Jeaniene Frost's Blog, page 30
June 21, 2014
ALA, audio snippet, Twitter chat and upcoming giveaway
Hi everyone, hope your weekend is treating you well so far! First up, a new appearance. If you’re attending the ALA (American Library Association) conference at the Las Vegas Convention Center in Las Vegas, NV next week, guess what? So am I :). You can find me here:
Saturday, June 28th
8:30am-10:00am “Isn’t It Romantic?”
Panel, Room S219. A panel of popular romance writers will discuss their books and will sign copies following the program. Panelists: Ryan Winfield (Jane’s Harmony), Deborah Coonts (Lucky Bastard), Shelley Coriell (The Buried), Jeaniene Frost (The Beautiful Ashes) and Penelope Douglas (Rival). Moderated by Barbara Hoffert, editor of Library Journal's Prepub Alert.
11:00 – 12:00pm Signing Arcs of The Beautiful Ashes. Harlequin booth # 363.
Not able to attend ALA but still want to live chat with me? Head over to Twitter on June 25th from 8pm-9pm Eastern time for the #NALitParty chat with Ann Aguirre (@MsAnnAguirre), Cora Carmack (@CoraCarmack), Chelsea Fine (@ChelseaFine), me (@Jeaniene_Frost), Jamie McGuire (@JamieMcGuire) and Monica Murphy (@MsMonicaMurphy). We’ll be talking about good books, bad boys and anything else you ask us *wink*. To follow the chat Wednesday night, just click the #NALitParty hastag on Twitter.
But wait, there’s more! Be sure to check back on my blog this Tuesday the 24thbecause I’ll be posting a really cool giveaway. I can’t tell you what I’ll be giving away yet, but there’s lots of it, so don’t miss out.
Want something free right now? Remember the scene I posted from The Beautiful Ashes a little while ago? My audio book narrator, the fabulous Tavia Gilbert , created an audio version of it, so to listen, just click the link: https://soundcloud.com/taviagilbert/the-beautiful-ashes-excerpt-by-jeaniene-frost-narrated-by-tavia-gilbert
Speaking of The Beautiful Ashes, I received two quotes from authors whose books I love, so I was doubly flattered and delighted:
“Jeaniene Frost brings her signature wit, sizzle and extraordinary imagination to this epic new series. I was addicted from page one.” #1 New York Times bestselling author Jennifer L. Armentrout
"Jeaniene Frost is blessed with a creative soul." #1 New York Times bestselling author Sherrilyn Kenyon
That's all I've got for now. Enjoy and see some of you next week, either online or in person :).
Saturday, June 28th
8:30am-10:00am “Isn’t It Romantic?”
Panel, Room S219. A panel of popular romance writers will discuss their books and will sign copies following the program. Panelists: Ryan Winfield (Jane’s Harmony), Deborah Coonts (Lucky Bastard), Shelley Coriell (The Buried), Jeaniene Frost (The Beautiful Ashes) and Penelope Douglas (Rival). Moderated by Barbara Hoffert, editor of Library Journal's Prepub Alert.
11:00 – 12:00pm Signing Arcs of The Beautiful Ashes. Harlequin booth # 363.
Not able to attend ALA but still want to live chat with me? Head over to Twitter on June 25th from 8pm-9pm Eastern time for the #NALitParty chat with Ann Aguirre (@MsAnnAguirre), Cora Carmack (@CoraCarmack), Chelsea Fine (@ChelseaFine), me (@Jeaniene_Frost), Jamie McGuire (@JamieMcGuire) and Monica Murphy (@MsMonicaMurphy). We’ll be talking about good books, bad boys and anything else you ask us *wink*. To follow the chat Wednesday night, just click the #NALitParty hastag on Twitter.But wait, there’s more! Be sure to check back on my blog this Tuesday the 24thbecause I’ll be posting a really cool giveaway. I can’t tell you what I’ll be giving away yet, but there’s lots of it, so don’t miss out.
Want something free right now? Remember the scene I posted from The Beautiful Ashes a little while ago? My audio book narrator, the fabulous Tavia Gilbert , created an audio version of it, so to listen, just click the link: https://soundcloud.com/taviagilbert/the-beautiful-ashes-excerpt-by-jeaniene-frost-narrated-by-tavia-gilbert
Speaking of The Beautiful Ashes, I received two quotes from authors whose books I love, so I was doubly flattered and delighted:
“Jeaniene Frost brings her signature wit, sizzle and extraordinary imagination to this epic new series. I was addicted from page one.” #1 New York Times bestselling author Jennifer L. Armentrout
"Jeaniene Frost is blessed with a creative soul." #1 New York Times bestselling author Sherrilyn Kenyon
That's all I've got for now. Enjoy and see some of you next week, either online or in person :).
June 14, 2014
Those replacement Arcs for THE BEAUTIFUL ASHES
Hi all, I have an update on the replacement Arcs of The Beautiful Ashes for everyone who returned theirs at the RT convention. The corrected Arcs finally came in this week and I will be shipping them out on Monday. The reason why I didn't ship them as soon as they arrived is because (as those of you who follow me on Facebook or Twitter already know) my dad had a pretty major surgery on Wednesday, so I was out of town to be with him/my family. Thankfully, he came through the surgery and we're all extremely grateful to be able to celebrate another Father's Day with him tomorrow.
Thank you also to everyone who's waited so patiently for their replacement Arc. If you live in the US, you should receive yours by the end of next week. International recipients may take up to 5 - 10 days.
Thank again and I hope you enjoy the book once you finally get it :).
Thank you also to everyone who's waited so patiently for their replacement Arc. If you live in the US, you should receive yours by the end of next week. International recipients may take up to 5 - 10 days.
Thank again and I hope you enjoy the book once you finally get it :).
June 9, 2014
BOUND BY FLAMES cover, stepback and excerpt
I got the green light from my editor to reveal the cover for BOUND BY FLAMES, Night Prince book three. As you can see, Vlad's back in all of his bare-chested glory, and if you've ever wondered what our favorite pyrokinetic, impale-happy vampire would look like with an open-lipped pout? *wink* Well, wonder no more! (click to enlarge)
Side note: I cannot imagine writing a scene where I'd be able to realistically portray Vlad with a sexy pout. A sexy glare, grin or smirk, sure, but a pout? *cracks up* Thank you, art department, for having a more daring imagination than me :).
In the stepback below, Vlad is back to his fierce glory, although he's still not wearing a shirt because with those abs, why would he? Leila is holding onto her man, and really, I don't blame her. They're got some tough stuff coming their way in the third book, releasing January 27th. Several retailers already have preorder links up, so if you like to reserve in advance, here you go: Amazon, Barnes&Noble, BooksAMillion, Powells, Indiebound
In the next few weeks, I'll have downloadable wallpapers for the cover/stepback, so stay tuned! Also, at the moment I don't have a back cover description, but in lieu of that, how about an excerpt from the first chapter? Disclaimer: This chapter is pre-revisions and pre-edits, so there may be some grammar/spelling errors. Also, if I decide to tweak the chapter between now and when I finish the book, there might be some content changes, too. In other words, I'm posting this just for entertainment, so enjoy :).
Chapter One
Hundreds of candles glowed from the ballroom’s gothic chandeliers, casting soft amber light onto the guests below. The lack of modern illumination wasn’t because this house used to be a medieval stronghold, but because the owner was a pyrokinetic vampire, so he was rather fond of fire.
I was perched on one of the ceiling’s corner rafters, taking a brief rest from my evening’s covert activities. A few stories below, all the guests wore masks and costumes, but even without seeing fangs or glowing green eyes, it was easy to determine who was human and who wasn’t. Vampires had an inherent grace, making their movements appear as seamless as water rushing over stones. Their mortal counterparts, well, let’s just say they lacked that finesse. Not that it was their fault. Unlike vampires, humans didn’t have supernatural control over every muscle in their bodies.
Until several weeks ago, neither did I. Changing into a vampire had had some unexpected side effects in addition to the now-I-drink-blood stuff. Before, I also didn’t have my new ability to briefly hold in the electrical currents that had surged through me since touching a downed power line when I was thirteen.
The candles in the chandeliers suddenly blazed brighter, coinciding with a man striding up to the balcony that overlooked the ballroom. If that wasn’t enough to announce his presence, his aura flared, too, sending invisible currents rippling through the room. When they hit me, it felt like being engulfed by an electrical field, which, considering my own inner voltage, was ironic. Only a handful of Master vampires in the world could manifest an aura big enough to encompass the gargantuan ballroom. Vlad’s was so powerful, it proclaimed his identity more clearly than if he’d been wearing a neon name tag.
That’s why his disguise was pointless. Beneath the mask made famous from the movie V For Vendetta was a darkly stubbled jaw, high cheekbones, winged eyebrows and burnished copper-colored eyes. His black tuxedo elegantly covered Vlad’s lean, muscled body, almost daring onlookers to fantasize about what lay beneath that. When he held up a hand to silence the musicians, candlelight reflected off his wedding ring, making the twisting bands of gold briefly gleam.
