THEY'RE BIODEGRADEABLE

MY REALLY TRULY FINAL CORRECT PHOENIX COMICON SCHEDULE

Mon, 20 May 2013 17:06:27 GMT

Writing

Phoenix ComiCon is in three more days! Here's where you can find me, along with my really truly final correct panel schedule and the awesome folks with whom I'll be paneling:

Table 2510 (w/Jordan Summers)

Friday, May 24

So You Want to Be a Writer?
12:00pm - 1:00pm, Rm 104A (West)
with Sharon Skinner, Tom Leveen, Gini Koch, C.J Hill, and David Lee Summers

It's a Mystery to Me
1:30pm - 2:30pm, Rm 104B (West)
with Kris Neri, Jeff Mariotte, Chantelle Osman, and Michael A. Stackpole

Saturday, May 25

Horror, Suspense, and Thrillers
10:30am - 11:30am, Rm 104B (West)
with Gini Koch, Jeff Mariotte, Jordan Summers, and Joseph Nassise

Writing Critique Session II
7:30pm - 8:30pm, Rm 104A (West)
with Gini Koch

Sunday, May 26

Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Poetry
10:30am - 11:30am, Rm 104B (West)
with Sharon Skinner, David Lee Summers, and Larry Hammer

Creating Within Someone Else's Sandbox
1:30pm - 2:30pm, Rm 104B (West)
with Peter David, Timothy Zahn, Joseph Nassise, Jeff Mariotte

It's going to be an awesome time, and I'll have Bridges of Longing and Tales of Sand & Sorcery available, as well as some other stuff (including my bookthongs), so if you're in the area, stop by and say hi. I'd love to see you!

Everything Else

You all may recall that my dad was diagnosed with lung cancer a couple of years ago, and he's put up a remarkable fight, but the doctors have recently told him there's nothing more to be done and he's now on hospice care. So, if you're so inclined, please remember him in your prayers/thoughts, that he'll have peace and be as pain-free as possible as he moves into this last leg of the race. And prayers for some of that peace stuff for us kids wouldn't be taken amiss, either.

Thanks.

PICTURES + REVIEWS = A BLOG POST

Mon, 13 May 2013 17:16:13 GMT

Writing

Had a great time at the Mysterious Galaxy 20th Birthday Bash with my pulchritudinous friends, Jeff Mariotte and Gini Koch. (I also had fun catching up with Nancy Holder, who I hadn't seen in a couple of years.)

Here are some pictures from our Awesome AZ Authors talk, and also from the signing we did after. Thanks to all of you who came down to share in the fun, especially Mariann and Blanca! *waves*

(photo courtesy Mariann)

(photo courtesy of Mysterious Galaxy's FB page)

(photo courtesy of David from Mysterious Galaxy)

Also, I woke up to this lovely review of "Shaala and the Tiger's Daughter" over at Long and Short Reviews. Go check it out!

Everything Else

Had a lovely Mother's Day and received many wonderful gifts, the most appreciated of which was several hours of uninterrupted reading time, which I spent on Jeff's latest, Star Trek: The Folded World. I have not read any of the other ST:TOS novels, but am a big fan of the TV series, and I thought Jeff did a fine job capturing Kirk, Spock, McCoy, and all the rest. It was an entertaining read with plenty of action, some interesting new characters, and an intriguing mystery. If you're a fan of the original TV series, you will enjoy this one, I think. (And, also, he tuckerizes me in it, so it's pretty much worth picking up for that fact alone, heh.)

BIRTHDAYS AND CONS AND REVIEWS, OH MY!

Fri, 03 May 2013 17:48:49 GMT

Writing

It's just a little over a week away now, so I wanted to remind you all of this super-fun event coming up in San Diego on May 11th: Mysterious Galaxy's 20th Birthday Bash. As you can see if you follow the link, I and fellow AZ authors (and two of my most favorite peeps in the whole world) Jeff Mariotte and Gini Koch will be doing our thing at 11 AM, so come down and see us and buy some books and get them signed and also have cake! We'll all be there pretty much all day, so even if you can't make it at our designated time, stop by anyway. Because us. And books. And cake!

Also, I have my panel schedule for Phoenix ComiCon. I will be there Thursday through Saturday (May 23-26), and here's where you can find me (I will post room assignments and fellow panelists when I know them all):

So You Want to Be a Writer?: Friday 12:00pm - 1:00pm
It's a Mystery to Me: Friday 1:30pm - 2:30pm
Horror, Suspense, and Thrillers: Saturday 10:30am - 11:30am
Writing Critique Session I: Saturday 6:00pm - 7:00pm
Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Poetry: Sunday 10:30am - 11:30am
Creating Within Someone Else's Sandbox: Sunday 1:30pm - 2:30pm

And when I'm not there, I'll be at Table 2510 with Jordan Summers (or maybe out scavenging for food or gifts for the boys). So, you know - come see me!

