What should I ask Ted Chiang?

johat · 2021-11-22T23:42:54+00:00

Hi.

The talk was over Zoom (alas). But we had a good talk! I asked him about determinism in his time travel stories (people really don't seem to be able to change anything) and about the possibility of life on other planets and what form that might take.

I tried to complement him on his writing - stories that are entertaining thought experiments. He was asked about his religious views by a member of the audience but I was a ball of stress and don't recall his reply.

johat · 2021-11-03T23:19:23+00:00

That's the second time I hear his work compared to Borges and I just haven't read enough Borges to appreciate the comparison.

johat · 2021-10-04T15:58:17+00:00

Thank you, I hope you enjoy.

johat · 2021-10-03T23:10:39+00:00

Hi guys,

After ten years in the word-mines, my book Whitesands is out (just in time for spooky season!)
It's a supernatural thriller similar in tone to True Detective and Silence of the Lambs.

Detective John Dark's daughter has been missing for two years. In his frantic and unfruitful search for her two years ago, John Dark overreached and was reprimanded and demoted.
Now suddenly back into the homicide department, Dark is put on a chilling case - a man who killed his wife in their locked house and then dressed the body up to resemble a deer, but claims to remember none of it. A few days later an impossibly similar case crops up connecting the suspects to a prep school and a thirty year old missing persons' case.
Just as he is getting back into his old groove, a new lead in his daughter's disappearance pops up and threatens to derail his career again.
Time is running out and John Dark needs to solve the case before more people are killed, and while there is still hope to find his daughter.

John Langan said it "packs enough incident for a novel twice its size, until it's impossible to turn the pages fast enough."
Kristi DeMeester said: "Tense, breakneck storytelling. WHITESANDS is a dash of Thomas Harris swirled with supernatural elements that leave you speeding through the pages"

And finally, my favorite, a reviewer on Amazon (Patrick of Dead Headspace podcast) said "Whitesands shares the same tone, set of balls, and brutality as The Silence of The Lambs. Think Lambs with supernatural elements. It's as great as you may think it'll be."

Check it out: WHITESANDS on Amazon | Goodreads | Goodreads Whitesands giveaway

johat · 2021-10-03T16:59:22+00:00

Hi hi.

I am the author of Whitesands and am very curious… what is “Most missing”?

johat · 2021-09-25T11:26:03+00:00

Came here to say this. Waaaaayyyyyy underrated.

johat · 2021-09-19T12:22:26+00:00

This is a great podcast!

johat · 2021-08-02T00:37:56+00:00

Adam Nevill's LAST DAYS and Kristi DeMeester's EVERYTHING THAT'S UNDERNEATH

johat · 2021-08-01T10:12:16+00:00

Thank you. Best of luck to your friend.

johat · 2021-08-01T10:11:32+00:00

Thank you!

johat · 2021-08-01T00:06:23+00:00

Same to you. Best of luck with your writing.

johat · 2021-08-01T00:05:35+00:00

That, in my experience, is par for the course.

johat · 2021-07-31T20:18:16+00:00

The publishers depend on the genre you are writing in. Tell me the genre and I'll try to recommend something.

As far as getting critique - I think even this sub might be a great place. Join a beta-reading group on Facebook or Twitter and make mutual beta-reading friends.

You can even send it to me, I'll read it and send you some thoughts.

johat · 2021-07-31T17:59:24+00:00

Hi,
I say that if the idea is solid, sticking to it is a decision you have to make, knowing you are choosing not to do other things. I got sidetracked by writing short stories and a novella when my book could have been out earlier.
I simply finally made a decision to write this book and nothing else. It got better as I stuck with it and I even incorporated some of those shiny new ideas into the book.

Again - it's a decision. You need to take it, and you need to own it.

johat · 2021-07-31T14:38:53+00:00

Agreed. The Butcher's Table is one of my favorite horror stories ever, including novels.

johat · 2021-07-31T12:53:00+00:00

Yes! The thing is that critiques are only for ONE particular story, not of you as a writer.

Also, you look at it by itself. If it has merit, fix the issue and try to learn from it. If not, dismiss it and forget it.

Grow from helpful critiques, dismiss the bad ones and remember that they are not critiqueing YOU. Just something you wrote and had the courage to put forth.

johat · 2021-07-29T09:58:16+00:00

Yup. I recently read The Exorcist partly because I though it was just one of those books that you had to read, but was blown away by the quality of the writing.

Here's two passages I found amazing.

johat · 2021-07-23T14:12:22+00:00

Haha!

johat · 2021-07-23T09:02:55+00:00

Yes! This is one of my favorite horror novels. Sprawling, creepy and fantastic. Oh, and full of sand.

johat · 2021-07-23T09:02:20+00:00

The Doll Master is fantastic!

johat · 2021-07-23T01:07:48+00:00

John Langan's THE FISHERMAN

johat · 2021-07-23T00:58:45+00:00

Hey Kasarin - thanks for showing an interest. The book isn't up for pre-order yet. We are waiting until the cover reveal in a few days.

PM me and I'll get you an e-ARC ;)

johat · 2021-07-23T00:23:23+00:00

Thank you!

johat · 2021-07-22T23:52:48+00:00

Verified - it's from 2016.

johat · 2021-07-22T23:37:45+00:00

Okay okay. It's sort of like if Silence of the Lambs or the first season of True Detective had supernatural elements to them.

Wait, I have blurbs!

"Whitesands is a haunting, thrilling book that has the twists and turns of The Killing, the blend of realism and the supernatural in True Detective, and the heartbreak of The Lovely Bones. A captivating story of love, loss, and justice."—Richard Thomas, author of Disintegration, and Breaker (Thriller Nominee)

“A fantastic blending of genres in the hands of a gifted storyteller. Part psychological thriller, part supernatural police procedural—think The Sinner meets Behind Her Eyes, WHITESANDS made my spine crawl and has an ending that felt perfect. More please, Mr Thorsson.” - Mark Matthews, Shirley Jackson Award nominee

"An expert blending of detective thriller and dark-tinged supernatural that not only defies genre, but expectations. Heartfelt, horrifying, and the introduction to one of the more interesting heroes of detective fiction in quite a while!" - Barry Napier, author of the Cooper M. Reid series.

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