“The unmasking is in one hour,” Vlad stated, his cultured voice tinged with a Slavic accent. Then he smiled, radiating charm and challenge at the same time. “Until then, enjoy the mystery of wondering who’s beside you, if you haven’t already guessed.”
Light laughter and applause greeted his statements, but I was alarmed. If the unmasking was an hour away, I was almost out of time.
A flick of Vlad’s hand had the musicians playing again, and the dance floor was once again filled with costumed, waltzing couples. I didn’t spare them a glance as I leapt onto a nearby ceiling beam, balancing myself instantly on the narrow plank of wood. I could’ve used reflexes like these back when I was a circus performer, not to mention when I was trying out for the Olympic gymnastics team.
Once I’d sprinted back to the network of organ pipes I’d climbed to reach the ceiling, I slid down, landing in the utility space between the walls. Music from the pipes swelled, almost deafening me, but that was the point. Not even vampires with their hyper-elevated senses could hear me above the racket. I crept around until I reached an air conditioning filter, removing it before squeezing myself into the cramped air duct. Good thing I was wearing a form-fitting costume. If I’d dressed as Marie Antoinette, I’d have never made it through.
Finally, I shimmied out of the duct into a closet. Once there, I replaced the filter, brushed the dust from my black costume, and headed into the ballroom to resume my spying. I hadn’t made it ten feet inside before a hand landed on my back.
“There you are,” a voice with a heavy Hungarian accent said.
I turned. The vampire behind me wore a much fancier version of the Joker’s trademark purple suit, and he’d covered what I could see of his naturally pale skin with white paint. His mask came to his lower lip, and the twisted smile etched onto the ceramic upper one made his face looked like it was stuck in a perpetually evil grin.
My mask didn’t cover any of my mouth, so the vampire could see it when I smiled.
“Here I am,” I agreed. I’d made sure to make the Joker’s acquaintance earlier because he’d been on my target list tonight, but he’d also been with another woman. That meant I couldn’t deploy my secret weapon since it required closer contact than his date would’ve put up with. She wasn’t with him now, though, so I seized my opportunity.
“I hope you’re here to ask me to dance,” I said, tilting my head invitingly. At least, I hoped it looked that way. The faux-horned headpiece I wore made me feel like a rabbit with two stiff, extended ears.
“But of course,” he said, linking his arm through mine.
My full-body suit kept him from feeling the electricity coursing through me. If he had, he’d have known my real identity the moment he touched me. That’s why I’d chosen to attend the ball in a Maleficent costume, annoying pointy headpiece or not. The current-repelling rubber covered me from head to toe, leaving only my face bare. The mask took care of any currents radiating from that and my scent would be unfamiliar to anyone who hadn’t met me before, which was most of the people here.
Most. As the Joker – yes, I knew his real name, but this suited him better – led me onto the dance floor, I couldn’t stop from glancing up at the balcony. The place where Vlad had stood was now empty. Good. The only vampire I was worried about tonight was him.
Once we were among the other dancers, the Joker drew me into his arms, his blue eyes flaring with an inhuman glow of green as they slid over my body. The costume fit me like a glove, leaving few of my curves to the imagination, but he looked like he was imagining anyway. Explicitly.
I suppressed a shudder, glad the head-to-toe rubber also muted the scent of distaste that had to be coming from me. The Joker’s silk and cloth attire didn’t act as an olfactory barrier. The scent of lust wafting from him practically clogged my nose, and I didn’t even breathe anymore. Since I needed information from him, I smiled as we began to dance. I’d learned how to waltz exactly one day ago, but that turned out to be practice enough. The Joker whirled me through steps I easily kept up with. He held me closer than the formal dance dictated, though, and I didn’t think it was an accident when his hand grazed my ass.
Once more, I glanced up at the balcony. Thank God it was still empty!
“When will you tell me your name, my enticing stranger?” the Joker asked, his hand still trailing low on my hip. “I can tell you’ve been newly made. Who do you belong to?”
I wasn’t surprised that he’d pegged me as a baby vampire. My costume might hold in my electrical currents and scent, but it couldn’t contain my aura, and like all new vampires, it was weak. Vlad’s guest list contained the biggest and baddest of Eastern Europe’s undead society, so under normal circumstances, I’d only be here as a stronger vampire’s servant. Being written off as insignificant suited me. Not knowing who I was meant the Joker didn’t know about my abilities, and I wasn’t about to give him any hints as to my real identity.
I used the next steps of the dance to maneuver his hand away from my ass. Then I smiled with what I hoped was mysterious allure. “Patience. I’ll tell you who I am at the unmasking.”
“Patience?” he repeated with more than a hint of scorn. Guess my attempt to be mysterious and alluring had failed.
Truth be told, I didn’t have a lot of experience with flirting. I’d started electrocuting anyone I touched at thirteen, which put me firmly in the “dateless” column for the next twelve years. Not even vampires were immune to the dangers of skin-to-skin contact with me, and that’s when I wasn’t even trying to hurt them. Since I needed the Joker to stay close for the next few minutes, I had to keep up my act, poor faux-seduction skills or no. Soon, I’d sneak the detachable fingers off my right glove, touch him while holding in my currents, and thus find out his darkest secret.
Lie detector tests had nothing on my ability to discern people’s worst sins through a single touch. I’d hated my psychometric abilities until recently, when they had become a necessary tool in keeping me and the people I loved alive.
The Joker smiled, seeming to look past my less-than-suave flirting skills. Or, I realized as he danced us toward one of the ballroom’s curtained, secluded alcoves, he had something else in mind.
“Patience is a virtue and I hate virtues,” he murmured, using his body to back me behind the alcove’s elegant drapes. “Besides, I don’t really care what your name is or who you belong to. All I want to know is how tight you are.”
Whoa. Talk about coming on too strong! “I don’t think so, my impatient friend,” I said, laughing as if he’d told a joke. “Maybe later, but now, let’s go back to the dance –”
“Let’s not,” he interrupted, pulling me flush against him. Then his hand landed on my ass as if I’d begged him to spank me. I gasped, so horrified at what was about to happen, I froze. The Joker’s head began to lower, his lips nearing mine –
He screamed as flames shot up his face. His hands flew off me to beat at them in an instinctive attempt to smother the fire. The flames only spread, glowing brighter before I could finish shouting, “Stop!”
Vlad shoved through the guests, who’d quit dancing to stare at the screaming, burning man. Vlad’s mask was off and his long dark hair swung from his rapid strides. His hands were covered in flames, but unlike the Joker frantically pummeling his own face, the flames didn’t burn Vlad. The same power that allowed him to manifest and control fire also kept him safe from its deadly effects.
“Stop?” Vlad’s voice whipped through the air, causing the vampires who’d moved toward the Joker to turn and walk away once they realized who’d caused the fire. “Why would I do that?”
Even if those present hadn’t figured it out, I wouldn’t let a man burn to death just to keep up the pretense.
“Because he didn’t know that I’m your wife.”
***
Side note: I cannot imagine writing a scene where I'd be able to realistically portray Vlad with a sexy pout. A sexy glare, grin or smirk, sure, but a pout? *cracks up* Thank you, art department, for having a more daring imagination than me :).
In the stepback below, Vlad is back to his fierce glory, although he's still not wearing a shirt because with those abs, why would he? Leila is holding onto her man, and really, I don't blame her. They're got some tough stuff coming their way in the third book, releasing January 27th. Several retailers already have preorder links up, so if you like to reserve in advance, here you go: Amazon, Barnes&Noble, BooksAMillion, Powells, Indiebound
In the next few weeks, I'll have downloadable wallpapers for the cover/stepback, so stay tuned! Also, at the moment I don't have a back cover description, but in lieu of that, how about an excerpt from the first chapter? Disclaimer: This chapter is pre-revisions and pre-edits, so there may be some grammar/spelling errors. Also, if I decide to tweak the chapter between now and when I finish the book, there might be some content changes, too. In other words, I'm posting this just for entertainment, so enjoy :).
Chapter One
Hundreds of candles glowed from the ballroom’s gothic chandeliers, casting soft amber light onto the guests below. The lack of modern illumination wasn’t because this house used to be a medieval stronghold, but because the owner was a pyrokinetic vampire, so he was rather fond of fire.
I was perched on one of the ceiling’s corner rafters, taking a brief rest from my evening’s covert activities. A few stories below, all the guests wore masks and costumes, but even without seeing fangs or glowing green eyes, it was easy to determine who was human and who wasn’t. Vampires had an inherent grace, making their movements appear as seamless as water rushing over stones. Their mortal counterparts, well, let’s just say they lacked that finesse. Not that it was their fault. Unlike vampires, humans didn’t have supernatural control over every muscle in their bodies.
Until several weeks ago, neither did I. Changing into a vampire had had some unexpected side effects in addition to the now-I-drink-blood stuff. Before, I also didn’t have my new ability to briefly hold in the electrical currents that had surged through me since touching a downed power line when I was thirteen.
