Vol 5 No 3. Tuesday, April 21, 2015: No, you didn’t miss a newsletter in March; I did. We didn’t have too much going on in terms of readings, and then all of a sudden, every time I thought I was about ready to send out the newsletter, another huge piece of news would roll in, or a new event would come across the wire, and here we are mid-April with all kinds of fantastic things coming right up! Let’s start with what’s on the immediately upcoming EVENTS calendar:

April 24 (Friday) 7 pm — The SFWA Southeast Reading Series presents a panel on science fiction and technology with authors Mark Van Name, Mur Lafferty, Richard Dansky, Jay Posey, Justin Achilli, and (via Skype) Tiffany Trent, moderated by M. David Blake, hosted by Duke University’s David M . Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library at The Edge, on the first floor of Duke University’s Bostock Library. Free and open to the public. Refreshments will be provided. [Facebook]

. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library at The Edge, on the first floor of Duke University’s Bostock Library. Free and open to the public. Refreshments will be provided. [Facebook] April 25 (Saturday) 2 pm — Flyleaf Books hosts the book release party for Samantha Bryant’s “menopausal superhero novel” Going Through the Change.

April 25-26 (Saturday and Sunday) — Chapel Hill’s Storybook Farm hosts The 4th Annual Festival of Legends: Spirit Animals. “The Festival of Legends is a celebration of the mythic arts and the magic of life itself. It is a playground for the imagination – for children as well as adults – and an escape from the mundane world. It is a journey to the romantic by-gone eras that never were, and an exploration of the fantastical realms that have always been. The natives are magicians and musicians, acrobats and comedians, artists and crafters, proud knights and fairytale creatures. Step into the Festival of Legends, and step into a place of wonder.”

May 15-17 (Friday to Sunday) — Durham Central Park hosts Read Local Book Festival & Exhibitor Fair. “This weekend-long event takes place May 15-17, 2015 and will feature a kick-off Cookbook Rodeo, writing workshops, author dinners, a daytime exhibition in Durham Central Park, children’s activities, local celebrities reading outside their comfort zones, a lightning reading open mic event, and much more. Come celebrate reading local with us!” A buffet of authors dinner with Mur Lafferty, Monica Byrne, James Maxey, and Clay and Susan Griffith is set for May 16th.

May 18 (Monday) 7 pm — Quail Ridge Books hosts Mary Robinette Kowal & Marie Brennan – Historical Fantasy Reigns.

Let’s take a closer look at the first and last bullets in that list. On the first, it’s a big deal to be launching the third regional SFWA reading series (after the Pacific Northwest and Southern California series) and Jaym Gates has put together a fantastic panel of authors to kick things off. On the second, any time Kowal comes “home” to Raleigh is cause for excitement, and we’re in for an extra special treat this time as her frequent co-book-tour-partner Brennan is making the trip as well. In between, we’ve got an exciting local book launch, the annual Festival of Legends, and a new local book festival. Not too shabby, eh?

Other upcoming events highlights include the Durham sf web series Frequency Fundraiser at Motorco and the Durham Bulls Game of Thrones Night (both on Thursday, April 23) and, of course, Free Comic Book Day on May 2. See the end of the newsletter for the full listings.

In terms of book news, there’s a lot going on as well. I’ll start with AWARDS news, of which, well, there’s a lot:







Asheville author Nathan Ballingrud’s story “The Atlas of Hell” was selected by editor Ellen Datlow for The Best Horror of the Year, Volume Seven. Congrats, Nathan!

Boone author Jake Bible’s novel Intentional Haunting was named to the final ballot for the Bram Stoker Awards in the category Superior Achievement in a Young Adult Novel. Congrats, Jake!

Durham Author Jen McConnel’s novel Beautiful Curse was announced as the winner in the Teen category of the 2015 Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence.

Charlotte author John Hartness’ Paint it Black was announced as the winner in the Horror category of the 2015 EPIC eBook Award. Congrats, John!

Durham author Mur Lafferty was named an inaugural member of the Academy of Podcasters Hall of Fame: “She made her name with podcasting (I Should Be Writing, The Angry Robot Podcast, and Escape Pod, the premier SF podcast magazine) and has written for magazines, roleplaying games, and audio and video podcasts.” Congrats, Mur!

Charlotte author Gail Z. Martin’s novel Reign of Ash was nominated for the David Gemmell Legend Award: “The Legend Award, named after David Gemmell’s first and most popular novel, is presented to the fantasy title judged the year’s best by open vote. Voting on 2015’s Legend longlist closes at midnight on Friday 15th May.” Congrats, Gail!

Durham author Monica Byrne’s debut novel The Girl in the Road was announced as a joint winner of this year’s 2014 James Tiptree, Jr. Award, “given annually to works of science fiction or fantasy that explore and expand gender roles.” Congrats, Monica!

And! the 2015 Hugo Awards nominees have also been announced, including Cary author Gray Rinehart (novelette, “Ashes to Ashes, Dust to Dust, Earth to Alluvium”) and NC editors Edmund R. Schubert (short form) and Jim Minz (long form). Congrats, Gray, Ed, and Jim!

