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Kacey Ezell

Dragon Award Finalist!

August 20, 2019 by Kacey Ezell Leave a Comment

I’m so honored!

So this news is a couple of weeks old, but I realized I hadn’t posted about it on here, so here goes:

THE WORLD ASUNDER is a 2019 Dragon Award Finalist for Best Alternate History Novel!

I’m so very honored and humbled. The Dragon Awards are a 100% fan-run award. So thank you, thank you, thank you for voting for Lina and me. šŸ™‚

The award itself will be presented at DragonCon in Atlanta over Labor Day weekend, which is coming up, but there’s still time to vote! And I would LOVE to have you vote for THE WORLD ASUNDER for Best Alternate History. But more than that, please just do me a favor and log on to the site and vote for your favorites. Because here’s the thing, fan awards only work when fans vote!

So go vote! Because you’re awesome!

Much Love,

kc

Click here to vote for your favorites for the 2019 Dragon Awards!

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: Dragon Awards, DragonCon

WIN the Ultimate OUTLANDER Giveaway!

August 20, 2019 by Kacey Ezell Leave a Comment

Sign up for the giveaway, or else! šŸ™‚ (Just kidding!)

Hey there! I have a confession to make. I’m a romantic at heart. <3 I love love stories, and as you know if you’ve read my books, I love stories that explore the intricacies of human emotion…

Like OUTLANDER! I adored the classic time travel romance when I first read it, and I can honestly say that it’s been one of my influences with my Psyche of War alternate history series.

So, when the opportunity arose to team up with a bunch of other authors to bring you guys an OUTLANDER-themed prize giveaway, I jumped at the chance. Because if you like the best of time-travel romances, chances are that you’ll love my books, too!

Plus, here’s the best part: when you enter to win, you also sign up for the mailing lists of all the authors participating in the giveaway! That means that you get to meet a bunch of authors and maybe find some new favorites!

So take a look at the prizes on offer, and then have a click and sign up! Good luck, I hope you win!!

The Books!
The Goodies!

Filed Under: Giveaway, Giveaways, Uncategorized Tagged With: Giveaway

Big Changes

August 4, 2019 by Kacey Ezell Leave a Comment

Hi my friends! It’s been a hot minute since I’ve updated the site. This is largely because… <drumroll>

From the Sengen Shrine in the Fujiyama region of Japan

We Moved to Japan!!

It’s true. Midway through July, my family and I packed everything off and shipped it off to live in the Land of the Rising Sun. As of the time I’m writing this, we’re still waiting for our stuff.

Those of you familliar with military PCS moves know what that’s like. šŸ™‚ So it’s been a slow month so far on the writing front, though I did submit a short story to a super cool project, so hopefully you’ll be hearing more about that soon.

If you’d like to know more about our adventures in Japan, you may wish to sign up for my mailing list, The Cool Kids’ Table. I send out monthly newsletters, and August’s will be full of our adventures in Japan and a quick trip to Mongolia I just took.

Yep. Mongolia. šŸ™‚ Land of Chinggis Khaan. It was pretty amazing.

Besides the newsletters (which feature the kickass name of The Shieldmaiden’s Digest) I’ll send out announcements and giveaways, and occasionally make a few recommendations. Very occasionally. I won’t spam your inbox, I promise.

You can sign up here! Come get the skinny on what’s going on and hang out with us at the Cool Kids’ Table! Plus you get a free PDF download of an exclusive Psyche of War short story, so you got that going for you.

Which is nice. šŸ™‚

Much love, my friends. Until next time!

Me standing in front of a pool created by a natural spring in the village of Oshino near Mt. Fuji

Filed Under: Uncategorized

LibertyCon 32 After Action Report

July 2, 2019 by Kacey Ezell Leave a Comment

Holy shit.  How do I even begin to encapsulate this past weekend into an after action report?  A few of you incredibly talented individuals have been casting everything into the format of a fantasy story. To be honest, I find this not only delightful, but completely appropriate.  LibertyCon IS a fantasy land.  It’s a world where legions of amazing volunteers labor to create a comprehensive program of incredibly high quality content that is both mind-blowingly educational and side-splittingly entertaining.  Where Con Chair (and my dear friend) Brandy Spraker makes problems and obstacles disappear with the apparent ease of a master sorceress speaking an incantation.  Where a professional and high-quality hotel staff labors to ensure that the details are covered.

But most of all, it’s a land where you’re surrounded by family.  Even if they’re family you haven’t met yet.  And it’s enchanting, and fantastic. 

Thursday:

Glory of glories, C, my eldest daughter and LibertyCon companion, is old enough to drive!!  We made the 10 hour trek down from Virginia with no problems and arrived in time to join the Barbers and the Massas at the Boathouse for dinner on Thursday night.  The food was spectacular, the company moreso.  That day, Griffin Barber and I had received word that we had a fully executed contract with Blackstone Publishing for our co-written SF Noir novel, Second Chance Angel.  So Griffin and I had an additional reason to celebrate, as well. 

Following our amazing meal, we headed back to the Chattanooga Marriott, which was the site of the convention for another year. I thought that the hotel staff overall did a great job facilitating our weekend, and would recommend the venue, should anyone ask.  The rooms were comfortable and clean, the food at their restaurant and bar delicious, and the staff professional and personable. 

