Jocelynn Drake's Blog: Announcements, page 28

Book Signing

The book sale is now over but the big promotion machine is just getting under way as we get closer to the release of DEAD MAN'S DEAL in Tuesday, May 7.  To celebrate the release of the second book in the Asylum Tales series, I will be signing books at Schuler's Books and Music on Thursday, May 9 from 7pm to 9pm.


This is your chance to stop by, get a signed book, and ask me any burning questions that you might have about Gage, Bronx, Trixie, Gideon, Chang, and the rest of the Low Town crew.  I would also be happy to answer any lingering questions you might have about the Dark Days Series.

The address is:

1982 Grand River Ave
Okemos, MI 48864
Phone: 517.349.8840

Some of my guest blogs and interviews are starting to appear on the internet as well.  Here are a couple links that you might find useful:

Digging in the Darkness for the Asylum Tales

An Interview with Jocelynn Drake

Also, here are some reviewers early thoughts on Dead Man's Deal:

Mad Hatter Reads

A Book Obsession

Literary Escapism

Just 6 more days until the new novel is out!

Checking In With Book Deals & More

The weekend is slipping away from me far too fast.  I've got so much writing to get done and no time to do it.  I just wanted to pop in with a few little things.

1. My e-books for the Dark Days series and the Asylum Tales short stories are still on sale for only $0.99 each.  This is going on for 9 more days.  On May 1, the sale is over.  Don't miss out.  This is a great opportunity to get caught up on the Asylum Tales before the release of DEAD MAN'S DEAL on May 9.  For more details on the sale, please click here.

2.  I am making one book signing appearance to support Dead Man's Deal.  I haven't seen the announcement go up on the store events calendar yet, but I will be officially announcing it this week.  Stay tuned on how you can get a signed copy of DEAD MAN'S DEAL.

3. The release of DEAD MAN'S DEAL is only 16 days away!  Are you needing another dose of Gage and his insanity?  It's coming soon.  In the second novel, you'll meet more strange creatures as you follow Gage through his attempts to save Trixie from the Summer Court while he also tries to free himself and Bronx from the manipulative grip of the local mafia boss.

4.  You've read all of the Dark Days series and the Asylum Tales, and you still need something new to read while you wait for May 7.  I've got something for you.  Kim Harrison's Ever After is currently on sale for $7.99 for Kindle and Nook.  If you haven't picked up this book yet, this is a great time.  For more details, please click here.

5. Richard Kadrey has a new short story out called Suspect Zero.  It's only $0.99 and is about a fledgling serial killer.  For more details, please click here.

Happy Reading!

Dark Days & Asylum Tales on Sale

I received some awesome news from my publisher and I am so excited to pass it along!

For the month of April, all the Dark Days series e-books and the e-novellas for the Asylum Tales are on sale!  Each story will be priced at $0.99 for the Kindle, Nook, and Kobo.

What exactly is included in this deal?

For the Dark Days series, that's:  

Prequel e-novellas
Bound to Me
The Dead, the Damned, and the Forgotten

e-books
Nightwallker
Dayhunter
Dawnbreaker
Pray for Dawn
Wait for Dusk
Burn the Night




For the Asylum Tales, that's:


Prequel e-novellas
The Asylum Interviews: Bronx
The Asylum Interviews: Trixie  

e-anthology
Blood by Moonlight (which includes the short story "Of Men and Monsters" from the Asylum Tales)

In all, that's 11 individual stories over the Dark Days series and Asylum Tales.  At a rate of $0.99 each, that's going to cost you only $10.89 (not including tax).  

Think of how much reading that is!  Hours and hours of reading for less than $11!

If you've tried the Dark Days series, but haven't picked up the Asylum Tales yet, this is great way to start.  For $3, you can get the three novellas that introduce you to Gage, Trixie, and Bronx in the city of Low Town.


If you've tried the Asylum Tales and are interested in giving my vampires a try, this is the perfect time to meet the Fire Starter Mira and the vampire hunter Danaus.  There are a total of 8 individual stories for the Dark Days series (6 novels and 2 novellas), which will cost you only $8 for the e-books this month.

What are the series about?

