Snippets—Another award nomination for Spear, the true toll of Covid-19, Menewood launch event, more

Spear has been longlisted for the History Writers’ Association Gold Crown, given annually to the best historical novel published in the UK. This one truly caught me by surprise—I hadn’t realised my sapphic sword-swanger stuffed with myth and magic would be eligible. And there was no warning: just, boom!, an email in the middle of the night while I was asleep and waking up to announcements on Twitter. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a delightful surprise, and the weird symmetry—Hild nominated for sff awards, now Spear nominated for histfic awards—is oddly appealing. Go take a look at the list; there’s some fine historical fiction there. The Economist estimates that, although the official number of deaths caused by Covid-19 stands at 7 million, their single best guess of the actual toll is 26.1 million people. “We find that there is a 95% chance that the true value lies between 17.9m and 31.6m additional deaths.” I love the Economist data visualisations—I think they’re the best in the business. Go take a look.And speaking of sapphic sword-swinging, as the result of a two-day sale of the Spear ebook I can finally say I’m a #1 Amazon Best Seller! I’m sorry to say the sale is over, but it’s amazing what a sale will do for, uh, sales. Sapphic sword-swinging for the win! Menewood Day approaches! Just 13 days to go (you can pre-order here). I’ve done my first interview and seen my first two reviews (embargoed for now) and, well, there will be quotes like “The major work so far of a major talent” and “seamless…ease and grace that belies how truly deep it feels…it is a marvel” and I’m am grinning. Don’t forget that if you want a guaranteed signed, personalised, first edition first printing hardcover shipped direct to your door on October 3, order from Phinney Books.Still gathering links for my Events page, but the basics of time, place, and type of event are there. If you’re in Seattle come to either:the informal hangout-and-get-your-book-signed hour on Tuesday, 3 October, at Phinney Books followed by celebratory drinks and chat at the pub next door, orIn-conversation with Neal Stephenson event on Wednesday 18 October, at Third Place Books, Lake Forest Park