C.J. Ellisson's Blog
May 24, 2015
Facebook Giveaway
Today's newsletter is not a standard one. Normally, I'd have a whole bunch of fun info in here and the latest installment link for Sharpen the Blade. But I hadn't counted on the hectic holiday weekend getting away from me with home improvement projects and social
plans. So, without further ado, the winner to the Fantasy Box Giveaway posted May 19th is Maria Beale Potter. Please email Jen at jen@cjellisson.com with your mailing address.Maria, you have one week to get in touch with us and then we'll
pick another winner. And on that note, I'd like to announce a special summer giveaway, starting this coming week. Each week, all summer long, there will be another giveaway box with signed books, unsigned books, swag, and edible goodies posted on my Facebook Author
Page. The authors and contents will vary each week, so you'll have to watch to see if a box comes up that interests you.Moving forward, the winners for the entire month will be announced in my newsletter which normally only goes out once per month. This month will be the exception as I will get another edition out next week with the next winner and my regular content. Wishing you all a fabulous holiday
weekend!~C.J.
plans. So, without further ado, the winner to the Fantasy Box Giveaway posted May 19th is Maria Beale Potter. Please email Jen at jen@cjellisson.com with your mailing address.Maria, you have one week to get in touch with us and then we'll
pick another winner. And on that note, I'd like to announce a special summer giveaway, starting this coming week. Each week, all summer long, there will be another giveaway box with signed books, unsigned books, swag, and edible goodies posted on my Facebook Author
Page. The authors and contents will vary each week, so you'll have to watch to see if a box comes up that interests you.Moving forward, the winners for the entire month will be announced in my newsletter which normally only goes out once per month. This month will be the exception as I will get another edition out next week with the next winner and my regular content. Wishing you all a fabulous holiday
weekend!~C.J.
April 16, 2015
April Newsletter: Sharpen the Blade Part I
April Newsletter
Reading Roll Call: Last month I mentioned all the new books and new authors I planned to read before this newsletter. I read and
enjoyed Karpov Kinrade’s first two books in the Seduced series, and I have to say, I was pleasantly surprised. The books are more PNR, in that they focus largely on the building relationship between the two protagonists, but I thoroughly enjoyed the steadily growing plot of mischief brewing between the Druids and the witches.Shannon Mayer’s latest release, Recurve, was terrific! Excellent world building and a well-told story I eagerly devoured. I’m looking forward to additional installments with Mayer’s newest heroine.Viola’s Rivard’s novella, Trust, book one in her Running with Alphas series, was a welcome diversion from reality. Written in a serial format, think of it as an amuse bouche for your evening—a tantalizing story to whet your appetite, that you can read in one sitting. You get a good feeling for the characters as the story is unfolding, even if the over-arcing story isn’t resolved yet. More PNR than the other two, but a really fun
read!Denise Grover Swank’s latest Rose Gardner book releases at the end of the month, and in anticipation she’ll have two boxed sets containing the whole series on sale for 99 cents each starting on April 20th. Trust me, that’s a bargain you won’t want to pass up!Writing Updates: I’m on track with July release dates for both of my current writing projects and am super-excited to share installment one of the first
“between the books” novella, titled Sharpen the Blade, which takes place directly after Blood Legacy. Since I’m still completing the novella, it has not been sent to my editor yet, so please overlook any glaring errors on my part.Instructions on how to read part one: Please follow this link (http://www.cjellisson.com/books/VVInn...) and enter the user name Reader and the password StBJuly2015 to read the first installment.
Remember, there will be another part releasing next month, free only to newsletter subscribers.Want an early copy of book seven, Blood Reckoning? Consider joining my ARC Team!Sales: I joined a group of fabulous PNR and UF writers for a big 99 cent sale on Apple’s iStore. Vampire Vacation is the only title in my V V Inn series included in the sale, but check out the other great reads by Lara Adrian, Jennifer Ashley, Cynthia Eden, Colleen Gleason, Donna Grant, Felicity Heaton, Erin Kellison, Laurie London, Elisabeth Naughton, Patricia A Rasey, Katie Reus, Caris Roane, Erin Quinn, and Bonnie Vanak!Upcoming Appearances: The only reader con I’m going to all summer is Authors After Dark in Atlanta, August 12 to 16. The
master of ceremonies this year is Sherilyn Kenyon! Woohoo! This will be my only reader con for the next six months. I may do a few local ones in October, but nothing is set. I’ll keep you posted.Contests: Jennifer, my assistant, picked all the winners from last month’s blog tour on Blood Legacy, and for the review giveaway widget posted on my author Page. Please check your inboxes and spam folders for notice.
Prizes will be mailed out within two weeks. Thanks for participating and for your support in the series!Personal Updates: My family and I went camping in Myrtle Beach State Park for spring break. If you’re interested in seeing pictures, or my daughter’s attempt at playing Taps on her trumpet, please follow the embedded links.I posted last month on Facebook that one of the cross-country "camping" trips I’ve dreamed about for years will finally happen. Yay! We’ve planned excursions to Mount Rushmore, Yellowstone, Grand Tetons, and Dinosaur State Park this summer. Our fifth-wheeler will also be stopping in Toledo, Oh, Madison, WI, Des Moines, IO on the way there and back. If you live near any of those parks or cities and would like to meet up, please contact my assistant Jen at
jen@cjellisson.com for the dates we’ll be at each one. I’d love to arrange a drink or a meal together if our schedules allow it.Book Club: We’ve set
up a Facebook Event for the book club discussion of Blood Legacy on April 21, 2015, from 7-8:30 pm EST. Have a question about the book? Want to chat with other readers and hear their thoughts? Join us for book
club! Hope to see you there. :-) Want to join us to chat about the latest books written by Shannon Mayer, Angie Fox, Karpov Kinrade, or S.M. Reine? Click the links on their names to be taken to the FB Event for their book discussions. Dates and times are not accurate yet, but if you "join" the event you'll receive notice of the correction when it occurs.TBR Pile: As most of you know, I read even while I’m working on a book. It’s my reward and escape all rolled into one. Currently, I'm reading book one from Angie Fox's Southern Ghost Hunter series, titled Southern Spirits. I just started it and am really digging her heroine! I'll report back after I finish it, but so far I like it
better than her Biker Witches series. These are the three I plan to read next:
RaShelle Workman’s free reads, Blood
Snow Volumes 1-4 and 5-8. The first four segments together are about 270 pages, so I’m thinking this is a serialized piece that’s completed. Vampires and a new twist on Snow White, what’s not to love?K.F. Breene’s Chosen, book one in the Warrior Chronicles, sounds right up my alley. Magic, mayhem, and war. Can’t wait to read it!I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the three books I’ve read so far in S.M. Reine’s Preternatural Affairs series, and I’m eager to start book one in her latest War of the Alphas series, titled Omega.**If
any of the authors are interested in joining us in the online book club for a discussion, you’ll see notice in my next newsletter. Once again, thanks for your interest and support. I sincerely hope you enjoy the first installment of Sharpen the Blade!~C.J.C.J. Ellisson USA Today and New York Times bestselling
authorContemporary
Romance: Vanilla on Top ~ Vanilla
Twist ~ Avoiding Mr. Right ~ Loving Ms. Wrong Adult Urban Fantasy: Death's Servant ~ Vampire Vacation ~ The Hunt ~ Big Game ~ Death Times Two ~ Blood Legacy
Reading Roll Call: Last month I mentioned all the new books and new authors I planned to read before this newsletter. I read and
enjoyed Karpov Kinrade’s first two books in the Seduced series, and I have to say, I was pleasantly surprised. The books are more PNR, in that they focus largely on the building relationship between the two protagonists, but I thoroughly enjoyed the steadily growing plot of mischief brewing between the Druids and the witches.Shannon Mayer’s latest release, Recurve, was terrific! Excellent world building and a well-told story I eagerly devoured. I’m looking forward to additional installments with Mayer’s newest heroine.Viola’s Rivard’s novella, Trust, book one in her Running with Alphas series, was a welcome diversion from reality. Written in a serial format, think of it as an amuse bouche for your evening—a tantalizing story to whet your appetite, that you can read in one sitting. You get a good feeling for the characters as the story is unfolding, even if the over-arcing story isn’t resolved yet. More PNR than the other two, but a really fun
read!Denise Grover Swank’s latest Rose Gardner book releases at the end of the month, and in anticipation she’ll have two boxed sets containing the whole series on sale for 99 cents each starting on April 20th. Trust me, that’s a bargain you won’t want to pass up!Writing Updates: I’m on track with July release dates for both of my current writing projects and am super-excited to share installment one of the first
“between the books” novella, titled Sharpen the Blade, which takes place directly after Blood Legacy. Since I’m still completing the novella, it has not been sent to my editor yet, so please overlook any glaring errors on my part.Instructions on how to read part one: Please follow this link (http://www.cjellisson.com/books/VVInn...) and enter the user name Reader and the password StBJuly2015 to read the first installment.