The Dark Days series follows nightwalker Mira as she is forced to team up with a centuries-old nightwalker hunter, Danaus, as they fight to stop the return of an evil race that is determined to destroy both nightwalkers and humans.  Nicknamed the Fire Starter, Mira has a few unique gifts inherited from her father, which she's going to need as she struggles to figure out who she can trust in a race to save mankind.

The Asylum Tales is told by recovering-warlock-turned-tattoo-artist Gage Powell.  In his world, all the magical creatures are out in the open and in need of some magical assistance if they are to survive the brutal oppression of the warlocks and witches from the Ivory Towers.  Stirring a magic potion into a person's tattoo can give them love, luck, or even revenge.  Stop in Asylum Tattoo Parlor and meet Gage, Bronx (a troll) and Trixie (an elf).  They've got some strange stories to tell.


If you're interested in picking up nearly all my e-books at bargain prices, I've got some links that will help speed you along.

Jocelynn Drake's Kindle Page on Amazon

Jocelynn Drake's Nook Page on Barnes & Noble

Jocelynn Drake's Page on Kobo

 Happy Reading!

Book Heaven

Hey! Look!
Jocelynn's still alive.

yeah... yeah... I've been lost in revisions and haven't stuck my head out for much recently.  I promise to give an update later this week.  Today, I'm here to talk about some of the awesome books that have been released recently.

The past two weeks have featured books from some of my favorite authors.  Just in case you haven't caught all the coolness that has come out recently, let me provide you with an interesting list.

Last week saw the release of the second book in Vicki Pettersson's Celestial Blues series.

Here is the back cover copy for The Lost:

Griffin Shaw and his wife were both murdered fifty years ago. Now a minor angel, Grif’s been granted permission to solve the mystery of his own death . . . if he helps the Pure angels guide those souls who might otherwise be Lost.

Souls like Jeap Yang, a drug addict in his final moments of life. Grif knows that death is coming, but he cannot intervene. However, Grif’s mortal lover, reporter Katherine “Kit” Craig, isn’t constrained by angelic protocol. If she can stop a death, she will.

But as Kit is about to find out, there are things more traumatic and evil than murder. A strange new drug is literally eating tweakers’ flesh from their bones, and Kit’s crusade to get it off the streets is set to propel her and Grif into a battle with a vicious drug cartel. They’ll have to scramble to stay alive, stay together, and choose their own fate . . . before it’s chosen for them.

 Then this week, we have:

The final book in Rachel Vincent's Soul Screamers series.  I have to admit that I haven't yet read this series because I don't typically read young adult, however, I loved her Shifters series so I am confident that Soul Screamers is awesome as well.

Here is the the back cover copy for With All My Soul.

What does it mean when your school is voted the most dangerous in America?

It's time to kick some hellion butt…

After not really surviving her junior year (does "undead" count as survival?), Kaylee Cavanaugh has vowed to take back her school from the hellions causing all the trouble. She's going to find a way to turn the incarnations of Avarice, Envy and Vanity against one another in order to protect her friends and finish this war, once and forever.

But then she meets Wrath and understands that she's closer to the edge than she's ever been. And when one more person close to her is taken, Kaylee realizes she can't save everyone she loves without risking everything she has.…

Soul Screamers, the last thing you hear before you die...

We also have the debut of a relatively new author's urban fantasy series.  I have read some other stories written by Rinda Elliott under another name and I love them, so I am anxious to start this book, which is waiting impatiently on my computer.

Here is the back cover copy for Dweller on the Threshold:

On a hunt to save her sister, the last thing Beri O’Dell needs is love. Aren’t demons bad enough?
Beri O’Dell, Book 1

Beri O’Dell is investigating paranormal creatures because she wants to know what she is. Taller and stronger than most men, she astral projects and can peel through dimensional layers to see the creatures and spirits beyond.

She once helped her foster sister, Detective Elsa Remington, track down killers in Jacksonville, Florida, but stopped when a nasty fire elemental turned her strength against her. Now, she finds herself pulled back when something steals Elsa’s soul and puts her into a coma.

With little time to spare, Beri searches for the reason behind her sister’s coma. She has help in her spirit guides Fred and Phro, but others come along for the ride, including a pyro-nervous witch, and an androgynous necromancer.

