I arrived home from a very fun, very informative, very useful WorldCon in Melbourne (blogpost to come on that), to find the uncorrected proofs of Geist. These are not the final product, but still being able to actually hold my bound words was quite the moment, and one more step towards the novel in stores.

Once it is, the market will decide its worth, but my aim is to make people aware of it. Yes, with all the books being published, getting yours noticed is the real battle.

So, as part of that effort I am doing a blogtour for three months. I’ll be talking about all sorts of things, but the first is an interview with Odin1Eye over at View from Valhalla. There were some pretty probing questions that made me think hard, and I hope you find it interesting.

Check it out here and see what other places I will be hitting.

In addition I have some beautiful Geist postcards to distribute- so if you can think of a place to put them where they would attract interest, then please email me motherabbey@booksoftheorder.com – I’ll send you a sweet treat to go along with it

I’ve been working hard of the site Books of the Order which is where I am putting all Geist related content

You can subscribe right here so you don’t miss out- especially for the release of Chronicles of the Order. This short story podcast is turning out to be such fun, with writers such as Tee Morris, Sandra Wickam, Nobilis, Laurie McLean and more!

Shortly there will be a couple of contests, where you can win a signed galley of Geist, and a box of New Zealand goodies. So.. another reason to subscribe.

Another feature of Books of the Order is a feature called ‘Need the Order’. I have been asking people to send in their experiences with the supernatural. As a storyteller I find these tales fascinating, and have a couple from within my own family. I also find it interesting that most people have asked for anonymity–apparently talking about these things can draw derision. As a storyteller I find it sad. If we cannot share our stories, then what is the point of being a community of human beings. We all have our own beliefs and experiences and that is what I find fascinating.

So if you want to share your experience then email motherabbey@booksoftheorder.com and let me know if you want to reveal your name or not.

Stories told around the campfire matter, and I hope you will share yours with me and the world.

Just over two months out until the release of Geist, and I am beginning to gear up.

First off, you will find me at WorldCon in Melbourne. This is my first experience at a big literary con, and I am really excited to get into it. I know that Gail Carriger, Mur Lafferty, Dr. John Cmar and rocket scientist Laura Burns will also be venturing south to Australia.

Tee Morris and I will both be there too and we will have give aways. There will be Geist buttons and postcards, as well as Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences buttons too. So look for those on the freebie tables.

We’ll be attending the Voyager party on Friday night (our editor Diana Gill from Eos will be there!), but apart from that I cannot tell you where else we might be. We’re still waiting on confirmation from the organisers. But even if I am not on any panels I’ll be there to hang out, enjoy the atmosphere before the big dive into the year.

I just have this feeling once Geist is launched its going to get a little crazy….

Also if you pop over to my Appearances page you will see two things.

1) The Geist blog tour. It’s shaping up, but my plan is to have two guest blog or podcast spots each week for September, Ocotober and November. Hopefully you won’t get sick of seeing me pop up, because I will be talking and writing about different things in each one. From steampunk suffragettes, to were-creatures, to plot vs character, to interviews.

2) After WorldCon you will find a tentative schedule for what I want to get to between now and October 2011. This is all very contingent on a business visa from the American government. But hopefully supporting three books in one year with a con a month will be enough of a reason. If that fails, I still plan to get to some events, but they will be fewer. So *fingers crossed*

The characteristics of the New Zealander are not naturally attuned to marketing. We are more bent towards egalitarianism, which is nice, but it also means ‘tooting your own horn’ is not generally looked upon as a good thing.

However in all my years podcasting, and with the example of those that have gone before me into print, I have learned that not to talk about projects is to have them wither on the vine. That’s something I don’t want to happen to Geist.

I am proud of this book. My editor Danielle at Ace said it combines romance, epic and supernatural fantasy, but written with a modern sensibility. Who am I to argue.

Sorcha Faris is a Deacon of the Order, and has vowed to stand between the citizens of the Empire and the geists, evil spirits from the Otherside that terrorize and possess the living. When her partner is critically injured, it’s up to Sorcha to investigate a surge of geist activity, with the help of a seafaring prince who bears a terrible curse- an ancient geist that resides within him.

