Special Guest Author: Sharon Shinn!!
Those of you who read mine and Meljean’s blogs will have seen us announce that we’re doing an anthology together (to be released late 2011). What I can now announce *cue excited dancing* are the names of the other two authors in the anthology – the awesome Ilona Andrews (hmm, she sounds familiar for some reason), and Sharon Shinn, author of a number of wonderful books, including the fantastic Samaria series!
Once I found out the lineup, I absolutely couldn’t resist stalking emailing Sharon and asking her if she’d do a guest post for us. So without further ado, please welcome Sharon Shinn to Oddshots!
Love & the Western Hero
Sharon Shinn
I write fantasy/sf books wrapped around romances, so whenever people ask me about my literary influences, I usually mention Georgette Heyer, Anne McCaffrey, and Peter Beagle. But truthfully, one of the strongest influences on my work was Western writer Ernest Haycox. He wrote 25 novels and dozens of short stories, including one that was turned into the movie “Stagecoach.” After years of haunting used-book stores to find all his back titles, I think I must have them all, and I periodically reread them.
Honestly, he wasn’t the best plotter in the world. Most of his stories consist of some down-on-his-luck cow puncher or overmatched sheriff who stubbornly insists on doing the right thing, even though an unscrupulous banker or greedy ranch owner is trying to bring him down. There’s a lot of macho posturing in seedy bars, murky attacks carried out in the dark, retaliatory raids that come to nothing, a terse statement of moral conviction by the hero, more inconclusive action, a gunfight, a kiss, the end.
So why do I love the books so much?
Two reasons. One, while they’re mostly spare stories, efficiently told, the language is often quite beautiful. In Action by Night, he says of the main character: Uncertainty was a shining star over him, guiding him into strange ways, and because of that uncertainty he had learned never to make long plans, never to harbor fear of the future, and never to sleep with a memory of the past.
Two, they’re love stories. Romances for men. They reassure me that male readers really do want to see a scrappy but well-matched couple come together in some satisfying and deeply emotional fashion. Oh, the feelings might be brusquely expressed, and the brawls far outnumber the waltzes, but the core of every Haycox books is a developing relationship that gives the hero a reason to fight, a reason to live, a reward at the end of a long, bloody day.
I’ve always liked this scene from Canyon Passage, which has the hero escorting the heroine to town so she can buy a wedding dress—to wear when she marries his best friend. It’s a cold night, so they’re curled together for warmth, and of course he kisses her:
She was a bottomless softness, she was an acid-sweetness, she was a fire burning against him and a wind rushing through him. … But suddenly her lips slid aside, breaking the tension, and he lay back bitterly angered at himself. He took his arm from her, and she rose on an elbow and brought her face quite near him. He heard her rapid, uneven murmur: “That’s what you wished, wasn’t it?”
“Yes.”
“Then don’t hate me for giving it to you.”
“It’s no good.”
“You’re lying,” she said. “You’ll never have another woman kiss you like that.”
“It’s no good,” he said. “It will stick too long.”
“Ah,” she said, “that’s different.” 
I’ve heard it said of fantasy-romance books that if the last paragraph is about the magic, the book is predominantly a fantasy; if the last paragraph is about the lovers, it’s a romance. If the same equation holds true for Westerns, then most Haycox books are romances. And some of those ending paragraphs are stunners. I confess that I have tried to emulate his style when I write my own concluding sentences. For instance, I particularly admire this one, from Head of the Mountain:
In the first break of morning he was wakened by a voice ringing roughly through the marsh; and he sat up to answer, recognizing Rheinmiller. He answered, but before he got to his feet he looked down at her and saw her waking; she was loose and warm and her smile made her lips smooth and when she opened her eyes she looked straight at him, seeking him out as though her thoughts had never left him during the night.
