June will be a busy, stressful, hectic, scary month for me. Yes, all those adjectives and more. But I'm still planning a paranormal contest that will run throughout the month, so check back then.
I am moving back to the state of my birth at the beginning of the month, so my internet might be a bit spotty at first -- I don't know yet what the plan for internet access is, I only know I can't live without it for very long. It's like water to me. I need it to survive. ^-^
I've changed the title of Personal Protection to Royal Guard Book 1: The Prince's Knight. I was, at one point, toying with the idea of lengthening the book, which stands at a little over 30,000 words right now, and turning it into a 60,000 word plus epic. But it would still be split down the middle into Parts 1 and 2, and since the first half is nearly complete I'm going to go ahead and release it as two separate books since I haven't even started thinking of book 2, which might prove to be longer than anticipated, therefore inspiring the need for a third book. Here's my thought on sequels. If you're going to do a second book, you might as well do a third and create a trilogy. But we'll see how the second book ends. I haven't gotten that far yet. The ending of the first book really surprised me, creating a need for the second to finish the story -- or at least take a stab at finishing the story.
I really want to share a wonderful book with everyone. I just finished it and I really enjoyed it. The best part? It's available for free on Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/58. It's called Mortal Ghost, and while there were some confusing bits, especially regarding the main character's past, it is definitely worth the read, as well as the surprise ending. I haven't found many free books on Smashwords that I actually enjoyed, but this was one that stood out for me.
Friday, May 28, 2010
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Cover Art feature
The cover art for Demon's Torment is currently featured on Judge a Book by the Cover. It's accompanied by some of my comments about the artwork.
Romance Junkies requested a copy of Tied to a Demon for review, so hopefully that will be posted within the next couple of weeks. I'll get the link up once I get it.
I'm also cooking up a paranormal contest for the month of June, because I would just love to give away a copy of one of my books.
More good news: Tied to a Demon is holding strong at #3 on Purple Sword's bestseller list.
Romance Junkies requested a copy of Tied to a Demon for review, so hopefully that will be posted within the next couple of weeks. I'll get the link up once I get it.
I'm also cooking up a paranormal contest for the month of June, because I would just love to give away a copy of one of my books.
More good news: Tied to a Demon is holding strong at #3 on Purple Sword's bestseller list.
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Purple Sword Blog
Want to hear all the news about Purple Sword's new releases when they happen? Subscribe or follow their new blog for up-to-date release info.
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Personal Protection status update
I'm hard at work on Personal Protection. Just finished combing over the first six chapters, so I've got them in a pretty good spot and I'll continue working on the book through the next couple of months, though I don't know how far I get as life is going to get pretty crazy for me soon, as we are planning a little vacation at the end of this month and then a big move probably at the end of May, so my writing time will be limited, but I'll do what I can.
I wrote the first draft during the 2009 NaNo, along with Tied to a Demon. Both books finished at just under 30,000 words which was my goal for both. While Tied to a Demon, after revisions and rewrites, stayed at that word count, Personal Protection left off on kind of a cliff-hanger, so I'm trying to decide whether I want to finish this book and then write a second one, or if I'd rather just continue adding onto this book until it's completed. By my estimations, that might be another 30,000 words.
The book is a bit of a departure for me. I know I've been focusing a lot of my publishing efforts on demons, but who doesn't like a sexy demon? Personal Protection, however, is completely fantasy-based. Even more striking it contains a gay romance, my first stab for that genre, but it went so well that I doubt it will be my last. Even one of my vampires in my Immortal series was shaping up to have homosexual tendencies before I shelved that project to work on some shorter books.
Fans of vamps will be happy to know I plan on going back to work on Immortal just as soon as Personal Protection is finished. I just can't stay away from them for much longer, especially since I've decided Book 1: Blood Rage needs a complete rewrite. I originally wrote it in 1st-person viewpoint, but after thinking about it from just about every angle, I've decided to change it to 3rd-person. Personally, I am sick to death of books written in 1st-person. Generally, they annoy the heck out of me these days. And after rewriting the first chapter of Blood Rage, I think 3rd-person will serve the books so much better. I had planned on two trilogies, with the first told from Elliot's point-of-view, while the second would focus on his brother, Carter, but be told in 3rd-person anyway. It doesn't make any sense to have one trilogy written one way and the other to be completely different. So I've made my decision and I have a lot of work ahead of me as far as that goes. I'm looking forward to diving right in, though. In fact, I can hardly wait.
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Tied to a Demon Release Day!
My latest paranormal romance, Tied to a Demon, is now available at Purple Sword Publications. Here's the official excerpt to put you in the buying mood:
“Are you all right, little witch?”
