Lisa Olsen's Blog, page 12

Find Me When the Sun Goes Down is available as an eBook!

I promised it by Spring, and here it is! The next book in my vampire series, Forged Bloodlines, is now available for sale on Amazon and Barnes and Noble! It’s out as an e-book for $3.99 but you don’t have to have a Kindle or Nook to read it, they have free downloadable apps so you can read it on your PC, or even your phone. It’ll be available in print as well in a couple of weeks through Amazon.

Stay tuned for some dream casting, and a fun vampire quiz to help promote the book. And, as always, don’t forget to sign up for my mailing list so you don’t miss out on exciting news about new releases and developments.

“You know, we’ve never really talked about what it means that you’ve claimed me.”

Newbie vamp Anja Evans is eager to find out what it means to be claimed by sexy, vampire cop, Bishop. Unfortunately, he’s been transferred by the Order and she’s left to fend for herself. Eager to make up for his betrayal, bodyguard Rob offers a surprise trip to England, but will Anja find her happy ever after taking her place in vampire society? Or will the cutthroat political climate reveal what drove Bishop out of Europe in the first place? To complicate matters, there’s a vampire hunter on the loose wreaking havoc on the streets of London. Is Bishop being overprotective, as usual, or is Anja in real peril of losing her head? Mortal danger aside, the real threat to Bishop and Anja may just come from within.

The Fallen books 1-3 now available as a boxed set

The Fallen books 1-3 are now available as a boxed set for your kindle. I’ve never done a boxed set before, but it looks awful spiffy doesn’t it? (thanks James for the lovely pic, as usual!) Easy to navigate between books from the table of contents, this set contains Angel of Mercy, Mercy for the Wicked, Mercy for the Damned, deleted scenes form Mercy for the Damned and a preview of Child of Mercy. It can be found here on Amazon.com for $7.99.

In other news, I’m already deep in planning for my next book which I hope to begin in early March. It’s a stand alone novel about a demon hunter and his too-curious-for-her-own-good neighbor. It’s got sexy demons, magic, missing girls, a brooding hero with a dark secret, intrigue, body switching, mythology, tattoos, cheese whiz, you name it. I’m thinking of calling it In Darkness Bound or Let Darkness Bind Them.

Psst – Nine Steps to Sara is also free today on Kindle.

Another taste of Find Me When the Sun Goes Down

We have a winner! The winner of the free book is Lorenda, and I’ll be contacting her to choose which free book she has won.

Thanks everyone for the votes on the cover art for Find Me When the Sun Goes Down, it came to nearly a tie, so that makes it extra hard to decide! We decided to go with the cover with more contrast, as it does catch the eye a bit more.

My crack team of editors is nearly done with the process, so I’m hoping to have the book out in a week or so, we’ll see. In the meantime, here is another little taste of Find Me When the Sun Goes Down, this time from Bishop’s POV.

Anja’s face lit up when she saw him stalking towards her, and he was struck by how beautifully fragile she appeared in her creamy dress. The need to touch her overwhelmed him, and Bishop pulled her against his chest in a crushing hug. “Where have you been?” he demanded roughly, his voice tight.

“Need air… to talk…” Anja squeaked, and he let up his hold. “We went for a walk out back.”

“Alone? Are you crazy?”

“No, with Bridget.” Anja gestured to her friend who gave him a saccharine smile, and Bishop could only scowl in reply.

“Like that’s supposed to make it better.”

“Okay, I’m outta here,” Bridget dropped the smile. “Laters, An. I’m gonna go see if Felix is ready to go.”

“That was rude,” Anja scolded. “Why are you getting so grumpycakes with me? I didn’t do anything wrong.”

“I’m not…” Bishop forced a calming breath. “You weren’t around, I got a little crazy. Considering the circumstances around here I don’t think that’s entirely out of line. Promise me you won’t go wandering off again.”

“I didn’t leave the estate,” she protested, and Bishop resisted the urge to kiss away the pucker that lingered on her brow.

