We did it!  We’re officially on Wordpress now. Come see the brand new All Things Urban Fantasy at our new website AllThingsUF.com 

 

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Google Friend Connect (GFC) has been discontinued for Wordpress sites. If you rely on GFC to follow All Things Urban Fantasy, here are your new options:

• Subscribe via email and you’ll get our new reviews, giveaways, and posts sent directly to your inbox (If you already subscribe, you don’t need to re-subscribe) 
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We’re so excited for you guys to come check out our new site. Thank you all the the tips and advice you shared about switching from Blogger to Wordpress (self-hosted). If you’re thinking about making the move, go for it. I have barely scratched the surface of what WP can do. It feels like moving from a fishbowl to the ocean; a little scary, but so freeing. We went with HostGator.com.  Super quick and easy. No problems so far. Rather than hiring someone to design us a new site, I found an inexpensive theme on WhoaThemes that I was able to customize with the key elements of our current design (from Tawni at Forever Design Studio).  I’m not a super design savy, but I was able to modify certain things that someone completely unfamiliar with HTML, CSS, PHP etc might have trouble with, but so many themes are ready to go right out of the box that that shouldn’t deter you if you are looking to move to WP.  And I can’t forget the plugins!  Oh wow are there some cool plugins out there.  We’ve got our Top 10 Plugins for Book Bloggers listed on the new site, so come over and check it out!

Visit us at AllThingsUF.com

I started an amazing new job back in January working for Tor.com as a blogger and social media head for their brand new dedicated Urban Fantasy Facebook and Twitter accounts, a position I was offered because of this blog.  I’ve had an unbelievably wonderful experience working for Tor/Macmillan this year, so I’m very sad to report that my position (as well as the other genre specific accounts) is going to be absorbed and managed in-house beginning Monday, December 5th.  What does this mean for the Tor Urban Fantasy Twitter and Facebook accounts?  I don’t know.  I hope they will continue on in some capacity, but I will no longer be the one updating them.  

Never in my wildest dreams did I think book blogging would ever get me job.  But right after New Years, I got an email offering me a position with…

…wait for it…

…Tor!

Yep.  I couldn’t believe it either.  Tor.com has been expanding their social networking presence by launching satellite Facebook and Twitter profiles that are subgenre specific including Science Fiction, Fantasy, Steampunk, and now Urban Fantasy!

Tor is part of Macmillan and in case you’re not familiar with them (and you are even if you don’t realize it), here are some of their publishers:

Farrar, Straus and Giroux FSG Hardcovers  FSG Paperbacks  Hill & Wang  Faber & Faber First Second Henry Holt & Co.  Henry Holt Hardcovers  Henry Holt Paperbacks  Metropolitan Books  Times Books Macmillan Audio  Behind the Wheel

Nature Publishing Group Palgrave Macmillan Picador Quick and Dirty Tips Scientific American St. Martin's Press  Minotaur Books  Thomas Dunne Books Tor/Forge  Tor Books  Forge Books  Orb Books

Tor/Seven Seas Distributed Publishers FSG Books for Young Readers Feiwel & Friends Holt Books for Young Readers Kingfisher Roaring Brook Priddy Books Starscape/Tor Teen Square Fish Young Listeners Macmillan Kids

I’ll be posting about everything paranormal in books, movies, TV and more.  Of course I get to spotlight all the great titles and news from Tor and the Macmillan family (and wow are there some great ones coming), but everything else in the world of paranormal publishing and pop culture (and not to worry, I’ll still be blogging away like normal here with Julia on ATUF too).

We’re planning a very cool launch giveaway for both the Facebook Page & on Twitter this week, so click on over and ‘Like’ and ‘Follow’ the new Tor.com Urban Fantasy!

Twitter: http://twitter.com/tordotUF#

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Torcom-Urban-Fantasy/180079758679604

For everything that goes bump in the night in books, movies, TV, and more.

