New YA Contest!

FAB fans! I'm starting a new contest wherein you will name the male teenage vampyre hero in the series that I'm coauthoring with my wonderful daughter! The winner who comes up with the name I use will receive a beautiful Goddess necklace and an autographed copy of the first YA book published.So...what do ya'll think? What's a delicious (but clearly angst-ridden and poetic) teenage vampire name? Let me have it!

Back from Dallas...

First - of course the weather was fine. I mean, I was at a gathering of witches. Please. Like they can't do some weather witching and calm a storm away? We didn't even get rain.

Second - I had a WONDERFUL time!!! There's nothing like a lovely gathering of Pagans to get the blood pumping. Nice people - great stuff for sale - good food - plenty of booze. Oh, and an attentive audience. What more could I want? Sexy men you say? Well, they were all taken...sadly. But there is always next year.

Research...research...research...

Oh, stay tuned. I do believe I will have some excellent YA news to report very soon!

MaryJanice Rules!

Okay, I'm just going to admit it - I'm a huge MaryJanice Davidson fan. And I consider her a friend, so I can tell you that she is funny and fantastic and authentic. So BUY HER BOOKS. Especially the anthology I'm in with her (it's not out till August 2006, but put it on your "to do" list, please). Here's her latest anthology...just something to read whilst we're waiting for the next Undead book:

“The Misadventures of Boo and the Boy Blunder” featured in KICKASS by MaryJanice Davidson
(Berkley, September 2005)

A tale of a woman who knows how to save the day - and enjoy the rewards at night.
“The Incredible Misadventures of Boo and the Boy Blunder” by MaryJanice Davidson. Former police officer Gregory wonders how life can be so unfair. Recently, he was turned into a vampire and to make matters worse, he has met his soulmate (that is, if he had a soul). The problem is his beloved wants to kill him as Boo is a bona fide vampire hunter.

Excerpt:
http://www.maryjanicedavidson.net/KickAss%20Chapter.htm

Cover:
http://a1204.g.akamai.net/7/1204/1401/05052316011/images.barnesandnoble.com/images/9700000/9702750.jpg



ABOUT MARYJANICE DAVIDSON
MaryJanice Davidson is the best-selling author of several romance novels, including UNDEAD AND UNWED and HELLO GORGEOUS. Her books have been on the USA Today best seller list, as well as the New York Times list. She lives in Minnesota with her husband, two children, and dog, and is secretly addicted to Peanut Buster Parfaits.


Website: http://www.maryjanicedavidson.net

Pagan and Wiccan and Druids...oh my!

In the morning I'm off to spend the weekend in Dallas teaching a lovely workshop and signing books at the 33rd Gathering of the United Earth Assembly. For those of you not in the know - that's a fabulous assembly of Pagans and Wiccans and Druids, etc. The etc. is because these folks accept other beliefs very easily - in other words you won't get snubbed or booted out or hexed (that's such bullshit, by-the-by) if you're a curious Christian dropping in. Which is not often the case the other way around.

Anyway, I'm a little worried about the weather. My Mustang does NOT like rain. So keep me in your thoughts...light a candle...cast a lovely circle or whatnot that I return home safe on Sunday. I'll report all then, dahlings!

New YA Series!

Okay, keep your fingers crossed! I've just emailed my proposal and chapter 1 of a new YA series to my agent. And I'm proposing that my 18 year old daughter, the phabulous Kristin, coauthor it with me! I can't give out any details right now, but I will say that it's paranormal and it is AWESOME! Plus, I don't think I've ever had so much fun writing a proposal and first chapter as I did this one with my daughter.

I'll give details as I get them. For right now keep positive thoughts coming my way!

Kick Ass Women

Whether you like the strong, ass-kicking modern heroine or not, I think we can all agree that it's about damn time that publishers got excited about women being able to create that kind of heroine. So let's give a nodd to Angela Knight and her latest kick-ass-now-take-names-later heroine:

“Warfem” featured in KICK ASS by Angela Knight
(Berkeley Trade, September 2005)

They're sexy. They're smart. And they aren't afraid of a little danger-not even when it comes to matters of the heart... Four of today's hottest authors present a quartet of stories about bold women who take no prisoners-either in a fight or in love. Whether it's in the bedroom, in the outer limits of the galaxy, or out on the mean streets, they kick heart-stopping action to the next level. These are women who can hold their own and aren't to be trifled with. The men in their lives know that-and they love it...


In “Warfem,” Alina Kasi reunites with her lover Baird Arvid after two decades apart. Passion instantly blazes between the two superhuman warriors, but old enemies and new lies may tear them apart. And Alina dreads what Baird will do when he finds out about the secret she’s been keeping for the past twenty years. But she soon discovers she’s not the only one keeping secrets.

Excerpt:
http://www.angelasknights.com/warfem.htm

Cover:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/images/0425205649/ref=dp_image_0/002-3514918-5875253?%5Fencoding=UTF8&n=283155&s=books



ABOUT ANGELA KNIGHT
Angela Knight's first book was written in pencil and illustrated in crayon; she was nine years old at the time. But her mother was enthralled, and Angela was hooked.
In the years that followed, Angela managed to figure out a way to make a living -- more or less -- at what she loved best: writing. After a short career as a comic book writer, she became a newspaper reporter, covering everything from school board meetings to murders. Several of her stories won South Carolina Press Association awards under her real name. For more of Angela’s interesting bio, visit her website: http://angelasknights.com/bio.htm


REVIEWS
WARFEM got 4 ½ stars from Romantic Times, which said, “Passion and intrigue are plentiful in Knight’s ‘Warfem.”
Speaking of the whole anthology, Jill Smith wrote, “It would be hard to find a more exciting way to spend a few hours. Settle in for tons of fun and enjoyment.”
In Warfem, Angela Knight gives us a fantastic story of a love that never died and another look at those yummy Warlords! – Pam L at A Romance Review. Four and a half Roses http://www.aromancereview.com/reviews/index.php?app_state=show_event&bookid=6065
These four women live up to the title so anyone who enjoys strong women kicking butt and hog tying their beloved will enjoy this fun often amusing but always exciting anthology -- Harriet Klausner


Website: http://www.angelasknights.com

Help for Katrina Teachers

As some of you know, besides being an author I've been teaching at the high school and college level for about 12 years. I'm cutting and pasting info forwarded to me at school in case any of you are interested in how we can support the teachers who are going through this terrible time. Let's remember that by supporting a teacher, you are likely touching the lives of unnumbered children as well.


