Sold to NAL/Penguin!

For the past few days I’ve been very cautiously excited and now I have the official go-ahead from my wonderful agent, Jill Marsal, to announce that NAL/Penguin has contracted a 3-book deal on my paranormal romance trilogy! The release date is still very tentative (probably sometime in 2012) but it’s going to be part of the Signet Eclipse line and Danielle Perez is my new editor!!


She called today and was so nice on the phone and for some reason I couldn’t stop sweating. Like crazy sweating and if anyone had seen me, I would have been so embarrassed. It was so bizarre b/c it’s not like it was in person and I was nervous about pitching or something. I mean, she was saying all these wonderful things about the story and just asking me normal questions but I think it was finally setting in that holy crap, I sold to NAL/Penguin.


For now, it’s all a little surreal. See the first picture of the flowers? My fabulous friend Kaylea Cross surprised me by sending those today and the others are from my wonderful mom and sister. The man got me some too but those aren’t blooming yet so I’m going to wait to post them.


More details will follow in the future but for some very brief details, the books are a paranormal romance series featuring a pack of shifters battling a radical hate group intent on destroying all paranormal beings.

Free Reads

Cynthia Eden and four other talented authors are doing a Halloween Round Robin at her blog until October 31st. Each day they post a new excerpt from their story, Bad Moon Rising. Cynthia's first chapter is up today and it's fantastic! For some fun, free entertainment, check it out!

Combating Online Infringement

Normally I don't post twice in one day but I just got a notice for this on a few of my loops. This is important for artists of any kind everywhere. If you support artists and writers and musicians being *gasp* paid for their work, then support this bill. Internet pirates of ebooks and music seem to think that intellectual property should be free for them because....well, they don't give any viable reasons other than they're greedy asshats with entitlement issues.


So, if you support writers like myself and not cowardly thieves, check out this article with Washington Watch and vote yes.

Monday Funday!

On Friday I finished the fourth book in my Miami Scorcher series (with Ellora's Cave under my alter ego). Thanks to different projects this one took a seat on the back burner for the past few months but it's finally done. Sadly one of the few weekends I was free and clear of writing deadlines (self-imposed or otherwise) the man was stuck working on multiple papers for his finals. I was a geek and really loved school but now that I see him stressing I realize maybe I don't miss it as much as I thought. In a way it was good because I got caught up on some reading, got to read some chapters for a couple friends, (did not clean), and just got organized in general.


Today I get to start on edits for above said book and clean it up before sending it off to my new editor. My lovely editor with EC left so now I have a new one and that's usually a nerve wrecking experience but my CP works with her and loves her so I'm not as nervous as I'd normally be.


Btw, if anyone lives in the Central Florida area and is looking to get head shots or portraits or whatever, check out Jax Artistry. This site is only temporary but it showcases some pretty amazing work!

Finally Friday

Today my alter ego is at Naughty Author Chicks talking about comfort reads and authors who are on my auto buy. Come share yours (and maybe check out a hot picture of Hugh Jackman)!

Cover Love!

Okay, I can finally share the final cover version of Dangerous Secrets, my February 2011 release with Carina Press. I love this cover! It totally fits the tone of the book and the ocean in the background ties in with an important emotional scene between the hero and heroine. So happy! I know it's not Friday but this started my weekend off right already :)


And, I'm not sure if I ever shared what this book is about so here's the unofficial blurb:

Isabelle Ballantine has been fighting for independence since she was old enough to walk. Now that she’s finally out from under her father’s shadow, she won’t let anyone stand in her way. It’s tough living on her own, working in a bar and keeping her true identity a secret, but things start to look up when a sexy new stranger walks into her life. After working side by side for weeks, Izzy can’t figure out why he won’t make a move.


To cinch the deal of a lifetime, Adam Marcellus agrees to help Izzy’s eccentric father convince his daughter to move home. He’d assumed Izzy would be another spoiled rich princess, but he’s surprised to discover his feelings for her are stronger than anything he’s ever experienced. When a deranged stalker targets her, Adam finds himself fighting not only an unknown threat – but an unexpected attraction to the one woman he can’t have.

COVER ART: Copyright © [2010] by Harlequin Enterprises Ltd. Cover Art used by arrangement with Harlequin Enterprises Ltd. All rights reserved ® and ™ are trademarks used by Harlequin Enterprises Ltd. or its affiliated companies, used under license.

I'm Back!

Technically I was back home yesterday but I was too tired to blog. The Moonlight & Magnolias conference last weekend was really good, though I don't know if I'd do it again. The Saturday workshop with Michael Hauge was amazing though. If you're a writer and ever have a chance to attend, I hope you do. I got back on Sunday and thanks to the fabulous Manda Collins, the drive seemed uber short. I haven't known her that long and when traveling with someone for the first time I'm always a bit nervous. She likes to travel the same way I do so it was all good. Only gas/bathroom stops but nothing else. :)


As soon as I got back, I had to catch up on laundry, repack, and head to New Orleans the next day. My CP's husband planned a big surprise anniversary trip for them and I was part of the surprise. Her shocked face when she saw me was priceless. She (Kaylea Cross) was sitting in Jackson Square when I showed up and blinked a few times until she realized what was going on. I spent two days with them and they're so much fun. We did a couple tours and the geek in me had a blast! The ghost tour was more of a history tour and I hope to blog about a couple of the stories I heard because they're interesting if a bit gruesome. They'll be staying with us tomorrow night so I still have to clean the house. The man isn't exactly messy but he's not tidy either (even though he claims he is!!). I came home to loads of clothes that need to be put up and a bunch of dishes. Ah, fun stuff.


Ooh, while in NO I stayed at the Crescent City Guest house and while their website isn't much to look at, I loved the place. Even though it was right on the outskirts of the French Quarter, as a woman traveling alone, I felt completely safe walking the two blocks to the main downtown area. I promise to blog about it and the tours later! I finally understand why so many paranormal authors place their stories in New Orleans! :)


Now I really do have a lot of stuff to catch up on! Saturday I'll be joining Cynthia Eden's Halloween month long blog party and giving away a book from my back list so if you get a chance, stop by!