<Jedimaster> Welcome to the HoloNet. We would like to Thank Mr. Allston for
<Jedimaster> being here. Here are a few rules you will follow. There will be
<Jedimaster> no flaming, nuking, cussing, flooding, abusive behavior, harassment.
<Jedimaster> You will be nice and respectful to our guest. People who don't follow
<Jedimaster> the rules will be kicked, banned, and klined from the sever for
<Jedimaster> eternity! Please ask intelligent questions.
<Jedimaster> Here is the format of the chat.
<Jedimaster> The first 10-15 min. will be moderated so the Hosts can ask questions.
<Jedimaster> To ask a question you will whisper it to the Hosts
<Jedimaster> and the Hosts will ask Mr.Allston
<Jedimaster> the question. Questions will be asked in alphabetical order.
<Jedimaster> Do Not Whisper to Mr.Allston!
<Allston> Howdy, everybody.
<Jabba> Hello Mr. Allston, I like your books
<Allston> Thanks, Jabba.
<GhentZ> First, let me congratulate you and a GREAT SW novel.
<GhentZ> One of the best yet.
<Allston> Thanks. I'm glad people are enjoying it. REALLY glad.<g>
<GhentZ> It's #8 at my local B. Dalton
<GhentZ> beating SPHERE and 3001
<Allston> It has also made it onto USA Today's bestseller list, at #20. I hope it's a sign of things to come.
<GhentZ> Excellent!
<GhentZ> How did you come up with some of the characters' names?
<GhentZ> Give us a few examples.
<Allston> Oh, goodness. Well, Kell is named after one of my cats -- Quel. Tyria is from the Phoenician city of Tyre, and Sarkin is from an odd real-world name Harkin. (more)
<Allston> Ton is derived from Tom, my father's name, and Phanan from an Irish family name. Falynn was originally Falys (from Alice) until I realized how it would sound when pronounced. <g>
<GhentZ> Heheheheh.
<Tbone> hee
<Jedimaster> cool
<GhentZ> Good change.
<Allston> Oh, and Ekwesh is adapted from a variety of Indo-European words meaning "horse"... as a mnemonic. Since he's horse-faced.
<Allston> I think those examples pretty much show how my head works when I'm coming up with names...
<GhentZ> Very interesting.
<GhentZ> What can you tell us about your next SW books?
<Allston> Well, both take place in the time-frame before Wolverton's COURTSHIP. Rogue Squadron will play an ever-increasing role in the storyline. Each book will split its POV between Wedge and one other pilot -- Wedge/Kell in the first, Wedge/Face in the second.
<GhentZ> Yay! Face is cool.
<Tbone> That's great. Keeps it fresh.
<Allston> Face and Phanan are pretty much the characters closest to me -- wiseasses, by and large. <g>
<GhentZ> Heheh.
<Jedimaster> :)
<GhentZ> When are they due out?
<Allston> IRON FIST is, I think, a June or July release. (I haven't inquired recently.) I believe that SOLO COMMAND will be early next year sometime.
<GhentZ> Wow.
<GhentZ> Long wait.
<Allston> I have no idea what's behind the timing... and, yeah, it's a long wait for me, too. I like instant gratification. <g>
<Jedimaster> Mr. Allston are you working on any games right now?
<GhentZ> Hee-hee
<Allston> I'm working on two game items -- a Strike Force (Hero System) update (actually, a whole series of them), and a standalone science fiction RPG currently called ASTRO-RANGERS. The latter doesn't have a publisher and may end up being Web-distributed.
<Jedimaster> wow
<Allston> In my copious free time, that is. <g>
<Jedimaster> hehe
<GhentZ> Right.
<Tbone> Where did the name Face come from...rings a bell (A-team)?
<Allston> There WAS a character nicknamed Face in the A-Team, but I wasn't a fan of the show. The idea that he was an actor and had a nickname the way Lionel Barrymore, "The Great Profile," did. But since he was essentially a teen idol, a phrase like "The Great Profile" was just inappropriate. Also, who wants to call a lead character "Profile"?
