E.J. Stevens' Boskone Panel and Signing Schedule

My official Boskone 55 schedule is here! Boskone, New England's longest running science fiction convention, runs from Friday, February 16th - Sunday, February 18th at the Westin Boston Waterfront in Boston, MA. I'll be speaking on panels Friday and Saturday and signing books on Saturday.

E.J.'s Official Boskone 2018 Schedule

FRIDAY

Panel: Armchair Detectives (3:00 - 4:00PM)

Crime and fiction have long been a popular pairing. But what have science and technology done to the prospects of pulling off the perfect murder? How much tricksier must authors get to keep their readers guessing, especially in this new age of the armchair detective? (Marina 1)

SATURDAY

Panel: Feminist Fairy Tales (10:00 - 11:00AM)

Women frequently serve as the main characters of fairy tales. (Why, by the way?) It’s hard not to notice they’re often presented as victims, or the subjects of a lesson learned. Do any tales instead offer strong female role models? What can modern feminist perspectives contribute when considering stories from so long ago and/or far away? (Burroughs)

Panel: It's Not Always About Sex (12:00 - 1:00PM)

Speculative fiction is filled with friendships that turn into romantic entanglements. Is that all there is? Can’t our characters just have friends, of whatever gender, without hookups and/or heartbreaks? How about we rescue the world from the odd apocalypse or alien invasion, and forget about the sex for a change? (Harbor III)

Autographing (1:00 - 2:00PM)

I will have FREE Ivy Granger Passports while supplies last! (Galleria - Autographing)

Panel: Ensemble Casts and Continuing Characters (4:00 - 5:00PM)

Some well-written spec fic features ensemble casts where the secondary characters are as interesting as the leads. What are the guidelines for creating great supporting roles? How do these people (or aliens, AIs, disembodied demons, etc.) fascinate despite less face time? Do they get more freedom to be themselves, while main characters must be all things to all audiences? Which secondaries deserve (or have got) their own spin-off stories? (Marina 4)

Panel: The Role of Spiritual Animals in Fiction (5:00 - 6:00PM)

Animals in speculative fiction play more than the simple role of lap dogs and cozy cats. From demons to familiars, from patronuses to spirit animals, and more, these creatures often play subtle but powerful roles in the life of a story’s main character. Why are animals so important? Have their roles changed over time? Our panelists discuss our furry, feathered, and scaled friends in all of their glory. (Marina 3)

Are you attending Boskone?

I hope to see you in Boston!

xx

Looking for E.J.'s 2018 Tour Schedule? Check out this 2018 Book Tour post or visit her official Event Page.

E.J. Stevens' 2018 Tour Schedule: Dragon Con, ConCarolinas, and More!

E.J. Stevens is a confirmed guest for Boskone, ConCarolinas, Dragon Con, Penned Con, and World Fantasy Convention. She will be speaking on panels and signing books.

2018 Tour Schedule

Boskone

Boston, MA. February 16-18, 2018

ConCarolinas

Charlotte, NC. June 1-3, 2018

Dragon Con

Atlanta, GA. August 30 - September 3, 2018

Penned Con

St. Louis, MO. September 20-22, 2018

World Fantasy

Baltimore, MD. November 1-4, 2018

E.J.'s full schedule coming soon. For more information, subscribe to her newsletter or visit the Events Page her website www.EJStevensAuthor.com.

Will I see you at an event this year?

The Pirate Curse Book Tour

THE PIRATE CURSE, the final novel in the Spirit Guide young adult paranormal series, is coming!

The Pirate Curse (Spirit Guide #5) by E.J. Stevens

When Yuki starts smelling salt brine and seaweed, she finds her summer vacation hijacked by pirates...the DEAD kind.

Will the ghost of Black Sam Bellamy, Prince of Pirates, lead Yuki and her friends to treasure or terror?

A new Spirit Guide adventure you won't want to miss! 

Release Date: October 8, 2013

Add to Goodreads

The Pirate Curse Book Tour

Book bloggers can sign up now to participate in The Pirate Curse Book Tour using the easy peasy form below.

