Second extract from Peter Orullian's THE UNREMEMBERED

When I first agreed to post an excerpt from Peter Orullian's much anticipated fantasy debut, The Unremembered, I was sent this one. Since I felt it was too short to convey what the book was all about, Orullian and the folks at Tor Books elected to go with a longer extract which was posted a few weeks back.

And since that first excerpt seems to have been well-received, and since the novel will soon be released, I've decided to post what was originally meant to be the first extract.

For more info about this title: Canada, USA, Europe.

Here's the blurb:

The gods, makers of worlds, seek to create balance—between matter and energy; and between mortals who strive toward the transcendent, and the natural perils they must tame or overcome. But one of the gods fashions a world filled with hellish creatures far too powerful to allow balance; he is condemned to live for eternity with his most hateful creations in that world’s distant Bourne, restrained by a magical veil kept vital by the power of song.

Millennia pass, awareness of the hidden danger fades to legend, and both song and veil weaken. And the most remote cities are laid waste by fell, nightmarish troops escaped from the Bourne. Some people dismiss the attacks as mere rumor. Instead of standing against the real threat, they persecute those with the knowledge, magic and power to fight these abominations, denying the inevitability of war and annihilation. And the evil from the Bourne swells….

The troubles of the world seem far from the Hollows where Tahn Junell struggles to remember his lost childhood and to understand words he feels compelled to utter each time he draws his bow. Trouble arrives when two strangers—an enigmatic man wearing the sigil of the feared Order of Sheason and a beautiful woman of the legendary Far—come, to take Tahn, his sister and his two best friends on a dangerous, secret journey.

Tahn knows neither why nor where they will go. He knows only that terrible forces have been unleashed upon mankind and he has been called to stand up and face that which most daunts him—his own forgotten secrets and the darkness that would destroy him and his world.

The fourth video preview of The Unremembered will follow. . .

Enjoy!
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Later in the night, when the others had fallen asleep in their rooms after hushed talk of Vendanj, Wendra crept back to the common room.

The drinkers and revelers were mostly gone. A few late suppers were being taken in corners by people whose occupations made late their time to eat. They remained attended by one serving woman, a hot but lower fire, and the scops who she’d come to see.

Wendra took a seat against one wall and listened. The songs these musicians played were unlike any she’d heard in the Hollows. When they were bright they were boisterous; when proud, courageous; and when sad, they were piteous and plaintive. Here, it seemed, the music became more than a performance by the singer, it grew into an accusation or challenge. There was boldness in it that she hadn’t heard before. Even through the troubles and madness of this night and everything since fleeing the Hollows— and before, back as far as her rape— Wendra was entranced by this new sound and knew she must seize upon it in some way.

It made her think of where the simple, dark melodies she’d found when curled onto a cabin floor a few days ago might lead.

When the night at last found its end for the common room, the scops began to pack their instruments to leave. Wendra slid from her chair with questions she hoped they could answer.

“Thank you,” she said. “You’re very gifted. I enjoyed listening to you very much.”

The woman, still packing, looked over her shoulder at Wendra as her male counterpart turned to receive his accolades.

“You’re most welcome, my young woman. Was there a particular song you liked?” He smiled and bowed in thanks for her praise.

His companion shook her head without turning again.

Wendra decided her answers would come from this gentleman. “The songs of loss. There was something strong and comforting about them. I don’t know. It seemed—”

“They didn’t simply accept the pain, but demanded answers and retribution,” he finished for her.

“Yes,” Wendra said. “The music seemed to provide relief of a kind by not simply wallowing in grief and resentment.”

“You are an astute listener. Are you by chance a musician yourself?” The man looked Wendra over from top to bottom.

She understood then his designs, her stomach roiling at the thought. Thankfully, the woman chimed in, finally turning to join the conversation.

“If you are, don’t waste any more breath on him,” she said. “You’ll want to talk to the composer, which would be me.” The woman hefted an instrument case over her shoulder and came to stand beside her companion. “He’s quick to accept the credit, however he can get it.” She gave him a look of amused disgust. “But he’s never around to help create the music we earn that credit by. What’s your name, my young lady?”

“Wendra. And yours?”

“I am Solaena. This is Chrastof. He’s got packing to do. Why don’t you and I sit so I can rest my feet, wet my lips, and I can give you the advice my father never gave me.” She waved a hand at the serving woman, who showed attentive but weary eyes and went to get something from the kitchen.

Solaena and Wendra sat together, and shortly a tall glass of steaming tea was set before Solaena. She sipped, the warmth seeming to ease her features, and relaxed into her chair.

“You find some fascination with playing songs to a crowd like this,” Solaena said. “Well, let me tell you. If you can find another way to earn a coin, do it. Most times we aren’t paid, and patrons of a common room like this oft en think we’re paid to do more than entertain them, if you understand me. Keep your music, my girl, but don’t make it your life’s path.”

Wendra nodded appreciatively. But her questions were not professional. “How do you make them? The songs. How do you make them feel like anguish, not for its own sake but to justify revenge.”

The scop smiled. “I see. Well, that’s just writing from my own heart’s desire. I guess so late in the night it’s tolerable to admit that I don’t believe in the same things I did when I was your age. And maybe because I don’t, I write about them in my songs to remind me of a time when I did. What I mean is, the songs are a place where I can give voice to my inmost wishes, even if the world around me doesn’t hearken to my words. Do you understand?”

“I believe so. But the world does hear you. The people in the room. Me.”

A grateful smile touched Solaena’s lips. “You’re a dear heart, my girl. Thank you. And because of your gracious praise, I’ll tell you the trick of it— as I think that’s what you’d like to know.” She leaned over her tea, and spoke in a sincere tone. “When you make your sad song, you mustn’t be afraid to go to the bottom of your own pain. Any power in those tunes comes from the well of your own torment, and it’s from there that the demand for relief will come. Anything else is simply a lament, and personally, I don’t see a lot of point to that.”

Wendra had an epiphany at the scop’s words, there in the dark hours of night in an empty common room that reeked of bitter. “And one more thing besides,” Solaena added. “Those songs don’t always need to be brayed out. We do it because these are noisy places.” She looked around the room. “But what I’m sharing with you here can come with the same power and meaning in a lullaby. If you doubt it, listen to a mother singing the hope of her heart for a child born into a dangerous world.”

Wendra stared back at the woman, loss and revelations warring in her soul. The late-night instruction on songs to be sung with sadness and authority would steal her sleep that night and for many nights to come, because the woman’s words struck Wendra’s deepest fear and regret. Her own recent melodies she now realized were, at least in part, lullabies for a child who would never hear them.

Steven Erikson contest winner!

