So I am utterly delighted to be returning to Borderlands Books in San Francisco, California this coming Saturday, March 25th, where I will be celebrating the release of Magic For Nothing alongside the fabulous Mishell Baker, who is celebrating the release of Phantom Pains. In my case, that's the new InCryptid; in her case, it's the new Arcadia Project; in both cases, it's guaranteed to be a good time.
With two authors and double the word-y goodness, we're not bringing the full band this event (also, we accidentally scheduled it on top of Consonance, which means most of the band is busy anyway). We will have a raffle, and if the cupcake place gets back to me, we'll have cupcakes (no answer as yet). On the off chance that we don't, remember that the cafe sells delicious baked goods, and would be happy to hook you up with something yummy.
The event will begin at 5pm. If you can't make it, please contact the bookstore ahead of time to place an order for a signed, personalized book: we're happy to hook you up. I'm collecting raffle prizes and packing my bags, and I can't wait to see you all!
TWO NEBULA NOMINEES ENTER. TWO NEBULA NOMINEES LEAVE. IT TURNS OUT THIS IS NOT A DEATH MATCH.
Roll on San Francisco!
With two authors and double the word-y goodness, we're not bringing the full band this event (also, we accidentally scheduled it on top of Consonance, which means most of the band is busy anyway). We will have a raffle, and if the cupcake place gets back to me, we'll have cupcakes (no answer as yet). On the off chance that we don't, remember that the cafe sells delicious baked goods, and would be happy to hook you up with something yummy.
The event will begin at 5pm. If you can't make it, please contact the bookstore ahead of time to place an order for a signed, personalized book: we're happy to hook you up. I'm collecting raffle prizes and packing my bags, and I can't wait to see you all!
TWO NEBULA NOMINEES ENTER. TWO NEBULA NOMINEES LEAVE. IT TURNS OUT THIS IS NOT A DEATH MATCH.
Roll on San Francisco!
- Current Mood:
ecstatic - Current Music:Jill Tracy, "The Proof."
To celebrate the release of Magic For Nothing, here. Have an open thread to discuss the book. Judging by the comments I'm seeing, some of you have had time, and I'd really, really rather book discussion (sometimes including spoilers) didn't crop up on other posts.
THERE WILL BE SPOILERS.
Seriously. If anyone comments here at all, THERE WILL BE SPOILERS. So please don't read and then yell at me because you encountered spoilers. You were warned. (I will not reply to every comment; I call partial comment amnesty. But I may well join some of the discussion, or answer questions or whatnot.) I will be DELETING all comments containing spoilers which have been left on other posts. No one gets to spoil people here without a label.
You can also start a discussion at my website forums, with less need to be concerned that I will see everything you say! In case you wanted, you know, discussion free of authorial influence, since I always wind up getting involved in these things.
Have fun, and try not to bleed on the carpet.
THERE WILL BE SPOILERS.
Seriously. If anyone comments here at all, THERE WILL BE SPOILERS. So please don't read and then yell at me because you encountered spoilers. You were warned. (I will not reply to every comment; I call partial comment amnesty. But I may well join some of the discussion, or answer questions or whatnot.) I will be DELETING all comments containing spoilers which have been left on other posts. No one gets to spoil people here without a label.
You can also start a discussion at my website forums, with less need to be concerned that I will see everything you say! In case you wanted, you know, discussion free of authorial influence, since I always wind up getting involved in these things.
Have fun, and try not to bleed on the carpet.
- Current Mood: ecstatic
- Current Music:Mom, still talking to the cats.
As of today, Magic For Nothing is officially available from bookstores all over North America, and from import stores all over the world. It's been spotted in the wild from California to New York, with several points between also chiming in to let me know that they've got copies. Hooray!
Since it's release week, I figured it was time to once again answer the wonderful people asking how they can help. So here are a few dos and don'ts for making this book launch awesome.
DO buy the book as soon as you can. Sales during the first week are very important—think of it as "opening weekend" for a movie—but they're not the end-all be-all. If you can get the book tomorrow, get the book; if you can get it at my book release party later this month, get it at my book release party. Whatever works for you. Brick-and-mortar store purchases are best, as they encourage reordering. If you've already bought the book, consider buying the book again during release week, as a single copy might get lonely. They make great gifts!
DON'T yell at other people who haven't bought the book yet. I know, that's sort of a "why are you saying this?" statement, but I got a very sad email from a teenager who'd been yelled at for not buying A Local Habitation the week that it came out, and I have never forgotten it. So just be chill. Unless you want to buy books for people who don't have them, in which case, don't yell, just buy.
DO ask your local bookstore if they have it on order. If your local store is part of a large chain, such as Barnes and Noble, the odds are good that the answer will be "yes," and that they'll be more than happy to hold one for you. If your local store is small, and does not focus specifically on science fiction/fantasy, they may have been waiting to see signs of interest before placing an order. Get interested! Interest is awesome!
DON'T berate your local bookseller if they say "no." Telling people they're overlooking something awesome doesn't make them go "gosh, I see the error of my ways." It makes them go "well, I guess it can be awesome without me." Suggest. Ask if you can special-order a copy. But don't be nasty to people just because their shelves can't hold every book ever written.
DO post reviews on your blog or on Amazon.com. Reviews are fantastic! Reviews make everything better! Please, write and post a review, even if it's just "I liked it." Honestly, even if it's just "this wasn't really my thing." As long as you're being fair and reasoned in your commentary, I'm thrilled. (I like to believe you won't all race right out to post one-star reviews, but if that's what you really think, I promise that I won't be mad.)
DON'T get nasty at people who post negative reviews. You are all people. You all have a right to the ball. That includes people who don't like my work. Please don't argue with negative reviewers on my behalf. It just makes everybody sad. If you really think someone's being unfair, why don't you post your own review, to present an alternate perspective? (Also, please don't email me my Amazon reviews. I don't read them, I don't want to read them, and I definitely don't want to be surprised with them. Please have mercy.)
DO feel free to get multiple copies. No, you probably don't need eight copies for your permanent collection, but remember that libraries, school libraries, and shelters are always in need of books. I'm donating a few of my author's copies to a local women's shelter, because they get a lot of women there who really need the escape. There are also people who just can't afford their own copies, and would be delighted. I wouldn't have had half the library I did as a teenager if it weren't for the kindness of the people around me.
DON'T feel obligated to get multiple copies, or pressure other people to do so. Seriously, we're all on budgets, and too much aggressive press can actually turn people off on a good thing. Let people make their own choices. Have faith.
DO check with your local library to be sure they have a copy of on order. If they don't, you can fill out a library request form. Spread the paperback love!
DON'T forget that libraries need books. Many libraries, especially on the high school level, are really strapped for cash right now, and book donations are frequently tax deductible. If you have a few bucks to spare, you can improve the world on multiple levels by donating books to your local public and high school libraries.
DO suggest the book to bookstore employees who like urban fantasy and talking mice. Nothing boosts sales like having people in the stores who really like a project. If your Cousin Danny (or Dani) works at a bookstore, say "Hey, why don't you give this a try?" It just might help.
DON'T rearrange bookstore displays. If the staff of my local bookstore is constantly being forced to deal with fixing the shelves after someone "helpfully" rearranged things to give their chosen favorites a better position, they're unlikely to feel well inclined toward that book—or author. It's not a good thing to piss off the bookstores. Let's just not.
So those are some things. I'm sure there are lots of other things to consider; this is, at least, a start. Finally, a few things that don't help the book, but do help the me:
Please don't expect immediate email response from me for anything short of "you promised us this interview, it runs tomorrow, where are your answers?" I normally make an effort to be a semi-competent correspondent, but with a new book on shelves and final edits due on an unnamed project, a lot of things are falling by the wayside. Like sleep.
If you're in the Bay Area, I hope to see you March 25th at Borderlands Books, where I will be reading, signing, and running a raffle for your enjoyment, along with Mishell Baker!
Whee!
Since it's release week, I figured it was time to once again answer the wonderful people asking how they can help. So here are a few dos and don'ts for making this book launch awesome.
DO buy the book as soon as you can. Sales during the first week are very important—think of it as "opening weekend" for a movie—but they're not the end-all be-all. If you can get the book tomorrow, get the book; if you can get it at my book release party later this month, get it at my book release party. Whatever works for you. Brick-and-mortar store purchases are best, as they encourage reordering. If you've already bought the book, consider buying the book again during release week, as a single copy might get lonely. They make great gifts!
DON'T yell at other people who haven't bought the book yet. I know, that's sort of a "why are you saying this?" statement, but I got a very sad email from a teenager who'd been yelled at for not buying A Local Habitation the week that it came out, and I have never forgotten it. So just be chill. Unless you want to buy books for people who don't have them, in which case, don't yell, just buy.
DO ask your local bookstore if they have it on order. If your local store is part of a large chain, such as Barnes and Noble, the odds are good that the answer will be "yes," and that they'll be more than happy to hold one for you. If your local store is small, and does not focus specifically on science fiction/fantasy, they may have been waiting to see signs of interest before placing an order. Get interested! Interest is awesome!
DON'T berate your local bookseller if they say "no." Telling people they're overlooking something awesome doesn't make them go "gosh, I see the error of my ways." It makes them go "well, I guess it can be awesome without me." Suggest. Ask if you can special-order a copy. But don't be nasty to people just because their shelves can't hold every book ever written.
DO post reviews on your blog or on Amazon.com. Reviews are fantastic! Reviews make everything better! Please, write and post a review, even if it's just "I liked it." Honestly, even if it's just "this wasn't really my thing." As long as you're being fair and reasoned in your commentary, I'm thrilled. (I like to believe you won't all race right out to post one-star reviews, but if that's what you really think, I promise that I won't be mad.)
DON'T get nasty at people who post negative reviews. You are all people. You all have a right to the ball. That includes people who don't like my work. Please don't argue with negative reviewers on my behalf. It just makes everybody sad. If you really think someone's being unfair, why don't you post your own review, to present an alternate perspective? (Also, please don't email me my Amazon reviews. I don't read them, I don't want to read them, and I definitely don't want to be surprised with them. Please have mercy.)
DO feel free to get multiple copies. No, you probably don't need eight copies for your permanent collection, but remember that libraries, school libraries, and shelters are always in need of books. I'm donating a few of my author's copies to a local women's shelter, because they get a lot of women there who really need the escape. There are also people who just can't afford their own copies, and would be delighted. I wouldn't have had half the library I did as a teenager if it weren't for the kindness of the people around me.
DON'T feel obligated to get multiple copies, or pressure other people to do so. Seriously, we're all on budgets, and too much aggressive press can actually turn people off on a good thing. Let people make their own choices. Have faith.
DO check with your local library to be sure they have a copy of on order. If they don't, you can fill out a library request form. Spread the paperback love!
DON'T forget that libraries need books. Many libraries, especially on the high school level, are really strapped for cash right now, and book donations are frequently tax deductible. If you have a few bucks to spare, you can improve the world on multiple levels by donating books to your local public and high school libraries.
DO suggest the book to bookstore employees who like urban fantasy and talking mice. Nothing boosts sales like having people in the stores who really like a project. If your Cousin Danny (or Dani) works at a bookstore, say "Hey, why don't you give this a try?" It just might help.
