NWSFS News: Special Notices and Features

The Special Notices and Features blog is now in stasis

noreply@blogger.com (NWSFS News) — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 23:37:00 +0000

This blog along with several others will be placed in stasis until further notice. It is unfortunate that this needs to be done, but is necessary due to a lack of time and contributors.

Any future entries that would have been posted in this blog will be now be posted in the NWSFS Science And Science Fiction News Blog. The sidebar links and RSS feeds will be kept intact for now.

If you would like to contribute to this blog, then please drop us a line at NWSFSNews at GMail dot com. Membership in NWSFS is not a requirement, though living in the Pacfic NW or Cascadia region is. There are just a few simple guidelines to follow.

Hopefully some time in the future there will be more interest in this blog, and it will be taken out of stasis.

Announcement: Apex signs Nick Mamatas to book deal

noreply@blogger.com (NWSFS News) — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 04:30:00 +0000

PRESS RELEASE:STARVE BETTER: SURVIVING THE ENDLESS HORROR OF THE WRITING LIFE by Nick Mamatas

STARVE BETTER: SURVIVING THE ENDLESS HORROR OF THE WRITING LIFE

Nick Mamatas and Apex Publishing Join Forces to Tell the Dirty Truth of Life as a Writer

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
[Lexington, KY – September 18, 2009] STARVE BETTER is a writing handbook with a difference—no promises of bestsellerdom, no feeding the dangerous daydreams aspiring writers have. This book is about survival: how to generate ideas when you needed them yesterday, writing dialogue and developing plot on the quick, and most important of all, what the competition in the slush piles of the world looks like. For non-fiction writers, STARVE BETTER offers writing techniques such as how to get (relatively) high-paying assignments in second and third-tier magazines, and how to find gigs that pay NOW as the final notices pile up and the mice eat the last of the pasta in the cupboard.

Humor, essays, and some of the most widely read blog pieces from Nick Mamatas, award-nominated author and editor, come together for the first time in a writers’ guide that won’t teach anyone how to get rich and famous…but will impart the most valuable skill in the business: how to starve better.

STARVE BETTER: SURVIVING THE ENDLESS HORROR OF THE WRITING LIFE releases from Apex Publications in summer 2010. Updates and information available at www.apexbookcompany.com.

NICK MAMATAS is the of two novels: MOVE UNDER GROUND (Night Shade 2004, Prime 2006) and UNDER MY ROOF (Soft Skull Press, 2007), two collections: 3000MPH IN EVERY DIRECTION AT ONCE (Prime 2003) and YOU MIGHT SLEEP… (Prime 2009), and the novella NORTHERN GOTHIC (Soft Skull, 2001). He is also the editor of several anthologies and formerly co-edited the online magazine Clarkesworld, which was nominated for the Hugo and World Fantasy awards. His fiction has appeared in literary journals, slicks, and genre publications, and has been nominated for the Bram Stoker awards three times, the International Horror Guild Award, and Germany’s Kurd-Laßwitz Preis for science fiction in translation.

Nick currently edits Japanese science fiction novels in translation and books associated with Oscar-winning filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki’s Studio Ghibli for VIZ Media. Follow Nick’s blog at http://nihilistic-kid.livejournal.com and visit his website at www.nick-mamatas.com.

APEX PUBLICATIONS (www.apexbookcompany.com) is a small press dedicated to publishing exemplary works of dark science fiction and horror. Owned and operated by Jason B. Sizemore, Apex publishes the critically acclaimed Apex Magazine. In 2006, Apex Publishing branched into producing novellas, collections, and anthologies, earning a Bram Stoker Award nomination for the AEGRI SOMNIA anthology in 2007, and another for the collection MAMA’S BOY by Fran Friel, published in 2008.
###

Press Contact: Jason B. Sizemore
jason@apexdigest.com

Apex Book Company - Dark SF, Fantasy, and Horror
http://www.apexbookcompany.com

Sylvia Engdahl: Sequel to STEWARDS OF THE FLAME

noreply@blogger.com (NWSFS News) — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 05:56:00 +0000

Posted on behalf of Sylvia Engdahl:

Hello to readers of Stewards of the Flame! The sequel, Promise of the Flame, is finally here! It will be ready to ship by early October -- maybe as early as the last week of September.

I'm not going to describe the story here, in case this message reaches someone who hasn't read Stewards -- anything that tells what Promise is about necessarily reveals the ending of Stewards and thus would spoil its suspense. But you can find a description by clicking from www.stewardsoftheflame.com, which has been redesigned and now covers both books.

