Breaking News: Book of the Month, Synchronicity Update, and more!

Hello hello!

A quick post today. First, the good news! The Loved, The Lost, The Dreaming has won 'Book of the Month' on Modern Good Reads! You should go join and talk about it! It's also on sale to celebrate--$2.99 instead of $4.99, which is 40% off and a hell of a deal for a novel and AND short stories and a novella! The reviews it's been getting are INSANE and make my little magpie soul incredibly happy. As you can see, I'm giving back--I've got a Rafflecopter running right above this post, and you have until the end of the month to enter! Yay! So, buy it now or enter the contest--I don't mind sending the book as a gift to someone for you either!

Next up on the good news-o-meter--Richard Long, the one and only, is in the final hours of his Kickstarter for The Book of Paul. Go buy it--it's on sale for $0.99--and go throw a few bucks in the bucket! They have a $5000 budget, so every penny helps!

Picture supplied by the author. LOOK AT THAT COVER.

Another horror writer friend, Travis Luedke just released The Nightlife: Paris. It is marvellous; his finest yet. I left my honest thoughts on a review. It was rather beautiful, a cut above his previous work (which was still really great.) BUY IT. Or enter the giveaway for that one, too.

a Rafflecopter giveaway



Finally, we come to the news I hinted at this weekend.

Sigh. My first work, Synchronicity, a tale 11 years in the making...is going to be undergoing painful page-1 rewrites. I was trying to get it out for you guys this summer, but that's simply not happening. The plot has Swiss cheese-like holes, the villains make no sense, and the prose just isn't at the standard I've set in my other works. This was the eldest child, dating before even And the Stars Will Sing, and it got me into writing seriously. I endured heartbreak and I grew up while writing it. Synchronicity started when I was only thirteen, and I worked on it intermittently until this year. And then, finally, seeing the painful morning light, I realised that no amount of work could make it more than okay. And I am so much more than 'okay' as a writer.

I was incredibly upset about this on Sunday, and posted a bunch of comments about being hungover. I was, in fact, hungover from too little sleep; regular readers will know that I'm not a drug user at all and I generally avoid drinking, so rest assured that it was staying up until 4:00 AM that did me in, not substances of dubious provenance.

Luckily, my early morning saviour was a deeply respected friend and developmental editor. We hashed out that plot for HOURS. You can expect to hear more about the lovely Sarah in future, because I'm very grateful for her resuscitation of my 'eldest child'.

However! My baby isn't dead--just undergoing a brain transplant. The new plot is planned out and I think you're going to love the direction. The only hint you're getting is 'water'. So...puzzle over that for a bit! I'll be dropping more hints as time goes on. Suffice to say I am INCREDIBLY relieved and really looking forward to getting down to work!

Finally, I'm getting things set up so I can release The Underlighters as a stand-alone this summer, for those of you who don't want all those extra short stories. That should be fun! I'll be posting updates. That's all for now! Stay tuned, and I'll have more kickass content on the way.

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Thanks for dropping by the nest once again. Don't miss any of the good kind of crazy. Find me on Twitter, Facebook, and on Tumblr. More interviews and witty commentaries are coming. Keep checking back to see those surprise posts, too. This is your darling SciFiMagpie, over and out! 

Breaking News: Now in Paperback! News from Friends!

Hello hello!

Just a little bit of a post today. I wanted to share the good news (slightly late) about being in PAPERBACK! WOOHOO! I made an "EEEEEEEEE!" noise when I first got my proof copy.

The amazing Kit Foster did this one--I love it to death.

If you do not have a copy already, GO BUY IT NOW. The ebook version is still available, of course.

BUT! I am not the only one with big news. As you can see here, my friend Richard Long is running a Kickstarter for a trailer for The Book of Paul. As you might know from my interview from him, it's a dark and wonderful horror book. Throw a few dollars in the bucket--this trailer is going to be AWESOME and I want to see it. And, there are rewards, of course! So, be sure to drop by and have a look at that. The Book of Paul really blew me away. Seriously. Don't miss it.

FINALLY! Last, but not at all least, the adorable Christy Foster (also known as Sierra Sofia) has just released a new baby herself. Her party for the next one going on over here. You should still have a look, especially if you're a paranormal or short-story lover! She also has a new book,

That's all for today...happy reading!

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Thanks for dropping by the nest once again. Don't miss any of the good kind of crazy. Find me on Twitter, Facebook, and on Tumblr. More interviews and witty commentaries are coming. Keep checking back to see those surprise posts, too. This is your darling SciFiMagpie, over and out! 

Irish Punk Rock Horror: An Interview with Richard Long

Hello hello!

Well, February is coming to a close--the scariest month of the year is almost over. Sigh. However, the gem of the month is HERE: one Richard Long, author of bestseller The Book of Paul. That's right. We have our first ever official CELEBRITY on the blog.

Now, I'd already read The Book of Paul in ebook form. Below is a sample of my reaction when I got an autographed edition from Richard himself.

 This is me, with autographed book, elated beyond belief and human reason. The squealing and jumping up-and-down part, not shown, came immediately afterwards.

Now, as you all know, I like a bit of horror now and again, mostly in the 'Weird Fiction' side of the genre, though offbeat paranormal books also catch my interest. (In the dystopian/horror overlap area, you might remember my interview with sharp new voice JC Eggleton about his book, Brookhaven, from a few months back.)

