PB to HC conversions for authors
Up to now, I've had pretty good luck when it comes to my writers switching from initial print runs being in PB to HC. Off the top of my head, Barb and C.J. Hendee's books were pretty much unchanged. Robin Paige's book became less mystery and more historical trivia and events, but not to the point of annoyance, so the enjoyment level is the same. I haven't read E.E. Knight's Vampire Earth HC yet, but the dragon books, published in trade size, have been excellent, so I have faith. Butcher's Dresden Files went from awesome to even more awesome, and the Codex Alera series, which I'm almost as attached to, kicked off in HC at the same time.
Then came this week, with two HUGE disappointments.
Nancy Martin's Blackbird Sisters series has always been fun, and throughout, we've had Mick/Nora in a rocky relationship, but with no indication that we needed to worry. When Richard was brought in in Cross Your Heart and Hope to Die, he didn't seem to be a romantic rival as much as prrof that, while it was difficult, Nora was sticking with Mick, and they were essentially engaged at the end(unless her wearing his engagement ring on the proper finger means something else altogether and no one told me) Picked up the new books and Nora's dumped Mick for Richard and the main subplot was "who's the daddy" as apparently she didn't wait long in between(and may I say that wet rags are more interesting than Richard?) and Mick has been going through a string of floozies. I made it about 70 pages.
Then I picked up Kim Harrison's latest, For A Few Demons more. The Martin book I waited for the PB for(thankfully) but I was able to get this one cheap enough that I sprung for the HC. Sadly. Harrison gets compared to Laurell K. Hamilton a lot, which had me leery at first, but so far, while Rachel has had 2 different boyfriend, it was quite a while in between for her, and she was completely monogamous with both. She's STILL monogamous, but this book honestly reads like she's in heat with a chastity belt on or something, gender does not matter(not that I care about that part as a general rule, but this is the first book there's been any indication she's attracted to Ivy) and at times, her hormones seem to be more important than the plot, and there have been several times I was wondering what kind of scene I was about to be reading(the borderline explicit kinky sex scene didn't help) I'm giving it to the end of the book because it's POSSIBLE something is making her act like this, but I'm thinking it's more likely that the LKH comparison is being played on for the HC sales.
Upside? The new Dresden book, White Night will HOPEFULLY be here tomorrow. If not tomorrow, then Monday And the mailman brought me 2 new issues of Fables and Captain America #25. And other things, too(not that I've finished February's comics yet.
Then came this week, with two HUGE disappointments.
Nancy Martin's Blackbird Sisters series has always been fun, and throughout, we've had Mick/Nora in a rocky relationship, but with no indication that we needed to worry. When Richard was brought in in Cross Your Heart and Hope to Die, he didn't seem to be a romantic rival as much as prrof that, while it was difficult, Nora was sticking with Mick, and they were essentially engaged at the end(unless her wearing his engagement ring on the proper finger means something else altogether and no one told me) Picked up the new books and Nora's dumped Mick for Richard and the main subplot was "who's the daddy" as apparently she didn't wait long in between(and may I say that wet rags are more interesting than Richard?) and Mick has been going through a string of floozies. I made it about 70 pages.
Then I picked up Kim Harrison's latest, For A Few Demons more. The Martin book I waited for the PB for(thankfully) but I was able to get this one cheap enough that I sprung for the HC. Sadly. Harrison gets compared to Laurell K. Hamilton a lot, which had me leery at first, but so far, while Rachel has had 2 different boyfriend, it was quite a while in between for her, and she was completely monogamous with both. She's STILL monogamous, but this book honestly reads like she's in heat with a chastity belt on or something, gender does not matter(not that I care about that part as a general rule, but this is the first book there's been any indication she's attracted to Ivy) and at times, her hormones seem to be more important than the plot, and there have been several times I was wondering what kind of scene I was about to be reading(the borderline explicit kinky sex scene didn't help) I'm giving it to the end of the book because it's POSSIBLE something is making her act like this, but I'm thinking it's more likely that the LKH comparison is being played on for the HC sales.
Upside? The new Dresden book, White Night will HOPEFULLY be here tomorrow. If not tomorrow, then Monday And the mailman brought me 2 new issues of Fables and Captain America #25. And other things, too(not that I've finished February's comics yet.