Cherie Priest's Blog: It's awards season, so here comes the shameless self-promotion, page 21

Maplecroft Links Round-Up and other Whatnot

So it's been a most excellent week, with the outstanding Kat Richardson hanging out here in Tennessee - plus Bonus! visits from other miscellaneous old friends (including Derek Tatum). We wined. We dined. We went sight-seeing, in accordance with tourist law.



Tomorrow, I have to take Kat back to the airport, that she may return to the Pacific Northwest. And the southeast will be that much less awesome.

[:: sigh ::]

* * *

IN BRIGHTER NEWS. Maplecroft has the book world chatting, thank GOD. Like dear Oscar said, the only thing worse than being talked about ... is not being talked about. So here, I offer a roundup of the highlights:
Romantic Times gives me a heart attack - By bestowing a 4-1/2 star rating upon Maplecroft, that's how. I'm not even kidding, I was STUNNED. RT has reviewed very little of my material; and typically, those reviews have been not so much, shall we say, glowing. So this one? This one had me dancing on air.

i09 compiles a list - A list of the "Science Fiction and Fantasy Books You Must Not Miss in September." Maplecroft is #3. BOOM.

Mania.com weighs in - "For lovers of the gothic and macabre, Maplecroft is an unflinchingly grotesque glare into the maws of madness. Blood and viscera spatter readers in a miasmic mix of retched and revolting. This should surprise no one coming from Priest, who is fresh off a series centered on toxic steampunk zombies. Maplecroft is loftier, aspiring to the mountains of madness from whose peaks unfathomable insanity rains down. Succeeding to the summit is a superb work which wields both mastery over the classic forms of Lovecraft and Stoker, and the keenly honed blade of modern sensibilities."

Den of Geek chimes in, too - "...If you haven’t guessed it, I highly recommend Maplecroft."

Maplecroft audio book - YES. We've got one. Let me help you with that - click this-here link to visit Tantor Audio, where you can find it in handy-dandy audio CD or MP3 CD format. Go ye thereforth, and order.

One day, I will shut up about MAPLECROFT

But today is not that day. In my defense, this is the big Release Week - so it's kind of expected. And I'm super excited about it anyway, so please forgive me while I continue nattering onward.

[Aside: Because people have been asking about DragonCon...suffice it to say, I had a most excellent time. I tweeted. I took pictures. You can catch up on the highlights right over here . But it's just as well that I don't attempt a proper recap; I would undoubtedly leave someone/something awesome out, and then feel terrible about it.]

THEREFORE. Let me offer up the most relevant bits, in order to bring everyone up to speed.

FIRST. I've spent the afternoon doing a reddit AMA - and it's still going. I'll take off to walk the dog and get some supper here in a bit, but later on this evening, I'll pop back in and answer a few more questions. So if you've got some burning query, then fire away! I'll try to get to it tonight.

SECOND. If you're curious about Maplecroft origins, and a bit of the true story behind it ... then get yourself over to Scalzi's place where I'm up for the Big Idea. There, I talk a little about the facts of the case - and how I found the project's center.

THIRD. Kirkus Reviews - a place where I am not, traditionally, very well received - has named Maplecroft one of its Top Picks for Speculative Fiction Reads in September!

And FOURTH...there is no fourth. Not yet. I'm going to start collecting reviews and rounding up links, sooner rather than later - but I need to go walk Greyson and freshen up for a meal with friends, so I'm going to cut this a little short. TOMORROW, THEN. I bet.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch:
Maplecroft at Amazon
Maplecroft on Kindle
Maplecroft at iTunes
Maplecroft at B&N (Nook and trade paperback)
Maplecroft at your local bookseller via IndieBound

MAPLECROFT: FINALLY

Yes, yes, yes - I'm back from DragonCon. But that's not the REAL news. The real news? BEHOLD: At long last - the day has come! Maplecroft is available at retailers everywhere, AND on e-readers everywhere!

[:: tee shirt cannon ::]
[:: confetti gun ::]
[:: paddlewheel of high fives ::]




Remember Maplecroft? OH YES YOU DO. It's all about LIZZIE BORDEN fighting Cthulhu with an AXE... or it's a gothic epistolary novels that fawn wildly over Dracula by way of Lovecraft, if you prefer. And if this is relevant to your interests - or relevant to the interests of anyone you might know - then kindly consider taking a chance on MAPLECROFT!

Likewise, feel free SHARE THIS POST in case you know anybody upon whose personal alley this might be up!

