Robyn Bachar's Blog, page 17

Poison in the Blood Virtual Book Tour

Poison in the Blood is going on a virtual book tour to celebrate the print release. You can win a signed copy of PitB and a $25 Amazon gift card! It will be awesome.

Here are the tour stops:

June 2: Fang-tastic Books
June 3: Deal Sharing Aunt
June 4: 3 Partners in Shopping, Nana, Mommy, & Sissy, Too!
June 5: Cassandra M's Place
June 6: Night Owl Reviews
June 9: Pembroke Sinclair
June 10: Roxanne’s Realm
June 11: Lisa’s World of Books
June 12: Jill Archer and For Your Literary Pleasure
June 13: Sapphyria's Book Reviews and Penny For Them...
June 16: Paranormal Romance Fans for Life
June 17: Houston Havens
June 18: Deb Sanders
June 19: Share My Destiny and Books & Tales
June 20: Butterfly-o-Meter Books
June 23: Corazones Literarios
June 24: Cover Reveals
June 25: Beverly @ The Wormhole
June 26: Marsha A. Moore and Eclipse Reviews
June 27: Little Read Riding Hood and Darkest Cravings
June 30: Writing from Corsets to Bustiers and Immortality and Beyond
July 1: Urban Fantasy Investigations and Paranormal Romance and Authors That Rock

Author Thursday: Interview with Keith Melton

Keith Melton is an evil genius. The best kind of evil genius--an author. I'm a huge fan of his Nightfall Syndicate series, and his book The Zero Dog War is on my list of books I'd want if I was stranded on a desert island. It's just that awesome. (Here's a quote from my Goodreads review: "It's like all of my urban fantasy favorites thrown in a blender and turned into an addictive alcoholic beverage.") YES.

Harrison loves Blood Vice . Everyone loves Blood Vice!
Warning: Put your coffee down now. Don't make the same mistake I did and end up nasing it while reading this interview. Damn you, Keith Melton! *shakes fist*

1. What flavor is your writing? (Spicy? Action? Space odyssey? Ninjas? All of the above?)

Space Action Ninjas. Or, as we like to say in the biz, SAN. We have a diametrically opposing viewpoint to those degenerate Space Inaction Ninja bastards, because, honestly, what is more boring than a ninja who does nothing? They’re like Romulans who never decloak at the worst possible time for the Enterprise. Yawn.
2. Where do you get your inspiration?

Avoiding antipsychotic medication.

But seriously folks, the list of inspirations is too long and complex to handle in anything but a dissertation. And we all hate those. However, I’m often inspired by good writing in a wide range of genres.

And yes, I’ll be here all week.

3. Why do you hate elves? Sub-question: Does this hatred extend to other pointy-eared species, like Vulcans?

No, I like Vulcans, though I think their strength rating needs to be nerfed. I mean, how do they even hold a tricorder without crushing it?

Elves...where to start? How about the fact that they’re the only race in LOTR with rings of power that didn’t either A) become corrupted by Sauron or B) have their finger bling either stolen or eaten by dragons?

Also:
They don’t like dwarves. [Robyn's note: Dwarf racist party dad says "All aboard the party elk!"]They think humans have the average lifespan of a weasel dancing on an electric fence in a rainstorm.They are really full of themselves.They’re too quiet.They’re too beautiful.They are too invisible.They are too accurate with ranged weapons.They have all the magical loot.They dislike Balrogs.They show up everywhere. Seriously. EVERYWHERE.Elves invented music and pottery and possibly body surfing and have no qualms about bragging about it.They prefer fancy fonts to Comic Sans and Courier.And all the other reasons would go here, but we’re out of space.

4. What are you reading now, or what books do you have in your TBR pile?

I just finished Leviathan by Scott Westerfield. Good stuff. Next I want to read Dr. Sleep by Stephen King because I love, love, loved The Shining.

5. What are you working on now?

Rewriting and editing things. I hope to have another book release in 2014, probably something with a more serious UF vibe. Also, I’ll be writing another Zero Dog novel at some point. I’ve been toying with a high fantasy novel, so we’ll see.

You can find out more about Keith at these sites:
Website: http://www.keithmelton.wordpress.com Twitter: @KeithMelton99 Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Keith-Melton/199082863480486 Dark Ride Dogs, by Keith Melton

Death prophecies, ghost clowns, homicidal redcaps…this town has really gone to the dogs.

Zero Dog mercenary Andrea Walker used to love fortune cookies—until the day she received a death prophecy inside one. Of course, believing a mass produced fortune from a baked good would be insane—until a berserker shows up on her doorstep claiming he’s been sent by an infamous oracle to save her life. She must hire him or die.

