Videos

Me and Phil Palmer

Author: September 6, 2010

The Terminal State_Version 43 CoversA few weeks ago, my chipper UK editor Anna Gregson asked me if I’d participate in a little cross-promotion with another Orbit author, the ridiculously talented and charming Philip Palmer, since we both had books coming out within a month of each other (The Terminal State for me; Version 43 for Phil). We were both enthusiastic about the idea, since we admired each other’s work and were on long-distance friendly terms (the best kind for me, as I tend to be inebriated and belligerent in person). Anna suggested we each submit to interviews for a short documentary centering around our main characters – Avery Cates for me and the eponymous Version 43 for Phil. I expected a cheerful, friendly exchange of literary views. Things did not go … as planned.

For a while the publisher considered not doing anything with the footage, but in the end the fact that they’d spent almost $45 American dollars on the project convinced them they had to wring at least some publicity out of the project, so they’ve started posting episodes. Here’s the first one:

(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zeyVeagJ7mc)

For one thing, I filmed about 75 hours worth of interviews and submitted about 30 hours of animations. I was told this would show at film festivals and that Orbit was considering buying some TV time to air the edited version. Now it looks like Orbit has edited this down to about twenty minutes of total footage. I am outraged. Someday I am going to get up before noon, put on some pants, and file a lawsuit.

Secondly, I was extremely disappointed in the passive aggressive (and later simply aggressive) manner that Phil Palmer chose to adopt in his filmed portions. I started off a huge fan of Phil Palmer, person and writer. I’m still a fan of the writer.

More Shit I Gotta Do, Someone Else's Writing, Videos

Ask Jeff Anything

Author: July 16, 2010

I’ve got an idea: It’s simple but could be fun. I get questions via email on a pretty regular basis, ranging from the sedate and expected (When’s the next book coming out, aren’t those bastards at Orbit going to have a trade size of The Terminal State) to the disturbing (Would you mind sitting in the other chair I can’t get my telescope that far to the left, or Is that really you speaking to me in my dreams telling me to burn down Citi Field?) I try to answer every question as promptly as possible, but I am a busy man, if complaining now counts as an activity you can be busy with.

So, let’s do a weekly question thing, where anyone who wants to can send me a question, and I will post a brief video to answer it. I’ll attempt to do this once a week, but lord knows once I get busy with drinking and sleeping and hunting the grounds for my lost trousers, time slips away fast, so no guarantees. What I do guarantee is that no question shall be ducked. Ask me anything. You may not like the answer, but that ain’t my problem.

Send all questions to mreditor@innerswine.com.

BAM!, Bullshit, Deep Thoughts & Pronouncements, Videos

SFSNNJ Face the Fiction 4-10-10

Author: April 12, 2010

So, The Duchess, my brother Sean, and I descended on the Borders in Ramsey, NJ on Saturday night to be the guest at The Science Fiction Society of Northern New Jersey’s Face the Fiction night. I always get nervous about theses things, assuming that my invitation was a mistake and that no one really wants to see me. Here’s what I imagine:

ME: Here I am! Where’s my contractually mandated keg of beer with bottle of whiskey not costing less than $10?

THEM: Uh, who are you? And . . . my god, man, where are your pants?

I mean, these folks out in Ramsey had Charlaine Harris reading not so long ago! What in hell am I doing here? We had a blast, though, as I think the videos will prove. I got to insult my brother a little, which is always fun; The Duchess got outed by a regular reader of my blog and Facebook page; the audience had apparently actually read my novels; and I wasn’t ejected by security despite setting off the security system when exiting the bathroom and exiting the store. We were invited to join various people for drinks/dinner afterwards, but sadly we had to get home to our cat Pierre, who is, as this photo demonstrates, the Unhappiest Cat in the World these days:

Cone Cat is Unhappy

We have the video that the SFSNNJ itself posted to Youtube. You’re horrifyingly close to me in this, so don’t eat lunch right before viewing, but the sound is a little muted:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LvS_ZfF5hts

I have an hour of video as well, and if I can think of a creative way to post it I will (or if people want to have a virtual reading from me, I’d be happy to). Until then, enjoy!

BAM!, More Shit I Gotta Do, Videos

Writers Life = Not Adventure

Author: March 24, 2010

So, The Duchess and I were watching Castle the other day (a guilty pleasure – actually, almost all our televisual viewing is Guilty these days, and it’s all my wife’s fault; I wouldn’t even know who Crystal Bowersox was if not for The Duchess) and I once again considered the fact that Hollywood seems to believe that authors live lives of adventure and glamour. Every author you meet on TV or in the movies is a part-time detective, full-time celebrity who goes to sexy parties and lives in huge lofts in Manhattan. It gets to me, because an authors life is really more about getting a part-time job to pay for your crippling liquor habit and getting instant sunburn when you go outside because it has been so long since you were outside. Let’s not even start on public appearances or sexy parties. If you’ve ever been to a book reading or a launch party, you know the lie behind that.

So, I was inspired to give everyone a glimpse into a true writer’s life. Herewith, then, is a Typical Day in a Writer’s Life. Castle it ain’t:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bZscOJm0OW4&fmt=

Bullshit, Videos