Ari

Lost Covenant cover

2013-04-24T01:14:35Z

Holy crap. Apparently I got scooped. Even I didn't know this info was public, or this picture existed. o.O

(Semi-spoiler for the epilogue of False Covenant in the synopsis, FYI.)

Mannah MaNominated!

2013-04-13T01:34:12Z

Had a funky night with little sleep, napped away much of the afternoon... And woke up to this:

2013 Scribe Award nominees.

Um... Wow. There are some really good books and writers on that list. I'm kind of humbled to be up there with them.

Good luck to every one of the other nominees. I hope you all come in a really close second. ;-)

And here it is!

2012-11-28T18:01:52Z

1932, and it’s business as usual in the Windy City. Yeah, the economy’s so low it’s looking up at Hell; Capone’s gone up the river; and anyone who knows anything says Prohibition ain’t long for this world. And still the Mob’s big and bad as ever, still got their fingers in every last one of Chicago’s nooks and crannies. You wanna get by in this city? You keep your head down and your trap shut, and you don’t make waves.

Especially when you got the kinda secrets I do.

So yeah, I give the trouble boys a wide berth. I sure as hell don’t ever work for them!

Except when I do. Except when some made guy’s moll tells me her daughter’s been missing for sixteen years, and they’ve been raising a good old-fashioned changeling in her place. Then, my better instincts aside, I start getting interested.

Me? I’m a P.I. Of course I am. Ain’t all these stories about a P.I? But I’m not your typical P.I.

The name’s Mick Oberon, or at least it is now. Yeah, like in that Oberon; third cousin on my mother’s side. I’m here in Chicago mostly because I’m in exile from the Seelie Court.

And like most of you have probably already figured, I’m not human.

-------------

Uncover the occult mysteries and deepest secrets of gangland Chicago, from the underworld to the Otherworld. Hot Lead, Cold Iron, by Ari Marmell, coming spring 2014 from Titan Books.

Cake and Candles

2012-11-27T06:34:12Z

It's after midnight here, which makes it the 27th, which means I can post this.

There's been a lot of fuss in political news about people not knowing, or arguing about, how old the world is. I just laugh at them. I know exactly how old my world is, because I know when she was born.

Happy birthday and more gratitude than I can begin to express to the woman without whose seemingly endless reserves of love, support, and patience--woo, boy, especially patience--I wouldn't be remotely near where I am today. Or who I am today. If you've ever enjoyed a single word I've written, or a single conversation we've had, it's due as much to her as it is to me.

I love you, George.

"Triumph Over Tragedy"

2012-11-20T05:51:38Z

So, a little while ago, I heard about a project being put together by fellow author R. T. Kaelin. Called Triumph Over Tragedy, it's an anthology intended to benefit the areas and people hit by Hurricane Sandy, and all proceeds go toward the Red Cross relief efforts. I'm grateful to have had the opportunity to contribute a story of my own, and to see how many other authors responded as well. We need your help, though. If you're willing to contribute, please visit the project's page over at IndieGoGo, and maybe chip in a few bucks to help us help others.

Even if you can't, just spreading the link around would be of great help.

Thanks, everyone.

PS: The Civilian Reader blog has an entry about the project, in which several participating authors discuss their own contributions. You can find that here. I, of course, being the chatterbox that I am, wrote a much longer response than they expected, so it's up as a separate post. That's here. But if you're just going to click on one link, please choose the project page, above.

Time for a Change

2012-09-28T01:59:14Z

Partly because I felt like it.

Partly because I decided it was time to make a counterstrike against the encroaching hair loss I’ve been bitching about for years. If it’s a battle I have to lose, I decided to lose it on my own terms.

And yes, I did have to include the sunglasses.

Originally published at Mouseferatu: Rodent of the Dark. You can comment here or there.

Can I count on your vote?

2012-09-15T20:36:00Z

The folks over at OgreLair.org have kindly nominated me for an OGGIE award this year. There are lots of other cool categories as well, so you should go vote. (No membership required.)

(Even if you’re not going to vote for me. *sniff*)

Originally published at Mouseferatu: Rodent of the Dark. You can comment here or there.

September 13, 2012: SF Signal Podcast

2012-09-13T05:49:12Z

Hey, guys. The folks at SF Signal were desperatekind enough to invite me on their program. We talk about Darksiders, the Widdershins series, lots of other stuff–and, just maybe, offer a few tiny hints of what’s coming.

