Escapist Newsletter (Vol 4 Issue 3)

For our first cover reveal of the day, we have Lurv a la Mode for finding the new cover for the fifth Demonica novel by Larissa Ione, Sin Undone.  Lurv a la Mode also has the blurb, but if you’re like me and can’t wait for the novel, we only have until September 1st to wait.

New Releases

March 1st:
Brighid’s Quest by PC Cast
Tagged by Mara Purnhagen
Petrodor by Joel Shepherd (Trial of Blood & Steel #2)
Shift by Rachel Vincent (Shifter/Werecat #5)

March 2nd:
Shalador’s Lady by Anne Bishop (Black Jewels)
Atlantis Redeemed by Alyssa Day (Warriors of Poseidon, #7)
Deep in the Woods by Chris Marie Green (Vampire Babylon #6)
Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins
Shadowglass by Erica Hayes (Shadowfae Chronicles #2)
Ghouls Gone Wild by Victoria Laurie (Ghost Hunter Mystery #4)
A Local Habitation by Seanan McGuire (October Daye #2)
Don’t Kill The Messenger by Ellen Rendahl
Chick with a Charm by Vicki Lewis Thompson (Babes with Brooms #2)
Broken by Shiloh Walker
Shadowrise by Tad Williams (Shadowmarch #3)

March 4th:
King Maker by Maurice Broaddus (Knights of Breton Court #1)
Dead Streets by Tim Waggoner (Nekropolis #2)

March 9th:
Werewolf Smackdown by Mario Acevedo (Felix Gomez #5)
Full Moon City – Anthology featuring Carrie Vaughn, Ester Friesner, Ron Goulart, Peter Beagle, Holly Black, PD Cacek, Gregory Frost, Tanith Lee, Holly Phillps, Mike Resnick, Darrell Schweitzer, Lisa Tuttle, Ian Watson, Gene Wolfe, and Chelsea Quinn Yarbro
The River Kings’ Road by Liane Merciel
The Dead-Tossed Waves by Carrie Ryan (Forest of Hands & Teeth #2)The Vampire and the Virgin by Kerrelyn Sparks (Love at Stake #8)
Abandon the Night by Joss Ware (Envy Chronicles #3)

March 16th:
Warriors – Anthology featuring George RR Martin, Diana Gabaldon, Carrie Vaughn, plus more
The Dark-Hunters, Vol. 2 by Sherrilyn Kenyon (Dark-Hunters Manga)
Voices of Dragons by Carrie Vaughn

March 23rd:
The Devil’s Playground by Jenna Black (Morgan Kingsley #5)
Mind Games by Carolyn Crane
Rebels and Lovers by Linnea Sinclair

March 24th:
Pride and Prejudice and Zombies: Dawn of the Dreadfuls by Steve Hockensmith

March 30th:
Never Cry Werewolf by LA Banks (Crimson Moon)
Embers by Laura Bickle (#1)
Silver Borne by Patricia Briggs (Mercy Thompson #5)
Changeless by Gail Carringer (Parasol Protectorate #2)
Key to Justice by Talia Gryphon (Gillian Key, Paradoc #4)
Succubus Shadows by Richelle Mead (Georgina Kincaid #5)
Sunrise in a Garden of Love & Evil by Barbara Monaje

Sci-Fi Fan Letter has a great list of science fiction and fantasy novels that are coming out.  SciFiGuy has his March release post up as well.  Fantasy Dreamer’s Ramblings also has a fantastic list up.  Wicked Little Pixie is also joining the crowd with her own list of new releases.  Sidhevicious Reviews also has her list up.  All Things Urban Fantasy also has an amazing list.

