What will happen next in The Rifter? discussion
Late to the party...Any other latecomers?
Hi, BlueSimplicity!I'd say the party is still going on ;-).
I'm glad you loved The Rifter as much as we did.
Anyway - as I noticed more than once - the drawback of reading something this good is that you automatically compare it to the next books you'll read and probably find them lacking... But this is not Ginn's fault ;-).
Be well!
Ciao
Antonella
Antonella - No, it is totally not Ginn's fault...And yet it is. But then again, I felt that way after I finished Wicked Gentlemen, and Lord of the White Hell is still one of my favourite stories of all time. She's just one of the absolute best writers out there. Period. However, I did find the solution to what to read next. **looks down and circles toe on the floor, then grins** I started rereading the Rifter.
Bluesimplicity wrote: "However, I did find the solution to what to read next. **looks down and circles toe on the floor, then grins** I started rereading the Rifter."LOL! But it won' last forever!
Antonella wrote: "Bluesimplicity wrote: "However, I did find the solution to what to read next. **looks down and circles toe on the floor, then grins** I started rereading the Rifter."LOL! But it won' last forever!"
Indeed! It must end! But considering all the stories Ginn has mentioned that she has in the works, we have a lot to look forward to even after The Rifter is thrice read and languishing in our e-libraries XD
Antonella wrote: "Anyway - as I noticed more than once - the drawback of reading something this good is that you automatically compare it to the next books you'll read and probably find them lacking... But this is not Ginn's fault ;-)..."Comparison was a danger that I came across when *starting* The Rifter. I’d just finished Lord of the White Hell, which has to be on my list of my favorite books and the desire to compare was immense. By Rifter book 2, though, I was appreciating The Rifter on its own merits and trying to coach my best friend through the same issue XD
We have to resist this natural inclination to compare! Yes, they’re books by the same author but the tone of either books is so completely different: they work almost entirely at different purposes! To compare them seems sort of unfair. It’s almost like comparing mac-n-cheese and apples and wondering why they don’t taste the same XD
Hi, Em-nat! I don't know if you just wanted to introduce another aspect of comparison, but I wanted to stress the fact that what BlueSimplicity and me were talking about is that if you read *any* of Ginn's books, you'll find many books by other authors lacking.
Antonella wrote: "Hi, Em-nat! I don't know if you just wanted to introduce another aspect of comparison, but I wanted to stress the fact that what BlueSimplicity and me were talking about is that if you read *any..."
Just introducing another aspect of comparison for the sake of conversation! But I agree that comparing other books (by other authors) to Ginn's work is difficult not to do. It's that way with most peoples' favorite authors, isn't it? XD
**Sigh**OK, so I finished my second read through. And wow, does it become even better, since you see all the subtleties that were woven through, and the small changes John crossing made. (Did anyone else notice Kyle's reference to the drunk doctor who was the only one who was kind ot him after he received his scars - Hann'yu from the world where John never arrvied.) It becomes an even better and more cohesive story (if that's even possible.)
And so yeah, I started a 3rd reread. That's just my way though. When I really really love a book, it becomes hard for me to let go of that world. It never fails that the next couple of books I read afterwards I just won't like. They can be brilliant books, it's just an after-effect of reading something I love so much. So I just kind of have to read and reread and reread until I burn out on the world. (I did that with both Lord of the White Hell and the Adrien English series.) Then I leave it for a while, and when I go back to reread a year or so later, I get to enjoy it all over again.
It's just hard to leave such an intense reading experience behind.
Lisa wrote: "I actually do blame Ginn for raising the bar! ;)"No way did I raise that bar; it's way too heavy for me to lift! :D
Bluesimplicity wrote: "**Sigh**OK, so I finished my second read through. And wow, does it become even better, since you see all the subtleties that were woven through, and the small changes John crossing made. (Did a..."
I'm so pleased that you caught the reference to Hann'yu! I wasn't sure if anyone would.
Lisa wrote: "Ginn wrote: "Lisa wrote: "I actually do blame Ginn for raising the bar! ;)"No way did I raise that bar; it's way too heavy for me to lift! :D"
I pretty much compare every other author to you and..."
