a catching up post

I’ve had a couple of weeks of minor emergencies on top of trying to finish a novel and getting ready for a trip, and finishing a costume for a convention, so I’m a little brain fried right now.  So here is a scattered update post.

The Cormac novel is nearing completion.  At this stage I always hear Gold Leader saying “Almost there. . .”

What I’ve started calling the Ombria Gown is almost done.  I’m still figuring out how to do the partlet (the gauzy bit that covers the chest), but my SCA friend who made custom brooches for the bodice delivered them last night, so one way or another I’ll be at Costume Con on Saturday, all decked out.

I talk so much about revision, I’m going to put my money where my mouth is and do a post in the next week or so showing a page of a short story I just did a major revision on.  It’s got whole paragraphs deleted and rewritten and everything.

The July 2013 issue of Asimov’s Science Fiction, including my story “The Art of Homecoming,” is now available in book stores, news stands, etc.  Look, Ma, I’m on the cover!

Paula Guran’s latest anthology After the End: Recent Apocalypses is due out soon.  It got a starred review from Publisher’s Weekly and includes a reprint of “Amaryllis.”

GRRM announced the table of contents for his and Gardner Dozois’ upcoming anthology, Rogues, which I believe is due out this fall, and will contain a brand new story of mine, “Roaring Twenties.”  That’s a heck of a lineup.  I always love being included in anthologies that I probably would have bought anyway, even if I weren’t in them.

I’ve got a whole slew of short stories coming out this year — the avalanche has begun!

lots of news and updates

This Sunday at 3 pm I’m signing books at the Broadway Book Mall.  (Updated to add:  if you want signed books but can’t make it to any of the signings, Ron and Nina at the Broadway Book Mall can hook you up, if you want to place an order with them.)

A new event:  August 13, I’m taking part in the SFWA Northwest Reading Series in Seattle.  This is right after the release of the next book.  Maybe I’ll see you there!

Some book release news:

That right there is the July 2013 issue of Asimov’s Science Fiction, and that’s my name on the cover!  This has my novelette “The Art of Homecoming,” which is the story I wrote while listening to Brian Eno’s Ambient 1: Music for Airports on endless loop.  Make of that what you will.

“Astrophilia” is being reprinted in Heiresses of Russ 2013: The Year’s Best Lesbian Speculative Fiction.  The ARC is pictured.  I think the book is due out in August.

I was interviewed for How Geek Girls Will Rule the World, by Jennifer Thorpe-Moscon.

Here’s some more information on Unfettered, edited by Shawn Speakman, which I think is going to be one of the most anticipated anthologies of the year.  My story “Game of Chance” will appear here.  Estimated release date:  June.

After almost two months of weekly freezing snows, my bulbs pretty much all gave up, so no flowers this year.  Except for this daffodil, which is trying so hard!  Go, go, little daffodil!  You can do it!

recap

I’m back from Starfest!  Thanks again to the folks at Horrorfest for inviting me, and to Ron and Nina for selling books, and for everyone who came out to visit.  A lot going on, a lot on my mind.  Some of the highlights:

Horrorfest ran a “Face Off” style makeup competition — four competitors, one theme, 2 hours, go!  This is their second year doing it, and it’s hugely successful.  My favorite thing about it is the constant messaging from the hosts:  you can do this, anyone can learn to to this, this is accessible.  Yay, art!

I got to see Ben Browder’s Q&A.  I hardly ever get to go to these because I’m either cross scheduled, or the event room gets too crowded.  He was excellent, personable and engaging, and a true geek.  He told stories of his very young children coming to the set of Farscape and “talking” with Rigel.  He also said that this con is the closest he’s ever seen to DragonCon, at a smaller scale.  I’ve only been to DragonCon once, but I concur.

The ratio of people in costumes to not just keeps going up.  At one point on Saturday, I think half the people I saw were in some kind of costume.  I love this.

I haven’t really heard anything that’s inspiring me to run out and see Oblivion, alas.

I signed lots of books and talked to lots of folks about books.  Met both new fans and old.  Hooray!

I was gifted a magnificent KNOB DJ setup, including vintage microphone and “London Calling” on vinyl, by the talented and generous Zoo.  Pictures later when I’ve gotten myself better sorted than I am now.  (Still catching up on sleep and work stuff.)

And now, onward!

Starfest!

This weekend is Starfest in Denver.  After taking a break last year, I’m back, at least for Saturday and Sunday.  Hey look, I just found the schedule!  This means I can figure out if I’ll have the opportunity to see Ben Browder.  Because Ben Browder is also going to be there!  Squee!

What I’ll be doing at the con:  as usual, I’m one of the guests at HorrorFest, the celebration of all things horrifying tucked away in the back corner of the Marriott.  It’s a great crew and a great party.  I’ll be on a couple of panels and I have a couple of signings scheduled.  Who Else Books will have my books for sale.  Other than that, I’ll be in the dealer’s room, shopping; or in the bar, drinking.  After an emotionally intense and news-laden week, this seems like a really good weekend to be escaping into another world, doesn’t it?

upcoming appearances

A couple of things coming up.

Here’s an essay I wrote about vampires.  Crazy, I know!

This Saturday! Tomorrow!  April 6, 1 pm: I’ll be signing at PageOne Books in Albuquerque, NM.  I’m looking forward to hanging out with my New Mexico peeps.

And later in the month:

April 19-21:  Starfest, Denver’s media SF&F convention. Most of my programming will be with the HorrorFest folks, as usual.

April 28 3pm: I’ll be signing at the Broadway Book Mall in Denver.

We’re kind of adding things scattershot throughout the year.  I know I’ve got a number of events lined up for August, and I’ll announce those when the details get hammered out.  Another busy year!

