“Preferred Seating,” by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller, the story written “in support” of Trader’s Leap (and also the companion story to “Ambient Conditions,” to be published on November 27) is now live, and free to read.
Author: Sharon
Books read in 2020
83 Crazy Rich Asians, Kevin Kwan
82 Return of the Thief, Megan Whalen Turner
81 A Night in the Lonesome October, Roger Zelazny (annual read w/Steve)
80 Dorothy Parker: What Fresh Hell is This?, Marion Meade
79 Slave to Sensation, Nalini Singh (read aloud w/Steve, re-read for me)
78 Trust Me on This, Jennifer Crusie (read aloud w/Steve)
77 Divergence, C.J. Cherryh (read aloud w/Steve)
76 Junkyard Cats, Faith Hunter (e)
75 The Mad Miss Mathley, Michelle Martin (read aloud w/Steve)
74 Cotillion, Georgette Heyer (e) (re-re-re-&c-read)
73 Emerald Blaze, Ilona Andrews (e)
72 The Ragged World, Judith Moffett (re-read) (e)
71 Alpha Night, Nalini Singh (read aloud w/Steve)
70 The Liar’s Dice, Jeanine Lin (e)
69 The Cinderella Deal, Jennifer Crusie (Steve read to me)
68 The King of Next Week, E.C. Ambrose (e)
67 A Wizard’s Guide to Defensive Baking, T. Kingfisher (e)
66 Too Many Cooks, Rex Stout (read aloud w/Steve)
65 Maskerade, Terry Pratchett (read aloud w/Steve)
64 The Masqueraders, Georgette Heyer (e) (re-re-re-&c-read)
63 What the Lady Wants, Jennifer Crusie (read aloud w/Steve)
62 Black Dog, Rachel Neumeier (e)
61 The Red Box, Rex Stout (read aloud w/Steve)
60 Court of Fives, Kate Elliott (e)
59 The Rubber Band, Rex Stout (read aloud w/Steve)
58 Ruddy Gore, Kerry Greenwood
57 Manhunting, Jennifer Crusie (read aloud w/Steve)
56 Nobody’s Perfect, Donald E. Westlake (e)
55 Charlie All Night, Jennifer Crusie (read aloud w/Steve)
54 Paladin’s Grace, T. Kingfisher (e)
53 Wolf Rain, Nalini Singh (read aloud w/Steve)
52 Slippery Creatures, KJ, Charles (e)
51 Star Rogue, Susan Grant (e)
50 The Black Mountain, Rex Stout (re-read) (e)
49 The League of Frightened Men, Rex Stout (read aloud w/Steve)
48 The Trouble with Jenny’s Ear, Oliver Butterworth (re-read)
47 Tooner Schooner, Mary Lasswell (re-read) (e)
46 Fer-de-Lance, Rex Stout (read aloud w/Steve, re-read for me; first time for him)
45 Lake Silence, Anne Bishop
44 Getting Rid of Bradley, Jennifer Crusie (read aloud w/Steve, re-read for me; first time for him)
43 Mort, Terry Pratchett (re-read) (e)
42 Network Effect, Martha Wells (e)
41 Lord and Ladies, Terry Pratchett (read aloud w/Steve, re-read for both)
40 Trouble in Triplicate, Rex Stout (e)
39 The Outlaws of Sherwood, Robin McKinley (e)
38 Agnes and the Hitman, Jennifer Crusie and Bob Mayer (re-read aloud w/Steve, because Steve had a Notion about alligators, specifically Moot; the Talmadge Bridge, and Savannah in general)
37 Warprize, Elizabeth Vaughan (e)
36 Who Speaks for the Damned, C.S. Harris
35 Don’t Look Down, Jennifer Crusie and Bob Mayer (read aloud w/Steve)
34 Blood and Circuses, Kerry Greenwood
33 The Cat Who Came to Breakfast, Lilian Jackson Braun (Steve read to me)
32 One Fell Sweep, Ilona Andrews (e)
