New cover for The Sword-Edged Blonde paperback!

Here's the all-new cover for the paperback edition of The Sword-Edged Blonde, due out in June 2009 from Tor prior to the hardcover release of the second Eddie LaCrosse novel, Burn Me Deadly. (Click on the image for a bigger view.)

The artist is JS Rossbach.

So what do you all think?

Reunions, part 2

This is a very personal post, one I never thought I'd get to write.

Many years ago, nearly two decades by now, I met two young ladies and fell in love.



Holly was three when I first saw her; Brandi was a newborn. The lack of biological connection was never a factor. When you open your heart to a child, it never fades or changes. You always love them. And for six years, they were the most important thing in my life.

Alas, to paraphrase the song "Memphis, Tennessee," "We were torn apart because [their] Mom did not agree." And for twelve years I had no idea what had become of them. I could only hope they remembered me, and that one day I would have the chance to tell them I loved them.

And at last, I had that chance.



Thank you, Brandi, for finding me on the Internet. And thank you both for remembering that I love you.

Guest blogging on vampires at Lori Devoti's "Life on the Bubble"

Today I'm guest blogger at Lori Devoti's Life on the Bubble, in honor of the release of her latest, Holiday with a Vampire II. Learn a bit about my take on the natures of vampires in my novel Blood Groove.

And another good cause...

Press release from the Kinkaid Foundation, San Francisco:

"On November 14th, beloved member of the Bay Area music community Michelle McFee underwent radical cancer surgery in San Francisco. From her early days as a Pegasus poet through her years working with the New Riders of the Purple Sage and into today, Michelle has been a constant in Bay Area music for over forty years.

"To help defray her expenses, Blacklight Productions, in conjunction with the Kinkaid Foundation, has organized Words & Music: The Michelle McFee Benefit Concert. There is also a silent auction of unique items from the worlds of music, literature, and beyond. Both concert and auction are completely non-profit events; proceeds will go to defray Michelle's expenses."

(INSERT FROM ALEX: You can bid on a hardcover first edition of The Sword-Edged Blonde and an advance reader copy of Blood Groove, both signed by me. There are also signed books by other writers you may have heard of, like Michael Chabon and Neil Gaiman.)

"Possibly no one else could have inspired the extraordinary lineup of talent who will take the stage on December 19th, at the Glaser Center, 547 Mendocino Boulevard, Santa Rosa. Doors open at 7:00. Tickets are $20 in advance, $25 at the door. Acts include:

"David Nelson and Special Guests, with David Nelson, Mark Karan, Pete Sears, Jimmy Sanchez, Peter Albin and Dave Getz;

"Rubber Souldiers, with Chris Rowan, Lorin Rowan (contingent on his availability), David Gans, Jimmy Sanchez and Robin Sylvester;

"and Bill Cutler & Friends, with Bill Cutler, Patrick Campbell, Dave Perper, Steve Shufton and Peter Harris."

Details about the show, auction, donations, and tickets can be found at:

www.kinkaidfoundation.org