Remember, there will be another part releasing next month, free only to newsletter subscribers.Want an early copy of book seven, Blood Reckoning? Consider joining my ARC Team!Sales: I joined a group of fabulous PNR and UF writers for a big 99 cent sale on Apple’s iStore. Vampire Vacation is the only title in my V V Inn series included in the sale, but check out the other great reads by Lara Adrian, Jennifer Ashley, Cynthia Eden, Colleen Gleason, Donna Grant, Felicity Heaton, Erin Kellison, Laurie London, Elisabeth Naughton, Patricia A Rasey, Katie Reus, Caris Roane, Erin Quinn, and Bonnie Vanak!Upcoming Appearances: The only reader con I’m going to all summer is Authors After Dark in Atlanta, August 12 to 16. The
master of ceremonies this year is Sherilyn Kenyon! Woohoo! This will be my only reader con for the next six months. I may do a few local ones in October, but nothing is set. I’ll keep you posted.Contests: Jennifer, my assistant, picked all the winners from last month’s blog tour on Blood Legacy, and for the review giveaway widget posted on my author Page. Please check your inboxes and spam folders for notice.
Prizes will be mailed out within two weeks. Thanks for participating and for your support in the series!Personal Updates: My family and I went camping in Myrtle Beach State Park for spring break. If you’re interested in seeing pictures, or my daughter’s attempt at playing Taps on her trumpet, please follow the embedded links.I posted last month on Facebook that one of the cross-country "camping" trips I’ve dreamed about for years will finally happen. Yay! We’ve planned excursions to Mount Rushmore, Yellowstone, Grand Tetons, and Dinosaur State Park this summer. Our fifth-wheeler will also be stopping in Toledo, Oh, Madison, WI, Des Moines, IO on the way there and back. If you live near any of those parks or cities and would like to meet up, please contact my assistant Jen at
jen@cjellisson.com for the dates we’ll be at each one. I’d love to arrange a drink or a meal together if our schedules allow it.Book Club: We’ve set
up a Facebook Event for the book club discussion of Blood Legacy on April 21, 2015, from 7-8:30 pm EST. Have a question about the book? Want to chat with other readers and hear their thoughts? Join us for book
club! Hope to see you there. :-) Want to join us to chat about the latest books written by Shannon Mayer, Angie Fox, Karpov Kinrade, or S.M. Reine? Click the links on their names to be taken to the FB Event for their book discussions. Dates and times are not accurate yet, but if you "join" the event you'll receive notice of the correction when it occurs.TBR Pile: As most of you know, I read even while I’m working on a book. It’s my reward and escape all rolled into one. Currently, I'm reading book one from Angie Fox's Southern Ghost Hunter series, titled Southern Spirits. I just started it and am really digging her heroine! I'll report back after I finish it, but so far I like it
better than her Biker Witches series. These are the three I plan to read next:
RaShelle Workman’s free reads, Blood
Snow Volumes 1-4 and 5-8. The first four segments together are about 270 pages, so I’m thinking this is a serialized piece that’s completed. Vampires and a new twist on Snow White, what’s not to love?K.F. Breene’s Chosen, book one in the Warrior Chronicles, sounds right up my alley. Magic, mayhem, and war. Can’t wait to read it!I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the three books I’ve read so far in S.M. Reine’s Preternatural Affairs series, and I’m eager to start book one in her latest War of the Alphas series, titled Omega.**If
any of the authors are interested in joining us in the online book club for a discussion, you’ll see notice in my next newsletter. Once again, thanks for your interest and support. I sincerely hope you enjoy the first installment of Sharpen the Blade!~C.J.C.J. Ellisson USA Today and New York Times bestselling
authorContemporary
Romance: Vanilla on Top ~ Vanilla
Twist ~ Avoiding Mr. Right ~ Loving Ms. Wrong Adult Urban Fantasy: Death's Servant ~ Vampire Vacation ~ The Hunt ~ Big Game ~ Death Times Two ~ Blood Legacy
March 12, 2015
More V V Inn!
~ March Newsletter ~
Reading Roll Call: I’ve been reading a ton lately, and I hope you all are, too! I’ve recently become obsessed with a twenty-four year old sheltered virgin who breaks free of her oppression and blossoms into a successful amateur sleuth in the pages of Denise Grover Swank's Rose Gardner series. The books remind me a little of Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum series, but with southern charm, lots more declarations of love, and even more emotional upheavals. The writing is smooth and the story really draws you in. I’m on book six and can’t seem to put these books down. Give them a try and let me know what you think.Writing News: I’m working on the next installment of the V V Inn and have a big
announcement for newsletter subscribers. Before I write Blood Reckoning, the continuation after Blood Legacy, I will write a “between the books” novella catching up readers with points of view they haven’t heard from in a while (or at all), like Drew, Paul, Asa, and Candy, as well as filling in what happens with our regulars, Vivian, Rafe, and Jon before the next adventure begins.I will be releasing this novella in three to four parts
(one every month) to newsletter subscribers for free before it is published and sold as an eBook. You’ll find a link to a password-protected page on my website, and the password, in my next newsletter, so please look for it.Speaking of my website, I’ve had issues for over five months with accessing my website’s hosting server to upload updates. It’s frustrating for me, but I wanted to let
you know why it hasn’t been updated in a while and that it will be fixed soon (or I will start drinking heavily out of aggravation!).Online Events: I don’t have any upcoming Facebook events planned, but I’d like to thank everyone who attended Blood Legacy’s release day event last month and let you know physical prizes will be going this month (and follow up on awarding eprizes to outstanding email addresses, too).Free Short
Read: My daughter submitted a short story in her first writing contest on March 1st. She brainstormed her concept with me and I helped her with editing, but the voice, story, and style is all her. If you’d like to check it out and tell her what you think, you can find it in the Notes section on my author Page on Facebook.Other Book News: As stated in my last newsletter, Blood
Legacy was only available to all sales channels for two weeks. It is now exclusively in Amazon’s Select program and available to Kindle Unlimited subscribers as well. In addition, the whole series is in Select except for Vampire Vacation, as it is in a bundled set that is sold at several locations. I’m working on uploading a page on my website offering an ePub file for readers who provide an Amazon email receipt of any book in the series that is currently
exclusive to Amazon. For now, if you have a Nook or other eReader that uses ePub only, please email your receipt to jen@cjellisson.com and she’ll get you the file you need. To Be Read: We all have “to be read” selections of books we’d
like to read, whether they’re new-to-us authors or writers we’ve grown to love. I want to start a new segment in my newsletter letting you know what I plan to read over the next month. If you’ve read any of them or plan to, we can talk about the books in my online book club. Here’s what’s next up for me:
Shannon Mayer’s Recurve, the first book in a new urban fantasy series, is near the top of my TBR list. I’m a huge fan of Shannon’s work and love her Rylee Adamson series. I’m eager to see what adventures await Larkspur, an Elemental half-breed with no power who must join her father’s guard to survive as the King’s bastard.Karprov Kinrade’s Seduced by Innocence is the first book in the five-book Seduced Saga paranormal romance
series. All five books are out and will be cycling through Kindle Countdown Deals throughout the month of March to celebrate the launch of the final book, Seduced by Darkness, which released a week ago. This husband and wife
writing duo is new to me and I’m really looking forward to reading the first book.Viola Rivard’s seventh book in her Running with the Alphas series, titled Home, released yesterday and I’m starting with book one, Trust, this weekend. Viola writes steamy novellas involving werewolves and menage (yay!), and I can’t wait to dig in and see what her characters are like.Giveaways: My reviewer giveaway for Blood Legacy ends tomorrow! If you’ve read the book, consider leaving a review and saving the URL
links to enter for your chance to win one of four signed V V Inn Tee shirts, or one of six swag packs with signed books. The giveaway is posted on my author Page on Facebook and ends tomorrow night. Not many entries so far, so you have an increased chance of winning—whoohoo! ;-)As always, thanks for your continued support of my work! You honor me with your interest and I’m grateful you enjoy my stories.Until next time,~C.J.
