It’s Sir Terry Pratchett now.

The best-selling British fantasy author has been granted knighthood for services to literature according to a post on the Pratchett’s web-site.

Pratchett said that he is “absolutely, totally, gobsmackingly, mindbogglingly amazed” by the honor and that fans “while not calling me Sir, must now refrain from throwing things.”

Pratchett has been a prolific writer of fantasy.  His most famous creation is the DiscWorld series of novels.  He recently released the young adult novel, “Nation.”

Mystery author Donald E. Westlake has passed away at the age of 75 according to the Los Angeles Times.

Westlake’s wife, Abigail told The New York Times the author collapsed as he headed to a New Year’s Eve dinner while on vacation in Mexico. His wife says he apparently had a heart attack.

Westlake is considered one of the most successful mystery writers in the United States. He won three Edgar Awards and was nominated for an Academy Award for screenplay writing for “The Grifters.”

Since his first novel, “The Mercenaries,” was published by Random House in 1960, Westlake has written under his own name and several pseudonyms, including Richard Stark, Tucker Coe, Samuel Holt and Edwin West. Despite the diversity of names, one shared feature was that almost all his books were set in New York City, where he was born.

He used many names in part to combat skepticism over his rapid rate of writing books, which at some points reached four a year.

Westlake’s cinematic style of storytelling, along with his carefully crafted plots and crisp dialogue, translated well to the screen. More than 15 of his books were made into movies, some multiple times. In addition, he himself wrote a number of screenplays, including “The Grifters,” which was nominated for an Academy Award in 1991.

He was writing all the way till he passed away. His next novel, “Get Real,” is scheduled to be released in April 2009.

Show Notes: End of 2008 Roundup

Listener Review: Web Genii brings us a review of On Her Majesty’s Occult Service by Charles Stross. It’s a Science Fiction Book Club collection of several other stories: The Atrocity Archives, The Jennifer Morgue and a couple other shorter works, including afterwords by Charles.

Submitting Listener comments: If you have any suggestions or comments, please let us know! “Cover to Cover” has it’s own call-in line, 206-350-READ! That’s 206-350-7323, or just email Michael with a comment you’ve recorded yourself!

Discussion: Mike, Summer and Mike talk more about e-books and electronic offerings from the publishers, including Random House’s new free downloads, and the Penguin Reader app available from the Apps Store for the iPod/iPhone.

Technology and publishing are slowly coming closer together, finally, and there are still some missteps here and there… but will it be enough to help the publishing industry save themselves?

Listener Review: Tim Low brings us a review of the movie City of Ember and compares it to the book, which Darcy reviewed earlier this year.

Listener Review: Web Genii brings us a review of As Far As My Feet Will Carry Me: The Extraordinary True Story of One Man’s Escape from a Siberian Labor Camp and His 3-Year Trek to Freedom by Josef Bauer, a nonfiction book originally written in 1957, but recently republished by Skyhorse Publishing.

Second Life Info: FarPoint Media’s Second Life space is now the penthouse suite of Third Life Books, the place for SL versions of Michael A. Stackpole’s writings, and many other goodies, including a Wednesday night writing workshop. You can find the castle at http://slurl.com/secondlife/beraudes/203/151/49. Come see the castle roof pool!

FarPoint Forums: Head on over to the FarPoint Forums and join in the discussions on Dragon Page topics, and for most of your favorite FPM shows!

Promo: Slice of SciFi

 

 Cover to Cover #342A: End of 2008 Roundup [22:12m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (1794)

Show Notes: The Roles Teachers Play

Lorrie, Megan, Joyce, Noemi. Brad and Carla are in the studio, with fellow co-workers listening in.

Each of the educators discuss the different roles that teachers must pla, and our school-wide goal - Writing every single day, in every single classroom.

Jinx calls in to respond to the teachers “Big Wish,”  Gary from Jacksonville gets everyone going on a great idea for the classroom, and Darcy’s dad asks about young adult books.

Do you have questions you’d like the teachers to talk about on future shows? The teachers have their own voicemail line now! Call in and ask your questions: 206-202-2673!!

