Sex and YA

I'm curious about your response to this. The following is an article from Newsday on the new trend to up the sexual content in YA - specifically targeted at girls. I think it's a destructive trend and to discount is as harmless and just entertainment is very shortsighted. I'm interested in this not just because I'm a thinking woman who has opinions of her own, and because I've taught teenagers for fifteen years and I hate seeing this teenage generation's outward attitude of "hey, it's just a blow job," and then watch the silent desperation of girls who let themselves be exploited, but also because I'm the mother of a 19 year old, and author of a YA series. And, yes, the sexual content of my series has been a point of dissention between my editor and me. Here's the article:

Sex and the Teenage Girl
What goes on between the covers is now what goes on between the covers of new fiction aimed at young adults
BY TANIA PADGETTNewsday Staff WriterApril 4, 2006

She had the type of body that looked even better naked than in clothes. Soft without being fat, and more delicate than her usual costumes of preppy, neatly creased jeans and cashmere cardigans or short, tight little black dresses let on. She was still a pain in his ass, but they'd been in and out of love pretty much since they were 11 years old and he wanted to get naked with her for even longer.
Sound like a passage from a sex-soaked Danielle Steel novel? It isn't. And the audience isn't the typical adult female romance reader.This book, "Nobody Does It Better" (Little Brown, $9.99), is aimed at girls, ages 14 to 18. It's the latest (2005) in the bestselling "Gossip Girl" series by Cecily von Ziegesar.And that was just page one.Young-adult fiction has come a long way from Nancy Drew, the 16-year-old sleuth whose most intimate encounter with a guy was probably a batting of eyelashes at boyfriend Ned Nickerson.But today's teenage fiction, with its slick covers, eye-riveting blurbs and steamy plots, is exploding off bookstore shelves, fattening anemic publishers' profits and attracting millions of television-worshiping teens. The market has become so lucrative that non-book publishing companies, like MTV, are elbowing into the increasingly crowded niche.But the books' popularity has also given rise to a small chorus of detractors who worry that the content is too racy. In many of the books, teens have sex, do drugs, use profanity, and plot and scheme against each other with glinting treachery.

Naomi Wolf, whose feminist work, "The Beauty Myth," launched her to fame, argued in an essay for the Sunday New York Times last month that today's books for teens "package corruption with a cute overlay."

"The problem is a value system in which meanness rules, parents check out, conformity is everything and stressed-out adult values are presumed to be meaningful to teenagers," she wrote.

In the past year alone, the biggest sellers in the young-adult market have been series, including "Gossip Girl," "The Clique" by Lisi Harrison and "The A-List" by Zoey Dean. And sales are showing no signs of slowing down. Plots are fast-moving and dramatic, but also formulaic: party-hopping girls with runway-model looks, who often leave skid marks racing from one reckless rich and famous adventure to another.Many girls, some as young as 13, gobble these books up, vaulting titles to the top of The New York Times bestseller list and emboldening publishers to start developing movies or television series from their content. Meanwhile, producers of popular teen TV shows, such as Fox's "The OC" and MTV's "Laguna Beach," plan to roll out books based on those series as they try to capitalize on this literary bonanza.

"Books are catching up with the rest of entertainment and becoming much more attractive to the young teen audience," said Leslie Morgenstein, president of Alloy Entertainment in Manhattan, which developed the "Gossip Girl" books. "And the content is no worse than what girls are already seeing on television."

A potent brew. Brisk sales of these books are not surprising. Mix a recipe of sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll, or hip-hop, and you've created a potent brew that is sure to at least pique teenage interest.It wasn't that long ago when the young-adult fiction market was much like the geeky girl or guy at the high-school dance: around but largely ignored. Ten years ago, the classics, fantasy books and innocuous series such as "Sweet Valley High" dominated sales. But demand for teen books with more adult themes began to coincide with the advent of edgier content on cable television and the boomlet in U.S. teenagers.Between 1990 and 2000, the number of youths between ages 12 and 19 climbed to 32.4 million in the United States, an increase of 4.5 million, according to a survey by Media Mark Research last year using U.S. Census data.That increase also brought a tidal wave of teenager spending income (about $115 million in 2003), which was not lost on the book industry. From 1995 to 2004, book sales in the young-adult market surged 86.9 percent to $444.4 million, according to statistics compiled by Albert Greco, a marketing professor at Fordham University in the Bronx.Joe Monti, a book buyer at Barnes & Noble, said the release in the late 1990s of "Smack," by Melvin Burgess, about British teens on heroin, and "Holes," by Louis Sachar, about a teen sent to summer detention camp, helped change the face of the young-adult market.

"Unlike other books, these tackled tough issues that teenagers face," Monti said. "The sales were incredible." During a recent visit to the B. Dalton Booksellers store in Roosevelt Field, a group of Division Avenue High School students from Levittown were found eyeing the young-adult selections. Katie Duggan, 17; Danielle Yarsinske, 18; Diana Hajjar, 18, and Allison O'Rourke, 17, acknowledged that many of the books are "mindless entertainment," but that hasn't stopped them from snapping up the latest popular titles."I've read all the ['Gossip Girl'] books," said Duggan, a senior. "The characters are rich and live such dramatic lives. And their parents never tell them anything. I sometimes wish my parents were like that."

Hajjar said, "It's like 'Sex and the City' for teens."

"I wasn't a big reader before," Yarsinske added. "But I really enjoy the books."

O'Rourke, who would prefer burying her nose in Shakespeare and other classics, said she doesn't have "a problem with teens reading them."Nor do a handful of parents and librarians who specialize in young-adult fiction and agreed to talk to Newsday. The adult content in these books does not wreck teenagers values, said Barbara Paulinski at Floral Park Memorial High in Floral Park. "I'd like to think [the books] present a teaching moment for parents," she said. Besides "I don't think you get your basic core values from what you read or what you hear. You get them from your home."

"I don't think many of the young adult books are done irresponsibly," said Teri Germano, a librarian at Masters Moriches Shirley Library, in Shirley. "Many are done with reason and sensitivity."That, of course, has only whetted publishers' appetite. But their stampede to snap up young-adult dollars and market share did yield at least one public major misstep. Simon & Schuster's release last year of "Rainbow Party," an unflinching tale by Paul Ruditis of teen oral sex, sparked heated discussion and a slew of newspaper articles about the salacious nature of teen literature. The novel's front cover boasted a photo of opened colored lipsticks; its back cover was filled with provocative blurbs. Many stores refused to stock the title and the much-promised sales never materialized.Barnes & Noble's Monti said he chose not to stock "Rainbow Party" because it was competing with other young-adult fiction that was better written.Bethany Buck, vice president and editorial director of the division that published "Rainbow Party," said the dustup created by the book was "because adults don't want to believe that teens are having sex." She said the company plans to continue publishing books aimed at teens.Morgenstein, of Alloy Entertainment, described the "Rainbow Party" failure as more of an aberration than a controversy. "This company is in the business of creating mass entertainment," Morgenstein said. "At the end of the day, the market draws a line at what is too edgy."Alloy has been at the helm of bestselling teen fiction, he said, helping to produce 40 books last year, 17 of which were national bestsellers, including "The A-List" and "The Clique."TV and movie projectsMorgenstein said the company is in talks with Warner Bros., The WB and Universal to develop "Gossip Girl"; "The Au Pairs," another bestselling series by Melissa de La Cruz, and "The A-List" into television and movie projects.MTV has announced plans to follow suit. Louise Burke, the young-adult book president for the music video network, said it plans to release this month the first installment of four different book series.The books are colorful, well written and move with the same breathtaking pace as an MTV video. "'Gossip Girl' set the bar," Burke said, "but nobody knows teenagers better than MTV. We're planning to take the market down."And that, according to the detractors, is the exact direction where teenage values are heading. Wolf, the author, said she believes pornography is surreptitiously being slipped into the milieu of teens without their parents' knowledge.As a result, "young girls are becoming numb to the sexual experience," said Wolf, who suggested putting rating labels on the books. "They do it with movies. I don't see why they can't do it with books."
Copyright 2006 Newsday Inc.

Fellow Berkley Sensation author Angela Knight

Here's a nod to my sister Berkley Sensation author, Angela Knight, and her delicious new werewolf novel, MASTER OF WOLVES. Here's the info:

MASTER OF WOLVES by Angela Knight
(Berkeley Sensation, April 4, 2006)

When Jim London's best friend is murdered, Jim vows to catch the killer. Leaving it for the local police to solve is out of the question, because he suspects they are involved.
Jim is more than capable of taking action if they are -- he's a werewolf. Realizing the only way to investigate the department is from the inside, he decides to go undercover -- as a police K-9.
His "handler" is lovely Faith Weston, the only person on the Clarkston Police Department who isn't up to her neck in murder. But Faith has no idea her "dog" Rambo is a werewolf, or that the department she serves is rotten with corruption.
But it doesn't take her long to figure it out.


