into the dark

New site, new blog!

2007-03-25T19:39:00.000-07:00

Sorry for the gap in posts, but I've moved -- to a new website design and WordPress blog, that is! Come visit me at my new digs . . .

www.LaraAdrian.com

I'm going to leave this blog up, but comments will be disabled and there will be no new posts. Please update your bookmarks to the new URLs.

Hope to see you at my new place!

Video trailer--check it out!

2007-03-06T08:29:00.000-08:00

Well, as they threatened to do, Blogger forced me to convert to the new version. It appears all went smoothly. If you see anything wonky, let me know!

While I've been avoiding the blog conversion, some cool stuff has been happening here at Chez Adrian. First, I have a pub date for Tegan's book--and a title! More info to come as things finalize on that front.

My website is moving closer to rollout, and I hope to unveil the beautiful new design in a few weeks. Meanwhile, my fabulous designer, Stonecreek Media, has put together a video trailer for my series . . . .

What do you think? Isn't it cool?! Making this trailer was so much fun, I may have to do it for all of my books. :)

It's aliiiiiive!

2007-02-28T09:35:00.000-08:00

Or, rather, it's *almost* alive.

My website and email server was hacked last weekend (bastards!) and is in the process of being rebuilt. The site went back online this morning, but I still don't have email. And anything sent to me on Friday or later? Never got it. Never gonna get it. In fact, I have no idea what my email is going to look like once it's resuscitated. I have a feeling it's not going to be pretty.

So, if you've been trying to reach me, please know that I'm not ignoring you. If your emails are bouncing (as some folks who've reached me through MySpace have told me), now you know why. This sucks!

I'll post when everything is back online. At least I'll try to post. Blogger informed me as I logged in today that this will be my last post on the old Blogger. I'll have to switch to New Blogger, and I'm not at all sure this canned template I'm using will be compatible. Sigh. It's always something.

Hope everyone is having a great week. I've missed you all!

p.s. I'm trying to figure out why Blogger can't load my profile image, but I did manage to add a new widget to my sidebar. Anyone who'd like to sign up for my newsletter (privately managed, totally secure) can do so by filling out the sign-up form to the right ---->

New Sales!

2007-02-21T08:39:00.000-08:00

Sorry for the radio silence over here the past several days. I've been plugging away on Tegan's book, which is [thisclose] to having a title now (I hate working on a book that doesn't have a title), but I also have some breaking news!

I've just signed on with Bantam Dell for three more books in the Midnight Breed series!!!

That said, I sure hope everyone likes KISS OF MIDNIGHT and KISS OF CRIMSON, because I intend to subject you to more of my sexy necksuckers well into next year! The talk right now is to publish books 3 and 4 back-to-back early Spring 2008, and I wouldn't be surprised if the last two come out back-to-back as well. Just speculation on my part, but I'm sensing a pattern here . . . ;-)

Happy Valentine's Day!

2007-02-14T17:38:00.000-08:00

Yes, I realize the big day is almost over, but I'm still making it in here just under the wire! I had a nice, laid back day with the hubby. He worked from home, since we woke up to a blizzard this morning and travel into Boston would have proved impossible. So, off to our separate offices we went, but I'm about to quit for the night so I can make some pasta and open a nice bottle of pinot noir to enjoy by the fireplace. If we really want to go crazy, I might even whip up a batch of brownies! Ah, the romance, huh?

I've actually been looking forward to Valentine's Day for several weeks. Why, you ask? Because today is the official launch of a verra cool new website, RomanceNovel.tv. They're promising author and reader interviews, book news, video clips, etc. A whole "channel" devoted to romance novels and everything genre-related that goes with it. So far, there are only a few video interviews on the site--Nora Roberts, Eloisa James, Christina Dodd, Mary Jo Putney--with more to come. Go check it out!

ETA: If you're still looking for that perfect V-Day pressie for your honey, click on over for some interactive help from Britney Spears. Enter your name, your honey's name, and a few ancillary details, and voila! Instant audio greeting "Midnight Fantasy" courtesy of Brit. Klassy, Sexxy fun, people! Oh, but make sure you don't use any multi-syllabic names or funky spellings, you know, like Lara. Cuz Britney can't say them. I'm not even kidding.

Stuff and more stuff

2007-02-13T18:12:00.000-08:00

I swear, it seems like I'm always playing catch-up lately.

Good news: I finished the proposal for Tegan's book, which might be getting close to having a title (and a Spring 2008 release date--yay!). Unfortunately, the title I pitched for the book wasn't a winner with my editor, but she did like the proposed title for the fourth book, so that actually gives me something to work with on this one. In fact, I could scavenge the book four title for book three, since it does sort of fit this one, but it's a much better fit for the fourth. You following that logic? It really does make sense . . . somehow.

I also finished judging my RITA books, registered for the RWA Conference, sent out a bunch of promo for KISS OF MIDNIGHT, heard back from a few folks who read the ARC and loved it (yippee!!), and now I'm about to throw myself head-first into Tegan's book because it's due at the end of May. As in, May of this year. As in, three and a half months from now. Yeeeah. All offers of sympathy (and chocolate and Red Bull) will be gratefully accepted.

What's everyone else up to this week?

joy of reading #2: the nymph king

2007-02-07T08:47:00.000-08:00

The Nymph King
by Gena Showalter
HQN Books

I've taken a cue from some of my friends ::coughJacicough:: and have begun shamelessly begging ARCs of books I just can't wait until release day to read. This one, Gena Showalter's THE NYMPH KING, was my latest score. Lucky for all of you, it's out now and you don't have to resort to begging in order to read it!

TNK is third in the Atlantis series, and while I read and loved Heart of The Dragon (Book 1), I somehow missed the second title, Jewel of Atlantis--which was, I think, Gena's 100th release. Yes, she's prolific, funny, beautiful, and she writes like a house on fire. If she wasn't so nice, I might have to hate her. You're always assured of a good time with one of Gena's books, and with The Nymph King, she pulls out all the stops.

This book is a vivid, delicious fantasy that starts on the very first page, where we meet the sexy nymph king himself. Valerian is a swaggering, sensual alpha male who's used to having everything he wants with nary a curl of his perfect finger. He's gorgeous, fearless, devastatingly carnal . . . and bored. Enter Shaye Holling.

Queen of the cynics, Shaye is not about to get all wobbly kneed over some stunning Adonis who comes traipsing out of the Florida surf with a cadre of similarly gorgeous warriors. And she's really pissed off when she and several other women are captured like prizes and brought into an underwater realm from out of a fairy tale. Things only get worse when Valerian decides he wants Shaye--wants her, as in, forever. She defies him, challenges him, and basically tries to drive him away even though she also wants him terribly--something she fears because in her experience caring only causes pain.

Favorite Line(s) from The Nymph King:

“You are stubborn,” he said. “And you want to be cold.”
She raised her chin. “I assure you, I am cold. I’m a bitch.”
“Given time,” he added smoothly, “I will heat you. I will make you burn.”

And did he ever! :) Gena's vision of Atlantis is a feast for the senses, with glittering architecture, sumptuous palaces, lush living quarters, and a menagerie of fantastical creatures that enhance the awe and wonderment of the mythical setting. I was totally enchanted!

You can read an excerpt of the book at Gena's website, and find links for purchasing online. Up next in the series is Layel, the king of the vampires. Oh, yeah. I am SO there on that book!

Have you already read The Nymph King? Tell me what you think!

Copyedits, website, etc.

2007-02-06T09:26:00.000-08:00

Busy week! Copyedits for KISS OF CRIMSON arrived over the weekend (surprise!) and are due back this Thursday. Fortunately for me, the copyeditor on this manuscript *rocked*. Aside from correcting my typos and assorted grammar offenses, she also caught a few sticky plot inconsistencies and helped steer me out of the murk of some rather clumsy prose. Thanks to her immensely helpful line editing, I'm already finished with the queries and fixes, and the ms is heading back to Bantam Dell today.

I'm still trying to wrap up the proposal for Tegan's book this week. So far, this is my favorite of the series. The copyedits and a couple of interviews last week side-tracked me from working on it, but so did the arrival of the prototype design for my new website! Squeee!!! I can't wait for the site to roll out. Hopefully it won't be too much longer before I can unveil it. Of course, I am the bottleneck, since I still have to submit the content to my designer.

In other news, I have just one more RITA entry to read, and then I can get back to Meljean Brooks' thoroughly engrossing DEMON ANGEL, with delectable Hugh and devious Lilith. And recently I also had a chance to read (more like devour in one sitting!) Gena Showalter's new release, THE NYMPH KING. I'll be blogging on that one soon.

What's everyone else up to this week?

And the ARC goes to . . .

2007-02-02T10:08:00.000-08:00

Maria, Lover of All Things Romance

Congratulations, Maria! Please contact me (lara (at) laraadrian.com) with your mailing info and I will put KISS OF MIDNIGHT in the mail to you right away.

Thank you to all who entered the drawing and requested bookmarks. This was so much fun, I'm going to do it again in a couple of weeks. :)

Happy Friday, all!

Thursday Thirteen #6

2007-02-01T06:12:00.000-08:00

Thirteen Songs in my KISS OF MIDNIGHT Soundtrack(all links are audio, so don't get yourself busted at work!)

1. Ten Thousand Fists by Disturbed

2. Power in The Blood by Alabama Three (A3)

3. Predator by Collide

4. Possession by Sarah McLachlan

5. Going Under by Evanescence

6. Cat People by Gosling (Underworld 2 Soundtrack)

7. Falling by Lacuna Coil

8. The Hand That Feeds by Nine Inch Nails

9. Rev 22:20 by Puscifer (Oh. My. God. Awesome!)

10. Running From Me by Trust Company

11. Remedy by Seether

12. My Heartstrings Come Undone by Demon Hunter

13. All of This Past by Sarah Bettens

Links to other Thursday Thirteens!
1. (leave your link in comments, I’ll add you here!)