Thanks to the generosity of the folks at Tor Books, our winner will receive the ultimate Malazan prize! The prize pack includes:

- Gardens of the Moon (Canada, USA, Europe)
- Deadhouse Gates (Canada, USA, Europe)
- Memories of Ice (Canada, USA, Europe)
- House of Chains (Canada, USA, Europe)
- Midnight Tides (Canada, USA, Europe)
- The Bonehunters (Canada, USA, Europe)
- Reaper's Gale (Canada, USA, Europe)
- Toll the Hounds (Canada, USA, Europe)
- Dust of Dreams (Canada, USA, Europe)
- The Crippled God (Canada, USA, Europe)

- Bauchelain and Korbal Broach (Canada, USA, Europe)

The winner is:

- John Tenison, from Wesley Chapel, Florida, USA

Many thanks to all the participants!

Cover blurb for C. S. Friedman's LEGACY OF KINGS

Here's the blurb that will grace the cover of C. S. Friedman's forthcoming Legacy of Kings. For more info about this title: Canada, USA, Europe.

As I mentioned a while back, do yourself a favor and read both Feast of Souls (Canada, USA, Europe) and Wings of Wrath (Canada, USA, Europe).

Here's the blurb:

What will future minstrels sing of the days leading up to the final battle?

They will sing of the Souleaters with their stained-glass wings, who feasted upon the life-essence of mankind and brought down the First Age of Kings. And of the army of martyrs that gathered to fight them, led by the world's last surviving witches. By fire and faith they herded the great beasts into an arctic prison, where the incessant cold and long winter's darkness would rob them of strength, and hopefully of life. And the gods themselves struck the earth with great Spears, it was said, erecting a barrier born of their Wrath which would hold any surviving Souleaters prisoner until the end of time. For forty generations the Wrath held strong, so that the Second Age of Kings could thrive. But it was not truly a divine creation, merely a construct of witches, and when it finally faltered the Souleaters began their invasion.

They will sing of the Magisters, undying sorcerers who wielded a power that seemed without limit, and of how they were bound by their Law to the fates of mortal men. But no minstrel will sing of the secret that lay at the heart of that dark brotherhood, for no mortal man who learned the truth would be allowed to live. The Magisters fueled their sorcery with the life-essence of human consorts, offering up the death of innocents to assure their own immortality. Perhaps that practice was what corrupted their spirits, so that they became innately hostile to their own kind. . .or perhaps there was another cause. Colivar alone seemed to know the truth, but even his most ancient and determined rival Ramirus had not yet been able to pry that information out of him.

They will sing of Kamala, a red-headed child destined for poverty and abuse in the slums of Gansang, who defied the fates and became the first female to learn the art of true sorcery. But her accidental murder of Magister Raven broke the brotherhood's most sacred Law, and even her reclusive mentor Ethanus dared not give her shelter any longer. Forced to masquerade as a witch, she traveled the world in search of some knowledge or artifact that she might barter for her safety, so that she could bear the title of Magister openly and claim her proper place in the brotherhood of sorcerers.

They will sing of Danton Aurelius, who ruled the High Kingdom with an iron fist until the traitor Kostas brought him down. They will craft lamentations for the two young princes who died alongside their father, even as they celebrate the courage of Queen Gwynofar in avenging her husband's death. Alas, it was not to be the end of her trials. For when prophecy summoned her to Alkali to search for the Throne of Tears, an ancient artifact that would awaken the lyr bloodline to its full mystical potential, the gods demanded her unborn child in sacrifice, and later her beloved half-brother, Rhys.

They will sing of the Witch-Queen Siderea Aminestas, mistress of Magisters and consort to kings, whom the sorcerers abandoned when her usefulness ended. And of the Souleater who saved her life, at the cost of her human soul. Vengeance burned bright in her heart the day she fled Sankara on the back of her jewel-winged consort, seeking a land where she could plant the seeds of a new and terrible empire.

They will sing of Salvator, third son of Danton Aurelius, who set aside the vows of a Penitent monk to inherit his father's throne, rejecting the power and the protection of the Magisters in the name of his faith. Songs will be crafted to tell how he was tested by demons, doubt, and the Witch-Queen herself, even while the leaders of his Church argued over how he might best be manipulated to serve their political interests.

And last of all they will sing of the confrontation that was still to come, in which fate of the Second Age of Kings -- and all of mankind -- would be decided. And those who hear their songs will wonder whether a prince-turned-monk-turned-king could really save the world, when the god that he worshiped might have been the one who called for its destruction in the first place.

Started this one yesterday and it's pretty good thus far! =)

A bit of humor. . .

This one is so funny!

Win a copy of R. Scott Bakker's THE WHITE-LUCK WARRIOR

I have five copies of R. Scott Bakker's The White-Luck Warrior up for grabs, compliments of the nice folks at The Overlook Press. For more info about this title: Canada, USA, Europe

Here's the blurb:

As Anasûrimbor Kellhus and his Great Ordeal march ever farther into the perilous wastes of the Ancient North, Esmenet finds herself at war with not only the Gods, but her own family as well. Achamian, meanwhile, leads his own ragtag expedition to the legendary ruins of Sauglish, and to a truth he can scarce survive, let alone comprehend. Into this tumult walks the White-Luck Warrior, assassin and messiah both, executing a mission as old as the World’s making …

The White-Luck Warrior is a story filled with heart-stopping action, devious treachery, grand passion and meticulous detail. It is both a classic quest tale and a high fantasy war story.

The rules are the same as usual. You need to send an email at reviews@(no-spam)gryphonwood.net with the header "WHITE-LUCK." Remember to remove the "no spam" thingy.

Second, your email must contain your full mailing address (that's snail mail!), otherwise your message will be deleted.

Lastly, multiple entries will disqualify whoever sends them. And please include your screen name and the message boards that you frequent using it, if you do hang out on a particular MB.

Good luck to all the participants!

Hell hath no fury like a self-published author scorned

Thanks to Sarah for spreading the word about this on Facebook.

Check out this review of Jaqueline Howett's self-published work titled The Greek Seaman from BigAl's Books and Pals. Al wasn't quite taken by that eBook, giving it 2 stars and saying that reading shouldn't be that hard. . .

Mrs. Howett, understandably, didn't care much for such a review. Problem is, unable to handle criticism, she went completely nuts. Click on the aforementioned link to see one extremely funny yet pathetic pissing contest.

Perusing the comment section, which now consists of 300+ comments, will have you pissing your pants! Class is obviously Jaqueline Howett's middle name. So is professionalism!

Well, that shit wouldn't fly here. . .

Another glowing review!

Hmmm, don't know how I could have missed this one. . .

