Thanks for everyone that commented on my post. Because everyone rocks so much, I’m giving everyone that commented on that thread a download of my Nocturne BITE, Mahina’s Storm.

Juliana
Denise
Tina B
Pam P
Margay
Cheryl M
Crystal GB
Jane

Please email me at vivi@vivianna.net, and I will send you the coupon code you need to download the BITE.

Well, I feel like a major dork. I totally forgot to blog today. My brain has been in a fog with stuff that is coming up. I just got edits for my next Nocturne, which is tentatively scheduled for April 2009, I have a book and a BITE coming out in October that I need to promote, and a book and an anthology coming out in November that I need to start to get to reviewers.

Plus this week was the first week of homeschooling, and I’m always a little wingy during the first few weeks, trying to figure out schedules and getting books and making sure that the children are actually going to learn something.

So, because I am brain dead, I will discuss briefly some of the awesome books I’ve read lately and the books on my TBR pile.

Books I’ve Read:

One Foot in the Grave - Jeaniene Frost.
A whole lot of awesome in this book. I loved it, maybe even a wee bit more, than the first one. Cat and Bones are an awesome couple.

Wicked Game - Jeri Smith-Ready
Full of cool and wicked. I was hooked on page 1 and I didn’t stop until I was done. I loved everything about this story. Jeri rocks!

City of Bones - Cassandra Clare
I’m almost done this one…I am loving it. It’s YA and I’m finding that a lot of the books I’m digging are in this genre. I feel like so much more is done in this genre, more lines are crossed, and maybe it’s because I have no expectations except for a good story. This one does not dissapoint and I will definitely be picking up City of Ashes

Books on my TBR pile

Gale Force - Rachel Caine - book 7 in my favorite series
Feast of Fools - Rachel Caine - book 4 in her Morganville Vampires YA series
Cry Wolf - Patricia Briggs
Already Dead - Charlie Huston

And I know that my BFF Kim, has sent me Nalini Singh’s Psy series, all of them, a belated birthday present, so I have those to look forward to.

So because I’m late….how about a contest???

Tell me what books are on your TBR pile, and I will enter you in 1 of 5 chances to win a download of my October Nocturne BITE, Mahina’s Storm. I will pick the winners on Sunday and post them here.

I’m very excited to get my first review for VEILED TRUTH and it’s a gooooooood one! I’m thrilled that it’s been given an RT TOP PICK for October.

Here’s the review:
A police detective in Necropolis, witch Lyra Magice works with Theron LeNoir, half-witch/half-vampire, to foil a demon’s plot to take power within the city. Not to be overshadowed by the supernatural storyline of Veiled Truth (41/2), the relationship between Lyra and Theron is full of chemistry. Vivi Anna’s writing is wonderfully descriptive, and the plot is riveting. This book will definitely hold readers’ attention.. - RT

Woot!! My first TOP PICK, and hopefully one of many.

I’m really excited about this book. It’s book three in the Valorian Chronicles and it’s Lyra’s story. I love her character. She’s the snarky one on the team. She’s also fiery and doesn’t take shit from anyone.

Here’s a little snippet:

When Theron entered the room and saw Lyra bent over his book, a look of fierce concentration on her face, his heart actually fluttered. The reaction surprised him. Most of his reactions to women were in lower places on his anatomy. But there was something about her that was unique. He had noticed before, and he was certainly noticing it now.

It wasn’t that she was gorgeous, because she wasn’t. Certainly, she had some redeeming qualities—big, brown, soulful eyes; wide, inviting mouth; a petite, nubile body—but it was something more than all those things. A quality that transcended physical beauty. A thing almost ethereal in nature.

Standing now, her face stern, and her hands on her hips, Lyra looked like a diminutive Amazon goddess.

Caine remained impassive, his brow cocked; regarding Theron as if he was nothing. Then he looked at the baron. “Are you taking this man’s allegations seriously?”

“Are you calling me a liar, monsieur?” Theron replied.

“I’m sorry but I find it hard to believe that Lyra, who has more integrity than most of us at the lab, would steal anything.”

“Your investigator came into my home, bound me with a sophomoric binding spell at best, and took my book without permission. If that is not theft, then what is it?”

“It was not sophomoric,” she grated out between clenched teeth.

Everyone looked over at her.

It made Theron chuckle to see the tick at the little witch’s jaw. Magic surged out of her like a suddenly sparking electrical wire. He could feel it all around him. It surprised him at how intense it was. She possessed power, this woman. More than he suspected she even realized.

“Lyra, is what this man saying true?”

“No. Not really.”

“Is it no, or not really?”

She shrugged. “It’s complicated.”

Laal huffed, “Well, someone had better start explaining because I’m very close to firing someone.”
Hands clenched into fists, Lyra glared at the baron and took a step toward him like an advancing lioness. Theron swore he saw her eyes spark with flames. “You can’t fire me because of this.”

