About Books

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    Books and info …

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    So several days ago, I posted about some of the book blogs that I like. Since then, I’ve been thinking about where folks go to get information about books.

    Mostly, I learn about upcoming releases by visiting book blogs or reading magazines like Romantic Times. But what about after that? Where do you go if you want more information about a book or author?

    Most folks would probably say that they go to an author’s website to get info on their books. But you know what? I hardly ever look at an author’s website. It’s just something that I never think to do. Instead, my first stop is usually Amazon. Why? Well, to me, Amazon isn’t just a place to buy books — it’s more like a giant database, with covers, release dates, similar books, and more. The same thing goes for the Barnes & Noble and other bookseller websites. Sometimes, I’ll look up books on Goodreads, but really, I use Goodreads as a database to keep track of the books that I’ve read, rather than to get info on other books.

    I’m weird, I know. LOL.

    I wonder if folks do the same thing that I do — look everywhere else but an author’s website for information. I try to have quite a bit of info on my own site about my various book series, characters, worlds, frequently asked questions, and more. But sometimes, I wonder if anyone ever reads any of the info. Do people even want that much info? Or are excerpts and a book description enough?

    Yes, Virginia, these are the things I think about … 😉

    What about you guys? Where do you get your book info from? Authors’ websites? Amazon? Goodreads? What do you like to see on authors’ websites?

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    Tangled Threads review …

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    I’m thrilled to announce that Tangled Threads got 4 1/2 stars and a Top Pick from Romantic Times. Huzzah! Here’s what the reviewer, Jill Smith, had to say about the book:

    It’s assassin vs. assassin in the fourth chapter of Estep’s outstanding Elemental Assassin series. Gin Blanco is one the most intriguing heroines on the scene today. As the action heats up, Estep thoughtfully reveals additional aspects of Gin’s character, showcasing her evolution. If you have not gotten on the Gin bandwagon yet, do so today!

    After the most recent defeats she has suffered at the hands of the Spider, it is not surprising when mob boss/Fire Elemental Mab Monroe brings in the big guns. As Gin and her foster brother Finn surveil a planned hit, they spy deadly electrical elemental assassin Elektra LaFleur. After learning that LaFleur has kidnapped a child and is planning on assassinating Gin’s still unacknowledged baby sister, Detective Bria Coolidge, Gin goes on the warpath. (POCKET, May, 384 pp., $7.99)

    I just want to say thanks to Jill and the folks at RT for taking the time to read and review the book. I appreciate it.

    And I have one more piece of good news: Gin Blanco was named the winner of the Urban Fantasy Protagonist category in the magazine’s annual RT Book Reviews awards. I think this is the first award that I’ve ever won for one of my books. I was happy just to be nominated, especially since there are so many great urban fantasy books out right now.

    Anyway, I’m totally doing the happy dance today. 😉

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    Where to get Tangled Threads when it’s released …

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    The release date of Tangled Threads is inching nearer (25 days and counting down!), so I wanted to do a post about where to actually get the book once it’s released.

    Why? Well, every time I have a new book out, I always get e-mails from folks asking where my books are available at. So I figured I would just do a post on it this time around.

    Now, if you have an e-reader, you can just go to your site of choice (Amazon, Barnes & Noble, etc.) and download the book on April 26 just as soon as it gets posted. Bada-bing, bada-boom, it’s yours to read whenever you want.

    But if you want a paper copy, things are a little trickier. As far as I know, copies of Tangled Threads will not be available at Borders, due to the chain’s bankruptcy issues. I’m also not certain if Walmart will order any copies. I’m waiting to get that information from my editor. I know a few people looked for Venom at Walmart back in October, but they didn’t order any copies of the book, which is why it wasn’t available there.

    So if you want a paper copy, I would say look for the book at your local Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million, or independent bookstore. I don’t have huge print runs, which means that most stores will only have a few copies of my books on hand at any given time. So if you want to get it the week that it comes out, I’d say your best bet would be to order it online through Amazon, B&N, BAM, etc.

    As far as overseas readers go, I know several folks have mentioned to me that they use The Book Depository. It looks like Tangled Threads will be available there on June 1. Also, several bookstores in Australia, like Rosemary’s Romance Books and Intrigue, the Romance Book Store, usually carry my books. Other than that, I knew very little about where the book is available overseas.

    Anyway, I hope that helps. Now if April 26 would just hurry up and get here already … 😉

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    Touch of Frost cover revealed (again) …

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    Well, it looks like I posted too soon.

    My publisher has decided to change the cover art for Touch of Frost, the first book in my Mythos Academy young adult urban fantasy series. I’ve known about this for a while. In fact, my editor told me that they’d decided to change the cover a few days after I posted the first cover here. That’s how it goes sometimes. LOL.

    At left is what the new cover will look like — aka the girl cover. Below, I’ve posted what the old cover looked like — aka the gargoyle cover.

    It’s not uncommon for cover art to be changed. Like the books themselves, the cover art goes through several different rounds of development and lots of folks have to sign off on the cover art before it’s finally approved.

    I like both covers, but I think the girl cover is a better fit for the book/series. To me, it’s a little hipper and edgier and says young adult urban fantasy more than the gargoyle cover did. I think that’s important  since Touch of Frost is all about my heroine, Gwen Frost, and is told from her first-person point of view. Here’s the back cover copy for the book:

    My name is Gwen Frost, and I go to Mythos Acad­emy — a school of myths, magic and war­rior whiz kids, where even the lowli­est geek knows how to chop off somebody’s head with a sword and Logan Quinn, the hottest Spar­tan guy in school, also hap­pens to be the deadliest.

    But lately, things have been weird, even for Mythos. First, mean girl Jas­mine Ash­ton was mur­dered in the Library of Antiq­ui­ties. Then, some­one stole the Bowl of Tears, a mag­i­cal arti­fact that can be used to bring about the sec­ond Chaos War. You know, death, destruc­tion and lots of other bad, bad things. Freaky stuff like this goes on all the time at Mythos, but I’m deter­mined to find out who killed Jas­mine and why – espe­cially since I should have been the one who died …

    So now that I have the final cover for the books, I can go forward with things on my end, like getting flyers and bookmarks made. I’ll post here when I get the bookmarks and let you guys know how to get some.

    By the way, I’ve seen the preliminary cover for Kiss of Frost, the second book in the series, and it is freaking awesome. I can’t wait to share that cover with you guys. 😉

    Which cover do you guys like better? Share in the comments.