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

Cover:
http://images.amazon.com/images/P/0425207439.01._SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg



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


Website: http://www.angelasknights.com

Bitchery Writing Award for Hellagood Authors I'm a finalist!!

The fabulous, witty, and hilarious Smart Bitches at http://www.smartbitchestrashybooks.com have begun the first annual BWAHA Awards - Bitchery Writing Award for Hellagood Authors, and I am honored to report that BRIGHID'S QUEST is a finalist in the Best Paranormal: Fantasy/SF/Other Worlds Romance category!! Okay, seriously, I would LURVE to win this wicked cool award, so I would definitely appreciate your votes. Just follow the link to Smart Bitches and scroll down till you find the "And the nominees are..." entry, then send your vote to Sarah or Candy. Here are all the very talented nominees for all the categories:

Best Contemporary:
Match Me If You Can by Susan Elizabeth Phillips
Hot Tamara by Mary Castillo
Breaking Point by Suzanne Brockmann
Black Ice by Anne Stuart
Wedding Survivor by Julia London
Ex and the Single Girl by Lani Diane Rich
Mouth to Mouth by Erin McCarthy

Best Historical:
Smuggler’s Bride by Darlene Marshall
Mr. Impossible by Loretta Chase
Siren by Cheryl Sawyer
It Happened One Autumn by Lisa Kleypas
The Secret History of the Pink Carnation Lauren Willig
The Veil of the Night by Lydia Joyce

Best Series/Contemporary:
Ultra Violet by Ellen Henderson
Her Body of Work by Marie Donovan
The Orchid Hunter by Sandra K. Moore

Best Series/Historical:
Lady Silence by Blair Bancroft
Dedication by Janet Mullany

Best Romantica/Erotic Romance:
“Skin Deep” by Jasmine Haynes, from Twin Peaks
Take Me by Bella Andre
Dragon’s Fire by Tielle St. Clare
Promises Prevail by Sarah McCarty
Off the Record by Matthew Haldeman-Time
Bound to Trust by Jaci Burton
Best Erotica Mercenaries by Angela Knight
24/7 by Susan DiPlacido
Crossing the Line by Stephanie Vaughan

Best Paranormal: Vampires, Werewolves and the Supernatural:
Haunted by Kelley Armstrong
Dark Lover by JR Ward
Undead and Unappreciated by MaryJanice Davidson
Erotique by Alessia Brio
Waxing by Megan Powell

Best Paranormal: Fantasy/SF/Other Worlds Romance:
The Compass Rose Gail Dayton
Heart Choice by Robin D. Owens
Poison Study Maria V. Snyder
Brighid’s Quest by PC Cast
Unmasked by CJ Barry

Deidre Knight's debut book!

Deidre Knight is my good friend Gena Showalter's agent - so I know from Gena that she is totally fab. Gena also says her first book, a paranorma,l is excellent. I have it in my TBR pile and will dive in when I get out of Deadline Hell. Here are the particulars so you can check it out for yourself whilst I slough my way through Goddess of Love:

PARALLEL ATTRACTION by Deidre Knight
(Signet Eclipse, April 4, 2006)

It has been years since exiled alien king Jared Bennett thought of anything other than his people's fight for freedom. Now his rebel force has the one weapon that can turn the tide against their enemy: the key to the secrets of time. Victory has never been closer-but one woman has the power to change everything.Kelsey Wells can't deny that there is something unearthly about her fierce attraction to Jared Bennett. His revelations about alien wars and time travel can't possibly be fact-yet with every seductive touch, every searing kiss, Kelsey circles closer to the truth: that although Jared is exactly what he says, he hasn't told her everything. And when the future crashes into the present, Kelsey must decide if his deception will cost them the love that should have been their destiny.

Excerpt:
http://www.deidreknightbooks.com/pa_excerpt.html

Cover:
http://images.amazon.com/images/P/0451218116.01._SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg



ABOUT DEIDRE KNIGHT
Deidre Knight is president of The Knight Agency, which she founded in 1996. Since that time, she has grown the agency to national prominence, landing authors on every major bestseller list. Deidre began her writing career at age nine, when her award-winning essay on Barbie was published in her hometown newspaper, the Atlanta Journal and Constitution. She has been writing in one form or another ever since. After nearly a decade of working with Knight Agency clients, helping them discover their creative potential, her fiction debut with NAL in 2006 marks the fulfillment of her own lifelong writing dream. She is excited to embark on yet another new and fulfilling creative journey.


REVIEWS

Debut author, Deidre Knight, immerses the reader in a world that’s believable, fascinating, and extremely sensual between two people who meld into one as their love escalates. The sensuality builds to a crescendo, the plot plummets your emotion then brings you back, while bating your wishes for more at the end. Completely mesmerizing, PARALLEL ATTRACTION leaves you hoping for more. – Romance Junkies

An intriguing new voice in paranormal fiction has arrived! Knight kicks off an exciting new series that explores the power of conviction and unintended consequences. This novel is chock-full of passion, betrayal and redemption and will certainly leave you wanting more! – Romantic Times

Without a doubt this is one compelling and absolutely phenomenal read! Knight's opening foray into the paranormal world is … intensely erotic, passionate, and riveting … In two words, "totally fabulous"!
I was instantly caught up in the heart wrenching betrayal of a precious love that was taken from two innocents. … I am so looking forward to seeing more stories … from an author who has brought a highly imaginative and provocative breath of fresh air into the paranormal realm! Brava! Overall Rating: 10 -- Marilyn of www.RomanceDesigns.com


Website: http://www.deidreknight.com
The PARALLEL Experience http://www.deidreknightbooks.com

My lovely friend Jill Monroe (ur...she's nasty)

I'll just "out" her. Jill Monroe looks like a kindergarten teacher, but she's really a very naughty girl. And here's my evidence: her latest book. The girl writes very hot stuff. Check her out. Above you'll find the lovely cover. I especially like the fan because I can't sleep without one, so fans always conjour images of bed and night and...well...hot, steamy monkey sex.

Here's the rest of the pertinent info about her book. Please buy it. She has small children she must feed.

Hannah Garrett has always felt safe in the dark. It meant she never had to show people the truth. On the run from a man who wants to kill her, Hannah's learned to keep to herself and not get attached....Until she meets Ward Coleman.Being around her sexy coworker has awakened a need she'd forgotten — and it's not just this heat wave that has Hannah hot and bothered. But she can't afford to get too close, especially when she's not sure she can trust him.What she doesn't know is that Ward is on to her and is determined to learn her secrets. And getting caught in a hot, dark elevator is the best place to find out all this undercover FBI agent needs to know.

Romantic Times called Share The Darkness a "great read" and gave it 4 Stars. You can pick up your copy from Barnes&Noble, eHarlequin and Books A Million

Huh? New book?

Hey y'all. Liz Maverick's Crimson Rogue is out and I'm in deadline hell. Would someone please read it and tell me if it's as fab as it sounds? Here's the stuff on it:

CRIMSON ROGUE by Liz Maverick
(Dorchester, April 2006)

From the four strata of Crimson City come rogues: vampire, werewolf, human, demon. These rebels, rakes and unsung heroes have turned their backs on the extravagant vampire skyway, the gritty werewolf underground, the iron-fisted human stronghold and the fiery power of the demon underworld. Walking a thin line between heaven and hell, they make their own rules and follow their own destinies. Ironically, they will be the ones to determine if the City flourishes or fails. Cydney Brighton knows them well, for she too is now rogue. Having escaped hell, she’s discovered that the City is not what it once was—and neither is she. Only one man understands her, understands what it means to be someone or something beyond control. He’s ready to come out of the darkness; and part-man, part-machine, he’s willing to sacrifice almost anything to make himself whole.


Excerpt:
http://www.dorchesterpub.com/Dorch/SpecialFeatures.cfm?Special_ID=2058

Cover:
http://images.amazon.com/images/P/0505526255.01._SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg

Other links:

Crimson City Hub
http://www.crimsoncity.com

Crimson City city resident’s blog
http://crimsoncity.blogspot.com


ABOUT LIZ MAVERICK
Liz Maverick is a world traveler, novelist, and freelance travel writer whose contract assignments have taken her around the globe. She’s driven trucks in Antarctica, attended university in the New Territories of Hong Kong, and worked on reality TV shows in California. Liz writes women's fiction comedy for Penguin Putnam’s NAL imprint and futuristic/paranormal action romance for Dorchester and Red Sage.


REVIEWS
“An original, dark and fascinating world….” —RT BOOKclub


Website: http://www.lizmaverick.com

YA author photo(s) - finally.

