Official Maria V. Snyder Blog

Yes, I leave tomorrow and I'm running around like a crazy woman trying to get everything done and pack as well.  It's hard packing for 3 weeks - warning to my readers in Australia and New Zealand I'm only bringing like 4 nice outfits, so I'll be wearing the same clothes in all the pictures!  And I'm counting on the hotels to provide laundry service - otherwise I might be a bit...aromatic ;>  But I refuse to drag a huge suitcase around with me. I hope to post pics to my blog and Facebook while I'm on the road - no guarantees - it will depend on wi-fi accessibility and how energetic I am :)  I won't be able to access my website email - so if you want to contact me, just post a comment on my facebook page or here if you're one of the five people who don't have a facebook page ;> For my Auckland readers - I might have a signing at the Dymocks in Auckland on Sunday evening 21 August - I'll post here if I get more details - and/or I'll po

Time for another author interview :)  This time, I'm happy to introduce Ekaterina Sedia, whose latest novel, Heart of Iron has just been released.  The name might be familiar to my loyal readers because I've short stories in two of Ekaterina's anthologies, Running with the Pack and Bewere the Night .  As with most of my interviews, I'm offering a free copy of Heart of Iron to a random commenter.  Please let a comment and your email addy by noon EDT on Saturday, July 30th to be entered to win (I know this is shorter than normal, but I'm leaving on the 31st).  Open to international readers as well :) Here's the blurb:  In a Russia where the Decembrists' rebellion was successful and the Trans-Siberian railroad was completed before 1854, Sasha Trubetskaya wants nothing more than to have a decent debut ball in St. Petersburg. But her aunt's feud with the emperor lands Sasha at university, where she becomes one of its first female students - an experime

Just wanted to post my schedule for my Australia/New Zealand trip.  I'm leaving in a WEEK and I'm an utter mess! I've so much to do that I've been just staring at my computer frozen not knowing where to start.  My husband wants me to write up a list of dinners and how to cook them, I need to get handouts pulled together for various workshops and presentations I'm doing down under, I have to pack, I have to figure out how to Skype and install a webcam on one of our home computers, AND my editor just sent final edits for Touch of Power and needs any changes by Friday.  *Deep breath*  Well, at least once I get on the airplane, I shouldn't have trouble sleeping because I'll be exhausted ;> As for my schedule - I'm hoping to extend my time in Brisbane and I hope there will be a public event in Auckland, New Zealand besides the RWNZ conference.  I'm a bit frustrated as I'm the type of person who would have all this scheduled and confirmed months

As promised, here is the first of a couple author interviews and give aways that I've been hoarding :)  Jon Sprunk is a friend of mine.  He sent me his debut fantasy novel, Shadow's Son a couple years ago, hoping I'd give him a quote for his book. I really loved the story and was happy to provide a quote.  I interviewed him on my Goodread's blog when Shadow's Son came out last year.  Here's a link: http://www.goodreads.com/author_blog_posts/467137-interview-contest The second book in the series,  Shadow's Lure was recently released and Jon agreed to do another interview with me.  To be entered to win a copy of Jon's book (your choice of the first or second), please leave a comment and your email address by midnight July 24th.  This is open to international readers as well :) Here's the cover copy for Shadow's Lure :  In Othir, he was at the top of the food chain—an assassin beyond compare, a dark shadow in the night. But Caim left that l

Hooray!!  Early this morning I responded to all my emails  (except the ones regarding the contests - my sister-in-law is doing them for me - she's super organized - but I still sign the books and labels).  Of course a bunch of replies rolled in while I was sleeping, so I'm not longer "caught up" but I was for a few hours at least :)  One reason is I'm not getting as many emails as before (not complaining!), and I think it's becasue of Facebook - I get many comments on my author page and regular page, and they're quick to answer.  Plus I don't have a new release out, which always generates lots of emails (again - not complaining!). Am I the only author who responds to their emails?  Just curious.  I think it's very important and do dedicate much time to it - which is why I'm so bad about blogging. In the process of cleaning out my inbox, I encountered a few gems.  I have an author interview with Jon Sprunk to post with a contest/giveaway. I