THEY'RE BIODEGRADEABLE

Writing

Busy, busy, busy!

First off, "Scream Queen" is now available, in Evil Dead 2: Tales of the Ex-Mortis #2! Buy it at your LCS, or here.

Next, I'll be participating in this awesome FB event over Columbus Day weekend, so stop by and say hi, maybe win some prizes, and find some new authors to love!

Then the Occupied Earth anthology comes out on 10/13, featuring a collaborative story by me and partner Jeffrey J. Mariotte entitled "Letting Go the Ghosts."

THEN I'll be at Comic & Media Expo in Mesa (10/16 - 10/18). Come see my and fellow Wyked Writers Sharon Skinner and Gini Koch's panel Saturday at 1 PM.

After that, Jeff and I will be at Tucson Comic Con from 11/6-11/8. More information on that appearance as I have it.

Finally, Jeff and I will be speaking at the Arizona Library Association's 2015 conference up in Flagstaff (11/18 - 11/20).

So, yeah, like I said - busy, busy, busy!

Everything Else

Part of my busy-ness is also attributable to some PT/contract jobs I'm also juggling, so I apologize for the lack of timely updates, here and elsewhere in Social Media Land. I'll try to be better at it going forward, promise!

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Writing

Back from the fun, exhausting, informative 2015 Writers' Police Academy, held at the Fox Valley Technical College Public Safety Training Center, where I and partner Jeffrey J. Mariotte got to take the following classes:

- Crime Lab (Fingerprinting 101)
- From Crime Scene to Autopsy
- An Insider's View to the World of Women in Law Enforcement
- Interview and Interrogation
- The Mindset of Cops
- Forensic Art and Witness Recall
- Overview of Forensic Psychology
- Crime Scene Photography
- Booking/Processing
- Milo (Military integrated laser operations) Simulator

I also got to meet author and 27-year police veteran Robin Burcell and Dr. Katherine Ramsland (pictured below):



And I learned SO MUCH. It was like being back in college again - pages and pages of notes, hundreds of pictures, so many great details that you can bet will be showing up in my work. It was, as noted, exhausting, but so worth it. And it wasn't all work:


(me with the DB in the Crime Scene Photography session)


(me in "The Chair" during the jail tour part of the Booking/Processing section)

Even 4 days isn't enough to do everything at WPA, so you can bet we'll be back!

Also, right before I left, I sold my poem, "Dutiful Daughter" to Devolution Z Magazine, so you should probably go check that out.

Everything Else

We got to take in a Norman Rockwell exhibit at the Trout Museum of Art while in Appleton, so I'll leave you with this image - A Rockwell in front of a Rockwell:



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Writing

Well, we did it! Partner Jeffrey J. Mariotte and I have delivered 7 SYKOS to our editor at HarperCollins. Clocking in at almost 110,000 words, it's not only my first original novel, but also the longest one I've ever turned in, and a scant two months after turning in the final book in my trilogy based on Neil Gaiman's Lady Justice comic books. So to say I've written a lot of words in the past several months would be quite an understatement! But I'm finally out from under all contracted deadlines, so now I get to do something I haven't done in a long time - read for pleasure. Can't wait to dive into my TBR pile, heh.

This weekend saw another first for me, too. My first appearance (for my first comic book credit) in Diamond PREVIEWS, for another collaboration with Jeff, "Scream Queen," a story that will appear in Evil Dead 2: Tales of the Ex-Mortis #2. Check it out:



Lots of exciting stuff happening on the writing front, so check back regularly for updates!

Everything Else

If you've read this blog for any length of time, you know my youngest son, Max, was diagnosed with cancer (neuroblastoma, Stage III) at 4 months of age. He underwent 4 rounds of chemo and is doing well now, though he'll never be in remission, because the tumor is still active and can't be safely resected because of its location. However, all chemo comes with side effects and what are called late effects - things that might not show up until years after treatment is over. One of these late effects is hearing loss.

Well, Max has been having trouble hearing of late, so they tested him at school and he failed completely on a couple of levels, so it's off to the Audiology Dept at PCH to get more accurate/detailed testing done and, probably, to plan to fit him for hearing aids.

