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Yes, apparently I am one of *those* writers.

I’ve been working on this ghost story for Michael Knost this week, based on a plantation house in West Virginia. First, of course, I had to do a butt-ton of research because I can’t write about somewhere like Mount St. Helens or Harlan, Kentucky without knowing the place like I’d lived there…or at least visited. Unfortunately, this particular house has been closed for renovations by the Army Corp of Engineers for a number of years, and they don’t list a scheduled date for completion. Even more unfortunately, there is very, very little on the house on the internet — one site seems to just copy and paste the information from another site — I swear I read the same paragraph twelve times.

If you dig hard enough, however, you eventually stumble across something…and I did. Hidden in the bowels of some obscure archaeology archive was a half-hour video special detailing the history of the house, and what archaeologists had dug up around the house. SCORE. That, mixed with various (also repetitive) reports of paranormal activity on the site, as well as a rudimentary refresher on the Civil War, gave me a suitable enough background to write the story. It’s called “Blue and Gray & Black & Green,” and I’ll let you know more details about the anthology when I’m able.

But that’s not where I became one of *those* writers. No…that happened when I was at darts Wednesday night, scribbling out the climax of the story where the titans clash. (Well, as much as one can scribble in a Word document. Who needs napkins nowadays when one has a netbook?)  I wrote a sentence, giggled like mad over my keyboard, and then read it out loud to Della.

“She made mention of his rudeness, and how visitors in a fine house should always introduce themselves properly. And then she tore his face off.”

So yes. I am one of those writers who giggles over her keyboard.

Heaven help me.

The long-awaited, highly-anticipated audio version of my Shimmer Clockwork Jungle issue story “The Giant & The Unicorn” is now live! Hooray!

I swear I channeled Kate Winslet for this narration. Click here to listen (run time about 19 minutes) and tell me if you think the same. This story is rated G — appropriate for all ages and fun for the whole family! There’s also a fun interview I did with Shimmer, which is accessible through that link as well.

Want to purchase your very own copy of the issue while it’s still available? It can be yours! Just click here.

I seriously can’t wait to hear what you guys think of this one. Squeee!

As we all gear up for the release of DARK FAITH anthology at the end of the month (it launches at Mo*Con), the Apex Blog will be featuring “daily devotionals” — a quick, five-question interview with each author from the book. Today is my day for being devotional — I admit, I had a bit of fun with my questions. Tomorrow the reins are handed off to my dear friend Mary Robinette Kowal. So keep checking back!

In addition, Jason has also posted my bio from the book, which I also had a bit of fun with. It seems lately that I’ve had to write an incredible number of bios for people. I don’t want to talk about MYSELF, silly, I want to write stories about OTHER PEOPLE. The day Maurice asked for this one, I was in a bit of a mood…a mood that smelled a bit like poppies and vinegar. It shows. Thing is, I kind of like it.

As if that wasn’t enough, there’s also a snippet from the story. Just to whet your appetite, I’ll post another one here.

Want to check out the interview first? Click here.

Can’t wait to buy Dark Faith? Click here.

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Excerpt:

Max received the package from his mother three weeks after her funeral. She had come to him just the night before in his dreams; he’d scolded her for her continued attempts to meddle in his life. Without a word she had lifted great wings and flew flown away, a perfect image of the guardian angels she’d always sworn walked beside her. Such was the way of dreams.

The package, however, was not a dream. It didn’t appear harmful or potentially hazardous. It was white and padded and metered with the correct postage. There were a few stamps and stickers and scuffmarks declaring its delicate nature and boasting of a long and possibly strenuous overseas journey, but nothing that gave any hint as to the contents or the intent of the sender. In fact, there was nothing particularly strange or unique about the package at all, apart from two slightly odd things.

The first odd thing was that the package had his name clearly printed on it above his mother’s address, the address where he and Rose had spent the last few days clearing out clutter and deciding what to do with the rest of their lives. A decision Max would have been happy to put off for just this side of forever.

The second odd thing was that it was from his mother.

New reviews!

Title: The Iron King
Author: Julie Kagawa
EAN: 978-0373210084

Julie Kagawa is one seriously fantastic panel moderator. The first time I did that, I was voted moderator by default since I was the last one to show up to the panel (and the other guests were EVIL). Julie’s first time was also at Hypericon 2009, several years after my own dazzling debut, and she dazzled us all with her wit, wisdom, and preparation. It also helped that Julie herself was a pretty cool chick. She told us all about her book that would debut in 2010, and I was eager to get my hands on a copy. Lucky for me, I am the Princess, and I have my ways… (Read more)

Title: Bellwether
Author: Connie Willis
Read by: Kate Reading
Blackstone Audio
EAN: 978-1433246265

I confess — I had never before read anything by the fabulous, award-winning Connie Willis, so when I came across this audiobook of her classic short novel Bellwether, I was intrigued. It was a little over six hours — extremely short for the audiobook format — but as my patience for audios quickly runs thin, I figured I had a much better chance of sticking with it until the end… (Read more)

Once upon a time, Jodi Lee asked me to write an introduction for a dark little anthology called Courting Morpheus. Since then, The New Bedlam Project has sort of taken on a life of its own (including its very own website — click here to check it out). Three years later (which is like seven minutes in Publishing Time…or is that vice versa…), the book has finally been released.

Some time in 2006, two writers spoke in hurried whispers… what could cause the wretched insomnia that had taken them over, compelling them to write words of horrors never seen, only imagined? What could keep them from finishing their works, from containing the monsters within, from binding them with one simple word? How could they find their way out of the darkness they called home…into a darkness of release at Morpheus’ hands? An idea was born that night. It grew into one monster after another until finally it has broken free…

Want to order your very own copy? There are a few ways you can do it:

From Amazon — Courting Morpheus

From Belfire Press (PayPal) — Courting Morpheus

From CreateSpace (the printer) — Courting Morpheus

Jason Sizemore and I have been dancing around the idea of my doing podcast readings for Apex — I had a ton of fun doing the audio versions of “Foiled” and “The Giant & The Unicorn” (from Shimmer — coming soon!)

Ladies and gentlemen — the Apex Audio Revolution has come! My first audio ever of SOMEONE ELSE’S WORK is now up: Seanan McGuire’s “Dying With Her Cheer Pants On.” (Click here to listen — it’s about 16 minutes long.) The story is about a group of high school cheerleaders — The Fighting Pumpkins — and their last ditch effort to save the world when Aliens invade during homecoming. The story itself was a blast, and doing all the voices for the cheerleaders — and the cheering — was similarly so.

Interesting issues come up when you’re not the writer of the piece, though. Like…for example…the correct pronunciation of the author’s name! Seanan (pronounced “Shawn-in”) was very sweet and patient with my silly queries. And now I want to steal her name for a story character.

Bookmark that Apex site — there will be new audio fiction content every month! I’ll also do my best to poke you and remind you. Especially when it’s me reading.Leave a comment when you stop by to let Jason know you were there!

Enjoy!

Tonight is a practice night for the dart league–Wednesday starts playoffs–we play the other Cue Club team. We *need* to win!!

I’m still the cute mascot/good luck charm, but next season I’m officially on the team. Which means, I got to practice too. And the boys wiped up the floor with me. Ugh…more practice please! I have got to get “doubling in” down. Seriously.