UPDATE: The winner of STRIP SEARCH by Shayla Black is Willa! Congrats! Please email your physical addy to contests @ knightagency.net. Thanks to everyone who participated :).
Leave your name in the comments to win a copy of STRIP SEARCH by Shayla Black (writing as Shelley Bradley). The winner will be announced tomorrow morning. Good luck!
The 411: The best way to go undercover is take it all off….
A sexy CPA goes undercover as a male stripper in the mobster’s Vegas club to nail a Mafia kingpin. The perk? The club’s owner. Sure she’s got some unsavory connections, but how can anyone with those legs be all bad?
She’s got a head for business, but is out of practice in the pleasure department. If anyone can strip her of her inhibitions it’s the new guy who’s stirring her wildest g-string fantasies. But besides the sizzling sexual chemistry they have in common, they both have secrets. They learn quickly that, with the mob closing in, what gets exposed is as irresistible as it is dangerous.
New York Times bestselling author Teresa Medeiros has enjoyed a 20-year + writing career, but she isn't afraid to showcase her early snafus as an aspiring author. Click here for her classic post on how NOT to write a query letter.
Dakota Cassidy's chat transcript is now available. The author of KISS & HELL and the ACCIDENTAL series talked well into the midnight hour. Wow! Great dish on publishing and writing life --- get it here.
Jia Gayles (that's me!) is giving web promo advice on author Chloe Neill's blog today. Come visit!Chloe's also giving away signed Chicagoland Vampires bookplates to FIVE lucky winners.
Join Us for a chat with author Dakota Cassidy tonight in TKA's chat room. Besides great conversation about books, writing and all that jazz -- you'll also have the chance to win an Amazon gift certificate or a signed copy of Dakota's latest release, KISS & HELL. See you there!!
CHAT INFO: What: Online Chat with Dakota Cassidy When: Thursday, June 25th @ 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
Update: the winner of ACCIDENTALLY DEAD by Dakota Cassidy is Ang!! Congrats :)!! Please email your physical addy to contests @ knightagency.net (remove spaces). Everyone else, you'll have another chance to win one of Dakota's books AND a $25 Amazon gift certficate at her chat tomorrow night @ 9pm ET!! Click here for chat details. Thanks to everyone who participated.
Leave a comment to enter the giveaway for ACCIDENTALLY DEAD (Berkeley Sensation, July 2008) by Dakota Cassidy. The winner will be announced tomorrow morning. Also, don't forget to stop by TKA's chat room on Thursday, June 25th @ 9pm ET to talk to Dakota! She's giving away a $25 Amazon gift certificate to one lucky winner :)! Hope to see you there!
The 411:A vampire puts the bite on a dental assistant. It’s a lousy first day on the job for Nina Blackman when a patient, loopy from the anesthesia, bites her. At least he was cute. But for real drama she can’t beat the next evening. Nina wakes up with a set of razor-sharp fangs, bionic vision, supersonic hearing, and a taste for blood. But there’s a good explanation: It’s her patient, Long Island vampire Greg Statleon. Actually they’re perfect for each other—if Nina’s willing to commit to one man for eternity.
Agent Nephele Tempest is spreading the love for Jane Austen by giving away an ARC of Marilyn Brant's upcoming September release, ACCORDING TO JANE AUSTEN, on her blog. The contest ends at 5pm PT on Sunday.
Chloe Neill is guest blogging at Grasping For the Wind today about writerly dating habits. Click here for the "Significant Other's Guide to Dating a Science Fiction/Fantasy Writer.
Marjorie M. Liu has devised a fantastic interactive contest to prep fans for the release of DARKNESS CALLS on June 30th. Here are the deets from her website:
Since Marjorie's got so many fans out there across different genres, she thought she'd give you a little treat with a special letter that comes out of her urban fantasy Hunter Kiss series. It's a letter you won't be able to find in any of the books--instead it will be posted in four different sections, over four weeks. It is a message from Grant Cooperon, the hero, to the unborn daughter he hopes to one day have with the heroine, Maxine Kiss.
