Well, the time has come at last. I am leaving Live Journal. No reason other than, since getting my own blog and becoming more active on FB I've just stopped posting here.
I will be downgrading to a basic account, leaving this message as a sign post to my blog, but will no longer be updating here.
Hi, all. I will be at San Diego Comic Con from Thursday afternoon until Sunday evening, mostly just wandering around and spending too much money.
I will, however, be attending one event. I am a nominee for the 2010 Scribe Awards for Shamanslayer, and will be attending the Scribe Awards Ceremony, then participating in the panel afterwards. The Scribe Awards will be held on Friday afternoon from 5:00 to 6:30 in room 4, wherever that is. HERE are the details from the programming guide. If you can make it, I would love to see you there, and if you happen to bring any of my books, I would be happy to sign them, as I don't have an official signing this year.
Well, that was an interesting exercise. I typed in each letter of the alphabet into google seach to what would come up. Here's the list. It seems we are a fairly commercial culture. Though I am encouraged by "Dictionary" and "Quotes."
It’s Memorial Day, and a post my friend Greta made about honoring the soldiers, but not necessarily the leaders who put them in harm’s way, reminded me I had written two country songs about soldiers back during the height of the Iraq War. Try to imagine Waylon Jennings singing them and maybe they’ll read a little better.
Er, and just to be clear. I am not, and have never been a soldier. Writers have the annoying habit of putting themselves in other peoples’ heads, whether they’re qualified to be there or not.
Dead Soldiers
Dead soldiers That’s what we call the empty bottles we make when we drink Dead soldiers Who died on the frontlines of the battle we fight not to think Dead soldiers The brothers we lost in a war I don’t understand yet Dead soldiers The brothers whose names and whose faces we drink to forget
***
Dead soldiers Who died for the red white and blue Dead soldiers Who died for me and for you Dead soldiers Still dead though the war wasn’t true Dead soldiers Yes we’re making dead soldiers To forget the dead soldiers we knew
***
Dead soldiers If I could forget a name for each bottle I drank Dead soldiers But each night they come back and line up rank after rank Dead soldiers Jimmy and Tommy and Frank and old Hard Luck Jose Dead soldiers Though I know that its hopeless I still try to drink them away
***
Dead soldiers Who died for the red white and blue Dead soldiers Who died for me and for you Dead soldiers Still dead though the war wasn’t true Dead soldiers Yes we’re making dead soldiers To forget the dead soldiers we knew
Honorable Men
I am a soldier From a long line of soldiers Who have answered our country’s call From Ardennes to Burma From Saigon to Anbar We are proud to be giving our all
We pick up our packs And we shoulder our rifles March to hell and then right back again No matter how weary We do what is asked us For we are honorable men
***
We honor a promise And we try not to lie We fight hard for good not for gain And all that we ask Of the men who lead us Is just that they do the same
***
A soldier is a weapon We shoot where you point us So take care where you ask us to aim For we’ll follow your orders And we’ll pull the trigger If you’re mistaken, will you take the blame?
We don’t ask for reasons Or long explanations Just give us a where and a when All a soldier requires When he walks toward the fires Is to be led by honorable men
***
We honor a promise And we try not to lie We fight hard for good not for gain And all that we ask Of the men who lead us Is just that they do the same
Black Library have posted a four part promo video I did in which I read from Bloodborn, my latest book, and then answered some questions about the book. The four parts are kind of hard to find on you tube. For some reason they don’t all show up on the same page, so here they all are, collected together for your viewing pleasure.
Mike Stackpole has come up with a new online anthology project called the Wanderers’ Club Chain Story. It’s a series of ripping adventure stories written by well-known authors from different genres. The stories are meant to evoke the tall tales told over cigars and brandy in the smoking room of an adventurers’ club, and range from straight-up action to tales of the eerie and the fantastic.
I am one of the first four authors who were chosen to participate, and I couldn't be more proud. This is a fun project and a great way to sample the works of writers of which you might not yet be aware. So far the chain includes stories from founder Mike Stackpole, Jeff Mariotte, Bob Vardeman and me.
Read my story by clicking on the Working Stiffs title graphic above, or go to the Wanderers' Club Chain Story page by clicking on the banner below. Lots more great stories there!
Later this month I will embark on a two day, two city, two store signing tour for Bloodborn, my next Warhammer book from Black Library. These two stores will be the only places in the US where you’ll be able to get a copy of Bloodborn before the official June release, so come on down and be the first one on your block.
On Saturday, May 22nd at 2pm I will be signing at Emerald Knights Comics and Games in Burbank. The store is huge – two floors! – and packed with cool stuff, so I’ll make sure to wear something bright so you can find me. Emerald Knights is at:
4116 W. Burbank Blvd. Burbank, CA 91505 818-588-3631 Website
And on Sunday, May 23rd I will be driving down to San Diego to sign at Mysterious Galaxy, also at 2pm. I am sharing the bill with Christopher Farnsworth who will be signing his book, Blood Oath. We’re calling the event Bloodbath, and I will be facing Chris in a no holds barred steel cage match – winner gets to sign the other guy’s books. Mysterious Galaxy is at:
7051 Clairemont Mesa Blvd. Suite #302 San Diego, CA 92111 858-268-4747 Website
So if you’re in the LA or San Diego area, please come by and say hello. It would be great to see you all!
Woo-hoo! Just found out that Shamanslayer, my latest Gotrek and Felix novel, has been nominated for the Scribe Awards, for Best Speculative Fiction Tie-In Novel.