New Release Dates:

2010 – First Book of Grimm by Shiloh Walker
04/06/10 – Touched by an Alien by Gina Koch
04/27/10 – Black Blade Blues by JA Pitts
05/01/10 – The Wish List by Gabi Stevens (Time of Transition #1)
05/04/10 – Little Women and Werewolves by Porter Grand
05/11/10 – The Bone Conjurer by Alex Archer (Rogue Angel)
05/18/10 – The Demon’s Covenant by Sarah Rees Brennan (Demon Lexicon #2)
05/25/10 – The Darkest Passion by Gena Showalter
06/06/10 – Raised by Wolves by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
06/08/10 – Android Karenina by Ben H. Winters
06/29/10 – The Darkest Lie by Gena Showalter
06/29/10 – Kitty Goes to War by Carrie Vaughn (Kitty Norville #8)
07/01/10 – Naked by Megan Hart
07/01/10 – Shadow Bound Erin Kellison (Shadow #1)
07/06/10 – Bonds of Justice by Nalini Singh (Psy-Changeling)
07/08/10 – Tomb With a View by Casey Daniels (Pepper Martin)
07/13/10 – X-Isle by Steve Augarde
07/13/10 – Shadow Hills by Anastasia Hopcus
07/27/10 – The King’s Bastard by Rowena Cory Daniells
07/27/10 – Heroes Return by Moira Moore (Heroes #5)
08/01/10 – The Bone Palace by Amanda Downum
08/01/10 – Deadly Fear by Cynthia Eden
08/01/10 – Death Most Definite by Trent Jamieson
08/01/10 – Shadow Fall by Erin Kellison (Shadow #2)
08/03/10 – Labyrinth by Kat Richardson (Greywalker #5)
08/31/10 – A Star Shall Fall by Marie Brennan (Onyx Court #3)
08/31/10 – The Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare (The Infernal Devices #1)
08/31/10 – The Haunted by Jessica Verday (Legend of Sleepy Hallow #2)
09/01/10 – Sin Undone by Larissa Ione (Demonica #5)
09/01/10 – Married with Zombies by Jesse Petersen (Zombie Therapy #1)
09/16/10 – The Replacement by Brenna Yovanoff
10/01/10 – Alpha by Rachel Vincent (Shifter/Werecat #6)
10/05/10 – The Best Hex Ever by Linda Wisdom (Hex #5)
10/12/10 – Just Add Magic by Cindy Callaghan
10/18/10 – Hunger by Jackie Kessler (Horsemen of the Apocalypse #1)
11/01/10 – Inside Out by Lauren Dane
11/02/10 – Pegasus by Robin McKinley

From the Author Sites

For anyone else who likes twisted fairy tales, make sure you check out Jim C Hines.  He has a new series of novels that feature various fairy tale characters and they all interact with each other.  Hines has posted excerpts for each of the three novels that are currently published: The Stepsister Scheme, The Mermaid’s Madness and the upcoming Red Hood’s Revenge.

Carrie Vaughn posted the cover for Kitty Goes to War, the next Kitty Norville novel that is due out August.  Book Chick City has the cover blurb.

It seems I missed an announcement of some importance. Rachel Vincent has announced the title for the fourth Soul Screamers novel. I wonder if My Soul to Steal is giving us a few hints as to what the plot will entail.

New Excerpts:

• New to Me! -C.E. Murphy has an excerpt from her exclusive short story Hot Time in Old Town Tonight.
• New to Me! – Jenna Black has posted the first chapter for The Devil’s Playground.  So can’t wait for this one.
• New to Me! -Meljean Brook has added a free short story, In Sheeps Clothing, which originally appeared in the Mammoth Book of Paranormal Romance anthology.
• Richelle Mead has posted the first chapter for the fifth Vampire Academy novel, Spirit Bound.
• Shiloh Walker has been posting snippets for her upcoming novel, Broken: One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven, Eight, Nine and Ten.
• Sean Cummings has posted an excerpt from his upcoming novel, Shade Fright.
• Rachel Vincent has posted a snippet from Shift over at the Deadline Dames.
• Diana Pharaoh Francis has added a snippet from her novel, Crimson Wind
• Yasmin Gaelnorn has posted the first chapter to the next Sisters of the Moon novel, Night Myst.
• Meljean Brook is sharing an unedited scene from her novel Demon Blood.
• Melissa Marr is teasing us with a snippet from Chapter 16 of Radiant Shadows.
• Jeaniene Frost has posted a snippet from First First Drop of Crimson.
• Kim Harrison has posted the first chapter for Black Magic Sanction .
• Ilona Andrews has a good size snippet from Bayou Moon posted.
• Rachel Vincent has posted a mini-excerpt for her upcoming Shifters novel, Shift.
• Lauren Dane has posted another snippet for her upcoming novel Insatiable, the third/first book in her Federation/Phantom Corps series.
• Lauren Dane also has a snippet posted for upcoming novel, Inside Out, which follows Laid Bare and Coming Undone.
• Harper Collins has put up the first SEVEN CHAPTERS for Kim Harrison’s Black Magic Sanction.
• Sherrilyn Kenyon has posted a small snippet for her upcoming Infinity at her facebook page.
• Nalini Singh has an excerpt posted for her story Whisper of Sin, which is a novella featuring Risa, and will appear in the Burning Up anthology.
• Shiloh Walker has posted an excerpt for her upcoming novel, Veil of Shadows.

