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The Gift of Magic, which collects in one place and under one cover, two Archers Beach stories previously published at Baen.com, is now available through the Nook and Kindle stores.  A Smashwords edition will not be forthcoming.

Magic includes “The Gift of Music,” and “The night don’t seem so lonely,” and is dignified as “Archers Beach Book Five.”

For those who may be confused by this, here are the Archers Beach titles, in order:

Archers Beach ONE: Carousel Tides
Archers Beach TWO: Carousel Sun
Archers Beach THREE: Carousel Seas
Archers Beach FOUR: Surfside
Archers Beach FIVE: The Gift of Magic

 

Well, let’s see…

I had a birthday, on the 11th, but mostly, I’ve been writing, and walking, and thinking.  Not really a lot of meaty reporting in that.

Today, though, was Maine Lighthouse Day, and I determined that I would see me some lighthouses.

And so I did — I saw Spring Ledge Light, Bug Light, and Portland Head Light.  That’s pretty dern good, since my original plan had been to see Bug Light.

I also saw several dogs — a miniature poodle and a very young corgi — who were kind enough to bestow some Vitamin Dog upon me.  The corgi was so enthusiastic, I swear he was trying to figure out a way to clone himself on the spot, so he could have me and his people, too.

I will also note that Portland is lousy with forts. The dern things are EVERYwhere; Southern Maine Community College’s campus us largely built on the remains of an old fort, and there are at least three more in eyeball distance from that one.  So, wow.  I guess it was some strategic, going ‘way back.

There are pictures of the day’s adventures here, as well as some new Archers Beach photos.

Tomorrow, it’s back to walking, writing, and thinking.

So, yesterday, I walked down to Fun Country, known locally as Palace Playland, only to find that the arcade is open Friday/Saturday/Sunday for the next few weeks, but that the amusement park…

…is closed for the winter.

That was a disappointment, but not particularly a set-back, since I have maps and pictures from previous visits.  And, yanno, all was not lost, since I got to spend some quality time with my grandmother:

 

 

…more pictures going up at whim here

 

To celebrate summer, and the ocean, and the fact that Carousel Tides will! have! sequels! — I’m offering a Carousel Tides t-shirt!  Details may be found here.

Procrastinators take note:  Orders are open through June 30, so, really, you need to act with decision.

–Sharon Lee

As reported in Locus, Baen Books has given me the green light to write the sequels to Carousel Tides, tentatively titled Carousel Sun, and Carousel Seas.  The manuscripts are due in early and mid 2013, respectively.  Publication dates rest on the knees of the publisher, but I’m assuming mid-2014.

I’ll be working on-site in Old Orchard Beach during the month of September.  I’m toying  with the idea of keeping  a diary of that month here on the website, if there’s interest.

So, that’s the big news.  Thank you all for your support and your interest!

 

Sharon Lee

 

 

Book Launch News

Plans are afoot to launch Carousel Tides into the world from the town that inspired it — Old Orchard Beach, Maine.

Beggars Ride Studio and Gallery, 39 Old Orchard Street, will host the event on October 30, from 7-9 p.m.  Special discounted room rates are available to book launch attendees at the Seaview Inn, 65 Grand Avenue.  More details and the Secret Word here.

Do plan on coming to the book launch!  I’m really looking forward to seeing lots of friends — old and new — there!

Sharon Lee

* * *

Kate Archer left home years ago, swearing that she would die before she returned to Maine.  As plans go, it was a pretty good one — simple and straightforward.

Not quite fast enough, though.

Before she can quite manage the dying part, Kate gets notice that her grandmother is missing, leaving the carousel that is the family business untended.

And in Archers Beach, that means ‘way more trouble than just a foreclosure.

A tourist town in Maine hosts a war of faerie magic in this engaging urban fantasy. The fireworks begin when Kate Archer returns to Archers Beach, Maine, to search for her vanished grandmother, Bonny Pepperidge, and to assume Bonny’s role as Guardian of Fun Country, an amusement park whose carousel animals are actually exiled fae criminals. Almost immediately, Kate runs afoul of neighbor Joe Nemeier, a drug smuggler who sets his assassins after her. Then she learns from the local earth spirits that Bonny may have discovered the whereabouts of Kate’s mom, newly escaped from a pursuing demonic captor. Lee brings these disparate subplots together in a pyrotechnic finale that plays out magically behind the ordinary facade of smalltown Maine life, evoking much of the romance and magic of her popular Liaden series. (Nov.) (c)

–Publishers Weekly