Hot Angels/Cool Demons

I'm taking part in a blog tour celebrating Hot Angels and Cool Demons, which kicks off today at the blog of Jay Di Meo with a post from author Misty Malone.

I'll be blogging as part of the tour on November 17, so stop by and check it out. There'll be a copy of FALLING HARD and a set of romance trading cards up for grabs, and also a ton of great prizes from the other tour contributors. Here's the list of authors taking part.

Schedule of the Hot Angels and Cool Demons Blog Tour:

Nov 14	Jay Di Meo	http://jaydimeo.wordpress.com
Nov 15	Ellis Carrington	http://elliscarrington.wordpress.com
Nov 16	Daniel Christian Juris	http://dcjuris.blogspot.com
Nov 17	JK Coi	www.jkcoi.blogspot.com
Nov 18	Kiki Howell	http://authorsbyauthors.blogspot.com
Nov 19	Michael Mandrake	http://tabooindeed.blogspot.com
Nov 20	Angel Martinez	http://www.freewebs.com/angelwrites
Nov 21	Marie Dees	http://mariedees.com
Nov 22	Sara York	http://sarayork.blogspot.com
Nov 23	Barbara Elsborg	www.barbaraelsborg.blogspot.com
Nov 24	Hayley B. James	www.hayleybjames.com
Nov 25	Ryssa Edwards	http://www.ryssaedwards.net/blog
Nov 26	Andi Anderson	http://andiandersonauthor.blogspot.com
Nov 27	Arlene Webb	http://www.arlenewebb.blogspot.com
Nov 28	Cate Masters	http://catemasters.blogspot.com
Nov 29	Kiernan Kelly	http://kiernan-kelly.blogspot.com
Nov 30	Tour Wrap Up Jay Di Meo, Misty Malone, & Marie Dees	http://jaydimeo.wordpress.com

Everybody's Doing It. Are You?

Are you doing NaNoWriMo?

NaNoWriMo is National Novel Writing Month, and every year thousands--yes, thousands--of writers participate. Young, old. Published, unpublished. Newbie, veteran. It doesn't matter. The rules are the same for everyone.

What are they?

Simple.

Write 50,000 words in one month, starting on November 1 and finishing on November 30 (which is roughly 1700 words per day)

This can be tough for some people, and a snap for others. I've done it before and while I have made the 50,000 word goal some years, I've failed (miserably) in other years.

The trick is to keep writing. Don't edit. Don't second guess yourself, your story, your characters goals, motivation or conflict. Just write. Get it all out on the page. Recognize and accept the fact that what you're left with at the end of the month is likely to be utter crap, but that at least it will be something you can work to fix in December (and probably January).

I'm not "technically" doing NaNoWriMo this year (first time in a while) but only because I'm expecting some edits to roll in any day. However, until those edits come down the shoot, I will be writing as much as I can. I'm working on the steampunk sequel to FAR FROM BROKEN, and so far the first day of my NotQuiteNaNo went well. 

How about you? Are you doing it?

Also, head on over to The Romance Reviews. In November, they are holding a fabulous contest with tons of prizes, including some stuff from...me! :)

Cynthia Sax’s Soundtrack To Stories

One of my favorite scenes J.K. has ever written is the opening scene from Falling Hard . Gabriel is on stage, performing, and, when I read the words, I hear the music. That’s how vivid and lush and emotional the writing is.

For me, writing and music goes hand in hand. I always have a soundtrack in my head for every story. With Lust by Moonbeam , my latest release, that soundtrack has evolved. Of course, the music I played over and over again was the original theme song for Star Wars . That’s a no-brainer as nothing says to-the-death battles and against-all-odds love and vast, glorious space like Star Wars. The hubby, a former D.J., would play Katy Perry’s E.T. every time I mentioned Moonbeam. He’d tease me, calling Rellec, the hero, a “big-headed astronaut.” (He isn’t a big-headed astronaut. He’s a sexy mechanic from another planet.)

The song I now play while working on the sequel to Lust by Moonbeam is Simple Plan’s Lust by Astronaut . This song perfectly captures the aching loneliness of the alien males. They’ve left their home planet and everything they’ve ever known to collect their human mates. Their knowledge of English and North American customs is limited, and they’re alone, so very alone. They have this one chance to find a mate. If they fail…well, as Rellec says “Failure is NOT an option.”

Do you listen to music while you read or write? What songs do you associate with stories?

Lust by Moonbeam is now available from Ellora’s Cave.

Cynthia Sax
Erotic Romance With A Hint Of Humor

Blurb:

Cathy arrives at Moonbeam, the Roswell of the North, with one goal—to prove the mysterious dead tree circles are not caused by UFOs. Meeting a devastatingly handsome lumberjack with unusual blue and green eyes is a bonus. He thinks he’s an alien, but that doesn’t bother Cathy. She can tolerate a little crazy in a one-night stand, especially since Rellec claims her body as no sane man ever has—with the hungry touch of forever.

Rellec arrives at Moonbeam with one goal—to retrieve his assigned mate, ensuring the continuation of his species. Having trained long and hard for his erotic mission, he is determined to satisfy his tiny human female and overcome her objections with out-of-this-world passion.

Failure is not an option.

Ouch, ouch, ouch

Yesterday was not my best day...

I had to have 4 impacted teeth removed. Two wisdom teeth, and two teeth that were up in my jaw, just beneath my nose. Yeah...ouch! I won't regale you with the details of the procedure. Really just because halloween is around the corner doesn't mean you all want to know these things. Let's just say that I kind of feel like a cross between Frankenstein's monster and a boxer who just took the beating of his life.

The worst part besides being pretty tired, is not being able to eat. At first I didn't want to anyway, but today all I can think about is food. I want steak. I want crunchy vegetables. I want chocolate.

I'm stuck with broths and jello. *sigh*

I guess it's the perfect diet :)

She's alive! Alive!!

Chloe Jacobs is alive! How do I know...she's got a website! And a Twitter feed! Not to mention a Facebook account and a Goodreads profile!

