jpskewedthrone | Entries tagged with urbar contest

Today is the official release day for After Hours: Tales From the Ur-bar! So you can now rush to your local bookstore or computer and pick up or order your copy. Or rush to the computer and order or download your copy. Whichever you prefer!

In the meantime, happy book day to Patricia, Ben, Sam, Jennifer, Barbara, Maria, Kari, David, Seanan, Juliet, Laura Anne, Ian, Avery, Jackie, and Anton. I think it's a book we can all be proud of. Thank you all for contributing and making the editing process so much fun . . . well, as much fun as an editing process can be anyways. *grin*

And for the readers out there, thanks for joining us on this little adventure and we sincerely hope that you enjoy the stories in the anthology. Stop on by and let us know what you thought when you've had a chance to read it. And pass along the news about the release, if you don't mind.

And for an extra challenge, I'm wondering who will be the first to collect ALL of the contributor's signatures, as well as the editors. I know one person who's managed to get four of them so far. He isn't being shy about it either. *grin*

In any case, here's the announcement and, if you feel like sharing the good news, a text box of code so you can post the announcement in your own blog. And beneath that, there's a list of the events we have scheduled. If you're in any of the areas, stop on by and say hi!

Events:

March 4th: Signing at the Binghamton University bookstore in Binghamton, NY, from 2-4pm with Joshua Palmatier.

March 5th: Signing at the Vestal Barnes & Noble boosktore in Vestal, NY, from 2-4pm with Patricia Bray, S.C. Butler, Laura Anne Gilman, Joshua Palmatier, Avery Shade, and Benjamin Tate.

March 5th: Informal celebrations at Delgado's Mexican Restaurant in Johnson City, NY, from 6-8pm with Patricia Bray, S.C. Butler, Laura Anne Gilman, Joshua Palmatier, Avery Shade, and Benjamin Tate.

March 13th: Signing at Flights of Fantasy in Albany, NY, from 3pm-? with Patricia Bray, S.C. Butler, Jackie Kessler, Joshua Palmatier, Avery Shade, and Benjamin Tate.

March 19th: Release Party held at Lunacon in Rye, NY, from 8pm-? with Barbara Ashford, Patricia Bray, S.C. Butler, Laura Anne Gilman, Joshua Palmatier, Avery Shade, and Benjamin Tate.

April 10th: Release Party held at Spectators Pub in New Rochelle, NY, from 1-4pm with Barbara Ashford, Patricia Bray, Joshua Palmatier, and Benjamin Tate.

April 28th: Reading/Signing at the Africa House art gallery in Endicott, NY, from 7-8pm with Patricia Bray, Joshua Palmatier, Avery Shade, and Benjamin Tate.

And don't for the contest! Friend the

afterhoursurbar community here on LJ, or like the After Hours: Tales From the Ur-bar page on Facebook and you're entered!

Now, go forth and read!

So those were all of the contributors to the After Hours: Tales From the Ur-bar anthology. Along the way, you were introduced to one of the editors as well. For this last introduction post, I’d like to introduce . . . well, myself. *grin* But the contest is still running, s here’s the deal: to enter the contest you have to either friend the

afterhoursurbar community here on LiveJournal OR you have to like the After Hours: Tales From the Ur-bar Facebook page (search for the title of the anthology to find the page). If you do both, you’re entered into the contest twice! The contest will end March 31st, 2011. Prizes will include copies of the contributors books (sometimes entire trilogies), After Hours: Tales From the Ur-bar M&Ms, and perhaps other prizes. They will be awarded by random drawing from those who’ve liked or friended the appropriate pages. If you’ve already friended or liked the pages, then you’re already entered into the contest! Find out more about the anthology at its website!

