But a big reason this story was so much fun is that it’s set in Borealis, Illinois.

Now, that probably means nothing to you, and if you’ve made the mistake of Googling it, you’ll discover Borealis does not exist. But Aurora, Illinois, does, and savvy readers may know that Aurora is where I grew up.

They’ll also notice that Borealis very, very closely resembles Aurora.

So why did I not call it Aurora? For me it was important to get a little psychic distance, both as a writer and as an urban fantasist. As a writer, I’m not recreating Aurora. If anything, I’m using Aurora as a vehicle for fantasy, which, as an urban fantasist, has to come first.

That said, rooting Borealis in Aurora gave me a firm grip on reality. After all, I know Aurora so well, and it was a very unique place to grow up. Racially, Aurora’s very diverse, and economically, it ranges from solidly working to middle class.

All of this made Borealis a perfect place to set the kind of fiction I wanted to write after Jane. First off, I wanted to show people that were like the people I grew up with, which means characters that aren’t all white. So I wanted to show more diversity in my fiction. And yet, at the same time, I grew up with just such a diverse group of friends, for whom race or class was not a primary issue, at least not as a group dynamic. At the same time, however, issues of gender, race, and class permeate all stratums of culture, simply because that’s what such issues do.

My goal, if I get to write more about these ladies, is to subtly explore some of these issues, under the guise of telling a rousing good story. As a PhD in literature and a professor, I talk and write a lot about these ideas, but my message doesn’t go very far. Meanwhile, “going far” is the real power of popular fiction. We have to tell good stories, but we also have an opportunity to inject those stories with a little bit of what we want to talk about, in terms of social issues. And yeah, those injections might need to be subtle, or slight, but that’s the beauty of pop culture. It’s popular.

Which means a little goes a very long way.

At the end of the day, I’d like to give my readers a little glimpse of the way I grew up–with a diverse group of friends who came together because we shared interests, and humor, and a certain bizarre sensibility. Our relationships, however, weren’t some made for TV movie, with a rousing message of racial and social equality. We were just people who liked each other, and didn’t let anything detract from that fact.

I think there’s power in that idea, and it’s a vision I’d love to share, pop fiction-style.

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Jane is very cross with us, and we feel terrible for the oversight. So we’re offering a gift in consolation.

The gift of DANCE!

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Which is why social media rocks. In my new university’s MFA in popular fiction, I’m teaching a course on building author platforms, and we’re talking a lot about social media. One of the things we’ve brought up peripherally is how rewarding it is to interact with fans of our books.

This weekend, I received some lovely letters and messages on Twitter and Facebook. It’s almost impossible for me to express how much these interactions mean for authors like me. I feel very disconnected, sometimes, from my life as a writer. So to see that people are not only reading my books, but really connecting with the issues they contain and really connecting with my characters means the world to me.

But that’s not all I got this weekend. I also received what I think is an ultimate compliment both to Jane, to Sharon Tancredi’s amazing art, and to Orbit for having the chutzpah to take such big risks. I received evidence of my first Jane True inspired tattoo, from a lovely lady in America. Here’s a picture:

And another:

It looks awesome, doesn’t it! Pretty, yet hard core at the same time. I’d buy a drink for a lady with a tattoo like that. Since posting about this tattoo, I’ve gotten word that plans for other tats are afoot. And that makes me smile.

Are my Jane True books ever going to win an award? Probably not. Will they make a list? Probably not. But with fans like these, who cares. I’m pretty confident they’d have my back in a bar fight. And that’s more than good enough for me.

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5) Tempest Somethingorother

4) The (Significantly Less Shakespearean) Tempest

3) The Urban Fantasy Series Formerly Known As Tempest

2) Tempestuous Liaisons

1) Tempest Bledsoe

Can y’all do even worse?

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[@gabgoss Sat 24 April 4:45 via TweetGasm] I’ve been sent to Murder By The Book to attend @GailCarriger, @JayeWells, and @NicolePeeler’s signing. No real celebs in town, obviously.

[@gabgoss Sat 24 April 4:50 via TweetGasm] Yawn. Do people even read books anymore?

[@gabgoss Sat 24 April 4:58 via TweetGasm] I want a drink. Oh wait, the shindig is finally beginning. Thank the lawd.

