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Archive for June, 2008

The best things in life are free

Thursday, June 26th, 2008
Kate Duffy Icon

Thanks to the Kindle I have met a fabulous new author. St. Martin’s offered the first 2 Julia Spencer-Fleming mysteries for free download for about a one week period.

I got them and devoured them. I have since read the other 4 in her fabulous series. Some on the Kindle which I paid for and others which I also paid for. Mystery and romance – Christmas in June for me. Yeah, I think I read the first one about 2 weeks ago. I recommended these books, after reading the first 2, to about 5 other friends, all of whom have bought at least 1 but in most cases more. P.S. Not one of these poor people have a Kindle. There should be a law. Everyone has gotten hooked on Clare and Russ and the mysteries get more and more complex. Just wonderful.

I think this is brilliant marketing. It compelled me to purchase more books and to tell my family and friends who purchased more books and hopefully they will spread the word. And so on, and so on, and so on.

Next to word of mouth, this is the most powerful thing I have seen in a while.

Today, I can get from Amazon a Sherrilyn Kenyon backlist title for $0.00. You think anyone who hasn’t read her before could resist an offer like this? I don’t.

And that, ladies and gents, is what I call growing the market.

Kate

Categories : Kate Duffy
Comments (20)

Coming up from copy-edits…

Wednesday, June 25th, 2008
Cynthia Eden Icon

Hi, everyone! As I write this post, I’m taking a breather from my copy-edit work on MIDNIGHT SINS. (I really love that title!) I’m enjoying checking in with the characters in this book–my heroine is a succubus. (This is the first time I’ve written a demon book; in the past, I’ve been a shifter or vampire girl.) Researching the succubus, well, now that was a fun experience. Try Googling “succubus”–when you see the results, you’ll understand what I mean. :-)

I can’t remember if I’ve posted the cover for MIDNIGHT SINS yet, so I’ll just put it up (again?).

What do you think?

And here’s my blurb for MIDNIGHT SINS:

Cara Maloan doesn’t look like a monster. In fact, the gorgeous blond nightclub singer possesses heavenly attributes that make Atlanta detective Todd Brooks sure there’s a higher power somewhere. But a twisted killer is leaving a trail of bodies in seedy hotel rooms across town. The male victims show no wounds–it’s as if the life was simply drained from them. And right now, mysterious Cara is Todd’s only suspect.

Cara knows it’s foolish to be so drawn to a man who thinks she’s a murderer. She also knows Detective Brooks would find the truth even harder to swallow. Cara is one of the Other, a race of powerful, paranormal creatures who live among humans. Cara’s particular abilities make men putty in her hands–all except this rugged, sexy-as-hell detective. But now someone, or something, has singled Cara out for serious payback.

As uneasy trust gives way to mind-blowing desire, Cara and Todd will go head-to-head with a killer whose mission is deeply personal, and who’s determined to serve up revenge that’s hotter than hellfire, and just as deadly…

****************************************************************************

When I was in the process of writing this story and my friends asked me to describe it, I told ‘em it was Basic Instinct meets The X-Files (and, by the way, I’m really looking forward to that new movie! Mulder, I have missed you!).

But I’d probably better get back to reviewing the copy-edits…

Before I go, I feel the urge to give away a prize. I’ve got an ARC of EVERLASTING BAD BOYS just sitting here, waiting to be read. Want it? If so, then leave me a comment—tell me a summer movie or book you’re looking forward to—and I’ll be back on Saturday to pick a winner.

Thanks!

Categories : Cynthia Eden
Comments (35)

Books and Mushrooms

Friday, June 20th, 2008
Diane Whiteside Icon

Back in February, my family decided to sell our house. Given that we wanted to make the most money (d’uh!), we followed our realtor’s advice and emptied our closets as much as possible. End result? Sixty boxes of my books went into storage until we could move to a new town.

We arrived at our new home (yay!!!) and the moving trucks pulled up. Out rolled box after box after box of books. And more boxes. And even more! At the end of the day, my original sixty had at least doubled, probably more.

What did they do, in the darkness of the rented storage space? Send out shoots and gather up all the other books in that giant facility to them, saying here was somebody who can’t bear to throw books out? Sprout like mushrooms?

