ZP Author and Artist News for April 2016

April 2016

News

 

(writing as K.D. Hays) will be featured in Southern Writers Magazine’s “What’s the Story” section explaining the inspiration for her latest book, Roped In. Since Kate was a jump rope coach for eight years and Roped In is a mystery surrounding a jump rope competition, the story behind the story could have easily stretched to novel length all by itself.

Stephen Tiano – who works as a book designer, Page Compositor and Layour Artist – has been quite busy recently. He’s currently working on three book interiors, one of which is a sort of retelling of Dickens’ A Christmas Carol with a transgender twist!

See some of what he’s been working on below.

Author has signed a contract with Leadstart Publishing Corp. for his upcoming non-fiction work Life After Life; Lifting the veil on Death. Congrats!

has a short story titled “It’s…Complicated” in the anthology Lightships and Sabers which should see release 4/18/16.

 

 

 

Appearances

 

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Book Trailers

 

This month’s book trailer is for novel – Always Ali!

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ZP Author and Artists News for Feb 2016

News

We at Zumaya mourn deeply the loss of Roger Margason, better known as Dorien Grey, and Joan Blacher, two well-respected and talented mystery writers. Both were a joy to work with, I will miss being able to spend time with them, even if only virtually, more than I can say.

 

Award-winning author Dr. Joan Blacher, a licensed psychotherapist in private practice for the past twenty years, was a former university professor and director of a counseling and guidance graduate program. She was the author of the mystery novels Murder Canyon, Lethal Lake, and Death on the Run, and co-author of Difficult Teens: A Parents Guide for Coping.

Her works were published in counseling and educational journals, mystery publications, magazines, newspapers, and she was a former member of a counseling journal’s editorial board. In 2003, the California Association of Marriage Family Therapists awarded her its Carl Vincent Award for her literary contribution to mental health with the publication of Difficult Teens.

She is survived by her husband of 42 years, Norman, who has requested her mystery series featuring forensic psychologist Ardis Jensen remain available to readers.

 

When long-time book and magazine editor Roger Margason chose the pseudonym “Dorien Grey” for his first novel, it set off a chain of circumstances that led to a comfortable division of labor and responsibility. Roger had charge of day-to-day existence, freeing Dorien (with the help of Roger’s fingers) to write. Both Roger and Dorien died in November after a minor surgical procedure resulted in fatal complications.

Two years into college, Roger left to join the Naval Aviation Cadet program. Washing out after a year, he spent the rest of his brief military career on an aircraft carrier in the Mediterranean at the height of the Cold War. Returning to Northern Illinois University after service, he graduated with a BA in English and embarked on a series of jobs that worked him into the editing field.

While working for a Los Angeles publishing house, he was instrumental in establishing a division exclusively for the publication of gay paperbacks and magazines, of which he became editor. He moved on to edit a leading LA-based international gay men’s magazine. Then, tiring of earthquakes, brush fires, mud slides, and riots, he returned to the Midwest, where Dorien emerged, full-blown, like Venus from the sea. They were inseparable (and interchangeable) from that point on.

Roger—and Dorien, of course—moved back to Chicago in 2006, where they devoted time to writing and travel. Both Dorien’s excellent mystery series—Elliott Smith and John and Dick Hardest—will remain available to readers, as he requested. His popular blog will also remain available with the able assistance of his good friend Gary Brown.

Rajendra Kher’s non-fiction book Empire of the Gods has been released.

 

One of our artists, April Martinez, has just published a lovely coloring book called Patterns.

 

 

Gloria Oliver has received a contract for a historical/alternate-history novelette entitled Charity and Sacrifice which should see release in October 2016.

 

 

Appearances

Zumaya will have a table a ConDFW on February 12-14, 2016 in Dallas, TX. Come meet some of our writers and editors!
Author Gloria Oliver will also have a table and will participate in panels at ConDFW as well. Come on by and say “Howdy!”

 

 

Book Trailers

This month’s book trailer is for Kate Dolan’s novel – Avery’s Treasure

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ZP AUTHOR AND ARTIST NEWS FOR OCTOBER 2015

News

One of our artists, Tamian Wood, was chosen by the publisher of Pope Francis to do the cover for his Encyclical Letter Landato Si.

And now she’s even won an award for that cover from The Book Designer.com peeps! Congrats!