Hell really breaks loose when the Zero Dogs are contracted to stop a ghost-summoning goblin’s plan to bring his Eternal Malevolence Carnival and Incredible Show of Evil to Portland, starring a company of ghost performers—clowns, acrobats, and nefarious balloon-twisting mimes. Meanwhile, Andrea’s normally shy succubus friend seems to be falling for the mysterious berserker. Too bad a malfunctioning charm spell has the redcap goblin yearning for her as well.

Now Andrea must elude a death prophecy, discover if her new-hire berserker can be trusted, and avert the looming ghost clown apocalypse. Just another mad mission for the Zero Dogs.

Read some good books lately?

I've been making huge progress in my 2014 Reading Challenge, so that's awesome. Though I have to admit that I really haven't dented my massive TBR bookcase, because I keep bringing new books into the house. Yes, I have an addiction. Though many of those books are library books, so that helps, right?

Except for all those ebooks... but they were 99 cents!

I'll stop now.

What I've been reading lately...
In the Black by Sheryl Nantus. You guys, this one is out right now, and you need to read it. I've often professed my love of Sheryl Nantus' Blaze of Glory and Blood of the Pride series. In the Black is the first in her new Tales from the Edge series and it's great. It has sci-fi, romance, murder mystery, a tough-but-traumatized heroine, and a hero who is totally Space Marshall Raylan Givens in my head. It's like a fabulous mashup of Justified and Firefly. So good. I can't wait to read the next one. (No really, I can't wait. Send it now, Sheryl!) ;)

The Vlad Taltos series by Steven Brust. I've been doing a read-along of the series with BFF Diana, and this month we're on Iorich . For those who aren't familiar with Vlad, he's an assassin with a sarcastic flying lizard companion. The series is pure fantasy (no romance), and it really makes me want to bust out my D&D books and roll some d20s. It's very good--complex world building, excellent banter, plots that keep you guessing. I love Morrolan. (Broody elf? Yes, please.) At the moment Dzur is my favorite in the series, because in addition to being a great story I was entertained by the food description. (Yes, I am addicted to the Food Network. And also Hannibal.)

Shadow Spell by Nora Roberts. This is the second book in the Cousins O'Dwyer trilogy. I didn't love it as much as the first book, but it was good. The story wanders from past to present in a way that really needs a TARDIS, and that was a little distracting to me. But Meara is a tough heroine, and I enjoyed learning about her background and her relationship to her family.

I'm really looking forward to the third book, which will be out in October. From the moment Fin showed up in the first book I was all, "OMG, when does he get to be the hero?!" He's definitely my catnip.


So what are you reading now? I'm still looking for a new vampire obsession if you have any recommendations. I'm also about to embark on reading the Shopping List at the end of Sarah Wendell's Everything I Know About Love I Learned from Romance Novels . So that should be interesting.

Author Thursday: Interview with Paige Tyler

I've spent time hanging out with Paige Tyler at the last few Lori Foster Reader and Author Get Togethers, and Paige is one of the nicest people I have ever met. Seriously. If you have the chance to chat with her at a conference or signing you definitely should, because she's awesome. :) (And Paige and her husband are adorable together. That's him in the background of the photo helping her at a past RAGT signing.)

I'm excited to have Paige as my guest today, and she's talking about her new book Her Perfect Mate which is out this week!

1. What flavor is your writing? (Spicy? Action? Space odyssey? Ninjas? All of the above?)

Hmm. I think my tagline says it best—“Hunky Heroes, Kickbutt Heroines, Unforgettable Romance.” Add in some steamy sex, nail-biting suspense and pulse-pounding action, and that pretty much sums it up!
2. Where do you get inspiration for your books?

I get inspiration from just about anything. Sometimes, I’ll read something in a newspaper or magazine that’ll spark an idea. Other times, I’ll overhear someone say something, and I’ll think, that’d make a great story. And then there are times when something someone says to me inspires an idea. Like with my new X-OPS Series. Hubby and I were at the Lori Foster Get Together in 2011, and were talking with some other authors about writing, the e-book market, promo, what New York is looking for, etc. We spent hours talking about making the jump from e-books to New York—something I seriously wanted to do. One of the authors pointed at hubby and suggested that I should be using his military experiences to lend an edge to my books that other writers might not have. Around this same time, there was a lot of Special Operations stuff going on in the news, and an idea started developing in my head. Wouldn’t it be cool to blend military elements with the paranormal—specifically shifters? That was the beginning of the X-OPS Series!