Promo: How To Grow Your Geek

Promo: Dragonpage Cover to Cover

Promo: The Pocket and the Pendant by Mark Jeffrey

 

 With Class #31: The Roles Teachers Play [34:57m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (205)

Show Notes: Chatting about Publishing

Listener Review: Justin brings us a review of The Phoenix Unchained by Merecedes Lackey and James Mallory.

Submitting Listener comments: If you have any suggestions or comments, please let us know! “Cover to Cover” has it’s own call-in line, 206-350-READ! That’s 206-350-7323 — and you can also email Michael with a comment or a book review that you’ve recorded yourself!

Discussion: Publishing meltdown? Mike and Mike delve into the major and massive changes hitting the publishing industry right now: Random House imprints going away; some big publishing houses cutting staff and either no longer hiring new staffers or making major benefits changes for new hires; and more.

They speculate how well some of the houses may adapt to electronic or other alternate options, and how well some of them may or may not change at all. What’s the deal behind charging the same amount for an ebook as they do for a hardcover print book?

The Library: Mike, Summer and Mike go through the last Library entries for 2008: A Fortress in Shadow by Glen Cook; The Love We Share Without Knowing by Christopher Barzak; The Flaxen Femme Fatale by John Zakour; Futures from Nature edited by Henry Gee; Dragonstrike by E. E. Knight; Agent to the Stars by John Scalzi; The Engine’s Child by Holly Phillips; Daemon by Daniel Suarez; The United States of Atlantis by Harry Turtledove.

Second Life Info: FarPoint Media’s Second Life space is now the penthouse suite of Third Life Books, the place for SL versions of Michael A. Stackpole’s writings, and many other goodies, including a Wednesday night writing workshop. You can find the castle at http://slurl.com/secondlife/beraudes/203/151/49. Come see the castle roof pool!

FarPoint Forums: Head on over to the FarPoint Forums and join in the discussions on Dragon Page topics, and for most of your favorite FPM shows!

 

 Cover to Cover #341: Chatting about Publishing [35:32m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (1955)

You all know how much I enjoyed Black Magic Woman by Justin Gustainis, both from my review of the book, and from the interview we did with him earlier this year.

Well, my holiday season just got brighter. The sequel, Evil Ways, the second book in the Qunicey Morris Investigations series is due out from Solaris on December 30th, but you can read an exclusive excerpt from it over at Fantasy Bookspot’s BookSpot Central: Exclusive - Evil Ways by Justin Gustainis (Chapter Excerpt).

Head on out and pick up a copy next week, or order it now from Amazon!

Show Notes: J. F. Lewis

Discussion: Mike and Mike chat about shifts in the publishing industry: changing to ebooks, the dwindling paranormal romance titles, and more.

Submitting Listener comments: If you have any suggestions or comments, please let us know! “Cover to Cover” has it’s own call-in line, 206-350-READ! That’s 206-350-7323, or just email Michael with a comment you’ve recorded yourself!

Interview: This week, Mike, Lorrie and Mike chat with author J. F. Lewis about his “Void City” series, and how the popularity of the first book, Staked, was the catalyst for his getting kicked out of their church.

Jeremy recounts how his writing a vampire novel containing a strip club and evangelical werewolves raised concerned with his church’s elders, and how that discussion led to calls for his excommunication (and possible stoning?)

He also lists the church’s requirements to get back in their good graces — refusing future monies from the book, renouncing the book publically, refusing to continue promoting the book or sign future copies, and refuse the publisher permission to publish the second book, and more — and what he’s had to change in his writing life to accomodate some of their demands for his family.

Discussion: Mike and Mike follow up the interview with Jeremy with a discussion about the merging of faith with gaming, fantasy, and science fiction, and how people have used speculative fiction and alternate worlds to explore their faith more deeply or from a different perspective. This leads to a talk about the tendency of some groups of people to turn to isolation in order to protect themselves from the dangers of mind viruses (ie, any ideas counter to the accepted worldview that may make one feel superior to others who think differently), and to how writing fiction is a safe way to explore the various fringes.

Second Life Info: FarPoint Media’s Second Life space is now the penthouse suite of Third Life Books, the place for SL versions of Michael A. Stackpole’s writings, and many other goodies, including a Wednesday night writing workshop. You can find the castle at http://slurl.com/secondlife/beraudes/203/151/49. Come see the castle roof pool!