Reading Roll Call: I’ve been reading a ton lately, and I hope you all are, too! I’ve recently become obsessed with a twenty-four year old sheltered virgin who breaks free of her oppression and blossoms into a successful amateur sleuth in the pages of Denise Grover Swank's Rose Gardner series. The books remind me a little of Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum series, but with southern charm, lots more declarations of love, and even more emotional upheavals. The writing is smooth and the story really draws you in. I’m on book six and can’t seem to put these books down. Give them a try and let me know what you think.Writing News: I’m working on the next installment of the V V Inn and have a big
announcement for newsletter subscribers. Before I write Blood Reckoning, the continuation after Blood Legacy, I will write a “between the books” novella catching up readers with points of view they haven’t heard from in a while (or at all), like Drew, Paul, Asa, and Candy, as well as filling in what happens with our regulars, Vivian, Rafe, and Jon before the next adventure begins.I will be releasing this novella in three to four parts
(one every month) to newsletter subscribers for free before it is published and sold as an eBook. You’ll find a link to a password-protected page on my website, and the password, in my next newsletter, so please look for it.Speaking of my website, I’ve had issues for over five months with accessing my website’s hosting server to upload updates. It’s frustrating for me, but I wanted to let
you know why it hasn’t been updated in a while and that it will be fixed soon (or I will start drinking heavily out of aggravation!).Online Events: I don’t have any upcoming Facebook events planned, but I’d like to thank everyone who attended Blood Legacy’s release day event last month and let you know physical prizes will be going this month (and follow up on awarding eprizes to outstanding email addresses, too).Free Short
Read: My daughter submitted a short story in her first writing contest on March 1st. She brainstormed her concept with me and I helped her with editing, but the voice, story, and style is all her. If you’d like to check it out and tell her what you think, you can find it in the Notes section on my author Page on Facebook.Other Book News: As stated in my last newsletter, Blood
Legacy was only available to all sales channels for two weeks. It is now exclusively in Amazon’s Select program and available to Kindle Unlimited subscribers as well. In addition, the whole series is in Select except for Vampire Vacation, as it is in a bundled set that is sold at several locations. I’m working on uploading a page on my website offering an ePub file for readers who provide an Amazon email receipt of any book in the series that is currently
exclusive to Amazon. For now, if you have a Nook or other eReader that uses ePub only, please email your receipt to jen@cjellisson.com and she’ll get you the file you need. To Be Read: We all have “to be read” selections of books we’d
like to read, whether they’re new-to-us authors or writers we’ve grown to love. I want to start a new segment in my newsletter letting you know what I plan to read over the next month. If you’ve read any of them or plan to, we can talk about the books in my online book club. Here’s what’s next up for me:
Shannon Mayer’s Recurve, the first book in a new urban fantasy series, is near the top of my TBR list. I’m a huge fan of Shannon’s work and love her Rylee Adamson series. I’m eager to see what adventures await Larkspur, an Elemental half-breed with no power who must join her father’s guard to survive as the King’s bastard.Karprov Kinrade’s Seduced by Innocence is the first book in the five-book Seduced Saga paranormal romance
series. All five books are out and will be cycling through Kindle Countdown Deals throughout the month of March to celebrate the launch of the final book, Seduced by Darkness, which released a week ago. This husband and wife
writing duo is new to me and I’m really looking forward to reading the first book.Viola Rivard’s seventh book in her Running with the Alphas series, titled Home, released yesterday and I’m starting with book one, Trust, this weekend. Viola writes steamy novellas involving werewolves and menage (yay!), and I can’t wait to dig in and see what her characters are like.Giveaways: My reviewer giveaway for Blood Legacy ends tomorrow! If you’ve read the book, consider leaving a review and saving the URL
links to enter for your chance to win one of four signed V V Inn Tee shirts, or one of six swag packs with signed books. The giveaway is posted on my author Page on Facebook and ends tomorrow night. Not many entries so far, so you have an increased chance of winning—whoohoo! ;-)As always, thanks for your continued support of my work! You honor me with your interest and I’m grateful you enjoy my stories.Until next time,~C.J.
February 25, 2015
Blood Legacy Out Now!
Blood Legacy!
Book Five is Live!
I’m thrilled to share the latest V V Inn installment with all of you! Early reviewers are loving the story and I sincerely hope you do as well.Special note: We recently updated the numbering in the series, due to no half-numbering allowed at retailers on shorter books or novellas, so please don’t be confused when you see Blood Legacy listed as book five. To clarify, Death Times Two was technically book four.For everyone not
buying from Amazon, Blood Legacy will only be on sale elsewhere for two weeks. After that, it will be exclusive to Amazon in their Select program, so please don’t delay in getting your copy while you can.For convenience, here are the links to various retailers and Goodreads:Amazon: http://amzn.to/1uUsNmyKobo: http://bit.ly/Kobo-BL Barnes and Noble: http://bit.ly/Nook-BLApple: http://bit.ly/Apple-BLGoodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2... I’ve included the Goodreads link for easy access with leaving a review later. ;-) Save all your review links! In addition to a big giveaway for all the blogs participating in a virtual book tour, there’s one on my author Page on Facebook for anyone who leaves a review within the first two weeks. We've got four signed V V Inn tees up for grabs, plus lots of other singed goodies, so please check it
out!If you’re able to post a review within the first two days of the book's release, you will automatically be added to the list for the next available ARC in the series. We'll need your review links to qualify you, please send them to jen@cjellisson.com, with ARC for
Book Six in the subject header.If you're online today, please consider joining us at the release party on Facebook, from 11am to 10pm, EST. There will be lots prizes throughout the day, including fabulous guest authors: Denise Grover Swank, Laura Kaye, Shannon Mayer, Suzanne Johnson, Caridad Pineiro, Lisa Kessler, Milly Taiden, Mina Khan, Carrie Ann Ryan, Joey W. Hill, Lindsay
Buroker, Laurie London, Jess Haines, James R. Tuck, Alyssa Breck, Erin Kellison, and Morgan Hannah MacDonald!For more prize opportunities all month, check out the notices for blog appearances posted in my street team on Facebook. You’ll have a chance to enter the blog tour giveaway at every stop, and can enter multiple times. Please consider joining the street team for weekly prizes, exclusive content, and easy access to me and others who love the series as much as you do. Just click “request to join” while viewing the group.Happy Reading! And I hope you enjoy the book!~C.J.
Book Five is Live!
I’m thrilled to share the latest V V Inn installment with all of you! Early reviewers are loving the story and I sincerely hope you do as well.Special note: We recently updated the numbering in the series, due to no half-numbering allowed at retailers on shorter books or novellas, so please don’t be confused when you see Blood Legacy listed as book five. To clarify, Death Times Two was technically book four.For everyone not
buying from Amazon, Blood Legacy will only be on sale elsewhere for two weeks. After that, it will be exclusive to Amazon in their Select program, so please don’t delay in getting your copy while you can.For convenience, here are the links to various retailers and Goodreads:Amazon: http://amzn.to/1uUsNmyKobo: http://bit.ly/Kobo-BL Barnes and Noble: http://bit.ly/Nook-BLApple: http://bit.ly/Apple-BLGoodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2... I’ve included the Goodreads link for easy access with leaving a review later. ;-) Save all your review links! In addition to a big giveaway for all the blogs participating in a virtual book tour, there’s one on my author Page on Facebook for anyone who leaves a review within the first two weeks. We've got four signed V V Inn tees up for grabs, plus lots of other singed goodies, so please check it
out!If you’re able to post a review within the first two days of the book's release, you will automatically be added to the list for the next available ARC in the series. We'll need your review links to qualify you, please send them to jen@cjellisson.com, with ARC for
Book Six in the subject header.If you're online today, please consider joining us at the release party on Facebook, from 11am to 10pm, EST. There will be lots prizes throughout the day, including fabulous guest authors: Denise Grover Swank, Laura Kaye, Shannon Mayer, Suzanne Johnson, Caridad Pineiro, Lisa Kessler, Milly Taiden, Mina Khan, Carrie Ann Ryan, Joey W. Hill, Lindsay
Buroker, Laurie London, Jess Haines, James R. Tuck, Alyssa Breck, Erin Kellison, and Morgan Hannah MacDonald!For more prize opportunities all month, check out the notices for blog appearances posted in my street team on Facebook. You’ll have a chance to enter the blog tour giveaway at every stop, and can enter multiple times. Please consider joining the street team for weekly prizes, exclusive content, and easy access to me and others who love the series as much as you do. Just click “request to join” while viewing the group.Happy Reading! And I hope you enjoy the book!~C.J.
February 5, 2015
Ten Book Bundle! And News on Blood Legacy
Happy Valentine's Day! (a little early)
Psychic Storm and Blood Legacy
Happy February! Are you sick of winter yet? Some of us live in areas that have been hit hard with snow this year. Other lucky souls live in the southern hemisphere and are cackling loudly at our travails. Wherever you live, I hope you’re looking for something good to read!This month I’ve got two very special releases, the first is an
incredible ten-book bundle devoted to heroes and heroines with psychic abilities, titled Psychic Storm. The books are listed in the bundle from slightly steamy to scorching hot, so be sure to read the rating. If you’re in the mood for hot, you jump to the end. When you’re having a lazy
afternoon and craving a less-scorching tale, jump to one of the earlier books. You know me, I’ll be reading the hot ones first. ;-)
Buy Links:Amazon: http://amzn.to/1yMWbNx Nook:
http://tinyurl.com/Psychics-NookiBooks: http://tinyurl.com/Psychics-iBooksGoogle Play: http://tinyurl.com/Psychics-GPKobo: http://tinyurl.com/Psychics-KoboSmash... http://tinyurl.com/Psychics-SWHere’s what readers are saying about the
included books:Haunted on Bourbon Street by Deanna Chase"Love, Romance, Action, Mystery this has it all! The writing is spectacular and draws you into the story." ~ SupaGurl BooksTuesday's Child by Dale Mayer"I loved TUESDAY'S CHILD! I couldn't stand to stop reading it and when I wasn't reading it, I was thinking about it! Truly the sign of a great book." ~ By Lynn Cunningham, Fresh FictionVampire Vacation by C.J. Ellisson"Adults, it's time to replace your drab teenage vampire novels and move up to the
real thing!" ~ Gina Gareau-ClarkJust a Little Nudge by Jesi Lea Ryan"Fast moving, spicy fun..." ~ Toby Neal, author of the Lei Crime SeriesThe Allie's War Series by JC Andrijeski"Such strong chemistry between Allie and her guide, Revik, that it takes your breath away..." ~ Literary RandRAmong the Living by Jordan Castillo Price"Mesmerizing, slightly twisted." ~ Joyfully ReviewedThe Daughters
of Dark Root Series by April Aasheim"Rich in both fantasy and heart." ~ My Book AddictionTouched by Hazel Hunter"WOW! Great read! Fast paced, good quick character building, excellent protagonist." ~ Deborah GrinakerSpirits Among Us by Morgan Hannah MacDonald"From the opening scene to the final I didn't want to put this book down..." ~ Cindy's ReviewsNew Revelations by Heather Topham Wood"The ending of this book will BLOW your mind!"