Needless to say, I was pleased to find out that the San Francisco Book Review had some very nice things to say about Speculative Horizons. Here's an excerpt from Glenn Dallas' review:

The stories featured in Speculative Horizons run the full fantasy spectrum, each handily creating its own evocative world for the reader while highlighting the true depth of the genre’s potential. Whether strolling the suburban landscape or taking us to worlds we’ve never known, fantasy can be found anywhere, and the works of these five authors revel in those possibilities.

Each story packed a lot of impact into a few brief pages, but the final story, “The Death of a Love,” resonated most deeply with me. It’s a dark, thoughtful, and satisfying conclusion to a very engaging collection. Patrick St-Denis has assembled an all-star cast of creative minds here, and here’s hoping he does so again soon.

Well, I wouldn't mind doing it again, that's for sure! =)

If you want to help raise funds for cancer research, or if you are just curious and wish to give the anthology a shot, you can order Speculative Horizons via the Subterranean Press website. Otherwise, if you want to get it at a discount, it's also available on various Amazon sites: Canada, USA, Europe.

You can read an extract from C. S. Friedman's short story here, and one from Hal Duncan's short story here.

US cover art for Steven Erikson's CRACK'D POT TRAIL

Here's the American cover art for Steven Erikson's fourth novella set in the Malazan universe, Crack'd Pot Trail. For more info about this title: Canada, USA, Europe.

Here's the blurb:

It is an undeniable truth: give evil a name and everyone's happy. Give it two names and . . . why, they're even happier.

The intrepid necromancers Bauchelain and Korbal Broach, scourges of civilization, raisers of the dead, reapers of the souls of the living, devourers of hope, betrayers of faith, slayers of the innocent and modest personifications of evil, have a lot to answer for and answer they will. Known as the Nehemoth, they are pursued by countless self-professed defenders of decency, sanity and civilization. After all, since when does evil thrive unchallenged? Well, often: but not this time.

Hot on their heels are the Nehemothanai, avowed hunters of Bauchelain and Korbal Broach. In the company of a gaggle of artists and pilgrims, stalwart Mortal Sword Tulgord Vise, pious Well Knight Arpo Relent, stern Huntsman Steck Marynd, and three of the redoubtable Chanter brothers (and their lone sister) find themselves faced with the cruelest of choices. The legendary Cracked Pot Trail, a stretch of harsh wasteland between the Gates of Nowhere and the Shrine of the Indifferent God, has become a tortured path of deprivation.

Will honour, moral probity and virtue prove champions in the face of brutal necessity? No, of course not. Don't be silly.

I wasn't too keen on this novella, as you may recall. . .

Genre for Japan

This from Genre for Japan:

In the wake of the devastating earthquake that struck Japan on March 11th, the world looked on in horror. We all saw the footage of the destruction caused by the initial earthquake and its aftershocks, and we were appalled by the sheer force of the tsunami it triggered–not to mention the threat posed by damage to Japan’s nuclear power stations, and the ongoing humanitarian crisis which has developed in the country.

We all felt so small and so far away – but were united in our desire to help.

Genre for Japan was set up by members of the speculative fiction community with one goal: to do what we can, however small.

From 28th March 2011, we will be auctioning special, rare and unique items donated by people who love genre just as much as you do: trust us – you don’t just want these things. You need them. You do. What are they? You’ll just have to wait and see…

All proceeds from the auctions will go to the Japan Tsunami Appeal run by the British Red Cross. In the interests of transparency, we will be posting full details on a separate page on the site as we progress.

Follow this link to see the complete list of the auction prizes.

And help them raise money for this worthy cause! =)

New interviews on the way

Since many of you have been encouraging me for months to do more interviews, and since both interviews with Peter Orullian and Mark Lawrence have been well-received, I just wanted you to know that I'll be teaming up with a number of my usual partners in crime to bring you a few more in the near future.

So you can expect interviews with Joe Abercrombie, Steven Erikson, and Paul Kearney in the coming weeks. Patrick Rothfuss is down for a Q&A. But now that he's a number 1 NYT bestselling author, the request must go through his PR people.

There will probably be another one with R. Scott Bakker, as well as a few others that I need to inquire about. . . =)

This week's New York Times Bestsellers (March 22nd)

In hardcover:

Patrick Rothfuss' The Wise Man's Fear is down two positions, ending the week at number 3. For more info about this title: Canada, USA, Europe.

Deborah Harkness' A Discovery of Witches maintains its position at number 6. For more info about this title: Canada, USA, Europe.

Patricia Briggs' River Marked is down six spots, finishing the week at number 9.

Jasper Fforde's One of our Thursdays is Missing debuts at number 15. For more info about this title: Canada, USA, Europe.

Kim Harrison's Pale Demon is down ten positions, ending the week at number 19.

In paperback:

Jim Butcher's Changes is up two spots, finishing the week at number 11.

Patrick Rothfuss' The Name of the Wind returns at number 26.

Game of Thrones: Character Profiles

Oh man, this is going to look fantastic in HD!

Almost there!!!

The Curious Case of the Clockwork Man

Mark Hodder's take on steampunk in The Strange Affair of Spring Heeled Jack (Canada, USA, Europe) was so fresh and entertaining, I couldn't wait to read the sequel. Pretty much in the same vein, The Curious Case of the Clockwork Man is another fun read!

Here's the blurb:

It is 1862, though not the 1862 it should be...

Time has been altered, and Sir Richard Francis Burton, the king’s agent, is one of the few people who know that the world is now careening along a very different course from that which Destiny intended.

When a clockwork-powered man of brass is found abandoned in Trafalgar Square, Burton and his assistant, the wayward poet Algernon Swinburne, find themselves on the trail of the stolen Garnier Collection—black diamonds rumored to be fragments of the Lemurian Eye of Naga, a meteorite that fell to Earth in prehistoric times.

His investigation leads to involvement with the media sensation of the age: the Tichborne Claimant, a man who insists that he’s the long lost heir to the cursed Tichborne estate. Monstrous, bloated, and monosyllabic, he’s not the aristocratic Sir Roger Tichborne known to everyone, yet the working classes come out in force to support him. They are soon rioting through the streets of London, as mysterious steam wraiths incite all-out class warfare.

From a haunted mansion to the Bedlam madhouse, from South America to Australia, from séances to a secret labyrinth, Burton struggles with shadowy opponents and his own inner demons, meeting along the way the philosopher Herbert Spencer, Isambard Kingdom Brunel, Florence Nightingale, and Charles Doyle (father of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle).

Can the king’s agent expose a plot that threatens to rip the British Empire apart, leading to an international conflict the like of which the world has never seen? And what part does the clockwork man have to play?

