Author's Spotlight "Rae Lindley"

[moondancerdrake]

lToday on Dreamtimes Author Spotlight we are thrilled to welcome Rae Lindley, author of a new sci-fi thriller Cimmerian City which is being released tomorrow. Give her some love ya’ll.

Comments

Greed

[scifiwritir]

Hi Rae:

I read the excerpt from your novel. OOh, i like a story about greed and mammon. I'm sure the story's thematic combination of greed, race, and a female character will really make this unique.

So glad you and other writers of color are out there writing. Can you imagine what the world of media will be like in ten years? Multicultural stories and characters at every turn. It's beginning to happen now. So many specfic movies and books with the odd black or Asian or Hispanic character. But to think that one of these days there will be an equal number of characters of all races in our books and in our films. Congratulations on your book! -C

Re: Greed

[scifirae]

Thanks Carole! :-)

I'd really love to see more writers of color in the speculative genre because there are indeed so many stories to tell from different perspectives and cultures. That'll be a great day to see the equal representation of all races working together in books, tv, movies, etc. like in real life!

[moondancerdrake]

Now that as of tomorrow you're in print *wink* where would you prefer people order Cimmerian City? From our local stores or from Lavender Isis directly?

[scifirae]

I can't wait! :-D

Hmm, let's see. Well, I had a friend of mine check her local Barnes and Noble and she told me the clerk said the book is definitely available for special ordering in bookstores but won't be released until October 28th. So either way you can go to bookstores now, put your order in and just have them call you back so you can pick it up.

Also, after a few weeks of hovering at Amazon, I just realized it finally has a product page! (Yay!) I'm not sure if they run on the same system as the bookstores or tomorrow's date, but you can be notified when the book is available in their system as well. Here's the Cimmerian City Amazon entry.

[xakara]

Hi Rae,

I enjoyed your excerpt and look forward to reading more from you. :)

You said that there are certain words and actions your characters don't indulge in, (something I personally understand). Have you found that there's a push to cross that line in order to be edgy or contemporary in today's market?

~X

[scifirae]

Thanks Xakara! :-)

I do, actually. Especially within the paranormal realm (which is one of my faves). For instance, erotica has become really popular even in the big NY publisher's pool and I've heard some mainstream authors pushed by their editors to sex up their books when it wasn't necessary! All to supposedly get more sales.

Same with some instances of gore, violence and language within books. While I understand the desired reaction or impact that may result from these, I think there can be other (possibly more) creative methods to get a point across whether it's in a character's speech or the actions they take without completely exploiting them.

[xakara]

I agree that the same thing can be conveyed with different speech and actions than the quickest, most graphic route often desired. There's no doubt that sex sells, but there has to be a point in which the graphic aspect being pushed simply becomes repetitive.

Do you think the trend of explicitness will take a turn soon due to the saturation in the markets?

~X

[scifirae]

That’s so true and we’re starting to see that repetition in not only books but film as well. If the aim is to keep shocking viewers/readers with so much you’ll only have to keep topping yourself each time. The scary thing is how far does it go until it’s too far?

In books considering how well it’s currently selling, I think it’d be a good while before we see a big noticeable shift in the trend. And trends mostly go the opposite way. I’m hoping with the advent of more new writers coming up with fresh, original ideas, publishers will take note of the different ways that tell a story which don’t involve so much excess. The readers of such stories would certainly be more appreciative I’m sure! :-)

[anonymous]

Great interview. Multicutural Spec Fic will be the new wave; you can see it. Best wishes on your book!

chrisd
http://writeandwhine.blogspot.com/

[scifirae]

Thanks Chris!

I'm definitely looking forward to that in the near future! :-)