Nadia Lee's Blog, page 20

Guest Blog Post: How to Build an eBook on the Cheap by Alina Adams

Today, I have a special guest Alina Adams, discussing self-publishing her backlist titles.

Two summers ago, I was on a panel at Comic-Con in San Diego, talking about writing tie-in books (in my case to a pair of soap operas, As the World Turns and Guiding Light).

The moderator asked a question about future projects, and I mentioned that I was taking my series of Figure Skating Murder Mysteries, originally published as paperbacks by Berkley Prime Crime, and turning them into enhanced e-books, where not only did you get all the text of the original but, in partnership with The Ice Theatre of New York, I was adding professional skating videos to represent my fictional characters.

Afterwards, a fellow writer from the panel came up and told me she too had been thinking of doing a multimedia book, but she'd priced out the necessary technical services, and "Those IT guys are just so expensive."

I pointed to my husband, standing nearby, and explained, "I sleep with my IT guy."

"Oh!" She exclaimed. "That's so much cheaper!"

Indeed. I highly recommended it. (Not that there aren't many wonderful companies out there that could get the job done for you. Many of them even charge reasonable prices. But, even a reasonable price is an expenditure I'd rather avoid.)

When I first decided, in 2011, to get the rights back to not only my previously published figure skating series, but to my romance titles, as well, and turn them into enhanced e-books, it was only because I knew my husband had the technical know-how to physically build them.

And if he didn't have the technical know-how, he'd educate himself until he did. Or deal with my complaining about it. (And no one wants that.)

When it came to my romance novel, When a Man Loves a Woman, originally published by DELL in 2000, he literally ripped the book at the spine, then sat up several nights in a row, scanning each page by hand while he watched TV (and I went to bed).

I proofed it, compiled it, added a name to each chapter that corresponded to a popular song that could comment and compliment the action, found the songs on-line, created links to them, and handed the whole thing back to my husband. Who spent many more late nights formatting the book according to Amazon specs, and testing and retesting it in a variety of machines, according to the way he'd been taught at MIT. (Nuclear engineering... Building enhanced e-books... Practically the same thing, no?)

With my figure skating mysteries, Murder on Ice, On Thin Ice, Axel of Evil, Death Drop, and Skate Crime, he taught himself how to transfer videos from DVD into a format compatible with both mobi (for Amazon) and ePub (for Nook). He also figured out how to build the table of contents the platform required, not to mention indent, bold, italicize, and double-space. (Sounds simple. I gather it is not.)

We've been married for almost fourteen years. My romance writing career actually predates our meeting.

Back then, when I wrote about romantic heroes, they were either witty, urbane, Regency-era Marquis, or dashing fighter pilots, or sensitive, sexy surgeons.

Little did I know at the time, that the most romantic thing a man can do is sit up for hours tediously scanning pages torn from a tattered book, then spend hours pouring through coding specs in tiny font, followed by going back and redoing a day's worth of work because I found a misplaced comma and really, really need it fixed. Now.

My latest enhanced e-book is Counterpoint: An Interactive Family Saga. It is a romantic serial where, at the end of Volume One, I ask readers to tell me what they'd like to see happen in Volume Two. I incorporate their suggestions into Volume Two, and ask them for input regarding Volume Three. And so on.

I am really looking forward to what my readers come up with.

But, if I may offer a bit of friendly advice based on life experience, if you truly want a Happily Ever After – go for the IT guy.

You won't regret it.

Alina Adams is the New York Times' best selling author of soap opera tie-ins, figure skating mysteries, and romances, including Annie's Wild Ride and When a Man Loves a Woman. Her latest project is Counterpoint: An Interactive Family Saga. In addition to turning her own backlist into enhanced e-books, she has produced enhanced e-books for others, including Dan Elish, whose middle-grade fantasy novel, The Worldwide Dessert Contest, now includes its own original musical score. Learn more at http://www.AlinaAdamsMedia.com

© 2008 - 2012 Nadia Lee. All Rights Reserved. Visit nadialee.net for more great content.



Sign up for News from Nadia Lee to receive emails about her new releases, fun contests, giveaways and appearances!



