Category: News/Misc. Page 203 of 229

Saturday Miscellany – 3/26/16

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On March 26, 2016

In Books, News/Misc.

Traveled a lot this week — something odd for me. Much reading was accomplished — almost no writing (many notes taken however), but also limited internet time. So…not a lot to talk about here. Sorry!

I did find a few odds ‘n ends over the week about books and reading that caught my eye. You’ve probably seen some/most/all of, them, but just in case:

    This Week’s New Releases I’m Excited About and/or You’ll Probably See Here Soon:

  • Jane Steele by Lyndsay Faye — a satirical, violent take on Jane Eyre. Why not?
  • Got Luck by Michael Darling — one more time, I’m telling you that this is good. Go get it.
  • Transgalactic by James Gunn — just go read the summary, not even going to try.


Saturday Miscellany – 3/19/16

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On March 19, 2016

In Books, News/Misc.

Getting a little more adjusted to the new schedule (but not so much that I’ve been able to watch a single episode of Bosch Season 2), I’ve got 3 posts ready for next week — and 2 more about there. We’re getting close to restoring normalcy here.

Meanwhile, here are the odds ‘n ends from over the week about books and reading that caught my eye. You’ve probably seen some/most/all of them, but just in case:

    This Week’s New Releases I’m Excited About and/or You’ll Probably See Here Soon:

  • The Watcher in the Wall by Owen Laukkanen — Stevens. Windermere. Nuff said.
  • An Unattractive Vampire by Jim McDoniel — “A darkly comic urban fantasy of ancient horrors in suburban cities.” works for me.Read a few promising reviews, too.
  • Snakewood by Adrian Selby — a fantasy novel I’ll fall head-over-heels for or hate. Pretty sure it’s not a “find a middle ground” kind of book.

Lastly, I’d like to say thanks for the audiobook suggestions (via email, Facebook, here, or BookLIkes), I’m enjoying the suggestions — keep ’em coming!

A Few Quick Questions With…M. T. Miller

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On March 16, 2016

In A Few Quick Questions With..., Books, Fantasy, M. T. Miller, News/Misc., Writing

I posted about M. T. Millers’s Risen: First Book of the Nameless Chronicle yesterday (if you didn’t read it, take a moment now — or skip what I said and go get the book). Miller was kind enough to participate in a Q&A with me. I asked some Risen-specific questions and then a couple less-so. I kept it short and sweet, because I’d rather he work on his next book than take too much time with me, y’know?

What got you into writing? Who are some of your major influences? (whether or not you think those influences can be seen in your work — you know they’re there)
Misfortune got me into writing. Due to an unforeseen death, me and my SO found ourselves severely lacking in currency, so I took a ghostwriting gig to plug the leak and save the ship. After some time, having seen quite a bit of the more popular stuff first hand, I decided I was just as good. Time will tell if I was right.

As for my major influences, I’d say those would be George R. R. Martin, Scott Lynch, and on a less conventional note, whoever it is that did the story for the Nier/Drakengard series of games. I think his name is Yoko Taro. I see their presence quite clearly in my work. Martin taught me how to swing the axe, but to do it effectively as opposed to liberally. Lynch helped me with the same thing, but did so with the wit and style I can only hope to match some day. As for Yoko Taro, well. . . he taught me how to handle unhinged characters in a way that works.
How many stories do you have in mind for this? I assume you know what’s going on with Nameless — who he is, where he’s from, what kind of supernatural being he is and so on — how hard is it to give your readers bits and pieces of this information here and there? How long before he figures it all out? Sister Chastity seemed to know — did she? (feel free to not answer those last two — or to make your answer as teasing as you want)
The whole story is planned to run for some six installments, each longer and more complex than the last. For instance, book two will be roughly twice the size of the first one. Of course, I might increase or decrease the number in the future by splitting or fusing story arcs. We’ll see.

I’ve found it much easier than expected, and more fun for that matter, to spread little clues about. I’m not a very subtle person; I go straight for the throat, and I feared that the whole mystery thing would suffer for it. Luckily, I seem to have gotten it under control. At least for now.