31 Sweep in Peace, Ilona Andrews (e)
30 Clean Sweep, Ilona Andrews (e)
29 Getting Rid of Bradley, Jennifer Crusie (e)
28 Raven Heart, Murphy Lawless (e)
27 Iron Kissed, Patricia Briggs (re-read)
26 The Cat Who Said Cheese, Lilian Jackson Braun (Steve read to me)
25 Blood Bound, Patricia Briggs (re-read)
24 Moon Called, Patricia Briggs (re-re-read)
23 War for the Oaks, Emma Bull (re-re-re-re-&c read)
22 The Widow of Rose House, Diana Bill (e)
21 False Value, Ben Aaronovitch
20 Charity Girl, Georgette Heyer (read aloud w/Steve re-read for both)
19 Minor Mage, T. Kingfisher (e)
18 The Green Mill Murder, Kerry Greenwood
17 Tell Me Lies, Jennifer Crusie (read aloud with Steve)
16 Murder at the Brightwell, Ashley Weaver
15 Crazy for You, Jennifer Crusie (read aloud with Steve)
14 A Conspiracy of Kings, Megan Whalen Turner
13 The Thief, Megan Whalen Turner (re-read)
12 Ocean Light, Nalini Singh (read aloud with Steve)
11 Nerdy, Shy, and Socially Inappropriate, Cynthia Kim
10 Witches Abroad, Terry Pratchett (read aloud with Steve)
9 The Kiss Quotient, Helen Hoang (e)
8 Fall into Spring, Amy Lane (e)
7 Resurgence, C.J. Cherryh (read aloud with Steve)
6 2K to 10K: Writing Faster, Writing Better…, Rachel Aaron (e)
5 Unmasked by the Marquess, Cat Sebastian (e)
4 Jimmy the Kid, Donald E. Westlake (e)
3 Wanted, A Gentleman, KJ Charles (e) (read aloud with Steve)
2 The Book of Atrix Wolfe, Patricia McKillip (e) (re-read)
1 Proper English, KJ Charles (e)
Books read in 2020
82 Return of the Thief, Megan Whalen Turner
81 A Night in the Lonesome October, Roger Zelazny (annual read w/Steve)
80 Dorothy Parker: What Fresh Hell is This?, Marion Meade
79 Slave to Sensation, Nalini Singh (read aloud w/Steve, re-read for me)
78 Trust Me on This, Jennifer Crusie (read aloud w/Steve)
77 Divergence, C.J. Cherryh (read aloud w/Steve)
76 Junkyard Cats, Faith Hunter (e)
75 The Mad Miss Mathley, Michelle Martin (read aloud w/Steve)
74 Cotillion, Georgette Heyer (e) (re-re-re-&c-read)
73 Emerald Blaze, Ilona Andrews (e)
72 The Ragged World, Judith Moffett (re-read) (e)
71 Alpha Night, Nalini Singh (read aloud w/Steve)
70 The Liar’s Dice, Jeanine Lin (e)
69 The Cinderella Deal, Jennifer Crusie (Steve read to me)
68 The King of Next Week, E.C. Ambrose (e)
67 A Wizard’s Guide to Defensive Baking, T. Kingfisher (e)
66 Too Many Cooks, Rex Stout (read aloud w/Steve)
65 Maskerade, Terry Pratchett (read aloud w/Steve)
64 The Masqueraders, Georgette Heyer (e) (re-re-re-&c-read)
63 What the Lady Wants, Jennifer Crusie (read aloud w/Steve)
62 Black Dog, Rachel Neumeier (e)
61 The Red Box, Rex Stout (read aloud w/Steve)
60 Court of Fives, Kate Elliott (e)
59 The Rubber Band, Rex Stout (read aloud w/Steve)
58 Ruddy Gore, Kerry Greenwood
57 Manhunting, Jennifer Crusie (read aloud w/Steve)
56 Nobody’s Perfect, Donald E. Westlake (e)
55 Charlie All Night, Jennifer Crusie (read aloud w/Steve)
54 Paladin’s Grace, T. Kingfisher (e)
53 Wolf Rain, Nalini Singh (read aloud w/Steve)
52 Slippery Creatures, KJ, Charles (e)
51 Star Rogue, Susan Grant (e)
