RELEASE DAY IS ALMOST HERE!!

Immortal Kiss is finally available...TOMORROW!

I will be blogging at a few different places tomorrow and I hope you'll join me there to help me celebrate release day!

Drop by the Pleasure Garden, of course, for our release day party!

But I'll also be over at Simply Romance Reviews, talking about what it's like Living With Immortals :)

Also, I'm the featured author at Manic Readers, so go have a look at my author page, read my new interview and watch my trailer for the Immortals series.

Hopefully I'll see you around! I'm so excited and I want to share it with you. But before you go, let me leave you with a little teaser for Immortal Kiss with a never-before-seen excerpt:

This second book in the Immortals series is Baron’s story. In Book 1, he was a newly-turned Immortal, but by the time we get to his story, he’s completely embraced his new life, and left the old one behind without a second thought. That is until the only woman who's ever really gotten under his skin is dumped on his doorstep one night by the vampire he's been hunting.

She put a hand to his chest in a lame effort to push him back and put distance between them, which he wholly ignored, stepping even closer into her personal space. Baron had always been a very physical person. He had played sports constantly, his body always in motion—almost as if he’d been given an extra dose of energy to make up for what his brother lacked.

Now all of that physical presence was concentrated on her, transformed into blistering, crackling, hot sexual energy. Her fingers curled around the soft cotton of his shirt. “Baron—”

“Max—” he mimicked, his voice deep and husky and so damn sexy.

He was close. So close.

She was going to push him away now. Wasn’t she?

Apparently not soon enough to avoid being kissed. Her body tensed with the initial contact of his mouth against hers. It was a sizzling, wet kiss that ignited a fever in her blood, but he was gentle, almost careful with her as if he half expected to get kneed in the groin.

Which was exactly what she should do.

When it came to this man, though, Max had never operated on “should”. Baron had always been her one and worst weakness, the addiction she may never kick no matter how long and hard she tried.

Her lips were opening of their own accord under his gentle but insistent pressure. Damn, this was dangerous.

So freaking dangerous.

From Linden Bay Romance!

Thank you so much to everyone who came out and chatted with me tonight. I had a BLAST!

If you missed it and you're dying to know...the link for it is here.

____________________________________

I made this myself, my first foray into movie-making, LOL. And since I've updated it recently, I'm taking the opportunity to post it for your viewing pleasure!

P.S. Please don't forget to come chat with me at Romance at Heart on Monday, July 28 at 8:oo p.m. EST

Hey everyone! I'll be chatting at Romance at Heart on Monday, July 28th at 8pm Eastern Standard Time about Immortal Kiss, book 2 in my Immortals series, but I'll also be available to answer any questions you might have about the Immortals series in general and any of my upcoming books! I really hope to see you there. One chatter will win a free copy of the book.

The chat room link is: Romance at Heart




I hope to see lots of people there and look forward to chatting with you. (crossing my fingers that it works this time)

EVERYTHING I KNOW I LEARNED FROM BUFFY

I was a child of the...well, I was young enough to get totally hooked on Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Not when the 1992 Kristy Swanson movie came out (possibly the worst movie ever), but with the first television episode starring Sarah Michelle Gellar in 1997. At that moment I, and millions of other fans worldwide, very happily became slaves to the vast brilliance of the Whedonverse.

What was it exactly that made this show so special? Was it inspirational to young teens? Did it try and impart some cosmic wisdom? Did it leave the watcher with a message of hope and love? Yes, it did all of that and more...

Take away the empowered superstrong girl who totally kicks ass and takes names, even without the vampires and the drool-worthy heroes, cool lesbian wiccas, the snarky, brilliant writing, the great shoes and boots (her wardrobe people rocked), and you were still left with a fabulous show that spoke to young people about the trials of growing up, in a way that was fresh, exciting and that broke ground for female heroes in television.

What's even more amazing is the sheer volume of academic study and writing which has been done on and around the Buffy phenomenon, and which continues even today, long after the show itself has been relegated to our dusty DVD shelves. (For example: Why Buffy Matters, Sex And The Slayer: A Gender Studies Primer For The Buffy Fan; Blood Relations: Chosen Families In Buffy The Vampire Slayer; Philosophy and BtVS: Fear and Trembling in Sunnydale...and my favourite; The Comic Anti-hero in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, or Silly Villain: Spike is for Kicks.)

So what did I learn from Buffy?