Several big reveals will happen sooner than you might think, but answers always come with more questions.

The Sister has seen her fair share of weirdness, but her relation to the Nameless was more defined by his charity than what she knew or didn’t know.
In the writing of Risen, what was the biggest surprise about the writing itself? Either, “I can’t believe X is so easy!” or “If I had known Y was going to be so hard, I’d have skipped this and watched more TV”.
I never expected the epilogue to come out as good as it did. I wrote it in one sitting, and it came out absolutely perfect. It still gives me the chills.
“Horace” is a great name, but not a common one — is there a story behind your selection of it?
There’s a story behind every name, even the lack of one. For me, the name “Horace” invokes the Old West, the American Civil War, and the like. Given that the Nameless Chronicle is more or less “Old West meets apocalyptic fantasy,” it just felt right.

Saturday Miscellany – 3/12/16

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On March 12, 2016

In Books, News/Misc.

I didn’t think this new job would have quite as big of an impact on the blog as it has. Next week should be better.

Still, I was able to track down a few odds ‘n ends over the week about books and reading that caught my eye. You’ve probably seen some/most/all of them, but just in case:

    This Week’s New Releases I’m Excited About and/or You’ll Probably See Here Soon:

  • Fire Touched by Patricia Briggs — no clue what it’s about, honestly. Who cares? New Mercy Thompson, ’nuff said.
  • Stop the Presses! by Robert Goldsborough — The only reason I haven’t read the last one yet is because the library didn’t get a copy, hopefully they get this one, so I can read it and hate myself.
  • The Stone Bearer by Jacque Stevens — a great looking fantasy — on sale for the next few days!

Lastly, I’d like to say hi and welcome to the Defined Introvert (overdue, actually) and mpatraiko for following the blog this week.

Changes (no, not THAT Dresden Files book)

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On March 7, 2016

In News/Misc.

(there’s far less bloodshed here)

So, I started a new job today — which is exciting, and stressful, and good news and many other things. For the first time in almost a decade, I won’t be working the Graveyard Shift anymore — I get to sleep when it’s dark and be awake during the day like a Real Person™ (further proof that my life is not, alas, Urban Fantasy).

What does this mean for the blog? Hopefully, not much — after a period of adjustment. But last week’s minimal posting was due to me running around trying to get ready for this change, and I anticipate the same this week. Next week? I don’t know . . . time will tell.

Please bear with me, I’ve got a lot of balls in the air when it comes to this thing — a lot of plans and hopes, I’m not walking away, just making some adjustments.

Cover Reveal: Hard Court by Robert Germaux

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On March 7, 2016

In Fiction, Mystery/Detective Fiction/Crime Fiction/Thriller, News/Misc.

Author Robert Germaux is releasing his third novel, Hard Court, on April 11, 2016, and we have the Cover Reveal here!

About Hard Court:

Miles Bradshaw, the dot-com billionaire owner of Pittsburgh’s first NBA franchise, hires private detective Jeremy Barnes to look into what appears to be a simple case of harassment of one of the team’s players. But when Jeremy (JB to his friends) begins his investigation, the case proves to be anything but simple, eventually involving a local businessman with suspected criminal ties, a major FBI task force, a computer geek in California and a mob boss in Erie.

Along the way, JB, who can quote Shakespeare as quickly and easily as he can land a solid left jab, uses his wits and his ever-present sense of humor to wend his way through a cast of characters who range from the ridiculously inept to the ruthlessly lethal.

As Hard Court unfolds, there are numerous surprises and plot twists, culminating in a dramatic confrontation that neither JB nor the reader could have predicted.

About Robert Germaux

Both my parents were readers. I’m talking stacks-of-books-on-their-nightstands readers. So it’s no surprise that at an early age, I, too, became an avid reader. Everything from sports books (especially baseball) to Nancy Drew to the Hardy Boys to almost anything about distant and exotic places.

