Escapist Newsletter (Vol 4 Issue 11)

News from LE

Horns of RuinThis month, LE had some fabulous authors visit.  Did you get a chance to see what they had to say?

  1. Laura Stamps, author of Sex Magick – October 5, 2010
  2. Angela from Dark Faerie Tales – October 7, 2010
  3. JK Beck, author of When Wicked Craves – October 12, 2010
  4. Krista D. Ball, author of Harvest Moon – October 14, 2010
  5. Marta Acosta, author of Haunted Honeymoon – October 15, 2010
  6. Laura Bickle, author of Sparks – October 19, 2010
  7. Nancy Holder, author of Crusade – October 26, 2010
  8. Erica Hayes, author of Poison Kissed – October 28, 2010

Just to give everyone a heads up, I’m going to be playing with the site again.  Nothing major, I’m simply going to try and streamline a few things.  You shouldn’t notice a difference, but you know what happens with the best laid plans.  The reason for this is beginning in January, Literary Escapism will be accepting and displaying paid advertisements.  I’m still working on placements and pricing, but one place I am going to start displaying them will be at the end of my news posts.  Please trust me that the ads in the posts won’t be obnoxious, but I’m hoping that they’ll be beneficial to readers and authors alike since they’ll also reach all of my readers who depend on their Google Readers and RSS feeds (I’m guilty of that as well).

Current contests:

  1. Tim Akers is giving away a signed copy of The Horns of Ruin. Contest ends November 9th.
  2. Amanda Rose is giving away a copy of her novel, The Vessel.  Contest ends November 11th.

Speaking of contests, I’ll be announcing the winners to the Laura Bickle, Nancy Holder and Erica Hayes contests in tomorrow’s news posts.  If you haven’t entered Erica Hayes‘ contest for a copy of Poison Kissed, you have, like, 10 minutes to do it.

Cover Extravaganza

I started putting the cover section up near the top and scattering the covers throughout the newsletter last month and I think it worked out pretty well.  I may not have posted quite as many as I used to, but something tells me the load times were a bit better.  Plus, Facebook has changed their album thumbnails and this is just a lot easier.

During October, 78 different covers were revealed.  I’m only going to show off a few that I haven’t seen get as much time on the blogs, but you can find all of them on the Facebook page. If you want to see all of them, in their original sizes, head over here.

There were a ton of great sources: Paperback Dolls, Wicked Scribes, All Things Urban Fantasy, Michelle’s Book Blog, Escape Between the Pages, Dark Faerie Tales and SciFiGuy.

New Releases

Pinocchio Vampire SlayerNovember 1st:
Elfsorrow by James Barclay (Legends of the Raven #1)
Kind by Holly Black (The Good Neighbors #3)
Touch of Temptation by Rhiannon Byrd
A Darker Shade of Dead by Bianca D’Arc
Luck of the Wolf by Susan Krinard

November 2nd:
The Horns of Ruin by Tim Akers
Blood Spells by Jessica Andersen (Final Prophecy #5)
Rebel by Zoe Archer (Blades of the Rose #3)
Jeweled by Anya Bast (Jeweled #1)
Wolfsbane by Patricia Briggs
Enemy Within by Marcella Burnard
Living Nightmare by Shannon Butcher (Sentinel Wars #4)
Ghost Town by Rachel Caine (Morganville Vampires #9)
Inside Out by Lauren Dane
The Greyfriar by Clay & Susan Griffith (Vampire Empire #1)
Marked By The Moon by Lori Handeland (Night Creature)
Firewalker by Allyson James (Stormwalker #2)
Afterlight by Elle Jasper (Dark Ink #1)
In the Company of Vampires by Katie MacAlister (Dark Ones #8)
Confessions of a Vampire’s Girlfriend by Katie MacAlister
Pegasus by Robin McKinley
Magic at the Gate by Devon Monk (Allie Beckstrom #5)
Play of Passion by Nalini Singh (Psy/Changeling #9)
The Ring of Soloman by Jonathan Stroud
Prince Charming Doesn’t Live Here by Christine Warren (The Others)
In Dreams Begin by Skyler White
Shadowheart by Tad Williams (Shadowmarch #4)

November 8th:
Bitten in Two by Jennifer Rardin (Jaz Parks #7)

November 9th:
The Great Puppet Theater by Van Jensen (Pinocchio Vampire Slayer #2)

November 16th:
Songs of Love and Death – Anthology featuring Diana Gabaldon, Neil Gaiman, Carrie Vaughn, Marjorie Liu, plus more

November 18th:
The Bitter Seed of Magic by Suzanne McLeod (Spellcrackers)

