Zombies vs. Robots: Women on War - Starred Review in Publisher's Weekly

[star] Women on War!: A Zombies vs. Robots Anthology
Edited by Jeff Conner. IDW, $19.99 trade paper (304p) ISBN 978-1-61377-407-6

"This compilation combines the best of graphic novels and anthologies, featuring amazing illustrations by Ericka Lugo and short stories by women who have lifted the zombies vs. robots theme to a whole new level. The anthology follows This Means War! and is also based on the ZvR graphic novel series, but newcomers will find it quite accessible. The stories feature entirely different worldviews while flowing seamlessly together. In Nancy A. Collins’s “Angus: Zombie vs. Robot Fighter,” Angus is a boy warrior who has been raised by robots for one purpose—to kill zombies. He is humanity’s last, best hope. Or is he? In “Mademoiselle Consuela,” Amber Benson speculates on what happens when a warbot is the only one left to nurture a human girl on an isolated island. In “The Virgin Sacrifices,” Rachel Swirsky creates an Amazon love story torn asunder by zombies and robots. Every story sparkles with creativity while admirably meeting the needs of the theme. (Dec.)" Reviewed on: 10/15/2012 by Publisher's Weekly.

September/October Appearances

I will be hosting the Haunted Mansion Writer's Retreat beginning on 9/27-9/30. On Thursday, September 21st 21 dark genre authors and artists will ascend the hills in Northern California for four days and three nights to write in a very active paranormal location. You may read along with the authors as they post their experiences via the blog, and/or read about the experiences of the 2010 attendees in The Haunted Mansion Project: Year One, including investigative narrative by Ghost-Girls.org leader, Nikki Boscia, non-fiction by the attendees about what happened to them, and fiction and poetry inspired by the events. You may also visit their link and click on "evidence," and "Mill Valley Mansion" to hear some chilling EVPs recorded during the 2010 retreat. Choose the Grade A ones; they are the clearest and easiest to hear.

On October 5th-9th, I will be attending Convocation at Isis Oasis. I will be available for my usual services on-site.

On October 14th, I'll be reading at Blow Salon for Berkeley's Sunday Streets. The event starts at 11am and goes until 4pm, with live music, art, and readings by six powerful female voices. Details on who are featured at the link to the Facebook event page.

Coming Soon: Zombies vs. Robots - Women on War!

Zombies vs. Robots: Women on War! Published by IDW, is due out soon. Edited by Jeff Conner, Illustrated by Ericka Lugo, and with an introduction by Nancy Holder, I'm pretty stoked to be a part of this fun project. My story is called "The Meek, The Earth, and The Inheritance." I'm told that in addition to the trade version, there will be 222 signed limited editions, and possibly 60 lettered. Good luck getting your hands on one - the highly anticipated release is poised and ready to be devoured as soon as it hits shelves. This cover may only be the place-holder cover, so don't be surprised if it's different. Each story is beautifully illustrated...wish I could post THAT art, but alas, NO TEASER FOR YOU! ;-)

The Four Elements now Available for Pre-Order | Bad Moon Books

You can now pre-order The Four Elements by Linda Addison, Rain Graves, Charlee Jacob, and Marge Simon at Bad Moon Books. There is a limited signed Hard Cover edition for only $35, and we are circulating signature sheets for a late-august release. The regular trade paperback edition is only $17.95. Get your spooky poetry on...

Poetry Reading at Goddess Groove, June 9th-10th

I will be doing a poetry performance reading in honor of Arch Priestess Loreon Vigne's 80th Birthday celebration at Goddess Groove this Saturday and Sunday. For more information and tickets to the events, visit Isis Oasis' website. All proceeds from the ticket sales go towards the animals and the sanctuary. You too, can help ocelots, jungle cats, and many others thrive.

New Review & Write Up - Paranormality.com

There is a new review up for The Haunted Mansion Project: Year One from the nice folks at Paranormality.com - and they also did a write-up on the project itself. Enjoy...

Guest on Writer's Chatroom - 5/6

The Writer's Chatroom is having us in as guest authors to talk about the Haunted Mansion Project: Year One this Sunday (May 6) from 4-6 p.m. PST. It is a moderated chat and Damnation Books will give away a couple of copies of the anthology during the break. Kim Richards, Nikki Boscia, and Rain Graves (that's me) will be on hand to answer your questions. The link to the chatroom is http://www.writerschatroom.com/Enter.htm - and there is no password needed but please be sure you have the latest version of Java on your computer or you may have trouble logging in.

Review at The Crow's Caw - The Haunted Mansion Project: Year One

Great review of The Haunted Mansion Project: Year One over at The Crow's Caw by Bob Freeman.

