Here is my entry. It's titled The Good, The Bad, and The Chips.
This Nerdscape features King Gidorah, Mothra, Megatron, The Strange Affair of Spring Heeled Jack, and a bag of chips. (I'm obviously much better at taking photos of flowers!)
Saturday, April 30, 2011
Nerdscape for Kevin - April 30, 2011
Kevin Hearne challenged folks to create either a Nerdscape or Beerscape for a chance to win a copy (a signed copy!) of his debut novel, Hounded. The deets can be found at Kevin's site here.
Here is my entry. It's titled The Good, The Bad, and The Chips.
Here is my entry. It's titled The Good, The Bad, and The Chips.
A Rant - April 30, 2011
If you've been following The Qwillery for any time, you know that I usually don't rant. Usually. There are a couple of unrelated things that have been irking me for some time. So I'm going to rant a bit about both them.
First, it irritates me when an Urban Fantasy (UF) is criticized for not having enough ROMANCE. Romance is not the point of UF. Yes, there can be the potential for romance, a dalliance, a love interest, sex but it's not the focus of the story and should never get in the way of the story. If you really want romance, read Paranormal Romance (PNR). If you must have a Happily Ever After, read PNR. If you want the focus to be on the romance, read PNR. Do not pick on an Urban Fantasy for not having enough romance. I read both UF and PNR. There are wonderful books in both genres. Lately, I've been seeing a few books labelled as either Urban Fantasy Romance (UFR) or Romantic Urban Fantasy (RUF). That's fine. There will always be some genre blurring. Maybe this is the solution for those seeking romance in their Urban Fantasies. Regardless, if it has an HEA, it will still be PNR to me. If the focus leans heavily towards the Romance and not the Story, it will still be PNR to me. What do you look for in UF?
Second, I am upset that anyone has to argue WHY book piracy is wrong. Quite simply it is STEALING. I think that we can agree that stealing is wrong and illegal. So.... PIRACY is wrong and illegal. No one has to argue to prove that. Arguments that piracy is okay for any variety of idiotic reasons are just specious. Let me sum up:
That's it. I probably won't rant again for a while. Thanks for 'listening.'
First, it irritates me when an Urban Fantasy (UF) is criticized for not having enough ROMANCE. Romance is not the point of UF. Yes, there can be the potential for romance, a dalliance, a love interest, sex but it's not the focus of the story and should never get in the way of the story. If you really want romance, read Paranormal Romance (PNR). If you must have a Happily Ever After, read PNR. If you want the focus to be on the romance, read PNR. Do not pick on an Urban Fantasy for not having enough romance. I read both UF and PNR. There are wonderful books in both genres. Lately, I've been seeing a few books labelled as either Urban Fantasy Romance (UFR) or Romantic Urban Fantasy (RUF). That's fine. There will always be some genre blurring. Maybe this is the solution for those seeking romance in their Urban Fantasies. Regardless, if it has an HEA, it will still be PNR to me. If the focus leans heavily towards the Romance and not the Story, it will still be PNR to me. What do you look for in UF?
Second, I am upset that anyone has to argue WHY book piracy is wrong. Quite simply it is STEALING. I think that we can agree that stealing is wrong and illegal. So.... PIRACY is wrong and illegal. No one has to argue to prove that. Arguments that piracy is okay for any variety of idiotic reasons are just specious. Let me sum up:
PIRACY = STEALING = WRONG/ILLEGAL
That's it. I probably won't rant again for a while. Thanks for 'listening.'
Friday, April 29, 2011
May 2011 Book Releases
Here is my list of books coming out in May 2011. If there is something that I've missed, please leave a comment below. Also note that this list is always under revision. Please note that publication dates change. I try to keep this as accurate as possible. Any genre mistakes are mine. Leave a comment if the genre is wrong. Anthology covers are below.
May 1, 2011
May 2, 2011
May 3, 2011
May 6, 2011
May 7, 2011
May 9, 2011
May 10, 2011
May 12, 2011
May 13, 2011
May 15, 2011
May 17, 2011
May 18, 2011
May 19, 2011
May 21, 2011
May 23, 2011
May 24, 2011
May 25, 2011
May 31, 2011
* 2011 Debut Author Challenge Novel
** Mass Market or Trade Paperback release of prior hardcover
*** Reissue or re-release
AH - Alternative History
DF - Dark Fantasy
EF - Epic Fantasy
F - Fantasy
FM - Fantasy Mystery
FR - Futuristic Romance
GT - Gothic Thriller
H - Horror
HF - Historical Fantasy
HT - Historical Thriller
MU - Mash Up
PER - Paranormal Erotic Romance
PHR - Paranormal Historical Romance
PNR - Paranormal Romance
PRS - Paranormal Romantic Suspense
SF - Science Fiction
SP - Steampunk
ST - Supernatural Thriller
TTR - Time Travel Romance
UF - Urban Fantasy
YA - Young Adult
Anthology covers
May 1, 2011
| Enemy Games | Marcella Burnard | FR -Enemy 2 |
| Awaken the Highland Warrior* | Anita Clenney | PNR - Highland Warrior 1 |
| Vintage Vampire Stories | Robert Eighteen-Bisang & Richard Dalby (eds.) | Anthology |
| The Inside Story | Michael Buckley | YA - Sisters Grimm 8 |
| Zombies Don't Cry | Rusty Fischer | YA - Living Dead Love Story |
| Dark Angels Revealed | Angela Grace | Guide |
| Behind the Gates | Eva Gray | YA - Tomorrow Girls 1 |
| Wickedly Charming | Kristine Grayson | PNR - Fates/Charming |
| Men of Perdition | Kelly M. Hudson | H |
| Vlad: The Last Confession | C.C. Humphreys | HT |
| Legend of Michael | Lisa Renee Jones | PNR - Zodius 1 |
| The Ninth Nightmare | Graham Masterton | H |
| A Bloody London Sunset | Jaz Primo | UF - Sunset Vampire 2 |
| Cryptic Cravings | Ellen Schreiber | YA - Vampire Kisses 8 |
| Linger** | Maggie Stiefvater | YA - Wolves of Mercy Falls 2 |
| Captured | Maggie Wood | YA - Divided Realms 1 |
| The Darkening | Maggie Wood | YA - Divided Realms 2 |
| The Steampunk Bible | Jeff VanderMeer | SP |
May 2, 2011
| A Wizard of Mars | Diane Duane | YA - Young Wizards 9 |
| The Discovery | Marley Gibson | YA - Ghost Huntress 5 |
| Dead is Not an Option | Marlene Perez | YA - Dead Is 5 |
| The Celler | A. J. Whitten | YA |
May 3, 2011
| Spellcast | Barbara Ashford | F - Spellcast 1 |
| Scarlet Dream | James Axler (Rik Hoskin) | SF - Outlanders 57 |
| Ark** | Stephen Baxter | SF - Flood 2 |
| The Demon's Covenant** | Sarah Rees Brennan | YA - Demon's Lexicon Trilogy 2 |
| Bite Club | Rachel Caine | YA - Morganville Vampires 10 |
| Darkfire Kiss | Deborah Cooke | PNR - Dragonfire 6 |
| Hard Magic | Larry Correia | F- Grimnoir Chronicles 1 |
| Chosen By Blood* | Virna dePaul | PRS Para-Ops 1 |
| Warrior Betrayed | Addison Fox | PNR - Sons of the Zodiac 3 |
| Always the Vampire | Nancy Haddock | UF - Oldest City Vampire 3 |
| Almost Final Curtain | Tate Hallaway | YA - Vampire Princess of St. Paul 2 |
| Dead Reckoning | Charlaine Harris | UF - Sookie Stackhouse 11 |
| Dragon Bound | Thea Harrison | PNR - Elder Races 1 |
| Hounded* | Kevin Hearne | UF - Iron Druid Chronicles 1 |
| The Inheritance & Other Stories | Robin Hobb & Megan Lindholm | F - Collection |
| Crusade** | Nancy Holder & Debbie Viguie | YA - Crusade Trilogy 1 |
| The Rogue Crew | Brian Jacques | YA - Tale of Redwall 22 |
