Jocelynn Drake

Novella Release: More Mira

2012-01-31T09:30:00.000-05:00

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.

Music, Madness, and Mayhem

2012-01-29T16:09:00.000-05:00

Looking at my recent blog entries, I feel like this blog has become a non-stop promotion machine. And while the point of this blog is in some part promotion, that's not the entire purpose of the blog. I also needed a spot to ramble, whine, complain, and just be silly. So, enough! There will be enough time for promotion tomorrow and the next day. Today is just for silliness and randomness. If you want to read about my upcoming book signing, Nightwalker sale, and release of the upcoming novella on Tuesday, just scroll down.

For now, let's see what I can talk about. Hmmm.... my newest obsession? Tackling the Dragon's Tail. There is this 11-mile stretch of road running from Tennessee to North Carolina. There are no turn-offs, no driveways. It's 11 miles and 318 curves. It's called the Dragon's Tail and it's awesome. Here is a video giving some of the highlights of the Dragon.

My brother and I both own Mini Coopers. There is a special set of days called Minis on the Dragon that we're hoping to do. It's in May and a ton of Minis descend on this stretch of road for some fun. It's a little insane, but it looks like some killer fun.

So now that I've broken the seal on the videos, let's see what else I can throw at you. Apparently, my brother spends a lot of time on YouTube, and he is nice enough to find the cool stuff for me to pass along. Here's this video that I thought was funny:

And then there's this old one, because the world is just a better place with Pinky's logic in it.

And here's a compilation of what Freddiew did with 2011. Proof that we should all be watching his insane videos.

Finally, a music video that I'm addicted to.

Enjoy and have a great day!

Last Days of Nightwalker Sale

2012-01-24T10:00:00.000-05:00

The wading through the muck and mire continues. I am making progress on the book, but it has started fighting me a bit. I'll beat it back down and take control again shortly. I love a book that's got some spunk and spirit to it!

I just remembered that I should remind you that the Nightwalker e-book will be on sale for only a little while longer. In December, my publisher marked down all e-book editions of Nightwalker to $0.99. Yep, you can have the first book to the Dark Days series for only $1! Do you have a friend that needs some vampires in his/her life? This is a great way to get them hooked on Mira and the gang for a great low price.

Nightwalker will remain $0.99 until February 6, so hurry up and add it to your e-reader now!

Also, don't forget to pre-order the prequel novella to the Dark Days series, "The Dead, the Damned and the Forgotten". It is also just $0.99. Two great stories about vampires, werewolves, and dark creatures of the earth for less than $2.

Things To Come

2012-01-23T15:15:00.004-05:00

The "To Do" list is growing to frightening proportions -- both things that need to be done around the house as well as writing-related items. I've been working steadily recently so I'm not quite sure how things suddenly got so crazy. I think it just happens that way regardless of my careful planning.

Things coming up:

Novella Release

"The Dead, the Damned, and the Forgotten" will be released next week on Tuesday, January 31. It is an e-book novella that is a prequel to the series. It is a re-release as the novella originally appeared in the Unbound anthology. If you know someone who hasn't started the Dark Days series yet, this is a great way to get them introduced to the series. The story runs about 100 pages (at least it does in my Word document) and costs only $0.99.

Order at Amazon
Order at Barnes and Noble
Order at iBooks

Book Signing

The book signing event at the Joseph-Beth Booksellers in Crestview Hills, Kentucky is fast approaching (Thursday, February 9 at 7pm). I have started practicing signing my name as well as gathering together my magnets. These may be the last of the magnets I have for the Dark Days series before I turn my attention to promotional items for the new series. I am also looking over a few things, trying to decide if I will read something from the new series. In addition, I am planning to announce the date and title of the next novella release at the book signing. I am hoping to announce the title of the first book in The Asylum Tales series. We're going to have a lot of fun at the signing so you don't want to miss it. I'll be answering questions about both the Dark Days series and tells little secrets about The Asylum Tales.

In the meantime, I'm working on...

1. Writing book 2 in The Asylum Tales series
2. Working on compiling a list of people who might be willing to read the first book for blurb purposes
3. Cleaning my office (it's gotten frightening even for me)
4. Working on notes for the website redesign
5. Starting to think about doing my taxes (this is a slow process and the first step is to convince myself to call my tax accountant)

Wish me luck and I hope to see you at the book signing!

Mired in the Muck

2012-01-19T21:22:00.001-05:00

I'm stuck. Well, kinda ... not really... but sort of yes. I've been trudging through this same chapter for a couple days now and I think it's fate laughing at me because I said that the book was flowing so easily. I've got several ideas fluttering around in my head and nothing wants to settle. Do I destroy the city now or push it to earlier in the book? Do I let them have sex in the garden or not? Do I let them get caught by the garden owner or her brother?

This chapter doesn't want to settle itself. I think I just need to buckle down, write it, and not worry about everything else until I move on to the next chapter.

In my spare time, I've found that my reading has enjoyed a significant shift in genres. When I was working on the two short stories for the Asylum Tales, I was heavily reading paranormal romances. They tend to be light and funny with happy endings and a nice touch of magic. I want the Asylum Tales to remain light so I keep my reading light. However, I recently picked up a series that I started reading when I was in high school.

When in junior high, I read a lot of random things. There was a little young adult, but not much that seemed to interest me. I was picking up romance novels that I really had no business reading, but they were just so good. It wasn't until I was a freshman that a friend handed me my first fantasy novel. Sadly, I don't remember which is was, but I DEVOURED it. I didn't know you could do any of the things that I read in a book. I knew about magic and dragons, but that was the realm of Disney magic, not books.

That same friend soon handed me a wonderful book by Raymond E. Feist called Magician: Apprentice, and I was in heaven. It was an amazing world where wondrous things were happening to people that I loved. It was here that I understood the addiction of the series, where you are able to follow characters over several books. I adored Pug and Tomas, but probably like most girls who read the series, I fell in love with Arutha. Feist taught me what it meant to create a good character. Strong or weak, they were all doubting, fallible, but born with a strong sense of duty and honor whether its to family, friend, or country.

My freshman year, I read every book that Raymond Feist had published. And when I ran out of his books, I started writing my own fantasy series. Before finishing high school, I had completed the first book and while in college, I wrote roughly half of the second book. I still have the map I made and the mound of notes I had made. I don't think I will ever seek to get the series published. The heart and plot of the story are solid, but the writing is very weak. I will finish it for myself, though.

In the meantime, I've jumped back into the books Feist set on the mythical world of Midkemia. I have a large pile that I've never read and I can't wait to get to them. But for now, I am content to wander through books I haven't picked up in nearly two decades. I still cried at the scene I first cried at when I was a teenager and other parts made me sad that I don't recall crying over. It never ceases to amaze me the power of the written word and the emotions that those collection of words evoke.

Book Signing & New Love

2012-01-10T17:59:00.000-05:00

Before I get into the rambling section of my blog post today, let me announce that I will be doing a book signing on Thursday, February 9, 2012 at 7 pm at the Joseph-Beth Booksellers in Crestview, Kentucky. Here's the contact information if you are interested:

Joseph-Beth Booksellers
2785 Dixie Hwy.
Crestview Hills, KY 41017

At signings I typically answer any questions you might have regarding the books or my writing process. Also, I am planning to bring along some new work that hasn't been released yet. If no one has questions, I might do some reading of the new work. I'll try to bring some other goodies as well. I hope you can make it.

Now to the ramble...

The book is coming a bit slowly this week. The first six chapters seemed to fly from my fingertips and I have a feeling that the other 20+ chapters will do the same as soon as I get the rest of the story outlined. My main concern at the moment is that there is a lot of talking in the first few chapters. It's all really important information but I'm afraid that there isn't enough tension, fighting, and general violence. The next chapter I have planned should help fix that as well as give Gage some "private" time with Trixie.

Sitting on the floor, starting up at my wall calendar while listening to music yesterday (this is how I outline books), I had two new characters sit with me. One I just refer to as the "laughing madman" and the other is a woman with an odd habit when it comes to names. I don't know if they're going to appear in the new book, but I hope so. They're ... different. I'm beginning to learn that in this new world, there's this enormous gulf of gray area between what is considered sane and insane. Let's just say you could fit whole cities in the gray area and still have room for some suburbs and ample parking.

A separate ramble...

I'm a gamer. Not one of those hardcore gamers who has played every hot video game to come out for a system, but I do like a good video game. In truth, I got started in gaming kind of late; not getting interested until the release of the PlayStation 1. Somewhere along the way, I picked up Final Fantasy 8 and fell in love. I've played Final Fantasy 7-13, except I didn't play the online one and I haven't finished 13. I've played Guitar Hero and Rock Band, as well as a scattering of other games. Years ago, we used to get a large group of friends together to play a first-person shooter called Time Splitters.

I'm not a great gamer. I don't have fantastic hand-eye coordination so AA (action-adventure) games are hard for me, but I still love them. I watched my brother and O.H. play both the Batman games as well as all the Uncharted games. I've spent hours watching Devil May Cry, Prince of Persia (who later became an inspiration for our own beloved Danaus), and lots of Resident Evil.

After recently getting sucked into some online play, I've attempted my first AA game solo, and I've found a new love. His name is Ezio Auditore di Firenza. For me, a great game is more than killer graphics and a strong combat engine. A great game has to have a great story at its core along with heart-gripping characters. I believe that Square Enix (the makers of Final Fantasy) have some of the best storytellers in the business, but recently, I've come to realize that Naughty Dog (Uncharted makers) and Ubisoft (Assassin's Creed and Prince of Persia makers) are excellent storytellers as well. More importantly, Naughty Dog and Ubisoft make amazing, memorable characters that you love. I like Tidus, Cloud, and Yuna from Final Fantasy, but I love Ezio and Nate Drake (from Uncharted).

I finished Assassin's Creed 2 last night, and I have to admit that I was a little heartsore when the credits rolled. Through the passage of 20 years, you followed this character through heartbreak and triumph only to be left with more questions. I understood why he did the things he did, but at the end, I wanted to walk up to him, place a hand against his cheek, and ask him, "Was it worth it?" I think he would give me his patented little smirk, and say that it was, but I still feel sad for him.

Naturally, I've started the next game, Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood, but I'm debating whether to stop there and not go on to Revelations. There's something in me that doesn't want to see the character at the end of his life. Sort of like he won't get older and can't die if I don't play that part of the game.

But then, I still get a little heartsore when I think about how infrequently Mira and Danaus visit with me now.

Big Things for 2012

2012-01-06T10:00:00.000-05:00

After yesterday's 2011 retrospective, I thought I would take the time to look ahead to the great things that are coming for 2012. I don't have a lot of exact dates to give you just yet, but I'll be posting updates when I get confirmed news.

The Dark Days Series

I know this is going to be a little confusing since yesterday I said that I was finished with Mira and Danaus, but it seems that I have just a little bit more to share.

Prequel #1: Novella
The Dead, the Damned, and the Forgotten

If you've already picked up the Unbound anthology that was released a few years back, then you've already read this novella. The story takes place in Savannah about a month before the start of the events in NIGHTWALKER (Book 1). It focuses on Mira's domain and her investigation into a murder that takes place, putting the spotlight on the nightwalkers in the city. It's the first time you meet Knox and see Mira's dynamic with many of the people that you will see in later books in the series. It was my first go at a novella and I am pleased with how it turned out. I think the ending is a little bit of a surprise and if you read carefully, I give a little hat tip to Kim Harrison, who was also featured in the Unbound anthology.

The novella will be released as an individual e-book on January 31, 2012 and will be on sale for $0.99. It is available for pre-order now if you are interested in getting your hands on this prequel to the series.

Prequel #2: Novella
Untitled

When I wrote this novella last year, I wasn't quite sure how it was going to be released. The story was actually in reaction to a lot of requests I got from some readers during a book signing I did in my hometown. One frequent question was about Mira's relationship with Valerio when they were intimate many years before Mira met Danaus. To tell the truth, I was a little curious myself as to what happened between them and I started the novella just to satisfy my own interest.

The story takes places a couple centuries before the events in NIGHTWALKER (Book 1), well before Mira goes off on her own to Savannah and claims that as her domain. Mira and Valerio are running errands and generally acting as enforcement for the Coven. The nightwalker Elders send Mira and Valerio to investigate and stop a creature that is killing off nightwalkers in Spain. The story gives a good look into Mira's relationship with Valerio, a closer look at Valerio, as well as her relationship with some other characters that you've met in the series. I was even excited to include a glimpse of one unexpected character that you meet in NIGHTWALKER. (hehe... I'm such a tease!)

It was a lot of fun to write, but a little difficult. The setting is the 19th century versus the 21st century that I am accustomed to working in. Also, this is Mira more than two hundred years ago. She's a little different than what you've gotten used to reading.

If you've read the series, this will offer some nice insight into the characters. If you've not read the series, I don't think you'll be lost since it is a series prequel. However, it might be a little confusing if you jump from this prequel to the first book as you will be moving forward two hundred years.

Anyway... I don't have a release date on it yet but I will keep you updated here and on Facebook and Twitter when my publisher releases a date for publication.

Also, don't forget that the series is now concluded with the release of BURN THE NIGHT last June. If you haven't picked up all six books to get Mira's complete story, run to your nearest bookstore or online vendor to pick them up!

The New Series

Now you didn't think that just because I finished up the Dark Days Series that I was finished writing? Hell No! You could chop off all my fingers (please don't) and I would still write stories. It would just be a little slower.

Last year, I pitched a few ideas to my editor for a new series and she was kind enough to buy one of them. To my elation, HarperCollins has contracted me to write two new novels and two new novellas for a new series that will be kicked off in 2012! (No, it's not too late to do a happy dance.)

And earlier this week, we finally agreed on a series title:

The Asylum Tales

I love it! Asylum has a wonderful double meaning that resonates in your brain when you hear it. You think of either A.) a place to store crazy people or B.) a place of safety and refuge from danger. With this series, I think it means a little of both.

We have a title for the first book, but I'm holding off on revealing as it still needs final approval from the Sales/Marketing department. But keep checking back as I'm sure that it will be approved soon.

But your big question is: what in the world is this new series about?

I'm glad you asked. What I've been telling people is that the new series is about warlocks and tattoo artists. (And you've just given me the same confused, puzzled, slightly frightened look I've been getting for months.) Let me explain.

The series is firmly settled in the urban fantasy genre, set in what I like to call an open world (ie, everyone knows about all the other races and has for a really long time, allowing everyone to live side-by-side in a relative, occasionally strained, harmony.) Some of the races that you meet in this series include, but are not limited to: humans, elves, trolls, dwarves, pixies, werewolves, vampires, ogres, minotaurs, incubus, faeries, goblins, and many many more that are fighting to get their time on the page.

At the center of this mess is Gage Powell, a tattoo artist who owns a parlor in a sketchy little neighborhood in Low Town called Asylum. In a world that is naturally filled with magic, it only makes sense that many of the non-magic folk (like humans) could use an edge. In this world, tattoo artists aren't just tattoo artists. They are also licensed potion stirrers. For the right price, they can help you get an edge. Need courage, love, or luck? A tattoo artist can stir a potion to be placed in the ink of a tattoo that can help you achieve those things.

Unfortunately, Gage has a secret that keeps coming back to haunt him despite his attempts to keep his head down and his nose somewhat clean. Lucky for him, he had a pair of employees that help him out. The first is Bronx -- a patient troll who manages to keep a level head and his sense of humor when things get bad. The second is Trixie -- a elf who is pretending to be a human because she's got her own problems, but she still manages to make time to give Gage a hand when he needs it.

Here are some answers to some burning questions you might have:

1. I don't like tattoos and I'm not interested in the tattooing world. Will I still like this series?
Yes! Do you like action, craziness, and stranger creatures? That is more of what this series is about. It's about the cool people that inhabit this world, not tattoos. The tattoos are sort of just a common thread that tie the people and some of the events together. It is not the core of the story.

2. Is this a romance?
Err... not really. There is a romantic subplot for Gage, but it is not the main thrust of the story. It is an urban fantasy story, not a paranormal romance. However, the romantic subplot moves faster in the new series than it did in the Dark Days series.

3. Do I have to read the stories in order?
No! Unlike the Dark Days series, where you needed to read the books in order so you could understand everything that was happening, I am writing this series as more of an episodic adventure. There are plotlines that run from the first book to the second, but the stories are told in such a way that you don't have to read them in sequential order to understand them.

4. Are there vampires?
Sort of. After writing the Dark Days series, which I loved, I needed a break from vampires. Sort of. Vampires exist in this world so that means that they can definitely make an appearance, but as of this moment they do not have a starring role. Also, these vampires are different from the vampires in the Dark Days series.

5. Will you ever write vampires again?
Definitely. I love vampires. They have always been my favorite. But with the Dark Days series, I managed to say everything I wanted to say about vampires, so I thought it was time to move on. When I have something new to say about them, I will circle back.

6. Are The Asylum Tales going to be as dark as the Dark Days series?
No. By the nature of Mira's world and the fact that they were constantly on the edge of everything falling completely apart, the stories seemed to naturally become dark. It also worked that way because of Mira's personality. Gage is different. Yes, he can be dark like Mira, but most of the time he's not. The world isn't going to end if Gage fails, but a lot of people that he cares about could get seriously hurt if not killed. The world is strange, weird, funny, and frequently unexpected. There is danger around every corner, but Gage and his friends know how to handle a lot of it because they live there day in and day out. The Asylum Tales will still have death, violence, and lots of dangers, but I'm hoping that you're going to spend a little time laughing as well.