You can check out the podcast here.

And now for our semi-regular tease: A few really big announcements coming in the not too distant future. I suggest checking back here obsessively, at least every day if not more, until it happens.

Originally published at Mouseferatu: Rodent of the Dark. You can comment here or there.

Sigh…

2012-09-06T20:08:06Z

Well, another con season has come and gone. For me, that meant ArmadilloCon, GenCon, and CopperCon. For many of you, it also meant DragonCon, World Fantasy, or PAX.

It was, overall, a positive experience for me, and for most of the people I’ve spoken to. And I really wish that was the entirety of the takeaway, all that we had to focus on. Unfortunately, it’s not; because, like every con season, it came with its share of horror stories.

I cannot believe that, in 2012, we still have to talk about this crap, but here it is. Fellow gamer/fandom guys? “No means no” applies across the board. It has no exceptions. It has no windows. It has no loopholes.

And it isn’t just about sex. It’s about any sort of social interaction. If a woman tells you to back off, back the hell off. She tells you she’s not interested, she’s not playing hard to get; she’s not fucking interested. You want to know when there are exceptions to this rule? Here, I’ll list them.

This concludes our list.

It doesn’t matter how friendly she’s been. It doesn’t matter what she’s wearing. It doesn’t matter what you’ve heard about her. “No”–or any of its variants, such as “I’m not interested” or “Leave me alone” or “Please stop staring at my chest”–trumps everything. It trumps any “signals” you think she’s giving you.

And by the way? “Oh, [I'm/he's] just socially awkward” is not a God damn excuse. It’s a handwave. It’s saying “Oh, I disapprove of this sort of behavior unless it’s me or someone I know, in which case it’s fine.” Social awkwardness might explain an initial approach that makes someone uncomfortable; but the instant it becomes recurring, it goes beyond “awkward” to “I’m choosing not to listen.”

Also by the way? Spreading rumors with the intent of destroying a relationship because you want someone in that relationship to be available? Completely counts as sexual harassment. Just to be crystal clear.

Some of this is even coming from guys who work in the industry; guys who work alongside these women, and should know better even more than most people should know better.

I shouldn’t have to say this. Nobody should have to say this. Nobody should have to think about saying this. This should be as self-evident as the idea that you don’t want up to a complete stranger at a con and punch him in the jaw for no better reason than that you felt like it. This is not okay. The fact that it’s “just words” or “just a suggestion” or “just a touch” or “look at that costume!” or “she’s acting so friendly”… It’s still not okay.

Cut it. The fuck. Out.

Originally published at Mouseferatu: Rodent of the Dark. You can comment here or there.

Reputation

2012-09-05T03:46:30Z

“Reputation” appears in issue #136 of Star Wars Insider magazine.

Credits: Sole author

Art by Tom Hodges.

Notes: This story offers just the tiniest glimpse into the background of Cad Bane, a bounty hunter introduced in the Clone Wars cartoon series.

Originally published at Mouseferatu: Rodent of the Dark. You can comment here or there.

August 26, 2012: CopperCon!

2012-08-26T16:53:03Z

So, CopperCon’s coming up next week. (So is DragonCon, and WorldCon, and a couple of others. But due to an appalling lack of either cloning or transporter technology, I can’t attend all of them. Stupid future.) I’m the Guest of Honor at this year’s CopperCon–and it is, indeed, an honor, as it’s my first GoH invite–so I’m hoping to meet at least a few of you there.

My tentative schedule, if you’ll be attending (or just in the area), looks like this:

Opening Ceremonies, Friday, August 31st, 7:00 PM

Meet the Guest, Saturday, September 1st, 12:00 PM

Panel: Magic Creatures and Imaginary Lands, Saturday, September 1st, 2:00 PM, with Rick Cook and Veronica Baxter

Panel: Sending the Wrong Message, Saturday, September 1st, 9:00 PM, with Janeen O’Kerry and Jordan Summers

Signing, Sunday, September 2nd, 12:00 PM

Panel: How Publishing Will Change, Sunday, September 2nd, 6:00 PM, with Jeffrey Mariotte and Jordan Summers

Panel: Urban Fantasy, Sunday, September 2nd, 8:00 PM, with Jordan Summers

Panel: Writing in a Tabletop Universe, Monday, September 3rd, 12:00 PM, with Jeffrey Mariotte and Ken St Andre

———————

Again, that’s a tentative schedule, subject to a bit of tweaking here and there. (I’m hoping to drop in on a few of the other panels, and if not officially participate, then at least make a nuisance of myself from the peanut gallery.)