3. I heard that you have a sexy shapeshifter in your new X-OPS series. What is your favorite thing about writing shifters?

There’s something inherently sexy about shifters whether they’re male or female. I mean, they have an animal magnetism (pun intended!) that you can’t resist. Plus, they can usually kick some serious butt thanks to all their special abilities, which means writing awesome action-packed stories.

4. What are you reading now, or what books do you have in your TBR pile?

Right now I’m reading Tracie Puckett’s Just a Little Series. It’s not often I want to immediately reread a series after I finish it, but I’m almost finished with this series and I already want to read it again. If you love YA with adult-themes and an awesome hero and heroine, you have to read it!

5. What are you working on now?

Well, HER LONE WOLF, Book Two in the X-OPS Series, releases in November. So excited about that! It’s followed by an X-OPS Novella called HER SECRET AGENT that releases in December. It’s a fun story that gives readers inside info on the DCO, as well as gives them the skinny on some very important stuff that the other characters in the novels aren’t privy to. So, yeah, there are lots of OMG moments ahead for the X-OPS crew.

Right now, I’m working on the outline for the second book in my S.W.A.T. Series, aka my Special Alpha Wolf Team Series. If you haven’t figured it out from the name, it’s about a SWAT team made up of wolf shifters. Think hot guys in tactical gear with claws and you get the picture! The first book releases from Sourcebooks in early 2015, so I hope you’ll check it out!

And in between I’m also revising a book that was first published in 2008 called ANIMAL ATTRACTION (Alaskan Werewolves Book One). I’m adding new characters, more action and an additional story arc, and I’m loving it. Look for it in June!

Her Perfect Mate

He's a High-Octane Special Ops Pro

When Special Forces Captain Landon Donovan is chosen for an assignment with the Department of Covert Operations, he's stunned to find his new partner is a beautiful woman who looks like she couldn't hurt a fly, never mind take down a terrorist.

She's No Kitten

Ivy Halliwell isn't your average covert op. She's a feline shifter, and more dangerous than she looks. Her feline DNA means she can literally bring out the claws when things get dicey. She's worked with a string of hotheaded military guys who've underestimated her special skills in the past. But when she's partnered with special agent Donovan, a man sexy enough to make any girl purr, things begin to heat up. He doesn't think she's a freak-and he's smokin' hot. Soon they're facing a threat even greater than anyone imagines...and an animal magnetism impossible to ignore.

Read an Excerpt: http://paigetylertheauthor.com/BooksHerPerfectMate.html

Reviews of Her Perfect Mate:

"An absolutely perfect story-one I honestly couldn't put down. One of the best books I've read in years. I hope this is the beginning of a very long series, because I definitely want more of Paige Tyler's shifters." - Kate Douglas, author of the bestselling Wolf Tales and Spirit Wild series

"A wild, hot, and sexy ride from beginning to end! I loved it!" - Terry Spear, USA Today bestselling author of A SEAL in Wolf's Clothing

"Once I began, the outside world ceased to exist. It's exciting and fast paced." - Paranormal Kiss

"I love a good paranormal romance and this series has started off with a bang!" - Hopeless in Literature Reviews

Her Perfect Mate is available at:
Amazon Barnes and Noble AReiTunesSourcebooks

Paige Tyler is a USA Today Bestselling Author of sexy, romantic fiction. She and her very own military hero (also known as her husband) live on the beautiful Florida coast with their adorable fur baby (also known as their dog). Paige graduated with a degree in education, but decided to pursue her passion and write books about hunky alpha males and the kickbutt heroines who fall in love with them. She is represented by Bob Mecoy.

You can find out more about Paige at these links:
Website: http://paigetylertheauthor.com/Blog: http://paigetylertheauthor.blogspot.com/Facebook Profile Page: http://www.facebook.com/paige.tyler.9Facebook Author Page: http://www.facebook.com/PaigeTylerAuthor Twitter: @PaigeTylerPinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/paigetylerauth/Google+Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2300692.Paige_TylerNewsletter: http://eepurl.com/BBrEPEmail: paigetyler@paigetylertheauthor.com

Keep Calm and Carry On

First, Poison in the Blood got a 4-star review from RT Book Reviews! w00t!

"The second installment of the Emily Chronicles brings fans right back into the dark, imaginative world of a London filled with magic and the fascinating characters who control it. Emily Black is a strong, courageous heroine, with a moral compass that serves her well as loyalties begin to shift around her and her marriage evolves in ways she never could have imagined. Bachar keeps the plot moving along nicely, and her inventiveness makes the world of this story come to life."