LOL

If only that was really the measure to go by, right?

True, Chloe Jacobs technically isn't real. I mean, not according to any official census or birth registry. But she's real to me because she's writing from my head, telling the stories that live in me. It doesn't really matter what name she uses, at least not from the creative perspective. But in other respects it does, which is why I'm posting this--because while I'm obviously not hiding the fact that I am now going to be writing under two different names, I still think there should be a separation between the two different focuses and I just want to make sure that doesn't create any confusion as time goes on.

I hope everyone is going to love Chloe and the stories she tells!

Meet Chloe Jacobs

It's official, my YA work will be published under the name Chloe Jacobs, and you can find her on Twitter at www.twitter.com/Jacobs_Chloe

A Clockwork Christmas

I'm so excited to finally be able to share details of the upcoming A Clockwork Christmas Anthology! The Holidays can't come fast enough :)



We Wish You a Steampunk Christmas

Changed forever after tragedy, a woman must draw strength from her husband's love. A man learns that love isn't always what you expect. A thief steals the heart of a vengeful professor. And an American inventor finds love Down Under. Enjoy Victorian Christmas with a clockwork twist in these four steampunk novellas.

Anthology includes:
Crime Wave in a Corset by Stacy Gail
This Winter Heart by PG Forte
Wanted: One Scoundrel by Jenny Schwartz
Far From Broken by JK Coi

Stories also available for purchase separately.


WANTED: ONE SCOUNDREL by Jenny Schwartz

All suffragette Esme Smith wants is a man. A scoundrel to be precise. Someone who can be persuaded to represent her political views at men-only clubs. As the daughter of the richest man in Australia, Esme can afford to make it worth the right man’s while.

Fresh off the boat, American inventor Jed Reeve is intrigued by Esme’s proposal, but even more interested in the beauty herself. Amused that she takes him for a man who lives by his wits, he accepts the job—made easier by the fact that he already shares her ideals. Soon, he finds himself caught up in political intrigue, kidnapping and blackmail, and trying to convince his employer he’s more than just a scoundrel…

THIS WINTER HEART by PG Forte

Santa Fe, The Republic of New Texacali, 1870

Eight years ago, Ophelia Leonides's husband cast her off when he discovered she was not the woman he thought she was. Now destitute after the death of her father, Ophelia is forced to turn to Dario for help raising the child she never told him about.

Dario is furious that Ophelia has returned, and refuses to believe Arthur is his son—after all, he thought his wife was barren. But to avoid gossip, he agrees to let them spend the holidays at his villa. While he cannot resist the desire he still feels for Ophelia, Dario despises himself for being hopelessly in love with a woman who can never love him back.

But Dario is wrong: Ophelia's emotions are all too human, and she was brokenhearted when he rejected her. Unsure if she can trust the man she desperately loves, she fears for her life, her freedom and her son if anyone else learns of her true nature...


CRIME WAVE IN A CORSET by Stacy Gail

Roderick Coddington is on a mission to make Cornelia Peabody pay. After identifying her as the thief who stole a priceless Faberge egg from his dying sister, he finds her and shackles a deadly timepiece to her arm. If she doesn't return the egg by Christmas morning, she will die.

Normally seven days is more than enough time for Cornelia to carry out the perfect crime, but Roderick's intrusion into her life is beyond distracting. He challenges her mind, and ignites her body with desire she's never felt before. But worst of all, he threatens the independence she values above all else…

As Roderick spends time with Cornelia, he realizes there's a lonely soul hidden beneath her beautiful but criminal veneer. Falling for a thief wasn't part of Roderick's plan, but plans can change and he has no intention of letting another priceless treasure get away from him.

FAR FROM BROKEN by JK Coi

Soldier. Spymaster. Husband.

Colonel Jasper Carlisle was defined by his work until he met his wife. When the prima ballerina swept into his life with her affection, bright laughter and graceful movements, he knew that she was the reason for his existence, and that their love would be forever.

But their world is shattered when Callie is kidnapped and brutally tortured by the foes Jasper has been hunting. Mechanical parts have replaced her legs, her hand, her eye...and possibly her heart. Though she survived, her anger at Jasper consumes her, while Jasper's guilt drives him from the woman he loves. He longs for the chance to show her their love can withstand anything...including her new clockwork parts.

As the holiday season approaches, Jasper realizes he must fight not just for his wife's love and forgiveness...but also her life, as his enemy once again attempts to tear them apart.

See You Soon

I'm off to the Romanticon Conference! Have fun while I'm gone. While I'm in Ohio I'll be presenting a workshop, signing books, and having a grand time! I promise to tell you all about it when I get back :)

Welcome to...

I was very excited when the announcement came down from on high this week about my new contract! If you missed it, here's the Publishers Marketplace notice:

Children's: Young Adult
J.K. Coi's upper YA debut, GRETA AND THE GOBLIN KING, in which a seventeen-year-old now trapped in a fairytale world after falling through a portal trying to save her brother from the witch's fire, is pursued by a sexy young Goblin King as she fights to find a way home for herself and the ragtag group of boys marooned on that side of the veil, to Heather Howland at Entangled, in a nice deal, in a two-book deal, for publication in Fall 2012 (World).

Yep, you've got it right. I'm writing YA. Now, as some of you will already know, this book didn't start out as a YA but it did have the right voice for YA, and I'm excited for the opportunity to make some changes until it's just perfect.

Now, the only thing to decide is whether I'll be writing under a different name for my YA books, and what that name might be...


On another note, if anyone is in the Toronto area tomorrow, September 25, stop by Word on the Street. This is an annual book festival at Queen's Park, and this year I'll be at the Harlequin booth starting at 12:00 pm (located in the Toronto Star Exhibitor tent), and then I’ll be helping out at the booth with other members of my RWA chapter.

An update

Edits are done for A Clockwork Christmas, the steampunk anthology that will be available in December from Carina Press. I'm excited because I've now had a chance to read the other stories, and let me tell you, you won't be able to pick a favourite. They're all SOOOO good!

