Win a Free Book, with Free Worldwide Shipping!
To celebrate the new online version of Wet Ink..., we're holding a drawing for one free copy of the Jim C. Hines' Goblin Adventure book of your choice, either Goblin Quest or Goblin Hero. (Drawing to be held July 31.)

Sign up here and select "Goblin Book Drawing" for your chance to win!

(Jim Hines is also running a contest on his own website until July 9. Write a review of Goblin Hero and then enter the drawing for up to three chances to win a copy of Bash Down the Door and Slice Open the Badguy, the anthology that includes his short story "Goblin Hero." Visit the official Jim Hines website for details.)

For more contests, special offers, and free prizes, check out this Web Booty!

In the afterword to Empire, reviewed this month here in Wet Ink..., Orson Scott Card discusses the impetus behind the novel: that the American Left and the Right are dangerously polarized, and that Americans are too often forced into one camp or the other, the "for-us-or-against-us" attitude of each party denying any blending of the two.

Unfortunately, the "my-camp-your-camp" phenomenon is hardly limited to the political arena. The wider trend is founded on labels of all kinds, those words of convenience that sum up an entire set of customs or beliefs and then pin it on a human being in toto as though there were no such thing as independent thought, as individual diversity.

Democrat. Republican.

Black. White. Asian. Latino. Native American.

Christian. Hindu. Buddhist. Muslim. Jew.

Is it just human nature to lump people into categories? Well, yes. And at the same time, no. The ability to generalize is critical to human learning. It's how we recognize patterns in the world around us. But it should be used as a tool, not as a crutch.

When people ask me about my religion, I tell them, "I'm everything." It's as close to the truth as I can get in a single word, and most people who ask aren't looking for a six-hour recitation of my personal spiritual journey.

By the same essential reasoning, I have long considered my race to be "all of the above." My family history includes so many bloodlines that the best response would be either "human" or "mutt," but I have yet to find these listed on any government forms.

And from this day forward, when people ask me whether I'm a Democrat or a Republican, I'm going to say, "I'm both." Not because I have any great imperial aspirations (read the book), but because "both" is at once thoroughly honest and entirely confounding. It requires clarification. It invites dialog.

And that's what we all need a little more of.

In his Thomas Covenant series, author Stephen R. Donaldson once wrote: "hope comes from the power of what you serve." So I hereby dedicate Wet Ink... to the service of attentive, respectful, and inclusive dialog; of independent thought; of open-minded discovery; of intentional wonder; and of unlimited imagination.

I dedicate it to the premise that human beings can be neither fully described nor understood in even a single volume, let alone a single word.

But above all else, I dedicate Wet Ink... to the power of the human heart—surpassing all labels, and touching upon the Infinite—that the hope it draws upon, and the hope it inspires, may be unbounded.

EM Sky
Peachtree City, GA
July 1, 2007

Tymalous Shadowstar on "The Cobblestone Cafe"!
In case you missed it, June marked the grand re-opening of The Cobblestone Cafe on Straight from the Barrel... Look for new author and character interviews every Monday morning!

And who showed up on June 25 but Tymalous Shadowstar himself, the god of the goblins in the Goblin Adventure series by author Jim C. Hines! A special thanks to Jim for taking part in the fun and for making the character interview kick-off such a smashing success. (If you missed the interview, read it here!)

July 16: An Interview with Quill Nominee Patrick Rothfuss!
Patrick Rothfuss, author of the widely acclaimed fantasy epic The Name of the Wind, has graciously offered to join us in The Cobblestone Cafe this month on the 16th. This outstanding debut novel has just been nominated for a Quill award and is featured below in the fantasy section. Tune in on the 16th to find out more about the man behind the book that has everyone talking!

July 30: A Visit from Demon-Hunter Astra Q Phelps!
On July 30, Astra Q. Phelps, my favorite demon-butt-kicking heroine, will be chatting with us live in the EM Sky studios. She's making the talk show rounds to promote the upcoming release of Sam Cheever's 'Tween Heaven and Hell, coming to the electronic bookshelves on July 26 and featured this month in the speculative romance section. So stay tuned to the blog for a rollicking good time!

Win a Another Free Book with Free Worldwide Shipping!
Simon Haynes, author of the Hal Spacejock trilogy, runs a monthly drawing on his website to win any of his three books (your choice). The prize includes free worldwide postage, so sign up today for your free chance to win! (Or if you just can't wait for the freebie, you can find some good news for US readers down under "Sneak Peeks.")

