See For Yourself

The question is not what you look at, but what you see. -- Henry David Thoreau

Yesterday while I was at the grocery store I detoured from my quest for some decent ripe apricots to take a walk down the book/card/magazine aisle. I can't help it; I can't be somewhere they sell books and not check out the shelves. Also my market always seems to carry at least one or two new releases that I missed because I didn't get to the bookstore that week, or I didn't spot them on my last trip. I've been insanely busy with family and work stuff since coming back from Savannah, so my most recent bookstore trips have been mad grab-and-dash stops.

I scanned the racks but didn't see anything new, and was just about to head back to produce when I spotted two words that promised to wreck my plans to sew that night: Rob Thurman.

Yes, it seems that while I was out of town, Rob Thurman released a new novel, All Seeing Eye. This isn't the first time this has happened, either. I swear, if I were paranoid I'd believe she deliberately plans it when she talks to her editor about scheduling: Is Viehl is going to be out of town at the end of July? Okay, I want the release that week.

Naturally All Seeing Eye came home with me and the apricots. And since I can't have a new Rob Thurman release in the house and not read it, I put away the sewing and carried a kitchen timer around with me so I wouldn't burn dinner while I dove in.

In All Seeing Eye Rob introduces us to a new protagonist, Jackson Lee, a poor kid with a hardworking mom, two adorable little sisters and the Stepfather from Hell. Jack doesn't have much, but he wants more, and better, for his family, and he's willing to work for it. Fate steps in one day to give him one-half of what he wishes for when he discovers one of his sister's shoes in the grass, and his own tactile psychic power the moment he touches it. That day changes Jackson's life forever, and while he's given an tremendous gift, almost everything else he cares about is taken from him in the most horrific fashion imaginable . . . and that's just the beginning.

Despite the timer, All Seeing Eye nearly did make me burn dinner, because (like all of Rob's books) once I started reading it I couldn't put it down. As stories go this one is particularly nightmare dark, switchblade-edged, with characters and a storyline so compelling you should expect not to be able to set it aside until you reach the stunning conclusion -- and then it will probably haunt you until I go out of town again and Rob releases a new book.

As always, you don't have to take my word for it. In comments to this post, name the last book you read that impressed the hell out of you (or if you can't think of one, just toss your name in the hat) by midnight EST on Monday, August 20, 2012. I'll choose five names at random from everyone who participates, and send the winners an unsigned copy of All Seeing Eye by Rob Thurman. This giveaway is open to everyone on the planet, even if you've won something at PBW in the past.

Discoveries Week: Rob Thurman

The winner of the Discoveries Week: Patricia Briggs giveaway is:

Stephanie, who wrote: I read as a reward. Sometimes I start a new craft/sewing project (though this usually backfires as something else generally ends up needing desperately repaired, sidelining the project).

Stephanie, when you have a chance please send your full name and ship-to address to LynnViehl@aol.com so I can get your package out to you. Thanks to everyone for sharing all the great ideas on how we can better reward ourselves.

Finding out that Nightborn would also be released as an audio book was like getting a very early Christmas gift. I love audio books and take at least one with me whenever I go on a road trip so I can listen to a story while I'm driving. Back when I first got serious about my own work I'd borrow audio books from the library in order to study how other authors handled certain elements like dialogue and pacing, which for learning purposes are often better heard than read.

Also, it's just beyond cool to hear your work being read out loud by a talented voice actor. They take the storytelling to a whole different level.

Some writers like Ariana Franklin and Anne McCaffrey have writing styles that are particularly suited to audio performance; Mistress of the Art of Death and Powers That Be are two of my favorite audio books of all time. I also want to get all of Rob Thurman's novels on audio as her writing practically shrieks to be read out loud. Speaking of Rob, Doubletake, her latest Cal Leandros novel is being released this month, and I know I've hooked so many of you on that series that you'll have to run to the bookstore for your copy.



Or you might get one here, along with an audio edition of Nightborn (the first copy just arrived today in the mail, and I'm keeping my promise to do a give away.) In comments to this post, name your favorite audio book (or if you don't have one, just toss your name in the hat) by midnight EST tonight, March 13, 2012. I'll draw one name at random from everyone who participates and send the winner this elegant tote that I also found during my travels, packed with an unsigned copy of Rob Thurman's Doubletake, the audio edition of my novel Nightborn, the Artist's edition of Magnetic Poetry, a scroll edition of my BookLoop and some other goodies. This giveaway is open to everyone on the planet, even if you've won something here at PBW in the past.

