I'm all about the firsts here on the blog these days. Celebrating the release of my first book, hosting my first interview, welcoming my first guest author, and now everyone should be impressed I'm doing my first review! For an author that I absolutely love. EVE SILVER!
Eve writes sexy gothic historicals under the name Eve Silver, and speculative romantic fiction as Eve Kenin. Hidden will be released under her Kenin name by SHOMI (Dorchester) in July, 2008. It's a futuristic romance set in a post-apocalyptic frozen waste that you don't want to miss.
Tatiana has spent her life hidden. Imprisoned underground by a vicious madman bent on exploiting her unique genetic gifts to further his sadistic scientific experiments—experiments that he has used to create a devastating plague that is about to be unleashed on the people of the Northern Waste.
Now that she is free, she has two things on the immediate agenda: to find her family and save the world. Both of which are probably impossible. Adding to her frustration is the mysterious and sexy Tristan, who is a complication she doesn’t need, a temptation she is uncomfortable with, a piece of the puzzle she needs to figure out.
This sequel to Kenin’s award winning first book, Driven, is an intense, sensual story that stands all on its own with vivid characters and fast-paced action that drew me in from the beginning right through to the very end. I can’t wait to read more from this gifted author.
And with that, I'll let you all in on a little secret...Eve Silver/Kenin is going to be a guest with us over at the Vauxhall Vixens on July 7, 2008!
Monday, May 26, 2008
As promised, today I have debut author Maria Zannini with me, who has graciously agreed to submit to torture--Um, I mean do an interview!
J.K.: Hi Maria, before we start, let me tell my five readers how fabulous you are. *Aside: She’s fabulous guys, trust me.* Ok, so now I need to apologize for getting these questions to you at the very last minute. I promise, if the answers are lame and hokey, my readers will know that it is totally my fault. *Aside: It’s totally Maria’s fault.* So, let’s move along then, shall we?
J.K.: Touch of Fire is your first book. How did you feel on release day? Were you nervous about how readers would react to it?
MARIA.: Well, let’s see, release day was May 20. On that day, I was running a fever, my head was stuffed up and I was recovering from eye surgery. But I had a book coming out! So all in all, I was feeling pretty peachy!
J.K.: Oh sure, I’ll bet. But I guess it could be hard to see that first book if your eyes are glued shut.
MARIA.: It's probably for the best I was under the weather or someone would have had to tether me to the ground. There’s nothing like a first book. It’s like having your first kiss, your first chocolate, your first…well you get the idea.
J.K.: Mmm. Yes. Yes I do. Okay, mind’s out of the gutter now, I promise. So, how long have you been writing? What inspired you to pick the pen up one day and create such compelling characters?
MARIA: Are your readers going to crucify me if I say it's only been about three years?
J.K.: Yes they will, but please go on.
MARIA: I was a graphic and fine artist my entire adult life. About three years ago, I was rattling about my house looking for something to do on a rainy day. I sat down and wrote my first science fiction short story. It finaled in the Writers of the Future Contest. By then the writing bug was fully entrenched in my bloodstream and I was hooked. I haven’t stopped learning (or writing) since.
J.K.: That’s great, Maria! So what do you feel is the most important thing that a first-time author should know?
MARIA: Oh, do you have a few hours? LOL! If I were to give only one piece of advice it would be to get your website and blog established long before you get published. You will not have time once that contract is signed. Trust me. When you sign on that dotted line, the time-space continuum warps and you will forever be trying to play catch-up.
J.K.: That’s great advice, and don’t I know how true it is. Good thing I have a little brother I was able to blackmail into doing my website for me. So what genre do you want to try your hand at but haven’t yet?
MARIA: I've never told anyone this, but I would love to try a YA historical. Maybe I'm the exception, but I would've loved to have read more historical novels when I was a kid.
J.K.: Woo hoo, we know something no one else knows yet! (ha ha ha Take that Maya Reynolds!) And what do you hope for your writing career in the next few years? Any goals that you have yet to obtain that you have set for yourself?
MARIA: I still want to sign with an agent even though I seem to have pretty good luck attracting editors. A good agent might relieve me of all the legwork I have to do in finding the right publishing house.
J.K.: Most people envision an author’s life as being really glamorous. What’s the most unglamorous thing that you’ve done in the past week?
MARIA: Where are these glamorous authors? Tell me, please! I want to see how the other half lives. When it comes to writing, the most unglamorous thing I've done this past week is untangle my computer's cabling. Somehow I ended up with an extra cord and I have no idea where it goes. Good thing no one at my house is on life support.
J.K.: So now the important questions. What books are currently on your nightstand?
MARIA: I've been reading a lot of dry research material lately. The sequel to Touch Of Fire will deal with time travel and I've been taking notes on all the latest theories.
J.K.: Do you have a pesky day job?
MARIA: Yup. I'm the art director at a major communications corporation. In other words, I save the world from bad advertising.
J.K.: Oh, maybe you should have saved the world from that Sumo wrestler commercial for Subaru. Now, if you had to write yourself as a heroine, what kind of heroine would you be? What would you be named?
MARIA: Oh, I much prefer to stay on the sidelines wreaking havoc. I suffer from demi-god syndrome. Isn't that why we all become authors?
J.K.: Um, sure. I thought it was for all the free books from other authors, but whatever. If you were a world ruler and you were given a choice of 3 laws to enact, what would they be?
MARIA: There's only one law necessary. Maria is always right. At least that's what my husband says, and he's a man of impeccable logic.
J.K.: You're the heroine of your book, why do you fall in love with the hero?
MARIA: I love a confident man! If I were the heroine in my book, I would instantly be drawn to a man with a large…
JK: Hmmm.
MARIA: JK! Get your mind out of the gutter! Honestly. I thought this was a family blog.
JK: You started it. By the way, who said it was a family blog? I didn’t say that. (She turns to cute little five-year old boy child who is pulling on her leg asking for dinner as if he didn’t just eat four hours ago—‘Honey, why don’t you raid the cracker box and leave mommy alone for a few minutes to finish this, ‘kay?’)