The candles in the chandeliers suddenly blazed brighter, coinciding with a man striding up to the balcony that overlooked the ballroom. If that wasn’t enough to announce his presence, his aura flared, too, sending invisible currents rippling through the room. When they hit me, it felt like being engulfed by an electrical field, which, considering my own inner voltage, was ironic. Only a handful of Master vampires in the world could manifest an aura big enough to encompass the gargantuan ballroom. Vlad’s was so powerful, it proclaimed his identity more clearly than if he’d been wearing a neon name tag.
That’s why his disguise was pointless. Beneath the mask made famous from the movie V For Vendetta was a darkly stubbled jaw, high cheekbones, winged eyebrows and burnished copper-colored eyes. His black tuxedo elegantly covered Vlad’s lean, muscled body, almost daring onlookers to fantasize about what lay beneath that. When he held up a hand to silence the musicians, candlelight reflected off his wedding ring, making the twisting bands of gold briefly gleam.
“The unmasking is in one hour,” Vlad stated, his cultured voice tinged with a Slavic accent. Then he smiled, radiating charm and challenge at the same time. “Until then, enjoy the mystery of wondering who’s beside you, if you haven’t already guessed.”
Light laughter and applause greeted his statements, but I was alarmed. If the unmasking was an hour away, I was almost out of time.
A flick of Vlad’s hand had the musicians playing again, and the dance floor was once again filled with costumed, waltzing couples. I didn’t spare them a glance as I leapt onto a nearby ceiling beam, balancing myself instantly on the narrow plank of wood. I could’ve used reflexes like these back when I was a circus performer, not to mention when I was trying out for the Olympic gymnastics team.
Once I’d sprinted back to the network of organ pipes I’d climbed to reach the ceiling, I slid down, landing in the utility space between the walls. Music from the pipes swelled, almost deafening me, but that was the point. Not even vampires with their hyper-elevated senses could hear me above the racket. I crept around until I reached an air conditioning filter, removing it before squeezing myself into the cramped air duct. Good thing I was wearing a form-fitting costume. If I’d dressed as Marie Antoinette, I’d have never made it through.
Finally, I shimmied out of the duct into a closet. Once there, I replaced the filter, brushed the dust from my black costume, and headed into the ballroom to resume my spying. I hadn’t made it ten feet inside before a hand landed on my back.
“There you are,” a voice with a heavy Hungarian accent said.
I turned. The vampire behind me wore a much fancier version of the Joker’s trademark purple suit, and he’d covered what I could see of his naturally pale skin with white paint. His mask came to his lower lip, and the twisted smile etched onto the ceramic upper one made his face looked like it was stuck in a perpetually evil grin.
My mask didn’t cover any of my mouth, so the vampire could see it when I smiled.
“Here I am,” I agreed. I’d made sure to make the Joker’s acquaintance earlier because he’d been on my target list tonight, but he’d also been with another woman. That meant I couldn’t deploy my secret weapon since it required closer contact than his date would’ve put up with. She wasn’t with him now, though, so I seized my opportunity.
“I hope you’re here to ask me to dance,” I said, tilting my head invitingly. At least, I hoped it looked that way. The faux-horned headpiece I wore made me feel like a rabbit with two stiff, extended ears.
“But of course,” he said, linking his arm through mine.
My full-body suit kept him from feeling the electricity coursing through me. If he had, he’d have known my real identity the moment he touched me. That’s why I’d chosen to attend the ball in a Maleficent costume, annoying pointy headpiece or not. The current-repelling rubber covered me from head to toe, leaving only my face bare. The mask took care of any currents radiating from that and my scent would be unfamiliar to anyone who hadn’t met me before, which was most of the people here.
Most. As the Joker – yes, I knew his real name, but this suited him better – led me onto the dance floor, I couldn’t stop from glancing up at the balcony. The place where Vlad had stood was now empty. Good. The only vampire I was worried about tonight was him.
Once we were among the other dancers, the Joker drew me into his arms, his blue eyes flaring with an inhuman glow of green as they slid over my body. The costume fit me like a glove, leaving few of my curves to the imagination, but he looked like he was imagining anyway. Explicitly.
I suppressed a shudder, glad the head-to-toe rubber also muted the scent of distaste that had to be coming from me. The Joker’s silk and cloth attire didn’t act as an olfactory barrier. The scent of lust wafting from him practically clogged my nose, and I didn’t even breathe anymore. Since I needed information from him, I smiled as we began to dance. I’d learned how to waltz exactly one day ago, but that turned out to be practice enough. The Joker whirled me through steps I easily kept up with. He held me closer than the formal dance dictated, though, and I didn’t think it was an accident when his hand grazed my ass.
Once more, I glanced up at the balcony. Thank God it was still empty!
“When will you tell me your name, my enticing stranger?” the Joker asked, his hand still trailing low on my hip. “I can tell you’ve been newly made. Who do you belong to?”
I wasn’t surprised that he’d pegged me as a baby vampire. My costume might hold in my electrical currents and scent, but it couldn’t contain my aura, and like all new vampires, it was weak. Vlad’s guest list contained the biggest and baddest of Eastern Europe’s undead society, so under normal circumstances, I’d only be here as a stronger vampire’s servant. Being written off as insignificant suited me. Not knowing who I was meant the Joker didn’t know about my abilities, and I wasn’t about to give him any hints as to my real identity.
I used the next steps of the dance to maneuver his hand away from my ass. Then I smiled with what I hoped was mysterious allure. “Patience. I’ll tell you who I am at the unmasking.”
“Patience?” he repeated with more than a hint of scorn. Guess my attempt to be mysterious and alluring had failed.
Truth be told, I didn’t have a lot of experience with flirting. I’d started electrocuting anyone I touched at thirteen, which put me firmly in the “dateless” column for the next twelve years. Not even vampires were immune to the dangers of skin-to-skin contact with me, and that’s when I wasn’t even trying to hurt them. Since I needed the Joker to stay close for the next few minutes, I had to keep up my act, poor faux-seduction skills or no. Soon, I’d sneak the detachable fingers off my right glove, touch him while holding in my currents, and thus find out his darkest secret.
Lie detector tests had nothing on my ability to discern people’s worst sins through a single touch. I’d hated my psychometric abilities until recently, when they had become a necessary tool in keeping me and the people I loved alive.
The Joker smiled, seeming to look past my less-than-suave flirting skills. Or, I realized as he danced us toward one of the ballroom’s curtained, secluded alcoves, he had something else in mind.
“Patience is a virtue and I hate virtues,” he murmured, using his body to back me behind the alcove’s elegant drapes. “Besides, I don’t really care what your name is or who you belong to. All I want to know is how tight you are.”
Whoa. Talk about coming on too strong! “I don’t think so, my impatient friend,” I said, laughing as if he’d told a joke. “Maybe later, but now, let’s go back to the dance –”
“Let’s not,” he interrupted, pulling me flush against him. Then his hand landed on my ass as if I’d begged him to spank me. I gasped, so horrified at what was about to happen, I froze. The Joker’s head began to lower, his lips nearing mine –
He screamed as flames shot up his face. His hands flew off me to beat at them in an instinctive attempt to smother the fire. The flames only spread, glowing brighter before I could finish shouting, “Stop!”
Vlad shoved through the guests, who’d quit dancing to stare at the screaming, burning man. Vlad’s mask was off and his long dark hair swung from his rapid strides. His hands were covered in flames, but unlike the Joker frantically pummeling his own face, the flames didn’t burn Vlad. The same power that allowed him to manifest and control fire also kept him safe from its deadly effects.
“Stop?” Vlad’s voice whipped through the air, causing the vampires who’d moved toward the Joker to turn and walk away once they realized who’d caused the fire. “Why would I do that?”
Even if those present hadn’t figured it out, I wouldn’t let a man burn to death just to keep up the pretense.
“Because he didn’t know that I’m your wife.”
***
May 27, 2014
On the road again to BEA!
ETA: Here's the link to the live online chat on Saturday at 11:30am. Come talk to me if you're available! :)
http://www.shindig.com/event/romances...
Before I get to my BEA schedule this week, I have to mention that I had a blast at the Romantic Times convention. Thanks to all the amazing RT staff and volunteers who work so hard to make this event such a fun time! Here’s just one example of how great the people at RT are: Trent Hart was my hero for making sure that two boxes filled with incorrect versions of The Beautiful Ashes did not make it into the giveaway piles and he set them aside for me. To give me an even warmer, happier glow, Twice Tempted picked up an award for Best Vampire Romance, so a big thank-you to RT reviewers, too! As for all the readers I met, you are why I can’t wait to share my stories with people. Hugs and smooches, everyone!
Speaking of The Beautiful Ashes, my publisher is holding a contest on Goodreads giving away 100 copies. To enter the contest, go here: https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/show/89529-the-beautiful-ashes
If you’re an international reader and you don’t see your country listed under the Goodreads contest (or if it is and you just want to double your chances of winning one), never fear. Soon, I’ll be holding Arc contests on my blog and they will be open to readers worldwide, so check back here to make sure you don’t miss out!