Don't forget: Publishers Weekly gave it a starred review: "Readers will be intrigued by the weird monsters and 19th-century science, but the story is really carried by the characters’ emotional dynamics, especially those between the Borden sisters."

i09 sang its praises: "Maplecroft will be the best damn Cthulhu novel you’ve read in ages." Library Journal was all like: "This clever premise combines genuine horror and a legendary historical character for an entertaining read."

And a number of VERY FINE AUTHORS have likewise chimed in, if you place any weight on the opinions of folks like Chris Golden, Chuck Wendig, Brian Keene, and Keelan Patrick Burke.

JUST SAYIN'.

So here's how you and all your friends can get your hands on a copy via the internet.
AHEM:

Maplecroft at Amazon
Maplecroft on Kindle
Maplecroft at iTunes
Maplecroft at B&N (Nook and trade paperback)
Maplecroft at your local bookseller via IndieBound


So go on then...FLY, MY PRETTIES! MY MAGICAL BOOK-TYPE PRETTIES! To bookshelves and nightstands everywhere!

Hitting the road for DragonCon

Okay folks, here goes one last post before I drive down to Atlanta this afternoon. Below you'll find my schedule (the public part of it, at least)...and don't forget - some of the book vendors [Missing Volume, Larry Smith] should have copies of Maplecroft on sale early. But you'd better grab them fast! I don't know how many they were able to score; and when they're gone, they're gone.

I mean, until Tuesday, when the book officially drops nationwide. But if you want an advance peek at the reading - or if you'd like one signed - here's your chance!

And for now, I'm outta here.
Wish me luck! It's going to be one hell of a week...

Friday
11:30 a.m. - The Wide, Wide World of Alt History: An introduction into the many worlds of alternate history and what to expect this year on the track. Westin Augusta 1-2
1:00 p.m. - Deadlier Than the Male: The role of the feminine in horror literature. Westin Peachtree 1-2
4:00 p.m. - The Many Faces of Pulp: A discussion of pulp fiction's many faces, from gritty crime fiction to the deepest depths of space or the far-flung future. Westin Augusta 3
5:30 p.m. - Building Alternate Worlds and Times: Creators of alternate worlds discuss secrets for building brave new worlds, from research to deviations in history and much more. Westin Augusta 1-2
7:00 p.m. - Cthulhu Mythos - The Innsmouth Cycle: A discussion about the Innsmouth cycle created by H.P. Lovecraft and continued by his followers. Westin Peachtree 1-2
Saturday
2:00 p.m. - Signing at the Missing Volume's booth. Dealer's hall, second floor. Booth 328/329/330.
4:00 p.m. - Signing at the HWA table. Hyatt, across the hall from the comic artists alley.
7:00 p.m. - Penny Dreadful Fan Panel: A discussion of Showtime's tribute to Victorian-era horror. Westin Peachtree 1-2

Sunday
2:30 - Signing at Larry Smith's booth, 103/104/105.

Monday
10:00 a.m. - Urban Fantasy or Horror? What's the Difference? Authors writing in both genres discuss the distinction between the two, as well as the similarities. Westin Chastain ED
1:00 p.m. - Werewolves, Vampires, Demons, & Dragons: Learn to develop classic fantastic characters that stand out. What are the "rules," and how can they be broken? Hyatt Embassy D-F

Oh yeah it's rollercoaster time

Here comes DragonCon, and I'm frantically trying to get everything sorted out before leaving ... thus my internet silence of late. I've had a lot of work to do, and have even scared up a couple of proposals for new projects - which have gone off to their potential editor, and we'll see how that goes.

Also there's been laundry and housework and shopping and a little bit of yardwork (but not much because it's been hella hot), plus research and planning and some stabs at proto-packing.

By proto-packing I mean, "Rounding up all those little things that I don't need, but will definitely want at some point." Stuff like a shower cap, my favorite lanyard (I have a vast assortment, these days), trusty flask, my own damn hand lotion so I don't run around smelling like the hotel, etc. etc. etc. Non-essential items that nonetheless make a convention easier and/or more pleasant.

Speaking of DragonCon - for what it's worth, I've shoe-horned yet another signing into my schedule, which you can find right here .

Sunday afternoon I'll be over at Larry Smith's booth, signing like a fiend; and I am told that - barring unforeseen catastrophe - Larry will have copies of Maplecroft on hand, fully two days before you're supposed to be able to get your grubby paws on one. In case that piques anyone's interest.

* * *

Hey, remember a couple of years ago - how my husband and I found that kitten in a Wendy's parking lot? Here's a lovely little update on that story.

* * *

In other four-footed friend-related news, Greyson got a bath this afternoon. Which is to say, my husband and I basically got a bath too, but you know how it goes when 85 pounds of shaggy-ass I DON'T WANNA would rather be beaten by a garden hose than bathed with one.

