Zombies + Robots = Awesomesauce

Posted on May 1, 2012 by Rio

ZvRLater this year (or perhaps early next year—who knows how these things work?), my short story, FOR KING AND COUNTRY will be published by IDW Publishing as part of their ZOMBIES VS ROBOTS prose project. It will appear in an anthology called ZVR: DIPLOMACY. I’m telling you about this now because the ZVR prose train is already a-rollin’, and I think this would be a pretty sweet time for you to hop on board.

ZVR: THIS MEANS WAR! is the first in a series of anthologies based on Chris Ryall and Ashley Wood’s kick-ass ZOMBIES VS ROBOTS comic books (and if you haven’t read these, you absolutely must—they’re chaotic, brilliant, and totally insane). This first collection has stories from a host of fantastic writers (as listed in the accompanying picture), as well as incredible artwork by Fabio Listrani. The editor, Jeff Conner, showed me an advance copy at this year’s World Horror Convention in Salt Lake City … and I’m not kidding when I say my jaw damn near hit the floor. This book is gorgeous. The attention to detail is astounding, and Fabio’s artwork (there’s an illustration for each story) is through the roof. I voiced only one misgiving to Jeff … and that was that I’m not in this book.* Believe me, this is the kind of anthology that every fan of zombies—and indeed robots—should own. You’ll treasure it. You’ll show your friends. You’ll put it on your coffee table. Yeah, it’s that good.

A little more about the ZVR prose project can be found right HERE. And if you want a second opinion, check out this review from Spencer Perry at SHOCK TILL YOU DROP.

You can purchase ZVR: THIS MEANS WAR! from all the usual suspects, but here are a few links just to make it easier:

IDW Publishing

Cemetery Dance (Limited edition)

Amazon.com

*Just so’s ya know … my story was originally included in the line-up for THIS MEANS WAR!, but Jeff Conner felt it would be a better fit in DIPLOMACY, and so pulled an eleventh-hour, editorial switcheroo. This is why you’ll see me as one of the listed authors at Amazon and other venues. But nah … I’m not in it.

Posted in Misc | 2 Comments

Showing Face

Posted on April 12, 2012 by Rio

I’ll be at the AD ASTRA CONVENTION this weekend (April 13, 14, 15), along with a goodly portion of the Canadian Horror Rat Pack, and any number of people dressed in steampunk or Star Wars attire. My publisher, CHIZINE, will be launching their spring line-up, which means there’ll be a place at their table for WESTLAKE SOUL. Come along and buy a copy. Then find me at the bar and I’ll sign it for you.

When not at the launch (or at the bar) you can find me on the following panels:

DEFINITIONS OF HORROR. Saturday 11 a.m. (With Michael Kelly and Michael Colangelo.)

FLESH OR BRAINS? EITHER WAY, YOU ARE DINNER. Saturday 2 p.m. (With David Clink, Giasone Italiano, and Matthew Johnson.)

BOOKS TO MOVIES. Saturday 8 p.m. (With David Clink, Michelle Goodeve, and Glenn Norman.)

On the subject of appearances, I’ll be at the CHIAROSCURO READING SERIES on Wednesday May 9, reading from WESTLAKE SOUL. Alongside me will be authors James Alan Gardner and Ursula Pflug. As if that’s not enough, we’ll be accompanied by the unique ukulele stylings of Kari Maaren. Yeah, I know … life in the fast lane, huh? You can find all the relevant details right HERE. It promises to be a wild night. Last time I went, a riot nearly broke out when someone spiked Samantha Beiko’s 7Up with Red Bull.

Rock and roll.

Posted in Appearances | Leave a comment

Say Grace

Posted on April 11, 2012 by Rio

It’s been a busy week for reviews, and you won’t hear any complaining from me. My collection, DARK DREAMS, PALE HORSES, managed to get only one review (albeit a good one—check THIS SUCKER out) over at FEARNET. It didn’t even get a Goodreads review, dammit to hell. So yeah, I know all too well what it’s like to be bone-hungry. Thus, I have learned to bow my head, join my hands, and say grace: “For the reviews I am about to receive, may the Outer Gods make me truly thankful.”

