Author Nasus Dumart (aka Susan Mahar)

By Nazz Lane

I'd been introduced to Nasus Dumart by a mutual friend several weeks ago at a party. We spoke briefly that evening and she'd informed me of the impending release of her first book, "The Unofficial Guide to Building Your Business in the Second Life Virtual World". The book is being published by the American Management Association and is soon to be released. We spoke briefly after the holidays and she readily agreed to meet for an interview. So, having arranged a date and time, we met at her newly established shop front in SL from which she is planning to promote the book.

"Good morning. We're dressed well for so early in the morning." I said seeing how her avatar was attired in a sleeveless red cocktail dress.

"Yes, well a girl has to look her virtual best, no matter the time of day." She said and then added, "So, this is my little shop to promote the book, the revised book cover is behind you. I am still setting things up. I have to load the website and the endorsements."

"If you're ready we can get started, what was it that brought you into SL?"

"Apple MacKay (Jay Mahar in RL) is my husband. He is a tech guru, always on the cutting edge. When he started in SL, he got very excited. It got my attention. He said it was the biggest new thing to come along in a long time. So, I started to observe and then I saw how he interacted with others. I got a little jealous and decided there was nothing stopping me from joining so, I did. I had never played online games, never even been in chat rooms so, SL was a huge step for me. Apple asked me, as I created my avatar, 'what do you want to do with your second life?' That was a HUGE question. So, I made a few decisions about the track I wanted to take. I have a degree in Media, and my journalistic training kicked in. This was a big topic on which to explore and write about." She replied.

"What was your most memorable moment in SL?"

"So many … well, I think I can say the first was hearing live music. I don't recall the performer but when they spoke to the room, mentioning my name, it was a big deal. That's when I realized this was a largely undiscovered medium. That's when I realized we were experiencing something special and we were one of the first to do so."

"Let's talk about the book ... I think you'd mentioned to me it was your first, right?"

"Yes, it is my first book. I have been writing since I was a teenager and educated in media and journalism. After the big question from my husband, what do you want to do with your SL, I answered I want to be a writer again. So, that Christmas, he gave me a website."

"I've been out to your Sensible Sue Blog." I commented.

"Actually, Sensible Sue launched my career as a writer. Sensible Sue got a following and it gave me the confidence to do it professionally."

"How was it you'd come up with the idea for the book?"

"When I had enough material, I pursued Joelle Delbourgo, Literary Management, with the idea to bring SL mainstream in a book, a great topic. She loved it, and so did the American Management Association. They are now my publisher. I decided to write about SL to a mainstream audience, bringing it out of the underground. Being that I am a 'regular' person, with no previous online interest and Jay with his expertise, I wanted to write about the ability for everyday people with any interest in SL to try it."

"You're being a 'regular' person allowed you to be more objective?"

"I turned to the big name companies in SL, the entrepreneurs, etc., to tell about how they are using SL. I spoke with Dr. Colin Parris and Grady Booch of IBM, Dr. Larry Johnson of The NMC, Susan Tenby of the NPC, and Sibley Verbeck of ESheep. I included different sectors; corporate, education, entrepreneurial, and entertainment."

"When you approached the AMA how receptive were they to the idea?"

"Our manager, Joelle Delbourgo presented us to the AMA. They'd heard of SL, but didn't realize how much there was to it. They were very excited to have us write this for them and now they know more about it. Some of the editors have created avatars and will attend the release party at Molaskey's Pub."

"There were several notable SL'ers you'd mentioned in your Linkedin profile ... was there anyone you wanted to chat with but didn't connect?"

"Most everyone I approached was more than happy to participate. But there was one that stays in my mind for passing me up. I cannot disclose who, but they were with a major University. Anyway, most everyone was very cooperative. I turned to the movers and shakers of SL for the book most notably, Philip Rosedale, Mitch Kapor, Dr, Colin Parris, Grady Booch, Steve Prentice, Princeton U, to name a few.

"Was there any one notable person who you'd interviewed that was the most helpful with your project?

"Well they all were really, surprisingly so. They're all behind me in bringing this topic mainstream. The people I spoke with all agreed I was writing an important work for the mainstream audience and fully and whole-heartedly cooperated."

