Be My Darcy

I'm not the type to celebrate Valentine's Day.  Blame it on being too nerdy and geeky during those crucial high school years when you're looking for a little acceptance from the opposite sex.  Regardless, the die was cast and I'm kind of "meh" over the whole day.  Despite my poorly repressed high school bitterness grumbling over the whole farce, I am happy to report that my editor showed me some love today.  Not only did she send me images for the BOUND TO ME cover, but I've also seen the art for the ANGEL'S INK cover. Let me just say that they are freaking awesome!  I love my cover art.  I love my editor and publisher and the lovely people that work on my covers.  Love all around!  Happy freaking Valentine's Day!  I've got art.

Okay.... now that I've got that out of my system.  You can't see the art.  I'm sorry. That's the rules.  The cover art to BOUND TO ME should be out in another month since the novella is being released on April 10.  We've got many many months until I can show off ANGEL'S INK cover art (since the book isn't being released until October 16).  I haven't even seen the whole thing yet (I mean art AND lettering).  But soon, my pretties.  Soon, you too will have art.

In the meantime, I've finished the copyedits for BOUND TO ME and I am currently working on the copyedits for ANGEL'S INK.  That will be the bulk of my day and then my O.H. and I are going to make a wonderful dinner before settling in to watch the dog show.  We had free tickets to go see the 3D release of Titanic, but you know, I've watched it a few times (both old and new) and you know what, they hit that damn iceberg every freaking time.

This Valentine's Day, I'm feeling more of a Elizabeth and Darcy kind of love, instead of a Romeo and Juliet (no offense to the Bard). 

Crap.  I said it.  Now I have to watch it.  I LOVE Pride and Prejudice.  I've read the book several times over and watched the movie (the Keira Knightly version) so many times I can say all the lines.  Elizabeth and Darcy have to be one of my favorite romantic couples of all time.  I'm sure that I'm supposed to say that it's actually Mira and Danaus, and I think they do have a wonderfully deep, soul-drenching love, but first, there was Elizabeth and Darcy.

So, for this Valentine's Day, tell me who is your favorite couple of all time?  It can be movie, book, or real life.  Right now, my vote goes to Elizabeth and Darcy, but I'm sure someone will think of something that will make me go: "Oh man!  That's right!  They are awesome!"  But more awesome that Elizabeth and Darcy?  Yeah, I don't think so. For what it's worth, Happy Valentine's Day.

Book News: One Step Closer to Valerio

It's snowing!
I know! I can't believe it.  Winter has finally reached Cincinnati.  I don't mind this snow.  It's not sticking to the roads and isn't deep.  It's just enough to cover the world in a thin coating of white.

In other news, I think the signing went very well last night.  It was an intimate but enthusiastic crowd.  I shared insight into the new series and read the first chapter of the new book that will be released in October.  Yeah, they were a pretty lucky crowd.  I chatted with several readers and laughed a lot.  It's nice to get out of the house every once in a while.

I also shared some news with them, and I am happy to now spread the news here as well.  First:

I have one last novella coming out for the Dark Days series.  It is titled BOUND TO ME and will be released as an e-book on April 10.  I haven't seen a cover yet but I imagine that it will be coming soon.  I just received the copyedits and will be finishing those up today.  As I have said before, BOUND TO ME is a prequel novella that looks at Mira's relationship with Valerio.  Set roughly two hundred years before NIGHTWALKER, the story shows her time in Europe and brings back several characters from the series.  The story is not up for pre-order yet, but I will keep a look out and will announce it when it is available.

Second, the first book of The Asylum Tales is officially titled ANGEL'S INK and will be released on October 16.  The book is available for pre-order on Amazon now and it is ON SALE.  With this being a trade paperback, I am sure that you will want to jump on the discounted price.  I imagine that the other booksellers will be posting it soon and I will provide links when it becomes available.   I haven't seen a cover yet, but I have a feeling that it should be coming soon.

Finally, if you live in the Cincinnati area and couldn't make it to the book signing, I signed a stack of books at the Joseph-Beth Booksellers in Crestview Hills, Kentucky.  If you would like an autographed copy for your collection, be sure to stop by and pick one up.  Actually, that store is close to me and I try to keep signed books at that location at all times.

Book Signing: Planning for Crazy

Book signing day!
It's book signing day!
I so hope you can make it tonight.  I'm pulling together some notes now of things that I plan to announce, things to discuss, and things to potentially read.  I'm thinking of bringing a section of the new book, but I might also bring a bit of short story as well.  Finding something to read for the new series is a little difficult as Gage has a dirty mouth and I really don't want to read some of his comments out loud at a nice quiet book store.  But we shall see.

After a really rough night of sleep, my brain is slowly shifting into gear and coherent thought is starting to occur.  Of course, this comes with the dedicated help of coffee.  This is a good thing as the copyedits for my next novel just arrived on my doorstep.  Yep, it's time to dive back into the first book and I am sooooo looking forward to it.  Most of the time, I hate copyedits.  For many of the books I've written, I've read them so many times by the time the copyedits arrive that I'm sick of them.  I'm so focused on the words and structure that I can no longer see the story.

But for this book, I've had a nice long break.  Since this book was approved by my editor, I've written two novellas and started the second book.  That's a lot of time for me to think about the world and lay groundwork for potential future adventures.  There's no telling if I'll ever get the chance to tell more stories than what I've been contracted for, but I like to be prepared.

