Why Can't I Sleep?????
Late again—another of those nights when I got about three hours sleep. Lately, I can’t seem to sleep through the night. Any suggestions for insomnia? Except the anesthetic drug, Propofol, which is thought to have killed MJ. I don’t like needles.
Now, on to the BIG news—my illustrious blog and critique partner was named
Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers’ Writer of the Year for 2009!!! Let’s hear it for
Mario. The coronation ceremony was conducted at a picnic last Saturday in a Denver Park. Highlights included:
Pic of Mario and the two candidates, Kay Bergstrom ( who doesn't have a website but whose impressive list of books can be found
here) and
Pam NowakPic of Mario with his entourage (he’s very big with the tween set)
Pic of Mario being his usual sophisticated self after getting lei’d. By me, of course, I didn’t think the big day should pass without a memento of some kind.
Next up. The release date of Retribution in fast approaching. August 25. Got my first review from Kimberly Swan’s
Darque Reviews. If you are interested, here’s the link. She gave it a starred review!! Thanks, Kimberly.
It’s up on
Amazon and
Barnes & Noble sites but still no cover. However, you can preorder if you have a mind to…
I’ll post my full signing schedule in a couple of weeks. Nail biting time again.
And I have my
Comic Con schedule. If you’re in San Diego, here it is:
Thursday July 23rd
Signing at Penguin Booth #11-17
11 am
Saturday July 25th
BRAM SOTKER PANEL, Room 5AB
1:30-2:30 pm Signing to follow in the autograph area
Off Site Borders event
668 6th Avenue
San Diego CA 92101
8PM
Authors: Patrick Rothfuss, Rob Thurman, Thomas Sniegoski, Amber Benson, Seanan McGuire, Jeanne Stein, Kat Richardson
Panel discussion and book signing celebrating science fiction and fantasy.
Other panels I plan to attend: Dollhouse with Joss Whedon and Eliza Dushku and the Tru Blood panel with Charlaine Harris and Alan Ball and the cast. Of course so do the other 120,000 attendees at this con.
Other news items that caught my eye this past week:
Superman's birthplace -- restored house of creator Jerry Siegel -- to be unveiled Saturday
A group of comic-book devotees and fans of the many popular incarnations of the hero came together last year to raise money to restore the 90-year-old house where Superman was dreamed up by Jerry Siegel.This is an interesting story. Check it out
here.
You knew it was coming:
Kindle rip-off from China
By
Paul BibaFrom E-Ink-Info.com, a Chinese company called Peking University Founder has duplicated the exterior, at least, of the Kindle 2: They say they will release it by the end of 2009, in Japan, for around 210$ (the kindle is available for 299$. . It includes a cellular connection (they say it needs a SIM card) to download new books, and will use their own ‘Apabi’ ebook software. The screen is ‘about’ 6″, not sure what kind of display yet.
In the same vein: The next generation reader? For all you techies who have to have the
newest: Pixel Qi Introduces Color/Video Screens for E-Readers and More
Maybe an entry for the contest? If this isn’t a “what was I thinking moment”, I don’t know what is.
1 dead at Pamplona; first goring death since '95
PAMPLONA, Spain - A charging bull gored a young Spanish man to death Friday at Pamplona's San Fermin festival, the first such fatality in nearly 15 years. Nine others were injured in a particularly dangerous and chaotic chapter of the running of the bulls.A new Vampire Con celebrating “the world’s first convention devoted exclusively to Vam-Pop culture.
The weekend-long event debuts August 14th –16th, 2009 in Hollywood, CA. Vampire-Con kicks off on Friday and Saturday with a Vampire Film Festival at the New Beverly Cinema featuring special guests and prizesCheck out the details
here:
Considering the images they use to advertise:
Felix and Mario are SO there....
A clip from the Dollhouse episode I hope to see at ComicCon== Epitaph One
Okay-- that's all I have for now but remember: the contest is on until next Thursday. You still have time. I’m going to bring back something from ComicCon to throw on the prize pile so besides books and swag and a tee shirt from the Tattered Cover, there will be a special surprise in there, too—