Literary Festival in Durango, Colorado

I live in a really cool town: Durango, Colorado. Recently, (August 20) the starting point for the amazing cycling event USA Pro Challenge which is going on all week. Check it out!

Another cool event, which probably won't get as much coverage is the third annual Durango Literary Festival to be held September 28th and 29th at one of my fave spots in town: The Durango Public Library

 

On Saturday, September 29, 2012, 11am-2 pm, I will be part of the Local Authors Fair. Come say hello. And check out the great events on Friday and Saturday. 

Friday 7-8pm New York Times bestselling author, Ellen Hopkins will be doing a presentation.

eFestival of Words names Vestal Virgin a winner!

Bards and Sages Publishing just announced the winners of the 2012 eFestival of Words Virtual Book Fair  , and I am delighted that Vestal Virgin  tied with JR Tomlin's A Kingdom's Cost  as Winner in the Historical Fiction category.

Also The Indie Chick's Anthology won Best Anthology.

Congrats to all those named below. And special thanks to Julie at Bards and Sages Publishing for putting this together!

Champagne all around! 

 


Genre Specific Awards

Non Fiction: General
WINNER: Hippie Boy: A Girl's Story by Ingrid Ricks (Ingrid Ricks)
RUNNER UP: Walk in the Snark by Rachel Thompson (Rachel Thompson)

Best Non-Fiction: DIY/Self-Help
WINNER: Let's Get Digital by David Gaughran (Arriba Arriba Books)
RUNNER UP: What Your Mother Never Told You: A Survival Guide for Teenage Girls by Richard Dudum (Island Publishing)

Non-Fiction: Religion/Spirituality
WINNER: Ever-Flowing Streams: Beyond Bible-Belt Thinking by Dana Taylor (Supernal Friends Publishing)
RUNNER UP: Northern Wisdom: The Havamal, Tao of the Vikings by Eoghan Odinsson (Asgard Studios)

General Fiction
WINNER: Finding Emma by Steena Holmes (Steena Holmes)
RUNNER UP: Someone Else's Fairytale by Emily Mah Tippetts (Emily Mah Tippetts)

Best Action/Adventure
WINNER: LeMans by Dakota Franklin (CoolMain Press)
RUNNER UP: Redaction by Linda Andrews (LandNa Publishing)

Chick Lit/Women’s Lit
WINNER: Carpe Bead 'Em by Tonya Kappes (Tonya Kappes)
RUNNER UP: Drawing Free by Elena Aitken (Ink Blot Communications)

Best Children’s Lit
WINNER: Alice Parker's Metamorphosis by Nicola Palmer (Kallisto)
RUNNER UP: The Lost Secret of Fairies by Tiffany Turner (Tiffany Turner)

Best Fantasy/Urban Fantasy
WINNER: The Black God's War by Moses Siregar III(Cup of Gold)
RUNNER UP: Mind Over Mind by Karina Fabian (Dragon Moon Press)

Best Historical Fiction
WINNER (TIE) A Kingdom's Cost by JR Tomlin (JR Tomlin)
WINNER (TIE)Vestal Virgin by Suzanne Tyrpak (Suzanne Tyrpak)
RUNNER UP: Fiji by Lance Morcan (Sterling Gate Books)

Best Horror
WINNER: 61 A.D. by David McAfee (David McAfee)
RUNNER UP: Zombie Bible: What Our Eyes Have Witnessed by Stant Litore (Dante's Heart)

Best Literary
WINNER: Village Books by Craig McLay (Craig McLay)
RUNNER UP: The Midget's House by Anita Bartholomew (Anita Bartholomew)

Best Mystery/Suspense
WINNER: Dead is the New Black by Christine DeMaio-Rice (Christine DeMaio-Rice)
RUNNER UP: Not What She Seems by Victorine Lieske (Victorine Lieske)

Best Romance
WINNER: Deadly Obsession by Kristine Cayne (Kristine Cayne)
RUNNER UP: Again by Diana Murdock (Diana Murdock)

Best Science Fiction
WINNER: Wool by Hugh Howey (Broad Reach)
RUNNER-UP: The Next Genesis by Humberto Sachs and Kimberly Coghlan (Two Moon Press)

Best Thriller
WINNER: The Chosen by Jay Hartlove (Damnation Books)
RUNNER UP: A Blade Away by Jack Wallen (Autumnal Press)

