Updates, New York Times, new boxset, Stuff and Daily Mail articles, and Attitude Awards

Me after 12 hours of constant learning and laughing and talking at RWNZ. Seriously, though – this hotel bed was the best.

This is just a little update to tell you about some of the crazy exciting things that have been going on in my novel-writing life.

First of all, I just typed THE END on my latest novel – an urban fantasy co-written with the fabulous Lindsey R Loucks. It’s called Petrified City and it is dark and delicious and full of action and madness and ghosts and guns and shapeshifting ravens and Jurassic Park references and all the good stuff. It’s coming out next month, but if you want to read it first, you should be following my Patreon.

I got back from RWNZ (Romance Writers of New Zealand) conference completely inspired and energised. I presented two workshops – one on blogging, the other on writing books in series – and they seemed to go over pretty well. Highlights of the conference for me were:

a talk by urban fantasy legend Keri Arthur (I adore her books) about the push/pull of her career and how she’d weathered all these incredible writing challenges.
an incredible workshop about identifying your fears and being the hero of your own story, from Hollywood story specialist Michael Hauge (he worked on Hitch)
and Heather Graham (this amazing lady has written more than 200 books!) who was just bubbly and fabulous and friendly and wonderful.

I spent the whole weekend talking books and writing with some of the most inspiring, talented, savvy and fun ladies. Seriously, I couldn’t stop smiling because everyone was so kind and rad and everyone I met was just brilliant. So much talent in one room. Oh, and my hotel room … between the two enormous, cosy, cloud like beds all to myself and the shower so large I could swing two cats, and the spa-bath and the little bottles of conditioning treatment and did I mention the beds?

These ladies (and a few gents) have got it going ON. Cannot WAIT for next year’s conference (which is down in Wellington, so ROAD TRIP. Plus, I’m gonna bring my husband, too :))

I HAVE NOOS. So much noos.

Magic & Mayhem hit number 27 on the USA Today bestseller list, and 13 on the New York Times bestseller list! It’s fucking amazing to see a project you worked your ass off hanging out in the NEW YORK FUCKING TIMES. So woo! Now I have to edit all my book covers … again. :)

I’m also participating in a new box set – Fall into Magic. This is an urban fantasy and paranormal romance box set, with 19 other amazing authors including a ton of NYT and USA-Today bestsellers. It’s only $0.99 right now and I suggest you get your copy toot-sweet!

An article about my books and celebrating life appeared in the local newspaper, because I did a little meet-and-greet at the local library, and it was reprinted here on Stuff.co.nz: Green’s books, beasts and bethrothals. Thankfully, they turned comments off (Stuff commenters are notorious for basically being the cesspool of the internet), but my friend Shane kindly supplied me with a few so I wouldn’t feel left out. I’ve reprinted them for you as they made me giggle.

“I bet she’s a bloody immigrant pushing up Auckland housing prices!”

“All writers are just bludgers sucking money away from hard working people like me and my white friends she needs to spend some time in the army that will straighten her up GET A REAL JOB”

“Typical, a woman thinking she can do what she wants, when she wants, my wife would never run off to greece to study ROCKS i mean i don’t have a wife because i am repulsive but the point is vote John Key.”

And THEN, that article caught the eye of a reporter at the Daily Mail, so they picked up my little story, too (Although they mainly focus on my wedding celebrant hobby). Meet the alternative wedding celebrant who officiates gothic, vampire, and medieval nuptials.

Probably the biggest news of all is that I am a finalist in the Artistic Achievement category for the 2016 Attitude Awards. These awards are given out every year to New Zealanders who have a disability and who exemplify the values of the Attitude Trust, and who have achieved at a high level in their chosen profession or pursuit. It is such an amazing honour to be a finalist. I am absolutely blown away. CDH and I will be attending the gala awards dinner, and I am really looking forward to dressing up snazzy, eating glorious food, and celebrating the achievements and triumphs of some pretty incredible kiwis.

Phew.

So, needless to say, it’s been a bit of a wild month! I hope yours has been filled with some excitement and joy, too. Also, who is thrashing the new Wardruna track? It is sooooo good.

When I’m not talking to reporters about vampires or lounging around in hotel suites that look like clouds, I write science fiction and paranormal romance novels. If you want the details first when new books come out, then sign up for my newsletter (you get a couple of free books, too!). Or, better yet, become a Patreon backer and get all the behind-the-scenes info, more free books, bonus material, and my eternal gratitude