Delilah S. Dawson's Blog, page 4

How to Turn an Idea into a Story

The secret speakeasy in Lincoln, NE where I suspect Lydia meets her first vampire...

Cover reveal! WAKE OF VULTURES paperback

1. You can pre-order this sexy beast at Amazon, B&N, or your favorite local indie.

2. It's out September 20.

3. Coming up next: A Wake-related announcement and the cover reveal for book 2, CONSPIRACY OF RAVENS, which is out in October! 

4. You're awesome. You know that, right?

*dances away, hugging feather*

Why I Love Reading Smut

Some favorite sexy reads from my own library, including one of my own books.

I don't know how that dinosaur got in there, but I'm sure she's sex-positive.

Pro Writers Speak Out: The Top 3 Things That Helped You Become a Writer (Besides Skill)

Also: Party Sloth socks, pajama pants, a huge vat of guacamole, and my beloved MacBook Air.

I spent the weekend at the RT Book Reviewers Convention in Las Vegas, where I met tons of amazing readers, authors, agents and editors. And then, on the way home, I saw a dude reading ON WRITING on the subway. And that made me think. Outside of skill, what are the main things that helped pro writers become pro writers? Here's my answer, and I've compiled oodles of great responses from Twitter that run the gamut from NYT bestsellers to midlisters to debuts to small press writers to indie writers to comics writers to game writers to editors to non-fiction writers. And the answers are still coming. For the complete list of all responses, just click on this link.

Here's my answer:

And here's a compilation (so far). Stubborness and support seem to rank really high...

Some personal news, and why I'm not doing a launch party for STRIKE

 

So I often get personal on here, but not about this topic. I've had a lot of questions about the STRIKE launch this Tuesday and why I'm not doing the usual launch party or any sort of tour. So here goes.

My dad was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2011, and after surgery and a few years of remission, it came back with a fury. He's been fighting hard, but as of last Friday, his oncologist has given him weeks to live, and he's starting hospice care tomorrow. I will be spending more time with my parents to help out. This is why I'm not able to do a launch party for Strike and have not planned any travel this summer. As of right now, I am planning on fulfilling my obligations at RT Vegas and ConStellation in April, but if that changes suddenly, you'll know why.

Know that I have great support and will not want to talk about this via PM, email, or phone, but I really appreciate everyone's kind words and good thoughts. If you want to do something nice for me, please go get a colonoscopy. It's not as bad as it sounds, and I know, because I had one in November. You'll be glad to know my colon is totally clean.

If you're hoping to get a signed copy of STRIKE, I will be stopping by FoxTale Book Shoppe in Woodstock, GA to sign stock, and I'd be happy to personalize any of my books for you. Just call, email, or order online, and they're happy to ship. Strike will also be available at the Big Book Fair at RT Vegas. And you can always email your mailing address to whimsydark (at) gmail (dot) com for a signed bookplate, although that might take me longer than usual.

And I guess now you know where I got that bitter line in HIT about how fucked up our medical system is, that it takes more money to die slowly from cancer than it does to become a doctor. 

Hug your loved ones, y'all, because cancer sucks.

The one SECRET to Being a Successful Writer and Getting to Write IP Projects

How did I get to write Star Wars and Shadowman? THIS ONE WORD WILL SURPRISE AND ANNOY YOU.

Change the game; don't let the game change you

This is me at my best: relaxed, amusing myself, having fun, taking the time to snap weird selfies in a velvet chair in a San Antonio bar bathroom. 

Win a signed advance copy of STRIKE!

I have a box of STRIKE hardcovers, and I'm giving 3 away. You should win one!

Strike is out April 12, and here's the deal:

From the author of the “gritty near-future dystopian tale,” (Booklist) Hit comes the thrilling sequel about an indentured assassin fighting to survive in a world of anarchy.

The hit list was just the beginning.

Time to strike back.

After faking her own death to escape her term as an indentured assassin for Valor Savings Bank, Patsy is on the run with her boyfriend, Wyatt. All she wants to do is go home, but that’s never going to happen—not as long as Valor’s out to get her and the people she loves.

Left with no good choices, Patsy’s only option is to meet with a mysterious group that calls itself the Citizens for Freedom.

Led by the charismatic Leon Crane, the CFF seem like just what Patsy has been looking for. Leon promises that if she joins, she’ll finally get revenge on Valor for everything they’ve done to her—and for everything they’ve made her do.

But Patsy knows the CFF has a few secrets of their own. One thing is certain: they’ll do absolutely anything to complete their mission, no matter who’s standing in their way. Even if it’s Patsy herself.

Delilah S. Dawson brings anarchy and high-octane drama to the next explosive level in this sequel to the “practically movie-ready” (Kirkus Reviews) novel, Hit.

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You Don't Need my Permission to Be Offensive

Me with THE ENEMY.

Some Thoughts on Writing While Caregiving