12 Days of Pixy Christmas

I promised some of you readers to finish the pixy-modified carol, The 12 Days of Pixy Christmas, that I started in White Witch, Black Curse, so here it is in its entirety, just in time for your caroling parties.  Uh, I wouldn’t advice singing it, though.  It loses much of its charm when you’re not four inches tall.  -grin-  Enjoy!

On the 12 day of Christmas, my true love gave to me . . .

12 Humans Hiding,

11 Tinks a Tinkling

10 Porno flicks

 9 Pole Dancers

8 Pixies Partying

7 Karma Sutras

6 Fairies Farting

5 Trolls in Drag

4 Purple Condoms

3 French Ticklers

2 Horny Vamps

And a Sucubus in the Snow

 

–Kim Harrison  Dec 15, 2009

Jeez, I feel so dirty . . .  -grin-

Wish it would snow

Just a little.  I could use being snowed in right about now.  Snow is peaceful, even when you have to shovel it.  There is  that same peace to be found while you’re shoveling snow that you get when you’re digging in the garden. 

Why am I pining for snow?  This morning, I saw a post with a little spot of white on top, which turned out to be a peeling tag, but it looked like snow–a little spot of light in an otherwise dreary day.   I wouldn’t mind being snowed in at all right now.  Just for a day.

I spent half the weekend revamping the website and preparing to switch over to the colors in the new cover of BLACK MAGIC SANCTION, which I should get permission to post this week.  The new cover is up on Amazon at the pre-order spot, which means it’s just a matter of time.  (grin)  I’ve got to do some tweaking on the navigation colors on the home page, and then make a new banner for here, but other than that, I think the website is good to go for another year.  I went back and made new banners for the earlier books, and that was fun, even if the only place you can see them is at the book’s individual pages.

My posts might be a tad shorter this week as I try to jam as much in before the holidays as I can, so for today, I wish it would snow.

–Kim

Something Fun

I’ve had a stressful week, fabulous, but stressful, and as I finish it out today with hopefully a solid day’s writing, I’ve got something kind of fun for you.  There are no prizes, no awards–and no answers, either!–but I’ve numbered the panels from the graphic novel page I showed you a few days ago, and now it’s time to put words to them!

It’s all in fun, and there are no right or wrong answers, so have fun!  Just one hint.  That is a whistle in Rachel’s hand.

–Kim

Black Magic Sanction Tour Schedule

It has been a wild week, what with edit letters coming in, (Third Madison book), good news from NY, (Best Paranormal Fantasy Novel of the Decade.  Wow.), graphic novel sketches coming in, (happy dance!), and a film crew spending the afternoon with me, (No writing today.  It’s all PR.)  I’m going to decompress this weekend like nobody’s business.  (grin)

And a good piece of news for you came in late last night.  I now have the official venues for the Black Magic 2010 tour.  (Insert happy dance here) They aren’t up at the website yet, but I wanted to let you know because there are a few additions in June.   Before you ask me to add your city, I don’t pick the stores.  They are chosen by my publisher based upon how author friendly and willing to promote they are, if they are large enough to do events, if they are a reporting store, and if they sold books when I was there last time.  (You can usually bring in books purchased other places, but they appreciate you buying something while you are there to offset the cost of having me there.  In other words, if they don’t sell books, they won’t ask me back, and who knows when I’ll get another shot there, so if you want me to come back, bring your friends and buy something!  (laugh)  

As you can see by the list, I will be getting out to Portland for a public library conference, but I may be stuck on conference grounds, so no promises.  And I’ll try once more to get to the Virgina Festival of the Book this year.  I apologize for last year.  (A close family member passed, the third of four this past year.  It’s been . . . an adventure.)

Feb 23, Charlotte, NC– Joseph-Beth Booksellers

Feb 24, Cincinnati, OH–Joseph-Beth Booksellers

Feb 25, Dayton, OH–Books & Co.

Feb 26, Ann Arbor, MI–Borders Books & Music (Lohr Rd)

Feb 27, Lansing, MI–Schuler Books & Music

Feb 28, Grand Rapids, MI–Barnes & Noble 28th St.

March 1, Roseville (Minneapolis), MN–Barnes & Noble Snelling Ave

March 19-20, Virginia Festival of the Book–Charlottesville, VA

March 25-27, Public Library National Conference, Portland OR (closed event?)