1. That it is possible to run in heels.

2. That it's important to have a solid group of scoobies to watch your back.

3. Teen sex is a bad idea. Even if you don't get pregnant, your boyfriend might turn evil and try to bite you. Then try and shoot you. Then blow you up...

4. David Boreanaz is hot.

5. If you think your roommate's a demon, it could just mean she's really annoying...but she could actually be a demon.

6. Every difficult situation can be made better with a healthy dose of sarcasm and a witty comeback.

7. High school students have no clue about what goes on in their library, and in fact have probably never been there.

8. David Boreanaz is hot...wait I said that already...James Marsters is hot.

9. There can only ever be one Slayer in the world at a time. Unless there's two.

10. If you're going to save the world, someone should go for donuts.

What did you like about it? What other shows made an impact on your youth?



Oh, and some of my favourite quotes, just for fun!

Buffy: Spike, I just saw you taste your own nose blood. You know what? I'm too grossed out to hear anything you have to say. Go home.
Spike: It's blood. It's what I do!

Buffy: [pulls a glowing orb out of her bag] What the hell is it?
Giles: It appears to be paranormal in origin.
Willow: How can you tell?
Giles: Well, it's so shiny.

Oz: Well, I sorta test well. Y'know, which is cool. Except that it leads to jobs.

Willow: Oh, I don't know, though. He is a senior.
Buffy: You think he's too old 'cause he's a senior? Please. My boyfriend had a bicentennial.

Xander: Yep. Vampires are real, a lot of 'em live in Sunnydale, Willow will fill you in.
Willow: I know it's hard to accept at first.
Oz: Actually, it explains a lot.

Spike: No more of this 'I've got a soul' crap?
Angelus: What can I say, hmm? I was going through a phase.

Spike: You've really got a yen to hurt this girl, haven't you?
Angelus: She made me feel like a human being. That's not the kind of thing you just forgive.

Angelus: Dear Buffy. I'm still trying to decide the best way to send my regards.
Spike: Why don't you rip her lungs out? It might make an impression.
Angelus: Lacks... poetry.
Spike: It doesn't have to. What rhymes with lungs?

Buffy: You know, it’s not even that he’s acting that suspicious. It’s just - there he is. On the hell mouth. All day, every day. That’s got to be like being showered with evil. Only from underneath.
Willow: Not really a shower.
Buffy: A bidet. Like a bidet of evil.

I'm blogging today at the Vauxhall Vixens about the heroine who is TSTL (Too Stupid To Live). Come on over and tell us your experience with books you wanted to throw against the wall because of a character who acted like the dumbest dumb blonde from a scary B-rated horror movie.

ACHERON

Since reading my first Dark Hunter book roughly two years ago, I have waited patiently for news that this book was coming. Now, finally, after what seems like forever and a day it's almost here...

I'm very excited to be able to bring you this exclusive preview of what promises to be Ms. Kenyon's best, most explosive, intense book yet in a fantastic series. If you're a fan, you won't be disappointed.

ENJOY!

THE WORLD'S SHORTEST FAIRY TALE!

Once upon a time, a guy asked a girl 'Will you marry me?' The girl said:'NO!' And then she lived happily ever after and went shopping and dancing, she drank martinis, went shopping (did I say that already?). She always had a clean house, never had to cook, did whatever the hell she wanted, never argued, didn't get fat, traveled more, had many lovers, didn't save any money, never worried about the toilet seat, and had all the hot water to herself. She went to the theater, never watched sports, never wore friggin' lacy lingerie that went up her ass, had high self esteem, never cried or yelled, felt and looked fabulous in sweat pants and was pleasant all the time.

The End.

Don't get me wrong. I'm not single. Very happily married. I found this in my junk mail folder this morning and had to share. It's hilarious.


But that's not all.........

STAY TUNED!!

All you Dark Hunter fans who have been waiting so patiently for August 5...make sure you make a stop right here at 9:00 p.m. (PST) on Sunday, July 20, 2008 for a very special sneak preview...Something you definitely won't want to miss!

Famous People Meme — (sorry, I forget who challenged me on this)

Which famous person in each of the following categories would you like to meet?

Author — Stephen King. My writing and reading idol since I picked up my first "adult" book at the tender age of 12.

Movie Actor — Gerard Butler. Man, he's hot.

TV Actor — Steve Carell. Man, he's funny.

Musician/Singer — Ella Fitzgerald. The first lady of song. One of the most influential jazz vocalists ever.

