I've been overwhelmed at the praise for Magic, Mensa and Mayhem. I wrote it, literally, for laughs, and apparently that's what everyone gets from it, too! Many reviewers commented deeper themes, from redemption to social commentary, but all of them reached the same conclusion: You should only read it in places where you can laugh out loud.

Read the snippets here.

The next class at The Marketing Mentor will be on making your own video book trailer. This is a fun and useful marketing tool, and can take as little as a weekend to put together once you know how. We'll discuss:
--basics of an effective trailer
--where to get free photos and music
--the nuts-and-bolts of working with Windows Movie Maker
--what to do with it when it's done

You must have a computer that can handle Windows Movie Maker or be familiar with your own movie-making program. (The only program I know is Movie Maker, so I won't be able to answer questions on others.)

If you do the homework, you should have your own trailer by the end of class! (Not promising Oscar quality, but fun!)

The class costs $30 and runs 4-5 weeks. Register at http://www.karinafabian.com/index.php?name=Content&pid=24. Payment is via PayPal.

I'd also like to remind folks of my newsletter "The 30-Minute Marketer." Too often we get advice on what marketers should do, but not a lot of direction. IE—we need that coach to tell us "Do this—here's how!" Each week, I give you tasks. You will learn as you do. The newsletter is just $12 for 52 issues. You can sign up at http://www.karinafabian.com/index.php?name=Content&pid=24 (scroll down)

M E D I A R E L E A S E

CONTACT: Ann Lewis Karina Fabian
E-mail: annlewis@joesystems.com e-mail: : karina@fabianspace.com

For Immediate Release

Catholic Writers Guild, Catholic Marketing Network Hold Writers’ Conference

Somerset, NJ--The Catholic Writers' Guild, in conjunction with the Catholic Marketing Network, will host its first-ever Catholic Writers’ Conference LIVE! at the Doubletree Hotel & Executive Meeting Center, Somerset, NJ, from Aug 5-7, 2009. The conference will host publishers, editors and authors from all aspects of the Catholic writing world, including magazines and devotionals, novels and educational materials. The panel discussions, presentations and workshops will cover all aspects of writing including generating query letters, crafting a good story, worldbuilding, marketing finished works and more. In addition, editors from several Catholic publishers will be on-hand to share their wisdom and hear authors propose their works.

The Catholic Marketing Network's International Trade Show, held at the neighboring Garden State Exhibition Center (http://www.gsec.com), will serve as the exhibition floor for the writers’ conference, giving writers a chance to browse the booths, meet with publishing companies, and chat with the published authors at book signings at the Catholic Writers’ Guild booth. CMN will also be hosting daily Masses and rosaries at the Doubletree Hotel, and Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament at the exhibition center. Other CMN events including the seminars and inspirational talks scheduled for Tuesday, August 4 will be held at the Doubletree.

Presenters for the writers’ conference include: author/Sophia Press submissions editor Regina Doman (Angel in the Waters); Pauline Books and Media Editor Sister Maria Grace, CEO of Ignatius Press Mark Brumley (How Not to Share Your Faith), Susan Brinkmann editor of Canticle Magazine, Lisa Wheeler, Executive Vice President of the Maximus Group (PR and marketing firm for The Passion of the Christ), author/Ascension Press publisher Matt Pinto (Do Adam and Eve Have Belly Buttons?), and mystery author John Desjarlais (Bleeder) among others.

"This is a fantastic opportunity for both writers and publishers to connect," said science fiction writer and Catholic Writer's Guild President, Karina Fabian. "The CMN has been especially generous in offering to share it facilities and programs with us, which really enhances the quality of the conference for attendee and presenter.”
Conference Coordinator and CWG Vice President Ann Lewis adds “There will be a lot of good information, encouragement and learning opportunities for Catholic authors at our live conference. Our goal is to help good Catholic writers to get published. The world needs their words.”

The Catholic Writers’ Guild has hosted two highly successful on-line conferences.
To register or for more information, go to www.catholicwritersconference.com. Registration is $80 through June 1st, $99 through July 31st and $110 at the door.