Also, I’d never really seen all the books lined up together.  They all kind of live in boxes and stacks and clumps on my shelves.  So I lined them all up:

That’s…that’s a lotta books.  No wonder I’ve been so busy!

appearances

Book day + one!  It’s out, and I can breathe a sigh of relief.  At least until next time.

I’ve got a few appearances lined up.  This afternoon, I’ll be doing an event for teens from 2-4 at the Loveland Public Library.

This weekend is AnomalyCon in Denver.  I’ll be there with bells on.  Maybe literally. (Still getting my outfits together.)

April 6, 1 pm: I’ll be signing at PageOne Books in Albuquerque, NM.

April 19-21:  Starfest, Denver’s media SF&F convention.

April 28 3pm: I’ll be signing at the Broadway Book Mall in Denver.

Full moon tonight!  Get out and do some howling!

upcoming events

I have a book coming out in ONE MONTH!  Kitty Rocks the House will arrive very soon, now.  Want a signed book?  Want to know where I’ll be celebrating?  Here you go:

March 27, 2-4 pm: I’m having an event for teens at the Loveland Public Library.

March 29-31:  AnomalyCon!  Readings, panels, and Terry Kroenung talked me into helping demonstrate bartitsu, the art of Victorian self defense.  What could possibly go wrong?

April 6, 1 pm:  I’ll be signing at PageOne Books in Albuquerque, NM.

April 19-21:  Starfest in Denver.  I’ll probably only be there Sat-Sun.

April 28 3pm:  I’ll be signing at the Broadway Book Mall in Denver.

And I think that’s it for the next couple of months.

I’m making slow but steady progress on various projects.  The skirt on the gown is cut out and I’m about to start cartridge pleating.  And the current work in progress, the Cormac novel, is past 19,000 words, which is when things really start feeling novel-like.  Onward!

movie review, with bonus literary history addendum

Remember those Harry and Marlowe stories I just mentioned?  They’re out now!  I should have waited a day to post!

“Harry and Marlowe Escape the Mechanical Siege of Paris” is on Lightspeed.

More info about The Mad Scientists Guide to World Domination, including “Harry and Marlowe Meet the Founder of the Aetherian Revolution.”

So I watched Arbitrage, and it drove me a little batty that almost every character was from Hollywood Central Casting, Cliche Department. (The exception was the main character’s daughter, who was smart, ethical, savvy, a mother, and a generally decent human being.  I think this would have been a better movie from her point of view.)  In fact, when the Euro hipster art dealer mistress went to the back of the gallery during the big opening to snort cocaine, I busted out laughing.  Dude, that is so 1988.  **SPOILER** I also think the movie would have been better without the car wreck, which turned the whole thing into a two-hour episode of Law and Order, but what’re ya gonna do?  **END SPOILER**

Fortunately, I didn’t stop watching there because the next scene was Tim Roth playing Columbo…and he really was playing Columbo!  It wasn’t my imagination!  “My deepest condolences, I’ll leave you alone now…but if I could just ask one question…I couldn’t help but notice that cut on your forehead.  You mind telling me how that happened?”  It was beautiful.

And did you know that Columbo isn’t actually original to Columbo?  That character, the bumbling detective who is completely despised and dismissed by the criminal suspect, but who in reality is the smartest one in the room and trips up the suspect through roundabout questioning?  That character has been around for a long time.  Petrovich, the detective in Dostoyevsky’s Crime and Punishment is this type.  And before that, Inspector Bucket in Dickens’ Bleak House.  That’s right, Charles Dickens invented Columbo!

I love being an English major!

update on forthcoming books and stories

The year is starting to shape up.  I’m scheduling appearances, signings.  Check on the page for what’s coming up, and for updates.  Many more releases than I expected will be happening this year.  I always forget just how productive I actually am until I line it all up, and so far I’ve got at least two novels and half a dozen stories coming out this year.  WHEW!  Here’s a rundown.

February

Two, count them TWO, Harry and Marlowe stories this month.  “Harry and Marlowe Escape the Mechanical Siege of Paris” tells how the two adventurers met, and will be out on Lightspeed later this month.

“Harry and Marlowe Meet the Founder of the Aetherian Revolution” is out RIGHT NOW! in the Mad Scientists Guide to World Domination.  I know, because I just got my contributor copies!

March

Kitty Rocks the House.  The eleventh novel in the series.  Kitty and Ben are back home, dealing with the aftermath of the London trip — and trouble at home.

May

“Game of Chance” in the anthology Unfettered, edited by Shawn Speakman.

July

“The Art of Homecoming” in Asimov’s Science Fiction.

Kitty in the Underworld.  This is the big news:  the twelfth Kitty novel is available for preorder.  It’s coming fast on the heels of the previous book, making this a two-novel year.  Excellent, no?

Future

Plus, I have a couple of Wild Cards stories in the work, at least three more stories that I don’t have release dates for yet, and Dreams of the Golden Age, which is now totally revised and turned in.

And I’m now full speed ahead working on the next Kitty novel, which is actually a Cormac novel.  I’m trying something a bit new with this one, working up a more formal three-act outline than I usually do.  Trying to solve some of the plotting problems before I start writing, rather than in revision.  We’ll see how that goes!

Bonus content:  here’s an interview with Jim and Jamie Dutcher, authors and producers of the book/documentary The Secret Life of Wolves.  They discuss social behavior and hierarchies in wolf packs.  These relationships are more complicated than most people realize.  “Alpha male” doesn’t mean what most people think it means.  Also, wolf howls!

two months ’til book release day!

The next book is due out March 26.  JUST TWO MORE MONTHS!

I posted the first chapter over on Genreality a while back.  Enjoy!