The Day of the Giveaways

Alright, I've never really done a giveaway all by my lonesome, but I feel like there are a few noteworthy reasons why I should.  One is that BLOOD LIKE POISON:  For the Love of a Vampire is now available in print.  YAY!  Woohoo!  *insert ticker tape parade here*  Another reason is that I've given both CATERPILLAR and WICCAN a makeover and I think they turned out very well.  So, in honor of the aforementioned events, I am holding a giveaway that will start this afternoon.  It will run through August 1, at which time I'll randomly draw a winner and announce the name on my blog.  Please leave me your e-mail address so I can contact you.  Thank you kindly:D

The winner will receive:



1 signed copy of Blood Like Poison: For the Love of a Vampire print edition
1 copy of Caterpillar eBook edition

1 copy of Wiccan eBook edition

And an all-expense paid trip to...nah.  Just kidding:)  Y'all gotta buy some more books before I can venture into those expensive waters.  hee hee  But that's an excellent reason to tell all your friends to read my books.  I spread the love:D


Now for rules.

1.  You must be 16 or older to enter
2.  You must be a follower of my blog (psst, you can fix that with one little click:)
3.  +1 if you follow me on Twitter
4.  +1 if you tweet the contest
5.  +1 if you friend me on Goodreads

*the contest is international, too.  Woot, woot!

For those of you who are already on Goodreads, I'm also doing a giveaway there.  I'm giving away 2 copies of the new print version of BLP (not to the same person, of course).  Feel free to sign up for that one as well.  In fact, please do.  If you win both, you'll have an extra copy to give to a friend.  YAY for spreading the word!  I love each and every one of you who do that, BTW.  It's spectacularly appreciated:)

Annnnnnd, we're off!  *imaginary gun firing into the air*

Happy Hump Day and happy reading!

Something new from Amanda Hocking

Amanda Hocking.  Now there’s a name.  Unless you’re completely oblivious to the literary world or you live under a rock (or you’re oblivious to the literary world because you live under a rock) you’ve heard of this word-wielding dynamo.  Her books are known and loved the world over and her personal story is a fairy tale of epic, 21-century proportions.   I think not nearly as many people realize, however, that Amanda Hocking has something new and wonderful to offer us.  Well, it’s not really new, but it’s certainly wonderful.  I think it used to be something much more common and abundant years ago, which is what makes it sort of “new” now.  I’ll call it retro.

With her first published works, a series of vampire novels called My Blood Approves, Amanda began a journey that would make her both a legend and a millionaire.  Her meteoric rise has been nothing short of awe-inspiring.  Earth-shattering.  Record-breaking.  And now she is one of the most talked-about, widely-read authors in recent times.

There are a zillion things about her rise that are noteworthy, but I would like to focus on one in particular.  It comes not as “steps” that she took to secure astounding sales.  Rather, it comes as steps that she didn’t take to secure astounding sales. 

What I think sets Amanda apart, more than anything else, is her character.  I think that in all the hubbub about her success, reports of her awesome display of character somehow got lost in the shuffle.  That’s why I’m here today.  I want to recognize and thank her for something that’s frequently overlooked and dramatically under-appreciated. 

In Amanda's search for ways to promote her books, her voice, herself (the same search that every author in the entire world is familiar with), she undoubtedly came across a multitude of morally unsavory schemes.  But did she employ even one of them?  Nope.  Why, you might ask?  Because the girl’s got class, y’all! 

Despite her young age, she stepped it up a notch and did everything the ethical way.  She remained stark white in a world lost in shades of gray.  She didn’t lie or cheat or manipulate.  She didn’t use and abuse people or take advantage of their friendship.  She didn’t throw anyone else under the bus.  Amanda simply sent her books out to the people who were willing to read and review them (insert awesome book bloggers here) and she let her work take care of the rest.  She let her talent speak for itself and, believe me, it did.  Loud and clear.  And for that--for that determination to stay true--she’s a superhero in her own right. 

