'

Wednesday 29 September 2010

Brain Clutter=Restless...

Yeah, that's kinda how I feel today. Excited about current and future projects, but totally cluttered.

<---BTW, this to-do list made me laugh. Y'know, because I'm so tired today that I feel like doing just that. All day. lol. :D

Anyway. I've got a lot on my mind. Mostly because I'm between edits on two stories, my daughter's on holidays, there's a bunch of books I still need to read/review, and I've got a lot of stuff that I want to achieve before the end of the year. Not to mention start planning out my projects for next year. I know, the insanity.

I think it might be time for me to grab my trusty notebook, a pen, my calendar, the 2011 calendar I printed up yesterday (yeah, I did!), and list all the things I want to do from now until the end of the year. That way I can slot things in and figure out what to work on next, if I can take part in NaNoWriMo this year, and which anthologies I want/can rewrite/write stories for. One thing that will help make things a little easier is having one of my December deadlines moved to March next year, thanks to my lovely ImaJinn Books editor.

Speaking of ImaJinn Books, I just wanted to mention that the first book in my upcoming urban fantasy series, The Hidden, will not be released in 2010. Instead, UNNATURAL will be released in early 2011. Which means that you'll get to meet Trina, and be introduced to her world in the free prequel eBook novella that'll be available from ImaJinn either at the end of this year/beginning of next year. I'll keep you posted.

See, there's a lot going on. :)

I think I'll spend as much time as I can this week considering my options and planning ahead. There's really no point in throwing myself into anything too deep when I've got both TOUCHING MOONLIGHT and THE SOUL DEALER: Deception still stuck in my head. :)  

BTW, did I mention that TOUCHING MOONLIGHT will be released from Eternal Press next week? On October 7, to be exact. You know what's funny? My first release with EP, SHADE OF GREY, was released on my birthday (back in July), and this one will be released on hubby's birthday. Well, in Oz it will be, since we're a day ahead. Strange coincidence, huh?

See ya! Looks like I've got a bunch of things to do. ;)

Friday 24 September 2010

Tomorrow is my 11th Wedding Anniversary

Yay. So...

Happy Anniversary to Hubby and me! Awesome. :) Looking forward to spending a nice day together. We'll be going out for lunch, too. Probably to Sizzler. :)

Well, today, I'm over at Su Halfwerk's--Vivid Sentiments--Blog. You can check out my interview here. She had a great selection of questions to choose from, and I really enjoyed picking them, as well as answering them. :)

Check this out: My review of MONSTER HIGH is listed on the Atom Books Australia Facebook page. Yay!

Um, I still haven't gone back to Twitter.

Still a little scared to go back. I know it's probably all clear now, but I think I'll stay away until Monday. And I have to admit that it feels weird, almost like something's missing from my daily routine. :( I read that some stupid seventeen-year-old kid was responsible for the virus. Don't people have something better to do with their time? Do they really need to invest time on being evil? Seriously, I hate that! I was wondering, though... if you had something like Tweetdeck set up, did the virus still getcha? Curious.

It's Friday. My daughter's last day of school for Term 3. Starting Monday, she's got two weeks off, and doesn't go back to school until mid-October. Yikes! Wonder how it's going to be having her home while expecting/working on edits. lol.

Oh, I'll work it out. ;)

Okay... have a great weekend, guys!

Sunday 19 September 2010

GHOSTGIRL: Lovesick by Tonya Hurley


Before she can rest in peace, Charlotte Usher must return to the tragic site of her death: High School. On the brink of Dead Ed graduation, Charlotte and her fellow classmates learn they have one last mission to complete before gaining entrance to the much-anticipated afterlife: Observe one designated teen with an unexplained problem and help said-troubled teen by Prom. For the life of her, Charlotte can't imagine why she has been assigned to help Damen, last year's Homecoming King and her former fatal crush. To make matters worse, her boyfriend Eric is sent to look after her best (breathing) friend Scarlet, who has since ditched her goth girl image for a girlier look that turns more heads than just her boyfriend Damen's. Charlotte would die (again) for love. But when her only chance at an afterlife means having to face the dreaded, all-too-familiar pains of being invisible, it may be too much for her to handle.

This is the third book in the Ghostgirl series, and just like the other two before it, it looks absolutely gorgeous. It's hardback, slimmer, and taller than they usually are, which gives it a little bit of a coffin look. It's also filled with beautiful art, and very clever quotes before each chapter.

