Mario Acevedo's Blog, page 26

Off To See the Wizard...

Well, not really. I'm off to visit with my daughter and her significant other in Lake Havasu. But they have sun and we've seen so little of the sun the last few weeks, it's almost like going to Oz. My hubby and I are ready for a break. Plan to spend lots of time in the pool or on the lake or just hanging out with my favorite kid! She's my only kid but she's my favorite anyway.

Since we're going to be gone until Saturday, I'm taking next Thursday off. But don't listen to anything Mario says about me while I'm gone. Remember, he exaggerates.

In the meantime, I found this review of Charlaine's Dead Reckoning, but I think you should check it out because there's also a very good recap of the differences between TrueBlood on TV and the book series. I know there's always some discussion about it and this serves as a good reminder that they are really two different mediums. Check it out here

See you in June!

PS Any Memorial Day plans? Whatever they are, keep safe!

Here we go again....

Jeanne here.

Mario emailed late last night to say he was sleeping off a drunk somewhere in South Carolina and didn't think he could get his eyes open wide enough or his brain clicking fast enough to post something today. At least he's still alive.

He should be back and sober to present at the Pikes Peak Writer's workshop tomorrow, May 17.

GOING GOTHIC: Writing Dark Fantasy

With Mario Acevedo

The always hilarious (?)* Mario Acevedo, author of The Nymphos of Rocky Flats and other Felix the vampire detective novels, joins us to discuss the appeal of dark fantasy and horror writing.

This workshop will cover the sub genres and elements of dark fantasy, the techniques used to create the appropriate mood and settings, and in-class exercises.

Read more about May's Write Brain event here!

Free and open to the public.

Tuesday, May 17, 2011 6:30-8:30 p.m.

Police Station Community Room

7850 Goddard St, Colorado Springs

*Always hilarious????? Hmmm...

He also said Eric Calder of the Independent of Co Springs interviewed him but I'll be damned if I could find the interview. Maybe you'll have better luck. Look for it here

Personally, I think he dreamed it.... Colorado Springs, be afraid. The rapture coming on Saturday will be nothing compared to Mario coming on Tuesday...

Rainy Day Thursday

Spent an hour yesterday afternoon with my pal and favorite author, Charlaine Harris. She was here for a signing at Tattered Cover, one stop on her multi-city signing tour. She managed to squeeze in a few minutes with me before heading off to meet her fans. While I was there, Charlaine received the call from her editor, Ginjer Buchanan. Dead Reckoning debuted #1 on the New York Times Bestseller list! That makes how many #1's now? Congratulations, my friend.

# # # #

Everyday the cast for Hunger Games gets bigger:

From Deadline.com:



Picture from: Celebrity ring.info


Lionsgate and director Gary Ross have set Wes Bentley to play Seneca Crane in The Hunger Games, the film that stars Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson and Liam Hemsworth. Crane is the head gamesmaker of the 74th Hunger Games, which pits teens from 12 districts in a televised battle to the death. This is the first of several adult roles that will be cast. Rumored participants include John C. Reilly, as District 12's only living past winner and current drunk Haymitch, but Lionsgate labeled that absolutely false when it came up a couple weeks ago, and nobody lies to Deadline, right? The pic will be released March 23,

From Firstshowing :



Woody Harrelson has landed the latest co-starring role in Lionsgate's The Hunger Games, the adaptation of the Suzanne Collins novel that will be released March 23, 2012. He will play Haymitch Abernathy, the mentor of the lead character Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence), who Abernathy trains to fight in a televised battle to the death among teen teams. Wes Bentley and Stanley Tucci are among the adults already cast.

And this one I really like. From Deadline.com



Stanley Tucci will play TV host Caesar Flickerman in The Hunger Games, the Gary Ross-directed adaptation of the Suzanne Collins's novel, according to Deadline.com, which also reported that Woody Harrelson has landed the role of Haymitch Abernathy, the mentor of Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence).

