31 ratings | 24 reviews | avg rating:4.61

Michael Edelson’s Followers (76)

Michael’s Bookshelves

to-read (0)
currently-reading (0)
read (31)

Michael’s Friends (153)

Kevin Comer

1,103 books | 108 friends

K.B. Ezzell

43 books | 23 friends

Belemrys

607 books | 197 friends

Sierra SeaWitch

816 books | 104 friends

Pavel Lishin

1,357 books | 89 friends

David

1,081 books | 130 friends

Christina Beaulieu

550 books | 57 friends

Erin Sky

499 books | 782 friends

More friends…

Michael Edelson

Goodreads Author

Website

https://www.amazon.com/Michael-Edelson/e/B019LO...

Genre

Science Fiction, Thriller

Member Since

October 2015

edit data

Learn more
Ask the Author

To ask Michael Edelson questions, please sign up.

Popular Answered Questions

What’s your advice for aspiring writers?

Michael Edelson There are two very important skills when it comes to writing stories. One is the writing itself, which is actually quite common. I bet if you talk to …moreThere are two very important skills when it comes to writing stories. One is the writing itself, which is actually quite common. I bet if you talk to ten of your friends, at least three of them can do it. But that doesn’t mean they can write a book, or even a short story.

I also think that the importance of the writing itself is a bit overstated. I've read plenty of great books by people who were very mediocre writers but knew how to tell a tale. If you’re a fan of literary fiction, you'll disagree, and that's fine. I see the appreciation of language as a different form of entertainment. If I notice the writing, then I am sucked out of the story, and I don’t like that. If you share this view, if you want to create the sort of fiction that pulls people in and keeps them there, then you need to understand that as a skill, writing is second fiddle to the ability to weave a cohesive story with all the necessary elements to make it compelling, including characters that readers can form a genuine bond with.

That ability is exceptionally rare. If you have it, but you're not a very good writer, then don't worry. You can still write a novel, just don't focus too much on the language. Write simple sentences with matter-of-fact descriptions. You can always go back and fix it later. Writing is a skill that improves with exercise, just like anything else, and so you will get better at it as you do it. If you read, then you know what sounds good in your head and what doesn't. Don't pay attention to what you're writing until you finish at least one chapter, then go back and read it, and change the things that don't sound good.

The most important thing to realize is that your first book is probably going to suck, and that’s okay. You can rewrite it later. The reason most people who finish a novel don’t ever manage to do anything with it is that they become fixated and fail to move on. You wrote your first book? Great. Put it away for at least a year and start your next one. It’s going to be better. Much, much better. And when you’ve written two or three more, go back to that first one. Laugh at how bad it is, then when you’re done laughing, fix it.(less)

flag

3 likes · like
Comment

When will Theft of Fire vol.II, the Audible version be out-it is even written yet?

Michael Edelson Hi Richard,
I apologize for the late reply. Goodreads did not alert me to your question!

The answer is, it's not written yet. Theft of Fire is doing ver…moreHi Richard,
I apologize for the late reply. Goodreads did not alert me to your question!

The answer is, it's not written yet. Theft of Fire is doing very poorly, sales wise, unlike all of my other fiction titles. I think that's because mainstream thriller readers/listeners don't usually read the works of independent authors. Or I haven't figured out how to market it yet. So with poor sales, writing a sequel isn't worth it. I have no problems with the other books, sales are great, but this one can't seem to find any traction. (less)

flag

like
Comment

See all 4 answers from Michael Edelson…

Combine Editions
Michael Edelson’s books

Average rating: 4.06 · 2,533 ratings · 294 reviews · 10 distinct works • Similar authors

	Seed 3.93 avg rating — 1,703 ratings — published 2015 — 4 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Ice Fall 4.32 avg rating — 573 ratings — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Theft of Fire 4.40 avg rating — 120 ratings — published 2017 — 5 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Talhoffer Society 4.29 avg rating — 106 ratings — 5 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Cutting with the Medieval Sword: Theory and Application 4.65 avg rating — 26 ratings — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Shedding Light 3.60 avg rating — 5 ratings — published 2010 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Concerns of Roman Vishniac - Man, Nature, and Science 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Addonizio (Hugh) v. U.S.; Lamorte v. U.S.; Vicaro v. U.S.; Biancone v. U.S. U.S. Supreme Court Transcript of Record with Supporting Pleadings 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	35-MM Photography, Spring 1970 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Concerns of Roman Vishniac 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

More books by Michael Edelson…

5 posts
Michael Edelson's Blog: Michael Edelson's Blog

Theft of Fire is out!

Theft of Fire is finally out on Amazon and other online retailers. Check it out!

https://www.amazon.com/dp/1975940873/

The Kindle version hasn't been merged yet. If you prefer to read it that way, you can find it here:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B076CRPJGX/ Read more of this blog post »

1 like · Like • 0 comments • flag

Published on October 12, 2017 18:08

View all 5 posts »

Quotes by Michael Edelson (?)

“Live free or die,” he muttered, and it suddenly occurred to him that for the first time in his life, he was actually, totally free. Alex was a product of the public school system, and since childhood he’d been taught that America was a free country. The older he grew, however, the more he realized that American freedom was an idea more than it was an actuality. He had the right to bear arms, but only if the government let him. He had the right to protest, but only with a permit and in designated areas—even his freedom of speech was subject to the will of the courts. Small things like going camping, fishing or walking down the street with a beer were subject to constant government meddling. He wasn’t a right wing nutcase, he could entertain the notion that some restrictions were a necessary evil brought about by an increasingly complex society and a growing population, but that didn’t mean he liked it, or that he didn’t resent the lie. “Regulate this,” he said, hefting his rifle.”
― Michael Edelson, Seed

1 likes

“it. “Live free or die,” he muttered, and it suddenly occurred to him that for the first time in his life, he was actually, totally free. Alex”
― Michael Edelson, Seed

1 likes

“Surviving a war doesn’t make you stronger. It makes you weaker. So weak, that you can barely stand to be alive sometimes.”
― Michael Edelson, Seed

0 likes

See all Michael Edelson's quotes »

Topics Mentioning This Author

topics	posts	views	last activity
Cozy Mysteries : Kirsten's 2017 Plan	21	185	Apr 01, 2017 05:59PM
Around the Year i...: Kirsten's "Let's Clean Out My Backlist" Plan for 2017	8	69	Apr 02, 2017 06:02PM
Crime, Mysteries ...: Kirsten's "Let's Clean Out My Backlist" Plan for 2017	12	38	Apr 03, 2017 11:24AM
Goodreads Choice ...: Kirsten's 2017 Plan	14	151	Apr 03, 2017 07:33PM
Around the Year i...: Group Reading Timeline (2017)	479	387	Dec 11, 2017 10:23AM
Around the Year i...: Group Author Map (2017)	406	305	Dec 11, 2017 10:25AM