FarPoint Forums: Head on over to the FarPoint Forums and join in the discussions on Dragon Page topics, and for most of your favorite FPM shows!

Link: J. F. Lewis Official Site
Promo: Dragon Page With Class

 

 Cover to Cover #340A: J. F. Lewis [33:50m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (3311)

Show Notes: Listener Questions

Discussion: Mike, Lorrie and Mike actually fully respond to Anna’s question from Show #339A about whether or not Internet tools like Facebook and Twitter can actually help a writer’s writing style. Sort of.

Submitting Listener comments: If you have any suggestions or comments, please let us know! “Cover to Cover” has it’s own call-in line, 206-350-READ! That’s 206-350-7323, or just email Michael with a comment you’ve recorded yourself!

Listener Review: Natalie from Northeast gives us a review of The Host by Stephenie Meyer.

Feedback: Mike, Lorrie and Mike respond to a question about advances for new writers, which leads to a long discussion on the costs of books and why there’s no difference in price between hardcover books and their ebook versions.

Listener Review: Justin Lemaster gives us a review of the podiobook of 65 Below by Basil Sands.

Feedback: Tim asks if there are fantasy books out there that contain echoes of the current state of affairs of the world, since he’s seeing that trend in the YA books that Darcy’s reading now; Tim relates Jenny’s impromptu turn as a Second Life tour guide for Third Life Books; Tim also comments on “Burned”, in response to Lorrie’s commentary on it; ADD Todd sends in his commentary on the “Legend of the Seeker” TV series in comparison to the Sword of Truth books.

Second Life Info: FarPoint Media’s Second Life space is now the penthouse suite of Third Life Books, the place for SL versions of Michael A. Stackpole’s writings, and many other goodies, including a Wednesday night writing workshop. You can find the castle at http://slurl.com/secondlife/beraudes/203/151/49. Come see the castle roof pool!

FarPoint Forums: Head on over to the FarPoint Forums and join in the discussions on Dragon Page topics, and for most of your favorite FPM shows!

 

 Cover to Cover #339B: Listener Questions [39:21m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (2588)

Show Notes: Jane Lindskold

Discussion: Mike, Lorrie and Mike chat about shifts in the publishing industry: changing to ebooks, the dwindling paranormal romance titles, and more.

Submitting Listener comments: If you have any suggestions or comments, please let us know! “Cover to Cover” has it’s own call-in line, 206-350-READ! That’s 206-350-7323, or just email Michael with a comment you’ve recorded yourself!

Interview: This week, Mike and Summer talk with Jane Lindskold about her newest book, Thirteen Orphans: Breaking the Wall, a tale about the new generation of avatars, descendants of the ones exiled from the Chinese Zodiac, and their journey to discover their powers in time to save themselves from the effects of a war their ancestors thought they’d left behind…

Jane also shares with us her writing choices, especially her adamant avoidance of web surfing and most of the pitfalls associated with the online time sinks.

Discussion: Mike, Lorrie and Mike respond to Anna’s voicemail comment on using dialogue tags and descriptors in writing, and the effects of email and Twitter on that particular writing ability.

Second Life Info: FarPoint Media’s Second Life space is now the penthouse suite of Third Life Books, the place for SL versions of Michael A. Stackpole’s writings, and many other goodies, including a Wednesday night writing workshop. You can find the castle at http://slurl.com/secondlife/beraudes/203/151/49. Come see the castle roof pool!

FarPoint Forums: Head on over to the FarPoint Forums and join in the discussions on Dragon Page topics, and for most of your favorite FPM shows!

Promo: Second Shift Podcast
Promo: Dragon Page With Class

 

 Cover to Cover #339A: Jane Lindskold [34:52m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (3513)

Show Notes: Welcome to the new show format!

The “A” show and the “B” show are different, but the same… let us know what you think!

The Library: The secret is out: we don’t really have a chance to read all of the books before we talk about them on The Library. This week’s books: The Devil’s Due by Jenna Black; Queen of Dragon by Shana Abe (mmpb reprint); The Knights of Cornerstone by James P. Blaylock; Princeps Fury by Jim Butcher; The Lord Protector’s Daughter by L. E. Modesitt, Jr; Ender in Exile by Orson Scott Card.