I’ll also take a moment here to note that nominations are still open for this year’s Manly Wade Wellman Award for North Carolina Science Fiction and Fantasy, continuing through May 18. The nominees will be announced at ConCarolinas on May 30. Nominating ballots may be cast by any member of the member North Carolina sf conventions: illogiCon, ConCarolinas, ConTemporal, ConGregate, and (when held) StellarCon, and are available by request via the voter registration form.

Before I get to the latest crop of new books and audiobooks, some other assorted NEWS and ANNOUNCEMENTS:

The Kickstarter for Genius Loci: Tales of the Spirit of Place was a huge success; this anthology of original stories featuring haunted houses and other locales features plenty of NC connections, including editor Jaym Gates and authors Steven S. Long and Richard Dansky.

Laura Haywood-Cory posted a photoset of the Forbidden Lines zine published in the Triangle in the early 90s.

NC author Teresa Frohock announced a new trilogy coming from Harper Voyager Impulse, under her byline T. Frohock, in her “Los Nefilim” literary universe (last seen in the novella Hisses and Wings) beginning June 23 with In Midnight’s Silence.

In addition to her joint win of the Tiptree Award, more Monica Byrne news than I can really list, but: 1. she announced the title of her next novel (The Actual Star); 2. was interviewed on Tor.com’s Midnight in Karachi podcast; 3. gave a TED talk in Vancouver; 4. was profiled in The Guardian; and 5. both wrote about (for Wired) and was interviewed about (for NPR) the “public boxing” nature of the so-called “science fiction culture wars” vs. the colder reality of the literary fiction world.

Charlotte author Jay Requard’s short story “Stout” was published in Swords and Sorcery Magazine

NCSU MFA student Julie Steinbacher’s story “Chimeras” was podcast at Escape Pod and her story “Inter-Exo” was published at new top sf short story market Motherboard

I mentioned Eric Gregory and Julia Gootzeit’s new zine Middle Planet in the last newsletter; well, there’s another locally-edited ezine on the way as Mur Lafferty is set to launch new Escape Artists ezine Mothership this fall (pending a Kickstarter funding campaign)

Raleigh authors Clay and Susan Griffith unveiled the Chris McGrath cover art for their forthcoming Vampire Empire novel The Geomancer

NC author Anna Yeatts’ story “Cracks in the Mirror Glass” was published in Daily Science Fiction

Local writer Glenn McDonald reviews the sf film Ex Machina for Discovery News in a new “Science vs. Fiction” column

Durham game developer Prologue Games has a new game available for voting on Steam Greenlight: Knee Deep is “a swamp noir adventure game told in three acts. Staged as a theatrical production, the game is a story-focused adventure in which your choices shape the fate of three playable characters. Experience a magical reality where characters are transported among scenes, set pieces moved into place, and music wafts from the orchestra pit. Knee Deep is about characters, storytelling, and the melodrama of swampland Florida.”

All right! Now on to…

NEW BOOKS AND AUDIOBOOKS

















NEW COMICS





NEW GAMES

Justin Achilli and Richard Dansky are contributors to Katanas & Trenchcoats (“the passionate and harrowing drama of awesome Immortals in a secret supernatural world”), and Jason Morningstar has two new games out from Bully Pulpit Games, Night Witches (“the RPG about Soviet women at war”) and Juggernaut (“a live-action game about free will set in 1950”), with The Warren (“a game about intelligent rabbits trying to make the best of a world filled with hazards, predators and, worst of all, other rabbits”) coming soon.

Finally, before I let you go, a roundup of what’s new at bullspec.com since the February newsletter went out:

Whew! See you next time, with the announcement of the Manly Wade Wellman Award nominees after ConCarolinas!

-Sam

UPCOMING EVENTS, APRIL 2015

21 — Local author book release day for Ursula Vernon’s Castle Hangnail, a new middle grade fantasy: “From the creator of Dragonbreath comes a tale of witches, minions, and one fantastic castle, just right for fans of Roald Dahl and Tom Angleberger. When Molly shows up on Castle Hangnail’s doorstep to fill the vacancy for a wicked witch, the castle’s minions are understandably dubious. After all, she is twelve years old, barely five feet tall, and quite polite.”

21 — Regional author book release day for War of Shadows by Gail Z. Martin (Orbit, April 21, 2015) — book 3 in the Ascendant Kingdoms saga which began with Ice Forged.

21 (Tuesday) 7 pm — RTSFS book club discusses Summer Knight by Jim Butcher at the Southpoint B&N.

NEW: 21 (Tue) through May 2 — Durham’s The Carrack Modern Art hosts Honey Cult Creek Camp. “Honey Cult will transform the Carrack Modern Art into a two-week camp, featuring live performances and installations. Visitors to the opening reception will be greeted by counselors and may interact with characters from the Honey Cult video series. Come sit around the decorative fire pit, witness your neighbor dance with death, pet the wise cats, and discover the answers only Honey Cult knows.”

