A while back, fan Keith Johnson asked a deceptively simple question: “How has your writing changed from your first book to the last one?” As I’ve explained elsewhere, my first published novel, The Sword-Edged Blonde, was an idea I’d nursed from 1980 to its publication in 2007. My second novel, Blood Groove, as well as my most recent, Wisp of … Read More
The grubby heirs of Excalibur: swords in the world of Eddie LaCrosse
My friend Teresa Frohock, author of Miserere: An Autumn Tale (my review is here), asked me how the idea for naming Eddie LaCrosse’s swords came about. I thought this might be interesting to others as well. First came the idea of writing the initial novel, The Sword-Edged Blonde, as if it were a 40s detective novel. This was after years–well, … Read More
The origin of character names: Eddie LaCrosse
One of the most common questions I get from fantasy fans is, “Why is your hero named ‘Eddie’?” Naming characters, especially the main characters of continuing series, is an art far more than a science. For example, one of my favorite characters, Robert B. Parker’s Spenser, has a first name, but in the 40 books Parker wrote (and who knows … Read More
International Eddie
Here’s the German cover art for The Sword-Edged Blonde; the title translates as The King’s Sword, which is a reasonably accurate alternate title (and definitely looks cool in German). Available in Germany April 9! This actually does look a lot like I envisioned the younger Eddie from the flashback scenes. And here’s an exclusive tidbit you’ll only find here: Young Eddie … Read More
To Avoid Shark-Jumping
As I await the page proofs for Eddie LaCrosse IV (Wake of the Bloody Angel) and begin the first draft of Eddie LaCrosse V (so far, Eddie LaCrosse V), it occurred to me that every book in the series begins with two concepts, one of which is the same each time, while the other is very different. If you’re out … Read More
The Sword-Edged Blonde eBook for only $2.99!
Right now the good folks at Tor Books have the eBook of my first Eddie LaCrosse novel, The Sword-Edged Blonde, on sale for $2.99. So all you Nookies/Kindlers/iPadders, there’s never been a better time to see what a mash-up between high fantasy and hard-boiled pulp looks like.
Literature so tough it survives force majeure
During the recent storms in Tennessee, my friend Thom had a house fire. That’s the kind of rebel he is: in the midst of a flood, he burns. He’s fine, no one (human or animal) was hurt, and the destruction was contained. But he sent me a photo of one very significant item that escaped with only soot damage:
Hear samples of The Sword-Edged Blonde on audio
Listen to snippets of the great Stefan Rundicki reading The Sword-Edged Blonde in this podcast review by Susan Dunman.
Coffee, tea or a signed copy?
If you’ve read The Sword-Edged Blonde, you know about Angelina’s Tavern. Eddie LaCrosse has his office above the kitchen, and spends a lot of his off-time sitting at the bar. It plays an even bigger role in BURN ME DEADLY. Now we all know about mead, and ale, and rum, and all the standard tavern drinks. But what would be … Read More
One more week until BURN ME DEADLY!
One more week until the November 10 release of the second Eddie LaCrosse novel, BURN ME DEADLY! Learn what happens to Eddie and Liz after the end of The Sword-Edged Blonde! Who are Lumina and Solarian? Find out more about the mysterious moon priestesses! What secrets are found in Angelina’s attic? Discover what the deadly dragon people are after! And … Read More