Cybling Store
November 12 - 14, 1999
Hyatt Regency Woodfield, Schaumburg, IL
http://www.doodler.com/windycon/ 		Cybling Contents

Kristine Smith
September, 2000


 Kristine Smith

Smith was born in Buffalo NY. An only child, Kristine grew up in Florida, and schooled there through college. She received a BS in Chemistry from the University of South Florida in 1981.

Except for a brief stint working in a retail clothing distribution center (an education in and of itself), she spent her entire working career in manufacturing/R&D of one form or another. She's spent the past 12 years at the same company, a large pharmaceutical manufacturer.

When she’s not working or writing, Kristine Smith reads, plays golf badly, watches the Cubs and the Dolphins, noodles with the Peavey Falcon (a Fender Stratocaster knock-off). She’s been promising herself for years she'll learn to play.

"I want to play guitar like Johnny Marr without putting in the time to learn. Which of course means the noodling will most likely continue for quite some time."

If you cannot attend the September 2000 chat, please post your questions here:
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The Windycon '99
Q&A


Cybling Kristine Smith, Author of CODE OF CONDUCT is joining us tonight to tell us a little bit about her book and her self. We'll be starting this evening with questions that have been left on her mini-message board on her link log page.
Baryon Hi all, Good to meet you Kris
Kris Hi Bary--same here
Cybling Kris...this question was left for you by chromeDreamr...Did CODE of CONDUCT go straight to paperback??
Kris Yes, it was a three-book paperback contract but for any hardcover fans, CODE will come out in hardcover from the SF Book Club this winter.
Cybling Excellent! That's quite a coup!
Kris I was very happy I'm a member, and I'm going to get the flyer featuring my book as a Featured Alternate...
Baryon SF Book club is a good source of hardcovers for books that were paperback only.
Kris Yes, they are--it's a good feeling.
Cybling Kris...I'll be getting back to the "three book contract" a little later with some follow-up questions, but first, here's another question from your mini-board ... Code of Conduct (Nov'99 from Eos) just became available. This is your first novel?
Kris Yes, it's my first novel.
Baryon Kris, who is the publisher
Kris Avon is the publisher.
Cybling Okay...Avon is publishing the hardback and Eos the paperback? Or is Eos part of Avon?
Kris Eos is the SF imprint for Avon, any fantasy or sf from Avon it published under Eos.
Cybling Thank you Kris! The first chapter of CODE OF CONDUCT is online at http://www.sff.net/people/ksmith/code-excerpt.htm. Why did you decide to put the first chapter online?
Kris My editor suggested it, because she thought it was a good hook.
Megwan Not completely unlike those novels that end with an excerpt from the writer's next novel
Cybling It is ... it's always nice to sample a new author online before buying.
Kris That's what the thought is, I believe. It's gives folks a taste, and you hope they want more.
Baryon Kris, do you know Andy Heidel at Eos?
Kris Yes, I've met Andy--he's a good guy
Megwan Not to seem too much a Philistine, but what is the plot of CODE OF CONDUCT?
Cybling Kris...Have you published anything before this? Short Stories or Novellas?
Kris CODE is my first published work--should I answer Megwan?
Cybling Please do 8^D
Kris A woman who has been in hiding for years is found by her ex-lover, who is highly placed in Earth government. He persuades her to come to Earth to investigate his wife's death. Lots of people are looking for her, and she finds out things about her own unpleasant past as well.
Megwan So sort of a sf/detective hybrid.
Cybling Thanks for that summary, Kris. Another question from your mini-board...You have a BS in Chemistry and work in R&D for a pharmaceutical manufacturer....and your life experience has contributed to this book in some ways. Why did you choose the SF genre, instead of telling this story as a medical thriller?
Kris In a medical thriller, the disease almost counts as the antagonist, something to be defeated the conditions people develop in CODE will need to be coped with, not defeated.