Books Available by Nadia Lee

The Last Slayer , an Urban Fantasy with Romantic Elements

Carnal Secrets , a Contemporary Romance

Destiny Entwined , an Erotic Romance

A Happily Ever After of Her Own , a Paranormal Romance

How to Format Your Manuscript for Kindle and Nook: 3rd Edition



This Feed is for personal non-commercial use only. If you are not reading this material in your news aggregator or via the BlogBurst network, the site you are looking at is guilty of copyright infringement. Please contact us so we can take legal action immediately.

No related posts.

Cute Pandas

© 2008 - 2012 Nadia Lee. All Rights Reserved. Visit nadialee.net for more great content.



Sign up for News from Nadia Lee to receive emails about her new releases, fun contests, giveaways and appearances!



Books Available by Nadia Lee

The Last Slayer , an Urban Fantasy with Romantic Elements

Carnal Secrets , a Contemporary Romance

Destiny Entwined , an Erotic Romance

A Happily Ever After of Her Own , a Paranormal Romance

How to Format Your Manuscript for Kindle and Nook: 3rd Edition



This Feed is for personal non-commercial use only. If you are not reading this material in your news aggregator or via the BlogBurst network, the site you are looking at is guilty of copyright infringement. Please contact us so we can take legal action immediately.

No related posts.

April, April...

[image error]2012 seems to be the year of strange weather in Japan. We had the freakiest storm in April, plus snow up north, and so on. Thankfully where I am is relatively warm and not as stormy. Yesterday, I saw that the cherry blossom trees along the river had bloomed. Finally!

On the technology front, I changed my site layout, so that it changes its width, etc. depending on the screen size of your gadget. I've been meaning to optimize my site for smart phones and tablets, but just hadn't gotten around to it until now. If you see anything that's broken on your browser, please let me know via a comment.

As for my writing, I'm still working on the revision for the sequel to The Last Slayer. The opening and the middle didn't really work, and I was trying to save them somehow. Except...they just aren't going to work in the current form. When I get restless reading my own writing, I know it's not fair to subject others to it. But it's getting there, slowly, and I actually like how the manuscript's shaping up.

Though I never made any big new year's resolutions for 2012, I joined the gym this month to get back in shape. I was shocked to learn that I actually weigh about 10 lbs less than my pre-pregnancy weight. This doesn't mean I get to slack off because I'm in terrible shape -- often out of breath after doing even the most basic physical activities (like, um, walking). Also, I want to look more toned for my brother's wedding in May and be in better physical shape for The Boy, who's becoming more and more mobile. And quick!!!

I hope your April is lovely and productive.

© 2008 - 2012 Nadia Lee. All Rights Reserved. Visit nadialee.net for more great content.



Sign up for News from Nadia Lee to receive emails about her new releases, fun contests, giveaways and appearances!



Books Available by Nadia Lee

The Last Slayer , an Urban Fantasy with Romantic Elements

Carnal Secrets , a Contemporary Romance

Destiny Entwined , an Erotic Romance

A Happily Ever After of Her Own , a Paranormal Romance

How to Format Your Manuscript for Kindle and Nook: 3rd Edition



This Feed is for personal non-commercial use only. If you are not reading this material in your news aggregator or via the BlogBurst network, the site you are looking at is guilty of copyright infringement. Please contact us so we can take legal action immediately.

Related posts:
A Quick Update
The Year of the Water Dragon Is Here!
The Second Half of 2011 Is Here!

Oh Boy...

NY appeals court concludes a jury may have to decide if YouTube violated Viacom copyrights

NEW YORK — A federal appeals court reinstated a copyright case against YouTube on Thursday, finding that a jury could conclude that the online video service knew it was infringing rights when it allowed the distribution of videos of popular television shows and other programs.

The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals decided the case after hearing lawyers several months ago debate whether the 1998 Digital Millennium Copyright Act shields a company like YouTube from broad copyright claims. Google bought YouTube for $1.76 billion in 2006.

I love how everyone's "pleased" with the outcome. O_o

Nonetheless, wonder what this will eventually mean for many file sharing websites and piracy forums, etc.

© 2008 - 2012 Nadia Lee. All Rights Reserved. Visit nadialee.net for more great content.



Sign up for News from Nadia Lee to receive emails about her new releases, fun contests, giveaways and appearances!



