Thursday, June 30, 2005
Master of the Moon!
Amazon.com: Books: Master of the Moon (Berkley Sensation) Today, I've got a new book to rave about, Master of the Moon by fellow Berkley author Angela Knight!
Diana London works hard in her day job as the city manager of a small South Carolina town. Yet she still finds time to moonlight for the Verdaville Police Department.
As a werewolf.
But while helping the police investigate a brutal murder, Diana discovers she’s not the only magical creature in town. A female vampire has also decided to make Verdaville her murderous playground. What’s worse, she has powers even Diana can’t match.
Fortunately, Diana is not the only one determined to stop her. Llyr Galatyn is the king of the Cachamwri Sidhe – a seductive otherworldly warrior with fantastic abilities. He’s sworn to hunt down the murderer, and he’s more than willing to give Diana any help she needs.
And not just with the case. Diana is in her Burning Moon, a time of sexual heat, when need rides her hard. Llyr is delighted to be the answer to her erotic prayers.
But as they hunt the vampire while desire runs hot between them, a deadly enemy urges the killer to turn her sights on Llyr. It seems Llyr isn’t the only king of the Sidhe – and his brother wants him dead.
Sounds fab, doesn't it? And you can read an excerpt at http://www.angelasknights.com/masterofthemoon.htm
MASTER OF THE MOON, a Berkley Sensation novel, got a 4 ½ stars and a Top Pick from RT. It also spent three weeks on the USA Today bestseller list, and was #1 on the Waldens Romance List for three weeks.
Another Angela Knight novel, THE FOREVER KISS, won the 2004 RT’s Critic’s Choice award for Best Erotic Romance.
Romantic Times Review:
“Picking up the storyline where MASTER OF THE NIGHT left off, Knight’s latest packs in tons more passion, danger and sizzling sensuality. While her novels are scorchingly hot, knight also manages to keep the stories intriguing and balanced.” – Jim M Smith, Romantic Times Bookclub Magazine.
Diana London works hard in her day job as the city manager of a small South Carolina town. Yet she still finds time to moonlight for the Verdaville Police Department.
As a werewolf.
But while helping the police investigate a brutal murder, Diana discovers she’s not the only magical creature in town. A female vampire has also decided to make Verdaville her murderous playground. What’s worse, she has powers even Diana can’t match.
Fortunately, Diana is not the only one determined to stop her. Llyr Galatyn is the king of the Cachamwri Sidhe – a seductive otherworldly warrior with fantastic abilities. He’s sworn to hunt down the murderer, and he’s more than willing to give Diana any help she needs.
And not just with the case. Diana is in her Burning Moon, a time of sexual heat, when need rides her hard. Llyr is delighted to be the answer to her erotic prayers.
But as they hunt the vampire while desire runs hot between them, a deadly enemy urges the killer to turn her sights on Llyr. It seems Llyr isn’t the only king of the Sidhe – and his brother wants him dead.
Sounds fab, doesn't it? And you can read an excerpt at http://www.angelasknights.com/masterofthemoon.htm
MASTER OF THE MOON, a Berkley Sensation novel, got a 4 ½ stars and a Top Pick from RT. It also spent three weeks on the USA Today bestseller list, and was #1 on the Waldens Romance List for three weeks.
Another Angela Knight novel, THE FOREVER KISS, won the 2004 RT’s Critic’s Choice award for Best Erotic Romance.
Romantic Times Review:
“Picking up the storyline where MASTER OF THE NIGHT left off, Knight’s latest packs in tons more passion, danger and sizzling sensuality. While her novels are scorchingly hot, knight also manages to keep the stories intriguing and balanced.” – Jim M Smith, Romantic Times Bookclub Magazine.
Wednesday, June 29, 2005
Coffee Klatch
New blatherings posted to Coffee Klatch (which, we hope, will be more regularly updated that the, uh, semi-annual schedule Kathleen and I have been keeping ...)
Amazon.com: Books: Unmasked (Futuristic Romance)
Another cool book to talk about today, CJ Barry's Unmasked. I talked a bit with CJ, and here's what she had to say:
JK: (I loved the line about how if the computer couldn't multitask, Tori would change it into a male!)
Yes, I confess, I am a big Star Trek fan. I liked the old stuff, but I really loved Next Gen. As for why the female voice, hmm... I never really thought about it. In Unleashed, I gave Zain's computer a male persona so I've done both. Torrie is surrounded by men who give her a hard time, so it would be appropriate for her to want her computer at least to be on her side!
JK: Torrie's a fabulous character. How'd you come up with her?
She showed up at the end of Unleashed to help my heroine save Zain. Torrie is Zain's sister. She was one of those characters who walked fully formed into my head. I wanted a heroine who was fearless and tough as she would be with six brothers! No doubt about it, she is a force to be reckoned with, but I also wanted her to have a big heart that she hides beneath her skills and weapons. I love writing women with a mission, and she had it. At one point, Qaade calls her "a warrior without a war". So I gave her one. :-)
JK: What are your favorite movies?
How much space do you have? LOL Let me see. Princess Bride, Galaxy Quest, Young Frankenstein, Forrest Gump, Star Wars (yes, all of them), Independence Day, Moonstruck, Indiana Jones, X-men, Spiderman I&II, The Bourne Identity, LOTR trilogy, What's Up Doc. Is that enough? I love movies although you can see from my line-up that I steer clear of the bloody ones. Ick.
JK: Favorite TV shows?
As much as I love movies, I'm not a big TV fan. In fact, most of the time you can find my TV turned to the Food Network. I love Iron Chef (the original) and Good Eats. I also like watching the Discovery Channel with my son, Ryan where we find Extreme Engineering, Monster Machines, and a lot of excellent documentaries. I catch CSI once in a while, but frankly, I have no idea what shows are on what nights. I gave up watching TV long ago when I started writing and I guess I just never got back into it again.
JK: Your five favorite foods?
Only five? You realize, I live on the Food Network, right? Okay, I guess it would be peanut M&Ms, king crab legs, escargot, havarti with dill cheese, and Godiva Chocolate Raspberry Truffle ice cream. Did I hit all the major food groups? Eh, close enough.
JK: Have you ever in fact traveled in space? How about Oliver? Has he done any space travel? (And are you sure about that answer???)
As a matter of fact, when I was a kid I used to sit in the backyard at night hoping that I would be abducted by aliens. Unfortunately, I could never seem to flag them down. I don't know about Oliver. Sometimes I wonder if they aren't feeding him.
JK: What was the inspiration for Unmasked? Do you recall how you came up with the story?
As with most of my stories, it started from a nugget I found while researching history. Although I understood Torrie's role, I didn't have much on my hero except that I wanted him to be a space pirate. So I read a lot of books on Pirates of Caribbean in the 1700's. One of the paragraphs mentioned how pirates detested the slave trade. They viewed slavery as a direct threat to their fairly democratic way of life (one man, one vote). So many times, if they boarded a slave ship, they would kill the crew and free the slaves. A few slaves were even taken on as part of pirate crew. As soon as I read that, it all clicked into place. I knew what my pirate's purpose was.