"In your LinkenIn profile you mention that SL as a new media is misunderstood by RL business. What is it that they misunderstand?"

"Well I am referring to the notion that SL is a game, a 'get rich quick' medium, etc. So many businesses came to SL looking to use traditional marketing methods and then bailed out because it wasn't a fast enough ROI. They didn't understand the complexity and simplicity of SL … SL has a community that interacts, no one here wants a hard sell. Grady Booch, of IBM gave me a great understanding of SL. He said SL introduces the 4th dimension that is the HUMAN factor. They want to connect, it's personal, it has personality and it is a near face to face interaction that is unmatched anywhere except for RL." She replied and then added, "SL is still pretty far out there for most people. I just hope I can take the fear out of it for the uncertain mainstream audience."

"Besides this site … what other plans do you have to promote the book within SL?"

"Well, we are using Molaskey's Pub for the interactive part of it. We have http://Molaskeys-Pub.com , plus some RL appearances, a podcast with the AMA, social networks, book signings, etc."

"When is the release party?"

"We are planning the release party during Molaskey's Pub 2nd anniversary event, the week of St. Patrick's, March 13-18. I hope you can make it Nazz."

An Interview with Author Isabel Runningbear

By Nazz Lane

The internationally celebrated author Isabel Losada, known in second life as Isabel Runningbear, had graciously accepted my invitation to meet and be interviewed. Ms Losada has published five books in her distinguished career and had recently returned to second life when she appeared on the SLCN TV broadcast, "Meet an Author Show" with Adele Ward. We met at my office to chat about second life, her work and plans.

"Hello Isabel." I called out as she rezzed into the courtyard at the headquarters of this newspaper. SL was being a little quirky and it took her a few minutes to rezz complete and move the short distance to the office. "Please, have a seat." I said.

"Hello Nazz, thank you, lovely office by the way." She said and then clicked on a chair to sit.

"What bought you into second life?" I asked after taking my seat.

"I came into SL nearly a year ago originally. Friends who work at a university, they have some innovative approaches to teaching and wanted to show me." She replied and then added. "They've done some marvelous work with teenagers ... disaffected youngsters. I've found that some of the best aspects of SL have been in the education field." She replied.

"When we talked briefly before, you'd mentioned not having 'played' SL much, even though your avatar has been around for nearly a year, why were you away from SL?" I asked her.

"I was attempting at having a first life. It was my friends who'd mentioned my having been an author and having an SL account. That resulted in my being invited into the Written Word group, and then the appearance with Adele." Isabel replied.

"Who has been the most extraordinary resident of SL you've met so far?" I asked.

"My friend Elsa, she's a builder at the university She does some amazing things and she works so hard there." She responded.

"Is there anyone in SL you'd love to meet and why?"

"No one in particular, I don't feel the need to meet any of the Lindens for example ... I would however like meeting anyone who is in a publishing house and is in SL and from the UK. I'm reminded of a having met someone from an editing house once who had said why bother with the internet. That was years ago. I would have liked to have met someone with imagination then."

"I saw your appearance on the 'Meet Author Show' it was highly entertaining and I enjoyed it greatly, was that your first promotional appearance in SL?"

"I did a talk at the university at the invitation of my friends there. I had a difficulty doing a talk from SL, I missed the audience connection."

"In your book 'Men' you set out with question 'Where are all the interesting and available men' are you thinking of asking that question in second life?"

"No, because I wouldn't imagine ... extending it into SL. A man of fifty will go out with a woman of thirty. Women in their forties who have reached the height of the careers and are single … ask where the available men are. We've all heard horror stories about internet dating, the risk of projecting what you want onto them without knowing it. What's missing is the personal chemistry of a relationship."

"What were your impressions of "Isabel" being represented by an avatar?"

"I like my avatar … I had an experienced person sitting beside me when I created her. I'm curious though about the psychology of designing an avatar to look to like you in RL or not. However I do like my ears and tail."

"Do you think SL a viable platform for marketing and promotions?" I asked.