| Night Mares in the Hamptons | Celia Jerome | UF - Willow Tate 2 |
| Under Heaven | Guy Gavriel Kay | F |
| Dragon Avenger*** | E.E. Knight | F - Age of Fire 2 |
| One Magic Moment | Lynn Kurland | TTR |
| Rot & Ruin** | Jonathan Maberry | YA - Rot & Ruin 1 |
| The Unbearable Lightness of Dragons | Katie MacAlister | PNR - Light Dragons 2 |
| Jace | Sarah McCarty | PNR - Shadow Wranglers 3 |
| Hard Bitten** | Chloe Neill | UF - Chicagoland Vampires 4 |
| Eutopia: A Novel of Terrible Optimism | David Nickle | H |
| Illusions | Aprilynne Pike | YA - Laurel 3 |
| Spells** | Aprilynne Pike | YA - Laurel 2 |
| The Hot Gate | John Ringo | SF - Troy Rising 3 |
| Throne of Fire | Rick Riordan | YA - Kane Chronicles 2 |
| The Lone Warrior | Denise Rossetti | PNR - Four-Sided Pentacle 3 |
| Divergent | Veronica Roth | YA - Divergent Trilogy 1 |
| The Craving | L.J. Smith, Kevin Williamson & Julie Plec | YA - Vampire Diaries: Stefan's Diaries 3 |
| Shift | Jeri Smith-Ready | YA - Shade 2 |
| The Council of Shadows | S.M. Stirling | UF - Shadowspawn 2 |
| A Taint in the Blood** | S.M. Stirling | UF - Shadowspawn 1 |
| Blood Law | Karin Tabke | PER - Blood Moon Rising 1 |
| Well of Sorrows** | Benjamin Tate | F |
| Warcry | Elizabeth Vaughan | F - Chronicles of the Warlands 4 |
| Shadow Raiders | Margaret Weis | SF - Dragon Brigade 1 |
| Extermis | Steve White & Charles E. Gannon | SF - Starfire 6 |
May 6, 2011
| A Dragon's Awakening | Aya Knight | YA/EF - The Chornicles of Kale |
May 7, 2011
| Midnight Flight*** | V.C. Andrews | H - Broken Wings 2 |
| Daughter of Destiny*** | Tracy Fobes | PNR |
| Forbidden Garden*** | Tracy Fobes | PNR |
| Heart of the Dove*** | Tracy Fobes | PNR |
| My Enchanted Enemy*** | Tracy Fobes | PNR |
| Touch Not the Cat*** | Tracy Fobes | PNR |
May 9, 2011
| The Forgotten Locket | Lisa Mangum | YA - Hourglass Door Trilogy 3 |
| The Golden Spiral** | Lisa Mangum | YA - Hourglass Door Trilogy 2 |
| Geth and the Return of the Lithens | Obert Skye | YA - Beyond Foo 1 |
May 10, 2011
| Raised by Wolves** | Jennifer Lynn Barnes | YA - Raised by Wolves 1 |
| 2030: The Real Story of What Happens to America* | Albert Brooks | SF |
| Tempted** | P.C. Cast & Kristin Cast | YA - House of Night 6 |
| Time Pullers | Horton Deakins | SF |
| Tempest Rising | Tracy Deebs | YA |
| Stonewielder | Ian C. Esslemont | EF - Malazan Empire |
| The White Devil | Justin Evans | GT |
| The Chaos Crystal | Jennifer Fallon | F - Tide Lords 4 |
| Shadow Hills** | Anastasia Hopcus | YA |
| Central Park Knight | C.J. Henderson | UF - Knight 2 |
| Meowmorphosis | Franz Kafka & Cook Coleridge | MU |
| A Tale of Two Castles | Gail Carson Levine | YA |
| Dog Blood | David Moody | H - Hater Trilogy 2 |
| Demons and Druids** | James Patterson | YA - Daniel X 3 |
| Die for Me | Amy Plum | YA |
| The Quantum Thief | Hannu Rajaniemi | SF - Quantum Thief 1 |
| Siren** | Tricia Rayburn | YA |
| Mind Storm* | K.M. Ruiz | SF - Strykers Syndicate 1 |
| Fuzzy Nation | John Scalzi | SF |
| Museum of Thieves | Lian Tanner | YA - Keepers Trilogy 1 |
May 12, 2011
| Surface Detail** | Iain M. Banks | SF - Culture 9 |
| The Lost Years*** | T.A. Barron | YA - Merlin 1 |
| The Mirror of Fate*** | T.A. Barron | YA - Merlin 4 |
| The Ragin Fires*** | T.A. Barron | YA - Merlin 3 |
| The Seven Songs*** | T.A. Barron | YA - Merlin 2 |
| The Wizard's Wings*** | T.A. Barron | YA - Merlin 5 |
| Super Human** | Michael Carroll | YA |
| The Stainless Steel Rat Goes to Hell | Harry Harrison | SF - Stainless Steel Rat 10 |
| Queen of Kings | Maria Dahvana Headley | HF |
May 13, 2011
| The Immune | Doc Lucky Meisenheimer | SF |
May 15, 2011
| Vampires at Sea | Linda Cargill | YA |
| A Rope of Thorns | Gemma Files | H - Hexslinger 2 |
| The Fecund's Melancholy Daughter | Brent Hayward | DF |
| The Way of Thorn and Thunder | Daniel Heath Justice | F - Kynship Chronicles Omnibus |
| Promises to Keep** | Charles de Lint | F |
May 17, 2011
| The Price of Freedom | A.C. Crispin | HF - Pirates of the Caribbean |
| The Passage** | Justin Cronin | F |
| The Dark City | Catherine Fisher | YA/F- - Relic Master 1 |
| Anno Frankenstein | Jonathan Green | SP - Pax Britannia 6 |
| Mercy | Rebecca Lim | YA |
| Graveminder | Melissa Marr | DF |
| Embassytown | China Mieville | SF |
| The Fires Beneath the Sea | Lydia Millet | YA - The Dissenters 1 |
| The Legend of Drizzt Collector's Edition | R.A. Salvatore | EF - Forgotten Realms, Book IV |
| Love Bites** | Ellen Schreiber | YA - Vampire Kisses 7 |
| Cryptic Cravings | Ellen Schreiber | YA - Vampire Kisses 8 |
| Cursebusters! | Julie Smith | YA |
| Dancing With Bears | Michael Swanwick | F- Darger and Surplus 1 |
May 18, 2011
| America Pacifica* | Anna North | SF |
May 19, 2011
| The Country of the Blind and Other Science-Fiction Stories | H.G. Wells | SF - Collection |
May 21, 2011
| Wildfire*** | Sarah Micklem | EF - Firethorn 2 |
May 23, 2011
| Awaken | Katie Kacvinsky | YA |
| The Boneshaker** | Kate Milford | YA |
May 24, 2011
| The Nebula Awards Showcase 2011 | Kevin J. Anderson (ed.) | Anthology |
| Deja Vu | Lisa Childs | PNR |
| The Girl in the Steel Corset | Kady Cross | YA - Steampunk Chronicles 1 |
| Magic Under Glass** | Jaclyn Dolamore | YA/F |
| Return of the Crimson Guard | Ian C. Esslemont | EF - Malazan Series |
| An Echo in the Bone** | Diana Gabaldon | HF - Outlander 7 |
| The Vampire Narcise | Colleen Gleason | PHR - Regency Draculia 3 |
| Blood Magic | Tessa Gratton | YA |
| Something Deadly This Way Comes | Kim Harrison | YA -Madison Avery 3 |
| The Summer of Moonlight Secrets** | Danette Haworth | YA |
| Dragon Soul** | Jaida Jones & Danielle Bennett | F - Havemercy 3 |
| Mind Games | Taylor Keating | PNR - Guardian 2 |
| Full Dark, No Stars | Stephen King | H - Collection |
| The Dead Town | Dean Koontz | H - Frankenstein 5 |
| Welcome to Bordertown | Holly Black & Ellen Kushner | YA/F - Anthology |
| The Sleeping Beauty** | Mercedes Lackey | F - Five Hundred Kingdoms 5 |
| Lady Lazarus | Michele Lang | HF - Lady Lazarus 1 |
| Warriors 2 | George R.R. Martin & Gardner Dozios (eds) | Anthology |
| The Failing Machine* | Andrew Mayer | SP - Society of Steam 1 |
| Zombies Sold Separately | Cheyenne McCray | UF - Night Tracker 4 |
| Anno Dracula*** | Kim Newman | H - Anno Dracula 1 |
| Nights of Villjamur | Mark Charan Newton | EF - Legends of the Red Sun 1 |
| Betrayer of Worlds*** | Larry Niven | SF - Known Space |
| City of Ruins | Kristine Kathryn Rusch | SF - Diving Universe 2 |
| The Way of Kings** | Brandon Sanderson | EF - Stormlight Archive 1 |
| The Warlock | Michael Scott | YA - Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel 5 |
| West and East** | Harry Turtledove | AH - The War that Came Early 2 |
| Angel Burn | L.A. Weatherly | YA - Angel 1 |
May 25, 2011
| Dark Angel | V.C. Andrews | H - Casteel 2 |
| Chasing the Moon | A. Lee Martinez | F |
May 31, 2011
| The Time Weaver** | Shana Abe | F - Drakon 5 |
| Dead of Veridon | Tim Akers | SF - Burn Cycle 2 |
| Magic Slays | Ilona Andrews | UF - Kate Daniels 5 |
| Starcorssed | Josephine Angelini | YA -Awakening 1 |
| Infernal Affairs | Jes Battis | UF - OSI Novels 4 |
| X Restored | Claudia Mair Burney | YA - Exorsistah 3 |
| Nightspell | Leah Cypess | YA |
| Wicked Lies | Lisa Jackson & Nancy Bush | ST - Wicked 2 |