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

Midweek check-in

2007-01-31T08:41:00.000-08:00

My stitches come out today (yay!) and I am still working away on the proposal for Tegan's book. There's *a lot* I want to incorporate into the plot since it's technically the end of a trilogy (I'm currently contracted for three books, this being the last one) but this story also needs to leave a small door open for the next three books in the series (hopefully to be contracted in a few months, and knock on wood, all signs seem to indicate "yes!").

Some of you asked for pictures of the ARCs for KISS OF MIDNIGHT so here ya go! It's almost a real book now--squee!!

In case you're wondering, I did get a few more copies than what's shown here, but not enough to surround my entire body with like Jaci did with her first Bantam Dell book. Because she's *special*.

FYI: If you entered the bookmark/ARC contest below and *did not* provide me with your email address, you need to check back on Friday to see if you won the drawing. I probably should have thought to mention that when I announced the contest . . . :-?

Bookmarks -- and a contest!

2007-01-28T10:01:00.000-08:00

I've been plotting like crazy this weekend on Tegan's book (oh, do I have plans for that one!) but I did manage to wrestle my scanner into submission and upload some pictures of the bookmarks I designed for KISS OF MIDNIGHT and KISS OF CRIMSON. Here they are!

..............

And since ARCs for KISS OF MIDNIGHT are on en route from my publisher, I'm thinking I should probably hold some kind of drawing to give one away. So . . . how's this? Everyone who comments on this post and/or requests bookmarks will be entered into a random drawing for an ARC! For those of you who already requested bookmarks, you're automatically in the drawing. One entry per person, just to keep things fair.

I'll assign a number to each comment and/or emailed bookmark request, then at the end of next week--let's say, Friday, February 2nd--I'll randomly select a winner from all the entries received by midnight, February 1st.

Does that sound good to you?

ETA: Because my blog template can't handle anonymous comments, you can also email me at Lara (at) LaraAdrian.com and I'll add your name to the contest drawing.

ARCs!!

2007-01-25T18:19:00.000-08:00

Exciting news out of my publisher today (okay, well, it's exciting to me!). I'm getting a small supply of bound ARCs (advance reading copies) for KISS OF MIDNIGHT in the next couple of days! I won't have a lot, but I will have enough to host a little blog party giveaway. Watch for details next week sometime!

Freebies, anyone?

2007-01-23T17:11:00.000-08:00

I'm skipping the Thursday Thirteen this week, but I do have something fun to offer in its place . . . FREE STUFF!

Bookmarks for KISS OF MIDNIGHT and KISS OF CRIMSON have just arrived, along with a small supply of fridge magnets featuring the cover art from both books. Any takers? They're free, just for the asking!

If you want them, email me at Lara (at) LaraAdrian.com with your name and mailing info. Open to everyone, not just U.S. residents. I'm an equal opportunity promo pusher! :-)

******
ETA: Clue No. 1 that my brain is lost to the current WIP? Until this blog entry posted, I thought tomorrow was Thursday. Even though it's not, don't look for a TT from me this week. Too much thinking required for that at the moment!

Tegan on the brain . . .

2007-01-22T05:16:00.000-08:00

I woke up this morning around 3AM, my head spinning with scenes and dialogue for my current book, Number 3 in the Midnight Breed series. Since it's untitled for now, I'm just calling Tegan's Book. He's the dark sheep of the group, the one you probably shouldn't completely trust, even though he's golden, gorgeous, and flawlessly perfect in his violence against his enemies. Oh, and he's slightly psychotic. Naturally, I adore him. :)

This week I hope to have my proposal (outline and three chapters) completed and ready to send off to my editor. After mulling over the story this past weekend and working on character/conflict stuff, I think this book may end up being the most emotional, most sensual entry in the series so far. That's generally my goal whenever I sit down to write a new book--to make this one "more" than the one that came before it. Achieving that goal is the tricky part.

Now I'm off to google images of Gabriel Aubrey for my character file. God, I love research!

What are you working on this week?

kiss of midnight news . . .

2007-01-19T10:09:00.000-08:00

Last month you may recall that Samhain's Evil Editor Angie posted the very first review for KISS OF MIDNIGHT (thanks, Angie!) but last night I got review number two, this time from fabulous Amanda of LoveVampires.com, a UK-based site dedicated to vampire fiction of all genres. We first connected via MySpace, and Amanda later surprised me by showcasing my book as one of several she was looking forward to in 2007. Well, no good deed shall go unpunished, so I sent Amanda a galley of KISS OF MIDNIGHT for review. She read it, and last night blew me away with a fantastic 5-star review! Thank you so much, Amanda!! :)

In other news, I've learned through the grapevine (aka, obsessively googling myself) that the Spanish translation of KISS OF MIDNIGHT will be published by Roca Editorial this summer! When they picked up the rights, they had originally mentioned 2008 as a possible pub time, but it appears that the book is going on sale July 2007. The new title, which is actually the Spanish translation of the old title, will be El Beso de la Oscuridad. Magnifico!

I plan to celebrate with a margarita (or two) and dinner out tonight. Happy Friday, everyone!

thursday thirteen #5 . . .

2007-01-18T10:56:00.000-08:00

Thirteen Things about my family history
1. In 1533, one of my ancestors, John Leland (or Layland, Leyland), served King Henry VIII as his antiquarian. It is believed that this post may have come to him as a promotion from that of royal librarian after Leland wrote poems celebrating Anne Boleyn's coronation, which were read at the coronation ceremony.

2. Amusingly, in his travels in 1542, John Leland made a reference to Cadbury, England, as being the site of Camelot from Arthurian legend. Whether based on research or speculation, Leland's statement persists to this day.

3. This same John Leland was a very respected scholar and researcher, producing several written works and earning him the distinguished reputation as "the father of local English history." Much of his notes and publications are kept at the Bodleian Library of the University of Oxford.

4. John Leland spent his later years working on an extensively researched book to be called History and Antiquities however, despite voluminous notes still referenced today, he never finished the book because he was certified insane in 1550, was committed, and died in 1552. So, when I say I'm crazy on deadline, I'm probably not kidding. :-/

5. A descendant of John Leland above, Henry Leland came to America from England in the mid-1600s and eventually settled in Sherborn, Massachusetts. In the center of town, there is a monument dedicated to him as one of the founders. I have a photo of it somewhere. Additionally, all the Lelands in the U.S. trace their roots back to "our" Henry. There are, according to various sources, eleven generations of the Leland family in this country.

6. Branching off the Leland tree in Sherborn was Alvan Pratt, who was a 19th century gunsmith of some renown. Two of his pieces--a boy's rifle and a Massachusetts militia musket--are on permanent display at the Concord Museum.

7. Also in Sherborn, at the war memorial downtown, one of my ancestors, Theodore Pratt, is listed as a Civil War casualty. I have a photo of this, too, somewhere . . . .

8. As I understand it, my family has a perpetual care plot at Sherborn's historic Pine Hill cemetery, where I could be interred if I want to be. You know, eventually.

9. On another branch of my New England family tree you'll find a fellow named William Bradford. In 1620, Bradford and a group of courageous travelers boarded a ship called the Mayflower and sailed to America. In 1621, after the death of the first Plymouth Colony Governor, William Bradford was elected and held that post for more than 30 years.

10. William Bradford was also something of a writer, chronicling the journey of the Mayflower and the establishment of the Massachusetts Colony in his journal, Of Plimoth (or Plymouth) Plantation and also putting together The Mayflower Compact.

11. Moving way forward in time, and more along the lines of trivial family history, rumor has it that my grandfather's aunt owned one of the famous Inverted Jenny postage stamps. No idea what may have happened to the stamp, if in fact it was ever in Great-great-great Aunt Emma's possession. But it's fun to think she might have had one!

12. More trivia: When I was a kid, my grandfather used to own a small cabin at Point Judith, Rhode Island. He sold it for a song in the late 1970s because he couldn't afford the taxes, but he made a gentleman's agreement (verbal) with the man who bought the property that the small shed abutting the fishermen's right-of-way would remain intact in case any of us wanted to use it. More than 20 years later, my husband and I drove past the area while on vacation and discovered a huge multi-million dollar home standing on Grandpa's lot. But right next to the big house, on the right-of-way, was a small shed. I rather doubt it was *the* shed, and while we did take pictures from the road, we didn't pop in to inquire if we could bunk down there for a night or two. Looking back, I rather wish we had asked . . . :-P

13. This same grandfather, the only one I knew, and knew too little since he was in Massachusetts and I grew up in Michigan, was very supportive of my dream of becoming a novelist. He died before I got published, from a massive heart attack suffered in his kitchen while he was making coffee, and it's a great regret of mine that he never got to see one of my books in print. I guess that's not technically family history, but there you go.

Links to other Thursday Thirteens! 1. Melani Blazer; 2. Angela/SciFiChick; 3. Jaci Burton; 4. Darla; 5. May; 6. Shiloh Walker; 7. Michelle; 8. Elisa Adams; 9. Annie; 10. Christine d'Abo; 11. Edie Ramer; 12. You're next! (leave your link in comments, I’ll add you here!)

a pound of flesh . . .

2007-01-17T07:54:00.000-08:00

Okay, so it really wasn't a pound, but it feels like it! Yesterday I had outpatient surgery to remove a mole from my back. Skin cancer is a big thing in my family--melanoma killed my paternal grandmother, and my dad and almost all of his brothers have had brushes to varying degrees with basal cell carcinoma. So it's definitely a concern.