The Pirate Curse Book Tour includes a Cover Reveal (September 3, 2013), ARC Reviews (ARCs available September 17, 2013), and a Release Day Giveaway (Rafflecopter Giveaway: $15 Amazon Gift Card + The Pirate Curse Ebook, October 8, 2013).

UPDATE:  There will be an optional Rafflecopter Giveaway during the Cover Reveal 9/9/13.  We'll be giving away some fun swagalicious prizes!  

Unspent Time Launch Party + Tour Giveaway

Please welcome today's guest author Graham Parke.  Graham is the author of No Hope for Gomez! and Unspent Time.

Keep reading for details on how to enter to win a Kindle Fire and more.

Graham is giving us a sneak peek at his new release Unspent Time with a few (hilarious) sound bite excerpts:

“I'm looking into my past lives. I'm convinced some of them still owe me money.”

“I'm very polite by nature, even the voices in my head let each other finish their sentences.”

“I didn’t actually want to do it,” Kiala told the boy. “The universe just kind of conspired to force me to make a fool of myself. It does that quite a lot, actually.”

“Sadly, my socks are like snowflakes, no two are exactly alike.”

Unspent Time by Graham Parke

Warning: reading this novel may make you more attractive to the opposite sex and elevate your random luck by about 9.332%*
(*These statements have not been evaluated by anyone of consequence.)

From the award winning author of ‘No Hope for Gomez!’ comes a collection of 20 impossible tales. Permeating the cracks between the past and the present is the realm of Unspent Time. Pockets of ‘should have been’s and ‘might have happened’s. Time that was allotted but never spent. In this realm we find the stories that could have been true.

Such as the story of Kiala, whose aunt and caretaker disappears one day, leaving her as the sole Huntress to battle the giant octopi to feed her village. Or the revealing tale of Goki Feng Ho: the ancient Chinese art of decoding the meaning of car license plates. And the heartbreaking story of the man responsible for choosing the colors of the insides of your shoes. As he toils away in obscurity, his work impacts society in ways we’ll never fully comprehend. And let’s not forget the story behind Unspent Time itself, the metaphysical ramifications of which will leave the scientific community feeling mostly indifferent about it for decades to come…

Thank you Graham for joining us here today at From the Shadows!

To learn more about Graham Parke and his books, please visit his website.

**Unspent Time Tour Giveaway**

For the launch of the new novel Unspent Time Graham decided to discount it to $0.99 for today (PC and eBook), give away some exclusive content, and raffle off two Kindles.

All entrants will get:

• An exclusive spin-off novelette (not available for purchase anywhere!)
• Making of Gomez: behind the scenes eBook
• Signature for their paperback or kindle edition
• Chance to win a Kindle Fire or a Kindle Touch

(Prizes can be traded for Amazon gift certificates if you already own them.)
Just email your receipt to nohopeforgomez@gmail.com to enter.  Each purchase counts, so stock up on birthday presents (for people you don't like that much, for instance) The discount ends today, but be sure to send the receipts no later than June 1st.

Coupon code for today: ZB77D
(To use coupon code, visit Smashwords.com)

Please note, this is a tour giveaway.  Winners will not be drawn by From the Shadows.  Please visit the Unspent Time Launch Party page for more details.

Socialpunk Excerpt + Giveaway

Please welcome today's guest author Monica Leonelle.  Monica is the author of Silver Smoke, Tin Soldier, and Socialpunk.

Keep reading for a chance to win a new iPad 3 (or Apple or Amazon gift card worth $500), new Kindle Fire (or Amazon gift card worth $200), autographed hardcovers of Socialpunk by Monica Leonelle, and more.

As part of her Socialpunk Tour, Monica has provided From the Shadows readers with an excerpt from her new release.  Enjoy!

A small, blinking red light from just inside his eyelid reminded him of the news they sent him earlier that morning. The company had cancelled his funding and would shut down his project within three months. According to them, the project cost too much and took up too much space, and the inconclusive results couldn’t be published reputably, now or in the future.

