the league of reluctant adults

Hello, everybody! I had a great time over at Babel Clash, where Jaye Wells and I showed off our love of snark, non-traditional heroines, and F-words of all types. If you missed it, check out our posts, here . There's some good stuff there, if I do say so myself. ;-) As for me, I'm plugging away at the day job. It's going well, and I feel good about it and with the writing I'm getting done on Eye of the Tempest . But today's not about me. Today's about MAH PIMP HAND. Which is about to wear itself out . . . so many new releases. So little time. First off, There's C.E. Murphy's latest releasing today, Truth Seeker: I love Catie's books, and can't wait to get my hands on this one. Looks great! And speaking of ladies I love, how about Gail Carriger's newest, Blameless ! I've been so busy I haven't yet read the second, and I can't believe the third is out already. Well done, Gail, can't wait to read it! Another fellow Orbiter, Jess...

Chosen hits the bookshelves today. Nail biting time.

Brace, yourselves, Leaguers. I'm about to get serious on your asses. Cross-posted from my personal blog . So yesterday I was scanning twitter and saw yet another story about how poorly the big chain bookstores are doing. This on the heels of news that one of my favorite independents in Dallas also closed. Every day we’re bombarded with sad prognoses about the book industry. To read it, everything is on life support right now: Publishers, book stores, and even books themselves. I personally can’t–and don’t want–to imagine a world where bookstores and print books don’t exist. (I’d also, for the record, be pretty upset if publishers went away, but that’s a blog for another time.) I don’t hate ebooks. I don’t loathe online print book retailers either. I spend money on both all the time. But my first love will always be print and I hope to continue that love affair for a good long while. I’ve blogged before about how we’re conveniencing the joy out of our lives. But it goes deeper than ...

Mario here: I barely survived this year's Bubonicon (yes, named after the bubonic plague, and the mascot is Perry the Rat). Con number 42. The first one was held in 1969. Where were you then? Unfortunately for us, the hotel was undergoing renovation, which meant the restaurant and the bar were closed. Horrors! But the local contingent of Trekkies sailed to our rescue. Details further on down. The Guest of Honor was Peter David (left), comic book guru (Spiderman, The Incredible Hulk) and grand poopah of geeky popular culture (screenwriter for Babylon 5; Star Trek novel author). Here David is speaking with science fiction legend Ben Bova. Jeanne decided to show her appreciation for Bova's work by giving him a lap dance. Guest artist was the amazing and magical Sarah Clemens . Other luminaries included the acclaimed fantasy author Daniel Abraham . While we had plenty of exciting panels, the main action was on the second floor of the hotel. Thanks to the NCC-62001 Anasazi, and c...

It feels strange to be talking about the cover of Crossed (now officially called Crossed, A Void City Novel) before the mass market paperback for ReVamped hits the shelves next month, but like a kid with a new favorite t-shirt, I have to show it off. This is not the final cover. Quotes and such may change, but I think the artwork side of things is going to remain the same. Gene did a great job of capturing Greta's look. I asked if he could be sure and make Greta look like she might actually kill something (given that she's hands down the character most likely to to go on a killing spree) and since I'm not allowed to have Eric (the male protagonist) on the cover, it was cool that they let my evil flesh-eating Mustang be on the cover again. He even worked in the bowling alley and Greta's pet skull! You can look for this one on the shelves late January 2011, but ReVamped will hit stores in late September 2010 (just in time for Halloween!) and it will have a preview of...

Congratulations to  Jackie of Literary Escapism! In celebration of the arrival of Simon, the newest member of the Literary Escapism team (who I'm sure will be tons of help with the blog!) I'm visiting over there today, and I have provided Jackie with three handy tests to see if the little one will grow up to be a paranormal creature.   What does it mean if little Simon seems to be annoyed at songs like “This little piggy” but enjoys depressing organ music?   How about those babble conversations?  Is Simon trying to mimic mom and dad...or speaking in an ancient demon language?   Learn the answers to these questions and more and find out how you can test your own baby. You could also win a copy of Mind Games, or Double Cross (when it comes out 9/28).  It's coming!...  Speaking of releases, Chosen , the next Anna Strong comes out at the end of this month, August 31!!! Not too long ago, Anna Strong was named Best Fantasy Protagonist...