So cool. :) Remember, you can get 30% off the ebook of Poison in the Blood at the Samhain store when you use the coupon code POISON14 at checkout. I'll stop now...
It's a great feeling when you get a good review. And it's a terrible feeling when you get a bad review, but that's to be expected. It's like the old saying,

"You can please some of the people all of the time, you can please all of the people some of the time, but you can’t please all of the people all of the time."

Authors, some readers will hate your book, and that's okay. What's more, a bad review can be a good thing. I attended Sarah Wendell's "Romance Reviews: How to Get Reviewed, and How to Put a Review in Your Rearview Mirror" workshop at the Spring Fling, and she discussed how the epic D- review for The Playboy Sheikh's Virgin Stable Girl continues to sell books every time she mentions it. (And I don't know about you guys, but I totally bought and read Pregnesia based on the SBTB review.) A trope/character/theme that one reader hates is often another reader's catnip.

But there's a lot of drama that goes on in the endless "authors versus reviewers" Internet battle. You'd think it was the Starks versus the Lannisters. Or better yet, the Lannisters versus the Lannisters.

Burnnnnnnnnnnnnnn!
Anne Rice was recently in the news talking about author bullying. I'm not going anywhere near the STGRB crazy town, though Jenny Trout trying to drop some knowledge on Anne Rice and being called a "gangster bully" for her efforts is definitely worth noting. (Especially because it reminded me of the "Damn it Feels Good to be a Gangsta" scene in Office Space.) (You need T-shirts, Jenny.)

For me, the importance is in the focus of what you're hating on. It's okay to hate the book. Throw it against the wall to your heart's content. Hate the characters. Hate the pacing, the plot, the cover. Just don't hate the author as a person. It's the "I hated this book and I think that this author should be raped in prison" comments that skew toward harassment. From what I've encountered this is not a widespread problem in the romance community, but good lord, the sci-fi and gaming community has an ugly history of it. (Ever heard of Anita Sarkeesian? She spoke out against misogyny in video games and got an avalanche of rape and death threats.)(By the way, her "Tropes vs Women in Video Games" series is really interesting.)

I've been harassed online as an online gamer--specifically a female gamer. And not only the random "get back in the kitchen and make me a sandwich" or "do you want to cyber?" comments (the answer is no and no), but I received constant threats that lead me to delete my character and quit the game. Thankfully I've never experienced harassment as an author, and I hope I never do.

When you're sitting at your computer or staring at your phone it's easy to forget that there are other people out there somewhere in the ether of the Internet. So, with all that in mind, here are Auntie Robyn's Tips for Posting Words on the Internet
Take a deep breath. Walk away from the thing inducing your rage for at least 10 minutes before you post about it. I recently got a new smart phone, switching from an Apple product to a non-Apple product. I've been ready to smash this damn phone against the wall so many times. If I were to write a review of the phone while I'm swearing and ready to throw it across the room it would be a very different commentary from the review I'd write ten minutes later after I figured out what the problem was.Take another deep breath and perhaps a grain of salt. I'll admit it, I've cried over bad reviews. But then I had a beer and/or some chocolate and moved on. I have learned things about my writing from these bad reviews, and I hope that I've grown as a writer because of them. Bad reviews will happen. Bad books will happen. It's just the way of the Force.Still have rage face? Go ahead, vent your spleen. If we've learned anything from Disney's Frozen, it's that sometimes you have to let it go, because you can't hold it back anymore. Go forth and share your feels. But as you're venting, ask yourself a few questions before you hit post. Like, "Would I say this to a person if I met them face-to-face?" "How would I feel if someone said this to me? Or to a family member?" In the age of Google alerts, there's a good chance that the author will see your review. Most people will be okay with you hating their work, but not okay if you're stating that you want them to die in a fire because of it.You can like a thing and still voice critical commentary about it. Also, it is okay if someone else has critical commentary on the thing that you love. This is an area where fandoms tend to lose their damn minds in unreasonable ways. For some reason they take criticism of that thing they love (like a video game, or a comic book series) as a personal attack and go WTF crazy on the person who had the criticism. Authors, it's okay if someone doesn't like your book. Don't try to authorsplain the many reasons you think that reader is wrong, or didn't understand your book. Don't unleash your army of followers on someone who one-starred you on Amazon. That person is allowed to have an opinion.Remember Wheaton's Law. I cannot stress this one enough.Now I'm gonna go hug my RT review and bask in its awesome, because I know there's always a chance they'll give my next book 2 stars (like they did for B,B&B) or call my hero fluff (like they did with B,S&M). And that's okay. It's all okay.

