I Have a Publisher!

I am pleased and excited to announce that I have signed a contract for the publication of The Shadow of Tiamat with Crescent Moon Press. This is home to many fine writers, including my friends Lynn Rush and Ciara Knight. And I've met new friends there already as well. I'm looking forward to working with them, and they are as excited about my book as I am.

Friends, this has been a long road. A long, long, long road...and it is far from over. I started writing the first book in this series in November of 2009. I began it as a passing amusement, indulging in my long lost childhood dreams of being an author. Once I began, I found I could not stop. And I never will so long as I can breathe and type.

I've met a lot of fine people along the way. I've made many new friends, and even lost a few. I've learned, as I have many times in the past but failed to listen, that sometimes the people telling you what you want to hear are the ones you should listen to the least. I've earned a lot of fans on Facebook, and a lot of people interested in my daily thought bubbles on Twitter. And now, finally, after all this time, a small but respected publisher has chosen to take a chance on an urban fantasy novel, set in Joplin, written by--of all things--a former social service worker and academically trained criminologist. I am humbled and honored.

But the most important thing I can say right now is this: THANK YOU.

This happened because of you. ALL of you. Yes, I wrote the books. Yes, I dealt with the stress and strain of rejection, waiting and hoping, lingering by the phone, checking emails everyday hoping for some sign of progress. But I never could have done this without your help. Without every single one of you listening to me, tolerating me, encouraging me, entertaining me, amusing me, humbling me, disciplining me, and strengthening me, I'd have surrendered long ago. Nothing I have done would have been possible without your help. I am no island. This, what has happened here, what happens from here on with this publisher or any other, is as much your achievement as it is mine.

So where now? It isn't over yet. No, it's just beginning! The book will be in print and I'll be touring and promoting. I've made it into an exclusive club now, being a published writer. It's an honor few receive, and I have no idea what the future holds. But you've been with me up to now, and I hope you'll be with me the rest of the way as I detail my journey. But books must be sold, and to be sold they must be promoted. I'll be calling upon you all again, many times in the future, to help me along the way. Buying copies of the book, recommending me to your friends and family, posting reviews on Amazon and other bookseller sites, tweeting and retweeting updates, promoting my book tours, and even sometimes giving me a place to sleep between book signings. I can never reward you what you deserve for this, all you've done for me and all that you may do for me, but I can promise this: it will never be forgotten. And, in one way or another, it will be repaid. I promise.

Thank you all. And this is for all of you. Praise Tiamat!

-Sean T. Poindexter

P.S. What do you think of the new blog layout?

Sean T Poindexter is in Demand! (updated 8/2/10)

This week, I received an email from a book store manager asking when/where my books would be available, because she's had people come into the store asking to order my books. It happened enough times that she Googled me, found my website, and sent me an email.

Are you listening, publishers that have my manuscript?

I'm just saying...

You know how to reach my agent.

Update: 8/2/10: I also have book reviewers asking me for review copies of the book on twitter. When I was with my old publisher (the one that stopped existing before the book could be released) I had a review done by a review site and got 4.5 Stars out of 5. I have every reason to believe any subsequent reviews will be equally glowing, if not better since the book has gone through edits with an editor AND my agent.

From Formspring: How are your books coming along and when can I get one?

From sagetherage, 5/23/20010

The books are coming fine, thank you. I've completed books 1-4 of The Dragon's Blood Chronicles, which comprises the first story arc for that series. I've also finished my first draft of book five, but there are several things I want to change about it so I don't consider it completed. I've also finished Max's first book, a paranormal mystery I'm tentatively calling Moth. I've started work on Max's second book, which I haven't come up with a name yet. All of the Dragon's Blood Chronicles have long, elaborate titles so I'm thinking for Max's series they'll have one word titles. This is all subject to publisher approval, though. They sometimes what you to go with a different title.

As far as when you can get them...well, my agent and her senior partner are working very hard to secure a good publishing deal for me. We're in frequent contact, and the process is slow going but I expect good things soon. Believe me, as soon as I know, you'll know. I can say that my work is in the hands of several excellent publishing houses, some of which have already requested full or partial manuscripts to review for publication. They can't be rushed, they have to make the decision on their own time. If I thought harassing them would help, I'd probably be very annoying right now. All we can do is wait.