“I’m just concerned for your safety. We don’t know anything about the Hunter, so far he’s only killed in Town, but that doesn’t mean he couldn’t have access here at any time.”

“I’m sorry, I didn’t think it would be that big of a deal. Besides, I wasn’t alone, I had Tucker with me and then Bridget.”

“I meant someone who could be of use,” he snorted. His phone beeped again, and Bishop resolutely ignored it. “Promise me you’ll be more careful.”

“I still don’t think I did anything wrong,” she grumbled. “But what are we talking about here? You want Rob to stick by my side 24/7? Like even if I’m alone in our room?”

That wasn’t a pleasant picture either, but necessary for the moment. “For now, yes. He might as well earn his money instead of playing dress up and taking Bridget out to bars.”

“You’re not paying him are you?”

“No, why?”

“Then I don’t get why you think he’ll do what you tell him to do.”

“He’ll do whatever I think is best for your safety.” Bishop could see she knew he was right, and waited until he had her complete agreement before he let the subject drop. “Alright, I hate to say hi and goodbye like this, but I’m being summoned again.”

“Wait… I need to talk to you about something serious.”

“What is it?”

“This thing with Maggie, it’s worse than we thought,” she began, and Bishop cut her off before she got too far into it.

“This again? Anja, I told you we can’t get in the middle of a domestic dispute. The law is clear.”

“No, you don’t understand…” Anja began to babble about embezzlement and fire, something to do with amputated fingers, and Bishop lost all sense of what she was trying to say. None of it changed the fact that he couldn’t intervene, even if he wanted to. “Did you hear a word I said?” Anja’s head tilted to one side, mouth drawing into a pout.

“I did, but it doesn’t change anything. My hands are tied.” If it was back in San Francisco, he’d just have a chat with Jasper, and that would take care of it, but here… There were so many strings tying his hands, he had no idea where the other ends originated from.

“But what about what he’s doing to her family?”

“Anja, it’s not our problem,” he hissed. “Like it or not, she’s his property. Now can we drop it? I don’t want to fight with you.”

“Then stop saying such stupid things!” she all but yelled, and Bishop pulled her into an empty parlor before she attracted too much attention.

“Hey.” He cupped her face in his hands, thumbs brushing over her cheeks until she calmed down. “It’s not that I don’t want to help her, I do. I’m not a complete bastard.”

“I never thought you were a bastard…”

Bishop stilled her lips with the pad of his thumb. “It’s not that simple. Things are different here. I can’t just stride in there and demand he let her go. But I tell you what I’ll do. I’ll do some digging into their… situation. Maybe I can track down her parents and we can move them to safety to begin with, alright?”

“Really?” Anja’s expressive eyes lit up with excitement for a second before they narrowed in suspicion. “You’re not just saying that to shut me up, are you?”

“Of course not. If I wanted to shut you up I’d do this.” Bishop leaned in for a kiss, swallowing her outraged response, coaxing her until she went soft and pliant in his arms. When he pulled away her lips were rosy and swollen, a slightly dazed look to her eyes. “See, works every time,” he couldn’t help but dig.

“You can shut me up that way anytime.” Anja wrapped her arms around his shoulders, demanding more than a single kiss and Bishop was happy to oblige. Her body molded to his and he was reminded that he’d yet to welcome her into his bed the way he’d wanted to since her arrival. “I’m sorry, for last night and tonight,” she got out between kisses. “I don’t want to fight with you either. Let me make it up to you.”

The little minx nipped at his ear with her sharp, white teeth, and it was all Bishop could do not to take her right there in the parlor. His hand slipped under the creamy skirt to feel the soft curve of her thigh, pulling her closer. “We should go upstairs…”

“I don’t think I can wait that long.” Her words were like a caress against his ear, but still Bishop didn’t allow himself to lose control, even when she tugged at his belt.

“Someone could walk in.”

Her cool fingers wrapped around him. “Then you’d better hurry.”

Vote on Cover Art for Find Me When the Sun Goes Down

Vote on Cover Art for Find Me When the Sun Goes Down

(and enter to win a free copy of one of my books!)

