Rob Thurman's Blog: The Reaver Report, page 20

Courts of the Fey Anthology

I'll have a story in the Anthology by Daw (Russell Davis, Martin H. Greenberg) COURTS OF THE FEY. Some of the other authors  will be Lilith Saintcrow, Amber Benson, Mary Robinette Kowal, and J.A. Pitts – just to name a few. Sounds like a great line up. Of course, me being me…I couldn't just write a story about fey and fairy dust and elves and magic. No, that's not me. I wrote a post-apocalyptic fey Western called FIRST BALL…LAST CALL. 

It will be in mass market paperback, but I don't have the release date yet. I'll keep you updated. And no brothers this time, but is it a buddy-buddy story? People, what do you think? OF COURSE, it is.

BLACKOUT CONTEST/CAL VIDEO

BLACKOUT: CAL LEANDROS, Book 6

As my blog fiends and reavers, you will always get the early scoop on contests, announcements and news, so here's one for you – I've changed my contest just a bit to make it more intriguing. For those who have already entered – no problem, you are still officially included and can even enter again with a MANTRA if you like – up your chances. Either way, you are entered – so here's the new twist:

I will be throwing a two week BLACKOUT contest starting FEBRUARY 16th (you might have already known that.)

Why so early you say…as BLACKOUT's official release date isn't until March 1st?

Well…let me be very "Niko" for a moment and give you the whole story. Official release dates and actual release dates often aren't what we authors think they'll be. So there's a chance BLACKOUT may appear in stores a week or two before March 1st. Of course, rabid Leandros fans will want to snatch it up immediately, and who can blame 'em? I mean…Cal in a gingham apron…who wouldn't want to snatch that? But this is the thing…when people buy books before the "official" release dates, it doesn't count on the biggest rankings (the best time for BLACKOUT would be March 1st – March 6th). Rankings are damn important as it's one of the best ways for readers to know that CAL LEANDROS is a series worth buying. Cal & Niko in front of more eyes = more Cal & Niko books to come. That's what great rankings do: they keep Cal & Niko alive!

So! IF you were planning on buying BLACKOUT, to help the Leandros brothers kick supernatural ass in the rankings, it would be extremely faithfully bad-ass of you if you waited until 3/1 to do so.

And that's where this newest part of the contest comes in.

I think that Cal and Niko need a 3/1 release week mantra. A motto, a slogan, something that spreads the word about BLACKOUT: 3/1 in one small sentence (ignore Niko's usual mantra of "I will not kill my brother. I will not kill my brother.") For all you creative minds out there, comment on this blog entry with a Cal Leandros/BLACKOUT 3/1 Release Week Mantra/Motto. If you're lazy like Cal or don't have Niko's patience to create a mantra, just comment and tell me how freaking excited you are about BLACKOUT: 03.01.11. If you're new here and new to my books, just comment "Best Wishes and shake your bootie for BLACKOUT release week!"

When you comment here with any of the above ideas, you will automatically be entered to win a butt-load of cool stuff, and the best mantras (chosen by me) will also become part of the "quote rotator" on this web site's BLACKOUT page sidebar.

Win This Kickass Poster! - Click for Larger Image

What You Will Be Entered to Win:

-A $50.00 Gift Certificate from Barnes & Noble or Amazon (your choice)

-SEVEN of my books, your choice (with the exception of the WOLFSBANE & MISTLETOE Anthology)

-A poster from Dragon*Con

-An art print of TRICK OF THE LIGHT

-An art print of MADHOUSE

-And, donated by superfan Ariel (who won them in a costume contest at a SUPERNATURAL convention dressed as the Trickster/Gabriel), four SUPERNATURAL shot glasses, AND Dean's Necklace! (We knew Sammy fished it out of the garbage. No way that didn't happen).

So sign up here from now through March 1st by commenting with a BLACKOUT: 3/1 mantra, OR a comment about how you're looking forward to the 3/1 release, OR by just introducing yourself if you're new to my books. You will then be entered to win the above prizes (seriously, who doesn't *want* those prizes?)

As always, thanks so much for all the support. You are my guys, my fans, my reavers, and I wouldn't be anywhere without the damn lot of you. You are AMAZING! And you and I working together, we can keep Cal around. Right?

Oh, and one more thing! During the 3/1 BLACKOUT release week, come on back here to RobThurman.net to see a CAL VIDEO… (Subscribe to my RSS feed so you'll know the moment it's posted).

Dragon*Con 2011 (25th Anniversary!)

