It wouldn't be the holidays without...

Feline and fake evergreen pic spam.



And too many German angels sharing company with a Leopard's Leap mask.



Wishing you the very best of the holidays, however you choose to celebrate, and a happy, healthy, prosperous 2011!

Holiday Author Gala & Early Holiday Present

Two early presents, really. The first is the gala itself. This Saturday, December 18, 7-9 p.m., the Borders at 4420 Mitchellville Road, Bowie, MD 20716, will host a book signing featuring:

- Rising romantic suspense star Jeanne Adams,

- Bestselling science fiction and fantasy writer Catherine Asaro,

- Break-out historical romance author Grace Burrowes,

- Award-winning children's author Deborah Da Costa,

- Three time Nebula Award nominee and veteran SF short story writer Bud Sparhawk, and

- Me.

Just in time for your holiday buying. And to help you get into the spirit of the holidays, there will be music by Catherine and Donald Wolcott. How can you you go wrong?

The second present arrived in my email earlier tonight: the Letter of Agreement for Dragon*Con 25. Nine months away and my mind is already there.

Shameless Interview Promotion

Not an interview with me (hey, I heard that sigh of relief!) but the latest in my six-part series of interviews with vampire authors at Buzzy Multimedia. Today's victim--er, subject is Jeri Smith-Ready, author of the WVMP series about vampire DJs and lots more. You'll like it. Jeri's as much fun as her books.
Cheers!

Saturday Six: Snapshots of CapClave 2010

Jeri Smith-Ready (left) and Mindy Klasky sign autographs at CapClave 2010.

I know, I've been a bad blogger. I've been lost in the Revision Cave. But I couldn't let the month past without a report on CapClave 2010. It's all here. Enjoy!

Smiley's Song

(To the tune of “The Volga Boatman”)

I’m a sad spy. (Uh.)

Such a sad spy. (Uh.)

I’m a gloomy twisted mother,

Fated to betray my brother.

I’m a sad spy. (Uh.)

Such a sad spy. (Uh.)

#


Blame Greg. He was the one watching a spy movie when I woke up this a.m.
Happy voting!

For your Halloween pleasure: new stuff!

Just in time for Halloween, I've updated the JeanMarieWard.com "And Stuff" page with links to two real life ghost stories:

"Everyday Haunts" -- You think you know your neighborhood? Maybe it's time to talk to the resident ghosts. (And check out the great cover J.C. Wilder found for the story. Is that a great door to mystery or what?)

"Real Weird" -- More spooky stories from the most ordinary house on the block.

Happy haunting! And don't forget, I'll be signing Dragon's Lure and Fantasy Art Templates at Tea With the Authors at Constellation Books in Reisterstown, Maryland, from 3-5 p.m., Saturday, October 30. Looking forward to seeing you there.

Dragons & Fairies & Book Signing, Oh My!

Is Jon Stewart's Rally to Restore Sanity too crazy for you...or not insane enough?

What you need is a large dose of bacon-loving dragons and bad-assed fairies. To get it, join me for Tea with the Authors at Constellation Books, 303 Main Street, Reisterstown, MD 21136, this Saturday, October 30, from 3-5 p.m.

The event also features my partners-in-crime--er, fantasy--er, fellow writers Danielle Ackley-McPhail, Vonnie Winslow Crist, Kelly A. Harmon and Robert E. Waters. The spotlighted books will be Dragon's Lure (which includes my short story "Lord Bai's Discovery") and Bad-Assed Fairies 3: Halfling's Court.

There will be tea, cookies, costumes, readings and lots of fun. Hope to see you there!

The Week of a Thousand Blogs continues

Yeah, I know "three" is a long way from "a thousand', but with the house in chaos from drywall repairs and painters (who used the WRONG PAINT, so we had industrial fans running in front of open windows all night-grrrrrrr), it sure feels like it. This time it's my Samhain blog offering a few of my choicer real life tales of the weird. Think of it as a companion piece to the Samhellion freebie scheduled for later in the month. Creeeeeepy. Mwahahahaha!

Blogging at History Hoydens today

Thanks to the kindness of Diane Whiteside, I'm blogging at History Hoydens today. The article covers the joys and frustrations of building a fantasy world set in Ming Dynasty China. If you're working in that period, too, maybe the links will help--or maybe you have better ones to share. ;-)

It's Capclave Time Again

Halloween is my favorite time of year, not only do I get to celebrate my favorite holiday, I get to play at Capclave, the Washington DC area’s literary science fiction, fantasy and horror convention focusing on the short fiction form, held at the Hilton Washington DC/Rockville MD Executive Meeting Center, October 22-24. This year’s guests of honor are Connie Willis (writing), and Ann and Jeff VanderMeer (editing).

My schedule comprises two panels, a workshop and the ever popular Broad Universe Rapid Fire Reading, where I just might read from “Siren Bridge”. It’s strudel weather, after all.

Friday, 7 p.m.
Mutants: Gift or Curse? (Ends at: 8:00 pm)
Location: Plaza II M
Panelists: C.J. Henderson, Robert Scott, Jean Marie Ward
What are the joys and pains of being a zombie, vampire, werewolf? Discussion of trends in depictions of mutants in books, films, comics, and popular culture.

Friday, 8 p.m.
Writers and the Internet: When is Enough Enough? (Ends at: 9:00 pm)
Location: Plaza II
Panelists: Oz Drummond, Walter H. Hunt, Tee Morris, Karen Wester Newton, Jeff VanderMeer, Jean Marie Ward
How much of the Internet is needed for an author to successfully promote themselves and their works? And how much is too much?

Saturday, 2 p.m.
Reviewer's Workshop (Ends at: 4:00 pm)
Location: Randolph
Panelists: Doug Fratz, Peter Heck (M), Jean Marie Ward
A good reviewer does more then read free books and say "I like that". The panelists will demonstrate the hallmarks of a good review and how to create one. Did we mention Peter Heck is a regular reviewer for Asimov's Science Fiction?

Saturday, 7 p.m.
Broad Universe RapidFire Reading (Ends at: 8:00 pm)
Location: Montrose
Panelists: Roxanne Bland, Oz Drummond, Kelly A. Harmon, Dina Leacock, Jean Marie Ward
The women authors of Broad Universe serve up tasty bites of fiction...and free chocolate!

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Note: The Fannish Dodo illustrating this post is the Capclave mascot, created by Lynn Perkins in 2005.