jpskewedthrone | Author Introduction: Jim Hines

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."