This is one of those projects I contributed to so long ago that I keep forgetting about it — The Writers Workshop of Science Fiction and Fantasy, edited by Michael Knost.

Michael has set up a Kickstarter for the project — which has already reached its goal, hooray! — but I encourage you to click on over and check out some of the HILARIOUS horror spoof videos they made to promote it.

There’s still plenty of time to contribute to the fund (which is, effectively at this point, just a great way to preorder a copy of the book).  Some info about what the money goes to:

Levels of Participation

There are seven levels of participation, six of which involve receiving a version of the book, ranging from the eBook to a limited hardcover edition.  We invite you to look over the various levels and rewards in this campaign, the core of which serve effectively as a pre-order offer for The Writers’ Workshop of Science Fiction and Fantasy.

What does the money raised in this campaign go towards?

The money raised in this campaign goes towards paying pro-rates for collaborators, as well as cover art fees and other hard costs involved in producing this title.  It will be issued in a limited hardcover edition, softcover, and various eBook formats. 

My contribution to the piece: An interview with The Machine of Writing himself, Kevin J. Anderson.

Thanks in advance — I know you’ll enjoy it!

If you are a teacher or an author or a bookseller or librarian or reviewer or audiobook reader or anyone else who deals with books in any capacity, you need to know about the Teachingbooks.net website.

Most specifically, you need to bookmark this page: THE AUTHOR NAME PRONUNCIATION GUIDE.

On this page is a list of authors. Click on the author’s name and it will take you to a brief audio file in which the author him/herself pronounces his/her name and then tells you a little bit about it.

When I was emailed and asked to be part of this pronunciation guide, I went over to check it out and spent over an hour clicking on my favorite authors. I didn’t even put a dent in the glossary.

This is an incredibly valuable website, and I’m not saying that lightly.

Spread the word!

In which a little girl’s pennies in an old man’s top hat brings an Ode to Joy:

This makes me so happy I’m close to tears every time I watch it.

From YouTube: On the 130th anniversary of the founding of Banco Sabadell we wanted to pay homage to our city by means of the campaign “Som Sabadell” (We are Sabadell) . This is the flashmob that we arranged as a final culmination with the participation of 100 people from the Vallès Symphony Orchestra, the Lieder, Amics de l’Òpera and Coral Belles Arts choirs.

Many thanks to Ellen Datlow, who tweeted this the other day.

I should really mention that there is a VERY IMPORTANT PAPERBACK out today.

AlphaOops: The Day Z Went First is now available in paperback for the very first time anywhere!

I’m so very honored, because 1.) you have to be a Very Important picture book for your publisher to release you into paperback and 2.) this is the very first book I’ve ever had (not counting Elemental, because it was a hard/paper simultaneous publication) that has come out in paperback after being first released in hardcover!

If you own AlphaOops: The Day Z Went First, I encourage you to take advantage of this lovely low price point (only $6.99) and buy a few copies for friends, neighbors, and teachers. It makes a great baby shower gift or addition to any library.

While you’re on the Amazon page, please feel free to “Like” the page, tag it, review it, or post it to your social networks, with my sincerest thanks.

And remember, when you read this aloud: DO IT WITH FEELING.

Three cheers for AlphaOops!

Where do you go to find decent fiction to read? When I’ve asked people this question lately, their answer is most often John Scalzi’s “The Big Idea.”

In the footsteps of that fabulous Idea, my dear friend Mary Robinette Kowal has launched a feature on her blog called “My Favorite Bit.” In lieu of asking authors the age-old question “Where do you get your ideas?”, Mary asks, “What was your favorite thing about writing the book you just had released?”

You’ll be surprised at the answers.

I’m honored today to be a guest on Mary’s blog, speaking about “My Favorite Bit” of The Wonderland Alphabet: Alice’s Adventures Through the ABCs and What She Found There. Is my favorite bit the same as yours? I bet it isn’t.

Click here to read my fabulous essay and find out!

