Esen’s Here! Cover Reveal Party! Giveaways, Phil, and More!

Posted by: Redhead on: April 26, 2018

• In: Julie Czerneda
• 87 Comments

Hello friends!  Yesterday the “Esen the Web Shifter” party began with Who and What Esen Is,  the Big Idea behind her, how much fun Julie Czerneda had with writing the Web Shifter trilogy (and oh yeah, a big huge give away for the entire trilogy!), and more!

Today, I can finally talk about the gorgeous new cover art for Julie Czerneda’s newest Esen e-novella The Only Thing to Fear, and her forthcoming hardback Web Shifter novel that begins a new series, Search Image!  I’m too excited to talk straight, so I’m just going to let Julie Czerneda take over and talk about the most Esen cover art ever, Phil the bust,  nervous diplomats, and most exciting of all, a brand new Esen novel that starts a brand new series!   oh, there’s another give away too!!

 

Esen’s Here!

By Julie Czerneda

 

Cover Art by Matthew Stawicki, novella release date: Sept 4th

Esen has been featured on every cover, but until now, not as herself. Behold Esen-alit-Quar the Web-being in all her blue blobness, courtesy the talents of Matthew Stawicki!

My information for Matt was, to be honest, sparse. A blue teardrop. Not anthropomorphic. No cheerful chubby belly. No arms, face, toes, nose . . . he did it! Esen’s perfect. I love this cover. I love how she’s there, taking it all in — in this form, her senses aren’t ours. They are potent. You’ll see.

What’s inside The Only Thing to Fear? A special e-novella from DAW Books that resumes Esen’s adventures shortly after the end of Hidden in Sight. (You really should read that one, if you want to get the whole OOMPH, plus meet Busfish—and Changing Vision, because there are Ganthor in an art gallery. I can’t help myself, I love them all and want you to as well.)

In this e-novella, you meet a new character, Evan Gooseberry, diplomat-in-training. Evan’s working through his fear of almost everything, determined to make the universe a better place, but why do aliens have to have SPIDERLEGS? Poor Evan faces a crisis in his first posting and only Esen-alit-Quar can help save the day. During street theatre and glittersweat.

But wait . . . there’s more!

I’m delighted to share with you the spectacular cover for Esen’s new novel, new series, and first hardcover! Toss the Glitter!

cover art by Matthew Stawicki, Search Image release date: Oct 2nd

 

It’s in a new style too. Though what’s shown is a moment from the book, it’s more iconic. I adore the bust on the front. And, while it may represent Ersh, the Eldest Web-being, in this alien form?

It’s really Phil. (“Phil” is what Matt called his alien bust, so we’ve been kidding back and forth — even Sheila at DAW — about “Phil” on the cover.)

Honest. To go from my description to the artwork, Matthew Stawicki sculpted the bust from a slab he’s used for twenty years. Fortunately for Phil, Matt’s keeping him intact until either I can snatch him from the studio, or I talk Matt into making casts so everyone can have one! News on that to come, I hope. Comment and ask him!

 

The bust named Phil, created by Matthew Stawicki

 

 

This, Book One of the Web Shifter’s Library, is the start of more. More of what I’ve loved writing, and you’ve enjoyed: Esen set loose on an unsuspecting universe that needs a little common sense and kindness, her friends at her side. The Library brings that universe of alien life, and their problems large and silly, right to Esen’s door. And Paul’s. There are a few other characters you’ll remember, plus new ones. The Library’s mission is to share Esen’s wealth of knowledge, while gathering new information for her. To use it, clients must bring a tidbit of knowledge in trade. Or fudge. Or an artifact.

The Library has a purpose: to prevent one species’ ignorance of another causing disaster. In Search Image, someone arrives at the Library with just such a problem. Along with Heezles looking for a good time, but anything can happen here. And does. At the same time, others come after a lost secret–and that’s before lunch.

Enjoy!

About Search Image:

Esen’s back! And the dear little blob is in trouble, again.
Things began so well. She and her Human friend Paul Ragem are ready to celebrate the first anniversary of their greatest accomplishment, the All Species’ Library of Linguistics and Culture, by welcoming his family back. He hopes. Having mourned his supposed death years ago, understandably, feelings are bent.

Instead, they’ve unexpected guests, starting with an old acquaintance. Paul’s father has gone missing under dire circumstances.

Before he can convince Esen to help him search, a friend shows up to use the Library. A crisis on Dokeci Na is about to explode into violence. To stop it, Evan Gooseberry needs answers.

Unfortunately, the artifact he brought in trade holds its own distracting secret. A touch of very familiar blue. Web-flesh.

The race is on. Paul, to find his father. Esen, to search for a mysterious legacy while helping Evan avert an extinction. What none of them realize is the price of success will be the most terrible choice of all.

About Julie Czerneda:

For over twenty years, Canadian author/ former biologist Julie E. Czerneda has shared her curiosity about living things through her science fiction, published by DAW Books, NY. Julie’s written fantasy too, the first installments of her Night’s Edge series (DAW) A Turn of Light and A Play of Shadow, winning consecutive Aurora Awards (Canada’s Hugo) for Best English Novel. Julie’s edited/co-edited numerous award-winning anthologies of SF/F, most recently SFWA’s 2017 Nebula Award Showcase. Out this fall is an all-original anthology written by fans of her Clan Chronicles series: Tales from Plexis. Her finale to that series, To Guard Against the Dark, was released in 2017. This fall will also see the return of her most beloved character, Esen the webshifter, in Search Image. Visit www.czerneda.com for more.

 

Give Away Details!

What’s better than knowing there are more Esen books coming? WINNING A COPY of course!  DAW has graciously provided two ARCs of Search Image!  Winners will need be a little patient, as these ARCs won’t even exist until later this summer.

This contest is only open to US/Canada, sorry to my international friends! (Never read a Web Shifters book? No problem, you can start here!)

to enter:

leave a comment below. Include some method for me to get a hold of you, such as twitter handle, e-mail (wordpress may ask you for it), facebook, your website where I can find your e-mail address, etc.

This contest runs from today, April 26th until 11:59pm (Eastern Time) on Wednesday  May 9th.

Good Luck!

It’s already been asked: Can you enter both give aways? Of course you can! if the random number generation likes you, you might even win both!

Tags: aliens, give away, new books, science fiction