Author Introduction: Jim Hines

[jpskewedthrone]

Wow, this week has TONS of new releases for all of the fantasy book lovers out there. I have three author introductions this week, which should keep me busy. First up is Jim Hines, the infamous Goblin King. Here's what he has to say:

"My name is Jim C. Hines (on LJ, I use the clever alias jimhines). I'm the author of a humorous fantasy trilogy from DAW: Goblin Quest, Goblin Hero, and Goblin War.

I want to thank Joshua for inviting me to come to his LJ and share this story with all of you. Joshua and I met years ago, when we were both brand new novelists. (As opposed to the wise old authors we are today.) We both had the same publisher, and even the same editor. But that's not all...

Look at these images from our second books. The one on the left is from my novel Goblin Hero. On the right is Joshua's novel The Cracked Throne.

You see that? We both had blue characters on our covers. We were practically cover twins! It was then I knew that Joshua and I would be BFFs. (I even started a scrapbook.) Little did I know how success would change him.

I thought things were going great between us. We even shared a signing together in Toronto. And then DAW came out with the cover art for our third books. You can see them below, Goblin War on the left, and The Vacant Throne on the right.

I was crushed. Someone had gotten too good for blue characters. I never let on how much Joshua had hurt me. I tried to be professional. But it was tearing me up inside, until finally I had to confront him.

I'm happy to say we're doing better these days, though it's not the same as it used to be. Something precious was broken, and you can't just put a band-aid on that kind of pain.

But Joshua said he'd do what he could to make it up to me. Things like telling people that Goblin War comes out March 4th, or sending people over to my web site where they can read a free preview of all three goblin books.

Thanks, man. I don't know if I'm ready to share a cover concept with you again -- the wounds are too raw -- but I'm glad we can still be friends."

Comments

[difrancis.livejournal.com]

You know . . . I just saw a TV commercial. They're releasing the Smurfs on DVD. Just sayin' . . .

Di

[jimhines.livejournal.com]

Pbbt!

[jpsorrow.livejournal.com]

What Jim said.

[jeanhuets.livejournal.com]

I don't want to rub salt in the wounds, but the differences here are more than blue skindeep. JP's cover is Highly Serious, and yours is...well, a bespectacled goblin riding a shaggy dog. (But both covers are really cool!)

[jpsorrow.livejournal.com]

I do think both covers are cool. They're suitable for the type of books they cover. While JH's books are rather humorous in nature, mine tend to be more serious.

Although I thought Varis biting Erick's hand and stamping on his foot while he was trying to train her exceptionally funny.

[(Anonymous)]

Yow! True, Vacant has a way different look from Skewed and Cracked.

Thanks for doing this feature on your blog, by the way. I'm enjoying the guest appearances.

[jimhines.livejournal.com]

So what sort of cover do you think DAW will come up with for that Jig/Varis crossover novel we're working on?

[jpsorrow.livejournal.com]

I think they should be standing back to back (or back to kneecaps), each poised with weapons (or firespiders) beared, the backdrop all dark and spooky, with perhaps a few fairies fluttering around above them.

Hmm . . . talk about plot bunnies.

[dynastic-queen.livejournal.com]

LMAO! Brilliantly done. Should we expect a rebuttal from Joshua? Heh. :)

[jpsorrow.livejournal.com]

I am above such childish games, as my highly serious cover should hint at.

*grin*

[cuthulu.livejournal.com]

I wonder what Freud would say about blue characters on book covers? Is it a highly uncontrollable urge to have Kirk-like "relations" with someone of a more pastel persuasion? Just curious…

Oh and, Jim, congrats on the release of the third book YAY JIG!!!!!

[jimhines.livejournal.com]

Especially since every single goblin on all three books is holding a weapon of some sort. Hm...

And thanks! :-)

[jpsorrow.livejournal.com]

Freud would say that blue is in this year, as well as thrones.

[jpsorrow.livejournal.com]

And his name is Jim, too. I think it's a sign.

[desperance.livejournal.com]

you can't just put a band-aid on that kind of pain.

*sends blue band-aid*

[brownkitty.livejournal.com]

::adds blue Neosporin::

[jpsorrow.livejournal.com]

Why, thank you! How kind!

Oh, wait. You meant those for Jim, didn't you?

[brownkitty.livejournal.com]

I'm a mom. There's plenty for everyone :)

Now where did I leave those blue aspirin?