Quick Update:
Nope, the newest monkey hasn’t made his appearance yet.  So the Baby Pool Contest is still going on, but I will be ending it on August 15th because I will have him by then (go ahead and laugh if you want).  The Doc doesn’t think I’ll go past that and I’m holding him to it.  *grin*
As for contests, there are a ton going on in August while I’m out, so make sure you check out the sidebar.  I have them all listed there with the date they start.  …

So I wasn’t going to do any news posts in August since Simon is going to be arriving, but he’s not here yet and I have some time.  So here’s the latest from the Reader.
Check out the hot cover Wicked Scribes found for Joss Ware’s next Envy novel, Night Betrayed, which is due out January 25, 2011.  For more cover goodness, make sure you check out the Paperback Dolls and Dark Faerie Tales.
Chloe Neill has fantastic news – Penguin bought Chicagoland Vampires #5, 6 and 7!  <begin chanting> we’re getting …

Maria Snyder unveiled the cover for her upcoming novel, Outside In, the follow up to Inside Out in her latest newsletter.   For more cover goodness, check out: Babbling About Books, All Things Urban Fantasy, Paperback Dolls, SciFi Guy, Lurv a la Mode and Tez Says.
Ilona Andrews has posted a fabulous snippet from Magic Slays.
Diana Gabaldon has posted an excerpt from an upcoming short story titled Terror Daemonium (or possibly The Space Between).  This story does take place after An Echo in the Bone, so be wary of spoilers.
Interviews:

Susan Hubbard, …

The Paperback Dolls have found a ton more new covers for this month.  Check out one of the latest – Blood Spells by Jessica Andersen, which is due out November 2, 2010.  For more cover art shininess, check out Reading on the Darkside, Dark Faerie Tales and Ellz Readz.
SciFiGuy is coming back!  Marta had the fabulous news on Vampire Wire today.  She’s been in contact with Doug and he says:
I am back home, feeling great, healthy and ready to resume blogging and participating in the community I love so much. …

Today, Literary Escapism is excited to welcome Adrian Phoenix, author of the Makers Song series as well as the recently released Black Dust Mambo, to the floor.
THE FATE OF THREE WORLDS…
The dark pieces of vampire rock star Dante Baptiste’s past are violently emerging, and it is only a matter of time before the Fallen discover he is the creawdwr they have sought for thousands of years. The destruction he left behind in Oregon threatens to reveal his identity as Fallen Maker and True Blood, exposing the young nightkind to shadowy …