On Writing

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    More Gin on the way …

    29 Comments

    So I have some cool news to share — there will be at least one more book in my Elemental Assassin series after Black Widow comes out on Nov. 25.

    Woot! Woot! I’m so excited to be able to write another adventure with Gin and the gang. 🙂

    As of right now, it looks like Elemental Assassin #13 will be out sometime in summer 2015, but that is subject to change. I’ll share more information — including the cover art — when I have it.

    A lot of folks have asked me how long the series will go on. Honestly? As long as you guys keep reading and enjoying the books, I’ll probably keep writing them. I keep getting so many nice comments about the series, and I keep thinking up new bad guys for Gin to battle too.

    Anyway, I’m already working on the book, and I’ll be sharing more news about it soon. Until then, I’m doing the happy dance. 🙂

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    For what it’s worth …

    12 Comments

    Note: I talked about this last week over at Magical Musings and wanted to share it on my site as well.

    There’s been a lot of debate this summer over what the price of e-books should be. E-books should be $9.99 or less. E-books should be $3.99 or less. E-books should be 99 cents.

    Pfft. Whatever, dudes.

    Because you know what? In the end, the debate about e-book prices is all just noise. Because the fact is that readers will pay what a book – e-book, print, or audio – is worth to them. Not what retailers or publishers or even writers think that book is worth.

    Should a cup of coffee be $5 or more? Even for a double-shot vanilla bean salted caramel espresso latte that melts in your mouth? Probably not. But people will pay that much for it. And do you know why? Because they want it. There are lots of articles out there talking about how much money you can save – thousands of dollars a year – if you just cut out that $5 cup of coffee every day, but there’s a coffee shop on practically every corner.

    The Republic of ThievesLast year, The Republic of Thieves, the third book in Scott Lynch’s Gentleman Bastards series, was released. I could have saved money buying the e-book or the hardcover book online, but I went to the store and got the print book, even though it was $28. Why? Because I wanted it.

    I had been waiting on that book a long time (so had my significant other), and I was happy that it was finally out. To me, it was worth paying $28 to read more in the story/world.

    People spend money on the things they want, and I want to read good books – no matter if they are 99 cents or $28.

    What about you guys? Do you think e-books should be a certain price? Why or why not?

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    Guest blog: Mandy Baxter on U.S. Marshals …

    17 Comments

    View More: https://kminterphoto.pass.us/mandy-bonillaToday, I am happy to welcome Mandy Baxter (aka Amanda Bonilla) to my blog. Mandy’s new romantic suspense book, One Night More, comes out on Sept. 2. As Amanda Bonilla, she writes the Shaede Assassin urban fantasy series.

    Q&A WITH MANDY BAXTER

    Jennifer: Welcome, Mandy! Please tell readers about your upcoming release, One Night More.

    Mandy: Thanks for having me on your blog, Jennifer!

    Jennifer: This is the first book in your U.S. Marshals series. Can you tell us a little about the series?

    Mandy: The U.S. Marshals series focuses on a new hero and heroine in each installment. Each marshal is on a case that the heroine is involved with in one way or another. My poor heroes are torn between duty and love and they try to close out the cases they’ve been assigned to work on, while protecting the women they’ve come to love.

    Jennifer: What appeals to you about the romantic suspense genre?

    Mandy: I’m an action movie junkie! Writing RS is fun because I get to channel my inner action movie star. It’s the perfect combination of romance and action!

    One Night MoreJennifer: What inspired you to write the U.S. Marshals series?

    Mandy: I’m a huge fan of the series Justified. Not to mention the fact that Timothy Olyphant is yummy! I’ve always been intrigued by the marshals service so it was a natural fit when I started working on a proposal for a romantic suspense.

    Jennifer: What are some of your favorite romantic suspense books/authors and why?

    Mandy: There are so many great authors/books out there! I love Julie Ann Walker, Julie James, and Carolyn Crane to name a few. I love their snappy dialog, unique voices, and blend of action and steamy romance.

    Jennifer: Have you always wanted to be a writer? What got you started on your writing journey?

    Mandy: Definitely! I started writing when I was sixteen. I played with it off and on for a couple of decades. LOL. Then, one day I decided that if I really wanted to be a writer that I needed to sit my butt down and finish something. After I finished my first book, I was hooked. I just kept writing and writing and writing. I doubt I’ll ever be able to quit.

    Jennifer: You also write urban fantasy as Amanda Bonilla. Will you be writing more books in your Shaede Assassin series?

    Against the DawnMandy: I’m definitely going to see Darian’s story through to the end. I’ll be publishing a novella in November and book 5 will be out next spring. The series will end at six books, though I’ve been tinkering with the idea of spin-off books for some of my favorite characters that I can’t seem to let go of.