Greg Austin’s feature screenplay “Haven’s End” is an Official Selection at Oaxaca Film Festival in Mexico. So far, it’s a quarter finalist in Screencraft’s Sci-fi competition. How cool is that? Congrats, Greg!

And as if that wasn’t enough “Haven’s End” is also a finalist in the Hollywood Screenplay Contest and his short sci-fi screenplay “Sian” is a finalist in the National Irish Film Awards.

 

Appearances

Oct 8-11, 2015 -Author Roberta Rogow will be attending the Mystery Convention Bouchercon 2015 in Raleigh, NC.

Oct 16-18, 2015 – Author Gloria Oliver will be in the artist alley of Dallas ComicCon’s Fan Days in Irving, TX.

 

Book Trailers

This month is a book trailer is for Dorien Grey a from the Boundless Imprint called – His Name is John

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ZP Author and Artist News for April 2015

 

News

Graphic Artist April Martinez is celebrating a birthday this month. Join us in wishing her a Happy Birthday!

The magic number 42. Douglas Adams would be proud. 😛

Artist Yehoshua Reyez has been busy working on his creation Axsorg! – a time-faring, psychic, were-spider!

He’s got more! So we’ll be sharing some more of Yehoshua’s cool concepts next month!

Cover Desginer Tamian Wood won an E-book Cover Design Gold Star Award! Fantastic!

  

Look at the beautiful art from artist Charles Bernard. A werewolf in love!

Rie Sheridan Rose’s short story collection RieTales from Mocha Memoirs will debut this month

Alana Lorens will be teaching a fiction writing course at the Corry Hi-Ed through the month of April, focusing on writing with diversity and creating interesting, sometimes out of this world settings.

Appearances

Apr 9-12, 2015 – Author Rie Sheridan Rose will be attending the Austin International Poetry Festival as well as participating in workshops and readings.

April 22-25, 2015 – Author Arlene Sachitano will be signing her new book, Crazy as a Quilt at the AQS Quilt week show in Paducah Kentucky. She’ll be in the Craftmans Touch Book Booth from 9-6 and Saturday 9-5.

Ma2 2, 2015 – Author Roberta Rogow will have a 15-minute “Author’s Alley” slot at Malice Domestic, the mystery convention in Bethesda MD, at 1 PM, talking about WorldBuilding, Real and Fanciful.

Book Trailers

This month is a book trailer is for Christine Marciniak’s young adult novel Honestly, Ali!

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ZP Author and Artist News for March 2015

News

Artist Kaolin Fire has a darling drawing app he originally created for his son called “Baby Paints” – Let your toddler or infant paint your screen with fingers and toes—a screenful of notes and colors will keep them entertained for hours, dragging their attention back if they stray.

 

Kim Baccellia received an OCCRWA Rose for signing her contract for Book 3 of the Goddesses series with ZP! Nice!

 

Here’s a sample of work by artist Bill Neagle – nice stuff!

 

Cover Desginer Tamian Wood is running a SPECIAL! 20% off a Book Cover design with 2 new clients and 10% off referrals.

 

Also send kind thoughts for Tamian and her dog Poppy. Poor thing has pneumonia and is keeping his parents very worried.

 

Artist Charles Bernard has New FREE art instruction videos! The free videos are a nice introduction to his Complete Illustration Art Course from Online Art Academy! A great way to get an art education without having to spend thousands of dollars going to a classroom art school.

 

Rie Sheridan Rose was the editor on Avast, Ye Airships, a new steampunk anthology. She also has a short story in Malice: Some Are Born Bad. On the ZP side, the second volume of the Conn-Mann Chronicles entitled “The Nearly Notorious Nun” is now in edits and will possibly be making its debut later this year!

 

Rajendra Kher has signed a contract with Leadstart Publshing House (Platinum Press), India for his English novel: ‘UDAYAN; The Musician King of Vatsa’. The novel will be available in Paperback and all electronic formats throughout India in 160 cities and also abroad. Congratulations!

 

Artist Brad Fraunfelter has been busy! Below is one of his newest cover creations. It was even picked as the Editor’s Choice at the Advanced Photoshop Magazine! Congrats!

 

Appearances

 

Mar 12-15, 2015 – Author Gloria Oliver andChibiChains will be in Addison in the Dealers Room during All-Con 2015.

 

Mar 12-15, 2015 – Author Rie Sheridan Rose and Elizabeth Burton will be in San Antonio for EPICon 2015.

