I am really, really happy about the fact that "Lost" has just been reprinted in Lightspeed Magazine. "Lost" was originally published in Ravens in the Library, and it was, through accident of timing, my very first physical publication (I had one story printed first, "Let's Pretend," but that was and has remained web-only). It's a story about pirates, and children, and running away, and what it costs to have everything you wanted, and how much of that cost is paid by the people you leave behind. I love it a lot. And you can read it again now, if you missed it the first time.
"Lost" at Lightspeed Magazine.
Lightspeed also did an author spotlight on me, to talk about the story:
Seanan McGuire author spotlight at Lightspeed Magazine.
Finally, for right now, I've published another poem, "Wounds," in the June issue of Apex. It's about wizards, and mermaids, and the price of magic, and how much we hurt each other.
"Wounds" at Apex Magazine.
And that's June!
"Lost" at Lightspeed Magazine.
Lightspeed also did an author spotlight on me, to talk about the story:
Seanan McGuire author spotlight at Lightspeed Magazine.
Finally, for right now, I've published another poem, "Wounds," in the June issue of Apex. It's about wizards, and mermaids, and the price of magic, and how much we hurt each other.
"Wounds" at Apex Magazine.
And that's June!
- Current Mood:
happy - Current Music:SJ Tucker, "Ravens in the Library."
The ever-lovely 
talkstowolves decided to do a review of Ravens in the Library, the benefit anthology assembled for SJ "Sooj" Tucker following her sudden acquisition of several thousand dollars in unwanted medical debt. (Sometimes the medical system itself makes me ill, and then where am I?) It was a glorious idea, and a glorious reality, and it's great to see people really digging into the book enough to fully review it.
Part One of the review, in which half the stories are explored.
Part Two of the review, in which we run out of stories.
Part Three of the review, in which there is a great deal of artwork.
The sheer detail and consideration of this set of entries delights me. True critical thinking is always a joy, and even when I disagree with it, it makes me think. Well worth the price of admission.
talkstowolves decided to do a review of Ravens in the Library, the benefit anthology assembled for SJ "Sooj" Tucker following her sudden acquisition of several thousand dollars in unwanted medical debt. (Sometimes the medical system itself makes me ill, and then where am I?) It was a glorious idea, and a glorious reality, and it's great to see people really digging into the book enough to fully review it.Part One of the review, in which half the stories are explored.
Part Two of the review, in which we run out of stories.
Part Three of the review, in which there is a great deal of artwork.
The sheer detail and consideration of this set of entries delights me. True critical thinking is always a joy, and even when I disagree with it, it makes me think. Well worth the price of admission.
- Current Mood:
pleased - Current Music:Counting Crows, "Rain King."
Yesterday afternoon, I took Jon for what is becoming my regular tour through Borderlands Books, aka 'home of the freaky alien demon suede kittyfaces.' (Tip to the bookstores of the world: if you want me to come over a lot, get yourselves a naked cat. If you want me to avoid coming over, get, I don't know, a Persian.) We arrived to find the entire hive of demon cats playing bezoar in the back room, because nothing makes a bunch of naked cats cuter than becoming an undifferentiated ball of heaving, speckled flesh. Er, wait...
Jude was in the store, and I took great pleasure in showing her the cover print for Rosemary and Rue, which she was properly appreciative of -- I figure an author with new cover art is much like a parent with new baby pictures; you can hate it, but when they whip out their wallets, you'd better be prepared to coo over the fact that baby's got four limbs and a head -- before chatting for a bit about our various cats and the fact that All Cat Breeders Are Crazy. (It's true. It's just that some, like Betsy, are good crazy, while others are creepy won't let you into the house because maybe you're carrying the plague under your fingernails crazy.) Everyone's very much looking forward to Alice's arrival. Any bookstore that invites you to bring your Maine Coon for a visit with the creepy demon cats is a good bookstore.
Jude also rousted Ash for us, so that Jon could have his proper introduction to the glorious freakiness of the Sphinx. This was deeply pleasing unto me. I adore the freaky suede kittyfaces, and any day that they choose to grace with their presence is a good day for all of me.
As Jon and I were on our way out of the store (Jon having, naturally, purchased a souvenir postcard of Ripley), Jude stopped us. See, she was on the phone with Phil, confirming that the store had received their copies of Ravens in the Library. Yes: Borderlands has five copies of Ravens! They're gorgeous. And if you go down there, thus supporting your local bookstore and your local Sooj, you can totally buy one. Better still?
