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It gives me immense pleasure to announce the publication, yesterday, of my urban fantasy novel, BLACK MAGIC WOMAN.

It’s in most bookstores, and available online from Amazon and other dealers.

Here are 13 things you didn’t know about BLACK MAGIC WOMAN -- both the plot and the book itself.

1. The hero (well, one of them), Quincey Morris, is the great-great-grandson of the
Texan who died at the end of the original DRACULA. Contending with
supernatural evil has become something of a Morris family tradition.

2. The book was released in the UK and Australia on January 8th. The North
American release date was pushed back to January 29th because of a problem at
the North American printer.

3. African “muti” magic sometimes involves the use of human organs – which must be “harvested” while the victim is still alive.

4. "White" witch Libby Chastain, Quincey's partner in the investigation, is
bisexual, and a devout practitioner of what she calls "serial monogamy."

5. Jim Butcher, author of the "Dresden Files" novels, was kind enough to read
the manuscript pre-publication. As quoted on the book's cover, he calls BLACK
MAGIC WOMAN "the best manuscript I've ever been asked to read."

6. Quincey Morris is terrified of snakes, having almost died from
snakebite as a young boy.  If only he knew….

7. Simon R. Green, author of the John Taylor 'Nightside" novels, was sent an
advance reading copy of BLACK MAGIC WOMAN and said, "This is a novel that's packed with story and engaging characters, and I can't wait to read the next one."

8. "White" magic cannot be used to do harm to somebody  -- which doesn't mean
that you can't use it  sometimes to kick somebody’s ass, as Libby Chastain knows full well.

9. Waterstones, the largest UK bookstore chain, has designated BLACK MAGIC
WOMAN as its featured SF/Fantasy title of the month. It's got its own display
in each of their 300-some stores.  And if that ain’t freakin’ awesome, I don’t know what is.

10. It’s possible to drive off a bunch of zombies without having to “kill” them.  All you need is the right magic – and a skilled magician to use it.

11. The South African national police really does have an Occult Crimes
Investigation Unit, although my character, Garth Van Dreenan, is not based on any
real person.

12. Vampires really do hate sunlight. A lot.

13. When you make a deal with the devil, the notes come due in brimstone.

Thanks for indulging me, everybody. I hope I've piqued your interest and that
you'll take a look at my novel. I'm kinda proud of it.

Justin
www.justingustainis.com