7. What do you have finished of The Asylum Tales?
The first book has been accepted by my editor and has been moved on to the copy editing stage. That means the story is set and now I'm tweaking wording and such. The two novellas have been written and are awaiting approval from my editor. If approved, they move on to the copy editing stage. If not approved, I go in and do some revisions. I am currently writing the rough draft of the second book, which is due to my editor in mid-February.

8. When will the new series be released?
I don't know.

This is where things get complicated, because things have shifted from the original plans. The original plan was to release the first book as a mass market paperback (like the Dark Days series) in late June. You may have even seen the pre-order go up on Amazon or Barnes and Noble, listing the book as ANGEL WINGS.

Well, shortly after that listing went up, my publisher reaccessed the market, as well as my sales record and a few other things. As a result, HarperCollins is now releasing the first book as a trade paperback. This is a slightly bigger book than the mass paperback. It tends to be slightly more expensive, but I'm not sure on any exacts as everything is currently shifting in the market, including price. Due to the change in format, the release date of the first book has been moved from June to October 2012. This will give my publisher more time to plan for the release of the trade paperback.

I know, that's a long time between books! But never fear. We still have a few things to tide you over to make the waiting more manageable.

Before the release of the first book, the two novellas for The Asylum Tales will be released as e-books. Prior to revisions, they are both hovering close to 100 pages each, so they are a nice read. The two stories are prequels to the series and detail the events that surround Gage meeting Bronx and Trixie. Both stories were a lot of fun to write, but I think Bronx's story is my favorite at the moment. (That silly troll!) Last I heard, they were going to release both stories in a single e-book, but that might change since that was the plan before the release date was pushed to October. I'll keep you updated.

What do we know:
1. The Dead, the Damned, and the Forgotten e-book novella will be released on 1/31/2012
2. There is one more Dark Days prequel novella e-book to be release in 2012. (Date TBD)
3. There are two novella stories for The Asylum Tales series to be release in e-book format in 2012. (Date TBD)
4. The first book in The Asylum Tales series will be released as a trade paperback in October 2012.

What we don't know:
1. Official release dates for three of the four novellas to be released in 2012.
2. The OFFICIAL titles for any of The Asylum Tales stories.
3. Covers. (I haven't seen anything yet. They are still working on them)
4. The winning Powerball numbers for the lottery.

So, my job is to finish the second book and update you on three of the four items that we don't know as I get information from my publisher. (I'm not telling you the lottery numbers if I manage to mystically see them.)

I think those stories should keep you busy throughout 2012, giving me time to line some stuff up for next year. (Wow! Scary thought. I'm already writing for 2013.)

If you've got any other questions, please feel free to leave them here or on my discussion board. I will answer them as best as I can. Thanks!

A Look Back at 2011

2012-01-05T10:00:00.000-05:00

I know I'm about a week late for the 2011 retrospective and I honestly wasn't planning one, but when the usual disgust/relief that hits me at the end of the year finally faded, I realized that it really wasn't such a bad little year. All it needed was a little love.

Professional

2011 started out rough as I spent the first few months waiting on pins and needles to find out if I was going to get another book contract from my current publisher. Brick-and-mortar book stores were languishing all around me until one after another seemed to fall dead at my feet.

What's more, we had just come out of our first holiday season where the "it" gift was an electronic reader. For months, authors had been whispering to each other, their spouses, and their agents about the fate of the publishing industry. What was going to happen to us? Were we never going to see our books in print again, sitting happy on a shelf, waiting to be picked up and loved by a reader? Were we all going to be sitting in the streets, holding signs that said "Will tell story for food"?

A year has passed since that point, and honestly, we still don't know what's going to happen with the publishing industry due to the increase in popularity of e-books and self-published authors. But I kind of feel like it's always going to be that way. Editors and publisher are constantly looking for that mega-hit book that will launch the next trend while many authors scramble to catch that wave before it breaks. There are so many variables in publishing, countless unknowns that are impacting all aspects of the industry. For me, I've decided to sit back and focus on the one variable that I can control: writing a damn good book.

That's what I tried to do as I closed out the Dark Days Series. This was my first series. I never thought it would last for six books. Hell, I didn't think it would get published in the first place. I was just doing what I've been doing since I was twelve -- writing a story that I wanted to read.

In June 2011, BURN THE NIGHT hit the shelves and was downloaded onto e-readers all over. Readers indulged in what I believe will be the last adventure of Mira and Danaus. As I knew it would be the last chance to get the gang all together for one last party, I tried to draw in as many characters as I could from the previous five books and novella. It was disappointing that I didn't get to include Alexandra or Bertha, but the book was already packed and we got to see many faces, so I was happy.

With BURN THE NIGHT, I finally got to do the one thing that I had been doing since the world met the naturi Rowe. I got to tell some of the story from the point of view of a naturi. Yes, for Mira, Rowe is the villain, but only to a point. He's trying to do what he thinks is best for his people. Isn't that what we all do? By allowing Nyx to tell part of the final book, you get some inside detail into the naturi monarchy and culture that you would NEVER have seen if Mira told the entire story. I liked to think that you also got to see a somewhat softer side to Rowe as well.

While I am happy with where I left Mira and Danaus at the close of BURN THE NIGHT, I still miss them. I worked on Mira and the Dark Days world for more than seven years before closing out the series. They cross my mind on a daily basis even now, but the frequency is fading. I imagine there will be a time when I will go days without thinking of them, but Mira and Danaus will always be a part of me and I want to thank readers for loving them.

As to whether I will ever write any spin-off books for some of the other characters from the Dark Days series, I just don't know. I am currently hard at work on a new series (more about that tomorrow), but I will have an opening later this winter to give it some serious thought. There are a few guys from the series that I would like to see what they would do after Mira got settled with Danaus.

If you loved the series, or maybe just enjoyed the diversion, the best thing you can do is share the love. Please, recommend the series to other urban fantasy readers. Now is really the best time, as the e-book for Nightwalker (Book 1) is on sale for $0.99 for one month. Buy it as a gift for someone and get them started on a great adventure.

Personal

Much like my professional writing career, my personal life had a rocky start to 2011. The company I worked for as a dayjob parted ways with me near the start of the year. The economy is rocky and you just have to roll with the punches. I'm still looking for that next adventure to go along with my book writing.

However, things quickly picked up when I got engaged. It wasn't really a surprise as we had been discussing it for a while. On the other hand, the wedding was a surprise. We had traveled to Hawai'i for vacation (and only vacation). Yet, a few minutes spent with the hotel concierge, a trip to the Department of Health for a marriage license, and a stop by Hilo Hattie's for a dress had us ready for a intimate wedding on the beach on Sunday, July 31.

That is how you get married. No hassle. No fuss. No worries. I wish my family could have been there, but it was just a great opportunity to do the romantic wedding in a beautiful spot. I'm now a Mrs. instead of a Miss, and I think I'm adjusting well.

In addition to marriage, the "Drake" family took on one other bundle of joy. In late August, we adopted an adorable puppy, who we believe to be a type of Hound/Labrador mix, we named him Max. He is now about eight months old and extremely playful. The sweetheart loves to lounge at my feet while I'm working and desperately tries to play with the cats, who want nothing to do with the big goof.

He keeps my Other Half (OH) company when he plays video games, wakes me up in the morning when I try to sleep late, and keeps me company while I'm working. Yep, I think he's going to fit right in with the family... if only he could learn to stop chasing cats around the house in an effort to play. :)

With 2011 over and 2012 in full swing now, I'd like to say thank you from the bottom of my heart for all your lovely comments and words of encouragement over the years regarding the Dark Days Series. Thank you for your support in buying the books and spreading the word. I've had a lot of fun and I'm looking forward to lots more.

From Jocelynn, the Other Half, Max, and the girls (Harley and Demona), we wish you an exciting 2012 filled with laughs, tears, thrills, surprises, and success!

Back to Normal

2012-01-02T09:00:00.000-05:00

I'm officially calling it: The Holidays Are Done!
I'm am so done with holidays. No more cards. No more baking. No more decorating. No more wrapping. No more leaving the house and dealing with traffic. No more!

Last night, I took down all the Christmas decorations around the house, had the tree moved to the basement, and moved all the furniture to its normal places around the room after vacuuming. Other than the messy kitchen, the interior of the house looks like none of it ever happened. Today, my O.H. is taking down the lights on the exterior of the house if he can get out before the snow flurries are supposed to hit.

While I love the holiday season, I have to admit that by December 26, I am ready to pack it all up and shove it to the back of my mind until next December. However, it's my O.H.'s tradition not to take any of it down until after the start of the new year. So I waited. But he was out last night so I pulled out the boxes and quickly got the house back to normal, leaving me free to write uninterrupted today. (Yay!)

Speaking of writing, the second book in the new series is coming along nicely. The first chapter needs some heavy tweaking. The pacing feels off and the opening line isn't particularly strong, but that's all very fixable. I've started doing more timed sessions -- the 1,000 words in 1 hour. I am very pleased to report that most of the time, my 1-hour session results in a word count of at least 1,500 words. In fact, I've managed over 1,800 words in one hour once (New High Score). With a strong pace like this, I am aiming for a minimum of 5,000 words a day. If I can keep up this strong pace, I should be able to hit my deadline of mid-February with no problem. This will be one of the fastest books I've ever written.

There is a snag, though. I don't have this one completely plotted out. I usually have an entire book outlined out before I even start the first chapter, but this one doesn't want to plot. I have an insane amount of notes on what needs to happen, what the plot and subplots are, questions that need answers, and other interesting tidbits, but it's not in organized order yet. So far, I've outlined a few chapters, wrote those chapters, and then gone back to outline some more.

Right now, I am finishing up chapter 4 and going on to complete chapter 5 today. I will have one more chapter that is on the outline before I have to stop and do more planning. After completing seven novels for publication and four novellas, this feels like an odd way to write, but I'm going to go with it since it's working.

To quote a wise old adage: If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

Happy New Year

2012-01-01T00:37:00.005-05:00

Happy New Year to one and all!

I hope that 2012 brings you joy, love, and peace. May it be exciting and full of laughter with loved ones!

Snow Watch: A Family Tradition

2011-12-28T18:37:00.002-05:00

The holidays are over ... for the most part. The Christmas parties are over. The presents have been opened. The food eaten. The laughter has faded, but the good memories remain. Looking ahead, my slate is clear except for my brother's birthday coming up this weekend. Again, there will be food with cake and bad singing. There will be presents and laughter and games.

Looking out my office window as the sky grows dark, I am somewhat saddened that there has been no snow. Now, I'm not looking for or expecting a blizzard like they get north of me. We've had a few measly flakes that seem to melt before even touching the ground. I'm looking for something a little more than a dusting, where I see a solid blanket of white rolling over the earth. The Cincinnati area is a strange one when it comes to weather. The running joke is that it's the one place where you can use the air conditioner and the heater in your car on the same day. I've done Christmas shopping in December with the top on my old convertible down and I've slogged through a foot of snow to shop for presents.

But there's something about the holiday season that has you dreaming of snow. Maybe it's all the songs about a White Christmas and sleigh bells that gets to me.

I grew up in a crowded little town called Latonia, which was surrounded by a bigger crowded city called Covington, which was just outside a large crowded city called Cincinnati. The houses were old and simple and close together. The backyards were bounded by chain-link fences to keep in the kids and dogs. Driveways were rare, resulting in most people parking on street when they got home from work. During the summer, moms gathered together in little huddles on the sidewalks, gossiping, exchanging recipes, and complaining about work. Dads mowed the lawns and all the kids on the street knew it was time to come in when the street lamps flickered on as the sun set.

During the winter, everyone huddled inside, praying the heater would hold out and you wouldn't have to throw on another pair of socks so you could sleep through the night without your toes freezing. We didn't see our neighbors until the thaw, with life becoming focused on school and work.

And then somewhere along the way, my parents had a great idea. Now, so many years later, I don't know who thought of it, but it really was brilliant. It was winter in our little crowded neighborhood and the city had just taken on its first real blanket of snow. It wasn't much. Probably less than an inch. But it was enough to cover the grass and the steps and the sidewalks. My father gathered up some old pieces of wood that had been laying around our backyard while my mom made up a batch of hot chocolate.

My oldest brother and I scattered, hitting our friends' houses (because we were too young to use the phone and besides, it was just faster to run, right?) and told them to dress warm and come down to our house with an old wire hanger. By the time my brother and I got back, the fire was snapping in the pit my Dad had made and my mom was carrying out a large container of hot chocolate and two bags of marshmallows. Sticks from trees kept breaking and we didn't have fancy roasters you might find at camping stores. So we straightened out old wire clothes hangers and put marshmallows on the end. (Sure, it might sound dangerous, but this was in the old days before kids were put in bubble wrap before going out to play) For the next couple hours, the parents chatted easily over hot chocolate while occasionally yelling at a kid to stop running around with a flaming marshmallow. And then, when it got late and too cold to move and we all had to go to bed for school the next day, everyone left. It was over until the next year when the first real snow covered the ground.

The next year, even more kids came to the first snow marshmallow roast. Kids that my brother and I knew but didn't necessarily play with. But no one minded. Everyone on the street was welcome to stand by the fire, roasting a marshmallow while sipping hot chocolate and chatting with friends and neighbors they hadn't seen in a few months.

It wasn't until years later that I came to realize how important that tradition was to all the kids on the street. My family moved away after enjoying that tradition for several years and I ran into some kids (now grown adults) who I knew on that street in Latonia. They told me stories of how they would call my house when the first flakes starting falling to find out if my father would declare this "The First Snow Of The Year". I heard tales of how the marshmallow roast was the one thing they looked forward to each winter besides Christmas.

Now, a couple decades later, I have to say that those memories of standing in the dark next to neighbors, watching the fire flicker around my marshmallow as I slowly turned it, rise in my mind every December and January as I look out the window, watching for the first snow. Old traditions like hanging stockings, turkey dinners, and trimming trees are nice, but it's the ones that your family creates that can often be the best.

Merry Christmas

2011-12-25T10:00:00.000-05:00

It's here. It's finally here. The doors have been flung open to welcome the revelers and the bells are chiming in merriment to all far and wide. Merry Christmas! Merry Christmas to all! May peace and joy bless your homes regardless of what holiday you celebrate!

I'm snuggled in with my family today, enjoying this time together. We're healthy, happy, and together for another holiday. The rest of the world can wait.

I want to leave you with this video today to celebrate the beauty of the season. "Carol of the Bells" has always been my favorite of all the Christmas carols. I can feel the melody moving in time with my heartbeat and the song causes my soul to dance in delicate pirouettes in my chest. I recently discovered this unique version and I think you'll enjoy it.

Happy Holidays!
Merry Christmas!
And may peace be with you and your family.

Night Before Christmas Silliness

2011-12-24T10:00:00.000-05:00

If you're a celebrator of Christmas like my family, Christmas Eve was always a frustrating time. You were soooooo close to Christmas you could practically taste it and it tasted good. Your fingers tingled from wanting to tear open the wrapping paper on those gifts that had been stacked under the tree for DAYS. There was also the promise of a stocking filled with candy. I don't know about in your household, but when I was a kid, Santa always took a perverse joy in putting a large piece of fruit (usually an orange or apple) in the bottom of my stocking. The fruit was quickly handed over to Mom while we dug into our stockings, looking for our favorite candy. Me? Anything with chocolate.

Christmas Eve was usually quiet. Family gatherings weren't held until Christmas so it was just my brothers and myself wandering around the house, occasionally pausing in front of the tree to think about which gift we wanted to open first. There were cartoons that still needed to be watched and Christmas albums to play on the record player. Christmas Eve was the calm before the storm.

So as families around the world prepare to launch into their Christmas Day festivities, I thought I would be leave you with a couple videos to celebrate the season. The first is a brief clip from my trip to the Cincinnati Zoo Festival of Lights celebration a couple years ago. The entire zoo is covered in lights of all colors. There are light waterfalls and light animals and light tunnels. Not only do you get to spend the evening looking at animals but you see the zoo glowing in its holiday display. This year when we went the weather wasn't too cold. However, the year I took the video, the weather was FREEZING. And for some reason, I decided that we had to ride the little train around the zoo so we could enjoy the lights in a constant frigid breeze.

The second video is of Simon's Cat. This is one of my favorite ongoing YouTube series focused on this curious but destructive cat. I will admit that I've had this fear with my own cats, but I've been lucky. Beyond occasionally sniffing at an ornament, they've left the tree alone.

And the last thing I have is a link to a unique holiday poem. If you like your urban fantasy, Kim Harrison has written a parody of Twas the Night Before Christmas featuring the characters from her Hollows series. If you'd like to read it, check it out here.

Happy Holidays!

Holiday Book Deals Continued

2011-12-23T10:00:00.000-05:00

It's the last days before Christmas and I am happy to say that I'm not spending them at the shopping malls and packed stores looking for those last-minute gifts. (Though, I am sending warm thoughts to all those poor souls who are.) The baking continues in the Drake household. I recently tackled chocolate chip cookies and I'm thinking of making some peanut butter chip cookies for my brother's birthday on December 31. My containers are so filled with cookies, muffins, and candy that I'm starting to crave celery. Scary, I know.

My holiday rituals are nearly complete. I've shopped, wrapped, and trimmed the tree. I've had dinner with my mom's side of the family. I've gone to the Krohn Conservatory holiday display. I've gone to the Cincinnati Zoo Festival of Lights. And I've watched White Christmas with Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye.

What's left?
Watching A Christmas Story with my husband.
Breakfast with my family on Christmas day.
Watching National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation with my parents.
Enjoy the peace and love of the season.

Part of that peace comes with settling in to enjoy a good book. There are still tons of great deals to be had on e-books. I stumbled across this link just the other day to Dear Author, where the writer lists a long collection of books that are one sale for $1-2. You can't miss out on something like that! I've already bought several books and I might check the list one last time.