Six years of his work, tens of thousands of lives at stake—and he could do nothing to save any of it. He bowed his head, letting his chin rest on the rim of his breakfast smoothie. The smoothie reeked of powder—crushed pills—but he supposed he had better get used to it. He wouldn’t be able to afford the luxury of real food after they canned him.

He closed his eyes and called up the camera view of one of his favorites, number 3281. She fascinated him; he couldn’t deny it. When he had designed her, her pre-teen rebelliousness lit fire in her eyes. A survivor, he’d thought. He’d meant for her to have it all—to grow up, to get married to the love of her life, and to have a beautiful family of her own someday.

But he had only given her sadness so far. Instead of creating a strict father, he had given her an abusive one. Instead of creating a loving boyfriend, he had given her a friend who could never love her. And instead of creating a strong, proud mother, he had given her a meek one, who watched the whole thing unfold and did nothing about it.

He looked at his last and final creation sitting in the chair across from him—his own son, not awakened yet. The law forbade him to have any children of his own, so this boy would substitute.

But he had done the unthinkable with this creation—he had bestowed on it his own thoughts, emotions, and decision-making processes. He’d given the boy his own mind, his own physical characteristics, his own wants and desires.

Socialpunk by Monica Leonelle

Ima would give anything to escape The Dome and learn what’s beyond its barriers, but the Chicago government has kept all its citizens on lockdown ever since the Scorched Years left most of the world a desert wasteland. When a mysterious group of hooded figures enters the city unexpectedly, Ima uncovers a plot to destroy The Dome and is given the choice between escaping to a new, dangerous city or staying behind and fighting a battle she can never win.


Thank you Monica for joining us here today at From the Shadows.

To learn more about Monica and her books, please visit her website.

**Socialpunk Tour Giveaway**

As part of her Socialpunk Tour, the author is giving away a new iPad 3 (or Apple or Amazon gift card worth $500), new Kindle Fire (or Amazon gift card worth $200), 25 autographed hardcovers of Socialpunk by Monica Leonelle, and more!

To enter, please use the Rafflecopter form below.   Please note that this is a book tour giveaway.  Winners will be selected May 1st, by the author (not From the Shadows), from participating blogs.  This giveaway is INTERNATIONAL.  Giveaway ends April 30th.

Guest Author Interview: Jacqueline Paige + Tour Giveaway

Please welcome today's guest author Jacqueline Paige!  Jacqueline is the author of Solstice Heat, Beltane Magic, Behind the Mask, From a Dream, In Our Dream, Salvation, and Mystic Perceptions.

EJ:  When did you begin writing?

Jacqueline:   I think I’ve always been writing in one way or another, even when I was growing up I always had a notebook with me. I forgot writing (except to-do lists) for many years while my kids were tiny and then my mind started to wander away to other places again. My first serious attempt at something longer than a poem was in 2006 – which I hid away until 2009 before I bit the bullet and submitted it somewhere. The last year has been a blur of writing, editing and trying to keep up with my muse, publishers and real life outside of the world of words.

EJ:  What brought you to the paranormal genre?

Jacqueline:   For most of my life I read in the contemporary or historical genre, and I loved it but was always thinking ‘what if’ while reading.  I love the paranormal genre because it doesn’t seem restricted by any preconceived guidelines that the readers expect.  I can take a seemingly normal person and give them any ability, talent, curse or make entirely different species and that’s okay by the readers. 

EJ:  If you could be any paranormal or have any one supernatural talent, what would it be? Why?

Jacqueline:  If I could be any paranormal I would definitely have to be a shifter, of the cat variety.  I would love to just go run through the mountain or forest whenever I needed to blow off steam.  If on the other hand I had to keep this body I would want a mind talent, so I could listen to people’s thoughts.  I’m a people watcher by nature and sometimes I’m astounded by the things people do and would just love to peek inside their heads and find out why they did it.

EJ:  Tell us why readers will enjoy your new release.