But you try telling him it's for his own good.

I'd post a sulky-pants picture of him to wrap up this post, but I didn't get a good one in time - for he promptly took off to go dig in the dirt and hide in the shrubbery like a jerk. Instead, here's a shot from our walk a day or two ago - whereupon we ran into his mini-dachshund friend "Heidi"...who is lovingly mauling him. She runs around in circles and squeaks every time she sees him; she absolutely adores him, and it's the cutest damn thing you've ever seen.




Yeah, that's a nice note to end a post on.
Good night, everyone. I'll try to update again before I head down to Atlanta on Wednesday.

Your rolled up sleeves in your skull t-shirt

Today might've been more productive if I hadn't freaked out and summoned Greyson's vet - so hey, even if I didn't get much work done, at least I had a panic attack and spent some money.

[:: sigh ::]

Long story short, yesterday morning Greyson picked up a little cough. I wasn't too worked up about it, but it worsened overnight; and by lunchtime today he was copiously barfing - then having coughing fits that lasted half a minute, and left him gasping for breath. So, yeah. I called his vet.

(Meanwhile, he acted like he felt just fine. We took our usual morning walk, chased each other around the yard, and played a round of rope-tug. When he wasn't coughing, he was totally normal.)

Because Greyson is a contrary soul, he declined to produce even one half-hearted hack while the doc was present. His lungs and heart sounded good, and his bloodwork from a few days ago* showed that everything was 100% normal ... so we're not sure if it's a mild case of bronchitis, allergies, some weird object stuck in his throat, or what. But he got some steroids and anti-nausea meds, which have already helped.

Naturally, five minutes after the vet left, he flopped down on the floor of my office and started coughing, so I whipped out my phone and shot some video - which I promptly sent to the doc. I hated to see him uncomfortable, but I was glad to have proof that I am not, in fact, some Münchausen-by-proxy pet parent.

Obviously, we will keep an eye on him.
And he will keep an eye on my turkey sandwich.



In other news...there's not much other news. I'm still maintaining that holding pattern over here, while I quietly wig out about the very nearness of DragonCon.

So to wrap this up, here's a little Throwback Thursday entry: yours truly and my mom (who is making a weird face, I don't know why). I think this is circa 1978...? It's my aunt's wedding, I know that much. Mom's wearing a bridesmaid dress; I was a flower girl.





* Yes, the poor vet was JUST out here for his annual checkup/boosters. [:: facepalm ::]

It was the creation of some of those same old things

It's been a couple of "holding pattern" days, where I'm waiting for news and information from several different sources - without which, I can't really proceed on anything. These days are weirdly stressful. And they feel unproductive. In fact, they've been more or less unproductive, except for some laundry, grocery shopping, and an interview with the awesome Seattle Geekly folks (it'll go live next week).

I've also been making arrangements for DragonCon - because oh God, that happens next week. There are officially six different meetings/suppers/lunches which aren't on my Official Schedule, with maybe two more pending ... but here's the general programming scoop on where and when you can definitely find me:
Friday
11:30 a.m. - The Wide, Wide World of Alt History: An introduction into the many worlds of alternate history and what to expect this year on the track. Westin Augusta 1-2
1:00 p.m. - Deadlier Than the Male: The role of the feminine in horror literature. Westin Peachtree 1-2
4:00 p.m. - The Many Faces of Pulp: A discussion of pulp fiction's many faces, from gritty crime fiction to the deepest depths of space or the far-flung future. Westin Augusta 3
5:30 p.m. - Building Alternate Worlds and Times: Creators of alternate worlds discuss secrets for building brave new worlds, from research to deviations in history and much more. Westin Augusta 1-2
7:00 p.m. - Cthulhu Mythos - The Innsmouth Cycle: A discussion about the Innsmouth cycle created by H.P. Lovecraft and continued by his followers. Westin Peachtree 1-2
Saturday
2:00 p.m. - Signing at the Missing Volume's booth. Dealer's hall, second floor. Booth 328/329/330.
4:00 p.m. - Signing at the HWA table. Hyatt, across the hall from the comic artists alley.
7:00 p.m. - Penny Dreadful Fan Panel: A discussion of Showtime's tribute to Victorian-era horror. Westin Peachtree 1-2
Monday
10:00 a.m. - Urban Fantasy or Horror? What's the Difference? Authors writing in both genres discuss the distinction between the two, as well as the similarities. Westin Chastain ED
1:00 p.m. - Werewolves, Vampires, Demons, & Dragons: Learn to develop classic fantastic characters that stand out. What are the "rules," and how can they be broken? Hyatt Embassy D-F
Same rules as always apply, which is to say, I'll sign whatever you like, and as much of it as you want. Sometimes I can hang around after/before panels and sign things/chat/hang out, but please don't take it personally if I can't; like I said above, I have a number of important meetings and things that aren't noted here. As long as I'm not (a). eating, or (b). in the bathroom, feel free to stop me if you catch me out and about - and if I have time, I'll cheerfully pause to sign your stuff. But again, please don't take it the wrong way if I'm in a mad dash for a panel or a meeting. It's not you, it's me. I swear.

