Wednesday, June 30, 2010

I Did It...

I finally broke down and bought a Kindle.

It's not my first e-reader; my first is an eBookwise. But my eBookwise isn't compatible with my Mac, so right now, it's basically useless. I've got a bunch of books still loaded on it that I can read as long as I get off my butt and charge it, but the thing is pretty clunky and heavy, so it doesn't take long for my wrist to start hurting.

Still, I do really like it. But I'm looking forward to all the cool stuff the Kindle can do. It'll be nice to load up my manuscripts to give them critical reads, and really awesome to be able to load up e-ARCs I get for quotes. Plus, instant downloads? Hell, yeah.

Now, I still need paper books...I just need to hold them. To know they are mine and can sit on my shelves and look all pretty. Some books have such great covers that they need to be bought in paper format. And some just need to be in paper because they're special. I could never not buy a Robert Jordan book in paper.

So I can see myself buying doubles at times, because there are authors I have to have in paperback, but since we don't have a book store close by, I can get the books instantly on Kindle, and then buy the paper versions when I get the chance.

So anyway, I'm excited. Anyone else have a Kindle? Do you love it? Hate it? And do you have a cover/protector for it?

Monday, June 28, 2010

Coming 2011 to AAD: the Bookie Awards!


Want yet another reason to attend AAD 2010 this year? How about helping to usher in a new romance award? That’s right this year’s attendees will be the sole nominators of the Bookie Awards!

The Bookie Awards is a by readers award, nominated and voted by READERS, the ones that really matter! The Bookie Awards will be given at Authors After Dark 2011 in a fantastic ceremony Friday afternoon.


Winners will receive a fantastic award, a specially designed and made bracelet with a sterling silver book charm on it, as well as a certificate.


Readers at the event this year will be nominating books from 2010 in categories such as Best Vampire novel, Best Werewolf novel, Best historical Novel, Best M/M Novel, Best Erotic Romance, several categories of best short stories, Best debut author, best series in a number of categories, Best Hero, Best heroine, Best couple and many others!


At AAD this year we will be giving out ballots, and then in October we will be announcing the nominees as chosen by YOU the reader (well if your at the con that is) and November we will be opening voting for the readers to pick the crème of the crop.


Interested in helping us make award ceremony history? Well you gotta attend the event this year! Registration is still open at http://aadromanceunlimited.com Yep, just another reason why you WANT to come to the con this year!

Sunday, June 27, 2010

Something on my mind....

Which is a scary idea, if you think about it. Me left alone to think gets me into trouble. I cook up wild story ideas and even crazier characters. Honestly, my life isn't half that exciting. But it does make it interesting at times. And for the moment, I can hardly stay in my seat thinking about Authors After Dark. Freeeeeeeddooooommmmmmmm!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Oh, wrong movie..... Sorry. *hehehehe*

Part of what I'm looking forward to at AAD is actually giving things away. Along with all the publisher goodies and books authors are giving away oodles of stuff too. Raffle baskets galore, prizes, keepsakes, fun stuff and swag. Call me whatever you want, but I LOVE seeing the faces people make when they win stuff, or receive something for doing nothing more than being there. For having fun. For sharing their awesome energy to keep everyone going. And there will be lots of great items making the receiving sweet.

I'm also pleased to say that I will have a new release for AAD. The second book of my vampire series, Shadowed Souls. HIS REDEEMER'S KISS will be available, the follow up to THE ETERNAL KISS. It's been two years coming but, it's finally almost here!

I also have hopes to see UNBOUND TRUST: Book 3 of the Aiza Clan Series. If all goes well, this will making an appearance. I can't promise this one, but I have my fingers crossed.








Hope to see you there!

Sunday, June 20, 2010

Happy Father's Day


I hope everyone is enjoying a nice, relaxing Father's Day weekend. We did the whole bbq with the family and I was happy both the boys were here to celebrate with us. Although my own father is gone I will never forget the impact he had on my life. He was a typical midwesterner who firmly believed that hard work, perserverence, and never taking the easy road was what made the difference between success and failure. I have always tried to live up to his teachings and I know in my heart that it was his influence that allowed me to fulfill my dreams.


On a lighter note I have the new cover for my Guardian of Eternity book...this one is Tane's story and it should be hitting the shelves Nov. 30th! Enjoy :)


Alex

Thursday, June 17, 2010

Reasons to go to Authors After Dark 2010

Authors After Dark is the premier FOR READERS BY AUTHORS event. Why? Why does it differ from other cons out there? Well heres a helpful list of WHY:

~AAD is the cheapest con out there that FEEDS YOU 5 MEALS. For the $140 registration, you get 5 meals(2 lunch, 2 dinner and 1 breakfast). NO other con is doing it for that price

~ AAD is the only con that offers a full vegetarian option for all meals. not just a veggie plate, you will have choices like veggie wraps, salads, pasta dishes...