Soul Medicine Week: Rob Thurman

Inscribed above the doorway to an ancient library in Thebes are words that translate to The medicine chest for the soul. I've always thought of books in a lot of ways -- as great companions, instant portals to other realms, the voices of friends who never abandon you -- but they also work wonders for a bruised and battered spirit.

This week I'd like to explore this theme and talk about the writers who so frequently rescue me from the blues. In my soul medicine chest of books are a few who by the power and originality of their work provide instant healing, and one of them is Rob Thurman.

When I first read Rob's debut novel Nightlife back in 2006, I was completely blown away (and made the very public mistake of tagging her as a guy writer. In my defense, she does not write like a chick.) Since that first amazing read, Rob's dark fantasy has saved me time and again from various doldrums; it is utterly impossible to be depressed or sulk while immersed in one of her worlds. Rob never bores me. I often purposely save her new books to read during times when I'll need a boost, although everything she writes is just as good on a reread.

Wherever she takes me on the page, Rob Thurman delivers great characters, incredibly detailed story with pacing that should be measured in machs. She still holds the #1 spot on my list for writing the best novel twist I've read, and I don't think anyone will ever take that title from her.

As it happens a few weeks ago we almost lost Rob, and while she was fighting her way back from her injuries I prayed and made a lot of promises to the Almighty in hopes that would add some weight to the survive side of the scale. So I can't have potato chips or donuts for the rest of the year, which is fine (okay, sacrificing chips will be tough, but God doesn't listen if you offer to give up something like spinach or squash. To be a legit sacrifice, it has to really hurt.)

I also promised myself that I would give away some of her books, a vow I intend to fulfill today. So in comments to this post, name an author or a book you read when you need a little medicine for your soul (or if you can't think of one, toss your name in the hat) by midnight EST on Thursday, September 22, 2011. I will draw four names at random from everyone who participates and send the winners unsigned copies of Chimera and Basilisk by Rob Thurman, along with a surprise. This giveaway is open to everyone on the planet, even if you've won something here at PBW in the past.

Cover Fits

Sometime next week someone in NY will decide what sort of cover to put on my next book. As always, I hope for something attractive and dignified, and pray to be spared anything demeaning or ridiculous, but it's not up to me. At best I'll get something that I won't be tempted to drop in the office shredder along with handfuls of the hair I pull out after I'm finished sobbing. Which is silly, because I know I shouldn't do that; the hair always clogs up the shredder and I look awful until the bald spots grow back in.

That most cover art usually fails to live up to a writer's hopes is not unusual or even unexpected; writers know publishers have other concerns that outweigh the artist's vision of the story. I don't think publishers can see the story the way writers do; they aren't invested in it the way we are. To illustrate this, here are two versions of the cover for Dreamveil: one mock-up that I made up myself to show what I felt was the perfect look/theme/style for the cover, and the cover the publisher chose to put on the novel:

       

Still, there are some publishers and writers who do seem to be on the same wavelength and do produce books with covers that do suit the story very well. I was thinking about this as I was pre-ordering some upcoming titles, and saw three I thought were excellent examples of cover art that fits:



Silver Borne by Patricia Briggs

Although my favorite Mercy Thompson cover is still the gorgeous art they used for Bone Crossed, I liked the style of this one. The body art is highly detailed, and the setting composition is interesting and tells a bit of a story all on its own. I also chuckle every time over the perennial shop rag hanging out of her back pocket; my guy has the exact same rag on his work bench.



A Wild Light by Marjorie M. Liu

You can't see this cover yet on the bookseller sites but I nicked a copy from Marjorie's blog. It's a simply gorgeous cover, and I love that they continued the theme but added another character (presumably Graham) to the composition. Also, note the cuff ornament on the right hand; that's one of those tiny details that delights because it came straight from the story. Ace really does seem to get Marjorie as a writer, because all the Hunter Kiss covers have been seamless fits. An indy bookseller once told me that red is the hottest-selling cover color theme because it most often draws the eye of the casual browser. I don't know if that is true, but this one seems pretty riveting to me.