Finally, there's a review of Cthulhu Haiku up over at Amazing Stories, wherein the lovely Diane Severson reads my Rhysling-nominated poem, "Profane Inspiration." Go check it out!

Everything Else

This week, Middle Boy turned 9 and my dad turned 76. I'm sure there is some profound message about the circle of life in there somewhere, but I'm too busy being grateful to figure out what it is.

ANTHOLOGY FUNDRAISING PAGE IS UP! COME SEE!

Sun, 21 Apr 2013 20:24:17 GMT

Writing

So remember that anthology I told you about here? The one that will include a story by me and the multi-talented Jeff Mariotte? And also stories by such talents as A Natural History of Dragons author Marie Brennan and Prince of Thorns author Mark Lawrence? With an introduction by New York Times Bestselling Author Tad Williams? And that also raises money for the awesome charity First Book? That anthology?

Well the indiegogo campaign to fund it has been launched (sorry I didn't post about it earlier - I've had a busy few days). They've got some awesome rewards and some fun stretch goals planned, so don't miss out! And even if you can't chip in to help make the anthology a reality, you can still help by spreading the word. Because books for kids, and me and Jeff. What other reasons do you need? Heh.

Everything Else

Getting ready to go see a friend of mine from junior high & high school, who I have not seen for over 20 years. That should be fun (and there will be pictures on FB at some point, I'm sure, heh).

Hope your weekend's been as awesome as mine!

2013 SCRIBE AWARD NOMINEES ANNOUNCED

Fri, 12 Apr 2013 17:45:22 GMT

Writing

Woke up to this news:

Scribe Award nominees announced!

Here are the nominees for the Scribe Awards for excellence in tie-in fiction for the calendar year 2012. The winners will be announced at Comic-Con International in San Diego in July.

Original Novel

Star Trek: Rings of Time by Greg Cox

Tannhäuser: Rising Sun, Falling Shadows by Robert T. Jeschonek

Star Trek: The Next Generation: Cold Equations Book 1: The Persistence of Memory by David Mack

Darksiders: The Abomination Vault by Ari Marmell

Pathfinder: City of the Fallen Sky by Tim Pratt

Dungeons and Dragons Online: Skein of Shadows by Marsheila Rockwell

Mike Hammer: Lady, Go Die! by Mickey Spillane & Max Collins

Adapted Novel

Clockwork Angels by Kevin J. Anderson

Batman: The Dark Knight Rises by Greg Cox

Batman: The Dark Knight Rises (YA novelization) by Stacia Deutsch

Poptropica: Astroknights Island by Tracey West

Audio

Dark Shadows: The Eternal Actress by Nev Fountain

Dark Shadows: Dress Me in Dark Dreams by Marty Ross

Doctor Who: Companion Chronicles: Project Nirvana by Cavan Scott & Mark Wright

Congratulations to all the nominees!

Very excited! Congrats to all my fellow nominees!

Everything Else

Demanding, aren't you? LOL. Yeah, sorry, I got nothin' else. Check back Monday and we'll see. Heh.

A BIRTHDAY INVITE

Tue, 09 Apr 2013 21:04:14 GMT

Writing

Happy April!

I've been busy with stuff and things (and still am), but I did want to let you know that I will be in San Diego on May 11th for the Mysterious Galaxy 20th Birthday Bash, with copies of both Bridges and Tales. I had a great time when I was there two years ago signing with Bob Salvatore, and this time there will be even more authors, including my two favorite writer friends in the whole world, Gini Koch and Jeff Mariotte (who also happens to be one of the owners of MG, along with his lovely wife Maryelizabeth Hart and their other business partner, Terry Gilman). It's pretty much the best genre bookstore in all of SoCal, so even if you already have all my stuff, you should come see what other little gems you can find there. Plus, there will be CAKE. Just saying.

Everything Else

I realize that I completely forgot to mention my and Max's birthdays (he's 4 now!), which passed pretty uneventfully. We did go to the AZ Ren Faire to celebrate. Here's a picture of the birthday kids.

(Amazing how he keeps getting older while I stay the same age, isn't it? Heh.)

TWO FOR THE PRICE OF ONE

Fri, 29 Mar 2013 18:14:14 GMT

Writing

So, there's this anthology, Neverland's Library, which will launch next month on Kickstarter. And part of the proceeds from it (should it be funded) will go to First Book, a cause which long-time readers will remember I've supported in the past. So, you know, I'd be all for it just for that, but...it's also going to feature my first ever fiction collaboration with none other than the uber-talented and super-sweet Jeff Mariotte Here's the announcement from their FB page:

Happy Good Friday everyone!

I say it's about time for a couple of author announcements. :)

We're pleased to announce that authors Jeffrey J. Mariotte and Marcy Rockwell will be contributing a collaborative story for Neverland's Library!