PG Forte, Jenny Schwartz, Stacy Gail and I have formed a Facebook page so that we can share everything steampunk as we countdown to release day. I hope you'll come check it out. There's already some fabulous stuff there, but we'll also be using this page to let readers know about the blog tour we'll be embarking on as it comes closer to the holiday season. There'll be excerpts to read, prizes to be won, and lots more!

Also, I'm now moving into edits for my little short, RUN WOLF, due for release near the end of this year in the UK anthology by Hic Dragones which is tentatively titled Wolf Girls: Dark Tales of Teeth, Claws and Lycogyny.

AND...more edits. For my EC release, BRAZEN GAMES, which is also due for release late-2011.

Needless to say, this is going to be a busy few months. As busy as the year has been so far. I took a small vacation this summer but I'm thinking now I'll need another one, although I'm certain there won't be any time for that since I think there'll be more news coming down the pipe shortly....

But I'll have to hold that to my chest a little longer. I promise to share as soon as I can!

Take care everyone! I'll check in again soon :)

Bad Blogger

I'm Sorry!!

I've been a very bad blogger here, but it's because I've been blogging in so many other places, and I've got a lot of those little balls in the air right now....

I know. Excuses, excuses.

Well, if you're looking for something a little more substantial than apologies and excuses, click on over to Tina Donahue's blog, where I'm talking about juggling priorities.

Where I Take A Moment to Squee Over My New Covers!

Gush with me over the covers I received for my holiday novella, out in December with Carina Press! Aren't they wonderful?

FAR FROM BROKEN



And for the Anthology which will be available in print

A beautiful summer weekend

I had a great weekend camping with my family and friends. We had good weather (just a few sprinkles of rain that didn't bother anyone too much) and a little break from the revisions I've been working on for Greta and the Goblin King.

It was also my birthday on Saturday, and I was so happy for a cake and some good wine.

But now I'm back to work this week so that I'll be finished my revisions and be able to send this book back to my editor.

Happy Birthday To Me!

It's my birthday this week, and I'm having a party at the Vixens Blog! Come by for a chance to win a set of my very cool romance trading cards!

My short mental health break

I've been working pretty hard lately, trying to get caught up and send a few things out the door, and so now that those projects have been completed, I took the last two nights off. (But don't worry, I'm already back in the writing saddle as of today!)

Night off number one was spent in front of the television with hubby while we watched a movie together. Nice. Cozy. I think I fell asleep before the first five minutes. *sigh*

Last night, we were invited to join our friends at their place for homemade pizza made the authentic Italian way. First we made the dough by hand (actually, our friend made it ahead of time, but still...by hand), and we gathered ingredients like asiago cheese and brie, artichokes, sausage, chicken, corn, fresh basil, and lots of other great stuff to put on the pizzas. My son had his pizza with classic pepperoni and mozzarella.



The pizza oven is a great big brick monstrosity outside in the back. It's made with fireproof bricks, like the kind they make kilns out of. You throw wood in it and start the fire a good hour beforehand to make sure it's smokin' hot with a wall of bricks in front of the opening to make sure the heat stays in.



Then when you're ready to put the pizzas in, they only take a couple of minutes to cook. Five minutes, maybe.



Afterward everybody sat around and enjoyed our dinner on the patio, drinking wine and chatting. When it got dark, we just lit candles and kept on eating! It was great!

Synopsis Hell

I'm blogging today at the Happy Endings blog about my synopsis and some great resources I found to help me write it.

I'm also a guest at the fantastic Fierce Romance blog today, talking about Falling Hard and giving away some of my romance trading cards, so stop by!

What do you want to do tonight? The same thing we do every night, Pinky...

The Brain: Pinky, are you pondering what I'm pondering?
Pinky: I think so, Brain, but then it'd be Snow White and the Seven Samurai...

My master plan is working!! Since the release of FALLING HARD, I've been very lucky to have gotten some really great reviews. My evil plan to take over the world is well on its way. [insert maniacal chuckle here]

Christi Snow, Smitten with Reading said "The romance in this book is really beautiful...a really fantastic novel."

Maldivian Book Reviewer recommended it and said "Falling Hard...plunged me deep into a world that had me fascinated right from the very beginning..."

"Totally different and totally enthralling…Fantastically good book…" from Wendy at You Gotta Read Reviews

Nicole, Romance Books Forum said "...the adventure, the mistrust, the changing motivations. It's a crazy emotional ride that ended in a fantastic conclusion that didn’t pander, it didn’t compromise."

BJ of Dark Side of the Covers said "Truth be told, this book had me at the “rocker” and the rest was just icing on an already tempting brownie…"

and JBP Reviews said "I couldn’t take my eyes from the page just waiting to see what was to come. This is a first time author for me but after reading this story it won’t stay that way, I love her voice!"

I want to say thank you to everyone for the wonderful feedback so far!

Love for the HP

We went to see the last Harry Potter movie this week, which was a little bittersweet, but now I can read the books!

What!! I haven't read them yet?

Well, the truth is I purposely waited. I figure it's better to watch the movies as a standalone story that I won't have to compare to the books and find wanting. After I've watched them I can read the books and be impressed by how much better they are.

Good plan, right?

Off I go to do just that!

RELEASE DAY!!

FALLING HARD
IS HERE!


I'm so excited! The celebration is happening all over the interwebz, so come join us.

Here Be Magic

Romance Writers Revenge

Julia Knight

Maria Zannini

Vauxhall Vixens

And don't forget to join me tomorrow morning at the Carina Press Blog

Also, as an added treat for release day, jump on over to my website here, for an exclusive deleted scene from Falling Hard.

After a life filled with tragedy, rocker Gabriel Gunn thinks he's finally getting the better of his personal demons. Then he's attacked after a concert—and rescued by a warrior goddess brandishing a sword and white wings. As hard as it is to believe in an angelic bodyguard, Gabriel must face an even more impossible truth: he carries the devil's soul within him.

