Cool Stuff, Stumbled Upon

It’s nice to trip over something like this in a really obscure Google Alert about some search results done on a health website. Apparently, www.childrensbooksguide.com did a Top 100 Children’s Books of All Time. AlphaOops didn’t make Top 10 on their ABC book listing (DARN YOU, CHICKA CHICKA BOOM BOOM!), but it did make the Honorable Mention. I’m cool…

READ MORE

Well, That’s Done It

About a month or so ago, I accidentally clicked on the “Facebook Chat” icon, putting myself out there in the intarwebs available for interaction. Within about 15 seconds, I had 10 people open chats with me. Seven of them were from people I hadn’t heard from in a long time, all of whom I wanted to talk to. Three…

READ MORE

Pre-SENT Squee!

Kirkus reviews AlphaOops: H is for Halloween. And it kind of rocks. Got yours yet? AlphaOops: H is for Halloween ******************************************* ALPHAOOPS: H IS FOR HALLOWEEN Author: Kontis, Alethea Illustrator: Kolar, Bob Publisher:Candlewick Pages: 40 Price ( Hardback ): $15.99 Publication Date: July 13, 2010 ISBN ( Hardback ): 978-0-7636-3966-2 Category: Picture Books Classification: Holiday Series: AlphaOops Volume: 2…

READ MORE

Apex Army Recruiting

You enjoy science fiction. You’re addicted to the computer. You’ve got some time on your hands. You like free stuff. Kid, have I got the job for you. Anyone, that’s right, ANYONE can be a member of the Apex Army. There are four ways to do it. 1.) Review some Apex books or stories from the magazine on your…

READ MORE

SEKRIT PROJECT REVEALED! (or, Why I Love John Skipp)

Skipp asked us all to wait until he made the official announcement. Wednesday, he made the official announcement, SO HERE IT IS! There’s a bit of a long story behind this one (color you shocked, right?), which covers why this tale will be a simultaneous release with its inclusion in PS Publishing’s Nick Cave anthology…but I’ll let Skipp explain…

READ MORE

To You, From Me

Mom saw my birthday tribute to her this morning (how fitting that Concrete Blonde played “Happy Birthday” last night as part of their set for the 20th Anniversary of Bloodletting tour). Needless to say, I brought a tear to her eye — an ability I’ve become quite proud of over the years, as my mother’s tears are a mark…

READ MORE

Just Joking

Stories are getting shorter and shorter these days as our schedules get more and more full–we’ve begun reading our stories on coffee sleeves and business cards and the ever-popular Twitter, in 140-characters or less. Nathan Lilly, editor of the now-infamous Twitter magazine Thaumatrope, just posted a great essay about the essence of lightning fiction: In my comings and goings,…

READ MORE

For My Mother, On Her Birthday

An Ode to Motherhood To a mom who cooks and cleans And washes all my favorite jeans The last time that you left a spot Very happy I was NOT! But where a spot you did not miss Turns out another called a kiss Life ain’t that easy, you see I guess that’s why you’re stuck with me. (And…

READ MORE

10 Tips for Marketing Your Book Online

My dear friend, bestselling thriller author J.T. Ellison, recently posted “10 Tips for Marketing Your Book Online.” In a world where banks have started holding payroll checks because so many of them are bouncing, online marketing’s a particularly savvy tool that all writers should investigate. Most importantly, J.T. includes the most important piece of advice that should be on…

READ MORE

Like a Band-Aid in the Sun

Porcelain. Chocolate. Alabaster. Cafe au lait. Tawny. At one point or another, you’ve read all these adjectives to describe skin tone. (Go on, I know I’m missing some. Feel free to add your own in the comments.) Every time I notice these same tried-and-true descriptions, it makes me wonder what words I would use to characterize my own skin….

READ MORE