| Ambassador's Mission** | Trudi Canavan | F - Traitor Spy Trilogy1 |
| The Rogue | Trudi Canavan | F - Traitor Spy Trilogy 2 |
| Humpty's Bones | Simon Clark | H |
| Blood of the Wicked* | Karina Cooper | PNR - Dark Mission 1 |
| The Best Horror of the Year Volume 3 | Ellen Datlow (ed) | H - Anthology |
| Immanuel's Veins*** | Ted Dekker | HF |
| Demon | Kristina Douglas | PNR - Fallen 2 |
| Devil Without A Cause | Terri Garey | PNR - Devil's Bargain 1 |
| Come Closer*** | Sara Gran | H |
| Bullet** | Laurell K. Hamilton | UF - Anita Blake 19 |
| Changeling Moon | Dani Harper | PNR - Changeling 1 |
| Year's Best SF 16 | David G. Hartwell & Kathryn Cramer (eds.) | SF - Anthology |
| The Outlaw Viking*** | Sandra Hill | PNR - Viking Series I |
| Migration | James P. Hogan | SF |
| Damned Busters | Matthew Hughes | F - Hell & Back Trilogy 1 |
| Dead on the Delta | Stacey Jay | UF |
| My Dangerous Pleasure | Carolyn Jewel | PNR - My Immortal 4 |
| Queen of the Dead | Stacey Kade | YA - Ghost & Goth 2 |
| Timecaster | Joe Kimball | SF |
| The Skin Map** | Stephen R. Lawhead | F - Bright Empires 1 |
| The Sword & The Flame*** | Stephen R. Lawhead | YA - Dragon King 2 |
| The Warlords of Nin*** | Stephen R. Lawhead | YA - Dragon King 3 |
| In the Hall of the Dragon King*** | Stephen R. Lawhead | YA - Dragon King 1 |
| The Sword of Darrow | Alex & Hal Malchow | YA |
| The Last Twilight*** | Marjorie M. Liu | UF - Dirk & Steele 7 |
| The Fly-By-Nights | Brian Lumley | H |
| Sinful Magic | Jennifer Lyon | PNR - Wing Slayer Hunter 4 |
| Desdaemona | Ben Macallan | UF |
| The Darkness Beyond | Alexis Morgan | PNR - Paladins of Darkness 8 |
| Concrete Saviour | Yvonne Navarro | UF - Dark Redemption 2 |
| Deadly Dreams*** | Andre Norton | SF |
| Mr. Pye | Mervyn Peake | F |
| The Breaking | Marcus Pelegrimas | UF - Skinners 5 |
| The Neon Graveyard | Vicki Pettersson | UF - Sign of the Zodiac 6 |
| Vampire Warlords | Andy Remic | F - Clockwork Vampire 3 |
| Terminal World** | Alastair Reynolds | SF |
| The Reluctant Vampire | Lynsay Sands | PNR - Argeneau 15 |
| Kiss of Snow | Nalini Singh | PNR - Psy-Changelings 10 |
| Revenant | Phaedra Weldon | UF - Zoe Martinique 4 |
| The Midnight Palace | Carlos Ruiz Zafon | YA |
* 2011 Debut Author Challenge Novel
** Mass Market or Trade Paperback release of prior hardcover
*** Reissue or re-release
AH - Alternative History
DF - Dark Fantasy
EF - Epic Fantasy
F - Fantasy
FM - Fantasy Mystery
FR - Futuristic Romance
GT - Gothic Thriller
H - Horror
HF - Historical Fantasy
HT - Historical Thriller
MU - Mash Up
PER - Paranormal Erotic Romance
PHR - Paranormal Historical Romance
PNR - Paranormal Romance
PRS - Paranormal Romantic Suspense
SF - Science Fiction
SP - Steampunk
ST - Supernatural Thriller
TTR - Time Travel Romance
UF - Urban Fantasy
YA - Young Adult
Anthology covers
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Wednesday Comics on Thursday - April 28, 2011
I picked up many many many comics yesterday. I obviously like comics with vampires in them. My favorite this week though is... Godzilla: Kingdom of Monsters #2.
BOOM! Studios
Dracula: The Company of Monsters #9
BRAND NEW ARC. GREAT FOR NEW READERS! Kurt Busiek continues to bring an incredibly modern spin to the Dracula mythos! As Dracula and Conrad's fight reaches a fever pitch, Evan enters into an unlikely, and dangerous alliance with Marta and her men. It's vampire vs. vampire vs. vampire hunters as the ongoing horror series from the mind of Kurt Busiek continues!
BOOM! Studios
Dark Horse Comics
The Strange Case of Mr. Hyde #1 (of 4) This looks great so far. I like the artwork. I'll have to see what I think about the story!
Sometimes good police work just isn’t enough, as Inspector Thomas Adye of Scotland Yard finds out when he’s assigned to the Jack the Ripper case. He’ll need the guidance of imprisoned madman and amoral libertine, Dr. Henry Jekyll, whose mind-splitting serum Jack might be using to commit his bloody murders. Written by Cole Haddon and illustrated by M.S. Corley, part 1 of Hyde sets in motion events that will pit London’s two greatest monsters against one another. Will Adye--and his soul--survive intact?
* Thrilling Victorian horror written by exciting newcomer Cole Haddon.
* Weaving together the Jack the Ripper legend with the elements of the classic tale of Jekyll and Hyde.
Dark Horse Comics
Dynamite Entertainment
Warlord of Mars # 6
There are 7 covers for Warlord of Mars # 6 (the last of this series). I'm just going to share my favorite. The cover artist is Patrick Berkenkotter.
Dejah Thoris and John Carter travel to the dreaded city of Thark, where the green Martian warlord awaits. Unfortunately for them, the big, slobbery green monster has a "thing" for red Martian girls. Fortunately, John Carter has super-human strength, and a super-human will to go along with it! Carter realizes he and Dejah cannot remain captives of the green Martians any longer. But the green Martians aren't giving up without a fight. And if they do escape, what terrors await them in the harsh and desolate wilderness of Mars? Find out in Warlord of Mars #6: A Desperate Flight!
Dynamite Entertainment
IDW Publishing
Godzilla: Kingdom of Monsters #2
There are 4 covers for Issue 2. Cover A is a more modern depiction of Godzilla so not my favorite cover. I much prefer Godzilla as depicted on Cover B. That's Rodan flying behind Godzilla and Anguirus in the foreground. Awesome! I especially like the 3rd cover that shows Rodan.
True Blood: Tainted Love #3
Marvel Comics
Laurell K. Hamilton's Anita Blake Vampire Hunter: Circus of the Damned: Ingenue #3 of 5
Meet Lawrence “Larry” Kirkland, the newest animator in St. Louis. Short, skinny, like an overgrown Howdy Doody puppet. It’s his first night on the job and Larry’s bitten off than any novice animator can chew. Good thing veteran Anita Blake is on call to pull his fat out of the fire!
Marvel Comics
Tomb of Dracula Presents: Throne of Blood (One-Shot)
Long ago, the seeds of a vampire cataclysm were planted in the Marvel Universe. One lone vampire rose above the rest and operated in the shadows as the world around him changed. Prepare for a clash of steel, blood, and the undead in Vampire #1, as Marvel changes the way you see vampires…and shows you the meaning of Fear Itself.
Marvel Comics
Vertigo Comics
American Vampire #14
The war in the Pacific rages on! Henry and the crew storm the shores of a remote island with a secret at its core. But the island's secrets are nothing compared to what Skinner has up his sleeve. Meanwhile, our gal Pearl sets out on a desperate mission of her own . . .
BOOM! Studios
Dracula: The Company of Monsters #9
BOOM! Studios
Dark Horse Comics
The Strange Case of Mr. Hyde #1 (of 4) This looks great so far. I like the artwork. I'll have to see what I think about the story!
Sometimes good police work just isn’t enough, as Inspector Thomas Adye of Scotland Yard finds out when he’s assigned to the Jack the Ripper case. He’ll need the guidance of imprisoned madman and amoral libertine, Dr. Henry Jekyll, whose mind-splitting serum Jack might be using to commit his bloody murders. Written by Cole Haddon and illustrated by M.S. Corley, part 1 of Hyde sets in motion events that will pit London’s two greatest monsters against one another. Will Adye--and his soul--survive intact?