One thing I will say, though -- Promise of the Flame is an independent story that can be enjoyed by people who haven't read Stewards and don't plan to. I know some people chose not to read it because its controversial view of health care didn't appeal to them (and perhaps some who did read it disagreed so strongly that they didn't like the book). Promise doesn't involve the medical care issue.

There is a new edition of Stewards of the Flame, formatted to match the sequel (it is slightly smaller, has larger page margins, and is printed on off-white paper; also, the lettering on the cover is larger). The text hasn't changed except for minor error corrections and the addition of the reading group discussion guide. I will be doing a virtual book tour (a prearranged series of guest posts on blogs) during the month of October -- the issue of government-controlled health care is so timely now that I hope to attract new readers.

I switched to a different POD company and got my own ISBNs. (At the time I first published the book, authors could not buy individual ISBNs, but now they can, and that is better than using an ISBN assigned to the POD company, which then appears as the publisher even if it had nothing to do with producing the book.) The publisher for both books now appears as Ad Stellae Books, which is my own imprint.

The switch to a different POD printer also enabled me to lower the price of the books. They now have a retail price of $17.50 each, down from $19.99, and I am offering a 20% discount on copies bought directly from me, so the net price is $14 each (there's an order form at the website, and you can pre-order Promise of the Flame). Also, I am offering the set of both books for $25. These prices include free Media Mail shipping; add $2 per book if you want Priority Mail.

Libraries and bookstores will receive a 50% discount, but must pay the shipping cost. I accept purchase orders; fax them to 866-302-3827. I am hoping to get the books carried by Baker & Taylor, but that isn't settled yet. If you want to buy them there, it would be helpful for you to contact them and request them, as I understand they consider prior requests in deciding whether to carry a book.

I hope those of you who've been eagerly awaiting the sequel will enjoy it!

Sylvia

Sylvia Engdahl - www.sylviaengdahl.com ~ www.stewardsoftheflame.com
New novel Promise of the Flame coming soon!

Jeff Carlson: New short story podcast

noreply@blogger.com (NWSFS News) — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 23:33:00 +0000

Posted on behalf of Jeff Carlson:

Hi, gang: A quick email about my return to Horror Addicts, a freaky fun podcast hosted by the vampire herself, Emerian Rich. The short story featured in this episode is "Caninus," a dark, urban suspense story of mine that originally ran in The Vampire's Crypt #25 way back in Spring 2002.

The narrator is Rhonda Carpenter, who absolutely *nails* the tone and cadence of this piece. The shocking, gritty sound effects don't hurt, either.

More info and a link to the show is available on my blog at http://www.jverse.com/blog/index.html

Or you can just directly to Horror Addicts at http://www.mevio.com/episode/173250/Horror+Addicts+027+Jeff+Carlson

Enjoy!

Jeff
www.jverse.com

Jeanne Robinson (Spider Robinson's wife and coauthor) needs help! Benefit concert details, etc

noreply@blogger.com (NWSFS News) — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 14:38:00 +0000

The following was passed on to us by one of our members:

http://www.spiderrobinson.com/index2.html

HELP JEANNE STAY HEALTHY

This year a brilliant surgeon, Dr. Andresz Busczowski, helped Jeanne Robinson beat back a rare and virulent form of biliary cancer. But it's so rare even he can't say how much time he's bought her, how soon it might recur. For technical reasons she is not a candidate for either radiation or chemo. Her only hope for longterm survival is therefore to reboot and reinvigorate her failed immune system. She needs special therapies and meds, extensive diet and lifestyle changes, and a stress level as close to zero as possible. All those are expensive, none are covered by even Canada's excellent medical care...and like many artists today the Robinsons were already running on fumes financially.

But Jeanne, a Soto Zen monk, has been spreading love and kindness in all directions for a long time. So her Buddhist sangha in Vancouver, her neighbors on Bowen Island, and friends as far away as Florida have all spontaneously come together to raise funds to help keep her around as long as possible. Your participation is welcomed. A Bowen benefit concert, "WE DREAM FOR JEANNE," will be held at Cates Hill Chapel at 7:30 PM on Friday Sept 18 details here; cheques may be made out to Jeanne Robinson in Trust and sent to Mountain Rain Zen Center, 6183 Fraser St. Vancouver, BC V5W 2Z9; goods or services can be donated for eBay auction by contacting Jan Schroeder at <dreamforjeanne@aol.com>, and PayPal donations can be sent to <http://wedreamforjeanne.blogspot.com/>.

Jeanne and Spider both warmly appreciate your help, support, prayers or just good thoughts.

JEFF-E on radio & TV

noreply@blogger.com (NWSFS News) — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 05:17:00 +0000

Posted on behalf of Jeff Carlson:

Hi, gang, just a heads-up about recent media appearances.

