Busy Busy Busy

I’ve had an incredibly mad week at work.  Though we are expecting some major announcements next week (job cuts anyone?), so I’m guessing that being busy is better than sitting around doing nothing.  Errmm.  Let’s see.

So anyway, I missed Keishon’s TBR Challenge this week.  For the first time ever.  Am slightly annoyed with myself, seeing that I had the book picked out and everything, but it just didn’t happen.

I have so far read a grand total of four books in February and there is only one more week in this month.  I’m doing rather dismally.

I have bought the anthology “The Mammoth Book of Paranormal Romance” though, and in the interest of actually providing some useful information on my blog this week (as opposed to having a general moan), here’s the link to its Table of Contents, listing author and story.  Plus a few pages of Carrie Vaughn’s contribution.

And because this is something I like to know, of the stories I’ve read so far written by authors I’m familiar with:

• Ms Vaughn’s story is very possibly set in the same world as her Kitty books, but there’s no crossover
   
• Kelley Armstrong’s “Paranormal Romance Blues”: Otherworld setting, and Cassandra and Aaron make a cameo appearance
   
• Ilona Andrews’ “Grace of Small Magics”: New world (love the title!)
   

And ummm… that’s it.  I did say I really hadn’t read that much this month. 

Okay, I skimmed the others:

• Rachel Caine’s story features Joanne and David (and its title is “Blue Crush: A Weather Warden story”)
   
• I didn’t recognise any of the characters in Meljean Brook’s contribution so it may or may not be a Guardian story (this is so helpful)
   
• Sherrilyn Kenyon’s story mentions Avalon, so it must be set in her Lords of Avalon series which I haven’t read
   
• Maria V Snyder’s story has a contemporary setting, so it’s not set in her Study world
   
• Mary Jo Putney’s story “The Tuesday Enchantress” (love this title too) has “A Guardian Story” as the subtitle, but a contemporary setting so I’m slightly confused.  Possibly featuring a descendant from her historical series.

 

Any other questions, feel free to ask.

Okay, This is Scary

So who else yelped when they opened their email and saw this photo?

I really hope that’s not meant to be Acheron.

Around the Web

Patricia Briggs has put up the cover for the third Mercy book (“Iron Kissed”, out January 2008).  Is it just me, or does the cover model look different in this one?  Actually, I thought the model for the second book looked different to the first book as well, so never mind.   

Naomi Novik‘s announced the title of the fifth Temeraire book – “Victory of Eagles”, coming out June 2008.  The fourth book “Empire of Ivory” is out in September – not long more!

I signed up for Sherrilyn Kenyon‘s newsletter and she (or her publisher, anyway) has been emailing me excerpts from her latest book “Fear the Darkness”.  So if you’re interested, go and sign up.  Which reminds me – I still haven’t read her latest book ”The Dream-Hunter”.

ETA:  Just checked the UK release date for the Temeraire novel and it’s November.  And in hardcover (and double the price).  Methinks I may just be getting the US edition…

Around the Web

I posted previously about wanting to get Sharon Lee and Steve Miller‘s “Web of the Trident”, which was “indefinitely delayed” for an unspecified reason.  I’m now guessing this is why - their publisher Meisha Merlin has closed its doors.  Sigh.  I’m not sure what that means for future Korval stories.  However, the authors are still doing their online serialisation “Fledgling”, which is set in the Korval universe.

There is an interview with the Dabel Brothers here (via SFBC), who are probably best-known in the romance world for their Anita Blake comic books.  Halfway down, they make mention of Kinley MacGregor‘s “Lords of Avalon” series – apparently, that’s going to be turned into a comic too.  Interesting!  Ms MacGregor is probably better known as Sherrilyn Kenyon (err… that may depend on whether you prefer historicals or paranormals) – but anyway, I would have thought there would have been a larger audience for her Dark Hunter books, as opposed to the LoA series.  Of course, I say this not having read the LoA series…

Around the Web – Sherrilyn Kenyon

It’s now February and for some reason, instead of being really cold and gloomy, it’s a very sunny and warm spring-like day here in London.  I’m not complaining!

Here’s an interview with Sherrilyn Kenyon (via SFBC).  It’s a rather long article, but contains some interesting bits of info – well worth reading!  Her books aren’t usually on my must-read list, but are usually a fun way to spend some time (and I probably have most of her backlist). 

On a related note, Ms Kenyon’s website has been revamped since the last time I visited (or at least I think it has – it’s not one of my regular haunts).  She’s also offering a free e-book called “Fear the Darkness” that apparently explains the connection between her Dark-Hunters and Dream-Hunters – I’ve just requested it via email.