Who Will Be the Next American Hero?
I can’t tell … and if you want some clues, go here.
Click there now and check it out. Seriously. I’ll still be here when you get back.
Y’all know, probably (and if you don’t, hang around a spell and it’ll all become abundantly clear) that I’m more than somewhat slightly skeptical and cynical about conventional Big House publishing and publishers.
That said, Tor Books so far are doing a bang-up job promoting our spanky-brand-new Wild Cards offering, Inside Straight
I’m basically in love with the site. Along with a very fine-looking logo we have brilliant headshots of all the contestant aces (I love Toadie’s big ol’ eye just staring at you) taken from the big group pictures done by artist Mike S. Miller. Farther down, past the first of what will be a continuing series of “confessionals” by the contestants, and a description of the reality-television series which drives the plot for much of the book, we see the group portraits themselves, along with rosters. Fortunately you can click on the group shots for larger versions, which is a good thing, because they’re freakin’ gorgeous.
They’re also, according to the characters’ creators - I’m not one, incidentally - pretty accurate, allowing for a wisp of artistic license. Frankly, from what I’ve read, they’re far, far closer to the characters as described than most illustrations I’ve seen. Indeed, I wish I’d had these pix to refer to when I was writing my sequences for the (ahem!) next volume, Busted Flush. Since some of the characters pictured play prominent roles in my contributions.
Ah, well. I’ll have ‘em for Book Three. Provided I’m in the volume … which, I have to say at the risk of tempting Fate, is fairly likely … they’ll be great to draw upon.
I’m not gonna go into too much detail here: really, do yourself a favor and go read the site. Those who know me well know that I do not flatter. I try to say nice things (which is hard sometimes, because I also have a … facility … for saying clever and cutting not-so-nice things) if I say anything at all. If I thought it sucked, I would suck it up and just say so. If I thought it was mediocre, I’d … well, faintly praise, most likely.
But no. I love it. It’s really cool, okay?
But I will tell you one thing: while the Tor Marketing department and Carey Tse (and if I shouldn’t be outing her involvement … tough) who seems to be fronting the promo efforts, have done a better job than I frankly expected by us, the confessionals aren’t written by Tor publicists. They’re written by us - as far as I know, each character’s confessional is written by her or his creator. Unless, as happens in one or two cases, the creator’s not a writer.
Of which more later. (Heh, heh.)
Now, as you know if you read this blog (if you don’t, why am I talking to you?) another thing Tor is doing for us is pitching us a book-launch and signing tomorrow at Page One Bookstore, Montgomery and Juan Tabo NE in Albuquerque, at 2:00 PM MST. In attendance, as I’ll happily remind you even though I (hope I) don’t need to, will be George R.R. Martin, Melinda M. Snodgrass, Daniel Abraham, Caroline Spector (mega apologies to Caroline and you; I forgot to list her last time!), John Jos. Miller, Ian Tregillis, Carrie Vaughn, and Tor Books editor Patrick Nielsen Hayden. That’s all but two of the authors of the book - sadly, Mike Cassutt had to bail. It’s still better than a poke in the eye with a sharp stick.
Plus, of course, there’ll be some Wild Carders on hand who don’t have stories in the volume … such as, to pick one random example, me.
Reliable sources tell me (PR-speak for George sent out an email) that our august panelists will do a twenty-minute or so presentation to open things up, talking about Wild Cards, the book, themselves, their characters, that kinda thing. Should time permit they may open up to questions. Hint: only questions pertaining to Wild Cards will be answered, not those pertaining to, um … other projects.
Also: you’re welcome to bring your other Wild Cards books to get ‘em signed (who knows? Maybe some of the authors not nominally participating might be persuaded to throw down a signature or two, too.) But know this: to get anything signed, you must purchase a copy of Inside Straight at Page One.
Also, you can only get three books signed at a time. You can get as many signed as your little heart desires; but you must present just three and then hit the back of the line for the next three.
Them’s the ground rules. Please just deal with them. It’s most considerate for all concerned.
You’re not restricted to getting Wild Cards books signed, either: they ought to have others by our various authors available for purchase, such as Carrie Vaughan’s (we have two Carrie L’s, which sometimes makes email confusing) antic and best-selling Kitty Norville
Heck, if you’ve got any of my books, such as my latest Rogue Angel yarn, Secret of the Slaves
So anyway … tomorrow, Page One (the original, not Page One Too), 2 PM. Be there. Aloha.
And thanks to Tor for jobs well done!
Tags: Wild Cards