Amidst the ongoing excitement, during the past week I've also become JEFF-E, which is like WALL-E, only better. Jolly Enthusiastic Frank Fast-Enunciator, that's me. Summer's end has included appearances on local NPR, cable TV, and a booking for an NBC show called "Tech Now." If you like over-caffienated-but-well-articulated chatter about big ideas, I'm your boy. ;)

Links are available on my blog at http://www.jverse.com/blog/

Jeff
www.jverse.com

Harlan County Horrors promo--win authentic Harlan, KY goodies

noreply@blogger.com (NWSFS News) — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 03:53:00 +0000

Posted on behalf of Jason Sizemore:

I'm doing a big promotion to generate some buzz about our upcoming horror anthology Harlan County Horror. All the stories are based/inspired by Harlan, KY, a place unique in its culture and geography. We're giving away a bunch of "authentic" Harlan, KY stuff in a contest:

http://www.apexbookcompany.com/blog/2009/08/win-authentic-harlan-county-warez/

Included are signed items by the mayor of Harlan, KY, and other items signed by the editor and cover artist.

Jason Sizemore
Apex Book Company - Dark SF, Fantasy, and Horror
http://www.apexbookcompany.com

Join the Apex newsletter!
http://groups.google.com/group/apex-publications-announcements
http://www.apexbookcompany.com

Writing Edge - Call for novellas

noreply@blogger.com (NWSFS News) — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 04:41:00 +0000

Writing Edge: New Sci-fi, fantasy and horror novella section - Call for novellas of up to 10,000 words

Writing Edge (www.writingedgemag.com) is looking for submissions of up to 10,000 words. Send your manuscripts to enquiries@writingedgemag.com. For submission guidelines, please send an email.

Apex Magazine Vol III, Issue II now available

noreply@blogger.com (NWSFS News) — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 03:12:00 +0000

Get the free stuff at http://www.apexbookcompany.com/apex-online

Editorial Dispositions by Jason Sizemore
“Pimp My Airship” by Maurice Broaddus
“Kenny 149″ by Brad Becraft
“Sinner, Baker, Fabulist, Priest; Red Mask, Black Mask, Gentleman, Beast” by Eugie Foster
Interview with Gene O’Neill by Maggie Jamison
Essay–”Why Gaming Fiction Works (and Why It Doesn’t)” by Monica Valentinelli

Here are a full set of links to buy the new issue.
DriveThruSciFi - (ePub)
DriveThruSciFi - (PDF)
Amazon (Kindle)
Apex Book Store

Apex Book Company - Dark SF, Fantasy, and Horror
http://www.apexbookcompany.com

Join the Apex newsletter!
http://groups.google.com/group/apex-publications-announcements
http://www.apexbookcompany.com

Donna Barr : AFTERDEAD 2 is now available.

noreply@blogger.com (NWSFS News) — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 05:11:00 +0000

AFTERDEAD 2 Ashes To Ashes is out! Over 200 pages, most in full color.

At Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Afterdead-Ashes-Auth-Donna-Barr/dp/1892253143/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1249410309&sr=8-6

PRESS RELEASE: An Occupation of Angels by Lavie Tidhar coming February, 2010 from Apex Publications

noreply@blogger.com (NWSFS News) — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 15:22:00 +0000

