January was, well, January, so we pushed back some book releases. Which means we have a plethora of books releasing right now!
First up is Smith’s Monthly. Last month, USA Today bestselling author Dean Wesley Smith brought this innovative project, which features several short stories, a novel and even the occasional nonfiction book together in a monthly publication.
The February issue of Smith’s Monthly, which is the 46th issue in the series, features more than fifty thousand words of original fiction, including:
- Hot Springs Meadow, a new short novel in the Thunder Mountain series
- “Mystery Cat: A Poker Boy Story”
- “Lost Robot: A Sky Tate Story”
- “Profile Gap: A Thunder Mountain Story”
- “Cat in the Air: A Pakhet Jones Story”
- “Under Glass: A Cold Poker Gang Story”
- “A Menu of Memory: A Bryant Street Story”
- How to Write a Novel in Ten Days: A WMG Writer’s Guide.
Click here to learn more about the series and here to buy this month’s issue, which is available in ebook and paperback.
And we have two more exciting releases coming this week.
On Tuesday, volume 9 of our Year of the Cat series publishes. Here’s the synopsis for A Cat of Artistic Sensibilities, which is edited by Kristine Kathryn Rusch and Dean Wesley Smith:
Cats and art mix in odd ways, at odd times.
Scratch the surface on just about any well-known author and you will find a cat, or more likely, many cats. Not just authors. Painters, composers, dancers, and magicians all seem to need cats at some time or other.
Cats inspire art.
Or damage a piece of art.
Or sit on a keyboard and create weird writing all their own.
In this fantastic group of stories, we have cats as muse, cats falling for violinists, cats using love as an art, and even cats as feline photographers.
Includes:
“The Cat Who Lived in a Drainpipe” by Joan Aiken
“I Bleed Music” by Stefon Mears
“Pigeon Drop” by Mary A. Turzillo
“Essy and the Christmas Kitten” by Annie Reed
“The Secret Lives of Cats” by Kristine Kathryn Rusch
“Cat Caught in the Art” by Dean Wesley Smith
“My Father, the Cat” by Henry Slesar
“Paintings of Cats by Mice” by Annie Reed
Click here to learn more about that series and here to buy the volume, which is available in ebook and trade paperback tomorrow.
And on Thursday, Pulphouse Fiction Magazine returns with Issue #10. This issue was guest edited by the incredibly talented Mark Leslie and features a bonus greater-than-usual amount of original fiction. Here’s the synopsis:
A three-time Hugo Award nominated magazine, this issue of Pulphouse Fiction Magazine offers up sixteen fantastic stories by some of the best writers working in modern short fiction. No genre limitations, no topic limitations, just great stories. Attitude, feel, and high-quality fiction equals Pulphouse.
Includes:
“Paintings of Cats by Mice” by Annie Reed
“Flat Bernie Saves Stanley” by Johanna Rothman
“The Conjurer of the Canvas” by Phillip McCollum
“Custard: A Romeo & Juliet Story (Sort of)” by Dayle A. Dermatis
“Sometimes Gramma’s Gotta Cut A Bitch” by Leah R. Cutter
“Blind Eclipse” by Rob Vagle
“Would Sir Prefer the 1918 Influenza?” by Robert Jeschonek
“The Developmental Adventures of Phil” by Jason Adams
“Visage” by Lisa Silverthorne
“Used to be Your Victim” by Stephen Couch
“The Artist, The Engineer, and The Sleeping Dog” by Robert J. McCarter
“Drumbeats” by Kevin J. Anderson & Neil Peart
“Just Write!” by James Gotaas
“Role of a Lifetime” by David H. Hendrickson
“Sergei’s Swan Song” by C.A. Rowland
“Vamp Until Doomsday” by Stefon Mears
A couple of things I want to point out about Issue #10.
First is that this issue contains a reprint of the first-ever writing collaboration by New York Times bestselling author Kevin J. Anderson and the late Neil Peart, legendary Rush drummer and lyricist.
Second is a nod to those eagle-eyed readers who noticed that Annie Reed’s “Paintings of Cats by Mice” is listed in the tables of contents for both new releases this week. Sometimes, a story is very popular with multiple editors <grin>.
Click here to learn more about that series and here to buy the issue, which is available in ebook and paperback Thursday.
With so much great fiction to choose from, where will you start?
Allyson Longueira is publisher of WMG Publishing. She is an award-winning writer, editor and designer, working mother, and brain tumor survivor.