It's Valentine's Day, and life is changing for everyone. Love seems to be the reason why life's getting all confusing. 

Scarlet is a changed girl. She's only a shadow of the outcast she used to be, and when she starts to wonder why she's changed so much, she can't help but think that it might be because of her boyfriend, Damen. When she meets Eric, she starts to lose herself in who she used to be when her clothes weren't considered trendy. 

Damen's in college, but he misses Scarlet so much that he applies for an internship at a local radio station to be closer to her. He hopes to surprise her with something else too, but instead of coming across as the romantic, well-meaning boyfriend, he comes across as pushy.

Charlotte's finally got her parents in her life, and she couldn't be any happier. She also--finally--has a boyfriend, Eric. As if that's not enough, she's excited about her last day at the intern office. But when Mr. Markov tells them that they're all going 'back' and each one of them will be assigned a human, she doesn't really want to go. Not now that she's got her parents with her, not now that she's got Eric, and not now that she's been assigned Damen! And Eric has been assigned Scarlet.

When they return to Hawthorne High, things are a-changing and soon every one of them gets lost in the world of the living. Trying to figure out exactly how they're supposed to help the living, or if the living are actually the ones who are supposed to help them. It becomes a tangled web of love, and I got a kick out of seeing the former snobby, Petula, morph into someone so different that even the Wendys didn't want to have anything to do with her.

Lovesick is an awesome name for this book. There are plenty of complications, changes, and jelousy going on in everyone's lives. Oh, and an evil 'person' returns to stir as much trouble as she can.

Although, I can't help but wonder if this series will now move forward, or end up circling around the same characters and themes. I hope the future's still gloomy for this series. ;)

Check out this lovely trailer:


Lovesick: Ghostgirl #3, August 2010, ISBN 978-075-537700-8, Headline Fiction Hardback

Saturday 18 September 2010

MONSTER HIGH by Lisi Harrison


The monster community has kept a low profile at the local high school, but when two new girls enroll, the town will never be the same. Created just fifteen days ago, Frankie Stein is psyched to trade her father's formaldehyde-smelling basement lab for parties and prom.

But with a student body totally freaked out by rumors of monsters stalking the halls, Frankie learns that high school can be rough for a chic freak like her. She thinks she finds a friend in fellow new student Melody Carver-but can a "normie" be trusted with her big secret?
 
*This is an early review. Monster High will be released on 23 September*

This book has a really funky cover. It also has some very interesting subject matter that I knew I would totally be into. And I wasn't wrong. This is one hip, happening, and unique story told in the POV of two teenage girls who in their own way are new to both the town of Salem, Oregon, and to Merston High School.

Melody is a normie. She's fifteen and is moving into this smaller and smog-free town with her parents and sister, Candace, in hopes that the air will help her asthma. She's a girl who hasn't always been beautiful, but with the help of a little work from her plastic surgeon father, managed to enter the world of the beautiful. Except, she struggles with that. After so many years of being invisible, standing out for her looks makes her uncomfortable, and suspicious of people. After all, do they only like her because of the way she looks?

All of that is challenged when she meets a hottie her sister refers to as a 'curdy', which of course means cute-nerdy. Jackson's really nice, and has that whole geek-chic look going for him. But he's a little strange, and keeps giving Melody hot-and-cold signals. One minute he's into her, the next it's almost like he's someone else and doesn't even remember who she is. And there's a reason for that...

Frankie is just fifteen days old, but her father Viktor (a mad scientist) has equipped her with fifteen years worth of knowledge. And attitude. Her room, which used to be the lab but she now labels 'Fab', is the only place she knows. She shares it with the Glitterati rats and is decked out with the latest fashion, accessories, and chic. She's a real fashionata with a lot of confidence. She's also full of electrifying life. Literally. 

The day her parents decide it's time for her to start high school, her whole life changes. Frankie is determined to be who she really is. After all, the important magazines claim that green is in, and she's green, right? Green and proud, but things aren't that easy. She needs to cover her green skin, hide her stitches and bolts, and totally shun the stylings she loves so much. Luckily for her, she meets a nice bunch of friends in Lala and Blue. Girls, who along with the seemingly bitchy Cleo and Claudeen, turn out to have a lot more in common with her than she first expected.

Melody and Frankie's lives become affected by what it means to be both a RAD (Regular Attribute Dodger) and a normie. Frankie, especially, struggles with hiding her real self to the point of disregarding the rules, and risking the existence of the 'monsters' who hide among the humans.

