Louisa Edwards Blogging About First Sale on Dear Author!
Louisa Edwards, former Berkley editor and debut author of CAN'T STAND THE HEAT, is blogging about her first sale today at DearAuthor! From paranormal Navy SEALS to a light-hearted culinary romance, click here to read about the winding path that led Louisa to finally write the book of her heart.
Don't forget USA Today bestselling author Jennifer St. Giles is the featured guest author in TKA's chat room tonight! Join us for great conversation and book giveaways. Details below:
WHAT: Chat with Jennifer St. Giles WHEN: Thursday, August 27th @ 9pm ET WHERE: TKA Chat room HOW TO CHAT: Visit TKA's chat room here:http://client1.sigmachat.com/sc.php?id=115545 Enter a username and password (any combination). Login.
UPDATE: The winner of KISS OF DARKNESS and BRIDE OF THE WOLF by Jennifer St. Giles is Natasha A. Please email your physical addy to contests @ knightagency.net (remove spaces in the email address). Thanks to everyone who participated. Remember, there will be more chances to win some of Jennifer's fabulous books at her chat tomorrow night (details below)!!!
In celebration of our upcoming chat with Jennifer St. Giles this Thursday, August 27th @ 9pm ET, we are giving away the last two books in her amazing SHADOWMEN series, KISS OF DARKNESS and BRIDE OF THE WOLF. To enter, leave a comment with your name. The winner will be announced tomorrow morning.
KISS OF DARKNESS: A vampire bite has Sheriff Sam Sheridan on the fast track to hell and demons are taking over Twilight Tennessee. He's battling not only to save both his soul and his town, but also his love for one woman, Emerald Linton. Emerald has a secret that could destroy both her and Sam. She is an angel, and if she can't save Sam from turning evil, then she'll have to kill him, no matter how much of her heart belongs to him. Sam is determined to take as many demons and vampires down with him as he can and to protect Emerald, but as the seductive dark power in him grows will he condemn Emerald to share his doomed fate, or will they both find a way out of hell.
BRIDE OF THE WOLF: Injured Blood Hunter Navarre is kidnapped along with oil heiress Marissa Vasquez. Their bid for freedom, puts them into a deadly race for their lives as the become the hunted prey of two Vladarian Vampires and the evil Dr. Cinatas. Together Marissa and Navarre's spirits form a powerful link matched only by their passion. But can a mortal woman attain true love with a man who is half wolf? Or will thier enemies steal their one chance at happiness?
WHAT: Chat with Jennifer St. Giles
WHEN: Thursday, August 27th @ 9pm ET WHERE: TKA Chat room HOW TO CHAT: Visit TKA's chat room here: http://client1.sigmachat.com/sc.php?id=115545 Enter a username and password (any combination). Login
Jennifer St. Giles Chatting with TKA Next Thursday, 08/27 @ 9pm ET!
USA Today bestselling author Jennifer St. Giles will be the featured August guest in our agency chat room. Mark your calendars for August 27th @ 9pm ET to learn more about Jennifer and her fabulous SHADOWMEN books! There'll also be fun trivia and book giveaways! See you there!
An interview with Deidre Knight, president of The Knight Agency and author of the GODS OF MIDNIGHT series and BUTTERFLY TATTOO, will air today on the literary radio show, From Cover to Cover, on Houston's KPFT FM station. Also on the program, Rachel Caine, author of the uber--successful MORGANVILLE VAMPIRE series, and Marjorie M. Liu, author of the DIRK & STEELE series, were interviewed about their journey to the New York Times bestseller list. Click here to access the show via KPFT FM's live streaming radio.*
Once the show is archived will will provide a link for those that are not able to listen live. Check back soon!
Warning: What you are about to witness might be disturbing...
A public service announcement produced by researchers at NUCA (National Unicorn Control Agency) is making waves throughout the nation. Be forewarned, several brave souls sacrificed their lives to produce this video. What you will see in this footage is disturbing, but necessary. We must become more educated about these bloodthirsty killers masquerading as sweetness and light on lunchboxes and Trapper Keepers (do they even have Trapper Keepers, anymore?). For more information, visit www.KillerUnicorns.org or you can check out the blog of author/unicorn expert Diana Peterfreund, who recently visited NUCA headquarters.
UPDATE: The winner of an autographed copy of BUNDLE OF TROUBLE is RTAKETA. Congrats! Please send your physical addy to contests @ knightagency.net (remove spaces).If the prize is not claimed within two weeks, we reserve the right to redraw names.
