Jess Faraday's Blog, page 4
January 10, 2014
Turnbull House - Release Approaching!
Turnbull House!
Posted on January 10, 2014 by jfaraday
Although the official release date is Feb. 1, Ira’s second novel is currently available for pre-order at Bold Strokes Books and all the usual suspects. I’m currently approaching the halfway point on the third installment, Fool’s Gold. It’s so hard to be patient!
Turnbull House, the second book of the Porcelain Dog series, was a delight to write. It practically wrote itself. Part of this, I think, was the fact that, with two novels under my belt, I had a better idea of what I was doing. It also helped that I already knew the characters pretty well–although in the process of telling me their story they all revealed some new depths and wrinkles that I hadn’t known were there. I’m rather proud of how the story came together in the end. The plot is more straightforward than that of Porcelain Dog, and the characters, I think, are more polished–though still with some appealing rough edges. It’s very much an intermediate installment. This book’s events reach their natural conclusions, but the larger story arc is noticeably …To Be Continued… I do hope that works in the book’s favor. Feedback from beta readers who hadn’t read Porcelain Dog suggested that it stands alone well. Hopefully readers unfamiliar with the first book will be inspired to go back and read that one as well.
I’ve already posted a number of snippets, but as Release Day approaches, I’ll be posting a few more. Why there's one right now, at my website....
Posted on January 10, 2014 by jfaraday
Although the official release date is Feb. 1, Ira’s second novel is currently available for pre-order at Bold Strokes Books and all the usual suspects. I’m currently approaching the halfway point on the third installment, Fool’s Gold. It’s so hard to be patient!
Turnbull House, the second book of the Porcelain Dog series, was a delight to write. It practically wrote itself. Part of this, I think, was the fact that, with two novels under my belt, I had a better idea of what I was doing. It also helped that I already knew the characters pretty well–although in the process of telling me their story they all revealed some new depths and wrinkles that I hadn’t known were there. I’m rather proud of how the story came together in the end. The plot is more straightforward than that of Porcelain Dog, and the characters, I think, are more polished–though still with some appealing rough edges. It’s very much an intermediate installment. This book’s events reach their natural conclusions, but the larger story arc is noticeably …To Be Continued… I do hope that works in the book’s favor. Feedback from beta readers who hadn’t read Porcelain Dog suggested that it stands alone well. Hopefully readers unfamiliar with the first book will be inspired to go back and read that one as well.
I’ve already posted a number of snippets, but as Release Day approaches, I’ll be posting a few more. Why there's one right now, at my website....
October 31, 2013
Release Day Goodies!
Today is release day for our latest anthology, Undeath and the Detective, a collection of 9 spooky mysteries, just in time for Halloween!
You can read an interview with author Charlie Cochrane at my blog , purchase a paperback copy of this or any of our other mystery anthologies at the Elm Books Website , or buy an ebook version FOR UNDER A BUCK! (until Sunday, 9pm EST), using the code ZK88P at checkout.
Happy Halloween, and Happy Release Day!
You can read an interview with author Charlie Cochrane at my blog , purchase a paperback copy of this or any of our other mystery anthologies at the Elm Books Website , or buy an ebook version FOR UNDER A BUCK! (until Sunday, 9pm EST), using the code ZK88P at checkout.
Happy Halloween, and Happy Release Day!
October 16, 2013
Posty!
Lots of exciting things going on at my blog, including a series of interviews with Elm Books authors, and a 31-day blog challenge!
September 12, 2013
In the Works
Just sent off a short story for an anthology by Obverse Books. Long story short, it's an anthology of Sherlock Holmes stories set in an alternate universe, in which not just one Holmes, but every Holmes ever created has come to life.
In my story, "The Reichenbach Fall," Sir Arthur Conan Doyle confronts his Final Problem when he meets one of the Holmeses at a point in his life where he blames Holmes for his life's failures, and has already unsuccessfully tried to kill him off in writing.
It's quite different from anything I've written before, and it was quite a challenge to write.
Not sure when the anthology is coming out, but if you're looking for a collection of wickedly clever, mind-bending writing, do check out Obverse's other offerings, especially the anthologies containing stories by my friend Helen Angove.
In my story, "The Reichenbach Fall," Sir Arthur Conan Doyle confronts his Final Problem when he meets one of the Holmeses at a point in his life where he blames Holmes for his life's failures, and has already unsuccessfully tried to kill him off in writing.
It's quite different from anything I've written before, and it was quite a challenge to write.
Not sure when the anthology is coming out, but if you're looking for a collection of wickedly clever, mind-bending writing, do check out Obverse's other offerings, especially the anthologies containing stories by my friend Helen Angove.