Monster High is a fantastic, clever, and fun book. It's seriously fabulous and packs quite a punch in the LOL department. I read it in one day because it both sucked me in and kept me reading until the very end. I loved every minute of it and couldn't wait to get stuck into Melody and Frankie's stories. They're both excellent, interesting characters that come from different sides of the spectrum but are really a lot alike. The cast of characters is colourful and freaky. I loved every single one of them and can't wait to see where the next installment takes us, because it definitely ended on a cliffhangerish note. ;)

I also wanted to mention that it's a pretty book. Bring on the monsters, because they are RAD. ;)

Oh, and if you're interested in finding out a little more about Monster High, you can visit this great website.
 
Monster High, September 2010, ISBN 978-1907410635, Atom Paperback 

Friday 17 September 2010

CROSSING OVER by Anna Kendall


Whether it's a curse or a blessing the fact remains: whenever Roger is in enough pain he can cross over to the Land of the Dead and speak to the people there. It's an unexpected gift - and one that, throughout Roger's life, his violent uncle has taken advantage of. Roger has been hauled from fairground to fairground and beaten into unconsciousness, in order to bring word of the dead to the recently bereaved. It's a hard, painful way of life, deceiving the living for a crust of bread. So when Roger has the chance of a new life, it seems a gift. He has a chance at safety and at living a life of his choosing, tucked away in the royal court. But life is unexpected and when Roger falls in love with the bewitching, willful Lady Cecilia he has no idea what he is letting himself in for. With every step he takes towards her, he is drawn deeper into court intrigue, into politics and even into war...

What a cool cover! I have to admit it's the first thing that grabbed me about this book. :)

Roger has a gift. Or maybe it's a curse. He can crossover into the land of the Dead. The downside is that the only way for him to get there is via pain. Something that his uncle Hartah is more than happy to help him with. He beats him, then gets him to crossover so he can get answers about those that the living miss the most. It's how he makes a bit of money at faires.

See, when someone dies they're left wandering in the same place where they died, but on the other side. Where everything looks similar but the sun doesn't shine and the world is always covered in dark clouds. The dead aren't all that interested in talking to Roger, but if they're recently deceased he can usually bluff his way around getting answers by tricking them. And old ladies seem to love telling him all about the tales of their long lives, which usually provides him with enough ammunition to cover a whole small town.

Roger's fourteen and is very unhappy living with his abusive uncle and absent aunt, but he's a coward at heart and can't bring himself to leave. Even when he's dragged into a mess that causes a ship to crash, and is sentenced to be hung, he seeks the help of a widow named Mistress Conyers who will do just about anything to never see him again. So she gives him a letter of referral to become a court laundress for the Queen.

But while he's there, he catches the attention of Queen Caroline and is soon named her fool. A job that entails his special talent when she finds out the truth about him.

Roger also gets himself entangled in a very one-sided romance with a girl called Cecilia, which leads him to do some pretty horrible things. And he's totally clueless about how Maggie really feels about him. He's actually not too bright when it comes to women. Maybe it's because he's so deeply haunted by his dead mother, who he desperately wants to meet on the other side. But where she died, the Soulvine Moor, is a place that has even him running.

Crossing Over is an interesting, well-told story that is also quite odd. The characters are mostly self-absorbed and even appear superficial--Roger included--which made it harder than I expected to be sympathetic towards his plight. I think the strength in this book lies in the plot and the world these characters live in. I found the unstable nature of it kept me reading, and when war rages, the battle has some very unexpected and strange outcomes.

By the way, this is the US cover:

I think it really suits the imagery, showing the difference between the land of the living, and the land of the Dead. It's nice. Both covers are.

Crossing Over, August 2010, ISBN 978-057-509426-0, Gollancz Paperback

Hello, it's Friday!

And another whirlwind of a week is almost over. Phew.

Usually, at the end of the week I'd either be frantically trying to finish up my current project, taking it easy after finishing a current project, or thinking about which one to tackle next. But y'know, I won't be doing that today because I'm expecting several edits to drop into my Inbox any day now.

That means there's no real point in throwing myself into anything new just yet. It's best to just catch up on some online stuff, and maybe writing a short story or two. Or at least think about them. I'm not feeling especially motivated today. It could be that spring's in the air. Or it could just be that I'm impatiently waiting for the window screens-and-blinds guy to drop in so he can instal them into the kitchen and bedrooms.