Upon returning to the hotel, I found myself caught up in a whirlwhind of hellos and hugs and joy of seeing beloved friends after a separation.  I caught up with my coauthor Marisa Wolf and her husband JC, my other coauthor Chris Smith, Speaker and Eeps and their family members, The Chris Kennedy Publishing Crew, as well as too many other dear friends to mention for fear of leaving someone out.  C and Chris Smith’s daughter M found each other, and got settled in to the hotel room that they were to share by themselves without adult supervision.  All our babies all grows up!

I think I went to bed around midnight with my heart full.

Friday:

Friday morning I woke up and texted Boy Casey to see if he was still alive.  His original plan to fly out for LibertyCon on Thursday night had been thwarted by airline delays, and so he’d engaged in a Grand Adventure in order to arrive.  I’ll let him tell the full story in his own AAR, but suffice it to say that he was alive, well, and in need of a ride from the Chattanooga Greyhound station. 

So I got up and drove out there to get him and bring him back to LibertyCon.  Despite the fact that he hadn’t slept, he was ready to party, and so party we did… after a stop through the Chick-Fil-A drivethu.  Naturally. 

When we returned, Casey and I were joined by Chris Smith, C and M, my friends T, B, and O, Marisa and JC as we indulged in another LibertyCon tradition: the pilgrimage to the Hot Chocolatier. I had my usual European sipping chocolate and a chocolate pot de crĆØme covered with a whiskey cinnamon crĆØme. It made me cry. 

Programming started well in advance of Opening Ceremonies on Friday.  First up for me was the round table panel for the Four Horseman Universe.  Chris Kennedy and Mark Wandrey led the motley crew of us 4HU authors as we discussed what’s going on in the popular military SF shared world universe, and what’s on the horizon. 

As usual, the panel disintegrated into hilarity multiple times, but Chris was able to get us back on track as needed.  I guess that’s why he’s the Factory Boss.  😊 

Following the panel, we had a mass signing event. During this event, Chris produced a huge banner of the covers of Assassin and Hunter that he’d had made at the request of a fan.  The particular fan (who I won’t name out of respect for his privacy, though he may identify himself if he wishes) wanted Marisa and I to sign the banner, which he’d then display in his home.  Marisa and I were both overwhelmed with gratitude for the generous and amazing fans we’ve been fortunate to have.  Thank you, Hunter, for all your love and support.  We honor you.

Up next for me was another roundtable panel (in fact, that was the majority of my con, which was fantastic.  I love roundtables!) This one was for TERRA NOVA, a new anthology edited by Tom Kratman and set in his Carreraverse.  I read an excerpt of my story ā€œDesertionā€, and discussed the anthology along with Tom, Monalisa Foster, Chris Smith, Justin Watson, and Mike Massa. Then we did more signings, and moved on to Opening Ceremonies.

I had the honor of meeting Uncle Timmy Bolgeo at a previous LibertyCon, but I’m sad to say that I didn’t know the man well.  I am, however, good friends with his daughter Brandy, the current con chair. Opening Ceremonies were, fittingly, an emotional memorial to the man who founded and led LibertyCon to become the amazing family reunion it is.  Gray Rinehart turned on the waterworks with his tribute filk to Uncle Timmy, and Brandy’s heartfelt welcoming speech perfectly encapsulated what her dad had meant to so many people. 

Master of Ceremonies John Harkness did a bang-up job of following that opening. Per tradition, he announced the name of every. Single. Guest. LibertyCon has the highest guest to attendee ratio of every con in the country, so it took a hot minute and he pulled it off with style. 

After Opening Ceremonies, Gray treated us all to a concert, which was followed by yet another roundtable.  Only this one was for *my* anthology, NOIR FATALE.  I had the pleasure of moderating the panel of contributors that included Chris Smith, Guest of Honor Sarah Hoyt, Griffin Barber, Mike Massa, and Bob Buettner.  We had another signing afterwards, and I got a little medical attention from a fan and former flight doc, who was kind enough to manipulate my kinked neck afterwards.  😊 

LibertyCon is, indeed, good for the body and soul.Ā 

That was the end of programming for the day for me. What followed was a blur of greeting and conversation.  More socializing and fun, creating and maintaining connections. At ten or eleven that night, I met up with Tom Kratman, Monalisa Foster and Justin Watson.  C and M joined us, as did a few other friends I’ve mentioned already.  We went down to the City CafĆ© for midnight chow and a strategy session.  Tom, Monalisa, Justin and I were planning to meet with the incomparable Toni Weisskopf for a pitch session on Sunday, and we wanted to be sure we had our ducks in a row.  Waffles with ice cream and strawberries.  Amazing. 

Back to the hotel, more hanging out with friends, and then finally bed, since I had a 10am panel on Saturday. 