DON'T rearrange bookstore displays. If the staff of my local bookstore is constantly being forced to deal with fixing the shelves after someone "helpfully" rearranged things to give their chosen favorites a better position, they're unlikely to feel well inclined toward that book—or author. It's not a good thing to piss off the bookstores. Let's just not.
So those are some things. I'm sure there are lots of other things to consider; this is, at least, a start. Finally, a few things that don't help the book, but do help the me:
Please don't expect immediate email response from me for anything short of "you promised us this interview, it runs tomorrow, where are your answers?" I normally make an effort to be a semi-competent correspondent, but with a new book on shelves and final edits due on an unnamed project, a lot of things are falling by the wayside. Like sleep.
If you're in the Bay Area, I hope to see you March 25th at Borderlands Books, where I will be reading, signing, and running a raffle for your enjoyment, along with Mishell Baker!
Whee!
- Current Mood: ecstatic
- Current Music:Mom talking to the cats.
Our latest round of ARC winners are...
l_o_lostshadows
anna_sinistra
ladypembroke
Please send your mailing addresses, along with your LJ handles (so I know it's you claiming your prize) via my website contact form by Wednesday March 1st.
It's almost book day!
l_o_lostshadowsanna_sinistraladypembrokePlease send your mailing addresses, along with your LJ handles (so I know it's you claiming your prize) via my website contact form by Wednesday March 1st.
It's almost book day!
- Current Mood:
happy - Current Music:Simon Steadman, "Sad World."
It's almost time for Magic for Nothing, and I have three more ARCs to give away! So if you'd like to win one, just...
1. Comment here.
2. Tell the RNG why you should win.
3. Indicate if you are international, and if so,
4. Indicate your willingness to pay postage.
That's all!
Three winners will be chosen on Monday, February 27th, two by the random number generator, and one according to my whim.
Game on!
1. Comment here.
2. Tell the RNG why you should win.
3. Indicate if you are international, and if so,
4. Indicate your willingness to pay postage.
That's all!
Three winners will be chosen on Monday, February 27th, two by the random number generator, and one according to my whim.
Game on!
- Current Mood:
busy - Current Music:Glee, "Forget You."
My apologies for the delay: we had a fairly heavy snowfall yesterday, which would have been fine if we hadn't needed to collect my sister from the airport. All is well, and as several of you squeaked in last-minute entries, I figure we're good. Now, the winners!
The random number generator has spoken, and our three winners of ARCs of Magic For Nothing are...
snippy
carlamlee
kdsorceress
If your name is on this list, please contact me via my website contact form within the next 24 hours. Include your mailing address, your LJ handle, and the nature of the prize you are claiming.
Whee!
The random number generator has spoken, and our three winners of ARCs of Magic For Nothing are...
snippycarlamleekdsorceressIf your name is on this list, please contact me via my website contact form within the next 24 hours. Include your mailing address, your LJ handle, and the nature of the prize you are claiming.
Whee!
- Current Mood:
excited - Current Music:Phillip Phillips, "Don't Trust Me."
It's time for some free fiction, and for the second story of the Alice and Thomas era. The year is 1954. Thomas Price is new in town, and Alice is just trying to be hospitable. Honestly, that's all she's doing at the house.
With "The Lay of the Land," we begin the slow dance between Thomas Price, Covenant researcher, and Alice Healy, too young, too untrained, and too foolhardy by half. It's going to be a long one. Best that we get started.
You can download the new story now from the InCryptid short fiction page.
This also serves as your discussion post.
With "The Lay of the Land," we begin the slow dance between Thomas Price, Covenant researcher, and Alice Healy, too young, too untrained, and too foolhardy by half. It's going to be a long one. Best that we get started.
You can download the new story now from the InCryptid short fiction page.
This also serves as your discussion post.
- Current Mood:
accomplished - Current Music:Glee, "World of Pure Imagination."
We need something good right now, and that means it's time to GIVE STUFF AWAY. Specifically, it's time to give away a couple of ARCs of Magic For Nothing.
You in?
To ease us back into the normal swing of things, today we're going with a random number generator drawing. US-only unless you are able to pay postage. I'm really sorry about that, but having just paid a ridiculous amount in vet bills, I am really not in a position to pay to mail things internationally right now. To enter...
1. Comment on this entry.
2. Specify whether you are US or international and, if international, indicate willingness to pay postage.
3. Name one thing you're hoping to see in an upcoming InCryptid book.
I will draw three winners via random number generator on Monday, February 6th. Game on!
Entries which do not include all three components, and which do not specifically relate to the InCryptid series, are ineligible to win.
You in?
To ease us back into the normal swing of things, today we're going with a random number generator drawing. US-only unless you are able to pay postage. I'm really sorry about that, but having just paid a ridiculous amount in vet bills, I am really not in a position to pay to mail things internationally right now. To enter...
1. Comment on this entry.
2. Specify whether you are US or international and, if international, indicate willingness to pay postage.
3. Name one thing you're hoping to see in an upcoming InCryptid book.
I will draw three winners via random number generator on Monday, February 6th. Game on!
Entries which do not include all three components, and which do not specifically relate to the InCryptid series, are ineligible to win.
- Current Mood:
awake - Current Music:People fussing in my kitchen.
To thank you all for your help and forbearance during Thomas's entry, it's time for some free fiction, and for checking in on Verity and Dominic as they continue their trip from New York to Oregon, with plenty of stops along the way. They've finally reached Oregon...which means it's time to deal with the parents.
This concludes the Verity and Dominic road trip cycle, and I am absolutely thrilled to have made it all the way across the country. I hope you've enjoyed the trip as much as I have.
You can download the new story now from the InCryptid short fiction page. Please download and save to read locally, rather than trying to read on my poor server.
This also serves as your discussion post.
This concludes the Verity and Dominic road trip cycle, and I am absolutely thrilled to have made it all the way across the country. I hope you've enjoyed the trip as much as I have.
You can download the new story now from the InCryptid short fiction page. Please download and save to read locally, rather than trying to read on my poor server.
This also serves as your discussion post.
- Current Mood:
exhausted - Current Music:None at the moment.
The random number generator has spoken, and the winner of copies of Rosemary and Rue and Discount Armageddon is...
ccliving!
Please contact me via my website contact form by 1PM PST on Saturday, December 10th, to claim your prize. Please include your name, LJ handle, and mailing address in the message, so that I will know it is you.
Twelve more days to go!
ccliving!Please contact me via my website contact form by 1PM PST on Saturday, December 10th, to claim your prize. Please include your name, LJ handle, and mailing address in the message, so that I will know it is you.
Twelve more days to go!
- Current Mood: accomplished
- Current Music:Carbon Leaf, "Ragtime Carnival."
...a starter kit for my two longest-running series: signed copies of Rosemary and Rue and Discount Armageddon! Win them for yourself, for a friend, or for a local library!
Welcome to the second of the Thirteen Days of Hogswatch. I will be starting a new giveaway every day between now and December 13th. Each giveaway will have different rules and a different deadline, although all prizes will be mailed on December 30th, because I am bad at going to the post office (and also, I am avoiding the post office as much as possible until that other winter holiday is over).
The second giveaway is for signed copies of Rosemary and Rue and Discount Armageddon, the first books in the Toby Daye and InCryptid series, respectively. This is going to be a random number drawing, because I am sleepy. So...
1. To enter, comment on this post.
2. If you are international, indicate both this and your willingness to pay postage.
3. Tell me which series you are more excited to start.
4. That's it.
I will choose the winner at 1PM PST on Friday, December 9th.
Game on!
ETA: This drawing is now CLOSED.
Welcome to the second of the Thirteen Days of Hogswatch. I will be starting a new giveaway every day between now and December 13th. Each giveaway will have different rules and a different deadline, although all prizes will be mailed on December 30th, because I am bad at going to the post office (and also, I am avoiding the post office as much as possible until that other winter holiday is over).
The second giveaway is for signed copies of Rosemary and Rue and Discount Armageddon, the first books in the Toby Daye and InCryptid series, respectively. This is going to be a random number drawing, because I am sleepy. So...
1. To enter, comment on this post.
2. If you are international, indicate both this and your willingness to pay postage.
3. Tell me which series you are more excited to start.
4. That's it.
I will choose the winner at 1PM PST on Friday, December 9th.
Game on!
ETA: This drawing is now CLOSED.
- Current Mood: accomplished
- Current Music:Joy Electric, "I Miss You."
Here we go again.
So it's no secret around here that I love, love, love my DAW covers, or that showing them off is one of my true pure joys in life. Aly Fell, the artist who does the art for the InCryptid books, has been hugely involved in setting the look of the series, and he just keeps on getting better. Want proof?
Go ahead. Take a peek.
( Cut-tagged for the protection of your friends' list, which really doesn't need something this huge suddenly showing up without warning. But trust me, you should totally click.Collapse )
So it's no secret around here that I love, love, love my DAW covers, or that showing them off is one of my true pure joys in life. Aly Fell, the artist who does the art for the InCryptid books, has been hugely involved in setting the look of the series, and he just keeps on getting better. Want proof?
Go ahead. Take a peek.
( Cut-tagged for the protection of your friends' list, which really doesn't need something this huge suddenly showing up without warning. But trust me, you should totally click.Collapse )
- Current Mood: ecstatic
- Current Music:Rufus Wainwright, "Harvester of Hearts."
It's time for some free fiction, and for checking in on Verity and Dominic as they continue their trip from New York to Oregon, with plenty of stops along the way. They've managed to get out of Buckley Township, Michigan with no casualties, and that means they deserve a break, right? It's time for a vacation.
It's time to visit scenic Las Vegas, Nevada.
Now, most of the time, I sort of throw things out and let y'all do with them as you will, but in this specific case, I ask that you please catch up on any previous road trip stories you may have missed before reading onward in the timeline. Because this is a party you want your invitation to.
There's gonna be cake.
You can download the new story now from the InCryptid short fiction page. Please download and save to read locally, rather than trying to read on my poor server.
This also serves as your discussion post.
It's time to visit scenic Las Vegas, Nevada.
Now, most of the time, I sort of throw things out and let y'all do with them as you will, but in this specific case, I ask that you please catch up on any previous road trip stories you may have missed before reading onward in the timeline. Because this is a party you want your invitation to.
There's gonna be cake.
You can download the new story now from the InCryptid short fiction page. Please download and save to read locally, rather than trying to read on my poor server.
This also serves as your discussion post.
- Current Mood: accomplished
- Current Music:Glee, "Jolene."
To celebrate the release of Chaos Choreography, here. Have an open thread to discuss the book. Judging by the comments I'm seeing, some of you have had time, and I'd really, really rather book discussion (sometimes including spoilers) didn't crop up on other posts.
THERE WILL BE SPOILERS.
Seriously. If anyone comments here at all, THERE WILL BE SPOILERS. So please don't read and then yell at me because you encountered spoilers. You were warned. (I will not reply to every comment; I call partial comment amnesty. But I may well join some of the discussion, or answer questions or whatnot.) I will be DELETING all comments containing spoilers which have been left on other posts. No one gets to spoil people here without a label.
You can also start a discussion at my website forums, with less need to be concerned that I will see everything you say! In case you wanted, you know, discussion free of authorial influence, since I always wind up getting involved in these things.
Have fun, and try not to bleed on the carpet.
