Bethany Grenier

Sci-Fi/Fantasy Panel Discussion with Jim C. Hines, Bethany Grenier, Emmy Jackson and Gary W. Olson
Start: May 7 2012 7:00 pm

Four authors, four unique spins on science fiction and
fantasy.

Experience the multimedia fantasy of Bethany Grenier, the re-imagined fairy tales of Jim C. Hines, the post-apocalyptic America of Emmy Jackson and the Detroit-based dark fantasy of Gary W. Olson in a single evening as each of these genre-blending local authors reads (and signs) their book at Nicola’s Books in Ann Arbor on May 7, 2012.

The readings start at 7pm, and there will be a Q&A and book signing immediately following.

Author, artist, hair dresser, sculptor and fashionista, Bethany
Grenier has been making art in one way or another for nearly
twenty-five years and has been accepted into both group and solo
showings of her art. Bethany brings her unique vision and passion for
style to all she does, co-producing the major arcana tarot deck for
her first book, Sings With Stars, released in March of 2010. Bethany
is currently writing the sequel to her first book and hopes to have it
finished and published by spring of next year. She also continues to
produce art for the continuation of the tarot deck started in the
first book, to be used in this book.

Jim C. Hines’ next book is Libriomancer, a modern-day fantasy about a
magic-wielding Yooper librarian, a hamadryad, a secret society founded
by Johannes Gutenberg, a flaming spider, and an enchanted convertible.
He’s also the author of the Princess series of fairy tale retellings
as well as the humorous Goblin Quest trilogy. His short fiction has
appeared in more than 40 magazines and anthologies. Online, he can be
found at http://www.jimchines.com/

Emmy Jackson is the author of the post-apocalyptic urban fantasy novel
Empty Cradle: The Untimely Death of Corey Sanderson. He lived as a
nomad in an RV for three years, wandering the continental United
States at will. He was born and raised in Detroit and always returns
no matter how many times he moves away. In Empty Cradle, he takes
readers on a road trip approximately a hundred and fifty years after a
plague of infertility leads to society’s violent collapse. For more
writing and information, check out http://www.emmyjackson.com.

Gary W. Olson’s first novel, Brutal Light, was published by Damnation
Books on December 1, 2011. Brutal Light is a supernatural dark fantasy
novel set in modern day Detroit, and debuted on December 1, 2011 from
Damnation Books. Olson grew up in Michigan and, despite the weather,
stuck around. In 1991 he graduated from Central Michigan University
and went to work as a software engineer. He loves to read and write
stories that transgress the boundaries of science fiction, fantasy,
and horror, while examining ideas of identity and its loss in the many
forms it can have. His website is
at http://www.garywolson.com

Hello Friends!

Let me apologize for the length of time that has passed since my last update, I’ve been very busy finishing the second book in The Dreaming series, called:

The Dreaming: Kingdom of Doubt

Of course it was only the first draft that I finished, but I’m super happy with it, and can’t wait to share it with you. In other news, Sings With Stars is no longer available in the Self-Published version, in anticipation of the Charmed Life Publishing re-release of the book as The Dreaming: Sings With Stars! If you really want a copy of the previous version, contact me, as I have a few left in my private stash.

And finally I’m excited to share the news that the Steampunk inspired play “Isle of Marvel” that will premier next week at Aquinas College here in Grand Rapids, MI will be featuring some of my personal steampunk goggles, monocles, and necklaces. These are pieces I’ve made and kept for myself. I’ll post pics as soon as I can!!

As a bonus, I got to design an ad for the book for the playbill!

thanks for reading!

-b

It’s time for some more sneak peeks at the illustrations by Devin DuMond “in progress”. These will ultimately become the major arcana of the companion tarot deck of my book Sings With Stars, soon to be re-published with Charmed Life Publishing as

The Dreaming:

Sings With Stars.

So obviously this is a titch late to be consider a 2011 years end wrap up, but in truth I needed a minute to reflect upon 2011 before I could comment on it. It was a busy year…

The highlights include: Going to Harry Potter world in FL, Seeing Voltaire and Rasputina in the middle of a Michigan blizzard, putting out the 2nd edition of Sings With Stars and taking it to the World Steam Expo after raising funds to do so through a very successful kickstarter.com campaign!

