Too late for Halloween costume contest–breathe a sigh of relief everyone else–Sam writes in, “This is me being Kylar. I reckon my costume smashes yours. =D
(Click to enlarge.)
(I’m standing in the corner next to the window, opposite the camera.)”
Uh, no arguments here. Sir.
Books Monthly thinks so, and has selected BOTH The Way of Shadows and Shadow’s Edge as its Science Fiction or Fantasy Books of the Month. They call it, “A genuine page turner, and truly impossible to put down.” They say other ridiculously nice things, too, so heck, go there and CHECK IT OUT.
Books Monthly also has a ridiculously easy quiz for UK residents to win all three books, but the deadline is November 28th. (Sorry for the short notice, my fault, I’ve been meaning to post this all month!)
The fan art contest deadline is December 1st. If you wish to participate, please email me a .jpg of your art at brent[dot]a[dot]weeks[at]gmail[dot]com. You can submit as many pieces as you wish. The winner will receive signed copies of the Night Angel Trilogy, and your art will be posted on this webpage for a billion fans to adore. (That is, if you tell 999,998,000 of your friends to come look.)
I’m really looking forward to seeing what you all can do!
Good news 1: The Way of Shadows has already gone back to press in both the US and the UK. This means they’re selling better than expected (or at least better than they feared). So, thank you to YOU, because this leads to…
Good news 2: Orbit has offered–and I have accepted–another three book deal! I’m not a one hit wonder! (Err, three hit wonder? Err, three pretty-well-performing midlister?) Regardless, I’m going to be writing a new trilogy (I think) set in a completely new world, new magic, with great conflict and impossible dilemmas, and characters that will keep surprising you (I hope). I do plan to return to Midcyru after this series. I just decided that I’m not ready as a writer to pull off the ambitious project I envision there. So if your favorite character is still alive by the end of Beyond the Shadows (muhahah), you MIGHT get to see them again…
So, thank you!
Despite that the official pub date is still two weeks away, Beyond the Shadows is now on shelves in some bookstores. I haven’t received my own copies–but the little bookstore down the street has. This left me in a quandary. Is it gauche to buy your own book? I decided that if I was going to pad my sales numbers, I’d at least do it on Amazon, so I could see the little sales rank counter jump… but then I’d have to wait anyway, so I just stared at my own book longingly a while and made comments to passersby like “Wow, this book looks great. Heard this guy is real talented. Look, a blurb from Terry Brooks!” Finally, I walked out of the store empty-handed. (But the manager says I can come back if I promise to stop harassing the customers.)
I will be taking part in a group book signing in Beaverton, Oregon at Powell’s Books at Cedar Hills Crossing on November 20. Check the link for lots of details and directions. Look for the guy with the short line. I haven’t been to this event before, but I heard it was a wild success last year (its inaugural year), and with twelve sci-fi/fantasy authors and artists including Timothy Zahn, Lilith Saintcrow, Eldon Thompson, and Jay Lake, I’m just really excited to have been invited. The only thing that makes me nervous? The line that concludes the event announcement:
“The Cloud City garrison of the 501st Imperial Legion will also be in attendance.”
Does that mean what I think it means?
Fantasy Book Critic has a giveaway of the entire Night Angel Trilogy HERE. There are six complete sets up for grabs, three of US version and three of the UK version, which is fatter, and may spell words like “color” funny. 😉 Looks like it’s open to anyone.
Also, I will be posting the winner of the Halloween costume contest tomorrow. I’ve got it down to two finalists, and it’s killing me to choose between them, so check in tomorrow to see who won a signed copy of the book of their choice. (Uh, that is, out of my books. If you ask for a signed copy of the 24 volume Oxford English Dictionary, I’ll just hurt you.)
Got an email telling me that some Borders bookstores ALREADY have Shadow’s Edge in stock. (What? I haven’t even got MY copies yet!) So if you really can’t wait for book two, give your local Borders a call. Heck, you could call Barnes and Noble, and Powells, and Waldenbooks (and Blackwell and Waterstones if you’re across the pond), just to build buzz, but if you’re not looking to be part of a nefarious grass-roots marketing effort, thanks, you just want the stupid book…well, call Borders. Sheesh. Sorry.
You do realize, however, that if you get Shadow’s Edge early, you’re still going to have to wait a full month for Beyond the Shadows, right? And that’s assuming that your Borders also gets book three in early, which they may not. So you may have to wait SIX weeks while the cool kids laugh at you because they only have to wait four weeks. Well, Mom always said patience is a virtue. (Yeah, I hated that too.)
I have been nominated for the David Gemmell Legend Award for Fantasy. When December 26th rolls around, fans will get to vote for finalists. Judges will then pick the winner. More info HERE. Don’t worry, I’ll remind you. I’d say vote early, vote often–but I might have some haxors as fans, and that would be wrong. (So just vote often.)
And while doing a good old-fashioned vanity googling, I found my best review ever HERE. Thanks, Wolfgirl20.