• Mood: tired
• Music: "O Mary Don't You Weep" by Bruce Springsteen

Labor Day Tie-In Writer Guest Blog #7: Nancy Holder

I first started working with Nancy Holder back in 1998, when she collaborated with Christopher Golden on a story for The Ultimate Hulk. That same year, I helped Nancy and Chris with the first volume of Buffy the Vampire Slayer: The Watcher's Guide. Over the years, Nancy has been a steadfast friend and colleague, and she has enjoyed tremendous success. Here's what she has to say about it...

Tie-in Writers Don't Die—and They Don't Fade Away, Either
by Nancy Holder

Hi, Nancy Holder here. Thanks so much to Keith for the chance to guest blog. I've been busy in the tie-in world. I'm in Tied-In, the first official publication of The International Association of Media Tie-in Writers, talking about Highlander and Buffy the Vampire Slayer. And I just turned in an essay titled "Ramping Up for a Decade with Joss Whedon" to Whedonistas: A Celebration the Worlds of Joss Whedon and the Women Who Love Them. It will be out in March 2011, published by Mad Norwegian Press. In addition, Simon and Schuster is reissuing some of my Buffy novels in omnibuses. Work by other members of the IAMTW is included, too.

Funny thing about tie-ins: When Buffy went off the air, and next, Angel, I mourned, and I thought the coolest part of my career was over. Doornail-dead, except for one brief shining moment when it looked like there might be Serenity original novels. (There weren't, and Keith got the movie tie-in gig!) But with e-books, DVD sets, on-demand downloads and rentals, and comic books (and may I say, way to go, Jane Espenson, for writing about Riley Finn in a Dark Horse one-shot!) shows (and the books, short stories, and essays set in their universes) are enjoying much longer lives. Buffy herself may have died twice, but Buffy never dies!

It's fun to be "reborn." Neither the editor of my new young adult urban fantasy series, Crusade, nor the editor in charge of the new Buffy novel omnibuses, had had any idea that I'd gone on set for the companion guides for Buffy and Angel. And they were fan-girl excited about it! My Crusade editor told me that her brother loved (loves) Buffy so much that he taped over the family Christmas video to catch that week's episode. She was looking forward to his reaction when she told him about me—and we've been working together for almost two years.

Next week, I start touring to promote Crusade, and I'll finish the week at the amazing Dark Delicacies (3512 W. Magnolia Blvd., Burbank, CA 91505. 1-888-DARKDEL http://www.darkdel.com/). Savvy owner Del has ordered copies of the new Buffy omnibus. Can't wait to sign a few, and talk to my fellow fans.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer 2 (omnibus) contains Halloween Rain, Bad Bargain, and Afterimage and is available now from Simon & Schuster. Buffy the Vampire Slayer 3 (omnibus) contains Carnival of Souls, One Thing or Your Mother, and Blooded, and will be available in November from Simon & Schuster. Whedonistas: A Celebration of the Worlds of Joss Whedon by the Women Who Love Them, edited by Lynne Thomas will be published by Mad Norwegian Press in March 2011. Crusade by Nancy Holder & Debbie Viguie, goes on sale next Tuesday, 7 September from Simon & Schuster.

Check out Nancy's web site.
Read Nancy's blog.
Follow Nancy on Facebook.
Follow Nancy on Twitter.

Next up: Diana Botsford.