Write for the Heights

If you're a budding author, have I have a New Year's Resolution for you! The Cottonwood Heights Arts Council is sponsoring its first writing contest! "Write for the Heights" invites residents of Salt Lake County to submit a short story or poem. Submit your work in these four categories: Fiction by adults, Poetry by adults, Fiction by youth (ages 12-17), and Poetry by youth (age 12-17). Submissions must include a cover letter listing name, contact information, address, and submission category. One grand prize and two honorable mentions will be awarded in each category. Fiction should be no longer than 15,000 words.
Drop off or mail entries to Whitmore Library, 2197 East Fort Union Blvd., Cottonwood Heights UT 84121, or e-mail to amy.charts@gmail.com. Submission deadline is February 12.

Even if you don't want to enter please come on February 5 for a free workshop on writing.

To kick off the writing contest, there will be a literacy fair on February 5th in the conference room at Whitmore Library, featuring local authors offering free lectures, doing book signings, question and answer sessions, and writing workshops. The schedule for February 5th is as follows:

Kick off Event--Write for the Heights

Saturday, February 5, 12-5 at Whitmore Library in Cottonwood Heights



12:00 Keynote Speaker--Author Paul Genesse (Sponsored by Dyslexia Tutoring of Utah who will be present to answer any questions you might have)

1:00 Writers workshop, book signing, Q&A with Paul Genesse

2:00 Author Virginia Smith

3:00 book signing, Q&A with Virginia Smith

3:30 Workshop with Author Amy Maida Wadsworth--"Point of View and Goals, the keys to a character-driven story."

Worldbuilders

What’s that you say? You’d like to make the world a better place while simultaneously winning fabulous prizes?

Then read on . . .

I've been helping with the amazing Worldbuilders program for the past couple of years. My author friend, Patrick Rothfuss, introduced me to it and I've been donating books and more to the program he's doing.

Please follow this link and check it out, since you can win fabulous prizes and help make the world a better place.

http://blog.patrickrothfuss.com/2010/11/worldbuilders-2010/

Paul Genesse
Author of The Nubian Queen
in Steampunked'd from DAW Books
www.paulgenesse.com

Residual Hauntings Live Interview

I'll be interviewed on an internet radio show tonight, called Residual Hauntings Live, a show about all things paranormal. I collect true ghost stories from hospitals and have a chilling story from a local children's hospital that you won't want to miss. Tune in to the free show at 10:30 PM Mountain Time tonight. Just go to the link and click on "Listen Live."

http://www.utahfm.org/

Paul Genesse
Author of The Nubian Queen
in the Steampunk'd anthology from DAW Books

Steampunk'd

Steampunk'd is the new anthology from DAW Books and releases November 2, 2010 and features my story, The Nubian Queen.

Read the first half of the story for free on my website in the Works section, or listen to a free podcast here: http://web.me.com/paulgenesse/Site/Podcast/Entries/2010/10/27_The_Steampunk’d_Anthology_from_DAW_Books.html

The podcast is pretty awesome. It's read by Annie O'Connell-Torgersen, who is an acclaimed voice over artist and a friend. She's married to Brad Torgersen, a sci-fi writer and a Writers of the Future winner.

Annie happens to be perfect to play the role of Queen Sahdi and I knew that from the moment I met her. You see, Annie and Sahdi are both strong black women.


In The Nubian Queen, the last descendent of Cleopatra the Great must risk everything to save her country in an 1800’s alternate history Earth where Egypt is the center of the world.

Check out the book on Amazon.com.


Back Cover Copy:


Science fiction is the literature of what if, and steampunk takes the what if along a particular time stream. What if steam power was the prime force in the Victorian era? How would that era change, and how would it change the future?

From a Franco-British race for Kentucky coal to one woman’s determination to let no man come between her and her inventions . . . from an attempt to turn lead into gold which has far-reaching implications to a reporter’s cross-country airship journey to cover the story of a scientist out to tame the desert’s heat . . . from the hunt for a near-extinct creature to an attempt to rid Europe of the fey . . . from “machine whispers” to a Thomas Edison experiment gone awry, here are fourteen original tales of what might have been had steam powered the world in an earlier age.


