Posts

Showing posts from 2012

BOOKS: Goodreads List 2012

Image
BOOKS 2012 Reading Challenge Heidi has read 40 books toward her goal of 50 books. hide 40 of 50 (80%) view books In 2011 I read 34 books-- you can see them all here . When you consider how many books some of the most avid readers on Goodreads are devouring--a book a day, some even more--I wanted to challenge myself in 2012. I figured I could easily do 1 book per week, but to be on the safe side, I'd build in 2 bye weeks for myself. So I set my Goodreads Reading Challenge goal to 50. I found that...I am a slow reader. I did make it to 40 before year's end, besting 2011 by 6 books, so I consider this a win. Some may call it cheating that I included books I either wrote or for which I contributed a story, but I don't, and since this is my list, that's the only opinion that matters. Science Fiction Romance topped my list this year as I also took on the 2012 SFR Reading Challenge --didn't quite meet that one either, but ended up somewhere between th

EVENT: Hazard Yet Forward at IMJ Halloween Blitz

Image
EVENTS Visit Ian and Jose at Inveterate Media Junkies (IMJ) for a Halloween Blitz benefiting the Hazard Yet Forward charity anthology. The IMJ Nation has generously donated three of our monthly columns (Heidi Ruby Miller's Geek Girl Underground, Irene L. Pynn's The Princess and Her PS3, Jason Jack Miller's Sound Check) to promote breast cancer awareness and introduce you to some wonderful authors. They answered some questions and talked about their stories. And you'll find out just how each of them plans to deal with a zombie apocalypse. Now, about the anthology... Seventy-six writers connected to the Seton Hill University Writing Popular Fiction program have created a multi-genre charity anthology entitled Hazard Yet Forward. All proceeds from this project will benefit Donna Munro, a 2004 graduate of the program. Munro, a teacher living in St. Louis, Missouri, was recently diagnosed with breast cancer. Genres represented in the book range from horror to roma

NEWS: Heidi Ruby Miller Editor at Dog Star Books

Image
NEWS I am thrilled to announce that I was named the managing editor of Dog Star Books at DogCon this past weekend. DSB is a new Science Fiction Adventure imprint from mother company Raw Dog Screaming Press , who also owns Guide Dog Books and Imaginary Books . See the announcement by RDSP co-owner Jennifer Barnes and my speech about the imprint: To find out more about Dog Star Books , visit the blog at http://dogstarbooks.blogspot.com

Event: DogCon Countdown #13 - Jason Jack Miller

Image
EVENTS DOGCON COUNTDOWN #13 October 20-21, 2012 The first ever DogCon , hosted by Raw Dog Screaming Press , will be part Halloween party, part writer's weekend, part State of the Dog address. This is an invitation only event but if it goes well could be a public event next year! GUEST SPOTLIGHT - JASON JACK MILLER Jason Jack Miller hails from Fayette County, Pennsylvania, as in, "Circus freaks, temptation and the Fayette County Fair," made famous by The Clarks in the song, "Cigarette." He is a writer, photographer and musician. His first band was the un-ironically named Phist, a punk/grunge hybrid who played their first show during second period at Tri-Valley High School’s Winter Carnival. Their last show was a week later on New Year’s Eve at Friend’s Roller Rink. He worked as a whitewater raft guide on the Lower Yough in Pennsylvania and the Cheat in West Virginia, during which time he met his wife, Heidi. Shortly after getting hitched they moved to

EVENT: Western Maryland Indie Lit Festival 2012

Image
EVENTS Western Maryland Indie Lit Festival Downtown Frostburg, Maryland October 13, 2012 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Several Raw Dog Screaming Press authors and editors will be attending the Western Maryland Indie Lit Festival , including Michael A. Arnzen , Jennifer Barnes , John Edward Lawson , Heidi Ruby Miller , Jason Jack Miller , and K. Ceres Wright . The Frostburg State University Center for Creative Writing , in partnership with the Allegany County Library System , is excited to announce that the sixth annual Western Maryland Indie Lit Festival . The event brings together editors and publishers with writers and educators of the local community. Panel discussions and roundtable sessions include topics on various creative genres, DIY publishing, self-publishing, promotion and marketing, writing local, and reading and writing online. The event is free and open to the public. For more information, contact the Washington Street Library at 301.777.1200 or the Frostburg Cente

