Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Someday I Will Be Famous Enough to Fix My Covers



I saw the initial row over this, but somehow the resolution totally passed me by (I don't spend nearly as much time on the internets these days). There are lots of stories about SF/F publishers whitewashing covers. So even if you've got a heroine who's a far darker shade of pale, it's unlikely it'll be seen on the bookshelf.

This was one of those, "Yeah, and this surprises people because...?" But it's important to remember that our silence as authors can be read as complicity. If you don't say something publicly - even if you're fuming - readers assume you're just going along with it. And that's a shame. Because as somebody who has sometimes wanted to drag a publisher out and kick them in the shins publicly, I can tell you I'm not so keen on doing it because it means, you know, I might be out a meal ticket.

That said, I need to choose my battles. Because if I end up with a whitewashed cover someday, I'm going to have to say something about it. Even if it means the loss of a meal ticket. Because at the end of the day, it's about systematic silencing, erasing. It's about lying.

That said - and understanding what JL was up against - I find this to be a pretty cool win.

Bloomsbury backs down in Larbalestier race row

Sunday, September 27, 2009

Spicest Soup in the Universe

I made it, I did.

Also, I am back from a weeklong vacation, which was very nice.

And now I have a whole lot of work to do.

Friday, September 18, 2009

My First Podcast Interview!

Podcast interview with me at Buena Vista U! (oh man, I had no idea she was going to use *all* this stuff)

Listen in!

Thursday, September 17, 2009

Quote of the Day

"Tarantino, I think, gets a lot of pleasure out of demonstrating over and over again that you can get the 18-45 male audience that Hollywood desires into seats, and you can give them a story about a hyper-competent female hero who kicks ass in every way, and they won’t run screaming out of the theater clutching their balls in fear."

Pretty much...ditto everything she says in this review. It was a fantastic movie, and in my opinion - Tarantino's best.

(read the rest)

Friday, September 11, 2009

Wednesday, September 09, 2009

Perspective

"He bested the heroes, killed the defenders, overtook the world. Then he killed the narrator and he was the villain no more."
- Vijayendra Mohanty

Saturday, September 05, 2009

How (not ) to Write About Africa

I've read Binyavanga Wainaina's essay How (not) to Write About Africa a few times, but here's a great spin on it: How (not) to Write About Africa read by Djimon Hounsou.

(via deadbrowalking)