Inara Scott's Blog, page 6

Write to Publish

Hi friends! I hope you are all having a lovely Tuesday/Monday-in-disguise. I have something fun to share with you today. This is the poster for a conference I'll be speaking at in April. It's all about writing to publish, and writing genre fiction, and is organized by the very smart people at Portland State University, so I think it will be very informative and fun.

Let me know if you're coming and be sure to introduce yourself at the conference. I'll update my blog when I know which panels I'll be on.

Countdown to The Marked

Add this to the list of things I never thought I'd do: create a widget. Does that sound glamorous and exciting? If so, I worry about you…

Anyway, I'm super excited to launch The Marked into the world and I hope you are excited to read it. Here's what I'll be doing for the next 42 (or so) days: watching my little countdown timer. You can too. Just grab the widget and add it to your blog or website!

Get the Countdown Creator Pro widget and many other great free widgets at Widgetbox! Not seeing a widget? (More info)

(Admittedly, I'm completely clueless about what I'm doing here…let me know if you have trouble and I'll see if I can fix it!)

I would love to see my countdown widgets all over the blogosphere (wouldn't everyone?). If you add the widget to your website, email me at inara.scott@gmail.com and I'll send you a swag pack with bookmarks and bookplates…first two people to email me will also get a signed ARC of The Marked!

Cover love!

Oh wait, I'm not here today! I'm blogging about the power of a cover at: http://www.guiltypleasuresbookreviews.com/2012/02/guest-blog-cover-love-by-inara-scott.html. Stop by and say hello, and enter for a chance to win Rules of Negotiation!

On Reviews, Courage, and Shades of Grey

So I was browsing around the web last night and came across a review of The Marked (book 2 of my YA series) that was really bad. I hadn't seen it before, and I don't know how long it's been there, but seriously, it's nasty.

Normally, I don't pay attention to bad reviews, but this one was from a major review publication, so I couldn't ignore it completely. But I had a funny series of reactions as I sat and contemplated its awfulness. First, I giggled in disbelief. Really, I thought? After four well-reviewed books someone out there has decided to turn their distaste on this, one of the best things I've written? Hmmm. Then I got confused. How did this happen? The book really doesn't suck. Seriously, I think it's better than the first Delcroix book, which got good reviews from major rags, including Kirkus, one of the toughest of them all.

Then I got annoyed. And stuck up my chin. This guy totally missed the point! He doesn't get Delcroix at all! Delcroix Academy (aka The Talents) isn't a series about good guys and bad guys, or steamy teen romance. This is a book about people with flaws. People you can't trust but really want to. A heroine growing and trying to make her way in a very confusing world. Guts in the face of conflicting ideals.

And then I shrugged. This is the essence of writing stories. Some people get them, appreciate them, and love them. Some people don't. That's okay.

If we wrote to please everyone, we'd please no one at all.

Newsletter Sign-UP!

Dear Friends,

Long ago, in a galaxy far away, when I had book news I would simply jot off an email to my friends, family, and everyone I thought might be interested. Now that I've been at this for a little while, it's grown to be somewhat unmanageable to do this from my personal email account. So, I thought it would be easier (and prettier!) to take the next step and build a REAL NEWSLETTER.

This may be scary for you. I understand completely. It's scary for me, too! But courage isn't not being afraid, it's being afraid and doing things anyway (see–you'll get pearls of wisdom like this ALL THE TIME if you subscribe to the newsletter!).

I won't newsletter you very often. I mean, really, have I abused your email yet? I didn't think so. For example, you probably didn't even KNOW that I just released a brand new book on Valentine's Day called Rules of Negotiation (lawyers in love, of course). Or that my first Delcroix book is being released in paperback on March 6th. OR that the second book in the series will be out on April 3! Can you believe all this news? It just. Keeps. Coming.

So here's the plea: sign up for the newsletter and once or twice a year I'll let you know when I've got a new book coming out, or something fabulous happens, like I win a Pulitzer Prize. Okay, really, it's just going to be the new books.

Thanks a bunch.

xoxo,

Inara

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It's ALIVE!