50 The Black Mountain, Rex Stout (re-read) (e)
49 The League of Frightened Men, Rex Stout (read aloud w/Steve)
48 The Trouble with Jenny’s Ear, Oliver Butterworth (re-read)
47 Tooner Schooner, Mary Lasswell (re-read) (e)
46 Fer-de-Lance, Rex Stout (read aloud w/Steve, re-read for me; first time for him)
45 Lake Silence, Anne Bishop
44 Getting Rid of Bradley, Jennifer Crusie (read aloud w/Steve, re-read for me; first time for him)
43 Mort, Terry Pratchett (re-read) (e)
42 Network Effect, Martha Wells (e)
41 Lord and Ladies, Terry Pratchett (read aloud w/Steve, re-read for both)
40 Trouble in Triplicate, Rex Stout (e)
39 The Outlaws of Sherwood, Robin McKinley (e)
38 Agnes and the Hitman, Jennifer Crusie and Bob Mayer (re-read aloud w/Steve, because Steve had a Notion about alligators, specifically Moot; the Talmadge Bridge, and Savannah in general)
37 Warprize, Elizabeth Vaughan (e)
36 Who Speaks for the Damned, C.S. Harris
35 Don’t Look Down, Jennifer Crusie and Bob Mayer (read aloud w/Steve)
34 Blood and Circuses, Kerry Greenwood
33 The Cat Who Came to Breakfast, Lilian Jackson Braun (Steve read to me)
32 One Fell Sweep, Ilona Andrews (e)
31 Sweep in Peace, Ilona Andrews (e)
30 Clean Sweep, Ilona Andrews (e)
29 Getting Rid of Bradley, Jennifer Crusie (e)
28 Raven Heart, Murphy Lawless (e)
27 Iron Kissed, Patricia Briggs (re-read)
26 The Cat Who Said Cheese, Lilian Jackson Braun (Steve read to me)
25 Blood Bound, Patricia Briggs (re-read)
24 Moon Called, Patricia Briggs (re-re-read)
23 War for the Oaks, Emma Bull (re-re-re-re-&c read)
22 The Widow of Rose House, Diana Bill (e)
21 False Value, Ben Aaronovitch
20 Charity Girl, Georgette Heyer (read aloud w/Steve re-read for both)
19 Minor Mage, T. Kingfisher (e)
18 The Green Mill Murder, Kerry Greenwood
17 Tell Me Lies, Jennifer Crusie (read aloud with Steve)
16 Murder at the Brightwell, Ashley Weaver
15 Crazy for You, Jennifer Crusie (read aloud with Steve)
14 A Conspiracy of Kings, Megan Whalen Turner
13 The Thief, Megan Whalen Turner (re-read)
12 Ocean Light, Nalini Singh (read aloud with Steve)
11 Nerdy, Shy, and Socially Inappropriate, Cynthia Kim
10 Witches Abroad, Terry Pratchett (read aloud with Steve)
9 The Kiss Quotient, Helen Hoang (e)
8 Fall into Spring, Amy Lane (e)
7 Resurgence, C.J. Cherryh (read aloud with Steve)
6 2K to 10K: Writing Faster, Writing Better…, Rachel Aaron (e)
5 Unmasked by the Marquess, Cat Sebastian (e)
4 Jimmy the Kid, Donald E. Westlake (e)
3 Wanted, A Gentleman, KJ Charles (e) (read aloud with Steve)
2 The Book of Atrix Wolfe, Patricia McKillip (e) (re-read)
1 Proper English, KJ Charles (e)
Liaden Universe® Dance Card, November and December 2020
Confused by all the extra busyness surrounding the Liaden Universe® and Things Lee and Miller lately?
Yeah, me too.
What we need? Is a Numbered List. So!
1 Uncle Hugo’s is offering signed copies of the hardcover edition of Trader’s Leap, the 23rd novel set in the Liaden Universe® created and authored by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller. You may preorder by clicking this link.
