Category Archives: LJ

RETURNING MY SISTER’S FACE: Now at Amazon

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Was at work until 10pm last night, so didn’t get home until nearly 11. And today has been a reprise of the madness. But I’m chipper and bouncy for there is much to be chipper and bouncy about:

The fabulous Elizabeth A. Allen (blogofstench) gave Returning My Sister’s Face an amazing review at The Fix:

“Up till now, fans of Eugie Foster’s clever, crystalline fairy tales, drawn from Chinese and Japanese mythology, had to seek out single instances of her stories in various magazines and anthologies. However, with the March publication of Returning My Sister’s Face: And Other Far Eastern Tales of Whimsy and Malice, old aficionados can relish 12 of her tales all in one place. . .I wholeheartedly recommend this collection of tender and well-written stories.”

And more fabulousity, Amazon.com finally has it available:

It’s also available at Amazon UK for £15.20 (currently discounted from its list price of £16.00).

[Edit: As norilana commented, it’d be much appreciated if folks, once you’ve read Returning My Sister’s Face, would give some feedback in the Amazon reviews!]

And a final plug: I’m still selling autographed copies (see my launch party post for details).

RETURNING MY SISTER’S FACE: Prizewinners and freebie info

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Thanks to everyone who attended the virtual launch party of Returning My Sister’s Face: And Other Far Eastern Tales of Whimsy and Malice yesterday!

For LJ users who gave a shout-out to the party and my collection, and/or dropped me a comment on yesterday’s party post, you can get the password and download access to the exclusive pre-release of my reading of “The Archer of the Sun and the Lady of the Moon” at this locked post. Please drop me a comment if you should be able to see it but can’t.

For other shout-out folks who aren’t on LiveJournal, if you’re a member of my Facebook Group, you should be receiving the password/access through Facebook if you haven’t already, and I’ll be sending emails to the ones on neither platform.

If you weren’t able to make the party yesterday, you can still download and listen to my reading. All you have to do is give my collection a shout-out, drop a comment at yesterday’s post, or join my Facebook group anytime during the whole month of March.

Next, announcing the prizewinners from the random drawings. For the limited edition Returning My Sister’s Face audio MP3 CD:

• The LiveJournal/shout-out winner is: flyswatter
• The Facebook Group winner is: time_shark

And finally, announcing the grand prize winner of an autographed copy of Returning My Sister’s Face *drumroll please…*: shadesong!

Congratulations to the three lucky winners! Your prizes should be winging their way to you in the next couple weeks, and thanks again to everyone who came out for the party yesterday!

Returning My Sister’s Face: Virtual Launch Party

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Welcome to the virtual launch party of my debut short story collection, Returning My Sister’s Face: And Other Far Eastern Tales of Whimsy and Malice, co-hosted by Facebook and LiveJournal. Help yourself to a flute of champagne or a cup of sake!

To kick things off, I’ve got a couple announcements:

Returning My Sister’s Face is now available from Barnes & Noble and will be available any day now from Amazon (U.S., UK, France, Germany, and Japan).

I’m also selling autographed copies for $23 USD with free shipping and handling anywhere in the U.S. or Canada (overseas folks, please email me about shipping rates). Paypal payments from your PayPal cash balance may be directed to eugie@eugiefoster.com at the PayPal site: http://www.paypal.com. (For credit card payments, see below*.)

If you order one this month, I’ll include for free a limited edition Returning My Sister’s Face audio MP3 CD containing five of the stories, including one previously unreleased and read by myself, plus a bonus story.

Contents:

• ”The Tiger Fortune Princess” read by Norm Sherman, produced and podcast by Drabblecast (Mar. 2008).
• “The Snow Woman’s Daughter” read by cunning minx, produced and podcast by Escape Pod (Aug. 2007).
• “The Tanuki-Kettle” read by Tina Connolly with an introduction by M. K. Hobson, produced and podcast by Podcastle (Oct. 2008).
• “The Archer of the Sun and the Lady of the Moon” read by me, an original audio production.
• “Returning My Sister’s Face” read by Stephen Eley, produced and podcast by Pseudopod (Sept. 2006).
• Bonus Story: “Souls of Living Wood” read by me, an original audio production.

Next, what’s a party without prizes and party favors?

The grand prize is an autographed copy of Returning My Sister’s Face, which will be awarded by a random drawing at the end of today**. To get your chance to win, either:

• Post a shout-out on your blog for Returning My Sister’s Face with a link to this post***; or
• Join my Eugie Foster: Author Facebook group. This group will provide updates and info about Returning My Sister’s Face, my other publication news, and give folks a chance to give me some feedback and criticism, or ask that niggling question you’ve had about how I ended up with a pet skunk.

If you do both, you double your chance to win!

I’m also doing two additional random drawings for the Returning My Sister’s Face audio CD that I mentioned above, one drawing for shout-out folks and one for folks joining my Facebook group.

