Kim Harrison's Blog, page 82

You have to what?

So Guy says to me yesterday, “Hey, did you know all those tour ts that I printed up ahead of time are almost gone? I’m going to put another order in Monday.”

I just stare at him blankly over the kitchen table, currently being used as a sewing platform as I sew together a couple of frost blankets to wrap the ever-growing rhododendrons. I’m thinking, It’s only November. Whereupon he goes on, telling me what few sizes he has left and generally making me cross my eyes with mathy stuff and comparisons with last year, and what part of the country is ordering big this year.

I’m still thinking, It’s only November. But regardless, he’s putting in an order Monday, so if you would like one of these bad boys and are trying to get in before the Christmas rush and the postage goes up Jan 1, now would be a good time. I love seeing the shirts in the crowd and in the signing line, and most stores let us bring everyone wearing them up for a big “family photo” that I keep in my records long after the tour is done.

The back has a list of the tour cities, and though Portland is not on there, I will be coming to the usual Powell’s Beaverton store. Other cities I am definitely visiting are Ann Arbor, Seattle, Portland, San Diego, and Houston. Cities on the list but not yet nailed down with a store are Austin, Cincinnati, Dallas, Denver, Phoenix, and Raleigh/Durham in NC. It’s going to be a big tour, and I’m excited!

Every shirt gets a Carew Tower Coat Tag freebie, but if you want the freebie without all the fuss, send me a SASE. (Here’s how you do it.)

Guy worked hard to bring the price down from last year, but the shipping costs are frustrating and don’t make much sense. All prices include shipping. Domestic will go priority mail for sm to xl, and parcel post for 2xl to 5xl. International shipments will go first-class. Here’s the details:

Unisex size. (I wear a medium)

Size


USA


Canada


Mexico


International




SM to XLG


$24.95


$20.20


$30.18


$32.77




2XL to 5XL


$28.43


$20.20


$30.18


$32.77

Prices will change the first of January to reflect a shift in shipping cost. To take advantage of the lower shipping, please place your order a week before the year ends.

To order your EVER AFTER Tour T . . . THINGS WE MUST HAVE.

1: Pay Pal the correct amount to Guy at coldtoastwritingsllc@comcast.net

2: In the [email to recipient] box at PayPal, please tell Guy your:

1. size(s)

2. your name

3. your shipping address.

PLEASE!!! Do not forget this. Paypal does not always supply the shipping address, and it gets confusing. If you do not tell us these three things, your money will be immediately refunded, and you will not get a shirt. We can’t be responsible for misdirected mail. If you’re using your brother’s PayPal, keep this in mind.

4: Don’t have pay-pal? Guy will accept checks or US bank money orders made out to Cold Toast Writings until December 1st. Snail mail your order to

Kim Harrison 2013 tour t

PO Box 498

Dexter, MI 48130

USA

5: Any questions at all, email Guy, (at coldtoastwritingsllc@comcast.net) and be sure to include in your correspondence your PayPal email so he can match it up.

Slow Thursday?

At least I hope it’s a slow Thursday. I had the hardest time concentrating yesterday, managing to squeak out a few pages before calling it good, and I need to hammer today to make up the pages I dawdled over. It’s a nice spot in the writing, with a beach and sun and even a little Trent, so maybe it’s a little wishful of me.

Guy and I got out to Nicola’s yesterday to sign a few books, but the BLOOD CRIME they had been waiting for hadn’t come in yet so there is still time to order one from them if you want one signed. Nicola’s

My big news is that the tour stores are starting to come in! I’ve got one more in Houston that went up yesterday on the big EVENTS page. I’ll be at Murder by the Book on the 29th. The time has yet to be set, but it will be 7ish.

 

Ever-After Tour Venues: I’ve got the first four

I was the first one up this morning. I can’t tell you when the last time that happened on a workday. And I’m slow, yawning, and can’t seem to get moving fast enough to even catch up, and I swear if I didn’t have something specifically to tell you that I’d just mumble something and open up  my work computer and try to get words on paper, words I’ll have to fix later, but you have to start somewhere, right?