July 3, 2013
Excerpt: Turnbull House
The sugarhouses that dotted Whitechapel in the 19th century are at the center of the mystery in Turnbull House. I was pleasantly surprised by how easily 19th century sugar production on the East End brought together three of the subplots. Even better, though, was the potential for shuddersome imagery. I was almost sad I hadn’t started this series out as steampunk. Here’s a bit from a section where Ira Adler and Andrew St. Andrews find themselves creeping about a burnt-out sugarhouse.
(Also, wouldn’t Whitechapel Sugarhouse make a great band name?)
To read the excerpt, go here .
(Also, wouldn’t Whitechapel Sugarhouse make a great band name?)
To read the excerpt, go here .
April 30, 2013
Upcoming Events!
Mother's Day Weekend is going to be absolutely chock-a-block.
Friday night, I'm hosting a reception for the Death and the Detective authors at my house. Saturday, I'll be spending the morning at Litfest and the afternoon an hour away testing for 2nd degree. That should take me into the night. On Sunday, if I'm even still alive....
Well, have a look at the beautiful cover art!
The paperback run will be limited, so if you want a paper copy, run over to Elm Books now and pre-order it. It will also be out in ebook, but the cover really has to be touched and savored in paper to be believed.
And don't forget about my wayward baby, The Left Hand of Justice, on sale now.
Friday night, I'm hosting a reception for the Death and the Detective authors at my house. Saturday, I'll be spending the morning at Litfest and the afternoon an hour away testing for 2nd degree. That should take me into the night. On Sunday, if I'm even still alive....
Well, have a look at the beautiful cover art!
The paperback run will be limited, so if you want a paper copy, run over to Elm Books now and pre-order it. It will also be out in ebook, but the cover really has to be touched and savored in paper to be believed.
And don't forget about my wayward baby, The Left Hand of Justice, on sale now.
April 14, 2013
Tournament &tc.
Yesterday was my last tournament as a first-degree (Tae Kwon Do). I always curse myself when the alarm goes off at the crack of dawn, but by the time I'm at the venue with a cup of coffee in hand, caucusing with the other refs, I remember why I'm there and how much I love the sport =)
My showing in poomsae was absolutely shameful. That is, it started out well, but halfway through, my mind drew a blank on the next move. I recovered quickly, but that split-second of hesitation cost me the competition. Having spent the morning judging poomsae, I can tell you that yes, when that happens, *everyone* knows. SIGH. How completely horrifying that I've been doing Koryo for almost three years, and I know that stupid form better than my own name!
I pulled a surprising first in sparring, though. I rarely do well in sparring, but I was *pissed* about my showing in poomsae, and, well....
At this particular venue, I *always* manage to lose some piece of equipment. Last time it was a pair of nunchuks. This time it was my chest guard. I can't imagine anyone steals them--none of it is expensive or shiny, and everyone has their own anyway, but there you go. I ended up borrowing one from my daughter...who is 9. Which I suppose is fair turnaround, as she had to use mine the last time, because I threw it in the bag instead of hers.
Writing News
Readers are loving The Left Hand of Justice, and I'm really glad. I worked so hard on that story! Here's what some of them are saying. And if you don't have a copy, you can get one here, in paperback and all major ebook formats.
Death and the Detective is being finalized, and the cover art has been commissioned. Right on target for the May 11 release. We've been discussing doing a companion volume called Death and the Ladies, focusing on female protagonists, as most (though not all) of the D&D protags were male. I'm still hoping to do Undeath and the Detective for Halloween.
Mystery short fiction has been sort of a specialty niche, but we're finding a lot of excellent writers and a lot of happy readers for ours, so who knows? Maybe it's time for a renaissance? I hope so. This latest collection is a real point of pride for us. I hope people will like it as much as they liked Cold Night.
Am working on the Shocking!Climax of Turnbull House. There will be explosions and Shocking Revelations. And a couple of story questions that will remain unanswered until the Third and Final Installment, tentatively entitled Fool's Gold. Oh, Ira Adler, your books write themselves. What ever will I do when your saga is finished? ::SIGH::
My showing in poomsae was absolutely shameful. That is, it started out well, but halfway through, my mind drew a blank on the next move. I recovered quickly, but that split-second of hesitation cost me the competition. Having spent the morning judging poomsae, I can tell you that yes, when that happens, *everyone* knows. SIGH. How completely horrifying that I've been doing Koryo for almost three years, and I know that stupid form better than my own name!
I pulled a surprising first in sparring, though. I rarely do well in sparring, but I was *pissed* about my showing in poomsae, and, well....
At this particular venue, I *always* manage to lose some piece of equipment. Last time it was a pair of nunchuks. This time it was my chest guard. I can't imagine anyone steals them--none of it is expensive or shiny, and everyone has their own anyway, but there you go. I ended up borrowing one from my daughter...who is 9. Which I suppose is fair turnaround, as she had to use mine the last time, because I threw it in the bag instead of hers.