Some of you may have noticed by now that I've been Facebooking, Tweeting, etc. about this little book I call Rules of Negotiation. Well yesterday it went LIVE on Amazon, and I couldn't be prouder or more excited. I did a little website update yesterday, so you can now find information about Rules here: http://www.inarascott.com/books-for-adults/rules-of-negotiation/.

Feel free to bookmark that for your future viewing pleasure.

Launch days always come with lots of thank yous, and I want to say a special thank you this time to my dear editor Libby Murphy. She's an absolutely delightful, darling person, not to mention a top-notch editor, and I feel priviledged to work with her.

I also want to say thanks to all of you who came out for all my silly Seven Days of Winning Contests. Which reminds me:

I owe TWO PRIZES. So by random number selection, both of my winners came from Tweets!

@suzannelazear, you are a winner of RULES OF NEGOTIATION!

And….@chrstnabrooke, you've won PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT!

Thanks again all my friends for supporting me and making me smile. Sending hugs and happily ever after your way.

XOXO,

Inara

New Excerpt and Winners!

The days of winning continue, but first, how about announcing some winners?

From days 3 & 4:

Annabelle has won a copy of Radiant Desire!

Jenn has won a copy of Rules of Negotiation!

and Adrianne…you have won The Wedding Writer!

Ladies, email me and I'll get you your prizes!

And now, the excerpts (and the winning) continue with a little sexy snippet from Rules of Negotiation:

***

Tori's entire body vibrated with anger. Who the hell did Brit Bencher think he was? Okay, yes, he was a hotshot CEO, and yes, his thick black hair, olive skin, and crystal blue eyes made him look like sex-on-a-stick. Fine. She didn't swoon. It wasn't in her nature. She could handle his tall-dark-and-gorgeous six-foot-tall frame, and the fact that he'd somehow earned the god-awful nickname of The Slayer for his effect on women. She wasn't a prepubescent girl, after all.

What she couldn't handle was him coming in at the last minute and trying to get in the middle of a deal she'd been working on for months. That was unacceptable.

She settled into a wooden chair that probably cost him a thousand dollars. Stupid rich CEO, with his stupid gorgeous office in Midtown Manhattan. She forced herself keep hold of her temper, while a litany of nasty insults flew through her mind. "Now, Mr. Bencher, I must note that you asked your lawyer to leave us. Are you sure you want to negotiate without the benefit of an attorney?"

The bastard smiled through a set of perfect white teeth. "Call me Brit."

Tori reciprocated with a smile so sweet it curdled her stomach. "Brit."

"And I'll call you Tori."

Oh dear God, what was this? He was gazing directly into her eyes, and for the first time it occurred to her that he sounded as if he might be…could he be…flirting?

And now for today's winning…

One of my favorite contemporary romance writers is Julie James. I absolutely adored her book, Practice Makes Perfect, which was about…you guessed it…a couple of lawyers! So I thought for days 5 and 6, I'd give away one copy of Rules of Negotiation, and one copy of Practice Makes Perfect!

To win, just leave me a comment here, on Facebook (like my page and I'll be your friend forever) or follow me and shoot me a note on Twitter!

Seven Days of Winning (3 & 4)

Hey y'all — I'm too excited about this cover and excerpt to take it down. So instead I'm extending Day 3 and adding Day 4. Keep commenting on the blog and you'll be entered to win!

Up for grabs:

1) The Wedding Writer (fun women's fiction in the style of Devil Wears Prada, only about the magazine industry)

2) Rules of Negotiation (exclusive E-ARC: win it before you can buy it!)

3) Radiant Desire (my naughty faerie adult romance)

Now, let us admire once again, THE COVER:

Mmmm, isn't it lovely? And yes, you can tell that this isn't one of my young adult books, right?

Aaaaand, after you're done drooling over the cover, here's an excerpt from the book!

****

Tori Anderson knew her place in the world. She was a single woman, living alone, working long hours, and caring for her sick mother. The writing was on the wall. She had to watch romantic movies by herself with a large bowl of popcorn in her lap. She had to walk slowly past jewelry store windows and gaze longingly at wedding rings.

And she had to have a cat.