~ AAD is the ONLY romance con that is doing a GLBT track and have GLBT publishers sponsoring and supporting. Readers will be treated to some of the best GLBT authors out there on panels, and doing parties, and over 200 GLBT books are being given away from MLR press! Other publishers involved include Dreamspinner Press, Phaze and Loose id.

~AAD is giving away over 2400 free books to attendees! Books from such amazing publishers as Kensington Books, Ballantine, Dorchester, Phaze, Tease Publishing, Changeling Press, Ink Spotters and MLR Press!

~AAD has some special book giveaways as well, opportunities you wont find anywhere else! Authors like Joey W Hill, Rosemary Laurey, Jacquelyn Frank, Susan Sizemore and tons of others! Attendees can expect Special signed books, tshirt's and ARC's galore!

~AAD is doing a fantastic charity basket raffle with over 50 baskets! Attendees can win such amazing baskets as Kate Douglas' back list, a fabulous book basket from Gena Showalter or Maggie Shayne, ARC's and special goodies from Cynthia Eden, a much coveted goodie basket from Joey W. Hill and many more! And this year you can enter to win a NOOK, itouch and maybe even an IPAD!!!!

~AAD is the ONLY romance con that treats Bloggers like royalty! Bloggers (like the booksellers at RT) will have their own welcome event Thursday night, including each receiving a special bag of books (ARC's, single signed books and special premium promo items) and some amazing opportunities to interview authors! The Blogger party will be populated by Authors, industry and staff, so you will be guests of honor!

~AAD is the only con that offers FREE ALCOHOL (Wine and mixed drinks) for the entire weekend! Also, AAD is the only Romance con that has a Con suite where attendees can visit all weekend, get snacks, goodies and enjoy author sponsored events!

~AAD's night parties are second to NONE! Our friday event has games and speed authoring, sure to give you the face time you want with the authors you love, special door prizes and a room full of fortune tellers, our fantastic Mystical Maven's event! And Saturday? A Masquerade party with a costume theme of Literary characters! And you could with an amazingly fab prize for winning the costume contest, so stay tuned for that.

That not enough reasons? Well how about out attending authors! they include: Jacquelyn Frank, Silvia Day, Susan Sizemore, Joey W Hill, Jennifer Armintrout, Judi Fennell, Rosemary Laurey, Bianca D'Arc, Leanna Renee Hieber, Caridad Pineiro, and some of the stars of the GLBT world Carol Lynne, Laura Baumbach, Kris Norris, Leigh Ellwood and many others!

Check out out website: http://aadromanceunlimited.com and get registered today! You know you do not wanna miss this amazing con! We will see you there!

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

WARRIOR'S HEART by Bianca D'Arc Releases Today!

It's not often that my turn to blog here cooincides with one of my book releases, so today's blog will be all about the new story... and maybe a few other things too. ;-)

First, WARRIOR'S HEART releases today in ebook from Samhain Publishing. WARRIOR'S HEART is a new version of an old story by the same name that was published in 2006 by a very small publisher that has since gone out of business. So if you weren't able to get the old version, here's your chance! This new version has been spiffed up quite a bit and I'm still very proud of this tale, which was always planned to be the first in a series, but with the publisher problems it got stalled. I'm glad to say the train is back on the rails now and hopefully more of these stories will be coming soon. Now a little bit about the story...

It's a paranormal featuring a military hero. Here's the blurb:

He’s home to claim the girl he never forgot…but more than war memories have changed him.

Gifts of the Ancients, Book 1

Hal’s best-friend status with Casey’s brother always meant that the one woman he wants is strictly off limits. But now that he’s back from a harrowing mission in the ancient Iraqi city of Babylon, all bets are off. The strangely mystical experience left him and his Special Forces team with a new appreciation for life—and strange new abilities they are only beginning to understand.

Casey never thought she’d have a shot with the strong, silent Green Beret. Something about him has changed, though, and old feelings have risen up, demanding an answer. And her answer is an unequivocal yes. Now, to break the news to her brother and hope it doesn’t come to blows.

Her brother’s reaction becomes the least of her worries when Hal singlehandedly stops a car from running her down, then falls into her arms, weak from some kind of strange reaction. Whatever went down in Iraq has changed Hal and made him a target of foreign agents who’ve found his one vulnerability…Casey.

Warning: This title contains dirty talk, sweaty carpentry sex and a sexy Special Forces super hero.