She wasn’t. A demon stood so close to her she could feel the unnatural heat baking off his skin, coming off him in waves. Her muscles had tensed up so much she didn’t think she could move, even to defend herself. Of course, any spells she’d memorized had flown right out of her head anyway. They wouldn’t do her any good.
He picked her up before she could fall again and retrieved the jar from her limp grasp. He set it back on the shelf.
“Clumsy little witch.” She gasped as he slung her over his back, steadying her with a hand on her rump. He took the stairs two at a time, and she bumped along with his unsteady gait, her view obstructed by his back.
They passed through the kitchen and into her bedroom. Dried potpourri filled the air with the scent of lilacs, an aroma she favored. He unslung her and after a short ride through the air, she landed on a soft surface. Her bed. She grabbed handfuls of the yellow comforter, sure it would soon be splattered red.
His face appeared in her view at the side of the bed, his forehead wrinkled. “You okay?”
She scrambled backwards, rumpling the sheets and comforter into a ball around her feet. Her head banged against the wall. “Ow!”
Rubbing the back of her head and trying to hold back a sob, she stared at the demon. His image doubled in her vision as tears threatened.
“Why don’t you just kill me and get it over with?” she choked out.
He cocked an eyebrow. “What makes you think I’m going to kill you?”
She thought that should be obvious, but maybe he needed clarification. “You’re a demon.”
He sighed and shook his head. “I’m not that kind of demon. Tell me something, little witch. Why did you summon me?”
The question caught her off-guard. She sniffled. “What?”
“It’s a simple question. Demons are usually summoned because the summoner wants something. What. Do. You. Want?” He enunciated each word, as if speaking to a half-wit.
“I didn’t mean to summon you.”
“Oh. I see.” He sat on the bed with his legs folded underneath him. Then he smirked. “Then you shouldn’t have drawn my symbol within the circle.”
“I didn’t—” she began, but he cut her off.
“I’ve been summoned by many witches. But never accidentally.” He gave her a sly, sidelong glance, his eyes smoldering.
The temperature in the room rose about ten degrees. He got off the bed so he could execute a sharp bow. “If I’m an accident, allow me to introduce myself. I am Alecandros. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
After giving her sore head one more rub, she folded her arms.
“Do you even know what you’ve summoned, little witch?”
“It doesn’t matter. As soon as I figure out how to send you back to wherever you came from, I will.” The brave words lost some of their edge when her voice wavered.
“And why would you want to do that?” he asked in a dangerous tone.
She sounded uncertain even to herself. “You’re a demon. You belong in another dimension.”
“I do?” He spread his arms. “Do I look like a demon to you?”She stared at him. He looked a few years older than she did, and his blue eyes had adopted a more innocent look. No, he didn’t look much like a demon now. Until his eyes flashed to black and back again.
“Let me show you what witches usually use me for,” he whispered, sliding closer. His hand on her ankle made her jump.
“Stop it.” Her voice sounded strangled, even to her.
His hand slid higher, bringing her skirt with it as he leaned over her. “Why? I promise you’ll enjoy it.”
“Are you all right, little witch?”
She wasn’t. A demon stood so close to her she could feel the unnatural heat baking off his skin, coming off him in waves. Her muscles had tensed up so much she didn’t think she could move, even to defend herself. Of course, any spells she’d memorized had flown right out of her head anyway. They wouldn’t do her any good.
He picked her up before she could fall again and retrieved the jar from her limp grasp. He set it back on the shelf.
“Clumsy little witch.” She gasped as he slung her over his back, steadying her with a hand on her rump. He took the stairs two at a time, and she bumped along with his unsteady gait, her view obstructed by his back.
They passed through the kitchen and into her bedroom. Dried potpourri filled the air with the scent of lilacs, an aroma she favored. He unslung her and after a short ride through the air, she landed on a soft surface. Her bed. She grabbed handfuls of the yellow comforter, sure it would soon be splattered red.
His face appeared in her view at the side of the bed, his forehead wrinkled. “You okay?”
She scrambled backwards, rumpling the sheets and comforter into a ball around her feet. Her head banged against the wall. “Ow!”
Rubbing the back of her head and trying to hold back a sob, she stared at the demon. His image doubled in her vision as tears threatened.
“Why don’t you just kill me and get it over with?” she choked out.
He cocked an eyebrow. “What makes you think I’m going to kill you?”
She thought that should be obvious, but maybe he needed clarification. “You’re a demon.”
He sighed and shook his head. “I’m not that kind of demon. Tell me something, little witch. Why did you summon me?”