And now for the other editor: Joshua Palmatier. AKA, me. I contributed a story to the anthology, writing as Benjamin Tate, so you’ve really already been introduced to me, as him. The entire anthology came about (as described in the Introduction to the book) as a result of seven authors getting together at a bar after a signing and chatting. I’d never edited an anthology before--had never even considered it--but the idea seemed too good to NOT attempt to sell. So while at Worldcon in Montreal, I began asking questions about how you went about selling such a thing and was told that if I could get a proposal written and to Tekno Books the next morning, then they’d pitch it for us. Needless to say, I spent that evening frantically writing up a proposal. I sent it in and then, as with all things in published, we waited. Eventually, the idea sold. Patricia and I were as surprised as anyone. Here’s the official description, ripped almost literally from our proposal:

After Hours: Tales from the Ur-Bar: The first bar, created by the Sumerians after they were given the gift of beer by the gods, was known as the Ur-Bar. Although it has since been destroyed, its spirit lives on--in each age there is one bar that captures the essence of the original Ur-Bar, where drinks are mixed with magic and served with a side of destiny and intrigue.

The editing process was . . . interesting. I had fears that Patricia’s and my friendship might not survive it, but it was actually incredibly fun. Enough that we wrote up a few more proposals and are happy to announce that one of them sold. So watch for our next anthology, The Modern Fae’s Guide to Surviving Humanity, sometime in 2012. I certainly had a blast working on this project, and look forward to seeing what other great stories we can find in future anthologies. This anthology is certainly packed with them. And if you want to know a little bit more about me, here’s my editor bio from the anthology:

Joshua Palmatier is a writer with a PhD in mathemat¬ics. He currently resides in New York while teaching mathematics full-time at SUNY College at Oneonta. His novels include The Skewed Throne, The Cracked Throne, and The Vacant Throne, all part of the "Throne of Amenkor" trilogy. His short story "Mastihooba" appeared in the anthology Close Encounters of the Urban Kind. This is his first stab at being an editor and it required the consumption of many, many White Russians. But he’ll do it again given the chance. www.joshuapalmatier.com.

All three of my Throne novels are being given out as prizes in the contest.

As part of the promo for the After Hours: Tales From the Ur-bar release, I figured I’d highlight all of the contributors to the anthology individually. And while we’re at it, run a contest as well! So here’s the deal, to enter the contest you have to either friend the

And now for the fifteenth contributor: Anton Strout (

antonstrout)! Anton’s contribution to the anthology is the short story Izdu-Bar, which sets the Ur-bar in a possible, post-apocalyptic zombie future. Here’s the official description:

"Idzu-Bar" by Anton Strout: In a future world terrorized by zombies, one bouncer discovers that letting someone in after hours may be the worst mistake of his life.

I hadn’t met Anton in person until we did a signing together, when his first book came out. Turns out, he also works at Penguin, the company that distributes my own books, as part of the sales division. Suddenly he’s my best friend! *grin* Here’s his author bio from the anthology:

Anton Strout remembers his early days of barhopping in New York City, making The Slaughtered Lamb an old favorite of his thanks to the drinks, dungeon, life-sized werewolves and fake lightning storms. He is best known as the author of the Simon Canderous urban fantasy series including Dead To Me, Deader Still, Dead Matter, and Dead Waters. He has also appeared in a variety of anthologies. In his scant spare time, he is an always writer, sometimes actor, sometimes musician, occasional RPGer, and the world’s most casual and controller-smashing video gamer. He can be found lurking the darkened hallways of www.antonstrout.com.

We’ll be giving away the first three books in his Simon Canderous series as prizes in the contest.

And now for the fourteenth contributor: Jackie Kessler! Jackie’s contribution to the anthology is the short story Where We Are Is Hell, which integrates the Ur-bar with her Hell series of books. A ghost is stumbling through a place with only doors that don’t open, her memories lost. But then, one of the doors opens unexpectedly and she stumbled into the Ur-bar. Here’s the official description:

"Where We Are Is Hell" by Jackie Kessler: Condemned to purgatory--a hallway full of closed doors--a young woman’s ghost stumbles into the Ur-Bar where she finds the courage to open one final door . . . and face her own Judgment.

