Updike/Vonnegut/Roth fan?
My friend and I were recently discussing books, and I jokingly mentioned he should try reading some women authors for once. He was a bit surprised to realize how little he'd actually read by women, and I was a bit stumped coming up with recommendations, as we typically read very different types of books. But the hive mind is great at this kind of stuff. Help me come up with suggestions? [more inside]
What are good short stories to read aloud to 3rd graders?
What short stories would 3rd graders enjoy? I'm reading stories aloud to 3rd graders for 15 minutes once a week, and I need some good suggestions.
For me, the stories that I remember from grade school where always the twists: The Monkey's Paw, The Necklace, etc.
What great short stories do you remember from childhood? Or what great short stories have you read to 8- and 9-year-olds?
Thrillers or crime novels with characters that come alive
I like novels written in first-person point of view, think Raymond Chandler's Marlowe, but less chauvinist and dated. Good characterization and an eye for detail is paramount - unfortunately, that excludes lots of contemporary thrillers and crime novels. Authors I like: Jonathan Kellerman, Ben Aaronovitch, Jonathan Gash, John Burdett, Tyler Dilts. Please help: What else might I like? [more inside]
Simple way of finding out when an author publishes a new book?
There are a number of comparatively low-profile-but-interesting-to-me authors that I would love to be able to get some kind of alert (pref. by email) about when they've published a new book. I follow some of them on Twitter and Facebook, but I regularly miss posts due to FB's filtering and general overload, so would love to be able to do this outside of social media. So, MeFites, what tools, if any, do you use? Has the internet found a solution to this problem that I've missed? [more inside]
Seeking URL: LotR, child mortality, and post-apoc fiction
The article began with a quote from LotR movies: "A parent should never have to bury their own child." It pointed out that this wasn't in the books because, at time of writing, this was almost a nonsense statement: you could agree it was tragic, but it happened to everyone. It then went into child mortality rates and how those would shape the structure of society in a post-apoc world, especially one with fantastic elements like magical healing or superpowers. [more inside]
Who is the John Muir of New Hampshire's White Mountains?
I've recently started reading John Muir's My First summer in the Sierra and it is riveting stuff, a love-letter to an entire landscape that resonates with the bedrock of my soul. However, right now my heart belongs to the White Mountains of New Hampshire, rather than the Sierra Nevada of California. What writings, by what authors, are the closest equivalent to John Muir's work, but set in the Whites?
The night lay coiled in the street, cobra-cold and scaled with stars.
What authors, or specific books, have a particular gift for beautiful metaphor? Give examples if possible. [more inside]
Multiple editors on a pinned post in Facebook?
I want to create a post in a private Facebook group, of which I am a moderator, and then have other moderators be able to edit that post. Oh and the post is a pinned post. Is this possible in Facebook?
In search of positive online influences
I need to re-make myself, grow up, and take responsibility for my life. The fact that I zone out reading Reddit or tech blogs a lot is not helping. I want to replace this habit with better influences, communities, role models, ideally feminist-aligned. [more inside]
Horror stories about authors writing fiction about their mothers
I'm looking for cautionary tales about authors who wrote fiction with thinly-veiled or semi-autobiographical or explicitly acknowledged characters based on their real mothers. [more inside]
Need author recommendations from the Indian Subcontinent or the diaspora
I am looking for recommendations for contemporary fiction authors who either write about life in the Indian Subcontinent (India, Pakistan, Bangladesh) or Nepal, or about life for the diaspora (in whatever other country). Authors I've enjoyed reading: Chitra Banerjee Divakunari, Anita Desai, Thrity Umrigar, Kamila Shamsie, Meera Syal, Anita Nair, Vikram Seth (maybe he's not as contemporary anymore), David Davidar, M.G. Vansanji, Jaishree Misra
I'm not interested in books about the colonial experience such as EM Foster or Paul Scott.
How to have/join a posse for Worldcon in Helsinki.
I'm going to be attending Worldcon in Helsinki in August 2017. I'm a writer of speculative fiction, with a handful of publishing credits but few connections in the literary world. I tagged along with a more established writer friend at a literary convention last year, and it showed me that it can be hard to fly solo in such a sprawling social environment. I would like to build some connections in advance with other writers who plan to attend so I can look forward to meeting some peers and networking with like-minded individuals. Where should I start? [more inside]
Can you mail a copy of a book to an author & ask them to sign it?
I remember reading a short piece by Isaac Asimov talking about people sending him books asking him to sign them. That was a long time ago. Is it still common practice to do this? Can I just send an admired author fan-mail that includes a copy of the book and return postage? Or do most authors nowadays only do that at designated book-signings? Are there any standards of etiquette in making such a request that I should know about? [more inside]
Help me find litfic authors who use settings from all over the world!
