Lucienne Diver's Blog: Lucienne Diver's Drivel, page 21

Freeze Warning, Show Your Work Week and More Meetings at the Crossroads!

 Tor.com has released an original novella by Susan Krinard in the world of her wonderful urban fantasy MIST.  For a treat, you can check it out on their site or download it for Kindle, Nook or other e-readers.

Blurb:  As a nearly immortal Valkyrie, Mist is the guardian of the greatest of the Norse god’s Treasures—Odin’s spear Gungnir. But Mist believes all the gods are dead, and she’s slowly settling into a normal life in San Francisco. Just when Mist is ready to give up the duty the All-father laid on her, she meets a mysterious woman, Bella Stratus, and a man who helps her save Bella’s life: Eric Larsson, the perfect embodiment of a Viking warrior. He’s charming, good-natured, and nearly her equal in strength; and for the first time in centuries Mist has found someone she might be able to love… and trust. But even as Mist remembers the past she left behind and contemplates a new future with Eric, Bella warns her that she can’t fight her fate.

No matter what happens, no matter how hard she tries, she’ll never be able to escape the destiny that awaits her.

In other news, David Mack’s Star Trek: Destiny Trilogy is on special today only as an Amazon Daily Deal.  Each book is only $1.99, so you might want to get them while they’re hot!

Chloe Neill continues her wonderful Show Your Work Week with (*drum roll, please*)…ME!  Previous posts have been from Jennifer Estep and Jaye Wells.  Later today, Chloe will host Faith Hunter, followed by Yasmine Galenorn and Vicki Pettersson Thursday and Friday.  Really informative!

Also, the Crossroads Blog Tour rolls on with the chance to win a Grand Prize of a pre-loaded Kindle as well as a bonus prize for playing.  Today, Carrie Harris, P.J. Hoover, Patrice Lyle and I are up at A Life Bound By Books talking about hauntings, scares and sweets.  You can check out some previous posts, as well as the participating blogs (featuring other great authors like Amy Christine Parker, Molly Cochran, Jackie Morse Kessler…) on yesterday’s blog.

Whew, that’s enough for now!  (Though I also have to chime in quickly about how excited I am for next week’s releases: BLACK HEART by Christina Henry and STAR TREK: THE FALL: CEREMONY OF LOSSES by David Mack, but more about them as time draws closer.)

Videos and blogs and tours…oh my!

So many things today!  First, as you probably know by now, Amy Christine Parker and I are Tuesday’s YA Rebels.  Today we’re up with an ambush…er, interview…of YA writer Heather Burch, author of the Halflings series for Zondervan/HarperCollins.

Next, I promised you all a write-up and some pics from this past weekend’s Necronomicon, so there they are:
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For a quick write-up: Necronomicon had a variety of intriguing programming and wonderful guests, including Christopher Paolini, Timothy Zahn, Richard Lee Byers, Pamela LaBud, Aria Kane and my new friends K.L. Napier and William Hatfield.  Do I wish they’d tapped into more of the local writing talent, like the great YA authors who were part of the Sunshine Tour earlier this year and who are now part of Hot YA Reads, yes, and I’m going to suggest some names for next year, but the conference was really well run and everyone was wonderful.  I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: if the Necronomicon people and the Tampa Bay ComicCon people got together on programming, it could be the start of something really big.  Also, I love that every year Necronomicon partners with a charity, like Kids & Canines, which “works with at-risk teens, teaching them how to train assistance dogs. The bond between student and dog help these at-risk youths succeed . . . and then the dogs go on to have productive working lives, providing independence to individuals with disabilities.”  A really great organization.

Also, I participated in this year’s “Necronomicon’s Got Talent”.  I won, even though I didn’t, because I overcame my lifelong fear of signing in front of people, and while I wasn’t perfect, I didn’t come down with my psychosomatic laryngitis or anything of the sort.  I tremble even as I type this, but if you’d like to see how I did, here’s the video my husband took standing way in the back of the room.  I’m so tiny, you can’t even see me shaking!