I must have met Jackie at Albacon. I can’t imagine anything else. (She’s the Guest of Honor for Albacon--the one in Albany, NY--this coming October, by the way.) At one of my readings/signings, she was the only one to show up. She was already my friend, but I think that alone pushed it into the “lifelong” category. Here’s her author bio from the anthology:

Jackie Kessler writes about demons, angels, the hapless humans caught between them, superheroes, the supervillains who love to pound those heroes into pudding, vampires, ghosts, and the occasional Horseman of the Apocalypse. Her favorite drinks include a semi-dry Riesling and, when at conventions, rum and Diet Coke. When beer is the thing, her favorite bar is the Peculier Pub on Bleeker Street in New York City. For wine, it’s got to be The Wine Bar in Saratoga Springs, NY. For more about Jackie, visit her website: www.jackiekessler.com.

We’ll be giving away her Hell trilogy as prizes in the contest.

And now for the thirteenth contributor: Avery Shade! Avery’s contribution to the anthology is the short story Forbidden, which is the first story to bring in some science fictional elements to the Ur-bar. Here, a scientist has been sent back from the future to the 1980s. Lots of oblique references to that time period here, and lots of temptations as well. Here’s the official description:

"Forbidden" by Avery Shade: A traveler from a dying future is sent back to 1985 in search of the genetic samples that will save her people, but instead finds herself seduced by the uncivilized past.

Avery is actually a newer member of the writing group with Patricia Bray and I. At the time we accepted this story for the anthology, she hadn’t yet been published. However, over the course of the last year she’s sold two books! They’ll be published under a pseudonym (since they’re more romance oriented), but Patricia and I are still happy to declare that we discovered her first. *grin* Here’s her author bio from the anthology:

Avery Shade is an author of paranormal and urban fantasy of both the adult and young adult variety. Though grounded in a small upstate NY town, she lives vicariously through her stories. When not busy writing, she is probably off searching for the real meaning of life, the universe, and. . . well. . . everything. If you can track her down (try her website: www.averyshade.com) you might offer to go for drinks somewhere. She’s all too eager for a bit of escapism. Maybe one of these times she’ll find the Ur-Bar and Gil will mix her a drink that can give her some more time.

Since Avery Shade doesn’t have a book out (yet) to offer as a prize in the contest, we’ll be offering a bag of special Ur-bar M&Ms! These are chocolate M&Ms in gold, blue, and purple colors with a few key Ur-bar phrases on them, such as "After Hours," "Ur-Bar Tales," and of course the release date "March 2011."

And now for the twelfth contributor: Ian Tregillis! Ian’s contribution to the anthology is the short story Steady Hands and a Heart of Oak, which has the characters hiding out in the Ur-bar during World War II during the Blitz. The main character is a sapper--someone sent in to diffuse unexploded bombs--but he has more serious problems than bombs in this story. Here’s the official description:

"Steady Hands and a Heart of Oak" by Ian Tregillis: In World War II’s London, a young sapper with the Sight finds redemption and glory in the heart of an unexploded bomb.

I was introduced to Ian by S.C. Butler at a convention (Boskone?), I believe when a group of us were all getting ready to head to dinner. All three of us had been members of an online writing workshop (Sam had actually critiqued some of Ian’s work), so we instantly bonded over that. And imagine that! All three of us are now published. *grin* Here’s his author bio from the anthology:

Ian Tregillis is the son of a bearded mountebank and a discredited tarot card reader. He is the author of Bitter Seeds, The Coldest War (October, 2011), and Necessary Evil (2012). He received a doctorate in physics from the University of Minnesota, but now lives in New Mexico, where he consorts with writers, scientists, and other unsavory types. His favorite holiday drink comes from a one hundred fifty-year old recipe for eggnog. www.iantregillis.com

We’ll be giving away the hardcover of Bitter Seeds as a prize in the contest.