The question caught her off-guard. She sniffled. “What?”
“It’s a simple question. Demons are usually summoned because the summoner wants something. What. Do. You. Want?” He enunciated each word, as if speaking to a half-wit.
“I didn’t mean to summon you.”
“Oh. I see.” He sat on the bed with his legs folded underneath him. Then he smirked. “Then you shouldn’t have drawn my symbol within the circle.”
“I didn’t—” she began, but he cut her off.
“I’ve been summoned by many witches. But never accidentally.” He gave her a sly, sidelong glance, his eyes smoldering.
The temperature in the room rose about ten degrees. He got off the bed so he could execute a sharp bow. “If I’m an accident, allow me to introduce myself. I am Alecandros. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
After giving her sore head one more rub, she folded her arms.
“Do you even know what you’ve summoned, little witch?”
“It doesn’t matter. As soon as I figure out how to send you back to wherever you came from, I will.” The brave words lost some of their edge when her voice wavered.
“And why would you want to do that?” he asked in a dangerous tone.
She sounded uncertain even to herself. “You’re a demon. You belong in another dimension.”
“I do?” He spread his arms. “Do I look like a demon to you?”She stared at him. He looked a few years older than she did, and his blue eyes had adopted a more innocent look. No, he didn’t look much like a demon now. Until his eyes flashed to black and back again.
“Let me show you what witches usually use me for,” he whispered, sliding closer. His hand on her ankle made her jump.
“Stop it.” Her voice sounded strangled, even to her.
His hand slid higher, bringing her skirt with it as he leaned over her. “Why? I promise you’ll enjoy it.”
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
April Newsletter
New contract announcement!
I'm very excited that Tied to a Demon is 100% completed and now contracted with Purple Sword Publications. The release date is scheduled for April 14, 2010. Here's the official blurb:
Shanna dreams of becoming a level-five witch. Only one thing stands in her way—her ability. Attempting to conjure a low-grade imp brings forth a terrifying demon straight out of the nine hells. Worse yet, he claims to be tied to her through a contract formed with her late father. Who is the demon Alecandros really? He seems to know far too much about her...
I will be hitting the 'promotion circuit' this month to promote the new book. Hopefully I'll be able to get some chats scheduled for either April or May.
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
March Newsletter
February came and went in a flash. I got a promotion at work so that's where I've been concentrating most of my energy.
Tied to a Demon is nearing the final stage. I've revised through Ch 10 and since I decided to rewrite the last few chapters completely, I think I'm going to end with 12 chapters rather than 13. I don't really see a need for the final chapter anymore, and with the plot changes I've implemented, 12 should be enough, unless the climax takes longer than I expect. In either case, I'm going to try to push myself to be done by the middle of the month so that it can be submitted to my publisher by the end of March.
I realized something this morning. I've always known I've had a thing for bad boys--in movies, in books, sometimes I find myself rooting for the villain. Well, it seems I implement that penchant in a great deal of my writing. I tend to write about bad guys trying to do good, or heroes struggling for redemption. I've realized it's sort of a theme of mine. What's the point of a story if the hero doesn't struggle a little? Of course, my demons are obvious representations of this, in both Demon's Torment and Tied to a Demon. But this theme is constantly repeated in most of what I write, so if you like your heroes with a little 'bad boy' in them, you've come to the right place.
"What are you so afraid of?" he whispered. "The worst thing in your life right now is already inside your house."
--excerpt from Tied to a Demon, spoken by the demon Alecandros.
Tied to a Demon is nearing the final stage. I've revised through Ch 10 and since I decided to rewrite the last few chapters completely, I think I'm going to end with 12 chapters rather than 13. I don't really see a need for the final chapter anymore, and with the plot changes I've implemented, 12 should be enough, unless the climax takes longer than I expect. In either case, I'm going to try to push myself to be done by the middle of the month so that it can be submitted to my publisher by the end of March.
I realized something this morning. I've always known I've had a thing for bad boys--in movies, in books, sometimes I find myself rooting for the villain. Well, it seems I implement that penchant in a great deal of my writing. I tend to write about bad guys trying to do good, or heroes struggling for redemption. I've realized it's sort of a theme of mine. What's the point of a story if the hero doesn't struggle a little? Of course, my demons are obvious representations of this, in both Demon's Torment and Tied to a Demon. But this theme is constantly repeated in most of what I write, so if you like your heroes with a little 'bad boy' in them, you've come to the right place.
"What are you so afraid of?" he whispered. "The worst thing in your life right now is already inside your house."
--excerpt from Tied to a Demon, spoken by the demon Alecandros.
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