In other news - well, I'm still waiting for other news. Rather than dwell on that, and/or obsessively check my email/phone...how about a puppy picture? Here's Greyson using my thigh as a pillow, as we both watch TV in the den. He's a world champion snuggler, he is.

If you've got the inclination, I have got the crime

It's a Monday! And I hardly know where to begin, but that's becoming typical, I swear. I've been a crappy blogger, yes - but in my defense, things have been pretty busy around here. There's been a lot of end-of-summer yardwork, some business-type hurry-up-and-wait, and also a great deal of this-is-almost-due that's been catching up with me over the last few days.

But I'm finally starting to dig myself out, so here goes nothing.

First up: The Hugo Awards! I wasn't there, and I wasn't nominated for anything - but that doesn't mean I can't be super-happy for the awesome people who were there, and who did win things. Lots of love and rockets to everyone!

Next up: Maplecroft news! You guys, check it out - my author copies finally arrived! And they are beautiful! They have sexy embossing on the cover! They have that new-book smell!




It's all I can do not to make a big pile of them and go swimming around like Scrooge McDuck in his money bin. So it's just as well I don't have enough do that.

Probably.

And now, some Maplecroft-relevant links - because it's easy, and it's late, and I'm low on brain-power right now (but go book, go!):
More love from i09 - Where Maplecroft is named one of "the 30 books you absolutely cannot afford to miss this fall."

The Book Shop Santa Cruz - Where Maplecroft is a staff pick, and scores a great staff review. Some awesome soul named "Jax" declares it "An excellent read for those long fall nights, so long as you don’t need to sleep any time soon."

My Bookish Ways - Where Maplecroft makes the list as a September must-read.

The Red-Headed Femme - Who declares that "H.P. Lovecraft is smiling in his grave"...and furthermore, "This book is unique, and wonderful, and terrifying. Don't miss it."


Unrelated to books at all - and in conclusion - I am told that yesterday was some kind of semi-official Black Cat Appreciation Day. Spain the Cat approves of all appreciation, official, semi-official, and otherwise.

Even on a Monday.

You'd hate for the kids to think that you lost your cool

It has been beautiful out there today - the temperature topped out around 80 degrees, it was super-windy, and sunny-but-not-too-sunny, so I spent the day outdoors. I needed to, for the grounds here at Rosebury Haunt were looking pretty ragged.

Okay, it still looks a little ragged, but it is greatly improved - particularly at the back and side of the house.

By way of cataloging my exploits, you may know that I accomplished the following: pruned and de-bugged the old rose tree; pruned, weeded, and evicted vines from the new roses at the side of the house; pruned, weeded, and evicted vines from the old roses at the front/side of the house, and gently wired the new growth to the trellises; weeded the yard directly at the rear of the house, where the foundation plants are really starting to take hold (this actually took for-freaking-ever); removed vines and performed other assorted weeding at the side of the house, where the climbing hydrangea is surging up the side of the porch; did some weeding in the back bed by the garage; pruned/fed/trimmed the container-garden plants; restocked all the bird-feeders except for the hummingbird feeder, which still has goo in it; and watered the hell out of every damn thing that needed it.

I was joined by this pretty thing, which hung around for several hours - making itself happy in the blue salvia and then the butterfly trees.



But I'm not done. Oh no.

Tomorrow's to-do list: run the edger/trimmer around All The Things; cook up some more hummingbird food then clean/restock that feeder; prune, weed, and evict vines from the roses by the used-to-be-a-herb-garden corner; prune, weed, and evict vines from the front shrubbery; and maybe, if there's time, take the loppers to the holly hedgerow.

Greyson has a vet appointment tomorrow, so that'll break up the afternoon a bit; nothing's wrong wrong with him or anything - it's just time for his checkup and booster shoots. I think I can still get most of my list tackled, if not all of it. We'll see how it goes.

I also need to sit down and read through the entirety of my Godbothering content, so that I can renew progress on that bad-boy this month. I was going to do that today, but the clock ran out on me - which is to say, I am now too tired to give it my full attention. So...to hell with it.

