Author Snapshot column in Mysterical-e: What about the cover?

In my latest Author Snapshot column at Mysterical-e, I talk with a couple digital book cover designers who explain how they create their magic.

Click cover at site, then click Author Snapshot under columns.

* Direct link: Summer 2010, Author Snapshot column - First Impressions, Designing the Book Cover

Motherly Love Featured at Examiner.com

* My short horror ebook, Motherly Love, is featured today at Horror Happenings at Examiner.com. Check it out.

NOTE: You may have to sign in to Smashwords to purchase.

Featured Miniaturist: Pathy Biero and her Beautiful Dolls

After she is done working at the post office for the day, miniaturist Pathy Biero goes to her home outside Paris, takes care of her family, and if she is lucky, spends a little time with her art.

Pathy's art is sometimes smaller than an inch, but it is big in charm. (Pictured: grandfather and his dog, top. Left, half-scale baby)

"I always liked to look at miniatures and my dream was to be able to make my own dolls," she says.

"I could not have a kiln (lack of place, lack of money), so I was very happy to find Flumo, which doesn't need to be fired."

Using Flumo, an air-dry casting slip, allowed Pathy to buy some porcelain dollhouse doll molds and begin making the dolls of her dreams. She makes the dollhouse scale dolls herself from start to finish: pouring the slip, cleaning, then painting, wigging, and dressing the dolls.

For Pathy, it's not quite an overnight process, but the results make it worth the wait.

(Pictured: Her latest, Sleeping Beauty, also in 1/24th, half scale.)

"It's quite long to make a doll, about two or three weeks," she says. "I try to put expression in the attitude and the look of my dolls. It's not easy, but with training, I have some good results. I like to make everything and I like to see the doll come to life under my eyes (and my hands!)"

So do we! A member of the Mini Doll List, Pathy loves finding inspiration from other doll makers - and inspiring some of her own fans.

What always caught my eye was the charm of her dolls, like this cutie, probably my favorite. (Pictured: Sarah)



Besides making dolls, Pathy has finished three roomboxes, and has plans for another roombox and finishing a large dollhouse. She also is thinking of selling her dolls.

"Making dolls is easier for me," she says. "I need less space making a doll than making a house, but I dream one day that I could have other dollhouses and a lot of free time for furnishing and decorating them!"

(Sounds like a good idea, right?)

Thanks, Pathy for sharing your fantastic dolls!

* Visit Pathy Biero's doll blog

* How to: Flumo tutorial. (The tutorial uses Liquache, which is the same as Flumo.)

* Flumo tips

New Banner for Upcoming October Release: The Killer Valentine Ball

Wanted to share the cool new banner for my story, The Killer Valentine Ball by C.A. Verstraete, and other releases coming out in October at Muse It Up Publishing.

About the ebook: A party at a day camp; a blind date on Valentine's Day. Can you say loser?, Jess thinks. But this is no ordinary party. The Killer Valentine Ball has more thrills than Jess ever expected--or will ever forget.

* Also check out the front page of the Muse It Up blog!

Miniatures Monday: Miniature Flowers

I'm hooked! I began making some African Violets and can't stop!

They're easy and fun to make. I'm picturing several lined up in one of my dollhouses or rooms. Maybe I need to get some real ones. I have to replace the one I had that was doing so well, then I killed it!







The third photo shows the half scale versions. These silver and gold beads made perfect sized vases.



Next, I want to work on some primroses.

* And how is your miniature garden growing? What are you planting?

The 100th Follower!

Yay! I reached number 100! Marlene of the UK at Somerset House Project is follower number 100! Check out her blog, she's building a great Georgian house.

I had a contest a while back so Marlene wins a mini plant and book set! Jonesy wins some books, a journal and pencil.

*Contact me privately so I can mail your items. I'll email you also.

Thanks for responding and following! I'll do another giveaway later.

More Vampire Book News: New summer serial tied to Facebook and Twitter

More vampire book news:

I just discovered that Slate is running a YA vampire serial that began June 4. My Darklyng runs each Friday through August. (It was on chapters 7-9 as of this posting).

YA writers Laura Moser and Lauren Mechling, culture editor at the Wall Street Journal, also are running an interesting experiment: having the characters post to their own Facebook pages and Twitter as part of the story.