And now for the eleventh contributor: Laura Anne Gilman (

suricattus)! Laura Anne’s contribution to the anthology is the short story Paris 24, which refers to the Olympics, set in Paris in 1924. Some of the U.S. fencers take a night off before the competition to visit one of Paris’ finer bars . . . the Ur-bar of course. Here’s the official description:

"Paris 24" by Laura Anne Gilman: A team of fencers arrives in Paris for the 1924 Olympics and during a night out on the town one of the athletes discovers there’s more to life than fame and glory.

I honestly can’t be certain when I met Laura Anne . . . my guess would be at Lunacon, during the "disaster" hotel (when it wasn’t at the Escher hotel). I think Jennifer Dunne introduced us over some discussion over jewelry. Since then, we’ve been to numerous cons together, had many signings, and held a few rather successful parties. Here’s her author bio from the anthology:

Laura Anne Gilman has a history of writing short stories that aren’t quite as-expected. This is nothing new: she wrote her first original novel, Staying Dead, when everyone said that urban fantasy was dead, and, in 2008 she wrote The Vineart War, an alternate-historical fantasy, when everyone was looking for urban fantasy. She thinks being contrary’s a pretty good way to build a career. It should be noted that, despite The Vineart War being about wine-magic, and despite the story being set in France, the story for this anthology does not reference wine, but rather a specifically evil sort of cocktail popular at the time . . . the author does not encourage consumption of more than three in an evening!

We’ll be giving away the first three books in her Retrievers series as part of the contest!

And now for the tenth contributor: Juliet E. McKenna! Juliet’s contribution to the anthology is the short story The Grand Tour, where the Ur-bar becomes a refuge for two young men who are experiencing the best--and wors--of the world before heading off to university. Here’s the official description:

"The Grand Tour" by Juliet McKenna: In the years before the Great War, two young travelers find themselves stranded in an Austrian village, where they encounter both hatred and kindness . . . and a lesson that will change the course of their lives forever.

Juliet and I met while at Boskone, when we were both scheduled for a dual kaffeeklatsch that none of the fans signed up for. We ended up talking about cover art, comparing our own and some of Juliet’s upcoming covers, writing, and general writely chat. I’d already read her first series and hadn’t realized that another had already been started. Here’s her author bio from the anthology:

Juliet E. McKenna has always been fascinated by myth and history, other worlds and other peoples. After studying classical history and literature at St Hilda’s, Oxford, she worked in personnel management before a career change to combine book-selling and motherhood. Her first novel The Thief’s Gamble was published in 1999. That series, the Tales of Einarinn, was followed by The Aldabreshin Compass sequence and her current trilogy, The Chronicles of the Lescari Revolution. Living in the Cotswolds of England she is lucky enough to have the Wychwood Brewery within easy reach, home of Hobgoblin and Wychcraft beers.

We’ll be giving away the entire Chronicles of the Lescari Revolution as a prize in the contest.

And now for the ninth contributor: Seanan McGuire (

seanan_mcguire)! Seanan’s contribution to the anthology is the short story The Alchemy of Alcohol, which takes the Ur-bar to San Francisco in 1899 and includes the recipes for the cocktails that wake the Winter Queen and Winter King out of season . Here’s the official description:

"The Alchemy of Alcohol" by Seanan McGuire: In 1899 San Francisco, a young alchemist is forced to wake the Winter Queen weeks ahead of time in order to save her from death.

I met Seanan McGuire for the first time in person at Worldcon in Montreal at the DAW dinner. Well, just previous to the DAW dinner actually. I’d already corresponded and IMed with her online, but in person is always better. After the dinner, a few of us authors and the editors retired to a bar in order to partake of some absinthe. It’s distressing that I haven’t managed to be at another con with her since then. IM just isn’t the same. *sigh* Here’s her author bio from the anthology:

Seanan McGuire was born and raised in Northern California, which explains a lot about her approach to venomous reptiles and the concept of "weather." She’s been writing since she was nine, driving everyone around her crazy; her first book, Rosemary and Rue, came out from DAW in September 2009. More have followed. Seanan lives with two blue cats (Siamese and Maine Coon), too many books, and a great many horror movies. Her favorite drink is the Corpse Reviver #2: gin, Cointreau, Lillet blanc, lemon juice, absinthe, a cherry, and defiance of nature’s laws. Delicious, delicious defiance. Seanan doesn’t sleep much.

