Kicking off the Live and Let Fly book tour!

Wow--so I disappeared for a couple of weeks.  Sorry about that.  I was having an awesome time at the Catholic Writers Conference Online.  (The next one is March 4-15, 2013.  Mark your calendars now!)  I'll talk about some great things I learned at CWCO on Thursday.  Today, I'm kicking off the Live and Let Fly Book tour!

The book comes out April 20 in electronic form only, though if sales are good, we'll go to print.  I'm so thrilled!  This book has been YEARS in the waiting, and sometimes "Vern fans" would ask me when it was coming.  Thanks, MuseItUp.  We had a lot of fun editing it (gonna post about that on April 16.)  Lex Valentine came up with the awesome cover art.

My friend asked, "Who's the hottie in the sunglasses?"  It's Vern in human form.  Did you expect any different?  He's a gorgeous dragon, after all.

You can see how excited I am, because this tour is HUGE.  Do drop by the stops and make a comment--several are having give-aways of the book.  Also at the end of the month, I'll be posting a scavenger hunt.  The clues are in the tour (the posts marked "Hunt.")  This is the first time I've tried this, so we'll see how well it works, but I'll have a big prize basket with books and more.

April 1

* DragonEye PI (http://dragoneyepi.net) Serial Story Continues

* Caprice Hokstad (http://caprice.splashdownbooks.com) Info

April 2

* Fabianspace (http://fabianspace.blogspot.com) Kickoff      

* Tribute Books (http://tributebooks.blogspot.com) Interview/HUNT

April 3

* Tracy Morris (www.tracysmorris.com) Five Not-So-Simple Rules about Humor

* Kelsoglyphs (http://www.sylviakelso.com) Info

April 4

* DragonEye PI (http://dragoneyepi.net) Serial Story Continues

* The New Book Reviews (http://www.thenewbookreview.blogspot.com/) Review of Magic, Mensa and Mayhem, the First DragonEye Book

* Reality Skimming (http://okalrel.org/blog) Interview w/Vern/HUNT

*Confessions of a Bleeding Heart (http://confessionsofableedingheart.wordpress.com/) Info

* Sense of Fiction (http://ksrwriter.blogspot.com) Interview

April 5

* Jennifer Walker(http://www.jennifersbookreviews.blogspot.com) Merging Faith w/ Fantasy

April 6

* Writing and Marketing (http://karencioffiwritingandmarketing.com) Effective Book Marketing

* Writers & Authors (http://writersandauthors.blogspot.com/) On Video Book Trailers

                                                                                                                                                                                                               

April 7

* Lincoln Crisler (http://lincolncrisler.info/?page_id=2) Writing and Being a Military Spouse

April 8

* DragonEye PI (http://dragoneyepi.net) Serial Story Continues

* Rebecca Ryals Russell (http://rryalsrussell.com/blog/) The Name Game/HUNT

April 9

* Fabianspace (http://fabianspace.blogspot.com) Vern as a Guy/HUNT

* You Gotta Read (http://yougottareadreviews.blogspot.com) Something Completely Different

* Clarion (http://clarionfoundation.wordpress.com/) Idea Casserole

April 10

* Teen Word Factory (http://www.teenwordfactory.com/) Why I wrote L&LF

*Time w/Tannia (http://timewithtannia.tripod.com) Interview

April 11

* DragonEye PI (http://dragoneyepi.net) Serial Story Continues

* Sally Christie (http://sallyfranklinchristie.com/wp/) Interview w/Karina & Vern/HUNT

* Diana’s Writing Den (http://diannaswritingden.com/) On the Submission Process

April 12

* Cup of Coffee and a Good Book (http://www.jennifersbookreviews.blogspot.com/) Review

* Barbara's Meanderings (http://barbaraehrentreu.blogspot.com/) On Norse Mythology/HUNT

April 13

* Gloria Oren (http://gloriascorner.com/) What Vern & Grace have been up to

* Gary Olson (http://www.garywolson.com/blog/) Interview

April 14

* Flowers on the Fence (flowersonthefence.blogspot.com) Vern’s Apologia on Extortion/HUNT