November 23rd:
Gryphon Unleashed by Nancy Kathleen
Captive Spirit by Anna Windsor (Dark Crescent Sisterhood #4)

November 30th:
Killing the Cobra by Mario Acevedo (Felix Castor)
Counterfeit Magic by Kelley Armstrong (Women of the Otherworld)
Silver Zombie by Carole Nelson Douglas (Delilah Street)
Eternal Flame by Cynthia Eden
Vicious Grace by MLN Hanover (Black Sun’s Daughter #3)
Black Wings by Christina Henry
Bone God by Caitlin Kittredge (Black London #3)
In the Dark of Dream by Marjorie Liu (Dirk & Steele #11)
Vampires Not Invited by Cheyenne McCray (Night Tracker #3)
Hungry For You by Lynsay Sands (Argeneau Vampires #14)

Here are a few other places with their own September releases: All Things Urban Fantasy, SciFiGuy, Wicked Little Pixie, Rex Robot Reviews, and Tor/Forge.

New Release Dates:
I have a ton of new release dates.  So many in fact that I’m going to wait and post them later.  The newsletter already gets pretty long; there’s no need to double the size just for new dates.  At last count, I have 53 new dates being added to the list.

From the Author Sites

Vampire VossCheck out the hot new cover Colleen Gleason is showing off for the first novel in her new series, The Vampire Voss.

Kelly Gay had some great news.  She’s sold the next two books in her Charlie Madigan series and the third one already has a title and relase date.  We’ll get The Hour of Dust and Ashes next summer with the fourth novel following in the summer of 2012.

Congratulations to Chloe Neill, who received the 2010 Nebraska Book Award for her fabulous novel, Some Girls Bite.  Chloe has also posted the cover copy for the fourth Chicagoland Vampires novel, Hard Bitten.

Times are hard for newly minted vampire Merit. Ever since shapeshifters announced their presence to the world, humans have been rallying against supernaturals–and they’re camping outside of Cadogan House with protest signs that could turn to pitchforks at any moment. Inside its doors, things between Merit and her Master, green-eyed heartbreaker Ethan Sullivan are … tense. But then the mayor of Chicago calls Merit and Ethan to a clandestine meeting and tells them about a violent vamp attack that has left three women missing. His message is simple: get your House in order. Or else.

Merit needs to get to the bottom of this crime, but it doesn’t help that she can’t tell who’s on her side. So she secretly calls in a favor from someone who’s tall, dark, and part of underground vamp group that may have some deep intel on the attack. Merit soon finds herself in the heady, dark heart of Chicago’s supernatural society–a world full of vampires who seem to ready to fulfill the protesting human’s worst fears, and a place where she’ll learn that you can’t be a vampire without getting a little blood on your hands…

Leanna Renee Hieber has sold a new series to Sourcebooks that will be set in Victorian America.  The first novel in the new Magic Most Foul series will be out November 2011.

Seanan McGuire has announced the title for her fifth October Daye novel has been changed.  Instead of The Brightest Fell, we will have One Salt Sea.

Hollows Color PageKim Harrison has finally been able to post a color page from her upcoming Hollows graphic novel.  Isn’t it shiny?

If you’ve been to Jill Myles website, you’ve probably notice a few of her free stories.  Jill has compiled all the stories into one collection called, Zombie Fairy Tales, and it’s now available for only $0.99.

Keri Arthur has turned in the second Risa novel and has begun working on Risa3.  Risa2 does have a title, but since Kelley Armstrong has a novel out with the same title, it’s going to change.  Some good news though, Risa2 will be released a month after the first book, Darkness Unbound, which has an October 2011 release date.  Some bad news is that since both of the Risas are coming out so close together, the revamping of her Ripple Creek series has been pushed back to 2012.

Nalini Singh has posted the cover copy for the third Guild Hunter novel, Archangels Consort as well a the first chapter.

Vampire hunter Elena Deveraux and her lover, the lethally beautiful archangel Raphael, have returned home to New York only to face an uncompromising new evil…

A vampire has attacked a girls’ school—the assault one of sheer, vicious madness—and it is only the first act. Rampant bloodlust takes vampire after vampire, threatening to make the streets run with blood. Then Raphael himself begins to show signs of an uncontrolled rage, as inexplicable storms darken the city skyline and the earth itself shudders.

The omens are suddenly terrifyingly clear.