Yesterday afternoon, I received my copy of the Ghosts and Demons anthology, and I have to say that's absolutely gorgeous! I love the way the Static Movement Anthologies look. I just need to conjure up some extra hours in the day to sit down and read the stories.

There's never enough time in the day, is there? lol.

Last night I started reading another book. It's called Crossing Over by Anna Kendall. What a nice cover, huh?

Anyway, I think it's time I tackled... something. ;)

Have a great weekend!

Thursday 16 September 2010

Well, hello!

I can't believe it's Thursday already. My gosh, where have the last few days gone? Well, they've been packed with stuff. 

Firstly, I had my daughter home from school because she wasn't participating in something that was going on at school. And of course, that meant she was here 24/7. But that's okay, I made sure she got a balanced dose of online schoolwork, homework, and relaxation time. I even took her on an excursion to the the post office. Where she learned that the online postage calculator gives the wrong amounts. :/

It's time to go back to school today. She'll probably wake up at any minute now.

I just want to mention that today I'm over at Author Talk to Linda Sole. It's just a little blog post about me and the things I like to write. :) Feel free to pop in, it's a litle lonely at the moment. lol.

A few things have been going on... I signed two more contracts with Evernight Publishing. Yay. It's for two Christmas-themed novellas that feature an imp, a human, and the demonic. Lots of fun. Can't wait to see the covers for these ones. Yay. I also had two more stories accepted into two Static Movement Anthologies--Darkest Secrets and Oh, the Horror! Which means that I now have three stories in DS, and two in OtH! How awesome is that? And, it looks like they're both closing in a few days, too.

Thanks to hubby, I also found out that not only is there a http://www.thebookdepository.com/, but that the prices are several dollars cheaper than http://www.thebookdepository.co.uk/. Doesn't sound like much, but when you buy anywhere between two-five books/month, it adds up. I ordered my copy of Were-What and Madness of the Mind, as well as the US paperback version of Dead and Gone. Awesome!

Well, today I've got a bunch of smaller things to do: proofread and post my latest book review, revise and email another guest blog post (this time for Borders True Romance, where I'll be a guest on 30/9), finish writing a 1k shortie that I want to sub here before it's too late, type up another short story that's half-finished, and sort out what I'd like to finalise--writing wise--by the end of this year. Although, that's going to be a little wonky because I'm expecting a whole bunch of edits during the next few months and have no idea when they'll hit.

Okay, time to get stuck into one of the things I mentioned. Have a great day!

Wednesday 15 September 2010

PLAYING WITH FIRE by Katie MacAlister

The heat is on...

Despite her unique ability to protect herself by hiding in the shadows, May's on the run for breaking Otherworld law. And she's also in hiding from her demon boss, Magoth, who is absolutely determined to seduce her.

But then May meets Gabriel. The most gorgeously, broodingly, handsome piece of trouble you can imagine. Sparks fly - quite literally - when she discovers he's actually a shapeshifting dragon. And the passion that burns between them makes it look like he could be the one to take her out of the shadows for good.

That is, until Magoth orders May to steal one of Gabriel's treasures. And she really does have to decide if she's up to playing with fire...

This is the first book in the Silver Dragons trilogy, featuring May and Gabriel.

May is a doppleganger. She was made by her twin, Cyrene, at a moment of weakness. In order to give May life, Cyrene had to give up her common sense. Which means that May is constantly cleaning up whatever mess her twin leaves behind. Cyrene also managed to commit May to a life of servitude by the demon Magoth. Magoth enjoys making May steal things, and because of her ability to shadow walk, she's quite good at it. But when she accidentally takes an item too valuable to keep, and plans to return it, she crosses paths with a demon in the form of a dog, a pregnant Guardian, and a bunch of dragons.

That's when her life changes. A lot. Now that the Silver dragon Gabriel (who is desperate for a mate) has met her and she can withstand his fire, he claims her as his mate. May isn't as convinced as he is, but she certainly can't withstand his charming smile and hot-blooded looks. But her life has so much more going on at the moment, especially since she needs to help her twin get rid of a blackmailer by stealing something from another dragon. Something that gets her captured, imprisioned, and even sentenced to banishment in the Akasha.