The battle against cancer is never over. It's like dealing with a stubborn centipede that refuses to tie its shoes - any of those shoes can drop at any time, usually when you are least prepared for it. This is part of the reason I'm so adamant about pediatric cancer awareness. Because it's not over for Max and it never will be, until we find a cure, or treatment options that don't poison our children. There are several links on my website for organizations that raise money for research. Take a look if you're so inclined. Because:

AWARENESS = FUNDING = RESEARCH = CURE

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Writing

The news is starting to leak out in various places, so partner Jeffrey J. Mariotte and I decided it's probably safe to tell you now about our collaborative novel and who will be publishing it.

The novel is called 7 Sykos and it's being published by HarperCollins as part of their Voyager Impulse line. We're really excited to be part of this new line and can't wait to be able to tell you more about the book. Stay tuned!

Also, the Occupied Earth website is live. Check it out! My and Jeff's contribution is called "Letting Go the Ghosts" and we're both really proud of it. Get your pre-orders in now!

Everything Else

I've taken a part-time editing job in addition to being a mentor for ASU's Your Novel Year program. That, coupled with my writing, will probably mean continued sporadic blog posts, but don't worry - if something important happens, I'll be sure to let you know. (And you can always follow me on FB or Twitter, where I'm a little more active than I am here.)

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While partner Jeffrey J. Mariotte and I originally made the decision not to attend PHXCC this year due to a plethora of looming deadlines, we have since had a serious difference of opinion with con management, which seems to value celebrities over authors/comics folks, and as a result, we won't be returning and will instead be focusing our resources elsewhere.

We're sorry for disappointing our many friends and fans who come to the con every year to see us, but rest assured that there will be several other opportunities to do so throughout the year, which we'll be announcing as they get closer. Thank you all for your understanding.

Writing

So, it's May, and that means I'll be heading to Vegas with partner Jeffrey J. Mariotte, BFF Gini Koch, T.L. Smith, Sharon Skinner, and Alan Black for a workshop/reading/signing extravaganza at the Henderson Barnes & Noble on the 17th of the month, starting at 1 PM. Hope to see some of you there!

Also, Lady Justice #1 was an offering for Free Comic Book Day. Hope some of you were able to pick it up!

Finally, speaking of Lady Justice, the third book in my trilogy is due June 1st, so expect crickets and cobwebs on the blog for the rest of the month. I'll try to make it up to you in June.

Everything Else

MRI shows no re-herniation, thank goodness. There is some sort of fluid buildup pressing on the nerves that could be either a seroma or a hematoma. Waiting on the surgeon's review of the MRI to get a better idea which it might be and treatment options (if it's a seroma, we'll try an epidural with IV benadryl and versed to counteract the steroid reaction; if it's a hematoma, it will have to be drained). So, some answers, anyway, which is always better than none, heh.

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Writing

People have been asking and I've been waffling, but after careful consideration, my partner Jeffrey J. Mariotte and I have decided to pass on Phoenix Comicon this year. We both love the con and the people, but the final Lady Justice book is due June 1st and we're aiming to get our collaborative novel done not long after that and, well, there are just not enough hours in a day to get it all done, so contractual obligations have to come first.

We will try to come up one day to see our out-of-town friends, and when we figure out when and where, we'll let you know, in case you want to track us down.

Otherwise, we'll be signing at the Henderson, NV Barnes & Noble on May 17th, and we'll be at MegaMania down in Tucson on July 11th (further details on both will be coming in due time), so hopefully we'll see some of you at those events.

Everything Else

Everything else is a never-ending cycle of writing and back issues (one being far more enjoyable than the other, heh) that bore even me, so...hope you're all enjoying the beginning of Spring (those of you who aren't still getting snowed on, that is)!

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Writing

Back from Tucson Festival of Books! Had a great time, as always, with partner Jeffrey J. Mariotte - sold books (moved lots of copies of Neverland's Library and Empty Rooms and sold out of my last remaining physical copies of The Shard Axe), talked to readers, caught up with old friends, made some new ones. Jeff did some panels, I lost my voice - the usual crazy writing weekend with several thousand of our closest friends!


