Month: August 2009

Letter from John

Letter from John

Hi Todd

Don’t worry about the criticisms of alleged typos! Most of us are well aware of the differences between American English and English English, and make allowances for them when reading. Anyway, while you live in California you’re allowed to use Americanisms (grin). And it is simply not true that “and” must never be followed by a comma, I can think of examples wher it _must_ be followed by a comma if the correct meaning is to be conveyed.

As a proofreader of technical books and for other novel writers I can asy that I’ve always been pleased by the high standard shown in your and your mother’s books, there have been very few oopsies that caught my eye.

Cheers
John

Hi John,

Thanks. I guess I answered the letter because the writer seem so unhappy.

I will confess to being guilty of not just Americanisms but Irishisms and the occasional deliberate Toddism (not to much some incidental language challenges posed by the characters themselves).

Our novels are so good not just because we try to maintain high standards but because we have a dedicated team of editors (in the US and the UK) who are probably Pern fans first and editors second, as well as similarly dedicated copy-editors (and, finally, proof-readers!).

Getting a book published is truly a collaborative process from initial idea through to book on the shelf… and into the hands of the ultimate collaborator, the reader.

Thanks again for the kind words!

Cheers,
Todd

Note from Jayne

Note from Jayne

Thanks from a long-time Pern and McCaffrey fan. I like how you let your characters speak like us real folks and not an grammar textbook. Another of my favorites, the late Andre Norton, sprinkled incomplete sentences throughout her many books.

My grandkids also read the Pern and Acorna books as well. Long may the McCaffreys write.

Dear Jayne,

Thanks! Our characters don’t really give us much choice, truth to tell. But we’ll be happy to take the credit!

Cheers,
Todd

Note from Tina

Note from Tina

www.annemccaffrey.net isn’t working with internet explorer 6.0 or 7. The blue screen previously mentioned is not the typical windows BSoD. It’s not even the same color of blue and is only with in the internet explorer window. I did turn off and then back on my laptop and still can not access the site with it. On my desktop I used mozilla firefox 2.0.0.4 when internet exlorer 6.0 gave me the blue/blank page, and the page comes up just fine. In case you are wondering yes both computers have been updated and I’ve checked my antivirus programs.

Dear Tina,

Yup, there’s a problem. The problem has to do with the version of WordPress that’s being used and some of the special coding for sidebars. Mum’s webmistress is aware of it and looking at possible solutions. My guess is that she’ll go to the latest version of WordPress; she’s been talking about some upgrades she’d like to add which might be taking her a bit longer.

Hang in there!

Cheers,
Todd

Letter from Kia

Letter from Kia

Dear Mr. Todd McCaffrey,

I love the DragonRiders of Pern series. I fell in love with it when I was in the junior high at school, and now I almost finished with college. The concept of Pern life and Weyr life is so fascinating even though it may not be the easiest life to live with. But the one thing that has really fascinated me even more is the fire-lizards. I am in love with the little buggers and I really want to understand them more.

Will there be any possible future books that will elaborate more on fire-lizards; or could you, by any chance, tell me more about fire-lizards? I have read all the books, but I still am curious about them.

Thank you for your time!

-Kia

Dear Kia,

Sadly, I’m writing mostly in the Third Pass at the moment and the fire-lizards were banned in an early effort to control the sickness that was not only killing them but the dragons as well.

Perhaps at some point I’ll be in a position to tell more stories about them.

Cheers,
Todd

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