As noted yesterday, the links are no longer threatening to eat my world; the links are actively chowing down. So here is another review roundup, this one focusing on Feed. You're welcome!

Once again, we begin with the obligate Livejournal review, this time from my beloved markbernstein (see me identifying my bias?). He says "There are zombies. There's some gore, though not as much as you might think. And yes, some people (and animals) die in highly unpleasant ways. Still, I don't think of Feed by Mira Grant as a horror novel. It's science fiction in both the extrapolative and speculative sense, and a fine example of both." Aww, thanks! He also says "This is an outstanding book. Highly recommended." I couldn't have said it better.

Brion posted his review of Feed, and is also up-front about his biases, as he says "Disclaimer: I know the author personally, which may mean I'm biased in favor of awesomeness." This is because, clearly, I inspire awesome. He says "I grew up reading the science fiction classics: Asimov, Heinlein, Farmer, Niven, McCaffrey...What always kept me reading late at night, eyes wide open, was their ability to craft a detailed world, working out the consequences of the big What If, and then tell a great story in it. Grant doesn't disappoint; her post-Rising world is rich, weaving a gripping story from the societal consequences of a planet that has become quite legitimately paranoid." Thanks, Brion!

Amanda at Another Book Junkie has posted her review of Feed, and says "Oh man, I have a feeling we’ll be hearing a lot about Mira Grant in the future." Also, "Well done, Ms. Grant. Well done." There's a lot of review between those statements, and you should totally go read it. Don't worry, I'll wait.

Doyce Testerman has posted an awesome review of Feed. It is thoughtful and incisive and well-composed, and quoting it would do both you and it a disservice, because it hangs together so well as a contemplation of the book's message, as well as, y'know, as a review. Go check it out. Again, I'll wait, and thank you, Doyce.

A lovely Feed review has been posted at Flying Off the Shelves, and says "When I first started reading this book I wasn't expecting it to be nearly as good as it is. I questioned it and asked myself, "How could this book be any good after reading World War Z? I don't want to read another crappy zombie book.", but I took the chance and I found that this book is truly an amazing piece of writing. The characters are dynamic and complex. The story line will knock your socks off. I actually don't have anything bad to say about this book whatsoever. Even the science behind this story is interesting and spot on when it comes to basic virus information. If her next book is anything like this I may just die (and hopefully not zombify). Honestly, I rarely buy books in hardcover and I want this one in hardcover. If it isn't obvious already this book easily claims a five rating. Extremely well done Mira Grant." Yay!

That's five links posted, and barely a dent made in my list o' links. Clearly, I need to clean up my act. More to come!

So here we go again: as of today, we're fifty days away from the official North American release of An Artificial Night [Amazon]|[Mysterious Galaxy]. (Of course, if the first two books are anything to go by, we're actually about thirty-five days away from my hysterical meltdown in the Borders near my office.) If I had a nickel for every day remaining before the official release, I wouldn't have enough to buy myself a Diet Dr Pepper. Which would be sad. I'd rather have a quarter for every day remaining before the official release. Then I could buy lots of Diet Dr Pepper.

Rosemary and Rue [Amazon]|[Mysterious Galaxy] was my first book. A Local Habitation was my second. They taught me a lot about marketing, pre-release crazy, post-release crazy, going crazy from good reviews, going crazy from bad reviews, living by my own rules regarding engaging reviewers and trying to explain myself, hyperventilating when I see my book on shelves, and trying to look nonchalant when I really just want to be screaming "I WROTE A BOOK OH MY GOD YOU GUYS LOOK LOOK LOOK YOU CAN TRADE MONEY FOR GOODS AND SERVICES AND THE GOODS AND SERVICES ARE MY BOOK!!!" while jumping up and down and providing expository hand gestures. This whole process has been a learning experience, and while I'd like to claim that it has left me a calm and mature author, prepared for anything, the fact of the matter is this:

I am so totally going to cry the first time I see An Artificial Night on the bookshelf. And then I'm going to call Vixy and make shrieky bat-noises until she talks me down from my happy hysteria. Because that's just how we roll around here.

I leave for the San Diego International Comic Convention the day after tomorrow. I leave for Australia eleven days before the book officially hits shelves. And I'm Guest of Honor at Spocon next weekend. So clearly, my method for planning a book release mostly involves running myself ragged, falling down, and sleeping until it's all over. This apparently works for me, so who I am I to argue?

Fifty days. A year ago, I was worried that no one would like Toby, that she'd just disappear into the urban fantasy jungle and never be seen again. Now I'm worried about not letting people down, and whether they'll still like Toby now that she's been through a little more and grown a little bit and made up her mind about a few things.

Fifty days.

Wow.

The first person to answer all questions correctly will win a signed ARC of An Artificial Night! I will notify you via LJ, but you must send me your address via my website by noon PST tomorrow to receive your prize.

You can use both my websites in researching your answers.

( Let the games begin!Collapse )