Writer's Grove

New York state o’ mind

‘Tis time to visit the in-laws, and they live in upstate New York. My tree, my house, and my doggies will be left in capable hands while I schmooze lots of trees and much bigger doggies at someone else’s house. And I ain’t kiddin’ about the bigger doggies. They have a Newfoundland and he’s a slobberbucket.

While I’m in New York, I’ve arranged a couple of book-related appearances. The first one will be at Ole Sal’s Cafe and Creamery in Little Falls, NY, on Saturday, June 25, from 3-5 pm. There will be some books for sale there—Hounded and Hexed— but you’re welcome to bring your own too and hang out! The ice cream is nomnomnom and they make great coffee too. Old wood floor in the building, makes you feel important when you walk on it because it makes such great sound. If you’re from anywhere around there and you feel like a nice weekend drive, hope you’ll make the trip, maybe take a ride down the Erie Canal.

The second appearance will be in New York, NY on July 5, the release day for HAMMERED! I’ll be at Posman Books in Grand Central Terminal at 6 pm. If you can’t make it there or send a minion at that time, then please contact Posman and special order ahead of time and I’ll sign your book for you to pick up later!

OK, can I just geek out for a second about HAMMERED?

It has a MAP in it and I MADE IT!! I still can’t believe they let me do it all by myself. And it’s a MAP OF ASGARD! They had to print it pretty darn tiny to make it fit on a paperback page so some of the architectural details of Valhalla, etc. are a bit indistinct, but it still looks turbo cool! I will post a larger version of the map here a few weeks after the release so you can make fun of it. :)

The other thing I’m geeking out about are the chapters narrated by other characters, who all share a decided dislike for Thor. They get told sorta like The Canterbury Tales, and there are FIVE of them. You’ll finally get to learn why Leif Helgarson holds such a grudge against Thor, and that, as you might expect, is called The Vampire’s Tale. After each tale there’s a cool little Celtic doggie thingie that’s called a “dingbat” in typography, which signals that we’re switching from the guest narrator back to Atticus. I love the doggies!

BUT WAIT! THERE’S MORE! If you happen to buy the eBook version of HAMMERED—doesn’t matter which device you’re using—then you’ll get a bonus short story called “A Test of Mettle.” It’s told from Granuaile’s point of view, and it lets you know what she and Oberon are up to while Atticus is off doing his thing in Asgard. OK, geek out finished. :)

Comin’ up on the blog, a look at all the amazin’ stuff The League of Reluctant Adults is cookin’ up, instructions on how to make an Atticus omelet, and Documented Shenanigans with my editors in New York! Peace out!