Shimmer launch, UK release, guests posts, reviews…
It’s been a busy few weeks, with Shimmer releasing in Australia/New Zealand and the UK. Here’s quick wrap-up of what I’ve been up to.
Shimmer Australian launch
I had such a great night last Thursday at Riverbend Books, when the fabulous Marianne de Pierres and I sat down for a relaxed chat as part of the official Australian launch for Shimmer.
We covered a broad range of topics, from the appeal of angel mythology to the challenges of writing ‘hot’ scenes. I always enjoy chatting with Marianne (with or without an audience), and I loved the chance to meet readers and celebrate with my always supportive family and friends.
Thanks to the great crowd who came along on the night (so many of you bought books – and not just mine!). Thanks again to Marianne and Riverbend Books (especially Dave), and Text Publishing for making it happen (thanks Steph!).
Guest posts
I’ve had a couple of guest posts this week, as part of Shimmer’s release:
- Kids’ Book Review : where I talk about why I chose to tell the Rephaim story as a series
- Sister Spooky : 20 random questions
- Wondrous Reads : an in-depth Q&A including questions about THAT scene in Shimmer (warning: some spoilers if you haven’t read Haze and Shimmer)
- Dark-Readers : fun guest post featuring bonus details about Rafa and Jude
And a few early reviews of Shimmer:
- Inkcrush
- Speculating on Spec Fic
- Alpha Reader
- Realm of Fiction
- YA Midnight Reads
- Reading After Midnight
- Wondrous Reads
Thanks to everyone who’s sent messages and left comments after reading Shimmer. I really appreciate it.
Now, back to writing Burn (Rephaim #4).
Shimmer launch party on 3 July – you coming?
If you’re not doing anything on Thursday 3 July and you can get to Riverbend Books in Bulimba (Brisbane), you might like to book to come along to the Australian launch of Shimmer (Rephaim #3).
The wonderful Marianne de Pierres will again be joining me, and this year we’ll have another of our fun informal chats about the series and writing in general. I’ll take questions from the audience (if anyone has any), plus I’ll be around to sign copies of Shimmer. (Wow, I can’t believe it’s only a few weeks and it’s out in the big wide world!)
I’m so excited to again be at Riverbend Books (I do love a tradition!). We’ll have snacks and a cash bar and of course there’s the actual bookshop itself to explore…
The launch is open to everyone, but you definitely need to RSVP (details below).
See you there!
Marianne de Pierres chats about genre blending (and bending)
The very versatile and talented Marianne de Pierres has a new novel out in five weeks, the clever genre-bending thriller Peacemaker (read my thoughts on it here). I offered to participate in the Peacemaker blog tour because I wanted to ask Marianne about her creative process for this latest project, and I thought a few of you might be interested in the answer. So here it is…
Given you’re adept at a number of genres, how did you decide which elements to bring together – and in what order did they come to you? Western, urban fantasy, sci fi…what was the spark that joined the dots for you?
Marianne:
I wrote a short story almost ten years ago entitled Gin Jackson: Neophtyte Ranger which Cat Sparks published in Agog! The main character in PEACEMAKER was born back then, but she was situated in a futuristic outback Australia, in a town protected by an environmental bubble. 
When I got the idea for PEACEMAKER, I knew from the outset that I wanted to use Gin as my protagonist, but somehow locate her in a place where I could indulge my love for western novels. Gin Jackson became Virgin, and the rest just slotted together in my mind like a bolt locking into place. I had already visited the notion of Australia super cities in the Parrish Plessis novels, and it was an idea I wanted to continue to explore. In PEACEMAKER, however (unlike Nylon Angel’s Parrishverse), there is no barren interior. The PEACEMAKER world depicts a future Australia that is densely populated throughout, other than this one tract of land – Birrimun Park – which has been preserved as a natural habitat.
Some of the pre-publication discussion about the book has suggested a Firefly kind of world, but it is really nothing at all like that great series. The urban fantasy elements are very strong in PEACEMAKER and they sit firmly atop a story heavy in crime, mystery and semi-espionage. For some inexplicable reason, I also kept getting echoes of Robert Holdstock’s classic novel, Mythago Wood as I began to write. It seemed strange but I’ve learnt to trust these instincts. Suddenly, it became clear that as the story arc played out in my mind, and the fantastical elements began to develop, that the series would tilt more towards a mythical saga. Go figure?
If you are the kind of reader who likes to have both feet planted firmly in a single genre story then PEACEMAKER is not for you. But if you like the notion of a tale that tugs you in a number of directions then I expect — hope — you will enjoy the ride! 🙂
Thanks Marianne. 🙂
Chatting plot and characters at Logan North Library next month
I’m excited to be a part of the writing panel at this year’s Logan City Council Libraries’ Sci Fi and Fantasy Month, alongside the who’s who of Queensland speculative fiction authors.
Logan Libraries will celebrate all things fantasy and sci fi throughout August, with the writing panel being part of the finale at Logan North Library in Underwood on Saturday, 25 August (11am-12.30pm).
The panel features Marianne de Pierres, Trent Jamieson, Rowena Cory Daniells, Anita Bell, Kev Bell and myself, and we’ll be chatting about how we develop characters and plot.
This is my first time at this event and I’m looking forward to hanging out with these writers and chatting with sci fi and fantasy fans.
If you’re local and this is your thing, make sure you book in early! (Bookings are essential – 3412 4140.)
