Category: Events

News n’ stuff

Hi, peeps —

I’ve been doing a summer blast tour over at Women and Words. That means I’ve been interviewing authors on Fridays. So far, we’ve had two with the third lined up for this Friday. Each has done a book giveaway, so if you’re interested in some lesfic and gay dude fiction, come on by Women and Words Fridays to see who I’ve got in the hot seat.

This Friday it’s author Kate McLachlan, who writes time travel mystery/thrillers. I think you’ll enjoy her quirky characters and humor. For more info on her books, click here. You can visit Women and Words here.

You might be interested to find out more about authors Renée Bess (who writes pretty intense character-driven romances and romance-tery) and Lynette Mae, who writes thrillers starring military personnel or police personnel (set in the 1980s and 1990s). Click those links to check ’em out.

Also, there’s an auction under way to help avid lesfic reader/fan Kara Leonardo, who was severely injured in a car accident in February that claimed her partner’s life. The auction is helping raise funds to help her get settled in the wake of this terrible event. Several authors have donated books and other things to help out. You can find out more about that AT THIS LINK RIGHT HERE. The “Master List” page on that site lists everything up for auction. Thanks.

As for me, I’m hammering away on Far Seek book 3 and New Mexico 4. So I’m keeping busy! Hope to have the new Far Seek book to the publisher before the end of the summer. Keep yer fingers crossed…

Happy Monday!

by Categories: Events, News, Random WTF stuffTags: , , ,

Thank your local librarians!

Hi, folks–

I’m a member of Sisters in Crime (cuz, like, I write mysteries), and this Saturday they’re doing an event called Sisters Solve Mysteries.

Here’s some scoopage:

For 25 years, booksellers and librarians have helped women writing crime fiction find their audience. In celebration of the 25th anniversary of the founding of Sisters in Crime, an organization created to promote the advancement of women mystery writers, SinC members are thanking librarians and booksellers for their efforts by spending a day helping out in their institutions.

For six hours on Saturday, April 21, SinC member authors will shadow booksellers and librarians to learn how they solve mysteries every day.

SinC authors will serve as booksellers or library volunteers for a day, doing whatever their library or bookstore manager asks of the regular staff: shelving, bagging, sweeping, assisting patrons, pulling holds, making recommendations, taking out the trash, checking in returned books, etc.
LINK

Click THIS LINK to find out if libraries in your area are participating.

And if not, well, that’s okay. Maybe you could organize an event through the writers’ groups/organizations you belong to and do something like this, that shows some love for your local libraries.

Because I’ll tell you what. NOTHING solves problems like a good librarian.

Happy reading!

And if you don’t have a librarian action figure, WHY NOT? Here. Now you, too, can be awesome.

by Categories: Coolness, EventsTags: , , ,

Zombie Walks, Crawls, Events for Halloween

Plus some other stuff.

Like, for example, my random questions over at Women and Words. I took some random questions from readers yesterday and posted answers over at Women and Words. Here’s the link to check it out.

Okay, ’tis the season, friends! HALLOWEEN! Some communities around the U.S. are doing zombie walks in honor of this occasion (though zombie walks do occur at other times of the year, too). And others are doing zombie apocalypse meetups. Wanna see if there’s a community near you doing one? Here you go.

Here’s the official 2011 Halloween Zombie Apocalypse event site.

And here they are on Facebook.

The zombie apocalypse stuff is pretty involved, but it looks like a heck of a good time. Basically, you’re planning an entire zombie end-of-the-world in your community. A worldwide zombie-ish outbreak. The top 8 apocalypse teams will then go on to compete in an international competition (that is, who’s the best at making a realistic zombie apocalypse).

And you might get a kick out of the sponsor’s link, “Adrian’s Undead Diary.” Some good readin’ stuff there.

Here’s the schedule for the proposed zombie outbreak:
Day 1: Zombie Outbreak (October 29th)
Day 2: Survival of the Fittest (October 30th)
Day 3: Fight to the End (Halloween)
LINK for that info

If that’s far too complicated, then you can check to see if there’s a zombie walk going on in your city/town. That’s basically what it says. People dressed like zombies lurching down the street on a set route. Sometimes the walk benefits a charity. I heard of a walk scheduled this year in one community that would like participants to bring a can of food to the start of the walk. That food will then go to local food banks.

Here’s a good place to find some info about communities with scheduled zombie crawls/walks as Halloween approaches. It’s called Crawl of the Dead.

All right, friends. If I find more info, I’ll post it here. And do keep your eyes on the planning for the worldwide zombie apocalypse. That could be pretty freaky and freaky cool.

Happy Saturday!

by Categories: Apocalypse, Events, ZombiesTags: , ,

Super cool writing conference

Hey, kids–just some reminders and/or tips for those of you who write or just like to follow writing/writers and find out what the haps are on the various scenes.

Here’s one:

If you are so amazingly fortunate to live in the Pacific Northwest, NorWestCon is happening this weekend. That’s the premier sci-fi and fantasy conference up there, and this year the guest of honor is Patricia McKillup, winner of the World Fantasy Award. Also on the docket? Jim Butcher (urban fantasy/paranormal) and Shannon Butcher, who writes romantic suspense and paranormal. Workshops, authors, cool stuff.

Stuff like the Fannish Fetish Fashion show! Costumes galore. How could you NOT want to see this?

Or how about the Paranormal Fair? OMG. The Washington State Paranormal Investigations and Research team will be on hand. Plus, tarot, psychics, and shamanism researchers. Something for everyone.

Here’s yer program grid.

I would LOVE to catch this conference, but sadly, it’s out of the realm of possibility this year. Regardless, if you can go, give it a look!

Happy reading, happy writing, happy conferencing!

by Categories: Coolness, Events, Paranormal, Spec fic, The AwesomeTags: ,