THERE WILL BE SPOILERS.
Seriously. If anyone comments here at all, THERE WILL BE SPOILERS. So please don't read and then yell at me because you encountered spoilers. You were warned. (I will not reply to every comment; I call partial comment amnesty. But I may well join some of the discussion, or answer questions or whatnot.) I will be DELETING all comments containing spoilers which have been left on other posts. No one gets to spoil people here without a label.
You can also start a discussion at my website forums, with less need to be concerned that I will see everything you say! In case you wanted, you know, discussion free of authorial influence, since I always wind up getting involved in these things.
Have fun, and try not to bleed on the carpet.
- Current Mood: busy
- Current Music:Liz Nickrenz, "Yes, Virginia."
Today, March 1st, is my bookday! Happy bookday to me! Chaos Choreography is available now from bookstores all over North America , and from import stores all over the world. It has been spotted in the wild from New York to California, so I figure we're good. Hooray!
Since it's release week, that means it's time to once again answer the wonderful people asking how they can help. So here are a few dos and don'ts for making this book launch awesome. (If you have not asked how you can help, on account of already knowing or not being all that interested, that's fine. Not every post has to apply to every person!)
DO buy the book as soon as you can. Sales during the first week are very important—think of it as "opening weekend" for a movie—but they're not the end-all be-all. If you can get the book in the next few days, get the book; if you can get it at my book release party at Borderlands on March 12th, get it at my book release party. Whatever works for you. Brick-and-mortar store purchases are best, as they encourage reordering. If you've already bought the book, consider buying the book again during release week, as a single copy might get lonely. They make great gifts!
DON'T yell at other people who haven't bought the book yet. I know, that's sort of a "why are you saying this?" statement, but I got a very sad email from a teenager who'd been yelled at for not buying A Local Habitation the week that it came out, and I have never forgotten it. So just be chill. Unless you want to buy books for people who don't have them, in which case, don't yell, just buy.
DO ask your local bookstore if they have it on order. If your local store is part of a large chain, such as Barnes and Noble, the odds are good that the answer will be "yes," and that they'll be more than happy to hold one for you. If your local store is small, and does not focus specifically on science fiction/fantasy, they may have been waiting to see signs of interest before placing an order. Get interested! Interest is awesome!
DON'T berate your local bookseller if they say "no." Telling people they're overlooking something awesome doesn't make them go "gosh, I see the error of my ways." It makes them go "well, I guess it can be awesome without me." Suggest. Ask if you can special-order a copy. But don't be nasty to people just because their shelves can't hold every book ever written.
DO post reviews on your blog or on Amazon.com. Reviews are fantastic! Reviews make everything better! Please, write and post a review, even if it's just "I liked it." Honestly, even if it's just "this wasn't really my thing." As long as you're being fair and reasoned in your commentary, I'm thrilled. (I like to believe you won't all race right out to post one-star reviews, but if that's what you really think, I promise that I won't be mad.)
DON'T get nasty at people who post negative reviews. You are all people. You all have a right to the ball. That includes people who don't like my work. Please don't argue with negative reviewers on my behalf. It just makes everybody sad. If you really think someone's being unfair, why don't you post your own review, to present an alternate perspective? (Also, please don't email me my Amazon reviews. I don't read them, I don't want to read them, and I definitely don't want to be surprised with them. Please have mercy.)
DO feel free to get multiple copies. No, you probably don't need eight copies for your permanent collection, but remember that bibliophile friends, school libraries, and shelters are always in need of books. I'm donating a few of my author's copies to a local women's shelter, because they get a lot of women there who really need the escape. There are also people who just can't afford their own copies, and would be delighted. I wouldn't have had half the library I did as a teenager if it weren't for the kindness of the people around me.
DON'T feel obligated to get multiple copies, or pressure other people to do so. Seriously, we're all on budgets, and too much aggressive press can actually turn people off on a good thing. Let people make their own choices. Have faith.
DO check with your local library to be sure they have a copy of on order. If they don't, you can fill out a library request form. Spread the paperback love!
DON'T forget that libraries need books. Many libraries, especially on the high school level, are really strapped for cash right now, and book donations are frequently tax deductible. If you have a few bucks to spare, you can improve the world on multiple levels by donating books to your local public and high school libraries. Ask first if they're taking donations; they may tell you that donated books go straight to the Friends of the Library book sale. Consider doing it anyway. FOTL benefits both the library and local low-income people looking for a way to read new books on a budget.
DO suggest the book to bookstore employees who like urban fantasy. Nothing boosts sales like having people in the stores who really like a project. If your Cousin D. works at a bookstore, say "Hey, why don't you give this a try?" It just might help.
DON'T rearrange bookstore displays. If the staff of my local bookstore is constantly being forced to deal with fixing the shelves after someone "helpfully" rearranged things to give their chosen favorites a better position, they're unlikely to feel well inclined toward that book—or author. It's not a good thing to piss off the bookstores. Let's just not.
So those are some things. I'm sure there are lots of other things to consider; this is, at least, a start. Finally, a few things that don't help the book, but do help the me:
Please don't expect immediate email response from me for anything short of "you promised us this interview, it runs tomorrow, where are your answers?" I normally make an effort to be a semi-competent correspondent, but with a new book on shelves and me racing to finish Deadlands: Boneyard, a lot of things are falling by the wayside. Like sleep.
Whee!
Since it's release week, that means it's time to once again answer the wonderful people asking how they can help. So here are a few dos and don'ts for making this book launch awesome. (If you have not asked how you can help, on account of already knowing or not being all that interested, that's fine. Not every post has to apply to every person!)
DO buy the book as soon as you can. Sales during the first week are very important—think of it as "opening weekend" for a movie—but they're not the end-all be-all. If you can get the book in the next few days, get the book; if you can get it at my book release party at Borderlands on March 12th, get it at my book release party. Whatever works for you. Brick-and-mortar store purchases are best, as they encourage reordering. If you've already bought the book, consider buying the book again during release week, as a single copy might get lonely. They make great gifts!
DON'T yell at other people who haven't bought the book yet. I know, that's sort of a "why are you saying this?" statement, but I got a very sad email from a teenager who'd been yelled at for not buying A Local Habitation the week that it came out, and I have never forgotten it. So just be chill. Unless you want to buy books for people who don't have them, in which case, don't yell, just buy.
DO ask your local bookstore if they have it on order. If your local store is part of a large chain, such as Barnes and Noble, the odds are good that the answer will be "yes," and that they'll be more than happy to hold one for you. If your local store is small, and does not focus specifically on science fiction/fantasy, they may have been waiting to see signs of interest before placing an order. Get interested! Interest is awesome!
DON'T berate your local bookseller if they say "no." Telling people they're overlooking something awesome doesn't make them go "gosh, I see the error of my ways." It makes them go "well, I guess it can be awesome without me." Suggest. Ask if you can special-order a copy. But don't be nasty to people just because their shelves can't hold every book ever written.
DO post reviews on your blog or on Amazon.com. Reviews are fantastic! Reviews make everything better! Please, write and post a review, even if it's just "I liked it." Honestly, even if it's just "this wasn't really my thing." As long as you're being fair and reasoned in your commentary, I'm thrilled. (I like to believe you won't all race right out to post one-star reviews, but if that's what you really think, I promise that I won't be mad.)
DON'T get nasty at people who post negative reviews. You are all people. You all have a right to the ball. That includes people who don't like my work. Please don't argue with negative reviewers on my behalf. It just makes everybody sad. If you really think someone's being unfair, why don't you post your own review, to present an alternate perspective? (Also, please don't email me my Amazon reviews. I don't read them, I don't want to read them, and I definitely don't want to be surprised with them. Please have mercy.)
DO feel free to get multiple copies. No, you probably don't need eight copies for your permanent collection, but remember that bibliophile friends, school libraries, and shelters are always in need of books. I'm donating a few of my author's copies to a local women's shelter, because they get a lot of women there who really need the escape. There are also people who just can't afford their own copies, and would be delighted. I wouldn't have had half the library I did as a teenager if it weren't for the kindness of the people around me.
DON'T feel obligated to get multiple copies, or pressure other people to do so. Seriously, we're all on budgets, and too much aggressive press can actually turn people off on a good thing. Let people make their own choices. Have faith.
DO check with your local library to be sure they have a copy of on order. If they don't, you can fill out a library request form. Spread the paperback love!
DON'T forget that libraries need books. Many libraries, especially on the high school level, are really strapped for cash right now, and book donations are frequently tax deductible. If you have a few bucks to spare, you can improve the world on multiple levels by donating books to your local public and high school libraries. Ask first if they're taking donations; they may tell you that donated books go straight to the Friends of the Library book sale. Consider doing it anyway. FOTL benefits both the library and local low-income people looking for a way to read new books on a budget.
DO suggest the book to bookstore employees who like urban fantasy. Nothing boosts sales like having people in the stores who really like a project. If your Cousin D. works at a bookstore, say "Hey, why don't you give this a try?" It just might help.
DON'T rearrange bookstore displays. If the staff of my local bookstore is constantly being forced to deal with fixing the shelves after someone "helpfully" rearranged things to give their chosen favorites a better position, they're unlikely to feel well inclined toward that book—or author. It's not a good thing to piss off the bookstores. Let's just not.
So those are some things. I'm sure there are lots of other things to consider; this is, at least, a start. Finally, a few things that don't help the book, but do help the me:
Please don't expect immediate email response from me for anything short of "you promised us this interview, it runs tomorrow, where are your answers?" I normally make an effort to be a semi-competent correspondent, but with a new book on shelves and me racing to finish Deadlands: Boneyard, a lot of things are falling by the wayside. Like sleep.
Whee!
- Current Mood: excited
- Current Music:Nobody's Angel, "Always Tomorrow."
It's time for some free fiction, and for checking in on Verity and Dominic as they continue their trip from New York to Oregon, with plenty of stops along the way. They've weathered their time at the Carmichael Hotel with no fatalities. So where to next?
Why, back to Buckley Township, Michigan.
No tour of the history of the American Price family would be complete without a stop in Buckley. That's where Enid and Alexander settled down; where Jonathan brought home the Fabulous Fran, Star of New Mexico; where Alice Healy met Thomas Price. That's where it began.
It isn't where it ended.
You can download the new story now from the InCryptid short fiction page. Please download and save to read locally, rather than trying to read on my poor server.
This also serves as your discussion post.
Why, back to Buckley Township, Michigan.
No tour of the history of the American Price family would be complete without a stop in Buckley. That's where Enid and Alexander settled down; where Jonathan brought home the Fabulous Fran, Star of New Mexico; where Alice Healy met Thomas Price. That's where it began.
It isn't where it ended.
You can download the new story now from the InCryptid short fiction page. Please download and save to read locally, rather than trying to read on my poor server.
This also serves as your discussion post.
- Current Mood: accomplished
- Current Music:OVFF, "River Lies."
Every month I make a post to tell folks what I'm working on, a) because it seems polite, b) because it keeps me accountable, if only to myself, and c) so you will understand why I do not have a social life. This is the February 2016 post. It is the shortest month of the year, which means it's already almost over, which is horrifying to me. Where does the time go?
To quote myself, being too harried to say something new: "These posts are labeled with the month and year, in case somebody eventually gets the bizarre urge to timeline my work cycles (it'll probably be me). Behold the proof that I don't actually sleep; I just whimper and keep writing."
