Saturday, August 29, 2009

Transcript of Author Marjorie M Liu’s Appearance at Athena Isle in Second Life on August 4, 2009

Marjorie M Liu is the New York Times bestselling author of The Dirk & Steele Series of paranormal romantic thrillers and The Hunter Kiss Series of urban fantasy thrillers. The ninth book in the Dirk & Steele series, The Fire King, was recently released.

Cybergrrl Oh: First of all, thank you to Marjorie for being here - we're thrilled to have you!

Terry Lightfoot applauds

MarjorieMLiu India: I'm thrilled to be here. Thank you!

Cybergrrl Oh: Next, please know we will publish a transcript of this discussion on several blogs. If you do NOT want to be mentioned or quoted, you MUST let me know directly email me and we will delete all mention of you if that is your preference; otherwise, we will also take photos and post on blogs, sites, etc.

Cybergrrl Oh: The format today is roundtable

Cybergrrl Oh: We do have some questions prepared that were submitted by fans of Marjorie's and we want to start with those, however, we also want you to have the chance to speak directly with Marjorie but Alas and I will moderate.

Cybergrrl Oh: Please put QUESTION in front of your questions. Feel free to comment at will. If it becomes too confusing, then we'll resort to private IM questions to me.

Cybergrrl Oh: Now without any further ado...

Terry Lightfoot: (how bout a "Q")?

Cybergrrl Oh: Terry - good point - Q: then your question.

Cybergrrl Oh: Let me intro myself first.

Cybergrrl Oh: I'm Cybergrrl Oh, co-owner of Athena Isle and co-owner of Conversify social media marketing group.

Cybergrrl Oh: Alas, please introduce yourself and then our wonderful guest!

Alas Zerbino: I'm Alas Zerbino, co-owner of the Story Mountain Center for Writers here on Athena Isle. I also write the blog WRITERS IN THE (virtual) SKY about writing resources in Second Life.

Alas Zerbino: Welcome, Marjorie!

MarjorieMLiu India: Hello!

Jenny Bolero applauds :-)

Cybergrrl Oh applauds

Alas Zerbino: Marjorie is one of those amazing people I envy -- a fantastic, prolific author!

Amy305 Guardian: applauding Marjorie!

Alas Zerbino: and from my part of the world, even (I live in WI in RL)

MarjorieMLiu India: lol Thank you for having me here!

MarjorieMLiu India: WI? I love WI.

Terry Lightfoot: (Wisconsin, no?)

Alas Zerbino: Yes, Wisconsin.

Cybergrrl Oh: (yes, Wisconsin. Cheeseheads?)

Terry Lightfoot: lol

Alas Zerbino: LOL -- cheeseheads indeed

Moonshadow9 Blanco: LOL

Terry Lightfoot: /yay cheddar.

Cybergrrl Oh: Also, we need to set the stage for all of us who haven't yet read Marjorie's books (shame on me!)

Alas Zerbino: Marjorie M Liu is a NY Times best-selling author. She writes in various genres, including sci-fi, fantasy, paranormal romance -- often all in the same book.

MarjorieMLiu India: :-)

Alas Zerbino: She has written many novels, and in several series.

Terry Lightfoot: (x-men!)

Alas Zerbino: Her latest novel, The Fire King, has just been released. It's the latest in the Dirk & Steele paranormal romance series

Amy305 Guardian: loved it!!!!

About the Dirk & Steele Series

Cybergrrl Oh: Marjorie - why not tell us first about your Dirk & Steele series and bring us up to speed to The Fire King - then we can launch into the fan questions and then branch out to the group!

MarjorieMLiu India: Sure! The Dirk & Steele series is about what a group of individuals - psychics, gargoyles, mermen, shape-shifters -- creatures out of legend who work together to...well, make the world a better place.

Cybergrrl Oh: oooh mermen!

Alas Zerbino: I love it!

Amy305 Guardian: loved soul song too!

Cybergrrl Oh: (Amy is a tried & true fan! The rest of us are going to get sucked in...willingly)

MarjorieMLiu India: They hide in plain sight in this modern world, sometimes using magic, and get into all kinds of crazy trouble.

MarjorieMLiu India: Yay, Amy!

Amy305 Guardian: thanks!

Alas Zerbino: (I've been sucked in already)

Jenny Bolero: Totally sucked in :-)

Alas Zerbino: Is The Fire King the 8th or 9th in the series?

