Jim C. Hines's Blog, page 207

DAW's Zombie Rabbit Cover of Doom

Yesterday, Mr. Coke Zero himself, John Scalzi, took my publisher to task for the cover of Zombie Raccoons and Killer Bunnies [Amazon | Mysterious Galaxy].  Others have offered up alternate covers, or just chimed in about how bad it is.

Disclaimers up front: Zombie Raccoons is the latest DAW anthology.  DAW is my publisher as well.  I was invited to write a story for this one, but the editor decided that my tale ("Mightier than the Sword") fit better in her other project, Gamer Fantastic.  So I...

Bad Book Publicity

I'll probably be talking about book-release stuff next week when Mermaid's Madness comes out, which got me thinking about some of the really bad publicity strategies for authors.

I'm not claiming to be perfect.  In the past five years, I've tried any number of things to promote my work that make me wince to think about 'em now.  Bad home-printed bookmarks, obnoxious begging for reviews, etc.  But I've tried to learn, and I do my best to keep my promotional efforts in check–trying to model...

Thursday Bullets

Not feeling so great this morning. I don't have time to get sick, dangit! But this means you get the bullet-point blog post today.

• My agent e-mailed me my latest royalties statement, and all three goblin books have earned out their advances!  Can I get a Booya?  To everyone who bought and shared the books, thank you so much!  It looks like Stepsister will likely follow suit, but not until the Reserve Against Returns decreases a bit more.

• The caption contest is still running strong, and...

Polanski Apologists in Translation

I've been reading a lot of justifiably angry posts about those who would defend Roman Polanski, who was convicted of raping a 13-year-old thirty years ago.  I did a bit of research, trying to understand the mindset and the concerns of the people arguing against Polanski's arrest.  What follows are the most common reasons I've found, as well as my translation of those reasons.

Polanski is a charming, intelligent man - We should only arrest scary-looking, deranged rapists, preferably the dirty h...

Caption Contest

• Only one week until the official release of The Mermaid's Madness [Amazon | Mysterious Galaxy]!  Eep.  (And if you've been thinking about posting a review of Stepsister Scheme, might I humbly suggest that this would be a perfect time?)

• Congrats to Harry Connolly (burger_eater) on the release of his debut novel Child of Fire [Amazon | Mysterious Galaxy], which comes out today.  Read the first chapter on his web site here, or check out Sherwood Smith's interview with Connolly.

• Thank you to ...

Diabetes Details 4: Embarrassing Pump Mishaps

Help please!  I need a small device I can use to make the "bleep" sound of censored swearing.  I'm hoping to do a reading of "The Creature in Your Neighborhood" at my book launch next week, but there's one scene that wouldn't be appropriate without the bleeping.  Any ideas on a device that might work?

#

I debated whether to share this one, but I decided what the heck.  My ego can take it, and everyone can use a laugh on Monday mornings, right?

My insulin pump is a pager-sized device which...

Durand Fantasy Expo

Back from the Durand Fantasy Expo. For a new event, it went pretty well.  Not only did I sell a decent number of books and get to chat with some cool fantasy folks, I also got to hang out with the 501st Legion, aka Vader's fist.

I love my job.

Two pics behind the cut.

Friday Wrapup, with LOL Book

• Seanan McGuire (of Rosemary and Rue fame) has drawn a nifty promo piece for The Mermaid's Madness.  Click here to see her pretty little dead ghoul mermaid in all her glory.

• Tomorrow (9/26) from 11 am - 7 pm I'll be at the Durand Fantasy Expo.  Details available on the Facebook page or on MySpace.  Lots of nifty guests lined up.

• I've heard from three separate sources now that Mermaid is on the shelves at some Borders stores.  Woo!  (I'd still call ahead though, just to make sure.)

•...

Depression at SF Novelists

I'm off to Durand today for a news interview in preparation for the Fantasy Expo on Saturday.  Today was also my day for blogging at SF Novelists.  So if I've set things up properly, you should be able to click on over and read my post about depression as a writer.

Or you can stick around and admire LEGO Wall*E, built by corran-101.  Click the pic for the full set.

Slush Reading, Seuss Style

Slush I Read

by Jim C. Hines

(Apologies to Seuss)

I read slush.

Slush I read.

That slush I read.

That slush I read!

I do not like that slush I read.

Do you like fanfic with vamps?

I do not like them Mary Sue.

Why do these vamps all worship you?

Here's a tale from D & D!

I do not want your D & D.

I do not like your elf PC.

I can not stand your purple prose.

I want to punch you in the nose!

Would you like a hot sex scene?

I wrote it for my online 'zine!

I do not like your pervy tale.
Your metaphors make ...