Jennifer Allis Provost's Blog, page 25

News, notes and zombies

Supposedly, we're going to reach 40 degrees today. Maybe the icy tundra that is my driveway will become somewhat less...icy tundra-ish. I'm so over winter.

While I have nothing new to report on the Chronicles of Parthalan front, Zombie Love Song has been accepted for the Hell Hath No Fury anthology. It's a collection of zombie stories writted by female authors, and will be out in time for mother's day. Check out the publisher's site here:

http://maydecemberpublications.com/

Yep, I'm lucky # 13

Yeah, zombies are quite the departure from faeries. But fear not - the fire faerie short story is complete and ready for submission. As soon as I decide where I'd like to submit it.

So what do you prefer, faeries, zombies or vampires (oh, my!) Do you think you can learn something about a person based on what kind of supernatural creature they gravitate to? Or is it all just leftover childhood tales?

Come visit!

Ive got a guest post up over at Love Fantasy Sci-fi Novels, where I answer the question I gvet asked the most: Why faeries? It's a great blog with lots of giveaways and such, and if you're reading this blod odds are you DO love fantasy and sci-fi novels.

http://lovefantasyscifinovels.blogspot.com/

Another snowy day...

...but it's not snowing now, and boy if that isn't a relief! There's so much snow in my yard I feel that I should be on the lookout for polar bears and rabid penguins. And my husbands car, a tiny little BMW, may be lost until spring.

In writing news, Heir to the Sun is still with the copy editor (don't want to rush that process) but fear not, we have a new release. Well, kinda new. The short stories I released on Smashwords are now collected together in print, and go by the name Hunter's Tales. It should be available on Kindle shortly. http://www.amazon.com/Hunters-Tales-Deleted-Scenes-Devashi/dp/1456504800/ref=pd_rhf_p_t_1

So, if you still prefer print over ebooks (I sure do), check out Hunter's Tales. It's five short stories told from Aeolmar's perspective; we get to see how he felt that day Latera threw a saddle at him, the time he almost throttled Kemen, and did you know he was once a hired sword for the troll king?

Well, Arisia was fun!

It was the first time I ventured out to Arisia, and I wasn't disappointed. Lots of panels, great guests, and the artist guest of honor was the phenomenally talented glassblower, Josh Simpson. His work is amazing; to think, such beauty from common glass.

Other than that, my only complaint would be that there were so many awesome panels, there was no way I could make it to all of them. I spent some time helping out at the Broad Universe table, and sold a few books as well. All in all, it was a successful Sunday.

If you've ever wondered why I do this, go check out Amber Polo's blog. She interviewed me for her series, "Why I Write Fantasy." The utlimate answer is this: because I like it.

http://amberpolo.blogspot.com/

And, lest ya'll forget, the Kindle edition of Rise of the Deva'shi is now $4.99. It's my way of saying welcome to the world of ebook to everyone who got an ereader for Christmas, Hanukkah and Festivus. Enjoy!

http://www.amazon.com/Rise-Devashi-Chronicle-Parthalan-ebook/dp/B003V8BK66/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2&s=digital-text&qid=1295298020&sr=8-2

I got a one star review!

I was trolling Barnes and Noble's site, finding many ways to spend that $25 gift card that was burning a hole in my pocket, when I decided to search my own name. I know, narcissistic. My penalty for such behavior was finding the aforementioned one star review. It wasn't on the novel, Rise of the Deva'shi, but on a companion short story, Nightwatch. 
 
I ran the gamut of emotions, from shock and disbelief to a mental rundown of my enemies that were seeking to foil me via the World Wide Web. That list is long, treacherous, and mostly imaginary. Then I decided that the star must have been clicked upon in error. Obviously! It must be incorrect. That is the only logical answer.
 
Now, if whoever gave me this review hadn't previously read Rise of the Deva'shi, Nightwatch wouldn't make a lick of sense. Also, since Nightwatch can be downloaded free of charge, it's fairly likely that someone did just that. Reading the cart before the horse, if both cart and horse had words printed on them (!!!)
 
I've reached a state of Zen. The one star has happened, it is real, and I'm over it. Well, not really, but I'm not letting it slow me down.
 
Check out Nightwatch for yourself:

http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/30158

And the contract is in the mail...

