Okay, kinda. I didn't actually GO to Canada (though I have been, yes indeedie), but nevertheless, I'm extremely honored that Laura Yaros, host of the program "Matrix"--Canada's longest-running radio program by, for, and about women--asked to interview me about the New Mexico-based mystery/suspense series I'm writing for Regal Crest. So we chatted via land line a couple of weeks ago and the result can be found

AT THIS LINK RIGHT HERE.

That's Radio Centreville out of Montreal.

Scroll down on that page to the little speaker icon and click that. The show with my interview should cue up, and it should be available through Saturday (the day after BLACK FRIDAY!!!!).

Let's see--as some of you may have discovered, The Ties that Bind got sucked into that place in the dryer where socks go, and there was some kind of weirdness with getting the info to the distributor. My publisher and the printer/distributor seem to have gotten if figured out, and it is showing up now with the big online booksellers. Sorry about that, folks! Something to do with Friday the 13th? Hmmmm...

Anyway, hope everyone is having a wonderful Thanksgiving week here in the States; otherwise, hope you're just having a great week.

Cheers!

Hi, folks! The Ties that Bind is officially released. This is a K.C. Fontero mystery, and for those of you who have been following the series, odd-numbered books star K.C. (this is number 3) and even-numbered books star her best friend, Detective Chris Gutierrez. You can find out more about that and read some excerpts on my website.

Okay, other stuff: Sacchi Green (Connie Wilkins) is giving away a copy of her latest anthology, alt-history's Time Well Bent: Queer Alternative Histories. You can sign up for the drawing at Women and Words (hold on--I'll provide the link in a minnit). Just leave a comment on the blog and make sure to include your email address, which is not made public.

HERE'S THE LINK!


And here's a description: We have always been here. For as long as there's been such a thing as sex, alternate sexual identities have been a fact of life. So why have we been so nearly invisible in recorded history and historical fiction? Now editor Connie Wilkins, a Lambda Literary Award finalist, has assembled fourteen stories that span the centuries from ancient times to the Renaissance to the modern era and explore alternate versions of our past. Their queer protagonists, who bend history in ways dramatic enough to change the world and subtle enough to touch hearts and minds, rescue our past from invisibility, and affirm our place and importance throughout all of history, past, present, and future.

Cool! And while you're over there at Women and Words, maybe drop by my blog about what makes me totally stoked when I'm reading a new author. Here's the link. I blog there on Fridays, but there's always something going on!

All rightie, friends. Peace out and happy writing/reading!

p.s. Happy B-day Aubrie!

Hey, all--

Don't forget to nominate your fave lesbian fiction short stories for the anthology "Year's Best Lesbian Fiction: 2009", ed. by Fran Walker. It'll be published through Bedazzled Ink, and below is the link for the info (including what kinds of stories are eligible):

CLICK HERE!

Nominations are due January 31, 2010!

Yeah!

Hi, folks--

For those of you in the Seattle area, I'm scheduled for a book signing/chat/reading-if-you-want-it at the Seattle Mystery Bookshop for the release of my third New Mexico novel, The Ties that Bind. The Bookshop is located at 113 Cherry, which is downtown near Pioneer Square. Here's the link for the bookshop.

The date of this soiree is December 5th (that's a Saturday) at noon. High noon, baby. Noon-o-rama. Fellow author Joan Opyr will be putting in an appearance, as well, weather permitting, so hijinks could abound. And ensue. Even occur.

Hope to meetcha!

Howdy, all!

See my blog here for more about Día de los Muertos, which is my fave holiday. And no matter what you're doing, have a fun and safe Halloween/Day of the Dead!

The Ties that Bind print edition is available for a discount exclusively through Regal Crest, the publisher. This is the only place you can get it before November 10th, if you're so inclined.

Click here to go check it out.

And remember, you can see if my writing is something you'd be interested in by clicking here to read Chapter One of Ties. If not, oh, well! Find authors you like and support their work. WOOOO!

Happy Weekend!

Okay, folks. If'n y'all care, I have posted Chapter One of The Ties that Bind on my website. You can go directly there via

THIS HERE LINK! If'n y'all want to, that is.

All right, getting ready to go visit a local goat dairy. YEEE-HA! The fun never ends!