Okay guys, it’s time to give me your thoughts and feedback over the cover art for Find Me When the Sun Goes Down. Anyone who comments on the covers on the website will be automatically entered for a chance to win a copy of one of my books (your choice of any via ebook). I won’t say which one of these is my favorite, but take a look at the blurb below and let us know which cover you prefer. We’d also love to hear constructive criticism and ideas for how to improve them if you have any suggestions.

“You know we never really talked about what it means that you’ve claimed me.”

Newbie vamp Anja Evans is eager to find out what it means to be claimed by sexy, vampire cop, Bishop. Unfortunately, he’s been transferred by the Order and she’s left to fend for herself. Eager to make up for his betrayal, bodyguard Rob offers a surprise trip to England, but will Anja find her happy ever after taking her place in vampire society? Or will the cutthroat political climate reveal what drove Bishop out of Europe in the first place? To complicate matters, there’s a vampire hunter on the loose wreaking havoc on the streets of London. Is Bishop being overprotective, as usual, or is Anja in real peril of losing her head? Mortal danger aside, the real threat to Bishop and Anja may just come from within.

A taste of Find Me When the Sun Goes Down

Well, I’m on day ten of writing Find Me When the Sun Goes Down, and I’m at 40,186 words. This sucker’s going down quick, and so far I’ve been able to stick to my goal of 4k per day on weekdays and 2k per day on weekends without cranking my stress levels up too high. Can I just say how much I missed writing for Anja and Bishop? I’ve already got pages of notes for the next book after this one. Here’s a little taste:

Bishop came back about an hour before dawn and completed the rest of his packing, stowing more guns in the case than underwear.

“I’m pretty sure they have guns in England too.” Didn’t they? It seemed like the Order would have just as many toys for him to play with there, more even, with it being the big HQ.

“I like to be prepared,” he shrugged, laying his 9mm on the breakfast bar next to the case.

I was tired, feeling the sun creeping higher in the sky even though the shutters were locked up tight, but there was one thing I still wanted to talk to him about before he left. “You know we never really talked about what it means that you’ve claimed me.”

“It means what it sounds like.” Bishop stripped off his shirt and I watched the ripple of muscles in fascination as he undressed the rest of the way. “I’ve claimed you as my woman, you belong to me.”

The words cut through the haze of hormones surging at the casual striptease. “Like a Buick?”

Bishop chuckled, tossing his clothes away in the hamper in the closet. Neat until the end. “You’re under my protection. I’ve publicly proclaimed that you’re off limits.”

That didn’t sound so bad. “As in off the market? Like going steady?”

“It’s… a little deeper than that.”

“Like… we’re married?”

Bishop swallowed. “It’s… different from marriage. It’s its own thing. The ties that bind us together, they’re not so lightly broken.”

No complaints from me there.

“Also, no one else can taste you without my permission.”

“Interesting.” I quirked a single brow at him. “Any other body parts of mine you have ownership over besides my blood?”

“I’d be happy to show you,” he grinned wolfishly, sweeping me up into his arms. I barely felt him lay me back against the bed, I was too distracted by all the other interesting sensations going on between the cool sheets.

Bishop seemed bent on leaving me with a lasting impression to hold me through the time we’d be apart, and I had zero complaints with him claiming ownership to any part of my body when he treated it with such reverence and delight. I had a feeling it might have gone on much, much longer, but I was so tired after the sun rose, I couldn’t keep my eyes open.

I snuggled up beside him, falling into our natural sleeping position with my head tucked against his shoulder, fingers tracing the light dusting of hair across his chest. “You belong to me too, right?” It seemed an important distinction to make before sleep claimed me for the day.

“Definitely,” Bishop sighed contentedly, his fingers trailing across my back.

“And Jakob… Do you think he’s really accepted this?”

Bishop stiffened at the mention of my Sire. “He said he did, but… he could change his mind at any time. The Ellri have no laws to bind them.”

“Then you think there might be a chance that Jakob could be behind the transfer?”

