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Hey, this is Ginn

I just wanted to thank readers for supporting this project. I can''t wait to hear what you think --of course, I hope that you all really enjoy the books!

Hey Ginn! Can't wait to read the first installment.... serialized books are so delicious, I LOVE the suspense. What a great idea!

Hey Astrid.

I wish the idea had been mine. The folks at Blind Eye Books came up with it.
I'm very interested to see what readers will think. It would be cool to see the revival of serial fiction, I think.

I think the whole idea of a serial is awesome. I can't wait to read it!

I've never read a serial before, so I'm looking forward to experiencing it. As for the The Rifter serial itself, well...the excerpt blew me away so I can't wait to read it!

Eugenie wrote: "I think the whole idea of a serial is awesome. I can't wait to read it!"

Sort of like watching a mini-series...uhm where all the characters are played by a bunch of typed letters... okay, so maybe not exactly the same but the idea of getting to anticipate the next episode is there.
I'd like to see more of it myself.

orannia wrote: "... As for the The Rifter serial itself, well...the excerpt blew me away so I can't wait to read it!"

I hope you enjoy it! I'm really excited/nervous about how readers will deal with the size of this plot. I can't wait to hear what you think.

Hello, I just finished The Shattered Gates. I'm still digesting it.
Mostly I'm hoping you don't kill off Bill or Laurie, they seem like prime candidates.

I had a good time writing those two and I love them as a couple... And I'm not allowed to write anything else for fear of posting a spoiler.

I'm interested to see how Bill and/or Laurie affect their new world (if they do!). Granted John (and of course Khalil) will play a huge role in whatever happens, but I kind of like the idea of the underdogs rising up and doing more than they thought they could - which sounds a bit more cheesey than I meant it to. :-)

Meraehl wrote: " I kind of like the idea of the..."

I'm just going to say that Laurie and Bill are not incidental characters...also keep an eye out for that dog--
--and I have to stop writing now because I'm perfectly terrible at keeping secrets once I get going... I can just see myself getting tossed out of the group for posting spoilers...

I can just see myself getting tossed out of the group for posting spoilers...

The mind boggles at the thought of tossing the author out of their own group... I suppose you are in possession of all the spoilers though, being as you wrote them *grin*

Sylvie wrote: "...(Mostly though, I just want to know how long it took you to create another language, complete with grammar and vocab. *g*)"

I spent far too much time on the language and then suddenly realized that I had to simplify the entire system to something the could be easily picked up by readers who might be interested in that pesky story more than participles. ; )

orannia wrote: " I can just see myself getting tossed out of the group for posting spoilers...

The mind boggles at the thought of tossing the author out of their own group... I suppose you are in possession of ..."

I still want to obey the rules that Nicole set up... but it's sooooo hard not to just blurt things out...must restrain my every urge!

I love Laurie and Bill, they're great comic relief although after reading the second installment I'm worried they'll fade away. However I'm excited to see where this goes. The twist @ the end of the second one had me nearly gasping out loud. That wily John!

Jenre wrote: "... I'm very interested to see where you will take these characters, especially John. He's so scientific and analytical and I loved it th..."

Yes, I think that a large part of why he can't easily recognize magic in himself is due to his scientific training.
I think you'll be pleased to see how he learns to cope and thrive.

Kassa wrote: "The twist @ the end of the second one had me nearly gasping out loud. That wily John!"

heh heh. : )

Lisa wrote: "I'm sort of at a loss for words. I got the subscription, but I waited till last night to actually start since I wanted to be able to enjoy it. I finished it this morning with my coffee. I can al..."

You are too kind!
There are a few twists and turns as the books progress but pretty soon everything will start coming together, I promise.

I'm wondering what effect being in such a strange place will have on his scientific mind - how it will test him, especially when his true nature comes to light (as I'm sure it will).

*nods*

I just finished and there was much wailing and knashing of teeth when I realized I had to wait until next month for the second part. Reading The Shattered Gates felt like...running through a maze, you know there is more, but at the moment you only have part of the maze mapped. And I just love how such simple, mundane things as having breakfast sheds insight into the characters. How do you pack so much characterization in without info dumping?

orannia wrote: "How do you pack so much characterization in without info dumping?

I wish I could take credit for that but I suspect that my only real expositional skill is to have found a very good editor.

Not only does Nicole know when to trim or expand a scene, but she gave me a great piece of advice about writing a scene that's heavy in information: Whenever possible, involve the character physically in the exposition, so that the reader is experiencing the world, not just being lectured about it.

Oh my Ginn, you have done it again!

