New Poetry in Italian; OneMama.org & ABOW Event 12/3

My poem, "Una Morte Felice" based on the voodoo theme of Maman Brigitte can be read (in Italian) at Il Posto Nero: Maman Brigitte issue. That link will give you the PDF download version. Alternatively, you can view it here, at the magazine's website.

This Saturday, 12/3, I will be reading tarot cards for the One Mama charity event, in conjunction with A Band of Wives. All cover charges ($10 at the door) will benefit the charity, as well as a portion of the proceeds from my readings. Here is the flyer:

Reading/Signing, Poem Cellars 09 Cab Release, & Help Spencer

A few quick updates...

The official Launch Party (in SF) for Plus One Press' latest titles, including TALES FROM THE HOUSE BAND, will be this Sunday, 11/13, from 3-5pm at Borderlands Books in San Francisco. I'll be on hand with all the others to sign, read, and chat.

The Poem Cellars/Gentleman Farmer 2009 releases are out--including the Cabernet Sauvignon bearing my poetry on the cork. This is a limited production wine, so when it's gone...it's gone.

Lastly...if you have ever considered donating to a worthy cause but couldn't find one personal enough to know it's touching a real, live person in their time of need, consider donating to Spencer, a friend of mine for many years, going through some medical hardships. If you are from the neighborhood, you know him. If you are not...you would very much like to. He's good people.

World Fantasy Convention 2011 - Schedule & Signing Info

As usual, if you want to book a tarot reading, you may do so in advance via email; the rate is $25 for 30 minutes, and if you have had a reading from me before, or pay in advance via paypal, the cost is $20. Credit Cards also accepted. You can also grab me on the fly if you happen to see me, and I'm not busy. This worked pretty good for folks in Austin last May.

Anyway... Some time slots to consider:

Thursday - Evening, after 7pm
Friday - before 12:30pm
Saturday - before 2:00pm, or 6-7pm

Secondly... I will have Haunted Mansion Writer's Retreat pamphlets and postcards if you would like more information, or are interested in signing up. You may do so via credit card, either at the Mass Autograph Signing, or by checking with me. Some of our previous year's attendees will be at the Con to tell you all about their experiences.

BOOKS - I will have copies of BARFODDER: Poetry Written in Dark Bars & Questionable Cafes (2nd printing) with me, along with one or two of out of print GOSSAMER EYE copies. I will have 2011 "Reader Cards," with information on short fiction and poetry that was/is published in 2011, along with upcoming projects that are new for 2012 (THE FOUR ELEMENTS - Bad Moon Books, ZOMBIES VS. ROBOTS - IDW Publishing, etc...) I only have 50 of these, so please only request one. It has the cover of THE FOUR ELEMENTS (written by Linda Addison, Rain Graves, Charlee Jacob, Marge Simon) on it, which is art by Daniele Serra!

FRIDAY 10/28 - SAY HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

1:00 PM
Pacific 1: Lovecraft and the Horrors of the Sea

“Ocean is more ancient than the mountains, and freighted with the memories and the dreams of Time.” - H. P. Lovecraft

Why does Lovecraft’s use of the sea and its deep dark creatures still scare us? Is it significant that he uses the sea to represent some of the same ideas that are often represented in folklore by the forest? Have his heirs continued using this dread?

Mason Bundschuh, Christopher Farnsworth, Cody Goodfellow(M), Rain Graves, S. T. Joshi

8:00 PM – 11:00 PM
Town and Country/San Diego: Autograph Session

This is a WFC tradition for all authors, artists, and editors attending the convention. Everyone is invited to participate in this very informal event. Tent cards will be available outside the room. Get your card, find a seat, and make yourself comfortable. Refreshments and a no-host bar will be provided in the foyer.

SATURDAY - 10/29

3:00pm - 5:00pm
Lanai Suite

PLUS ONE PRESS signing and release party for TALES FROM THE HOUSE BAND and other titles... I'll be on hand with all the authors attending WFC for the anthology release to munch and sign books. Basic info on the title: http://plusonepress.com/0984436243__HouseBand.htm

8:00 PM
Golden Pacific Ballroom: Art Show Reception (2 hours)

Tour the Art Show and meet the artists. Art Show closeout will be at 9PM. Light desserts and a no-host bar will be provided.