BUNDLE OF TROUBLE is the first in my series. New-mom, Kate Connolly, receives a disturbing phone call – a body’s been pulled from San Francisco Bay, and the police think it may be her brother-in-law. Kate is dreading returning to the corporate world and decides a career change is just what she needs. After all being a Private Investigator isn’t that difficult, it is? They just ask a bunch of questions…right?
In her busy world Kate uses to-do lists to track items. I’m a list maker, so this made sense to me. In fact, on my to-do list today was: 1. Write blog post for The Knight Agency. 2. Find babysitter for Saturday night. 3. Get uniforms for Kindergarten. 4. Put together workshop for Wednesday. 5. Set up signing in Oakland.
Let’s see – I did the first one – the blog post (well…um…I’m doing that now). And I did call the babysitter, but I won’t cross off my list until I know it’s done. My daughter starts Kindergarten on Thursday – so I have…I have tomorrow! Yes, I will do that tomorrow because Wednesday I have a workshop (which brings us to number 4) and number 5 doesn’t have a timeline so you can probably guess when that will get done.
I’ve tried to use a calendar feature on my computer but the “snooze” button on it is too convenient – I can just basically ignore the reminders until the pile up and up.
Any ideas out there? How do you manage your busy to-do list? Is it like mine and Kate’s where work life and home live cross-over? Do you have just one list or do you keep separate lists?
Border's True Romance, hosted by romance buyer Sue Grimshaw, has expanded its reach to the blog world. A fairly new endeavor from Borders media, True Romance, features interviews with bestselling authors and "Sue's Must Reads," a monthly video webcast that keeps viewers informed of the hottest new releases in the romance world. Past guests have included Sherrilyn Kenyon, Lisa Jackson and Suzanne Brockmann. On August 15th, Sue launched the True Romance blog, which will be supported by her Romance Experts (also known as the "Pips to her Gladys Knight"), Jane from Dear Author and Sarah from Smart Bitches Trashy Books.
TKA client and New York Times bestselling author Nalini Singh is a part of the blog's maiden voyage this week, helping to lauch it with a guest post on August 22nd. She'll also give away a book prize pack that includes an advanced reading copy of BLAZE OF MEMORY.
UPDATE: The winner of SKYKEEPERS by Jessica Andersen is maered! Congrats! Please email your physical addy to contests @ knightagency.net (remove spaces from email addy). Thanks for hanging out with us Jessica! Fab post! And thanks to everyone who participated. BTW, we have another great guest blog and giveaway planned for next week with a wonderful new mystery writer -- so stay tuned!
One randomly selected commenter will win a signed copy of NIGHTKEEPERS or DAWNKEEPERS, which are the first two books in this sexy series of paranormal thrillers. And, of course, SKYKEEPERS is in a bookstore near you!
Here’s the blurb:
Ancient prophecy holds that 12/21/2012 will bring a global cataclysm. Mankind’s only hope lies with the Nightkeepers, modern magic-wielding warriors who must find their destined mates and fulfill the legends to defeat the rise of terrible Mayan demons in the last few years leading up to 2012.
In SKYKEEPERS, Michael Stone is a man with a dark secret that has skewed his magical abilities dangerously toward the underworld. Seeking redemption, he sets out on a perilous mission to save the daughter of Ambrose Ledbetter, a renowned Mayanist who died before he could reveal the location of a hidden library. The Nightkeepers must find the library before their enemies gain access to its valuable cache of spells and prophecies.
Sasha Ledbetter grew up hearing heroic tales of an ancient group of powerful magi who were destined to save the world from destruction. She never expected that her bedtime stories would come to life in the form of Nightkeeper Michael Stone, or that she’d hold the key to the warrior’s survival. As Sasha and Michael join forces to prevent the imminent battle, sparks of attraction ignite between them, and they’re forced to confront the unexpected passion that brings them together … and also tears them apart.
This series (and particularly this book) often looks at what makes people afraid. In the largest sense, the overall arc is about the fear of death and endings: The Nightkeepers are fighting to keep the world from ending, and to keep themselves (and future generations) alive. But more, it’s about the fear of failure: The Nightkeepers’ parents sacrificed themselves in an effort to short-circuit the 12/21/2012 countdown, but it continued and their children grew up orphans, in many cases not realizing their true natures. Now reunited, the modern magi are struggling to find their footing amidst new magic, ancient prophecies, and things that go bump in the night.
