Adventures at Arisia with Kelley Armstrong Part 1 Saturday

     I enjoy fantasy, and the occasional sci-fi.  I'm a long-time Star Trek fan, I watched it as a very little girl and have watched all of it's incarnations. I started attending SF/F conventions in college, primarily because of my interest in ST. Over the years, I've attended eensy weensy itty bitty ones and lots of medium-sized ones. Arisia is neither of those. It's  huge. It also is near me, in Boston MA in the US so when one of my very favorite authors, Kelley Armstrong, posted that she would be attending as the Guest of Honor, I immediately went to their site. Now, I found their site a nuisance to navigate; it took me several tries and multiple clicks on what looked like the right links to find the information on cost and registration. Now, in my opinion, that is very basic info and should be plainly and clearly posted. I ended up finding it with the help of another Kelley Armstrong board member, avangyline. Now avangyline happens to live in the Boston area also, though we'd never met. We chatted and made tentative plans to get together at the con if we both ended up going. So, last week we spoke and made plans to go on opening night, Friday night. Here in the US, it was a three-day weekend due to the Monday holiday in honor of Martin Luther King Jr's birthday and the con was running from Friday afternoon to Monday afternoon. We ended up going Saturday, not Friday which worked well for me as I wasn't feeling well.

     So, during the week last week, I looked at their site, trying to see what the schedule was, what panels and workshops there were, etc. Again, this information is buried; you click on one link which takes you to another link which takes you to another and eventually you get what you are looking for. Now, the website for the 2011 Arisia is very large and contains a lot of information. Unfortunately, you have to work at finding the information that you want or need. It was kind of like a treasure hunt. Since I have limited computer and internet access, a treasure hunt was NOT what I needed. Nonetheless, I finally found both the schedule and the program descriptions and began plotting what to attend. I found myslef in serious want of quick and easy cloning as just about every time frame had at least two panels or workshops that I wanted to attend; there was one time period where there were FOUR that I wanted to attend **cries**. They also had some workshops that started late at night, at 11PM. That struck me as odd until it occurred to me that the con was being held at a hotel and it was the hotel that they'd arranged for discounts for attendees who stayed there. Then it made perfect sense.

     I didn't attend any of the late night ones, although there were several that I wanted. Although I live within driving distance, I hate driving in Boston. I was going to take public transpo, primarily the metro. Because I was doing public transpo, I had to work within their time constraints.  Then I looked at the site, and compared their driving directions to their metro directions and decided to chance driving. Arisia folks - next time, have a local write up the directions, ok? Please? And it if it was a local who wrote them this year, shoot them ASAP. I naturally made a wrong turn driving in but accidentally found myself at South Station, which I recalled from the directions as being a hop, skip and a jump from the hotel so I parked.

     The site directions said that South Station was within walking distance of the hotel so I activated my cell phone's GPS system. Yeah, that didn't work so well. :P It kept telling me to go to the street that I was already on and when I would walk down that street, the street the hotel was on (if I could just find it!), it would tell me, snarkily, that it was re-calculating my route. I surrendered, went back to South Station, and took the T to the hotel. Sigh. As I was waiting for my train, I looked at the metro map and discovered that my initial plan was in fact the better one. The T directions were a whole lot less complicated than the Arisia site had said and it would have been basically a straight shot for me. Double sigh.

      Eventually I arrived. avangyline and I had been texting each other throughout the morning and we found each other fairly quickly., Her husband, Just X, also a Kelley board member, was there too. avangyline and I squealed and hugged; Just X and I said "hello". :D 

     After the greetings, we sorted out what we wanted to attend. Never a cloning machine around when you need one. :P Just X wandered off and avangyline and I went to a panel on vampires and sexuality. Kelley was on the panel. It wasn't bad but I found myself checking my email during it. Afterwards, we spoke to Kelley and made arrangements to meet for dinner that night. SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hmmm, I have talked way more than I expected and I need to head out so, To Be Continued! :D

Dark Hunter Series Pt. 1

I have always loved reading series. Sci-fi, fantasy, romance - I love being able to follow the life of a character, or find out more about the 'supporting cast' of the books that I read. There are a few series that just jump up and grab me. Several of them will have new books out this year. I'm going to start posting reviews of series, a few books at a time, once a week. In some cases this will lead up to the review of a new release, in others I will hopefully help someone find a new world to delve into.