9:00 PM
Trellis Grille

Halloween Party (hosted by the Hotel, not WFC...but this is an excuse to have a costume on. tee hee).

Pacific 6/7: Open Poetry Reading (2 hrs.) – Emcee Rose Lemberg
(*Not sure I'll make it to this, but I will try...)

See you in San Diego!

IDW Publishing Press Release: Zombies Vs. Robots

San Diego, CA (September 6, 2011)—IDW’s gleefully subversive ZOMBIES VS ROBOTS comic book series from creators Chris Ryall and Ashley Wood will soon be eating readers’ brains from the inside via a series of short stories, novellas and more. As announced at the 2011 San Diego Comic-Con in July, the company plans for an ambitious slate of original prose stories set at different points in this epic adventure of a zombie apocalypse. In ZOMBIES VS ROBOTS, the clanking robots are built to fight the shambling braineaters, in a desperate attempt to save Earth’s dwindling population. Read the full article here... My story, "The Meek, the Earth, and the Inheritance" is among the line-up.

New Poetry in Il Posto Nero: Queen Anne's Resurrection

Even if you don't read Italian, Il Posto Nero: Queen Anne's Resurrection: Viaggio II is a beautiful magazine to look at. I have two things in this issue: Sonnet for a Sailor (English with Italian translation) and The Pirate Captain's Mistress (Italian only), which is sort of a sea shanty type song. Alessandro Manzetti did the translations.

In Laymon's Terms released - New Short Fiction

Well, technically, it's not new in the sense that it was written recently, but "Wild Card" is now out and available in the Richard Laymon tribute anthology, In Laymon's Terms (Cemetery Dance, 2011). The long-awaited volume of remembrances, photos, short stories, and general awesomeness is now shipping. I received my contributor's copy today. Sure do miss him. For those wondering if he always smiled that much (based on the photos) - yes, he did.

Alan M. Clark art featuring Rain Graves

The awesome and talented Alan M. Clark has immortalized me in his artwork for the cover of Bryan Smith's THE KILLING KIND, in a forthcoming edition from Deadite Press:



Image is © 2011 Alan M. Clark, used with permission from the artist.

New Short Story up at ChiZine.com #47, Week 5

The Spider House Rules, a fairy tale, is now available and free to read in ChiZine's Mega Issue #47, Week 5.

7x7 Magazine & Poem Cellars Poetry Contest Winners Announced

Many of you know I'm a wine lover and self-professed Wine Poet; An avid wine enthusiast and collector, I often tweet poems of tasting notes on twitter. In February I entered the 7x7 Magazine contest for Poem Cellars, and the winners have been announced: Rain Graves & Greg Todaro. Read our poems here, and buy a bottle of the 2009 Cab to read our corks.

Schedule of Readings & Panels for WHC 2011 in Austin

Austin, TX - April 28-May 1, 2011 - World Horror Convention.

FRIDAY
Pitch Meetings.

Pitch Workshop/Editor Meet-and-Greet
10:00 AM Friday, April 29 – Dover’s Banquet Room

Chizine Party
10:00 PM Friday, April 29 – Convention Suite
Books! Babes! Booze! CZP co-publishers Brett Savory and Sandra Kasturi—with authors Gemma Files, David Nickle, Claude Lalumière, and more—will treat you to a dazzling night of books and booze (you’re on your own for the babes) to celebrate our new Spring titles. Join us!

SATURDAY
Reading – Rain Graves
11:30 AM Saturday April 30 – Robertson
"The Spider House Rules," A short story in the April Mega Issue #47 of ChiZine.com - possibly a poem or two from BARFODDER if time allows.

Things We Used To Care About
5:00 PM Saturday, April 30 – Dezavala
Brian Keene (M), Chad Savage, Lois Gresh, Kelly Laymon, Rain Graves, Chad Hensley
Splatterpunk versus quiet horror! Dare you publish a story on the Internet?? Which email newsletter should I read first? Will role-playing games save the genre? And how’s about all those great new small presses that are being founded every month? On this panel we talk about the old controversies and contentious issues that history has solved for us.

