In two weeks my first ebook in two years will be released by Ellora’s Cave.  It’s called IN THE COMPANY OF WOLVES and it is a rewrite of my very first real book.  

I originally wrote this in 2003 and the main character Red was my first foray into kick-assedness.  Red really was my first tough as nails heroine that liked to fight and f*&^, equally.  She didn’t give a rat’s ass about anything else.   This book, published as an ebook in 2004, also gave me my first real fan.  *Hi Claudia*  *waving madly*  And I started to realize that maybe just maybe I could make a real go at this writing gig.  That maybe someone out there actually likes the same types of books and stories I like. 

So, when I got the rights back to this book, I knew I had to get it back out there.  I knew its time had come around again.  That I needed to go back to the beginning and look at why I wanted to be a writer in the first place.  And what my first love really was.  Kick-assedness.  There is no doubt about it. 

Here’s the blurb:

Red, a hard bodied, steel hearted bounty hunter, cares about only one thing—hunting and killing the man that murdered her grandmother in front of her when she was only twelve.  Every bounty brings her closer to finding the Wolf’s lair.  But when he saves her from an assassination attempt, she discovers she may not want him dead after all.

In the Wolf’s arms, she discovers a world of unparalleled craving.  He’s the first man that’s ever made her feel lusty and wanton, abandoning all thought and reason to be in his bed.  With his hard body and punishing kisses, he pushes her beyond her physical and emotional limits to a passion-filled partnership built on trust, desire, and love.  Three things she’s never allowed herself to experience in over seven years.  But with the Wolf, it’s all she’s ever desired.

This will be available on Friday, February 13th at Ellora’s Cave.  If you want to read an excerpt, go here.

Woot!  It’s 2009.  That both freaks me out and exhiliarates me.  Time goes by way too fast.  But I’m excited for what 2009 will bring me, especially career wise.  I’m heading on a different trajectory and couldn’t be more thrilled. 

WHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!  And away we go!

I’m not sure what 2008 taught me.  Most likely the realization that I want something else from my career.  I also learned don’t sweat the small stuff…and its all small stuff.  I also learned to fall in love with my stories again.  And that writing is a wonderful magical thing…or at least it should be.

Here are some things that happened to me in 2008.

1. signed with the bestest agent in the world - Laura Bradford

2. received a RT Reviewer’s Choice Award for BEST NOCTURNE - with Veiled Truth

3. found a new genre I truly love - YA

4. got serious about my health and joined a gym, now I work out at least 3 times a week, feels fantastic!

5. cleaned my room and tossed a lot of old stuff out - this was rejuvenating and I feel cleansed of a lot of old stuff that was weighing me down

6. my special girl turned 10 - HOLY CRAP!  My baby is 10!!!!!!!  I’m oooooooooooold

Now, I don’t make resolutions, because I usually don’t make them anyway, but I do set goals.   And I’ve set them high for 2009.  Because I can FEEL amazing things coming for me.  

I hope there are amazing things coming for you as well!  May 2009 be a year full of peace, love, and understanding.

It’s that time of the year again, when people start talking about the best of 2008. 

I read some awesome books this year.   Read some new books from favorites and discovered YA.  And by the looks of my wishlist and the books coming out from the ladies here at the BB, 2009 is going to be a stellar year for great books.

Here’s a short list of some of my favorites this year: (in no particular order)

WANDERLUST – Ann Aguirre - scifi

UNDERCOVER – Lauren Dane - futuristic

THE DEVOURING – Simon Holt – YA

SISTERHOOD OF THE TRAVELING PANTS – Ann Brashears – YA

HIDDEN – Eve Kenin – futuristic

DEAD REIGN – TA Pratt – urban fantasy

UNQUIET DREAMS – Mark del Franco – urban fantasy

IRON KISSED – Patricia Briggs – UF

ONE FOOT IN THE GRAVE – Jeaniene Frost – UF

UNLEASHED – Christopher Reisz – YA

UGLIES – Scott Westerfeld – YA

PATHS NOT TAKEN – Simon Green – UF

SHARPER THAN A SERPENT’S TOOTH – Simon Green – UF

HELL TO PAY – Simon Green – UF

MIDNIGHTERS #1 – Scott Westerfeld – YA

FEAST OF FOOLS – Rachel Caine – YA

THE OUTLAW DEMON WAILS – Kim Harrison – YA

Our of all the books I’ve read in 2008, there were only maybe six or seven that I couldn’t finish for one reason or another. 

My new year book reading resolutions are: 1. read more of the BB books, these ladies are so talented I know I’m missing some major gems  2. try and step outside my comfort zone and read other genres  3. talk about the books I love more, get the word out about great books to more people

Did you read any stand out books in 2008?  Do you have any new year reading resolutions?

This will be my last post before the holiday and the new year… so HAPPY HOLIDAYS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!

First of all, the lovely Laura Bradford has crit for three chapters and a synopsis up for auction for the Jo Leigh auction! Check it out! I can say firsthand that Laura is wonderful with editorial and her eye has made all my books better.

I’ve also got something up for auction - all of my Chase Brothers books and all my Witches Knot books - all in print and all signed and personalized.