And now, my schedule for Book Expo America, or BEA, this week. I’m so excited to attend because this is my first BEA and I’ve got some really cool things lined up, such as:
Thursday May 29th from 10:00 am to 11:00 am
Harlequin Booth, number 3038. Signing Arcs of The Beautiful Ashes, book one in the Broken Destiny series.
Thursday May 29th from 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm.
“Chute” signing at the Harlequin booth, number 3038, for The Beautiful Ashes.
Friday May 30th, 10:30 to 11:00am.
Video interview with Harlequin about The Beautiful Ashes, podcast booth #3032. Level 3 in the Exhibit Hall.
Friday May 30th from 2:30 pm to 3:00 pm.
HarperCollins booth, table 23, Autographing Area. Signing Up From The Grave, final Night Huntress novel.
Saturday, May 31st from 9:00 to 10:00am.
Romance Writers of America (RWA) booth 2551. Signing Twice Tempted, book two in the Night Prince series.
Saturday, May 31st from 11:30 to 11:50am.
Livestream internet Q&A interview, hosted by Romance Writers of America. Shindig booth, #1839.
Saturday, May 31st from 1:45 to 2:45pm.
BookCon panel, Romance and New Adult: Why bad boys are so darned good.Panelists: Cora Carmack, Jennifer L. Armentrout/J. Lynn, Sarah MacLean and Jeaniene Frost. Room 1E16.
If you’re attending BEA, I hope to see you at one of these events! As usual, in addition to signing books, I’ll also be passing out swag, so stop by if you can. Can’t make it but would love to have me personally answer your questions? The Shindig chat is a live online chat that anyone can participate in. I’ll post the link as soon as I have it, but until then, mark your calendars for Saturday at 11:30am Eastern time! I’ll be there, hoping that some of you can join me via the internet :).
http://www.shindig.com/event/romances...
Before I get to my BEA schedule this week, I have to mention that I had a blast at the Romantic Times convention. Thanks to all the amazing RT staff and volunteers who work so hard to make this event such a fun time! Here’s just one example of how great the people at RT are: Trent Hart was my hero for making sure that two boxes filled with incorrect versions of The Beautiful Ashes did not make it into the giveaway piles and he set them aside for me. To give me an even warmer, happier glow, Twice Tempted picked up an award for Best Vampire Romance, so a big thank-you to RT reviewers, too! As for all the readers I met, you are why I can’t wait to share my stories with people. Hugs and smooches, everyone!
Speaking of The Beautiful Ashes, my publisher is holding a contest on Goodreads giving away 100 copies. To enter the contest, go here: https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/show/89529-the-beautiful-ashes
If you’re an international reader and you don’t see your country listed under the Goodreads contest (or if it is and you just want to double your chances of winning one), never fear. Soon, I’ll be holding Arc contests on my blog and they will be open to readers worldwide, so check back here to make sure you don’t miss out!
And now, my schedule for Book Expo America, or BEA, this week. I’m so excited to attend because this is my first BEA and I’ve got some really cool things lined up, such as:
Thursday May 29th from 10:00 am to 11:00 am
Harlequin Booth, number 3038. Signing Arcs of The Beautiful Ashes, book one in the Broken Destiny series.
Thursday May 29th from 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm.
“Chute” signing at the Harlequin booth, number 3038, for The Beautiful Ashes.
Friday May 30th, 10:30 to 11:00am.
Video interview with Harlequin about The Beautiful Ashes, podcast booth #3032. Level 3 in the Exhibit Hall.
Friday May 30th from 2:30 pm to 3:00 pm.
HarperCollins booth, table 23, Autographing Area. Signing Up From The Grave, final Night Huntress novel.
Saturday, May 31st from 9:00 to 10:00am.
Romance Writers of America (RWA) booth 2551. Signing Twice Tempted, book two in the Night Prince series.
Saturday, May 31st from 11:30 to 11:50am.
Livestream internet Q&A interview, hosted by Romance Writers of America. Shindig booth, #1839.
Saturday, May 31st from 1:45 to 2:45pm.
BookCon panel, Romance and New Adult: Why bad boys are so darned good.Panelists: Cora Carmack, Jennifer L. Armentrout/J. Lynn, Sarah MacLean and Jeaniene Frost. Room 1E16.
If you’re attending BEA, I hope to see you at one of these events! As usual, in addition to signing books, I’ll also be passing out swag, so stop by if you can. Can’t make it but would love to have me personally answer your questions? The Shindig chat is a live online chat that anyone can participate in. I’ll post the link as soon as I have it, but until then, mark your calendars for Saturday at 11:30am Eastern time! I’ll be there, hoping that some of you can join me via the internet :).
May 21, 2014
If you received an Arc of THE BEAUTIFUL ASHES at the Romantic Times convention...
Hi all, due to a file mistake, the wrong version of THE BEAUTIFUL ASHES was printed in the Arcs that were given out at Romantic Times. If you received one, instead of an edited version, you have the very first draft of my novel. Since first drafts are notorious for grammar errors, scene/character inconsistencies, missing/extra words and everything else that makes editing necessary to begin with, I am red-faced with embarrassment. My publisher is also very sorry that this happened.
Therefore, if you received one of these Arcs, please write your full mailing address inside of it, then send it to me, care of my agent, at:
Nancy Yost Literary Agency
350 Seventh Avenue, Suite 2003
New York, NY 10001
If you also write in the book how much the postage cost you, I will be happy to reimburse you. Once I receive the correct Arcs from my publisher (should be here in a week or so) I will make sure that everyone who returns an Arc will get the post-revisions version sent out to them. Believe, it's a much better read.
I apologize so much for this! On the bright side, if you’re an aspiring author and you already read the book, now you know what my first drafts look like, so you probably feel very encouraged about your own publication chances ;).
Therefore, if you received one of these Arcs, please write your full mailing address inside of it, then send it to me, care of my agent, at:
Nancy Yost Literary Agency
350 Seventh Avenue, Suite 2003
New York, NY 10001
If you also write in the book how much the postage cost you, I will be happy to reimburse you. Once I receive the correct Arcs from my publisher (should be here in a week or so) I will make sure that everyone who returns an Arc will get the post-revisions version sent out to them. Believe, it's a much better read.
I apologize so much for this! On the bright side, if you’re an aspiring author and you already read the book, now you know what my first drafts look like, so you probably feel very encouraged about your own publication chances ;).
May 9, 2014
A sale, swag and Romantic Times
Hi everyone, good news: The ebook price for the first book in the upcoming Broken Destiny series has just dropped! Now you can preorder THE BEAUTIFUL ASHES in ebook for only $7.99. If you prefer paper, the book is coming out in Trade, which, if you’re unfamiliar, is larger than my usual books, but smaller than your average hardback. If this intersts you, here are some order links: Amazon, BAM, Powells, B&N, iTunes, Indiebound
Haven’t heard me talk about this book and you want more information? Got that and an extended excerpt here: http://jeanienefrost.com/2014/04/the-beautiful-ashes-excerpt-and-audio-news/
Now, to the swag part of the subject line. If you’ve been to any of my signings or seen me at a previous convention, you know that in addition to book marks, I give away character-themed bracelets. Here are some that I’ve done in the past:
For the aforementioned Broken Destiny series, I had some new swag bracelets made, plus engraved coconut-shell necklaces. I forced my niece, Lauren, to model the necklace because I’m an evil aunt ;). See a close-up of the shell under her picture.
I’m giving away 300 of these in swag bags at the Never Have I Ever party, plus handing out more individually at my other appearances, so if you’re going to the Romantic Times convention (https://www.rtconvention.com/ ) next week in New Orleans, come and see me! I’ll make sure you don’t leave empty-handed :).
Here is where you can find me at RT:
Tuesday, May 13: 8:00pm to 10:00pm
Party: Never Have I Ever...New Adult Pajama Party
Join over a dozen New Adult authors for college themed games, fortune telling, plus enter to win raffled off gift cards and more. Dress in your best and most interesting pajamas to win a grand prize-- a $200 gift card! All participants will receive a goody bag. Location: 2nd Floor Room: Gallery 4. Hosts:Jennifer L. Armentrout (aka J. Lynn), Sophia Bleu (aka Genn Albin), Chelsea Cameron, Cora Carmack, Nichole Chase, Chanel Cleeton, Jay Crownover , Lisa Desrochers , Jeaniene Frost, Abbi Glines, Melody Grace , Rachel Harris, Sophie Jordan , Tiffany King , Lauren Layne , Roni Loren , Jamie McGuire , Jen McLaughlin (aka Diane Alberts) , Lyla Payne , Veronica Rossi (aka Noelle August), Andrew Shaffer and Tracy Wolff.