First up: Dark Hunter series by Sherrilyn Kenyon. I know, not a new series, but it's new for me. I'm starting with Fantasy Lover, even if it doesn't say Dark Hunter on the front. Julian shows up too often to not be in this review. I have not yet read the WHOLE series, but I'm on book 6 and still having fun. The series blends pure fantasy with Greek mythology, in such a way that I actually wait until I'm done with a book before I go look up my myths so see what is what. (That's a good thing. I have been known to put down a book to research the mythology woven into the story. Then forgot that I was reading something.) I do like this series. The characters have issues, the guys are hot, and none of it is meant to be taken seriously. It's a perfect for fun read. Whether your at the beach, or in the tub, or just curled up in your favorite chair, it's a purely pleasurable set of books read to escape real life.

Quick overview: There are Dark Hunters, who have traded their souls to Artemis in exchange for one final act of revenge. They have some extra powers, can live forever if not killed, but cannot be in each other's presence or they weaken. And no sunlight for them. They also take up the task of saving the world from Daimons. Another group of soulless individuals. Only they need to feed off of human souls to stay alive. Unpleasant bunch. Basically, a Dark Hunter's existence is that of a lonely warrior. Good thing most of them were used that that before that whole sell your soul thing. *grin*
Ok, onto the books!

Book Blurb:
Dear Reader,
Being trapped in a bedroom with a woman is a grand thing. Being trapped in hundreds of bedrooms over two thousand years isn't. And being cursed into a book as a love-slave for eternity can ruin even a Spartan warrior's day. As a love-slave, I knew everything about women. How to touch them, how to savor them, and most of all how to pleasure them. But when I was summoned to fulfill Grace Alexander's sexual fantasies, I found the first woman in history who saw me as a man with a tormented past. She, alone, bothered to take me out of the bedroom and into the world. She taught me to love again. But I was not born to know love. I was cursed to walk eternity alone. As a general, I had long ago accepted my sentence. Yet now I have found Grace-the one thing my wounded heart cannot survive without. Sure, love can heal all wounds, but can it break a two thousand year old curse? Julian of Macedon

My Thoughts: Grace Alexander is a skeptic, perfectly balanced by her friend's new age and somewhat bizarre beliefs. Like the notion that the ultimate lover is trapped in a book, just waiting to be called out. That would get a big fake smile and nod from me too.

Some days, it's so fun to be proven wrong.

Julian of Macedonia - an old world general trapped into a book by an angry godling for sleeping with the wrong woman, Julian can only be called out of his prison for a month at a time. By a woman. For the last 2,000 years, he's been summoned countless times to repeat his mistake. Until Grace, who makes him put on some damn clothes and behave like the head on his shoulders is in charge. (Really not sure if I should applaud her, or smack sense into her.)

What kept the book going was Grace's practicality. Not interested in casual sex, Grace pushes him away. (Which is not to say she's not interested in him!) But she can't get rid of him, not for a whole month. Gives them a nice amount of time to learn about each other, with a bit of self discovery tossed in there for good measure.

This was something that made the book for me. When you deal with fantasy, the story needs a bit of reality to balance it, especially the first in a fantasy series. Grace didn't just jump into bed with the gorgeous naked man that magically appeared in her life.She maintained her lovely skeptical self, kept some distance and that let the romance of the tale outshine the curses and Greek gods that help move the story along and make it fun. This book set a nice balance between the two, as well as laying the ground work for the what follows.

Publisher: St. Martin's

Released: February 1, 2002

This book was lent to the reviewer by a friend

Book Blurb: Have you ever wanted to know what it's like to be immortal? To journey through the night stalking the evil that preys on humans? To have unlimited wealth, unlimited power? That is my existence, and it is dark and dangerous. I play hero to thousands, but am known to none. And I love every minute of it.

Or so I thought until one night when I woke up handcuffed to my worst nightmare: a conservative woman in a button-down shirt. Or in Amanda's case, buttoned all the way up to her chin. She's smart, sexy, witty, and wants nothing to do with the paranormal-in other words, me.

My attraction to Amanda Devereaux goes against everything I stand for. Not to mention the last time I fell in love it cost me not only my human life, but also my very soul. Yet every time I look at her, I find myself wanting to try again. Wanting to believe that love and loyalty do exist.

Even more disturbing, I find myself wondering if there's any way a woman like Amanda can love a man whose battle scars run deep, and whose heart was damaged by a betrayal so savage that he's not sure it will ever beat again.