However, with a little help from her twin and her new friends, she's able to get out of that sticky situation. Yet, the one thing she wants most she can't do--get herself out of her entanglement with Magoth. When the demon finds out about her association with the dragons, Magoth orders her to steal the one thing they've all been looking for: the phylactery. But if she gets her hands on the amulet, she has to give it to her demon master, which puts her in a very horrible and heartbreaking position.

Playing With Fire was a wonderful, intriguing book and a fantastic start to this trilogy. I instantly liked May, and the more I read, the more I enjoyed taking this adventure with her. There's a certain level of toughness about her that is softened by her innocence. And when she meets the alluring Gabriel, I really liked how it threw her into a foreign situation that had her fumbling. She'd always kept her distance from men because of her forced servitude to Magoth.

I'm always amazed by the intricate depth of Katie MacAlister's worldbuilding, as well as how she can take such dark subject matter and give it a lighthearted and even comical approach. She's also excellent at creating alpha males that know what they want and how to get it. She's quite the storyteller, and this book is quite a hot read.

This is paranormal romance at it's best. Can't wait to see where May ends up next...

Playing with Fire: Silver Dragons #1, July 2010, ISBN 978-034-099302-6, Hodder Paperbacks Paperback (A)

Tuesday 14 September 2010

I've got some 'pretty' to share:


This is the companion story to DECEPTION. This cover was also made by Dara England. And once again, I think it's stunning and exactly what I imagined in my head. Perfect!

Not sure about the release date, but this novella will be available from Evernight Publishing soon!
 
And this is both of them side by side:

 
Awesome, right? *big grin*

Monday 13 September 2010

Cloudy Monday

*taking a deep breath*

It's the start of another week. I'm pretty sure I'm ready for it.

Anyway. I've put together a new to-do list, but have been taking care of a few last-minute things I had on my list for last week. The Sci-Fi rewrite/revision has been emailed in. All I can do now is cross my fingers. And toes, too. Oh, and try not to think about it too much. Otherwise I'll drive myself nuts and start second-guessing myself. :/

On Saturday I found out that another of the Static Movement Anthologies I've got a story in is now available from Amazon. It's the Were-What antho. So that's cool! Still a few more to go.

Well, I guess I should get stuck into the other things I'd like to get done this week. I've got my daughter home tomorrow and the day after that. Don't ask. I'm not impressed with what the school has organised instead of normal classes. At least if she stays home I can get her to read and/or work on some maths on the computer. Like I said, not impressed.

Have a great week!

Saturday 11 September 2010

WICKED APPETITE by Janet Evanovich


Number one bestselling author Janet Evanovich has created a brand-new heroine in Elizabeth Tucker: Marblehead resident, bakery worker, unlucky in love... and descendant of witches.

Life has had a pleasant predictability to it for Lizzy. That is until a tall, black-haired, dark eyed man shows up in a black sports car, touches her hand and leaves a burn mark. His name is Gerwulf Grimoire, also known as Wulf. And he wants what Lizzy has: knowledge. Almost simultaneously comes another man, a different man, but this one just as dangerous in his own way. His name is Diesel. And he wants several things Lizzy has, only one of them being knowledge.

Unbeknownst to Lizzy, she has the ability to find 'empowered objects'. Turns out, a collection of stones that represent the seven deadly sins have made their way to Marblehead. Nothing bad can happen if the stones are all separated. But if they are grouped together, they have the power to unleash hell on earth. Wulf wants them. Diesel wants to stop him. And Lizzy is the key to all of it.

When I received this book for review, I was excited on several levels. For one, I didn't know that Janet Evanovich had a new series coming out. So, yay! And then when I started reading the blurb I thought: awesome, this sounds interesting. Because mixing Salem, witches, and Janet Evanovich's humour was bound to be a good thing. But then, when I read that Diesel was in it, I was totally sold!

Diesel has made an appearance in every Between-the-Numbers novel, so I thought it would be great to see him in another setting, doing his thing without Stephanie and the gang.

Lizzy Tucker has a nice, average life. She lives in an old house that she inherited from her great aunt in Marblehead (near Salem and Boston). She works at Dazzle's Bakery, which is located in Salem, and makes the best cupcakes. She enjoys her job, and is also putting together a book of recipes that she hopes to sell to an agent and/or publisher. Her life is relaxed, routinal and she's happy with that.

Except, everything changes the day a man dressed in black steps out of his sport's car and into the bakery, touches her hand and leaves a burn mark on her skin. That's the first of many, many strange situations that send her simple life into a downward spiral of danger and the unknown.