Megwan Andromeda Strain...Satan Bug...Arrowsmith...s/medical thrillers.
Baryon I think Jim got first dibs on this to review and if so will be in the March issue, unless I use it as the baryon contribution to the Zine Guild Zine in January
Kris A review? Yikes.
Cybling Thanks Kris. Yes, Baryon has an online and paper fanzine that specializes in reviewing S/Fantasy/Horror books.
Baryon Thanks Jan. That's my job and I'm sticking to it
Kris only if he's kind and brings chocolate
Cybling LOL!
Megwan Be glad he is reviewing it; I never get any reviews on my short stories.
Cybling 8^) Kris...Megwan brought something up, that was also one of the questions on the mini-board. How do you feel the mystery and SF genres intersect? (Megwan: So sort of a s/detective hybrid.)
Megwan rich, semi-sweet chocolate, no doubt!
Cybling Kindness is assured, the chocolate is negotiable I think.
Kris I think sf and mystery blend well. In sf, you need to explain your society and how it works making your protagonist maneuver through the social and government mazes necessary to explore a crime can give a reader an idea about the society without resorting to big lumps of exposition.
Megwan The Demolished Man, great example of sf/mystery and different societal parameters.
Kris I enjoyed that book immensely.
Megwan One of the masterpieces of the genre, though I consider STARS MY DESTINATION to be better yet
Cybling Kris...final question from your board and then we're going to open questions. Your protagonist is female. Did you ever consider using a male as your main character?
Kris No, to writing a male protagonist. I guess it just never occurred to me. Jani's been in my mind for years.
Cybling Thanks Kris...we're just going to ask questions off the cuff now.
Baryon Meg, I review short stories in Anthologies in case you get one there, so there is a chance it will happen
Kris And I do like Stars My Destination.
Megwan Good taste, yes!
Baryon Gully Foyle is my name...
Kris and terra is my station
Megwan and Terra is my nation...
Kris whoops! deep space is my dwelling place and death my destination
Baryon and the stars my destination
Cybling LOLOL!!!! Wonderful!
Megwan And Death's my destination.....yikes, outta air in this wreck!
Cybling Kris...you mentioned earlier that CODE OF CONDUCT is the 1st of a 3 book contract. Any idea of what the next 2 books will be?
Kris Oh yes--I'm in the midst of book 2 revisions the second in a series, tentative title RULES OF CONFLICT. Jani Kilian's still the main character. Book 3 will follow. Same characters.
Cybling Excellent...so it's a series then...any idea when the 2nd book will appear on the shelves?
Kris September 2000.
Baryon Will Avon being bought by HarperCollins have any effect on them?
Kris No, so far I still have my editor, and most of the Avon folks remained. I think it will work out ok.
Cybling fantastic! I'm making a note now that I'll have to get hold of you this summer to come out again and chat with us....perhaps at ChiCon.
Kris [fingers crossed] Chicon--I hope the book will be out!
Baryon Yep, a good many of the older Harper folks are gone
Cybling You will be attending the World SF Convention, won't you?
Kris Oh yes--I'm paid up and ready--it will be nice to *drive* to a WorldCon. It means I can buy as much as I can fit in the truck!
Baryon another truck person, all right!
Cybling LOL, yes indeed. That's right you are located here in the Midwest. Kris, the first time I met you at WindyCon you'd popped into the Green Room to pick up your badge and were delighted about a review you just got on your book which had just hit the shelves. Who was that review by, btw?
Kris Yes, Publishers Weekly called CODE an "ace." I was *so* happy--I've posted pertinent phrases on my website and the Amazon page for CODE. The date was Nov 8th for the review.
Cybling Kris...going back to the earlier question about short stories and novellas... do you feel your talent lies in Novel length works only, or do you plan to lend your hand to shorter fiction?
Kris I would love to try shorter fiction, but everyone has a natural length, and I feel comfortable with novels. Plus, when I think of a short story, it's not sf but horror or suspense, and I don't have time to pull out of Jani-land yet. It's the day-job. I mean that the day job keeps me focused on one project at a time.