# # # #

Okay, how many Mario Puzo fans out there? Something to look forward to from Shelf Awareness via Jacket Copy

The Family Corleone, an "all-new prequel" to the late Mario Puzo's bestseller The Godfather, will be published by Grand Central in June 2012. Jacket Copy reported that the task of bringing the story, based on an unproduced screenplay written by Puzo, to life was given to author Ed Falco, who "grew up Catholic in Brooklyn; his writing has dealt with violence; the Virginia Tech shooter, who killed 32 people in 2007, was one of his students. And on the more frivolous side, he is the uncle of actress Edie Falco, who starred in the modern-day mafia hit The Sopranos." Falco's previous work includes novels St. John of the Five Boroughs, Wolf Point and a story collection, Sabbath Night in the Church of the Piranha--all from Unbridled Books--as well as and his most recent book, Burning Man: Stories (SMU Press).

# # # #

I'm always on the lookout for good Sherlock Holmes stories, too. Here's a new YA that sounds promising:


Death Cloud: Sherlock Holmes--The Legend Begins by Andrew Lane (Farrar, Straus & Giroux Books for Young Readers, $16.99, 9780374387679). "Sherlock Holmes is 14 years old and expecting his father to pick him up from school to go home for summer break. Instead, his brother Mycroft shows up, not to take him home, but rather to take him to stay with an aunt and uncle he has never met. Disappointment turns to adventure, danger, and intrigue. This is a wonderful introduction to a beloved character. We'll all be looking for more of this series!"--Christine Crawford, Epilog Books, Quincy, Calif.

From Amazon.com

# # # #

A reminder for Denverites--this is the last week to get in on reduced rates for this month's RMFW May program.

Revising Fiction: Making Sense of the Madness, a one-day workshop

Saturday, May 21 8:00a to 4:00p

Renaissance Hotel, Denver, CO
3801 Quebec Street, Denver

Price: $70 early registration; $85; $95 at the door
Phone: (970) 497-6452

Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers is sponsoring a one-day workshop featuring Kirt Hickman, author of Revising Fiction: Making Sense of the Madness. The workshop will be held at the Renaissance Hotel on May 21st. Colorado authors Carol Berg, Jeanne Stein and Betsy Dornbusch will be on-hand to answer writing-related questions or critique the first two pages of your manuscript. For more information please see Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers' website at rmfw.org or contact Vicki Law at (970) 497-6452. Price includes continental breakfast and buffet lunch.

Full details here

# # # #

After a very dry winter here on the lowlands, Mother Nature is making up for lost time. Two straight days and nights of rain/snow/slush. I have a bird feeding station in my back yard. This is the time of year when mother birds bring their babies and feed them from the perches on the feeder. Unfortunately, the feeding station also attracts squirrels. Now normally, I get really irritated at the squirrels. But for the first time this year, two mama squirrels and their babies have become constant visitors. It's really hard to get annoyed at cute, furry, funny, playful little squirrels!! Now I know they grow up to be big, troublesome squirrels. But for now, I am enjoying their antics. I've been trying to get pictures, but they won't let me get close enough. I'll keep trying.

PS Remind me of this post later when I start bitching about the bumper crop of squirrels I have to keep chasing away from my feeders!!!

She writes them naughty words

Mario here:

Next week I'll be at the South Carolina Book Festival. Come check me out!



And now, it's our pleasure to pimp a regular from the RMFW Colorado Gold Conference and the Mile Hi Con, author Thea Hutcheson.

I caught up with her at the @font-face { font-family: "Cambria"; }p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }div.Section1 { page: Section1;über chic Park & Co where we split a delicious burger and basket of fries.

Biting-Edge: How are you?

Thea: Doing fine but busy. Working three jobs if you include my writing.

Biting-Edge: What's going on with your writing?

