Cover Reveal: Dead Man's Deal

I can't think of a better way to finish out the week than by officially revealing the cover of my next book, Dead Man's Deal.  Released on May 7, Dead Man's Deal continues with Gage's story of fighting the Ivory Towers and trying to manage a normal relationship with an elf, while tattooing the populace of Low Town. 

Would you like to see the cover?

BAM!

Isn't that all kinds of awesome?!?! I really do love my covers.

Also, here's the cover copy for the book:


In a world where elves, faeries, trolls, werewolves, and vampires swim free in a sea of humanity, sometimes you need an edge. Looking for a little love? Need some luck? Desperate for revenge? Gage can give you what you need. The most talented tattoo artist in town, he knows the right symbol and the right mix of ingredients and ink to achieve your heart's desire. One tattoo is all it takes. But remember, everything has its price. . . .

Gage learned that lesson long ago, in ways he'd rather not remember. But the cruel and powerful wizards in the dreaded Ivory Towers he escaped aren't about to let him forget. Though Gage has managed to stay out of sight, he can't outrun the past forever. The wizards know Gage is using forbidden magic, and they intend to punish him for his transgressions.


Too bad if innocent humans and monsters—entire cities—get in the way. They will quell a nascent magical uprising and Gage will be the sacrifice they need. First, though, they have to find him . . .

The book is available for pre-order and is even discounted at Amazon and Barnes & Noble right now.

Have a great weekend!

Cover Reveal: Trixie

I received this new cover a couple weeks ago and I have been waiting for the release of my new website in order to reveal it.  Well, the website has been re-launched and it's now time to show off my new cover.  As you know, I have a new series (The Asylum Tales) launching this summer.  It kicks off with the release of the novella The Asylum Interviews: Bronx on July 3.  A sort of companion novella is being released on September 4 called The Asylum Interviews: Trixie on September 4.  for the curious, here is the cover:

Isn't she positively lovely?  I do so love my covers. Happiness really is a new book cover some days.  What I love even more is that the covers for Bronx and Trixie match!  See!


At this point, you're thinking: Damn it, Jocelynn, just tell us what it's about!

Here is HarperCollins description:
The second of two prequel stories to Jocelynn Drake's Angel's Ink—the first novel in her new Asylum Tales series about a magical tattoo artist, Gage, and his friends: Trixie, a gorgeous elf who hides her true identity, and a hulking troll named Bronx.

Here is a little more from me:
Gage's ex-girlfriend is back in town and needs help escaping a master vampire.  While not the easiest of tasks, he certainly didn't count of getting help from a mysterious woman with a few secrets of her own.

When I sold the series to my publisher, they asked for two novels as well as two novellas that could be released before the first book in the series.  With that in mind, I thought it best to describe how Gage (my main character) met his two friends and co-workers Bronx and Trixie.  Let's just say it was an adventure.

Oh, and we have only 14 more days until The Asylum Interviews: Bronx is released!  Happy Dance.

Cover Reveal

I've just gotten the green light from my editor to flash my awesome new covers around.  I'm practically bouncing in my seat, which certainly doesn't make it easy to try to type this.  I love, love, love my covers.  I have a total of three new covers, but I'm only going to show two today.  I'm still waiting for a final version of one, but I think two new covers in one day is plenty.  We need to pace ourselves.

So, first we have the cover for the first novella that will be released on July 3.  The Asylum Interviews: Bronx.

Can I just say 'yum'?  I mean, seriously. Yum.  I don't get sexy guy covers too often, and I certainly wasn't expecting them with my new series, but damn.  This is awesome.  And it perfectly fits since the Bronx story is about a sexy incubus who gets a tattoo with results in chaos.

Here's my description of the story.


