Mike and Mike talk more about the fight between Amazon and Hachette, continuing from Show 468 and including comments from your feedback via Facebook. They talk more about how different authors are taking sides, how the monies are being distributed differently now than before, the different options available to authors (with publishers and going self-published) and things authors should be doing to sell their books and sell themselves.   [Read more...]

Kevin J. Anderson joins Mike and Mike to talk about his newest novel, The Dark Between the Stars. It's the first of his new series, "Saga of Shadows", which takes place 20 years after the events of his "Saga of the Seven Suns" series, with reviewers calling it "Game of Thrones, with planets". He also talks about his writing process (dictation), and how he got started publishing ebooks through his own WordFire Press.   [Read more...]

The contract dispute between Amazon and Hachette has Mike Stackpole a little fired up, and the conversation revolves around the details some of the blowback that midlist and new authors are feeling because their books can't be pre-ordered or ordered, and the alternatives the Big Five publishers are beginning to investigate.   [Read more...]

Sam Roberts joins Mike and Mike to talk about LeVar Burton's Kickstarter efforts to bring "Reading Rainbow" to new audiences using newer technologies and methods that weren't available when the show was still airing on PBS, and about the grumblings making the rounds that vilify the effort for not being about bringing the show back in its old format.   [Read more...]

Mike and Mike recap the technological and book-selling shift since they last talked shop in 2012, including the shift from big format bookstores to local stores & specialty stores that promote events more than book sales, the shift to authors marketing themselves at conventions and other events, and the growth of crowd-funded book projects.   [Read more...]

Mike and Mike pop in for a quick visit, and have fun with not remembering anything they talked about or did for the show 2 years ago. They chat about what's been going on since then, and the changes that happen with stories as the writers get older and gain more experiences. And they ask you: what elements of Dragon Page "Cover to Cover" do you miss and would want to hear more of?   [Read more...]

Discussing the News: Mike S talks about Amazon's Kindle Select program that allows Kindle owners to borrow ebooks, and the payment method they're using to compensate authors for the loans, but it's an Amazon exclusive program. The discussion swirls about whether the program is financially beneficial to the authors. Writing Discussion: Mike M got himself an iPhone at last, and he talks about how he's using Notepad to make notes on his story editing throughout the day, as well as using Siri...

Mike S also recommends that everyone go out and purchase digital picture frames, scan in the covers of all their books, sit it on your shelf and have it display your book covers as slideshows. Writing Discussion: Mike M talks about the difficulties in trying not to expand the story he's currently working on and finding himself writing two different books at the same time, and Mike S delves into the usefulness of a toss ahead page, any series of story notes you can make to help you remember...

Mike S points out that the real kidney punch to B&N was done by Apple a few weeks ago with their ebook textbook deals, and the guys talk about how these deals could change how teachers teach and how people learn. Rewrite Update: Mike M details his first plunge back into rewriting Mistress of the Dragon in 12 years, and the guys talk about the deconstruction process and the details to focus on that can improve story depth and detail.   [Read more...]

Discussion: Mike S talks about the importance of developing a private audience, separate from the groups you're cultivating on Twitter, Google+, Facebook, and other social networks. What's your favorite site for book reviews? Send them in, or mention them here... we'll collect the info and compile them into a list that we will use later to help publicize the finished stories after the process here. And yes, Summer is still taking applications for Dragon Page book reviewers. Wanna play?...

Mike S brings up some salient points about the legal tussle going on between HarperCollins and Open Road Media over the definition of "ebook" because of a new electronic version of Julie of the Wolves. Rewrite Status update: Mike M has cracked open his old manuscript, and reread it to better evaluate where it currently stands so he can determine which direction he wants to go with it. Mike S talks about asking more questions about your story in order to discover more about your world,...

Would you be interested in receiving PDFs of sample chapters from authors, writing prompts or assignments or items of that ilk? Let us know your thoughts on that! Mike S lays out some steps to keep in mind when you start your 2012 writing projects, then the guys mark Mike M's starting point in tackling the re-edit of his book, itemizing what he should do for character and story breakdowns.   [Read more...]