Please note that all books currently in print are off the list, as are those that have been turned in but not yet printed (Chaos Choreography, Every Heart a Doorway, Feedback, Once Broken Faith). The Nativity of Chance, "Down Among the Sticks and Bones," and Magic For Nothing are off the list because they're finished and in revisions with the Machete Squad. The cut-tag is here to stay, because no matter what I do, it seems like this list just keeps on getting longer. But that's okay, because at least it means I'm never actively bored. I have horror movies and terrible things from the swamp to keep me company.
Not everything on this list has been sold. I will not discuss the sale status of anything which has not been publicly announced. If you can't remember whether I've announced something, check the relevant tag, or go to my website, at www.seananmcguire.com. Please do not ask why project X is no longer on the list. I will not answer you.
( What is Seanan working on now? Click to find out!Collapse )
To quote myself, being too harried to say something new: "These posts are labeled with the month and year, in case somebody eventually gets the bizarre urge to timeline my work cycles (it'll probably be me). Behold the proof that I don't actually sleep; I just whimper and keep writing."
Please note that all books currently in print are off the list, as are those that have been turned in but not yet printed (Chaos Choreography, Every Heart a Doorway, Feedback, Once Broken Faith). The Nativity of Chance, "Down Among the Sticks and Bones," and Magic For Nothing are off the list because they're finished and in revisions with the Machete Squad. The cut-tag is here to stay, because no matter what I do, it seems like this list just keeps on getting longer. But that's okay, because at least it means I'm never actively bored. I have horror movies and terrible things from the swamp to keep me company.
Not everything on this list has been sold. I will not discuss the sale status of anything which has not been publicly announced. If you can't remember whether I've announced something, check the relevant tag, or go to my website, at www.seananmcguire.com. Please do not ask why project X is no longer on the list. I will not answer you.
( What is Seanan working on now? Click to find out!Collapse )
- Current Mood: accomplished
- Current Music:Talis Kimberley, "Uffington Hill."
The random number generator has spoken, and the winners of an ARC (one each) of Chaos Choreography are...
djonn, for Team Screaming Yam!
Simmi Agarwal, for Team Tailypo!
kyttiekait for Team Church Griffin!
If you have won, please comment here to indicate that you are claiming your prize and submit an email via my website contact form before 12PM PST on Friday, January 29th. I will get your books in the mail ASAP.
Thanks everyone, for playing!
djonn, for Team Screaming Yam!Simmi Agarwal, for Team Tailypo!
kyttiekait for Team Church Griffin!If you have won, please comment here to indicate that you are claiming your prize and submit an email via my website contact form before 12PM PST on Friday, January 29th. I will get your books in the mail ASAP.
Thanks everyone, for playing!
- Current Mood: accomplished
- Current Music:Panic at the Disco, "Hallelujah."
It's time for a Chaos Choreography giveaway! Hooray! This giveaway is going to be US addresses only; I'm still mailing Hogswatch prizes and other such items, and my post office workers are starting to mysteriously go on break when I show up, because of all the international packages. I know it's not fair, but I can't add more customs forms to the pile or they're going to close completely.
I will do open-to-international giveaways before the book is released, and I'm hoping to clear out more of the pending packages in the next week or so.
So, the rules for this one:
1. Leave a comment.
2. Indicate that you have a US address I can ship to. (You don't have to live in the US. You just have to have a US address.)
3. Name your favorite cryptid and why.
I will use the RNG to choose three winners on Tuesday, January 26th. But there's a twist! Only one person can win for each cryptid. So be honest! Name your favorite! Just be aware that the odds are lower for the Aeslin mice than for, say, the swamp bromeliads.
The field guide is here, if you need some help.
Game on!
I will do open-to-international giveaways before the book is released, and I'm hoping to clear out more of the pending packages in the next week or so.
So, the rules for this one:
1. Leave a comment.
2. Indicate that you have a US address I can ship to. (You don't have to live in the US. You just have to have a US address.)
3. Name your favorite cryptid and why.
I will use the RNG to choose three winners on Tuesday, January 26th. But there's a twist! Only one person can win for each cryptid. So be honest! Name your favorite! Just be aware that the odds are lower for the Aeslin mice than for, say, the swamp bromeliads.
The field guide is here, if you need some help.
Game on!
- Current Mood:
nerdy - Current Music:Avenue Q, "There Is Life Outside Your Apartment."
It's time for some free fiction, and for checking in on Verity and Dominic as they continue their trip from New York to Oregon, with plenty of stops along the way. They've weathered their meeting with Rose Marshall remarkably well. So where to next?
The Carmichael Hotel, of course.
"Snake in the Glass" takes us back to Chicago, where Dominic is going to continue meeting the family...whether he likes it or not. Let's just hope Verity can keep him from getting himself into too much trouble.
You can download the new story now from the InCryptid short fiction page. There is currently a problem with the cover graphic on the page: it is smaller than the others. I am aware, and am working to get it fixed, but didn't want to make you wait any longer over something so (relatively) trivial. (ETA: Fixed.)
Big thanks to Will, for emergency last-second eBook conversion, and to Tara, for getting me the replacement cover so quickly.
This also serves as your discussion post.
The Carmichael Hotel, of course.
"Snake in the Glass" takes us back to Chicago, where Dominic is going to continue meeting the family...whether he likes it or not. Let's just hope Verity can keep him from getting himself into too much trouble.
You can download the new story now from the InCryptid short fiction page. There is currently a problem with the cover graphic on the page: it is smaller than the others. I am aware, and am working to get it fixed, but didn't want to make you wait any longer over something so (relatively) trivial. (ETA: Fixed.)
Big thanks to Will, for emergency last-second eBook conversion, and to Tara, for getting me the replacement cover so quickly.
This also serves as your discussion post.
- Current Mood: accomplished
- Current Music:Bernard Fanning, "Wish You Well."
I love Kelley Armstrong. I mean, I've only met the actual human being Kelley Armstrong a few times, so I guess what I feel for the real person is strong affection tempered with professional respect, but her work? Her work, I love. So when I was offered the opportunity to co-write a story with her, I died a little bit. Of joy.
Announcing the Urban Allies anthology.
Kelley and I co-wrote a story called "Tailed," in which Verity Price meets Elena Michaels while both are investigating strange events in a New York forest. VERITY MEETS ELENA, Y'ALL. My protagonist and her protagonist kicking ass not...well, not together, exactly, but very close to one another. I'm so excited.
The story itself is non-canon, because reasons, but we had a great time writing it, and Sarah is there being snarky, and it's just amazing, all told. I am so pleased.
July!
Announcing the Urban Allies anthology.
Kelley and I co-wrote a story called "Tailed," in which Verity Price meets Elena Michaels while both are investigating strange events in a New York forest. VERITY MEETS ELENA, Y'ALL. My protagonist and her protagonist kicking ass not...well, not together, exactly, but very close to one another. I'm so excited.
The story itself is non-canon, because reasons, but we had a great time writing it, and Sarah is there being snarky, and it's just amazing, all told. I am so pleased.
July!
- Current Mood: ecstatic
- Current Music:Hamilton, "Hurricane."
The random number generator has spoken, and the winner of a copy of Chaos Choreography is...
phoenix_singing!
Instructions for the winner: Please comment on this post letting me know that you're claiming your prize and send me an email via my website (www.seananmcguire.com) with your mailing information. Both comment and email must be received by Sunday, December 20th to be considered valid.
Two more days to go!
phoenix_singing!Instructions for the winner: Please comment on this post letting me know that you're claiming your prize and send me an email via my website (www.seananmcguire.com) with your mailing information. Both comment and email must be received by Sunday, December 20th to be considered valid.
Two more days to go!
- Current Mood: busy
- Current Music:Hamilton, "Alexander Hamilton."
The random number generator has spoken, and the winner of copies of Half-Off Ragnarok and Pocket Apocalypse is...
metairiegirl!
Instructions for the winner: Please comment on this post letting me know that you're claiming your prize and send me an email via my website (www.seananmcguire.com) with your mailing information. Both comment and email must be received by Tuesday, December 15th to be considered valid.
Seven more days to go!
metairiegirl!Instructions for the winner: Please comment on this post letting me know that you're claiming your prize and send me an email via my website (www.seananmcguire.com) with your mailing information. Both comment and email must be received by Tuesday, December 15th to be considered valid.
Seven more days to go!
- Current Mood: accomplished
- Current Music:Glee, "Flashdance."
...a second ARC of Chaos Choreography.
Welcome to the eleventh of the Thirteen Days of Hogswatch. I will be starting a new giveaway every day between now and December 13th. Each giveaway will have different rules, and a different deadline, although all prizes will be mailed on December 30th, because I am bad at going to the post office (and also, avoiding the post office until that other winter holiday is over).
The eleventh giveaway is for an ARC copy of Chaos Choreography, the fifth InCryptid adventure. This is going to be a random number drawing, because I am about to take a nap. So...
1. To enter, comment on this post.
2. If you are international, indicate both this and your willingness to pay postage.
3. Tell me which member of the family you want to know more about.
4. That's it.
I will choose the winner at 1PM PST on Friday, December 18th.
Game on!
ETA: This drawing is now CLOSED.
Welcome to the eleventh of the Thirteen Days of Hogswatch. I will be starting a new giveaway every day between now and December 13th. Each giveaway will have different rules, and a different deadline, although all prizes will be mailed on December 30th, because I am bad at going to the post office (and also, avoiding the post office until that other winter holiday is over).
The eleventh giveaway is for an ARC copy of Chaos Choreography, the fifth InCryptid adventure. This is going to be a random number drawing, because I am about to take a nap. So...
1. To enter, comment on this post.
2. If you are international, indicate both this and your willingness to pay postage.
3. Tell me which member of the family you want to know more about.
4. That's it.
I will choose the winner at 1PM PST on Friday, December 18th.
Game on!
ETA: This drawing is now CLOSED.
- Current Mood:
sleepy - Current Music:Ludo, "Air-Conditioned Love."
...copies of Half-Off Ragnarok and Pocket Apocalypse!
Welcome to the sixth of the Thirteen Days of Hogswatch. I will be starting a new giveaway every day between now and December 13th. Each giveaway will have different rules, and a different deadline, although all prizes will be mailed on December 30th, because I am bad at going to the post office (and also, avoiding the post office until that other winter holiday is over).
The sixth giveaway is for copies of Half-Off Ragnarok and Pocket Apocalypse (InCryptid #3 and #4, respectively). These are the two Alex books, and will bring you up to date for March. This is going to be a random number drawing, because I want to go watch The Librarians. So...
1. To enter, comment on this post.
2. If you are international, indicate both this and your willingness to pay postage.
3. Name your favorite cryptid.
4. That's it.
I will choose the winner at 1PM PST on Sunday, December 13th.
Game on!
ETA: This drawing is now CLOSED.
Welcome to the sixth of the Thirteen Days of Hogswatch. I will be starting a new giveaway every day between now and December 13th. Each giveaway will have different rules, and a different deadline, although all prizes will be mailed on December 30th, because I am bad at going to the post office (and also, avoiding the post office until that other winter holiday is over).
