Katharine Eliska Kimbriel

Katharine wrote: "You hit the button twice, I think (or the system thought you did) because I got this post twice! So, one at the top, one already at the bottom!

Well now I can't see it at the bottom anymore, only where it's supposed to be... strange.

If Sherwood has shared her results yet, I haven't s..."

I don't remember her having shared the results, she just asked her regular readers on LJ for their thoughts on BVC's usability and attractiveness (because of the ongoing discussion among you BVC lot). I don't think she promised she'd share the results on her LJ, so maybe she simply passed them along, too.

You hit the button twice, I think (or the system thought you did) because I got this post twice! So, one at the top, one already at the bottom!

If Sherwood has shared her results yet, I haven't seen the message go by -- I've been so swamped I haven't been at LJ except to post or answer questions. I'll watch for them!

Katharine wrote: "But I'll pass along your comments!"

Sherwood Smith might have done so already, she recently asked her LJ readers for similar feedback on the BVC site ^^

ETA: I have no idea why this comment shows up at the bottom when I've clicked the reply button. Hmm.

Actually, the blog IS in WordPress -- it's just not the most up to date version, since we tend to wait a while until everything in a version that will break is done breaking. But I'll pass along your comments!

Because a lot of BVC interaction with readers happens on the blog and also because there are so many updates (quite different from single author blogs) I think the blog link needs to be majorly highlighted on the original plattform page, but you still could just transfer the blog itself to Wordpress

Katharine wrote: "I am not part of the "torture as entertainment" craze. Life is hard enough for everyone right now without that. People want entertainment, something with characters that are at least interesting, and that they learn something about and from -- but are not hit over the head with it."

I agree that I wasn't the target audience for that book of E. Wein's but she has a gift for characters who go through great emotional upheaval during their journey through the plot and sometimes that isn't all occasioned by inside insecurities - Rachel Manija Brown compares her books to Megan Whalen Turner and I've read the Thief of Attolia books and can't help but agree - I have to put them down sometimes to recover, but they are still - in the right mood - something to cherish (the last Inda book was similar for me).

But being German and having to read very clever (mostly psychological) Gestapo torture, mixed with some abrupt physical bits - to highlight the spirit of the girl who is the prisoner of war and how she manages to turn it into a spiritual victory and how her friend outside the headquarters plays into it and her (and the Resistance) attempt to save the imprisoned girl - and the whole background of their friendship during the war...

Well, the book puts you through the wringer but you come out with a belief in humans (there even is a sympathetic German in there) and their strength in the face of adversity.

It's just not something I read for escape ^^.

BVC is now debating whether to go to Joomla 2.0, which should fix some problems on the site, or switch to WordPress. We want to have a comments section, where fans can talk about things. And a better shopping cart. (We had to go with cheap yet able to handle TONS of pages. Joomla was pretty much it when we started.)

Because a lot of BVC interaction with readers happens on the blog and also because there are so many updates (quite different from single author blogs) I think the blog link needs to be majorly highlighted on the original plattform page, but you still could just transfer the blog itself to Wordpress (which has themes these days that support threading and encourage discussions that way - also plugins that allow automatic notification if a comment gets answered - much like LJ).
In case the plattform and shop software just doesn't play nice with the blog part.

The downside of WordPress popularity is that script kiddies like exploiting loopholes. It might be easier to let the blog be hosted on wordpress.com (where they are vigilant) but then you'd have to pay extra for having your own corporate identity theme and some of the plugin features cost extra, too, so hosting it on your own server is cheaper (but means more vigilance and work).

Oh well, I'm sure the ladies in the know have already explored these various thoughts.

If some people at BVC have the energy to try building another subcommunity here, why not. But I'd think making the BVC plattform and connected sites (the blog, the smashwords shop) become a strong community might tie people to the site and the news (and purchase opportunities) more...

I am not part of the "torture as entertainment" craze. Life is hard enough for everyone right now without that. People want entertainment, something with characters that are at least interesting, and that they learn something about and from -- but are not hit over the head with it.

BVC is now debating whether to go to Joomla 2.0, which should fix some problems on the site, or switch to WordPress. We want to have a comments section, where fans can talk about things. And a better shopping cart. (We had to go with cheap yet able to handle TONS of pages. Joomla was pretty much it when we started.)

In the meantime, maybe one of us needs to think about monitoring a BVC group at Goodreads or something...like we're not already going nuts over here!

I think I can handle that ^^ (it also helps if the book doesn't feature the Gestapo torturing anyone).