Source - http://www.apexbookcompany.com/news/2009/07/press-release-an-occupation-of-angels-by-lavie-tidhar-coming-february-2010-to-apex-publications/

~~~~~

PRESS RELEASE: An Occupation of Angels by Lavie Tidhar coming February, 2010 from Apex Publications

Popular short fiction author’s UK-only released short novel comes to the US

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

[Lexington, KY] - Apex Publishing, the innovative publisher behind such titles as THE APEX BOOK OF WORLD SF and the Stoker Award-nominated MAMA’S BOY collection, has announced the acquisition of Lavie Tidhar’s AN OCCUPATION OF ANGELS, a short novel that exemplify Tidhar’s skills blending dark fantasy and religious mythology.

Shadow Executive Killarney is a woman who kills angels for a living. After killing Raphael, Archangels start dying around her as well. Wherever she goes, they are murdered. While she knows she is not the one performing these murders, she (and every other shadow organization) knows that they are somehow connected to her. This mystery will take her all over the world and into the icy desert of Siberia where an experiment gone wrong will end in a confrontation of angels, Nazis and God.

AN OCCUPATION OF ANGELS is scheduled for release in February, 2010. Pre-orders begin winter 2009; watch the Apex website (www.apexbookcompany.com) for details.

LAVIE TIDHAR (www.lavietidhar.co.uk) is the author of the linked-story collection HebrewPunk, novellas An Occupation of Angels, Cloud Permutations, and Gorel & The Pot-Bellied God. With Nir Yaniv, he co-authored the short novel The Tel Aviv Dossier. Lavie has also edited the anthologies A Dick & Jane Primer for Adults and The Apex Book of World SF. He’s lived on three continents and one island-nation, and currently lives in South East Asia.

APEX PUBLICATIONS (www.apexbookcompany.com) is a small press dedicated to publishing exemplary works of dark science fiction and horror. Owned and operated by Jason B. Sizemore, Apex publishes the critically acclaimed Apex Magazine. In 2006, Apex Publishing branched into producing novellas, collections, and anthologies, earning a Bram Stoker Award nomination for the AEGRI SOMNIA anthology in 2007, and another for the collection MAMA’S BOY by Fran Friel, published in 2008.

Press Contact: Jason B. Sizemore
jason@apexbookcompany.com

Announcing the Tor.com Store!

noreply@blogger.com (NWSFS News) — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 19:32:00 +0000

Posted on behalf of Tor.com:

Tor.com is absolutely thrilled to announce the launch of the Tor.com Store, our new print book store. In keeping with Tor.com's publisher-agnostic attitude, the Tor.com Store offers science fiction and fantasy media from most major publishers-the only requirement is that the books in question relate to the genre in some form or another. In keeping with the spirit of our "...And Related Subjects" tagline, we've made sure to be as inclusive as possible, and are going to be constantly updating and refining the selection of titles available in the Store.

In order to make the Tor.com Store a curated space for SF/F books, we're taking advantage of our biggest asset: the voices of our bloggers. The Store's Special Picks section features lists of books made up by our community of authors, artists and bloggers-if you want a handy list of most of the books Jo Walton has blogged about on the site; if you want to know what books Ellen Datlow considers the most influential SF books (this week); or if you're curious as to what books Leigh Butler considers to be the " sweatpants of literature," this is the area of the store you want to check out first. We've got a nice handful of lists to start with, and we'll be adding more continually.

Read more about the how and why of it at our official announcement post.

New issue of Apex Magazine

noreply@blogger.com (NWSFS News) — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 03:17:00 +0000

Apex Magazine returns from a brief six-week hiatus with a new issue.

New fiction from Jennifer Pelland and Glenn Lewis Gillette
Classic reprint from Jeff Carlson

http://www.apexbookcompany.com/apex-online

Apex Magazine returns from hiatus

noreply@blogger.com (NWSFS News) — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 23:04:00 +0000

Posted on behalf of Jason Sizemore - Full details found here: http://www.apexbookcompany.com/news/2009/06/its-alivealive-apex-magazine-returns-from-hiatus-for-now/

We’re pulling Apex Magazine out of hiatus and plan on releasing a new issue on the first Monday of July (July 6th).

Why now? And why the magazine? As I’ve said before, I’m stubborn. That’s playing a role in this decision. But I also try to be sensible when it comes to expensive business decisions. This time, I have a better plan in terms of financing the magazine.

It’s three-tier revenue stream…or three different ways our readers can help support the magazine that also provides them added value for their financial investment.

Tier One: Minion Support via sponsorship
We’ve setup three different levels of sponsorship–$50, $250, $1000. For each level of sponsorship, you get a certain amount of stuff in return. Using this option, Apex receives all the money minus our e-commerce shop’s surcharge (3%) and the credit card surcharge (3%).