1a You may also preorder (unsigned copies of) Trader’s Leap from your favorite bookstore, but! you may not preorder the ebook. This is the way it always is. The ebook edition will be available for download on publication day: December 1, 2020.
2 Offworld Designs is having a sale! 50% off Liaden shirts and t-shirts. The prices on the catalog page are already marked down, so you know what you’re spending before you get to the checkout. You can take advantage of the sale by clicking this link.
3 Baen books is having a sale on Liaden ebooks. Go the ebook vendor of your choice (including Baen.com) and fill in any holes you may have in your Liaden Universe® ebook collection. See the promo for this event by clicking this link.
4 The mass market edition of Accepting the Lance, by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller, the 22nd Liaden Universe® novel, was published on October 27, and is available from your favorite bookstore.
5 The Wrong Lance, by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller, being the false start to the novel that became Accepting the Lance was also published on October 27, and is available at your favorite ebook vendor.
6 The paper copy of The Wrong Lance is available only from Amazon. You may purchase it by clicking this link.
7 Ambient Conditions: Adventures in the Liaden Universe® Number 31 is now available for pre-order from Amazon, Apple, and Kobo (other vendors will be along shortly, so keep checking in at your favorite ebookstore). This chapbook will publish on November 27. It includes reprint “A Visit to the Galaxy Ballroom,” title story “Ambient Conditions,” original to this book, and an authors’ foreword.
7a Ambient Conditions will be available from Baen on its publication date, November 27.
7b The paper edition of Ambient Conditions will be available on or near November 27 from Amazon, only.
8 A new splinter has been posted to splinteruniverse.com: “Cheese it, the cops!” You may read the splinter by clicking this link.
9 Lee and Miller will be reading from Trader’s Leap and talking trash in a virtual event being held by Mysterious Galaxy on December 2 at 7 pm. You must sign up for this event beforehand. Instructions may be found at this link. Do remember that Mysterious Galaxy keeps Pacific Time. 7 pm PT is 10 pm Eastern Time. Plan accordingly.
10 “Preferred Seating,” a story in support of Trader’s Leap, will automagically appear at Baen.com in mid-November. This story will be free for everyone to read.
Phew. I think that’s everything. Please feel free to point friends who may also be confused to this blog post.
Leap Into Liad ebook Sale!
All Liaden Universe® titles published by Baen Books will be on sale from your favorite ebook vendor from November 3 through November 30! This is a perfect chance to complete your collection, and to prepare for the Big December 1 release of the newest Liaden novel, Trader’s Leap.
Here’s your link to Baen’s promotional announcement.
Let the shopping begin.
Books read in 2020
80 Dorothy Parker: What Fresh Hell is This?, Marion Meade
79 Slave to Sensation, Nalini Singh (read aloud w/Steve, re-read for me)
78 Trust Me on This, Jennifer Crusie (read aloud w/Steve)
77 Divergence, C.J. Cherryh (read aloud w/Steve)
76 Junkyard Cats, Faith Hunter (e)
75 The Mad Miss Mathley, Michelle Martin (read aloud w/Steve)
74 Cotillion, Georgette Heyer (e) (re-re-re-&c-read)
73 Emerald Blaze, Ilona Andrews (e)
72 The Ragged World, Judith Moffett (re-read) (e)
71 Alpha Night, Nalini Singh (read aloud w/Steve)
70 The Liar’s Dice, Jeanine Lin (e)
69 The Cinderella Deal, Jennifer Crusie (Steve read to me)