Avon Books continues with its 12 Days of Christmas Sale. You can check out the list here on Facebook, or at the Avon Romance Blog, or if you're on Twitter, just follow Avonbooks for regular updates.

Of course, my own imprint Harper Voyager is having its own celebration. Check out their list of books for sale at their new website.

And finally, if you're more interested in just winning books instead of buying them at bargain prices, I suggest you wander over to Supernatural Underground.

Holiday Book Deals

2011-12-20T14:50:00.002-05:00

The holidays are a time of getting together with family, eating too much food, and finding great deals on e-books! I am excited to report that Harper Voyager and Avon are running some fantastic deals right now on some awesome e-books, and you don't want to miss out.

Do you have that friend who has yet to start the Dark Days series? Do they need a copy of Nightwalker, but haven't bought it for their e-reader yet? Well, the book is now available for only $1.99. Such a small cost for the start of a great vampire series.

Also, don't forget that The Dead, the Damned, and the Forgotten will be coming out at the end of January and it is only $0.99 for the novella (previously released in the Unbound anthology). This prequel is a great way to get someone hooked to the series.

Do you need some other fantastic sci-fi, fantasy, urban fantasy books to read? I thought you did. Harper Voyager is offering great books from Kim Harrison, Richard Kadrey, Vicki Pettersson, and more for $1.99 or less. So hurry over and treat yourself or a friend to some fantastic books!

Wait! You need a little romance to get through the holidays. I completely understand. Avon is hosting a 12 days of Christmas sale and you don't want to miss it! They are also releasing several e-books for only $1.99. These books are from authors such as Kerrelyn Sparks, Terri Garey, Johanna Lindsey, Lynsay Sands, and many more.

With your holiday shopping done, the tree is trimmed, and the pantry is filled, why don't you load up on some great books. You can snuggle up and lose yourself for a few hours (or days) in a world of magic, danger, and love.

A Holiday Tradition

2011-12-16T14:58:00.000-05:00

Every family has their holiday traditions. They could be big or small, but they are always treasured.

Yesterday, I enjoyed one of my all-time favorites: a trip to the Krohn Conservatory to see their holiday display. The Krohn Conservatory is an exquisite glass hothouse that contains a vast collection of delicate and exotic plants. I have been going to the Conservatory since I was very young. My parents would take us every year and my brothers and I would get a new ornament we picked out for the Christmas tree. I looked forward to it every year; more so than the trips to the zoo for the Festival of Lights and walks through downtown Cincinnati to see the window displays.

There's something so peaceful about the Conservatory. Voices aren't raised and the whole place has a hushed, almost reverent feel to it as you walk through, looking at the displays. When I step into the Conservatory, I can feel just a warmth in my soul. It's beauty. It's good memories. It's home.

As you walk in the door to the Conservatory, there's always a giant Christmas tree that is covered in hand-made ornaments. Most of the ornaments are made from leaves, nuts, and bits of twigs. I find myself standing before the tree for several minutes, trying to see each ornament on the tree, but my family is always anxious to move along to the main exhibit hall, where they have the giant poinsettia tree and trains.

This year's exhibit was entitled: Trains, Trestles, and Traditions. For several years, the Conservatory displayed a giant rotating music box that depicted places in Cincinnati. It wasn't there this year, but the display they had was absolutely beautiful. They had several trains running around the exhibit hall and little buildings made to resemble places that were well-known around the city. The small incline trolley is a replica of the incline that use to run up Mt. Adams many years ago.

Also, here's another well-known building for Cincinnati. The rounded building in the background of this picture is Union Terminal. Long ago, it was one the main train station for the city. Many people were shipped out to fight in World War II from this terminal many year ago, and some say it is now haunted. The Union Terminal is still a train station, but it also houses the local history museum and Omnimax theater. It's an exquisite building to visit if you're ever in town.

And a few places that aren't quite a part of Cincinnati, but beautiful all the same. I'm not quite sure why they included this unless it's supposed to be a replica of the Tower at King's Island, which is a smaller replica of the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France. Regardless, it is cool all the same.

From the exhibit hall, you find into the desert exhibit, which is filled with beautiful cacti and spiked plants. This room is fun because I've seen the occasional little animal squirreled away during the summer. The summer sees doors opened, allowing birds to flit in. I've seen little lizards creeping along between the cactus and even a small family of what looked to be quails (Take this with a grain of salt, I don't know anything about birds. They were at least small and quail-like.) Throughout the desert room, they have little hand-made ornament hanging from some of the larger plants, adding a little color to the thick green room.

The desert room leads to an enclosed Orchid Exhibit. This is the newest room of the Conservatory, being less than a decade old, I believe. It is humid and warm, making you regret your winter coat, but it is worth the short jaunt through. Filled with delicate orchids, this room is an explosion of color. I love orchids, but I would never attempt to grow one. I'm sure that if I killed the plant, I would be heartbroken, so I happily visit the Conservatory to get my fill of the lovely plants.

The Orchid Exhibit leads to the Bonsai Room, which is also relatively new. The local Bonsai society allows the Conservatory to display their collection and it is amazing. They have some plants there that are over fifty years old and have been in training for more years than I have been alive. I have included the picture of the one bonsai that I look forward to seeing every time I visit Krohn. I believe it is called The Grove. My mind just explodes with fantastical ideas when I see it. I can so easily imagine a little pixie or faerie living among the tiny trees.

From the Bonsai Room, you walk out and can then visit the two rainforest rooms. Both have water displays containing enormous koi fish as well as a few turtles. At the end of one room, there is a large waterfall that you can walk behind through this stone tunnel. There's also a banana tree. When the world is cold and gray, the Conservatory is a place within the city you can go and be enveloped in a world of warmth and green. It's stepping into another world, like stepping into a safe jungle where you can explore without the worry of contracting malaria or getting eaten by a jaguar.

After you're done with the Conservatory tour, you can stop outside to see the nativity scene with real animals and life-sized wax figures. This nativity scene first appeared in Cincinnati in the late 1930s and was moved to the Krohn Conservatory in 1967. Regardless of your religious beliefs, it is a neat exhibit. I just like to stand outside the exhibit and "baaa" at the sheep.

If you've enjoyed my tour of Krohn Conservatory and live relatively close to Cincinnati, Ohio, I suggest that you go check it out! Make this a part of your family's holiday traditions. If you don't live close, but would like to see more, here's a video I did a few years ago to show off the Conservatory, which was included in Pray for Dawn.

Tonight, my mother's side of the family is gathering for their Christmas celebration. There will be food, gifts, games, and lots of laughter. My O.H. is cooking a cheesy potato casserole to take and I've been baking a little bit all week. The presents are mostly wrapped and I'm getting ready to start the self-beautification process.

To close for the week, let me leave you with a few links.

First, pay a visit to Literary Escapism. This post not only includes updates on many great authors, but it appears that Avon Books is running an awesome sale that you want to check out! I'll be picking up a few books myself.

Speaking of book deals, I heard from my editor today. She said that Voyager (my imprint publisher) is going to be running an e-book sale starting on Monday. Nighwalker will be included, selling for $0.99 until early February. I'll post more details soon!

Second, be sure to stop by Supernatural Underground everyday until Christmas as the authors there will be giving away lots of books! You don't want to miss out!

New Series Excerpts

2011-12-13T17:02:00.000-05:00

I have handed in the short story to my editor and agent after making one last revision/edit. I think it actually turned out better than I had initially thought, which is good. I love the characters for this new series and I love the new world. But most of all, I LOVE my new narrator. I didn't think I would like writing from a guy's point of view as much as I do. After writing Mira for several years, I discovered with my new character that there's a lot of comments that I've held back on. If it can be believed, Gage is even more sarcastic and strange than Mira could ever be.

Could this be love? Yes, I think it is.

Next step: start plotting out the second book. I've got some vague ideas, but all of tomorrow will be white boards, post-it notes, and legal pads for notes and stray thoughts, as I organize the mass chaos into something that will make sense ... eventually.

For now, I think I will post a few excerpts from the short stories that I've been working on. The short stories are actually prequels to the first book, but you won't have to read them to understand what it happening in the book or series. (Also, the short stories are in the rough draft stage. What you read here might not actually make it into the book)

Bronx's Story -- The problem with Parker

Parker’sproblem wasn’t me. The problem withParker was that he was an incubus trying to survive in a monogamousrelationship. And me waking up druggedin a women’s bathroom only proved that it wasn’t working.

Trixie's Story -- A visit to see Chang

Atjust after ten in the evening, business was starting to pick up at DiamondDolls. I paid the five-dollar cover andslid through the club, trying to refrain from touching anything while notlooking at anyone directly. This wasn’tthe type of place that you wanted to see anyone, let alone be seen. The club was worn and dingy from its scarredand battered tables to its scarred and battered dancers.
ButDiamond Dolls made the perfect entrance into Chang’s black marketoperation. If you had the stomach tomake it through the strip club and the balls to get past his dogs, then you hada shot at seeing Chang. Even with anintroduction from my tattooing mentor, it had taken me the better part of fouryears to get in to see Chang. The manmade you jump through ridiculous hoops, but it was so worth it. He could get his bony hands on anything youcould imagine – it just cost you. I hada feeling that if I wasn’t careful, he was going to end up with a part of mysoul one day.

Trixie's Story -- A visit to some other friends

In this world, it’s usually pretty hard to get a strangelook while in the grocery store, even if it was nearly midnight. You can walk in wearing feetie pajamas coveredin little yellow ducks and pick up a quart of blood, a container of ram hearts,and crackers, and no one will bat an eye at it. However, if you walk in and pick up more than a dozen boxes of cerealand nothing else, apparently the cashier is going to look at you like you’rethe local pedophile throwing a slumber party. I just smiled at the nosy bitch as I paid. To hell with them. I had a meeting and I wasn’t about to walk inempty handed.

I hope you enjoyed those tidbits. Gage has been a lot of fun and I can't wait for you to meet him.

The Story Is Done, Man!

2011-12-12T14:34:00.000-05:00

The rough draft of the second short story is finally finished. This one got totally out of control. The sad thing is that the story is still relatively tight despite it's length. There is one minor subplot that could be cut out -- which is probably the first sign of a long short story, when it has subplots -- but I want to keep it because it helps with some character development that is needed to get the short story to line up with the first book.

When I agreed to these short stories, my publisher had asked for something around 15,000 words. That is a good length for a short story. When I finished the first one at around 23,000 words, I knew that I was in trouble. As I worked on the second one, I initially thought it was going to run short. Boy, I was wrong! I just finished the rough draft at 30,813 words.

I'm going to take a short break. I've got an episode of "Once Upon a Time" waiting on my DVR, gifts that need wrapping, and cookies that need baking. Then I'll come back in the evening and finish the revision before shipping it off to my editor. The stories I usually write usually get more edits, but I'm running late at the moment and need to move on to my next book.

After the revision, I'll probably spend a little time reading the first book and making some plot notes for the next book. While both books in the series are being written as stand-alone books, there will be things that tie them together. For the next couple of days, it will just be me, a couple of white boards, and a legal pad as I plot out the next book.

Wish me luck!

Growling At My Computer

2011-12-07T16:45:00.001-05:00

It has been a struggle to get the words on the screen today. My mind is just a blank and it doesn't help that I'm heading into the climax of the story. I think this means that there's going to be some heavy revisions when this one is done.

I don't have much to report today. It was my blog day over at Supernatural Underground, so if you want more of my rambling then head on over to see my holiday post. Don't worry. There isn't a lot of me, but there are a few funny videos to help get you through the day.

Bah! Humbug!

That's all I've got. The rain has stopped after three days but the skies remain gray. The dog is sleeping in my office and my O.H. is cursing at his video game. Yep, it's just another normal day at chez Drake.

Down with the Evil Internet

2011-12-06T14:51:00.001-05:00

There are slim moments in time when I hate the Internet. I hate computers. I hate technology and some mean people.

My computer was hit with a nasty piece of malware last night. I don't know how I got it. It wasn't from going somewhere I wasn't supposed to or opening something I shouldn't have. I think it was just Lady Luck finally shining her light down on me. Regardless, my computer was down and out for several hours last night as the nasty little bug was eradicated. This morning was spent shoring up my defenses once again and running a few checks to make sure that no other little bugs were lingering.

We're back online and ready to tackle the day now, but it's moments like this that force people to finally slow down and think about what they are doing and the decisions they have made.

As a result, I am seriously thinking of disconnecting the computer that I use for writing from the Internet completely. Pull the plug and just write. I've got an iPad and a laptop nearby if I need to do some research or check email, but by taking the Internet away from the computer I am seated at means that I have to work harder at the distraction and procrastination. It should also succeed in protecting my baby against another infection. Good idea? The bad part: I would be online less for comments on Facebook and Twitter.

Something to think about.

In the meantime, I think we may have a new title for the first book in my new series. My editor is taking it before the sale/marketing team today and I've got my fingers crossed. I love the new title, which my O.H. brilliantly came up with. Fingers crossed!!

Link Extravaganza

2011-12-05T15:11:00.001-05:00

I write. I edit. I eat chocolate doughnuts. This is my life.

I don't have much to report today, so I thought I would pass along a pile of links to keep you busy throughout the day.

E-book pre-order.

Do you own an e-reader and want a copy of the prequel story to the Dark Days series? Do you know a friend who has a kindle and believe they would love the Dark Days series? My prequel story "The Dead, The Damned And The Forgotten" is now available for pre-order on Amazon. And it only costs $0.99! (This is the same story that appeared in the Unbound anthology)

The Dead, The Damned And The Forgotten -- Kindle

No kindle? Oh! You have a Nook! Here's the link for you:

The Dead, the Damned And The Forgotten -- Nook

I'm sure that it will be showing up in other e-book seller locations soon.

Giveaways

With the holiday season settling upon us, there are a number of bloggers that are hosting book giveaways. This is a great way to get your hands on some new books that you might not have otherwise tried. Here are a couple that I have recently run across.

Geeky Blogger's Book Blog: 40 for 40 giveaway

Rosey's Review: Epic 2011 Giveaway

Also, stayed tuned to the Supernatural Underground blog, as I believe that a giveaway is in the works. Besides, you need to be reading this blog anyway since the authors there are frequently giving away goodies and announcing big news along with giving writing insight into their habits and worlds.

For Fun

Do you need a laugh today? A little something to pick up your spirits so you can push through? I thought so. Your old friend Jocelynn is here to give you a hand with a few links.

Autocorrect: I read these and I cry every time.

Darn You Autocorrect! The 25 Funniest Autocorrect mistakes of the year

HISHE video -- I'm totally addicted to this group

Here's a Penny Arcade comic for the lovers of video games
Penny Arcade

Twitter fun: Pride and Prejudice on Twitter
Under the Mad Hat
Limeshot

I think that's enough links from me. Have a great day!

NaNoWriMo Fail: Lessons Learned

2011-12-01T13:47:00.001-05:00

NaNoWriMo didn't turn out as good as I had hoped.
I admit defeat and I have no one to blame but myself.
I did better than last year, but last year I had book edits land in my lap, which stopped me from making my goal of 50,000 words. This year? Not enough planning.

My final total: 31,430 (roughly 63%) The positive is that I finished one short story and got most of a second short story completed.

It's frustrating that I didn't meet the 50,000 word goal, but it's more important that I learned something about why I didn't make the goal.

The first and probably most important lesson was that I need to turn off the Internet when I'm working. The Internet is a great distraction and procrastination tool. When the words start to slow down, I find myself wandering off to the Internet and dawdling around on various sites. In the blink of an eye, I've wasted 30 minutes and can't get them back. The Internet must go off because I simply don't have the self-control to stop myself.

The second lesson is to accept the time when I feel the need to write. I've lately shifted to a strange sleep schedule. I have a lot of trouble falling asleep before six in the morning and I find that I have some very productive writing between one and five in the morning. It bothers me because I want to be on the same schedule as everyone else, but it's just not working out like that. The thing to do: accept it and move on. The important thing is to get the writing done and not worry about what time I'm doing the writing.

The final lesson: plan ahead. Before I write a book, I have the entire story plotted out. I have a list of how I am going to get from Point A to Point Z with all the major points in between laid out. Usually the only thing that isn't detailed out is the final fight scene, but that develops as the book develops. I have not been so detailed when plotting out my short stories. I have the crux of the problem laid out but not how I'm going to fix it. That resulted in several days of me staring at the computer, trying to figure out what I'm going to do next.

I used to write by the seat of my pants, but that resulted in a lot of down time as I paused to figure out the next step. After seven books and three novellas, I've learned that I need a detailed outline before I open that blank page and start typing. In the end, it saves time and keeps me moving forward.

Everyone has different tricks that work for them when it comes to writing. Hopefully some of my lessons will work for you and you won't have to learn them the hard way like I did.

Today, I'm working on the last two chapters of my second short story and also coming up with a list of potential titles for the first book in the Tattoo Artist series.

Change Happens

2011-11-29T21:25:00.001-05:00

If I've learned anything over the past several years since becoming published it's that things change ... frequently and without warning ... in the publishing industry. Best advice: roll with the changes.

I can't tell much at the moment as things are still being nailed down at my publisher, but the release date of my first book has been pushed back to October from the end of June. Nothing is wrong with the book. It has been accepted for publication and is moving on to the copyedit stage. We are taking another look at the format and doing some collective thinking. Trust me: this is a good thing. We are also still tinkering with the title of the first book. When things are nailed down, I'll pass the news along.

