Host Gail Z. Martin talks with author Walter Hunt.

Walter Hunt is the author of the Dark Wing Universe and A Song in Stone series.

Ghost in the Machine–Guest Walter Hunt

Podcast host and author Gail Z. Martin talks about (and reads from) her newest upcoming novel–Dark Lady’s Chosen, Book 4 in the Chronicles of the Necromancer.Ghost in the Machine–Guest Gail Z. Martin

Host Gail Z. Martin (Chronicles of the Necromancer) talks with author and editor Mark Charan Newton about his new novel, Nights in VillJamur.

Newton, an editor at Solaris Books, is the author of Nights in Villjamur, a much-touted new release with an edgy, noir style. Newton talks with Gail about the role of death in fantasy fiction and in their own novels.Mark Charan Newton talks about life, death and Nights in Villjamur

ConCarolinas 2009 Day 1ConCarolinas 2009 Day 2

ConCarolinas was fantastic as always! Started off with a signing at Barnes & Noble at Carolina Place Mall with David B. Coe, Misty Massey and Faith Hunter. We had a blast! David, Misty, Faith and I also shared hallway tables at the con, which was a great place for us to sign books, meet with readers and enjoy watching people go by.

Of course a highlight for me was being on several panels with Katherine Kurtz, and also getting to talk with Mark Rainey, who has written for new incarnations of Dark Shadows.

The hallway was a busy place. Our “neighbors” included CJ Henderson, Elaine Corvidae, Glenda Finkelstein, Crymsyn Hart, Bob Aldrich, JF Lewis, Kimberly Alexis, James Maxey, Davey Beauchamp, Sabrina Luna, Dahlia Rose, Tony Ruggiero, Mark Rainey, Ed Schubert, Tally Johnson and AJ Hartley.

More friends in the dealer room included Debra Kileen, Michael Sullivan, Stephen Zimmer, Anthony Karnowski.

And friends around the con—Stephen Euin Cobb, Nathan Butler, Mike Pederson, Stuart Jaffe, Podcasting’s Rich Sigfrit, Torch, Tina McSwain and Tonya Denny. Apologies if I’ve left anyone out!

Balticon 2009 Day 2 Watch the rest of the show right here!

Balticon 2009 Day 1

If it’s Memorial Day weekend, it’s time for Balticon, the con run by the Baltimore Science Fiction and Fantasy Society. Balticon is a larger con than some, and is exceptionally well run. This was my second year as a guest and once again I enjoyed it immensely.

On Friday, I was on a panel called “I Shot the Sheriff on the First Page” all about how to write a first page or first chapter that hooks the reader. My fellow panelists were Mark L. Van Name, Joshua Palmatier, Elaine Stiles and Jeri Smith-Ready. Later that night, the next panel for me was “Turning the Archetypes of SF Upside Down” and fellow panelists were Carl Cipra, Grig Larson, Elaine Corvidae and Bernie Mojzes. I had a great time getting caught up with Jean Marie Ward, Mur Lafferty, Chuck Gannon, Bud Sparhawk and Podcasting’s Rich Sigfrit as the evening wore on. Also enjoyed shooting the breeze with web comic creator Bryan Prindiville, plus Nathan Lilly and Jagi Lamplighter. Of course the highlight of Friday was the Steampunk Ball—lots of amazing outfits. You can see Jean Marie’s costume on the video!

On Saturday, a panel called “Did We Win” looked at whether the recent popularity of sci fi and fantasy in paranormal romance, and on TV and movies has countered the genre’s outsider status. My fellow panelists were Steve Stiles, Rober4t Chase, Mary Jo Putney and Don Sakers. Later on, I was part of Broad Universe’s Rapid Fire Reading with fellow Broads Jean Marie Ward, Danielle Ackley-McPhail, Kelly Harmon, Trisha Woodridge, Roberta Rogow and Roxanne Bland. Then in the dealer’s room, lots of great conversation including CJ Henderson, Tee Morris, Patrick Thomas, Tony Ruggierio, and more.

Balticon had a vibrant nightlife, from the Masquerade to live music and filking to the ever-present parties. This year, in addition to CapClave, other groups hosting get-togethers included RavenCon, NSFIC, PhilCon, a group of folks from Aberdeen making a joking challenge for NSFIC, and no doubt others. There’s also the video and anime rooms which ran some great classics—there is never enough time to see everything at a con! And of course the art show, which is also a favorite. One of the cool things with Balticon is that the con suite is open 24/7, making a great place for people to congregate, and this particular hotel gives us a big room with a 1950’s diner motif. That’s where Lawrence Schoen did his book launch party for “Buffalito Destiny” on Saturday night. Unfortunately, I had to leave before the other launches on Sunday that I wanted to attend: Mike McPhail’s “And So It Begins,” Christiana Ellis’s “Nina Kimberly the Merciless” and JC Hutchin’s “Personal Effects: Dark Art.”

Ghost in the Machine–Guest Mur Lafferty

Host Gail Z. Martin talks with author/podcaster Mur Lafferty (Playing for Keeps, The Takeover, I Should Be Writing) about podcasting, authors and readers.

Kevin J Anderson talks about his new book The Edge of the World and the new
original music CD “Terra Incognita” that accompanies it by Roswell 6.Ghost in the Machine–Guest Kevin J Anderson

K.L. Nappier didn’t intend to join the ranks of independent, maverick
writers. Originally published by Berkeley Publishing Group in 1992, she
tried to please the New York houses. But in the pre-Internet age, when NYC
was interested in formulaic writers, her penchant for “not letting a
genre get in the way of a good story” was a liability.

In 2004 Kathy hit the e-book scene with Full Wolf Moon. Equal parts
thriller, horror, spiritual philosophy and social commentary, it won praise
and multiple awards in the independent press industry. Full Wolf Moon is
now an Aisling Press paperback, and its sequel Bitten -plus Kathy’s
paranormal mystery Voyagers- will have paperback releases later this year.
Ghost in the Machine–Guest KL Nappier

When Jean Marie Ward started writing fiction is open to debate. She points
to the play about the theft of Thor’s hammer she bullied her third grade
class into producing. Others claim she didn’t become a professional liar
until she started writing, editing and committing public relations for the
federal government.

Jean Marie believes in working both sides of the mike, preferably against
the middle. She has served as chief public affairs officer for a major
Defense Department agency and associate producer for the long-running,
local-access cable TV show Mystery Readers Corner. She’s written news and
feature articles for newspapers, magazines and SciFi.com, and edited the
respected web magazine Crescent Blues for eight years.

Special Bonus Excerpt from WITH NINE YOU GET VANYR
http://wardsmith.com/wardsmith/pages/domain/excerpts/nine_get_vanyr_1.htmGhost in the Machine–Guest Jean Marie Ward