Maria, thank you so much for being here. You’re my very first interview. Don’t tell anyone how awful it was, or how unorganized I am. And before we go, let us know what’s next for you.
MARIA: I'm so glad I was your first. Another round of virgins for all of us! Thank you so much for having me over! You were a gracious hostess and I loved the virtual wienies on a stick.
J.K.: Thanks! Next time leave some of them for the hostess, ‘kay?
Maria's Bio:
As relentless as a Rottweiler in a Chihuahua's body, she's interested in everything and everyone and loves to meet new people. Visit her often. The doctors say she's safe now. The rabies test came back negative.
Links:
Find me here:
http://www.mariazannini.com/
http://mariazannini.blogspot.com/
http://www.myspace.com/mariazannini
Buy TOUCH OF FIRE here:
http://www.mybookstoreandmore.com/product_info.php?products_id=973
J.K.: Hi Maria, before we start, let me tell my five readers how fabulous you are. *Aside: She’s fabulous guys, trust me.* Ok, so now I need to apologize for getting these questions to you at the very last minute. I promise, if the answers are lame and hokey, my readers will know that it is totally my fault. *Aside: It’s totally Maria’s fault.* So, let’s move along then, shall we?
J.K.: Touch of Fire is your first book. How did you feel on release day? Were you nervous about how readers would react to it?
MARIA.: Well, let’s see, release day was May 20. On that day, I was running a fever, my head was stuffed up and I was recovering from eye surgery. But I had a book coming out! So all in all, I was feeling pretty peachy!
J.K.: Oh sure, I’ll bet. But I guess it could be hard to see that first book if your eyes are glued shut.
MARIA.: It's probably for the best I was under the weather or someone would have had to tether me to the ground. There’s nothing like a first book. It’s like having your first kiss, your first chocolate, your first…well you get the idea.
J.K.: Mmm. Yes. Yes I do. Okay, mind’s out of the gutter now, I promise. So, how long have you been writing? What inspired you to pick the pen up one day and create such compelling characters?
MARIA: Are your readers going to crucify me if I say it's only been about three years?
J.K.: Yes they will, but please go on.
MARIA: I was a graphic and fine artist my entire adult life. About three years ago, I was rattling about my house looking for something to do on a rainy day. I sat down and wrote my first science fiction short story. It finaled in the Writers of the Future Contest. By then the writing bug was fully entrenched in my bloodstream and I was hooked. I haven’t stopped learning (or writing) since.
J.K.: That’s great, Maria! So what do you feel is the most important thing that a first-time author should know?
MARIA: Oh, do you have a few hours? LOL! If I were to give only one piece of advice it would be to get your website and blog established long before you get published. You will not have time once that contract is signed. Trust me. When you sign on that dotted line, the time-space continuum warps and you will forever be trying to play catch-up.
J.K.: That’s great advice, and don’t I know how true it is. Good thing I have a little brother I was able to blackmail into doing my website for me. So what genre do you want to try your hand at but haven’t yet?
MARIA: I've never told anyone this, but I would love to try a YA historical. Maybe I'm the exception, but I would've loved to have read more historical novels when I was a kid.
J.K.: Woo hoo, we know something no one else knows yet! (ha ha ha Take that Maya Reynolds!) And what do you hope for your writing career in the next few years? Any goals that you have yet to obtain that you have set for yourself?
MARIA: I still want to sign with an agent even though I seem to have pretty good luck attracting editors. A good agent might relieve me of all the legwork I have to do in finding the right publishing house.
J.K.: Most people envision an author’s life as being really glamorous. What’s the most unglamorous thing that you’ve done in the past week?
MARIA: Where are these glamorous authors? Tell me, please! I want to see how the other half lives. When it comes to writing, the most unglamorous thing I've done this past week is untangle my computer's cabling. Somehow I ended up with an extra cord and I have no idea where it goes. Good thing no one at my house is on life support.
J.K.: So now the important questions. What books are currently on your nightstand?
MARIA: I've been reading a lot of dry research material lately. The sequel to Touch Of Fire will deal with time travel and I've been taking notes on all the latest theories.
J.K.: Do you have a pesky day job?
MARIA: Yup. I'm the art director at a major communications corporation. In other words, I save the world from bad advertising.
J.K.: Oh, maybe you should have saved the world from that Sumo wrestler commercial for Subaru. Now, if you had to write yourself as a heroine, what kind of heroine would you be? What would you be named?
MARIA: Oh, I much prefer to stay on the sidelines wreaking havoc. I suffer from demi-god syndrome. Isn't that why we all become authors?
J.K.: Um, sure. I thought it was for all the free books from other authors, but whatever. If you were a world ruler and you were given a choice of 3 laws to enact, what would they be?
MARIA: There's only one law necessary. Maria is always right. At least that's what my husband says, and he's a man of impeccable logic.
J.K.: You're the heroine of your book, why do you fall in love with the hero?
MARIA: I love a confident man! If I were the heroine in my book, I would instantly be drawn to a man with a large…
JK: Hmmm.
MARIA: JK! Get your mind out of the gutter! Honestly. I thought this was a family blog.
JK: You started it. By the way, who said it was a family blog? I didn’t say that. (She turns to cute little five-year old boy child who is pulling on her leg asking for dinner as if he didn’t just eat four hours ago—‘Honey, why don’t you raid the cracker box and leave mommy alone for a few minutes to finish this, ‘kay?’)
Maria, thank you so much for being here. You’re my very first interview. Don’t tell anyone how awful it was, or how unorganized I am. And before we go, let us know what’s next for you.
MARIA: I'm so glad I was your first. Another round of virgins for all of us! Thank you so much for having me over! You were a gracious hostess and I loved the virtual wienies on a stick.
J.K.: Thanks! Next time leave some of them for the hostess, ‘kay?
