I am Scott Sigler, #1 NYT bestselling author here to do an AMA about my novel EARTHCORE, the /r/rbooks selection for Sep/Oct 2017, and answer any questions you might have. Get some!

[u/scottsigler]

I am a “hybrid author,” publishing with both Penguin Random House and through my own imprint, Empty Set Entertainment. I am also a podcaster, having given away my serialized, unabridged audiobooks away for free since 2005. I also have a YouTube series called “So You Wanna Be A Writer” where I discuss the nuts and bolts of writing and selling novels. Ask me anything.

Proof:

• https://twitter.com/scottsigler/status/905550595477487616
• https://www.facebook.com/scottsigler/photos/a.10150109025863843.286691.6665638842/10155147582523843/?type=3

[u/shieldss5150]

Several years ago you were on your book tour for Pandemic and I was planning on attending your Baltimore signing. The day before, I found out my dog had cancer so I was unable to attend. I mentioned the situation on Twitter and you sent me a message asking how she was. I never followed up. I just wanted to let you know how much it meant to me that you took the time to reach out in that moment. Turns out she made it through surgery and lived another 3 years. She passed away this year at the age of 18. For this (and many other reasons), you have a fan for life. Thank you, sir.

[u/buenodad]

I am hopelessly addicted to the GFL series. I’m trying to not re-listen to the All-Pro. I’ve listened to it in August and twice this year before that (I have a lot of time to listen to audiobooks). Anyway, some questions...

How much of Yitzhak Goldman will we see in GFL VI? He was so important to help Quentin transition to the Krakens early on, before his whirlwind path in the Champion? Also, how much of that storyline did you know in the Rookie? Was that always the plan or did you go back and mine some stuff to progress his storyline?

Sklorno names... do you pick them randomly or is there a method to the madness? Love Ciudad Juárez, that’s one of my favorite character names. If you need a name, I suggest Jurupa (where I live 👍🏼)

Will we get any other GFL Novellas? The Reporter and the Detective were amazing. I’d love one on the Prawatt, Bumberpuff is awesome; or something from the Ki’s perspective; or George Starcher, to read about the firmament and all that... if you’re selling I’m buying.

Thanks!

[u/Timster_Maldoon]

Hey Scott,

First I'd like to say that I loved Earthcore, AND Ancestor, AND the Infected Trilogy [Those chicken scissors though!!] and I'm hoping you'll be able to find the time to continue the story for The Crypt; but for now can you pur-leease give us a clue when we'll be able to get our dirty mitts on GFL book VI????

[u/SophieTheCat]

Good sir,

What will it take to get my name to be murdered grotesquely in one of your books?

[u/Hopless_1]

Are you, or have you, or will you bring any of your work to film? Which of your works would you like most to bring to screen?

[u/oiujlyugjh99]

Hi Sir! I have a few questions:

• Where do you like to write? Is there a specific place where you like to read as well?

• Any advice to cure the blank page syndrome?

• Any advice about sending manuscripts to publishers (i.e is there a way to make your text stand out from the pile)?

• What is your education background like? Do you think it helped you in getting where you are now in your career?

Thank you very much 😊 !

[u/MacStainless]

Hi Scott. LOVE the GFL series. Go Krakens! I'd like to know what you felt was the biggest catalyst decision you made early on that made "the difference". Thank you!

[u/IAmBabs → u/MacStainless]

I don't know a lot of people who have read GFL, so I'll ask you - does one have to know a lot about football to enjoy GFL? My knowledge extends to...there are two goals, a lot of cheering, and the football holiday is a great opportunity for deals on pizza.

[u/aaronmelzak]

I know you did Infection as a comic and due to certain issues, it did not go very far and has been discontinued. Would you be open to trying the comic adaptation route again or doing a longer form like a graphic novel? I think your books would translate very well in the graphic form and would be a way to pull in an audience that is more captured by storytelling of a visual nature.

[u/Leaga]

I got into the GFL series after your appearance on the Nerdist podcast. I'm a big nerd and a big football fan so the description you gave on there was incredible. I listened to The Rookie on your free podcast series and have bought and read through all of the other GFL books. I'm a big fan of the series.