I will be attending September 2 – 5, 2011 at Dragon*Con in Atlanta, GA as a guest author. As it's their 25th anniversary they're bringing all the big guns in, star-wise. Every SF/F actor to ever perform will probably be there (and I sat at a restaurant table next to James Edward Olmos last year…SO SAY WE ALL!) For the fans attending I'll be available for book autographs, daily panels, etc. I'll be all over the place. I will also be renting a booth with several other authors (last year it was in the Marquis Ballroom in the Marriott Booth 707. I doubt that will change, but I'll keep you updated.) There will be a list in the booth that will let you always know where I am…if I'm not in the booth. Come and get books signed, hang, chat, sign up to win all those amazing Con posters (take a look)…I give the majority of them away at the end of the Con as well as giant posters of my book covers.) It's a complete blast. Hey, see for yourself. Sadly, I forgot my camera last year, the cheap one I bought at the hotel store didn't work well, and while there are other pics….I do not wish to corrupt innocent minds.

 

BLACKOUT CONTEST/CAL VIDEO

Yes, I am warning you ahead of time. I will be throwing a two week BLACKOUT contest starting FEBRUARY 16th. Why so early you say…as BLACKOUT's official release date isn't until March 1st? Well, official release dates and actual releae dates are like real life…they often aren't what you think they'll be. So BLACKOUT might appear in your store a week or two before March 1st and you'll want to snatch it up (Cal in a gingham apron…who doesn't want to snatch that?) But this is the thing…if you buy it before March 1st (the best time is March 1st – March 6th) it won't count on the biggest rankings. Why do rankings count, you say? Because rankings are pretty much the only free promotion you get in publishing. If I can put NYT Bestseller on the front of my Cal books, that's fantastic! But I can't do that without your help. I'm been #26 and #35, and with some publishers that would get me the NYT stamp, but other publishers only count it if you're in the top #20. So as I make 50 to 60 cents a book, I like free promo. NEED free promo. So if you swear to not buy until 3/1 – 3/6 and enter a comment saying 'I'm a loyal reaver and I'm a'waiting!' you'll be entered to win: SEVEN books (if you win one, you choose which one you want…except Wolfsbane and Mistletoe, it's still in trade and I can't afford to buy them as prizes), a poster from Dragon*Con (it has every bookcover and manga…see below for pic…it is STUNNINGLY KICK ASS), a print  of TRICK OF THE LIGHT, a print of MADHOUSE, and, donated by superfan Ariel (who won them in a costume contest at a SUPERNATURAL convention dressed as the Trickster/Gabriel) four SPN shot glasses, *AND* DEAN'S NECKLACE (we knew Sammy fished it out of the garbage. No way that didn't happen.) So sign up (now or on the 16th…like a promise ring. I shall not boink Cal until the official marriage date of March 1st) , slap your naughty hands when they reach for BLACKOUT before March 1st, and thanks so much for all the support. You are my guys, my fans, my reavers, and I wouldn't be anywhere without the damn lot of you. You are AMAZING–and you and I working together, we can keep Cal around. Right? Now for the pics of the Con poster (you've seen Trick of the Light and Madhouse by now I hope)…the pics of the SPN shotglasses and Dean's necklace didn't turn out well.  Also the week of release, check the website…there will be a CAL VIDEO! No shit! Run, do not walk!

Auphe Pronounciation Lesson

The Auphe - Click to View Full Sized

I get this question frequently. How do you pronounce Auphe? Well, it is difficult. I don't even know how it's pronounced in the audio books (nope, I don't have time to even listen to my own audio books.) So here we go: in the original dictionary from the 1800s, I found it in it is a synonym for elf (I never once thought of using elf to label the Auphe as they are worlds away from elves–even demonic elves). The dictionary read that it was pronounced 'Off' or 'Ouphe'. However, the Auphe language cannot be spoken by the human tongue (or many supernatural ones for that matter, even Goodfellow doesn't know the language–only Cal from his two amnesiac years in Tumulus knows it/can speak it, but only on rare occasions when faced by an Auphe–otherwise it's lost in the dark of his mind. Darkling knew it but mentioned it was painful to hear or speak and then there is one other person ***(spoilers!)*** who knows it. So officially it sounds somewhere between "Off' and "Auph-fey" to the human ear and is not entirely unpronounceable by anyone but an Auphe. And hearing it feels like someone shoving ground glass in your ear. Yes, I made things difficult for myself. So if anyone knows HOW they pronounced it in the audiobook, I'm curious. I'm curious to know if they got Abbagor right, too. Or Vayash (Vay-ash—last A as in ah.) Surely that one wasn't too difficult though.