"Here kitty kitty kitty…"

A pair of yellow eyes glared at Tori from the far rear corner of the dark, empty space under her

front porch. She'd brought Fritzy home from the pound less than a year ago, in an attempt to fulfill her destiny as an unattached twenty-something creeping toward thirty. Fritzy, who had apparently been named by some sadist with a fondness for all things German, was supposed to give her an outlet. He was supposed to be a vessel into which she could pour all her love and devotion, and hopefully receive something in return.

Instead, he had turned out to be an antisocial beast who resented her frequent business trips and showed his displeasure by peeing on her shoes and shredding her curtains.

Tori tried again, crouching down and leaning into the darkness as she shook the small bag of treats intended to lure Fritzy into her arms and then into the cat carrier she'd cunningly left in the car, so he wouldn't know what was coming. Except that he did know what was coming. He always knew what was coming. Especially at 6:00 a.m., when she had to be at the airport in less than two hours.

Tori tried to keep her voice pleasant. "Here you pain-in-the-ass monster masquerading as a cat… here Mr. Fluffypants…"

"Tori, is that you under there?" The older woman's voice startled Tori.

She straightened abruptly and hit her head on the edge of the porch. "Shit…I mean, damn it…I mean…"

Her tiny white-haired neighbor, Mrs. Jenkins, who glowed with saintly inner light and probably had never spoken the word "damn," smiled peacefully in return. "Traveling again?"

Unthinking, Tori nodded and wiped her dusty hands on her skirt, and then stared in horror at the trails of dirt left behind on the silky gray fabric. Her mind started to spin. Plane leaving at 7:55. Ten minutes to the kennel, fifty-minute drive to the Philadelphia airport, assuming there wasn't any traffic, which of course there would be. Doors closed thirty minutes before takeoff. Security would take at least twenty minutes.

Five minutes to change her skirt?

No way. She had three straight days of traveling ahead, and missing any one of her flights could send her into eternal airport purgatory. She couldn't afford that right now. Not when her trip culminated in a visit to New York City, where she hoped to lock-down the key terms of the sale of the software business owned by her client, Jerry Tollefson.

She'd been negotiating the contract for months, and knew everyone in her firm was watching— especially the partnership committee. If she screwed this up, they'd never forget it.

Not to mention that, after four years of working together, her client Jerry happened to be closest thing to a best friend she had. He deserved a great deal, and she was determined to get it for him.

"Why don't you let me get Fritzy?" Mrs. Jenkins offered.

Tori watched in amazement as the fragile woman tottered to the edge of the porch. Stabilizing herself with one hand on the wooden railing, Mrs. Jenkins peered into the darkness. "Fritzy, you come here right now," she called, a hint of steel underlying her gentle voice.

A few moments later, an orange-striped tabby curled around Mrs. Jenkins's feet, mewing and rubbing his head on the old woman's orthopedic black shoes.

Tori's heart snapped. She couldn't even pretend it didn't hurt.

"I feed him tuna sometimes while you're gone," Mrs. Jenkins said, almost apologetically. "Don't feel bad. I know how busy you are. Cats are difficult, you know. They take things personally."

Tori licked her suddenly dry lips. The enormity of what had just happened roared in her ears.

Cats are difficult? As in, too difficult for her to have a relationship with? As in, sorry lady, you can't even satisfy a damn cat?

She forced herself to speak. "Listen, I don't know how to thank—"

Mrs. Jenkins—what was her first name, anyway? Tori realized she had no idea—raised a hand to stop her. "You run along and catch your plane, sweetheart. Fritzy and I will be fine."

Tori took one final look at the cat—her cat—sprawled lovingly on the ground in front of her neighbor, and ran for the car.

****

By the way, here's the prizes again:

Enjoy!

A Cover! A Cover!

Here we are, Day Three of Seven Days of Winning, and LOOKIE HERE! A cover!!

Mmmm, isn't it lovely? And yes, you can tell that this isn't one of my young adult books, right?

Aaaaand, after you're done drooling over the cover, here's an excerpt from the book!

****

Tori Anderson knew her place in the world. She was a single woman, living alone, working long hours, and caring for her sick mother. The writing was on the wall. She had to watch romantic movies by herself with a large bowl of popcorn in her lap. She had to walk slowly past jewelry store windows and gaze longingly at wedding rings.

And she had to have a cat.

