originally posted by shahina daar
Hi just come back from an awesome week in maldives ( no email and paradise on earth!) and catching up. About reading as soon as i get my hands on the new book- i don't-: i keep it and hoard it and keep looking at it every day so i absolutely KNOW i have an amazing book at home that i haven't read yet! how crazy is that??? i resisted traitors knot for 4 months but couldnt take it any more. then finished very fast. actually this helps with the wait between books- makes it seem a little shorter!( sometimes read all the books from the first AFTEr getting the new one- this takes quite a while) one of these days i may actually have two of your unread books on my shelf janny- great feeling if you take that the right way!
shahina daar - readers will do what they do - it's all fine with me. A planet of individualists is what it's all about. 
Ah - new scene underway. If you want a peek into authorial mind, yesterday…first, look up where characters to play WERE in the last scene. Add up time that's passed since…add up how long they traveled to reach current position. Figure what they'd be likely to have been doing in the interrim. What mood are they in? What's got them jazzed, what's their current angst. Where are they going at the end of this scene, and then, into the subsequent future (scenes) - what's their part to play to get toward the Smash Hit Tense Moment at climax?
Then the setting - indoors, out, what's the weather, what activity are they doing, who busts in on that, or who breaks out of that AND what unexpected alchemy happens THAT I DIDN'T EXPECT to light the spark for the fire I know has to burn…
Then - choose the point at which to launch the scene. The MOMENT that will let it unfold with a zing or a slow wind up or - whatever will create the story that's within story that is a scene.
Character logistics - check.
Motivations - a bit of circling, then check.
Location - a bit of map circling for Most Probable Geography - then check.
Setting, weather, mood, atmosphere - check, check, check!
And the moment - check -
Then the twist I didn't expect peeps out from inspirational cloud of brain burn and - Bam - the scene is launched into words.
This morning - just follow the bouncing ball and let the characters play it.
originally posted by Blue
Follow the bouncing ball? Why do I get a mental image of Arithon sitting on top of a stepladder throwing ping pong balls all over the place and having a laugh as he watches everyone else scrambling to catch them? Then maybe a little little come-hither smile to Elaira and patting the space right next to him?
Two Thanksgiving dinners in one day is a little much. I think the turkey is taking some serious revenge on me!
originally posted by Sarasvati
Hello,
Just finished Traitor's Knot. I just keep on loving your work, Janny. It draws me in completely and I forget where I am and what I'm doing. That's the magic in what you do, so thanks.
Sarasvati - thanks for the nice words…
originally posted by Felicity Hunt
Just finished Traitor's Knot. Loved it. Apart from some traumatic scenes, I found it to be a real "fun" book. Just loved watching Arithon as he played havoc with The Light and had a good laugh at some of his antics. (Yes watching! I visualize everything I read. It's like a built in TV in my head.) Can't wait for Stormed Fortress.
originally posted by Michael Gaspersic
I'm a big, big, fan! I've read everything you've put out. I just got Traitor's Knot…but I'm in the middle of George R. R. Martin's new book. I hate stoping in the middle of a book, but for Janny I make the exception. Though a friend who's also a fan made it easy for me, he took the book to read so i could finish the one I am reading. I'm dieing to read it, and even more longing for the next!
originally posted by Trys
Welcome to the board Felicity and Michael.
Hi Felicity and Michael - welcome here, and thanks for the nice words.
Where was I?
Ah, yes, Parrien s'Brydion and his disaffected fleet…
originally posted by Andy
Hmmm. Could you be a tad bit more specific . . . ?
originally posted by Hunter
As long as Arithon doesn't end up with a broken leg this trip…
originally posted by Blue
Shouldn't that be as long as Arithon doesn't REQUEST a broken leg this trip?
originally posted by Hunter
Janny - disaffected or dysfunctional?
Too many s'Brydions in one place is a surefire recipe for high jinks and bad humour…
originally posted by Nathan
The more s'Brydions the better in my opinion. I always enjoy the anarchy that ensues when that lot get provoked (something similar to poking a stick in a hornet's nest I think). Are you sure they're not of Irish origins?
originally posted by skeoke
Why is Bransian's fleet disaffected? Why is it off the east coast of Paravia?
Ooh, this'll keep me wondering… I bet I can come up with hundreds of misconceptions with this little tidbit!
That'll keep me busy. At least, after TK I no longer think any of my assumptions will be correct.
Into the one liners for 7b, and neck deep in Silly Season, too…
Ah, and a surprise preview "out there somewhere" as a little celebration (some of you found it already )
originally posted by Sandtiger
And what a wonderful snippet it was too!
Sandtiger
originally posted by Maurice Peter Vialle
Out where???
(Going mad looking)
originally posted by Sandtiger
Julie Czerneda's newsgroup - as a hint - it was posted on Saturday Dec. 10th.
Sandtiger (Who has a link, but figures a bit of searching is fun to watch)