Amelia has been watching over Gabriel for years, using her angelic powers to prevent Lucifer's return. Now she must also protect him from warring angel factions with their own agendas. Amelia would do anything to avert another angelic war, even sacrifice her own emotions to avoid temptation. Yet with Gabriel she feels things she no longer wants to deny, and pleasure she never imagined.

But the closer Gabriel and Amelia get, the stronger Lucifer becomes. Will Amelia be forced to kill the man she's come to love to stop the war she's always feared?

Buy it!

KITTEN!!

This is the BEST thing I've seen all week! I had to share it!

GUEST AUTHOR: Maria Zannini

Pros and Cons of Going Rogue

Are you ready to self-publish? Despite what you might’ve heard about books selling like hotcakes and push-button publishing, it’s a little more complicated than that.

If anything, self-publishing requires MORE discipline and dedication than taking a traditional route. Everywhere you go, people will snub you, or worse, disparage your career choices.

There’s a definite rogue quality assigned to self-publishing and it chafes the status quo. Although the rude behavior is not as prevalent (or as belligerent) as it once was, it still exists, especially by those stoically hanging on to the vestiges of traditional publishing. It’s not personal. Any time you rock a boat, those with the best seats are going to get nervous.

As this is the first stop of my Indie Roadshow I’ll start with a balanced look at the good and not-so-good side of self-publishing to give you an overview of what you’ll encounter should you take this step as well.

Pros

• You are totally in control. Creative control. Administrative control. Editing control. You’re an Oprah microcosm.

• You set the time table. No more rushing and rearranging schedules to meet an editor’s deadlines. All your deadlines are self-imposed.

• Write what’s in your heart. There’s no editor or agent to nix your project because they feel they can’t sell it to the marketing committee.

• Most of the money is yours. This is my favorite part, and probably my biggest reason for trying on the rogue coat. Depending on your price point, you can earn up to 70% of your cover price.

Cons

• Remember that control part? With that and a side of fries, you also get all the responsibility. Trust me. It’s a lot more work than it looks from the sidelines—that is, if you don’t fudge on any of the details.

• It costs money. Other than the writing, you can hire someone to edit, design the cover, format, advertise, schedule blog tours, and send your book out to reviewers. The more you can do for yourself, the more money in your pocket.

• The stigma. Honestly, you’d think there was a giant, honking wart on your nose by the way some people react to self-publishing. Don’t feed the beast by putting out a bad book. Get it professionally edited by someone who does not have a vested interest in it.

• It’s lonely. Sure there are self-publishing communities, but in the end, you’re still in this alone. You will LOVE every nameless soul who buys your book because those are the people who had faith in you, and that’s something money can’t buy.

Should you decide to go rogue, go in with your eyes open. Don’t count on luck or the kindness of strangers. Expect all the work to be on your shoulders—most of it will be. Farm out what you can’t do and roll up your sleeves and do the rest yourself.

Just remember there are just as many benefits as there are pitfalls. If you have a little of the entrepreneurial spirit in you, this might be a road worth taking.

Are there any pitfalls in self-publishing that worry you? Let’s discuss.

Bio: Maria Zannini used to save the world from bad advertising, but now she spends her time wrangling chickens, and fighting for a piece of the bed against dogs of epic proportions. Occasionally, she writes novels.

To see all of my titles visit me on my blog

Follow me on Facebook

THE DEVIL TO PAY: Shannon McKee just made the worst deal of her life and has offered her soul in trade. She never expected they’d come to collect so soon.

Blog Activity

I just wanted to pop in to lay out the blog activity for the next week or so. Release day for FALLING HARD is finally upon us (July 18!!)

To celebrate, I'm featured on Gabriella Hewett's blog today for Meet an Author Monday. Come on by and check it out.

Tomorrow make sure to stop by the blog here again because I have special guest Maria Zannini, who will be talking about her choice to self-publish.

Tomorrow I'm also blogging with the Vixens, and I hope you'll stop by because I'll be giving away a free copy of FALLING HARD.

Then on July 13, I'm going to be a guest on Delilah Devlin's blog, talking a little bit about my writing schedule.

Last but not least for this week, I'll be visiting Wynter Daniels blog on July 14 with another chance to win a copy of the book!

Don't Ask, Never Tell

I'm so excited that I share a release with writing buddies and critique partners, Christine D'Abo and Wylie Kinson! Don't Ask, Never Tell is a print compilation of three fantastic contemporary shorts from Ellora's Cave, including my own The Morning After!

Law of Averages Wylie Kinson

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…

The Morning After J.K. Coi

Waking up naked in bed with a man’s arms holding you close wouldn’t necessarily be a bad thing…except when that man is your husband.

Leslie has tried so hard to put Leo’s betrayal behind her—the ink was almost dry on the divorce papers. But when circumstances throw her in bed with her estranged husband one last explosive time, Leslie learns how quickly anger can turn to passion and hurt can turn to need, even while she knows there’s no way she can ever trust him again.

What Leslie considers goodbye, Leo insists is only the beginning. But the damage between them runs too deep, and sometimes, the only thing more devastating than the night before, is the morning after...

Chasing Phoenix Christine d'Abo

Not only is she the mysterious Lady Phoenix, sensual storyteller, but she's in lust with her co-worker and friend Michael. The night he shows up unexpectedly at one of her performances, she decides to take advantage of his blindfolded state and have a little fun. Her heated words turn into an erotic display that leaves him panting and her desperate for more. Michael continues the chase, determined to unmask the identity of the woman who has aroused his imagination.

When Michael uncovers the truth about Phoenix, will they cast their friendship aside for a chance at something more?

A Much Needed Break

"Dangerous Games" (working title) is done and off to my wonderful editor. Let's hope she likes my cops and mobsters story!

That means I'm ready for vacation! This is where I'll be for the foreseeable future.

(By Dori (Own work) [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC-BY-SA-3.0-us
(http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/us/deed.en)], via Wikimedia Commons)

BUT...When I get home again it's back to work! I still have a lot to do this year.

Get Ready for Steampunk for the Holidays!