Since readers will have to wait longer for a new book, I will work on trying to come up with a little extra something for 2012 to help tide you over until the first book hits the shelves and e-readers. But 2012 won't be a bad year. We've got:

A. audiobooks for Dark Days series being produced
B. 1 more prequel novella for the Dark Days series to be released
C. 2 short stories for the Tattoo Artist series to be released
D. 1 new book to be released
E. new website to be launched

Oh, I didn't mention that? Yes, my web designer is working on a new website for me, which will include awesome background information for both the Dark Days series and the new Tattoo Artist series. We are aiming for a spring launch.

You want more?

Okay, since you asked so nicely. I'll see what I can do.

Thank You

2011-11-24T14:06:00.001-05:00

Stopping by quickly to wish everyone a wonderful Happy Thanksgiving! I'm packing up the Mini today and we're heading out to my aunt's to gorge ourselves on turkey and other goodies. Personally, I'm hoping for that fruit dish with those little marshmellows. I only get it for Thanksgiving and I spend most of the year looking forward to it. I also need to dig up a game to take for evening entertainment.

But to the important part: the thanks. Today is a day to remember to stop and be grateful for all the things that we have. I am thankful for my loving, supportive family and my wonderful new husband who makes my life a joy. I am thankful for my adorable Max and my sometimes-sweet Demona and Harley.

I am thankful for my amazing agent and my resourceful editor. Without them, I never would have gotten my work into the hands of readers. Speaking of which, I am so thankful for my amazing readers. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you for all your love, support, encouragement, and enthusiasm. Thank you for all your notes, telling me how much you love the characters and the worlds they inhabit. Thank you for all you comments and questions. Thank you for being there.

Happy Thanksgiving!

The Night Shift

2011-11-22T22:03:00.001-05:00

The house is quiet.
The dog is asleep on the floor near my desk.
The cats are lurking in the bedroom.
The dishwasher swishes and the washing machine hums.
It's time to get writing.

I've discovered that my internal clock is now tuned to the late evening hours. I shuffle to the computer in the late morning and early afternoon, checking email and generally making sure that the world hasn't blown up around me, but the words are stuck in a brain that isn't ready to churn. Yet, when the sun sets and the house grows quiet, all the words come rushing back, pouring from my mind, down my arms, and out the tips of my fingers. For some strange reason, these stories for the new series only want to be written at night.

I'm nearing the last few chapters of the short story that I am working on. I am hopeful that I can get it done by Friday and then I can use the weekend to map out the bulk of the plot for the second Tattoo Artist book. Last week did not turn out how I hoped, but I'm sticking to my guns this week. Thursday may prove to be the only day that I can't sit down at my computer.

In the meantime, I'm heading back into Low Town and Gage's problems. We're leaving his black market connection and we're looking for some information. Wish us luck.

Where'd The Time Go?

2011-11-18T13:10:00.001-05:00

Where did this week go?
I remember Monday, then there was this blur that had nothing to do with alcohol and then BOOM! It's Friday. Well, that's just craptastic. I was hoping to be a little more productive this week and it just didn't happen. Don't get me wrong. I got stuff done, like cleaning the kitchen, the laundry is done (though not completely put away), and I finally got some of the Christmas decorations organized into plastic bins. But writing? Not as much as I wanted.

I am happy to report that I have seen the cover for the e-book of my first Dark Days series prequel novella. "The Dead, The Damned And The Forgotten" was originally released in the Unbound anthology, but it is being re-released as a stand-alone e-book novella on January 11, 2012 and the cover is so awesome! So, if you're missing Mira and haven't picked up a copy of Unbound, then you will get the chance to read a little more in January.

Also, do you like audiobooks? Do you know someone who would like the Dark Days series, but doesn't read? My publisher is hard at work on releasing the rest of the series on audiobook. I have seen the last cover for the audiobooks. I don't have any dates yet as to when they will be released, but I will report back as soon as I hear something.

What I know about audiobooks couldn't fill a thimble. I'm strange. I don't like listening to books and I've actually never listened to my own books -- I'm too self-conscious and I start criticizing every word I hear so it's best if I don't. However, Nightwalker and Wait for Dusk are already available and they are working on the other four. From what I've seen of the new covers, Hillary Huber is reading the new ones and she's read books for Lara Adrian and Larissa Ione.

For those interested, I know that Audible is a popular site for audiobooks, so here is a link to the audiobooks that I have available. Audible. If you know of another site that legally provides audiobooks, please leave a comment and I'll put the info on my blog.

In addition, we've got other things in the works for 2012. Here's a quick list:

Dark Days re-release of novella prequel: "The Dead, The Damned And The Forgotten" : Jan. 11
Dark Days release of novella prequel: "Bound To Me" : release date TBD
Tattoo Artist release of novella prequel: "Bronx's Story" : release date TBD (spring 2012)
Tattoo Artist release of novella prequel: "Trixie's Story" : release date TBD (spring 2012)
Angel Wings: A Tattoo Artist Story (a novel): June 26

And then if we're lucky, we'll also have an audiobook or two.

2012 is going to be a busy year. I better get back to work and finish one item on that list.

One Down, One To Go

2011-11-14T14:01:00.001-05:00

I survived the weekend. I've had better weekends, but then I'm pretty sure I've had worse as well... so we're just going to move on and pray that the week proves to be more enjoyable and productive.

Thanks to all who helped with my call for suggestions on what to name my succubus-run brothel. I finished my edits on the first short story, which has been titled The Asylum Interviews: Bronx's Story (of course, that's the title before my editor get her hands on it. It usually changes after that). The brothel has been named Miss Holly's Hot House, but it may change as the story will still go through several edits before being released in spring 2012. But as names go, I'm pretty pleased with it at the moment.

I'm changing gears and heading back into the second short story today. I worked on the plotting and figured out the end. I am just missing a section in the middle that will encompass two to three chapters, but I think it will come to me soon. I am aiming for the second short story to be as long as the first, which is sitting about just under 80 pages. The one thing that has surprised me so far is how much Trixie and Gage dislike each other upon first meeting. I'm not pleased considering that I need to bring them around since they will be working with each other -- or at least, that's the goal.

Odd moment of the weekend: I took my Mini Cooper into the shop for an oil change and quick check-up. I was sitting in the crowded waiting room, working on my plotting when I hit a stopping point and needed a little help. You can't imagine how many strange looks I got when I called my O.H. and asked him what kind of assault charges would need to be leveled on a vampire to get him thrown in jail for a few years. I've decided that authors really get to have some of the most interesting conversations.

Well, it's time to get at it. I'm running behind on my NaNoWriMo since I haven't written any fresh words in three days. It shouldn't be too hard to catch up since my goal is to finish writing the short story by Friday so I can hand it in next Monday. Keep your fingers crossed!

Today, I leave you with a picture of our puppy Max as he plays with his new favorite toy, a giraffe named Geoffrey. He carries it around the house and sleeps with it, using it as a pillow.

And yes, in the background, you can see the whiteboard I am using to make notes for the second short story. Sorry, no big plot surprised revealed today.

Brothels & World Domination

2011-11-09T22:22:00.001-05:00

Sorry about the lack of a post yesterday. I was working late and when I took a break to finally write my blog post I saw that it was already after midnight so I scrapped it until now. Unfortunately, I don't have much to report. I continued to chip away the new second short story. I have finished the first chapter and I'm hoping to complete the second chapter tomorrow. The bad part is that I don't have anything plotted out after the second chapter. I might find myself staring at my white board again on Friday. I've got some ideas of what I want the problem for the story to be, but I haven't figured out how to solve it. Well, I know how to solve it, but it would only take one chapter, making this story way too short.

As for NaNoWriMo, I have somehow managed to stay on target. My word count total sits at 14,965 words, which is only 35 words behind where I should be. I think I can pick up those extra words tomorrow and get a little ahead. I need to be ahead if I'm going to pause on Friday for plotting.

My current plan is to write chapter 2 on Thursday, plot on Friday, start chapter 3 on Friday, finish chapter 3 and start chapter 4 on Saturday, and edit the first short story on Sunday. It will have been one week since I finished it, allowing me to come at it with somewhat fresh eyes.

The only major thing I think I need to do to it is come up with a name for a brothel. Do you have some suggestions for me? Please...! It's a succubus run and owned brothel where all the employees are incubus or succubus. I need a name. Other details: it's in a Victorian-style mansion on a quiet, oak-lined residential street. So subtle would be nice, but I also appreciate cheeky puns.

Finally, while at the grocery today, my O.H. tried his hand at the claw game and won me a Stewie doll from Family Guy! He is so cute and I love Family Guy, particularly Stewie and Brian. I don't currently have a Brian, but he seems to be making friends with my Devil Dog, which I received for Valentine's Day last year.

I'm thinking that Stewie may start to travel with me. His shirt says "World Domination" and that has always been his goal. Well, that and to kill his mother Lois. So, what better way to take over the world than to travel with an author as he conquers each city. I also love the Stewie has a tattoo on his arm. It's a heart with "Mom" written across it. Very ironic and fitting for my new series. Yes, little Stewie will make a nice addition to my growing army of minions.

Look Over There

2011-11-07T21:55:00.001-05:00

Okay, so I'm not talking much over here today, because I did my monthly blog post over there: Supernatural Underground. For my monthly blog post, I gave a little insight as to how and where the new Tattoo Artist series was conceived (get your mind out of the gutter!). I'll be giving more gory details later on how it was born.

In the meantime, I finished the rough draft of the first short story on Sunday. I was aiming for 15,000 words and I finished with more than 23,000 words. Yeah, well, I can't write short. Today was spent staring at the wall ... er... I mean trying to plot out the second story. I've got probably one chapter mapped out, which isn't too good since I need about eight chapters. But I think we'll get to meet one of Gage's ex-girlfriends in this story. **rubs hands together** Gonna be interesting, I think.

Now, for dinner and a little more plotting and scheming.

Matching Music to Mood

2011-11-04T17:10:00.000-04:00

The words, they are a flowin'. I'm making some serious headway on the short story, which took an unexpectedly dark turn but I think we're back on track again. As long as I can keep my storyteller under a tight leash, I think I've got just one more chapter to write before it is done. With any luck, the first short story will be finished this weekend and the second story will be loosely outlined as well so I can start writing fresh on Monday.

Now that my new main character Gage and I have been spending so much time together, I thought it was time for us to sit down and make out a playlist. It's easier to stay in his mindset if I've got his music playing in the background. For one thing, it keeps me from channeling other characters when things take a dark turn.

So, my friend Gage pulled up a chair and plopped his feet down on the edge of my desk, ready to "help." Yeah, it turns out that we don't always see eye-to-eye when it comes to music. There are songs he likes to listen to that I don't like writing to. It's too much of a distraction. Oddly, the music that he usually listens to is rather different than what Mira, my nightwalker, enjoyed. When I was working on the Dark Days series, it was a lot of Nine Inch Nails, Marilyn Manson, Korn, Linkin Park, and a selection of movie scores such as Queen of the Damned, Underworld, and Constantine.

Gage will NOT let me listen to movie scores. I've tried several times and been forced to change music before I could finish a paragraph. However, we've started to come up with a working list. Here's a sneak peek at an early version:

Everyday I'm in a good mood music:

Shaman's Harvest
Stone Temple Pilots
Violent Femmes
White Zombie/Rob Zombie
Puddle of Mudd
Cage the Elephant
Buckcherry
Bloodhound Gang*
(*I can't write to this band, but I can revise to it)

I'm drinking alone and I'm in a crappy mood music:
"Freak on a Leash" by Korn
"Bleed It Out" by Linkin Park
"Golgotha Tenement Blues" by Machines of Loving Grace
"Shadow on the Run" by Black Rebel Motorcycle Club

This is just the initial list and I'm sure more music will be added to the playlist as we go. Oddly enough, Blue October didn't make the initial cut. I wrote most of the first book listening to Blue October and yet it doesn't seem to fit at the moment. I'm wondering if maybe they proved to be a transition band for me from Mira to Gage.

One last thing before I dart off, I want to pass along a link to an excellent blog entry written by Richard Kadrey on John Scalzi's blog site, Whatever. The Big Idea: Richard Kadrey is just a great call to writers to stick to their passion, love their art, and realize that it just takes time and persistence. Check it out!

NaNoWriMo & A Possible Appearance

2011-11-03T13:29:00.000-04:00

Sorry about the unexpected silence. Life reared its ugly head and took a chunk out of my bottom. I've recovered and able to sit at my desk with some comfort once again. Halloween was a barrel of fun with costumes, a party, and handing candy out to trick-or-treaters. We still have too much candy left in the house, which might explain why I'm eating warm cranberry bread and pretzel M&M's with my Mountain Dew for breakfast. Really, there are times when I think I need a babysitter because I can't be left on my own to make healthy decisions.

In the land of general updates on my stuff: the rest of the Dark Days series are being turned into audio books. So, if you know anyone who would like the series but prefers audiobooks, give them a heads up! I don't have any release dates yet but I'll post links and dates as soon as I hear them. Also, it looks like the final Dark Days novella is going to be released next year. In addition, my publisher is going to be releasing the novella that I wrote for the Unbound anthology as a stand-alone e-book. To add to the fun, 2012 will bring the release of two novellas and the first full novel for my new Tattoo Artist series.

Of course, I've got to finish writing those two novellas.

The first book has been handed in and is traveling along the editing trail. The first novella is nearly done. It was supposed to be around 15,000 words. Well, I passed that point and we're looking at another two chapters before it's over. So, it's probably going to be a little over 20,000 words before I'm done. When you're used to writing books that are approximately 115,000 words, writing "short" can prove to be really freaking hard. I could easily triple the length of the current story and I find myself constantly reining in my imagination for the sake of length.

I've got the beginnings of an idea for the second story. I know that it's supposed to focus on how Trixie got hired at Asylum by Gage. The rest is wide open. I'm using these short stories as an opportunity to get readers acquainted with the characters and the new world that the series will be centered in. I'm thinking of introducing Gage's old girlfriend in the second story. Hmmmm.....

Anyway, the important thing is that it is currently NaNoWriMo (aka National Novel Writing Month). Last year, I tried to participate but it didn't go so well. Edits popped in and other things popped up, making it hard to time when I'm going to write a book. For some reason, I'm usually not writing new content in November. Most books seem to be written during the winter and spring for me.

This year, I'm trying something new. The goal of NaNoWriMo is to write 50,000 words during a month of November on a new book. I've got several projects that are rolling through in November so my plan is to write a cumulative 50,000 words over three projects: novella #1, novella #2, and book #2. On November 1, I completed 2,850 words, putting me on the path to success. Yesterday, I had personal issues that kept me from the computer but I'm back today and ready to make up for lost ground.

If you've ever dreamed of writing a book, now is the time to jump in. Push those excuses aside and open a blank page on that computer. Just start typing those ideas. Worry about form later. That's what revisions are for.

And if you need a writing buddy, I can be found on NaNoWriMo.

Also, if you're in the Cincinnati area, I am hoping to participate in the Write-In at Altiora Coffee from 2-4 pm on Saturday, November 5. It is located at: 5034 Old Taylor Mill Road Taylor Mill, KY 41015 . In other words, I'll be sucking down coffee and frowning at my laptop for two hours, but if you stop by, I'll be happy to chat and sign books.

I think that covers it for now. I'm hoping to be back on a normal blogging schedule once again. I'm not expecting more intrusions from life, but, well, you know how that goes.

New Book Tuesday

2011-10-25T14:31:00.001-04:00

I'm noticing that Halloween tends to bring the crazy out of me. I'm not sure why, but I like it.

However, I'm going to sidle away from the crazy sauce today and talk about some more important things. Books. Yes, it's Tuesday and that means it's Book Release Day! I love Book Release Day! My wallet does not, but I do. There are a lot of great books out today that you should be snatching up. I'm not going to try to cover them all, because there's just too many. I'm only going to list the series that I am currently following.

The Hollows Insider by Kim Harrison

New York Times bestselling author Kim Harrison has won legions of fans with her sexy supernatural novels featuring bounty-hunting witch Rachel Morgan. And now comes a unique look inside her beloved Hollows series that no fan should miss. . . . The Hollows Insider

In the Hollows, the supernatural Inderlanders rule, and humanity must abide by their conventions, or else.

To survive among vampires, witches, Weres, gargoyles, trolls, fairies, and banshees—to say nothing of demons—humanity needs a guide. And now, written by Kim Harrison herself, here is an insider’s look at the supernatural world of the Hollows, from an overarching new story to character profiles, maps, spell guides, charm recipes, secret correspondence from the elusive Trent Kalamack, and much more.

The Bite Before Christmas by Lynsay Sands and Jeaniene Frost

This holiday season, join two of today’s most popular paranormal authors for a special look into their worlds, where creatures are always stirring and no one sleeps through the night. . . . The Bite Before Christmas

The Gift by Lynsay Sands
Teddy Brunswick knows about the immortals among us. He’s worked with them, called them friend—but he never counted on being snowed in with one over Christmas. Katricia Argeneau is a tasty little bundle and she seems to feel the same way about him. Problem is, he’s not sure she feels quite the same way. After all, the snowstorm has derailed her blood delivery, which leaves him the only available meal on the menu. . . .

Home for the Holidays by Jeaniene Frost
Cat and Bones are looking forward to a normal holiday—at least as “normal” as it gets for the combustible vampire couple and their otherworldly friends and family. But their yuletide plans are shattered when a stranger shows up and reveals long-buried family secrets.

Ecstasy Untamed by Pamela Palmer

They are called Feral Warriors—an elite band of immortals who can change shape at will. Sworn to rid the world of evil, consumed by sorcery and seduction, their wild natures are primed for release . . .

Shattered by recent nightmarish events, Hawke feels his bond with his animal spirit weakening—and once it breaks, he’s finished. The arrival of Faith sends his life spinning even further out of control, for although she delights him and enflames his deepest primal passions, she’s promised to Maxim, the newest Feral Warrior.