~ It's A Book Life**If you’d like to meet all the authors, we’re hosting an online Facebook Event next week to celebrate the bundle’s release. There will be lots of questions and prizes, and a ton of
fun! If you haven’t attended a Facebook book party yet, I highly recommend checking this one out.Now that I’m finished with Blood Legacy and working on edits, I’m going to start reading the
books in the bundle that are new to me. If you’d like to read along with me, and possibly discuss the books, please check out my online book club. I recently held a V V Inn Chat in a public Event through the book club and awarded four signed print copies of the upcoming release, plus five
Advance Reader Copies to those who attended. You can also read an exclusive peek at the first chapter I shared in the Event that night.In honor of the sixth story in the V V Inn releasing later this
month, I’ve put all of the previous books on sale for 99 cents! If you’ve got a friend who reads steamy urban fantasy it would make a gift. I’d also appreciate any sharing of the buy links through social media. As most of the books are exclusive to Amazon’s Select program right now, I’m only including that one.Amazon: http://bit.ly/VVInn-AmazonOnline Events: In addition to the party mentioned above, I’m also holding a special all-day release party for Blood Legacy on February 25th! The author guest list will be awesome, trust me, you won’t want to miss it!Pre-Orders: There have been questions on pre-orders for Nook and iStore shoppers, as Amazon is the only one live so far. The other retailers will follow soon, but probably not until next week. I promise to do a quick newsletter blast when they do go live so
you’ll have your copy the second it releases!ARC Requestors: As I stated in my last newsletter, if you’d like an advanced copy of Blood Legacy you need to provide proof of reviewing all the books in the series first. Please send your URL links to admin@cjellisson.com for inclusion on the list, we are limiting it to fifty, so
please don’t delay in getting your review links to us. Acceptable sites to post reviews are a book reviewing blog, a retailer website where the books are for sale, GoodReads, and LibraryThing. Instructions on how to find your URLs are available via PDF and video formats, please email Andrea at the email provided for links. ARC copies will be emailed out on the 10th, a full two weeks before the book will be for sale anywhere.Thanks again for your support and I can’t wait
until Blood Legacy is live for you all to enjoy!~C.J.
Psychic Storm and Blood Legacy
Happy February! Are you sick of winter yet? Some of us live in areas that have been hit hard with snow this year. Other lucky souls live in the southern hemisphere and are cackling loudly at our travails. Wherever you live, I hope you’re looking for something good to read!This month I’ve got two very special releases, the first is an
incredible ten-book bundle devoted to heroes and heroines with psychic abilities, titled Psychic Storm. The books are listed in the bundle from slightly steamy to scorching hot, so be sure to read the rating. If you’re in the mood for hot, you jump to the end. When you’re having a lazy
afternoon and craving a less-scorching tale, jump to one of the earlier books. You know me, I’ll be reading the hot ones first. ;-)
Buy Links:Amazon: http://amzn.to/1yMWbNx Nook:
http://tinyurl.com/Psychics-NookiBooks: http://tinyurl.com/Psychics-iBooksGoogle Play: http://tinyurl.com/Psychics-GPKobo: http://tinyurl.com/Psychics-KoboSmash... http://tinyurl.com/Psychics-SWHere’s what readers are saying about the
included books:Haunted on Bourbon Street by Deanna Chase"Love, Romance, Action, Mystery this has it all! The writing is spectacular and draws you into the story." ~ SupaGurl BooksTuesday's Child by Dale Mayer"I loved TUESDAY'S CHILD! I couldn't stand to stop reading it and when I wasn't reading it, I was thinking about it! Truly the sign of a great book." ~ By Lynn Cunningham, Fresh FictionVampire Vacation by C.J. Ellisson"Adults, it's time to replace your drab teenage vampire novels and move up to the
real thing!" ~ Gina Gareau-ClarkJust a Little Nudge by Jesi Lea Ryan"Fast moving, spicy fun..." ~ Toby Neal, author of the Lei Crime SeriesThe Allie's War Series by JC Andrijeski"Such strong chemistry between Allie and her guide, Revik, that it takes your breath away..." ~ Literary RandRAmong the Living by Jordan Castillo Price"Mesmerizing, slightly twisted." ~ Joyfully ReviewedThe Daughters
of Dark Root Series by April Aasheim"Rich in both fantasy and heart." ~ My Book AddictionTouched by Hazel Hunter"WOW! Great read! Fast paced, good quick character building, excellent protagonist." ~ Deborah GrinakerSpirits Among Us by Morgan Hannah MacDonald"From the opening scene to the final I didn't want to put this book down..." ~ Cindy's ReviewsNew Revelations by Heather Topham Wood"The ending of this book will BLOW your mind!"
~ It's A Book Life**If you’d like to meet all the authors, we’re hosting an online Facebook Event next week to celebrate the bundle’s release. There will be lots of questions and prizes, and a ton of
fun! If you haven’t attended a Facebook book party yet, I highly recommend checking this one out.Now that I’m finished with Blood Legacy and working on edits, I’m going to start reading the
books in the bundle that are new to me. If you’d like to read along with me, and possibly discuss the books, please check out my online book club. I recently held a V V Inn Chat in a public Event through the book club and awarded four signed print copies of the upcoming release, plus five
Advance Reader Copies to those who attended. You can also read an exclusive peek at the first chapter I shared in the Event that night.In honor of the sixth story in the V V Inn releasing later this
month, I’ve put all of the previous books on sale for 99 cents! If you’ve got a friend who reads steamy urban fantasy it would make a gift. I’d also appreciate any sharing of the buy links through social media. As most of the books are exclusive to Amazon’s Select program right now, I’m only including that one.Amazon: http://bit.ly/VVInn-AmazonOnline Events: In addition to the party mentioned above, I’m also holding a special all-day release party for Blood Legacy on February 25th! The author guest list will be awesome, trust me, you won’t want to miss it!Pre-Orders: There have been questions on pre-orders for Nook and iStore shoppers, as Amazon is the only one live so far. The other retailers will follow soon, but probably not until next week. I promise to do a quick newsletter blast when they do go live so
you’ll have your copy the second it releases!ARC Requestors: As I stated in my last newsletter, if you’d like an advanced copy of Blood Legacy you need to provide proof of reviewing all the books in the series first. Please send your URL links to admin@cjellisson.com for inclusion on the list, we are limiting it to fifty, so
please don’t delay in getting your review links to us. Acceptable sites to post reviews are a book reviewing blog, a retailer website where the books are for sale, GoodReads, and LibraryThing. Instructions on how to find your URLs are available via PDF and video formats, please email Andrea at the email provided for links. ARC copies will be emailed out on the 10th, a full two weeks before the book will be for sale anywhere.Thanks again for your support and I can’t wait
until Blood Legacy is live for you all to enjoy!~C.J.
December 18, 2014
Coming Soon: BLOOD LEAGACY
News on Book Four
HellOooOoo, my lovelies! First and foremost, I’ve shaken off my writing slump and am finally creating again. Yay! I’m more than halfway done with Blood Legacy, the next title in the V V Inn series after Big Game and Death
Times Two, picking up where we left off in Argentina.
More Good News: It’s up for pre-order on Amazon! And remember, you aren't billed until the book is
sent to you. Other retailers will follow when we get closer to the release date in February. Even though the series is currently exclusive to Amazon, the new book will be available through all channels for the first two weeks of release.In addition to the preorder going live for Blood Legacy, we’ve also put Vampire Vacation up for sale at 99 cents through Dec 31st, and Death’s
Servant is listed again as a FREE READ for a limited time. I’d appreciate any and all sharing of the links you care to do! It is my sincerest hope we can generate enough interest in this series to make it worthwhile to keep writing it. I love the characters and the adventures just as much as you do.Easy, sharable links: Blood Legacy: http://amzn.to/1uUsNmyVampire Vacation: http://amzn.to/1sJC4TsDeath's Servant: http://amzn.to/1sveSrNeBooks make the perfect gift! Did you know you can gift an eBook to someone and pick the delivery date? That means you can buy a bunch of books on
sale and the person can receive them on Christmas just by deferring the delivery date. I do it every year for my folks and it's always much appreciated.Are you a blogger? If yes, and you’ve got an active blog, you’re eligible to receive an Advanced Reader Copy of Blood Legacy before it hits the shelves! Please email Andrea at admin@cjellisson.com with your request, and if you’ve reviewed the earlier books she will get you on the ARC list.Non-blogger ARCs: There will be a shout out for non-bloggers to get on the ARC list next month. Just like the bloggers, you'll have to show you've left reviews for the earlier books to qualify. The limit on this offer is 100 copies. I've been burned in the past with promises of reviews going up opening week, so this book will
have a limited number of copies handed out ahead of time, and only to those who've proven they can follow through. Members of my street team will get slots first.Curious about the street team and what it is? If you've read and reviewed my work, you're welcome to join and can read more here. I started this new manuscript last month as part of National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo), a worldwide novel-writing challenge for authors to write 50k words in 30 days. I didn’t “win” NaNo, and was around the 40k mark when the month ended, but that was fine by me. The projected word count of this book is 85k words, so hitting 50k wasn’t really my main focus
as I knew I’d still be writing after the month ended.In addition to attempting NaNo, I volunteered to lead an after-school writing program at my children’s middle school. We had four eighth-graders sign up for the student-goal of writing 30k words in 30 days. October was filled with plotting and planning, as well as understanding the ins and outs of writing a book.Once November hit, the five of us met four to six days a week in a classroom, the nearby Panera, the local Wegman’s café area, my house, or the school’s library. I’m proud to report that every student “won” NaNo!! Not all of them finished their books and are doing so this month, but all of them reached their 30k word goal. Over the next five months the girls will be focused on revising, self-editing, and then going
through extensive peer-editing and teacher-editing before the books are finally ready to be read by friends and family.I’ll be helping every step of the way, and have offered to publish their books through my publishing company if they make it all the way to the end of the editing process. It’s an exciting time for the young writers, and my dearest hope is they all make it!These kids gave me a very valuable gift – the one of inspiration. Their enthusiasm and passion spills over every time we meet. Working with them was exactly what I needed to re-ignite my passion for writing. I will keep you all posted on their progress.And last, but not least, a big THANK YOU to everyone who helped support
the Covenant House charity box I auctioned off on eBay. We raised $215 for the children’s shelter!! The funds will go toward warm coats, meals, and other necessities the children need this winter.Contest winners for the $50 gift card (winners picked by random.org on the Facebook post from my Facebook
Page): Existing Subscriber: Robin PriddyNew Subscriber: Aubrey Jean DavisPlease contact me at cj@cjellisson.com so I can send the GC to the email of your choice. Wishing you a terrific holiday season no matter what you celebrate. May you have time with family and friends, good food, and great conversations!Much love,~C.J.