Well, Kristin was home for spring break last week (goddess help me). Okay, don't get me wrong. I adore my kid. She's great. She's fabulous. She's amazing. SHE'S A PAIN IN THE ASS. I considered using the cat's body to smother her. Hey, come on! The cat has been plotting her death for years! Okay, seriously, it was nice to see her and I do miss her. Most of the time. Whilst she was here we finally got our author photo for St. Martin's taken together. Here are the two we like best. What do y'all think? Which would be best for our YA novels?

Still Reigning as Lucky Cover Bitch

http://www.smartbitchestrashybooks.com/

The Smart Bitches at Smart Bitches Trashy Books dubbed me Lucky Cover Bitch. Naturally, I love it. I'm not shy or modest about much of anything, especially not about my amazing covers. I have excellent cover chi, which is more proof to me that God is a girl.

So I thought I'd share with you the incredibly covers for my next two LUNA books. First, DIVINE BY MISTAKE, which is the much anticipated LUNA edition of GODDESS BY MISTAKE. It'll be released in September. For those of you who have read GbM - what do you think of the artist's rendition of Shannon? I adore it! And the background and dias are especially fantastic! But much as I love DbM, I've been impatiently waiting to see its sequel, DIVINE BY CHOICE, in print for almost 5 years, and the cover did not disappoint me. Check it out! (Sorry, when I uploaded them to the blog their order is reversed...I'm kinda the computer impaired so please bear with me.

The Divine Feminine & The Beltane Papers

I had to share with y'all a wonderful magazine, The Beltane Papers (http://www.thebeltanepapers.net). The magazine is all about empowering women and the Divine Feminine. I'd like to say I discovered it, but the truth is they discovered me. One of their editors is a fan, and there is a very well written interview with me in the current issue. They sent me a copy of the magazine and I was stunned by its beauty and insightful articles - of course I immediately subscribed. Check it out!

Fallen Angel Reviews Interview

I thought y'all would like to check out my interview for the lovely ladies at Fallen Angel Reviews: http://www.fallenangelreviews.com

P.C. Cast Interview
Fallen Angel Reviews would like to welcome best-selling author PC Cast. Thank you so much for taking the time to answer our questions. PC Cast is the author of the Goddess Summoning series as well as the Partholon stories. I have been lucky enough to read most of the Goddess series, but haven't yet picked up the Partholon books. Are these two series entwined or can they be read as stand alones?
My Partholon and my Goddess Summoning series are completely different. The Partholon books for LUNA are all set in a world of my creation which is loosely based on Celtic mythology, and they are considered more “fantasy” than “paranormal romance,” even though all of my books, no matter the genre, have strong romantic elements. The Luna books do share characters and one follows the other, but I work hard to be sure that they can be read separately. My Goddess Summoning books truly stand alone. Once in a while I’ll have overlapping characters, but each book is a separate story unto itself.

Do you have a character that is especially close to your heart?
This is a hard question because I become emotionally involved with all of my characters. I will say that the centaur Huntress, Brighid, from BRIGHID’S QUEST is very close to me. Through her I dealt with several issues involving my own childhood and family. Brighid’s mother and my biological mother ended up being disturbingly similar, and like Brighid, I, too, had to learn to overcome a lot of childhood baggage in order to evolve into a healthy adult.

Do you have any special rituals to help you get in the mood to write?
I used to have to light my special butter rum candle, brew tea (or pour wine – depending on the time of day), and escape to a quiet room to write. I don’t have that luxury anymore. The truth is too often people view authors through highly romanticized lenses. Actually, writing is a profession, and even though I love it – it’s still a job. So I have to be able to produce work with or without the rituals and perfect settings.

How do you know what to name your books or the characters?
Book titles are very changeable. You’d be surprised how often authors have little or nothing to do with them. I’ve had so many young authors come to me agonizing over “I can’t figure out a title for my book!” I tell them just call it anything, and write it. It’s very likely your editor will change it anyway. Characters are different (although I have had an editor request I change a main character’s name before). I do a lot of name research. Meanings and sounds are important to me. And then when it’s right – I just know it.

Where do you get the inspiration for your stories?
Lots of different places! During research I find idea after idea after idea. Sometimes I brainstorm plots with an editor. Sometimes there’s a story that I’ve been passionate about telling for quite some time, as in my February release, GODDESS OF THE ROSE, which is a retelling of Beauty and the Beast. Finding ideas for books has never been difficult – they just keep coming and coming and coming!

While writing, how does the story develop for you? Do you go from start to finish or create scenes as they come to you?
I write from start to finish after completing a proposal, which is usually from 5 to 10 pages outlining the beginning, middle, end, and main characters of the novel. Usually chapter 1 comes to me very easily, then I struggle for about 200 pages, then the book starts to write itself (I wish that part happened sooner!).

How many hours a day do you spend writing?
It varies greatly depending on deadlines and where I am in the writing process. After I hit about 200 – 250 pages I can’t stay away from the computer and writing for 10-12 hours a day isn’t unusual. Even when I’m not actually writing my mind is constantly percolating plots and scenes, so that when I do sit down to write my time tends to be very productive.

Most people only dream of becoming a successful writer. Now that you have accomplished that is there anything else you dream of doing?
Actually, I won’t consider myself a “successful writer” until I consistently hit major lists. I always set my goals high and I’m rarely really pleased with myself until I accomplish them. Other dreams…hum…I’d like to speak fluent Italian…take pottery classes…travel around the world… I have a secret desire to be an artist; it’s a shame I don’t have the talent to go with the desire!

What would you like to accomplish with your writing career?
World dominance by women! Okay, just kidding (sort of). I want to help women feel good about themselves and remind them that we should rely on our intuition and gut instincts more – as well as treasure our girlfriends.

What is the biggest misconception about being an author?
That there’s some secret magic formula to writing. It’s simply hard work and tenacity – nothing more, or less, romantic.

What is the best advice that anyone ever gave you?
In life: don’t ever date anyone you wouldn’t at least consider marrying. In writing: just write the book you love! Don’t worry about the publisher or the editor or the agent or which way the readers are buying or not buying. Just write what you love. That’s really the only part you can control anyway.

Have you ever had an embarrassing moment at a book signing?
Oh, jeesh, lots of them. Only I wasn’t really “embarrassed.” I think bemused would be a more accurate word. People have asked me where the restrooms are…to help them find a book because clearly I must work there…and over and over “You mean you really wrote these books??” Sigh. I’ll bet people don’t ask Nora Roberts to point them to the potties!

You have a new book out, Goddess of the Rose, the fourth in your Goddess Summoning series; do you see an end for this series or do you have more ideas in the works?
Well, right now I’m working on my spring Goddess Summoning book, GODDESS OF LOVE, in which Venus is my heroine. I do have ideas for several more, but I also have several other paranormal series I’m itching to write, so we’ll see…

Can you give us a peek into Goddess of the Rose?
Absolutely! I love this book! Goddess of the Rose is a retelling of Beauty and the Beast – with a modern, adult slant. My heroine, Micki (named after the Mikado Rose), and all the women in her family have a special affinity for roses – their blood, diluted in water and applied during the night of a new moon, makes roses grow spectacularly. What the women don’t know is that they have this ability because they are descendants of a High Priestess of the Goddess Hecate. Hecate is Goddess of Night, Magick, the Crossroads of Man, and of Beasts. She is also the proctrectess of The Realm of the Rose – the place wherein all dreams and magick originate. This realm is guarded diligently by The Guardian, a creature on which the myth of the Minotaur was based. The Guardian swore himself into Hecate’s service for eternity, and in return the Goddess gifted him with the heart and soul of a man, even though he has the body of a beast. But all is not well in The Realm of the Rose. The Guardian made a terrib! le mistake, arousing the Goddess’s wrath to such an extent that she bespelled him and the realm, and Hecate swore that they would sleep eternally unless the Beast was awakened by a woman who carried the magickal blood of Hecate’s priestess, and was wise enough to see the truth, and compassionate enough to act upon it. Micki does awaken the Guardian and he abducts her to The Realm of the Rose thinking that she would automatically break the curse placed on the realm and set things to right, but modern woman Micki is a very unexpected kind of High Priestess, and there are forces at work within the realm, both of love and of hatred that might change the shape of dreams and magick for all of eternity unless Micki is brave enough to make the ultimate sacrifice…

Is there anything else you'd like to add?
I would like readers to know that there seems to have been an unfortunate mistake made with my release date of GODDESS OF THE ROSE. Way back last summer Berkley decided to move up the release from April to March, and then, finally, to February. Well…not everyone got the word on the February date change, so there has been some problem with purchasing and distribution. I would very much appreciate it if my fans would request that the book be ordered in through their local chain bookstores if they don’t find it on the shelf. That would help to correct the release date confusion. I would also like to send a Big “thank you!” to my wonderful fans. The women who read my books are loyal and intelligent and fabulous! I truly appreciate and love to hear from them! And thank you Fallen Angel Reviews!!