It couldn't have been paraphrased more nicely! Thank you.
Just finished the books. Need to sleep now, I'll join the discussion later after it sinks in. But ... wow.... what a journey! I'm still speechless.
Cleon wrote: "Just finished the books. Need to sleep now, I'll join the discussion later after it sinks in. But ... wow.... what a journey! I'm still speechless."I know all too well how you feel--needing sleep. Have good dreams!
Lou wrote: "I read it twice, once out of order, and again as it was meant to be read. It's been a great journey."I've always wondered if anyone would do that.
THANK YOU, Ginn!!!! Never too late to have a new fan, right? :)For the last two weeks I've only taken breaks from The Rifter to go to work (a lot) and to sleep (very, very little). And oh man, I don't even know from where to begin with all the praising I have in me... the love story between these two wonderful, mythical men has gotten me on my knees. What a journey to get to know them - through different worlds and different times and not in chronological order! John really was something else, but the one I fell desperately in love with was Kyle.
This series has left me speechless and now, when I've read all ten books I think I just want to stay in Basawar forests, hillsides and towns for a while strolling and pondering what exactly happened. The truth is that the world of Basawar has sucked me in completely. It is amazing how real Ginn makes it all feel: Basawar's various people with their beliefs and habits, the incredible landscape and spectacular buildings, the bizarre creatures, the compelling action and the sweet, serene moments, when the time seems to stand still.
I was totally blown away with the Basawar language and names, the prayers in Rathal'pesha and the singsong rhymes between Ravishan and Rousma! So very beautiful! Honestly, I started to have dreams with Basawar words in them after few days.
Thank you for this exhausting, but extremely wonderful experience! I'm afraid I'll have to rest a bit before I start re-reading... ;)
Lou wrote: "I have a question to Ginn: Why is it that the books are only available through the (rather obscure) publisher? I'm convinced you could generate much more sales if they were available through the ma..."I wanted to release the books through Weightlessbooks first because I really respect and adore Gavin and Michael, (the fellows who run weightlessbooks).
The Rifter will be releasing as a serial from 'major' resellers this year(2012) but I just really wanted to support my friends first.
Johanna wrote: "THANK YOU, Ginn!!!! Never too late to have a new fan, right? :)For the last two weeks I've only taken breaks from The Rifter to go to work (a lot) and to sleep (very, very little). And oh man, I ..."
Thank you for indulging me and reading the entire thing! Hearing how much you enjoyed the books really does make the years spent writing it feel like time well spent!
Lou wrote: "I see. That's cool, but in serial form? Are you a secret sadist? "Ha!
No, I just signed a year-long exclusive contract for each installment. So every book comes to the end of its contract a month later than the previous book; the easiest way to re-release them is as a serial.
(If anyone is desperate to read the entire Rifter, they can always get the whole thing from weightlessbooks.com anytime they like!)
Lou wrote: "Ginn, I was just re-reading Broken Fortress and noticed a couple of typos and a formatting error."Ahh typos!
( As and author, I think I'm the bane of proof-readers everywhere. Just too many pages for them not to miss something. And way too many invented words.)
If you feel like it, you could send a note to blind eye books with them and Dawn could check and make sure they don't carry over to the print version... Or you can send them to me and I'll forward them to the publisher.
Thanks for looking out for me!
I'm so very late! I tried to avoid this series (couldn't afford it) but I FOOLISHLY borrowed the first book on kindle. Now, I'm hooked because I loved it! I knew I would! Waiting to borrow the second one. Ms. Hale rocks!
Urbanista wrote: "I'm so very late! I tried to avoid this series (couldn't afford it) but I FOOLISHLY borrowed the first book on kindle. Now, I'm hooked because I loved it! I knew I would! Waiting to borrow the seco..."Thank you for taking a chance on the series. I know it's a lot of books, so I'm really glad to hear that your enjoying them!
I'm on to the third Rifter and just wanted to add my Wow! it's the perfect fantasy (writing/style) for me and i love the way in which the moment i start reading, it immediately takes me to this other place and time. It's great to have a book to think about while work and other now-reality-must-do things take place as if to fill in that space when i'm not reading :-)
Hi, KC!Nice to find you also here and to know that you've been also taken by the book!