According to my publisher, its formal release date is November 10th. YEEEE-HA! I just received my advance copies. Nice cover. Thanks, Mari SanGiovanni! It's the BOMB!

Stay tooned--I'll post a sneak preview at my website in the next couple of days. In the meantime, you can still find out what it's about and what the other stuff I write is about by visiting that website. Click HERE to do so.

I'm currently working on getting my stuff onto the shelves of independent bookstores, rather than just online. Remember, if you'd like YOUR local bookstore to carry my stuff or any stuff by GLBTQ authors, let the staff know. Your words have power, friends.

"Skulls and Crossbones" is moving along--we're hoping to get edited stories to their authors way soon. It's still slated for publication in January 2010.

I'm working on a couple of short stories for other venues. I'll let you know if those pan out.

Keep on keepin' on!

Hi, folks--I've got a column on writing setting and its importance over in Just About Write this month. There are some exercises that I do to work on my "observation muscles."

Here's the link for that!

Hope you check it out.

And many, many thanks to all who sent in submissions for "Skulls and Crossbones." We got over 70, and the selection was TOUGH. I'm gratified to see all the talent out there, and I hope that everyone who sent in submissions will consider us as a venue in the future should R. G. and I do other anthologies. Congrats to all whose work will appear in this volume. We're looking forward to publication. We'll keep y'all posted on "Skulls" news as we go through the process.

Hope everyone has a great weekend.

Cheers!

Hi, folks! R. Roberti, author of What, No Meat? Traditional Italian Cooking the Vegetarian Way, is giving away a copy of that there cookbook over on her blog site. I'll give you the link in a minnit. Here's the 411:



Here's the kind of info you'll get:

What, No Meat? Traditional Italian Cooking, The Vegetarian Way is more that just a cookbook. It is a compendium of fascinating information about food, incorporating history and folklore, stories of origin, and the evolution of food and recipe names. Food has its own history and background and is an integral part of human existence. It inhabits a world of its own, and What, No Meat? invites readers to enter this amazing world, exploring the role of food in historical events, religious rituals, and healing.

Which Roman goddess was the inspiration for tortellini? What do bay leaves have to do with the term poet laureate? What herb, mixed with ginger and cool spearmint, do Scandinavians believe cures women of frigidity? Why did Romans drink saffron before a night of debauchery and sleep on it afterwards? The stories are all here.

Read how some foods were once shunned because of fear of illness, death, or madness. Become acquainted with people throughout history, like Caterina di’Medici, Thomas Jefferson, and other kings, queens and rulers, who were directly responsible for the acceptance of many foods by the masses. How about taking a soup-eating quiz? This quiz has profiles for different psychological types based on how people eat their soup. You could be a “cautious connoisseur” or perhaps a “free-spirited enthusiast,” depending on the utensil you use and whether or not you slurp. Ask yourself, “What kind of soup eater am I?” and read on.

What, No Meat? delivers over 180 recipes, some simple, some more complex. Some are quick to prepare, some are not, but all of them are delicious and bursting with the flavors and aromas of Italy. Sprinkled with a few advanced recipes that can pique the interest of more experienced cooks, they are perfect for weeknight meals and special occasions, for large families and dinner for two. The book is peppered with the author’s anecdotes and some of her own personal philosophies on cooking, practical tips, and other useful information that will guarantee you the freshest, tastiest culinary results.

What, No Meat? is for Italian food lovers, whether you are a gourmet or novice cook, vegetarian or not. It is about classic Italian cuisine catered to a vegetarian crowd, accented by tales from history and mythology, and sparkling with humor.

Sound like something right up your alley? Go to Mizchef.com to enter.

HERE'S THE LINK!

Good luck!

Howdy, all. Yet ANOTHER book giveaway over at Women and Words. OH, YEAH! I love that. This time, it's The Year's Best Lesbian Fiction, 2008, edited by Fran Walker (and available through Bedazzled Ink [Nuance Books]). If you like short stories, this'll get you goin'. Nice variety of themes and authors. There's bound to be something in here that you dig.


