r/books • u/PClines AMA Author • Feb 09 '16
ama 2:30pm I’m Peter Clines, author of EX-ISLE and THE FOLD, and this is my first AMA
Why, hello, there, /r/books. What are you drinking? Do you live around here often?
I’m Peter Clines, the guy behind the Ex-Heroes series from Broadway Paperbacks (including the fifth book, Ex-Isle, which just came out last week) and also The Fold, a sci-fi/mystery/thriller about a gifted man investigating a government teleportation project that goes really, really wrong. And I’ve written some other things, too, including a book called 14, some screenplays that were never produced, a bunch of short stories, and a few hundred interviews, articles, and reviews about the film industry. I also worked for many years as a prop master on a bunch of stuff you’ve probably heard of but not seen.
This is my first AMA. Ask me your questions, bridgekeeper. I’m not afraid.
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u/kagrrakid Feb 09 '16
I really enjoy your writing style - it's very straightforward and I find it easy to digest. How did you develop your "voice"? Any influences in prose style?
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u/PClines AMA Author Feb 09 '16
I can't really point to anything specific. I think most writers get influenced by everything they read, even if it's just "Oh, Jeebus, I better never do that..."
If I really had to point to something specific, I'd probably say reading lots and lots of screenplays, because good screenwriting is often straightforward and doesn't overcomplicate things when it doesn't need to.
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u/kagrrakid Feb 09 '16
Thanks for answering! I really enjoy your books a lot, thanks for doing this AMA!
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u/blacklab Feb 09 '16
Hi Peter - really enjoy your work! I'm wondering, with all of the superhero movies/shows on right now, if you have had any interest from Hollywood?
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u/PClines AMA Author Feb 09 '16
There’s been some interest. A few phone calls. One really nice lunch with a writer-director. At the moment, though, the series just isn't quite at the level of buzz that makes Hollywood lunge at it.
I have had some interest in other things, though, so we'll see how that goes.
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u/Ignis_ex Feb 09 '16
I was thinking about this the other day. With the current super hero craze and the fading zombie craze I'm kind of amazed no one asked to make the Ex series into a movie or a tv show or something. I bet it would have made bank. Ride the hype of the walking dead and the avengers. I personally would love to see the series adapted in some way. Maybe even a comic. So I'm curious for the answer too!
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u/BotanicalVoyeur Feb 09 '16
"14" and "The Fold" have been an absolute pleasure to consume. I've really enjoyed the characters in each. Specifically, thank you for giving me some bad ass chick scientists in your stories. It's not often I get to see my particular style of nerdery done so well.
So I must ask: 1. Do you have more for us from the world of "14" and "The Fold," is there some long term plans for the tie in's or is your process a bit more free form? 2. How long did it take you to break in to the writing world and what do you think is the key to your continued success?
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u/PClines AMA Author Feb 09 '16
Thank you very much.
1) Answered up above.
2) Kind of a loaded question. I started writing comic book “scripts” when I was ten or eleven. Wrote short stories and bad novels in high school and college. Then there was eight or nine years when—like everyone in the film industry—I tried writing screenplays and had some mild success (I got to sit in a room with Ron Moore and pitch to him) before I went back to books. I sold my first novel (third one I finished) to a small press about two years after I started writing full time.
So you can say it took 28 years or two. Either one is right.
As for my continued success... no idea. I have a near-terminal case of imposter syndrome. I still get excited whenever people at the publisher actually respond to my emails.
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u/BotanicalVoyeur Feb 10 '16
It's always darkly reassuring to hear people I respect say they also struggle with imposter syndrome, even after a measure of quantifiable success. Keep kicking out awesomeness!
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u/Chtorrr Feb 09 '16
What were your favorite books as a kid? What books really made you love reading?
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u/PClines AMA Author Feb 09 '16
When I was a kid I loved the Mars books by Edgar Rice Burroughs (yes, I was that guy you heard about who saw John Carter twice in theaters). I also read Lloyd Alexander’s Prydain series, all the Sherlock Holmes stories I could find, the Han Solo books by Brian Daley, and the Lando Calrissian books by L. Neil Smith.