In other news, The Crossroads Blog Tour continues.  Today, P.J. Hoover, Carrie Harris, Patrice Lyle and I are over at Jennzah.dot.net, where we play Animal, Vegetable or Mineral.  Follow the tour for a chance to win a Kindle pre-loaded with books from many of the tour’s participating authors.  Here’s our schedule for the rest of the week, though you don’t have to wait to check out these other blogs, who are currently hosting other wonderful Crossroaders:

23rd: http://alifeboundbybooks.blogspot.ca/

24th: http://erispublishing.com/blog/

25th: http://littlelibrarymuse.blogspot.com/

26th: http://simpleloveofreading.blogspot.ca/

We’ve also been at Most-Wanted Monsters and Confessions of a Bookaholic. Hope you’ll swing on by.

Chloe Neill is hosting “Show Your Work Week” this week on her blog.  Already, she’s had Jennifer Estep and Jaye Wells.  Tomorrow, she’ll have postings from me and from Faith Hunter.  Thursday and Friday are Yasmine Galenorn and Vicki Pettersson in that order, so you won’t want to miss a thing!

More soon!

Quick Check In

Oh, there will be posts from this weekend’s Necronomicon as soon as I can find the cord to my camera and upload my pics.  In the meantime, I just want to say that it was wonderful and that  the special guest, Christopher Paolini (you may all know him as being the wunderkind who wrote the runaway bestseller Eragon at age 15), was gracious, funny and informative, and everyone was just amazing.  Truly.

In the meantime, a few quick shout-outs, first to the world about TJ Bennett’s wonderfully atmospheric paranormal romance, DARK ANGEL.  I’ve alternately described this as Beauty and the Beast meets The Tempest or Beauty and the Beast meets Lost.  Whichever of these descriptors appeals to you (and surely one of them…), this is a great novel, and it’s out today on Kindle and Nook (other formats too) for under $4.00.  Can’t beat that!

But don’t take my word from it.  Here are a few great quotes:

“Mysterious and moody, Dark Angel is a lushly written tale full of romance, danger and magic that is sure to intrigue.” – Erin Knightly, author of More than a Stranger

“Dark and lushly sensual, in Dark Angel TJ Bennett has written a gothic romance sure to fascinate and entice readers. The haunting beauty of Bennett’s prose and the gripping story had me obsessively turning pages late into the night.” ~Shana Galen, national bestselling author of If You Give a Rake a Ruby

In other news, the Crossroads Blog Tour has begun! Follow along and enter for a chance to win the grand prize (a Kindle preloaded with ebooks from as many of the tour participants as possible) or the bonus prize!  For my part, I’m up today at Most-Wanted Monsters and was up yesterday with Confessions of a Bookaholic along with fellow Crossroaders Carrie Harris, P.J. Hoover and Patrice Lyle.  Amy Christine Parker (author of GATED), Molly Cochran (of LEGACY, POISON and the forthcoming SEDUCTION), Amanda Ashby, Jackie Morse Kessler, Kiki Hamilton, Ty Drago, Judith Graves, Christine Fonseca and many, many others are participating as well.  Click to reach Rafflecopter giveaway!

Necronomicon

For anyone looking to find me at Necronomicon this weekend, here’s my schedule!  Also, I’ll have an author table and special deals!

Location:

Embassy Suites -USF

3705 Spectrum Boulevard

Tampa, FL 33612

Friday

1 PM      Salon A                 Writing Basics- Creating Fantasy Worlds

Author discussion of the processes they use to define the fantasy setting in which their story will be set. Host: K.L. Nappier, Panel: Lucienne Diver, Christopher Paolini, Aria Kane, E. Rose Sabin

3 PM      Salon G                                Grossing Genres: the Good and the Bad

Find out how authors mix genres to create something new and wonderful and how they avoid making a mess of things. Host: Thomas Macheski, Panel: Lucienne Diver, Pamela Labud, R.M. Garcia, Michael L. Joy, Vicy Cross

Necronomicon’s Got Talent – Yes, I will be singing.  Tremble in fear!

