I went and played IFGS (live action fantasy role playing) for the first time in over 6 years. I even took the kids who were also allowed to play (even the 6 year old). We all had a great time. I didn’t release how much we missed IFGS when people were having fun rather than ego wrangling. This group is full of new faces and enthusiasm. Just what we needed. They really need more folks to play and NPC, as well as someone besides they 4 who are doing it now to write and run games. I’m thinking about trying to write a couple games and run them to give the other folks a break.
An then this morning I got the biggest thrill. My very first review for Ancestral Magic. The best part is not only was the review very well done and through, but there are no spoilers either. What a great way to start a day. If I’m lucky I’ll hear soon if my publisher likes the sequel as much as they did the first novel.
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oddcon , not to mention the other events happening today. This week (starting today) there’s a chance to win a copy of Ancestral Magic over at Women and Word’s blog (just comment to be added to the drawing, and I’m have a chat over all day at the Henderson Files. Here’s what the weekend list on panels looks like (at least the one’s I’m in). Except for the RFR, and dear Lori in the one panel, the testosterone looks to be high for these. Should prove interesting.
Friday 10:30 pm
13. Crossing Cultures. Let us explore the phenomenon of creating futures in which culture is not the standard "Indo-European paradigm; where people aren't all white bread. Why and how do writers choose the settings and cultural paradigms in their novels? Do you what you know? Write what you'd like to see happen? Write what you fear the future will be? What comes first, the world, or the story? (Or the characters?). Writing. Moondancer Drake, Jim Frenkel, Sean T. Stiennon, Patrick Rothfuss
Saturday 4pm (after the author signings, if you are there feel free to come to those and say hi)
17. Broad Universe Rapid-Fire Readings. Members of the Broad Universe group will do short readings. F.J. Bergmann Moondancer Drake, Lori Devoti, Kathy Sullivan
Sunday 10:00 am
50. People and Animals. There are animals in the lives of most writers. How do the animals they put in their books function? Are they necessary to the sanity of writers? Do they chiefly function as a means to explore human character and personality? Should all animals be shot? All people? Will Shetterly, Moondancer Drake, Chris Welch, Lori Devoti, Jim Frenkel
Sunday 1pm
58. Writing Realistic Action. Fighting armored soldiers or an alien demon, clinging to the back of a dragon, casting an enormous spell - it is fantastic, but it needs to seem real. How does a writer control the elements of time, space and movement to create a believable action scene? (could include scriptwriting and comics). Patrick Rothfuss, Alex Bledsoe, Adrian Drake, Moondancer Drake
I was to start out with a big thank you to Isabella who walked me through the bulk food and the deli areas at Outpost, answering all my question for the vegan experiment today. My friends sent me a ton of links and such yesterday when I announced my intention for my health sake to attempt to make my diet more vegan. Well see if this change of diet will have me feeling better than I have been. I’m thinking about making my vegan experiment a separate blog so I don’t bore folks here…what do ya’ll think?
( TT ahead )
On a side note, just a reminder my new book Ancestral Magic is being featured at Midnight Moon Cafe tomorrow. Come on over and chat for a chance to win a copy of Ancestral Magic for your very own.
Also, has anyone here been to zazzle? How's the quality of the shirts and such there? Thinking about having promo stuff made to wear to cons and readings since I can't find a local place to do it.
( And in another thought… )
I did find out that the store (which I think started out with 6 copies of my book) was sold out of Ancestral Magic and was ordering more copies. From what Carl and some of the women said I got the idea that there’d be quite a number of requests for the book. One of the women threatened bodily hard to any one who touched “her copy” of Ancestral magic, and that made me smile. I signed to book before we began and answered a few question about Ancestral Magic near the end of the group.
Next month is “My Life with Stella Kane” by Linda Morganstein. It looks like another romance, which I admit is not normally my preference, but I’m looking forward to hooking up with the group to discuss it just the same.
On a side note for those who think Amazonfail talk is dying down, I didn’t find that to be so among the women in the reading group. What happened made them even more determined they said to support their local LGBT store (which by the stack of books I saw many of these women buy they really support the lesfic and the store a lot). Something else that made me smile. One women there is an author herself and not only has already read Ancestral magic, but is chomping at the bit to talk about it. :) It was a good evening.