From there, it was a matter of pitting Torrie's views against his views. I had an opportunity to take this issue and portray it from many angles using various characters who were representative of the players in the slave trade. I thoroughly enjoyed writing this book and tackling such a difficult subject. More than any other book I've written, this one stole my heart. :-)
JK again...sounds great, doesn't it!? And check out this blurb about the book:
To the merchants he plunders, he's the Ghost Rider of the Dead Zone. To sector law enforcement, he's a wanted pirate. To the slaves he rescues, he's the savior, laghato. To one determined female, Qaade Deter is serious trouble. Torrie Masters had heard of the legendary raider, but she'd never expected to encounter him. Nor would she have expected that beneath his black mask lurked an enticing man destined to challenge her in ways she couldn't shoot her way out of. But a great threat has emerged-one that's left no choice but for them to join forces. Entrusted with the fate of thousands, Torrie has discovered Qaade's impossible dream. Only she has the power to help him. Only she has the power to see him UNMASKED.
If you want to check out an excerpt, visit http://www.dorchesterpub.com/Dorch/SpecialFeatures.cfm?Special_ID=1923
And check out the great reviews!
"Wow! What a story! Bravo!" -Best-selling Author Robin D. Owens
"Applause for this gutsy tale that steals your heart. Barry's best, simply her best!" -Deborah MacGillivray, The Best Reviews 4 1/2 STARS!!
"This awesome book roars out of the starting gates and never looks back. Along with telling social commentary, it is chock-full of danger, adventure, and romance-a terrific keeper!" -Romantic Times Magazine
More infor? Visit www.cjbarry.com
JK: (I loved the line about how if the computer couldn't multitask, Tori would change it into a male!)
Yes, I confess, I am a big Star Trek fan. I liked the old stuff, but I really loved Next Gen. As for why the female voice, hmm... I never really thought about it. In Unleashed, I gave Zain's computer a male persona so I've done both. Torrie is surrounded by men who give her a hard time, so it would be appropriate for her to want her computer at least to be on her side!
JK: Torrie's a fabulous character. How'd you come up with her?
She showed up at the end of Unleashed to help my heroine save Zain. Torrie is Zain's sister. She was one of those characters who walked fully formed into my head. I wanted a heroine who was fearless and tough as she would be with six brothers! No doubt about it, she is a force to be reckoned with, but I also wanted her to have a big heart that she hides beneath her skills and weapons. I love writing women with a mission, and she had it. At one point, Qaade calls her "a warrior without a war". So I gave her one. :-)
JK: What are your favorite movies?
How much space do you have? LOL Let me see. Princess Bride, Galaxy Quest, Young Frankenstein, Forrest Gump, Star Wars (yes, all of them), Independence Day, Moonstruck, Indiana Jones, X-men, Spiderman I&II, The Bourne Identity, LOTR trilogy, What's Up Doc. Is that enough? I love movies although you can see from my line-up that I steer clear of the bloody ones. Ick.
JK: Favorite TV shows?
As much as I love movies, I'm not a big TV fan. In fact, most of the time you can find my TV turned to the Food Network. I love Iron Chef (the original) and Good Eats. I also like watching the Discovery Channel with my son, Ryan where we find Extreme Engineering, Monster Machines, and a lot of excellent documentaries. I catch CSI once in a while, but frankly, I have no idea what shows are on what nights. I gave up watching TV long ago when I started writing and I guess I just never got back into it again.
JK: Your five favorite foods?
Only five? You realize, I live on the Food Network, right? Okay, I guess it would be peanut M&Ms, king crab legs, escargot, havarti with dill cheese, and Godiva Chocolate Raspberry Truffle ice cream. Did I hit all the major food groups? Eh, close enough.
JK: Have you ever in fact traveled in space? How about Oliver? Has he done any space travel? (And are you sure about that answer???)
As a matter of fact, when I was a kid I used to sit in the backyard at night hoping that I would be abducted by aliens. Unfortunately, I could never seem to flag them down. I don't know about Oliver. Sometimes I wonder if they aren't feeding him.
JK: What was the inspiration for Unmasked? Do you recall how you came up with the story?
As with most of my stories, it started from a nugget I found while researching history. Although I understood Torrie's role, I didn't have much on my hero except that I wanted him to be a space pirate. So I read a lot of books on Pirates of Caribbean in the 1700's. One of the paragraphs mentioned how pirates detested the slave trade. They viewed slavery as a direct threat to their fairly democratic way of life (one man, one vote). So many times, if they boarded a slave ship, they would kill the crew and free the slaves. A few slaves were even taken on as part of pirate crew. As soon as I read that, it all clicked into place. I knew what my pirate's purpose was.
From there, it was a matter of pitting Torrie's views against his views. I had an opportunity to take this issue and portray it from many angles using various characters who were representative of the players in the slave trade. I thoroughly enjoyed writing this book and tackling such a difficult subject. More than any other book I've written, this one stole my heart. :-)
JK again...sounds great, doesn't it!? And check out this blurb about the book:
To the merchants he plunders, he's the Ghost Rider of the Dead Zone. To sector law enforcement, he's a wanted pirate. To the slaves he rescues, he's the savior, laghato. To one determined female, Qaade Deter is serious trouble. Torrie Masters had heard of the legendary raider, but she'd never expected to encounter him. Nor would she have expected that beneath his black mask lurked an enticing man destined to challenge her in ways she couldn't shoot her way out of. But a great threat has emerged-one that's left no choice but for them to join forces. Entrusted with the fate of thousands, Torrie has discovered Qaade's impossible dream. Only she has the power to help him. Only she has the power to see him UNMASKED.
If you want to check out an excerpt, visit http://www.dorchesterpub.com/Dorch/SpecialFeatures.cfm?Special_ID=1923
And check out the great reviews!
"Wow! What a story! Bravo!" -Best-selling Author Robin D. Owens
"Applause for this gutsy tale that steals your heart. Barry's best, simply her best!" -Deborah MacGillivray, The Best Reviews 4 1/2 STARS!!
"This awesome book roars out of the starting gates and never looks back. Along with telling social commentary, it is chock-full of danger, adventure, and romance-a terrific keeper!" -Romantic Times Magazine
More infor? Visit www.cjbarry.com
Sunday, June 26, 2005
New Demons Slain: Online Dating!!
Me, me, me!
Thursday, June 23, 2005
New York Daily News - Thersday - Prada placement
New York Daily News - Thersday - Prada placement Wheee! A nice mention of THE GIVENCHY CODE (and Kathleen's THE DIVA'S GUIDE TO SELLING YOUR SOUL) in the New York Daily News! How cool!
On the road again ....
As soon as dawn breaks (okay, actually, maybe more like 10ish. Eleven. Okay, noon at the VERY latest....) we're heading out for the Metroplex. The Dallas/Ft. Worth grandparents haven't seen the kidlet in months and months. She's excited (I think she smells presents and attention on the horizon). I'm excited. I'm incredibly behind on work, but my dad and the hotel both have a pool, it's summer, and, as they say, the living is easy ... (Yes, yes, I know I'm going to be working there. But I just want to chill for a few minutes of fabulous fantasy...)
If you're on the I-35 corridor, wave as we chug by ...
If you're on the I-35 corridor, wave as we chug by ...
Wednesday, June 22, 2005
eReader.com: Best Sellers
eReader.com: Best Sellers OK, am I a freak or what, but I'm doing this little happy dance b/c I just ran a/c this website, and as of June 16 when the page was cached, THE GIVENCHY CODE was a bestseller at ereader.com. Way cool!
So What's the Sitch?