Last night was fabulous as I spent time with three generations of my family, ate blue and red cupcakes, and decorated napkins with stars, flags, and even my attempt at Lincoln–but this morning is a reminder of why I love my sleep so much. My folks came over to watch the election results come in, and seriously, it was a lot of fun. (On a personal note, it helped diffuse a lot of stress with my dad, and I feel like a good daughter today.) We kept it to CNN all night because they had that nifty light show on the Empire State Building, and I’ve always liked the “magic wall” with John King where the intricacies of strategy and where to campaign and where to invest in encouraging people to vote came into play. I have to admit I’m very proud of the people who stood in line for long periods of time to vote. I had maybe ten minutes to wait, and I was standing with my neighbors. That’s kind of how it’s supposed to be, and I hope things move more in that direction the next time we get to vote again.

But I said I have Ever After tour venues, and yes! They are starting to come in.  It looks like I’ll be doing my kick off at Nicola’s, the store that I’ve been working through to get you the signed books lately. (Pssst! I’ll be going out there tomorrow to sign more orders, so if you want something signed, now’s a good time to order one.) Then I’ll be headed out all the way to the West Coast and hopefully move in a steady progression east. Portland was added. -grin- This was a happy surprise. If you live there, tell your buds because Portland was not on the original list. Here is the first couple of days. More will follow. And as always, please check back a day or two before the event to make sure there are no changes or store requests added.

Ann Arbor: January 22, Tuesday, 7:00 PM : Nicola’s Books

Seattle: January 23, Wednesday, 7:00 PM : University Bookstore

Portland/Beaverton: January 24, Thursday, time to be determined, but we’re aiming for 6-7 PM : Powell’s Books; Cedar Hills Crossing

San Diego: January 25, Friday, 7:00 PM : Mysterious Galaxy

These are all stores I’ve signed in before, and I can’t wait to get back out and see some familiar smiles. It’s going to be fun!

Kim Harrison exclusive Hollows short preloaded in the new Sony Reader app

I know I said I wasn’t going to post today, but remember a few months ago when I bubbled and burbled about something I couldn’t really tell you about, but I was excited about working on?  It finally came to fruition. I like telling people I’m the queen of delayed gratification, but wow, does it feel good to finally spill the beans.

The new, free, reader app for the iphone, ipad, and ipod touch has a new, never published Hollows short with Trent and Rachel working together. It’s called Trouble on Reserve. The timing of the story sort of puts it between A Perfect Blood and Ever After, but the feeling of it is seriously slanted toward Ever After.  If you get a chance to read it, I’d be curious to know what you think about the “voice.” One of the things I tried to do–besides get a chance to see Rachel and Trent work together–was to give it a more mainstream feel since there’s the chance readers who would normally never pick up the Hollows might be reading it. I am so excited about having it preloaded on the app, I can’t begin to tell you. If you look closely at the mailing Sony released, you can see Into The Woods just on the right of the screen, mostly hidden.

And please don’t fret about not being able to read TROUBLE ON RESERVE if you don’t have the platform. They have exclusive rights to it for a period of time, and then I have other plans for it to be more widely available.

If you want to pick up the app, start here: itunes reader app

Kim Harrison “live” on Suspense Radio

I did an interview this weekend with John Raab for Suspense Magazine, and it’s already been archived! You can listen in to our chat about the urban fantasy genre, what has changed over the last decade and what hasn’t.  Suspense Radio Inside Edition Nov 3, 2012  John talks for about 30 minutes about the perils of largely unedited books being published electronically, but if you want to jump right to my segment, it starts at 29 minutes.

My weekend was busy with the last of the leaves finding their way to the curb and hitting the stores for the Halloween and fall decorations that had been reduced to the point where they were cheap, cheap, cheap. Got a new wreath for ten bucks instead of 60, and my inner spendthrift is very happy. I also had a chance to spend some time with Guy, which has been in short supply the last month or so.

Tomorrow there will be no post as I will be allocating my usual morning internet outreach time to vote.  In my effort to keep all comments at the drama box as non partisan as I can realistically make it, I will only say that Tuesday night is going to be fun as Guy and I continue our tradition of a TV picnic as the results come in, with a little bubbly, a little cheese and crackers, and since my parents are coming over, a little pickled herring. (I never get it unless my dad is around.) I am going to pig out, and Guy is going to color his map blue and red. I only hope his pick wins as he’ll be the devil to live with if he doesn’t. I’m trying not to get worked up about it, but I have an unhealthy trust in lofty ideas triumphing over small-minded and petty. (Got a little Rachel in me, I guess.)