Working separately, Marsheila (Marcy) Rockwell and Jeffrey J. Mariotte have written more than 50 novels, the most recent of which are Skein of Shadows (Rockwell) and Season of the Wolf (Mariotte), dozens of short stories, some of which are collected in Nine Frights (Mariotte) and Tales of Sand & Sorcery and Bridges of Longing (Rockwell), and miscellaneous other things, including Rhysling Award-nominated poetry (Rockwell) and Bram Stoker Award-nominated comic books (Mariotte).

Working together, their output is considerably less prodigious, but that's because they've only just begun. Give them time. And keep up with them at marsheilarockwell.com and jeffmariotte.com.

Complete with picture:

(That's from last year's Phoenix ComiCon, and I have no idea what Jeff was saying to me, but it was apparently pretty funny.)

Anyway, you all know I think Jeff is an awesome writer, and I'm really excited to be working with him, so expect to hear more about this as the launch date nears.

Everything Else

A blessed Good Friday to you all.

TEASING THE BIG ANNOUNCEMENT

Fri, 15 Mar 2013 16:46:12 GMT

Writing

So, I've been teasing a big announcement for awhile now (ever since I signed the contract), and now I've finally gotten the go-ahead to reveal a little bit about the big project I'm working on. Really, it's just extending the tease a little longer, but I've been told I'm good at that, so, here it is:

...drum roll...

I've been contracted to write the first three novels in a series based on a comic book property, and the first book is expected to be out sometime this fall.

And I'm SO sorry, but that's all I can tell you until TPTB (aka my publisher & editor) give the okay to tell you more. But just know I'm incredibly excited about this project and it's a pretty big deal. And now that's REALLY all I can say.

Hope it left you wanting more. ;)

Everything Else

Wasn't that enough? Heh.

POST-TFoB REPORT, WHITE SMOKE, & A BOOK REVIEW

Thu, 14 Mar 2013 13:00:17 GMT

Writing

Sorry my post-TFoB post (heh) is so late, but I was pretty wiped out. Had a great time with all the usual suspects (Gini Koch, Jeff Mariotte & Maryelizabeth Hart, David Lee Summers, Janni Lee Simner & poet-hubby Larry Hammer, and Lee & Nadine Whiteside), as well as with fellow New Englander Christopher Baldwin (that's an in-joke). And, of course, Nicole and Andrea and all the rest of the folks who came to say hi - it was great seeing you all again! Even sold a few books, so it was pretty much a win all around. I'll probably try to do it again next year, even if some of my favorite people won't be there (*sniff*).

Speaking of some of my favorite people, while I was busy not posting this report, I did read a great book I'd like to share with you all. I'm going to C&P my thoughts on it from the post I made on FB, because it's late and I'm tired (even though this will post in the morning) and I don't think I can say it any better here than I did there.

So, I don't normally review my friends' books (because that way lies potential hurt feelings and kicked shins, and possibly asses), but I just read Jeff Mariotte's latest, Season of the Wolf (in one day), and I wanted to recommend it to those of you who like horror/suspense/thrillers mixed with a little bit of romance and magic. It was a riveting read that I had a hard time putting down (even to answer pressing emails), but when I closed the book I had a big smile on my face. The ending in particular was pitch perfect. So do yourselves a favor and track down a copy. I think you'll be glad you did.

Everything Else

The Catholic Church elected a new Pope today, and I'm very pleased with the choice (not that I was consulted, heh). One of the most impressive things about our new Pope is not all the firsts associated with him (first Jesuit, first from Latin America, first named Francis), but that before he blessed the people, he bowed his head and asked them to bless him, and St. Peter's Square was completely silent as the people did so. That sort of humility will serve the Church - and the world - well, I think.

HABEMUS PAPAM FRANCISCUM!

QUICK REMINDER

Fri, 08 Mar 2013 16:33:18 GMT

Writing

Don't forget I'll be at the Tucson Festival of Books this weekend, mostly hanging out in the Mysterious Galaxy booth (#301), but also doing a couple of panels/signings:

Antiheroes
Panel / Sat 1:00 PM - 02:00 PM
Koffler - Room 218

Fan to Professional
Workshop / Sun 2:30 PM - 03:30 PM
Integrated Learning Center - Room 119

Come find me and pick up a copy of Bridges of Longing or Tales of Sand & Sorcery (or both)! Or at least say hi. Hope to see you there!

Everything Else

Gotta go pack!

