New Release!!

So, after way too much procrastination and foot dragging and other assorted delaying tactics, I have a new release.  Accomplice, which I know I've mentioned on the blog before (I have tags to prove it!) is up on Amazon.

It can be pre-ordered now, and will be released as an ebook on November 25th.

Here's the official verbiage:

All the new widow Jessica Kingsbury wants is a quiet new life away from the Hollywood spotlight that made her infamous. But the paparazzi aren't the only ones interested in dredging every sordid secret they can from her past. 

All FBI agent Noah Grayson wants is to uncover the mastermind of a blackmail plot that touches the nation's highest ranking politicians. All the clues lead straight to Jessica's late husband, who died under suspicious circumstances. Though his instincts tell him that that the beautiful model is no criminal, he can't help but wonder how much she knew about her dead husband's business dealings. 

Then a diamond necklace with ties to the blackmailer is stolen from the Kingsbury mansion, and Jessica begins receiving death threats. She must decide whether she can trust the handsome agent with her secrets and her life, not to mention her heart.

#Free #Kindle #Romance

Did you get yours yet?  The Paris Affair is free on Kindle now through June 27th. 

And,you can read about the real 2013 Paris Air Show, which was probably far less exciting without Claire and Helmut.

Release Day!

Pssst...did I mention I released another book?

This one is traditional fantasy with a (sweet) romance.  It's novella length, clocking in just over 30,000 words. So about a third of a full-length print book.

Yes, yes, I know. A little different than The Paris Affair.  If you've been around this blog a while, you're probably not surprised in the least. I'm a shameless genre hopper.*

Anywho, here's the cover, the blurb, and the link to buy on Kindle (hint: Prime members can borrow it for free!). 

Blurb:

The water beckons…

Illista and her sister fled their homeland when invaders killed their parents and tried to enslave the girls’ innate water magic. Now disguised as servile Waki, Illista serves the Segra people on the dusty high plains, far from the warm oceans of her childhood.

One night, lured by the siren song of the Segra’s sacred lake waters, Illista sheds her Waki disguise for a swim and becomes witness to a murder attempt on the Segra chief’s only son and heir.

War looms…

Joral’s marriage to the daughter of another tribe will seal the peace between the warring nations and strengthen both halves of the Segra people against invaders from the West. When he is poisoned and nearly drowned on the night of his betrothal, a mysterious sprite of a woman saves his life.
Was the attempt on his life the workings of a rival, or was it tied to the sudden arrival of Western mercenaries who seek the missing water witches?

A secret revealed…

When Joral discovers Illista’s secret, will he sacrifice her to secure peace for his people? Or will he follow his heart for the sake of a water sprite who may be the Segra’s only hope for restoring the rains to the drought-ridden land?

*FYI, I do have a follow-up or two to The Paris Affair in the works, including a holiday-themed short that is in work, and a sequel on the drafting board.  Did I mention genre-hopping? Because in the middle of the Paris sequels, I'm planning a little romantic suspense and maybe some sci fi.  And I have a sequel or three to Call the Rain also on the drafting board. It's a big board, ok?

OMG, Release day

Gulp. I'm a published author.

Happy Dance!!!

Claire and Helmut's story, The Paris Affair, snippets of which have appeared here from time to time in the past, is for sale today from Soul Mate Publishing. Soon it will be available directly on the big online retailers websites too, but you can buy for you Kindle or your Nook directly from Soul Mate.

It's fun. Its sexy. Its 55000 words of fun and sexy. I hope you enjoy it!

I am still working on how best to handle this whole promotional gig. I've got Facebook (a profile for me, a page for me, a page for my book), Twitter, a website, a MailChimp mailing list. And this blog.

I don't wanna give it up. I started this blog back during my first NaNoWriMo to kvetch about my writing and about books and to generally be myself. So I'm going to continue to do so.

I won't promise not to promote stuff here (clearly). And there might be significant overlap between my blog and my website as I try to sort out what goes where.

I have done a bit of remodelling here lately. I removed links to my family-oriented blog. My cooking one's still there (Year of the Pancake, in case you're easily impressed by my culinary "genius"). I've added page links at the top of my blog for my new release.

Happy Dance!!! (sorry, couldn't help myself)

My September

So, what's new with you in September? Did your summer end well? Getting into the
swing of the fall routine?

Here's what is going on with me since September 1st:

• We have a new house and are continuing with the Neverending Move.
• It took about 36 hours before we had our fridge, washer, and dryer hooked up and working again.
• We still have the old house and have done a lot of paint touch-ups, cleaning days, and still have some repair work to be done. And more moving. (We have a lot of junk, apparently). For the record: no we don't have a buyer yet. Lots of interest. No offers. I am sooo ready to be done making two mortgage payments.
• I am now the troop leader for my daughter's brownie troop, and feeling horrendously unprepared to lead 11 7- and 8-year-olds to anything. I am, apparently, the only one who even half-way volunteered. The first meeting was the day after the Big Move Day (ya know, back when we were still camping with no laundry or refrigeration).
• We had a death in the family (my husband's grandmother) and both kids were out of school for two days while we traveled.
• My oldest child had surgery (tonsillectomy) and was out of school for a week.
• I am the team-lead for a big project at work where 1/2 of my team (i.e. the other guy) spent 3 weeks out after being hit by a truck (literally). He is fine(thankfully). Our project is running way behind and we're working overtime to get it done by deadline. Note my expected schedule is 32 hours a week, not 40+ spread over 7 days.
• We lived for 3.5 weeks with no cable or internet service at home, making it nearly impossible to send or receive email that involved more than a few touch-pad "texted" words with the phone. Apparently, I send and receive a LOT of email that involves attachments.
• I sold my first novel.

Yes, that's my exciting news.

I sold a book!

I actually got the offer email on September 1st, Big Move Day. But I was so stressed by the move that it barely registered. The lovely editor at my publisher was so incredibly patient with me as I sent several emails saying "I'm getting to it..I am moving and don't have internet".

I was so afraid that they would change their mind and yet they didn't. Through odd-hour trips to Panera and a limited-use phone app that lets me use my phone as a network card for my netbook, I managed to get contracts filled out and signed, and am working on an art fact sheet and author bio and the beginnings of a marketing plan and...

It was just this week where I was able to take a breath and start feeling excited. Overwhelmed, but excited.

The publisher is a digital-first (which I am thrilled about...being a software gal and all, it feels right to me to be doing this with the latest technology). The story I sold is a sexy contemporary romance featuring Claire and Helmut, snippets of which have featured here on this blog. I will post some more specifics soon, with links and announcements, and probably a pointer to my official writing website.

September is nearly over, and I sincerely hope my October is a little bit less eventful.