Get your copy today at MyBookstoreAndMore.com

I should also mention the print book that released earlier this month. GRADY'S AWAKENING is now available in print! Here's a little bit about that book:


An alien warrior discovers what it is to love…and to share.

Resonance Mates, Book 4


Alien super soldier Grady Prime’s missions routinely lead him in unexpected directions, but his latest assignment—to kill a rogue warrior—is far beyond routine. This time he meets a woman who embroils him in an adventure of the highest order. Love.

Gina has lived among aliens so long, she’s lost her fear of them. She is undeniably attracted to Grady, even though their respective duties force them apart. Then, on a mission to a far-flung outpost, an encounter with a man from her past leaves her torn between her flaming desire for Grady, and her still-simmering love for an old flame.

Jim and his group of human dissidents live in secret, away from alien patrols. He has responsibilities, and covert operations to manage. But when Gina re-enters his life, only one thing matters—being with her.

Brought together by chance, the three form an alliance that pushes the boundaries of desire and make unexpected connections that could save the human race from alien conquerors…

Warning: This book contains red hot alien loving, ménage a trois, super sexy alien soldiers, wicked fast martial arts masters, explicit language, explicit sex and explicit love. Always love.

Friday, June 11, 2010

AAD on BTR today! get your bums to it!

Today at 1pm EST We will be doing a Authors After Dark show on Blog Talk Radio. For those of you who attended the one in May, lots has happened since then and we have a lot to talk about. If your still on the fence about attending, please tune in, we have some amazing things to tell you guys that will push you over to the "I MUST BE THERE" category!

And as a special treat, Jacquelyn Frank will be calling in and talking about her hostess duties, and all the specialness she has planned for the event. And if your lucky, you'll get some of the other authors coming calling in to say hi!

So join Elizabeth Darvill and myself as we give you the skinny on the most affordable and innovative reader convention to date!

1pm today at http://blogtalkradio.com/booksbeyondtheboundaries (Chat room opens at 1230 est!) So bring yourself, your questions, and your comments! we are taking calls and questions in the chat room as well!

Tuesday, June 8, 2010

I Hate My House I Love My House

Soo...if any of you have been following me on Facebook or know me as a friend, you know I have been struggling with my writing. The truth is I haven't written anything of consequence in a dog's age. (Don't worry, I have enough backlog in books to keep you in fresh material for a long time to come.) Now, it might be professional suicide to share this with you, but I have committed suicide before and am still here to tell the tale, and I have always shared everything with you all and I am not about to start pulling my punches.

Truth is, all writers go through writer's block...or periods of feeling drained of their creativity. What I speak of is not new phenomenon. Some of the most famous authors you know were plagued by the writer's block beast. But for me it's not so much a block as it is...my inner child wants to play not work not ever so nah!

I am 170lbs lighter than I was. I can wear gorgeous clothes and shoes. I can get on planes and fit in the seats. I can travel everywhere. I can do just about anything! Why oh why would I want to sit here, in front of the computer, in this seat that I was trapped in under fat and infirmity for DECADES in this dark spot in my house?? I existed in that spot, unmoving, unliving, uneverything. Now...I loathe it. I loathe sitting in one spot. I loathe being in my house. I loathe this computer screen I have stared at for every single day for so damn long.

I want to PLAY! I want to shop! I want to go out and go dancing and run on a beach and do things people do to have fun. I want to conquer my fears and do some crazy ass shit while I'm still young enough to do so. Because, you see, it snuk up on me so fast last time. One day I was young and healthy (albeit overweight. Have been since I was 15) and then the next...(so it seemed) I couldn't even climb a set of three stairs. I couldn't walk through a store. I had to go to Wal Mart or Target only because they were the only ones who had electric carts. I had to buy a one story house (I have a 'bonus' room though which is up over the garage. I lived in this house for almost 2 years before I was able to even see it!)

The point is, I feel like I've wasted so much time and, despite the weight loss, I am still not all that healthy. (People marvel at how much meds I am on. Granted it's a few less now than before...) What if I spend all this great time sitting on my ass and suddenly...bam! It's all gone again?

But like I said in my title...I hate my house....but I love my house. I want to keep it. I want to keep my car. I want all those little things that come with a paycheck. So...this girl's got to work. It's not as though I want to be irresponsible. It's not that I want to quit and never write again. I love to write. I love to make up stories. I like to create unique worlds that blow your socks off. :) (My agent and my editors and publishers are going to be very glad to hear this part) So here's the thing. How do I write and stay focused when my inner child is whining that it wants to go out and play?

