Isn’t it amazing? The creative process that Amanda goes through for covers is something of a wonder to me – this is in no way where this cover idea started out, and she puts up with annoying publishers who keep saying, hmm, perhaps more this than that, or what about if… And she doesn’t even curse at me (well, not to my face at least!) But I hope you’ll agree, the final product is something pretty special, and perfect for the stories in the book. Speaking of which…

Table of Contents – Epilogue

To be released at Continuum, June 2012.

“A memory trapped in light” by Joanne Anderton

“Time and tide” by Lyn Battersby

“Fireflies” by Steve Cameron

“Sleeping Beauty” by Thoraiya Dyer

“The Fletcher Test” by Dirk Flinthart

“Ghosts” by Stephanie Gunn

“Sleepers” by Kaia Landelius

“Solitary” by Dave Luckett

“Cold comfort” by David McDonald

“The Mornington Ride” by Jason Nahrung

“What books survive” by Tansy Rayner Roberts

“The last good town” by Elizabeth Tan

Sound good? Trust me, it is! And you can give your future self a lovely gift, by pre-ordering now at the super special pre-order price! (RRP will be $22.95 + P&H).

Check out our stock over at the FableCroft Shop, and don’t forget the special Aurealis Awards price on After the Rain (here!) and the class set special prices for Worlds Next Door (here!).

Faith Mudge, one of the authors, sent me a beautiful note, and I hope she won’t mind me quoting her description: “The book is gorgeous – so small and sweet, a bookling really!” I LOVE it – bookling indeed!

Artist Kathleen Jennings talks us through the process of the cover art on her blog – so PRETTY.

DarkMatterzine has already reviewed it! Nalini says: ”I’m charmed by the book … these are re-imaginings from the dark side.” (among other nice things).

And on Twitter, Tansy Rayner Roberts called it, “a fairy cobweb of a … book.” Beautiful!

And finally (for now!), author Catherynne M Valente also had some things to say on Twitter – I’ve captured it as a picture to have forever! My favourite bit? “… a beautiful, delicate, strange book…”

If you’d like a copy too, pop over to the Shop and pick one up!

Stories from Worlds Next Door have been shortlisted for the Aurealis Awards and the Washington Science Fiction Association’s Small Press Award, and the book has received consistently excellent reviews across Australia. With teaching materials, free story downloads and audio versions available, Worlds Next Door is a valuable addition to any school resources.

If you would like to take the opportunity to purchase a class set of Worlds Next Door, simply email fablecroft@gmail.com with purchase order details (orders received this way will be invoiced, 30 day terms), or, if you have access to Paypal, please feel free to use the button below.

Number of copies

25 $300.00 AUD 30 $320.00 AUD 35 $340.00 AUD

“The Best Dog in the World”, Dirk Flinthart
“A Wizard in Trouble”, Paul Collins
“Graffiti”, Joanne Anderton
“Enid and the Prince”, RJ Astruc
“Disobedience”, Dave Luckett
“The Guardians”, Geoffrey Hugh Miller
“Horror Movie”, Michael Pryor
“The House on Juniper Road”, Felicity Dowker
“Rocket and Sparky”, Edwina Harvey
“Inksucker”, Aidan Doyle
“Mega Wombats and Demon Ducks”, Sue Bursztynski
“Philomena Plaitbinder”, Angela Rega
“Moonchild”, Bren MacDibble
“The New Rat in Town”, Kaaron Warren
“Through the Break”, Jen Banyard
“Nine Times”, Kaia Landelius and Tansy Rayner Roberts
“Sir Pesky Poos-a-lot and the Pony” Thoraiya Dyer
“Old Saint Nick”, Leith Daniel
“Slugs and Snails”, Jenny Blackford
“The Trouble with Fifi”, Launz Burch
“Tabitha”, Rowena Cory Daniells
“Genevieve and the Dragon”, Angela Slatter
“The Nullarbor Wave”, Matthew Chrulew
“Ghost Town”, Pamela Freeman
“Little Arkham”, Martin Livings

I’ve posted FableCroft’s eligible works here.

I’m delighted to host author Andrea Cremer, as part of her blog tour to celebrate the release of her new book, Bloodrose (book 3 of her supernatural YA fantasy series which began with Nightshade and Wolfsbane – all available from Atom).