**Note: I’m hosting the Truth or Dare table. In addition to all the normal fun with “dares,” if you have a burning question you think I’d normally deflect, now’s your chance! *wink*
Wednesday, May 14: 1:15pm to 2:15pm
Panel: Strange Worlds, Strong Wills
A place filled with vampires, shapeshifters, demons and magic is exciting, but are the characters living in there up for challenge? Join bestselling authors as they discuss how to craft characters – human or otherwise - that are ready, willing and able to take on the fantastic worlds they live in. Moderator: Jeaniene FrostPanelist(s): Ilona Andrews, Charlaine Harris Marjorie M. Liu. Location: 2nd Floor Room: Studio 2, Preservation Hall.
Wednesday, May 14: 3:45pm to 4:45pm
Panel: Fantasy Lovers
What makes urban fantasy and paranormal romance characters so enticing? Why do our dragons and vampires and weres have so much sex appeal for our readers? Join urban fantasy and paranormal romance authors in exploring the realm of supernatural lovers and otherworldly passion. Panelists: Lara Adrian Alyssa Day Jeaniene Frost Yasmine Galenorn Chloe Neill. Location: 2nd Floor Room: Studio 9. Preservation Hall.
Thursday, May 15: 11:15am to 12:15pm
Panel: HEA The Paranormal Way
Boy Meets Girl has transformed into Creature Meets Girl. Or Boy Meets Creature. From that first look all the way to the final kiss, supernatural couples are lighting up the page. Acclaimed authors discuss the challenges – and perks – of getting to that Happily Ever After when relationships navigate fangs, fur, angel wings or dirigibles along the way.Moderator: Jeaniene FrostPanelists: Meljean Brook, Kresley Cole, Nalini Singh. Location: 2nd Floor Room: Studio 2
Thursday, May 15: 4:00pm to 5:00pm
Panel: What's Next in New Adult?
Is NA more than just angst romance? What’s next in New Adult? Romantic suspense? Thriller? Paranormal? Dystopian? Find out by agents, editors, and authors who are branching out in New Adult. Moderator: Jennifer L. Armentrout (aka J. Lynn)Panelist(s): Amanda Bergeron (Harper Collins, Editor) Jeaniene Frost Angela James (Carina Press, Editorial Director) Kevan Lyon (Marsal Lyon Literary Agency, Agent) Tessa Woodward (Avon Books/HarperCollins, Editor). Location: 2nd Floor Room: Studio 2
Thursday, May 15: 6:30pm to 7:00pm
Giveaway: Avon pub crawl.
Join Avon books and dozens of authors as they give away books, beads and more! Location: Saints and Sinners. (http://saintsandsinnersnola.com/ ) 627 Bourbon Street; New Orleans, LA
Friday, May 16: 4:00 – 6:00pm
Awards ceremony
Cheer on your favorites as RT Book Reviews presents the 2013 Reviewers Choice Awards and the Career Achievement Awards. The Awards Ceremony ticket is included in the general convention registration and anyone with a badge will be allowed into the ballroom. Location:Third floor in the Grand Ballroom (Quarter Tower).
Friday, May 16: 6:00pm to 7:45pm
Party: Avon's Krewe of Muses
In the Krewe of Muses, Avon Books celebrates Erato, the muse of love and poetry, with a fabulous fête featuring more than 50 Avon, Avon Impulse, William Morrow and Harper Voyager authors, who will sign complimentary books and e-books for RT Booklovers Convention attendees! Tasty bites of ambrosia will be served to attendees during the event; and all who come can also enjoy libations fit for goddesses and muses alike. Location: 3rd Floor. Room: Acadia. (Grand Ballroom)
Saturday, May 17: 11:00 – 2:00pm
Book signing
Giant Book Fair. Included in conference attendee fee, plus open to the public. You can purchase a ticket at the door the day of the event. Meet more than 700 authors who will autograph books, poster, e-readers and bookmarks. Bring your “keepers” and have them signed! Location: Third Floor. Grand Ballroom and Mardi Gras ballroom.
Saturday, May 17: 7:00 – 7:45 pm
FAN-tastic Day Party.
Meet a revolving door of hundreds of authors as they make appearances every 30 minutes in this high-energy event. Be one of the first 500 attendees and you'll receive a goody bag filled with free books and promotional items. Dreamspinner Press is providing refreshments and sweet treats for all to enjoy along with lots of free books and giveaways. Among the authors you’ll meet are: Lara Adrian, Ilona Andrews (aka Ilona and Gordon Andrews), Jennifer L. Armentrout (aka J. Lynn), Jaci Burton, Lee Child, Sylvia Day, Jeaniene Frost, Abbi Glines, E.L. James, Eloisa James, Laura Kaye, Lisa Kleypas, Mary Robinette Kowal, Christina Lauren, Jamie McGuire, Jennifer Probst, Tiffany Reisz, Jill Shalvis, Nalini Singh, and Julie Ann Walker! Location: Second Floor. Preservation Hall.
Hope to see some of you at RT!
Haven’t heard me talk about this book and you want more information? Got that and an extended excerpt here: http://jeanienefrost.com/2014/04/the-beautiful-ashes-excerpt-and-audio-news/
Now, to the swag part of the subject line. If you’ve been to any of my signings or seen me at a previous convention, you know that in addition to book marks, I give away character-themed bracelets. Here are some that I’ve done in the past:
For the aforementioned Broken Destiny series, I had some new swag bracelets made, plus engraved coconut-shell necklaces. I forced my niece, Lauren, to model the necklace because I’m an evil aunt ;). See a close-up of the shell under her picture.
I’m giving away 300 of these in swag bags at the Never Have I Ever party, plus handing out more individually at my other appearances, so if you’re going to the Romantic Times convention (https://www.rtconvention.com/ ) next week in New Orleans, come and see me! I’ll make sure you don’t leave empty-handed :).
Here is where you can find me at RT:
Tuesday, May 13: 8:00pm to 10:00pm
Party: Never Have I Ever...New Adult Pajama Party
Join over a dozen New Adult authors for college themed games, fortune telling, plus enter to win raffled off gift cards and more. Dress in your best and most interesting pajamas to win a grand prize-- a $200 gift card! All participants will receive a goody bag. Location: 2nd Floor Room: Gallery 4. Hosts:Jennifer L. Armentrout (aka J. Lynn), Sophia Bleu (aka Genn Albin), Chelsea Cameron, Cora Carmack, Nichole Chase, Chanel Cleeton, Jay Crownover , Lisa Desrochers , Jeaniene Frost, Abbi Glines, Melody Grace , Rachel Harris, Sophie Jordan , Tiffany King , Lauren Layne , Roni Loren , Jamie McGuire , Jen McLaughlin (aka Diane Alberts) , Lyla Payne , Veronica Rossi (aka Noelle August), Andrew Shaffer and Tracy Wolff.
**Note: I’m hosting the Truth or Dare table. In addition to all the normal fun with “dares,” if you have a burning question you think I’d normally deflect, now’s your chance! *wink*
Wednesday, May 14: 1:15pm to 2:15pm
Panel: Strange Worlds, Strong Wills
A place filled with vampires, shapeshifters, demons and magic is exciting, but are the characters living in there up for challenge? Join bestselling authors as they discuss how to craft characters – human or otherwise - that are ready, willing and able to take on the fantastic worlds they live in. Moderator: Jeaniene FrostPanelist(s): Ilona Andrews, Charlaine Harris Marjorie M. Liu. Location: 2nd Floor Room: Studio 2, Preservation Hall.
Wednesday, May 14: 3:45pm to 4:45pm
Panel: Fantasy Lovers
What makes urban fantasy and paranormal romance characters so enticing? Why do our dragons and vampires and weres have so much sex appeal for our readers? Join urban fantasy and paranormal romance authors in exploring the realm of supernatural lovers and otherworldly passion. Panelists: Lara Adrian Alyssa Day Jeaniene Frost Yasmine Galenorn Chloe Neill. Location: 2nd Floor Room: Studio 9. Preservation Hall.
Thursday, May 15: 11:15am to 12:15pm
Panel: HEA The Paranormal Way
Boy Meets Girl has transformed into Creature Meets Girl. Or Boy Meets Creature. From that first look all the way to the final kiss, supernatural couples are lighting up the page. Acclaimed authors discuss the challenges – and perks – of getting to that Happily Ever After when relationships navigate fangs, fur, angel wings or dirigibles along the way.Moderator: Jeaniene FrostPanelists: Meljean Brook, Kresley Cole, Nalini Singh. Location: 2nd Floor Room: Studio 2
Thursday, May 15: 4:00pm to 5:00pm
Panel: What's Next in New Adult?
Is NA more than just angst romance? What’s next in New Adult? Romantic suspense? Thriller? Paranormal? Dystopian? Find out by agents, editors, and authors who are branching out in New Adult. Moderator: Jennifer L. Armentrout (aka J. Lynn)Panelist(s): Amanda Bergeron (Harper Collins, Editor) Jeaniene Frost Angela James (Carina Press, Editorial Director) Kevan Lyon (Marsal Lyon Literary Agency, Agent) Tessa Woodward (Avon Books/HarperCollins, Editor). Location: 2nd Floor Room: Studio 2
Thursday, May 15: 6:30pm to 7:00pm
Giveaway: Avon pub crawl.