In short, Amanda Hocking totally rocks!  Her story proves that a person can be successful--very successful--without having to take shortcuts.  It's encouraging to those of us who refuse to compromise.

I doubt Amanda will ever read this, but just in case she does...THANKS, AMANDA!  Thanks for reminding the world what true class and true talent are and for walking the walk every step of the way.  No one on this planet has the right to begrudge you a single penny or a single minute of your success.  You’ve earned it fair and square, and, to me, that's the most inspiring part:)

TGIF, ya'll!  Hope it's awesome for ya:)

Blog Hop Giveaway Winner

I'm thrilled to announce that Glad at aloveforbookshas won my Love is in the Air giveaway package for the Midsummer's Eve Hop!  Glad, I truly hope you enjoy the books:)

Thanks to everyone who entered.  Your participation was awesome and you can't imagine how much I appreciate your support and enthusiasm.  I plan to hold more contests, not just ones associated with hops, so keep an eye on my blog for the next one...

Every one of you rock my writing world and I hope you have a phenomenal weekend!

Mid Summer's Eve Giveaway Hop

Welcome to the Mid Summer's Eve Giveaway Hop!  I love participating in these things:)  It's so much fun to hear from people who are familiar with me and my work, but also to meet new people, those who are just being introduced to me, my books or my blog. 

For those who don't know me, I'm a huge fan of both summer and romance.  And what says romance like balmy summer nights at the beach in the company of someone who raises your pulse and makes you breathless?  It's with that in mind that I'm giving away what I like to call my Love is in the Air collection, which includes Blood Like Poison book 1 and 2 and my newest sneak peek into the Madly series.  But here's the kicker, you will also be the FIRST PERSON to receive a copy of Madly and Wolfhardt when I finish it.  Y'all, that's a whole lotta love!

The contest runs from June 21st-24th.  I'll be drawing a winner at midnight on Friday and then shouting it out to the world on Saturday.  Of course, I'll also e-mail you if you win.  I'm cool like that *wink wink* :) 

Here's what you do to enter:

1.  Follow my blog (a must)

2.  Comment on my blog with your follower name and e-mail address to that I can reach you if you win (a must)

3.  +1 if you follow me on Twitter

4.  +1 if you Tweet about me, my books, or my blog

Simple, right?  So what are you waiting for?  Sign up and then have a look around.  If you have questions, comments, crazy ideas or just wanna chat, drop me an e-mail.  I love, love, LOVE hearing from people!

When you're done here, hop on over HERE to enter for more goodies:)  Happy hopping!!

When THANKS is not enough

What do you say to someone who tells you that what you've worked so hard on has touched them?  What do you say when someone tells you that they've fallen in love with a character that you poured onto "paper" from the bottom of your soul?  What do you say to someone who, through their words, validates your dreams?  Tells you things that make your heart sing?  Do you say THANK YOU?  Of course you say thank you.  But what do you say when thank you isn't enough?

This is where I have found myself in recent times, in a place where thank you is just not enough.

I have been blessed with a multitude of readers who have taken time out of their lives not only to read my books, but to e-mail me or post or comment or tweet about how much they love my work or how much they have been affected by what they've read.  And, believe it or not, this is where I run into trouble.  I am so humbled by it, so grateful for it, I find myself at a loss for words.

How can someone whose career revolves around the turning of phrases and the wielding of words find them so inadequate?  I don't really know, but here I am. I am that person.  I find that it is impossible for me to express how much it means to me when someone tells me that they cried with Cami or that they laughed Ginger or that they've fallen a little bit in love with Cash or Trick.  It is truly, truly a dream come true.

I love to write.  I love to create characters and lives and problems and solutions.  My passion is to write about love and heartbreak, about hope and the search for wholeness.  But more than any of that, I love to write for YOU.  I adore--absolutely ADORE--what I do, but nothing about the process is as fulfilling as getting an e-mail from someone who has taken a break from their life to tell me how much they loved my story, how much they felt as they turned the pages.  There is nothing like it in the whole world.  I sincerely treasure each and every message I get.  I've saved many of them so that I can go back and read them again, experience the incredible satisfaction and pleasure of your words.  For me, they make the writing world go round and for them I thank you.  From the bottom of my heart and the deepest part of my soul, THANK YOU.  Really.  Truly.  Honestly.  THANK YOU.