* Thrilling Victorian horror written by exciting newcomer Cole Haddon.
* Weaving together the Jack the Ripper legend with the elements of the classic tale of Jekyll and Hyde.
Dark Horse Comics
Dynamite Entertainment
Warlord of Mars # 6
There are 7 covers for Warlord of Mars # 6 (the last of this series). I'm just going to share my favorite. The cover artist is Patrick Berkenkotter.
Dejah Thoris and John Carter travel to the dreaded city of Thark, where the green Martian warlord awaits. Unfortunately for them, the big, slobbery green monster has a "thing" for red Martian girls. Fortunately, John Carter has super-human strength, and a super-human will to go along with it! Carter realizes he and Dejah cannot remain captives of the green Martians any longer. But the green Martians aren't giving up without a fight. And if they do escape, what terrors await them in the harsh and desolate wilderness of Mars? Find out in Warlord of Mars #6: A Desperate Flight!Dynamite Entertainment
IDW Publishing
Godzilla: Kingdom of Monsters #2
There are 4 covers for Issue 2. Cover A is a more modern depiction of Godzilla so not my favorite cover. I much prefer Godzilla as depicted on Cover B. That's Rodan flying behind Godzilla and Anguirus in the foreground. Awesome! I especially like the 3rd cover that shows Rodan.
Cover A - Cover by Phil Hester
Cover B - Cover by Eric Powell
Cover RI B - Cover by
The world is in panic as Godzilla reduces Tokyo to rubble. No one knows where the giant lizard has come from and even the most extreme military counter-measures prove useless. As the people of Japan struggle to survive Godzilla's wrath, the world's governments start thinking outside the box. Unfortunately, Godzilla may not be the only monster-sized threat the world faces... IDW Publishing
True Blood: Tainted Love #3
There are 7 covers for Issue 3. Cover A, Cover B, the RI Wash Cover (Cover A without color), the RI Photo Cover from IDW. In addition there are 3 exclusives - Jetpack, Hastings and Dynamic Forces. I'm sharing just 3 of the covers. The Photo Cover is for Eric fans!
Cover A - Cover by J. Scott Campbell
Cover B - Cover by Jenny Frison
Retailer Incentive Photo Cover
The Tru Blood contamination scandal escalates! Sookie goes to Eric for help and finds a herself in a whole new batch of trouble. Meanwhile, Jessica's condition worsens and the violence escalates... will Bill be her next victim?! IDW Publishing
Marvel Comics
Laurell K. Hamilton's Anita Blake Vampire Hunter: Circus of the Damned: Ingenue #3 of 5
Meet Lawrence “Larry” Kirkland, the newest animator in St. Louis. Short, skinny, like an overgrown Howdy Doody puppet. It’s his first night on the job and Larry’s bitten off than any novice animator can chew. Good thing veteran Anita Blake is on call to pull his fat out of the fire!
Marvel Comics
Tomb of Dracula Presents: Throne of Blood (One-Shot)
Long ago, the seeds of a vampire cataclysm were planted in the Marvel Universe. One lone vampire rose above the rest and operated in the shadows as the world around him changed. Prepare for a clash of steel, blood, and the undead in Vampire #1, as Marvel changes the way you see vampires…and shows you the meaning of Fear Itself.
Marvel Comics
Vertigo Comics
American Vampire #14
The war in the Pacific rages on! Henry and the crew storm the shores of a remote island with a secret at its core. But the island's secrets are nothing compared to what Skinner has up his sleeve. Meanwhile, our gal Pearl sets out on a desperate mission of her own . . .
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Interview with Suzanne McLeod and Giveaway - April 27, 2011
Please welcome Suzanne McLeod to The Qwillery.
TQ: What is your most interesting writing quirk?
Suzanne: Thanks so much for having me here at the Qwillery! Hmm, writing quirk? Well, before I start writing I have to stick my fingers in my ears, hop on one leg whilst chewing a liquorice torpedo and humming the theme tune to Rocky. This helps me get in the mood— oh darn it, I can see by your expressions you don’t believe me. So I’ll own up. I don’t have any interesting quirks . . . unless you count calling all my yet-to-be-named characters, Dave . . . *g*
TQ: Who are some of your favorite writers? Who do you feel has influenced your writing?
Suzanne: Charlaine Harris, Kelly Armstrong, Ilona Andrews, Rachel Caine, Emma Bull, Mike Carey, Kim Harrison, Ann Aguirre, Tanya Huff to name a few. (I have a lotof favourites :-D). And I think that every book I’ve read has influenced my writing in some ways, but as my favourite genre is urban fantasy, those writers I love most have probably had more of an effect than others . . . *wanders off to dream of Eric* *g*.
TQ: Are you a plotter or a panster?
Suzanne: I’m a planster! (© Jaye Wells, my fab crit partner.) I plot out the major arcs of my books, usually starting with the murderer and working out why/how/when the baddie does the “horrible” deed. Then I weave the murder plot into Genny’s – my MC’s – life, and work a road map of scenes for the book. Then, I start writing! Which is where the plantster bit really comes in. Initially I follow my map but like any journey there’s always more than one road to reach “The End”. So as I write I take some unexpected, interesting and exciting detours, this leads to more “bad things” happening to my characters, and then I usually pull over to re-plot my road map so I still reach “The Ending” I planned :- ).
TQ: Describe the Spellcrackers series in 140 characters or less.
Suzanne: Spellcracking books set in London about magic, mayhem & murder – liberally spiced with hot guys, kick-ass chicks & super-cool supes!
TQ: Tell us about The Cold Kiss of Death (Spellcrackers 2).
Suzanne: Genny’s got a whole heap of problems, she’s being haunted by a ghost, her witch neighbours want her evicted, she’s not sure what Finn (her boss and sort of Ex) wants from her, and London’s vamps keep asking her out on the Town (all apart from the one she’s really interested in!). Then as she’s trying to sort her way out of all that, her friend is murdered, and Genny ends up the main suspect. She goes on the run, determined to find out who the murderer really is . . . And that’s when the evil author in me really starts to have fun! *g*
TQ: What inspired you to write the Spellcrackers series?
Suzanne: I love reading urban fantasy with its mix of the mundane, magic and murder, and I love series where the story follows the main characters’ lives, friendships and romances, and shows how they grow and change. I also like books to have relatively self-contained plots, especially when it comes to the baddie getting their comeuppance. So, when I started writing the Spellcrackers series, I wrote the sort of book I love to read :-D
TQ: What sorts of research did you do for the series?
Suzanne: Research for me usually falls into three categories. The first is where I daydream, er, do lots of thinking and make copious notes. This type deals a lot with characters, plot, how they interact, and how stuff in the Spellcrackers world, like magic or ‘how vamps become vamps’, frex, works.
The second part is where I mine myths and legends, reference books, the internet, TV documentaries and anything else that might have caught my interest, looking for cool little nuggets to back up any wacky ideas I might have, and search for those all important RL facts that make the world feel more real.
The third part is where I get to go shopping in London . . . oh, sorry, I meant “serious research” checking out the real places in the books, again so I can make them feel “real” *g*. And often I find these research visits give me lots of new, interesting ideas (and strangely enough, occasionally new shoes too! *looks innocent*).
TQ: Without giving anything away, what is your favorite scene or scenes in The Cold Kiss of Death?
Suzanne: It has to be where Genny visits Southwark, the area round London Bridge. She goes to the Clink Museum, sees the replica Golden Hinde moored on the Thames, and climbs up Nancy’s Steps at the side of London Bridge (named for where Nancy, in the original musical of Dickens’ Oliver Twist, was murdered). Partly I love the scenes set there because they were some of the easy writing ones, but the main reason is when I researched the area, Mr Mc and I were on a short holiday in London, so they bring back lots of happy memories :- ).
TQ: Which character in the series was the most difficult for you to write and why? Easiest?
Suzanne: All the main ones have me tearing my hair out on occasion. If it’s not Finn being difficult, it’s Malik, and I’ve threatened to kill both of them off a few times if they don’t get their acts together! But the easiest characters are always the walk ons
TQ: What's next?
Suzanne: Genny’s next adventure is “The Bitter Seed of Magic” (out now UK, and Dec 2011 US). Genny’s trying to find a way to break an eighty-year-old curse which is making London’s fae infertile. The fae think they’ve got the perfect solution, but Genny’s convinced they’re wrong, and sets out to prove it. Then dead faelings – half fae, half human – start being fished out of the River Thames. It looks like the curse is responsible for their deaths, and as Genny investigates, she soon finds she has to crack the curse before she ends up the next victim.
TQ: Thank you for joining us at The Qwillery.
Suzanne: It’s been great to be here, thanks so much for having me!
