Interesting comparisons

[jpskewedthrone]

OK, so I finally managed to yank my eyes from my cover art and look on the inside of the dust jacket where the marketing info is printed. And I actually read it. They compare my book to the works of:

Ursula K Le Guin (Earthsea)
Tanya Huff (Quarters series)
Raymond Feist (Magician)
Patricia McKillip (Riddle-Master)

Interesting. Not what I would have expected. Not what I would have said if someone had asked me, but then again, I'm not really sure what I would have said.

They also said . . . let's see . . . that it was a "highly original premise" and that it was "character-driven". A bunch of other stuff too, but those were the things that leapt out at me. I'm not sure about the premise thing, but I do agree that it's character-driven.

Anyway, something (for me) to think about. The comparisons I mean.

Comments

[pbray.livejournal.com]

Okay, so if you were writing the marketing copy, who would you have compared yourself to? Which book(s)?

[jpsorrow.livejournal.com]

I knew someone was going to ask me thing, that's why I said I didn't know who I'd compare myself to. But if you insist . . .

Perhaps Tad Williams? Guy Gavriel Kay? At least, these are the writers that I aspire to.

So let's turn the question around: Who would YOU compare YOUR writing to?

[pbray.livejournal.com]

Seriously, it's easier to spot the comparisons that are wrong. It's not Robert Jordanesque, in that the series has a finite ending. You can't compare it to George RR Martin's Fire & Ice series since the scope of the action and cast of viewpoint characters is much smaller.

[jpsorrow.livejournal.com]

Too true. I'm not so sure about my Tad Williams comparison. I haven't been happy with some of his recent stuff. Plus the whole scope/tone thing isn't quite right.

But you didn't answer my question: who would you compare YOUR stuff to?

[pbray.livejournal.com]

Well, actually the not Robert Jordan and not George Martin comments work for my stuff, so far anyway.

Comparison wise, David Gemmell would be good, or Peter Morwood, or even David Webber's fantasies.

I'd be flattered if someone compared my writing style to Patricia McKillip, but it wouldn't be accurate.
The difficulty is separating out authors I admire from authors whose writing styles are similar to my own.

And, of course, if this is a marketing exercise, they are going to pick big name authors to compare against, even if it's not really a close match.

[storytellersjem.livejournal.com]

I'd like to be compared to George R.R. Martin, please. :) Sharon Kay Penman and Roger Zelazny are good, too. :)

[pbray.livejournal.com]

I'm waiting for other writers to be compared to me. That's yet another milepost that you've arrived-- you're well known (and presumably well paid).