An ancient and malevolent immortal is rising. The violent winds whisper her name: Caliane. She has returned to reclaim her son, Raphael. Only one thing stands in her way: Elena, the consort who must be destroyed…

Richelle Mead has posted her tour schedule for Last Sacrific and she’ll be stopping in Michigan!  I’m so excited about that since not enough authors come to Detroit it seems like.  As it stands right now, I will be in Novi on December 12th; so if anyone else is, come find me.  I’ll have LE buttons with the eye if anyone wants them.

New Excerpts or Reading for Free

Visions of MagicShiloh Walker has posted an excerpt from her newly released Grimm Circle novel, Tarnished Knight.

Tor/Forge has a convenient post with links to chapter samples for their November release list.  Plus, you can read Lightbringers and Rainmakers by Felix Gilman and the first part to A Different Engine by Eileen Gunn for free.

Diana Gabaldon has posted a sample from her upcoming story, A Leaf on the Wind of All Hallows, which is a part of the anthology Songs of Love and Death, which releases November 18th. Gabaldon has also posted an excerpt of Lord John and the Scottish Prisoner.

Diana Rowland has posted the first two chapters of the third Kara Gillian novel, Secrets of the Demon, which will be released January 4, 2011.

Nalini Singh has posted an excerpt to the third Guild Hunter novel, Archangels Consort, which releases January 25,2011.

Ilona Andrews has posted an excerpt from the fifth Kate Daniels novel, Magic Slays, which will be released May 31, 2011.

Jill Myles has a new prequel story for her Succubus Diaries series titled Foreplay.  You can read it for free at the Simon & Schuster website.

Gail Z. Martin has posted the first chapter her upcoming novel, the Sworn, which will be released January 25, 2011.

Jenna Black has posted a snippet of her upcoming novel, Shadowspell, which releases January 4, 2011.

Have you seen the fan-driven multi-authored chain story, A Glimpse of Darkness, that Suvudu has been running?  The fifth chapter is currently up, which was written by Stacia Kane.  Here are the previous chapters –  first chapter (Lara Adrian), second chapter (Harry Connolly), the third chapter (Lucy A. Snyder), the fourth chapter (Kelly Meding), the fifth chapter (Stacia Kane) and the final chapter (Lara Adrian).

Crown Publishing Group has posted an excerpt for the first Laura Caxton Vampire novel, 13 Bullets, by David Wellington.

Karen Marie Moning has posted the excerpt, for the much anticipated Shadowfever, that was read at the recent FeverCon.

Rinda Elliot has posted a snippet from her upcoming novel, Foretold, which will hopefully be available soon.

Jackie Morse Kessler has posted a snippet from her upcoming YA novel, Hunger, which is available October 18th.

Jenna Black has posted a snippet from her upcoming novel, Shadowspell, which is available January 4, 2011.

Toni Andrews has posted a snippet from her upcoming novel, Without Mercy, which is available at some point.

Suvudu has an excerpt of David Wellington’s third vampire series novel, Vampire Zero.

Karen Mahoney has posted a snippet from her upcoming novel, The Iron Witch, which will be out February 8, 2011.

Devon Monk has posted a snippet of her upcoming novel, Magic at the Gate, which has just been released.

Maria Snyder has posted the first chapter to her upcoming release, Outside In, which is due out March 1, 2011.

Tate Hallaway has posted an excerpt from her upcoming novel, Devil Without a Cause, the first novel in an exciting new series, which will be released June 2011.

Vampire Wire has an exclusive excerpt from Skylar White’s upcoming novel, In Dreams Begin, which releases November 2nd.

Sean Cummings has posted the first chapter to his upcoming novel, Unseen World, which will be released in 2011.

Shiloh Walker has thrown up a snippet from her second Grimm Circle novel, No Prince Charming.

What Bears Repeating

Larissa Ione has revealed a new super secret (well, not so secret now) project.  If you’ve read her novella, Eternity Embraced, in the Mammoth Book of Vampire Romance 2 anthology, and felt like you wanted more of Andrea and Kaden, then rejoice, you’re getting it.  Ione will be expanding their story and re-releasing it for the Kindle and Nook in November.

Thanks to SciFiGuy, I’ve come across a new author colloborative site called Dark Central Station.  The authors involved are: Nancy Holzner (Deadtown), Wayne Simmons (Flu), Erin Kellison (Shadow Bound), Thomas Emson (Zombie Britannica) and Sean Cummings (Shade Fright).

Mammoth Book of Ghost RomanceJeannie Holmes just announced that she’ll be contributing a story to next year’s Mammoth Book of Ghost Romance.  That is awesome news for Holmes, however, I have to ask – ghost romances?!  I understand vampire romance and werewolf romance, but ghosts?  Isn’t that kind of…I want to say hard, but does a ghost have anything to get hard?  Back to Holmes though…she has also posted the blurb for her second Alexandra Sabian novel, Blood Secrets:

WHEN ALEXANDRA SABIAN SINKS HER TEETH INTO AN INVESTIGATION, SHE DOESN’T LET GO.