Finally, everyone who gives my collection a shout-out, joins my Facebook group, or comments to this post anytime this month will get exclusive access to my original audio reading of “The Archer of the Sun and the Lady of the Moon.” I plan to make it free to the public in April, but until then, it’s password protected.

[Edit: For LJ users, the password is now available at this locked post.]

* For credit card PayPal payments only, please use this address: buy@eugiefoster.com. Otherwise, please use eugie@eugiefoster.com. (Saves me fees.)
** To avoid timezone issues, “today” is based on UTC/GMT -11, so if it’s Sunday, March 1, 2009, anywhere in the world, it counts as today.
*** I’m trying out the new pingback LJ function, but if you’re an LJ user without a paid or permanent account, please drop me a comment to let me know you’ve posted a shout-out so I can enter you in the drawing. If you’re on another blogging platform, as long as you’ve got pings enabled, I should get notice of it—but drop me a comment here if you want to make extra certain.

Announcing: Returning My Sister’s Face – Book Launch Virtual Party

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Date: Sunday, March 1, 2009
Location: Facebook and LiveJournal

My debut short story collection, RETURNING MY SISTER’S FACE: AND OTHER FAR EASTERN TALES OF WHIMSY AND MALICE, with an introduction by Hugo and Nebula Award-winning author Vonda N. McIntyre, premiers in trade hardcover from Norilana Books on March 1, 2009:

Enchantment, peril, and romance pervade the shadowy Far East, from the elegant throne room of the emperor’s palace to the humble teahouse of a peasant village. In these dozen stories of adventure and magic from the Orient, a maiden encounters an oni demon in the forest, a bride discovers her mother-in-law is a fox woman, a samurai must appease his sister’s angry ghost, strange luck is found in a jade locket, and dark and light are two sides of harmony.

Join me in raising a virtual flute of the bubbly to celebrate!


Cover art by Ahyicodae

Praise for RETURNING MY SISTER’S FACE:

“Whimsy and malice—yes—also mystery, a very female sensuality, and wit. An elegant and entertaining book.”
—Ursula K. Le Guin, Hugo, Nebula, Pushcart, and Newbery Award-winning author.

“The tales are beautifully written, elegant, passionate, funny and moving. The entire collection is a delightful, magical bridge across cultures. I hope many readers find their way to it.”
—Patricia A. McKillip, Locus, World Fantasy Best Novel, and World Fantasy Lifetime Achievement Award-winning author.

“Noted short story author Foster offers a dozen enchanting and sometimes chilling tales alive with elegantly sketched characters and sensibilities drawn from Asian folklore…Readers who long for a break from European medieval fantasy will be charmed and entertained by Foster’s tales.”
—Publishers Weekly

212 pages
Hardcover (March 2009)
ISBN-10: 1-60762-010-3
ISBN-13: 978-1-60762-010-5

Trade paperback (July 2009)
ISBN-10: 1-60762-011-1
ISBN-13: 978-1-60762-011-2

Hobkin Update: Lab Test Results In

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fosteronfilm got a urine sample from Hobkin to the vet’s for testing the other day, and the results just came in. Elevated white blood cells and some blood. Also some cells that could be bad if there were more of them, but are normal to see in cases of inflammation.

The vet is now sure Hobkin has an infection. We just need to keep him on the amoxicillin, and all should be well.

Vasty gobs of relief and happiness.

Hobkin Update, Morning in the Running for Least Fun Evah

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Thanks to everyone for all the support and get well soon thoughts for Hobkin!

Hobkin slept with me for most of the night and is doing reasonably well, probably better than fosteronfilm, actually. Since I’m in session, Matthew stayed up to watch over the lil guy for the second night/day in a row (my husband’s circadian rhythms are whack) and has been doing all the other caretaker duties so that I can get what sleep I can. Hence, Matthew’s low on sleep and a bit ragged around the edges from these last couple days.

It’s such a blessing that he can be there 24×7 at times like these, but it’s also less than optimal because Hobkin is really a mommy’s boy, and I can do things with him that no one else can—like force feed him meds. Did I mention that after the first dose of amoxicillin, the silly beastie decided he no longer considers it a nummy treat? Sigh. Not sure how my boys are going to fare come Hobkin’s afternoon med. time. I anticipate a pink, sticky mess…pinker and sticker than the one he and I made this AM.

Another reason to nominate this morning as Least Fun Evah: the East/West MARTA rail lines weren’t working when I arrived at Five Points station. They were busing people to their East/West destinations, but from Five Points, once I get off the Northbound, I just transfer to the Eastbound for one stop to get to the capitol. So it’s walking distance. Rather than deal with the bus, I set out to hoof it…in the breezy, blustery cold. And I started off in the wrong direction (of course). Fortunately, the capitol sits at the top of a hill and is crowned by a shiny, gold dome. Hard to miss. Even for someone as directionally challenged as me.