SFFS: Snippet #2 from "Dakota's Gate" in The Worlds of Philip José Farmer 3

Image
"Dakota's Gate" from The Worlds of Philip José Farmer 3: Portraits of a Trickster DESCRIPTION: This is my second and last snippet from "Dakota's Gate," a continuation of Farmer's novel Two Hawks from Earth . I fell in love with Roger Two Hawks' character--he's a displaced, romantic soldier just trying to get home. He relies on his instincts as much as his intellect to see him through one crisis after another, and never loses his spirit, though he is quite lonely. What's not to love?! So, I gave him a special someone by introducing a new character, Dakota Cummings, into the Farmer-verse. Now about the anthology... A third venture through the works of Philip José Farmer focusing on his penchant for literary tricksterism featuring essays by Frederik Pohl, Michael Bailey, Steven Connelly, Bruce Sterling, Chris Garcia, Tom Wode Bellman, Jonathan Swift Somers III, David M. Harris, Leo Queequeg Tincrowdor, and Rick Lai and fiction by Charlott

SFFS: Snippet #1 from "Dakota's Gate" in The Worlds of Philip José Farmer 3

Image
"Dakota's Gate" from The Worlds of Philip José Farmer 3: Portraits of a Trickster DESCRIPTION: "Dakota's Gate" is a continuation of Farmer's novel Two Hawks from Earth . I fell in love with Roger Two Hawks' character--he's a displaced, romantic soldier just trying to get home. He relies on his instincts as much as his intellect to see him through one crisis after another, and never loses his spirit, though he is quite lonely. What's not to love?! So, I gave him a special someone by introducing a new character, Dakota Cummings, into the Farmer-verse. Now about the anthology... A third venture through the works of Philip José Farmer focusing on his penchant for literary tricksterism featuring essays by Frederik Pohl, Michael Bailey, Steven Connelly, Bruce Sterling, Chris Garcia, Tom Wode Bellman, Jonathan Swift Somers III, David M. Harris, Leo Queequeg Tincrowdor, and Rick Lai and fiction by Charlotte Corday-Marat, Win Scott Eckert, Heid

Event: Novel d'Tales Blogiversary

Image
EVENTS I'm helping Hily Bee over at Novel d'Tales celebrate her one year Blogiversary (September 1-2) by giving away 5 eBooks: AMBASADORA , GREENSHIFT , MANY GENRES ONE CRAFT , HAZARD YET FORWARD , and TWISTED TALES ! And I wrote a love letter/thank you note to my readers. It's the last one in the post: http://noveldtales.blogspot.com/2012/09/blogiversary-thank-you.html Here's more from Hily Bee about the event: Novel d'Tales will be turning ONE YEAR OLD!! *annnddddd cue fireworks* Events will be held on September 1st and 2nd. September 1 *Welcome to Novel d'Tales Blog Anniversary post *Prizes galore! *Twitter Hangman, Scavenger hunts *Twitter Party *Facebook Party *Tons of fun people to meet and chat with - you don't want to miss this! September 2 *The surprises will continue! *Flash giveaways *MORE Twitter Hangman! *MORE scavenger hunts! *MORE Twitter and Facebook parties! The event times will vary so check out @HilyBee on Twi

SFFS: Snippet from "Feeling Blue Today" in Hazard Yet Forward

Image
"Feeling Blue Today" from HAZARD YET FORWARD DESCRIPTION: "Feeling Blue Today" is an excerpt from my current speculative thriller ATOMIC ZION. I decided not to use this piece in the novel, but it worked well as a short story. And about the anthology... Seventy-six writers connected to the Seton Hill University Writing Popular Fiction program have created a multi-genre charity anthology entitled Hazard Yet Forward . All proceeds from this project will benefit Donna Munro, a 2004 graduate of the program. Munro, a teacher living in St. Louis, Missouri, was recently diagnosed with breast cancer. Genres represented in the book range from horror to romance to mystery - and everything in between. Some of the notable writers in the anthology are World Fantasy Award winner Nalo Hopkinson, Bram Stoker winners Michael A. Arnzen and Michael Knost, Bram Stoker nominees Lawrence C. Connolly and John Edward Lawson, ALA/YALSA Best Book for Young Adults winner Jessica War

