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, January 11, 2012
Clean Desk/Sick Mind?
There is supposed to be a video here and I have no idea why it's not showing up...a blogger mystery!
January 11th: National Clean Off Your Desk Day
Monday was National Clean Off Your Desk Week. So, how's your work space? Send us a picture (before and after if you'd like) and let's see who has the messiest desk and whose cleaned up best.
There is supposed to be a video here and I have no idea why it's not showing up...a blogger mystery!
Monday was National Clean Off Your Desk Week. So, how's your work space? Send us a picture (before and after if you'd like) and let's see who has the messiest desk and whose cleaned up best.
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Photo credit: National Western Stock Show Photos
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Photo credit: National Western Stock Show Photos
Denver's holiday season extends well in January with The National Western Stock Show. The mutton-bustin event where little kids try their luck on little sheep is a favorite of everybody. I think even the sheep have fun with his one!
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Let's see--by now most of you have heard who has been cast as Lee Child's Jack Reacher in the upcoming movie. In case you haven't, follow this link to an article in the WSJ and tell us what you think. All I can say is...huh?????
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Ah, a puppy bookmark. Isn't he cute?
From Buzzfeed
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Here are my favorites:
Fairy tales are more than true: not because they tell us that dragons exist, but because they tell us that dragons can be beaten. — G.K. Chesterson
(from Coraline by Neil Gaiman)
Lawyers, I suppose, were children once. — Charles Lamb
(from To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee)
Behind every great fortune there is a crime. — Balzac
(from The Godfather by Mario Puzo)
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What happens in a book store at night?
(I seem to have lost the credit for this one. I apologize.)
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Creative bookshelves:
More here at Crooked Brains.
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On another note, here's the other Mark Henry... can hardly tell them apart.
And speaking of the League, two members have new books out you should check out:
That's it for me this week. How's your January going so far? Let me know what's up.
Ah, a puppy bookmark. Isn't he cute?
From Buzzfeed
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From Flavorwire : 25 Greatest Epigraph's in Literature
The epigraph is a funny literary convention: excerpting lines of someone else’s work — or quotes, adages, lines of verse, lyrics, snippets of conversation, etc — to put before your own...They may seem a trivial part of the work they come attached to, but we think, if done properly, they can be very illuminating.
Here are my favorites:
Fairy tales are more than true: not because they tell us that dragons exist, but because they tell us that dragons can be beaten. — G.K. Chesterson
(from Coraline by Neil Gaiman)
Lawyers, I suppose, were children once. — Charles Lamb
(from To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee)
Behind every great fortune there is a crime. — Balzac
(from The Godfather by Mario Puzo)
Have you ever used an epigraph in your writing? Want to share?
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What happens in a book store at night?
(I seem to have lost the credit for this one. I apologize.)
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Creative bookshelves:
More here at Crooked Brains.
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Let's finish off with one of my favorite funny men, author Mark Henry , the founding father of The League of Reluctant Adults. Here he expounds on his Goals for the Apocalypse.
Note to self: ask first if he grew them himself before eating vegetables at Mark's house.
On another note, here's the other Mark Henry... can hardly tell them apart.
Photo credit: World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc.
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And speaking of the League, two members have new books out you should check out:
Sins of the Demon by Diana Rowland
And
Silver Tongued Devil by Jaye Wells
That's it for me this week. How's your January going so far? Let me know what's up.
Labels: Buzzfeed, Crooked Brains, Diana Rowland, Flavorwire, Jaye Wells, Mark Henry, National Western Stock Show
¶ posted by Jeanne Stein @ 1:45 PM 11 comments
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
RIP
It hurts my heart when ANY bookstore closes.
It hurts my heart when ANY bookstore closes.I'm in San Diego getting ready for ComicCon by taking a few days off with my sis. We had a Hercule Poirot marathon and just got started on film noir but I found so much stuff for this week's blog, I thought I'd better get started.
What to do first? Maybe Harry Potter? From Buzzfeed :
20 Alcoholic Beverages Inspires by the Harry Potter Series
Just two of my favorites:
Gryffindor Shot
Ingredients:
1/2 part Cinnamon Aftershock
1/2 part Goldschläger Instructions:
'First layer the Aftershock, then layer the Goldschläger on top. It's best if you shake the Goldschläger first so you can get some gold flakes.'
Sybill Trelawney
Ingredients:
1 part gin
1 part vodka
2 parts cranberry juice
1 splash Grenadine Instructions:
'Combine ingredients in a snifter over ice. Dry ice optional.'
Mmmmmm...
And this nice piece that I think I got from Shelf Awareness or UK Guardian, but for some reason I didn't not the source. My apologies. In it, she thanks a fan who wrote how much the HP books meant to her. Worth searching out a magnifying glass.... oops-- found the link
Particularly liked the last line... Classy lady.