I am already in love with this story and I can't wait to see what happens next. I love how this is going to be a meaty plot and I get the feeling that part one was just the tip of a very big iceberg.

I also love the idea of a serial too! Reminds me of Sherlock Holmes. Hopefully I can get myself a big print copy when it has all been released =D

David wrote: "Oh my Ginn, you have done it again!

I am already in love with this story and I can't wait to see what happens next. I love how this is going to be a meaty plot and I get the feeling that part o..."

Thank you!
I'm so relieved that readers seem to be enjoying the project.

You're quite right about the plot for this one being large. (My first outline took up a 18x24 sheet of newsprint.) I did my best to build climaxes and rests throughout so as not to fatigue readers with non-stop action...or worse yet non-stop botany! ; )

As for a print book, I'd personally love to have one, but I think it will really depend on the response to the digital books. If they do very well then I think the publisher would consider printing The Rifter despite the cost involved.
I'm keeping my fingers crossed! (Though it makes typing a real bother.)

Whenever possible, involve the character physically in the exposition, so that the reader is experiencing the world, not just being lectured about it.

And that's what works so well :) So hanging out for Part II!

Dlee wrote: "I'm so glad this project is here. I read the teaser so loong ago! So far the characters are all very likable. I don't want to see any of them killed off but I think it's inevitable that one of t..."

I based many of the characters on friends of mine so I'm extra happy to know that I managed to convey how likable they are--in my opinion anyway ; )

!!!!!!!!!SPOILER ALERT?!!!!!!!!!!

This is fantastic! I just finished reading installment 1/10. I love the distinctiveness of the characters and how muddled Kyle is since he doesn't remember clearly who he is or if he ever has.

I love how you're playing with time, the part where Kyle is uncertain of when he'll be when he falls through the gate between the worlds. I love the hints that Kyle might be Rashivan! So charming and sad to think of him as the ingénue after seeing him as a scarred and private man who may or may not be a serial killer roommate. And yet, it's still unclear as to whether they are the same person somehow, or not.

I love the elements of surviving in the wild. It reminds me of those wonderfully exciting wilderness books I read in grade school. :-D I love the gruesome aspects of your world, the oracle bones clambering into the dead dog was utterly horrifying. Brilliant imagery!

I love the slow build-up of the plot that the serial format is allowing you to use. Not to say that the story is slow. It isn't, not at all! Your world building is terrific!

The overwhelming question on my mind is whether or not the blond dog is the same that Kahlil killed into which the oracle bones climbed or there is an order of blond dogs. I'm also wondering where or when Kahlil wound up if the city of his childhood is so changed.

Oh, I can hardly wait for more. I love the hook at the end of this chapter, but I really want to know what is happening to the Kyle who is slowly regaining his memories.

Eugenie wrote: "!!!!!!!!!SPOILER ALERT?!!!!!!!!!!

This is fantastic! I just finished reading installment 1/10. I love the distinctiveness of the characters and how muddled Kyle is since he doesn't remember clea..."

I can't tell you how happy I am to hear your response! Those are exactly the questions that I worked hard to build up in the story... I'm soooo pleased that you notice the dog!

Don't worry there will be more of Kyle in book two-- and some things will be made quite clear... (You can't see it but I'm wiggling my fingers like and evil villain, about to release the hounds!)

Don't worry about missing the different times, I made very few references to it in the first book to allow readers to ease into the two plot lines and slowly pick up the places where they begin to intersect.

I'm relieved that you liked the character being on a learning curve. I too feel weird about characters just knowing everything from the get go, but I also have to balance that with the pace of a plot. I'm so happy that I got the balance right,(at least for one book--I hope for all ten...)

Thank you so much!
It's comments like that that make me want to always do my very best.

Really am enjoying this-got totally sucked in and then....ARGH! I can't wait wait for the next installment (when?!)I liked the little insights by Kyle - I believe he was thinking how uncomfortable it can be when you say something that can stop a conversation dead and feeling alien. Not sure why that stood out to me - perhaps made him more "real"?
I've loved everything I've read by Ginn - the short story Shy Hunter was so good I had to go out for Ethiopian food!

Blaize wrote: "Really am enjoying this-got totally sucked in and then....ARGH! I can't wait wait for the next installment (when?!)I liked the little insights by Kyle - I believe he was thinking how uncomfortable ..."

Book Two will be out April 12th (The books are all being release on the second tuesday of every month.)

And I'm really delighted to have inspired an outing for an Ethiopian meal... Though now the thought it making me crave injeera... mmmm...

Loved it. More please.