Saturday: 

After breakfast with Marisa Wolf, the promised 10am panel was… you guessed it! Another roundtable!  This one was a lot of fun.  We discussed the upcoming FREEHOLD: RESISTANCE anthology edited by Michael Z. ā€œMadMikeā€ Williamson and set in his Freehold universe.  I got to sit next to the lovely and talented Jessica Schlenker, and the equally talented, quite handsome, but not quite as lovely Jamie Ibson.  We had a ball explaining just exactly how we’d managed to put together this volume, which is less of an anthology than a collaborative novel told from multiple points of view.  It was, as MadMike said ā€œA brass bitch to editā€, but it’s turned into something really special, and I can’t wait for it to come out.  I actually have two stories in this one: ā€œStarCrossedā€, a really cool, sweet, scientific love story cowritten with Dr. Rob Hampson, and ā€œFNGā€, a psychological horror tale straight out of my nightmares. 

Next was the Baen Travelling Roadshow and Prize Patrol.Ā  This panel is always really well attended, especially at LibertyCon, where word has gotten out that they give away free books.Ā  I had the opportunity to talk about NOIR FATALE, and Toni unveiled the cover art for GUNPOWDER AND EMBERS, my collaboration with John Ringo and Chris Smith, due out in January 2020!

After the Roadshow, Chris Kennedy Publishing was up with their Year Ahead panel (which ALSO provides free books!) This was an outstanding panel, but CKP puts out so much new work every year, it really needs to be a 2 hour panel.Ā  I had the opportunity to talk about THE WORLD ASUNDER, and what’s next for the Psyche of War universe, as well as hint at some developments in the 4HU.Ā 

But perhaps the most exciting part of CKP: The Year Ahead was the announcement of a whole new imprint: Beyond Terra, wherein I am honored to get to play in Dr. Chuck Gannon’s amazing Caine Riordan universe, along with Chris Kennedy, Mark Wandrey, Kevin Ikenberry, Mike Massa, and Griffin Barber.  It’s going to be a lot of fun to write Murphy’s Lawless, a sort of Kelly’s Heroes meets Band of Brothers in Space.  I can’t wait. 

After that, I hustled up to the Tennessee River Room to crash Griffin Barber’s and Kevin Ikenberry’s reading.  Both men are like brothers to me, and I’m so thankful they let me do so.  Griffin and I both read from SECOND CHANCE ANGEL, and announced to the small crowd that it would be forthcoming from Blackstone Publishing, probably some time in the new year. 

Griffin and I joined our families and attended Baen’s annual dinner, where we spent an enjoyable time absolutely monopolizing Bob Buettner’s attention.  Bob is a consummate gentleman and an amazing conversation partner, so I have zero regrets.  I highly recommend doing the same, should you ever be in a position to do so.  😊

After the Baen dinner, I headed upstairs for the 9pm launch party for ALABASTER NOON, the stunning conclusion to the Four Horseman Universe Omega Wars arc.Ā  Down the hall from the launch party, my good friend N was hosting the IAN wardroom party, and I flitted back and forth between the two.

Until Brandy Spraker caught me and said that she needed a picture with her Badass girls now. 

When Brandy Spraker tells you that she needs something at LibertyCon, you give her what she needs. 

So we headed down to the lobby, met up with Marisa, Toni, and T.  We sat and took our Badass picture, and then K. Barber joined us.  As did L. Massa, and Cisca Small… and more and more ladies, until we had an absolute cabal of giggling, cackling, raunchy, sarcastic, put-me-in-stitches women hanging out together in the Marriott lobby.  It was fantastic, and a highlight of the con. 

At some point, however, Brandy was summoned to the karaoke room for something.  So, of course, we all came along.  And then… well… there was karaoke.  A LOT of karaoke.  We jumped and sang along with Fritz to ā€œTubthumpingā€, we sang Pat Benatar and Lady Gaga, Jim Minz whirled me around the impromptu dance floor to a song I can’t remember right now.  Special shout out to con photographer Kenny, who has a set of golden pipes, and to Karaoke lady Sara(h?) who kept us going three hours after she was supposed to stop. THANK YOU!

Towards the end of karaoke, I had a quick meeting with John and Chris about our book and its sequel, and I think you guys are going to be pleased with what we decided.  But at that point I was deliriously tired, and so I headed to bed. 

Sunday:

Sunday morning, the only thing on my schedule was the 10am Kaffeklatch.  Marisa Wolf and I stopped in and made an appearance, but it was quite crowded, and so we headed up to the restaurant to have a phenomenal breakfast buffet.  We were joined by a rotating group of friends, and it was one of the most enjoyable meals I had there. 

Afterwards, it was back down to the lobby to hang out with more of my friends, until our pitch session with Toni at 3.  No announcements yet, but exciting things in the works, and it’s always fun and educational to talk business with the best in the game. 

From there, more socializing and strategizing with friends until it was time to head to Rodizio for meat faucet.  It was fun, but honestly not as fun as previous years… mostly because the restaurant was so hot and it took forever. 

Afterward though, we headed back and met up with the CKP crew for more hanging out.  I ended up cornering Mark Wandrey and Marisa Wolf, and we had a really great plotting session for ALLY, the next Depik book in the 4HU. 

Finally, it was time to do one more lap, say goodbye to everyone, and head up to my room for bed.  It had been a whirlwind con, and I shall miss it tremendously for the next three years. 

If you haven’t heard, I’m headed to Japan for my last assignment in the USAF.  So I won’t be back for LibertyCon 33, but you’d best believe I’ll be there as soon as I’m back.