TALES OF SAND AND SORCERY & TFoB

Sun, 03 Mar 2013 22:44:49 GMT

Writing

It's finally here! Tales of Sand & Sorcery, my collection of Shaala & Kij stories from Musa Publishing. So now I have both collections out:

Bridges is available in both print and ebook versions from all your favorite retailers, but Tales is only available in print from me. It is a Limited Edition print run, signed and numbered, and one of the places you'll have the opportunity to get it (along with Bridges) will be at this year's Tuscon Festival of Books, where I will be hanging out in the Mysterious Galaxy Booth (#301-302) with the incomparable Jeff Mariotte and RJ Cavendar. That's where you'll find me when I'm not on panels (with signings to follow) or (possibly) eating lunch. Speaking of panels, here's my schedule for that:

Antiheroes
Panel / Sat 1:00 PM - 02:00 PM
Koffler - Room 218

Fan to Professional
Workshop / Sun 2:30 PM - 03:30 PM
Integrated Learning Center - Room 119

So drop by and see me and get some awesome books (and mine, too, heh)!

Everything Else

Just signed Max up for preschool this weekend. So starting in August, all three of my babies will be in school - one in pre-K, one in elementary, and one in his second year of college. Hard to believe they're growing up so fast, while I remain ageless. Heh.

TWO RHYSLING AWARD NOMINATIONS!

Fri, 01 Mar 2013 15:07:11 GMT

Writing

I don't know that I'm supposed to officially announce this yet, but since the Rhysling Award nomination period has passed, I'm going to do it anyway, because I'm a rebel that way. (Also, because no one specifically said not to, which makes me a 16-year-old rebel, apparently. Heh.)

Anyway, turns out two of my five eligible poems from 2012 were deemed worthy of nomination:

* “Profane Inspiration,” Cthulhu Haiku anthology, October 2012 (short category)
* “Enter Persephone,” Lissette’s Tales of the Imagination Vol. 2, No. 5, Dec 2012 (long category)

"Profane Inspiration" is an especially unusual nomination, in that it's only 6 lines long, and the SFPA actually has a separate award for works under 10 lines, so for it to be nominated for the Rhysling proper pleases me greatly.

These mark my 8th and 9th nominations for this award - Susan Lucci, I'm gunnin' for ya! LOL.

In other news, I've approved the print version of Bridges of Longing and Other Strange Passageways and my author copies are winging their way towards me even as I type. So they should be available at your print book-buying venue of choice very soon. Yaay!

Everything Else

Happy March 1st, everyone! This is my favorite month, because birthdays and leprechauns and this year, Holy Week and a new Pope! But I will miss Benedict XVI, who was a favorite of mine back in the days when he was still just Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger. Grazie, Papa!

MY FIRST COLLECTION!

Thu, 21 Feb 2013 13:00:28 GMT

Writing

So I've been sort of teasing this for awhile, because I wasn't exactly sure when it would be ready, but now it is (the ebook version anyway; you'll have to wait a bit longer for the print version).

ANNOUNCING...Bridges of Longing and Other Strange Passageways!

Here's the cover flat:

And the back cover blurb:

“…one of the few writers whose work I'll read immediately, upon publication, in hardcover if necessary.”

– Elaine Cunningham, New York Times best-selling author of Dark Journey

What do a broom-wielding wizard’s apprentice, a goddess with postpartum depression, a sentient electric chair, a Navy Chop on planetside rotation, and a boy with Downs Syndrome who is more than what he seems – at least some of the time – have in common? They’re all characters waiting for you on the other side of Bridges of Longing and Other Strange Passageways, a collection of twelve stories and fourteen poems from multiple-award nominee Marsheila Rockwell.

Once you venture across that mist-shrouded bridge and step through the swirling portal, you’ll discover:

• 1994 Dell Award Honoree, “Auf Widdershins,”
• 2006 Rhysling Award Nominee, “Fairy Tale Ending,”
• 2008 Rhysling Award Nominees, “Brothers in Arms” and “Those Who Wait,”
• 2010 Rhysling Award Nominee, “Of Amaranth and Honey,”
• 2013 Rhysling Award Nominee, “Enter Persephone,”
• …and many more, including brand new horror stories “Catechism” and “The Thing at the Foot of the Bed,” as well as an ode to a god too clever for his own good, “I, Alone.”

So, come, cross the bridge, enter those strange passageways, and explore the magical worlds you find there – worlds you’ll never want to leave.

“Every time I re-read “The Short Bus” I wish I’d written it. One of the best, most moving short stories I’ve ever read, in a collection of amazing stories and poems, from one of my favorite, must-read authors? An automatic must-buy!”

– Gini Koch, author of the Alien/Katherine “Kitty” Katt series

I'm very excited about this project, as it spans the first fifteen years of my writing career and contains some of my best work, as well as some new stuff that's never been published before. Special thanks are due to the incomparable Guy Gavriel Kay (who long-time readers know is who I want to be when I grow up as a writer) for graciously allowing me to use a passage from one of my favorites, Tigana, as both the source of my title and an epigraph inside the book. And to Lisa Dovichi, my marvelous cover artist and formatting goddess extraordinaire. Heart your face!

