Karen Marie Moning's Blog, page 3
August 8, 2014
BURNED TEASER and new cover!
I frown when another thought occurs to me. Did she set me up for quid pro quo down to the dirty details?
Dark alley nearby--check.
Me--check.
Hungry Unseelie--check.
I get a mental snapshot of me dying just like Alina. It's practically glowing on Mac's pupils.
I want to tell her revenge is a devil you don't want to worship. In destroying your enemy you become it.
________________
BURNED - On Sale in Hardcover January 20, 2015
© 2014 Karen Marie Moning
April 18, 2014
A little BURNED teaser...
...just one sentence (and a page from FEVER MOON because I like this shot of Mac and Dani fighting together)
Mac draws up short to keep from slamming into Barrons and her blonde hair swings back over her shoulder, brushing his face as it goes and my hearing is so good I catch the rasp of it chafing the shadow stubble on his jaw, then one of his hands grazes her breast and his eyes narrow when he looks at what he touched in a hungry way I want a man to look at me like one day and, as they continue to recover from the near-collision, their bodies move in a graceful dance of impeccable awareness of precisely where the other is at all times that is unity, symbiosis, partnership I only dream of, wolves that chose to pack up and hunt together, soldiers who will always have each other’s back no matter what, no sin, no transgression too great, ‘cause don’t we all transgress sometimes and it fecking slays me, because once I got a little taste of what that was like and it was heaven and they’re so beautiful standing there, the best of the best, the strongest of the strong that they practically glow to me, on fire with all I ever wanted in my life—a place to belong and someone to belong there with.
___________BURNED©Karen Marie Moning
Mac draws up short to keep from slamming into Barrons and her blonde hair swings back over her shoulder, brushing his face as it goes and my hearing is so good I catch the rasp of it chafing the shadow stubble on his jaw, then one of his hands grazes her breast and his eyes narrow when he looks at what he touched in a hungry way I want a man to look at me like one day and, as they continue to recover from the near-collision, their bodies move in a graceful dance of impeccable awareness of precisely where the other is at all times that is unity, symbiosis, partnership I only dream of, wolves that chose to pack up and hunt together, soldiers who will always have each other’s back no matter what, no sin, no transgression too great, ‘cause don’t we all transgress sometimes and it fecking slays me, because once I got a little taste of what that was like and it was heaven and they’re so beautiful standing there, the best of the best, the strongest of the strong that they practically glow to me, on fire with all I ever wanted in my life—a place to belong and someone to belong there with.
___________BURNED©Karen Marie Moning
January 17, 2014
BURNED!!! Your first Dani teaser!
A man steps out.
Strong. Brilliant. Controlled.
Predator.
Unbreakable.
He's everything I admire plus things I can't even put into words.
I crush on Jericho Barrons violently.
My brain almost shuts down every time I see him and that's a lot of gray matter to stupefy.
Used to be, if I couldn't fall asleep I'd fantasize all kinds of ways I'd impress Barrons by killing monsters or saying something really smart or saving the world, and he'd see me as a grown up woman and I'd glow just from the look on his face.
But then Ryodan began popping into my fantasies like he had some kind of business being there, and he'd look all, well...like...Ryodan and he'd laugh and do that husky groan thing he did on level four, so I terminated that happy little exercise in somnolence.
Now I count sheep.
Lately even those buggers look like Ryodan with clear, cold eyes and some weird kind of hypnotic hold on me.
Fecker.
I'm beginning to think I'm going to have to figure out a way to kill him, permanent-like just to get him out of my head.
____
BURNED
© 2014 Karen Marie Moning
June 26, 2013
BURNED release date and Mac & Barrons
I promised a quick recap of salient points from the Q&A this past weekend. Here are a few of the highlights:
Q. Was the release date for BURNED really moved?
A. Yes. The release date for BURNED has been moved to April 2014. (This later got moved to January 2015, sorry guys, deaths and serious illnesses in my family.)
Q. Why?
A. I won’t put a book out until I’m satisfied I’ve written it the best way possible. I’m currently exploring two different ways of continuing the series. Previously I told you there would be three books (ICED, BURNED and FLAYED) in the Dani series followed by two Mac & Barrons books. I may be combining the next four books (BURNED, FLAYED and the untitled M&B books) into two.
Q. Is Dani older in BURNED?
A1. Crimeny, is it really all about sex?