So here is my call to arms to those who enjoy my writing, friends, fans, and heck even family.

Geist is coming out at the end of October, but now is the time to act to secure the future of more books in the Geist universe. I have a contract for Spectyr, but the whole scope of the story will take two more books to reach fruition.

Now is the time when Ace will decide about the third book. Now?? I can hear you say- but it does actually make sense. Before the book is even published is the time when Ace will begin to have an idea of the demand for Geist, and decide if they want to support the story with more novels. Booksellers are picking which books they will stock right at this very moment.

So what I need is for them to have Geist top of their mind. I need them to order the Books of the Order.

So dearest Americans, here’s something you can do to help me, and my books. It’s pretty simple really- just email, phone or visit your local bookstore (indie or chain store doesn’t matter) and ask if they are going to stock Geist by Philippa Ballantine- coming out at the end of October. (Others can help by ordering via Amazon or Barnes and Noble)

It’s a simple, yet effective way for you to let them know there is a market for the book, and that people are excited enough to ask before it is even out.

Now, if you’ve read my work you probably have a good idea what to expect, but right here is a sample chapter of Geist- the very first. So dive right in, meet Deacon Sorcha Faris and then contact your local bookseller (or for the really keen booksellers)

Phew! I managed to get through that. Thanks so much for your support through the years- it means a lot and constantly amazes me.

You know I love the cover Jason Chan did for Geist. I know the people at Ace love it too. Jason is an amazingly talented artist, so having him bring Sorcha and the Rossin to life was just wonderful to me.

So I encouraged him to make the print available, and he has! I have placed my order for the biggest one for my wall- and if you want the same, then head on over to the print shop and order.

So that’s the art, now here’s the fun….

Balticon!

This Memorial Day weekend in Baltimore, writers, costumers and tons of New Media producers will be gathering for networking, partying and chit chat. If you can join us then please do.

Here’s where you will be able to find me

Readings

From the upcoming release Geist- 1PM Sunday in the Pimlico Room

With Tee Morris- Books and Braun Chapter Two (including a special announcement!!) – 11PM Sunday in the Chesapeake Suite

Live Recordings

Metamor City – 5pm Saturday at the Chesapeake Suite

Girls’ Rules- 4PM Sunday in the Chesapeake Suite

Panels

Social Media for the Midlist author – 6pm Friday in the Chesapeake Suite

What’s Steamy in New Media? – 11AM Monday in the Derby Room

DragonMoon Press Booth

A host of DragonMoon Press authors will be there; Christiana Ellis, Val Griswold Ford, PG Holyfield, Tee Morris, and Phil Rossi. We will all be taking turns manning the DMP booth in the dealers room. So pop on over, buy a book (or three) and have it signed. We’d all love to meet you.

Writing is hard- make not bones about that. There’s the long hours, the editing, the rejections.. it’s not something that is for the faint of heart. Yet it can also be tremendously rewarding. Then those are those moments which shine.

Today I had one of those moments. It came when I opened an email from my editor at Ace. It is the cover for Geist coming out with Ace in October/November this year.

To say I was happy was an understatement. Not only has the artist Jason Chan done a wonderful job. Here is Sorcha just as I imagined her – and the little details are perfectly correct- right down to her eye colour.

And there is the Rossin (who is so much more than a big ole pussy cat) the right size and shape. Also the description and the font are just wonderful.

Covers are always a dice roll, because rarely do authors get to have any input. I have heard some horror stories, but the folks at Ace and Jason have done me and Geist proud.

If you would like to pre-order Geist then the link is available under Store on this site. It is an affliate link, so gives me a few extra pennies when you purchase.

As I have intimated; from May this year writing and voicework will be my sole means of income. That may seem somewhat crazy, but it has reached the point where I need to concentrate on writing and marketing- making the most of the opportunities that have been given to me.

Well if I thought it was all just a mad dream, here is evidence that I am not. From May 2009 edition of Locus confirmation that the Ace deal is a go.