They are family, after all.  😊

Filed Under: Uncategorized

The World Asunder

June 2, 2019 by Kacey Ezell Leave a Comment

My friends, I cannot tell you how excited I am. This Friday, 7 Jun 2019, THE WORLD ASUNDER, Book 2 of The Psyche of War goes LIVE!

This is the story of Adalina Sucherin, a German psychic living in post WWII Berlin. Surrounded by destruction and strife, she’ll have to trust an enemy in order to figure out how to put the pieces of her sundered world back together again.

I hope you consider checking it out, and if you like it, I hope you’ll leave a review. Initial feedback from the launch team has been positive, so here’s hoping the general public feels the same way!

PLUS! THE WORLD ASUNDER is eligible for The 2019 Dragon Awards in the category of Best Alternate History. If you read my book and like it, I’d love it if you’d consider nominating it in that category. And if you’re looking for other suggestions for fantastic books to read, my amazing publisher Chris has a list here:

It’s the return of Operation Tiamat! The nomination form is live..and you need to vote! Who is CKP nominating from our releases this year? These:

Best Science Fiction Novel – Salvage Title, Kevin Steverson
Best Fantasy Novel – A Tangled Fate, Jon R. Osborne
Best Young Adult/Middle Grade Novel – Black and White, Mark Wandrey
Best Military Science Fiction or Fantasy Novel – A Pale Dawn, Kennedy and Wandrey
Best Alternate History Novel – The World Asunder, Kacey Ezell
Best Media Tie-In Novel – The Replicant War, Chris Kennedy
Best Horror Novel – Darker Nights, Eric S. Brown
Best Science Fiction or Fantasy PC / Console Game – Turbolance, Ryan Kennedy and Noah BowdenĀ 
Best Science Fiction or Fantasy Miniatures / Collectible Card / Role-Playing Game – The Four Horsemen: Omega War,Ā Clarion Games

Whoever you vote for, please vote! You can do so here: Dragon Award Nomination Form

Please nominate! Fan awards are nothing if the fans don’t vote!

Filed Under: New Release Tagged With: New Release, Psyche of War, Theogony Press

We Dare

May 28, 2019 by Kacey Ezell Leave a Comment

This weekend, Theogony Press drops a new anthology edited by Jamie Ibson and Chris Kennedy. The anthology, called WE DARE, is a collection of stories that center around the always-exciting theme of human augmentation.

This is fun stuff, my friends. Fun, and if Jamie is to be believed, kinda dark. šŸ™‚ My story, “Now You See Me” mirrors “Now You Don’t”, written my the incredibly talented Josh Hayes. In these two stories, we follow the adventures of a couple of highly augmented industrial super-operatives working against one another for the biggest tech score of their lives. šŸ™‚

I hope you’ll check out WE DARE. It’s available on 31 May 2019. And if you liked it, leave a review!

Filed Under: New Release, Pimping My Friends Tagged With: Cyberpunk, SciFi

Orange Is The New Noir

May 8, 2019 by Kacey Ezell Leave a Comment

That moment when your book is the #1 AND #2 Hot New Release in Fantasy Anthologies on Amazon…

Noir Fatale is out and hot, ladies and gentlemen! I’m so excited that you all like this anthology so much. It truly was a labor of love to bring it to you. Thanks again to Larry Correia and all of the incredibly talented, wonderful authors who contributed to the collection! And to Baen Books for publishing it!

Filed Under: Writing Tagged With: Noir Fatale, Orange Tag

LibertyCon 32 Schedule

April 30, 2019 by Kacey Ezell Leave a Comment

Hey Friends! I’m super excited about attending LibertyCon 32 in June! Here’s my tentative schedule, but keep in mind, these things can (and do!) change up to the minute. šŸ™‚

Fri 01:00PM Luck is Not a Factor: More Stories from the Four Horsemen Universe
Fri 02:30PM The 4 Horseman RT Mass Autograph Session
Fri 03:00PM Terra Nova: What’s New from the Carreraverse
Fri 04:30PM Terra Nova Mass Autograph Session
Fri 05:00PM Opening Ceremonies
Fri 07:00PM Noir Fatale Roundtable
Fri 08:30PM Noir Fatale Mass Autograph Session
Sat 10:00AM Freehold: Resistance Roundtable
Sat 11:30AM Freehold: Resistance Mass Autograph Session
Sat 02:00PM Baen Traveling Roadshow and Prize Patrol
Sat 04:00PM Chris Kennedy Publishing – The Year Ahead

LibertyCon is one of my favorite conventions, and I can’t wait to see many of my friends and chosen family there!

Much love,

kc

Filed Under: Appearances, Uncategorized Tagged With: Con Schedule, LibertyCon

FantaSci AAR

March 27, 2019 by Kacey Ezell Leave a Comment

Maybe two? years ago, I first heard about FantaSci. Mark Wandrey sent me an excited IM and said that there was going to be a new con, a successor to Honorcon, and it was going to have a focus on the Four Horsemen Universe (4HU). I was excited about being part of the 4HU, and the idea of a “4HU Con” was incredibly cool. So as soon as I could, I reached out and asked to be considered as a featured panelist. To my intense delight, I was accepted, and so were a TON of my friends!

