I’m Melinda Snodgrass a screenwriter and a Wild Cards Author — ask me anything!

[u/MMSnodgrass]

Melinda M. Snodgrass is a recovered lawyer, a screenwriter and novelist with novels available from both Tor Books — The Edge of Reason, The Edge of Ruin and the Edge of Dawn, and Titan Books, (The Imperials series. The High Ground and In Evil Times. The Hidden World the third book in the series will be released on July 17 th 2018, and she is working on the fourth book, The Currency of War. She also co-edits and writes for the Wild Cards book series with George R.R. Martin, and is the executive producer on the upcoming Wild Cards TV series. She is an FEI dressage rider who owns two Lusitano horses — her stallion Vento da Broga, and her new young horse Donhador.

Proof:

https://twitter.com/wildcardsseries/status/1003743234416398337

[u/plitox]

Hi. Long time Trek fan here.

'Measure of a Man' is one of the most delightful hours of television I have ever seen. Thank you for that, and great work.

Last year, I was rewatching 'Ensigns of Command' for that one scene where Picard puts the Shelliak on hold, and I noticed something about the treaty section on LCARS. It reads as follows (copied from tvtropes):

WE CAN DO SEARCH-AND-REPLACE. COME TO THINK ABOUT IT, THAT'S WHAT THE SHELLIAC WANT TO DO WITH THE COLONY ON THE PLANET. THIS SECTION DEALS WITH THE RIGHT OF EACH PARTY TO CONFER WITH THE OTHER IN THE EVENT SOMETHING SCREWY HAPPENS WITH THE TREATY. THIS MAY TAKE THE FORM OF NORMAL EM SPECTRUM COMMUNICATION, SUBSPACE EM COMMUNICATION, FACE-TO-FACE MEETINGS, TELEPHONE TAG, MESSAGES IN BOTTLES OR OTHER WATER-TIGHT FORM OF ENCLOSURE, GOSSIP, HALF-TRUTHS, OUTRIGHT LIES, OR FACE-TO-FACE MEETINGS. INTERRUPTION OF TREATY COMPLIANCE SHALL NOT EXCEED ONE (1.00 X 10E0) STANDARD UFP SOLAR YEAR (EXCEPT DURING THE MONTH OF JULY). SEE TECHNICAL TA-48985.1742A-C(58945) FOR CODE INPUTS. LCARS UPDATES ON TREATY COMPLIANCE INTERRUPTIONS SHALL TAKE PLACE AT EACH STARBASE LAYOVER, OR WHEN COMMANDED BY RANKING UFP (OR OTHER DESIGNATED BODY) OFFICIALS AT STARFLEET HEADQUARTERS, 24-539 FEDERATION DRIVE, SAN FRANSISCO, CALIFORNIA, EARTH, SOL SECTOR. REQUEST FOR ASSISTANCE MAY BE PLACED BY TRANSMISSION TO STANDARD STARFLEET BOOSTER STATION FOR CHANNELLING TO UFP TREATY OFFICE (SOL SECTOR).

Did you write this also? Because it's great.

[u/[deleted]]

Has there been any progress with the Wild Cards tv show? I’m dying to see Croyd come to life!

[u/TheDarkTriad37]

How involved were you with GRRM's beginning stages of ASOIAF, and how much input did you give him? Furthermore, how does it feel to know the first book of such a massive, influential, and likely timeless series is dedicated to you?

[u/[deleted]]

George R R Martin seems like he’s a really cool guy. How did you guys become friends?

[u/leowr]

Hi Melinda,

How long have you been riding horses?

Also, what kind of books do you like to read? Anything in particular you would like to recommend to us?

Thanks for doing this AMA!

[u/MMSnodgrass → u/leowr]

I rode my first horse when I was 3 years old up at the old Sagebrush Inn in Taos NM. I've ridden most of my life. On my bucket list is to ride the Grand Prix. I've only make it to intermediare II so far.

[u/wattliar]

Do you enjoy telling stories orally?

Do you spend your free time alone, or with groups of people?

[u/Chtorrr]

What is the very best dessert?

[u/[deleted]]

Melinda, I'm a big fan of your work.

My questions is about TNG The Measure of a Man. You mentioned that you're a lawyer. One thing that has always struck me about that episode is the lack of procedural fairness in Starfleet and the Federation. Was that intentional, or just a device to make it fit into 44 minutes of television?

[u/silendra]

Hi, thanks for doing this! I’ve heard Wild Cards was based on an RPG. Do you have a favourite character you’d like to play? If you could redesign one, what would s/he be like?

[u/MMSnodgrass → u/silendra]

Yes, Wild Cards began life as an RPG that George RR was running for us called Superworld. If we were to start playing again I would absolutely play my teleporting, hermaphrodite, gender changing assassin for the British Secret service Noel Matthews aka Double Helix. He's so cynical and such a grey figure.

I usually play paladins, but it would be really fun to play Noel.

[u/Chtorrr]

What were some of your favorite things to read as a kid?

[u/MMSnodgrass → u/Chtorrr]

Hi, so much, but most of it science fiction. The first book I ever read all by myself was A Princess of Mars and I was hooked. Then I discovered Norton and Heinlein, and I just kept reading. I also loved books about horses. The Silver Brumby was one of my favs.

[u/Citizen00001]

Your books often feature a blurb on the cover from George RR Martin. Have you or will you be working with him on any projects? Like maybe one of the HBO GoT spinoffs?

[u/MMSnodgrass → u/Citizen00001]

George and I have been friends for more years than I want to admit. I won't be involved with the new GoT show because I'll be exec producing the new Wild Cards show. And I have a couple to TV series that I'd also like to try and set up.

[u/Citizen00001 → u/MMSnodgrass]

Last year George talked about how he got rejected as a writer for Star Trek TNG in 1987. Were you friends back then? Do you have any insights on why and who rejected him and how you got in?

[u/NHDruj]

Hi! I just wanted to say that The Measure of a Man is, in my view, the best TNG episode. In fact, I'll go one further and make the bold claim that it is one of the best science fiction TV episodes ever made. So thank you for writing that!

I...don't really have a question, I just wanted to say that.

[u/MarkLawrence]

Good to see you on reddit, Melinda!

How many superheroes (Aces) have had their own stories in the Wild Cards series? A wild guess would be fine.

Has there ever been a graphic novel or comic version mooted?

[u/maxmike]

Do you still like to eat superhot chile peppers?

[u/travelersoul]

What are the pros and cons of managing a shared world and do you recommend it for new authors?

Also how do you manage editing duties and writing your own non wild card books?

Lastly do you ever share your fan fic with your friends?

[u/MMSnodgrass → u/travelersoul]

I love working in a shared world. It's a lot like being in a great writer's room in Hollywood. However you have to have the right mix of people. They need to be collaborative and willing to let other people write their characters. I think it would be fine for new writers assuming no egos get in the way. the other major thing to keep in mind is when you plot out a book in a shared world have a really strong, detailed outline so everyone can avoid a ton of rewriting.

[u/MMSnodgrass → u/MMSnodgrass]

I can do both my work and Wild Cards because I try to be very disciplined. I write almost every day. I set a quota. 1000 words for prose, 7 pages for a script. I like having a couple of things going so I can do one in the morning and another when I get back from riding. it keeps me from getting stale on either.

[u/Theresah331]

Hi Melinda,

Hope that you are getting a lot of questions.

One that i Have is How does Low Chicago fit into the Wild Cards World?

[u/[deleted]]

[u/KevinAndrewMurphy]

What's the darkest Wild Cards has ever gone and what is the lightest?