Thea: First of all, I write erotica under the name of Theda Hudson. I decided to rebrand myself to emphasize my erotica so that's why I adopted a pseudounym. As for what's going on, I'm excited to announce my short story "Blossom, Cherry," in the anthology Sex In San Francisco coming out from Renaissance eBooks. I also have a magical fantasy short story, "Good Husband," coming in an upcoming issue of Realms of Fantasy magazine. And another short story, "Taking Steps-Stripped Down," is reprinted in Best Lesbian Erotica 2011, trade paperback in September 2011. I've got a steampunk short fiction in Best Lesbian Erotics 2011.



Biting-Edge: What's your definition of erotica?

Thea: To me, erotica is where the central conflict is of a sexual nature with the graphic parts implied. I like it gritty, with no satin or velvet.

Biting-Edge: Why do you write erotica?

Thea: I want to address the issues of sexuality from a sex-positive woman's point of view. I want to combat a lot of stereotypes and misinformation that exists in the media about women and sexuality. But if you ask me, why do I write at all? Because if I don't, I suffer withdrawals.


Biting-Edge: What are the challenges for you as an author?

Thea: Well, there's the big one we writers all face: trying to stay published. I've decided that I won't write for the sake of getting published. I've set my professional bar at a level that I'll write work of such quality that I expect a certain amount of money in return for my efforts. On a personal basis, my first challenge was when I discovered that writing fiction wasn't about stringing a bunch of pretty words together, there has to be conflict and tension. Trouble is, for me, I have a hard time being mean to my characters.


Biting-Edge: What's next?

Thea: I've got four novels that I'm polishing and hope to sell. I have two time-travel romances, an erotic-paranormal, and a science-fiction. At this year's Colorado Gold, I'll be facilitating a workshop, Erotica is More than Plumbing.

Biting-Edge: We like playing with the plumbing. Thanks much, Thea. Keep us posted on your success!

Friend Thea on Facebook.

A Kat, A Nook, Star Wars and a new Steampunk convention...

Some good news from my League pals -- First of all, from Kat Richardson who writes the Greywalker series, a walking tour of Harper Blaine's Neighborhood in Seattle. This is very cool





Then in further good news for Kat, from Publisher's Marketplace, her next three urban fantasies in the Greywalker series about a private inspector, who is forced to risk the hard-won love and stability she has finally found in order to protect the world and the Grey, and defend those caught where ghosts roam and magic sings, (was sold) to Anne Sowards at Ace, in a good deal, by Sally Harding of The Cooke Agency.

# # # #

Next, a new contract for another Leaguer, Michele Bardsley: Michele Bardsley writing as Michele Vail's THE REAPER DIARIES, introducing a girl who wanted to keep her part in the family zombie-raising business quiet - until her 16th birthday when her boyfriend-to-be dies, she brings him back to life, then finds herself immediately shipped off to necromancy school, where her first assignment is reaping the soul of the very same boyfriend-to-be; and her reaping tutor? the same hot but very angry reaper whose work she undid in the first place - and that's the least of her new problems, to Natashya Wilson at Harlequin Teen, in a three-book deal, by Stephanie Rostan at Levine Greenberg Literary Agency (World).

# # # #

Star War fans-- wish this was coming to Denver...


From the Star Wars DK Publishing site

Beginning in early May, a group of DK's talented Star Wars authors and illustrators will hit the road, visiting bookstores, schools, and libraries for the DK Star Wars 'Attack of the Authors' East Coast Tour. Events will run from May 7th through May 15th, from Massachusetts, all the way down to Florida.

Tour guests include Ryder Windham, Chris Reiff, Chris Trevas, Jason Fry, and Her Universe founder Ashley Eckstein (the voice of Ahsoka Tano in Star Wars: The Clone Wars). Co-sponsored by Mimobot and Her Universe, the 'Attack of the Author' events will also feature guest appearances by the costumed characters of the 501st Legion and the Rebel Legion, members of the R2 Builders Club, as well as raffles, giveaways, and Star Wars activities.

A full-sized R2 droid replica will be coming along for the ride, collecting signatures of attending 501st Legion and R2 Builders Club members at each event, which will be raffled off to benefit a national charity organization after the tour. A full list of dates and author appearances can be found here.