The sixth giveaway is for copies of Half-Off Ragnarok and Pocket Apocalypse (InCryptid #3 and #4, respectively). These are the two Alex books, and will bring you up to date for March. This is going to be a random number drawing, because I want to go watch The Librarians. So...
1. To enter, comment on this post.
2. If you are international, indicate both this and your willingness to pay postage.
3. Name your favorite cryptid.
4. That's it.
I will choose the winner at 1PM PST on Sunday, December 13th.
Game on!
ETA: This drawing is now CLOSED.
- Current Mood: busy
- Current Music:New Pornographers, "All For Swinging Around You."
...an ARC of Chaos Choreography!
Welcome to the first of the Thirteen Days of Hogswatch. I will be starting a new giveaway every day between now and December 13th. Each giveaway will have different rules, and a different deadline, although all prizes will be mailed on December 30th, because I am bad at going to the post office (and also, avoiding the post office until that other winter holiday is over).
The first giveaway is for an ARC of Chaos Choreography, the fifth InCryptid adventure. This is going to be a random number drawing, because I am sleepy. So...
1. To enter, comment on this post.
2. If you are international, indicate both this and your willingness to pay postage.
3. That's it.
I will choose the winner at 1PM PST on Tuesday, December 8th.
Game on!
ETA: This drawing is CLOSED.
Welcome to the first of the Thirteen Days of Hogswatch. I will be starting a new giveaway every day between now and December 13th. Each giveaway will have different rules, and a different deadline, although all prizes will be mailed on December 30th, because I am bad at going to the post office (and also, avoiding the post office until that other winter holiday is over).
The first giveaway is for an ARC of Chaos Choreography, the fifth InCryptid adventure. This is going to be a random number drawing, because I am sleepy. So...
1. To enter, comment on this post.
2. If you are international, indicate both this and your willingness to pay postage.
3. That's it.
I will choose the winner at 1PM PST on Tuesday, December 8th.
Game on!
ETA: This drawing is CLOSED.
- Current Mood: awake
- Current Music:Merav arguing with Paradise Bay.
Psst. C'mere.
So it's no secret around here that I love, love, love my DAW covers, or that showing them off is one of my true pure joys in life. Aly Fell, the artist who does the art for the InCryptid books, is incredible at capturing and presenting these characters. Want proof?
Go ahead. Take a peek.
( Cut-tagged for the protection of your friends' list, which really doesn't need something this huge suddenly showing up without warning. But trust me, you should totally click.Collapse )
So it's no secret around here that I love, love, love my DAW covers, or that showing them off is one of my true pure joys in life. Aly Fell, the artist who does the art for the InCryptid books, is incredible at capturing and presenting these characters. Want proof?
Go ahead. Take a peek.
( Cut-tagged for the protection of your friends' list, which really doesn't need something this huge suddenly showing up without warning. But trust me, you should totally click.Collapse )
- Current Mood: ecstatic
- Current Music:Glee, "Tik Tok."
It's time for some free fiction, and for the first story of the Alice and Thomas era. The year is 1954. Frances Healy has been gone for almost a decade. Things have changed in Buckley Township, Michigan. But a remarkable number of things have managed to stay the same.
With "The Way Home," we welcome Thomas Price, Covenant researcher, to Buckley, and we see what the future is going to hold. There's no question that it's going to be a party. It always is, when there are this many knives involved.
You can download the new story now from the InCryptid short fiction page.
This also serves as your discussion post.
With "The Way Home," we welcome Thomas Price, Covenant researcher, to Buckley, and we see what the future is going to hold. There's no question that it's going to be a party. It always is, when there are this many knives involved.
You can download the new story now from the InCryptid short fiction page.
This also serves as your discussion post.
- Current Mood: accomplished
- Current Music:Counting Crows, "Rain King (Get Up)."
Hey, players, get your quarters and slap 'em down, because Press Start to Play is available today! This awesome video-game themed anthology includes a lot of awesome stories, including "Survival Horror," which features Antimony Price and Arthur Harrington versus a 7th Guest-style puzzle adventure with sinister goals in mind.
You can find more information here.
Available now at a retailer near you!
You can find more information here.
Available now at a retailer near you!
- Current Mood: ecstatic
- Current Music:The Decemberists, "Don't Carry It All."
It's time for some free fiction, and for the last story of the Johnny and Fran era. The year is 1945. Frances Healy, born Frances Brown, is gone, and the time has come, however little we might want it, to say goodbye to a friend.
With "Star of New Mexico," we close the book on Johnny and Fran, and look to the future. It's the end of an era. It's the beginning of something new.
You can download the new story now from the InCryptid short fiction page.
This also serves as your discussion post.
As an author's note, if you want the perfect song to accompany this story, download "Chasing Twisters" (the song, not the EP) by Delta Rae. I cannot recommend it highly enough.
Goodbye, Fran. I'll miss you.
With "Star of New Mexico," we close the book on Johnny and Fran, and look to the future. It's the end of an era. It's the beginning of something new.
You can download the new story now from the InCryptid short fiction page.
This also serves as your discussion post.
As an author's note, if you want the perfect song to accompany this story, download "Chasing Twisters" (the song, not the EP) by Delta Rae. I cannot recommend it highly enough.
Goodbye, Fran. I'll miss you.
- Current Mood:
sad - Current Music:Hypnogaja, "Here Comes the Rain Again."
Popping in from Florida to make a quick announcement, namely that the table of contents for Press Start to Play, edited by John Joseph Adams and Daniel H. Wilson, has been announced.
Check it out for some familiar names.
My story in this one, "Survival Horror," is about Artie, Antimony, and a rather...challenging...game in the vein of The 7th Guest. Thrill to their adventures, and to the many awesome stories that surround them, this coming August.
Back to Disney!
Check it out for some familiar names.
My story in this one, "Survival Horror," is about Artie, Antimony, and a rather...challenging...game in the vein of The 7th Guest. Thrill to their adventures, and to the many awesome stories that surround them, this coming August.
Back to Disney!
- Current Mood: excited
- Current Music:Owl City, "When Can I See You Again?"
This seems to be an "every six months or so" thing, which is nice: I don't feel too demanding, but I'm able to keep prioritizing the free shorts in my lists. And so, as promised, I am now taking "tip jar" donations to fund the next InCryptid story or stories. To tip, please PayPal to...
delirium@xocolatl.com
Please choose "friends and family," not "goods and services," as I have no physical goods to send. The tip jar will remain open from today (Friday, April 10th) through next Friday (April 17th). I will then close it and post a total for what was collected.
If I get $200, I will prioritize finishing and posting "The Way Home," aka, "the next generation begins."
If I get $300 or more, I will prioritize finishing and posting "Lay of the Land," aka "Thomas and Alice are awkward cookies."
"Star of New Mexico" will be posted this year even if no one tips me a penny; I'm not holding anything finished hostage, just trying to justify my perpetually shuffling things around. Thanks so much to everyone who's ever donated in the past; you've done a lot to make my current situation possible.
Thank you!
ETA: Thank you so much to those who have already chipped in. Please do remember, however, that I am not selling anything; there's nothing to ship. Please choose "friends and family," to avoid both PayPal prodding me about sending your non-existent product, and to keep fees at bay.
delirium@xocolatl.com
Please choose "friends and family," not "goods and services," as I have no physical goods to send. The tip jar will remain open from today (Friday, April 10th) through next Friday (April 17th). I will then close it and post a total for what was collected.
If I get $200, I will prioritize finishing and posting "The Way Home," aka, "the next generation begins."
If I get $300 or more, I will prioritize finishing and posting "Lay of the Land," aka "Thomas and Alice are awkward cookies."
"Star of New Mexico" will be posted this year even if no one tips me a penny; I'm not holding anything finished hostage, just trying to justify my perpetually shuffling things around. Thanks so much to everyone who's ever donated in the past; you've done a lot to make my current situation possible.
Thank you!
ETA: Thank you so much to those who have already chipped in. Please do remember, however, that I am not selling anything; there's nothing to ship. Please choose "friends and family," to avoid both PayPal prodding me about sending your non-existent product, and to keep fees at bay.
- Current Mood: awake
- Current Music:Talis showing me her shoes.
I am going to start this reminder by being honest:
When I was in the planning phase for this event, I thought it was the last one we would ever have at Borderlands Books. Which made me sad. So sad, in fact, that my response to the timing difficulties (IE, right after a big trip, right after a con that would exhaust most of the members of the Traveling Circus) was to say "let's have a quiet night and say goodbye," rather than "LET'S BLOW THE FUCKING ROOF OFF SINCE THEY DON'T NEED IT ANYMORE." So. The Traveling Circus and Snake-Handling Show will not be appearing this time. It's going to be quiet. It's just going to be quiet joy, instead of quiet sorrow.
But.
I would still love it very, very much if you could come to Borderlands Books, in San Francisco, California this Friday at 6:00PM. There will be cupcakes, and Q&A, and a raffle. There will be reading and signing and talking and so much joy, because we get to keep it. We get to keep our store, and celebrate my new book, and eat sugar, all at the same time. And life is good.
Life is so good.
I hope to see you there.
(If you can't make it, remember that you can contact the store to order signed, personalized books. For great justice!)
When I was in the planning phase for this event, I thought it was the last one we would ever have at Borderlands Books. Which made me sad. So sad, in fact, that my response to the timing difficulties (IE, right after a big trip, right after a con that would exhaust most of the members of the Traveling Circus) was to say "let's have a quiet night and say goodbye," rather than "LET'S BLOW THE FUCKING ROOF OFF SINCE THEY DON'T NEED IT ANYMORE." So. The Traveling Circus and Snake-Handling Show will not be appearing this time. It's going to be quiet. It's just going to be quiet joy, instead of quiet sorrow.
But.
I would still love it very, very much if you could come to Borderlands Books, in San Francisco, California this Friday at 6:00PM. There will be cupcakes, and Q&A, and a raffle. There will be reading and signing and talking and so much joy, because we get to keep it. We get to keep our store, and celebrate my new book, and eat sugar, all at the same time. And life is good.
Life is so good.
I hope to see you there.
(If you can't make it, remember that you can contact the store to order signed, personalized books. For great justice!)
- Current Mood: ecstatic
- Current Music:The theme to "Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt."
To celebrate the release of Pocket Apocalypse, here. Have an open thread to discuss the book. Judging by the comments I'm seeing, some of you have had time, and I'd really, really rather book discussion (sometimes including spoilers) didn't crop up on other posts.
THERE WILL BE SPOILERS.
Seriously. If anyone comments here at all, THERE WILL BE SPOILERS. So please don't read and then yell at me because you encountered spoilers. You were warned. (I will not reply to every comment; I call partial comment amnesty. But I may well join some of the discussion, or answer questions or whatnot.) I will be DELETING all comments containing spoilers which have been left on other posts. No one gets to spoil people here without a label.
You can also start a discussion at my website forums, with less need to be concerned that I will see everything you say! In case you wanted, you know, discussion free of authorial influence, since I always wind up getting involved in these things.
Have fun, and try not to bleed on the carpet.
THERE WILL BE SPOILERS.
Seriously. If anyone comments here at all, THERE WILL BE SPOILERS. So please don't read and then yell at me because you encountered spoilers. You were warned. (I will not reply to every comment; I call partial comment amnesty. But I may well join some of the discussion, or answer questions or whatnot.) I will be DELETING all comments containing spoilers which have been left on other posts. No one gets to spoil people here without a label.
