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So… I just found out that my soon-to-be-released novel, Bitter Seeds, has disappeared from Amazon.com.  Along with the vast majority of books from other Tor authors, and the vast majority of books published by other branches of Macmillan.

Apparently this is a slapfight over ebook pricing.  (Which makes this even more awesome for me, since of course I have no idea if my book will be released in an ebook version, and if so, when.)

Scalzi has the scoop here, with further thoughts here.  (And I second him, especially on the part about remembering when people trample me into the dirt.)  More details can be found here, here, and here.  For the record, and to be completely honest, I want my publisher to make a better margin on my books.  I have worked very, very hard to write the Milkweed novels, and it would be nice to one day see my efforts rewarded with the occasional royalty check.  (A guy can dream, can’t he?)

Sigh.

I hope this gets resolved, and quickly.  Because, you know, it would be nice if my first book were available at one of the largest online booksellers on Earth.  For the moment, it isn’t.   But it’s available many other places. 

You can pre-order Bitter Seeds at any of these fine venues:

Barnes and Noble

Borders

Powell’s Books

BooksAMillion

Tor.com

Macmillan

A hilariously long time ago, I received a lovely invitation from Tor.com to do a stint as a guest blogger.  (No doubt the fine minds running the show there were impressed with the ferocious regularity with which I update my own blog!  Oh.  Wait a second…)

Anyway, I’ll be discussing various facets of my experience working on Wild Cards.  And, after much delay on my part, my first post has gone live. 

Almost Like We Planned It is a moderately coherent essay on the plot breaking process and its relationship to Wild Cards.

My friend and mentor Walter Jon Williams runs a 2-week “graduate level” writing workshop in the stunningly beautiful Taos Ski Valley.

Taos Toolbox is geared for science fiction and fantasy writers who already have a firm grasp of the basics — folks who’ve already been to workshops like the Clarions or Odyssey, or who have perhaps sold a couple of stories but are having trouble breaking through to the next level.  It’s also aimed at novel-length fiction, unlike most other workshops.

If this sounds like it might be for you,  I highly, highly, highly recommend jumping at any opportunity to workshop with Walter.  I’ve been workshopping in one form or another pretty much constantly for most of a decade, and I can tell you that Walter is one of the best. 

If this sounds like it might be for you, keep reading.  Below the cut, I list five six reasons why you should apply to Taos Toolbox today.

I’m happy to say that I enjoyed a very productive Christmas weekend.  

By which I mean I played far more Wii Sports than was really good for me.  (That explosive pain in the wrist is normal, right?)

Well, there’s still a little more time left for last-minute Christmas shopping, and as luck would have it, there have been a few developments on the Wild Cards front this month, and this week.

(Hint: It involves crocodiles, and this jaw-dropping cover by Michael Komarck.)

Click through for publication news!  And contests!  And exclusive platium-club behind-the-scenes insider info!