April 15

* DragonEye PI (http://dragoneyepi.net) Serial Story Continues

* Paper Dragon, Inc. (http://paperdragonink.com) Interview

* Sandra Saidak (http://sandrasaidak.com/) Interview

* Roxanne Bland (http://roxannebland.com/) Interview, About Stan Rakness

April 16

* Fabianspace (http://fabianspace.blogspot.com) Editing L&LF

* Jennifer Fitz (http://jenniferfitz.wordpress.com)  Review

*One Writers' Journey (http://pennylockwoodehrenkranz.blogspot.com/) About Video Book Trailers

* A Pius Man (http://apiusman.blogspot.com) Review, Interview

April 17

*  Tim Marquiz (http://tmarquitz.com/blog/) Info

April 18

* DragonEye PI (http://dragoneyepi.net) Serial Story Continues

* Diana’s Writing Den (http://diannaswritingden.com) Review

* Michelle Pickett (www.Michelle-Pickett.com) Interview

April 19—Karina’s Birthday!

April 20 – Live and Let Fly Published!

* Pauline Baird Jones (http://paulinebairdjones.blogspot.com/)  Organizing the Plot

* Escape Velocity (http://kerryadrienne.com) Info/HUNT

April 21

* The Baptized Imagination (http://baptizedimagination.com) Interview

April 22

* DragonEye PI (http://dragoneyepi.net) Serial Story Continues

* Catholic Creativity (http://www.catholiccreativity.net) Interview

* Catholic Fiction (http://catholicflashficton.wordpress.com)  Excerpt-Vern Confesses/HUNT

* The Writers Chat Room (http://writerschatroom.com) 7 PM Eastern-Guest Chat

April 23

* Fabianspace (http://fabianspace.blogspot.com) About the Cover

* Becca Butcher (http://beccabutcher.wordpress.com) Interview

April 24

* Teresa Schnellmann (www.twfendley.com) Info + Give-away

* Biblio Paradise (http://biblioparadise.wordpress.com) Interview

* Plotting Princesses (http://plottingprincesses.blogspot.com) Interview

April 25

* Snoring Scholar (http://snoringscholar.com) Review/HUNT

* Erin Hartshorn (http://www.erinmhartshorn.com/blog/) Review, Writing about Interesting Times, & Giveaway

April 26

* Where Love and Fantasy Take Flight (http://NicoleZoltack.blogspot.com) Info/HUNT

* Far Edge of Normal (http://jaletaclegg.blogspot.com/) Vern talks food

April 27

* Catholic Dads Online (http://www.catholicdadsonline.org) Review

* Book Reviews & More (http://bookreviewsandmore.ca) Review

* A Frank Review (http://blog.frankcreed.com) Info

* Becca Butcher (http://beccabutcher.wordpress.com) Information

* Fallen Angel Reviews (http://fallenangelreviews.com/Interviews/Interviews.shtml) Interview

April 28

* Helene Prevost (www.hmprevost.com) Interview, Review

April 29

*J.Q. Rose (www.jqroseauthor.blogspot.com) Writing & the Twisted Mind

April 30

* Catholic Writers Guild (http://blog.catholicwritersguild.com) About Sister Grace/HUNT
*"Siren Spell" (the story of Sister Grace) Flying Island Press (www.flyingislandpress.com)

* Fabianspace (http://fabianspace.blogspot.com) Wrap-up

Review: Firedancer by S. A. Bolich

Government Noseys:  Bought this one.  Worth more than 99 cents.

Synopsis From the website:  Jetta ak'Kal, once the most talented Firedancer in all the clans, is haunted by the memory of a failure that took the life of her beloved. Asked to protect a village that has never known fire, she must battle both their prejudices and her growing certainty that her enemy—the Ancient, the living, elemental fire—has learned to think. And the Dance that controls it is failing...

