Author/Agent Chat with Chloe Neill & Lucienne Diver Tonight, Thurs. April 30th @ 9pm ET!
Forget the trendy local nightspot or Grey's Anatomy (seriously). Tonight the place to be is TKA's chat room!
At 9pm ET, author Chloe Neill and her agent Lucienne Diver will be on hand to answer all your burning questions about Chloe's fab new series, CHICAGOLAND VAMPIRES, and give you the skinny on how this break-out star found her way from obscurity to the bestseller list. Both of these ladies have TONS of info to share on what life is like for an aspiring or first-time paranormal/urban fantasy author. We are going to have a great time, and you'll definitely learn a lot in the process. Also, you'll have the chance to win a Cadogan House Fan Pack featuring a signed copy of SOME GIRLS BITE, Book 1 in the CHICAGOLAND VAMPIRES series, Cadogan House Mousepad, SOME GIRLS BITE mug and "I Heart Cadogan" bumper sticker -- all in a chic Cadogan House tote bag.
What: Online Chat with Author Chloe Neill and Agent Lucienne Diver When: TONIGHT!!! Thursday, April 30th @ 9pm ET Where:TKA Chat Room How Do You Chat: Visit the chat room here: http://client1.addonchat.com/sc.php?id=115545. Enter a username and password (this can be any combination). Your computer must be Java enabled to chat.
Here's what reviewers are saying about Chloe's debut title, SOME GIRLS BITE: "There's a new talent in town, and if this debut is any indication, she's here to stay! Not only does Neill introduce an indomitable and funny heroine, her secondary characters are enormously intriguing and make terrific foils. While the tone of this first-person Chicagoland Vampire series starter is generally light, there is an undercurrent of danger. Truly excellent!" - Romantic Times Book Reviews (April 2009) (4 1/2 stars) "Some Girls Bite is engaging, well-executed and populated with characters you can't help but love. It was impossible to set down, and book two, Friday Night Bites, which is scheduled for release in October 2009, has gone right to the top of my wish list" - Kimberly Swan, Darque Reviews (March 2009) (Darque Reviews Starred Read)
Sue Grimshaw has been the romance book buyer for Borders and Waldenbooks stores for eight years. Well-known throughout the publishing industry for her unparalleled knowledge of the romance genre, she has been honored with several distinguished awards including the Vivian Stephens Industry Award from the Romance Writers of America, the 2006 Ellora's Cave Award and the 2005 Colorado Romance Writers of America bookseller of the year award. As if this accomplished woman didn't have enough on her plate, she recently began a new venture as host of "Borders True Romance," a feature online video program offered by Borders Media. So far, Sue has interviewed romance phenoms Lisa Kleypas, Debbie Macomber and Lisa Jackson. The show also offers shorter segments where the retailer discusses hot new releases and shares some of her personal faves with viewers.
Special thanks to Sue from TKA for taking time to share her wealth of experience with our blog audience!
TKA: What was the first book you remember reading as a child that cemented your love of reading for life?
GRIMSHAW: I think it was “The Catcher in the Rye,” by J.D. Salinger (believe it or not) and then S.E. Hinton’s “The Outsiders.” I was not a voracious reader until I stumbled across the Romance genre about 15 years ago. Looking back, I am not sure why those titles resonated with me. I think it was the characters…they really spoke to me.
TKA: How does it feel to be crowned the “Queen of Romance” by the publishing industry?
GRIMSHAW: I’m just thrilled to be able to benefit the genre wherever and whenever I can. I am passionate about this business first and foremost, as I love the books. There’s a lingering stigma associated with Romance, which I believe is totally unjust. I am going to continue to work hard at educating readers about what the genre is all about so Romance gets the respect it really deserves.
TKA: How did your background as a cosmetics buyer prepare you for the crazy world of book publishing?
GRIMSHAW: Interestingly enough there are similarities. Cosmetics has many items that you purchase monthly as do romance books, so the pacing of the business from that standpoint is very similar. However, romance books are a lot more fun.
TKA: What part of your job do you love the most?
GRIMSHAW: Being a Romance buyer for Borders is my dream job; I love everything about it. What I enjoy most about being a buyer for the genre is analyzing the business and seeing the sales trends. I particularly enjoy when a book I enjoyed also sells well at Borders. It’s personally very thrilling to see this and it really provides confirmation that I do know my customer.
TKA: How do you interface with publishers, editors, agents and publicists on a daily basis?
GRIMSHAW: Daily communication with my publisher reps is pretty typical, but I don’t work with other positions you note as frequently. Attending chapter and national conventions is where I get to spend quality time with the editors and other industry people.
TKA: What romance sub-genres do you see shifting to the forefront this year?
GRIMSHAW: Soft Romance is very popular. Linda Lael Miller, Robyn Carr and Susan Wiggs are here to stay. Readers are looking for comfort in their books and these ladies deliver!
TKA: Will the demand for paranormals continue to hold steady?
GRIMSHAW: Most definitely. With Charlene Harris’ “True Blood” HBO series and the “Twilight” saga by Stephenie Meyer, I think we’re influencing a new reader to step out into the romantic dark side. Young Adult readers are already starting to dabble in the world of paranormal romance
TKA: Do you think any previously sluggish genres may be on the rise?
GRIMSHAW: Right now I see all genres performing well on their own. I think authors are in a unique position. They don’t have to worry about market trends because overall they are all doing well. Authors should concentrate on what they write and what they write best. Focus on the elements in a romance story that are important to readers and write away. There will always be subgenres that are bigger than others, but if you write what you enjoy it will resonate with the reader.