NEW: 22 (Wed) 7 pm — Quail Ridge Books hosts Christopher Norment – ‘Relics of a Beautiful Sea’. (Non-Fiction.)

23 — Local author book release day for Going Through the Change by Samantha Bryant (Curiosity Quills Press, April 2015).

NEW: 23 (Thursday) 7 pm — Frequency Fundraiser at Motorco for Durham’s own “lesbian sci-fi” webseries. “Join the cast and crew to binge-watch Durham’s own lesbian sci-fi webseries. FREQUENCY, created by Piper Kessler and starring Meredith Sause (“Foodie”) and Lisa Gagnon (“Disengaged”) is in it’s third season and attracted over four million viewers, but the main star of the show is the Bull City! Come watch episodes, exclusive content, and mingle with the cast and crew for a night of multidimensional good times. We will have tax deductible fundraising status for some donations. Currently working out the details. Fundraising is to help with Season 4, of the series. $5 Suggested Donation.”

NEW: 23 (Thursday) 7:05 pm — The Durham Bulls hosts Game of Thrones Night “with special jerseys again and more fantasy fun” and a special mention of Durham author Mur Lafferty for her “#SansaBall” Twitter coverage.

NEW: 24 (Friday) 7 pm — The SFWA Southeast Reading Series presents a panel on science fiction and technology with authors Mark Van Name, Mur Lafferty, Richard Dansky, Jay Posey, Justin Achilli, and (via Skype) Tiffany Trent, moderated by M. David Blake, hosted by Duke University’s David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library at The Edge, on the first floor of Duke University’s Bostock Library. Free and open to the public. Refreshments will be provided. [Facebook]

24-26 (Friday to Sunday) — RavenCon 10 in Richmond, VA with writer guest of honor Allen Steele and special guest Lawrence M. Schoen. At the DoubleTree by Hilton Richmond Midlothian. More info: http://www.ravencon.com/

25 (Saturday) 2 pm — Flyleaf Books hosts the book release party for Samantha Bryant’s “menopausal superhero novel” Going Through the Change.

NEW: 25 (Saturday) 3 pm — Quail Ridge Books hosts NYT besteller David Baldacci – ‘Memory Man’. (Thriller.)

NEW: 25-26 (Saturday and Sunday) — Chapel Hill’s Storybook Farm hosts The 4th Annual Festival of Legends: Spirit Animals. “The Festival of Legends is a celebration of the mythic arts and the magic of life itself. It is a playground for the imagination – for children as well as adults – and an escape from the mundane world. It is a journey to the romantic by-gone eras that never were, and an exploration of the fantastical realms that have always been. The natives are magicians and musicians, acrobats and comedians, artists and crafters, proud knights and fairytale creatures. Step into the Festival of Legends, and step into a place of wonder.”

NEW: 26 (Sunday) 6:30 pm — Nerd-Vana Presents: My FAVORITE things burlesque at Legends Nightclub in Raleigh. $5.

NEW-NEW: 29 (Wednesday) 8 pm — Mythbusters: Jamie and Adam Unleashed at Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts in Raleigh. “The all-new, live stage show “MythBusters© Jamie & Adam Unleashed,” starring Jamie Hyneman and Adam Savage, co-hosts of the Emmy-nominated Discovery series MythBusters©, promises to be an unexpected evening of on-stage experiments, audience participation, rocking video and behind-the-scenes stories. Fans will join Jamie and Adam on stage and assist in their mind-twisting and not always orthodox approach to science.”

30 — Local author book release day for Red Sky Dawning (The Mako Saga, Book 2) by Ian J. Malone (Sharkflight Publishing).

MAY 2015

1 — Regional author book release day for Herford, NC author David Niall Wilson’s Crockatiel (An O.C.L.T. Novel) featuring his character “Cletus J. Diggs” (Crossroad Press and Mystique Press, May 1).

NEW-NEW: 1 (Friday) 7 pm — Ultimate Comics hosts Noelle Stevenson (Lumberjanes, Nimona) for a “Making Graphic Novels” talk and Q&A.

2 (Saturday) — Free Comic Book Day at shops across the world! Including lots of activities locally at (at least) Ultimate Comics (Comics for a Cure Superhero 5K, Afua Richardson, Richard Case, Mike DeVito, Noelle Stevenson), Chapel Hill Comics (Warren Wucinich sketching), and Atomic Empire.

NEW-NEW: 2 (Saturday) — Independent Bookstore Day at local independent bookstores nationwide including Quail Ridge Books, Flyleaf Books, The Regulator, and more.

NEW-NEW: 3 (Sunday) 1 to 5 pm — The North Carolina Museum of Art hosts Afternoon Tea in the Park; Springtime Steampunk Picnic.

NEW: 4 (Monday) 6:30 pm — The Orange County Public Library hosts First Monday Classics: Far from the Madding Crowd by Thomas Hardy.

NEW: 4 (Monday) 7 pm — Durham’s Atomic Empire hosts Smart Green Heroes Kickstarter Launch Party. “Come support local game designers Jonathan Estes and Chris Faulkenberry as they launch their Kickstarter campaign.”