# # # #

Everyone seems to be working on this:

Barnes & Noble to add autograph function to Nook




Posted By Chris Meadows On April 27, 2011 @ 10:35 pm

A couple of weeks ago I covered Autography [1], a prototype system for autographing digital books involving an iPad 2. Now Barnes & Noble is about to release an upgrade to the Nook reader that will allow Nook owners to have authors sign their e-books using a stylus [2]. (Presumably via the touch-sensitive color LCD screen portion of the reader.)

Interestingly, eReader (which Barnes & Noble bought) long allowed authors to do something similar using an Easter Egg function of the Palm PDA reader client. I wonder if that's what gave B&N the idea?

At any rate, for Nook owners this could be a rather better way to do book autographs than the complicated Autography system that would involve social networking and downloading and various rigamarole on the part of the author. Nook owners could just activate the autograph function, hand the stylus over, and get the signature. Just like with a paper book.

Which in turn makes buying a Nook start to look more attractive to "serious" e-bibliophiles. The wi-fi model is becoming available for $80 refurbished now and then, after all…

So how do you Nookies feel about this?

# # # #

A nice Steampunk article touting the first ever Southern California steampunk con.... from San DIego CityBeat :


"Aurelia and her Jelly Cruiser" by Winona Cookie

Nancy and James Hay say they're striking while the steampunk iron is hot. The two are helping program and promote the Gaslight Gathering, the first-ever Southern California steampunk convention, happening at the Town & Country Hotel in Mission Valley May 6 through 8.

"Steampunk has been around since '87," says James, wearing a mad-scientist, Victorian-era costume complete with brass goggles and a futuristic-looking time-travel watch. "But it was just kind of a low-lying thing—not really a big part of science fiction. Then, I eventually heard about the first steampunk convention, and I went, 'Oh, OK, when did it become a movement, and why the heck didn't anyone tell me?'"

The couple knew the steampunk zeitgeist was strong when talk of it left the fan sites and entered the mainstream. Locally, there was the steampunk art show at the Oceanside Museum of Art and a steampunk-themed fund-raiser at Sushi Performance & Visual Art in East Village, so they figured it was a good time for a convention in San Diego.

The affair will include how-to panels on things like making your own carpet bag and designing vintage shoe coverings, plus literary talks, a masked ball, concerts and tea time.

"Making this an annual convention is the aim," Nancy says. "And as long as Time magazine doesn't put steampunk on the cover, then we're probably OK, because once that happens, it means the thing has peaked."

More at the link above. Also check out Winona Cookie's site. Some great stuff.

# # # #

Okay, sports fans, that's it for this week. What's going on in your world that I should know about? Or that I shouldn't know about. I'm not picky. Anytime you spot an article of interest about a favorite author or book or whatever, let me know. I'm always on the lookout for good stuff. My life right now is butt in the chair, hands on the keyboard as I finish up the eighth Anna Strong adventure. This one is shaping up to being much darker than any of the others. Lots of asses for Anna to kick. Mario really loves that. I have a working title--Haunted--but that may change, Just not sure yet.

Let me hear from you!

Pimping Druids, the Fae, and Kevin Hearne

Thanks very much to Jeanne and Mario for letting me hang out here! I'm peppering a whole bunch of League blogs today for my urban fantasy debut, Hounded, and you can see the full list of stuff I'm up to over at my own blog.

I had some Twitter peeps suggest to me that I write about my path to publication, so I decided to do that over the course of a few blogs: the genesis of the idea is on John Scalzi's Whatever blog in his feature called The Big Idea; my twenty-year epic journey is on the blog of fellow Leaguer J.F. Lewis, and here's where I'm going to share a bit about queries.

I wouldn't say my query was the bestest ever. Not even close. I sent it to twenty-four agents and got nineteen form rejections, three partial requests and two full requests. Lots of people get better results that that. Luckily, one of the full requests offered me representation and he sold the series in two weeks at auction. (And that's a lesson right there: twenty-three agents said no to a manuscript that was quite acceptable to four publishers. Everyone has different tastes and you have to be persistent until you find the right match.)

