Christine Rains's Blog, page 44
June 4, 2015
Friday Five for June 5, 2015
1. I received some great reviews for my newest release, Layers of Lace (Dice & Debauchery #2). The first book in the series, Loose Corset, won a position in the top five of the Easychair Competition for novellas. Yay! It was a good week for geeky romances.
2. I haven't had much of a chance to do any writing this week. It's a little frustrating, but I know this is how summer is going to go. A little writing here and there until August. Time is already flying by!
3. I've been reading non-fiction this week. I love Mary Roach! She fills my need for odd tidbits of information.
4. Don't forget to head over to T.B. Markinson's blog and enter to win five awesome books plus an Amazon gift card. My urban fantasy, Of Blood and Sorrow is included in the giveaway.
5. I'm over at the Untethered Realms blog today with a review for Nick Wilford's new book. If you haven't checked it out yet, do it. Plus he's holding a giveaway too, and there's still a bit of time left to enter to win his awesome collection!
Have a great weekend!
June 3, 2015
Avalon: A Heartwarming True Cat Story
Some cats need nine lives to make a difference. Avalon only needed one.
From Amazon bestselling author Vanessa Morgan, Avalon is the heartwarming and once-in-a-lifetime love story of a girl and her neurotic Turkish Van cat.
With humor, the author details how Avalon made other creatures cringe in distress whenever he was around, how he threw her dates out by means of special techniques, and how he rendered it almost impossible for her to leave the house. Avalon was so incorrigible that even her landlord ordered her to get rid of him. But beneath Avalon's demonic boisterousness, Vanessa recognized her own flaws and insecurities, and she understood that abandoning Avalon would be the worst she could do to him. Thanks to her unswerving loyalty, Avalon transformed into a tender feline, and even landed a major role in a horror movie. In turn, Avalon made it his mission to be there for his human companion.
By turns jubilant and deeply moving, Avalon is a memoir for anyone who has ever been obsessively in love with a pet.
Purchase links
Amazon.com: http://amzn.to/1FTC8Ep Amazon.co.uk: http://amzn.to/1ImdPRo Amazon.fr: http://amzn.to/1JTGIF2
Excerpt:Small changes often caused major disturbances. When we removed a DVD from the cupboard, or put a pen on the living room table that he wasn’t used to seeing there, Avalon pitched himself near the problem area and vocalized his complaints as if he was a muezzin calling to prayer. He only stopped if the space returned back to normal.
Intelligent and calculating as he was, Avalon had also developed a technique to prevent Ballon and Tigris from using hislitter boxes. Each time he heard the scratch scratch scratch in the litter, he settled into attack mode behind the bathroom wall, wiggled his behind, and leapt onto the other cat as soon as it emerged, making it jump. It worked every... single...time. Proud, Avalon walked away from the crime scene with his nose pointing airwards.
Borat, our guinea pig, was initially the best one off, but ended up the most miserable. What kept him safe at first was Avalon’s fear of rodents. Cats may be considered deadly predators, killing a median of 2.4 billion birds and 12.3 billion mammals a year in the United States alone, but whenever Borat had free range inside the apartment, Avalon went in a large circle around him, avoiding him at all cost.
Eventually, Avalon ferreted out a way to make Borat twinge in distress whenever he approached. It started when I taught Avalon not to throw up on the bed and carpets. Those lessons must have been meaningful, because Avalon didn’t vomit in those places anymore. Instead he aimed for the guinea pig's head. As soon as he felt a hairball mounting, Avalon ran as fast as he could toward Borat's cage, leaned in, and puked his heart out.
Author bio
Vanessa Morgan is an author, screenwriter, and blogger. Two of her works, The Strangers Outsideand A Good Man, have been turned into films. Her short film script Next to Heris currently in pre-production. When she's not working on her latest book, you can find her reading, watching horror movies, digging through flea markets, or photographing felines for her blog Traveling Cats(http://travelling-cats.blogspot.com). Avalon has appeared in several of her books and films.
Social media links
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Vanessa-Morgan/50159391888Twitter: http://twitter.com/eeriestoriesPinterest: http://pinterest.com/follow/eeriestoriesGoogle+: https://plus.google.com/111498119214855356614/postsBloglovin: https://www.bloglovin.com/blogs/vanessa-morgan-4135473Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Vanessa-Morgan/GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2890032.Vanessa_MorganBlog: http://vanessa-morgan.blogspot.com
Amazon.com Widgets
June 2, 2015
IWSG for June 2015
The Insecure Writer's Support Group (IWSG) is the brilliant idea of Alex J. Cavanaugh. The purpose of the group is to share doubts and insecurities and to encourage one another. Please visit the other participants and share your support. A kind word goes a long way.The fantastic co-hosts this month are: M. Pax, Tracy Jo, Patricia Lynne, Rachna Chhabria, Feather Stone, and Randi Lee!