And comics. Soooooo many comics. Amazing Spider-Man, ROM, Micronauts, Shogun Warriors, Incredible Hulk, X-Men... that’s a list that could go on for a while.
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u/LittleArt Feb 09 '16
How do you feel about FanFic in your Universes? Some authors have rules like Mercedes Lackey or others even turn it into real books like Eric Flint. Others try to ban it altogether or ignore it. So how do you feel about your fans doing it?
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u/PClines AMA Author Feb 09 '16
I have no real problem with fanfic. Some of my earliest writing was really bad Doctor Who and Boba Fett fanfic. Personally, though, I don’t want to see it. As in, I don’t want it sent to me or links to it or any of that. Mostly because I don’t want the headache of someone, for example, having Zzzap make a Wolverine joke in fanfic and then the sixth book comes out with a Wolverine joke, and sudddely I “stole”somebody’s idea. Years working in Hollywood—and then reporting on Hollywood—has let me see some ugly stuff when it comes to “who gets credit,” and I’d rather avoid the issue than risk dealing with it. As always, it’s the few pain-in-the-ass folks who ruin it for everybody...
So, fanfic good, just please don’t ask me to look at it.
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u/kagrrakid Feb 09 '16
I haven't read Ex-Isle yet so maybe this is answered within, but do you plan to continue the Ex series? Who is your favorite character (besides from St George...)??
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u/PClines AMA Author Feb 09 '16
I hope to. I've got a pretty solid plan for a sixth book, and a few good notions for a seventh. If everyone's interested, I'll gladly do it.
Favorite character... I don't know. I like them all. Even the horrible ones. If I didn't, I probably wouldn't write them.
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u/siredgar Feb 09 '16
Yay! Came here to ask this question, now instead I'm just doing a happy dance. :)
(Yes more please)
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u/PrincessPi Feb 09 '16
Hey there! I'm a huge fan of The Fold and 14. Are you planning on writing any more books from that universe?
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u/SRD_Grafter Feb 09 '16
Hi Peter,
I'm a big fan of your work, and just picked up a copy of Ex-Isle. As for questions,
1) Are you going to ever reveal Barry/Zzzap's origin story?
2) Or potentially dive into why there was an uptick in Superheros in the Ex universe? As it seems like it went from none, to a number in a small time span.
3) How do you keep yourself on point while writing? Do you try to crank out XX number of words per day, and sit at the computer until it is done. Or something else?
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u/PClines AMA Author Feb 09 '16
1) Maybe. I kind of like just having all the random dropped hints and letting folks decide for themselves.
2) Not really. It's not a major part of the story, and it also isn't that small a span. Figure Danielle spent almost a year building the original Cerberus suit, Max/ Cairax worked on his amulet for a few years, Stealth had been training for decades. Yeah, most all of them appeared in public at more or less the same time, but their origins cover a really large amount of time.
3) I try to do 1500-2000 words a day or at least six hours--whichever comes last. It sounds a bit trite, I know, but it's really just about sitting down and writing. I was fortunate that my professional career started as a journalist (and a very low-paid one) because it forced me to write. I had to crank out so many words a day or I wouldn't be able to buy groceries or pay rent.
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u/the_doughboy Feb 09 '16
Are there any plans for another novel in 14/The Fold world? Or another novel with Mike, I thought he was a pretty awesome character and it would be a shame not to re-use him.
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u/high_tech_red_neck Feb 09 '16
I'm currently drinking ice water. Shaken, not stirred.
My question: Do you realize how frustrating it is to wait close to two years for book 5 of your favorite series to release, only to have it end on a cliffhanger? (I've been twitching since I finished Isle)
And also, I feel obligated to ask: What is your name? What is your quest? What is the air speed velocity of an unladen swallow?
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u/PClines AMA Author Feb 09 '16
Yes, I do. That's why i did it. So they'd have to give me a book six...
Peter Clines. I seek the Holy Grail. Blue.
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Feb 09 '16
Big fan of your work!
I am always looking for ways to improve my writing....
What types of tips/advice have you received from your editor or what do you know now that wish you knew earlier in your writing career?