But it's not all bad. Diesel (who happens to be an Unmentionable and works for the Board of Unmentionable Marshalls. BUM for short) soon arrives in her life too. He's a persistent and frustrating man who's bound to raise any girl's temperature, and he's decided to stick to Lizzy like super glue. After all, his cousin Wulf (the guy in black) wants to get his hands on Lizzy and use her to find some very powerful Stones he wants to use in evil ways.

She doesn't know what to believe at first, but soon finds herself being thrown into a chaotic new way of life. A life where she happens to be an Unmentionable with skills she didn't know she possessed. Lizzy also manages to drag her employer, Clara, her co-worker and (hopeful) spellcaster, Glo, into the mess. Before she knows it, she's got herself a stalker, an alluring man that's playing havoc with her body, charms that are altering her compulsions, a cat with only one eye that seems to possess some degree of ninja skills, and a monkey who can't stop giving people the finger.

Wicked Appetite is a hilarious, totally LOL-kinda book that I'm sure made me look like a nut while I was sitting on the couch reading it. I say that because it's exactly what my husband and daughter said to me last night. :) But it was worth it, I really enjoyed myself and had a great time meeting this new cast of characters. And since we're dealing with the seven deadly sins, I just know there'll be more books to come. Yay!

Like I said, I'm totally sold on this series and can't wait to see what else happens between Lizzy and Diesel. Because personally, Unmentionables or not, I think they were made for each other.

If you're a fan of the Stephanie Plum series then you'll get a kick out of this one because there are several crossover characters. But even if you're not, you gotta check out this book. It's a total blast!

Wicked Appetite, September 2010, ISBN 978-075-535277-7, Headline Fiction Paperback (Royal)

Friday 10 September 2010

Week, almost over

I have to admit, this week hasn't been kind to my reading. :(

Between focusing on the Sci-Fi rewrite and having something to do every day after school, I haven't had a proper chance to sit down with the book I'm currently reading. And it's such a good one too. It's Janet Evanovich's new one, Wicked Appetite.

I'm really enjoying it so far. It's got a lot of LOL moments. There's also a new set of zany characters. And Diesel. I like Diesel. Anyway, last night I actually got a chance to sit on the couch to read for a bit longer and reached page 98. Not bad. Except, I really could've kept going and going... I'm going to try and sneak in some more reading tonight.

This morning I got stuck into the rewrite right away. As of yesterday afternoon, I had 35pgs to go. But squeezing in another chapter this morning has helped shorten that amount by a bit. I'm now sitting on pg83/110. That's 27 pages left, which makes my goal of getting to the end by this afternoon a little more realistic. Fingers crossed. 

Still, I won't send it to my editor until next week. I'm aiming for Monday. Hopefully. Like I've mentioned before, finishing a project and putting it aside for a day or two before subbing helps everything sink into my brain. And if there are still any glowing errors or things I left out, I'll have enough time to fix it. :) Strange, but true.

Then I've got a bunch of other things I want to tackle.

But for now, enjoy your weekend!

Thursday 9 September 2010

My gosh!

This week is slipping away from me so quickly. I mean, don't get me wrong I've been super busy and that's why it's going so fast, but still.

So, I've been working really hard at getting the Sci-Fi rewrite done. I'd like to have it finished and submitted to my editor by early next week. Fingers crossed. There's a bit of work to be done. Several changes, additions, things to delete, others to ponder. But overall, there's been a lot of chopping and moving things around. I hope I'm not taking things in the wrong direction. The changes I'm making feel good so far.

I've reached pg 47/109. I've fallen a little behind, but that's okay. I'll be spending all day on it today.

I finally did what I've been thinking about doing for several weeks now. I cut most of the length off my hair. Well, hubby actually chopped the length and I've been cutting in some layers with my trusty razor comb (which is awesome!). I really like it! I think I needed the change. Now my hair sits just above my shoulders. Very cool.

Here are a few new things that have been going on... the Static Movement Anthology GHOSTS AND DEMONS is now available from The Book Depository. I ordered my copy the other day, can't wait to get it. And the MADNESS OF THE MIND Anthology is now available at Amazon. Also very cool!