So, my daughter (age 3.5) is a huge fan of Disney's Kim Possible. And, um, so am I. (Check out the Le Goop, Senor Senior Senior, Spinning Tops of Doom episode. My absolute fav!).
And here's embarrassing proof that my child is, perhaps, possibly, maybe tuned in a little too much to popular culture: We're sitting in a Cajun restaurant last night, and I mention that I want to go to New Orleans this summer. So I turn to C and ask "How about you? Want to go to New Orleans?" And my 3 year old darling daughter turns to me, with an absolutely dead-on perfect expression, waves her hand, and says "SO not the drama."
!!!!
I swear, I about had a coronary I was laughing so hard!
And here's embarrassing proof that my child is, perhaps, possibly, maybe tuned in a little too much to popular culture: We're sitting in a Cajun restaurant last night, and I mention that I want to go to New Orleans this summer. So I turn to C and ask "How about you? Want to go to New Orleans?" And my 3 year old darling daughter turns to me, with an absolutely dead-on perfect expression, waves her hand, and says "SO not the drama."
!!!!
I swear, I about had a coronary I was laughing so hard!
Tuesday, June 21, 2005
Another Fabulous Read: Larger Than Life
If you haven't already, you really should check out Larger Than Life by Alison Kent. It's a fabulous book by one of my favorite writers (not to mention one of my favorite people! Alison and I both wrote for Temptation -- now defunct, sniff, sniff -- and right after I sold I was in Houston for business. We met for Mexican food and was totally patient with all of my newbieness!) The really funny thing is that I already knew who Alison was! She sold her first book to Harlequin on national television. The sale was a featured segment on the “Isn’t It Romantic” episode of CBS 48 Hours. (Cool, huh? Alison was like one of the first reality TV folks!) I'd actually seen that episode, although I rarely watched the show. Kismet! And also definitely not a fluke. Since then, she has sold eighteen series romances, eight novellas, one non-fiction pop culture essay, and four single title trade releases to four different publishers. Alison is a 2005 Quill Award nominee (http://www.quillsliteracy.org/index.html) for her February 2005 release, THE BEACH ALIBI.
At any rate, this is a book that you don't want to miss (and another cool cover!)
. You can read more at
Alison’s website at http://www.alisonkent.com for more information on her books and the writing life, and check out http://www.largerthanlife-thebook.com, the companion site for her current release, LARGER THAN LIFE.
Here's a bit about the book:
With her wildly popular SG-5 series, Alison Kent proved that taut suspense and hot, sensual romance make for an irresistible mix. Now, in LARGER THAN LIFE, Kent ups the ante again with a story of two people caught in a high-stakes game where their hearts and lives are on the line…
After being beaten and left for dead in the New Mexico desert, Smithson Group agent Mick Savin tries to piece together his last few days. He remembers bits and pieces: gathering crucial intel. An ambush by Spectra thugs. And then…nothing, except waking up in some medical center in rural West Texas. His mission was top secret. So how did he end up here?
The answer is Neva Case. If the former big-city attorney hadn’t been out in her pick-up, Mick wouldn’t be alive. Mick’s never met anyone quite like Neva. She’s smart, sexy, and passionate. She also has a secret. Neva runs the Big Brown Barn, an underground shelter for young girls forced into unwanted polygamist marriages. Neva would do anything for these girls—and that’s what worries Mick. Neva may be trusting, but Mick’s instincts tell him that something’s not quite right. He’s not about to let someone get to Neva and the girls on his watch. Especially when one of the girls brings trouble straight to the barn's front door . . .
Now, with the shelter in unimaginable danger and time running out, Mick is in for the fight of his life, one that could cost him the woman he’s come to love more than anything…
The book is getting awesome reviews, too!
"Hold on for a sizzling, heart-grabbing ride!"
~ NYT bestselling author Nicole Jordan
"A larger-than-life hero and nonstop action keep the suspense high in Kent’s latest SG-5 adventure. A heart-wrenching secondary romance adds emotional intensity and depth to this compelling tale."
~ RT Bookclub Magazine
"For me Alison Kent’s name on a book means that I am guaranteed to have a story that is realistic, entertaining, compelling and sexy as all get out. Larger Than Life is all this and more and Ms. Kent has added another winner to her memorable body of work."
~ ARomanceReview.com
“Alison Kent proved that taut suspense and hot, sensual romance make for an irresistible mix with Larger Than Life the newest in her wildly popular SG-5 series.”
~ NewandUsedBooks.com
At any rate, this is a book that you don't want to miss (and another cool cover!)
. You can read more at Alison’s website at http://www.alisonkent.com for more information on her books and the writing life, and check out http://www.largerthanlife-thebook.com, the companion site for her current release, LARGER THAN LIFE.
Here's a bit about the book:
With her wildly popular SG-5 series, Alison Kent proved that taut suspense and hot, sensual romance make for an irresistible mix. Now, in LARGER THAN LIFE, Kent ups the ante again with a story of two people caught in a high-stakes game where their hearts and lives are on the line…
After being beaten and left for dead in the New Mexico desert, Smithson Group agent Mick Savin tries to piece together his last few days. He remembers bits and pieces: gathering crucial intel. An ambush by Spectra thugs. And then…nothing, except waking up in some medical center in rural West Texas. His mission was top secret. So how did he end up here?
The answer is Neva Case. If the former big-city attorney hadn’t been out in her pick-up, Mick wouldn’t be alive. Mick’s never met anyone quite like Neva. She’s smart, sexy, and passionate. She also has a secret. Neva runs the Big Brown Barn, an underground shelter for young girls forced into unwanted polygamist marriages. Neva would do anything for these girls—and that’s what worries Mick. Neva may be trusting, but Mick’s instincts tell him that something’s not quite right. He’s not about to let someone get to Neva and the girls on his watch. Especially when one of the girls brings trouble straight to the barn's front door . . .
Now, with the shelter in unimaginable danger and time running out, Mick is in for the fight of his life, one that could cost him the woman he’s come to love more than anything…
The book is getting awesome reviews, too!
"Hold on for a sizzling, heart-grabbing ride!"
~ NYT bestselling author Nicole Jordan
"A larger-than-life hero and nonstop action keep the suspense high in Kent’s latest SG-5 adventure. A heart-wrenching secondary romance adds emotional intensity and depth to this compelling tale."
~ RT Bookclub Magazine
"For me Alison Kent’s name on a book means that I am guaranteed to have a story that is realistic, entertaining, compelling and sexy as all get out. Larger Than Life is all this and more and Ms. Kent has added another winner to her memorable body of work."
~ ARomanceReview.com
“Alison Kent proved that taut suspense and hot, sensual romance make for an irresistible mix with Larger Than Life the newest in her wildly popular SG-5 series.”
~ NewandUsedBooks.com
Monday, June 20, 2005
New Slay Entries
Be sure to check out the new entries at Slay Your Demons, and scroll down for Gena Showalter's fabulously entertaining interview.
Gena Showalter Interview and Book!
Amazon.com: Books: Awaken Me Darkly Two weekends ago, I had the absolute pleasure of doing a whole bunch of booksignings with the other Naughty Girls of Downtown Press, including the fabulous Gena Showalter, who wrote Awaken Me Darkly which, you may have guessed, is the subject of today's blog entry.
I've finally finished all the Naughty Girl books, and let me tell you, Awaken Me Darkly absolutely rocks! (And the cover's pretty cool, too!)