Anyway, I've had a few moles removed before, but never one requiring scalpel and sutures. I figured I'd walk out of there with maybe three or four stitches. I mean, it wasn't a huge mole, and it was right between my shoulder blades, about center on my spine. Well, after feeling the dermatologist tug about half a dozen times back there as he was sewing me up, I had to ask: "How many stitches are you giving me?" He said, "You mean, so far?" Gack! Final tally was eleven!

Here's what it looks like*:

* Or rather, what it feels like. I didn't get satin ribbon or a fancy bow. ;-)

just stuff . . .

2007-01-15T00:42:00.000-08:00

Having a DOA email system is not entirely bad. Once the chills and shakes of withdrawl pass, you actually find other things to occupy your time--productive things! This weekend I managed to finish my promotion budget, book a couple of ads (and design them), order bookmarks, AND submit my website information to my web designer. Amazing!

This week I'm all about Midnight Breed Book 3. The plot is starting to gel in my mind, and all I need to figure out is the ending (I know how it will end, but I need to figure out how to get all the players lined up for the ending) and then I can write up my outline and get the proposal underway. Now to find a proper title for this book. I know what I want to call it, but LKH pretty much owns that one already. Alternate suggestions welcome!

In other news, my brilliant editor was interviewed over at DearAuthor.com as part of their ongoing series on romance editors. She even mentions me--twice, if you look carefully. ;-)

i broke my email . . .

2007-01-14T09:15:00.000-08:00

The email, she is kaput. I don't know what happened, but Thursday night my email just stopped working. Nothing in, nothing out. Just refused to do anything except spit out errors and freeze Outlook. My in-home geek squad is working on the problem, which involved rebuilding my saved mail folders and inbox (this, apparently, is not fun). He says I'll be back in business today, but if you emailed me between Thursday and this weekend, you may want to resend.

Totally Off Topic:

We watched a very stupid "movie" last night called What The Bleep Do We Know? It's billed as a movie/documentary but it's actually a 2+ hour infomercial for "Ramtha" who, come to find out, produced and "starred" in it as one of the "experts" on quantum theory (and who would like you to come to her camp in Washington to become one of Ramtha's followers). Only a few minutes into the so-called quantum theory part of the film, John and I were rolling our eyes and saying, WTF is this crap? Then we paused to google and discovered the whole Ramtha connection, which was never stated at any point in the movie, btw.

After attempting to impress and baffle you with scientific theories drawn out to the absurd--like our minds simply do not, cannot, see what they do not understand or do not have a prior basis of knowledge with which to understand. Example used in the film: the Native Americans had never seen a ship on the ocean so when Columbus sailed up to conquer them, they literally did not see him coming. They saw waves moving on the horizon--a disturbance on the water--but they did not see the gigantic ships (or even hear them, one must assume) because they had no basis to understand what they were seeing. Jay-sus. It's a wonder any of us can walk around this planet without smashing into all those invisible things out there. What utter nonsense!

Some of the spiritual enlightenment portion of this film near the end was interesting, and I found myself agreeing on several points, but the deceptive way the film makers steered the information toward its conclusion was infuriating. If you want to sell me a spiritual enlightenment retreat, just say so. Don't try to cloak your message in gee-whiz theories spouted by a bunch of science geeks who are most likely on your payroll.

Sorry to rant, but my bullshit meter is still in recovery mode after spiking off the charts last night!

book club sales . . .

2007-01-13T09:33:00.000-08:00

Great news out of my publisher a couple of days ago: both KISS OF MIDNIGHT and KISS OF CRIMSON have been picked up by three major book clubs!

In May and June, the books will be Featured Alternate Selections at Doubleday Book Club, Rhapsody Romance Book Club, and the Science Fiction Book Club. It's my understanding that the clubs picked up KISS OF CRIMSON sight-unseen*, just based on the strength of MIDNIGHT. Wowza! I'm beyond thrilled, of course, and can't wait to see the special hardcover editions of the series!

* sight-unseen, because, you know, a certain author was busy making a mountain out of a mole hill in revisions and the ms wasn't available when all of this was going down

thursday thirteen #4 . . .

2007-01-11T10:19:00.000-08:00

THURSDAY THIRTEEN

13 *More* Books I'm Looking Forward To in 2007

1. Secrets Vol. 18: Dark Passions erotic anthology (out now). This one is on the TBB list for Larissa Ione's entry alone. Something to tide me over while the wait drags on (and on!) for the first of her Sydney Croft novels later in the year.

2. The Sword: Sons of Destiny by Jean Johnson (Feb). In an interview at DearAuthor.com, editor Cindy Hwang called this (potentially 8-book?!) series "sexy, fabulous, and funny" and also mentioned great world-building. That said, I'm there!

3. Heart-Shaped Box by Joe Hill (Feb). Having grown up reading Stephen King, I'm more than willing to shell out the bucks for his son's hardcover debut. Even without the enviable storytelling genes to back him up, Hill's novel about an online purchase gone wrong (way wrong) sounds irresistible.

4. Atlantis Rising by Alyssa Day (Mar). The plot to break my budget in March continues with a seemingly never-ending offering of enticing books. This start of a new paranormal romance series looks interesting.

5. A Wicked Snow by Gregg Olsen (Mar). I first heard of Gregg Olsen via MySpace and his other blog, CrimeRant. Olsen is a true crime writer (one of my favorite guilty pleasure forms of reading--it's fascinating, often repulsive stuff, and God help me but I can't look away!) and this novel marks his entry into fiction. I have no idea what it's about, but I'm buying it. How's that for the power of online promotion?

6. Her Only Desire by Gaelen Foley (Apr). Admittedly, Gaelen is one of my best friends, but she's also a fantastic writer. I always look forward to her books and this one, the start of a new trilogy spun-off from her Knights Miscellany, is bound to be another scorcher.

7. Take Me Tonight by Roxanne St. Claire (Apr). I've only read part of the first Bullet Catcher book (not for lack of interest, just happens like that sometimes), but I liked what I read and I keep buying entries in this series because I know I'm going to want to have the entire collection.

8. One With The Night by Susan Squires (Apr). Susan Squires is another writer I keep on my watch list. I have almost all of her books, beginning with her debut, Danelaw, which I judged in an unpublished writer contest via RWA about an eon ago. Proud to say I recognized Susan's talent even then, which she has in spades. Plus she's one of the kindest people you'll ever meet.

9. Hunters: Heart and Soul by Shiloh Walker (Apr). I never read this author's Ellora's Cave books, but I picked up her debut with Signet Eclipse last year and enjoyed it. This new one is trade, which sucks (I always prefer mass market, both for price and the convenient size), but I will probably purchase it because I hate waiting for mm re-releases and I love the cover.

10. All About Evie by Beth Ciotta (May). One of my favorite bloggers, who's also a terrific writer with a fun, creatively diverse backlist, Beth makes her HQN debut with a romantic comedy featuring a struggling actress who pairs up with a former con man turned investigator in order to nab a grifter on a luxury cruise liner. Sounds fun already!

11. The Last Assassin by Barry Eisler (Jun). This is actually the paperback release of Eisler's latest hardcover novel. I've never read his stuff, but last year I clicked a link to a podcast recording of him reading a chapter from one of his novels and it totally hooked me. Then my ADD kicked in and I wandered off to another site, another podcast . . . and forgot I wanted to buy his book. Doh! Hate. That. But now the latest one is coming out in paperback, and I won't be deterred. And since I saved by not purchasing hardcover, I can also pick up the first book in the series, Rain Fall. (Girly P.S.: Eisler's got a great voice, and he's kinda cute, too.)

12. Your Mouth Drives Me Crazy by HelenKay Dimon (Jul). I am a frequent lurker at HelenKay's author blog and the one she co-writes, but I somehow missed her first novel. Remedied that a couple of weeks ago, and now I'm also looking forward to her new release from Kensington Brava. HelenKay very kindly outted me at her blog recently with a plug for my books. Stuff like that will land you on my auto-buy list every time. :)

13. This one isn't scheduled for release until TBA 2008, but since I'll be jonesing for it throughout most of 2007, it makes the list. Jordan Summers, another of my favorite bloggers, landed a three-book deal with TOR for an urban fantasy series that poses the question: What if Little Red Riding Hood and The Big Bad Wolf were the same person? The first title, aptly enough, is Red.

Ah . . . so many books, so little time!

new book euphoria . . .

2007-01-10T08:18:00.000-08:00

Now that I've let go of KISS OF CRIMSON--or should I say, now that KOC has let go of me?--I am joyfully immersing myself in the New Book. It doesn't have a title yet, but it's #3 in the Midnight Breed series and features the Order's most tormented member, Tegan. To avoid a spoiler, I can't say who his heroine is yet, but while this book is a lot about Tegan, it's very much her book as well.

She's been haunting my imagination ever since she walked onto the page because she's so full of pain and fear. But she's courageous, too, something she's only beginning to realize for herself. Unfortunately, her coping methods for dealing with her own pain are destroying her. I'm not totally sure how I'm going to make two damaged, hurting characters come together and win a happy future, but I know the journey there is going to be dark and passionate!

Since I've begun plotting Number Three, this Evanescence video has been getting a lot of play on my iPod. My brand new *video* iPod, which the hubby bought me for xmas to make up for his leaving my mini on the plane when we came back from Mexico! Don't you just love make-up pressies? :)

This song is fitting for a lot of reasons, including the video's stark winter setting, which is the basic backdrop for the new book. A city blanketed in pale white snow, bare branches, little color . . . slumbering life buried under so much frozen landscape. I think it makes a nice mirror for my characters' emotional states. God, I'm so into this book right now--I love the euphoria of beginning a new novel*!

