FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Elena Stokes, Wunderkind PR
Contact, cell: 917.887.0784
New gaming company, PassionFruit Games, launches with first of its kind romance casual game based on bestselling author Marjorie M. Liu’s Tiger Eye novel.”
New York, NY: Tuesday, December 15, 2009: PassionFruit Games today announced the creation of a new romance-themed casual game, Tiger Eye: Curse of the Riddle Box, based on the novel Tiger Eye (A Dorchester Love Spell paperback) by New York Times bestselling author Marjorie M. Liu.
Tiger Eye: Curse of the Riddle Box also officially marks the launch of PassionFruit Games and represents a unique moment in the history of gaming. Although a market for romance themed video games has existed abroad for years, these games are essentially unknown in the U.S. Tiger Eye: Curse of the Riddle Box will be one of the first romance casual games to hit the U.S. market when it goes on-sale in April 2010.
( Read more... )
For those who think that Tiger Eye: Curse of the Riddle Box will be the perfect gift for a loved one (or for themselves!), holiday e-cards are available at www.passionfruitgames.com. The game will be available in both Mac and PC versions.
Marjorie M. Liu is an attorney, and the New York Times bestselling author of short stories, novellas, and two ongoing series: Dirk & Steele novels of paranormal romance, and the Hunter Kiss urban fantasy series. She wrote NYX: No Way Home, for Marvel Comics, and is co-writing the ongoing bestselling Dark Wolverine series. Marjorie divides her time between the American Midwest, and Beijing/Shanghai, China. For a complete listing of all her work, please visit her website at: www.marjoriemliu.com
PassionFruit Games was founded by a group of individuals who had created several critically-acclaimed casual games together before establishing their own independent studio. Their mission is to bring stories and characters to life through lushly-painted interactive environments and captivating cinematics, while providing engaging, entertaining gameplay. The PassionFruit Games team also worked on the critically acclaimed Nancy Drew Dossier game, which was just chosen as the “Best Hidden Object Game of 2009” by Yahoo! Games.
Tiger Eye, The novel Tiger Eye, The game
Marjorie M. Liu For info contact: elena@wunderkind-pr.com
Dorchester Love Spell paperback, $6.99 cell: 917-887-0784
ISBN: 0-5-5-52626-3; 342 pages, available now Available April 2010
www.marjoriemliu.com www.passionfruitgames.com
Early concept art for Tiger Eye: Curse of the Riddle Box:
The face of the warrior, Hari, hidden in this image, will be revealed to those who pre-order the game
Advance Screenshot from Tiger Eye: Curse of the Riddle Box
Marjorie M. Liu's DARKNESS CALLS is #9 on Barnes & Noble's Best Paranormal Fantasy of 2009 list. Go, Marjorie! I'm so proud!
Also, check out Diana Pharaoh Francis' blog tour and contest for her new urban fantasy BITTER NIGHT. Deadline is November 24th.
Happy release day to the authors of the NEVER AFTER anthology - Laurell K. Hamilton, Yasmine Galenorn, Marjorie M. Liu and Sharon Shinn - and to Diana Pharaoh Francis for her brilliant urban fantasy BITTER NIGHT, Crystal Jordan for her wicked hot erotica UNTAMED and David Mack for his 4400 tie-in PROMISES BROKEN!
Michelle Buonfiglio from Barnes & Noble Bookclub's Heart to Heart blogged about Jasmine Haynes' upcoming November 3rd release YOURS FOR THE NIGHT. Click here to check it out.
In other news, I'm off at the crack of dawn Thursday morning for two signings in California and then the World Fantasy Convention in San Jose. For any VAMPED fans out there, the venues for Thursday, the 29th of October are:Kepler's Books and Magazines
1010 El Camino Real Menlo Park, CA 94025
Tel: (650) 324-4321
4 p.m. PST - Greet and Sign
Borders in Los Gatos
50 University Ave., #280, Los Gatos, CA 95030
Tel: (408) 395-6622
6:30 p.m. - Multi-Author Signing with romance authors Jami Alden, Bella Andre, Mardi Ballou, Jasmine Haynes, Paty Jager, Crystal Jordan, Kate Perry and Veronica Wolff; mystery author Diana Orgain
Don't forget that The Knight Agency is hosting Halloween Week on our blog, complete with giveaways. Today's guest blogger is Chloe Neill, author of SOME GIRLS BITE and FRIDAY NIGHT BITES.
So, so excited to announce that Marjorie M. Liu's latest Dirk & Steele novel THE FIRE KING is #23 on the New York Times Mass Market bestseller list. Go, Marjorie!!!
