Well, the HUGE news is, tomorrow is the official launch date of THE DEVIL'S FOOTPRINTS! Although I think it may already be in stores. Next week, I'm doing a bunch of drive-by signings so if you're in the Houston area and see a crazy woman leaving a trail of 'local author' and 'signed copy' stickers as she dashes from one Barnes and Noble to the next, that'll be me.
Man, I can't believe it's been a year since THE DOLLMAKER came out. And this time next year, my third thriller, THE WHISPERING ROOM, will be on the shelves. I'm really doing this thing, aren't I?
The contest is still up and running. I also have a new one starting tomorrow at Fresh Fiction where I'll be giving away an Original Sin candle (fig leaf scent--teehee), a CD of The Devil's Footprints theme, and a signed copy of the book.
Yesterday, I did a Google search on death by hanging for my current work in progress. One of the sites that I clicked on was a write-up about the last man publicly hanged in Arkansas for the murder of a young woman named Amanda Stevens. How freaky is that?
If you live in Houston or plan to visit the area this month, try to drop by Mo Mong Restaurant at 1201 Westheimer to enjoy a feast for the eyes as well as the stomach. The food is to die for and all through this month, the artwork on display is by AmannArt, a cool and extremely talented local artist.
Thanks to this comic books crash course, I've discovered a great new graphic novel by Eric Wight. "A mixture of Charles Addams, Tim Burton, and maybe even a dash of Scooby-Doo, My Dead Girlfriend focuses on Finney Bleak. Bleak is the only non-supernatural at his school Mephisto Prep, so that makes Finney the target of every monster and living dead bully, clique, and bully clique on campus. Finney is also a real boy in a family that wants to be ghosts. In fact, the Bleaks have historically died bizarre deaths, but Finney really wants to live. He meets a girl, Jenny Wraith, and they hit it off. Finney is in love, but then he discovers Jenny's secret." (Comic Book Bin)
I currently have a character floating around in my head that's a dash of Wednesday Addams, a pinch of Lydia Deetz and a smidgen of Sam Spade, so My Dead Girlfriend is right up my alley.
Good morning! This has been a quiet week, but I do have a couple of Footprints reviews to post. And btw, whenever someone uses the word 'brilliant' in a quote, you can bet I'm using it!
The Mystery Gazette: The fast-paced storyline hooks readers who ponder whether this is a horror tale, psychological suspense, or some sort of combination as Amanda Stevens keeps the tension stratospherically high throughout. Keep the lights on as this one will reach your gut.
Merrimon Book Reviews: Amanda Stevens makes the reader feel a certain kind of empathy for the killer, creating a thriller all the more creepy as the horrors and deeds are uncovered. A supernatural imagery mixes with psychology to create a terrifying look into a cold case, memory and the legacy of the present day consequences. Indeed, Amanda Stevens' brilliant use of imagery gives an unusual glimpse into the dynamics behind the murders.
Like I said, it's been kind of quiet around here, so you'll understand if I take my kicks where I can get them. I'm at Target!
In case you missed my earlier post, my interview with Dark Scribe Magazine is still up. I thought Vince did a great job with the inteview. He came up with some really interesting questions and his intro is terrific: With novels that have been described as “creepy, southern suspense,” Amanda Stevens is emerging as a “must read” name in psychological thrillers. With the imminent release of her second Mira novel, The Devil’s Footprints, the Arkansas born and bred dark scribe remains true to her heritage, crafting intricate, highly-readable tales steeped in southern folklore and legends.
Don't forget about the new contest. All you have to do is shoot me an email to enter, but come on! Where are those urban legends and myths I asked for? I haven't received a single one!
I'll leave you with The Devil's Footprints theme...
I've been getting some questions about my latest video promo so I thought I'd post the pertinent information for anyone who is interested.
MSH Productions is a young, hip group of filmmakers out of Austin, Texas, with a unique and exciting perspective on book videos and viral marketing. For more information and/or quotes contact: m.s.houseproductions@gmail.com
I've only seen bits and pieces of King Arthur, and while I think Clive certainly looks wonderful in the role and any movie that uses music by Lisa Gerrard (Dead Can Dance) is automatically elevated in my book, the definitive King Arthur film for me will always be the magnificent Excalibur (1981) starring Nigel Terry (and Helen Mirren as Morgana). This is a dark, atmospheric and intense retelling of the Arthurian legend, a film that is "set in the land of dreams."