MarjorieMLiu India: The Fire King is the 9th.

Cybergrrl Oh: Now when we give you fan questions, Marjorie, you will have to explain a bit more to us newbies!

MarjorieMLiu India: They're thrillers, romances, adventures, etc.

Sufia Shepherd is getting interested if not sucked :))

Alas Zerbino: Great characters, amazing plots

Amy305 Guardian: :D

Cybergrrl Oh: So we can move to the fan questions first -- and of course they all know what is going on!

Alas Zerbino: Question from Holly: Why did you choose to write Soria with one arm? (Soria is the main female character in The Fire King)

MarjorieMLiu India: I had been hearing about a lot of soldiers coming home from war missing limbs, and it really...got me.

Darkling Elytis murmurs softly, nodding

Alas Zerbino: wow -- awesome -- wouldn't have thought of that

Amy305 Guardian: such an amazing woman btw!

MarjorieMLiu India: So when I started writing The Fire King, it seemed natural, part of her character, that she have this terrible injury that she had been living with. I wasn't trying to make a statement...it just fit the character, and what I was feeling at the time.

Alas Zerbino: It really adds to the novel, too.

MarjorieMLiu India: Thank you, I appreciate that.

Amy305 Guardian: I wanted to cry for her when she wouldn't

Cybergrrl Oh: ok, I'm breaking my rule and asking a Q now so everyone please do pipe in. I'll track.
Q: Does one-armed-ness play a key part in the action or just in her character development?

MarjorieMLiu India: It's just part of her character development, Cybergrrl.

Cybergrrl Oh: Got it, thanks! very interesting!

Amy305 Guardian: Soria was just so strong!

Alas Zerbino: Question from Lori: Do you have any idea of what your next Dirk and Steele book/ story will be about and when it will be out?

MarjorieMLiu India: The next one will be out in June 2010, and will be a pirate/merman/cryptozoologist/mass worldwide conspiracy story, taking place in the South China Seas.

Darkling Elytis: oh, fun!

Cybergrrl Oh: oooh, cryptozoologist! ;-)

MarjorieMLiu India: :-)

Sufia Shepherd: lol

Alas Zerbino: Ooh! Sounds incredible!

Amy305 Guardian: ooohhhh I likey that!

MarjorieMLiu India: I'm having a really good time writing it.

Cybergrrl Oh: Q from Moonshadow: Q, You are on the best sellers list, can her books be acquired from any book store?

MarjorieMLiu India: Moonshadow: Yes, I hope so!

Moonshadow9 Blanco: great I will be looking for your books at my local bookstore then ;)

Choosing Novel Locations & Characters

Alas Zerbino: Question from Samantha: I love the detail you go into when describing different countries. You manage to make it fit without sounding like a tourism advert. Do you pick the characters first, then the location or do you visit a location and then envision the characters there?

MarjorieMLiu India: I pick the characters first, and then think about location.

MarjorieMLiu India: As for placing my books in different places around the world, I love to travel, and it gives me an excuse to do research -- even if it's just by reading about a place.

Cybergrrl Oh: What is the location of The Fire King?

MarjorieMLiu India: The Fire King is set in Central Asia.

Sufia Shepherd: UK?

Sufia Shepherd: Asia more exotic

Amy305 Guardian: Q: ever think of visiting Canada? HEHE!

Cybergrrl Oh: Q: So where did you travel that inspired the locale for The Fire King?

MarjorieMLiu India: I've been up around Mongolia, and the history of the region, including the Silk Road, has fascinated me for years.

Amy305 Guardian: sounds amazing

MarjorieMLiu India: Thank you, Amy.

Amy305 Guardian: ;)

On Writing Open-Ended Series

Alas Zerbino: Another question from a fan... Question from Gail: Are you writing the series as an open-ended until the ideas run out thing or do you have an overall storyline that will end in a grand finale? If the answer is B, how many more books do we have to look forward to?

MarjorieMLiu India: The series is open-ended, though I will be dealing with tying up some loose ends, or at least, explaining some of the conspiracies, over the course of the next two books.

Amy305 Guardian: yay!

Cybergrrl Oh: Great question about series or open-ended. I always wonder about that with authors.

MarjorieMLiu India: I wish I was a better planner when it comes to my series, but I play things by ear!

Amy305 Guardian: sometimes that makes for the best stories

MarjorieMLiu India: Amy - I do like to write by the seat of my pants, that's for sure.