“I most certainly can.”

Caine put his hand up to interpose. “No one is getting fired. I’m sure there is a logical explanation for all of this. Isn’t there, Lyra?”

Hands still fisted, she halted her progression toward the baron and turned her fiery gaze onto Theron. “If this stubborn jerk hadn’t refused to help with the translation, I wouldn’t have done anything so…so drastic.”

His body started to sweat from her heated gaze. Oh, she was a firecracker indeed this witch. If he had more time in Necropolis, he would certainly enjoy battling with her. He wondered if their battles would translate into something more passionate. Something they could take to a private venue, like his hotel room.

And because I’m in such a good mood, I want to give something away…so anyone that comments will have their name dropped in a hat for a chance to win a download of my October NOCTURNE BITE, Stormchaser. This novella is Captain Mahina Garner’s story. I loved writing her character too. She’s such an alpha.

I apologize for being so late with my post. I was out and about with the kiddo doing lots of kiddo things that have made me exhausted.

My post pretty much sucks. I got nothing. Except for more cover goodness…

Which I can’t seem to insert, for some friggin’ stupid reason that has probably everything to do with how untechsavvy I am. Bah!! I will figure it out and post it somehow! Or I’ll post a link where you can find it.

Yeah! I figured it out!!!!!!!!!!! Ain’t it pretty??? This comes out in November. My story is called ICE BOUND.

I’ve been so lucky lately with my book purchases.   The last five books I’ve picked up have all been fantastic reads.  And the sixth one I’m reading right now, is going to be the same.  Awesome.

1. The Outlaw Demon Wails - Kim Harrison This book rocked.   Ms. Harrison is right now the only author I will buy in hardcover.  Her stories are worth every penny I spend.  She has the uncanny ability to completely submerse me in her work.  If or when I grow up, I want to be able to write like her.

2. Kitty Goes to Washington - Carrie Vaughn  I’m late coming into this series, but it’s kinda cool cuz I can gobble up all the books in one sitting.  I love Kitty as a heroine.  She is different from most heroines in UF.   She’s got a vulnerable side to her and she’s unsure of herself.   And I like that about her.   For a werewolf she’s more human than the humans.  Great book!  Loved it!

3. The Touch of Twilight - Vicki Pettersson The third in the Zodiac books does not disappoint.  Packed full of action and twists and turns and a bittersweet ending, this book exceeded my expectations.  I love Vicki’s writing.  It is razor sharp and just gets better with each book.  Fantastic read!

4. Uglies - Scott Westerfield I’ve been reading some more YA books.  Trying out different writers.  I really like the start to this series.  It’s different, not like the other paranormal books out there about vampires or werewolves or demons.  This book doesn’t have any of those present.  It takes place in a dystopian type future and is about one girl’s tragic choice.  I loved this book.  It spoke to me on many levels.  I liked it so much, I have the second book Pretties on my TBR pile.

5. Valiant - Holly BlackThis is the second book in her fae series, the first being Tithe.  Both books are raw and harsh.  And I think that’s what I liked about them.  Definitely not for the faint of heart.  There some real teenage stuff in here, there is no skirting the issues, even if both books are about the fae that live among us.  Not the cute faeries of Disney, but sometimes vicious, cold, and murderous beings that don’t care too much about mankind.  Fantastic book.  I’m looking forward to reading Ironside.

And the sixth book I’m currently reading is Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr.  It’s really good.  The writing is awesome.  She really knows how to tell a tale.  The next series I might tackle is the Twilight books.  I want to know what the hype is about.   But sometimes the hype ruins the reading experience for me.  I usually wait till it dies down or goes away before I indulge.  Like the Harry Potter series.  I still haven’t read them.  I have all the books and they are waiting for me, but I’m still not quite ready to read them.

How about you, does hype bother you?  Do you cater to it, or abhor it?

Oh, and you HAVE TO CHECK THIS OUT.  Especially if you are a Joss Whedon, Nathan Fillion, or Neil Patrick Harris fan.   Dr. Horrible’s Sing-a-long Blog…it’s priceless!

I’m totally being lazy and copying this meme. 

Six odd random things about me that you probably didn’t want to know…

1. I’m the most disorganized person ever…yet I’m extremely rooted in routine.  I’m not sure how that works, but somehow it does.  So when someone messes with my mess or bumps me out of routine I get very irritated.  Hmm, OCD much???

2. When I was in high school, I had a big blue mohawk and sometimes my English teacher couldn’t teach because I was too distracting.  (I sat at the front of the class eagerly, so he would make me move to the back)

3. I love teen movies.  I can’t get enough of them.  It’s probably because I don’t want to grow up.  Some favorites: Superbad, The Faculty, The Craft, Cursed, Ten Things I Hate About You

4. I started a writing course by correspondence, but only ever finished one assignment before I sold my first short story to Playgirl magazine.  Needless to say I never finished that course.