Saturday

9 AM     Salon B                 Fantasy Romance: Rising Star

More and more we are seeing the combination of fantasy with traditional romance writing. The panel discusses why this is so. Host: Lucienne Diver, Panel: Vicy Cross, Pamela Labud, Johanna M. Bolton, Aria Kane

12 PM   Salon C                 Small Presses: Taking Risks the Big Guys are Afraid to Take

If you want to find fiction that is innovative or deals with subjects the major publishers shy away from, you go to the small presses. The panel discusses why small presses are risk-takers. Host: K. Piet, Panel: Eric Beebe, Ed Howdershelt, Lucienne Diver, Christopher Helton, E. Rose Sabin

4 PM      Salon B                 Religion in Science Fiction and Fantasy

A soon to be ordained minister, an ethics professor and three authors delve into the topic of how you deal with religion in the societies you create in your fiction. Host: Tracy Zielinski, Panel: Glenda Finkelstein, Will Ludwigsen, Kat Heckenbach, Michael Pinsky, Lucienne Diver

Sunday

11 AM   Salon C                 Dress for Success: What Your Fantasy Characters Wear

Our authors discuss what they tell their character to and not to wear. Host: Tracy Akers, Panel: Lucienne Diver, Christopher Paolini, Pamela Labud

Fall Reading

Want some fall reading recommendations?  Kevan Lyon, Melissa Cutler, Heather Blake and I offer up some suggestions over at Shelf Pleasure.

Virtual Tours

Crazed as I am, I had to post this week, if only to move the still of my make-up-less face farther down the blog queue.  Eek!  Sorry, sorry.  Hope I didn’t scare any small children. Or grown men, for that matter.

Anyway, jumping on quickly to make sure you all know about two really fabulous upcoming blog tours, complete with games and giveaways!  First, there’s the Crossroads Blog Tour from  October 20th -26th involving lots of great authors, including Molly Cochran, Amanda Ashby, Amy Christine Parker, Jackie Morse Kessler, Judith Graves, Joy Preble, Carrie Harris, Ty Drago and many others, including me!  a Rafflecopter giveaway

Then there’s the KICKING IT tour from November 18th to December 6th.  For those who haven’t already heard me shout it from the rafters, KICKING IT is a great urban fantasy anthology coming out in December with contributors: Faith Hunter, Rachel Caine, Chloe Neill, Rob Thurman, Kalayna Price, Christina Henry, Shannon K. Butcher, Chris Marie Green and again me.  There are going to be many wonderful prizes and, I’m sure, some surprises in the blog posts themselves.  Tune in for fun and games and maybe walk away with something to make your holidays bright.

Where Am I This Time?

Just back from rounds of meetings in New York and the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America’s annual reception (which was amazing) and so late posting up my new links.  This week I can be found at Magical Words talking about the Role of Agents in the Modern Publishing Landscape and over on the YA Rebels vlog talking about my writing process. Wait, I can embed the vlog right here (she says, fearfully, knowing that the world may not actually be ready for her morning face).  Anyway, if you’d like an overly honest look into my writing process, you can find it right here.

 

I seriously need Joan Jetson’s stylist for just such occasions.

Finally, since this is my blog and I’ll party if I want to, I want to celebrate this fantastic new review of BAD BLOOD from A Simple Love of Reading.  How can you not adore a review that starts out with, “I loved this book”?  So thrilled!

Happy Book Birthdays!

I’m so pleased to wish happy book birthdays to Debra Mullins, Jasmine Haynes, Karen Whiddon and Rachel Caine for their new titles below!