Anyway, in closing (because I am also too tired to wrap this up in a tidy fashion) ... here's a picture of my cat being weird. She climbed over my desk, strolled onto the file cabinet, climbed atop the little trunk there (it holds sewing supplies), and then stared into the corner for twenty minutes - occasionally lifting a paw to scratch at it.

Cats, man.

Going down the only road I've ever known

Yeah, well. Whitesnake was playing on the radio last night, and it's stuck in my head. NOW IT CAN BE STUCK IN YOURS, TOO. [mwooohahahahaha]

So! Today, I've got a couple of things to talk about. First up, I'm lucky enough to be involved in Kevin Hearne's apology to Atlanta ! And why would Kevin feel the need to apologize in the first place? Because he has to bail on DragonCon, that's why. I understand. Things happen. And since this benefits me, personally...I'm prepared to forgive him.

For you see, Kevin will be zooshing back to the southeast again for an event at the Fox Tale Book Shop in Woodstock (right outside Atlanta) - and he will be joined by YOURS TRULY and also DELILAH S. DAWSON. [:: confetti gun ::] [:: tee shirt cannon ::] [:: pom-poms a'waving ::]

Look, I'm not going to lie to you, folks: It's gonna get silly up in there. And if you are in the greater Atlanta area, you definitely want to swing by to get in on the action.

Don't worry. I'll remind you again before we set out for glory.

Hm. What else? Oh yes - you know how I ordered some new glasses from Zenni Optical? Like, a week ago? Well believe it or not, they're already here! And in fact, I am wearing one of those pairs right this moment.

So here's the verdict, or at least my initial impressions.
Ahem.

The quality seems more or less comparable to anything I might've ordered through an optometrist's office. The frames are sturdy and attractive, and the lenses are exactly what they're supposed to be. I had some concerns about this latter bit in particular, because my eyes are pretty screwy; I'm around 8.0 in each of them, with a hefty astigmatism in the left that always throws things for an extra loop.

Due to that prescription, my lenses are the ultra-high-index variety (by necessity), but on top of that I added all the special coatings and whatnot, then threw in expedited shipping because screw it, that's why. All of this together cost me $258.

And to think, I was PSYCHED when I got my last pair of glasses - for they only cost me a little shy of $600. This is after the previous pair (ordered in Seattle, where things run pricier) ... cost nearly a thousand. So you can imagine my absolute GLEE at the prospect of two pairs for relative peanuts!

Am I still gleeful? Yes, yes I am. I wanted something with larger lenses/field of vision than I had on hand; but I also wanted to try something a little different and funky. So here's the results.

Pair #1 - blue tortoiseshell. Fit perfectly right out of the case. My favorite of the two, at present. I can see great, and I'm fond of the look. Glad I took a chance on them.

(For a close-up shot that displays the blue color better, click here .)




Next up, the cat-eye-shaped funky green tortoiseshell jobbies. I really like these too, though they're quite different from what I usually wear; these needed a little adjusting, but that's okay - because there's a how-to primer on Zenni's website. Very helpful.




These are great too, but something about the lens shape feels unfamiliar to me, and they take a little getting used to. Not a big deal, as they were an adventure pick anyway - and I love having options! These will be a nifty option, every now and again.

So next time I'm feeling flush, I might even pick out another pair. I don't wear my contacts as much as I used to, and variety is the spice of life, non?

When I was younger, I hated wearing glasses - partly because I was "younger" back before high-index lenses were available, and that meant two things: (1). thick, heavy lenses that left creases on my nose and cheeks, and gave me headaches, plus (2). I had to pick frames with enough structural integrity to support those lenses...which meant, in essence, I wore industrial-grade glasses until I was in college. They were never pretty. They were never fashionable. They always looked terrible, and I felt terrible when I wore them.

Now? Not so much.

For one thing, I'm older - and I've had lots of time to come to peace with my crap-tastic vision. For another thing, now we have high-index lenses. For yet a third thing, I can now wear stylin' frames like normal nearsighted people, and some of those frames are really, really cute.

[Aside - I don't want anyone chiming in re: various corrective eye surgeries. I am not a good candidate for any of them; trust me, I've looked into it, and gotten multiple opinions on the matter. It's just one more thing I've come to peace with.]

Anyway, lots of people wanted to know how the Zenni thing worked out for me, so there you have it. If the glasses break or something within the next few weeks, I'll post an update; but for now, I am a happy camper. As opposed to 8th grade - when I was...not so much.

Presented in closing for your amusement:
Orlando Junior Academy, 1989.