From TimeOut Chicago Kids:

It’s no secret that children’s books contain some of the world’s finest art. The illustrations and paintings might not hang next to Seurat, Degas or O’Keefe, but this summer they’re darn close, thanks to a nifty new exhibit at the Art Institute of Chicago: “Told and Retold.”

Located in the Art Institute of Chicago’s always-free Family Room, the mini exhibit contains enchanting work for recent picture books done by an eclectic mix of eight artists. The connective tissue here is not a publisher, but an artists’ agency: Studio Goodwin Sturges. Run by Judy Sue Goodwin Sturges of Rhode Island, the agency dedicates its efforts to producing stunning children’s books. There’s a wide range on display here—in form as well as content—from a coterie of artists hailing from across the U.S. and Europe.

Read more about the exhibit here.

And…say it with me, kids, just like Indy:

Launching the Dixie Dunbar Studio Fairy Tale line of jewelry is the “Sunday” necklace, inspired by the novel Enchanted.

The necklace is made of simple chain, as befits a Woodcutter’s daughter, but the asymmetrical design is pure elegance.

Like Sunday Woodcutter’s magical dress of silver and gold the third night of the prince’s ball, the Sunday necklace is comprised of silver- and gold-brass chains that sweep around the neck and culminate in a graceful central waterfall.

The Sunday necklace is affordably priced at only $90~

Click here to order your today!

The sneakiest preview of The Wonderland Alphabet you’ll ever get! How cute is this book?!?

Still working on getting a definite date when this will be out — I know Amazon has had a different release date every other day (now it says June 19th), but who trusts Amazon anymore? They don’t even have the proper cover image.

I can tell you that Archaia has the book (or they couldn’t have made this video!) and it will be shipping to stores very, very soon. Fingers crossed that it shows up while I’m on book tour!

xox

I have just spoken to my dear fairy godmother at Houghton Mifflin Harcourt–she reassured me that this restructuring is actually cause for celebration, and so I would like to pass this reassurance on to you, my friends & family.

Things at this particular publisher have indeed been a mess ever since the Houghton Mifflin and Harcourt merger back in 2008, and this bankruptcy filing (which they are required to do by law) is the last step in resolving those issues, clearing the cobwebs, and moving onward with a stronger, more focused and united company.

Enchanted is not in danger in any way, nor will my blog or book tour plans change at all. We are moving ahead, full steam, into the sunrise.

So, no panic. No worries. Sally forth and purchase many copies. And, if we’re lucky, there will be official news of a sequel on the horizon.

Stay tuned! And thank you all so very much for your texts, tweets, emails, and phone calls of support. I love you all to pieces!! xox

Yes, one of my publishers did just enter a Chapter 11 bankruptcy for about 3 billion dollars. You can read the New York Times article about it here.

What I remember from working in publishing back in the day, back when Houghton Mifflin and Harcourt were two separate companies, is that their scholarly divisions (all those anthologies you had to read for English class) outweighed their trade by quite a lot of titles, and scholarly divisions are typically a Giant Mess. [UPDATE: apparently the scholarly divisions weren't too bad; it was the tiny digital company who bought them that added to the fray... As you can see, this is a complicated subject.]

All that aside, the trade books division of (now) Houghton Mifflin Harcourt is a very strong trade books division, including titles like The Lord of the Rings and The Princess Bride. My little fairy tale is in very good company.

Chapter 11 is a restructuring…and while $3 billion is a lot to restructure, it’s not impossible. Some of you may have visions of Dorchester dancing in your heads, but don’t. Remain calm. HMH is going to pull through this, I am sure. And so will Enchanted. Please continue to purchase the book and audiobook (Brilliance Audio is doing just fine!) and move about your day as if nothing happened.

That’s what I’m doing.

[UPDATE post on the HMH Bankruptcy here.]

xox

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Please note: The Enchanted hardcover is the only title I have under the Houghton Mifflin Harcourt umbrella. The Enchanted audiobook, the AlphaOops books, and The Wonderland Alphabet are all with other publishers. I encourage you to please order books from these publishers (if you haven’t already) to support my writing. I have some handy-dandy links for you right here: http://aletheakontis.com/2012/05/amazon-affiliate-links/