Maria's Bio:
As relentless as a Rottweiler in a Chihuahua's body, she's interested in everything and everyone and loves to meet new people. Visit her often. The doctors say she's safe now. The rabies test came back negative.
Links:
Find me here:
http://www.mariazannini.com/
http://mariazannini.blogspot.com/
http://www.myspace.com/mariazannini
Buy TOUCH OF FIRE here:
http://www.mybookstoreandmore.com/product_info.php?products_id=973
Sunday, May 25, 2008
Those Raven Nights!
Raven Radio, as mentioned in Romantic Times Magazine, is moving to nights! Tune in every Wed at 11-12 PM EST and join Authors Michelle Pillow and Mandy Roth as they talk about everything, nothing and the paranormal. Guests include NY Times and USA Today Bestselling authors as well as those wonderfully talented authors soon to be there, editors, paranormal tour guides, psychics, ghost hunters, specialists and more!
www.ravenhappyhour.com or http://www.blogtalkradio.com/ravenradio
Listeners are welcome to join the live chat or call in to the show to talk to us and our guests. The show will move to its new evening schedule, May 28th where listeners can catch us every Wednesday at 11PM to 12AM EST. We have a lot of authors on the upcoming line up and you can see a full schedule of guests here: http://ravenhappyhour.com/raven_podcast_schedule_of_guests.htm
WANT TO JOIN THE VIRAL CONTEST AND HELP SPREAD THE WORD ABOUT RAVEN NIGHTS? Go to Raven’s blog to learn how you could win free advertising packages! Contest open to authors, readers and other groups! http://ravenhappyhour.com/ravenblog/?p=463
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
I am very pleased to introduce my friend Melody Knight, who graciously agreed to prepare a post to celebrate the release of her book GlassWorks from Red Rose Publishing, which is out TODAY! Welcome her with many posts!
Simply Horror-ble
I write horror novels. When I tell people that, they have a difficult time believing it. After all, I look much more like a blonde bimbo than someone who creates monsters in the privacy of her living room. But I just love writing horror…
I didn't begin with any intention of writing scary stuff. I wrote fantasy at first. When a movie company told me they liked my "voice", and asked whether I could write science fiction, I said "Of course", then proceeded to learn how. The horror crept in, though, from that first fantasy draft. It was a product of the thrill, the suspense, the edginess. It wasn't until I hit my paranormal stride that the true horror hit the surface. Now it just sits there much of the time, treading water…
How did my romance novels sprout? Frankly, it was a matter of expediency. I felt that my SF, fantasy, and horror novels weren't really acquiring enough of a public, which meant I needed to push my personal envelope. I'd already done that with book in a month, so I decided to push it further. Romance-writing friends assured me I could do it. I just needed to learn how.
Talk about your learning curves! Romance is very different from science fiction and other speculative fiction genres. The characterization must be shifted, from response/react to a situation, to response/react to one other person. And to be honest, in romance the storyline is not nearly as important as the emotional journey. The setting is window dressing to illustrate your protagonists' qualities, whether good or bad. Qualifiers for the interaction.
Which do I enjoy writing more? The books of my heart, of course, which you might automatically assume are books of The Heart. Wrong! I love writing my SF, fantasy, and paranormal suspense novels much more than romances. I like romances for their brevity, and the fact I can produce twice the number of books and know there are readers out there for them.
Does this sound awful? Not to me, because the romance genre has been an eye-opening experience! Never have I met more authors I like, or experienced the camaraderie, the interaction with readers, the appreciation by the public, or the fun that I have experienced writing romance. As far as "emotional journeys" go, writing romances can't be beat! Just as the characterization in romance novels is different, so is the relationship between writers. Romance novelists, from what I can see, are more open and eager to network, to help out their fellows. I love it!
If I had a chance to do it over, would I still write romances? Yes, but I'd begin writing them sooner. Romances are a hopeful genre, with Happily Ever Afters around every curve, and a horror writer needs that kind of upbeat feedback.
Three cheers for the romance novelist!
Thanks, J. K., for inviting me to blog today!
Regards,
Melody
Excerpt from GlassWorks
Cate picked up the slab of glass from its tilted resting spot. It had dropped nearly intact. Her fingers shook as the first tracings of shimmery silica began to move beneath the surface. All those crystalline lattices somehow rearranging themselves…
She froze, her breath frosting the glass from the sudden chill. Gooseflesh rose on her skin as the air around her grew cold.
It had never happened this way before.
The man was lying there, in the glass, his body sprawled with the indignity of all things dead and unburied. Cate's breath caught in her throat, the unspent fog almost choking her. Oh, God!
It wasn't here—hadn't happened here—but it was happening now.
There was an argument lingering, on the air. She couldn't see the moment of confrontation, or the altercation, but it had been about the mutilated body on the ground. About how to deal with it, to cast off blame with as much ease as they'd cast away his life.
Only, they didn't realize he could hear them still. Hear them and hate them.
Because it had always been about his looks. His looks, and justifying what he was. The grave they were giving him, the twisted notoriety they were planning, would leave him neither looks nor justice.
Cate's eyes focused on his face. What they'd done, what they were doing to the rest of him didn't bear watching.
But, apparently, she did. Bear watching, that is.
The corpse's eyes opened, to stare straight at her.
Cate flinched, twitched, recoiled, but she couldn't let go. Some part of her was screaming, but she was no longer sure whether it was her...or him.
She clung to the pane, trapped. When, a forever it seemed, later, she freed her fingers enough to fling it, she remained there rigid, staring, as the moonglow image shattered in a hundred spiky shards.
Some part of her was still recoiling, as if in reflex to a striking snake.
God help me!
In those instants of metaphysical contact, she felt as though one shriveled digit had touched her. Spanned the gap between life and death—
I'm not a medium!
She'd never been a medium—never even come close. It had been the one blessing, in an otherwise twisted gift, that however conversant she might have become with a dead person's past, she was never conversant with the dead!
