Writing

Back from Phoenix Comicon - had an absolute blast, as always! But more on that in a bit. First off, I'm very excited to announce that The Shard Axe has been nominated for the 2012 Scribe Award! The Scribe Award is given out by the International Association of Media Tie-In Writers and honors excellence in the field, so I'm both pleased and humbled to be on the list. I'm up against some tough competition (including Erin M. Evans, who was my editor for TSA), so wish me luck! (And, yes, I know they spelled my name wrong - trying to get that fixed. You know, for when they engrave it on the trophy. Heh.)

Speaking of excellence, here's another pre-release review for Skein of Shadows, this one from Stefan's Bookshelf. He calls it "The Empire Strikes Back of Eberron" and says it contains "probably the most beautiful battle sequence" he's ever read. Go check it out! And thanks so much for the kind words, Stefan!

As for Phoenix Comicon, it was so awesome I don't even know how to condense it all down into a blog-length report. I was on some great panels with my BFF Gini Koch, Jeff Mariotte, Weston Ochse, Yvonne Navarro, Joe Nassise, David Lee Summers, Larry Hammer, Kris Neri, Kevin Hearne, Sam Sykes, and Michael Spradlin. The best one was actually a critique session Gini and I did where we had writers come up and read two minutes' worth of their work and we gave our professional opinion on what they'd written. I was sort of dreading it, thinking I'd be crushing a lot of hopes and dreams, but everyone was surprisingly good, including a little 13-year-old girl named Lizzie who is going to be the next Christopher Paolini, mark my words.

I also completely sold out of paperback copies of Legacy of Wolves, got to meet one of my Crossing the Streams winners (hi, Doug!) as well as some other folks I'd only known via Facebook before (hi, Kyrie and Katie!), see a lot of old friends, and meet some new ones. Plus, I got to eat a redshirt and hang out with the Avengers.





Once again, the con took really great care of the authors, with the best con suite I've ever seen (rumor says it even beats the one at World Fantasy) and liaisons who made sure we had whatever we needed while we were on the floor, up to and including delivering lunch if we missed it because of panels. It gets bigger and better every year, and I highly encourage you to reserve your membership for 2013 now. You won't be sorry, I promise.

Everything Else

In the midst of all the post-con and post-nomination excitement, I want to make sure I acknowledge this day and the sacrifices that made it possible. Our family spent much of the afternoon at the National Memorial Cemetery in Phoenix, walking among the flag-decorated graves.



Remembrance, honor, and above all, gratitude. Thank you.

Writing

The final FINAL cover (really!) for Skein of Shadows, now with logo and webby goodness!


(cover artist: Eric Williams)

Also, as part of the whole "Rise of the Underdark" promotion/event/thingy, Wizards of the Coast has pulled together some cool extras, including a Puzzle Hunt. You can play to unlock extra content, which may or may not include an exclusive scene from Sabira's story that is mentioned in both books but has never been shown...until now.

So, what are you waiting for? Go play! Heh.

Everything Else

There have been a few people asking if they can still donate to Eldest Boy's Senior Project, even though the deadline has passed. The month-long time period we set for his project was arbitrary, dictated mostly by his presentation requirements. The page doesn't actually close until we deactivate it, so if you missed the cut-off for whatever reason and still want to contribute to a great cause, it's not too late.

Speaking of Eldest Boy and Max, please keep them in your thoughts next week, as one graduates and the other has his biannual CT/MIBG scans. We've asked them to go back to doing the scans under anesthesia, since when they tried to do them without last time, it took forever and resulted in a lot of frustration and unusable CT images. So prayers that he has no problems with the anesthesia and that the scans show no progress (or, better yet, are completely CLEAR) would not be taken amiss. Thanks!

