"Clay and Susan Griffith's Vampire Empire is Transforming Genre Fiction" Paul Goat Allen, BN Explorations.

Thursday, October 28, 2010

Radio is Hard...

...but at least we didn't have to wear make-up.

We were on The State of Things (WUNC 91.5FM) today. It was an interesting experience. We've done interviews before, as well as panel appearances at conventions, but when there's a microphone in front of your face and that red light goes on, and an incredibly smooth, professional host starts talking in a well-modulated radio voice, you begin to realize just how unprepared you are for communication media.

Frank Stasio is a gracious host and an excellent interviewer, thanks to his natural curiosity and intellect, as well as a very well prepared staff. We did our best to answer his questions. Even though we were talking about our own book, it can be hard to dig up just the right answer at the right time. Add to that the natural hesitation in the voice, the "ums" and "ahs" and "you knows" that fill everyday conversation (but not professional radio chatter), as well as Susan's tendency to ramble when nervous and Clay's tendency resort to saturation bombing with sarcasm...and you could have a perfect storm of radio disaster.

But disaster was averted. We did fine, as far as we can tell anyway. And it was actually fun once it got started. The host was great and enormously helpful to the nonprofessionals.

Now we can do it again without fewer nerves and less uncertainty.

Listen to Clay and Susan on The State of Things

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

New Review

Library Journal says:

Griffith, Clay & Susan Griffith. The Greyfriar. Pyr: Prometheus. (Vampire Empire, Bk. 1). Nov. 2010. c.320p. ISBN 9781616142476. pap. $16. FANTASY
A massive attack by vampires in 1870 drives humans lucky enough to survive the invasion to the tropics, where the hot climate proves intolerable for the vampire clans. When Princess Adele, heir to the Equatorian Empire—formerly the British Empire—travels north to meet with her American suitor, Senator Clark, to cement relations between human powers, a vampire ambush results in her capture. The appearance of a mysterious vampire hunter known only as Greyfriar, who assigns himself the task of rescuing the princess, rouses many questions as to the mystery man’s true purpose. Blending vampire fiction with steampunk and romance, this trilogy launch by the married authors possesses a seductive charm and tells a rousing tale of adventure. VERDICT A change of pace from standard vampire fiction, this should find a sizable readership among fans of fantasy romance as well as the vampire and steampunk genres.

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Appearances

2 Bookstore Signings Scheduled


Quail Ridge Books & Music
Raleigh, NC
Nov. 12, Friday, 7:30 pm
This is a special place for us because Clay used to work there. One of the finest independent bookstores on the East Coast, with the best events coordinator known to man!

Flyleaf Books
Chapel Hill, NC
Nov. 20, Saturday, 7:00 pm
This is a wonderful independent store in beautiful Chapel Hill. We hope to get a steampunk flavor to this event by calling on the strong steampunk community in the Chapel Hill/Carrboro area.

Please come out and see us at one of these events. We hope to have other bookstore signings scheduled in the region and even beyond. And, of course, in 2011, we'll be hitting the convention circuit too.

Sunday, October 10, 2010

Going to the printer!

There will soon be pages between this beautiful cover layout by Grace M. Conti-Zilsberger, who took full advantage of the lovely painting by Chris McGrath.

Pyr's fantastic marketing department, led by the tireless Jill Maxick, added some enthusiastic cover blurbs from Marjorie Liu (NY Times bestseller), Margo Adler (NPR commentator and bestselling author), and R.T. Book Review (one of the top review sources for paranormal, adventure, and romance).

Less than a month and we'll have the book in our hands!

Sunday, October 3, 2010

It's Halloween!



We love Halloween, which is probably no surprise to anyone. We have 4 projects being published over the next couple months and they involve vampires, lycanthropes, giant monsters, demons, and ghosts.

So naturally Halloween is our favorite holiday.
But in addition to our own work, we want to mention a couple of friends who do wonderful Halloweeny work!

First, Belle Dee Bilbrey is a fantastic pop artist who specializes in very stylized cartoons, usually with a horror or Halloween theme. Check out her website.
Doo Wacka Doodles

Also, ORMON GRIMSBY, our personal undertaker to the nearly deceased, is planning a Halloween Eve bash in Raleigh, NC. It will be a wild night of music, monsters, and drinks...and it's in 3-D! This Grand Guignol a-go-go will be held at King's in Raleigh, NC on Oct. 30. If you don't believe me, check out the website. Ormon Grimsby's House of Halloween Hullabaloo

This will be the best Halloween ever!