Faith is drawn to Hawke from the start, but Maxim holds her in his thrall and has secretly bent her to his malevolent will. Though gravely damaged, Hawke is the only one who can end Faith’s slavery and protect the Feral Warriors from Maxim’s evil designs. But first they both must embrace the wild . . . and surrender body and soul to a forbidden, all-consuming ecstasy.

I'm a huge fan of the Hollows series by Kim Harrison but I have fallen behind in my reading. However, I am looking forward to picking up this book (first editions glow in the dark!!). I also love Lynsay Sands so I can't wait to get my hands on this book. I haven't read Jeaniene's series yet, but I have three of her books on my TBR pile. I promise to jump in soon. I have also just started Pamela Palmer's Feral Warriors series and it is awesome. I've devoured the first two books in three days. I'll probably be finishing up the series this week.

Also, just a reminder, Richard Kadrey's Aloha from Hell came out last week. It just arrived on my doorstep so I am torn between continuing with the Feral Warriors or returning to Sandman Slim.

Aloha from Hell by Richard Kadrey

Supernatural fantasy’s greatest anti-hero goes back to hell!

In Sandman Slim Stark came back from hell for revenge.

In Kill the Dead he tackled both a zombie plague and being Lucifer’s bodyguard.

Once again all is not right in L.A. Lucifer is back in Heaven, God is on vacation, and an insane killer mounts a war against both Heaven and Hell.

Stark’s got to head back down to his old stomping grounds in Hell to rescue his long lost love, stop an insane serial killer, prevent both Good and Evil from completely destroying each other, and stop the demonic Kissi from ruining the party for everyone.

Even for Sandman Slim, that’s a tall order. And it’s only the beginning.

And finally, here's a couple things to put on your radar. Vicki Petterrson reported that her new book, The Taken is now available for pre-order on Amazon. It's currently got a publication date of June 12. This sent me searching for my own book and lo and behold: TA-DA! It's on Amazon for pre-order as well. Right now, it is titled Angel Wings, but this could potentially change. It also has a publication date of June 26, which should stay unchanged.

Darth Vader at the Zoo

2011-10-24T16:34:00.003-04:00

For anyone who was curious, I have just finished compiling the video of Darth Vader and his Clone Trooper at the zoo.

I hope you enjoy it!

First Day At New Job: Celebrity Handler

2011-10-24T13:56:00.000-04:00

Like most people, I've decided to pick up the odd job here and there to help make ends meet. Besides, you never know when you're going to get some interesting inspiration for a book. Most recently, I picked up the job of official celebrity handler. I don't want to call it an "assistant" job because it makes it sound more permanent than it is. As a handler, it is my responsibility to make sure that the celebrity gets from point A to point B on time with relative ease and no problems. I handle crowds, questions, and generally make sure that the celebrity has whatever he or she might need while in my custody.

When I got my first assignment, I was worried that I would be in for a rough day as he had the potential to be really, really high maintenance. He's sent whole armies of men to quaking in their boots, but I dove in, hopeful that a simple sightseeing trip to the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden wouldn't be too difficult.

Upon picking up Darth Vader, Lord of the Sith, I discovered that he had also decided to bring along one of his favored Clone Troopers as company. Unfortunately, the poor man had been called in on his day off and his work suit was at the cleaners. But he managed. I also discovered very quickly that Lord Vader didn't want to carry anything, preferring to keep his hands empty so my pockets were quickly loaded up with his wallet, camera, and lightsaber, which hung off a belt loop on my jeans.

Another job I quickly discovered was assuring there were no wardrobe malfunctions. I'm not accustomed to traveling with someone who wears a long cape, but it does offer some interesting complications. I held the hem as we rode up the escalator as well as spent most of my time walking behind him to make sure that no one stepped on it, like his Clone Trooper. He didn't seem to mind that it got a bit dirty at the zoo, as he informed me that the new Death Star had an excellent dry cleaner that could take care of it. He also got a nice discount since he was a genuine Sith Lord.

While I procured our tickets, the Dark Lord was kind enough to stand for some pictures and meet with some of the locals at the zoo. While not quite like the Ewoks he was more familiar with, he found that he could talk to the local peoples with ease. Though, there were more than a few that were wary of him. I think it was his size and maybe also the breathing apparatus. We found out that he was wildly popular upon arriving at the zoo as a line formed outside the entrance as fan waited to have their pictures taken with the Sith Lord. He took it all in stride so long as his Clone Trooper remained close at hand at all times. This was actually the easier part of my job as the crowds were relaxed and respectful, taking turns to meet him. He shook hands, gave high-fives, and poised for pictures with the grace you would expect from a Dark Lord.

What I wasn't expecting was to run into other Storm Troopers, Clone Troopers, and even the occasional bounty hunter, most of whom seemed to be a member of the Fett family. It seems that Darth Vader has launched an intensive search for a pair of droids. His soldiers and bounty hunters checked in on a regular basis throughout the day, but it appears that no one had seen the droid he was looking for. I didn't ask about it. I didn't want to get into the politics and I also didn't want to get saddled with looking for a pair of droids while I was trying to keep an eye on the Sith Lord. There are limitations to what I can handle.

We also encountered the occasional Jedi knight and young Yoda. I was pleased to see that since it was a Sunday and we were at the Cincinnati Zoo, the two factions had developed a "live and let live" attitude. There were a few interesting words exchanged here and there, but otherwise it was very civil and some even posed for pictures. Despite the relaxed nature of the meetings, I was glad that Lord Vader had given me his lightsaber to hold throughout the day. I didn't want to risk anyone losing a limb or life just because someone was rude enough to insult the Dark Lord on his day off. I mean, honestly, just because he's a well-known celebrity doesn't mean that we can be inconsiderate and rude to him. Besides, at this point, we had already made it around the zoo perimeter once and he hadn't force choked any one yet. And I was praying that he wouldn't, because I wasn't quite sure how I would stop him if he chose to.

Aside from meeting with his men, chatting up Jedi knights, and posing for pictures with his fan, the Dark Lord did actually get to see a few animals throughout the day. The Night Creatures exhibit was beautiful, but a bit dark for him. Apparently, his helmet keeps things quite dark and I had to physically guide him and his Clone Trooper through the exhibit. He was fond of the reptile house as well as the bears, who were munching on pumpkins. The white lions were actively roaring a greeting to the Dark Lord, but in the end, I think his favorite were the monkeys. We went through the gorilla gorge as well as past several monkey islands. He seemed quite pleased with them, allowing me to take his picture.

Also here is one final picture that I managed to snap of Lord Vader with his Clone Trooper. I think his name was Bob, but I'm not sure. He didn't talk to me much. He was more concerned with keeping the Dark Lord happy.

It was an interesting adventure. For being such a dark, looming figure, he turned out to be a pretty nice guy. He seemed to have endless patience when it came to getting his picture taken and shaking hands with his fans. He also greatly enjoyed the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden, saying that he planned to come back for next year's HallZOOween celebration. He also said that he'd be happy to have me as a handler for other trips to the Cincinnati area. I hope that he wasn't just saying that to be nice.

Pumpkin-Slaughter: Cutting and Gutting

2011-10-22T15:23:00.000-04:00

Halloween is a wonderful holiday. In my hometown, the air is getting crisp and carries with it a hint of burnt leaves and damp soil. Decorations are popping up around the neighborhood and candy has found its way into my house. Preparations are being made for costumes and parties that will include more candy and a lot of laughter.

But one of my favorite traditions is the carving of the pumpkins. There's something about scalping a giant orange gourd and reaching in through the top to pull the guts out with my bare hands. It's like a bonding moment for Mira, Rowe, and myself, as they have spent some time ripping the innards from people while I reserved my evisceration for pumpkins. The experience is very cathartic and delightfully messy.

This year, I took some pictures of myself and my Other Half gutting and carving up some helpless pumpkins for our amusement. The first picture is of this year's victim selected out of a giant cardboard box at the store. Next year, I'm thinking of ripping a pair straight from the patch.

Normally, I go for the typical jack-o-lantern look of eyes, nose, and crooked grin with missing teeth. This year, we decided to try out a stencil package with a few useful tools. It was so fun, but very hard to choose what I wanted to draw on my pumpkin.
The next shot is of the collected pumpkin guts from our two eviscerated friends. The little kit that we got came with a scraper, but I found that I still have a preference for a metal spoon with a nice edge or my fingernails. Though, it can be such a pain trying to get all those pumpkin guts out from underneath your fingernails.

And now I've got my guts and I've got my knife. I'm ready to go in with the precision of a surgeon and the enthusiasm of a maniacal mad man! Can you feel the delicious squish between your fingers? I think we need more holidays where we cut things up and put them on display for our amusement.

Here's a picture of the O.H. carving away at his pumpkin. We managed to break one of the little carving knives that we got with the set so we occasionally brought in some of the big guns ... er.. I mean knives to slice away at hard exterior to get at the soft inner tissue. As you can see from the hole, the brains have already been extracted from this poor fellow.

Not surprisingly, I decided to go with Dracula for my pumpkin carving. The big bad bloodsucker wasn't too difficult to do and I think he looks really good. Right now, I'm fighting the urge to get another pumpkin because there were a lot of other designs that I thought were awesome.

And here is the O.H.'s pumpkin. He wisely decided to go with the grim reaper and I think it looks amazing. It's properly creepy and spooky.

Our pumpkins have been gutted, cut, and carved. They arrived in my house as mere lost souls waiting to be slaughtered. They have been raised from the dead and our ready to take on the world... or maybe just our front porch as we hand out candy to the neighborhood kids.

What Halloween traditions do you have? A scary movie marathon? Costume parties? Handing out candy? Eating candy? Prowling graveyards in a white sheet? Tell me your Halloween traditions!

Preparing for Halloween

2011-10-20T19:19:00.001-04:00

Today, there was progress. And I looked down it and said it was good. I've learned that I can't work without a healthy dose of caffeine in the morning/afternoon and I have to waste an hour skimming through the Internet looking at ... essentially nothing really important. It takes 10 seconds to stumble from bed to the office but it takes an hour for my brain to kick in. I am NOT a morning person.

In the meantime, this bloody short story is going to run long and I've given up on trying to figure out how many words I'm going to be long. Right now, my main concern is trying to rein in my imagination so this story doesn't become it's own freaking book. I pulled out my Korn and Marilyn Manson music to put me in the mood for writing today. I also pulled out a kitchen timer so I could do my 1K words in 1 HR. It worked and I'm going to try that combination again after dinner to try to push through and finish the chapter I'm stuck on.

Elsewhere, Halloween preparation are starting to shape up. I don't do much decorating, though I'm thinking about it for next year. We've got the candy. We've checked on the costumes. The O.H. has his on the way in a day or two, while mine is still MIA. I may be soon looking into a back-up costume. We've even got one ordered for the mutt. I think it's going to be awesome when it arrives.

And finally, here is a picture of this year's victims. These lovely pumpkins will be sacrificed to the spirits of All Hallow's Eve. For the first time, I've got some stencils that I want to use. We'll be gutting this poor pair this weekend before heading off to the zoo. There's something so relaxing and cathartic about sticking your hands down into a pumpkin, wrapping your fist around its guts, and pulling it out. Or then again, maybe its just me. Now all I need to do is locate the candles to set these poor boys on fire.

Shoe Talk

2011-10-18T20:33:00.000-04:00

Take a load off tonight, guys. I'm here to talk about shoes. Actually, guys, you might want to stick around if you want to get a little better insight into women.

Most women love shoes. Shoes are that perfect accent to an outfit. The right pair of shoes can say so much. They can reveal interesting little insights into a person without her saying a word. I love that I can walk out in a pair of black pants and black shirt with a pair of red leather boots and BAM! It's like announcing to the world: "Hello, I'm quietly reserved, but get me alone and damn, I can set your world on fire." Or "Hello, I am forced to be in these respectable clothes, but I am still a wild child at heart."

Shoes are an excellent way to express a woman's fun side, quirky personality, or just individual sense of flare without having to worry about the rest of the outfit. What's more, shoes can express a person's no-nonsense, business first, take-no-prisoners personality. Shoes are an amazing way of expression.

I think it's part of the reason that women have stacks of shoes in their closets. It's the reason they have four sets of black pumps and two sets of red pumps (one open toe and one closed). It's why we have three sets of sandals (formal, casual, and semi-formal). It's why we wear those knee-high leather boots with the short skirt.

And while men complain about our growing collection of shoes, including the dozen pairs that we haven't worn in a year, they notice are shoes. They have to notice. We wouldn't be wearing some of the ridiculous heels that we wear if they didn't notice. They might fail to notice the new dress, but they'll stop in their tracks when they see a sexy pair of sling-back heels.

And women notice an interesting pair of shoes. I'll admit that a cool purse won't raise an eyebrow from me and I think I've seen everything that can be done with the classic little black dress. But I will always comment on a stunning pair of shoes. Shoes can say that I'm sassy, sexy, stunning, self-confident, individual, bold, sedate, playful, tough, forceful, silly, and so much more. All this and the woman has yet to even open her mouth.

Because shoes can say all those things, the wearer of the shoes can feel more confident. We can step outside of our own personal boundaries just a little bit and try new and daring things. I mean, all this has to be true because Dorothy was able to cross worlds because of a pair of flashy red shoes and some wishful thinking.

What started this ramble? I received a gift card for a shoe store. At first, I thought that I wouldn't use it right away. I didn't need any new shoes and I hadn't seen anything in a long time to tempt me. And then I saw an advertisement for boots. I have a sickness when it comes to boots. They are durable, stylish, comfortable, and appropriate for so many occasions. I love boot season. Last night I purchased two pairs of new boots for myself: one brown and one black, so I have something for nearly any occasion. The O.H. also acquired a pair of boots for himself. I'm currently searching for either a particular pair of sweet heels in my size or I'm trying to think of the name of this killer shoe website. A friend mentioned it to me a couple years ago and I'm totally blanking on the name right now. I just remember that it was an odd name.

Like most women, there comes a time in all our lives when we just need new shoes. What I marvel at is how my tastes change from year to year. Shoes that I wouldn't have touched the prior year, I need to have this year. I wonder if that's a reflection of my own personal growth and changes...

Happy shoe shopping! We'll return to our regularly scheduled broadcast tomorrow.

Look Out Batman!

2011-10-18T00:57:00.000-04:00

Angry Sigh!

I'm late. I know. I suck. I woke up feeling like crap because of a cold that I can't shake. There are moments when I'm just congested and others when I feel like I've been hit with the flu. But I'm determined to crawl back into the saddle... tomorrow. Err... actually, later today.

Today was picking up a copy of the Green Lantern movie, because we are huge superhero/comics fans in this household. I think the only one we are missing at the moment is the new Captain America movie and we're eagerly awaiting its release. We also picked up our pumpkins for jack-o-lantern carving. I may be holding a poll later to decide what my pumpkin will be carved into. I have some cool stencils I am wanting to use. I also stopped by and helped my mother design a photo book from last spring's Walt Disney World trip. Plans are in the works for a major family trip to Disney next spring.

We finished off the night standing in line at our local GameStop for the midnight release of Batman: Arkham City. Dude! It's freaking Batman! I LOVE me some Batman. It is a serious sickness that can't be helped. The previews of it that I have seen are amazing and gorgeous. I love the story of Bruce Wayne/Batman. I adore the Joker and Harley is perfectly wicked. I also love the fact that it's got Tim Drake as Robin, Catwoman, and there's rumors of a downloadable Nightwing.

Yes, it's a sickness. I won't be up late playing tonight. I've got lots of work to do the rest of the week, but I know what I'll be doing this weekend.

In the meantime, I've got a new website redesign to plan out, a book title to decide on, a short story to finish, another to write, and a book to plot out before the holiday season. Oh, and three more midnight video game releases to go to. Happy sigh. It's going to be a good winter.

Go Forth And Read

2011-10-14T13:16:00.000-04:00

Thanks for the well wishes and I'm glad that you liked the videos. I'm slowly climbing back into the saddle. I think I'm going to be working this weekend as I try to play catch-up. I'm not 100%, but I think I can get a little work done today.

Book update: We're moving forward. The first book has been accepted by my editor and it has been passed along for copyediting. When I get it back, I will be able to make changes. Not too massive, but I can insert new pages if necessary. For the most part, I'm just cleaning up language and double-checking facts at this stage.

In addition, we're thinking on cover and title. I've sent some pictures along to help get the art department thinking. I don't know what we're going for, but I want it to be pretty different from the Dark Days series. I also don't know if I'm going to have the same artist yet. But I can't wait. I love seeing the cover for a book! I've been blessed with some fantastic covers so far and I have a lot of faith in my publisher.

It has also been decided that the original title has a somewhat soft feel, so my editor and I will be brainstorming next week when she gets back from New York Comic Con about new title ideas. I'm hoping to compile a list this weekend to send her. I am never any good at coming up with titles. In six books, I have come up with one title that stuck. My editor is the brilliant one when it comes to titles.

But... while you're waiting for me to come out with something new, there are a lot of great books out there waiting to be read. Next week one of my favorite authors has a new book coming out. Have you read the Sandman Slim series by Richard Kadrey? No? What? Are you insane? For shame!

Sandman Slim is deliciously dark, sharply sarcastic, and so gritty it'll rip your face off if you're not careful. The mythology is intoxicating and the writing is spot on. Sandman Slim and Kill the Dead are already on shelves. Aloha From Hell comes out on Tuesday. I wasn't able to score an ARC, so I've got this one pre-ordered and I'm trying to clear my plate so I can dive in as soon as it arrives. His main character isn't someone that I'd want to personally know, but I wouldn't mind sitting near him at the bar while I watch him kick someone's ass.