Thank you again for taking the time to talk with us. If you'd like to read more about Ms. Cast and her books, you can take a look at her website at: www.pccast.net. Interviewed by: Serena

OH MY GOD(DESS)!!

FABULOUS NEWS! My editor emailed me today saying that GODDESS OF THE ROSE is #38 on the Barnes and Noble romance mass market bestseller list!! Oh baby oh! In celebration, here's a wonderful image of Venus, the heroine of my next Goddess Summoning Book, GODDESS OF LOVE.


And now I have to watch some trash TV and finish my lovely glass of red wine. (I'll be popping some bubbly this weekend, never fear.) Project Runway is on, ya know...

Valentine's Day...romance or...or...retching?

So...today I started writing my next Goddess Summoning Book. It'll be the 5th one in the series, and it's titled GODDESS OF LOVE. I thought it was appropriate to literally begin it on Valentine's Day. I mean, please. Valentine's Day = Romance. Right? Well...Okay, I'm not complaining but currently I'm BM. No, that doesn't mean bowl movement. That means I'm - for the moment - Between Men. (Unfortunately I don't mean that literally. Talk about an interesting Valentine's Day...) Anyway, I got a lovely flower from one of my favorite students. Yep. A 16 year old. Uh, no. That really doesn't count as a romantic present - sweet, but NOT romantic. What would I really like today?? I browsed for a while and found the perfect gift for a woman BM - BATMAN! Yes yes yes. I do have a soft spot (actually, several of them) for The Dark Knight.

But, seriously (not that I'm not serious about Batman). What did y'all get for V Day? Was it romance or retching?

Back to GODDESS OF LOVE. Yes, I can appreciate the irony.

So many damn good books...

My friend and fellow Luna author, Robin Owens, has a Feb. release, too. Please check her out! Here's the info:

SORCERESS OF FAITH by Robin D. Owens
(Luna, February 1, 2006)

With the world of Llandrana threatened by encroaching evil, the Sorcerers must do the unthinkable—Summon an outsider to stop the insidious Darkness slowly taking control of their land and poisoning the Sorcerers themselves.
Arriving in Lladrana, grad student Marian Harasta is stunned to find herself the center of a dispute among Sorcerers who want to augment their Power with her own. She must quickly learn her new magical Powers – and decide who she can trust in this strange land. She has prayed for a miracle to save her brother – could Lladrana offer that knowledge, and can she somehow return to Earth with it?
She knows she must offer the Sorcerers something in exchange, and ridding them of the Evil Sorcerer is what they want, but how will she fare in her first magical duel?
With unexpected help – and unexpected betrayal – Marian must determine where her true fate lies.


Excerpt:
http://www.robindowens.com/reads/sorceress_of_faith.htm


Cover:
http://images.amazon.com/images/P/0373802218.01._SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg



ABOUT ROBIN D. OWENS
Robin D. Owens has been seriously writing longer than she cares to recall, but is very happy with how her writing career is proceeding. She was named the Writer of the Year by Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers in 2004, and 2003 Writer of the Year by the Denver Area Science Fiction Association. Robin has been the librarian, contest co-chair, and President of Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers. She has given seminars at Pikes Peak Writers Conference, the Colorado Gold Writers Conference, and Romance Writers of America as well as other groups.


REVIEWS

Marian is a fantastic heroine, both fiercely intelligent and independent, as well as willing and able to stand up for herself and what she wants. This book will enchant readers who enjoy strong heroines. – Romantic Times

Website: http://www.robindowens.com

FINALLY! GODDESS OF THE ROSE IS RELEASED!

Whew. It seems I've been waiting forever for the release of this book. Finally it's here. It should be available everywhere today, Feb 1st. Okay...BUT...here's where I need the help of my fans. As those of you who check my website know, Berkley moved the release of GotR up from April to March to Febuary. Well, seems there has been a kink caused by the movement. Without going into big, nasty detail it appears that not everyone got the word that I'm a Feb release. Which is bad...really, really bad. So the only way to fix this and save this fabulous book is for you guys to GO TO A CHAIN BOOKSTORE (live or via the internet) AND BUY THE BOOK. Quickly. So my numbers look good fast and they reprint and reoffer the book around the table with the buyers. I do promise you that you'll love it. Promise. Really.

Here's the amazing cover and a teaser:

Goddess of the Rose is a delicious retelling of Beauty and the Beast – with a modern, adult slant. Micki (named after the Mikado Rose) and all the women in her family have a special affinity for roses – their blood, diluted in water and applied during the night of a new moon, makes roses grow spectacularly. What the women don’t know is that they have this ability because they are descendants of a High Priestess of the Goddess Hecate. Hecate is Goddess of Night, Magick, the Crossroads of Man, and of Beasts. She is also the proctrectess of The Realm of the Rose – the place wherein all dreams and magick originate. This realm is guarded diligently by The Guardian, a creature on which the myth of the Minotaur was based. The Guardian swore himself into Hecate’s service for eternity, and in return the Goddess gifted him with the heart and soul of a man, even though he has the body of a beast. But all is not well in The Realm of the Rose. Centuries ago the Guardian made a terrible mistake, arousing the Goddess’s wrath to such an extent that she bespelled him and the realm. Hecate swore that they would sleep eternally unless the Beast was awakened by a woman who carried the magickal blood of Hecate’s priestess, and was wise enough to see the truth, and compassionate enough to act upon it.

Micki does awaken the Guardian and he abducts her to The Realm of the Rose thinking that her presence will automatically break the curse placed on the realm and set things to right, but modern woman Micki is a very unexpected kind of High Priestess, and there are forces at work within the realm, both of love and of hatred, that might change the shape of mankind's dreams and magick for all of eternity unless Micki is brave enough to make the ultimate sacrifice…

Please join me in this sensual retelling of my favorite fairytale, GODDESS OF THE ROSE, available NOW!

Sexy new release from GENA SHOWALTER!

Sorry I've been mute lately. (Remind me - why did I think I could write a YA series in my "spare time"? AAAAHHHHH!) Anyway, I'm coming out of hibernation to gush about my girlfriend Gena Showalter's February release JEWEL OF ATLANTIS! I got an early look at this book, and I can assure you that it is a fabulous, sexy fantasy - truly delicious! I'd love to hear your feedback after you buy and devour it. Here's the info: (and check out the great cover!)


Jewel of Atlantis by Gena Showalter

Enter a mythical world populated with vampires, dragons, demons and Nymphs. . . enter a world of dark seduction and powerful magic. . . enter Atlantis….
All of Atlantis seeks the Jewel of Dunamis, which legend claims can overcome any enemy. Gray James, human agent of the ultra-secret Otherworld Bureau of Investigation, has orders to keep it from the wrong hands – or destroy it. What he doesn’t know is that Jewel is a woman, not a stone. But once he meets this precious gem, destroying her is the last thing on his mind. . .
Jewel, part goddess, part prophet, is a pawn in Atlantis’s constant power struggles. She needs Gray’s help to win freedom and uncover the secrets of her mysterious origins. Gray needs her wisdom to navigate monster-ridden Atlantis. But need blossoms into passionate love as they fight demons, dragons, vampires – and a prophecy that says the bond between them could destroy them both.

“This is one story you absolutely cannot miss!” 5 stars. Singletitles.com

“Showalter's fans will enjoy her breezy tone, fast-paced plotting, and sexy humor, set against a backdrop of malevolent demons, vampires, and dragons.” Barnes and Noble.com editors

Buy from Amazon or Barnes and Noble.com

Visit Gena’s website at http://www.genashowalter.com

Let's talk series...

Jeri Smith-Ready brought up an excellent writing point when she posted about having difficulty writing the second book in her LUNA series. It got me thinking ("A dangerous thing." "I know..."). Book #2 in a series is damn hard to write, and it's damn hard to find good ones, too. I've done it twice, and am almost ready to add a third 2nd book in a series (now that's confusing sounding) to my resume with the middle book in my YA contract. I'm not particularly looking forward to it. Here's the problem: the 2nd book needs to be able to stand alone, so the author must give enough info about the first book to fill in the new reader whilst not pissing off/boring someone who has already read book one. See - it's damn hard to do. I struggled hard with this writing Brighid's Quest. I wanted the book to stand alone - and from the reviews and readers' comments I think I managed that - but I did have to pay homage to Elphame's Choice. Of course what was more difficult was writing Divine by Choice - the sequel to my first book, Goddess by Mistake (which is going to be re-released under the title Divine by Mistake in September), because when I wrote GbM I didn't have a clue I was going to end up writing a sequel...let alone the 5 books I've sold to LUNA set in that world. Sigh. I can tell you that today I would have done several things different in GbM and made my life much easier later on...