68 The King of Next Week, E.C. Ambrose (e)
67 A Wizard’s Guide to Defensive Baking, T. Kingfisher (e)
66 Too Many Cooks, Rex Stout (read aloud w/Steve)
65 Maskerade, Terry Pratchett (read aloud w/Steve)
64 The Masqueraders, Georgette Heyer (e) (re-re-re-&c-read)
63 What the Lady Wants, Jennifer Crusie (read aloud w/Steve)
62 Black Dog, Rachel Neumeier (e)
61 The Red Box, Rex Stout (read aloud w/Steve)
60 Court of Fives, Kate Elliott (e)
59 The Rubber Band, Rex Stout (read aloud w/Steve)
58 Ruddy Gore, Kerry Greenwood
57 Manhunting, Jennifer Crusie (read aloud w/Steve)
56 Nobody’s Perfect, Donald E. Westlake (e)
55 Charlie All Night, Jennifer Crusie (read aloud w/Steve)
54 Paladin’s Grace, T. Kingfisher (e)
53 Wolf Rain, Nalini Singh (read aloud w/Steve)
52 Slippery Creatures, KJ, Charles (e)
51 Star Rogue, Susan Grant (e)
50 The Black Mountain, Rex Stout (re-read) (e)
49 The League of Frightened Men, Rex Stout (read aloud w/Steve)
48 The Trouble with Jenny’s Ear, Oliver Butterworth (re-read)
47 Tooner Schooner, Mary Lasswell (re-read) (e)
46 Fer-de-Lance, Rex Stout (read aloud w/Steve, re-read for me; first time for him)
45 Lake Silence, Anne Bishop
44 Getting Rid of Bradley, Jennifer Crusie (read aloud w/Steve, re-read for me; first time for him)
43 Mort, Terry Pratchett (re-read) (e)
42 Network Effect, Martha Wells (e)
41 Lord and Ladies, Terry Pratchett (read aloud w/Steve, re-read for both)
40 Trouble in Triplicate, Rex Stout (e)
39 The Outlaws of Sherwood, Robin McKinley (e)
38 Agnes and the Hitman, Jennifer Crusie and Bob Mayer (re-read aloud w/Steve, because Steve had a Notion about alligators, specifically Moot; the Talmadge Bridge, and Savannah in general)
37 Warprize, Elizabeth Vaughan (e)
36 Who Speaks for the Damned, C.S. Harris
35 Don’t Look Down, Jennifer Crusie and Bob Mayer (read aloud w/Steve)
34 Blood and Circuses, Kerry Greenwood
33 The Cat Who Came to Breakfast, Lilian Jackson Braun (Steve read to me)
32 One Fell Sweep, Ilona Andrews (e)
31 Sweep in Peace, Ilona Andrews (e)
30 Clean Sweep, Ilona Andrews (e)
29 Getting Rid of Bradley, Jennifer Crusie (e)
28 Raven Heart, Murphy Lawless (e)
27 Iron Kissed, Patricia Briggs (re-read)
26 The Cat Who Said Cheese, Lilian Jackson Braun (Steve read to me)
25 Blood Bound, Patricia Briggs (re-read)
24 Moon Called, Patricia Briggs (re-re-read)
23 War for the Oaks, Emma Bull (re-re-re-re-&c read)
22 The Widow of Rose House, Diana Bill (e)
21 False Value, Ben Aaronovitch
20 Charity Girl, Georgette Heyer (read aloud w/Steve re-read for both)
19 Minor Mage, T. Kingfisher (e)
18 The Green Mill Murder, Kerry Greenwood
17 Tell Me Lies, Jennifer Crusie (read aloud with Steve)
16 Murder at the Brightwell, Ashley Weaver
15 Crazy for You, Jennifer Crusie (read aloud with Steve)
14 A Conspiracy of Kings, Megan Whalen Turner
13 The Thief, Megan Whalen Turner (re-read)
12 Ocean Light, Nalini Singh (read aloud with Steve)
11 Nerdy, Shy, and Socially Inappropriate, Cynthia Kim
10 Witches Abroad, Terry Pratchett (read aloud with Steve)
9 The Kiss Quotient, Helen Hoang (e)
8 Fall into Spring, Amy Lane (e)
7 Resurgence, C.J. Cherryh (read aloud with Steve)
6 2K to 10K: Writing Faster, Writing Better…, Rachel Aaron (e)
5 Unmasked by the Marquess, Cat Sebastian (e)
4 Jimmy the Kid, Donald E. Westlake (e)
3 Wanted, A Gentleman, KJ Charles (e) (read aloud with Steve)
2 The Book of Atrix Wolfe, Patricia McKillip (e) (re-read)
1 Proper English, KJ Charles (e)
The Busy Season
This morning is cool, but So Very Sunny. My office, the repurposed sun room, is Awash, and there are three coon cats scattered among the various puddles of warm, soaking it all in.
