The Undiscovered Country ... same old author, brand new genre.

As many of you may have noticed (because I won't shut up about it) I have a brand new novel coming out in October, a fantasy story called INK MAGE.  While I'm not new to the genre as a reader -- I cut my teeth on Tolkien and now love current work by writers like Brent Weeks and Mark Lawrence -- I am VERY new to the genre as an Author.

I feel like what I've written is good.  I hope you think so too, and I hope you click the link above to pre-order.

But any author who's been through "the process" can tell you that the battle isn't over when the book is finished.  How do you get the word out?  Where do you go to interact with your peers?  You have a number of novels under your belt, but not this kind of novel.  Are you a rookie again?

I feel like I've moved into a great new house in a cool neighborhood, but I don't know where anything is ... the supermarket, the movie theater, the brothels church.  So I need some kindly neighbors to save a lost newcomer.

If you have a blog and are a fantasy fan with fantasy readers and would like me to guest blog ... ?  Cool.  Is there such a thing as a "fantasy press"?  How do I get in on that?  In short, I simply want to connect with the appropriate readers.

Any and all suggestions are welcome.

INK MAGE ... the new epic fantasy novel from The Gischler

Folks, I'm pretty excited.  Since I was a little kid and knew I wanted to write stories, I ALWAYS wanted to write a fantasy novel.  For the past couple of years, I've had an idea brewing for a fantasy novel.  It wasn't until the the Amazon publishing imprint 47North gave me the green light that my idea could see the light of day, and so I'm humbly asking you to order INK MAGE.  It's an Amazon serial which means you get a new installment every 2 weeks.  Here's the thing: eventually it will all be collected into a "for real" novel -- paperback or eBook.  But if you wait until then the price will go up.  If you order now, you get it for the El Cheapo price of 1.99.

The first installment hits in October, but you can pre-order NOW!

Rina Veraiin has been given a gift, a tattoo that unlocks the special power within her ... and allows her to get other tattoos each of which affords her a new and exciting magical power.  With this power, she can hopefully avenge her parents and reclaim her rightful place as Duchess of Klaar.

Wizardry, sword stabbings, romance, adventure!

I'm asking you to jump on board now for 1.99 ... click HERE.

Thanks!

Okay, now pay attention to this:

 (click for big)

Info HERE.

KISS ME, SATAN -- order now!

(Pictured: Juan Ferreyra's variant cover. Click to make the bigness.)


Hey, guys!  I've been a lucky fellow since I started writing comics, and I've had the chance to work on some great books.  But at long last my debut CREATOR OWNED book is about to hit shelves.  It's a pulp action fun romp with gritty horror trappings, and it's called KISS ME, SATAN.

So ... the FINAL DAY TO ORDER is August 26.

Readers, if this seems like a book that would caress your enjoyment spot, then do a guy a solid and march into tour local comic shop in the next few days and pre-order.  I'm waiting to spray you down with the karma hose.  (ew.)

Retailers, I'd love for you guys to give this a push if you think it's something your patrons would dig.  Simply toss a copy at them when they walk in the door and scream "YOU JUST BOUGHT THAT."

Thanks for your time.

CLOWN FATALE

Earlier today Dark Horse Comics announced my next creator-owned book CLOWN FATALE.

You're all going to want to read it.

Well ... okay ... maybe that's not quite true.

Some of you are going to want to read it.  Since this is my blog and many of you are familiar with my work, then I'll assume there is a higher percentage of fellow sickos reading this than exists in the general population.  The fact is if you like Spiderman and Superman (nothing wrong with that!) or other "mainstream" comics then Clown Fatale is probably not for you.  That's cool.  Not looking to shove anything down anyone's throat who doesn't want it.

But if you think a little bit of "that's so wrong!" can liven up your comic reading, then I've got something for you.  You'll see two images above.  One is from Clown Fatale.

The other is a movie poster from Russ Meyer's "masterpiece" Faster, Pussycat!  Kill! Kill!  The film was one of the motivating factors for Clown Fatale.  It was as if Russ Meyer was thinking, "We're going lowbrow and we're not going to pretend it's anything else.  We're going to OWN it and have fun with it."

So that's what I've done - four issue of unapologetic crass uh ... fun.

And honestly it IS fun, and if you're like-minded (and have the stomach for it) then I'll hope you'll join me in the fun this November.

Here's a little something to get you in the mood.

UPDATE: Oops.  In an orgy of narcissism, I neglected to mention the amazing Maurizio Rosenzweig on pencils and Moreno Dinisio on colors.  Tim Seeley has come up with 4 awesome grindhouse style covers for the run.

The Best American Mystery Stories

It seems a lifetime ago that my story "Hitting Rufus" was included in the 1999 edition of The Best American Mystery Stories.  I was surprised and proud my story was picked.

Now, a little bird has whispered in my ear that the anthology isn't getting as many submissions as it used to from online publications.  So if you're a writer or editor with mystery / crime stories to show off (if published in 2013) then consider submitting to the address below:


Otto Penzler
Best American Mystery Stories
58 Warren Street
New York NY 10007