Within each story, the hero and heroine must deal with more personal fears. In SKYKEEPERS, Michael fears the loss of control—of his temper, his soul, the situation around him … and his heart. Likewise, Sasha fears change, growth, and learning the truth about her father and herself.
I think we can all relate to these fears, some of which might reflect back on our own lives. The concept of a relatable fear is in part what makes us (as readers) connect with a story, even if it’s about something that might not be part of our daily lives, such as Mayan magi, or vampires, or aliens … The world of the story might interest us, but without a relatable character, it’s just a world. It’s the characters that help us connect.
Beyond the ‘big picture’ stuff, smaller fears can become important details that help bring characters to life. In the fourth book in this series (DEMONKEEPERS, April ’10), the hero is recovering from a demonic possession that kept him trapped inside his own skull for nearly a year. As such, he emerges badly claustrophobic, to the point that he avoids his own couch because its soft, enfolding cushions and high arms make him feel trapped.
Most often, these small details about a character emerge as I’m writing the story. Sometimes I don’t even know why someone has a certain phobia at first, only to see it later and think, “Duh. Of course!” But by the same token, (as a writer) don’t be afraid to think about your characters’ phobias and use them as quirks, or clues into that person’s backstory. As part of this, I’ve always thought that it’s interesting to look at the wide variety of phobias out there, and think about where they might stem from, and what interesting behaviors those fears might create.
Me? I’m afraid of spiders … specifically, of big brown spiders crawling into my ears (this stems from a baaad incident with a pair of earmuffs). I’m also not a big fan of heights or bridges.
So tell me … what small, strange thing scares you (or one of your characters) and if you’re willing to share … why???
Remember, all commenters are entered to win! The winner will be announced tomorrow afternoon. For more info on Skykeepers and the rest of the Keepers books, check out www.JessicaAndersen.com.
Check it! Erin Craig, art director for Harlequin TEEN, dishes on the process of creating INTERTWINED's amazing cover. Penned by NYT bestselling author Gena Showalter, the book will be the second title released by the fledgling imprint.
UPDATE: The winner of THE KNIGHT by Steven James is RKCharron! Congrats! Please email your physical addy to contests @ knightagency.net (remove spaces).
Leave your name in the comments to win a copy of THE KNIGHT by Steven James. The winner will be announced tomorrow morning.
In THE KNIGHT, the third installment in the bestselling series of thrillers featuring FBI criminologist Patrick Bowers, the stakes have never been higher. Agent Bowers is used to tracking the country's most dangerous killers, but now it looks like a killer is tracking him. When he realizes the murderer is using clues from an ancient manuscript as a blueprint for his crimes, Bowers faces a race against time to decipher who the next victim will be and to stop the final shocking murder--which he's beginning to believe might be his own. Gritty, chilling, and intense, this psychological thriller is guaranteed to keep readers up all night.
CNET TV posted a video on how handy Kindles are when it comes to hiding your steamy reads from nosey onlookers. They also show you how to take it a step further and archive your books so that kidlets and dear husbands won't be able to snoop through your list of titles. Notably, when the camera zooms in on the Kindle's list of books you might want to hide, at the top are THE DARKEST NIGHT, THE DARKEST PLEASURE and THE DARKEST KISS by Gena Showalter. ;)
Chick-n-scratching Blogger Takes on Romance Naysayers
Check out Chicks-n-scratching blogger Inez's thoughtful and comedic take on why women love romance (and should be left alone with their version of the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue, among other hilarities). Not only does she argue that romance is escapism at its best, but that it is also a powerful tool that empowers women in their relationships. And what did she denote as the perfect example of romance done right? I won't make you read the whole post to find out (though you really, really should because it's SO worth it)...BUTTERFLY TATTOO by our own Deidre Knight!
UPDATE: The winner of A MOST LAMENTABLE COMEDY by Janet Mullany is elnice. Please send your physical addy to contests @ knightagency.net. Thanks to all participants!
Reheating the Comic Omelette
This month my second Regency chick-lit, A MOST LAMENTABLE COMEDY, was released and this is how I came to write it.
When I was seriously whipping into shape my 2007 book THE RULES OF GENTILITY I realized that it might be a good idea to prove to an editor that it wasn’t a one-off book. Instant panic ensued. My first reaction was Oh no, I’ve used up all my jokes!