–Kim

Hardly got any sleep last night

First, let me say that I love to sleep.  I might even go as far to say that lately, I’ve use my bed as a carrot to get through the more tiring of days.  Putting a heated mattress pad on the bed has been like heaven.  (Ten minutes on high right before bed, then turning it off makes for a long sigh of pleasure when you slip between the sheets.)

Okay, now that I’ve got your attention. 

But last night, I went to bed wired because I got the okay from my Del Rey publisher to show you an early page from the graphic novel.  She was reluctant at first, because it’s going to be summer 2011 before it will see the light of day, and I agree that it’s way too soon for teasers, but OMGosh, I really like what is going on, and I had to share it with you, and after hearing the downright pleading in my voice, she gave in and we agreed on a page.

Our pencilest is Pedro Maia, and I am totally wowed by what he has done with my awkward first attempt at a script.  I wanted to work with him because I was blown away by his facial expressions as well his fabulous cityscapes in his samples.  I was also impressed when he took my sketchy description of what it looks like when Ivy vamps out, and evolved it into this breathtaking visual moment that I just stared at and shouted, “That’s it!” and pretty much danced around the room.  The page I have for you doesn’t show Ivy vamping out.  (There is a series of two pages in a car that I just stared in awe at.)  You’re going to have to wait.  But go beyond the cut for the bigger picture to see the first glimpse of an angry Ivy and a frustrated Rachel on their first run together.  Neither one is in a very good mood.  (laugh)

There is no possible way in creation that Rachel and Ivy are going to look as everyone pictures them in their mind.  But the expressions, the movement, the soul of these two women are here, and I am . . . happy.

Larger picture beyond the cut.

Yesterday was a “real” day

When the thought first enters your head that you’d like to be a writer, there are alwaya a few preconceived ideas of just what your day will be like.  Writers get to sit in bookstores and sign books. (I spent a few minutes yesterday signing copies a reader had sent me.) And there has to be some time where they actually write.  (Almost a 10 hour day, yesterday, but I kicked my keyboards butt.)  They talk to their agent, (which was a real treat, and more on that later.) They have wonderful breakthroughs where they figure out an issue that has been troubling them, (I had an ah-ha moment which kept me in the office until after seven, but was too interesting to just walk away from.) If they are lucky, they arrange for some PR (I went over the treatment for the film crew that is coming out Thursday to make a short Internet piece.  Terrified, I’m terrified.)  They get good news from their publisher.  (Yep, I did that too.)  And they discuss ways to improve a work in progress with their editors.  (Actually, I’ll do that today as I get the rewrite letter for the third Madison book and chat with my graphic novel publisher both.  And yes, I hope to have some artwork to show you soon.  I got the first pages Friday, and had conniption fits of joy, the payoff for a month-long marathon writing session where I hardly saw Guy at all.)

So, I felt like a real writer yesterday as I juggled more apples than I knew were in the cart when I signed on for this job.  (grin)   Somehow I pulled out a whopping page count despite the joyful interruptions and moved forward with the rough draft I’m working on.  The best part of the day by far was hearing from New York.  (grin)  And it was very good news indeed.

DEAD WITCH WALKING has been picked as Barnes & Noble’s Best Paranormal Novel of the DECADE at their B&N bookclubs.  (huge grin)  Thank you.  Thank you so very much.  It feels indescribably wonderful to know that the effort I put in might not only be enjoyed, but recognized.

It was a very good day.

–Kim

BookRack Signing was wonderful!

Faith Hunter, Kim Harrison, Ms. T.

I have to thank everyone who came out to see Faith Hunter and me on Saturday to help us rock in the holiday season.  I was totally overwhelmed at the number of people who came, and the lengths as which some of you traveled!  I am absolutely honored, and it was a delight to give away some of the BLACK MAGIC SANCTION freebies, not to mention meet a few of the people who are regular posters here!  Thank you for coming out to see me! 

Today should be a fun day writing, which is why I posted late Sunday night instead of Monday morning.  I can’t _wait_ to get to it!  Rachel wakes up after doing something dangerous, but necessary, and she finds a big surprise!  Whoo-hoo!  Not meant to be a teaser, but I’m having so much fun with this one! 