. Here's a bit about the book:
WELCOME TO THE NEW WORLD. . .
In a time and place not too far away, Mia Snow is an alien huntress for the New Chicago Police Department, using her psychic abilities and deadly fighting skills to catch her prey. Heading up her expert team of Alien Investigation and Removal agents, Mia is unmatched at battling the elusive enemy among us, and she’s the perfect girl for the job. She’s seen her brother die at the hands of aliens. She’s earned each of her scars. And she’ll never, ever give up. Now, a series of killings have Mia and her partner Dallas tracking alien suspects – but a sudden blast of violence leaves Dallas fighting for his life.
The chance to save Dallas appears in the form of a tall, erotic stranger. An alien. A murder suspect. Kyrin en Arr, of the deadly Arcadian species, holds the power to heal the injured agent but not without a price. For Mia Snow, that price is surrendering to Kyrin’s forbidden seduction…and embracing their electric attraction. She’s walking a knife’s edge, risking her badge and even her life. The closer she gets to Kyrin, the more Mia learns about her own heart, her human needs – and the shocking secret that will shatter everything she’s ever believed.
You can read an excerpt by clicking the link.
So, I had a few questions for Gena, which she graciously answered:
Is it true that you are in fact an alien huntress yourself? I wish! There are many humans I’d like to introduce to a pyre-gun. Setting: deep fry.
OK, if you're not an alien huntress, is it true that you're actually an alien, thus allowing you to stay thin and beautiful despite eating fried food and having a close personal relationship with Chick-fil-a restaurants? I plead the fifth! However, I will say that my intimate love affair with the ambrosia known on this planet as Chic-fil-a began a long ago and I carry the mark of love on my thighs proudly.
How'd you come up with the idea for Mia? I had written two books with alien heroes and started to wonder how the world would change if aliens really *did* walk among us. Mia Snow just kind of sat up in my mind and said, “I’ll kick their asses!”
What's the coolest thing about Mia, in your humble opinion? I wrote her to be the strong woman I wish I was -- a woman who speaks her mind no matter who she offends, fights without reservation or fear, and never backs down from doing what she believes in. I tease my agent a lot by calling myself a hardcore bitch, and she just laughs (I suspect she rolls her eyes LOL.) But I really want to be able to fight like that
What's your favorite television show? Right now I’m on a serious Desperate Housewives kick. I can’t get enough of it. The mystery keeps bringing me back for more.
Favorite movie? I just saw Mr. and Mrs. Smith and laughed my ass off. I’ll be going back to see it soon, and it has nothing to do with the delectable human named Brad Pitt or the fact that I wanted to be Mrs. Gena Smith. Really.
Five favorite foods? Chick-fil-a, of course. That’s a given. But I also love Mexican food, Chinese food, chocolate cake, and chocolate chip cookies. Anyone else freaking starving right now?
ABOUT GENA SHOWALTER:
Gena Showalter holds a Ph.D. in Quantum Physics (lie), is an expert in Krav Maga (bigger lie), and once worked as a body guard for the stars (the biggest lie of all). Actually, Gena Showalter is just your everyday, average girl who enjoys creating sizzling paranormal tales of kick ass women and the men who can't resist them.
REVIEWS: (In case you thought I was fibbing about the book being great!)
"A brilliantly written, fast-paced novel, AWAKEN ME DARKLY sizzles…Similar to Laurell K. Hamilton’s Anita Blake series, (Awaken Me Darkly) takes various steps to transcend the genres of the supernatural, mystery and science fiction" Fresh Fiction
“Fans of TV’s Alias will find this book especially appealing” RT
“Buffy the Vampire Slayer meets Alien Nation in this action-packed adventure, and Mia Snow is perfect as the alien hunter with a secret.” Booklist
Read more at Gena's website: http://www.genashowalter.com
I've finally finished all the Naughty Girl books, and let me tell you, Awaken Me Darkly absolutely rocks! (And the cover's pretty cool, too!)
. Here's a bit about the book:WELCOME TO THE NEW WORLD. . .
In a time and place not too far away, Mia Snow is an alien huntress for the New Chicago Police Department, using her psychic abilities and deadly fighting skills to catch her prey. Heading up her expert team of Alien Investigation and Removal agents, Mia is unmatched at battling the elusive enemy among us, and she’s the perfect girl for the job. She’s seen her brother die at the hands of aliens. She’s earned each of her scars. And she’ll never, ever give up. Now, a series of killings have Mia and her partner Dallas tracking alien suspects – but a sudden blast of violence leaves Dallas fighting for his life.
The chance to save Dallas appears in the form of a tall, erotic stranger. An alien. A murder suspect. Kyrin en Arr, of the deadly Arcadian species, holds the power to heal the injured agent but not without a price. For Mia Snow, that price is surrendering to Kyrin’s forbidden seduction…and embracing their electric attraction. She’s walking a knife’s edge, risking her badge and even her life. The closer she gets to Kyrin, the more Mia learns about her own heart, her human needs – and the shocking secret that will shatter everything she’s ever believed.
You can read an excerpt by clicking the link.
So, I had a few questions for Gena, which she graciously answered:
Is it true that you are in fact an alien huntress yourself? I wish! There are many humans I’d like to introduce to a pyre-gun. Setting: deep fry.
OK, if you're not an alien huntress, is it true that you're actually an alien, thus allowing you to stay thin and beautiful despite eating fried food and having a close personal relationship with Chick-fil-a restaurants? I plead the fifth! However, I will say that my intimate love affair with the ambrosia known on this planet as Chic-fil-a began a long ago and I carry the mark of love on my thighs proudly.
How'd you come up with the idea for Mia? I had written two books with alien heroes and started to wonder how the world would change if aliens really *did* walk among us. Mia Snow just kind of sat up in my mind and said, “I’ll kick their asses!”
What's the coolest thing about Mia, in your humble opinion? I wrote her to be the strong woman I wish I was -- a woman who speaks her mind no matter who she offends, fights without reservation or fear, and never backs down from doing what she believes in. I tease my agent a lot by calling myself a hardcore bitch, and she just laughs (I suspect she rolls her eyes LOL.) But I really want to be able to fight like that
What's your favorite television show? Right now I’m on a serious Desperate Housewives kick. I can’t get enough of it. The mystery keeps bringing me back for more.
Favorite movie? I just saw Mr. and Mrs. Smith and laughed my ass off. I’ll be going back to see it soon, and it has nothing to do with the delectable human named Brad Pitt or the fact that I wanted to be Mrs. Gena Smith. Really.
Five favorite foods? Chick-fil-a, of course. That’s a given. But I also love Mexican food, Chinese food, chocolate cake, and chocolate chip cookies. Anyone else freaking starving right now?
ABOUT GENA SHOWALTER:
Gena Showalter holds a Ph.D. in Quantum Physics (lie), is an expert in Krav Maga (bigger lie), and once worked as a body guard for the stars (the biggest lie of all). Actually, Gena Showalter is just your everyday, average girl who enjoys creating sizzling paranormal tales of kick ass women and the men who can't resist them.
REVIEWS: (In case you thought I was fibbing about the book being great!)