APRIL Magic, Mensa and Mayhem Virtual Book Tour



1: TWEET TOUR: www.twitter.com/karinafabian -- Look for #mm&m

2: Tour announced on www.virtualbooktourdenet.blogspot.com, www.fabianspace.com, www.dragoneyepi.net
--Interview with Jane Lebak: http://philangelus.wordpress.com
--Interview: www.thecomingevil.blogspot.com
--Live interview on Snark Infested Waters with Taylor Kent, 9-10 PM EDT at http://thesnarkyavenger.com

3: Interview with Vern on Larion Will's website: http://www.larriane.com
--Guest blog on character creation on www.kidsbooksuk.blogspot.com

4: Interview about Florida and Gater Louie scenes: http://bayourenaissanceman.blogspot.com
--Information about Magic, Mensa and Mayhem at New Book News, http://doylebooks.blogspot.com

5: Information and interview of Vern; http://blog.frankcreed.com/

6: Quotes from the characters of MM&M: www.virtualbooktourdenet.blogspot.com
--Interview on http://literary-equine.livejournal.com/

7: Interview at snoringscholar.blogspot.com
--Worldbuilding post and interview on http://www.amberstults.com.

10-11 EST Second Life: Meet & Greet
To get to the meeting: http://slurl.com/secondlife/North%20Bound%20Marina/227/24/25. They can then click on the link that says teleport now and that will open their software and after logging and they land in my living room. We will also have the surf boards out so that after the meeting we can surf around the marina. Also just on the other side of the marina is a Christian "night club" called Grizzlies where they can dance and mingle. Or they can just hang around and chat at my place.

8: TWEET TOUR: www.twitter.com/karinafabian -- Look for #mm&m
--Review at www.splashdownreviews.blogspot.com

9: Interview with the content editor: www.virtualbooktourdenet.blogspot.com

10: Interview http://unwriter1.wordpress.com/
--Talking about blog tours at http://www.sallymurphy.blogspot.com/

11: Review: www.shoutlife.com/cindysbooks

12: Plotting MM&M on Writer Wow: http://writewow.blogspot.com/
--Interview on Imperfect Clarity http://www.imperfectclarity.net/

13: Interview with Nancy Famolari: http://sites.google.com/site/nancyfamolari/
13-20: Several features including interview: http://writersontour.blogspot.com

14: Book review; http://www.freewebs.com/brynnacurry The Fairy Ring'
--Book Review: http://bibliophilesretreat.com
--Interview on Mommyblog, Mama Bear Knows Best http://www.imperfectclarity.net/mamabear.

8 PM EST: Live chat at Author! Author! http://xat.com/WordBox

15: Book Signing at Minot AFB BX 10-2
--Interview at http://joyceanthony.tripod.com
--TWEET TOUR: www.twitter.com/karinafabian -- Look for #mm&m

16: Interview with the copy editor: www.virtualbooktourdenet.blogspot.com

17: Guest post about writing funny on Ascroft, eh? www.dianneascroft.wordpress.com
--Talking about worldbuilding: Speculative Friction http://francespauli.blogspot.com

18: Book Signing at Minot AFB BX 10-2
--Review by CF Vici: http://cfvici.blogspot.com
--On blog with Karen http://karenandrobyn.blogspot.com

19: Interview and Review (Up through 26th)
--ChrisChatReviews: http://chrischatreviews.blogspot.com/
--ChrisChatTalksBooks: http://chrischatreviews.blogspot.com/
--Tweet Tour: reviews and mentions -- Look for #mm&m
@nasharpe
@JaneLebak
@Frederation
@gracebridges
@terrimain
@josephcabadas

20: interview and review http://www.frederation.wordpress.com
--Review: http://pennylockwoodehrenkranz.blogspot.com/

21: Guest column on worldbuilding: http://pennylockwoodehrenkranz.blogspot.com/
--Interview with Deb: http://debsbookreviews.blogspot.com

