Accessibility FTW
Reading accessibility is a personal issue for me. I have worn glasses since I was twelve, but in my family, sight problems go deeper than mere near vision. I’m well aware that genetic eye diseases could very well make me go blind as I age.
The question comes up every few weeks about if my books will be produced in audio by my publisher. I don’t know. Since it may not happen, it makes it all the more important that other options are available!
First of all, there is a paid subscription service called Book Share that lists Clockwork Dagger, Clockwork Crown, and my story “The Deepest Poison.” (Thanks to Dianna for letting me know about this!)
If you’re in the United States, there is also a service called BARD (Braille and Audio Reading Download) provided by the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS). Book lovers can download books from a database of 65,000 titles. The Clockwork Dagger is available for download for approved NLS devices, and The Clockwork Crown is in process. They can also mail some materials. Here’s where you can find out more about the program and how to enroll.
Do you know of other resources in the United States or beyond? Let me know!
Read MoreHear Me Speak
If you’re not able to attend my reading at WorldCon today, you can still hear my weird, raspy voice. I’m in the latest episode of the Skiffy and Fanty Show Podcast: The Wonders and Politics of Steampunk w/ Cherie Priest, Beth Cato, and Jaymee Goh.
It’s an interesting discussion. We talk about representation, whitewashing on covers, and some of the political issues around steampunk. There are a LOT of issues. We could have talked for hours on the subject, I’m sure, and as it is, the full broadcast is over an hour!
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If you want to read my words instead, I talk about some books I recently read and enjoyed over at the What Writers Read. Particular favorites: Sorcerer to the Crown by Zen Cho and The House of Shattered Wings by Aliette de Bodard.
Read MoreReprints FTW
First of all, book news!
The Barnes & Noble Sci-Fi & Fantasy Blog had awfully nice things to say about The Clockwork Dagger and The Clockwork Crown: “Indeed, one of the things I find so winning about Octavia is her incredible compassion. When her enemies are hurt, she tends to them, as well as to her friends and strangers. She’s not a sap; she knows, the way doctors do, that triage is often necessary. The Clockwork Crown… provided a very satisfying conclusion to an excellent duology.”
I also have a Goodreads giveaway for The Clockwork Crown that ends Monday night! That’s TONIGHT! So enter and spread the word. Scroll down to find the widget.
Now, to the subject from the headline. I haven’t had much time to write new stories this year, but I have made an extra effort to seek out reprint markets. This has turned out surprisingly well. It amazes me that stories that were rejected five, ten times on initial submission are now selling multiple times as reprints–and for a heck of a lot more money, too.
Last week I shared the news about “Red Dust and Dancing Horses” in For Want of a Horse.” That same story will also be appearing next year in 2016 Young Explorer’s Adventure Guide. That’s right, a middle-grade adventure anthology! How cool is that?! Plus, it’s very girl-positive, and that makes me REALLY happy. There will be a Kickstarter to expand the anthology; I’ll post more about this soon!
I also sold a reprint of my science fiction story “Overlap” to Science Fiction Short Stories from Flame Tree Press. They are publishing this as a deluxe hardcover–the book itself looks gorgeous! Plus, I’m tickled to share the anthology with several friends as well as classic authors like Arthur Conan Doyle, Mark Twain, Jules Verne, and Jack London. This book will actually be out in the next few months–in time for Christmas!
Now here’s the giveaway link for The Clockwork Crown, as promised!
Goodreads Book Giveaway
The Clockwork Crown
by Beth Cato
Giveaway ends August 03, 2015.
See the giveaway details
at Goodreads.
Signing at Changing Hands
TONIGHT IS THE NIGHT. At 7pm if I survive the drive into Phoenix, you will find me at the Changing Hands on Camelback Road. You can buy copies of my books, listen to me read a little bit from Crown, and indulge in delicious goodies.
So what is on the menu?
I’m so glad you telepathically asked that question! If all goes well in the kitchen, I plan to serve:
– gluten free caramel brownies
– churro Chex mix
– maple pecan tartlets
The Phoenix Changing Hands is also home to the First Draft Book Bar, so you can buy beer or wine, too!
If you’re in the area, I hope you’re able to come by. I’ll be happy to sign Kindle covers, lunar rocks, and books brought to or bought at Changing Hands.
Read MoreChurromancy and More
The promotional blitz is slowing down (thank goodness!) but I was still making rounds this week.
Just a reminder: next Monday is my book release event at Changing Hands in Phoenix! I’ll be serving up goodies (gluten-free included) and steampunk (maybe gluten-free too?). My parents will even be there, which makes it all extra cool.
Steampunk, Tacos, and Final Fantasy: An Interview with Beth Cato, at the Barnes & Noble SFF Blog
Why the Healer deserves to be a Hero: Podcast Interview with Sword and Laser. Also on BoingBoing.
Interview with Author and Steampunk Enthusiast Beth Cato at Between the Blurb.
Publicity and Parenting at Spencer Ellsworth’s Blog
Going Big Time
I had a big ol’ pile of links the other day and today I return with even more. I mean, whoa. The attention this week. My mind is all…
Review of Clockwork Crown at NPR.org. …”Although Crown operates on a sprawling scale, it’s impeccably paced and compact, making for a potent conclusion to Cato’s rousing steampunk tale as well as a study in how less can be so much more.”
My post at John Scalzi’s Big Idea: Healers are heroes too, darnit.
Over at Bookish I have a list of five diverse steampunk books.
The Hook: The Clockwork Crown at Alex Shvartsman’s blog.
Wednesday morning I was interviewed by Professor Terry Lovell at KYCA out of Prescott. For a limited time, you can listen to that here. [Note: I was SO NERVOUS doing the interview but I made it through! I think I earned a piece of the Triforce for that.]
The wonderful David Nilsen at the Greenville, Ohio, Public Library invited me back to the Fourth & Sycamore blog with an interview and excerpt.
Wag the Fox interviewed me at Heavy Is the Steampunk That Wears the Crown: an interview with Beth Cato, author of “The Clockwork Crown.”
Romantic Tension in The Clockwork Crown at Coffee Time Romance.
