Day: March 14, 2005

Letter from Jess

Letter from Jess

Hi Todd,

I’ve found three websites with the full text of Anne’s books. I’m pretty sure that’s illegal, not to mention completely disrespectful to Anne’s hard work.

I loved Dragonsblood, by the way, and I’m really looking forward to your next installments!

Clear skies,
Jess

Hi Jess,

Thanks for pointing those out. I’ve sent the info on to Mum’s agent who will contact the appropriate publishers to get this dealt with.

And you’re right, it’s illegal. It’s really sad that someone would steal this way. I know the argument “information wants to be free” but books aren’t “information” (the speed of light is information).

I’m glad you liked Dragonsblood.

Clear skies!

— Todd


Letter from Kevin

Letter from Kevin

Hi!

I’m a fan of Pern, and have beed busy with offline business, but once back online I learn of theis newest pern book and will be looking for a copy locally, but can you tell me what this one’s about?

Also: I used to be a part of a pern club, but haven’t found one online or offline.. got any clubs?

Lastly: I managed to compile some “stats” from my old club on Pern as a RPG and was wondering when or if you or anne are going to make one, or could I submit mine?

When is there going to be a proper Pern video game, and tv series/movie?!*pant, pant*

*big gasp* How would a wingleader deal with a rider who is is associating with a minor holder who uses him until the rider is ignoring his duties? I sort of wrote a story based upon that idea, as a friend of mine is nagged into hangin’ with a wanna be gamer, who basically to give you an idea of what he is like, personalities of “Pona” and “Dorse” combined (eek…) and as one point while discussing RPGs asked what if her were to insult Lessa by saying “hey ::female dog::!” I tried to explain just how much trouble he’d be in and how close Lessa would likely be to some really messy responses, but he didn’t believe…

PS: If you want I can describe my character “wingleader K’in” from the club, and in which I took my submissions for the club storyline and am now in the process of refining the parts into one book so I can enjoy them all at once instead of paging through old newsletters…

Hi Kevin,

Whew, you sound like you ran out of breath writing that letter!

I’ll take your questions in order. There are two new Pern books, “Dragon’s Kin” and Dragonsblood. Dragonsblood is my solo book. “Dragon’s Kin” is a collaboration Mum and I wrote together and is a prequel to Dragonsblood. You should probably check at amazon.com or Barnes&Noble for descriptions of both books. Or you can go to the Del Rey website and check the information there.

I don’t have any clubs but I’m sure there are several around. My suggestion is to check Mum’s website and look in her links section.

I have no plans to start a Pern RPG and I don’t think Mum has. For one thing, there’s the whole question of film/TV rights and how an RPG might blow a movie deal.

I don’t know when there will be a film/TV deal — there’ve been many attempts and none have gone beyond the initial development stage. We should all keep our fingers crossed.

As for Pern video games, that’s something that will probably be licensed by whoever picks up the film/TV option and so the quality depends more upon the film/TV people and their sublicensee.

I don’t have an answer for the wingleader issue. All I can say is that I wouldn’t want to get on the wrong side of the Weyrwoman (especially Lessa). Please keep your story to yourself or share it only with a proper copyright notice — I’m sure you’d hate to be the reason that some movie mogul decided to walk away from a film deal — and bone up on copyright (there’s a bunch of “Copyright for Dummies” and similar books around).

No one wants to get on the wrong side of Lessa. Re-read the first part of Dragonflight where Lessa “had honestly regretted the necessity of his death.”

Please don’t send me your information on your wingleader. I can’t take a character of yours — not just for the obvious legal problems — but because, as I’m sure you realize, a person just can’t take another person’s character and use him/her in a book — not only would it be morally and ethically wrong but the character wouldn’t *fit*.

Anyway, plot and character are interlaced — it takes certain characters to tell certain stories and only in certain stories can you have particular characters.

Cheers,
Todd


Letter from Mike

Letter from Mike

Todd,

Just finished “Dragonsblood” – a GREAT read!!

Congratulations!

Now for the hard question: When does the next book come out??

Mike
Antelope, CA

Mike,

Thanks!

As for your question, well, um, er, the book’s a bit late. In fact — my, look at the time ::grin::! I’d better get back to work!

Cheers,
Todd


Letter from Erin

Letter from Erin

Hi Todd,

Will Dragonholder be republished? I’m having a hard time finding a copy at the bookstores and Amazon.

Also, I’m trying to get ahold of a signed bookplate from the Great Lady. Is that possible?

Thanks,
Erin

Hi Erin,

Dragonholder is not currently scheduled to be republished. You’ll have to see if you can find it used, I’m afraid.

There are two ways to get signed bookplates:

1. Try Mum’s website
2. Try WYSIWYG Books. They have a number of Mum’s old books that they are selling and believe they have specially made bookplates.

Cheers,
Todd