Welcome to Biting-Edge, a blog shared by authors and vampire experts, Mario Acevedo and Jeanne Stein. We’ll cover urban fantasy, vampires, pop culture, and all things Joss Whedon. Unlike other fantasy blogs, we don’t insist on body cavity searches (unless you ask politely). Snarkiness is most welcome...though we won't promise not to bite back!

Wednesday, June 30, 2010
  Oh Sookie.....
You know you've made it when...




And here's the first full length Harry Potter trailer.



More Movie news:



From Deadline :

In what amounts to a dream come true for fans of Middle Earth, Peter Jackson has decided to direct two installments of The Hobbit, trusted sources are telling me. His deal is being negotiated right now with Warner Bros , New Line, and MGM. He will shortly take the reins over from Guillermo del Toro, after Jackson extricates himself from other project obligations that caused Jackson and manager Ken Kamins to initially deny he would direct. While Jackson’s camp has been tight-lipped, I’m told that the case is being made to MGM's owners to loosen the purse strings and make the movies happen. The impetus for these talks is that Jackson will be the director of both of The Hobbit films, which will be shot back-to-back in his New Zealand backyard. The secret's out.

And some exciting news about pal Richelle Mead:

Film rights to Richelle Mead's NYT bestselling VAMPIRE ACADEMY series, (optioned) to Preger Entertainment, by Larry Becsey at Intellectual Properties Group, and Jim McCarthy at Dystel & Goderich Literary Management.

Now we all know being optioned doesn't mean a film is immediately forthcoming, but it's a good first step. Congratulations, Richelle!

Okay-- I thought things like this happened only in LA:


Western Slope woman blames vampire for car crash

Web Staff KDVR Denver
10:24 AM MDT, June 29, 2010



FRUITA, Colo. - If a Western Slope woman is to be believed, vampires may be lurking in Colorado's Grand Valley.

The woman claims she spotted a vampire in the middle of a dirt road near Fruita, Colo. Sunday night. She told Colorado State Troopers she was startled by the undead being, threw her SUV into reverse, and crashed into a canal.

She was not injured.

State Troopers say the woman's husband arrived at the scene and took her home. The vampire, which was not seen by anyone else, apparently let her get away.

Troopers do not suspect drugs or alcohol to be factors in the crash.

Only an active imagination, I say.

Here's a preview of the ad for Chosen that will be in the September issue of Rt Book Reviews Magazine:



Preorder here if the spirit moves you!

Can you believe it's July??? Here are a few events coming up in the next few weeks:


RomCon July 9- 11
Crowne Plaza Denver International Airport
15500 E. 40th Avenue
Denver, Colorado 80239

July 11 WhoElse! Books 3 PM
200 So. Broadway, Denver CO
303-744-BOOK
UF Signing with Nicole Peeler, Carolyn Crane, Nalini Singh

ComicCon San Diego July 24
111 W. Harbor Drive
San Diego CA 92101
Room 7AB Vampire Panel

And Mario and I have an event together on July 17--

Saturday, July 17, 7:00 p.m. – Authors Mario Acevedo and Jeanne Stein will be the featured speakers at the monthly meeting of the Denver Area Science Fiction Association. Mario will be signing Killing the Cobra #2, his latest comic book featuring Felix Gomez, the vampire P.I. hero of Mario’s novels. Jeanne will be signing Retribution, the latest in the Anna Strong chronicles. The meeting and program are free and open to the public.

I think that's it for this week. Anything new in your world? Have you seen Eclipse yet? Let us know...

Here's a PS: Pal Nicole Peeler's Tracking the Tempest released yesterday and she's doing contests!! Free stuff!! Check it out here :

 
Sunday, June 27, 2010
  Who would be the mostest badass Felix Gomez?

Mario here:

Issue #2 of Killing the Cobra is hot off the press.  Here in the Denver area, you can get copies from the Broadway Book Mall, 200 S Broadway.  If your local comic book store doesn't carry the series, order it from Things from Another World

Of the four covers, this is my favorite as Felix Gomez looks positively badass.  

The action gets bloody.


There's a reason even the undead shouldn't mess with the Han Cobras.
And things get creepy when master criminal Jiang Chow turns to the occult for help against our vampire hero.