I received my first quarterly check from my publisher a few weeks ago. I held the envelope in my hands and did a happy jig. Then, like Wolverine, I tore it open and froze.
No, no. That can't be right. I had a dream. My dream told me I'd earn $4700. My subconscious clearly does not know where to place decimal points. I didn't even make triple digits.
The weight of the let-down flopped me into a chair. I could barely breathe. That lasted ten seconds until the panic of wondering whether taking the risk with this series was worth it had me madly pacing the room. This isn't my usual genre. Did I ruin myself by publishing these stories? Do readers think I'm crazy? Why oh why didn't I use a pen name?
ACK!
All that self doubt and anxiety crashed down on me. There wasn't enough ice cream in the world to help this one. Time to hide in a hole. Please ignore this silly geek over here.
Now that I've had some time to let things settle down, I'm okay with the fact I did take the risk. Even if I don't sell well, I've learned a lot from this experience. And I still do believe that the stories are great fun.
We all need to hide in a hole with a barrel bucket of ice cream now and then. The real challenge is to come out and keep pushing forward. Take risks and never give up.
May 31, 2015
Truly Awesome June Giveaway and Review for A Woman Ignored
What a way to start off June!
Every month, the wonderful T.B. Markinson is hosting an ebook giveaway. This month there are five spectacular books that you can win. I've read them all, and any one of them is worth entering this giveaway.
30 Seconds by Chrys Fey (Fantastic romantic suspense) Soul Cutter by Lexa Cain (Fast-paced, intense YA horror) Pop Travel by Tara Tyler (Awesome sci-fi thriller) Cloaked in Fur by T.F. Walsh (Riveting paranormal romance)and Of Blood and Sorrow by me!
And while you're at T.B.'s blog entering the giveaway, be sure to pick up her books. Here's my review of the latest book in her Woman Lost series to tease you with.
Blurb: Historian Lizzie Petrie remains nothing more than a lesbian in her bitter mother’s eyes. The suppressed hurt of that superficial assessment means she still catches herself off guard when thinking of Sarah as her wife. The couple has endured the fallout of Lizzie’s insecurities and set-up house in Fort Collins, Colorado. Now their relationship is about to be tested again.
When her wife announces she wants to have a baby, Lizzie panics. A baby? The thought of sucking an egg from her ovary and implanting the resulting embryo into Sarah’s womb terrifies her. Lizzie constantly worries if she’ll make a good mother.
Just when she starts to make peace with the idea, Lizzie’s estranged family enters her life again. The news is anything but good, and she finds herself wondering how to make amends with her aloof mother, stranger of a father, and self-centered brother.
Deep down, Lizzie is more loving and caring than she ever gives herself credit. Sometimes it takes a tragedy to open a woman’s eyes to her full potential. But at what price?
My review: Lizzie Petrie has survived one big fallout in her relationship and now she's about to be tested again. Her wife Sarah surprises her with the announcement that she wants to have a baby. Lizzie's baby. If that doesn't shake up Lizzie's world enough, her haughty mother is diagnosed with cancer. With a baby in her future, she wants to make some peace with her estranged family. Yet will the effort destroy her further?
This is the sequel to A Woman Lost, a contemporary romance that amazed me with its fantastic characterization and dramatic plot. A Woman Ignored is just as well written and ups the intensity of the story. Lizzie's narrative is compelling, unusual, and quirky. She's a woman who sees things differently than others and brings forth questions others might not think about. You see a lot more of her heart in this book, and you can understand why Sarah loves her so. Their relationship may be bumpy at times, but it's drawn with the vivid colors of reality. It's quite sweet - and steamy! - at times. Sarah, Maddie, and Ethan are great complements, and I love the addition of Doug to their group. Just as fascinating was getting to see the dynamics of the Petrie family in the midst of a crisis.
I can't wait to read more from T.B. Markinson.
Buy the book here!
Every month, the wonderful T.B. Markinson is hosting an ebook giveaway. This month there are five spectacular books that you can win. I've read them all, and any one of them is worth entering this giveaway.
