On Writing

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    Fandemic, Bigtime #5, to be released on June 2 …

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    Book #5Some of you have seen this online already, but I wanted to make a formal announcement here on my blog.

    Fandemic, the fifth book in my Bigtime superhero series, will be released on June 2. Woot!

    I’m so happy that I was able to write and self-publish another Bigtime book, and I hope that everyone enjoys seeing what all the superheroes and ubervillains are up to.

    The Fandemic e-book will be priced at $2.99. It is up for pre-order at the following sites:

    Amazon Kindle / Google Play / iBooks / Kobo

    Note: Fandemic will also be available at other book retailers, like Barnes & Noble and Smashwords. Those pre-order links should be going up soon.

    A print version of Fandemic will also be available through Amazon. Not sure what the price for the print book will be yet, but I would estimate around $10. Again, that pre-order link should be going up soon.

    Here is the book description:

    ­Piper Perez has always wanted to be a super­hero. Always wanted to wear a cool costume, have amazing abilities, and save the day. There’s just one problem—Piper doesn’t have any superpowers.

    So she focuses on other things. Facts, figures, memorabilia. Piper knows and collects it all, about both the superheroes and the ubervillains who roam the streets of Bigtime, N.Y. Piper’s friends jokingly call her a fandemic—someone who is a superfan of all things superhero. The nickname is truer than anyone knows, especially since Piper can’t stop thinking about Swifte, the speedy hero who broke her heart months ago.

    But someone has been killing off Bigtime’s heroes and villains. When one of Piper’s friends is murdered, she vows to do whatever she can to help bring the killer to justice, superpowers or not. All the clues and information she gathers lead her to believe that Swifte is the killer’s next target. Piper has always wanted to be a hero, and now she’ll have to use all of her fandemic knowledge to save the man she loves—or die trying….

    Fandemic is around 43,000 words, which means that it is a shorter book than the others in the series, which are around 95,000 words. For those of you who like page counts, Fandemic is about 150 pages.

    You can read the first chapter here. Scroll down and click on the Read Excerpt tab.

    For those of you who need a refresher, Piper is the best friend of Abby Appleby, the heroine of Nightingale, the fourth book in the series. And many of you have been waiting to see who the superhero Swifte really is. I won’t spoil that here, but I think it has been fairly obvious in the books who Swifte really is.

    Many folks have asked me if I will continue on with the Bigtime series. I would like to write and self-publish more in the series, but self-publishing is very time-consuming, and my writing schedule is already full into 2016 with my Elemental Assassin and Black Blade series.

    If I do write more in the Bigtime series, it will probably be a shorter book like Fandemic or perhaps some more e-novellas, like A Karma Girl Christmas (which is about 14,000 words).

    Anyway, I hope that everyone enjoys Fandemic when it is released. Cheers!

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    Print ARC giveaway for Cold Burn of Magic …

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    My publisher was nice enough to send me some print ARCs (advanced reading copies) for Cold Burn of Magic, Black Blade #1, which will be out on April 28.

    I have two print ARCs left, and I’m going to give those away here on my blog. If you receive an ARC, please consider taking the time to read the book and post a review on Goodreads, Amazon, etc.

    Note: To enter the giveaway, use the form at the bottom of this post. The giveaway is open to those 13 and older, U.S. only.

    Black Blade #1Cold Burn of Magic features magic, monsters, and mobsters. The book focuses on Lila Merriweather, a 17-year-old thief who lives in Cloudburst Falls, West Virginia, a town dubbed “the most magical place in America.” Tourists come from around the world to tour all the magic-themed shops and attractions, as well as see monsters like tree trolls, copper crushers, and more in their natural habitats.

    Lila has a Talent for sight, along with transference magic — in other words, magic makes her stronger. To survive, she does odd jobs for her pawnbroker friend. Lila also does her best to stay off the grid and avoid the Families — or mobs — who control much of the town. But when she saves a member of the powerful Sinclair Family during an attack, Lila finds herself caught in the middle of a brewing war between the Sinclairs and the Draconis, the most powerful Family in town.

    Cold Burn of Magic is up for pre-order at the following sites:

    Amazon Kindle / Amazon paperback / Barnes & Noble / Books-A-Million / iBooks / IndieBound / Google Play / Kobo

    And here is the book description:

    THERE BE MONSTERS HERE…

    It’s not as great as you’d think, living in a tourist town that’s known as “the most magical place in America.” Same boring high school, just twice as many monsters under the bridges and rival Families killing each other for power.

    I try to keep out of it. I’ve got my mom’s bloodiron sword and my slightly illegal home in the basement of the municipal library. And a couple of Talents I try to keep quiet, including very light fingers and a way with a lock pick.

    But then some nasty characters bring their Family feud into my friend’s pawn shop, and I have to make a call—get involved, or watch a cute guy die because I didn’t. I guess I made the wrong choice, because now I’m stuck putting everything on the line for Devon Sinclair. My mom was murdered because of the Families, and it looks like I’m going to end up just like her…

    You can read the first chapter of Cold Burn of Magic here. Scroll down and click on the Read Excerpt tab.

    Dark Heart of Magic, the second book, is tentatively set to be released on Oct. 27. The third book will probably be out in May 2016, but that is subject to change.