I'm pleased to be able to announce that my novella, FAR FROM BROKEN, has been accepted for publication by Carina Press, and will be included in their holiday Steampunk Anthology. I'm excited to share more details when they become available, but until then I hope you'll check out some of the other fabulous steampunk offerings by the Carina Press authors:

The Mysterious Lady Law by Robert Appleton

In a time of grand airships and steam-powered cars, the death of a penniless young maid will hardly make the front page. But part-time airship waitress and music hall dancer Julia Bairstow is shattered by her sister's murder. When Lady Law, the most notorious private detective in Britain, offers to investigate the case pro bono, Julia jumps at the chance—even against the advice of Constable Al Grant, who takes her protection surprisingly to heart.

Lady Law puts Scotland Yard to shame. She's apprehended Jack the Ripper and solved countless other cold-case crimes. No one knows how she does it, but it's brought her fortune, renown and even a title. But is she really what she claims to be—a genius at deducting? Or is Al right and she is not be trusted?

Julia is determined to find out the truth, even if it means turning sleuth herself—and turning the tables on Lady Law...


Badlands by Seleste deLaney

After a brutal Civil War, America is a land divided. As commander of her nation's border guards, Ever is a warrior sworn to protect her country and her queen. When an airship attacks and kills the monarch, Ever must infiltrate enemy territory to bring home the heir to the throne, and the dirigible Dark Hawk is her fastest way to the Union.

Captain Spencer Pierce just wants to pay off the debt he owes on the Dark Hawk and make a life for himself trading across the border. When the queen's assassination puts the shipping routes at risk, he finds himself Ever's reluctant ally.

As they fly into danger, Ever and Spencer must battle not only the enemy but also their growing attraction. She refuses to place her heart before duty, and he has always put the needs of his ship and crew above his own desires. Once the princess is rescued, perhaps they can find love in the Badlands—if death doesn't find them first..


Alchemy of Desire, Crystal McHugh

After winning the Civil War against the Confederate Wielders, the Union Machinists have outlawed magic to usher in a new age of steam-powered technology. Diah, an alchemist and the only non-wielder in his family, owes his brother for saving his life in the war; so when Cager is blackmailed into procuring the magical hide of the White Buffalo, Diah accompanies him to the Dakota territory.

Their guide is Oni, a half-Lakota woman with plenty of secrets to hide. She's a magic wielder with an illegal wand concealed in her knife—and she's a coyote shifter. To her people, killing the White Buffalo is not only sacrilege, it's dangerous. Oni has no intention of helping them actually achieve their mission—until she falls in love with Diah...

Free Book Week at Carina Press!

It's FREE BOOK WEEK at Carina Press!!!

Every weekday, all week, Carina is offering a spectacular title for free download. And when they say free, they mean ACTUALLY free. Not "sorta free", or "free with a $50 purchase" free, but actually, totally, no strings attached FREE! So, get thee to Carina Press to download a free book every day! Here are the books being offered, and the links and promo codes for your free download:

Monday's FREE BOOK is:
The Debutante's Dilemma by Elyse Mady
Just type in the promo code DEBUTANTEFREE at checkout

Tuesday's FREE BOOK is:
Demon's Fall by Karalynn Lee
Just type in the promo code DEMONFREE at checkout

Wednesday's FREE BOOK is:
The Twisted Tale of Stormy Gale by Christine Bell
Just type in the promo code TWISTEDFREE at checkout

Thursday's FREE BOOK is:
Blue Galaxy by Diane Dooley
Just type in the promo code GALAXYFREE at checkout

Friday's FREE BOOK is:
Friendly Fire by Megan Hart
Just type in the promo code FRIENDLYFREE at checkout

Steampunk!

I'm blogging at the fantastic Romance Writers Revenge today, talking about steampunk and giving away a copy of Iron Seduction! Come join us, there's always lots of rum. (As long as you don't mind the pirates)

Dad Life

Join me for my blog at the Vauxhall Vixens today.

Excerpt Monday, Winners and Romance Trading Cards!

I hope everyone had a fantastic weekend!

What better way to start of Monday morning than with a great excerpt, so join me at Excerpt Monday for a taste of Iron Seduction!

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Also, the winners of my Iron Seduction release party contest (on Facebook, Twitter and of the members of my newsletter) are as follows:

All Things Books (Facebook)
Terri Osborn (Twitter)
Hockeyvampiress (Newsletter)

Please email me at jkcoi(AT)rogers(DOT)com and I'll send you a copy!

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Last but certainly not least, I've just put in an order for my Romance Trading Cards for Falling Hard. I can't wait for them to arrive so I can give them away, so here's a sneak peek!

On the Bookshelf

I've read a few good books in the last few weeks in between the editing and although I'd love to keep reading, I have some writing to get done now. The good thing is, I still have awesome books on the bookshelf to give me motivation to get my work done so that I can crack them open.

The first is Kiss of Snow by Nalini Singh. *sigh* I wanted to protest this book. I wanted to force myself to wait until it came out in paperback because I HATE having to buy a hardcover when I've bought the 8 books before it in paperback. And I would have bought it as an ebook, but this is one of only 2 series that I still want to have on my "actual" shelf. So I caved. This is the first book I'm going to read as soon as I reach my 10k writing goal.

The next book on my shelf is Bloodfever by Karen Marie Moning. I read book 1 two weeks ago and immediatley ordered the next one. The thing I like best about trying a new series when all the books are already available is that...all the books are available and I don't have to wait! (except because I have other committments)

The third book I'll wait to read is Rosemary and Rue by Seanan McGuire. I've heard good things and thought I'd give it a shot. Simple as that. I have no idea what it's about and no expectations, but I like going into a book open and free like that, and hoping for a good surprise. I can't wait to see how it turns out.

Release Day for Iron Seduction!

My most recent Quickie from Ellora's Cave is out today!!

And another chance to win a copy of Iron Seduction! Make sure you've signed up for my newsletter on my website www.jkcoi.com and let me know in the comments.

That's it! Good luck and I hope you enjoy IRON SEDUCTION!



Chinese Steampunk!