Stories by:

Michael A. Stackpole * Donald J. Bingle
William C. Dietz * Jody Lynn Nye
Bradley P. Beaulieu * Dean Leggett
Stephen D. Sullivan * Matthew P. Mayo
C.A. Verstraete * Paul Genesse
Mary Louise Eklund* Marc Tassin
Skip & Penny Williams * Robert Vardeman

Zombie Raccoons and Killer Bunnies

Zombie Raccoons and Killer Bunnies by Martin H. Greenberg


My rating: 4 of 5 stars



Zombie Raccoons & Killer Bunnies edited by Kerrie Hughes and Martin H. Greenberg


This is a crazy book and the purposefully amateurish cover drew the ire of a many when it came out. Those who hated the cover may have missed the point all together of this mostly comedic exploration on two hilarious ideas: zombie raccoons and killer bunnies. If you’re looking for some spooky fun during Halloween you’ll find a lot of entertainment here, from hilarious to scary. There’s fifteen stories and the authors cover a lot of different ground.

Death Mask by Jody Lynn Nye has written a tale about some nefarious raccoons and a tough old lady with a shotgun that you won’t soon forget. BunRabs by Donald J. Bingle is the funniest story in the book and I laughed out loud several times. For Lizzie by Anton Strout explores a couple of secondary characters from his well received Simon Canderous novels (Dead to Me, Dead Matter, Deader Still, & Dead Waters). Faith in Our Fathers by Alexander B. Potter is one of the best stories in the book and it really tugs at your heart. It has a resonance that any of us who have ever lost a pet can identify with, and is written with the grace of a master.

Bone Whispers by Tim Waggoner is a Stephen King-esque horror story that comes to life and will totally creep you out. Bone Whispers is one of those bizarre and well-written stories that makes you cringe. Watching by Carrie Vaughn is a tale about pigeons and mind control that will have you watching those damn flying rats out of the corner of your eye for some time.

The Things That Crawl by Richard Lee Byers is in my top three of the anthology. It’s one of those awesome stories that has it all, creepiness, a hurricane, great characterization, murder, and it’s an awesome story about the kind of serial killer you’ve never heard of before. Dead Poets by John A. Pitts is the most literary of the anthology and is written in an interesting point of view with a liberal dose of poetry. Her Black Mood by Brenda Cooper is an exploration of a unique fairy world by a neglected young girl.

Ninja Rats on Harleys by Elizabeth A. Vaughan is such an incredibly amusing story about a writer and her new friend, Wan, a very unique mouse who would be utterly bad-ass if he weren’t three inches tall. This is the continuation of Vaughan’s story about Wan from the anthology, Furry Fantastic and even if you haven’t read the first one, you’ll love this one. I mean, who doesn’t like ninja rats on Harleys?

Bats in thebayou (not a typo) by Steven H. Silver is one of the most interesting science fiction stories I’ve read a long time and one of the best stories in the book. It’s about a breed of aliens that look like bats. They’ve secretly invaded Earth and have come up with a scheme to harvest the most valuable thing on the planet, mosquitoes, without anyone knowing about it. Twilight Animals by the award-winning Nini Kiriki Hoffman is about a slacker who discovers a terrible secret about the possums infesting a suburban neighborhood where he’s house sitting. The final tale in the book titled, The Ridges by Larry D. Sweazy is a great story that will keep you guessing until the end.

Overall, Zombie Raccoons and Killer Bunnies was rollicking good time about creepy animals that infest the dark and often funny corners of our twisted imaginations. It’s a perfect collection of stories for Halloween time.

Paul Genesse
Author of The Dragon Hunters





View all my reviews

Tracy Hickman and Paul Genesse

It's not everyday that you get to live out your boyhood dreams. Yesterday, I signed copies of my books while my boyhood hero, New York Times bestselling author Tracy Hickman signed copies of his novels and his XDM books beside me at Barnes and Noble. It was a "wow" moment for me and getting to talk with him was awesome.