Until now, it seemed. Cate backed away, panted white puffs coiling and twisting in the otherwise still air.
I'm not alone.
It should have been comforting, that there was a taxi driver waiting just outside, but somehow, it came out differently. That "I'm not alone" was filled with horror. The taxi driver might be outside, but something else moved within. In a dreadful moment, she knew she'd brought this on herself—that by coming here she'd been willing, demanding almost, a contact with his person—had wanted so badly to save him, that she'd drawn in a soul barely severed from its body.
Cate backed, tripped, twisted, and ran. She tore the length of the room as though the Devil were at her heels, and slammed open the end door with a loud squawking thunk. Using two hands, Cate wrenched the door closed again, locking evil within. She stumbled back, the small door pane fixing her into its framed panel.
He wasn't within. Behind her, his hatred ever so much more pronounced in proximity, was the mutilated visage of the recently deceased.
http://www.redrosepublishing.com
Simply Horror-bleI write horror novels. When I tell people that, they have a difficult time believing it. After all, I look much more like a blonde bimbo than someone who creates monsters in the privacy of her living room. But I just love writing horror…
I didn't begin with any intention of writing scary stuff. I wrote fantasy at first. When a movie company told me they liked my "voice", and asked whether I could write science fiction, I said "Of course", then proceeded to learn how. The horror crept in, though, from that first fantasy draft. It was a product of the thrill, the suspense, the edginess. It wasn't until I hit my paranormal stride that the true horror hit the surface. Now it just sits there much of the time, treading water…
How did my romance novels sprout? Frankly, it was a matter of expediency. I felt that my SF, fantasy, and horror novels weren't really acquiring enough of a public, which meant I needed to push my personal envelope. I'd already done that with book in a month, so I decided to push it further. Romance-writing friends assured me I could do it. I just needed to learn how.
Talk about your learning curves! Romance is very different from science fiction and other speculative fiction genres. The characterization must be shifted, from response/react to a situation, to response/react to one other person. And to be honest, in romance the storyline is not nearly as important as the emotional journey. The setting is window dressing to illustrate your protagonists' qualities, whether good or bad. Qualifiers for the interaction.
Which do I enjoy writing more? The books of my heart, of course, which you might automatically assume are books of The Heart. Wrong! I love writing my SF, fantasy, and paranormal suspense novels much more than romances. I like romances for their brevity, and the fact I can produce twice the number of books and know there are readers out there for them.
Does this sound awful? Not to me, because the romance genre has been an eye-opening experience! Never have I met more authors I like, or experienced the camaraderie, the interaction with readers, the appreciation by the public, or the fun that I have experienced writing romance. As far as "emotional journeys" go, writing romances can't be beat! Just as the characterization in romance novels is different, so is the relationship between writers. Romance novelists, from what I can see, are more open and eager to network, to help out their fellows. I love it!
If I had a chance to do it over, would I still write romances? Yes, but I'd begin writing them sooner. Romances are a hopeful genre, with Happily Ever Afters around every curve, and a horror writer needs that kind of upbeat feedback.
Three cheers for the romance novelist!
Thanks, J. K., for inviting me to blog today!
Regards,
Melody
Excerpt from GlassWorks
Cate picked up the slab of glass from its tilted resting spot. It had dropped nearly intact. Her fingers shook as the first tracings of shimmery silica began to move beneath the surface. All those crystalline lattices somehow rearranging themselves…
She froze, her breath frosting the glass from the sudden chill. Gooseflesh rose on her skin as the air around her grew cold.
It had never happened this way before.
The man was lying there, in the glass, his body sprawled with the indignity of all things dead and unburied. Cate's breath caught in her throat, the unspent fog almost choking her. Oh, God!
It wasn't here—hadn't happened here—but it was happening now.
There was an argument lingering, on the air. She couldn't see the moment of confrontation, or the altercation, but it had been about the mutilated body on the ground. About how to deal with it, to cast off blame with as much ease as they'd cast away his life.
Only, they didn't realize he could hear them still. Hear them and hate them.
Because it had always been about his looks. His looks, and justifying what he was. The grave they were giving him, the twisted notoriety they were planning, would leave him neither looks nor justice.
Cate's eyes focused on his face. What they'd done, what they were doing to the rest of him didn't bear watching.
But, apparently, she did. Bear watching, that is.
The corpse's eyes opened, to stare straight at her.
Cate flinched, twitched, recoiled, but she couldn't let go. Some part of her was screaming, but she was no longer sure whether it was her...or him.
She clung to the pane, trapped. When, a forever it seemed, later, she freed her fingers enough to fling it, she remained there rigid, staring, as the moonglow image shattered in a hundred spiky shards.
Some part of her was still recoiling, as if in reflex to a striking snake.
God help me!
In those instants of metaphysical contact, she felt as though one shriveled digit had touched her. Spanned the gap between life and death—
I'm not a medium!
She'd never been a medium—never even come close. It had been the one blessing, in an otherwise twisted gift, that however conversant she might have become with a dead person's past, she was never conversant with the dead!
Until now, it seemed. Cate backed away, panted white puffs coiling and twisting in the otherwise still air.
I'm not alone.
It should have been comforting, that there was a taxi driver waiting just outside, but somehow, it came out differently. That "I'm not alone" was filled with horror. The taxi driver might be outside, but something else moved within. In a dreadful moment, she knew she'd brought this on herself—that by coming here she'd been willing, demanding almost, a contact with his person—had wanted so badly to save him, that she'd drawn in a soul barely severed from its body.
Cate backed, tripped, twisted, and ran. She tore the length of the room as though the Devil were at her heels, and slammed open the end door with a loud squawking thunk. Using two hands, Cate wrenched the door closed again, locking evil within. She stumbled back, the small door pane fixing her into its framed panel.
He wasn't within. Behind her, his hatred ever so much more pronounced in proximity, was the mutilated visage of the recently deceased.
http://www.redrosepublishing.com
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Another Announcement!