Historical Figure — Alexandra David-Neel. Female explorer/ adventurer/ author. No other western woman ever traveled to and explored so many places.

Fictional Book Character(s) — Rhage and Mary from Lover Eternal, or maybe Acheron and Simi from Kenyon's Dark Hunter books, or Anita Blake from LK Hamilton's series, or...I could really go on and on here.

Fictional Movie or TV Character — Blade. You gotta love a badass half-vampire with a shiny sword and a hero complex. I never liked the short-lived television show, but the movies rocked. And definitely, of the three, Blade: Trinity is my favorite since I get to see Wesley Snipes AND Ryan Reynolds.

Okay, tell me your picks.

CONTEST!! PRIZES!!

I have fabulous news about an amazing contest!

My chapter group, Toronto Romance Writers is running a contest to give away a fantastic prize of books from all of our published authors—Lots and lots of books!—Besides me (yay!), participating authors include: Kelley Armstrong, Deborah Cooke, Claire Delacroix, Michelle Rowen, Eve Silver, Michele Ann Young, Margaret Moore, Molly O’Keefe, and lots more!

Click here to enter now!

The Reasons Why We Love

Have you wondered why romance novels are so popular? Think about it, in a world where our celebrities are rarely known for their lasting relationships, where the next big blow-em up action movie almost always gets top billing, and when the news stories are all about sensationalism, murder and violence...is it any wonder that we have a need to find ways to enjoy the softer side of life?

Even in our own relationships, as happy and healthy and fulfilling as they hopefully are...the hectic pace of our everyday jobs and commitments means that romance and love often gets pushed back for later-but later only brings more and more stuff to lay on top of the ever growing pile of responsibilities.

But at the same time, why does romance get such a bad rep? Why are people so loathe to admit that they need to feel good every once in a while? Have we become so inured to the harsh realities that we stopped believing that there's more to lfie? Even though it's damn hard, things can work out for the best if you really try and want it badly enough, I think many of us do believe that. So why is it that we can't accept that love and sex and wanting a happy ever after are not things we should be embarassed about? They are after all, important to who we are as human beings.

Now I must admit, I have noticed that the way people see romance has been changing slowly. The stigma against romance authors and readers isn't anywhere near what it was when I first started reading, or even when I started writing. Great. At the same time though, the stigmas might change focus, but they seem to never go away completely. Just switch gears a little bit, which is too bad.

I say thank God for romance, for its popularity and its unapologetic celebration of love. With romance books flying off the shelves, authors to keep the genres alive for us, and readers who keep wanting more, we're more likely to stay true to our innate human nature to nurture and share ourselves with each other.

In the grand scheme of things, our world revolves around love. It's true. It has to be. If it didn't, what would we be reduced to? Imagine a world where money or ambition, progress and selfishness were of utmost importance to everyone (some might say we're almost there, but thankfully I don't think we are, although I'm pretty naive). Imagine if love was spit upon, if marriage did not exist as a binding of two hearts and souls. If love didn't enter the picture, what would happen to our children, ourselves?

(Photo: Pierre Auguste Cot [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons )

I'm at Maria Zannini's blog today talking about summertime distractions and my August 1 release, Immortal Kiss. I'm offering up a copy of Book 1 in the series, My Immortal. Come join in our summer bbq, I'd love to see you!




My husband and son at our favorite lake in Algonquin Park, possibly one of the most beautiful and tranquil places on earth.

I'm still mostly MIA, but since I just got a new cover for Dark Immortal, I wanted to share...

DARK IMMORTAL

This intense third book in the Immortals Series features the norse warrior Alric and his wife; beautiful and strong and human Diana.

Their path has never been smooth, their love has always been tested. But now Alric and Diana will face the ultimate trial...

...And they might not come back from it.

How do you know the woman of your dreams would still love you if all the circumstances which brought you together no longer existed? How do you know she would still want you if the memory of your love were wiped away and the only thing left was fear and pain. How could you ask her to stay if all she could see was the monster inside of you, the monster that gets harder and harder to contain?

Check out my website soon for more details and an excerpt of Dark Immortal, being released by Linden Bay Romance in January, 2009.

And in the meantime, don't miss books 1 and 2: My Immortal and Immortal Kiss (Aug. 1/08). Get yours here and find out why these are Immortals to die for.

I'm in need of a little break. I hope you'll all keep in touch and I'll see you real soon (I'm betting I hold out a week). Hopefully I'll return with a new sense of karmic balance and a finished book!

