tell the rambler, the gambler, the back-biter

 announcements, journal, shaping lily, writing life  2 Responses »
Jul 242010
 
IMG_1828

I have been the slightest bit remiss, of late, in my authorly duties. Or rather in broadcasting to you all just how my authorly duties have been carrying on while I wasn't watching. (Damn things require careful supervision, or they start nesting in the corners. You know how it is.)

So!

First up, a little whiles back I participated in an discussion-type interview about writers and writing.

Writers deal in conundrums and contradictions, striving to “open a vein”, as the saying goes, and tap something you don’t necessarily want on public display in order to produce worthwhile writing, and at the same time working very hard, crafting and polishing, in order to produce something worthy of public display. Reconciling those opposed desires, as Tess pointed out, requires sleight of mind (that’s such a great phrase!), especially during the initial draft.

The discussion was triggered by Gillian Pollack's new anthology, "Baggage",1 which I for one am pretty keen to read. It veered into all sorts of interesting places, from cultural baggage and the (often irrational) process of writing, to writing on difficult/sensitive/arresting subjects that have no solution. And it isn't just me mouthing off; the wonderfully irreverent Tessa and incisive KJ Bishop get all wise into the bargain — so go, read. Marvel at our flippant biographies and potted wisdom. (Or thank your lucky stars you don't have to live in any of our brains. Take your pick.)

Secondly, my contributor's copy of ASIM #45 arrived in the post a little whiles back. Look! Is it not pretty?

The ASIM website is still listing #43 as the most recent issue, but I'm assured that #45 will soon be on shelves or available for purchase through the website. This is the copy of ASIM that features my week one Clarion South story, "Shaping Lily", a story about a little old lady on an epic quest, with fruit bats and hearts and Consequences.

And finally, because I think you should admire my mad photography skillz some more love you all, have another Mongolia snap.

  1. I don't have a story in Baggage. I'm not entirely sure how I therefore earned myself a place in this discussion, but when people call me rather wonderful and ask me to say things, I do not quibble. I'm nice like that. [↩]

cover art and review copies and photos, oh my!

 announcements, journal, shadow bound  6 Responses »
May 042010
 

Let me state for the record that a "windproof" umbrella is simply a lightning rod that is just as likely to turn inside out and nine times as likely to stab you in the eye with a prong as it pretends to valiantly not turn inside out. There's no win here.

But! On to more important matters. Namely, the cover art for Shadow Bound, in proper-sized glory!

Shadow Bound

If you look closely (click the pic to enlarge) you'll see that the back of Matilde's dress features Matilde in a couple of other poses — those poses being the proposed covers for the first book, which I think is a neat trick for tying the covers together.

Also, after a quick chat to Allen & Unwin people today, there should also be a giveaway in the offing around publication date, so if you're interested in scoring a free copy, stay tuned.

And finally for today, I've had a few requests lately regarding getting a hold of a review copy of Shadow Bound. An early copy? I hear you ask. DEB, HOW CAN I GET AN EARLY COPY?

Let me tell you!

First, I, being the author, am not the best person to contact — Allen & Unwin have control and final say over review copies. So if you have a book blog, for example, or you review books in some other format, you should contact Allen & Unwin directly with your request.

Now, I can't promise that asking will automatically guarantee you a copy. Your best bet is to give them some evidence of the reach and/or potential impact on the market your review can have. I will say that A&U are a lovely and accommodating bunch of people, so you just might get lucky.

And people, did I mention that the light this morning was absolutely breathtaking? I didn't? Here, let me show you:

she has a face!

 announcements, journal, shadow bound  6 Responses »
Apr 012010
 

Yesterday I suffered from sponge-brain caused by a criminal lack of sleep which, I don't mind telling you, is entirely Tripod's fault, for scheduling their show so late.1 (Although when I pointed this out to them, what did they go and do but thank me for making the effort to turn up! Who thanks people for being a teasing jerk? The boys from Tripod, obviously. Sorry, Mum — their mums obviously did a better job at instilling polite behaviour.)

(Also, said show was fantastic. I realise the comedy festival has only just started, and it's a big call to make so early on, but this is my favourite show so far and may well turn out to be my favourite show of the festival. A lot of this has to do with Tripod, who are, of course, we all recognise this, brilliant. It also has to do with their special guest star, Elana Stone, whose voice in the first dragon song utterly slayed the entire audience. I do love me a strong female vocalist.)

And today Reliably Absent Yarra Trams sabotaged my attempt at a social life.

But it doesn't matter! Why, you ask? Because Allen & Unwin have released their July 2010 catalogue!

Er, yeah, that's great, Deb, I hear you say. But what does this, yanno, mean?

Well, for all of you oh so patiently waiting for Shadow Bound to become a real grown-up book, this means you are now in possession of a firm publication date2 AND, as a bonus, a first glimpse of the cover art.

Is it not pretty? And shiny?

Yes, okay, I know it's not particularly large, but I don't have a large version to hand to show you, on account of the large version not being actually finalised yet. Once I do, you can bet I'll be slapping it up on the blog for you all to ogle and admire.

  1. Oh, okay, Meandering Yarra Trams probably has some share of culpability as well. [↩]
  2. Note: due to the vagaries of the industry, a publication date of July 2010 means the book should start appearing in stores sometime in June 2010. [↩]

look who's had a makeover

 announcements, journal, shadow queen  Comments Off
Aug 062009
 

An email from Allen & Unwin yesterday informs me that the A format paperback1 version of Shadow Queen is back from the printers. Official publication date is 1 September 2009, which means copies should start appearing on bookshelves… well, anytime over the next few weeks, actually.