British Military Ambassador Lady Jane helped free China from the tyrannical rule of the evil Empress Cixi. But now the Empress is fighting back with ancient, unnatural warriors under her command.

As Jane and compelling mercenary Jian Danzen struggle to the Great Wall to stop Cixi, all the excuses Jane has been using to keep the sexy Dance at arm’s length become less convincing. The overwhelming attraction she’s pushed aside for so long since their one night of passion threatens to consume them both.

The danger they face this night might mean Jane never leaves the Wall alive again. If so, she wants it to be a night without regret. But only one night, because even if they survive the Empress and the even greater foe waiting for them, Jane knows there can be no future for two people from such different worlds.

Buy Link

Contest!

IRON SEDUCTION is my new Quickie with Ellora's Cave, and it's available June 3!

I had a lot of fun writing this story. It's got so much awesomeness, including a chinese setting with a journey up the Great Wall. An Evil Empress and an Ancient Emperor. Steam powered convertible, gel fire weaponry, an unstoppable Terracotta Army brought to life by ancient magic... And a stubborn English soldier who can't resist the reliability, strength, and overwhelming sex appeal of one particular Chinese warrior.

What could be better?

To celebrate I'll be holding a number of contests here and on twitter, and all you have to do to qualify is sign up for my newsletter on my website www.jkcoi.com. I'll be drawing names at the end of the week. (Although, if you want to leave me a note here in the comments too, that would be great! :)

Today's your first chance. Go!

A little bit of everything

I've got an exciting new blog up at the Vixens about all the cool stuff that's been going on lately!

Falling Hard

I'm very excited to be able to finally share the cover for Falling Hard!

Look for it in July from Carina Press!


Copyright © 2011 by Harlequin Enterprises Limited
Cover Art used by arrangement with Harlequin Enterprises Limited
® and TM are trademarks owned by Harlequin Enterprises Limited or its affiliate companies, used under license.

FALLING HARD

After a life filled with tragedy, rocker Gabriel Gunn thinks he's finally getting the better of his personal demons. Then he's attacked after a concert—and rescued by a warrior goddess brandishing a sword and white wings. As hard as it is to believe in an angelic bodyguard, Gabriel must face an even more impossible truth: he carries the devil's soul within him.

Amelia has been watching over Gabriel for years, using her angelic powers to prevent Lucifer's return. Now she must also protect him from warring angel factions with their own agendas. Amelia would do anything to avert another angelic war, even sacrifice her own emotions to avoid temptation. Yet with Gabriel she feels things she no longer wants to deny, and pleasure she never imagined.

But the closer Gabriel and Amelia get, the stronger Lucifer becomes. Will Amelia be forced to kill the man she's come to love to stop the war she's always feared?

Happy Anniversary to Us!

Last weekend was my anniversary vacation with hubby to Las Vegas. Neither of us had been there before, and so we went all out, including a tour of the Grand Canyon and a stop at Hoover Dam in the things we wanted to do.

We also walked up and down the strip, visited old Las Vegas, looked into all the different casinos, did a little (very little) bit of gambling, saw a few shows (including a burlesque show!), and hung out at the pool.

All in all, it was an amazing way to spend our tenth anniversary.

I'm so very happy to have had 10 years with the most fantastic man in the world, and I'm looking forward to many tens more!

Endurance

I'm posting today at the Happy Endings Blog!

What am I up to?

The Vixens talk about our recent projects, so come see what we've been up to!

Be Back Soon

(By Catherinette Rings Steampunk (Daniel Proulx) (Flickr) [CC-BY-2.0
(http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons)
I'm working away at my steampunk short story and I'm almost done.

GUEST AUTHOR: Nicole North

Characters with a Past

Characters with a bumpy past or emotional baggage are more complex, interesting and realistic. Readers will pull for them more (if you also make them empathetic). Every real person has had negative things happen in their past. Readers understand and connect to this. We are a product of our past, and in some cases the past has greatly affected us and how we deal with people or situations. The past often motivates us in the present. The important events of a character’s past, the ones that shaped them most, are called backstory events. If you can give your character one or two big backstory events that are still affecting him or her today, you are one step closer to creating a complex, believable, real character.

The backstory events I’m talking about are generally bad, negative or painful things that happened to the character in the past. It could’ve happened last month, last year or when he was five. It could’ve lasted five minutes or ten years. A bad thing could be a traumatic event or something that caused them emotional pain. Someone tried to kill him. His brother was murdered. She was raped. A curse was placed on him. She was kidnapped. He was abused as a child. She was left orphaned and penniless, then raised in a string of foster homes. He was in a car accident that left him with a major injury and the person riding with him was killed. Her father gambled away the fortune. It could be almost anything that would negatively affect your character for a long time, and this event still haunts him. He is not yet healed from this life-changing event. This is his emotional baggage. This is when you bring memories and repercussions from the past event into the current story. She doesn’t trust men (or the hero) because she was raped. She wants a family more than anything because she never had one. He grew up in poverty and this is what drives him to be the wealthiest business owner in town.

The character’s GMC often comes from their past, especially their motivations. Motivation is the “why?” Why does the hero work so hard to be the best cop he can be? Because his father was killed in the line of duty fifteen years ago? Because the hero’s little sister was killed by a drug dealer ten years ago? Why does the heroine not trust men? Because she saw how her father abused and cheated on her mother? Because all the men close to her in the past treated her like dirt? These are the deep issues that trouble your characters. And the problems they have to work through usually come from seeds planted in the past.

Backstory events don’t have to be traumatic and extremely painful, especially if your book is lighter, like a comedy. Or if your story is very short. (You may not have time or space to work through traumatic events.) You could use lighter-weight backstory events. Did he quit high school and now he’s determined to be incredibly successful anyway? Did the other kids in school tease her about her braces, her excessive height, or her hair? Is he/she divorced? Were her parents extremely strict? Too lenient? The point is that any story and any character can benefit from backstory events that still affect him/ her now in some way, even in minor ways. This doesn’t mean you have to have a backstory event or that you need one, but if you do it’s a plus. And the darker and more dramatic your story, the more your characters will benefit from backstory events.