Wednesday

Not only was I invited to be a featured panelist, so was my dear friend and completely badass coauthor Marisa Wolf. So she flew in to my local airport on Wednesday, and I knocked off work a bit early to go pick her up…aaaaand the shenanigans started pretty much immediately.

Okay, so real talk? Marisa Wolf cannot open her mouth without making me laugh. Those of you who watched our gigglefest Facebook live know what I’m talking about. She’s fantastic, and I knew that the weekend was off to a fantastic start.

Thursday

Thursday morning, Marisa and I got up early and hit the road.Ā  We managed to miss most of the DC morning rush hour on our way down to pick up Jason Cordova and Philip “Doc” Wholrab.Ā  For the record, despite what Jason may be telling you, I’m not a total incompetent.Ā  I checked (via two GPS programs) whether it would be faster to pick him up first or pick Doc up first.Ā  Both Waze and Google agreed.Ā  It didn’t matter; six of one, one-half dozen of another.Ā  So we jetted over to get Jason and then headed to Doc’s, and I didn’t pay attention to any of Jason’s verbal directions because I know better.Ā  šŸ˜‰Ā 

Besides, I was already detouring 3 hours out of the way to pick him up.  Was 20 min really going to make a difference?  I just wanted to see my friends! 

We drove through some serious rain and even a little snow, but eventually we acquired the guys and headed south to Durham. The Blue Ridge Parkway was a lot of fun to drive, and I don’t think I scared my passengers too much.  I’m a bit of an assertive driver, but we made it safely, so it can’t have been TOO bad.   (insert ā€œbut did you DIE?!?ā€ meme here…)

Road trip complete, we arrived at the con hotel, which was the beautiful Hilton DoubleTree Raleigh-Durham Airport.  What a great facility!  The wide, welcoming porch and cozy, comfortable lobby was a sign of good things to come.   Especially because some of our favorite people in the world were waiting for us right inside.

I ignored all of them.  I was highly caffeinated and overhydrated and I had an urgent appointment to see a man about a horse.  But once I handled that business, it was fantastic to meet up with Mark and Joy Wandrey, Chris and Sheellah Kennedy, Kevin Ikenberry, Jon Osborne, and too many more people to mention.  It was like we knew everybody already! We hugged and chattered and giggled… and eventually got settled into our rooms. 

Our hotel room was quite comfortable.  We couldn’t adjust the temperature down, and our toilet tank had a tiny leak (that was fixed with a quickness as soon as we discovered it), but the room itself was perfectly situated away from the noise, next to an outside door, and had two very comfortable beds in it. I would stay there again, for sure. 

After we got all checked in and settled, Marisa and I headed down to the hotel restaurant to meet up with Mark, Chris, and Kevin for a 4HU Core Authors’ meeting.Ā  We discussed <redacted> and <redacted>, and fans of the series will be super excited to know that <redacted> will be teaming up with <redacted> to perform the critical task of <redacted> the <redacted><redacted>.Ā Ā  So… get excited for that!Ā  šŸ˜‰

The meeting ended, but the discussion and fun continued in the bar, until I couldn’t keep my eyes open any longer.  The drive and the week leading up to the con had taken its toll, and I was tired.  Marisa and I said our good nights and we both headed off to bed.

Friday

Cover art of Hunter, by Kacey Ezell and Marisa Wolf.  A ratlike alien called a Veetanho holds a weapon and looks scared in a jungle, while an ominous felinoid shadow crosses his path.

Friday morning, Marisa’s sister (codename: Sister Karen) and brother (codename: Sleepy Wolf) flew in to town and joined us at the hotel.   We hung out for a bit, and then Jason, Doc, Speaker, and I headed out to Baen HQ while Marisa hung with her siblings for a bit.

Baen was a lot of fun. I got to see Christopher Ruocchio, Tony Daniel, Jim Minz, Grace whose last name I don’t know, and Marla (whose last name I know, but won’t publicize because she’s not a writer or editor).  Plus the office cats.  We talked about books and podcasts, got to meet Jacob Holo and his lovely wife (whose name I forget, I’m sorry!) and ran into Steve White once again.  Steve was in town to be a special guest of FantaSci, and I was excited to see him and get to meet his super funny, beautiful wife Sandy.

Plus we went to lunch.  There were sweet potato fries. And ice cream.  It was delicious.  Thank you so much, Baen!! 

After lunch, Doc and I headed back to the convention and a few panels.  I had ā€œSurviving the Apocalypseā€ at 5pm.  Speaker moderated that one, and as ever, did a fantastic job guiding the discussion.  Afterwards, we attended opening ceremonies for the con, followed by ā€œDating Game with Booksā€ at 7pm.

For ā€œDating Gameā€, I cosplayed Evelyn Adamsen, my WWII-era psychic character from Minds of Men.  It was a lot of fun, but believe you me, Evie was NOT comfortable with some of the questions asked!  Nor was she comfortable with some of the answers provided by ā€œTamir Alcuinā€, portrayed by Marisa Wolf.  It was a riot of a time, and it only got better in the second round, when bawdy bachelorette ā€œJoleneā€ (played by Con Chair Joel Lyons) grilled three fictional bachelors as played by their authors (David Weber, Mark Wandrey, and Chris Woods).  It was hilarious. 