The print version isn't quite ready yet, but since the ebook version is already out there in the wild, I figured now was the time to make the official announcement (plus, let's face it, I just couldn't wait). Once I have print copies in hand, then we'll do a little contest, shall we? But until then, if you have an ereader, please, dig in and let me know what you think!

Everything Else

Also writing-related, but I wanted to separate it from the big announcement. Taking a page from Elaine Cunningham's book, I've revamped my website so that each novel/collection/ebook has its own page that includes ordering info, excerpts, and reviews. Hopefully it makes things a little easier to find. Have fun exploring!

LOVE IS...THE SAYING OF A SINGLE NAME

Thu, 14 Feb 2013 15:04:25 GMT

Writing

Happy Valentine's Day, all! Even if you don't partake, please check out my special V-Day guest blog over at Names: A New Perspective, "Love Is...The Saying of a Single Name," and find out how love inspired the names of some of your favorite characters!

Hope to have news about my short story/poem collection very soon. FX!

Everything Else

Also, Happy Birthday, Arizona!

SHAMELESS ACTS OF SELF-PROMOTION

Mon, 11 Feb 2013 15:50:19 GMT

Writing

In the Shameless Acts of Self-Promotion file - ATTENTION SFWA members! If you're still looking for stories/novels to nominate for this year's Nebula, ALL of my Shaala stories are eligible, as is Skein of Shadows. Compiled here with handy links for your reference:

"Shaala, Made of Stone" (short story)
"The Jade and Honey Harlot" (short story)
"Both" (short story)
"Shaala and the Sea of Dried Tears" (short story)
"Unmade" (short story)
"Shaala and the Tiger's Daughter" (novelette)

Skein of Shadows (novel)

Happy nominating! Heh.

Everything Else

Saddened to hear of Pope Benedict's resignation, but excited to see which Cardinal will take his place.

CHECK OUT MY THONGS!

Thu, 07 Feb 2013 21:21:21 GMT

Writing

Yeah, if that title doesn't bring in the bots, I don't know what will, heh.

To those of you whose minds are perenially in the gutter, I'm talking about BOOKthongs, custom-made for Legacy of Wolves, The Shard Axe, and Skein of Shadows by the very talented Shell Bryce. Check them out:

Legacy of Wolves

The Shard Axe

Skein of Shadows, The Shard Axe, and Legacy of Wolves

Trust me, these are all MUCH prettier than my poor photography skills and crappy camera can convey. I'll be using them as giveaways and selling them at cons. If I can get better pictures, I might even give them their own page on my website so you can order them directly from me if you aren't lucky enough to win one or see me at a convention. Stay tuned!

In other writing news, Tales of Sand and Sorcery will be going to the printer soon AND I'm working on a collection of my short stories and poems that I think is going to be really awesome. If all goes well, I'll be debuting both at Tucson Festival of Books in a month, so check back for more info!

Everything Else

In honor of Games Workshop's attempt to claim the term "Space Marine" belongs to them, I give you the following:

The Space Marine's Tanka

They thought they owned us
Until the invasion came
They learned the truth when
We nuked them with the fuglies
NO ONE owns the Space Marines

My lawyers await your call, GW.

PINEWOOD DERBY!

Sat, 26 Jan 2013 23:01:12 GMT

Writing

Rhysling Award season is upon us, and I have several eligible poems from 2012:

Short category

*“Answering the $466 Million Question,” Star*Line 35.1, Jan-March 2012 (5 lines)
*“Final Score,” On the Brink of Never anthology, Aug 2012 (6 lines)
*“The Last Olympiad,” On the Brink of Never anthology, Aug 2012 (26 lines)
*“Profane Inspiration,” Cthulhu Haiku anthology, October 2012 (6 lines)
*“A King Pays Homage,” Cthulhu Haiku anthology, October 2012 (5 lines)

Long category

*“Enter Persephone,” Lissette’s Tales of the Imagination Vol. 2, No. 5, Dec 2012 (57 lines)

For SFPA members who are interested in seeing these poems, they are posted on the members-only page created for that purpose. Alternately, please feel free to drop me a line, and I'll be happy to send you a file with the poems.

Everything Else

Middle Boy took 2nd place in den today in the Pinewood Derby, and got to race in the finals! So proud of him!

Also, thanks to all of you who signed the White House petition to light 1600 Penn Ave gold during the month of September in an effort to bring attention to the fight against childhood cancer. Remember:

AWARENESS => FUNDING => CURE

Someday, maybe you will see everything done up in gold during September the way you now see everything done up in pink during October. That's my hope, anyway.

A NEW CONTEST FOR THE NEW YEAR!

Wed, 09 Jan 2013 21:46:10 GMT

Writing

You know what I like? Getting emails like this from editors:

"I like it. A lot. The titles may change as we go forward, but the outline itself is wholeheartedly approved."

So, while I still can't tell you about my new project, now you at least know that my editor loves it, heh. Hopefully I'll get to spill the beans soon!