Writing

Got a nice review for "Both" over on Amazon. Sharing it here for the click-phobic:

"I have read all three of Marsheila Rockwell's wonderful Arabian-inspired fantasy stories recently published by Musa and I have to say that "Both" pulls all the threads together and winds up the series in such a wonderful fashion. The strong heroines she's created have been intriguing and inspiring. I also love how the customs of different areas shift and play off each other.

"Both" showed another side of their world and added a very satisfying layer to the exploration of these women's lives. I know I am speaking in general terms, but I am having to clench my fingers for fear of giving too much away and I do not want to spoil the story for anyone! I am still full of those good story feelings and am about to read it all again to take full advantage of the narrative.

Just download it and read it! You'll be so glad you did."

Thanks for the kind words, 21 Days! I'm really happy folks are liking these stories. They DO all tie together, but it will take a few more stories for it to be apparent exactly how. So, you know, you should really buy them all. 'Cause you don't want to miss anything. Heh.

Also, a link round-up, since I'll be heading out to Phoenix Comicon in a few days and probably won't have a chance to update the blog again until I get home.

My Phoenix Comicon Schedule.

My guest blog/interview at The Fictorian Era. (Leave me some comment love, folks!)

My Top Ten Sword & Sorcery Heroines.

Everything Else



Eldest Boy's Senior Project to raise money to help find a cure for Max is officially over. He has posted a thank you from him and Max over on his fundraising page. Let me add my thanks to theirs. The whole point of this project was for Eldest Boy to make a difference in the world - a difference for Max. You helped him do that.

The words never seem like enough, but here they are again:

THANK YOU.

Writing

I have a guest post/interview about writing tie-in fiction over at The Fictorian Era blog. Go check it out! Leave a comment (over there) so they'll invite me back! Heh.

Also, don't forget, I'll be at Phoenix Comicon this weekend! Here's my schedule:

Comics Movie Talk: Sat, 5/26, 12-1 PM, 127A
with Gini Koch, Michael Spradlin

Work For Hire, Tie-ins and Shared Worlds: Sat, 5/26, 1:30-2:30 PM, 126A
with Jeff Mariotte, Weston Ochse, Yvonne Navarro, Joe Nassise

Balancing Humor and Action in Your Stories: Sat, 5/26, 3-4 PM, 127C
with Gini Koch, Kevin Hearne, Sam Sykes, Kris Neri

Science Fiction and Fantasy Poetry: Sun, 5/27, 3-4 PM, 126A
with David Lee Summers, Larry Hammer

I'll also have a table in Author's Alley, where I'll be pretty much any time I'm not on panels (starting around 4 PM on Friday). Come find me and say hi!

Everything Else

Crack in the filter pump for the pool = no GenCon this year. Color me bummed. (Whatever color that is - blue? green? puce? Puce sounds like a good color for disappointment. We'll go with that.)

Final update on Eldest Boy's Senior Project tomorrow. Stay tuned!

Writing

Check out my list of the Top Ten Sword & Sorcery Heroines over on the Musa Blog. Anyone you'd add? Anyone who doesn't belong?

Everything Else

I know you're tired of hearing about Eldest Boy's Senior Project, and, lucky for you, today's the last day. He has far exceeded every goal he set, and his fundraiser is the fifth highest-grossing one currently active, which is pretty impressive for an entirely on-line effort only publicized here, on FB/Twitter, through Max's site, and at hubby's work. Thanks SO much to all of you who helped make it such a success. I'll update tomorrow with a grand total.

So, if you've been waiting til the last minute - it's here! Heh.

Writing

Two releases in one week! It's inconceivable! (Well, not really, but who can resist a Princess Bride quote? Heh.)

"Both" releases today! Strong female protagonist! Arabian flavor! Sword & sorcery! What more could you want for only $0.99? Go! Buy! Enjoy! Heh.

And Legacy of Wolves was re-released this week, and has already garnered a very nice review over at Cannibal Halfling. Check it out!

Everything Else

Eldest Boy's fundraiser/Senior Project to raise money to find a cure for his little brother ends at midnight this Sunday (5/20). He's already $1000 over his revised goal (and $2500 over his original goal).