Marjorie says of the special letter -- from the desk of Grant Cooperon to be only opened by his daughter: "I'm excited about this promotion because I love being able to reach out to you, my fans-- in person at romance conventions, or ComicCon, or online through my blog or twitter. This summer is a busy one for me because I've got the new DARK WOLVERINE series and the special NYX: NO WAY HOME collection, both from Marvel, coming out in June, followed by DARKNESS CALLS on June 30 and THE FIRE KING at the end of July. I'd love to get all my characters at the same 4th of July BBQ and see what happens...but that's not in this letter!"
Check out part one of the letter here, including an audio version read by the webmaster of RTBookReviews, Rob DiCaterino.
Part two of Grant's letter will be available at Tor.com starting June 15 and part three will be available at Smart Bitches, Trashy Books starting June 22. Stay tuned to learn where the complete letter will be posted on June 29!
Dakota Cassidy Chatting with TKA! Thursday, June 25th @ 9pm ET
Dakota Cassidyis chatting online with TKA next Thursday, June 25th @ 9pm ET about her new release, KISS & HELL. This fab novel is the first in a new series.
Dakota is well-known for her hilarious ACCIDENTAL books. The third novel in the series, THE ACCIDENTAL HUMAN, premiered in March. We have a lot of fab giveaways planned for the chat, and Dakota is personally giving away a $25.00 Amazon gift certificate! Here are the deets on KISS & HELL:
Delaney Markham doesn't just see dead people, she hears them too. And FYI-communicating with tortured souls all day can really wreak havoc on your love life. After all, no one wants to date the crazy chick that talks to herself. Sans boyfriend, Delaney makes the best of her gift by holding séances and earns a pretty penny for them too, that is until one incredibly annoying ghost just won't go away.
Now, if she could only get her hands on him.
When he materializes wearing nothing, Delaney knows something's up. Besides being sinfully hot-in a college professor sort of way-all signs point to Clyde Atwell being much more than the ordinary spirit. In fact, he's a newbie demon whose first assignment is to take Delaney back down to hell with him. Yeah, like that's gonna happen on the first date. If Delaney's old nemesis Lucifer thinks she's going down without one hell of a fight, he's got another thing coming…
UPDATE: The winner of DARKNESS CALLS by Marjorie M. Liu is Marty! Congrats! Please email your physical addy to contests @ knightagency.net. Thanks to everyone who participated :).
Leave a comment to enter the giveaway for DARKNESS CALLS (Penguin, June 2009) by Marjorie M. Liu. The winner will be announced tomorrow morning.
The 411: They are the obsidian shadows of my flesh - tattoos with minds, hearts, and dreams. By day, they protect me. But when night calls to them, they leave my body, dissolving into their true form - as demons…
Nomad born and bred, demon hunter Maxine Kiss has always relied upon herself to fight the darkness that surrounds her, the predators-human, zombie, and otherwise - who threaten the earth. But one man has penetrated her lonely life: Grant, the last of his kind. With music he is able to control any living creature…including demons. And now his life is in danger.
Haunted by the past, determined to change the future, Maxine soon understands that to save Grant, she has only one choice-to lose control, and release her own powers of darkness…
Deidre Knight Guest Blogging on ESPAN (Electronic and Small Press Authors' Network)
On ESPAN's blog, Deidre Knight is challenging RWA to fully recognize the importance of digital publishers and the changing landscape of publishing. Click here to check out this lively debate and weigh in!
Deidre Knight & Gena Showalter Chat Transcript Now Available!
Deidre and Gena Showalter had a blast answering questions in their Knight Agency chat last night! "Live" from Greece, of course. Everyone had fabulous questions about their respective series and publishing/writing in general. Lots of great info and plenty of "LOLs!" If you missed it, click here for the chat transcript!Don't forget to visit Gena's blog for the LAST day of Deidre and Gena's KISS & SEDUCE party. They are going out with a bang :)!
Guestblogger Maria Geraci: How To Get Published - TKA Style
UPDATE: The winner of five signed books by TKA authors is Sherry Ficklin! Please email your physical address to contests @ knightagency.net (remove spaces). Congrats!!!
