Werewolves and Genies, Oh My!!

Hi friends, today I get to announce book birthdays for TWO good writer friends! That's always such fun :) I have read the first books in both of these series, and loved them! Wulfkin Legacy is super steamy paranormal romance and Once Upon a Djinn is sassy urban fantasy. Check them out!

First up:

Cloaked in Secrecy by T.F. Walsh 

(The Wulfkin Legacy #2) 

What better way for a pack of wulfkin shifters to remain in seclusion than to hide in plain sight?

Death has followed Alena Novac’s circus family for years, but when the police arrest her brother for murder, she must rescue him before he transforms behind prison walls. With less than a week to execute her plan, a member from the Varlac family who murdered her mother reappears. Now, Alena has to decide whether to make good on her promise to avenge her mother’s death or risk rescuing her brother.

Enre Ulf has one mission – prevent Alena’s father from claiming his territory and slaughtering his wulfkin pack in Transylvania. Enre may have turned his back on his Varlac heritage, but that doesn’t mean he won’t impersonate one to infiltrate the circus clan and take out their alpha. Knowing that his secrets will lead to his demise, Enre takes the risk in order to save his home. What he never planned on was his wolf claiming Alena as his mate.

Now with the police closing in, and the real Varlac threatening them, Alena and Enre must overcome their pasts to save their packs’ futures.

Add to Goodreads or buy on Amazon     B&N     Kobo     iTunes     Googleplay

There's also a giveaway for a $10 Amazon Gift Card and  two Cloaked in Secrecy ebooks:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

And next up:

In Deep Wish by B.E. Sanderson

(Once Upon a Djinn Book Two)

The conspiracy to devastate Jo Mayweather’s life is growing like blue fuzz on last month’s leftovers. Her ex-lover, Zeke, is missing. Her friends are under attack. Her livelihood is in jeopardy. But whoever’s behind the turmoil doesn’t realize they’re messing with the wrong genie. Jo will do whatever it takes to blow their plans apart, recruiting the help of old friends and new allies. She’ll even enlist the aid of some crazy gods if she has to. Anything to stop these bastards from their ultimate goals—her death and the enslavement all of djinn-kind.

Add to Goodreads or buy on  Amazon or B&N!    

Help me wish these ladies a happy book birthday!!

Zyan Star Book News!

At long last, Martinis with the Devil, the first book in my Zyan Star urban fantasy series, is coming out on April 11th!

As some of you may know, I was all ready to release it last fall. Then, I signed with my agent, and we decided to wait to release it while shopping for publishers for my other fantasy series. Well, we're still on sub, and have a third of the publishers yet to respond, but Sandy gave me the go ahead to move ahead with the Zyan series! What I'm going to do is release each book in halves, part one and two, so that they're published as novellas and my debut novel status is preserved for my other series. I'm so excited!

What's exciting for my readers is that Martinis with the Devil part one and two will be FREE for at least the first two weeks. I want to really come out of the gates strong, and that's where I need your help! I am using Thunderclap for spreading the word via Twitter, FB and Tumblr. It's a crowdspeaking platform that has supporters sign up ahead of time, and then it blasts out all the messages at once on my launch day. It's really cool, but I have to get 100 supporters or it won't blast out, kind of like crowdfundraising (Kickstarter and whatnot). So, most of my focus is going there, please sign up for a tweet, FB or Tumblr post!! I will love you forever :) Here's the link.

If you'd also like a free ARC, and/or want to help me spread the word via a blog tour, etc., please click here and fill out a super quick Google form so I can keep track. You can also fill this out if you are doing the Thunderclap I mentioned above, just so I know who's signed up.

If you want to read more about Martinis, click the My Books link on my blog menu. I'm so stoked to finally be sharing it with the world! The fun will keep coming too, because I also plan to release book two, Whiskey and Angelfire, and book three, Vengeance and Vermouth, over the next few months.

You guys rock, and as always, thanks for sharing this journey with me!