Tor.com Urban Fantasy

Promote Your Page Too

Today is the big launch of the INSIDE OUT website and the world premier of the book trailer!  Normally I don’t get super excited for book trailers (cover art, yes) but this one is an exception.  They have perfectly captured the feel of INSIDE OUT by putting the viewer in the position of Trella.  Watching it made me feel like I was in the book.  Anyway, I was impressed.  Go check it out on the book’s site and let me know what you think.  And If you missed my review of Maria V. Snyder’s INSIDE OUT, you can read it HERE (I gave it 4/5 bats).

Maria V. Snyder’s awesome new Harlequin TEEN title INSIDE OUT will be published on April 1st, but you can get a sneak peek today!

• Want to read the first 3 chapters of INSIDE OUT?
• Want to take an INSIDE OUT personality quiz to find out how to become a ‘productive member’ of ‘Inside’ and find the perfect job? Sadly I’m apparently suited to be a LAUNDRY SCRUB

Working with others is something you enjoy, and you don't mind getting a little dirt under your fingernails. Combine these traits with getting satisfaction from working with your hands and you would do well working as a Laundry Scrub.

• Want to watch the very cool book trailer for INSIDE OUT(trust me, you do.  This is one of my favorite trailers right up there with Shiver and Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter)?
• Plus more!

Then visit the INSIDE OUT website HERE!

EW.com just exclusively announced Twilight: The Graphic Novel, Vol. 1!

I’m delighted to announce, exclusively, that Yen Press will publish Twilight: The Graphic Novel, Vol. 1 on March 16, with a first printing of 350,000 copies.  Here’s a first glimpse at the book’s cover, as well as an exclusive peek at one of its panels (for a full ten-page excerpt, and the entire Q&A with Stephenie Meyer, see the issue of EW that goes on sale this Friday). –EW.com

Stephenie Meyer also talked about her involvement in the graphic novel:

I was definitely involved.  I didn’t do the original “script” for the book, so to speak.  But when I got the dialogue with the images, I did a lot of tinkering. In a couple of places, I asked for missing scenes to be inserted.  For example, the conversation in the car that Bella and Edward have after she faints in Biology.

Stephenie also talked about the possibility of more Twilight books:

I can’t say that I am done with Twilight forever.  I’m not working on anything new Twilight-related now, and probably not for a while.  But there’s still a possibility that I’ll go back and close some of the open doors.

Check out the whole announcement HERE and be sure to pick up this week’s edition of Entertainment Weekly.

Chloe posted the book description to go along the cover she posted last week:

Back cover copy for TWICE BITTEN!

“Here is is, folks! The back cover copy (aka, synopsis) for TWICE BITTEN!

Merit, Chicago’s newest vampire, is learning how to play well with others. Other supernaturals, that is. Shapeshifters from across the country are convening in the Windy City, and as a gesture of peace, Master Vampire Ethan Sullivan has offered their leader a very special bodyguard: Merit. Merit is supposed to protect the Alpha, Gabriel Keene—and to spy for the vamps while she’s at it. Oh, and luckily Ethan’s offering some steamy, one-on-one combat training sessions to help her prepare for the mission.

Merit must accept the assignment, even though she knows that she’ll probably regret it. And she’s not wrong. Someone is gunning for Gabriel Keene, and Merit soon finds herself in the line of fire. She’ll need all the help she can get to track down the would-be assassin, but everywhere she turns, there are rising tensions between supernaturals—not least between her and a certain green-eyed, centuries old master vampire.”-Posted by Chloe Neill at 8:40 AM

Today is the last day to enter to win On The Prowl.  Right now the odds are extremely good, so CLICK HERE and leave your entry comment to win: The winner will be announced on Tuesday.

I’m giving away a copy of On The Prowl by Patricia Briggs, Eileen Wilks, Karen Chance, and Sunny.  Enter by 10/19

Rachel Caine announced some happy news in her newsletter today:

On November 3, along with the release of FADE OUT, my lovely publisher NAL will be releasing a new two-in-one trade paperback (larger format) edition of GLASS HOUSES and THE DEAD GIRLS' DANCE.  Pretty lovely, eh?

And I'm delighted to tell you that I just made a deal to do three more Morganville books over the next two years ... we already were planning for nine, but now it'll be at least twelve books in total! 

