March newsletter: Ariel Djanikian, David Drake, Nathan Kotecki, A.J. Hartley, Ursula Vernon, and more

March newsletter: Ariel Djanikian, David Drake, Nathan Kotecki, A.J. Hartley, Ursula Vernon, and more

Posted on 2013-02-25 at 19:32 by montsamu

Vol 3. No 3. February 25, 2013:

Welcome a bit early to the March newsletter! I’m sneaking this one in ahead of the end of the month to make sure everybody gets a chance to hear about the Office of Mercy reading event tomorrow (Tuesday, February 26!) as new Chapel Hill author Ariel Djanikian debuts her debut novel at Flyleaf Books. And just a few days away, for those not making the commute over to Greensboro-High Point for StellarCon, is David Drake’s signing at new Pittsboro bookstore Circle City Books on Saturday.

Looking back on February (so far!) it’s been quite a busy month, with Kim Harrison, Cory Doctorow, and Brandon Sanderson all bringing in packed, standing-room-only audiences. The Exploding Spaceship logged a report on the Harrison event, and Calvin Powers provided a video of the Doctorow event, and if you have some pictures, audio, or video of anything else going on last month, send it my way.

Meanwhile, there are some new local books which came out in the past few weeks:

• 2013 Campbellian Pre-Reading Anthology edited by M. David Blake (Rampant Loon/Stupefying Stories, Feb 8) — free e-anthology “Containing 80 complete short stories by 43 different authors, as well as additional information about another 58 potential candidates” for this year’s John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer, including locals Rebecca Gomez Farrell, Mur Lafferty, Rich Matrunick, T.C. McCarthy, and more.
• Six Heirs (The Secret of Ji, #1) by Pierre Grimbert, translated from French by Matthew Ross and Eric Lamb (AmazonCrossing, February 19) — Translator Ross hails from the Raleigh-Durham area; also available in audio, read by Michael Page for Brilliance Audio — “From France’s most celebrated author of fantasy. The Known World is a sprawling region ruled by mortals, protected by gods, and plied by magicians and warriors, merchants and beggars, royals and scoundrels."
• The Office of Mercy: A Novel by Ariel Djanikian (Viking Adult, February 21) — Debut novel for this new Chapel Hill author: “Weaving philosophy and science together into a riveting, dystopian story of love and adventure, The Office of Mercy illuminates an all-too-real future imagined by a phenomenal new voice in fiction.
• Star Trek: The Original Series: Devil’s Bargain by Tony Daniel (Pocket Books/Star Trek, Feb 26) — “Captain James T. Kirk and the crew of the Enterprise are sent to evacuate the Federation mining colony Vesbius, a frontier settlement that is on the brink of an extinction-level event, threatening the lives of all the colonists and the disruption of ore production vital to Starfleet. However, the colonists refuse to abandon this settlement, not wanting to leave their claims. It is after these irrational decisions that Spock suggests that perhaps an unexpected ally could aid the colony and help complete the mission….”

• NEW: February 26 (Tuesday) 7 pm -- Flyleaf Books hosts Ariel Djanikian reads from her science fiction novel The Office of Mercy.
• NEW: March 2 (Saturday) 11 am -- McIntyre's Books hosts Ariel Djanikian discusses her dystopian love story, The Office of Mercy.
• NEW: March 2 (Saturday) 2 pm -- David Drake will be at Circle City Books in Pittsboro to sign the new paperback edition of The Road of Danger and read from a forthcoming work.
• NEW: March 9 (Saturday) 3 to 4 pm -- Quail Ridge Books hosts: "Two NC authors share their visions of the strange with us on Saturday, March 9, at 3 p.m. Nathan Kotecki brings us The Suburban Strange.
• NEW: March 19 (Tuesday) 7 pm -- Quail Ridge Books hosts A. J. HARTLEY - With Children's Fantasy Darwen Arkwright & The Insidious Bleck.
• NEW: April 9 (Tuesday) 7 pm -- B&N of Cary hosts Tony Daniel and David Drake for The Heretic.
• NEW: May 29 (Wednesday) -- Quail Ridge Books hosts JOHN SCALZI - Hugo Winner With The Human Division at 7:30 pm.
• NEW: June 27 (Thursday) -- A sf-themed even from the NC Symphony: 'Join George Takei, “Mr. Sulu” of Star Trek fame, as he guides you through the galaxy accompanied by music from E.T., Star Wars, Close Encounters, and,of course, Star Trek.'
• NEW: July 28 (Sunday) -- The annual NC Browncoats "Can't Stop the Serenity" charity screening of Serenity at the Raleighwood Cinema Grill.
• NEW: August 3 (Saturday) 7 to 9 pm -- Quail Ridge Books hosts the annual Bull Spec summer speculative fiction event. This year it is an absolutely fantastic lineup with Karen Lord, Nathan Ballingrud, Ann and Jeff VanderMeer, and Will Hindmarch all coming up from the Shared Worlds Teen Writing Camp at Wofford College. We had a blast hosting Ann and Jeff back in 2011 and it's sure to be another great evening.