If you'd like to see a review of Hal Spacejock: No Free Lunch here on Wet Ink..., write to Mr. Haynes and tell him how much you like the new online version of the newsletter!

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Author Island's Anniversary Means Cool Prizes for Readers!
July is Author Island's anniversary! To celebrate, they will be giving books and prizes away every single day in July, and at least two lucky readers will win a book a week for an entire year! Sign up for their newsletter to enter the drawing for one of the grand prize packages. The newsletter will continue to include more chances to win, so sign up today!

Exclusive Discount for Authors!
Author Island has also been kind enough to extend an exclusive offer to Wet Ink's e-mail subscribers. Sign up for an Author Island annual account this month, and you can waive the $100 set up fee, plus take an extra $50 off the yearly membership! That's over 25% off the usual price!

Their website averages over 16,000 hits per day, and they already have over 900 opt-in subscribers to their newsletter, so they're a great way to get the word out about your books. (I discovered three of the authors in this month's newsletter through Author Island, so the site is definitely doing its job!) At over 25% off, this is a tremendous opportunity to get your foot in the door with some terrific promoters. To take advantage of this special offer, sign up here and select "Wet Ink" to get your free secret code!

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Calling All Romance Fans! Speculative romance author Sam Cheever is giving away one of her signature Tween bracelets to the lucky winner who can guess what the Q stands for in "Astra Q Phelps." To play, just visit her site at www.samcheever.com and click on the large Q at the top to drop her an email. (For a chance to enter two guesses instead of one, sign up here and select "Wet Ink" to get your free secret code!)

Calling All Writing Hopefuls! Ms. Cheever is also offering a very special prize for an exclusive Wet Ink lottery. The winner gets a free critique of either one short story or three book chapters! (Up to 30 pages, 12-point font, double-spaced, please.) Sign up here and select "Writing Critique" for your chance to win!

Orson Scott Card's Empire

Link: Empire
Author: Orson Scott Card
Publisher: Tor Books
Date: November 28, 2006
Format: Hardcover, 352 pages
ISBN: 978-0765316110

Orson Scott Card is what you might call "politically visible." If you want to know what he thinks about oil, for example, or "the Islamo-Fascist War," check out his World Watch column at The Ornery American. He's vocal about his views, and he doesn't mind waxing inflammatory—or at least adamant—from time to time.

Card's politics wouldn't make a whit of difference in your average book review, but Empire is a politically motivated novel. And not just in subtle ways.

I love the characters in the book, as I always love Card's characters. The opening chapter is one of the best I've ever read. The writing flies across the page. The dialog is superb.

Mostly. At least 95 percent of it. Maybe even 98.

But from time to time, the dialog warps into political diatribe. Card's own voice shines through the characters, and for me at least, it interrupted the mood.

Get back to the plot already, I found myself thinking. I want to know what happens.

But that's the true power of Card's writing. There's no way I was going to put down the book. I just wanted to get back to the story.

Now the story was designed around a video game concept from Chair Entertainment. It's definitely Card's baby, but the game elements are still apparent.

If the plot seems a bit far-fetched, and if the high-tech weaponry seems a bit too futuristic for a near-future setting, just remember the video game connection. Oh, yeah—the video game thing. Then move on with the story. It's still worth the read.

Why? Because of the characters. That's why every Orson Scott Card story is worth reading. It's his trademark. And Empire is no exception.

The Special Forces heroes of the novel are wonderful. Not gung-ho idiots but intelligent, sophisticated men—both mentally and emotionally.

Cecily, the leading lady, is strong, capable, and intelligent in her own right. If she tries just a little too hard to maintain that strong facade, well that makes her all the more believable.

I'm sure many readers will even find that the political commentary and the "classic" sci-fi feel of the story simply enhance the book. It's part military suspense novel, part sci-fi pulp thriller, part video game, and all Orson Scott Card.

The bottom line? It's a summer-blockbuster-like slightly over-the-top graphic-novel-come-to-life classic pulp sci-fi action adventure suspense thriller with Special Ops heroes and snappy dialog. Yeah, all of that. See for yourself.

(Read the first five chapters on Orson Scott Card's website.)

Nominated for a Quill: The Name of the Wind

Link: The Name of the Wind
Author: Patrick Rothfuss
Publisher: DAW Hardcover
Date: March 27, 2007
Format: Hardcover, 662 pages
ISBN: 978-0756404079

Here's what Orson Scott Card had to say about The Name of the Wind, the debut epic fantasy novel from author Patrick Rothfuss:

"Folks, this is the real thing. Though it's considerably darker than the Harry Potter series, this is also a bildungsroman -- the story of the childhood, education, and training of a boy who grew up to be a legendary hero. [...]

