Shirin Dubbin's Blog, page 5
July 15, 2011
Cover Reveal:New Dusk Takes Dawn
"Go on, you can lick it—tastes like candy!"
(Here's a peek at the spankin' new Dusk Takes Dawn cover before it goes live.)
July 12, 2011
Promo in Progress: Chaos Tryst
Character design is one of my favorite parts of writing. With the heroine and hero of Chaos Tryst I had a particularly good time making them look like no one else…Um, I may have taken things a bit too far.
I mean, when it comes to designing promos, where are you going to find stock art of a half-West African, half-Japanese blond dreadlocked woman; and a six-foot-two inch half-boyar, half Roma Ruska swarthy skinned hottie with aquamarine eyes?
Only in my imagination.
I'm not even going to mention the sheer chaos and shenanigans driving the story. Being a graphic artist and stalker-esque lover of Dan Dos Santos' work, the answer came easily. I called up artist Jerome Wheeler and he broke out the gauche! We're having a lot of fun developing the promo poster for Chaos Tryst. Right now it's in the sketch stage and Jerome is changing the main character, Ari's, face to make her more womanly and CatWoman-like. But [SFX: dun da da dah!] here's a sneak peek, pre changes and coloring. I can't wait to see the final!
(For the anime/manga lovers out there Ari's vespa is a tribute to Fooly Cooly .)
June 3, 2011
Suspect at the Corner of Someday and Potential
Yesterday afternoon I entered the Metro and sat down beside a lonely black bag. Of course I realize one unmanned backpack is another man's suspicious package, so I oscillated on whether or not to move—my decision making involved thoughts of 'splosions and inversely the embarrassment of going all Chicken Little up in the joint…
(Sidenote: the sky may not be falling but it's hot out there, even the melanin enriched are getting sunburn. Global Warming shoots, scores, nothing but net.)
…So as I'm writing "My Day in the Metro: A Suspense Thriller" a little girl rounds the bench and sits down next to me, slinging an arm over the suspicious package. Okay, book bag. My eyes glazed over and I mentally watched myself fall off the bestseller list—not pretty, lots of splat.
But I felt something on the periphery of my awareness. I turned and the little girl regarded me with what I'd have to call fascination, as though I was something amazing. I smiled. She did too. Her train arrived; she grabbed her bag, joined her family and rode away.
Yet, she stayed with me. You know?
Much of my life I've lived in the vicinity of Someday and Potential. I've often wondered what others saw in me but figured I'd figure it out one day. I know you see the problem in that sentence… Five years ago, this past May 27th, I fell into a coma of mourning and "do it now" became my mantra; unfortunately I was sleepwalking at the time. New Year's 2011 I awoke, stretched, looked around and thought "tha- hell?" Life does go on, with or without you. So I got up and started living again.
Back to the Metro and my little friend, the way she looked at me made me want to be worthy. Folks, I'm working my way to a residence at the corner of Worthy and Amazing. I may have to bid high, fail from time to time, but eventually I'll land in the neighborhood.
~S!
This post is dedicated to Wil Walker Jr. Thanks for the wake up call, Trey.
April 21, 2011
Champion the Underdog!
Me: 64 votes – Leader: 514 votes
Help!
Champion the Underdog!
Help!
Vote For Me - Neil Gaiman contest: http://upickem.net/3tbl9FuZUuf?r=855534
April 18, 2011
Going Vocal with American Gods
I've been experiencing quite a renaissance since the new year and after three and a half years of sleep walking (a story for another day) epiphanies are more than welcome. One of the big things is realizing my love for storytelling extends beyond writing and into telling stories aloud. Which is pretty funny because folks have been telling me I should do vocal work for years—I just didn't believe them (I've heard my voice and...um, yep). <grin>
But now is a time to be bold, right? And I do adore audiobooks. So I decided to enter a contest for a vocal role in the 10th Anniversary audiobook edition of American Gods by Neil Gaiman. Woo hoo! It's being recorded by a cast of narrators and taking part would give me a massive happy. The first round is purely based on votes so I could use your help! You could even vote once a day if you felt like it <—which would be awesome! ^_^
P.S. I've turned in the first round of CHAOS TRYST edtis and KEEPER OF THE WAY has been remodeled with two new characters and an additional subplot! I'm feeling good.
April 13, 2011
Her Eminence, (imminence, immanence?)
I'm the queen of homonyms today. I keep looking back over correspondence and prose and thinking, "that's not write."
April 8, 2011
A Reading: Keeper of the Way – Quickening
Severin or Zan Wynn? NiaMora can't decide which man is more dangerous.
A Reading from Keeper of the Way - Quickening
re-release coming soon!
April 7, 2011
Dusk Takes Dawn
Paranormal peacekeepers, Dawn Maza, the witch with a capital 'B', and Duskan Entreri, one helluva beast, are partners and lovers… Actually, they are in love. They're not lovers yet. Stone separates them, making her a statue at night while he turns to granite by day, and the two have never consummated their love. Instead, they communicate via video and voice mail. That travesty will change tonight
Under the advisement of a crone—who may or may not have ulterior motives—the pair must freeze time for a single chance at igniting the All Hallows sky with the fires of their passion.
Dusk and Dawn are up for the task. Halloween is about to get sexy.
"I loved… loved… this short story!…Dusk Takes Dawn does the impossible: this short story made me shed a few tears. Even though the story is short, the reader u
nderstands the desperation and complete yearning of the two main characters to be with each other that it is difficult to not be emotionally involved in their story. Sadly, the tale is so short and I wanted more resolution to their story. Hopefully, more installments will soon follow. I want more! BookingIt Grade: A+"Katie
BookingIt.net
"Being in love and wanting to be together is the norm but the fact that Dawn and Dusk physically can't is intriguing. The clever little games they play on each other are cute and endearing. Dusk has quite the wicked sense of humour. The saying always leave them wanting more is so true in this case. I would have liked to learn Dusks side and what he went through to battle and win in order to get the memory-keeper…very enjoyable and fun. Rate: 4 out of 5"
Reviewed by Pam
For RomanceWritersReviews.com
Chaos Tryst
UNEDITED BLURB
Chaos magic, golden dreadlocks, and break-ins are Ariana Golde's trademarks. Ordinarily she pulls a B&E to retrieve an object and put it back where it belongs. Not tonight. She's accidentally stolen a family heirloom from the Medved Brothers, a trio of fabled Russian bears. Maksim Medved is known as the surly one, and stealing his parents' sculpture is a good way to set-off his chaos magic. Now Maks has caught up with Ari and when two equally chaotic forces meet the results are cataclysmic.
Magical demolition aside the pair are stuck, partners-in-crime for a one-night caper. They're on the trail of the unknown client who took possession of the Medved sculpture and put Ari on the case—and they'll cause major destruction along the way.
Falling in love has never been so…devastating.