Changing the Game

I've said this before, but I'm a very Type A person. Which is weird, because I'm also really creative and go-with-the-flow on lots of things. But I'm very focused and driven when it comes to setting and meeting goals. I love goals. I set deadlines, and create to-do lists. I know that it's important to break a big deadline down into steps, and I love to celebrate accomplishing one of those steps. When I'm writing a first draft, I usually set a daily word count goal. Something like 750 or 1,000 words a day, with the intention of finishing the draft in about 75-90 days. I've often written even faster first drafts, my record being six weeks (and that's with a full time job, a kid and other responsibilities). It's worked really well for me.

Until it didn't. I've been working on my Zyan Star series, trying to get books two and three done, with the anticipation that my agent could sell my Huntress series at any time, and I'll need to shift my focus to that. So I want to get as much done on Zyan as I can before that happens. I'm on the third book now. But the second book was a struggle honestly, and the third was starting out that way. Part of it is me learning to write a series. And part of it was just me putting too much structure and pressure on it. Which brings me to that thing we all know as writers, but still surprises us (or at least me): every book is different. And sometimes you have to change the game.

So I hid my word count from view. And I'm writing each day until I feel done. Sometimes this is probably just a couple pages (and obviously I'm guessing here since I can't see). And sometimes it's a lot. The story is flowing much better now, and I've put in several really great writing sessions where I felt like really good stuff was getting onto the page. I was getting way too hung up on word count, and writing to meet that instead of letting scenes unfold naturally. Since I've rebooted my process, it's going great. 

Do you change things up from time to time? What ways have you found to change the game?

The Unique Hell of Writing a Series

I was under the weather yesterday so my post is a bit late for Insecure Writers Support Group, but here it is!

Series. Have you written one? If so I imagine you'll totally feel me on this. There are so many things that are great about writing a series. You know the characters. Hopefully you like some of them, since you created them. Or at least hate them in that good way that our best villains and anti-hero(ines) make us hate them. Worldbuilding should be pretty set. Plot should somewhat be easier - even if you have a different story each book, there should be overall characters arcs and relationships that carry on and deepen with every book. It's sort of like a favorite pair of shoes that you can slip into, well worn and comfortable.

But then you start comparing the books to each other, like picking a favorite child. Shit, book two is way shorter than book one. Is everyone going to notice it's shorter and be annoyed? Book two doesn't have quite the carefree humor of book one. Well, everything got more serious on a very personal level. But I don't want it to be too different. Then my readers will be disappointed. What if book three is the same? What if I get sick of the whole thing and kill off all my characters like George Martin?

I've said before that each first draft process is a little bit to a LOT different than the ones before, but within a series, it gets even more crazypants. It still won't keep me from writing them - I love series. But it's a learning process, that's for sure. 

What about you? Have you written a series, and did you like it more or less than a stand alone?

TTFN, writer friends!

Cloaked Release + IWSG

Hello, writing friends! Happy New Year, if I haven't crossed paths with you yet this year! My official New Year's post is here if you're so inclined.

Today I'm celebrating with a friend on the release of her novella on January 4th - Cloaked by T.F. Walsh. I had the pleasure of reading an ARC and it's such a fun book, guys! Werewolves and romance in Romania. Good stuff, super steamy and saucy :) You can read my lengthier review on Goodreads here.

Check it out, only 99 cents!! Amazon | B&N | Kobo | Google Play | iTunes

Publisher: Crimson Romance

Blurb: Raised by an overly protective wulfkin pack, Daciana leaps at the chance to venture into the human world for her one-year independence ritual. But after someone steals the endangered bear cubs she’s been assigned to protect, she must locate them or lose her job and return home in disgrace. The sexy inspector on the case isn’t making this any easier. He knows nothing of her kind, and wulfkin rules forbid relationships with humans.

Newly divorced Inspector Connell Lonescu trusts no one but himself. He’s convinced relationships are a waste of time and thinks burying himself in work will ease the pain. Yet he’s attracted to the gorgeous and mysterious Daciana, even if there’s something slightly odd about her. Can Connell learn to trust the sexy but secretive woman? 