Listener Review: Tim Low gives us a review of the Batman: Murders at Wayne Manor graphic novel and interactive game.

Submitting Listener comments: If you have any suggestions or comments, please let us know! “Cover to Cover” has it’s own call-in line, 206-350-READ! That’s 206-350-7323, or just email Michael with a comment you’ve recorded yourself!

Discussion: Ben in Tampa comments on something Irene Gallo said in C2C #333A, and wants to know what our thougts are on the philosophy of building something that you yourself would want to read/watch/experience, and that other people will come to it. The key is that the passion that you have for the project will be apparent to everyone else who shares that passion, and they will enjoy it as much as you do.

Second Life Info: FarPoint Media’s Second Life space is now the penthouse suite of Third Life Books, the place for SL versions of Michael A. Stackpole’s writings, and many other goodies, including a Wednesday night writing workshop. You can find the castle at http://slurl.com/secondlife/beraudes/203/151/49. Come see the castle roof pool!

FarPoint Forums: Head on over to the FarPoint Forums and join in the discussions on Dragon Page topics, and for most of your favorite FPM shows!

Promo: Dragon Page With Class

 

 Cover to Cover #338: New Show Format [27:58m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (3643)

Show Notes: T. A. Pratt

Many thanks to all of the listeners who have been donating. Your support is truly appreciated.

Submitting Listener comments: If you have any suggestions or comments, please let us know! “Cover to Cover” has it’s own call-in line, 206-350-READ! That’s 206-350-7323, or just email Michael with a comment you’ve recorded yourself!

Interview: This week, Mike and Mike talk with Tim Pratt about the newest book in his Marla Mason series, Dead Reign.

Tim talks changing gears and in writing his fiction, and changing names as a way to help market the Marla Mason books (to appeal to female readers more). Marla even has her own website, and you can keep tabs on her via Twitter!

Discussion: Stackpole tells us about a new deal coming from Random House about their new rates for electronic books, and then tells us what’s wrong with the way they’re trying to go about building up their electronic book (PDF) inventory. Since Amazon and other electronic distributors can pay more per book than Random House is offering, what the motivation here?

Check out the new Dragon Page “C” show, streamed live into Second Life, on Fridays at 4pm Pacific Time… you never know who might show up!

Second Life Info: FarPoint Media’s Second Life space is now the penthouse suite of Third Life Books, the place for SL versions of Michael A. Stackpole’s writings, and many other goodies, including a Wednesday night writing workshop. You can find the castle at http://slurl.com/secondlife/beraudes/203/151/49. Come see the castle roof pool!

FarPoint Forums: Head on over to the FarPoint Forums and join in the discussions on Dragon Page topics, and for most of your favorite FPM shows!

Link: Tim Pratt
Link: Marla Mason: Sorceress. Crime Boss. Badass.
Promo: Dragon Page With Class
Promo: Second Shift Podcast

 

 Cover to Cover #337A: T. A. Pratt [32:21m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (3627)

Thanks to BenBella Books, The Dragon Page is giving away 2 signed copies of Lawrence Watt-Evans’ Discworld compendium, The Turtle Moves!: Discworld’s Story Unauthorized!

To enter, just send an email to contest [at] dragonpage [dot] com and put “Discworld” in the subject line.

Be sure to include your name and shipping address in the body of the email. Any entries submitted without name and mailing address information will be disqualified and discarded.

One entry per email per day. This contest is open to residents of the US and Canada.

Contest begins today, November 17, 2008 and will run until midnight Pacific time December 5, 2008.

Good luck!

Show Notes: Lawrence Watt-Evans

Brian Richardson from What the Cast? joins Mike and Mike today, and he’s preparing Mitt Zombie’s concession speech for the 2008 presidential campaign.

They also discuss the passing of Michael Crichton, and his contributions to both television and fiction, and the curious happenstance of why certain novels with science fiction elements are not marketed as science fiction, and not listed in the science fiction sections of bookstores. This leads to a discussion about why many people believe they have to be highly educated in order to read and enjoy science fiction stories.

