Show Notes: Kent Nichols and Douglas Sarine from “Ask A Ninja”

Discussion: Mike Stackpole tells us about a new Mac application he’s found, Delicious Library, available from Delicious Monster. It can catalog just about anything with a barcode: books, DVDs, action figures, and more.

Mike S loves this app, and Summer tried it out and also is newly addicted to it. Go check it out!

Interview: This week, Mike, Summer and Mike talk with Kent Nichols and Douglas Sarine. The people who bring you Ask a Ninja have expanded their reach into print media and are trying to bring you The Ninja Handbook.

We talk about breaking Ninjas out into many media formats, how Ask A Ninja came about, and the never-ending battle between the International Order of Ninjas and the threat posed by clowns. Ninjas and Clowns are mortal enemies for a reason.

Discussion: Mike M wants a list of evil clown books, if you know of any, to help build a Halloween collection of scary stories.

Submitting Listener comments: If you have any suggestions or comments, please let us know! “Cover to Cover” has it’s own call-in line, 206-350-READ! That’s 206-350-7323, or just email Michael with a comment you’ve recorded yourself!

Second Life Info: FarPoint Media’s Second Life space is now the penthouse suite of Third Life Books, the place for SL versions of Michael A. Stackpole’s writings, and many other goodies, including a Wednesday night writing workshop. You can find the castle at http://slurl.com/secondlife/beraudes/203/151/49. Come see the castle roof pool!

FarPoint Forums: Head on over to the FarPoint Forums and join in the discussions on Dragon Page topics, and for most of your favorite FPM shows!

Link: Delicious Library
Link: The Ninja Handbook: This Book Looks Forward to Killing You
Promo: 12-volt Theater: Down the Road
Promo: Slice of SciFi

 

 Cover to Cover #330A: Ask A Ninja [31:35m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (1983)

We have another novel-to-film adaptation to anticipate:

AMC plans Mars mission
Hensleigh aboard for series based on sci-fi novel
By Kimberly Nordyke
Oct 3, 2008, 01:00 AM ET

There might be a green light in the red planet’s future.

Cable network AMC is looking to outer space as it beefs up its programing slate, developing a series project with writer/executive producer Jonathan Hensleigh (”Armageddon”) based on the sci-fi novel “Red Mars.”

“Mars,” a 1992 novel by Kim Stanley Robinson, chronicles the inhabitants of the first human colony on the planet.

“This fits in with our bigger vision of wanting series that feel like cinematic one-hour movies,” said Christina Wayne, senior vice president original series and miniseries at AMC. “We’re always looking for big genres but to do them in slightly different ways so they feel fresh and new,” she added, noting as examples the network’s Western mini “Broken Trail” and crime-themed series “Breaking Bad.”

Jeremy Elice, vice president original programing series, added that the project will be character-driven. “It’s not the spectacle of sci-fi that you typically see,” he said.

Read the full article at HollywoodReporter.com

In Cover to Cover #329B, listener Dawn in North Carolina stated that she’s read all of the McCaffrey Pern novels and short stories, and is now in desperate need for suggestions for more books about or featuring dragons.

Here’s a start:

Melanie Rawn: Dragon Prince trilogy
Dragon Prince, The Star Scroll, Sunrunner’s Fire

Melanie Rawn: Dragon Star trilogy
Stronghold, The Dragon Token, Skybowl

Both series have amazing dragon art covers by Michael Whelan.

Elizabeth Lynn: Dragon’s Winter and Dragon’s Treasure

Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman: Dragonlance Chronicles Trilogy
Dragons of Autumn Twilight, Dragons of Winter Night, Dragons of Spring Dawning

Alison Baird: The Dragon Throne Trilogy
Stone of the Stars, Empire of the Stars, Archons of the Stars

Martin H. Greenberg: edited the anthology Dragon Fantastic
Alan Dean Foster: edited the anthology Smart Dragons, Foolish Elves

and of course, Mistress of the Dragon by Michael R. Mennenga

Feel free to add any more suggestions to the comments, or to the new thread over at the forums, Recommendations for Books with Dragons

Show Notes: Getting away from Being Connected

Voicemail: Trampas (Dragonlance Canticle) comments on how continuity errors can make a book or series unreadable for him. Mike, Mike and Summer chat about the various reasons why that may happen, depending on who’s sandbox is being played in and by who’s rules they are bound to play by.