Burton and Swinburne’s second adventure—The Clockwork Man of Trafalgar Square—is filled with eccentric steam-driven technology, grotesque characters, and a deepening mystery that pushes forward the three-volume story arc begun in The Strange Affair of Spring Heeled Jack.

Once again, it's not easy to label this book. It is steampunk, no question about it. But much like its predecessor, it is much more than that. There are alternate history/alternate reality elements imbuing every single page of this work. The time-traveling facet brings an unmistakable science fiction touch. If you add to that various fantastical elements, once more you've got yourself an inventive melting pot of speculative fiction staples that should intrigue and satisfy genre readers everywhere.

As expected, Hodder captured the essence of this pseudo-Victorian Age perfectly with its myriad mannerisms and nuances. His colorful narrative once again creates an imagery that brings this tale to life. The dialogues remain witty and engaging, with most of the cast from The Strange Affair of Spring Heeled Jack returning for Act 2.

The characterization remains my favorite aspect of this second installment. Sir Richard Francis Burton and Algernon Charles Swinburne are well-defined characters, with the latter getting more fleshed out in this sequel. Most of the men and women that comprised the supporting cast in the first volume return and are as endearing a bunch of protagonists as you're likely to find, chief among them Constable William Trounce. New faces are added to the mix, keeping things fresh. Even better, the presence of many historical figures such as Oscar Wilde, Isambard Kingdom Brunel, Florence Nightingale, and especially Herbert Spencer, add a little something extra to an already satisfying reading experience.

The rhythm can be uneven from time to time. Add to that the many POV shifts with no clear breaking point within the narrative, and this one is not a more or less fluid read the way The Strange Affair of Spring Heeled Jack was. But I truly enjoyed the way Mark Hodder connects the events from both novels, as well as how he linked the possible futures with the past. In the end, everything comes together, setting the table for what should be a very interesting finale.

The final verdict: 7.5/10

For more info about this title: Canada, USA, Europe.

Daniel Abraham contest winner!

This lucky winner will get his hands on a complimentary copy of Daniel Abraham's The Dragon's Path, courtesy of the nice folks at Orbit. For more info about this title: Canada, USA, Europe.

Though the book is supposed to be released in April, all the major online retailers have already started to ship it. . .

The winner is:

- Luke Jass, from Sioux Falls, South Dakota, USA

Many thanks to all the participants! ;-)

Win a copy of SUBTERRANEAN: TALES OF DARK FANTASY 2

Thanks to the generosity of the folks at Subterranean Press, I have five copies of the trade hardcover edition of Subterranean: Tales of Dark Fantasy 2. For more info about this title: Canada, USA, Europe, and Subpress.

Here's the blurb:

Subterranean: Tales of Dark Fantasy, published in 2008 to widespread critical and popular acclaim, provided a unique showcase for some of our finest practitioners of dark, disturbing fiction. This much anticipated second volume more than meets the standards set by its predecessor, offering a diverse assortment of stories guaranteed to delight, unsettle, and enthrall. Volume two proper is a full 20,000 words longer than the first installment in the series – 35,000 words longer if you buy the limited edition, with the bonus chapbook.

This stellar collection leads off with Joe Hill’s dazzling “Wolverton Station,” in which a predatory businessman travels to England, and to a primal confrontation he could never have imagined. Elsewhere, a number of contributors revisit familiar, well-established themes and settings. Glen Cook’s “Smelling Danger” gives us a brand new chapter in the long-running annals of The Black Company. “The Passion of Mother Vajpai” is a story of exotic – and erotic – initiation set against the backdrop of Jay Lake’s novel, Green. Kelley Armstrong reenters the Otherworld with “Chivalrous,” the account of a devious – and long-delayed – act of revenge.

And there’s more, much more, including a hallucinatory portrait of guilt, angst, and drug-fueled violence by Caitlin R. Kiernan, and an affecting reflection on love, death, and acceptance by Steven R. Boyett. These stories, together with first-rate work by the likes of K. J. Parker and Norman Partridge, offer provocative, sometimes visceral entertainment. As this rich, rewarding volume amply demonstrates, the tale of dark fantasy is alive and thriving, and continues to develop in new – and unexpected – ways.

Subterranean: Tales of Dark Fantasy 2 is made up almost exclusively of novelettes rather than short stories. The limited edition will be feature full color art not in the trade edition and be accompanied by a chapbook of two original short stories (over 15,000 words) by SubPress favorite Joe R. Lansdale. The tales: “The Case of the Lighthouse Shambler” and “The Case of the Stalking Shadow” mark the beginning of a new series featuring supernatural sleuth Dana Roberts.

The rules are the same as usual. You need to send an email at reviews@(no-spam)gryphonwood.net with the header "DARK." Remember to remove the "no spam" thingy.

Second, your email must contain your full mailing address (that's snail mail!), otherwise your message will be deleted.

Lastly, multiple entries will disqualify whoever sends them. And please include your screen name and the message boards that you frequent using it, if you do hang out on a particular MB.

Good luck to all the participants!

Interview with Mark Lawrence

Mark Lawrence's Prince of Thorns (Canada, USA, Europe), the first volume in The Broken Empire series, is another high profile fantasy debut which will be released later this year. With Voyager really pushing this one in the UK and with Ace acquiring the US rights for the highest advance in the last 7 years, I decided to invite him for a little Q&A.

Here's the blurb for Prince of Thorns:

Before the thorns taught me their sharp lessons and bled weakness from me I had but one brother, and I loved him well. But those days are gone and what is left of them lies in my mother's tomb. Now I have many brothers, quick with knife and sword, and as evil as you please. We ride this broken empire and loot its corpse. They say these are violent times, the end of days when the dead roam and monsters haunt the night. All that's true enough, but there's something worse out there, in the dark. Much worse."

Once a privileged royal child, raised by a loving mother, Jorg Ancrath has become the Prince of Thorns, a charming, immoral boy leading a grim band of outlaws in a series of raids and atrocities. The world is in chaos: violence is rife, nightmares everywhere. Jorg's bleak past has set him beyond fear of any man, living or dead, but there is still one thing that puts a chill in him. Returning to his father's castle Jorg must confront horrors from his childhood and carve himself a future with all hands turned against him.

Enjoy!
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- What's the 411 on Mark Lawrence? Tell us a bit about your background?

When I was a kid I wanted to get into science, preferably flying a rocket to Mars. In the end the closest I got to my rocket was applying the equations of orbital dynamics as constraints in tracking algorithms (and some other bits and pieces I can't talk about) - I was technically a rocket scientist for six months! Most of my research has been spent in more abstract mathematics though, with some robots and vision systems thrown in for good measure.