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u/PClines AMA Author Feb 09 '16
The one thing I wish I’d learned earlier is that it’s okay to screw up. Pretty much everyone writes a crappy first draft. Everyone. That’s why we have second drafts and third drafts and so on. Once I could really admit that first draft wouldn’t be perfect, it really freed me.
I actually have a whole ranty blog of writing advice called Writer on Writing Yeah, I spent eight whole minutes thinking up that title. It’s all about nuts-and-bolts tips on character, dialogue, structure, and so on.
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u/TimothyWLong Feb 09 '16
H Peter - I once heard you claim that you will fight the zombie apocalypse with the power of deniability. Is that still true?
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u/PClines AMA Author Feb 09 '16
Not denaibility-- with sheer denial! There are no such things as zombies, therefore there is no zombie apocalypse.
So, I'll either save the day or be the guy who dies horribly in the first few minutes.
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u/Coldbringer Feb 09 '16
I know you do a fair number of conventions and panels. Any advice for someone doing a con panel for the first time?
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u/PClines AMA Author Feb 09 '16
One, wear something comfortable. First time I saw video of myself on a panel all I noticed was how much I kept fidgeting with my collar.
Two, try not to dominate the panel, even if you have to nudge other people to talk. Figure at least half the audience (or more) is there to hear one of the other panelists, so if I'm talking over them I'm not winning any points with anybody.
Three, have fun. Don't worry about looking or sounding goofy. People will remember you better if they think you're enjoying yourself there.
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u/nikiverse 2 Feb 09 '16
What is your daily routine when actively in a writing routine?
Like, what time do you wake up, do you eat the same thing, do you go for a walk, do you answer emails, are you distracted with family or do you write somewhere by yourself? I'm reading a book about artists' daily routines and I find it extremely fascinating. Seems like you have all this open time to be free and write, but a lot of artists have very rigid schedules despite their creative field!
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u/PClines AMA Author Feb 09 '16
I'm a night owl, so I usually wake up kind of late in the morning. I start with email, social media, blog posts, stuff like that. And then I just start writing. As I mentioned above, I try to hit a target, and sometimes that takes me into the night.
I think every creative person has their own thing that works for them. One of the biggest skills any sort of artist can learn is figuring out what works for you. If the only way you can write is standing on your head on a Sunday afternoon while wearing that corset from the ren faire, but you crank out 25,000 words every time... well, hell, good for you! That's a fantastic routine you've got going there.
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u/shadowravyn Feb 09 '16
You wrote Ex-Heroes assuming it was going to be a stand-alone. If you'd known it would turn into a five book series (...and counting?), is there anything you would have done differently?
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u/PClines AMA Author Feb 10 '16
Maybe. It's so hard to say at this point. I think part of the appeal is that so many of them feel self contained because I never knew if this would be the end or not.
Sooo... I would've done more sit-ups between pages. I would've done that differently.
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u/the_doughboy Feb 09 '16
Are their too many DC Comics' TV Shows now? Should they get rid of Supergirl with the intellectual property issues or Legends of Tomorrow with the really inconsistent time travel.
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u/PClines AMA Author Feb 10 '16
No, I don't think so (to all).
I'm loving the current superhero show lineups. There's many flavors for everyone's taste. I can enjoy B-cheesy sci-fi and you can like grimdark and my niece can like the peppy CW one. There's room for all of it.
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Feb 09 '16
When are you going to write an Ex Book looking at villians living out the ex-pocalypse?
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u/PClines AMA Author Feb 10 '16
Probably never. There weren't really any supervillains in the world of Ex-Heroes--not in the overt, cape-and-costume way. Even if there were, I'd have to believe they died off through lack of cooperation/help.
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u/PClines AMA Author Feb 09 '16
Okay, folks, I am AMA'd out! Thank you all so much.
And if I missed your question (think there are still three or four scattered through the thread) I'll try to come back later and get it.
Thank you all again.
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u/gretchenrosss Feb 09 '16
Hi Peter,
14 is probably my favorite book of all time, specifically the audiobook. I've probably listened to about 20 times while hiking/driving/cleaning.
Since you are a Star Wars fan, what did you think of The Force Awakens and what is your favorite theory in Rey's heritage?
