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A Message From Herself; who is being held incommunicado!
Topic Started: Oct 5 2007, 02:54 AM (12,748 Views)
Kel Julian
Knnn
Citizen of the Association
Chanor-ji,Apr 10 2008
07:46 AM
I haven't gotten there, yet. There's a part of me that refuses to surrender. I guess it's because even with conditions in the publishing world being what they are today, just enough gold can be sifted out of the piles and piles of bovine manure the publishers push out on an unsuspecting public to keep me going.

Well, Ms. Chanor, I wouldn't really characterize it as surrender. I would characterize it as a recognition that some things can be reconciled, and some cannot. Yes, the system is stupid and corrupt and greedy. In this it has much in common with the whole of human history. It is the only one I have to work with and I cannot change it. It may seem odd, but I think a key point in my development came when I learned to hate without being angry.
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Gent
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Placer of Wagers
Citizen of the Association
Quote:
 
...I should have Conspirator ready to mail by Monday.


Thus spake the :cherryh:

Woo-Hoo!

with appropriate sympathy for Jane's knee. :zimmer
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pence

Citizen of the Association
I recently learned from a (former)cover illustrator that now the artists not only don't get to see the book, they don't even get a plot summary. They are told by some illiterate pencil pusher what to put on the covers. This explained a lot.
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Leela-ji
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pence,Apr 12 2008
06:29 PM
I recently learned from a (former)cover illustrator that now the artists not only don't get to see the book, they don't even get a plot summary. They are told by some illiterate pencil pusher what to put on the covers. This explained a lot.

But that is absolutely obscene! :Arrgh: The author should have control over these things, even pick the illustrator -and- the translators! Of course all of them should have intimate knowledge of the story so nothing was lost, all in favor of the story itself!
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Resa
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Drawer of Stuff
Citizen of the Association
Leela-ji,Apr 13 2008
02:42 AM
But that is absolutely obscene! :Arrgh: The author should have control over these things, even pick the illustrator -and- the translators! Of course all of them should have intimate knowledge of the story so nothing was lost, all in favor of the story itself!

Well, this is really depressing.
One of the perks of being a cover artist, I'd thought, was the opportunity to read the book in question before anybody else got it. And perhaps to contact the writer to make sure what you're creating is in line with their wishes.

I really ... really ... hate all publishers. All of them. Every last one. They take all the fun out of creation.
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Kel Julian
Knnn
Citizen of the Association
Resa,Apr 12 2008
08:11 PM
I really ... really ... hate all publishers. All of them. Every last one. They take all the fun out of creation.

My publisher is pretty nice. They actually told me (and told me, and told me) to clown it up in the writing. So, after being conked over the head a few times, I began clowning it up. They have never complained.
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Felicitous Sk8er
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Ice Queen Assassin
Admin
OK, nadiin: :cherryh: has a question for all of you.

At dinner tonight Shejidan's recent infelicitous crash was briefly discussed :blush: , including our membership surge since Herself blogged that the site was down and the Assassin's Guild was on the case. Herself commented what a great help Shejidan has been in researching details on Her behalf -- then volunteered to place a link to Shejidan on her site's front ("splash") page to direct even more people our way.

However, Herself is concerned about if we as a community would want Her to do this. She fears that if Shejidan becomes too large the intimate nature of our community might be lost. Therefore, Herself requested that I query all of you:

Would you like Herself to place a link to Shejidan on her home page?


Please feel free to vote / express opinions in this thread, or alternatively, PM or email me. I'll post the consensus here before advising Herself of the outcome. Please do not be afraid if you are not in favor of Herself's offer: trust me, Carolyn would not take offense *at all*. Herself is interested only in what is best for Shejidan as a community -- and that is why She made the offer, and why She requested a poll be taken.


BTW, our newer Associates may be wondering if Herself or Janeness lurk here. They do not: they do not want to spoil our fun, make anyone self-conscious, or inhibit posting of opinions about Herself's work that may not be favorable. :t
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Kel Julian
Knnn
Citizen of the Association
Considerate and thoughtful toward Shejidan and the fanbase in general. This surprises me not one bit. We're fortunate that the author of the books we like is also a nice lady, with an equally thoughtful associate.

Considering the question itself, Sk8er, I think CJ's concerns are valid. I tend to agree with her that it might not serve us best. I think the current situation works well: an open channel of communication, where if we can help her and Jane, we'll hop to it, and if she can help us in some way (as with the outage), she does the same if possible. Anyone reading her blog extensively who wants to find us will do so, and more power to them. And anyone wanting to keep up with her blog can certainly learn here where they can do that. I think that works.
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starexplorer
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My initial reaction would also be not to call excessive attention to this site on Hers.