E-books versus Print Books

Cybergrrl Oh: Q: Are there audiobooks available? Kindle versions?

Jenny Bolero: I was wondering that.

MarjorieMLiu India: I don't think there are audiobooks available for Dirk & Steele (yes, for Hunter Kiss, though), but they are on Kindle...except for the latest.

Cybergrrl Oh: just like us geeky folks to want the digital formats!

MarjorieMLiu India: I love my Kindle. :-)

Amy305 Guardian: lol

Cybergrrl Oh is thinking of buying a Kindle.

Alas Zerbino: I know -- The Fire King is NOT on Kindle yet :(

Alas Zerbino: I LOVE my Kindle!

MarjorieMLiu India: I'm really shocked it's not on Kindle yet.

Alas Zerbino: me too

Jenny Bolero: Give us your publishers email, we'll spam them ;-)

Terry Lightfoot: lol

Alas Zerbino: Q: How do you see the world of books changing (if at all) due to e-books, the ubiquity of the Internet, social media, etc.?

Amy305 Guardian: give me real books any day over any digital version!

MarjorieMLiu India: Alas, good question - it's hard to say, really. I think there is room for both, and what I've found is that some NY Times Bestselling authors were discovered/first published by e-publishers.

Amy305 Guardian: I like to have my hands on a good juicy novel!

Jenny Bolero: Oh I don't know, 50 books in my pocket can be handy, but sure, print is king ;-)

MarjorieMLiu India: Personally, I love both e-versions and the physical books. When I travel, the Kindle can't be beat. But when I'm at home on a rainy day? Holding that book in my hand is wonderful.

Amy305 Guardian: ;) ya I got ya there Marjorie



Alas Zerbino: Q: Why do you write series? And why more than one series at a time?

MarjorieMLiu India: Alas - I love to tell different kinds of stories, which is why I write two series.

MarjorieMLiu India: And it's fun to play in various universes!

Alas Zerbino: Makes sense!

Amy305 Guardian: definitely

Jenny Bolero: That it is :-)

Social Media’s Impact on Reader Relationships

MarjorieMLiu India: Did Bart just ask a question that I missed?

Bart Kling: Q: Shame on me I did not read the book...but I would like to ask you how social media has changed the relation with your readers?

Alas Zerbino: Bart, good question about social media.

MarjorieMLiu India: Sorry I didn't catch that earlier, Bart. As for Social Media...I think it brings the author closer to the reader, certainly. And I love that, to be honest. I have the best readers, and my blog/twitter is a good way of keeping in touch with everyone.

MarjorieMLiu India: Not just advertising for the books, but talking about writing, life, etc.

Amy305 Guardian: yes, some of the blogs have been amazing

MarjorieMLiu India: Writing is an isolating business, to some degree, and it's nice to have 'contact' with the outside world!

Alas Zerbino: Yes! I totally agree, which is one of the great things about SL, too

Moonshadow9 Blanco: so true Marjorie

Cybergrrl Oh: Q: Speaking of writing as isolating, not to get too personal, but how does your writing affect your personal relationships? As I writer, I find it difficult to leave husband & 3yr old daughter just to WRITE.

MarjorieMLiu India: I have made wonderful friends that I wouldn't have, had I been doing something else with my life -- like practicing law. So in that sense, writing has been GREAT for my personal relationships!

Character ‘Bibles’, Outlines & Writing Process

Alas Zerbino: Here's another question submitted by one of your fans: Question from Cindy: All of your characters have such interesting names, how do you come up with them? Do you use a name book?

MarjorieMLiu India: Cindy - I don't use a name book, unless I'm really stuck. Usually the names just come to me as I think about the character.

Amy305 Guardian: amazing!

Cybergrrl Oh: Q: How about a character bible? I've not tried my hand at a fiction novel but seems to me it might be an interesting challenge to keep all the characters straight w/all their backstories.

MarjorieMLiu India: I tried to write a character bible, and a series bible, but lost them on my other computer. HA!

Darkling Elytis giggles behind her hand!

Amy305 Guardian: uh-oh!

Cybergrrl Oh: LOL. Perils of electronic book writing!

MarjorieMLiu India: It's easier just to rely on what's in my head.

Chepooka Laval: haha whoopsies

Darkling Elytis: technology can set us free... or delete our work in the wink of an eye ;)

Cybergrrl Oh: Darkling, so true so true

Amy305 Guardian: heh heh heh

MarjorieMLiu India: Not always that accurate, though -- so sometimes I have to re-read a previous book to remind myself of what's going on.