Auphe pronounciation lesson

I get this question frequently. How do you pronounce Auphe? Well, it is difficult. I don't even know how it's pronounced in the audio books (nope, I don't time to even listen to my own audio books.) So here we go: in the original dictionary from the 1800s, I found it in it is a synonym for elf (I never once thought of using elf to label the Auphe as they are worlds away from elves–even demonic elves). The dictionary read that it was pronounced 'Off' or 'Ouphe'. However, the Auphe language cannot be spoken by the human tongue (or many supernatural ones for that matter, even Goodfellow doesn't know the language–only Cal from his two amnesiac years in Tumulus knows it/can speak it, but only on rare occasions when faced by an Auphe–otherwise it's lost in the dark of his mind. Darkling knew it but mentioned it was painful to hear or speak and then there is one other person ***(spoilers!)*** who knows it. So officially it sounds somewhere between "Off' and "Auph-fey" to the human ear and is not entirely unpronounceable by anyone but an Auphe. And hearing it feels like someone shoving ground glass in your ear. Yes, I made things difficult for myself. So if anyone knows HOW they pronounced it in the audiobook, I'm curious. I'm curious to know if they got Abbagor right, too. Or Vayash (Vay-ash—last A as in ah.) Surely that one wasn't too difficult though.

A Writer's Social Life

You thought it was all wining, dining, and book signing, didn't you? Wrong. Wrong. Wrong. Here is an illustration of a writer's actual social life (subtitled: I really need a date or it's waaaaay too late for a date) , because we're on a deadline. We're always on a deadline or five.  Someone has to keep those bellies full.

German Moonshine Giveaway

Do you speak German? Scratch that…can you read German? If you can and have some inexplicable desire to have a signed German Moonshine (Moon Spirit…Germans don't know what they're missing with good old country moonshine) then comment and say why you want a German translation or give me some lovin'–I'm easy! I'll give two away at random (same Chris McGrath cover–with a dark green tinge, but much thicker a book. I think Germans take about three lines in a manuscript to say 'tree'.)  To enter, leave a comment below.  And don't forget…BLACKOUT March 1st (and if you could purchase it from a real brick and mortar store between March 1st and March 6th, you would be doing me an unbelievable favor.) Also, if at B&N, BLACKOUT may be in a cardboard display with other books of mine and not necessarily hanging about the SF/F section (check the aisle that leads to Starbucks.)  Now…German-lovers, start your V-8s and hammer down!  Contest ends mmmmm Wednesday.

BLACKOUT (Cal Book 6) Giveaway

BLACKOUT: Cal Leandros, Book 6

I have one, count it, one advanced review copy (ARC) of BLACKOUT (Cal Book 6) to be given away. You (that's right, you!) have a chance to read BLACKOUT 2 1/2 months early. I also have a notebook with the NIGHTLIFE print on the cover to give away.

Now: what you need to do to enter. Enter here in the blog comments here at this entry [on my website www.robthurman.net]. LJers, FBers…sorry, but need it all consolidated in one spot. Here.

I'll try and let the contest run until next Thursday as I know no one checks these things over the weekend. To enter you must list your favorite quote from Cal, Trickster novels, or Chimera. I stopped having time to collect them two years ago and my new website (out soon!) gives you a quote from one of the books every time you visit the site. Remember, don't only include Cal. I need Trickster and Chimera ones too.

**** Important, the quotes have to be new ones…not the ones already on my buttons. Those I have. This is a search for new ones.

Have fun, good luck, and…GO!

BLACKOUT (Cal Book 6) giveaway

I have one, count it, one advanced review copy (ARC) of Blackout (Cal Book 6) to be given away. You (that's right, you!) have a chance to read Blackout 2 1/2 months early. I also have a notebook with the Nightlife print on the cover to give away. Now: what you need to do to enter. Enter here in the blog comments on my website (www.robthurman.net). LJers, FBers…sorry, but need it all consolidated in one spot. Here. I'll try and let the contest run until next Thursday as I know no one checks these things over the weekend. To enter you must list your favorite quote from Cal, Trickster novels, or Chimera. I stopped having time to collect them two years ago and my new website (out soon!) gives you a quote from one of the books every time you visit the site. Remember, don't only include Cal. I need Trickster and Chimera ones too. **** Important, the quotes have to be new ones…not the ones already on my buttons. Those I have. This is a search for new ones.

Have fun, good luck, and…GO!