My book has been published!

[Gwaimir Windgem]

Yay! Ring of the Dark Elves has arrived! WHEEEEEE!

[Gwaimir Windgem]

I've read Part I, and I must say that I'm quite impressed. Lovely writing, and very vivid imagery; I absolutely loved the description of the drops of water from the Well on Odin's fingers. You've captured Loki quite well, in my opinion, as well as Odin the wise Father. The Nymphs were beautifully portrayed. I loved the way you made them normally seem like lovely water-maids, but once in a while let there true heartless ways seep through.

Two questions. Firstly, the Aesir are often mentioned. Of couse, the Gods are Aesir; but are they all that makes up the Aesir? Also, Frigga mentioned that there was "one higher" than Odin. Whom might this be?

[Entlover]

Thank you for the kind words.
I will have to respond to your pm later, as I just got back from a weekend away and must tend to chores.
Re your questions,
as far as I know, the gods are the Aesir. I eliminated the term "gods" and used Aesir instead. Some of the early church fathers regarded the old gods as demons, and I wanted to get away from that whole controversy. The Aesir are more like elves; they're the light elves in fact.
As to who is the One higher than Odin, I can't say -- Frigga never does say, if she knows. I suspect it's the same one who "meant" for Bilbo to find the ring. You wouldn't want Odin to be the highest authority in the universe; that would be a depressing state of affairs.

[Gwaimir Windgem]

The Aesir are the Elves? I always thought Elves were Alfar, kind of demigods. But then, you seem to have studied Norse myth more than I.

Hmm...most interesting. Did you derive Frigga's mention of one who was Higher from another source?

[Gwaimir Windgem]

I would have read part two yesterday, but my Mom kidnapped the book...

And she doesn't like fantasy.

[Lizra]

WHAT does that mean!

[Gwaimir Windgem]

It just surprises that my mom who doesn't like fantasy (hasn't even read Tolkien) kept me from reading Ring of the Dark Elves. Just shows how good it is.

[Lizra]

I mean...Why did she take it? To stop you from reading it because she disapproved, or to read it herself?

[Gwaimir Windgem]

To read it herself.

[Entlover]

Originally posted by Gwaimir Windgem
. Did you derive Frigga's mention of one who was Higher from another source?

I think I did -- but can 't remember. But it may just come from the fact that the runes are carved into Yggdrasil, and Odin didn't carve them himself.
Besides, we know it's true.

I would probably want to know what kind of stuff my son was reading too . . . I hope your mom ends up approving!

[Gwaimir Windgem]

I don't know that it was to see what I was reading...nope, just checked, and she was reading it for enjoyment.

[Gwaimir Windgem]

Whee, finally finished! I must say, quite good, indeed, Entlover. You can read my reviews on Barnesanoble.com (in 3 business days ) and Amazon.com (in 5 to 7 business days ).

[Entlover]

Thank you immensely. I'm glad you enjoyed it. (see PMs)

[HOBBIT]

can you tell us more about the publisher?

[Entlover]

Glad to.
They are affiliated with Barnes and Noble, and publish Print on Demand books, (hardcover and softcover), and ebooks. The author has a lot of control over his book, the cover design, etc, and they offer a lot of assistance with the mechanics of promotion but he has to do the actual work. (set up a website, request reviews, do booksignings, etc.) You can do as much or as little as you like; it's kind of fun. Unlike my previous book, which I had nothing to do with once it was accepted by the publisher. (except wonder why it wasn't better promoted.)

Self publishing has a lot of drawbacks, the main one being that anybody can publish so people have little respect for POD books - and a lot of them are garbage. But if you sell enough you may get picked up by a major publisher. The advantage is that anybody can do it, so if you want to write your family history for the relatives and send them a few copies you can.

It's a good way to go if you don't care about money and/or you're tired of waiting six months for each publisher to reject/think about your ms. I couldn't get anyone to even read my book, so published it with iUniverse, and everyone who has waded through it has enjoyed it . . . which is the whole point of writing anyway. If you want more info you can go to www.iuniverse.com.

[HOBBIT]

Thanks!

Yeah, I've been looking at that site................
So basically if you send them money they will publish anything even if it sucks? And do they edit the books first or help you edit them? I don't think that the site was too clear on that.

And how do any books stand out if so many are being published?

Are any stocked in real bookstores or is it just online? I got the impression that only a few books that the guys in charge really liked got sent to barnes and noble. Could I get your book at my local B&N?

[Entlover]

Hi,
First let me state that my book does not suck, but yes, they will publish anything for money. Except porn, how to be a terrorist, stuff like that. They have two programs, the regular one where they just publish your book, and the premiere one where they go over it and send you an editorial review, and a rating. (The highest possible rating is 500, which is what my book got.) Those books are also made available through online bookstores, amazon and bn.com. The ones with high enough ratings are classed as Editors' Choice, and get an icon and extra promotional help. The ones out of those which sell enough copies may get picked up by a publisher and made available in bookstores. I may get there but haven't yet.
You can't find it at your local B&N but they might be able to order it for people who don't like ordering online. As of now you can only order it online or by calling iUniverse.
Have you got a book you're thinking of publishing? IUniverse was judged the best POD outfit out of the 5 major ones by . .. I forget who, someone like Consumer Reports, who sent the same book to 5 different publishers and then compared them. They said iUniverse got the author's intention better than the others.

[Entlover]

By the way how is Ben? Up to his chin in exams I expect. He's going to check on the legalities of publishing fanfiction for me once he's got a spare minute (if anyone has any of those anymore.)

[HOBBIT]

No, I don't have a book that I want published I think I'm a good writer and I'd like to write something that gets published eventually. The best that I have done so far is getting articles printed in my High School newspaper. I'm just trying to see what the best way to go about getting my works published would be - once I acutally have anything that is.

I'm not currently working on anything, nor do I have any ideas. Maybe I'll go search for some short story contests or something, know of any?

Ben is fine - school has been out for a couple weeks so he is done with exams ( as am I ). But he is still VERY busy - tomorrow he is heading off to various prestigious summer programs for 5 weeks.

I'll try to get a copy of your book as soon as I can, for I too am going away for a couple weeks and I have several books that I have to read over the summer (which I have not started yet).

[Lizra]

Oh no! Entlover's book does NOT suck! In any way shape or form! It is wonderful! You know I wouldn't say that unless it was completely true! Just wonderful...down to the last period! I will try to do a reveiw this week Entlover! Oh no!...fourth of July, company!