Author panel two, Jordan, Crystal, Mel and Charles.
Second author panel at the Oklahoma Library Association meeting included Jordan Dane, Crystal Inman, Charles Sasser and Mel Odom.
Interesting and some little know facts about these authors: Jordan and Charles like kayaking, but Jordan should probably not go in the same boat as her husband. A boat is just like a car, there can be way too many back seat drivers. Mel has written over 140 books, and Charles has 50 published books and around 3,000 articles to his credit, they both think sleeping is way overrated. Crystal writes steamy romance besides having a day job in a library. Who says librarians are boring.
Sasser has been influenced by Hemingway and Steinbeck. He is a real life action character, no couch potato here. Inman loves romance, and that’s what she reads and writes. Dane grew up with historical westerns and packs action into all her books as a result. Dane and Inman don’t plot first, just go for it. And Mr. Odom “grew up on junk”, thinks Robert Parker is the stuff and admires the storytelling ability of Louis L’Amour.
New projects for these folks include: Sasser is working on a story about Iraq, None Left Behind, a science fiction story called Sanctuary and a book on predator drones used in battlefields. Crystal just finished the last one of the Elemental Guardian Series, available through Amazon’s Fictionwise ebooks. Jordan Dane is working on the third book in the Sweet Justice series. And of course Mel has just a ton of new projects underway; a new Rogue Angel (Archer pseud.), a Shadowrun novel, and something very new in the interactive fiction category.
Very fun, interesting folks with lots in store for us in the future.
Thanks for the comments, visit Author Talk by Jill Monroe
Jill Monroe commented that more Okie authors are on her blog Author Talk being interviewed and just having a very good time. Go see PC Cast, Sharon Sala, Rachel Vincent, Linda Goodnight and Jordan Dane. Maybe she can get Mel Odom and Sharon Sala to do one together, I saw them on a panel at the Red Dirt Book Festival (or it could have been the OK Poet & Writers in Tulsa or the Oklahoma Library Association conference, the memory is the first to go, I do remember it was a panel and I’m sure I was there) together and they were so funny, in fact they could have sold tickets. I just clicked on the Red Dirt site, and Mel popped right up, straight from 2007.
I sure hope he plans on being at the 2009. (You’ll hear more from me about this book and author event in the future. Block November 5-7, 2009, on your calendar now)
NewsOK is going to update my wordpress blog and I’m getting a facelift, so after that happens I’m going to fix my blogroll, and categories in a way I think will be more useful. I’m always interested in finding OK Author blogs to blogroll.
Oklahoma Author Blogs, Mel Odom, etc.
I’m a Mel Odom fan and look at his blogs frequently. I’ve noticed he posts many other Oklahoma authors to his blogroll. So here is my attempt to get us looking for those Okie authors and what they have to say about what they’re reading, writing, doing or just opinionating on. I think it’s interesting that more of the SciFi and Romance writers seem willing to get in there and talk to their fans and readers.
Odom has his Adventures in Writing , looks like he’s freezing at home like the rest of us this week. He also has BookHound, my personal favorite. Mel also contributes to Blogcritics magazine.
Gena Showalter, is hot, hot, hot. Start at her blog. And I just mentioned Showalter and low and behold I find her and Merline, on Merline Lovelace’s website in a Youtube video. (Be patient it takes a while to load).
Jill Monroe, who is also on the video has a blog. Jordan Dane, has a three book series out (which I’m the proud owner of, but haven’t finished yet so you won’t get any information out of me). Here is her myspace page blog.
What’s progressing with C.J. Cherryh?
Christine Rimmer is an incredibly generous author who gave free books to the Oklahoma Department of Libraries for our women correctional institutions. Much appreciated.
And I need to add a mystery writer to the list, William Bernhardt, and might I say Congratulations on your marriage!! We just received his new book, Nemesis, at the library.
So start looking for others to add to this list and I’ll be happy to post them.