Books Available by Nadia Lee

The Last Slayer , an Urban Fantasy with Romantic Elements

Carnal Secrets , a Contemporary Romance

Destiny Entwined , an Erotic Romance

A Happily Ever After of Her Own , a Paranormal Romance

How to Format Your Manuscript for Kindle and Nook: 3rd Edition



This Feed is for personal non-commercial use only. If you are not reading this material in your news aggregator or via the BlogBurst network, the site you are looking at is guilty of copyright infringement. Please contact us so we can take legal action immediately.

No related posts.

A Quick Update

I have to apologize for the lack of updates for February and missing it again for March.

I've been super busy and exhausted from being ill for three full weeks and having to take care of a sick baby at the same time. Hero Material was down for the count as well. But we're all fine now!

Unfortunately, I don't have much to report on The Last Slayer sequel revision since not much got done. I had a bit of epiphany, and that's nice, but I need some time to execute it. :-)

Speaking of The Last Slayer, The Book Vixen gave a lovely review of the book here. :-) I have to say that I've been overwhelmed by the number of great reviews that people have given this book. Really makes it all worthwhile!

The weather here has been crazy -- warm one week, freezing the next. I hope you are doing well wherever you are, and your February and March have been more productive and fabulous than mine, haha.

© 2008 - 2012 Nadia Lee. All Rights Reserved. Visit nadialee.net for more great content.



Sign up for News from Nadia Lee to receive emails about her new releases, fun contests, giveaways and appearances!



Books Available by Nadia Lee

The Last Slayer , an Urban Fantasy with Romantic Elements

Carnal Secrets , a Contemporary Romance

Destiny Entwined , an Erotic Romance

A Happily Ever After of Her Own , a Paranormal Romance

How to Format Your Manuscript for Kindle and Nook: 3rd Edition



This Feed is for personal non-commercial use only. If you are not reading this material in your news aggregator or via the BlogBurst network, the site you are looking at is guilty of copyright infringement. Please contact us so we can take legal action immediately.

Related posts:
A Super Short Update
The Second Half of 2011 Is Here!
Hold on, September!

A Super Short Update

Don't forget to enter the giveaway for a chance to win Amanda Bonilla's Shaedes of Gray or Blood Before Sunrise . (It ends when I update M&M on Thursday!)
Promos & Deals on The Last Slayer

Get a 30% rebate from All Romance eBooks (valid until January 31st)
Use the E50JAN12 coupon code to get an extra 5% off when you purchase The Last Slayer from Carina Press! (valid until January 31st)
Note: If you prefer to buy a copy of The Last Slayer from Amazon, it's 20% off there, no coupon code necessary.


Don't forget to check out my guest blog posts / interview schedule for The Last Slayer !

© 2008 - 2011 Nadia Lee. All Rights Reserved. Visit nadialee.net for more great content.



Sign up for News from Nadia Lee to receive emails about her new releases, fun contests, giveaways and appearances!



Books Available by Nadia Lee

The Last Slayer , an Urban Fantasy with Romantic Elements

Carnal Secrets , a Contemporary Romance

Destiny Entwined , an Erotic Romance

A Happily Ever After of Her Own , a Paranormal Romance

How to Format Your Manuscript for Kindle and Nook: 3rd Edition



This Feed is for personal non-commercial use only. If you are not reading this material in your news aggregator or via the BlogBurst network, the site you are looking at is guilty of copyright infringement. Please contact us so we can take legal action immediately.

Related posts:
So...My Super Secret Good News
The Second Half of 2011 Is Here!
Get 38% Off on The Last Slayer!

Special Guest: Mallory Braus, Editor from Carina Press

Today I have Mallory Braus from Carina Press, talking about how she became an editor and what editors do, etc.

Just so you know, she's my editor at Carina Press, and she acquired The Last Slayer and edited it.

Ashera del Cid is a talented demon hunter, but when she kills a demigod's pet dragon, the hunter becomes the hunted. Her only potential ally is Ramiel, a sexy-as-hell demon. Now the two must work together to battle dragons and demigods...and the chemistry crackling between them.

Ramiel has his own reasons for offering Ashera his protection. He knows her true identity and the real reason the demigods want her dead. What he can't predict is how she'll react when she discovers he knew who she was all along...