About Suzanne's Books
The Sweet Scent of Blood
Spellcrackers 1
(US - April 27, 2010)
'My name is Genny Taylor. I work for Spellcrackers.com. It’s a great job, pays the rent, lets me do the thing I’m good at – finding magic and cracking it – and the bonus is it’s run by witches, which stops the vamps from taking a bite out of me.
Not that vampires are the big bad any more, not since they launched a slick PR campaign – oh, and they brought the goblins on board. Now the vamps are sought-after celebrities, and Getting Fanged and taking the Gift are the new height of all things cool.
But only if you’re human.
And I’m not.
I’m Sidhe fae.
And I know firsthand just how deadly a vampire can be.’
When Mr October, a sexy calendar pin-up vamp, is accused of murdering his girlfriend, an old debt is called in and Genny is forced to help prove his innocence, risking her job and the protection it offers – and threatening to expose her own dark secrets. Searching for the killer plunges Genny deep into the hidden heart of vampire society. It’s not long before she realises that she and Mr October are both unwitting pawns in a centuries-old power struggle between London’s non-human communities . . . and it’s not just her own neck that’s at stake, but the lives of all London’s supernaturals.
Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Book Depository, Borders
The Cold Kill of Death
Spellcrackers 2
(April 26, 2011)
Genny Taylor works for Spellcrackers.com ±
Making Magic Safe. But her own life is anything but safe!
The ghost grasped her shift and ripped it open. The three interlacing crescents carved red-raw and bleeding into her thin chest didn’t look any better than the last dozen times I’d seen them. The wounds weren’t lethal – they weren’t even recent; she’d been dead for at least a hundred and fifty years – but my gut still twisted with anger that someone would do that to a child.’
Being haunted by a ghost is the least of Genny’s problems: she’s also trying to deal with the witch neighbour who wants her evicted. Finn, her sort-of-Ex – and now her new boss – can’t quite decide whether he wants their relationship to be business or pleasure. And then there’s the queue of vamps inviting her to paint the town red; how long before they stop taking no for an answer?
Just when it seems things can’t get any worse a human friend is murdered using sidhe magic. Determined to hunt down the killer and needing help, she turns to one of London’s most capricious wylde fae and the seductive vampire Malik al-Khan.
But all too soon she realises she doesn’t know who she can trust – and now Genny’s the one being hunted, not just by the police, but by some of London’s most powerful and dangerous supernaturals.
Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Book Depository, Borders
Book descriptions from Suzanne's website.
See my 4 1/2 Qwill review of The Cold Kiss of Death by clicking here.
About Suzanne
Suzanne McLeod is the author of the Spellcrackers.com urban fantasy series featuring Genevieve – Genny – Taylor, a sidhe fae, who cracks spells for a living. Suzanne has been a cocktail waitress, dance group roadie and worked for many years in retail management, before she started writing. She lives on the sunny (sometimes) South Coast in the UK with her husband and geriatric rescue dog.
The Giveaway
THE RULES
What: One commenter will win US Mass Market Paperback copies of The Sweet Scent of Blood (Spellcrackers 1) and The Cold Kiss of Death (Spellcrackers 2).
How: Leave a comment answering the following question:
Please remember - if you don't answer the question your entry will not be counted.
You may receive additional entries by:
1) Being a Follower of The Qwillery.
2) Mentioning the giveaway on Facebook and/or Twitter. Even if you mention the giveaway on both, you will get only one additional entry. You get only one additional entry even if you mention the giveaway on Facebook and/or Twitter multiple times.
3) Mentioning the giveaway on your on blog or website. It must be your own blog or website; not a website that belongs to someone else or a site where giveaways, contests, etc. are posted.
There are a total of 4 entries you may receive: Comment (1 entry), Follower (+1 entry), Facebook and/or Twitter (+ 1 entry), and personal blog/website mention (+1 entry). This is subject to change again in the future for future giveaways.
Please leave links for Facebook, Twitter, or blog/website mentions. In addition please leave a way to contact you.
Who and When: The contest is open to all humans on the planet earth with a mailing address. Contest ends at 11:59pm US Eastern Time on Wednesday, May 4, 2011. Void where prohibited by law.
TQ: What is your most interesting writing quirk?
Suzanne: Thanks so much for having me here at the Qwillery! Hmm, writing quirk? Well, before I start writing I have to stick my fingers in my ears, hop on one leg whilst chewing a liquorice torpedo and humming the theme tune to Rocky. This helps me get in the mood— oh darn it, I can see by your expressions you don’t believe me. So I’ll own up. I don’t have any interesting quirks . . . unless you count calling all my yet-to-be-named characters, Dave . . . *g*
TQ: Who are some of your favorite writers? Who do you feel has influenced your writing?
Suzanne: Charlaine Harris, Kelly Armstrong, Ilona Andrews, Rachel Caine, Emma Bull, Mike Carey, Kim Harrison, Ann Aguirre, Tanya Huff to name a few. (I have a lotof favourites :-D). And I think that every book I’ve read has influenced my writing in some ways, but as my favourite genre is urban fantasy, those writers I love most have probably had more of an effect than others . . . *wanders off to dream of Eric* *g*.
TQ: Are you a plotter or a panster?
Suzanne: I’m a planster! (© Jaye Wells, my fab crit partner.) I plot out the major arcs of my books, usually starting with the murderer and working out why/how/when the baddie does the “horrible” deed. Then I weave the murder plot into Genny’s – my MC’s – life, and work a road map of scenes for the book. Then, I start writing! Which is where the plantster bit really comes in. Initially I follow my map but like any journey there’s always more than one road to reach “The End”. So as I write I take some unexpected, interesting and exciting detours, this leads to more “bad things” happening to my characters, and then I usually pull over to re-plot my road map so I still reach “The Ending” I planned :- ).
TQ: Describe the Spellcrackers series in 140 characters or less.
Suzanne: Spellcracking books set in London about magic, mayhem & murder – liberally spiced with hot guys, kick-ass chicks & super-cool supes!
TQ: Tell us about The Cold Kiss of Death (Spellcrackers 2).
Suzanne: Genny’s got a whole heap of problems, she’s being haunted by a ghost, her witch neighbours want her evicted, she’s not sure what Finn (her boss and sort of Ex) wants from her, and London’s vamps keep asking her out on the Town (all apart from the one she’s really interested in!). Then as she’s trying to sort her way out of all that, her friend is murdered, and Genny ends up the main suspect. She goes on the run, determined to find out who the murderer really is . . . And that’s when the evil author in me really starts to have fun! *g*
TQ: What inspired you to write the Spellcrackers series?
Suzanne: I love reading urban fantasy with its mix of the mundane, magic and murder, and I love series where the story follows the main characters’ lives, friendships and romances, and shows how they grow and change. I also like books to have relatively self-contained plots, especially when it comes to the baddie getting their comeuppance. So, when I started writing the Spellcrackers series, I wrote the sort of book I love to read :-D
TQ: What sorts of research did you do for the series?
Suzanne: Research for me usually falls into three categories. The first is where I daydream, er, do lots of thinking and make copious notes. This type deals a lot with characters, plot, how they interact, and how stuff in the Spellcrackers world, like magic or ‘how vamps become vamps’, frex, works.
The second part is where I mine myths and legends, reference books, the internet, TV documentaries and anything else that might have caught my interest, looking for cool little nuggets to back up any wacky ideas I might have, and search for those all important RL facts that make the world feel more real.
The third part is where I get to go shopping in London . . . oh, sorry, I meant “serious research” checking out the real places in the books, again so I can make them feel “real” *g*. And often I find these research visits give me lots of new, interesting ideas (and strangely enough, occasionally new shoes too! *looks innocent*).
TQ: Without giving anything away, what is your favorite scene or scenes in The Cold Kiss of Death?
Suzanne: It has to be where Genny visits Southwark, the area round London Bridge. She goes to the Clink Museum, sees the replica Golden Hinde moored on the Thames, and climbs up Nancy’s Steps at the side of London Bridge (named for where Nancy, in the original musical of Dickens’ Oliver Twist, was murdered). Partly I love the scenes set there because they were some of the easy writing ones, but the main reason is when I researched the area, Mr Mc and I were on a short holiday in London, so they bring back lots of happy memories :- ).
TQ: Which character in the series was the most difficult for you to write and why? Easiest?
Suzanne: All the main ones have me tearing my hair out on occasion. If it’s not Finn being difficult, it’s Malik, and I’ve threatened to kill both of them off a few times if they don’t get their acts together! But the easiest characters are always the walk ons
TQ: What's next?
