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Gail Carriger interviews Lilith Saintcrow

Lilith Saintcrow launches  a new steampunk series this August with THE IRON WYRM AFFAIR (US | UK | AUS).  Adventure and intrigue lie in wait for detective duo Bannon and Clare as they try to unravel the mystery behind a string of murders targeting London’s geniuses. You can read the first chapter here and get a sense of  Emma Bannon’s sharp wit.   This novel is a ton of fun so we thought: what could be more fun than bringing two charming ladies like Gail Carriger and Lilith Saintcrow together to introduce this new novel?

Read on to find out several fun and interesting facts about Lilith and THE IRON WYRM AFFAIR and find out which character(s) Lilith would most like to slap.

About you, the Author!

Gail: Tea or coffee and how do you take it?

Lilith: Yes to both. Coffee I take as espresso with a little heavy cream, tea I take mostly with gingersnaps. But there’s nothing like a cuppa when the day’s going dreadfully.

Gail: Describe your personal style for author appearances.

Lilith: You mean other than the perfume of complete terror? I have dreadful social anxiety. Normally I’m in jeans, a T-shirt with no holes, boots, and eyeliner. I agonize over appearances, they’re nerve-wracking. I have to wear something I can run in if the zombie apocalypse occurs.

Gail: If I were to observe the writer beast in its native environment, what surprising thing might I see? What does the environment look like?

Lilith: A tall glass of water with a squirt of Key Lime juice in it. That’s my preferred drink while writing. Also, a statue of Ganesh the Remover of Obstacles as writer right next to my computer, and on the other side a bonsai tree. It used to be the Saddest Little Bonsai In All The World, because the cat wanted to chew on it, and on my desk is the one place the cat can’t get to it. So the bonsai is recovering now. Also, there are a bunch of 3×5 notecards with different notes and page numbers on them, and a Keep Calm and Carry On paperweight.

(more…)

An Interview With Some Vampires

Jaye Wells is something of an expert on the undead. After writing five sexy paranormal fantasy novels featuring the kickass Sabina Kane, she knows all the major players in the vampire underworld. Collected here a five interviews with some of the biggest names in the bloodletting business.

To find out more about Jaye, the books, and her upcoming events and promotions – visit her website.

“I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: this series will go down as one of the best paranormal fantasy sagas of all time and Sabina Kane will be remembered as one of paranormal fantasy’s most iconic heroines. ” – Paul Goat Allen, BN.com.

Terry Brooks, Patrick Rothfuss and The Measure of the Magic

The cover for the fantasy novel The Measure of the Magic by fantasy legend Terry Brooks, who recently interviewed Patrick Rothfuss

In case you’ve missed it, the fantasy legends Terry Brooks and Patrick Rothfuss have been interviewing each other on their websites throughout July, and it makes for some very compelling reading . . . 

My personal highlights include Terry describing himself as being like the OCD-ridden TV detective Monk, and where Pat talks about skipping his writing teacher’s class to go on a date with that same teacher’s daughter. Very sneaky indeed.

Check out part one here on Terry’s site. Also, check out this awesome cartoon of the two of them.

Don’t forget also that Terry’s conclusion to the Legends of Shannara duology, The Measure of the Magic (UK | ANZ), is released tomorrow in paperback! Read an extract here. And here’s what fans have been saying on online retailer sites about the book:

”Terry Brooks is one of the best fantasy novelists of our time . . . He does not disappoint his many fans with this latest book’ Dee

‘Terry Brooks continues to be my longest standing favourite author’ S. Wilson

The cover for the fantasy novel Wards of Faerie by Terry Brooks, who recently interviewed Patrick Rothfuss‘This is a really great series of books that have haunting and fleeting references to present worldwide problems. Long may he keep on writing these great books’ Colin L. Williams

There’s also not long to wait now until Terry’s brand new series begins with The Dark Legacy of Shannara: Wards of Faerie (UK | ANZ) – released 23rd August. 

If you like what you hear above, this will a great place for any new readers to jump in and experience the Terry phenomenon!

CHIMERA: the final installment of The Subterrene War

CHIMERA (US | UK | AUS), the concluding volume of the Subterrene War series is available now!

As with GERMLINE (US | UK | AUS) and EXOGENE (US |UK | AUS), CHIMERA follows a different combatant into the dark underbelly of the warfront. Escaped Germline soldiers need to be disposed of quickly, and Stan Resnick is just the man for that job.

Back in June, T.C. McCarthy first introduced us to Stan Resnick saying,

“If Germline and Exogene are character studies about a man who can’t handle war and a girl who rejects it, respectively, then Chimera is a study of someone for whom war is a natural habitat: Stan Resnick. I’ve seen this. These types of soldiers exist — ones who genuinely thrive in settings that would make most of us want to huddle under a rock and stay there until everything dies down.”

You can read the entire article here and find out how his short story, SUNSHINE, connects to the secrets that are revealed in CHIMERA.

Pick up CHIMERA today or start elsewhere in this rich and complex setting featuring a futuristic world at war.  There are many ways to immerse yourself in The Subterrene War series, including short fiction and video.

 “The highly detailed, brutal depiction of futuristic warfare brilliantly complements the intimate narrative, which examines the insanity of war and those personally affected by it. Breathtaking and heartrending, this is the future of military science fiction.”  – Publishers Weekly, starred review

Hugo Awards voting reminder!

Voting  for the Hugo Awards closes tomorrow, July 31st! You can see the full list of nominees on the Chicon 7 website.