Join Avon books and dozens of authors as they give away books, beads and more! Location: Saints and Sinners. (http://saintsandsinnersnola.com/ ) 627 Bourbon Street; New Orleans, LA
Friday, May 16: 4:00 – 6:00pm
Awards ceremony
Cheer on your favorites as RT Book Reviews presents the 2013 Reviewers Choice Awards and the Career Achievement Awards. The Awards Ceremony ticket is included in the general convention registration and anyone with a badge will be allowed into the ballroom. Location:Third floor in the Grand Ballroom (Quarter Tower).
Friday, May 16: 6:00pm to 7:45pm
Party: Avon's Krewe of Muses
In the Krewe of Muses, Avon Books celebrates Erato, the muse of love and poetry, with a fabulous fête featuring more than 50 Avon, Avon Impulse, William Morrow and Harper Voyager authors, who will sign complimentary books and e-books for RT Booklovers Convention attendees! Tasty bites of ambrosia will be served to attendees during the event; and all who come can also enjoy libations fit for goddesses and muses alike. Location: 3rd Floor. Room: Acadia. (Grand Ballroom)
Saturday, May 17: 11:00 – 2:00pm
Book signing
Giant Book Fair. Included in conference attendee fee, plus open to the public. You can purchase a ticket at the door the day of the event. Meet more than 700 authors who will autograph books, poster, e-readers and bookmarks. Bring your “keepers” and have them signed! Location: Third Floor. Grand Ballroom and Mardi Gras ballroom.
Saturday, May 17: 7:00 – 7:45 pm
FAN-tastic Day Party.
Meet a revolving door of hundreds of authors as they make appearances every 30 minutes in this high-energy event. Be one of the first 500 attendees and you'll receive a goody bag filled with free books and promotional items. Dreamspinner Press is providing refreshments and sweet treats for all to enjoy along with lots of free books and giveaways. Among the authors you’ll meet are: Lara Adrian, Ilona Andrews (aka Ilona and Gordon Andrews), Jennifer L. Armentrout (aka J. Lynn), Jaci Burton, Lee Child, Sylvia Day, Jeaniene Frost, Abbi Glines, E.L. James, Eloisa James, Laura Kaye, Lisa Kleypas, Mary Robinette Kowal, Christina Lauren, Jamie McGuire, Jennifer Probst, Tiffany Reisz, Jill Shalvis, Nalini Singh, and Julie Ann Walker! Location: Second Floor. Preservation Hall.
Hope to see some of you at RT!
May 3, 2014
Ebook sale!
Hi, all! I'm busy writing Bound By Flames (Vlad and Leila #3) plus getting things ready for the Romantic Times convention the following week. If you're going, I hope you can stop by one of my events because (a) it's always great to meet people and (b) I went a little overboard with swag this year. I'll post pictures of my giveaway loot next week, but let's just say it includes series-specific bracelets, necklaces and buttons, in addition to my usual book marks and free books.
Now, to the subject line of this post. Barnes and Noble is holding a 50% off ebook sale for their "Spring Favorites." Up From The Grave, the last Cat and Bones novel, is among the titles that B&N selected. If you've already got your copy of that, I'd still check out the sale page because of the other great titles available, like books from Jennifer L. Armentrout / J. Lynn, Eloisa James, Cathy Maxwell, Gillian Flynn and many more. Link here.
Right now, Amazon is matching the prices, but hurry because the sale ends tomorrow (May 4th). Sale price is valid for all US residents. International retailers may or may not choose to match the sale, however (sorry, up to them so out of my hands).
That's it from me for now. Back to writing, and then on Monday, I start stuffing bags full o' swag for RT!
Now, to the subject line of this post. Barnes and Noble is holding a 50% off ebook sale for their "Spring Favorites." Up From The Grave, the last Cat and Bones novel, is among the titles that B&N selected. If you've already got your copy of that, I'd still check out the sale page because of the other great titles available, like books from Jennifer L. Armentrout / J. Lynn, Eloisa James, Cathy Maxwell, Gillian Flynn and many more. Link here.
Right now, Amazon is matching the prices, but hurry because the sale ends tomorrow (May 4th). Sale price is valid for all US residents. International retailers may or may not choose to match the sale, however (sorry, up to them so out of my hands).
That's it from me for now. Back to writing, and then on Monday, I start stuffing bags full o' swag for RT!
April 25, 2014
THE BEAUTIFUL ASHES excerpt and audio news
Hi, everyone! I've finally been given the green light to announce that audio rights for the upcoming Broken Destiny series sold at auction to Blackstone Audio in what Publishers Marketplace would classify as a "significant" deal. Blackstone (called Downpour on the consumer end) was the audio publisher for my first eight novels, so I'm thrilled to be working with them again.
I'm also thrilled to announce that Tavia Gilbert, the audio narrator for all my vampire novels, will be narrating the new series, too. Tavia is a genius with accents, emotions and performance, so I can't wait to hear her rendition of the books.
Speaking of the new series, I've been promising you an excerpt from book one, THE BEAUTIFUL ASHES, and now I'm finally putting out ;). This excerpt takes place in Chapter Two, so it's still early in the story. For a little context, my heroine arrived in town only to be attacked twice and then saved by a stranger, but as you'll see, that's just the beginning of her problems.
If you've never heard me talk about the new series before, I'm pasting the cover and description below. If you've already seen that, just skip to the new stuff after it. Hope you enjoy!
A familiar song was playing, but I couldn’t remember the name. That bugged me enough to open my eyes. A wall of black met my gaze, slick and smooth like glass. I reached up to see what it was, and that’s when I realized my hands were tied.
“Silent Lucidity” by Queensryche, my mind supplied, followed immediately by, I’m in the backseat of a car. One that was well taken care of, going by that flawless, shiny roof. With those details filled in, I also remembered what had happened right before I’d passed out. And who I was with.
“Why are my hands tied?” I said, heaving myself into an upright position.
For some reason Adrian didn’t have a rear view mirror, which was why he had to glance over his shoulder to look at me.
“Does anything make you panic?” he asked, sounding amused. “You’re tied up in the backseat of a cop-killer’s car, but I’ve seen people get more upset when Starbucks runs out of pumpkin spice flavor.”
Anyone normal would panic, not that it would do any good. Besides, I ran out of “normal” a long time ago, when I realized I saw things no one else did.
Speaking of which, why wasn’t I in pain? The lump where Mrs. Paulson had whacked me was gone, and my shirt was red from blood, but aside from a mild kink in my neck, I felt fine. When I pushed my shirt up, somehow, I wasn’t surprised to see smooth, unbroken skin on my abdomen. Well, that and a bunch of crumbs, like I’d eaten a dessert too messily.
“Why does it look like I have angel food cake on my stomach?” I wondered aloud.
Adrian snorted. “Close. It’s medicine. You were injured.”
“You can tell me how I’m not anymore,” I said, holding out my bound hands, “after you untie me.”
Another backwards glance, this one challenging.
“You may be the calmest person I’ve ever been sent to retrieve, but if I tell you now what you want to know, that will change. So pick—the truth, or being untied?”
“Truth,” I said instantly.
He let out a laugh. “Another first. You’re full of surprises.”
So was he. He’d just admitted that he regularly kidnapped people—which was how I translated “retrieve”—so I should be trying my damnedest to get free. But more than anything, I needed answers. Besides, I still wasn’t afraid of him, and somehow, that had nothing to do with him magically healing me.
“Truth, Adrian,” I repeated.
He turned once again and his gaze locked with mine, those odd blue eyes startling me with their intensity. For a moment, I could only stare, all thought frozen in my mind. I don’t know why I reached out, awkwardly touching his arm to feel the hard muscles beneath that bulky jacket. If I’d thought about it, I wouldn’t have done it. Yet I couldn’t make myself pull away.
Then I gasped when his hand covered mine. At some point, he’d taken off his gloves, and the feel of his warm, bare skin sent a shock wave through me. The touch seemed to affect Adrian, too. His lips parted and he edged over the back of the seats—
He yanked on the steering wheel, narrowly avoiding another car. A horn blared, and when the driver passed us, an extended middle finger shook angrily in our direction. I leaned back, my heart pounding from the near collision. At least, that’s what I told myself it was from.
“Dyate,” Adrian muttered.
I didn’t recognize the word, and I was at a loss to place his accent. It had a musical cadence like Italian, but beneath that was a harsher, darker edge.
“What’s that language?” I asked, trying to mask the sudden shakiness in my voice.
This time, he didn’t take his eyes off the road. “Nothing you’ve heard of.”
“I picked truth, remember?” I said, holding up my bound hands for emphasis.
That earned me a quick glance. “That is the truth, but you don’t get more until you meet Zach. Then we can skip all the ‘this isn’t possible’ arguments.”
