Show #29 - david_l_edelman - "Anything Else" and Closing

ljpenpusher: Now we get into the fun.
DaveLEdelman: You mean that wasn't supposed to be fun? :-)
DaveLEdelman: Sure! Ready.
ljpenpusher: Well, just more free form stuff.
DaveLEdelman: You may fire when ready.

ljpenpusher: and it's David Edelman. The book is Infoquake. What inspired the title?

DaveLEdelman: In the book, an "infoquake" is a sort of seismic disturbance in the communication networks, kind of like a hiccup on the Internet.
DaveLEdelman: And it just seemed a nice encapsulation of all the things I was trying to address in the book.

ljpenpusher: It's an intriguing compound word.
ljpenpusher: So, that's a real draw.

DaveLEdelman: People have since told me that others have used the word before.
DaveLEdelman: But I'd never heard anyone say it, I thought I was making it up.
DaveLEdelman: And of course, it's nice and punchy and easy to remember, which never hurts. :-)

ljpenpusher: It has a sense of familiarity to it, but then again we're all about info, and in Silicon Valley, quakes.

DaveLEdelman: Yep.

DaveLEdelman: Sounds like something Alvin Toffler might have written.

ljpenpusher: So, this is the last segment.

DaveLEdelman: Yes, and I'm already feeling wistful.

ljpenpusher: And this is where we get to get you to talk about something important that we haven't mentioned yet.
ljpenpusher: Some element of your life, some theory or cause you find important...

DaveLEdelman: Hmm.

ljpenpusher: some shout out to someone you like?

ljpenpusher: These are suggestions, not recommendations.

DaveLEdelman: Put me on the spot, why don't ya? :-)

ljpenpusher: Ah, you've been on the spot this whole time!

DaveLEdelman: True.
DaveLEdelman: That's quite a wide playing field. I think you might have to narrow it down for me.

ljpenpusher: Is there some part of what you do online that we haven't covered yet?

DaveLEdelman: Ah! Well, I could speak about the DeepGenre blog I'm a part of.

ljpenpusher: Ok. What's that?

DaveLEdelman: It's a group blog that I'm on with about a dozen other writers that discusses science fiction and fantasy-related issues.
DaveLEdelman: And almost everyone on the blog has a lot more experience and name recognition than me (which works out well for me).

ljpenpusher: And this isn't syndicated to LJ?

DaveLEdelman: Nope, totally separate.

ljpenpusher: How did you get to be a part of this group?
ljpenpusher: Union dues? By invitation only?

DaveLEdelman: Kate Elliott, Katharine Kerr, Carol Berg, Kevin Andrew Murphy, Sherwood Smith, and some others.
DaveLEdelman: I've been working with (and for) Kate Elliott on a handful of web-related projects, and this was her and Kit Kerr's baby.

ljpenpusher: Again, who you know!

DaveLEdelman: Exactly!

DaveLEdelman: The URL is: http://www.deepgenre.com

DaveLEdelman: And like an oily snake, I have managed to slip a presence onto the blog. I also do the behind-the-scenes technical management.

ljpenpusher: The carney running the ride, as it were.

DaveLEdelman: The blog has gotten so much attention, much more than my own personal blog has.
DaveLEdelman: Which is great news for "Infoquake," publicity-wise.

ljpenpusher: Now you're understanding about why I ask about LJ communities.

DaveLEdelman: Yep.
DaveLEdelman: I have to say that I'm still pretty new to this whole online community thing. DeepGenre is one of the first online communities I've ever participated in.

ljpenpusher: How are you going to publicize the book?

DaveLEdelman: You mean I have to do more than just talk with LJ Talk Show? ;-)

ljpenpusher: Well, not that this isn't the primary source of LJ info...

DaveLEdelman: Well, I've been doing lots of interviews... here, on Meme Therapy, John Scalzi's blog, Suite 101...

ljpenpusher: So, you're already quite seasoned!
ljpenpusher: That's why you're such a good guest.

DaveLEdelman: LOL! Shucks, you shameless flatterer.
DaveLEdelman: Barnes & Noble is going to be featuring "Infoquake" as its selection for its SF newsletter this month.

ljpenpusher: That's exciting!
ljpenpusher: Maybe you'll get on Bill Maher's Fishbowl?