After that, there was dinner (I think!) and more hanging out with a ton of people at the bar.  Which was fantastic, especially because WE GOT AN ORANGE TAG!!!

HUNTER, by Marisa and I, released on Friday, and by Friday night, we were the #1 Hot New Release in Action and Adventure Literary Fiction on Amazon!Ā  I don’t want to speak for Marisa, but I was bowled over, flabbergasted, incredibly honored and so, so, so psyched that people liked the book!Ā  We really had a great time writing it, and it felt amazing to celebrate the launch surrounded by friends and chosen family.Ā  So not for the first time, and definitely not for the last, I will say thank you, FantaSci, for an incredible experience.Ā 

Saturday

Saturday was my birthday.Ā  šŸ™‚ Ā  I turned 42, which as everyone knows, is the answer to Life, the Universe, and Everything.Ā  However, in my head I’m still a kid of 7 or so, who finds it necessary to trumpet the news of my birthday from every convenient rooftop.Ā  So when we got up and around that morning, I was greeted by a flurry of ā€œHappy Birthday!ā€ wishes.Ā  I couldn’t have asked for more.Ā  It made my inner 7-year old’s heart so glad, and made me feel so loved.Ā  Once again, from the bottom of my heart, thank you, FantaSci, for celebrating with me.Ā 

Programming started bright and early at 9am with the Baen Books Slide Show & Travelling Prize Patrol.Ā  This panel is a perpetual favorite for several reasons: Ā 

  • 1. They give out free books.
  • 2. They show off new (and old but still beautiful and amazing) cover art and
  • 3. Sometimes I get a chance to talk about my work.Ā 

This was one of those times.Ā  I got to tell the room about Noir Fatale, and how amazing and cool all of the stories in it are, before I had to leave early to get to my next panel.Ā  As always, Jim and Tony D. were incredible presenters, and I wish I’d been able to stay for the whole thing.Ā 

But at 10, I had Alternate History Change Points.  I ended up being appointed moderator on the spot, and I think we had a pretty good discussion about the nature and definition of alternate history, what makes a good point of departure from the actual timeline, and why we tell various types of alt history stories. 

When it was over, I had time for a quick lunch break before hopping into a panel on Alien Races.Ā  This one was a lot of fun, too, in part because Marisa and I both got to be on the panel.Ā  Once again, I moderated, and I managed to get about halfway through the panel before we started talking about interspecies sex.Ā  šŸ˜‰Ā  What can I say?Ā  It was a fairly rollicking good time, and I may have even succeeded in making Steve White blush.Ā  Achievement Unlocked!

After that, we rolled right into the Chris Kennedy Publishing: The Year Ahead panel.  Here, Chris gives an overview of his publishing schedule for the year, and the panel and I got to see a very special preview of some seriously badass cover art.  Those who were at FantaSci know, but I’ll wait until Chris gives me a green light before announcing it in any more detail.  Let me just say that I think you’re all going to like it. 

At 3pm, Kevin Ikenberry, Marisa, and I broke off to go talk about the Peacemakers of the 4HU, and what they do and how they do it.  That was a fun panel, too, and we had the opportunity to talk a bit more about how we actually make this ā€œshared worldā€ thing work. 

Once that was over, we had an hour or so to get ready before the first ever 4HU Mercenary Dining Out.  I’d come up with the idea to do a Merc Dining Out about a year ago, and had volunteered to put it together.  Truth be told, due to Joel Lyons and his excellent staff, all I really had to do was come up with a script and program, and get people to play their parts.  It was really quite easy, and that’s only because everyone working on it was such a pro.  Thank you all.  

Marisa and I both cosplayed Depik characters, and the ever amazing Wendy W. did some gorgeous cat makeup on us both.  Then I played Madam Vice to Kevin Steverson’s Mr. Vice, while Kevin Ikenberry (as Peacemaker Six) served as Sergeant At Arms.  Marisa (as Dama Tsan of Whispering Fear Clan) was our expert grog demonstrator, along with Chris Kennedy (as Nigel Shirazi).  Mark Wandrey played Jim Cartwright III and presided over the mess, but we were all upstaged by Sheellah playing Alexis Cromwell and Joy playing Sansar Enkh.  The ladies looked STUNNING, and when joined by the ever-radiant Sharon Rice-Weber (as Grand Duchess New Montana) and Sandy White, really made the head table shine. 

Overall, I’d call the Inaugural Merc Dining Out a success.  We had a grog and many toasts, and a lot of fun and noise.  The food was delicious, and we got to welcome Jon Osborne to the ranks of the 4HU Core Authors.  Once again, thank you, FantaSci, for making the evening so fantastic. 

The core authors of the Four Horsemen Universe
The Core Authors of the Four Horsemen Universe.
(Photo courtesy Jon Osborne)

After the Dining Out, I was tired.  But we still had a launch party planned in the consuite for Hunter.  So you can imagine my surprise when Mark grabbed me and informed me that we had to plot about the sequel to Weaver RIGHT NOW.  I’m sure I looked confused, but I figured he must have had an idea or something that he didn’t want to lose and figured that I could roll with it. 