So - what sequels have you found that are as good - and maybe better - than the first book? What jumps out at me first is Anne McCaffrey's classic Dragon Quest, which I loved even more than the first fabulous Pern book, Dragon Flight. I also adored Amelia Atwater-Rhodes' second Hawk book Snakecharm. Oddly enough, Diana Gabaldon's second Outlander book was just okay, but the third kicked ass.

What do you guys think?

SMART BITCHES REVIEW! LUURV THE BITCHES!

Check out the amazing review of Brighid's Quest posted by my favorite Smart Bitch, Sarah @ http://www.smartbitchestrashybooks.com. Here's a sneak peek: (and feel free to go to the site and chime in on the discussion!)


Brighid's Quest by PC Cast
Dude. She's half a horse!
Title: Brighid's QuestAuthor: PC Cast Publication Info: Luna Books 2005, ISBN: 0373802420Genre: Science Fiction/FantasyTrashy Books Grade: A-

I took Brighid’s Quest with me to the hospital when I was induced, but I didn’t remember a page of what I read due to the wonders of labor, and the even deeper wonders of post-episiotomy percocet. Mmm. Percocet. But it is a testament to PC Cast’s writing that what fuzzy details I did remember, I wanted to get back to and reread as soon as I returned to my somewhat-normal self. I usually do not reread the opening pages of books if they prove to be forgettable. Brighid’s Quest is not forgettable in the least. It’s marvelous.

Brighid is a centaur, which, for the mythologically uninitiated, means her back end is a horse. She’s human from the waist up, equine from the waist down. And according to the descriptions and passing comments from other characters, either half of her is pretty hot. She is the Huntress for Clan MacCallan, which means she is the official hunter providing game for the clan’s keep. Brighid is fiercely protective of her clan, her position within the clan, and her friends, specifically the clan Chieftan, Elphame, last seen in the prequel to this book, Elphame’s Choice. Brighid left the Centaur Plains to escape the Machiavellian machinations of her mother, High Shaman of the Dhianna Herd. Brighid was expected, as eldest daughter, to follow her mother into the position of High Shaman after her mother’s death, but the increasingly militant and anti-human beliefs of her herd, coupled with the cruelty and abuses of power committed by her mother and brother, led Brighid to find her own life outside of her home and family.
That’s more than enough for a story, right? But wait! There’s more!
"More, more, more!"
Brighid has become an essential part of the Clan MacCallan. As Huntress, she holds a position of respect within the clan, and as close friend of the Chieftan commands her own share of personal respect as well. It doesn’t hurt that, as I mentioned, half-horse or not, she’s pretty hot.
The Clan MacCallan has been left in a state of upheaval by the events told in Elphame’s Choice, and as this book begins, Elphame’s brother Cuchulainn has journeyed to the Wastelands to bring back the New Fomorians, a group of half-demon, half-human hybrid people whose lives were saved by Elphame. Elphame is worried for her brother, who is in deep mourning for his lost love, killed by one of the half-demon Fomorians. Brighid volunteers to journey to the Wastelands to accompany Cuchulainn as he leads the New Fomorians back to the clan castle in Partholon.
When Brighid arrives in the Wastelands to meet the hybrid New Fomorians, she finds that Cuchulainn is a fragment of his former self, and realizes that part of her assignment, though unspoken, is to lead Cuchulainn back to himself as she and Cu lead the New Fomorians back to Partholon to be a part of the Clan MacCallan.
And that is more than enough for a story, right? But wait! There’s more!
Brighid must also learn to embrace the part of herself that is her mother’s daughter, that is, the part of her that is a High Shaman and has a connection to the spirit realm. Having rejected her herd and her responsibility to follow her mother into the position of High Shaman, Brighid has also rejected the spirit world and tries to resist the signs, messages, and premonitions she receives. Unfortunately, resisting one’s destiny is not easily done.
Brighid’s Quest hinges neatly into two halves: Part One is the tale of Brighid’s first quest: leading the New Fomorians into Partholon with Cuchulainn, and realizing how she alone can help Cuchulainn heal himself from the grief that has literally fragmented his soul. Part Two is the tale of Brighid’s second quest, as she realizes her destiny and tries to find a balance between her new life in Clan MacCallan, and her destiny as High Shaman of the Dhianna Herd.
The unifying element to these two halves is Cuchulainn, the hero of the story. PC Cast has set up quite a challenge for herself, in that it is very difficult to make a hero out of a grieving man who has just lost his love. Often the lost love is too good to be believed, shallow, one-dimensional, or revealed to be evil. Brenna is none of these, and, to make matters more challenging, was a friend of Brighid, who is mourning her loss along with Cuchulainn. But on the journey from the Wastelands to Partholon, which parallels Cuchulainn’s journey back to himself, Brighid and Cuchulainn realize they have feelings for one another, and both must struggle with their attraction as well as their guilt over betraying Brenna’s memory. And all of this emotional acknowledgement has to be managed without turning the reader off entirely, especially readers who are coming from the prequel and who “know” Brenna.
The other challenge is that Brighid, by virtue of being a centaur, well, to be blunt, she’s half a horse! I read this book the first week home from the hospital, bit by bit between feedings, rocking, and figuring out a baby’s nap schedule, and it was really freaking difficult to put the book down and go tend to anything else. Not only is this a wonderfully told story, but dude, she’s half a horse and there’s some serious attraction between Brighid and Cuchulainn, who’s a human, i.e. not half a horse. The possible logistics of the love scene were dinner discussion between Hubby and myself, because, did I mention, she’s half horse?!
I won’t spoil the answer as to how the happy-happy happens, don’t worry.
Brighid’s Quest contained some of my very favorite romantic elements: an emotionally wounded hero who is afraid of risking his heart a second time; heroine who can heal him, though at great personal cost; and a journey that has to bridge two very different cultures - that last one happens multiple times in multiple combinations, between the New Formorians, the Clan humans, the centaurs, the spirit realm, and the Goddess Epona, the ruling deity over the entire group. But even as I frothed at the mouth (ha) to find out how Brighid and Cuchulainn would find happiness and how the New Fomorians would find a way to live with the distrustful human Clan members, I had to ask myself: is this a romance, or is this a hybrid itself?
While there are strong romantic elements to the story, I would have to argue that it is not a romance entirely. It’s more of a hybrid between romance, fantasy, and, if we readers were members of the Clan MacCallan, an epic tale as well.
My one disappointment with the story is something of a spoiler, so as usual, if you don’t want to know, you know what not to do. Cuchulainn spends chapters struggling with his grief, his feelings of guilt over Brenna’s death, and then further feelings of guilt over his growing regard for Brighid. But when it comes time for him to admit that he cares for Brighid, and that he can choose a future with her, he arrives quickly at a state of acceptance over his feelings and his intentions toward Brighid. For someone who struggled emotionally through the entire first part of the novel, Cuchulainn admitted his attraction to Brighid and acted upon it a little too fast for me, not only because I thought he would have to struggle with it a bit more (and not just because, hello, she’s half a horse!) but also because the shift in his feelings for Brighid and vice versa mark the hinge between parts 1 and 2 of this book, and I felt the transition went too quickly. I can’t believe I’m saying this, but there wasn’t quite enough angst for an already angst-filled character.
The most telling sign of my fondness for this book is that I keep stalling as I write this because my copy is sitting next to me, and if I pick it up to check a plot point or the spelling of a name, I start reading again, even though I finished the book a little over a week ago. I don’t even skim the pages; I start reading it in detail like I’ve never seen the words before. Brighid’s Quest is definitely a combination of several different and equally strong genres, but it also manages to be a hardy example of each one. I could recommend it to readers of romance, or readers of fantasy, with no hesitation.
Unless they want to borrow my copy. Ha. Mine.
"Was it good for you?"

MYSTERIA ANTHOLOGY!

Oh, baby! Just got the cover for the MYSTERIA Anthology. The release date is July 2006, and I can not wait! I love this anthology, and I love the three other talented authors who are in it with me: MaryJanice Davidson, Susan Grant, and Gena Showalter. Here's a teaser:
Hunky werewolves, delicious demons and, drop-dead sexy witches all have the same address…

Mysteria

Hundreds of years ago, in the mountains of Colorado (just close enough to Denver for great shoe shopping), the small town of Mysteria was “accidentally” founded by a random act of demonic kindness. Over time, it has become a veritable magnet for the supernatural—a place where magic has quietly coexisted with the mundane world.

It’s a town like any other town, where the high school’s Fighting Fairies give fans something to cheer about, where everyone knows your name—if not exactly what you are—at the local bar, and where the wishing well actually lives up to its name.