I just learned that the dollar-off coupon for The Devil's Footprints is in the back of all six February Intrigues. So clip and use often. And tell your friends.
If you haven't signed up for the newsletter at A Week of Fiction, I urge you to do so. Excerpts for Footprints will be running the first week of March.
And don't forget about book-giveaway contests that are running here and here.
I'm on a quest to collect legends and fables from all corners of the globe. If you have one you'd like to share, send it to amanda @ amandastevens.com and I'll feature it on this blog. I'm hoping to run a new one every week in March.
Entertainment Weekly (EW.com) has a feature on Comic Book Romances with a slide show of twenty-five classic covers. "In the spirit of Valentine's Day, look back at the golden age of 'one-kiss girls,' 'tragic flirtations,' 'forgotten fiancees,' and more from the golden age of pulp passion."
Over on Hidden Gauntlet, they have an interesting discussion about who they'd cast in the remake of Casablanca. I know, I know, the very thought seems like blasphemy, but it's a fun exercise anyway. Here are some of their choices:
The revisions on MARKED BY EVIL, the online prequel to THE DEVIL'S FOOTPRINTS are done and turned in, although I don't have final approval yet. But I'm hoping for the best, and I'm pleased with the way it turned out.
Romantic Times says THE DEVIL'S FOOTPRINTS is "undiluted suspense at its finest."
The hard drive crashed on my work computer this week, which is why I've been neglecting the blog. I've been frantically trying to recreate work that was lost. My computer guy is pretty confident he can retrieve most of the files, but it may take awhile. Thankfully, I had most everything back up on a flash drive, but not the very thing I needed at that moment, of course. Doh!
Is this not a great idea or what? Check out the blog for Found Cameras and Orphan Pictures. If you find a camera, you can send in a couple of photographs and they'll be posted in hopes of reuniting the camera with its owner. Seems like most of the cameras so far have been lost and found in airports.
Of course, as the writer of suspense, this premise generates all manner of cool and creepy scenarios, and I'm so using it.
The blog got me to thinking about other lost and found items that might make for an intriguing thriller setup. I once found a key in a brand new manilla envelope I bought at Kinko's. Where did that key come from? Who put it there and why? And most importantly...what did it open?
(I 'borrowed' the above picture from my MySpace friend, Niamh. Talk about intriguing!)
All through February, I'll be running a contest on Fresh Fiction called "Say Forever...Temporarily." Sign up here for the chance to win a customized temporary tattoo designed by Tattoo Fun and a signed copy of The Devil's Footprints.
See, my protagonist is a tattoo artist and the killer tattoos his victims and since the contest is supposed to be Valentine's Day oriented...
In addition, I'll be blogging on MySpace and here at Blasphemous Rumours pretty much every day.
Here's what Romantic Times has to say about The Devil's Footprints: "Faced paced and plotted with spectacular precison and guile, this is undiluted suspense at its very finest. Nervous readers should read it in full daylight."
I'll be running new contests in February and March. Be sure and check out my Contest page and Fresh Fiction for a chance to win signed books and other prizes.
I like to write about the dusty back roads and murky bayous of the South. About unsolved murders and the kind of dark, simmering secrets that destroy souls.
My books have been described as creepy and disturbing. Stories to be read with the lights on.
But, honestly, I'm just an ordinary person. Quiet and unassuming. Someone who might live next door to you...
Well, the HUGE news is, tomorrow is the official launch date of THE DEVIL'S FOOTPRINTS! Although I think it may already be in stores. Next week, I'm doing a bunch of drive-by signings so if you're in the Houston area and see a crazy woman leaving a trail of 'local author' and 'signed copy' stickers as she dashes from one Barnes and Noble to the next, that'll be me.
The revisions on MARKED BY EVIL, the online prequel to THE DEVIL'S FOOTPRINTS are done and turned in, although I don't have final approval yet. But I'm hoping for the best, and I'm pleased with the way it turned out.