"A brilliantly written, fast-paced novel, AWAKEN ME DARKLY sizzles…Similar to Laurell K. Hamilton’s Anita Blake series, (Awaken Me Darkly) takes various steps to transcend the genres of the supernatural, mystery and science fiction" Fresh Fiction
“Fans of TV’s Alias will find this book especially appealing” RT
“Buffy the Vampire Slayer meets Alien Nation in this action-packed adventure, and Mia Snow is perfect as the alien hunter with a secret.” Booklist
Read more at Gena's website: http://www.genashowalter.com
Thursday, June 16, 2005
The Russians are coming!
Of reading and writing and 'rithmatic ...
Or, at least, reading anyway. I'm currently reading (actually, listening on audiobook) to Gods in Alabama ... and let me tell you, folks, this book is awesome. A wonderfully engaging heroine, an easy yet sophisticated writing style. I'm thoroughly enjoying this book (I bought the audiobook on a whim, and I'm so glad I did!). The reader does a wonderful job with the heroine's first person narrative, but I have to admit, I'm probably going to buy the paper book as well. (Whoo hoo! The author will get a royalty twice from me !!) simply because I think the prose is so lovely that I'm sure I'm going to want to read it again.
As for the writing and 'rithmatic, that's why this blog is soooooooooooooooooo short. Today is "catch up on everything ever in my life" day. I've been answering some of the 300+ unanswered emails (slowly, as people keep emailing me and filling the gap!!!), and I have to pay bills. Ugh. So off I go to do some more mundane boring stuff.
But before I go ... C finished her Frog One preschool swim class today! Got a certificate and everything. Considering that on day one she was doing basically nothing and today she was willingly going underwater, I'm considering the class a huge success!
As for the writing and 'rithmatic, that's why this blog is soooooooooooooooooo short. Today is "catch up on everything ever in my life" day. I've been answering some of the 300+ unanswered emails (slowly, as people keep emailing me and filling the gap!!!), and I have to pay bills. Ugh. So off I go to do some more mundane boring stuff.
But before I go ... C finished her Frog One preschool swim class today! Got a certificate and everything. Considering that on day one she was doing basically nothing and today she was willingly going underwater, I'm considering the class a huge success!
Thursday, June 09, 2005
A thoroughy enchanting book! Shanna Swendson's ENCHANTED, INC.
Amazon.com: Books: Enchanted, Inc. : A Novel
If you haven't checked out Shanna Swendson's ENCHANTED, INC., you don't know what you're missing! I was lucky enough to read and advance copy over the Christmas holidays -- and thought the book so enchanting (get it??) that I actually stayed up late in the night to finish it ... even though my three year old was going to be getting me up at the crack of dawn to invade Disneyland.
For the next few days, I'm hosting Shanna on her blog tour. So you know a bit about the book, ENCHANTED, INC. is a magical story featuring Katie Chandler, a 20something, small-town Texas girl, who finds that being average in New York City is anything but. Katie loves the energy of Manhattan, and if she finds some of the people odd, well, that¹s New York, right? Where else would you see a person on the subway wearing fairy wings? In fact, if Katie wasn’t completely sure those wings must be a costume, she’d think they were real, the way they flutter in the breeze. Certainly the gargoyle that perches above the door of the church she passes on the way to and from work isn’t real....
Katie is still adjusting to life in the big city while working a for a nightmare boss, when she gets a fantastic offer to work for a mysterious company, MSI, Inc. Through her new job and the magical folk she meets, Katie comes to find out she isn¹t quite as average as she thought; and the fairytale life she has longed for begins to come true in surprising ways. What Katie doesn’t realize is how rare and important being ordinary can be. In fact, it is her ordinary characteristics that make her the perfect secret weapon for MSI, Inc. Suddenly the very qualities she thought made her average are what make her special! Now she has magicians and fairies meddling in her attempted romances, a secret life she needs to keep hidden from her non-magical friends, not to mention that dangerous pull she feels for Owen, an attractive but shy wizard who might be the most powerful magic man since Merlin.
Intrigued? Read an excerpt at:
http://www.randomhouse.com/rhpg/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=0345481259&view=excerpt
ABOUT SHANNA SWENDSON
With ENCHANTED, INC. Shanna Swendson offers a new twist on chick lit for the-now-grown-up fans of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Sabrina the Teenage Witch. In addition to writing fiction, Shanna is a freelance marketing consultant and writer specializing in technology and telecommunications. She is single and lives in Irving, Texas, with her many pet plants, including a vicious attack bougainvillea and a Christmas cactus that has outlasted three homes, three jobs and three boyfriends, yet still faithfully blooms every Christmas and Easter. She’s looking for a man that reliable.
And check out some of the awesome reviews that ENCHANTED, INC. has garnered.
“A totally captivating, hilarious and clever look on the magical kingdom of Manhattan, where kissing frogs has never been this fun.”
-- Melissa de la Cruz, author of The Au Pairs and The Fashionista Files
“With its clever premise and utterly engaging heroine, Shanna Swendson has penned a real treat! Enchanted, Inc. is loads of fun!”
-- Julie Kenner, author of Carpe Demon: Adventures of a Demon-Hunting Soccer Mom and The Givenchy Code (Hey!! That's me!!!)
"I am giddy! I found an enchanting (pardon the reference) book and therefore, have a new author to read. Bridget Jones, move over. Shanna Swendson is offering up fantasy for the Buffy, Sabrina and Bewitched crowd. This is a delightful romp through the world of magic with a dash of romance thrown in for good measure. There are characters you¹ll love and remember. If you want to escape the stress and busyness of life, join Katie for an enjoyable frolic into the world of make believe.”
-- armchairinterviews.com
For more info, check out Shanna's really fun website: http://www.shannaswendson.com
If you haven't checked out Shanna Swendson's ENCHANTED, INC., you don't know what you're missing! I was lucky enough to read and advance copy over the Christmas holidays -- and thought the book so enchanting (get it??) that I actually stayed up late in the night to finish it ... even though my three year old was going to be getting me up at the crack of dawn to invade Disneyland.
For the next few days, I'm hosting Shanna on her blog tour. So you know a bit about the book, ENCHANTED, INC. is a magical story featuring Katie Chandler, a 20something, small-town Texas girl, who finds that being average in New York City is anything but. Katie loves the energy of Manhattan, and if she finds some of the people odd, well, that¹s New York, right? Where else would you see a person on the subway wearing fairy wings? In fact, if Katie wasn’t completely sure those wings must be a costume, she’d think they were real, the way they flutter in the breeze. Certainly the gargoyle that perches above the door of the church she passes on the way to and from work isn’t real....
Katie is still adjusting to life in the big city while working a for a nightmare boss, when she gets a fantastic offer to work for a mysterious company, MSI, Inc. Through her new job and the magical folk she meets, Katie comes to find out she isn¹t quite as average as she thought; and the fairytale life she has longed for begins to come true in surprising ways. What Katie doesn’t realize is how rare and important being ordinary can be. In fact, it is her ordinary characteristics that make her the perfect secret weapon for MSI, Inc. Suddenly the very qualities she thought made her average are what make her special! Now she has magicians and fairies meddling in her attempted romances, a secret life she needs to keep hidden from her non-magical friends, not to mention that dangerous pull she feels for Owen, an attractive but shy wizard who might be the most powerful magic man since Merlin.