Complete with the new format comes a new cover. Well, new cover design, since it's the same fabulous artwork:

I am otherwise bereft of content today, because I have spent the day doing such exciting things as arranging optometry appointments and discovering the electricity company has been very helpfully sending my bills to an address at which I have never lived.

So in lieu of content, I shall point you towards Simon & Schuster, who are offering a free pdf download of Scott Westerfeld's Uglies! (The sign-up form asks for a zip code, which in the US is 5 numbers — but I put in a 4-number Australian post code and it worked fine for me.)

  1. for those not familiar with publishing-speak, the A format in Australia is (roughly) equivalent to the North American mass market paperback – think your small/normal sized paperback. Shadow Queen has to date only been available in the C format, or trade paperback, which is the larger-sized paperbacks. You know the ones, same size as a hardcover but without the hardcover binding. [↩]

free books!

 journal, shadow queen  9 Responses »
Dec 112008
 

My author copies of Shadow Queen have arrived, so that means … it's time for a giveaway.

If you would like your very own signed copy of Shadow Queen for free, gratis and nada, leave a comment on this post and you'll be entered into the draw.

There'll be one copy of the book available for the Aus/NZ market, and one copy for the rest of the world — so make sure you mention somewhere in your comment whether you belong to Aus/NZ or the rest of the world. (I realise, based on population, that splitting the world up in this fashion is somewhat lopsided, to say the least, but I only have two books at my disposal and it seemed the most appropriate, given my current publishing contracts ;) )

While we're on the topic of giveaways, something else I've done is to come up with a Shadow Queen wallpaper, since I think the cover art is made of awesome. You'll find it, in various sizes, at the newly-minted Downloads page. If a wallpaper for your desktop size isn't listed and you don't want to feel left out, let me know and I'll see what I can do.

17/12/08 ETA: Comments are now closed! If you missed out on the free book, sorry! Copies should be available in store sooner rather than later, or check your local library to see if they've ordered any copies.

just when you think the day can't get any worse…

 journal, shadow queen, writing life  8 Responses »
Nov 142008
 

…it gets inestimably better.

Today, after a day at the dayjob which could be best described as ugly, I arrived home to a package. Two, actually. One was the new DAAS DVD (which, let's face it, you all knew I was going to shell out for, didn't you?), and the other… well, I'll give you a clue.

It's printed. It's bound. It has my name on it. And lo, it is SHINY.

Let the record show that these sorts of surprises are excellent. I approve.

Since my ever-thoughtful editor also included a cover flat for me, this means I can belatedly deliver on my promise to reveal the cover. (Click to see it larger!)

Oh dear lord, people. It's a book.

could it be…?

 journal, shadow queen  3 Responses »
Oct 152008
 

October has come along and plumped itself on the couch and has been watching TV solidly for days, and where is the cover art I promised you, you might be wondering?

The answer is: I don't yet have the green light to post it.

However, if you were so inclined, you could wander over to the galleries of the fantabulous Les Petersen, where you would find a picture titled Shadow Queen which, yes, would be the artwork forming the basis of the cover. In fact, this way, you get to see the artwork without all those distracting things like names and titles ;)

I have spent today launching a retaliative catch-up strike on the novel, and at last feel like I'm making some headway. Here's hoping it continues apace, and I don't get stuck again!

log di jay gey

 journal, shadow queen  1 Response »
Apr 092008
 

Success! I am packed for the trip, with no bloodshed, and the backpack only (only!) weighs 12kg. I would take a photo — but I have packed the camera.

In fact, I have packed almost everything I would normally be using, and so I have little to nothing to do. I am wandering around the house, disconsolate and lost, plaintively asking the cats what's on the TV and unable to settle at anything. My pickup call in the morning is at stupid 4 o'clock, after which I shall shortly be out of mobile phone and internet range.

To keep you all amused while I'm away, Tess has produced her own interpretation of my cover art:

everybody panic celebrate!

 journal, shadow queen, writing life  1 Response »
Apr 082008
 

It's been a whirlwind couple of days.

There was the visit to a dermatologist about a suspicious freckle: I'm scheduled for a biopsy on my return1, and probably surgery to remove said freckle when the biopsy results come back. If the concept weren't so terrifying, the freckle in question would be quite cute: it's a perfect love-heart shape.

There has been yet more shopping, but today should see the last of it: spending money for the trip. I am now the proud owner of monopoly US money!

Today also brought some good news in the form of cover art. Not that I actually have cover art, but my editor is gathering information to brief the artist, and I can't tell you how utterly thrilled I am at who's been commissioned. I'm not sure I'm allowed to spill the beans on that front, and maybe it's better to keep it a surprise until there's actual art, which I will doubtless adore and pet and call George.

Also, I can't remember if I blogged this already or not, but word on the publication date is now January 2009, which means my book should be on the shelves in time for Christmas shopping.

It's such a bizarre concept I think I'll run away to the Himalayas for a fortnight to contemplate it!

  1. the fact that the dermatologist is happy to wait 3 weeks to biopsy the freckle is a huge relief — I was beginning to imagine trekking through Bhutan with black eyes and a bandaged face from an immediate excision [↩]