I’ve now got collections I barely remember. Passions whose scale astonish me. Okay, I admit I’ll buy any Georgette Heyer book standing still but that many boxes of cookbooks? I have every edition of everything Linda Howard ever wrote. <thud> (Okay, that’s probably a really good idea…) Did I really buy all those Suzanne Brockmann books in one six-month period, the way my family keeps reminding me? Talk about glomming an author!

Have you ever woken up to find yourself with stacks of books you barely remember buying? Do you enjoy gobbling up books by an author? Who have you discovered this way? Did you want to keep the books or give them away?

Diane, wondering what comes next

Categories : Diane Whiteside
Comments (11)

Revisiting old friends

Monday, June 16th, 2008
Beth Williamson Icon

I’m in the middle of writing The Redemption of Micah, my second Brava book and the one that follows The Education of Madeline. I wrote Madeline’s book a few years ago, so Micah’s story is like taking a trip to visit old friends.

And it’s a very comfortable journey.

To start the process I re-read Madeline’s story and found myself engrossed again in Plum Creek Colorado, circa 1872. Madeline’s character had a lot of me in her, and I fell in love with her and Teague all over again. And then there was Micah.

Ah, gentlemanly tortured Micah with a drinking problem, a tremendous scar on his face and a broken heart. I’m not sure what it is about men with emotionally shatterd souls, but they appeal to me more than a confident handsome rogue. Micah is a man who cannot find his way out of the dark without a very bright light to guard him. He’s been lost for so long, he has stopped trying.

It’s amazing to me that I can relate to this man, this character I invented from my head and he becomes real to me. I feel his pain, his longing, his absolute need for redemption. Does that make me a little wonky? More than likely.

I get very caught up in my characters, probably more than I should. I’ll confess now that I’ve cried when writing a scene (not to mention other more interesting emotions). I wonder how many other writers get down deep in their character’s stories.

Then again, it’s like visiting old friends, laughing, crying, getting wiggly, and finding joy together. I’m off to get busy with Micah again, I’ll be back in a bit.

Categories : Beth Williamson
Comments (4)

Name that Book

Tuesday, June 10th, 2008
Lucy Monroe Icon

Hey, Peeps…as Lori Foster would say. :)

I thought we’d have a little fun and do a NAME THAT BOOK teaser. For a little behind the book fun, here is a picture of the heroine’s namesake (the one in front) on the catwalk during a bridal show.

Belle on the Catwalk

She was halfway down the catwalk when her gaze snagged on a pair of green eyes. The color of new grass, they were set in a face as hard as granite and as sexy as sin.

The look in those eyes caught her as effectively as if the man’s hands had closed over her shoulders and halted her mid-step. She did in fact stop, her body freezing with a blast of sensations totally alien to her. Sensations that belied every one of the nasty headlines.

Her pause lasted only a second, but she felt the first blush she’d had in years crawling hotly up her skin.

The man’s thin lips quirked in a knowing smile.

Obviously aware that he was the cause of her hesitation, his expression reflected a mixture of mocking humor and blatant male approval.

She’d spent years learning to ignore the masculine admiration her body elicited. For her, the perfectly proportioned curves were a tool of her trade, nothing more, but this man’s look went zinging to the very heart of her.

Frissons of awareness skittered along her nerve endings, leaving goose bumps of sensation in unlikely places.

She stopped at the end of the stage, which happened to be right in front of his table while two other models wearing eveningwear came down the catwalk to flank her.

His eyes flared with pleasure as she stood in a mannequin still pose before him and his dark blonde head tilted slightly, as if he was adjusting his angle to look at her better.

An electric current vibrated across the space between them, inexorably connecting them.

Unbelievably, her nipples grew hard and her breasts felt tight while her thighs trembled with the effort it took to maintain her pose.

She’d never reacted during a show this way. Not ever.

Only years of practice and discipline made it possible for her to move through her choreographed routine with the other two models. However, no matter which direction she turned, she felt that amazing connection.

It was scary.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++

I’ll draw a winner from the comments on this post to receive the book. :) And if you already have it? You can do a book of choice instead.

Hugs,
Lucy

P.S. Can anyone guess who the gorgeous young woman on the catwalk really is?

Categories : Lucy Monroe
Comments (15)

It’s Monday!

Monday, June 9th, 2008
Karen Kelley Icon

It’s Monday!
Good morning everyone. Did you have a great weekend? My writers group had their conference this weekend. We had some awesome speakers! Definitely good energy flowing.