Intrigued? Read an excerpt at:
http://www.randomhouse.com/rhpg/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=0345481259&view=excerpt
ABOUT SHANNA SWENDSON
With ENCHANTED, INC. Shanna Swendson offers a new twist on chick lit for the-now-grown-up fans of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Sabrina the Teenage Witch. In addition to writing fiction, Shanna is a freelance marketing consultant and writer specializing in technology and telecommunications. She is single and lives in Irving, Texas, with her many pet plants, including a vicious attack bougainvillea and a Christmas cactus that has outlasted three homes, three jobs and three boyfriends, yet still faithfully blooms every Christmas and Easter. She’s looking for a man that reliable.
And check out some of the awesome reviews that ENCHANTED, INC. has garnered.
“A totally captivating, hilarious and clever look on the magical kingdom of Manhattan, where kissing frogs has never been this fun.”
-- Melissa de la Cruz, author of The Au Pairs and The Fashionista Files
“With its clever premise and utterly engaging heroine, Shanna Swendson has penned a real treat! Enchanted, Inc. is loads of fun!”
-- Julie Kenner, author of Carpe Demon: Adventures of a Demon-Hunting Soccer Mom and The Givenchy Code (Hey!! That's me!!!)
"I am giddy! I found an enchanting (pardon the reference) book and therefore, have a new author to read. Bridget Jones, move over. Shanna Swendson is offering up fantasy for the Buffy, Sabrina and Bewitched crowd. This is a delightful romp through the world of magic with a dash of romance thrown in for good measure. There are characters you¹ll love and remember. If you want to escape the stress and busyness of life, join Katie for an enjoyable frolic into the world of make believe.”
-- armchairinterviews.com
For more info, check out Shanna's really fun website: http://www.shannaswendson.com
Monday, June 06, 2005
I always knew Camelot was about fashion!
For the next few days, I have the pleasure of hosting author Marianne Mancusi on her virtual blog book tour for A CONNECTICUT FASHIONISTA IN KING ARTHUR'S COURT, truly fun debut!
I remember when I first heard about the book, probably through Deal Lunch, and I thought it was such a clever concept! I read the book over this past weekend, and had a great time!
Here's the scoop on the story:
Once upon a time there lived an outspoken fashion editor named Kat, who certainly was not your typical damsel in distress. But when a gypsy curse sent her back in time to the days of King Arthur, she found she'd need every ounce of her 21st century wits (and pop culture references) to navigate the legend. After all, surviving a magical plot, an evil prince, and a case of mistaken identity--all without changing history or scuffing your Manolos--takes some doing!
Luckily, she's got her very own knight in shining armor, Lancelot du Lac, on her side. The honorable-to-a-fault and devastatingly handsome champion insists on helping her out, even though she's not quite sure she wants him to. After all, shouldn't he be off romancing Queen Guenevere or something? Will Kat manage to stay out of trouble long enough to get back to her beloved café lattes, cosmopolitans and cashmere? And what will Lancelot's forbidden love mean for the kingdom of Camelot?
Intrigued? Want to read an excerpt? You can at: http://www.mariannemancusi.com/Excerpt.html
Now, obviously, time travel's at the heart of the book, so I asked Marianne to answer a few questions:
JK: Everyone says you should write what you know. So. Have you ever in fact travelled back in time?
MM: No, but I often wish I could. Though maybe not as far back as Camelot. (No flush toilets or iPods there...) I'd actually like it more if I could go back for "do overs" where I could fix things in life that I screwed up until I get them right. Kind of like that old movie Groundhog Day. :)
JK: I loved Groundhog Day! So tell me ... are you really a Fashionista? Tell the truth: Gap, Old Navy, Ann Taylor, Bergdorfs?
MM: Old Navy all the way baby. :) I like fashion, but I can't afford most of it. I do have my Kate Spade purse though. For the book, I enlisted the help of a real life fashionista reporter friend who works at my tv news station. But for me, I'm most comfortable in flip flops and tank tops.
JK: I adore my Kate Spade bag ..., but I love my Old Navy tank tops even more. I’m thinking I've just found a shopping kindred spirit.
JK: You had a lot of fun details about Camelot and the Arthur legend in the book. Was that an interest of yours before you started writing the book?
MM: I love the King Arthur legend. Growing up I read every book I could get my hands on. And even though my book is a comedy, I think it stays very true to the legend in many ways. My Romantic Times review said, "Clearly Mancusi knows her Arthurian lore." That was the biggest compliment I've gotten so far.
JK: It really shows!
JK: If you did travel back to Arthurian days and could take 3 things with you, what would they be?
My dog Molly, my iPod (if I could recharge if somehow) and bug spray.
JK: Bug spray. Yup. Again, a woman after my own heart.
Another cool thing about the book is that it's the first chicklit time travel. A Bridget Jones like character spiraling back in time to the days of Camelot. "I love the voice of Chick Lit," says Mancusi. "But I felt the same old plotlines about a girl in the city with a bad boss and good shoes were getting old. I wanted to do something a little different." So slip on your stilettos and clutch your Cosmos tight, as Dorchester Publishing and Marianne Mancusi send you on a wild, wacky, and oh-so-fashionable trip back in time...
But wait! There's more! The book has garnered some fabulous reviews:
"Sparkling debut...A nice twist on the modern girl's search for prince charming."
Publisher's Weekly
"Talented author Mancusi clearly knows her Arthurian lore. She vividly depicts the customs of a bygone era, and the wry, witty ending is perfectly Kat."Romantic Times Magazine - 4 Star Review
"It might sound like a strange premise for a chick lit novel, but once you pick it up, you won't be able to put A Connecticut Fashionista in King Arthur's Court down." Kristin Harmel, The Daily Buzz, WB Morning Show
"Excellent writing, biting wit, and a slew of familiar characters will have readers of chick lit laughing and wanting more."Jani Brooks - Romance Reviews Today
And Marianne is just as fascinating as the book: Marianne Mancusi is a multiple Emmy Award winning television news producer for WHDH-TV in Boston, Massachusetts. She has worked for news stations in Orlando and San Diego. A Massachusetts native, she currently lives in Massachusetts with her British husband Aaron and their dog Molly. She has six other adult and teen chick lit novels under contract with Dorchester and Berkley.
Want to know more? Visit Marianne's website at www.mariannemancusi.com or her blog at www.mariannem.blogspot.com
And check out the book!
I remember when I first heard about the book, probably through Deal Lunch, and I thought it was such a clever concept! I read the book over this past weekend, and had a great time!
Here's the scoop on the story:
Once upon a time there lived an outspoken fashion editor named Kat, who certainly was not your typical damsel in distress. But when a gypsy curse sent her back in time to the days of King Arthur, she found she'd need every ounce of her 21st century wits (and pop culture references) to navigate the legend. After all, surviving a magical plot, an evil prince, and a case of mistaken identity--all without changing history or scuffing your Manolos--takes some doing!
Luckily, she's got her very own knight in shining armor, Lancelot du Lac, on her side. The honorable-to-a-fault and devastatingly handsome champion insists on helping her out, even though she's not quite sure she wants him to. After all, shouldn't he be off romancing Queen Guenevere or something? Will Kat manage to stay out of trouble long enough to get back to her beloved café lattes, cosmopolitans and cashmere? And what will Lancelot's forbidden love mean for the kingdom of Camelot?
Intrigued? Want to read an excerpt? You can at: http://www.mariannemancusi.com/Excerpt.html
Now, obviously, time travel's at the heart of the book, so I asked Marianne to answer a few questions:
JK: Everyone says you should write what you know. So. Have you ever in fact travelled back in time?