Last summer at an antique shop I found the sheet music to “Ole Buttermilk Sky,” a song my cousins and I used to play on my aunt’s ancient Victrola. Only after I brought it home did I read all the information on the cover sheet. Not only had it been written by Hoagy Carmichael (no wonder it was catchy enough to stay in our heads for thirty years), but it was the theme song for a film called …“Canyon Passage.” One of my favorite books is a movie and I never knew it! Lucky for me, it’s available online as part of a “value pack” of classic Western movies. Time to fire up the DVD player and spend a little more time with Ernie.
_____________________
Sharon’s latest release is Quatrain, four novellas set in the different worlds she’s created for her full-length novels. You can read more about her books at her website: www.sharonshinn.net
Sharon has also agreed to drop by and answer any questions/comments, so fire away!
26 people have bellied up to “Special Guest Author: Sharon Shinn!!”
Hi!
I’m a huge fan of Sharon Shinn. Her only books I haven’t read and don’t own are “Gateaway” and “Quatrain”. My question is about possible sequals: is there any chance of seeing more of indigo/gulden people, Auburn kingdom or Samaria.
Sharon Shinn’s “sf/fantasy wrapped around romance” sounds wonderful; I’ll definitely check her out. And holy cow, Nalini, Meljean, AND Ilona in one antho? I feel a happy dance coming on!
[...] Sharon Shinn and some small publication announcements at Odd Shots. [...]
Sharon Shinn,
Can I have your babies?
Just curious.
Jill <3
Jill, no scaring Sharon. We want her to come back
Hi
Thanks for sharing Sharon
Quatrain looks intriguing and a good introduction to your other works.
I was wondering if you have a Twitter account because stupid Twitter search sucks so I can’t find you if you do.
Hi, everyone:
Thanks for reading and commenting! Suzana, “Quatrain” IS a bunch of sequels, sort of…it includes novellas set in the worlds of “Heart of Gold,” “Summers at Castle Auburn,” “Archangel” and “Mystic and Rider.” I really love the HofG story and have considered expanding it into a novel…but not sure I’ll ever have the time.
RKCharron…I don’t have a Twitter account or a Facebook account. I barely manage to update my Web site. I’m a technological idiot. Maybe someday. (And, yes, I’d consider “Quatrain” a good introduction to my stuff. Kind of like a tapas bar.)
Jill…hmmm, interesting proposition! But I think you’re doing fine on your own!
Sharon
Hi Sharon
I just read Quatrain and loved all the stories.
Very cool news!
I’ll have to see if I can pick up a Haycox book somewhere. I normally avoid westerns like the plague, but those excerpts are really nice. I’m a sucker for beautiful language.
Ooh this anthology is sounding better and better
. I love all of the participating authors!
I’m not a fan per se of Western novels but for some reason I really like those vintage covers. Maybe its the style of art that you don’t see anymore. As a collector of old Casca and Mack Bolan the Destroyer pulp novels ( I also know they are not great literature but I love them), I can relate to your used-book store hunting and heartily congratulate you on completing the series. I think it’s cool that you were influenced by something so different than what you write.
Oooooh an anthology where I actually want to read ALL of the stories. *glee*
Sharon, I have to smile – I actually started reading romances courtesy of Zane Grey, and my grandfather who was devotee of western movies, but particularly those with a romance plot.
Welcome Sharon
Surely we can suck you into the net fun 
Think of all the possibilities, learning to photoshop and call out other authors in bets or threats. You can kill loads of time. 
Procrastination galore with fans ready to cheer you one the entire time.
Looking forward to the anthology.
OOOOOO I shall snag some Haycox for my hubby, he has been stuck on Lamour for so long, I think he will like it!
And some of yours Sharon, for me, then we will both be happy!
Hi, Sharon. I haven’t had the honor of reading any of your books, but the “fantasy/sf books wrapped around romances” comment got my attention. I’ll have to check them out. And if one of the characters says, “Howdy, y’all,” I’ll know where it came from.
Can’t wait to pick up this anthology!
Oooooh an anthology where I actually want to read ALL of the stories. *glee*
FD put it beautifully! What a line-up. To say I’m excited is an understatement. All the best with the writing!