The next book (Morganville #8) is already written and turned in, and the title is KISS OF DEATH. Here's a peak at the new cover for that one -- I think it's just beautiful.  The publication date will be in late April/early May 2010. –Rachel Caine

So I know The Host isn’t an exactly an urban fantasy, but if you haven’t read it yet, go, right now.  I picked up The Host the same day as Breaking Dawn, but after being somewhat disappointed by the latter I wasn't exactly eager to read the former.  The description of The Host sounded like a very hardcore science fiction effort, one that I was afraid would not be able to support a credible love story.  I am more delighted than I can say that I was wrong.  This book has one of the most gut wrenching love stories ever put to paper.  The sci-fi elements (despite being among my least favorite genres) didn't bother me in the slightest .  On the contrary, I found them to be provocative and deeply emotional.  And, I think this will appeal to urban fantasy lovers which is why I’m sharing the movie news with all of you. from Stephenie herself:

“Hey guys, great news! The Host is on its way to the big screen: I'm so excited to be working with Nick Weschler, and Steve and Paula Mae Schwartz to bring The Host to a visual format. They've all been a dream to work with, so lovely and collaborative, and I feel like we're in a really good place to make a great movie together. And then to have Andrew Niccol writing and directing? Truly awesome. If you've never seen Gattaca, go watch it now. One of my favorite movies of all time. It's such a great example of character driven science fiction, which is ideal for The Host, no? I'm having an absolute blast imagining different dream casts, which I would post if people didn't take my silly blogs so seriously these days. I'm looking forward to seeing the cast lists you come up with in the fansite forums, and if any of them match mine. So, very exciting. Yay Host!XO-Steph”

From Variety: Producers Nick Wechsler, Steve and Paula Mae Schwartz have used their own money to acquire screen rights to “The Host,” the first adult novel written by Stephenie Meyer, author of the “Twilight” series. 

Andrew Niccol will write the script and direct.

Meyer’s novel is a love story set in the near future on Earth, which has been assimilated by an alien species that call themselves “Souls.” They are benevolent parasites that subsume the conscious of humans and take possession of their bodies. One such soul, The Wanderer (so named because she has wandered among so many different worlds) is fused with a dying human named Melanie Stryder, in an attempt to locate the last pocket of surviving humans on Earth. The Wanderer cannot subsume the forceful Melanie, and they battle for the girl’s memories and her spirit.

Wechsler and the Schwartz’ are separately teamed on “The Road,” the John Hillcoat-directed adaptation of the Cormac McCarthy novel that will be released November 25 by The Weinstein Company. They are also producing the Paul Schrader-scripted “The Dying of the Light,” and an adaptation of the Pete Takada book “An Eye at the Top of the World,” which is being adapted by Ryne Douglas Pearson.

They will develop the project independently.

The trio wanted to make a science fiction film and fixed on “The Host.” In addition to writing four volumes of the “Twilight” series, Meyer has been heavily involved in the blockbuster screen transfers, and she spurned several overtures for “The Host.” The producers continued lobbying the author and her reps at UTA and The Writers House with a significant offer, a strong vision for the project, and a collaborative spirit. Meyer eventually said yes.

In fact, Niccol first came under consideration after Wechsler and the Schwartz’ asked Meyer her favorite science fiction films, and “Gattaca” and “The Truman Show” were in her top five. Niccol wrote and directed “Gattaca” and scripted the Peter Weir-directed “The Truman Show.”

Niccol read the book, met the producers and author, and the New Zealand-born writer/director sparked to the assignment. 

“We wanted Stephenie to be involved in the adaptation, and have her endorse and be part of the creative decisions,” Wechsler said. “`Twilight’ has proven she more more about what works than most.”

Summit releases the second installment of Meyers’s vampire series, “The Twilight Saga: New Moon,” on November 20.

Welcome to the Bite Club!