"This book was so exciting that I couldn't resist skipping ahead to the end [...] Yet the process of reading it was so pleasurable that even knowing how the book ended, I still went back and read every single word, so as not to miss a thing.

"Not a word of the nearly-700-page book is wasted. Rothfuss does not pad. He's the great new fantasy writer we've been waiting for, and this is an astonishing book. [...]

"If you're a reader of fantasy or simply someone who appreciates a truly epic-scale work of fiction, don't go through this summer without having read it. At the very least it will keep you busy till the last Harry Potter comes out. But I warn you -- after The Name of the Wind, the Harry Potter novel might seem a little thin and -- dare I say it? -- childish. You have been warned."

And Orson Scott Card isn't the only one talking.

DAW president Elizabeth Wollheim called it "the most brilliant first fantasy novel I have read in over 30 years as an editor."

Author Anne McCaffrey called it "a magnificent book, a really fine story, highly readable and engrossing."

And author Terry Brooks said, "The Name of the Wind marks the debut of a writer we would all do well to watch. Patrick Rothfuss has real talent, and his tale of Kvothe is deep and intricate and wondrous."

As if that weren't enough, The Name of the Wind was announced in June as a nominee for a Quill award in the speculative fiction category!

The Quill voting board chooses the category winners, which will be revealed on September 10, but then readers get to vote among those winners for the coveted Book of the Year. Reader voting takes place from September 10 to October 10, so look for new announcements as the time draws near!

(Read Chapters 8 & 9 on the official Patrick Rothfuss website.)

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Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

And just in case you've been living under a rock...
in a barren, deserted wasteland...
on Mars...

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows comes out on July 21. If you're into the series, you'll buy the book. But if you haven't picked up at least one of these volumes by now, I'd bet good money you're so spectacularly uninterested, nothing I could tell you about them would have the slightest chance of changing your mind.

Right. Moving along then...

Harry Potter Complete Hardcover Boxed Set!

For Harry Potter fans and collectors alike, here's a special find, just for you: coming in September, the super cool boxed set of all seven Harry Potter titles, bound in hardcover and packaged in this gorgeous magic trunk. Amazon is already taking pre-orders so don't wait. This is a fantastic collectible and will not be around forever.

(See a close-up photo.)

'Tween Heaven and Hell

Link: 'Tween Heaven and Hell
Author: Sam Cheever
Publisher: Cerridwen Press
Date: July 26, 2007
Format: E-book, 200 pages
ISBN: 978 14199 0977 1

Sam Cheever's 'Tween Heaven and Hell is a wild and fun read, easily spanning the entire speculative fiction gamut, from science fiction to fantasy to a little light horror, with plenty of good laughs and some sex thrown in to boot. Think of it as an amusement park ride through the realms of darkness.

It has always been my unassailable policy not to spoil any plot lines, and I certainly won't let you down now. But Ms. Cheever's book makes it a bit of a challenge. For a romance novel, it has some especially twisted and intricate action.

In fact, you'll have to wait a bit between the steamy sections due to the enormous amount of intrigue and mystery built into the plot. That same intrigue prevents me from saying too much about the hero--the royal devil, Prince Dialle--except that he's a deliciously lusty fellow and almost too sexy for words.

As for Astra Q Phelps, our bold and lively heroine, she's the big sister I never had.

Despite her small stature, she is one tough demon-butt-kicking gal. If this Tweener--half angel, half devil--had been guarding my back in the hallways, high school would have presented a very different scenario...

I like her for her spunk, for her determination, for her blatant irreverence, and for the cheeky mouth that tends to get the better of her. The girl says what she thinks, let me tell you. But then again, she has to. It's her first line of defense against a world that goes from creepy to nightmarishly evil in a heartbeat.

On that note, I should mention that this is not a book for the squeamish. Most of the violence is the normal fallout of battle, but not all of it. Astra, after all, is a demon hunter. And Ms. Cheever's demons are... well... highly demonic. You could even call them "realistic," but I'd rather just call them "convincing." I'll sleep better.

So yes, it's a romance novel, but not exclusively. There's also plenty of futuristic high-tech gadgetry, tons of devils and demon spawn, a few angels with innocent but all-too-human vices (like coffee and cheesecake), and a good bit of gore. If that sounds like your cup of tea, then you will love this book.

But I couldn't possibly wrap this up without also mentioning Astra's loyal Tweener sidekick, Emo. More devil than angel, Emo "gets" his demon-hunting partner in a way that few others can. Who better to understand the trials of one half-angel, half-devil Tweener than another?