MM: No, but I often wish I could. Though maybe not as far back as Camelot. (No flush toilets or iPods there...) I'd actually like it more if I could go back for "do overs" where I could fix things in life that I screwed up until I get them right. Kind of like that old movie Groundhog Day. :)
JK: I loved Groundhog Day! So tell me ... are you really a Fashionista? Tell the truth: Gap, Old Navy, Ann Taylor, Bergdorfs?
MM: Old Navy all the way baby. :) I like fashion, but I can't afford most of it. I do have my Kate Spade purse though. For the book, I enlisted the help of a real life fashionista reporter friend who works at my tv news station. But for me, I'm most comfortable in flip flops and tank tops.
JK: I adore my Kate Spade bag ..., but I love my Old Navy tank tops even more. I’m thinking I've just found a shopping kindred spirit.
JK: You had a lot of fun details about Camelot and the Arthur legend in the book. Was that an interest of yours before you started writing the book?
MM: I love the King Arthur legend. Growing up I read every book I could get my hands on. And even though my book is a comedy, I think it stays very true to the legend in many ways. My Romantic Times review said, "Clearly Mancusi knows her Arthurian lore." That was the biggest compliment I've gotten so far.
JK: It really shows!
JK: If you did travel back to Arthurian days and could take 3 things with you, what would they be?
My dog Molly, my iPod (if I could recharge if somehow) and bug spray.
JK: Bug spray. Yup. Again, a woman after my own heart.
Another cool thing about the book is that it's the first chicklit time travel. A Bridget Jones like character spiraling back in time to the days of Camelot. "I love the voice of Chick Lit," says Mancusi. "But I felt the same old plotlines about a girl in the city with a bad boss and good shoes were getting old. I wanted to do something a little different." So slip on your stilettos and clutch your Cosmos tight, as Dorchester Publishing and Marianne Mancusi send you on a wild, wacky, and oh-so-fashionable trip back in time...
But wait! There's more! The book has garnered some fabulous reviews:
"Sparkling debut...A nice twist on the modern girl's search for prince charming."
Publisher's Weekly
"Talented author Mancusi clearly knows her Arthurian lore. She vividly depicts the customs of a bygone era, and the wry, witty ending is perfectly Kat."Romantic Times Magazine - 4 Star Review
"It might sound like a strange premise for a chick lit novel, but once you pick it up, you won't be able to put A Connecticut Fashionista in King Arthur's Court down." Kristin Harmel, The Daily Buzz, WB Morning Show
"Excellent writing, biting wit, and a slew of familiar characters will have readers of chick lit laughing and wanting more."Jani Brooks - Romance Reviews Today
And Marianne is just as fascinating as the book: Marianne Mancusi is a multiple Emmy Award winning television news producer for WHDH-TV in Boston, Massachusetts. She has worked for news stations in Orlando and San Diego. A Massachusetts native, she currently lives in Massachusetts with her British husband Aaron and their dog Molly. She has six other adult and teen chick lit novels under contract with Dorchester and Berkley.
Want to know more? Visit Marianne's website at www.mariannemancusi.com or her blog at www.mariannem.blogspot.com
And check out the book!
Sunday, June 05, 2005
The Givenchy Code: My Get The Word Out experiment...
The Givenchy Code Okay, so now that THE GIVENCHY CODE is showing up in real life book stores, I figure now's a good time to try a little experiment that I've been thinking about. Here's the thing: how do you buy your books? I know for me, I tend to buy (a) authors I've read before (and enjoyed, of course), (b) books that catch my eye in the store for whatever reason (back cover copy or cover or a combo of both), or (c) books recommended to me by someone.
It's (C) that I'm focusing on here: Word of mouth really is the life blood of a career as a writer. So here's the thing: If you've read The Givenchy Code (and, uh, if you liked it!), do something to get the word out to other readers: post on a message board; post a review on Amazon.com or at Barnes & Noble.com; tell 5 friends and ask them to pass on the word; mention the book on your blog; do something else creative that spreads the word like that old commercial (and she tells to friends, and so on and so on and so on ...).
Then, once you've done that, send me an email to julie@juliekenner.com telling me what you did. And I'll send you a nice thank-you package (like, oh, a book or two from my backlist, for example).
(And if you're one of the lucky ones who's read an advance copy of CARPE DEMON, the same experiment goes there, too. Start getting the word out and let me know what you did!)
Like I said, this is an experiment. Rather bold, maybe, but what the heck. As they say, nothing ventured, nothing gained!
It's (C) that I'm focusing on here: Word of mouth really is the life blood of a career as a writer. So here's the thing: If you've read The Givenchy Code (and, uh, if you liked it!), do something to get the word out to other readers: post on a message board; post a review on Amazon.com or at Barnes & Noble.com; tell 5 friends and ask them to pass on the word; mention the book on your blog; do something else creative that spreads the word like that old commercial (and she tells to friends, and so on and so on and so on ...).
Then, once you've done that, send me an email to julie@juliekenner.com telling me what you did. And I'll send you a nice thank-you package (like, oh, a book or two from my backlist, for example).
(And if you're one of the lucky ones who's read an advance copy of CARPE DEMON, the same experiment goes there, too. Start getting the word out and let me know what you did!)
Like I said, this is an experiment. Rather bold, maybe, but what the heck. As they say, nothing ventured, nothing gained!
Thursday, June 02, 2005
So many books, so little time ...
Since I turned in a book last week, and even though I need to turn back to my current work-in-progress (California Demon, the sequel to Carpe), I decided to take a week off (okay, a week and a half, but really, who's counting?). Refresh the soul. Clean the car. That kinda thing.
Can I just say: it's been great. And I've been extremely productive in an unproductive sort of way (which is the nice way of saying if you're one of the people I owe an answering email to ... sorry!!! Mental health week!!!). So far this week, I've gotten stuff ready for a garage sale on Saturday. (Wrote another blog entry about that -- check it out at http://www.outoftheblogosphere.blogspot.com/), had my mom over to help me with an embarrassing amount of past-due personal filing, re-organized my office, found the pair of sandals I thought I'd lost, set up a backyard pool, saw Madagasgar (okay, but not destined to be a classic, imho), had fabulous furniture delivered for my kid (the princess now has a castle bed), shipped my dead-as-a-doornail laptop back to IBM for them to revive, and read lots of books!
The reading's been the best part.
The interesting thing about being a working writer is that suddenly I don't have as much time to read. And if I do have a chunk of time, curling up on the couch to read a book seems like such a luxury. I should be working on my own book! I should be writing! (Don't get me wrong, I do read. Just not as much as I used to, what with my writing job and my 3 year old distraction! Mostly, I listen to audiobooks. Currently listening to Brimstone. Thoroughly enjoying it. Any Agent Pendergast fans out there?)
