http://www.playingforkeepsnovel.com A free audio novel by Mur Lafferty, Playing for Keeps tells the story of Keepsie Branson, a bar owner in the shining metropolis of Seventh City: birthplace of super powers. Keepsie and her friends live among egotistical heroes and manipulative villains, and manage to fall directly in the middle as people with powers, but just aren\'t strong enough to make a difference. Or that\'s what they\'ve been told. As the city begins to melt down, it\'s hard to tell who are the good guys and who are the bad. Tue, 22 Jul 2008 03:27:44 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en Do you want to see me dance? Well, see, I want to see you dance. In November, when I launched Playing For Keeps, Beatnik Turtle also released the song Playing For Keeps as a theme song. It's a fantastic song and I was thrilled to have it associated with my book. And ... http://www.playingforkeepsnovel.com/2008/07/21/help-me-make-a-video/ People have asked me how they can help with Playing For Keeps promotion. I was more than happy to comply with some art from some very helpful friends, JC Hutchins and Tee Morris. Feel free to take the ads, put them on your site, and link back here! (And if ... http://www.playingforkeepsnovel.com/2008/07/20/want-to-help-promote-pfk/ Hiya folks- In preparation for the print release of Playing For Keeps, I have removed the PDF versions from the website. Now calm down- wait a second, don't get upset. I have a present for you. I would not leave you out to dry. I am removing the PDFs to make ... http://www.playingforkeepsnovel.com/2008/07/15/the-pdfs-are-dead-long-live-the-pdf/ I ran into Feedback this past weekend at the Origins game convention and he remembered me and PFK. When I told him it was coming out in print, he was very gracious and open to helping spread the word! Game on!ShareThis http://www.playingforkeepsnovel.com/2008/07/05/feedback-says-buy-pfk-on-august-25/ Playing For Keeps has a launch date - it will be available August 25! Now, Playing For Keeps is a small press book, published by Swarm Press. This means that unless you order it from your book store, you're not going to see it on shelves. So you can either order ... http://www.playingforkeepsnovel.com/2008/07/03/we-have-a-launch-date-and-cover-art/ Sick of these announcements yet? I am thrilled to announce that I have signed a contract to release Playing For Keeps with Swarm Press! Swarm is an imprint of Permuted, the small horror press, and is launching this summer with three superhero titles, PFK being one. (For podcast fans, Matthew Wayne ... http://www.playingforkeepsnovel.com/2008/05/10/playing-for-keeps-available-for-print-from-swarm-press-aug-08/ Hi there! Action in Seventh City may be over, but there are still files coming in to the site! Firstly, my colleague in RPG writing, Rick Jones, wrote up some Open Gaming License stats for the characters in Keepsie. These stats are based on the characters at the beginning of the book. ... http://www.playingforkeepsnovel.com/2008/03/15/playing-for-keeps-rpg-stats-and-more-pictures/ The end. Thank you for coming along with me. Cheers. Recap by Brad P. from NJ  Promo: JC Hutchins presents Ultra Creatives (incidentally, I'm the latest interview!)ShareThis http://www.playingforkeepsnovel.com/2008/02/14/playing-for-keeps-episode-fifteen/ Natalie Metzger has updated the Characters page with Seismic Stan:   And The Librarian from Rachel Ross: And Photos: Writer and friend Dave Thompson: And ARGH- but a change in computers and a missing email has me posting this awesome photo but not remembering who sent it! So PLEASE resend your name so I ... http://www.playingforkeepsnovel.com/2008/02/12/art-and-photo-update/ This ends Taylor's story, but hints at the beginning of a lot more. ShareThis http://www.playingforkeepsnovel.com/2008/02/07/anti-hero-a-third-wave-vlog-part-4/ In which we meet the mysterious Pallas at last, who is heroic, brave and noble. No wonder Timson wanted