In which the author has a question for -- YOU!

[rolanni]

This post is reflected, though slightly amended, from Facebook.

I have a question, O, Internets:

A little background, first. Many years ago, after we had sold our first three books, and been cut loose by our publisher -- but hadn't yet given up hope of finding a new publisher, and selling more books, it was said in some quarters that Miller and Lee were "writer's writers" and as such would probably not be able to make a living, as writers. There's some precedence for this, as writers read differently than even experienced readers, and tend to be delighted by V. Strange Things™, and in general Just Aren't The Target Market.

There are a couple of cures for being a "writer's writer." One, of course, is to Take the Memo and quit writing. The other is to learn how to write to the market. We didn't do either of those things, either because (1) we're idiots (a theory that has some strong evidence supporting it), or (2) we knew that sometimes it takes longer than 2 years and/or 3 books to find a readership, and that, afforded enough time, we would find that readership.

So, here's my question -- actually TWO questions:

1. When did you -- yes, YOU -- start reading the Liaden Universe®, and!

2. Are you a writer?

Comments

Answer to Questions

[(Anonymous)]

I first read the Liaden books when they were reissued by Meisha Merlin, on the strong advice of a work friend. I am not a writer unless you're using one of the Navy Aircraft maintenance manuals I edit. Some of the verbiage in them is mine. I don't count it as real writing. No plot, no characters.

[pedanther]

1. I started reading the Liaden Universe with Meisha Merlin's Partners in Necessity omnibus, and was solidly hooked by the end of it.

2. I don't have a definite answer to that question. There's a saying that one should not try to make a living as a writer unless one has first tried not being a writer and failed; I have tried not being a writer and largely succeeded. On the whole, I usually go whole weeks or months at a time without the urge to write anything. I do however have occasional lapses, and a drawer full of the beginnings of stories that are unlikely ever to have endings.

[purplepollywog]

1. I still recall seeing the cover of _Agent of Change_ on my local bookseller's book shelf when it first came out and lunging for it. Giant turtle!!!!

2. Nope

[sbaur]

Partners in Necessity was my gateway book as well. Not a writer, never had any writerly leanings. Dropped classes in college if they required too much writing.

Answer

[(Anonymous)]

1. I borrowed the paperback Carpe Diem from the Toronto Public Library's circulating collection (downstairs from the Merril Collection) - likely not long after the paperback was published, since the books get well used and don't last for many years - and was hooked!
2. Depends what you mean by "writer" - never fiction but have on occasion counted medical and scientific writing and editing among my various day jobs.

Hope this helps!

When? I don't remember

[ireneha]

1) Oddly I think I owned the Collection PARTNERS, as (memory failing) it had an Anne McCaffrey intro/cover-blurb. Later I was talking to Sharon Lee about reading Liaden books, and she suggested FLEDGLING.

2) The closest I have come to writing fiction is a Government Proposal for Science Research. The only "in print" I have is THE ANDRE NORTON BIBLIOGRAPHY 2nd edition & a short piece on collecting books.

[lferion]

I had heard of your books by the late 90's, though the first one I read was Scout's Progress, so it must have been no earlier than 2002/3 that I actually started reading them. I don't recall the exact date, but once I started, I galloped through everything available and have been reading as they came out since.

I am a writer.

[malkingrey]

I started reading the Liaden Universe when Agent of Change first came out.

And yep, I'm a writer.

reading Liaden Universe

[(Anonymous)]

IN the late 80s a fellow librarian recommended Carpe Diem and I was hooked.
I am not a writer.

[jecroft]

I found Agent of Change on bookseller shelf, but I don't remember which year. I went back and purchased Conflict of Honors and Carpe Diem. I then kept looking for new books.

I am not a writer.

I would believe a writer does not look at a book in the same way as a reader. People who build things look deeper than people who use them.

Not a writer

[(Anonymous)]

I'm not a writer but I am a rather voracious reader of genre fiction, mostly SF/F.
I'm in Holland, with limited access to a bookstore that stocks a limited selection of English-language books, so I encountered your writing first on the Internet.
It was during your hiatus between publishers. Fledgling was up in draft on the internet, but not out on paper yet.
I remember special-ordering all your books that I could find in print from my bookstore, and then writing to you about how I could buy the others. You sent me a whole big box of books, all the way to the Netherlands, and made me so happy to be able to read them!
I have terrible memory for dates and years, but maybe this pinpoints it enough for your enquiry?