Now, on to IWSG! I suppose what's been on my mind most the last month is book marketing. I released my first novelette in August, and I've learned a TON about marketing since then. What to do, and a lot more of what NOT to do (stuff that's a waste of money and time). I'm a bit bummed because things were plugging along pretty well until December, and then my sales dropped off to practically nothing. It was especially disappointing because I had just announced that ALL of my book proceeds from Thanksgiving to Christmas would be donated to Heifer International to fight world hunger. I was looking forward to raising some money for them, and that totally didn't happen. Luckily for them I'll give my usual annual gift anyways, but still, kind of a bummer. 

Early in December I emailed the lovely self-pub rockstar RaShelle Workman, who has sold over a million of her e-books, and asked her for advice. She said that her biggest piece of advice, and probably what my problem is, is that I only have the one novelette out. She said she suggests people have 5-7 books in a series, have at least half of them totally ready to go (edited, covers, etc.) and then release them two weeks apart to keep momentum going and build up a devoted readership. I had already guessed that having just the one was hurting me, though at the moment I can't do anything about that since my agent wants me to wait to release the subsequent novels in that series until we land a deal on my other series. So, I'll need to wait, but in the meantime I'm furiously working on finishing the second novel in the series, which should be done by mid month, and then I'll be on to the third. I'd also like to write another novella for the series, and release the first three novels and the novella later this year.

So, that's the plan, and that's my writing life at the moment! How about you? Oh, and click here to read other IWSG posts for the month.

Farewell 2015, HELLO Sexy 2016!

I always love writing these New Year's posts. It's not because the new year is a fresh start, or I'm wiping the slate clean, or I'm setting new goals, or any of that. I'm a fan of doing those things throughout the year. For me, New Year's is that one point of the year to reflect on a cycle of time and dream of things to come, and where you'll be at this time in one year. It's a fairly arbitrary day, because of course we can do those things any other time of the year (and sometimes I do). But New Year's has that special magic when everyone else is also thinking these same things, and it's just fun to be part of this collective contemplation/dreaming exercise.

So, highlights of 2015 first:

First and foremost, 2015 is the year I became a published author AND the year I got an agent, and those two things happened less than three weeks apart. Talk about a roller coaster of awesome!! August 7th I self-pubbed Black Magic and Mojitos and August 24th I signed with Sandy.

2015 was the year I decided to make it happen, and quit wallowing in where my future as an author was going. I'd been writing seriously for five years and I decided I would get my foot in the door the self-pub route with my Zyan Star series. Sandy then signed me for my Huntress series, so I guess I'm now what they call a hybrid author. Which feels right and good - I like moving forward independently with Zyan, and I have learned a TON about marketing and all that craziness, but I'm also excited to learn about the traditional pub route.

I also went on several awesome trips: took my son to Seattle for his birthday present, then him and I hiked the Olympic Peninsula, just the two of us, which made me feel extremely brave and grownup and my kid and I returned alive (plus!). Also went to Dragon Con for the first time and then Asheville for Thanksgiving. Awesome stuff for sure.

I did a lot of training with my horse, who had not been ridden before, and got him comfortable with being saddled and mounted and we even walked around a bit, and then I recognized I needed professional help and sent him to a trainer for a month of intensive work (for both of us). Now I'm really riding for the first time in years and it's SO awesome.

I won first place in a short story contest for Area of Effect Magazine, which is my first published work in a magazine (and I guess my first indie pub credit). Read it here. Fun and exciting!

Also, I got a big promotion at my day job (educational non-profit director), so that was rad.

Now, plans and dreams for 2016:

Getting a pub offer for my Huntress series. My agent is pretty amazeballs so I'm optimistic this will happen. She's thinking we should hear from all the publishers by springtime. Then I'll be working on whatever edits the publisher wants, and start working on the second book in that series. And learning all about the world of traditional pubbing.