Here's the Table of Contents:

• “Sweet Baby Dyke” by Renée Strider
• “Silent Journey” by DeJay
• “One Horse Town” by Melissa Scott
• “The Abomination of the Blue Hibiscus” by Ovidia Yu
• “Gay Day” by Sandra Barret
• “Mind Games” by Tracey Shellito
• “Water Rites” by Mary Douglas
• “Games With Chance” by Andi Marquette
• “Ewaipanoma” by Mary A. Turzillo
• “Kissing on the Ferris Wheel” by Meg White
• “Words Like Candy Conversation Hearts” by Kathleen Bradean
• “To Dance With No Music” by Lois C. Hart
• “The One I Left Behind” by M. Christian

Coolio. Totally. To enter, go to Women and Words. CLICK THIS LINK! IT'LL TAKE YOU RIGHT THERE! It's a little different this time, as the admin needs you to include your country of origin. Read the instructions and you're good to go. Don't forget to include your email address in your comment (it's not public) so if you win, we can contact you.

Good luck!

Hi, all--

WOW! Did you catch the date today? 09/09/09

AAAAAHHHH!!!! Play poker! Powerball! SOMETHING! There must be SOME kind of luck in that! [cue "Twilight Zone" music]

Okay. Whew. It is kinda cool, if you're into numerology and portent. Other than that, it's another beautiful day here in the neighborhood. Now for some updates:

A reminder that Regal Crest is now selling its own books off its website. Here's the link. Got some nice prices goin' on. Just sayin'. RCE is currently working on getting ebook capability up and running; I'll keep everyone posted on that.

And another cool thing--RCE books are also available through Espresso. For those of you who are unfamiliar with Espresso (the book machines, not the beverage that fuels freaks like me), it's a machine available in some libraries (public and university) that allows you to order a book and it freakin' MAKES IT right there for you. For a price, obviously, but still. Here's the site.

On Demand Books has a video link there so you can see how Espresso works. SO! If your public library has an Espresso book machine, I believe you can go order yourself a Regal Crest book and get it all printed out purty-like for yourself right there and VOILA! Lesfic to go!

I don't have access to one of these things here in the holler where I live, so if anyone does, and you try it out, I'd love it if you'd post about your
experience with it. Thanks!

Okay. What else. Hmmm. I'm working away on the sequel to "Friends in High Places" (I so love space opera) but also going through a whole bunch of submissions for "Skulls and Crossbones"! YAY! Thank you, everyone who participated. We got quite a range of interpretations of piracy, so when we make our final choices, it ain't gonna be easy. But I do want to thank everyone who sent stories in. We'll be making final decisions around October 1.

All rightie, hope everyone is having a great week.

The fine folks over at Women and Words are at it again. Toss yer hat in the ring for a chance to win a copy of Gill McKnight's latest, Erosistible.

YOWZA! Here's your synposis:

A week in paradise—with the ex-girlfriend from Hell. 

Winifred Martin has a new job, newfound confidence, and a glamorous new lover. In fact, after moving on from a heart-wrenching breakup, Win has a whole new life. 

Benedikte (Benny) Fiske has also sold up and moved on, too—to a wonderful Greek island where she can invest in herself again and find peace and quiet. 

When Win arrives at a luxurious boutique hotel for a much-anticipated week of sun and sex with her new girlfriend, she is stunned to find her ex-girlfriend, Benny, is the proprietor.  Benny is equally shocked to find Win doing so well and looking so gorgeous…far too gorgeous. She’s convinced Win is wasting her time on this vacuous new lover. In fact, she has a lot of opinions on Win and her new life—the strongest being Benny should be back in it.  

Nestled in the beautiful Aegean on an island blessed by Eros, the God of Love himself, Benny finds no lack of inspiration in her quest to woo back her lost love. Her methods, however, are the stuff myths are made of.

If you'd like to enter the drawing, CLICK THIS LINK and leave a comment. Remember to include your email address (it won't be made public) so the folks at Women and Words can drop you a line if you win.

Good luck!

sigh. I so love Greece...

Uh, that is, to get your submission in to me and my colleague-in-crime, R. G. Emanuelle, for consideration for the anthology "Skulls and Crossbones." If you have questions or you need a copy of the guidelines, drop us a line at pirateanthology AT gmail DOT com. The deadline is SEPTEMBER 1! So git writin'!

And on a sad note, Senator Ted Kennedy died last night. My thoughts about that HERE.

Hope all is well with you and yours and that you keep on keepin' on.

Hi, all--

Sacchi Green and Rakelle Valencia, editors, have put their latest anthology up for a free drawing over at Women and Words. It's Lesbian Cowboys: Erotic Adventures.