 PRODIGAL SON by Debra Mullins (Tor Romance trade paperback)

“Mullins (Too Wicked to Love) weaves a believable, spicy tapestry of love, intrigue, and family ties in this splendid paranormal romance… Well paced and tightly plotted, this enthralling page-turner matches a strong yet vulnerable heroine with a flawed alpha male to create a deliciously engrossing story. Suspense and romance are wrapped together in such a way that neither overwhelms the other—and they combine beautifully with intriguing secondary characters, sensual passion, and powerful themes of trust and loyalty.” —Publishers Weekly, Starred Review

Prodigal Son—the new paranormal romance from acclaimed historical romance author Debra Mullins

Bounty hunter Rafe Montana is a Seer, descended from the fabled Atlanteans. He uses his inherited power to “see” criminals across the globe and track them down, and he’s just started on a new case. Danny Cangialosi is accused of disappearing with a stolen car…but for the first time in his life, when Rafe goes looking, he is unable to “see” him. Instead, his search leads him to Danny’s stubborn, meddling, and very cute stepsister, Cara McGaffigan.

Cara is looking for Danny, too, but not to turn him in. He is her brother, after all, and she’s convinced he has a good heart. If she can just find him before the cops do, she’ll figure out a way to get him out of this. But Cara didn’t count on a scorching-hot bounty hunter getting in her way.

Despite instant chemistry, Rafe and Cara know they’re never going to see eye-to-eye when it comes to Danny. What they don’t know is that Danny didn’t just steal a car—he stole a precious stone, a stone right out of the legends of Atlantis. It holds powers they can only dream of…and its owner wants it back.

 THE NAUGHTY CORNER by Jasmine Haynes (Berkley trade paperback)

“the fun these two have as their sexual relationship progresses is a breath of fresh air.”

—Romantic Times Book Reviews (4 stars)

Somebody’s been a bad girl…

Writer Lola Cook is on a deadline. Meeting it gets twice as difficult when she finds herself in the unwelcome role of babysitter for her nephews. Two months with the twin teenage terrors is too much for Lola—until she has a brilliant idea: send the boys to football camp. That’ll at least get them out of her hair for five hours every day. Perfect.

Divorced father Gray Barnett has coached summer football camp long enough to know he’ll get saddled with misfits, but William and Harry exceed all expectations. They’re impossible, they’re disruptive, and when he meets their hot aunt Lola, they’re worth the trouble. That is, if Lola accepts Gray’s conditions.

Every time the twins misbehave, it’s Lola who must take their punishment. With every naughty infraction, Lola gets more and more accepting—of the penalties. She has no idea just how bad a girl she can be—or how much fun she’ll have getting what she deserves.

TEXAS SECRETS, LOVERS’ LIES by Karen Whiddon (Harlequin Romantic Suspense mass market)

Every time Brock McCauley locks eyes with Zoe Onella, his heart aches. Though Zoe explains why she skipped town, leaving him at the altar years ago, Brock refuses to go down that road again. After all, she’s only back in Anniversary, Texas, to help investigate the bizarre disappearance of her best friend, Shayna.

The sooner they find Shayna, the sooner Zoe can return to New York. But Brock can’t stop thinking about the hot passion they once shared. And when danger surrounds Zoe, he must protect the only woman he’s ever loved. Even if it costs him everything.

FALL OF NIGHT by Rachel Caine (Berkley trade paperback, reprint from the hardcover, Book 14 in the Morganville Vampires series)

“Fall of Night was absolutely, amazingly, stunningly awesome!” —Literal Addiction

“An absolute treat for fans of the series, FALL OF NIGHT is not to be missed!”—A Book Obsession

Thanks to its unique combination of human and vampire residents, Morganville, Texas, is a small college town with big time problems. When student Claire Danvers gets the chance to experience life on the outside, she takes it. But Morganville isn’t the only town with vampire trouble…

Claire never thought she’d get to leave Morganville, but she can’t pass up the chance to finally attend her dream school, MIT. After all, getting to invent anti-vamp devices with Professor Anderson—a Morganville exile herself—sounds like a dream come true…until Claire realizes that there are sinister forces in play, and she’s not the only one with a vampire-related agenda.