[@gabgoss Sat 24 April 5:01 via TweetGasm] Wells and Carriger look nice, but I’m not feeling Peeler’s bouffant. Is she channeling Wilma Flintstone?

[@gabgoss Sat 24 April 5:04 via TweetGasm] Thank God, they’re not reading. But they are answering questions. #blahblahwritingblahblahireallyneedadrinkblahblahwritingblah

[@gabgoss Sat 24 April 5:17 via TweetGasm] Seriously, will this thing never end? #stilltalking #redheadhasterribleaccent

[@gabgoss Sat 24 April 5:24 via TweetGasm] *snores*

[@gabgoss Sat 24 April 5:32 via TweetGasm] Finally, they’re signing. I heard Chelsea Handler’s in Dallas. Why didn’t they send me to her? #ohrightwrongcity

[@gabgoss Sat 24 April 5:42 via TweetGasm] Wait, Carriger is giving the other two some sort of etiquette lesson. Wells already looks like she’ll #cutabitch

[@gabgoss Sat 24 April 5:45 via TweetGasm] Carriger trying to teach them how to drink tea. Wells launching saucers; “professor(?)” Peeler knitting w/only one needle.

[@gabgoss Sat 24 April 5:47 via TweetGasm] Carriger now trying to work with them and napkins. #shenanigans

[@gabgoss Sat 24 April 5:50 via TweetGasm] Peeler and Wells pull out flask. Carriger either confiscating Peeler’s or self medicating. Maybe she’ll give me a swig?

[@gabgoss Sat 24 April 5:52 via TweetGasm] Peeler just screamed, “I am Queen of the Tuffet!” Wells and Carriger trying to talk her down. I am so out of here.

[@gabgoss Sat 24 April 5:54 via TweetGasm] I never want to attend another signing. Writers are crazy. And I know there’s a bar around here somewhere…

That’s it from Gabriella Gossip, your reporter on the go! Tweeting you the latest in social gossip . . . next week, she’ll be interviewing the Guinness Book of World Record’s Largest Aardvark! We know she’s excited–and so are you!

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Alexia: Well, my dear Miss True, how are you?

Jane: Hey lady! Yay! So happy to see you! After the “chafing” incident from last time, you looked a bit horrified, and I wasn’t sure if I’d hear from you again. . . Anyway, I’m great! And, um, I’ve brought you something.

*holds out a gift bag*

Alexia: What’s this? Tea? In little baggies? Remarkable, I have never seen the like. Ingenuous concept.

Jane: Yeah! I knew you were kind of disappointed when all I had was coffee and then you called me Italian. So I brought some tea with me . . . Most of it’s from the café at Read It And Weep. There’s some chamomile, and rooibos, and some mint . . . and my hippie nahual friend, Amy, gave me some “cannabis tea,” but I think it’s just pot. It’s in the stinky bag.

Alexia: Those are not tea, those are tisanes. There’s no tealeaf in them. I suspect they have some wonderful medical applications, however. Thank you my dear, very thoughtful. The way my life has been going recently, I shall surely need poultices and medicinal compounds in abundance. So, it has been some little time since our last conversation, how are you weathering your maiden voyage about the fated sea of interwebs?

Jane: Oh, I think I’m doing okay! It’s a lot of work, though, the blogging. Neither my author nor I had ever done any blogging before the book, so we’re both sort of learning as we go. Your site rocks, btw. I love how organized it is, around themes. Very nice!

Alexia: Oh, my dove, I hired People. You know what they say? Good staff is so hard to come by, but I got very lucky indeed. I got myself this fantastic girl, like for doing one’s hats, only she decorated the site instead of my latest bonnet. And then a man, very properly, did the actual construction. I like to think of him as my website’s custodial butler. Now, I hear from an acquaintance of mine that you have been caught fraternizing with vampires. Are you certain a young lady of your delicacy ought to do so unchaperoned?

Jane. Ha ha! Delicacy! Love that! Ummmm, I think young women of my “delicacy” should definitely fraternize with vampires.  Ryu is awesome to fraternize with. Just please don’t mention the idea of “chaperoning” to him . . . I’m not having the threesome talk again!

Alexia: Vampires can be quite difficult. Lord Akeldama is always using strange words like that as well. Although I hear they are slightly different in the Americas. Are you finding this to be the case?