Suzanne: Genny’s next adventure is “The Bitter Seed of Magic” (out now UK, and Dec 2011 US). Genny’s trying to find a way to break an eighty-year-old curse which is making London’s fae infertile. The fae think they’ve got the perfect solution, but Genny’s convinced they’re wrong, and sets out to prove it. Then dead faelings – half fae, half human – start being fished out of the River Thames. It looks like the curse is responsible for their deaths, and as Genny investigates, she soon finds she has to crack the curse before she ends up the next victim.
TQ: Thank you for joining us at The Qwillery.
Suzanne: It’s been great to be here, thanks so much for having me!
About Suzanne's Books
The Sweet Scent of Blood
Spellcrackers 1
(US - April 27, 2010)
'My name is Genny Taylor. I work for Spellcrackers.com. It’s a great job, pays the rent, lets me do the thing I’m good at – finding magic and cracking it – and the bonus is it’s run by witches, which stops the vamps from taking a bite out of me.
Not that vampires are the big bad any more, not since they launched a slick PR campaign – oh, and they brought the goblins on board. Now the vamps are sought-after celebrities, and Getting Fanged and taking the Gift are the new height of all things cool.
But only if you’re human.
And I’m not.
I’m Sidhe fae.
And I know firsthand just how deadly a vampire can be.’
When Mr October, a sexy calendar pin-up vamp, is accused of murdering his girlfriend, an old debt is called in and Genny is forced to help prove his innocence, risking her job and the protection it offers – and threatening to expose her own dark secrets. Searching for the killer plunges Genny deep into the hidden heart of vampire society. It’s not long before she realises that she and Mr October are both unwitting pawns in a centuries-old power struggle between London’s non-human communities . . . and it’s not just her own neck that’s at stake, but the lives of all London’s supernaturals.
Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Book Depository, Borders
The Cold Kill of Death
Spellcrackers 2
(April 26, 2011)
Making Magic Safe. But her own life is anything but safe!
The ghost grasped her shift and ripped it open. The three interlacing crescents carved red-raw and bleeding into her thin chest didn’t look any better than the last dozen times I’d seen them. The wounds weren’t lethal – they weren’t even recent; she’d been dead for at least a hundred and fifty years – but my gut still twisted with anger that someone would do that to a child.’
Being haunted by a ghost is the least of Genny’s problems: she’s also trying to deal with the witch neighbour who wants her evicted. Finn, her sort-of-Ex – and now her new boss – can’t quite decide whether he wants their relationship to be business or pleasure. And then there’s the queue of vamps inviting her to paint the town red; how long before they stop taking no for an answer?
Just when it seems things can’t get any worse a human friend is murdered using sidhe magic. Determined to hunt down the killer and needing help, she turns to one of London’s most capricious wylde fae and the seductive vampire Malik al-Khan.
But all too soon she realises she doesn’t know who she can trust – and now Genny’s the one being hunted, not just by the police, but by some of London’s most powerful and dangerous supernaturals.
Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Book Depository, Borders
Book descriptions from Suzanne's website.
See my 4 1/2 Qwill review of The Cold Kiss of Death by clicking here.
About Suzanne
Suzanne's Links
Website
Blog
The Giveaway
THE RULES
What: One commenter will win US Mass Market Paperback copies of The Sweet Scent of Blood (Spellcrackers 1) and The Cold Kiss of Death (Spellcrackers 2).
How: Leave a comment answering the following question:
In what city, town, or place would you like to see an Urban Fantasy set?
Please remember - if you don't answer the question your entry will not be counted.
You may receive additional entries by:
1) Being a Follower of The Qwillery.
2) Mentioning the giveaway on Facebook and/or Twitter. Even if you mention the giveaway on both, you will get only one additional entry. You get only one additional entry even if you mention the giveaway on Facebook and/or Twitter multiple times.
3) Mentioning the giveaway on your on blog or website. It must be your own blog or website; not a website that belongs to someone else or a site where giveaways, contests, etc. are posted.
There are a total of 4 entries you may receive: Comment (1 entry), Follower (+1 entry), Facebook and/or Twitter (+ 1 entry), and personal blog/website mention (+1 entry). This is subject to change again in the future for future giveaways.
Please leave links for Facebook, Twitter, or blog/website mentions. In addition please leave a way to contact you.
Who and When: The contest is open to all humans on the planet earth with a mailing address. Contest ends at 11:59pm US Eastern Time on Wednesday, May 4, 2011. Void where prohibited by law.
*Giveaway rules are subject to change.*
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
The Shadow Reader by Sandy Williams - Cover - April 26, 2011
Sandy Williams' debut The Shadow Reader (The Shadow Reader 1) will be published in October 2011 by Ace. Sandy revealed the cover today. I really like the expression on McKenzie Lewis's face.
Sandy will be stopping by The Qwillery later this year for a 2011 Debut Author Challenge interview. What do you think of the cover?
Some humans can see the fae. McKenzie Lewis can track them, reading the shadows they leave behind. But some shadows lead to danger. Others lead to lies.From Sandy's website
A Houston college student trying to finish her degree, McKenzie has been working for the fae king for years, tracking vicious rebels who would claim the Realm. Her job isn’t her only secret. For just as long, she’s been in love with Kyol, the king’s sword-master—and relationships between humans and fae are forbidden.
But any hope for a normal life is shattered when she’s captured by Aren, the fierce and uncompromising rebel leader. He teaches her the forbidden fae language and tells her dark truths about the Court, all to persuade her to turn against the king. Time is running out, and as the fight starts to claim human lives, McKenzie has no choice but to decide once and for all whom to trust and where she ultimately stands in the face of a cataclysmic civil war.
Sandy will be stopping by The Qwillery later this year for a 2011 Debut Author Challenge interview. What do you think of the cover?
Interview with Sable Grace and Giveaway - April 26, 2011
Please welcome Sable Grace to The Qwillery as part of the 2011 Debut Author Challenge interviews. Sable Grace is Heather Waters & Laura Barone.
TQ: What would you say are your most interesting writing quirks?
Heather: Making up words and using real words incorrectly. I was picked on by my old critique group for years for that quirk, and I think our editor recently discovered it as well with my creative use of the word “stealthed,” which I’d used as a verb.
Laura: Writing myself into a corner and leaving Heather to figure out how to get me us out of it. Okay, I call it a quirk, that goes right along with my inability to think about logic when in the midst of a scene, but I’m sure Heather would classify it as a major pain in her rear-end.
TQ: Who are some of your favorite writers? Who do you feel has influenced your writing?
Heather: My love for J.K. Rowling’s world building is unrivaled – for Julie Garwood’s characterization… for Susan Elizabeth Phillips’s way with humor and heart. They’re all three at the top of my list.
Laura: Stephen King for his ability to take the simplest things and make them scary. J.K. Rowling’s for her storytelling skills. Jude Deveraux for her characterization and gifting one of my children with a love for reading.
TQ: Are you plotters or pansters or a combination?
Heather & Laura: We’re both pantsers at heart, but when you work on deadline, you have to pick up the disciplined traits of a plotter (unless you’re Nora Roberts or Stephen King) because you have to submit a synopsis of the book before it’s even written. Whether or not we stick to that synopsis…
TQ: Describe Ascension in 140 characters or less.
Heather & Laura: Vampyre doesn’t like humans. Must save them anyway.
TQ: How did you collaborate to write Ascension?
Heather: I usually will set up the plot and break down the scenes and provide a schedule. From there, we stick to the breakdown unless something feels wrong or needs tweaking.
Laura: Once the hard work’s out of the way and we’ve agreed to everything that needs to happen as we see it at the moment, we work off each other’s scenes, letting the story build—and give us little surprises when things happen that we weren’t expecting or didn’t see coming. Since we pass the pages back and forth, each writing session starts with a round of editing, then it’s off to work on fresh pages to reach our daily quota.
TQ: What inspired you to write Ascension?
Heather: I was watching something completely unrelated on T.V. and got an image in my head of a woman hiding in a dumpster with police helicopters flying over head. She was rescued by a Vampyre who turned out to be Kyana. That scene was trashed and Kyana took the dumpster girl’s place as heroine, and Ascension was born.
Laura: When she asked me to read that scene, I called her, all excited and told her she had to write the story because I was really interested in learning why the woman was hiding in the dumpster and what happened to her. She asked if it was something I’d like to work on too, and after making sure she wasn’t kidding, I let the idea of a creature with glowy red eyes take shape in my head. (That scene was cut, too, but Ryker’s claim as hero remained.)
TQ: What sort of research did you do for Ascension?
Heather & Laura: Fun stuff! We walked around St Augustine and took pictures, mapped out the fort that we used for our headquarters, ate lunch….. Then there’s the mythology research which wasn’t a chore either. The rest was pretty much made up!
TQ: Without giving anything away, what is/are your favorite scene(s) in the book?