Here's the synopsis:

"With stories that are edgy as shiny spurs and tender as broken-in leather, fifteen first-rate writers share their take on cowboys—the iconic fantasy, the calling, and the attitude that has nothing to do with gender. Whether in the Old West or the Australian outback, New England or the Great Plains, the lesbian cowboys in these stories work hard, ride hard, and play hard in the saddle and in bed. Contributors Radclyffe and Jove Belle depict the rough and tumble world of female rodeo riders, while Cheyenne Blue describes a charged encounter between a renegade cattle driver and national park ranger, and Delilah Devlin writes about a hired hand who may be a woman, but is more than a match for any man.Lesbian Cowboys is sexy, steamy, and crackling with erotic energy."

To enter the drawing, go to THIS LINK and leave a comment. Don't forget to include your email address (which is not made public) so that the administrators over there can contact you.

Good luck!

Hi, all--wow, the things you can accomplish at a rest stop in Iowa that has free wi-fi. ANYWAY.

Mindancer Press had to migrate its site right quick, and sadly some things fell off the ship, as it were. The new link for the Skulls and Crossbones guidelines is:

RIGHT HERE! NEW LINK! SUBMISSION GUIDELINES!

Sorry about that, folks. Dang Web gremlins. Anyway, if you're still having problems (with the guidelines! Not with...you know. Life in general), drop us a line at pirateanthology AT gmail DOT com and we'll send you a copy as an email attachment. And who knows? Maybe that'll help with your life-in-general problems.

Thanks all and peace out!

Yep, it's me again. Your friendly neighborhood anthology editor. Just a reminder that September 1 is the deadline for the anthology "Skulls and Crossbones" through Bedazzled Ink, that I'm co-editing with R. G. Emanuelle.

Here's the linkie dinkie for your guidelines. ANY setting. ANY time period (yes, space and fantasy worlds are fine). The main character must be a female character or the story must revolve around a female pirate.

Go see and hope you play! You'll get yourself some money (3 large pizzas' worth! YEAH!), some publicity, and some cool portfolio-lining.

If you have questions, contact me directly or drop us a line at

pirateanthology AT gmail DOT com.

Come on down!

Oh, lord have mercy. I am SO tired! But I'll try to do a report on what happened at the GCLS. Obviously, there'll be many reports about it, but that's all right. Here's one more!

If you wanna read, click on!

( Read more... )

WOOOO! I'm giving a copy of Friends in High Places away over at Women and Words.



Synopsis:
Torri Rendego buried her Academy past and military training when the Empire collapsed and the hated Coalition came to power. She’s been making a pretty good living since she went underground. She and her crew run shipments of whatever products her clients want–most often, illegal. The latest contract brings her and the crew of the Far Seek to the mining colony of Newburg on Old Earth, where she somehow has to acquire a shipment of highly prized black opals for a client who may or may not be Coalition, beneath the scrutiny of increased Coalition security. But somebody’s messing with the markets, which puts Torri and her crew in a dangerous position and in the seething streets of Newburg, where everyone’s on the take, knowing who to trust is often a matter of life and death. Torri’s good at what she does, and she enjoys outsmarting the Coalition every chance she has, but she certainly doesn’t count on Kai Tinsdale, her closest Academy colleague, being assigned to Newburg as part of the elite teams breaking up smuggling rings. Kai and Torri share a bond forged years earlier during their Academy days but as the Coalition rose to power, Kai chose to remain in the military, and thus under Coalition directive. In spite of the political gulf between them, Torri and Kai have managed to maintain a connection, but that fragile truce will be put to another test in the mean streets of Newburg and in the hot, dark mines beneath.

OOOOOOO!

If you'd like to read an excerpt, click here.

Click here. Leave a comment--and when you're doing so, please make sure to include your email address (which will NOT show up publicly) so that the admin over there can contact you if you win the drawing.

Hope you play and good luck!

Hiya, kids!

Whew. Getting ready for the GCLS convention. I'll be driving with a lot of books, so I'm in the planning stages. To find out what I think about all that, click HERE.

You can also get the latest scoop on what I've just gotten published at my website. Specifically, HERE.

In terms of craft and business, my explanation with regard to editing and editors is available HERE.

Things're finer'n frog's hair here in the holler. YEEEE-HA! Hope y'all are well.