"I don't know … I don't have a sense of the potential. But I suppose it would depend on what your book is about. If I chose to enter into it, there is a group of writers here ... a community. I would like to know them in RL, it would be strange for me having a community that is only virtual." She replied

"In the "about you" page on Bloomsbury.com, one of your five favorite books was "Three Sisters" a play by Chekov. Your commentary said 'This is a play but in my former incarnation as an actress I was once Olga and actually lived there. I still remember my life as Olga and the longing to get to Moscow. "What are the similarities between 'Isobel' and 'Olga'? I asked.

"In many ways my life has been easier then Olga ... She had two sisters and all are unhappy. Olga is the oldest and feels the responsibilities. She lives in a small town and feels trapped … despair I suppose ... fatalism ... Chekov portrays. She is limited by circumstance. I don't feel trapped the way Olga felt ... I can make choices ... even if I chose to make my life as an author ... so the similarities ... I would like things to be different then how they are." She replied.

Interview with Author Diana Allandale

By Nazz Lane

Second Life has played host to a growing number of authors, publishers and promoters of the written word and the community is readying itself for its annual book fair. I had the opportunity to meet with and interview Diana Allandale, author of thirteen novels and a prominent member of the community. She has a strong presence in SL, including her booth "Passionate Books" at the Book Island Publishing Village, she has six locations in Second Life for residents to learn more about her and access her work. She also conducts a writing workshop for budding authors or those just interested in the "writing" process. Diana Allandale is really Diana Hunter in real life and writes romance novels with an erotic theme. She has a presence on My Space, a group in Yahoo and her own web site for promoting her work.

"Hello Diana and welcome to my home." I said as she arrived and dropped gracefully onto the floor of my living room. "Thank you Nazz. It's nice to meet you in person." She replied. We exchanged pleasantries and I gave her a brief tour of my home as we proceeded up to the third floor outdoor patio and made ourselves comfortable on lounge chairs. "I was just out looking at your web site, an impressive list of titles." I said. She thanked me and said, "My thirteenth just released last Friday I'm calling it my Lucky 13th." I asked if she was ready for the interview and she replied that she was.