30 Seconds by Chrys Fey (Fantastic romantic suspense) Soul Cutter by Lexa Cain (Fast-paced, intense YA horror) Pop Travel by Tara Tyler (Awesome sci-fi thriller) Cloaked in Fur by T.F. Walsh (Riveting paranormal romance)and Of Blood and Sorrow by me!
And while you're at T.B.'s blog entering the giveaway, be sure to pick up her books. Here's my review of the latest book in her Woman Lost series to tease you with.
Blurb: Historian Lizzie Petrie remains nothing more than a lesbian in her bitter mother’s eyes. The suppressed hurt of that superficial assessment means she still catches herself off guard when thinking of Sarah as her wife. The couple has endured the fallout of Lizzie’s insecurities and set-up house in Fort Collins, Colorado. Now their relationship is about to be tested again.
When her wife announces she wants to have a baby, Lizzie panics. A baby? The thought of sucking an egg from her ovary and implanting the resulting embryo into Sarah’s womb terrifies her. Lizzie constantly worries if she’ll make a good mother.
Just when she starts to make peace with the idea, Lizzie’s estranged family enters her life again. The news is anything but good, and she finds herself wondering how to make amends with her aloof mother, stranger of a father, and self-centered brother.
Deep down, Lizzie is more loving and caring than she ever gives herself credit. Sometimes it takes a tragedy to open a woman’s eyes to her full potential. But at what price?
My review: Lizzie Petrie has survived one big fallout in her relationship and now she's about to be tested again. Her wife Sarah surprises her with the announcement that she wants to have a baby. Lizzie's baby. If that doesn't shake up Lizzie's world enough, her haughty mother is diagnosed with cancer. With a baby in her future, she wants to make some peace with her estranged family. Yet will the effort destroy her further?
This is the sequel to A Woman Lost, a contemporary romance that amazed me with its fantastic characterization and dramatic plot. A Woman Ignored is just as well written and ups the intensity of the story. Lizzie's narrative is compelling, unusual, and quirky. She's a woman who sees things differently than others and brings forth questions others might not think about. You see a lot more of her heart in this book, and you can understand why Sarah loves her so. Their relationship may be bumpy at times, but it's drawn with the vivid colors of reality. It's quite sweet - and steamy! - at times. Sarah, Maddie, and Ethan are great complements, and I love the addition of Doug to their group. Just as fascinating was getting to see the dynamics of the Petrie family in the midst of a crisis.
I can't wait to read more from T.B. Markinson.
Buy the book here!
May 28, 2015
Layers of Lace revealed!
Amateur cosplayer Emily Solis is determined to win the costume contest and the heart of her biggest competition.
It isn't the first time Emily has shed her costume with the gorgeous Russell Morrison. Not even her best friend knows she's been having wild convention sex with him for over a year. It was supposed to remain physical, but Emily couldn't help falling for him and his kinky ways. In a moment of passion, she rolls the dice and tells Russell she loves him. He doesn't say it back. Can she convince him they're perfect together or will she roll another critical failure?Buy the book:Ellora's Cave * Amazon * B&N * Kobo
Add it to read on Goodreads.
Get Loose Corset, the first book in the Dice & Debauchery series:Ellora's Cave * Amazon * B&N * Kobo
This is my favorite book in the series. While Morgan in the first book is emotionally reserved, Emily and Russell have explosive feelings. They revel in their costume geekery and love drama. It made them so much fun to write.
Thank you to everyone helping me shout-out about my new release. You guys are awesome!
May 26, 2015
Blood and Beauty and Other Weird Tales
Collects six short stories of fantasy and weirdness. Fans of Edgar Allan Poe, H. P. Lovecraft, Greek mythology, and biblical-inspired fantasy will find something interesting.
"Blood and Beauty" tells the tragic love story of a satyr and a dryad.
"Sutter's Well" records the weird encounter between two boys and a Lovecraftian monster in Appalachia.
"Morphine and Chocolate" draws inspiration from the medieval poem Pearl as it follows a father's search for his missing daughter from one weird landscape to another.
"The Facts in the Case of M. Hussman" takes inspiration from Edgar Allan Poe and records the horrific consequences of artificially extending life in a steampunk world.
"Shafts to Hell" returns to the Old West and takes the reader inside the mind of an insane miner.
"Good King David" combines the tales of Hamlet and Absalom in a Biblical fantasy world.
Categories: weird fantasy, weird horror, Greek mythology, mythical creatures, steampunk.