EVENT: Morgantown B&N Weekend Signing

Image
EVENTS I'll be joining a wonderful group of West Virginia authors plus Many Genres One Craft editor Michael A. Arnzen, and contributors Jason Jack Miller, Timons Esaias, and Diane Turnshek for a book signing event this weekend at the Morgantown Barnes & Noble . You can catch me both Saturday and Sunday at the University Town Center B&N from 1 - 4 PM. Literary agent Christine Witthohn of Book Cents will also be available to hear pitches. For more information, check out the event's Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/events/417139628322815/permalink/420084961361615

Book: Hazard Yet Forward Anthology

Image
BOOKS Giant multi-author anthology on sale Tuesday, August 7 to benefit cancer fighter. My story "Feeling Blue Today" is part of the charity anthology, Hazard Yet Forward . This story is a tie-in to my thriller Atomic Zion . And I am in excellent company. Matt Duvall , Natalie Duvall , and Deanna Lepsch compiled the nearly 700 page, multi-genre eBook with stories from seventy-six writers who are connected to the Seton Hill University Writing Popular Fiction program . All proceeds from this project will benefit Donna Munro , a 2004 graduate of the program. Munro, a teacher living in St. Louis, Missouri, was recently diagnosed with breast cancer. An active member of the SHU WPF alumni committee , Munro helps organize the school’s annual writing conference, the In Your Write Mind Workshop . To aid Munro and her family, faculty members, alumni, students and friends of the Writing Popular Fiction program quickly responded to compile this massive anthology. The boo

WORKSHOP: Science Fiction Romance

WORKSHOPS In Your Write Mind Workshop - WPF Seton Hill University Set Your Phasers to Love - Science Fiction Romance LINKS TO SCIENCE FICTION ROMANCE SITES MENTIONED Broad Universe - http://www.broaduniverse.org/ FF & P - http://www.romance-ffp.com/ IMJ - http://inveteratemediajunkies.com/2011/12/07/heidi-ruby-millers-geek-girl-underground-set-your-phasers-to-l%E2%9D%A4ve Romantic SF & Fantasy Novels - http://www.romanticsf.com/ SFR Brigade - http://sfrbrigade.webs.com/ SFR Brigade blog - http://www.sfrcontests.blogspot.com 2012 SFR Reading Challenge - http://sfrreadingchallenge.blogspot.com Smart Girls Love SciFi - http://smartgirlsscifi.wordpress.com/ Space Freighter's Lounge - http://www.spacefreighters.blogspot.com The Galaxy Express - http://www.thegalaxyexpress.net/

EVENT: Seton Hill WPF's In Your Write Mind Workshop

Image
EVENTS Chocolate-Covered Book Signing and Expo Friday, June 22 7 – 10pm Join dozens of authors from 7-10 on Friday, June 22 for our annual book signing/expo. Booked to Sign (get the pun?!): Kate Martin - Shelley Bates - Victoria Thompson - Meg Mims - Jason Jack Miller - Heidi Ruby Miller - Lawrence C. Connolly - William Horner - Rachael Pruitt - Scott A. Johnson - Sheldon Higdon - Gary Frank - Maria V. Snyder - Patrice Lyle - Michael Knost - Geoffrey Fuller - Sally Bosco - Jessica Warman - JL Benet - Michael A. Arnzen - Lynn Salsi - Lee Allen Howard - Lee McClain - Lana Ayers - Nicole Peeler - Ron Gavalik - Barbara Miller - Kristin Dearborn - Anne Harris Public Forum – “The Fire in Fiction” - Donald Maass of The Maass Agency Saturday, June 23 7pm – Cecilian Hall The Great Gatsby Costume Ball — with a Genre Twist! Saturday, June 23 9pm – Midnight Have you ever dreamed of being Jay Gatsby — as a zombie? Or have you always wanted to dress as a flapper with fairy win

