Laura Anne Gilman's Blog, page 7

DARKLY HUMAN (now un-postponed and on-sale!)

Ahem. So. Remember a while back I talked about putting together a story collection? And then Life (and Death) happened, and things got postponed?

It's been un-postponed. And is out today (with a gorgeous cover by Elizabeth Leggett!) And priced to be an impulse buy for yourself/stocking-stuffer gift for all your friends!

The definition of friendship...

Tonight, I was closing the tasting room alone, after dark, and our last (male) customer was lingering.  He seemed like a perfectly ok guy, but something was making me slightly twitchy.  So I texted a local friend to say “hey, can you call me at this time (when I would be walking to the bus stop), just in case?”

Local (female) friend shows up at close. With a baseball bat.

(the bat was in the car, not carried in.  But it, and she, were there without my needing to ask)

I felt slightly silly. OTOH, my spidey danger-sense rarely tingles.  I listen when it does.

I wish you all such friends, every night.

Heading down to OryCon...

So if that's where you'll be, this is where I'll be!


Fri Nov 18 5:00pm - 6:00pm
Minor Characters: Talking about the ones who don't always get mentioned in the cover copy, but are often more fun to write...
Brenda Cooper, David Dvorkin, Laura Anne Gilman, Stoney Compton, Tina Connolly

Fri Nov 18 6:30pm - 7:00pm
Endeavour Awards Presentation: in which I am there in my role as nominee (for SILVER ON THE ROAD), and happy just to be there. :-)


Sat Nov 19 12:00pm - 1:00pm
Urban Fantasy Made Real: We're gonna make it real. Obviously, this could end badly...
Jennifer Brozek, Josh Vogt, Laura Anne Gilman, Ripley Patton


Sat Nov 19 3:00pm - 4:00pm
If You Could Talk to the Animals... :  Speaking of things that could end badly...
Judith Conly, Laura Anne Gilman, Mark Teppo, Sara Mueller, Sharon Roest

Sat Nov 19 5:00pm - 6:00pm
Magic and the Occult in Alternate History:  Or, how we'd do it if it were done just a little differently.
Diana Gill, Laura Anne Gilman, Laura Whitcomb, Sara Mueller, Stephen Couchman


Sat Nov 19 6:30pm - 7:00pm
Laura Anne Gilman: Reading

(this is a change from the previously scheduled 8pm reading! Please spread the word as it may not make it into the schedule! )


Sunday I will be heading back to Washington, so any further appearances at OryCon is just your wishful hangover.

Off to OryCon!

Heading down to Portland this weekend for OryCon, so if you'll be there, this is where I'll be...


Fri Nov 18 5:00pm - 6:00pm
Minor Characters: Talking about the ones who don't always get mentioned in the cover copy, but are often more fun to write...
Brenda Cooper, David Dvorkin, Laura Anne Gilman, Stoney Compton, Tina Connolly

Fri Nov 18 6:30pm - 7:00pm
Endeavour Awards Presentation: in which I am there in my role as nominee (for SILVER ON THE ROAD), and happy just to be there. :-)


Sat Nov 19 12:00pm - 1:00pm
Urban Fantasy Made Real: We're gonna make it real. Obviously, this could end badly...
Jennifer Brozek, Josh Vogt, Laura Anne Gilman, Ripley Patton


Sat Nov 19 3:00pm - 4:00pm
If You Could Talk to the Animals... :  Speaking of things that could end badly...
Judith Conly, Laura Anne Gilman, Mark Teppo, Sara Mueller, Sharon Roest

Sat Nov 19 5:00pm - 6:00pm
Magic and the Occult in Alternate History:  Or, how we'd do it if it were done just a little differently.
Diana Gill, Laura Anne Gilman, Laura Whitcomb, Sara Mueller, Stephen Couchman


Sat Nov 19 6:30pm - 7:00pm
Laura Anne Gilman: Reading

(this is a change from the previously scheduled 8pm reading! Please spread the word as it may not make it into the schedule! )


Sunday I will be heading back to Washington, so any appearances at OryCon is just your wishful hangover.

Library Journal gives THE COLD EYE the wink of approval... (and a star!)