Check out the new cover Katie MacAlister has unleashed.  Confessions of a Vampire’s Girlfriend is a compilation of Katie’s two stories, Got Fangs? and Circus of the Darned.  Confessions of a Vampire’s Girlfriend will be out at the same time as her upcoming novel, In the Company of Vampires, this November.

I’m not sure if this has been mentioned elsewhere or not, but I just found a new anthology with a lot of familiar names in it.  On September 1st, Kisses from Hell will be released and includes stories from Kristin Cast, Richelle Mead, Kelley Armstrong, Alyson Noel and Francesca Lia Block.  I haven’t heard anything about this yet, but something tells me this is going to be a fabulous young adult collection.

Chloe Neill will be stopping by Literary Escapism for a two week deal starting March 18th and she’s wondering what you would like to know.  On March 18th and 25th, Chloe is going to be answering the top 10 questions submitted, so if there’s something you really want to know, then head over and submit a question.  You may see it posted here later.

Kelley Armstong’s The Summoning is currently available as a free read, in its entirety, through Harper Collins Browse Inside feature.

Joss Ware (aka Colleen Gleason) has a couple of appearances coming up in the Michigan and Chicago areas.  On March 11th and 12th, you’ll be able to find Joss in Lansing and Ann Arbor (respectively) and then in Chicago on March 13th.

Eileen Wilks has sneakily announced the title to the next World of the Lupi novel.  We will be able to get our hands on Blood Challenge in January 2011.  From the small snippet she has posted, it appears Eileen is giving us another Lily and Rule books – awesome!

Check it out…if you haven’t been by Anne Bishop’s website in a while, you’re going to be in for a surprised.  It seems she had a little site redesign and it’s snazzy.  The site is still under some slight construction, so there’s not a lot to report, but I’m hoping this means we’ll be getting more updates.

Maybe I’ve missed a bit, but I don’t remember seeing a cover for the Mammoth Book of Paranormal Romance 2 in many places.  The editors are taking advantage of the angel phenomenal….the wings look a little weird, maybe a little whimpy for the guy, but I’m digging it.  the Mammoth Book of Paranormal Romance 2 comes out October 5, 2010, but here’s the blurb for now:

If love transcends all boundaries, paranormal romance is its natural conclusion. This title features over twenty tales from some of the hottest names in romantic fiction to transport you to fantastical worlds in which mythical beasts, magical creatures of all shapes and sizes, heart-stoppingly handsome ghosts, angels and mortals with extra-sensory powers live out extraordinary desires. It includes stories from Lara Adrian, Ava Gray, Sharon Shinn, Robin D. Owens, Karen Chance and many more.

Have we seen the blurb for the next Night Huntress novel, Eternal Kiss of Darkness, by Jeaniene Frost?  I don’t think I have and I’ve been looking for it.  Unless it was another thing that slipped by me this past month.  Either way, check it out:

An immortal war has been brewing in the darkness…and now one woman has stumbled into the shadows.

Chicago private investigator Kira Graceling should have just kept on walking.  But her sense of duty refused to let her ignore the moans of pain coming from inside a warehouse just before dawn.  Suddenly she finds herself in a world she’s only imagined in her worst nightmares.

At the center is Mencheres, a breathtaking Master Vampire who thought he’d seen it all.  Then Kira appears—this fearless, beautiful…human who braved death to rescue him.  Though he burns for her, keeping Kira in his world means risking her life, yet sending her away is unthinkable.

But with danger closing in, Mencheres must choose between the woman he craves, or embracing the darkest magic to defeat an enemy bent on his eternal destruction.

Plus, Jeaniene’s website now has  a new look.  We’ve gone green and I like.  Is this a hint as to what Menchere’s cover will be?