NEW: 5 (Tuesday) 7 pm — Quail Ridge Books hosts Wherefore: Shakespeare in Raleigh – ‘Much Ado About Shakespeare’ a panel discussion on the Bard’s works.

6 — Regional author book release day for Chaos and Moonlight (Order of the Nines, Book 1) by A.D. Marrow (Full Fathom Five Digital).

NEW-NEW: 7 (Thursday) 8 pm — The Ultimate Ladies Alliance Comic Reading Club discusses Hugo Award nominated Ms. Marvel at Ultimate Comics.

NEW-NEW: 9 (Saturday) 1 pm — Raleigh’s Event Horizon Games hosts an open playtest for new Onyx Path RPG The Prince’s Gambit. “The Onyx Path are well known publishers of the Worlds of Darkness, Exalted, The Scarred Lands, and others. This new game is a card based strategy and logic game where 6 players join together as vampires trying to support the city’s Prince and their goals.However, two are Sabbat and out to foil the actions of the others, and bring the city down. Covertness and trickery are necessary tools of all the vampires at the table.”

NEW-NEW: 9 (Saturday) 7 to 10 pm — The Time Travelers’ Ball in Durham: “Doors open at 6:30. Tickets are available at the door for $20, cash only please. Come dressed from your favorite time period, real or imagined. Historical, steampunk, fantasy, science fiction, or present day — all are welcome. Enjoy dancing to music from multiple time periods and light refreshments.”

NEW: 12 (Tuesday) 7 pm — Quail Ridge Books hosts Jeffery Deaver – ‘Solitude Creek’. (Thriller.)

12 — Regional author book release day for The Wrath and the Dawn by Charlotte author Renee Ahdieh, a young adult fantasy re-imagining of The Thousand and One Nights (Putnam Juvenile).

NEW-NEW: 14 (Thursday) 7 pm — The Regulator Bookshop hosts award-winning Durham author Devon Flaherty, “The Night of One Hundred Thieves”. “The Queen was dying. The kingdom was at peace. And the ring was about to be buried forever in the royal crypt. But the ring’s aura of power and its promise of riches and its stories of magic were destined to inspire a night never to forget, The Night of One Hundred Thieves. From an unlikely cast of farmers, travelers, townspeople, courtiers and royals, One Hundred unravels a tale of forty people all both recognizable and special in their own way, as they barrel toward their future together and an inevitable clash of motives.”

NEW-NEW: 14 (Thursday) 7:30 pm — Durham’s East Regional Library hosts a Meet the Author event with YA fiction author J.J. Johnson: “Please come to a reading and question-and-answer session with J.J. Johnson, author of Believarexic, The Theory of Everything, and This Girl is Different. Refreshments and freebies provided. Bring your teens, tweens, and pre-teens!”

NEW: 15-17 (Friday to Sunday) — Durham Central Park hosts Read Local Book Festival & Exhibitor Fair. “This weekend-long event takes place May 15-17, 2015 and will feature a kick-off Cookbook Rodeo, writing workshops, author dinners, a daytime exhibition in Durham Central Park, children’s activities, local celebrities reading outside their comfort zones, a lightning reading open mic event, and much more. Come celebrate reading local with us!” The Science Fiction and Fantasy Author Dinner is Saturday, May 16, at Basan in Downtown Durham. “All profits from ticket sales go to support the Durham Library Foundation.”

NEW-NEW: 17 (Sunday) 12 to 4 pm — The North Carolina Museum of Art hosts a free family renaissance fair with special musical guests the Motley Tones: “Step back in time for an afternoon of merriment, music, games, traditional craft demonstrations, art-making activities–and PIRATICAL MUSIC. Princes and kings, pirates and comedians, fairies and jugglers are are just some of the people you will encounter in the Renaissance Village.”

NEW: 18 (Monday) 7 pm — Quail Ridge Books hosts Mary Robinette Kowal & Marie Brennan – Historical Fantasy Reigns. “Two authors share their historical fantasies. One series concludes and one continues in thrilling style. Mary Robinette Kowal is here with Of Noble Family, the final book of her acclaimed Glamourist Histories. It’s the magical adventure that might result if Jane Austen walked on the grimmer side of the Regency period. Marie Brennan brings Voyage of the Basilisk, the third volume in the continuing ‘memoirs’ of Lady Trent, as she undertakes an around-the-world sea voyage to discover new species of dragons. To set the mood, the authors will be in costume. Check out this short video of what it’s like to catch them on tour. It’s from their last tour, and they clicked so well, they’re touring again. Feel free to come in costume.”

NEW-NEW: 18 (Monday) 7 pm — Flyleaf Books hosts Renee Ahdieh reads from her debut YA novel, The Wrath and the Dawn, “A sumptuous and epically told love story inspired by A Thousand and One Nights” by a UNC graduate living in Charlotte. (Teen.)