I had zero contacts in the industry and no publishing credits, so I simply began with the pitch itself—either the story would be interesting on its own merits or it wouldn't. At the end I put in a word count, hinted I had a series here, and then gave them exactly what they wished for in terms of their submission requirements. Some agents want ten pages, or the first three chapters, or whatever. Read their requirements and follow them! They're all different on purpose because whether you follow them or not is a big hint about what you'll be like to work with. Don't tell them your friends really like it or that it will sell a million copies, or commit any of these other sad (but true) errors you'll find on Slushpile Hell.

Dear Agent,

Atticus O'Sullivan has been running for two thousand years, and he's a bit tired of it. After he stole a magical sword form the Tuatha Dé Danann (those who became the Sidhe of the Fae) in a first century battle, some of them were furious and gave chase, and some were secretly amused that a Druid had the cheek to defy them. As the centuries passed and Atticus remained a fugitive—an annoyingly long-lived one, at that—those who were furious only grew more so, while others began to aid him in secret.

Now he's living in Tempe, Arizona, the very last of the Druids, far from where the Fae can easily enter this plane and find him. It's a place where many paranormals have decided to hide from the troubles of the old world—from an Icelandic vampire holding a grudge against Thor to a coven of Polish witches who ran from the German Blitzkrieg.

When Atticus hears from the Morrigan that his nemesis, Aenghus Óg, has found him once again, he decides to stay and fight rather than run. In so doing, he becomes the center of power struggle amongst the Tuatha Dé Danann where the sword he stole is the key to a plot to overthrow Brighid, First among the Fae.

Hounded is complete at approximately 82,000 words, and is the first book in a series of urban fantasy novels about the American Druid, for which I am seeking representation. I've enclosed a brief synopsis and the first fifty pages for your review. May I send you a copy of the entire manuscript? I have included a SASE for your reply. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Kind regards,
Kevin Hearne

This letter didn't include any of the subplots or supporting characters in Hounded that early reviewers are responding to; a query letter can't contain all of that. You have to sell your main plot and hint at the rest if you have the room, but keep it short and enticing. The whole point is to get the agent to request your manuscript, after all, so that they can learn all about your subplots and supporting cast for themselves.

Again, my query letter isn't the zippiest ever. I'm much better at writing books and being a smartass than I am at writing a one-page sales pitch! But it's a necessary part of the biz, and one you have to acquire some competency in if you ever want somebody to read your work. Writing guest blogs during your release week is another necessary part of it. :)

If you'd like to read the first six chapters of Hounded for free, you can click here and find that as well as other goodies. It's available now at all the cool places you normally buy books. Hope you enjoy, and thanks to Jeanne and Mario for letting me sprawl out here!

Our pleasure Kevin. Sell tons o' books, then give generously to our bar tab!

Videos, Books and a Witch Hunt...oh my!

Hi all-- I'm starting off with a video sent to me by pal Lizzie T. Leaf because I happen to be in the editing stage of my novel now and I know just what this feels like!



# # # #

A lot of different things caught my attention this week.

Penguin (but not really, read on) is launching something new.

Penguin has launched a beta version of Book Country, "an active community of writers, readers and experts" in the field of genre fiction. The New York Times reported that in its initial phase, the website "will allow writers to post their own work--whether it's an opening chapter or a full manuscript--and receive critiques from other users.... Later this summer the site will generate revenue by allowing users to self-publish their books for a fee by ordering printed copies. (The books will bear the stamp of Book Country, not Penguin, and the site is considered a separate operation from Penguin.)."


The full scoop here .

# # # #



Ever wonder where and if typewriters are still made? Well, this was from the Daily Mail U.K

The end of the line: Last typewriter factory left in the world closes its doors India-based company has just a few hundred machines left in stock

It's an invention that revolutionised the way we work, becoming an essential piece of office equipment for the best part of a century.