Bonus for you Biting-Edge fans: The pencil sketch for the alternate cover by Alberto Dose.












The Real Felix Gomez

Yes, there is a real Felix Gomez.  Actually, many.  I found one Felix on a telenovela streaming from Spanish TV: Amar en Tiempos Revueltos (To Love in Turbulent Times) about life--and love--in Fascist Spain during the Franco years.  It's a historical drama with betrayals, treachery, double-crosses, and infidelities worthy of any soap opera.  I'm midway through the first season and the best line so far: "Don't bore me with the truth; lies are much more interesting."


Actor Felix Gomez plays Rodrigo Robles Castillo, a young Falangist whose life is complicated by, you guessed it, unrequited love.




Another favorite is the dashing Cristobal Suarez, who plays the lawyer, Mario Ayala.  Normally even tempered and stalwart, his life was given an emotional detour (by a woman, of course) and he's gone on several benders with ladies of easy virtue.  Not a bad way to ease the heartache.


The actor I can see as my Felix Gomez is Rodolfo Sancho, who plays the intense and troubled Antonio Ramirez, a red condemned to death by the Franco regime.  His woman problems are worse than Rodrigo's or Mario's.  He is the husband of Andrea Robles (Rodrigo's sister) but since they were not married by the church, their government annulled their marriage and stole their son.


Despite what you hear of Spanish beauties, none of the women on the show so far ring my chimes...with the exception of Paloma, played by Ana Otero.  She is smart, clever, very easy on the eyes, and worth any complication. 



Signing Alert!

Nicole Peeler                                                      Carolyn Crane












Nalini Singh......................and our own, Jeanne Stein
check out from RomCon and head over to the: 

Broadway Book Mall
200 S Broadway, Denver.
Catch the action, 3PM, July 11, 2010.







Afterwords, the plan is a parfait orgy at D Bar Desserts.

Below, a teaser from their summer cocktail menu.

D Bar has changed its cocktails.  Of course we kept our fabulous Martinis but come by and try some of our new drinks.  Check out the root beer float, I mean come on booze and ice cream, what could be better?

Vodka Martini 8
belvedere vodka · vermouth · stuffed olive
 
Pomegranate Martini 9
belvedere vodka · pomegranate juice

Chocolate or White Chocolate Martini 9
belvedere vodka · navan vanilla liqueur · godiva liqueur

Root Beer Float 8
navan vanilla liqueur · tommyknocker root beer · v. bean i.c.

Grande China Tea 8
grand marnier · china black citrus tea

Pineapple Upside Down Cake 9
navan vanilla liqueur · belvedere vodka · pineapple juice

Navan Creamsicle 9
navan vanilla liqueur · grand marnier · orange juice

Irish Coffee 7
allegro coffee of choice · irish whisky · chantilly cream 

 
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
  Happy Birthday, Joss!!
Photo: Evil Genius website

Joss Whedon turned 46 yesterday!

Some fun facts about Joss here

My hero!!




So, what else is going on? Did you catch the first episode of The Gates? I missed it when it aired, but watched it later on line. I was pleasantly surprised. If you missed it, too, and want to catch up, go here


Since Denver is one of the screening cities, I thought I should share this (from Shelf Awareness):

Twilight, the Moon & a Vampire Movie or Two

Twi-hards in select U.S. cities will have the opportunity to see the first two Twilight films--based on Stephenie Meyer's bestselling vampire novel series--at free outdoor screenings June 26, on the night of a lunar eclipse. The Wrap reported that "celestial occurrences don't usually play a prominent role in film advertising," but Summit Entertainment and AOL Media are partnering for "Twilight Night" to promote the June 30 release of The Twilight Saga: Eclipse.

AOL's Moviefone will also offer a live-stream of "the events taking place in Philadelphia and San Diego, through AOL's Moviefone. The live-stream will also include interviews with the cast and a sneak peek of Eclipse," according to the Wrap. The other lunar eclipse screening cities are Atlanta, Dallas, Denver (June 26th at Sloan's Lake Park), Miami, Phoenix, Portland, Salt Lake City, St. Louis, Seattle and Washington, D.C.


New book out by League pals Jackie Kessler and Caitlin Kittredge: SHADES OF GRAY
Get your copy now!!