TKA:Could you name a few recent examples of romance authors who have struck the “right chord” with readers in terms of style, genre and marketing efforts?
GRIMSHAW:The ladies I named above are definitely on the incline. Yasmine Galenorn and Jeaniene Frost have also captured our romance and those “True Blood” crossovers as well.
TKA: What is it about their approach (or their publisher’s, as the case may be) that’s positioning these writers for success?
GRIMSHAW: Feedback from booksellers and readers typically indicate it is all about the story. I think these authors have focused on the key elements of romance – character driven stories; lovable characters; well-paced stories; well thought-out and developed worlds that are easy to visualize, to name a few things. They have focused on what their readers are looking for in a romance story.
TKA: How can a proactive author help to increase sell-in to retailers and sell-through to potential readers?
GRIMSHAW: There are a lot of things that authors can do. First, do stock signings – get to know those bookstores. Authors should also make sure that their Web sites, newsletters and blogs link through to Borders.com – our online sales are booming! Get on Twitter and Facebook and tell everyone that your books are at Borders. Another thing they can do is link through to our “True Romance” show at http://www.bordersmedia.com/trueromance. Also, garner bestseller author quotes on their covers to influence readers to give them a try. In this economic environment authors want their books represented front of store as that is the location that gets shopped first and shopped the most. A good sales rep will make that happen and just to make sure you’re being well represented by your publishers, drop me an e-mail and we’ll make sure we’ve got it covered, sgrimsha(at)bordersgroupinc(dot)com.
TKA: A picture is worth a thousand words, and an amazing book cover is priceless. What classic elements of the romance book cover do you believe will always be in style? What are some surprising innovations you’ve seen over the years that yielded a significant customer response?
GRIMSHAW: Covers and shoppers’ responses do vary by subgenre. For example: a good torso and sexy embrace do very well on paranormal and historical romances. Contemporaries, at least the soft romances, are a little more generic with tasteful landscaping, representative of the small towns these stories typically focus on. Romantic Suspense runs the gambit – too dark a cover does not seem to sell as well. General guidelines would be to make sure the cover is representative of the book and pleasing to the eye. I think publishers really have their fingers on the pulse of covers in terms of what works and doesn’t work so authors are in good hands.
TKA: How do you think retailers will have to adapt in order to address the growing appetite for e-books?
GRIMSHAW: The appetite for e-books is already very much here. Make sure your publisher is submitting all digital formats to Overdrive, which is our uploading source for Borders.com. Authors want to be ahead of the curve on this – you want to be there when readers are ready to buy digital.
UPDATE: The winner of the SECRET SOCIETY GIRL series is Nora! Please email your physical address to contests @ knightagency.net. Remove the spaces. Congrats!
Leave your name in the comments below to enter the giveaway for Diana Peterfreund's entire SECRET SOCIETY GIRL series, including an advanced reading copy of TAP & GOWN! The winner will be announced tomorrow morning!
TAP & GOWN Cover Copy:
Top secret societies…bizarre initiation rites…campus love triangles…political shenanigans…Diana Peterfreund has dazzled readers and critics alike with her Ivy league novels, hailed as “impossible to put down”* and “witty and endearing”** In this final installment, Eli University senior Amy “Bugaboo” Haskel and her fellow Diggers are preparing to face real life in worlds far beyond the hallowed halls of Eli.
For Amy the countdown to graduation has begun, and suddenly the perfect ending to a perfectly iconoclastic Eli career is slipping from her grasp. Her new boyfriend’s been made an offer he just can’t refuse. Her fellowship applications haven’t even been filed. And the student she’s chosen to take her place in Rose & Grave – the country’s more powerful and notorious secret society – seems to come complete with a secret life already intact.
Lunging toward the finish line, Amy finds trouble around every corner, from society intrigues and unlikely stalkers to former flames and mandatory science credits. Surely it couldn’t get worse…until Initiation Night explodes into a terrifying scene and into a last test of wits for a young woman just trying to make it out of the Ivy League in one piece.
Author and Agent Online Chat Fest! Chloe Neill and Lucienne Diver will be featured guests in TKA's chat room, Thursday, April 30th @ 9pm ET
UPDATE: During the chat Chloe will give away a Cadogan House Fan Pack, which will include a signed copy of SOME GIRLS BITE, Cadogan House tote bag, Cadogan House mouse pad and "I love Cadogan" bumper sticker!
Did you know that some girls bite? Well, of course, if they're a vampire! Silly, what did you think I meant? SOME GIRLS BITE is the smart new release from talented debut author Chloe Neill that introduces the world to Merit, a new inductee into the world of the CHICAGOLAND VAMPIRES. The first book is like a potato chip...you can't have just one. It's so good, you'll be itching to read Book 2, FRIDAY NIGHT BITES, due in stores October 2009.
If you love paranormal romance and urban fantasy, are an up and coming author--or hey--if you just like really good books, join Chloe and her fab agent Lucienne Diver in our chat room on Thursday, April 30th @ 9pm ET. Chloe will answer questions about the CHICAGOLAND VAMPIRES series and her upcoming young adult series VARSITY MAGIC, share her experience as a first time author and offer advice on how newbies should prepare for the rollicking ride of getting their manuscript from 8 x 11 letter-sized to trade paperback. Also our own Lucienne Diver will be on hand to share how she discovered Chloe, and lend her seasoned advice to authors looking to break into the paranormal genre. To learn more about Chloe, visit: www.ChloeNeill.com! Also, be sure to check out a cool new feature on Chloe's blog, WIP (Work in Progress) Thursdays. If you've got a manuscript underway, just share a few tidbits in the comments and she might feature you on her blog!