I am at the desk, fighting sleep-rays with More! Tea! and wearing my Sun Goddess cap so that I can see the computer screen. This is not to be understood as a complaint. I would much rather the sunshine than not.
This morning’s check-in at Amazon reveals that pre-orders for The Wrong Lance now stands at 455, the most pre-orders for any Pinbeam Book since the mind-blowing 693 for Degrees of Separation, back in January 2018.
Which discovery led me to the realization that we are just entering a Lee-and-Miller Busy Season. Let me just summarize what’s coming down the road for y’all from now ’til the end of the year.
Of course you all know this, but it bears repeating for the Guy in the Back: You can pre-order signed (but not personalized) copies of Trader’s Leap from Uncle Hugo’s right now. Here’s your link.
If you can’t wait for the December publication of the hardcover/ebook, you may purchase the Trader’s Leap eARC right now from Baen. You may also read the first nineteen chapters here.
But wait, there’s more! Let’s do this chronologically.
October 27: Release Day for Accepting the Lance mmp AND The Wrong Lance
November 15 +/-: “Preferred Seating” published on Baen.com
Date TBA: Paul Semel interviews Lee and Miller.
December 1: Release Day for Trader’s Leap hardcover and ebook*
December 2: Lee and Miller will read and talk, virtually, from Mysterious Galaxy Bookstore. There will be giveaways! The event is scheduled for 7 pm PACIFIC Time, so check your watches. ALSO, you will need to set up an account at Crowdcast ahead of time in order to attend. More information here.
December 15: Ambient Conditions: Adventures in the Liaden Universe® Number 31 Release Day! This chapbook contains short story reprint “A Visit to the Galaxy Ballroom,” original novelette “Ambient Conditions” and an Authors’ Foreword. This chapbook is still in process, so no link yet. Watch the skies.
And that gets us through the end of the year.
___________
*YES, there will be an ebook edition of Trader’s Leap. No, you can’t pre-order it. This is how it always is with Baen ebooks, because they offer eARCs. No, there is nothing the authors can do about. I DON’T KNOW if there will be an audiobook edition of Trader’s Leap. I have inquired at Baen and have yet to receive a reply. As soon as I have an answer, I’ll post.
Books read in 2020
79 Slave to Sensation, Nalini Singh (read aloud w/Steve, re-read for me)
78 Trust Me on This, Jennifer Crusie (read aloud w/Steve)
77 Divergence, C.J. Cherryh (read aloud w/Steve)
76 Junkyard Cats, Faith Hunter (e)
75 The Mad Miss Mathley, Michelle Martin (read aloud w/Steve)
74 Cotillion, Georgette Heyer (e) (re-re-re-&c-read)
73 Emerald Blaze, Ilona Andrews (e)
72 The Ragged World, Judith Moffett (re-read) (e)
71 Alpha Night, Nalini Singh (read aloud w/Steve)
70 The Liar’s Dice, Jeanine Lin (e)
69 The Cinderella Deal, Jennifer Crusie (Steve read to me)
68 The King of Next Week, E.C. Ambrose (e)
67 A Wizard’s Guide to Defensive Baking, T. Kingfisher (e)
66 Too Many Cooks, Rex Stout (read aloud w/Steve)
65 Maskerade, Terry Pratchett (read aloud w/Steve)
64 The Masqueraders, Georgette Heyer (e) (re-re-re-&c-read)
63 What the Lady Wants, Jennifer Crusie (read aloud w/Steve)
62 Black Dog, Rachel Neumeier (e)
61 The Red Box, Rex Stout (read aloud w/Steve)
60 Court of Fives, Kate Elliott (e)