Chepooka Laval: :))

Amy305 Guardian: and gee like that is a hardship eh? LOL

Terry Lightfoot knocks on...plastic? at Darkling’s deletion comment

Cybergrrl Oh: Ah, the old fashioned "archive" method - reading past books of your own

Alas Zerbino: LOL, Cybergrrl!!

Alas Zerbino: Q: You keep talking about the ideas, characters, etc., just come to you. Do you write from an outline ever?

Cybergrrl Oh: great question Alas

MarjorieMLiu India: I try to write from an outline -- or rather, I have tried -- and usually I deviate completely within the first couple pages.

Amy305 Guardian: lol

MarjorieMLiu India: Outlines are extremely useful. I'm just REALLY bad at writing them.

Chepooka Laval: If you visit Marjorie's blog, she has some amazing articles on her writing process in recent archives

Sufia Shepherd: :))

Cybergrrl Oh is going to Amazon to buy herself a Kindle and the early Dirk & Steele books to catch up.

MarjorieMLiu India: lol!

Alas Zerbino: haha -- good!

Sufia Shepherd: bulk buy?

Moonshadow9 Blanco: hehe I’m right behind you Cybergrrl

Cybergrrl Oh: Chepooka, that is awesome. For all of us aspiring novelists, hearing about process is a revelation.

MarjorieMLiu India: Everyone has a different way of going about writing a book. It's so personal. :-)

Alas Zerbino: Yes, it is personal. And it's so valuable for a novice writer to realize that each writer's process is unique to them.

Alas Zerbino: Q: Do you ever think about where the ideas, names, etc., come from?

Cybergrrl Oh: Alas - maybe she is channeling something/someone? ;-)

Alas Zerbino: LOL, Cybergrrl!!

MarjorieMLiu India: Alas - just depends....I get ideas from the news, myths, non-fiction, poetry, etc.

MarjorieMLiu India: Yes, I'm channeling!!! :-)

Alas Zerbino: I was actually thinking of her background.... In a sense, all writing is channeling! :D

Terry Lightfoot: perhaps existence is channeling...

Alas Zerbino: good point, Terry!

Terry Lightfoot: constant rp...

Terry Lightfoot: ;-)

Cybergrrl Oh: yes terry, we are all channel something at one time or another!

Cybergrrl Oh: Q: Marjorie - do you know how beneficial it is to the author - financially - for us to buy Kindle versions vs. paper books? Should we buy both to support your work?

MarjorieMLiu India: Kindle vs. hardcopies...hard to say. E-books have a different royalty structure, usually, but that depends on your contract.

On Genre: ‘Love Writing All Kinds of Stories’

Bart Kling: Q: if one day you should decide to change complete the genre of novels you write, which one would you choose and why?

MarjorieMLiu India: I will be writing a mystery, and have plans for a YA. I love writing all kinds of stories.

Alas Zerbino: Oh wow, you are really versatile!

Cybergrrl Oh: YA = Young Adult?

MarjorieMLiu India: I get bored easily. :-)

MarjorieMLiu India: Yes, that's Young Adult.

Amy305 Guardian: well she is amazing alas!

Alas Zerbino: Thank goodness for us readers you get bored!

Amy305 Guardian: lol

Alas Zerbino: lol, Amy

MarjorieMLiu India: ha!

Amy305 Guardian: ;)

Alas Zerbino: Which relates to another question . . . Q: Your books, as well as others, are "genre-blending": sci-fi, romance, fantasy, action thriller, urban fantasy, shapeshifter romance, etc. Is this changing publishing & reading habits?

MarjorieMLiu India: I think so. Publishers have always been open to good stories, but now writing something that crosses genres is an asset, rather than a marketing nightmare. :-)

Alas Zerbino: So it seems.

Cybergrrl Oh: Q: How so? Because they can market to various channels? Or?

Terry Lightfoot: :-)

MarjorieMLiu India: I think, perhaps, because it makes books stand out from the crowd.

MarjorieMLiu India: The hardest thing, though, is still trying to decide where a book should be shelved in a store -- romance vs. fantasy, for example.

Terry Lightfoot: ahh..hmm...that would be a challenge. restricting them to one category seems a shame...

Alas Zerbino: yes, and there are new subgenres being added -- paranormal romance, urban fantasy, etc. Q: Do you think you'll ever write a "mainstream" novel that isn't a specific genre?