HellOooOoo, my lovelies! First and foremost, I’ve shaken off my writing slump and am finally creating again. Yay! I’m more than halfway done with Blood Legacy, the next title in the V V Inn series after Big Game and Death
Times Two, picking up where we left off in Argentina.
More Good News: It’s up for pre-order on Amazon! And remember, you aren't billed until the book is
sent to you. Other retailers will follow when we get closer to the release date in February. Even though the series is currently exclusive to Amazon, the new book will be available through all channels for the first two weeks of release.In addition to the preorder going live for Blood Legacy, we’ve also put Vampire Vacation up for sale at 99 cents through Dec 31st, and Death’s
Servant is listed again as a FREE READ for a limited time. I’d appreciate any and all sharing of the links you care to do! It is my sincerest hope we can generate enough interest in this series to make it worthwhile to keep writing it. I love the characters and the adventures just as much as you do.Easy, sharable links: Blood Legacy: http://amzn.to/1uUsNmyVampire Vacation: http://amzn.to/1sJC4TsDeath's Servant: http://amzn.to/1sveSrNeBooks make the perfect gift! Did you know you can gift an eBook to someone and pick the delivery date? That means you can buy a bunch of books on
sale and the person can receive them on Christmas just by deferring the delivery date. I do it every year for my folks and it's always much appreciated.Are you a blogger? If yes, and you’ve got an active blog, you’re eligible to receive an Advanced Reader Copy of Blood Legacy before it hits the shelves! Please email Andrea at admin@cjellisson.com with your request, and if you’ve reviewed the earlier books she will get you on the ARC list.Non-blogger ARCs: There will be a shout out for non-bloggers to get on the ARC list next month. Just like the bloggers, you'll have to show you've left reviews for the earlier books to qualify. The limit on this offer is 100 copies. I've been burned in the past with promises of reviews going up opening week, so this book will
have a limited number of copies handed out ahead of time, and only to those who've proven they can follow through. Members of my street team will get slots first.Curious about the street team and what it is? If you've read and reviewed my work, you're welcome to join and can read more here. I started this new manuscript last month as part of National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo), a worldwide novel-writing challenge for authors to write 50k words in 30 days. I didn’t “win” NaNo, and was around the 40k mark when the month ended, but that was fine by me. The projected word count of this book is 85k words, so hitting 50k wasn’t really my main focus
as I knew I’d still be writing after the month ended.In addition to attempting NaNo, I volunteered to lead an after-school writing program at my children’s middle school. We had four eighth-graders sign up for the student-goal of writing 30k words in 30 days. October was filled with plotting and planning, as well as understanding the ins and outs of writing a book.Once November hit, the five of us met four to six days a week in a classroom, the nearby Panera, the local Wegman’s café area, my house, or the school’s library. I’m proud to report that every student “won” NaNo!! Not all of them finished their books and are doing so this month, but all of them reached their 30k word goal. Over the next five months the girls will be focused on revising, self-editing, and then going
through extensive peer-editing and teacher-editing before the books are finally ready to be read by friends and family.I’ll be helping every step of the way, and have offered to publish their books through my publishing company if they make it all the way to the end of the editing process. It’s an exciting time for the young writers, and my dearest hope is they all make it!These kids gave me a very valuable gift – the one of inspiration. Their enthusiasm and passion spills over every time we meet. Working with them was exactly what I needed to re-ignite my passion for writing. I will keep you all posted on their progress.And last, but not least, a big THANK YOU to everyone who helped support
the Covenant House charity box I auctioned off on eBay. We raised $215 for the children’s shelter!! The funds will go toward warm coats, meals, and other necessities the children need this winter.Contest winners for the $50 gift card (winners picked by random.org on the Facebook post from my Facebook
Page): Existing Subscriber: Robin PriddyNew Subscriber: Aubrey Jean DavisPlease contact me at cj@cjellisson.com so I can send the GC to the email of your choice. Wishing you a terrific holiday season no matter what you celebrate. May you have time with family and friends, good food, and great conversations!Much love,~C.J.
December 15, 2014
Charity Box Auction
'Tis the Season!
The holiday season is upon us! I have great news about an upcoming release, but I'll share that in a later newsletter (please look for the email this week!). Today, I'd like to tell you about a charity auction box I'm doing for the Covenant House, a children's shelter in Washington DC. The following
items are jam-packed into a box ready to be mailed at the end of the auction to one lucky bidder:You're bidding on the following brand new items, signed by New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author, C.J. Ellisson:AUCTION ENDS DEC
16th!!Autographed BooksThe V V Inn series:• Vampire Vacation, 2014 fourth edition, original 2010© • The Hunt, 2014 second edition, original 2011© • Big Game, 2014 second edition, original 2012© • Combo print edition of two novellas: Death's Servant and Death Times Two, first edition, 2014© (1 of only 50 copies in print, edition discontinued in Dec 2014)Walk on the Wild Side series:• Vanilla on Top, first edition, 2013© (not available in print anywhere except at reader events)• Vanilla Twist, first edition, 2014© • Avoiding Mr. Right, first edition, 2013© • Loving Ms. Wrong, first edition, 2014© (1 of only 50, printed for promotional purposes)Additional Signed
Items• Ten Signed Walk on the Wild Side "swag" packs (promotional brochures and bookmarks)• Five Signed V V Inn "swag" packs• Signed (on the bottom) Hand-decorated Coffin made by C.J. and her daughterUn-Signed Series-Related Items• Vanilla on Top Coffee Mug (1 of 150 made),
filled with Biscoff cookies• Vanilla Bondage Kit, mentioned in Avoiding Mr. Right• Red Furry Handcuffs, mentioned in Avoiding Mr. Right• InnerVibe Finger Vibe, mentioned in Avoiding Mr. Right• Ten 12-Sided Sex Dice, mentioned in Loving Ms. Wrong• V V Inn series Coffee Mug (1 of 100 made)• Heart-Shaped Glass Jar with V V Inn logo, filled with red and black MandMs (also made by C.J. and her daughter)Addition
Fun Items:• Game: "Who's the Biggest Pervert?"• Game: "Loaded Questions"•
Trojan Vibrating Ring Condom• Ten Sexy Scratch-Off Lotto Cards• Pink Notebook (with A-Z monogram cover insert)• TY Bat/Cat Plush Toy• Candy Blood Bag• Slim Red Tote Bag: "Only a Vampire Can Love You
Forever"• Arctic Wolf brand coffee, from AlaskaGive to others this holiday season by giving to YOU! Your charity box donation bid will go directly to Covenant House, a Washington DC Children's shelter, to provide holiday meals, winter coats, daily needs, and hopefully gifts for the homeless children
at the shelter this winter season.Thank you for bidding and please share the auction with other interested readers!Here is the auction link on eBay. REMEMBER: THE AUCTION ENDS DEC 16th!!Thanks so much for your help and support! Your generosity can help bring a lot of children smiles and filled bellies this winter season!~C.J.
