Counting down to book release

February 14th is not just a day for lovers next year --- it is time for Fantasy lovers, too! No, not that kind of fantasy! That is the date that The Tears of Ishtar releases, and every day is simultaneously a lifetime and too little time.
Just got a great blurb from Mary Rosenblum, which I will post here soon, and one from Steven Barnes, too.
It is wonderful when your favorite writers say nice things!

Here is some excellent linkage

Abandon Towers magazine, which is a)online, so convenient, b)free, so the price is right, and c)chock full of fantasy and sf goodness, so you know you want to go there, is asking folks to share the link to their site.
Here it is:
http://www.cyberwizardproductions.com/AbandonedTowers

I know next chance I have, I'll be adding this one to my blogroll.

Two World Fantasy Nominations for Nisi Shawl!

Congratulations Nisi! Nominated for Best Novella, for "Good Boy" (one of my favorite stories) and for Best Collection for Filter House.
Nisi is a tremendous writer and a stand-up kinda woman. If you don't have Filter House already, what in the world are you waiting for?

Some amazing examples of ancient craftsmanship

From the Bagdad Museum --- this is part of a series of hundreds of slides, without any text. I am guessing from other reading and context that it is a documentation of the artifacts that museum staff hid during the war. This crown is exquisite, but by far not the only item.

If you go through the slideshow, the first few dozen show them opening the vault under heavy guard, and opening the crates. As they unpack them, the wonders grow increasingly eye-popping.

The crown looks to me to be Assyrian. The flowers are lovely, and the angels are recognizable by their four wings, not anything like a modern representation. Are the angels there to protect the wearer, as a symbol of his authority, or just because they are cool?

You can start with the crown and some of the details here: http://www.baghdadmuseum.org/secret/pages/409.htm
or check the whole thing out from the beginning here: http://www.baghdadmuseum.org/secret/pages/000.htm

Clarion West Write-a-thon update

Extra props to Judith Herman for her generous pledge of 50.00! With her Microsoft match this is a contribution of $100.00 to the Clarion West program.

The West African story is really rocking! We are about 3/4 of the way through, and it is filled with action, magic, and a flavor that will have you racing to the end. I saw Nisi this weekend, and both of us are amazed at how much difference there is between our individual voices and what we are ending up with in collaboration.

There are only two weeks to go, so if you haven't already, go to http://clarionwest.org/events/writeathon/Michael+Ehart and make your pledge today!

Thanks!

A good writing week

Or a good week as a writer, more accurately. The week started off with money in the mail, from a couple of different sources. I always like it when I'm paid to write, because the checks come so slowly in this business that the pain of actually haven written anything is long forgotten by the time the money arrives.

Then, there was this: The Lure of a strong first sentance, at Flash Fiction Chronicles. A story of mine used as an example of how to start a story! How cool is that? I am used to being held up as an example, but usually in a more... cautionary form.

This was my first week as a write-a-thon participant for Clarion West, and my word count came fairly easily. If you haven't already pledged, it is only 10 bucks, and you can do it here.

This weekend looks pretty good for finally buttoning up The Tears of Ishtar, and getting it off to the publisher. It will be good to have a little time freed up!

And finally, this: Five New Novelists Every Fantasy Fan Should Know About Nice words indeed!

If you like your fantasy literature with lots of sword fights and godlike beings vying against monsters during an epic age, The Servant of the Manthycoreis for you. The main character is a bold warrior woman. She has grit, spunk and honor, and she could easily hang with the toughest fantasy swordsmen, including Robert E. Howard’s Conan the Barbarian. This novel even comes with an introduction by Michael Moorcock, the creator of Elric of Melnibone.

Help me out with the Clarion West Write-A-Thon!

Yes, I have agreed to participate. My pledge is to collaborate with Nisi Shawl (yes, that Nisi Shawl, Tiptree Award, Publisher's Weekly Ten Best of 2008!) on a story set in West Africa. We have set for our goal a 6k word story, done during the six weeks of Clarion West.

How can you help? Easy! I have agreed to try to get 10 people to pledge 10 dollars each in support of Clarion West. All you gotta do is go here and sign up, and lay the tenner on them. Ten bucks? You know you can afford that! Only 10 dollars, 20 halfs, 2 fivers, 40 Quarters, the tenth part of a Benjamin Franklin.

Whattaya waitin' for?