Walked in the door at work to a rush bill. Off and editing while I still couldn’t feel face or fingers and not only hadn’t I even tasted my coffee, I hadn’t even poured it yet. But things are slowing down a bit now. Thankfully. But I’m really not going to be at my best today.

Hobkin at the Vet’s

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So fosteronfilm is right now with Hobkin at the vet’s for an emergency visit.

Trying not to freak out. I can’t be there ’cause I’m still at work, and even if I got off now, it’s terribly unlikely unto impossible that I’d be able to make it to the vet’s in time for the appointment. (My car’s at the North Springs MARTA station, I’m at the capitol, and the vet’s office is in Lawrenceville.)

We think Hobkin simply managed to scratch or cut himself in a, er, delicate area, but the alternative—internal bleeding—is something that we’re not willing to gamble on. Ergo vet visit. And that scary-panic alternative is giving me serious cold sweats and shakes. Glancing compulsively at the cell phone awaiting updates…

[Edit – Update 1: Thanks for everyone’s support and good wishes. Very much appreciated. Hubby just called. They think Hobkin’s got kidney/bladder stones or possibly an infection. They’re trying to x-ray him now to confirm whether he’s got kidney stones. (I REALLY wish I was there to assist with that.) More updates as they come in…

Update 2: X-rays were clean but the vet says that doesn’t preclude the possibility of stones. They decided that rather than sedate Hobkin to do a blood test, it would be safer to observe him for a couple days and administer antibiotics. So husband and skunk are heading home now with some amoxicillin and various directives and things-to-watch-for. Not a minor scratch but not as dire as other possibilities. Fretting and anxiety to continue but turned down a notch or two.

Update 3: Everyone’s home now, and I’m curled up on the couch with Hobkin—not sure who’s reassuring whom. On the medication front, had a flash of inspiration. In my experience, most critters really like the taste of amoxicillin, but Hobkin grouses and fights being force-fed with a feeding syringe (understandably), so I thought to try to offer it to him in a saucer. The lil guy lapped it right up, making what might have been a stressful and unpleasant 3x/day experience for all a nice treat instead! Hurray for small blessings.]

Sale: “The Reign of the Wintergod” to Pseudopod; ToC-mates in 2009 Relief Anthology

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So tired. Paying for the sleep deprivation of the last week+ now. Upped dose of stimulants and pouring caffeine as quickly into my system as possible, but I’m still stumbling into door frames and blinking dazedly at the computer screen—although my heart’s pattering double-time. Wheee. Praying that I can fumble through today without making some calamitous boo-boo.

dude_the flew down this weekend for our annual Superbowl watching tradition. My one football game a year, and it was a great one. We decided to root for the guys wearing yellow and black (although it was a toss-up, as I like red, too), and they won! Favorite moment: winning touchdown when the ball-catching guy sat and hugged the ball after he caught it. Awww…

And dude_the introduced us to this fabulous television series, How I Met Your Mother, which stars Alyson Hannigan and has cameos from other Buffy/Firefly alums: Alexis Denisof, Amy Acker, and Morena Baccarin. Enjoyed it greatly. Made it through 1.5 seasons in a two-day marathon session. Must see more.

   


Writing Stuff

New Words:
• 1000 on The Stupid Novel. Actually managed to get some writing done during session. A sign of the apocalypse?

Received:
• 74-day SALE of “The Reign of the Wintergod” (reprint) to Pseudopod. Hurray!
• Note from J.K. Richard, the editor of the Animal Welfare anthology that “Running on Two Legs” will be appearing in, with a link to a list of the authors in that volume. I’ll be sharing a ToC with such excellent folks as Michael Jasper, Michael Merriam, Diane Payne, Mike Stone, Jennifer Brozek, and Jetse de Vries. Much coolness.

Happy Year of the Ox and more reviews of IZ220 and “Sinner, Baker, Fabulist, Priest”

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Happy Chinese New Year!

Verily slammed at work. The legislators are back from their week off hashing out the budget, and this morning was a mad (editorial) dash to clear out the intray before the post-lunch chaos hits.

   


Writing Stuff

The fabulous Jason Sanford drew my attention to a number of shiny reviews of IZ#220 and “Sinner, Baker, Fabulist, Priest” that made me squee:

“disconcerting and thought-provoking in equal measure and should rightly earn its author wider exposure—and perhaps appearances in the Year’s Best and on various award ballots.”
—Colin Harvey, Sci-Fi/Fantasy Fiction

“a classy fantasy, a strange society in which the wearing of masks in not only compulsory, but one in which the mask worn confers a different daily identity…The implications of this are subtly portrayed, as is the response to those who oppose this status quo.”
—Mark Watson, Best SF Reviews

“the best of the issue…A fantastic piece of worldbuilding.”
—Matt Bruensteiner, Garbled Signals

“This surreal story of people living in a beehive society and changing their identity and personality each day…opens out into something dark, powerful and moving…including an ending that successfully avoids cliche and reminds the reader that freedom and self-discovery can lead to a great deal of pain.”
—Sci-Fi Gene