Rob Thurman's Blog: The Reaver Report, page 10

SUPERNATURAL Meets CAL LEANDROS via DVD!

SUPERNATURL & CAL LEANDROS United in France!

Click to See the (Bigger) CAL Sticker!

First, not as exciting as you might think, but from an author's POV, it's amazing. And from a personal POV, it tickles the hell out of me and is supremely ironic.

Here's the scoop: France has bought Nightlife and Moonshine. Nightlife has already been released and Moonshine's release is in October [well, that would be now.]

The PR person for the French publisher is more on the ball than anyone I've ever seen. When she read one of Nightlife's reviews, basically saying "If you like Supernatural, you'll love Cal Leandros," she took that and ran with it. She went to Warner Brothers France and arranged a cross-promotional deal with them [something I'd have to sacrifice babies to a Dark Lord and wear too much eyeliner to achieve anywhere else.] They weren't only willing, but enthusiastic.

So…and most of my fans knowing my love/rivalry with Supernatural will see the irony…a Cal Leandros sticker is on the front of the 4th season Supernatural DVD set being released also in October in France. CAL is staring at you from Dean's muscular neck [cool new tattoo, Dean--click to see the bigger picture.] Not only is Cal being advertised on the DVD set, but on Moonshine, they're placing a removable paper banner with Supernatural images on it [Sam and Dean I assume...what else?]

I've never had promotion of this level before. It's staggering [I literally staggered in a circle trying to process it.] France is my new favorite country. What they've done, what Emmanuelle and Warner Bros did…never forget it. Never will.

Of course, certain fans know why this tickled me and I found it so ironic. People constantly ask if Supernatural was my "inspiration" for the Cal series…inspiration sounds a lot like "stealing ideas" to me.

So I'd like to set the record straight right here on my blog.

In actuality, I wrote the first Cal novel, Nightlife, six years before Supernatural came out. However, [some insider info for aspiring authors everywhere] it took six years to publish...and, yet, unbelievably, came out the same time Supernatural premiered on TV. Not only that, the idea of hot brothers kicking monster ass entered my brain three years before I even wrote it, maybe four or five. So counting the idea's conception, that's about nine-to-eleven years prior to the release of SPN on television. So no, Supernatural is not my inspiration. Can you see why it drives me nuts when people think I'm riding on the show's coat-tails? My stories [and hot brothers] came first.

But at the same time, I'm a fan of the show, too. It's about brothers kicking monster ass – what's not to love? If I write it, of course I like the idea and of course I like Supernatural while at the same time, it makes me rip my hair out when certain things are so close. It's the ultimate Great Minds Think Alike…

Although…

–Supernatural Spoiler Alert!–

…I would have had Sam save Dean from going to Hell and never done the Apocalypse–gotten rid of the whole angel demon thing except for Crowley and Castiel and I definitely wouldn't have killed Gabriel/the Trickster, but that's just me.

–End Supernatural Spoiler Alert–

And again, with the Supernatural Trickster character, I also wrote Goodfellow first [a popular Cal trickster character who also crosses over, along with Ishiah, into my Trickster Novels].

It's all definitely a shitload of irony and I'm still laughing.

Click on the pic to take a closer look and enjoy the irony yourself…and the promotion, of course. France has made me feel extremely valued, Buddha love 'em!

Any French guys want to marry me and take me to the promised land? :>

More Like This...

The CAL LEANDROS Novels
NIGHTLIFE: Cal Leandros, Book 1
MOONSHINE: Cal Leandros, Book 2
Critical Acclaim
Cal Leandros Manga
AudioBooks and Music
The Leandros Lair
Being Rob Thurman: Appreciating Science Fiction/Fantasy's Hardest Working Author
COVER Cal Leandros 7 DOUBLETAKE
BASILISK Contest Winners!

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Published on October 03, 2011 09:30

BASILISK Contest Winners!

Reaver Army!

Rob and I have chosen the BASILISK contest winners and wanted to share these entries with you in a re-cap post… you all made it SO. DIFFICULT. TO. CHOOSE. Soooooooooooo many amazing entries, you all really just blew our minds!