This is a nerve wracking process, and the publishers are taking their time because of the economy, but as I said I'm confident we'll know something soon. I'm as excited to get these out as everyone else. These books have been a lot of work for me, and I've gotten a lot of positive feedback from people who have read the manuscripts. Just keep your fingers crossed.

And...if you happen to be friends with the editor at a publishing house, you might lean on them a little for me. I don't want to come off as desperate here, but I'm willing to donate kidneys if anyone at the publisher needs them. I've got two...and can get more.

The March to Publication Continues...

Hey, all. I just got some great news! Another publisher has requested my manuscript! This is great! I can't say which one because publishers get annoyed if you talk about them being interested before they make an offer. But it's a good one, like the two before. I also got a rejection, but that's fine, especially since they don't typically publish my genre; but you never know when publishers may change their mind so it pays to cast a wide net. So far that's 1 rejection, 3 requests for partial or full manuscripts! All the thanks should go to my agent Cari Foulk and her senior partner Jonathan Clements! Very good news, and I'm very excited!

I'll keep everyone posted on the developments as they...develop...happen...whatever.

From Formspring: Can vampires or dragons in your mythos get radiation poisoning? If so, how much compared to a human being?

I hadn't really thought of that yet. I suppose that yes, they could...but the regenerative power of a vampire is different from that of a dragon.

Vampires heal much faster, within seconds of being wounded. The more severe the wound, the longer the regeneration period. Still, it doesn't take very long. However, they are as relatively easy to injure as a human.

In contrast, dragons regenerate slower, but are very difficult to hurt--even in human form. In the excerpt of The Shadow of Tiamat, Garrett survives what should have been a fatal crash with no visible signs of injury--short of torn clothes and a busted motorcycle helmet. Obviously, in dragon form he is even harder to hurt.

If I understand it correctly (and please, correct me if I am wrong) radiation poisoning is so insidious because once it enters your body, you never get rid of it. It's with you forever. That's why X-ray techs stand behind a wall and wear a lead-lined apron while you lay there with a backless paper gown and plastic booties. It is unlikely you will ever get enough X-rays to harm you, but an X-ray tech taking dozens of X-rays a week (or day) can easily build up a fatal amount in a short career. Presumably, the regenerative abilities of these otherworldly creatures would most forms of radiation from their body, much in the same way our blood is able to filter alcohol.

The initial effects of severe radiation--i.e. the burning and tissue damage--would still occur. Based on the severity, a vampire or dragon may be able to survive this. In the case of mild radiation, the vampire might suffer some burns but heal them quickly, whereas the dragon (depending on the form they were in at the time) might not be effected at all. On the other hand, severe radiation might burn a vampire to a crisp faster than his body could repair the damage, while the dragon would take the damage but probably survive so long as they got away from the source of the radiation.

As far mutation of DNA...since vampires are human-based they still have DNA but the ability of the vampire-virus to heal it's host would (I think) restore the DNA with some manner of super-genome. Some viruses already do this to some extent. It stands to reason that an otherworldly virus would be able to do it even better.

As for dragons...um...I can't really go into that without spoiling more of the books. I'll just say this: more about the nature of what dragons are is revealed as the series progresses. I don't want to give any of that away, since it's not even something disclosed in the first book.

Ask me anything

Life According to Tiamat

Here is something I did a while back on Facebook. In a few days, I may try it again using songs by Danzig. Yes, there is a band called Tiamat. No, they don't have anything to do with my books, other than the source of the name (the Babylonian goddess). Though Tiamat has been a big inspiration for me, music wise, the band isn't featured in my books. For more information about how Tiamat is used in my books, read my old blog entry on the origins of Tiamat.

Okay, here is the game:

Using only song names from ONE ARTIST, cleverly answer these questions.