SFFS Snippet #2: "The Islands of Hope" in Sails and Sorcery

Image
"The Islands of Hope" from SAILS AND SORCERY: TALES OF NAUTICAL FANTASY DESCRIPTION: Mermaids. Pirates. Flying ships. Creatures from the deep. Magic beyond your wildest dreams. The sea is a dangerous and wonderful realm. It calls to many, promising riches, adventure, or freedom. But just as there are beautiful and remarkable treasures to be found upon and below the waves, do not underestimate the dangers hidden within its depths. Featuring 28 stories and 42 illustrations, including tales by New York Times best-seller Elaine Cunningham, Paul S. Kemp, Patrick Thomas, Chun Lee, Chris Stout, Heidi Ruby Miller, Jon Sprunk, and James M. Ward with an all-new story featuring Halcyon Blithe. SNIPPET #1 -- The Ixchel has been adrift in the Horse Latitudes for three weeks and food has been rationed dramatically. SNIPPET #2: Hungry crew met him, their stomachs grumbling louder than their complaints. A squabble broke out among three nearest Julian. One crewman shoved anot

SFFS: Snippet #4 from Ambasadora Book 1: Marked by Light

Image
AMBASADORA BOOK 1: Marked by Light DESCRIPTION: If everyone told you love wasn't real, would you still be willing to die for it? Sara Mendoza is captured, tortured, and falsely accused of treason by the Embassy, but she is given a chance to win back her freedom. She only needs to charm information from one of the fragger leaders, then kill him. But by the time she figures out the Embassy's intel is flawed and that Sean Cryer is her true mark, she's already in love with him. Sean knows why Sara is on his ship from the start, but as a lonely, anti-social doser, he doesn't value his life, only his ideology within the fragger organization. Against his better judgment, he becomes her protector, each day caring more about a future he was always afraid to hope for. SNIPPET #1 SNIPPET #2 SNIPPET #3 -- The character which elicits more comments, questions, and interest than any other in the Ambasadora-verse is Rainer Varden . Here's an excerpt where Rainer is bl

CAST YOUR CHARACTERS: Hellbender by Jason Jack Miller

Image
CAST YOUR CHARACTERS For the next two weeks I'll be featuring authors from the cutting edge Raw Dog Screaming Press ! Founded in August 2003, RDSP books are entertaining and thought-provoking and span the gamut from surreal and absurd to horror, sci-fi and fantasy. HELLBENDER AUTHOR: JASON JACK MILLER PUBLISHER: RAW DOG SCREAMING PRESS 2012 DESCRIPTION: There are some strange things happening at the edge of reality. Let Raw Dog Screaming Press author Jason Jack Miller take you to a place where love is forever even when death isn’t, where magic doesn’t have to be seen to be believed, where a song might be the only thing that saves your soul. Jason Jack Miller’s MURDER BALLADS AND WHISKEY series is a unique blend of dark fiction, urban fantasy and horror. It’s Appalachian Gothic, Alt.Magical.Realism, Hillbilly Horror. It’s AMERICAN GODS meets JUSTIFIED. TRUE BLOOD with witches. It’s Johnny Cash with a fistful of copperheads singing the devil right back to hell. He

SFFS Snippet #1: "The Islands of Hope" in Sails and Sorcery

Image
"The Islands of Hope" from SAILS AND SORCERY: TALES OF NAUTICAL FANTASY DESCRIPTION: Mermaids. Pirates. Flying ships. Creatures from the deep. Magic beyond your wildest dreams. The sea is a dangerous and wonderful realm. It calls to many, promising riches, adventure, or freedom. But just as there are beautiful and remarkable treasures to be found upon and below the waves, do not underestimate the dangers hidden within its depths. Featuring 28 stories and 42 illustrations, including tales by New York Times best-seller Elaine Cunningham, Paul S. Kemp, Patrick Thomas, Chun Lee, Chris Stout, Heidi Ruby Miller, Jon Sprunk, and James M. Ward with an all-new story featuring Halcyon Blithe. -- SNIPPET: "Where did he come from?" Finn said, pulling at the knots in his peppered beard. "Men just don't appear on a ship in the middle of the ocean." Julian stared up at the crow's nest of the Ixchel . "His name's Kami. He came with the ship.