Jacqueline:  Mystic Perceptions is the first in my Hidden Senses Trilogy.  It’s a physic ability story.  In it the main character, Jacinda, has a ‘gift’ that she’d rather not have.  Not only can she touch someone and actually feel their emotions, but she can do the same with objects and more or less see the history of the most recent people that have touched it.  As you can imagine this isn’t exactly a good ability to have and because of it she has had to live most of her life alone. 

EJ:  If your book(s) were being made into a movie, who would you cast for the leading roles? Why?
 
Jacqueline:   For Jacinda I would have to go with Michelle Trachtenberg (Dawn from Buffy – only the grown up version).  I think Michelle would have the proper presence to play Jacinda, being a little defensive and cautious but strong enough to follow through.  And after a long time of thinking, she resembles the Jacinda I had in my head while writing the story.  For Reid I would go with Wentworth Miller (Michael from Prison Break).  Reid is an internal thought type of person, and I think Wentworth would pull it off very well – and he has pretty eyes, just like the character I created.

Mystic Perceptions (Hidden Senses Trilogy, book 1) by Jacqueline Paige.

Jacinda Brown keeps to her safe existence doing investigative research, avoiding people and places with people. To most, it appears she has a normal life; blending completely undetected in her lonely continuation. She doesn’t investigate people; she can’t get that close. Through her hand she can feel emotions, thoughts.  With a touch she can see what has been.  Unfortunately fate tosses her into a situation where her carefully guarded secret and her own conscience are at war when she finds herself working with detectives to find a killer.  Jacinda clashes with the very strongly grounded detective, Reid Merritt, destiny has forced her to work with.  At some point he begins to matter, making her decision harder. Will he look at her with abhorrence, like she’s some sort of freak when she’s through?  When the fifth murder happens, Jacinda makes the decision to use her gift to find the killer.  She doesn’t let herself think of how she’s going to suffer afterward, the consequences that will curse her again, the chance she’ll be giving up everything and starting all over.  She just thinks of finding some justice and stopping a killer.  What will be the price, this time, for the ability she doesn’t want?

Thank you Jacqueline for joining us here today at From the Shadows!

To learn more about Jacqueline Paige and her books, please visit her book tour page here.

** Tour Giveaway **

Jacqueline is giving away a Mystic Perceptions tote bag stuffed with goodies for one randomly drawn tour commenter!  To enter, please leave a comment including your email address.  To increase your chances of winning, visit other stops on Jacqueline's Mystic Perceptions book tour and leave a comment each tour post.

Giveaway Winners + Book Tour Updates

I've been busy getting book tour packages out to She Smells the Dead book tour participants.  I always forget just how long it takes to sign books.  Thankfully I had the assistance of my new fabulous friend DB!  DB is the dung beetle plushie made exclusively for me.  Isn't he amazing?!

So DB and I have been busy signing books and stuffing envelopes.  Today we delivered all of our packages to the post office.  Hooray!

We also had some wonderful giveaways come to an end here at From the Shadows.  The winner of the Enchanted Darkly Giveaway was Theresa and the winner of EJ's Birthday Bash Giveaway was Ashley.  Congratulations!

She Smells the Dead Book Tour

Do you have an active book blog?  Are you interested in joining the She Smells the Dead book tour?  If you are interested, then please fill out the form below.

Book Tour Sign Up Form

She Smells the Dead by E.J. Stevens releases worldwide on September 9, 2010.  The book tour will begin September 1, 2010 and ends October 31, 2010.

She Smells the Dead is the first book in the Spirit Guide young adult paranormal romance series.  Visit the official Spirit Guide website for book trailers, character profile pics, and more.

** This book tour is now closed.  The tour has reached 50 applicants (wow!) so all new sign ups will be kept on file as alternates.  I am now in the process of putting together review packs and giveaway packs to mail out.  Thank you all so much for your interest in this tour! **

Guest Author: Lorrie Struiff

Welcome readers and authors,
I first want to thank my host for having me here today.
Let me tell you how I got the inspiration for Gypsy Crystal.