The last thing Beri needs is to fall in love with a mysterious stranger. But the handsome Minoan warrior Nikolos knows what creature she’s after because he’s battled it before.

It’s bad.

Really, really bad.

He calls it the Dweller on the Threshold.

Warning: Contains a worried heroine with no time, a witch with fire problems, a pissed-off necromancer, a trapped goddess, and a damned sexy, but scary, warrior. Throw in bloody battles, mass-murderer history lessons and a bit of sexy time and you get the start of Beri’s new life.

Need some vampires?  Jeaniene Frost's second book in the Night Prince series also came out this week.  Read more about the yummy Vlad and Leila in Twice Tempted.

Here is the back cover copy for Twice Tempted:

Dating the Prince of Darkness has its challenges
Leila’s psychic abilities have been failing her, and now she isn’t sure what the future holds. If that weren’t enough, her lover Vlad has been acting distant. Though Leila is a mere mortal, she’s also a modern woman who refuses to accept the cold shoulder treatment forever–especially from the darkly handsome vampire who still won’t admit that he loves her . . .

Like choosing between eternal love and a loveless eternity 
Soon circumstances send Leila back to the carnival circuit, where tragedy strikes. And when she finds herself in the crosshairs of a killer who may be closer than she realizes, Leila must decide who to trust– the fiery vampire who arouses her passions like no other or the tortured knight who longs to be more than a friend? With danger stalking her every step of the way, all it takes is one wrong move to damn her for eternity . . .

And last but certainly not least....
J.R. Ward's Lover at Last is FINALLY out.  If you've followed her Black Dagger Brotherhood series, you have likely been anxiously waiting for the story of Blay and Qhuinn. I'm a few books behind but I'm hoping to catch up with some summer reading. :)

Here is the back cover copy for Lover at Last:

Qhuinn, son of no one, is used to being on his own. Disavowed from his bloodline, shunned by the aristocracy, he has finally found an identity as one of the most brutal fighters in the war against the Lessening Society. But his life is not complete. Even as the prospect of having a family of his own seems to be within reach, he is empty on the inside, his heart given to another....


Blay, after years of unrequited love, has moved on from his feelings for Qhuinn. And it’s about time: The male has found his perfect match in a Chosen female, and they are going to have a young—just as Qhuinn has always wanted for himself. It’s hard to see the new couple together, but building your life around a pipe dream is just a heartbreak waiting to happen. As he’s learned firsthand.

 Fate seems to have taken these vampire soldiers in different directions... but as the battle over the race’s throne intensifies, and new players on the scene in Caldwell create mortal danger for the Brotherhood, Qhuinn finally learns the true definition of courage, and two hearts who are meant to be together... finally become one.


If you're a lover of urban fantasy, then you are just jumping for joy at all the awesome that is now waiting to be read.  If only there were more hours in the day!  Happy Reading!

Tuesday Flashback: The World of The Asylum Tales

This week’s flashback isn’t quite as big of a trip into the past since the first Asylum Tales story hit last summer.  However, from various reader comments and questions, I thought I’d take the time to go into a little more detail about Gage’s world and bring up an essay Gage provided some time ago.  

In the Asylum Tales, nearly every creature is open about their existence and is recognized as having the same basic civil rights and liberties so long as they don’t infringe upon the rights of others.  There are a few still in hiding and for good reason.  This openness traces back to around the time of the Black Death – the plague sweeping through Europe and elsewhere.  The plague touched nearly all races and the peoples banded together to find a way of stopping it.  Most attempts failed, but it was the witches and the warlocks who were the most effective in curing and stopping the spread of the plague.  

The witches and the warlocks were celebrated.  They were healers and saviors.  During the next few hundred years, all the different peoples learned to live together, though it was not easy.  The warlocks and the witches were accepted, but generally forgotten after a time as people focused on the bigger problem of living.  That was the beginning of the downfall.  To learn more about the defeat of the peoples of the world and the Great War, please click this link to The Subjugation of the Races essay.  

Fast forward to present day and you have nearly all the races living together in some semblance of harmony.   The only peoples that are relatively evenly spread are humans, though incubi and succubi are a close second.  In the United States, you’ll find more fey in the Midwest and along the Rockies due to the forest land and mountains.  The coastal states see a higher concentration of water races like selkies, undines, merpeople, and water sprites.  