Author Thursday: Interview with Leah Braemel

Leah Braemel holds a special place in my heart because she was next to me at my very first book signing. We bonded over imported chocolate (imported by her, from Canada). ;) I really enjoyed her Hauberk Protection series, and I'm thrilled to have her as my guest today.

1. What flavor is your writing? (Spicy? Action? Space odyssey? Ninjas? All of the above?)

It depends upon the book, some books are spicier than others. I have quite a few erotic romances, several involving ménages. But my latest series of westerns—The Grady Legacy—are more mainstream contemporary westerns. While the love scenes are explicit, the sex isn’t the main focus. I love reading stories that have a good strong external plot, so that’s the only type I can write. At the moment all my stories, erotic or regular, are contemporary, with the exception of Tangled Past which is a historical romance and it is a connected story to Texas Tangle.
2. Where do you get your inspiration?

This question always makes me chuckle because it reminds me that writers see plots everywhere but non-writers don’t. I don’t know if that makes us a suspicious or paranoid bunch, but I can take any headline or even just at throwaway line in an article or blog post, or in a conversation I overhear on the subway, and come up with a plot for it. A backstory. A character. And it still amazes me when I remember that my non-writing friends don’t see those same possibilities.

3. What drew you to write about cowboys? (Other than the fact that they’re sexy and make your book covers look fabulous.) ;)

I grew up watching Bonanza and must confess to having a crush on Little Joe back then. (When I was at the tender age of 7…I guess I was ahead of my time.) I love that slow drawled “ma’am” and “darlin’”. The strength of the cowboys and their “get ‘er done” attitude. Plus they don’t need to go to a gym to build up all those muscles and abs – they just have to go out to the field and haul those bales of hay. (I grew up in the country and had to haul a few myself—those suckers are heavy!) There’s something comforting to their slower pace of life, and yet their lives are still filled with life and death decisions. They have animals they have to care for, crops to worry about. And there’s a sense of home and loyalty that comes through them that seems clearer, stronger. And that quiet confidence is sexy as hell.

4. What are you reading now, or what books do you have in your TBR pile?

I’m currently reading Laura Drake’s Nothing Sweeter, the second book in her Sweet on a Cowboy series. I read her first book before it was nominated for two RITA awards, and I have to say she deserved both nominations and I’ll have my fingers crossed for her in July. I’ve also been re-reading JR Ward’s Black Dagger Brotherhood series—I’m finding books I didn’t care for the first time around are coming alive, and there are layers to it that I’d missed the first time around.

5. What are you working on now?

I’m writing Wrangling the Past – book 3 in my Grady Legacy trilogy. It’s Gabe’s story as he deals with his change of fortune and has to come to terms with decisions made by the Gradys, and him, that changed the course of his life. It’ll be out in December of this year. And of course I’m working on trying to promote book 2 – No Accounting for Cowboys, book 2 in the Legacy trilogy. I really loved how Jake’s story turned out—I really tortured the poor guy, so I’m hoping the readers like it too. It releases on May 17th.

You can find out more about Leah at these links:
Website: http://leahbraemel.comTwitter: @LeahBraemelFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorLeahBraemelPinterest: http://pinterest.com/leahbraemel/Leah’s Amazon store: http://astore.amazon.com/offiwebsoflea-20 No Accounting for Cowboys

Jake Grady loves Bull’s Hollow ranch and all the challenges and hard work it entails. But the past year hasn’t been easy—his father’s good name has been tarnished, and new financial problems are threatening to destroy everything the Gradys have built. Performing live under a stage name has become his escape, a way of blowing off some serious steam.

Accountant Paige Reynolds found Jake’s guitar-playing alter ego intriguing, but her connection with the real Jake sends her attraction into overdrive. When she’s summoned to make order out of the chaotic paper trail at Bull’s Hollow, he sets her world a-rocking—both in bed and out. But Paige has a plan; she’s determined to create her own path for the future, but is soon left scrambling for firmer ground.

Good news about Jake’s potential singing career is followed by the revelation of another family secret, one that has him questioning whether he belongs at Bull’s Hollow at all. But leaving the ranch would mean leaving his family…and Paige. How much is he willing to give up for a real shot at fame?