"Here kitty kitty kitty…"

A pair of yellow eyes glared at Tori from the far rear corner of the dark, empty space under her

front porch. She'd brought Fritzy home from the pound less than a year ago, in an attempt to fulfill her destiny as an unattached twenty-something creeping toward thirty. Fritzy, who had apparently been named by some sadist with a fondness for all things German, was supposed to give her an outlet. He was supposed to be a vessel into which she could pour all her love and devotion, and hopefully receive something in return.

Instead, he had turned out to be an antisocial beast who resented her frequent business trips and showed his displeasure by peeing on her shoes and shredding her curtains.

Tori tried again, crouching down and leaning into the darkness as she shook the small bag of treats intended to lure Fritzy into her arms and then into the cat carrier she'd cunningly left in the car, so he wouldn't know what was coming. Except that he did know what was coming. He always knew what was coming. Especially at 6:00 a.m., when she had to be at the airport in less than two hours.

Tori tried to keep her voice pleasant. "Here you pain-in-the-ass monster masquerading as a cat… here Mr. Fluffypants…"

"Tori, is that you under there?" The older woman's voice startled Tori.

She straightened abruptly and hit her head on the edge of the porch. "Shit…I mean, damn it…I mean…"

Her tiny white-haired neighbor, Mrs. Jenkins, who glowed with saintly inner light and probably had never spoken the word "damn," smiled peacefully in return. "Traveling again?"

Unthinking, Tori nodded and wiped her dusty hands on her skirt, and then stared in horror at the trails of dirt left behind on the silky gray fabric. Her mind started to spin. Plane leaving at 7:55. Ten minutes to the kennel, fifty-minute drive to the Philadelphia airport, assuming there wasn't any traffic, which of course there would be. Doors closed thirty minutes before takeoff. Security would take at least twenty minutes.

Five minutes to change her skirt?

No way. She had three straight days of traveling ahead, and missing any one of her flights could send her into eternal airport purgatory. She couldn't afford that right now. Not when her trip culminated in a visit to New York City, where she hoped to lock-down the key terms of the sale of the software business owned by her client, Jerry Tollefson.

She'd been negotiating the contract for months, and knew everyone in her firm was watching— especially the partnership committee. If she screwed this up, they'd never forget it.

Not to mention that, after four years of working together, her client Jerry happened to be closest thing to a best friend she had. He deserved a great deal, and she was determined to get it for him.

"Why don't you let me get Fritzy?" Mrs. Jenkins offered.

Tori watched in amazement as the fragile woman tottered to the edge of the porch. Stabilizing herself with one hand on the wooden railing, Mrs. Jenkins peered into the darkness. "Fritzy, you come here right now," she called, a hint of steel underlying her gentle voice.

A few moments later, an orange-striped tabby curled around Mrs. Jenkins's feet, mewing and rubbing his head on the old woman's orthopedic black shoes.

Tori's heart snapped. She couldn't even pretend it didn't hurt.

"I feed him tuna sometimes while you're gone," Mrs. Jenkins said, almost apologetically. "Don't feel bad. I know how busy you are. Cats are difficult, you know. They take things personally."

Tori licked her suddenly dry lips. The enormity of what had just happened roared in her ears.

Cats are difficult? As in, too difficult for her to have a relationship with? As in, sorry lady, you can't even satisfy a damn cat?

She forced herself to speak. "Listen, I don't know how to thank—"

Mrs. Jenkins—what was her first name, anyway? Tori realized she had no idea—raised a hand to stop her. "You run along and catch your plane, sweetheart. Fritzy and I will be fine."

Tori took one final look at the cat—her cat—sprawled lovingly on the ground in front of her neighbor, and ran for the car.

****

I hope you enjoyed it! Now, to celebrate this lovely cover and excerpt, I'm going to give away the book! And another book, too! One commenter gets a copy of Rules, and another gets a copy of The Wedding Writer!

Enjoy!

Seven Days of Winning (day 2)

It's day two of Seven Days of Winning (check yesterday's blog if you have no idea what's going on!). Today, the party is on Twitter. Follow me (@inarascott) and get the details-tweet to win!

Winner gets to choose: an ARC of Rules, Radiant Desire, or one of the Delcroix books. Groovy, right?

Start tweeting, kids!