NL: Can you tell me what brought you into SL?
DA: I heard an article on NPR in October of 2006. They were talking about this virtual world and how Toyota, Ford and IBM were making places and advertising themselves in it. I'd had some experience with virtual worlds, but hadn't heard of Second Life. But I thought, "Hey, if the big boys can do it, so can I." So when I got home that afternoon, I checked out the website, downloaded the client ... made myself an avatar...and came in-world! Of course I found out SL is MUCH more than an advertising venue. *grin* I came to advertise my books ... and stayed because of the community.
NL: Looking back to your experiences in SL, has it changed your writing?
DA: I don't think it has ... actually, what it HAS changed is my approach toward promoting my writing. The writing itself has grown, but I think that's more due to my editor's skill at guiding me than SL's chat. *smiles* That was pretty confusing, wasn't it. May I try again? I was just talking with another author who is very excited to use SL as a means of character exploration. She intends to create her characters and "play" them in-world...truly explore the psyche of the character before she writes the story. While that sounds like fun … To be honest, I have so many characters already rattling around in my brain that taking that much time to spend with one would drive me nuts. *Smiles* But it is a good use of SL's capabilities ... and a cool way to explore a character's motivations. I see it more as an opportunity to work through a spot rather than playing the character on a regular basis.
NL: Since you've been in SL ... What have you learned about yourself as a writer?
DA: That I'm not good at doing a serial on any sort of regular basis! *Laughing* I have one I started ... with intentions of writing a new episode every 2 weeks. Then it moved to once a month ... now I'm lucky if I can get one out every two months or so.
NL: This is a change of pace question … Who in SL would you like to meet and why?
DA: OOHH! ... Let me think on that ... Philip Linden *Smiles* because I'd love to meet the creative genius behind SL. Many people dream it ... he DID it.
NL: What was your most memorable moment in SL?
DA: I'm not sure I have just one ... One of the things I most love about SL are the almost serendipitous conversations that spring up, some of my better memories and friends were in chance encounters. I'm where I am today because of a chance encounter ... happened to meet Ravishal Bentham in Nantucket one day ... struck up a conversation ... and before I knew it he was helping me set up my first shop! I guess my most memorable was being on Paisley's show with Torley ... one can never forget an encounter with him *Smiles* ... He's as much a whirlwind in person as on the web *laughing*
NL: Which moment would you like to forget?
DA: Moments to forget? I'd have to say the little dramas that occasionally play out. For whatever reasons those begin, they always end badly.
NL: How did the concept for As the SL World Turns (Serial Story) come about?
DA: I'd actually toyed with the idea of writing an online serial ... just a way of getting people to the website. But then was talking to Rav and we started tossing the idea around about how it could be done in SL and viola! The serial was born.
NL: I see you have a presence on my space, yahoo groups, your own web site and six locations in SL, is your marketing strategy all internet based and do you have a RL presence as Diana Hunter or Diana Allendale or both?
DA: Mostly, yes. Since all of my books are released first and primarily as eBooks, it seemed to make sense that I do most of my advertising there. On occasion I take out an ad in the Romantic Times or Realms of Fantasy magazines ... but that's a limited audience. Since my books have a strong D/s component, I make sure I get my name into those circles as well as the romance genre ones and nope ... I'm only Diana Allandale in SL at the moment, *grin* It's good to have a name I can use later if need be.
NL: Where did the idea for doing the writing workshops come from?
DA: I teach creative writing in RL. I wanted some way to give back to the community and that seemed a logical place to start. Plus ... in several of my readings, people would ask questions about the writing process. So there seemed to be a need. I contacted Selina Greene about doing them on Book Island, since she was looking for ways to promote what was going on there ... and we were off.
NL: The workshops, have they been fun for you?
DA: Most weeks *grins*. Sometimes I choose a dud topic and then things fall apart. I've had anywhere from 3 people (on the duds) to over 2 dozen. But I like the "come if you want to" atmosphere ... don't want it to be a chore for anyone.
NL: Have you discovered any budding authors?
DA: Tons! There are lots of writers here in SL ... I think the world's focus on chat text actually brings out the writers. People role play here all the time ... and then want to write down either those experiences or they finally get the courage to write down that novel they have in their head. What will be interesting is if or maybe I should say WHEN someone figures out how to easily publish works here in SL. Right now all the stories exist OUTSIDE SL ... You can't actually sit and read a book in SL. The THINc books are close, but because they're rezzing, the flow of reading is hard for a novel. Once that hurdle is flown over, then you'll see a real revolution in publishing.
NL: Are you involved in the upcoming SL Book Fair?
DA: Yes, I'm helping with the planning ... and am visitor liaison and booth set-up helper. *grins* I'm also tech support on the stream...cause so far I'm the only one with stream experience. Somehow that made me an expert!?!
NL: I saw on your blog that you were attending the Romantic Times Convention in Pittsburg and discussing promotion using SL. Is promotion in SL working for you?
DA: Yes ... Very much so. Well, I think it is, *grin*. Let me explain ... I like hard data ... but there really isn't any way to quantify how any one promotion affects book sales. Royalty statements aren't really any help because print booksellers have tons of time to pay their bills. So the publisher might sell one of my books in January and I won't know about it till May or June ... when it's bundled in with all the other books the bookseller paid for at the same time. Website hits are another data source...and while I get spikes, like after Sundays' Meet the Author ... it pretty much stays steady. So there isn't really a good, hard way to collect data. So why do I say yes its working? Because I feel it in my gut ... Because I've had more interviews in SL based newspapers and TV stations and blogs than I have in RL. Because I have so many readers who come to my readings and tell me about the books they've bought *grins*. Longer answer than you expected, huh? I'll spend more money on the Romantic Times convention this year than I've spent TOTAL in SL ... and hit only 1000 people. That's another reason I think SL is working for me.
NL: From your Bio "Each book Diana writes contains a kernel of truth or deeply held conviction from her own life, but don't ask her where truth ends and fantasy begins &she'll never tell!" Are you ready to share with my readers?
DA: *Grins* Nope! Let them figure out what's truth and what's fantasy. That's part of the fun.

I thanked her for the time and for being so delightful to chat with. She smiles and replied, "Thank you for asking me! This has been fun. I look forward to seeing what you can make out of my mess of answers. Farewell Nazz."

Wolfgang Baur speaks at Third Life

On Sunday February 3, the Third Life writers' sim invited writer, editor, and game designer Wolfgang Baur to the Wordsmith Hall castle to speak about his magazine Kobold Quarterly. "Third Life ... is a community created to provide a venue for creative folks to hang, learn, support each other and kick start careers."