So if you're up for a kick-ass heroine, a few steamy men, and a walk on the dark side punctuated by a barrel full of laughs, pick up a copy of 'Tween Heaven and Hell on July 26th, and then wait anxiously for book two, 'Tween a Devil and His Hard Place. Ms. Cheever assures me it's already well in the works, so hopefully we won't have to wait long!

(Read an excerpt on Sam Cheever's website.)

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Good News for Rowena Cherry's Insufficient Mating Material!
Speculative romance author Rowena Cherry reports that Insufficient Mating Material, the sequel to Forced Mate, was recently declared the winner of the Night Owl Romance Award in the Best Fantasy/Sci-Fi Romance category! The book is also a finalist in the Author Island Readers' Choice awards for science fiction, along with Angel and the Flying Warhorses by Jacki Bentley, Talking to Trees by Kathryn Sullivan, and Men in Chains by Virginia Reede.

A Special Announcement for UK Readers!
Ms. Cherry would also like to announce that she is running a "spread-the-word" contest to celebrate the release on June 29th of Insufficient Mating Material in the UK. If you live in the UK, contact "rowena at rowenacherry dot com" for the secret url or message "rowena" on MySpace at http://www.myspace.com/insufficientmm.

(Read excerpts of Forced Mate and Insufficient Mating Material.)

Look who's back!!! Check out the latest from R.A. Salvatore...

"Drizzt is back in this exciting new trilogy from R. A. Salvatore... The all new Transitions trilogy featuring everyone's favorite Dark Elf begins this fall with The Orc King, continues in 2008 with The Pirate King and wraps up in 2009 with The Ghost King."

Stay tuned for information, e-signings, podcasts, and more in the dark elf extravaganza as rasalvatore.com ramps up its year long celebration of 20 Years of Drizzt!

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Terry Brooks E-signing!!!

The new book from Terry Brooks, The Elves of Cintra, the second book in The Genesis of Shannara series, will be released on August 28. You can order the book on Amazon, or you can order a signed copy through The Signed Page. (Yes, they accept brief personalizations.)

Both Amazon and The Signed Page are already accepting pre-orders, so for all you Terry Brooks fans out there, go ahead and order yours today!

By the way... Terry Brooks also reports that he has optioned the rights to his Shannara series to Warner Brothers. That's right, there is a chance -- still just a chance -- that The Elfstones of Shannara will be made into a major motion picture! The studio has purchased a script and chosen a director, but the project has not yet received the green light from the powers that be. Hollywood can be a fickle friend, so don't hold your breath. But stay tuned! (Visit the official Terry Brooks website for the full report.)

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Coming in January: Hal Spacejock 4!

Author Simon Haynes reports that he is hard at work on the very last chapter of the fourth book in the Hal Spacejock series. The working title is Hal Spacejock: No Free Lunch, and the book is expected to arrive on the shelves sometime in January 2008.

The first three titles are readily available in Australia, but now there's good news for US readers: all three are in stock at Powell's books online! Find this fun trilogy at:

Hal Spacejock: http://www.powells.com/biblio/67-9781920731892-0
Hal Spacejock Second Course: http://www.powells.com/biblio/67-9781921064661-0
Hal Spacejock Just Desserts: http://www.powells.com/biblio/67-9781921064395-0

Then write to Mr. Haynes and tell him how spectacularly cool you think this newsletter is. If we're lucky, he'll send me an advance copy so I can review the new book!

(Read an excerpt from Hal Spacejock on Simon Haynes' website.)

From Rachel Deahl of Publishers Weekly:

Science fiction publisher, and Hasbro subsidiary, Wizards of the Coast is launching a new imprint in 2008 dedicated to adult fantasy. Wizards of the Coast Discoveries will feature titles in a range of sub-genres including urban horror and literary fantasy; it will also publish both debut and established authors. The imprint, which will release its first book in January, Richard Dansky's Firefly Rain, marks Wizards' first foray into "adult non-shared world fiction," according to publicist Caitlin Roulston. Up until now Wizards, which has YA imprint Mirrorstone, has published only adult fantasy series fiction.

With a new power-backed publisher in the fantasy market, look for a whole new realm of titles to show up on the shelves next year. Or should I say realms, since Wizards is finally branching out into stand-alone fiction from its oh-so-popular D&D titles. For those authors who are just itching to break into the fantasy market, make sure you check out the new house. Despite their long history in the genre, they'll be looking for new authors to fill up their roster!