Q. Yes. Now answer my question.
A2. Although Dani is 14 at the beginning of BURNED, she does mature by the end of the book. Someone asked if she would be 17. I said possibly.
Q. Will we get anyone else’s POV in BURNED?
A. Yes. Among others, Mac is back! Which means JZB is, too (but don’t expect his POV, LOL.) To those of you who insisted Mac and Barrons would never have let Dublin get iced because they’re natural born heroes, therefore they should have been on stage and on page…. what did Barrons say? “The world can wait. I can’t.” But seriously, there are reasons you didn’t see them in ICED. There are reasons you will see them in BURNED.
Q. Is Ryodan Dani’s dad?
A. No. No. No.
Q. Is Dani’s father relevant?
A. No.
Q. What’s up with Jo? I can’t stand her. She doesn’t deserve Ryodan. And Ryodan shouldn’t be sleeping with her if he wants to one day be with Dani!
A. Can I please not be nailed to stand-alone romance novel clichés from the 90’s? (Which I love to read by the way.) Really, is Ryodan the kind of…whatever he is….that would in any way be governed by them? And Jo—who among you wouldn’t walk up those stairs if you got his nod? She’s completely frank about knowing that she’s never going to keep him. She’s making a memory.
Transformation is what I find fascinating and emotionally stirring about life. It’s what we become, how we become it, what happens when we think we’ve got nothing left inside us then stumble across some inner beast we didn’t even know was crouching in there that can rise to any occasion. No, Jo isn’t in Ryodan’s league and maybe Ryodan is currently being a jackass. Those are starting points. Just like Darkfever was a starting point. I haven’t forgotten that many people demanded I stop writing that new “horrible” series immediately, because they hated Mac and thought JZB was old and unattractive.
I’m glad I didn’t listen. I hope you are, too.
Q. What is the hardest part about writing?
A. Stopping at the end of the day. Making myself sleep.
Q. Will we learn more about the 9?
A. Yes but probably never as much as you think you’d like.
Q. Will everything eventually be answered?
A. God, I hope so. Life confuses the crap out of me. :)
~Karen
Q. Was the release date for BURNED really moved?
A. Yes. The release date for BURNED has been moved to April 2014. (This later got moved to January 2015, sorry guys, deaths and serious illnesses in my family.)
Q. Why?
A. I won’t put a book out until I’m satisfied I’ve written it the best way possible. I’m currently exploring two different ways of continuing the series. Previously I told you there would be three books (ICED, BURNED and FLAYED) in the Dani series followed by two Mac & Barrons books. I may be combining the next four books (BURNED, FLAYED and the untitled M&B books) into two.
Q. Is Dani older in BURNED?
A1. Crimeny, is it really all about sex?
Q. Yes. Now answer my question.
A2. Although Dani is 14 at the beginning of BURNED, she does mature by the end of the book. Someone asked if she would be 17. I said possibly.
Q. Will we get anyone else’s POV in BURNED?
A. Yes. Among others, Mac is back! Which means JZB is, too (but don’t expect his POV, LOL.) To those of you who insisted Mac and Barrons would never have let Dublin get iced because they’re natural born heroes, therefore they should have been on stage and on page…. what did Barrons say? “The world can wait. I can’t.” But seriously, there are reasons you didn’t see them in ICED. There are reasons you will see them in BURNED.
Q. Is Ryodan Dani’s dad?
A. No. No. No.
Q. Is Dani’s father relevant?
A. No.
Q. What’s up with Jo? I can’t stand her. She doesn’t deserve Ryodan. And Ryodan shouldn’t be sleeping with her if he wants to one day be with Dani!
A. Can I please not be nailed to stand-alone romance novel clichés from the 90’s? (Which I love to read by the way.) Really, is Ryodan the kind of…whatever he is….that would in any way be governed by them? And Jo—who among you wouldn’t walk up those stairs if you got his nod? She’s completely frank about knowing that she’s never going to keep him. She’s making a memory.
Transformation is what I find fascinating and emotionally stirring about life. It’s what we become, how we become it, what happens when we think we’ve got nothing left inside us then stumble across some inner beast we didn’t even know was crouching in there that can rise to any occasion. No, Jo isn’t in Ryodan’s league and maybe Ryodan is currently being a jackass. Those are starting points. Just like Darkfever was a starting point. I haven’t forgotten that many people demanded I stop writing that new “horrible” series immediately, because they hated Mac and thought JZB was old and unattractive.