<Allston> (Er, by "he" I meant Face Loran, not Dirk Benedict from A-Team.)
<Tbone> hehe, thanks.
<Tbone> Were you supplied with the book titles?
<Tbone> and/or plotlines?
<Allston> No. Mike Stackpole recommended using a "cool squadron name" for the first novel. The second one was originally called "Destroyers," which had a couple of pertinent meanings, but it was decided that this was a little too bland, so I took a Lucasfilm suggestion for that one. (more)
<Allston> As for plotlines, they're all mine. I was handed the basic goal of the three-novel set, but not any plotline elements.
<Tbone> I'm curious about whether or not there was anything LFL said that you could NOT write about or reference in the novels. Were there any things that were "off limits"?
<Allston> I wasn't given a list of don't. (Maybe there is one, but they didn't send it to me, <g>.) Some don'ts where pretty self-evident -- no killing off of franchise characters, for instance. (more)
<Allston> I did push against some informal boundaries in the original depiction of the resolution of the romance in WRAITH SQUADRON, and had to rewrite a scene or two. Not a big problem.
<Allston> Oh, I apologize, there WERE some subjects I couldn't write about, mostly pertaining to topics covered by the movies. But I can't talk about that. <g> Fortunately, I didn't have any in my plotlines.
<Lando> Mr. Allston are you going to have anything to do with any starwars card games in the near future?
<Allston> Card games? No... I've never designed a card game and so probably wouldn't be the most appropriate contributor to one.
<Lando> Do you Play any Online Starwars Games like JediKnight or XVT
<Allston> No. Online role-playing has always seemed interesting, but not to my taste -- and not fitting in with my available free time. These days, I have barely enough time to dress and answer my e-mail, and people tend to insist that I do those things. Most of my exposure to SW comes from the movies and the novels.
<Lando> Mr. Allston what i mean do you play starwars games in general, particullarly the new ones... ?
<Allston> Oh. Well, if you mean online computer games, that's what I was answering. If you mean computer games like X-Wing, a little -- just the first one. No Dark Empires or anything like that. And, drifting into the subject of the paper RPG, I use its supplements extensively, but as reference.
<Jedimaster> ok we are going to open up the chat room for everybody to ask questions...one question at a time please
<Jabba> Hello Mr. Allston, do you ever visit websites?
<Allston> Jabba: I visit lots of websites, including some SW websites. I do some research on-line.
<Vader> Ok. msg your questions to the ops. TOo much chatter
<GhentZ> Research for what? The novels?
<Allston> Research for a variety of things. Just the other day, I was researching Herodotus' The Histories for a Champions article.
<Lando> Or just for the fun of seeing what the Fans have to say?
<Allston> Lando: I do some of that, too. I indulge in the author-ego practice of doing a search for my own name on the web to see who's saying what.
<Lando> heeh cool
<Vader> *LSF_Drgn_4LoM*--> I liked all the humor in the book. what made you decide to do this? <Allston> Vader: Both Mike and my Bantam editor said that it went over very well with the readers, and it's something I'm trying very hard to learn to write well.
<Vader> *ALD_Starfire* --> I was just wondering if when the prequels are released are the books starring Luke and co. going to stop being written? Ask him that for me if thats ok. ;)
<Allston> Vader/Starfire: Post-new movies... I have no idea what's going to happen. I hear that there won't be any "modern era" SW stuff for a while, but I can't imagine that this will be permanent.
<Lando> <LSF_Spark> what made you start writing in the first place?
<Allston> Lando: I'm not sure, but I'm from a family of writers and journalists. (And lawmen and military men, too. A path not taken.) I haven't been able to STOP writing since I was about 9.
<Vader> Temujin says:: What advice would you give to SW authors out there? (I am half way through with my novel, therefore I'm interested in your advice on anything and everything if that's not too much trouble)
<Allston> Vader/Temujin: Rough question. My biggest advice: Never say to yourself, "So-and-so got away with writing a mediocre book, therefore I can too." Even if you're writing something other people categorize as junk, do your damnedest.