PS: Here’s a handout flyer in PDF and JPG:

FEBRUARY 2013

NEW: 26 (Tuesday) 7 pm — Flyleaf Books hosts Ariel Djanikian reads from her science fiction novel The Office of Mercy. Author Djanikian now calls Chapel Hill home, so let’s get out to welcome this new local author! Here’s a Facebook event to pass around: https://www.facebook.com/events/539125676117811/

MARCH 2013

1-3 (Friday to Sunday) — StellarCon37 at the Greensboro – High Point Airport Marriott  with author Eric Flint, artist Richard Case, and game designer Steve Segedy. More info: http://stellarcon.com/

NEW: 2 (Saturday) 11 am — McIntyre’s Books hosts Ariel Djanikian discusses her dystopian love story, The Office of Mercy.

NEW-NEW: 2 (Saturday) 1 to 8 pm — Durham’s Atomic Empire (formerly Sci-Fi Genre) hosts a “Mini Unpublished Games Festival”, free and open to the public. “Games being presented at this event include Roman Conquest by Josh Young, Dorobo by Rocco Privetera, Havok & Hijinks by Adam Trzonkowski, Fog of War by David Perry, and Cows vs. Chickens by Matt Wolfe. This event boasts a pair of games from the same family Hunting Dice by Zachary Gurganus, and Duck Blind by his father Tom Gurganus!” More info: https://www.facebook.com/events/140356026130296/

NEW: 2 (Saturday) 2 pm — David Drake will be at Circle City Books in Pittsboro to sign the new paperback edition of The Road of Danger and read from a forthcoming book — the bookstore was recently written up in the LA Times for its fantastic mural of a bookshelf (which features one of Drake’s books, “With the Lightnings”: http://www.latimes.com/features/books/jacketcopy/la-et-jc-now-thats-a-wall-of-books-20130123,0,3947937.sto). Per The Herald-Sun’s Cliff Bellamy: “Drake’s visit will be co-sponsored by Davenport & Winkleperry Café.  The reading will be at 2 p.m. at the café, with the book signing to occur across the street at Circle City Books & Music, 121 Hillsboro St., Pittsboro. For more information, call 919-548-5954”.

NEW: 9 (Saturday) 3 to 4 pm — Quail Ridge Books hosts: “Two NC authors share their visions of the strange with us on Saturday, March 9, at 3 p.m. Nathan Kotecki brings us The Suburban Strange. Celia discovers girls at Suburban High are having near fatal accidents on the eve of their 16th birthdays. Can 15-year-old Celia solve the mystery before her own next birthday? For ages 14+. PT McHugh presents Keeper of the Black Stones: Stone Ends, the first book in a new series. It’s a thrilling combination of fantasy and historical fiction with a likable, funny hero in Jason Evans. For ages 12+.” More info: https://www.facebook.com/events/301390523317829/

NEW-NEW: 15 (Friday) 6 pm — Wake Forest’s Story Teller Book Store hosts “A Gathering of Authors” including paranormal fantasy author Steve Stone. More info: http://www.storystorewf.com/index.php/Events.html

NEW-NEW: 16 (Saturday) 9 pm — Historic downtown Pittsboro’s Davenport & Winkleperry hosts THE COURT OF AIR: A Steampunk Fairy Tale Ball: “Lovers of Fantasy and Faerie come and escape to a land far, far away… Featuring an early performance by THUNDER & SPICE.”