MASS SIGNING!
7:30 – 10:00 PM Saturday, April 30 – Phoenix Central
Copies of BARFODDER: Poetry Written in Dark Bars & Questionable Cafes ($20), The Gossamer Eye ($14), and possibly some limited edition signed poetry prints ($5) from the not-yet-available book, The Four Elements, written by Linda Addison, Rain Graves, Charlee Jacob, and Marge Simon. + Sneak peek at DEADLAND written by Rain Graves, Illustrated by Daniele Serra, and MACHINERIES OF DREAM, written by Rain Graves, Illustrated by Daniele Serra.

**For a full list of authors, panels, and readings - go here.

***TAROT READINGS: I will do these by appointment, as time allows. Contact via email: rain (dot) graves (at) gmail to schedule one. Read this primer here if you've never had a reading before. Special rate for WHC attendees: $25 for a full half hour reading; past, present, future. $15 if you've had a reading by Rain before.

Review of In Laymon's Terms; Pre-Orders for Aug. 1

The long awaited anthology, In Laymon's Terms: A Tribute to Richard Laymon edited by Kelly Laymon, Steve Gerlach, and Richard Chizmar will be out August 1st, 2011. Cemetery Dance is taking pre-orders on the title (via the above link), which, like many other limited edition CD titles, is sure to sell-out fast.

In a recent review of the tome over at the Crow's Caw, Nick Cato states, "Rain Graves claims (in her memoriam) she’s worried how Laymon fans will take her story; with ‘Wild Card,’ she has nothing to worry about."

Haunted Mansion dates for 2012 Confirmed

The next Haunted Mansion Writer's Retreat (hosted by Rain Graves) dates have been confirmed: September 27-30, 2012. Space is limited to 30 people, and registration is now open. Supporting (but not attending) slots may also be purchased. See website for details.

Poetry up at ChiZine.com

You can read "The Surrender," with art by Daniele Serra at ChiZine today, celebrating their re-launch and Alumni issue. This piece was originally part of a series called Incubus/Succubus, read aloud next to Dani's art at Space Gallery in San Francisco. The art is still for sale,(very large!) and comes with a fancy signed card-stock printing of the poem.

Upcoming Events and Poetry

Appearances in April and Beyond:

SAN FRANCISCO - 4/1-3
WonderCon - Most likely Friday and Saturday Evening.

AUSTIN, TX - 4/25-5/1 World Horror Convention, 2011.

SAN DIEGO, CA - 10/27-30 - World Fantasy Con, 2011.

NEWS:

Cemetery Dance will be publishing a second edition of BARFODDER: Poetry Written in Dark Bars & Questionable Cafes; our hope is to have copies at WHC and WFC. First edition is sold out; sorry!

FOUR ELEMENTS, written by Linda Addison, Rain Graves, Charlee Jacob, and Marge Simon is now being shopped to publishers. DEADLAND (comic) is also being shopped...

Read Rain's poem Godzilla, and her thoughts on the devastating earthquake and tsunami in Japan at her LiveJournal.

Measures are underway for a book project related to the Haunted Mansion Retreat 2010, and plans are being set into place for the next retreat in 2011.

Updates to schedules and readings/panels will be posted as we get them.

PantheaCon and World Horror Con

Rain will be at PantheaCon February 18th-19th in San Jose, CA. To make a tarot appointment, visit her Tarot website, Mms. Ghost. Appointments are first come, first serve.

In April, she will be attending the World Horror Convention 2011 in Austin, TX. Readings and Panel schedule to be posted when the programming has been completed. Tarot appointments may also be made for this event, but they will be held on one day only, and are subject to the schedule she has for the convention.

A rumor from Cemetery Dance is that BARFODDER: Poetry Written in Dark Bars & Questionable Cafes is almost sold out. Get your copy now, before it's out of print!

Agony Column Podcast of Reading from SFinSF.org event

Rick Kleffel does the Agony Column for KUSP 89.9 FM, and yesterday there was a broadcast of my recorded reading from last Halloween's The Real Horror Show at SFinSF, with John Shirley, Ray Garton, and Nick Mamatas. You can now stream the audio podcast of my reading (and the others). It contains new work from FOUR ELEMENTS (written with Charlee Jacob, Linda Addison, and Marge Simon), plus selections from BARFODDER and THE GOSSAMER EYE.