59 The Rubber Band, Rex Stout (read aloud w/Steve)
58 Ruddy Gore, Kerry Greenwood
57 Manhunting, Jennifer Crusie (read aloud w/Steve)
56 Nobody’s Perfect, Donald E. Westlake (e)
55 Charlie All Night, Jennifer Crusie (read aloud w/Steve)
54 Paladin’s Grace, T. Kingfisher (e)
53 Wolf Rain, Nalini Singh (read aloud w/Steve)
52 Slippery Creatures, KJ, Charles (e)
51 Star Rogue, Susan Grant (e)
50 The Black Mountain, Rex Stout (re-read) (e)
49 The League of Frightened Men, Rex Stout (read aloud w/Steve)
48 The Trouble with Jenny’s Ear, Oliver Butterworth (re-read)
47 Tooner Schooner, Mary Lasswell (re-read) (e)
46 Fer-de-Lance, Rex Stout (read aloud w/Steve, re-read for me; first time for him)
45 Lake Silence, Anne Bishop
44 Getting Rid of Bradley, Jennifer Crusie (read aloud w/Steve, re-read for me; first time for him)
43 Mort, Terry Pratchett (re-read) (e)
42 Network Effect, Martha Wells (e)
41 Lord and Ladies, Terry Pratchett (read aloud w/Steve, re-read for both)
40 Trouble in Triplicate, Rex Stout (e)
39 The Outlaws of Sherwood, Robin McKinley (e)
38 Agnes and the Hitman, Jennifer Crusie and Bob Mayer (re-read aloud w/Steve, because Steve had a Notion about alligators, specifically Moot; the Talmadge Bridge, and Savannah in general)
37 Warprize, Elizabeth Vaughan (e)
36 Who Speaks for the Damned, C.S. Harris
35 Don’t Look Down, Jennifer Crusie and Bob Mayer (read aloud w/Steve)
34 Blood and Circuses, Kerry Greenwood
33 The Cat Who Came to Breakfast, Lilian Jackson Braun (Steve read to me)
32 One Fell Sweep, Ilona Andrews (e)
31 Sweep in Peace, Ilona Andrews (e)
30 Clean Sweep, Ilona Andrews (e)
29 Getting Rid of Bradley, Jennifer Crusie (e)
28 Raven Heart, Murphy Lawless (e)
27 Iron Kissed, Patricia Briggs (re-read)
26 The Cat Who Said Cheese, Lilian Jackson Braun (Steve read to me)
25 Blood Bound, Patricia Briggs (re-read)
24 Moon Called, Patricia Briggs (re-re-read)
23 War for the Oaks, Emma Bull (re-re-re-re-&c read)
22 The Widow of Rose House, Diana Bill (e)
21 False Value, Ben Aaronovitch
20 Charity Girl, Georgette Heyer (read aloud w/Steve re-read for both)
19 Minor Mage, T. Kingfisher (e)
18 The Green Mill Murder, Kerry Greenwood
17 Tell Me Lies, Jennifer Crusie (read aloud with Steve)
16 Murder at the Brightwell, Ashley Weaver
15 Crazy for You, Jennifer Crusie (read aloud with Steve)
14 A Conspiracy of Kings, Megan Whalen Turner
13 The Thief, Megan Whalen Turner (re-read)
12 Ocean Light, Nalini Singh (read aloud with Steve)
11 Nerdy, Shy, and Socially Inappropriate, Cynthia Kim
10 Witches Abroad, Terry Pratchett (read aloud with Steve)
9 The Kiss Quotient, Helen Hoang (e)
8 Fall into Spring, Amy Lane (e)
7 Resurgence, C.J. Cherryh (read aloud with Steve)
6 2K to 10K: Writing Faster, Writing Better…, Rachel Aaron (e)
5 Unmasked by the Marquess, Cat Sebastian (e)
4 Jimmy the Kid, Donald E. Westlake (e)
3 Wanted, A Gentleman, KJ Charles (e) (read aloud with Steve)
2 The Book of Atrix Wolfe, Patricia McKillip (e) (re-read)
1 Proper English, KJ Charles (e)
Of pre-orders, Kickstarters, and author events
This is your Friendly Reminder that you may pre-order signed (but not personalized) copies of Trader’s Leap, the twenty-third volume in Sharon Lee and Steve Miller’s Liaden Universe® from Uncle Hugo’s Science Fiction Bookstore. Here’s your link.