Pick your Artist:
Tiamat

Are you a male or female:
For Her Pleasure

Describe yourself:
Brighter Than the Sun

How do you feel:
I am in Love with Myself

Describe where you currently live:
Garden of Heathen

If you could go anywhere, where would you go:
Mount Marilyn

Your favorite form of transportation:
On Golden Wings

Your best friend is:
Cain

You and your best friends are:
Too Far Gone

What's the weather like?
Summertime Is Gone

Favorite time of day:
Summer By Night

If your life was a TV show, what would it be called?
Sleeping in the Fire

What is life to you:
To Have and Have Not

Your relationship:
A Pocket Sized Sun

Your fear:
The Return Of The Son Of Nothing

What is the best advice you have to give:
Carry Your Cross and I'll Carry Mine

Thought for the Day:
However You Look at it, You Lose

How I would like to die:
Heaven of High

My soul's present condition:
Sixshooter

My motto:
Love is as Good as Soma

Praise Tiamat!

--Sean P.
represented by Tribe Literary, a Wheelhouse Group Agency

www.seanpoindexter.com

Facebook Fan Page
Sean Poindexter @twitter

So...stuff.

I'm in the process of moving my blog from myspace to Blogger. This is the same blog I posted yesterday, 4/3/2009, on myspace. I'll continue posting both places, until the blog is transferred over.

Hey, friends! Lots of excitement! Got some good news from my agent today...which I can't really talk much about except to say some fine publishers have requested more of my manuscript for review. I can't say which ones, but I can say this: they are good ones. Really good ones.

I'm understating my elation: when Cari told me the news, I backflipped into a wall. That's okay, I can fix the wall.

So, we're all pretty happy about that.

In other news, the following other things are happening that make me very happy:

1. The Hills is going off the air. Television will get just a little less stupid.


2. My friend (and possibly cousin or something) Larry Poindexter has a guest spot on Supernatural starting April 8th:



That's him playing the priest there. Go kick some ass, Larry!

3. After six years, Danzig will release a new album in June! He will also tour. I'll see you there, Mr. Danzig.

4. Obama's health care reform passed. I know, some of you aren't happy about it, because you think it's a big socialist takeover of medicine. It isn't. Trust me...I WANT a big socialist takeover of medicine. I VOTED for a big socialist takeover of medicine. That isn't what we got. We actually got a much more moderate, pro-free-market plan. It is not socialist. Not in the least. Need proof? Here is an article from the International Socialist Party, the hub of all liberal socialist movements world-wide, complaining about how conservative and non-socialist Obama's health care reform is. IF you really are terrified of socialism in America, you really don't have any room to be scared until these guys are happy.

5. Stargate: Universe is back. Yeah, that's right. I know it's kind of like Battlestar:Gallactica, except minus the trite dialog, unlikable character, overacting, misplaced aggression, meandering plotlines, convoluted backstories, ham-fisted political allegories, redundant sermonizing, inexplicable 1940 War-era motif...okay, I guess it isn't anything like Battlestar:Overactica afterall. Whatever. Stargate is a superior franchise.



6. Kick-Ass.

7. Starting to play Shadowrun again, after like seventeen years. That is pretty significant, because Shadowrun was my introduction to the urban fantasy genre, and has had a lot of influence on my work. I'm getting back into it with my friend Ross, and a new group of college-age guys. Also, they are all registered sex offenders, so that's a relief. What? You'd rather I play with unregistered perverts? Sorry, I have to draw the line somewhere.

8. Next and nowhere near least, my beautiful (and patient) wife Amanda and I celebrated our sixth (?) anniversary last month. Yay for us. Well, for me. Between us, I think I got the better end of the bargain. Still, you can help me make her suffering worth while by purchasing many copies of my book when it comes out.

9. My grandfather's birthday was last week. He is my last surviving grandparent. He's a fine man with a huge, loving family. And though I know there is no possible way he's ever going to read this blog, I just want the world to know what a wonderful man Virgil Thompson is.

10. Iron Man II.



Next: Thor. Hell. Yes.

Finally, on a more serious note, I want to add a couple of words about another good man: my father-in-law, Armin. He's in the hospital as I write this, having tests run to see if they can figure out what's going on with his heart. I don't want to go into it too much, but I'll just ask that my friends keep him in their thoughts and prayers (if you pray) and hope for a speedy recovery.

That's all I've got for now, friends. Take care, and I'll try to stay in touch!

Praise Tiamat!

--Sean P.
represented by Tribe Literary, a Wheelhouse Group Agency

www.seanpoindexter.com

Facebook Fan Page
Sean Poindexter @twitter