NEW-NEW: 19 (Tuesday) 7 pm — Flyleaf Books hosts Mary Robinette Kowal and Marie Brennan read from Of Noble Family and Voyage of the Basilisk. “Mary Robinette Kowal and Marie Brennan make a joint appearance at Flyleaf to promote their latest novels: Of Noble Family, the final book of the acclaimed Kowal’s Glamourist History series, and Voyage of the Basilisk, the third book in Brennan’s Memoires of Lady Trent series. They will appear in costume with light entertainment!”

19 (Tuesday) 7 pm — The RTSFS book club discusses A Call to Duty by Weber and Zahn at the Southpoint B&N.

NEW-NEW: 21 (Thursday) — Nerd-Vana presents the Animazing show! at Legends Nightclub. “Thursday before Animazement. Spend pre-con with us! Discount in cosplay or with badge. Raffle and prizes! Cast to be announced

Cosplay photo booth!”

NEW-NEW: 21 (Thursday) to (June) 6 — Durham’s Manbites Dog Theater presents a world premiere adaptation of Nick Cave’s Australian/Southern Gothic/cult novel And the Ass Saw the Angel. “A lyrical Southern Gothic play about a closed-minded town of damned souls and the wretched boy who fights to stay alive among them. Eucrid Eucrow, one of literature’s fiercest anti-heroes, is a mute outcast in a community filled with inbreeding, moonshine, and religious fanaticism, whose damaged mind is filled with visions — both angelic and otherwise. He finds his muse in the junkie prostitute, Cosey Mo; his enemy in the demented, trigger-happy evangelist Abie Poe; and his mission in the mysterious child saint, Beth.” Presented by Little Green Pig Theatrical Concern.

22 — Local author book release for Soul Arbor by Bridget Ladd.

NEW: 22-24 (Friday to Sunday) — The Raleigh Convention Center hosts Animazement, “an all-volunteer, fan-run anime convention in Raleigh, North Carolina, celebrating popular Japanese visual culture in all of its forms.” A pre-con event is also set for Thursday, May 21.

25 — Local author book release day for Eryk Pruitt’s crime novel Hashtag from 280 Steps.

28 (Thursday, to June 6) — Raleigh Little Theatre presents A Midsummer Night’s Dream at the Raleigh Rose Garden.

NEW-NEW: 29 (Friday) 7:30 pm — “Pokemon Symphonic Evolutions” concert in the Meymandi Concert Hall, Raleigh. “The North Carolina Symphony joins forces with Pokémon: Symphonic Evolutions, performing all new arrangements and carefully timed visuals from recent and classic Pokémon video games! Pokémon: Symphonic Evolutions has become the must-see video game concert of the year, giving Pokémon fans of all ages the chance to experience live, beautiful music of the Pokémon franchise. All-new orchestral arrangements and carefully timed visuals drawn from recent and classic Pokémon video games.”

29-31 (Friday to Sunday) — ConCarolinas in Concord, NC with guests of honor John Scalzi, Matt Busch and Lin Zy, and Catherine Asaro, and master of ceremonies Rich Sigfrit. at the Embassy Suites Concord.

TBD — Regional author book release day for Founders by Stuart Jaffe (Silence in the Library Publishing, May 2015).

JUNE 2015

NEW: 1 (Monday) 6:30 pm — The Orange County Public Library hosts First Monday Classics: Winesburg, Ohio by Sherwood Anderson.

2 — Local author book release day for Clay and Susan Griffith’s The Shadow Revolution (Crown & Key, #1) from Del Rey.

NEW-NEW: 7 (Sunday) 2 pm — Flyleaf Books hosts Darin Kennedy discusses his paranormal thriller The Mussorgsky Riddle. “Psychic Mira Tejedor possesses unique talents that enable her to find anything and anyone, but now she must find a comatose boy wandering lost inside the labyrinth of his own mind.”

NEW-NEW: 10 (Wednesday) 6:30 pm — Wake County’s North Regional Library hosts Piedmont Laureate and speculative fiction author James Maxey for a discussion, “The Superhero Inside Us All”. “I’m fascinated by superheroes not for their larger than life adventures and superhuman powers, but by the fact that they figure so prominently in our universal mythologies, and are so easy for us to believe in despite their total contradiction with our observed reality. Why do we believe that a man can fly? Perhaps not intellectually, but certainly on a gut level.”

NEW-NEW: 11 (Thursday) 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm — The first of a two-part writing workshop on June 11 and 18 at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences in Raleigh entitled Hunting Dinosaurs (and Diamonds, and Dunes). More info: “Authors have long found inspiration in the natural world. Careful observation of the visible world reveals powerful truths about unseen things. Learn how to make nature your muse. On the first week, after a brief introduction, students will be sent to hunt through the museum to make detailed observations that will provide the seeds for stories. The following week, the participants will share their ideas and fragments of their writing in a group discussion to flesh out their ideas into fully developed stories. This does require advance registration, and there is a small fee.”

NEW-NEW: 11 (Thursday) 7 pm — Quail Ridge Books hosts Stacey Cochran for Eddie and Sunny, his new novel. (Fiction.)