If you'd ever like to reach out so that I can thank you on a more personal level, you can connect with me at any one (or all!) of these places:

             My website

Facebook

Twitter

 Goodreads  

Madly's Lore- Your Favorite Tale

Ok, so in preparation for the release of the introduction to Madly, I want to explain something.  If you missed that post, read it first HERE.  Anyway, I'd like to experiment with something new on this blog for the Madly series.  I have already thought of a ton of interesting fairy tale creatures that I'd like for Madly to run into, but I have only decided on 2 for sure.  What I'd like to do is open Madly's tales up for input.  FROM YOU!  Here's what you do:

1.  Tell me your favorite fairy tale creature that you'd like to see Madly face (just the name of the tale and the "bad guy")

2.  If I choose to include that creature (or my version of that creature anyway) as one of Madly's Lore, I will write into that book a character with your first name and list you in the credits as part of my inspiration

I think that would be a really neat interactive feature for a book.  I think it would be so cool to say, "Yeah, that psycho friend named Michelle in the third book was totally named after me because I wanted her to write about a killer clown in fishnet stockings."  Of course, you won't be the creature or the bad guy, and most likely not a psycho friend or a killer clown.  You might be stalked by any of those things in the book, but...

Maybe WHEN Madly is made into a movie, they'll even ask you to play yourself.  How awesome would that be??  This would probably be a good place for me to insert that I'm a wicked big dreamer.  Can you tell?  :)

Anyway, leave your suggestion here as a comment, for all the world to see, and we'll see just who and what turns up in these books.

Like my new digs?

Ooo, pretty!! 

Ok, so late bloomer that I am, it's taken me this long to discover Hot Bliggity Blog, but I totally love it!  To me, it's the blog background / accessory equivalent of shoes, only ones I won't change as often:)

Anywho, it kind of goes along with my summer-y attitude.  And along with that comes a couple other announcements I'd like to make. 

At one point, I had decided to dedicate this summer to sequels, and in a way I still will.  I have, however, changed my schedule a bit. 

With the writing of Blood Like Poison, I have discovered a love of stories that depart somewhat from my usual dark-and-dramatic tales.  It is for that reason that I have decided to do a different kind of project in between my sequels. 

I began it yesterday and hope to have it published by the end of the month.  How, you may ask?  Well, that's part of the secret.  For now, let's just say that it will open up my work to a very, very large audience and I hope to tell them all a fun tale. And, of course, love will be in the air:)

Once I get closer to finishing, I'll announce more in the way of details and my "plan."  And believe it or not, there is actually a plan, which goes totally against the grain for someone like me.  However, the "plan" has less to do with the book's content than the way I intend to publish it.  Curious yet?  Well, hang on to that.  There will soon be more to come.

After I get this work published, I may go back and write the next book in the Blood Like Poison series.  I so enjoy writing about Bo (who wouldn't, right?) that I think I'd like to do one more before I start on the sequel to The Reaping.  I'm afraid I wouldn't do the first book justice if I begin it when I'm feeling so...light.  If you've read The Reaping, I'm sure you totally get what I'm saying. 

Anyway, I think I'm going to hold off being so concrete with work, so as not to disappoint people if things change.  Soooo, as of right now, I'm saying that you can expect a new book from me tentatively by the first of July.  Much will be explained at that point and then I'll announce with absolute certainty my next project.  How does that sound?  Questions?  Comments?

As always, I really want you guys to reach out and talk to me.  Those of you who already have know how much I like to chat and hear from you.  So, by all means, give me a holler:)

Well, I guess that's it for now.  I'm off to type.  The creative juices are flowing, flowing, flowing:D

Happy Tuesday everyone!!!