MarjorieMLiu India: Alas - I suspect I will. In fact, I'm pretty certain of it. :-)

Alas Zerbino: Cool!

Where the Cover Art Comes From

Bart Kling: Q: How do you choose the covers of your books?

MarjorieMLiu India: Nope, no choice over my covers. I've been lucky, though!

Cybergrrl Oh: Even NYT bestsellers don't get to choose covers?

MarjorieMLiu India: No!

Amy305 Guardian: love The Tiger Eye cover!

MarjorieMLiu India: Thank you! That was my first book, and when I saw that cover, I almost cried (because I liked it so much)!

Amy305 Guardian: :D

Chepooka Laval: :)

Cybergrrl Oh: Thank goodness!

MarjorieMLiu India: I recently found out that the cover model to The Tiger Eye is a friend of a friend.

Alas Zerbino: Oh wow! Small world!

MarjorieMLiu India: Tell me about it!

Amy305 Guardian: she looks exactly how I would have pictured Dela

Alas Zerbino: amazing

Bart Kling: Q: your answer leads to another question......do you always like the cover of your books?

MarjorieMLiu India: I don't always like the covers of my books, but for the most part, I've been extremely pleased.

Amy305 Guardian: Q: what ones are on the bottom of the list for you?

MarjorieMLiu India: Amy - as for covers...I had long discussions about the cover for The Last Twilight. It wasn't right in the beginning.

Amy305 Guardian: I like how it turned out though!

MarjorieMLiu India: Luckily I have some wonderful help in the online promo department. Ahem ' Chepooka' ahem.

Chepooka Laval: Aww *blushes*

Alas Zerbino: Yes, I love your website design, which Chepooka did.

Jenny Bolero: :-)

MarjorieMLiu India: Oh, man - I love that website!

Chepooka Laval: *bow* ty

MarjorieMLiu India: She's totally genius!

Cybergrrl Oh: Chepooka is a Goddess of design.

Alas Zerbino: that's for sure!

Chepooka Laval: stop lol okay next Q ;)

Amy305 Guardian: yay Chepooka!

Chepooka Laval: :))

On Balancing Writing & Marketing

Cybergrrl Oh: Q: You seem very active online interacting with fans and also running great book promotions. How much time is that taking you and how do you balance promoting and writing books?

Alas Zerbino: Great question, Cybergrrl

MarjorieMLiu India: You know, writing my blog and writing books still = writing. I love words. It's no burden.

Amy305 Guardian: lol

MarjorieMLiu India: Some days my blog is more thoughtful than others, though!

MarjorieMLiu India: And if I've got a deadline, I just don't post.

Cybergrrl Oh: Q: Some authors feel blogging is "giving away their writing for free" - how do you feel it helps/hurts what you do?

MarjorieMLiu India: I think it definitely helps! As for giving away writing for free...honestly, I think that's silly.

Chepooka Laval: :) lol

Alas Zerbino: Like someone would want to pay for my opinion!!

Winston Dufaux: any writer should be grateful for exposure

Alas Zerbino: lol

MarjorieMLiu India: Exactly!

Cybergrrl Oh: Hey, I'm the gal with 12 blogs. LOL.

Chepooka Laval: cybergrrl down to just 12? ;)

MarjorieMLiu India: 12 blogs? Dude.

Cybergrrl Oh: LOL. OK, I only tend to 6 regularly (semi).

(Ed. Note: Cybergrrl Oh Around Second Life is one of those blogs and describes her activities in SL.)

Alas Zerbino: Q: What value, besides entertainment, do you think novels provide for readers?

Chepooka Laval: whoa, heavy question Alas!

Alas Zerbino: lol (sorry - heehee)

Chepooka Laval: :)

MarjorieMLiu India: I can only speak for myself, but novels are an escape for me, a chance to experience and live another life -- say, in Victorian England, or the Old West, or Outer Space!

Chepooka Laval: sounds like SL! lol

Cybergrrl Oh: Novels are escape for reader - never thought they'd be escape for writer, too...!

MarjorieMLiu India: Writing books can be an escape, too. :-)

Winston Dufaux: some can even provide healing, personal growth

MarjorieMLiu India: An escape into INSANITY! Ha!

Cybergrrl Oh: good point Winston

Jenny Bolero: lol

Chepooka Laval: haha

Amy305 Guardian: I love "escaping" from my kids!