In the meantime, with the completion of my Tales of Sand and Sorcery collection, I'd really like to raise the profile of my Shaala and Kij stories a little. I know a lot of you have told me you really like them, so I decided to try an idea I've seen other authors using with some success.

Tales of Sand and Sorcery won't be commercially available as a print collection. I'm hoping Musa will make it available as an ebook at some point, but for now, the only way you can get a copy of it (once it's back from the printer) is through me, at cons, as contest prizes, etc. As a reminder, it includes these stories:

"Shaala, Made of Stone",
"The Jade and Honey Harlot",
"Both",
"Shaala and the Sea of Dried Tears",
"Unmade",
"Shaala and the Tiger's Daughter",
...and a brand new novella not available anywhere else, "Shaala and the Harlot Queen of Sumarkesh."

All of those stories are currently available as individual ebook titles, except for the novella, which is ONLY available in the print collection.

I'm really proud of these stories, and they're not something you see every day - sword & sorcery with strong female protagonists in an Arabian-flavored setting. I'd like more people to get the chance to enjoy them, and that's where you all come in. Right now, the stories don't have a ton of reviews. So, if you've read the stories and liked them, I'd like to ask you to post a review somewhere - Amazon, Goodreads, B&N, your own blog, wherever. Once I reach 60 total NEW reviews for the six stories that are already out (not 60 for each, mind you, but some combination of reviews for all the stories that equals 60 total), I will pick 5 random reviewers to receive signed copies of Tales of Sand and Sorcery, which, again, contains all 6 previously published stories, plus a novella not available anywhere else. The only caveat is that you have to contact me and let me know you've posted the review (providing a link to it would be nice, too). One review = one entry, so if you review all 6 stories, that's 6 chances to win.

Is this paying for reviews? None of the other authors who've done it seem to think so, and I don't, either (obviously, or I wouldn't be doing it). It's just a) encouraging people who read and enjoyed the stories to let other people know about them, so they can read and enjoy them, too, and b) giving fans of the stories a chance to read another one they probably won't be able to get anywhere else. Seems like a win-win to me. YMMV, of course, but the solution to that is simple - if you don't agree, don't enter.

Anyway, the contest will be open until the requisite number of total NEW reviews is reached. Some of the stories already have reviews - those won't count toward the 60-review total, but if you posted a review before the contest started, just let me know about it and you'll still be entered to win a signed copy of the collection. And this doesn't men I'm looking for fake reviews, either. In fact, considering the prize is MORE Shaala and Kij stories, if you didn't like or didn't read the ones already available, why would you bother to enter? (Well, unless you're a masochist, in which case, carry on, I suppose.)

Questions? Comment below or send me an email/FB message/tweet and I'll try to answer. In the meantime - happy reviewing!

Everything Else

Yeah, I got nothin'. Sorry.

HARK, THE HERALD NARRATORS...NARRATE

Tue, 08 Jan 2013 14:53:58 GMT

Writing

Well, today's the big day! The day I get to tell you about the big book contract I signed? No, not that day, but almost as exciting!

Today's the day all 3 of my Eberron books are available in audio format! You now have one more exciting way to experience the adventures of Sabira and Greddark in Skein of Shadows, The Shard Axe, and Legacy of Wolves! Whee! (And there are lots of other Wizards of the Coast audiobooks out today, too, so I hope you saved your Christmas money!)

Also, the Shaala/Kij collection manuscript is sitting in one editor's inbox, and the outline for the above-mentioned contracted book(s) is sitting in another editor's inbox, so there's more awesome stuff on your reading horizon. Not to mention the other long-delayed outline I'll be sending in this week (if that editor hasn't written me off as dead, heh) and finishing up some sample chapters. 2013 looks to be my busiest writing year yet. Yaay!

Everything Else

Sinus infections all around in Marcyville. Can you feel the joy? I knew you could! Stay healthy out there!

WELCOME, 2013! BE GOOD OR WE'LL REPLACE YOU IN A YEAR!

Wed, 02 Jan 2013 19:49:19 GMT

Writing

Crazy busy finishing up my Shaala/Kij novella/novelette (Yes, I'm still working on it. Shut up.) and a pair of outlines, but wanted to point you to this awesome article by my BFF Gini Koch, wherein she recommends you read my books (along with a lot of others, and some comics and movies and music, too), because she is, as we all know, a woman of impeccable taste.

Also a reminder that those same books will all be available in audio format from Amazon/Audible in just under a week now, so make sure you have yours ordered!

Everything Else

Happy New Year, everyone! I hope that your 2012 held more good than bad and that your 2013 is the best year yet!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Mon, 24 Dec 2012 16:48:26 GMT

Writing

In a demonstration of my supreme(ly lacking) scheduling skills, I have 612 deadlines at the beginning of 2013 (well, okay, four), so I probably won't be posting much this next week, but I did want to take a quick minute to show you all one of my Christmas gifts and pimp a fellow writer for something else she does.