Although I’ve always enjoyed putting words on paper, the writer in me didn’t fully emerge until I retired after three decades of teaching high school English. I quickly wrote two books aimed at middle school readers, at which point my wife urged me to try a novel for adults. As is usually the case, Cynthia’s idea was a good one.

Over the next few years, I wrote several books about Pittsburgh private eye Jeremy Barnes. I took a brief hiatus from the detective genre to write Small Talk and The Backup Husband. Now I’m back and will be releasing my first Jeremy Barnes novel, Hard Court, on April 11.

In our spare time, Cynthia and I enjoy reading (of course), going to live theater productions, watching reruns of favorite TV shows such as “Sports Night” and “Gilmore Girls,” and traveling to some of those distant and exotic places I used to read about as a child. So far, we’ve been fortunate enough to walk in the sands of Waikiki, swim in the warm waters of the South Pacific and share a romantic dinner in Paris.

I love interacting with my readers and getting their input on my characters and stories. Please feel free to contact me via my website.

—
*Cover Reveal media prepared by Susan Barton, My Book Tour

Saturday Miscellany – 3/5/16

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On March 5, 2016

In Books, News/Misc.

Odds ‘n ends over the week about books and reading that caught my eye. You’ve probably seen some/most/all of them, but just in case:

    This Week’s New Releases I’m Excited About and/or You’ll Probably See Here Soon:

  • The Passenger by Lisa Lutz — I’m hearing good things about this, and the description sold me even without hearing anything. I just messed up and got my dates wrong, so I didn’t have this ordered. Hoping to get my hands on this soon.
  • Chaos Choreography by Seanan McGuire
  • Borderline by Mishell Baker — A little bit of Genrenauts, a little bit of Fringe, a little…I don’t know what. Just go read the description I linked. If nothing else, the Seanan McGuire blurb at the bottom of this page should be enough to convince you if you’re on the fence.
  • East Of The City by Grant Sutherland — I’ve been wanting to get to the previous novel for a couple of months, if Fahrenheit Press would just slow down a minute so I can catch up, that’d really help.
  • Who Wants To Be The Prince Of Darkness? by Michael Boatman — a reality show to find Lucifer’s replacement? Should be good for a laugh or three.
  • The Courier by Gerald Brandt — a little SF, a little thriller . . . looks like a lot of fun.
  • Arkwright by Allen Steele — this looks like the most realistic SF novel since . . . Clarke or Crichton, maybe?

Lastly, I’d like to say hi and welcome to Fernando Ortiz, Jr. and ebookbump for following the blog this week.

February 2016 Report

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On March 1, 2016

In Books, Calendar Items, Currently Reading, News/Misc.

So, here’s what happened here in February.

Books Read:

The Miracles of Jesus The Prince of Tides Guardians
4 Stars 2 1/2 Stars 3.5 Stars
Confessions of a Clumsy Christian: Unqualified The Highly Capable The Batgirl of Burnside
2 Stars 3.5 Stars 3.5 Stars
The Relic Master Thing Explainer</a The Restaurant at the End of the Universe
DNF
 4 Stars 4 1/2 Stars
Glory Veiled & Unveiled Some Assembly Required Talking to the Dead
3.5 Stars 3 Stars 4 Stars
No Problem, Mr. Walt Freedom's Child Steal the Sky
3.5 Stars 3 Stars 4 Stars
The Story of Lucius Cane        
3 Stars        

Still Reading:

Reformed Dogmatics, Volume 1 Morning Star    

Reviews Posted:

How was your month?

Saturday Miscellany – 2/27/16

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On February 27, 2016

In Books, News/Misc.

If you haven’t had time to weigh-in on Wednesday’s post about books that left you a wreck , take a second and do so, would you? I’m enjoying what you all have come up with.