Listener Questions: Tad from Mesa is one of the few who has an old edition of Mistress of Dragons and he's interested to see how the new version evolves, really enjoyed Stackpole's At the Queen's Command, and wants to know if there's an update on the Talion Revenant sequel ebook challenge. Mike S stresses the importance of keeping notes, having a way to make notes and take down story ideas -- whether that's pen and paper or iPhone or iPad, and giving yourself permission to allow the first...

The new "Cover to Cover" will be switching to an every other week schedule, mostly to give the guys and the listeners time to do the actual work required... MRM doing the writing for Mistress of the Dragon, and the listeners doing the assignments and asking questions via voicemail. Discussion: Alison in Denver airs her frustrations about the ever-increasing prices of ebooks, seemingly changing from week to week, and asks whether there's a guideline for consumers to effectively register...

Mike M and Mike S jump back in the saddle, chatting about what they did on their extended summer vacations: Stackpole went to a few conventions (Gencon, Origins), and published his first digital original book, Perfectly Invisible, while Mennenga stretched his muscles as a TV show director with the new and improved Slice of SciFi TV. Starting in January, follow along with the guys as they delve into some "best practices" for writers who want to self-publish and digitally distribute their...

Interview: This week, Mike and Mike chat with MD Lachlan about the first book in his new series from Pyr Books, Wolfsangel. What happens when you take a werewolf story and combine it with Norse mythology and legends? This series is one look at how that could have happened. M.D. also talks about his background and experiences with gaming and his thoughts on magic and science, and the limitations of Hollywood magic.   [Read more...]

Interview: This week, Mike and Mike chat with Brad Beaulieu about his new novel, The Winds of Khalakovo, an epic fantasy series from Night Shade Books in the same vein as George R. R. Martin's "A Song of Ice and Fire".   [Read more...]

Interview: This week, Mike and Mike chat with Tee Morris and Pip Ballantine about their new collaborative novel, Phoenix Rising: A Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences Novel, sort of a steampunk flavored adventure in the fashion of "The Avengers" or "The X-Files". Tee and Pip talk about opening up their universe to other authors to create stories for, as well as their own collaborative writing and editing process working on this novel and the sequel.   [Read more...]

It's an all voicemail episode! Hopefully everyone who's had questions or comments will have them answered here.   [Read more...]

Interview: This week, Mike and Mike chat with legendary SF author William F. Nolan (Logan's Run) about his latest collection of novellas, Kincaid: A Paranormal Casebook. The stories are a blend of mystery and paranormal horror that are certain to entertain fans of both genres.   [Read more...]

Interview: This week, Mike and Mike chat with Alex Bledsoe about his new book, Dark Jenny from Tor Books. While it's the third book set in this universe featuring many of the same characters, it's not a "trilogy" by the standard sense of the word. He talks about his roots in reading pulp mysteries, and how that influenced his decision to create a fantasy novel in that same style, where the characters are having new adventures, but where readers don't need to read all of the stories in...

Interview: Kevin J. Anderson and Brian Herbert join us this week in the middle of their book tour to talk about Hellhole, their most recent collaboration and the first in a trilogy set in a new original universe. They talk about their collaborative process, the future of the Dune series, listening to (or not listening to) critics, and why not to buy Christmas presents before December 21, 2012.   [Read more...]

Interview: This week, Justin Gustainis joins Mike and Mike to discuss his new projects, including the recently released Those Who Fight Monsters, an occult detectives anthology he edited for EDGE SF. Justin talks about why he put together this anthology, who he had contacted to contribute, what he expected and what he didn't expect during the creation of this book.   [Read more...]

Interview: This week, Patricia Briggs joins the guys to talk about her newest book, River Marked, the 6th and newest book in her Mercy Thompson series. In this story, she not only explores Mercy's Native American heritage, but also delves into a true monster tale.   [Read more...]