Kudos to the organizers of the Crested Butte Writers Conference. I was so impressed! James Scott Bell, Holly Payne, William Brands, Janet Lane...all had valuable information to impart in an intimate setting.







Janet Lane and I being teacherly....




Fellow Rocky Mountain Fiction writer Liz Roadifier won the Science Fiction/Fantasy category of the Sandy for her novel, Fairy Tales.




Janet and I shared a condo and our husbands had plenty of time to bond while she and I presented. I'd recommend it to all serious writers...the conference not the bonding...but we did have fun!


Outside my window...I love nature!!



Friday we find out if Broken Links, Mended Lives won the CO Book Award for best anthology. Susan Smith and I will be attending the festivities in Aspen representing all the authors and Janet Lane, the third editor. Keep your fingers crossed!! Colorado Book Award winner would be a nice addition to an author's curriculum vitae.
 
Sunday, June 20, 2010
  An earthquake of entertainment. And again with the shoes.

Mario here:

Those literary wonders at Lighthouse Writers don't host parties, they throw soirees!  Soirees so awesome they are measured on the Richter scale.

Lighthouse ended this year's LitFest with a fantabulous shindig, How to Feed a Writer (much appreciated by us starving artist types). This event was like being in a feature by Sunset Magazine. One highlight of the evening was the invention of a new vodka cocktail, the delicious (and potent) Pepper Dog.


Last month I posted a guest blog on Pens Fatales where I dissed women literary writers for their somber choice in shoes compared to genre scribes.  Apparently a few of the Lighthouse writers read the blog and decided to prove me wrong. Sleek pumps and stiletto heels arrived in mass, two-by-two. Here is the most fantastic pair of shoes (courtesy of agent Erin Hosier) straddling my spectator wing tip.  




Board President Jay Kenney (in his Gatsby linen suit) opened up his beautiful home near the Denver Botanic Gardens. 
















Program Director Andrea Dupree made the introductions while her husband and Executive Director, Mike Henry, read a killer essay by John Broening comparing the life of a chef with that of a writer (guess who makes more $$).









 Julie Schilder, of InkWell Management, couldn't help but vogue beside the home's art collection.

Who can resist a man in a tux?  Not me (in the chef's hat). Especially if that man is the dashing Dr. David Rothman. He later hand fed me cake, wedding fashion. (Though we did not consummate marital vows, at least that I remember--too many Pepper Dogs.)


Unsoliciated Author Pimpage!

If you're not familiar with Toni McGee Causey, shame on you. Buy her books and exercise your funny bone until it dislocates.

She presented back-to-back workshops on voice and screenplays at the Heart of Denver Romance Writers meeting.  Posing here with Cher Gorman (L) and the amazing Margie Lawson (R).



And that's not all.  In one of life's serendipitous moments, I ran into Susan May Warren from Minnesota at the Mercury Cafe. She mentioned that she was an author. I said, so was I, and from then, the conversation ran at full steam. Turns out Susan is as prolific a writer as she is a super nice person.





 
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
  Crested Butte here I come...
I am looking forward to this weekend. It's a nice getaway for my husband and me even if it is technically a working weekend. Crested Butte is in a very beautiful part of Colorado.

But first, the new Harry Potter attraction opens at Universal Studios Friday.

"The trouble is, you have to leave sometime. And once outside, the ordinary may seem more drab than ever."--Neil Genzlinger in the New York Times from his lengthy story on Wizarding World, the Harry Potter attraction... He says it's "not really an attraction that you do, it's one that you absorb."



And speaking of Harry Potter, here's a quote from John Grisham:

"I laugh when I tell people I'm a famous writer in a country where nobody reads," he said.

But Grisham may want to change that. Speaking of the 13-year-old protagonist of Theodore Boone: Kid Lawyer, Grisham said, according to the Telegraph : "Theodore is really an effort to catch Harry Potter. Back in the 1990s I was routinely introduced as the bestselling author in the world. I tried to pretend like it was no big deal.



"Then along came Harry Potter and suddenly I was number two. I've got to tell you, I really miss being number one. I'm going to catch Harry one way or another."