This may be wrong-headed, but it seems preferable to attract people who had go some to find us, rather than those who come because of what amounts to an advertisement on her site.

But I am interested in what others have to say.
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cicely58
Chaos Elemental
Citizen of the Association
I agree with something Kel Julian said; that people who read the :cherryh: -blog, and are interested in finding like-minded individuals, will care enough to check it out; if they aren't that interested, they're unlikely to bother. And we have a really sweet deal going here; I recall no flame-wars, for example, and even in disagreement, associates remain civil to each other. I don't want to sound elitist, but do we really want to put ourselves deliberately in the way of people who aren't interested in the subject at hand ( :cherryh: 's works), but in casual, drive-by flamings, by persons who just want to cause dissention? I've seen it on other boards, and I don't like it. I think it would inevitably lead to extra work for the Guild, removing the inhospitable and the trolls, and generally having to devote more time and attention to moderating.
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Resa
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I'm torn. On one hand, I'd like to see what new people might bring -- new art, new ideas, new ponderables. This could be a good thing. I know that for myself, I adore seeing new fan art. Any and all -- just bring it on! And more members might bring such goodies.

As for changing Shejidan, I suppose it's possible. But it seems to me that on most boards, regardless of the number of members listed, few ever post. You get a core group that likes to chat and share, and the rest mostly lurk. The rest will peek in, read the news, chuckle at the funny stories, but pretty much stay to the shadows. They're there -- sometimes they even pop in and say a quick hello -- but they're mostly lurk.

My only concern is -- if we open the doors and get a huge influx of fans, it's inevitable that we'll run into a potential "stalker" fan. And with the Shejicons sometimes ending up at Cherryh's place, that worries me. I mean, rabid fans I can deal with -- I'm one -- but not everybody's giddy over just getting an autograph, if you know what I mean. So I worry.

So, there's my 2 cents.

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Kel Julian
Knnn
Citizen of the Association
Resa makes a good point. It's important for us to consider Theirselves' comfort and privacy. The access situation here is, in a word, felicitous--but it wouldn't be right for this to ever become a negative for Them. If all ties and connections remain unofficial and unlinked, it helps keep Their buffer zone intact. We continue to enjoy all the benefits, and I don't think it's without benefits for Them. I doubt it hurts Their feelings knowing that Their enthusiasts gather to enthuse. I know I like it when someone likes my writing; don't see why They'd be any different. But suppose I were an award-winning author rather than a two-bit literary mercenary. I'd probably like to be able to set the terms on which I met the public, and my office wouldn't be in sight of the reception desk, as it were.

And I also see the point about the hoops one jumps through just to find and join Shejidan, including one that doesn't apply on the majority of discussion boards and is seen after one joins: the expectation of civil conduct. I can say with confidence that there aren't many such places. Point being: the current situation creates a filtering process that seems to weed out a lot of hoseheads, because in the short time I've been here, those newer than myself have been quite a pleasant crew. It took some work and hunting, they did it, there were guidelines, they heeded them, all happy, Guild on stand-down or free to spend time filing Intent on bots.

Reading this over I think it's somewhat incoherent, but I think people will get my general meaning.
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Vetch
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Mahen Anthropologist
Citizen of the Association

Very sensible concerns here.

Two things:

I had no problems finding Shejidan -- before I knew it existed. I googled for a Chanur name.

I do mention Shejidan sometimes at other boards. I call it "a very sensible board without trolls". (Some guy, who couldn't believe such a board exists, answered by calling it "The Promised Board" :flower:)
Sometimes I even mention that it was about the works of a very good fantasy and scifi author. I never give the name nor link here.

I feel people who want to join Shejidan will find Shejidan.



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Surtac
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Admin
I think I'm with the majority here - if people are genuinely interested, I think they will come without Herself having to advertise us.

I have a test subject I'm about to check out. My brother-in-law is a fairly recent Cherryh convert, via my good offices (:innocent) and my library over the last year. He is visiting this coming weekend as his partner has business in this city. I fully expect him to ask about the board and if he does, I will join him up on the spot (and tell you). He claims to have friends in Brisbane (his home location) who are also fans of the books - if some of them join us after his return home I think that is all well and good. I would rather this community remain small and committed than large and indiscriminate.

My 2c worth.

:invert

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Gent
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Placer of Wagers
Citizen of the Association
Hmmm. My original, intended reply would be so full of "if then else goto", that it would look like an exercise in a gradeschool Basic programming.

There is significant benefit and risk associated with such a thing.

IMO, the recognition and offer from Herself is sufficent. :wub:
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