Here are the chat deets:
What: Online Chat with Author Chloe Neill and Agent Lucienne Diver
How Do You Chat: Visit the chat room here: http://client1.addonchat.com/sc.php?id=115545. Enter a username and password (this can be any combination). Your computer must be Java enabled to chat.
Agent 24-7 has closed up shop for the day. Take a look in the comments to find out how she answered your questions. If you missed 24-7, don't worry! *in Terminator voice*She'll be back!
Here's how it works: Submit your questions in the comments section throughout the day. Agent 24-7 will answer two randomly selected questions after 3pm ET. The answers will be given in the comments section.
Clue #2: She received her higher education in a community conceived to mirror the exalted philosophic centers of ancient Greece.
The romance world is abuzz with accolades for Deidre's new e-book release, BUTTERFLY TATTOO (Samhain, April 2009)! There is a fantastic review of it today on Smart Bitches Trashy Books. Also, Deidre's guest blogging on RomanceNovel.tv and Samhain's weblog! This book is everywhere! Upon visiting these sites, you just might find a giveaway or two to enter *wink*. Read the cover copy below to find our more about this gem.
Just when the darkness seems permanent, fate flips a switch.
Michael Warner has been drifting in a numb haze since his lover was killed by a drunk driver. As the anniversary of the wreck approaches, Michael’s grief grows more suffocating. Yet he must find a way through the maze of pain and secrets to live for their troubled young daughter who struggles with guilt that she survived the crash.
Out of the darkness comes a voice, a lifeline he never expected to find—Rebecca O’Neill, a development executive in the studio where Michael works as an electrician.
Rebecca, a former sitcom celebrity left scarred from a crazed fan’s attack, has retreated from the limelight and from life in general, certain no man can ever get past her disfigurement. The instant sparks between her and Michael, who arrives to help her during a power outage, come as a complete surprise—and so does her uncanny bond with his daughter.
For the first time, all three feel compelled to examine their inner and outer scars in the light of love. But trust is hard to come by, especially when you’re not sure what to believe when you look in the mirror. The scars? Or the truth?
UPDATE: The winner of EVERY DEMON HAS HIS DAY is lynnrush!!! I've already sent you an email notification, so just respond with your physical addy. Congrats, and thanks to everyone who participated!
Leave your name in the comments below to enter the book giveaway for Every Demon Has His Day by Cara Lockwood. The winner will be announced tomorrow morning!
Here's the cover copy: In her wildest dreams, Constance Plyd never thought she'd see dead people. Then again, she never thought she'd be hit on by her ex-husband at his own funeral...or be the prime suspect in his murder. Fortunately for Constance, irresistibly sexy sheriff Nathan Garrett wants to believe her explanation -- that a card-carrying demon in a black suit killed Jimmy in the garage -- or maybe he wants something more. Either way, all signs are leading to a showdown of hellish proportions, with Constance at the heart of the battle, when the Devil and would-be mother of the Antichrist (a pop princess wannabe) descends on Crockett County. Sure, she'd rather be cooking up a storm for the next state fair, but if she's going to be the Chosen One, at least Constance can give a few demons a Texas-style butt kicking....
Gena Showalter On ABC's Nightline To Celebrate Harlequin Success
Lights, camera, action! ABC's Nightline devoted an entire segment to romance giant Harlequin's recession-proof sales. This year marks the company's 60th anniversary as a market leader in the romance industry. TKA is thrilled to have a variety of successful authors published under the HQN imprint, as well as its multiple other imprints, including blockbuster writer Gena Showalter. Gena is actually profiled in the Nightline interview!! And we must say she looks amazing! Check out the vid below.
Besides Gena's beautiful face, you'll also spot the book covers of a few more TKA clients. Let's play "Where's TKA?". How many Knight Agency client book covers can you spot in the video? I found three. ;)
UPDATE: The winner of a EDGE OF HUNGER is Jamie! Congrats!! Please send your physical address tocontests @ knightagency.net(remove the spaces).
THIS CONTEST IS CLOSED. Leave your name in the comments below to enter the book giveaway forEdge of Hunger by Rhyannon Byrd. The winner will be announced tomorrow morning!
Ian Buchanan has always felt the unknown—the deep, impenetrable darkness that lives within him. Yet he is determined to lead a "normal" life, ignoring the unsettling dreams in which he succumbs to his wildest desires.… Until psychic Molly Stratton tracks him down, claiming tosharehis sensual nightmares.The petite Molly even has the bite marks to prove it. And she's also received a message from Ian's deceased mother: an enemy is near. And it's time for the creature inside Ian to finally awaken. A creature with an insatiable hunger that must be controlled before it overtakes them both…
All About the Visual - From Photograph to Inspiration Board by Guest Blogger Chloe Neill
UPDATE: The winner of a signed copy of SOME GIRLS BITE is Caffey! Please send your physical address to contests @ knightagency.net (remove the spaces). The winner of the inspiration board will be announced on Chloe's blog. That contest closes April 15th at midnight.