I moved to an awesome new salon, Imagination Creations! Did some awesome photo shoots (featuring my re-purposed clothing designs and styling) with my good friend Bethalynne Bajema that were used in Insects & Angels, including on with noted Steampunk photographer Lex Machina!

I was featured as the character in the Fool tarot card in Bethalynne Bajema’s tarot deck and in her graphic novel for the Black Ibis. This summer I performed in my first Butoh performance on the steps of the Grand Rapids Art Museum with my good friend Rachel Finan, wrote the sequel to my first book, and took a lot of random pictures with my Instagram iPhone app, all the while defending my title, “Queen of the Nerds”…

and of course the biggest development that started last years and will be a huge focus of this year is the re-publishing of Sings With Stars  by Charmed Life Publishing, to happen this spring! Featuring beautiful new illustrations by Devin DuMond! Keep checking in to see previews of illustrations as they develop…

Thanks to the following for additional photos:Jody Grenier, Bethalynne Bajema,

Lex Machina, Bruce Madden, and Jason Ash DuMond

Coming this spring, Sings With Stars will be re-published by Charmed Life Publishing! The book will be renamed, The Dreaming: Sings With Stars. It will also feature brand new illustrations in a style developed specifically for the book by the very talented artist,

Devin DuMond!

This is a sneak peak at one of the beautiful illustrations being drawn for the republished version. There will also be a newly updated website as well as just a bit of previously unreleased text!

I’ll keep you posted with updates as they develop as well as posting sneak peaks as the illustrations progress.

Thanks for reading!

-b

Necessity is the Mother of Invention as they say…

Sick girls should never be allowed to tinker with their websites.

But I did…

So now, I will be slowly rebuilding what took but a moment to destroy.

I’ll be adding back most of the former content and photos, and adding new stuff.

Please check back soon to see what’s new!

Please consider supporting my Kickstarter fundraising Project.

You pledge money, and if I meet my goal, you get awesome stuff in return!

I uploaded the 2nd edition cover and manuscript for Sings With Stars, and anticipate ordering the proof copy within the next two days! So if all goes well, the 2nd edition should be available and for sale next week! So for now, I’ll content myself by revealing the beautiful brand new front cover, by Bethalynne Bajema!

Holiday Craziness & Year’s End Thoughts…

Wow, it’s been a while since I’ve posted. Sorry about that… There has been so much going on.

The Out of Fashion Show was super awesome!! I’m hoping that Rebecca Kilgore, the owner of motherpunker.com will do it all again! It was a lot of work for all involved, but well worth the effort. I just finished up my commissioned orders from that show a few days ago! It’s very cool to know that my creations are gifts!

On a sad note however, my favorite kitty, Masa passed away quite suddenly this week.

I am so looking forward to the new year! This past year was very life changing, some things were great, and others were very challenging! I published my first book, Sings With Stars, turned 40, moved, participated in ArtPrize with my good friends as Cirque Acrica, lost a cat, and started a new venture with my good friend, Bethalynne Bajema in the form of an art magazine called Insects & Angels to name a few!

 This next year will be filled with many art and publishing ventures, including the 2nd edition of Sings with a beautiful new cover, as well as both the audio book and a graphic novel! I’m planning on at least two steampunk conventions, writing my second book, The Dreaming! Not to mention more editions of Insects & Angels, book illustrating and many more adventures that are waiting to unfold!

The very last picture is a special sneak peak at the beautiful new cover for the 2nd edition of Sings With Stars, which will hopefully be ready by late January!!! I’ll keep you posted…

 Thanks for reading!

-b

Yay! I participated in the Coilhouse Small-Business Advertising Program for Issue 05,

and now they’ve featured all the advertisers in a blog!!

Check out this super awesome Magazine and Blog!!

coilhouse.com

Not much to report in the way of new news, but I am excited to tell you, brave readers, that work is steadily progressing on book two, The Dreaming. As well as working on the graphic novel, and the audio book for Sings With Stars! My goal is to release the new and improved Second Edition with it’s new amazing cover by Bethalynne Bajema, the graphic novel and the audio book in March of 2011! This would be to mark the one year anniversary of the publication of Sings With Stars!

I’ll be posting peaky sneakies here soon! For today though, I only have one for you…