Natalie's Facebook page has daily updates, including photos of '70s album covers, sheet music, and old Hollywood starlets that also serve as clues. Natalie, her friends, and fictional best-selling vampire writer Fiona St. Claire also have their own Twitter accounts.

About the Book:

Natalie Pollock is a normal-enough 10th-grade girl who happens to be obsessed with a certain vampire series. From the moment she tries out to be the next cover model for one of the Dark Shadows books, her fantasy turns into a nightmare replete with solicitous NYC models, dead squirrels, a psych ward, and little orange pills.

Interesting concept as it makes online posting and promo a regular, ongoing event.

** What do you think?

Writers: Is this something you'd do for your next book?

Readers: Does this make you more interested in a book? Or is it just more online stuff to do?

New Review for Horror Ebook, Motherly Love

Just got a great new review for my horror ebook MOTHERLY LOVE at Smashwords (available for Kindle and other formats.)

Carl Brookins called it "crisply written, this gem of a story would make a great Mother's Day gift..." Read the rest at Smashwords.

MOTHERLY LOVE is a (light) horror story with heart, so check it out!

* A story for less the price of a cup of coffee!

Book Review: Forget Twilight - Fevre Dream is a real Vampire Tale with Bite

I admit I may be one of the few people in the country who has yet to read Stephenie Meyer's Twilight books or see the movies. Of course I never read any of the Harry Potter books, either, though I've enjoyed several of the movies.

I love vampire tales. I do periodically reread my two classic favorites, Bram Stoker's Dracula and Stephen King's Salem's Lot. I find those two hard to beat.

Then friends in my writer's group recommended George R.R. Martin's Fevre Dream.

Wow.

Description:

When struggling riverboat captain Abner Marsh receives an offer of partnership from a wealthy aristocrat, he suspects something’s amiss. But when he meets the hauntingly pale, steely-eyed Joshua York, he is certain. For York doesn’t care that the icy winter of 1857 has wiped out all but one of Marsh’s dilapidated fleet. Nor does he care that he won’t earn back his investment in a decade. York has his own reasons for wanting to traverse the powerful Mississippi. And they are to be none of Marsh’s concern—no matter how bizarre, arbitrary, or capricious his actions may prove.

Marsh meant to turn down York’s offer. It was too full of secrets that spelled danger. But the promise of both gold and a grand new boat that could make history crushed his resolve—coupled with the terrible force of York’s mesmerizing gaze. Not until the maiden voyage of his new sidewheeler Fevre Dream would Marsh realize he had joined a mission both more sinister, and perhaps more noble, than his most fantastic nightmare...and mankind’s most impossible dream.

Here is the spellbinding tale of a vampire’s quest to unite his race with humanity, of a garrulous riverman’s dream of immortality, and of the undying legends of the steamboat era and a majestic, ancient river.


"The night air was cool and moist. Their boots sent up echoes as they walked the dark, deserted streets York with a limber grace and Marsh with heavy authority."


My thoughts:

At the beginning, some parts seemed familiar, and I thought maybe I'd read this years earlier when it was first published (copyright 1982), which I might have, but I didn't remember the rest of the book so I doubt it. Even if I did, it would still be worth rereading.

Full of beautiful, descriptive writing, it is a true vampire tale of obsession, dedication, overcoming weaknesses, immortality, and more. It is a skillfully written tale showing the vampire as more than a monster, but someone you actually grow to like and root for.

"York looked up, and their eyes met.

"Till the rest of his days were done, Abner Marsh remembered that moment, that first look into the eyes of Joshua York. Whatever thoughts he had had, whatever plans he had made, were sucked up in the maelstrom of York's eyes."

It has its share of blood and gore as you'd expect, and some incredibly sick characters, along with several other people that stay with you. Some of the steamboat background can be slow, but the story sucks you in. It is one of those can't-put-it-down books that you actually enjoy reading. The ending was sad yet poignant and charming, and you almost hate to see the story end. I look forward to reading other books by this amazing author.

Miniatures Monday: Newspaper Printie

Well I'm still in the process of making things so I have nothing new to show yet. But thought I'd share a recent story and photo I did which ran on the front page. For fun, I reduced the paper so you can fold it and put it somewhere in your dollhouse or mini scene.

Here's a smaller one also; (click for full size; right click to save)