Make sure to visit Chloe's blogTODAY to learn more about inspiration boards with guest blogger Anne Sage. One lucky commenter will win their own fabulous electronic inspiration board hand-fashioned by Anne! Also, leave a comment on this blog, and enter to win a signed copy of Chloe's debut novel SOME GIRLS BITE, Book 1 in the CHICAGOLAND VAMPIRES series!! Lots of excellent contests today!!!
You've probably heard the classic adage: "Write what you know."
Problem is, writers aren't just writers. Writers who do any kind of world building are also architects, interior designers, fashion designers, psychologists, aestheticians, stylists, set designers, city planners, etc., etc. We have to know where the hero/heroine lives, works, plays. What they wear. What they drive. And most importantly, we have to figure out a way to translate all these things into words in order to create a seamless map of our world for readers. A map they can imagine. A map they can *see.*
One of the best ways for me to do that is to see the map on my own, to have my own visual understanding of the world I'm attempting to create. Thus, I'm thinking about an adjustment to the adage. Maybe something along the lines of "Write what you see."
For me, what I "see" comes in a couple of forms of visual inspiration: (1) images that serve as literal source material, or (2) images that serve as inspiration.
The first category includes those pictures that I know you've stuffed into a folder or binder (or saved on your computer desktop)--pictures of houses, cars, monsters, outfits, hairstyles and/or pretty boys with pretty blue eyes who would make an outstanding hero down the road. Maybe you took a photograph, maybe you printed them off the web, maybe you tore them out of magazines. Either way, these are the images a writer uses to facilitate description later on.
I consider myself to be a "visual" person, so I do a lot of visual sourcing. For example, when it came to creating the architecture of the CHICAGOLAND VAMPIRES, I researched Chicago real estate, neighborhoods, architectural styles and historically important homes to figure out (1) where the vampires should live and (2) what kind of building they'd live in. There are some amazing resources out there. For the neighborhoods, you can't beat Wikipedia, which provides summaries and basic data about the the Windy City's 'hoods. In bigger cities, Google Maps offers "street view," which can give you a sense of, for example, what a character might see if they were standing on a particular corner.
For the architecture, the city of Chicago provides an entire catalog of architectural landmarks online, and places like the Wheeler Mansionand Cheney Mansionhave web sites with photo galleries. The web site of Chicago magazinehas an outstanding "Deal Estate" section where they review luxury home sales and postings in the metro area. It was in searches like these that I found the model for Cadogan House, Kimball Mansion, which currently houses the U.S. Soccer Federation.
But what about stuff in the second category, which is a little squishier to define? These aren't just images you've stuffed into a folder, but images that serve as triggers for your writing. Images that send you to a different place, a different time, a different mindset. I'd propose that these kinds of images are JUST as important as source images. The can help you in world-building, especially when it comes to esoteric concerns (the "feel" of your world, the philosophy of your characters, the emotion of a particular scene), and they can serve as inspiration when the words are only trickling out, especially if you're a "visual" person like me.
Here are some ways to think about (and look for) both kinds of inspiration.
> Where you live
Thus far, I've lived in six cities. Nothing that I've written so far is set in those six cities, but that's not to say that parts of the cities don't make their way into the books. Even if you live in Podunkville, but want to set your manuscript in Excitotropolis, there may be discrete parts of P that could serve as appropriate visual sourcing for E. Think about (and take pictures of!):
- Architecturally interesting buildings, bridges, towers. Architecture from the WPA era, which often has tons of interesting detailing, might serve you particularly well here. And don't just think about the pretty buildings--think about the decaying ones, the peeling ones, the well-used ones.
- City parks, arboretums or trails
- Museums, mansions, birthplaces and historical sites: If you can tour it, there's probably a good chance the architecture is at least interesting.
- Public utilities. How about an old train station? A railroad depot?
- The thing that put your Podunkville on the map. Was it trains? Agriculture? Car production? Somebody famous was born there? If your Podunkville ever had a "thing," there's a good chance that there's some remnant of that "thing" around town. Trainyards. Stockyards. Manufacturing plants. Houses. Restaurants that were reviewed on a Food Network show. Check them out ( and, if the management approves) with camera in hand.
> Where you travel
Sure, it would be great if I could spend every weekend in Chicago. But that's just not feasible (which, in January and February, is probably a good thing). That also doesn't mean that "travel" has to include a road trip or plane flight to be inspirational. Pull out a map: What's within a couple hours' worth of driving? Any of the items listed above? Even if you can't spend a week solid in your "source" city, is there a building a couple of hours away that might be interesting to look at, and which might serve as inspiration for a bit of world-building down the road? How about a country road that might make for an interesting drive, and a setting for a Regency romance or countryside chase scene?
> Where you write
I'll admit it--I'm currently pre-move, so my "office" is the couch, laptop in hand. But once I'm settled in, I'm hoping I can fashion a space that's organized, clutter-free, and contains some nice bits of visual inspiration to keep the word count moving.
Think about it this way: if artists and designers can have lovely, well-organized studios, why can't writers?
If you're looking for a bit of inspiration, Ali Edwards is a favorite of mine in terms of office organization. As a scrapbooker, she has lots of little supplies and bits here and there. But she's managed to create a streamlined officedotted with beautiful bits of design. Her typography print and inspiration bulletin board are particularly nice.
> The Internet
Now that the Interwebs put millions of facts at your fingertips, it's easier than ever to research, to browse, to become familiar with new people, new places, new things, new trends. In terms of the visual, you can peruse stock photographscheck out headshots for heroes and heroinesand shop for handmade prints and other design elements.