My friend Jaime Lee Moyer, author of the forthcoming Delia's Shadow (which I had the pleasure of beta-reading and absolutely LOVED), also makes really cool necklaces. This is the one she made me:

Isn't it OMGSOPRETTY? (It is, trust me - the picture doesn't begin to do it justice.) If you'd like one of your own, visit her Etsy shop. She takes requests!

Everything Else

Max had his scans last week, and we got results on Friday. I've posted a few other places, but in case you haven't seen it yet, here is the great news (C&P'd, cuz I'm lazy, heh).

We received a wonderful Christmas present today (and, no, it's not the Kindle Max is holding in this picture, though that was a nice surprise, courtesy of PCH). Max's scans were unchanged from September, and he has reached the end of his study protocol. That means he's officially off-study, with only yearly visits now for blood work and urine (though we will probably still have them do urine every 6 months, and of course he'll have the annual Survivor's Clinic).

In other words...NO MORE SCANS!!!!! Woohoo!!!!

The tumor (which may or may not be mostly benign at this point) is still there, and probably always will be (maybe when he gets older he'll even name it, LOL), but barring stuff we try not to think about around here, we are essentially done with this part of our journey.

Thanks be to God, and thanks to all of you who have supported us so faithfully over these past few years. We couldn't have made it to this point without you. May God bless you all with the merriest of Christmases and the absolute happiest of new years!

God bless us, every one!

Couldn't have said it better myself. Heh.

QUICKIE

Tue, 18 Dec 2012 03:44:29 GMT

Writing

Thanks to all who entered my comment contest for my guest blog over at Potomac Review. I know I promised I'd announce the winner on 12/14, but given the events of that day, I decided to hold off. I even thought about extending the contest another week, but the truth is I'm going to be crazy busy from tomorrow through Friday, so I arbitrarily closed it today (cuz it's my contest and I'll cry if I want to) and Ye Olde Random Number Generator has chosen a winner. Congrats to Julie, who will have her choice of any of my Shaala/Kij stories. Whee!

Everything Else

MIBG injection tomorrow, scans Wednesday, and (hopefully) results Friday. Please keep Max in your prayers!

LINKING ALL OVER THE PLACE

Wed, 12 Dec 2012 20:09:42 GMT

Writing

So, remember the Next Big Thing post I did last week? And how I tagged some other writer-type folks to tell you about their next big thing? Well, a few of their posts are up now, so go check them out:

*Jonathan Moeller
*Collete Vernon/Black
*David Lee Summers (David's was actually posted back in November, because someone else tagged him first, but it's definitely worth a second look.)

In other exciting news, apparently whatever issues were preventing WotC ebooks from being sold outside of the US has been resolved, and you can now order The Shard Axe, Skein of Shadows, AND Legacy of Wolves from Amazon.co.uk. I assume this is true across all platforms and international book-buying sites, and that if they aren't yet available on your favorite site for your favorite ereader, they will be soon. Yaay!

And if you're more in the mood for horror and serial killers (as opposed to fantasy and serial killers, heh), The Snuff Syndicate is finally out, and includes my twisted tale, "First Communion."

Finally, don't forget my guest post over at Potomac Review. Comment here/FB/Twitter for a chance to win my latest Shaala/Kij story, and if you comment there, too, you'll be entered twice! Don't miss out!

Everything Else

Less than two weeks until Christmas, and I hope Santa brings me a new laptop, because this one appears ready to give up the ghost at any moment. Any recs, nerdy computer types? I'd like to be able to play DDO with no lag. Of course, I'd also like a pony. Heh.

POTOMAC REVIEW - COMMENT & WIN!

Mon, 10 Dec 2012 19:27:35 GMT

Writing

My guest blog is up over at Potomac Review. Go check it out! Then come back here and comment for a chance to win "Shaala and the Tiger's Daughter" (or another Shaala/Kij tale, if you have that one already). I'll take entries until Friday 12/14, then pick a winner via RNG. What are you waiting for? Win yourself a story just for boosting the hit count on my post! And anyone who also comments over there will get a second entry, but you have to comment here on my blog to be entered.

ETA: I'll also take entries via Twitter and FB, because I just love you all that much. Heh.

Also, The Snuff Syndicate is finally available, a fun (heh) little collection all about one of my favorite subjects, serial killers. My contribution is called "First Communion." If your cuppa is dark and twisted, you might want to check this one out.

Everything Else

Max's scans have been rescheduled for the 18th/19th. Then we have an appointment with his oncologist that Friday; hopefully we'll have results by then. If not, we won't know anything until next year, since the oncologist will be heading out of town pretty much right after our appointment. We don't expect anything to have changed from his last scans, so waiting won't be too big a deal, plus we'll have Christmas to distract us. But, still, it'd be nice to get the results before then, so if you'd like to pray for something specific, good results on the 21st would be it. Thanks!