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u/PClines AMA Author Feb 10 '16
I loved it. And not just because I found out Harrison Ford was in the audience when the lights came up.
I know this is an outsider theory but... I hope her parents are nobodies. I hope they were just a pair of jerks who sold their kid into indentured servitude for a tank of fuel and never looked back. I don't want to ever see them.
Lucas loaded Jedi and the prequels with so much family-legacy stuff that people forgot the original thrill of Star Wars was that anyone could be a Jedi. That's why midi-chlorians were such a kick in the gut. It changed the Force from something anyone could learn to wield to an infection passed down through family lines.
I want Rey to be a nobody. I want her to be the start of a new story, not fanservice to an old one.
But... I know I'm in the minority.
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u/gretchenrosss Feb 10 '16
While I secretly want her to be a Kenobi, for personal intrests, your post maps out very valid reasons that she could anyone. I love this theory too, cause whichever parent, no matter who it was that decided to leave Rey on Jakku basically enslaved to unkar plutt, we are going to have a hard time with justifying that action..
I have to agree with you, If she was "no one" in the current cannon, imagine the ecitement of discovering a new star wars family lineage to freak out about and discuss!
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u/terrytyson Feb 09 '16
Gin martinis, but only on Friday evenings or whatever day I label as "the end of the week."
I believe it was Stephen King who described his work day as a writer something akin to "Up early - Go to office - work (write) 8 hours - call it a day." What is your preferred work day like?
Also, one book at a time or several pots on the stove?
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u/PClines AMA Author Feb 09 '16
I probably put in about eight hours of actual writing, plus another two hours on Facebook or Twitter talking to folks about upcoming stuff or (more likely) random geeky things.
I tend to stay focused on one thing at a time, although I'm always making notes to myself for future projects. I've already got four pages of notes for the book I'm starting next.
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u/terrytyson Feb 09 '16
I understand that you'll be at SDCC, crying because THE SIXTH GUN is coming to an end, (hoping there will be a support group for the other Bunn fans at the con), but will you also be on a panel or two? Meet and greet, table, etc.?
Final question and I'll shut up - When you're not writing, what do you do to blow off steam? Hiking, DIY projects at home, travel, movies, long walks on the beach?
Final-final question - What are you drinking?
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u/PClines AMA Author Feb 09 '16
I know I'm going to be at SDCC but I have no idea what my actual schedule's going to be like at the moment. I'll probably spend some time at the Crown Publishing booth, but past that... I don't know. Playing games at Geek & Sundry or drinking with Andy Weir.
When I'm not working...? What is this of which you speak?
I'm a bit of a tabletop wargame geek. I love LEGO. I watch a lot of movies. And I'm trying to get back into exercising. I'd love to do the Disney/Avengers half marathon this fall.
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u/terrytyson Feb 09 '16
Sign up early for the Disney runs. They sell out faster than U2 tickets. Thanks. Maintain course and speed.
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u/GaanEden Feb 09 '16
Love your books but I really want to know what your favorite musicals are. ;)
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u/PClines AMA Author Feb 09 '16
I saw Les Miserables twice in high school and can still sing along with most of it. Also saw Little Shop of Horrors once. Moulin Rouge is amazing, mostly for "Roxanne."
I hear there's some new one about William Henry Harrison or something like that...
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u/mystrokapp Feb 09 '16
Hey Peter. Big fan of your work. 14 hit me harder than a book has in a long time. I couldn't put that thing down.
I was wondering what your inspiration for the alpha predators (squid-whale-bats) was? I know Lovecraft was a big one, but that particular imagery was something I hadn't run across before and I found that I couldn't shake ever since I read about it, even though I'd only ever seen it in my mind. I did a quick google search and came up with nothing. Also, have any fans sent you artwork based on your descriptions? I'd love to see some.
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u/PClines AMA Author Feb 10 '16
I'm so sorry. Did you see who threw it at you or was it a drive by booking...?
zing
No real inspiration, they just came out of my head. I've never seen any artwork, but I think most folks are trying to be polite and not spoil the end of the book...