NEW-NEW: 11 (Thursday) 7 pm — Greensboro’s Scuppernong Books hosts Charlotte author Darin Kennedy for his paranormal thriller The Mussorgsky Riddle.

NEW-NEW: 13 (Saturday) 11 am to 2 pm — Raleigh’s Event Horizon Games hosts a multi-author book signing event for Garner-based publisher Red Adept along with publisher Lynn McNamee. Among those appearing will be local author Karissa Laurel, whose debut novel Midnight Burning is forthcoming from Red Adept.

NEW-NEW: 13 (Saturday) 1 to 3 pm — Chapel Hill Comics hosts comedian and Deadpool comics writer Brian Posehn for an in-store signing.

NEW-NEW: 13 (Saturday) 2 pm — The Burlington B&N hosts Samantha Bryant for a reading and signing of her debut novel Going Through the Change.

16 (Tuesday) — The RTSFS book club discusses Magic Lost, Trouble Found by Lisa Shearin at the Southpoint B&N.

NEW-NEW: 16 (Tuesday) 7 pm — Flyleaf Books hosts Chapel Hill author Katie Rose Guest Pryal discusses her novel Entanglement. “Awkward, 21-year-old Greta Donovan, the fiercely intelligent daughter of a philandering physics professor, doesn’t relate to people nearly as well as she relates to facts and figures. While Greta gets quarks and string theory, she hasn’t a clue where men are concerned. Which is exactly why she doesn’t see it coming when someone tries to kill her.” (Fiction.)

NEW-NEW: 18 (Thursday) — A “Noir at the Bar” event with (among others) Nathan Ballingrud (The Visible Filth) and Eryk Pruitt (Hashtag). More info TBD.

NEW: 19 (Friday, through June 27) — The Raleigh Little Theatre (301 Pogue Street) stages an outdoor production of Macbeth which “features a new take on the ‘Scottish play’, with a re-cut script by Blum that focuses on the disintegration of family within the jealous power-hungry struggle known so well to theatergoers.”

NEW-NEW: 19-21 (Friday to Sunday) — HeroesCon at the Charlotte Convention Center.

NEW-NEW: 20 (Saturday) 4 pm — Hillsborough’s Orange County Library hosts James Maxey, Nathan Kotecki, and Samantha Bryant for “The Hero Showdown,” where the panel and the audience will get to debate matchups between iconic fictional heroes. “Not just fights, but some oddball questions as well. Who makes better use of their money? Tony Stark or Scrooge McDuck?) You can visit the library website to nominate heroes in advance!”

23 — Regional author book release day for In Midnight’s Silence by T. Frohock (Harper Voyager Impulse), part one of a new Los Nefilim series.

NEW-NEW: 23 (Tuesday) 7 pm — Quail Ridge Books hosts Rachel Kelly & Mike Richardson – ‘Colorworld’. ” Wendy, a college student, can sense emotions when she touches people. After going to a clinic’s allergy treatment program, people now die when she touches them. What has this clinic done to her – and what does it intend to do with her?”

26-28 (Friday to Sunday) — ConTemporal 2015 with guests Eric Flint and Walter Hunt for a special 1632 series theme this year: “ConTemporal is an experiential Steampunk convention being held June 26-28, 2015. No sooner had the idols been recovered then they were stolen by a mysterious figure! Meanwhile, Lt. Com. Julius Cosgrove is trapped in 1632, near the location of the Grantville temporal incursion caught between the cultists and the Germans fighting the Thirty Years’ War.” NOTE: As of March 19, the convention does not yet have an announced venue, and appears to be canceled for this year.

NEW-NEW: 27 (Saturday) 2 pm — Wake County’s Cameron Village Regional Library hosts Piedmont Laureate James Maxey for a writing workshop entitled “Every Hero has a (Back) Story”. More info: “Most characters are defined by some major event of their past, a trauma or a triumph that occurred long before the current story starts. How do you integrate this important stuff from the past into the present story in a way that improves both? What are the clichés and pitfalls to avoid? This workshop is free, but does require advance sign up via the event page on the library website.”

NEW-NEW: 28 (Sunday) 2 pm — Wake County’s West Regional Library in Cary hosts Piedmont Laureate James Maxey for a discussion on “Superheroes in Pop Culture”.

30 — Local author book release day for The Undying Legion (Crown & Key, #2) by Clay and Susan Griffith (Del Rey, June 30).

TBD — Local author book release day for Midnight Burning by Karissa Laurel (Red Adept Publishing, Summer 2015) — a debut urban fantasy.

JULY 2015

NEW-NEW: 3 (Friday) 10 pm to 2 am — The Pinhook in Durham hosts THE CAT’S MEOW: Electric Swing/NeoVintage Dance Party. “From the folks that brought you the anachronistically fantastic, Clockwork Ball, comes the latest chance to shake a tail feather!”

NEW: 6 (Monday) 6:30 pm — The Orange County Public Library hosts First Monday Classics: Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain.