Alright. So you've clipped, printed, downloaded or photographed a pile (or folder) of images. Now what?
Well, you have LOTS of options. Electronic source material can be organized in computer folders or by using photo software like iPhoto, and paper material can be arranged in gorgeous binders, accordion files, foliosor presentation binders.
The problem is, if you're anything like me, you end up with LOTS of images stuffed in a folder that you completely forget about, however helpful they might be. If that's the way you work, I propose it's time to think about a different way of seeing. A different way of visualizing. And that's where we come to inspiration boards.
I was very fortunate to come across The City Sageone day during my Interweb travels. Anne blogs about gorgeous style and design, but she also creates electronic inspiration boards. Utilizing Adobe InDesign, Anne creates mosaic images intended to inspire--inspiration for color, style, emotion and theme. And how, you ask, does one go about creating one of those lovelies? Well, you're a very lucky reader: Today, Anne will be guest bloging on my site, where she'll offer details on how to put together an inspiration board of your own. She'll also have a mock-up inspiration board for you to peruse, which was created with SOME GIRLS BITE in mind.
And, it gets even better. On her guest blog, Anne will be hosting a fabulous contest--one lucky commenter will win their own electronic inspiration board prepared by Anne. Are you mulling over an new manuscript idea? A new world? A new manuscript? You could win an inspiration board of your very own to help you on your own creative way. Mosey on over to my blogto check it out.
Well, that's about it for me. Thank you so much for having me, TKA, thanks to Anne for her guest blog and contest, and thanks to everyone for reading!
Best,
Chloe
Special Notice: Chloe and her agent Lucienne Diver will be guests in TKA's online chat room Thursday, April 30th @ 9pm ET to talk about Chloe's hot debut series and dish out publishing advice from the point of view of a first-time author. More details to come soon!
The Today Show is reporting what we already knew! Romance readers are pushing book sales to new heights. Down about the economy? Trouble at work? Have to cuddle up with your honey on the couch rather than go out to dinner and a movie? A $6.99 mass market paperback can serve as a sweet (albeit temporary) escape. Watch the video below to find out how romance is dominating the publishing scene.
Also, dont' forget to check out our own Dakota Cassidy's book, THE ACCIDENTAL HUMAN, in it's television debut on the bookshelf over the woman's shoulder. Don't blink! You'll miss it!
We are introducing a new regular feature on the blog...well semi-regular. Hmmm...make that when I can nail down our agents to write up a book review that has nothing to do with any of our clients. Ergo, off-topic. *sigh* Well, just enjoy this lovely review of FIRESIDE by the effervescent Melissa Jeglinski. Now let me go see who I can shakedown for the next one. Does the word shakedown make anyone else think of the Beverly Hills Cop soundtrack (you know, "shakedown, breakdown, takedown, you're busted...")? *crickets* Okaaayyy, just me. Without further ado:
Melissa Jeglinski Reviews FIRESIDE by Susan Wiggs
I have always been a huge fan of Susan Wiggs, especially her LAKESHORE CHRONICLES series. I love revisiting her town of Avalon, New York, with its complex characters--it’s familiarity as warm and comforting as a hand-knitted afghan. And so it was with much anticipation that I sat myself down to read her latest, FIRESIDE.
It was nice to find baseball player Bo Crutcher as the main protagonist—he had intrigued me in prior books; he certainly had his share of baggage, not to mention attitude. As FIRESIDE begins, Bo has finally been given his big chance at the majors. But just as he is on the cusp of that life-long dream, he must take on the role of father to the son he’s never met. Young AJ’s mother has been sent to a holding facility for illegal immigrants—falsely held there due to a lack of proper legal documents. With nowhere to turn, AJ is now with the father he doesn’t know and refuses to love. The emotional relationship of between father and son was well developed and I thoroughly enjoyed Bo tackling his new role.
But while Bo struggles to find his footing as “dad”, his pairing up with Kimberly van Dorn simply fell flat. A few scenes with jaunty banter and they are suddenly in love? It simply didn’t evolve enough for me to believe in this relationship’s ability to withstand any sort of conflict. Perhaps it is because I could not route for the character of Kimberly. Sadly, I could not respect her decision to simply run from a bad situation, allowing the more powerful and well-connected man to have the upper hand...especially in a case where abuse is an issue. Her attitude to just let things go really bothered me. I wanted to see a character who would fight for what she wanted...not allow things to simply happen.
There was plenty of emotional material in both protagonists’ back stories, but they never moved forward. And because this romantic relationship fell to the wayside, so, too, did my interest. I had hopes that a secondary storyline involving Daisy and Julian would at least hold my attention—their arch has been building for several books. But those promising characters were given just a few fleeting scenes. In most all of the prior LAKESHORE CHRONICLE books, secondary storylines have intrigued me, allowing me to really get to know other characters in the town, anticipating whose story would be next. But FIRESIDE only provided the briefest mention of beloved townsfolk, leaving me unsatisfied.
This hasn’t stopped me from wanting more LAKESHORE CHRONICLES. Every one of my favorite authors has written a book I’m not a fan of. I chock this up to an author discovering she doesn’t love the plot or characters as much as she had thought she would when she began writing. Or, a looming deadline forcing her to hurry an ending she’d much rather have given another month or two to develop. So, while FIRESIDE isn’t going into my “keeper” pile, I did enjoy several hours of escapism—and these days, what’s so bad about that?