At any rate, I thought I'd blog a bit about what I've read recently and what's coming up:
In Death Series: I'd mentioned a while back that I'd started this series at Christmas. Now, 6 months later, I can proudly say that I FINISHED IT! Read the last three books (that is, read through Survivor in Death) within the last week. I didn't count how many there are in this series, but I think it's safe to say "a lot." And the thing is, I am so impressed with the way Robb/Roberts has kept the series fresh. Some of the mysteries are better than others, but the relationships b/w Roarke and Eve (as well as b/w the other characters -- am I the only one who wants more of Peabody's romance??) always keep the reader engaged. This is a big relief to me as I've been disappointed in a lot of series that I use to be a rabid fan of (I won't say which series, though, so don't even ask). And since I really would like for the Demon series to continue, oh, forever, I have to confess that I hope to be able to deliver the same freshness that I crave in a continuing series. (For the record, my favorite books all seem to be part of a series. Once I fall in love with a character, I like to hang with them for a while!). All of which is the long way to say kudos to J.D. Robb, and if you're a mystery fan or a romance fan and you haven't picked up these books, then by all means do! And while you don't have to read them in order, it's more fun if you do. (Now I have to wait until August until the next one. Would it be horribly out of line to call my editor at Berkley and beg an advance copy??? Somehow, I don't think Robb/Roberts needs my cover quote ...)
But speaking of cover quotes, I did have the pleasure of reading GOOD GIRLS DON'T, the debut from Kelley St. John, which will be released in December. What a fun book! Sexy and heartwarming all at the same time (and I'm talking very sexy and very heartwarming). Make a note, folks. Snap this one up when it hits the shelves!
After GGD, I turned to CLUB DEAD from Charlaine Harris, which is the third (I think) in the Sookie Stackhouse series. I discovered this series after Ms. Harris gave a wonderful cover quote to CARPE DEMON, and I truly can't believe I hadn't picked her books up before, because I am so hooked. Talk about world-building! Harris has created such a wonderfully rich alternate world where vamps live among us, and Sookie's right in the center of it b/c of her unique abilities. And the thing I really love is Sookie's normalcy. Fabulous books, and I'm chomping at the bit to start Dead to the World and Dead as a Doornail. But other books call first (including my own, ack! My reading a book-a-day time is running short!)
Also, although I read it a while back for a quote, I thought I'd mention Shanna Swendson's Enchanted, Inc., because this book is So Much Fun! I really, really, really loved it, but I'm also going to be blogging about it more next week as part of Shanna's blog tour, so I’m only going to tease you a bit now and say that if you haven't already bought the book, head over to Shanna's website now and check out the info she's got there. (And it's a really fun website!) She'll hook you! Don't say I didn't warn you....
Moving on, as I think I mentioned, I'm going on a Dallas/Ft. Worth area booktour next weekend with the other Naughty Girls of Downtown Press (www.readnaughtygirls.com for details) and I wanted to read their books first. I'm reading in the order that I got them (for lack of any other reasonable system) and that means I'm starting with Shari Shattuck. But Shari's Lethal is a sequel to Loaded, which I picked up months ago, but I hadn't had the opportunity read (refer, please, to the whine above ...). At any rate, I've started it now, and ... WOW. Believe me when I say that I'm sacrificing a lot to sit here and type this out!!! I can't wait to finish the book and move on to Lethal. After that, I'm going to read Marianne Mancusi's A Connecticut Fashionista In King Arthur's Court, which I pre-ordered from Amazon months ago, and who's appearing here soon as part of her blog tour. I have heard SUCH fabulous things about this book, and I'm bummed that it had to sit on my desk while my deadline came and went. Ahem. Anyway, details soon!!
And then I’m going to turn back to the naughty girls with Julie Leto's Dirty Little Secrets, to be followed by Gena Showalter's Awaken Me Darkly. Stay tuned. From the looks of things, I'm going to be dragging myself away from the recliner and to the computer to get my own work done. (And I must work. The mortgage company is so finicky about getting paid ...)
Can I just say: it's been great. And I've been extremely productive in an unproductive sort of way (which is the nice way of saying if you're one of the people I owe an answering email to ... sorry!!! Mental health week!!!). So far this week, I've gotten stuff ready for a garage sale on Saturday. (Wrote another blog entry about that -- check it out at http://www.outoftheblogosphere.blogspot.com/), had my mom over to help me with an embarrassing amount of past-due personal filing, re-organized my office, found the pair of sandals I thought I'd lost, set up a backyard pool, saw Madagasgar (okay, but not destined to be a classic, imho), had fabulous furniture delivered for my kid (the princess now has a castle bed), shipped my dead-as-a-doornail laptop back to IBM for them to revive, and read lots of books!
The reading's been the best part.
The interesting thing about being a working writer is that suddenly I don't have as much time to read. And if I do have a chunk of time, curling up on the couch to read a book seems like such a luxury. I should be working on my own book! I should be writing! (Don't get me wrong, I do read. Just not as much as I used to, what with my writing job and my 3 year old distraction! Mostly, I listen to audiobooks. Currently listening to Brimstone. Thoroughly enjoying it. Any Agent Pendergast fans out there?)
At any rate, I thought I'd blog a bit about what I've read recently and what's coming up:
In Death Series: I'd mentioned a while back that I'd started this series at Christmas. Now, 6 months later, I can proudly say that I FINISHED IT! Read the last three books (that is, read through Survivor in Death) within the last week. I didn't count how many there are in this series, but I think it's safe to say "a lot." And the thing is, I am so impressed with the way Robb/Roberts has kept the series fresh. Some of the mysteries are better than others, but the relationships b/w Roarke and Eve (as well as b/w the other characters -- am I the only one who wants more of Peabody's romance??) always keep the reader engaged. This is a big relief to me as I've been disappointed in a lot of series that I use to be a rabid fan of (I won't say which series, though, so don't even ask
But speaking of cover quotes, I did have the pleasure of reading GOOD GIRLS DON'T, the debut from Kelley St. John, which will be released in December. What a fun book! Sexy and heartwarming all at the same time (and I'm talking very sexy and very heartwarming). Make a note, folks. Snap this one up when it hits the shelves!
After GGD, I turned to CLUB DEAD from Charlaine Harris, which is the third (I think) in the Sookie Stackhouse series. I discovered this series after Ms. Harris gave a wonderful cover quote to CARPE DEMON, and I truly can't believe I hadn't picked her books up before, because I am so hooked. Talk about world-building! Harris has created such a wonderfully rich alternate world where vamps live among us, and Sookie's right in the center of it b/c of her unique abilities. And the thing I really love is Sookie's normalcy. Fabulous books, and I'm chomping at the bit to start Dead to the World and Dead as a Doornail. But other books call first (including my own, ack! My reading a book-a-day time is running short!)
Also, although I read it a while back for a quote, I thought I'd mention Shanna Swendson's Enchanted, Inc., because this book is So Much Fun! I really, really, really loved it, but I'm also going to be blogging about it more next week as part of Shanna's blog tour, so I’m only going to tease you a bit now and say that if you haven't already bought the book, head over to Shanna's website now and check out the info she's got there. (And it's a really fun website!) She'll hook you! Don't say I didn't warn you....
Moving on, as I think I mentioned, I'm going on a Dallas/Ft. Worth area booktour next weekend with the other Naughty Girls of Downtown Press (www.readnaughtygirls.com for details) and I wanted to read their books first. I'm reading in the order that I got them (for lack of any other reasonable system
And then I’m going to turn back to the naughty girls with Julie Leto's Dirty Little Secrets, to be followed by Gena Showalter's Awaken Me Darkly. Stay tuned. From the looks of things, I'm going to be dragging myself away from the recliner and to the computer to get my own work done. (And I must work. The mortgage company is so finicky about getting paid ...)