    Jennifer: What were some of the challenges of writing in a new genre?

    Mandy: It took me a bit to get comfortable writing 3rd person, multiple point of view. I was so used to writing in 1st person that it felt foreign. In the past, my books have had an emphasis on action/plot with romance being secondary. It took me a while to get used to making the romance/sex the primary focus of the story. Not that I’m complaining. Hehe.

    Jennifer: What’s next for you? What are you working on?

    Mandy: I have a pretty full plate at the moment. I’m working on getting the next two books in the U.S. Marshals series ready for publication as well as a PNR series for St. Martin’s Press that will be released next year. I’m also plugging away on the Shaede Assassin series. No rest for the wicked! LOL!

    Thanks again for having me as a guest on your blog, Jennifer!! XOXO

    MORE ABOUT MANDY

    Mandy Baxter lives in rural Idaho. She’s a part-time pet wrangler, a full-time sun worshiper, and only goes out into the cold when coerced. She loves black clothes, pink appliances and thinks junk food should be a recognized food group. In the summer, she can be found sitting by the lake, enjoying the view from her dock.

    For more on Mandy’s books, visit her website or follow her on Facebook, Twitter, and Tumblr.

    GIVEAWAY TIME

    Mandy is offering a print copy of One Night More. You must be 18 or older to enter/win. The giveaway is open to U.S./Canada residents only. To enter, use the giveaway form below.

    a Rafflecopter giveaway

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    Poison Promise, Elemental Assassin #11, released …

    6 Comments

    Book #11 Poison Promise, Elemental Assassin #11, has been released. Huzzah! As always, I hope that everyone enjoys reading about Gin’s latest adventure.

    Poison Promise is available in print, e-book, and audiobook formats from all the usual retailers, including the following:

    Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Books-A-Million / iTunes / Kobo / IndieBound

    The audio book is available through Audible, and the awesome Lauren Fortgang is once again the narrator.

    And here is the cover blurb for Poison Promise. This does contain spoilers for previous books in the series:

    I specialize in making death wishes come true.

    Pop quiz. Which do you think is deadlier: Burn, the nastiest drug ever to hit the mean streets of Ashland, or me, Gin Blanco, the assassin known as the Spider? Answer: Me—because I don’t kill you slowly.

    Normally, drug dealers aren’t my department. But I’m turning up the heat on some relentless Burn-pushing thugs who won’t leave my friends alone. Pushers who have my cop sister beside herself with rage, so I’m stepping up to keep her from doing something stupid and getting herself killed. Once I’m in, I’m in, and these folks have picked their poison: the Spider’s venom. But even bad guys have their good days, and sometimes even my Ice and Stone magic isn’t enough. For behind the drug is a vicious vampire with a scientific eye for results. And behind him… trouble like I haven’t seen since I took down my legendary nemesis, Mab Monroe.

    To read the first chapter of Poison Promise, go here, scroll down, and click on the Read Excerpt tab.

    Hope everyone enjoys the book. Happy reading!

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    Poison Promise up for pre-order …

    2 Comments

    Book #11 Poison Promise, Elemental Assassin #11, will be released next Tuesday, July 22, in print, e-book, and audiobook formats. Huzzah! I hope that everyone enjoys Gin’s latest adventure.

    If you’re buying a print copy, you might want to check at your local bookstore this weekend, and see if the booksellers have put the book out early. Also, most of the time, Barnes & Noble will start shipping the print copies the weekend before the Tuesday release date.

    If you’re buying a copy online, you can get Poison Promise at all your usual book retailers, including the following:

    Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Books-A-Million / iTunes / Kobo / IndieBound

    The audiobook will be available through Audible, and the awesome Lauren Fortgang is once again the narrator.

    And here is the cover blurb for Poison Promise. This does contain spoilers for previous books in the series:

    I specialize in making death wishes come true.

    Pop quiz. Which do you think is deadlier: Burn, the nastiest drug ever to hit the mean streets of Ashland, or me, Gin Blanco, the assassin known as the Spider? Answer: Me—because I don’t kill you slowly.

    Normally, drug dealers aren’t my department. But I’m turning up the heat on some relentless Burn-pushing thugs who won’t leave my friends alone. Pushers who have my cop sister beside herself with rage, so I’m stepping up to keep her from doing something stupid and getting herself killed. Once I’m in, I’m in, and these folks have picked their poison: the Spider’s venom. But even bad guys have their good days, and sometimes even my Ice and Stone magic isn’t enough. For behind the drug is a vicious vampire with a scientific eye for results. And behind him… trouble like I haven’t seen since I took down my legendary nemesis, Mab Monroe.

    To read the first chapter, go here, scroll down, and click on the Read Excerpt tab. Hope everyone enjoys the sneak peak at the book. Happy reading!