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Philippa Ballantine - Author

Award-winning Author of fantasy, science fiction, and steampunk

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    • The Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences
    • Verity Fitzroy and the Ministry Seven
    • Serial Fiction
    • The Books of the Order
    • The Chronicles of Art
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Blog

Spectyr release day!

Here it is…the third book in nine months.

Spectyr bookcoverYep, here is Spectyr.

Though one of the most powerful Deacons, Sorcha Faris has a tarnished reputation to overcome. She and her partner, Deacon Merrick Chambers, find themselves chasing down rumors of geists, but long for a return to real action. So they jump at the chance to escort a delegation sent to negotiate the terms of the Emperor’s engagement. Their destination: the exotic city of Orinthal.

But a string of murders has Orinthal on edge, and Sorcha and Merrick are asked to investigate. Meanwhile the Emperor’s sister has unwittingly released a cruel and vengeful goddess, one who it bent on destroying her enemies, including the geistlord who resides inside the shapeshifting rival to the throne—Sorcha’s lover….

I’ve taken Sorcha, Merrick and Raed into new places. Kim the Comic Book Goddess, one of the first to buy the book and finish it (apparently a store in Scranton put it out early) said I think that I shall begin to call Ms Ballantine the mistress of heartbreak, difficult situations, and star-crossed families.

That makes me so happy!

Now, people are always asking, what is the best way to help the author. Apart from telling your friends, blogging and reviewing, there is always the issue of buying. Gail Carriger wrote a very informative and precise article on the methodology of bookstores, and a certain New York Times list. It is well worth reading.

In the meantime you can read the first chapter for free here and please tweet, facebook or email me pictures of Spectyr in the wild, or maybe with your pet.

 

 

 

Spectyr winners

I’m happy to announce that my winners are Terri and Anita.

They both get an advanced copy of Spectyr and a lovely Catherinette ring. I got some great entries to the competition, and it was great fun to see the people with Geist. I’ve put together a little collection of the entries that were particularly funny. Thanks for entering everyone!

 

Spectyr competition

Spectyr is coming…

Though one of the most powerful Deacons, Sorcha Faris has a tarnished reputation to overcome. She and her partner, Deacon Merrick Chambers, find themselves chasing down rumors of geists, but long for a return to real action. So they jump at the chance to escort a delegation sent to negotiate the terms of the Emperor’s engagement. Their destination: the exotic city of Orinthal.

But a string of murders has Orinthal on edge, and Sorcha and Merrick are asked to investigate. Meanwhile the Emperor’s sister has unwittingly released a cruel and vengeful goddess, one who it bent on destroying her enemies, including the geistlord who resides inside the shapeshifting rival to the throne—Sorcha’s lover….

If you enjoyed Geist the sequel is only a few weeks from hitting the shelves, but you can win a copy right now!

If you’re in the United States this one’s for you…

Yes, I have two advanced copies of Spectyr to give away…and to sweeten the joy of that even more- two  Catherinette rings this one and this one

Here’s how you can win.

Each one of these gives you a draw in the competition.

  • Send me a picture of you holding Geist (paper, ibook, Kindle etc)
  • Direct me to your blogpost/Facebook/tweet about Spectyr coming
  • Direct me to your review of Geist on Amazon/Goodreads/Shelfari/your blog

Get your entries into me by sending them to pip AT pjballantine (dot) come by the 17th of June.

Another May celebration

May 2009- sold the Book of the Order series to Ace Books

May 2010- sold the Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences series to Harper Collins.

 

Pretty good average for May. I joked to someone around Christmas “what could possibly happen in May 2011?” Be very careful what you wish for.

It is with considerable delight that I can tell you that Pyr Books will be publishing my book Hunter & Fox (though the name may change in edits) in 2012 (tentatively summer), with the sequel to follow.

If you don’t know Pyr, you should. Under Lou Anders, who has been nominated for Hugos, Nebulas and every other award that a editor can be, Pyr has quickly become one of the leading names in speculative fiction. They have Joe Abercrombie, Alan Dean Foster, Michael Moorcock and Sean Williams to name just a few.

I’ve been watching Lou with a keen eye, and he seems to have a good grasp on the developments in this emerging publishing worlds, as well as very podcast friendly. In short, I am super excited to work with him, and bring this tale of dark lands and conflicted heroes to the world.

Here’s my blurb…I am sure Pyr will come up with something more wonderful

In a world of chaos, there are heroes turned villain, and villains whose motives are not necessarily dark.
Talis is the Hunter for the Caisah, and a wreck of a once proud person. She has lost her people, and her soul. Salvation though is looking for her, and it wears the face of gentleness and strength. A tale of redemption in a land of darkness, where determination is not always a positive attribute.

Balticon schedule

Well we survived the Steampunk Worlds’ Fair- not because it was awful, but because both myself and Tee were struck with the lurgy. The event was full of lovely, beautifully costumed fans of steampunk. I will do a roundup post on this event and Balticon in early June.

For now I am concentrating on getting this post out before I collapse back into bed.

My Balticon schedule, where you can find me, and what I am doing is what follows next.

Program change Friday, May 27, 2011, 9:00 PM  Chesapeake Suite, Alien Sex What Could Go Wrong

Saturday, May 28, 2011,   11:00AM Brown Bagging It the Wellington Way. Pick up a lunch-to-go from the hotel snackery and bring it to Salon A to have lunch with me. Attendance limited to 10 people. Sign up at the help desk.

Saturday, May 28, 2011,   3:00 PM  Chesapeake Suite, Book Launch: The Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences: Phoenix Rising

Saturday, May 28, 2011,   10:00 PM  Derby Room Erotica A La Carte: Iron Chef

Sunday, May 29, 2011, 12:00 Noon  Garden Room GoH Speech: From Wellington to Baltimore- How New Media got me here

Sunday, May 29, 2011, 5:00 PM   Chesapeake, Metamor City Live:  SF/Urban Fantasy/Noir radio drama

Sunday, May 29, 2011, 7:00 PM   Maryland Foyer, Laura Frechette, Philippa Ballantine, and Starla Huchton Autographs

Monday, May 30, 2011, 10:00 AM, Salon C, Network vs Platform: Can you tell them apart?

It’s my very first Guest of Honor role, so I am a little nervous, but I hope to see some of you there. Please don’t hesitate to step up and say hi.

Ministry May-hem

It’s been a crazy month in a crazy year.

Phoenix Rising: A Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences novel was launched about three weeks ago, and it’s been go go go. We’ve done three readings and signings, and been editing the second book in those three weeks.

But coming up are two even larger events.

The first is the Steampunk World’s Fair, in Somerset, NJ. So if you want to find us between 20-22 May check out this post over on the Ministry. It will be our first steampunk only convention, so we are really looking forward to it.

The second is the following weekend. Balticon in Baltimore held over Memorial Weekend, has become the default location for podcast authors to meet. (at last count there would be twenty-nine podcasters in attendance) I am very proud to be the New Media Guest of Honor. It is my first GoH and I plan on being everywhere I can.

So if you are attending either (or both) of these please stop by and say I. I really enjoy these opportunities to get out and about.

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