Take care, and let me recommend some great reading material for you while I'm gone :)

Fox's Bride

Being married to a woman halfway around the world has its advantages — except when that woman is a pirate.

Lord William Foxton wants his wife and will do anything to protect her from those who want to see her hanged for piracy and those who want the plantation in Montego Bay and his wife for their own.

Lady Madeline Foxton, the Dread Pirate Captain Meg, will do anything to save as many slaves as she can, constantly putting her life at risk. She decides she's had enough, but the Commodore of the King's Navy decides Captain Meg will not be allowed to simply disappear. He will see Madeline Middleton hanged for piracy, no matter who he has to kill to get her there.

Breach of Trust

When a business secret is shared, can love survive?

When You Play With The Best…

For years, Anne James has played a dangerous game, secretly manipulating venture capitalist Philippe Lamont into financing her clients. She knew there would be a price to pay for her arrogance. That price, she thought, was three months of negotiated torture as his sexy Girl Friday.

…The Stakes Are High

Anne was wrong. In Philippe’s fast paced world of start up investing, the lines between business and personal blur. One misstep, one misplaced confidence, and Anne could lose her heart, her business, and her life.

Law of Averages

Megan Frost, an up-and-coming restaurateur, knows everything there is to know about the culinary arts, but when it comes to pop culture, she's been living under a rock. During a vacation to the sunny island of Bermuda, the yummiest dish she's ever laid eyes on rolls that rock right off her.

British musician Gabriel Law, the famous Dark Angel of Rock, regrets putting his songwriting on the back burner. Tired and creatively simmered out, he retreats to the peace and solitude of Bermuda in order to cook up some original sounds for his new album. But when he finds a naked girl in his holiday cottage, he happily exchanges solitude for a sizzling duet.

The ingredients for a sexy, scorching relationship are in place, but the mix isn't complete without a romantic legend, a mysterious taxi driver and a surprise symbol of destiny from the aquamarine sea…

My Immortal

Evil lurks in the darkest of shadows, but a band of warriors stands ready to defend humanity against hell’s own monsters—Immortal men hand-picked by destiny and taken out of time hold the fate of the world in their hands.

One of the oldest of his kind, Immortal warrior Rhys Morgan spends his nights on the streets of Chandler protecting the city’s innocents from the demons that hunt them. Unyielding in purpose and uncompromising in battle, Rhys thought he’d never meet his match, until he met Amy Bennett.

Rash and impetuous, Amy dashes into a fight, taking Rhys by surprise. He can’t decide whether she’s incredibly brave or incredibly stupid. But when the fight is over and Rhys is unable to get the beautiful human out of his head or his dreams, he knows his life is about to get complicated.

The barriers between the unlikely pair may be as thick and strong as the evil that threatens them, but some things can’t be denied…and dark, mysterious, sexy Rhys Morgan is one of them.

MY WRITER STORY

So what is this really? My friend Maria Zannini has challenged me to tell my story and I'm not quite sure what to say. I mean, I've always been a writer, from the first words I learned to shape with the pencil clutched awkwardly in my chubby little palm.

All right, realistically, I wasn't "a writer" when I was four, but the seed was there already, and instead of having my parents read me books at night before bed, I'd already been making my own tales up in my head and telling my parents bedtime stories instead of the other way around.

But I guess my first real writer story is from grade 10 English class. I wrote this short piece called "Martians in the Kitchen", which was really about an fm radio that turns on all by itself every day just in time for one of those old school serial radio shows a la "War of the Worlds". Really, the radio is possessed with the spirit of a young girl's high school sweetheart, a jealous dead boyfriend who doesn't like that Charlene has gotten herself a new guy. Needless to say I was a HUGE reader of Stephen King, and horror ensues in bloody, graphic detail for the rest of the story.

I won a contest with that one.

Now I'm challenging everyone else to tell me their writer stories, and if you're not a writer, tell me the story of how you came to do the thing that you love doing best (I know what you're thinking, and no sex stories)

In honor of the Canadian and US holidays, over at the Pleasure Gardens we thought we'd each share a little bit about the heroines from our works in progress and what makes them our first ladies of romance. Because, as they say, behind every good man is a great woman.

So stop by and share your own favourite romantic heroines, from your own work, a movie, or your favourite author.



And I hope you had a happy Canada Day, and will enjoy a wonderful Independence Day!