Diana Orgain is on a blog tour this week in celebration of her "stellar debut" (Sheldon Siegel, NYT bestselling author of Judgment Day), BUNDLE OF TROUBLE from Berkley Prime Crime. Yesterday, she was at the Good Girls Kill for Money Club. Today she's at at Working Stiffs and International Thriller Writers then this weekend at www.thedebutanteball.com/. Bestseller Marjorie M. Liu was just quoted in a great article by the Philadelphia Inquirer called "When Life Sucks, Humans Turn to the Undead." She'll be doing a special chat today on Athena Isle in Second Life at 11 am SLT (PST), aka 2 p.m. EST. Details are here. 
Also, Janet Mullany is on The Knight Agency blog today with a book giveaway while her hero from A MOST LAMENTABLE COMEDY, Nicholas Congrevance, guest blogs at Vauxhall Vixens.Audiobook news: DEAD GIRLS' DANCE, the second in Rachel Caine's NYT bestselling Morganville Vampires series, comes out from Tantor Media today. Check it out!
A MOST LAMENTABLE COMEDY by Janet Mullany – July 23A wonderful chick-lit Regency which stands on its own, but is a wonderful follow-up to Janet's THE RULES OF GENTILITY. See reviews from Readin' Something Crazy and Mrs. Giggles.
THE FIRE KING by Marjorie M. Liu – July 28The latest in the author's bestselling Dirk & Steele series. Night Owl Romance says,
"Marjorie M. Liu has penned another gripping novel of extraordinary characters with a thrilling plot that will have the reader entrenched within the danger and the heart-wrenching emotions…. The Fire King is an extraordinary tale of romance, intrigue, and fascinating characters that will keep the reader turning the pages in anticipation."
LION HEART by Doranna Durgin – August 1 Shape-shifters, protectors, conspiracies, romance...what's not to love? Amelia Richard of CataRomance writes, "The compelling premise of the Sentinels miniseries continues with an enthralling adventure, where danger continuously lurks and trust is difficult to earn. With evil growing more powerful with each passing day, Doranna Durgin constructs a fascinating world with strong-minded characters on both sides and plenty of dangerous exploits."
CAPE STORM by Rachel Caine – August 4The eight (and next to last) chapter in the author's bestselling Weather Wardens series. Romantic Times sums it all up:"Caine's Weather Warden series has combined war, love, death, rebirth and emancipation into a uniquely compelling alternate world that gets better with each installment. This is easily one of the most spellbinding series by one of the most talented authors on the scene today. A must buy!" You can see the CAPE STORM release video on her website.
Genre Go Round calls it "chicklit meets noir." PW calls it a "charming debut thriller." I call it sheer fun. A wonderful novel in which new mom Kate Connelly battles diaper blow-outs, sleep-deprivation and a murderer to clear her family.
As glad as I am to have a few weeks break before I run off to back-to-back conferences in August, part of me wishes I was at Comic-Con. Today two of my authors are slated to speak:
Marjorie M. Liu ![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small}
webpetals
10:00-11:00 Escapist Fantasy— What are the pluses and perils of adding magic and monsters to our world? Panelists Juliet Blackwell (Second Hand Spirits), Marjorie Liu (Darkness Calls), Jackie Kessler & Caitlin Kittredge (co-authors, Black & White), Diana Rowland (Mark of the Demon), Sina Grace (Cedric Hollows In Dial "M" For Magic), Seanan McGuire (Rosemary & Rue), and Harry Connolly (Child of Fire) weigh in on the options. Moderator: Maryelizabeth Hart, Mysterious Galaxy. Room 10
11:00 am to 12:00 pm Signing in the Autograph Hall
1:00 pm to 2:00 pm Signing at Marvel Booth (#2429)
Lynn Flewelling otterdance
3:30-4:30 Evolution of Fantasy— Harry Potter, His Dark Materials, Twilight—the great mega-selling series of recent years have all ended. What will the next one look like? Or is it already here? How is fantasy evolving? Panelists Jacqueline Carey (Naamah's Kiss), Lynn Flewelling (Shadows Return), Patrick Rothfuss (The Name Of The Wind), Thomas Sniegoski (The Fallen), Greg Van Eekhout (Norse Code), and Cindy Pon (Silver Phoenix : Beyond the Kingdom of Xia) answer questions posed by moderator Lev Grossman (The Magicians). Room 3
Keith R.A. DeCandido kradical reports that he'll be at the BOOM! Studios booth (#2543) all weekend, moderating and doing Farscape panels on Friday and Saturday.
I hope that some of you reading this will have the opportunity to stop by and say "hello."