<GhentZ> <Artoo> Mr Allston, what sort of StarWars fan are you?
<Allston> GhentZ/Artoo: What types of Star Wars fans are there? <g> I see Star Wars as a continuation of 1930s pulp, and I'm a big pulp fan.
<Jedimaster> LSF_KoD_Jackal asks: What sort of technique do you use in order to make Battle scenes dtailed and believeable, yet still captivating and exciting in contrast to some authors whose are boring and monotonous?
<Allston> Jedimaster/LSF_KoD_Jackal: It's important to be more involved in the characters' heads and perceptions than in minutae of what they're doing. It's the characters, not exact descriptions of their maneuvers, that make things important, that make readers passionate about the outcome of events.
<Vader> Mr Allston: Will you be attending Dragon*Con in Atlanta, GA this september?
<Allston> Vader: I hope to. It depends on money and available time. I've never been to a Dragon*Con and have wanted to for years. Keep an occasional eye on my Events page and you'll always know what I'm up to convention-wise.
<Jedimaster> *KayIscah*asks: Did you read much StarWars before you were asked to write Wraith Squadron? What books have you read?
<Allston> Jedimaster/*KayIscah*: I'd read the novelizations of the three movies, and that's it. When I landed the novel assignment, though, I started reading by the boxcar. The most crucial ones to what I'm writing have been Mike's, Tim Zahn's, Truce at Bakura, Shadows of the Empire, and LOTS of technical works.
<Lando> LSF_Rogue_Ghent2_LedrLSF Asks: After playing Xwing vs TIE Fighter, and then reading through many Star Wars books, those that deal with starfighter battles, mostly yours and Stackpoles, lack a bit of realism. I mean, after playing XvT againsnt other people, some of the things you guys write, isnt really how it works. Firing torpedoes at TIEs for example is next to impossible... they move too fast to hit, and certin other fly manuevers and ways people fly is
<Allston> Lando: Well, that begs the question: Which simulation of the movies do you want to be the "correct" simulation? The games, books, computer games? I don't know if it's possible to coordinate them exactly.
<Lando> True....
<Tbone> Jabba asks... who does the art for the covers of your books?
<Allston> Tbone/Jabba: Paul Youll. A Bantam regular.
<Vader> From *LSF_Temujin*----> Mr. Allston, I've been experiencing the problem (while I am working on my novel) that I tend to make the main character 'perfect,' or too good to be true. Have you had any problems like that? What would you recommend people to do/think when they notice this trend starts?
<Allston> Vader/*LSF_Temujin*: It's a common problem. When you're a beginning writer, it's harder to like your own character if he's flawed. But look at some of the best-beloved characters of fiction -- such as Sherlock Holmes -- and examine how their writers portrayed their problems as enjoyable eccentricities.
<Tbone> Case asks...how Mr. Allston feels passing from reader (or viewer) to writer ?
<Allston> Tbone/Case: You mean, what it's like to suddenly participate in something I've just been watching? It's enjoyable. The opportunity to contribute to something I've liked for years.
<Jedimaster> *Dewback*asks: how can your autograph?
<Allston> Jedimaster/Dewback: Oh, send me an SASE. My address is on my How to Contact page off my web page.
<GhentZ> <LSF_GT_Eagle> What's M. Allyston's fav. seen in the SW movies and why?
<Allston> GhentZ/LSF_GT_Eagle: My favorite scene? Oh, that's rough. Probably the climactic fighter-duel sequence in STAR WARS. Everything's on the line, most of the surviving characters have their last contributions to make, anyone can die at any time... <g>
<Lando> I have somethign to add to my earlier question about games, and the realism of it all, its the nature of the way people fly, it isnt the same as it would be when you write it, so i am just wondering whether they can do the same feeling between the two?
<Allston> Lando: I'm not sure what you mean with your question. Can you rephrase?