    I hope that everyone enjoys Cold Burn of Magic when it is released.
    a Rafflecopter giveaway

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    To pre-order or not to pre-order …

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    Note: I posted this over at Magical Musings last week and wanted to share it here on my blog as well.

    Do you pre-order?

    You know what I’m talking about — all those tempting little buttons next to books by your favorite authors. The ones that let you pre-order a new book months in advance.

    Cold Burn of MagicWhenever I’m talking about my books on my blog, Facebook, or Twitter pages, I usually include pre-order links to major retailers like Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million, iTunes, Kobo, IndieBound, and Audible (audiobooks). For example, on I’ve got several pre-order links up on my website page for Cold Burn of Magic, Black Blade #1, my young adult urban fantasy book that will be out on April 28.

    I’ve heard from many folks that when you pre-order a book — especially an e-book — that it’s a nice little surprise when you fire up your e-reader and see the book waiting there for you to start reading any time you want to. The same thing goes for getting an e-mail that the audiobook is available, a package in the mail with a print book, or getting a call from your local bookstore saying that the book has arrived.

    But me? I don’t pre-order books too often. Usually, most of my pre-orders are movies or TV shows because it seems like you can get a better deal on those online.

    But if there is a book that I want, I will bookmark it on my computer. Then I’ll wait until it comes out, go to the store, and buy a print copy, mainly because I still like to read print books over e-books. Or, if I think that my local stores might not have the book, then I will pre-order a print copy a week or two ahead of the release date. I also make sure that I order enough items to get free shipping. I am all about free shipping. LOL.

    What about you guys? Do you pre-order books, movies, or music? Why or why not?

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    Blogging, e-newsletter, and social media sites …

    Here is a roundup of places where you can find me online and get my latest book news:

    1) If you don’t already, you can follow me on Facebook and Twitter. These are the two online sites where I am the most active. I usually post on both sites several times a day, respond to comments/tweets, and more. I also do weekly features on these sites:

    Teaser Tuesday — a brief excerpt from one of my books

    Waiting on Wednesday — a book I am looking forward to (this is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine)

    Friday Reads — what I’m reading

    Weekend Watch — what movies/TV shows I’m watching

    I also respond to friend requests and comments over at Goodreads.

    2) I blog here on my own blog on Mondays. I have four books out this year, so I’ll be posting a lot about those books — back cover copy, cover art, excerpts, and more. You can subscribe to my blog feed by clicking the icon at the top right corner of this page or going here.

    3) I also blog over at Magical Musings, a group blog with several authors. My blogs usually appear every fourth Tuesday. My next blog dates are Feb. 17, March 17, April 14, and May 12. I will probably be posting those blogs here to my site as well.

    4) I also send out an e-newsletter every month, which features my latest book news, upcoming guest blog schedule, book recommendations, and a recipe. I try to send that out the first week of each month. Also, when I have a new book out, I also send out an e-blast about that book, usually on its release day.

    To subscribe, go to my home page, scroll down, and fill out the form in the right sidebar. You will get an e-mail asking you to opt-in and confirm your subscription to my e-newsletter. I do not share anyone’s e-mail address.

    And that’s where you can find me online.

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    Spider’s Trap cover art …

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    Book #13I posted this on my Facebook and Twitter pages a couple of weeks ago, but I wanted to share the cover art for Spider’s Trap, Elemental Assassin #13, July 28.

    The cover was once again done by Tony Mauro, and the model is Alexa Martino. From what I’ve been told, she has been Gin on all of the book covers.

    I always enjoy seeing the covers and how tough, cool, and confident Gin looks. I especially like her shirt on this one. I think that’s a cool nod to the spider theme.

    Spider’s Trap is up for pre-order at the following sites:

    Amazon Kindle / Amazon paperback / Books-A-Million / iTunes / Kobo

    It should be up at other sites, like Barnes & Noble, soon (if it’s not already). Also, the audiobook will be available through Audible, although that pre-order link probably won’t go up until sometime in May. Audible pre-order links don’t usually go up until about six weeks before the publication date.

    Here is the description for Spider’s Trap:

    Keep your friends close but your enemies within stabbing distance.

    One important lesson I’ve learned in the assassination business is that to be the best you have to roll with the punches. Now that I’m queen of Ashland’s underworld—by default, not by choice—a lot more punches are being thrown my way. But I suppose that’s the price of victory for taking down some of the underworld’s top dogs. Good thing I have my Ice and Stone magic to help me survive my volatile new position. Just when I think things are finally settling down, someone tries to murder me during a hush-hush underworld meeting. But the real surprise is how strangely familiar my shadowy assailant seems to be.

    My job is to maintain order among killers, crooks, and thieves, and soon I’m embroiled in a bloody game where the ability to keep secrets could be the greatest superpower of all. My enemies have all sharpened their knives and laid their traps, waiting for me to fall. But this Spider weaves her own webs of death …

    You can read the first chapter of Spider’s Trap here. Scroll down and click on the Read Excerpt tab, although beware of spoilers for previous books in the series, especially Black Widow.

    I hope that everyone enjoys the cover. July 28 will be here before you know it.