Rosemary Clement-Moore: RITA finalist for HELL WEEK, the second in her great Maggie Quinn: Girl vs. Evil series
Crystal Jordan: erotica author extraordinaire
Susan Krinard: amazing and bestselling paranormal romance writer
Janet Mullany: wonderfully edgy author who wears many hats, including presenter of "Writing the Hot Historical" with me and Pam Rosenthal at the conference
(I just spotted this great write up including her new Immortal Jane Austen series in PW.)
Michele Lang: two words "LADY LAZARUS" - look for it in 2010
Jasmine Haynes/Jennifer Skully/JB Skully:
Debra Mullins: award-winning historical romance writer
Karen Whiddon: author of the tres popular Pack series for Nocturne
Vicky Dreiling: whose debut novels we've just sold to Warner Forever/Grand Central Publishing for publication in 2011
Not to mention the parties, the chocolate, the Oscar-style RITA Award Ceremony. Sigh. Life is hard.
I'm especially excited about the "Readers for Life" Literacy Signing event on Wednesday evening from 5:30 to 7:30 at the Washington Marriott Wardham Park at 2660 Woodley Road NW , Washington, D.C. Just check out this amazing line-up. I'll be there with VAMPED as well!
If instead of RWA (or in addition to) your plans include San Diego ComicCon, check the schedule for great events featuring Rob Thurman, Marjorie M. Liu, Lynn Flewelling and Keith R.A. DeCandido and be sure to pencil in the Sci/Fi/Fantasy Discussion Panel withPatrick Rothfuss, Rob Thurman, Amber Benson, Thomas Sniegoski, Seanan McGuire, Jeanne Stein, Kat Richardson at Borders, 668 6th Street on Saturday, July 25th at 8 pm.
I'm also thrilled to report that David Mack, author of the forthcoming uf/supernatural suspense novel THE CALLING is guest blogger today at The Knight Agency's site. Comment there to win a signed copy of THE CALLING!
Star Telegram with a great article on Rachel Caine
Readin' Something Crazy with the first (and really great) review of Janet Mullany's A Most Lamentable Comedy
In other news, Jasmine Haynes, whose hot new release FAIR GAME is burning up bookshelves, just got herself a new website. Well worth checking out!
On the comic front, Marvel announces that Daniel Way and Marjorie M. Liu's Dark Wolverine #75 has sold out and will return with a Dark Wolverine #75 Second Printing Variant!
In Chicago instead? Flux (my publisher for VAMPED) will be at the American Library Association (ALA) Conference this weekend from July 11th to the 14th, Booth No. 2658. Stop by for free stuff and fabulous folks. Need more convincing? Here's the fabulous program for this year's ALA, including incredible speakers and panelists like Michael Connelly, Lisa Scottoline, R.A. Salvatore, Charlaine Harris, Marjorie M. Liu and many, many others.
In case anyone missed it, USA Today has a great article on romance now (or Beyond Heaving Bosoms, as Sarah Wendell & Candy Tan would put say).
The fabulous and best-selling Marjorie M. Liu has multiple releases out this summer! When I think of beach books, her work comes immediately to mind - not because they're light reading, but because I'd rather read her work in the full glare of the sun than in the darkest night. It's enough to give you chills! Fresh Fiction said of last summer's trilogy of releases:
"Marjorie M. Liu has an amazing imagination. She comes up with one original idea after another. It's exciting to start a book by her and know that the story you're going to read isn't something that reminds you of something else. She's had three new stories this summer [2008]; THE WILD ROAD, THE IRON HUNT and a short story called Minotaur in Stone in the anthology HOTTER THAN HELL. Three stories in two months and every single one is brilliant!"
This summer's offerings are every bit as awesome!
INTERVIEW with Marjorie M. Liu
How do you juggle so many novels and novellas a year without going insane?
I honestly don't know! When I sit back sometimes and make a list of everything I need to do, I question what I've gotten myself into. Crazy person, crazy! But I just try to be systematic about all my work, biting it off in small chunks, and just plowing forward. I find that doing a little every day -- going with the flow, building momentum -- gets more work done than trying to write something on super-speed in a short amount of time.
How do you fit in time for promotion?
I enjoy blogging and twittering, but I no longer maintain my own website -- the wonderful Taughnee Stone of Endeavor Creative does that -- and I finally hired a publicist, Elena Stokes of Wunderkind PR, who has been doing marvelous work for me and my books.
Do you find that your travels help you in the writing, either providing ideas or giving your brain a break from “the usual”?