“No, I don’t.” I relaxed at his reply. If Bishop wasn’t worried, I wouldn’t borrow trouble over it either. “He’d kill me if he changed his mind.”

Cool beans. Nothing to worry about at all…

Resolutions

Happy New Year!

So last year about this time I dreamed up a complicated series of resolutions designed to give up one bad thing a year. This year I’m going for something much more simple: balance.

I have no idea what that means for me this year as I’m trying something completely new. I have no idea what my schedule is going to be like, if I’ll have more time to fit things in or if all that extra time I save in quitting my day job will be swallowed up by new chaos of the home variety. It’ll be nice to spread housecleaning chores along the whole week instead of cramming them in on the weekends with everything else I want to do, and I’ll enjoy cooking on a daily basis too.

What I’m hoping for, is to carve out some free time for myself. To re-discover some forgotten hobbies like music, sewing and crafts that I can share with my daughter and to reclaim my evenings as a time to relax and recharge my batteries instead of holed up in my office away from my family, feverishly clacking away at the keys.

Of course, knowing me I’ll end up with a pretty rigid schedule for myself in no time, I like to make lists and schedules. I’ve already decided to set an alarm for myself so I don’t sleep away the productive morning hours. I don’t know that I’ll end up with more books published by the end of the year with this extra time (I’ve been averaging 5 per year while working full time) but I hope to end 2013 with much less stress.

Right now I’m deep in planning for Find Me When the Sun Goes Down and I’ve had a pretty major shift in plot from what I originally envisioned when I finished Meet Me. I’ll still get to those things I originally thought of, but they’ll come in later books. I think I was getting too ambitious with plot and the storylines weren’t as personal for Bishop and Anja as they needed to be. So, I’ve stripped away a lot of elements for another day and that’ll leave me room for more intimate moments between characters. My goal is to start writing next week sometime and have it out by Spring.

I hope the holidays treated you all well and here’s to hoping 2013 brings good things to all!

Child of Mercy is out in print!

Things have been crazy busy for the past few months, but I’m thankful to report the hard work is paying off. Child of Mercy is currently sitting at number 18 on the Hot New Releases list in paranormal fantasy for Kindle at Amazon.com! It’s available in print now as well through Amazon here (just in case you’re looking for a nifty last minute present to slip under the tree). I admit, I buy most of my books for the Nook or download them to my computer these days, but there’s still something to be said for having a physical book in your hands every now and again. Plus, they’re so pretty to look at on my shelf!

Silent Night, Busy Night!

Hey, everybody. Sorry I’ve been radio silent for so long, life has been getting away from me lately. In addition to the craziness at work, we’re going through a remodel at home and it’s been a little crazy here too. Luckily, I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. Between holidays and PTO, I have only eleven days left of work! Eleven!!! By the end of the year we’ll have our house back to ourselves with much anticipated improvements and I’ll be writing full-time! I can’t tell you how excited I am to be able to focus on my writing and family! I might even try to remember what some of my other hobbies are again.

I’ve been taking my down time from writing and putting it to good use by going back to re-edit my Mercy books for grammar and continuity with everything I’ve learned from my editing team. I’m thinking of putting together a boxed set of them next year, maybe with some character interviews and deleted scenes I’ve posted here before.

I can’t tell you how much I’m looking forward to getting back to Anja and Bishop for the next book in my Forged Bloodlines vampire series! I already have most of the book plotted out in my head, but I love the process of nailing down the outline and fleshing it out from start to finish. If you think Anja got into trouble in her home town, wait until she goes abroad after Bishop!

I hope everyone’s getting into the holiday mood! Here’s a pic of our tree with our pretty new mahogany floors.

Child of Mercy is available online!

The next book in The Fallen series, Child of Mercy is now available for sale on Amazon and Barnes and Noble! It’s out as an e-book for $3.99 but you don’t have to have a Kindle or Nook to read it, they have free downloadable apps so you can read it on your PC, or even your phone. It’ll be available in print as well in a couple of weeks through Amazon.