Writing News
Readers are loving The Left Hand of Justice, and I'm really glad. I worked so hard on that story! Here's what some of them are saying. And if you don't have a copy, you can get one here, in paperback and all major ebook formats.
Death and the Detective is being finalized, and the cover art has been commissioned. Right on target for the May 11 release. We've been discussing doing a companion volume called Death and the Ladies, focusing on female protagonists, as most (though not all) of the D&D protags were male. I'm still hoping to do Undeath and the Detective for Halloween.
Mystery short fiction has been sort of a specialty niche, but we're finding a lot of excellent writers and a lot of happy readers for ours, so who knows? Maybe it's time for a renaissance? I hope so. This latest collection is a real point of pride for us. I hope people will like it as much as they liked Cold Night.
Am working on the Shocking!Climax of Turnbull House. There will be explosions and Shocking Revelations. And a couple of story questions that will remain unanswered until the Third and Final Installment, tentatively entitled Fool's Gold. Oh, Ira Adler, your books write themselves. What ever will I do when your saga is finished? ::SIGH::
April 9, 2013
News
(1) The latest Elm Books anthology, Death and the Detective is slated for release on May 11, 2013!
It will be available from Elm Books , of course, but also from the Usual Suspects.
OR you can acquire your own signed copy at one of our upcoming events at Litfest Pasadena , Book 'Em Mystery Bookstore (May 19, 2pm) , or Mysterious Galaxy (date and time TBA).
(2) The Left Hand of Justice continues to gather excellent reader reviews. Thank you, readers! Here's what a few people are saying:
“…fast paced and delightfully dark” (BN customer review)
“a setting that blends the grime of history with a brassy steampunk shine” (BN customer review)
“an exciting book, with attention to historical detail, as well as exciting drama. It’s a worthy second novel, after Lambda shorlisted mystery, the Affair of the Porcelain Dog” (Amazon customer review)
“A really good read for anyone of any gender who enjoys a well written book.” (Goodreads reader review)
“Fast pace and interesting characters kept me glued to the pages until I finished” (Amazon customer review)
Get your copy today , or, if you'd like to buy a signed copy from me, I can hook you up =)
It will be available from Elm Books , of course, but also from the Usual Suspects.
OR you can acquire your own signed copy at one of our upcoming events at Litfest Pasadena , Book 'Em Mystery Bookstore (May 19, 2pm) , or Mysterious Galaxy (date and time TBA).
(2) The Left Hand of Justice continues to gather excellent reader reviews. Thank you, readers! Here's what a few people are saying:
“…fast paced and delightfully dark” (BN customer review)
“a setting that blends the grime of history with a brassy steampunk shine” (BN customer review)
“an exciting book, with attention to historical detail, as well as exciting drama. It’s a worthy second novel, after Lambda shorlisted mystery, the Affair of the Porcelain Dog” (Amazon customer review)
“A really good read for anyone of any gender who enjoys a well written book.” (Goodreads reader review)
“Fast pace and interesting characters kept me glued to the pages until I finished” (Amazon customer review)
Get your copy today , or, if you'd like to buy a signed copy from me, I can hook you up =)
April 3, 2013
Upcoming!
Just a teaser
for my upcoming anthology, Death and the Detective, coming from Elm Books on May 11.
I'll also be at Pasadena Litfest that day, promoting the anthology, as well as The Left Hand of Justice. Hope to see you there!
I'll also be at Pasadena Litfest that day, promoting the anthology, as well as The Left Hand of Justice. Hope to see you there!
March 12, 2013
Toward Better Procrastination
Do you ever worry that you're being Just Too Productive?
Is your ability to effortlessly churn out reams and reams of quality work becoming a burden?
Fear no more! Read my article 8 Tips for Better Procrastination, now live at the BSB Authors Blog!
Also... It goes without saying that you have already purchased The Left Hand of Justice, read it, and enjoyed it...perhaps 100 times or so =) For this I thank you.
If you enjoyed the book, I would be ever so grateful for an honest written review, on this site or any other. It doesn't have to be long, and it doesn't have to be detailed. But I would love to know what you thought of it--and so would other readers.
Best Regards,
Jess
Is your ability to effortlessly churn out reams and reams of quality work becoming a burden?
Fear no more! Read my article 8 Tips for Better Procrastination, now live at the BSB Authors Blog!
Also... It goes without saying that you have already purchased The Left Hand of Justice, read it, and enjoyed it...perhaps 100 times or so =) For this I thank you.
If you enjoyed the book, I would be ever so grateful for an honest written review, on this site or any other. It doesn't have to be long, and it doesn't have to be detailed. But I would love to know what you thought of it--and so would other readers.
Best Regards,
Jess