Heather: I have to say, there’s a scene where Ryker takes a little swim in the River Styx that I enjoy quite a bit.
Laura: I’m particular to a little fight scene where Kyana learns that there are some she can’t intimidate. Doesn’t stop her from trying, but he definitely leaves his mark on her.
TQ: How many books are planned for the Dark Breed series?
Heather & Laura: As many as the readers and our editor want!
TQ: What's next?
Heather & Laura: Book 2 is still untitled, but is due for release in January 2012. Book 3 is turned in, no title or release date, but you’ll see many of the characters from Ascension in both of those.
TQ: Thank you for joining us at The Qwillery.
Heather & Laura: Thank you so much for having us! This was fun!!
About Ascension
Ascension
Dark Breed 1
(April 26, 2011)
The gates of hell have opened, and one woman will stand in the crossfire as the Dark Breed—vampyre, demons, shape shifters—and mankind fight their last battle for survival.
Kyana is half Vampyre, half Lychen . . . and the last of her kind. Determined, dangerous, and damned, she has no love for the mortals who have imprisoned and misused her. But when the Order of Ancients entrusts her with a mission—to find the key that will send the Dark Breed back into Hell for eternity—Kyana has no choice but to accept.
She is furious to learn her assignment comes with an escort . . . Ryker, a demigod and fierce warrior who long ago found a way under her skin and stayed there. In a shaky alliance, they discover an ancient cult with dangerous motive and a god who seeks to destroy all others. And as Kyana begins to feel the heat that threatens to bind her to Ryker, she knows she has to resist. For it could only mean the undoing of them both . . .
Amazon | B&N | Book Depository | Borders
About Sable Grace
Sable Grace is the writing team of Heather Waters & Laura Barone, long time critique partners and friends who came together by fluke to discover their voices fit together quite nicely during an experiment of "I'll write the first sentence, you write the next." It was meant to be nothing more than a warm up exercise for each of them to get started on their own projects, but soon, the story became far more interesting than what they were supposed to be working on and Sable Grace was born.
Both Heather and Laura reside in Florida, are happily married, and are, well, complete opposites. (Think the Odd Couple on crack here.) Still, there's enough common ground for them to weave their words together in the voice of Sable Grace.
Heather also writes medieval romances under her real name, which you can find at www.heatherwaters.net, and Laura is a Golden Heart finalist for her highly sensual manuscript, Mr. Right Now.
The Giveaway
THE RULES
What: One commenter will win a mass market paperback copy of Ascension(Dark Breed 1).
How: Leave a comment answering the following question:
Please remember - if you don't answer the question your entry will not be counted.
You may receive additional entries by:
1) Being a Follower of The Qwillery.
2) Mentioning the giveaway on Facebook and/or Twitter. Even if you mention the giveaway on both, you will get only one additional entry. You get only one additional entry even if you mention the giveaway on Facebook and/or Twitter multiple times.
3) Mentioning the giveaway on your on blog or website. It must be your own blog or website; not a website that belongs to someone else or a site where giveaways, contests, etc. are posted.
There are a total of 4 entries you may receive: Comment (1 entry), Follower (+1 entry), Facebook and/or Twitter (+ 1 entry), and personal blog/website mention (+1 entry). This is subject to change again in the future for future giveaways.
Please leave links for Facebook, Twitter, or blog/website mentions. In addition please leave a way to contact you.
Who and When: The contest is open to all humans on the planet earth with a mailing address. Contest ends at 11:59pm US Eastern Time on Tuesday, May 3, 2011. Void where prohibited by law.
TQ: What would you say are your most interesting writing quirks?
Heather: Making up words and using real words incorrectly. I was picked on by my old critique group for years for that quirk, and I think our editor recently discovered it as well with my creative use of the word “stealthed,” which I’d used as a verb.
Laura: Writing myself into a corner and leaving Heather to figure out how to get me us out of it. Okay, I call it a quirk, that goes right along with my inability to think about logic when in the midst of a scene, but I’m sure Heather would classify it as a major pain in her rear-end.
TQ: Who are some of your favorite writers? Who do you feel has influenced your writing?
Heather: My love for J.K. Rowling’s world building is unrivaled – for Julie Garwood’s characterization… for Susan Elizabeth Phillips’s way with humor and heart. They’re all three at the top of my list.
Laura: Stephen King for his ability to take the simplest things and make them scary. J.K. Rowling’s for her storytelling skills. Jude Deveraux for her characterization and gifting one of my children with a love for reading.
TQ: Are you plotters or pansters or a combination?
Heather & Laura: We’re both pantsers at heart, but when you work on deadline, you have to pick up the disciplined traits of a plotter (unless you’re Nora Roberts or Stephen King) because you have to submit a synopsis of the book before it’s even written. Whether or not we stick to that synopsis…
TQ: Describe Ascension in 140 characters or less.
Heather & Laura: Vampyre doesn’t like humans. Must save them anyway.
TQ: How did you collaborate to write Ascension?
Heather: I usually will set up the plot and break down the scenes and provide a schedule. From there, we stick to the breakdown unless something feels wrong or needs tweaking.
Laura: Once the hard work’s out of the way and we’ve agreed to everything that needs to happen as we see it at the moment, we work off each other’s scenes, letting the story build—and give us little surprises when things happen that we weren’t expecting or didn’t see coming. Since we pass the pages back and forth, each writing session starts with a round of editing, then it’s off to work on fresh pages to reach our daily quota.
TQ: What inspired you to write Ascension?
Heather: I was watching something completely unrelated on T.V. and got an image in my head of a woman hiding in a dumpster with police helicopters flying over head. She was rescued by a Vampyre who turned out to be Kyana. That scene was trashed and Kyana took the dumpster girl’s place as heroine, and Ascension was born.
Laura: When she asked me to read that scene, I called her, all excited and told her she had to write the story because I was really interested in learning why the woman was hiding in the dumpster and what happened to her. She asked if it was something I’d like to work on too, and after making sure she wasn’t kidding, I let the idea of a creature with glowy red eyes take shape in my head. (That scene was cut, too, but Ryker’s claim as hero remained.)
TQ: What sort of research did you do for Ascension?
Heather & Laura: Fun stuff! We walked around St Augustine and took pictures, mapped out the fort that we used for our headquarters, ate lunch….. Then there’s the mythology research which wasn’t a chore either. The rest was pretty much made up!
TQ: Without giving anything away, what is/are your favorite scene(s) in the book?
Heather: I have to say, there’s a scene where Ryker takes a little swim in the River Styx that I enjoy quite a bit.
Laura: I’m particular to a little fight scene where Kyana learns that there are some she can’t intimidate. Doesn’t stop her from trying, but he definitely leaves his mark on her.
TQ: How many books are planned for the Dark Breed series?
Heather & Laura: As many as the readers and our editor want!
TQ: What's next?
Heather & Laura: Book 2 is still untitled, but is due for release in January 2012. Book 3 is turned in, no title or release date, but you’ll see many of the characters from Ascension in both of those.
TQ: Thank you for joining us at The Qwillery.
Heather & Laura: Thank you so much for having us! This was fun!!
About Ascension
Ascension
Dark Breed 1
(April 26, 2011)
Kyana is half Vampyre, half Lychen . . . and the last of her kind. Determined, dangerous, and damned, she has no love for the mortals who have imprisoned and misused her. But when the Order of Ancients entrusts her with a mission—to find the key that will send the Dark Breed back into Hell for eternity—Kyana has no choice but to accept.
She is furious to learn her assignment comes with an escort . . . Ryker, a demigod and fierce warrior who long ago found a way under her skin and stayed there. In a shaky alliance, they discover an ancient cult with dangerous motive and a god who seeks to destroy all others. And as Kyana begins to feel the heat that threatens to bind her to Ryker, she knows she has to resist. For it could only mean the undoing of them both . . .
Amazon | B&N | Book Depository | Borders
About Sable Grace
Both Heather and Laura reside in Florida, are happily married, and are, well, complete opposites. (Think the Odd Couple on crack here.) Still, there's enough common ground for them to weave their words together in the voice of Sable Grace.
Heather also writes medieval romances under her real name, which you can find at www.heatherwaters.net, and Laura is a Golden Heart finalist for her highly sensual manuscript, Mr. Right Now.
Sable's Links:
Website
The Giveaway
THE RULES
What: One commenter will win a mass market paperback copy of Ascension(Dark Breed 1).
How: Leave a comment answering the following question:
Which Greek god, goddess, or demigod is your favorite?
Please remember - if you don't answer the question your entry will not be counted.
You may receive additional entries by:
1) Being a Follower of The Qwillery.
2) Mentioning the giveaway on Facebook and/or Twitter. Even if you mention the giveaway on both, you will get only one additional entry. You get only one additional entry even if you mention the giveaway on Facebook and/or Twitter multiple times.