“Have you ever gone to sleep one night and woken up and it’s two months later? Okay, not literally, but I swear it felt like two months went by in the blink of an eye. Still no word from Adam, but each day got easier to accept his absence, and I started to believe he might never come home. I started to think… maybe I didn’t want him to anymore.”

Child of Mercy continues the saga of angels and demons in Book IV of The Fallen. Left to raise a child on her own, Mercy contends with normal pregnancy woes, and a slew of dangers as new enemies and old vie for a piece of the child. Her heavenly cousins don’t seem all that pleased with her impending motherhood either, and Mercy needs all the help she can get to keep her baby safe. Luckily, she has friends and family around to help out (a little too much family if you ask Mercy), especially Parker who is more than happy to fill Adam’s vacant shoes. The question remains – will Adam stay away? And more importantly, if he waits too long, will Mercy want him to?

I’m taking a little bit of a break before starting my next in the Forged Bloodlines series, Find Me When the Sun Goes Down. I can’t wait to get back to Anja and Bishop and I hope to have it out by Spring of 2013

Deleted Scene – Mercy for the Damned

As promised, another deleted scene for Mercy for the Damned. I could have sworn, I posted this over a week ago, but apparently I never hit the button! This one takes place at the end of Chapter Five. I do love my dream sequences, but there just wasn’t room for it in the final draft.

Strong arms reached around my waist from behind, and I threw my dishrag down in disgust, expecting to see Parker’s cheesy grin over my shoulder. “I thought I told you not to get gropey with me at work unless I give you my permission?”

Instead, another deep voice stirred the hair by my ear. “Is there someone other that me you’d be giving permission to?”

“Adam!” I whirled to see him with my own eyes, throwing my arms around him in an enthusiastic hug. “Oh my God, what are you doing here? When did you get out?” I demanded, half laughing, half crying.

“Cool it, your co-workers are gonna think I just got out of prison,” he chuckled, pulling back to brush the hair away from my cheek.

“Well… you did, didn’t you?” My eyes drank him in, feasting after being starved from his presence for so long. He looked good enough to eat, dressed in his usual black jeans and a black button up shirt. His hair seemed a little longer, and my fingers itched to grab a pair of scissors and attempt to tame it.

“Sadly no, I’m still there,” he pouted, but he didn’t look all that disturbed by the notion.

“What? Then… how are you here?”

“Beats the hell out of me, it’s your dream,” he shrugged as if it was unimportant.

A dream. All at once it dawned upon me; I must be in the Ether, the space between being awake and dreaming. “I thought you couldn’t get to the Ether from Midian?” Otherwise I’d have spent all my time in bed.

“I’m not, it’s just a good old fashioned dream. So let’s enjoy it before the Gestapo notices us.”

“Huh? I looked up and sure enough, there were demons dressed in World War II Nazi uniforms lined up at the bar, enjoying a beer and ignoring us. The rest of the club underwent a shift, somehow merging the old with the new. Civilians and military alike slow danced to an old fashioned big band sound, among the colorful, modern play of lights on the dance floor. Turning around, I saw Adam dressed in the olive drab of an old army uniform, his chest decorated with ribbons. It occurred to me; he could have very well served in the army during the war, or any number of wars over the past hundreds of years.

“Come on, baby, let’s dance like there’s no tomorrow.” Grabbing my hand, he tugged me out there, and I tottered on heels I hadn’t been wearing moments before, my dress longer and tighter than my usual work uniform.

“Wait, Adam…” I let him lead me out onto the dance floor and he immediately gathered me into his arms, pressing his smooth cheek to mine. Not that it didn’t feel wonderful being close to him again, but I couldn’t help but feel the need to get away. It was only a matter of time before the Nazis noticed him. “We should go; they’ll be after you to bring you back,” I darted a look back towards the bar, but Parker stepped in to block my view. Dressed in a shiny, pin striped suit, he looked every inch the mobster club owner.

“May I cut in?” he asked with a suave smile, but I cut him off before Adam could reply.

“No, you can’t.”

“But I thought we were an item, dollface.”

Crap. This was all I needed.

“Something you need to tell me?” Adam raised a dark brow, his arm tightening around my waist.