I let out a short laugh. “After what I saw on Detective Kroger’s face, my definition of ‘impossible’ has changed.”
Adrian swerved again, but this time, no other car was near.
“What did you see?”
I tensed. How did I explain without sounding insane? No way to, so I chose to go on the attack instead.
“Why were you in my hotel room? And how did you heal me? There isn’t even a mark—”
“What did you see on his face, Ivy?”
Despite his hard tone, when my name crossed his lips, something thrummed inside me, like he’d yanked on a tie I hadn’t known was there. Feeling it was as disturbing as my inexplicable reaction to his clasping my hands.
“Shadows,” I said quickly, to distract from that. “He had snakelike shadows all over his face.”
I expected Adrian to tell me I’d imagined it, a response I was used to hearing. Instead, he pulled over, putting the car in park but keeping the engine running. Then he turned to stare at me.
“Was that the only strange thing you saw?”
I swallowed. I knew better than to talk about these things. Still, I’d demanded the truth from Adrian. It didn’t seem fair to lie in return.
“I saw two versions of the same B and B earlier. One was pretty, but the other was old and rotted, and my sister was trapped inside it.”
Adrian said nothing, though he continued to pin me with that hard stare. When he finally spoke, his question was so bizarre I thought I’d misheard him.
“What do I look like to you?”
“Huh?”
“My appearance.” He drew out the words like I was slow. “Describe me.”
All of a sudden, he wanted compliments? I might have finally met someone crazier than me.
“This is ridiculous,” I muttered, but started with the obvious. “Six-six, early twenties, built like Thor, golden brown hair with blond highlights, silvery blue eyes…you want me to go on?”
He began to laugh, a deep, rich baritone that would’ve been sensual except for how angry it made me.
“Now I know why they came after you,” he said, still chuckling. “They must’ve realized you were different, but if they’d known what you could see, you never would’ve made it out of that B and B.”
“You can stop laughing,” I said sharply. “I get that it’s crazy to see the things I do.”
Lots of kids had imaginary friends growing up. I had imaginary places, though at first, I didn’t know I was the only one who could see them. Once my parents had realized that what I kept describing went far beyond childhood fancifulness, the endless doctor visits and tests began. One by one, diseases and psychoses had been crossed off until I was diagnosed with a non-monoamine-cholinergic imbalance in my temporal cortex.
In other words, I saw shit that wasn’t there for reasons no one could figure out. The pills I took helped a little, though I lied and said they got rid of all my hallucinations. I was sick of doctors poking at me. So whenever I saw something that no one else did, I forced myself to ignore it—until Mrs. Paulson and Detective Kroger had tried to kill me, of course.
Adrian did stop laughing, and that unblinking intensity was back in his gaze.
“Well, Ivy, I’ve got good news and bad news. The good news is, you’re not crazy. The bad news is, everything you’ve seen is real, and now, it’ll be coming for you.”
***
I'm also thrilled to announce that Tavia Gilbert, the audio narrator for all my vampire novels, will be narrating the new series, too. Tavia is a genius with accents, emotions and performance, so I can't wait to hear her rendition of the books.
Speaking of the new series, I've been promising you an excerpt from book one, THE BEAUTIFUL ASHES, and now I'm finally putting out ;). This excerpt takes place in Chapter Two, so it's still early in the story. For a little context, my heroine arrived in town only to be attacked twice and then saved by a stranger, but as you'll see, that's just the beginning of her problems.
If you've never heard me talk about the new series before, I'm pasting the cover and description below. If you've already seen that, just skip to the new stuff after it. Hope you enjoy!
In a world of shadows, anything is possible. Except escaping your fate.
Ever since she was a child, Ivy has been gripped by visions of strange realms just beyond her own. But when her sister goes missing, Ivy discovers the truth is far worse—her hallucinations are real, and her sister is trapped in a parallel realm. The one person who believes her is the dangerously attractive guy who’s bound by an ancient legacy to betray her.
Adrian might have turned his back on those who raised him, but that doesn’t mean he can change his fate…no matter how strong a pull he feels toward Ivy. Together they search for the powerful relic that can save her sister, but Adrian knows what Ivy doesn’t: that every step brings Ivy closer to the truth about her own destiny, and a war that could doom the world. Sooner or later, it will be Ivy on one side, Adrian on the other, and nothing but ashes in between…
***
A familiar song was playing, but I couldn’t remember the name. That bugged me enough to open my eyes. A wall of black met my gaze, slick and smooth like glass. I reached up to see what it was, and that’s when I realized my hands were tied.
“Silent Lucidity” by Queensryche, my mind supplied, followed immediately by, I’m in the backseat of a car. One that was well taken care of, going by that flawless, shiny roof. With those details filled in, I also remembered what had happened right before I’d passed out. And who I was with.
“Why are my hands tied?” I said, heaving myself into an upright position.
For some reason Adrian didn’t have a rear view mirror, which was why he had to glance over his shoulder to look at me.
“Does anything make you panic?” he asked, sounding amused. “You’re tied up in the backseat of a cop-killer’s car, but I’ve seen people get more upset when Starbucks runs out of pumpkin spice flavor.”
Anyone normal would panic, not that it would do any good. Besides, I ran out of “normal” a long time ago, when I realized I saw things no one else did.
Speaking of which, why wasn’t I in pain? The lump where Mrs. Paulson had whacked me was gone, and my shirt was red from blood, but aside from a mild kink in my neck, I felt fine. When I pushed my shirt up, somehow, I wasn’t surprised to see smooth, unbroken skin on my abdomen. Well, that and a bunch of crumbs, like I’d eaten a dessert too messily.
“Why does it look like I have angel food cake on my stomach?” I wondered aloud.
Adrian snorted. “Close. It’s medicine. You were injured.”
“You can tell me how I’m not anymore,” I said, holding out my bound hands, “after you untie me.”
Another backwards glance, this one challenging.
“You may be the calmest person I’ve ever been sent to retrieve, but if I tell you now what you want to know, that will change. So pick—the truth, or being untied?”
“Truth,” I said instantly.
He let out a laugh. “Another first. You’re full of surprises.”
So was he. He’d just admitted that he regularly kidnapped people—which was how I translated “retrieve”—so I should be trying my damnedest to get free. But more than anything, I needed answers. Besides, I still wasn’t afraid of him, and somehow, that had nothing to do with him magically healing me.
“Truth, Adrian,” I repeated.
He turned once again and his gaze locked with mine, those odd blue eyes startling me with their intensity. For a moment, I could only stare, all thought frozen in my mind. I don’t know why I reached out, awkwardly touching his arm to feel the hard muscles beneath that bulky jacket. If I’d thought about it, I wouldn’t have done it. Yet I couldn’t make myself pull away.
Then I gasped when his hand covered mine. At some point, he’d taken off his gloves, and the feel of his warm, bare skin sent a shock wave through me. The touch seemed to affect Adrian, too. His lips parted and he edged over the back of the seats—
He yanked on the steering wheel, narrowly avoiding another car. A horn blared, and when the driver passed us, an extended middle finger shook angrily in our direction. I leaned back, my heart pounding from the near collision. At least, that’s what I told myself it was from.
“Dyate,” Adrian muttered.
I didn’t recognize the word, and I was at a loss to place his accent. It had a musical cadence like Italian, but beneath that was a harsher, darker edge.
“What’s that language?” I asked, trying to mask the sudden shakiness in my voice.
This time, he didn’t take his eyes off the road. “Nothing you’ve heard of.”
“I picked truth, remember?” I said, holding up my bound hands for emphasis.
That earned me a quick glance. “That is the truth, but you don’t get more until you meet Zach. Then we can skip all the ‘this isn’t possible’ arguments.”
I let out a short laugh. “After what I saw on Detective Kroger’s face, my definition of ‘impossible’ has changed.”
Adrian swerved again, but this time, no other car was near.
“What did you see?”
I tensed. How did I explain without sounding insane? No way to, so I chose to go on the attack instead.
“Why were you in my hotel room? And how did you heal me? There isn’t even a mark—”
“What did you see on his face, Ivy?”
Despite his hard tone, when my name crossed his lips, something thrummed inside me, like he’d yanked on a tie I hadn’t known was there. Feeling it was as disturbing as my inexplicable reaction to his clasping my hands.
“Shadows,” I said quickly, to distract from that. “He had snakelike shadows all over his face.”
I expected Adrian to tell me I’d imagined it, a response I was used to hearing. Instead, he pulled over, putting the car in park but keeping the engine running. Then he turned to stare at me.
“Was that the only strange thing you saw?”
I swallowed. I knew better than to talk about these things. Still, I’d demanded the truth from Adrian. It didn’t seem fair to lie in return.
“I saw two versions of the same B and B earlier. One was pretty, but the other was old and rotted, and my sister was trapped inside it.”
Adrian said nothing, though he continued to pin me with that hard stare. When he finally spoke, his question was so bizarre I thought I’d misheard him.
“What do I look like to you?”
“Huh?”