Roadkill by Rob Thurman

Not only great art, but a killer tag line, too. To demonstrate the power of a great cover, I actually started reading Rob Thurman because I spotted the exceptional art on the first Cal Leandros novel and thought, Hey, that looks cool. And was pleasantly shocked when the story delivered what the cover promised. Since then I think the Gods of Cover Art have showered Rob with a straight run of equally outstanding covers. When I talk about unique-to-the-author style (I can pick out a Rob Thurman novel from across a bookstore), thoughtful presentation and story-appropriate art, Rob's covers are the ones I most often use as shining examples.

Now it's your turn: what writer out there has cover art that you think best fits their
book(s)? Why does it work so well for you? Let us know in comments.

This Little Writer Went to Market

I am bailing on you guys today to sell some books and earn my keep. All good thoughts sent my way will be much appreciated.

So that your visit was not entirely wasted, here is a PBW triple gold star heads-up on Rob Thurman's newest release, Trick of the Light. It is urban fantasy, set in the same universe as the author's Cal and Niko Leandros novels, but with an entirely new cast and a terrific premise. It's got Vegas, angels, demons, and a hunt for a mysterious artifact that by comparison makes Indiana Jones look like he was grubbing in the dirt for Precious Moments kitsch. If I had only three words to describe this book? They'd be: Best. Twist. Ever.

Rob Thurman, if your ears were burning over the weekend, it's because as soon as I hit Le Big Revelation I shrieked like a girl who finds a hot pink Camaro covered with no-limit credit cards parked in the driveway on her sixteenth birthday. I think I called you a bitch, too, but I meant it in the good, totally stunned, happily envious way.

Go. Buy this book. It will floor you.

Moonshine Winners

Thanks for all the great writer and book recommendations you all contributed to the Moonshine giveaway. I added quite a few titles to my bookstore shopping list.

We put all the names in the magic hat, and the five winners are:

blackroze37 -tami

Alissa

LizzieTG (whose comment read I haven't read either--please put me in the hat!)

Random Walk Writer

Sandra

Winners, please send your full name and ship-to address to LynnViehl@aol.com, and let me know if you'd like Nightlife as well as Moonshine.

Just a note -- as far as giveaways versus contests go, I appreciate the input you all gave me. I've decided to do both every other week: ideally two giveaways and two contests a month. Prizes will be mostly new copies of books but also some music, art, quilts and stuff that appeals to readers and writers. I'm also going to add in some unannounced surprises now and then, just for fun.

Moonshine

I meant to post this before I went off to sulk, but it ended up, like a lot of stuff I meant to do, as hell's road pavement.

Moonshine, Rob Thurman's second novel, debuted back at the beginning of March, and more than keeps the promise that began with book one, Nightlife. As novels go it's very edgy, with lots of surprises that I didn't see coming. Subtle things change with Cal and Nik, how they work together and relate to each other, which I thought made the book. I fell hard in love with Nik this time around, which I didn't expect to because I didn't much like him in the first novel. Cal continues to develop as a protagonist in dark and mysterious ways. George . . . well, let me not spoil that plot thread.

From a technical standpoint, let me shake my fangirl pom poms for the way Rob shifts story gears in this one. It's extremely hard to go from nonstop action pacing to deeper, more introspective moments and then back again without jarring the reader. Rob does this so well you don't even notice it, and that, folks, is quite the transmission.

Moonshine is a high-intensity dark fantasy adventure, with amazing characterizations and a thrill-ride storyline. I loved it, and I think Rob Thurman is one of the most original and talented new writers I've read in years. Expect great things from this series and its author.

As always, you don't have to take my word for it. In comments to this post, name a a book or an author who's recently thrilled you (or if you're in a boring book rut, just throw your name in the hat) by midnight EST on Friday, March 30, 2007. I'll draw five names at random from everyone who participates and send the winners an unsigned copy of Moonshine by Rob Thurman. Bonus: if you've not yet read Nightlife, I'll throw in an unsigned copy of that one, too. Giveaway open to everyone on the planet, even if you've won something here at PBW in the past.