I asked Andrea this question: There are a lot of young adult novels out there these days – how do you write a paranormal book that stands out in the crowd? – this post is her response. Thanks for guesting with FableCroft, Andrea!

A common response to Nightshade from readers is the comment that it’s one of his or her favorite werewolf books. As much as I understand where that idea comes from, I think it’s time for me to take and stand and say Nightshade and Wolfsbane are not werewolf books. Here’s what I mean:

I’ve lived long in the realm of paranormal/fantasy proudly bearing my badge of vampire girl. That’s right; I came on board as a fan of vamps, not werewolves. I was Team Edward for all four books of Twilight. I prefer Bill and Eric to Sam in True Blood. But before you start throwing tomatoes, let me tell you why.

Friends who knew I was a vampire girl presumed that meant I love ALL forms of paranormal, so they’d push werewolves at me enthusiastically. I wasn’t interested, and I couldn’t figure out why. After all they were fierce, strong, magical – all things I liked. So what was the problem? And then it hit me – I didn’t like werewolves because I love wolves.

That’s right – I’m a wolf girl, but a real wolf girl. I grew up so far north in Wisconsin that it’s practically Canada. Wolves roamed the forests of my homeland. I also loved National Geographic television specials even more than cartoons. So by age 9 I could rattle off biological and ecological info like a pro. Wolves to me were beautiful, intelligent, social, and graceful.

Werewolves seemed to be none of these things. The werewolves I’d encountered on page and screen were hideous – half man/half beast, usually ugly, often unintelligent, driven only by rage or bloodlust.

And worst of all: they didn’t want to be wolves. Lycanthropy occurs as a curse, or a disease. The endgoal of most werewolf tales was to kill the wolf or free the affected person of the wolf curse.

I couldn’t come to grips with that idea. If someone asked me – hey wanna turn into a wolf? I’d say, “Heck, yeah!” Wouldn’t you rather be a wolf? From what I know of wolves, the answer is indisputably YES.

Nightshade’s Guardians are my way of coming to terms with my love of wolves and my trouble with classic werewolf tales. Calla – the alpha female who narrates Nightshade – is powerful and revels in her life as a wolf.

Her troubles arise not from her ability to shift, but from the ways in which her masters try to limit her power, to restrain her freedoms.

Wolves also inspire me because of their sociability.

Pack relationships offered a wonderful way to explore a world of friendship, servitude, loyalty, and betrayal. While Nightshade is about Calla’s journey, it’s also the story of her pack. The other wolves in the book play key roles throughout the trilogy. Wolves offered a wonderful framework around which to explore relationships, love, fear, and rivalry.

Wolves carry a magic and mystery to me that captured my heart and hasn’t let go. It was just a matter of finding my own way to tell their story and I believe that staying true to those feelings and letting them lead me was the key to creating a different kind of paranormal tale, one that revisits traditional mythologies, making them new again.

Photo by Gina Monroe (via Andrea's website)

Andrea Cremer spent her childhood daydreaming while roaming the forests and lakeshores of Northern Wisconsin. She went to school until there wasn’t any more school to go to, ending up with a Ph.D. in early modern history – a reflection of her fascination with witchcraft and warfare. She currently lives in Minnesota with her husband, two dogs and a parakeet.

Sneak peek at part of the gorgeous cover art for To Spin a Darker Stair (art by Kathleen Jennings)

It occurred to me today that I have a marvellous opportunity to give readers (even more) incentive to pre-order their copy of FableCroft’s forthcoming gift book, To Spin a Darker Stair. The book features stories by Catherynne M Valente and Faith Mudge, and is illustrated by Kathleen Jennings.

Last month I accidentally ended up with an extra copy of Sea Hearts, the newest novel from the marvellous Margo Lanagan (I reviewed it here). I highly recommend it, so I’m offering it up as a pre-order prize! One lucky person who pre-orders To Spin a Darker Stair before March 15, 2012, will win Sea Hearts as well (drawn randomly from all pre-orders).

So, for just $7.95 (Australia), $8.95 (New Zealand) or $9.95 (rest of the world) you have the chance to get not just one but TWO awesome (beautiful) books! Don’t miss out on your chance to win - pre-order now! **

** Winner will be drawn from all pre-orders prior to March 15, 2012, including those already placed.