Tier Two: Support via Apex Magazine POD purchase or via donation
We’re going to experiment with the Magcloud.com magazine POD service. For each issue, we’re going to design and sell a full color print version of Apex Magazine available for purchase through Magcloud.com. This should be a great solution to those who want to read Apex in print format without waiting for the anthology. Buying the magazine should net $3-$4 in the Apex reserves.
Alternatively, we’ll work harder to earn your donations if you want to support the magazine by that route. Naturally, all donation money goes to Apex minus the previously mentioned surcharges.

Tier Three: Buy a copy of Descended From Darkness: Apex Magazine Vol. I
This is the upcoming anthology that contains all the original fiction printed digitally in Apex Magazine from January 1st, 2008 through June 30th, 2009. By buying this anthology, you’ll be directly supporting both the magazine and the book side of Apex. Descended From Darkness comes out December 1st, 2009. If you buy the book straight out of our shop, Apex will net approximately $8-$10.

Apex Magazine will be published in July and August. If the support is there from the readers, we’ll keep on publishing. We need $500 a month to finance the magazine. With a combination of these three options, we hope to meet that $500 goal each month.

And yes, Apex Magazine will be open to submissions starting July 1st.

Other Apex News:

Author lottery:
http://www.apexbookcompany.com/news/2009/06/seven-more-days-of-the-apex-author-lottery/

eBook release of LAST DRAGON:
http://www.apexbookcompany.com/products/2009/06/last-dragon-by-jm-mcdermott/

Also, we're closing to novel slush at the end of the month.

Halloween contest:
http://www.apexbookcompany.com/news/2009/06/announcing-the-fourth-annual-apex-halloween-short-story-contest/

And finally...Dark Faith open to subs:
http://www.apexbookcompany.com/news/2009/06/dark-faith-edited-by-maurice-broaddus-is-open-to-submissions-pays-5-cents-a-word/

Apex Book Company - Dark SF, Fantasy, and Horror: http://www.apexbookcompany.com

Join the Apex newsletter!
http://groups.google.com/group/apex-publications-announcements
http://www.apexbookcompany.com

Cover art for PLAGUE ZONE

noreply@blogger.com (NWSFS News) — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 16:12:00 +0000

This just came in from Jeff Carlson:

It's in! It's in! We have artwork for PLAGUE ZONE at last. I think this is my strongest cover yet. Certainly it's eye-catching, gritty, and wild... And here's the funny part. When I talk about my books in person or online, I like to poke fun at myself and explain that while, yes, of course, they're excellently written and full of moving human drama and real emotion, at the core these novels are also supposed to be fun, so they're full of exploding helicopters and super-cool advanced weapons technology.

Well, apparently Ace thinks so, too.

You can see the cover at http://www.jverse.com/blog/index.html Even better, if you click on that baby, it gets ultra big, crisp, and detailed. Shazam!!!

Jeff
www.jverse.com

Extreme Liquidation publishes June 1st with LyricalPress.com

noreply@blogger.com (NWSFS News) — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 04:14:00 +0000

Extreme Liquidation, the second novel of the Caitlin Diggs series, is now available at www.lyricalpress.com

Extreme Liquidation is science fiction, reminiscent of The X-Files and Fringe with conspiracies, paranormal happenings and FBI investigations. FBI Special Agent Caitlin Diggs must stop the evil occultist Aleister Crowley, now reincarnated as the FBI Director, from using a psychotropic drug to bring about the End Time. Diggs, recently endowed with psychic abilities, believes Crowley is trying to liquidate humanity to open a fourth dimension or heaven he calls the Golden Mean Spiral.

Diggs first appeared in Starta's novel, Blood Web.

Starta, a former journalist, now writes science fiction and mystery novels. His website is www.garystarta.net

Apex Publishing Announces the Apex Author Lottery

noreply@blogger.com (NWSFS News) — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 03:28:00 +0000

Apex Publishing Announces the Apex Author Lottery

Win prize packages from the darkest minds in science fiction, fantasy and horror

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

[Lexington, Kentucky] May 30, 2009 – What’s better than winning a signed copy of a limited edition book from one of the rising stars of dark science fiction? How about winning a whole stack of prizes, all from the author of your choosing?

Starting June 1 and ending June 30, Apex Publications is holding the Apex Author Lottery, an event readers can enter to win a themed prize package from select Apex authors and editors. You choose your author, and the winner gets every prize in the stack, including items such as signed editions, out of print magazine back issues, and even story critiques for aspiring writers.

The Apex Author Lottery is part of an effort to raise awareness of the great variety of talent available in small press science fiction and horror. Authors include Bram Stoker Award-nominated writer Fran Friel, winner of the 2008 Black Quill Award; two-time Parsec Award winner Matt Wallace; and Nebula Award nominee Jennifer Pelland.

Visit www.apexbookcompany.com for details.

