Every year, John Scalzi does a very nice thing.
Actually, he does many nice things, all year ’round. He’s just a nice guy!
But around this time of year, he also opens the comment stream of his blog to writers and artists of all sorts to promote their own works, with his Holiday Shopping Guide.
He breaks it out by type. Yesterday (Monday,) was reserved for traditionally published books, ebooks, and audiobooks. Today (Tuesday) is for non-traditionally published works (that would be me). Wednesday is for other creators; Thursday is for fans to share their enthusiasm about any books or other art they want people to know about; and Friday is dedicated to promoting charites.
Last year, I got a good increase in sales from Mr. Scalzi’s blog. He has lots of readers.  Another year-end boost would be very useful indeed.
And you might want to check in on his blog daily this week.  A lot of people, creators of all sorts (although mostly writers), will be plugging their work. And Christmas is coming! You don’t want to just buy the same old stuff for your friends & family, do you?
Meanwhile: Yes, I am in Florida. Here’s proof:
Yeah. I’m not going to be feeding any gators that show up…
I am, however, allowed and even encouraged to feed the other wildlife. Well, not in the park; in the yard of the place I’m staying.
Ibises.
Egyptian goose. They will basically walk up to the screened porch and give me the side-eye until I come out and feed them.
And my pal Charlie:
Grub, skritches and cuddles dispensed on command.
Well. Back to Book 5, which is sort of the whole point of being here, right?
More later.
LATER: I posted the promo, but (Darn it!) I forgot that I had wanted to make it shorter first — I think it’s too long.  But I just copy/pasted, and hit “post.” I feel it was unkind of me to take up that much space. That’s what happens when you post half-asleep — should have edited it down last night.
On the other hand, I managed to be the seventh person posting (out of what will be, trust me, hundreds). So, yay.
November 29th, 2016 at 12:51 am
I’m going to park my promo-blub here until it’s time to post it on Scalzi’s blog. I need to be able to tweak the formatting, and I want to get it right so that I don’t have to mess around when it’s time to post.
November 29th, 2016 at 12:58 am
Get the rights back, people kept telling me. Your books are out of print? Get the rights back, and publish them yourself!
When the Steerswoman Series (The Steerswoman, The Outskirter’s Secret, The Lost Steersman, and The Language of Power) was first published in mass-market and paperback form, the books sold reasonably well, and were well-received, and well-reviewed… But eventually they went out of print.
But people kept asking me where they could buy my books. The answer, alas, was: Nowhere.
So, I did it: I got the rights back. And interestingly, as self-published ebooks they’re actually selling better than they did as paperbacks.
Here are some reviews:
From Hugo and Nebula winner Jo Walton: “If you haven’t read Kirstein’s Steerswoman books I envy you the chance to read them now for the first time…. I think they have a very good claim to be my favorite thing still being written. […] If you like science, and if you like watching someone work out mysteries, and if you like detailed weird alien worlds and human cultures, if really good prose appeals… you’re really in luck.â€
Actual physicist Char Orzel (Eureka! and How to Teach Physics to Your Dog) said in Forbes online: “Maybe the best depiction of the process of science I’ve encountered in fiction is the Steerswoman series.â€
In Science Fiction: The 101 Best Novels 1985-2010, Damien Broderick & Paul Di Filippo said: “[Kirstein] walks the tightrope between fantasy and science fiction with precision and grace… [her] compassion for even minor characters is evident on every page, and her prose is measured and alluring without being overworked.â€
Noted online reviewer James Davis Nicoll said: “These books are what SF should aspire to be; it is a shame they are not more widely known.â€
Suzy McKee Charnas (author of Motherlines and Walk to the End of the World), called The Lost Steersman “[a]n original and fascinating take on the tensions between science and belief, observation and expectation, courage and fear. Highly recommended.â€
And from Publisher’s Weekly : “Kirstein’s striking portrait of an innovative woman who is scientist, judge, historian, and adventurer makes for a good, thought-provoking read.â€
The first two books are currently priced at $2.99, the better to entice you. They’re available everywhere ebooks are sold — check your favorite ebook seller. (Here’s the link to Amazon).
November 29th, 2016 at 1:06 am
My wife wouldn’t let me pet a kittygator :(.
November 29th, 2016 at 1:29 am
Your wife is very wise.
November 29th, 2016 at 9:08 am
Looks like the gators have sufficient feathered food walking around there anyway.
That promo thing is always a bit of a chore to dig through, but it’s an enjoyable afternoon to just see what people write, even if ultimately I don’t end up reading anything promoted there. Sometimes it’s more fun to just read blurbs and reviews ^^;
December 9th, 2016 at 11:12 am
Thank you for keeping on writing of your wonderful people. I continue one of your greatest fans. Photographer, painter, illustrator, quilter….
December 10th, 2016 at 12:48 pm
Thanks! And good luck with all your own endeavours!
December 14th, 2016 at 5:09 am
Doing what seems to be my semiannual “make sure I have Rosemary Kirstein’s website spelled right when I squee about the books to people” trip over here, and I find there are more excerpt from Book 5 (and 6??!) than there were last time. SQUEE INCREASETH.
You’re amazing and I hope you make a zillion sales from Scalzi’s promo thing. <3
December 15th, 2016 at 1:05 am
Heh. Thanks for all the squees!