Thursday 17 February 2011

Flying Saucer Eyes

Things that have happened this week...which is a strange sort of post for a Thursday, but then I'm an odd sort of gal.

Most important news first. There's an excellent review of my story collection, Strange Men in Pinstripe Suits, by Peter Tennant in the current issue of Black Static. I was so nervous about this review because it's a) Peter Tennant and b) Black Static and c) I'm nervous about every review.

Here's an excerpt from the review: ...is a smorgasbord of the surreal with strands of absurdity ripping through its core, each quirky story riffing on an internal logic with echoes of Monty Python at its most bizarre and informed by a delight in language that matches the exuberance of Bradbury at the height of his powers... There is an addictive quality to these stories, so that as soon as you finish one you want to rush on to the next...

You can read the rest of the review in Black Static. I shall have to secure my subscription copy behind glass when it arrives.

Next up... My story The Sound of Sharp Voices which appears in The Tangled Bank anthology is now available in print. The book originally appeared as an ebook last February and I'm really happy to be able to add the print version to my 'me' shelf. Yep, I have a me shelf. I guess my me shelf is an ego shelf and thus my ego is small.

And talking of Tangled... A Disney Store bag* freaked me out. It's one of those big numbers with a huge saucer eyed Rapunzel on the front and I'd left the darn thing hanging over the back of my door. It got dark. I hadn't drawn my blinds because I often don't. Something caught my eye in the window. EEK! For a millisecond I thought a giant eyed something was staring at me through the window. Thank god, I didn't pick up a Mickey Mouse bag.

*Note to concerned readers - the bag contains pressies for my talented niece and swashbuckling nephew and isn't a fashion accessory.

16 comments:

Anthony Rapino said...

*Amazing* review! And well-deserved. I'm constantly scaring myself with oddly-placed clothes and hats. The shadow people are always nipping at my heels.

Barry Napier said...

A big congrats on the Black Static Review. And, might I add, well deserved.

K.C. Shaw said...

Wonderful review! And totally deserved. And just look at the result--Rapunzel herself is stalking you!

Cate Gardner said...

I see shadow people, Anthony ;)

Thanks, Barry

I always knew I'd attract the oddest of stalkers, Kate. :D

Michael Stone said...

Congrats on a yet another (and richly deserved) positive review, Cate.

Josh Reynolds said...

Congratulations on the well-deserved review!

Kimbra Kasch said...

Love the "smorgasbord of the surreal with strands of absurdity ripping through its core"

makes me definitely want to read it :) CONGRATS!

Fox Lee said...

Congratulations on the review! : )

And I feel for you regarding the bag. We all have those moments.

Lee Thompson/Thomas Morgan/James Logan/Julian Vaughn said...

What a sweet review excerpt! Black Static is top-notch, just like your collection, Cate.

That's pretty awesome on the anthology too! A "me" shelf. Good thinking!

The rest is too funny to comment on because it made me pee my pants. :O

Thanks a lot for the pimpage on FB, too, sister! (Wow, I'm dumb, or tired. I just started typing the word verification right here... Dum, dum, dumb...) :)

Aaron Polson said...

A great review, Cate. So well-deserved. You are a class act. ;)

Tyhitia Green said...

Congratulations on the wonderful review! "Me" shelves are quite necessary. ;-)

LOL @ the scary Disney bag.

Cate Gardner said...

Thanks you all :D

Katey said...

I bought The Tangled Bank when it came out, but didn't have an ereader and so I was kinda sad. Now I'm working through all the e-books I bought before. Finally!

Congratulations on the totally BAD ASS review <3

Cate Gardner said...

Thanks, Katey. To my shame, I still haven't read The Tangled Bank either. Oops.

Steven Pirie said...

Just read the Black Static review... it's a cracker...

Cate Gardner said...

Thanks, Steven. I'm still grinning (oh and Burying Brian arrived today).