Interview about the ABVH Graphic Novels

[naeko.livejournal.com]

There's a new interview making the rounds from Graphic Novel Reporter.

Laurell K. Hamilton Talks Graphic Novels (and Giant Cobras)

In it, LKH talks about what she does in terms of bringing the comics together, and admits that "it was like Brett reached inside my head and plucked out the image." So the huge thighs and derpy expressions were exactly as she pictured them!

She also mentions that she doesn't read much anymore, because "One of the most interesting things as a writer is that the more successful you get, the less time you have to read others’ work. You’re writing your own." Interesting and a little sad. Not as in pathetic, but just sad as in, there are some awesome books out there that LKH is missing out on because she's too busy "writing her own." Also, slacking off.

Then, of course, she manages to stumble over her word choices and land in a pile of insults. " It’s not like it was years ago. There are beautiful, grownup, and interesting storylines out there." I've not ever been big into comics, but as I understand it, it's been way more than ten years of "interesting" story lines out there. Adults and kids have been reading and loving comics for, what, fifty years now? At least? Sigh. Just because your comics came out, Cupcake, doesn't mean there wasn't anything worthwhile beforehand.

Anita is really at heart the way it reads. The format is based on the old hardboiled detective fiction, which means it’s very, very dialogue-heavy. There are descriptions, too, but dialogue-heavy books are easier to translate. What I’ve been told is that my books are easier to translate than most books.

I think it's not easier because they're better, but easier because you insist on doing all the work. And, by "doing all the work" I mean you refuse to pare down anything.

The whole package wraps up with her talking about how the CoTD comic is indeed happening, and- of course- mentioning her biology degree! It's a good thing, too. I had forgotten all about it! That and her husband's name. Jon Green, her husband Jon. Wait, what's her husband Jon's name again? Oh right. Jon, her husband Jon Green.

Comments

[ellenel13.livejournal.com]

So, did she get a either of her contracts renewed or not?

I also remember her hinting that she was tired of Merita and wanted to start writing something new. I have to admit I'm morbidly interested on that.

[naeko.livejournal.com]

I don't think anyone knows. She's been ignoring pretty much ANY tweet that asks about what book is coming next, and she hasnt broken Merry silence (afaik) in MONTHS.

[magdalen77.livejournal.com]

I don't go there, but someone on Amazon said that TeriO on LKH's is saying something about Merry being "due out in November". But then she goes on to say that it's up to LKH what she writes next. That sounds like a non-answer with some wishful thinking included.

[naeko.livejournal.com]

The November estimation is likely because, late last year, LKH said that a Merry book was coming out "late 2011." Since then, though, she's staying silent.

I agree with your assessment of it, too; I dont think anyone outside of LKH's camp or her business partners (whomever works with her at the publishing house, her agent, etc) knows for sure whats coming up, or what's going on with her contracts. I assume anything not from LKH herself is just BS gossip.

[magdalen77.livejournal.com]

Now my own personal opinion is that she doesn't have a contract for Merry, but she will get one for Anita. I think the next thing she's actually going to be working on is this new project that she's been mentioning.

[naeko.livejournal.com]

I agree and I hope to god it's true. Merry was done as soon as she was pregnant and it worked out just as LKH had said when she first mentioned Merry. She had estimated five books (then, of course, she changed that 58390850932 times) and I think that was fine.

I fear that the new character will be just as absolutely shitty as Anita has become and as Merry always was and that her moron fans will just LOOOOOVE her, too. I would like to see Hamilton go completely in another way, maybe to write from a male's POV. I wonder if her hatred of making females "weak" and of making them fawn all over men would stop her from making the books mostly about bad sex. Or, if she'd just basically try to write from JC's POV, but she'd call him "John" and the books would simply be him following "Rita" around, confessing his love and trying to sleep with her.

[magdalen77.livejournal.com]

Oh, no doubt that the new character will be a 5'3" Snappy Sue with dark hair and ginormous bosoms that all the bishie boys desire and the ebil jellus blondes hate. And she'll save the day by routinely gaining magical powers at the last minute.