5. I wrote screenplays before I ever wrote a novel or even a novella.  I’ve written seven and have been close to selling twice.   It was extremely heartbreaking so I decided to write books instead.   I still have aspirations to screenwrite.   My lifelong dream is to win an Oscar for best original screenplay.

6. When I saw WANTED in the theatre on Sunday, I got turned on while watching the part where Wesley completely innihilates his enemies.  Lots of gunplay and blood.   I thought it was one of the sexiest movies I’ve seen in a long time.  Hmm, I wonder what that says about me???

I have a new cover.  I’m so excited about this one.  It’s the second anthology that I’ve been in with my writerly friends the Allure Authors.

Isn’t it purdy??  I love it.  Avon has done an amazing job of branding our covers. 

ALLURING TALES II: HOT HOLIDAY NIGHTS releases November 2008.

What is your most wicked fantasy?

Seven steamy tales that are sure to heat up the holidays from the authors of the immensely successful Alluring Tales: Awaken the Fantasy. Each of these authors uniquely brings something special to her story–perhaps a bit of paranormal, or humor, or fantasy. And together they have created one of Avon Red’s most popular anthologies.

If you haven’t read the first one, it’s on sale for $3.99 at Barnes and Noble online.

Do you read anthologies?  What have been some of your favorites?  What would be your dream anthology?

Mine would be one with:  Kim Harrison, Rachel Caine, Patricia Briggs, Rachel Vincent, and Vicki Pettersson

*****WINNERS******  I had so many wonderful comments, I had to pick two names.  So drum roll please….   Jolene, and JC, you’ve won any book from my backlist.  Please email me at vivi@vivianna.net to claim your prize.   Let me know which book you want!

I’m off to the zoo today with the kidlet for a fun filled adventure.   I love the zoo.  When I was in my early twenties and lived downtown I used to go to the zoo, especially in the summer, almost every day and watch certain animals.  They always filled me with a sense of peace.  I need some of that today.

My awesome web diva Frauke always does up these amazing interactive excerpt booklets for me for my Valorian Chronicles website.  I love them.  She’s so freakin’ talented.

So just yesterday she completed one for my upcoming Nocturne VEILED TRUTH.   Check it out!  It is so cool.

So in the event, I think I will give away some books.   Let me know what you like about the excerpt, whether it’s words or the pictures, I will toss your name in a hate for a chance to win one of my books–Hell Kat, Inferno, Blood Secrets, Dark Lies.  I will pic a winner tomorrow.

Have you seen the trailer for Joss Whedon’s new show DOLLHOUSE?  Damn!  It’s fantastic.  I CAN NOT WAIT FOR THIS.   It has the yummy Tahmoh Penikett in it.  I puffy heart him!

Check it out.  Dollhouse Trailer

It just might be my replacement Moonlight, which I am still upset that they canceled.  I mean how can a show win a Golden Globe award for best new show and then get canceled??  I mean.  Hello???  Think much?  And please you just have to place Alex O’Loughlin in a room and have him smile and its worth it.

Oh and I had a great dream about Jensen Ackles last night.  He asked me what sexual torture was…*shakes head* poor Jensen, he just had to ask. 

Well its that time of the year again…royalty statement time.  You’d think I’d be happy for this time, but as it is, I’m not.  Why?  Because I don’t really truly want to see how many books I’ve sold.  I want to remain in this euphoric fog of delusion that I am selling my ass off.

When the truth is, I have no real clue if I am.

On one of my publisher’s loops we are talking about our statements and sharing numbers.  I think this is fantastic and will help all of us in the end, but I have a sense of trepidation every time I open an email from one of the members and see their numbers.  Do I really want to know that Author X is selling more than me?  Um, not really.  It is a huge blow to the ego.

On the other hand it really puts this business in perspective.  And really that’s what this authorly thing is, a business, a career.  And any information, whether it destroys me or not, is good to have to help me advance forward or take a different path.

But still it hurts like hell!

After comparing numbers it makes me wonder what really sells a book.  What factors go into one book doing better than another?  Let’s say they are equally well written and in the same genre…what makes one book sell more than the other?

Cover art - a better more evocative cover sometimes can give a book an edge

Subject matter - maybe one book is about vampires and the other about witches, maybe vampires are selling better

Publisher promotion - certainly that helps, getting that book and author’s name out to more people

Higher print run - goes with publisher promotion, a higher print run sometimes can mean the publisher has confidence that book will sell more in more places

Author promotion - maybe the author is a master at self-promotion

Positive word of mouth - I think this is one of the most powerful forms of promotion and can make a book

What say you?  Any ideas?