From Estonia, With Love
Second of all, I can’t believe it’s been two weeks since I’ve been here.
But first of all, would you rather have me blogging or writing? I hope the answer is “writing” because that’s what I’ve been doing. The new book continues to move nicely. Still, it’s hard to believe I’ve neglected this blog for so long… I can’t even ketchup with myself! 
Third, I really, really want to share what the Secret New Big Thriller is called and what it’s about, but, as always, the wheels in publishing turn at glacial speeds. It may be yet another week or three before I’m free to make an announcement. Soon! Soon!
Fourth, an awesome anthology recently arrived in the mail. It’s my first time sharing a table-of-contents with the awesome Charles Stross. That I had to go to far-away Estonia to do so is even more sci-fiish. Is that a word? “Fie-ish”?
This is the full cover spread of The Sidereal Time #7, which includes both of my “Julie Beauchain” stories from Asimov’s.
Perhaps better, the publisher surprised me by including original illustrations with both stories (whose titles I won’t even try to pronounce, ha ha, since the only word left in English is “Sugarloaf”).
Reproduced here with permission of the artist, Margus Lokk, copyright 2010, first we have this image from “Gunfight” of Julie cringing in the brush with her remote as Shorty blasts the snot out of Bongo.
Sweet, right? 
This is the quintessential “Beauchain” story in a single image — assault weapons, robot deer, and a plucky heroine. Love it.
Second, below, is the illustration which accompanied “Christmas Fire.”
This one’s a little more arty, I think, and nicely captured. This scene occurs in full darkness. Julie’s toting a thermal imaging gun.
What Mr. Lokk so tastefully avoids shoving in your face here is that the guy passing out of the foreground is naked and Julie, in pursuit, is wearing nothing but her leather jacket. Why? Ya gotta read the story, man. But here’s another quintessential Beauchain moment in one image — exotic weaponry, nudity, and loads of action. Aha ha ha ha!
The good news is I have a third Julie story I want to write. The bad news is it’s gotta wait until the new book is complete.
More soon.