While warlocks and witches aren’t the only one who can use magic, they have the widest array of abilities when it comes to magic.  The other races tend to have very specific gifts or specializations.  The Summer Court of elves is good at making things grow and some limited abilities with glamour and weather.  The Winter Court excels at glamour, illusions, and entering and affecting dreams.  Shape-shifters tend to be fast healers, have heightened senses, and are frequently strong or faster.  Gargoyles turn to stone in sunlight and have a heightened awareness of the city they inhabit.  Pixie glow and hobgoblins can temporarily shapeshift into anything they want.  

And somehow in all of this diversity, these people found a way to live together.  Of course, having a common energy often has the amazing ability to bring people together.  

Be sure to stop by next week when I post a brand new article about Gage’s magic training in the Ivory Towers.

Cover Reveal: Dead Man's Deal

I can't think of a better way to finish out the week than by officially revealing the cover of my next book, Dead Man's Deal.  Released on May 7, Dead Man's Deal continues with Gage's story of fighting the Ivory Towers and trying to manage a normal relationship with an elf, while tattooing the populace of Low Town.

Would you like to see the cover?

BAM!

Isn't that all kinds of awesome?!?! I really do love my covers.

Also, here's the cover copy for the book:

In a world where elves, faeries, trolls, werewolves, and vampires swim free in a sea of humanity, sometimes you need an edge. Looking for a little love? Need some luck? Desperate for revenge? Gage can give you what you need. The most talented tattoo artist in town, he knows the right symbol and the right mix of ingredients and ink to achieve your heart's desire. One tattoo is all it takes. But remember, everything has its price. . . .

Gage learned that lesson long ago, in ways he'd rather not remember. But the cruel and powerful wizards in the dreaded Ivory Towers he escaped aren't about to let him forget. Though Gage has managed to stay out of sight, he can't outrun the past forever.

The wizards know Gage is using forbidden magic, and they intend to punish him for his transgressions.

Too bad if innocent humans and monsters—entire cities—get in the way. They will quell a nascent magical uprising and Gage will be the sacrifice they need. First, though, they have to find him . . .

The book is available for pre-order and is even discounted at Amazon and Barnes & Noble right now.

Math Hates Me

Math can be a dangerous thing.  It has a way of occasionally making things look deceptively easy only to have them bite you in the ass at a later date.

I will freely admit that I don't like math.  Yes, I spent years in the financial industry but that doesn't mean I liked the math part. I just accepted it as part of my job and figured out how to get good at it.

But book math can be deadly.

Let me show you the book math that I've been doing recently.

Recently, I've set the goal of writing a minimum of 2,000 words per day, 7 days per week.

Now isn't a strain for me.  I will frequently use a cooking timer set at 60 minutes.  For 60 minutes, I'm not allowed to get up, answer the phone, check email, or get on the Internet to look something up and generally waste time.  In 60 minutes, I average about 1,500 words.  Pretty darn good.

Keeping in mind, that I need to only write 2,000 words per day, I can get all my writing done in approximately 2 hours (including a quick 30-minute break to goof off).  This schedule works for me since I spend 5 days a week at a full-time job writing other, non-fiction type things.

This is all good and safe so far.  But here's where the math starts to get dangerous.

There are an average of 30 days in a month.  So 2000 words per day over 30 days means that I can churn out 60,000 words per month.  Wow!

Looking back at my published novels, my books run between 115,000 and 125,000 words.

Yeah, now you follow me.  At that schedule, I can write 1 book every 2 months.

Or

6 books per year.

WHOA! That's not right.  We forgot about editing.  Okay, so let's tack on another month to that book estimate for edits as well.  I can write 1 book every 3 months.

Or

4 books per year.

That is a really seductive number.  Four books per year.  That would be so awesome.  I could finish so many projects that I've been putting off at that pace.

....And this is where my daydreaming starts to get me into trouble.

I have never been able to maintain that pace.   I think my best has been approximately 3 books in a year and that led to some burnout.  I know some authors that can do that and don't blink an eye at it.  I'm not one of them but I want to try to build toward that.

For the past week, I have written every day and hit my minimum goal of 2,000 per day.  In fact, every day I've finished at least 500 words above that goal.  I've finished a novella and I'm moving on to a novel now.