So we sat down for about 10 minutes and worked our way through some ideas we’d had for the second Tortantula novel in the 4HU.  The ideas were good, and I was excited about the book, but I could feel my energy flagging and I knew that if I wanted to do more than put in an appearance at my own launch party, I had better get moving.  So when Mark announced ā€œokay, I think that’s it, thank you.ā€ I took that as a dismissal and headed upstairs to the consuite. 

Little did I know, I was supposed to wait for him.

As I walked down the hallway toward the consuite, someone giggled and slammed the door shut.  I blinked, but figured that maybe something was going on, and maybe we were meeting up in the other half of the consuite (it was split over two rooms).  I poked my head in there, but I didn’t see any of my friends, and so I started to wonder.  I walked back out into the hallway, and Kevin Ikenberry appeared. 

ā€œCome with me,ā€ he said, and put his arm around my shoulder. 

ā€œI don’t know where our friends are,ā€ I remember saying.  I probably sounded like a lost little girl.  I get a bit whiny when I’m tired.  #confessions

ā€œIt’s okay,ā€ he said, and opened up the door to the consuite. 

It was dark inside.  I took a step in, and then it dawned on me.

ā€œSURPRISE!ā€ they yelled, and the lights came on, and all I could see was balloons, and streamers, and a cake, and my beautiful, wonderful, amazing, too-cool-for-this-world coauthor Marisa Wolf with a shit-eating grin bigger than her home state of Texas.  

She threw me a birthday party.  I had no idea. 

There was amazing cake, with the cover art from HUNTER on it.  Joy gave me a gift that nearly made me cry: a hand-crafted, one-of-a-kind, crocheted Depik that I named Cahli, after the Governor in the book. There were my friends singing to me and laughing with me and hugging me and I have rarely felt so loved. 

I’m running out of words, so let me just say this.  I am so very, very blessed to have these people in my life.  Thank you all. 

Dama Kacey receiving a handmade gift while friends look on and applaud.
See that delight on my face? See that amazing friend applauding behind me? This is what an awesome birthday party looks like!
(photo courtesy Sheellah Kennedy)

We stayed in the consuite until it was time to close it down, and then we cleaned up and headed back down to the hotel bar.  We hung out there for a little while longer, but after awhile, I couldn’t keep my eyes open, and headed to bed.  I didn’t want the day to end.  What a fantastic birthday.   Again, thank you, FantaSci. 

(And especially you, Marisa. Words fail me.)

Sunday

Sunday morning, we both slept in.  It was glorious.  When we eventually got up, we had breakfast in the hotel, and then headed to Chris Kennedy’s author table for our signing.  We signed and sold several copies of HUNTER, so many that I was barely able to keep one for myself.  I think Chris only had two left, and Marisa only one (hers!).  So… that was pretty successful, too!  

After the signing, Marisa had lunch with her mom and brother (not Sleepy Wolf) who came in to town for that purpose, and I grabbed food with Doc and Jason, and then hung out with Kevin Ikenberry and his buddy Mark for awhile.  We plotted a little, but mostly just talked about the con and the universe and all the great stuff on the horizon.  FantaSci was starting to wind down, and while it’s inevitable, it’s always a little bit sad. 

After that, Marisa, Sister Karen, Sleepy Wolf and I joined Joy on the Uncomfortable Couch in the hotel lobby. (Seriously, that couch sucks.  Everything else about the hotel was on point, zero complaints… but that couch needs to GO!) where she was taking a break after tearing down her dealer booth for Spinner’s End Studios. Eventually, my dear friend and fan Bubba also joined us, and we had a very pleasant afternoon.  At some point, Mark Wandrey grabbed Marisa to plot about their novel, so that’s exciting, too.

It was warm and cozy, and I started getting sleepy, so I got up to walk around.  I wandered out onto the back patio, where it was absolutely gorgeous with the sun and a spring breeze.  I decided to grab my laptop from the room and do a little writing out there.  I got a few words down, not as many as on a non-con day, but not nothing either. 

The work goes ever on. 

Marisa and Mark broke up their powwow so that Mark could attend the FantaSci Guest dinner with Joel.  Marisa, Bubba, Doc, Jason, Sleepy Wolf, Sister Karen, and I decided to go grab some highly rated hibachi before the Wolf siblings had to head to the airport.  I kinda thought it was going to be a Benihana-style steakhouse with the chef and the grill and the flaming onion volcano, but I was wrong.  It was a fast-food style order-at-the-window-and-pick-up-when-your-number-is-called kind of place… but the food was DELICIOUS! Seriously, I’d go back there in a heartbeat! Yum.

Marisa took my car to make an airport run to drop off her brother and sister, and so Doc, Jason, Bubba and I walked over to Cold Stone for birthday milkshakes.Ā  Because it turned out that Bubba’s birthday was that week too!Ā  And everyone deserves birthday milkshakes.Ā  You know I’m right.Ā  šŸ™‚Ā 

Marisa found us there and then we headed back to the hotel to hang out with the rest of the crew for just a little bit longer before admitting that it was over and falling, exhausted, into bed. 

Monday

Monday was a long day.  The drive with Marisa, Doc, and Jason was delightful. Getting home to see my eldest was heart-soothing.  For all the fun and all the love I experienced, I’d missed my husband and girls.  EZ was still out of town with the little one, so I had to wait an additional day before hugging them, but my teenager was excited to see me.  