Alex let a case of murdered vamps get personal and is suspended from the Federal Bureau of Preternatural Investigation. Now she’s facing an official inquiry but has a chance to redeem herself. The catch: she must once again work with Varik Baudelaire, her former mentor and ex-fiancé, as he spearheads a search for a missing college student. But Varik has been keeping secrets from Alex and his mysterious past is on a collision course with his present.

When Alex and Varik discover a carefully handcrafted doll at a crime scene, neither of them can see how close the danger really is or that a killer known as the Dollmaker has made Alex the object of his horrific desire. Now the only way out of the Dollmaker’s lair is through the twilight realm of the Shadowlands, where all secrets—for better or worse—will be revealed.

Melissa Marr has finally announced when we’ll be able to get our hands on her first adult novel, Graveminder.  We simply have to wait until June 28th and no, there isn’t anything else yet.  I’m hoping I won’t be able to say that for much longer.

Jeaniene Frost has fabulous news!  She has sold two more novels in the Cat/Bones series, which will now end at nine books instead of seven.  First off, I don’t want the series to end.  Anyone else with me?  However, since it seems to be in the works, we can be comforted by the fact that Frost also sold a new series focusing on Vlad and his own heroine.  So while we may be losing Cat/Bones, we’ll be getting more of Vlad and who knows, maybe Cat & Bones will make a few appearances.

Ann Aguirre announced that her upcoming YA novel, Razorland, has been renamed to Enclave and even has a shiny new cover.

The League of Reluctant Adults is initiating a couple of new members.  Nicole is introducing us to one of them, Kevin Hearne, author of The Iron Druid Chronicles.  The other two members are Sonya Bateman (Master of None) and KA Stewart (Devil in the Details).

Tez Says found a bunch of new deals including Becca Fitzpatrick‘s Tempest, which is the 3rd book in the Hush, Hush series.

In her recent newsletter, Rachel Caine announced that she is working on a new series, which has a name and a first novel.  We’ll be able to read all about The Revivalist in the first novel, Working Stiff.

The Biting Edge found some fantastic news on Variety. Charlaine Harris’ Harper Connelly books are being developed for a television show on CBS. The show will be called Grave Sight, after the first novel, and produced by Ridley Scott, Tony Scott, Naren Shankar (CSI), David Zucker and Kam Miller (Law and Order: SVU).  No word on when it will premier.

Featured Book: Disappearing Nightly by Laura Resnick

I’m not a heroine — I just play one.

Also psychotics, vamps, orphans, hookers, housewives and — on one memorable occasion — a singing rutabaga. It was never my ambition to utilize my extensive dramatic training by playing a musical vegetable. However, as my agent is fond of pointing out, there are more actors in New York than there are people in most other cities. Translation: Beggars can’t be choosers.

This explains how I wound up painting my body green and prancing around stage half-naked the night Golly Gee, the female lead in the off-broadway show “Sorcerer!” disappeared into thin air. Literally.

Now other performers are also vanishing, and a mysterious stranger is warning me: There is evil among us. But the producers want me to take over Golly’s part.

Looks like I’m going to need a little magical help if I want to keep my starring role . . .

This Month’s Reviews

Fat Vampire by Adam Rex
Wicked Becomes You by Meredith Duran
The First Love Cookie Club by Lori Wilde
Grave Witch by Kalayna Price
The Sweet Scent of Blood by Suzanne McLeod
Afterlife by Merrie Destefano
The Greyfriar by Clay & Susan Griffith
I Thought It Was You by Shiloh Walker
Crazed Hearts by Shiloh Walker
Alpha by Rachel Vincent
Blood Born by Linda Howard & Linda Jones

From the Reader

Hosted by All Things Urban FantasyTor.com is having a fortnight of Steampunk Madness and has had some awesome posts over the last few days.  Evelyn Kriete talks about the Timeline of Steampunk Music and Things; Liz Gorinsky has a great list of steampunk events; G.D. Falksen shares a run-down of the nineteenth century; and David Pucik reviews the historical mash-up tactical game Valkyria Chronicles.

All Things Urban Fantasy has opened the nomination process for the second annual Urban Fantasy Cover Awards.  This year, ATUF has added a couple of new categories – Best Paranormal Steampunk and Best Object – to the returning 13 categories.  If there’s a cover you want to make sure gets nominated, then go over and hit the form.  One catch, in order to nominate, ATUF is asking that only Bloggers, Reviewers, Authors, Publishers, Publicists, Editors, and Artists participate in the first round.  Actual voting will be open to everyone.