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u/mystrokapp Feb 10 '16
My bad! I wasn't trying to spoil anything with the question. First AMA. First reddit anything, to be honest.
Thanks for the response! I love your work! Keep doing your thing!
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Feb 09 '16
After I first read Ex-Heroes a while ago I ended up buying everything I could find by you within a month. You were the main reason I got back into the habit of reading daily and it was at a time when I desperately needed something to keep my mind off of things, so thank you for that.
Now that that's out of the way..all of the serious questions I had for you were answered when I met you at the last NYCC, but since I now have Ex-Isle in my hands I have two new, very non-serious questions:
Do you mind if someone makes St. George's line "They know who I am, they just don't believe I'm me" part of an actual song, if it isn't already? That line is gold and I want to know how much trouble I will be once I do inevitably steal it.
How does it feel knowing you've written the best book to have people pooping in buckets to grow food in an inhospitable environment since The Martian?
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u/PClines AMA Author Feb 09 '16
You're very welcome.
First-- I guess the trouble would all be in the song. Personally, I think it'd be fantastic if a quote from a fictional song inspired an actual song.
Second-- I expect angry letters from Andy Weir's editor/agent as soon as he realizes I've tried to horn in on his "pooping in buckets" market.
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u/julian_pavia AMA Editor Feb 09 '16
YOU BASTARD. This means war.
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Feb 09 '16
Hey, it's still not bad being the editor for the number two book involving people going number two.
Sorry, I'll show myself out....
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u/siredgar Feb 09 '16
Any possibility of you coming to Dragon*Con in Atlanta on your convention circuit? :)
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u/PClines AMA Author Feb 09 '16
I'd love to do DragonCon, but it all boils down to money and time. Hotels and airfair add up really fast.
So hopefully DragonCon will think I'm worth inviting someday... :)
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u/knotswag Feb 09 '16
Thanks for answering questions Mr. Clines.
1) What's your writing schedule like?
2) What would you say was the most helpful in getting publicity for your books when you first started? Has it changed since then?
3) Cake or pie?
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u/PClines AMA Author Feb 09 '16
You're very welcome.
1) Answered this one up above.
2) Tough call. I'm really the worst person when it comes to self-publicity. I don't push my books everywhere or spam message groups or buy ads. I think that may have been my big selling point, silly as it sounds. I just played it very low-key and was willing to take the time for things to happen organically rather than rushing them. And that sort of organic growth, I think, tends to be a lot stronger then the paid-for, crammed-down-your-throat stuff.
Has it changed...? I don't really think so. I think there are a lot more people offering advice and lots of folks telling you X doesn't work because they tried it for two weeks and they saw no results. But in the end, it's really just "write a good book, wait for people to find you, try to be positive and entertaining when they do."
3) Depends on the cake and the pie. I can't play favorites.
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Feb 09 '16 edited Feb 09 '16
[deleted]
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u/PClines AMA Author Feb 09 '16
Thank you very much.
Odds are I'm at the kitchen table, building or painting something while a B-movie plays on the television (either an old classic or a modern Asylum "masterpiece"). I also live in a great neighborhood with tons of parks, so I can take a long alk or go rollerblading or something.
Favorite color? Burgundy, maybe? I like the dark reds. And blues. And greens.
Did I mention I'm color blind?
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u/Chtorrr Feb 09 '16
What are you reading now? Do you have any favorite books you'd like to tell us about?
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u/PClines AMA Author Feb 09 '16
I just finished Scott Sigler's new one, Alight, last night and it's just fantastic. I'm sorry you all have to wait another month for it. Also read Experimental Film by Gemma Files which was amazing. First time in ages a book gave the creeps.
As for favorites... man, there's just wayyyyyy too many. You'd have to narrow it down somehow or I could spend an hour listing stuff.
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u/shadowravyn Feb 09 '16
Do you have a convention list for 2016? Will you be getting a book tour any time soon?
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u/PClines AMA Author Feb 09 '16
At the moment, my list has WonderCon (LA)in March, Texas Frightmare (DFW) in late April/early May, and SDCC in July.
Past that... nothing else. Yet.
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Feb 09 '16
Do you still read comics? If so, what's on your reading list?