Fellow Linden Bay Romance Author Melody Knight, who also writes fabulous sci-fi and horror novels as N.D. Hansen-Hill will be visiting the blog this Thursday, May 22 to talk about her new book GlassWorks from Red Rose Publishing. She's going to do all the work for me, which means I owe her big time, so everyone make sure to stop by and comment often!
I have great news! My friend and fellow writer Maria Zannini's debut novel, Touch of Fire is released TODAY by Samhain!
Be sure to visit me on Monday, May 26 to read my interview with Maria, and in the meantime don't forget to check out her book!
Between mage and man lies fire.
Leda has been ordered by the House of Ilia to use her fae gifts to find an alchemist’s bible, no matter what the cost. In a world where technology has been replaced by Elemental magic, this book is more dangerous than any spell or potion.
A ragged scrap of parchment is Leda’s only clue and it leads her to the last man known to have had the book—a savagely handsome ex-soldier turned scavenger. Greyhawke Tams. He’ll serve her needs nicely, in both her quest, and her bed.
The last thing Grey remembers is a bar brawl leaving him flat on his face. When he awakes, his situation hasn’t improved. He’s been bound in service to a contemptuous little fire mage with luscious curves and a deceptively innocent face. Grey’s not fooled—he’s hated the Elementals ever since he lost his younger brother to their brutal rites of passage.
But something about Leda tangles his brain faster than any woman he’s ever known. And soon it becomes clear she needs more than his “services”. A barbarous overlord wants that book and he’s willing to shatter Leda—body and spirit—to get it.
She needs his protection. Whether she wants it or not.
Be sure to visit me on Monday, May 26 to read my interview with Maria, and in the meantime don't forget to check out her book!
Between mage and man lies fire.
Leda has been ordered by the House of Ilia to use her fae gifts to find an alchemist’s bible, no matter what the cost. In a world where technology has been replaced by Elemental magic, this book is more dangerous than any spell or potion.
A ragged scrap of parchment is Leda’s only clue and it leads her to the last man known to have had the book—a savagely handsome ex-soldier turned scavenger. Greyhawke Tams. He’ll serve her needs nicely, in both her quest, and her bed.
The last thing Grey remembers is a bar brawl leaving him flat on his face. When he awakes, his situation hasn’t improved. He’s been bound in service to a contemptuous little fire mage with luscious curves and a deceptively innocent face. Grey’s not fooled—he’s hated the Elementals ever since he lost his younger brother to their brutal rites of passage.
But something about Leda tangles his brain faster than any woman he’s ever known. And soon it becomes clear she needs more than his “services”. A barbarous overlord wants that book and he’s willing to shatter Leda—body and spirit—to get it.
She needs his protection. Whether she wants it or not.
Monday, May 19, 2008
Sorry to anyone who tried to come chat at Romance at Heart tonight. Apparently there were "technical difficulties" and the chat will be rescheduled.
_____________________________________________
Hey everyone! I'll be chatting in the Author's Grill at Romance at Heart tonight, Monday, May 19th at 9pm Eastern Standard Time about My Immortal, book 1 in my Immortals Series! 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 you there and look forward to chatting with you.
_____________________________________________
Hey everyone! I'll be chatting in the Author's Grill at Romance at Heart tonight, Monday, May 19th at 9pm Eastern Standard Time about My Immortal, book 1 in my Immortals Series! 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 you there and look forward to chatting with you.
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
[PHOTO REMOVED]
I find this photo soothing. There's a sense of peace here, a serenity to this scene that calls to me, which is good because serenity isn't something that I've been able to call upon reliably in the last little while. But I try, and it also helps to think of why I started doing this in the first place. My family and friends who showed me unending support and understanding. And all of the new friends I've met who have come to mean so much to me.
It's been interesting times. Thank you all for sticking with me along the way.
Wednesday, May 07, 2008
My Immortal
Now available in print!
ORDER YOURS
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.
Tuesday, May 06, 2008
Jump on over to my blog at the Vixens today and help me out with my new book The Trouble With Destiny. One commenter will win a free e-book of My Immortal on the release day of May 15, 2008. But you have to work for it!
Sunday, April 27, 2008
Great news! I've gotten my first review back for My Immortal and here's a taste of what they're saying about it: "This book grabs you from the beginning and never lets go..."
"Rhys is everything you’d want in a wounded, bad boy hero..."
"Amy is everything good about chic-lit with none of the bad..."
- Fallen Angel Reviews
Click here to read the full review!
Monday, April 21, 2008
UPDATES:
My novella is finished! YAY! It has tentatively been entitled The Trouble With Destiny, and I think everyone is really going to like Sarah and Dorian. They've been my most fun characters to write to date.
That means that I will be buckling down to finish writing Book 3 in the Immortals Series, Dark Immortal. It's going to be tough. Alric and Diana are a perfect, beautiful couple, but their path is no easy one.
I'm hosting an interview with fellow Linden Bay Romance author Cat Johnson all this week at the Linden Bay MySpace Blog, so be sure to drop in and get to know Cat, her Task Force Zeta series is fabulous, with strong, sexy military men that will knock your socks off.
And last, but not least, please visit my friend Alex Beecroft's blog this week, to read my latest interview.
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
So my new favourite show is The Big Bang Theory on CBS.
If you haven't seen it rush to your television sets on Mondays at 8:30 p.m. (or check listings if you don't live in Ontario).
It's a brilliantly devised sitcom, the perfect combination of ridiculousness, wild laughs and nerdy humour. You'll probably recognize the character of Leonard as the same guy who played Darlene's boyfriend in Roseanne (and she actually makes a few cameo appearances in this show). Leonard is a brilliant physicist who finds himself taken by the hot new girl who moves in across the hall (very a la Friends, but without the gen-x chic feel). Just how does a socially inept science nerd romance his good-looking neighbour? By inviting her to a 97-hour HALO-3 marathon of course.
