Fantasy Dreamer's Ramblings

You know, I've went from not knowing one author to meeting five authors in the same month. It's been my very own whirlwind tour of authors during the month of August!

I had a nice time at ArmadilloCon, it was what I would call a very sedate affair, low key. I've only been to one other Con and that was Comic-Con San Diego last year, it was a mad house. In comparison, this Con was very quiet and I have to say I enjoyed not feeling rushed. I met Ann Aguirre, Kimberly Frost, Jeanne Stein and Mario Acevedo at different signing sessions. Of course, I was clueless as to what to say and felt like I was blubbering most of the time but I think I did a good job of not making too much of fool of myself.

Ann Aguirre and moi! I think I blubbered the most with Ann because I admire her for so many things besides the books she writes and if you read her blog you will know exactly what I'm talking about. She has a wonderful way of expressing herself. I asked Ann to sign my Team Chance t-shirt and The Jax books, t-shirt signing came out so pretty. Later after the signing, I ran into Ann in the hallway and she introduced me to Sharon Shinn. Ann said she is an awesome fantasy writer, and Mandi at Smexy Books earlier this week said the same thing, so I have happily added a new author to my list of must reads.

Just for the record, I've read a lot fantasy but mostly in the worlds of Dragonlance and the Forgotten Realms. But in case you haven't noticed, Urban Fantasy as become new fascination for me this year.

I bought a copy of Would-Be Witch by Kimberly Frost there at ArmadilloCon and asked Kimberly to sign it. It's a book I've been wanting to read for while, ever since Amber at Amberkatze's Book Blog had Kimberly as a guest. Kimberly told me that on August 25th she going to launch a big celebration for the release of her second book Barely Bewitched on her blog, so mark your calendars.

Jeanne Stein and moi! Jeanne was all smiles! I didn't have a book for her to sign because I had won all four books in the Anna Strong Vampire Chronicles, signed by Jeanne in a contest at The League of Reluctant Adults back in February. But I did have a postcard I received in the mail with the cover art for Retribution, so I asked her to sign that.

Jeanne Stein, moi and Mario Acevedo. When I explained to Jeanne why I was having her sign a postcard, she got really excited to meet someone who visited her and Mario's blog and won at a contest there, so she wanted a picture of all of us. She said she wanted proof of a visiting fan! Mario and Jeanne, I can tell are as fun in real life as their blog posts are. I enjoyed meeting them both.

A couple of weeks ago Ann Aguirre, author of Blue Diablo, posted about getting her author swag from Zazzle. At Zazzle, you get to design your own swag plus you earn commission when you buy your own swag and what others buy from your Zazzle store. Ann had a great idea to donate her savings/commission to First Book, when I read this I thought, "What a great idea!" It's a win-win for everyone. Especially for the kiddos who are going to get some good reads because of my purchase and that of others. That right there is a whole other level of awesomeness!

Well, I hurried over to Zazzle, ordered a fangirl button and a t-shirt. A Team Chance t-shirt. Here's a picture of me (don't laugh!) in my sweet Team Chance t-shirt. Is this how you pictured Chance? So, what team are you on?

My son called me a nerd when I tucked my t-shirt in for the picture!

Cue in the music...Closing Time by Semisonic "Closing time - time for you to go out, go out into the world..." Every time I hear the words "Last Call", since I first heard the song Closing Time, I hear those lyrics in my head.

O.k. back to the topic of the giveaway for a copy of Blue Diablo by Ann Aguirre. The giveaway ends tonight at midnight CST. Click here to enter. What are you waiting for?

For my last giveaway in celebration of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month (APAHM), I'm giving away a copy of Blue Diablo by Ann Aguirre!

Why did I pick Blue Diablo? Chance, one of the main characters, is half Korean, just like me. *big grin* And this book was such a pleasure to read I want to share it with someone, APAHM gives me the perfect opportunity to do it.

Book Blurb:
Right now, I’m a redhead. I’ve been blonde and brunette as the situation requires, though an unscheduled color change usually means relocating in the middle of the night. So far, I’m doing well here. Nobody knows what I’m running from. And I’d like to keep it that way…

Eighteen months ago, Corine Solomon crossed the border to Mexico City, fleeing her past, her lover, and her “gift”. Corine, a handler, can touch something and know its history—and sometimes, its future. Using her ability, she can find the missing—and that’s why people never stop trying to find her. People like her ex, Chance…

Chance, whose uncanny luck has led him to her doorstep, needs her help. Someone dear to them both has gone missing in Laredo, Texas, and the only hope of finding her is through Corine’s gift. But their search may prove dangerous as the trail leads them into a strange dark world of demons and sorcerers, ghosts and witchcraft, zombies—and black magic…

Book Blurb:
Right now, I’m a redhead. I’ve been blonde and brunette as the situation requires, though an unscheduled color change usually means relocating in the middle of the night. So far, I’m doing well here. Nobody knows what I’m running from. And I’d like to keep it that way…

Eighteen months ago, Corine Solomon crossed the border to Mexico City, fleeing her past, her lover, and her “gift”. Corine, a handler, can touch something and know its history—and sometimes, its future. Using her ability, she can find the missing—and that’s why people never stop trying to find her. People like her ex, Chance…

Chance, whose uncanny luck has led him to her doorstep, needs her help. Someone dear to them both has gone missing in Laredo, Texas, and the only hope of finding her is through Corine’s gift. But their search may prove dangerous as the trail leads them into a strange dark world of demons and sorcerers, ghosts and witchcraft, zombies—and black magic…

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I really enjoyed reading Blue Diablo by Ann Aguirre, it was a nice mixture of the supernatural and the real world blended together to create a very realistic Urban Fantasy world. Corine Solomon, the lead character, is someone that most people can relate to, with the average person's doubts and dreams with a good sense of humor to boot.

This story is fast moving with many twists and turns that lead Corine and Chance, her ex-boyfriend, on a race against the supernatural from Mexico to Texas in search of a loved one. Even though the story is based for the most part in Texas, you get a true feel for the different ethnic characters in the story, from Korea to Mexico and on to England in this unique Urban Fantasy novel.

The relationship between Corine and Chance keep the pages heated and complex. And end of this story leaves you with some questions that you will want the answer to.

I am really looking forward to the next book in the Corine Solomon series. Hell Fire, will be the second book in the Corine Solomon series to be releases in April 2010 and Shady Lady, the third book, will release in April 2011, according to Ann Aguirre's website.

Buy Blue Diablo at Amazon.com | Barnes & Noble

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Other Reviews:
Fantasy Cafe
Lurv à la Mode
The Book Smugglers
The Discriminating Fangirl

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