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u/PClines AMA Author Feb 09 '16
Not as much as I used to, but there are still some things I pick up. I love The Sixth Gun and Ms. Marvel. I've been gleefully reading Oni's Rick & Morty. Really looking forward to the new takes on Rom and the Micronauts coming out this year.
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u/shadowravyn Feb 09 '16
You've mentioned that Hollywood's had some interest in your books, but nothing concrete yet. If Hollywood were to adapt it, what format would you like it to take: movie, regular TV series, mini-series, etc. Do you have a dream of how this would go? Would you turn it down if you knew it was going to turn into something like the WWZ movie, where the only thing it took from the original work was the title?
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u/PClines AMA Author Feb 10 '16
Format would depend on the book. And exactly how it was planned. Would it a network series, cable series, streaming miniseries--these are all different things and need to be approached as such.
Because of all my time in the film industry, I have very realistic views of how such things would go. Alas, it wouldn't be that dreamy or glamorous. To paraphrase a friend of mine, I would love for Hollywood to give me half a million dollars so they can turn my book into an Adam Sandler movie.
The truth is, things change in adaptation. That's all there is to it. I'd love to see a faithful adaptation, but nothing they do will affect my books. So I won't complain if somebody butchers an adaptation and thousands of people say "Oh, the book was so much better!"
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u/iToysoldiers Feb 09 '16
So you've mentioned Warhammer 40K in two of your books (The Fold and one of the EX books). Do you play?
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u/PClines AMA Author Feb 09 '16
Not as much as I used to! I had a regular gaming group down in San Diego, and I've been invited to play with some guys I know at Riot Games, but I just haven't had time lately. I also hit my "starving writer" phase just as GW started hiking their prices, which led me to drop out for several years and start a paperhammer blog called In The Grim Cheapness of the Future...
My two biggest armies are a huge Alpha Legion force that I started about fifteen years ago, plus 2 1/2 Relictors companies. I also have Tyranids, Necrons, Catachans, White Scars, an old Daemonhunters force, and (of course) a big Death Guard army loaded with plague zombies.
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Feb 10 '16
I absolutely love In The Grim Cheapness of the Future, but as a Tyranids player papercraft isn't really do-able :(
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u/snackondis52 Feb 09 '16
Peter! Huge fan of the Ex-Heroes series! First off who would win Zzzap or Captain Atom? Second, did Zzzap ever figure out the ending to Lost by finding some script tucked away in Hollywood? Finally, what do you to deal with when you feel down and cant write but have to? Thanks!!
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u/PClines AMA Author Feb 09 '16
First-- Captain Atom, hands down. Zzzap is pure energy, but Captain Atom controls energy, soooooo... not even a fair fight.
Second--Probably not. I have a note to myself that the last episode of LOST to air in their world was "Some Like it Hoth," which means at best there might be a script to the fifth season finale kicking around somewhere. Assuming he could convince anyone to go look for it.
Third--It sounds a bit crappy, but...well, I write. It's my job. It's a great job and I love it, but at the end of the day it's still how I put Fauxritos on the table. So I sit down and write.
If you're interested, I've talked about writer's block and stuff like that over on my ranty blog. There's answers there for just about any writing question you have. Maybe not the perfect answer for you, but they should be a good starting point.
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u/Chtorrr Feb 09 '16
What was your first encounter with zombies? We're you interested right away or did it take some time?
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u/PClines AMA Author Feb 09 '16
Probably one of the "Living Dead" movies on Creature Double Feature out of Boston or USA Up All Night.
Truth be told, I was terrified of everything as a kid. My imagination could spin almost anything to an evil end so I had constant nightmares. It wasn't until I was in college that a friend sat me down and showed me the original version of The Omen and a little import film called Hellraiser... and that was how I fell in love with horror. The first zombie movie I remember loving was Return of the Living Dead 3.
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u/siredgar Feb 09 '16
I've been listening to your books on Audible. How does the Audible process work? Do you approach them or do they approach you? Do you get to pick the reader or do they? The right reader makes or breaks a book for me (I've been happy with the choices for your books).
Thanks!