But my favourite character is Sheldon, the ultimate super-science geek. I've never laughed so hard in my life.
If you haven't seen it rush to your television sets on Mondays at 8:30 p.m. (or check listings if you don't live in Ontario).
It's a brilliantly devised sitcom, the perfect combination of ridiculousness, wild laughs and nerdy humour. You'll probably recognize the character of Leonard as the same guy who played Darlene's boyfriend in Roseanne (and she actually makes a few cameo appearances in this show). Leonard is a brilliant physicist who finds himself taken by the hot new girl who moves in across the hall (very a la Friends, but without the gen-x chic feel). Just how does a socially inept science nerd romance his good-looking neighbour? By inviting her to a 97-hour HALO-3 marathon of course.
But my favourite character is Sheldon, the ultimate super-science geek. I've never laughed so hard in my life.
Saturday, April 12, 2008
As my friend and fellow Vixen Maggie Robinson has already discussed this week on her blog, April is National Poetry Month. And so I felt inspired to share with you my favourite poem.
It won’t be everyone’s favourite, for it is way too popular and overused for the critics and literary minds of our day. I doubt there’s a school-age child over the age of seven who isn’t already familiar with its rhythm and cadence as repeated in the pinched and nasal tones of Bart Simpson as he echoes “nevermore” to a growingly tormented Homer.
Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered weak and weary,
Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore,
While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping,
As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door.
‘‘Tis some visitor,’ I muttered, ‘tapping at my chamber door -
Only this, and nothing more.’
Whether for good or ill, with its first publication in 1845, Edgar Allan Poe created with The Raven one of the most famous American poems ever written. I think that he would have been quite happy with Bart Simpson’s rendition, and the many other interpretations of his poem over the years, because it was important to him that it be universally appreciable to all—the public and critics alike.
Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there wondering, fearing,
Doubting, dreaming dreams no mortal ever dared to dream before
But the silence was unbroken, and the darkness gave no token,
And the only word there spoken was the whispered word, ‘Lenore!’
This I whispered, and an echo murmured back the word, ‘Lenore!’
Merely this and nothing more.
In the beginning of this dreary evening, this poor guy mourns the death of his beloved Lenore, but he doesn’t really understand death. As the poem progresses though, he starts to question both life and death. The appearance of the ugly bird reflects his inner self trying to reason out his grief, and the raven’s non-answers come from his own subconscious mind. The raven itself was used by Poe probably because of its reputation. For example, in the bible the raven was considered to be an omen of ill fortune, and in Norse mythology, Odin possessed two ravens named Hugin and Munin, representing thought and memory.
Back into the chamber turning, all my soul within me burning,
Soon again I heard a tapping somewhat louder than before.
‘Surely,’ said I, ‘surely that is something at my window lattice;
Let me see then, what thereat is, and this mystery explore -
Let my heart be still a moment and this mystery explore; -
‘Tis the wind and nothing more!’
I love poetry, but sometimes I’ll read something and it’s more of a chore than a joy to experience. I’m as much for symbolism as the next person, but the lengths that some poets can go to couch their prose in hidden innuendo and barely discernable meaning can be more annoying than engaging. Poe himself wrote an essay on the creation of The Raven, entitled “The Philosophy of Composition”, where he likens its composition to a mathematical problem. It starts with a question, begins with ignorance and then develops, revealing answers through discussion and inquiry until the truth can be revealed—whether or not you can accept it.
This I sat engaged in guessing, but no syllable expressing
To the fowl whose fiery eyes now burned into my bosom’s core;
This and more I sat divining, with my head at ease reclining
On the cushion’s velvet lining that the lamp-light gloated o’er,
But whose velvet violet lining with the lamp-light gloating o’er,
She shall press, ah, nevermore!
Edgar Allan Poe’s The Raven is for me, a most beautiful poem, based on the tragedy of sorrow which comes on the death of love. It embodies the basic dichotomy of death—the desire to forget versus the desire to remember. Of course, there’s more to it than that. The Raven raises questions about the nature of reality compared to our flawed perceptions of it, and is about the evolution of self-knowledge. It is about the relationship that exists—however morbid it may sound—between death and beauty. Poe chose the one topic that was universally understood. Death.
‘Prophet!’ said I, ‘thing of evil! - prophet still, if bird or devil!
By that Heaven that bends above us - by that God we both adore -
Tell this soul with sorrow laden if, within the distant Aidenn,
It shall clasp a sainted maiden whom the angels named Lenore -
Clasp a rare and radiant maiden, whom the angels named Lenore?’
Quoth the raven, ‘Nevermore.’
Poe builds the tension up higher and higher, but after the climaxing stanza he tears the whole thing back down, letting us know there is no meaning, no moral in the raven’s “nevermore”. It is just the natural, common drive of the human mind toward understanding what is not given to us to understand.
And the raven, never flitting, still is sitting, still is sitting
On the pallid bust of Pallas just above my chamber door;
And his eyes have all the seeming of a demon’s that is dreaming,
And the lamp-light o’er him streaming throws his shadow on the floor;
And my soul from out that shadow that lies floating on the floor
Shall be lifted - nevermore!
So do you find yourself being drawn to poetry or not? How do you feel about Poe's The Raven? What is your favourite poem and why does it call to you?
Monday, April 07, 2008
My Interview is now up at Manic Readers.
Find it here: (J.K Coi Interview)
________________________________
The story I've been working on these last few weeks is almost finished! When it's done, it should be about 23,000 words, which is a perfect length for a novella. I'm excited for three reasons: because I love when a plot comes together, because the characters have become so dear to me, and because it means that soon I'll be going back to my Immortals to tell Alric's story.
This novella (no title still) was something I started writing on the fly just because I needed a break from the Immortals--Part of me hates to say that because I love them so much, but it's been almost two and a half years non-stop of writing their stories. So this new story was supposed to be fun and light-hearted and just long enough to jump start my creative juices again, since I'd been feeling a little overwhelmed and tired.