We cannot thank you enough for all of the support you've shown BASILISK, for rallying behind the Korsak Brothers and for the outpouring of love and healing and care you displayed during quite possibly one of the most trying, difficult times an author could ever possibly imagine experiencing in a lifetime…

In short: You are are IN-fucking-CREDIBLE!

Finally, the super secret VIP excerpt of DOUBLETAKE has gone out as a newsletter this morning to all BASILISK Contest participants – you should have received it today as a TGIF gift. If you did NOT receive it, please email Jayda and let her know so that she can make sure you do not miss out.

Happy Last Friday of September!

-Jayda & Rob

Paint it Red!

Grand Prize:
Anguish Horror Productions

"Flying off the Handle"

[aka the short puppet show film that made many people wet their pants]

Second Prize:
The Lopez Sisters Video

[aka the video that almost made Jayda spit her drink all over the computer screen]

Third Prize:
Stefan, Michael & Godzilla Fan Drawing by Alice Pain

Stefan, Misha & Godzilla: BASILISK Fan Art by Alice Pain

Drool-Worthy Korsak Bros Art by Alice

Other Winners:

Simon & Slinky w/ BASILISK Photo: Ferrets Unite!

Looking for Godzilla?

Invader Nim Says…

BASILISK Photo Entry From Melankalia S.

The Reaver Dance – Fan Video by Carol

"Poor Stoipah" Fan Art by PocketClock

Submitted by Deviant Artist PocketClock

Chibi Doodle Fan Art: Not. A. Kid. by Gnine

Fan Art by Gnine on Deviant Art

Fan Art: Two Mutants, One Ferret by Ashley B.

Two Mutants, One Ferret

Fluffernut Assassin Sandwiches by xxLupaxx

Fluffernut Assassin Sammiches: The Ingredients

Fluffernut Sammich Sequence: Ingredients

Fluffernut Assassin Sammiches: The Feast

Fluffernut Sammich: The YUM!

Fluffernut Sammiches: The Aftermath

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Published on September 30, 2011 09:00

BASILISK Review by Bookshelf Bombshells

BASILISK: The CHIMERA Novels, Book 2 An excellent review of BASILISK has been posted at Bookshelf Bombshells as a follow-up to their CHIMERA review written in early August.

…From the moment the brothers hit the road, the story takes off like a rocket. Like any good thriller, there are car chases, gun fights, hand-to-hand combat, abductions, and incendiary devices. Basilisk has a strong voice and maintains a constant tension, except for the rare occasions when the flawed heroes stop to catch a breath. Naturally, that's when everything goes wrong. Misha must find ways to protect his all-too-human companions — his ferret seems to do fine on its own. It would be so much easier to be the killer he was trained to be, but maintaining his hard-won humanity is as important to Misha as his mission to allow the other chimeras the same chance… [Read the Entire Review]

Thank you, Bombshells for supporting our beloved Korsak Brothers!

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Published on September 23, 2011 10:00

COVER Cal Leandros 7 DOUBLETAKE

Those who ented the BASILISK contest have already received one of their prizes–an early sneak peek before anyone else of the cover of Cal 7 DOUBLETAKE (March 2012). I want to thank all those that entered, sent videos (esp one re-enacting a scene from BASILISK between the Korsak brothers…hilarious), pictures, art, reviews–anything you can name (although all the videos were especially entertaining.) It means a great deal to me that these fans not only understand that a middle-of-the-road writer like me has to have two to three series a year just to survive…but that if the fans don't *buy* those other series, get behind them, support them, then I don't make money to eat or pay medical bills (my first day…*first* day of admission alone is over 9000 dollars. Thank God I have insurance…unfortunately I have a large deductible and still have to pay 20%, but I *have* insurance, so I'll be all right. Cautionary note for writers who don't. You think you can't afford insurance. You can't afford to *not* have insurance even if it means giving up cable and taking a bus instead of owning a car.) But enough financial/medical education–back to the subject–it's not enough for me to write these other series. People have to buy them for me to live and for the publisher to think I'm worth buying more books from with my sales track record–or lack of one.