Winston Dufaux: seeing the world in new ways is always beneficial

Cybergrrl Oh: A reason to delve into insanity!

Terry Lightfoot: that sounds more like sanity to me.... ;-)

Alas Zerbino: A long time ago, in a universe far away (i.e., my college days), my lit profs used to say that reading novels is the best way to learn about people. Q: Do you think that's true?

MarjorieMLiu India: I do think that true -- when a book is done right, you can get peeks into the human condition that you might not normally experience.

Cybergrrl Oh: If you want to learn about mermen, gargoyles, etc... then it must be true!

MarjorieMLiu India: lol! Yes, I love those mermen.

Cybergrrl Oh: Hey, I'm all about the mermen. Can't wait to see how they compare to human men.

MarjorieMLiu India: Ironically, I hate swimming.

Alas Zerbino: I wonder if sometimes those "fantasy" characters don't shed more light on people's foibles than "human" characters.

Winston Dufaux: the fantasy characters are still created by a person's mind, so naturally they would reveal aspects of life

First Readers, Music, & Staring Into Space

Jenny Bolero: Q: I once worked with a friend who’s a writer, using role-play to develop characters and situations for her work. Have you ever tried this kinda method or anything like it.

Alas Zerbino: Good question, Jenny!!

MarjorieMLiu India: You know, I don't role-play as a means of developing characters, but I do stare in space a lot and listen to loud music.

Chepooka Laval: LOL

Darkling Elytis chuckles throatily.

Jenny Bolero: lol

MarjorieMLiu India: I can see that being a lot of fun, though! I start fires with my mind!

Terry Lightfoot: he-he

Chepooka Laval: Marjorie and I created a blip.fm channel for one of her characters - that was fun :)

Cybergrrl Oh: Q: Who are your trusted readers? And what music do you like?

Cybergrrl Oh: By READERS I mean the ones who read BEFORE you submit.

Alas Zerbino: ("beta" readers is the latest term for those)

Cybergrrl Oh: Beta Readers! LOL

MarjorieMLiu India: My mom is my first reader. :-)

Amy305 Guardian: sweet!

Jenny Bolero: That's cool :-)

MarjorieMLiu India: I know if she's bored, there's a problem.

Alas Zerbino: :D

Amy305 Guardian: ;

Cybergrrl Oh: Q: What music really inspires you? That you play really loud?

MarjorieMLiu India: I have a thing for 80's Power Ballads. And really moody alternative/electronica/vocals...like Darling Daughter or Imogen Heap, or Bjork.

Cybergrrl Oh: 80s Power Ballads like...?

MarjorieMLiu India: Steve Perry!

Cybergrrl Oh: Sister Christian was the first one that popped in my head.

MarjorieMLiu India: That, too!

Cybergrrl Oh: Ah, yes, 80's Journey!

Amy305 Guardian: woot woot!

Winston Dufaux: don't stop believin

MarjorieMLiu India: Tina Turner.

Amy305 Guardian: great vocalist there

Alas Zerbino: Q: What's the best thing about writing full-time? Worst thing?

MarjorieMLiu India: The best thing is that I'm always writing. The worst thing is that, well, I'm always writing.

MarjorieMLiu India: I'm at home, so I don't leave the job at the office. But that's pretty trivial, given that I love what I do.

Cybergrrl Oh: Q: What is the best TIME for you to write? Worst time of day?

Alas Zerbino: LOL!! I understand ... best & worst are the same.

MarjorieMLiu India: Best time? Morning, I'd say. And late evening.

Jenny Bolero: Thanks :-)

Bart Kling: Q: What about some '70 progressive rock as source of inspiration?

MarjorieMLiu India: Oh, the 70's....let's see...

Bart Kling: Q: I mean stuff like Gong, Faust or the first albums of Genesis...concept albums with an incredible story line....

Cybergrrl Oh: Oooh, first Genesis album!

Alas Zerbino: Another submitted fan question: Will we be seeing any of the old characters such as Dela, Hari, Elena, Artur, Dean and Blue?

Chepooka Laval: Marjorie just got disconnected

Cybergrrl Oh: Well, there you go! Thunderstorms finally got to her.

Chepooka Laval: the storms are pretty bad

Marjorie’s Social Media Links

Cybergrrl Oh: Q: For Chepooka, can you give us some more URLs & highlights of Marjorie's social media stuff since you're the Goddess of creating those things?

