Oct 9 2006
An Interview with Sharon Shinn
What other book or books do you think we might see from you in the future?
I’ve finished another YA book that ought to come out in fall 2007. This one, also a fantasy book, takes place in a world that’s roughly equivalent to the 19th century era when Britain ruled the world. A young girl travels to a fabulous and unfamiliar place that has just been invaded by the armies of her home country; her father is the general leading the troops, and her fiance is the second in command. But the longer she lives there, and the more she comes to care about the country, the more uneasy she is made by the realities of imperialism. Clearly this is another book with topical themes! Sometimes I can’t help myself.
Meanwhile, I’ve talked to my editor about putting out a book that contains four novellas, each set in a different one of my worlds. (Most likely these would be set in the worlds first introduced in Archangel, Mystic and Rider, Heart of Gold, and Summers at Castle Auburn.) She seemed interested in the idea, but we haven’t made any firm plans yet.
I have read that you have some finished books that were never published. Have you considered e-publishing them?
As a matter of fact, I have. But they’d all need extensive rewriting before I would want to release them to the public, and at the moment I’m more interested in working on new books than editing old books. Maybe someday.
We have a lot of ebook readers who visit our site, so this question is on their behalf. Why are only some of your books available in ebook format?
I have no idea! Until recently, I wasn’t even aware that some were available as ebooks! But I think it’s great. I believe more and more readers, especially younger ones, will start using ebook technology to access books, and I would love to have all my books in their hands.
Myself, I’m still a traditionalist–I love to hold a book, and fold down the corners of the pages where I find a line I particularly like, and leave it lying around the house along with all the other books I’m in the middle of. I spend way too much time staring at a computer screen as it is. Give me ink and paper when I’m trying to relax.
Is there a possibility that you’ll write a book in the romance genre someday?
Something else I’ve toyed with. In fact, a few years ago, I experimented with writing one, but even I could tell it wasn’t working. Maybe now that I’ve spent some time reading more contemporary romance, I could try it again. But it’s not high on my list at the moment.
Do you have a personal favorite among your own books and stories?
At the moment, my favorite is Dark Moon Defender. This tends to change. The Shape-Changer’s Wife and the three YA [Safe-Keeper series] books are the ones I think are closest to perfect–fewest flaws, closest to my original vision. I love the rich, Victorian language in Jenna Starborn. Of the Samaria books, my favorite is Angel-Seeker. Two of my very favorite books are among my unpublished manuscripts–but, really, I love them all.
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Oct 09, 2006 @ 09:54:07
Thanks to Janine, and the two Ja(y)nes for organising this interview with Sharon Shinn. It is so comprehensive that I can’t think of any further questions which need answers for the time being! I am just looking forward to Reader and Raelynx – oh – one question – is there a way I could get an advanced reader’s copy ? (How do these work? I have never had ARCs before, but have heard and seen that they exist)
Oct 09, 2006 @ 11:20:56
You’re welcome! Our big thanks goes to Sharon Shinn for being gracious enough to answer this many questions, and answer them so thoroughly.
I’m not sure if this question is for me or for Sharon Shinn. Please post all your questions for her in the comment section of the post titled “Sharon Shinn answers your questions.”
But I can tell you what I know about ARCs. Usually they are only given to reviewers, booksellers, and others who get the word out about books (We sometimes get ARCs at Dear Author because we are a site that reviews books, but even so, we don’t get many).
ARCs are labeled “Not for sale”, but sometimes people who get them do sell them, and generally speaking, readers almost always get them by buying them. The author gets no royalties from such sales, and there have been some discussions of this on blogs and romance sites, with some authors speaking out against the sale of ARCs.
On rare occasions, readers have also obtained ARCs otherwise, either by winning them in author contests, or through a publisher program to promote the book by sending readers ARCs to review and spread the word about.
Oct 09, 2006 @ 22:13:35
Great interview! And thanks for the review of Dark Moon Defender. I’ve got to go get that one. Maybe tomorrow. I enjoy Shinn’s writing so much.
Oct 10, 2006 @ 13:37:48
Wow, what an awesome interview! I just started reading Shinn, so perfect timing for me to read all about her.
Oct 10, 2006 @ 17:16:33
Thank you so much for this interview! Sharon Shinn has been one of my very favorite authors since I discovered Archangel when it came out. It’s a rare month that goes by without my reading one of her books. (Yes, I’ve read all of them multiple times, except for the most recent.)
I haven’t read your review for Dark Moon Defender yet because I only just started reading it. (I had to re-read the first two first.) But . . . the interview? Wonderful!
Oct 10, 2006 @ 17:27:13
Oh, and I do have a couple questions that I’d love to ask Sharon.
The music in the Samaria series is always so beautifully written–I want to HEAR it! Obviously, that’s not possible, but are there any choral works that you particularly like that would be reminiscent of the Magnificat, or any of the other Glorias? Or, just that you like, yourself?
I wondered, when Samaria invented its own sound-recording and scoffed that Rachel’s voice could have compared to Hagar’s . . . does Jehovah have recordings of all the Gloria’s in its memory banks? That could somehow be transmitted? It would be such a shame for Gabriel’s and her voice to be lost to the void.
And, not a question, but, a possible novella in the “Heart of Gold” world? Be still my heart. That book is one of my absolute favorites. The world is so similar to ours in a way, and yet so different in its hierarchy–it’s a world I would gladly visit again. I also always feel like it has such a Jane Austen kind of vibe, in the Indigo’s aristocratic world of manners and balls . . . I really just want to know more!
Feb 18, 2007 @ 21:48:10
Hello,
thanks for the interview! it was wonderful to read.
are there any plans to issue the first three books in the Samaria series in hardback? I have often wished to have them in hb like the other two. If there is anything we as readers can do to encourage this, please let me know.
Oct 22, 2007 @ 20:02:35
You’re a cruel, cruel woman, Sharon Shinn. To state that two of your favorites of your books are unpublished and that you don’t intend to rewrite them any time soon to publish as books or e-books seems terribly unfair!
My First Sale by Sharon Shinn, Every Sale Is Cause for Celebration | Dear Author: Romance Book Reviews, Author Interviews, and Commentary
Oct 26, 2007 @ 04:00:17
[...] Shinn is one of our favorite authors here at Dear Author. Given the diversity of our tastes, its amazing that we can come to any [...]
Chappysmom » New Arrivals
Mar 23, 2008 @ 09:57:01
[...] if you’ve read any of her books, there’s an excellent 8-page interview with her over here. (Thanks, Kelly, for letting me know.) Really, I just love her [...]
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