And why wouldn't you want to buy CHIMERA and BASILISK…two more hot brothers, more black humor, more action, more angst. More of the same that I always give. So if you haven't hopped on that train yet–buy a ticket already! So a special heart-felt thanks to the superfans who entered the contest and stood behind me every step of the way.

And now for the good stuff. As the sneak peek has gone out (while I was in the hospital by my amazing webmistress and general all around life-saver Jayda), it's time for the general release of the GODDAMN BEST COVER in the Cal series to date. And as Chris McGrath is the artist for the series, every cover has been stunning and gorgeous. But this one…this cover–I want to fucking MARRY this cover or at least take it out to dinner and do incredibly filthy and naughty things to it. It blew me away when I first saw it and it still gives me the same thrill every time I see it. I think it is hands down the best cover Chris has done. I'm biased of course, but DAMN, take a look at this piece of art then rip down the Mona Lisa and hang this in its place. Chris has always been an Art God, but this elevates him to God-King-Emperor of the known universe in my book. Hold on to your panties and boxers and then get your ass to Chris's website and order the print from him (without all the distracting title/author name/various other clutter plastered over the art. Just one pure picture of incomparable kick-ass talent.) And here…we…go!

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Published on September 17, 2011 06:11

Because I'm a Geek Bitch, Baby!

No, I didn't relapse. We had a big storm Sunday night that knocked out the phones (and the infernal dial up until today), which was probably for the best as it forced me to do nothing but alternate resting and walking (getting on my feet to walk again was difficult, stairs still almost impossible.) I'd love to answer all the emails I received from my fans encouraging me to heal and with relief I'd survived, but, goddamn, you all crashed my email account with so many emails! I had over 500 new emails. I always joke about Rob's Reavers, my fans that are superfans and the best fans in the world, but little did I know Rob's Reavers are an army. Under my dictatorship…er…wise leadership, we could conquer a small Third World country, inhabit it and limit immigration to hot kick-ass guys, hot kick-ass brothers–Rom and Russian, hot cynical psychics named Jackson, and hot mythological pansexual car salesmen. Ah…lock and load, Reavers, the promised land awaits us.

But back to the subject, since I basically had to do a hard dump of those 500 emails to get my email functional again, I'll have to thank now and at once all my brilliant, loyal and compassionate fans who sent kind words and thoughts when I needed them most. Sometimes you think after writing for so long that fans might take your presence for granted. All of you showed me that will never happen with you. I might not be NYT#1, but you can bet your ass no other author is as lucky as I am.

In other news, I couldn't wash my own hair as it was too long and I'm still too weak and my kind-hearted hair dresser came out to my house (as I also can't sit up long enough to be driven to and from the salon and sit in the chair–my salon is a good 45 minutes away.) She whacked my hair off above my shoulders so I can hopefully take care of it myself and not have to have family come in the shower and wash it for me…just one less humiliating weakness. It's a cute cut…like Claudia's from Warehouse 13. I'll post a picture once all my bruises have faded and I look less like an eggplant gone bad. And maybe I'll post it showing off the tote bag I had made to carry at the Con (which of course I missed to fun in the sun in the ICU). That's about all I can do with it. You can't carry a bag that says "Because I'm a Geek Bitch, Baby!" at the mall. Okay, well, you could, but the effect wouldn't be quite the same as when surrounded by fellow geeks.

