I really want to have an agent already. And weirdly not so much because it’s the next step in my career, toward publication and so on. At this point it’s mostly just because then I wouldn’t have to do more agent research or write any more query letters and I could just write. (We will pass over the admin-related things associated with actually being published. This is my delusion. Hush.)
And, yes, I do realise the madness inherent in that perspective. I mean, there’s nothing making me do that stuff. Technically I could just stop trying. But that… would be… no.
I want one. Hell, I don’t just want an agent, I want a publisher and a pub date and… I don’t know, fans. No, you know what? They don’t even have to like the book. They can just argue with me about it. Or something.
Agent?
God, my fantasies need work.
I blame the doctorate. I spent three years of my life working on something that odds on nobody will ever read. And I’m totally okay with that. I knew that would be the case going in and I’m fine with the thing just sitting on my shelf, and on the shelf in the university library and being able to pretentiously say, “It’s Doctor Mavrick, actually.”
But that was academic. When it comes to the fiction I just want everyone to read it and make friends with it and drop it in the bath and call it George and… okay, I’m going to be over here breathing now.
Or you know, drafting a new query letter.
platform thing 
Claire
04/10/2011
How about I start by reading your thesis? Because I am actually interested in reading it, and I totally don’t have too much to do. So you might not get it back for a while. But I think I could make a good fan, or at least a passable follower. Of course, I wouldn’t argue with you over the thesis, that is just an appropriate starting point. Or at least, somewhere I would like to start; with your writing that is.
Oh dear, I may not be coherent. I am currently being ravaged by microscopic viral particles that have transformed my throat into something resembling the top of a maximum security facility, my sinuses are a positive pressure vessel and the world exists at a remove of oh, about twelve feet at the moment.
But I would like to read some of your stuff.
Hugs
From a distance.
A virally prohibitive distance.
Kandace Mavrick
04/10/2011
Heh. Well chosen request. But I’ve got you covered with virally prohibitive distance: digital copy! I can email it to you, if you like.
I do sort of mean it about the argument though. I mean, not RANDOM argument. But there are ideas in there that are meant to make people think… so perhaps ‘debate’ would be a better word? (*cough* I just like getting the opportunity to talk about my obsessions).
Also… while my academic style follows the fictional in terms of being easy to read and accessible (and sometimes there are jokes) it’s still academic when it comes down to it (a bit dry, a bit serious, and with less action and adventure). So I don’t know that it’s a great introduction to my writing per se. Although it’s a pretty good introduction to one of my obsessions.
Jay
04/10/2011
Something I’ve been wondering about for a while now, Dr Mavrick.
Just what are your books about/what ‘genre’ are they anyhow?
Kandace Mavrick
04/10/2011
Hm.
Note to self: update About page with like, information.
Well, traditionally I write young adult, although at the upper range of that genre like 15 up. PATH is fantasy, sort of Renaissance era sword and sorcery which plays the drums on the classical fantasy tropes.
WIZARDS, the new book, is science fiction AND fantasy, I guess. I mean, it’s set in the future and a lot of it’s in space. But there’s magic… Although it’s the sort of magic that if you took a massive leap of faith you could say was just a new form of science… And I’m not sure if it’s YA or not. Actually, I never know that. Other people tell me. This one has a lot more drinking and swearing than PATH… okay, a lot more swearing. And probably more gore.
So… YA SF&F? I used to write quite a bit of contemporary YA as well but it always left me feeing a bit… I don’t know, not quite satisfied?
My style is very character driven, easy to read, and kinda funny. Not Adams or Pratchett funny more sarcastic…
Does that answer your question?
Jay
05/10/2011
“update About page with like, information.”
Note to self: Try looking for things like About pages before asking potentially stupid questions in future. 😉
I’m never really clear on just what makes a book YA or not. From what I can tell, opinions are wildly differing and often conflicting.
Still, sounds fun, and I look forward to reading your books one day.
Kandace Mavrick
05/10/2011
I don’t think anybody has EVER been clear on what makes a book YA. People started telling me that was what I was writing and I’d ask them why they said that and they’d come up with deeply insightful points like, “Your characters have short names.” or “It’s funny.”
When I wrote my thesis I had to establish a definition and I ended up deciding to classify YA as a thematic classification. As in, texts that explore the central psychological obsession of adolescence — self, other, identity, subjectivity, agency… (all the words that mean ‘Who the hell am I? Who the hell are you? What am I doing here? And what can I do about it?’)