Best Young Adult
WINNER: The Book of Lost Souls by Michelle Muto (Michelle Muto)
RUNNER UP: Neeta Lyffe: Zombie Exterminator by Karina Fabian (Damnation Books)

Format-Specific Awards

Best Anthology
WINNER: Indie Chicks: 25 Women, 25 Stories (Still Waters Publishing)
RUNNER UP: Tales Of The Far West Gareth-Michael Skarka, editor (Adamant Entertainment)

Best Novel
WINNER: The Black God's War by Moses Siregar III(Cup of Gold)
RUNNER UP: On the Island by Tracey Garvis Graves (Tracey Garvis Graves)

Best Short Story (Individual Story)
WINNER (TIE) Transfection by David Gaughran (Arriba Arriba Books)
WINNER (TIE): Chamber Music by Peter Balaskas (Uncial Press)
RUNNER UP: Matchmakers 2.0 by Debora Geary (Fireweed Press)

Short Story Collection (Single Author)
WINNER: Mortal Clay, Stone Heart, and Other Stories in Black and White by Eugie Foster (Eugie Foster)
RUNNER UP: After the Apocalypse by Maureen F McHugh (Small Beer Press)

Best Poetry Collection
WINNER: Trouble by Jess C Scott (jessINK)
RUNNER UP: Disreputable by Jane Holland (Jane Holland)
RUNNER UP: The Untasted Day by Mark Murray (Mark Murray)

Best Magazine in Digital Format
WINNER: Morpheus Tales
RUNNER UP (TIE): Apex Magazine
RUNNER UP (TIE): Clarksworld Magazine

Special Awards

The Harvey Award for the Book We Most Want to See Made into a Movie
WINNER: Wool by Hugh Howey (Broad Reach)
RUNNER UP: On the Island by Tracey Garvis Graves (Tracey Garvis Graves)

The "I've Been Shyamalaned" Award for Best Twist
WINNER: The Survival of Thomas Ford by John AA Logan (White Butterfly Press)
RUNNER UP: A Blade Away by Jack Wallen (Autumnal Press)

Best Hero/Heroine
WINNER: Jetta, Firedancer by SA Bolich
RUNNER UP: Emily Grant, Not What She Seems by Victorine Lieske

Best Villain
WINNER (TIE): Salahn, Wrath of the White Tigress by David Alastair Hayden
WINNER (TIE)The Castus Organization, The Sin Collector by Jessica Fortunato
RUNNER UP: Victor Clay, She Cried Wolf by Lee Lopez

Best Cover Art
WINNER: Death at Bandit Creek by Amy Jo Fleming (April Martinez, artist)
RUNNER UP: The Weight of Glass by Stuart Heatherington

Rosy's Dream--dark coming of age

I've decided to bring out my novel, Rosy's Dream.  The story takes place in the 1970's--the time of disco, the birth of punk and new wave. It's a dark ride through the underbelly of New York City, a coming of age novel--following the progress of 22 year old Sarah, an aspiring actress who becomes a go-go dancer by the name of Rosy Dreams.

I wrote the novel years ago, and it landed me my first agent. But it never got picked up. One editor told me it's a period piece, and I suppose it is. I began the rewrite this summer, and then I saw the movie Magic Mike -- there are parallels! 

If you've ever struggled to survive, if you've chosen to follow your dreams against the odds, against the desires of your family, I think you'll enjoy this story. It's dark. It's sexy. It's not always pretty. Sarah/Rosy is a dreamer, a romantic, and an adventurer. 

As always, I did a lot of research :) 

Watch for Rosy's Dream this fall.

Vestal Virgin--Indie Book of the Day

Today I woke up to exciting news: Vestal Virgin--Suspense in Ancient Rome has been selected as Book of the Day by Indie Book of the Day !  

This has been a great surprise; I have no idea who nominated the book, but thank you! And thanks to Indie Book of the Day. (What a pretty certificate.) I also received a lovely badge which I will permanently post on my blog (as soon as I re-figure out how to do that).

Hetaera--now in paperback

I'm delighted to announce that Hetaera--Suspense in Ancient Athens is now available in paperback through Createspace. The book can be ordered through Amazon or from any bookstore. It will also be available on Barnes and Nobel. 

Jeroen ten Berge did an amazing job on the cover, and Terry Roy of TERyvisions Digital Painting designed a gorgeous interior. 

Signed copies are available by contacting me here!

Please check it out.