After Jude got off the phone, she asked if I wanted to sign them.
Nobody's ever asked me that before.
So yes, I signed their copies of Ravens in the Library -- signing several hundred CDs really makes you good at signing your name -- and walked home in a happy haze. You should, if you're local and haven't already ordered a copy, really go and pick one up. It's a truly gorgeous book. Better yet?
It's signed.
Jude was in the store, and I took great pleasure in showing her the cover print for Rosemary and Rue, which she was properly appreciative of -- I figure an author with new cover art is much like a parent with new baby pictures; you can hate it, but when they whip out their wallets, you'd better be prepared to coo over the fact that baby's got four limbs and a head -- before chatting for a bit about our various cats and the fact that All Cat Breeders Are Crazy. (It's true. It's just that some, like Betsy, are good crazy, while others are creepy won't let you into the house because maybe you're carrying the plague under your fingernails crazy.) Everyone's very much looking forward to Alice's arrival. Any bookstore that invites you to bring your Maine Coon for a visit with the creepy demon cats is a good bookstore.
Jude also rousted Ash for us, so that Jon could have his proper introduction to the glorious freakiness of the Sphinx. This was deeply pleasing unto me. I adore the freaky suede kittyfaces, and any day that they choose to grace with their presence is a good day for all of me.
As Jon and I were on our way out of the store (Jon having, naturally, purchased a souvenir postcard of Ripley), Jude stopped us. See, she was on the phone with Phil, confirming that the store had received their copies of Ravens in the Library. Yes: Borderlands has five copies of Ravens! They're gorgeous. And if you go down there, thus supporting your local bookstore and your local Sooj, you can totally buy one. Better still?
After Jude got off the phone, she asked if I wanted to sign them.
Nobody's ever asked me that before.
So yes, I signed their copies of Ravens in the Library -- signing several hundred CDs really makes you good at signing your name -- and walked home in a happy haze. You should, if you're local and haven't already ordered a copy, really go and pick one up. It's a truly gorgeous book. Better yet?
It's signed.
- Current Mood:
ecstatic - Current Music:Annwn, 'Black Eye, Yellow Eye.'
February 22nd -- yesterday -- was the official 'release' date for Ravens in the Library, a benefit anthology to benefit S.J. Tucker following sudden, unexpected medical bills. (Yesterday was also, coincidentally, Sooj's birthday. Wonder how those two dates wound up synching up so closely...) Ravens features stories by twenty-five authors, some of whom are household names, some of whom ought to be household names, and some of whom are going to be household names if they have anything to say about the matter. I've read two of the original-to-this-volume stories, as well as several of the reprints, and I've seen some of the original interior art. This is going to be an amazing book.
Illnesses and technical issues during the layout process (read 'our editors came down with the plague' -- I DIDN'T DO IT) delayed delivery to the printer slightly, and the book's first run (comprising pre-orders and a few extra) is now at press. Barring issues with the printing, it should be flying out of that aerie in about two weeks, and landing on doorsteps everywhere. Everywhere that's ordered a copy, anyway.
To clarify one question I've seen asked several times now, yes, the book is still available for order. It will be print-on-demand when the initial 'print run' has been exhausted; how long that takes will depend somewhat on how many orders are received. Not available in any store, etc., etc. You know the drill by now!
On a more personal note...Ravens in the Library was the second anthology I was ever invited to be a part of (the first being Grants Pass, which will be out in July, from Morrigan Books). It was also the first anthology where the editors actually sought me out to invite me to participate. I am thrilled beyond all words to be a part of this project -- if, as various people have joked, writing were an RPG, this would represent leveling up my Anthology Writer character class. It makes me a little giddy. I can't wait to get my hands on this book. If you like anthologies at all, neither can you.
Words within our grasp: do we let go?
Do we fly heavily with the weight of what we know?
Words within our grasp: do we let go?
Do we fly heavily with what we know?
-- 'Ravens in the Library,' S.J. Tucker.
Illnesses and technical issues during the layout process (read 'our editors came down with the plague' -- I DIDN'T DO IT) delayed delivery to the printer slightly, and the book's first run (comprising pre-orders and a few extra) is now at press. Barring issues with the printing, it should be flying out of that aerie in about two weeks, and landing on doorsteps everywhere. Everywhere that's ordered a copy, anyway.