The holiday season is upon us! I have great news about an upcoming release, but I'll share that in a later newsletter (please look for the email this week!). Today, I'd like to tell you about a charity auction box I'm doing for the Covenant House, a children's shelter in Washington DC. The following
items are jam-packed into a box ready to be mailed at the end of the auction to one lucky bidder:You're bidding on the following brand new items, signed by New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author, C.J. Ellisson:AUCTION ENDS DEC
16th!!Autographed BooksThe V V Inn series:• Vampire Vacation, 2014 fourth edition, original 2010© • The Hunt, 2014 second edition, original 2011© • Big Game, 2014 second edition, original 2012© • Combo print edition of two novellas: Death's Servant and Death Times Two, first edition, 2014© (1 of only 50 copies in print, edition discontinued in Dec 2014)Walk on the Wild Side series:• Vanilla on Top, first edition, 2013© (not available in print anywhere except at reader events)• Vanilla Twist, first edition, 2014© • Avoiding Mr. Right, first edition, 2013© • Loving Ms. Wrong, first edition, 2014© (1 of only 50, printed for promotional purposes)Additional Signed
Items• Ten Signed Walk on the Wild Side "swag" packs (promotional brochures and bookmarks)• Five Signed V V Inn "swag" packs• Signed (on the bottom) Hand-decorated Coffin made by C.J. and her daughterUn-Signed Series-Related Items• Vanilla on Top Coffee Mug (1 of 150 made),
filled with Biscoff cookies• Vanilla Bondage Kit, mentioned in Avoiding Mr. Right• Red Furry Handcuffs, mentioned in Avoiding Mr. Right• InnerVibe Finger Vibe, mentioned in Avoiding Mr. Right• Ten 12-Sided Sex Dice, mentioned in Loving Ms. Wrong• V V Inn series Coffee Mug (1 of 100 made)• Heart-Shaped Glass Jar with V V Inn logo, filled with red and black MandMs (also made by C.J. and her daughter)Addition
Fun Items:• Game: "Who's the Biggest Pervert?"• Game: "Loaded Questions"•
Trojan Vibrating Ring Condom• Ten Sexy Scratch-Off Lotto Cards• Pink Notebook (with A-Z monogram cover insert)• TY Bat/Cat Plush Toy• Candy Blood Bag• Slim Red Tote Bag: "Only a Vampire Can Love You
Forever"• Arctic Wolf brand coffee, from AlaskaGive to others this holiday season by giving to YOU! Your charity box donation bid will go directly to Covenant House, a Washington DC Children's shelter, to provide holiday meals, winter coats, daily needs, and hopefully gifts for the homeless children
at the shelter this winter season.Thank you for bidding and please share the auction with other interested readers!Here is the auction link on eBay. REMEMBER: THE AUCTION ENDS DEC 16th!!Thanks so much for your help and support! Your generosity can help bring a lot of children smiles and filled bellies this winter season!~C.J.
August 6, 2014
Reader Cons ROCK!
August Newsletter
New Bundle Release, Wild Side Book on Sale, and more!
Reading Roll Call: My readers recommended the Chicagoland Vampire series by Chloe Neil and I've been seriously digging it! Thank you for the suggestion. I love the characters and storyline. And yes, I see a lot of
similarities in her world and mine. Very cool!Appearances: I'm away at Authors After Dark (AAD) right now and am thrilled to meet so many readers! And some are even in my street team! Being at cons like this one is pretty freakin' fantastic. The energy and atmosphere really buoy you up, reminding you there are people who read all the same things you do, also like to dress up at events, and are generally like-minded individuals. My six and a half hour drive down to Charlotte with my car packed to the roof with stuff wasn't so great, nor was the speeding ticket I collected on the way, but hey, such is life. If you've ever considered coming to a reader event, I strongly suggest checking out AAD in Atlanta next year. You won't regret it!The book signing on Saturday from 1-4pm is open to the public, and there are over 100 authors in attendance. We're in the ballroom on the second floor
of the Westin downtown. If you can make it, please stop by and say hello - I'd love to meet you! New Release News: Nine Titles. Nine Authors. Nine heroines that take names-and chances-while confronting dark foes, whether by force of arms or magic, that threaten their entire world. Over two thousand pages of epic reading await! Let the adventures begin.
Read the mini-descriptions of Nine by Night in this Facebook post, or stop in to check it out at your favorite retailer via the links below.Ninety-nine Cents for a Limited Time Only!Amazon * BandN * Apple * KoboOnline Parties: All nine authors from the new release will be at a kick-ass Facebook party on Aug 12th. If you're around and
want a chance at great prizes, we'd love to see you!Sales: Vanilla Twist is currently on sale for 99 cents until August 16th. If you enjoyed it and have a friend that would, please consider sharing the news and links with them. Or better yet, buy it as a gift and surprise them! I bet it'll be the best 99 cent gift they ever received. ;-) Amazon * BandN * Apple * KoboStreet Team: We had over fifty newsletter subscribers ask to join - thank you for your interest and continued support! These readers help promote my work the most and I'm grateful for the time they spend chatting with me in the group and fulfilling the "missions" posted. Book Club: We've got authors stopping by and books up for discussion - and all sorts of socializing going on. I'm glad we're getting an active online group together! There are authors signed up for the next two months to give away books in exchange for reviews - be sure to stop by often so you don't miss a thing.Random $10 gift card winners: I only had one winner contact me last month, and while waiting for others to respond I disappointed her with
my continuous delay. Just like I messed up the previous month, too. I'm going to stop doing these and only offer stuff Pauli can handle for me because it's obvious I can't manage it all.Girls Night Out Vegas Event: It's with heavy heart I announce the event scheduled for Sept 25-27, 2015 has been cancelled. The author member who volunteered to make the website decided to drop out of the event, and then held the website hostage
unless we paid her. A year's worth of work and I finally had to pull the plug. Too many conflicting personalities and drama month to month, it just wasn't worth it. The good news: I have so much GNO inspired stuff at my house that I hope to be able to do a GNO party at every convention I go to, if the con organizers allow it. We're doing a big one at AAD and plan to post pictures on the FB Event throughout the live party tomorrow night.Wishing you all a great month!~ C.J.
New Bundle Release, Wild Side Book on Sale, and more!
Reading Roll Call: My readers recommended the Chicagoland Vampire series by Chloe Neil and I've been seriously digging it! Thank you for the suggestion. I love the characters and storyline. And yes, I see a lot of
similarities in her world and mine. Very cool!Appearances: I'm away at Authors After Dark (AAD) right now and am thrilled to meet so many readers! And some are even in my street team! Being at cons like this one is pretty freakin' fantastic. The energy and atmosphere really buoy you up, reminding you there are people who read all the same things you do, also like to dress up at events, and are generally like-minded individuals. My six and a half hour drive down to Charlotte with my car packed to the roof with stuff wasn't so great, nor was the speeding ticket I collected on the way, but hey, such is life. If you've ever considered coming to a reader event, I strongly suggest checking out AAD in Atlanta next year. You won't regret it!The book signing on Saturday from 1-4pm is open to the public, and there are over 100 authors in attendance. We're in the ballroom on the second floor
of the Westin downtown. If you can make it, please stop by and say hello - I'd love to meet you! New Release News: Nine Titles. Nine Authors. Nine heroines that take names-and chances-while confronting dark foes, whether by force of arms or magic, that threaten their entire world. Over two thousand pages of epic reading await! Let the adventures begin.
Read the mini-descriptions of Nine by Night in this Facebook post, or stop in to check it out at your favorite retailer via the links below.Ninety-nine Cents for a Limited Time Only!Amazon * BandN * Apple * KoboOnline Parties: All nine authors from the new release will be at a kick-ass Facebook party on Aug 12th. If you're around and
want a chance at great prizes, we'd love to see you!Sales: Vanilla Twist is currently on sale for 99 cents until August 16th. If you enjoyed it and have a friend that would, please consider sharing the news and links with them. Or better yet, buy it as a gift and surprise them! I bet it'll be the best 99 cent gift they ever received. ;-) Amazon * BandN * Apple * KoboStreet Team: We had over fifty newsletter subscribers ask to join - thank you for your interest and continued support! These readers help promote my work the most and I'm grateful for the time they spend chatting with me in the group and fulfilling the "missions" posted. Book Club: We've got authors stopping by and books up for discussion - and all sorts of socializing going on. I'm glad we're getting an active online group together! There are authors signed up for the next two months to give away books in exchange for reviews - be sure to stop by often so you don't miss a thing.Random $10 gift card winners: I only had one winner contact me last month, and while waiting for others to respond I disappointed her with
my continuous delay. Just like I messed up the previous month, too. I'm going to stop doing these and only offer stuff Pauli can handle for me because it's obvious I can't manage it all.Girls Night Out Vegas Event: It's with heavy heart I announce the event scheduled for Sept 25-27, 2015 has been cancelled. The author member who volunteered to make the website decided to drop out of the event, and then held the website hostage
unless we paid her. A year's worth of work and I finally had to pull the plug. Too many conflicting personalities and drama month to month, it just wasn't worth it. The good news: I have so much GNO inspired stuff at my house that I hope to be able to do a GNO party at every convention I go to, if the con organizers allow it. We're doing a big one at AAD and plan to post pictures on the FB Event throughout the live party tomorrow night.Wishing you all a great month!~ C.J.
July 9, 2014
Alpha Readers, Street Teams, and Book Clubs... oh my!
July Newsletter
Hello and I hope your summer is going well! I've been busy cleaning out my house of all con-related items from the last year, preparing for upcoming reader events, and getting my online life in order - starting with Facebook.It's no secret I love Facebook and spend a lot of time there. I've got a street team of readers organized in a group, readers who want to talk about books in a private book club, and a smaller group of alpha readers who offer feedback on my latest work in progress. What is a street team? It's a group of people who spread the word about an
author's work through various channels, online and in person. I offer exclusive opportunities to street team members and prizes not available anywhere else. For example, I just gave away a $500+ ticket to a reader for an event in Vegas when I could no longer attend. I'm currently offering spots in the street team, but will cap the number at 150. I may open it up to 25-50 more people in the fall, please look for
notice in the newsletter. For those of you who do not use Facebook, I'm sorry. I tried to start a fan forum on my website, but after two months and very little participation, I'm going to close it down to save the funds (I get charged for the service and would rather use the funds elsewhere if the forum is not being used.)What is an alpha reader? First and foremost, alpha readers offer opinions on the manuscript as I'm writing it. If you can't express your thoughts well in a four
to six line book review, then perhaps being an alpha reader is not a good choice for you. We've got openings for alpha readers on the next V V Inn
book, Blood Legacy. Forty people who have read and reviewed all five V V Inn titles are eligible. You
must submit your URL links to publicist@cjellisson.com to be considered. An eligible review consists of more than a line or two like "I loved the book." What is a beta reader? A beta reader reads the book after it has been content and line edited, but before it has been copyedited and proofread (meaning you will see mistakes in the text, this is normal), then gives feedback and impressions on what they've read. If you'd prefer to be a beta reader, and expressed so in the call for betas that went months ago, not to worry, we have your
name on a list. You can't be in both groups, sorry. I like fresh eyes on the work after the suggestions from the alphas and edits from my editor have been incorporated. I've never had a case where more than one or two alpha or beta readers didn't care for the book and suggested huge changes.