Spring Fling 2014: Part Two

Random disclaimer: The Internet messes with your head. Specifically, social media. At this moment I follow 764 people on Twitter, mostly other authors and industry professionals, so at conferences I see a lot of names and faces that I recognize but can't figure out how I know them. I pretty much suck at remembering names to begin with, so my apologies if I met you/missed you at the Spring Fling and didn't realize it.
Saturday, or DO ALL THE THINGS!

I am not a morning person. Or a social person (some days I feel like the Internet was invented so I never have to call anyone on the phone ever again, and I'm fine with that). The idea of attending a book signing at 9:30 in the morning terrified me. Before the signing I armed myself with a venti white chocolate mocha and had a bit of social time with Sasha Devlin and Cora Cade. But then it was book signing time.

As you may have noticed, I am more than a little socially awkward. I have anxiety problems. The "diagnosed by a doctor and undergoing treatment for" kind of anxiety, so meeting readers is a big thing for me. Hell, meeting anyone is a big thing. My inner anxiety demons live in constant fear that other people see me as an awkward, over-excited goofball. Sort of like this:
Yeah.

I had the good fortune to share a table with the awesome Sarah M. Anderson. She and I stood in front of our table and handed out promo to passers-by. I leapt on unsuspecting readers like a land shark--a land shark distributing goody bags filled with free chocolate, so I think it worked out all right.

My Very Proud of Me parents arrived, and after hugs were exchanged I realized that they were going to need an activity, so I asked BFF Diana to take them on a field trip to meet Sarah Wendell. She was a good sport about it (thank you SB Sarah!), and she also signed my copy of Everything I Know about Love I Learned from Romance Novels. And BFF Diana exposed her to Dack's Awesome Mantitty on the cover of Nightfall.
Glorious.

After the signing I had my pitch appointment. I was too drained from the signing to be over nervous about the appointment, or at least I was until I got to the place. The holding room where everyone waited for their appointment was a dark, silent pit of tension. Good lord. Way to heighten the stress, people.

I generally fail at trying to explain myself and my writing to other people. It's all,
"Umm, hi! I write books. About stuff..."
But I survived. I must say, having the copy of my query letter was SUPER HELPFUL, because it saved me from stuttering and I got a ton of helpful feedback. So that was definitely a win.
Then there was lunch featuring Mary Balogh. I think everyone agrees that we could listen to her talk all day, because her accent is cool and her speech was inspiring. After that Diana and I headed to the "Many Eggs, Many Baskets: Hybrid Career Options" workshop by Sarah M. Anderson and Hanna Martine. I think this SF wins at having the best workshops. Each one was very informative and well put together. I did miss a few minutes of this one because I had to duck out for my author portrait. (And though I HATE having my picture taken, I was very impressed with the photographer and her magic ability to make me look good.)

After that we went to "From the Dungeon to I Love You" by Katie Porter (and Diana later cracked me up by referring to the combination of Katie Porter authors forming the Voltron of erotic romance). Then there was "Using it All: Writing Sex that Not Only Steams up the Pages but Uses the Emotional Magnitude of Intimacy to Drive the Heart of Your Novel" with Lauren Dane and Megan Hart. I think it's safe to say that Lauren Dane is our new author crush. I wanted to go to this workshop just to hear her speak words, and then they were awesome words, with the added bonus of Megan Hart. You guys, they are so good. I swear it was like, "Gather round, kids. Auntie Megan is about to drink some wine and drop some knowledge on you." WIN!

Before dinner we spotted Sarah Wendell and pounced on her, which resulted in her tweeting Diana's chest. Seriously. We grabbed Sasha and were chatting with her, Courtney Milan and Sarah Wendell, and then everything went downhill. Because the comic spotted us.

I did not like the comic. My first impression of him was him thrusting tiny clip boards at Sasha, Diana and me, and I honestly thought he was about to sell us something. Then he explained he wanted us to write down our favorite romance euphemisms. I paused, wondering if he had arrived in a time machine from the 90s, and then informed him that I don't use euphemisms. I call a cock a cock. He seemed surprised by this. It did not bode well.

I felt increasingly uncomfortable through the course of his routine, and an innocent dinner roll was stabbed to death by an author sitting near me. There is more about my negative feelings, but there is too much. I will sum up: I go to the Spring Fling to be inspired and to interact with other authors. I really would have preferred to have that time to talk to my table mates.

The nopetopus will now sum up my feelings on his grand finale:

Moving on! The speech by Kristan Higgins was AMAZING. Seriously. Not a dry eye in the room. And congrats to the winners of the Fire and Ice contest!

We escaped to the bar before the dancing started. (I assume there was dancing. I was enjoying a lovely local beer.) Overall, it was another lovely time at the Spring Fling, and I look forward to the next one. Just please, no more comedians.