Strange occurrences happen every day, but now the ladies of Mysteria are about to unleash a tempest of seduction that will have tongues wagging for centuries to come…

The women of Mysteria…

Charlene Houtenan is the voluptuous local realtor, who knows a hot property when she sees one. And when a new werewolf appears in town, she’s going to make a move he can’t resist.

See her seal the deal in New York Times bestselling author MaryJanice Davidson’s “Alone Wolf.”

Harmony Faithfull is the new minister in town. She’s having a crisis of faith—in herself—until she finds a buck-naked man in her garden, a former demon who unleashes the devil inside her.

Watch her find heaven in national bestselling author Susan Grant’s “Mortal in Mysteria.”

Candice Cox may be Mysteria High’s sexiest teacher, but after five husbands, she’s burnt out on romance. Until a former student—a drool-worthy werewolf—makes her howl at the moon…

Get hot for teacher in “Candy Cox and the Big Bad (Were) Wolf” by P.C. Cast.

Genevieve Tawdry is a witch with a bad case of unrequited love for the owner of the local bar. But is his sudden change of heart the result of a love potion—or a literally breathtaking passion?

Belly up to the bar in “The Witches of Mysteria and the Dead Who Love Them” by Gena Showalter.

1st YA ms almost finished!

Okay, I'm very excited to report that the 1st book in our (as in my daughter and me) YA series is almost finished! Naturally, I won't even be able to take a breath before I move on to the 2nd one, which has to be finished by January 15 - may God(dess) help me.

So...here are some name-that-character winners:

Jess!! You won with Erik for the love interest (well, one of them) for our fabulous heroine. His whole name is Erik Night.

Jana!! You won with Damien for one of our major secondary characters - one of our heroine's best friends (he's an adorable gay guy you'll love).

So ladies, email me privately with your addresses and when the book comes out I owe you each an autographed copy and a goddess necklace. Congrats!!

Sexy Name Decoder!

Hey Y'all! http://www.smartbitchestrashybooks.com has a fun sexy name decoder link going on. Fill our your stuff and find out YOUR sexy name. Behold what P.C. stands for:



Like you're suprised??

AFFAIRE DE COEUR AWARD!!

Oh, baby! My fabulous Berkley editor emailed me this afternoon with the following news:

GODDESS OF SPRING gets the award for Best Sci-Fi/Fantasy in the Affaire de Coeur 2005 Readers-Writer's Poll. You beat out Forced Mate by Rowena Cherry, Run No More by Colleen Mulvany, Seduced by Moonlight by Laurell K. Hamilton, and Saraphim by Michelle Hauf.

Hey! I beat Laurell K.! Now THAT'S news.

Lift a glass with me!

Okay, I'm crawling back into YA deadline hell...

PC

Gena Showalter kicks ass!

One of the aspects of my writing career I like most is that I have the opportunity to work with some amazingly talented women. My buddy Gena Showalter is a prime example of that. Her episode in Bewitched, Bothered & Bevampyred inspired mine - and it also set fire to the proposal that will be the Mysteria anthology released by Berkley in August 2006, which will include expanded and alter versions of Gena's episode and mine, as well as episodes by MaryJanice Davidson and Susan Grant. Here's a preview of Gena's hilarious episode:

“The Witches of Brokenoggin and the Dead Who Love Them” featured in BEWITCHED, BOTHERED AND BEVAMPYRED by Gena Showalter
(Triskelion Press)

Welcome to Brokenoggin Falls, where the housewives are not only desperate, they’re Witches! (And one of them might be a Harpy) The spells cast by moonlight frequently go awry. And there are times when toads and Chihuahuas seem abundant as black flies in the summer, the dragons are a little touchy, the Forest Trolls are in danger of extinction from teeny-boppers, the Gryphons need help conceiving and...the scientist are crunchy and good with ketchup...

All proceeds from the sales of this book will go to the International Red Cross.

In which the well-endowed Tawdry triplets accidentally raise the dead while dealing with an overzealous peeping John.

Be on the lookout for MYSTERIA, an anthology expanding on the episode and characters Gena created in BEWITCHED, BOTHERED AND BEVAMPYRED. MYSTERIA (Berkley) hits shelves in August 2006!

Cover:
http://www.triskelionpublishing.com/images/Bewitchedthm.jpg


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.


WEBSITE: http://www.genashowalter.com

Yea for another MaryJanice Davidson 'Undead' novel!!!

MaryJanice's Undead novels are like Godiva truffles (the dark chocolate ones). I adore them and eat them up!! Especially with a glass or three of lovely red wine...don't miss her latest - I won't!

UNDEAD AND UNRETURNABLE by MaryJanice Davidson
(Berkley, October 25, 2005)

Even the undead celebrate Christmas, and Betsy is in heaven shopping for gifts. But all is not merry in the mansion. It’s become infested with ghosts—really needy ones who have no qualms asking Betsy to run errands for them to rectify their pasts. Meanwhile, a serial killer is on the loose, and, being tall and blonde, Betsy perfectly fits his type. They say Christmas is a time for friends and family. But with a half-sister who’s the devil’s daughter, an evil stepmother, a fiend living in her basement, and assorted spirits and killers running amok, Betsy is not sure she’ll survive the holidays. Oh, right. She’s already dead…

Excerpt:
http://www.maryjanicedavidson.net/Undead%20and%20Unreturnable.htm

Cover:
http://www.maryjanicedavidson.net/new%20re3.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.

REVIEWS
“This is one of the funniest, most satisfying series to come along lately. If you’re fans of Sookie Stackhouse and Anita Blake, don’t miss Betsy Taylor. She rocks.”—The Best Reviews

“Mary Janice Davidson is a refreshing voice to both the romance and vampire world of writing…I cannot recommend her enough!”—ParaNormal Romance Reviews

Website: http://www.maryjanicedavidson.net

The Totally FAB Susan Grant!

Okay, yes. I'm going to admit that Sue Grant and I are friends. Girlfriends. Yes, she is amazing and talented. BUT seriously her episode in Bewitched, Bothered and Bevampyred is EXCELLENT. Naturally the expanded version she did for our anthology, MYSTERIA, which will be out in August (with MaryJanice Davidson, Gena Showalter and Moi) is a longer version of EXCELLENT. But, please. Buy this damn book. All the proceeds go to charity (Katrina relief). Do a good thing AND read a great book! Here are the details:

“A Dance Through the Garden of Good and Evil” featured in BEWITCHED, BOTHERED AND BEVAMPYRED by Susan Grant
(Triskelion Press)

Welcome to Brokenoggin Falls, where the housewives are not only desperate, they’re Witches! (And one of them might be a Harpy) The spells cast by moonlight frequently go awry. And there are times when toads and Chihuahuas seem abundant as black flies in the summer, the dragons are a little touchy, the Forest Trolls are in danger of extinction from teeny-boppers, the Gryphons need help conceiving and...the scientist are crunchy and good with ketchup...

All proceeds from the sales of this book will go to the International Red Cross.

When Pastor Harmony Faithfull unknowingly hires a tall, dark, and sexy demon to be the new church groundskeeper, all hell breaks loose.


Be on the lookout for MYSTERIA, an anthology expanding on the episode and characters Susan created in BEWITCHED, BOTHERED AND BEVAMPYRED. MYSTERIA (Berkley) hits shelves in August 2006!


Cover:
http://www.triskelionpublishing.com/images/Bewitchedthm.jpg


ABOUT SUSAN GRANT
One of the first women to graduate from the US Air Force Academy, award-winning author Susan Grant piloted jets in the USAF before joining United Airlines. She currently flies 747s around the world.


WEBSITE: http://www.susangrant.com

P.S. Hell yes I'm jealous that she flies all over the world. She's always sending me smart-assed emails from exotic places like, "Oh, I'm in China. I'm going to see the ancient life-sized wariors. What are you doing?" Jeesh, how annoying. And yet I still adore her...

YA Series SOLD!

Oh, man am I excited!!! Got the word from my goddess-like agent today that the YA series my daughter is co-authoring with me sold!!! St. Martin's is the house, and it's a 3 book deal. Paranormal (vampire) YA - edgy and dark, but with a quirky sense of humor. Quite a few of you know that I've been teaching high school for the past 12 years or so, which means that even though the series is paranormal it will deal with real issues kids deal with today. And with my wonderful, talented daughter writing with me I can promise you the "reality" aspect of it has a firm foundation.

I'll announce the title, synopsis details, and release date details as soon as I get the green light!

Pop a bottle of bubbly with me!

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

Check it out:

I'm happy to give a nod to lovely author and fellow Oklahomian, Jaci Burton and her newest release. Check her out, ladies!