These days I can only get to work when I'm not looking after my very disabled little girl. You may notice me mention her a fair bit, but for the past seven years our lives have revolved around her needs and she dominates every day, so she’s a huge factor in my life and writing experience. In between my job and caring duties I manage to get a bit of writing done too, mostly late at night.

The interest in writing grew over many years, a very gradual process. The start was an addiction to fantasy books, then to dungeons and dragons (as a teen), that turned into involvement in text-based play-by-mail games, and finally into writing short stories, then longer ones on online writing groups.

- Without giving too much away, can you give us a taste of the tale that is PRINCE OF THORNS?

I hope it's an entertaining read of the swords-and-some-sorcery type with deeper themes for anyone with an eye for such things. We follow the fortunes of an exceptional but very human young man who is given to extremes. Part of the challenge for me was to present a character who can and does do terrible things and yet to keep the reader engaged on an emotional level. On the surface the tale echoes some of the great themes in fantasy (and the wider world of story), the lost son returns, but I think I colour outside the lines more than I colour inside them.

My taste is for discovering a story as I go, both while I’m writing my own, and while I’m reading somebody else’s. Generally I don’t read the blurb on the back or trawl reviews. I love to read reviews _after_ I’ve finished the book, not before I start. So in that vein I’m loathe to offer a potted plot or extol the virtues of the setting. It’s the writing that makes a book succeed or fail, many a great read sounds dull in summary, many an eye-popping summary turns into a dire read. For people with a different modus operandi, there’s the blurb on my website and all the reviews I know of are linked from there too. Better to trust the impartial observer than the author in any case!

- Can you tell us a little more about the road that saw this one go from manuscript form to finished novel?

I wrote the book in many short bursts over a long period, for my own entertainment and to keep the interest of few writing friends. Mostly I was writing for enjoyment and to get better at writing through practice and experimentation. When it was done I put it away with the two books I'd written before it.

I'd never thought that I would be published - it seemed there were too many good writers in print and a vast sea of untapped talent knocking on the doors. The odds looked similar to the lottery and it takes effort to enter into that contest, it can be time-consuming and disheartening. I prefer writing. One persistent friend kept buying me books on writers' markets though. In the end guilt at her spending her money like that drove me to write to some agents, and to my enormous surprise I got an agent and then a publishing deal in short order. I was sitting reading a story to my daughter when I got the call. Afterward I put her over my shoulder and went into the kitchen to tell my wife. She thought from my face that Celyn had had another seizure or died on me!

- How would you describe your work to someone who hadn’t tried your books before?

Quick moving, well observed, emotional, sometimes brutal.

- What can readers expect from the upcoming sequels? Any tentative titles and release dates?

'Prince of Thorns' is part of a trilogy, although pretty much self-contained. I understand the plan is to release the books a year apart. The tentative title for book 2 is 'King of Thorns'.

Book 2 and 3 take the story into new territory, both literally and metaphorically. In book 1 we discover who Jorg is, in books 2 and 3 we discover what he becomes and where it takes him.

- What was the spark that generated the idea which drove you to write The Broken Empire in the first place?

I wanted to see how dark a main character I could write without losing engagement with the reader. It started off as an experiment. I kept getting darker, expecting my readers to cry off, and none of them did.

- What do you feel is your strength as a writer/storyteller?

I think I write clever non-linear tales that can be read without effort. I hope that I can bring people and situations to life with unobtrusive description, and capture the essence of certain moments.

- By the same token, what would be your weaknesses, or aspects of your craft you feel you need to work on?

I'm always impressed by the way some writers capture the interactions of women with other women, particularly the small talk and different levels of communication. I would like to be able to write 'chick-lit', not because I would then go and write some, but because those skills would make me a better writer.

- Were there any perceived conventions of the fantasy genre which you wanted to twist or break when you set out to write PRINCE OF THORNS and its sequels?

No. I'm not an iconoclast, I just don't care about icons. There's a difference.

- Cover art has become a very hot topic of late. What are your thoughts pertaining to that facet of a novel, and what do you think of the covers that grace your novel?

Until very recently it was never something I'd given much thought to. Some covers I like, some I don't. I'm now aware of the minimalist UK trend, the more traditional US style (huge generalisms here), and the arguments around the role of the cover in the 'fantasy stigma' debate. All interesting stuff.

I'm sure most of your readers will know what most of the wider public don't, and that is that authors generally have no say in their cover choice.

I like the cover on 'Prince of Thorns' very much. I have a blow-up of it on my wall and it's excellent work with the field of swords adding something chilling to it. Since I first saw it I have come to realise that there are a lot of 'hooded men' covers out there right now. Even so, it has originality to it and I think Jason Chan has done a great job. Could the genre do with some more cover diversity? Sure.

- The advance praise and the amount paid to acquire the US rights for your debut have created a very positive buzz surrounding the release of PRINCE OF THORNS. How happy are you about that? Are you afraid that this might raise readers' expectations too high?

I don't think I could reasonably be unhappy about a very positive buzz. I hope it's been created by the reaction and reviews of early readers rather than speculation on my advance! I think that to some degree publisher push (though extremely important) and talk of advances (though helping adapt my house with hoists etc for my girl) actually create a backlash amongst free-thinking reviewers and readers who don't like to be 'told by the man'. People like to discover books themselves. So I think my good reviews so far have been earned rather than gifted.

As for reader expectation - well, I'm just happy if my book gets read. I hope it can meet expectation, if not, I apologise in advance. I don’t feel entitled to success. I’m very surprised to be here in the first place.

- The fact that there is a website dedicated to your work is an indication that interaction with your readers is important to you as an author. How special is it to have the chance to interact directly with potential readers and soon-to-be fans?

My writing grew up on online writing groups so I've always had a close and immediate interaction with my readers. If I just dropped my work into a black hole and that were the end of it I would be very unsatisfied. I want to know what worked and what didn't.

- What authors make you shake your head in admiration? Many speculative fiction authors don't read much inside the genre. Is it the case with you?

I used to read a ton of fantasy. That slackened off and I’ve not read much in the last ten years. I’m very impressed with George RR Martin though, and Robin Hobb creates and uses relationships with rare skill. Outside the genre my favourite authors include John Irving, William Golding, and Bill Bryson.

In the last year I’ve been trying some of the more recent fantasy authors and folk like Abercrombie, Rothfuss, Bakker, and Weeks are all on my ‘to do’ list.

- Given the choice, would you take a New York Times bestseller, or a World Fantasy/Hugo Award? Why, exactly?

Lord knows! Um ... the NYT because it’s the judgement of many people voting with their pockets. Also my mum would be more impressed! But I’ve never won an award of any sort and I’d be very excited to be nominated for the smallest prize on the block!