What Bears Repeating

Chloe Neill has announced the title to the second Dark Elita novel.  We’ll have Hexbound in January 2011.

Excellent news for Shiloh Walker fans.  The first two stories in her Grimm Circle series, Candy Houses and No Prince Charming, will be released in print in a single edition this fall titled The First Book of Grimm.

Subterranean Press has announced that two new novellas were turned in. One of which happens to be called Counterfeit Magic and happens to be a brand new story by Kelley Armstrong. We can rejoice in knowing that Counterfeit Magic will be longer than Angelic and will feature the same characters from Dime Story Magic and Industrial Magic.

For fans of Katie MacAlister, you’ll be happy to note that the first ever KatieCon is officially going to happen.  It will happen in Arlington, Washington (just north of Seattle) and will be June 25-26th.  There are a limited number of registration spots open, only 50, so if you’re interested in going, make sure you go over and register asap.

Diana Pharaoh Francis has posted the blurb for the next Horngate Witches novel, Crimson Wind, which follows Bitter Night.  This is a great new series and one I can’t wait to see.

Playbill.com is reporting that Neil Gaimon’s Neverwhere will be adapted to the stage by Lifeline Theatre Company in Chicago and will go live May 10th through June 20th.  Neverwhere will be adapted by Robert Kauzleric and directed by Paul Holmquist.

Nancy Holzner has announced the title to the next Deadtown novel.  Book two will now be known as Hellforged, which will be out January 2011.  Other than this, I haven’t seen much else yet. However, Nancy did have this to say about the plot: Vicky must learn to use to fight a kind of demon she’s never encountered before.

Featured Book

Have you ever felt like an idiot when talking about a certain book? I’ve been excited that Shiloh Walker’s Broken was being released this week and I so didn’t realize that it followed last February’s release of Fragile.  Now, you don’t need to read Fragile in order to read Broken, but once you meet one Rafferty brother, you’re going to want to read the other one as well.

BATTLE SCARRED
Six years after trading in his combat gear for hospital scrubs, Luke Rafferty still hasn’t found what he’s been searching for: a normal life. At his job, Luke is faced with things just as heartbreaking as those on the battlefield, none more so than the abused children brought in by a pretty red-headed social worker.

HEARTBROKEN
For Devon Manning, being a social worker is a rewarding job, but also a constant reminder of her own troubled youth. Devon takes everything one day at a time—unable to form a relationship with anyone except the children she rescues.

A DESIRE TO HEAL…
When Luke meets Devon, he thinks he might have found what he’s been looking for, but in order to get the life he wants, Luke has to break through Devon’s emotional barriers and make her realize that his healing touch might be just the complication her life needs…

February Reviews

February was a slow month for reviews, but I’m hoping to make up for that in March.

• Dragon Keeper by Robin Hobb
• Moon Rise by Marilee Brothers
• Catch of a Lifetime by Judi Fennell
• Radiant Shadows by Melissa Marr
• First Drop of Crimson by Jeaniene Frost

From the Reader

I have to put this at the top of this section, because it so hits home right now. Dirty Sexy Books has the best post on The Ten Biggest Mistakes Authors Make on Their Websites and I can tell you, I probably run into over half of these every month.  If authors actually made it easy to find these on their sites (and I’m not saying all are like this), I would be able to add so many more author sites to my monthly roundup.

Fifty-Two Stories has posted their latest short story for 2010 – I’ll Never Get out of This World Alive by Thomas Cobb.

A lot of publishers are looking for a way to make their novels stand out, which means a lot of different designs have been appearing, but I think this is a new one.  What do you think of the cover SciFiGuy found for Truly, Madly, Deadly: The Unofficial True Blood Companion by Becca Wilcott?

I didn’t realize that Jim Butcher was currently working on a short story collection featuring our favorite wizard detective, Harry Dresden.  Mad Hatter’s Bookshelf & Book Review has the details for it, but the quick news is that Side Jobs: Stories from the Dresden Files will be released in November.

SciFi Guy has these fabulous Weekend Reports and I have two weeks worth of them for you to check out.  Both the Feb 20th and Feb 27th editions have fabulous amounts of information.

