Cover (VIDEO) Launch: DANTE VALENTINE

I know I skipped a week (I’ve been busy working on the Spring/Summer 2011 season), so to make up for it I give you not only a cover launch but also a fun behind-the-scenes video I made at the photo shoot for the collected edition of Lilith Saintcrow’s Dante Valentine Series.

I know a lot of you are already familiar with the five books of the Dante Valentine series, and as a fan myself, I was excited to get a chance to try a new look for Dante. The original series covers were very cool and graphic, but we felt for the relaunch with the Omnibus edition we wanted to go for a whole new look, and it would be fun to get a chance to actually personify Dante in the flesh. (more…)

What would you put in your apocalypse pack?

The year is 2014.  A virus has been released that is turning the majority of the population into rabid, flesh-eating monsters. NOT COOL. You’re being forced to flee your home and can only take three things with you . . . tough call, but what would you pack?

To celebrate the fact that Feed (UK/US/AUS) is now out in the UK, we asked the author Mira Grant for her top three zombie-apocalpyse essentials. Every gal’s gotta have ’em! They are the following:

1) My house earthquake kit. Yes, it’s cheating a little, but if I have an apocalypse, I’m going to grab my pre-packed backpack full of water purification tablets, protein bars, multi-vitamins, first aid supplies, and knives.  That’s what an earthquake kit is for.

2) A folding stock pump shotgun. Simple, effective, commonly used by law enforcement agencies, which will make ammunition easy to find once the initial looting of the Wal-Marts and gun shops has otherwise exhausted the supply.

3) My easily irritated, extremely clingy Siamese cat. Not even a zombie is going to function very well when hit with a face full of pissed-off clawing white thing with a score to settle.  And trust me, you make her go outside, she’s got a score to settle with you.

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Griffin spotted in Trafalgar Square!

The griffins have landed in the UK! Here’s one of the majestic beasts caught on camera causing havoc in London just today. With the arrival of these ferocious creatures of fire, it may be that half of the city will turn to desert by this evening . . .

We’re wondering if you’ve spotted any griffins in your local vicinity? Send your reports and photos to orbit@littlebrown.co.uk and we’ll reward the five most vigilant (and creative) people with copies of the first two books in the Griffin Mage series: Lord of the Changing Winds (UK/US/AUS) and Land of Burning Sands (UK/ US/ AUS). They’re released this month and next month in the UK, and are already available in the US.

The author, Rachel Neumeier – a long-term griffin observer and specialist – may be able to offer some helpful advice for dealing with any griffin nuisances in your local area. You can read Rachel’s account of what happens when griffins and humans clash on the SFX website. And for further information on the author, see her brand new website, launched just last week: www.rachelneumeier.com

Interview With Tom Holt

BLONDE BOMBSHELL is Tom Holt’s hilarious science-fictional debut and features one of the most fiendishly clever weapons of mass destruction you are likely to encounter. With the future of mankind possibly at stake, we did what any publisher would do. We asked the author some questions and then hid under a table.

10. How smart can a missile really be?

Not that smart, or it wouldn’t allow itself to get blown up to further a socio-political disagreement between partially evolved primates. I wouldn’t want to play chess with one, though.

9. Could the events you describe in the book actually happen?

Actually, they already did (see below; extensive research), though the Orbit guys have done a great job blaming the ash cloud on the Icelanders. As with all my novels, nearly all the non-fiction bits are partially true. (more…)

Deals and Deliveries!

Yes, too many too count!

First in, we have Rachel Aaron finishing up the Legend of Eli Monpress series with Spirit War (MM in September 2011) and Spirit’s End (MM in Summer 2012) . Her first book will be out this October, The Spirit Thief, followed by The Spirit Rebellion and The Spirit Eater in November and December consecutively.

We’re excited to publish three more Jane True books from Nicole Peeler. The second of which, Tracking the Tempest, is just out this July.

Gail Carriger will be giving us two more Parasol Protectorate Books: Heartless (MM in July 2011) and Timeless (MM in Winter 2012).  Her second book, Changeless, just hit the New York Times Bestseller list this April.