I’m glad I didn’t listen. I hope you are, too.
Q. What is the hardest part about writing?
A. Stopping at the end of the day. Making myself sleep.
Q. Will we learn more about the 9?
A. Yes but probably never as much as you think you’d like.
Q. Will everything eventually be answered?
A. God, I hope so. Life confuses the crap out of me. :)
~Karen
April 9, 2012
Into the Dreaming: the missing Dageus portraits
Over the years, many of you have written in to ask why you never got to see the two paintings Dageus painted of himself to warn future generations of Keltar that he was dark, so if he showed up on their doorstep one day, they'd be forewarned. I just got my comp copies of Into the Dreaming, which contains The Dark Highlander, Lite my first try at telling Dageus' story. (There's also a foreword in the book that explains why I wrote it twice.) In the Lite version, Dageus doesn't live in Manhattan, the heroine, Elizabeth is very different than Chloe, and I had a completely different strategy for saving him. When I threw it away 250 pages in and started over, I had to be able to see it new, which meant recycling as little as possible—which meant details, scenes, tensions, characters I used to shape the Lite version never made it into the Dark. The paintings were one of many things that went into the trash with the manuscript.I was thumbing through my comp copy and was delighted to realize those paintings have finally made it to print, LOL! This is an excerpt from Into the Dreaming, the special hardcover edition. (It goes on sale April 24th.)
Elizabeth is unwrapping a package, tearing off strips of paper that protect the painting within…
She bared more of it in strips. A grassy knoll. A night sky. A brilliant purple and black tartan, that ended above powerfully muscled calves, and clung to lean hips. More of that sculpted stomach and chest. Strong arms and broad, powerful shoulders. All the makings of a woman's most primitive fantasy…
The laughter died abruptly in her throat as she tore off the last remaining strip, revealing the magnificent man's face.
Er…faces, she amended uneasily. For the man had two, and the breath hitched in her throat.
She stared in silence for a long, long time, feeling something stir within her that made her deeply uneasy. Curiosity. Fascination. An intense unbidden flash of sensual awareness.
For heaven's sake, she chided herself, blowing out an uneasy breath, it's only a picture!
But it was more than that. He radiated barely harnessed, fantastic energy. The man—and he was every inch raw male, dripping dark, intoxicating sexuality—had been painted standing on a grassy slope, with silhouettes of standing stones behind him. The night sky was the backdrop; a velvety canvas pierced by glittering stars. Clad in only a kilt, he was magnificent, with skin like golden velvet poured over steel, a sculpted physique, and silky black-as-midnight hair that spilled down his back and over one shoulder. He chiseled face was exotic, almost impossibly beautiful.
But the beauty ended abruptly, or rather, to the left it ended, for the man's face turned both ways. One face turned right, breathtakingly handsome, with glittering golden eyes, firm pink lips, an arrogant blade of a nose and a strong jaw. Stunningly male, stunningly sensual, it made places low in her belly feel tight.
The other face turned to the left was evil incarnate…
March 2, 2012
THE ALPHA ALTERNATIVE: Sex from JZB's Point of View – recorded by Phil Gigante & Natalie Ross is now available for purchase!
Ever since I began writing the FEVER series, fans have been begging for a glimpse inside JZB's head. I don't find it a comfortable place to be. Or maybe it's too comfortable. Things are simple in there: there's what you can live with, and what you won't live without. And there's no price too high for either.
Of all my characters, JZB is the closest to a true sociopath by the terms we define one, yet has the most impeccable system of ethics of all the personalities in the FEVER world. His ethical structure is flawless. It doesn't contradict itself. There's beauty in that. Trust derives from consistency. Barrons is a consistent man. He's also the most uncomplicatedly sexual man I've written. Sex is where Barrons dumps emotion, not that he'd ever let you see it, but it's there in his hands on your skin and it's why sex with him is so good. Remote and controlled out of bed, he's pure passion in it.
Last year, JZB was nominated for an Alpha Male contest and I have absolutely no clue why I said that if he won, I'd write a sex scene from his point of view. None. I think I must have been temporarily possessed by V'lane who was pissed off that he wasn't in the contest, and hoped I'd screw it up and make Barrons look less awesome and hot and epic than he is.
