Six free Ratha's Courage chapters on Baen and kickoff article

[rathacat]

Baen Webscriptiions has the first six sample chapters from Ratha's Courage

(http://www.webscription.net/p-822-rathas-courage.aspx)
Here's the first part of the kickoff article I wrote for launching the book on E-Reads and Fictionwise:

Ratha Returns with New “Courage”

Comments

[thistle_chaser]

I remember writing to you years back (sometime in the 90s) and asking you if you would ever be continuing the series. You had responded kindly, but said your focus was on electric vehicles now. I had been sad to hear that, but I'm glad that now, even though the publishing has gone roughly, you've gone back to writing it. I do have my fingers crossed that all this will come out in some positive way

[rathacat]

I'll bet that was a strange reaction

[thistle_chaser]

Do you or any other LJ members have any suggestions?

If you had asked me five or six years ago, I would have better been able to answer you. (I worked in website placement and worked for Alta Vista -- the Google of its time.) Now? I'm so far behind the times I haven't ever been to Facebook once and I never go to Myspace on purpose. Wish I could be a better help on that!

[tenaya_owlcat]

Remember that interview that I did with you at Borders in Turlock? Well, the article based on that interview is FINALLY going to run! It'll be in the Davis Enterprise on July 3. Not sure what took so long for it to run, but hey, better late than never!

Unfortunately, you can't see the article on the paper's website, as you need a subscription to view it. If you'd like a copy, let me know.

Good hunting! :)

[lurath]

I was one of those young people that discovered the named series when it was already out-of-print. Luckily my local library had all the books, so I was able to check them out again and again and again… and keep going back to used book stores for copies. I was really pleased to see they were getting re-printed and bought them all, along with pre-ordering Ratha’s Courage on Amazon.com. I wonder if they even check the pre-order status of not-yet-published books?
I’d love to help get the word out in any way I can-perhaps recommending the series to local schools? I know animal lovers (like me) would just love to snatch it up. I wish there was more I could do to help directly.
It’s so disappointing to hear about writers being mistreated by publishers. I am trying very hard to get into the writing world myself and am finding it impossible to get anything done while working a job (that I detest) to pay my bills. How DO you do it?

Helping the series

[rathacat]

Hi Lurath,

Your idea about recommending the series to local schools is a good one. I have already worked with a teacher in Tidewater, VA, who is using the series. We did a "virtual author" visit by telephone and it worked out well. If a teacher is interested, I'd be willing to do that. If they are in or near the West Coast, I might be able to visit.

I'm not sure how I did it. I was working full time while writing the series as an electric engineer at IBM, on test equipment. I kept a notebook with me at work and when I got a few spare moments, I'd scribble down ideas, possible scenes,
dialog, etc. When I rode the train part of the way to work, I'd
write in the notebook.

Sometimes I'd get up really early before going to work and write, and sometimes I'd do it after dinner. Of course, this was when I was younger. When I did Ratha's Courage, I had gotten married and my hubby was really supportive - he encouraged me to write the new Ratha.

[kofu]

Hi

sorry I didn't realize you add me on LJ, thank you for add me to your friend list, but I just wonder how'd you found me and curious why did you add me :3

just some simple questions because I don't think I have met or know you, please don't take it offense ^^

Kofu

[tenaya_owlcat]

Hi Clare... I just saw an announcement that you'll be a guest of honor at Further Confusion next year! My husband and I will be there, and I'm sure you'll have lots of fun. Looking forward to chatting with you again, I hope!