Don’t let them stop your voice from being heard with long lines or short schedules. I bet more than one of  you out there has stood in a two-hour line to ride a sixty-second roller coaster. It’s the one time in this stupidly unfair life when money doesn’t matter.

It’s an amazing feeling–standing in that booth and knowing that what you just did has the same power as your boss, or your favorite movie star, or the artists in your favorite band. You just gotta get in there. And when it’s done, hesitate and breathe the feeling in before you walk away. It’s incredible.

Did you know you can get a signed Blood Crime?

Yes indeed, you can get a signed BLOOD CRIME before I go out for the EVER AFTER tour. Nicola’s has a stash, I was just there a few days ago and signed the orders that had come in, but I can go back. -grin- If you’re interested, I’ve got a link to my web page and the list of books they usually keep on hand. HOWEVER!! you can’t simply order a book and get one signed. You have to tell them you want me to sign it in the comment box on the “pay me” page of their system. Otherwise, you just get a book. Here’s the link to my page.

And if you’re poking around there, you’ll notice that we’ve got the freebies available early this year for EVER-AFTER. I know not everyone can get out to a signing, and it’s important to me that you aren’t excluded when all it takes is a stamp or two, so if you want a little bit of the Hollows for yourself, send me a SASE, and I’ll send you a coat tag from Carew Tower. I should have enough of these to last a good long while, but hey, they make cool stocking stuffers.

Besides, stuffing those envelopes keeps Guy off the streets.

P.S. If you have taken Guy up on his alternate Manic Monday book offer, (and you know who you are) they are shipping out today. Media mail takes a while, and if it’s going east, please allow for some extra time. Again, thank you for your understanding. I truly believed they were going to last longer.

A Perfect Blood is a Goodreads nominee

I’m pleased to announce the Goodreads Choice Awards are going on right now, and A Perfect Blood is a nominee! Opening round is from now to November 11th, Semifinal is the 12th to the 18th, and the final round is the 19th to the 27th, so it give you three times to vote for your favorite, not just in paranormal fantasy, but in twenty categories. I do believe you must have a “bookshelf” in Goodreads to vote, but I really am not sure.

If you’re not familiar with Goodreads, it functions a lot like Amazon in that you can leave reviews, but what I like about it is that it is more like a community, where you can display  on your “bookshelf” the books you’ve read, the ones you’re reading, and even the ones you want to read. There is a logarithm running out of sight that does pretty well with suggesting books you might like by what you’ve read and how you’ve rated them!  You can hook it up to your FB, or not. Your choice. I’ve linked to mine, but the button to keep your reading private is in your face and easy to use if you want it that way.  I had a fun day or so poking around in it trying to become familiar with my author page, and I do believe I will be giving away one of my early advanced reader copies of EVER AFTER through a Goodreads give away just to get a feel for how they work.

But for now, there’s just the contest. -grin- If you are a member, you can find A Perfect Blood in the Paranormal Fantasy section. Happy Voting! (If you’re a member, link will take you to the main category page of voting. If you’re not, it might take you to a sign-up page. Someone let me know for sure, yes?)  Link to vote

 

 

Happy Halloween!

I do believe that Halloween ranks up there with my favorite holidays. Six tubs of stuff come up out of the basement to decorate my home, and when they go back down empty, it feels like I have room for at least another tub or two. This year I didn’t decorate much outside, and now I’m kind of glad because it is shaping up to be one of Michigan’s cold, windy Halloweens where you have your snowsuit on over your Power Ranger costume. One year we went through 16 bags of candy, though admittedly it was a weekend evening, not this miserable mid-week, coldness. This year, I expect fewer kids, though quite honestly, I don’t think the kids care how cold it is. I never did.

But traditions must be followed despite adversity, new ones created sometimes because of them, and I’m wearing my brand-new pumpkin socks today. The spooky pumpkin cookies are baked, and there is a dish of candy corn out. Tonight we’re having stew, and my mom is bringing over doughnut dough to fry up after Tricks-or-Treats is done. I do believe she has just started a new tradition. I hope so.