I think the key is to closely monitor my thinking by setting up rules.

1. I must write every day -- NO EXCUSES

2. Any words that are above my daily goal do NOT count toward the next day's goal (eg. I wrote 2700 words yesterday so I only have to write 1300 words today.)

3. I can't play catch-up the next day. (eg. I can only write 1000 words today, so I will write 3000 words tomorrow.)

It'll be interesting to see how this experiment goes.  I'll keep you posted.

In the meantime, I also blogged over at Supernatural Underground today, providing some random thoughts on what I'm currently working on and why.  Also, stay tuned for news on some book giveaways over on Goodreads.

2013? Bring It On!

Congratulations! If you're reading this, then you survive 2012 too!

I have to admit that it wasn't the best year for me, but I'm hoping that 2013 will make up for it in many different ways.  I'm back from my holiday break and I'm ready to get to work, feeling refreshed and anxious to be writing.

What does 2013 have in store for me and my lovely readers?

After releasing SIX different stories in 2012, I have to say that 2013 is going to be mostly a writing new material year for me so that I have yet another big stockpile of releases for 2014.  However, I'm not going to leave you high and dry for 2013.  The second novel in The Asylum Tales will be released in e-book, trade paperback, and audiobook on Tuesday, May 7, 2013.  That is just 4 months away.

I have seen the cover for DEAD MAN'S DEAL and it is awesome.  I will probably be showing it off in the next month or so.  But to hold you over, here is a quick description of the next book. 

DEAD MAN'S DEAL


In a world where elves, faeries, trolls, werewolves, and vampires swim free in a sea of humanity, sometimes you need an edge. Looking for a little love? Need some luck? Desperate for revenge? Gage can give you what you need. The most talented tattoo artist in town, he knows the right symbol and the right mix of ingredients and ink to achieve your heart's desire. One tattoo is all it takes. But remember, everything has its price. . . .

Gage learned that lesson long ago, in ways he'd rather not remember. But the cruel and powerful wizards in the dreaded Ivory Towers he escaped aren't about to let him forget. Though Gage has managed to stay out of sight, he can't outrun the past forever.

The wizards know Gage is using forbidden magic, and they intend to punish him for his transgressions. Too bad if innocent humans and monsters—entire
cities—get in the way. They will quell a nascent magical uprising and Gage will
be the sacrifice they need. First, though, they have to find him . . .


The next book takes on all kinds of nastiness as Gage fights to save those most important to him.  I can't wait for you to read it.  I've just finish my final edits on the book and returned them to my editor.

Speaking of writing, I am happy to report that I have finally cleaned off my desk and organized my office.  What  does that mean? It means that I am ready to write a new book!  Yes, I am been dabbling and playing with random ideas for the past month, letting my imagination run unfettered.  It's time to rein my mind in and force it to focus on a single project.  The hard part is choosing which I want to work on.

Recently, I have played in urban fantasy, paranormal romance, historical romance, paranormal historical romance, epic fantasy, erotica, and speculative fiction.  Oh, and there's this suave steampunkish sky pirate who keeps whispering in my ear, trying to entice me to give him a book.  The worst part is that I want to work on them ALL. So unless someone can clone a really good copy of me quickly, I'm going to have to choose just one or two projects soon.

My plans for 2013 are pretty simple.  My personal goal is to lose weight, getting down to a healthier version of myself.  I'm slowly coming to realization that I'm not as young as I used to be and it's time I start taking a little better care of the poor body that I've got if I want to keep writing books.

My other goal is to finish writing TWO novels and TWO novellas.  For me, that will come in at about 1,000 pages of fresh material.  It would be even better if a publisher buys all these new stories, but my first goal is just to finish writing it.  We'll worry about publishing this bounty later.

It's that simple.  Be Healthy.  Write Books.
What are your plans for 2013?

Heartsore Holidays

After the sickening events leading into this weekend and other recent events that have come before and after, I find myself not wanting to comment online about anything.  I feel like commenting only adds to the noise.  We're all expressing grief and horror.  Many are pointing fingers, blaming the system, blaming gun control or the lack thereof, blaming ...  The pain and the fear and the grief are just leading good people toward hate.