I believe that some of my novels should be available from dealers in the vendors’ room at the con, but I can’t swear to which ones. I’m also happy to sign anything you bring with you. Well, assuming I worked on it.

Or it’s cool.

See you there!

Originally published at Mouseferatu: Rodent of the Dark. You can comment here or there.

In Deepest Silence

2012-08-24T07:27:57Z

“In Deepest Silence” will appear in the fifth issue of Shock Totem, a magazine of genre fiction and nonfiction with an emphasis on the macabre.

Credits: Sole author

Cover by Mikio Murakmi.

Notes: I think the best way to describe this particular story is “Horror On a Submarine With a Touch of Lovecraft Seasoning.”

You should follow the link and take a gander; it’s a heck of a Table of Contents.

Originally published at Mouseferatu: Rodent of the Dark. You can comment here or there.

Not the GenCon Post You’re Expecting

2012-08-20T07:04:19Z

Let me tell you, first, what this post should be.

It should be about how much of a blast I had at GenCon, my first time back in three or four years. It should be about how great it is to see friends I don’t get to see very often; how wonderful it is to discover that a good friend online is an even better friend (and better person) in real life; how much I enjoyed meeting with collaborators and co-workers whom I’ve never before met in person; how much fun it is to game with people in this industry I’ve long respected.

It should be about all that–and all of that is certainly 100% true, and fantastic–but it’s not going to be.

On at least one, and possibly two, different occasions at GenCon–the second has other potential explanations, but the first is incontrovertible–someone very specifically and very deliberately set out to spread false rumors about people for whom I care deeply. And I’m not talking about little annoying tall tales; I’m talking about truly malicious stuff that, if heard and believed by the wrong person, is potentially both career-damaging and relationship-destroying.

And just to add insult to injury, given the targets of these lies, and the way the rumors spread, I find myself almost positive that this came from someone in, or at least on the periphery of, the industry. Maybe fiction publishing, maybe roleplaying–but definitely someone I should be able to consider a colleague, or at least a peer.

No, I’m not going to repeat the rumors, or name the people smeared by said rumors. If you were involved even slightly, you know what I’m talking about.

So, first, I have a request. Whoever started those rumors, for whatever reason–if you happen to be reading this, I ask you to grow a pair and come forward. You can do it privately, via my e-mail or my contact page. If you identify yourself, and include an explanation and an apology that I can forward on to the people you hurt, that’ll be the end of it. I’ll keep your name quiet, I’ll pass along the apology, and we’ll all move on.

If not?

Well, I’m not stupid, and I’m not prone to posturing. If you don’t come forward, the odds are you’ll remain anonymous. You probably won’t be outed. You probably won’t face any consequences.

Probably.

On the other hand, I know the people targeted. I know at least some of the vectors by which the rumors spread. And just maybe, I’ll be able to work out who started this crap.

I’m not precisely a giant in the field. I’m no George Martin or John Scalzi or Bob Salvatore. I’m not a publisher, or an editor, or an agent, or a publicist, or a best-seller.

But I know publishers, and editors, and agents, and publicists, and best-sellers. I talk to them. And most of them are decent people who have no patience for this sort of thing.

So, yeah, you’ll probably come out untouched. But if you don’t voluntarily come forward, if you are in the industry, and I do manage to figure out who you are?

My hand to whatever God/gods may be out there, I will make it a genuine professional goal to fucking destroy whatever career you might have had. Think about how long I’ve been communicating with my fans, and how rarely I’ve ever stooped to making threats, and decide if I’m serious about pursuing this.

You will not fuck with the people I love.

Originally published at Mouseferatu: Rodent of the Dark. You can comment here or there.

July 24, 2012: Death Rides!

2012-07-24T16:41:47Z

So, as of today, Darksiders: the Abomination Vault is out, available, on shelves, and so forth.

Do you have it yet? Why not? You really should, before it’s too late. Death can be patient, but War gets really violent when he’s frustrated…

Originally published at Mouseferatu: Rodent of the Dark. You can comment here or there.