This past weekend 5 TKA authors, Jennifer St. Giles, Shannon K. Butcher, Debby Giutsi, Deidre Knightand myself, Maria Geraci, had the opportunity to go on a little road trip. We hit 4 different book stores in less than 3 days and met some of the nicest people in the Atlanta area! At three of the signings we did a Q & A session on how to get published.
Left to Right: Jennifer St. Giles, Deidre Knight, Debby Giusti, Shannon K. Butcher, Maria Geraci
Here’s a sample of our more frequently asked questions and how we answered them.
How did you get an agent? (this was asked a lot!) Of course, the answer to this question was different for everyone, but one common theme was that networking was very important. Organizations like Romance Writers of America and other writing organizations are good venues for meeting other writers and professionals in the business. Meeting agents at conferences and attending workshop panels featuring agents, is one way you can gauge if an agent might be the right one for you. Once you’ve established a list of agents that you’d like to work with, a killer query, and of course, a good book are essential elements. One point that Deidre made was that as a new writer, you should have a completed manuscript to query. As an agent, there’s nothing more frustrating than to get excited over a good query and a promising partial, only to request the full and find out that the book isn’t written yet. Also, be sure to check the submission guidelines for each agency and stick to the rules. For instance, if the guidelines for an agency say only email queries accepted, don’t send a copy of your manuscript via snail mail. A simple thing like following directions (or not following directions) can make a good (or not so good) first impression.
Where do you get your ideas from? Most everyone on the panel said that dreams, day dreams, and vivid imaginations all play major roles in formulating ideas. As writers, we tend to be big “what if?” people. We see a curious headline or hear about a new scientific discovery and immediately the “what if?” gene kicks in. People watching is a big idea stimulator too. Personally, I love to observe people when they think I’m not looking. So maybe a little voyeurism plays into it as well!
What’s your writing schedule like and how long does it take you write a book? Our answers to this varied from 6 weeks to almost a year (depending on the size of the book). Some of us (like Shannon ) can sit at the computer for hours ( 8-10 hours at a time!) and keep pounding at the keyboard, while Debby writes at intervals during the day, interspersing chores like cooking dinner, and promotion time with her writing. One thing we all agreed was that while writing a book, daily writing (if possible) is the key to to staying on schedule. The longer you’re away from a project, the longer it takes to catch up.
Is the current economic climate keeping publishers from buying? (this one was answered by Deidre, I’m paraphrasing here, but this is her basic response). A few months ago it seemed that Publishers Weekly was beginning each day with a similar headline, “Black Monday- Big layoff at xyz publishers!” For a while, publishing was in a tailspin and there’s no doubt that people were getting laid off and restructuring took place in a lot of publishing houses. However, as seen by recent news coverage, romance book sales are actually on the rise! In tough economic times, people are finding that escapism is a good way to deal with their stress, so right now, there’s a lot to be optimistic about and book deals are happening.
After all was said and done, a good time was had by all. Books were signed and sold, new friendships were made, and maybe we inspired a few writers out there!
I’m offering an autographed copy of each of our newest releases to one random lucky winner. Just leave a comment and you might find the following books in your beach bag this summer!
It’s a regular smorgasbord of reading! Leave a comment to enter Maria's AMAGING giveaway for ALL five of these signed books! The contest is open from Friday, June 12th to midnight Sunday, June 14th. The winner will be announced Monday morning. Good luck!
Deidre Knightand Gena Showalter are bringing their KISS & SEDUCE party to The Knight Agency chat room tomorrow night, Thursday, June 11th @ 9pm ET!! Both ladies will be dishing about their latest releases and can't wait to answer your questions. Of course there will be trivia and fab prizes. Make sure to mark your calendars! Directions for accessing the chat are below:
What: Online Chat with Authors Deidre Knight and Gena Showalter
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.
UPDATE: The winner of DOORSTEP DADDY by Shirley Jump is Patti K.!!! Congrats :)! Please email your physical addy to contests @ knightagency.net (remove spaces).