Ashera is shocked to discover that she is the only daughter of the last slayer. To claim her destiny, she and Ramiel must join forces to face down danger and outwit their enemies. Only then will she be able to truly accept her legacy...

Read Excerpt »

Buy from Your Favorite Bookstore »

Hi Mallory, thank you for being here!

Thank you so much for having me, Nadia!

Can you tell us a little bit about your background?

I grew up in the Midwest but moved to California with my family right after high school. Once in CA, I enrolled in school as an English major. In 2006, I accepted a scholarship to study abroad in London--which only further strengthened my love for stories. Living in a city where just wandering down the street allowed me to trace the path where so many authors had walked before. I graduated from UCLA in 2009 with my BA in English.

How did you become an editor? What sort of skill sets do you need?

This is a bit funny as, in my story, everything fell into place very serendipitously. I was attending UCLA with the intention of getting a teaching certificate. Not necessarily because I wanted to be a teacher, but because I didn't know what else to do. I'd never put together that the books I loved and read over and over and over again were not the books that were turned in originally. I knew editors existed, but in my mind, they acted exclusively as copy editors.

Until one day, my mom forwarded me an ad from bookjobs.com for an internship for a literary agent--the wonderful Emmanuelle Morgan. My whole life path was changed the day she emailed to tell me I got the position. I worked remotely (as she was in NYC and I was in CA) but she was so, so wonderful in involving me through the various stages of publication and letting me take on more and more responsibilities as time went on. I started out reading partial submissions, moved on to reading full submissions and writing recommendations, then continued on to read manuscripts she'd acquired and add editorial suggestions.

I went to visit NYC my senior year in college. Emmanuelle helped me set up numerous information interviews with established romance editors, to gain information on what the industry is like and how to pursue a career in publishing. Everyone I met was so nice and willing to share insider advice. I'd expected to walk in to The Devil Wears Prada and instead, it felt like The Ya Ya Sisterhood! During that trip I met Rose Hilliard. I'd only spent ten minutes in her office before she invited me to act as her intern/reader. It was that moment--that exact moment--that I decided I wanted to be an editor. At that moment I realized, 'This can be real. I can really do this.'

I've never looked back.

In terms of skill-sets, I'd say the first key is to read. Read bestsellers. Read the books that should be bestsellers, but for some reason aren't. And especially, read the books that are unsuccessful. Always be analyzing. Why does this work? Why doesn't this? Have a solid grasp for grammar. If you're looking to work w/ developmental edits and line edits, be able to see the book as a whole, a section, and a single line all at once. Be detail oriented and passionate. Keep up to date on the market's trends.

You have experience working for a literary agency and a Big Six publishing house. Why did you choose to become an editor? Why Carina Press?

This may sound corny, but I don't think I chose editing. I think it chose me. I didn't know it at the time, but the moment I accepted that first internship was the moment my path in life changed forever.

Now with that said, I struggled. I visited NYC and stayed for over a month. And realized I couldn't stay in that city. It was a hard realization to come to--having to face the realization that I couldn't live in the city where (up until the last few years) you HAD to live to work in editing. I flew back to LA defeated. Or so I thought...

Before my trip to New York I had sent Angela James a cold contact cover letter asking if Carina was hiring. I'd heard news of the imprint, read several of their books, and believed in their motto of "Where No Good Story Goes Untold". A month after I returned to the suburbs of Southern California (and quite a few pity parties later) I got a response asking if I was still interested in applying.

Then magic happened. I'll let you in on a not-so-secret. I have the best job. Carina Press starts trends. They make sure editors are working on books they love. I've been blessed to work with a wide range of authors, all of whom I adore. I can work with just about any genre (that CP accepts). And, I get to work in my pajamas. And the Carina team rocks. I really believe that I was meant to leave New York. I have a home at Carina. It was serendipity at its finest.

Carina acquires as a team. Have you ever wanted to buy a book that the acquisition team said no to? (If so, can you elaborate on what it means to the author and for you; i.e., can you do R&R with the author? Or are they encouraged to submit elsewhere, etc.)

