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 Laura E. Reeve, Science Fiction and Fantasy Author

 

A Writer's Life

Oct
10

Please don’t turn my computer into a phone! On the other hand…

Better speech recognition is nice… We’ll later look at the challenges of dictating SF and Fantasy.

But if I’d wanted to create my digital art or 450-plus-page novels on a phone, then I wouldn’t have bought an iMac with a beautiful 27 inches of screen real estate, 8 gigabytes of memory, and all driven by a rip-snorting Quad-Core Intel i7 processor set. Of course, that sounded a lot more impressive in 2011…

Wherein I Suffer Mouse Rage

I just upgraded my iMac to Mountain Lion (OS X, version 10.8.x). Apps have changed or lost options, functionality has moved, and other irritating things have happened. But this is about more than being a grouchy old person who doesn’t like change; there was bizarre sudden zooming that left me with unchangeable windows filled with huge letters. I finally got so enraged that I threw my Apple bluetooth mouse and it flew apart when it hit the floor (not so mighty now, are you?) Read more »

Sep
04

Get Discounted AND Signed Books This Friday!

Renaissance Denver Hotel

This Friday night, Sept 7th at 7:30 p.m., the Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers (RMFW) are having a book sale and signing that will be open to the public. A multitude of RMFW authors (usually defined as 30-plus authors, most of whom are on this list) will be in Ballroom B of the Renaissance Denver Hotel on Quebec, from 7:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. (here’s the location of the hotel).

I’ll be there—but big deal; if you’re reading this announcement, you’ve probably already read my books. What is exciting is that most books will be available at a discount. From Who Else! Books, the bookseller for the event:

As a Conference Special on the books we will be bringing (not those consigned; we have little control over their pricing), we will be selling most if not all of your books at slightly reduced prices: $7.99 books for $7, $6.99 books for $6, $25.95 books for $23, just as we do at book signings in our store. Trade paperbacks will be all or almost all discounted similarly: eg, $.14.95 will be $13, $17.95 will be $16.

So if you’ve been hankering for a book by an RMFW author, check out this sale if you’re in the Denver area.

Jan
16

For Writers: New Models in Publishing (Tomorrow Night)

If you’re a writer who’s published or close to publishing, and if you’re in the Colorado Springs area, check out this Pikes Peak Writers presentation (“Write Brain”) tomorrow night.

Join the Pikes Peak Writers for a FREE Write Brain session on new models in publishing.

Presenters include Deb Courtney of Courtney Literary, and authors Robert Spiller and DeAnna Knippling, both of whom have books that are traditionally published, self-published, and published in ebook formats.

ANNOUNCING THE ADDITION OF A BOOKSELLER FROM BLACK CAT BOOKS, NATALIE JOHNSON, WHO WILL SHARE WHAT ALL WRITERS NEED TO KNOW ABOUT HOW BOOKSTORES TREAT SELF-PUBLISHED BOOKS.

Panel discussion will cover indie-publishing, managed self-publishing, traditional publishing and self-publishing in its many incarnations. Hear what options are available to you, learn the pros and cons of each, and find out why one traditionally published author has turned to managed self-publishing for his next book.

Panel will also take questions from the audience. A great way to start your writing year!

When?

Tuesday, January 17, 2012
6:30 – 8:30 p.m. (doors open at 6:00 p.m.)

Where?

Celebration Place in the Citadel Mall

Cost?

FREE and open to the public

Nov
14

Thermodynamics of Magic Systems

Magic, by Laura E. Reeve

When I was at a writer’s conference in Denver, I pitched to a science fiction and fantasy (SF/F) editor for a NY publisher. After expressing disappointment that I wasn’t pitching an SF manuscript, he brightened and said, “But I usually like Fantasy written by SF authors.”

“Because their magic systems make sense?” Being an avid reader of SF/F (and all sub-genres), I knew exactly what he meant.

He agreed.

Later I heard several writers at that same conference express why they liked to write fantasy (“It’s so easy, because you don’t have to do research,” “You can make everything up,” and “Readers don’t expect accuracy”). I decided I’d have to counter these misinformed ideas.

There are fundamental scientific laws and logic most readers understand intrinsically. If SF/F world-builders address these laws, the realism of their worlds will be enhanced and their readers won’t be getting that nagging feeling they’re reading a puffed-up idiotic Hollywood script. So, the first subject we’ll tackle is the laws of thermodynamics as they apply to magic systems. Read more »

Nov
09

B&N Signings This Weekend to Benefit the Pikes Peak Writers

I’ll be participating in two booksignings this weekend to benefit the Pikes Peak Writers (PPW), and I’d love for you to stop by:

  • Saturday, November 12th, from 4 to 6 pm, at the Boulder Barnes & Noble. This will be the first time I’ve signed in Boulder, my home town. (Why? I don’t know—just never got around to scheduling anything there.)
  • Sunday, November 13th, from 4 to 6 pm, at the CO Springs Citadel Barnes & Noble. This store is real SF/F-friendly, having the biggest SF/F selection in the city.

Barnes & Noble Fundraising Bookfairs

How These Bookfairs Work

To help PPW continue in their support of writers, Barnes & Noble is hosting a benefit bookfair (12 – 17 Nov) and multiple signings. If you shop at B&N –whether in a store or online–during the benefit period, a portion of what you spend goes to PPW. This works for anything you buy, provided you mention the bookfair at the register or on the checkout page. It costs you nothing extra, and you can even use your B&N member discount. I hope you’ll join me at the signing, but if you can’t make it I invite you to shop BN.com/bookfairs between November 12th and 17th, and reference bookfair number #10553048. I have PDFs which have instructions and the bookfair number (for Boulder or for COS Citadel, both have same bookfair number). What could be easier? Read more »