<GhentZ> <Artoo> Why did you want to write a StarWars novel?
<Allston> GhentZ/Artoo: As I mentioned before, it was the opportunity to contribute. I really am pleased to be able to take characters, especially Wedge, and try to show him in a light no one else has shown him in before.
<Vader> *LSF_Temujin* says " I am an Imperial fan, and the main character in the 'thing' I call a novel :) is an Imperial also... How would you recommend me to portray the Rebels in my novel?"
<Allston> Vader/LSF_Temujin: Remember that everybody thinks he's always right and nobody ever is. Remember, too, that almost nobody is without a noble trait or two, even if few people ever realize it.
<GhentZ> <LSF_KoD_Jackal> How does one go about getting published (I have a friend who is a great writer and is in the process of writing a book but has no idea on how to become published)?
<Allston> GhentZ/LSF_KoD_Jackal: It's a matter of writing, submitting for publication, being rejected, rewriting, resubmitting, over and over again until you develop the skills (and persistence) necessary to attract the editors' eye. It's a punishing process, and rejection is a big part of it.
<Jedimaster> *KayIscah*asks: Does your website have a book signing schedule? And what is your web address?
<Allston> Jedimaster/KayIscah: Any signing I arrange on any but the most short-term notice ends up on my web page, yes. My web address is http://www.io.com/~allston/ .
<GhentZ> <LSF_Starbuck> i'm more than halfway through the book (so don't give the end away =) and can hardly distinguish the writing from that of Stackpole, don't take this wrong, but it seems as though it's a natural transition from rogue to wraith. i was wondering if you've had any experience with this subject (military/commandos/aviation) in real life.
<Allston> GhentZ/LSF_Starbuck: Thanks; any similarities between my style and Mike's largely come from having similar perspectives on the treatment of the subject matter and enough experience to have an idea as to some (hopefully) effective ways to portray things. But, other than having numerous military folk in my family, I don't have any real-world military experience.
<Tbone> Dewback asks...Mr.Allston what is your favorite creature?
<Allston> Tbone/Dewback: Creature? In the real world, felines of all sorts. In the Star Wars universe, I'm not sure I have one.
<Ghent> You're in Texas?
<Allston> Ghent: Yep, a Texan born and reared. I do a fair number (usually six or so) conventions a year, all over the country.
<GhentZ> We need you here in LA!
<Allston> GhentZ: Thanks! (I hope to visit LA one of these days. I reach San Francisco every three or four years.)
<GhentZ> Whoa.
<GhentZ> <Artoo> If you could have starred in the trilogy, who would you have wanted to be?
<Allston> GhentZ/Artoo: What a question... Not one of the three leads, I'm certain. Grand Moff Tarkin, maybe? <g>
<GhentZ> Hehehe. Wasn't my idea.
<Jedimaster> *KayIscah*asks: Mr. Allston, I think while Stackpole is excellent in action, you really showed him up on characterization. What was you're largest source for Wedge's character?
<GhentZ> Yeah, Wedge was cool
<Allston> Jedimaster/KayIscah: I'm glad people think I've handled Wedge well, because, honestly, I don't really have a model for him. When writing him, I just called up Denis Lawson's face and manner and tried to make sure all his actions and words seemed appropriate to that image.
<GhentZ> <Lando> Do you Know of any authors that check out games like Xwing vs TIE Fighter to get added depth to how people really fly, and to get added depth on the realism of the books?
<Allston> GhentZ/Lando: Off the top of my head, no. I'm sure there are some. Outside the SF field, though, writers are more likely to consult with real-world pilots about flying and dogfighting technical realism.
<GhentZ> <LSF_KoD_Jackal> What technique do you use in dvlping your characters...By that I mean, actors use techniques, I know, me being one, to discovr how the character they portray wouldreact in a given situation....Do you use something similar in making your characters come alive or is it a more complicated, or mor simplistic technique being used in your writing....