Jane: Oh, yeah, Nicole’s vamps are totally different than your vamps. But you shouldn’t really call her vamps vamps, either. . . everybody’s gotta be special in her world. *rolls her eyes* And yeah, they can be difficult. It’s hard being with someone who really has needs. Like when he says, “I have needs,” he means, “I have to nibble on women to survive,” not, “I’m making up a lame excuse about why I can’t corral my johnson.” There’s also the biting. It feels awesome, but can get messy. But I guess everything fun can be messy, wouldn’t you agree? You must have terrible problems with the shedding.

Alexia: Jane dear, remember, do, that I have People for that kind of thing. I could hardly be expected to clean up after Lord Maccon, now could I? You cannot possibly be implying that you must to, urm, tend to your little vampire friend? Can you? All on your lonesome, with no help? Shocking. Really, quite shocking. Speaking of which, I must admit I found the window dressing for your memoirs rather daring. Now that we have met in person, your eyes are simply not quite that big. Why did you allow your portrait artist to take such liberties?

Jane: Yeah, at the time I was like, “Nicole, dude, give me a sword!” and she’s all, “Jane, you’ll poke your eye out,” and I’m all, “Ohmigod this is like the freakin’ Christmas Story!” But I gotta admit that even though I felt super awkward standing there all naked for Sharon to paint me, it was the right thing to do. I’m not, like, a normal urban fantasy heroine, ya know? I mean, you at least have a parasol. My ancestors juggled shit on their noses. So I think the cover represents the tone of my book. Although I woulda rocked the hell out of a big ass broadsword . . .

Alexia: On their noses? You don’t say? What extraordinary behavior. Were they Irish? Your ancestors, I mean. I hear strange things about the Irish.

Jane: I don’t know if my mom was from the Irish side of the selkie family . . . unless the Irish are naturists? Cuz mommy dearest had a penchant for the nuditas . . . Not like you and all your underwear!

Alexia: Undergarments, please. And must we go back to that? You seem terribly terribly fascinated with my small clothes. Could we be a tad more civilized? Tell me about your Christmas, was it terribly exciting? I know you American types are rather racy in your approach to holiday cheer.

Jane: My family’s not really into the Christian aspects of Christmas. But I do believe in Santa. After everything I’ve seen, recently, I know he’s gotta be out there somewhere. Tracy and I always cook a big dinner, and this year we had quite a crowd with all the Rockabill supes attending. But it was super fun. And Ryu drove in. That was exciting. He brought mistletoe, but we found other places to hang it than from doorways.

How about you? Do you guys make one of those crazy British fruitcakes that you soak with booze for eons, then light it on fire?

Alexia: Oh, yes! I do love Christmas pudding. I find food so much more appetizing after it has been set on fire. Don’t you?

Jane: Totally. Nothing like a flaming skewer of meat to make my mouth water. *pauses* Sorry, that sounded wicked dirty. And one thing I don’t like is when people try to set me on fire, like they keep trying to do in my second book. In fact, going back to what you mentioned earlier, I know what we can talk about next time! We can talk about laundering/first aid tricks for the urban fantasy heroine!

Alexia: On, fire? You? How gauche. I have problems with werewolves in skirts, myself. All those knees. We must get together and comiserate.

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When I was a child, I was a very precocious reader who read “adult” books very early. In middle school (and to this day), one of my favorite series was Mercedes Lackey’s Last Herald Mage trilogy. I adored that book, loved Vanyel, wanted more than anything to have a Companion, and absolutely worshipped Mercedes Lackey.

So I did what any twelve-year-old fan worth her Whites did at the time: I joined Misty’s newsletter, became a “Herald” by penning some bad poems and drawing a picture of my Companion, and started writing to other fans.

The difference between now and then is that when I say writing, I mean writing. As in, back then I set pen to paper, then stuffed that paper in an envelope, wrote an address on that envelope, then gave it to my dad to mail. I did this for a few years, developing some very close pen pal relationships with some other fans. Indeed, when my parents finally moved from my childhood home last spring, one of the things I discovered in their basement was an enormous box full of letters between “Herald Raven Skeisho” and various other nerdy pre-teens all over the USA and Canada.