Chepooka Laval: Marjorie on Twitter: http://twitter.com/marjoriemliu

Chepooka Laval: Marjorie's Blog http://marjoriemliu.com/index.php?/blog/

Chepooka Laval: Dirk & Steele blog http://dirkandsteele.posterous.com/

Chepooka Laval: The Dirk & Steele Detective Agency on Facebook :) http://bit.ly/85kc9

Alas Zerbino: Marjorie’s Web site: http://marjoriemliu.com/

Chepooka Laval: This is a character from Marjorie's Hunter Kiss series, Grant Cooperon (*swoon*), the playlist is embedded near the bottom http://marjoriemliu.com/index.php?/GrantCooperon/index/

Chepooka Laval: for those of you still using MySpace http://www.myspace.com/marjorieliu

Chepooka Laval: Marjorie is also on Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/32686909@N07/3168575463/

Alas Zerbino: Well, shoot, the hour's up already! This has been fabulously interesting.

Alas Zerbino: thank goodness she was able to hang in for the whole hour.

Cybergrrl Oh: Thanks for being here everyone! And thanks to Marjorie for her time and candor. Chepooka - tell her we loved having her!

Kghia Gherardi applauds

Hedda Hazelnut: Great presentation!! I am going to look for the books now.

Chepooka Laval: sorry guys, she wants to say thank you to everyone!!

Cybergrrl Oh: And I really did put the Kindle in my Amazon cart along with some of Marjorie's books BTW. Hitting Purchase in a moment.

Jenny Bolero: Yup, and you've got at least 2 new readers here. Thanks :-)

Kghia Gherardi: excellent event

Chepooka Laval: and she is really sorry that she can't get back on

Darkling Elytis applauds :)

Alas Zerbino: And if you haven't read any of her books --you're really missing out.

Terry Lightfoot applauds

Chepooka Laval: she had a great time!! :)

Liadona Rau: Thank her for us

Darkling Elytis: thank you so much for speaking with us, Marjorie

Hedda Hazelnut: Thanks very much to Marjorie!!!!!

Amy305 Guardian: Thank you!

Jenny Bolero: Ask her when she's going to open her own themed sim here ;-) That's be awesome.

Alas Zerbino: Yes, thank you Marjorie, from wherever you've teleported to right now!! :)

Alas Zerbino: That would be awesome, Jenny.

Cybergrrl Oh: Her own themed sim - right on!

Moonshadow9 Blanco: Thank you Marjorie, will be buying your books soon !!1

Terry Lightfoot: oooh now that sounds fun

Cybergrrl Oh: Thank you again for being here.

Alas Zerbino: Yes, it was great to spend this time with all of you.

Moonshadow9 Blanco: it was a good time, thanx for the invite

Sufia Shepherd: ty

Jenny Bolero: Thanks for organising this. Love author events like this :-)

Chepooka Laval: thanks from Marjorie again for coming

Note: This is a slightly edited version of the actual transcript, to make it more readable and easier to understand for those unable to attend the event. The dialogue is verbatim as typed in by each avatar (with corrections for typos), but the comments have been rearranged a bit so Marjorie’s answers fall immediately after the questions they pertain to.

Friday, July 31, 2009

Ask the Author: Marjorie M Liu


On Tuesday, August 4, at 11am SLT (Pacific time zone), author Marjorie M Liu will be making a very unique appearance on Athena Isle in Second Life to discuss her latest Dirk & Steele book, The Fire King.

(Stay tuned to http://athenaisle.blogspot.com/ or email marjorieweb@gmail.com for details.)

But we need your help! Now is your chance to have your burning questions about the Dirk & Steele series answered. Send your questions to marjorieweb@gmail.com, and Marjorie will select 5 lucky winners to receive an autographed copy of The Fire King!

Your questions can be about character, plot, or even Marjorie’s writing process, but it must be Dirk & Steele related in some way to qualify. We will be accepting questions until midnight Pacific time on Sunday, August 2, so don't delay!

If you are unable to attend the Second Life event, a transcript of the interview will be made available on the Athena Isle blog http://athenaisle.blogspot.com/ and the Dirk & Steele blog http://dirkandsteele.posterous.com.

If your question is not selected for the interview, we will also be posting a select number of additional Q&A to the Dirk & Steele blog (http://dirkandsteele.posterous.com ) throughout the month of August so stay tuned.

CLICK FOR SLURL TO EVENT.