<Allston> GhentZ/LSF_KoD/Jackal: This varies from character to character. Sometimes they're based on real people I know well enough just to say, "Yes, he'd do that/No, he'd never do that/Here he'd surprise me." (more) <Allston> But with other characters, the method is to get to know his/her mind as well as possible, then project myself in that mind whenever I'm trying to gauge the character's response. It's very difficult. Sometimes very rewarding.
<Jedimaster> *KayIscah*asks: I've heard SW authors are usually chosen by someone's recommendation. Who brought you into the universe?
<Allston> Jedimaster/KayIscah: I was recommended by Mike, and then Tom Dupree, who was then the SW line editor at Bantam, looked into my work and decided I was right to take over the series for a while. I'm grateful to both of them.
<Allston> Jedimaster/KayIscah: As backstory for that answer, Mike and I are both long-time role-playing game writes. We even collaborated on an RPG, called JUSTICE, INC., in 1984.
<GhentZ> <LSF_Starbuck> did you ever actually contact Lawson, or recieve any kind of input or interest from him?
<Allston> GhentZ/LSF_Starbuck: Nope. No contact whatsoever. I read some of his interviews. Seems like a nice guy.
<Jedimaster> *Jedi_Knight*asks: Besides the X-Wing novels, are you working on any other Star Wars Projects?? And what is your favorite Star Wars movie?
<Allston> Jedimaster/Jedi_Knight: No other Star Wars projects at this time. (I don't imagine anyone, myself included, will consider any such thing until I've finished my three novels.) My favorite? EMPIRE.
<Jedimaster> good choice..
<GhentZ> What did you think of the SE changes?
<Allston> GhentZ: I enjoyed them, for the most part -- particularly the revised ending to RETURN, which seemed to be a more satisfying conclusion.
<Vader> *LSF_Temujin*asks: " How tough it is for a new author to get his work to the publishers? You mentioned persistence... Exactly how long it took you to get your first novel accepted by the publishers?"
<Allston> Vader/LSF_Temujin: My story is a little odd, because the publisher came to me on my first novel. I was an experienced RPG writer and they wanted on to start a line of RPG-based novels. (more)
<Allston> It's very easy to get work TO the publishers. Write it, rewrite it, send it in. (You'd be surprised at how few people actually manage to do this.) (more)
<Allston> But what's hard is learning to write to a level where the assistant editor in charge of going through the "slush pile" will read past the first three pages (or even three paragraphs). It's just a matter of writing, and rewriting, and suffering rejection, and figuring out where you went wrong, and starting over. And over. And over. (repeat as necessary)
<GhentZ> Huh.
<GhentZ> How long did it take you to write WS?
<Allston> GhentZ: Gosh, my memory is a little blurry on that point. A couple of hundred hours, broken up across several months? Three hundred? Four hundred? It's hard to remember. A typical novel takes anywhere from 100 to 500 hours -- and those are novels at about the same finished length.
<Allston> Vader: As for my first original novel, it took a few months and just one rejection... I was pretty lucky. That was GALATEA IN 2-D, which is now out of print.
<GhentZ> D'oh.
<GhentZ> <Artoo> How many countries do you think have "gotten" your novel?
<Allston> GhentZ/Artoo: Gotten WRAITH SQUADRON, you mean? I have no idea. I've never received fan mail from outside North America for any of my novels, to the best of my knowledge.
<GhentZ> heheh, but when did you start and end (what months)?
<Allston> GhentZ: Aha. That's what I have external memory for. Give me a minute while I fire up my word processor and check.
<Allston> GhentZ: Began beginning of June 1997, finished middle of August. About ten weeks.
<GhentZ> Wow!
<GhentZ> Pretty quick.
<Allston> GhentZ: Too quick, probably. I think I strained something (invisible authorial muscles) when I did it. I wish I'd had twice the time.
<GhentZ> Hahahah!
<GhentZ> ROTFL
<GhentZ> <LSF_Drgn_4LoM> any idea when WS is coming out in England?
