Aftertaste

Issue 3 of Phantasmagorium is now available to buy. (Beware happy dancing occurring in the Liverpool area). It contains a reprint of my story 'The Sour Aftertaste of Olive Lemon' along with stories by Edward Morris, Cody Goodfellow, Ann K Schwader and Michael Cisco, and is edited by Joe Pulver.

So excited to see Olive Lemon in print again.

Photo stolen from the Phantasmagorium web page. Go check them out (please).

I shall now return to daydreaming about summer days and Mr Whippy ice cream.

The Return

Once upon a time a story appeared in a chapbook all of its own and its author, back then in disguise as her minion Catherine J Gardner, was rather excited about the event. It was the first time her name and only her name had appeared on a book and she never thought that would happen ever...like ever ever...and she still can't believe that it has happened again on four occasions. Of course, she is convinced that is that and she should hug her little books to her chest and never expect any more. Except in her dreams...

...because it never hurts to dream.

Anyway, she loved the story of Olive Lemon so much that she typed it up at the end of last year with the intention of sending it out into the world again as a reprint, only she never did until someone awesome invited her to write something for a magazine and she dared to ask if they'd read Olive's tale, thus...

Joe Pulver read and accepted The Sour Aftertaste of Olive Lemon for Phantasmagorium of which he has recently taken over editorial duties from Laird Barron. It will appear in print this May along with work from Cody Goodfellow, Ann K Schwader, Edward Morris and Michael Cisco.

Excited...some.

That's my third acceptance this month.

Strange Men in Pinstripe Suits - The Cover Art

First there was the artwork for The Sour Aftertaste of Olive Lemon which made feel incredibly fortunate to have such a pretty little chapbook. I thought, second time around (assuming there would ever be a second time), I wouldn't be as fortunate. A nobody doesn't get to have two kick-ass covers. Guess, I was wrong. How beautiful is this...

Aaron Polson (publisher and cover designer) is now officially upgraded to demigod.

Olive's Kicked the Bucket

Seven weeks to the day of her release The Sour Aftertaste of Olive Lemon has officially sold out. We had an initial print run of 25 copies, and then a second print run of another 25 copies, which means (for those who are mathematically challenged) that 50 copies of Olive Lemon are lurking in various parts of the world, from the UK, to the US, to Argentina, to Australia, to Sweden.

Thank you to everyone who bought a copy, read a copy, or perhaps stole a copy (we all have gremlins hiding under our desks, right?). Thanks to everyone who took the time to promote Ms. Lemon. And, a special thanks to Nate Lambert and Stephen Blundell for making this ride wonderful.

Far From Sour Reviews

Two wonderful reviews of 'The Sour Aftertaste of Olive Lemon' have appeared on the net this week. The first from Brenton Tomlinson over at his blog Musings of a Aussie Writer. I quote:

If you're new to the Catherine J Gardner brand of fiction, then 'The Sour Aftertaste of Olive Lemon' will leave you in no doubt as to the unique voice, the mastery of the metaphor, and the exquisite use of vivid narrative description....

Full review here.

The second by Steven Pirie for The Future Fire. Again, I quote:

The result is a delightfully off-kilter dark fantasy that's a pleasure to read.

Full review here.

Oh, and be scared, be very, very scared... Tomorrow I unleash the Scary Dancing Apples upon the world.

Sour Aftertaste of Olive Lemon

My chapbook, The Sour Aftertaste of Olive Lemon, is now available for purchase at Bucket 'O' Guts for $6 incl shipping & handling in the US (payable via paypal). If you live outside the U.S. you can email Nate Lambert at bogpress@gmail.com and he'll get back to you with the price including shipping & handling. That is, of course, assuming you want to buy. No pressure.

Anyway, now onto some goodies. If you would like a free 'Olive Lemon' bookmark signed by me, then email your address to me at firemaiden (at) blueyonder (dot) co (dot) uk and I'll send one along to you. Here is a pretty picture of said bookmark:

And now onto some prizes:

First prize: Signed 'The Sour Aftertaste of Olive Lemon' poster and a signed limited edition Olive Lemon jigsaw.

Second prize: A signed limited edition Olive Lemon jigsaw.

Competition Rules:

Promote Olive Lemon on your blog or website by either posting the below advertising poster on your blog, by mentioning Olive's release and linking back to my blog or to the Bucket 'O' Guts website, or some other ingenious wild plan that promotes Olive in some way. Anything really. And be sure to let me know you've done so by either leaving a note on this blog post or emailing me at the above address.

Competiton closes August 30th 2009 at midnight (your time).

Oh, and if you do buy a copy - thank you, thank you, thank you.

It's hard to gulp with a sore throat...

Why write when you can play around with your blog?

I've updated my Bibliography page and hopefully made it that little bit more accessible. I've put a dividing line between then and now (if you read my last post you'll know what I mean). If you didn't, it doesn't really matter.

I'm getting excited and very, very nervous (what if nobody likes it?) about my chapbook. The edits are done and at the moment it looks like 'The Sour Aftertaste of Olive Lemon' will be published in July. I should have cover artwork soon - it's difficult to gulp and yay at the same time. In the meantime, here's the blurb:

The Sour Aftertaste of Olive Lemon by Catherine J Gardner
"It is important to show no signs of madness even when the world about you is clearly insane…

Olive Lemon is determined to discover what lies beneath the polished veneer of her town. When the Mayor bans citizens from venturing into the grey streets of the neighbouring suburb, a tantalising place of tattoo parlours and screams, Olive’s world begins to snap apart like the pieces of a jigsaw puzzle.”