You can also start a discussion at my website forums, with less need to be concerned that I will see everything you say! In case you wanted, you know, discussion free of authorial influence, since I always wind up getting involved in these things.
Have fun, and try not to bleed on the carpet.
- Current Mood: busy
- Current Music:Carbon Leaf, "Under the Wire."
As of today, Pocket Apocalypse is officially available from bookstores all over North America, and from import stores all over the world. It's been spotted in the wild from California to New York, with several points between also chiming in to let me know that they've got copies. Hooray!
Since it's release week, I figured it was time to once again answer the wonderful people asking how they can help. So here are a few dos and don'ts for making this book launch awesome.
DO buy the book as soon as you can. Sales during the first week are very important—think of it as "opening weekend" for a movie—but they're not the end-all be-all. If you can get the book tomorrow, get the book; if you can get it at my book release party later this month, get it at my book release party. Whatever works for you. Brick-and-mortar store purchases are best, as they encourage reordering. If you've already bought the book, consider buying the book again during release week, as a single copy might get lonely. They make great gifts!
DON'T yell at other people who haven't bought the book yet. I know, that's sort of a "why are you saying this?" statement, but I got a very sad email from a teenager who'd been yelled at for not buying A Local Habitation the week that it came out, and I have never forgotten it. So just be chill. Unless you want to buy books for people who don't have them, in which case, don't yell, just buy.
DO ask your local bookstore if they have it on order. If your local store is part of a large chain, such as Barnes and Noble, the odds are good that the answer will be "yes," and that they'll be more than happy to hold one for you. If your local store is small, and does not focus specifically on science fiction/fantasy, they may have been waiting to see signs of interest before placing an order. Get interested! Interest is awesome!
DON'T berate your local bookseller if they say "no." Telling people they're overlooking something awesome doesn't make them go "gosh, I see the error of my ways." It makes them go "well, I guess it can be awesome without me." Suggest. Ask if you can special-order a copy. But don't be nasty to people just because their shelves can't hold every book ever written.
DO post reviews on your blog or on Amazon.com. Reviews are fantastic! Reviews make everything better! Please, write and post a review, even if it's just "I liked it." Honestly, even if it's just "this wasn't really my thing." As long as you're being fair and reasoned in your commentary, I'm thrilled. (I like to believe you won't all race right out to post one-star reviews, but if that's what you really think, I promise that I won't be mad.)
DON'T get nasty at people who post negative reviews. You are all people. You all have a right to the ball. That includes people who don't like my work. Please don't argue with negative reviewers on my behalf. It just makes everybody sad. If you really think someone's being unfair, why don't you post your own review, to present an alternate perspective? (Also, please don't email me my Amazon reviews. I don't read them, I don't want to read them, and I definitely don't want to be surprised with them. Please have mercy.)
DO feel free to get multiple copies. No, you probably don't need eight copies for your permanent collection, but remember that libraries, school libraries, and shelters are always in need of books. I'm donating a few of my author's copies to a local women's shelter, because they get a lot of women there who really need the escape. There are also people who just can't afford their own copies, and would be delighted. I wouldn't have had half the library I did as a teenager if it weren't for the kindness of the people around me.
DON'T feel obligated to get multiple copies, or pressure other people to do so. Seriously, we're all on budgets, and too much aggressive press can actually turn people off on a good thing. Let people make their own choices. Have faith.
DO check with your local library to be sure they have a copy of on order. If they don't, you can fill out a library request form. Spread the paperback love!
DON'T forget that libraries need books. Many libraries, especially on the high school level, are really strapped for cash right now, and book donations are frequently tax deductible. If you have a few bucks to spare, you can improve the world on multiple levels by donating books to your local public and high school libraries.
DO suggest the book to bookstore employees who like urban fantasy and talking mice. Nothing boosts sales like having people in the stores who really like a project. If your Cousin Danny (or Dani) works at a bookstore, say "Hey, why don't you give this a try?" It just might help.
DON'T rearrange bookstore displays. If the staff of my local bookstore is constantly being forced to deal with fixing the shelves after someone "helpfully" rearranged things to give their chosen favorites a better position, they're unlikely to feel well inclined toward that book—or author. It's not a good thing to piss off the bookstores. Let's just not.
So those are some things. I'm sure there are lots of other things to consider; this is, at least, a start. Finally, a few things that don't help the book, but do help the me:
Please don't expect immediate email response from me for anything short of "you promised us this interview, it runs tomorrow, where are your answers?" I normally make an effort to be a semi-competent correspondent, but with a new book on shelves and final edits due on Chimera, a lot of things are falling by the wayside. Like sleep.
If you're in the Bay Area, I hope to see you next Friday night at Borderlands Books, where I will be reading, signing, and running a raffle for your enjoyment!
Whee!
Since it's release week, I figured it was time to once again answer the wonderful people asking how they can help. So here are a few dos and don'ts for making this book launch awesome.
DO buy the book as soon as you can. Sales during the first week are very important—think of it as "opening weekend" for a movie—but they're not the end-all be-all. If you can get the book tomorrow, get the book; if you can get it at my book release party later this month, get it at my book release party. Whatever works for you. Brick-and-mortar store purchases are best, as they encourage reordering. If you've already bought the book, consider buying the book again during release week, as a single copy might get lonely. They make great gifts!
DON'T yell at other people who haven't bought the book yet. I know, that's sort of a "why are you saying this?" statement, but I got a very sad email from a teenager who'd been yelled at for not buying A Local Habitation the week that it came out, and I have never forgotten it. So just be chill. Unless you want to buy books for people who don't have them, in which case, don't yell, just buy.
DO ask your local bookstore if they have it on order. If your local store is part of a large chain, such as Barnes and Noble, the odds are good that the answer will be "yes," and that they'll be more than happy to hold one for you. If your local store is small, and does not focus specifically on science fiction/fantasy, they may have been waiting to see signs of interest before placing an order. Get interested! Interest is awesome!
DON'T berate your local bookseller if they say "no." Telling people they're overlooking something awesome doesn't make them go "gosh, I see the error of my ways." It makes them go "well, I guess it can be awesome without me." Suggest. Ask if you can special-order a copy. But don't be nasty to people just because their shelves can't hold every book ever written.
DO post reviews on your blog or on Amazon.com. Reviews are fantastic! Reviews make everything better! Please, write and post a review, even if it's just "I liked it." Honestly, even if it's just "this wasn't really my thing." As long as you're being fair and reasoned in your commentary, I'm thrilled. (I like to believe you won't all race right out to post one-star reviews, but if that's what you really think, I promise that I won't be mad.)
DON'T get nasty at people who post negative reviews. You are all people. You all have a right to the ball. That includes people who don't like my work. Please don't argue with negative reviewers on my behalf. It just makes everybody sad. If you really think someone's being unfair, why don't you post your own review, to present an alternate perspective? (Also, please don't email me my Amazon reviews. I don't read them, I don't want to read them, and I definitely don't want to be surprised with them. Please have mercy.)
DO feel free to get multiple copies. No, you probably don't need eight copies for your permanent collection, but remember that libraries, school libraries, and shelters are always in need of books. I'm donating a few of my author's copies to a local women's shelter, because they get a lot of women there who really need the escape. There are also people who just can't afford their own copies, and would be delighted. I wouldn't have had half the library I did as a teenager if it weren't for the kindness of the people around me.
DON'T feel obligated to get multiple copies, or pressure other people to do so. Seriously, we're all on budgets, and too much aggressive press can actually turn people off on a good thing. Let people make their own choices. Have faith.
DO check with your local library to be sure they have a copy of on order. If they don't, you can fill out a library request form. Spread the paperback love!
DON'T forget that libraries need books. Many libraries, especially on the high school level, are really strapped for cash right now, and book donations are frequently tax deductible. If you have a few bucks to spare, you can improve the world on multiple levels by donating books to your local public and high school libraries.
DO suggest the book to bookstore employees who like urban fantasy and talking mice. Nothing boosts sales like having people in the stores who really like a project. If your Cousin Danny (or Dani) works at a bookstore, say "Hey, why don't you give this a try?" It just might help.
DON'T rearrange bookstore displays. If the staff of my local bookstore is constantly being forced to deal with fixing the shelves after someone "helpfully" rearranged things to give their chosen favorites a better position, they're unlikely to feel well inclined toward that book—or author. It's not a good thing to piss off the bookstores. Let's just not.
So those are some things. I'm sure there are lots of other things to consider; this is, at least, a start. Finally, a few things that don't help the book, but do help the me:
Please don't expect immediate email response from me for anything short of "you promised us this interview, it runs tomorrow, where are your answers?" I normally make an effort to be a semi-competent correspondent, but with a new book on shelves and final edits due on Chimera, a lot of things are falling by the wayside. Like sleep.
If you're in the Bay Area, I hope to see you next Friday night at Borderlands Books, where I will be reading, signing, and running a raffle for your enjoyment!
Whee!
- Current Mood: ecstatic
- Current Music:Halestorm, "Better Sorry Than Safe."
It's time for some free fiction. Hooray! It's Valentine's Day in Buckley Township, Michigan. The year is 1945...and it's almost the end of the world.
In "Broken Paper Hearts," Alice Healy is getting ready for her school Valentine's Day party, complete with pink sugar cupcakes and paper hearts for everybody...and Fran, her beloved mother, has not come back from her latest trip into the woods.
It's the end of an era and the day we've all known was coming for a long time.
Happy Valentine's Day.
You can download the new story now from the InCryptid short fiction page.
This also serves as your discussion post.
In "Broken Paper Hearts," Alice Healy is getting ready for her school Valentine's Day party, complete with pink sugar cupcakes and paper hearts for everybody...and Fran, her beloved mother, has not come back from her latest trip into the woods.
It's the end of an era and the day we've all known was coming for a long time.
Happy Valentine's Day.
You can download the new story now from the InCryptid short fiction page.
This also serves as your discussion post.
- Current Mood: accomplished
- Current Music:Halestorm, "Out Ta Get Me."
And the winners are...
Brandon Bousman from Team Waheela!
magyck from Team Cuckoo!
Pamela Adams from Team Tailypo!
Despite their overwhelming majority in the comments, neither the Aeslin mice nor the Madhura were chosen by the RNG. Which I suppose is a good comment on the nature of randomness, even if it has me scratching my head over here.
If you won, please contact me via my website contact form within the next twenty-four hours to claim your prize. Thanks for playing, all; more giveaways to come.
Brandon Bousman from Team Waheela!
magyck from Team Cuckoo!Pamela Adams from Team Tailypo!
Despite their overwhelming majority in the comments, neither the Aeslin mice nor the Madhura were chosen by the RNG. Which I suppose is a good comment on the nature of randomness, even if it has me scratching my head over here.
If you won, please contact me via my website contact form within the next twenty-four hours to claim your prize. Thanks for playing, all; more giveaways to come.
- Current Mood: accomplished
- Current Music:Great Big Sea, "Demasduit Dream."
It's time for my first Pocket Apocalypse giveaway! Hooray! This giveaway is going to be US addresses only; I'm still mailing T-shirts, and my post office workers are starting to mysteriously go on break when I show up, because of all the international packages. I know it's not fair, but I can't add more customs forms to the pile or they're going to close completely.