Buy the book:Amazon US * Amazon UK
Add it to read on Goodreads.
Find out more about Jeff Chapman on his blog!
May 24, 2015
A Change of Mind blog tour - character interview
I'm excited to welcome today the fantastic Nick Wilford and celebrate the release of his new collection, A Change of Mind and Other Stories. I've already had the privilege of reading his book and loved it. Here's my 5 star review.
And here's another reason to celebrate. For today only, Nick's awesome collection is only 99 cents!
Thanks for hosting me, Christine! Today, the MC of A Change of Mind, Reuben, is making a high-profile TV appearance on a show that aims to recognise underrated office workers. I’ll now hand you over to the host, William Fangleman.
Fangleman: Well, good evening, ladies and gentlemen and welcome to another edition of “Unsung Office Heroes of the Land” with me, William Fangleman. Today I’m pleased to be joined by Reuben Timsbury, a hardworking systems analyst with Harbinger Industries. Hello there, Reuben. I’m pleased to meet you.
Reuben: No one’s ever pleased to meet me.
Fangleman: Oh come now, I’m sure that’s not true. You seem like a very interesting chap. Why don’t you start by telling the audience a bit about yourself?
Reuben: What’s to tell? I work at a big office – you know, Corporate Central, fat cat boss – writing mind-numbing reports. I’m good at my job, not that I ever get recognition for it.
Fangleman: Well, let’s have a bit of recognition now. How about a big hand for Reuben and his report-writing skills!
(Audience goes wild)
Reuben: (goes bright red) Errr, thanks. I’m not used to being applauded. It was weird, but nice, I guess.
Fangleman: Now, what sort of people do you work alongside in this office? Do you get along well with them?
Reuben: (grimaces) Are you joking? They delight in making my life a living hell. This one big oaf, Borderman – he asks to borrow my stapler every day. And every day I never get it back, and I have to buy a new one. At £4.99 a day, that’s quite a big wodge out of my paycheque.
Fangleman: Well, why don’t you just stop giving him staplers?
Reuben: Hmm... you know, that’s never occurred to me. When you’ve been pushed around by people your whole life, you do as you’re told. Second nature, I guess. And who’s to say what he could do to me with those staplers?
Fangleman: They’re pretty lethal weapons, I’ve heard. Now, just so our audience aren’t left in total doom and gloom... is there anyone at all you like in our office? Someone who could brighten your day just a tad?
Reuben: (shuffles feet) Weeelll... There’s Minerva, from accounts. She doesn’t even work on this floor, so I don’t see her that often. But she’s a radiant vision, a Greek goddess in name and in how she moves. But what are the chances of her noticing a schmuck like me? She doesn’t even know who I am.
Fangleman: Oh, don’t do yourself down. You’re a handsome chap, it sounds like you just need a dose of confidence. Well, that’s all we have time for on “Unsung Office Heroes of the Land”. Another big hand for Reuben Timsbury, folks!
(Applause) Reuben grins sheepishly while staring at the floor.
* * *
Title: A Change of Mind and Other StoriesAuthor: Nick WilfordGenre: Speculative fictionFormat: Ebook onlyPage/word count: 107 pages, approx. 32,000 wordsPublisher: Superstar Peanut Publishing
Blurb:A Change of Mind and Other Stories consists of a novella, four short stories and one flash fiction piece. This collection puts the extremes of human behaviour under the microscope with the help of lashings of dark humour, and includes four pieces previously published in Writer’s Muse magazine.
In A Change of Mind, Reuben is an office worker so meek and mild he puts up with daily bullying from his boorish male colleagues as if it’s just a normal part of his day. But when a stranger points him in the direction of a surgeon offering a revolutionary new procedure, he can’t pass up the chance to turn his life around.
But this isn’t your average surgeon. For a start, he operates alone in a small room above a mechanic’s. And he promises to alter his patients’ personality so they can be anything they want to be…
In Marissa, a man who is determined to find evidence of his girlfriend’s infidelity ends up wondering if he should have left well alone.
The Dog God finds a chink in the armour of a man with a megalomaniacal desire to take over the world.
In The Insomniac, a man who leads an obsessively regimented lifestyle on one hour’s sleep a night finds a disruption to his routine doesn’t work for him.
Hole In One sees a dedicated golfer achieving a lifelong ambition.
The Loner ends the collection on a note of hope as two family members try to rebuild their lives after they are torn apart by jealousy.
