New review

Taft 2012 just got reviewed by Sarah Ann Noel in 303 Magazine. Some positive words were said -- as well as an acute observation that, despite my best efforts, my personal politics may have leaked into Taft a little. Oops.

Taft swag

Just got a package of promotional material for my upcoming novel, Taft 2012. Posters, campaign buttons... Quirk knows how to work it! As does Taft himself, that most dapper of chief executives.

Zzztazzzizzz

Couldn't sleep. Opted to start reading Blake Butler's Nothing. Best worst idea ever. Lidded and loaded. Coldly caging in poetry what it means to be lodged in that liminal holding pattern of unsleep. Plus, it cites both Brian Eno and Anton LaVey. No mention of J.G. Ballard's insomniac hymn, "Manhole 69," but I can live with that.

Agent announcement

I am somewhat deliriously giddy to announce that I have an agent: Jennifer Jackson, Vice President of Donald Maass Literary Agency, is now representing me. Her list includes some of the best names in science fiction/fantasy, including Jim Butcher, Elizabeth Bear, Anne Bishop, Cherie Priest, Jay Lake, Ekaterina Sedia, and geez I should probably just stop before I blow a gasket. Okay, deep breath. Time to go make some more books!

This Weekend: MileHiCon 43

I'll be attending MileHiCon 43 at they Hyatt Regency Tech Center in my hometown of Denver this weekend. Feel free to stalk me anytime, Friday through Sunday. Just to make it a little easier, here are the panels I'll be appearing on:

Friday at 3 p.m.: Exploding Writing Myths (Chasm Creek A)
Saturday at 10 a.m.: How to Interview (Mesa Verde A)
Saturday at 4 p.m.: Sounds Like Steampunk (Wind River A)

I'll also be part of the group event, Can't Stop the Prose: Late Night Readings/Discussion at 10 p.m. on Friday in Mesa Verde B.

When not fielding yawns from the audience, I'll probably be hanging with my pals and fellow programming participants Jesse Bullington and Molly Tanzer (check out their schedules). I also hope to catch up with Carrie Vaughn, Mario Acevedo, and Warren Hammond, three great local authors who have given me all kinds of generous encouragement over the past couple years.

So, yeah, that's what I'll be up to this weekend. That and sampling the exotic cuisine of Southeast Denver.

An open letter to My Blog

Dear My Blog,

Sorry I've been neglecting you. Things have been crazy. My novel, Taft 2012, comes out January 17. That's been keeping me busy. I've been writing scripts for book trailers, beaming over my first review (starred on Publishers Weekly), and trying to overcome my morbid terror of public speaking in advance of my book-release event at Tattered Cover Book Store on 1/17.

See, it isn't just you. I don't like talking to anybody. That's why I'm a writer.

What else has been going on? Well, I finally got around to setting up an author's page on Amazon. I'm still writing a bunch for The A.V. Club. I've been working on my dark steampunk novel, Ocean of Bone. And there's other awesome stuff cresting the horizon. Don't want to jinx it or anything, though.

Oh, yeah, and Facebook. I've been spending way, way too much time there. I know that must make you feel kinda crappy, My Blog. Again, my apologies. You know what? Maybe you should just start your own Facebook page. At least we'd keep in touch better that way. I mean, some of my friends' cats have their own Facebook page. I don't see why My Blog can't.

That said: I'll be trying to stop by more often to visit. What kind of beer do you like again? I totally forgot. I didn't mean to be away so long. Forgive me, ol' buddy. I'm a jerk. But you knew that already.

Regards,

Jason