Val Cache Courier
Issue #17
Autumn 2002
Dear Friends and Readers,
It's fall, and my garden is shutting down for the season. Chrysanthemums are blooming (I can never resist buying a few more in pots from the nursery) and some of my perennials are still hanging in there, but most are getting ready for a winter's rest. I've been finishing my planting of perennials for next spring (fall is an excellent time for planting most of them) and can start imagining what my garden will look like when the first growth appears in March or April.
I attended the World Science Fiction Convention in San Jose, California over Labor Day weekend, and had a great time meeting with fellow readers and writers. Since I first met my husband in person at a California "Worldcon," I still have very fond memories associated with the convention and the thrill I had as a young "fan" meeting others who enjoyed reading the same things I did. (You should have seen us running around in costume!)
Over the past two weeks, members of my family have come from California to visit--first my "middle" sister Lauran, and then my parents. I have no more major plans for the rest of the year, and it's just as well ... I have my work cut out for me in the writing department!
I also attended the Romantic Times Bookclub convention and saw my first copies of The Forest Lord, which were provided at the bookfair two weeks before they actually hit the bookstore shelves. I met lots of lovely readers, did a radio interview with Debbie Neckels of BookCrazy Radio, and drove to Lake Tahoe with Pat Potter. RT has been wonderful to me this year with their lovely spread in the November RT BookClub magazine and the kindness of the staff at the convention.
This has been a very busy time for me (as it has been all year!) I turned in next September's werewolf romance, To Catch a Wolf, to my editor in mid-July, and immediately began work on my contemporary werewolf novella for Silhouette's dark paranormal anthology (tentatively called When Darkness Falls), scheduled for October 2003. It's now in its final stages of rewriting. I've also begun Kinsman's Oath, the sequel to my "Kinsman" novella in Out of This World, scheduled for spring 2004. It's a long way away, I know, but those are the kinds of schedules writers keep!
I'm having a wonderful time writing Kinsman's Oath, which I hope will be a true crossover between science fiction and romance. I've created an entire culture with my alien, catlike shaauri, including language elements, social construction, and biology. I'll be putting together a complete glossary of every "alien" term I use, both for myself and readers. All in all, it's an exciting project for me.
The Forest Lord
The big news, of course, is that The Forest Lord will finally be hitting bookstore shelves in the first full week of November. I'm happy to say that it's already received some very nice reviews, such as:
Winner of the WordWeaving Award for Excellence
Fans who love the magic and mystery of Susan Krinard's shapeshifter/werewolf romances will delight in this new series of shape shifters who originate in the forests of Ireland. Embodying the timeless theme of Beauty and the Beast, THE FOREST LORD comes alive with truly amazing characterizations.... Krinard's vivacious style lends the tale a sense of believability and immediacy that will hold readers glued to its pages.... A fabulous read that must be added to the keeper shelf, THE FOREST LORD earns the WordWeaving Award for Excellence. -- Cindy Penn, Senior Editor, Wordweaving.com
In THE FOREST LORD Ms. Krinard has created a novel that is a wonderful mix of regency era history with her trademark paranormal genre. The Faerie Lord is intensely appealing in both his otherworldliness and his surprising vulnerability. All of the characters are memorable .... This is a book to treasure, it goes on my keeper shelf. -- Cynthia Meidinger, The Best Reviews
Ms. Krinard's endearing characters and signature blend of fantasy and romance consistently delivers books for our keeper shelves, and this delightful foray into a new series is no exception. -- Kelly Rae Cooper, Romantic Times BookClub
I've also received a couple of so-so reviews, which I've tried hard to ignore (grin), but I think that people are looking forward to this book. I very much enjoyed writing it ... visiting the Regency period which has always fascinated me ... so nothing will please me more than to satisfy my readers and perhaps a few new ones as well.
I'm hoping that my next contract with Berkley (which should arise next spring) will include the next book in the Fane series.
If you're in a bookstore or a magazine stand, look for my multi-page spread in Romantic Times BookClub Magazine. I have a fairly lengthy article about The Forest Lord and the Fane, as well as synopses of possible future books in the series.
RT Award
I'm happy to announce that my previous book, Secret of the Wolf, has won the RT Reviewers Choice Award for Best Historical New Reality of 2001.
Contest
I'm giving a new contest ... signed copies of The Forest Lord to three winners. All you need to do is send an e-mail with your name and address, with the subject line "Contest." I'll pick winners in mid-November and contact the winners by e-mail.