Releasing the first three books in the Zyan Star series. Black Magic and Mojitos, which released in August, is the prequel novelette to that series. Originally, I had planned to release the first novel in October. However, Sandy asked me to wait since we were shopping Huntress to publishers. So, at the moment Zyan's at a standstill, but I am about two weeks away from finishing the first draft of the second Zyan Star novel and then I'm probably going to jump right into book three and do edits for both of them after. I reached out to the self-pub phenom RaShelle Workman, who has sold over a million of her e-books (yeah. a million). She said her best marketing advice was to have 5-7 books in your series and release them all in quick succession, every few weeks. So, I'm writing pretty furiously so I can be ready to do that as soon as Sandy gives me the go ahead.

Traveling. My plans always involve traveling. At the moment, I'm locked in for Colorado in June for my BFF's wedding. I'm taking my son so we can hike the Rockies while we're out there and I'm SO excited for it. My son loved our west coast trip last year and I want to keep nurturing that adventurous streak in him. My mom's also turning 70 and wants to go somewhere tropical. We'll see where that ends up. Dragon Con again hopefully. And something else? That'd be cool, budget allowing.

I'd really like to buy a house in 2016. Not sure if that'll happen since I still own a house with my ex husband we're not having luck selling, but I'm throwing it out there anyways. Make it happen, universe :)

I want to make a significant dent in paying down debt. I was naughty in 2015 so time to behave! But finding a balance, also allowing myself some splurges and putting money into savings. In the past I've gone into overkill on paying off debt and then have no fun and nothing set aside.

My horse: this is a sudden vista of possibility. He did so well in training, so I just want to keep moving forward with that. We're just doing basics now, but in a year I'd like him to know some dressage, and also be doing some jumping. Maybe go to a local horse show or two towards the end of the year.

And an overall summary of what I wish for myself, looking back at 2015 and looking forward at 2016:

I want to get better at remembering to enjoy the journey. In 2015 I achieved publication/agent/trained horse and for a goal oriented person that leaves me with a feeling of "now what??" Well, plenty! But after striving for those things for SO long I need to remember that once I reach the end, the end is really just another beginning, and it's better to savor the ride and not just gun for the destination.

And now, as the last day of 2015 comes to an end, I'm heading to the beach for the night (it's raining, but whatever, that's Florida for ya). How about you?

Taste of Magic! Pomegranate-Jeweled Cheese Ball

Hello, lovelies! I didn't do Taste of Magic last month since I was heading out of town and being a slacker, but I'm back just in time for final holiday parties to give you a delicious appetizer recipe. It's SOOO good, you guys. You'll swoon. Earth will shift on its axis. Ha, so here it is!

White Cheddar Rosemary Pomegranate-Jeweled Cheese Ball!!

Ingredients:

2 tablespoons unsalted butter

Fresh rosemary leaves (to taste)

1 1/2 (8-ounce) blocks cream cheese, softened

6 ounces grated sharp white cheddar cheese

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon pepper

1 cup pomegranate arils (you can buy them at Trader Joes in a little container - trying to de-seed a real pomegranate is the biggest pain ever)

Crackers for serving

Directions:

1. Melt the butter in a skillet and toss in rosemary. You want the rosemary to let off its oils, but don't let the butter burn or the rosemary get crispy.
2. In a bowl with a mixer, food processor or fingers, mix the cream cheese and cheddar. This is why cream cheese should be soft, so it doesn't jam up.
3. Add the butter/rosemary deliciousness and the salt and pepper.
4. After it's all mixed well, roll it into a ball, wrap in plastic wrap and place in fridge for 30 minutes.
5. Pour your pom seeds out on some paper towels and carefully pat off any moisture, but don't squish them.
6. After your cheese has set for 30 minutes, transfer the pom seeds to a large plate and carefully roll the cheese ball in the seeds until it's covered. You'll probably have to pat some of them into place after you roll it a couple times to fill in gaps.
7. Serve with crackers and a little cheese spreader. Yum!!!
8. Be prepared for your guests to worship you. 

I adapted this recipe from here. As you can see, you can use sage or another herb instead of rosemary, and add nuts if you want. 

As for my writing taste for the month, click here to read my short story A Very Zyan Christmas, which won first place in the Geekdom House short story contest!

I hope everyone has a beautiful and glorious holiday. TTFN!