7 — Regional author book release day for Iron and Blood by Charlotte author Gail Z. Martin (Solaris, July 7, 2015) — “A Steampunk novel set in the fictional city of New Pittsburgh. New Pittsburgh in 1898, a crucible of invention and intrigue, the hub of American industry at the height of its steam-driven power. Born from the ashes of devastating fire, flood and earthquake, New Pittsburgh is ruled by the shadow government of The Oligarchy. In the abandoned mine tunnels beneath the city, supernatural creatures hide from the light, emerging to feed in the smoky city known as ‘hell with the lid off.'”

10-12 (Friday to Sunday) — ConGregate 2: Scoundrels and Rogues in High Point, NC with guests of honor Timothy Zahn, Michael Stackpole, Albin Johnson, Scott Rorie, Faith Hunter, and Valentine Wolfe.

NEW-NEW: 14 (Tuesday) 7 pm — Flyleaf Books hosts Brian Panowich discusses his debut novel Bull Mountain. (Fiction/Crime.)

NEW-NEW: 19 (Sunday) 6 pm — Can’t Stop The Serenity – Raleigh – Ten Year Celebration! at the Raleighwood Cinema Grill: “Excited to announce that its time for the 10th annual Can’t Stop the Serenity here in Raleigh NC! The event will be held Sunday July 19th at the wonderful Raleighwood Cinema Grill. As in years past we will be raising funds for Equality Now and Kids Need To Read. We will have a raffle and costume contest before showing our Big Damn Movie Serenity!. Doors open at 6:00 and we encourage you to arrive early and enjoy food and drink with your fellow Browncoats. Movie will start at 8:00 p.m. after we have had our traditional costume contest and raffle!”

19 to (August) 1 — Wofford College in Spartanburg, SC hosts the 8th annual Shared Worlds teen writing summer camp, with Nathan Ballingrud, Monica Byrne, David Anthony Durham, Gavin J. Grant, Will Hindmarch, Jeremy L. C. Jones, Kelly Link, Catherynne M. Valente, Ann VanderMeer, and Jeff VanderMeer.

21 (Tuesday) 7 pm — The RTSFS book club discusses Castle Hangnail by Ursula Vernon at the Southpoint B&N.

NEW-NEW: 24 (Friday) to (August) 2 — Bare Theatre presents MACBETH (at Forest Theatre, Chapel Hill). “Having played Lady Macbeth in Bare Theatre’s 2006 production, veteran Triangle actress and longtime Bare Theatre member Rebecca Blum takes the helm in this epic Shakespearean tragedy. This will be the company’s fourth production on the outdoor stage at RLT in three years, and it features a new take on the “Scottish play,” with a re-cut script by Blum that focuses on the disintegration of family within the jealous power-hungry struggle known so well to theatergoers.”

24 to (August) 2 — Baen Writers Boot Camp, Wake Forest NC, 24 July – 2 August 2015. UPDATE: This year’s boot camp has been canceled.

NEW-NEW: 26 (Sunday) 4 pm — Flyleaf Books hosts Paul Tremblay discusses his novel A Head Full of Ghosts. “A chilling domestic drama that blends psychological suspense with a touch of modern horror from a new, brilliantly imaginative master.” Tremblay is the author of (among others) The Little Sleep and Swallowing a Donkey’s Eye and (with Stephen Graham Jones) Floating Boy and the Girl Who Couldn’t Fly, and the co-editor (with Sean Wallace) of the anthologies Fantasy, Phantom, and Bandersnatch.

28 — Local author book release day for The Conquering Dark (Crown & Key, #3) by Clay and Susan Griffith (Del Rey, July 28).

AUGUST 2015

NEW: 3 (Monday) 6:30 pm — The Orange County Public Library hosts First Monday Classics: The Awakening by Kate Chopin.

NEW-NEW: 15 (Saturday) TBD — Quail Ridge Books hosts Hugo, Nebula, and World Fantasy Award winning author Michael Swanwick for his new “Darger and Surplus” novel Chasing the Phoenix.

NEW-NEW: 16 (Sunday) 10 am to 5 pm — Oak City Comic Show at the Hilton North Raleigh/Midtown.

18 — Local author book release day for Hamster Princess: Harriet the Invincible by Ursula Vernon (Dial, Aug 18) beginning a new children’s series.

SEPTEMBER 2015

1 — Local author book release day for The Geomancer: Vampire Empire: A Gareth and Adele Novel by Clay and Susan Griffith (Pyr, September 1) — “The uneasy stalemate between vampires and humans is over. Adele and Gareth are bringing order to a free Britain, but bloody murders in London raise the specter that Adele’s geomancy is failing and the vampires might return.”

1 — Local author book release day for A Rebel’s Stone by P.T. McHugh (Glass House, September 1).

NEW-NEW: 4 (Friday) 7 pm — Quail Ridge Books hosts Kim Harrison – ‘The Drafter’. “Folks loved the Hollows series. Now Kim Harrison returns on Friday, September 4, at 7 pm with The Drafter. Think The Bourne Identity meets Minority Report in this first highly-anticipated installment of Harrison’s sexy new suspense trilogy, featuring a brilliant special task agent at the top of her field and set in a futuristic Detroit.”

