they tell me there's a lot of fish, blogging in the deep blue sea

First, a plug for a friend: Shei Darksbane, the co-founder of Darksbane Books, is getting ready to launch their first titles, Shei's urban fantasy Awakened, and the space opera Destiny Abounds by her wife Annathesa Nikola Darksbane. You should head to their website now and sign up for their mailing list so you can be the second one to grab their books when they're released (second since I'll be trying to be the first). I'm biased, since Shei is an awesome pal, but I'm also excited for them both. Go! We'll be here when you get back.

More after the cut.

A Tiding Of Magpies - buying links! (updated 5/30)

Here's the list (after the cut), current as of this posting date, of the places where you can buy the new Monkey Queen book, A Tiding Of Magpies! We haven't added much for this update, but there are a few new listings. You can also search your favorite e-book store for "Monkey Queen" or "Robert Dahlen"! And you can also get the first three books at these locations!

Willow alert!

No, it's not what happens on the Enterprise when they run into the Space Cats. We mentioned earlier this month that Willow and her friends in Collectif Pin Up were at the Geekopolis con in Paris last weekend, but they have another con appearance this weekend! They'll be at Epitanime, in Le Kremlin-Bicêtre just outside of Paris. There'll be lots of anime-related panels and vendors there as well, so if you're in the area (or have the money to splurge on a last-second plane ticket), drop on by! More info here.

We have a website!

You can now follow Michiko and Beth at their very own web site! Head over there and take a look!

Yes, there is a blog there. After some consideration, I've decided to not shut things down here at Blogger. Except for this post (which would have been kind of redundant), all future posts will appear both here and on the web site, though I may rely more on links to the site for longer things like book previews. Anyway, drop on by, leave a comment, share and enjoy!

for I blogged you and I know you'll blog me

In case you missed it: A Tiding Of Magpies is out! Get the new Monkey Queen book at Amazon, or check back later today for a (hopefully) comprehensive list of where you can get all of Michiko and Beth's adventures!

And there will be a big announcement soon, so stay tuned! More after the cut.

Speculative Fiction Showcase strikes back!

I almost completely forgot to mention that A Tiding Of Magpies was the featured new release on Saturday on the Speculative Fiction Showcase blog! Head over there now, and get a brief and exclusive peek at a snippet from Chapter Three! And as always, thanks to Cora and Jessica for running a great blog!

the Irish referendum

I'm a quarter Irish, on my mother's side.

I've never been prouder of that heritage, or happier to be of Irish descent, than I am today.

As my friend Jimmie Robinson says: "Love is for everyone."

in which yours truly is interviewed

Today, and with perfect timing, I have been interviewed by R.M. Webb as part of her Friday interview series! Find out more about me, my writing process, red versus blue and ponies with rainbow wings! http://www.rmwebbfiction.com/robert-dahlen/

A Tiding Of Magpies - available now!

It's here! It's here! You can now download and read the fourth Monkey Queen book, A Tiding Of Magpies! Click on the widget to the right to buy at Amazon, scroll down for ordering links, or search your favorite e-book store! (And I'll update those over the long weekend as the book shows up on more sites!)

I wanted to take a moment to thank Jason Anderson at Polgarus Studio and Keri Knutson at Alchemy Book Covers. A Tiding Of Magpies took more work than expected to get ready, but Jason and Keri were, as always, prompt and professional, and a pleasure to work with!

I know I'm in danger of saying too many nice things about Willow, but I'll say them again. Willow, your covers are amazing, and I'm glad that I get to work with you! I hope we get to do this again soon!

And to my readers: Thanks for your support! I hope you enjoy A Tiding Of Magpies, and I hope you'll take a moment to let me know what you think.

A Tiding of Magpies - Goodreads giveaway!

As we've done for every Monkey Queen book so far, we're holding a giveaway for a paperback copy of A Tiding of Magpies on Goodreads! (You'll need to sign up there if you're not already a member.) The contest closes Monday at 11:59 PM Pacific time, so enter now!

let's blog on 'til the dawn and have fun 'til the music's all gone

Sundays are catchup time here at Monkey Queen Books! First, if you haven't checked out the preview of A Tiding Of Magpies, you can read Chapter One here! And that post has links to Chapter Two and an excerpt from Chapter Four! And here's where you can preorder! More after the cut.

A Tiding Of Magpies: Paperback now on sale!

We're pleased to announce that you can now get the paperback edition of the new Monkey Queen book, A Tiding Of Magpies, through Amazon! http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1512170135 We'll have a giveaway through Goodreads launching soon! And don't forget that you can preorder the ebook through the links in this post! http://monkeyqueenbooks.blogspot.com/2015/05/a-tiding-of-magpies-preorder-info.html And you'll be looking for this gorgeous cover!

I can't be the only blogger doing this...

A Tiding Of Magpies: The proofs have arrived!

And here's your first look at the paperback version!

("But you usually print three proofs!" you ask. "Why four this time?" Well, there is a story, and someday I may be able to tell it.)

For some reason, getting the proofs, holding the paperback, is the moment it sinks in for me. I've written a book. I really have. And this moment fulfills me and makes me smile like almost nothing else does.