World Horror Convention 2012 - Salt Lake City - Schedule

I'll update this when I know any individual readings I might be scheduled for.I was originally scheduled for panels earlier on Thursday and Sunday, but my flights did not coincide, so this is gratefully amended, thanks to the WHC2012 staff. :-)

THURSDAY:

Evening arrival.
*possibly attending the evening Poetry Readings

FRIDAY

2:00 PM
Reading (possibly Zombies vs. Robots, if there is time for it). Email me with other requests...



8:00 PM
Mass Autograph Signing

Books & Goodies I will have on-hand:
1. BARFODDER: Poetry Written in Dark Bars & Questionable Cafes (Cemetery Dance) - 2nd printing
2. THE HAUNTED MANSION PROJECT: YEAR ONE in Trade Paperback (Damnation Books - *New Release!).
3. A limited number of the 2011 reader cards featuring the cover of the June, 2012 release of THE FOUR ELEMENTS by Linda Addison, Rain Graves, Charlee Jacob, and Marge Simon (Bad Moon Books)
4. Sign-up info for the Haunted Mansion Retreat 2012 - September 27-30

9:00 PM
Mass Autograph Signing, cont.

10:30 PM
-Gross Out Contest! It's back and better than ever! Come root on your favorite readers and crown your champion! Don't forget...the theme is The theme is Weird Western, and our honorable judges are Joe R. Lansdale, Rick Hautala, and Kelly Laymon. Weston Ochse is our head bouncer...and if you'd like to bounce, please inquire with him.
(Hosted by Rain Graves)

-Damnation Books Party - Come celebrate the release of the Haunted Mansion Project: Year One, presented by Rain Graves & Edited by Eunice Magill with many of the other contributors.
*I will be there AFTER the Gross Out Contest is over...probably 11:30pm or later.

SATURDAY

3:00 PM
-Music in Horror. How it influences the "scar" and why we love it.
(Lawrence C. Connolly, Guy Anthony De Marco, John Hornor Jacobs, Rain
Graves (M), Rio Youers)

*note: I will also be available for Tarot readings...email me for an appointment (up to 30 minutes).

WHC2012 in Salt Lake City and the Annual Gross Out Contest

As usual, I will be a participant in the programming at WHC2012 in Salt Lake City next month. I'll post my formal schedule as we get closer to the date and that information is given to me... but in the interest of getting folks excited and all the emails I've been receiving on the Annual Gross Out Contest, I thought I'd post up the official rules, as drawn up by yours truly, your Hostess of the Grossest.

Contestants will compete for a number of "fitting" prizes, and/or
certificates. First Place Winner will be named Emperor ______________
of the United Gross, and Protector of Insmouth.*1


Official Rules:

1. No props, but costumes (excluding a birthday suit) that befit a character you are reading are welcome. When I say no props, I mean no stork suits with extensive appendages, no naked raw chickens, and no bugs. You'd think I wouldn't have to say that, but I do... Your story should be the shining nugget of golden grossness, not whatever you are holding in your hand that doesn't happen to be paper.

2. Your story must have a beginning, a middle, and an end, unless it's an excerpt from a larger story--which must be stated prior to reading.

3. Your story must have a plot. It cannot be gross for the sake of gross. It must be meaningfully gross. Gross profundity, even.

4. Your story must not exceed five minutes. At the three minute mark, the bouncers will give the audience, or jury, the opportunity to thumbs up or thumbs down the contestant. If the jury decides the contestant is a thumbs down, he must hang, and will be escorted off stage by the Sheriff and/or Deputies.

5. The theme of the event this year is Weird Western, though your stories do not have to be weird westerns. You are, after all, in the west...which has a rich history of being weird.

6. Judges will award contestants points for plot, over all grossness, and your ability to read it. Points will be deducted this year if you go over your time limit. The audience, or jury, will also cast one vote per person to be tallied in addition to the judges points, as the tie breaker, or just to add to the scores. An audience favorite may tip the vote considerably one way or another, so we encourage you to play your best hand...or tentacle.


7. Judges will be 3-4 people, easily identified by their t-shirts. Contestants will be given name badges. Bouncers will be ominous, and organized by Weston Ochse. To inquire about a job, email Weston at Wes at westonochse dot com.

8. A note to contestants: Because this contest can run on forever, there will only be a limited number of slots available for sign-up. You may sign-up in advance, or on the spot...but please note that only a limited number of spots will be available in advance. To sign up in advance, send an email to raingraves at yahoo dot com. To take your chances on-site, please arrive 5-10 minutes early to sign-up on the sheet provided.


Footnotes:
*1. A play on Emperor Norton - who proclaimed himself Emperor of the United States and Protector of Mexico. He put many laws into effect that are still on the books to this day. YES YOU CAN!