All of the above. :-) I believe in waking up my brain, giving it a good jolt -- more frequently, the better. Sometimes it's simple to do -- reading a book, taking a walk -- but I find that traveling really makes those mental cylinders fire up. We take so much in our lives for granted, but when you travel, nothing is familiar. Everything is new. Something as simple as a vegetable market will be familiar to the locals -- taken for granted, in the same ways we do at home -- but for us, it's unique, different. Full of possibilities.
With so many wonderful, dark and twisty ideas constantly calling to you, do you sometimes find the worlds you create more intriguing than the one outside your door? Has there ever been a book (yours or someone else’s) that you’ve wanted to live in for a time?
I'm a firm believer that truth is stranger than fiction. I think the world we've got is plenty intriguing. Having said that, I wouldn't mind meeting a shape-shifter, or my very own hot clairvoyant. :-) As for living in books, I think I do that pretty much all the time anyway, but I would love to live for a spell in the wonderful land of Oz.
This summer is huge for you, with the one-two punch of DARKNESS CALLS, the second Hunter Kiss novel, and the HUNTRESS anthology both released in July and THE FIRE KING, the latest Dirk & Steele novel, forthcoming in August. Do you find there’s a lot of fan cross-over from one series to the other. What should fans expect to find within the pages of these books?
As you said, Darkness Calls is the second Hunter Kiss novel, and follows the heroine, Maxine, as she fights to protect the man she loves from death -- or worse. There's genetic manipulation involved, demons, zombies, time travel, psychic barmaids, crazy priests, and lots of Bon Jovi. And blood.
My story in Huntress is called "The Robber Bride" and is about a girl who runs a junkyard in the post-apocalyptic American Midwest. At least, until her mentor is kidnapped by a sex-crazed demonic biker gang. It's like Mad Max except with magic, Amish, and shape-shifters.
The Fire King is the ninth book in my Dirk & Steele paranormal romance series, and is about a shifter who has been asleep for thousands of years -- only to wake up and discover that everything he knew is completely gone. And oh yeah, other shape-shifters want him dead. His only ally is an agent of Dirk & Steele, a woman who has suffered terrible loss -- and who is his only hope for surviving this new world.
That, and the comic books from Marvel -- Dark Wolverine, specifically -- round out my summer of releases.
Is there anything you want to add about the writing process, current releases, contests or anything else I may have forgotten?
I'll be joining in on reader discussions of Darkness Calls all month long at the Barnes and Noble Paranormal & Urban Fantasy forum. While you're there, be sure to check out a web-exclusive promotion that I did for the book -- a letter from the hero, Grant, to the unborn daughter he hopes to one day have with the heroine, Maxine Kiss.
http://bookclubs.barnesandnoble.com/bn/b
Speaking of Rachel Caine, she's guest blogging over at the Penguin site if you want to swing by and say "hello."
Marjorie M. Liu is doing a fascinating series of interviews this week on her blog, featuring everything to do with comics, from writers to artists to colorists. Check it out!
Over here in The Magic District, N.K. Jemisin is talking about sex.
As to this, I have no words except that I have now, officially, seen it all.
Enjoy!
Tonight (2/10)
If you click on the Philly Book Geek link, it looks like there are all kinds of killer book events going on in the Philadelphia area! I'm not close enough to take advantage, but for those who are....
In other news, I missed this when it first posted, but here's reviewer Paul Goat Allen's list of Top 10 Paranormal Releases of 2008. Note Marjorie M. Liu's THE IRON HUNT at #2!
Marjorie M. Liu, aka
webpetals , is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author and a helluva talented writer. THE IRON HUNT and its precursor story in Berkley's WILD THING anthology are her first forays into urban fantasy. She's also well-known for her fantastic Dirk & Steele series of paranormal romances. Now here she is, writing about fantasy and reality and how to make them one and the same. "The Truth Will Set You Free" by Marjorie M. Liu
I was on the phone recently with a friend who works in law
enforcement, and he shared some details of a rather bizarre case he
helped solve. Mind-boggling circumstances, very strange people, the
makings of a Fargo-esque thriller – and yet, a true event. One small
desire, one not-so-small act, leading to a series of unfortunate
choices.
Truth is, indeed, stranger than fiction. Which is what you need to
remember. The truth is strange. The truth is stranger
sometimes than we can imagine. But it’s still the truth.