We’ll be giving away the first three books in her October Daye series as prizes in the contest.

And now for the eighth contributor: Patricia Bray (

pbray)! Patricia’s contribution to the anthology is the short story Last Call, which is the first (and only) story to actually feature different versions of the Ur-bar, since it’s set over an extended period of time. It also features unicorn vomit. Here’s the official description:

"Last Call" by Patricia Bray: George Harker hunts demons in eighteenth century Europe, but when he discovers an immortal bartender he finds he has finally met his match.

As I mentioned during Jennifer Dunne’s introduction, I met Patricia while working at Waldenbooks and was a published-author-wannabe. Since then, I joined their writers group and discovered that Patricia and I are, rather freakily, mentally on the same wavelength. We often say the exact same things at the same time, and have the same thoughts (usually snide comments). We’re loads of fun when we happen to be on panels together at cons (and often even when we AREN’T on the same panel). I was afraid that doing this co-editing thing together would drive a wedge between the friendship, but actually we complemented each other rather well, both contributing on each story for edits, revisions, etc. Looking back on it, I wouldn’t have traded the experience for the world. And I would SO be her boy toy if she ever wins MegaMillions. Here’s her author bio from the anthology:

Patricia Bray is the author of a dozen novels, including Devlin’s Luck, which won the 2003 Compton Crook award for the best first novel in the field of science fiction or fantasy. A well-spent youth taught her that the best accompaniment to a fine ale is an equally well-crafted story, a lesson that she drew on for her first foray on the editorial side of the fence. She currently lives in upstate New York, where she combines her writing with a full-time career as systems analyst, ensuring that she is never more than a few feet away from a keyboard. To find out more, visit her website at www.patriciabray.com.

We’ll be giving away her entire Chronicles of Josan trilogy as one of the prizes in the contest.

And now for the seventh contributor: D.B. Jackson (

davidbcoe)! David’s contribution to the anthology is the short story The Tavern Fire, which uses the Ur-bar to explain the Boston fire in 1760, not only its origins, but also how a fire that destroyed a significant portion of the city managed not to kill anyone. Here’s the official description:

"The Tavern Fire" by D.B. Jackson: In eighteenth century Boston, a desperate woman comes to the Ur-Bar seeking a love potion but brings more to the casting than she expected as her own bitterness fuels a fire that threatens to destroy the city.

David probably doesn’t remember this, but I met him at Worldcon in Baltimore ages ago during a "Meet the Pros" mixer. I was there to meet with a potential agent and, hopefully, to "accidentally" run into the editors at DAW. I quickly realized I wasn’t going to randomly run into those editors, so ended up chatting with David and a few others for an hour to so. Thanks for taking the time for a complete nobody, David! *grin* Here’s his author bio from the anthology:

D.B. Jackson also writes as David B. Coe, the Crawford Fantasy Award-winning author of the popular series The LonTobyn Chronicle, Winds of the Forelands, and Blood of the Southlands, as well as the novelization of Ridley Scott’s Robin Hood. The first D.B. Jackson novel, Thieftaker, will be released in 2012. It is a historical fantasy and mystery, which, like "The Tavern Fire," is set in pre-Revolutionary Boston. D.B. likes any bar that serves dark ales on tap.

We’ll be giving away The Sorcerers’ Plague and The Horsemen’s Gambit as prizes in the contest.