If I was so tired, you'd think I would have just turned off the computer for a few days, or a few weeks even, right? But no, I'm not really wired that way. I can't just turn it all off. Even if I'm blocked in one project, I always have three or four other things ruminating down somewhere in the dark corners of my brain, and this was a chance for me to let one of them come up into the light. And I'm so glad that I did.
What I really needed was just to change focus and take the attention away from the thing that was causing my block. I think that the mental process of working on something that was flowing more smoothly and felt good, will help me to approach Alric's book again with a fresh perspective and a little more confidence.
Now that the novella is almost finished, I really like how it turned out. It's not as light-hearted as I originally set out to write it--I don't think I can do comedy. But Sarah is a fabulously sarcastic creature and Dorian just makes you want to drool over the keyboard. I hope everyone will love these two as much as I do, and I'm glad I took the time to tell their story (I'm already thinking of a sequel, LOL).
In the meantime, please come review my Author's Page at Manic Readers (J.K Coi at ManicReaders.com), and look there soon for my interview with them.
Find it here: (J.K Coi Interview)
________________________________
The story I've been working on these last few weeks is almost finished! When it's done, it should be about 23,000 words, which is a perfect length for a novella. I'm excited for three reasons: because I love when a plot comes together, because the characters have become so dear to me, and because it means that soon I'll be going back to my Immortals to tell Alric's story. This novella (no title still) was something I started writing on the fly just because I needed a break from the Immortals--Part of me hates to say that because I love them so much, but it's been almost two and a half years non-stop of writing their stories. So this new story was supposed to be fun and light-hearted and just long enough to jump start my creative juices again, since I'd been feeling a little overwhelmed and tired.
If I was so tired, you'd think I would have just turned off the computer for a few days, or a few weeks even, right? But no, I'm not really wired that way. I can't just turn it all off. Even if I'm blocked in one project, I always have three or four other things ruminating down somewhere in the dark corners of my brain, and this was a chance for me to let one of them come up into the light. And I'm so glad that I did.
What I really needed was just to change focus and take the attention away from the thing that was causing my block. I think that the mental process of working on something that was flowing more smoothly and felt good, will help me to approach Alric's book again with a fresh perspective and a little more confidence.
Now that the novella is almost finished, I really like how it turned out. It's not as light-hearted as I originally set out to write it--I don't think I can do comedy. But Sarah is a fabulously sarcastic creature and Dorian just makes you want to drool over the keyboard. I hope everyone will love these two as much as I do, and I'm glad I took the time to tell their story (I'm already thinking of a sequel, LOL).
In the meantime, please come review my Author's Page at Manic Readers (J.K Coi at ManicReaders.com), and look there soon for my interview with them.
Sunday, March 30, 2008
In honour of a long-held tradition of trickery and pranks, I'm letting you in on some of the most successful April Fool's Day jokes played in past years:
The Taco Liberty Bell
In 1996 the Taco Bell Corporation announced that it had bought the Liberty Bell and was renaming it the Taco Liberty Bell. Hundreds of outraged citizens called the National Historic Park in Philadelphia where the bell was housed to express their anger. Their nerves were only calmed when Taco Bell revealed, a few hours later, that it was all a practical joke. The best line of the day came when White House press secretary Mike McCurry was asked about the sale. Thinking on his feet, he responded that the Lincoln Memorial had also been sold. It would now be known as the Ford Lincoln Mercury Memorial.
The Left-Handed Whopper
In 1998 Burger King published a full page advertisement in USA Today announcing the introduction of a new item to their menu: a "Left-Handed Whopper" specially designed for the 32 million left-handed Americans. According to the advertisement, the new whopper included the same ingredients as the original Whopper (lettuce, tomato, hamburger patty, etc.), but all the condiments were rotated 180 degrees for the benefit of their left-handed customers. The following day Burger King issued a follow-up release revealing that although the Left-Handed Whopper was a hoax, thousands of customers had gone into restaurants to request the new sandwich. Simultaneously, according to the press release, "many others requested their own 'right handed' version."
Anyone else have some interesting and funny April Fool's Day jokes to share?
*Stories found at The Museum of Hoaxes
The Taco Liberty Bell
In 1996 the Taco Bell Corporation announced that it had bought the Liberty Bell and was renaming it the Taco Liberty Bell. Hundreds of outraged citizens called the National Historic Park in Philadelphia where the bell was housed to express their anger. Their nerves were only calmed when Taco Bell revealed, a few hours later, that it was all a practical joke. The best line of the day came when White House press secretary Mike McCurry was asked about the sale. Thinking on his feet, he responded that the Lincoln Memorial had also been sold. It would now be known as the Ford Lincoln Mercury Memorial.
The Sydney Iceberg
On April 1, 1978 a barge appeared in Sydney Harbor towing a giant iceberg. Sydneysiders were expecting it. Dick Smith, a local adventurer and millionaire businessman (owner of Dick Smith's Foods), had been loudly promoting his scheme to tow an iceberg from Antarctica for quite some time. Now he had apparently succeeded. He said that he was going to carve the berg into small ice cubes, which he would sell to the public for ten cents each. These well-traveled cubes, fresh from the pure waters of Antarctica, were promised to improve the flavor of any drink they cooled. Slowly the iceberg made its way into the harbor. Local radio stations provided excited blow-by-blow coverage of the scene. Only when the berg was well into the harbor was its secret revealed. It started to rain, and the firefighting foam and shaving cream that the berg was really made of washed away, uncovering the white plastic sheets beneath.
On April 1, 1978 a barge appeared in Sydney Harbor towing a giant iceberg. Sydneysiders were expecting it. Dick Smith, a local adventurer and millionaire businessman (owner of Dick Smith's Foods), had been loudly promoting his scheme to tow an iceberg from Antarctica for quite some time. Now he had apparently succeeded. He said that he was going to carve the berg into small ice cubes, which he would sell to the public for ten cents each. These well-traveled cubes, fresh from the pure waters of Antarctica, were promised to improve the flavor of any drink they cooled. Slowly the iceberg made its way into the harbor. Local radio stations provided excited blow-by-blow coverage of the scene. Only when the berg was well into the harbor was its secret revealed. It started to rain, and the firefighting foam and shaving cream that the berg was really made of washed away, uncovering the white plastic sheets beneath.