- More and more, authors/editors/publicists/agents are discovering the potential of all the SFF blogs/websites/message boards on the internet. Even though PRINCE OF THORNS has not yet been released, do you keep an eye on what's being discussed out there, especially if it concerns you? Or is it too much of a distraction?

Yes it’s too much of a distraction and yes I watch it like a ... well hawks probably wouldn’t be that bothered would they. I watch it like someone who should know better.

Musical Interlude

Here's a double-dose of Van Halen to help you start your week on this dreary Monday morning. =) Certainly two of my favorite tracks from the band!

Corvus

I couldn't help but smile when I first started reading this book, for I am, albeit indirectly, kind of responsible for its existence. You may recall that then Solaris editor Mark Charan Newton initially got in touch with Paul Kearney when the author was dropped by both Transworld and Bantam Dell at the same time after reading my rant about this on the Hotlist. Months later, after signing with the imprint, the excellent The Ten Thousand (Canada, USA, Europe) saw the light and became Kearney's first work with Solaris.

You see: Online rants can -- rarely, it must be said -- have very positive repercussions. Now, if only I could somehow help Kearney become a bestselling author. . .

The Ten Thousand turned out to be a solid effort, possibly the author's best novel to date. And I'm pleased to report that Corvus continues in the same vein, raising the bar even higher and setting the stage for what should be a terrific finale in the forthcoming Kings of the Morning.

Here's the blurb:

It is twenty-three years since a Macht army fought its way home from the heart of the Asurian Empire. The man who came to lead that army, Rictus, is now a hard-bitten mercenary captain, middle-aged and tired. He wants nothing more than to lay down his spear and become the farmer that his father was. But fate has different ideas. A young war-leader has risen to challenge the order of things in the very heartlands of the Macht. A solider of genius, he takes city after city, and reigns over them as king. What is more, he has heard of the legendary leader of The Ten Thousand.

His name is Corvus, and the rumours say that he is not even fully human. He means to make himself absolute ruler of all the Macht. And he wants Rictus to help him.

Corvus is dark and gritty military fantasy at its best. Joe Abercrombie's depicted heroism and the brutal violence of war with a witty and humorous style and tone in The Heroes. Paul Kearney's Corvus is at the opposite end of the spectrum. Although there are a number of poignant and touching moments throughout the novel, Corvus is all about the stark realism of military campaigns.

The author has always been known for his brevity, and this book features minimal worldbuilding which doesn't intrude on the storytelling. And yet, now that he can build on the events of The Ten Thousand, Kearney manages to flesh out his world and its people without relying on info-dumps or long-winded elaborations. The narrative is written with tight focus, keeping the pace fluid and making Corvus a veritable page-turner.

Most will tell you that Kearney's bread and butter are the battle sequences, and I would tend to agree. Still, I feel that the author doesn't get the credit he deserves for his characterization. Indeed, the man came up with a disparate yet amazing cast of characters for this one. Though there is an overall story arc, that of Corvus' campaign to unite the Macht, most of its threads consist of more personal plotlines adding more depth to the tale. The domestic scenes create a bit of balance between the more violent sequences of the book. There is also a great balance between the various POV sections, with the novel focusing in turn on Rictus, his wife Aise, the Speaker Karnos, Phaestus, and Kassander's sister Kassia. Seeing events unfold through the eyes of such distinct men and women imbues this book with a human touch seldom seen in military fantasy offerings. There is indeed a parallel between Rictus and Corvus and Philip II and Alexander, but it's nothing more than historical inspiration and doesn't take anything away from the story.

Corvus delivers on all fronts. As was the case with its predecessor, it features good pace, a grim setting, superior characterization, and bloody battles. -- It definitely is Paul Kearney writing at the top of his game.

It's another brutal and uncompromising tale of warfare and survival written by one of the most underrated talents in the fantasy genre.

Hard to put down. Do yourself a favor: Pick up both The Ten Thousand and Corvus. Mark my word: You will thank me!

The final verdict: 8/10

For more info about this title: Canada, USA, Europe.

Interview with Peter Orullian

A few weeks ago, I sort of introduced Peter Orullian's The Unremembered to most of you. Tor Books are pushing this one pretty hard, and I was wondering if it would become the SFF debut of the year. For more info about this title: Canada, USA, Europe.

Here's the blurb:

The gods, makers of worlds, seek to create balance—between matter and energy; and between mortals who strive toward the transcendent, and the natural perils they must tame or overcome. But one of the gods fashions a world filled with hellish creatures far too powerful to allow balance; he is condemned to live for eternity with his most hateful creations in that world’s distant Bourne, restrained by a magical veil kept vital by the power of song.

Millennia pass, awareness of the hidden danger fades to legend, and both song and veil weaken. And the most remote cities are laid waste by fell, nightmarish troops escaped from the Bourne. Some people dismiss the attacks as mere rumor. Instead of standing against the real threat, they persecute those with the knowledge, magic and power to fight these abominations, denying the inevitability of war and annihilation. And the evil from the Bourne swells….

The troubles of the world seem far from the Hollows where Tahn Junell struggles to remember his lost childhood and to understand words he feels compelled to utter each time he draws his bow. Trouble arrives when two strangers—an enigmatic man wearing the sigil of the feared Order of Sheason and a beautiful woman of the legendary Far—come, to take Tahn, his sister and his two best friends on a dangerous, secret journey.

Tahn knows neither why nor where they will go. He knows only that terrible forces have been unleashed upon mankind and he has been called to stand up and face that which most daunts him—his own forgotten secrets and the darkness that would destroy him and his world.

Given the number of rave reviews The Unremembered has garnered so far, I thought it would be interesting to learn a bit more about the author and his work. Orullian was happy to oblige and was very forthcoming with his answers. Indeed, this Q&A has made me even more keen to read his debut.

Enjoy!
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- What's the 411 on Peter Orullian? Can you tell us a bit about your background?

Well, like many fantasy writers, I did my share of Dungeons and Dragons, and I earned an English degree in college. I always did have the goal of publication, and along the way spent plenty of time courting my other passion, which is music. But since both are highly speculative pursuits, I’ve taken a variety of jobs in my adult life in order to afford groceries. Things like: operations manager, accountant, editor, public relations, and currently I work in marketing. For the last ten years or so I’ve been at Microsoft in the Xbox division. I work with thousand of type A folks as we try to innovate in the area of interactive entertainment. I love the outdoors, and will happily get up at any hour in order to watch the sunrise. I love sports—baseball is a favorite, but over the last several years I’m watching more and more MMA. Love film. I love reading, and not just genre. And again, music—almost any kind of music; but I care about musicianship, so that may clue you in to the types of artists that don’t really thrill me.

