Steamcon in Review

This past weekend was a buzz of excitement as we packed our bags and headed north to Steamcon II in Seattle, the second annual celebration of all things Steampunk. Apart from a brief foray into the city (because even we professionals have to pause to watch Harry Potter), we spent the entire weekend between the two hosting hotels - the Marriott and the Hilton - just outside of the Seatac airport.

Altogether, we were on seven panels discussing the future of Steampunk in publishing, the process of a book's publication from page to shelf, and the importance of an editor in a book's preparation. We sat with Nick Valentino, our own author of the Thomas Riley sequel being released in 2011; and Lisa Mantchev, author of the Theatre Illuminata series - a fascinating surrealistic leap into the magic of the ultimate theatre.

Just for fun, we also sat on some panels unrelated to publishing (because we do have a few other interests). From the Victorian Industrialization to the Crimean War to Steampunk as Modern Myth, the topics ranged widely. There was quite a lot to see as well. Costumes and crafts, books and bands, original artwork, inventions, and a host of other delights. If you couldn't make it this year, be sure to mark your calendars for Steamcon III. You won't want to miss it!

Steamcon or Bust . . .

It's only two days till we fly up to Seattle for Steamcon, and we are abuzz with excitement. Check out the schedule of panels and parties on the website for the delightful details of our upcoming weekend, and look forward to the updates as they come. We're doing all our last minute reading, packing, and general prep work in eager expectation of three full days ahead. Wish us luck - or meet us there!

Headed into the Holidays

The coming months are full of more than the usual holiday bustle. Between Teresa Burrell's full signing schedule, and the growing line-up of promotions and events for Jeff Sherratt's new release, we're almost full to the brim. There's always room for a little more, of course, which is how we're also able to work on editing multiple manuscripts for our 2011 releases while preparing to head to Steamcon 2010 in just over a week.

Here's a small list of some of the things we've been looking at lately:

Steven M. Thomas dropped a lovely review for Detour to Murder over at the OC Metro.

Jeff Sherratt's holiday newsletter is out, and it includes a rather intriguing giveaway from yours truly.

The Advocate's Betrayal has its very own website. Why? Because it's just that good.

If you haven't already listened in on Suspense Radio's interview of Alan Dershowitz and Jeff Sherratt, you'll find it here.

Riverside's Examiner took a look at Detour to Murder prior to Jeff's signing at the Tyler Galleria last week.

Join Jeff over at the famous Mystery Bookstore in Westwood tomorrow for an exclusive signing and discussion of the new release.

Steamcon or Bust!! There is no expressing the level of our excitement over the fast approaching steampunk convention in Seattle.

International Thriller Writers is hosting an online thriller roundtable for writers and readers of the genre. Jeff Sherratt is posting this week and next, but you'll also find our own Teresa Burrell and Mike Sirota joining in the coming months.

Notes from the Office: Mysteries

We're hours away from Halloween-day and there's nothing that says spooky like a good murder mystery. Thankfully, we have a good selection of those around here. In the next couple months, our two masters of mystery, Jeff Sherratt and Teresa Burrell, will be running a whirlwind signing tour throughout Southern California. Hitting bookstores in the Los Angeles, Riverside, Orange, and San Diego counties, there will be no opportunity for you to miss them.

Sherratt's Detour to Murder, out just this month, has been hitting the blogosphere big time. Only moments ago, for example, it was a feature title on Death in the Stacks. The big treat of that post is the film trailer for Detour, the classic source of the novel. Check it out!

One of the premier organizations for mystery and thriller writers in the country is ITW (Internation Thriller Writers). Not only is it a fantastic resource for readers and writers alike, the bestower of the annual Thriller Awards, and the host of ThrillerFest in New York every summer, the organization is staffed by the absolutely hands-down nicest people ever. In the coming months, they're launching a Thriller Roundtable in which writers across America participate in a weekly online panel session on various topics relating to the genre.

We at ZOVA are so excited to listen in on these forum-like discussions, not only because they'll be featuring some really dynamic authors, but because three of our own writers will be joining in!!! The discussion starts this Monday, November 1st, and will be joined by our own Jeff Sherratt the following week, on November 8th. Be sure to join in. It's a wonderful opportunity to make your voice heard, and to ask all those questions you've been dying to have answered from all your favorite mystery aficionados!

NaNoWrMo

November is just around the corner. For all of you who thought about participating in the National Novel-Writing Month last year and didn't, now's your chance to get a head start. Of course, the name of the game is outputting 50,000 words in only thirty days, but there are all sorts of ways to prep for day one. Check out Wired Magazine's How-To wiki for step-by-step suggestions on what to do between now and November first. Only 30,000 of the 165,000 people who participated last year actually made it to the final page. (I know . . . only 30,000.) This year, be one of the few. The proud. The novelists.

ZOVA Signs New Authors

If you've talked to anyone on the ZOVA team recently, you know there's a lot going on over here. We have so many projects in the works, and it's all stuff we're genuinely excited about. This month saw the release of Jeff Sherratt's newest Jimmy O'Brien mystery, Detour to Murder - a fitting follow-up to our debut release from Teresa Burrell, The Advocate's Betrayal. We gave you a heads-up when we signed acclaimed writer and editor Mike Sirota for his upcoming novel Fire Dance, to be released this coming February. With several more secrets in store, it's about time we mentioned two of our most recent authorial acquisitions.

MICHELE SCOTT

Author of about a dozen widely-selling novels in a variety of genres, Michele Scott is a powerhouse of a writer. Our 2011 calendar is busting at the seams with her upcoming releases, from children's books to a brand new adult series, as well as the next installment of her famous Wine Lovers Mysteries. We are delighted to be working with her - not only because her books are loved wherever they go, but because she is a genuinely delightful person to work with. Welcome to the team, Michele!




NICK VALENTINO

Steampunk pioneer and all-around awesome guy, Nick Valentino is a certified ZOVA favorite. (Not that we at ZOVA have favorites...) After publishing his debut novel Thomas Riley last year, Nick went on to conquer book festivals across the nation. He conquered us too. We're so riled up about his work, we'll be joining him for a special author/publisher panel at the annual Steamcon event in Seattle next month! Join us on the Nick Valentino band wagon. I promise, it will be a fun ride!

For more information about these and other developments on the ZOVA front, visit our website, newly updated with current details.

Oh So Many Author Events

There's nothing like a new release to get you excited about the book industry. This past week saw the unveiling of the first book in Jeff Sherratt's film noir mystery series, Detour to Murder. Jeff shared a release date with the newest from Vince Flynn, Rick Riordan, and John le Carre. Join him at the Barnes & Noble in Torrance, CA, next weekend for the first public signing of the new release! It's the season to be reading, and there's so much to choose from. Be sure to put Detour at the top of your list!

We're also looking forward to hearing all the news from one of the mystery book world's biggest conferences, Bouchercon. Teresa Burrell and Jeff Sherratt are both up there this weekend. We're especially excited to hear about Teresa's panel appearance this morning on the "Continuous Conversation." If the event has made you interested in her most recent novel, The Advocate's Betrayal, then head over to the Borders in Mission Valley this Thursday - or on Friday to the Barnes & Noble in Palm Desert. You can pick up a copy of the book along with a freshly penned signature straight from the hands of the author herself.

All these events, and they still have time to write! How do they do it...?