Cybling It must be tough juggling a R&D job and your writing...when do you find time for you art? Do you schedule time each day?
Kris Weekends are big writing times. Evenings when the deadline approaches. Lunch hours, when I'm really pushed.
Baryon you are keeping notes for future reference though, aren't you?
Kris Re-story notes--oh yes, those shorts will get written eventually.
Cybling Sounds like you don't have much time to breath, let alone a social life... tell me if I'm prying.
Kris The social life is put on hold a bit--I have very understanding friends.
Cybling This is good.
Kris They're as thrilled as I am to see CODE in the stores--it helps.
Cybling Barry... Vegman and I have two copies of Kris' book. I'll send you our extra copy.
Kris And I can send an autographed bookplate, if you wish.
Cybling Kris, I just pried a little and asked where you have time to breathe. Now I want to ask a little about your science specialty. Do you plan to use extrapolation of chemistry as a major part of your books?
Baryon Jan, yes and Thanks...Kris For sure, thanks
Kris Chemistry, no...more biology, genetics, and biochemistry. I've had to read textbooks in fields I have no formal training in, which gets interesting, and I've visited the med school sections of UW Bookstore where it's really interesting.
Cybling It's just that I noticed that Jani uses a "film" on her eyes, as well as some protein-eating bombs in the first chapter... and I was wondering if there was basis for those two things in today's chem labs.
Kris There probably is... I think the film may be common now in Hollywood movie makeup. Some of those contacts are scary!
Cybling A liquid film that congeals into an eye covering.
Baryon They've started selling the weird contacts at Cons now
Kris I took some license there, perhaps I'm assuming some things will come to pass, which may or may not. Some products which sound like a good idea at the time, may not work as I found out more. But I thought that sort of memory eye-film would travel better than a series of containers of lenses. Less to lose.
Cybling And Jani's the kind of person who needs to travel light. You also mention, early on in the book, that she's had some enhancements...
Kris Very--she could teach me something about packing.
Cybling are those cybernetic, bio, genetic?
Kris Her artificial limbs are cybernetic. I call them "animandroid" flesh on an artificial frame. Her brain augmentation is a gland that is induced to grow after the components are injected into her ventricle, so that's almost "natural." I guess you'd classify them as bio-enhancements. Cyber has computer connotations that don't apply.
Cybling Gives me the willies...sorry Your descriptions make it possible for me to "feel" what's happening to her. Which of course is kudos to your writing skill.
Kris Thank you!
Cybling Kris...the story in the first novel CODE OF CONDUCT takes place at several "stations". If we were to imagine our galaxy in our minds eyes...about how much area does the book cover?
Kris Oy...because I use GateWays, and wormhole travel it's conceivable we could be all over the place, with no real method or pattern to the travel. Some worlds would be in neighboring solar systems, while others would be *very* far apart.
Cybling So the government is a federation type situation? I'm not that far into the book at this point.
Kris The Commonwealth is an autocratic, structured government definitely not a democracy, or a republic. The cracks are starting to show, though The colonies are worrying their bits. How's that for mixed metaphors?
Gandalara LOL Well, they're under a reign ...
Kris Oh ho--a punster. Get him!
Kris It's my first interview--be kind.
Cybling Ah...so the Commonwealth is getting too large for it's own good...right when they're opening relations with the Haarin...your alien race
Kris Yes, the government has reached a critical point. The expansion is ending, people are settling down, and they have time to think about their tax burden, and their lack of representation and they start to think they could do better which isn't always true, but that's where the drama comes in. The drama...the conflict...what makes an interesting story line.
