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Charities and Giving – Want to Join Me?

So I’ve been meaning to work on my charity donations for a while now, and I’m only just getting around to it, because sometimes I’m easily-distracted.

But really, this stuff is important. And normally, this isn’t the kind of thing I’d publicize. We don’t do good for the praise of others, and that’s even Biblical (“Beware of practicing your righteousness before men to be noticed by them,” Matthew 6:1). So I wasn’t sure I should share this at all. But it occurred to me that if I did, others might be inspired to donate too, or even just become aware of some issues and needs that they weren’t previously aware of. So please read this post in that light.

Fae

Cover Reveal: FAE

illustration from a book of fairy tales, the t...
illustration from a book of fairy tales, the tale is “Childe Roland” (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

You’ve probably heard of the survival of the fittest? It’s where things first broke down. An immortal doesn’t have to be fit for anything; he’s going to survive anyway. Immortality was evolution’s biggest screw-up, and any ecosphere worth its salt is going to do its best to make sure an immortal never breeds.

But they try.

This is the opening of “And Only the Eyes of Children,” my urban fantasy short appearing in Fae. Fae is an anthology edited by Rhonda Parrish, full of fairy tales quite unlike traditional nursery stories.

It’s a pretty cool book, I’m really looking forward to it, and today I get to share the cover with you! Also, a contest, because we want to.

Ready?

Laura speaking on Japanese Folklore at ACen

I’ll be speaking at ACen (also known as Anime Central) this weekend on a number of topics, including Japanese Folklore & Mythology. The talk isn’t strictly limited to Japanese tales, but that will be the focus since ACen is an anime, manga, and J-culture convention. Admission is by convention… 

Release today: CON JOB

Con JobYep, today Con Job officially hits the market! Whee!

(Okay, okay, you newsletter subscribers who got it early and at a discount, quit waving copies and looking smug. You’ll make everyone else feel bad.)

But here’s a bonus: all on their own, Amazon decided to put the paperback on sale for the launch!

New Interview at Examiner, on CON JOB

Rachel Desilets was kind enough to interview me for the Examiner.com book section, and you can read it today! She asks some fun questions about Con Job. You can find it over here!

Tsubasa: RESERVoir CHRoNiCLE, by CLAMP

CLAMP and CLUTCH: the art

In Con Job, Jacob and Samantha discover a gorgeous costume, based on a design by the famous artists CLUTCH. This is an unashamedly blatant reference to the famous creators CLAMP.

CLAMP is a Japanese art group known for their characters’ distinctive elongated style and ridiculously detailed, impractical-but-drool-worthy fashions. It’s a sure bet that CLAMP art will feature ruffles, buckles, feathered wings, or all three. Also, there’s a good chance of a one-eyed character.

Watanuki, from xxxHolic, by CLAMP

It’s all fun and games until someone loses an eye; then it’s CLAMP.

— common joke among fans


Oops! No Requirement To Share

Hi, all! It was brought to my attention that the blog was “locked” to reading unless you the reader agreed to “like” or share the post. Nope! This was never supposed to happen! I found a plugin with a pay-with-a-like “feature” activated. I suspect it got turned on during… 

Of Music and Scrooge McDuck

The Life and Times of Scrooge McDuck Collected...
The Life and Times of Scrooge McDuck Collected Edition cover. Art by Don Rosa. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I’m listening to a comic book soundtrack, and I’m nowhere close to ashamed.

Tuomas Holopainen — you might know him as the founder of symphonic metal wizards Nightwish — has released an album “inspired by the Life and Times of Scrooge McDuck.” And it’s pretty darn good.

CON JOB — Cover Reveal!

I am ridiculously excited to get to share this with you.

I asked Kristie Good of Crash Bang Labs to do the Con Job cover art, in great part because she is also a longtime geek and would understand the flavor such a cover needed. Kristie does comics as well as artwork, so check them out on her site.

She obliged with very fun, manga-inspired front and back cover art. The front features our protagonist Jacob and his friend Sam, and the back shows their friends Jessica and Zach in their costumes. I have the front here for you today.

Are you ready? Can I get a drum roll, please?