Other News
For those who may have missed it in my previous newsletter, I now have bookmarks for The Forest Lord, including the lovely cover image of my hero. I will gladly provide a signed bookmark for a Self-Addressed Stamped envelope sent to Susan Krinard, Bookmark, P.O. Box 51924, Albuquerque, NM, 87181.
I am always open to suggestions about ways to make my website more interesting and informative for readers; please don't hesitate to e-mail me with suggestions!
This 'N That
Haven't been out to see many movies, though I'm immensely looking forward to The Two Towers in December. On television, I was quite disappointed in the cancellation of Witchblade, though I didn't feel this second season was as effective as the first (and they really wasted the character of Ian Nottingham!) I'm getting the chance to see Stargate from the beginning, which I'm really happy about.
In terms of new shows, I'm watching Firefly (which is growing on me), and John Doe, which I also find quite intriguing. Andromeda has been a real disappointment this year; if it doesn't improve, I'll probably stop watching. And I'm really going to miss Monk until it returns next year!
Reader Feature
Please welcome Cindy Homberger (KnightsNRmoor@aol.com)
Sue: Please tell us a little about yourself, your family, work and home.
Cindy: My name is Cindy, I'm 36 yrs old, I have been married for 15 years, I have two great kids, my daughter Tyler, who's nine, and my son Kyle, who's 14. I live in rural Georgia, work part time as a registered nurse, full time Mom and wife, and any other time that is left over, I write.
Sue: Why do you like reading romance? Why paranormal romance?
Cindy: The fist romance novel I ever picked up was while working the skeleton shift at the local county hospital. It was like living a fantasy through the characters in the book. After I finished that first romance, I carried myself off to the book store where I began picking and choosing just what kind of fantasy I wanted to read about. I found myself seeking time travels and paranormals, simply because I have always been fascinated by the possibility that something like time travel "could" happen. And I dearly love a good juicy ghost story. When I found Prince of Shadows, I was hooked on Sue Krinard. (And what a great book cover...YOWZA!)
Sue: What other, if any, types of books do you like to read?
Cindy: I do love history books and reference books..oh, and cookbooks!
Sue: Who are your favorite authors (in any genre?)
Cindy: Ahem...(choking on question!) Without ANY hesitation whatsoever, Sue Krinard and Lynn Kurland. I can't think of any other authors that I will buy and read ANYTHING they write, save the two mentioned above. Sue Krinard is "dark paranormal" defined. She writes the absolute BEST wolf books I've ever read, and it wouldn't hurt my feelings a bit if she wrote MORE! I read anything written by Ms. Krinard and Ms. Kurland.
Sue: Have you ever had the ambition to write a book of your own? If so, on what subject?
Cindy: I do write romance--unpublished at present, but ever the persistant hopeful. I have been writing for almost five years, and have five books completed, with one in progress at present. All are paranormal/time travels, except for one...a historical.
Sue: What, besides reading, are your hobbies or special interests or skills?
Cindy: I love to travel to places I am writing about. I've visited Scotland three times and can't wait to get back! I love to hike, especially in the fall. I like to sew and have made a couple of period gowns, just for the hey of it. Studying medieval Scottish/English history is another favorite pastime. And I dearly love to bake--especially with my daughter during the holidays.
Sue: What ability do you wish you had?
Cindy: Other than the ability to stay on a diet? It would definitely be to have the ability to travel back in time. I believe I've wished that since I was 8 years old!
Sue: If you could visit anywhere in the world, no matter how far away or exotic, where would that be?
Cindy: I feel lucky to have already accomplished this...Scotland, hands down. The place is pure magic, and there's nothing better than rambling across a sheep pasture (but be careful!) to walk amidst the ruins of a long-forgotten castle!
Sue: If you could have lived in any historical period other than the present, what would that be, and why?
Cindy: 13th century England. Knights, chivalry, big strong men, fight to the death...and women still wore dresses! But the plumbing could have been better...
Sue: Which would you rather meet, and why: a friendly ghost, vampire, werewolf, sorcerer, fairy or alien? What would you ask him or her?
Cindy: I would want to meet a ghost, and I'd probably ask them, "How'd ya die?" and, "Do you remember it?"
Sue: What, to you, is the most important thing in life?
Cindy: To make sure my children grow up happy, and to have as few regrets as possible.
*~*~*
If you're interested in being one of the future interviewees, with the subject header "Reader Feature" and tell me why you'd like to be in a future "Feature."
Links of the Month
- Practical:
- Writing/Research:
- Fun:
Best Wishes,
Sue Krinard
http://www.susankrinard.com/
P.O.Box 51924
Albuquerque, NM 87181