I'll try and keep everyone updated, although never as good as Jayda did/could do, but if a few days pass, don't worry. I'm just recuperating…and picking out that Third World country…

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Published on September 13, 2011 12:47

Like a cockroach–

Apparently I'm indestructible. I made it home although I only remember about six days of the three 1/2 weeks I was in the hospital and have also forgotten several days before the accident. I also died for a few minutes and had to be resuscitated, which is rather annoying as I'm curious as the next person about life after death, tunnels of light and all that…don't remember *that* either. But despite my cockroach ability to keep going after being squashed I am embarrassingly weak. I can shower but not wash my own hair, which is just too long and I'm getting it whacked off the second I'm strong enough to sit for an hour in a salon chair. There are people in the hospital that have my butt crack memorized from those gowns, people in the hospital that wiped my butt, and general indignities all around. And everyone of them was nice as could be and that's more than I can say I would be in the face of butt-wiping as part of my job. I had great care, which is probably the only reason I made it home. Jayda was beyond wonderful keeping everyone updated and a better webmistress and friend there could not be. I know we'd started compiling a list of winners from the contest and was set to send out prizes. I don't remember if I actually did. But I will check with her and if not, I will get on that. It may take me a bit of time, but I know you'll be patient. You've all been so wonderful I can see from the many, many comments. I'm humbled. Well, it wouldn't be like me to be too humble :> but I am truly so touched and the luckiest writer in the world to have the fans I have. And now this one blog has wiped me out and it's time for a nap. I'm glad to be home!

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Published on September 10, 2011 06:36

Best. News. EVER.

Rob is off all machines and expected to finally, FINALLY come home by tomorrow or over the weekend.

I don't know when she'll be online or available to the world-at-large again, but none of that matters, right? We just want her to take her time healing and getting herself all ready for "The Big Comeback!"

I wanted to give a HUGE shout-out to all of you who promoted the living daylights out of her when she was unable to attend Dragon*Con. If you want to tell us your D*C Reaver Army stories, feel free to post them here.

Also, as always, thank you – ALL of you – for being THE most incredible fans EVER. When Rob is back online again and able to catch up, she will be amazed and so grateful.

Please keep her constantly in your prayers and healing energy, even when she's out of the hospital… coming home after a long, nearly comatose stay is not easy. Bittersweet, I'm sure: relief at being with your loved ones [including those of the furry variety] again, but also, frustration at the body's weakened state and the limitations that come with that. Life is not the same after such a huge accident, and many adjustments will need to be made as she continues to heal. She will still have some major ups and downs, and will need us to help her through.

But Reavers!

ROB THURMAN IS COMING HOME!

Love and hugs to you all!

-J.

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Published on September 08, 2011 18:14

Being Rob Thurman: Appreciating Science Fiction/Fantasy's Hardest Working Author

This blog post from B&N's Paul Goat Allen is just so beautiful and perfect. It will make you laugh and a little teary-eyed… teary-eyed in a GOOD way. The best possible way…

-J.

"Appreciation is a wonderful thing: It makes what is excellent in others belong to us as well." – Voltaire

It's sad but sometimes it takes a tragedy – or a near tragedy – for us to truly appreciate what we have. Take prolific science fiction and urban fantasy novelist Rob Thurman for example. A few weeks ago, she almost died in a car accident…

Rob is so much more than a gifted writer – she is a person that I've come to cherish in the years since I first reviewed her debut novel Nightlife back in 2006…

[Read Paul's Entire Post Here]

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Published on September 05, 2011 20:11

Rob Almost Out of the Woods!

[image error]

Rob the Phoenix Valkyrie's Kicking Ass!

Just got off the phone with Rob's mother, and I haven't heard her so upbeat this entire difficult time.

Rob is really, REALLY getting there – at about a 95% recovery as of today.

The doctors still need to keep a very close eye on a few things, so Rob will be in the hospital yet for a while. They will also begin physical rehabilitation this week.

Her mother wanted me to thank you all from the bottom of her heart for all of the love, healing, prayers and support. She and I both know it's definitely made all the difference in Rob's progress. Keep it all going strong, so that when Rob busts through that finish line, she really makes a permanent full-recovery breakthrough. So that when she's home again and able to be herself, she can continue her life in the knowledge that she is SO very loved, admired and adored, that she's changed so many lives with her writing and her feisty personality, and that she brings so much light into this world.

Our Valkyrie will be coming home very, VERY soon.

-Jayda

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Published on September 05, 2011 17:52