Yes, the Prequel to the Sequel will see the light of day! Currently, it is in the hand of the copy editor, and I hope I don't embarass my former English teacher too much. Honestly, my spelling is so atrocious he may not even notice my bad grammar.

Now, a few things about this upcoming work of literature... Latera is not in it. I know, I know. I'm sorry. Also Aeolmar only makes a blink-and-you'll-miss-him appearance. Again, sorry. But this takes place before the two of them were born, and tells the story of how Asherah went from slave to queen.

Will Aeolmar and Latera be in the third Chronicle of Parthalan? Maybe... Until then, check out Smashwords. There are five short stories - deleted scenes, if you will - told from Aeolmar's perspective. We watch him fall in love with Latera, go off in a jealous fit, and we even get to see him before he was First Hunter.

http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/19702



Happy reading!

Christmas is coming...

...and I've even started my shopping! However, were it not for Amazon I don't think I'd get half the gifts I do. Let's face it, the mall is just not the place to be this time of year.

My dislike of holiday food is again serving me well - I've managed to lose two pounds. I know, it's the strangest thing; I typically eat whatever's put in front of me, but those standard holiday spreads just don't do it for me. If more people served roasted red pepper and marinated artichoke hearts, I'd be in trouble.

There *may* be book news. Good book news. REALLY GOOD. Too soon to let the cat out of the bag, but I'll let you know as soon as I can. In the meantime, the fourth deleted scene from Rise of the Deva'shi is up on Smashwords. Check it out, let me know what you think.

http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/33825

Greener Shade of Pale

I don't normally write reviews here - well, this would be the first - but I recently came across Shades of Green by Ian Woodhead. Here's the review as posted on Amazon:

You know how some early Hitchcock meanders around for a while, and you know it's supposed to be scary but you really just don't know what's going on? Then the plot turns a corner and you're there, terrified. That's what shades of Green is like - only in this case, it doesn't turn a corner so much as get swamped by the homicidal shrubbery. Oh, and there is a one-legged pigeon. Gotta love mutant wildlife.
 
I don't normally read horror, but I enjoyed Shades of Green...inasmuch as one can enjoy a psychologically maddening, convoluted and at times thoroughly disgusting read. Mind you, those terms are all compliments. I'll certainly seek out the author's next work.

Should it pique your interest, here's the Kindle link:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-reviews?ie=UTF8&action=submit

And I do like the cover:

Cold & Berries

It's a chilly morning here in Western MA - is it cold where you are? Of course, the sun isn't even up yet here. Hopefully, sunlight will give us an extra degree or two.

On the Chronicles of Parthalan front, the third deleted scene from Rise of the Deva'shi is now up on Smashwords. I'm planning on a total of five scenes, with three of them mirroring Latera's experiences and two being fresh. The first two deleted scenes are free, and the subsequent three can be yours for the low, low price of .99. Once they're all out I'm going to collect them and release on Kindle (you can list something for free on Amazon, which is why I'm doing them all at once) and a print anthology. Yay!

Now, about that second Chronicle of Parthalan... In order to query a Canadian publisher I need to get some International Reply Coupons for my SASE. The question becomes - do I dare brave the Post Office this close to Christmas?

Here's the link to Brambleberries -- and yes, Aeolmar is the one picking berries!

http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/32420

I have a confession to make...

Last night,  I downloaded my first ebook.

Now, you're either aghast at such a scandalous revelation, or you're thinking what' the big deal? I mean, Rise of the Deva'shi is available on Kindle and Smashwords, as well as some short stories. Haven't you done this before.

Well, no.

Now, I don't have an ereader, but I did download the Kindle for PC app, then clicked onto the ebook I so desired. It was here INSTANTLY, in all its wordy glory. For an instant gratification person like myself, that was awesome.

So what's the problem? I like books. Their weight, their smell, the way the paper feels, the dust jacket of a hardcover, the cover art. The art! When I read To Kill a Mockingbird, I carried that poor, battered paperback around for weeks. I don't know if I would have gotten it if I hadn't had Scout and Atticus with me at all times, day and night. Yes, I can certainly carry my laptop around all the time - I sort of do, anyway - but it's just not the same. It never will be.

Are ebooks the future of publishing? Maybe. I think they're definitely a viable option, and in my opinion anything that gets people - especially kids -  reading is a good thing. Will sales of ebooks ever outstrip printed matter? Who knows. Anything's possible. Me, I like my battered paperbacks.