Sarah wrote: "Loved it. More please."

Thank you! I promise a fresh serving every month.

hey!
I'm here but laying low because I don't want to spoil anything before everyone has a chance to read bk 2...
(But can I talk about the two time lines now, you think? I tried to hint at them by having the illustrator put dates on the maps... did it work?)

You aren't unobservant at all. I think it's awesome that you got all that without the maps. I was really worried that the text alone might not be enough but obviously you were right on it!

I'm so glad you're enjoying it!
I really wanted it to be a book that some one could read more than once and catch new things each time.

Ginn wrote: "Hey Astrid.

I wish the idea had been mine. The folks at Blind Eye Books came up with it.
I'm very interested to see what readers will think. It would be cool to see the revival of serial fiction,..."

No it wouldn't. This is TORTURE waiting for the next installment. :-D

Josh wrote: "No it wouldn't. This is TORTURE waiting for the next installment. :-D "

So agree ;) I'm waiting until 3 or 4 are out then reading them...

Josh wrote: "No it wouldn't. This is TORTURE waiting for the next installment. :-D ."

Now you know how I feel waiting for your next book!

No it wouldn't. This is TORTURE waiting for the next installment. :-D

I start reading and get completely hooked only to reach the end and realize I have to wait a month for the next installment! Definitely torture!

@Ginn - BTW, I like the 'previously' bit at the beginning of the second part. I was worried I wouldn't remember everything, but I read it and everything came flooding back beautifully!

orannia wrote: "...Ginn - BTW, I like the 'previously' bit at the beginning of the second part. I was worried I wouldn't remember everything, but I read it and everything came flooding back beautifully! "

I glad to know that, because those recaps have to be the hardest things for me to write ever. I tried to keep them concise but by book nine a LOT had happened! ;D

...but by book nine a LOT had happened! ;D

*worried*

Hehehe!

(Though really a lot does happen.)

Hi Ginn,
I know everyone is on to discussing the Book 2 timelines now, and I too have finally caught up through the end of the 2nd book. But I wanted to comment on something from Book 1 that I found to be particularly humorous and so insightful. I loved your writing of Kyle's thoughts in the restaurant scene concerning the fact that oatmeal was always offered as a breakfast selection, but never pictured on the menu. You wrote that he had no desire to eat it; he just wanted to see what it looked like. I cannot even begin to tell you how long I laughed when I read those words. Sheer genius on your part. What a hoot!

Susan wrote: "...Your writing of Kyle's thoughts concerning the fact that oatmeal was always offered as a breakfast selection but never pictured. You wrote that he had no desire to eat it, he just wanted to see what it looked like. I cannot even begin to tell you how long I laughed when I read those words."

I'm so glad someone noticed that! It's a little bit of biography, because I hadn't encountered the term "oatmeal" until I was about nine years old and somehow I got the idea that it was something mysterious and exotic when I saw it on a menu. You can imagine my shock when the true "glory of the dish was revealed to me. ; )

Ginn wrote: "I hadn't encountered the term "oatmeal" until I was about nine years old..."

How was it referred to before then?

Susan wrote: "How was it referred to before then?"

I lived in a cabin above a commune up in the mountains for the first eight years of my life. Rice and corn were common staples but I never encountered oats until my family moved to the city. Then suddenly I discovered all the modern wonders: electricity, flush toilets, disposable pens and OATMEAT! :D

Thinking back on it, I'm not certain why I was so fascinated by that one dish but the experience came in handy years later.

Dlee wrote: "Which leads me to ask if you Like oatmeal? My husband tells the story of how his father would cook every Sunday while his mother got the family ready for church. It sounds so nice till you hear t..."

I do like oatmeal,(but only cooked savory not sweet) though I'm much more fond of uncooked oats served cold with yoghurt and berries. (My sympathy to your poor husband.)

I was using it to emphasize Kyle's alien qualities, but the idea came easily--along with a few others-- because my own early experiences of modern America were a bit alien as well.

Just finished Black Blades ... WOW!! Ginn I love your work :-D the last few days have been a bit of a blur, a good blur (?) as I have just been totally sucked into this series !! I have been posting on your LJ then thought I would track you down here and share the journey with others! Now the tough 4 week wait for the next part... On the bright side I am on holiday that week so I can fully devote myself to reading :-D .... Now to read the rest of the posts!

I'm so glad that you enjoyed Black Blades!
(I'm so nervous every time a new book comes out!)

Hey, I apologize if Nikki or Ginn already posted this, but Ginn is being interviewed over at Jessewave's today: