On Writing

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    Widow’s Web back cover copy …

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    I have posted the back cover copy for Widow’s Web, the seventh book in my Elemental Assassin urban fantasy series.

    There are no big spoilers here, but if you absolutely don’t want to know what the book is about before you read Thread of Death (since the e-novella hints at a few things in Widow’s Web) or By a Thread (the sixth book), you may want to skip this post.

    Here’s the description:

    I used to murder people for money, but these days it’s more of a survival technique.

    Once an assassin, always an assassin. So much for being plain old Gin Blanco. With every lowlife in Ashland gunning for me, I don’t need another problem, but a new one has come to town. Salina might seem like a sweet Southern belle, but she’s really a dangerous enemy whose water elemental magic can go head-to-head with my own Ice and Stone power. Salina also has an intimate history with my lover, Owen Grayson, and now that she’s back in town, she thinks he’s hers for the taking. Salina’s playing a mysterious game that involves a shady local casino owner with a surprising connection to Owen. But they call me the Spider for a reason. I’m going to untangle her deadly scheme, even if it leaves my love affair hanging by a thread.

    Basically, this story will delve into Owen’s past, and readers will learn what Owen was up to while he was living on the streets of Ashland with his baby sister, Eva. You can also read the first chapter of Widow’s Web, if you wish. Again, if you absolutely don’t want to be spoiled, you may want to skip reading the chapter.

    I’ve seen the cover art, which is awesome as usual. I can’t share the cover just yet, but the predominant color is blue this time, and Gin is seen with a weapon that is not one of her silverstone knives. Is that enough of a teaser for you guys? 😉

    Widow’s Web will be out on Aug. 21. Technically, it’s a September book, but instead of releasing the book the last Tuesday before the first of the month like usual, my publisher decided to bump it up a week to Aug. 21. Widow’s Web is up for pre-order at Amazon, and I imagine it will be up for pre-order sometime soon at Barnes & Noble. I’ll post more information as it becomes available.

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    Release schedule for 2012 …

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    We are moving right along in 2012, so I thought I would share my release schedule for the year:

    Jan 31: Thread of Death, an Elemental Assassin e-novella. Gin goes to Mab’s funeral, and trouble ensues.

    Feb. 28: By a Thread, Elemental Assassin #6. Gin goes on vacation, and trouble ensues (again).

    May 29: Dark Frost, Mythos Academy #3. Gwen has to find a powerful artifact before the Reapers of Chaos do.

    Aug. 21: Widow’s Web, Elemental Assassin #7. This book will fill in some of Owen’s past and backstory.

    To be determined: Haints and Hobwebs: An Elemental Assassin short story in The Mammoth Book of Ghost Romance. I’m not sure when this book is being released yet, but the story focuses on Gin helping out a ghost, or haint.

    I’m also hoping to e-publish a fourth Bigtime book this year, but I don’t know if it will happen or not. My writing schedule is already full for this year (and next year too).

    Anyway, stay tuned to the blog for updates as they become available.

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    Thread of Death e-novella …

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    Well, I have some news to share. There will be an e-novella to go along with By a Thread, the sixth Elemental Assassin urban fantasy book that will be out on Feb. 28.

    The e-novella is called Thread of Death, and it takes place at the end of the events of Spider’s Revenge. Note that the following description contains some spoilers for Spider’s Revenge, so if you haven’t read that book yet, you may want to skip the description:

    Gin Blanco, aka the assassin the Spider, might have finally killed her nemesis, Mab Monroe, but that doesn’t mean that it’s smooth sailing. Gin goes to Mab’s funeral to say her goodbyes and runs into some of Ashland’s most notorious underworld power players, including Jonah McAllister and Phillip Kincaid. McAllister wants her dead, and Kincaid has his own murky motives when it comes to the Spider, and Gin once again finds herself fighting for her life. Only this time, she might wind up in the cemetery right next to Mab …

    Basically, Gin attends Mab’s funeral and finds herself in trouble once again. It’s also sort of a round robin story and features the points of view of Gin, along with Jonah McAllister and Phillip Kincaid. The e-novella is around 20,000 words. You don’t have to read the e-novella to enjoy By a Thread or the rest of the series, but it gives a little insight into what McAllister and Kincaid think about Gin. It also hints at and sets up a few things for Widow’s Web, the seventh book that will be out on Aug. 21.

    Thread of Death will be released on Jan. 31 (e-book only). The price is $1.99, and it is up for preorder at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other online booksellers. Hope everyone enjoys it. Happy reading!