APEX PUBLICATIONS (www.apexbookcompany.com) is a small press dedicated to publishing exemplary works of dark science fiction and horror. Owned and operated by Jason B. Sizemore, Apex publishes the critically acclaimed Apex Magazine. In 2006, Apex Publishing branched into producing novellas, collections, and anthologies, earning a Bram Stoker Award nomination for the Aegri Somnia anthology in 2007, and another for Fran Friel’s Mama’s Boy and Other Dark Tales in 2009.

Press Contact: Jason B. Sizemore
jason@apexdigest.com

Half price sale on many Apex Books

noreply@blogger.com (NWSFS News) — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 15:12:00 +0000

http://www.apexbookcompany.com/news/2009/04/warm-weather-big-sale/

The weather has finally turned here in the Bluegrass and it’s put the Apex team in a great mood to celebrate. In honor of Fran Friel’s Stoker nomination, we’re having a big ol’ Mama’s Boy and Other Dark Tales sale!

There are only five hardcovers remaining from the original print run of 100 and we’ve slashed their prices in half. We’ve also knocked down the price of the TPB to $10.00. We’re also looking to do some ‘Spring Cleaning’ and move out some older inventory. The sale will run until next Friday.

Mama’s Boy and Other Dark Tales
HC - $17.50 (half price!) / TPB - $10.00

Aegri Somnia
HC - $14.00 / TPB - $7.00 (both half price!)

Gratia Placenti
HC - $14.00 / TPB - $8.00 (both half price!)

Orgy of Souls
HC - $15.00 / TPB - $10.00

Catacombs & Photographs (print run of 100)
Chapbook - $5.00 (half price!)

Jeff Carlson's Plague Year spreads to Czech Republic

noreply@blogger.com (NWSFS News) — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 14:59:00 +0000

Jeff Carlson's Plague Year spreads to Czech Republic:

The international bestselling Plague Year thrillers struck another country this week, with the first two novels of Jeff Carlson’s trilogy selling in the Czech Republic after multiple bids between Czech publishers BB Art and Triton. Earlier this month, the Czech Republic’s premiere genre magazine, Pevnost, featured a translation of Carlson’s Writers of the Future award-winning novelette “The Frozen Sky.” Impressed by the story, editors from both publishing houses sought out English editions of Plague Year and were immediately in contact with Carlson’s literary agents. BB Art, which also translates books by household names such as Douglas Preston and Dean Koontz, won Czech rights to Carlson’s thriller novels and plans to release the first title late in 2009.

The third novel to complete the trilogy, Plague Zone, is slated for publication in North America by Ace/Penguin Books in Fall 2009.

Plague Year, the first in the series, became a bestseller as La Plaga in Spain, where Plague War, retitled Antidoto, is currently on the charts as well. The books are also receiving a major promotion campaign in Germany, where Plague War, retitled Plasma, will be Piper Verlag’s Book Of The Month this August. Both novels are also set for publication in Romania.

In the United States, Plague War was recently a finalist for the 2008 Philip K. Dick Award. Film rights for the novels have been optioned by award-winning producer James McNally of Seven Seas Jim.

Readers can find free excerpts of Plague Year and Plague War at Carlson’s web site at www.jverse.com along with tour dates, videos, contests, and more, including a mind-croggling trivia challenge in which winners will be allowed to name a character after themselves or a friend in one of Carlson’s upcoming novels.

Big News From Jeff Carlson

noreply@blogger.com (NWSFS News) — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 15:45:00 +0000

For those of you who haven’t heard, my second novel, Plague War, did not win the Philip K. Dick Award at Norwescon last weekend. In a first-ever tie, the PKD went to David Walton’s Terminal Mind and Adam-Troy Castro’s Emissaries For The Dead. Nevertheless, I had a fantastic time at the four-day convention, making lots of new friends and contacts, and it really is just an honor to be nominated. The awards ceremony was especially great, classy, and fun.

Here's my cosmic boobyprize:

Spanish publisher Minotauro has declared La Plaga (Plague Year) a bestseller in their country, which means my American publisher is suddenly in a rush to change the byline for my next novel to "Jeff Carlson, International Bestselling Author." Wow! Overall, it’s been an amazing week and a half.

Also exciting, here's a link to charts compiled by one of Spain's book chains, which has Antidoto (Plague War) at #1 right now on the very top of the heap... and that's in hardcover as a mainstream novel.

Fun photos (with more to come) at http://www.jverse.com/blog/index.html

Jeff
www.jverse.com

Dusk Before The Dawn awarded Reader’s Choice Award from Amazonclicks

noreply@blogger.com (NWSFS News) — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 15:40:00 +0000

(TOMBALL, Texas) - The novel Dusk Before the Dawn by Larry Ketchersid was awarded the Reader’s Choice Award from AmazonClicks. The novel will be featured on the AmazonClicks website for the month of April, and further recognized on the websites “Hall of Fame” page.

