Lilith Saintcrow

Today is the release date for my first young adult book, Strange Angels. This is the book I refer to as “Supernatural meets Buffy, with a dash of Appalachian folk magic and some Eastern European folklore thrown in. Oh, and Vampire Hunter D.” (You can find the blurb here.)

The initial image for this book was a teenage girl in her kitchen, staring at the back door. She was surrounded by boxes, and she was terrified. Then the angle moved around, and I got a glimpse of the back door, and I realized why she was scared–she was looking at a zombie. And that zombie used to be her father.

I worked on the story off and on, finding out about this girl. Then one opportune day my agent called and said, “Can you do young adult?”

I said, “I can, but it probably won’t get published. It’s got patricide in the first five chapters, and it’s not even finish–”

“Send it.”

So I did. Lo and behold, the book sold. I never thought I’d do YA, because of the darkness (and profanity) that shines through all my work. (Maybe “shines” isn’t the right word.) Besides, there’s my utter unwillingness to dial back on either (because the world is a dark place and hey, people say naughty words) to consider, too. And yet it happened, and I had a great time writing this book.

Now all the work and the waiting has come to an end. There’s a giveaway over at Darque Reviews, and you can find Strange Angels at Barnes & Noble, Borders, Powell’s, Indiebound, and Amazon.

And I hope you like it. Ladies and gentlemen, let me introduce you to Dru Anderson and Strange Angels. I loved writing it, and I’ll close with the same offer I make every time: Come in. Sit down. Let me tell you a story…

Tonight at 9:30PM (Eastern) I will be talking to the lovely folks out at Parahub Radio about Strange Angels, the paranormal, and my writing process. I have a hideous head cold and sound somewhat like Bilbo Baggins after he’s fished out of the lake, so there should be much fun for everyone.

So, good morning. It’s a bright sunny one out there. First though, the sad news. Comics creator Frank Frisina’s young niece has disappeared. (Hat tip to Neil Gaiman for the link; he tweeted about it and everyone promptly crashed the site. So if it’s not up, please be patient and refresh, or go to this alternate.) I mean, Christ. This is a parent’s nightmare. I just can’t imagine. I mean, you wonder about it as a parent, and it’s always a fear. But to have it actually happen…words fail me. So if you could please, especially if you live in Colorado or neighboring states, spread the word? Hopefully she’s safe and will be returned to her family soon.

On the lighter side, all three cats this morning were in a tizzy. We have three: the Ferret (he is long and lean), the Duck (he quacks when you pet him) and the Tuxedo (who is the sweetest of all, but he drools). The Ferret and the Duck contented themselves with dashing around the house as if something invisible was chasing them, while the Tuxedo earnestly drooled all over me, rubbing and miaowing and just generally making a fool of himself.

So I said, “Show me!” to the Tuxedo, and of course he led me self-importantly to the food bowls out in the sunroom.

Which were–brace yourselves for the shocking truth–only half-full. I rolled my eyes and refilled them, and all three cats were suddenly rubbing my legs, purring and making fools of themselves. I am no longer certain it is the cats who are domesticated in this household.

In other news, a couple of AmazonFail links. Yes, I know you’re sick of that by now. So am I.

But author Francine Saint Marie has evidence of Amazon deranking GLBT stuff on Kindle since January ‘08. (ETA: A reader just notified me that this page had been taken down. But Meta Writer has now reposted it, plus the original link works again.) I haven’t cross-checked her account yet, but it certainly sounds plausible–especially the part where she tweaks the category data for her books to ordinary romance instead of GLBT and gets sales rankings restored within 24 hours. Hmmm. I’m interested in knowing how many authors had this experience.

And the ABA warns bookstores who might think of “boycotting” Amazon. They have a valid point. However…jeez. I’m just gonna stop there.

Last but not least, Candy Tan’s signing at Powell’s last night for Beyond Heaving Bosoms was a total scream. Meljean Brook was there, as well as yours truly and Jay Scott, doing reporter at large duty for Bitten By Books. (Hello, Rachel!) Not to mention the very awesome Fiveandfour, the Martian Mooncrab, my good buddy Red Argyle and so many of Candy’s friends that I’d only heard about. (Lord. Some days my journal is full of so many privacy-protecting pseudonyms it feels like the Witness Protection Program.)

Candy read from the “Choose Your Own ManTitty” section (if you ever get to that part, the paranormal option is so hilariously filthy even Candy didn’t want to read it out loud in public, and Candy? I SEE WHAT YOU DID THAR.) and there was much laughter and heckling. The Q&A was also marvelous. What I love so much about Candy and Sarah is that they are both frighteningly, extremely smart. Those who do not look beyond the adult language miss out on very well-thought-out analysis. I always prefer my funny with a heavy dose of smart.

Anyway, was exhausted when I got home, and this morning the whole house is coming down with a cold and the cats are insane. But I have a whole day to write, which I’m going to start on in about two minutes or so.

After I go hug all my kids. Hard.

Well, Beaverton, anyway. Will I get burned at the stake if I say “close enough”?

I will be attending Candy Tan’s signing in Beaverton on April 15. This hilarious half of the Smart Bitches, Trashy Books team will be reading from (and signing) their newly-published Beyond Heaving Bosoms: The Smart Bitches’ Guide to Romance Novels. This promises to be a truly awesome event! I’ll be bringing my copy (and perhaps body parts) for her to scrawl upon.

I’ve fallen into the rhythm of revision. It really doesn’t take that long to do when you can bring all your faculties to bear on a particular book. It’s like watching the jumprope on the playground, catching its beat so you can hop in. Which is about the only part of playing with other kids I ever liked, in school.

Anyway, we’re fifty pages or so into the second YA; second-draft revisions are going well. I halted last night just at the place where I had to make a significant architectural change. It was a good decision to stop there, because I was making various nasty notes to myself about how the story sucked and I hated the secondary characters and should kill them in various gruesomely interesting ways. This is how I know it’s time to step away from the manuscript.

Both the little ones are sniffling and coughing. Colds go through our house like wildfire. I keep telling myself it means they will have nice strong immune systems. This does not comfort me as much when I wake up with body aches and a husky voice. I am pouring down the fluids and taking my vities. (Vitamin C, CoQ10 and L-Lysine might not work, but they make me feel better. And the B vities DO work, I swear.) Since I have a writer’s mixer on March 7–at Cover to Cover Books, we’re going to play Ask The Working Writer–I can’t afford to lose my voice or be cranky at the end of the week. *crosses fingers* (You can RSVP at Facebook or MySpace. Technology, she is wonderful.)

The thing that is making me crankier than the cold this morning is the flood of torrenting. This career is hard work, and people stealing ebooks and torrenting them just makes me…well, I don’t want to go off into a long ramble of cusswords and spleen. I’m glad people like my work. I’m not so glad that people want to steal it. And when I’m spending time demanding websites take those torrents down, I’m not writing. Which means fans don’t get the books as quickly.

This really cheeses my buns. Torrenting ebooks is not freeing information or sticking it to the Man, or whatever people like to tell themselves. It’s stealing. That’s the only word that applies. Naturally I don’t like it when my work is stolen. And don’t even tell me “they’ll buy it if they like it” or “it’s publicity” or “people wouldn’t take YOUR work unless it’s free so why are you bitching?” All those arguments are red herrings, and insulting besides. So don’t go there.

Anyway. I’m thinking I can knock out another fifty pages revised and get total wordcount up by a few K. At least, that’s what I’m hoping. Wish me luck and choco.