“Garden of Eden” featured in ELLORA’S CAVEMEN: LEGENDARY TAILS II by Jaci Burton
(Ellora’s Cave, June 2005)

Dr. Eden Mason has spent the past hundred years orbiting the Earth in stasis. Since a nuclear war destroyed everything, she and the other inhabitants of the space pods are the only survivors of the global meltdown.

One special passenger has joined them-Adam-an alien sent to recreate what was once a thriving, beautiful planet. But Adam needs Eden to fulfill his goal, in a way she never expected.

Adam has loved Eden since he first came to Earth, but her father refused to allow him to meet her. Instead, the brilliant scientist kept Adam secluded while they engineered a way to save some of Earth's inhabitants before the inevitable destruction. Now Adam can touch Eden, taste her, love her like he's always wanted to, at the same time fulfilling his duty to revitalize the planet.

His love for her is energizing and Eden begins to hope that life on new Earth will be a lush garden of sensual pleasures. But Adam's not telling her everything that will happen, and his secret may end up destroying them both.

Excerpt:
http://www.jaciburton.com/newrelease.html#Excerpt

Cover:
http://images.amazon.com/images/P/1419951521.01._SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg



ABOUT JACI BURTON
Jaci Burton was born and raised in Missouri but now lives on an acre-and-a-half in Oklahoma with her husband Charlie. Jaci loves to write about passionate relationships with sometimes stormy outcomes but always a happily ever after. She’s a sucker for romance and a happy ending!


REVIEWS
“Jaci Burton does it again! What an amazingly hot and steamy story!” -- Fallen Angel Reviews

“Garden of Eden by Jaci Burton is a yummy little taste of fantastic science-fiction romance with beautiful balance. – eCataRomance

“Garden of Eden has a very interesting plotline. Ms. Burton gives us a very imaginative not to mention fun way for Adam to get his energy to re-create a new world. Adam and Eden are well developed characters even for a short story, and the emotional bond that develops between them is very moving and believable. With steamy sex scenes a plotline with twists and turns this one was an enjoyable read." – Cupids Library Reviews



Website: http://www.jaciburton.com

Romance Interview!

Because I truly love my readers, I recently braved the hallows of mythological Atlantis where the gods’ hid their greatest mistakes – the vampires, demons, minotaurs, dragons, and too many others to name – to interview Darius en Kragin, the hero of HEART OF THE DRAGON (by the amazing and naughty Gena Showalter), who is the fiercest man/creature in all of Atlantis. He is the dragon king and his duty is to kill all humans who stray within his home’s borders. Thankfully, he let me live (clearly he has a weakness for redheads who have nice legs and good boobs) and answered my questions. Here’s what he had to say:

PC: Hello, Darius. So nice of you to agree to this interview instead of dismembering me. So, we’ve been talking about romantic gestures here on my blog. Please tell me what’s the most romantic thing you’ve ever done for a woman?

DeK: I did not kill Grace Carlyle when she entered my home.

PC: Oh! That’s, uh, interesting. Why ever not?

DeK: For three hundred years I have seen only black and white, smelled only ash, and tasted nothing. The moment I saw her, I saw colors, smelled decadent woman, and tasted her sweetness in my mouth.

PC: (dreamy sigh). Sweetness in my mouth...I like that...I like that a lot. Which, uh, leads me to my next insightful question: You're, well, mostly naked, so I couldn’t help but notice the dragon tattoo that covers most of your (delicious-looking) chest and (tight, hard) stomach. I bet women love to lick it - the tattoo, that is.

DeK: You are a bold, saucy woman PC Cast. You remind me of my Grace, for she shares your sentiment.

PC: Lucky woman. Okay. Now. You are a dragon. What exactly does that mean? You look human to me, albeit one of the sexiest humans I’ve ever seen, but still.

DeK: Dragons morph into their true form when they experience strong emotion. Our wings burst free, our claws elongate, and we breathe fire – a fire that heats a woman’s blood to a white-hot boil.

PC: Give me a moment to cool down, then we can discuss whether or not there are any bachelor dragons in your army.

DeK: (Darius’ chin cants to the side) I am sorry, but I must go. Grace has entered the palace and all this talk of fire and licking has giving me –

(Before he finishes, he’s gone.)

PC: Well, wasn't that an "interesting and informative" interview? To check out more of Darius, pick up a copy of Gena Showalter's HEART OF THE DRAGON, available September 1st. Thankfully, I've already ordered my own because apparently I need to do some more, uh, "research" here in Atlants...

Romance...romance...romance...

Well, ladies...as I'm swimming through the rewrite of Goddess of the Rose and working on sexual tension et all, I started thinking about plain old R.O.M.A.N.C.E. I consider myself a closet romantic. Really. I love creating it for fiction, but have only enjoyed snippets of it in Real Life. For example: Recently I dated a man who saved every wine cork from every bottle we shared. THAT was romantic. Too bad he turned out to be a turd. And once a man sent me a single red rose every day for a month. (Uh, he was really really really in trouble and the roses did not get him out of said trouble, but I appreciated the effort.) I think the most romantic thing that has ever actually happened to me was, ironically enough, a fluke of nature (okay, at the time I thought it was a sign from God that She wanted me to be with this man, but retrospect says FLUKE OF NATURE). This guy I was dating, let's call him The Professor, and I were driving back from a day of fun in the Ozark Mountains. It was dusk, and The Prof suddenly pulled over off the side of the road and pointed. Amazed, we parked there and watched this incredibly thick mist lift and swirl over the valley, and it seemed to be moving in time to the soundtrack he'd just put in the CD (to the movie The Hours). Naturally, we kissed (I will admit that The Prof could kiss) and it was like a scene from one of my books...well...only there was no HEA, but it was romantic and magical, albiet temporarily so!

So how about you guys?! Tell me what's the most romantic thing that's ever happened to you!

Word verification...blah...blah...

You'll notice that from now on to post on my blog you'll be asked to verify a word. I just wanted to let you know that I added this option (thanks to my brilliant friend and computer genius, Kelli McBride's advice) so that idiot blog spammers can't post their intrusive garbage to my blog. Jeesh. Talk about irritating. Like telemarketers, do they really think that invading a potential customer's privacy and bugging the shit out of her is going to make anyone want their stupid product?! FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, GET A BRAIN.

Short rant finished. Thank you.

Prism Win!

The lovely ladies at FF&P sent me this wonderful graphic for my Prism win (Goddess of Spring won in the light paranormal category). Thought I'd share!

Creativity...

I'm wading through the rewrite of Goddess of the Rose. Of course I always appreciate my fabulous editor's feedback, even though I dread rewrites. I mean, who doesn't? You turn in a ms and you think, FINISHED! But no. Sigh. In the middle of the rewrite you don't care that it's going to make it a substantially better book. You're just wishing you were really really done. Right? Right. So I'm working throught GotR and my mind's wandering...I'm restless...I'm picking at my fingernail polish... I realize it's because I want to move forward to my next writing project, but I can't until I finish the one I'm on. I can not write two books at the same time. Absolutely does not work for me. So to keep my creativity fueled I am, of course, reading. I just have a few pages left of Kushiel's Dart (Jeri - you were right - I love this book!). I've also been watching movies. Some, just for the special affects - like Constantine (more romance in that movie would have seriously helped it). Some for the sigh factor - like Under the Tuscan Sun. And some just because I love to torture myself - like Shadowlands (the one with Debra Winger and the incredible Anthony Hopkins).

I've also been considering a "field trip" to parts of Oklahoma that I love, like the Tallgrass Prairie, or the southeastern part of the state for a quick hiking trip to soak in the beauty of the land.

So what do you do to fuel your creativity?

Rebecca York's New Novel

Hey! Has anyone read this yet??? Sounds delicious...

BEYOND CONTROL by Rebecca York
(Berkley, August 2005)

BEYOND CONTROL, by Rebecca York, tells the story of telepaths who discover and develop their powers only when they sexually link with another of their kind.
Jordan Walker and Lindsay Fleming meet at a Washington, D. C., cocktail party. When they touch, they experience an electric moment of psychic awareness. As they explore the unique bond forming between them, they discover that the more intimate their contact, the more their psychic powers develop.
As with York’s Moon books, Lindsay and Jordan must work out their personal relationship against a background of danger and suspense after they stumble onto his murder cover-up at a secret biological weapons lab. At the same time, two other telepaths who want all the psychic goodies for themselves set out to wipe Jordan and Lindsay from the face of the earth.
Rebecca York says that, "Publishers wouldn’t touch a story with this unique blend of suspense and sensuality 15 years ago. But the characters and the plot wouldn’t let me go, so I held onto them until the time was right."