A-a-a-a-and some good news for those of you who enjoy a little visual presentation with your literature, Blood Crime finally hit the shelves yesterday! Ta-da! I’m so pleased with it. If you’re not familiar with the first graphic novel Blood Work, these two stories showcase Rachel interning under Ivy at the I.S. before Dead Witch Walking takes place. They are from Ivy’s point of view, and we get to see a little more into the vampire mythology/trap, not to mention her fall in love. If you’re still mourning Kisten, he is in there, though I’ll be honest in that he never looked the way I saw him in my mind’s eye. Blood Crime should be available just about anywhere they consistently shelve my books, but here’s a link to my website for more info and a few places that will have it if you are having trouble. BLOOD CRIME

I’m also pleased to tell you that Blood Work, the older sibling, just now made it to the e-world, meaning you can read it on your Nook. I believe the rest of the platforms will follow soon. (link to e-Blood Work)

Tomorrow, I’ve got news about Perfect Blood making the list for Goodreads choice awards for best paranormal fantasy for 2012. Contest is running now, and I’ll give you all the particulars tomorrow, but if you know what I’m talking about already, you can find Perfect Blood in the paranormal fantasy category.

Wow, what a night

I hope everyone in the path of Sandy is safe and warm. She’s just now hitting us in Michigan. Yes, we’ve got snow. I don’t expect it to last, but it’s making the roads slick with ice until it burns off.

I’ve got an early morning appointment, but after that, I’ll be parking it in my office for the rest of the day and watching the snow and trying to get some work done. It’s hard knowing that so many people are digging out. My thoughts are with you.

P.S .I know I told that guy at the bulb place we could have snow by Halloween and to ship my bulbs pronto, but I didn’t expect it. Sheesh!

 

Hunkering down

If I had to use one word to describe the weekend, it would be hunkering down, which is technically two words, but there it is. It had nothing to do with Sandy, seeing as we are far enough inland that it will be likely reduced to a severe wind-and-rain event with limited flooding on Halloween, but I think the hype has triggered a deeper need to prepare for winter a tad early.

Saturday was a blitz of baking followed by a few hours in the yard pulling leaves out from my side yard. Only one more corner to go now, and they will all be at the curb. I do think I’ve run out of nice days to get them there, though. I’ve been picking away at tucking my yard in for the winter for almost six weeks, but finally the view out my window is green and earthy black, and the cement and metal decorations of summer are tucked in the basement. Storm windows went up yesterday on the few original windows left on the house, and I planted a few last crocus in the new landscape island I put in this fall. Hunkering down is easier when you’ve got a pattern, almost a pleasure when it’s tied to memories of being warm and close to the ones you love when the storm shakes the windows and moves on to check the latch of the next house on the street.

Now I’m in my toasty office, starting out at a bleak landscape pared down to the bones, with the trees bare and little numbs of green hugging the ground to weather the coming winter. The birds are active at the feeders, which makes me happy, and I’m imagining my yard in snow and liking what I see, even it it’s in my mind’s eye.

And wow, I think we’re going to get an early taste of winter this year. For those of you in Sandy’s path, hunker down and ride it out, be it at home or the emergency shelters. NY has been on the news the most, and I’m imagining it with open streets and empty sidewalks.  I can see it very easily, though it’s got to be creepy as all get-out.  I’ve got a notion that these freak storms on the edges of the season shifts are going to become the norm, so find your pattern to make it easier. And do as I tell Thing Two before he goes off to school, “Smart decisions.”

I‘ve got one thing for you that came in late Friday for all you Trick-or-Treaters! INTO THE WOODS made Houston Press’s list of the top six Halloween reads.  6 New Books We Like Check it out! KRAMPUS and DEVIL SAID BANG also made it.  Whoo-hoo! I am delighted that INTO THE WOODS made this list. Spider Web, especially, feels kind of Halloween creepy to me.

And tomorrow is the release day for BLOOD CRIME, book two in the graphic novel saga of how Ivy met Rachel.  :-) See Blood Crime for more info and where to find it.