We are thrilled about all the amazing feedback our Book In A Nutshell Contest has generated! For all of you still hacking away at those all-important three sentences (or for those who don't yet know about the contest), we wanted to remind you that April 20th @ midnight is the deadline to get them in!! Please find the reposted rules below. To see the questions and answers from the previous comment thread,click here.
Get noticed, get feedback, get an agent.
Here’s a chance to have your project reviewed by one of the agents at The Knight Agency. Submit three compelling sentences (150 words max) about your completed, unpublished manuscript to submissions @ knightagency.net (delete spaces). Write BOOK IN A NUTSHELL in the subject line or it will not be deemed eligible. One submission per project, please. Twenty of the best submissions will be chosen and requested by various agents who will then give feedback on your work...and it may even lead to possible representation. Hurry, the deadline is April 20, 2009. Winners will be notified by May 1, 2009.
Attention Book In A Nutshell Contestants!Due to the tremendous response we've received for this contest, we decided to post rules for some of the commonly asked questions that have come up. From this point forward, if you leave a question in the comment section we will address it by updating the FAQ document each Friday until the contest is complete! Thank you for your interest!!!
Diana Peterfreund is bringing her successful SECRET SOCIETY GIRL series to a close this May with TAP & GOWN. If you've read any of her books, you'll get a big belly laugh out of the innovative book trailer she created using Xtranormal. If you haven't, trust me, you'll still love it too! Funny stuff!
*Please note, there are RITES OF SPRING (BREAK) spoilers in the video.
Take Home Tuesday - Hosted by Guest Blogger David Cristofano
UPDATE: The winner of an autographed copy of THE GIRL SHE USED TO BE is Windy!!! Congrats! Please email your physical address to contests @ knightagency.net (remove the spaces). Thank you to everyone who participated! Hope to see you all next Tuesday for another great giveaway!!
We’re from the government, and we’re here to help.
When I tell people that my novel has a great deal to do with the government, I get a blank stare, as though I’d said I’d written a story about the intricacies of picking trash off the shoreline at Myrtle Beach. Where’s the fun in a bureaucracy? I can’t blame them; I’ve worked for the Federal Government for most of my adult career and I understand their opinion.
Most of the time, getting involved with the government means something has gone wrong. The Social Security Administration only gets (and gives) attention when your check is missing/wrong/shredded. The IRS? No one wants attention from those folks under any circumstances. Is the FBI knocking your door down? Well, then . . . I suppose you have issues.
But what if you are in witness protection? That is a true case of we’re from the government, and we’re here to help. If something were to go awry, how grateful you would be to see them! In my novel, THE GIRL SHE USED TO BE (Grand Central Publishing, March 2009), I tell the story of a woman struggling through a life of anonymity generated out of this program. But there is another theme present: I tried to uncover not only the amazing machinery that makes the Federal Witness Protection Program a success, but the struggles that the people behind that machinery—the U.S. Marshals and the feds at Justice—face, on every level: personally, professionally, and morally. It is easy for Melody (the aforementioned GIRL) to be critical of the system because they cannot deliver the product she really desires: freedom. That doesn’t change the fact that the product they do deliver is unimaginable—or at least was until the late 1960’s when a man at the Department of Justice named Gerald Shur conceived the idea to much criticism.
Okay, see . . . you’ve got that blank look.
Imagine going to the head of the Justice Department and suggesting you have this idea to make witnesses more likely to testify, and the way you plan on achieving this is by having the government make them disappear afterwards. This is 1968, now. No Internet. No sophisticated communication equipment or surveillance tools. No relationships with banks or corporations or local governments to aid the vanishing.
But now we’re in 2009. Imagine what can be done. Anything is possible. You can be re-created twice in 24 hours. You can be—electronically—in more than one place at a time. And have you seen what professional make-up artists can do now?
I hope the day never comes when the United States Marshals Service is escorting you from one location to another, but should you find yourself there, trust these folks when they arrive on your doorstep. They’re from the government, and they’re there to help. Really.
THIS CONTEST IS CLOSED. Leave your name in the comments and enter to win a signed copy of THE GIRL SHE USED TO BE. The winner will be announced tomorrow afternoon!
IN TWILIGHT SHADOW's Nomination News & Vampire Week on Lucienne's Blog
Congrats to Patti O'Shea for IN TWILIGHT'S SHADOW's nomination for Best Paranormal in the Write Touch Readers Choice Awards. The book is also a finalist for the Colorado Romance Writers Award of Excellence and the Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence. WTG Patti!
Also, be sure to check out Vampire Week on Lucienne Diver's Varkat blog. The awesome line-up includes Rachel Caine, Chloe Neill, Cris Marie Green, Jess Anderson and Gail Carriger. Today, Rachel Caine is opening the festivities with her "Handy-Dandy Vampire Generator." Click here visit Varkat!
New Release Spotlight! EDGE OF HUNGER by Guest Blogger Rhyannon Byrd
Anticipation…
Sweet, nerve-wracking anticipation. Stress…excitement…and spine-tingling expectation as I’m sitting on the edge of my seat, unable to turn off the computer. When was the last time I slept through the night? The dark smudges under my eyes say more than a few. Do I constantly scour the internet, searching for new reviews? Far more than I should. Am I driving my family insane? Without a doubt. And why all the madness, you might ask? This is the week that EDGE OF HUNGER, book one in my new PRIMAL INSTINCT series, releases from HQN Books, and I’m as caught up as ever in the thrill of the moment.
