Category Archives: Beer Snobbery

Today, Daedalus finally sets sail

Sure, lots of folks have already gotten copies of The Daedalus Incident in bookstores and online, but since today was the last announced release date — for a book that has had many such dates come and go — I’m calling it. THIS IS THE DAY.

That means Daedalus is now available in print, e-book and Audible audiobook. The latter is new today, and I’m particularly happy with how it’s been received — it’s even been charted as a “hot future release” on the U.K. Amazon site. To all of you who ordered whichever edition, thank you so much. You’ve made this debut author very happy.

So how am I celebrating? Well, for one, I’m guest blogging today at the Big Kahuna of all guest blogs — The Big Idea on John Scalzi’s Whatever. John has been paying it forward for years, helping newbies like me get the word about about their work. Thanks for having me, John.

Also, I’m on the Skiffy and Fanty podcast, talking about Daedalus. (It was recorded before news of The Enceladus Crisis and its sequel broke, so no spoilers there, sorry!) Shaun Duke and Paul Weimer were awesome hosts, and it was a really great, really funny interview.

Tonight, my wife, kid and I are heading out to dinner here in L.A. to celebrate the final launch, as well as the announcement that I get to write two more. L.A. is a fantastic restaurant town — better than New York in some respects. Joints here are generally more creative, laid-back and less expensive. And mighty tasty, too.

And finally, I’ll be cracking open my 2006 Brooklyn Brewery Monster Ale, which I’ve been saving for something special. In fact, I brought it all the way to L.A. from Jersey for the occasion. Given that it’s a 10.1% alcohol-by-volume adult beverage, that’ll be the last thing I do, most likely, before calling it a day. A very good day, in fact.

#SFWApro

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Melding minds and anticipating Daedalus

Too many books, too little time.

A couple of quick notes: I’m back over at SFSignal today, participating in a Mind Meld on the merits and drawbacks of re-reading your favorites versus exploring new work. (Spoiler alert: I’m a re-reader.) They put me in with some really outstanding writers, which is quite gratifying. Many thanks to the crew at SFSignal for giving newbies a shot. They do great stuff.

Also, The Daedalus Incident is now officially one of the most anticipated books of 2013, at least according to one (immensely thoughtful and perceptive) book blogger. Many thanks to the Angels of Retribution blog for all the kind words.

I expect to be popping up around the Internet with some frequency in the coming months, so check out the Media page for the latest. Also, I’m working with a very talented designer on revamping this blog, which includes a new Beer Fridge page that should make it easier to search for individual beer reviews.

Because, really, I think SF/F and beer go together like peanut butter and chocolate.

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Alchemical transmutation and heady brews

If you’ve followed me on Twitter at all this week, you’ve seen I’ve been out and about a bit more. In fact, I’ve been primarily in Quebec. Let me tell you, gang, there are few better inventions than poutine, and I am aghast that the United States has not taken to this Canadian import with the same relish it has reserved for Molson, Mounties and Shatner.

But as we’ve slowly made our way south, pausing in the beautiful green mountains of Vermont, one attraction in particular caught my attention. Just down the road from the Ben & Jerry’s factory is a little brewery called The Alchemist. It even has the alchemical symbol for fermentation on the logo. So, yeah. I’m a novelist who’s written about 18th century alchemists. I’m also a homebrewer and a beer fanatic. Naturally, this was a stop that had to be made.

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Thanks, 2011! Hello, 2012!

Have a happy new year! And no, the end of the Mayan calendar will not bring the apocalypse. Sorry.

It was a year ago today, on New Year’s Eve 2010, that I started this blog, so it seems fitting somehow to check back in a year later. When I started, I didn’t have an agent, and my first novel wasn’t really in awesome shape (though I thought it was a gem, of course). The blog was part of an effort to show that I could have a “social media strategy” as an author, thus making myself more attractive to agents and publishers.

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Filed under Beer Snobbery, Books, Food, NaNoWriMo, Travel, Writing

Inspiration in the New West

“Go West, young man,” wrote Horace Greeley in 1865. One hundred and forty-six years later, I took his advice, and I’m glad I did.

My family and I went to visit my cousin and her family (thanks, guys!) in Colorado over the Independence Day weekend. My wife, Kate, does a much better job of talking about our travels over on her blog, so for a more complete download, click over to her site.

As for me, well, I’ve seen mountains on a number of continents, but few measure up to the way the Rockies jut upward from the plains, an imposing wall of stone that probably prompted early American settlers to say, “Whoa, those are big. I don’t want to cross those. Let’s just put Denver here.” I never quite bought into the whole romantic notion of the Old West, but I have to say, the New West did a great job of putting my writer-brain to work. Continue reading

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One month in, and already remiss

I wonder, do they have football there? Or beer? How about aspiring novelists?

Horrible, isn’t it? Two weeks since I last blogged. So I think we’re in for another batch of random thoughts.

(And yes, I recognize that, if I had written these topics out when they occured to me, and in 140 characters or less, I would indeed have an interesting Twitter account, despite my ambivalence about tweeting.) Continue reading

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Blogging from the bus

I love my iPhone! Anyone who knows me knows it’s the third lobe of my brain. And now I can blog on my commute, instead of playing numerous games of Texas hold ’em.

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The best beer in the world

Westvleteren 12

Westvleteren 12

Tough claim, isn’t it? Everybody has a favorite, and the arguments can be passionate. But I’m not talking about Bud vs. Coors here. I’m not even talking about Sam Adams vs. Brooklyn.

This, gentle reader, is real beer. And it’s how I decided to ring in 2011. Continue reading

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