* Yes, I know that middle-of-the-book depression and misery lurk right around the corner, but today it's all good!

joy of reading #1: surviving demon island

2007-01-09T09:56:00.000-08:00

Although I'm not a book reviewer, and I don't get paid to recommend books, I do love reading and talking about reading. So, since there's a good chance I'll make this "joy of reading" a semi-regular feature on my blog, I've given this entry a number. Here's a peek at what I've enjoyed recently:

Surviving Demon Island
by Jaci Burton
Dell Books

I introduced myself to Jaci last summer by shamelessly begging an ARC of her debut title with Bantam Dell. I'd heard about her sale through one of the industry lists (Publishers Lunch?) and when I read the premise of Surviving Demon Island I got one of those instant "Oh, hell yeah!" feelings that authors (and readers, no doubt) tend to get when they see an idea that just *must* become a book. I mean, who can resist the premise of LOST meets SURVIVOR . . . with demons!

Surviving Demon Island opens fast and holds you tight. It's crisp, wry, and fun. That would have been enough to keep me turning pages, but Jaci also mixes in a fabulously strong (but not abrasive) heroine in Gina Bliss and a sexy, seen-and-done-it-all hero in Derek Marks. There is a host of interesting secondary characters, some tense action scenes, and a wrenching loss of one of the team members that serves to remind you just what the good guys are up against. But amid all of this story texture, Jaci never loses focus on the romance and the building sexual tension between her two protagonists. The love scenes are hot, and the ending leaves the door wide open for the sequel, which I for one, cannot wait to get my hands on. (Seriously, Jaci. ARC? Please?)

Favorite line from Surviving Demon Island: It's more than one line actually, and although it comes at the close of the book, I don't think it really spoils anything to include it here. For me, this passage summed up the story perfectly, and left me smiling and ready for more.

Turned out part of her really was Gina Bliss. Maybe the scared little girl from all those years ago was finally gone. She'd definitely proved she could fight creatures from the depths of hell and live through it, could face death and darkness and not cower or run in fear.

She'd even faced love, and the possibility of losing love, and come through it unscathed. She'd found someone to love her back despite all her faults.

If she could do that, she could do anything.

Bring on the demons.

You can read an excerpt of the book at Jaci's website, and find links for purchasing online. Watch for Hunting The Demon next fall! Congrats to Jaci on a fabulous mass market debut.

Have you already read Surviving Demon Island? Tell me what you think!

catching up . . .

2007-01-06T01:36:00.000-08:00

I'm happy to report that the revisions for KISS OF CRIMSON are several days out of my hair, and now that monkey belongs to my editor. Hopefully it all still makes sense and doesn't suck. There's a lot I like about KOC, but, as with any book, there's a lot I would like to improve if only I could have another week, month, year . . . infinity. I'm sure I would polish a book from now till Armageddon if my publisher would let me. Nothing's ever *really* done in my mind.

Which leads me to the next topic: 5 Crazy Things About Me. Jaci tagged me today--on a weekend, no less!--so I feel compelled to play along. Not to mention this is my virgin tagging. ::blush::

Crazy Thing #1. I cannot STAND broken spines on paperback books. If you looked at my bookshelves, you'd have no idea which ones were brand new, fresh from the store, or already read. I love a crisp, intact spine. Even though I will occasionally buy a used paperback, I prefer that "new book" feel. I've even trained my husband to read without creasing spines, and he was one of the worst offenders I'd ever known.

Crazy Thing #2. Also book related. Nine times out of ten, I will read the end of a book (at least a chapter, maybe more) before I begin reading for real. This habit started when I was first trying to learn about writing. I felt it far more helpful to know the final outcome of a story so I could see the author's hints and red herrings along the way. Now it's a compulsion I have no hope of breaking.

Crazy Thing #3. My house, and my office in particular, may be disorganized (okay, cluttered!) at times, but my car is always immaculate--no junk or food on the floors or the seat. The hub is the same way. In fact, we generally lease our vehicles for 3 years at a time and always get "Wow, this car still smells new!" type of remarks from the dealers. Messy cars kind of gross me out.

Crazy Thing #4. I won't spend money on department store or designer makeup, but I love expensive perfume, which I don't get much chance to wear, since neither the cat or the UPS man would give a rat's. Let's face it, it's a good day if I shower and get out of PJs.

Crazy Thing #5. I don't like flowers, and I'm not very wild about jewelry, either. Diamonds, yes. Costume? Nope, I'd rather wear nothing. (Caveat: Debbie if you're reading this, I really do love the beaded choker you got me for my bday--swear!) As far as gifts go, I'd much rather have books, electronics, or nice dinners out.

Wow. I thought it would be hard to name five whole things, but I've actually got a bunch more! I'll spare you all my continued neuroses and share the Crazy love instead. I'm tagging May, Beth Ciotta, and Meljean Brook.

goodbye 2006 . . .

2007-01-01T00:55:00.000-08:00

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

I hope 2007 brings good health, prosperity, and much happiness to all! See you later this week after I wrap up final, final (reeeally final) revisions for KISS OF CRIMSON.

thursday thirteen #3 . . .

2006-12-28T18:43:00.000-08:00

Barely making it under the wire with this Thursday Thirteen list, and I haven't had a chance to ditch the grinchy green I'd previously been using either, so today's TT is late and unadorned. That said . . .

THURSDAY THIRTEEN

13 Books I'm Looking Forward To in 2007

1. Demon Angel by Meljean Brook (January). I picked this one up at Barnes & Noble the other day, after many months of lusting for it courtesy of Meljean's blog.

2. The No Evil trilogy by Allison Brennan (January, February, and March). Yes, I realize it's technically a cheat to list three books as one item, but that's the way I'm rolling tonight. I enjoyed Allison's debut trilogy, and I'm curious to see what she's doing with this one.

3. Count To Ten by Karen Rose (February). Love her books. Crisp, strong writing and taut suspense. My husband likes her books, too. The author and I share an agent, so one day I really hope to meet Karen Rose and gush to her in person.

4. Unshapely Things by Mark Del Franco (February). I can't remember how I stumbled across this author's website, but the premise of his new dark urban fantasy novel/series intrigued me. Plus, like my series, it's set in Boston (albeit an alternate Boston, where faerie prostitutes are being murdered and a Druid cop must figure out how to stop it). Sounds gritty and dark--my favorite!

5. Kiss Her Goodbye by Robert Gregory Browne (February). This one is hardcover, something I rarely buy--not because I'm cheap, but because I find hardcover books uncomfortably hard around the cover area. I much prefer paperbacks, but I'll likely make an exception on this one. Again, not sure how I found this author's website/blog, but I love his insights on the business and writing, and his online chapter excerpts aren't bad, either.

6. Lover Revealed by J.R. Ward (March). March is going to be a big book binge month for me because several new releases are on the slate then. Top on the list is the new Black Dagger Brotherhood book. I finally got the chance to read Lover Awakened and OMG, I am a slave to this series more than ever now!

7. Scent of Shadows by Vicki Petterson (March). I'm finding that a lot of ROC and ACE books are making my to-be-bought list lately, like this debut from a former (or current?) Las Vegas showgirl. The cover of this book is sexy/creepy, and I'm hoping the storyline is, too.

8. Visions of Heat by Nalini Singh (March). I am currently reading Slave to Sensation, this author's single title paranormal romance debut, and I'm really enjoying it. Enough to know that I'll be buying the next one as soon as it comes out.

9. Succubus Blues by Richelle Mead (March). Another author I discovered via her blog. Love her sense of humor, and I liked the excerpt she posted from this debut novel. I'll definitely be checking it out.

10. Pleasures of The Night by Sylvia Day (May). This one is trade paperback, coming out from Avon Red, which is their erotic romance imprint. I've long been a reader of Sylvia's blog, and although I have at least one of her novels in my TBR already (Ask For It, I believe), this is the book I'm really eager to read first. Sylvia's got a cool website in the works for this series, including an excerpt.

11. The Vampire Queen's Servant by Joey W. Hill (July). Another trade paperback, this time from Berkley. I've never read this author's books before, but since she wrote (writes?) for Ellora's Cave, this novel is sure to be H-O-T. I read the excerpt at her website and think I may have found a new guilty pleasure.

12. Riding The Storm by Sydney Croft (September). Again, a trade paperback, also promising plenty of steam. I've gotten to know "Sydney" through Larissa Ione and Stephanie Tyler, who are both gifted authors on their own. Writing together as a team? I can hardly wait!

13. Last, but by no means least, I'm looking forward to the follow-up novel to Anne Frasier's fantastic 2006 release, Pale Immortal. I don't think the new one has a firm title yet, so we'll just call it Pale Immortal 2 (September). I'm dying to know what's going to happen to Evan Stroud, Rachel Burton, and Evan's back-from-the-brink son, Graham. I plan to blog about Pale Immortal in January sometime.

This list really wouldn't be complete if I didn't mention two January 2007 releases that would have been right on top, had I not had the pleasure of reading them months early -- Surviving Demon Island by Jaci Burton, and The Rest Falls Away by Colleen Gleason.

Both of these books feature kick-ass heroines who come up against dangerous paranormal beings while locking horns (and other things) with sexy, sardonic men who challenge them on every level. The settings couldn't be more different--tropical island paradise vs. glamorous Regency London--but both are fast-paced, exciting reads that keep you glued to the pages. And bonus! Both have sequels on the way for 2007: Jaci's Hunting The Demon (Fall), and Colleen's Rises The Night (June).

So, that's my list for now. Am I missing anything good?

sayonara, page proofs . . .