3) Mentioning the giveaway on your on blog or website. It must be your own blog or website; not a website that belongs to someone else or a site where giveaways, contests, etc. are posted.
There are a total of 4 entries you may receive: Comment (1 entry), Follower (+1 entry), Facebook and/or Twitter (+ 1 entry), and personal blog/website mention (+1 entry). This is subject to change again in the future for future giveaways.
Please leave links for Facebook, Twitter, or blog/website mentions. In addition please leave a way to contact you.
Who and When: The contest is open to all humans on the planet earth with a mailing address. Contest ends at 11:59pm US Eastern Time on Tuesday, May 3, 2011. Void where prohibited by law.
*Giveaway rules are subject to change.*
Monday, April 25, 2011
2011 Debut Author Challenge Update - April 25, 2011
Here is the latest addition to the 2011 Debut Author Challenge. K.M. Ruiz will be at The Qwillery for an interview during 2011.
K.M. Ruiz
Mind Storm
Thomas Dunne Books
May 2011
You can keep up to date on the 2011 Debut Author Challenge happenings on the 2011 DAC page.
K.M. Ruiz
Mind Storm
Thomas Dunne Books
May 2011
The first in an exciting new sci-fi seriesthat’s being described as Blade Runner meets X-Men
Two hundred and fifty years after the world was nearly wiped out by nuclear war, what’s left of society fights over the scraps of the Earth as the rich and powerful plan to ascend in secret to another planet. But the deadly new breed of humanity that the rulers have enslaved to protect their interests are about to change everything.
K.M. Ruiz’s Mind Storm is the rip-roaring tale of Threnody Corwin, a “psion” with the ability to channel electricity like lightning through anything she touches. As a solider-slave for the human government, Threnody is recruited by an unknown enemy: the scion of Earth’s most powerful (and supposedly human) family, the Serca Syndicate. But Lucas Serca is far from human and he intends to make Threnody and her fellow psions meet their destiny, no matter how many people he has to kill to do it.
Mind Storm is the first of two books chronicling the fight for survival by the psions and other “gene-trash” humans, before they’re killed by the racist world government, or left to die on a crumbling Earth.
You can keep up to date on the 2011 Debut Author Challenge happenings on the 2011 DAC page.
The View From Monday - April 25, 2011
Happy last Monday in April. There are a lot of books out tomorrow. I can highly recommend 4 of them: The Cold Kiss of Death (Spellcrackers 2) by Suzanne McLeod, The Restorer (Graveyard Queen 1) by Amanda Stevens and 2 debuts: Ascension by Sable Grace (Dark Breeds 1) and Demon Hunting in Dixie by Lexi George.
Please note that The Restorer by Amanda Stevens has several release dates. We're going with April 26, 2011 as the correct release date.
This week I'll have interviews with Sable Grace and Suzanne McLeod. There will be giveaways. There also will be some photos and comics.
The book release list for this week is below. A printable PDF shopping list can be found by clicking HERE. Set your printer to Landscape. Anthology covers and book trailers are below as well.
April 25, 2011
April 26, 2011
April 28, 2011
April 30, 2011
* Trade or Mass Market Paperback release of a Hardcover
** Reissue or Reprint
*** 2011 Debut Author Challenge Author
DF - Dark Fantasy
EF - Epic Fantasy
F - Fantasy
H - Horror
PNR - Paranormal Romance
R - Romance
SF - Science Fiction
SPR - Steampunk Romance
T - Thriller
UF - Urban Fantasy
YA - Young Adult
Anthology covers
Hush by Cherry Adair
Abandon by Meg Cabot
Savage Nature by Christine Feehan
Untamed Highland by Donna Grant
Early to Death, Early to Rise by Kim Harrison (for hardcover release)
The Sable Quean by Brian Jacques (for harcover release)
The President's Vampire by Christopher Farnsworht
Please note that The Restorer by Amanda Stevens has several release dates. We're going with April 26, 2011 as the correct release date.
This week I'll have interviews with Sable Grace and Suzanne McLeod. There will be giveaways. There also will be some photos and comics.
The book release list for this week is below. A printable PDF shopping list can be found by clicking HERE. Set your printer to Landscape. Anthology covers and book trailers are below as well.
April 25, 2011
| Human Tales | Jennifer Brozek (ed.) | F- Anthology |
April 26, 2011
| Hush | Cherry Adair | T - Lodestone Trilogy 1 |
| The Great Night: A Novel | Chris Adrian | F |
| Gods & Monsters | Lyn Benedict | UF - Shadows Inquiries 3 |
| Dark Descendant | Jenna Black | UF - Descendants 1 |
| Future Imperfect | K. Ryer Breese | YA |
| Abandon | Meg Cabot | YA - Abandon Trilogy 1 |
| The Goddess Test | Aimee Carter | YA - Goddess Test 1 |
| Maybe This Time* | Jennifer Crusie | R (w/ paranormal elements) |
| The Legions of Fire | David Drake | F - Books of the Elements1 |
| Tangled Threads | Jennifer Estep | UF - Elemental Assasain 4 |
| Savage Nature | Christine Feehan | PNR - Leopard 5 |
| Uncertain Allies | Mark Del Franco | UF - Connor Grey 5 |
| Demon Hunting in Dixie*** | Lexi George | PNR |
| Ascension*** | Sable Grace | UF - Dark Breed 1 |
| Untamed Highlander | Donna Grant | PNR - Dark Sword 4 |
| The Stainless Steel Rat Returns* | Harry Harrison | SF - Stainless Steel Rat |
| Early to Death, Early to Rise* | Kim Harrison | YA - Madison Avery 2 |
| The Green Hills of Earth & The Menace from Earth** | Robert A. Heinlein | SF - Future History # |
| The Hidden Goddess | M.K. Hobson | SPR - Native Star 2 |
| The Sable Quean* | Brian Jacques | YA - Redwall 21 |
| Infernal Devices** | K.W. Jeter | SF |
| Morlock Night** | K.W. Jeter | SF |
| Born of Shadows | Sherrilyn Kenyon | PNR - League 5 |
| The Unincorporated War* | Dani Kollin Eytan Kollin | SF - Unicorporated 2 |
| Dark Rivers of the Heart** | Dean Koontz | H |
| Icebound** | Dean Koontz | H |
| Winter Moon** | Dean Koontz | H |
| The Lotus Eaters* | Tom Kratman | SF - Desert Called Peace 3 |
| Soul Song** | Marjorie M. Liu | PNR - Dirk & Steele 6 |
| The Cold Kiss of Death | Suzanne McLeod | UF - Spellcracker.com 2 |
| Heaven's Needle | Liane Merciel | EF - Ithelas 2 |
| The Hammer of Darkness** | L.E. Modesitt, Jr. | SF |
| Bound by Darkness | Alexis Morgan | PNR - Palidins of Darkness 7 |
| The Alchemist in the Shadows* | Pierre Pével | F |
| Burning Skies | Caris Roane | PNR - World of Ascension 2 |
| The Restorer | Amanda Stevens | UF - Graveyard Queen 1 |
| As You Wish | Gabi Stevens | PNR - Time of Transition Trilogy 2 |
| The Scarab Path** | Adrian Tchaikovsky | EF - Shadows of the Apt 6 |
| Camera Obscura | Lavie Tidhar | SP |
| The Disunited States of America** | Harry Turtledove | YA - Crosstime Traffic 4 (SF) |
| Black Magic Woman | Christine Warren | PNR - Others 11 |
| The Noise Revealed | Ian Whates | SF - Noise 2 |
| Retribution Falls | Chris Wooding | F - Tale of the Ketty Jay 1 |
April 28, 2011
| The President's Vampire | Christopher Farnsworth | H - Nathaniel Cade 2 |
| Ocean of Blood | Darren Shan | YA - Saga of Larten Crepsley 2 |
April 30, 2011
| Subterranean: Tales of Dark Fantasy 2 | William K. Schager (ed.) | DF - Anthology |
* Trade or Mass Market Paperback release of a Hardcover
** Reissue or Reprint
*** 2011 Debut Author Challenge Author
DF - Dark Fantasy
EF - Epic Fantasy
F - Fantasy
H - Horror
PNR - Paranormal Romance
R - Romance
SF - Science Fiction
SPR - Steampunk Romance
T - Thriller
UF - Urban Fantasy
YA - Young Adult
Anthology covers
Book Trailers
Hush by Cherry Adair
Abandon by Meg Cabot
Savage Nature by Christine Feehan
Untamed Highland by Donna Grant
Early to Death, Early to Rise by Kim Harrison (for hardcover release)
The Sable Quean by Brian Jacques (for harcover release)
The President's Vampire by Christopher Farnsworht
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