A quote from an author

[DS9forever]

I recently read an interview with some Star Trek authors where one of the interviewees said something along the lines that some fans simply don't have an interest in Kirk, Spock, the original series, the new film etc but rather in DS9 and TNG. Does anyone have a link to that interview? Thanks in advance. Its a sentiment I've believed in for many years.

 

[danjamesb]

http://unreality-sf.net/features/stxi.html ?

“I think it's unlikely that Pocket Books would ever phase out novels set in the ‘original’ timeline,” Allyn [Gibson] believes, “for the simple reason that there are fans of The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, and the other series who simply have no interest in Kirk and Spock, no matter which universe they inhabit. Phasing out twenty-fourth- and twenty-second-century novels would amount to leaving money on the table, with no guarantee that there would be any greater demand for twenty-third-century novels.”

 

[BolianAuthor]

I recently read an interview with some Star Trek authors where one of the interviewees said something along the lines that some fans simply don't have an interest in Kirk, Spock, the original series, the new film etc but rather in DS9 and TNG. Does anyone have a link to that interview? Thanks in advance. Its a sentiment I've believed in for many years.

I've never heard that quote before, but I can't say I disagree with it. As a writer, I write for the genre(s) that I personally like, and feel comfortable with. If someone likes TNG or DS9, they probably would have a much better time writing for those shows, and not TOS. I don't see it as a slap to TOS, or its fans... just a guy being honest about the niche' he (or she) has found.

In this case, since Trek fans are of the age where TNG and DS9 are getting old... that's probably where the bulk of the market is, along with JJ-Trek.

 

[Christopher]

^Uhh, read the post just above yours. That's not what Allyn was saying at all. He wasn't talking about his own preferences as a writer, he was pointing out that the market for non-TOS fiction still exists among the readers so that there's no reason to stop publishing 24th- and 22nd-century books and focusing exclusively on Abrams Trek.

 

[BolianAuthor]

Well, I think there will always be new TNG and beyond books, as I don't think there are any plans for more TNG+ era movies, so it'll be up to the novel authors to take that task. I know of one JJ-universe novel in the works... time will tell how fruitful that venture will be.

 

[JarodRussell]

As a writer, I write for the genre(s) that I personally like, and feel comfortable with.

What stuff have you written?

 

[BolianAuthor]

I've been writing most of my life, mostly short stories of my own, and some longer sci-fi stories. In this BBS, I have written "Star Trek: Entomalians", "Battlestar Urantia", and "Star Trek: Distant Star - Waking Nightmares".

I have also written three spec scripts for ST:VOY, and ST: DS9.

I am currently in the process of writing an original-universe sci-fi novel, to submit for publication, called "OASIS", as well as re-writing "Battlestar Urantia" for submission to TOR Books, as a BSG novel.

I love writing... it's what I do almost all of my time. It's very rewarding, to be able to play in such vibrant and rich universes as ST and BSG, and be able to weave and tell a story that hopefully, people enjoy.

 

[Christopher]

I know of one JJ-universe novel in the works... time will tell how fruitful that venture will be.

There are four. Refugees by Alan Dean Foster, Seek a Newer World by yours truly, More Beautiful than Death by David Mack, and one other yet to be announced. They're scheduled for June through September 2010.

 

[BolianAuthor]

Cool... thanks for the heads-up. It'll be interesting to see how much of a market there is for the JJ-verse stuff. At least in my town, the merchandising for the film hasn't done well... the shelves at the stores are still full of ST toys from the film, so maybe the books will do better.

 

[William Leisner]

I am currently in the process of [...] re-writing "Battlestar Urantia" for submission to TOR Books, as a BSG novel.

Is Tor still doing BSG novels? As best as I can tell, they put out three novels in '07, and nothing new since.

 

[BolianAuthor]

^

Absolutely correct. I think it's high time for a new one, don't you?

 

[Steve Roby]

as well as re-writing "Battlestar Urantia" for submission to TOR Books, as a BSG novel.

Not only has it been a couple years since Tor published a new Galactica novel, it's my understanding that the line's editor wanted to work exclusively with SF novelists who had a significant track record of published non-tie-in SF. (I'd be surprised if they plan to publish any more Galactica books at all, actually.) This might give you an idea of how receptive the editor of the Galactica books might be.

 

[BolianAuthor]

as well as re-writing "Battlestar Urantia" for submission to TOR Books, as a BSG novel.

Not only has it been a couple years since Tor published a new Galactica novel, it's my understanding that the line's editor wanted to work exclusively with SF novelists who had a significant track record of published non-tie-in SF. (I'd be surprised if they plan to publish any more Galactica books at all, actually.) This might give you an idea of how receptive the editor of the Galactica books might be.

That's a shame, that it can be so difficult to get stuff like that published... but you know, I'm really glad that I post my stories here, as I also write them for submission, because this BBS, and online forums like it are absolutely remarkable tools for a writer...

By posting my work here, I get a chance to see how my target audience reacts to my work, and in doing so, can tell which ideas are worth pushing forward, and which ones are not. I love writing, and I'm well aware of how hard it is to get established... but if I see I have an idea or product that people DO seem to like, then it becomes worth the energy, to try and make something of it.

It was the same thing, when I wrote spec scripts for VOY and DS9... normally, a freelance writer would not even have his work looked at, but at the time, ST was one of the very few shows, that would actually accept submissions from them. Some of my stuff got read, some did not. It's all good, because it gave me experience to learn from.

 

[LutherSloan]

Well, I grew up with TNG, so it's bigger to me than TOS. I've also had difficulties with the campyness of the show. The films for the most part ended that, so if anything I enjoy them more (depending on the episode of TOS).