Category: Blog

I just now emailed the corrected! and expanded! Ghost Ship to Toni at Baen.  Hopefully, that’s got everything.  Doubtless, we’ll hear, if not.

In the meantime, I want to write!  Yes.  Yes, I do.  Unfortunately, what I want to write is probably not the next thing I ought to write, though it is one of the projects currently under discussion. And, honestly?  What I ought to really be doing is the bookkeeping.  Before it achieves sentience.

Well.

It can’t hurt to just noodle out a couple pages of Teh Shiny, right?  While we’re between contracts and all?

Yeah, I’m doomed.

Carousel Tides looks to be doing well for itself — Number Two bestselling trade paperback at Uncle Hugo’s for October! *is chuffed*.

If you’ve read the book, please do consider posting a review on Amazon, BN, Goodreads, LibraryThing, or, yanno, your website or journal.  Word of mouth is a Powerful Force for Good.

Fans of the day-job will be delighted to learn that it has graduated to Mad Scramble, where it will remain, breaking all-too-briefly for Yuletide, before shifting into high gear.

Mozart is sitting on the desk at my left hand, purring.  I think he’s happy to have All Those Papers out of his way.

Steve is in the kitchen, building grilled cheese sammiches.

Mmmmm, grilled cheese.

What small pleasure are you enjoying this evening?

Today is the Official Release Day for Carousel Tides!

I’m proud of you, young book!  Go forth and do great things!

Short form:  Carousel Tides has been sent off into the world in style, and!  I had a blast.

Photos follow.

We were on the top floor at the Sea View, and the views were spectacular:

As if this wasn’t enough fun, we had a party, too!

We had folks come up to Old Orchard Beach from such far-flung places as Alabama, Virginia, Maryland (by proxy), New York, Massachusetts, and South Portland.  Jeanne at Beggar’s Ride was an elegant hostess, the buffet from Roma was to die for, I got to talk to a lot of people and signed bunches of books.

A success, by anyone’s accounting.

Home now, car unloaded, cats placated.  Tired.

Thanks again to everyone who took time to come to the party — and a blessed Samhain to all.

David Mattingly reports that he has just finished the cover for Ghost Ship.

Here, have a sneak peak.

This is the fifth and last day of the Carousel Tides Snippet Fest, sponsored by Baen Books! More snippety goodness to follow.

Tall and thin, with fly-away blond hair – absolutely unmemorable, except for one thing. She was pointing a gun at my chest.

“No,” I said. “They’re high-handed because they’re from the Land of the Flowers, and you’re not.”

“Woman jumps off the Pier to get between bullets and a seal, you think they’re gonna send the Rescue? Just in case?

“That bullet we dug out of your arm at personal pain to yourself?” “Yah?” I agreed warily. He looked owlish. “It’s silver.”

“Trust me, you don’t want to hear that story.” He grinned. “Actually, I do. After all, it’s got a happy ending.”

One week of snippets is now completed; thank you for your kind attention. Remember! Carousel Tides hits the stands November 2, from Baen!

* * *

Here ends Day Five of the Epic Carousel Tides tweet-a-thon.  Thank you for playing along!

If you’re in or around Old Orchard Beach this evening between 7 and 9 stop by the Seaview for the Carousel Tides warm up reception.  Look for the starry balloons!

Tomorrow is the Big Book Launch Party at Beggar’s Ride, 39 Old Orchard Street from 7 – 9 p.m.  Looking forward to seeing you there!

Carousel Tides can be ordered from Amazon.com, from BN, your local independent bookstore, or download it electronically from Baen Webscriptions.

If you’re going to be in Old Orchard Beach this evening, and would like to come to the warm-up wine and cheese reception at the Seaview Inn, drop me a note at liadenuniverseAtgmailDOTcom for directions, or look for the blue and gold stars flying high above the Seaview’s driveway.

It’s a lovely day at the ocean with rolling grey clouds and a gentle surf.  Y’all should definitely come on down!

Now, off to Beggar’s Ride to talk with Jeanne and do some set-up.

Welcome to the penultimate day of the Carousel Tides Grand Snippet Adventure, sponsored by Baen Books. Snippets beginning in 3…2…1…

“Hair of the dog,” he said, pressing the flask into my hand. “Drink up, matey; this draught’ll make a man of ye!”