I do recommend your books to any family member or acquaintance of mine who reads English books (which aren't that many; though a lot of people here speak and read some English, the idea of reading a whole foreign-language book for relaxation is a bit daunting to most people) as there is enough variety to give different tastes a starting point. I even gave Pilot's Choice to my mum to read, who mostly reads romances - she said Aelliana's family were really very mean to her, so I didn't manage to get her hooked, sorry. Anyway, what I meant was that I don't think your books are only approachable for other writers!
Hanneke

discovery of Liad

[(Anonymous)]

I discovered Agent of Change a long long time ago in a used bookstore. Thought it was great and searched out the next 2 trolling through used book stores in NY and CA. searched in vain for more until I got my first computer and found you just as you were publishing Plan B. Have impatiently waited for each new story since.
Am a reader, not a writer

Steve Schneider
NJ

[muirecan]

Between when you started publishing with Miesha Merlin and Baen. Somewhere in that period. I actually saw your books on the shelf back when they first came out but like many where I didn't grab a copy right then I couldn't find any of them when I went back to buy one.

No I'm not a writer though maybe I read like one? I'm not certain I read voraciously anything that passes within reach of my hand will be read if it has text on it.

[nolaviz]

My wife and I found (we think) I Dare at a used bookstore sometime around 2002. We remember it was the Meisha Merlin edition.
We purchased all the books that were available at the time (it took a while, due to our relative lack of access to the English-published market).
We then rediscovered you when you started crowdfunding Fledgling, at which point we completed our collection - and made sure to keep up. (The Internet makes this easy nowadays).

Neither of us are writers, in any language.

[neonhummingbird]

I read Liad for the first time somewhere in my late teens (Dad gave me the books), but didn't really appreciate them until my second run through in my late 20s, and then I adored them unconditionally and started giving them to other people.

I have written quite a lot, and still occasionally write, so I count as a writer, I believe. :)

[hellspark72]

The Meisha Merlin omnibus got me thoroughly hooked and I've been reading and re-reading all the books in the Liaden universe ever since.

I am absolutely not a fiction writer but greatly admire writers who can play with language like you can.

[907jade]

Sitting at a hockey rink and one of the other hockey moms who knew I like science fiction/fantasy suggested the Liaden series as she really enjoyed it and "everybody was drinking wine". Have thoroughly enjoyed your books.
I am definitely not a writer.

[cgbookcat1]

1) I encountered a copy of Fledgeling at my then-local library, 7 years ago. I proceeded to spend the next month in a haze, reading through the entire series, and began acquiring hard, e, and audio copies as fast as possible. I've done re-reads at least every year.

2) Not unless you count a Ph.D. thesis, which I do not.

[readinggeek451]

I started reading the Liaden books when Plan B came out--although the first one I read was actually Local Custom--because that was when I first saw a review. (I had seen mass markets previously but not picked them up because the trademark symbol made me think they were shared-world books, which I mostly don't like.)

Not a writer.

Readership Survey

[(Anonymous)]

#1) In the 80's. Probably shortly after the second or third book was published. They were in the local public library when I was a teenager - PreInternet. As an adult, by chance, I discovered Plan B was available and have bought all since then.

#2) Published Writer? No. Amateur Writer who dreams that maybe, someday? Yes. Although time is certainly running out on that :)

[reedrover]

1. Sometime around 1985 or 1986. I have original copies of the first trilogy, which I read at a very tender age. As mentioned above - GIANT TURTLES [with guns!]

2. No, I'm not a fiction author. I write a lot, but not in this context.

[(Anonymous)]

I found Conflict of Honors in 2008 in the local public library and have been getting books, chapbooks, etc ever since.

As part of my work, I write technical documents, letters, and reports on at least a weekly basis. I will write down musical phrases (of my own creation) if I want to remember them and play them again later. I haven't written any fiction since I was a student.

Millie in NJ

Reading your books

[(Anonymous)]

I am an avid reader of all your work (and own them all) was hooked back in the mid 90s and have remained a fan and supporter ever since. I am not a writer. Please continue to create, and thank you both Diana F

Two Questionss

[(Anonymous)]

Agent of change 1988.
Not a writer.

[rdm]

I started reading when the omnibus editions appeared on Baen - and then we discovered that several of our friends were mad fans of your books!

I am not a writer, but I do proof and beta read for a couple of them.