Patrick Swenson's Blog, page 3

July 19, 2018

WORKS IN PROGRESS UPDATE…AKA, IT’S ABOUT DAMN TIME

Yes, it’s been just over a year since I blogged. I’m not a great blogger. I think it’s been even longer since I did a newsletter. WEIRDLY, there were a bunch of folks who signed up for the newsletter over the course of a few months, without me doing anything. Of course, maybe I should go look to see if they’re all real people.


So I at least owe you an update on what I’m writing, just in case you’re not privy to my social media platforms. (Not that I’m much better there disseminating news.) That post a year ago? In it I said I was about halfway through a dark fantasy called Rain Music. It is, in fact, now finished! It is off to readers, and it’s off to my agent. It’s different for me (no space opera noir here), so we’ll see how that goes. It’s set out in the Olympic Rainforest, where I used to live and work, and where my annual writers retreat still takes place. My protagonist? He’s a lot like me, except he comes out there for a year to write some music. Me? I took a year and a half off from teaching and went back there just to write a novel. Of course, none of the magic and bad stuff happened to me while I was there. Wellll, there was that one time. . .


I also sold a short story to an anthology called Unfettered III.  Yes, there were two previous volumes. Great ones, too, with wonderful names in the fantasy field. So indeed, this story is a fantasy story. But it’s a fantasy mystery. You know me so well. It’ll be a beautiful hardcover, with cover art by my buddy (and fellow Bonney Lake inhabitant) Todd Lockwood. It also helps fund a fabulous cause. It should be out later this year. Check it out by clicking here.


Summer has been in full swing almost a month. With my Fairwood Press hat on, I’m working on new projects, finalizing and getting them ready for some August conventions. With my writing hat on, now that Rain Music is in my agent’s hands, I’ve started book three of the Union of Worlds novels. I’ve been a captive audience since last week, spending time in Redmond and Kirkland while my son is doing a class. Since last week, and counting today, I’ve put down the first three chapters. Dave Crowell is back, as is his alien partner Tem Forno. There will be some other familiar characters here and there. I’ve not yet decided on a title, which will follow the pattern of the first two. The Ultra Something Something. (But wait…the Ultras? Aren’t they…you know…?)  Not having a title to start with is different for me with this series. In the first two books, the titles came first. Okay, I’ll fess up and say I have TWO possible titles. But I’m keeping them to myself for now.


Want a taste? Crowell meets a new client:


Morgan was a big man, wide in the shoulders, seemingly all muscle, and taller than me by a good six inches. He wore a nice suit, a three-piece, but it didn’t cover up the fact that he was built like a jump slot mechanic. Seriously. You had to have some heft and power to manipulate slot beams and wheels.


He wasn’t bigger than my alien partner Tem Forno, of course, who was hiding in my bedroom on the other side of the plywood wall separating the two rooms. Forno was a Second Clan Helk, and I didn’t like him scaring away potential customers. I had a feeling, though, that this guy wouldn’t blink at the presence of a Helk. 


As usual, I never quite know how Crowell’s cases are going to turn out until … well, until he’s on the case. So far, though, I’m enjoying getting back into this universe.


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Published on July 19, 2018 15:15

June 1, 2017

CONVENTIONS, RETREATS, AND WRITING NEW STUFF

Well, yes. I’ve not posted in a long while. Where the heck did the year go?? The Ultra Big Sleep came out, and then I went into hibernation myself.


The second book has done okay (not gangbusters, but I’ll certainly move forward with the third book in that story arc), and the companion novelette, Slightly Ruby, about the same. I go through a lot of copies at conventions, as it’s priced low. Sometimes I give them away when folks spend good money at the dealer table.


Speaking of conventions, besides Worldcon in Kansas City, in August, there was a trip to San Francisco in September for SF in SF, which saw Alvaro Zinos-Amaro and Robert Silverberg talking about their Fairwood Press book TRAVELER OF WORLDS (which, by the way, as I write this, is a finalist for the Hugo Award for Best Related Work!). October saw MileHiCon in Denver. Orycon in Portland fell in November. February and March saw three sessions of the annual Rainforest Writers Village, my writers retreat at Lake Quinault. Norwescon was in April, and just last weekend I was in Montana for Miscon. Looking forward: Cascade Writers and Locus Awards in June, Spocon in August, and World Fantasy in early November.


Right now, I’m working on a dark fantasy ghost mystery set out in the Olympic Rainforest, complete with magic and music. I’m enjoying this, and come summer (that is, once the school year is done), I’m expecting to throw a lot of words on the page. I’m over halfway done with it now. Tentatively, it’s titled Rain Music. I’ve not announced that widely, because I’m not sure if it’s a final title or a working title yet.


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Published on June 01, 2017 20:02

Conventions, Retreats, and Writing New Stuff

Well, yes. I’ve not posted in a long while. Where the heck did the year go?? The Ultra Big Sleep came out, and then I went into hibernation myself.


The second book has done okay (not gangbusters, but I’ll certainly move forward with the third book in that story arc), and the companion novelette, Slightly Ruby, about the same. I go through a lot of copies at conventions, as it’s priced low. Sometimes I give them away when folks spend good money at the dealer table.