THE NEXT BIG THING

Wed, 05 Dec 2012 13:00:35 GMT

Writing

I've been tagged by the wonderful Elaine Cunningham to participate in "The Next Big Thing," and because she's such an awesome writer, I'll let her tell you exactly what that is:

One of the great things about the internet is the ability to wander the informational side roads, taking in the scenery and occasionally finding a new, favorite destination. That's what "The next big thing," is about. It's a bit like a chain letter: A writer answers 10 questions about a work in progress and tags 5 more writers, who will answer the same questions about one of their w-i-p the following week. Call it a chain promo, if you will.

I'll tell you who I tagged at the end. But first, the questions!

What is the working title of your book?

Like most freelancers, I'm actually working on several projects at the moment. One of them is HUGE, and I can't wait to tell you about it, but right now I've got NDA duct tape over my mouth. Soon, though!

The one I can tell you about, though, is the print collection of my Shaala and Kij stories, which will be titled, appropriately enough, Tales of Sand and Sorcery. It will include the following stories:

"Shaala, Made of Stone"
"The Jade and Honey Harlot"
"Both"
"Shaala and the Sea of Dried Tears"
"Unmade"
"Shaala and the Tiger's Daughter"
...and a brand new novella not available anywhere else, "Shaala and the Harlot Queen of Sumarkesh"

Where did the idea for the book come from?

Each of the stories has a different inspiration, but I talk about the initial idea to write about strong women in an Arabian-flavored sword & sorcery setting here.

What genre does this fall under?

Sword & sorcery and dark fantasy, mostly. Though I never really just write in one genre, so you can expect a little romance, a little mystery, and a little horror along the way.

Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie version?

I don't really think of my characters in these terms. They are themselves, not people playing roles in a story, just like you and I aren't playing roles in the stories of our own lives - we're just living. If I were forced, since there's a bit of a Xena vibe to the series, maybe I'd choose a younger Lucy Lawless of Middle Eastern decent for Shaala. And of course, Cheetara would play Kij. Heh.

What is the one-sentence synopsis of the book?

For this, I'll steal the logline for the first story in the series/collection, "Shaala, Made of Stone:"

In a dark land of sand and sorcery, one woman takes up her staff to defy the dictates of tradition and break a terrible curse.

Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?

All of the stories in this series are published by Musa Publishing, and represented by my agent, Cherry Weiner.

How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?

They're all in the 4K - 8K range (except for the novella), so anywhere from a few days to a few weeks, depending.

What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?

Check out any of the Sword & Sorceress anthologies. Marion Zimmer Bradley published my first short story, and her work and the work of the authors she showcased in those anthologies had a pretty strong influence in how I viewed women in fantasy and, more importantly, in how I wanted to write them myself.

Who or what inspired you to write this book?

See above.

What else about your book might pique the interest of readers?

Kick-ass heroines? Dark magic? Curses, demons, creatures out of legend? Lost loves and quests to avenge them? Or, maybe these quotes from reviewers on Amazon and Goodreads might convince you:

"...beautifully evoked Arabic feel...could almost feel the sand and smell the spices..."

"...fabulous action, a beautifully drawn world, a very memorable character right out of legend and a twist at the end that kept me thinking long after the story was over."

"...such a mystically beautiful tale that you are left wanting more..."

If that sounds like something you'd want to read, you can pick up the individual stories, or come visit me at a con, where I'll have copies of the print collection for sale. Whichever you choose, I don't think you'll be disappointed.

And now my taggees, in no particular order, whose own entrees (unless otherwise noted by them) will go up on or around 12/12:

1) My BFF, agency sister, and author of the popular Alien/Katherine 'Kitty' Katt series from DAW (and a few gazillion other things, heh), Gini Koch

2) Another agency sister, and creator of the super-fun kids' books, the Cook-It-Yourself Tales, Lisa (Whom I Love) Dovichi/Dee Lishess

3) Yet another agency sister, local author, and all-around sweetheart, Fictorian Collete Vernon/Black

4) Not an agency sister (partly because he's male, heh) and not local, but still sweet (don't tell anyone) and very prolific, author of the Demonsouled and Ghosts series (among others), Jonathan Moeller

5) Finally, a guy who's already been tagged, but deserves an encore, the adorable and talented Mollusk Man and author of the Scarlet Order and Old Star Saga series (among others), David Lee Summers

Enjoy!

Everything Else

Max was supposed to have scans this week, but the hackalung has infected him, too (only, in his case, it's the snotrivers), so we're going to have to reschedule, because the anesthesiologist won't put him under if he's having respiratory issues. I'll let you all know when that's going to be - probably the week before Christmas, if we're lucky. FX!