her gone... Episode recap by Barry Koleman. Promo: Nawashi Shot glasses are available for pre-order!ShareThis http://www.playingforkeepsnovel.com/2008/02/07/playing-for-keeps-episode-14/ In which Keepsie makes a new friend, Clever Jack pulls in reinforcements, and we learn a little more about Barry's power. Episode recap by Shannon Farrell, Third Wave hero. Promo: Morevi Remastered Information about the John W. Campbell Award as well as the Hugo and Campbell ballot. Buy Voices for the Cure to benefit ... http://www.playingforkeepsnovel.com/2008/02/01/playing-for-keeps-episode-thirteen/ Thanks to Rich Sigfrit for this fantastic promo! No Governators were harmed in the making of this promo. Please distribute.ShareThis http://www.playingforkeepsnovel.com/2008/02/01/playing-for-keeps-promo-3/ Audio is going up this morning. I found some errors and had to do some more editing. There was an error in Issue 9 of the PDF - it inexplicably was missing Chapter 23. The file has been fixed and reuploaded. Very sorry for the mistake. Issue 11 will be going live ... http://www.playingforkeepsnovel.com/2008/02/01/updates/ Both Natalie Metzget and S. Gallatin have sent me awesomeness recently! ShareThis http://www.playingforkeepsnovel.com/2008/01/31/catching-up-with-art/ I donated an edited version of "Barry Koleman, Hero" to this anthology that benefits the American Diabetes Association. It recently got distribution through White Rocket Books. Join Robert J. Sawyer, Mike Resnick, Cory Doctorow, and others as a cop-for-hire solves a murder aboard a space station…a Chicano science fiction writer takes ... http://www.playingforkeepsnovel.com/2008/01/31/voices-for-the-cure/ This week...a touching long distance dedication from an anonymous listener. Stories of the Third Wave is a companion piece to Mur Lafferty's Playing for Keeps, and is a terrific excuse for a bunch of other people to play in her world. The show contains no book spoilers. Want to contribute to ... http://www.playingforkeepsnovel.com/2008/01/27/stories-of-the-third-wave-epsiode-8/ In which Dr. Timson learns a little bit about Third Wave power, Peter loses something and we learn something private about Tattoo Devil. Episode recap by Feedback from Who Wants To Be A Superhero? season 1. Promo: Down The Road Have you purchased your print version of Playing For Keeps? And call the ... http://www.playingforkeepsnovel.com/2008/01/24/playing-for-keeps-episode-twelve/ An interview with White Lightning...erm...Squid Boy, a note for Barry Koleman, and some awful bloody good new music provided by iTom! (Song Copyright 2005 by Tom Smith - All Rights Reserved - Used With Permission) Stories of the Third Wave is a companion piece to Mur Lafferty's Playing for Keeps, and ... http://www.playingforkeepsnovel.com/2008/01/21/stories-of-the-third-wave-episode-7/ You all know my love affair with this show - so you can imagine my distress when I got this email from last week's episode recap reader, Shockwave: At Mid Ohio Con I heard that Nash Entertainment was only contracted to do two seasons of the TV show "Who Wants to ... http://www.playingforkeepsnovel.com/2008/01/20/save-who-wants-to-be-a-superhero/ I love these comics and have been remiss at posting them here! From S.R. Gallatin ShareThis http://www.playingforkeepsnovel.com/2008/01/18/more-keepsie-comics/ In which we discover what Zupra Ex does to Keepsie, what happened to Peter, and just how twisted Dr. Timson is. Episode recap by Shockwave from Skiffytown League of Heroes. Promo: Metamor City: Making the Cut Have you purchased your print version of Playing For Keeps? And call the Third Wave Hotline at ... http://www.playingforkeepsnovel.com/2008/01/17/playing-for-keeps-episode-eleven/ Celebrities from the SciFi Channel hit Who Wants To Be A Superhero? cameo on popular podcast novel. