Last night the great and the good, and the not so good (well it IS a book about a man who kills awful people on the internet) gathered in the basement of the Forbidden Planet mothership to celebrate the publication of the hilarious, gripping, terrifying and UTTERLY BRILLIANT Haterz by James Goss.
There were cats (ok a cat), there was laugher and what one onlooker described as “The Archers meets amateur dramatics” as James Goss and 5 hapless victims took to the stage to perform an extract from the book. But mostly there were books. Oh so many lovely books. And so many lovely people that we unfortunately sold out (but don’t worry James will be popping back to sign the new stock when it arrives!)
Here’s is just a small snapshot of the night’s merriment (plus video footage of what we’re sure must be the largest group reading ever performed during a FP signing).
My cat is sad because she is cynically being used to sell books.
Mrs Bradley aka “the cat” appraises her chapter.
The wonderful James Goss NOT LOOKING AT ALL FRIGHTENED.
Disclaimer: Solaris Books does not endorse this life message.
James Goss, the cat and the product placement arm.
One day in the future this picture will raise more questions than it answers to internet historians.
We are DELIGHTED to reveal that the first print run of Eva Darrows’ THE AWESOME will be a suitably special edition…
Dubbed “Maggie’s Little Black Book”, this first run will be a super deluxe print job featuring an even more retina-popping Day-Glo pink title and black sprayed page edges, as well as a special indicia page inscription…
This extra awesomeness is reserved for the first print run only, so pre-ordering is recommended if you want to make sure you don’t miss out! But don’t worry if you’re one of those sensible folks who already placed their order from your local bookstore/amazon drone you will automatically receive this special edition.
It’s not just us who are getting excited about THE AWESOME, here’s just a few reasons from some of our favourite authors and early reviewers why you need to be getting
on board with Maggie this May:
“THE AWESOME does not merely live up to its name, but in fact, speeds past it at the speed of a crossbow bolt slamming into a vampire’s breastbone.” – Chuck Wendig, author of the Miriam Black series
“Piercing and brutally funny—I wish I’d had Darrows to read when I was a teen.” – Lilith Saintcrow, author of the Dante Valentine series
“The story is imaginative, the suspense is taut and the action sequences are worthy of Joss Whedon. I’m onboard for any and all sequels.” -James A. Moore author of the Seven Forges series
“Maggie’s profanity-laced, snarky, deeply loving, yet antagonistic relationship with her mother is delightful.” – Kirkus Starred Review
“THE AWESOME is wickedly smart and horrific but hilarious… You all are going to LOVE this book.” – Fangirlish
“The best thing I can say is I wish I had this book when I was a teenager… THE AWESOME delivers exactly what the title promises. Buy it now.” – YA Asylum
“Maggie Cunningham is the foul-mouthed little sister to Chuck Wendig’s Miriam Black with a dash of Joss Whedon.” – A Measure of Strangeness
“If you are looking for a book that will provide hours of entertainment, a good ab workout from the laughs, and a fantastic story, look no further.” – Xpresso Reads
About the book:
Seventeen-year-old Maggie Cunningham is tough, smart, and sassy. She’s also not like other girls her age, but then, who would be when the family business is monster hunting? Combat boots, ratty hooded sweatshirts, and hair worn short so nothing with claws can get a grip, Maggie’s concerns in life slant more toward survival than fashion or boys.
Which presents a problem when Maggie’s mother informs Maggie that she can’t get her journeyman’s license for hunting until she loses her virginity. Something about virgin blood turning vampires into pointy rage monsters. Blood and gore and insides being on the outside and all that.
Maggie’s battled ghosts and goblins and her fair share of house brownies, but finding herself a boy—fitting in with her peers—proves a much more daunting task than any monster hunt. Did you know normal girls don’t stuff their bras with holy water balloons? Nor do they carry wooden stakes in their waistbands.
And they care about things like “matching” and “footwear.” Of course, they also can’t clean a gun blindfolded, shoot a crossbow, or exorcise ghosts from a house. Which means they’re lame and Maggie’s not.
Because Maggie’s awesome.
The Awesome, in fact.
Just ask her. She’d be more than happy to tell you.
Boskone52 – Eva Darrows and Lauren Roy appearance schedule
Eva Darrows (THE AWESOME) and Lauren Roy (The Fire Children) will be at Boskone 52, February 13th – 15th at Boston Westin Waterfront. Here’s where you can catch them and what our top picks for the weekend are:
Friday 13th
7pm
Eva Darrows in her Hillary Monahan disguise joins Mur Lafferty (moderating), Maya Bohnhoff, Christopher Golden and Charles Stross to talk Angels Demons and Saints
Religion has always played a strong role in fantasy, and we’ve seen an influx of fiction that specifically features characters that have been touched by higher powers — especially in today’s urban fantasy. What role do these characters play within the story? How do we see these roles changing or morphing into something new? Why do we keep coming back to these types of characters? And what are some examples of stories that use these characters especially well?