I don’t know how I missed this, but Dirty Sexy Books has started a fabulous Roundtable Discussion with some great bloggers – All Things Urban Fantasy, Book Chick City, Calico Reaction, Dirty Sexy Books and Dreams & Speculations.  For the first topic, they tackled the idea Is Romance Hijacking Urban Fantasy?  It’s a good question.  Not all UF includes a romantic subplot; the first one that comes to mind is Jim Butcher’s Dresden Files series.  At the same time, I like my stories having some form of romance.  What does everyone else think?

The last week or so has been completely crazy, thankfully Doug is back with his Weekend Reports.  A week ago, some of the things Doug found were:

  1. Lilith Saintcrow says on her blog that the final book in the Jill Kismet series will be called Angel Town. She is currently working on an early draft.
  2. Jess Haines reports that Deceived by Others, the third book in her H&W Investigations series is on target for a July 2011 release.
  3. Bellebooks say they will be releasing Third Blood, the next novel in Kalayna Price’s Haven series this winter.

Demons Trapper DaughterAnd this past weekend, Doug has unearthed:

  1. Trisha Telep, editor of many of the Mammoth books has another anthology coming out in September 2011 called Dark Fairy Romance.
  2. Pocket Juno has announced six titles for 2011.
  3. Jaye Wells says book four in the Sabina Kane series will be called Silver-Tongued Devil.

As always, make sure you check out ScifiGuy each weekend for more fabulous news.  Believe it or not, some how Doug and I managed not to find the same bit of news, so you’ll definitely find something new and exciting that wasn’t covered here.

io9 has a rundown of the 2010 winners for the World Fantasy Awards for fantastic fiction.

Jackie, from Bitten by Books, has another fabulous Off the Fang, where she’s discussing Zombies, Opera and Paris Hilton.

Tor/Forge has a complete listing of all their novels being released between now and April 12th.  Granted, these dates can change between now and then, but this is a nice comprehensive list.  Yes, I’ve added all of these to my New Releases page (which will be reflected in the next update).

Mists of VelvetSciFiGuy has gotten his hands on the table of contents for the upcoming anthology Those Who Fight Monsters.  Aside from the gorgeous cover art, this is going to be a collection you’ll want to get your hands on.  Some of the contributing authors include: Rachel Caine (Outcast story), Jackie Kessler (Hell on Earth story), Lilith Saintcrow (Jill Kismet Story) and TA Pratt (Marla Mason story).

Stumbling Over Chaos has posted another edition of MisAdventures in Stock Photography.  I’ve been loving the stories Chris has been creating using the various covers.

Dark Faerie Tales has another fabulous roundup of Publishing and Reel Time News.  For fans of Cassandra Clare, you may be excited to hear that her Mortal Instruments series is going to be developed into a movie franchise and will be appearing at your local theater soon.

New Interviews

There were 123 different authors featured somewhere in the blogosphere in October. Here’s just the few that popped up in the lsat week of the month.  For the full listing of this month’s interviews, click here.

Contests

Tor/Forge is giving away 25 different Fantasy novels. Contest ends December 6th (US only).

Tor/Forge is giving away a limited edition leatherbound copy of Ender’s Game. Plus, we’ll include an Ender’s Game audiobook and an advance reading copy of The Lost Gate.  Contest ends December 2nd (US only).

About Jackie 3282 Articles
I am a 30-something SAHM with two adorable boys and a supportive husband who is very tolerant of my reading addiction. I love to read and easily go through about a dozen books a month – well I did before I had kids. Now, not so much. After my first son was born, I began to take my hobby of reviewing a little more serious and started Literary Escapism to help with my sanity. I love to discuss the fabulous novels I’ve read and meeting all the wonderful people in the book blogging community has been amazing.

6 Comments

  1. Jackie another wonderful newsletter edition. Thanks for the many nods. I too always find it fascinating that while we do cover many of the same issues there is always plenty of new things to discover. Good show!

  2. @Kitt – I would say Amazon is wrong that Passion is the third novel in the Hush Hush series by Lauren Kate since I’m pretty sure Lauren Kate doesn’t write the Hush Hush series. *grin* Other than that, I have no clue. Tez would be the one to ask since she is the one who found the info. Or maybe Angela at DFT.

    @Abigail – strangely, it seemed like one of my shorter ones while I was compiling it. I think it’s the massive amount of interviews/articles that appeared in the last week or so.

Comments are closed.