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (PRLog.Org) – Jan 14, 2008 – As one of the most popular audiobooks on the Internet, Mur Lafferty’s “Playing For Keeps,” comes to a close, superheroes are flocking to ... http://www.playingforkeepsnovel.com/2008/01/14/superheroes-lend-voices-to-audio-novel/ Be sure to give your eyes a treat and check out the new art on the site, not to mention the new photos in our listener photo archive. And Natalie Metzger has been hard at work making art for our new Characters page! <--- check it out! Thanks to everyone who ... http://www.playingforkeepsnovel.com/2008/01/14/new-art-and-photos/ In which Keepsie and the Librarian discover two things to their disadvantage, Peter, Ian and Michelle launch another rescue attempt, and Keepsie learns something about Zupra Ex. Episode recap by Hygena from Who Wants To Be A Superhero 2?. Join Team Hygena in the National Walk for Epilepsy. Promo: Dark Age: A Fantasy ... http://www.playingforkeepsnovel.com/2008/01/10/playing-for-keeps-episode-ten/ Today on WSVN: Sally Hendrix interviews Karl Duran of Superstar Games, designer of the controversial new game "Savant City Scramble." Featured Music: My Secret Origin by Ookla the Mok Stories of the Third Wave is a companion piece to Mur Lafferty's Playing for Keeps, and is a terrific excuse for a bunch ... http://www.playingforkeepsnovel.com/2008/01/06/stories-of-the-third-wave-episode-6/ John Cmar has done another promo for me, please feel free to distribute it on your podcast, link to on your blog, make the person sitting beside you on the bus listen to it!ShareThis http://www.playingforkeepsnovel.com/2008/01/06/new-promo-for-pfk-please-distribute/ At last! Sorry for the delay! In which we discover the fate of Peter, and one of our Third Wave Heroes leaves us forever. Episode recap by Cory Doctorow. Promo: The Secret Lair. Don't forget you can now buy Playing For Keeps in print!ShareThis http://www.playingforkeepsnovel.com/2008/01/05/playing-for-keeps-episode-nine/ I'm still under the weather, guys. I hope to get the podcast recorded and uploaded tomorrow, but it may be friday. Very sorry to miss the deadline. Hope you had a good new year!ShareThis http://www.playingforkeepsnovel.com/2008/01/02/playing-for-keeps-episode-nine-delayed/ Matt Selznick posted PfK on Digg - so please give us some Digg love! Thanks Matt! read more | digg storyShareThis http://www.playingforkeepsnovel.com/2008/01/01/digg-this-novel/ If you've paid attention to the PDF footer, you'll have seen that come 1/1/08, you can buy Playing for Keeps in print! Can't wait to find out what's going to happen to our beloved Third Wave heroes? Buy the print version in paperback or hardcover! Thanks to everyone for their support. ... http://www.playingforkeepsnovel.com/2008/01/01/playing-for-keeps-print-version-is-live/ Taylor gets grounded! This ends our holiday presents to you - next week we'll have more chapters for you - and don't forget the print version of Playing For Keeps! Happy New Year!ShareThis http://www.playingforkeepsnovel.com/2007/12/26/anti-hero-pt-3-a-third-wave-vlog/ Sorry for the delay in getting this out, but here is part three of Barry's story. This finishes his tale.ShareThis http://www.playingforkeepsnovel.com/2007/12/25/playing-for-keeps-holiday-gift-5-barry-koleman-hero-pt-3/ Hey all- I woke up sick this morning, and with holiday prep and feeling quite crummy, I was unable to get today's holiday gift up. Very sorry. will try to go for two tomorrow, if I'm feeling better. In the meantime, please check out this blog post from Corwin, and see ... http://www.playingforkeepsnovel.com/2007/12/25/apologies/ Here's Part 2 of the short story, Barry Koleman, Hero. We will finish it up tomorrow!ShareThis http://www.playingforkeepsnovel.com/2007/12/23/playing-for-keeps-holiday-gift-3-barry-koleman-hero-pt-2/ This is the original broadcast of Barry Koleman, Hero that I podcasted two years ago. This is a stand-alone story written after I wrote the novel, chronicling supporting character Barry Koleman's odd life. It will be told in three parts. Hope you like!ShareThis