Appearance: Going Live on FCTV

Image
APPEARANCES Jason Jack Miller and Heidi Ruby Miller are going to be on the premier of a new local talk show in Uniontown, Pennsylvania-- GOING LIVE with FCTV . The show will air at 7:00 PM on Friday, April 13, 2012. Here's a link to the page on the official site: http://goinglivefctv.com/Going_Live_FCTV/Guests/Entries/2012/4/13_Jason_and_Heidi_Miller.html

SFFS: Snippet #3 from Ambasadora Book 1: Marked by Light

Image
AMBASADORA Book 1: Marked By Light DESCRIPTION: If everyone told you love wasn't real, would you still be willing to die for it? Sara Mendoza is captured, tortured, and falsely accused of treason by the Embassy, but she is given a chance to win back her freedom. She only needs to charm information from one of the fragger leaders, then kill him. But by the time she figures out the Embassy's intel is flawed and that Sean Cryer is her true mark, she's already in love with him. Sean knows why Sara is on his ship from the start, but as a lonely, anti-social doser, he doesn't value his life, only his ideology within the fragger organization. Against his better judgment, he becomes her protector, each day caring more about a future he was always afraid to hope for. SNIPPET #1 SNIPPET #2 -- SNIPPET #3: Here Sara, David, and the others are trying to escape from Palomin during a battle. Sara is succumbing to her pain... "This is faster acting." Yadira h

SFFS: Snippet from Greenshift #9

Image
SFFS Snippet A TALE FROM THE AMBASADORA-VERSE: GREENSHIFT Greenshift is a novel set in the Ambasadora-verse one month before Ambasadora begins. DESCRIPTION: David Anlow, a fleet captain forced into early retirement and jaded by an ex-lover, now spends his lonely days shuttling around a group of scientists for hire. Boston Maribu, Mari to her friends, is one of his passengers, a young botanist who is as beautiful as she is naïve and innocent. When Mari asks David to teach her about more than just piloting the Bard , nights on their ship heat up and their feelings for each other mature into a relationship neither expects. But a suspicious new client shows up with wicked plans for Mari, and the soldier inside David comes alive, ready to fight for the young woman who stole his heart. SNIPPET #1 SNIPPET #2 SNIPPET #3 SNIPPET #4 SNIPPET #5 SNIPPET #6 SNIPPET #7 SNIPPET #8 -- "That was a bad move," Sean said. "You're playing a risky game with

Book: Greenshift (A Tale from the Ambasadora-verse)

Image
Books Greenshift is here! This is a new novel set in the Ambasadora-verse . It's the first of many stand alone stories which don't necessarily follow the main arc of the epic Ambasadora series. Greenshift takes place one month before Ambasadora begins. DESCRIPTION: David Anlow, a fleet captain forced into early retirement and jaded by an ex-lover, now spends his lonely days shuttling around a group of scientists for hire. Boston Maribu, Mari to her friends, is one of his passengers, a young botanist who is as beautiful as she is naïve and innocent. When Mari asks David to teach her about more than just piloting the Bard , nights on their ship heat up and their feelings for each other mature into a relationship neither expects. But a suspicious new client shows up with wicked plans for Mari, and the soldier inside David comes alive, ready to fight for the young woman who stole his heart. And here are the stops along my Virtual Book Tour (VBT). Some of them w

SFFS: Snippet from Greenshift #8

Image
SFFS Snippet A TALE FROM THE AMBASADORA-VERSE: GREENSHIFT Greenshift is a novel set in the Ambasadora-verse one month before Ambasadora begins. DESCRIPTION: David Anlow, a fleet captain forced into early retirement and jaded by an ex-lover, now spends his lonely days shuttling around a group of scientists for hire. Boston Maribu, Mari to her friends, is one of his passengers, a young botanist who is as beautiful as she is naïve and innocent. When Mari asks David to teach her about more than just piloting the Bard , nights on their ship heat up and their feelings for each other mature into a relationship neither expects. But a suspicious new client shows up with wicked plans for Mari, and the soldier inside David comes alive, ready to fight for the young woman who stole his heart. SNIPPET #1 SNIPPET #2 SNIPPET #3 SNIPPET #4 SNIPPET #5 SNIPPET #6 SNIPPET #7 -- She couldn't see anything but the sea and sky reflected in the dark glass, but she could hear m