To clarify one question I've seen asked several times now, yes, the book is still available for order. It will be print-on-demand when the initial 'print run' has been exhausted; how long that takes will depend somewhat on how many orders are received. Not available in any store, etc., etc. You know the drill by now!
On a more personal note...Ravens in the Library was the second anthology I was ever invited to be a part of (the first being Grants Pass, which will be out in July, from Morrigan Books). It was also the first anthology where the editors actually sought me out to invite me to participate. I am thrilled beyond all words to be a part of this project -- if, as various people have joked, writing were an RPG, this would represent leveling up my Anthology Writer character class. It makes me a little giddy. I can't wait to get my hands on this book. If you like anthologies at all, neither can you.
Words within our grasp: do we let go?
Do we fly heavily with the weight of what we know?
Words within our grasp: do we let go?
Do we fly heavily with what we know?
-- 'Ravens in the Library,' S.J. Tucker.
- Current Mood: ecstatic
- Current Music:S.J. Tucker, 'Ravens in the Library.'
10. I appear to have started doing art cards. (Because, as Brooke said, I need something to do with all that spare time that I had just lying around.) For those of you who are unfamiliar with the art card 'concept,' they're little pieces of original artwork, done on 2.5"x3.5" cards. Mine are Micron and Prismacolor on bristol paper. I've done three so far, one to go with Grants Pass, one to go with Ravens in the Library, and one of Velveteen and Sparkle Bright during their first year with the JSP. I figure I'll use them as book giveaways. Right now, they're just being colorful and soothing; two things that I need more of in my life.
9. My reboot on Late Eclipses of the Sun appears to have done exactly what I was hoping it would do; the new first chapter is about ten times stronger, faster, better, and generally bionic in all possible regards. Now I'm working on the revisions to chapter two, just to really lock down the changes to the continuity, and once that's done, I can start processing my editor's notes on An Artificial Night. I'm spending so much time with Toby these days that we should really start charging her rent, I swear.
8. I write more poetry than is strictly healthy, sometimes in batches of two to five hundred poems at a time. (These batches are called 'Iron Poet' rounds, and are a variation on a standard writer's workshop exercise. They make me happy. I may be crazy.) I managed to write five poems yesterday, including a counted devan (although I skipped the internal rhymes on the zipper, because I didn't feel like giving myself a migraine) and a counted technical terza rima. Take that, everyone who said there was no use for structured poetry in the modern world!
7. My story in Ravens In the Library is getting an accompanying illustration. This is...this is amazing. Not just because the illustration itself is amazing -- I saw the sketch, and it is -- but because I didn't expect an illustration at all. It made me cry. More and more, I begin to believe that 2009 is the universe giving me one big incredible birthday present.
6. It's not entirely visible to the naked eye, but my website continues to creep closer and closer to being entirely done. We should be getting the first few essays up there soon, and Chris is working on the functionality that will allow me to update and edit the front page all on my lonesome. Meanwhile, Tara works secretly behind the scenes on Wonderful Surprises that only a golden graphics girl could possibly provide. Prepare to be amazed.
5. I get to spend the weekend working on Discount Armageddon! (Quoth Dan: "I don't know anybody who gets as excited about being told what to work on as you do.") I love deadlines, I love directions, and I love Verity. She's so happy to see you. And so happy to kick you in the head. Pleasantly, I just put together my Verity playlist last night, consisting almost entirely of dance music and things with a BPM of over 120. Because Verity just looooooves the beat, yo.
4. It's new comic book day! Always the most wonderful day of the week. At least in theory -- other days are sometimes surprisingly awesome.
3. All my television is coming back on the air. I'm a huge TV freak. It's what lets me decompress after a hard day of working and writing and worrying about working and writing; it's also what I do with the other half of my concentration when I'm inking. (Most of the shows I watch are more verbal than visual, and have clear cues when I actually need to be paying attention to the screen.) I really appreciate the fact that the things I watch are staggered enough to make sure I almost always have something new.
2. This time next week, I will be heading for the airport, heading for the sky, and heading for Seattle, baby.
...and the number one good thing about today...