I've known Mr. Hickman for several years now and have been a fan since I was twelve when I read the Dragonlance novels that he wrote with Margaret Weis. It was a cool day indeed to be able to do two signings with him, one at the Jordan Landing Barnes and Noble and one at the Borders by Fashion Place Mall. If you missed the signings, you can still get signed copies at each store. The store employees were excellent as well and took good care of us.

Both signings were fun and the best thing was getting to hang out with my writer friends and fans. I'm so blessed to have such awesome people in my life. Just about all of us writers, plus a few spouses, and a few friends from the signings went out to dinner afterward, (there were 21 of us at the Cheesecake Factory, which has delicious food). All in all, it was a fabulous day. I've posted the pics on Facebook. Here's the link:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=290022&id=583339135&l=8221fffd45

Thanks to everyone for coming out and supporting us.

Paul Genesse
Author of The Dragon Hunters
wwww.paulgenesse.com

Super Writers of the Universe and Friends Mega Signing--Part One and Part Two

Super Writers of the Universe and Friends Mega Signing--PART ONE

Saturday, September 25, 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM

Barnes & Noble Bookstore, Jordan Landing in West Jordan - 801-282-1324
7157 Plaza Center Drive, West Jordan, UT 84084
West Jordan, UT


SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 25

10 MEGA SCI-FI & FANTASY AUTHORS FOR A MEGA SIGNING!

TRACY HICKMAN, LARRY CORREIA, DAVID FARLAND, JOHN BROWN, BRAD TORGERSEN, DAN WILLIS, JALETA CLEGG, ERIC JAMES STONE, HOWARD TAYLER, & PAUL GENESSE

SOME FREE BOOKS WILL BE GIVEN AWAY AT THE EVENT! TOR BOOKS HAS DONATED SOME VERY SPECIAL PRIZES, ALL HARD BOUND.

Book Signing Event Featuring Science Fiction/Fantasy Authors:
John Brown (Servant of a Dark God), Tracy Hickman (Dragonlance,
Dragonsbard, X-treme Dungeon Mastery), Larry Correia (Monster Hunter International), David Farland (Runelords), Brad Torgerson, Dan Willis (Dragonlance: The New Adventures), Jaleta Clegg (Nexus Point), Eric James Stone (numerous short stories), Howard Tayler (Schlock Mercenary).

Call and the store and reserve your books: 801.282.1324
For media inquiries call Micahel Tanner 801.499.4594





Super Writers of the Universe and Friends Mega Signing--PART TWO

Saturday, September 25 · 3:00pm - 5:00pm


Borders Bookstore; 132 East Winchester St, Murray, UT 84107 (801) 313-1020


SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 25

10 MEGA SCI-FI & FANTASY AUTHORS FOR A MEGA SIGNING!

TRACY HICKMAN, LARRY CORREIA, DAVID FARLAND, JOHN BROWN, BRAD TORGERSEN, DAN WILLIS, JALETA CLEGG, ERIC JAMES STONE, HOWARD TAYLER, & PAUL GENESSE

SOME FREE BOOKS WILL BE GIVEN AWAY AT THE EVENT! TOR BOOKS HAS DONATED SOME VERY SPECIAL PRIZES, ALL HARD BOUND.

Book Signing Event Featuring Science Fiction/Fantasy Authors:
John Brown (Servant of a Dark God), Tracy Hickman (Dragonlance,
Dragonsbard, X-treme Dungeon Mastery), Larry Correia (Monster Hunter International), David Farland (Runelords), Brad Torgerson, Dan Willis (Dragonlance: The New Adventures), Jaleta Clegg (Nexus Point), Eric James Stone (numerous short stories), Howard Tayler (Schlock Mercenary).

We are also waiting until the Sept 15th for theannoucement of a possible super author to come.

Watch for upcoming announcements on more authors attending this great event!


CONTACT THE STORE IF YOU WANT TO RESERVE BOOKS: 801.313.1020

Mathew Grahl General Manager mgrahl@boardersstores dot com

For media inquiries contact: Michael Tanner mike@dicemediagroup dot com 801.499.4594

The authors will be up stairs in a big area. We are doing this event in case you can't make the earlier signing at the Barnes and Noble in Jordan Landing. Or if you just want another crack at all the books we will be giving away or other types of swag!