Us

2012-07-20T19:44:26Z

In a comic book world, what happened last night in Aurora, Colorado, would itself prove to be a superhero origin. A tragic crime, during the showing of a movie about a masked crimefighter? Heck, it almost is the Batman origin story, on a larger scale.

But we don’t live in a comic book world. The terror, the grief, the pain in our world is real. Real people, going through a real experience that those of us fortunate enough not have been touched by violence can’t even begin to imagine. In the real world, good doesn’t always rise triumphantly from the ashes of this sort of evil; and even when it does, it’s rarely as direct or obvious a path as it is in the comic books.

Here’s the thing, though. Here, in the real world, even if there’s no good to be found in something like this? We can, at least, avoid making it worse.

We can choose not to politicize it. We can choose not to make it about “us vs. them.”

We can choose not to view it as nationality vs. nationality; religion vs. religion; Left vs. Right. Even if it turns out the gunman did see it that way–and we don’t know yet; we might never–it doesn’t mean that we have to. The people who were taken, the people left behind to suffer, aren’t confined to one ethnicity, one religion, one political party.

Some politicians are already politicizing this. Don’t. Don’t do it; don’t let them do it.

This isn’t about “us vs. them.” Because today, “us” is everyone.

Originally published at Mouseferatu: Rodent of the Dark. You can comment here or there.

July 9, 2012: Duck season? Rabbit season? Convention season!

2012-07-09T18:53:01Z

So, it’s that time of year again. I don’t yet have my specific schedules within the various conventions, but I thought, for those of you who care (all three of you), I’d go ahead and at least mention which cons I’ll be attending.

ArmadilloCon: July 27-29, here in Austin, TX. I’ll be appearing on multiple panels, though I don’t yet know which ones, and should also hopefully have a signing session. Abomination Vault will have just been released, so feel free to bring it by.

GenCon: August 16-19, Indianapolis, IN. This’ll be my first GenCon in three or four years, and also my first where I’m going almost solely as an attendee, not a guest. Still, I’ll be popping up in various booths and seminars here and there.

Now, normally I’d be going to Dragon*Con at the end of August, but not this year, because…

CopperCon: August 31-September 3, Phoenix, AZ. I’ve been invited to appear as Guest of Honor–the first GoH invite in my career thus far–so I wasn’t about to turn them down. I’ll be a part of quite a few programming events, and I should have a signing or two as well.

I’ll post more specific schedules as and when I have them. But whatever the case, I hope a lot of you guys’ll stop by and say hey.

Originally published at Mouseferatu: Rodent of the Dark. You can comment here or there.

June 7, 2012: Can’t Keep a Good Thief Down

2012-06-07T12:28:31Z

So, since the release of False Covenant a couple of weeks ago–actually, even before that, due to advance review copies–I’ve had people asking me if there will be any more Widdershins novels.

Well, since it’s now been announced on the web site of JABberwocky Literary Agency (albeit tucked away in a corner), I figure I can go ahead and answer that question.

I am, in fact, doing two more Widdershins novels for Pyr Books.

I can’t offer much in the way of details yet–not even things as basic as, oh, say, book titles or release dates–but I wanted you guys to know they were coming. I’m really glad this series, and this character, has resonated with so many of you, and I hope you’ll all enjoy where things go from here.

(Well, all of you but Widdershins herself. Frankly, I think the poor girl’s got a lot of tough times ahead.)

Originally published at Mouseferatu: Rodent of the Dark. You can comment here or there.

Thanks, Ray

2012-06-06T17:54:56Z

You really don’t get any bigger or more influential in the various speculative fiction genres than Ray Bradbury. Whether you’re a fan of his work specifically or not, there’s no denying how fully it shaped what was to come afterward. None of us who are into sci-fi/fantasy–whether as writers or as fans–would be precisely where we are without him.

Rest in peace, Ray, and thank you. Our worlds, real and imaginary, are better for having had you in them.

Originally published at Mouseferatu: Rodent of the Dark. You can comment here or there.

June 5, 2012: E-Covenant!

2012-06-05T18:06:27Z

Been waiting for the Kindle version of False Covenant? Wait no more! It’s out, and it’s available right here.

It doesn’t seem to be out for the Nook yet, but I promise you, that’s coming, too. Expect another announcement as soon as it appears.

Also? A number of you have been wondering whether you’ll be seeing anything more of Widdershins. Expect some news in the near future.