But after years of sterling service, that bane for secretaries has reached the end of the line.

Godrej and Boyce - the last company left in the world that was still manufacturing typewriters - has shut down its production plant in Mumbai, India with just a few hundred machines left in stock.

But wait-- not so fast: From Gawker

Rest easy, annoyingly hirsute hipster Luddites loitering at local cafes: The typewriter is alive and well. How do I know? Well, because I looked on Staples' website. But don't take my word for it. Let's check in with a typewriter manufacturing expert:

The typewriter is "far from dead," [says] Ed Michael, General Manager of Sales at Moonachie, NJ-based Swintec.

"We have manufacturers making typewriters for us in China, Japan, Indonesia," Michael says. "We have contracts with correctional facilities in 43 states to supply clear typewriters for inmates so they can't hide contraband inside them," Michael explained.

Clear typewriters for inmates? That's a good use for technology.

# # # #

This next is timely because I happen to be watching Doctor Who right now courtesy of Netflix.
(Yes, Mario, I can multi-task)

Courtesy of io9

Neil Gaiman explains why his Doctor Who episode is a "game-changer"

Doctor Who season six starts this week, and there are so many reasons to be excited, including Mark Sheppard and more River Song. But there's also the fact that award-winning fantasy author Neil Gaiman has written one episode. ..

Gaiman's episode, titled "The Doctor's Wife," will air during the fourth week of this season, and is set in a spaceship graveyard.




# # # #

Thinking of a June steampunk wedding? Check this site out :


# # # #

As you might remember, I am (was) a huge Robert B. Parker fan. I will withhold comment on this until I see the first book.

(Newser) – The two most famous creations of late crime novelist Robert B. Parker will live on. His estate will allow two writers to continue the Spenser and Jesse Stone novels, reports Publishers Weekly . Michael Brandman will take over the Spenser series, which debuted in 1974 and now number 39. Ace Atkins gets the Jesse Stone novels (1997, nine tomes). Meanwhile, the last novel Parker completed before his death last year, Sixhill, will be released next month, notes the AP.

Can I volunteer to write the Sunny Randall series?

# # # #

Since I'm feeling a bit nostalgic now, let's end with this:



What caught your eye this week?

PS - Okay, this came up and I had to include it. Can you believe this?

[image error]

So why was the nosy mother investigating the teacher anyway? And why tell her son? Teachers aren't supposed to have a private life? She should decide whether she wants to teach or write???? If it wasn't so absurd and insulting, it would be funny. I hope Judy Mays sells a million books.

Get a clue!

Mario here:


I have a story in the YA anthology: You don't Have A Clue: Latino Mysteries for Teens, from Arte Publico Press, edited by Sarah Cortez. A *Starred Review* in Book List gives us bragging rights.

Years ago I swore I'd never write a story set in my hometown of Las Cruces, NM, or placed during the 70's. And I've done just that in "No Soy Loco," but with a little twist: mysterious voices, alien criminals, and eye gouging (otherwise, why go to LC?) A perfect tale for impressionable minds.

Manuel Ramos also has a story in the anthology. The book launch party will be Friday, 7PM, May 20, at the Tattered Cover on Colfax. As you can see, Ramos will bring a dose of much needed class to the event.


Also on the radar, I'll be at the South Carolina Book Festival, May 14-15, presenting Saturday on the panel Fantastic Fiction! Werewolves, Vampires and Blood! with

Faith Hunter,
the ever serious Sam Morton,



and the darkly fashionable Kalayna Price.



I'm signing 11AM, on both Saturday and Sunday. More details as we get closer to the date.

My TBR is in serious need of replenishing. If you have any titles to recommend, please post. Any genre, as long as it rocked you.




In the meantime, I can't sing praises loud enough for Sherman Alexie. I just finished War Dances and have started Ten Little Indians. The story, "The Search Engine," made my Muse* cry, it was that freakin' awesome.








* Hey Muse, you lazy bitch. Why can't you give me such inspiration? But no...it's always Happy Hour for you.