In my heart, John Grisham will ALWAYS be number two, or three, or five hundred... Just sayin'



For those of you who followed this (or maybe even entered,) the winners are:

This year's Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award contest, sponsored by Amazon, Penguin Group and CreateSpace "in search of the next popular novel," includes for the first time a YA category. Winners are:

General Fiction: Farishta by Patricia McArdle (Riverhead/Penguin, $24.95, 9781594487965/1594487960)

YA Fiction: Sign Language by Amy Ackley (Viking/Penguin, $16.99, 9780670013180/ 0670013188)

McArdle and Ackley each receive a $15,000 advance and publication by Penguin. Amazon customers voted on the nominees.

McArdle, a retired American diplomat who lives in Arlington, Va., follows a female U.S. diplomat in northern Afghanistan who provides aid to refugee women fleeing the violence there. She becomes their farishta, or "angel," in the Dari language.

Ackley's career has spanned everything from public administration to labor relations for top automakers. She lives in Brighton, Mich., and is the mother of three children. Ackley was moved to write Sign Language after the death of her father and two close friends to cancer.

Click here to read excerpts from the winning novels.

An HBO marketing apology for TrueBlood:



So, what did you think about the first episode last Sunday?

Last Friday night Phil and I had dinner with our good friends Jay and Patty Salam. It was kind of a belated birthday celebration. Here we are with our cutey pie waiter, Billy.



Now, as handsome as this group is, look closely at the back of the booth. Here's what they brought me...



Is that not the best birthday gift EVER??????

And last (but not least) it's official! From Publisher's Marketplace:

Jeanne Stein's untitled eighth Anna Strong novel (sold), to Jessica Wade at Berkley, by Scott Miller at Trident Media Group.

 
Sunday, June 13, 2010
  Where I hide to find the Muse

Mario here:





This week it’s a look at where we writers go to find the Muse, fickle bitch that she can be and put her to work to help pay the rent.







But first. Major, MAJOR thanks to everyone for the HUGE turn out for Juliet Blackwell’s witchcraft interview. On top of that, last week, A Cast Off Coven was a B&N national bestseller--#4 in Mystery, #38 overall. Hoo-Rah!

We had such a great response that Juliet decided to give two sets of prizes.

The winners are:

Dana Fredst and ONe PiNK FiSH.

To claim your prize, send your snail mail address to Juliet at Julietblackwell dot net

The magic continues as Juliet Blackwell has another interview of A Cast-Off Coven at the Amber Katz blog.

Our pimpage bombardment attracted a lot of witchy allies such as the snarky and fun blog, Confessions Of A Pagan Soccer Mom.

Thanks so much to everyone.  Much witchiness to you all.



ALERT!  Felix Gomez is on Facebook!    Friend him HERE.  




And now...to our regularly scheduled programming.

In case no one has clued you in, writing is hard work.  It’s tough slogging through the word count, much less trying to cobble something worth reading.  And while we try to create a space at home conducive to creative thought and easy word flow, sometimes the walls crowd in and we need an escape.  When the words get stuck somewhere between our heads and hands, often a simple change of location can dislodge our thoughts and stimulate new ideas.  It’s a balance.  Too much silence and our thoughts echo in our heads.  Too much noise distracts us.  I think the right level of adjacent table conversation keeps us connected without swamping our inner voices.

So where do you hide?

Here’s a sampling of locations from my fellow authors in the League of Reluctant Adults.


Kat Richardson

I occasionally hide out at the bar or the counter in front of the pizza oven at the Hi-Life restaurant in Seattle. No writing ever happens there, alas. If I feel the need to work at a cafe, it might be the Fremont Coffee Company or the Barnes and Noble either at Northgate or Pacific Place.


Stacia Kane     I just sit on my couch.

Nicole Peeler

When I'm feeling a bit humdrum and uninspired, I just hop on a plane and go to my favorite little place on the Thames, where I can enjoy British hospitality and a pint of warm beer. 

I do have to be careful not to let the Queen know, or she's all, 'You must come to tea!' and I'm all, 'Ohhhh, Lizzie, you know I have to work!' and she's all, 'I have a beautifully verbose footman who can write that pesky book for you, quick as a wink!' and I'm all, 'Well, if you've made crumpets,' and she's all, 'Crumpets with marmalade!' and I'm all, 'Fuck it, you're on,' and she's all, 'Sweet, I'll call Phillip, let him know you're coming.'

