Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Why Riptide - Peter Hansen


Peter Hansen

Why Riptide?

When Aleks Voinov and Rachel Haimowitz approached me about writing for Riptide, they were taking a risk. At that stage in my career, I was inexperienced, unpublished, untested; their First Wave includes some of the big names names in m/m fiction, and no one had ever heard of Peter Hansen. I felt slightly like a Pomeranian who had wandered into the Rottweiler kennels, and I wasn't sure whether to expect a dogfight.

That's not how Riptide works, though. If the owners put their faith in my ability to deliver a story they'd love, they were also putting their faith in their own ability to mentor me and my fellow Riptide authors into the writers they deserved. I've received thoroughgoing editing, had serious discussions about title and cover art, and swapped military history and photos of disturbing marine creatures with the Riptide team--all for a single slim novella. At every step, Riptide showed a commendable degree of respect for my style and my vision ... while remaining firm on their developmental edits and ensuring that "First Watch" fit the image of their company.

Since those initial stages, I've had the good fortune to meet my fellow First Wave authors and to hear about their projects and their careers. At every turn, they impress me with their sensitivity to trans* issues or their eloquence and erudition; at every other turn, they make me howl with laughter. It's been an honor to get to know them, even though I still feel awed at times to be in their company.

I could say that I submitted to Riptide because I believe in start-ups, or because I was new to the market myself, or because I was a huge fan of the founders--and all of that would be true, to an extent, but none of it is why. What matters is that when I submitted to Riptide, they promised to respect my work and improve my craft, and I'm still surprised every day at how well they delivered.

Here's a blurb from First Watch:
What price would you pay to survive?
Do you want to live? In the darkness of a WWI battlefield, young Legionnaire Edouard Montreuil lies dying. As teeth nibble his flesh, a voice whispers, Do you want to live? Frightened and desperate, Edouard bargains his freedom for a second chance.
Aboard the Flèche, a grim submarine captained by the nightmare who granted Edouard new life, Edouard pays the price for his survival. Each night, he gives his body to his captain as the bells sound first watch. But surviving is not living, and as the days stretch into months beneath the waves, Edouard grows desperate for escape.
Can Edouard’s old comrade Farid Ruiz help him break this devil's bargain, or will Ruiz fall to the same fate, trapped beneath the waves at the mercy of a monster whose hunger knows no bounds? Edouard and Ruiz served together once before, and slept together too, but courage and passion failed to save them from the eldritch beasts who roamed the night. This time, the cost of failure is nothing so clean or simple as death, and the spoils of victory are not just life, but love.

Peter's book, First Watch, is available for pre-order at Riptide Publishing  

Visit Peter on the web:


11 comments:

emmettmke said...

It sounds like you and Riptide have a wonderful working relationship. I wish you much success together in the future :)

emmettmke at yahoo dot com

Peter Hansen said...

@emmettmke Thanks! I can't wait to send my next story their way. They've really gone above and beyond the call of duty for me.

Amara Devonte said...

*waves* Hi Peter. Great post darlin'. :)

booklover0226 said...

Enjoyed the post, Peter; it was quite informative and interesting.

I can't wait to read First Watch; it sounds great.

Thanks,
Tracey D
booklover0226 at gmail dot com

elaing8 said...

Great post.I'm looking forward to reading First Watch.Sounds great
elaing8(at)netscape(dot)net

The Scarf Princess said...

First Watch has intrigued me since I first saw the cover. Lovin' the sound of it and am excited for its release as well as what else Riptide will be releasing.

joderjo402 AT gmail DOT com

-Maria- said...

Each post about First Watch make me anxious. I can't wait until release.

Adara said...

Great to know. Thanks for the post!

adara adaraohare com

Bookwyrm369 said...

Thanks for sharing :-) I'm very impressed with everything I've read so far about Riptide!

smaccall AT comcast.net

Brita Addams said...

Hi Peter,
Just wanted to say hi to a fellow Riptide First Waver. Your book sounds delicious. Can't wait to read it.

I wish you many sales for that gorgeous cover and the story that is sure to be a spell-binder.

Best,
Brita

Sarah said...

The more I see and read the more I want this

Damn it lol

Sarahs7836(at)gmail(dot)com

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