Backstory events, once revealed, will show the reader why the character believes a certain thing about others or about himself. Why he acts as he does. How he expects others to behave. Backstory events bring out a character’s personality, values, and attitudes about specific things.

In my recent release, Laird of Darkness, the hero, Duncan, has two types of negative backstory events. One is that because he is half Fae and has no magical weapon of protection, monsters or demons from Otherworld torture him physically if he goes to sleep at night. This has happened to him since he was a child, so naturally he tries to stay awake at night. Another backstory event is that his father abused him. Using his Fae powers he was able to escape most of this abuse but it was always clear his father never loved him. Another important backstory event happened when Duncan was seventeen. His father died, and Duncan became chief of his clan. Enemy clans in the area thought he would be weak because he was so young, and they invaded. With the help of his Fae powers, Duncan led his clan to victory. The violence and paranormal occurrences during this event led to Duncan’s infamous and legendary reputation as the Laird of Darkness.



This month I’m teaching my workshop, Instinctive Characterization. In it I cover backstory event and lots of other elements and methods writers can use when developing characters. You can still register if you want. Just visit my website and click on the link at the top, or click workshops on the menu.


Nicole North

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Laird of Darkness

Half-Fae Laird Duncan MacDougall is cursed. His nights are haunted by Otherworld creatures sent to kill him. The only way to stop them is to possess the magic bow currently in the hands of his enemy half-brother, Kinnon MacClaren. In desperation, Duncan plans to take MacClaren's bride-to-be hostage and exchange her for the bow.

Lady Alana Forbes has never met her intended, but she hopes he is handsome-and a good lover, for Alana is no innocent virgin. On her way to Castle Claren, Alana and her escorts are intercepted, and she is kidnapped by a man with extraordinary abilities-and every attribute she longs for in a mate.

Duncan didn't expect the woman he thought of as a mere pawn would be so beautiful, and so arousing. Alana is drawn to him as well-but Duncan still needs the bow, and Alana is betrothed to another. How far will Alana go to save the life of the man she's come to love?

Chapter one excerpt

Available at:
Carina Press
Amazon

Blending Genres

I'm talking about writing multi-genre books at the Happy Endings blog today.

Here Be Magic

Come check out my first post at the Here Be Magic blog!



Also, Congratulations to JenM who is the winner of a copy of Joely Sue Burkhart's book, Lady Doctor Wyre. Please email her at joelysueburkhart(AT)gmail(DOT)com!

Release Day!

Don't forget to pick up HOWLING SACRIFICES, out today from Ellora's Cave!


What happens to a young and naive Canadian woman traveling alone on a particularly evil night in the Scottish Highlands? She’ll get a lot more than she bargained for when she wishes for an adventure and finds herself part of a bloody pagan ritual…and inexorably linked to a wild and dangerous wolf.

Excerpt:

“What brings you so far from home all by yerself, Lucy?”

Wary about revealing her destination to a stranger, Lucy hesitated. She was probably overreacting by imagining that she’d unwittingly climbed into a four-wheeled version of the boat of Charon with a serial killer, but she nevertheless felt intimidated by this man’s overwhelming dark presence. In fact, everything about this trip made her nervous, and even though she was no doubt perfectly safe, it was probably best that she didn’t tell him too much.

“Just visiting some friends.” She stared into the shadows, her voice turning sharp and guarded. “They’re expecting me tonight.”

Dougald chuckled, a deep bass rumbling from the darkness, raising goose bumps on her skin half from jitters and half out of an absurd compulsion to lean forward and search the shadows for the face that belonged to such a mysterious, powerful voice. She tried to ignore the impulse, torn between the contradiction of fear and temptation.

“Dinna worry, lass,” he said. “I have no intention of draggin’ ye from the carriage and out into the woods. Ye’ll reach yer friends safely.”

Lucy let out a long sigh and a breathy little laugh, embarrassed that she’d been so transparent about her misgivings. “Sorry. I know I’m overreacting. I think it’s the time of night.” She spared another quick glance out the window. The darkness was so complete she shivered.

“Witching hour of the winter solstice,” he murmured in a low voice.

She turned back to him. “That sounds ominous.”

“Many cultures believed that evil’s hold o’er the natural world was strongest during the solstice, which is why it was popular to make sacrifices to the gods on this night, to welcome back the light.”

His words only compounded Lucy’s feelings of foreboding. Cold slithered up her spine and settled over her heart as she gazed out the window once more. On one side of her, the narrow road they were traveling had been cut out of the mountain. It wound across the bumpy terrain in lazy S’s. On the other side of the carriage, craggy moors had given way some time ago to tall trees that hid even the brightest stars. There were no road lamps or markers to light the way. Anything could leap out into their path at any moment and they’d never see it coming.

It was all just a little too spooky for a girl who’d been living in Toronto for the past fifteen years, where no street went without a neon sign or two and there was never a time of day without some jarring noise ringing in the air to remind you that you were never truly alone.

“Every corner of Scotland seems to have some eerie ancient mythology attached to it. It’s a little unsettling,” she admitted sheepishly to Dougald.

GUEST AUTHOR: Joely Sue Burkhart

Finding Inspiration

I've always listened to music while I write. Some books need several different songs that help me invoke the images or emotion I'm trying to create. Thanks to my first fantasy trilogy, I can't listen to Kiss From A Rose by Seal or (Everything I Do) I Do It For You by Bryan Adams without getting teary-eyed. I've got everything from Nickelback to Apocalyptica to country - yes country music! - on my playlists. But only recently have I added movies to my inspiration process.

My next Carina release, Golden, was inspired by the movie Curse of the Golden Flower. I happened to catch a few minutes of the movie at bedtime one night, and I ended up staying up way past midnight (even though I had to work the next day!) in order to watch it. I DVRd it and watched it over and over, at least half a dozen times, and I knew I had to write a story based on Imperial China. Now that the story is contracted, I've watched CotGF at least four times while working on edits. The music, the scenery, everything speaks to me. I get chills while watching it. I even dream about it!