Helping Other Teachers after Katrina
EZezine

The devestation and after-affects of Katrina are spreading far and wide. There are teachers who no longer have a teaching position and have no idea whether there will be a teaching position waiting for them later. At this point the Orleans Parish is not even sure whether they will open again for the 2006-2007 school year. This means that many teachers are now without a job, a home, and supplies to begin teaching in a new location (if possible). There are schools in Texas, Alabama, Missippi, and Florida that are taking in new students who have been temporarily relocated. For some of these districts, they are also looking for more teachers to accomodate the increased student populations. There are many different organizations already dedicated to helping the victims of Katrina. We want to encourage you to support the teachers and students displaced by this devestating storm. Below are a list of links to learn more about what has happened in the hardest hit school districts and ways you can help.National Education Association - www.nea.org/katrina/index.html has pledged 1 million dollars to the relief effort. They also have some excellent resources for addressing this devestation with students and for working with students and teachers displaced by the storm. They also have a place where you can make a donation towards the relief fund.Louisiana Department of Education provides updates on the districts hardest hit by the hurricane and offers a variety of resources for displaced teachers, students, and parents. They have home study options for students as well as a Frequently Asked Questions page. If you are a displaced teacher, administrator, or staff member from Louisiana, this is an excellent site to get reconnected. If you are interested in what is happening and ways you can help, this site is an excellent source of information.Alabama Department of Education is offering help for displaced teachers and students.Mississippi Department of Education site is also offering updates for displaced teachers and students as well as information on what is happening with those districts hardest hit.Hurricane Help for Schools is a site from the US Department of Education designed to help get supplies to those schools and teachers who are taking in new students from the devastated areas. You can view what different schools need and let them know what you are able to provide. If you are a school in an area taking on new students, you can list the items needed.As teachers we all know how difficult it is to get started from scratch. Many teachers in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida are now without a classroom, without necessary supplies, and many have lost everything. By joining forces we can try to help them recover and move forward. As the relief efforts continue, we will keep you updated with new resources available.Our thoughts and prayers are with all those affected by this storm.If you have any questions, comments, or supplies you would like to share, please let us know and we will try to gather the information and get it where it is needed.Sincerely,Emma S. McDonald, M.Ed.Inspiring Teachershttp://www.inspiring teachers.com

YEA! HEART OF THE DRAGON RELEASE!!

Finally it's September and the release month for my lovely girlfriend's newest book, HEART OF THE DRAGON! Gena Showalter is my buddy, so I manged to grab a copy of Heart Saturday! I'll be putting my nose in it as soon as I turn in the rewrite of Goddess of the Rose Tuesday. Here's the info on it. Enjoy!!!

HEART OF THE DRAGON by Gena Showalter
(HQN Books, September 2005)

He’ll make you burn…
He is a Dragon, a rare breed of warriors able to transform into the legendary creature at will. Though the mighty warlord breathes fear into the minds of his enemies and fire into the blood of his women, no one has ever stirred his heart -- until he encounters Grace Carlyle of modern day Earth. He burns to possess this proud, alluring beauty . . . but he has sworn to kill her.

Journey to the mythical world of Atlantis, where the gods’ hid their greatest mistakes – the vampires, demons, dragons, and other creatures of legend – and experience white-hot passion, exciting adventure, and a love that defies the boundaries of time and magic.

Excerpt:
http://members.cox.net/genashowalter/excerpt.htm

Cover:
http://members.cox.net/genashowalter/images/dragoncoversm.gif


ABOUT GENA SHOWALTER
Gena Showalter holds a Ph.D. in Quantum Physics (lie), is an expert in Krav Maga (bigger lie), and once worked as a body guard for the stars (the biggest lie of all). Actually, Gena Showalter is just your everyday, average girl who enjoys creating sizzling paranormal tales of kick ass women and the men who can't resist them.

REVIEWS

"Sexy, funny and downright magical!" -- USA Today bestselling author Katie McAllister

This romantic fantasy is a magical work where dragons take on human form and have different values than the surface dwellers. Atlantis is an exotic city populated by dragons, vampires, centaurs, and other beings of myth and legend. There is plenty of action as well as romance in the storyline as the book will appeal to a wide range of readers. Gena Showalter has the magic touch to make readers believe in what she writes. -- Harriet Klausner
(In Heart of the Dragon) Showalter pens a bold and exciting new vision of both Atlantis and dragons. Lots of danger and sexy passion give lucky readers a spicy taste of adventure and romance. – RT Bold and witty, sexy and provocative, Gena Showalter's star is rising fast! -- Carly Phillips, New York Times Bestselling Author
Heart of the Dragon is a bang-up twist to the old fairy tail with its dragon hero. Grace's character brings a refreshing change to the damsel in distress with her full steam ahead attitude and persistence. Ms. Showalter leads the reader on a thrilling adventure that even the coldest heart will acknowledge and love. – The Romance Reader’s Connection



Website: http://www.genashowalter.com