(Jeff and I at the Author Pavilion)


(Sam Sykes, Jonathan Maberry, Jeff, Eric Schock at a post-panel signing)

Also great seeing Gini Koch, Terry L. Smith, Deena Remiel, Kris Tualla, Erin Quinn, Melanie of Dog-Eared Pages, Joseph, Duncan and Andrea, David, Nicole and Baby K, Dori, Wes and Von, Frankie, Amy, Janni, and probably more people I'm forgetting (sorry!), and meeting Erica and Mimi and Jonathan's lovely wife Sara Jo. (And congrats to Izzy on her first story publication!) Many thanks to Kris and the Dreams Convention for the table space. Can't wait to do it all again next year!

ETA: Also, the lovely @leahcanscience sums up some of my writing advice from the SDSU Writer's Conference here. Check it out!

Everything Else

Stayed over an extra night because I was sick and sore, then drove home from Tucson and pretty much straight to Physical Therapy (3x/wk for 4-6 weeks). Short session because I was hurting after the drive, but I'm looking forward to getting back into fighting form. Or, you know, to at least being able to sit without pain, heh. #asmallgoalbutitsmine

Also, Happy St. Patty's Day!

May your blessings outnumber
The shamrocks that grow,
And may trouble avoid you
Wherever you go.

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Writing

I know it's been quiet here, mostly because of my back surgery, but writing has still been happening. Part of that writing includes my very first comic book script, written with my uber-talented writing partner, Jeffrey J. Mariotte. Space Goat Publishing has procured the rights to do Evil Dead 2 comics, and Jeff and I get to be part of that! Specifically, we've written a story for Evil Dead 2: Tales of Ex-Mortis ("Hellraiser with jokes"). Not sure yet if it'll appear in issue 1 or 2, or who the artist will be, but I'll post that info as soon as I know it.

We'll also be at Tucson Festival of Books (March 14-15) again this year, in the Dreams Convention Booth (#106). We'll also have a slot at the Author Pavilion (Sat., 10:15 AM - 12:30 PM) and Jeff will be doing several panels (which he'll be listing on his blog soon). Come see us!

Everything Else

The surgery went well. I'm still in the recovery period, which means limited sitting at the computer, driving, etc., but the incision is healing well and as long as I don't overdo it, I'm in less pain than before the surgery. Looking forward to being 100% in time for TFOB!

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Writing

Happy 2015! My writing year is starting out busy. Working on Lady Justice #3, have several short stories in various stages of development with writing partner Jeffrey J. Mariotte (as well as a novel and another project we just signed the contract for that I'm really excited about), and gearing up to serve as writing "faculty" for both San Diego State University's College of Extended Studies and Arizona State University's Virginia G. Piper Center for Creative Writing (Your Novel Year 2015).

For you west coast peeps, I'll be teaching at SDSU's Writers' Conference Jan 23 - 25. Here's my schedule:

Friday:

5-6, No Host Mixer (optional)

Saturday:

10:30-11:20, Finding Your Voice, Rio Vista G

11:20am-1pm, Networking Luncheon (optional)

1-1:50, World Building in SF/F/H, Rio Vista F

4-4:50, Short Story & Novella, Santa Fe 3 & 4

5-6 pm, Reception (optional)

I've included the "optional" stuff, but I may or may not be at those events depending on how my back is doing, etc. I'm really looking forward to the conference and I hope to see some of you there!

Also, speaking of Jeff (I did, up there in the first paragraph), I'd be a horrible partner and a lousy friend if I didn't tell you his latest (solo) thriller, Empty Rooms is available (though it's not officially out until Feb 8), and it is REALLY good. I was lucky enough to read it early (and got the first ARC!), and all I can say is that I wish that I'd written it. I don't really have any higher praise to offer. Check it out for yourselves. You won't be sorry. (Also, if you follow his author page on FB, he's posting a chapter a week until the official February release - sneak preview!)

ETA: Neverland's Library, Out of Tune, and Bridges of Longing will all be available from the bookstore, so pick up whatever you're missing of mine while you're there!

Everything Else

Back surgery on Groundhog's Day. There's probably a joke in there somewhere, but I'm not sure what it is, heh.

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