When you’re voting, don’t forget to consider works by some of our fabulous Orbit authors. Mira Grant’s DEADLINE (US | UK | ANZ) and James S.A. Corey’s LEVIATHAN WAKES (US | UK | ANZ) are both up for the Hugo Award for Best Novel, while Mira Grant’s COUNTDOWN, published as part of the Orbit Short Fiction program, is up for Best Novella.

Mira Grant, as Seanan McGuire, is up for another two Hugos: for Best Related Work for her album Wicked Girls and for Best Fancast as part of SF Squeecast. This ties the record for nominations on a single Hugo slate, and marks the first time a woman has been nominated for four Hugo Awards in the same year.

Mur Lafferty, author of the upcoming THE SHAMBLING GUIDE TO NEW YORK CITY, is also a finalist for the John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer.

The game is afoot! Read an excerpt from THE IRON WYRM AFFAIR.

Deduction and magic combine in a new Steampunk series by Lilith Saintcrow that debuts next month. It’s the first book that features detective duo Emma Bannon and Archibald Clare.

Whether you are a current fan of Lilith’s novels or someone who loves a good mystery with a Steampunk twist– THE IRON WYRM AFFAIR (US | UK | AUS) is a book you’ll want to investigate further. Publishers Weekly gave this book a starred review saying, “sensual writing, intricate plotting, and sympathetically quirky, satisfyingly competent characters make this series one to watch.”

Here is the first chapter. Enjoy!

Chapter One: A Pleasant Evening Ride

Emma Bannon, Sorceress Prime and servant to Britannia’s current incarnation, mentally ran through every foul word that would never cross the lips of a lady. She timed them to the clockhorse’s steady jogtrot, and her awareness dilated. The simmering cauldron of the streets was just as it always was; there was no breath of ill intent.

Of course, there had not been earlier, either, when she had been a quarter-hour too late to save the other unregistered mentath. It was only one of the many things about this situation seemingly designed to try her often considerable patience.

Mikal would be taking the rooftop road, running while she sat at ease in a hired carriage. It was the knowledge that while he did  so he could forget some things that eased her conscience, though not completely.

Click to read more.

Wallpapers for GOD SAVE THE QUEEN by Kate Locke

Hey Ladies and Gentlemen, fans of all things Steampunk and Vampiric and Victoriana: for your device’s pleasure we have made you some fantastic God Save The Queen wallpapers! Please plaster across all your screens and enjoy at your leisure. We have also started making facebook timeline headers for your social media adornment!

For more info on the making of the cover, please stay tuned for a behind the scenes video of the photoshoot coming soon!

1024 x 768 | 1280 x 800 | 1440 x 900 | 1680 x 1050 |1920 x 1200 | iPhone | iPad | Facebook

Cover release: STRAY SOULS by Kate Griffin

As SFX Magazine said this month, Kate Griffin’s acclaimed Matthew Swift novels ‘tell of a parallel and eldritch capital’. In her new book STRAY SOULS [UK | US | ANZ] coming out this October, we find ourselves in the same fantastical London as the Matthew Swift novels, but with a new twist – meet Sharon Li: barista and shaman, on whose shoulders rest the fate of the city. Matthew Swift makes an appearance too, but it’s Sharon and her friends at Magicals Anonymous (a self-help group for people with magical issues) who must step up to save the day.

Here, just for you, we can now exclusively reveal the jacket, put together by our very own UK creative director Duncan Spilling:

First in the Magicals Anonymous series 

STRAY SOULS will be out worldwide from Orbit in simultaneous paperback and ebook this October.

Kim Stanley Robinson reads from 2312

“One stands on a pebble next to a star…”

In his stunning novel, 2312 [UK | US | ANZ], Kim Stanley Robinson combines detailed research with a vivid imagination to create the most incredible descriptions of our galaxy 300 years in the future.  While he was in the UK, we filmed him reading from the book at Toppings in Bath (big thank you to Jeanette Weston at Magus Studios).

Here he reads a passage depicting dawn on the planet Mercury… prepare to be entranced.

And for a chance to win a SIGNED hardback of 2312, comment below with your favourite quote from the reading!  (Terms and Conditions apply)

http://youtu.be/kRHOX8mRALE

BITTER SEEDS – a classified report

C L A S S I F I E DThe briliant debut novel BITTER SEEDS from Ian Tregillis - a supernatural alternate history of World War II where British Warlocks combat Nazi superhumans   I N F O R M A T I O N

YEAR: 1939.                 PROJECT: Milkweed

Raybould Marsh and other members of British Intelligence recently seized a damaged reel of film from enemy territory.

It appears to show German troops walking through walls, bursting into flames and hurling tanks into the air from afar.

This film, along with other classified reports, confirms our worst fears: that a Nazi scientist has been endowing German troops with unnatural, unstoppable powers.

British Intelligence may be forced to resort to our own dark methods to hold the impending invasion at bay.

– – – End of report – – –

Bitter Seeds (UK | ANZ), the phenomenal debut novel from Ian Tregillis, is released today. Read an extract here.

‘A major talent . . . I can’t wait to see more’ George R. R. Martin 

‘Mad English warlocks battling twisted Nazi psychics? Yes please, thank  you . . . A white-knuckle plot, beautiful  descriptions, and complex  characters’ Cory Doctorow

‘Remarkable . . . A confident and thrilling debut’ SFX Magazine

‘ Just superb’ Fantasy Book Critic

‘Tregillis delivers a dynamite first novel in Bitter Seeds’ SFRevu

‘Nothing short of an awesome read as far as I’m concerned’ Graeme’s Fantasy Book Review

‘Easily one of the most impressive debut works I’ve read’ Bookworm Blues