Hey all, I'll be signing at 2-4 pm Saturday at the Joseph Beth Bookstore - 161 Lexington Green Cir # B in Lexington, KY. For more information, go to www.josephbeth.com . Hope to see you there!

Mario here, This week, the Biting-Edge global corporate headquarters will be deployed in toto to Albuquerque, NM for Bubonicon 42 , August 27-29. I'm the Toastmaster. The prolific writer of everything from comics to novels to screenplays, Peter David is the Guest of Honor. Fantasy artist and medical illustrator Sarah Clemens is Guest Artist. Killing the Cobra issue #3 is hot off the press. My next signing is at Heroes Only Comics in Cheyenne, WY, September 4, 1-5PM. We're on a short countdown for Jeanne's newest Anna Strong vampire book, Chosen . Jeanne's appearance schedule: Bubonicon 42 **** September 1, 2010 7:30 PM Tattered Cover Highlands Ranch 9315 Dorchester St. Highlands Ranch CO **** September 3 – 6, 2010 Dragon*Con Hyatt Regency Atlanta: 265 Peachtree Street NE Atlanta, GA 30303 **** September 13, 2010 7:00 PM WhoElse! Books 200 So. Broadway, Denver CO 303-744-BOOK ***** Sept 18, 2010 2 PM Mysterious Galaxy 7501 Clairemont Mesa Blvd San Diego 92...

After an overnight business trip this week, I started thinking about all the traveling I do. I've traveled every month this year, sometimes only for a couple days and sometimes for trips of a week or two. I realized that I have a number of survival behaviors, and author Ally Carter reminded me of some she shares too. So, I thought I'd provide some helpful tips for any budding authors out there who might find themselves on extensive book tours someday. First off, you have to understand the nature of a book tour. I'm flying to a different city every day. This means I'm usually up at 6am, waiting to get picked up for the airport and its procedures (see above). I fly into a new city, usually getting there mid-afternoon. If I'm lucky, I get to go to my hotel for a couple hours and clean up. Other times, I may have to go straight to promo somewhere, meaning I have to walk off the plane groomed and dressed up. In the evening is the signing, and then everything starts all o...

There was lots of news floating around this week. I’m not even going to touch the Barnes and Noble debacle. You’re all probably sick of it by now. B & N is supposed to be going into a new local shopping mall at Southglenn but I think that project is on hold. Writer’s Digest is hosting their popular short story competition. There are five categories: • Romance • Mystery/Crime Fiction • Science Fiction/Fantasy • Thriller/Suspense • Horror The Grand Prize-Winner will receive a trip to the Writer's Digest Conference in New York City, $2,500 cash, $100 worth of Writer's Digest Books and the 2011 Novel & Short Story Writer's Market. Entry Deadline: November 01, 2010. Rules here # # # # Graphic from Jon Favreau Avengers Movie Some word from the Jossverse. The Avengers movie, which Joss is directing, starts shooting in February. Based on the Action Comic Book, it chronicles the formation of the super superhero team the Avengers, consisting of Captain America, Thor, Th...

Hey I've got an article and a contest up at Book Lovers Inc and you can win a complete, signed set of my Greywalker novels including LABYRINTH in the UK softcover. (MEAN STREETS is not included, but that's because I'm out of them.) Yes, I'll ship them anywhere . I really am that slutty. ;) Go get 'em!

A funny thing happens to you when you are a writer, or when you tell people that you want to be a writer - suddenly, people tell you stuff that happened to them, and that you should write a story about it... more Hey I'm over at  Paranormal Haven  today, talking the twists and turns story ideas can take...and my grandmother's unexpectedly popular big idea!! Come say hi!  Image from www.flickr.com/photos/thumbling/92500412/ Lion at Masai Mara Park, Kenya Author: Wouter van Vliet

Back in college we had this saying: The walk of shame. It referred to that horrible walk back to the dorms in the harsh light of day wearing the same clothes you wore the night before, only now they reeked of stale cigarettes, warm beer and lost innocence. I mention it now because I feel as if this post is my own personal "blog of shame." I'd like to just slink back into your lives, but I think we all know what I really need is a round of antibiotics and a nice long shower. I wish I could claim I've been spending all my time debauching. Alas, those days are far behind me. Instead, I've been working on revisions of Green-Eyed Demon and being a mom. The good news is the revisions went really well and the better news is school starts Monday. Woohoo! While I've been away a couple of fun things have happened. First, I found out that The Mage in Black went back for a second printing. Thanks to everyone who bought the book and turned your friends on to Sabina and the...

