Q&A with Susan Goldsmith discussion

Any thoughts or questions about Abithica?

TODAYS THE BDAY...THOUGH I IMAGINE IT WILL TAKE MONTHS BEFOREU NOTICE THE OUTCOME...GOODLUCK.... THE BOOK WILL SELL...ITS VERY GOOD

Thanks Sue! I have no idea why, but I'm actually nervous and excited at the same time.

LIFE GIVES US THESE TREASURES EMOTIONS...AREN T THEY NICE?

i am going to buy it today and i am super excited to read it!!!

I'd love to hear your thoughts as you read it!

It's in my TBR pile - soon to be read!

You may be interested to know that ABITHICA was my answer to a question posed by Thomas Moore in his book, CARE OF THE SOUL, that being: What is your worst fear?

Poor Abithica is living my answer!

Today being a special day and all, (can't believe Abithica is finally out there!) I've been reflecting on some of my favorite childhood books. The ones I still think about today. Two come to mind: Richard Bach's, Jonathan Livingston Seagull (listened to Neil Diamond tell the story on a record every single night when I was 7!), and Oh! The Places You'll Go by Dr. Seuss.

How about you?

What childhood delights inspired you? Why?

The Hardy Boys because I though it was brilliant having a house where you could not see the hinges or door knobs. Also who didn't want to solve a mystery when they were a kid.

I'm surprised they haven't made a Hardy Boys movie. Lets see... there was a Sherlock Holmes, a Nancy Drew, a bunch of Scooby-Doos, and even a Dukes of Hazard! Why not a Hardy Boys movie?

I loved Meredith Pierce's The Darkangel. It's an amazing fantasy set in a futuristic world on the moon. I loved the world building that went into it, the adventure, and just everything about it.

When I was in college, I finally found the rest of the trilogy because I randomly picked up the third book because of its odd title, The Pearl of the Soul of the World.

There have been 5 Hardy Boy series on TV. The first was in 1957 as part of the Mick Mouse Club. The others were 1967, 1969, 1977, and 1995. None of them had more than 2 seasons, and most less than one. Apparently the 1995 incarnation was really awful. Due to the fact that Disney owns the rights and apparently the Nancy Drew movie performed awful in the box office I doubt we will see a Hardy Boys movie any time soon.

Lora Palmer wrote: "I loved Meredith Pierce's The Darkangel. It's an amazing fantasy set in a futuristic world on the moon. I loved the world building that went into it, the adventure, and just everything about it.

W..."

I haven't heard of The Darkangel, but the premise sounds fun.

There was a science fiction book my 3rd grade teacher read out-loud to the class that had me riveted. I tried to find it later so I could read the entire series, but I couldn't remember the name. It was about these giant Tripod machine things that control the human race with these implants that every kid has to get when they reach a certain age. The story was a bout a group of free humans that were trying to survive on a really strange and scary Earth.


Does the plot ring a bell to anybody out there?

Wow, that sounds like one I would have loved as a kid, Susan! I wish I'd heard of it.

So, I plugged in your description of the books, and a google search came up with this on Amazon.

http://www.amazon.com/Tripods-Boxed-S...

Is this it?

Oh my gosh, yes! That's it. Thanks for finding it. I just ordered it.

Yay! I'm so glad it's the one :).

The premise reminds me slightly of The Host, though in that one it's more of a body-snatchers rather than a mechanical implant type deal.

Loved The Host.

When I found out you are the author of "Abithica" I was psyched. I happened to come across it on Amazon when I was searching late into the night for even more reading material and it looked SO intriguing. At the time I could only pre-order the Kindle edition & I don't have one of those :( but I checked again yesterday & it was there & it's on order. YAY!! Will let you know what I think, though I'm sure I'll love it.

I like The Host too. Not many people I know that read it liked it. I found it very sad and lonely at times.

Hayley wrote: "When I found out you are the author of "Abithica" I was psyched. I happened to come across it on Amazon when I was searching late into the night for even more reading material and it looked SO intr..."

Thank you so much for your kind words! In my mind, I always thought launch day for my first book was going to be this big hullabaloo, but I can tell you it was far from it! Quiet. Boring. But now I get to hear from people who have read it. Now THAT I'm looking forward too! Let me know your thoughts?

Justina wrote: "I like The Host too. Not many people I know that read it liked it. I found it very sad and lonely at times."

