It's Raining Books! (and other nice things)

Substantive post next, but here's the one my PR team will applaud me for. They think I'm lousy at this self-promo thing. They're right.

So.

First, I'm very excited to announce that Ars Magica, my "true fantasy" about the boy who was supposedly a magician and who became Pope, is now available in ebook formats. Plural. The amazing Igor at Book View Press has set it up for all platforms. You can find it right now on Smashwords. It's been accepted for the Kindle and should be up there in a few days (but Smashwords has a Kindle-able format available if you don't want to wait). I'll have it up on Book View Cafe very soon, and will be offering a free chapter a week starting Match 1st (read it weekly as a serial for free, or buy the whole thing at any time). I have something special planned in connection with this, so stay tuned.

( Here is the cover. Isn't it beautiful? It was designed by Pati Nagle. )

A Wind in Cairo is still on lulu in print and PDF formats. I will be looking into getting it on Smashwords soon. (I did listen when you asked for other e-formats!)

To celebrate my entry into the world of multiple ebook formats, and because the horses need hay, like, next week, and also because spring comes early here in the Southwest and the spring-cleaning bug has hit, I'm having a Book Sale. I haven't had one in ages. I am offering the following rare, long out of print, or hard to find titles. Supplies are limited; when they're gone they're gone. The theme of the season is Royalty.

( Queens! Kings! ARC's! )

All titles signed, and inscribed if desired. Priority shipping in the US S $5/book, or $15 for 3 and up to 6 books. Shipping to Canada and overseas ranges from $13-30 depending on address and quantity. Email me at capriole at gmail dot com (I also take PayPal at this address. Please add 5% for orders up to $60 to cover the fees. Over $60, they're on me).

I am also in the mood for more flash fiction and short fiction. I love writing on commission. So, here's the spring sale:

Flash fiction up to 1000 words, any topic we mutually agree on: $100. Great for birthday gifts, and I can write to grade level, so if your kid is a reader and would enjoy this, just let me know.

Short stories up to 5000 words, any mutually agreed on topic: $350.

I'll write longer "custom pieces" on request. Email with your wishes.

For this you get a special story written just for you, and dedicated to you. I may eventually publish it in a collection through Book View Press, with dedication and attribution. If you'd like to be in the story, or to include the name or personality of someone (animal or human), that's a possibility, too.

And yes, I'll write a "Caitlin Brennan" or "Kathleen Bryan" story if you'd like one.

Please feel free to spread this post far and wide. I thank you. And especially the horses thank you.

Post-Clinic Reflections

Now, some neep. You know you want it.

Since we came back from the SRS clinic two and a half weeks ago, we haven't had much chance to ride. There's been a lot of rain. A Lot. To the point of ankle-deep mud, standing water, and unridable arena.

This is good. Really. Here in the desert after years of drought, good, solid, ongoing winter rains are a literal lifesaver. But they aren't great for keeping up with the riding.

What they are good for is processing. A clinic like that can seem fairly simple when you're in it--especially if your horse is being a snot. But the lessons have a ripple effect.

What I've brought back most of all is a change in how I interact with Pooka, and by extension the rest of the herd. I'm under orders to insist on obedience and correctness. But that doesn't mean I should get more aggressive or turn into a wildly windmilling traffic cop. Quite the opposite.( Neep! )

Oh, and? Quiet hands. They work. I could feel him working the bit instead of wandering around so much I pretty much didn't know what he was doing out there. He had a place to go when he wanted to balance. He wasn't really on the bit in trot or canter, but he wasn't llamapony either. I count that a win, for this week.

Tweetorama

• 18:41 @wojsvenwoj So what did you exchange, Starbux gift cards? #
• 18:42 Riding a pooka while enjoying back spasms was unexpectedly awesome. Couldn't lean back, had to balance. --> Walk on aids. Lots of canter. :) #
• 18:58 @wojsvenwoj Vodka is terribly romantic. #
• 19:15 @wojsvenwoj Whatever floats your (Volga) boat. #
• 19:17 @bethmeacham I could have done without the ow! parts, but the canter parts were gorgeous. Quieter hands = deeper seat = happier balancepony. #
• 21:23 Win: Ham/cheese/broccoli/onion quiche with crescent-roll crust. First quiche I've made in years. Won't wait so long again. #
• 11:30 I do not understand curling at all. #
• 12:21 @jazz2midnight It has nothing athletic about it. Precise, exacting, lots of finesse, yes. I don't get it. I don't get cricket, either, fwiw. #
• 12:22 @jazz2midnight (It is cool the way they slide down the ice after the rock thing, all Serious and Focused.) #
• 13:00 @jazz2midnight Found out it comes from Scotland. They do go for very exacting things involving distant, tiny targets, don't they? #
• 13:00 @RoanArt No GET curling. Emotionally neutral. Bemused/befuzzled. #
• 13:03 RT @FakeAPStylebook hanged/hung - Hanged refers to an execution. You know what hung refers to. We're all adults here. #
• 14:41 @RoanArt I had visions of you trying to ride somebody challenging there. 8 seconds? (hey, it's almost rodeo week here, it's on the brain) #
• 14:42 These are awesome. RT @ebertchicago Dutch army field-tests sensitive acoustic listening devices pre-World War II. j.mp/cPws4K #
• 15:31 WORD. RT@wilw You know, it's annoying enough that the Olympics IN MY FUCKING TIME ZONE is delayed, but spoilers in the news really sucks. #

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