I’m always bursting with excitement when I have a new book coming out. It’s a natural reaction after putting so much time and energy into something that’s such a personal creation. But waiting for the release of EDGE OF HUNGER has eclipsed all the other “waits” that I’ve experienced. Maybe it’s because the book’s dark, ruggedly sexy hero, Ian Buchanan, is one of my all-time favorites. Or maybe it’s simply because I wrote the series during one of the craziest years of my life. I wrote on packing boxes and planes as my husband and I moved our family moved from Arizona to England. I wrote in hotel rooms…in hospital rooms, and even on the floor as we waited for furniture to arrive. Although it was often frenzied and chaotic, it was a fascinating time of change, and I think I poured a lot of that emotion into the pages of this series. It encompasses more blood and sweat and tears than anything I’ve ever written, and I can honestly say that it holds a truly special place in my heart because of that.
Now that EDGE OF HUNGER's official release is finally here, I’m beyond thrilled to be sharing these dark, provocative, deeply romantic stories with you. And I’m delighted to be able to say that the first trilogy in the series is releasing back to back! Saige Buchanan’s story, EDGE OF DANGER, will be available May 1st, followed by EDGE OF DESIRE on June 1st, which is Riley Buchanan’s story. As the primal blood of an ancient race begins to awaken within the Buchanans, their carnal, demanding hungers will push them to the edges of their control, taking them on a dark, seductive journey into a world filled with unspeakable evil…and dangerous, insatiable desires. I had the time of my life writing these books, and truly hope that readers will fall in love with the Primal Instinct heroes as deeply as I have. I was also given the wonderful opportunity to write a prequel to the series, a novella titled EDGE OF CRAVING, which is now available in e-book at www.eHarlequin.com, and am already hard at work on the second trilogy in the PRIMAL INSTINCT series, which will release in the spring of 2010.
To read more about the PRIMAL INSTINCT series, please stop by my website at www.rhyannonbyrd.com. You’ll find excerpts and contest info, and can even take a look at the book trailer for EDGE OF HUNGER while you’re there! :)
YA Spring Break Week has come to an end. Thanks to all of our WONDERFUL guest bloggers, including Monica McKayhan, Shannon Greenland, Lucienne Diver, Diana Peterfreund and Rachel Caine. You all did an awesome job! Also, thanks to everyone who commented and participated in our contests. We had an absolute blast and we hope that you did too!
We still have a few unclaimed prizes. If you recognize your name from the following list, please email your physical address to contests @ knightagency.net (remove spaces in address):
Winner of 5 Books from Monica McKayhan's INDIGO series: Anna
Winners of Signed VAMPED bookplates from Lucienne Diver: Nicola, Suzette and Isabel
Today's winner of signed Rachel Caine book of their choice: tetewa
YA Spring Break Week: Guest Blogger Rachel Caine Says Divas Rock
UPDATE: The winner of a signed Rachel Caine book of the winner's choice is tetewa. Please email your physical address to contests @ knightagency.net (remove the spaces in the email addy). Congrats!
I'm kind of jazzed to be tapped to write about The Diva (you should always spell it that way, with Capital Emphasis). I have two reasons ... one is that I come from a musical background, and so I know that the term "diva" originally meant an extremely gifted star, usually operatic. It was related to "prima donna" -- another term that just meant "First Lady" (of the opera). And of course, opera stars became known for their temper tantrums, but darn it, they were WORTH IT. They did it with STYLE.
That's probably because opera has always been a tough gig -- fragile egos need not apply. No matter how amazing the opera singer, opera audiences were merciless critics throughout history. Check it: one of the greatest divas of all time, Maria Callas, got pelted with bouquets of radishes by her non-adoring fans. And didn't even flinch as she finished the show. That's ATTITUDE.
Possibly the great legend of the diva stems from a pair of opera prima donnas -- Faustina Bordoni and Francesa Cuzzoni -- whose offstage rivalry heated up in 1727. A noted tabloid reporter of the time (yes, they had them then, too) published an account of the stage scandal with a screaming headline: "THE DEVIL TO PAY AT ST. JAMES: or, a full and true account of a most horrid and bloody battle between Madam Faustina and Madam Cuzzoni." Apparently, there was dress-tearing, hair-pulling, curse-shrieking, and throwing of vegetables from the audience. Quite a show. And by the way, opera still is a rough sport ... recently a singer got booed off the stage at La Scala in tears. Yup. It happens. It takes a major attitude to take the stage knowing that could await you.
So today's Divas have a lot to live up to, obviously. They're no longer required to have the talent ... only the 'tude. And they take self-confidence to insane levels. A true Diva thinks of no one but herself -- or who can do something for her. There's no ally she won't betray, no minion she won't throw under the bus to get ahead, no back in which she won't find a home for her dagger. Divas typically have a posse, and a talent for causing a scene when you least want it.
In short, The Diva is seriously entertaining ... if you're watching from the sidelines (or the cheap seats). Facing off against her is no treat, especially since The Diva usually has a nasty temper and a long memory.
So how does The Diva help in a story? She's a great villain. She's also a great reluctant ally ... having the meanest of the Mean Girls on your side can be an amazing advantage. (Just be sure never to turn your back on her. Or borrow her best shirt.)
So remember: Divas are fabulous. Divas are blindingly confident. Divas are WORTH IT.
Enter to win an autographed copy of one of Rachel's MORGANVILLE VAMPIRES books! The winner will receive the book of their choice from the series. Leave your name in the comment section. The winner will be announced tomorrow morning.