NEW: 19 (Tuesday) 7 pm — Quail Ridge Books hosts A. J. HARTLEY - With Children’s Fantasy Darwen Arkwright & The Insidious Bleck.

NEW-NEW: 21 (Thursday) 7:30 pm — Interest meeting for a new monthly sf reading and discussion group, run by Kate Maddalena at Raleigh’s NC Museum of Science, to be held every third Thursday. PDF flier with more info: http://bit.ly/161TWtK

NEW: 22 (Friday) 7 pm — B&N of Cary hosts Hugo Award winning Pittsboro graphic novelist Ursula Vernon for book #8 in her Danny Dragonbreath series of graphic novels for young readers, “Nightmare of the Iguana”. More info: http://store-locator.barnesandnoble.com/event/4231658

NEW-NEW: 23 (Saturday) 6:15 pm to 11:30 pm — ConTemporal 2013 will be promoted live on UNC-TV as part of taking phone calls for a UNC-TV pledge drive. “We will be taking pledges live on TV from UNC TV viewers. Please come dressed to show off your best Steampunk costuming! Costuming is not required but strongly encouraged. Why: UNC TV will be promoting ConTemporal 2013 live on air as part of this event. We must have a minimum of 20 volunteers to qualify for promotion. Please invite your friends, family and anyone interested in Steampunk and ConTemporal.” Training for volunteers begins promptly at 6:30, at 10 T.W. Alexander Drive in Durham.More info: https://www.facebook.com/events/533874939997393/?ref=3

NEW: 28 (Thursday) 7 pm — B&N of Cary hosts Jeaniene Frost for Twice Tempted. More info: http://store-locator.barnesandnoble.com/event/79120

NEW-NEW: 29 (Friday) 6-9 pm — Hillsborough’s Skylight Gallery hosts local artist Richard Case for an evening of art and music. From Case: “Some of my recent work with Jeff Mcfadyen… Hope to see some locals come out to Hillsborough to see some art, hear some music and hobnob in a general sort of way.” More info: http://www.skylightgallerync.com/jem/Welcome.html

NEW: 29-31 (Friday to Sunday) — Durham’s Atomic Empire (formerly Sci-Fi Genre Comics and Games) hosts a 3-day Magic: Vintage tournament. More info: https://www.facebook.com/events/251182025017359/

APRIL 2013

5-21 — NC Science Festival with events statewide. More info: http://www.ncsciencefestival.org/

NEW-NEW: 6 (Saturday) 7 pm — Bull Spec art director Gabriel Dunston is launching his new illustrated children’s book “The Castle on the Crag” at All Fun N Games in Cary, Saturday April 6th from 7pm-9pm (or later): http://www.firelightsmedia.com/2013/03/20/new-book-castle-on-the-crag/

NEW: 9 (Tuesday) 7 pm — B&N of Cary hosts Tony Daniel and David Drake for The Heretic. More info: http://store-locator.barnesandnoble.com/event/78969

13-14 (Saturday-Sunday) — Durham Arts Council’s Spring Art Walk. More info: http://durhamartwalk.com/

19-21 (Fri-Sun) — DeepSouthCon at JordanCon in Roswell, Georgia with guests Seanan McGuire, Eugie Foster, and Michael Whelan, along with the Phoenix and Rebel Awards.

NEW-NEW: 23 (Tuesday) 7 pm — Durham’s Atomic Empire (formerly Sci-Fi Genre Comics and Games) hosts a World Book Night / NC Speculative Fiction Night / Bull Spec #8 Launch Party event. More info: /2013/03/21/announcement-world-book-night-nc-speculative-fiction-night-bull-spec-8-launch-party/

NEW: 24-25 (Wed-Thu) — East Coast Game Conference at the Raleigh Convention Center. More info: http://www.ecgconf.com/

NEW: 25 (Friday) — Star Trek TNG episodes on the big screen continue on April 25th, with “Best of Both Worlds” parts 1 and 2. More info: http://trekmovie.com/2013/02/04/star-trek-tng-s3-best-of-both-worlds-film-single-discs-coming-april-30th-tng-theater-screening-april-25th/

NEW-NEW: 26 (Saturday) 9 pm — Davenport & Winkleperry hosts THE CLOCKWORK BALL: A Steampunk Party: “Attention Pilots of Airships and their Crews, Mad Scientists, Explorers of the Unknown, Admirers of Verbosity, Respecters of the Strange, Those Lost in the Throes of Opium or Absinthe, Teetotalers, Scallywags, Ladies and Gentlemen, Dandies, Fops, and Urchins… Hosted by that darling duo, Emmett Davenport & Lady Nikolai Attercop. They will be spinning Jazz, Blues, Swing, Dark Cabaret, Gypsy Punk, & Dance music from times gone by or times that never were.”