The Left-Handed Whopper
In 1998 Burger King published a full page advertisement in USA Today announcing the introduction of a new item to their menu: a "Left-Handed Whopper" specially designed for the 32 million left-handed Americans. According to the advertisement, the new whopper included the same ingredients as the original Whopper (lettuce, tomato, hamburger patty, etc.), but all the condiments were rotated 180 degrees for the benefit of their left-handed customers. The following day Burger King issued a follow-up release revealing that although the Left-Handed Whopper was a hoax, thousands of customers had gone into restaurants to request the new sandwich. Simultaneously, according to the press release, "many others requested their own 'right handed' version."
15th Annual New York City April Fool’s Day Parade
In 2000 a news release was sent to the media stating that the 15th annual New York City April Fool's Day Parade was scheduled to begin at noon on 59th Street and would proceed down to Fifth Avenue. According to the release, floats in the parade would include a "Beat 'em, Bust 'em, Book 'em" float created by the New York, Los Angeles, and Seattle police departments. This float would portray "themes of brutality, corruption and incompetence." A "Where's Mars?" float, reportedly built at a cost of $10 billion, would portray missed Mars missions. Finally, the "Atlanta Braves Baseball Tribute to Racism" float would feature John Rocker who would be "spewing racial epithets at the crowd." CNN and the Fox affiliate WNYW sent television news crews to cover the parade. They arrived at 59th Street at noon only to discover that there was no sign of a parade, at which point the reporters realized they had been hoaxed. The prank was the handiwork of Joey Skaggs, an experienced hoaxer. Skaggs had been issuing press releases advertising the nonexistent parade every April Fool's Day since 1986.
In 2000 a news release was sent to the media stating that the 15th annual New York City April Fool's Day Parade was scheduled to begin at noon on 59th Street and would proceed down to Fifth Avenue. According to the release, floats in the parade would include a "Beat 'em, Bust 'em, Book 'em" float created by the New York, Los Angeles, and Seattle police departments. This float would portray "themes of brutality, corruption and incompetence." A "Where's Mars?" float, reportedly built at a cost of $10 billion, would portray missed Mars missions. Finally, the "Atlanta Braves Baseball Tribute to Racism" float would feature John Rocker who would be "spewing racial epithets at the crowd." CNN and the Fox affiliate WNYW sent television news crews to cover the parade. They arrived at 59th Street at noon only to discover that there was no sign of a parade, at which point the reporters realized they had been hoaxed. The prank was the handiwork of Joey Skaggs, an experienced hoaxer. Skaggs had been issuing press releases advertising the nonexistent parade every April Fool's Day since 1986.
Anyone else have some interesting and funny April Fool's Day jokes to share?
*Stories found at The Museum of Hoaxes
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Meet Sarah, my newest character. She came banging on the doors of my mind these last few days, demanding that I tell her story, so I've decided to give you a little peek into her world:
I thought I would be an accountant when I grew up. I could even maybe see myself doing something a little more adventurous like pushing paper at a law firm. Never once in all my childhood imaginings did I dream that I would become Buffy the daemon slayer.
Ah, yeah, that was daemon, not vampire. No vampires in my neck of the woods. Thank God, because come to think of it, if there were, I’d probably be stuck hunting them down too. Thank goodness for small favors I guess. I’ve got enough on my plate lately as it is dealing with the mangy hell beasts that come through the gateway.
And no, my name’s not really Buffy. Again, thank goodness for small favors. It’s Sarah. Plain old Sarah, who should have been a plain old accountant. But fate can be a funny thing. Okay, I’m leaning more towards lousy. Fate can be a damn lousy thing.
Take tonight for instance. It’s really not my night. Actually, night isn’t much my thing at the best of times, I tend to pass out around nine if given half the chance. Another reason why I’m really itching for that accounting software.
But since I came into this fateful occupation just a month ago, I’ve been forced to assume perma night owl status. I spend my time from dusk to dawn prowling the darkest corners of Toronto, not in search of the next happening club, which is what I should be doing at twenty-three years old, but on the hunt for daemons.
I feel no bitterness about that. Really.
It sounds ridiculous. Unbelievable. I know, because that’s exactly what I thought myself when I was attacked by one of these things on my way home from school last month and ended up stuck with the job of killing them.
*Art by Amanda Prue www.amandaprue.com
Friday, March 21, 2008
The release date for My Immortal looms closer and closer, and so starts the necessary rounds of promotional "appearances". At least I don't have to leave my computer, and neither do you!!
Let me know how you like it, and I'm happy to answer more questions, just post them here for me!
Let me know how you like it, and I'm happy to answer more questions, just post them here for me!
Sunday, March 16, 2008
Isn't it purty?!
Please come and visit my website at jkcoi.com for more information about Book Two in the Immortals Series, coming July 15, 2008 from Linden Bay Romance!
Please come and visit my website at jkcoi.com for more information about Book Two in the Immortals Series, coming July 15, 2008 from Linden Bay Romance!
Saturday, February 23, 2008
So, I haven't a clue what I'm doing when it comes to things like web design, and online promotions and marketing. I barely knew what it meant to blog until recently. (I never really considered my odd and far between posts here as blogging, more like pointless ranting into cyperspace because nobody else really reads this, LOL)
I really just want to write.
But the flurry of activity around me recently has succeeded in wearing me down and I now have a MySpace page (J.K.Coi) (oh the horrors). And I'm on Facebook (not as bad). Hopefully, you've already seen the website (A thing of beauty-Thank you so much Snorfus)
Okay, then. Friend me please!!