Ultimately, if my editor or I don't agree with the suggestions, then I don't incorporate them. Please don't take offense, I spend a considerable amount of time plotting a book - and plot points are often connected over multiple titles. We prefer betas to catch inconsistencies from previous books, confusing lines or statements and, among other things, to let us know if the hook at the end of a chapter is strong enough to make the reader want to keep reading. Even small plot changes often require
rewrites, and I prefer to do those at the alpha reading stage, before my editor sees the manuscript.What is your book club like? We read books and have live discussions (occasionally I
may be able to get the author to attend) or post discussion questions direct on the group wall, we post about whatever we're reading and what we thought of it, we allow bloggers to share contest and giveaway links on an assigned day of the week, we have author members who sometimes offer their books for free to members in exchange for a review, and we have a free read thread that members are encouraged to add links in the comments section. Also, since I read independent of the group, I will announce the book I'm reading and invite anyone else who has read it to join in a discussion with me when I'm done. Click here to request to join. If you're a blogger and would like to have a featured day to post giveaway links, please join and ask us about it.Existing and Upcoming Sales: The Hunt is still on sale for 99 cents and will be until July 12th. Big thanks to all of you who signed up for the group promotional effort through Thunderclap! It's very hard to judge if it was a success or where the info was shared, as they didn't use the message I wrote for all of the posts. Online Events: I'm a guest author at Joey W. Hill's release party on Facebook for The Scientific Method held on July 20th. Please stop by and join us anytime for a long day of partying and giveaways! Appearances: I'll be at Authors After Dark in Charlotte, NC next month from August 6-10th. If you're interested in attending and can afford the hotel room for four nights ($139 per night), I'd be happy to gift you a ticket to attend. The organizer is allowing featured authors to give event tickets to readers after they secure their room at the convention hotel (one free con ticket per
room). Please email me direct if interested (cj@cjellisson.com), I can give away up to TEN tickets to interested readers. We're planning a Girls Night Out event at Authors After Dark. The original Vegas event has been pushed to September 25-27, 2015. Click here if you'd like a list of all the details as they currently stand.Writing Update: I'm working on Blood Legacy at the moment, book four after Big Game. Depending on how the writing flows, I think it will release this fall. I'll keep you posted on its progress. I should have chapters ready to share with alpha readers by August,
hence the revamping of my street team and other Facebook groups.I'm also plotting out a New Adult Romantic Suspense series. It'll be a three book series initially, with room to grow if it's well received by readers. This one I plan to let my agent shop, so I have no idea when the books will be released if it is picked up by a larger publisher. I'll keep you posted on the details.Health News: I wrote a post on Facebook yesterday about what's going on, if you're interested
please click here.Contests: Last month's pay-your-own-shipping giveaway to clear out the con bags from my house was well received by readers. We've been getting notice of prize pictures and sharing on social media - thank you! We had a few prizes go unclaimed, and have picked new
winners: Tracy Bakalar, Deborah Close, Lori Walsh, Luna Airis. Pauli has sent you emails and you have until next month's newsletter to claim your prize or it will be re-awarded to someone else who entered.The Reader Appreciation Giveaway for reviews left in the
past sixty days, aimed at newsletter subscribers who have recently received free books, is still open! If you've got the desire to win one of three $25 gift cards, please enter your URL links in this widget on either my Facebook Page, or here on my website.Random Winners: Three winners were selected this
month for $10 gift cards at Amazon: Marge Collins, Karen Knox, and Paula Potter. Last month's winners: I apologize for the delay. Pauli is unable to award them through my accounts and I must get in and do it myself, hence the delay. They'll be going out today.As always, thank you for your support and interest in my work. Enjoy the rest of your summer! ~C.J.
Hello and I hope your summer is going well! I've been busy cleaning out my house of all con-related items from the last year, preparing for upcoming reader events, and getting my online life in order - starting with Facebook.It's no secret I love Facebook and spend a lot of time there. I've got a street team of readers organized in a group, readers who want to talk about books in a private book club, and a smaller group of alpha readers who offer feedback on my latest work in progress. What is a street team? It's a group of people who spread the word about an
author's work through various channels, online and in person. I offer exclusive opportunities to street team members and prizes not available anywhere else. For example, I just gave away a $500+ ticket to a reader for an event in Vegas when I could no longer attend. I'm currently offering spots in the street team, but will cap the number at 150. I may open it up to 25-50 more people in the fall, please look for
notice in the newsletter. For those of you who do not use Facebook, I'm sorry. I tried to start a fan forum on my website, but after two months and very little participation, I'm going to close it down to save the funds (I get charged for the service and would rather use the funds elsewhere if the forum is not being used.)What is an alpha reader? First and foremost, alpha readers offer opinions on the manuscript as I'm writing it. If you can't express your thoughts well in a four
to six line book review, then perhaps being an alpha reader is not a good choice for you. We've got openings for alpha readers on the next V V Inn
book, Blood Legacy. Forty people who have read and reviewed all five V V Inn titles are eligible. You
must submit your URL links to publicist@cjellisson.com to be considered. An eligible review consists of more than a line or two like "I loved the book." What is a beta reader? A beta reader reads the book after it has been content and line edited, but before it has been copyedited and proofread (meaning you will see mistakes in the text, this is normal), then gives feedback and impressions on what they've read. If you'd prefer to be a beta reader, and expressed so in the call for betas that went months ago, not to worry, we have your
name on a list. You can't be in both groups, sorry. I like fresh eyes on the work after the suggestions from the alphas and edits from my editor have been incorporated. I've never had a case where more than one or two alpha or beta readers didn't care for the book and suggested huge changes.
Ultimately, if my editor or I don't agree with the suggestions, then I don't incorporate them. Please don't take offense, I spend a considerable amount of time plotting a book - and plot points are often connected over multiple titles. We prefer betas to catch inconsistencies from previous books, confusing lines or statements and, among other things, to let us know if the hook at the end of a chapter is strong enough to make the reader want to keep reading. Even small plot changes often require
rewrites, and I prefer to do those at the alpha reading stage, before my editor sees the manuscript.What is your book club like? We read books and have live discussions (occasionally I
may be able to get the author to attend) or post discussion questions direct on the group wall, we post about whatever we're reading and what we thought of it, we allow bloggers to share contest and giveaway links on an assigned day of the week, we have author members who sometimes offer their books for free to members in exchange for a review, and we have a free read thread that members are encouraged to add links in the comments section. Also, since I read independent of the group, I will announce the book I'm reading and invite anyone else who has read it to join in a discussion with me when I'm done. Click here to request to join. If you're a blogger and would like to have a featured day to post giveaway links, please join and ask us about it.Existing and Upcoming Sales: The Hunt is still on sale for 99 cents and will be until July 12th. Big thanks to all of you who signed up for the group promotional effort through Thunderclap! It's very hard to judge if it was a success or where the info was shared, as they didn't use the message I wrote for all of the posts. Online Events: I'm a guest author at Joey W. Hill's release party on Facebook for The Scientific Method held on July 20th. Please stop by and join us anytime for a long day of partying and giveaways! Appearances: I'll be at Authors After Dark in Charlotte, NC next month from August 6-10th. If you're interested in attending and can afford the hotel room for four nights ($139 per night), I'd be happy to gift you a ticket to attend. The organizer is allowing featured authors to give event tickets to readers after they secure their room at the convention hotel (one free con ticket per
room). Please email me direct if interested (cj@cjellisson.com), I can give away up to TEN tickets to interested readers. We're planning a Girls Night Out event at Authors After Dark. The original Vegas event has been pushed to September 25-27, 2015. Click here if you'd like a list of all the details as they currently stand.Writing Update: I'm working on Blood Legacy at the moment, book four after Big Game. Depending on how the writing flows, I think it will release this fall. I'll keep you posted on its progress. I should have chapters ready to share with alpha readers by August,
hence the revamping of my street team and other Facebook groups.I'm also plotting out a New Adult Romantic Suspense series. It'll be a three book series initially, with room to grow if it's well received by readers. This one I plan to let my agent shop, so I have no idea when the books will be released if it is picked up by a larger publisher. I'll keep you posted on the details.Health News: I wrote a post on Facebook yesterday about what's going on, if you're interested
please click here.Contests: Last month's pay-your-own-shipping giveaway to clear out the con bags from my house was well received by readers. We've been getting notice of prize pictures and sharing on social media - thank you! We had a few prizes go unclaimed, and have picked new
winners: Tracy Bakalar, Deborah Close, Lori Walsh, Luna Airis. Pauli has sent you emails and you have until next month's newsletter to claim your prize or it will be re-awarded to someone else who entered.The Reader Appreciation Giveaway for reviews left in the
past sixty days, aimed at newsletter subscribers who have recently received free books, is still open! If you've got the desire to win one of three $25 gift cards, please enter your URL links in this widget on either my Facebook Page, or here on my website.Random Winners: Three winners were selected this
month for $10 gift cards at Amazon: Marge Collins, Karen Knox, and Paula Potter. Last month's winners: I apologize for the delay. Pauli is unable to award them through my accounts and I must get in and do it myself, hence the delay. They'll be going out today.As always, thank you for your support and interest in my work. Enjoy the rest of your summer! ~C.J.
