by Paulette Jaxton

I started listening to the podcast version of Nina Kimberly the Merciless just before Memorial Day back in 2007. Coincidentally I met the author, Christiana Ellis, at Balticon 41 for the first time that same weekend. This is how I came to discover one of the most creative and funny people I know all in the span of a single week.

Nina Kimberly the Merciless is a comedic fantasy novel telling the coming of age story of a most unlikely heroine, the teenage daughter of the once feared barbarian horde leader Marcus the Merciless. Like most young girls all Nina wants is to find love and adventure in the world, if she has to lop off a few heads along the way so be it.

Christiana is one of the pioneers of podcast noveling and has since gone on to do a hilarious audio drama called Space Casey and a very funny stream of consciousness daily cast called Christiana’s Shallow Thoughts that just wrapped up after a year of awesomeness.
 
The podcast version of this novel was a delight to listen to and I’ve been anxiously awaiting the print version for two years. The book is now being published by Dragon Moon Press and goes on sale May 15th, 2009. It’s available from Amazon and you can help out Christiana by purchasing your copy on that date. I can’t recommend this book too highly, it’s a hoot and you will enjoy every funny twist and turn.

It’s kind of like coming of age for a new writer/podcaster to be asked to present at Balticon 43. I’ve never been a panelist at a convention before and being a guest at Balticon is a very great honor indeed.
 
Balticon is the annual convention of the Baltimore Science Fiction Society held each Memorial Day weekend at Marriott’s Hunt Valley Inn near Baltimore, Maryland. This year that will be May 22nd-25th.
 
I’m scheduled to be on six panels over the course of the four day convention. (All dates and times are subject to change.)

• Fri. 19:00 – Podcasting 101
• Sat. 12:00 – Podcast Hosting
• Sat. 19:00 – Audio Craft Corner
• Sat. 22:00 – Social Media for Writers
• Sun. 19:00 – Podcasting 102
• Mon. 10:00 – Herding Cats

I’m actually chairing that last one, “Herding Cats; Organization and Editing of Large Voice Casts”. Where I and a couple of veteran podcasters will share what we have learned about giving voices to our writing. And what you’ll have in store for you if you choose to go that route.
 
I hope you can join me at Balticon 43. If you do, please drop in on one of my panels and say hello.