“Dusk Before the Dawn is definitely a novel that embraces the concept of global change,” states AmazonClicks. “A layered tale set near the largest of the ancient ruined cities of the Maya civilization in El Petén, Guatamala, it takes the best kind of James Bond ‘world ends at the hands of mad scientist’ plot, and then weaves through it elements of enlightenment and environmentalism. As a result it is an action driven story, mellowed with intent and contemplation as the more enlightened protagonists work to make the best of a bad situation.”

Details of the award can be viewed at www.amazonclicks.com.

The novel has previously been selected as a Finalist for the Book of the Year Awards from ForeWord Magazine, and is also featured on the “Best First SF Novels” list from Paul Levinson, a past president of the Science Fiction Writers of America and best selling author of The Plot to Save Socrates.

The author, Larry Ketchersid, is CEO of a security software and services company. He studies martial arts and has been awarded 2nd degree Black Belt in Soo Bahk Do. He also continues to play rugby (against suggestions to the contrary), and reads and writes extensively. His forthcoming novel, Software By The Kilo, intertwines the business of funding and running a technology company with Italian drug smugglers and World War II, spanning two continents and two time periods.

Dusk Before the Dawn can be ordered by bookstores from Infinity Publishing; books are returnable. Consumers can purchase the novel from many bookstores such as Books, Inc. in California; The Twig in San Antonio; and online through Amazon and Barnes and Noble. More information on both book and author can be found at www.duskbeforethedawn.net.

For bookstore ordering, please contact:
Infinity Publishing
1094 New Dehaven St, Suite 100
West Conshohocken, PA 19428
610-941-9999 • Toll Free: 877-BUYBOOK • Fax: 610-941-9959
www.infinitypublishing.com

PRESS RELEASE: ELIZABETH ENGSTROM'S "WHEN DARKNESS LOVES US" COMING NOVEMBER 2009 FROM APEX PUBLISHING

noreply@blogger.com (NWSFS News) — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 02:24:00 +0000

Elizabeth Engstrom's "When Darkness Loves Us" coming November 2009 from Apex Publishing

Dark fantasy author's first major publication is back in print after more than two decades

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

[Lexington, Kentucky] – Apex Publishing, the innovative publisher behind such titles as THE APEX BOOK OF WORLD SF and the Stoker Award-nominated MAMA'S BOY collection, has announced the acquisition of Elizabeth Engstrom's WHEN DARKNESS LOVES US, a collection of two stories—a novella and a short novel—that exemplify Engstrom's early style of soft-spoken but fierce speculative horror.

"When Darkness Loves Us" shows the inner strength and moral deterioration of a sixteen-year-old girl trapped alone in the underground darkness shortly after her wedding day. "Beauty Is..." follows the tragic life of Martha Mannes, a woman born without a nose, and the beauty and horror of the small town life that surrounds her as her mind works its way out of the trauma that has buried it for most of her life.

WHEN DARKNESS LOVES US is scheduled for release in November 2009. Pre-orders begin summer 2009; watch the Apex website (www.apexbookcompany.com) for details.

"Fresh, inventive, stylish and captivating, the work of a writer of unusual promise."
—Dean Koontz

"A masterpiece, and one of the finest tragedies I've read in years."
—Horror Show

ELIZABETH ENGSTROM (www.elizabethengstrom.com) holds a BA in English Literature and Writing from Marylhurst University and is currently pursuing a graduate degree in Applied Theology. A recluse at heart, she still emerges into public occasionally to speak at a writers conference or to teach a class on various aspects of writing the novel, essay, article or short story. She is the author or numerous novels, short stories, and collections, including BLACK AMBROSIA, LIZARD WINE, and THE NORTHWOODS CHRONICLES.

APEX PUBLICATIONS (www.apexbookcompany.com) is a small press dedicated to publishing exemplary works of dark science fiction and horror. Owned and operated by Jason B. Sizemore, Apex publishes the critically acclaimed Apex Magazine. In 2006, Apex Publishing branched into producing novellas, collections, and anthologies, earning a Bram Stoker Award nomination for the AEGRI SOMNIA anthology in 2007, and another for the collection MAMA'S BOY by Fran Friel, published in 2008.

Press Contact: Jason B. Sizemore
jason@apexdigest.com

Apex Book Company - Dark SF, Fantasy, and Horror
http://www.apexbookcompany.com

Join the Apex newsletter!
http://groups.google.com/group/apex-publications-announcements
http://www.apexbookcompany.com

Apex to publish TASTE OF TENDERLOIN by Gene O'Neill

noreply@blogger.com (NWSFS News) — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 04:46:00 +0000

San francisco's dark side comes alive in taste of tenderloin

Forthcoming release from author Gene O'Neill and Apex Publishing

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

[Lexington, Kentucky] – Eight stories of dark science fiction and fantasy weave a path through the underbelly of San Francisco's most notorious district in TASTE OF TENDERLOIN by Gene O'Neill. Best known for his strong sense of place and uniquely vibrant characters, O'Neill brings the gritty underside of the city to life with eight interwoven stories of broken lives, missed dreams, and all that can go wrong with both reality and fantasy among the down and out. The city itself opens wide to swallow all comers with the temptation of its secrets and sins, while O'Neill brings dignity and humanity to a set of characters often overlooked in both society and fiction.