So I sent the contract by fast plane to New York, and now I have a date of publication. Geist will be out November 2010 and its sequel the following year.

I can’t wait to get start on final edits. Geist 2 (still have to come up with a satisfactory name) is about 15,000 words done and it is a lot of fun to get back to this world.

So apart from that writing here’s my calendar of things to get done

• Finish podcasting Weather Child.
• Begin planning and then podcast Digital Magic
• Write, edit, produce and podcast Books and Braun
• Write and podcast a series of perhaps 10 episodes of short stories in the Geist universe.

It’s been a long time coming, and it’s something I will have to get used to- but it has happened. After ebooks, small presses, and riding the wave of podcasting- I can finally tell you all. I have reached that thing that I have been dreaming of for over a decade of active writing.

Yes, I have just confirmed that I will in fact be an Ace Books author. Ace is an imprint of Berkley Books (which is part of Penguin), and has a fine history. The deal is for two novels, with the possibility of more if those sell. The book in question is indeed Geist, and a to be named sequel.

This will take some major adjustment in my mind set- but as you can imagine is very VERY exciting. I can now say that like Scott Sigler and JC Hutchins I have moved into the big leagues. The names I will be joining in Ace include Ursula Le Guin, Tanya Huff, and Tad Williams to name but a few. These are stellar names, and it is a pleasure to be in the same stable.

This totally justifies my decision this year to go part-time in the corporate library, but I am not yet at the point where I can be a full time writer. That’s OK, I’m on my way. I expect there will be huge amounts of work ahead, but I am ready for it.

This would not have been possible without the assistance of three people. Gabrielle Harbowy who helped me edit Geist and get it ready for the big time. Laurie McLean, my agent, who is both an inspiration and a rock. And Tee Morris, who was my sounding board, kick in the pants and inspiration.

The final details are still being ironed out, and I will keep you all in the loop as things progress.  All I can say is…. YESSSSSSSSSS!

The story I wrote, Geist is top of mind at the moment. This is the tale that I was motivated to write after my visit to America in 2007, when I got to rub shoulders with some of the most creative people I know- in both the writing and podcasting world.
Then a social media meme sprang up on Twitter among those same people, called Solidarity. Writers all over the globe posted their word count and supported each other to write more.

So Geist was born.

Deacon Sorcha Faris has plenty of supernatural problems and also her fair share of real life ones. A terrible riot caused by a geist attack has left her partner and husband badly injured and she is assigned a new partner that she doesn’t want. Merrick Chambers is young, talented and tormented by what he saw Sorcha do to his family years before. A good start to any partnership. As Active and Sensitive they are supposed to work seamlessly as a team. Sorcha wonders what their Abbot was thinking.
In the north, the Young Pretender to the throne that Sorcha’s Emperor now sits on, is struggling to find a safe harbor to make repairs to his ship. When Raed Rossin is offered the isolated village of Ulrich, he is grateful. However he cannot know that his ancient familial curse and the rising threat of the unliving will combine to make this place the most dangerous place for him to go.

The inspiration for the story is once again drawn from history. The world that Sorcha and her Deacons inhabit is based loosely on Imperial Russia, vast and packed with bickering Princes. The idea of an Emperor that was invited in to rule is not without precedent. George I of Greece and Haarkon VII of Norway were both born Danish princes.

The concept of the Deacons, who are sworn to protect the world from the unliving, came from several places. The Knights Templar might well have become the Deacons in another world. Organized in the same way as a religious order, they gave up the belief in what they call ‘the small gods’ in the face of a steady stream of paranormal attackers. While their weapons, the Gauntlet and the Strop hark back to ancient stories of artifacts imbued with special powers- the magical shield or sword of the Celts and Vikings.

And the challenges Sorcha faces… well I have always thought that in the fantasy genre real life personal crisises are not realistically portrayed. The hero rides off with the heroine and all is well. But what if the heroine chose the wrong person? What if like real life things changed? Hence Sorcha has to face the kind of turmoil people in our world know all too well.

So the supernatural, intrigue, dirigibles and a tormented heroine.