http://www.playingforkeepsnovel.com/2007/12/23/playing-for-keeps-holiday-gift-3-barry-koleman-hero-pt-1/ As the second gift of the week of stuff, I give you my story that ran on Escape Pod this week: Citytalkers! (to be fair, I may miss tomorrow. Traveling all day. Be patient, please!)ShareThis http://www.playingforkeepsnovel.com/2007/12/22/citytalkers-on-escape-pod/ S.R. Gallatin from the Gigcast sent me this fantastic web comic! I love it! ShareThis http://www.playingforkeepsnovel.com/2007/12/21/pfk-comic/ Since my listeners are fond of PDF deliveries of podcasters' works, I wanted to give you the newest hot PDF available, The Failed Cities: Hath A Darkness by award winning Variant Frequencies author, Matt Wallace. If you are a Failed Cities Monologues fan, then you should love this. If you ... http://www.playingforkeepsnovel.com/2007/12/21/playing-for-keeps-holiday-gift-1/ In which Keepsie and friends launch a rescue attempt, Doodad slips up, and we learn more about the strange new villain. Episode recap by Keepsie. Promos: View from the Quad 12 Days of Christmas and The Failed Cities: Hath a Darkness. Watch this space for information on the PfK print book coming 1/1/08!ShareThis http://www.playingforkeepsnovel.com/2007/12/20/playing-for-keeps-episode-eight/ First we have my friend Debbie: And Jason in his Clever Jack shirt: And at last, the Doodad icon! ShareThis http://www.playingforkeepsnovel.com/2007/12/16/more-awesome-photos-and-art/ Hey Third Wavers - life has interfered with more than one person working behind the scenes at the Playing for Keeps Experience and some things are a little late. I've been laid off from my job and sickness has taken priority over at Stories of the Third Wave. So the PDF ... http://www.playingforkeepsnovel.com/2007/12/15/news-on-the-backend-of-the-podcast/ In which some of our heroes attempt a rescue and others gather forces. And the cook gets promised a new car suspension. Episode recap by Scott Sigler. Promo: Adventures in SciFi Publishing Season 2 Interviews with Mur on: Comic Geek Speak, Disability 411, Riding a Wheelie, Better L8 Than Never and The Gigcast.ShareThis http://www.playingforkeepsnovel.com/2007/12/13/playing-for-keeps-episode-seven/ Guest producer Joe Mieczkowski joins us with an SoTW Special: Say No to the Hero! Stories of the Third Wave is a companion piece to Mur Lafferty's Playing for Keeps, and is a terrific excuse for a bunch of other people to play in her world. The show contains ... http://www.playingforkeepsnovel.com/2007/12/10/stories-of-the-third-wave-say-no-to-the-hero/ In which our heroes reunite, make a decision, and immediately regret it. A new player is introduced, we discover what the little device does, and there are robots. Meet the First Wave Volunteer, Paul Fischer. Episode recap by White Lightning. Promo: Disability 411 And Be sure to preorder your official Keepsie's Bar pint glasses! ... http://www.playingforkeepsnovel.com/2007/12/06/playing-for-keeps-episode-six/ Taylors adventures begin with Pt. 2. We're also putting this in the feed now. Enjoy!ShareThis http://www.playingforkeepsnovel.com/2007/12/03/anti-hero-pt-2/ We have more Twitter/LJ icons from Joe Mieczkowski! After Episode 5 he developed some strong opinions on some of the characters in the book. And pictures of Third Wavers in their Geeklabel Tshirts have come in! Thanks Jared and Karak! Lastly, we have the second episode of Anti-Hero, our Third Wave vlog, ... http://www.playingforkeepsnovel.com/2007/12/03/art-photos-video/ Sigh. I can't figure out how to turn off Auto-play. Sorry to anyone whose browser froze. Follow this link for the awesomeness that is the Third Wave Vlog. Edited to put video in feed.ShareThis http://www.playingforkeepsnovel.com/2007/12/03/anti-hero-pt-1-a-third-wave-vlog/ Today on APR's Today in Law: Third Wavers and Villiany -- How some "third wavers" express their animosity toward the Academy's Heroes. Featured Music: House Party at Arkham Asylum by The Great Luke Ski Stories of the Third Wave is a companion piece to Mur Lafferty's Playing for Keeps, and is a ... http://www.playingforkeepsnovel.com/2007/12/02/stories-of-the-third-wave-episode-5/ In which our heroes get to see inside the Academy! Not that that's a good thing... Don't forget the voicemail! 