TKA client Linda Gerber, author of the DEATH BY series, was mentioned in a recent Associated Press article spotlighting children's book fairs. The article notes that book fairs have increased in number from around 8,000 in the early 80s to 120,000 annually, with most events being controlled by Scholastic Corp. Also, the popularity of book fairs has remained steady throughout the rocky economic times, mostly attributed to the fact that parents will penny pinch -- but not when it comes to buying book for their kids. Certainly one of the perks to being a YA author *wink*.
YA Spring Break Week: Guest Blogger Diana Peterfreund
UPDATE: The winner of an ARC of TAP & GOWN is nightdweller20. Please email your physical address to contests @ knightagency.net (remove the spaces in the email addy). Congrats!
THE MYTH OF PRINCE CHARMING
I never liked Prince Charming.
You remember him. That generic, stock character, two-timing Prince that snagged both Snow White and Cinderella in the Disney movies? He didn’t have a name, he didn’t have his own lines, he didn’t even have complex animated eyes (how you can tell you’re a real character in a Disney movie: irises.)
Though in the traditional fairy tales, PC goes onto to land Sleeping Beauty, too, the brilliant team behind the Disney version saw fit to grace him with both a name (Phillip) and an identifiable personality (his first appearance on screen features him, as a freckled child, wrinkling up his nose at the wrinkly infant princess he’s betrothed to). They also gave the Princess a name (Aurora), and they both, thank God, skipped over Coraline-style black button eyes.
Is it any wonder that Briar Rose/Aurora and Phillip’s love story was the first one that I, even as a youth, actually bought? They were in love before the curse hits, and you could see why they were actually a good match – so outdoorsy, and musical. When Phillip fights the dragon and frees Aurora, you feel like the two of them actually deserve their happily ever after. They are a real couple, one whose romance rings true.
“Prince Charming,” on the other hand is not a character to fall in love with; he’s a prize to be won. Get your foot in that glass slipper, look pretty enough in that glass coffin, and Prince Charming’s all yours. Consciousness? Him knowing your name? Eh, not important.
Talk about shallow!
You can’t fall in love with perfect and bland, and that’s all Prince Charming has to offer. No wonder he only hits on chicks in comas, or girls for whom the alternative is working as slaves for evil stepmoms. Any other girl would tell him to take a hike. It’s all in the name.
Prince = I’m rich, baby. Wealth and power, that’s right. You know you want it. Charming = Handsome? Why yes, I suppose I am. I certainly have all the palace wenches after me.
Yeah. What a prize. I’d lay good odds on the idea that Prince Charming is the kind of guy who turns into scary abusive husband when his Princess Charming doesn’t stay as submissive and obedient as she was when she was unconscious. No. Thank. You.
Prince Charming was the template for the hero in the old fashioned romance novels. You know the ones, where the guy totally ignored the girl for the entire book and then three pages from the end comes back and explains why he was in love with her all the time? Yeah, I wasn’t a fan of those, either. He didn’t get a personality of his own. Again, he was just a prize to be won. It’s a common flaw in many chick lit novels, as well. A chick lit novel is about the heroine’s journey – I get that – but far too often, we see gorgeous guy just fall out of the woodwork at the end and be madly in love with the heroine. For no reason. With no real personality of his own. And, most of all, with no insight into why these two should be together.
Hey, I’m cool with writing stories where the romance is not the main focus. I do that myself. I’m even cool with the ending of “now that you, heroine, have your personal issues sorted out, I will award you with a new job, a fab apartment, a closet filled with the shoes of your choice, and oh, look, a gorgeous guy.” Romance-as-reward works for me, but it has to also make sense. A shoe can be beautiful and simple and perfect. Real people seldom are.
If there is a romance in the book, it should have a reason for existing. I need to know that there is something these two people see in one another for me to root for them to end up together. I need to believe there’s a reason these two are in love before I can believe that they actually are. It doesn’t need to be grand. It doesn’t need to be epic. Sometimes people are in love for very quiet, prosaic reasons. Common experiences. Mutual concern for a child. Shared passion for bird-watching, foreign films, or finding the perfect crème brulee. Whatever it is.
Do you know who doesn’t have these things? Prince Charming. He has no personality of his own. You can’t love that. Not really. I prefer Prince Charming-But-Damaged, or Prince Not-Really-All-That-Charming-But-Has-a-Good-Heart. Or a Good Right Hook. Or Your Back In A Fight. Those are the kind of princes who really make for Happily Ever Afters.
Be one of the first fans to read TAP & GOWN(Delta, May 2009)! Enter to win a signed ARC (advanded reading copy) by leaving your name in the comment section. The winner will be announced tomorrow morning.
Also coming soon from Diana: RAMPANT (Harper Teen, August 2009): Astrid Llewelyn has always scoffed at her eccentric mother’s stories about killer unicorns. But when one of the monsters attacks her boyfriend in the woods – thereby ruining any chance of him taking her to prom – Astrid learns that unicorns are real and dangerous, and she has a family legacy to uphold. Her mother packs her off to Rome to train as a unicorn hunter at the ancient cloisters the hunters have used for centuries. However, at the cloisters, all is not what is seems. Outside, the unicorns wait to attack. And within, Astrid faces other, unexpected threats: from crumbling, bone-covered walls that vibrate with a terrible power to the hidden agendas of her fellow hunters to – perhaps most dangerously of all – her growing attraction to a handsome art student… and a relationship that could jeopardize everything.