NEW: 10 (Thursday) 8 pm — The Durham Performing Arts Center (DPAC) hosts The Legend of Zelda: Symphony of the Goddesses: “‘The Legend of Zelda: Symphony of the Goddesses’ concert series is back with a third installment: ‘Master Quest’. Audiences can expect to experience awesome new inclusions from The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds, and new music from the recently announced remake of fan favorite The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask. A four-movement symphony, recounting the classic storylines from The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, The Wind Waker, Twilight Princess, and A Link to the Past. The performance will also highlight orchestral renditions of music from The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening and The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks. Performed by a 90-piece orchestra & choir with a giant screen.”

NEW-NEW: 11-13 (Friday to Sunday) — Paperhand Puppet Intervention at the North Carolina Museum of Art. More info: http://ncartmuseum.org/calendar/event/2015/09/11/paperhand_puppet_intervention217/1820

NEW-NEW: 14 (Monday) — The Regulator Bookshop hosts Amy Stewart, “Girl Waits With Gun”. (Fiction.)

NEW-NEW: 18-19 (Friday and Saturday) 7:30 pm — The Red Hat Amphitheater hosts The Lord of the Rings in Concert — “Peter Jackson’s award-winning epic will be projected digitally on an immense high definition screen while the combined forces of the North Carolina Symphony, North Carolina Master Chorale, and The Raleigh Boychoir bring the music of Middle-earth to life.”

NEW-NEW: 18-20 (Friday to Sunday) — The Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance (SIBA) trade show in Raleigh at the Hilton North Raleigh/Midtown. More info: http://sibaweb.com/trade-show

NEW-NEW: 21 (Monday) 7 pm — The Regulator Bookshop hosts Matthew Guinn, “The Scribe”. (Fiction.)

22 — Regional author book release day for Sound by Alexandra Duncan (Greenwillow Books, Sep 22) — a stand-alone companion novel to her 2014 debut Salvage.

NEW-NEW: 30 (Wednesday) 7 pm — Quail Ridge Books hosts Gene Luen Yang – ‘Secret Coders’. “From the graphic novel superstar comes a wildly entertaining new series that combines logic puzzles and basic coding instruction with a page-turning mystery plot! For ages 8+.”

OCTOBER 2015

2-4 (Friday to Sunday) DeepSouthCon 53 at CONtraflow V in New Orleans with guests of honor Robert J. Sawyer, Seanan McGuire, and Les Johnson.

NEW-NEW: 5 (Monday) 6:30 pm — The Orange County Library hosts First Monday Classics: The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky.

6 — Local book release day for the David Drake tribute anthology Onward, Drake! edited by Mark Van Name, with stories by Drake, Van Name, Mur Lafferty, Tony Daniel, T.C. McCarthy, and more. (Baen, October 6)

NEW: 8 (Thursday) 7:30 pm — The Durham Performaning Arts Center (DPAC) hosts An Evening with Neil deGrasse Tyson: “Join us for an evening of engaging conversation on science, exploration, and the world as we know it with superstar scientist Neil deGrasse Tyson. Neil is an award-winning astrophysicist, author, regular guest on The Daily Show, host of FOX’s Cosmos, and host of his own radio show StarTalk. He has a new latenight TV show also called StarTalk, which premieres on National Geographic on April 20.”

8-11 (Thursday to Sunday) Bouchercon 2015 in Raleigh. Bouchercon is the annual World Mystery Convention, and this is the first Bouchercon ever (in its nearly 50-year history) to be held in the American South.

20 — Local book release day for Rysa Walker’s Time’s Divide (The Chronos Files, Book 3) published by Skyscape.

NEW: 30-(Nov) 1 (Friday to Sunday) — HonorCon 2015 at the Hilton North Raleigh/Midtown with Tony Daniel, David Drake (Saturday only), Chris Kennedy, and David Weber.

NOVEMBER 2015

3 — Regional author book release day for Without Light or Guide by T. Frohock (Harper Voyager Impulse), part two of Los Nefilim.

NEW-NEW: 13-15 (Friday to Sunday) — NC Comicon at the Durham Convention Center, including Walking Dead artist Charlie Adlard’s ONLY U.S. appearance and (among others) Bernard Chang, Tommy Lee Edwards, John Paul Leon, and Stacey Lee.

27-29 (Friday to Sunday) — Chessiecon 2015 at the North Baltimore Plaza Hotel with guests of honor Seanan McGuire, Ursula Vernon, Heather Dale (with Ben Deschamps) and special Guests Tamora Pierce and Tom Smith.

TBD — Local author book release day for Air and Darkness by David Drake (Tor, November 2015) — the concluding book 4 in The Books of the Elements series.

FEBRUARY 2016

NEW: 26-28 (Friday to Sunday) — MystiCon 2016 in Roanoke, Virginia, with guest of honor George R.R. Martin.

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