Proof copies and singing the unsung

Well, look at what showed up today! The three proof copies of the first book! Aren't they pretty!

I'll put up ordering links for these when they become available, but I wanted to take a moment to acknowledge the people who helped make this happen. I've learned my limitations, and so I enlisted help to make this book a reality. (One of them is, of course, cover artist Willow, but I think regulars on this blog have her web site memorized by now, so...)

I already mentioned Keri Knutson at Alchemy Book Covers. She designed the cover from my suggestions (and a few tips from Willow), and I love the job she did on it. You can see her work at http://www.alchemybookcovers.com/

I haven't mentioned Jason and Marina Anderson at Polgarus Studio. They did the formatting of the interiors for both the e-book and print editions, and it looks great in both formats. You can find them at http://www.polgarusstudio.com/ . I wish I could take a better photo, but you can see their work here:

My thanks to Willow, Keri, Jason and Marina. As you can see below, you have made an author very very happy.

Cover art © 2014 Willow, used by permission. http://willow-san.deviantart.com . I tried, I really did. :)

Wow.

 I really shouldn't be posting these things while I'm at work, because I should actually be, you know, working, but I had to share this. Willow (who did the awesome cover etc.) just finally finished a print of the art she was working on for Festival Harajuku, and if you're a fan of Miyazaki (I am) and want to see her take on Spirited Away, head for this link: http://willow-san.deviantart.com/art/Spirited-Away-481158526 Then, see how long it takes to get your jaw off the floor. Mine's still there...

Two Not-All-That-Quick Plugs

No additional developments to report, though I should have big news for those of you who prefer print to touchscreen later this week. However, there are two things coming up next weekend I wanted to promote, even though I won't be at either one.


Although most of this blog's readers are from the U.S., I know there have been a few folks from Europe reading this, and some of you might be in the area, so: Willow, who did the wonderful cover art for the first Monkey Queen novel, Of Introductions And Abductions, will be appearing at the Festival Harajuku in Paris this coming weekend, September 13 and 14! Look for her at the Collectif Pin Up table. She'll have merchandise for sale, including the new fanzine 101010, which will feature the first chapter of her BD (graphic novel) The Journey Of Earth! Get more info at http://festivalharajuku.org/ , and as always, see more of Willow's work at http://willow-san.deviantart.com/ . And if you do go, tell her that Michiko and Beth sent you. And post her reaction in the comments. :)


And also on September 14, John Kovalic (the mastermind behind the great Dork Tower webcomic, and artist for Munchkin and many other games) will be taking part in the Bike the Barns ride, to help raise funds to help needy families in the Madison, Wisconsin area buy healthy, locally-sourced produce. He's raised over $9000 as I write this, and as a result, he will be riding the entire 60 miles with Cthulhu tentacles strapped to him, and a duck on his head. (And a Republican Dalek drunk-tweeting his ride. Really.) (Though I was hoping there would have been a “Duck chases him for 60 miles swinging an axe, with 'Yakety Sax' Benny Hill music in the background” stretch goal. Maybe next year.) Anyway, you get some great swag for backing him, and more importantly, it's a great cause. Get more info and back him at http://bikethebarns.dojiggy.com/ng/index.cfm/13552/regPages/pledge/kovalic , read Dork Tower at http://www.dorktower.com/ , and follow his Twitter feed at @muskratjohn.

new preorder links!

So, just to remind you, you can preorder the first Monkey Queen book, Of Introductions And Abductions, at Amazon here: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00NAKJUG2 Coming September 19!

But I can hear a few of you say, "I'd like to buy your book, but I hate Amazon and everything it stands for! In fact, I'd like to throw Jeff Bezos off a cliff! What do you have to say about that?"

Well, we here at Monkey Queen Books do not, in any way, condone throwing Jeff Bezos or anyone else off a cliff. One, it is illegal pretty much everywhere, and we don't think they'll let you read e-books in jail. Two, love him or hate him, he is the man who spearheaded the digital publishing movement, and without it, you might not even have Monkey Queen stories. And three, Jeff Bezos probably has a bunch of drones pre-programmed to rescue him just in case he ever gets thrown off a cliff. Dude is crazy prepared.

So, instead, stick it to the man and get Of Introductions And Abductions at these sites:

[6/7/15: Edited as we switch to Kindle Unlimited and being exclusive on Amazon. Apologies to those who wanted to stick it to the man.]

Amazon preorder is live!

"So," you may be saying, "this Monkey Queen book looks like a cracking good read! But when and where might I be able to download it for my favorite electronic reading device, old chap?"

Well, aside from wondering why you're talking like someone from a P.G. Wodehouse story, I have good news: You can now preorder the first Monkey Queen book, Of Introductions And Abductions, from Amazon! Just follow this link: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00NAKJUG2 ! The book will come out on September 19, but feel free to order your copy any time! Woo-hoo!

Tuesday non-update

Well, there's nothing new to report, but hang loose -- we're still hoping for big news by the weekend. Until then, have a cute penguin video. Because penguins.

The Doubleclicks at PAX 2014 - complete show

No big news on the book front today, but sit tight--there will hopefully be something this coming week. In the meantime, if you missed the live stream of The Doubleclicks' Friday night Pax show, it's up on YouTube, so I'll stick it up here so you can watch away. It's not their smoothest performance, but they were still as fun as ever. (Content warning: One bad word during the last song.)