And because I've become addicted to subbing stories to Static Movement anthos, I've had a trilogy of stories accepted into FAERIES - An Anthology of Magical Short Stories. These stories have been available before as eBooks, but never in print. And I changed a few details too. I did the same for the story I subbed to DARK ROMANCE - From the Far Side. I also had a horror shorty accepted into Oh, The Horror. Actually, my story kinda matches the cover. :) 

Yeah, like I said: addicted. lol

Well. I guess that's it for this morning. I'm hoping to squeeze in at least one chapter before my daughter wakes up. So, catch'a later!

Monday 6 September 2010

Starting the week with something beautiful...

That's right! Today, I'd like to share another GORGEOUS new cover:


It was made by Dara England, and I think it's stunning. Everything about this cover reflects the story and what I envisioned. It's perfect!

And it looks like this novella will be released in time for Halloween, from Evernight Publishing.

Sunday 5 September 2010

SISTERS RED by Jackson Pearce

The story of Scarlett and Rosie March, two highly-skilled sisters who have been hunting Fenris (werewolves) who prey on teen girls since Scarlett lost her eye years ago while defending Rosie in an attack. Scarlett lives to destroy the Fenris, and she and Rosie lure them in with red cloaks (a colour the wolves can’t resist), though Rosie hunts more out of debt to her sister than drive.

But things seem to be changing. The wolves are getting stronger and harder to fight, and there has been a rash of news reports about countless teenage girls being brutally murdered in the city. Scarlett and Rosie soon discover the truth: wolves are banding together in search of a Potential Fenris a man tainted by the pack but not yet fully changed.

Desperate to find the Potential to use him as bait for a massive werewolf extermination, the sisters move to the city with Silas, a young woodsman and long time family friend who is deadly with an axe. Meanwhile, Rosie finds herself drawn to Silas and the bond they share not only drives the sisters apart, but could destroy all they’ve worked for...

This awesome book is a contemporary, loose retelling of the well known fairy tale, Little Red Riding Hood. Which happens to be one of my favourites. 

Scarlett and Rosie March are sisters. Scarlett is a few years older than Rosie and has always been very protective of her. So much that Scarlett saved her sister's life from a Fenris (a werewolf), and lost her right eye, as well as suffered permanent scarring to the right side of her face and body. 

After that incident, Scarlett's life took only one meaning, led her down only one path: hunting these horrible werewolves. It's the only thing that keeps her going, her drive, her passion, her life. It's her duty to exterminate these creatures from the town of Ellison.

Rosie is sixteen and feels like she owes her sister her life. They live together in their grandmother's cottage and even hunt together. Scarlett's a little over-protective, and as much as Rosie wants to prove herself as a hunter, she usually winds up being the pretty bait. The Fenris love to hunt and kill pretty girls. But Rosie wants more from life. And that becomes a lot clearer when Silas returns to their lives.

Silas is older than Scarlett and has been away in San Francisco, but when he returns he turns their lives upside down. See, he used to be Scarlett's hunting partner, but now that he's back he and Rosie seem to be attracted to each other and find it hard to stay focused on only the hunt. They both want more, but are too scared to tell Scarlett about it because neither wants to disappoint/hurt her.

When they head into the city to take out the Fenris packs that seem to be merging so that they can find the Potential, the lives of all three change in dramatic and unexpected ways that both weaken and strengthen their individual lives, as well as the bonds that tie them together. It all unravels very quickly, leading to an end that was absolutely stunning!

There are a few running themes in this wonderful story, but my favourite was that between the sisters. They're so close, so much that they believe they share a heart. Scarlett wants to protect her younger sister with so much tenacity that she becomes overbearing. Rosie wants to support her older sister so much that she's pretty much prepared to forfeit her own life in order to hunt beside her. Neither wants to intentionally hurt the other, but because they want to help and love each other so fiercely, it's bound to lead to heartbreak.

Sisters Red was a fascinating, fast-paced book that got my heart pumping a little more with every chapter. It's told in a very unique way, alternating between the POV of both Scarlett and Rosie, at first slowly mounting the tension, but reaching a fever-pitch pace towards the end. This action-packed adventure also has heart. A lot of it. The emotion between these characters was intoxicating, twisted, and satisfying.

This book was outstanding! I absolutely loved it.

Sisters Red, August 2010, ISBN 9781444901474, Hodder Children's Books

Saturday 4 September 2010

HELL FIRE by Ann Aguirre


As a handler, Corine Solomon can touch any object and know its history. It's too bad she can't seem to forget her own. With her ex-boyfriend Chance in tow--lending his particularly supernatural brand of luck--Corine journeys back home to Kilmer, Georgia, in order to discover the truth behind her mother's death and the origins of her 'gift.'