Please do not buy my book from Amazon is you can possibly avoid it. Go to your local Indy bookstore, or an online source like Starcrossed Productions. Please support those sellers who support non traditional fiction.
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ETA: sorry to my ljfriends if the audio jumped out at them on their friends page. I got it under the cut now. I'm not used to trying to like mp3s on my lj. Oops.
April 9th beginning at 11:30 pm on Blog Talk Radio
"Readings in Les and Bi Women's Erotic Fiction."
Online reading and interview
April 24th - 26th
Odyssey Con IX Madison, WI Readings and panels scheduled
May 22nd - 25th
Wiscon 32 Madison WI Readings and panels scheduled
Sunday, June 7th, 2pm (thanks to my friend for making setting this up so much easier than I feared)
A Room of One's Own Feminist Bookstore 307 W. Johnson St. Madison, WI 53703
Reading scheduled (any other Madison local author friends want in on this one? I think Nell Stark is up that way)
I’m still looking for more review sites, places to do guest blog, or whatever else might bring more folks over to check out my work. For those of you out there still needing their Ancestral Magic fix, remember you can get it online through Starcrossed productions or from you favorite neighborhood bookstore. Never forget, if you don’t support your local indy bookstores, they won’t be there when you need them to be.
So far I have the newly updated website, my fairly active blog, and several good sized local conventions I am doing readings and panels at in April and May. I have a podcast radio and a guest blog spot or two set up as well. Any other suggestions of things that I can do right now that won’t be a huge drain on the budget? I’m going over my files now of the ideas I’ve been collecting over the past two years, but wanted to hear what has worked best for all of you to see where my focus is best directed toward.
This is not only a question for the authors, but even as a reader, what ways do you find the books you buy? Outside of word of mouth, which is my far my preference as a reader, what other marketing tools catch you attention the best? What marketing types do you see as a waste of time and money?
For those of you out there who have been poking me about when Ancestral Magic is coming out (yes I know the publishers website said Fall 2008), some more good news. I just went over the final version of the galley and it looks like it’s a go. How soon now? I’d say it has to be within the month. (crossing fingers for having copies for Oddcon)
I’ve got a strange question, or a pair of questions in fact. The four novellas I have in process on being released are going to be ebook only. I’d like to see them (f/f) in print as well, and the ebook publisher doesn’t own the print rights to these. I thought putting all 4 stories in a print edition of multicultural f/f para romance might do well, I just don’t know what publishers might like that idea, and wouldn’t need to ebook rights along with print rights.
I finished edits on Nashoba’s Hope today, and not only did the Shadowfire Press editor say she was impressed with my speed at getting them done, but that she was looking forward to working with me again. Bonus! The cover for that one is near completion.
I want to thank
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calimac for posting this song by Tom Chapin, with Michael Mark and Jon Cobert which had me doing deep belly laughs. Ya’ll got to watch this. I suppose if you like Sarah Palin you might not find this funny, but then I really don’t know anyone that is fond of the woman in the least. 
PS: There's Silk Exotic post coming about what I learned (a LOT) on my research adventure, and the highlights. I am very excited hearing back from a couple of the dancers whose blog I read and who I emailed to ask if I could use some of thier (tonight at the club) stories as scenes (in part) in my book if I gave proper credit and they happily said "sure!"
Now I know for many of you the new year comes the first of January, but for people of the Dianic tradition and many others who have ties to Celtic heritage the festival on October 31st marks the end of the harvest and the beginning of the new year. Within my own Cherokee heritage this time of year is also seen as a time to turn inward, to prepare for the coming winter and for a time of dark and quiet when families come together to tell stories and to suggle safe from the cold. For these reasons and more I find this time of year a comforting time to look within and seek the paths I wish to take in the coming year.
( TT ahead )
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( TT ahead )
The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others' comments. It’s easy, and fun! Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!
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Okay, since some of you may have been wondering about my silence lately, I thought I’d do “Why I Had No Time to Blog This Week”
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