Those who are so minded may purchase the eARC of Trader’s Leap right now, directly from Baen. Here’s your link.
If you’re on the fence about the whole Trader’s Leap thing, you may read sample chapters starting here.
Also available for pre-order at all of the Usual Suspects is the ebook edition of The Wrong Lance, which was previously published at Splinter Universe and at the Lee-and-Miller Patreon page. I’m going to do y’all the honor of assuming that you know how to find your favorite electronic bookstore and not pile up a long line of links here. Baen will be offering this title for sale electronically, as well, starting on October 27. Also, for those who favor paper — there will be a paper edition of The Wrong Lance, but that edition will not be available for order until-or-pretty-near-to October 27, for Reasons of Amazon.
Lawrence M. Schoen is sponsoring a Kickstarter to publish Eating Authors: 100 Writers’ Most Memorable Meals. I have an essay in this volume, as do 99 other authors you know or should know. Fifty percent of the profits from the sale of this volume will be donated to the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America Emergency Medical Fund, and 50% will be donated to cancer research. If you would like to support this effort, here’s your link.
On December 2, at 7 pm PT, Steve and I will be doing a Virtual Event “at” Mysterious Galaxy. We’ll be reading from Trader’s Leap, and chatting with attendees. Please note that is 7 pm Pacific Time, which is 10 pm Eastern. Please check your time zone carefully. Here’s your link to the event information.
Interspecies relationships
So, I had a bad beginning to the week and retired to the Command Chair, where I was ably assisted by all three cats — Belle taking her turn at duty even though she’s been under the weather recently herself. I spent Monday and Monday night in the Command Chair, well-supervised by the world’s furriest nurses.
Tuesday night, I was sufficiently recovered to be able to sleep in the bed with Steve, and, at the beginning of the evening, with Trooper. Everything normal, and off to sleep we all went.
At some point in the early morning, I woke up because Sprite was making the Alas! Lost kitten! Oh! Woe! lament. The configuration of cats at my waking was: Trooper on top of the bookcase next to the bed, snoring. Belle somewhere in the house. Sprite in the doorway of the bedroom, lamenting, as above.
Now, there’s a signal that we use with these cats — I’m not sure, anymore, if it came with them — they having been brought up in a Maine Coon Cattery, and two of them on the show circuit before they retired — or if we adapted a signal I used with Mozart.
Mozart’s signal was one tap-one tap. The signal for the current bunch is two taps followed by one tap, repeat. Both signals mean come here. Snapping my fingers twice means come right here! And, yes, mostly they honor the signals. Not always, of course; they are cats. But mostly.
So, anyway, Sprite was crying, I wanted her to stop and figured if she came to bed, she could be comforted with a cuddle, and I could go back to sleep — so I signaled that she should come here.
Immediately, Trooper jumped down from the high bookcase to the bed, and Belle came rushing in from wherever she had been, and leapt to the bed. They both converged on me, bumping my chin, kneading and purring. Poor Sprite, in the meantime, had advanced to the side of the bed and was looking up at me with wide pitiful eyes, but at least she’d stopped crying.
Finally, she went around to the foot of the bed, jumped up and threw herself across my ankles. Trooper settled on my left shoulder, purring hard, and Belle tucked against my right side, also purring.
Me, I felt embarrassed to have woken them — and Steve, too, by this time — but apparently they had still been on Alert.
Today, I am considerably better, and have been able to work from the Canadian glider and the silent laptop. I’ve had two cats in the room with me at all times, but my sense is that they’re just keeping me company. As they do.
And that’s my cat story for tonight.