I have four reviews to share with you, all for WESTLAKE SOUL. Let’s start with MIDNYTE READER, who had a great time with my new novel—and any time that happens, I’m extra thankful. You can check out her review right HERE.

Review #2 takes us to Christina at JUST A GIRL GEEK! Again, Christina had nothing but good things to say, God love her. My appreciation for her geekiness—and geeks in general—knows no bounds. See why right HERE.

Sometimes, when saying grace, you’re not always faced with the meal you want to eat … and with that we go to Lauren Smith at VIOLIN IN A VOID. Lauren knows how to write a review. She is extremely thorough and professional—clearly an avid reader and book lover. Alas, she didn’t love my book. She didn’t exactly hate it, either. WESTLAKE SOUL hit the middle ground with her. The lukewarm water. Click HERE to see where Lauren thought I was out of tune.

Finally, we go over to BARNES & NOBLE, who know a thing or two about books themselves. And the reviewer—Paul Goat Allen—isn’t exactly a freshman when it comes to writing reviews. Check out his credentials:

“Paul Goat Allen has been a full-time book reviewer specializing in genre fiction for the last two decades and has written thousands of reviews for companies like Publishers Weekly, The Chicago Tribune, Kirkus Reviews, and BarnesandNoble.com. He is a member of the National Book Critics Circle.”

Holy crap, right? I’m glad I didn’t know Mr. Allen was reading WESTLAKE SOUL for review; I would have been a nervous wreck. But did I have good reason to be nervous? You can find out for yourself right HERE.

Why post these reviews? Partly because I want to catalogue them myself, but also because—assuming you have some interest in my work—they may help you decide whether or not you want to buy my book. I’d like to say that reviews, good or bad, don’t affect me, but that isn’t true. I’m not long enough in the tooth, or so unfeeling about my work, that I can detach myself completely. These are my babies, after all. What I do believe, and always have, is that any review is solely the opinion of one individual … and that if you really want to find out whether or not a book is any good, you just have to read it yourself.

Chow down, baby.

Posted in Reviews | Leave a comment

Seasons of Awesome

Posted on April 6, 2012 by Rio

I’m looking forward to next month. Yeah, the days will get a little longer—a little warmer—as we bounce toward summer … but even better than that, May 2012 will see the publication of my comic-writing debut: a short ’n’ sweet ZOMBIES VS ROBOTS story called FALL. I’m jazzed about this for reasons aplenty. Firstly, it’s a friggin’ comic book, and who in their right mind wouldn’t be jazzed about being part of a comic book? Secondly, it’ll be published by industry leaders IDW Publishing, who put out nothing but incredible work. Thirdly, I got to team up with ZvR creator, Chris Ryall, and artist extraordinaire, Andy Kuhn. These guys live and breathe comics. It’s in their blood—a passion as colourful as the pages they create. To have them beside me—with all their experience and enthusiasm—was insanely reassuring. Fourthly, contributing to the ZOMBIES VS ROBOTS universe was nothing short of a rush. Chris holds this franchise very close to his heart. It’s his baby, and I know it wasn’t easy for him to open the door to other writers. But he did, and he trusted me, and that feels pretty special.

Fifthly, you’ll all get to meet Fuckswitch … but that’s all I can say about that for now.

My story, FALL, will one be of four to feature in the first ever ZOMBIES VS ROBOTS ANNUAL. Subtitled SEASONS OF WAR, each tale will delve into a season of the chaotic blood-and-bolts conflict. Joining me on this year of mayhem will be ROBOPOCALYPSE author Daniel H. Wilson, actor and writer Kevin Grevioux, and Cap’n Chris Ryall himself (hey, you didn’t expect him to let go of the reins completely, did you?), with crazy-cool artwork by—as well as Andy—Sam Kieth, Drew Moss, and the one and only Ashley Wood.

So yeah, colour me psyched.

As a little taster, here’s a single page (sans lettering) from FALL. You can see from this just how awesome Andy Kuhn’s artwork is. And this is just one page—imagine how crazy the entire comic is going to be.

My first comic, baby. I’m like a proud papa.

More ZvR-related stuff soon.

Posted in Comics | Leave a comment