SFFS: Snippet from GREENSHIFT #7

Image
SFFS Snippet A TALE FROM THE AMBASADORA-VERSE: GREENSHIFT Greenshift is a novel set in the Ambasadora-verse one month before Ambasadora begins. DESCRIPTION: David Anlow, a fleet captain forced into early retirement and jaded by an ex-lover, now spends his lonely days shuttling around a group of scientists for hire. Boston Maribu, Mari to her friends, is one of his passengers, a young botanist who is as beautiful as she is naïve and innocent. When Mari asks David to teach her about more than just piloting the Bard , nights on their ship heat up and their feelings for each other mature into a relationship neither expects. But a suspicious new client shows up with wicked plans for Mari, and the soldier inside David comes alive, ready to fight for the young woman who stole his heart. SNIPPET #1 SNIPPET #2 SNIPPET #3 SNIPPET #4 SNIPPET #5 SNIPPET #6 -- He was in his early twenties, she guessed, not much older than she was. And very good-looking, reminding h

SFFS: Snippet from GREENSHIFT #6

Image
SFFS Snippet A TALE FROM THE AMBASADORA-VERSE: GREENSHIFT Greenshift is a novel set in the Ambasadora-verse one month before Ambasadora begins. DESCRIPTION: David Anlow, a fleet captain forced into early retirement and jaded by an ex-lover, now spends his lonely days shuttling around a group of scientists for hire. Boston Maribu, Mari to her friends, is one of his passengers, a young botanist who is as beautiful as she is naïve and innocent. When Mari asks David to teach her about more than just piloting the Bard , nights on their ship heat up and their feelings for each other mature into a relationship neither expects. But a suspicious new client shows up with wicked plans for Mari, and the soldier inside David comes alive, ready to fight for the young woman who stole his heart. SNIPPET #1 SNIPPET #2 SNIPPET #3 SNIPPET #4 SNIPPET #5 -- "I'm not the flirting type," Sean mumbled. "No kidding." Even after they kissed that time he

SFFS: Snippet from GREENSHIFT #5

Image
SFFS Snippet A TALE FROM THE AMBASADORA-VERSE: GREENSHIFT Greenshift is a novel set in the Ambasadora-verse one month before Ambasadora begins. DESCRIPTION: David Anlow, a fleet captain forced into early retirement and jaded by an ex-lover, now spends his lonely days shuttling around a group of scientists for hire. Boston Maribu, Mari to her friends, is one of his passengers, a young botanist who is as beautiful as she is naïve and innocent. When Mari asks David to teach her about more than just piloting the Bard , nights on their ship heat up and their feelings for each other mature into a relationship neither expects. But a suspicious new client shows up with wicked plans for Mari, and the soldier inside David comes alive, ready to fight for the young woman who stole his heart. SNIPPET #1 SNIPPET #2 SNIPPET #3 SNIPPET #4 -- SNIPPET #5: "I know you didn't like the last guy," Mari said. "Neither did I." She sucked in a breath when one o

SFFS: Snippet from GREENSHIFT #4

Image
SFFS Snippet A TALE FROM THE AMBASADORA-VERSE: GREENSHIFT Greenshift is a novel set in the Ambasadora-verse one month before Ambasadora begins. DESCRIPTION: David Anlow, a fleet captain forced into early retirement and jaded by an ex-lover, now spends his lonely days shuttling around a group of scientists for hire. Boston Maribu, Mari to her friends, is one of his passengers, a young botanist who is as beautiful as she is naïve and innocent. When Mari asks David to teach her about more than just piloting the Bard , nights on their ship heat up and their feelings for each other mature into a relationship neither expects. But a suspicious new client shows up with wicked plans for Mari, and the soldier inside David comes alive, ready to fight for the young woman who stole his heart. SNIPPET #1. SNIPPET #2. SNIPPET #3. -- SNIPPET #4: Many Armadans underestimated contractors—David didn't. They might not have as much bulk, but their martial arts training gave t