What to do first? Maybe Harry Potter? From Buzzfeed :
20 Alcoholic Beverages Inspires by the Harry Potter Series
Just two of my favorites:
Gryffindor Shot
Ingredients:
1/2 part Cinnamon Aftershock
1/2 part Goldschläger Instructions:
'First layer the Aftershock, then layer the Goldschläger on top. It's best if you shake the Goldschläger first so you can get some gold flakes.'
Sybill Trelawney
From Wikia
Ingredients:
1 part gin
1 part vodka
2 parts cranberry juice
1 splash Grenadine Instructions:
'Combine ingredients in a snifter over ice. Dry ice optional.'
Mmmmmm...
And this nice piece that I think I got from Shelf Awareness or UK Guardian, but for some reason I didn't not the source. My apologies. In it, she thanks a fan who wrote how much the HP books meant to her. Worth searching out a magnifying glass.... oops-- found the link
Particularly liked the last line... Classy lady.
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Doggy Bookends from Buzzfeed —under the heading, it’s always nice to include your pets in household duties.
Doggy Bookends from Buzzfeed —under the heading, it’s always nice to include your pets in household duties.
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Sonething punny--er--funny
In Pun We must Vimeo
A short examination of the art of the pun, narrated by George Gopen, Professor of the Practice of Rhetoric at Duke University and principal judge for the inaugural Durham Pun Championship at The Regulator Bookshop, July 9, 2011.
In Pun We Must from Independent Weekly on Vimeo.
In Pun We must Vimeo
A short examination of the art of the pun, narrated by George Gopen, Professor of the Practice of Rhetoric at Duke University and principal judge for the inaugural Durham Pun Championship at The Regulator Bookshop, July 9, 2011.
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This from Deadline Universal declines to make Stephen King's Dark Tower...
Universal has passed on going forward with the project, dealing a huge blow in the plan for Ron Howard to direct Akiva Goldsman's script, with Brian Grazer, Goldsman and the author producing and Javier Bardem starring as gunslinger Roland Deschain. Now, the filmmakers will have to find a new backer of what might well be the most ambitious movie project since Bob Shaye allowed Peter Jackson to shoot three installments of The Lord of the Rings back to back.
Hey, Ron! I've got a series you could pitch....
Universal has passed on going forward with the project, dealing a huge blow in the plan for Ron Howard to direct Akiva Goldsman's script, with Brian Grazer, Goldsman and the author producing and Javier Bardem starring as gunslinger Roland Deschain. Now, the filmmakers will have to find a new backer of what might well be the most ambitious movie project since Bob Shaye allowed Peter Jackson to shoot three installments of The Lord of the Rings back to back.
Hey, Ron! I've got a series you could pitch....
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12 Famous Fairy Tales Deconstructed
I love this-- from buzzfeed
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All I have to say about this next is WOW... Hunger Games Exclusive Motion Poster. See it in all it's fiery glory here
PS I have to add, back from my cuz's and his critique group has some of the most talented writers I've ever had the pleasure to visit with. Every item submitted was polished and well-written and every voice unique. I have a feeling we'll be hearing from some of them very soon. They were that good. So, thanks, Cousin Al, for inviting me! And Cousin Rich for sharing his beautiful home. And the Corona Writers Group for sharing their work.
PPS Two upcoming chats that you might drop in on--
Fresh Fiction Chat with the authors of Chicks Kick Butt
July 26 8pm Eastern / 7pm Central / 6pm Mountain / 5pm Pacific
The URL is http://freshfiction.com/chat
And
Twitter chat with Ilona Andrews, Yasmine Galenorn, Allyson James and moi for Hexed
July 27 3pm Eastern/2pm Central/1pm Mountain/noon Pacific
Since I haven't set up a Twitter account yet (will this weekend) this one should be interesting!
Okay, now I really am done!!
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Today I meet with my cousin's critique group at the home of another cousin in Oceanside. Should be fun...and interesting. I'm going to offer critiques. Hope I'm invited back.
So, what are you up to? Denverites, is it still hotter than hades??? I've updated my website (thanks, Jay Salam) so all upcoming appearances to date are noted. Stop by and take a look...
So, what are you up to? Denverites, is it still hotter than hades??? I've updated my website (thanks, Jay Salam) so all upcoming appearances to date are noted. Stop by and take a look...
PS I have to add, back from my cuz's and his critique group has some of the most talented writers I've ever had the pleasure to visit with. Every item submitted was polished and well-written and every voice unique. I have a feeling we'll be hearing from some of them very soon. They were that good. So, thanks, Cousin Al, for inviting me! And Cousin Rich for sharing his beautiful home. And the Corona Writers Group for sharing their work.