- Without giving too much away, can you give us a taste of the tale that is THE UNREMEMBERED?

That’s a tough one. Let’s see. A few of the things that are central to the telling of the tale are: tough choices—it matters to me that my characters have to struggle in this regard; consequence—whether the use of magic, or something a character says, I try to make it matter or come at a cost (and I’ve worked to make it subtle); hope—sounds maudlin, perhaps, but in the dark moments of the book is where I believe the hope is most clear. I know that’s not really a plot-centric view of the book, but hopefully it gives you a sense of what you’ll find without disclosing too much.

- Can you tell us a little more about the road that saw this one go from manuscript form to finished novel?

Sure. I wrote the book ten years ago. My then agent (who was known only for fantasy and science fiction writers) was trying to expand his client-list to include writers of thriller, suspense, mystery, mainstream, etc. I write in some of those categories, and so he asked me to put the fantasy aside and work on some of my thriller novels, where, he said, there was more money anyway. So, I did just that. Later, he and I parted ways; and when I approached a new agent who doesn’t represent much fantasy, I wound up telling him I had a fantasy book. He asked to see it. Liked it. Sent it to Tor. And there you go.

- How would you describe your work to someone who hadn’t tried your books before?

Well this is the first novel I’ll have published, but I’d go back to some of what I mentioned a few questions ago. Then I’d layer on that with The Unremembered I elected to make use of some of the tropes that I wanted to slowly twist and turn. So, readers of the genre will recognize some conventions, and see that I’m working to evolve them. Having said all that, I think it’s really about the characters. Yes, I’ve spent time building a second-world with lots of history, and a few magic systems, etc, but I feel like that stuff winds up as little more than scenery if the characters are flat.

- What can readers expect from the upcoming sequels? Any tentative titles and release dates?

They should expect increased movement into new territory. Things they think they know and understand will begin to take new shape and (hopefully) delight and surprise them. I’m a fan of what I like to call “violating your expectations.” Thus my use of a few of the tropes. Not as a way of mocking those conventions. But really as a way of trying to take them someplace new. For instance, I’m just finishing writing book two, and a few of the big revelations I set up at the very beginning of The Unremembered are about to come due. There’ll be some big “aha” moments for readers here, that will make clear why I made certain choices early on. I didn’t rush these things, as I wanted them to occur naturally, and I’m hoping readers will like the payoff. Readers will see more of the music magic system, how it works, new uses, etc. And there’ll be some new POV characters that will provide insight into some of the mysteries of book one, and start to show readers how things are not precisely as they might have thought them to be. The construct is not black and white, nor nearly as obvious as the synopsis would lead you to believe. No titles or release dates yet, but as I mention, I’m very close to finishing book two—another three weeks or so, by my reckoning.

- What was the spark that generated the idea which drove you to write The Vault of Heaven in the first place?

Well, I don’t recall any moment of pure inspiration. I wanted to write something with scope set in a new world of my own fashioning. I love the genre. So, there were several impetuses to write, and one day I started to sketch it all out.

- You have sold a number of short stories before signing a book deal with Tor Books. Do you have a different approach when it comes to writing short fiction?

I guess mostly I’m cognizant that I have to really focus the story, and chose a finite number of scenes to communicate the arc. But beyond that, a lot of the things a writer does are the same for each: characterization, etc.

- What do you feel is your strength as a writer/storyteller?

You know, my observation after a few years of really working on my craft is that writers are the worst judge of their own work. Which is to say, anything I tell you is colored by an inescapable subjectivity. But I can tell you what I’ve been told by others, if that’ll do. Other writers and readers have given me props for my characterization and plot and pacing.

- By the same token, what would be your weaknesses, or aspects of your craft you feel you need to work on?

In all honesty, I’m of the mind that writers need forever to be students. The day I wake up and think I’ve got it figured out, I’m in trouble. I’m voracious in wanting to learn and grow. So, I’m constantly reading, going to workshops, attending writing panels, etc, where I love to listen to other writers talk about the craft.

- Were there any perceived conventions of the fantasy genre which you wanted to twist or break when you set out to write THE UNREMEMBERED and its sequels?

Well, there’s this term “kitchen boy fantasy”—a kind of chosen one scenario revolving around someone of little consequence who must rise up. And there’s also the wizard-type character who calls up on this kitchen boy to do just that. Now, before I go on, I’ll relate a conversation I had recently with Pat Rothfuss, in which we were talking about how it would be easy to simply avoid the tropes and write a series of startling surprises so that readers could never cry “trope, trope.” I mean, once you understand the conventions, you could simply write around them. And I suppose it’s fashionable to do that sometimes. But back to my book, what I did was choose to embrace some of the conventions as a means of doing a few things: I didn’t want to write something that felt stilted or false or like it was working too hard simply because I thought I should avoid using a convention—in some ways, trope-avoidance is the new trope; but more than that, when I started thinking through my story and could see where I could use a trope but then organically take it somewhere new, that excited me. So, with things like “kitchen boy” and wise wizards, I’ve worked to build a story where they are part of a mythos that will take readers beyond the convention they’ve come to expect. At least, that’s my goal. So, yeah, I wanted to twist or break the conventions. Sometimes by fabricating something entirely from whole cloth that it’s unlikely a reader has seen before; but other times by taking a convention and finding a way to evolve it in a way that will hopefully surprise and delight the reader.

- The cover for THE UNREMEMBERED is absolutely gorgeous. It's no secret that cover art has become a very hot topic of late. What are your thoughts pertaining to that facet of a novel, and what do you think of the covers that grace your novel?

Well, usually cover art is a crap shoot. Authors get little if any say. For my part, I’m a huge art fan. Art of all kinds. Imagery is something I take time to appreciate every day. So, I was nervous, to say the least. But I wound up lucky in this regard with my cover. My own opinion is that the cover is one of the best ads for the book there is. Eventually, though, the reader will open it and read. So, what’s beneath the cover is the thing.

- The advance praise has created a very positive buzz surrounding the release of THE UNREMEMBERED. How happy are you about that? Are you afraid that this might raise readers' expectations too high?

