Ask Fandemonium! (Novels)

[Darren]

The adventures of SG-1 and the Atlantis expedition continue in the officially licensed novels from Fandemonium. Now, the publisher wants to hear from you!

GateWorld is giving you the chance to get your questions answered straight from the source. What books are coming next? Where can you find them? How do they find their writers? The sky's the limit.

Have a question about the Stargate novels that is just burning a hole in your pocket?
Post it here! We'll take submissions until Friday, November 18, then send them on to Fandemonium. The answers will be posted at GateWorld.

A few special guidelines for this thread:

• Give a peek at what has been asked so far. We won't send the same question twice.
  
• Ask relevant questions. Fandemonium publishes the new SG-1 novels currently available only outside North America (though the upcoming Atlantis novels will be available worldwide!). They don't publish non-fiction books like the script book or illustrated companions.
  
• No discussion or attempts to answer others' questions, please. This thread is intended to provide a list of questions that we can send on to Fandemonium.
  
• Be creative! (Everyone wants to know when the SG-1 novels might be available in the U.S., for example, but due to licensing issues it's not something to which the company can really speak.) For this Q&A to be successful, you'll have to use your noodle. Learn more about the current and upcoming titles in GateWorld's Books section.

Learn more about the company and the books at the official Web site, StargateNovels.com. Thanks to the crew at Fandemonium for participating!

[timdalton007]

I guess I'll ask the first question(s):

1. Where do you find writers from?

2. Will accept submissions from fans for possible offical publication?

3. Your previous books have included sequels to SG-1 episodes including A Matter Of Time. Are we going to see more books that act as sequels to other episodes?

timdalton007

[Atlantis1]

I was wondering why the books are not sold in North America at the same time the UK and other countries can buy them? It seems you would make getter sales.

[prion]

I was wondering why the books are not sold in North America at the same time the UK and other countries can buy them? It seems you would make getter sales.

The answer's on their FAQ: Why are the books only for sale in the UK, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa? Why can't I buy them in the USA and Canada? A: Sorry, our license to the novels covers only these territories.

Someone in the USA has the license to sell Stargate SG-1 books, therefore Fandemonium can't sell 'em, but they're free to sell SGA books

[Albion]

1. Where do you find writers from?

2. Will accept submissions from fans for possible offical publication?

The answers to these are also on their website. In the past, Fandemonium have 'cold-called' fanfic authors by email and invited them to submit a novel. I think that was the case for the first couple of novels. Thereafter, they are committed to inviting fans or non-professional writers to submit novels for publication. I believe one of the upcoming books - Siren Song - is one of the 'winning entries' from the last (and first) such invite. Others are scheduled to follow.

The answers on their FAQ

It's also in Darren's post that began this thread. Come on, people! Do try to ask questions that you can't find the answers to by reading the thread or Fandemonium website carefully before posting!

Albion

[Tok'Ra Hostess]

Is there a specific kind of writing that you are particularly on the lookout for, ie: hard-to-medium science, murder-mystery, search&rescue?

Similarly, are there any writing styles that you automatically turn down?

[Chevron_Eight]

1. How much input/suggestions/creative control does MGM/Sony exercise in the content of the novels? In other words, how much feedback do they give?

2. What's the process like, running stories past the show's producers and MGM?

3. Could Fandemonium establish new Stargate canon, something the TV show(s) could reference?

4. How many proposals from last year's open submission are still left to be read/evaluated?

5. Has anything been done in regard to co-publishing in North America with Roc? Can Roc pick up the North American rights to a Fandemonium book the same as any European publisher can buy rights to an American book, and vice versa?

6. Better yet, when does Roc's license expire?

7. Could Fandemonium put up something like a quick-access timeline to show how each novel fits into Stargate continuity?

8. Is this too many questions for one post?

[Darren]

OK gang, I've added another guideline for this thread:

No discussion or attempts to answer others' questions, please. This thread is intended to provide a list of questions that we can send on to Fandemonium.

Please post questions only. Other book-related conversation can find a happy home in a different thread here in the "Stargate Merchandise" folder. We have several for the Fandemonium books already.

Also, there is no need to repost questions. I'll be thorough when culling this thread.

[Elite Anubis Guard]

There have been alot of new fanmade spin-off's recently, what are the odds are seeing Fandemonium create a spin-off book series?

[Mister Oragahn]

The FAQ says this:

Will the books follow canon?

Yes, all our books will be faithful to the canon as established by the show. At the end of each novel the Stargate SG-1 universe must be left as it was found. Our stories will have the feel of a really good double episode, featuring all the action, adventure, mythology and banter we love about Stargate SG-1. However, unlike the TV show, the books will be able to delve more deeply into the thoughts, feelings and reactions of the characters.

... and:

How much influence does MGM have over the stories?

MGM approve each stage of the novel's production, from initial outline to final draft. They ensure that the situation and characterisation are consistent with the TV show. Where necessary they will check directly with production staff in Vancouver to ensure that our books do not impinge on upcoming episodes. However, within these constraints, our writers are free to let their imagination roam.

That said, it seems a rather one way relation. Books must fit with the show, but do the show's writers also have to check with the books' content to not contradict the published material, or are they allowed to ignore the novels, and contradict them at will for the show's needs?

Frankly, I'd be really pissed off buying a book and having it completely invalidated by a new episode.
That would both refrain me from buying anymore book, and would hurt the novel's credibility.

[Wildstar073]

I am curious if the Stargate books will ever be available in Audiobook format? I am an avid audiobook listener and a great fan of the Stargate franchise. I would be very happy to see these books released in audiobook format as I am sure many other fans would as well.

[ATimson]

Has any consideration been given to working with other licensees (like the makers of the possibly-forthcoming video game) to tie your products more closely together?

Has Fandemonium considered pursuing electronic distribution of their titles?

What's Fandemonium's view--and/or MGM Licensing's view--on stories involving alternate universes? Are we going to be seeing any of them in the future?

[Skydiver]

HOw long does it take to get a story from submission/request to finished produce (ballpark estimate)?

When i read City of the Gods, the end seemed to be kind of disjointed, presuming you can/want to answer this, was some of it cut out? and if so, was it for length or content....or is this just too nosy?

Cost of Honor, without spoiling, did 'change' canon in that it altered the canon state of characters, will more books do this? If so, is it something that has to be cleared with the show's writersor do they (as in the boys at Bridge) have any say/input about plots and story ideas?

Presuming you finish wading through the 2004 subs, will you again have an open call in the - relatively speaking - near future?

[contact2918]

How closely do these books tie in to what is going on in the show itself?

[brihana25]

When might those of us who are still waiting to hear *anything* concerning our submissions from last November expect to be contacted?