In Low Town, where humans walk and work side-by-side with elves, vampires, ogres, and all manner of creature, it's understandable that people occasionally need a little help in their lives.  Whether is love, work, or ... other, tattoo artists are there to try to help turn the odds into your favor.  When Gage's friend Parker needs help with his love life, tattoo artists Gage and Bronx are only too happy to help.  But the incubus ends up getting more than he bargained for with his new tattoo, and his friends are forced to scramble to fix the mess they've created before someone gets hurt.

If you're a guy and aren't comfortable with the cover, just remember: it's an e-book.  No one will see what you're reading.  And trust me, you're going to love this story.

If you're interested in pre-ordering The Asylum Interviews: Bronx, here's a link to Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

And here's the second cover that I'm sure you're dying to see.  It has been floating around the internet for the past couple of weeks, but I usually can't post the cover until about two months before.  But since my publisher has released it, I get to post it now!

Angel's Ink will be released on October 16.

Here's the book description:

Looking for a tattoo -- and maybe a little something extra: a burst of good luck, a dollop of love, or even a hex on an ex?  Head to the quiet and mysterious Gage, the best skin artist in town.  Using his unique potions -- a blend of extraordinary ingredients and special inks -- to etch the right symbol, he can fulfill any heart's desire.  But in a place like Low Town, where elves, faeries, trolls, werewolves, and vampires happily walk among humanity, everything has a price.

No one knows that better than Gage.  Turning his back on his own kind, he left the magical Ivory Towers where cruel witches and warlocks rule, a decision that cost him his right to practice magic.  If he disobeys, his punishment -- execution -- will be swift.
 
Though he's tried to fly under the radar, Gage can't hide from powerful warlocks who want him dead -- or the secrets of his own past.  But with the help of his friends, Trixie, a gorgeous elf who hides her true identity, and a hulking troll named Bronx, Gage just might make it through this enchanted world alive.

I can't wait for this book to be released.  Here's what other authors have been saying!

“Gritty, authentic and face-paced! This urban fantasy series rocks!”

— J.R. Ward “A lot of fun, with a whole new take on the dark urban fantasy. Bright and breezy, with fascinating characters, and a background with hidden depths. Drake puts the ink in incredible.”

— Simon R. Green 

“Angel’s Ink is an other-earthly blend of magic and technology in the best tradition of urban fantasy that refused to let me go. The continuing Asylum Tales promise to be intriguing and wildly inventive.”

— Kim Harrison 

Are you excited?  I'm excited!  Interested in pre-ordering a copy?  Click here!
More news to come.
 So, what do you think of the covers? 

Pray for Dawn Cover Art

I know that it has been floating around the Internet for a while, but I can now OFFICIALLY post the cover for my next Dark Days novel, Pray for Dawn. It looks significantly different from the cover that we have done in the past. Part of that reason is due to the fact that Pray for Dawn has a new storyteller -- Danaus. I thought he deserved to have his own cover if he was telling his own story.I hope you like the cover. I am in love with it. I have been blessed by the cover gods yet again with an awesome piece of art.

Also, here is a quick description of the book:


"Pray for salvation… Pray for daylight…

Murder has pulled Mira out of the shadows and back into the living world…

As the fire-wielding enforcer of the Nightwalker Coven wrestles with the mind-destroying ghosts of her dark past, the slaying of a senator’s daughter in Savannah threatens to expose her kind to the brilliant light of day. The dawn of chaos has come. The naturi have broken free of their eternal prison to feed on the defenseless and unbelieving of an unprepared Earth.

Mira and Danaus—vampire and vampire slayer—must unite to prevent the annihilation of their separate races. But for Danaus the challenge is intensified, for he must also fight the bori who covets his soul. And Mira, the Nightwalker he must protect—whose power is the Earth’s last hope—is rapidly going insane."

Enjoy. We've only got a few more months until the release!