Once I shared the scene via my Facebook page, I began getting deluged with emails asking me to ask my audiobook narrators, Phil Gigante and Natalie Ross (Faefever, Dreamfever and Shadowfever) to professionally record it. Ever interested in obliging the fans—especially if it means I get to hear Barrons having sex!—I approached them about it. They have very busy schedules, but were finally able to clear time to go into the studio together and get it done.
The Alpha Alternative download includes a scorching hot 30-minute audio recording of the sex scene I wrote from Jericho Barrons' point of view, plus a PDF download of the text for your eReaders and computers. Because there were significant costs involved in putting this together, that range from studio time, to narrator fees, ecommerce fees, website fees, bank fees, blah-blah, I must charge for it. I give away great deal for free but when it takes time, labor and money to make something available, I have to charge, or I won't be able to continue doing similar things in the future. The response will set the tone. If people are respectful of copyright, and this is profitable financially, I'll keep trying new things. If the work is pirated, I won't.
Email me and let me know what you think. Phil and Natalie totally nailed the scene! Not much makes me squirm. This did :)
You can buy it here.
NOTE: It's a ZIP file and won't download to your phones because it's a folder containing and MP3 and a PDF. We would make it available just as the MP3 but the PDF doc has the APOE and SPOE which aren't on the MP3. We're working on getting it converted and allowing wide distribution through iTunes, and other vendors. Stay tuned...
Of all my characters, JZB is the closest to a true sociopath by the terms we define one, yet has the most impeccable system of ethics of all the personalities in the FEVER world. His ethical structure is flawless. It doesn't contradict itself. There's beauty in that. Trust derives from consistency. Barrons is a consistent man. He's also the most uncomplicatedly sexual man I've written. Sex is where Barrons dumps emotion, not that he'd ever let you see it, but it's there in his hands on your skin and it's why sex with him is so good. Remote and controlled out of bed, he's pure passion in it.
Last year, JZB was nominated for an Alpha Male contest and I have absolutely no clue why I said that if he won, I'd write a sex scene from his point of view. None. I think I must have been temporarily possessed by V'lane who was pissed off that he wasn't in the contest, and hoped I'd screw it up and make Barrons look less awesome and hot and epic than he is.
Once I shared the scene via my Facebook page, I began getting deluged with emails asking me to ask my audiobook narrators, Phil Gigante and Natalie Ross (Faefever, Dreamfever and Shadowfever) to professionally record it. Ever interested in obliging the fans—especially if it means I get to hear Barrons having sex!—I approached them about it. They have very busy schedules, but were finally able to clear time to go into the studio together and get it done.
The Alpha Alternative download includes a scorching hot 30-minute audio recording of the sex scene I wrote from Jericho Barrons' point of view, plus a PDF download of the text for your eReaders and computers. Because there were significant costs involved in putting this together, that range from studio time, to narrator fees, ecommerce fees, website fees, bank fees, blah-blah, I must charge for it. I give away great deal for free but when it takes time, labor and money to make something available, I have to charge, or I won't be able to continue doing similar things in the future. The response will set the tone. If people are respectful of copyright, and this is profitable financially, I'll keep trying new things. If the work is pirated, I won't.
Email me and let me know what you think. Phil and Natalie totally nailed the scene! Not much makes me squirm. This did :)
You can buy it here.
NOTE: It's a ZIP file and won't download to your phones because it's a folder containing and MP3 and a PDF. We would make it available just as the MP3 but the PDF doc has the APOE and SPOE which aren't on the MP3. We're working on getting it converted and allowing wide distribution through iTunes, and other vendors. Stay tuned...
February 14, 2012
January 24, 2012
ICED Book Launch Party
Months ago, I began getting panicked emails from people who were worried that they wouldn't be able to get one of the 225 tickets to FeverCon, and/or wouldn't be able to afford the costs of flight and accommodations plus the conference fee. I knew these people. I like these people. Many of them were at my last FeverCon, others I met at booksignings and events over the years. I realized I was planning a party that was going to exclude a significant number of people that wanted to attend, and they were very upset about it.Not only is FeverCon exclusive, it takes a tremendous amount of time and effort, from planning to organization to execution. With three releases this year, and more appearances than I've ever done, 2012 is already shaping up to be an absurdly busy year. So I sat down with my team and we discussed possibilities. After lengthy deliberation, we decided that time and effort can be better used differently this year, while solving the limited budget/limited ticket problem that has so many people worried.