2006-12-27T17:34:00.000-08:00

Today I finished correcting page proofs for KISS OF MIDNIGHT. Hoo-boy, was that an interesting exercise! I'm trying not to stress about the fact that somewhere along the line, between what I submitted and what came out of typesetting, my heroine's "ginger" colored hair curiously became "sensed" hair in Chapter 3. Or that a character's "irises" ended up being "issues" in another chapter. Gah!

I think I caught everything that needed fixing. I hope so, because . . . off . . . it . . . goes!

FYI, I've added an excerpt from KISS OF MIDNIGHT over at my website.

holiday wishes . . .

2006-12-24T09:44:00.000-08:00

No blog post today, just a heartfelt wish from my house to yours for a holiday filled with warmth, good cheer, and the love of family and friends. Safe travels, to those of you on the road or in the air.

Have a wonderful holiday*!

(*and don't forget to pick up Jaci's book on Tuesday!)

Thursday Thirteen #2

2006-12-21T11:17:00.000-08:00

Thirteen Holiday Diversions

1. How much do I love Christmas? THIS MUCH!

2. According to my 4 year old niece, I am a very talented dancer and my Christmas dress is really pretty. :-)

3. You know, personally for me, nothing says Christmas like a bunch of singing cats.

4. Lest you think Santa's one-day-a-year job is easy, consider this.

5. Public Service Announcement: Don't make the mistake of driving past Larissa's house this time of year. (Video may cause severe nausea and/or retinal bleeding.)

6. Christmas is for everyone, and Sarah Silverman urges Santa to not forget about Jewish girls.

7. Who needs jewelry or chocolates when your man can give you this? Watch it quick, because the copyright censors already deleted a few!

8. For some, the holiday begins with The Airing of Grievances, followed by Feats of Strength. Behold, the glory of Festivus (for the rest of us)!

9. I'm a sucker for A Christmas Carol, and not even Kelsey Grammer can dim my sentimental love of the story.

10. Sharing some more wholesome holiday goodness, Denis Leary wishes all of us a Merry F*ing Christmas!

11. This very special holiday movie also happens to contain one of my favorite Christmas songs.

12. Here's another one of my favorite Christmas classics, The Channukah Song. Watch it only if you really, really wannakuh! :-)

13. Warning: This last one may cause involuntary toe-tapping and/or head-bobbing. Enjoy!

Wishing everyone the most joyous of holidays--however you choose to celebrate--and a safe, happy New Year!

Links to other Thursday Thirteens!1. Angela/SciFi Chick; 2. Evil Editor Angie; 3. May; 4. Michelle; 5. You're next!

kiss of midnight . . .

2006-12-20T08:30:00.000-08:00

Lookee what arrived yesterday--page proofs for KISS OF MIDNIGHT! And based on the sad condition of the envelope, I think it was pure luck that they arrived at all. Evidently, FedEx felt it necessary to drop-kick the package several hundred times before delivering it. Gotta love the TLC they exercise during the holiday season!

In other KISS OF MIDNIGHT news, the very first review of the book has been posted over at Angie of Samhain's blog. She requested an ARC through Jaci some time ago, and delighted in keeping me on tenterhooks about her opinion of the book until just this morning. Yeah, she's very much the Eeevil part of her blog moniker if you ask me.

And while I remain the bottle-neck in my upcoming website rollout, I decided to post an excerpt from KISS OF MIDNIGHT. If you'd like to read the Prologue and first chapter, clicky here.

Happy Hump Day, all! And a great big HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my honey!!! Love you, baby!

all chilled out now . . .

2006-12-19T11:45:00.000-08:00

I'm baaaack! Our trip last week to Mexico's beautiful Yucatan Peninsula was fantastic, as you can see from this small sampling of photos. We stayed at a wonderful resort, El Dorado Seaside Suites, which is located about an hour and a half south of Cancun. It's an all-inclusive, adults-only resort that only has about 150-200 rooms (I think). For us, it was perfecto!

We were greeted at check-in with chilled glasses of champagne, neck and shoulder massages (not so much my thing, but the hub loved it), followed by a golf cart ride to our oceanview jacuzzi suite.

Of course, priority one was finding the nearest bar for pina coladas, followed by a stroll outside to see the beach beds. That's right: Beach. Beds.

When we were checking out places to vacation a few months ago, I saw pictures of the beach at this resort and went into a full-on campaign that this was the place we HAD to go. John was skeptical (can you believe that?!) but as soon as he walked onto the beach and saw the dozens of queen-sized, thatched-roof, cotton gauze draped wonders, he admitted that I was right. (Really, I ask you, was there ever any doubt?)

Beach beds are the epitome of vacation heaven. We spent nearly a full week lazing about on them, sipping pina coladas, rum punches, margaritas, and a few other alcohol-laced concoctions I can no longer remember. We hardly even had to get up off our bums to fetch drinks because the excellent beach service kept them coming.

When we weren't stuffing our faces or sampling the local bebidas, we did a little snorkeling off the beach. There is a reef just off shore, which doesn't make for perfect swimming conditions, but does provide plenty of entertainment with the many schools of fish darting around--even a few squid, which my husband encountered when he ventured farther out to snorkel. It was amazing to watch big brown pelicans nosedive into the water just a few feet away from you as they tried to catch their lunch.

I wish I had taken more pictures, but once we settled in, we were having too much fun to stop and dig out the camera. We met a lot of great people, both guests and folks who worked at the resort. It was really hard to leave! I know we'll return, which is something we've never done with other resorts, not because we didn't like them, but because we're usually more curious to see what else is out there. But the El Dorado was a real treat from start to finish.

I must say, however, that it is sooo good to be home. Nothing like your own bed and bath, no matter how amazing paradise seems while you're there.

i heart my editor . . .

2006-12-06T00:12:00.000-08:00

Can I just say, I have the most awesomest (Yes, it's a word! Or it should be...) editor EVAH!! I've been cranking away on revisions to KISS OF CRIMSON--you know, the *light* cleanup that I somehow managed to turn into a few agonizing weeks of work? I've been through the whole manuscript, addressing what needs addressing, and it's basically done.

But I don't love it.

I mean, I think it's decent, but I want it to be better. I really want it to shine. The revs are supposed to go back to Bantam Dell tomorrow, the plan being that it will leave me free to dash off stress-free on my Mexican vacation for a week of pina colada therapy with the hub. But there's more I want to do on the book. Some new scenes that I think will add a lot more depth and texture to the story. I mentioned this to my editor and she has granted me a fabulous reprieve. I have until January to do what needs doing (you hear that big sigh? that's me, breathing again!). This is SUCH a load off my mind, I can't even tell you. Now I can relax a little, enjoy my vacay and the holidays, while still taking the time I need to make Tess and Dante's story the best it can be.

Shauna Summers, you ROCK!! :)

hump day happy place . . .

2006-11-29T16:38:00.000-08:00

Huh. I rather like the title of today's post. Maybe I'll have to make it a regular thing! Anyway, today is good news day. Just because I say so.

#1. I'm about halfway done or better with KISS OF CRIMSON revisions. Hurray! For some reason, my brain is not clicking through these changes like I usually do. Too many other things going on at the same time. I need some chocolate and Red Bull!

#2. I'm about halfway done with my holiday shopping. Hip, hip, hurray! That'a a major relief that will be even greater when I get home from Mexico next month and don't have to rush around buying and shipping presents.

#3. I got a surprise delivery from my publisher yesterday -- cover flats for KISS OF MIDNIGHT! Unfortunately, I only got four of them, and one of the four has a blemish, but I was very excited to see that the the top half of the cover has a metallic wash! It really makes the artwork pop. And the word "Midnight" is set in silver foil. Squeee!! (It doesn't take much to get me excited, evidently.)

But enough about me.

#4. Lots of good stuff is going on around blogland. A brief sampling: Jaci just got a Top Pick review from Romantic Times for SURVIVING DEMON ISLAND (coming next month!). Larissa just got DIK'd by AAR (which is a good thing, for those of you as yet uninitiated) for her novella in the new Red Sage anthology. Shannon got a great review for her traditional romance, FOREVER AGAIN.

#5. Lastly, for those of you doing The Google and arriving here searching for Daniel Craig in a blue swim suit eye candy, here he is! Ogle to your heart's content. I know I will. :)

ho, ho, ho . . .

2006-11-28T06:21:00.000-08:00

So, there I am, recovering from a couple of days of tryptophan overdosing, when it hits me: because of a vacation that gets me home a few days before Christmas, I have to complete all of my holiday shopping and get it shipped out to various destinations . . . this week!! GAH!

Plus, I still have Crimson revisions to finish up before I go. And website content to think about so I can give it to my site designer. And a few to-do items from my publicist that need addressing. And probably half a dozen other things I'm forgetting at the moment.

I'm tired already!

thankful . . .

2006-11-22T10:14:00.000-08:00

This year our Thanksgiving will be a quiet one: just the hub, his son who lives nearby, and me. And the cat, who is generally anything but quiet, particularly where table scraps are involved. I'm making a big turkey and all the trimmings (got pumpkin pie in the oven as I type this!), and I'm looking forward to a long, lazy day tomorrow and dinner with my guys.

It's been a bittersweet year, but I'm so very grateful for everything I have and everyone I love. I hope that wherever you are tomorrow, it's somewhere warm and peaceful, surrounded by family, friends, and plenty of good food.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving! See you next week.

shut up and write . . .

2006-11-17T07:56:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was fun! Too much fun, because I didn't end up getting a lick of work done. So, today I'm shutting off my internet and email, and knuckling down on the revisions. Since our lunatic feline has a vet appointment this afternoon and we are having company for the weekend, I'm not expecting to make big progress. But today the hacking and slashing must begin. . . .

