A Hazardous Occupation

It looks like there’s a publisher who may be interested in the Crosspointe books. If so, we’re looking at seeing an end to the series! Wahoo!

Originally published at www.dianapfrancis.com. You can comment here or there.

As a huge comic book fan, I'm incredibly happy to see that Jim Starlin is back on the guest list after having to cancel last year. It was a huge disappointment seeing him have to cancel last year. I've always wanted to meet the writer and artist of so many important comic book stories! He is again the guest I'm most excited to meet.

By the way, for fans of the new Avengers movie, he created the character who shows up at the very end during the credits!

If anyone has two memberships that they purchased at a lesser price that the current fee and would be interested in transferring them, please let me know! Thanks! gamecockjen@yahoo.com.

What is your favorite memory from DragonCon?

I have a couple.  The Stargate Universe panel on Saturday morning last year was just awesome.  It was so much fun.  It was right after the parade so I couldn't believe I made it to get in, let alone being as close to the front as I was.

Also, when I got to see Brent Spiner and Gates McFadden for the first time last year.  It was so surreal.  It was kind of like part of my childhood coming to life.

*ahem*

Has anyone out there been waiting for Shadow Unit in physical paper-type form?

You have?

Oh. Okay, then. That's good.

Because the first volume is here.

*exits, grinning*

(This volume is the first half of Season One. It'll be available on Amazon.com within a week, and elsewhere within two months. Season One, volume two will be available within the month; I'll let you know.)

There are, however, things that make life easier to endure while one's immune system is fighting the battle of Helm's Deep against the snot-orcs and the congestion cave trolls and the giant sore-throat spiders. (No, Bear, these are not good spiders. They are icky metaphorical spiders, and I am allowed to kill them if I want to.)

For two days I've flung zinc tablets and decongestants at the problem. They've helped, but they haven't really made me feel better. At last, today, I have something that makes me feel as if I wouldn't rather die than have this cold.

1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1 tablespoon honey
8 - 10 ounces of hot, but not boiling, water
1 shot whisky (Jameson's would probably be perfect. I have Highland Park single malt 12yo, which is probably pearls before cold-swine, but I don't care)

Combine the above in a mug. Drink. Repeat as necessary.

No, you won't be cured. But you won't care.

… I did not realize that it was the last time that prestigious institution would be allowed to offer insurance to its faculty.

http://www.lifenews.com/2012/05/15/obama-mandate-forces-catholic-college-to-drop-insurance/

The world is attempting, and with nearly unopposed success, to drive all religion, especially Christians, and most especially Catholics, out of the public square. Our Elite Masters have been willing, in times past, to allow Christians to do the works of charity, care for the poor, see to the sick, educate the ignorant, free the slave.

But no longer.Charities not willing to help freed slaves have free abortions are defunded; institutions not willing to fund and celebrate aborticides, sterilization, contraception are being forced to give up their conscience and their rights of conscience or else give up their insurance.

It is not that these who are in need will have their needs filled by that secular church we call the State — that they will suffer does not come into the calculus of the compassionate and reality-based community. They want to smite their fathers, and we are a convenient stand-in. That is why the Church is being driven away.

View or comment on this post at John C. Wright's Journal.

My darling Gentle Reader, I am in the enviable position of being In Demand. Well, my new book is. Or, more to the point, my new book which isn't out until next February is.


It's not secret in some circles (namely Goodreads) that ARCs of E&E are getting out into the universe. There have even been some very kind and lovely reviews already. I was under the impression ARCs were not being sent out until closer to the release of the book in February of 2013. I think that this is because if we sent them out too soon people will forget about it by the time the actual book releases and what would be the point of that?


I know that you, Gentle Reader would never forget! But for others there's a sudden house move, or a surprise wedding, or an invasion of chutney daemons and then silly books about chubby floating Finishing Schools and a young girl with a nose for covert activities get forgotten.

A year is a very long time.


Nevertheless, some ARCs are being distributed from my publishers at promotional conferences this spring and summer. I haven't sent any out. No one is playing favoritism. I believe some turned up at one of the librarian conventions recently and were given out on a first-come first-serve basis to teen readers and a few bloggers.


This is all entirely outside of my control. I try really hard to play as fair as possible on my blog and other social media. So far, I have only passed along ARCs to my beta readers and my mother, and even they are under orders to guard them with the might of a thousand barking tiny dogs.


I promise, as soon as I am given the OK I will run some sort of little give away for some of the ARCs. Winners will be random number generated, so anyone who wants to participate will have a chance at an ARC regardless of location, blogging power, or social media standing. Cross my little heart!

GAIL'S DAILY DOSE

Your Moment of Parasol . . .


Your Infusion of Cute . . .



Your Tisane of Smart . . .
What would Jane Austen's hero have packed for the weekend? Travel in the second half of the Eighteenth Century.

Your Writerly Tinctures . . .



PROJECT ROUND UP
Deportment & Deceit ~ The Finishing School Book the Second: Working first draft.
Etiquette & Espionage ~ The Finishing School Book the First: Release date Feb 2013.
Manga ~ Soulless Vol. 2: (AKA Changeless) First chapter reviewed, drops on YenPlus April 12th. Print release tentatively Dec. 2012.
Timeless ~ Parasol Protectorate Book the Last. Out now!
Prudence ~ The Parasol Protectorate Abroad Book the First: Release date Fall 2013.

BIG FAT SPOILER ALERT on the Parasol Protectorate series! Really, DON'T READ THE BLURB ON AMAZON if you haven't read the other books first!

The Omnibus hardback editions are limited run through the SciFi Bookclub only.

The manga editions, Vol. available in print, Vol. 2 by subscription to YenPlus.

Most short stories available in ebook form world wide!

The first Finishing School book ~ Not yet Released

Book News:
Curious about Countess Nadasdy? Here's a cookie for you. And another.


Quote of the Day:
"To acquire the habit of reading is to construct for yourself a refuge from almost all the miseries of life."
~ W. Somerset Maugham

I can't believe there have already been seven episodes this season.  Maybe I shouldn't be surprised though--as with the books, this is going to be over before you know it.  As always, there will be spoilers for the show and the books, so do make sure you're caught up before reading this post.


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