Rather than hosting FeverCon this year, which only 225 people can attend, at the price of $350.00 per person for the con fee alone, I'm throwing a free ICED release bash.
It won't cost you anything but your travel and accommodations, and there is no limit on the number of attendees. Pack in cars, split your hotel costs, travel cheap and come party with me on Halloween.
WHEN? The ICED signing is on Monday, October 29th but we'll be in town partying from the 26th through the 30th.
WHERE? Where else on Halloween? NEW ORLEANS! There are so many Halloween parties in the French Quarter that I can't think of any other place I'd rather be.
HOST HOTEL where we'll all be hanging out? Again—where else? The spectacular Le Pavillon Hotel.
They did such a wonderful job with the Shadowfever launch that I'm in no mood to mess with success. We've negotiated special room rates for you again but the block is limited.
You must book your rooms at Le Pavillon through the KMM ICED event or you won't get the special rate. When you call, you have to clearly state you're coming for the event. When the block runs out, the prices will go up, so if you plan to stay in the hotel where all the events will be happening, book it now. This is especially true since it's on Halloween weekend, and hotels fill up in NOLA for the parties. FYI, last year the block ran out within a matter of hours from the time of our announcement.
***Update*** The initial number of rooms blocked for Friday and Saturday night have been booked but you can still book rooms on those nights for a significantly lower price then the general public.
Here is the number to reserve by phone. You must use the code KMM ICED to get the discounted rates: 1 (800) 535-9095.
What's on the agenda? I'm not sure yet. We're still playing with ideas. There will definitely be festivities and discussions, informal and formal. Probably goodies, depending on the generosity of publishers. Certainly a few special guests.Wow. It's beginning to sound like all the best of FeverCon, without any of the cost or headaches, and no limit on attendees.
Looking forward to seeing you in New Orleans for an ICED Halloween!
November 28, 2011
Upcoming Books
INTO THE DREAMING
May 2012
Special Hardcover edition with bonus material (re-release of original novella plus more)
FEVER MOON: The Fear Dorcha
July 10, 2012
Full color, 150+ page graphic novel featuring Mac and Barrons in an original all-new FEVER story
ICED: a Dani O'Malley Novel
October 30, 2012
Book 1
BURNED: a Dani O'Malley Novel
To be announced
Book 2
FLAYED: A Dani O'Malley Novel
To be announced
Book 3
To read more about the upcoming Dani O'Malley and Fever series click here.
May 2012
Special Hardcover edition with bonus material (re-release of original novella plus more)
FEVER MOON: The Fear Dorcha
July 10, 2012
Full color, 150+ page graphic novel featuring Mac and Barrons in an original all-new FEVER story
ICED: a Dani O'Malley Novel
October 30, 2012
Book 1
BURNED: a Dani O'Malley Novel
To be announced
Book 2
FLAYED: A Dani O'Malley Novel
To be announced
Book 3
To read more about the upcoming Dani O'Malley and Fever series click here.
September 6, 2011
UK FEVER!
To celebrate the on sale date of the UK version of Darkfever we are giving away one copy a day for five days!
Each day we'll start a new post titled UK Darkfever Giveaway on my Facebook page and all you need to do to be entered is comment under that post each day.
Here's the publication schedule:
Darkfever 8 September
Bloodfever 13 October
Faefever 10 November
Dreamfever 8 December
Shadowfever 12 January
And here's more info at my UK publisher Orion:
http://www.orionbooks.co.uk/authors/moning-karen-marie
They don't have the image posted yet but I really like how they changed the cover for Shadowfever. They took the stepback from the US paperback and put it on the cover, between the smokebox. So we finally get a matched complete set, in trade paperback size! Only the UK version offers this. Wish I could get it in a boxed set! :)
Each day we'll start a new post titled UK Darkfever Giveaway on my Facebook page and all you need to do to be entered is comment under that post each day.
Here's the publication schedule:
Darkfever 8 September
Bloodfever 13 October
Faefever 10 November
Dreamfever 8 December
Shadowfever 12 January
And here's more info at my UK publisher Orion:
http://www.orionbooks.co.uk/authors/moning-karen-marie
They don't have the image posted yet but I really like how they changed the cover for Shadowfever. They took the stepback from the US paperback and put it on the cover, between the smokebox. So we finally get a matched complete set, in trade paperback size! Only the UK version offers this. Wish I could get it in a boxed set! :)