Indirectly, The Bloodgate Guardian was also inspired by a movie: Stargate. I've always loved pyramids, but everybody's done Egyptian stories. What about all those fantastic Mayan pyramids in Central America? Add in blood and human sacrifice with interesting mythologies, and I'm there!

Music and movies might be expected, but I bet you'll be surprised to hear that I was inspired by Mrs. Giggles' Regency Drinking Game for my upcoming Samhain release, Lady Doctor Wyre. I was reading her list and giggling, naturally, and the thought came to me: how ridiculous would some of these be if the heroine and hero exchanged roles? I mean, just think of how much fun I'm going to have with debutant virgin heroes and rake heroines? I can't wait!

Joely Sue Burkhart

Howling Sacrifices

I've just sold a fantastic, chilling short to Ellora's Cave's new Shivers line, and it's scheduled to be out THIS MONTH!!

Check back soon for more details!


From EC's new Shivers line, Howling Sacrifices is the story of a young and naive Canadian woman travelling alone on a particularly evil night in the Scottish Highlands. She wished for adventure and excitement, but Lucy will get a lot more than she bargained for when she finds herself inexorably linked to a wild and dangerous wolf.

Writing Superstition

Join me at the Vixens Blog for the three things I HAVE TO HAVE when starting a new writing project, and tell me what your writing superstitions are.

Quick Update

It's Monday! What better day to post an update and let you know what I'm doing.

I just finished up a couple of short stories. They were so fun to write, and now that they've been submitted, I play the waiting game. One was a cool alternate China Steampunk thing, and the other was a bloody werewolf horror. Wish me luck!

Right now though, I have to finish a final read-through of my romantic fantasy, before I finally press send and get it out to a few people. Then I pray while I get back to work on my contemporary partial.

That should take me all week (I know, I'm so slow!) but THEN I'm going to be starting on Book 2 of my angel series for Carina Press. I really hope everyone ends up liking these stories as much as I do (excerpt coming soon, I hope).

Gabe and Amelia from book 1 feel so real to me, and their trials ripped my heart out. It was devastating to be finished with their story and have to leave them behind. But of course, Cass is going to be a challenge and I'll need to focus on him. He's skirting the edge of total evil and I'm not even sure yet if he'll make it.

So that's me for now!

What's everyone else working on these days?

You Can't Do That

I'm pumped to have Inez on the blog today because I just got her book at iBooks, and I've been reading it on TheCoolGadget. This is a story you can't miss. Sexy and deeply emotional. I am loving every minute of it!

Welcome Inez Kelley!

You know, I hate rules. I do. I’ve always hated them. I REALLY hate them in my own stories. When I sit down to write, I write what I see, what comes to my head. When someone comes along and says “you can’t do that in a romance”, the hair on my neck raises.

Says who?

After some hem-hawing and stuttering, the naysayer will spit out “Readers. They don’ t like *insert whatever rule I broke*.

Hmmm…

Okay, I used to skip school because I could. I never did a lick of homework in High School. I stopped drinking beer when I was 21 because, well, by then it was no big deal. It was legal. Rules and me have never been best buds, ya know?

I thought about those naysayers and then did my own thing any way. *shrug* It seems I am always breaking some unwritten but iron-clad RULE OF ROMANCE. Strangely, I never know these rules until after I break them.

For example: RULE: You can kill the villain but, for God’s sake, don’t kill the dog.

Oops. Sorry.

RULE: You can’t kill your hero and heroine, either.

Oops again.

RULE: Romance heroes NEVER call the heroine a f-ing B!tch.

Uhm… oops?

RULE: Heroes never cry.

ROFLMAO… seriously?

RULE: Love fixes all the problems in the world.

Say what? Not in my world.

RULE: The heroine is never physically stronger than the hero.

*shifty eyes* NEXT!!

RULE: Ex-wives/husbands are always evil or bad people

Uh-oh

RULE: The heroine should never tell the hero he need a shower first if he wants to get ‘busy’ with her.

O.o ……

Rules shmules. If it makes a believable story, I’m writing it.

In my latest book SWEET AS SIN, I just listened to my characters and wrote their story. It isn’t always pretty and they don’t follow the rules. John is one messed-up dude and Livvy doesn’t understand the words “Back Off”. These two are explosive together. Sometimes it hurts to watch them hurt each other. Love isn’t always sweet. Sometimes it burns like sin.

*I* have one rule of romance. Anything goes as long as at the end, the main characters get a Happily Ever After and the reader walks away feeling like they lived the story. PERIOD. So that’s the only thing I promise in my books.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a hero about to slip some drugs into a heroine’s drink. Off I go to break more rules.

SWEET AS SIN

She’s made for sin. Sin is something he knows intimately.

John Murphy is tormented by nightmares. A bestselling young-adult author, he writes the ultimate fantasy: stories where good always triumphs. He knows better. His past has shown him the worst in people—and in himself. When he moves next door to the sexy, vibrant Livvy—a woman completely unlike his usual one-night stands—he's driven to explore every curve of her delicious body.

Pastry chef Livvy knows that giving in to the temptation that is John Murphy won't lead to anything permanent, but she deserves a passionate summer fling. John discovers she's as sweet as the confections she bakes while Livvy slowly unravels his secrets. But what will happen when she uncovers them all?

Buy Sweet as Sin at Carina Press, AMZ, ARe, BoB or B&N

Inez Kelley is a multi-published author of various romance genres. You can visit her at her website http://inezkelley.com/ Follow Inez on twitter at @Inez_Kelley or on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/inez.kelley

Cover HOTness!!

This is the "front" cover for the Agony/Ecstasy anthology edited by Jane Litte (Dear Author), being released late-2011.



And this is the "back" cover for the same anthology. YAY -- TWO covers for the same book, LOL!!



My story CAGED is but one of the 21 amazing stories that will be featured!

Switching Hats

I'm talking a little more about my foray into writing horror on the Dark Walk today. Come join me there!