 

My fellow blogger over at VampChix is starting up a Bite Club—sorry, Book club.  Every month a new book with bite will be chosen. You can read the details below and even find out about winning the first official selection of Bite Club: The Mammoth Book of Vampire Romance 2
On a related note, Ann Aquirre is giving away a copy of the Mammoth Book of Vampire Romance 2 on her blog -enter by 9/29 CLICK HERE TO ENTER

“We all share a common vein here at VampChix- we love our vampires! So, we're starting a monthly vampire romance book club and our first featured book is: The Mammoth Book of Vampire Romance 2

The rules are simple:

First rule of Bite Club, tell everyone about Bite Club.
Second rule of Bite Club, don't bleed on the carpet!

Here's how it works:
Each month we will feature a new vampire romance title, beginning with an author spotlight. Everyone gets a few weeks to read the book and then we meet to discuss our favorite characters, plot lines, settings, hot scenes, world building etc. etc. The blog will be open all month long for those who want to chat books, but spoilers will not be permitted until discussion day unless clearly marked. If you have a scene that jumps out and really grabs you by the neck, let's talk about it, but for those who choose to remain in the dark, spoilers can be skipped. When our club meets we can discuss any aspect of the book that appeals to us, and who knows? Maybe the author will drop in to talk too!

Where to find us: vampchixreadbooks.blogspot.com
First bite: The Mammoth Book of Vampire Romance
First chat: October 30th

Courtesy of Bloody Bookaholic Betrayal Covers

Fot those who don't know, Betrayals is the sequel to Strange Angels. A little summary on Strange Angels:

Dru Anderson has what her grandmother called “the touch.” (Comes in handy when you’re traveling from town to town with your dad, hunting ghosts, suckers, wulfen, and the occasional zombie.) Then her dad turns up dead—but still walking—and Dru knows she’s next. Even worse, she’s got two guys hungry for her affections, and they’re not about to let the fiercely independent Dru go it alone. Will Dru discover just how special she really is before coming face-to-fang with whatever—or whoever — is hunting her?

Variety reports:

Universal makes 'Wicked' deal

Thompson to adapt first book in Marr's series

By MICHAEL FLEMING 

Universal Pictures has acquired screen rights to "Wicked Lovely," the bestselling first book in a fantasy series written by Melissa  Marr that will see its fourth installment published next year by Harper Collins.

The studio bought the book to be produced by Wild West Picture Show Prods., and has hired "Edward Scissorhands" scribe Caroline Thompson to adapt it.
Wild West is Vince Vaughn's U-based shingle.
The protagonist is a 17-year-old girl who can see fairies, and must fend off the advances of a fairy king determined to marry her to save the planet from his vengeful mother.
CAA brokered the book deal with Writers House and ICM reps Thompson.

Jaye Wells posted the cover and blurb for her new book The Mage in Black (Sabina Kane book 2) follow up to her urban fantasy debut Red-Headed Stepchild.

Oooh! What have we here? Yes, my friends, the cover for The Mage in Black. I love, love, love Sabina’s I’m-gonna-kick-your-ass expression.
Now, some of you might be confused because you’ve already seen another version of this cover. For some reason, an older version was uploaded to a few sites. But, as far as I know, this cover is the cover. Of course, we’re still several months away from the release of the book (April 2010), so there might be a few minor tweaks.

What do you think?

Edited to Add:
Some people have asked for a blurb for the book. Ask and you shall receive, my friends:

THE MAGE IN BLACK
Sabina Kane doesn’t have the best track record when it comes to family. After all, her own grandmother, leader of the vampire race, wants her dead. So when she arrives in New York to meet her mage relatives, the reunion puts the fun in dysfunctional.
Not only is mage culture completely bizarre, but everyone seems to think she’s some kind of ‘Chosen’ who’ll unite the dark races. Sabina doesn’t care who chose her, she’s not into destiny. But mages aren’t Sabina’s only problem. In New York’s Black Light District, she has run-ins with fighting demons, hostile werewolves and an opportunistic old flame.

Patricia Briggs posted the cover for her new Mercy Thompson book,

Silver Borne (Mercy Thompson, book 5)

This will be the fifth Mercy Thompson novel. I may be premature putting it up, but a number of people write wanting to know if Bone Crossed was the last in the series. Happily, ACE has contracted for a total of seven Mercy novels, and it's possible the series could go even longer. Coming March 30, 2010