This is really exciting for me. The Grimnoir Chronicles are something new and different, and Hard Magic is the first non-Monster Hunter book I’ve released. So fingers crossed that this one does well.

I’m flying to Minnesota this weekend to sign at Uncle Hugos. Quick reminder, if you guys want an autographed copy, order it from him. (you’re almost out of time) I’ll be personalizing them while I’m there.  http://www.unclehugo.com/prod/ah-correia-larry.php 

EDIT:  Don’t forget that there is only a single run of hard covers. Everything else is paperback. So if you want one of the limited hard covers, order one, reserve one, or snag one quick next week.

It is showing in stock on Amazon http://www.amazon.com/Hard-Magic-Book-Grimnoir-Chronicles/dp/1439134340/ref=pd_sim_b_1   And you can now post reviews.  So if you are one of the folks that read the Hard Magic e-book or eARC already, please please please please, go post an honest review on Amazon.

The eBook came out last week, so if you’ve got a Nook, Kindle, or other eReader, you can get it here for only $6. http://www.webscription.net/p-1327-hard-magic-book-i-of-the-grimnoir-chronicles.aspx  Plus you can read the first quarter of the book for free.

My first book signing of the epic mega tour will be in Layton next Tuesday night. This is my only Utah signing I’ve got on the calender. So if you are local, come on by.  Here are all the tour dates:

Uncle Hugo’s – Minneapolis, MN  April 30th 1-3PM

Barnes & Noble – Layton, UT May 3rd 5-8PM

Poisoned Pen, – Scottsdale, AZ May 5th 7PM

Mysterious Galaxy – San Diego, CA May 6th 6PM

Barnes & Noble – Huntington Beach, CA May 7th 2PM

Dark Carnival – Berkeley, CA May 8th 2-4PM

Powells – Beaverton, OR May 11th 7PM

University Bookstore – Seattle, WA May 13th 7PM

Aunties Bookstore – Spokane, WA May 14th 3PM

Hastings – Boise, ID May 15th 2PM (I know there is more than one, I’ll find out which and post it)

http://fantasyhandbook.wordpress.com/2011/04/26/the-fantasy-author%e2%80%99s-handbook-interviews-xiv-jim-minz/ 

I like Jim Minz. He’s a good guy and a solid editor. I was able to work with him for the first time this year, and it was a pleasure.  Check it out, good read, and he had some nice things to say about me in that interview as well.   🙂

They just announced the finalists for the Hugos, and well, look who is on the list:
http://www.renovationsf.org/hugo-intro.php

John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer

Award for the best new professional science fiction or fantasy writer of 2009 or 2010, sponsored by Dell Magazines
Saladin Ahmed
Lauren Beukes
Larry Correia
Lev Grossman
Dan Wells

For those of you that don’t know, the John W. Campbell Award is a pretty big deal. Being nominated as one of the five finalists is great. The Hugos are sort of like the Oscars for sci-fi and fantasy writers, and the Campbell is a separate award for best new writer. 

The winners will be announced at WorldCon in August. Anyone who was a voting member of WorldCon last year or this year, may vote. It is in Reno this time, which is about as close as it will ever be to me, so I will be attending. 

Thank you very much to all of you that nominated me, and I’m especially thankful for all of the Barflies. You guys are awesome.

As far as the other Campbell finalists go, I’m unfamiliar with the work of three of them, so now I’ll have to check them out. Dan Wells, however… I’m a fan. He’s the guy that wrote I Am Not A Serial Killer, Mr. Monster, and I Don’t Want to Kill You.  (which I’ve reviewed and book bombed here) He’s also got a new YA series coming out soon, and a sci-fi thriller where a character based on me is one of the primary villains. Yep. We’re friends. In fact, we’re in the same game group.  I can now truthfully say that my RPG night has 40% of the best new writers in the country in it.  Yes, and we are in fact, totally awesome.

Obviously I want to win, but if I don’t, then I’m rooting for Dan.

I’ve got several more friends among the other category’s nominees. Eric James Stone in Best Novelette, Mary Robinette Kowal in Best Short, Writing Excuses for Related Work, and Howard Tayler for Best Graphic Story.

EDIT:  Remember last week when somebody said I wasn’t a real writer because I had *only* been #27 on the NYT? Well, now I’ve been nominated for a prestigious award for “excellence in the field”. BURN!  So suck it, losers.  🙂

My kids painted eggs tonight. They obviously know what pays the bills around here.

Also, sort of funny. I looked out the window about ten minutes ago and there was the biggest jack rabbit I’ve ever seen sitting on the lawn. I’ve seen a lot of jack rabbits in my day, but this thing was massive. Not quite Night of the Lepus by any means, but it was bigger than our yard marmots. My youngest kid thought that was just absolutely awesome, because actually spotting the Easter bunny is a good omen of chocolate to come. 🙂

Tomorrow we will go to church, and we’ll talk to that kid about the reason for the holiday, but the spotting the actual magic super bunny? That’s pretty hard to beat.

Here are the Hard Magic book tour dates.  If you’re in the area, (and by area, I’m meaning most of the western US and Minnesota) drop by and say hi.

Uncle Hugo’s – Minneapolis, MN  April 30th 1-3PM

Barnes & Noble – Layton, UT May 3rd 5-8PM

Poisoned Pen, – Scottsdale, AZ May 5th 7PM

Mysterious Galaxy – San Diego, CA May 6th 6PM

Barnes & Noble – Huntington Beach, CA May 7th 2PM

Dark Carnival – Berkeley, CA May 8th 2-4PM

Powells – Beaverton, OR May 11th 7PM

University Bookstore – Seattle, WA May 13th 7PM

Aunties Bookstore – Spokane, WA May 14th 3PM

Hastings – Boise, ID May 15th 2PM