On top of all of this, I'm stuck in my own head. Or maybe even my own ego. I sit here thinking whatever I do next has to be UTTERLY SPECTACULAR!! It has to outshine everything I have ever done before AND it has to be strides ahead of the tremendous talent that is out there in my genre. (And those who aren't tremendously talented but somehow popular just the same). I have to write a NYT Bestseller that outdoes myself...and can do battle with everyone else. And then once I do that..OMG I have to do it again! And again!

And crap, I gotta pay taxes, too.

Not too much pressure, eh? This is the essence of writer's block. A writer who gets stuck in the pressures and minutiae in their own minds. All of the above mentioned crap AND the daily list of things in their personal and business lives that they swim in.

But I think I found a solution. For me anyway. I'm taking it Old School. I'm leaving the laptop at home, leaving home at home, and with nothing but a wire bound journal and a favorite pen, (well, ok so i do take my cell) I am going out and finding quiet nooks and crannies where I can sit, enjoying the OUT THERE out there, and yet focusing completely on writing. This is how I did it when I was a kid. Back when teachers thought I was the most diligent notetaker in class? That was me writing reams and reams of stories, perfecting what would one day become a craft. The spiral notebook was my original laptop. I had forgotten how much I love the feel of pen drawing over paper. There's sometimes a few moments that it takes to write a word vs. typing a word that allows your brain to jump to the next thought.

Now, the downside..no delete key, no backup files (save me if I drop today's gel inks--my favorites--in a puddle), and I have to retype the whole thing over again eventually anyway. So this is strictly for creative purposes only. Perhaps just to get me started. I am considering an IPad...strictly for the purposes of being able to carry it in my purse everywhere at all times without having to lug a laptop hither and yon. The laptop isn't big, just...inconvenient. But I don't know if an IPad is easy to type on. Still, it can't be any slower than using a pen, right?

Maybe I'll stick with the low tech solution. For now it feels good. I can't tell you how many words I've written...for some reason the damn journal refuses to tell me!

Hugs and Kitties
Jacki

PS: So far Barnes and Noble and the Library have been tried out. B and N is nice, but there's a lot of pressure in those bookshelves. The library has no pressure because they don't have a single damn book in my genre from what I can see, but it was really freaking noisy after 2pm. Any other suggestions? I need a chair that's comfy that I can cross my legs in and prop the journal on my knee. Oh, hey! My therapist's waiting room was nice. Wonder if they'll let me haunt it. :P

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...

Monday, June 7, 2010

New release by Leigh Ellwood: South of Sundance!

Are you planning to attend the F/F writing panel at Authors After Dark this year? If so, you'll get to hear me talk about my experiences in writing and marketing lesbian erotica and romance. It's not a genre I specifically set out to write, but I find as I sell more I'm apt to write more. Now, I won't write F/F exclusively - I have so many stories to finish and new releases are coming soon. For now, you can go to All Romance and pick up my latest, South of Sundance! Buy it now!

Days before her sexy documentary debuts at a popular lesbian film festival, director Bebe Yasbeck is confronted by an old flame and conflicting feelings about the direction of her career and her assistant, Debra. Will her experience at South of Sundance provide her with the happy Hollywood ending she desires?

Recently a friend of mine attended the Tribeca Film Festival to see the new Rush documentary - actually brushed past Geddy Lee on the way out the door, and sat next to Eddie Trunk from VH1. Hearing the story got me thinking about how a director might react on attending such a festival, wondering about the reception of her film. Also, I'd been planning a print collection of my other F/F stories (She Loves Me, coming soon but now in eBook) and needed one more to fill up the length. So I ended up writing this. Hope you enjoy it.

Thursday, June 3, 2010

New releases and Cute clothes!

Hey Everyone!

June is a wild month for me. My anniversary is Sunday, which will be 7 years with Joe, Aud and I have a book releasing on the 15th, Astoroth: Her Last Sin With Tease Publishing (A short little story about a fallen angel who is the last thing on a dying woman's bucket list and the night they share in Vegas)and I got some cute new clothes to talk about. So shall I?

This is my new reversible coat I got from ChicStar.com. Its comfy and super stylish. I dont know where Im going to wear it but Odds are you will see me in it at AAD this year, its just too cute not to wear. I'm a big fan of the red side.

We are also hip deep in edits for our next Satyr story, To Collar and Keep.This is due out the week OF AAD, that Monday the 13th. Its an awesome novella (though for the publisher its a novel) that takes place at Mohonk in upstate NY (which is where I plan on getting married LOL). Once I'm done with my edits I'll be more social. Till then, if you need a fix, pick up our most recent release, You Burn Me, a novella of the Eververse and nicely priced at 99 cents!