Listener Review: Justin Macumber of Dead Robots Society reviews Too Many Curses by A. Lee Martinez.

Dead Robots Society is currently running their 2nd Annual Writing Contest, running from October 1 through October 31, 2008. This year, the contest is about great opening chapters. Visit their website for more details, including some wonderful prizes.

Voicemail: Jordan comments on the cycle between customizations and uniformity; Michael from Germany calls in with praise for the show (you’re very welcome, Michael!); there’s a recording of a panel featuring Charles Stross on e-books over at http://www.bostonfandom.org; comment on a Metal Gear Solid book and a potential easter egg; Todd in Utah nitpicks about the pronunciation of “Trek”; Dawn from NC wants some recommendations on more dragon stories; Arkle comments on anachronistic language use; Will the Computer Guy tells us about a recording of a reading by Charlaine Harris that’s available at Adventures in Scifi Publishing; Shane wonders if the dissatisfaction with the later Xanth novels is because they were written geared towards younger readers.

Submitting Listener comments: If you have any suggestions or comments, please let us know! “Cover to Cover” has it’s own call-in line, 206-350-READ! That’s 206-350-7323, or just email Michael with a comment you’ve recorded yourself!

Second Life Info: FarPoint Media’s Second Life space is now the penthouse suite of Third Life Books, the place for SL versions of Michael A. Stackpole’s writings, and many other goodies, including a Wednesday night writing workshop. You can find the castle at http://slurl.com/secondlife/beraudes/203/151/49. Come see the castle roof pool!

FarPoint Forums: Head on over to the FarPoint Forums and join in the discussions on Dragon Page topics, and for most of your favorite FPM shows!

Promo: Star Wars: Codename Starkeeper
Link: Martha Wells — Worlds of Fantasy

 

 Cover to Cover #329B: Listener Comments [38:55m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (1789)

Show Notes: Jennifer Rardin

Voicemail: Brad from Nashville recounts an excerpt from a Stackpole novel, which leads to much amusement.

Interview: This week, Mike and Summer talk with Jennifer Rardin about Bitten To Death, the fourth in her Jaz Parks series. She tells us about how the story and characters gelled, and how she wanted to go in a different direction than most paranormal tales have gone, working more with the urban adventure rather than the strict romance.

Discussion: Mike and Mike talk about some other prep people can do with the upcoming NaNoWriMo, including using topics covered by “The Secrets”.

Submitting Listener comments: If you have any suggestions or comments, please let us know! “Cover to Cover” has it’s own call-in line, 206-350-READ! That’s 206-350-7323, or just email Michael with a comment you’ve recorded yourself!

Second Life Info: FarPoint Media’s Second Life space is now the penthouse suite of Third Life Books, the place for SL versions of Michael A. Stackpole’s writings, and many other goodies, including a Wednesday night writing workshop. You can find the castle at http://slurl.com/secondlife/beraudes/203/151/49. Come see the castle roof pool!

FarPoint Forums: Head on over to the FarPoint Forums and join in the discussions on Dragon Page topics, and for most of your favorite FPM shows!

Link: Jennifer Rardin
Promo: Second Shift

 

 Cover to Cover #329A: Jennifer Rardin [31:22m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (1927)

Just ahead of the publication of his second novel, sci fi thriller Plague War, author Jeff Carlson and two friends released a “book trailer” entitled 4 Minutes Above 10,000 Feet. Shot in the Sierra mountains, this short film can only be described as Alive meets The Blair Witch Project meets the new Andromeda Strain.

