Mesa Second Friday and Book Updates

Event: 

Second Friday, Mesa

I love starting with a thank you! Mesa Second Friday was great as usual and especially so because I missed the past two months and because so many friends made it out this month. Thanks goes out to Patti, and Don for arranging the booth and always being the best publishers I have had privilege to work with. To ChetShupe for being a great photographer and great friend! 

It was great to see Raymond again and to have Commodore Max finally available to press-gang new readers. And, a warm welcome goes out to Shelbie and Tiny from the Rocky Horror Picture Show, FilmBar crew! Thank you for supporting piracy! 

Book News:

Fresh Blood books are nearly sold out as far as those I have on hand, not to be ordered again until next Halloween season. 

The final edits to Trolls will be done in time for release in December! Finally! I am so excited about this book and nervous at the same time. This one is very dear to me and I am deeply hoping it is well received. I can’t wait until more readers join Emily and the trolls on their adventures through the world under the bridges, to rescue the Queen of the Trolls and face off against the Witch Arakne. 

And now a couple pieces of sad news. I will not be able to participate in NaNoWriMo this year, for the first time since 2003. It is a pleasure to know that so many of my young writer friends are giving it a go though. Shout out to Hunter, Bri, Joe, Jenn and Frank! I am with you in spirit NaNoWarriors! My alternative is to promise more blogs during this time and in the future, I realize I have been slacking off due to other priorities. 

And, of course, there is Max’s Despair that is fast becoming mine. For those still anxiously awaiting the next installment of The DREAD Fleet series, I am still working on it and we are getting closer. I promise it will be worth the wait, if that helps ease the frustration. 

Thank you to everyone, readers and writers alike! You energize me when I am feeling overwhelmed or slacking off and I love reading your work always too!

The Book Rack

I want to thank everyone who visited my table at The Book Rack in Mesa on Saturday, July 21^st. And super thank you to Patti for setting up another fun signing, and to Shaun for being my resident pirate! It was great to have familiar faces and some surprise guests too! Welcome Jodi to the crew! I hope you enjoy the story!

The owner of The Book Rack also creates short trailers for books and films as well as Public Service Announcements. His prices are very reasonable and I am actually really interested in giving this a shot. Pun completely intended. How many out there actually pay any mind to book trailers though, is my concern. Is it really something that draws an audience to read a book? Let me know what you think. I so do not want to create something that will serve little purpose.

This was the second trip out to the other end of the world for me in as many weekends. I do not enjoy the drive in the heat, but at least it is an adventure. The Book Rack is a super cute little shop too. And, as much as I have a deep love for the semi-musty, mysterious ambiance of some most book stores, The Book Rack was a nice balance between Barnes & Noble commercial quaintness and homespun local consignment shop. It is bright and clean and peaceful. To some, the absence of ‘old book smell’ and appearance of more consumer knick-knacks might not set the mood of the classic bookstore but it works well for them. 

There is a shocking amount of media packed into the small space too and it does an amazing job of not seeming to be cluttered or overstuffed. The eye is drawn too, to the walls of crafty art pieces which helps make the single room look larger than it is. 

I loved the layout and that they work to showcase local authors with two full racks at the entrance. This is also where I was placed, directly in the line of traffic. So much better than being in the back corner somewhere. There are still a few more weeks of their Author Appearances remaining, I will not be offended if you make it out to see other great local writers even if you missed my visit. 

I completely recommend checking out this adorable little book store if you are in Mesa. They do store credit on those completed summer reads, it might be a good way to get some early holiday shopping done without spending a dime. 

The Book Rack

1752 South Signal Butte Road #108

Mesa, AZ 85209

(480) 380-0044

www.bookrackonline.com/

Hot Ace Comics and Storms!

A huge thank you to Hot Ace Comics for hosting Patti Hultstrand, Todd VanHooser and I, on Saturday, July 14^th. It was definitely eventful!

I had a great time chatting with Patti and Todd, and with store proprietors, Anna and Joe, but I must say the best was hanging with Spiderman! Thank you to everyone who braved the storm to come out to say hi. I am really sorry to those who missed us and I hope to see you next week at the Book Rack also in Mesa.

I cannot talk about this day without mentioning the amazing storm! Good gods of air and water that was crazy! I love wild weather though! I almost hope next Saturday’s signing is just as stormy. It will be like living it up on the ocean! 

In with mentioning upcoming events, rumor has it The DREAD Fleet and the dancers of bint Hazine will be dropping in to Hot Ace Comics for a full day of pirate shenanigans, No date yet, but keep a weather eye on The DREAD Fleet page and Facebook for more information!

See you Saturday at the Book Rack! 

Hot Ace Comics

10839 East Apache Trail #131

Mesa 85120

(480) 582-6642

www.hotacecomics.com

Patti Hultstrand

www.pjhultstrand.com

Todd Van Hooser

www.toddvanhooser.com

Pirates, Hot Ace, and Mermaid Birthdays

The story of Captain Blackstrap Gennie is full of strong female characters and men, real, hardcore men, willing to accept them. Complete fiction, right? Of course not! Historically as well as presently, there are power females gallivanting about, and they pal around with some pretty tough guys.

Her part in His-story

Some of the most prominent pirates throughout history were of the fairer sex. When I use fair in this case, I mean to say firm, level-headed and enforcers of the pirate code.