<Allston> GhentZ/LSF_Drgn_4LoM: No idea, unfortunately.
<GhentZ> I'll check with BDD
<GhentZ> <LSF_Starbuck> did you enjoy english classes in school (any level), were there any particular 'classics' of literature that have stuck with you, or any authors that have really shaped your style?
<Allston> GhentZ/LSF_Starbuck: In school, my favorites among the classics and near-classics were Dumas pere and Conan Doyle. I did enjoy literature courses. Shaped my style? I don't think so. Writing that is considered classic today wouldn't get sold today -- too leisurely a pace, usually.
<GhentZ> <Artoo> In the timeline of the movies and after, when do you think is the best opportunity for another novel?
<Allston> GhentZ/Artoo: I think the period right after RETURN is richest in opportunity. TRUCE AT BAKURA is one of the few I know of that tried to capture some of the post-victory confusion and chaos. There's more room there for development.
<GhentZ> <LSF_Temujin> To Mr. Allston: I understand about the hours thing you were talking about. I've been working on my novel for at least 100 hours now and it doesn't look much better than a story told by a 8th grader. =)
<Allston> GhentZ/LSF_Temujin: It sometimes feels that way. Sometimes it's best to get away from it for a while to gain some perspective on what you've written... but keep writing on other things meanwhile.
<GhentZ> <LSF_Wraith_Dervish_Powerdroid> As Leader of Wraith Squadron in the Last Starfighter League, I bid you welcome, great book :) If you ever get good at XvT, you will always have a space in the squadron. Do you ever intend to play Xwing vs Tie Fighter?
<Allston> GhentZ/LSF_W_D_P: After writing WRAITH, I bought a computer muscular enough to handle XvT. So I probably will.
<GhentZ> YES!!
<GhentZ> Play JEDI KNIGHT too!
<Vader> Ok Guests, lets have just a few more questions
<Vader> I'm Sure Mr. Allston has dinner or something to get to.
<GhentZ> <Artoo> Do you think you could write a novel set right after RETURN?
<Allston> GhentZ/Artoo: I could... but by the time I could get around to it, it'd be time to write novels set in the prequel period, wouldn't it? I doubt I'll have the opportunity.
<Allston> Oh, I did want to say that I really like the Lewis Galoob vehicle toys. They've been very useful references, too. <g>
<GhentZ> Heheheh
<GhentZ> <LSF_Wraith_Starbuck> are you going to have any influence on the rogue comics? perhaps a wraith 4-shot... for that matter have you read the x-wing comics?
<Allston> GhentZ/LSF_Wraith_Starbuck: I haven't talked with Dark Horse about the comics. (Don't want to talk to anyone about anything until I finish the novels, actually.) But I'd be happy to participate in a Wraith miniseries, or another title that deals with some of the Wraith characters.
<Jedimaster> ok....thank you Mr Allston fo being here
<Allston> Jedimaster: Glad to be invited. Thanks to everybody.
<GhentZ> Thank you!!!
<Jedimaster> Hope you can come back again..
<GhentZ> Come back when IRON FIST is out! Or even before!
<Vader> Thank YOu mr. Allston. If you ever want to promote yourworks, well you know you can come here :)
<GhentZ> Hehehe.
<Allston> I'd be glad to come back. Some time after my typing fingers have had time to heal. <g>
<Jedimaster> hehehe
<Vader> May the force be with you
<GhentZ> Maybe we can get several authors online at the same time. . .
<Jedimaster> that would be great
<GhentZ> You and Stackpole maybe.
<Allston> Sounds like fun. Frantic fun, but fun.
<GhentZ> :)
<GhentZ> Everybody go visit Mr. Allston's page
<GhentZ> at www.io.com/~allston
<Allston> I understand that my garlic chicken is cooling in the other room, so I have to duck out. 'Bye, everybody! And thanks for having me.
<GhentZ> MtFbwY, A!!!!
<Jedimaster> bye
*** Quits: Allston (Quit: Leaving)