With moderately high production values and starring Carlson himself alternating between roles as the narrator and a survivor caught in his own books, the trailer quickly garnered attention at genre and mainstream web sites such as boingboing, GalleyCat, and io9.com, as well as popular blogs such as those of Joseph Mallozi (television’s Stargate: Atlantis) and top literary agent Nathan Bransford.

“This trailer is really exceptional,” remarked bestselling author Kevin J. Anderson. “I can just see many publishers convincing themselves that something like this would cost $100,000 or more. It’s great work, and I’ll bet [Carlson’s publisher] is dazzled… and confused! They must be thinking ‘Wow, how did he do that!?’”

Among other spectacular visuals and action sequences, the four-minute trailer features computer generated imagery of a smoking space shuttle roaring over Carlson’s head as he stands on a desolate mountaintop, having just escaped the microscopic nanotechnology featured in his novels Plague Year and its new sequel, Plague War, published by Ace/Penguin in North America.

According to Carlson, however, “The most unusual part about our short film must be that my total out-of-pocket costs were less than four hundred dollars, nearly all of which went to my web guy to convert the original file and build a Flash player for it on my site, which, in retrospect, was unnecessary. The YouTube version looks surprisingly sharp, especially if you click on the ‘Watch In High Quality’ tab.

“Next time I’ll skip the fancy Flash player and go YouTube all the way, with the original QuickTime file also available on my site for the purists.”

(Read more…)

Famed director Guillermo del Toro will be adding one more task into his already jam-packed schedule, that of author for a new vampire novel trilogy.

del Toro has signed a book deal with HarperCollins sub William Morrow and will co-pen a series of vampire stories with the first of three novels to hit stores in the summer of 2009. He will co-write with author Chuck Hogan (”Prince of Thieves,” “The Standoff”). The series will be first published in English and Spanish. If successful, more language editions are expected.

The main crux of the story will revolve around the Old Testament roots of vampirism, taking it up to modern day. The first of the three is titled “The Strain” and focuses on an invasion of New York City by a vampire-type virus.

The story that changed the way the world feels about orcs has finally been published in the US.

Orcs is the collected Orcs Trilogy, Bodyguard of Lightning, Legion of Thunder and Warriors of the Tempest.

Thanks to Orbit Books, The Dragon Page is giving away 3 copies of the brand new US release of Stan Nicholls’ epic.

To enter, just send an email to contest [at] dragonpage [dot] com and put “Orcs” in the subject line.

Be sure to include your name and shipping address in the body of the email. Any entries submitted without name and mailing address information will be disqualified and discarded.

One entry per email per day.

Contest begins Friday, September 26, 2008 and will run until midnight Pacific time Friday, October 10, 2008.

Good luck!

Show Notes: Getting away from Being Connected

Mike Stackpole talks about a family fishing trip, in a location that doesn’t even get cell reception. That in itself is fascinating… how do you find places to unplug? Be it for writing, drawing, painting, or whatever your passion, where do you go or what do you do to disconnect for a time?

Try GoToMyPc.com! free for 30 days!

Listener Review: Web Genii reviews The Element of Fire by Martha Wells, the first in her Ile-Rien series. The book is currently out-of-print, but is available POD in trade paperback format from Lulu.com, and available for free from her website and over at Manybooks.net

The Library: New this week: Last Argument of Kings by Joe Abercrombie (Summer swoons); Key to Redemption by Talia Gryphon; After the Downfall by Harry Turtledove; Hunter’s Prayer by Lilith Saintcrow; Dark Vengeance by Ed Greenwood; Wolfsbane and Mistletoe edited by Charlaine Harris and Toni L.P. Kelner; City of Jade by Dennis L. McKiernan; Crusade by Taylor Anderson.

Submitting Listener comments: If you have any suggestions or comments, please let us know! “Cover to Cover” has it’s own call-in line, 206-350-READ! That’s 206-350-7323, or just email Michael with a comment you’ve recorded yourself!

Second Life Info: FarPoint Media’s Second Life space is now the penthouse suite of Third Life Books, the place for SL versions of Michael A. Stackpole’s writings, and many other goodies, including a Wednesday night writing workshop. You can find the castle at http://slurl.com/secondlife/beraudes/203/151/49. Come see the castle roof pool!