This actually happens more often than most authors might think. Most times, the acquisition team will have a very specific reason for saying no to a manuscript. For example: It might be too difficult to market. Or a plot point made it difficult to suspend disbelief. Or it simply doesn't seem like the right fit for Carina. In most cases, I'm encouraged by the team to write an R&R letter using both my notes and the specific notes given to me by the acquisition reader.

Even if that specific manuscript does not work for Carina, I like to email the author personally and encourage them to continue to submit to us. Though that manuscript might not be the right fit, there was something that drew me to the story and made me want to work with the author.

What are you looking for when you read submissions? What makes you want to buy a project?

First, I look for strong characters. The quickest way to my editorial heart is to create deep and engaging characters who reveal vulnerabilities and overcome obstacles over the course of the story.

I'm always fascinated in new and/or unusual worlds/places. Bringing the setting to life so that it stands as its own sort of ethereal character. And approaching plot and conflict in a way that keeps me turning the pages.

And of course a well-balanced voice that brings all of these things together.

What are the most common mistakes you see in submissions?

Oh, this is hard. I often see misused words--which is never an automatic rejection. However, when these appear in abundance, it does make me wonder how strong the author's self-editing capabilities are. I also take note of "anonymous" query letters. For example: Addressing a letter with "Dear Sir" leads me to assume the author hasn't done enough research on the company...

It's difficult to label something a 'mistake' because reading submissions is so subjective. Last year, the Carina editors were able to enroll in Angela's Self Editing workshop "Before You Hit Send" and I would highly recommend this for all authors (and editors!). She'll show you how to keep an eye out for are things that stand out immediately when I'm reading. Echoes, overwriting, unnecessary information being given (which will often slow down the pace).

Other than The Last Slayer, what other titles have you acquired and/or edited recently?

I've been able to work with so many amazing authors. PJ Schnyder's Hunting Kat, B.R. Paulson's Whispers of Me, Janis Susan May/Janis Patterson's The Hollow House and Inheritance of Shadows, Liz Flaherty's One More Summer, Regan Summer's Don't Bite The Messenger, Stephanie Julian's Sex, Lies and Surveillance, Alexia Reed's Hunting the Shadows, and Cynthia Justlin's Edge of Light. I'll have more to add to this list, but I can't announce acquisitions until the author has...

Many people think that editors read all day at work. What do you really do as an editor?

I definitely do a lot of reading. But there's a huge difference between reading for fun and reading for work. There have been times where it takes me an hour to read ten pages, simply because of how deeply I'm thinking while I read.

Editing is a bit like entering a bubble--becoming completely immersed in the story and yet considering every word, punctuation mark, plot point. While I'm reading, I might highlight a word or phrase and see how many times it appears. Then go through each occurrence to see if another imagery or phrase could be used. To skim back to another section to see if a paragraph or conversation would read more powerfully at an earlier or later part in the story. Keeping track of character traits. And also looking for areas where character growth could be brought out more, or a depths further examined. Always questioning "why?"

There's also research. Checking facts, grammar rules, house rules, etc. Some days, the Carina editors will feel especially chatty (usually my favorite days) where we'll help each other brainstorm or offer advice. And then there's also weighing in on cover art and copy. Interacting with authors--sometimes even brainstorming via yahoo chat or by phone.

Please describe how an editor-author relationship works, and what editors bring to the table.

I consider the editor-author relationship as a partnership. My role is to help make the book as strong as it can be. This comes in so many forms. Helping grammatically, or helping an author's voice come through and sparkle. Pointing out inconsistencies or confusions. Playing devil's advocate with constant questions on motivation.

Authors and editors may not always agree--but the relationship is based on trust. An author has entrusted me with their baby. The story they've put their heart into. It's very humbling. My job is to nurture that story, to help it grow, and fulfill the trust the author has put in me.

What do you read for pleasure? Any comfort reads or favorite authors (other than the ones you edit, obviously! )?

Oh man. Where to start? I enjoy reading outside my familiar zone. I love romance and most of the novels I read are romance novels. But I also love trying new genres and authors. Recently I read The Alienist by Caleb Carr and was sucked right in to the historical mystery.

Favorite authors: I love Nalini Singh, Deanna Raybourn, Suzanne Brockmann, Nora Roberts/JD Robb, Sherrilyn Kenyon, Julia Quinn, Suzanne Enoch, Kristen Higgins, JR Ward, Kay Hooper, Jim Butcher, Meljean Brook, and so many more.