Go forth my wonderful minions and get this series. It's so perfectly sinful that it's practically orgasmic.

Out Sick

2011-10-13T12:45:00.001-04:00

I have crawled out of bed today to tell you that I'm crawling back into bed. I'm sick. It came on fast last night. I was laying in bed watching South Park when I realized that I was feeling hot and stuffy. Less than an hour later, I was full blown sick. Sort of flu-like. I think I caught it from my niece, but seeing as she's only one, I won't punch her in the nose for it. Besides, I think she still feels worse than me.

So, today I am taking the day off. I've got some juice, a turkey sandwich, a stack of DVD's, four books, and a comfy bed waiting for me. I don't want to leave my faithful readers high and dry today so I have a couple videos.

For the gamers, I saw this while watching South Park last night and thought it was AWESOME. Tell me, how many video games can you name in this video?

And here's a video for anyone who has yet to discover Freddie Wong. His videos are highly awesome and terribly addictive.

Have a great day and stay away from sick people.

Dreaming of Tattoos

2011-10-12T13:05:00.001-04:00

Sigh.
**Shoves hands into pockets, fishes around, pulls out lint**
Yeah, I got nothing today.

I think it's time for me to give up the dream of having a normal sleep schedule. I have a wonky insomnia. I can't fall asleep at night until after three, but it's usually more like four or five when sleep finally hits. I hate it because I don't like to write past 11 at night -- I'm afraid my brain isn't awake enough for it -- and I feel like it's time wasted. I tried some over-the-counter sleeping pills the other day and that was a mistake. I was groggy and half-asleep all day regardless of how much caffeine I ingested. I've got some Sleepy Time hot tea I'm going to try, but I think I should just accept it. Asleep at 5am and awake at 11am.

Speaking of sleep, I fell asleep thinking about Gage, the main character of my new series, last night. I take this as a good sign. When I was working on the Dark Days series, I was constantly falling asleep with thoughts of Mira and Danaus. Most of it was daydreaming and asking "what if?", but it was nice to have them in my brain, allowing me to get to know them better. The characters of the Tattoo Artist hadn't been showing up until now. I think we're finally getting comfortable with each other and they are going to be more willing to tell me their secrets.

So, today I am going to a book signing and discussion featuring R.A. Salvatore. I will admit that I haven't read his books, though I own three. My O.H. is a big fan so I am taking him. I just like listening to other authors talk about their work. The worlds we create can be so real to us, and it's nice to be talking to someone who gets just as lost in their own world as I do in mine.

In another random thought, a fellow writer I am acquainted with mentioned that she's looking for a low-residency MFA program. I am debated going back to school to get a terminal degree in writing several times over the past few years. A part of me misses just being in college. But I think a larger part of me would like to pass along some of the knowledge that I've acquired over the years to other students wanting to write books. Of course, time and money are factors, but it's nice to dream.

Today will be a day of dreaming. I will dream about graduate school and dark elves and tattoo artists with little smirky smiles who are in love with blonde elves. I will dream about trolls and getting my short story done and chocolate and someone who refills my coffee cup. I will dream...

Book Trailers

2011-10-11T14:06:00.001-04:00

It's kind of funny. When I dreamed about being a published author so many years ago, my only thought was that I had to tell a great story. It was only after I got published that I learned there was a whole lot more to this author business. Telling a great story remains the most important bit, but there's a side to this business that focuses on promotion. It's one of my least favorite parts because I'm still learning things and the returns on the investment of time and money aren't always clear. I understand the importance. I have to spread the word to all near and far about the release of a book. I have to tempt people to pick it up when they've never heard of me. It's not very easy.

Despite our mutual love of books, we are a very visual people. You can tell by the amazing amount of money we devote to movies and theater. We like to see things sometimes, drawing us in a little closer. As a result, authors have gotten drawn into the business of book trailers. I've seen some astounding trailers and I've seen a lot of bad ones. But I don't know how much they are actually drawing in readers?

So, to help me decide whether to look into having a book trailer made for my new book, I need some help from my lovely readers. In the comments section of this blog, please leave your thoughts on book trailers.

Have you discovered books through the trailers?
Have you decided to buy a book because of a trailer?
Do you like book trailers?
Do you ignore trailers?
Also, are there any trailers you really like? Please leave a link or the name of the book so I can track it down.

If you would rather send me a private email on this topic, I can be reached on JocelynnDOTdrakeATgmailDOTcom .

Now, since you have agreed to help with this, I will pass these videos along. These are a few book trailers that I personally love. I have not read the books yet.

Thanks for all your help!

Lazy Weekend

2011-10-10T14:16:00.001-04:00

"Man Asleep on Couch" by Kevin Cornell

I enjoyed a blissfully quiet weekend where I accomplished NOTHING! It was awesome. I hadn't had a weekend like that in a while and I needed it. For my birthday, we were supposed to either go play Frisbee golf or go to a movie and dinner. Well, I got caught up looking for a Halloween costume, sucking up my entire day. I am happy to report that I have order a costume for myself and my O.H. No, we don't match or anything like that, but I'm also not telling. I'm hoping to post pictures for Halloween, assuming that everything arrives in time and fits properly. We did manage to get out to dinner, which was delicious, before crashing for the night.

Saturday was the Renaissance Festival. I, unfortunately, forgot my camera so I have no pictures to post. The day was warm and sunny. We enjoyed the mud show and a little of the Swordsmen show. We headed over to the joust, but my dear O.H. was concerned over my exposure to the sun so we wandered off to a shadier venue. Next year, I'm looking into getting a parasol so I can manage walking around a little better. Naturally, we did some shopping. I acquired a watch pendant, a tail, and a leather pouch. He acquired a sword and dagger. (He argued it was for his costume, but I think he just wanted another weapon.)

After the festival, we had dinner with my family. Dinner was great followed by some bad singing and my niece helping me blow out a candle on a cupcake. I received some excellent gifts -- including one that makes some my family think I'm strange because I think it's so awesome, but that's not much of a surprise. We drank some wine, burned some wood, and made a couple massive smores. It was a very good, exhausting day.

Yesterday, I did nothing. I think I wandered off the sofa a couple times to let the dog out and that was it. Played video games and watched some of True Blood season 2.

Today, I'm back to the grind. I'm hoping to finish off my short story this week so I can start planning out the second one. I need to have both shipped off to my editor before the end of November so I can take part in NaNoWriMo with my second novel in the Tattoo Artist Series. Fingers are crossed.

Birthday Fun

2011-10-07T13:32:00.003-04:00

They say it's your birthday! (insert cool guitar riff)

Yes, today is my birthday and I'm ... gonna work, eventually. I didn't get much writing done yesterday so I have to make up for a little lost time today. However, I'm thinking dinner and a movie tonight (I'm taking suggestions for both) and then tomorrow we're going up to the local Renaissance Festival before heading to my parents' for dinner. **bouncing in seat** It's going to be so much fun. I love the mud show and all the great costumes and shops. The O.H. loves the joust and the giant turkey legs. The weather is fantastic and it's going to be a great day.

I don't have much to talk about today. I have a new blog post over at Supernatural Underground on my word addiction. It was a lot of fun to write and I hope you enjoy it! If you're not already checking out the Supernatural Underground on a regular basis, add it to your list. It's a collection of paranormal writers commenting on upcoming books and events, giving away lots of stuff, and generally having fun.

So that we all get the day going with a laugh, I am happy to pass along a brand new Simon's Cat video!

Have a great day!

The Gift of Inspiration

2011-10-06T13:49:00.000-04:00

One of the greatest gifts that we have is being surrounded by people who inspire us and drive us to be better than we thought possible.

It wasn't long ago that I spent my days writing about the stock market and my night scratching out stories about vampires and other dark creatures dear to my heart. With a day job like that, it's not surprising that I spent a little time covering Apple and Pixar. I was sort of paid to keep an eye on Steve Jobs. He seemed to have limitless energy and enthusiasm for what he did; his mind always zipping off to new creations and new ways of catering to the human condition. Inventor and innovator, shaping the world in so many ways. He will be missed.

More than just inventor and pioneer, he was driving so many other people in many ways. More than just being their boss, he was both competition and inspiration for thousands. More than just creating, he drove so many people forward as they strove to create something great as well. He gave the world more than great technology and useful gadgets. He served as inspiration.

Resources

2011-10-05T15:24:00.004-04:00

Get your bookmarking finger ready. I've got some links for you.
We're back to addressing the keys to writing books and getting published. Over the past several days, I detailed information on finding an agent, outlining a book, and character development. Today, I'm going to jump out of the writing process and put some important information at your fingertips.

While the publishing industry has always been thick with competition and the task of writing a great book will always be difficult, we are lucky in that the Internet is now vibrant and overflowing with information. In the old days, back when I started writing books meant trekking 20 miles uphill both ways in the snow to get to the library ... I'm joking. But I did have to make a lot of trips to the library for research, whether it was fact-finding for items in the book or just discovering the in's and out's of trying to get published. All the information was in books that either had to be borrowed or purchased. It was a slow process, and frequently expensive.

Now, there are oodles of links and sites on the Internet to make your job easier. But be prepared: there is still a lot of research ahead of you.

1. Groups and Associations
These are great places to get information and assistance. These groups also help you feel a little less alone during the process of writing or publishing a book. They can also offer valuable assistance once you have been published. There are a number of great groups, but take a little time to check them out before jumping on board. Here are a few that I am either a member of or I am in the process of joining.

Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America
Romance Writers of America
International Thriller Writers

2. Watch Dogs
Sadly, like in any industry, there are groups who are only interested in separating a writer from his/her money. They don't care about getting you publisher or getting you exposure to potential readers. You have to keep your eyes open and do your homework. Luckily, there are a number of Watch Dog groups that are tying to help you and make your investigation a little easier. Here is a quick list of some of the places that I have discovered.

Agent Query
Backspace
Publishers Marketplace
Writer Beware

3. Do Your Homework
There are so many places out there that are sources of great information for you as you work on your book. As with anything on the Internet, you need to take some time to check out your resource. Has it been vetted by someone that you do trust. Double check the information that you are being given. Watch your back and watch the back of your fellow writer. Working behind the computer on your manuscript can be a very lonely endeavor at times, but you aren't alone. There are millions of people all around you doing the exact same thing. If we take a few minutes to help each other and pass along good information, it makes it a little easier for everyone else. And trust me, the Karma Fairy will remember you.

Good luck with your work! Don't get discouraged! Keep writing! Keep dreaming!

Thoughts From A Tattoo Artist

2011-10-04T12:48:00.000-04:00

I'll pick up with the rest of my series on publishing and writing tips tomorrow. I needed a break from it today, as I prefer to keep my thoughts centered on the project that I'm currently working on.

With the conclusion of the Dark Days series, I have turned my attention to a brand new series in a new world with a new cast of characters. The Tattoo Artist series focuses on a world ruled by a collection of warlocks and witches. A rare escapee from the Ivory Towers has become a tattoo artist in a world crawling with elves, trolls, satyrs, and other things that don't wait for night so they can bump. Despite his best efforts to keep his head down, trouble continues to find him.

The first book (tentatively titled Angel Wings) has been handed in to my editor following a heavy revision. We're hoping for a summer 2012 release. I am now writing two short stories that will be released before the first book. And then I write a second book to the series, which I don't know when it will hit the shelves.

If you've popped by my Tumblr account or follow me on Twitter, you know that I've been leaking the occasional quote from the book. My storyteller is considerably different from Mira in the Dark Days series. Until I met my tattoo artist, Gage, I didn't realize there were such a difference between sarcastic and smart ass.

The Dark Days series was extremely dark and Mira was sarcastic when she wanted to be funny, but overall, the dark mood could never be shaken from the tale. Considering that the world seemed to always be on the cusp of ending, I don't think I could have told the story with much levity.

On the other hand, Tattoo Artist is a little less "end of the world" heavy. Sure, the world will end for some of the characters involved if things don't work out, but the rest of the people will go on with their lives. And while Gage has a nasty past, similar to Mira, he's managed to channel his frustration and anger in a different way. As a result, we get a lighter storyteller and a lighter tone to the book. Gage is a twentysomething smart ass who can be pretty powerful but still has a warden watching his every move and can break him in a heartbeat.

Here's a few quotes that I've posted recently.

A quick conversation between Gage and his warlock warden, Gideon.

“This is a good mood?”
“Have I killed you yet?” Gideon asked.
“No.”
“Then I’m in a good mood.”

Another conversation between Gage and Gideon:

“Are you sure?” Gideon demanded with a frightening desperation.
“Yes.”
“Are you? Did you try to kill her? She can’t die?”
“Yes. I mean, no.”
Gideon gave me a hard shake, his fingers biting into my arms. “Which is it?”
“Yes, I’m sure!”
“You tried to kill her?”
“No, but a visit from a very angry grim reaper is pretty damn convincing…”

And finally, a line from the first short story in the Tattoo Artist series.

"Parker’sproblem wasn’t me. The problem withParker was that he was an incubus trying to survive in a monogamousrelationship. And me waking up druggedin a women’s bathroom only proved that it wasn’t working."

I'm really enamored of that opening right now. I guess to me it says a lot about the choices we make regarding relationships. Stay tuned. I'm sure the leak hasn't been fixed and more lines will dribble out.

Getting To Know Your Characters

2011-10-03T12:23:00.000-04:00

Today I'm continuing with my recent theme of writing and publishing advice. Apparently, character development happens to be one of my favorite topics since I've written about it on three different occasions. So, I don't have too much new to say, but I do have some links.

Character Development
Character Sketches
Character Sketches 2

Getting to know your main characters is key to writing a great story. And knowing the details of a character is more than knowing that the main characters has brown hair, blue eyes, and is right handed. It's also knowing whether he/she is an optimist or a pessimist, and whether he/she had a rough childhood, and whether he/she has any close friends.

Knowing the intimate details of a character serves three purposes:

1. The intimate details gives the reader more insight into the character. The more a reader know about a person, the more a reader can become interested. It's hard to care about someone that you know nothing about. There's more chance of an emotional investment if you know some details.

2. The more you know about a character, the more alive they become. For me, a character often comes alive in their hobbies, odd quirks, and strange habits. These odd traits can often prove to be hindrances and helps in a book, making a book more interesting.

3. Knowing the history and details of your character will help you and your readers understand a character's motivations. Why is this character going out of his way to help this person? Maybe it's because he regrets not helping someone in his past, or that she reminds him of his sister who never makes an appearance in the book, or that her brother owes your character money and the only way he's going to get paid is through helping her.

Finally, it's the flaws and faults of a character that make them really live. Perfection is not something most humans can relate to. However, at one time or another, we've made mistakes that we wish we could undo. Why should your characters be any different?

When I started writing the Dark Days series, I wrote a number of character sketches to help me better understand the characters I was working with. Danaus, in particular, had a lot of back story that never actually appeared on the page, but I needed to know so I could better understand him.

Here are some links to some of the character sketches that I worked on:
Mira
Danaus
Valerio

Understand your characters, and writing that book will become just a little bit easier.

Outlining A Book

2011-09-30T20:03:00.002-04:00

I've been thinking of helpful topics that I can write about for anyone who is interested in writing a book or getting published. I thought about writing about how I outline a story. And then I ran across a blog entry written by the talented Jaye Wells that lays out how she outlines a book. It turns out we're very similar. In fact, she does such a fine job of telling you how she does it that I really don't have much to add.

So, go to Jaye's blog to read a great example of how to outline a book.
Jaye Wells: Outline Schmoutline

Differences: change poster board to large blank wall for me
Difference: add a few more colors (usually 5-7 colors) as I try to keep track of how often certain main characters appear, where the fight scenes are, and where the sex is.

Plotting is heavy into balance and pacing.

Once I'm done with outlining a book on the wall, I move it over to the computer where I create an outline I can easily reference when I'm writing. It's a series of extremely short notes that helps me remember where I'm headed with each story.

Here is an example of the outline that I created for Dayhunter:

Mira and Tristan hunt in London

Encounter Nightshade & witch

Group (Mira, Danaus, Tristan) leave for Coven – Venice

Discusspower use at Themis

Mirapromises to protect D.

Mira and Danaus find Naturi at Coven

Danaus sees Mira’s scars

Speak with Valerio & Gwen

Coven

Alex tells of ashes in U.K.

Sees elf

Miraattempts to attack Elders

Coven needstime to consider

Speaks with Alex & Vasili

GreatAwakening

MachuPicchu/Fey

Mira & Danaus at Torcello

Danausbckgrd

Mira bckgrd

**The red font indicates a fight scene. **

If you've read the book, you know there's a lot in the book that doesn't appear in the outline. The notes are brief. I just need enough to jog loose my memory of what I had planned for that particular scene in the book. Most people who saw the outline wouldn't understand it and in many ways, the outline changes as I go.

The outline is not carved in stone.

It is there to act as a guide to keep you moving forward. It helps you stay focused and give direction when you are encountering some writer's block. If a brilliant idea hits you while you're working, feel free to tweak the plot. Characters are constantly surprising writers with the new directions they want to take. You have to be willing to tackle the unexpected with your characters. For me, some of my best stuff has come from things that I didn't originally plan.

Finding An Agent

2011-09-28T14:34:00.000-04:00

Since acquiring my first contract for my urban fantasyseries, the Dark Days Series, some of the most popular questions I’ve receivedhave been about getting published. Nowthat I am between series and I’m re-tuning the great promotion machine for theTattoo Artist series, I thought I would take the time to try to tackle some ofthese questions. The topics won’t be inany specific order so stay tuned as I may soon tackle the question burning mostin your mind.