So it’s been fascinating for me not only to see how things have changed, but to see these changes from the perspective of “author,” an identity I never seriously entertained achieving. But here I am: authoring. And there are my readers: commenting, emailing, starring, and reviewing.

As for the reviews, I’ve discovered the negative ones don’t really bother me. I would love for everyone to like Jane, but I know that my voice is strong and rather pungent, like fine cheese, and that not everyone appreciates a veiny, blue Stilton. After years as an academic, I also have an exceptionally thick skin. Every day of my work week, I stand in front of a classroom full of college freshmen who stare at me with expressions that read, “Why are you talking?” I like to think such students keep me grounded, bless their little hearts.

The other reason I’m able to shrug off the bad reviews is because of the fans who write to me, telling me why they enjoyed the book. Any letter like that is a pleasure, but a few really stand out.

When I was twelve, the reason I loved Lackey’s series was that I grew up in a very liberal household with openly gay loved ones, but within a larger community that ran to the conservative end of the spectrum. I knew that the unquestioned acceptance of my gay Uncles was right, because they loved each other and they loved us. But I didn’t very often see my family’s values expressed outside of my household, in the wider world.

For these reasons, reading Lackey was a revelation for me. Sharing in Vanyel’s story made me feel safe, normal, and part of something larger, whereas I always felt a little “outside” my peer group despite being well-liked and popular.

And so when I receive an email, Facebook message, or blog comment in which a person tells me that they connected with Jane, or that Tempest Rising helped them understand something in their own life, or that Jane’s struggles gave them hope, I feel very proud. But I also feel connected, again, just like I did when I read Vanyel’s struggles: I feel like I’m part of something larger than myself and that makes me feel less alone.

So, to all of Jane’s fans who have written to tell me your own stories of love and loss, or your own struggles feeling alienated, or just your enjoyment of the book: thank you.

Now can you do something about my freshmen?

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Shreveport police are still sorting through statements after urban fantasists Nicole Peeler and Jaye Wells allegedly attacked one another at their mutual signing, according to witnesses and bookstore staff.

As stated by one bystander, Mary Lois White, also of Shreveport, “It was all going along fine, when suddenly Nicole said something about how vampires are ‘played out,’ and Jaye said, ‘I’ll play you out, you seal-lover,’ and then Nicole told Jaye to ‘Bring it!’ and Jaye grabbed her by the hair.”

“It was brutal,” interrupted White’s husband, Douglas. “She struck like an adder. Nicole didn’t have a chance.”
To add insult to injury, Wells apparently beat Peeler with her own cover art.

While a witness, Jennette Ginsburg, insists that Peeler got her own back with, “a swift punch to [Wells’s] ta-tas,” Barak Shapiro, local weatherman, disagrees:

“Jaye totally let Nicole land one. I think Jaye was just filling up her rage vessel so she could really lay the smack down.”

In the end, however, Peeler’s complete lack of scruples turned the tables on Wells. Helen Taylor and Dee Dee Boutwell told police that Peeler apparently swore a truce, apologized to Wells for saying vampires, and especially vampires-mages, were, “big sissy-sisses who have silly-colored hair,” and then offered Wells a cookie.

As soon as Wells accepted both apology and cookie, Peeler struck.

“She gave her the chair! Go Dr. Peeler!” testified Cortney Glover, witness.

At this point the fight was broken up by staff. Both parties were suitably bloodied, although far from chastened. As they were dragged away by police, Wells threatened to break both Peeler’s legs, while Peeler made fang-gestures at Wells using two fingers waggled in front of her mouth.

When asked to explain his daughter’s behavior, Peeler’s father shrugged and replied, “You can take the girl out of Aurora, but you can’t take Aurora out of the girl.”

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So to fire up the debate, and get all you landlubbers thinking, I’ve outlined the Top Five Reasons that Selkies are Hotter than Vampires:

1. Emo is so ’96 – Join the swim team! Marilyn Manson or Michael Phelps . . . You decide.

2. Never pay market price for seafood again! We catch ‘em, you grill ‘em.

3. Salt water is easier to get out of sheets than blood! Who pays the laundry bills? Let’s be practical, people.

4. Not everyone is into double penetration! Two big fangs. Such little veins. Owwie Zowwie.

5. Seals give good clap! There’s nothing like a round of applause for a job well done.

Any other reasons you can think of why selkies are hotter than vampires?

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