22: TWEET TOUR: www.twitter.com/karinafabian -- look for #mm&m
--Interview: www.jennifersbookreviews.com

23: Excerpt: www.virtualbooktourdenet.blogspot.com

24: Review with Cathi Hassan: http://cathischatter.blogspot.com

25: Interview with Cathi Hassan: http://cathischatter.blogspot.com

26: Review and interview on Wayfarer's Journal Blog Review: http://www.wayfarersjournal.com/blog.htm

27: Vern interview on "Scribblings": http://tree-lady.livejournal.com/

28: Review www.snoringscholar.blogspot.com

29: TWEET TOUR: www.twitter.com/karinafabian -- look for #mm&m
--Vern interviewed on www.snoringscholar.blogspot.com

30: MM&M Trivia contest: www.virtualbooktourdenet.blogspot.com: Note: you'll need to have read the book.

I've posted some transcripts in the "Live chats and seminars" section (under For Media):

Launch party: This transcript from the Swimming Kangaroo book release party contains
--information about Sacrifice of the Sage Hen, written by fellow Kanga author Susie Schade Brewer
--information about Magic, Mensa and Mayhem and Live and Let Fly (the next DragonEye, PI novel)
--a guest appearance by dragon detective Vern
--added bonus questions not covered in the chat

Worldbuilding seminar: a very basic course in worldbuilding, looking at nonfiction as well as fiction writing, with lots of questions. Vern makes a special appearance at the end, too. (What can I say? He's a popular drake.)

Feel free to download and read them, but please don't quote them or post them on your website or blog without asking me. (or Susie, if you use her stuff.)

Thanks.

Magic, Mensa and Mayhem is now up on Amazon and available for Kindle.

Print: Follow this link. (I do not know why Amazon won't give me a widget for it.)


Kindle:

Live outside the US? Contact the publisher directly to get the best rates on overseas shipping! dindy(at)swimmingkangaroo.com

Hooray! The long-anticipated DragonEye, PI novel, Magic, Mensa and Mayhem is out from Swimming Kangaroo Press!

Magic, Mensa & Mayhem made me laugh, everything from quiet chuckles to outright snorts. MM&M brought to mind Craig Shaw Gardnerʼs humorous Tales of Wuntvor, with its phraselong Elvish names and clash of magical races, each with its own culture and quirks that would make a UN official tear out his or her hair... There are enough puns to elicit groans from even the sternest critic. A quick read and an enjoyable one. Jody Lynn Nye, author of An Unexpected Apprentice and co-author of the Myth-Adventures series. www.jodynye.com

Religion and humor suffuse this well-imagined and densely plotted comedic mystery, based on a short story of the same title. Cursed by St. George to serve the Faerie Catholic Church, dragon detective Vern now sleuths in the mundane world. His latest (unpaid) assignment is to babysit a group of faeries attending a Mensa meeting. Vern quickly has his claws full juggling crises, from invisible brownies to two elves whose rivalry threatens to become interdimensional war. Distinctly memorable and occasionally silly supporting characters, from Brunhilde the Valkyrie to Native American trickster Coyote, steer the action. While the conclusion sticks perilously close to genre formula and the narrative is jumpy throughout, most readers will forgive the clichés (and Vern’s groan-worthy puns) and chuckle all the way through. Publisher's Weekly

Pre-Order NOW. Available March 1.

Leaps of Faith, an anthology of Christian science fiction, place #8 in the Preditor and Editor Readers poll for best anthology. The fourteen stories explore the interaction of faith and science in futures both real and imagined.

Learn More

My publisher for Leaps of Faith, Cynthia MacKinnon, publishes a terrific newsletter caleld Latest in Spec that has the latest publishing news in the Christian speculative fiction market. She's let me provide it here as a free download.

You can find each issue from now on in the FOR WRITERS menu--or subscribe yourself! The information is in each newsletter.

It's not new, but it's new to me. J A Konrath has a very cool, interactive e-book called The Newbie's Guide to Publishing that he's generously offering for free on his website. I've put a link to it in the FOR WRITERS menu. Enjoy!