June 25, 2014
June Newsletter: Winners and More
Updates and Good Stuff
Reading Roll Call: I just finished the next installment in Jess Haines' HandM Investigations series, Enslaved by the Others. It's a dark, dangerous tale that had me turning pages long into the night in a race to finish it. I don't want to give away any spoilers, but I will say the beginning 35-40% of the book is very dark. For light-hearted readers,
not to fear, keep reading and you won't be disappointed. I'm also giving away a signed print ARC on my Facebook Author Page. Please stop by and comment to enter.Health Updates: A lot of you have asked me to do a personal
journal or blog about my health battles, mainly because so many of you are facing your own issues and are inspired by what I'm able to overcome. I'm not sure I have the time to add another project to my list, but I do post updates on my personal Facebook profile (here's a recent one) when I have news I'm ready to share. Currently, I've had some new developments creep up,
so I haven't been as productive work-wise as I've wanted. Having my kids home for the summer hasn't helped, either ;-)Events: Due to the aforementioned health reasons, I've dropped out of July's Romance Novel Convention. If you're in my Facebook street team, you might want to stop by the group and read the offer there for my all-inclusive ticket (includes: registration, 5-days/4-nights hotel, all
classes/panels/workshops, events, socials, parties and meals). If I can't go doesn't mean someone else shouldn't!The V V Inn Series Update: I love this series, always have and always will. But my love of writing it doesn't pay the bills and hasn't with the last three books. I've actually lost money on them. If you'd like to help new readers discover the stories (and thus increase my ability to keep writing it), then please consider clicking the link below to donate a Tweet or Facebook Status announcing an upcoming 99c sale for The Hunt. Sign up today for
Thunderclap to post a pre-written message on your behalf on July 2nd. http://thndr.it/1qR6i11 Contests: We've got a reader appreciation giveaway going on for newsletter subscribers until July 15th. Basically, whether you're a new subscriber or an older one, you can enter to win one of three $25
Amazon gift cards. All you have to do is leave a review on any of my books (free or purchased), dated within the last 60 days. Enter your various review URLs here: http://tinyurl.com/q5o26f6 Random Winners: June's Random $10 Amazon gift card winners are Katrina Hough and Bekki Meyer. If you've opened this email and see that
you've won, please email Pauli at publicist@cjellisson.com with "June Random Winner" in the subject header. June Winners: We had many, many entries in each of the five "C.J.'s cleaning out her basement" giveaways I posted on my website last month. Remember, this contest was unique that you had to pay for shipping if you won. Unclaimed prizes will be offered in another contest in July's newsletter. Can you tell I want this stuff out of my house? ;-) Pauli has sent out emails notifying the winners, but I'll repost a list just in case you missed yours: Christine Abee Coastal Magic 2014 Tote Steam Mocha Coastal Magic 2014 Tote MaDonna Y Lemmen Coastal Magic 2014 Tote Kristin Koziol Reh Coastal Magic 2014 Tote Aileen Hegyi Coastal Magic 2014 Tote
Theresa Paridee Coastal Magic 2014 Tote Jennifer McFalls Coastal Magic 2014 Tote Laura N Coastal Magic 2014 Tote Chris Coulson Coastal Magic 2014
Tote Tracy Buttles Coastal Magic 2014 Tote Theresa Hurley Coastal Magic 2014 Tote Cindy-Frank Marley Coastal Magic 2014 Tote Leann Meier Fresh Fiction 2013 Tote Latochia Bell Fresh Fiction 2013 Tote Missy Jackson Beckett Fresh Fiction 2013 Tote Rosemary Simm Fresh Fiction 2013 Tote Christine Arcidiacono Fresh Fiction 2013 Tote Cherri-Anne Boitson Fresh Fiction 2013 Tote Rena Robinson Fresh Fiction 2013 Tote Debra Hall Fresh Fiction 2013 Tote Susan
Brat Fresh Fiction 2013 Tote Sandy Pochapin Fresh Fiction 2013 Tote Kathleen Nichols Misc Reader Con Bag Madison
Johes Misc Reader Con Bag Mildred Mayo Misc Reader Con Bag Melissa Brown Walton Misc Reader Con Bag Susie Wahnsiedler Kerner Authors After Dark 2013 Tote Laura Martinez Authors After Dark 2013 Tote April Allen Authors After Dark 2013 Tote Shayna Kozak Aspiring Writer's Reference Books (I think it's nine books now, my daughter
grabbed three, sorry) Thanks again for your interest in me and my work, and I'll be sending out another email next month announcing the sale of The Hunt. That newsletter will also have three random ten-dollar gift card winners announced - remember, you must open it and read it to see if you've
won! Wishing you all a safe and happy summer, ~ C.J.
Reading Roll Call: I just finished the next installment in Jess Haines' HandM Investigations series, Enslaved by the Others. It's a dark, dangerous tale that had me turning pages long into the night in a race to finish it. I don't want to give away any spoilers, but I will say the beginning 35-40% of the book is very dark. For light-hearted readers,
not to fear, keep reading and you won't be disappointed. I'm also giving away a signed print ARC on my Facebook Author Page. Please stop by and comment to enter.Health Updates: A lot of you have asked me to do a personal
journal or blog about my health battles, mainly because so many of you are facing your own issues and are inspired by what I'm able to overcome. I'm not sure I have the time to add another project to my list, but I do post updates on my personal Facebook profile (here's a recent one) when I have news I'm ready to share. Currently, I've had some new developments creep up,
so I haven't been as productive work-wise as I've wanted. Having my kids home for the summer hasn't helped, either ;-)Events: Due to the aforementioned health reasons, I've dropped out of July's Romance Novel Convention. If you're in my Facebook street team, you might want to stop by the group and read the offer there for my all-inclusive ticket (includes: registration, 5-days/4-nights hotel, all
classes/panels/workshops, events, socials, parties and meals). If I can't go doesn't mean someone else shouldn't!The V V Inn Series Update: I love this series, always have and always will. But my love of writing it doesn't pay the bills and hasn't with the last three books. I've actually lost money on them. If you'd like to help new readers discover the stories (and thus increase my ability to keep writing it), then please consider clicking the link below to donate a Tweet or Facebook Status announcing an upcoming 99c sale for The Hunt. Sign up today for
Thunderclap to post a pre-written message on your behalf on July 2nd. http://thndr.it/1qR6i11 Contests: We've got a reader appreciation giveaway going on for newsletter subscribers until July 15th. Basically, whether you're a new subscriber or an older one, you can enter to win one of three $25
Amazon gift cards. All you have to do is leave a review on any of my books (free or purchased), dated within the last 60 days. Enter your various review URLs here: http://tinyurl.com/q5o26f6 Random Winners: June's Random $10 Amazon gift card winners are Katrina Hough and Bekki Meyer. If you've opened this email and see that
you've won, please email Pauli at publicist@cjellisson.com with "June Random Winner" in the subject header. June Winners: We had many, many entries in each of the five "C.J.'s cleaning out her basement" giveaways I posted on my website last month. Remember, this contest was unique that you had to pay for shipping if you won. Unclaimed prizes will be offered in another contest in July's newsletter. Can you tell I want this stuff out of my house? ;-) Pauli has sent out emails notifying the winners, but I'll repost a list just in case you missed yours: Christine Abee Coastal Magic 2014 Tote Steam Mocha Coastal Magic 2014 Tote MaDonna Y Lemmen Coastal Magic 2014 Tote Kristin Koziol Reh Coastal Magic 2014 Tote Aileen Hegyi Coastal Magic 2014 Tote
Theresa Paridee Coastal Magic 2014 Tote Jennifer McFalls Coastal Magic 2014 Tote Laura N Coastal Magic 2014 Tote Chris Coulson Coastal Magic 2014
Tote Tracy Buttles Coastal Magic 2014 Tote Theresa Hurley Coastal Magic 2014 Tote Cindy-Frank Marley Coastal Magic 2014 Tote Leann Meier Fresh Fiction 2013 Tote Latochia Bell Fresh Fiction 2013 Tote Missy Jackson Beckett Fresh Fiction 2013 Tote Rosemary Simm Fresh Fiction 2013 Tote Christine Arcidiacono Fresh Fiction 2013 Tote Cherri-Anne Boitson Fresh Fiction 2013 Tote Rena Robinson Fresh Fiction 2013 Tote Debra Hall Fresh Fiction 2013 Tote Susan
Brat Fresh Fiction 2013 Tote Sandy Pochapin Fresh Fiction 2013 Tote Kathleen Nichols Misc Reader Con Bag Madison
Johes Misc Reader Con Bag Mildred Mayo Misc Reader Con Bag Melissa Brown Walton Misc Reader Con Bag Susie Wahnsiedler Kerner Authors After Dark 2013 Tote Laura Martinez Authors After Dark 2013 Tote April Allen Authors After Dark 2013 Tote Shayna Kozak Aspiring Writer's Reference Books (I think it's nine books now, my daughter
grabbed three, sorry) Thanks again for your interest in me and my work, and I'll be sending out another email next month announcing the sale of The Hunt. That newsletter will also have three random ten-dollar gift card winners announced - remember, you must open it and read it to see if you've
won! Wishing you all a safe and happy summer, ~ C.J.
