I got a swell review of RISEN over at My Ethereality, by Raydeen! Thank you, Ray! Great commentary to herald the book's launch. Today I got more insights from a lovely review by Lee Ann Farruga at Steampunk Canada (I'm on the front page!). Lee Ann's review is here.

It's nice to read what qualities about the story work for readers. Also, a good way for me to keep an eye on those qualities that merit maintaining. And of course, it's very nice to know that like with Charm School I am doing 'different' things with women that are really not different at all, just neglected. It's how it goes. :)

~~eee!

. . . I have not been back to LJ ever since my blog's feed and Posterous ceased to work with LJ, but now that I've finally something published HOORAY, I have to come back and tout it! :) The logo and type design, btw, was hand done by the awesome Tom Orzechowski:



My steampunk /steamgoth novella, first in a series, "The Dark Victorian: RISEN", is now available for Kindle! And is in the queue for Nook and eventually other formats :
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B007TYV32Y

The blurb:
"“Way will open.”
 
She is Artifice.
A resurrected criminal and agent of HRH Prince Albert’s Secret Commission.
An artificial ghost.
A Quaker.
 
He is Jim Dastard.
The oldest surviving agent of the Secret Commission.
An animated skull.
A mentor to newly resurrected agents.
 
It is 1880 in a mechanical and supernatural London. Agents of Prince Albert’s Secret Commission, their criminal pasts wiped from their memories, are resurrected to fight the eldritch evils that threaten England. Amidst this turmoil, Jim Dastard and his new partner Artifice must stop a re-animationist raising murderous dead children. As Art and Jim pursue their quarry, Art discovers clues about her past self,  and through meeting various intriguing women—a journalist, a medium, a prostitute, and a mysterious woman in black—where her heart lies. Yet the question remains: What sort of criminal was she? A new beginning, a new identity, and new dangers await Art as she fights for the Secret Commission and for her second life."

And why not share Trina's blurb, because I LOVE it :) :

"I loved Elizabeth Watasin’s graphic novel, Charm School. Now, after too
long an absence, she has returned to print with fiction. Dark Victorian:
Risen, is just that: a dark Victorian detective story featuring two of
the most eldritch detectives I have ever encountered: a beautiful Quaker
amazon of a ghost and her sidekick, a wisecracking, monocled skull in a
top hat. And they are not the only memorable characters we meet along the
way in this dark romp through fin de siecle London’s foul cribs and
alleys, where our detectives search for the man who brings innocent
murdered creatures back to life, to wreak a hideous vengeance upon their
torturers and murderers. How about a lovely prostitute who may be a
dryad? Or twin sisters, one of whom has a deadly tendrilled virus growing
on the left side of her face?
Risen is only the first of what promises to be a thoroughly enjoyable (if
delightfully disturbing) series. Roll over, Arthur Conan Doyle! Move
over, Philip Pullman!"
- Trina Robbins
Writer, Herstorian, author of The Chicagoland detective Agency series and Lily Renee, Escape Artist

So there's that. And I have to finish "Dark Victorian: BONES", now. *_* (work faster!).

Thanks, and enjoy,
~~eee

http://www.a-girlstudio.com/?p=1172# (via shareaholic)

An excerpt. The rest at the link. Enjoy!
 

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Shaking, Em reached for the wet strap of her messenger bag and pulled it over her head. She was soaked and bitterly cold. Astraopolis’s mild sun was no comfort. She did take solace in the feel of solid earth and grass beneath her body. She shook so uncontrollably, she wondered if she was going into shock.
Buck’s and Shade’s frantic voices still sounded in her ear. She raised a heavy, trembling limb and searched inside her messenger bag.
“I’m fine,” she said, trying to steady her voice. “Got wet and am very c-cold. A monster destroyed the bridge.” Her numb fingers found what she wanted. The bottle shook as she pulled it out: PROFESSOR CARNY’S DEATH KILLER CURE-ALL ELIXIR.
“But you’re safe?” Buck said. “You’re out of there?”
Em worked both her cold hands to open the bottle. The seal broke and she managed to uncork it with a pop.
“Yes,” she finally said.
“Are you on the Astraopolis side?” Shade asked.
“Yes,” she said, raising the bottle to her lips. It continued to shake and she tried to keep it steady. She could not help her grimace. ”And I’m about t-to do something stupid,” she added. She touched the mouth of the bottle to her lips and drank.
Her reaction was immediate. She heaved and coughed mightily, feeling the liquid run like fire within her, and igniting an explosion in her belly. Tears filled her eyes and a rush went to her head. She coughed more and lay curled around the bottle in the grass, the elixir’s fire spreading to the tips of her fingers and toes.
“Em?!” Buck said.

End excerpt

 

Sheena Among The Shiva Linga by *ewatasin on deviantART

THANKS Deviantart, at least you work well with LIVEJOURNAL! (sarcastic shouting)

My Sheena pin up illustration, now available as awesome products too! Or just go look and enjoy. :)

http://www.a-girlstudio.com/?p=1132# (via shareaholic)

Em accidentally causes a singularity, and Pip makes a discovery via a giant telescope. AD ASTRA *flings hand skyward*

And Tough Chick Theater and A-Girl! was also updated:
http://www.smackjeeves.com/profile.php?id=111711

Enjoy! :)

http://www.a-girlstudio.com/?p=1116 (via shareaholic)


Just a blog post about spooky friend and monster artist Eric Pigors of TOXICTOONS, who recently suffered a big heart attack. He's okay now, but I thought I'd write some MORTAL thoughts and give some links to his cool merch, like the FIEND CLUB KIT. Help out a fellow artist if you can, and hey, I just read on his FB thread that the Magic Shop in Disneyland will be carrying some of his monster masks. Now that's nice news to return to after all that surgery table adventure. :)

Livejournal! You are neglected!. Tough Chick Theater has updated: http://toughchicktheater.smackjeeves.com/comics/1183825/wut-up/ (via shareaholic)

The archiving for A-Girl! continues : http://a-girlcomics.smackjeeves.com/

And WIT'S WORLD: NEVER WAS is at Chapter Fourteen, Emma in Astraopolis: http://www.a-girlstudio.com/?p=1111

Enjoy. *flies away*

http://toughchicktheater.smackjeeves.com/comics/1183811/enter-vulcan/# (via shareaholic)

And a pic!! Shall never appear!!! On LJ, ever again!! Just links. Tough Chick Theater, my no budget doll photo comic, has now updated! Enjoy.

http://vintagesleaze.blogspot.com/2011/05/elizabeth-watasin-writer-comic-artist.html# (via shareaholic)

Will I ever get LJ to show images?? Bah. Something really nice awaits if you click the link. No, not a virus silly, just a very nice pin up. Nude. Semi suitable for work. No, not really. ha ha ha

http://www.a-girlstudio.com/?p=1075# (via shareaholic) (Sorry for the very brief post. LJ sharing is being lame. :/ ).