I'm very excited about my first appearance at the legendary Mysterious Galaxy Bookstore in San Diego, California this coming Saturday. This venue should be a perfect fit for The Spirit Lens, as they specialize in fantasy/sf and mystery. Find the details at the Mysterious Galaxy site or on my Appearances page.

Podcast I did an online radio interview for "The Author Hour." It airs on Thursday 1/14/2010 at 9am Pacific/12 Eastern at VoiceAmerica . After the airdate it will be available 24/7.

Release! (And another great review) After years of existing as an idea in my head, a year of writing, months of revising and proofing, production time, sending out postcards, scheduling readings, and all the other folderol, The Spirit Lens is out. Portier, Dante, and Ilario have come to life. My three investigators are winding their way through the intricate paths of murder and magic on your favorite bookstore shelves or online bookseller cyber-pages. Join me in Fort Collins (January 12), Denver (January 13), and San Diego, California (January 30) to celebrate the new books. (Find the details on my Appearances page.)

Book Club Editions The Flesh and Spirit/Breath and Bone omnibus edition, called Cartamandua Legacy, the Lighthouse Duet is a Featured Selection from the Science Fiction Book Club. My first English Language hardback. The Spirit Lens will be an SFBC selection in February.

Starred review! So delighted that The Spirit Lens received a starred review at Publishers Weekly. They say, In this superbly realized leadoff to Berg's quasi-Renaissance fantasy trilogy ... Berg shapes the well-worn elements of epic fantasy into a lush, absorbing narrative. A nice boost out of the gate.

And Romantic Times Book Reviews gives it 4.5 stars and says, Berg is a master world builder that novice fantasy authors would do well to study. Her characters are well rounded and her created environment becomes as familiar as one's own backyard. The fantastic elements of the story are normal - not ordinary, just a natural part of the world. Plus, the plot is nuanced and detailed. This first installment in a new trilogy, Collegia Magica, is a winner.

Additional Spirit Lens Appearances Come on out and help me celebrate! I have added some new book events in Boulder, Colorado Springs, Denver, and Fort Collins. Find the details on my Appearances page.

A winner! The winner of The Spirit Lens ARC is San, from Bellingham Washington. When I asked him to describe himself, he said, "I like pirates, glam, and taking my dog to new places to sniff things she's never sniffed before. I draw comics when I'm not writing. And if I could have a superpower, it would be breathing underwater."

OK, I also happen to know he is funny, smart, very well read, and great fun to hang out with at a con, as I met him at this year's World Fantasy Convention. Congratulations, San! The book is in the mail.