 

Mar 21-22, 2015 – Author Roberta Rogow will be attending The Liberty State Writer’s Conference in Woodridge, NJ.

 

Book Trailers

 

This month is a book trailer is for Gloria Oliver’s fantasy novel The Price of Mercy

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ZP Author and Artist News for Dec 2014

December 2014

News

ZP is still working to update our ebook store so we can get download links for your purchases and some other fancy capabilities. Ran into a couple of issues, but they’re being worked out. This will happen! Soon!

Avalon Graphics aka Cathy Helms won the 2014 Rone Cover Award under the Mystery/Suspense catergory! Congrats!

See more of her cover work here.

Here is a poster artist Brad Fraunfelter made for a client. It includes the five main characters of the ongoing series. Isn’t it gorgeous?

Poster by Brad Fraunfelter

Each character was painted separately and then placed into the overall composite. The main character at center was created through the use of photography of a model in costume, and then was repainted in the computer. Also the Medusa character was created in a similar way. This was a model that was photographed in a studio setting, and was then manipulated and repainted over digitally to add the snake skin, snakes on the hair, jewelry, etc.


 

Appearances

Looks like all our authors are busy with their families this coming holiday season, so no appearance updates for Decemeber. But they do wish you and yours a wonderful set of holidays!

Book Trailers

 

A new feature! We’ll try to post a different book trailer to the front page each month along with the news and monthly appearances.

This month is a book trailer for Gloria Oliver’s Willing Sacrifice.

ZP Author and Artist News for Nov 2014

News

 

ZP is working to update our ebook store so we can get download links for your purchases and some other fancy capabilities. The looks is just about there, but there’s still lots to do. Keep checking back and we’ll let you know when it’s ready. This month we are even closer to ther reveal, but not quite there yet. Soon!

We are delighted to announce that JoSelle Vanderhooft’s Ebenezer is a finalist in the Lesbian Contemporary General Fiction category of the 2014 Rainbow Awards!

 

 

Appearances

 

Gloria Oliver will be at Roll 2 Play Nov 15 in Coppell, TX. She’ll be talking about her books, play Dungeons and Dragons, and stay for the showing of Wolf’s Children. She’ll be sharing the spotlight with the cast and crew of Tauiran Film’s webseries Party Girl.

On Nov 21-23, Roberta Rogow will be part at Philcon in Cherry Hill, NJ.

Roberta Rogow will also be participating at ChessieCon in Baltimore, MD on Nov 28-30.

 

 

Book Trailers

A new feature! We’ll try to post a different book trailer to the front page each month along with the news and monthly appearances.

This month is a book trailer for Dorien Grey’s Caesar’s Fall.

 

ZP Author and Artist News for Oct 2014

News

ZP is working to update our ebook store so we can get download links for your purchases and some other fancy capabilities. The looks is just about there, but there’s still lots to do. Keep checking back and we’ll let you know when it’s ready.

 

Appearances

Roberta Rogow will be appearing at the 12th Annual Collingswood Book Fair Oct 11th in Collingswood, NJ.

Kim Baccellia will be part of KidLitCon 2014 at the Tsakopoulos Library Galleria in Sacramento, CA. She and two other authors will be discussing Finding and Reviewing the Best in Diverse Children’s and YA

On Oct 12, Roberta Rogow will be part of “Meet The Authors Day” at the Oldbridge Public Library in Oldbridge NJ.

Gloria Oliver will be at the Dallas Comic Con Fan Days Oct 17-19 in Irving, TX.

Lyndi Alexander is teaching two workshops October 18 in Erie, PA at the Pennwriters Mini-Conference: “A writer’s road trip 2.” There’s no need to pack a picnic lunch or look for a roadside rest, a luncheon buffet is included.

Alana Lorens is having a fundraising booksigning event in honor of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, in conjunction with Women’s Services, Inc., with her Pittsburgh Lady Lawyers series books, on October 28 at a local bakery. Two dollars from the sale of each book will go to the organization, which has a battered women’s shelter, counseling and much more to help survivors of domestic violence.

Arlene Sachitano will be signing books from her quilt mystery series The Harriet Truman/Loose Threads Mysteries at the International Quilt Festival in Houston, TX from Oct 29 thru Nov 2.

Book Trailers

 

A new feature! We’ll try to post a different book trailer to the front page each month along with the news and monthly appearances.

This month is a book trailer for Gloria Oliver’s In the Service of Samurai.