Craig Laurance Gidney's Blog, page 21
June 18, 2019
Happy Book Birthday to A Spectral Hue
Today is the official release date of A Spectral Hue, my debut novel for adults. It has already been seen on bookstore shelves—my publisher Word Horde (aka Ross Lockhart) also works in a bookstore and did some early book displays. Direct orders from the publisher have also been sent out early. They’re even signed!
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This novel has lived inside of me for many years, and existed in a variety of forms. It was called Summoning A Muse and Peculiar Hue before it got its final title. At one point, the book was just a collection of imaginary artists biographies. During the writing of this book, my mother died. Let’s just say that there’s a lot of her in this book—some of her stories haunt these pages.
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If you read it, please spread the word about it far and wide. Reviews on GoodReads and Amazon help with the sales algorithms. If you run a podcast, a book group or even teach college, I would love to talk about this book, or any of my other work. Friends of mine who work in the libraries, please request it for the collection. Post about it on social media—the cover is gorgeous and just screams to be #Bookgrammed.
June 14, 2019
Read an excerpt from A SPECTRAL HUE….
The online journal Heavy Feather Review has a lengthy excerpt from Chapter 3 of A Spectral Hue, which you can read here. Thanks to the editors!
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June 11, 2019
Spectral Pride
My publisher Word Horde has put up an appropriate Pride-themed ad for A SPECTRAL HUE. The novel officially releases on June 18th, but if you order directly from Word Horde, you can get a signed paperback copy early.
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The insightful Bogi Takács reviewed the novel on their site. Here’s an excerpt:
The story focuses on the fictional town of Shimmer, Maryland, where a movement of self-taught Black artists developed over time. Xavier is a young hipster somewhat out of his element in the small town, where he has just arrived to work on his master’s thesis in art history. He rents an AirBnB from Iris, a woman whose past ties her to the artists Xavier is intent on studying. Linc is a drifter trying to find a job, something, anything in Shimmer… even if it’s in a haunted museum. And Fuchsia… Fuchsia has been around for generations. The life-threads of this all-Black and very queer cast tangle together to form a quilt not unlike the artworks Xavier researches.
You can read the rest on their site.
June 5, 2019
Storybundle, Pride Edition
The fabulously talented Melissa Scott put together a Storybundle for Pride Month is year. You get 4 eBooks for $5 for the basic Bundle. And for $15 you get 6 extra eBooks!
Main Bundle:
Scourge of Time and Space, ed. Catherine Lundoff
Sea Swallow Me, Craig Laurance Gidney
Underdogs, Geonn Cannon
Transcendent 3, ed. Bogi Takács
Bonus bundle:
The Eagle’s Heir, Jo Graham and Amy Griswold
Wireless and More, Alex Acks Wells
Skin Deep Magic, Craig Laurance Gidney
Beware of Wolf, Geonn Cannon
Glittership 2, ed. Keffy Kehrli
Spectred Isle, KJ Charles
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Proceeds from the sales will go the Rainbow Railroad organization, who do important work relocating queer people who face persecution and violence all over the world.
From their website:
In countries all over the world, lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer, and intersex (LGBTQI) people live in basic fear for their freedom, their safety and their lives. They often have nowhere to turn because their government and police not only tolerate but encourage this brutality.
Rainbow Railroad exists to help these people get out of danger to somewhere safe. In the spirit of and with homage to the Underground Railroad, the mission of Rainbow Railroad is to help LGBTQI people as they seek safe haven from state-enabled violence, murder or persecution. Through funds collected by people like you, we’re able to support, provide information, and help to arrange safe transportation for these LGBTQI people to somewhere in the world where they can live their lives in freedom.
I’m happy that both of my books are included. The Storybundle runs from June 5 to June 24. The link is here.
May 29, 2019
Interview with Gwendolyn Kiste
Gwendolyn Kiste (whose debut novel The Rust Maidens recently won a Stoker Award!) graciously interviewed me. We spoke about some of the influences that went into A Spectral Hue.
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May 28, 2019
My interview with author Charlie Jane Anders
My interview with the charming and award-winning author Charlie Jane Anders is now up on the Washington Independent Review of Books.
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May 24, 2019
Author’s copies
I just received my author copies of A Spectral Hue, along with some swag. Including bookplates that I will sign–and signed copies will be available from the publisher if you order directly from Word Horde!
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May 13, 2019
Sea, Swallow Me & Other Stories – v2.o; Publisher’s Weekly on A Spectral Hue
Lethe Press has kindly re-leased my first book, Sea, Swallow Me & Other Stories with a lovely new cover, by the talented Matthew Bright (of Inkspiral Design).
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In other news, the eBook of my forthcoming novel A Spectral Hue, can now be preordered through Amazon (Barnes and Noble and Kobo links are coming shortly).
Publisher’s Weekly gave the book a great review! You can read it here.
May 8, 2019
Cover Reveal and Pre-Order Link for A SPECTRAL HUE!
I can now reveal the cover for A Spectral Hue! Cover artist Matthew Revert has truly captured the spooky/beauty aesthetic I was going for!
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Also, the preorder link is now live! If you order directly from Word Horde, you can get a copy with a signed bookplate!
A Spectral Hue releases on June 18.
April 22, 2019
‘US’, Geeks of the Galaxy and Norwescon
It was a busy weekend. I spent 4 days in Seattle, attending the wonderfully run Norwescon, where I co-facilitated a writing workshop. The other instructors were Nisi Shawl, Carol Berg, the editor Neil Clarke, and workshop co-chair Barth Anderson. The workshop was run Milford-style, and it was great to read and critique fiction from the talented cohort. Being a mentor is one of my bucket list items. Thanks to Anderson and Sienna Saint-Cyr for the opportunity. In addition to the workshop, I sat on a few panels and met many new people.
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The Geeks of the Galaxy podcast where I discussed the Jordan Peele movie US with Tananarive Due and Evan Narcisse debuted on April 20th. Thanks to host David Barr Kirtley for having me on again. You can listen to it here.
Up next–approving copy-edits for A SPECTRAL HUE. I suspect a reveal of the gorgeous cover art is just around the corner.
But now, a quick nap after a red-eye.