There’s a new vampire anthology, titled Evolved, being released in March and it looks like it has a great list of contributors.  There are 23 different authors, include one poet, and I only recognize the names Kelley Armstrong and Tanya Huff.  VampChix also brings the news that there are three separate opportunities to get special editions of Evolved, if you’re interested.

Loving True Blood in Dallas has found news that Charlaine Harris is going to be added to the growing list of authors who now have graphic novel deals.  The first novel in her Harper Connolly series, Grave Sight, will be adapted by Dynamite Entertainment and will be out sometime in 2010.  I haven’t read this series yet, is it any good?

SciFiGuy has found that the next Mercy Thompson novel will be called River Marked and will be out sometime in 2011.

Paranormal Romance has announced the finalists for the 2009 PEARL awards.  Man there are a lot of great novels that were nominated….make sure you check out the list.  I’m pretty sure I saw Nalini Singh in three different categories…no, make that four if you count the anthology section.

Can Katherine Heigl pull off Stephanie Plum?  It looks like we’ll get to find out.  The NY Daily News has reported that Heigl has been casted as Stephanie in the upcoming movie One for the Money.  There hasn’t been any word on who the rest of the cast is, but I can picture Adam Rodriguez for Ranger, with a little buffing up.  Who do you want to see cast as whom?

Ever wondered why werewolves teach their children grammar?  SciFiGuy has the answer (This was just too good not to repeat it).

New Interviews

• Skyler White, author of and Falling, Fly, at Enchanted by Books
• Anton Strout, author of Dead Matter, by Wicked Little Pixie
• Mark Henry, author of Battle of the Network Zombies, at Bitten by Books
• Linda Robertson, author of Vicious Circle, by Love Vampires
• Larissa Ione, author of Ecstasy Unveiled, via Blogtalk Radio
• Jeaniene Frost, author of First Drop of Crimson, via Blogtalk Radio
• JD Robb (aka Nora Roberts), author of the In Death series, by Project Paranormal
• Richelle Mead, author of Spirit Bound, by YA Central
• Rob Thurman, author of Deathwise, by Larissa’s Life
• Gerry Bartlett, author of Real Vampires Hate Their Thighs, at Bitten by Books
• Anton Strout, author of Dead Matter, at Bitten by Books
• Kim Harrison, author of Black Magic Sanction, by FlyPod (audio)
• Nancy Holzner, author of Deadtown, by Amberkatze Reviews
• Jeri Smith-Ready, author of Bad to the Bone, at the Plot Monkeys
• Erica Hayes, author of Shadowfae, by Ellz Readz
• Naomi Clark, author of Silver Kiss, at Amberkatze Reviews
• Sean Cummings, author of Shade Fright, at the Book Smugglers
• Mark Henry, author of Battle of the Network Zombie, at ScifiGuy
• Jaime Rush, author of  A Perfect Darkness, by Paranormal Haven
• Erica Hayes, author of Shadowglass, by Kylie Griffin Romance
• Rachel Vincent, author of Shift, by A Great Read
• Angela Knight, author of Master of Fire, by I Don’t Want to Wait, I Want the Book Now
• Rachel Caine, author of Fade Out, by My Overstuffed Bookshelf

For the full listing of this month’s interviews, click here.

Contests

Shiloh Walker is giving away a $50 gift card to Borders to celebrate the release of her novel, Broken.  Contest ends later this week.

GoodReads is giving away 5 copies of Saskia Walker’s Rampant.  Contest ends March 15th.

The Book Smugglers are giving away TWO sets of Megan Chase books (Personal Demons, Demon Inside, and Demon Possessed).  Contest ends March 6th.

Smexy Books is giving away an ecopy of Stephanie Julian’s Midnight Menage.  Contest ends March 5th.

Fiction Vixen is giving away five copies of Cara Elliott’s To Sin With A Scoundrel. Contest ends March 12th.

Fantasy Dreamer’s Ramblings is giving away an ARC of Sean Cumming’s upcoming novel, Shade Fright.  Contest ends March 7th.

Meljean Brook is giving away one of her Demon books – Demon Angel or Demon Forged – winner’s choice.  Contest ends March 4th.

Cover Extravaganza

This month, there were 55 different covers revealed, so needless to say, I’m not posting them all here.  Sorry guys, but I did save them all over at the Facebook Fan page.  So if you want to see all of them, head over here; however, that doesn’t mean I won’t paste some of them here.