1. Oasis just called me, and THE CDS ARE DONE!!!!! They're mailing them out from the Oasis warehouse today, and they should supposedly hit my doorstep on Friday. This gives me time to actually arrange for CDs to reach Seattle, prep the first batch of pre-orders to mail out (probably the first twenty or so, more if I can possibly swing it), and generally get my hysteria out of the way. It also gives me time to use the CD boxes to build myself a little fort and crawl inside it to hide from the universe.
What's new and awesome in the world of you?
9. My reboot on Late Eclipses of the Sun appears to have done exactly what I was hoping it would do; the new first chapter is about ten times stronger, faster, better, and generally bionic in all possible regards. Now I'm working on the revisions to chapter two, just to really lock down the changes to the continuity, and once that's done, I can start processing my editor's notes on An Artificial Night. I'm spending so much time with Toby these days that we should really start charging her rent, I swear.
8. I write more poetry than is strictly healthy, sometimes in batches of two to five hundred poems at a time. (These batches are called 'Iron Poet' rounds, and are a variation on a standard writer's workshop exercise. They make me happy. I may be crazy.) I managed to write five poems yesterday, including a counted devan (although I skipped the internal rhymes on the zipper, because I didn't feel like giving myself a migraine) and a counted technical terza rima. Take that, everyone who said there was no use for structured poetry in the modern world!
7. My story in Ravens In the Library is getting an accompanying illustration. This is...this is amazing. Not just because the illustration itself is amazing -- I saw the sketch, and it is -- but because I didn't expect an illustration at all. It made me cry. More and more, I begin to believe that 2009 is the universe giving me one big incredible birthday present.
6. It's not entirely visible to the naked eye, but my website continues to creep closer and closer to being entirely done. We should be getting the first few essays up there soon, and Chris is working on the functionality that will allow me to update and edit the front page all on my lonesome. Meanwhile, Tara works secretly behind the scenes on Wonderful Surprises that only a golden graphics girl could possibly provide. Prepare to be amazed.
5. I get to spend the weekend working on Discount Armageddon! (Quoth Dan: "I don't know anybody who gets as excited about being told what to work on as you do.") I love deadlines, I love directions, and I love Verity. She's so happy to see you. And so happy to kick you in the head. Pleasantly, I just put together my Verity playlist last night, consisting almost entirely of dance music and things with a BPM of over 120. Because Verity just looooooves the beat, yo.
4. It's new comic book day! Always the most wonderful day of the week. At least in theory -- other days are sometimes surprisingly awesome.
3. All my television is coming back on the air. I'm a huge TV freak. It's what lets me decompress after a hard day of working and writing and worrying about working and writing; it's also what I do with the other half of my concentration when I'm inking. (Most of the shows I watch are more verbal than visual, and have clear cues when I actually need to be paying attention to the screen.) I really appreciate the fact that the things I watch are staggered enough to make sure I almost always have something new.
2. This time next week, I will be heading for the airport, heading for the sky, and heading for Seattle, baby.
...and the number one good thing about today...
1. Oasis just called me, and THE CDS ARE DONE!!!!! They're mailing them out from the Oasis warehouse today, and they should supposedly hit my doorstep on Friday. This gives me time to actually arrange for CDs to reach Seattle, prep the first batch of pre-orders to mail out (probably the first twenty or so, more if I can possibly swing it), and generally get my hysteria out of the way. It also gives me time to use the CD boxes to build myself a little fort and crawl inside it to hide from the universe.
What's new and awesome in the world of you?
- Current Mood: ecstatic
- Current Music:Rhianna, 'Disturbia.' (Blame Verity.)
Featuring Tales by:
Ari Berk
Holly Black
Francesca Lia Block
Phil Brucato
Sam Chupp
Storm Constantine
Charles de Lint
Ben Dobyns
Jaymi Elford
Neil Gaiman
Alexandra Honigsberg
Elizabeth Jordan Leggett
Shira Lipkin
Angel Leigh McCoy
Seanan McGuire
Kris Millering and Storm Wilder
Mia Nutick
S.J. Tucker
Carrie Vaughn
Catherynne M. Valente
Terri Windling
and others...
With Illustrations by:
Amy Brown
Stephanie Pui-Mun Law
James A. Owen
Brian Syme
and others...
Edited by:
Phil Brucato & Sandra Buskirk
Graphic Design by:
Sherry Lynne Baker
RAVENS IN THE LIBRARY: MAGIC IN THE BARD'S NAME
A Limited Edition Collection of Stories and Art dedicated to the health of S.J. Tucker.