919 794 8498 Episode recap by Mister Adventure. Promo: One Among the Sleepless The pint glasses are ordered and available for pre-order! They are clear pint glasses with the black "Keepsie's Bar" logo on ... http://www.playingforkeepsnovel.com/2007/11/29/playing-for-keeps-episode-five/ I am not normally one who spreads the LOLCat meme, but... moar funny picturesShareThis http://www.playingforkeepsnovel.com/2007/11/26/oh-teh-cute/ Hey Third Wavers - I've been wanting to get Playing for Keeps pint and/or shot glasses, but since I'll have to buy them in bulk, I'd like to see who's interested before I go ahead and fill my basement full of glasses. So either drop me a line or a ... http://www.playingforkeepsnovel.com/2007/11/25/assessing-interest/ Today on WSVN's Backtalk with Taylor Bryce: Bob Finklestein of Third Wavers for Justice.  Are Third Wavers a target of oppression?  You decide!Featured Music: D.O.A (Captain America) by Throwing Toasters Stories of the Third Wave is a companion piece to Mur Lafferty's Playing for Keeps, and is a terrific excuse for a bunch ... http://www.playingforkeepsnovel.com/2007/11/25/stories-of-the-third-wave-episode-4/ In which our heroes make a plan, and a mole is discovered. Don't forget the voicemail! 919 794 8498 Episode recap by Kilroy 2.0. Promo: Murder at Avedon HillShareThis http://www.playingforkeepsnovel.com/2007/11/22/playing-for-keeps-episode-four/ I had fun recording last night's episode - or rather, recording this Thursday's episode last night. It's going to be a short one, but a good one. And I'll make it up to you next week with a nice long episode. I spent my weekend at The NC Writer's Network conference ... http://www.playingforkeepsnovel.com/2007/11/19/art-and-travel-update/ On WSVN's As Far as We Know, John Christianson interviews Dr. Gunner Helfstrom, author of the bestselling A History of Heroes. Featured music: Peter Parker by The Great Luke Ski featuring Sudden Death Stories of the Third Wave is a companion piece to Mur Lafferty's Playing for Keeps, and is a ... http://www.playingforkeepsnovel.com/2007/11/18/stories-of-the-third-wave-episode-3/ Hey Third Wavers! The feedback for Playing for Keeps has been wonderful, and a couple of people have pointed out some recent mistakes. I blush furiously, and fix what I can. The thing I can fix (well, Paul Fischer fixed it - thanks Paul!) was that there was a link in the ... http://www.playingforkeepsnovel.com/2007/11/15/my-bad-your-feedback/ In which our heroes eat breakfast, we meet a First Waver, and get to see Clever Jack again! Don't forget the voicemail! 919 794 8498 Episode recap by Dr. Steve and Fidgert. Promo: Stranger Things ShareThis http://www.playingforkeepsnovel.com/2007/11/15/playing-for-keeps-episode-three/ This morning, APR News will give you the latest on a possible vigilante in Dayton, OH and update you about the impact the writers' strike has had on the production of audiobooks. Featured music: Average Guy by Beatnik TurtleStories of the Third Wave is a companion piece to Mur Lafferty's Playing for ... http://www.playingforkeepsnovel.com/2007/11/11/stories-of-the-third-wave-episode-2/ Doodad is one of my favorite villains in PfK. I'll not lie. So I was utterly thrilled when Thom agreed to do one more wallpaper for me, displaying our favorite tinker. ShareThis http://www.playingforkeepsnovel.com/2007/11/09/wallpaper-doodad/ In which our hero gets hammered and learns much from unexpected sources. We have a voice mail line now! 919 794 8498 Episode recap by Aphid Man. Promo: Space Casey ShareThis http://www.playingforkeepsnovel.com/2007/11/08/playing-for-keeps-episode-two/ We'd love to have your contributions to Stories of the Third Wave! Here are some guidelines to follow: We are looking for content from 3-10 minutes taking place in the PfK Universe. No longer, please. We want good quality MP3s of the content. If you want us to approve something written before ... http://www.playingforkeepsnovel.com/2007/11/07/stories-of-the-third-wave-submission-guidelines/   Got some kick-ass wallpapers of Keepsie and White Lightning this weekend, as well as another Twitter icon from CA Sizemore (left) and John Cmar (right)! Amazing art, guys, I'm thrilled!     