KC wrote: "I'm on to the third Rifter and just wanted to add my Wow! it's the perfect fantasy (writing/style) for me and i love the way in which the moment i start reading, it immediately takes me to this oth..."You're so sweet!
(I hope it keeps you entertained!)
Just thought I should say that I just completed the rough draft of the Rifter "Holiday Special"...heh.I'm going to check with the BEB folks as well as Josh about when and where it would be best to release this and the other three holiday codas I've written...
But I thought you might like to know that there's a little something more out there.
:)
Oooh! a holiday special AND three codas! :-) Are Harper and Belimai in there? (please?)
Ginn, does the print version of Wicked Gentlemen still come with extras such as postcards?
KC wrote: "Oooh! a holiday special AND three codas! :-) Are Harper and Belimai in there? (please?)"Yep.
I wrote codas for Irregulars, Wicked Gentlemen, Lord of the White Hell and Rifter.
KC wrote: "Ginn, does the print version of Wicked Gentlemen still come with extras such as postcards?"I think that you might be able to get one added if you ordered directly from BEB and sent a note to Nicole. She tends to be a really good sport about that sort of thing.
Ginn wrote: "KC wrote: "Oooh! a holiday special AND three codas! :-) Are Harper and Belimai in there? (please?)"Yep.
I wrote codas for Irregulars, Wicked Gentlemen, Lord of the White Hell and Rifter."
Yay! Just ordered Lord of the White Hell from BEB. I have so much cool reading to do! :-)
Ginn wrote: "KC wrote: "Ginn, does the print version of Wicked Gentlemen still come with extras such as postcards?"I think that you might be able to get one added if you ordered directly from BEB and sent a n..."
Thanks! Will do. Good thing i found BEB right on time (i.e. right after the Irregulars)
KC wrote: "Yay! Just ordered Lord of the White Hell from BEB. I have so much cool reading to do! :-) "Lord of the White Hell has a lighter feel than the Rifter but it's also home to some of my favorite characters to write. I hope you have fun with it.
I wish I'd discovered this group earlier in the series but glad to have found it now:) I'm on Enemies & Shadows and loving the whole series, just keeps on getting better and better. One thing that I'm a bit sad about at this stage...(view spoiler)Thanks for such an amazing series Ginn:D
Ginn wrote: "KC wrote: "Yay! Just ordered Lord of the White Hell from BEB. I have so much cool reading to do! :-) "Lord of the White Hell has a lighter feel than the Rifter but it's also home to some of my fa..."
Thanks! I'm sure i will :-)
Foolish wrote: "I wish I'd discovered this group earlier in the series but glad to have found it now:) I'm on Enemies & Shadows and loving the whole series, just keeps on getting better and better. One thing that..."Thank you for taking the time to read it!
I based Bill on a real friend, so Bill is actually out there!
Ginn wrote: "I based Bill on a real friend"Does your friend know this?
Ginn wrote: "Foolish wrote: "I wish I'd discovered this group earlier in the series but glad to have found it now:) I'm on Enemies & Shadows and loving the whole series, just keeps on getting better and better...I based Bill on a real friend, so Bill is actually out there! "
Really?! Wow, that's good to know, I loved his humor:)
Antonella wrote: "Ginn wrote: "I based Bill on a real friend"Does your friend know this?"
Yeah, he knows. He likes to tease me about not killing him dramatically enough. ;D
Foolish wrote: "Ginn wrote: "Foolish wrote: "I wish I'd discovered this group earlier in the series but glad to have found it now:) I'm on Enemies & Shadows and loving the whole series, just keeps on getting bett..."He's hilarious in real life and a pretty good musician.
Ginn wrote: "Just thought I should say that I just completed the rough draft of the Rifter "Holiday Special"...heh.I'm going to check with the BEB folks as well as Josh about when and where it would be best ..."