One of my all-time comfort reads is the Anne of Green Gables series. I make it a point to re-read that series about once every six months.

Do you mentally edit the books you read for pleasure? Or are you able to turn off the professional processes?

You know, this is tough. It's almost impossible for me to turn off 'editing brain'. But, I'd say it works in various stages. There are books where I have a voice shouting at me about how things should have been done differently. Then there are books where every once in a while, I'll hear a little whisper about how something could have been done differently. But there are the rare books where I am so wrapped up in the voice/story/characters that the editing brain remains silent. These are the books that generally wind up on my keeper shelf.

What kind of stories are you hoping to acquire in 2012?

I will read just about anything—except horror. I'm especially on the look out for mysteries, thrillers, sci-fi, speculative fiction, and dark paranormals. More than anything, I love character driven stories. Unique worlds. I love series, especially those with a 'band of brother' type feel.

The Carina Press editors recently did a call for submissions that lists some things I'm especially on the look out for here: http://carinapress.com/blog/2011/10/carina-press-call-for-submissions/

How should writers submit their work to you?

The best way is to submit to the Carina Press submission email address (submissions@carinapress.com), but address your query to me. Angela then forwards the email to me, but it helps to keep track of submissions coming in.

Fun trivia:

If you could be any ice cream flavor, what would you be?

Ha! Can I cheat and say whichever flavor would keep me from being eaten?

If you had a super power that enabled you to overcome one thing (a fear, flaw, etc.), what would it be?

I would love the ability to teleport. I don't think it's a secret (to anyone who follows me on twitter) that I am terrified of flying. One thing at the top of my bucket list is to visit Scotland. But, my brain can't even process the idea of an international flight. Wouldn't it be amazing to close your eyes, maybe wiggle your nose a bit, and suddenly be across the country? Or across the world?

And you know, I'd come visit you in Japan as my first trip! :P

The book you think everyone should read is...?

This was one of the toughest questions. I've started to answer and then deleted several times.

I'm going to say Nora Robert's Sea Swept. It's the first in her Chesapeake Bay series and was the first romance novel I'd ever read. It's still my favorite. What I look for now in character development, depth, vulnerabilities, ways to handle a series--it's all in there. I re-read that series every month, whenever I need a pick me up. I love, love, love it!

Your Number One Pet Peeve is...?

Bad drivers. When I journey out to the city, I get so frustrated by the sheer idiocy I see on the roads. It's gotten to the point where I refuse to drive during rush hour.

One thing you want to do before your next birthday is...?

To randomly be in the right place at the right time to witness a flashmob.

I hope you have a better idea of what editors do and what Mallory is like, in case you were thinking about submitting to Carina and wondered about editors there.

If you have any questions or comments for Mallory, please feel free to use the comment form below. BTW -- if you are a writer, please do not pitch since she's not taking pitches here. (I wanted to make that clear. Some editors do pitch contests on blogs, but this isn't one. Thanks!)

© 2008 - 2011 Nadia Lee. All Rights Reserved. Visit nadialee.net for more great content.



Sign up for News from Nadia Lee to receive emails about her new releases, fun contests, giveaways and appearances!



Books Available by Nadia Lee

The Last Slayer , an Urban Fantasy with Romantic Elements

Carnal Secrets , a Contemporary Romance

Destiny Entwined , an Erotic Romance

A Happily Ever After of Her Own , a Paranormal Romance

How to Format Your Manuscript for Kindle and Nook: 3rd Edition



This Feed is for personal non-commercial use only. If you are not reading this material in your news aggregator or via the BlogBurst network, the site you are looking at is guilty of copyright infringement. Please contact us so we can take legal action immediately.

Related posts:
Carina Press 1st Anniversary!
Free Book Week at Carina Press!

The Year of the Water Dragon Is Here!

Oh my gosh, I still can't believe it's already January. I keep thinking that it's still December 2011! I'm still getting used to writing 2012 in my date books and so on. How about you?

I'm grateful that 2011 ended well with the release of The Last Slayer. It hit the Carina Press Most Popular list and continues to receive a very, very gratifying number of extremely positive reviews.