I will do open-to-international giveaways before the book is released, and I'm hoping to clear out more of the pending packages in the next week or so.
So, the rules for this one:
1. Leave a comment.
2. Indicate that you have a US address I can ship to. (You don't have to live in the US. You just have to have a US address.)
3. Name your favorite cryptid and why.
I will use the RNG to choose three winners on Tuesday, January 27th. But there's a twist! Only one person can win for each cryptid. So be honest! Name your favorite! Just be aware that the odds are lower for the Aeslin mice than for, say, the swamp bromeliads.
The field guide is here, if you need some help.
Game on!
I will do open-to-international giveaways before the book is released, and I'm hoping to clear out more of the pending packages in the next week or so.
So, the rules for this one:
1. Leave a comment.
2. Indicate that you have a US address I can ship to. (You don't have to live in the US. You just have to have a US address.)
3. Name your favorite cryptid and why.
I will use the RNG to choose three winners on Tuesday, January 27th. But there's a twist! Only one person can win for each cryptid. So be honest! Name your favorite! Just be aware that the odds are lower for the Aeslin mice than for, say, the swamp bromeliads.
The field guide is here, if you need some help.
Game on!
- Current Mood:
quixotic - Current Music:Sweet Apple, "Never Came."
Wow. Here we are again.
As of today, we are fifty days from the release of Pocket Apocalypse, the fourth book in the InCryptid series, and the second book narrated by Verity's older brother, Alexander Price. This is it for him, at least for right now; this is where he takes a bow and wanders off into the wings to do something else for a while. Verity will be taking over again for book five before she hands the baton off to their little sister, Antimony, to narrate books six and seven. And just the fact that I can type that sentence with a straight face proves that I am the luckiest girl in the world.
So where are we right now? Well, I'm gearing up for some more giveaways, some of which will be totally effort-free (RNG 4 LYFE), some of which will require a little more work (fan artists, start your engines). I'm editing book five, and prepping for book six, which is the first in my new two-book contract. Thanks to everyone who bought Half-Off Ragnarok and made it possible for me to write Antimony's books. Please keep reading, so I can keep going. I want to make it all the way to the end of this series.
I'm still not sure what I'm going to do as a pre-release countdown this time (or whether I'm going to do one at all). Suggestions are totally welcome! And of course, we'll have another new short story going up on the website around the time the book comes out, featuring another Johnny and Fran adventure. We're coming to the end of their time as the focus of our historical narratives. I'm excited to be moving on Alice and Thomas, one of my all time OTPs, but I'm going to miss Johnny and Fran.
Thank you all, so much. Thank you for allowing me to tell these stories. Thank you for being here. And thank you for buying my books. This was a series that had a very narrow market when it started, and you bought enough copies to make DAW see that it had an audience, and that I should get to continue. Soon, we'll break through the candy shell and expose the true darkness of what people keep assuming is my fluffiest universe. Soon.
I can't wait.
As of today, we are fifty days from the release of Pocket Apocalypse, the fourth book in the InCryptid series, and the second book narrated by Verity's older brother, Alexander Price. This is it for him, at least for right now; this is where he takes a bow and wanders off into the wings to do something else for a while. Verity will be taking over again for book five before she hands the baton off to their little sister, Antimony, to narrate books six and seven. And just the fact that I can type that sentence with a straight face proves that I am the luckiest girl in the world.
So where are we right now? Well, I'm gearing up for some more giveaways, some of which will be totally effort-free (RNG 4 LYFE), some of which will require a little more work (fan artists, start your engines). I'm editing book five, and prepping for book six, which is the first in my new two-book contract. Thanks to everyone who bought Half-Off Ragnarok and made it possible for me to write Antimony's books. Please keep reading, so I can keep going. I want to make it all the way to the end of this series.
I'm still not sure what I'm going to do as a pre-release countdown this time (or whether I'm going to do one at all). Suggestions are totally welcome! And of course, we'll have another new short story going up on the website around the time the book comes out, featuring another Johnny and Fran adventure. We're coming to the end of their time as the focus of our historical narratives. I'm excited to be moving on Alice and Thomas, one of my all time OTPs, but I'm going to miss Johnny and Fran.
Thank you all, so much. Thank you for allowing me to tell these stories. Thank you for being here. And thank you for buying my books. This was a series that had a very narrow market when it started, and you bought enough copies to make DAW see that it had an audience, and that I should get to continue. Soon, we'll break through the candy shell and expose the true darkness of what people keep assuming is my fluffiest universe. Soon.
I can't wait.
- Current Mood: excited
- Current Music:Melissa Etheridge, "Silent Legacy."
You may have noticed a lack of traditional "the year is over, hooray, here's all the crap I accomplished in 2014, now let's hope 2015 sucks less" posts around here. This is because we had a rip-trees-out-of-the-earth type windstorm here on the 29th, and well. First the power to my house went out. Then the power came back...mostly. It came back to everything except the outlets in my room and the front room. Where the server lives.
I HAD THREE UNPLANNED DAYS WITHOUT INTERNET AND I AM NOT OKAY.
Ahem. So my roundup posts are coming, but for right now, here is a review roundup, just to sort of make me feel productive, without actually requiring me to think.
Book Banter has posted a review of Discount Armageddon, and says, "By the end of the first book in the Cryptid series, readers will be thoroughly hooked and checking out the cryptid glossary at the end of the book and wanting more cryptid crunchy goodness." Yay!
Ranting Dragon has also posted a review of Discount Armageddon, and says, "All joking aside, this is one of the best books I’ve read in a long time, and not just for the fun factor." Double-yay! (It's a fun review, too.)
Fantasy Book Cafe has also also posted a review of Discount Armageddon, and says, "Discount Armageddon completely lived up to my expectations for a book written by Seanan McGuire. It is about on par with the later Toby Daye books in terms of enjoyment, even without the satisfaction of spending several books getting to know the characters. It's entertaining, well-paced, and humorous with a memorable main character – and a memorable family, even though we haven't really met most of them yet. I think I may have discovered my fourth urban fantasy series that I must keep up with." Excellent.
...and really, three is about my limit for tonight, for I am tired and the world must move on. All things serve the Beam.
I will be more productive tomorrow.
I HAD THREE UNPLANNED DAYS WITHOUT INTERNET AND I AM NOT OKAY.
Ahem. So my roundup posts are coming, but for right now, here is a review roundup, just to sort of make me feel productive, without actually requiring me to think.
Book Banter has posted a review of Discount Armageddon, and says, "By the end of the first book in the Cryptid series, readers will be thoroughly hooked and checking out the cryptid glossary at the end of the book and wanting more cryptid crunchy goodness." Yay!
Ranting Dragon has also posted a review of Discount Armageddon, and says, "All joking aside, this is one of the best books I’ve read in a long time, and not just for the fun factor." Double-yay! (It's a fun review, too.)
Fantasy Book Cafe has also also posted a review of Discount Armageddon, and says, "Discount Armageddon completely lived up to my expectations for a book written by Seanan McGuire. It is about on par with the later Toby Daye books in terms of enjoyment, even without the satisfaction of spending several books getting to know the characters. It's entertaining, well-paced, and humorous with a memorable main character – and a memorable family, even though we haven't really met most of them yet. I think I may have discovered my fourth urban fantasy series that I must keep up with." Excellent.
...and really, three is about my limit for tonight, for I am tired and the world must move on. All things serve the Beam.
I will be more productive tomorrow.
- Current Mood:
tired - Current Music:Ghost of the Robot, "Valerie."
The random number generator has spoken, and the winner of a signed, personalized copy of Half-Off Ragnarok is...
pameladean
Please contact me via my website contact form within the next twenty-four hours to provide your mailing information. All information must be received via my website to be considered valid. If I do not hear from you within twenty-four hours, you will no longer be eligible to receive your prize.
Ten more drawings to go!
pameladeanPlease contact me via my website contact form within the next twenty-four hours to provide your mailing information. All information must be received via my website to be considered valid. If I do not hear from you within twenty-four hours, you will no longer be eligible to receive your prize.
Ten more drawings to go!
- Current Mood: busy
- Current Music:Me and Vixy, "Take Advantage of Me."
Every month I make a post to tell folks what I'm working on, a) because it seems polite, b) because it keeps me accountable, if only to myself, and c) so you will understand why I do not have a social life. This is the December 2014 post, and the last post of the year.
To quote myself, being too harried to say something new: "These posts are labeled with the month and year, in case somebody eventually gets the bizarre urge to timeline my work cycles (it'll probably be me). Behold the proof that I don't actually sleep; I just whimper and keep writing."
Please note that all books currently in print are off the list, as are those that have been turned in but not yet printed (Pocket Apocalypse). A Red-Rose Chain, Chimera, and Chaos Choreography are off the list because they're finished and in revisions with the Machete Squad. The cut-tag is here to stay, because no matter what I do, it seems like this list just keeps on getting longer. But that's okay, because at least it means I'm never actively bored. I have horror movies and terrible things from the swamp to keep me company.
Not everything on this list has been sold. I will not discuss the sale status of anything which has not been publicly announced. If you can't remember whether I've announced something, check the relevant tag, or go to my website, at www.seananmcguire.com. Please do not ask why project X is no longer on the list. I will not answer you.
( What's Seanan working on now? Click to find out!Collapse )
To quote myself, being too harried to say something new: "These posts are labeled with the month and year, in case somebody eventually gets the bizarre urge to timeline my work cycles (it'll probably be me). Behold the proof that I don't actually sleep; I just whimper and keep writing."
Please note that all books currently in print are off the list, as are those that have been turned in but not yet printed (Pocket Apocalypse). A Red-Rose Chain, Chimera, and Chaos Choreography are off the list because they're finished and in revisions with the Machete Squad. The cut-tag is here to stay, because no matter what I do, it seems like this list just keeps on getting longer. But that's okay, because at least it means I'm never actively bored. I have horror movies and terrible things from the swamp to keep me company.
Not everything on this list has been sold. I will not discuss the sale status of anything which has not been publicly announced. If you can't remember whether I've announced something, check the relevant tag, or go to my website, at www.seananmcguire.com. Please do not ask why project X is no longer on the list. I will not answer you.
( What's Seanan working on now? Click to find out!Collapse )
- Current Mood: accomplished
- Current Music:Pink, "Stupid Girls."
...a copy of Half-Off Ragnarok!
Welcome to the second of the Twelve Days of Hogswatch. I will be starting a new giveaway every day between now and December 25th (some other winter holiday). Each giveaway will have different rules, and a different deadline, although all prizes will be mailed on December 29th, because I am bad at going to the post office (and also, still mailing shirts).
The first giveaway is for a copy of Half-Off Ragnarok, the third InCryptid adventure. What better way to get ready for book four? This is going to be a random number drawing, because I am lazy. So...
1. To enter, comment on this post.
2. If you are international, indicate both this and your willingness to pay postage.
3. That's it.
I will choose the winner at 1PM PST on Tuesday, December 16th.
Game on!
Welcome to the second of the Twelve Days of Hogswatch. I will be starting a new giveaway every day between now and December 25th (some other winter holiday). Each giveaway will have different rules, and a different deadline, although all prizes will be mailed on December 29th, because I am bad at going to the post office (and also, still mailing shirts).