Fellow Bradford Buncher Cynthia Eden has a manuscript critique up for auction! ALSO autographed copies of Hotter After Midnight, When He Was Bad, Everlasting Bad Boys, Midnight Sins

Ann Aguirre offers up a mentoring opportunity: a full manuscript (romance / fantasy (which includes UF) / SF) critique and help with query letter for same manuscript, to be submitted to Ann within 6 months of auction. and ALSO - autographed copies of Grimspace and Wanderlust

Vivi Anna offers copies of HELL KAT and INFERNO

Denise Agnew offers a copy of Meant To Be

For those unfamiliar with the story - Jo Leigh - an author whose fabulous romances have made many a day better - lost her husband this year and the proceeds of the auction will go to paying the medical bills.

A full listing of the auction items can be viewed here

Wow, I’m really late posting this. In my defense…well, a) I’m lazy b) I’m forgetful c) I had to take the girl to her orthodondist to get molds down for her teeth, it’s braces time d) I got nothing to talk about

Movies. We can talk about those…

There are a few I’m eagerly waiting for in 09.

THE WATCHMEN
HARRY POTTER AND THE HALF BLOOD PRINCE
STAR TREK

I watched new trailers for all three of these today. I cannot wait!!

The last movie I watched in a threatre was really good…ROCKNROLLA, it was a typical Guy Ritchie film which I love. I own both Lock, Stock, and Two Smokin Barrels, and Snatch, both are awesome movies. This one was just as good and it had Gerard Butler in it. So you know, it was doubly good. My favorite part of the movie was the interaction between Gerard’s character One-Two and his best mate, Handsome Bob…. LOL, OMG, it’s soooooooo funny.

Anything you’re looking forward to?

************WINNER OF MICHELE’S FAB PRIZE PACK IS****************

MARGAY

Please email me with your contact info, so I can forward it on to Michele.  vivi@vivianna.net

I’ve had the pleasure of knowing Michele for I guess over a year now. But I’ve known her work for much much longer. Some of my favorite fantasy books are hers…Seraphim, Gossamer, and Rhiana, are still much loved and re-read in my house. So when I got to hang out with Michele when the Nocturne line first opened, I totally jumped at the opportunity. And then last year, she emailed me and asked if I wanted to do a project with her. Well, hell, you know I leaped at that. So we did WINTER KISSED together, and now well, we have a few other things on the go… but that’s a secret…

It’s my pleasure to introduce Michele Hauf…

Chestnuts roasting on an open fire. Jack Frost nipping at your…

Hmm… Now where exactly would I like to imagine a sexy six-foot-plus, silver-haired winter god nipping at my body? His initial touch may be surprisingly cool, but trust me, he takes on human body heat fast. And he’s really curious about warm things, and making them even warmer.

That’s Jal Frosti for you, my latest hero of “A Kiss Of Frost”, a short story in the WINTER KISSED collection (also featuring Vivi Anna’s awesome “Icebound”).

I wanted to do a different hero from the dark, brooding, blood-sucking vampires I’d done so far for Nocturne, and I love winter, so it was easy enough to decide on a Jack Frost type of character. He’s a shapeshifter. He is usually made of frost but can assume human shape and form after he
touches warm mortal flesh. And his touch can be deadly (he is an assassin, after all).

As for the heroine, I think she’s a bit like me (except I gave up running around in my underthings in twenty degree weather decades ago). A self-styled snowflakologist, the heroine photographs snowflakes. Yeah, she really likes snow. (So what if I carry a magnifying glass around with me to look at snowflakes. What’s so odd about that? Hey, you live in MN all your life, snow either drives you mad or you learn to embrace it.)

So combine a frost god and a snowflake zealot and what do you get? Well, it’s a lot more steamy than you might imagine. To start the season out right, and read all about my snow obsession, start a crackling fire, snuggle into your favorite chenille blanket with a cup of hot chocolate and check out WINTER KISSED!

So it’s coming, it’s inevitable: Winter. What do you think? Love it? Hate it? Tolerate it? Have you ever looked at a snowflake under a magnifying glass? It’s so cool!

For giveaway I have a copy of WINTER KISSED, some snowflakes chocolates and a rhinestone snowflake necklace to one lucky commentor!!

Michele

&^% I wrote a long post and it vanished on me…

So here we go again. Well, I’m late with this blog post. I’ve been late with lots of stuff lately, mainly blog posts, and all my mailings of books and contest prizes…its my mindset…

So, because I’m a lazy bugger, I’m going to blog about my book order I made and will hopefully have in the next couple of days…lots of awesome books…

1. the whole Psy-Changeling series by Nalini Singh (courtesy of my BFF)
2. Dead Reign - by TA Pratt - book 3 in the Marla Mason sorcerer series - awesome series
3. Hell to Pay - by Simon Green - book 7 in the Nightside series - this series is like crack, I can’t get enough
4. Soulless - by Christopher Golden - horror YA - sounds really spooky
5. The Devouring - by Simon Holt - paranormal YA - the cover rocks, I had to buy it
6. Marked - by PC and Kristen Cast - paranormal YA- love me some PC
7. Midnighters - by Scott Westerfield - paranormal YA - loved his Uglies series

As you can see I’m buying and reading a lot of YA. I love reading YA, and I think its because I have no expectations. I’m surprised every time I read one. I’ve liked every book I’ve read so far this year, every one. Some more than others, but not once have I been disappointed. They are all so fresh and original and I am utterly enthralled with the stories. There are no overused tropes and contrite plot threads used over and over and over again, that I’ve been seeing lately in other genres.