Most fans of pirates know the name Jack Rackham, better known as Calico Jack. If you have not heard of him, look him up, he is one of my favorites! By default that makes him one of Blackstrap’s heroes. Calico Jack is in some ways similar to Marrick, Blackstrap’s loyal first mate and best friend. And, if Marrick is anything like Calico Jack, then one must be lead to compare Anne Bonny and Mary Reed’s relationship to that of Maggie Pye and Blackstrap Gennie. The historical trio, as well as the fictional, wrought havoc in the golden age of piracy and did so by breaking the cardinal rule of Western sailors – no women allowed.

Captain Hook…err

Exiling women from ships was not a hard and fast rule in all traditions though, thank goodness (badness) for Ching Shih. Think the idea of Gennie becoming the Korsana of the sultana and training the harem girls to take up the banner of piracy is a bit far-fetched? Well, then do a bit of research on the prostitute turned pirate queen. The men surrounding her learned right quick that Shih had dropped her former profession in pursuit of greater gains. Bedding any woman while on duty was grounds for execution.

Enforcing the rules in the ranks of her 400 ships was not this little “lady’s” only claim to fame. Ching Shih was also a top notch strategist and general. Maybe Shih and Gennie should set down to a game of chess?

Today

Still think that having a broad aboard, if not leading the battle, is beyond reality? How about this one? Most of the stories and characters in Blackstrap’s Ecstasy are based on actual events and people. Czep has a fair number of smart, strong, stunning female cohorts at her side and, while these women can hold their own in a confrontation they do have a few good men willing to come to their aid.

Visit the crew of The DREAD Fleet to see the inspiration in action! This Saturday, July 14^th, they make port at Hot Ace Comics (Mesa) from 11:00AM – 3:00PM and then the Phoenix Zoo for Moon Mermaid’s Birthday from 6:00PM – 9:00PM.

Captain’s orders, mate!

Mesa Art Walk: Books on the Beach!

Look how good I am. Another blog in a timely manner about a current event! I am getting better I swear.

So, the Mesa Art Walk:

This was the second time in attendance. I hate the drive, especially from Glendale, during rush hour traffic, in the Arizona summer heat, in my 1972 GMC Sprint with no air conditioning. *Sigh* But, it is well worth it in the end. I love the atmosphere of Main Street Mesa. The people are friendly and comfortably unique. It is welcoming to have some steady acquaintances even after so short a time. This is where I offer a little shout out to Queen’s Pizzeria on Main Street and to Kevin who works there and likes to talk about zombies and killer plants. 

The theme for June was Books on the Beach and while there were tons of local authors and books all the way down the sidewalk I didn’t really see too much more to promote that theme. Maybe I was just too involved with the Arizona Publishing section and the Photo Booth for Connotations News Zine, but really from all the hype on the morning news, I expected much more. Even the wandering patrons didn’t really seem all that into the theme. I saw a few wandering zombies in bikinis for the contest and one or two Hawaiian shirts. I think my pirate ‘bikini’ might have been a bit much, but no one seemed offended enough to tell me personally to put more clothes on. I am going with ‘normal’ attire next time, fear not good people of Main Street. Overall, it was tame compared to Steampunk Street in May.

So, I sold a few more books, met several more interesting and wonderful people, booked a few more gigs and got the chance to talk shop with Don Jacques. I did not sell any DREAD Mud Wrestling tickets (July 28^th, Revolver Records)  nor did I talk enough about Talk Like a Pirate Day at Westgate (September 22^nd), but I hope The DREAD Fleet will forgive since I am pretty sure I snagged us another gig in the far East.

Thank you to everyone who stopped by the table, including Ryan Lunt, even though he said he expected me to be much taller from my pictures. I hope to see more friendly faces again at the Second Friday Mesa Art Walk in July!

Comic Con, Payson, Mesa, Pirates, Dancers, Where Does It End?

Finally recovering from Phoenix Comic Con weekend; mostly because I never really stopped until today. No complaints, but a break is stunning. I fully admit to spending the day offering quality time with my laptop and watching Ancient Aliens on Netflix, while devouring Mountain Dew cupcakes. Yes. This is my life. 

On the flip side, I am thrilled to have a publisher that thinks so highly of me and my work that she never allows be to be bored. Thank you so much Arizona Publishing for keeping me hopping! From an interview at Phoenix Comic Con, to live PODcasts, a trip to Payson with a great group of authors and a pretty steady seat on Mesa’s Second Friday art walk; I had no idea it could be this good! Thank you!

June is shaping up to be just as busy as May, so please come find me. I love seeing friends and familiar faces when I am doing the book thing, and when I am dancing with bint Hazine.

On the note of dance, my gods do I have to get back into it. Writing and directing the Check, Mate! Show for Phoenix Comic Con was a thrill a minute but I purposely took myself off the stage as much as possible. A wise man once told me “it takes a rare beast to write, direct and star in a show”. I can fully admit that I cannot be that beast, at least not just yet.

I will be dancing again with bint Hazine for the Pirate Mud Wrestling event (July 28^th at Revolver Records, Phoenix). Hells, I may even get muddy again! I am also eager to be a part of another very unique dance project, but that is a mystery for now.

I cannot write of all these events, performances and projects without offering huge thanks to everyone involved in them. So, I close this entry with a list of some of the key players that rarely receive enough praise.

Shaun “Blaze”

Eli “Steele”

JD “Sanji”

Jess “Sumomo”

Max

Adam Tuerff – Mischief Makers / Thunder Stump

Jenn “Buz” – Ok, Millie

Dellene – GD Frippery

Char

Patti – AZ Publishing / Connotations

Stacy “Maggie Pye”

And so many others who create a secondary family and a safety net for me to fall into when things get a little nutty. Thank you!