Happy weekend, all!

thursday thirteen #1 . . .

2006-11-16T10:28:00.000-08:00

Thirteen Things I Know For Sure

1. I know for sure that if you read enough Thursday Thirteen lists, you will be unable to resist doing one yourself.

2. I know for sure that as much as I love George Clooney, he is *not* the Sexiest Man Alive. That title really belongs to this guy.

3. I know for sure that I am not procrastinating on making that first big cut into my current WIP. I'm just warming up the keyboard.

4. I know for sure that there is a special pit in hell reserved for the spammers who are clogging my in box with "hi it's (insert name here)" messages. May you each burn slowly and painfully. Forever. Amen.

5. I know for sure that 3 months of 16+ hour days chained to a desk results in fright-wig hair (good lord, those roots!), fried retinas, and an ass the size of Texas.

6. I know for sure that my husband loves me, because in spite of #5, he's never recoiled in horror. Trust me, I've given him plenty of cause!

7. I know for sure that whatever they put in cat treats is a highly addictive substance. To cats, I mean. Not to me. I can take them or leave them.

8. I know for sure that I am living my dream. If I won the lottery tomorrow, I'd still continue writing. I love it that much. How many people can say that about their job?

9. I know for sure that each day is a gift, and the life I'm living is heaven on earth. Would that time didn't fly by so quickly.

10. I know for sure that I will never be able to read all of the books currently stacked two rows deep on my book shelves. Or all the ones in storage bins in the garage. Or all the ones I intend to keep on buying month after month as long as cash and Citibank will allow.

11. I know for sure that, barring a miracle on the Total Gym these next few weeks, I will not be bikini-ready in time for my vacation next month. Sigh. Guess I'll just have to console myself with pina coladas once I get there.

12. I know for sure that the only movie I'll go to the theater to see this year will be the new James Bond "Casino Royale." Oh, Daniel Craig, how I wronged ye! Until I saw the trailer a few weeks ago, I was convinced you were all wrong for the role. But you--and your hot baby blue swimsuit--have shown me the error of my ways. Mrrowwrrr!

13a. Finally! I know for sure that it is damn hard to come up with thirteen things for one of these lists. (But more fun than tackling this morning's ms revisions.)

13b. I know for sure that I will be changing the color scheme of my TT next time around. This green is harsh! Sorry about that.

Links to other Thursday Thirteens!1. Angela; 2. Jaci; 3. Alison; 4. May; 5. (you're next!)

the editor has spoken . . .

2006-11-15T09:47:00.000-08:00

My editor called yesterday with revision comments on KISS OF CRIMSON--surprisingly light revisions!

As with KISS OF MIDNIGHT before, I need to go deeper with the world-building and the character development/backstory in this subsequent book. Since I had those areas on my personal fix list, along with a few other things that I want to address even if they weren't mentioned by my editor, I'm feeling pretty relieved. No big surprises or major overhauls. Whew!

Now all I have to do is wrap this baby up by the end of the month so I can toddle off stress-free with hubby on vacation in December! :-)

On a completely unrelated note, I hope Emmitt Smith wins Dancing With The Stars. Yes, I'm admitting it in public: I've been happily rotting my brain on that show for months. I'll be glad to reclaim my Tuesday and Wednesday nights . . . .

tcb and good stuff . . .

2006-11-14T08:04:00.000-08:00

Still awaiting my editor's verdict on KISS OF CRIMSON (although by waiting, I mean that I am nearly finished with my own list of things I want to fix about the ms and just need to add her revision suggestions to the mix). I've also got pricklings of plot ideas for the next book, which I am really eager to start!

So, while I'm taking care of business, check out some of the good things that are happening to other writers: Jaci got reviewed by Publishers Weekly; Jordan landed a 3-book deal from TOR; Meljean landed an agent; Richelle sold two YA books to Penguin/Razorbill . . . and I'm sure I'm leaving out lots of other good stuff that's been going on in blogland. Doesn't it seem like the publishing world is buzzing with activity lately? I know some areas are in a slump (believe me, I *know*) but other areas are absolutely cranking!

What about you? Do you have good news to share, writing or otherwise? Let's hear it!

strength and honor . . .

2006-11-10T10:15:00.000-08:00

In romance fiction, we celebrate the idea of the courageous, capable man who would charge headlong into any danger to protect the things he holds sacred. He's not afraid to risk life or limb for the things he believes in, his code of honor and willing sacrifice making him larger than life. A hero in every sense of the word.

Today, I'd like to introduce you to a real-life hero. His name is Will Mock, and on October 22, 2006, he was killed by a roadside bomb in Iraq. I didn't know Will personally, but he was a regular poster--and all-round popular guy--on BooksForSoldiers.com, a website I first heard of in 2004, when my husband and I were looking for ways to support the troops overseas. While Will wasn't one of "our" soldiers, we're very saddened to hear of his passing. On CNN.com, you can see a short video interview of Will. Please take a few minutes to watch the clip and see why Will was such a special person. And whatever you're doing on this Veteran's Day weekend, wherever you are, please pause for a moment to remember all of our fallen soldiers.

Strength and honor, Sgt Willsun Mock. With love and gratitude to you, and to every man and woman serving in the US military, past and present.

back to work . . .

2006-11-09T07:53:00.000-08:00

The post-ms celebration (also known as, housecleaning, laundry, and God I have to do something about this hair!) has ended and this morning I begin one of my favorite parts of the writing process . . . revisions. Woo-hoo! FYI, these are my own revs right now, working off the ms draft; I'm still awaiting word from my editor about the "real" revisions. For those interested in my process, it goes a little something like this:

Export manuscript file from WriteWay to RTF. Open RTF file(s) in TextAloud voice software, add 5-second pauses at chapter ends, then convert from text to spoken word mp3. Load mp3 book file(s) onto iPod--all 9+ hours of it!--then slap on earbuds and listen.

I prefer to listen to my manuscript being read in someone else's voice, particularly the first time through. That way I get a better sense of pacing, characters, plot flaws, etc. See, when I write, I don't go back and edit previous chapters. I don't even read them in order to prepare for the next day's writing session. I pretty much know where I left off, and I also know that if I stop to read what I already have, I'll be tempted to fix and fiddle and lose all of my enthusiasm. If I have hunches that a scene doesn't quite work, or needs something more, I'll jot down my thoughts in a Revision notecard in WriteWay, but I won't do any real editing until later. I have found that plowing straight through a draft is the best, most efficient, way for me to write. The reviewing and editing doesn't start until the whole story is down on paper (I do outline extensively before I begin a book).

So, today I listen and absorb. After I've heard the entire book, I'll make a few notes of my overall impressions--things that need to be fixed, opportunities missed, etc. Tomorrow I will print out and read the ms on paper, looking for places where I can insert new scenes and dialogue, and/or rip out dead weight based on what I hear today. After that? Let the bloodletting begin!

I always approach Listening Day with a mix of excitement and apprehension. How much of this ms is going to suck? Will I like any of it?? I'll know in about 9 1/2 hours . . . .

a day of anARChy . . .

2006-11-08T08:17:00.000-08:00

No, that post title does not refer to the state of the midterm elections, although the neck-and-neck Senate race is killing me! Who'da thunk we'd have this show of interest in an off year? Yay, America! Way to rock the vote!

But back to the ARCs. Yesterday, I gave a copy of KISS OF MIDNIGHT to Angie, who twisted my arm very nicely (not to mention, publicly) about wanting an early read. Jaci's already read it. And last week I sent copies to my fellow Bantam Dell pals, Larissa and Steph. Then, while emailing about other things with Colleen, we agreed to trade ARCs (which means I have a copy of THE REST FALLS AWAY! Neener, neener, y'all!).

Now here's the truly bizarre thing: this morning I got an unexpected email from none other than Santa Claus, the Jolly One, telling me that I'm very pretty and that I should send an ARC to Shannon. I mean, wow! Santa thinks I'm pretty!! The ARC is on the way, Shan! ;-)

off it goes . . .

2006-11-06T11:14:00.000-08:00

I'm pleased to report that KISS OF CRIMSON is winging its way to NYC this morning. Actually, my manuscripts go via email to my editor, a convenience I appreciate all the more today because I am still sick (my cold has morphed into a nagging, lung-ripping cough). My plan for the remainder of the day consists of a long, hot shower, snuggly sweats, thick socks, and rest. If I feel better later, I may try to catch up on some reading (my TBR has reached staggering proportions) or check out what's been happening in blogland.

All in all, not a bad way to spend a dreary Monday.

the end is here . . .

2006-11-01T07:15:00.000-08:00

In a mad burst of creativity (you might say desperation *g*) spawned from days of stagnation because of my lingering cold, yesterday I worked pretty much non-stop from dawn to bedtime and--brace yourselves--FINISHED THE DAMN BOOK!!!!

Almost.

I mean, I wrote to the end, but the final scenes are a bit sketchy and need some fleshing out. But they're out of my head and into the computer and it feels soooo good! For the rest of this week, I will be polishing these final scenes, then going back to proof and clean up the rest of the ms so that I can volley this beast to NYC.

And it's rather apropos that I should finish KISS OF CRIMSON on Halloween night because that's exactly when the first scene of the book opens! Freaky!

sick and tired . . .

2006-10-28T13:09:00.000-07:00

Today's blog post comes to you from the miserable lump residing on the couch, huddled beneath a blanket and coughing/sneezing/whining in front of the fireplace. Yep, that would be me. Hubby came home from work Tuesday night with a terrible cold, which proceeded to knock him flat for days. I, on the other hand, felt fine. I really thought I had outwitted and outlasted the nasty bug that got him, but alas, yesterday it found me. Today I am useless. Of course, this would come in the eleventh hour of my work on KISS OF CRIMSON, too. Argh!!