Odd thing:  With the exception of Danaus's one book (Pray for Dawn), the new series is the first thing that I've written from a man's point of view for any extended period of time.  I had always avoided it because, being a female, I was afraid that I couldn't do it well.  I mean, how well could I actually get into a man's head and use his voice?  Well, I'm hoping pretty well, because I love writing from Gage's POV and I love writing from a guy's POV.  I've very addicting.  There's something very freeing and fluid about it.  I'm hoping to stay in this perspective for a while longer, I'm having so much fun.

I loved writing as Mira, but she could frequently get bogged down with emotions and weighing decisions and many other things.  Gage encounters many of the same things, but he also manages to shrug and think, "I'll deal with it when I have to deal with it and worrying isn't going to help anything.  Might as well go have a drink." 

Okay, enough rambling.  I've got a huge pile of work to get done before tonight.  Head over to the Joseph-Beth in Crestview Hill, Kentucky tonight for my brand of crazy.  It's going to be an adventure.

A Busy Week

It's a quiet day.
Well, quiet other than the bulldozer running next to my house, but you know what I mean.  It's just me and the computer as I push through the book, trying to decide which city to destroy and which person to kill and which to save. My main character Gage and I have been spending a lot of time staring at wall, thinking.  It seems that I've created quite a mess for him and we're both sitting around, thinking WTF?!?!  We'll find our way out of this dark wood, but it may take a little time.

While we're fumbling about, I've got a few reminders:

It is my understanding that today is the last day to pick up the Nightwalker e-book at its reduced price of $0.99.  Spread the word!  Tap your friend!  Tell a total stranger.  The world needs to be reading this book and what better way than to pick it up for less than a dollar.  Here are some links if you're interested:

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

iBooks

Kobo

Google e-books

In addition, there's a prequel novella that was released last week called "The Dead, the Damned, and the Forgotten."  It originally appeared in the Unbound anthology, but it is now available as a stand-alone e-book for only $0.99.  If you haven't read the anthology yet and need a little more Mira, this is a great way to get your fix!    The novella is a something of a murder mystery set roughly a month before the events of Nightwalker in Mira's home domain of Savannah.  A nightwalker has been murdered and Mira must quickly discover the identity of the killer before her domain descends into chaos.  The story was a lot of fun to write and gives readers a sneak peek at some of the characters that appear in the series in later books.  Her are some links if you're interested:

Amazon
Barnes and Noble
iBooks
Kobo
Google e-books

Also, regardless of whether you're just finding the series now or have been a fan from the beginning, you can always stop by The Dark Room discussion board to leave comments and questions.  I haunt the board several times a day and try to respond when I see a comment.  I will be posting information on the board at the end of the week about the new series that will be hitting shelves and e-readers later this year.  The discussion board is also a great place to chat with other fans of the series. 

And finally, don't forget that I'm doing a book signing and discussion at Joseph-Beth Booksellers on Thursday, February 9 from 7pm to 9pm.  We'll be talking about the Dark Days series and giving information on the new series as well.  In fact, I will be giving both the title and date of the release for the final Dark Days novella, featuring Mira and Valerio.  I don't currently have any other plans to travel this year, so this may be my only time out and about signing books.  If you're anywhere near the Cincinnati area, please stop by for the fun!

Now, I'm off to write my blog entry for Supernatural Underground, which will appear on the site tomorrow, Tuesday, February 7.  If you're not checking out this blog, it's a great place to keep up with some great urban fantasy/paranormal romance authors.

Novella Release: More Mira

Do you need more Mira?
The Dark Days series has ended.  The last book (Burn the Night) hit the shelves last summer and you're left sitting in the dark, thinking: "How am I supposed to go on?" 

Don't worry, my friend.  I understand.  I can relate.  After the last book was handed into my editor for the last time, I was left wondering, "How do I let go after so many years?"  Mira has been my shadow, my friend, my nightmare, my confidant, my demon, my hero, my joy and my tears.  How do you let go?

You do it slowly.  You loosen those clenched fingers and unwind them from around the book one at a time until you can finally set it down.  And if you're not quite ready to walk completely away from Mira, Danaus, and her world, I suggest that you try a novella or two.  And I've got something to help you.

Hitting e-readers today is a novella that was originally released in the Unbound anthology a few years back.  "The Dead, the Damned, and the Forgotten" is a prequel novella to the entire series, taking place about a month before Nightwalker.  The story is about Mira attempting to solve a murder that takes place in Savannah, threatening to plunge her domain into chaos.  If she can't get her city back under control, there's an agent of the Coven waiting in the wings, ready to remove her head and heart so he can deliver them to the Elders.

The novella is available for only $0.99 at your usual e-book vendors, so if you need one last visit with Mira and Knox, then grab this one up if you haven't already.

And because I was still struggling to let Mira go after I finished Burn the Night, I wrote one last novella for her.  The question kept coming up about her relationship with Valerio so many centuries ago.  I had always wanted to take a closer look at a bit of Mira's past, but never had the chance.  Until now.

Later this spring, a second novella will be released as an e-book.  It is another prequel that is set a few centuries before Nightwalker and takes a closer look at Mira's relationship with Valerio.  It has  has appearances from other several characters within the series as well.  I think you'll enjoy it.  I'll be posting more details later as they come available.

For now, enjoy one last trip through Savannah with the Fire Starter.