I like to feature fellow indie authors not only because I am one, but also because it's a great way for my readers to stumble on awesome things that just might not be on bookshelves near them. Today's feature guest, Richard Long, reads like a big-name published author--which, at this rate, he's going to be--is definitely one of the most unmissable. Without further ado and gushing, please give a warm welcome to Richard Long!

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Q: Describe yourself in 20 words or less.

A study in contradictions: Iconoclast. Family man. Dark past. Bright future.


Q: Tell us about your novel.

The Book of Paul is…different. There’s a classic Gothic horror, apocalyptic, good
vs. evil struggle. There’s also a Romeo and Juliet love story. It’s dark, creepy,
kinky and funny. The setting is the East Village of New York in the mid-90s. Paul
inhabits a condemned building in Alphabet City. At first you might think he’s
some crazed serial killer with occult obsessions, but as the story progresses you
realize that there is much, much more going on with Paul than you ever would
have expected or could imagine. It’s a very wild ride.


Q: Horror lately has been about vampires and werewolves. Two of the authors
I'm featuring this month are vamp and werewolf writers, though very excellent
ones. Did 'The Book of Paul' diverge from this intentionally?

Traditional monsters don’t hold any fascination for me, but I like the archetypes
that vampires and werewolves represent. A traditional werewolf is a person,
who, through no fault of his own (other than being in the wrong place at the
wrong time), is condemned to a very long life committing countless murders and
atrocities. He is usually tortured by his “other” self and racked with guilt. I think
that’s easy for people to identify with and easy for a writer to play with once you
take the fur and full moon baloney away.

As for our other fanged friends, once you lose the garlic and coffin mattress
trappings, a vampire is essentially a parasitic immortal being. There are a couple
of those in The Book of Paul, but they don’t tap into some unlucky person’s
jugular for a quick pick-me-up. All this being said, I’m developing the ultimate
vampire/werewolf/zombie epic with my 12-year-old son. Probably a screenplay.

From author's website. If you think the cover is gorgeous and elegant, wait until you get to the prose...

Q: You have a very unique tone and writing style, and I don't say that often.
Which writers inspire you?

I’m most inspired by Irish playwrights. Enda Walsh. Martin McDonagh. Beckett.
My style of writing, particularly the way I balance humor and horror, is more
related to their work than any novelists I’ve read.


Q: Paul has a cruel sense of humour, and while readers love him, he's an
ambiguous character at best when it comes to morality. Did writing about
his ...unique approach to solving problems... ever bother you?

Sure, some of the things Paul does are completely reprehensible. I’ve cried on
more than one occasion while writing scenes with Paul. On the other hand, he’s
the more fun to write than any other characterthe ultimate gleeful villain. He’s
exceptionally smart, sophisticated, wise and very funny. Writing Paul is like
taking your Id off the leash.


Q: You mix Celtic folklore, druidism, an illuminati-like society, violence, rock
chicks, and a healthy dose of societal critique in "The Book of Paul". How did you
make such an eclectic idea work?

I don’t write from an outline. It all just comes spewing out from some unlimited
reservoir of oddness. I only write about things that interest meand I have
exceptionally eclectic and varied interests: mythology, ancient cultures, religion,
philosophy, occult lore, science, conspiracy theories, dystopian scenarios,
contemporary society. One of William’s lines that I really like is: “I want to know
how things work.” I want to know how people “work”, particularly marginal
characters like the ones in this story. People on the fringe.


Q: Was anything in 'The Book of Paul' inspired by contemporary issues in
America?

When I first moved to New York City I lived in the East Village/Alphabet City
neighborhood where most of the action takes place. It was a lot of fun, and very
scary at times, back-in-the-day before gentrification. So that edgy quality and the
darkness of the particular lifestyle I was living inspired the general mood. The
tattoo/piercing culture was also influential. The tribalism. The fascination with
pain-pleasure. Outside of those cultural aspects, I’m fairly convinced that we are
on the precipice of a seismic upheaval called the Singularity. Apocalypse soon!

Yes, he really is this terrifyingly handsome. No, he's not actually Paul. Maybe. Kind of. We're not sure yet. 

Q: What do you plan to write or publish next?

I’m finishing the first volume of a YA fantasy series called The Dream Palace and
then it’s back to the sequel of The Book of Paul and a screenplay of The Book of
Paul.


Q: Which foods do you absolutely hate? 

Sea urchin.


Q: What would you do if you ran into Paul in real life?

Buy the man a drink. Cozy up on the barstool next to him. And just listen for as
long as he wanted to talk.


Naturally, you already know you can't live without the book. Buy it here on Amazon. Keep in mind that The Dream Palace, also by Richard, is coming soon!

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Thanks for dropping by the nest once again. Don't miss any of the good kind of crazy. Find me on Twitter, Facebook, and on Tumblr. A review of The Hobbit is coming, as well as more info about The Loved, The Lost, The Dreaming in paperback. Spring is going to bring a fantasy theme with it--interviews with fantasy authors, content related to fantasy films and reviews, and some political commentary--the phuquerie you've come to expect from me. Keep checking back to see those surprise posts, too. This is your darling SciFiMagpie, over and out!