That sucking sound

From Dozer

Some general life-related thingies:

When looking at apartments, the first question I ask myself is “Where would be put the vacuum cleaner?” It’s surprising how often the answer is, “To live here, we would have to get rid of the vacuum cleaner.” It’s not that I’m so enamored of vacuuming, but if you don’t have room to stash a vacuum cleaner, then you don’t have room to stash a body.

No, pretend I didn’t say that. It’s all about the vacuum cleaner. FWOOOOSSSSSSSSSH

I guess “fwoosh” isn’t really a good vacuum cleaner noise. Maybe “VVVVZZZZZZZZZZZZHH”? No. How about “ZHUUUUUUUUUUUUH”?

Some book-related thingies:

I’ve got a couple of book signings next month. I’m also attempting to configure at least one in the LA area and one in Orange County so that I can look you right in the eye when I say, “Yes, I am doing a Southern California book tour.” For now, here’s what I’ve got:

The Yellow Book Road , San Diego
June 23, 1:00pm

Mysterious Galaxy Bookstore, San Diego
June 25, 2pm
Teens & Tween Summer Reading
Signing along with Cynthia Hand (UNEARTHLY) and Timothy Power (THE BOY WHO HOWLED)

Also, a library event in July:

Santee Public Library

Lunch With Authors (appearing with Kirsten HubbardCindy PonBarrie Summy)
July 5
12:00pm – 1:00pm

Daryl Gregory, who’s a pal and the current focus of my professional jealousy for the work he’s doing writing The Planet of the Apes comic book, posted a luverly review of The Boy at the End of the World.

And here’s a review of Kid vs. Squid from the mom of a six year-old. I love reading about parents and their kids interacting with my books.

The Free Comic Book Day that was

Yesterday was Free Comic Book Day. The first order of Free Comic Book Day was deciding which dorky superhero t-shirt to wear. My current favorite is my distressed Superman tee, but I already wore it Friday. For a moment I contemplated wearing my other distressed Superman tee, and for a more than a single moment I considered wearing my Justice League of America tee, but ultimately I decided to go with Aquaman.

But which Aquaman? The cool black Aquaman t-shirt cut to an athletic fit which, when wrapped around my body, signals very clearly that I am not athletically fit? The orange one, that makes me think of hunters and highway workers? Have I really been going on about this for two paragraphs now?

I like Free Comic Book Day. Not really for the free comic books (I mean, I like free comic books just fine), but for the enthusiasm for storytelling and joyful geekiness. I like seeing fanboys and girls and whole families and especially the little kids who seem to love comics as much as I did when I was seven and picked up my very first comics and was bombarded by cosmically charged comicoid particles.

Not only did I pick up several free comic books, but I bought a bunch too. I’m only about halfway through them. My clear favorite of the lot so far is Captain America/Thor: Mighty Fighting Avengers, a charming, all-ages, team-up story in which Cap and Thor travel back in time and meet not only each other for the first time, but also King Arthur and Sir Gawain.

By the way, I’m just putting this out there: I want to write comics. Someone please hire me to do so. I’ll be saying this in various social media until someone hires me. So, if you want me to shut up about this, you know what to do.

Here’s the scene at the first of our two FCBD stops, Southern California Comics (the second stop being Comickaze).

From Free Comic Book Day 2011

And here’s the haul:

From Free Comic Book Day 2011

Kirkus Reviews likes The Boy at the End of the World

Hey, Kirkus Reviews (self-identified as “The World’s Toughest Book Critics” and known by authors as a source for ouches) likes The Boy at the End of the World:

Part speculative fiction, part cinematic survival adventure, the novel features a brisk pace and clever and snappy dialogue. The real, scary possibility of human destruction of our own environment is tempered by this diverting tale of the possibilities of continued existence and the meaning of hope, friendship and community.

Full review here.

Jodhpurs and a review

The good folks over at Tor.com were kind enough to let me blab a bit about writing dystopian stories for kids. I would call The Boy at the End of the World post-apocalyptic adventure rather than dystopian, but a lot of people use the terms synonymously, and I don’t really have a dog in any lexical fight that might ensue.

Here’s my piece: Tarkin’s Jodhpurs and Dystopia for Kids

Over at Ms. Yingling Reads, good Ms. Yingling reviews The Boy at the End of the World, as well as Jacob Wonderbar and the Cosmic Kapow by Nathan Bransford, a book I’ve been looking forward to ever since Mr. Bransford announced he was leaving agenting to devote time to writing.

 

Signing in Columbus, OH and other thingeroos

Hiya, there. Look, sorry this space has lately been just book newsy stuffins instead of other stuffins. Not much else going on right now, which, frankly is fine with me. Though I’ll try to get back to posting more stuff about beach walks and the dog and tacos and stuff, because those things are very important to me as well. I mean, this is San Diego and the tacos are just OUTSTANDING, in case I haven’t mentioned it before. I probably have. In fact, I’m sure I have mentioned the tacos PLENTY.

Gwenda Bond reviews The Boy at the End of the World in Locus Magazine, saying “The sure-footed pacing, deft balance of humor with serious, memorable characters, and well-crafted action sequences combine to make this van Eekhout’s most accomplished work to date.”

If you’re anywhere near Columbus, Ohio, please consider swinging by the Barnes and Noble in Lennox Town Shopping Center on Saturday, April 16, at 7:30pm. Not only will I be there, but so will Paolo Bacigalupi, C.C. Finlay, Sandra McDonald, Paul Melko, and Sarah Prineas, all signing books and whatnot. Here are some details.

Have you a paper allergy? Is that what’s kept you from reading Kid vs. Squid? Well, I now remove your excuse by pointing you to the just-now-available Kindle version. I care about you and your itches.

Were you hoping to snatch an advance reader copy of The Boy at the End of the World? Have you acted upon this hope by entering my Goodreads ARC giveaway? No??? Goodness. Well, I am making it very easy for you to act upon your hope by providing a clicky below.

 

Goodreads Book Giveaway

The Boy at the End of the World by Greg Van Eekhout

The Boy at the End of the World

by Greg Van Eekhout

Giveaway ends May 03, 2011.

See the giveaway details
at Goodreads.

Enter to win

Kid vs. Squid paperback delayed

Hello, reading people!

It has come to my attention that some people are starting to place pre-orders for the paperback edition of Kid vs. Squid. Naturally, such activities warm the cockles of my heart. (I don’t actually know what cockles are, or what they are doing in my heart. Give me a sec while I go look it up. Huh. Turns out cockles are a small kind of saltwater clam. I have saltwater clams in my heart. And they are warm.)

Anyway.

My publisher is delaying the release of the paperback edition, hopefully to occur some time after the release of my next hard cover, The Boy at the End of the World. I’m not sure when the Kid vs. Squid paperback will be rescheduled, but when I know I’ll be sure to announce it here.

In the mean time, let us all enjoy our cardiac clams.

Goodreads ARC giveaway

Here’s another way to win an ARC of The Boy at the End of the World.

Goodreads Book Giveaway

The Boy at the End of the World by Greg Van Eekhout

The Boy at the End of the World

by Greg Van Eekhout

Giveaway ends May 03, 2011.

See the giveaway details
at Goodreads.

Enter to win

 

And you can still enter Sarah Prineas’s giveaway.

I’ll also trade however many ARCs I have left in exchange for a Tesla Roadster. In fact, I’ll deliver them to your door. In my Tesla Roadster. That you will be giving me. I’ll even give you a ride!