I was on the road last week when I got the news about Harper Lee’s death, so I couldn’t add anything to the scheduled post for Saturday. But it’s no secret that I loved her stuff, and the news saddened me. Sure, we all knew that we weren’t going to get anything new from her, and that she was in declining health. But, to hear that she’s gone, just seems wrong. I tried to come up with something on my own, but my words were inadequate. Here’s a small sample of the tributes that were worth reading and resonated most with me:

Now for the odds ‘n ends over the week about books and reading that caught my eye. You’ve probably seen some/most/all of them, but just in case:

    This Week’s New Releases I’m Excited About and/or You’ll Probably See Here Soon:

  • The Absconded Ambassador by Michael R. Underwood — the 2nd Genrenauts novel. I dug it and I think you will, too.
  • Out of the Blues by Trudy Nan Boyce — An Atlanta Police Dept. vet turns mystery author. This will bleed authenticity. Looks like a good novel, too.
  • The Drowned Detective by Neil Jordan — this detective novel looks as thoughtful and moving as one of one of his movies.
  • The Forbidden Wish by Jessica Khoury — an intriguing looking YA-take on Aladdin.
  • Kill the Boy Band by Goldy Moldavsky — The title’s enough, right? When being a Super-fan goes awry.

Lastly, I’d like to say hi and welcome to Bibliophage and greenlanddiary for following the blog this week.

A Few Quick Questions With…Vanya Ferreira

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On February 26, 2016

In A Few Quick Questions With..., Books, News/Misc., Writing

This morning I blogged about Vanya Ferreira’s story, “The Story of Lucius Cane: Book One,” a promising start to a series of stories about an atypical Vampire. Vanya was kind enough to take part in a little Q&A with me about his writing in general and his upcoming projects. I kept it short and sweet, because I’d rather he work on those project than take too much time with me, y’know?

What got you into writing? Who are some of your major influences? (whether or not you think those influences can be seen in your work — you know they’re there)
That’s actually a very interesting question. I remember my parents reading to me as a child and as I got older, my friends would be out and about, while I roamed in the library. I always found the library to be my sanctuary; a place where different worlds, knowledge and realities all overlay. I guess that it was all the reading that got me into writing but this only came much later; I did, in fact, actually despise English as a subject at school. Some of my major influences would have to be Stephen King, Paulo Coehlo, Oscar Wilde, Aldous Huxley, George Orwell, Christopher Paolini and many more.
About Lucius Cane: how many stories do you have in mind for this? Or are you going to expand this into a novel?.
I’m actually thinking about having 3 to 4 books for this series which would include a complete background of who Lucius is. However, to keep something of the mystery and why he is who he is, I plan to release the background as the final book in the series. I don’t think that I’ll expand it into a novel but I’ll rather just keep it as a short story collection that flows into each other. I have noticed with today’s society that our attention spans have gotten rather short and I think that this makes the story easier to read and keeps the excitement for what’s to come next.
Your Amazon bio says that you’ll have Crime Thriller out this year — what can you tell us about that?
Yes, indeed, I am. At the moment it is still very much a work in progress and doesn’t have a title yet. I believe that it will be quite different than most crime thrillers out there since it closely follows the life of the killer himself as the main character. I wanted to create something that would take the reader through the emotional depths and the crevices of madness that I imagine many killers must feel. For example, the serial killer William Heirens (a.k.a The Lipstick Killer) actually wrote a call for help in lipstick at one of his crime scenes, which just goes to show how difficult it must have been for him to be, well, who he was. So my aim for the novel is to try and transform that mental disparity and transport the reader into the world, and hopefully mind, of a killer.
In the writing of “The Story of Lucius Cane”, what was the biggest surprise about the writing itself? Either, “I can’t believe X is so easy!” or “If I had known Y was going to be so hard, I’d have skipped this and watched more TV”.
About the writing itself? Hmm… I think that I was quite surprised at how easily the story unfolded. I remember that I had the vague idea of someone watching a girl from the bushes, as seen in the prologue, and the rest just seemed to flow. I admit, however, that there were days in between where my inspiration just flat-lined but it seems that to just continue writing would spark it back up. Apart from the writing, I would have to say that the biggest surprise, by far, was the amount of work it takes to actually publish and promote a work. Looking back, it’s quite clear that writing was merely the first, and easiest, stage; it’s the promoting and getting it out there where the real work is at.

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