You’ve asked.

You’ve tweeted, emailed, begged, pleaded, and nagged.

At last, the moment has come…

The Dreamer’s Thread is now available in print!

That’s right! You can get yours fresh off the presses right here!

BUT WAIT! THERE’S MORE!

For a limited time, you can preorder a signed copy via this website! Don’t wait on this one! I’m only offering it here for a short time, after which I will close the ordering, send away for my copies, sign them per your instructions, and mail it off to your doorstep. This is very time sensitive. I am not ordering copies in advance as I don’t want to be stuck with 50 extra copies of TDT taking up space in my house.

This phase of ordering will last for about a week. If you don’t want to wait, please feel free to order via CreateSpace or Amazon.com (when it’s available there). I can’t give you the Amazon availability date as I don’t control that, but as soon as it’s there I will make it known. After I close preorders, you will have to order your own copy and mail it to me or track me down at a con for signing. I’m still befuddled that people want my autograph on anything, but it’s fantastic that they do!

Anyway, the book looks lovely and I know you’ll all be super happy when you get yours!

As a bonus, when you purchase the print version of TDT, I’ll provide you with a code for a FREE copy of the eBook! If you buy your copy via CreateSpace or Amazon or wherever, simply forward the purchase confirmation email to me (threaded(dot)dreamerATgmail(dot)com), taking out certain personal info if you prefer to not share your address, etc with me, and I will reply with a promo code for you to use when placing your eBook order! Make sure you specify if you’d rather have a smashwords.com code or just the PDF from this site.

I’ll also be announcing a contest very soon, so make sure you watch for that too! It’s gonna be AWESOME! No, really. Awesome is actually part of the contest name.

So how’s that for news? You’re welcome! LOL

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I nearly shattered my windsheild with my scream when I saw TDT listed as a finalist for Best New Podcaster/Team.

I am struggling to write this right now as I have to fight every second to keep myself in my chair, rather than bouncing off the walls.

It’s because of your support that this was possible! Thank you to cast, audience, and cheerleaders for all your effort! Without you, TDT would be just another blip on the podcast radar.

Most thanks to Jamie Jordan, without whom this whole deal would never have existed. He is awesome. Fear his mad production skills!

Due to this new development, it looks as though I will most likely be attending Dragon*Con in September. More fun with other podcasters! Yay! (plus, have you SEEN the guest list? *faints*)

Also, I recieved the proof copy of TDT today, so print editions are coming super soon!

*bounces off elsewhere*

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Starla added stuff to the website.

Starla should not refer to herself in the third person. Starla thinks it’s creepy.

Have you noticed the ‘Buy” page at the top of the TDT website? Perhaps you’ve seen the “Bag o’ Stuff” widget over in the sidebar? No? Best look again!

You can now purchase TDT via smashwords.com, but also right here on the site! There’s a difference in what you get there versus what you get here, however.

The PDF available here is the super-nice edition that looks exactly like what the print version will look like. Yes, that’s coming very very soon now. The smashwords version isn’t as polished, IMHO, but still the same text, so if you need the Kindle version, that’s still your best bet. The new PDF version contains a special thank you page and niftier section breaks that make it look more like the real thing.

And as a special to my tweeps, if you send me a DM requesting it, I shall generously bestow upon you a discount code. You’re welcome.

Stay sharp, people! TDT should be out in print before next week! Watch here for details!

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http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/17277

Thanks to Chris, Collin, and Nick over at Dark Fire Productions for taking care of that for me. You guys rock!

With luck, and a bit of prodding to my in-house web guru, the print version of TDT should be out some time this month. It’s all edited, but getting it laid up for print is taking a bit longer than expected.

In other news, while you’re waiting for my next big project, Antigone’s Wrath, to be completed (didja see the progress meter on the home page?), I’ve got a short story submitted for a fund-raiser short story anthology, due to come out in August. It’s an interesting little piece, so I’m anxious to see how it’s recieved. More about that on Jennifer Huddock’s blog here.

I also did a little voice work for a promo for John Mierau’s new project, Enemy Lines. He’s just released the first episode out into the podosphere, and it sounds like a really exciting story!

Well, I’ve got writing to do, so I’d better skedaddle! More updates later! Smoochies to all!

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Before last year, I had no idea so much awesome existed on this planet, let alone that I’d find myself sitting on panels there and espousing various bits of knowledge (some more helpful than others). That fact alone blows my mind. Me! On a panel! And people actually showed up to listen! *faint*

So yeah, that was quite the experience. But the best part about the whole weekend was getting to meet people that, up until May 28, were only screennames on Twitter, or mythical author figures whom I assumed must exist, but could no sooner contemplate their awesome than I could the entirety of the universe. Was I nervous stepping off the plane and into their midst? Hell yes I was.

My biggest “OMGSQUEE!” moment was meeting people whose work I admired but never had direct contact with, and finding out that THEY KNEW WHO I WAS. Me? Really? I also had random people I’d never heard of come up to me and tell me how big a fan of mine they were. Yes, I did look behind me to see who they were talking about. Again, “OMGSQUEE!”.