The short answer is yes. Awareness marketing, as we call it in the biz, is a double-edged sword. You want people to know about the book, but invariably what happens is that this effort to get the word out gets translated as “hype.” Now, for my money, hype is something else; it’s saying, “such and such is the best novel of the century,” or something similar. No one’s making those claims here. But it doesn’t change the fact that any concerted effort to, like I say, get the word out will create a perception. So, while I’m pleased that there is, it would seem, a goodly number of folks who know my book is coming, I get that it raises expectations. And as a writer, and a debut novelist to boot, that certainly plays on my nerves a bit. I’m proud of the book, but it brings to mind something Brandon Sanderson wrote in the run-up to The Way of Kings. That book had an amazing pre-publication awareness campaign. And what the world began calling “hype,” I think got Brandon thinking; so much so that he wrote a blog post about it. Now, let’s be clear (and please don’t quote me out of context here), in no way am I comparing myself or my book to Brandon and his amazing body of work. I think Brandon is brilliant. But that particular blog post struck me, since he could see where expectations were growing, and proud of his book as he was, he knew he was writing a long saga, and wanted to have the right expectations. So, yeah, I feel like that a bit. I’d love people to set aside this talk of “hype” and just read the book for what it is. A salient anecdote from my own life is the day I went to see Men of Honor starring Cuba Gooding Junior and Robert De Niro. I had seen little advertising about it. Really knew practically nothing about it. And loved it. I had no real expectations. By turn, I often come out of films for which I’ve seen a bevy of pre-release advertising and don’t always feel like I did when I saw Men of Honor. The truth is, more folks saw Avatar than Men of Honor. For me and my novel, I’d love lots of people to read it, but I also really want them to feel like I did when I came out of Men of Honor. So, double-edged sword.

- The fact that there is a website dedicated to your work is an indication that interaction with your readers is important to you as an author. How special is it to have the chance to interact directly with potential readers and soon-to-be fans?

I love that part. I’m a fan of the genre and its community. I’ll tell you the truth—no B.S.—it was mega-cool just having the brief exchange with you as we started getting this interview set up. I’ve been a reader of your blog forever. Not to suggest you’re a fan, but merely that connecting with folks who care about this field is something I enjoy more than you could know. The work I do on my website I do because it’s the kind of thing I always like to find on the sites of other writers and journalists in and around fantasy.

- What authors make you shake your head in admiration? Many speculative fiction authors don't read much inside the genre. Is it the case with you?

I read both in and out of the genre. One guy I think is woefully under-appreciated is Dan Simmons. He hasn’t written an out-and-out fantasy, but he’s written just about everything else. And then there’s Stephen King. It’s easy to knock King, because he’s been at or near the top for so long. But when you break down his craft, you start to see that his toolbox overfloweth. Inside genre, Martin for sure. Sanderson for sure. Oh, this list could get long . . .

- You are working on a concept album based on THE UNREMEMBERED. Can you tell us a bit more about this project?

Love to. Concept albums as companions to novels have been done before. Not often. But they’ve been done. But almost without exception they’re retellings of the book. That bores me. What I’m doing is what I call additive storytelling. I have a magic system based on music in my world. One of the manifestations of this is an order of people called Maesteri, and a song known as the Song of Suffering. So to avoid just doing a big data-dump in the novel about it, I don’t spend 50 pages on how it works; rather I’ve tried to provide enough, then keep the narrative moving. But, with the concept album, I’ll be telling the story of the early life of one of these Maesteri (stewards of the Song of Suffering), and providing insight into the Song itself. The result is that, while it’s not necessary to hear the album to enjoy the novel, those who do listen to it will have a deeper appreciation for parts of the book. And vice versa. I’ll be posting the lyrics, so that folks who aren’t music aficionados like myself can simply read the lyrics if they’d like. But I’m a music fiend, and those of similar ilk, I think, will dig the album. It’s in the vein of Dream Theater, Queensryche, Disturbed, etc, so if that’s not your thing, fair enough. But there you go. The whole affair has been a lot of fun, since it’s allowing me to combine two of my passions.

- You have also written a number of thrillers and more mainstream works that you are trying to get published. What can you tell us about them?

Yeah, my very first novel was a horror novel, which I’m still really quite proud of. I’ve got two completed thrillers that I’m sitting on for now, since I’m focusing on The Vault of Heaven. I have a half-written mainstream work. And I’ve no end of ideas for future stuff. I’ve three big projects that will follow VoH—two of which are in the fantasy genre. The horror novel keys off of T.S. Eliot’s “The Hollow Men.” One thriller works from the premise of gene-therapy; and the other thriller is super-secret, since I think it may be one of the next things I sell. So, that’s a glimpse. All of it, though, is on hold. Vault of Heaven is my sole focus right now.

- Given the choice, would you take a New York Times bestseller, or a World Fantasy/Hugo Award? Why, exactly?

Man, good question. To the degree that a Times list inclusion means a lot of sales, I’d probably take that, since my goal is to have people read the book. If, on the other hand, being acknowledged with one of the awards you mention got me to the same goal, that’d serve. Because here’s the thing, I’m still working a day job, and so I’m not rationing my funds to buy peanut butter. Which is to say, I’m not in it for the money. What I _am_ interested in is having folks read and enjoy the tales I tell.

- More and more, authors/editors/publicists/agents are discovering the potential of all the SFF blogs/websites/message boards on the internet. Even though THE UNREMEMBERED has not yet been released, do you keep an eye on what's being discussed out there, especially if it concerns you? Or is it too much of a distraction?

You’re psychic with this question. I’ve been reading/following/watching for ages. And when my own stuff started showing up it was a thrill, and then as things started getting closer, I realized that I needed to remain focused on the writing, so I’ve had to start exercising some discretion, since I have a deadline on book two.

- Anything you wish to add?

Not really, other than to say thanks to you, Pat, for taking the time. And thanks, too, to anyone whose spent time reading this and (potentially) my novel. I genuinely appreciate the demands on people’s time these days. It always seems there so much to do and so little time to do it. And where me and my stories are concerned, rest assured that I’m taking great care to weave the plot carefully, to evolve it past your assumptions, and to lead you someplace I think is awesome . . . and worth your time.

This week's New York Times Bestsellers (March 15th)

In hardcover:

Patrick Rothfuss' The Wise Man's Fear debuts at number 1. For more info about this title: Canada, USA, Europe.

Patricia Briggs' River Marked debuts at number 3.

Deborah Harkness' A Discovery of Witches is down two spots, finishing the week at number 6. For more info about this title: Canada, USA, Europe.

Kim Harrison's Pale Demon is down seven positions, ending the week at number 9.

Anne Bishop's Twilight's Dawn debuts at number 14.

Karen Marie Moning's Shadowfever is down seven spots, finishing the week at number 28.

Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson's Towers of Midnight is up three positions, ending the week at number 30. For more info about this title: Canada, USA, Europe.

In paperback:

Steven Erikson's The Crippled God debuts at number 12 (trade paperback). For more info about this title: Canada, USA, Europe.

Jim Butcher's Changes debuts at number 13.

Rob Thurman's Blackout debuts at number 19.

Patrick Rothfuss' The Name of the Wind debuts at number 31 (trade paperback).