Thanks to everyone who has e-mailed to let me know how much they love Temperature’s Rising! That is so awesome.

And I’m so excited The Bad Boys Guide To The Galaxy will be out in a few weeks. Here’s a couple of the reviews:

This third Planet Nerak book is hysterically funny, with crazy alien antics, a surprise character cameo and literal out-of-this-world lovemaking. Readers will laugh out loud at the latest Nerakian desires and distractions and be pleased with the plethora of details finally revealed about Nerak.
Romantic Times reviewer, Jennifer Madsen 4 Stars

Karen has put together a fantastic read. It has scenes so hot that it scorches the pages, so funny that you laugh out loud, unexpected turns with interplanetary travel and the planet Nerak. I would recommend this read to anyone, and am eagerly looking forward to the next book to see where this talented author is taking us. Cryna Palmiere, reader

Are those not cool???

Hey y’all, I’m gearing up for almost back to back contests for my newsletter group. You can join at my website: www.authorkarenkelley.com It’s free and easy and I’m the only one who posts so you won’t get a ton of e-mail or anything.

Have a good one!
Karen Kelley
Cosmic Sex January 29, 2008 Brava
The Power of Love anth/Berkley June 3, 2008
Reissue Mass Market Temperature’s Rising June 3, 2008
The Bad Boys Guide To The Galaxy July 2008 Brava
www.authorkarenkelley.com
www.myspace.com/authorkarenkelley

Categories : Karen Kelley
Comments (4)

Release Day – Almost Here!

Wednesday, June 4th, 2008
HelenKay Dimon Icon

I love this time in the book release cycle. We’re about three weeks out from the point where the July ’08 Brava releases hit the bookstore shelves. Reviews are starting to come out. Author copies will arrive any day now. It’s a mix of being nervous and excited. And, for me, the thrill of holding the book that first time is as fabulous on book seven as it was with my very first release.

This release is extra special because my upcoming release, HARD AS NAILS, is a follow-up to the first novella I ever had published. It was in the anthology WHEN GOOD THINGS HAPPEN TO BAD BOYS. Having the opportunity to revisit characters I loved and letting their stories unfold was just a fantastic writing experience.

I also enjoyed going back because I’ve always been a fan of connected books. It’s something I learned as a reader from authors like Nora Roberts and Lori Foster. See, when I first started reading romance I stumbled across their work and had the joy of following family members as each got their own books.

And now it’s my turn to give writing connected/related books a try.

Do you like connected books? For me, they work. I know others don’t feel the same way. What about you? Let me know your thoughts and you’ll be entered to win a copy of WHEN GOOD THINGS HAPPEN TO BAD BOYS. I’ll pick an winner this week and post it here in the comments.

Good luck…and go pre-order :)

Categories : HelenKay Dimon
Comments (40)

Book Reviews — to read or not to read?

Tuesday, June 3rd, 2008

Are all those actors, writers and musicians who claim they never clap eyes on a review of their work for real? Because, honestly, who can resist?
Those first reviews are agonizing, in a pleasure/pain kind of way. You want to look. Then you don’t. It was a rush to discover that Romantic Times gave my first novel, Explosive, 4.5 stars and a Top Pick rating. And five stars from Harriet Klausner, the top reviewer for Amazon. Yes, it’s all good but then you wait for the other shoe to drop. It’s a wildly subjective business after all — a fave for one reader is a snooze for another.

In any case — do you believe in reviews? Do you read them, search them out? If that’s a yes, which blogs, websites, magazines, Amazon?

Categories : Charlotte Mede
Comments (9)

Monday, June 2nd, 2008
Gemma Bruce Icon

I never enter contests or drawings or buy raffle tickets except for a good cause. They always seem so . . . so . . . random. But this year I decided to bite the bullet and enter two writing contests. And Wow! I’m happy to say that Who Wants to Be A Sex Goddess was a finalist in the Holt Medallion Awards and is a finalist in the Greater Detroit Booksellers Best Award.
How cool is that?
I was flashed and appreciative and it certainly made facing that blank page a little easier the next day. Which just goes to show you that a jolt of positive reinforcement never hurts. Think I’ll try dishing out a little more of it myself.

Categories : Gemma Bruce
Comments (8)