And now for the sixth contributor: Kari Sperring (

la_marquise_de_)! Kari’s contribution to the anthology is the short story The Fortune-Teller Makes Her Will, which is set in Paris, France, and features a servant to a mistress who literally stumbled into the Ur-bar and discovers the help she needs through Gilgamesh and the magic of the bar. Here’s the official description:

"The Fortune-Teller Makes Her Will" by Kari Sperring: Personal maid to the king’s favorite mistress by day, and secret satirist by night, Thais will sacrifice everything to save a friend who has been accused of witchcraft.

I met Kari Sperring in person at Worldcon in Montreal . . . THIS I remember well. *grin* I believe we were both volunteering at the SFWA table, and my shift was starting and hers ending, or vice versa. I’d already taken an interest in her first book, Living with Ghosts, and everyone will be glad to hear that her second should be out shortly. I know I’m waiting for it, rather impatiently. Here’s her author bio from the anthology:

Kari Sperring grew up dreaming of joining the musketeers and saving France, only to discover that the company had been disbanded in 1776. Disappointed, she became a historian instead and as Kari Maund has written and published five books and co-authored (with Phil Nanson) a book on the history and real people behind her favourite novel, The Three Musketeers. Her first novel Living with Ghosts was published in 2009 by DAW books and she has recently completed her second. "The Fortune-Teller Makes Her Will" was inspired by the Poisons’ Affair that rocked the French Court in the 1670s and by a beautiful named pair of earrings by jeweler Elise Matheson. She’s British and lives in Cambridge, England, with her partner Phil and three very determined cats, who guarantee that everything she writes will have been thoroughly sat upon. Her website can be found at www.karisperring.com.

We’ll be giving away a copy of Living With Ghosts as one of the prizes in the contest mentioned above, of course.

And now for the fifth contributor: Maria V. Snyder! Maria’s contribution to the anthology is the short story Sake and Other Spirits, which takes the Ur-bar to feudal Japan for a story featuring samurai, and a water vampire, known of as a kappa. Here’s the official description:

"Sake and Other Spirits" by Maria V. Snyder: In feudal Japan, a young woman in hiding from the samurai finds work at the local bar only to be forced to face her past when a supernatural kappa--a water vampire--takes up residence in the local lake.

I met Maria V. Snyder at Balticon, I think during the first year that I attended, when my own first novel came out and was eligible for the Compton Crook Award. I believe Maria’s first novel, Poison Study, had won the year before. In any case, we were on panels together, chatted in the green room, and generally had a grand old time. Here’s her author bio from the anthology:

Maria V. Snyder switched careers from meteorologist to fantasy novelist when she began writing the New York Times bestselling Study series (Poison Study, Magic Study, and Fire Study) about a young woman who becomes a poison taster. Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Maria dreamed of chasing tornados, but lacked the skills to forecast their location. Writing, however, lets Maria control the weather which she does in her new Glass series (Storm Glass, Sea Glass, and Spy Glass). Readers are invited to kick back with her favorite drink, a Long Island Ice Tea, and read more short stories on her website at www.MariaVSnyder.com.

We’ll be giving away a copy of Storm Glass as one of the prizes in the contest mentioned above.

And now for the fourth contributor: Barbara Ashford! Barbara’s contribution to the anthology is the short story The Tale That Wagged the Dog, which has some rather prominent and well-known personages from English history and folklore carousing at its tables. Here’s the official description:

"The Tale That Wagged the Dog" by Barbara Ashford: Transformed into a dog by the Queen of Faery’s curse, Tam Lin finds the cure he seeks in the Ur-Bar, but discovers there’s more to becoming a man than changing his shape.