I love the originality of The Host. A movie would be awesome!

I get a big chuckle when people compare Abithica to The Host. Yes, the main characters are both bodiless souls, but from my perspective, they are worlds apart. Now that you've read both books Justina (thanks for the great review, by the way!), what do you think?

Regarding the Host. I think the books are similar in the internal struggles that the main characters both struggle with being in someone else's body/life. They both do it in good conscience for the most part. They get caught at times "being human".

Awesome! I know I'm going to love Abithica, then.

Well said Kim! Abithica's situation broke my heart at times... as did Melanie's in The Host - after I got over the whole She's-A-Worm?!? thing. How cool was that?

Thanks Lora! It still amazes me that people are actually reading it. I still flinch every time a review comes in. I'm not sure I'll ever get used to it.

Hi Lora, I am going to check out that Tripods Box set. Did you read the series?

Susan, I hear you! If and when I get published, I'm sure I'll feel like that about reviews.

Kim, I haven't read it, but it does sound awesome. Maybe I will check it out sometime.

A BIG *Woohoo!* for Lora's short story, "Unfinished", being featured on Flash Paranormal Fiction! Way to go.

Hey Kim, I'm going to re-read the first Tripod book to see if it was as good as I remembered. I may have been mistaken. I think it was my 4th grade teacher, Mrs. Erving, who read it to the class. Wonder if I'll get flashbacks. I'll let you know.

Thanks, Susan! :)

I hope the Tripod books are as good as you remember.

Susan wrote: "Justina wrote: "I like The Host too. Not many people I know that read it liked it. I found it very sad and lonely at times."

I love the originality of The Host. A movie would be awesome!

..."
Totally different. I had the same feelings for them both, sad, alone but the stories were as you said worlds apart. In The Host the entity traveled between different worlds and galaxies where Abithica traveled between people. I liked your concept better and the supporting characters were much more likable, especially sweet little Shae. Bithica (lol) got her HEA let's just hope it lasts!!!!

I liked the tenacity it took for Meyers to switch gears like that after Twilight. I have to tell you though, I read it while I was working on Abithica, having no idea what it was about. The first couple of pages scared me to death, then the two stories went on completely different paths. WHEW!

Another scare was the movie, Jump. I saw the trailer and thought, oh no, but once again, thank goodness, totally different.

Tola wrote: "I was wondering if there is going to be a sequal of Abithica? When you have that much of a suprising ending without a sequal leaves me totally deprived:)"

Hi Tola!!!

The sequel is coming along nicely. I have about 3 to 4 chapters left to write. I learned a lot while writing Abithica, and decided to write the beginning and ending first. It's amazing how much that helped. The Legnas are front and center.

The new t.v. series, "Falling Skies" reminded me of the science fiction book, TRIPOD. Did anybody see it? They even had "harnesses", which were similar to the caps the humans were forced to wear. I can't wait for the next one.

Don't get me wrong. It was different enough to stand on it's own.... I'm anxious to see where they go from here.

not to change the subject but what have you heard about ABITHICA is she weaving into everyones thoughts I did start watching FALLING SKIES sorry that I missed most of it .. reading Dark Knight hard to concentrate and read..

FALLING SKIES caught my interest with the harnesses. I'm curious to see where they are going to take it.

DARK KNIGHT? I haven't heard of that one. Who is the author?

Overall, ABITHICA is being received well. The biggest source of discontent is the unanswered questions about the Legnas. Rest assured, most of your questions about the Legnas will be answered in the sequel which takes place two months after ABITHICA ends. The sequel centers on the Legnas: what they are, what they want, and how Abithica is tied to them.

new release CHRISTINE FEEHAN IT'S DARK PRINCE [DARK SERIES] ARE YOU EXHAUSTED YET

I'm exhausted in a good way. Abithica is on her own....

...so I try and tell myself....

Let's put it this way. My morning workouts have picked it up a notch or two or three. I think I'd go nuts if I didn't have a way to expend all that nervous energy.

My family and I have recently discovered rock climbing. Love it! My 12-year-old is the only one who has gone on an outside climb. They closed all the mountains where I live due to the threat of fires, so the rest of us will have to wait. Truth? I'm sort of glad. The thought of stepping off a cliff backwards still puts knots in my stomach.

WISHING YOU SOLID STEPS AND A SAFE AND FUN HOLIDAY