Tuesday, June 8, 2010

Welcome to the BLOOD SONG launch party!

Hi, everyone!

Cathy Clamp here. It's been a long time since I posted here at AAD, but I'm VERY excited to be back. We're going to ROCK this place! We'll be having Q&A, giveaways (YAY! FREEBIES!) to commenters and we'll talk about lots of cool paranormal things. Because . . .

This month, Cie Adams and I (now writing under the pen name "Cat Adams". The "Cat" is me, the "Adams" is Cie) will be debuting a brand new urban fantasy world called THE BLOOD SINGER that will both be released in trade paperback size, and will be on the Science Fiction and Fantasy shelves, instead of the romance ones. That's not to say there isn't romance in the book, but there's no HEA at the end of the book---nor in the heroine's forseeable future. There are just too many terrific looking guys to choose from in her life! LOL!

So, let's tell you a little about Celia's first book, BLOOD SONG:

Bodyguard Celia Graves plies her trade in a world where vampires roam the alleys of Tinseltown, street corner psychics have real powers, and cops use memory enhancement spells. An ordinary human, Celia uses street smarts and charmed weapons to protect the rich and famous from mortal and supernatural threats. She’s protecting the prince of a small but politically vital nation when things go horribly wrong. Bitten by a master vampire, Celia knows she is about to die.

To her shock, she survives. Celia Graves has become an Abomination, neither fully mortal nor fully vampire. Her “master” is hunting her, to destroy her or finish what his bite began. She’s accused of murder, and the cops aren’t sure whether she should be locked up or staked. And then there’s the demon she glimpsed during the vampire attack…

Struggling to cope with her new powers, Celia reaches out for help from her once (and future?) lover, a powerful mage; his warrior priest brother; a handsome werewolf who keeps his lupine nature concealed from the world; an elderly clairvoyant; and one trustworthy cop.

Celia Graves has three days to save the world, her sanity and her soul...


Yow! Doesn't this sound like a GREAT world? One of the most interesting things about this reality is how it came about. Cie and I were attending a SF/F convention in Dallas a few years back. At the art auction, there was an AMAZING photograph up for bid. I mean, is this AWESOME?!


The thing was, Cie took one look at this photo and started hearing whisperings in her head. She knew exactly who this woman was, how she felt about having fangs and even the kind of car she drove. She showed me the photo and it was an instant connection for me too! I could see her friends and her house and it was nearly the same image Cie was sharing with me [insert creepy Twilight Zone music!]

Pretty soon, Cie was telling me at lunch about paranormal advertising jingles that were appearing in her head (for One Shot brand certified holy items and Miller & Creede Magical Security Services--when you care enough to hire the very best!)

I mean . . . that's a WORLD! The story had to be told and once we started, it began to grow, evolve and become something bigger than we'd imagined. Celia is physically tough, a magical gadget geek, and gets by in the world, often DESPITE her family (and who of us can't say that's sometimes true?) One of the very cool things about this reality is that not only is it great adult entertainment, but it's suitable for your kids too! There's not a hint of sex in the first and second books and I swear you won't even miss it! (Really, I'm not kidding. You won't!) It's already getting GREAT reviews on both adult and teen reading sites. Check out a few of them:


Bitten By Books blog
Sidhe Vicious Reviews
Genre Go Round
Wicked Book Addict
The Book Whisperer

You can read the first chapter over on our website Look for the cover on the right and click "Excerpt" below it. We debuted Chapter 2 at our early launch party at Coffeetime Romance. But here's a scene that NOBODY else has seen. It's CHAPTER 3, which is short but very, VERY critical to what happens later!

***********

CHAPTER 3

Voices floated over me from a distance. I could hear them, knew I should recognize them, but I couldn’t make my eyes open, let alone focus my mind.

Too much pain, from too many sources. I couldn’t feel parts of my body that I knew I should be able to, and other parts that normally stayed in the background were front and center.

“We need to get her to the hospital.” A woman’s voice. I knew that voice. Dammit, who was she?

“No! They’d just stake her and take off her head.” A man.

“Maybe they should.” Cold, rational. A thought I’d have if I could think straight.

“She’s not a bat. She’s not going to be a bat.” Such determination. He sounded positive and that made my cheeks feel warm. Or maybe it was just that everything else felt so cold.

A pause, and then a skeptical tone to her words. “You don’t know that.”

“Yeah, I do. I can tell.”

“Because she’s your Vaso?” Now the woman’s voice practically dripped venom. Whoever she was, she didn’t like me, that was for damned sure.

“I keep telling you. She’s not my Vaso.” The man’s voice was growing desperate. “Look, I know somebody who can help her. Take her back to the lab. I’ll make some calls.”

I felt my body being lifted, and coherent thought was swallowed in a dark wave...

*************

Short, but interesting, huh?

Have you ever passed out before in front of people or been so sick you weren't "all there?" What did it feel like to know people were around you, talking about you, but you couldn't seem to respond?

Remember, there are PRIZES to be had for a lucky random commenter. We'll be giving a $50 Borders.com card so you too can buy BLOOD SONG, and possibly even pre-order the second book, SIREN SONG, coming in October.

Come talk with me. I'd hate to be all along in such a dark blog...

21 comments:

Cathy Clamp said...

Hi, All!

Hope you stop by to say hi and ask questions. We're REALLY excited about this release and want everybody to know about it. :D

Stella Price said...