“My appearance.” He drew out the words like I was slow. “Describe me.”
All of a sudden, he wanted compliments? I might have finally met someone crazier than me.
“This is ridiculous,” I muttered, but started with the obvious. “Six-six, early twenties, built like Thor, golden brown hair with blond highlights, silvery blue eyes…you want me to go on?”
He began to laugh, a deep, rich baritone that would’ve been sensual except for how angry it made me.
“Now I know why they came after you,” he said, still chuckling. “They must’ve realized you were different, but if they’d known what you could see, you never would’ve made it out of that B and B.”
“You can stop laughing,” I said sharply. “I get that it’s crazy to see the things I do.”
Lots of kids had imaginary friends growing up. I had imaginary places, though at first, I didn’t know I was the only one who could see them. Once my parents had realized that what I kept describing went far beyond childhood fancifulness, the endless doctor visits and tests began. One by one, diseases and psychoses had been crossed off until I was diagnosed with a non-monoamine-cholinergic imbalance in my temporal cortex.
In other words, I saw shit that wasn’t there for reasons no one could figure out. The pills I took helped a little, though I lied and said they got rid of all my hallucinations. I was sick of doctors poking at me. So whenever I saw something that no one else did, I forced myself to ignore it—until Mrs. Paulson and Detective Kroger had tried to kill me, of course.
Adrian did stop laughing, and that unblinking intensity was back in his gaze.
“Well, Ivy, I’ve got good news and bad news. The good news is, you’re not crazy. The bad news is, everything you’ve seen is real, and now, it’ll be coming for you.”
***
Excerpt from THE BEAUTIFUL ASHES, releasing August 26th.
Pre-order from: Amazon, BAM, Powells, B&N, iTunes, Indiebound, or your favorite retailer.
April 16, 2014
Night Prince 3 title!
Thanks for all your music recommendations on my previous post! I'm burning up my iTunes account making a new playlist as we speak. Now, to the subject line of this post. Yes, the next Vlad and Leila novel finally has a title! For anyone worried that it contains the word "thrice," never fear. We didn't want that any more than you did ;). Without further ado, I give you:
BOUND BY FLAMES, Night Prince book three *throws fiery confetti*
As I mentioned in my last post, the newly-titled BOUND BY FLAMES will release on January 26th, 2015. I've already seen the cover and it again features model Paul Marron in all his hard-bodied glory. As usual, until everything is finalized on the cover, I'm not allowed to reveal it. I'm also not supposed to reveal the stepback (inside artwork on the first page after the cover) until everything is done with that, too. However....*wicked grin*....while I can't show you ANY part of the cover whatsoever, no one at my publisher specifically forbade me from showing ANY piece of the stepback, so I'm going to take that as tacit consent ;).
That being said, here is absolutely NOT the entire stepback art (don't be mad, Avon, I couldn't resist!)
Remember, if you're reposting this pic on your blog (and feel free to; I loved it so much I didn't even wait for permission) this isn't part of the cover. It's only a piece of the stepback. As for the actual cover, true to previous Night Prince ones, you'll see just Vlad on it and he'll be showing a lot of skin. As soon I get the official go-ahead from my publisher, I'll release that. Sorry for the wait, but I'm probably in enough trouble as it is, heh.
That's all from me. Happy Wednesday, everyone!
BOUND BY FLAMES, Night Prince book three *throws fiery confetti*
As I mentioned in my last post, the newly-titled BOUND BY FLAMES will release on January 26th, 2015. I've already seen the cover and it again features model Paul Marron in all his hard-bodied glory. As usual, until everything is finalized on the cover, I'm not allowed to reveal it. I'm also not supposed to reveal the stepback (inside artwork on the first page after the cover) until everything is done with that, too. However....*wicked grin*....while I can't show you ANY part of the cover whatsoever, no one at my publisher specifically forbade me from showing ANY piece of the stepback, so I'm going to take that as tacit consent ;).
That being said, here is absolutely NOT the entire stepback art (don't be mad, Avon, I couldn't resist!)
Remember, if you're reposting this pic on your blog (and feel free to; I loved it so much I didn't even wait for permission) this isn't part of the cover. It's only a piece of the stepback. As for the actual cover, true to previous Night Prince ones, you'll see just Vlad on it and he'll be showing a lot of skin. As soon I get the official go-ahead from my publisher, I'll release that. Sorry for the wait, but I'm probably in enough trouble as it is, heh.
That's all from me. Happy Wednesday, everyone!
April 9, 2014
Night Prince 3 news, song rec request and Up From The Grave's playlist
Hi, all, got some news for you: Night Prince #3, the still-untitled third novel in Vlad and Leila's story, has an official release date! It's coming out January 26th, 2015. Yes, nine and a half more months from now, but I hope you'll think it's worth the wait once it's finally here. As soon as I have a title, back cover description and/or pre-order links, I'll list those, too, so stay tuned.
Speaking of Night Prince 3, I'm doing my usual shout-out for song recommendations. As many of you know, I write each book to its own "playlist," but right now, I'm writing NP3 while listening to TWICE TEMPTED's playlist because I haven't made a new one yet. Many of your previous recommendations have ended up in my playlists, so can you help me out again? I mostly like alternative and rock, with a little pop, rap and retro, too. To give you a more specific idea, here's the playlist I listened to while writing UP FROM THE GRAVE (meant to post this closer to the book's release, so my apologies for the delay.) Usual disclaimer: There’s no special meaning for the book in these songs and music tastes are subjective, so if you don’t like the music I like, no problem. Just please don’t tell me that I shouldn't like it, because if it’s listed, I do, thus no arguing on your part will change my mind :).
Layout is Band name: songs (if more than one from the same band). Bands are in alphabetical order, not in order of preference or the order that I listened to them.
Apocalyptica: Not Strong Enough.
Band of Horses: Is There A Ghost, The Funeral.
David Crowder Band: Come Find Me, Sometimes.
David Guetta / Sia: She Wolf
Imagine Dragons: Radioactive, Tiptoe, It's Time, Demons, Hear Me, Every Night, Bleeding Out.
The Killers: Miss Atomic Bomb
Lifehouse: Gotta Be Tonight, Between The Raindrops, Only You're The One, Where I Come From, Always Somewhere Close, Had Enough, Smoke and Mirrors, By Your Side, All That I'm Asking For, Crash and Burn, Don't Wake Me When It's Over.
Matt Maher: Alive Again.
Mumford and Sons: Babel, I Will Wait.
The National: Fake Empire, Bloodbuzz Ohio, Demons, Sea of Love, Graceless.
One Republic: All We Are, Feel Again.
The Script / Will.i.am: Hall of Fame.
Shinedown: Unity, I'm Not Alright, Miracle, For My Sake, Through the Ghost.
Skylar Grey: Coming Home, part 2.
Snow Patrol: In The End.
Within Temptation: The Howling, Frozen, All I Need, Stand My Ground, What Have You Done, Angels, Memories.
Speaking of Night Prince 3, I'm doing my usual shout-out for song recommendations. As many of you know, I write each book to its own "playlist," but right now, I'm writing NP3 while listening to TWICE TEMPTED's playlist because I haven't made a new one yet. Many of your previous recommendations have ended up in my playlists, so can you help me out again? I mostly like alternative and rock, with a little pop, rap and retro, too. To give you a more specific idea, here's the playlist I listened to while writing UP FROM THE GRAVE (meant to post this closer to the book's release, so my apologies for the delay.) Usual disclaimer: There’s no special meaning for the book in these songs and music tastes are subjective, so if you don’t like the music I like, no problem. Just please don’t tell me that I shouldn't like it, because if it’s listed, I do, thus no arguing on your part will change my mind :).
Layout is Band name: songs (if more than one from the same band). Bands are in alphabetical order, not in order of preference or the order that I listened to them.
Apocalyptica: Not Strong Enough.
Band of Horses: Is There A Ghost, The Funeral.
David Crowder Band: Come Find Me, Sometimes.
David Guetta / Sia: She Wolf
Imagine Dragons: Radioactive, Tiptoe, It's Time, Demons, Hear Me, Every Night, Bleeding Out.
The Killers: Miss Atomic Bomb
Lifehouse: Gotta Be Tonight, Between The Raindrops, Only You're The One, Where I Come From, Always Somewhere Close, Had Enough, Smoke and Mirrors, By Your Side, All That I'm Asking For, Crash and Burn, Don't Wake Me When It's Over.
Matt Maher: Alive Again.
Mumford and Sons: Babel, I Will Wait.
The National: Fake Empire, Bloodbuzz Ohio, Demons, Sea of Love, Graceless.
One Republic: All We Are, Feel Again.
The Script / Will.i.am: Hall of Fame.
Shinedown: Unity, I'm Not Alright, Miracle, For My Sake, Through the Ghost.
Skylar Grey: Coming Home, part 2.
Snow Patrol: In The End.
Within Temptation: The Howling, Frozen, All I Need, Stand My Ground, What Have You Done, Angels, Memories.