That’s a victory if there ever was one.  J  She’s a good kid, and I’d really missed her. She gives good hugs.  Oh, and my two cats were also happy that we were home.  So that was nice, as well. 

Overall Thoughts

  1. For a first year con, FantaSci ROCKED it… no, scratch that.  For ANY con, FantaSci rocked it.  It’s kinda mind-blowing that this is their first year.  I would never have guessed that if I hadn’t already known.  Everything was so smooth and well organized and communicated.  I’ll be encouraging all of my author friends to give this con a go.  What a great time!  Congratulations to Joel Lyons and all of his staff and volunteers.  Y’all did this.  Well done.
  2. Sister Karen and Sleepy Wolf are AMAZING con minions!  I didn’t give them much airtime above, but they basically spent the entire con running errands for Marisa and me, and getting things done for us so we didn’t have to.  Thanks to them, we had programs for the Dining Out, and scripts printed out, and a cake and decorations for my party, and all kinds of stuff.  They’re really cool people, and I cannot thank them both enough for everything.
  3. I love my 4HU family so much.  Not just my brothers and sisters in the author corps, but all the fans of the series.  All you crazy mercs out there who lined up in DROVES to join the brand new fan group, all you wonderful people who bought HUNTER, who reviewed it online, who shared our social media posts… thank you so much.  You’re all amazing, and I’m humbled to know you.
  4. If I were a betting woman (and I kinda am) I’d say that FantaSci will likely expand at a prodigious rate.  I’d recommend getting your tickets for FantaSci 2020 now.  I’m sad that I won’t be there, due to moving to Japan, but you’d best believe I’ll be back someday… and I really hope I see you there!

Filed Under: Appearances Tagged With: AAR, FantaSci

HUNTER release!

March 22, 2019 by Kacey Ezell 2 Comments


What happens when the galaxy’s deadliest mercenary organization tries to impose its will on the galaxy’s deadliest assassins?

Hey friends! I’m so excited to announce the release of HUNTER, my latest novel with the amazing and fabulous Marisa Wolf! We’ve returned to the bestselling Four Horsemen Universe to bring you the next chapter in the Depik saga.

Marisa and I are super proud of this book. We worked very closely together and I am pleased to say that it shows up in the writing. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as we enjoyed writing it. And if you did, then please for the love of little kittens, leave a review! šŸ˜‰

As always, thanks to Mark Wandrey and Chris Kennedy for letting us play in the Four Horsemen Universe. It’s been a wild ride… and it’s not over yet!

-kc

Filed Under: New Release Tagged With: 4HU, Catsassins, Hunter, New Release

FantaSci 2019 Schedule

March 20, 2019 by Kacey Ezell Leave a Comment

Hey Friends!

I’m super excited to be spending this coming weekend at FantaSci in Durham, NC! If you’re planning on going, here’s where you can find me:

Friday, 22 March:

  • 5-5:50pm Surviving the Apocalypse
  • 6-6:50pm Opening Ceremonies
  • 7-7:50pm Dating Game With Books

Saturday, 23 March:

  • 9-10am Baen Book Slide Show & Traveling Prize Patrol (note, this is a 2 hour panel, but I have to leave early to do my next panel at 10)
  • 10-10:50am Alternate History Change Points
  • 1-1:50pm Alien Races
  • 2-2:50pm Chris Kennedy Publishing: The Year Ahead
  • 3-3:50pm Peacemakers: One Against The Galaxy
  • 5-9:50pm Four Horsemen Merc Dining Out
  • 10pm-whenever I fall over HUNTER launch party!

Sunday, 24 March:

  • 11am-12pm HUNTER signing with Marisa Wolf at the CKP Booth in the Dealer Room!
  • 12-1:00pm Closing Ceremonies

FantaSci is shaping up to be an incredible con! I really can’t wait. If you’re going to be in the area, please come by and say hello!

Take care!

-kc

Filed Under: Appearances Tagged With: Con Schedule, FantaSci

Hope is Released!

March 1, 2019 by Kacey Ezell Leave a Comment

It’s 1 March already! That’s so crazy! 2019 just started, and I can’t believe we’re already in the last month of the quarter.

March has always been my favorite month for a lot of reasons. It’s my birthday month, it’s usually the end of winter, it’s when things start to heat up and get moving toward con season… and this year, we’re kicking March off with a bang, and the release of HOPE IS NOT A STRATEGY!

HOPE is the latest anthology set in the Four Horsemen Universe (4HU for short), and for this one, editors Mark Wandrey and Chris Kennedy reached out to some of the biggest and most respected names in the indie SF business. And boy did they deliver!

I’m honored to have my story, “Survivor” included in this volume. It’s a bit of a different twist for me, and I’d love to know what you think of it, along with the rest of the stories in the book. So please consider checking it out, and if you like it, do leave a review? They absolutely help so very much.

ALSO! If you’re looking at this anthology thinking “yeah, but the 4HU is ginormous, and I don’t know where to start…”, then don’t worry, fam. We got you. CARTWRIGHT’S CAVALIERS, by Mark Wandrey, the Dragon-nominated book that started it all is available FREE this weekend! There won’t be a better time to go get hooke… uh… I mean, go check it out! šŸ˜‰

Filed Under: Uncategorized

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