In my email, I most recently received a question was howto acquire an agent. Let’s tackle thatone today.

DISCLAIMER: I’m not an expert. I don’t claim to be an expert nor do I guaranteethat my advice will get you an agent. This is simply a story of how I got my agent.

First, some questions:

1. Is the book you are trying to get representedfinished?

A. No– If it’s a fiction book, return to your computer and finish your book firstand then come back to this blog post. You’re not ready.

B. Yes -- Continue to question 2.

2. Is it thebest the book the best that it can be? So perfectly polished you can eat dinner of it?

A. No, the ideais solid, but it still needs grammar tweaks, it’s written in a passive voice,and/or it needs a more defined subplot, but the editor can help with that; it’stheir job. -- Ummm … Go back to thecomputer and get to work. You’re notready for an agent. The book has to beas perfect as possible before contacting ANYONE.

B. Yes, the book has been thoroughly edited bymyself and critiqued by several readers. The grammar is clean, the story is tight, and the characters areinteresting and entertaining. – Continueto question 3.

3. Has the book been read by anyone other than yourmother/best friend?

A. No, but my mother loves it – That’s great, butit’s time to look into a critique group or some other outside source who mightbe a little more critical of your work. Again, we’re looking for perfection since you usually get only one shotat a first impression.

B. Yes,the book has been reviewed by a critique group and/or several highly criticalreaders who have given me valuable feedback on how to improve my book. –Congratulations! You’re ready to startlooking for an agent.

The first three questions may seem a little rough, butthere’s something to keep in mind: You get only one chance to make a good impression. Once an agent says “no,” it’s unlikely thatyou’ll get a chance to pitch to that agent again. Also, remember that some agents can getseveral hundred queries a week requesting representation. To stand out, you need to put your best footforward and that means having the best product to present to them.

The first steps in acquiring an agent are actually a lotof prep work.

1. The synopsis.

The synopsis is a summary of your book. You need several of these of varying lengthsfor a variety of situations.

A. The elevator pitch: this is called such for the simple reason ofyou may find yourself in an elevator with the agent of your dreams and you haveapproximately 2 minutes to pitch your book. Can you summarize your book in two sentences? Sure, it’s not going to have in it all thethings that make your book great, but it can include something that might hookthe agent’s attention and get them to ask for more information. Can you give a compelling 2-minutepresentation on your book? You may neverhave to use this, but it’s great to have in your back pocket and it’s easy totry out on friends to get their feedback. Practice makes perfect.

B. The book blurb: can you summarize your book in roughly 250 words, or the length of thebook description found on the back of your favorite paperback book? This is another chance to break down yourbook to its most compelling points. Ifyou can’t give an exciting brief description of your book, how are you going toconvince anyone to buy it in a bookstore?

C. The proposal synopsis: This synopsis is a bit longer, ranging fromone to two single-spaced pages. In thesynopsis, you’re allowed to go into more detail. The main thrust of the synopsis is to coverthe main plot and give small details on the subplots and the development of themain character(s). Also, tell theending. Don’t try to save it as asurprise.

Once again, make sure that these are as polished as yourbook. Let other people read yourpitches. Prepare to make changes againand again to get it right. You have toentice your reader, leaving them practically panting to get their hands on yourmanuscript.

2. Queryletter

The query letter is the first time that you contact anagent in an effort to win their attention. Below is a copy of the query letter I was using to sellNightwalker. It changed slightly foreach agent, but the bulk of it remained the same.

LETTER:

Dear Mr/s. XXXXXX,

Throw out the old myths that elves are peace-lovingtree-huggers. The Fey are coming andthey mean to destroy mankind. And man’sonly hope is an alliance between a vampire and a vampire hunter.

That vampire is Mira, an outcast among her own peoplebecause of her unusual ability to manipulate fire. Unfortunately, one night’s amusement with avampire hunter sours when he reveals that he must turn his skills at killingvampires to those of keeping her “alive” in order to stop the Fey from wipingmankind off the Earth.

My novel, DANAUS, is a dark fantasy/contemporary paranormalpiece with an approximate word count of 88,000 words. DANAUS is the first in series of paranormalnovels I hope to have published, and is written from Mira’s point of view in avoice that a sharp and sarcastic James Bond might use if he worked for theundead and not the Queen. I have alreadybegun to work on the second book in the series.

At the moment, DANAUS is being read by XXXX of XXXXX.

In 1999, I acquired my bachelor’s degree from Northern Kentucky Universityin creative writing and journalism, and have spent five years working as afinancial writer and editor at Schaeffer’s Investment Research. I have had a short story and poems publishedby a literary magazine called The LickingRiver Review.

Enclosed are the synopsis, the first three chapters, and aSASE for your convenience.

May I send you the completed manuscript?

Sincerely,

Let’s attack this one point at a time.

1. Notice how short it is! Remember, agents are reading stacks andstacks of letters. You’re not going tohold their attention for a long time. Belike a ninja. Sneak in, attack, and getout. If your query letter does its job,they will be coming to you for more info. Rule of thumb: query letter shouldn’t be over 1 page.

2. Check and double check who you are sending theletter to! Get the name and the genderright! You don’t want to insult theagent before they even get to the meat of the letter.

3. The first 1-2 paragraphs should focus on thebook. This is where your 250-wordsynopsis will come in handy. The openingline should be a hook – something to interest the agent and get them to keepreading. A question is a great and easyhook. The opening should not only informthem on what the book is about, but should give an idea of how this book is differentfrom all the other books that have already been written. I know, a tall order, but it can be done.

4. The next paragraph is general information on thebook. Basic information such as lengthand genre are greatly appreciated. Theylike to know which audience you’re targeting with this book. Not necessary, but always nice if you caninclude it: comparisons to known stories is appreciated because it cansometimes make it easy for the agent to market to publishers. (Though, try notto claim to be the next JK Rowling who wrote the next Twilight - humility is always appreciated) Nightwalker was pitched as Alias meetsUnderworld. The book is not claiming tobe either, but by comparing the book to two known entities, the agent/publisher can get an interesting image in their head.

5. If the entire book has been requested and sentto another agent, this is where you tell the reader of the letter. Many agents allow simultaneous submissions,but they like to know if someone else is interested in the book as well.

6. A BRIEF paragraph about yourself. In the big picture, you are the least importantthing here. You’re trying to sell yourbook, not yourself. If you have publishedbefore, list it briefly. Keep thisparagraph short and if you haven’t been published before, don’t worry. Theagent will be drawn in on the first paragraphs, not your bio.

7. Tell what has been enclosed/attached. Send only what has been requested!

8. Ask to send the entire manuscript.

9. End politely.

Not too hard, right? When you’re done with the query letter, giveit to people to read. Let them findgrammar errors and typos. Are theypulled in by the opening? Are theyasking about the book? Attack the letterwith the idea that you have to fight to get the agent to read the next line ofthe letter. They are short on time andwill stop reading the moment they are not interested.

3. Research

Probably one of the least stressfulparts of finding an agent. Research. But it can be the mosttime consuming. Before sending anything anywhere,you have to thoroughly research the agents. Most places have websites and I suggest checking them out beforeshipping off that query letter. Thereare places all over the internet that provide lists of agents. I actually started with a Writer’s DigestGuide to Literary Agents. It’s not a badinvestment and a lot of libraries carry them if you don’t want to shell out themoney.

Before prepping that query letter,ask these questions:

A. Does this agent represent the genre I’m writing?

B. Is this agent accepting new submissions?

C. Who does this agent represent? Is it someone I’ve heard of? (which often translates into: has this agentsold work to a publishing house I have heard of?)

If the answer is yes to all these questions, then youshould proceed. In your research, makenote of what the agent wants to see. Everyone is different. Some wanta query letter. Some want a query letterand synopsis. Some what a query letterand the first three chapters of the finished book. Be prepared to meet their requests. However, you should NEVER pay to have yoursubmission read by an agent. That’susually the first sign of a scam.

So, you’ve written your synopsis, query letter, andresearched your agents list. Startsending out those letters. If they allowsimultaneous submissions, take advantage of it. Send out multiple letters and start a spreadsheet of when letters weresent out, who they were sent to, and what they were sent. It will make your life easier. After that’s complete, all you have to do iswait.

And there’s a lot of waiting to do. Some agents can take between 4-8 weeks toreply to just a query letter, while a whole manuscript decision can take 6months or longer. Of course, I’vereceived a rejection within an hour of sending a letter.

Don’t get frustrated or discouraged. I sat through 2 years of rejections (gettinga large stack of “no”) before I finally landed my agent. Some people take longer and others takeshorter. I had a dear friend that landedan agent in less than six months.

Keep at it! Whileyou’re waiting for that agent to contact you, you have two jobs:

1. Edit the book that you’ve got on submission

2. Write your next book.

In the end, always keep writing.

(Do you have any publishing/writing related questions you would like to have answered? Please leave questions in the comments and I will try to address them!)

Running Up That Hill

2011-09-26T12:18:00.001-04:00

Coffee? Check.
Music? Check.
Manuscript? Check.
I've got 20 pages left to edit and then the book is finally back in the hands of my editor. When I received this edit, I chopped about 2,000 unnecessary words from it. At last check, I had added just over 14,000 shiny new words. The bulk of those 14,000 words form a new subplot that will come into play in future stories. The new subplot not only adds more tension and difficulty to the story for my main character, but gives readers a closer look at one of the main secondary characters, Bronx.

Bronx is an interesting new character. A troll who works as a tattoo artist at Asylum, he has the prerequisite size and strength to qualify him as what you would expect from a troll. But he's also very intelligent, compassionate, and thoughtful. He doesn't speak much, lending weight to his words when he does finally venture a comment or question. He is also quick to protect and defend his friends.

Today will see me finishing up the book, sending the book and mailing other things, and then coming home to plot at least one short story. I'm clearing my schedule for one day. Tomorrow.

Tomorrow is Tuesday -- new book day! Tomorrow sees the release of Kerrelyn Sparks's new book, Sexiest Vampire Alive. I love her Love At Stake series. It's vampires and shifters, but it has a great sense of humor. I've been reading a lot of her and Lynsay Sands while I've worked on this book. Those books keep me in a light mood as I'm trying to write. I am trying to write a somewhat lighter series than Dark Days. No, I'm not cracking jokes and having silly things happen -- I'm just not good at comedy. But Tattoo Artist doesn't have that same oppressive heavy cloud hanging over it as Dark Days.

If you're looking for something new to read, I highly recommend Kerrelyn Sparks. I happened by chance into her first book, How To Marry A Millionaire Vampire. I was at my first book convention and I was in line to get a signed ARC of Kim Harrison's new book and Kerrelyn was also there signing her new book. I was lucky enough to get both. I enjoyed it when I read it, but didn't think too much of it because I was into darker things at the time. But I picked up a couple more of her books over the past few years. A reread How To Marry A Millionaire Vampire a couple years ago, and it hit the spot! I've since bought all the other books in the series and regularly reread them. They are light, funny, engaging, and heart-warming.

I think there's 11 books/stories out so far with another coming in the spring. You don't have to read them in order. I didn't. You won't be lost. However, I think you will get a little more out of it if you do because you see each of the vamps fall in love, making you fall in love too as the story builds.

Live Chat & Social Media

2011-09-22T13:35:00.003-04:00

First: I will be hosting a live chat online tomorrow (Friday, September 23) at 7pm Eastern Time through 9pm. I will be answering questions regarding the Dark Days series, my new upcoming series, and pretty much anything else that you want to know.

Where: http://tinychat.com/jocelynndrake

Having trouble figuring out the time for your time zone? Use this link: http://www.timezoneconverter.com/cgi-bin/tzc.tzc

If you can't make this chat, I will be setting up another one in October.

In the meantime, I am finishing up my revisions on the first novel in my Tattoo Artist series, which I am hoping to hand in very, very soon. Also, my editor informed me that the first three books in the Dark Days series will now be published in Turkish. Yeah, Turkish! Wasn't expecting that interesting bit of news, but I was pleased nonetheless.

Social Media

I think I'm reaching my saturation point. I understand the need for it and I generally enjoy it. It's a great way to spread news and updates to the fans of my work. It's a great way to spread ideas and techniques for my craft. But in this increasingly plugged-in society, venues that we frequent are constantly changing and growing in popularity. I'm left wondering: where should I be? Am I reaching my readers how they want me to reach them?

When I was just getting started, it was:

MySpace
Personal blog (Blogger and LiveJournal)
Website

But by the time my first book was released, it quickly grew to

Facebook
Twitter
HarperCollins microsite
Fangs Fur & Fey (guest blog)
Supernatural Underground (guest blog)
The Dark Room (discussion board)

Whew... I think that's everything.

But, then I noticed that Tumblr is growing in popularity. I will admit that I have opened a Tumblr account, but I'm not going to post a link yet. For now, I'm going to just keep it to myself. I don't know if I'm going keep up with it. Right now, it has a different feel to it than my other outlets. More serious and more personal. If you're on Tumblr, I'm sure you can find it, but there's not much there.

For now, I think I'm going to kill my MySpace account and I have no plans to appear on Fans Fur & Fey in the future. Is there any other place you think I should be aware of?

I Played Chess

2011-09-16T13:40:00.004-04:00

Today is going to be this insane rush forward in an attempt to squeeze in everything I want to get done before company arrives. Last weekend, my Other Half (O.H.) and I picked up two games. We both have an addiction to playing games when we can get a few people together. Some of the household favorites include: Trivia Pursuit (on PS3), You Don't Know Jack (on PS3), Bezzerwizzer, and Apples to Apples. We recently picked up a copy of Harry Potter Scene It? We are both huge Harry Potter fans (read all books and seen all movies), so it was only natural that we scooped up this game that includes scenes and trivia from all 8 movies. Tonight, we're having my brother and his girlfriend over dinner and a couple games of Harry Potter Scene It? It should be interesting since they are huge fans of the series as well.

Also, last weekend, we picked up one of this multi-game sets. You know the ones that include chess, checkers, backgammon, and a half a dozen others. My O.H. had been wanting to teach me to play chess, but I wasn't overly enthusiastic. I just thought that I would never be able to remember all the different ways to move the pieces as well as plan any long-term strategy. Particularly since I regularly get my butt kicked at checkers. But for him, I was willing to give it a try.

I love chess!

We played a long game, which featured me asking a ton of questions, while also discussing with my opponent my own strategy. (Yeah, way to launch a sneak attack, Joce!) It was amazing and a great way to open my mind to plotting books. For books, I spend a lot of time in the mind of the main character, figuring out his plan. How is he going to attack this problem? How is he going to react?

But chess forces you to not only worry about your plan, but to also try to weigh your opponent, consider his personality and what his likely approach might be to the game. Since the pieces are set in how they can move around the board, you can actually play out several scenarios, weighing risks and rewards. You find yourself in certain scenarios that no matter how you move, you will lose something and you will consider what to sacrifice and what to protect.

I never expected to see so many similarities to writing. What's more, I never expected to feel as if my own plotting and crafting skills would improve if I played chess.

I also never ever expected to become a potential addict. We've agreed to play another game later today after a run to the grocery. It may be years before I'm any good at the game but the exercise for my brain is thrilling.

The only thing now is that I want a nice chess set. The one I have is great for just beginning, but I now want something a little fancier. And I think I found the one I'm looking for.

Waste Time Watching Videos

2011-09-13T14:22:00.000-04:00

I think I need something light following such a serious post.

I'm working on the revisions today. Followed by paying bills and a trip to the post office. Exciting! The highlight of my day has been swapping emails with another writer friend that I don't see or talk to much. Yep, the life of a writer isn't a highly social one.

Anyway.... Here is just a reminder that I have a cry for help out there!

So, I'm a big fan of the Ghost Hunters show. I can't say that I completely believe in ghosts, but I accept that there is a possibility. I like to just wonder "What If?". What if there is such thing as a ghost and that they can actually interact with us? I think that would be pretty cool as it opens up the world to even more possibilities. Anyway, to the point: Ghost Hunters is running an America's Hometown contest where they will go and investigate a town for their next season. They've narrowed the choices down to three possibilities and I am happy to report that Savannah, Georgia is one of them.

If you've read the Dark Days series, you know that I have a deep love of Savannah, and if I can't be there every moment of my day then I will be just as happy to see my lovely Savannah on television. So, here is what I propose: click on the link and vote for Savannah. Then help me promote Savannah as a choice elsewhere. Get others to vote for it!

The Reward: This is where I get a little sneaky and devious. If, on Halloween, they announce that Savannah is the winner of the contest, I will write another short story for the Dark Days series. I don't know who would be the main characters, but it will feature either Mira and/or Danaus. Is that a good deal? Vote for Savannah and possibly get a new Dark Days short story?

Oooh... maybe it could be a ghost story with Mira and Danaus and Nate from the fourth book? Or I wonder if I could incorporate people from the TAPS team in the story? Or do you just want a scene where Mira finally bites Danaus? Hmmm... stuff to think about.

And now... some videos. We all need a laugh so I am going to try to supply a few for you today. First, if you've followed my blog for long, you know that I am a huge fan of Simon's Cat. I'm a long-time cat owner so I can relate to these videos. Even if you're not a cat lover, these are pretty funny. So, here is the newest one to hit the web.

Also, my brother introduced me to a new video group called HISHE (or How It Should Have Ended). These are also hilarious. Right now, I think my favorites are the Superman, Batman, and Iron Man videos. Enjoy!

Thanks for stopping by. I've got some sex and mayhem to work on for a while.

Ten Years Ago

2011-09-11T12:33:00.002-04:00

Ten years ago...