Without her friends Shane, Eve and Michael, surviving a killer schedule may be hard…but with them, it might turn out to be impossible.

YA Rebels – new blog

It’s been a crazy week, so I never did get to post about our YA Rebels vlog this week, where Amy talks about book launches.  You can check out all of the great YA Rebels videos on our channel here.

GCC Interview with Debbie Rigaud

I’m pleased to have Girlfriends’ Cyber Sister Debbie Rigaud here today with a quick interview to promote a book that sounds wonderful: OPEN MIC: RIFFS ON LIFE BETWEEN CULTURES IN TEN VOICES.  I think we can all use a bit more understanding and inclusion, don’t you?

OPEN MIC: RIFFS ON LIFE BETWEEN CULTURES IN TEN VOICES (Candlewick Press)  edited by Mitali Perkins.

Featuring the short story “Voila” by Debbie Rigaud

About OPEN MIC

Listen in as ten YA authors use their own brand of humor to share their stories about growing up between cultures. Edited by acclaimed author and speaker Mitali Perkins, this collection of fiction and nonfiction embraces a mix of styles as diverse as their authors, from laugh-out-loud funny to wry, ironic, or poignant, in prose, poetry and comic form.

Rave Reviews for OPEN MIC:

“[Open Mic] will leave readers thinking about the ways that humor can be a survival tool in a world that tends to put people in boxes.” –Publishers Weekly

“Naomi Shihab Nye offers an eloquent poem about her Arab American dad, whose friendliness made him ‘Facebook before it existed.’ David Yoo, Debbie Rigaud, Varian Johnson and Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich also contribute stories to this noteworthy anthology, which robustly proves Perkins’ assertion that ‘funny is powerful.’”

–Horn Book Magazine

“Teachers will find some powerful material here about how the young can become discomfited and find solace in their multifaceted cultural communities.

–School Library Journal

Interview with Debbie Rigaud

What is your writing process like?
I find it increasingly helpful to have a complete (and somewhat detailed) story summary written up before I begin writing. This helps me set the pace for the plot. But admittedly, I’m more of a pantser by nature. My writing more often comes in spurts rather than during scheduled times.

 

What is the hardest part about the publishing process for you ad how do you get through it?
Editing can sometimes be a challenge for me. Recently, I had to go back and weave a subplot into my manuscript, and it took me forever to do. Every time I tried to buckle down and figure out how to run a new thread through the story, I hopped on that train to procrastination station instead. When I was running out of time, I dragged myself to a coffee shop, set up shop with my laptop, and tuned into jazzy, lyric-free music. That usually snaps me back into productive mode.

 

What are three things your hero can’t live without?
Of course Simon’s cell phone would be one. No matter how overprotective and suffocating her family can be, she’d still want to chat with them every day. The second thing is coffee. Simone was introduced to coffee at a very young age, so now it’s part of her diet. And the #3 item is her sense of humor, which she desperately needs in order to put her problems in perspective.

 

Any upcoming appearances/interviews, etc. you’d like to plug?
Yes on the “etc.” part of your question! TURFQUAKE, my first YA e-book, will be released later this year. The story follows one city girl’s reluctant (and awkward) switch to a suburban school at the same time her cousin from earthquake-ravaged Haiti moves in and faces greater challenges adjusting to life in the US.

 

Debbie Rigaud

Debbie Rigaud began her writing career covering news and entertainment for popular magazines. Her YA fiction debut, HALLWAY DIARIES/Kimani Tru was followed by the fish-out-of-water romantic comedy PERFECT SHOT/Simon Pulse. Since then, Debbie’s non-fiction essays have been published in anthologies IT’S ALL LOVE/Broadway Books and DEAR BULLY/HarperTeen. Her short story “Voila!” is featured in OPEN MIC/Candlewick Press, and TURFQUAKE, her first YA e-book will be released late 2013.