*madly happpy dancing*
Oooohh, so cute!(I myself am trying to get a peek at the Holiday stories Josh, Astrid and Nicole are writing but no dice- They're all holding out... just because Christmas,and Winter Solstice, and Hanukkah are ALL months and months and months away... I should have tried to get them to write Cinco de Mayo codas ;D)
Ginn wrote: "I wrote codas for Irregulars, Wicked Gentlemen, Lord of the White Hell and Rifter. "OK, first off...**squees and then passes out from pure happiness**
Secondly, in past interviews you've said when you are working on a story you listen to the same song over and over. Did you listen to the original songs for each world when you wrote the codas, or was it something different? (Christmasy perhaps? I can only imagine what Bellami would enjoy as a Christmas carol.)
And lastly, if you don't mind sharing, what song have you been listening to while working on the LOTWH sequels?
I'm just really really curious.
I did listen to "holiday" music for each of the codas. I actually like to collect odd/offbeat holiday music so I have a great deal of it to choose from.I think Belimai himself might enjoy something like Jimmy Fallon's 'Drunk on Christmas' or maybe James Dooley's version of 'Deck the Halls'.
However, the piece I listened to while writing his coda was 'Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy' by the Gypsy Hombres... It had the sneaky tone that suited both Belimai and me. ; )
John and Kyle got 'That was the worst Christmas Ever' by Sufjan Stevens.
Kiram and Javier had the soundtrack of 'Starvation' by Thomas Bergersen.
For Irregulars, Jason and Henry I listened to 'Biscuits and Gravy' by Ed Shearmur.
For Elezar's chapters I've been listening to 'Get Back' by Ludacris and For the Skellan chapters it's been largely 'Wolf' by Fever Ray.
Ginn wrote: "I did listen to "holiday" music for each of the codas...Yes, music sharing time! \o/ Ludacris, you're the only one who understands me (weeps copiously into a lacey hankerchief)!
Ohmuhgahd Thomas Bergersen where have you been all my life.
Also, I'm psyched that you actually wrote those codas you mentioned on your livejournal. I know you offered them as bribes for DABWAHAWABA (erwhatever), and when Irregulars was K.O.ed I thought I would never see the things with my eyes. Now I know better. SWEET.
Em-nat wrote: "Also, I'm psyched that you actually wrote those codas you mentioned on your livejournal. I know you offered them as bribes for DABWAHAWABA (erwhatever), and when Irregulars was K.O.ed I thought I would never see the things with my eyes. Now I know better. SWEET. "Well, it would have been sort of rotten to write them and then just toss them. (See, I've learned!)
I started reading the Rifter on Friday, and am now reading book 8. Yes, I have done almost nothing else over the weekend. This is so incredibly amazing. I'm like a 13-year-old, giddy, gushing fangirl here. Seriously. And those codas? These are like the icing on the cake. *veeeeryhappysigh*
Alright, I've just finished the last book (yeah, I've actually switched my work from today to Saturday because I couldn't make myself stop reading) and this is easily one of the best books I've read in my life. I'm still completely in awe.... if you ever need some strokes for your ego, Ginn, you can just look up my review of His Holy Bones 'cause I've done quite a bit of gushing there. ... I WANT THOSE CHRISTMAS CODAS!!! NOW!!
:-D
I don't know what to say! Omigod! Holy sh**!! That was so totally and amazingly awesome, I'm just left speechless.
WOW!! WOW!! WOW!! WOW!! What a phenomenal book and journey Ginn took us on. To be honest, I found myself struggling with the first three books. The world building was amazing, and the narrative flawless, but I just had a hard time sinking into the story and embracing the characters. It was still really really good, and I know see all the weaving Ginn had done, but again, I found myself struggling. But by around book 4, it just "clicked" for me. It changed and I found myself becomming completely submersed. And then, by about book 7 - HOLY S***!!! I couldn't stop reading, and when I finally came to the end of book ten, I was overwhelmed, exhausted and totally grateful for the reading experience I just had! It's EASILY one of my favourites of 2011.
So thank you Ginn, for a phenomenal journey. That was an amazing reading experience.
And now - is anyone else struggling with what to read next? What the hell do you read to follow that up??
Also - any other latecomers to the party like me? Who waited for the entire series before they started reading?
Once again, WOWOWOWOWOWOWOWOWOW!!!
BlueSimplicity