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[Treya-Chan]

There appear to be only a few of us, because I forgot to blog the new schedule! Well, I'll do it before next time. In the meantime, any questions?

Are you a dork? srry i had to ask so are you a  dork?

[bklvr!!]

Um... I have a question. how much time do you spend researching the background of your books? Do you do it while your writing or before?

[Treya-Chan]

thats a good one bklvr!!

[scott_himself]

I'm doing quite well. We're in Sydney, and the autumn weather is awesome here. We just a new garden put in on the roofdeck. (We live in a flat built on top of a converted warehouse.)

I am not a dork, but am schockingly cool, especially for an author.

I do a lot of research before I start, in fact, I'm always reading anything that interests me, otherwise I wouldn't get any ideas. But once you start writing a book, you suddenly realize how little you know, and you have to do a ton more research. (Especially with clothes. Like, when did zippers appear in the Ottoman Empire?)

[Treya-Chan]

Cool Scott-la


Hey what books do you/Liked to read?

[bklvr!!]

Icy. (more questions)When did you start writing? Did you alway know it was what you wanted to do?

[MikeMagpuyo]

That's great, it's just turning into spring here, so we're both up for awesome weather.

Second question (sorry): Do you like any current or recent books? Are you reading one right now? It's so awesome, for me, that you're acquaintances with Ms Cassandra Clare and Holly Black, and Sarah Rees Brennan.  

[Emma-la]

OMG! SCOTTLA!!!!!MYIDOL!!!!!!

okay, I'm done. Just so happy that I have internet met you kind of. Questions? My mind has drawn a blank, but wait! I do have one:

How did you come up with such amazing settings? That's my biggest weakness in writing, the setting. I can't seem to come up with my own.

[scott_himself]

I just finished Cory Doctorow's FOR THE WIN, which is about kids in the third world making money by playing stuff like World of Warcraft, then selling their game gold onto rich first-world kids. It was really cool, and I think it comes out soon.

I'm reading PLUTO right now, which is a manga, an update of ASTRO BOY. (And watching FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST.)

Also, I'm reading a history of cricket (the sport, not the insect).

[Treya-Chan]

oh hey can you just look at like the randomest things and get a story?

[MikeMagpuyo]

Wow, that's an interesting story. I'll look it up, thanks!

And Fullmetal Alchemist rocks.

See you, Scott.

[hoverponies forever]

Scott-la, are you doing a tour for Behemoth? or Goliath? where are you going?

[scott_himself]

The best way to get good at coming up with settings is to travel a lot. Seeing how much places can vary makes your brain start thinking about all the different kinds of societies and traditions and natural wonders we have around us. And THAT gives you more fodder for creating your own worlds.

[scott_himself]

Yes, I'll be on tour in October and November 2010 for Behemoth, and presumably same in 2011 for Goliath. I have no idea where exactly yet, excpet that Michigan is looking good so far. (Borders HQ is there.)

[Emma-la]

Thanks Scott. I have a few places I want to travel. Like Egypt, and Venice, Italy. Anybody on the blog who has talked to me, knows why I want to go to Egypt. For a job. But I never really thought about writing a book with that as an idea for a setting. Interesting. THANK YOU!!!!!