Review:  I got to hear Sue Bolich read a portion of this book at WorldCon and loved her vivid descriptions of her dancer.  In fact, Sue talked to me about it for my blog (See below if you missed it the first time.) I found the book itself lived up to the promise of the first few pages I'd heard:  rich in description, with great excitement and deep feeling.  The story was well thought out, and I loved the characters.  One thing I really appreciated was that while the characters had amazing abilities, they weren't superhuman.  They had limits, felt pain, were injured--and didn't incredibly recover the same day or perform amazing feats with the effortlessness of their pre-injured bodies.  The romances were natural and believable.  The worldbuilding is amazing, too.  I'll be asking Sue about using bits of her book as examples in my worldbuilding classes!  Overall, just a wonderful book, definitely worth getting.  I'd especially recommend it for ladies in their teens and up, and for anyone who is a dancer.

Purchase on Amazon for Kindle

 

My Novel's Journey: Update on multiple projects 2

So, it looks like another week (two weeks) where I've been scattered across several projects, but several got finished this time, so I'm feeling good.


Completed:

"Of Slings and Feeling Vexed":  This is a DragonEye, PI short story I wrote for 10Flash's "The End of the World As We Know It" issue.  If you were in the flash fiction workshop at MuseCon, then you saw the first drafts.  The advice I got was terrific, and I fixed it up, and editor KC Ball loved it and made changes to make it even better.  It comes out in February!

"The Mover":  This is a story I brainstormed with my husband, Rob, for Damnation Book's hero anthology, Corrupts Absolutely?, though the characters took it in a different direction than I expected.  Lots of blue collar humor as a moving man get superpowers and realizes that he really isn't cut out for great responsibility after all.  I submitted it on Black Friday instead of shopping--a day better spent, IMHO.

The Damnation Books/Eternal Press Marketing Guide.  This was contracted booklet of marketing tips and ideas, plus examples and templates.  I'm honored that Kim Richards and Sally Christie had confidence in me to ask me to do this.  I'll be following up with classes and chats for the DB/EP authors.

"Valentine's Day Pandamonium":  My husband and I were joking about chasing each other around the old folk's home someday, and inspired this DragonEye story.  Pandarus, a cupid, gets mugged by folks in a retirement home who take his arrows to use on themselves.  Not sure if I'll submit it places or use it in my DragonEye, PI newsletter in March.


In Progress:


I Left My Brains in San Francisco:  I talked to my source at an oil refinery and got the ideas I need (I think) to finish this book.  I am working it out now, and I'm going to go back and thread more subplots in better.  Still aiming to finish this by end of December.  I'll need some critiquers and beta readers!

The Old Man in the Void:  He's still in the void, poor old man, and no one to chase around either!

"Christmas Spirits":  A DragonEye, PI mystery done in serial.  We have raised enough to buy a goat, but I'm hoping we can continue to raise funds to help more impoverished families in third-world nations.  Please check out the story at http://christmasspirits.karinafabian.com

Alex O'Donnell and the 40 Cyberthieves by Regina Doman

Summary (from Amazon): When his computer hacker dad discovers a secret website, Alex O'Donnell and his girlfriend Kateri become embroiled in a mystery that leads to sudden wealth, and murder. A modern retelling of the classic Arabian Nights tale Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves.

Review:

My teenage daughter and I love Regina's Fairy Tale series, and 40 Cyberthieves doesn't disappoint. Although Regina calls it a technothriller, it's a refreshing change from the over-adrenalined, constant danger, singles-only novel you usually associate with the genre. The characters are ones you can relate to on an everyday level. In fact, I was feeling very in tune with Kateri as I cleaned house that day. However, the adventure is still engrossing, the romance strong, and the heroes just enough larger than life that you can enjoy a happy escape from reality.



Attention Government Regulators: I bought this book, and I'm not even counting it off as a business expense. It was entertaining and I want people to know it. So there. Nyah!

W000t! Magic, Mensa and Mayhem Places 4th!

Magic, Mensa and Mayhem, the first DragonEye, PI novel, placed 4th in the Preditor and Editor Polls for best sci-fi/fantasy novel. W00t! Thanks, everyone!

Surely you know about DragonEye, PI, but if not, learn more here. Be sure to register before Valentines' Day--I have a present for DragonEye fans!