The editor at Little Black Dress (UK) who bought Comedy wanted a similar style (hero/heroine first person, present tense, funny), so I’d established the formula but for my own entertainment and peace of mind I had to do something different.
I made a list of all the devices I’d used in RULES:
--A character who spoke without punctuation
--Lists
--A fart joke (a first for the Regency historical, I’m proud to say)
--Funny acronyms (e.g. The Association for the Rescue and Succor of those in Extremis = ARSE)
--Most of the usual Regency tropes, such as the fake engagement, the fall from horseback in the Park, the Big Misunderstanding, high adventures in low places, the bluestocking identical twins, and the gay friend (probably not one of the usual Regency tropes but certainly a staple of chicklit).
--Letters between characters
I could reuse the devices of lists and letters (although there aren’t so many as in RULES) but I didn’t want to repeat myself or write about another fashion-obsessed, naïve babbler. As much as I liked Philomena Wellesley-Clegg, the heroine of RULES, she was a bit overwhelming (which is incidentally why I came up with the idea of also writing the hero in first person; it cleared my literary palate). Although I thought initially I might write about the twins (I even had a title, THE WEIRD SISTERS OF BERKELEY SQUARE) I looked around for a character who was not at all like Philomena and found Lady Caroline, caught in intimate circumstances with the hero early on in Rules and quite definitely a Bad Girl.
Caroline Elmhurst, in Mrs. Giggles'words, is a gloriously flirtatious hussy with a PhD in gold digging. The hero, Nicolas Congrevance, has had a disgraceful career as a gigolo; a good-hearted and sympathetic one, but still a gigolo. I was so appalled at his behavior that I invented a few other professions for him such as ratcatcher, music teacher, and cabinetmaker (he’s good with his hands in more ways than one). Interestingly, no one yet has complained about his anti-heroic qualities.
Furthermore, taking a suggestion made by Bob Mayer in one of his workshops, I started off with both characters in trouble (she’s escaping creditors and he nearly drowns while evading a jealous husband)—people with real problems, and I think it made for a stronger, dare I say it, more serious book. Ahem. Don’t for a moment think this is a book about repentance, forgiveness and transformation—no knitting clubs or cottages full of rosy-cheeked children here (only those belonging to minor characters)—but Caroline and Nick discover what they really need: friendship and community as well as love (and money).
So that’s how it happened. I have two more books coming out from Little Black Dress, and the next, tentatively titled IMPROPER RELATIONS (2010), takes another new direction. Visit my website, www.janetmullany.com for more information about me and my books, and thanks for having me visit today!
CONTEST: To win a signed copy of A MOST LAMENTABLE COMEDY by Janet Mullany, leave your name in the comments section. The winner will be announced tomorrow morning!
BITE ME! by Melissa Francis Receives Publishers Weekly Review
The accolades keep pouring in for Melissa Francis, whose debut novel, BITE ME! released last week. In their latest issue, Publishers Weekly chimed in with an awesome review (confirming what we already knew, of course):
First-time novelist Francis presents a tasty story that uses humor and a light touch to rise above typical teen vampire fare. Seventeen-year-old “good girl” AJ may be a closet blood-drinker, but that's the least of her problems. Her mom's remarriage has just turned her boyfriend into her stepbrother (“Momma's exact words to me were, 'Ariel Jane, if you so much as look at that boy with fangs in your eyes again, I'll bite you myself.' ”), her AP Lit teacher is already out to get her on the first day of school, and she might have accidentally turned her rebound guy into a vamp who is now threatening her family. On top of that, she's been accused of cheating on a quiz, and compromising photos have appeared on her Facebook page—someone has to be setting her up. But who? Francis keeps things moving, creating an absorbing and refreshing page-turner with a solid mythology, sympathetic heroine and appealing characters that readers will want to invite back to their own homes (well, almost). Ages 14–up. (Aug.)
Melissa Francis was interviewed by the ladies of Author Talk, Gena Showalter and Jill Monroe, in celebration of her new releaseBITE ME!. Of course the authors/comedians/Barbara Walters wannabes were up to their usual hijinks ;-). Check out the show below.
Louisa Edwards, former Berkley editor and debut author of CAN'T STAND THE HEAT, is blogging about her first sale today at DearAuthor! From paranormal Navy SEALS to a light-hearted culinary romance, click here to read about the winding path that led Louisa to finally write the book of her heart. 