"A smashing debut to a thrilling new series!" -- Ex-Libris

"...one of the best I've ever read..." -- Booked Up

"A gripping plot, likeable characters, well written and imaginative...I give it five stars and urge all lovers of urban fantasy to read it, especially if you're into dragons." -- Tahlia Newland

"Sometimes I read a book and I'm left wanting more. The Last Slayer was one of those books. Nadia Lee's world of demons, demon hunters, and dragonlords was convincing, and I'm so glad that it's part of a trilogy because I can't wait to read more about Ashera's quest. This is one of those books that will appeal not only to fans of urban fantasy, but also to those who enjoy more traditional fantasy reads, so if you're in either one of those categories, you are in for a treat." -- All About Romance

"If you're looking for a genre-blender of fantasy, paranormal and urban fantasy, then I totally recommend this for you." -- Basia's Bookshelf

"...a little bit Urban Fantasy, a little bit Paranormal Romance, a little bit Fantasy and a lot of beautiful world building...looking forward to the next book..." -- Buckeye Girl Reads

"With an engaging wise-cracking heroine and a smouldering hero, and epic fantastical tone, I highly recommend The Last Slayer if you fancy something new." -- The Book Pushers

"I adored this book. It was reminiscent of Nalini Singh's Guild Hunter meets Thea Harrison's Elder Races series. We have a kick ass heroine in a fascinating supernatural world featuring a hierarchy of dragons and demons. Can't wait to read more!" -- The Raunch Dilettante

"I absolutely recommend it to people who like dragons, demons and sexiness!" -- The Yearning Mermaid

"...an Arthurian good versus evil theme...light eroticism...vivid descriptions...a phenomenal amount of world-building... I enjoyed The Last Slayer very much." -- Book Lovers Inc

"I didn't know what to expect from this book when I started it but WOW this is a seriously good fantasy...is definitely going to leave you wanting more." -- Melanie, Goodreads

Whew! To say that I'm overwhelmed would be an understatement. I've been completely blown away by all the great things people are saying about this book. Thank you, thank you, everyone!

I'm going to do a few more guest blog posts and interviews, so please check my interview / guest blog post schedule for more information if you're interested. I'll be discussing a few behind-the-scenes stories and anecdotes, etc. Every single one of the guest blog posts features new material and information about how I wrote The Last Slayer and related topics.

Also, in case you missed the announcement earlier you can sample The Last Slayer from my website here or download an electronic excerpt booklet in PDF, epub or mobi. The booklet contains the first 20% of the story.

Currently, I'm working on the sequel to The Last Slayer. It's going much more slowly than I'd like, but such is life. *sigh* At least I don't have to figure out everyone's eye color. (You can find out more about my eccentricity with eyes on Tori Book Fairy's blog on January 12th.)

I hope you all have a roaring good Year of the Dragon!

© 2008 - 2011 Nadia Lee. All Rights Reserved. Visit nadialee.net for more great content.



Sign up for News from Nadia Lee to receive emails about her new releases, fun contests, giveaways and appearances!



Books Available by Nadia Lee

The Last Slayer , an Urban Fantasy with Romantic Elements

Carnal Secrets , a Contemporary Romance

Destiny Entwined , an Erotic Romance

A Happily Ever After of Her Own , a Paranormal Romance

How to Format Your Manuscript for Kindle and Nook: 3rd Edition



This Feed is for personal non-commercial use only. If you are not reading this material in your news aggregator or via the BlogBurst network, the site you are looking at is guilty of copyright infringement. Please contact us so we can take legal action immediately.

Related posts:
Realization About the Rest of the Year
The Second Half of 2011 Is Here!
Hot August!

Thankful

Today started out as a not so great day, one of those days when I really needed a hug.

Then I checked CarinaPress.com and saw this.

The Last Slayer is #2 on the CarinaPress.com's Most Popular list.

Thank you so much, my readers!

© 2008 - 2011 Nadia Lee. All Rights Reserved. Visit nadialee.net for more great content.



Sign up for News from Nadia Lee to receive emails about her new releases, fun contests, giveaways and appearances!



