This week has been particularly hectic work-wise, although as usual I find plenty of time to idle as well, remembering Jerome K. Jerome’s wise words, “It is impossible to enjoy idling thoroughly unless one has plenty of work to do.” I have a conference paper to finish on Lynda Barry as well as line edits on a novel. One can only write and edit so long until the brain turns to jelly. Idleness this week includes plenty of Plants vs Zombies in preparation for the release of the sequel, the second episode of Les Revenants (ooh, spooky!) and [yes, belatedly] beginning to watch Life on Mars.

Out July 25th: Kit Marlowe‘s The Mangrove Legacy sails back thanks to Tirgearr Publishing! Get ready for silliness with pirates, brigands, cheese, pockets and the occasional improving book! I am very fond of this comic gothic novel –even though line edits seem endless! Why don’t I have a minion to go through these, which are mostly clicking accept on format changes? Though thanks to editor Patricia McAllister, some minor gaffes have been spotted this time around (character suddenly outside who was inside, a ghost not disappearing when he should, etc.). I love editors who make me look good!

Out July 9th: Joining The Claddagh Icon, there’s a new noir from Lite Editions, the beginning of a new saga about some desperate people: Á la Mort Subite takes place in Brussels, a city of charm, sophistication and the best beer there is. A bonus: a key portion of the story takes place at the one and only futuristic Atomium.

I’m delighted to hear that my proposal “Flirting with Bond: Or How I Created My Sexy Female Secret Agent” was accepted for the anthology Spyfi and Superspies: A Collection of Essays Analyzing the Cultural Response to the James Bond Phenomenon which will be out next year. I’m pleased as it was a bit unusual to write from the perspective of a fiction writer, so kudos to the editors for accepting a creative interpretation of the theme.

Of course the big launch of NOIR CARNIVAL will happen July 13th at EdgeLit. Come see us, have a glass of wine and a special Noir Carny cupcake! I’m looking forward to seeing the Fox Spirit skulk as much as the books. I will have promo to give away, too!

And look what arrived: Beauty! And more news on Fox Pockets soon.