Gilman, Laura Anne. The Cold Eye. Saga. (Devil’s West, Bk. 2). Jan. 2017. 352p. ISBN 9781481429719. $26.99; ebk. ISBN 9781481429733. FANTASY

As the Devil’s Left Hand, Isobel serves as his eyes and ears across the land. Wandering the western edges of his territory, she is called to a place where everything has gone wrong: [spoilers redacted]. With her mentor Gabriel, Isobel investigates the cause of these natural disasters. They soon uncover a growing danger that threatens the entire region. Adding to their problems is an encounter with explorers sent by the U.S. president. It will take all of the knowledge and magical power at Isobel’s disposal to keep herself and Gabriel safe—along with the rest of the Territory.

Verdict: ­Gilman’s sequel to Silver on the Road continues a fabulous coming-of-age tale of magic and power, set in a conflict-ridden alternative Wild West so vividly evoked that readers will be saddling up to ride along.

Author Out And About, Washington State Edition

In light of my previous post, have a promotional post:

TOMORROW, I will be at the Kitsap B&N with Randy Henderson, Kat Richardson, and Brian Dorsey, discussing Things Genre (and more), and signing books (and body parts).

I will also have the cover of the new short story collection to show off.

13 years a Freelancer. Old enough for a bat mitzvah.

Today, according to my calendar, is my 13th Freelancerversary.

I will spend it, as I have spent all the others, in a pleasant mix of deadline panic, money worries, contemplating new projects, scouting for new clients, advertising work for sale, and considering why the fuck I didn't get a full-time job with benefits.

(answer: because office politics annoy me, and my best skillsets fit smaller offices that mostly want part-timers).

So if you're wondering what to get me for this freelancerversary, the answer is "buy one of my books" or "hire me as an editor." For the latter, if you contact me today (for "until midnight Pacific time" versions of today) I'll give you a 13% discount on rates. :-)

Wine Nerding for Fun and Profit....

So, we got the technical sheets for Rocky Pond's new wines, and I feel the urge to put them in my portfolio, because it's my first official Paid Gig writing tasting notes....

And yes, it's exactly as wine-nerd as you'd think.

For the 2015 Mourvedre: "Cedar, allspice and a hint of leather suggests an austerity that's offset by a surprisingly plush and well-balanced mouthful of dark cherry, cocoa powder and ripe strawberry. Pinot Noir’s more deep-thinking big brother.
Pairs well with roast chicken, short ribs, or lamb."

And the 2015 Sauvignon Blanc: "A delicate nose of citrus and honey and the faint hint of morning dew leads you into a mouth- watering palate of soft grapefruit, spicy vanilla, and hints of green. Medium-bodied, with a long finish hinting at wet slate and citrus peel. Would match well with the traditional shellfish, but also with dried meats and goat cheese."

and La Domestique (a Merlot blend): "A nose of warm earth and dark fruit leads to savory notes, hitting the palate with a medium- bodied expression of plum, fig, vanilla, anise and cardamom that lingers with a long, smooth finish.
Pair with duck, venison, or grilled chops."


This wasn't all my doing - we had a staff tasting, and I took down everyone's reactions. But the comment about pinot noir was, I think, all mine. :-)

Anyway, yeah, the Mourvedre really is that interesting, the La Domestique is gonna grow up into something amazing, I think, and that Sauvignon Blanc is my new BFF.

I've got just one last thing to say...

and then I'm gone for a while.

I'm white, by most modern standards. I'm aware of the privilege that gives me, though sometimes I know I need to be reminded.

As an adult, I’ve tried to get out of those default social groupings, meeting people who are not ‘echo chambers’ of my life

They are black, or Asian, gay, lesbian or bi. They’re trans. They are pagan, Muslim, Mormon or Catholic. They are poly, ace, or pan.

I know them in person, and I know them via online connections and phone lines. I know them through politics, through work, and through fandom.

They are all very different, have different communities that don't entirely intersect, and they are all my friends.

And we choose to care for each other, rather than fearing each other. That's my America. That REMAINS my America, and I will fight for it.

*deep breath*

It feels weird and horrible to be doing this, but life goes on, and I need to pay for insulin and y’all need something to take your mind off your troubles, so...

My shameless reminder that I’m running a Patreon to help cover cat-related costs like vet bills, insulin, and special fucking expensive food.

Three different kinds of fiction! Non-fiction! Audience participation! Entertainment for a good cause, and starting at $1/month...