DaveLEdelman: Yeah, it is... Paul Goat Allen, the guy who reviewed the book, called me "the illegitimate lovechild of Donald Trump and Vernor Vinge." Now that's exciting!
DaveLEdelman: Hey, I'd love to talk to Bill Maher. I like that guy.
DaveLEdelman: But really I've been trying just about everything I can think of publicity-wise.

ljpenpusher: Do you get some sort of budget to work with from your publisher?

DaveLEdelman: Well, now we get back to the disadvantages of working with a publisher that isn't a huge megaconglomerate. :-)

ljpenpusher: Mm. Sure.
ljpenpusher: But that's ok.
ljpenpusher: It's all about word of mouth.

DaveLEdelman: They've been doing a lot of stuff, and a lot of helpful stuff, to promote the book... but you know, it's not like I'm getting flown around in first class with champagne and caviar.
DaveLEdelman: Not like *any* first author gets that kind of treatment, unless they're Howard Stern.
DaveLEdelman: But, y'know, it's really a different game with Pyr. They're not necessarily after the Star Trek pointy-ears Klingon-speaking crowd.

ljpenpusher: Well, clearly if you have an audience in place, you have a chance to sell copies.

DaveLEdelman: They're publishing intelligent, literate SF about grand ideas... so it's more of a niche.

DaveLEdelman: Oh, I'm not saying anyone would turn *down* the chance to speak at a Star Trek convention.

ljpenpusher: Except Shatner.

DaveLEdelman: LOL
DaveLEdelman: I mean, there's a certain crossover between the intelligent SF literature crowd and the Klingon-speaking Star Trek crowd... but it's definitely *not* the same crowd.
DaveLEdelman: If that makes sense.

ljpenpusher: It's interesting you say that. Because there really are discernable variants in SF fans.

DaveLEdelman: Definitely.
DaveLEdelman: I mean, don't forget... the communications satellite was dreamt up by Arthur C. Clarke in a science fiction story.
DaveLEdelman: There's plenty of *serious* science fiction out there.
DaveLEdelman: It's not all just bubblegum distraction.

ljpenpusher: But then again, many people tend to stay away from SF because they feel it won't relate to them. Your book, however seems rooted in all things present, yet is very futuristic.

DaveLEdelman: I'd like to think that people can relate to the book.
DaveLEdelman: People have told me that it reminds them a lot of their experiences in dot-coms in the '90s.

DaveLEdelman: I think that a) yes, my book can appeal to a wider audience than a lot of SF, and b) there's a lot more serious SF out there that can appeal to a wider audience than many people think

ljpenpusher: I think that once you allow accessibility, people will follow along.

DaveLEdelman: Yes, exactly.
DaveLEdelman: "Build it and they will come."

ljpenpusher: Do you have techniques to do that, or do you just automatically build it in?

DaveLEdelman: It's just a constant push and pull between toning the technical elements of the story down, and keeping them in to lend it authenticity.

ljpenpusher: Which do you enjoy more?

DaveLEdelman: Well, the balancing act is what's fun.
DaveLEdelman: Every artist has to deal with that tug-of-war, I think.

ljpenpusher: How is that working?

DaveLEdelman: I mean, if you read Stephen Hunter's thrillers, he goes into great detail about the guns that his characters carry.
DaveLEdelman: I think it's one of the things "Infoquake" does best, frankly. I've had people read it that don't know Perl from Pascal, and they seem to like it just as much as the Perl hackers.

ljpenpusher: That seems like a rave to me!!

DaveLEdelman: Hey, I've turned into a shameless self-promoter.

ljpenpusher: What will people read if they friend your journal?

DaveLEdelman: My blog tends to be about grand ideas, often technological in nature, but not always.

ljpenpusher: Variety is the spice.

DaveLEdelman: Yep.
DaveLEdelman: I wrote a piece the other day about how someone needs to build an "Amazon for Voters" to help people pick political candidates that match their views.
DaveLEdelman: But I also dip into your basic SF topics from time to time. I've written essays about the "Star Wars" movies and "Alien."

ljpenpusher: Where do your essays of this sort usually turn up?

DaveLEdelman: You mean who links to them?

ljpenpusher: Do they end up published?

DaveLEdelman: Well, mostly they're just published on my site and that's it.

ljpenpusher: Ah, well, that's fine!

DaveLEdelman: Well, I tend to use my blog to get some of my woolgathering down in words and sentences.
DaveLEdelman: It's not a particularly topical blog, and I hardly ever link to other articles.

ljpenpusher: It's a great tool for that. I call such stuff "thinkposts."

DaveLEdelman: Thinkposts -- I like that.

ljpenpusher: I can make up compound words too!

