I’m finishing my third huge project in as many weeks (with the time out for the aborted trip to LA) and have lost track of posting on my website.  As a result I’m a bit behind.  So  here are two things for your enjoyment.

First, a new Notes From the Buffer Zone column on the Grantville Gazette website about the changing times for readers and writers.  You can find that here.

Then I’m lucky enough to have the cover story in a new magazine out of England called Spectra.  It launches as an e-magazine this week, so you should be able to get it anywhere, electronically of course.

Here’s the lovely cover, based on my story, “Songbirds.”

You can download a free sample of the story here. So…enjoy.

Right now, I should be in Los Angeles for the Writers of the Future event.  As of yesterday, I was still scheduled to be there.  Yesterday morning, Dean and I were in Red Bluff, California.  We’d spent the night there, and planned to drive the rest of the way.

Dean’s body and the 105 degree heat–at 11 a.m.–changed that.

Dean’s had problems with heat sensitivity as long as I’ve known him, and he’s had heat stroke several times, the last in 2008.  Until this trip.  I had hoped to avoid it by avoiding the airlines and long sits on the tarmac in badly air-conditioned planes, a slow drive down to LA in a well air-conditioned car, and then a stay in LA in a lovely air-conditioned hotel.  But the extreme heat proved too much for him.  He had all the signs of heat stroke yesterday morning, so I turned us around, headed to the coast (where it was somewhat cooler), and drove us home.

He’s recovering this morning.  He will be fine.  (Yes, he’s seen a doctor. Two in fact. One in CA, ours here.)  But we won’t be in Los Angeles this weekend.

So apologies to the fine folks at Writers of the Future.  Apologies to the winners of WoTF because we won’t be able to meet you this trip. Apologies to the Pasadena Borders for missing the big signing.  And apologies to anyone who planned to see us this week.  We’re missing all of you, but we are sitting in 60 degree temperatures on the Oregon Coast.  Much better for my heat-sensitive husband.

For the first time in nearly twenty years, you can purchase my first novel, The White Mists of Power.  Right now, it’s only available in e-editions, but by October, it’ll be available as trade paper as well. Don’t worry; I’ll let you know when that’s happening.

Watch this space for more of these announcements.  As I mentioned before, WMG Publishing is putting out my backlist, including many of the novels.  (Some have publishing rights tie-ups with their original publisher; I’m working to get those changed.)

As for The White Mists of Power, it’s a high fantasy novel with some surprises.  In fact, it’s so different within its traditional structure, that it’s tough to talk about without ruining the book for you.  (Don’t read everything from the reviewers on Amazon; a few have serious spoilers.)

If you like the Fey, you’ll like this.  I reread it as we prepped it for publication, and am pleased with how it’s held up. When it came out, Booklist called it “a thrilling read,” and Orson Scott Card called it “a grand adventure.”  I think it’s both, with a touch of romance and a lot of magic.

The electronic version is in the queue for iBookstore and Barnes & Noble, among other places. If you want copies for those places now, go to Smashwords. Otherwise, it’ll arrive at those locatons in a few weeks.  Right now, it’s available on these sites–and the Kindle site includes Amazon.uk (for those of you in the U.K.)

Kindle, Scribd, Smashwords

More stories in e-editions.  Three here, two mysteries and one sf novella.  Both “Details” and “Coolhunting” are readers’ choice winners.  ”Stomping Mad” marks the first appearance of my fannish detective, Spade.  As always, if you can’t find the editions on your favorite source, either wait a few weeks or go to Smashwords and download what you need.  And, as always, enjoy!

George has lived a full life as a decorated WWII veteran, high-end attorney, family man. But the incident that haunts him only took five minutes, five minutes when he shared a Coke with a woman on her way to California, a woman who would die hours later. Murdered. Maybe even by George.  Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine Readers Choice winner.

Kindle, Scribd, Smashwords

This Locus Award Finalist and Science Fiction Age Readers’ Choice Winner follows Steffie, a coolhunter, as she tries to save her genetically altered sister’s life.

Kindle, Scribd, Smashwords

When a dead body turns up at Dinocon, Secret Master of Fandom and Private Detective Spade knows just who might be behind it all: Lucinda Danielle Stanhope who calls herself the Martha Stewart of Science Fiction. Now he just has to prove it. “Stomping Mad” marks the first appearance of Spade, who along with his sidekick Paladin, is one of Rusch’s most popular characters.

Kindle, Scribd, Smashwords

The kind folks at Smart Pop occasionally ask me to write an essay for their nonfiction series, mostly on favorite TV shows.  I do, too, and announce those essays here. But what I don’t say is that then I get the contributor’s copy and read it cover to cover.  So this week, the kind folks at Smart Pop asked me to write a guest blog about my favorite essays.  I did, and you can find it–and the essays–on their website:

http://www.smartpopbooks.com/2153

Enjoy!