–Kim

Will you be near Charlotte, NC Saturday?

Out doing some shopping Saturday?  Going to be near Charlotte NC?  More specifically, Rock Hill, SC?  Me too!  (laugh)

This Saturday, I will be signing with fellow urban fantasy writer Faith Hunter from noon to two where I’ll be pushing the Hollows and Madison, and she’ll be pushing . . . uh . . .  See, Faith has got more books on the shelf than me, so she’ll be pushing everything, but mostly her latest series, Jane Yellowrock starting with SKINWALKER, I think.  (grin)  I’ll have the BLACK MAGIC SANCTION freebies with me, and Guy will bring some tour T’s, so if you want to pick one up free of shipping, come on out!

Faith Hunter and Kim Harrison, Book Rack 2007

Local signings are usually _very_ low key, and I’ll personalize every little thing you got since there will be no line to speak of and lots of time to talk to you.   

This is a multi-author event day, which means there will be lots of authors in and out all day.  Too.  Much.  Fun!

Rock Hill, SC (30 minutes South of Charlotte NC)

December 5 12:00 to 2:00 pm

Book Rack

742 N. Anderson Rd (21 bypass)

 

803 327 9028

Black Magic Sanction Tour T-s

It’s that time of year again!  The Tour T-s are here at last!  As you can see, we’re going with the Alcatraz theme again.  (grin)   This is original artwork, and I really like it.  Wearing one to a signing gets you into a “family photo” at the bookstore and bragging rights.  (grin)  We only make these available until the tour, and then they are gone, which makes them extremely limited.  And they are pretty cool conversation starters at the office, too.  The dates listed are not confirmed, so please check the official tour when it becomes available.

We like to make the shirts available for the holiday gift giving season, but we can’t guarantee Christmas delivery.  (If you pay pal before the 15th, chances are really good.)  Guy worked his magic, and we were able to keep the price pretty much to what they were last year despite rising shipping costs.  We’ve tried to make it really simple.  Here’s the details:

Unisex size.  (I wear a med to large)

$24.95 per shirt, includes domestic shipping with tracking number.

All sizes up to 5X available.  (3-5x will take longer to ship)

International orders add $5.00 US dollars per shirt to cover increased shipping allowance.

We can give you a break on the domestic shipping if you order in lots of two, which will decrease your total by ten dollars, but both shirts must go to the same address at the same time.  Talk to Guy here if you’re international.  He might be able to give you a break as well.

So, to order your Black Magic Sanction Tour T . . .

1: pay pal 24.95 for one shirt, (or 39.90 for two) to Guy at vampcharms @ comporium dot net 

2: tell him the sizes you want in the notes area at pay pal.  PLEASE!!! I’m begging you to not forget this.

3: make sure your name and address are correct at pay pal.  We can’t be responsible for misdirected mail.  If you’re using your brother’s pay pal, keep this in mind.

4: any questions at all, email Guy, and be sure to include in your correspondence your pay pal  email.  I don’t want to listen to him complain this year about John Smith having one name for his address, going by ThunderGod on his regular email, and TwoCute for his pay pal.  (grin)  It makes for a very stressful day trying to match them up.

5: You can snail mail monies in as well to:

Kim Harrison

PO Box 36653

Rock Hill, SC 29732

There it is!  If you have any questions, email Guy at vampcharms @ comporium dot net.

Powells, Portland OR

 –Kim

Happy News

I’ve got some wonderful news today!  WHITE WITCH, BLACK CURSE was awarded the second place spot for B&N’s bookclub list for best urban fantasy of the year.  Whoo-hoo!  I am so pleased!  And what’s even better is I like/enjoy/recommend the book that beat WWBC. 

Here’s the link to check them out.  I’ve been a guest at this site before, and really enjoyed myself. 

The Black Magic Sanction tour T-s are almost ready.  We’re trying to find a cheaper shipping.  More tomorrow.

–Kim

P.S.  There is a site holding a “Best Cover” contest you might want to check out.  All Things Urban Fantasy.  I’ve got a couple of covers there, including the anthology that has my delightfully non-Hollows vampire short under the Dawn Cook name.  And I can’t help but chuckle at the last category.  You know I’ve not been showing the cover for the next book, BLACK MAGIC SANCTION?  There’s a reason.  (grin)  –Kim