FarPoint Forums: Head on over to the FarPoint Forums and join in the discussions on Dragon Page topics, and for most of your favorite FPM shows!

Link: Martha Wells — Worlds of Fantasy

 

 Cover to Cover #328B: Technology, Unplugged [27:50m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (2280)

Show Notes: S. M. Stirling

Try GoToMyPc.com! free for 30 days!

Interview: This week, Mike and Brian talk with S. M. Stirling, who made a quick stop in town on a book tour promoting The Scourge of God, the sequel to The Sunrise Lands, and latest in a 9-volume sequence.

Discussion: Mike and Mike talk about some of the newest developments in Second Life for Third Life Books and FarPoint Media, the new spaces for writers and artists, and more. Also, at 6pm Pacific on September 28, come on in and listen to Scott Sigler give a talk.

Submitting Listener comments: If you have any suggestions or comments, please let us know! “Cover to Cover” has it’s own call-in line, 206-350-READ! That’s 206-350-7323, or just email Michael with a comment you’ve recorded yourself!

Second Life Info: FarPoint Media’s Second Life space is now the penthouse suite of Third Life Books, the place for SL versions of Michael A. Stackpole’s writings, and many other goodies, including a Wednesday night writing workshop. You can find the castle at http://slurl.com/secondlife/beraudes/203/151/49. Come see the castle roof pool!

FarPoint Forums: Head on over to the FarPoint Forums and join in the discussions on Dragon Page topics, and for most of your favorite FPM shows!

Link: Offical S. M. Stirling Website
Promo: Dragonlance Canticle

 

 Cover to Cover #328A: S. M. Stirling [32:01m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (2193)

Show Notes: Fun stuff at the new Tor.com

Discussion: So how many of you have been playing with the new Tor.com website? The new site, launched at the same time as San Diego Comicon, is now more of a social networking media site for books than it is an informational site for a book publisher.

Try GoToMyPc.com! free for 30 days!

Listener Review: D. C. Wilson for Beyond the Event Horizon has a review of A. Lee Martinez’ The Automatic Detective

Listener Feedback: Doc Brown asks Miks S about an online serial fiction project that he and Moose are collaborating on, and whether or not a market for two unknown writers with a new media project might find some traction with it.

Submitting Listener comments: If you have any suggestions or comments, please let us know! “Cover to Cover” has it’s own call-in line, 206-350-READ! That’s 206-350-7323, or just email Michael with a comment you’ve recorded yourself!

Second Life Info: FarPoint Media’s Second Life space is now the penthouse suite of Third Life Books, the place for SL versions of Michael A. Stackpole’s writings, and many other goodies, including a Wednesday night writing workshop. You can find the castle at http://slurl.com/secondlife/beraudes/203/151/49. Come see the castle roof pool!

FarPoint Forums: Head on over to the FarPoint Forums and join in the discussions on Dragon Page topics, and for most of your favorite FPM shows!

Promo: Star Wars: Codename: Starkeeper

 

 Cover to Cover #327B: Playing with Tor.com [27:14m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (2240)

With Class After Dark!

Lorrie, Megan, Joyce, Noemi, Carla and Stacy start out this episode discussing their favorite books to read while they were growing up:

• Joyce: “Mrs Mike” by Benedict Freeman
• Megan: “The Diary of Anne Frank”
• Noemi: “Blubber” by Judy Blume
• Carla: “A Wizard of Earthsea” by Ursula LeGuin, “Stranger in a Strange Land” by Robert Heinlein
• Stacy: “Charlotte’s Web” by E. B. White
• Lorrie: “Are You There God, It’s Me, Margaret” by Judy Blume, “The Stand” by Stephen King

The list leads into the troubles getting kids to read in class, much less getting them to read on their own outside of school. Why does it seem as if most kids these days not hungry to read?

The teachers talk about their influences in learning to read, and discuss the challenges for both parents and teachers in getting kids to read more, and possible ways to get them engaged in wanting to read more. They also talk about the current favorite types of books they enjoy reading now.