Katharine wrote: "Okay, I will enjoy your reviews, but not ask you to beta! If I have a German question, I'll just send sentences or ask your opinion on word choices! ;^)

I think I can handle that ^^ (it also helps if the book doesn't feature the Gestapo torturing anyone).

Sherwood does do a lovely book review, do..."

Indeed, ditto to both of these observations. Which is why she attracts a fascinating diversity of commenters which makes the discussion ever more lively on her LJ - threading really helps, I think that's a big disadvantage of the BVC blog.

Okay, I will enjoy your reviews, but not ask you to beta! If I have a German question, I'll just send sentences or ask your opinion on word choices! ;^)

Sherwood does do a lovely book review, doesn't she? She has such a gift for starting up a conversation online. And I love her books.

Katharine wrote: "No, you are discerning -- .........
This makes you a great reviewer for plot and characters.
"

Sometimes I am. Sometimes I'm just inarticulate or totally partial (as Sherwood Smith can attest). I admire the Dear Author or the Booksmugglers reviews in that way, or your anime reviews and Sherwood Smith's book reviews.

But there are some reviews - the one about Fires of Nuala, for example - where what I meant to say and what I write actually coincide, true ^^.

I actually was a sort-of beta reader for the newest book by Elizabeth Wein, and she did find some of my commentary useful, but my dreaded procrastination raised its ugly head (the book concerns the travails of two British girls in occupied France under the tender mercies of the Gestapo - but it's gripping and uplifting and heartbreaking and coming out next year in the UK), so I avoided looking at it for months - I have no idea if she was even able to put some of the German corrections into the manuscript on time. I hope so.

As in, now I know I should only do this if the author has at least half a year to spare before time is critical. My egocentricity overcame my desire to be helpful.

Katharine wrote: "I know what you mean about having a purpose for blogging -- people who want a conversation are on Facebook. I want a stop/start conversation -- like email but with more people. So I post about my work, and things I find that are interesting."

That's how my blogging started out, too. And even though I now mostly comment, this is part of my daily emotional life. I don't have local friends who share these particular interests with me (and they are my main hobbies), so the internet is a boon in this way.

No, you are discerning -- you notice the details that give a book life, and the touches of character that make you remember people as people and not walk-ons. You notice thematic echoes, and consistency. You mention things that didn't bother you but might bother others -- and things that didn't ring true for you, but they weren't your experience, and others might feel differently.

You don't give spoilers without warning!

And then, you can explain the slight shadings of why this book over another -- or why this character group pleased you more than this group over here. I think of discerning as also including quality, and if you're lucky, enthusiasm. Good judgment and insight are there, too. This makes you a great reviewer for plot and characters.

You'd probably make a good beta reader, actually. So of course I am interested in what books you've found that you think are worth reading!

I know what you mean about having a purpose for blogging -- people who want a conversation are on Facebook. I want a stop/start conversation -- like email but with more people. So I post about my work, and things I find that are interesting. But I am not Cory Doctorow -- I want to change the world with my stories, not my blog!


I'm not sure I'm very 'discerning' as a reader, but I will squee when I really enjoy a book (and try to give reasons for the squee) or explain in detail why I didn't like a book if it captured my interest enough to finish it and be in arms about it.

Katharine wrote: "We know that we like a lot of the same type of anime and books. Now that I will be writing again, I need to keep up with good recs from discerning readers. Or else I may miss good books while try...

Seems to me like we're a natural link. I did follow your name from BVC to see if you had a blog, but it looked like you hadn't done anything with it in a long time. Over here, we can have an on-going convention! ;^) "

That sounds like a sensible plan to me, indeed ^^.

Yes, my impetus to keep updating sort of died. I keep meaning to start again and to turn it into a review blog mainly, but so far I feel happiest commenting - mostly on LJ (where I do have an LJ, too, but it's mostly memes and also rarely gets updated) and on the other blogs I read regularly.

I'm not sure I'm very 'discerning' as a reader, but I will squee when I really enjoy a book (and try to give reasons for the squee) or explain in detail why I didn't like a book if it captured my interest enough to finish it and be in arms about it.

We know that we like a lot of the same type of anime and books. Now that I will be writing again, I need to keep up with good recs from discerning readers. Or else I may miss good books while trying to write good books!

Seems to me like we're a natural link. I did follow your name from BVC to see if you had a blog, but it looked like you hadn't done anything with it in a long time. Over here, we can have an on-going convention! ;^)

Thank you for friending me ^^. I feel chuffed.