Baur, who appeared as the avatar Quick Sideways, explained, "Kobold Quarterly is a magazine aimed at fantasy roleplayers, in particular D&D and tabletop gamers. ... filling the void where Dragon Magazine used to sit." He told the audience his small magazine needed writers and artist submissions, as well as more subscribers, "Most of it is aimed at playable material for any reader's homebrewed fantasy setting. So, I'm taking nonfiction, game articles, and eventually adventure scenarios ... 1500-3000 words."

"I'm also taking articles that do a broader view of fantasy and myth. Nonfiction summaries of a particular element (say, castles or sieges) would be great. Actually, because D&D is currently shifting to a new edition (ships in June), now's a good time to pitch something that ISN'T specific to the rules."

Baur also had advice for beginning writers, "the easiest way to impress an editor is to put everything in place before the editor has to ask. Then, assuming your query is approved, delivering at the requested length and on time. I'm always shocked at the number of queries I accept that never come back with a completed article. And even more shocked that writers regularly leave basic things like their name and address off a manuscript. Don't make me dig for this stuff."

For more information about Kobold Quarterly, go to it's website at http://www.koboldquarterly.com/. Wolfgang Baur has a site of his own at http://www.wolfgangbaur.com/. The Third Life sim hosts writers' workshops and classes, and has readings of poetry and Greek drama.

By Bixyl Shuftan

An Extraordainary Artist

Sometimes a wasted trip is never really wasted. While hanging around a favourite club in SL ;a pure Paparazzi moment happened. Standing just to my left was the artist Cienega Soon.
The artist is currently December's Featured Artist at the Avatrait Gallery in SL. Her work is a high definition mix of still life and popart/modernism. But what makes it so unusual is that it's all SL based.
Cienega Soon's 27 pieces are displayed for another week on the main floor of the gallery, and can be found on the upper levels as well all season long.
Her latest showing is from her series of children's books that have just been launched in rl. Once again all the artwork in them were created in sl.
When she is not expressing herself in this way, she is working for Looking Glass Magazine as a Music Journalist, as well as running her own gallery.

The book is called An Extraordainary Day and follows the adventures of a Raven and his friends.



Photos of the artist and her work taken by reporter Dashwood Dayafter

RL author interviewed via SL for BBC2s The Culture Show

"Transworld novelist Caitlin Kiernan was the first author to be interviewed via Second Life for a national television programme. This groundbreaking interview is a first for British television and heralds a new way for programmes to talk to stateside authors.
"On Saturday 17th November, BBC Two's The Culture Show broadcast a unique interview with Caitlin Kiernan, whose novelisation of the new Robert Zemeckis’ film Beowulf, has recently been published by Transworld.
"The interview was part of a film in which Tim Samuels examines the enduring power of the Anglo-Saxon poem 'Beowulf'. Meeting poets, translators, and stars of the new Robert Zemeckis film, he also interviewed award-winning dark fantasy writer Caitlin Kiernan, via the online society, Second Life.
"Keen to have the US-based author involved in the programme but faced with the complication of organising a crew to fly out to film her at home in Atlanta, The Culture Show came up with the idea of interviewing Second Life veteran Kiernan in the 3-D virtual world.
"Caitlin Kiernan says: 'Frankly, I rather dislike doing face-to-face interviews, and so I was surprised to find the 'Beowulf' interview within Second Life was actually a lot of fun.
"'Rather than merely sitting somewhere dull answering a lot of questions or, worse yet, answering questions over the phone, I was able to sit in the virtual world of New Babbage, in the laboratory of my alternate-history 19th-Century time-travelling alien alter-ego, typing out my answers on a portable difference engine!
"'The mundane was made extraordinary, allowing the interview itself to take on many of the dynamic aspects of storytelling. For the first time ever, I think I was actually disappointed when an interview was finished.'"

The Culture Show was broadcast on BBC TWO at 7.00pm on Saturday. Beowulf by Caitlin Kiernan, based on the screenplay by Neil Gaiman and Roger Avary, has just been published in Bantam paperback, price £6.99 and is available from all good booksellers, including amazon.co.uk

source: 'UKSF booknews'