I met a ton of TDT cast members, and each was just as fantastic as I thought. Some names you might recognize: Tee Morris, Philippa Ballantine, Mur Lafferty, Paul Elard Cooley, Michael Bekemeyer, Michele Bekemeyer, Dave Sobkowiak, Christiana Ellis, Kate Sherrod, and Nobilis Reed. I’m almost afraid to try and list all the non-cast members I met, because if I forget anyone I’ll feel like an idiot. That, and I’m incredibly awful with names as it is and I’m bound to blank on many of them.

As I mentioned before, this was the first time I’ve ever spoken on panels at a convention. To be completely honest, I’d never even GONE to a panel before. Convention, yes. Panel, no. Was always way too occupied with dealer rooms and such to bother. I felt woefully unprepared for what I was in for. Fortunately, I had excellent guidance from Nathan Lowell and Tee Morris and they got me through it relatively unharmed.

I am compelled to talk about another experience I had this weekend. I had the great pleasure of sitting in on a reading by James Durham (of the FETIDUS podcast). Before that, I never really knew what kind of writer I wanted to be. Now I do. I want to be the kind of writer that inspires others to create the way I was inspired at that reading. If you saw me last weekend, you’re probably sick of hearing me gush about James Durham, but I had to put it out there one last time. Truly incredible. I came away with the burning desire to get back to writing; to harness the magic of that moment and turn it into something special. Not only is the man inspiring, but he’s very interesting to talk to as well. Reminds me, we never did finish that conversation…

There was much hilarity over the course of the convention. A few stories will remain in Baltimore, as sometimes you just have to keep the best ones to yourself (and the subject of the story might not appreciate their less-than-shining moments retold). There were great moments of personal connection, new friendships sparked, and discoveries that made some of us go “WHAT THE WHAT?”. For instance, did you know that J. Daniel Sawyer sings? Uh, yeah. Like an angel. WTF? Who knew?

There isn’t room enough in this post for all the amazing things I learned, people I met, and great times I had at Balticon. It really was a life-changing experience and I hope I’ll get to return again next year, maybe to plug a new project! But for now, onwards and upwards. Let’s get to work!

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P.S. – If you’d like to see some of the photos from the weekend, there’s a flickr pool you can check out!

I’ve been unable to get anything done today as littlest minion has been fussy and won’t let me put him down. So what’s a girl to do with only one hand free? Create more SecondLife TDT avatars!

This one was much easier than I thought. I think it might be my favorite one so far. It brings this song to mind. LOL.

Enjoy the pics!

Stephen looking all Emo sad

How could Aura resist him? *swoon*

So here we have Ina, looking lovely in a garden at twilight. I really like the lighting work I did on this one. The purple shadows add an otherworldly dimension to it. In the first shot, I even gave her a few pixie friends to play with.

As I’m starting paid voice work for Collin Earl (author of the House of Grey), Chris Snelgrove (TDT’s Dedric), and Nicholas Taylor’s new Digital Media Production Company, Dark Fire Productions, I can’t say as I’ll have more character shots up this week, but if I do, I think Cyrus/Stephen will be the next subject.

Enjoy the photos! As always, your comments are welcome!

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Ina in a twilight garden

Ina, up close

You’d think I would have tackled Cyrus/Stephen next, but no. The wizard decided he wanted to go first (king schming, we all like Dedric better!). And so, here you have it.

I had a bit of help with the shopping and creation of Dedric’s SecondLife look from TDT cast member Shauna Bonetto (a.k.a. Sirahal), so blame her if there’s something you don’t like. LOL

Not sure yet who’ll be next. Possibly Ina, but I’ve found outfits for Cyrus and Gabe already. I love SecondLife. It’s like getting to play dress up with Barbies, only WAY cooler.

Enough blah blah blah. Here’s the photos:

Dedric broods

Dedric broods again

So that’s that. Hope you like my work!

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Just for something fun to do, I’m going to create some of the main characters from TDT in the virtual world of SecondLife. I was a little hesitant to do this at first. I don’t enjoy a story where the author decribes every little detail about a character’s appearance or setting. I like filling in some of those blanks myself. It keeps my imagination engaged.

But the idea kept plaguing me, so I acted on it.

I started yesterday with the easiest one: Aura.

Now keep in mind these renderings are only my interpretations. Just because I’m the author doesn’t mean I’m right. You might have your own ideas as to what each character looks like, and as such I’d encourage you to create your own renderings via whatever medium you’re most comfortable in, be it watercolor or paper mache. I’d love to see other takes on these.

But for now, here’s your first installment. I’ve created two versions of Aura; as she is in the real world, and as she appears in the Dream Realm.

Aura looks out over Seattle

And here’s the alternate Aura. I couldn’t find a dress exactly like what I wanted, but this is close.

Aura in the castle courtyard

So there you have them. There’s more to come in this series, but if you have something you’d like to submit, send me an email at threaded(dot)dreamer(at)gmail(dot)com and I’ll post it here for the world to see!

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