Sharon – I was recommended Archangel by a UK friend and adored it. And then for some reason I never gloomed your back list. I have, however, Archangel back on my TBR list and once I’ve read that my local library is going to see a lot of your books heading my way
Oh, and I adore the old Western movies and TV series. I still love The Virginian
I’m delighted to hear that there are other people out there who like Westerns as much as I do! I too started down the Western path by reading Zane Grey. “Sunset Pass” and “Nevada” are my favorites.
For anyone who wants to read a Haycox book, I’d suggest starting with “Canyon Passage” or “The Earthbreakers” — those are really his master works. There are others that I love, like “Trail Town,” but those two are really the best.
And to Addled Alchemist: My book “Wrapt in Crystal” I’ve always thought of as a Western, though it’s got a science fiction setting. But it features a sort of loner hired gun who arrives on the scene to make peace between warring factions, and he falls in love with both the good girl and the bad girl (think rancher’s daughter and gold-hearted whore), has a gunfight at the end, rides off into the sunset…but then there’s an epilogue…You can really take it point for point and read it as a Zane Grey story.
Wow, my favorite authors all in 1 anthology – I can hardly wait.
Sharon – Quatrain and General Winston’s Daughter are in my TBR mountain. I devoured all the Samaria & 12 Houses and all the stand-alone novels. I managed to get my husband hooked with Summers at Castle Auburn and the twins from Truth-Tellers Tale & Safe-Keeper Secret. Gateway is on our to-buy list.
I suspect that you probably have more ideas than time, but I’ve always hoped for another story involving the space corps, “Moonchildren ?” from Wrapt in Crystal. But, any new stories would be great.
Wow, those passages are just stunning. What a treat this is for you to trot out this old fave of yours!
Elizabeth N … In fact, in my mountain of unpublished manuscripts, I have three novels and a couple short stories set in the Moonchild universe. I keep thinking someday I’ll clean them up and make them available for cheap electronic download, but it’s the “clean them up” part I don’t seem to have time for. And all of them were written pre-computer, so it would require rekeying as well as re-editing. But someday…
Hi Sharon, Iove your work. I started with Sameria series and picked up the Riders too but haven’t gotten the chance to read it yet. I’m already eagerly awaiting this anthology and I’m already sad that it’s not out til next year, sighs
Sharon– I love your books, and it’s so cool to read about your new anthology. I will have to pick it up! I especially loved the Sameria series, The Shape-Changer’s Wife and Summers at Castle Auburn.
I will admit that when I see the word “Westerns” in reference to books I run the other way. But, after reading your blog post I’m thinking I may have misjudged:) Guess it’s time for a browse on ebay!
[...] Sharon Shinn, author of Archangel, at the Odd Shots [...]
This was such a fun guest post! I love your work, Ms. Shinn. So very much. I started reading MYSTIC & RIDER aloud to my husband and he ate it up. We blew through all five of them, reading them aloud in bed at night, on long drives, just about anywhere we could feasibly do it. So thank you for the many hours of entertainment and good friends.
Loved hearing about some of your influences.
Sharon, I so appreciate this post
I am now going to pay special attention to final paragraphs!
I love your discussion of vintage westerns and I completely agree with your two points. In high school I hung around in the library waiting for a ride home, the Western paperbacks were on the “no checkout required” rack of books. I read many of them, including Ernest Haycock, Zane Grey and others. There were many “girlie” free books, and I admit to reading a Barbara Cartland or two or four, but I preferred the combination of action, tough guys, and romance.
How did I miss Quatrain? The hunt begins…
[...] A guest post by Sharon Shinn on Odd Shots – two things I loved: (1) That she’s going to be in an anthology with Nalini Singh, Meljean Brook, and Ilona Andrews (that is a dream line-up!); and (2) her description of her books as “… fantasy/sf books wrapped around romances…”, what a perfect description! Possibly related posts: (automatically generated)Around the WebHow’s that for accurate? [...]