Cross-posted from http://katrich.wordpress.com/ So, about two weeks ago my latest Greywalker novel, LABYRINTH, was officially released and I, officially, went on tour. First up, on Tuesday August Third, was a good bit of eating and playing tourist with visiting author Nicole Peeler and local Team Seattle members Mark Henry and Psynde, followed by the actual signing at the University Bookstore in Seattle’s U-District. The shop had a gratifyingly large crowd and a lot of questions were asked about my possible interest in film, TV, or graphic novel versions of the books by one of the audience. Curiously, the young man never identified himself or came up to say hello or have a book signed, so I have no idea what that was about... but the signing went well and we all had fun, I think, and I believe a decent number of books were sold. Which makes the store like to have me back. Afterward, while I signed stock, the friends and minions trotted down the street to The District Lounge in the base...

Latest freak-out book news    Double Cross is heading to the printer soon. Author Carolyn Crane, the ultimate reviser, gets to revise no more. But that's okay! Color me feverishly excited. So much so, that I'm talking about myself in third person. Work on as-yet-unnamed book #3 is progressing well - I'm a good halfway through it, and have outlined all the way to the end like the plotter that I am, and there is so much drama in it. Part of me is so excited about what I have planned, but part of me is like, am I writer enough to pull it off? I think it will be really challenging, but I think that is okay. I think it is important for a writer to challenge herself to do things she thinks she maybe can't do. LOL. Is this even interesting? I'm on sleep deprivation program over here. I am also several chapters into a secret PNR project that is like the funnest and wildest toy ever. And a little smutty. Okay, a lot. Cool and excellent places to visit and ...

Well hello, everybody! Life at Casa Peeler has been all about ORIENTATION. I had new faculty orientation last week, and this week we had regular orientation. As with all orientations, I'm feeling very disoriented at the moment. Lots of new people, new procedures, new ideas...but it's all good! Everything will settle in soon. And speaking of settling, my new apartment is getting there. I've got lots of new furniture. Here's some random pics: Yay! Eventually, when I can afford them, I'll buy dining room chairs. Then I'll be domestic as a plate! In book news, Eye is coming along nicely. There's something about me and work: the more I have to do, the more I do do. I'm so anxious about the deadline for Eye that I'm sort of obsessive about working on it. I'm also having a huge amount of fun writing it, and I find that it becomes its own stress relief. I get anxious, I write, and then I feel 100% better about myself and the world. Funny, that! TR...

I can't give you all the details yet, but the Top Secret Web Comic Project is coming along nicely. All I can say right now is that I'm writing it and it's set in the universe of a very cool up and coming roleplaying game. I just got the first concept sketches for one of the main characters. I won't tell you the character's name yet, but she's cool and a very powerful magic user. The artwork was done by Laura Sloan ( http://bumberparty.blogspot.com/ )and though she will not be doing the artwork in the comic, I just had to share her cool concept art. No sketches of the steam punk robot yet, but when I get them (and get permission to post them) you'll see them. :) The concept she was given was: part Egyptian Mau, part Red-tailed Hawk, and part Wolverine. I think she did a wonderful job. So what do you think?

Mario here: Lots of book news to cover. But first, can a Sunday morning get any better than zombies at the coffee shop?  These undead beauties from the Denver Roller Dolls were on their way to a publicity shoot and obliged me a photo before they tried to eat my brains. We'll start with Ernest Hogan, the most unknown Chicano author.  Hogan was "discovered" by acclaimed science-fiction author Ben Bova and started out with his cultural mosaic futuristic novel that mishmashes border Spanish with Nahautl in Cortez on Jupiter .  Follow his tribulations in literary obscurity on La Bloga, interviews Part 1 and Part 2 . Who got lucky? I got lucky... this weekend when I met Deborah Coonts , author of Wanna Get Lucky , her debut novel. Coonts is getting scorching hot reviews about the Las Vegas adventures of Lucky O'Toole, the snarky head of customer relations of the Babylon hotel. Somebody falls to death from a helicopter into the pirate's lagoon at ...