Originally published at Mouseferatu: Rodent of the Dark. You can comment here or there.

Yet again May 22, 2012: False Covenant is out!!!

2012-05-22T22:07:29Z

Yep. As is often the case with my books from Pyr, False Covenant appears to have become available earlier than anticipated. I don’t know if it’s actually on shelves, but it’s now available as an order (as opposed to pre-order) from sites like Amazon.

I’m really happy with how this one came out, and I hope you guys like it half as much as I think you will.

It’s not up yet in e-book format, but I can assure you that it will be in the near future. More on that as soon as I know something.

Originally published at Mouseferatu: Rodent of the Dark. You can comment here or there.

Also May 22, 2012: So, you want to be an Avenger…

2012-05-22T17:39:17Z

There’s this: Upcoming Marvel Universe MMO, free to play.

Why am I mentioning this? Well, in addition to just being cool, it also represents my first foray into computer game dialogue writing.

Yep. Thanks to Andy Collins at Gazillion Studios, I was one of the team selected to provide some of the dialogue for many of the characters.

I can’t go into too much detail, since I can only talk about characters that have been publicly revealed as appearing in the game. But I can say that I did a portion of the dialogue for the Black Widow, and the majority of the non-mission-specific dialogue for…

Well, any of you who know me know there’s one major Marvel character with whom I share a certain affinity for being a wise-ass, and Andy was kind enough to let me tackle him. Yep, just your friendly neighborhood Someone-or-Other.

Originally published at Mouseferatu: Rodent of the Dark. You can comment here or there.

May 22, 2012: Signing reminder

2012-05-22T17:22:46Z

Hey, guys. Just a quick reminder… Tomorrow. 6:00 pm. Dragon’s Lair, Austin location. Keith Baker and me, together again for the first time (or however that goes).

Be there or, uh, be elsewhere. But there would be better. Really.

Originally published at Mouseferatu: Rodent of the Dark. You can comment here or there.

No, I don’t know why my brain does things like this

2012-05-18T04:59:28Z

Some of you will get this. Some of you won’t. All of you will think I’ve finally gone completely around the bend.

You will be right.

Originally published at Mouseferatu: Rodent of the Dark. You can comment here or there.

May 16, 2012: Pathfinder story’s complete!

2012-05-16T20:56:36Z

Hrm. I seem to have mis-typed the date on my prior entry. Should be the 10th, not 20th; I’m not typing to you from the future, at least not yet.

So, “Hell or High Water,” my first fictional foray into Golarion, setting for the Pathfinder RPG, is now complete. Clicking here will take you to a page with all four parts. Had a real blast writing this, and I’m pretty sure this isn’t the last time you’ll see me visiting this particular setting or property.

Speaking of settings and properties, I’ve just begun yet another tie-in novel, for a property that I cannot yet reveal. I think most of you will get a kick out of it, but if you’re not a tie-in fan, don’t worry. The fact that I happen to be doing a number of tie-in projects in a row should in no way be taken to mean that I’m stepping away from my original stuff. Got a lot of stuff brewing there, too.

If you’re in or near Austin, don’t forget that next Wednesday (the 23rd), Keith Baker and I will be doing a joint signing at Dragon’s Lair. Starts around 6:00 PM; hope to see some of you there.

Originally published at Mouseferatu: Rodent of the Dark. You can comment here or there.

May 20, 2012: Exploring Other Worlds

2012-05-10T17:47:14Z

Hey, guys. Happy early Mother’s Day to all the moms reading this.

Two things for you today. First, part three of “Hell or High Water,” my Pathfinder serial fiction, is now up on the Paizo site. Take a look, let me know what you think, and come back next Wednesday for the final installment. (Again, link takes you to part one; just scroll down to get to three.)

Second, I’ve been given permission to mention another piece of short fiction on which I’m currently working. It’s a tie-in piece, for the official magazine of the property in question. I can’t go into a lot of detail, but here’s a hint:

It takes place a long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away…

(And if you don’t have the theme stuck in your head now, just from reading that, I don’t know you at all.)

As I said, it’s a really short story, but I’m absolutely thrilled to have been invited to play in that particular sandbox, even if only a little. More about the story–including which issue of Insider it’s supposed to appear in–to come.

Originally published at Mouseferatu: Rodent of the Dark. You can comment here or there.