( Read more... )
GALE FORCE, seventh in Rachel Caine's amazing Weather Warden series of urban fantasies for Roc
SOUL OF FIRE, the second novel in
THE
HELL WEEK, sequel to Rosemary Clement-Moore's award winning PROM DATES FROM HELL from Delacorte
SOUTHERN FATALITY by T. Lynn Ocean, the first fabulously funny Jersey Barnes mystery from
DANCE OF THE WOLF by Karen Whiddon, a dark and atmospheric paranormal romance for Silhouette's Nocturne line
Keith R. A DeCandido's "A Gutted World" in Star Trek: Myriad Universes: ECHOES AND REFRACTIONS from Pocket Books, a collection of "what if" Star Trek tales that might have been
Why just show an author photo when you can show him on the cover of a magazine? Tony Perona has two Nick Bertetto mysteries out, with a third, SAINTLY REMAINS, forthcoming. In the series, Nick is a stay-at-home dad and former investigative reporter who finds himself involved in events that may or may not have supernatural involvement. At the end of the story, the reader is challenged to decide for him or herself what the truth really is. His latest book is the above co-edited anthology RACING CAN BE MURDER.
Mystery Series by Tony Perona
Mystery fans love to get hooked on series. Once they fall in love with characters, they want to read more about them. Starting a new book with familiar characters feels like sitting down with interesting friends to hear what's been going on in their lives.
But even good relationships wear thin. And so it is with mystery series. Just like friends work hard to keep up their friendships, so mystery authors must work to keep their series fresh and fun for their readers. Some reviewers (and some authors, for that matter) have said that seven books is the maximum number that should ever be in a series. But my reaction is, it doesn’t have to be that way. Sue Grafton’s Kinsey Millhone series, which has had very few misses in 20 books, is an example.
So what are some ways to keep a series fresh? After having read a lot of series that make it and some that don’t, here are my observations on keeping your readers engaged throughout a series:
1. Grow your main character. All of us grow with new experiences, and so should your character. Have he/she work on a new hobby, or discover a new love interest, or deal with a child who’s getting older. This can be a tiny part of the book that only tangentially relates to the mystery, but it makes the main character a more interesting person as we see them tackle something new.
2. Put your character at odds with one of your ancillary characters. Conflict is at the heart of any story. So let your main character have differences with his/her love interest. The Spenser novels were really fun until Spenser settled down with Susan. Now they’re hit-and-miss (my opinion). Even though I’d love to see Elvis Cole and Lucy Chenier be a love match, I think it’s better for the series that Robert Crais keeps them apart.. For the same reason, Stephanie Plum should never settle down with Morelli. (The conflict doesn’t have to be the love interest, either. It could be with your character’s sidekick, or parents, or those pesky in-laws.) Conflicts, especially when readers see/understand your main character’s point of view, can make your main character more sympathetic.
3. Introduce new side characters. No one does this better than Janet Evanovich. Stephanie Plum has a whole collection of colorful characters that get introduced in one book but stick around for the next. The latest, in FEARLESS FOURTEEN, is country singer/reality TV star/reporter Brenda. Can’t wait to see her show up in another book.
4. Move the series around. Some series, like Lee Child’s Jack Reacher series, never stay in one place. Though it’s Reacher’s nature to be on the move, it wouldn’t be a stretch for your main character to get a phone call from an old friend in a different city or state or country who needs a favor. If it’s a character readers loved in a past book, that’s even better (see #3). Or have your character take a vacation where he/she gets in trouble. The fish-out-of-water aspect tests your character and probably helps them grow (see #1).
What else have you seen or done that works to keep things fresh?
Tune in tomorrow for Sarah A. Hoyt/Sarah D'Almeida's "It's a bird! It's a plane! It's a detective!"
In other news:
-The fabulous Marjorie M. Liu is chatting tonight over at The Knight Agency site.
-There's a wonderful interview up here with paranormal romance writer Karen Whiddon.
-Doranna Durgin's romantic suspense novel HIDDEN STEEL was chosen by readers to be today's Fresh Pick at Fresh Fiction. Check it out!
-Donn Cortez's dark and twisted thriller THE CLOSER (published here by Pocket) just hit #25 on the extended Spiegel Mass Market Bestseller list for it's German edition!
Anyway, riding the feel-good wave, here's a wonderful interview with Marjorie M. Liu.
Introduction:
You know how much it sucks when crappy people get ahead and how much more awesome it is when good things happen to great people? That's what this interview is all about. I know how easily Marjorie blushes, so my evil plan—okay, possibly I'm more wicked than truly evil—is to embarrass her by saying all manner of nice and true things about her by way of introduction.
Q. Your new covers are almost as hot as your books. What can you tell us about your upcoming urban fantasy series starting in July and new Dirk & Steele novel the month after?
Q. Where do you find your inspiration?
Q. You're a fan of all sorts of things from Transformers to the X-Men. What do you find yourself geeking out about?
Q. Any other tasty tidbits you can think of? Things or sites you'd like to plug?
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