A Good Weekend

It's been a good weekend. I have to admit that I think the Independence Day holiday is one of my all-time favorites. It seems less rushed and hectic than the other holidays. There's lots of good food, games, and the best of all, fireworks. My brothers, father, and myself are total pyromaniacs. We love anything that burns and explodes. A cascade of sparkles, a shower of burning embers, a thunderous explosion, the smell of burning sulfur. Ahh... that's what makes this holiday great.

So, I'm a little strange. Is it any wonder that Mira is the Fire Starter? Not really. I've been hypnotized by fire since I was very young.

We shot a video this year on the proper usage of bottle rockets. I promise to post a link here if it actually makes it to YouTube. I'm still debating on whether to allow its release. We'll see.

On the revision front, Friday and Saturday were not quite as productive as I would have hoped. However, I did make some very good progress today and there is a slim chance that I might actually finish the revisions by their due date -- the end of next weekend. Fingers are crossed.

For those that love cover art, I have posted a couple new covers over on my Facebook page recently, but haven't posted them here. Sorry for the delay.

Here is my cover for the German edition of Nightwalker.

In addition, here is the Science Fiction Book Club omnibus edition of Dark Days, which includes Nightwalker and Dayhunter.

I hope everyone had a great weekend.

Can't Sleep

It's after midnight and by now, I've usually crawled into bed, with my mind settling into a nice daydream before finally drifting off to sleep. However, tonight my mind is too active. I spent 20 minutes starting at my overloaded bookshelves, trying to decide on some thing to briefly read before trying once again to fall asleep. But I couldn't decide on anything.

I knew better.

My mind is too full of Mira and Danaus. I've been neglecting my work recently and now I find myself missing my old friends, as I knew I would. We've been together for so many years now that I can't go too long before one of them finally taps me on the shoulder or gives me a much-needed hug. While grim and violent, the Dark Days world will always be home for me.

So, after spending the past couple weeks curled up in my own personal hole away from the world, I've crawled out and decided that it's time to face the world again. And I'm okay with that.

Since you've been so patient, I have a small gift to offer my dedicated readers -- the cover for Dawnbreaker. It has officially been released to the world (as it has appeared on Amazon.com) so I feel safe posting it here along with the cover blurb. I love all of my covers. The artist, Don Sipley, is amazing. But I have to admit that I think this one is my favorite at the moment. I hope you like it, too.

"The dawn brinks new terror for the creatures of the night...

Those off her race fear Mira for the lethal fire she bends to her will -- a power unique among nightwalkers, both a gift ... and a curse.

The naturi despise Mira for what she is -- as they prepare the final sacrifice that will destroy the barriers between the worlds. And once the naturi are unchained, blood, chaos, and horror will reign supreme on Earth.

Mira can trust only Danaus, the more-than-mortal vampire slayer, though he is sworn to destroy her kind. And now, as the day approaches when titanic forces will duel under cover of darkness, destiny draws them toward an apocalyptic confrontation at Machu Picchu. But all is not lost. for a wild card has been dealt to them: a rogue enemy princess who can change the balance of power and turn the dread tide."

Dawnbreaker is set to be released on September 29, 2009. Stop by the discussion board where speculation has already begun on this book. Try to guess at what kind of mischief I've stirred up now. If you can't wait until Dawnbreaker, then be sure to pick up Unbound on August 25. I have a novella in the anthology called "The Dead, The Damned, And The Forgotten". It is a prequel to Nightwalker.

An Unproductive Productive Day

It's been an unproductive productive day. I know I've gotten a number of things done, but I haven't gotten done what I really needed to get done, which is more than a little frustrating. I stopped by the post office and mailed off a massive pile of books, magnets, and mugs, so those are finally out into the postal ether. I also stopped by the pharmacy and ran a couple other smaller errands.

I am almost completely caught up with my emails, which is amazing. I've got a personal email left along with an blog interview that I need to complete this weekend.

I also got my website designer to complete some updates to my website. Sorry no pictures from the Romantic Times convention. Seriously, I don't think I ever had my camera with me, which is just sad and pathetic. There are some pics floating on the Internet with me in them, but only a couple that I'll point to as good. Most of the time, I don't care for pictures of myself.