Barbara and I hit it off almost immediately after meeting at a convention . . . I think it was Lunacon? Perhaps Balticon? I can’t remember (they all blur together after a while). But I do remember her and I playing darts at Albacon and clearing out a fairly good-sized circle around the dart board. Drunk authors who don’t really play darts can clear a room, let me tell you. But WE had a blast. Here’s her author bio from the anthology:

The only dog Barbara Ashford ever owned was a dachs¬hund. He didn’t say much. After stumbling through several jobs in educational administration, she ran away to the theatre, working as an actress and later as a librettist/lyricist. Her first trilogy was a finalist for the Mythopoeic Society’s award for fantasy literature. Her new novel--Spellcast--comes out in May 2011 and is set in a summer stock theatre far more magical than any she worked in. She credits her husband for inspiring “The Tale that Wagged the Dog” and for keeping her supplied with single malt whisky. Visit her at www.barbara-ashford.com.

We’ll be giving away a copy of Spellcast as one of the prizes in the contest mentioned above, but the winner will have to wait until the book is actually released in May 2011.

And now for the second contributor: S.C. Butler (

scbutler)! Sam’s contribution to the anthology is the short story Why the Vikings Had No Bars, which takes the Ur-bar a little farther north and a few years forward in time. Here’s the official description:

“Why the Vikings Had No Bars” by S.C. Butler: When the Ur-Bar appears outside Hedeby, Odin can’t resist “helping” introduce the bar to the locals . . . with a typical Viking brawl answering the question of why the Vikings had no bars.

I’ve known Sam since we met at a convention (I can’t remember which one), probably at the bar (which would explain why). I loved his Stoneways Trilogy, enough to blurb the third novel before it came out. Excellent books. Here’s his author bio from the anthology:

S.C. Butler is the author of the Stoneways Trilogy: Reiffen’s Choice, Queen Ferris, and The Magicians’ Daughter. A relative once complained to him about all the underage drinking in his books, but who ever drank the water in the Middle Ages? His favorite drink is a glass of Pinot Grigio, and his favorite place to drink it is the bar deck of the Lawrence Beach Club on a summer evening, with two hundred yards of sand and fifty miles of the Atlantic Ocean spread out before him.

A copy of his first book, Reiffen’s Choice, is being offered as one of the prizes in the contest, so skip on over and friend or like the appropriate pages for your chance to win!

afterhoursurbar community here on LiveJournal OR you have to like the After Hours: Tales From the Ur-bar Facebook page (search for the title of the anthology on Facebook to find the page). If you do both, you’re entered into the contest twice! The contest will end March 31st, 2011. Prizes will include copies of the contributors books (sometimes entire trilogies), After Hours: Tales From the Ur-bar M&Ms, and perhaps other prizes. They will be awarded by random drawing from those who’ve liked or friended the appropriate pages. If you’ve already friended or liked the pages, then you’re already entered into the contest! Find out more about the anthology at its website: http://www.sff.net/people/benjamintate/afterhours/afterhours.html.

And now for the first contributor: Benjamin Tate (

benjamintate)! Ben’s contribution to the anthology is the short story An Alewife In Kish, which sets up the origin story of the Ur-bar and how Gilgamesh comes to be its immortal bartender. The anthology stories are set up in chronological order, so this is the earliest, set in ancient Sumeria. Here’s the official description:

"An Alewife In Kish" by Benjamin Tate: Condemned by the gods to spend her life serving others, the alewife Kubaba tricks Gilgamesh into taking her place as the undying guardian of the Ur-Bar.

So who is Benjamin Tate? Well, here’s his author bio from the anthology:

Benjamin Tate was born in North-Central Pennsylva¬nia and is currently a professor living near Endicott, NY, teaching at a local college. He began writing seriously in graduate school, using the fantasy world of his novel Well of Sorrows as an escape from the stress. His goals in life are to travel Europe, sail the Mediterranean, visit Aus¬tralia, and preside over a small kingdom from a castle on a hill while occasionally bombarding the villagers below with catapult fire. His favorite drink is a White Russian--preferably with top shelf vodka.

You can find out more about Benjamin Tate at his website: www.benjamintate.com. Well of Sorrows is available in trade paperback at the moment, and will be released in mass market paperback in May 2011. One of the trade versions of the book is available as a prize in the contest!