Speaking of conventions, besides Worldcon in Kansas City, in August, there was a trip to San Francisco in September for SF in SF, which saw Alvaro Zinos-Amaro and Robert Silverberg talking about their Fairwood Press book TRAVELER OF WORLDS (which, by the way, as I write this, is a finalist for the Hugo Award for Best Related Work!). October saw MileHiCon in Denver. Orycon in Portland fell in November. February and March saw three sessions of the annual Rainforest Writers Village, my writers retreat at Lake Quinault. Norwescon was in April, and just last weekend I was in Montana for Miscon. Looking forward: Cascade Writers and Locus Awards in June, Spocon in August, and World Fantasy in early November.


Right now, I’m working on a dark fantasy ghost mystery set out in the Olympic Rainforest, complete with magic and music. I’m enjoying this, and come summer (that is, once the school year is done), I’m expecting to throw a lot of words on the page. I’m over halfway done with it now. Tentatively, it’s titled Rain Music. I’ve not announced that widely, because I’m not sure if it’s a final title or a working title yet.


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Published on June 01, 2017 20:02

August 9, 2016

BOOK BIRTHDAY!

Short and sweet:


Today is THE ULTRA BIG SLEEP’s book birthday! It’s out in the real world. Preorders went out and folks should be receiving those today or tomorrow, I would hope. It’s also the release day of SLIGHTLY RUBY, the prequel novelette.


There’s also a reading tonight at the University Book Store at 7 p.m.


Too much good stuff. Pick up some copies, and if you read them and like them, post some reviews? It really helps!


UBS FULL COVER.indd Slightly Ruby Cover.indd


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Published on August 09, 2016 12:07

August 1, 2016

NOVEL UPDATE: THE ULTRA BIG SLEEP and SLIGHTLY RUBY

The Ultra Big Sleep, the sequel to The Ultra Thin Man, is raring to go out into the world! So is the prequel novelette Slightly Ruby. The pub date for both is next week, August 9th, but I have early copies of both. The Ultra Big Sleep will be available in hardcover and trade paperback (and ebook), and Slightly Ruby will be available as a small-size paperback (and ebook). A couple of pics are below! Orion has found a particularly surprising scene in the new novel.


It’s been a bit hectic trying to get these ready while getting four other books for Fairwood Press ready at the same time. But I’m happy with the results, and I have a number of opportunities coming up to promote the books and to give you, my readers, an opportunity to pick up some signed copies. Here’s the link, right on my website, that shows those venues: http://patrickswenson.net/appearances/


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Published on August 01, 2016 17:18

July 5, 2016

SLIGHT ADVANCE LOOK AT “SLIGHTLY RUBY” COVER

Hey, here’s an image for you. The wraparound cover image for Slightly Ruby, the novelette prequel to The Ultra Thin Man and The Ultra Big Sleep! [Click for larger image.]



 


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Published on July 05, 2016 00:27

June 28, 2016

UPDATED APPEARANCE SCHEDULE

It’s been way past a month since I posted. Sorry, folks. And this isn’t a long post, but a quick note to take a look at the appearances page for an updated list of forthcoming appearances. It includes some conventions and it includes some bookstores where I’ll be reading in conjunction with the debut of THE ULTRA BIG SLEEP.


This coming weekend I’ll be at Westercon in Portland, OR, where I’ll have a table in the dealer room. I got in on a dealer’s cancellation, so it’s a bit last minute to prep for this one. But be on the lookout! I’ll also have a reading (Friday night, 7 pm), an autograph session on Saturday, and a panel on Sunday, but mostly I’ll be behind the table. Come and say hello!


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Published on June 28, 2016 00:39

May 2, 2016

GOODREADS GIVEAWAY GOODNESS

When the first novel came out, there WAS a giveaway of ARCs. All that was handled by Tor. So a little bit of learning curve, and voila, I figured out how to get one going myself. :::pats himself on the back:::


Yep, I’ve got some new hats to wear this time around. I have to do things that pro publishers like Tor, Del Rey, Daw, Baen, etc, usually do for you or help you with.


So THREE advance reader copies (uncorrected proofs) are up for giveaway! It’s so easy. Just gotta click a few times, and you’ll be entered. However, I’ve kept the timeline short. It’s only open from May 3rd through May 10th. One week!


If you don’t win an ARC, look for a giveaway of the FINAL book as well as we head through the next three months.  But even better: Why not buy yourself (and a loved one) a copy?


Here’s the entry widget (but it’s also on the front page):





Goodreads Book Giveaway
The Ultra Big Sleep by Patrick Swenson

The Ultra Big Sleep
by Patrick Swenson

Giveaway ends May 10, 2016.


See the giveaway details

at Goodreads.





Enter Giveaway





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Published on May 02, 2016 18:57

March 11, 2016

FULL COVER SNEAK PEEK

Here’s a look at the full cover … at least the full art. Naturally there will be more stuff on the back!  [click for larger]  And what a nice first blurb to have from the amazing Brenda Cooper!


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Published on March 11, 2016 14:33

February 17, 2016

THE ULTRA BIG SLEEP COVER IS HERE

Estonia artist Kuldar Leement provided this gorgeous wraparound cover for the sequel! Click the image for a larger gorgeous. What do you think?


 


Anonymous_portal_Kuldar_Leement_300dpi horiz


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Published on February 17, 2016 13:57