Leave your name in the comments below to enter the book giveaway for DOORSTEP DADDY (Harlequin, May 2009) by Shirley Jump. The winner will be announced tomorrow morning!
The 411: Maverick writer Dalton Scott demands solitude—not a baby on his doorstep! But he can hardly shut the door…. Though absolutely out of his depth, he's amazed when he finally gets the little girl to stop crying!
Then beautiful single mom Ellie arrives, distraught that the babysitter left her precious child on Dalton's doorstep!
Can this chaotic pair make him realize that too much of his life has been stored in fiction? With Ellie he could start a whole new chapter….
Deidre Knight & Gena Showalter Partying Around the World!
Deidre Knight & Gena Showalter are celebrating Deidre's new release, RED KISS, and Gena's upcoming release, SEDUCE THE DARKNESS, in sunny Jamaica today...well virtually speaking. LOL. Take a break from your hectic Monday and join them by the pool for a sip of rum punch and a few beefcake sightings :)! Leave a comment and possibly win FREE BOOKS from Deidre and Gena. They're partying all week long -- so check back often! Who knows where they'll end up next!
Atlanta Listen Up! The Knight Agency is on the road this weekend, and we're coming to a bookstore near you!!
If you are going to be in the Atlanta area THIS WEEKEND, you don't want to miss the fabulous signing events that we are planning beginning June 5th!! The tour line-up includes Deidre Knight, an award-winning paranormal romance author who is also president of The Knight Agency, along with USA Today bestselling author Jennifer St. Giles, Debby Giusti, Shannon K. Butcher and debut author Maria Geraci!
This is not your ordinary book signing. Three of the events will feature a "How To Get Published Q&A," followed by a one-on-one meet and greet with the authors during the signing portion. See details below!
1--Borders at Stonecrest Mall in Lithonia – June 5th, 5pm ET 8000 Mall Parkway, Lithonia, GA 30038
2--Books For Less in Buford – June 6th, 1pm ET* 2815 Buford Dr, Buford, GA 30519
3--Dog Ear Bookstore in Madison – June 6th, 5pm ET** 142 Academy Street; Madison, GA 30650
4--Borders in Athens – June 7th, 2pm ET 196 Alps Road, Athens, GA 30606
If you have any questions, please direct them to info @ knightagency.net (remove spaces).
*Debby Giusti will not appear at the Books For Less event. **The Madison signing will not include a Q&A session.
UPDATE: The winner of signed copies of RED FIRE and RED KISS is azteclady!!! Please send your physical address to contests @ knightagency.net (remove spaces). Congrats!! See everyone next week :).
It's release day for Deidre Knight, and we want to give her a Happy Release Day shout-out for the premiere of the second book in her thrilling GODS OF MIDNIGHT series, RED KISS. To celebrate we are giving away an autographed copy of RED FIRE, the first book in the series, and RED KISS!!! You know what to do ;). Leave your name in the comments and the winner will be announced tomorrow morning.
The 411:Immortal warrior and Spartan slave River Kassandros has a special gift—the ability to transform into any weapon. But in a recent battle, he was trapped as a dagger, unable to become human again. His one hope of salvation is a mere mortal…
When Emma Lowery beaches her kayak on an uninhabited island off the coast of Savannah, an ancient dagger seems to call out to her. Compelled by dark forces, Emma draws blood with his blade, freeing River. Now he’s stronger, angrier—and exudes more sensuality than Emma can resist.
But a sinister power wants to claim River’s destiny, and his precarious freedom. The pair must join the Spartan warriors to fight Ares himself. But can they face sacrificing their love to protect humankind from the war god’s demonic plan? Book 1:
Deidre Knight is guest blogging on Penguin in celebration of her latest release, RED KISS, Book 2 in the GODS OF MIDNIGHT series (Signet Eclipse, June 2, 2009). She has a fun, light-hearted post up today about what her Spartan's are planning for the summertime. Are BBQs and slip-n-slides in the future for these conquering heros? Click here to find out.
The 411: The best way to go undercover is take it all off….
