Babel Clash

Kim, thank you for contributing to Babel Clash.  It’s been fun, and you’re welcome to visit anytime.  Congratulations on the success of Once Dead, Twice Shy.

Our next guest is Brandon Sanderson, author of  epic fantasy novels Warbreaker, Elantris and Mistborn.  Brandon is also undertaking the incredible challenge of completing Robert Jordan’s Wheel of Time series.

Tune in tomorrow to find out the topic of our next geeky debate.

Thanks, Morgan!  I’d love to!  ;-)  Once Dead, Twice Shy centers around a high school girl who finds herself dead on her Junior prom.  Using her wits, she manages to side-step the reapers who have come to escort her, and she has to learn how to live with being un-living.  But because I think young adults like the same things that adults do, it goes deeper than that.  In truth, it is a story about the dilemma of having to do something you morally disagree with in order to survive, and finding the courage to fight to change a system that no one but you and perhaps a light reaper might disagree with.

It’s targeting 12-19 year olds, but I’ve not cut out any of the complexity for them, so it should still be entertaining to adults.  In fact, I’m concerned that I’m going to get a lot of flack for not pulling any punches and posing a question to young readers that might actually make them think.  But hey, this is what I do.  ;-)  –Kim

Oh!  And some good news.  I just found out a few days ago that it will be breaking into the New York Times Bestseller Children list at a very respectable #5.  Whoo-hoo!

Hey Kim, it’s nearing the end of your visit with Babel Clash.  Sad.

Want to take your last post or two and tell us why Once Dead, Twice Shy is the # 1 Must-Read, most wildly exciting and life-changing book of the summer?

Has everyone had a chance to check out Kim’s new book?

This is how I sneakily steer the conversation away from one of my own childhood fears, one that is embarrassing.  I was chased by a giant rooster.  I kid you not.  A gigantic, scary and mean rooster.  It still haunts me.

Once Dead, Twice Shy

Okay, this is going to be a little selfish, but since I don’t write horror, but am often shelved in horror, I think I might need to brush up on what scares people.  Me, I don’t like elevators.  It’s not a phobia, because I will use them, (maybe I’m too lazy to take the stairs.) But when I’m stressed, I will dream about malfunctioning elevators.  (Sad, but true)  Ghosts, too, are another big shudder factory in me.  So give it up.  Consider it you helping me be more “scary” in my writing.  What makes you shiver.  Blood? Missing body parts?  An old girl/boy friend knocking on your door with a bassinette?  Physical or mental torture? Real stuff, or things you can’t see.  –Kim

Julia, I loved your comment about the Strain.  That’s a great book.  Cheers to Guillermo Del Toro and Chuck Hogan on that one.

I saw Up last night.  What a fun film.  Tugged at the heart strings, showed off a wild imagination and flashed some clever wit.  Pixar is still in top form.  Highly recommended.

Lovecraft’s brand of cosmic horror chills me.  Yes, his creepy monsters are good for goosebumps, but his philosophy is what’s really spooky.  The sense of inevitable doom in his stories is oppressive.  That said, you have to love the cyclopian ziggurats and eldritch beasties.

For me, horror is the creepy feeling you get that something is behind you, something you are helpless against that has malevolent intent.  Blood splatters, screams, and psychological catch-22 figures into it.  So now I’m wondering, what makes up horror for you?  The physical or the mental?  –Kim

Dane asked me what I’m looking forward to, and I’ve got a couple beyond the usual suspects.  I don’t have a lot of time to read, so I tend to read for cover quotes within the urban fantasy genre.  My favorte authors here are Jocelynn Drake (bad vampires, no sparkles here) and Vicki Pettersson (bad-ass superheros in Vegas) but I had the chance to read Sandman Slim by Richard Kadrey.  (anti-hero from hell)  It’s due out late July, and I can’t wait.  –Kim

Hi Kim.  You can’t read horror?  Wait a minute!  You have vampires, werewolves and demons in your stories.  Doesn’t that make you a writer of said “horror” genre?  What’s the scoop?  Demanding readers want to know!