PPS Two upcoming chats that you might drop in on--
Fresh Fiction Chat with the authors of Chicks Kick Butt
July 26 8pm Eastern / 7pm Central / 6pm Mountain / 5pm Pacific
The URL is http://freshfiction.com/chat
And
Twitter chat with Ilona Andrews, Yasmine Galenorn, Allyson James and moi for Hexed
July 27 3pm Eastern/2pm Central/1pm Mountain/noon Pacific
Since I haven't set up a Twitter account yet (will this weekend) this one should be interesting!
Okay, now I really am done!!
Labels: Borders, Buzzfeed, Harry Potter, Stephen King's Dark Tower, The Hunger Games, Vimeo
¶ posted by Jeanne Stein @ 6:26 AM 6 comments
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Books, books and more books
Hi friends-- back from RT...sleep deprived but in one piece. Mario is disappointed.
Lots of book tidbits today. This one in particular caught my eye:
It's always amazing to me when a treasure shows up in someone's attic or basement. Why can't it happen to me? I have an attic and a basement.
Lots of book tidbits today. This one in particular caught my eye:
It's always amazing to me when a treasure shows up in someone's attic or basement. Why can't it happen to me? I have an attic and a basement.
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And speaking of "found" items:
FOUND: Gene Roddenberry's original 1964 pitch for Star Trek!
From: blastr
A pop culture blog called Between the Pages has a link up to an online copy of Roddenberry's initial outline for the series, dated March 11, 1964. The show itself premiered on Sept. 8, 1966, and in the intervening two years, a whole lot changed. For instance:
♦ Roddenberry's original captain was not James Kirk or Christopher Pike, but Robert April;
♦ The ship was first called the U.S.S. Yorktown;
♦ The navigator was not a young Russian hotshot named Pavel Chekov, but a young South American hotshot named Jose Ortegas;
♦ Spock was the "first lieutenant" and described as having a reddish complexion and, of course, pointed ears, and was probably "half Martian."
Roddenberry's 16-page outline also contains his now-famous description of the show as a sort of sci-fi Wagon Train, and does not mention anything like a transporter beam; the crew would land on planets via small recon vehicles. Early ideas for communicators, universal translators and phaser weapons can also be found within.
Most fascinating, however, are the story ideas that Roddenberry includes—many of which formed the basis for or at least planted the seed for classic episodes like "Charlie X," "Shore Leave," "A Piece of the Action," "The Return of the Archons," "The Savage Curtain," "Mirror, Mirror" and what eventually became the show's first pilot, "The Cage." Some of his dicier ideas—like a planet where slavery is the norm, except that whites are the slaves—never made it to the show at all (probably just as well).
So if you thought you knew everything about Star Trek, this document might hold some surprises for you. Either way, it's an essential read—after all, these 16 pages are where a legendary science fiction franchise began!
FOUND: Gene Roddenberry's original 1964 pitch for Star Trek!
From: blastr
A pop culture blog called Between the Pages has a link up to an online copy of Roddenberry's initial outline for the series, dated March 11, 1964. The show itself premiered on Sept. 8, 1966, and in the intervening two years, a whole lot changed. For instance:
♦ Roddenberry's original captain was not James Kirk or Christopher Pike, but Robert April;
♦ The ship was first called the U.S.S. Yorktown;
♦ The navigator was not a young Russian hotshot named Pavel Chekov, but a young South American hotshot named Jose Ortegas;
♦ Spock was the "first lieutenant" and described as having a reddish complexion and, of course, pointed ears, and was probably "half Martian."
Roddenberry's 16-page outline also contains his now-famous description of the show as a sort of sci-fi Wagon Train, and does not mention anything like a transporter beam; the crew would land on planets via small recon vehicles. Early ideas for communicators, universal translators and phaser weapons can also be found within.
Most fascinating, however, are the story ideas that Roddenberry includes—many of which formed the basis for or at least planted the seed for classic episodes like "Charlie X," "Shore Leave," "A Piece of the Action," "The Return of the Archons," "The Savage Curtain," "Mirror, Mirror" and what eventually became the show's first pilot, "The Cage." Some of his dicier ideas—like a planet where slavery is the norm, except that whites are the slaves—never made it to the show at all (probably just as well).
So if you thought you knew everything about Star Trek, this document might hold some surprises for you. Either way, it's an essential read—after all, these 16 pages are where a legendary science fiction franchise began!
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From Shelf Awareness and the New York Times :
The estate of James Jones has made an agreement with Open Road Integrated Media to issue 10 titles by the author in e-book form, including an edition of the classic From Here to Eternity that restores "explicit mentions of gay sex and a number of four-letter words" that were deleted by his publisher, Scribner, when the book was originally published in 1951, according to the New York Times. James had fought the censorship, arguing to his editor that "the things we change in this book for proprietary's sake will in five years, or ten years, come in someone else's book anyway."