Spring has sprung...

Nicest crop of tulips ever.

# # # #


Have you seen this? Loved it!!!




# # # #

Speaking of movies--From Shelf Awareness and Deadline.com

Lionsgate has added two more actors to the cast of The Hunger Games, based on the novel by Suzanne Collins and directed by Gary Ross. Deadline.com reported that Josh Hutcherson (The Kids Are All Right) will play Peeta Mellark, the baker's son, and Liam Hemsworth (The Last Song) is set to play Gale Hawthorn. They join a cast that already includes Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss Everdeen. The movie, which is expected to be part of a trilogy, is scheduled to be released March 23, 2012.

Any Hunger Games fans out there? What do you think of the casting?

# # # #

Well, we knew it was bound to happen. From the New York Times :

Would You Sign My Kindle? By STEPHANIE ROSENBLOOM Published: April 13, 2011
Mr. Waters is in the vanguard. At the BookExpo America in New York in May, he and Robert Barrett, an information technology executive, plan to debut Autography. Here's how an Autography eBook "signing" will work: a reader poses with the author for a photograph, which can be taken with an iPad camera or an external camera. The image immediately appears on the author's iPad (if it's shot with an external camera, it's sent to the iPad via Bluetooth). Then the author uses a stylus to scrawl a digital message below the photo. When finished, the author taps a button on the iPad that sends the fan an e-mail with a link to the image, which can then be downloaded into the eBook.

Wish I'd thought of it.

# # # #

From the archives of the LA Library via boingboing :


Circa 1960

I'm probably the only one old enough to remember when kids wore taps on the toe of their shoes...

# # # #

On a sad note, from the BBC :

Doctor Who star Elisabeth Sladen, who was also in spin-off series The Sarah Jane Adventures, has died aged 63.

Sladen appeared as Doctor Who assistant Sarah Jane Smith in the BBC television sci-fi series between 1973 and 1976, opposite Jon Pertwee and Tom Baker.

The Liverpool-born actress appeared in four series from 2007 of The Sarah Jane Adventures on children's channel CBBC.

Sladen had been battling cancer for some time and leaves actor husband Brian Miller and daughter Sadie.



# # # #
So, I think that's it from my little corner of the universe. Got the copy edits for Crossroads and sent them back. Now, I'm forging ahead with book eight. It's going to be a bit different, a lot darker. It's a tougher book to write than I thought it would be. Culebra figures prominently in this one and he's telling me his story as we go.
What's up with you?

The future, the past, and some naked flesh

Mario here:





Spent the weekend at Starfest 2011.
Besides the usual costume zaniness and excuse to watch a lotta skin...






I put in time with my new pals at Comicfest...




and at Horrorfest presented alongside werewolf/YA/dragon author Carrie Vaughn...




and "I Love Horror" Stephen Graham Jones.









This year I noticed a dearth of pirate and Klingon costumes and an explosion of Steampunk. Three years ago at another con, several authors groaned about this thing called Steampunk and couldn't wait for it to die.
No one was sure what to make of Steampunk other than it gave costumers a chance to wear goggles and tiny hats and sew brass gears to their clothes. Here we are in 2011 and Steampunk keeps getting more omnipresent with ever more fanciful gadgets:



As an opportunity for a fantasy S&M twist:














And yet another occasion for a femme fatale, in this case Aimee Matheny of the Colorado Chrononauts, to lure the too-willing man to the shoals of self destruction. *guilty*


Catch Aimee on this 9News clip.


Steampunk has evolved into two sects, as it were: the English Victorian and the American Western, each embellished with tropes of the genre: corsets, electro-guns, robots, absinthe, and of course, airships:






While everyone seems to be in agreement about the aesthetics of Steampunk, the literature not so much. Most of the Steampunkers I talked with expressed disappointment in the state of steampunk prose--lots of gimmicks and bling but not enough substance. A few names topped our discussions as the exceptional writers in the genre: Cherie Priest, Scott Westergard, and China Mieville.