Gandalara Sorry I was late - but who's the protagonist? Man? Woman? Group?
Kris The main protagonist is Jani Kilian, a colonial woman much of what happened to her stems from the lack of respect Earth felt for its colonies it's a very stratified society (right word?).
Cybling Gand, there's also a URL to the first chapter of the book on Smith's link/log page at http://www.cybling.com/artists/ksmith.html
Gandalara So far, this sounds like something I'd like. Will look in the next dealers room :)Hardback or paperback?
Cybling and yes, I'd say stratified.
Kris PB
Cybling Paperback...and coming out in hardback via the SF Book Club...when is it due out Kris?
Baryon Whom do you consider your favorite authors, or is there one in particular who made you want to write?
Kris Winter 2000 catalog is all I know could be Jan, Feb--don't think it would be earlier. Favorite writers--Terry Pratchett, John le Carre, Patricia Highsmith. John le Carre made me want to create a character as vivid as George Smiley Le Carre's books aren't to everyone's taste but I enjoy them immensely.
Baryon My only problem with LeCarre is that he doesn't write fast enough
Kris Oh yes
Cybling Folks, we've kept Kris duct-taped to the hotseat now for over an hour (1/2 hour longer than we would have had her at WindyCon). Kris...have we worn you to a nubbin yet? Can we keep you a bit longer, or do you have to get back to your revisions?
Baryon Kris great to have had you with us, I'm looking forward to reading the book
Gandalara Last SFBC catalog was dated "November". Next one should be Winter
Kris If you have a couple more questions, I can take it.
Cybling Great!
Gandalara Is your book militaristic? (Is that a word?)
Kris Militaristic? Not classically. Jani is a woman who never should have joined the Service in the first place. I don't have classic space battles or tactics more espionage and sociopolitical hijinks.
Cybling Cool.
Cybling Back to your aliens, Kris..
Kris Arrgghhh--someone I know!!
Gandalara LOL
Doranna Nyeh heh heh
Cybling Oh...Dor...you and Kris know each other? Small world!
Kris Hide the valuables.
Cybling LOLOL
Kris From other newsgroups--she writes a bit too.
Doranna A bit.
Kris a tad
Doranna But don't let me stop your conversation dead...something about your aliens...?
Cybling Okay...back to the aliens...2 meters tall, rangy, jaundiced colored. Is their a particular reason you made them look "ill" to us.
Gandalara Cool. You guys keep writing, and I'll keep reading :)
Kris Yes. I wanted them to look different in a way that could be attributed to metabolism -- a characteristic that a person could acquire over time that could indicate to others that something is wrong with them. A person's skin color changing would be a rather radical event.
Cybling True. But the Haarin *are* an alien race, or would that be telling?
Kris I'm really reluctant to give away more here because I'll blurt something.
* JanCyberC shrugs and smiles
Gandalara No spoilers, please. :)
Cybling LOL, it's our job to be nosey.
Kris Well, you're already reading the book, Jan so you'll know soon enough.
Cybling Yes, but I'm the impatient sort. LOL!
Kris Neener neener
Gandalara LOL
CyblingOkay...one final question on the aliens...they're very religious types. Based on any Earth present day religion?
Kris Ok newbie ?--does LOL means Lots of Luck?
Cybling Laughing out Loud.
Gandalara Laughing Out Loud
Kris (learn something new every day) Religion...I didn't try to base the idomeni religions on any particular Earth-based faith... although I know as sure as God made little green men someone is going to find a parallel with some faith or practice somewhere.
Gandalara idomeni = Eye doh may ne?
Kris Long E--ee-doh-man-ee
Cybling Thanks. And the Haarin are a sect of the Idomani that will lower themselves to deal with humans, correct?
Kris The Haarin are the social outcasts they speak different languages, and have different social customs. When an idomeni is expelled from their bornsect they have to learn a new way of life although some of them are so far gone it's not much of a stretch.