It only took fifty years.
The estate of James Jones has made an agreement with Open Road Integrated Media to issue 10 titles by the author in e-book form, including an edition of the classic From Here to Eternity that restores "explicit mentions of gay sex and a number of four-letter words" that were deleted by his publisher, Scribner, when the book was originally published in 1951, according to the New York Times. James had fought the censorship, arguing to his editor that "the things we change in this book for proprietary's sake will in five years, or ten years, come in someone else's book anyway."
It only took fifty years.
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Okay, this goes out to my author friends who have children. How perfect is this? A book you can sleep in! From Flavorwire :
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Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows — Part 2
Love this poster. It's sad and exciting all at the same time to think we've come to the end of the journey. Remember the Harry from The Sorcerer's Stone?
Wow!
And you'll see right away why I like this one so much:
Do you recognize the little character? It's Mario...yes, a Mario shelf!!!!
Readers young and old are invited to the Library's 12th Annual Colorado Author Open House on Sunday, April 17, 2011. 1 - 3 pm. Books will be available for purchase.
1000 Englewood Parkway
First Floor • Englewood Civic Center
Englewood, CO 80110
303-762-2560
A reminder about Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers May event including a chance to get a critique by me on two pages of your own writing.
Saturday, May 21 8:00a to 4:00p
at Renaissance Hotel, Denver, CO
Price: $70 early registration; $85 after April; $95 at the door
Phone: (970) 497-6452
Age Suitability: None Specified
Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers is sponsoring a one-day workshop featuring Kirt Hickman, author of Revising Fiction: Making Sense of the Madness. The workshop will be held at the Renaissance Hotel on May 21st. Colorado authors Carol Berg, Jeanne Stein and Betsy Dornbusch will be on-hand to answer writing-related questions or critique the first two pages of your manuscript. For more information please see Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers’ website at rmfw.org or contact Vicki Law at (970) 497-6452.
More details here
On the book front-got an email from pal Toni Kelner who said in the next issue of RT Book Review Magazine Hexed was reviewed. Not only got 4 1/2 stars but was a top pick!!! Anthologies don't often get that nod so I'm thrilled.
And a gentle reminder that Crossroads is available for preorder from Amazon your favorite Indie , and/or Barnes and Noble
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows — Part 2
Love this poster. It's sad and exciting all at the same time to think we've come to the end of the journey. Remember the Harry from The Sorcerer's Stone?
Wow!
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One more bit of crazy before I get to some personal news. Here are 20 Insanely Creative Bookshelves from Buzzfeed
And you'll see right away why I like this one so much:
Do you recognize the little character? It's Mario...yes, a Mario shelf!!!!
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Now for some BSP--
First off, Sunday is the Englewood Library's Meet the Faces Behind the Books gig. Over 60 fiction, nonfiction, YA, Children's authors and illustrators will be in attendance. Including moi.
Here are the details:
Readers young and old are invited to the Library's 12th Annual Colorado Author Open House on Sunday, April 17, 2011. 1 - 3 pm. Books will be available for purchase.
1000 Englewood Parkway
First Floor • Englewood Civic Center
Englewood, CO 80110
303-762-2560
A reminder about Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers May event including a chance to get a critique by me on two pages of your own writing.
Saturday, May 21 8:00a to 4:00p
at Renaissance Hotel, Denver, CO
Price: $70 early registration; $85 after April; $95 at the door
Phone: (970) 497-6452
Age Suitability: None Specified
Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers is sponsoring a one-day workshop featuring Kirt Hickman, author of Revising Fiction: Making Sense of the Madness. The workshop will be held at the Renaissance Hotel on May 21st. Colorado authors Carol Berg, Jeanne Stein and Betsy Dornbusch will be on-hand to answer writing-related questions or critique the first two pages of your manuscript. For more information please see Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers’ website at rmfw.org or contact Vicki Law at (970) 497-6452.
More details here
On the book front-got an email from pal Toni Kelner who said in the next issue of RT Book Review Magazine Hexed was reviewed. Not only got 4 1/2 stars but was a top pick!!! Anthologies don't often get that nod so I'm thrilled.
And a gentle reminder that Crossroads is available for preorder from Amazon your favorite Indie , and/or Barnes and Noble
Labels: blastr, Buzzfeed, Crossroads, Flavorwire, HP and the Deathly Hallows, Meet the Faces Behind the Books, Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers, Toni L. P Kelner
¶ posted by Jeanne Stein @ 4:34 PM 6 comments