DaveLEdelman: It's a game the whole family can play!

ljpenpusher: So, what is your favorite topic of discussion? What stuff to people respond to generally?

DaveLEdelman: So I tend to write my "thinkposts" on my blog, and then I write genre-related posts on DeepGenre

ljpenpusher: Ah. I see.

DaveLEdelman: I've had good response to my posts where I just propose a somewhat bizarre technical solution to a social problem.

ljpenpusher: Like if robots ruled the world, or something?

DaveLEdelman: No, not really... I recently wrote a post about using GPS to keep track of speed limits, for instance

ljpenpusher: Hey! Whose side are you on?

DaveLEdelman: Or rather, using GPS to tap into a theoretical nationwide speed limit database so your car would always know what the speed limit was.

ljpenpusher: Ohh. Ok.

DaveLEdelman: Yeah. Muuuuch different.
DaveLEdelman: I'm of the belief that technology can be very empowering.

ljpenpusher: It's all in how you use it.

DaveLEdelman: Yep.
DaveLEdelman: I also wrote about the idea of backwards hyperlinks -- meaning hyperlinks that know what links to them.
DaveLEdelman: And then there was the Amazon for Voters thing.

ljpenpusher: Oh. You really want to do that voter thing?

DaveLEdelman: I don't know if *I* want to do it. But I think it would be great if someone did.
DaveLEdelman: I mean, if somebody wants to give me the money to do it, then I'll be happy to get right on that.

ljpenpusher: Well, ok. You have a lot of stuff to do already!
ljpenpusher: Is there a timetable for when the books are going to come out?

DaveLEdelman: Well, I'm hoping to finish book 2 within a couple of months. And it usually takes at least a year after that before they hit the shelves, unfortunately.

ljpenpusher: Well, it'll give Infoquake a chance to find its audience.

DaveLEdelman: Exactly.
DaveLEdelman: I think this is a book that's going to build an audience over time.
DaveLEdelman: Or at least, I *hope* it is. :-)

ljpenpusher: Now that JK Rowling is just about to turn in her quill, something has to fill the gap!

DaveLEdelman: Right!
DaveLEdelman: I'm a big fan of those books, actually.

ljpenpusher: I'm sure you're not the only one.

ljpenpusher: Any final thoughts?
ljpenpusher: Any last things you want to share?

DaveLEdelman: Other than "buy my book, buy my book, pleeeeease"?

ljpenpusher: Well, only if you have something else?

DaveLEdelman: Well, I think we can all find technological solutions to most of our social problems if we try hard enough.
DaveLEdelman: Is that warm and fuzzy enough? :-)

ljpenpusher: Haha. As long as you don't start singing "Bicycle Built For Two," we're good.

DaveLEdelman: Oh, you don't want to hear me sing anything.

ljpenpusher: No? We've never attached a voice post to one of these interviews...
ljpenpusher: This could be a first!

DaveLEdelman: Hmm... I *have* been podcasting the first seven chapters of "Infoquake" from my website...

ljpenpusher: So we can hear you read.

DaveLEdelman: Yep.

ljpenpusher: That would be fun, I'm sure!

DaveLEdelman: Orson Welles is spinning in his grave as we speak.
DaveLEdelman: And it is a lot of fun! I've enjoyed putting them together.
DaveLEdelman: If you're curious, here's the link.

ljpenpusher: Great!

DaveLEdelman: Well, thanks for the opportunity to reach the LJ audience!
DaveLEdelman: This has been a lot of fun.

ljpenpusher: And now, a word about guests. I try to get a great cross section of ages, occupations, interests and topical interview subjects to provide a true sampling of what LJ users are doing and why they're doing it. If you know of a community, a user, a topic that is notable that you want to see, get in touch. My email is ljpenpusher at gmail dot com. As always, thanks for participating, and we'll talk again, soon.

ljpenpusher: This has been excellent. Best of luck with the book series and I'm sure people are going to be adding your journal to their lists.
DaveLEdelman: That'd be great! Always looking for more comments on my blog.
ljpenpusher: Ok Dave, thanks for taking the time to do this.
DaveLEdelman: You're welcome.
ljpenpusher: I'm going to try to put this up this evening.
DaveLEdelman: Cool... can you send me an e-mail when it's up?
DaveLEdelman: I'll link here from my blog and website.
ljpenpusher: I will. That's no problem.
DaveLEdelman: Awesome.
ljpenpusher: Thanks again, and have a cool day!
DaveLEdelman: You too!