Hear It Now: The Privilege of the Sword

 It's here! It's here! The Privilege of the Sword Audiobook is now available on Audible.com, as part of the ACX/Neil Gaiman Presents list. 

Ellen reads all of the first-person narration for the book, with the support of an amazing cast that includes Joe Hurley, Felicia Day, Nick Sullivan, Katherine Kellgren, and, of course, Neil Gaiman himself. The immensely talented Barbara Rosenblat acts as omniscient narrator, Sue Zizza of SueMedia Productions creates the sounds of Riverside, and composer Nathaniel Tronerud provides a full soundtrack of original music commissioned exclusively for this book.

(And no, before you ask: Ellen has not suddenly and disconcertingly decided to refer to herself in third person. This is her assistant, Katharine Duckett, who will be bringing you updates while Ellen is on Retreat in the woods of Maine. More on me later!)

Visit The Privilege of Sword page on Audible to hear a sample, see reviews, and read what Neil has to say about the book. Go forth and listen! 

TPOTS Audiobook Art!

 Award-winning illustrator Tom Canty created this exclusive cover for the new TPOTS audiobook, shown here without type for your full viewing pleasure. It's a gorgeous design, but the main thought that keeps running through my mind is how much I want those earrings—anyone else frequently get the urge to rifle through the wardrobes of fabulously-clad fictional characters?

This, by the way, is still Katharine Duckett, who will be updating in Ellen's stead while she roams the hills, dales, and graveyards of Maine. I'll keep you posted on the lastest TPOTS developments (including several upcoming contests--stay tuned!!!) and generally ensuring Ellen doesn't have to be online any more than absolutely necessary while on Retreat. (If you see her here, tell her to stay away until August! She'll thank you, I promise.) 

You may be wondering how I ended up taking the reins of Ellen's LJ--or you may not, which makes me worry that you're somewhat disturbingly incurious, dear reader, and that I probably wouldn't leave you to watch my house for a weekend. Here's a brief rundown on my history in the world of speculative fiction and fantasy: While studying minotaurs and cannibals (no, but really, though) at Hampshire College, I interned for the fine folks at Small Beer Press, which involved drinking a lot of tea and combing through the slush pile, as well as working on great books like Liz Hand's Generation Loss and Poppy Z. Brite's Second Line. 

After graduating, I interned for io9.com, where I compiled the monthly Guide to Science Fiction and Fantasy and researched crucial topics like the height of giant robots and the social forces behind increased production of zombie movies. Then I traipsed off to do the Peace Corps in southern Kazakhstan, which, with its abandoned Soviet mining cities, massive trash pit fires, and  packs of wild and occasionally rabid dogs, gave me all the material a writer of dystopian science fiction could ask for.

Now, in addition to my own writing, I work as Ellen & Delia's assistant, weeding the undergrowth of files and navigating the jungle of books at the Riverside apartment, promoting new books and projects like Welcome to Bordertown, and attending events with lots of lovely and interesting new people. As I write this, in fact, I'm sitting in Vagabond Café, which tonight will host NYC's monthly IAF Salon from 7 to 10 p.m. If you're in the city, come by, have a beer, see art, hear music, and say hello!

Ellen, here:

Sticking my head up above the Maine Retreat ramparts just to say that I've been sitting on the back porch watching the sun set slowly over the Reach and through the trees, and reading THE CATS OF TANGLEWOOD FOREST, Charleses De Lint & Vess's new book coming from Little Brown in January 2013.  

The book, like the sunset, is completely glorious - you're gonna love it!

Thanks to Katharine for all she's doing to keep everyone in the loop while I'm away.