Bookfilter! I'm looking to find authors with that internationalist flair. [more inside]
ISO 'Moderate'? Political Authors, Commentators
What current books/authors critique or elucidate or political-correctness or radical-Islam that aren't promoting an anti-gay and/or Christian agenda? [more inside]
I need a Great [not necessarily American] Novel, damn it.
[Book recommendation filter] Must be literary. Must be wildly absorbing. Ensemble casts of characters preferred but not required. The longer, the better. Did it sweep YOU off your feet? Tell me about it! [more inside]
Horror Fiction by Authors of Color
Recommendations? I've got Sumiko Saulson's Black Women in Horror list/bios of 60 writers, which is an extensive and exciting resource. But I'm not looking exclusively for work by black women, so - who else brings the chills? [more inside]
Examples of literary microphenomenology or deep-point-of-view?
I'm looking for examples of a particular kind of narrative writing style that might be (or overlap with) what I think is sometimes called deep-point-of-view. [more inside]
I Hear Fans of Dystopian Amish Memoirs Really Know How to Par-taaayyyyy!
Classic Democratic/Liberal literature?
I've read some classic literature explaining the libertarian/right side of our US political divide, but I'd like to read the 'Atlas Shrugged' for the left. What classic thinkers/authors come to mind?
Examples of authors/musicians who began their work in their 40s?
I'm looking for examples of authors and musicians who lived artistically unremarkable lives for their first four decades, only beginning to express themselves creatively in their 40s, and who subsequently received critical or popular acclaim for the work they produced during that fifth decade. [more inside]
What books seem to have been written to be re-read?
What books hold up so well to re-reading that it makes you suspect they were engineered that way? Are there examples of books that seem to be MUCH better on second reading? What kind of things did the author do to achieve that?
Authors and novels recommendations for improving writing craft?
I have always been fond of writing poetry, but lately I seem to want to expand my writing craft towards short stories. I think the most notable clincher for writers to improve their overall craft is simply by reading voraciously; with an eclectic wide range of authors and literary works. What are some wonderful literary works, authors, playwrights, short stories, non-fiction, fantasy work, et cetera. Can you recommend for me? To further my own voice and writing craft. [more inside]
Oh hey, it's that guy!
I'm always delighted when reading to discover that an author has subtly written their books into the same quasi-real-life universe. Help me find more examples! [more inside]
New Women SF/F Authors
Reading this thread made me realize that I am completely unaware of the current state of SF/F.
Who are some female SF/F authors from the last 15 years that you would recommend? [more inside]
What makes for a superior signed book?
I have a book signing coming up for my new novella. This is not my first signing. I feel I should write something more than "good reading" or "enjoy" and my signature. Other than those authors who know you and made a personal note, have you seen good book signing quotes? I won't be signing many so length (within reason) is not an issue. [more inside]
Best cosy mystery series or just plain cosy series?
I am looking for a book series to get into that's easy and light, now that I have a kiddo. [more inside]
bookfilter
Wanted: female-authored mystery/thrillers in the same vein as Kate Atkinson & Tana French [more inside]
How do I get google to distinguish me from another author?
I'm an author with a google problem. I have the same name as another author (completely different genre, though) and if you google that name, my books show up alongside hers in search results. This has been a recurring problem for years, to the point where I'm planning on tweaking my name for my next book, but for now I'd just like our books not to be conflated. (Google also combines images of me and this other woman, although I'm not as concerned about that). I've tried reporting this issue to google, but so far haven't had much luck penetrating the bubble. Any tech-savvy people have ideas on how I can distinguish my work?
Thanks in advance...
Is/Was Amos Oz speaking recently in New York City?
I thought I saw a recent announcement for a panel including Israeli author Amos Oz in New York City (perhaps as panel moderator). Now I can't remember where I saw it and Google hasn't been any help. Anyone know of a recent appearance in NYC or an upcoming one?
What should a children's book author's website contain?
I'm building a website for my wife, who's written a half dozen children's books and is currently working to get them published. I've searched the web and looked at sites like Judy Bloom, Beverly Cleary, and currently reviewing this list of websites on pinterest.
I'm hoping to get a list of things the hive mind thinks a children's author website should contain, outside of the obvious list like a page for the books, blog/news, and about the author.
Help me build a diaspora/immigrant experience lifetime to-read list
After finishing Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's "Americanah," and thinking about how I loved Zadie Smith's "White Teeth," and Hanif Kureishi's "Buddha of Suburbia," I'm finding I want to read more immigration/diaspora/post-colonial literature. Please help me build a lifetime reading list. All geographies welcome. I am very deliberately trying to read more women authors in 2014 and beyond, too.
Cool, modern, trustworthy site to sell articles from
I want to sell what I write as a 'packaged' article or essay. Best spots to do this? [more inside]