When conscious, I'm taking max doses of Airborne and echinacea tea, as well as Mrs. Grass Noodle Soup -- my personal Trinity for all things rhinoviral.

Have you ever noticed how many writers get run-down, wiped-out sick around the end of a book? I think that final balls-to-the-wall push does something to the immune system. And that, folks, is about as deep a thought as you're going to get out of me today . . . .

Back to the misery and suffering.

kiss of crimson cover . . .

2006-10-22T09:03:00.000-07:00

Hi, all! This weekend, I have been up to my @ss in copyedits for KISS OF MIDNIGHT. Some good news there: the original edited ms arrived late in the week, after circling back to Bantam Dell from parts unknown! Now I'm transcribing the edits I made on the photocopy onto the original and forging ahead on the rest of the queries.

I also have just two or three chapters left to write on KISS OF CRIMSON (hurray!!!) before that baby is jettisoned off to my editor for review . . . and the massive revisions that surely will be coming down the pike soon.

Anyway, I promised to post the preliminary cover for KISS OF CRIMSON, so here it is! Feast your eyes!!

You like? Tell me what you think! I'm absolutely thrilled with it, even if the cover couple is two-timing me with Jaci Burton. :-)

catching up . . .

2006-10-16T15:47:00.000-07:00

First, thank you to everyone who posted good thoughts and advice about my sick kitty Max. Unfortunately, after we brought her home on Monday from the weekend spent in the animal hospital, we realized that we were heading into a losing battle. She was just too weak and frail, and we didn't have the heart to torture her with numerous and prolonged treatments--including weekly subqutaneous (sp?) fluid injections--in the hopes that we might have her for another couple months. I suspect it would have been much, much less time than that, based on her poor condition. So, last Monday night, the same day she came home, we were back at the vet's office saying good-bye to her. :-( It was a sad bunch of days last week, but things are getting better now, and we still have one other cat to keep us company.

On the book front, I am still paddling toward the end of KISS OF CRIMSON, but now I have the added joy of copyedits for KISS OF MIDNIGHT to contend with as well. Because of a mailroom snafu that routed the originals to parts unknown and never to be seen again, I am working off a photocopy that arrived on Saturday. The finished edits are due next Monday. By this weekend, I shall be quite insane.

OH! But there is good news to report, too! In the midst of the copyedit madness, I also got cover art for KISS OF CRIMSON!!! It's so gorgeous--beyond what I'd hoped for, even. I absolutely LOVE it! And Jaci loves it, too, doncha, J? :-P I'll post the cover here soon. Any bets on how many times it's going to change between now and next week? LOL

So, that's my week, people. Hope everyone else is hanging in there!

lara does frankfurt . . .

2006-10-09T06:50:00.000-07:00

While I did not attend the Frankfurt Bookfair personally--God, I wish!--I received word from a friend of mine in Germany who was at the fair and reports that Bantam Dell's sales force was present and promoting KISS OF MIDNIGHT with a nice big poster and everything! How cool is that?! :-) I have no idea if translation rights will sell to Germany, but I'm crossing my fingers. Anyway, I thought that was such cool news that Lucan and Gabrielle were at the fair! All these things that go on behind the scenes and the author has no idea . . .

On the personal front, things are not so joyous. Our senior kitty (who was our junior kitty before our other elder died a year and a half ago) is having kidney failure. She had a pretty severe urinary tract infection this summer, and suddenly began dropping weight again. She's small to begin with--this adorable, sleek, solid black sweetheart, like the cat in the "Le Chat Noir" poster--but now she's down to a tiny 5.5 lbs. She spent the weekend in the animal hospital on IVs and getting nursing care, and I'm just sick to think that she's not going to fare well. She gets to come home this afternoon, so we'll see how she is. I hope she will regain some strength. Meanwhile, I'm anxiously awaiting the vet's report . . . . :-(

another day, another cover . . .

2006-10-06T06:40:00.000-07:00

My publisher is trying to mess with my head, I swear! Due to a rights technicality on the photograph Bantam Dell was planning to use for KISS OF MIDNIGHT, they had to go with a different image of the couple. This type of "oh shit" cover news generally instills panic in an author, for good reason in most cases.

---- But LOOK!! ----

Isn't my new cover (version 3.0 and counting) gorgeous now?!! To say I love the change is putting it mildly. Don't get me wrong, I could look at my original cover model Nathan Kamp all day long, but this couple photo is way hotter together! I love her expression of ecstasy and the shadowed suggestion that she's enjoying a seductive, vampiric kiss. Yummy!

So, tell me, y'all. How do you like my cover *this* week?

p.s. The really sucky thing about yet another change? Just last week I ordered promos with what I thought would be the final cover -- hundreds of color biz cards and magnets . . . now unusable, money wasted. Grrrr.

corrected cover . . .

2006-09-27T15:34:00.000-07:00

As you can see to your right over here, my publisher sent me the updated cover for (the title I'm still getting used to) KISS OF MIDNIGHT -- complete with cover quote from the fabulous New York Times Bestselling J.R. Ward!

Now the anticipation builds (at least, for me) on the arrival of the cover for KISS OF CRIMSON, which is currently in the works . . . as I barrel toward the finish line on the manuscript.

Hope everyone is having a great week so far. Thank you to all of the kind souls who friended me on myspace recently. I feel much better now that I'm not alone over there, even if being registered on myspace feels somehow squicky in and of itself . . . .

still here, still chained up . . .

2006-09-25T14:37:00.000-07:00

I made some good progress on KISS OF CRIMSON this weekend (which just went up on Amazon), but then today I ripped out a lot of what I wrote because it just . . . wasn't working. Played a little scene reshuffle today, changing the sequence of a couple of events and I think it's on a better track now. I hope.

I also contacted a web designer (thank you, Larissa and Jaci!) and I'm awaiting a reply about spiffing up my site and blog. Time to get that ball rolling.

In other news, I joined MySpace -- here's my page. It plays one of my favorite Collide songs, worth checking out for that alone! :-) Right now I am a friendless loser, except for that Tom guy, but I suspect he'll friend just about anyone. So please friend me. Please?

happy weekend . . .

2006-09-22T13:15:00.000-07:00

TGIF! Although Friday doesn't mean squat when the deadline is breathing down your neck. . . .

I heard from my editor the other day, after she read the first half of the monster-in-progress (aka, KISS OF CRIMSON). Quite relieved to hear her say with a smile in her voice, "Now, what exactly did you think was wrong with this so far?" :-) Rest assured, there are a few problems, since it's all first draft rough work, but at least she was happy overall. So, I'm forging ahead and nearly finished with the rest of it! Woo-hoo! Then I get to go back and tear the whole thing apart in revision (as I'm prone to do). Yippee!!

Blog-related: I've added a few new links on the sidebar, including one to my own website (d'oh!), which contains a teensy couple of lines about the series now. Sigh. I really need to get busy and hire a designer! Any suggestions/recommendations on that front, guys?

trailer envy . . .

2006-09-17T16:03:00.000-07:00

Since I'm still locked in my office and not able to come out and play, I thought I'd post links to a couple of sparkly web toys that I wish I had for myself. Click and enjoy!

Anne Frasier's PALE IMMORTAL book trailer

Colleen Gleason's THE REST FALLS AWAY book trailer

I wish I knew how to embed the vids into my blog, but alas, linkage will have to suffice for now.

officially rechristened . . .

2006-09-14T17:06:00.000-07:00

As of today, it looks like the new title, KISS OF MIDNIGHT is official. Now to see how long it takes Amazon, et al, to correct their listings! Hopefully before May 1st, that's all I ask.

In other news, I think I broke my blog yesterday when I permitted anonymous (non-blogspot) comments. I don't know if anyone else noticed it, but the topic appeared to be locked after the first one (hi, Jaci!) and I couldn't get in there to reply to save my life. So I shut off the anonymous permission a few minutes ago and "Viola!" (as my uncle likes to say) it worked again. I'm wondering if my template code isn't designed to handle anon comments . . . ? If I figure it out, I'll reopen the permission. Meanwhile, sorry for the annoyance!

kiss of something . . .

2006-09-13T17:56:00.000-07:00

Le sigh.

Looks like a title change looms on the horizon for KISS OF DARKNESS. It turns out that some little upstart writer by the name of (NYT Bestseller) Heather Graham just came out with a vampire book called KISS OF DARKNESS. Argh!! To be honest, I noticed this little snafu a while ago browsing Amazon, and after much cursing and forehead smacking, I just prayed like the dickens that it wasn't going to impact my book.

Well, it has. So, the new title sitting at 99% approval at Bantam Dell right now is KISS OF MIDNIGHT. What do you think? My series is called The Midnight Breed, so it kind of ties into that. Personally, I like KISS OF MIDNIGHT (it was my suggestion, after all) but it's just not . . . DARKNESS.

Look for a revised cover coming soon. Meanwhile, congrats to Heather Graham for snagging the fabu title, and for the recent NYT placement of her new book. Damn it.

Me? I'm off to console myself with 85% dark Lindt chocolate and a Red Bull, since my ankle is still chained to my desk on deadline. Unlike SOME PEOPLE who've wrapped up their first draft early and are happy to gloat about it.

book haul . . .