My question is: Where should I start for the rest of your bibliography? Are there other books set in the same universe, just not centered around football? Can I jump right into EARTHCORE or is it a part of a series? I've never been sure of where to jump in to your other books and would love to hear from the source.

If it helps with the suggestions at all: I prefer to start at the beginning of a series, not jump in the middle, and generally like when mundane/everyday things are juxtaposed with sci-fi and fantasy. The GFL series obviously fit wonderfully well into that niche. I'd love to get more like it.

[u/RomanDA17]

I have been an OG since Epp1 of the original Earthcore.

What one of your books is your personal favorite? Why?

I love how all your books exist in the Siglerverse, was that something you had planned from day one, or it just kind of made sense after a few books?

Thanks! David

[u/zo0o0ot]

How has your fandom of the Lions influenced your writing of the GFL books?

Should Eric Ebron be traded, or does he have a future with his current team?

[u/scottmacs]

When you come up with a name for an alien species or something else not yet part of the English language, how do you decide on spelling, pronunciation, and which syllables to emphasize? I started reading your books before listening to the audiobooks and have been surprised several times.

[u/TenTonApe]

So I may have just missed this but:

[u/Chickens1]

I know you would love to have a movie or TV series made on one of your series. Galactic Football seems like a no brainer to we fans. Can you talk about how close that has come to happening? Chances for the near future? Could you get Stan Lee to make a cameo?

[u/Chtorrr]

What was your first encounter with the horror genre as a kid?

[u/brichards99]

Thanks for the AMA, and thanks for bringing one of your book tours through Pittsburgh a few years ago. I had a chance to meet you then, and the event was a great time.

You've inspired me quite a bit as a writer, and oddly it is your approach to podcast-first novels that motivated me to stop fussing over 'being a writer' and to start putting words together into stories.

What are your thoughts on the future of podcast novels and your own work? Do podcast novels in general have a future?

And lastly, can you recommend any other writers who deliver in this format? I've already gone through all of yours so far . . .

Thanks!

[u/eisforennui]

my first exposure to your writing was Earthcore. overall the concept was enjoyable, but the way you wrote Kayla, for example, was like reading straight out of a Penthouse forum letter - the super hot, self-proclaimed slut that can kick ass and shoot all the guns.

you're definitely not alone in this - it seems like a lot of scifi authors mix up their plots with their wet dreams, and it gets so frustrating.

do you think you've improved since then in your writing of women? it can be difficult to find novels that portray women normally, and not like a caricature. i'm interested in reading further because i like your concepts, but if i read another Kayla, i'm going to bail fast.

if you're still reading this comment/question, i know i'm coming off like a dick, but her characterization was so outrageous that it threw me out of the story like a trebuchet. eek!

[u/IAmBabs → u/eisforennui]

I enjoyed Margaret Montoya in the Infected Trilogy, and the female characters in the Generations Trilogy.

I need to reread Noctournal, Ancestor and Earthcore, but I don't recall having an issue with them.

[u/longhorn627]

Scott,

Huge fan here. Think I've read/listened to almost ever book/novella you put out. Have you wver thought of writing a series focused on the history of the galactic wars? I think that would be super fascinating. Keep up the great work. Cant wait for Book VI!!!

[u/sophiearuiz]

Hi Scott,

New fan here. Just wanted to say I’m three quarters of the way through Earthcore as discovered from Reddit’s October’s monthly book and I’m loving it so far! I really enjoy your style of writing and how descriptive you are about the characters as I can picture them perfectly in my mind. I was definitely not expecting the type of creatures that came out of the caves and demolished the Earthcore camp, but that’s another reason why I love this book so much as it isn’t predictable.

I hope to read more of your books after I’ve finished Earthcore! Best regards.

[u/Chickens1]

Why have I been over on r/ama hitting refresh when you were all in here having fun?!!

[u/Chtorrr]

Have you read anything good lately?

[u/bexwhitt]

I can see the galaxy-wide football books have in one way got to a conclusion but in another, they have been left with the knife about to drop. My question is are they finished are in someway will they continue.

[u/RuthCarter]

Where did the tradition come from of naming characters after people who got tattoos of elements from your book or your signature?