We have a few deliveries that you might be interested to know that they’re in and in the pipeline for publication: Black Prism by Brent Weeks (HC in August 2010), Flip This Zombie by Jesse Petersen (MM in January 2011), Green Eyed Demon by Jaye Wells (MM in March 2011), Cold Magic by Kate Elliott (TP in September 2010), Bitten in Two by Jennifer Rardin (TP in November 2010), Law of the Broken Earth by Rachel Neumeier (MM in December 2010) and Tempest’s Legacy by Nicole Peeler (MM in January 2011).

Stealing Fire is out!

Stealing FireI’m so excited to announce the publication of Stealing Fire by Jo Graham. Jo Graham has written two novels with Orbit previously: Black Ships and Hand of Isis.   A historical writer in the tradition of Judith Tarr and Marion Zimmer Bradley, Jo writes about characters whose voices echo down the ages.  Her writing is absolutely lyrical and Stealing Fire was an absolute pleasure to read.

Lydias of Miletus was once a solider of Alexander’s. But now that Alexander the Great is dead, Lydias has thrown his lot in with Ptolemy, one of Alexander’s generals who has grabbed Egypt as his personal territory. Aided by the eunuch Bagoas, the Persian archer Artashir, and the Athenian courtesan Thais, Ptolemy and Lydias must take on all the contenders in a desperate adventure whose prize is the fate of a white city by the sea, and Alexander’s legacy.

Orbit/Yen Seeks Junior Designer

Instead of this week’s scheduled cover post (and it’s a good one, as those of you who were at BEA this weekend and got a sneak peak can attest) I have for you some very exciting news. We are looking to hire one fabulously talented junior designer to join our art department. You will be answering directly to yours truly, and working on both Orbit books and Yen Press titles. (A double bonus for all you manga fans out there.) Orbit and Yen have both been taking on fabulous projects, and we need the help giving everything the art attention it deserves. It’s a great entry-level opportunity for someone with the proper design experience and who has interest in our debates over spaceship design, breeds of mythological creatures, and dissecting manga pages. (more…)

Griffins!

Land of the Burning SandsAt Orbit, we love to try something new… and in this case, the something new was Griffins. We are publishing Lord of the Changing Winds and Land of the Burning Sands in May and June.

When I first read Rachel, I was instantly transported to my favorite book as a child, The Forgotten Beasts of Eld by Patricia McKillip.  I thought Rachel’s story of the relationship between griffins and mortals in a world where magic and science coincide was too amazing to pass up.  So of course, I bought the whole series – just so I could read it in one go!

They are both out now so you can grab them at your nearest bookstore – and the final book in the trilogy, Law of the Broken Earth, will be out this December.  So all three books out in six months.

Trudi Canavan booksigning – Melbourne

Trudi Canavan’s debut series, Black Magician Trilogy, made her an international success, and all three volumes of her Age of the Five trilogy were Sunday Times bestsellers in the UK. Trudi Canavan lives in Melbourne, Australia, and her latest novel, The Ambassador’s Mission, is the compelling first volume in the sequel to the bestselling Black Magician Trilogy.

BOOK SIGNING: Saturday 5 June, 12-1:30pm

RICHMOND – VICTORIA GARDENS

Shop F11 Victoria Gardens Shopping Centre

Cnr Burnley & Victoria Streets Richmond  3121  AUSTRALIA

Phone: 03 9421 8817

Alexander and Realism

I’ve been seeing some interesting discussions around lately about realism in fiction — to wit, that positive portrayals of various human experiences and relationships were “unrealistic” and ought to be confined to the lowest forms of genre fiction.

Really? Is that what we really believe as a society?

In real life, all parents are evil, all relationships are dysfunctional, all faith is delusion and all trust is misplaced. All heroes are liars. All leaders are thieves. All love is codependent. All sex is hurtful. All beauty is illusion.

I feel very, very sorry for anyone whose life is so sad that this is their reality. It’s not my reality. I utterly and totally reject the idea that fiction must be dark and depressing to be realistic. (more…)