But while trying to uncover the secrets in her past, Corine and Chance find that something is rotten in the state of Georgia. Just a few miles away, no one seems to know Kilmer exists. And inside the town borders there are signs of a dark curse affecting the town and all its residents--and it can only be satisfied with death...

This is the second book in the Corine Solomon urban fantasy series. And like the first one, it didn't disappoint.

Corine is a handler, but seeing the history of inanimate objects is no fun. It's also painful, and in this book takes on a whole new physical and mental toll on her. It's almost as if returning to the one place where it all began is somehow morphing her ability. But I'm getting ahead of myself.

In Blue Diablo, Chance agreed to help Corine return to the small town where her mother was killed in exchange for helping him find his mother. So that's where this book starts. Chance and Corine are headed towards the small town of Kilmer, Georgia. And as soon as they get within the place, they discover a badly hurt and dying dog on the road. Probably an omen of what's ahead, but Corine's not one to give up so easily. Once she's determined, she follows things through to the end. No matter what the cost.

As soon as they get to Kilmer and get a room at the only Inn, it becomes obvious that something isn't quite right in this town. There's something creepy and isolated about this place, and Chance's luck has disappeared for some reason. Not to mention that they soon realise that not only are people not willing to talk about the strangeness that exists around them, but someone wants to kill Corine.

The more they investigate, the more they realise things are awry in Kilmer and that there are some very old and dark secrets being kept. So with the help of a teenage girl called Shannon, who has a Gift of her own that involves dead people and a radio, as well as Jesse who rushes over as soon as he feels an inkling of Corine's distress, they slowly start to unravel the mystery of what happened to Corine's mother, who was responsible for her death, and why townpeople seem to disappear so frequently. Oh, and that something really scary lives out in the woods.

I once again found myself totally lost in the danger, mystery, and mayhem going on around Corine. She seems to be a magnet to trouble, but returning to this wicked town changes her in several very important ways. Ways that I know will come back to haunt her later on. And you know what? I can't wait to read about them. lol.

This installment is filled with awesome, deep characters that you just can't help but like. I really enjoy seeing Chance and Jesse again. Shannon's a nice addition that I can't wait to find out more about. Booke's as mysterious and insightful as ever, helping her along in his own uncanny way. And Butch is a cutie. I'm really starting to think that he's much more than just a cute chihuahua with a sixth sense.

Hell Fire is another well-written, engrossing book that grabbed me from the first page and didn't let go. The pace slows down a little, which is fitting to the location, but there's never a dull moment. As a reader, you just don't get a chance to take a breath, as you find yourself struggling along with Corine's plight. Every moment is filled with some sort of intensity that I'm finding addictive.

Yeah, this series is a total winner. Looking forward to reading more. And according to Ann Aguirre, she just sold two more books in the series, so yay!

Hell Fire: Corine Solomon #2, August 2010, ISBN 978-057-509398-0, Gollancz Paperback

Wednesday 1 September 2010

Got some updates & news!

<---See this?

It's my copy of the Static Movement CAUGHT BY DARKNESS Anthology. I received it late last week and it's so lovely. The cover's colorful, and my little story, Shoreline, is inside. Yay! It's very excting.

And that reminds me... the next Static Movement anthology that I'm in is now available from Amazon. It's called GHOSTS AND DEMONS, and it includes five of my stories: Umbrella, Mr. Stanley, A Matter of Faith (Before Blaze, Story 1), Ovher’s Belief (Before Blaze, Story 2), Carlee's Spirit (Before Blaze, Story 3). And if you read the last three stories, you'll meet some human characters that actually appear in a novel that I've just added to my website as a FREE READ. It's called HELLBLAZE, and you can check it out here.

Also, yesterday I signed two new contracts for two of my homeless stories. They were both available once upon a time but haven't been available for months now, so I decided to resubmit them. And thanks to a new publisher called Evernight Publishing, they'll be getting a second chance at publication. Yay! They're called The Soul Dealer: Deception, and The Soul Dealer: Redemption. I'll keep you posted on the progress, as well as the grand opening of the publisher. :)

I did a lot of stuff today, but none of it is what I was supposed to be working on. Still, it means that I've cleared a lot of stuff off my to-do list. Including my latest newsletter, which I just finished doing. There's a new cover in there that I'll be sharing here later this week.

Well, hope you're having a great day!
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