Once upon a time, a good friend, an author in her own right, insisted she treat me for my birthday.
I won’t tell you which birthday, so don’t ask.
My friend took me to a quaint little restaurant where the food was scrumptious. Lo and behold, they had a gypsy fortuneteller seated at a table in the corner. Of course we indulged in both the food and having our fortunes told. The gypsy fascinated me and a few of her predictions have come true. She nailed my lifestyle and my hopes. Needless to say, it was an interesting and fun birthday celebration.

When I returned home, my thoughts stayed with the gypsy. Being an author, I love to take interesting characters, mix in a few troublemakers, and plot storylines for them. This gypsy impressed me with her intelligence and her thoughtful chosen words, so I researched the gypsies of yore and found some very interesting reading. Their mysticism and beliefs held me captive. I admit I am often carried away with research. Isn’t every writer?  Hence, Rita Muldova came to life, a homicide detective of Roma blood, her mother the gypsy seer and her uncle, a great baker.
Following today’s popular trends of many readers, I decided to use, and yes, add a little… well…okay, a lot of mysticism of my own. Ahem, literary license we call it. What is a story without a love interest? I gave her a handsome hunk from Voodoo City. My kind of guy. Yum. Throw in a serial killer, a good friend, and we have a wild ride of a story.
I hope you enjoy the ride.
Lorrie.

Gypsy Crystal by Lorrie Struiff.

Detective Rita Moldova peeked around the corner to make sure the hallway was empty. Making a quick right turn, she slipped into the autopsy lab to have a few minutes alone with the body. She tucked her white shirt tighter into her jeans and zipped her windbreaker to stay warm in the chilly room. The harsh odor of formaldehyde hit her nostrils and stung her throat.
Her heart twisted at the sight of the young, auburn-haired woman lying on the stainless steel table. A white sheet covered her to the navel; bruises blemished the once pretty face. Contusions marred the pallid skin from elbow to shoulder. The gash on the front of her neck gaped, exposing open veins and torn tissue.
 
Rita flipped her thick, dark braid back over her shoulder, snapped on one latex glove, leaned over the corpse, and peeled back an eyelid. In her bare hand, she clasped a star-shaped crystal hanging from the gold chain around her neck, an endowment from her maternal Roma bloodline. The crystal heated in her palm, warm energy pulsing up her arm to her shoulder. The face captured in the victim’s eye coalesced and stared back. Rita drew in a sharp breath. Bobby Driscoll! She had known him since high school, and now he worked as a uniform in her precinct. What the hell was going on?

Thank you Lorrie for joining us here today at From the Shadows and sharing with us rare insight into the creation of Gypsy Crystal!  For more information about today's guest author, visit Lorrie at her website.

Lorrie Unites-Struiff is a native of West Mifflin, twenty minutes from downtown, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She writes short stories in different genres that have appeared in various publications and anthologies. When she is not sitting in front of her computer, she’s often found checking out bookstores, leading her writing workshops, or having lunch with local authors.

Boston, NYC & London!

I am currently adding Boston, NYC, London & Amityville to my book tour!

I will also be visiting Salem, MA again before the end of the month.  Then of course there is the Goth Ball and the Plague night Black Friday book release party at The Asylum.

If you would like to request dark poet E.J. Stevens for a book signing or other literary event please email her at e.j.stevens.author @ gmail.com or click on the "Request a visit from E.J. Stevens" button over at BookTour.com.

Beautiful Salem, MA

I decided to take From the Shadows on an informal book tour today to Salem Massachusetts.

From the Shadows was very well received, the bookmarks and fliers were a hit, and I was able to a sunny Autumn day wandering the cobblestone streets of historic Salem.  The drive was filled with amber and rust colored leaves as the fall foliage reaches its peak and I found a lovely velvet capelet in one of the many downtown boutiques.  It was a fabulous day for strolling, shopping and meeting readers.  I would like to thank all of you for your kind comments and encouragement.  Welcome to the blog!