Coming in the August of 2009 from Apex Publishing, TASTE OF TENDERLOIN gives fantasy, science fiction, and horror a home in the city streets. Pre-orders available soon—watch the Apex website (www.apexbookcompany.com) for details.

GENE O'NEILL has seen over 100 of his stories published, perhaps most notably in the Twilight Zone Magazine, The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, Science Fiction Age, Cemetery Dance, and various anthologies. Many of his past stories have garnered Nebula and Stoker award recommendations, including “Balance,” a Stoker finalist in 2007, included in this collection.

APEX PUBLICATIONS (www.apexbookcompany.com) is a small press dedicated to publishing exemplary works of dark science fiction and horror. Owned and operated by Jason B. Sizemore, Apex publishes the critically acclaimed Apex Magazine. In 2006, Apex Publishing branched into producing novellas, collections, and anthologies, earning a Bram Stoker Award nomination for the AEGRI SOMNIA anthology in 2007, and another for the collection MAMA'S BOY by Fran Friel, published in 2008.

Press Contact: Jason B. Sizemore
jason@apexdigest.com

Apex Book Company - Dark SF, Fantasy, and Horror
http://www.apexbookcompany.com

Join the Apex newsletter!
http://groups.google.com/group/apex-publications-announcements
http://www.apexbookcompany.com

Apex Publishing Announces World SF Anthology

noreply@blogger.com (NWSFS News) — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 16:47:00 +0000

Apex Publishing Announces World SF Anthology

Short story collection features award-winning authors from around the world

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

[Lexington, Kentucky] February 15, 2009 – Apex Publishing has announced plans to release THE APEX BOOK OF WORLD SF, an anthology of genre short stories from around the world. Edited by Lavie Tidhar, the book focuses on Asian and European writers, including stories from China, India, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, Croatia, France, and the Netherlands.

"This is an exciting opportunity to showcase some of the tremendous talent in the field from all around the world," Apex publisher Jason Sizemore says. "We think this is a milestone publication in a field where, historically, genre fiction from outside the English-speaking world has been almost invisible. Tidhar has put together a unique line-up of stories."

The anthology is book-ended by World Fantasy Award winners S.P. Somtow and Zoran Živković, while other included authors have variously won China's Galaxy Award, Israel's Geffen Award, France's Grand Prix de l'Imaginaire, and Australia's Ditmar and Aurealis awards.

THE APEX BOOK OF WORLD SF exhibits once again Apex Book Company's commitment to publishing the best in speculative fiction in all its diversity. The anthology is scheduled for release in late 2009, and is intended as the first in a series of World SF collections.

APEX PUBLICATIONS (www.apexbookcompany.com) is a small press dedicated to publishing exemplary works of dark science fiction and horror. Owned and operated by Jason B. Sizemore, Apex publishes the critically acclaimed Apex Magazine. In 2006, Apex Publishing branched into producing novellas, collections, and anthologies, earning a Bram Stoker Award nomination for the Aegri Somnia anthology in 2007.

Press Contact: Jason B. Sizemore - jason@apexdigest.com
Apex Book Company - Dark SF, Fantasy, and Horror
http://www.apexbookcompany.com

Join the Apex newsletter!
http://groups.google.com/group/apex-publications-announcements
http://www.apexbookcompany.com

Yasmine Galenorn: Demon Mistress Book Video

noreply@blogger.com (NWSFS News) — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 01:36:00 +0000

Yasmine Galenorn recently posted this video on YouTube for Demon Mistress - Book 6 in the Otherworld Series

Take a look and enjoy

Book 6 in the Otherworld Series by Yasmine Galenorn
www.galenorn.com

We're the D'Artigo Sisters: Half-human, half-Faerie, we're savvy--and sexy--operatives for the Otherworld Intelligence Agency. But our mixed-blood heritage short-circuits our talents at all the wrong times. My sister Camille is a wicked-good witch whose magic is as unpredictable as the weather. My sister Delilah transforms into a tabby cat at the worst possible times. And me? I'm Menolly, acrobat-extraordinaire-turned-vampire. And if the nerds from hell don't get their act together, I'm going to turn their toga party into a bloodbath...

Life's getting stranger by the minute. First, Iris and I unearth a diary from one of the bartenders at the Wayfarer who disappeared under mysterious circumstances. And when I discover a ghoul in the woods near our home, we know there has to be a necromancer nearby--another sign that something's wrong. But the blood really hits the fang when we discover a secret society bent on winning Shadow Wing's favor. Now it's up to us to stop the chaos they've unleashed on the city, and to prevent the demon they summoned from devouring Delilah's soul...