Purchase Links:Amazon US / Amazon UK / Smashwords / B&N / KoboAdd it on Goodreads
Meet the author:
Nick Wilford is a writer and stay-at-home dad. Once a journalist, he now makes use of those rare times when the house is quiet to explore the realms of fiction, with a little freelance editing and formatting thrown in. When not working he can usually be found spending time with his family or cleaning something. He has four short stories published in Writer’s Muse magazine. Nick is also the editor of Overcoming Adversity: An Anthology for Andrew. Visit him at his blog or connect with him on Twitter or Goodreads.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
And here's another reason to celebrate. For today only, Nick's awesome collection is only 99 cents!
Thanks for hosting me, Christine! Today, the MC of A Change of Mind, Reuben, is making a high-profile TV appearance on a show that aims to recognise underrated office workers. I’ll now hand you over to the host, William Fangleman.
Fangleman: Well, good evening, ladies and gentlemen and welcome to another edition of “Unsung Office Heroes of the Land” with me, William Fangleman. Today I’m pleased to be joined by Reuben Timsbury, a hardworking systems analyst with Harbinger Industries. Hello there, Reuben. I’m pleased to meet you.
Reuben: No one’s ever pleased to meet me.
Fangleman: Oh come now, I’m sure that’s not true. You seem like a very interesting chap. Why don’t you start by telling the audience a bit about yourself?
Reuben: What’s to tell? I work at a big office – you know, Corporate Central, fat cat boss – writing mind-numbing reports. I’m good at my job, not that I ever get recognition for it.
Fangleman: Well, let’s have a bit of recognition now. How about a big hand for Reuben and his report-writing skills!
(Audience goes wild)
Reuben: (goes bright red) Errr, thanks. I’m not used to being applauded. It was weird, but nice, I guess.
Fangleman: Now, what sort of people do you work alongside in this office? Do you get along well with them?
Reuben: (grimaces) Are you joking? They delight in making my life a living hell. This one big oaf, Borderman – he asks to borrow my stapler every day. And every day I never get it back, and I have to buy a new one. At £4.99 a day, that’s quite a big wodge out of my paycheque.
Fangleman: Well, why don’t you just stop giving him staplers?
Reuben: Hmm... you know, that’s never occurred to me. When you’ve been pushed around by people your whole life, you do as you’re told. Second nature, I guess. And who’s to say what he could do to me with those staplers?
Fangleman: They’re pretty lethal weapons, I’ve heard. Now, just so our audience aren’t left in total doom and gloom... is there anyone at all you like in our office? Someone who could brighten your day just a tad?
Reuben: (shuffles feet) Weeelll... There’s Minerva, from accounts. She doesn’t even work on this floor, so I don’t see her that often. But she’s a radiant vision, a Greek goddess in name and in how she moves. But what are the chances of her noticing a schmuck like me? She doesn’t even know who I am.
Fangleman: Oh, don’t do yourself down. You’re a handsome chap, it sounds like you just need a dose of confidence. Well, that’s all we have time for on “Unsung Office Heroes of the Land”. Another big hand for Reuben Timsbury, folks!
(Applause) Reuben grins sheepishly while staring at the floor.
* * *
Title: A Change of Mind and Other StoriesAuthor: Nick WilfordGenre: Speculative fictionFormat: Ebook onlyPage/word count: 107 pages, approx. 32,000 wordsPublisher: Superstar Peanut Publishing
Blurb:A Change of Mind and Other Stories consists of a novella, four short stories and one flash fiction piece. This collection puts the extremes of human behaviour under the microscope with the help of lashings of dark humour, and includes four pieces previously published in Writer’s Muse magazine.
In A Change of Mind, Reuben is an office worker so meek and mild he puts up with daily bullying from his boorish male colleagues as if it’s just a normal part of his day. But when a stranger points him in the direction of a surgeon offering a revolutionary new procedure, he can’t pass up the chance to turn his life around.
But this isn’t your average surgeon. For a start, he operates alone in a small room above a mechanic’s. And he promises to alter his patients’ personality so they can be anything they want to be…
In Marissa, a man who is determined to find evidence of his girlfriend’s infidelity ends up wondering if he should have left well alone.
The Dog God finds a chink in the armour of a man with a megalomaniacal desire to take over the world.
In The Insomniac, a man who leads an obsessively regimented lifestyle on one hour’s sleep a night finds a disruption to his routine doesn’t work for him.
Hole In One sees a dedicated golfer achieving a lifelong ambition.
The Loner ends the collection on a note of hope as two family members try to rebuild their lives after they are torn apart by jealousy.