To everyone who's helped me in any way, even if it's just buying and reading a Monkey Queen book, towards bringing these stories to life and to readers: Thank you. Thank you all.

and there are days like this

Linus: Well, I can understand how you feel. You worked hard, studying for the spelling bee, and I suppose you feel you let everyone down, and you made a fool of yourself and everything. But did you notice something, Charlie Brown?

Charlie Brown: What's that?

Linus: The world didn't come to an end.

A Tiding Of Magpies - preorder info! (updated 5/11)

A Tiding Of Magpies, the fourth Monkey Queen book, is now available for preorder! Buy it now, get it on your e-reader, tablet or smartphone when the book comes out on May 22! Here's the link for Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00XF1FCUO More after the cut!

there are days like this

sunshine, ragtime, blogging in the breeze

In case you missed it, the big news this week is that A Tiding Of Magpies, the fourth Monkey Queen book, is coming on May 22! Scroll down for the official announcement, preorder links, and sneak previews of the first two chapters! Share and repost! Mark your calendars! Warm up your e-readers!

More after the cut!

A Tiding Of Magpies - coming May 22!

It's official! The fourth Monkey Queen book, A Tiding Of Magpies, will be published on May 22! Here's your first look at the final cover, with art by Willow and design by Keri Knutson at Alchemy Book Covers!

“One for sorrow, two for joy.”


When Jiao, a princess from Faerie's Far Lands, comes to the Wonderland Diner and Tavern looking for help, it's showtime for the Monkey Queen! Michiko and her best friend, Beth McGill, have to rescue the princess' boyfriend from the minions of a scheming warlord, and then race against time and fend off goblins, ogres and monsters to fulfill a prophecy.


But Michiko has been hiding something from everyone, even Beth, and no secret is forever. And when that secret is revealed...


Everything will change for Michiko and Beth.

We'll start rolling out the preorder links later today! In case you missed it, you can read Chapter One here - http://monkeyqueenbooks.blogspot.com/2015/05/sneak-preview-tiding-of-magpies-chapter.html - Chapter Two here -
http://monkeyqueenbooks.blogspot.com/2015/05/sneak-preview-tiding-of-magpies-chapter_6.html - and an excerpt from Chapter Four here - http://monkeyqueenbooks.blogspot.com/2015/03/the-author-archer-and-king-of-magpies.html

Share and repost! Tell your friends! Get the word out! And thanks!

this post will make no sense to anyone...

...so to make up for it, have a video of When Penguins Go Bad.

free the White Hart!

A few weeks back, we hosted an interview with author Sarah Dalton. One of her books, the young adult fantasy White Hart, is free today (and only today) on Amazon! Go grab your copy while you can! http://www.amazon.com/White-Hart-1-ebook/dp/B00IKEZASK

Sneak preview: A Tiding Of Magpies, Chapter Two!

You've read Chapter One, now here's Chapter Two of the upcoming fourth Monkey Queen book, A Tiding Of Magpies, after the cut! If you missed Chapter One somehow, find it here! http://monkeyqueenbooks.blogspot.com/2015/05/sneak-preview-tiding-of-magpies-chapter.html Enjoy, and feel free to comment and share!

Sneak Preview: A Tiding Of Magpies, Chapter One!

I'm still waiting to make the official announcement for the publication date for the fourth Monkey Queen book, A Tiding Of Magpies (but if you mark your calendar for May 29, you might not be too far off), but it's time to start showing you what this latest adventure of Michiko and Beth is about. Here is Chapter One, after the cut! Enjoy, comment and share!

Disney Infinity 3, bank account zero

As regular readers of this blog know, I have been collecting Disney Infinity figures (and putting them to entertaining uses). I haven't played the game, though, because 1) video games are a huge and expensive time sink and I need that time to write, and 2) I am the worst video game player in the history of video.

The lineup for Infinity 3.0 has been announced, and I'm happiest to see the Star Wars figures, especially the ones from the original trilogy. I didn't see any Han Solo or Chewbacca figures in the leaked stuff, so I'm pleased that they're coming out after all. (And next year, let's see Lando and Boba Fett!)

And I'll say this: If any of the Infinity Star Wars settings have a level (or whatever they call it) that involves dealing as much pain and destruction as possible to Jar Jar Binks, I'll start playing the game after all.

P.O. Blog 9847

 Sunday blog time! First, if you haven't scrolled down the page already to see Willow's gorgeous cover for the next Monkey Queen book, A Tiding Of Magpies, do it now! We'll have an actual official announcement coming up real soon now. More after the cut!

A Tiding Of Magpies - cover art revealed!

So I've been, as I mentioned earlier, finishing up the first draft for the fifth Monkey Queen book. The fourth book, A Tiding Of Magpies, could be said to be done, but I've been wanting to go in and do some cleanup, some tweaking and minor rewriting to make it better.

I think I should get that cleanup going very very soon. Getting your completed cover art from Willow can do that to you.

Stay tuned - there should be an official publication date announcement coming soon.

And holy cow, is this gorgeous! Thank you, Willow!

Art © 2015 Willow. All rights reserved; used by permission.