YOU. GUYS. ROCK.

Thank you.

Writing

Tomorrow is Release Day for "Both," the third installment in my Arabian-flavored female-centric sword & sorcery series, Tales of Sand and Sorcery. In celebration, I will have a fun post up over on the Musa Blog - my Top Ten Sword & Sorcery Heroines. It goes live on the 20th, so be sure and click over and check it out. Feel free to argue with me (politely, or I'll stab you with a spork) and add your own heroines to the list!

I'll also have a guest post over at The Fictorian Era blog on the 21st, where I'll be talking about writing tie-in fiction, including some stuff you haven't heard yet, so be sure and head over there on Monday.

Finally, next week is Phoenix Comicon, and my schedule is here. I WILL be there on Friday, just not until some time in the afternoon, which I why I'm not scheduled for any panels that day (though that could change).

Busy couple of weeks coming up. Whee!

Everything Else

On Tuesday, Eldest Boy was $125 over his new goal. Today, he is $525 over, and there are still 4 days left in the fundraising period. Because of all of YOU.

And if you ever wonder if your donations actually do any good, read this. This amazing news won't affect Max directly, since his neuroblastoma isn't regulated by the ALK gene, but it will help many of the other cancer warriors out there. THIS is the sort of thing the money donated to Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation goes toward - the sort of thing YOU are helping to fund. It's not just theoretical, or pie-in-the-sky wishful thinking. There are potential cures out there and we CAN find them. With your help, we WILL.

Writing

Today is Re-Release Day for Legacy of Wolves! Out of print for several years, WotC has given it new life, resurrecting it as an ebook. So if you never got a chance to read it before, now you can rectify that gross oversight (heh).

Also, just a reminder, Skein of Shadows continues both Sabira's story from The Shard Axe AND Greddark's story from Legacy of Wolves, so, really, you need to read all three to get the whole tale. Just sayin'. ;)

Everything Else

You guys are AMAZING! As of this writing, Eldest Boy is $125 OVER his goal of $2012, and that doesn't even include one donation that was mailed in and a corporate matching donation that hasn't been processed yet. Thank you all so much for helping to make his Senior Project such a HUGE success! And, more importantly, for helping fund the fight against childhood cancer so that someday Max and all the other kids like him will be able to live cancer-free. Eldest Boy may have reached his goal (and then some), but they're the real winners here. Thank YOU for making their victory possible. God bless!

Writing

Fellow Eberron author Don Bassingthwaite alerted me to this - the first review (to my knowledge) for Skein of Shadows, over at See Jaime Read. Short and sweet, just like Sabira. Heh.

And, apropos of nothing, a thing I made. Because we all have an internet meme inside of us, trying to claw its way out, and sometimes it finds a crack in our armor and escapes. Heh.



(I know. Some things are only funny to me. Which makes me sad for the rest of you. Heh.)

Everything Else

And this, because Eldest Boy isn't just raising money to find a cure for Max - he's raising money to help cure these kids, as well. And so many, many more.

Writing

Looks like the pre-order link for "Both," the latest installment in my Tales of Sand and Sorcery series, is up. So, you know, go pre-order. Heh.

Also, I got some new bookmarks made for Skein of Shadows because I'm almost out of my old ones for The Shard Axe. I had to use a new company, since the one I used last time doesn't do bookmarks anymore. What do you think?



Everything Else

Eldest Boy has reached 77% of his new goal (a whopping 309% of his original goal) with a week and a half left to go, thanks to all of you and especially to one amazingly generous donor whose identity I don't know, but whose gift literally brought me to tears. Thank you all so very, very much. Throughout Max's diagnosis and the "new normal" after, two things have kept us going - our faith in God and your constant, unwavering support. Maybe we could have made it this far without you, but not with our sanity (such as it is) intact. So, again and always - THANK YOU.