Do you have questions you’d like the teachers to talk about on future shows? Call in, 206-350-READ (206-350-7323)

Promo: How to Grow Your Geek
Promo: Visit GotoMyPC.com/podcast for your free 30 day trial!

 

 With Class #28: What's Your Book Type [28:19m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (580)

Show Notes: L. A. Banks

Discussion: Many have complained that TV and movies are being too “dumbed down” for kids, but is the same thing happening in YA books?

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Interview: This week, Mike, Mike, Lorrie and Summer talk with urban fantasy author L. A. Banks, creator of the Vampire Huntress Legend series. The first book, Minion, came out to much acclaim in 2004, and the newest book out this year, The Shadows, is already the 11th book in the series! And yes, she’s working on Book 12, due out in February 2009…

Submitting Listener comments: If you have any suggestions or comments, please let us know! “Cover to Cover” has it’s own call-in line, 206-350-READ! That’s 206-350-7323, or just email Michael with a comment you’ve recorded yourself!

Second Life Info: FarPoint Media’s Second Life space is now the penthouse suite of Third Life Books, the place for SL versions of Michael A. Stackpole’s writings, and many other goodies, including a Wednesday night writing workshop. You can find the castle at http://slurl.com/secondlife/beraudes/203/151/49. Come see the castle roof pool!

FarPoint Forums: Head on over to the FarPoint Forums and join in the discussions on Dragon Page topics, and for most of your favorite FPM shows!

Link: The Vampire-Huntress Legends
Link: Leslie Esdaile Banks, Author

 

 Cover to Cover #327A: L. A. Banks [33:41m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (2531)

Show Notes: Dragon*Con Report

Discussion: Mike Stackpole delivers the promised Dragon*Con report. We hear about the Podcasting track, the Star Wars track, and the Skeptics track, and more. 4 full hotels, and more people and costumes than you can shake a light saber at!

Check out Dragon*Con TV for a small taste of some of the things you might have missed, and the Parsec Awards, so you know what to add to your attendance list for next year’s D*C

Try GoToMyPc.com! free for 30 days!

Listener Review: Web Genii gives us a review of Marie Brennan’s Midnight Never Come

The Library: New this wek: Inferno by Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle; Sly Mongoose by Tobias S. Buckell; Stalking the Unicorn and Stalking the Vampire by Mike Resnick.

Submitting Listener comments: If you have any suggestions or comments, please let us know! “Cover to Cover” has it’s own call-in line, 206-350-READ! That’s 206-350-7323, or just email Michael with a comment you’ve recorded yourself!

Second Life Info: FarPoint Media’s Second Life space is now the penthouse suite of Third Life Books, the place for SL versions of Michael A. Stackpole’s writings, and many other goodies, including a Wednesday night writing workshop. You can find the castle at http://slurl.com/secondlife/beraudes/203/151/49. Come see the castle roof pool!

FarPoint Forums: Head on over to the FarPoint Forums and join in the discussions on Dragon Page topics, and for most of your favorite FPM shows!

Promo: Chuck Chat Technorama
Link: Dragon*Con
Link: Dragon*Con TV
Link: Parsec Awards
Link: AZ 501st Legion Dune Sea Garrison
Link: 501st Legion Podcast

 

 Cover to Cover #326B: Dragon*Con Report [20:42m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (2518)

With Class is Back!

Meet some of Lorrie’s coworkers, Noemi, Joyce and Megan… all teachers, all working with students with special needs, and trying to work with a system that should be simpler than it is.

Today’s topics cover the overabundance of ever-increasing acronyms, dealing with behavior issues in different ways, the differences between teaching and parenting, and so much more.

Listen in on the teacher roundtable!

Do you have questions you’d like the teachers to talk about on future shows? Call in, 206-350-READ (206-350-7323)

Promo: Visit GotoMyPC.com/podcast for your free 30 day trial!

 

 With Class #27: Beyond Teaching [38:00m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (374)