Do you read YA? Why? What is it about the books that seem so fresh?

Are you going to see the movie Twilight? Did you read the book?

I wanted to write a nice upbeat positive post…but frankly, I just can’t keep still and focus on doing that. I’m restless. Really really restless. It’s so bad that I can’t even find anything to read that can hold my interest for very long. I have a big TBR pile and I keep going through it, picking this up and then that, reading a couple of pages, then putting it down and picking up another. I think I’m burned out from paranormal romance and most urban fantasies. I can’t find any I like.

The last few books I’ve loved have been variations of those genres, but there’s been something about each that resonated to me, there was something really different about them all.

Sharper than A Serpent’s Tooth by Simon Green - well if you’ve ever read Simon Green you know what I’m talking about. This series is soooooooo crazy sooooooooo out there, that I’m constantly surprised with what happens. Plus its extremely violent and fast paced. Hmm, I wonder what that says about me.

Hidden by Eve Kenin - I LOVED LOVED the first book in the series Driven. I thought it was innovative and evocative, and so different from what was being published, and this second book is no different. I LOVED LOVED LOVED this one as well. The only thing that would have made it brilliant for me, is if someone died at the end. Do you see my problem?

Wanderlust by Ann Aguirre - Well, what can I say about Ann’s books? Such good stuff. Different, and unique and so well executed. Fast paced with some tough characters that are real and raw and go through real and raw things. Hmm, I see a pattern here.

Maybe I should dive back into horror again. I love me some horror books. But yet again, I am having problems finding any that hold my interest for long. I want something meaty and raw and real. I don’t want flowers and hearts and happy endings. I want real life, all bloody and full of misery and pain.

I want a book that rips me to shreds but then can stitch me back up again at the end. Anyone have any suggestions? I’m dying here. Throw me a life perserver!

Love love me some movies. I could watch movies all day. And have on many many occasions. I used to work for a movie theatre and let me tell you going to movies all day for free, ROCKED!

There some really cool movies coming out soon. And I’m such a nerd in some cases that I will write down the opening day of some on my calendar. I don’t necessarily go on that day, I hate crowds, but I will find an afternoon somewhere to go see it.

I like to go to the movies on my own. I always have. I enjoy them better that way. I get my box of Reece’s Pieces, small iced tea, or bottle of water, sometimes a package of red licorice, and I’m good to go. I find a seat away from everyone else, in a row fairly close to the screen. And I’m in heaven.

There are some movies coming out soon that I’m dying to see.

October:
RocknRolla - I love Guy Richie films, Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels is one of my favorite films, plus Gerard Butler is in this one.
Max Payne - Mark Wahlberg shooting stuff up with a killer soundtrack based on a graphic novel, um, it can’t better than that

November:
Quantam of Solace - hunky Daniel Craig as 007. Need I say more?
Twilight - Stephanie Meyer’s phenom book come to life
The Road - also based on a book, an Ophra book no less, starring Viggo. Can’t wait for this one.

December:
The Day the Earth Stood Still - a remake, starring Keanu Reeves, I don’t know, there’s just something about Keanu I like

And the one I’ve been waiting for…for months and months…

March of 2009:
The Watchmen - based on an awesome graphic novel written in the 80’s. CAN’T FRAKKING WAIT!

Here’s the trailer for you to enjoy.

Any movies you’re looking foward to?

What is one of the things I like the most about this industry? The life-long friends I’ve made.

Hands down, the people I’ve met over the past few years are the people I know will be with me for the rest of my days. I have to admit, I don’t have many friends outside of this industry. I don’t think many people get me, you know? Why I prefer to stay at home, locked in my room, talking to myself… tee-hee

I love the people I’ve met, including of course, the wonderful ladies on this blog. All of them rock out loud! I’ve also had the privelege to work with some awesome authors…like this lady…Michele Hauf.

I was tickled when M contacted me and asked if I wanted to do a book with her. I loved writing my story ICE BOUND for this holiday anthology that comes out in November.

Also in November, I have this anthology coming out, that I wrote with my Allure Author friends. Six women that I’ve known and adored for the past couple years now. This is our second book together, and you better believe it won’t be our last.

And one day in the near future, you will see a project, or two, or three, that I’ll have written with my BFF, Kimberly Kaye Terry. Can you imagine what that will end up like?? Wowsa. I’m not sure the publishing world is ready for that!!!

Do y’all like anthologies? How about duets? Or even book series that each book is written by different authors? One of my favorites is the Crimson City series from Dorchester. That’s how I discovered, Liz Maverick, Patti O’Shea, and Marjorie Lui.