This special VERY limited edition has been compiled to defray the medical expenses and recovery of musician S.J. Tucker.
The collection will NOT be released in stores, and it is NOT downloadable!
It will be available only as long as those expenses remain unresolved.
After that, RAVENS IN THE LIBRARY will disappear.
Order your advance copy today... Before they fly away forever!
 | $25.00 includes shipping & handling within the continental United States |
Anticipated Release Date*: Feb. 22, 2009
Trade Paperback format
Color covers, B&W interiors
Self-Published by The Ravens in the Library Project
With Heartfelt Thanks to Ellen Datlow and all contributors.
* - barring delays in printing or production.
- Current Mood:
excited - Current Music:Mary Crowell, 'Ravens.'
Okay: here's the thing. SJ Tucker is a sweet, generous, talented woman who has freely given of herself and her music for as long as I've known her. Unfortunately, a recent illness (entirely unplanned, as illnesses so often are) has left her with a lot of medical bills hanging over her, and the life of a bard has never been a terribly lucrative one...not in money, anyway.
They're often surprisingly rich in friends.
Ravens in the Library is a limited edition anthology, collecting stories and art dedicated to the health of S.J. Tucker.
It will become available on February 22nd, and will remain available only for as long as it takes for Sooj's medical bills to be covered. For once, I can say with the utmost seriousness that this product will not be sold in stories. It's a real book, it's going to be real and physical in your hands, but it's not going to be real and physical on the shelves of the store down the street. Which makes it sort of extra awesome, really. You can view the original press release in Phil Brucato's journal. Phil is our mastermind and ringleader, and much of what this particular gang of Lost Boys and Wicked Girls does can be blamed on him. Who's along for the ride? We-ell...
Ari Berk
Francesca Lia Block
Phil Brucato
Sam Chupp
Storm Constantine
Charles de Lint
Ben Dobyns
Jaymi Elford
Neil Gaiman
Alexandra Honigsberg
Elizabeth Jordan Leggett
Shira Lipkin
Angel Leigh McCoy
Seanan McGuire
Kris Millering and Storm Wilder
Mia Nutick
S.J. Tucker
Carrie Vaughn
Catherynne M. Valente
Terri Windling
...and others...
Behold. For now we wear the human pants. There's also art! Art is key. And we have art by...
Amy Brown
James A. Owen
Brian Syme
...and others...
This volume is being edited by Phil Brucato and Sandra Buskirk, and to say 'for a limited time only' is to understate things more than a bit. It's great stories and glorious art for a good cause. Ordering information is here, in the press release.
I am so happy to be a part of this.
They're often surprisingly rich in friends.
Ravens in the Library is a limited edition anthology, collecting stories and art dedicated to the health of S.J. Tucker.
It will become available on February 22nd, and will remain available only for as long as it takes for Sooj's medical bills to be covered. For once, I can say with the utmost seriousness that this product will not be sold in stories. It's a real book, it's going to be real and physical in your hands, but it's not going to be real and physical on the shelves of the store down the street. Which makes it sort of extra awesome, really. You can view the original press release in Phil Brucato's journal. Phil is our mastermind and ringleader, and much of what this particular gang of Lost Boys and Wicked Girls does can be blamed on him. Who's along for the ride? We-ell...Ari Berk
Francesca Lia Block
Phil Brucato
Sam Chupp
Storm Constantine
Charles de Lint
Ben Dobyns
Jaymi Elford
Neil Gaiman
Alexandra Honigsberg
Elizabeth Jordan Leggett
Shira Lipkin
Angel Leigh McCoy
Seanan McGuire
Kris Millering and Storm Wilder
Mia Nutick
S.J. Tucker
Carrie Vaughn
Catherynne M. Valente
Terri Windling
...and others...
Behold. For now we wear the human pants. There's also art! Art is key. And we have art by...
Amy Brown
James A. Owen
Brian Syme
...and others...
This volume is being edited by Phil Brucato and Sandra Buskirk, and to say 'for a limited time only' is to understate things more than a bit. It's great stories and glorious art for a good cause. Ordering information is here, in the press release.
I am so happy to be a part of this.
- Current Mood: ecstatic
- Current Music:SJ Tucker, 'Ravens in the Library.'
Profile
- seanan_mcguire
- Seanan McGuire
- Seanan McGuire Online
Syndicate