It was early. I'm not, have never been, and will never be a morning person. I was sitting at my desk at a financial research company, nursing a Coke, and trying to get past my usual fuzzy, grumpy mood as my brain kicked into a higher gear. My co-worker and I had recently finished getting out the first article of the morning and were already scanning the financial news headlines and previous day's options data as we searched for the topics we would write about the rest of the day.

We sat on a large, open floor with a bunch of traders, who were filing in to their desks with their coffee and copies of the Wall Street Journal. They were talking about potential trading opportunities, random personal events, and the usual chatter about morning rush hour traffic. Behind the buzz of conversation, the TV at the other end of the floor droned on about events that would likely move the market that day. It was a typical day.

And then the news hit.
A plane had hit a tower. There were no details about the size of the plane, how many were hurt, or even why. And no one uttered the belief that it was intentional. People wandered over to the TV and stood, waiting for more details to be released. After a time, things drifted back to normal. It was an anomaly. Nothing more.

We had some time before the market opened, so I wandered down to the TV to see what pictures they had for myself. I was standing there alone, watching. A commentator was talking with the towers in the background. I watched as a plane moved into view and I remember thinking, "how could they have not closed the airspace around the towers after what happened?" I watched it turn and I was in complete denial until it hit the second tower.

I gasped and my knees nearly buckled as I leaned against the cubical behind me. Somehow, I called out to the rest of the staff on the floor, telling them what happened. People rushed over to the TV and we all watched in horrified silence, minds numb, hearts aching, stomachs churning. My mind got stuck on questions such as "How?" and "Why?". My brain couldn't comprehend anyone willingly doing such a thing. How could anyone hurt total strangers who were doing nothing more heinous than going to work, vacation, or just visiting someone? My mind still struggles with these ideas despite being given answers as to why.

The rest of the day and the next week grow blurry in my memory, filled with an almost non-stop drone of TV commentators, horrible pictures, sadness, and flickering glimmers of hope and resilience.

I didn't lose anyone I know that day, but I still don't often talk about the events of September 11, 2001. My life is wrapped up in many fantasy worlds of my own creation where horrible and violent things frequently happen, but I can keep a distance from it because I know none of it is real. That day was a harsh reminder of exactly how evil man can be.

But the most important thing to remember is what happened in the days following those sad events. We have to remember how peoples everywhere pulled together in amazing ways to support each other through physical efforts, money, food, and even just a perfectly timed hug. We have to remember all the emergency workers, military service men and women, and the wonderful individuals who stepped forward in this time of need.

We are strongest when we are united.

Contest Winners

2011-09-09T12:49:00.002-04:00

I'm just popping in to announce some contest winners today as I am under the deadline gun. The winners of my celebratory book giveaway is:

Tetewa

who posted on my LiveJournal account:
"Books and more books, sweet!"

Susan Harris

who posted on my Blogger account:
"i am so glad that ur puppy is well again..... its very stressful when a pet is sick .... i no it 2 well!
thanx again for the chance to win random books and its international so dbl yeah!!!"

and

Kyla

who posted on my Blogger account:
"Yeah, Max! Fantastic to hear. New books and New authors rock...so do signed Jocelynn Drake books. Can I get a Woot!"

I am dropping Susan Harris an email as soon as I finish this post. The other two winners need to send me an email at JocelynnDOTdrakeATgmailDOTcom within the next week, giving me their names and mailing addresses so I can get their books out to them.

I will dropping by the post office this weekend to get out some other prizes. If you don't make that shipment, it may be another week before I can hit the post office.

Thanks to everyone who entered. Max is hanging in there. We had to take him back to the vet a couple days after being home due to some more stomach issues, but he is home once again and getting into EVERYTHING!

The cats are still not happy.

Celebratory Book Giveaway

2011-09-03T16:56:00.004-04:00

Our puppy Max is home!

Yep, he's made a recovery and he's back home, where he's laying on the floor watching Sons of Anarchy with the O.H. and trying to get the cats to play with him. He's got some medicine to help him for a few more days and some special bland food, but HE's HOME!

In celebration of him returning home, I stopped by Borders one last time before they close and I picked up some books to give away! Are you interested? Let's see if I can pique your interest:

I am giving away the following anthologies:

Huntress
Unusual Suspects
Haunted by Your Touch
Dark and Stormy Knights
Many Bloody Returns
Wolfsbane and Mistletoe

Along with copies of

Stray by Rachel Vincent
Sunshine by Robin McKinley
Magician: Apprentice by Raymond E. Feist

None of these books are signed. They all fit under the fantasy umbrella with subsets of urban fantasy, dark fantasy, and paranormal romance. I will be picking three winners and throwing in signed copies of Burn the Night as well. I will pick three winners at random and I will mix up the books so you will not know what you're receiving. The only thing that I can say is that each winner will receive 2 anthologies and 1 signed copy of Burn the Night. My hope is to potentially introduce you an author that you have not tried yet.

Now are you interested?
Thought so.

This contest is open to U.S. and international readers.
Leave a comment on this blog.
The contest closes on at 11:59 pm Eastern time on Thursday, September 8.
I will announce the winner on Friday, September 9.
The winners will have one week to contact me.

Prayers For Max

2011-09-02T10:19:00.002-04:00

It has been terrible, awful, no good, very bad week.

Max, our new puppy, is very sick. He was taken to the vet on Tuesday, where the vet told us that he had contracted the parvovirus. While the sickness can prove to be lethal, the vet has hopes for him pulling through. He's still not eating, but he is drinking some water and she seems to think that he is on the mend.

While we are hoping, praying, and crossing our fingers, we will be scrubbing down the house today. Apparently, parvo, while not extremely common, is extremely contagious for dogs. The entire house and yard needs to be scrubbed down to get rid of the virus that he spread around the house while he was here.

Also, if you have any advice for protecting against parvo, I would appreciate it.

So, today is cleaning and then the rest of the weekend is revising with a small break for a family grill-out at my parents. If we can get Max back this weekend, it will be a great time.

The Cats Aren't Happy

2011-08-29T18:34:00.004-04:00

I'm getting a seriously slow start to the day after waking up with a killer migraine headache at 730 am. There's still an ache pushing against my brain but I can at least sit at my computer without wishing for death.

I'm just popping in to introduce you to the newest member of my family. After writing my blog post on Saturday, my OH and I went out to start searching for a dog to add to our brood. We found one at a dog event on Sunday from a local shelter. We don't know his breed, but several people have said that he is likely to be a Labrador mix. He's about 4 months old and we're thinking that he's going to get pretty big. He's sweet, playful, and loves sleeping beside the sofa while the OH plays video games. His name is Max.

As you might expect, the cats are not happy about this development. They hiss when he approaches and sniff him while he sleeps. They've batted at him a couple times if he approaches too quickly, but so far he's only interested in playing with them. The little princesses are not interested in playing with him.

It might take a while, but I think the cats will reach a point where they will finally decide to ignore him. (hey, I can hope, right?)

We've had Max for only one day and I already adore him. I don't know whether I count myself as a cat person or a dog person. Maybe just an animal person. We'll see if one of my characters picks up a new pet in the revisions.

Write a Post Help a Dog

2011-08-27T12:25:00.002-04:00

I'm sure that everyone knows that I'm a cat lover. I think it's a necessity. You know, when you get your contract from your publisher, you are also assigned a cat if you don't already have one. I already had two, so I was covered. (I think when I get my contract for my 10th book, I am required to add a third cat, but I have to check on that.) But, in truth, I just love animals.

When I was young, I grew up with a large dog my mother had named Misty. She was a big shaggy dog colored black, brown, and white. She was the sweetest, most even-tempered dog I have ever known, which is saying a lot since she was stuck with two annoying brats (myself and my brother). She used to pick the tomatoes off the vine in the backyard and suck the juice out. And I recall one time when we had mice, she used to chase them around the house with my dad as he swatted a broom -- this is before we got our fix cat. She died many years ago, but she lived a good, long life.

The second dog we had growing up was a little yappy thing that I named Sugar. She was small and I used to dress her up in my doll dresses (poor thing). I took her for walks and let her sleep curled up next to me on the bed. We had a couple sweaters that we put on her in the winter when it snowed. She was my constant companion and confidant during some really tough years growing up. She was happy and enthusiastic up until the last year of her life.

I haven't had a dog since Misty and Sugar, but we're planning to get two. So in their memory, here is today's blog post. Please help!

Pedigree has decided to launch a Write a Post, Help a Dog Campaign. For those of you who missed the event last year in September, 391 bloggers wrote about the program and with each post, Pedigree donated 20 pounds of its Healthy Longevity dog food to shelter animals. In all, 7,820 pounds of food was donated to two shelters known across the country for their dedication to the care and re-homing of senior dogs: Muttville Senior Dog Rescue in San Francisco and Castaway Critters in Harrisburg, Pa.

How you can help in 2011

Simply spread the word about Write a Post, Help a Dog 2011 and once again Pedigree will donate 20 pounds of food for each blog post. If you don’t have a blog feel free to tweet about the campaign or share on Facebook so your friends who do blog can participate. All bloggers are welcome even if you do not generally talk about pets on your blog. Its all about using Social Media for Social Good.

Here’s how it works:

The Write a Post, Help a Dog program is aimed at raising awareness of the more then 4 million dogs that wind up in shelters and breed rescues each year. As well as to help get them all food (our goal is 10,000 lbs of food in the next two weeks) for the more than four million dogs that wind up in shelters and breed rescues each year.
For each blog post mentioning the Pedigree Foundation from now until midnight ET on September 3, Pedigree will donate 20 pounds of its new dry Pedigree recipe food for dogs — its best recipe ever — to a shelter, because every dog deserves leading nutrition.
Feel free to mae your post more visually appealing by using either or both of the two images seen in this post.
The Pedigree Foundation — a 501 (C)(3) nonprofit organization is committed to helping dogs by providing grants to shelters and rescues and encouraging dog adoption. This year the Foundation has already raised more than $376,570 against its goal of $1.5 million to carry out its work to fund grants that not only help shelters operate, but to further shelter innovations.

The Pedigree Foundation depends on charitable contributions from individuals to carry out its mission to help dogs find loving homes. In addition to writing a blog post, here’s how you can help:

Donate online at http://pedigreefoundation.org/donate.aspx
Apply for a shelter grant from the Pedigree Foundation by completing a form at www.pedigreefoundation.org
Purchase Dogs Rule Gear at www.dogsrulegear.com where the proceeds go to the Pedigree Foundation to help loving dogs find a home. SPECIAL OFFER: Get 10 percent off Dogs Rule Gear by using the promo code BlogPaws10 from August 22 – September 30.

Once you get your post up and ready please feel free to grab the link code to include it in your post and add your link to the list so it is easier to keep track of all the posts plus it makes it so easy for your friends to learn about the event and see the progress we are making towards our goal of 10,000 lbs of food.

This is a Blog Hop! 26 entries so far... you're next!

1. To Dog with Love	2. Two Little Cavaliers	3. Boccis Beefs
4. www. houstondogblog. com	5. Lis Careys Library	6. DogTipper. com
7. Grouchy Puppy	8. Keisha the Spaniel : )	9. Saving Pennies for a Rainy Day
10. Kyndall @ Say No To Recycling	11. 4 The Love of Animals	12. Julianne @ Just a Simple Life
13. Write a post, help a dog	14. Laineys Pawtique & Bakery	15. Blog for Paws
16. Non profit organizations weekend on Empire Avenue	17. Brando and Bogart	18. Adriel Hampton on Tumblr
19. Write a Post, Help a Dog	20. Write a Blog, Save a Dog	21. Write a Post, Help a Dog
22. Help Feed Some Shelter Dogs This Week	23. Write a post, help a dog	24. A Lesson in Physics
25. The Dog Park News	26. Literary Escapism

You are next... Click here to enter

Contest Winner & A Favor

2011-08-26T11:43:00.006-04:00

I suck.
I'm late.
I'm sorry.

Everyone has been patiently waiting for me to announce the winner of my latest book giveaway contest, so I will stall no longer. We had approximately 40 entries into the contest and the numbers were entered into the random number generator. The winner of the contest is:

Denise Roberts

who wrote on my page:
"Your bookshelves look a lot like mine. My hubby bought me a nook so I would stop buying paperbacks, but the e-books cost more. I would love to win these books. Me, me, me please!"

Thank you, everyone, who entered. There will be more contests to come. I was thinking of going to my local Borders one last time and picking up some random books to giveaway, because everyone loves getting free books and I love supporting authors.

In some random news, Rob Thurman is ill. From what I have seen on postings on Twitter and the blog, I believe the urban fantasy author has double pneumonia and this is after being in a car accident. So, if you've read her work and would like to support her, go get one of her books. If you haven't read her but still want to support her, go get one of her books.

And finally, something a little more random.
So, I'm a big fan of the Ghost Hunters show. I can't say that I completely believe in ghosts, but I accept that there is a possibility. I like to just wonder "What If?". What if there is such thing as a ghost and that they can actually interact with us? I think that would be pretty cool as it opens up the world to even more possibilities. Anyway, to the point: Ghost Hunters is running an America's Hometown contest where they will go and investigate a town for their next season. They've narrowed the choices down to three possibilities and I am happy to report that Savannah, Georgia is one of them.

If you've read the Dark Days series, you know that I have a deep love of Savannah, and if I can't be there every moment of my day then I will be just as happy to see my lovely Savannah on television. So, here is what I propose: click on the link and vote for Savannah. Then help me promote Savannah as a choice elsewhere. Get others to vote for it!

The Reward: This is where I get a little sneaky and devious. If, on Halloween, they announce that Savannah is the winner of the contest, I will write another short story for the Dark Days series. I don't know who would be the main characters, but it will feature either Mira and/or Danaus. Is that a good deal? Vote for Savannah and possibly get a new Dark Days short story?

Oooh... maybe it could be a ghost story with Mira and Danaus and Nate from the fourth book? Or I wonder if I could incorporate people from the TAPS team in the story? Or do you just want a scene where Mira finally bites Danaus? Hmmm... stuff to think about.

Book Collection

2011-08-22T13:11:00.007-04:00

I spent part of my weekend rearranging some of the furniture in my house. In large part, I moved most of my bookshelves into a spare room turning it into a pseudo-library, though the cats aren't exactly happy that I've taken over what they have largely seen as their own private bedroom. One of the things that I've seen posted frequently on Facebook has been pictures of people's bookshelves and some of the favorite books that they own. I thought today, since I have nothing particularly important to ramble about, I would post some pictures of my bookshelves and my very beloved books.

First, I will introduce you to the Good Doctor. He is a little figure that broke off a Nightmare Before Christmas snowglobe that I own. I meant to go immediately out and get some superglue to put him back, but recently I've noticed that I've felt comforted by having him sitting on my desk near my monitor. He's been good company and gets in the way less frequently than my cat, Demona.

The first bookshelf is my collection of hardback copies. These are where you will find the bulk of my autographed copies. I look at them and I honestly don't remember buying so many hardback books. A lot of them were picked up when they were deeply discounted and I simply couldn't resist not owning them. You have to understand that I love books. No, that doesn't seem to be enough. I live and breathe books. I love the feel, the weight, the smell, and look of books -- especially hardbacks. They are beautiful and hold the most wonderful worlds in their pages. Sadly, the highest percentage of unread books is my hardback books. I don't know why. Maybe they feel too serious because they are hardback. Or maybe there's something in me that's afraid of damaging a hardback. I've replaced paperback books in the past but I don't think I've ever bought a particular hardback book a second time. Of all my books, I would have to say that Raymond Feist's books are the ones that I would love most to have all in hardback and I'm pretty close. I read a lot of things growing up that I loved, but his books were some of the stories that drove me to want to write.

My second shelf is my paperback books. There are some authors that I have in paper and hardback such as Kim Harrison, Raymond Feist, and Neil Gaiman. A part of me wants to have them all in one place, but the neat and orderly side demands to have them separated by hard and paper. (Am I insane? Yes, but that's for another day.) Looking at my paperback shelf has made me realize two things. 1.) I need another shelf because this one is full and 2.) It's time to seriously consider e-books, which I have done. There are a lot of books that I've gotten rid of due to a lack of space and now I would love to own them again so I can re-read them. For instance, I used to have a nice collection of historical romances but I went through a lengthy period where I wasn't reading any romances, so I got rid of the books to make room for others. Now, I'm reading romances again and wish I had those books. Will I re-buy them? Probably, but now they will be on my e-reader. I have read a good chunk of these paperback books, particularly if I have more than one by the same author. And, yes, those are my books on the bottom shelf, but I doubt they will be there much longer as I am planning another run to the bookstore today.

The third one is a small shelf for graphic novels and comics. My O.H. (other half) and I have decided to combine our collections. The bottom shelf is my contribution and consists almost entirely of Batman-related comics. I am still missing a number of the ones I want but I think I have a collection to be proud of. He's Marvel and I'm DC. Somehow, we make it work.

Finally, I do have one other small shelf in my office comprised of miscellaneous books. Just a hodgepodge of things that I've picked up over the years that I can't bring myself to get rid of. I also have two more boxes of books packed away that I can't get rid of as well as several research-related books on my desk. I have a serious weakness when it comes to books.

Before I go, I will admit that while I was re-organizing my books I discovered that I had a few doubles. I can't throw them out and I'm not sure what to do with them. Would you like them? Let's have a small contest. I am giving away unsigned copies of:
1. George R.R. Martin's "A Game of Thrones"
2. Vicki Pettersson's "City of Souls"
3. J.R. Ward's "Dark Lover"
4. a hardback copy of Raymond E. Feist's "Rides a Dread Legion"
and let's throw in for good measure, a signed copy of "Burn the Night" by me.

That's 5 books! Let me a comment with your name before Thursday, August 25 and I will pick one winner. The contest is open to US and international readers.