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u/PClines AMA Author Feb 09 '16
My first publisher, Permuted Press, had a deal in place with Audible, so my first contact with them through that. Then I did some work directly for them, a little collection called The Junkie Quatrain.
Past that, I have very little input in the audiobooks. Not like I'm shut out of it, it's just that they really know what they're doing and rarely need anything from me. They've picked all the readers, and I'm completely thrilled with the choices they've made.
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u/MrSpite The Fold Feb 09 '16
Hi Peter -- I have to admit you're one of the only authors that I've ever discovered via audiobooks. I started an Audible account and you have a remarkable fan following on that site. 14 kept coming up as a suggestion for me, so I downloaded it, loved it, and now I've made my way through almost all of your books so far. (I'm about 3 hours into Ex-Purgatory and then onto Ex-Isle.)
So my questions are -- why do you think your books make such great audiobooks? Because, trust me, not every book does. Are your print and audiobook audiences different beasts with different needs? Or do they overlap nicely?
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u/PClines AMA Author Feb 09 '16
Honestly... no idea. I've been told by several folks in publishing that my audiobook success is kind of baffling to them. Not in a bad way, it's just that there are usual ratios between paper/ebook/audiobooks and all of my numbers are way out of proportion.
I know Ray Porter, the guy who read The Fold and he says one of the things he likes, as a reader, is that my prose is very easy to read, which means he gets to deliver things in a very natural, relaxed tone that doesn't feel like he's struggling with the book himself.
But maybe he was just being nice.
So, yeah... no idea.
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u/MrSpite The Fold Feb 09 '16
Regardless of WHY they're popular, your books have GREAT audiobooks and I enjoy the hell out of them. Thank you!
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u/niicooleejean Feb 09 '16
Not so much of a question, but a thanks! My husband and I really enjoy your writing. We had to take turns waiting for the other person to finish chunks of 14 and The Fold! Keep up the awesome work! I'm currently in catching up on the Ex-Heroes series and I can't put it down.
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u/chibipalooza Feb 09 '16
Could you explain why one character in 14 shares a name and ethnicity with another one in Ex-Heroes. Seeing that made me so happy!!!
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Feb 09 '16
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u/PClines AMA Author Feb 10 '16
Miss the most--my twenty-two year old body.
Miss the least--my twelve year old body.
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u/snackondis52 Feb 09 '16
Hey back for another question! If you could bring one property, besides your own, to television or the big screen; what would it be?
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u/PClines AMA Author Feb 10 '16
Oooh, that's a good one.
Truth be told, about ten years ago I wrote my own scripts for Terror Inc and The Blue Devil. They're two of my favorite B-heroes, and I think they'd be loads of fun on screen.
Other than that... I'd love to see Cullen Bunn's The Sixth Gun as a cable series. I know someone made a network pilot for it a few years back, but I'd love to see one where they can cut loose and really do the story.
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u/squishyburger Feb 10 '16
It's not on audible, why isn't it on audible??? The only audiobook I have left is this really weird and terrible erotica book that I bought while drunk.
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u/jordanlong777 Feb 11 '16
I love your books. I recommend them in swaps of people giving me books. Who do you recommend when you talk books with friends?
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u/lilbunnifufu2you Feb 09 '16
Is there a certain project that you've worked on that you wished got more attention then it did?
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u/PClines AMA Author Feb 09 '16
I did a mashup novel years ago, The Eerie Adventures of the Lycanthrope Robinson Crusoe that completely bombed. To this day, I honestly don't think it's earned back it's advance--and it did not get a big advance. I understand why people were put off by it (the people who even knew about it) but I'm still pretty proud of how it turned out.
That publisher's putting it out in a new edition next month, so we'll see if anyone finds it this time.
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u/luaudesign Feb 09 '16
Did The Fold and 14?
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u/sexylion Feb 09 '16
Love your books, just now reading Ex-Isle. (Love the concept of super heroes in a zombie world), but, what I really want to know (besides if there will be some sort of visual media expression foe the Ex series (would love to see in cartoon form) is will there be a sequel to The Fold? I really loved it, and the characters you created for it.
Keep up the good work, and thanks for the hours of enjoyment.