2006-09-05T14:33:00.000-07:00

Since I've been such a good girl, working diligently on my monster-in-progress, I decided a quick trip to the bookstore was in order. Truth be told, the kitchen pantry was bare except for oatmeal and crackers, neither of which are suitable nourishment for a writer on deadline. So before I was tempted to gnaw off my own arm, I had to shop. And then buy books. All right, and not in that order. Plus one book--THE book--required trips to three bookstores before I hit paydirt. Mission accomplished. Now I's happy. :)

Here's my haul:

IT SLEEPS IN ME by Kathleen O'Neal Gear (who is utterly new to me, and whose book I bought just based on the cover and intriguing title)

PALE IMMORTAL by Anne Frasier (whose blog I recently discovered and enjoy)

SLAVE TO SENSATION by Nalini Singh (new to me, and whose book I heard of via the "viral blogging" experiment begun by the Dear Author site)

THE C.I.G. TO WRITING EROTIC ROMANCE by Alison Kent (whose blog I love, and with whom I share a brilliant agent)

and the one you just know I was gonna mention, it being September 5th and all . . . LOVER AWAKENED by the Challa Goddess of the Black Dagger Brotherhood, J.R. Ward!!!

Now the big question is, when can I start reading? It's hard for me to read (fiction, that is) near deadline time because I generally need every writing hour I can get, and it's too easy to fritter away time immersing myself in someone else's world, but dang, the BDB book is tempting. Must. Resist. Zsadist.

Oh, hell. Maybe just a teensy peek . . . .

deadline hell . . .

2006-09-03T18:53:00.000-07:00

Eureka! I see light at the end of the tunnel as I near the final few weeks of my deadline for KISS OF CRIMSON, the second book of my Midnight Breed series. I know there will be revisions on the horizon once I'm finished with the draft (my own fixes, and, no doubt, a few from my editor), but that's all right. I am one of those bizarre creatures who actually likes revising a manuscript, as noted in an earlier post to this blog. For now, though, I'm just trying to get all of the story down on paper and hoping it comes close to the way I envision it in my head.

Hopefully I'll be coming up for air soon . . . .

from the back cover . . .

2006-08-17T20:46:00.000-07:00

So, the FedEx guy came to my house the other day, bearing gifts from BantamDell--the full cover art for KISS OF DARKNESS! I will try to upload the image in a later edit to this post, but in the meantime, here is the back cover text:

INSATIABLE DESIRE. ENDLESS SEDUCTION.
ONE TOUCH IS JUST THE BEGINNING.

He watches her from across the crowded dance club, a sensual black-haired stranger who stirs Gabrielle Maxwell's deepest fantasies. But nothing about this night--or this man--is what it seems. For when Gabrielle witnesses a murder outside the club, reality shifts into something dark and deadly. In that shattering instant she is thrust into a realm she never knew existed--a realm where vampires stalk the shadows and a blood war is set to ignite.

Lucan Thorne despises the violence carried out by his lawless brethren. A vampire himself, Lucan is a Breed warrior, sworn to protect his kind--and the unwitting humans existing alongside them--from the mounting threat of the Rogues. Lucan cannot risk binding himself to a mortal woman, but when Gabrielle is targeted by his enemies, he has no choice but to bring her into the dark underworld he commands.

Here, in the arms of the Breed's formidable leader, Gabrielle will confront an extraordinary destiny of danger, seduction, and the darkest pleasures of all . . . .

What do you think? Hope it whets your appetite for my cadre of dark, dangerous anti-heroes and the women who (eventually) bring them to their knees!

UPDATE: Excerpt available at my website! CLICK HERE to read the prologue and first chapter. Also, please note the book's title has changed to KISS OF MIDNIGHT.

hurry up and wait . . .

2006-07-25T08:24:00.000-07:00

Er, yeah. You know how I said that KISS OF DARKNESS was coming out February 2007? Well, there's been a slight change in schedule. My editor called last week to let me know that my release date has been bumped out to May 1, 2007. Yep, May. That's like, about a YEAR from now. Sigh...

But the really cool news is that I'm getting bumped because Bantam Dell wants to release the second book, KISS OF CRIMSON, in June!! That means back-to-back releases next summer! Woo hoo!!

we have quotage . . .

2006-07-14T03:33:00.000-07:00

The brilliant, and immensely talented J.R. Ward is also about as generous and supportive as they come. Check out the shiny new quote she just gave KISS OF DARKNESS:

"Evocative, enticing, erotic . . . Enter Lara Adrian's vampire world and be enchanted!" --J.R. Ward, USA Today Bestselling Author

I couldn't be more thrilled to have her seal of approval on my sexy necksuckers. Thanks, J.R.!!

feast your eyes . . .

2006-07-05T08:10:00.000-07:00

Success! I managed to post the preliminary cover for KISS OF DARKNESS over on the sidebar. It's a scan of a copy, and not even a good scan at that (those sloppy edges -- eeesh!) but once I get the actual image file or cover flat from B/D, I will replace my feeble attempt with the real deal.

As for me, I have a copy of this cover enlarged and posted on my office wall, another cut to size and wrapped around someone else's book, which is propped up on my desk to serve as inspiration and a reminder that "Yes, Virginia, this is really going to be a book one day!", and I also have a miniature of the cover inserted into a photo keychain where other (did someone say sane?) people might display pix of their kids. To date, I have not resorted to sleeping with the cover under my pillow, but I'm making no promises!

news from the dark side . . .

2006-07-04T13:26:00.000-07:00

Still think I hate Blogger, but here goes nothing. I've put the new (old) template back online, and hope it will stick this time. Still working on reconstructing all my original links. Meanwhile, I'm looking into website/blog designers, with the plan being that in a few months I'll have shiny new pages here and at LaraAdrian.com.

So, the news! I finished revisions on KISS OF DARKNESS a while ago (tried to post about that, last month actually, but Blogger ate it). I went crazy on changes--couldn't help myself!--and ended up rewriting a bunch of scenes to better flesh out the story world and add texture and layers to the characters. I was thrilled to get the word back from my BantamDell editor that not only were the revisions acceptable, but they have "taken the book to a whole new level!" Wowza!! I was really just hoping everything still made sense after I got done hacking and slashing and reanimating, so a big thumbs-up from my editor was a huge relief.

Adding to the excitement of sending my book into the production pipeline, and being added to the BantamDell website, I also recently received . . . tah-dah! COVER ART!! OMG. It's sensual and mysterious, with beautiful colors and a really cool dual image concept (there's probably an actual publishing term to describe when one half of the cover is one image, and the other half is another, yes?). Anyway, it's gorgeous! And just as soon as I master the art of posting images here, I'll give a sneak peek.

The last newsy item is that KISS OF DARKNESS has sold to Spain!!! I don't have a lot of detail on this early foreign rights sale, but it's possible that the Spanish translation will be published sometime in 2008. How cool is that?! Muchas gracias a Espana!

Lots and lots of things to report, but I think that's it for now.

Happy Independence Day to everyone in the USA, and to those courageous souls serving in our military abroad!

blogger, you suck . . .

2006-05-02T17:30:00.000-07:00

A couple of weeks ago, I revamped this blog with a shiny new template that I quite liked. Today, for some unknown reason, it appears that Blogger ate my template. Not sure why, but Blogger is on my shit list until I find the time to redo all of my blog links and maybe score a different template. For now, please forgive the basic black design and overall lack of flair. Be back to fix this mess soon.

making it all fit . . .

2006-04-27T05:49:00.000-07:00

I'm almost finished with revisions for KISS OF DARKNESS, and I gotta say, I think I went a little . . . well, nuts, on them. My editor's primary suggestions were to delve deeper into the world-building, and shed a bit more light on the main characters. Hopefully, when all is said and done, I've accomplished that, but in the process, I have come up with a lot of interesting detail that I'm having the devil of a time working into the text.

I'm not a big fan of frequent flashbacks or "Well, Susie, as you know . . . " info dumps (then again, is anyone?), even when it comes to detail that is necessary to the story or the basic understanding of the characters. I use both devices very sparingly as last resorts, and only after much forehead banging frustration in trying to jimmy the info in through other means. It is very tempting to think about a glossary for this series--not so much in terms of made-up language or alternate worlds that require maps and such, but rather as a quick reference for some of the history and rules of my Midnight Breed story world.

Some authors have made brilliant use of glossaries in their work (coming first to mind, JR Ward in her excellent Black Dagger Brotherhood series). Kresley Cole put her interesting glossary--really, it's more of a story legend and lore--in the back of her latest book, as did Kinley MacGregor in her Lords of Avalon kick-off title. I think each of these examples are helpful, and add to the enjoyment and mystique of the book. But I've also run across other attempts, which, instead of hooking my interest in the story or its unique and multi-layered world, leave me skeptical that I'll be able to follow the text without constantly referencing the glossary to figure out what's going on and who's who.

So, what to do? I'm not sure yet. For now, it's back to banging my head on the keyboard, in the hopes that I'll figure it out.

tell me more . . .

2006-03-17T05:50:00.000-08:00

So, along with a publication date, I now also have revisions for KISS OF DARKNESS. Fortunately, they are revisions of the "I want to know more" variety, which I have to say, is a relief. I tend to write lean first drafts, and part of the fun of writing (for me, anyway) is layering in more complexity and depth once the entire story is down on paper. Anyway, feeling good about my (brilliant) editor's suggestions, and I am eager to see the marked-up manuscript, which should be arriving any day now.

dreams made flesh . . .

2006-03-16T06:29:00.000-08:00

Or, if you will . . . dreams made paper, ink, and glue.

I've just gotten word that KISS OF DARKNESS, the first title in my Midnight Breed vampire series has been put on the Bantam/Dell publication schedule! It's slated for release February 2007, and the plan is to publish the next two novels in Summer and Fall of 2007. Exciting!

Of course, there remains the tiny detail of writing the next two books . . . .

Progress reports to follow in future posts. Meanwhile, welcome to my blog!