Books Available by Nadia Lee

The Last Slayer , an Urban Fantasy with Romantic Elements

Carnal Secrets , a Contemporary Romance

Destiny Entwined , an Erotic Romance

A Happily Ever After of Her Own , a Paranormal Romance

How to Format Your Manuscript for Kindle and Nook: 3rd Edition



This Feed is for personal non-commercial use only. If you are not reading this material in your news aggregator or via the BlogBurst network, the site you are looking at is guilty of copyright infringement. Please contact us so we can take legal action immediately.

Related posts:
So...My Super Secret Good News
Hold on, September!
An Extended Excerpt from The Last Slayer

The Last Slayer Is On Sale Now!

Today is December 26, and you know what that means! The Last Slayer is on sale now! It was supposed to be released in late October, but due to my pregnancy and so on, we pushed the release date back. (Thank god for infinitely patient agents, editors and Carina production staff!)

The Last Slayer

Ashera del Cid is a talented demon hunter, but when she kills a demigod's pet dragon, the hunter becomes the hunted. Her only potential ally is Ramiel, a sexy-as-hell demon. Now the two must work together to battle dragons and demigods...and the chemistry crackling between them.

Ramiel has his own reasons for offering Ashera his protection. He knows her true identity and the real reason the demigods want her dead. What he can't predict is how she'll react when she discovers he knew who she was all along...

Ashera is shocked to discover that she is the only daughter of the last slayer. To claim her destiny, she and Ramiel must join forces to face down danger and outwit their enemies. Only then will she be able to truly accept her legacy...

The Last Slayer has already started to receive some great buzz from reviewers! :-)

"I adored this book. It was reminiscent of Nalini Singh's Guild Hunter meets Thea Harrison's Elder Races series. We have a kick ass heroine in a fascinating supernatural world featuring a hierarchy of dragons and demons. Can't wait to read more!"

-- The Raunch Dilettante (B)

"The Last Slayer is complex and Nadia Lee does a phenomenal amount of world building in the first book of what is to be a trilogy of stories. I enjoyed The Last Slayer very much, my only niggle is that I would have liked to read some of the story from Ramiel's POV. However an Epilogue does provide a POV switch and an intriguing lead in to the next story in the series."

-- Book Lovers Inc (4 stars)

"I've been searching for a series that makes my heart race and ache at the same time. With The Heartstone trilogy I found my match! The Last Slayer is a wonderful paranormal book with enough wit and sexyness to win me over."

-- The Yearning Mermaid (5 stars)

"Un romanzo veramente delizioso, che ho preso in mano e non sono riuscita a mettere giù fino alla parola fine, tutto in un'unica sessione. Sono molto, molto curiosa di vedere come sarà il seguito, che l'autrice sta scrivendo proprio in questo periodo, per vedere se sarà all'altezza del predecessore o se anzi riuscirà a superarlo. Una trilogia che consiglio a tutti gli amanti del fantasy e del paranormal, grandi o meno grandi."

-- Sognando Leggendo (4 stars) (My first Italian review! You can read the translation from Google Translate here)

Sample The Last Slayer from my website here or download an electronic excerpt booklet in PDF, epub or mobi. The booklet contains the first 20% of the story.

To get the rest of the story, you can buy from Carina Press, Amazon (US, UK, DE, FR, IT, ES), B & N Nook, Books on Board, Diesel, Kobo, iBookstore (US, Canada) and Sony.

ETA: If you buy The Last Slayer from Carina Press, you can use the CARSP1011 coupon code to save $5 when you spend $10! The offer expires on January 4th.

© 2008 - 2011 Nadia Lee. All Rights Reserved. Visit nadialee.net for more great content.



Sign up for News from Nadia Lee to receive emails about her new releases, fun contests, giveaways and appearances!



Books Available by Nadia Lee

The Last Slayer , an Urban Fantasy with Romantic Elements

Carnal Secrets , a Contemporary Romance

Destiny Entwined , an Erotic Romance

A Happily Ever After of Her Own , a Paranormal Romance

How to Format Your Manuscript for Kindle and Nook: 3rd Edition



This Feed is for personal non-commercial use only. If you are not reading this material in your news aggregator or via the BlogBurst network, the site you are looking at is guilty of copyright infringement. Please contact us so we can take legal action immediately.

Related posts:
Hold on, September!
Cover Reveal: The Last Slayer
Interview & Giveaway!