Spring Fling 2014: Part One

The Chicago-North Spring Fling Writers Conference took place this weekend. This was my fourth trip to the SF (and BFF Diana's third), and I have a lot of love for this conference. The SF was the first conference I attended, the 2008 Fire and Ice was my first contest win, and the 2012 SF was my first local book signing. I had a fun time, and as always the organizers did a great job of putting everything together.

So here's the round-up of this year's adventures. :) (An abbreviated round-up, apologies to anyone/anything I left out.)
Thursday, or "You Know You're in Illinois When..."

BFF Diana and I had a plan. A brilliant plan. A plan that revolved around Diana not needing to drive alone from Central Illinois to Hoffman Estates by taking the train up Thursday night. My parents and I were prepared to pick her up from the train station, and she and I would drive to the hotel Friday morning for the conference. Simple, right? Except that before Diana could get on the train there was a terrible collision between the train and a man driving farm equipment on the way to the station. :(

This may have been the most inauspicious beginning to a conference yet. Diana spent 4 hours at the train station trying to figure out what was going on, and after exchanging a series of texts and phone calls we decided that she would give up on the train idea and drive instead, and we would meet at the hotel Friday morning.

Friday, during which we are on Our Best Behavior

Because we were cloned from the same alien pod, Diana and I share many of the same anxiety issues. We have a history of being really excited at conferences.
Like that.

We're also used to being attached at the hip at conferences, so when I arrived alone at the SF Friday morning, I was a little...
And of course, I went straight to the Bookseller, Blogger and Librarian Appreciation Tea. Because apparently my inner social anxiety demons needed a challenge.

I chatted a little with Sarah M. Anderson and Courtney Milan. Thankfully I spotted fellow Samhain author Cora Cade, who I'd hung out with a bit at the 2013 Lori Foster RAGT. Our conversation pretty much started out with, "Hi. I'm terrified. Are you terrified too? We can be terrified together!" Despite our terror, we managed to chat with many nice librarians and other book-related people.

After the event I found Romance Diva and awesome author Sasha Devlin in the hotel lobby, and I hung out with her until Diana arrived. (I told Sasha that I'd read her book In the Light of Day, and her flustered reaction was super adorable.) When Diana arrived, I tackle hugged her. I am also super proud of her for surviving the drive (it's a long, not fun drive, especially by yourself).

We went to the "Honing a Voice that Sells" workshop (very good), and then to Sarah Wendell's "Romance Reviews: How to Get Reviewed, and How to Put a Review in Your Rearview Mirror."

Now, as you may know, Diana and I love Sarah Wendell. A lot. Serious fangirl squee. Like this,

On the way to the first workshop we passed her in the hallway and were super proud of ourselves for flailing quietly after she passed us, instead of pouncing on her (as we have done in the past).

Her workshop was super informative and filled with pictures of owls, so of course we loved it, and we said hi to her afterward in a mostly controlled way. Enough so that I feel that Diana and I succeeded at our goal of being less hyper and more professional at this conference. Win!

Next was the Welcome Keynote Address by Lauren Dane, which was fabulous and inspiring (and now I want to read all her books)(and I have two free ones to start with!). The headliner panel was also very inspiring (and moderated by Sarah Wendell, who, again, we heart forever). One of the things that I love about the SF is that you always end up inspired and ready to conquer your next book. :)

And then there was dinner. We sat with several members of the Indiana RWA chapter, including self-proclaimed Token Dude Jim Cangany, and a few ladies from the Greater Detroit RWA chapter. Then came the agent panel, the editor panel, and then Diana and I went upstairs to collapse. Normally we would've gone to the bar, but the book signing on Saturday was scheduled for 9:30, so it was early to bed for us.

And the Hawks won! So that was good too. ;) Tomorrow I will continue the tale in part two, in which there is drama! :-o

Author Thursday: Interview with Yolanda Sfetsos

Today's guest is awesome author Yolanda Sfetsos, who has a new book out this week from Samhain! w00t! And, in case you didn't know, new releases are always 30% off at the Samhain store. Good book, great savings, what's not to like? ;) And the cover is gorgeous! Kanaxa does the best covers. (I know, because she's created all of mine.) ;)

1. What flavor is your writing? (Spicy? Action? Space odyssey? Ninjas? All of the above?)

The flavor of my writing would have to be otherworldly. I write in several genres—urban fantasy, SFR, horror, futuristic, whatever strikes me. All of my stories have several things in common. The supernatural always manages to squeeze itself in there somehow (because I love toeing the line between light and dark), romance is usually a big factor (because without love there’s not much of a story), secrets (because uncovering hidden secrets is fun), plus I enjoy throwing some action into the mix.
2. Where do you get your inspiration?