However, I am now willing to post the cover to the anthology that I am in. Unbound is coming out on August 25, and includes stories from the amazing Kim Harrison, Vicki Pettersson, Melissa Marr, Jeaniene Frost, and myself. My story is a prequel to Nightwalker, so you get a taste of Mira and her world before Danaus comes along and mucks everything up. Below is the cover. I know it's been floating around the Internet for a while, but I wanted to focus on the release of Dayhunter first before turning my attention to the lovely novella.

Backcover copy:

"Kim Harrison reveals a hidden adventure, as Jenks and Bis investigate a strange haunting ... and find far more than they ever expected. Melissa Marr delivers her first adult story, featuring a young woman struggling to escape the supernatural fate of her family. Jeaniene Frost goes to New Orleans, where Bones must face down a ruthless pair of serial killers, while Vicki Pettersson returns to Sin City and the war between Light and Shadow, and one man's fight for his soul. Jocelynn Drake's tale is set in Savannah, where a strange murder calls the balance between human and nightwalker into question."

This novella should help to hold you over until Dawnbreaker comes out at the end of September.

Dayhunter Cover [Edited]

The day I have been anxiously awaiting has finally arrived. The cover for Dayhunter: The Second Book in the Dark Days Series has finally been released on Amazon.com, so that means I can show it to the rest of the world!

Isn't she beautiful? I love my covers. I think HarperCollins/Eos has done a fantanstic job with my covers and I can't thank them enough. I am truly a lucky author.

So, it's official. There's only 3 more months until the next installment (Dayhunter) in in the Dark Days Series hits the shelves. Be sure to pre-order your copy! You don't want to miss out on what Mira and Danaus get into next.

In celebration, I will be giving away 3 cover flats of Dayhunter. If you're interested, leave a comment below by Saturday, January 31 and I'll put 3 names out of a hat.

Also, be sure to check back later. We're getting pounded by snow and ice again today, so I will try to post some snowy pictures to the blog.

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

As promised, here are a couple of pictures from the storm that has hammered the Cincinnati area during the past few days. We've gotten an average of 10 inches of snow and ice recently. Okay, so that might not be as much as some places (like Ontario), but that's a lot for this area. The mixture of snow and ice managed to actually shut down the city for a few hours, and there were a number of homes that were without power. In other words, Cincinnati can't handle a little snow.

Make sure that you stay warm. I'm done shoveling the driveway. It's time to get some editing done.

COVER ART!!!

I had this great post planned. I was going to talking about the sad conclusion of the great Russian mystery and then finally throw up my latest refrigerator poetry, but something happened to trump all my plans. And I'm not complaining. Not one bit.

During the past few weeks, I have been obsessively haunting Amazon.com, waiting for them to post my cover. And they did it! They finally did it! They posted my cover at long last.

So, with a drum roll.....

Come on, drum roll.....

Here is the cover for Nightwalker: The First Dark Days Novel.

Isn't it lovely? This isn't the clearest copy. Here is another version that might be a little clearer.

I love my cover. I love my editor. I love HarperCollins. I think my cover is positively to die for. I've had it since September and it's been killing me that I haven't been able to share it with the world. But now, everyone can see it.

And because I'm in such a good mood, I'm going to run my very first contest. I am going to give away 2 cover flats. If you are interested in getting your hands on one of my few cover flats, please leave a comment. After the contest closes, I'll drop all the names in a hat, close my eyes, and pick out 2 names.

• You're eligible if you're not related to me
  
• One entry per person
  
• Please sign your entry
  
• Please don't leave your email address in your comment. If you do, you will get spammed. (Not by me. I'm just saying that's a very real risk.)
  
• The giveaway closes at 11:59 pm eastern time on Sunday, May 4th. At that time, I will close the comment thread. A winner will be announced the following day.