Congrats on the release ladies! My copy should be here today (ordered from Amazon.) LOVE the cover (but I think you guys knew that) and I know its going to be an awesome book!

Congrats again! Here's to a TON of sales!

Alexx said...

I have read many of your books and loved everyone. I can't wait to pick this one up I am sure to love it as well. Thank you for the hours of enjoyment I get from reading your books.

Doni

ritbsdoni@gmail.com

Charchelar said...

I am so excited about this book. I've been looking forward to this since the moment i heard about it. I bet this is going to be a bestseller!
Thank you for the sneak peek into the book I'm so much more enthusiastic about buying this.
Charchelar@aol.com

Bethany C. said...

Congratulations! The book looks great- I'm sure I'll check it out. I've never fainted before. Passing out has occurred, but that has only been the result of ungodly amounts of alcohol. So...not quite the same.
And I just have to mention that the Thrall books are the only books I can remember invading my dreams. I had creepy crawlies in my skin after that.

Cathy Clamp said...

Thanks, everyone! Really looking forward to this one. New world, and a very cool one! Let me know what you think! :)

LOL @ Bethany! Yeah, the Thrall series creeped out a lot of people. Touch of Evil was only two votes shy of the Bram Stoker Award short list. Very cool for horror, but not so great for a romance... heh.

Liz @ Cleverly Inked said...

I am excited for this one!

Congratulations on the release!
I am going to have to tweet about this one coming out.

I love her name Celia Graves.

It's funny you call her Cie. Like I Cie Graves.

Kris said...

Congrats on the release! This is one that's on my wishlist! The cover is awesome too! I've had blogger envy. :)

Cathy Clamp said...

Any questions about Celia's world? (or any of our other realities?)

cbolack said...

I like the way this 'world' is shaping up, but I don't have enough information to ask a decent question. If you don't mind, I'll ask about co-authoring. Did you split chores? Such as one doing most of the world building while the other concentrated on the characters? What about writing? Trade chapters back and forth, take turns or work on each together?

Pamk said...

congrats on the new release. and love the Sazi seriea but Bethany's right those Thrall books creeped me out. I have had the pleasure of reading this one yet but it is on my tbb list.

Barbara E. said...

I've fainted before, the last time was after I hit my knee hard on a desk drawer, tried to sit down and missed the chair and ended up on the floor. I woke up when my boss walked in and saw my legs sticking out from behind the desk. I was pretty embarrassed, but really glad I had pants on and not a dress.
I'm excited to read Blood Song, congrats on the new release.

Cathy Clamp said...

cbolack asked: "I'll ask about co-authoring. Did you split chores? Such as one doing most of the world building while the other concentrated on the characters? What about writing? Trade chapters back and forth, take turns or work on each together?"

Actually, Cie and I co-author sort of different than other people. We talk out the world and the plot of the book and then choose ONE of us to write the whole book. Then we turn it over to the other person and they rewrite portions. Add characters, subtract them, change their names or move whole scenes around. Nothing is sacred, because it's all for the betterment of the book. Then it goes back to the first author to review and approve the changes (which is seldom a problem) and then it's off to the editor. :)

Cathy Clamp said...

Wow, Barbara E! That must have been pretty scary. Did you wind up with a concussion? :0

*yadkny* said...

Congrats on the release! I have read Blood Song and absolutely loved it!!! The covers were what really attracted my attention in the beginning. Can't wait for the second book release.

yadkny@hotmail.com

Cathy Clamp said...

Yay, yadkny! So glad you enjoyed the book! Siren Song will be out in October, so not too long of a wait. You'll like that one too, I'm sure. :D

WickedLilPixie said...

Congrats on finally having it released! Now I can talk to people about it, it's been killing me. Of course guess what I got in the mail yesterday SIREN SONG!! Now I have to hold my mouth shut again! lol

*yadkny* said...

Happy Friday Everyone!!!
This is in response to the question posted above by CatAdams...

Have you ever passed out before in front of people or been so sick you weren't "all there?" What did it feel like to know people were around you, talking about you, but you couldn't seem to respond?

Interesting question... I have actually passed out before but didn't even know I had until I came to again. This actually happened in front of a high school gym full of people. We were playing volleyball and I had been having knee problems for as long as I could remember. Well that day was I guess the last straw for my knee because I went to go retrieve a wayward volleyball and never came back to the game. Somehow I ended up twisting my patella (knee cap) almost all the way around while bending to pick up the ball and down I went, blacked out from the amount of pain I was in, and came to when the EMT's were there trying to stabalize my leg, so they could put me in the ambulance. I came to again in the ambulance only to feel really nauseated until I got to the hospital where they gave me some really great drugs. From there I was in and out of consciousness for awhile, but I do remember not realy caring that people were around me and talking about me. No surgery necessary, but then of course later on comes the dreaded rehab.

Sorry it was kind of a long story. Anyone else have a black out story?

yadkny@hotmail.com

Van Pham said...

Can't wait to read Blood Song, it sounds great.

Congrats on your book release :)

Cathy Clamp said...

Thanks, everyone, for attending our launch party! And CONGRATULATIONS TO Cleverly Inked for winning the Borders Gift Card!
You didn't leave your email on your comment, so I'll try to reach you through your Blogger profile. But if you see this, drop me a line at: catadamsfans@gmail.com with your snail mail address and I'll get it sent off to you ASAP! :D

Cathy

Unknown said...

Is this a new novel available in stores?