Excerpt:
http://mywebpages.comcast.net/glick/sneak-p21.htm

Cover:
http://mywebpages.comcast.net/glick/beyond-control-big.jpg

Goddess of the Rose cover

Sexual Tension

Well, I'm working on the rewrite of Goddess of the Rose, my wonderful retelling of Beauty and the Beast set for release in March, and my omniscient editor has directed that I heighten the sexual tension between the hero and heroine. Okay. I can definitely do that. But it got me to thinking about authors who do sexual tension well...LaVyrle Spencer came to mind first. I think she was a master at this. So who else? Who comes to mind when you think about authors who write exquisite sexual tension?

Naturally I'm working on my own more personal form of research for this, but I won't go into that here...;)

Lucy Monroe's new novella

I'm always interested in books that feature a new take on full moon magic - so when I saw this I took note. Have any of you read Lucy Monroe's new novella? Please feel free to post a review!

“Moon Magnetism” featured in STAR QUALITY by Lucy Monroe
(Kensington Brava, May 2005)

Ivy Kendall dreads the full moon. For generations, women in her family have been extremely magnetic on that day—which was fine fifty years ago but not in the age of hard drives and cell phones. That’s why the hotel manager has resisted the technological improvements her boss wants her to implement. Now, the sexy, dynamic Blake Hawthorne is coming to insist on the upgrades in person. Shoot, he’ll probably fire her. Being around Blake makes her body go as haywire as a full moon, maybe even more. And as long as she’s going to be out of a job soon, there’s no reason not to use a little of that magnetism to her advantage, luring him into an elevator where the only electricity that will work is the kind they generate themselves…

Excerpt:
http://www.lucymonroe.com/ExcerptsSQ.htm

Cover:
http://www.lucymonroe.com/images/sq2.jpg



ABOUT LUCY MONROE
Award winning author Lucy Monroe sold her first book in September of 2002. Since then she has sold more than 30 books to three publishers and hit national bestsellers lists in the US and England. Her highly charged, sensual stories touch on the realities of life while giving the reader a fantasy story not easily forgotten. Whether it's a passionate Harlequin Presents, a sexy single title for Kensington or a steamy historical or paranormal for Berkley, Lucy's books transport her readers to a special place where the heart rules and love conquers all.


REVIEWS
"Monroe creates a sassy heroine and gives her a delectable rogue to help solve her unusual dilemma." 4 Stars - Romantic Times
"Their [Blake & Ivy in Moon Magnetism] dialog is priceless and will keep the reader smiling throughout this wonderful tale." Reader to Reader Reviews
"Star Quality is a delightfully funny read. The common full-moon theme is pulled together masterfully by three "quality stars" of the romance genre." - Sensual Romance Reviews

Website: http://www.lucymonroe.com

Back & Semi-coherent...

Okay - RENO WAS A BLAST!! Naturally, I feel like I've been beat with a truck today. But it was worth it worth it worth it. Here's your recap:

Wednesday - The plane didn't crash. Uh, remember my heroine in Goddess of the Sea? The USAF Sgt who is scared shitless to fly (but she flies a lot anyway)? People are always asking "How are your heroines like you?" Easy answer for that book - I HATE TO FLY. I think of it as a gihugic coffin hurling out of control (my control anyway) through the sky and constantly believe I'm going to smack into the ground. So I flight medicate myself (Xanax and wine) and off I go. **Side note** Thanks a lot Sue Grant for telling me those horrifying pilot stories.
Anyway. I got into Reno in time to go to late lunch/early dinner with Sue Grant and my insane roomie, Gena Showalter (visit her blog - the girl is crazy), before we went to the literacy signing. Hey! I had a line. Well, not a big one and not very long, but still. It was great to see so many fans. Afterwards I rushed off to the Bookseller's Best Award ceremony with my fabulous agent, Meredith Bernstein, Sue Grant, and Gena Showalter, who was a finalist with me in the paranormal category for her delicious Stone Prince. I WON with Elphame's Choice! Of course Gena said she was going to put gum in my hair and rip up my cloths as soon as I fell asleep. I threatened to tie her to the bed at night, but she just seemed to like that idea...

Thursday - Had a great lunch with my Luna editor, Mary-Theresa Hussey, and long time Harlequin author Virgina Kantra (who also writes for Berkley). Matrice took us to a wonderful Italian restaurant in Reno and we ate and drank, drank and ate. My favorite! Then it was back to the hotel to get gorgeous for the award ceremonies that night. First my fabulous Berkley editor, Christine Zika, was a finalist for the PASIC Editor of the Year. The ceremony was held at the vintage car museum in Reno. Okay, I'll admit that my first reaction to hearing that we were going to a car museum was "Huh? What the F were they thinking? We're not guys." Well, I was totally wrong (it doesn't happen often, but I'm willing to admit it when I'm wrong). This place was fab! They had sets displaying amazing old cars and stuff we could dress up in to take pictures. Okay, may I just say that my agent is a total picture freak? The woman is Queen of Cameras. Yep - as soon as she sends them to me I will definitely post. My editor didn't win, but to me she'll always be editor of the year! So we rush from there to the National Reader's Choice Awards. No, I wasn't a finalist this year, but the NRCA is run by my RWA Chapter, and we give one hell of a party. Check out the website for the list of winners (congratulations Amanda!) http://www.okrwa.com. We had to leave there early to make the Prism Awards. I was thrilled when Goddess of Spring WON the light paranormal category! (God, I LOVE those crystal pyramids!) Sue Grant's wonderful Bonzai Maguire won in time travel. I'm happy to report that my friends Robin Owens and CJ Barry were also winners in the fantasy and futuristic categories. So then I rushed from there to the Death by Chocolate party and the Daphne Du Maurier Award ceremony. And let me tell you - the chocolate was definitely to die for! When Elphame won (again!) in the paranormal/fantasy/time travel category I admit to screaming like a pre-teen girl at an old Backstreet Boys concert. Then my agent and I stayed up way too late and drank way too much. Again.

Friday - started out more peaceful. I signed books at the Berkley signing (Hi Book Ladies! Can't wait to come to California!)...went to a few workshops...hung out... Then the parties started. The Berkley party was too damn hot, even with the freely poured champagne, but that was probably because authors like Nora Roberts were in attendance. Talent like that causes major heat. Yes, I met and actually spoke to Ms. Roberts. (No, she doesn't know who the hell I am.) Went from there to what everyone knows is the BEST F-ING RWA PARTY, the Harlequin party. Oh, baby. More free booze and desserts desserts desserts. **Side note - Gena Showalter was bombed. Totally. And hilarious. I can't wait for the pictures. Oh, Jill Monroe was bombed too. Shit-faced. You ask, "Hey! What about you PC? Are you saying you weren't shit-faced with the rest of them?!" (I hear your sarcastic tone, by-the-by.) My answer is "HELL NO! I WAS TOO BUSY DANCING!" Truly. I can not stay off a dance floor. And may I just say that my agent is one hell of a dancer, too! So I stumbled back to my room, exhausted but sober. (Unlike Gena and Jill and a zillion other authors.)

Saturday - My Goddess Editor, Christine Zika, took me to a divine lunch at the oyster bar in the skyroom of the Atlantis resort. We mixed business with pleasure, going over the edits for Goddess of the Rose (which are, happily, light), and then we talked about the next Goddess Summoning Books. You'll be pleased to know that there will be at least 3 more after GotR...but, they will be...well...different. That's all I'll say right now. We also decided on another project, but that's totally hush-hush at the moment. I'll let you know as soon as I get the word that I can blab! Saturday night Sue Grant and I opted out of the banquet dinner and had a decadent dinner before attending the Rita. ***Good Gossip*** Sue Grant met a guy. Well, she knew him before he came to Reno, but they planned a date there. Okay - he's cute and handled himself well even surrounded by a bazillion romance authors, agents, editors, etc., all who were totally checking him out and giving him a hard time. Poor guy. Clearly Sue enjoys torturing her man.

Sunday - The plane didn't crash. Again. I got in late late late. My Scottie had a nervous breakdown while I was gone and decided to pee all over my condo (so I'm cleaning carpets today). My cat freaked and bit the crap out of my daughter, who says she's never babysitting again. I have bleeding blisters on my feet from too damn much rushing about in various different pairs of come-fuck-me stilettos (and dancing all night in my perfectly FAB stiletto boots). I'm pissed because tomorrow I have a seriously hot date with an incredible man who is totally and completely sweeping me off my feet and he definitely deserves the whole come-fuck-me pumps and push-up bra treatment, but I can not even think about putting my feet in those things again. Sigh. Crap. Guess I'll go for plunging cleavage and keep his eyes averted from the disgustingly semi-cool shoes I'll be forced to wear. I suppose keeping his attention from my feet won't be so bad afterall... (Ladies, he is one sexy man!)

Back to carpet cleaning...wait. I can do that tonight. I'm going to take my sore feet and Kushiel's Dart (which I'm adoring) and go out to the pool. I need to recover so I can be back in top form for my date tomorrow...yummy...research research research.