RAVENSTONE TOP PICK
Lauren Roy joins Veronica Koven-Matasy (moderating), A.C.E. Bauer and Bruce Coville for It’s Complicated: Kids and the Culture They Consume
As the lives of young adults in our ever-changing modern society become more complicated and diverse, so do their personal interests and experiences. Panelists discuss how the growing complexity of our world affects the content of young adult literature, comics, games, and film. How do the philosophical issues that impact today’s society affect how teens see themselves within the fiction they consume? What are some practical ideas for better connecting today’s children and teens with yesterday’s or tomorrow’s literature?
8pm
Lauren Roy provides the Gaming Review 2014-2015 with Bill Todd (moderating), Heather Albano, Michael Sharrow, and Brianna Spacekat Wu
What are the hot new board/card/RPG games for 2015? What’s trending? What new expansions to previously released games are out now? Let’s discuss all things related to new games.
9pm
RAVENSTONE TOP PICK
Eva Darrows (Hillary Monahan) joins Carrie Vaughn (Moderating), Melissa Marr and Paul G. Tremblay, Jordan Hamessley for Writing for Teens VS Adults
With so much crossover, is there a difference anymore? And where does middle-grade fiction fit? Editors and authors discuss.
Saturday 14th
10:00am
It’s definitely worth getting up with the raven’s dawn chorus for this one: Eva Darrows (Hillary Monahan), Bruce Coville (moderating), A.C.E. Bauer, Jordan Hamessley and Veronica Koven-Matasy dive to some of the best speculative children’s literature in KidLit: Great Spec Fic for Young Readers
There’s some pretty spectacular speculative fiction available for children these days. What’s behind the ongoing boom? Panelists talk causes and trends, while plugging their favorite authors and stories — including some that grownups could also learn to love.
Lauren Roy will be signing her debut Night Owls and you can pester her for sneaky spoilers for The Fire Children too
12:00pm
RAVENSTONE TOP PICK
Lauren Roy is joined by Charles Stross (moderating), Susan Jane Bigelow, Don Pizarro and Jarvis Sheffield to talk about a key issue for 2015: Finding Diverse Fiction
There is a clear desire for increased diversity within SF/F fiction and fandom. There are also a lot of emerging writers who are bringing diversity to the genre, but many of them are still flying below the publicity radar. Authors and publishers come together to share their “must read” lists and tips on where to find some of the new up-and-coming authors.
2:00pm
RAvenstone top pick
THE AWESOME Eva Darrows will be joining Veronica Koven-Matasy (moderating), Felicitas Ivey, Stacey Friedberg and A.J. Paquette for one of our most anticipated panels:PG-13: Violence, Sex, and Teen Readers, seriously it’s like they created this just for her:
When writing for teens or choosing books for young adults to read, is there a PG-13 line that needs to be drawn? Is there more violence and sex in YA books today? Or have we just become more aware of it? How does a writer address difficult or sensitive topics without going too far? Panelists discuss danger zones within YA fiction.
4:00pm
Eva Darrows will be signingMary the Summoning in Hillary Monahan form. We’re sure if you ask really nicely she’ll scrawl you a quick Eva out too…
5:00pm
Lauren Roy, Chris Jackson (moderating), James Cambias and Mur Lafferty lead the discussion on Authorship, RPGs, and the Legacy of D&D
Dungeons & Dragons, the first commercially available role-playing game, was published 40 years ago. D&D ushered in a new era of cooperative storytelling that has inspired Game Masters, players, and authors to dream big and create their own fictional universes. Panelists explore the many facets of RPGs — from developing challenging and believable frameworks for cooperative story construction to taking the story beyond the game.
Sunday 15th
11:00am
Our reigning queen Eva Darrows (here present as Hillary Monahan) sets the fairytale world to right with Sarah Langan (moderating), Ingrid Kallick, Carrie Vaughn and Tom Shippey in The Fairytale Princess, Circa 2100
Before Disney appropriated Snow White, Jasmine, Aurora, and the rest of the “princess clique, ” these were characters who presumably served a deeper purpose in structuring the fables of bygone years. What parts do they play for today’s children? What meaning might these reminders of a fairytale feudal past still hold a hundred years from now?
12:00pm
Ever wanted to hear some of your favourite writers talk about how they create the worlds you want to inhabit? Lauren Roy, E. C. Ambrose (moderating), Myke Cole, Peadar Ó Guilín, and Rosemary Kirstein star in Writers on Writing: Worldbuilding from the Ground Up
Some spectacular stories take place in worlds very different from our own: from life on (or in) a gas giant to a civilization that lives on a world-tree as big as the Himalayas. But there are perils associated with venturing far beyond human experience. An inconsistent or poorly described worldscape can furnish a confusing story, or challenge a reader’s ability to suspend disbelief. Hear from writers who have created fully realized worlds that their readers can almost see, touch, and smell.
1:30pm
RAVENSTONE TOP PICK
In a two-for-one-in-one body Eva Darrows and Hillary Monahan will be reading from THE AWESOME and Mary the Summoning
Sunday 15th @ 2:00pm
RAVENSTONE TOP PICK
Lauren Roy will be giving an exclusive preview of The Fire Children in her lunchtime reading. EXCITING.
Head to the Boskone52 website for a full schedule and more information