Why does the perception that the “average” person has a disdain for the “intellectual” (a societal extension of the high school brain-vs-jock conflict) plague society still? Why are some stories not considered science fiction when their topics are obviously so? This leads to a quick argument about why CSI isn’t considered scifi, so try to contain your comments!

Submitting Listener comments: If you have any suggestions or comments, please let us know! “Cover to Cover” has it’s own call-in line, 206-350-READ! That’s 206-350-7323, or just email Michael with a comment you’ve recorded yourself!

Interview: This week, Mike, Summer and Mike talk with Lawrence Watt-Evans about The Turtle Moves!: Discworld’s Story Unauthorized, an “unauthorized” compendium of Terry Pratchett’s Discworld series, from BenBella Books.

The Turtle Moves! is an extensive reader’s guide for the Discworld universe, containing a bibliography of novels and short stories and detailed synopses of them, essays about the use of magic and physics in Discworld, commentary on the characters, creatures and humor in the series, and more. Lawrence tells us about how this project came about, his fascination with the Discworld series, and the extensive research that went into putting this compendium together.

Discussion: Another round of changes to “Cover to Cover” is coming up… more diversity of segments, and a teeny bit more structure in those segments, and a call for more listener provided content.

Check out the new Dragon Page “C” show, streamed live into Second Life, on Fridays at 4pm Pacific Time… you never know who might show up!

Second Life Info: FarPoint Media’s Second Life space is now the penthouse suite of Third Life Books, the place for SL versions of Michael A. Stackpole’s writings, and many other goodies, including a Wednesday night writing workshop. You can find the castle at http://slurl.com/secondlife/beraudes/203/151/49. Come see the castle roof pool!

FarPoint Forums: Head on over to the FarPoint Forums and join in the discussions on Dragon Page topics, and for most of your favorite FPM shows!

Link: Lawrence Watt-Evans: The Misenchanted Page
Promo: Dragon Page With Class
Promo: Second Shift Podcast

 

 Cover to Cover #336A: Lawrence Watt-Evans [31:23m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (3812)

Show Notes: Art Reflecting Life

Discussion: Mike and Mike talk about the potential impact of the 2008 US Presidential Elections on the non-fiction and fiction landscape of the next few years, based on some of the literature shifts in decades past. Without going into personal political opinions, let’s speculate on how or if these results influence speculative fiction trends.

Are you participating in NaNoWriMo? Tell us how you’re doing!

Listener Review: Tim Low brings us a review of the coffee table compendium The Prince Valiant Page by Gary Gianni.

Submitting Listener comments: If you have any suggestions or comments, please let us know! “Cover to Cover” has it’s own call-in line, 206-350-READ! That’s 206-350-7323, or just email Michael with a comment you’ve recorded yourself!

The Library: It’s been a while! Fast Forward 2 edited by Lou Anders; Orson Scott Card’s InterGalactic Medicine Show by Edmund R. Schubert and Orson Scott Card. The last one leads to a long chat about alternative publishing venues, and different ways to get more stories out to the readers at the same time more money comes back to the hands of the authors.

Second Life Info: FarPoint Media’s Second Life space is now the penthouse suite of Third Life Books, the place for SL versions of Michael A. Stackpole’s writings, and many other goodies, including a Wednesday night writing workshop. You can find the castle at http://slurl.com/secondlife/beraudes/203/151/49. Come see the castle roof pool!

FarPoint Forums: Head on over to the FarPoint Forums and join in the discussions on Dragon Page topics, and for most of your favorite FPM shows!

Promo: Dragon Page With Class
Promo: How To Grow Your Geek

 

 Cover to Cover #335B: Art Reflecting Life [27:04m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (3526)

Show Notes: Making A Difference

Lorrie, Megan, Joyce, and Noemi are joined by co-workers Brad, Jan, and Deborah, as well as, Jessica, their school psychologist.

Each of the educators discuss why they chose special education over general education.

Jessica answers the question, “When & why would a student be brought to the school psychologist.

Do you have questions you’d like the teachers to talk about on future shows? The teachers have their own voicemail line now! Call in and ask your questions: 206-202-2673!!

 

 With Class #31: Making A Difference [29:46m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (4557)