Purchase Links:Amazon US / Amazon UK / Smashwords / B&N / KoboAdd it on Goodreads
Meet the author:
Nick Wilford is a writer and stay-at-home dad. Once a journalist, he now makes use of those rare times when the house is quiet to explore the realms of fiction, with a little freelance editing and formatting thrown in. When not working he can usually be found spending time with his family or cleaning something. He has four short stories published in Writer’s Muse magazine. Nick is also the editor of Overcoming Adversity: An Anthology for Andrew. Visit him at his blog or connect with him on Twitter or Goodreads.a Rafflecopter giveaway
May 21, 2015
Friday Five for May 22, 2015
1. I have all three covers for my Dice & Debauchery series now. The final cover is my favorite! They make quite the attractive set too. One week until Layers of Lace is released! I won't be touring until August, but if you'd like to do a shout-out for me, I'd greatly appreciate it. Email me or leave a comment, and I'll send the info your way.
2. Today is my son's last day of preschool. I'm excited and a little sad. We were so lucky to have a super preschool. Small classes, play based program, and the best teachers ever! They'll have a graduation tonight. The kids will wear caps and gowns. It'll be amazingly cute! Plus we'll get cake. Mmmm... cake.
3. So with the last day of school is my last day of morning writing time for the next few months. I'm already mourning it. Yet when August comes around, my little guy will be in school for full day kindergarten. Full days every weekday to write. It's like this shiny, golden treasure just beyond my reach. Summer will go quickly, I know, and I'll enjoy it, but oh, that beautiful, shiny writing time. I can't stop thinking about it!
4. I'll be posting on my blog less in June and July, but you'll still see me lurking about at night. Not the creepy kind of lurking. Though, after long, hot days, I might look a little scary!
5. It's the long weekend. Yay! In my schedule: a renaissance birthday party, Dungeons & Dragons, and maybe we'll get to see Avengers 2. Have a fantastic weekend, folks!
May 17, 2015
Blood, Boobs & Carnage Blogfest
This tons of fun blogfest is hosted by two awesome writers, Alex J. Cavanaugh and Heather Gardner.
The details: On May 18, 2015, post about a movie, television show, book, or all three that falls into the category of Blood, Boobs, and Carnage. (Or just Blood and Carnage or other mixture.) It can be any genre that fits the bill – fantasy, science fiction, action, adventure, western, thriller, etc. Post the badge and visit other participants.
Decisions, decisions. I thought long and hard about this post. Do I post about shows everyone knows like Game of Thrones and True Blood or do I go more obscure like Baise Moi or The Human Centipede? (And beware to anyone who dares look up that last one!)
I'm going middle of the road. This film did get a little notoriety, but many of you might not have heard of it. Yet it's stayed with me after all these years.
High Tension (originally Haute Tension released in 2003) is about two college friends, Marie and Alexa, who are visiting Alexa's parents' country home when a serial killer shatters their quiet getaway.
A stylized slasher film with a stunning twist at the end. You've got tons of blood and carnage, and a nod to the boobs. The two actresses playing the leads are awesome. Highly recommended if you're a fan of this genre.
I can't wait to see what bloody, jiggly, and gory posts you have for us today!
May 14, 2015
Friday Five for May 15, 2015
1. Prepare for another dose of sexy geeks! Things are moving along with Ellora's Cave at a fast pace. I have a cover for Layers of Lace (Dice & Debauchery #2) and a release date for the third book, Masked Kiss . It's due out on June 26th.
2. I thought about doing a tour when the third book was released, but it's at the most inconvenient time of the year for me. So will it be bad to wait to do a tour until August? I don't know, but if I want to properly devote my time to it, that's what I'll have to do.
3. I'm also re-evaluating my writing goals for this year. I hoped to revise and publish my superhero novel, Super Famous, by October, but it doesn't look like I'll have the time to get to it until the fall. My new WIP is a great and slow beast. I'd hoped to finish the first draft by next week, but it is just beginning. Maybe I'll have it done in September.
4. One more week until school is out for the summer. Are there any other parents counting down and prepping themselves? I've got a visit with my family in Canada, day trips, YMCA day camp, and weekly park meet-ups with school friends all planned. Here's to an awesome summer!
5. Finally I wanted to give a huge thank you to Alex J. Cavanaugh for the You Rock Award. I love blogging because of our great community and Alex is a big part of it. Cheers to Alex and to all of you! Have a marvelous weekend.