“It was an Ozali who came. Who, I cannot say. He had woven a glamour about himself, but he could not mask the odor of High Magic.”

Googin Rock lay before me, flames flickering hungrily beneath the black, bladed surface.

“That’s nice,” Borgan murmured. “Yes,” I managed to say calmly, “it is. But it’s only glamor.”

My right foot went into the cup of Borgan’s hands, there was a moment of lift, and I was airborne, the land wailing inside my head.

The willie, possibly believing it was about to witness a new and exciting form of suicide, spun closer.

* * *

Here ends Day Four of the Epic Carousel Tides tweet-a-thon.  Tune in bright and early tomorrow for the next installment!

While you’re waiting, Carousel Tides can be ordered from Amazon.com, from BN, your local independent bookstore, or download it electronically from Baen Webscriptions.

This is Day Three of the the Epic Carousel Tides Snippet Tweet, sponsored by Baen. Street date 11/2. Book launch 10/30. Mark your calendars!

Visiting the Wood, frying a man’s grass – not exactly walking lightly on the land. And the land had taken note.

It’s an old machine; a menagerie, like the name says, three across, twenty-three animals and a chariot.

Horses: an Indian pony with a blanket saddle; a bejeweled charger; a dandy little gray with fangs, batwings furled against its sides.

Force flowed and flowered, prickly against my skin. I tasted mint and honey, a tattered remnant of Gran’s signature.

“Saw the one with batwings take a nip out of a fella come down to talk to your gran.”

“You’re trenvay,” I said, sounding accusatory in my own ears. Borgan raised a lazy eyebrow. “You say that like it’s a bad thing.”

* * *

Here ends Day Three of the Epic Carousel Tides tweet-a-thon.  Tune in bright and early tomorrow for the next installment!

While you’re waiting, Carousel Tides can be ordered from Amazon.com, from BN, your local independent bookstore, or downloaded electronically from Baen Webscriptions.

Day Two of the Carousel Tides tweet-a-thon, excerpting snippets from the book at the dizzying rate of 6 in 12 hours. Watch the skies. . .

“Good morning, fair Nerazi,” I said, moving closer across the sand.

“Nay, nay, keep your sweet words close and be niggardly in their spending! For when those are gone, there will be no more, I warrant.”

“Normal folk see what they want to see,” I agreed. “And we’re lucky that they do.”

“That deed is ancient! We surveyed as well as we could, but when the markers are old rocks and trees that rotted 50 years ago –”

“You’re vandalizing my lawn and if you don’t cease, I’ll call the police and see you hauled away in handcuffs!”

“Hear me, Man,” I heard myself say. “The boundary will be honored.” The Word spoke itself, soft and gentle, like dew.

The line between our properties was marked with a ride ribbon of dead grass.

* * *

Here ends Day Two of the Epic Carousel Tides tweet-a-thon.  Tune in bright and early tomorrow for the next installment!

While you’re waiting, Carousel Tides can be pre-ordered from Amazon.com, from BN, your local independent bookstore, or downloaded electronically from Baen Webscriptions.

Maine fantasy Carousel Tides by Sharon Lee hits stores 11/2 from Baen. Book launch 10/30 in Old Orchard Beach. Snippet week starts: 3, 2, 1

No matter how many words they use to say it, people only ever leave home for two reasons. Money, that’s one. Love — that’s the other.

Me, I was worried about my grandmother. Worried enough to risk a homecoming.

Mind you, the crisis Bonny Pepperidge couldn’t settle with her off-hand while cooking breakfast wasn’t likely to roll over for me.

I’m only an Archer; the Pepperidges have operated the Archers Beach merry-go-round since right around the dawn of civilization, Maine time.

“Morning,” I answered. “Pleasant day for a walk.”

He laughed and jerked his head at the fog-shrouded ocean. “No going out in this, and by the time it burns off, the tide’ll have turned.”

* * *

Here ends Day One of the Epic Carousel Tides tweet-a-thon.  Tune in bright and early tomorrow for the next installment!

While you’re waiting, Carousel Tides can be pre-ordered from Amazon.com, from BN, your local independent bookstore, or downloaded electronically from Baen Webscriptions.