ShareThis http://www.playingforkeepsnovel.com/2007/11/05/wallpaper-and-another-icon/ Wow- knitters (and tshirt enthusiasts) will be interested in this: Ivy has a Playing for Keeps contest going on in her blog, offering some beautiful yard and an offical PfK shirt from Geeklabel.com as the prize! Thanks, Ivy! And art keeps coming in - this from Scott Breakall, another icon for ... http://www.playingforkeepsnovel.com/2007/11/04/you-guys-keep-amazing-me-contest-and-art/ Welcome to Seventh City! Listen in on Seventh City's own WSVN radio for the morning drive time report. Watch out for that traffic tie-up...it might be more than just a car accident... Featured music: Super Powers by Ookla the Mok Making Me Nervous by Brad Sucks Stories of the Third Wave is a ... http://www.playingforkeepsnovel.com/2007/11/04/stories-of-the-third-wave-episode-1/ Thanks to everyone for a fantastic launch, it couldn't have gone better! And feedback is already coming in, looks like you guys can't wait for next week! I can't either, honestly. We've got some content for you - another icon, this time created by Dr. John Cmar. It's a 500x500 file ... http://www.playingforkeepsnovel.com/2007/11/02/theme-song-of-pfk-available-now/ Hey...all you folks out there who subscribed to the Chapters Only feed! We need to ask you to resubscribe using the following links: RSS iTunes The links to the left have been updated to reflect the change. Sorry for the trouble! ShareThis http://www.playingforkeepsnovel.com/2007/11/01/change-to-the-chapters-only-feed/ This is it! Episode One! In which we meet our hero and she meets a supervillain, and then several superheroes. Neither encounter is a very good one. Please take a little time to give some love to the fabulous people who have helped me out in this fabulous venture. Check them ... http://www.playingforkeepsnovel.com/2007/11/01/playing-for-keeps-episode-one/ I woke up this morning to a ton of art flowing my way from my good friends and artists, Jared Axelrod and Natalie Metzger! You now have even more icons to choose from, including my new Twitter icon, the keyhole that represents Keepsie, our hero. I was also startled to see ... http://www.playingforkeepsnovel.com/2007/10/31/art-audio-and-one-more-day-to-go/ I sent a copy of Chapter One of Playing for Keeps to a couple of my favorite podcasts, and the hosts were kind enough to put it in their feed. If you're here from Escape Pod or Comics Radar, welcome! I hope you like what you heard! If you haven't ... http://www.playingforkeepsnovel.com/2007/10/30/chapter-one-leaked/ Hello Third Wavers! It's been thrilling to see people's reaction to the launch of this site, and excitement is building for the novel! The last pieces are falling into place regarding everything we need for the debut - including some pretty excellent art coming in from my fabulous First Wave ... http://www.playingforkeepsnovel.com/2007/10/30/two-days-art-yay/ The feeds kick into gear as we release the promo! Spread it far, spread it wide! (please)ShareThis http://www.playingforkeepsnovel.com/2007/10/28/promo-1-in-a-world/ Hi there! Thanks for stopping by the site for my free novel, Playing for Keeps. It's launching November 1, so be sure to subscribe to the feed and peek back here for more goodies as the week goes by! Playing for Keeps will be a unique podcast experience: you have the ability ... http://www.playingforkeepsnovel.com/2007/10/27/welcome-to-playing-for-keeps/