“No, there really isn’t. Go away Parker,” I scowled, laying my head back down on Adam’s shoulder.

“He won’t be able to save you,” Parker called out, giving up the chase, he strolled back to the bar.

“Look, about Parker…” I started to explain, deciding to come clean, but Adam pressed his forehead to mine.

“He’s right, you know. I won’t be there.”

“Don’t say that. I’m going to save you this time. I promise. And then, we can worry about who’s saving who the next time.”

“You’re going to save me?” he smirked.

“That sounds funny to you?” My chin came up a little, daring him to make fun of me after everything I’d been putting myself through to break him free since he’d made the stupid deal with Raum in the first place.

“No, I think you’re cute when you get all determined, that’s all. But I don’t need saving,” he let go of me, backing away and I chased after him as the dancing crowd threatened to swallow him up.

“Adam, wait…” I caught the flash of his blue eyes right before he disappeared through a door marked “employees only”. Only, instead of leading up to the sound booth, the stairs went up and up. “Adam?” My heels clicked on the stairs, and I could hear him up ahead of me, though he didn’t answer my call. “Adam! Don’t you dare leave me again!” I called out, nearly losing my balance when the door at the top of the stairs opened to a small balcony, overlooking a field, scarred by battle.

Adam stood on top of the railing; perfectly balanced on the wrought iron barrier.

“Adam? Please come down from there. Let me keep you safe.”

“Keep me safe,” he scoffed, eyes on the horizon. “You’ll never be safe as long as you love me.”

“I don’t care,” I pleaded with him, “please come down, Adam.” Too afraid to touch him, for fear that he might fall, I held tightly to the railing.

Adam turned; his face a mask of sorrow. “I do.” He fell backwards, off the ledge and I plunged after him without thinking. The terrace was impossibly high, and my stomach dropped with the sensation of free-fall. There was a split second, where I felt a moment of peace… I would fall and I would welcome the nothing of the end. No more worry, no more pain, no more anger or fear… just nothing.

And then my sense of self preservation kicked in and I screamed like a banshee, unwilling to go down without a fight. Snowy white wings unfurled, catching the wind, and I soared up into the sky, the battlefield incredibly small below. I don’t know how, but I still saw the faces of the demons below, their faces alight with hunger as they caught sight of me.

“Adam?” I looked to the skies for some sign of him, but there was nothing.

“Over here!” I heard the call long before I spotted them waving, Matty, Parker and Sam, each dressed up like old fashioned army rangers. They beckoned to me from the mouth of a cave set into the mountain, and I somehow guided myself there, though I had no idea how I managed it. Just before I reached the safety of the cave, a flood of warmth went through my shoulder. There was no pain, but as I looked down, I could see the stain of blood spreading across my wing.

“You got my wings all shot up,” Sam frowned, examining them critically as he pulled me into the cave, guiding me to a metal hospital bed where Daphne waited, dressed in a white nurse’s uniform, complete with a white, starched cap, her hair rolled in a forties style.

“I’m sorry… Where’s Adam?” I tried to look around the cave but they blocked my view as they surrounded the bed.

“That’s the last time I’ll lend them to you,” Sam pouted.

“It’s okay, I’ll get them bandaged up good as new,” Daphne smiled brightly, breaking out the rolls of gauze.

“Where’s Adam?” I repeated. “Didn’t he make it?”

“Oh honey, Adam’s gone. Didn’t you know? He left,” Daphne explained, winding the white gauze around and around my shoulder.

“He left?” I blinked.

“Of course. What did you expect?”

“But he was free…”

Parker leaned close, his face a mask of pity. “You didn’t think he’d stay with you, did you?”

* * *

That’s what I get for watching superhero movies set in the 40’s before I go to bed… As I lay there, puzzling my way through the disturbing dream, I couldn’t help but wonder; even if we managed to set Adam free, would he leave me anyway? So far we’d spent way more time apart than together and it almost seemed like he looked for reasons for us to be apart. Would we ever be able to have some semblance of a normal life together?