MAY 2013

NEW: 4 (Saturday) — Free Comic Book Day, including events and of course free comics at all participating shops. Ultimate Comics will be hosting a very large party/gathering/thing in and around their store, including two free Jeremy Whitley comic books, one a split issue featuring Princeless and Jamal Igle’s new title “Molly Danger” and the other an NFL RushZone book. Stay tuned for lineups and plans from other local stores!

NEW: 6 (Monday) 7 pm — Flyleaf Books hosts Daniel Wallace, new novel The Kings and Queens of Roam Book Launch!

NEW: 7 (Tuesday) — Quail Ridge Books hosts DANIEL WALLACE - With The Kings & Queens Of Roam at 7:30 pm.

NEW: 29 (Wednesday) — Quail Ridge Books hosts JOHN SCALZI - Hugo Winner With The Human Division at 7:30 pm.

TBD: There are growing rumors of a launch party for Mur Lafferty’s forthcoming novel The Shambling Guide to New York City. Stay tuned…

JUNE 2013

May 31 – June 2 (Friday to Sunday) — ConCarolinas in Charlotte, with writer guest of honor Timothy Zahn. More info: http://www.concarolinas.org/

NEW: 5 (Wednesday) 7:30 pm — Quail Ridge Books hosts mystery author WALTER MOSLEY - With Little Green.

NEW: 15 (Thursday) — Quail Ridge Books hosts fiction author KHALED HOSSEINI - With And The Mountains Echoed.

NEW: 27 (Thursday) — A sf-themed even from the NC Symphony: ‘Join George Takei, “Mr. Sulu” of Star Trek fame, as he guides you through the galaxy accompanied by music from E.T., Star Wars, Close Encounters, and,of course, Star Trek.’ Go to http://ncsymphony.org/events/index.cfm?view=details&viewref=calendar&detailid=1019&eid=1752&sdate=6%2F1%2F2013 for tickets.

27-30 (Thursday to Sunday) — ConTemporal 2013 at the North Raleigh Hilton, beginning with the Thursday evening guest of honor dinner and continuing all weekend, as this Steampunk-themed convention is back for a second year. Guest of honor Ursula Vernon, along with Lee Martindale, Tom Smith, toastmaster Sal Sanfratello, and more. More info: http://contemporal.org/

JULY 2013

NEW: 28 (Sunday) — The annual NC Browncoats “Can’t Stop the Serenity” charity screening of Serenity at the Raleighwood Cinema Grill. More info: http://www.ncbrowncoats.com/2013/01/blog-post.html

AUGUST 2013

NEW: 3 (Saturday) 7 to 9 pm — Quail Ridge Books hosts the annual Bull Spec summer speculative fiction event. This year it is an absolutely fantastic lineup with Karen Lord, Nathan Ballingrud, Ann and Jeff VanderMeer, and Will Hindmarch all coming up from the Shared Worlds Teen Writing Camp at Wofford College. We had a blast hosting Ann and Jeff back in 2011 and it’s sure to be another great evening.

OCTOBER 2013

NEW: 4-6 (Friday to Sunday) — Second Escapist Expo. More info: http://www.escapistexpo.com/

NOVEMBER 2013

9-10 (Saturday and Sunday) — NC Comicon will be returning to the Durham Convention Center. “Twice the space, four times the fun. It’s exponential.”

JANUARY 2014

NEW: 10-12 (Friday to Sunday) — illogiCon iii: The Search for Schrödington’s Gold at the Embassy Suites Raleigh-Durham/Research Triangle, with author guests of honor Mary Robinette Kowal and Lawrence M. Shoen. More info: http://www.illogicon.com/

JUNE 2014

NEW: (May 30) to June 1 (Friday to Sunday) — ConCarolinas in Charlotte, with guest of honor George R.R. Martin.

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