Megan Lindholm

Originally published at Megan Lindholm. You can comment here or there.

If you’ve read my blogs or facebook posts at all, then you’ve seen me recommend this site more than once.

Today, there is a wonderful article on Book View Cafe Blog that highlights just why this site is so important to writers both old and new.  There’s a terrible new e-book contract out there from a very reputable publishing house.  Random House. 

I won’t repeat their entire article here. Go, read, and please send a note of thanks to the hardworking people at Writer Beware who are watching our backs.

Originally published at Megan Lindholm. You can comment here or there.

What is it about this book?

I read it probably over fifty years ago. As I recall, my older sister had recommended it to me, and it was every bit as good as she said it would be. 

For the past few days, I’ve been reliving the adventure as my grand-daughter does her required twenty minutes a night of reading aloud. Only the adventures of the four orphaned and hungry children who seem to relish the challenge of making a home out of an abandoned box car have made those sessions stretch past the twenty minute allottment. 

Perhaps it is how bravely the children approach the challenges, and how creatively the deal with getting what they need.  They deliberately search for a dump where they can salvage things. They not only put up a shelf in their boxcar but beautify it with a vase of flowers.

The story is so simply written and told. We don’t know how the children were orphaned, or how they left the home they were raised in.  We simply meet them as they go forth into the world to survive.

My grand daughter loves this story just as much as I did when I read it half a century ago.

Originally published at Megan Lindholm. You can comment here or there.

Over at Speculate you will find a review of my story collection: The Inheritance & Other Stories.

Here is Speculate’s own description:

Welcome to Episode 69 of Speculate! The Podcast for Writers, Readers and Fans. With this episode we begin a new triptych of shows on the work of Robin Hobb and Megan Lindholm, looking at the 2011 short story collection The Inheritance and Other Stories–the first time both pseudonyms have been brought together in one volume. In particular we talk about Lindholm’s stories “A Touch of Lavender” and “The Fifth Squashed Cat,” along with Hobb’s stories “The Inheritance” and “Cat’s Meat”; although both names belong to one author, the voices and emphases are quite different, and we look at both those differences and the assured touch of a speculative fiction master evident throughout all of the book. If you like what you hear, don’t forget to check back next week when we’ll continue the triptych with our interview of Robin Hobb/Megan Lindholm herself. Until then, thanks as always for listening to the show, and please continue to spread the word.

I had a wonderful time doing the interview via Skype (but it is audio only!) despite the challenges of doing this in a lively household. The first time we attempted it, I was knocked off the internet several times, possibly by my home phone ringing.

In the second episode, I waged a mostly silent battle with Diego the desk cat over whether or not he was allowed to stroll on the keyboard, or perhaps just sit on it during the interview. And, of course, I was knocked off Skype once, and had three phone calls making my house phone ring. I’m trusting those will be barely audible.

Nonetheless, it was very enjoyable and I hope readers will likewise enjoy the interview when it comes up.

In the meantime, I commend to your attention the Speculate interview with Peter V. Brett and Myke Cole, findable (did I just invent that word) on the right hand side of the Skype site. Good stuff there.

Happy March!

Originally published at Megan Lindholm. You can comment here or there.

I’ll be tagging along with Robin Hobb for these events!

As always, I’m glad to sign Megan Lindholm items as well as Robin Hobb ones, or to have a cup of coffee with you and discuss the older book.

I’ll hope to see some readers there.  My complete schedule is up at Robinhobb.com and on the Robin Hobb Facebook.

Originally published at Megan Lindholm. You can comment here or there.

I’ve a short story available now in the July 2012 issue of Asimov’s Science Fiction.  “Old Paint” touches on my fondness for the various cars I’ve owned in my life.

Originally published at Megan Lindholm. You can comment here or there.

Very pleased to note that Megan Lindholm has a new story in the fortcoming July issue of Asimov’s.  “Old Paint” is near future sf/fantasy, and is an homage to my old blue Chevy Celebrity wagon.  Hope you’ll enjoy it.

Originally published at Megan Lindholm. You can comment here or there.

Well, Robin and I will be traveling again!  Here are the details of her schedule for Elf Fantasy Fair:

On Friday, April 20 at 1 PM, I will be having lunch with readers. A few seats are still available. Het Cultuurcafé, Vuurtorenplein 6-10, Noordwijk. Phone: 071-3613073. E-mail: info@…hetcultuurcafe.nl. Tickets are € 10,-, lunch included.

Friday, April 20 at 5 PM I will be at the Donner Bookshop, Rotterdam, to read a selection and then answer questions.
Boekhandel Donner, Lijnbaan 150, Rotterdam. Phone: 010-4132070. Entrance: free.

Saturday, April 21 ELF FANTASY FAIR www.elffantasy.nl
2 PM Reading at Het Verboden Rijk at the Fair, followed by signing from 3 to 4:30.

Sunday, April 22 ELF FANTASY FAIR Reading at 2PM, followed by signing from 3 to 4:30 PM.

I am so looking forward to this! The theme for the Fair this year is Gods and Pharoahs.  And as always, if you bring a Lindholm book to Robin’s signing, I’ll be happy to borrow her pen!

Originally published at Megan Lindholm. You can comment here or there.

I will be doing personalized signings of The Inheritance for my friend Shawn Speakman. Shawn operates The Signed Page, a wonderful site for bibiliophiles who long to possess autographed first editions.

I’ve blogged here before about the beautiful Subterranean Press edition of The Inheritance, with interior art by Tom Kidd. In an extremely generous gesture, Subterranean Press donated one hunded copies of The Inheritance to Shawn to help defray his medical expenses. So by going through Shawn’s site, you will have a chance to own a copy of the book with a personalized signature as well has helping Shawn’s financial picture.

While you are on The Signed Page site, check out the other autograph opportunities there, including Brian Herbert signing Sisterhood of Dune!

Originally published at Megan Lindholm. You can comment here or there.

A little less than ten hours to go here. Think I’ll wander out to First Night in Tacoma, and check out the world’s shortest parade.   I’m so glad that my city decided to continue this tradition.  Giant puppets, music, free admittance to the city’s museums . . . I love it!

I wish all of you peace and prosperity in the coming year.  I hope we will all make resolutions to be better and do more good, and I hope that I will succeed at keeping mine better than I have in previous years!

Farewell 2011, Hello 2012!

Originally published at Megan Lindholm. You can comment here or there.

Well, I think the headline says it all!

I’m grateful for the wonderful year I’ve had with family and friends!  I hope we all find peace and prosperity in 2012!