Monday, 21 June 2010
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Currently
Hungry Spirits
By Alice Duncan
see relatedAsk the Editor (edited)
I'd like to introduce you to my friend and colleague, Alice Duncan. That's Alice, hiding behind the funny papers.
When I asked Alice for a brief bio to use with today's post, this is what she sent me -Award-winning author Alice Duncan lives with a herd of wild dachshunds (enriched from time to time with fosterees from New Mexico Dachshund Rescue) in Roswell, New Mexico. She's not a UFO enthusiast; she's in Roswell because her mother's family settled there fifty years before the aliens crashed. Since her two daughters live in California, where Alice was born, she’d like to return there but can’t afford it. Alice would love to hear from you at alice@aliceduncan.net. And be sure to visit her website at http//www.aliceduncan.net
But I'd like to tell you a little bit more about Alice Duncan. Alice is, quite possibly, the most prolific author that I know. She has written more than 60 published novels, including historical fiction, mystery, romance and westerns. Her latest book, Hungry Spirits, was published just last week. And she has another new book, Pecos Valley Revival, scheduled for release in January.
You might think that writing 60 novels would keep Alice busy, but she still finds the time to work as a book editor. I can tell you from personal experience that she's one helluva talented editor. Alice has done the editing on each of my last two books. And now, Alice has agreed to answer our questions.
Here's how this is going to work. If you have a question about editing or writing, or about Alice's books (or dachshunds or UFOs) leave the question as a comment to this post. Over the next few days, I'll be collecting your questions and forwarding them to Alice. I can't promise you that Alice will pick your question, but sometime in the next week or so, Alice will write a guest post addressing the questions.
So if you're struggling to edit your manuscript, or you're struggling to edit someone else's manuscript, or you're curious about what an editor really does, or you'd like to know more about Alice's books (or dachshunds or UFOs) here's your chance to ask.
Let's make Alice feel welcome. Perhaps we can convince her to peek out from behind that newspaper.
EDIT: Alice claims not to be a blogger, but I think we've drawn her out. She's keeping up with all of the questions and comments, and responding to them here. So, I don't think you'll need to wait for her to write a guest post. Instead you'll see her answers as comments below. And here she is, out from behind the newspaper.
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Comments (48)
Ooh, fun! Hi, Alice, Anne, Emma, Rachel, Jon. (Yes, I looked on your website.) How do you find the time and peace to write with all those cute dogs wanting attention? I have only one and he makes it challenging for me to accomplish much.
Oh yum! A new (to me) author's work to explore. We have been owned by two long-haired Daschunds at different times over the years. Stronger-willed beasts I have never met. My question for Alice is "How did you become a book editor?" April
wow, she is prolific. i feel so tiny now. but that's great, man. thank you for tagging me. atm i have no question(s). but i'll come back after i think of some.
I don't know if this is an editing question or not..
Q: When you write a book about visiting somewhere you have never visited how do you fill in details of a city? Do you just do research, or is making up names of places acceptable? It's something that is held me back from writing a story I have had in my head for awhile now.
I am looking forward to reading some of her books. Thanks for the tag.
@saintvi - Oh, my, I short change the poor dogs all the time, 'cause I have to earn a living. If a huge bag of money would miraculously descend upon me, I'd spend much more time with the dogs. They're ever so much easier than writing and editing!
@AprilsPlace - By accident, actually. A writer friend of mine (Deb Stover) knew I was in dire straits (money, naturally). She was also in dire straits (family-wise), and could no longer edit for Tekno, so she asked if I was interested, I shouted yes, she told the guy at Tekno about me, I wrote him and sent him my list of published opera (plural of opus, but it sounds weird), and was accepted as a freelance editor. Doesn't pay much, but it keeps the pups in kibble. Usually. By the way, I appreciate Jeff's kind words about my publishing accomplishments, but I've only published 50 books thus far in what I laughingly call my writing career. It'll probably be 60 one of these days. And, knowing me, I'll still be dirt poor. Go figure.
@aliceduncan - When I run out of fingers and toes to count on, my math skills decline rapidly.
@Paul_Partisan - Good question, Paul. I write books about Pasadena, California, in the 1920s. Was I in Pasadena in 1920? No. I mean, I'm old, but not that old, y'know? Research is the name of the game. The Internet is a great place for that, and so is the public library. Librarians are God's gift to writers. A lovely librarian at the Pasadena Public Library sent me Xeroxed copies of the Pasadena Telephone Directory for 1921 and all sorts of other cool stuff like that.
As for using the real names of places, etc., I guess it depends. I use real names of places and streets in Pasadena (in which I used to live), but I changed the name of Roswell to Rosedale when I wrote PECOS VALLEY DIAMOND and PECOS VALLEY REVIVAL. I'm not quite sure why, but I did.
Also, occasionally publishers will be funny about using real names of real places and/or things. Five Star, for instance, gets into a perfect tizzy if you use any brand name. I had to change a Hershey's chocolate bar to a no-name chocolate bar, and get approval to use other names of things that exist or that existed. This, after all the writing tips I've been given recommend being as specific as possible about stuff like that. I never had that problem with my other publishers. Mind you, that didn't keep them from dumping me, but they didn't object to using brand names.
@GoodGuyTheBoss - Thank you! And I'm really glad to know you're the Good Guy and The Boss, because maybe you'll make other people buy my books, too!
@doahsdeer - Not a problem, Jeff. I like your math better than mine :)
@aliceduncan - And I like that my editor never gave me a hard time about the place names, product names, celebrity names and other specifics in my books that might cause a publisher to sit up and take notice.
Alice sounds like a sweetheart. I can't wait to read her post!
@Paul_Partisan - I like to research a place I've never been, and Google as many pictures from the approximate time of events I plan on writing about. I find that the clearer a mental picture I have of the setting, the more the story benefits. And all 5 of my fans agree.
@doahsdeer - True. But that was before THE NEW RULES came into play. Now there's a lady named Nivette who goes through every single book and points out EVERYTHING. I had to get permission to use the name of a restaurant (Mijares) that's been in Pasadena since 1920. They almost made me get permission to use the name Angels Flight, the almost-vertical railroad that runs from Olive to Hill in Los Angeles, but finally backed off on that one. I think it's stupid, but I'm merely a lowly author. Well, in that role, I mean. I'm also a lowly editor, but I don't care what my authors call things as long as they don't give me any grief. You're definitely not a diva, Jeff :)
@SamsPeeps - That's very kind of you SamsPeeps. Love the kitty.
@MelFamy - Are you Paul or Mel? Whoever you are, I think it's great that you research the place where you're going to set your books. Your five fans are absolutely correct to agree with you. May I borrow them?
@aliceduncan - Thank you... that's The Sam.
Can't wait to see the post. I'll have to see if my library has any of Alice's books.
Hi Alice. Nice flowers.
Haven't had time to comment properly, but I did read. This is so cool. Hi, Alice!
@Shining_Garnet - Thank you! It probably won't. Not that I'm the least bit discouraged about what I laughingly call my writing career, you understand :)
@MythRider - Thank you! I'm fond of flowers. The flowers behind me in one of the photos (as opposed to me being behind the wiener dogs and the funnies in the other one) are roses from the Huntington Library's rose garden in Pasadena, CA. Actually, it's in San Marino, but Pasadena doesn't like people to know that.
@SamsPeeps - The Sam looks like my late mother's cat, Mr. Whiskers. Very nice cat, Mr. Whiskers.
As am editor, what is your primary concern for the books that you edit? You've mentioned the concern about brand names that frustrates you at times. How do you frustrate authors?