It happens just like that, every time. Really.

Diana Rowland

I usually split my writing time between my living room couch or my Writing Lair.

The Lair gets less use in the winter because it gets stupid cold up there. It also gets less use when I’m tired, because I tend to drink more coffee when I’m tired and there’s no bathroom out in my lair which means I have to come back to the house to undrink the coffee. But the advantage of the Lair is that I’m better at settling in to work since there are far fewer distractions. If I ever get a decent influx of money, I’m going to have proper stairs built, because right now the only way to get up there is via Scary Ladder, and I know that I’m going to totally bust my ass one of these days.

 

On those times when I don’t want to do Lair or living room and have to get OUT of the house, I’ll sometimes pack the laptop up and go to the coffee shop at the Barnes & Noble. It can get kinda noisy, but I can usually make myself do a thousand words or so there, since I feel that if I don’t I’ve wasted the trip. There used to be a really terrific coffee shop near my house that had a whole back area that was just for people who wanted to do work-type stuff. Big tables, free internet, all that good stuff. But the whole chain went out of business last year, and I still haven’t found anyplace that’s as good.

 

I also bring my laptop to my daughter’s karate classes. I have close to an hour of free time there, and can usually get some work done. The best thing I ever did was shell out the $$ for a Toughbook. It’s light and small, with a full-size keyboard and Windows XP, and it’s durable enough that I can stuff it into my purse and not worry too much about it getting banged around.


Mark Henry

 

I have a perfectly good office at home, with all the necessary comforts (coffee pot, office chair that leans back, plenty of streaming porn and a seemingly endless supply of tissues), but when it comes to writing I always seem to have to get out of the house to get anything done, get away from the internet to kick start myself. I have a few places that seem to work and one that I threw in just to see.

 

My "go-to" hideout is my old college library which is about 20 minutes from home. The place looks like a mental institution but it's quiet and I never have a problem snatching my two favorite spots (a desk in the back corner, with an awesome view, or a spot right in the middle of the reading room). Interesting fact: the college is catholic and houses a rather large monastery, so occasionally, while I'm writing a monk will come in and read the paper--always at the same desk as myself--it lulls me into a stupor, the sound of the paper turning in the otherwise quiet space. I fear I'm being seduced. Do with that what you will.

 

My Wednesday spot is the Lakewood Barnes and Noble. Where I have access to the internet (and shouldn't because I end up taking pictures of people and texting them to friends--I know it's wrong, don't judge). They know me there and always ask how things are going. Bad, I tell them. Very. Very. Bad. (don't tell but I always check my stock of books there every week, the same two books--signed--have been sitting there since the beginning of time. I'd suggest handselling, but these folk are more in the mood for jokes. "Someone should write a zombie romance!" LOLz and ROFLs.


On alternate Friday's, I meet up with friends and try to pound out a few words in public, mostly Synde (of Cemetery Cat designs) though the roster has included Kat Richardson (Greywalker) and Richelle Mead (obscure writer of young adult vampire fiction). One of our favorite places it Trophy Cupcakes in Wallingford. Not only do they have the BEST cupcakes anywhere (and I've done comparisons) they've got some surprisingly private seating for talking shit about the publishing industry, other writers (such as Mario), and generally chowing down. Love it there.

 


This week I gave a place called Old Skool Pizza a shot. It's a divey joint in Olympia, our capital, which smells less of legislature and more of unshaven women's armpits, but that's neither here nor there. The place has two things going for it. Fucking awesome pizza and Joan Jett posters watching over me like little baby jesuses everywhere. I can't say as I got much work done, but I sure enjoyed the andouille sausage and roasted garlic pizza.

 

As for me, I have several.  The closest is Fluid Coffee Shop, about a ten minute walk from home. 




Michaelangelo’s is a great spot on the drive to my mailbox.  The Market on Larimer is where I’ve copy-edited most of my work.  It’s the best place for a marathon session because you can go from morning coffee to lunch and finish with dinner and beer without having to leave your table.

And finally, another contest.


To promote their new book, Shade of Gray, co-authors Jackie Kessler and Caitlin Kittredge, have a contest.  For details, go HERE.
   

It pays to play.


 
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