I get it from just about anywhere. I can be listening to a song and a certain line sparks off a character, or I might be doing research for one story and a different idea comes to mind. I also get inspired by art/pictures I find online. And going for walks always fills me with inspiration.

3. Torn from the Shadows is your fourth Sierra Fox book. What is your favorite thing about working on this series?

I love this series so much! *hugs Sierra and the Gang*

This is actually the penultimate installment, so I’m super excited but also a little sad. I love everything about this series. Sierra has been with me for many years and her world is very vivid. I’ve always been intrigued by ghosts and wanted to write a story about a woman who could not only see them, but control the pesky buggers in some way.

Of course, the fact other supernatural creatures wormed their way in there wasn’t a surprise. I love reading and writing urban fantasy, so that’s another reason why I love it. ;)

4. What are you reading now or what books do you have in your TBR pile?

OMG, I have SO many books on my TBR pile! The problem is figuring out which one to read next because I want to read all of them right now. But I’ve got an ARC of Midnight Crossroad by Charlaine Harris that keeps calling my name. I think I’ll read that one next…

5. What are you working on now?

Last week I finished Recast, Book 4 and sent it to my editor so I’m between projects at the moment. I’m going to spend a week scheduling promo spots and writing guest blogs/answering interview questions for Sierra’s book. But next week I’ll be sitting down with a calendar and a notebook to sort out my writing schedule.

I've got a bunch of ideas floating around inside my head that need some attention. Here are some of them: several spin-offs, demons, hunters, necromancers, cozy mystery, zombie apocalypse, a bear shifter, space pirates... I just don’t know which one to work on next. So many ideas, so little time.

You can find out more about Yolanda's writing here:
Website: http://www.yolandasfetsos.com Twitter: @YolandaSfetsosGoodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/yolandasfetsosAmazon author page: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B003YEKW7A Torn from the Shadows , Sierra Fox, Book 4

All it takes is one goddess-affiliated demon to seal the deal.

Sierra Fox knows better than to believe the demon-obsessed freakshow has given up on her. She’s settled into a nice routine of living with her sister, enjoying her relationship with a sexy werewolf, and staying on top of work—and always waiting for the other shoe to drop.

Predictably, things start falling apart as she’s suddenly swamped with surprise visits and unwanted advances, and someone she despises wants her help.

When a spook-catching training session goes horribly wrong, she encounters a man who’s not quite as dead as she’d hoped. Mace is now more than human and still determined to get his hands on her. But not if Sierra accepts the strengthening gifts her grandmother bestowed at her birth.

Having the good guys put a price on her head is enough to ruin anyone’s day, but Sierra refuses to give up or give in. Even if it means exercising the last option on earth she wants. But claiming the ultimate power may not be enough to save the man she loves before his werewolf past destroys him.

Warning: Phantasms, pookas, werewolves, and demons, oh yes! And a spook-catching heroine who must choose to take what’s rightfully hers—even if it means walking the shadows with a demon.

Spring Fling 2014

The Chicago-North Spring Fling is this weekend, w00t! And I will be signing books there on Saturday, April 26th, from 9:30-10:30 am, along with this list of fabulous authors: http://chicagospringfling.com/conference-info/book-signing/. And I'm bringing a few ARCs of Poison in the Blood to give away. And free chocolate! And Samhain swag! Be there or be square!

I've been attending the Spring Fling since 2008 (before Blood, Smoke and Mirrors was published, it took first place in its category in the Fire & Ice contest). There have been many memorable Spring Fling moments. Like in 2010 when I lost my dorky fangirl mind at Sarah Wendell. I generally have an over-excited Golden Retriever moment at one author per conference, and SB Sarah was the lucky winner that year.

BFF Diana and I spent much of the 2012 Spring Fling stalking our girlcrush Tiffany Reisz, who we love and worship and have the T-shirts. (BFF Diana and I are going to be on our best behavior this year. We promise. Serious face is serious.) 2012 also featured my first book signing in Illinois, which my loud, boisterous, and extremely proud of me family totally ALL showed up at, causing me to get the stink eye from other authors. I promise there'll be less family this time. Again, serious face is serious. (I can't promise that my mom won't go from table to table informing everyone that her daughter is an author too. That's how she rolls.)

The book signing is open to the public. Hope to see you there on Saturday! ;)