The first giveaway is for a copy of Half-Off Ragnarok, the third InCryptid adventure. What better way to get ready for book four? This is going to be a random number drawing, because I am lazy. So...
1. To enter, comment on this post.
2. If you are international, indicate both this and your willingness to pay postage.
3. That's it.
I will choose the winner at 1PM PST on Tuesday, December 16th.
Game on!
- Current Mood:
chipper - Current Music:Counting Crows, "Butterfly in Reverse."
Psst. C'mere.
So it's no secret around here that I love, love, love my DAW covers, or that showing them off is one of my true pure joys in life. Aly Fell, who designs the covers for the InCryptid books, has been everything I could have hoped for in a cover artist. He's incredible. Want proof?
Go ahead. Take a peek.
( Cut-tagged for the protection of your friends' list, which really doesn't need something this huge suddenly showing up without warning. But trust me, you should totally click.Collapse )
So it's no secret around here that I love, love, love my DAW covers, or that showing them off is one of my true pure joys in life. Aly Fell, who designs the covers for the InCryptid books, has been everything I could have hoped for in a cover artist. He's incredible. Want proof?
Go ahead. Take a peek.
( Cut-tagged for the protection of your friends' list, which really doesn't need something this huge suddenly showing up without warning. But trust me, you should totally click.Collapse )
- Current Mood: ecstatic
- Current Music:EFO, "Atlantic."
In December of 2013, we followed Istas and Ryan through "Red as Snow," which appeared in the December issue of Fiction River, subtitled Hex in the City. (Need more details on Fiction River? Look no further than this link.)
In January of 2014, we followed them through "Black as Blood," and met Ryan's family.
It's time to finish things.
Ryan and Istas have been together for a while now, and while he's ready to take the next step in their relationship, she still has a few loose ends to be tied off. Like her father, who became her husband when her mother died, and is still waiting for her at the top of the world.
You can download "White as a Raven's Wing" now from the InCryptid short fiction page. While this story is best read after "Red as Snow" and "Black as Blood," it should stand reasonably well on its own, providing you have any familiarity with the InCryptid setting. (If you don't, there's a lot of short fiction set earlier in the world continuity also posted on that page. Enjoy!)
Please download and read locally, rather than reading on my server.
This also serves as your discussion post.
In January of 2014, we followed them through "Black as Blood," and met Ryan's family.
It's time to finish things.
Ryan and Istas have been together for a while now, and while he's ready to take the next step in their relationship, she still has a few loose ends to be tied off. Like her father, who became her husband when her mother died, and is still waiting for her at the top of the world.
You can download "White as a Raven's Wing" now from the InCryptid short fiction page. While this story is best read after "Red as Snow" and "Black as Blood," it should stand reasonably well on its own, providing you have any familiarity with the InCryptid setting. (If you don't, there's a lot of short fiction set earlier in the world continuity also posted on that page. Enjoy!)
Please download and read locally, rather than reading on my server.
This also serves as your discussion post.
- Current Mood: accomplished
- Current Music:October Project, "Where You Are."
I'm home from my last convention of 2014, and am selling some more Slasher Chicks tank tops to make room in my staging area. Be a roller derby hipster in a shirt for a team that doesn't exist! With art by the fabulous Sfe Monster, this was our first experiment with printing on bright colors for fun times. All tanks are fitted (no straight cuts this time, I'm afraid).
I am still not 100% sure what I have, and will be posting shirts here as I locate them, so watch here for updates. Currently, we have:
Dark gray, out of stock.
Heather gray, S x2
Heather gray, M x4
Heather gray, L x4
Heather gray, XL x3
(NOTE: This is ALL the remaining shirt stock in heather gray. No further sizes available.)
Orange, S x3
Orange, M x5
Orange, L x4
Orange, XL x3
Orange, 2XL x6
(NOTE: This is ALL the remaining shirt stock in orange. No further sizes available.)
Pink, S x2
Pink, M x4
Pink, L x1
Pink, XL x2
(NOTE: This is ALL the remaining shirt stock in pink. No further sizes available.)
Purple, out of stock.
Red, M x3
Red, L x6
Red, XL x9
Red, 2XL x1
(NOTE: This is ALL the remaining shirt stock in red. No further sizes available.)
Yellow, L x4
Yellow, XL x5
Yellow, 2XL x3
(NOTE: This is ALL the remaining shirt stock in yellow. No further sizes available.)
All shirts are $20 + $5 shipping US/$12 shipping International. If you want a shirt, comment here, and I'll provide payment info and all that fun stuff. You must comment here to request a shirt. Do not use LJ messenger or send me email, or anything else. Just comment here. I will be making a mail run next week, so shirts ordered now should reach their recipients before the holidays.
ETA: Folks, the instructions given when you place a request (IE, PayPal to one place and send your mailing address to another) are not optional. I cannot easily extract your mailing info from the PayPal alert. I need you to send it through my contact form. Until you do, even paid-for shirts will not be mailed.
- Current Mood: busy
- Current Music:Kris Delmhorst, "Cluck Old Hen."
Every month I make a post to tell folks what I'm working on, a) because it seems polite, b) because it keeps me accountable, if only to myself, and c) so you will understand why I do not have a social life. This is the October 2014 post.
To quote myself, being too harried to say something new: "These posts are labeled with the month and year, in case somebody eventually gets the bizarre urge to timeline my work cycles (it'll probably be me). Behold the proof that I don't actually sleep; I just whimper and keep writing."
Please note that all books currently in print are off the list, as are those that have been turned in but not yet printed (Symbiont and Pocket Apocalypse). A Red-Rose Chain, Chimera, and Chaos Choreography are off the list because they're finished and in revisions with the Machete Squad. The cut-tag is here to stay, because no matter what I do, it seems like this list just keeps on getting longer. But that's okay, because at least it means I'm never actively bored. I have horror movies and terrible things from the swamp to keep me company.
Not everything on this list has been sold. I will not discuss the sale status of anything which has not been publicly announced. If you can't remember whether I've announced something, check the relevant tag, or go to my website, at www.seananmcguire.com. Please do not ask why project X is no longer on the list. I will not answer you.
( What's Seanan working on now? Click to find out!Collapse )
To quote myself, being too harried to say something new: "These posts are labeled with the month and year, in case somebody eventually gets the bizarre urge to timeline my work cycles (it'll probably be me). Behold the proof that I don't actually sleep; I just whimper and keep writing."
Please note that all books currently in print are off the list, as are those that have been turned in but not yet printed (Symbiont and Pocket Apocalypse). A Red-Rose Chain, Chimera, and Chaos Choreography are off the list because they're finished and in revisions with the Machete Squad. The cut-tag is here to stay, because no matter what I do, it seems like this list just keeps on getting longer. But that's okay, because at least it means I'm never actively bored. I have horror movies and terrible things from the swamp to keep me company.
Not everything on this list has been sold. I will not discuss the sale status of anything which has not been publicly announced. If you can't remember whether I've announced something, check the relevant tag, or go to my website, at www.seananmcguire.com. Please do not ask why project X is no longer on the list. I will not answer you.
( What's Seanan working on now? Click to find out!Collapse )
- Current Mood: busy
- Current Music:Patty taking a shower.
It's time for some free fiction. Hooray! Halloween may be over, but there's always time for one more trick and one more treat before the sun sets on the holiday for another year.
In "Snakes and Ladders," Frances Healy is preparing to take her little girl out for a fun night of trick or treating. Of course it's safe. How could it be anything but for young Alice, when she has her heavily-armed mother and her ghost babysitter right there by her side? Unfortunately, some people have other plans for the holiday, and those plans aren't nearly as sweet as candy...
You can download the new story now from the InCryptid short fiction page.
This also serves as your discussion post.
In "Snakes and Ladders," Frances Healy is preparing to take her little girl out for a fun night of trick or treating. Of course it's safe. How could it be anything but for young Alice, when she has her heavily-armed mother and her ghost babysitter right there by her side? Unfortunately, some people have other plans for the holiday, and those plans aren't nearly as sweet as candy...
You can download the new story now from the InCryptid short fiction page.
This also serves as your discussion post.
- Current Mood: chipper
- Current Music:Counting Crows, "Round Here."
I am pleased as punch to report that I will be appearing at the Forbidden Planet super-store in London on Wednesday evening, beginning at 6PM and continuing until they throw us out!
I will be signing whatever people have to hand, although the event is specifically celebrating the release of the first three InCryptid books in their beautiful new UK editions from Corsair Books. There is no charge to attend, although the bookstore would, as always, appreciate it if you bought something. Bookstores are like that.
This is my first big London event, and I really hope to see you there!
I will be signing whatever people have to hand, although the event is specifically celebrating the release of the first three InCryptid books in their beautiful new UK editions from Corsair Books. There is no charge to attend, although the bookstore would, as always, appreciate it if you bought something. Bookstores are like that.
This is my first big London event, and I really hope to see you there!
- Current Mood: excited
- Current Music:Talis roaming from room to room.
Every month I make a post to tell folks what I'm working on, a) because it seems polite, b) because it keeps me accountable, if only to myself, and c) so you will understand why I do not have a social life. This is the September 2014 post.
To quote myself, being too harried to say something new: "These posts are labeled with the month and year, in case somebody eventually gets the bizarre urge to timeline my work cycles (it'll probably be me). Behold the proof that I don't actually sleep; I just whimper and keep writing." I missed the August post, because I was in Ireland at the time, but we're back to normal now.
Please note that all books currently in print are off the list, as are those that have been turned in but not yet printed (Symbiont and Pocket Apocalypse). A Red-Rose Chain and Chimera are off the list because they're finished and in revisions with the Machete Squad. The cut-tag is here to stay, because no matter what I do, it seems like this list just keeps on getting longer. But that's okay, because at least it means I'm never actively bored. I have horror movies and terrible things from the swamp to keep me company.
Not everything on this list has been sold. I will not discuss the sale status of anything which has not been publicly announced. If you can't remember whether I've announced something, check the relevant tag, or go to my website, at www.seananmcguire.com. Please do not ask why project X is no longer on the list. I will not answer you.
( What's Seanan working on now? Click to find out!Collapse )
To quote myself, being too harried to say something new: "These posts are labeled with the month and year, in case somebody eventually gets the bizarre urge to timeline my work cycles (it'll probably be me). Behold the proof that I don't actually sleep; I just whimper and keep writing." I missed the August post, because I was in Ireland at the time, but we're back to normal now.
Please note that all books currently in print are off the list, as are those that have been turned in but not yet printed (Symbiont and Pocket Apocalypse). A Red-Rose Chain and Chimera are off the list because they're finished and in revisions with the Machete Squad. The cut-tag is here to stay, because no matter what I do, it seems like this list just keeps on getting longer. But that's okay, because at least it means I'm never actively bored. I have horror movies and terrible things from the swamp to keep me company.
Not everything on this list has been sold. I will not discuss the sale status of anything which has not been publicly announced. If you can't remember whether I've announced something, check the relevant tag, or go to my website, at www.seananmcguire.com. Please do not ask why project X is no longer on the list. I will not answer you.
( What's Seanan working on now? Click to find out!Collapse )
- Current Mood: busy
- Current Music:Voltaire, "Wall of Pride."
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