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News Post: Prepare Your Speakers for The Awesome

US publication is upon us! Fortunately the mayhem over here is of the benign, amusing-to-people-who-aren’t-you flavor. The present champion of entropy in Blake’s apartment is an exciting audio project. One of my best friends from high school, Mark D. Hines, has become a professional stage actor. We met so long ago, I had hair. Those were frightening times, filled with these strange, grotesque rings of hair that surrounded the bathtub drain. *Shudder.* I’m serious, man. How do you hirsute types deal with it? It’s like a small part of Kafka came off of your head and wove itself into a nest around your drain so it could collect bits of soap and bellybutton lint. *Shudder again but this time with dubious look at your non-glabrous head.*

In any case, Mark is brilliant. He’s performed in the nation’s premiere Shakespeare festivals and theaters. He was also gullible enough to be talked into kind enough to record a performance of Spellwright’s prologue and first four chapters (a whole hour of content!). I’ve just listened to the completed file and am thrilled. Many audiobooks use a flatter narrator, often with good reason; however, Mark’s Shakespearean training has brought a vivacity to the performance that is reminiscent to the radio plays of yesterday. This is a first time for everyone (him, me, and the producer), so don’t get your hopes up for professional quality file. However, it’s still going to be a lot of fun…and free! If you’re curious, look for it next Monday…the day before publication!

NEWS & ANCILLARIA

Fitting for today’s theme of audio content, I made me podcast debut over at the Geek’s Guide to the Galaxy (hosted by SFF guru’s David Barr Kirtley & John Joseph Adams). I had a blast with the interview and folks seem to have liked it. After the interview David and JJ have a wonderful discussion about the use of “rules in magic.” Very much worth a listen!

Two wonderful Spellwright reviews came out today. Both entertaining and thoughtful. Actually, as I ponder how to make Spellbound a better book than its prequel, I found both reviews highly constructive. Both review sites are excellent and a great way to find new reads.

Bona Fide or at Only the Best Sci-Fi and Fantasy:

“If you want to read one of the promising 2010 debut novels which is exceedingly charming, offers passion, breathes magic with every syllable and twist you around the little finger within minutes then there is no way out to read Spellwright.”

Mad over at The Mad Hatter’s Bookshelf & Review:

Blake Charlton has done the extraordinary with Spellwright. He has managed to use all the tired tropes of classic Epic Fantasy (magical books, dragons, a school for wizards, and a boy who didn’t fulfill his destiny) and make them all feel fresh and engaging…If you’re a fan of classic style Epic Fantasy this will be a must for you. I give Spellwright 8 out of 10 Hats.”

In other news, Shellie over at Layer’s of Thought has previewed Spellwright and prepares for a reading and review. In addition to having the most interesting banner graphic I’ve ever seen in a book review site, Shellie’s review site is indeed thoughtful and examines books from many different backgrounds.

Also, Wednesday’s post “Write about What You Fear” has sparked a lively (and one time blush-inducing) comment exchange over at Magical Words, which is a wonderful resource for writers of all stripes.