Warp and Weft: The Brightweavings Newsletter

March 2010
**********

Time is quickly counting down to the much anticipated release of Guy Gavriel Kay's new novel, UNDER HEAVEN. Those fortunate enough to live in Canada may expect to see it on their local bookshelves on the official publication date of April 3rd, while the US and UK editions are scheduled to be released the last week of April.

In the meanwhile, GGK (and the occasional guest-poster) is currently posting entries by turns informative, intriguing and amusing (beware of a penchant for puns and the frequent use of the word 'tangible'!) to the Book Tour Journal on the site, so check in frequently for updates and insights, especially as the launch looms and the actual tour itself begins shortly after: http://www.brightweavings.com/forums/messages/143081/143081.html

You may also leave your own response or question regarding Tour Journal topics on this thread: http://www.brightweavings.com/forums/messages/143082/143083.html?1267552638

Quite a bit more has been happening since our last newsletter, so grab your beverage of choice and find a comfortable chair...

GGK News
**********

>New website

Among our biggest news to announce is the launch of a GGK-based website, courtesy of Penguin Books Canada - http://GuyGavrielKay.ca . Check out the desktop and mobile wallpapers, as well as information on and links to the talented artists Martin Springett - who has created the map for UNDER HEAVEN along with other visual and musical art inspired by the novel, and Liu Fang - a world-renowned pipa player with whom GGK corresponded regarding technical and historical questions during his research for UNDER HEAVEN.

>UNDER HEAVEN - Official Launch and beginning tour dates

On April 15th, the official launch for UNDER HEAVEN will be held at the Toronto Reference Library at 7 p.m. There will be an onstage interview conducted by Jared Bland, Managing Editor of Walrus Magazine, and GGK will be available to sign books afterward. No tickets are required, but as seating may fill up quickly, anyone who is planning on attending may want to arrive early for the best chance at a closer seat. http://www.torontopubliclibrary.ca/pro_eh_list.jsp

Though dates are provisional, following the launch GGK will continue his book tour by attending:

--The Frye Festival ( http://www.frye.ca/ ) in Moncton, New Brunswick, most likely the 20th and 21st (where he will be interviewed by BW denizen Stephen Saunders - congratulations, Stephen!)

--Blue Metropolis ( http://bluemetropolis.org/Festival ), Montreal's literary event, the 22nd, 23rd

--The Writer's Festival in Ottwa ( http://www.writersfestival.org/tickets.html ) the 24-26th.

More dates for Canada and the US will be announced as they are determined, and we will be sure to let you know.

>New Editions and Translations

Among other new editions appearing, or soon to be, the two volumes of the Sarantine Mosaic have been acquired by Roc in the USA for re-launching and re-jacketing in late 2010, probably two months apart in September and November.

The Chinese edition of TIGANA is now out in that market, while THE LIONS OF AL-RASSAN will appear there in May. LIONS is already published in a Korean translation this year, and so is the Hungarian edition of YSABEL (a first appearance for GGK in that market).

>GGK's Words

The first interview that extensively references UNDER HEAVEN is now online. GGK met with Alex Telander of Book Banter in San Jose during the World Fantasy Convention, where the following was recorded: http://bookbanter.podbean.com/2010/01/01/bookbanter-episode-23-with-guy-gavriel-kay/

>GGK news now on Facebook

GGK has authorized the BW moderators to maintain an official author-page on FB: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Guy-Gavriel-Kay/189763622002 Though he will not be posting there himself, news and updates will be posted there regularly, as well as to the moderator-maintained Twitter account: http://twitter.com/brightweavings

New on Brightweavings
**********

>Poetry contest to winners!

For the sixth year, Professor Neil Randall of the University of Waterloo has, with his inimitable graciousness and remarkable acuity, determined a winner for the BW poetry contest, and this year's prize of an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) of UNDER HEAVEN. The form this time was ballads, and though it was, as always, a distinctly enjoyable event with many impressive and marvelous entries, that's exactly what made it far from easy for Dr. Randall to make a judgment. So, in keeping with the recent Olympic spirit, he awarded poetic 'medals'. Hearty congratulations to the Gold medal winner, Richard Shearwood, as well as to Silver medal winners Francois Vincent and Stephen Saunders, to Bronze medal winner Arlando, and to Lauren and Simon for their honorable mentions. To read Dr. Randall's excellent and enlightening commentary, and to read the winning entries, click here: http://www.brightweavings.com/forums/messages/2/143098.html

>Art Gallery

While working on the map for UNDER HEAVEN, Martin Springett also designed a poster inspired by his reading of the novel: http://www.brightweavings.com/artgallery/martinunderheavencomment.htm

Two new pieces of reader art have been added to the gallery as well. Fédéric Maisonneuve shares his vision of the elemental character Curdardh, from the Fionavar Tapestry here: http://www.brightweavings.com/artgallery/maisonneuve.htm . BW regular Nick Mayer put his impressive photography and design skills to use, creating this stunning mock-cover for UNDER HEAVEN: http://www.brightweavings.com/artgallery/mayer.htm (hat-tip as well to BW regular Miko Yanagisawa for her photogenic contribution!)

>Threads of interest

--Reviews of UNDER HEAVEN - If you aren't spoiler-phobic, and are interested in the early reactions of reviewers to the novel - or if you come across any you'd like to share - we'll be linking to any we find here: http://www.brightweavings.com/forums/messages/143082/143108.html?1267187140

--"Women, Beauty and Power in LIONS" - a blog post by an astute reader generated an intriguing discussion of these issues on the site: http://www.brightweavings.com/forums/messages/183/143104.html?1267461038 What do you think about the descriptions of the women of LIONS, or any of the female characters in GGK's novels?

>Fun Stuff

Another recent thread-revival you might enjoy joining in on has a 'Which GGK character personality are you most like' quiz: http://www.brightweavings.com/forums/messages/177/142843.html?1267099376

And while it isn't actually on the BW site, you might enjoy taking part in a GoodReads Fantasy Book Club discussion of A SONG FOR ARBONNE where GGK has agreed to pop in now and then to answer a few questions during the month of March: http://www.goodreads.com/topic/group_folder/33517

-----

We'll be back very soon with more updates, including more book tour dates as they are announced. Happy reading to you in April! And please, come join in the discussion of the new novel on the Brightweavings forums, we'd love to hear your thoughts and reactions.

Elizabeth

************************************
Deborah Meghnagi
Site Owner
Bright Weavings: The Worlds of Guy Gavriel Kay
http://www.brightweavings.com