The Author Returns
I'm back from Europe. I'm also bloody sick, so don't expect a ton of coherency until my sinuses stop recieving signals from Planet Snot. In the meantime, while I'm longing for the sweet release of death, have some news:
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First and foremost, my good friend/neighbor/kitteh-watcher/author extraordinaire Cherie Priest has a new book out:
Now, you know that I'm always happy to post release info, but I don't gush over books unless they genuinely impress me. Cherie's impressed me so much that not only did I give it a quote (along with such fine folks as Wil Wheaton, Hellboy creator Mike Mignola, and English reprobate Warren Ellis) but I've actually marked it down on my calendar and have been waiting for the release day.
Here's what I said about Boneshaker:
A rip-snorting adventure in the best tradition of a penny dreadful. Priest has crafted a novel of exquisite prose and thrilling twists, populated by folk heroes and dastardly villains, zombies and air pirates, incredible machines and a heroine wholl have you cheering. BONESHAKER is the definitive steampunk story, absolutely unique and one hell of a fun read.
And you know what, internets? I meant every damn word. The book's available now from fine retailers everywhere, and I am using all of my admittedly diminished sickly mind powers to compel you to pick up a copy.
---
I had a bit of a realization while I was in Europe, largely cut off except from email and Twitter (those are on my phone. My bill this month could prop up some kind of small third-world dictatorship.) I didn't miss the internet all that much.
Oh sure, I missed reading my blogroll and I missed talking about writing and having the daily pause in work and craziness to sit down at say Hey readers, how are you today? I am fine (or not). But the constant frantic scrambling of "promotion"? The endless memes? The great swath of stuff I just skim over even though I'm "supposed" to care about it as a professional writer? (No, I won't tell you what sites, exactly. That's a seekrit.)
Didn't miss it.
So here's the deal--from now on, I'm going to tell you when my books come out. I'm going to keep doing what I consider "fun" promo (and more importantly, promo I've been able to quantify as actually raising awareness of my novels.) I'll still do signings, cons, and the occasional blog interview. I will still post my wordcounts and my general brain ramblings on Batman, hipsters, the likelihood of me killing you if you tell me you "don't read that paranormal STUFF" in a tone of voice normally used to say things like you "don't use that heroin STUFF."
I'll do all of that. But I'm done with the stuff I'm "supposed" to do, because frankly, it just makes me irritable.
---
Another thing that started while I was gone was fall TV here in the US. As is tradition, here is what I am watching this year. (I made a real effort to scale back. I don't think it worked.)
Supernatural
Criminal Minds
The Office
30 Rock
Lie to Me
Numb3rs
Cold Case
Southland
Human Target (midseason)
Burn Notice (midseason)
I dropped a ton of stuff from last year, believe it or not (most notably The Mentalist, which utterly failed to deliver on its early potential) and more stuff got cancelled (bye, Pushing Daisies. bye, Reaper. bye, Life. /sniff) And if Supernatural doesn't please me, it's waiting for DVD, too. I haven't really enjoyed the show for about a year.
This is the first year I remember when there isn't at least one new cop show. Lots of doctor shows. Lots of paranormal-lite crap like Vampire Diaries (sorry, but I saw the pilot and WHAT. The books were camp but they didn't SUCK. No pun intended.) But no cops. I am spoiled, I guess, because Lie to Me and Southland were both quite good last year.
Now that's the last I'll probably say about television until NEXT fall.
Signing off to go try and work a bit. And get rid of my 1700 vacation emails.
Originally published at Caitlin Kittredge.
---
First and foremost, my good friend/neighbor/kitteh-watcher/author extraordinaire Cherie Priest has a new book out:
Now, you know that I'm always happy to post release info, but I don't gush over books unless they genuinely impress me. Cherie's impressed me so much that not only did I give it a quote (along with such fine folks as Wil Wheaton, Hellboy creator Mike Mignola, and English reprobate Warren Ellis) but I've actually marked it down on my calendar and have been waiting for the release day.
Here's what I said about Boneshaker:
A rip-snorting adventure in the best tradition of a penny dreadful. Priest has crafted a novel of exquisite prose and thrilling twists, populated by folk heroes and dastardly villains, zombies and air pirates, incredible machines and a heroine wholl have you cheering. BONESHAKER is the definitive steampunk story, absolutely unique and one hell of a fun read.
And you know what, internets? I meant every damn word. The book's available now from fine retailers everywhere, and I am using all of my admittedly diminished sickly mind powers to compel you to pick up a copy.
---
I had a bit of a realization while I was in Europe, largely cut off except from email and Twitter (those are on my phone. My bill this month could prop up some kind of small third-world dictatorship.) I didn't miss the internet all that much.
Oh sure, I missed reading my blogroll and I missed talking about writing and having the daily pause in work and craziness to sit down at say Hey readers, how are you today? I am fine (or not). But the constant frantic scrambling of "promotion"? The endless memes? The great swath of stuff I just skim over even though I'm "supposed" to care about it as a professional writer? (No, I won't tell you what sites, exactly. That's a seekrit.)
Didn't miss it.
So here's the deal--from now on, I'm going to tell you when my books come out. I'm going to keep doing what I consider "fun" promo (and more importantly, promo I've been able to quantify as actually raising awareness of my novels.) I'll still do signings, cons, and the occasional blog interview. I will still post my wordcounts and my general brain ramblings on Batman, hipsters, the likelihood of me killing you if you tell me you "don't read that paranormal STUFF" in a tone of voice normally used to say things like you "don't use that heroin STUFF."
I'll do all of that. But I'm done with the stuff I'm "supposed" to do, because frankly, it just makes me irritable.
---
Another thing that started while I was gone was fall TV here in the US. As is tradition, here is what I am watching this year. (I made a real effort to scale back. I don't think it worked.)
Supernatural
Criminal Minds
The Office
30 Rock
Lie to Me
Numb3rs
Cold Case
Southland
Human Target (midseason)
Burn Notice (midseason)
I dropped a ton of stuff from last year, believe it or not (most notably The Mentalist, which utterly failed to deliver on its early potential) and more stuff got cancelled (bye, Pushing Daisies. bye, Reaper. bye, Life. /sniff) And if Supernatural doesn't please me, it's waiting for DVD, too. I haven't really enjoyed the show for about a year.
This is the first year I remember when there isn't at least one new cop show. Lots of doctor shows. Lots of paranormal-lite crap like Vampire Diaries (sorry, but I saw the pilot and WHAT. The books were camp but they didn't SUCK. No pun intended.) But no cops. I am spoiled, I guess, because Lie to Me and Southland were both quite good last year.
Now that's the last I'll probably say about television until NEXT fall.
Signing off to go try and work a bit. And get rid of my 1700 vacation emails.
Originally published at Caitlin Kittredge.