Comments on: Novel Excerpt: Bleed Through

By: Kristine Kathryn Rusch

Kristine Kathryn Rusch — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 05:18:30 +0000

Thanks, Craig. I’m still exploring how I feel about all of this as well. I know there are many well-published novels on this topic, from one of my favorites (Empire Falls) to many I have not read like Nineteen Minutes. So there are other ways to go. I’m just not sure what the best one is, so I’m glad we’re all having a discussion about it.

By: Craig Reed

Craig Reed — Mon, 25 Feb 2013 18:39:25 +0000

I have no problem with the subject being explored — I want to make that clear. But I wouldn’t hawk the book from the mountain like I would another book, and I’m not going to mention this book to my friend. A soft release is the best way to go. It’s out there, but it’s not perceived as jumping on the bandwagon to make a quick buck (I don’t think Kris is doing that)

There maybe a column here, Kris — how to handle a sensitive subject like this in the writing and selling ends of the process.

Craig

By: Kristine Kathryn Rusch

Kristine Kathryn Rusch — Mon, 25 Feb 2013 05:20:35 +0000

Thank you, Sean.

By: Kristine Kathryn Rusch

Kristine Kathryn Rusch — Mon, 25 Feb 2013 05:18:48 +0000

Thank you so much, Tara.

By: Sean Monaghan

Sean Monaghan — Mon, 25 Feb 2013 02:31:27 +0000

Years ago I wrote a YA SF novel with an off-world shuttle crash: damaged wing, hot gases burning through. It was about ready to go to the publisher just before Columbia. Recently I wrote a short story with a NASCAR crash that caused crowd injuries. I’ve since indie published the YA novel, but I’ll sit on the story for a while. All fiction, but when it mirrors real life too closely I’d err on the side of respect. The soft launch of Bleed Through seems like a smart, respectful way to go here. I’ll get a copy – sounds very powerful.

By: Tara Li

Tara Li — Mon, 25 Feb 2013 00:27:23 +0000

Your feeling that the subject shouldn't be explored is a pretty good indication, that it must be explored, and that you are one of the ones to do it. We need the parallax that another's viewpoint brings us, to help us see other sides to things. Like Cincinattus, you do it because it needs to be done, and because you are one of the few equipped to do it WELL.

By: Kristine Kathryn Rusch

Kristine Kathryn Rusch — Sun, 24 Feb 2013 07:10:07 +0000

Thank you, Craig. Sometimes I think the subject shouldn’t be explored. But we writers deal with the human condition, and sadly, this is part of it right now. So I ended up writing about it. Now you understand the word-of-mouth release, however. I appreciate the note.

By: Craig Reed

Craig Reed — Sun, 24 Feb 2013 02:41:46 +0000

I know someone who survived Columbine. She was in the library when it happened, and one of the people killed was only two chairs away. It still haunts her to this day, and there’s been several times she had broken down, like after Sandy Point. Most of the time she’s okay — she’s married and she has a job, but I do worry about her.

Something like this has to be hard to write, and even harder to market. How to do it without looking like its an attempt to capitalize is not something I want to even attempt. These type of real-life incidents never really heal, and finding the balance between exploring the emotion of a situation like this without making it an exploitation takes a very talented writer.

Good luck with this one, Kris. Just be ready in case someone thinks the subject shouldn’t be explored….

Craig