I don't know about you, but I need to step away from the noise and the shouting and the finger pointing and the hard, cold lectures about how things need to change.  Yes, things need to change.  But for me, it's time we take a good look inside what is in all of us rather than glaring outward.

Sadly, we only have one time of year where we celebrate things like good will toward our fellow human beings.  Where we endeavor to spread cheer and help others who are struggling.  Where we celebrate the idea of family and friends.  It's a shame that it's not all year round when we take the time to appreciate all that we have.  But it is what it is.

For me, I'm stepping away from the Internet for the rest of 2012.  I think I've had enough.  I plan to huddle in with my husband, puppy, and kitty cat.  We're going to talk, laugh, and be happy we're together.  I'm a little homesick and very heartsore this holiday season, and I don't think I'm going to find what I need outside the loving environment of my family and my small circle of friends.

I'll be back in 2013.  I'll have new books.  New ideas.  New fun things to show.
Happy Holidays!
Happy New Year!
With love,
The Drake household.

Getting Work Done in My New Shoes

What makes a good weekend?

For different people, it's different things.  For some people, it's hanging out with friends, going to parties and doing crazy things.  For others, it's settling in with a good book and knowing you won't be disturbed until you're finished.  I think I would fall in the latter group.  This has been a good weekend.  First, my O.H. went out for a while on Saturday, running errands.  We made a quick pass through the mall nearest us to see what was there.  Despite swearing we wouldn't buy anything, he came away with 2 Notre Dame t-shirts and I got some new shoes.  (I'm afraid to ask what would have happened if we hadn't made that vow.)

If you were unaware, I am a huge Batman fan.  Love him! I have a enormous collection of book, graphic novels, art, and figures.  Within my love of Batman is a strange adoration of Harley Quinn.  She's the Joker's sidekick, former psychiatrist Harleen Quinzel.  I love her perky, twisted sense of humor.  I love her blind love of the Joker.  While I'm not fond of the way she's sometimes his punching bag, I am happy to see that she occasionally snaps back at him.  They are the new definition of a "healthy relationship".  So you can understand why I was so thrilled to pick up my new shoes.  I am fighting the temptation right now to go back and pick up the other pair of Batman shoes as well as the Thundercats shoes -- the CLASSIC THUNDERCATS.  These are also my first pair of Chucks and I'm loving them.

Today, I'm going to be locked to my computer.  I'm trying to finish some updates, work on copyedits, get some writing done, and just general catch up on everything that I don't have time to finish during the week.  The O.H. is settling in to watch Dune on TV, which gives me some time to work.  It's gonna be a good day.

Random Updates

What am I up to?  I am currently working on the copyedits for DEAD MAN'S DEAL, the second book in the Asylum Tales.  It will be coming out on May 7 as a trade paperback, e-book, and audiobook.  I do believe pre-orders are currently available if you are interested in locking in your copy now.  I have seen the cover and IT IS AWESOME!  I think I will probably be sharing that after the start of the new year.

I've also stopped by The Dark Room -- the discussion board.  Have you visited the Dark Room?  No?!?  Do you have a question for me about the Dark Days series?  Do you have a question about Asylum Tales?  Do you have a question about writing?  Do you just want to chat with other readers?  This is a great place to stop.  I popped by today and left a lot of comments across various different topics.  Stop by and read what's there and/or leave me a comment.  Mira, Gage, and I stop by the Dark Room at least once a day and comment.

Where else can you find me?

I am in the usual places (website, Facebook, and Twitter), but I also have a few strange places as well that I like to visit on a regular basis.  I have a Pinterest page.  I am still trying to figure out this Pinterest thing, but I do have 4 boards going and I'm hoping to add to it this weekend.  Do you have a board suggestion for me?  Maybe a dream cast if either series were to be made into TV or movie?  (Not that it's happening) Still thinking on possible boards....

I am also over on Tumblr.  This has been my place to post more random things that I like.  I pass along book deals that I see and other general book-related announcements.  But my favorite thing recently has been to post some awesome quotes from other authors.  This is turning out to be pretty popular with Tumblr users and I think you should stop by to check it out.  Tumblr has turned out to be pretty easy to use and a lot of fun.  I just wish I was more visually artistic, but I think I make do pretty well with words.