Cybling Kris... Allen wanted me to say Hi and sorry he couldn't join us out here tonight...thanks for the signed book. He got the last one at the dealer's tables at WindyCon.
Kris He's most welcome. Hey--I did sell out!
Doranna Good for you!
Cybling Which was very exciting.
Kris Thanks.
Gandalara When is the 2nd book coming out? Approximately :)
KrisSept 2000.
Doranna Whew, doncha hate that down time?
Gandalara Do you write full time?
Doranna [says she with a 1.5 year gap in releases]
Kris No, not full-time. I have a day job. and when I first signed my contract, the first book (CODE) wasn't supposed to come out until Spring 2000, so Sept 2000 doesn't feel bad.
Doranna Oooh, you got moved up. That's cool.
Kris I need more time...the writer's mantra. I need to find out when #3 is due out--that's up for discussion.
Doranna Please tell me these are pbs...
Di Will you follow the same main characters?
Kris Yes, pb, same characters. They're too much fun to leave.
Cybling BTW (By The Way) Kris...anytime you find yourself tiring let us know and we'll reluctantly let you go...but...I have a couple more questions here.
Doranna Is each book a separate story? Or is it a trilogy? (sorry if you answered this before I got here)
Kris It's a series. We'll try to tie up major threads in book 3, and then Kris will cross her fingers for another contract.
Cybling Okay...here's another nosey question from me. How did you get that first contract. Did you have and outline and an agent? Or did you have a finished novel to show around?
Kris I finished the book, got the agent, who is a friend's agent, so I had an intro of sorts, and he agreed to represent the book. He asked me to write up some short synopses of the next two books and they were bought as a threesome, much to my surprise and delight.
Cybling Wow!
Kris I was stunned.
Di Congratulations! Quite a feat!
Kris Thanks.
Doranna Definitely! Eos is a good line, too!
Gandalara Like a tun of bricks ... :::applause:::
Kris I'm happy with Eos. They're good to write for.
Doranna Are you with LAG, or is she with the other Avon lines?
Kris LAG is with Roc.
Doranna Oh, well, I was bound to get it wrong.
Kris Or is Roc Pocket...
Kris Penguin?
Gandalara Was WindyCon your first con? I take it you were a fan before a writer... ?
* Doranna could have sworn LAG was with Avon...
Doranna No, Pocket is S&S....Penguin, yeah, that's the ticket
Di Kris, it was a pleasure to meet you. Sorry I must leave, but am high speed wobbling. I am putting Code on my December List! CYA
Kris No, my first con was Intersection, an out-of-the-country Worldcon, which was quite a shock to the system (Bye Di)
Cybling Kris, okay, here's my final question, I promise ... I'm assuming you've been involved with SF fandom for awhile. Am I correct and are conventions where you made those contacts (friend and friend's agent)?
Kris Ok. I made contacts initially through my writing course I made friends with my instructor, who was a pro and introduced me to other pros.
Gandalara Clarion West?
Kris Deep breath ... a correspondence course... offered by a popular writing magazine.
Gandalara Oh, I wish Rasgold was here. He'd love to hear a success story :)
Cybling Shades of Heinlein!
Doranna Yow!
Kris Well... my friend told me she had 75 students... and 3 wrote at pro potential... not pro-level, but pro-potential... and one of them was me.
Gandalara Yay!
Kris It took a few years to really learn to write.
* Cybling breaks promise
Cybling Was that a snail mail course or an email course?
Kris snail
Cybling This mind boggles. You have a lot of perseverance... I'd be goofing off in that sort of scenario.
KrisThe course itself didn't teach me to write. Writing taught me to write... it may have taken longer for me than some because I would get angry and quit, but I kept coming back. I'm a writer.
Cybling That you are!
Doranna I'm still back trying to figure out if the first book has a cliffhanger!
Kris well...
Doranna fess up!
Kris yes and no...work on the hand strength
Doranna LOL!
Kris grip real good. I'm kidding...kind of...
Kris Well, be fair, you have to make people want to read books 2 and 3, now!
Cybling That's the idea!


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