Kyrian of Thrace

My Thoughts:

Ah, our heroine is another glorious unbeliever! (Seriously, if I promise to not believe in magic, myths and make-believe, will someone send me a buff, eternally youthful, nearly naked man with centuries of experience? Please?) Amanda Devereaux grew up in a family of believers, which only made her resist all the more. Unfortunately for her, they were right! And her twin being up to her eyeballs involved with the supernatural world gets Amanda kidnapped.

Our hero, Kyrian is the first Dark Hunter we meet. Aloof, snarky and handcuffed to a woman that compares him to Buffy the Vampire Slayer. In cuffs made by Hephaestus. What a lovely way to start an evening! Which sends them to Julian and Grace's place - Amanda is the little sister of the friend who dropped J's book in G's lap as a birthday present. (Confused? Don't be. Read the books. It'll make sense. Promise. I can get people lost in towns they grew up in.)

This book introduces a bunch of characters that you'll see reappear often, especially Nick. Who is Kyrian's wonderfully sarcastic human Squire. There are as many laughs in it as there are sad tales to tug at the heart. Mr. "Do Me" Gorgeous Man (Amanda's description) is in much need of a woman who loves him, and a family. He was overdue to find one too.

Published: St Martin's

Released: October 13, 2002

This book is owned by the reviewer

Book Blurb: Life is great for me. I have my chicory coffee, my warm beignets, and my best friend on the cell phone. Once the sun goes down, I am the baddest thing prowling the night: I command the elements, and I know no fear. For centuries, I've protected the innocent and watched over the mankind, making sure they are safe in a world where nothing is ever certain. All I want in return is a hot babe in a red dress, who wants nothing more from me then one night.

Instead, I get a runaway Mardi Gras float that tries to turn me into roadkill and a beautiful woman who saves my life but can't remember where she put my pants. Flamboyant and extravagant, Sunshine Runningwolf should be the perfect woman for me. She wants nothing past tonight, no ties, no long-term commitments.
But every time I look at her, I start yearning for dreams that I buried centuries ago. With her unconventional ways and ability to baffle me, Sunshine is the one person I find myself needing. But for me to love her would mean her death. I am cursed never to know peace or happiness-not so long as my enemy waits in the night to destroy us both.
--Talon of the Morrigantes


My Thoughts: I giggled through a lot of Night Pleasures, but I was laughing outright from this book. In a good way! (I know some people just giggle at the ridiculousness of romances, and sometimes I do, but not this one.) Sunshine is spectacularly spacey. Does not have a cordless phone, because she always loses them. Gets lost in her hometown. (Without my crazy directions!) Paints on anything that will stay still long enough. Eats soy cheese. (Sorry to the vegans out there, but not my thing.)

She washes and dries Talon's leather pants. Just the image had me choking on my tea. Poor Talon. Coffee chugging, "where's the junk food?" Talon gets hit by a runaway Mardi Gras float and wakes up lost in Sunnyland. Where his 'savior' is quite frankly discussing his aura, whether he's human, and his *ahem* assets with her mother.

It just gets better from there. There is, of course, also lots of Daimans, deities and danger involved the Sunny and Talon finding their way to happily ever after. Plus new cast members that pave the way for more books.

Publisher: St. Martin's Paperbacks

Released: July 13, 2006

This book is owned by the reviewer

So this is the first of the Dark Hunter Reviews. There are MANY books in this series, so I will be putting several in each post. See ya' here next week. :)

100 Books in a Year Reading Challenge 2011

     Ok, I mean it this time. :D THIS is the last reading challenge that I'm signing up for in 2011. We're only a week into the new year and I already have 4 books under my belt so I should be able to accomplish this one. Particularly as now and then, I'll take a weekend to blow off everything, and just curl up and read. On those weekends I have read as many as 5 books. So I have a very good chance of actually finishing this challenge, especially as the books I read for my other challenges will count toward this one.

     The nitty gritty details:

It's hosted by Book Chick City, so go there to sign up. You can join anytime between Jan. 1, 2011 and Dec. 31, 2011.

• Rules - Read 100 or more books in 2011

• All books can crossover into other challenges you have on the go.

• Only print books and ebooks count (no audiobooks).

• You can join anytime between now and the later part of next year.

• At the beginning of Jan 2011, I will add a link so you can add your reviews but this is not obligatory.

• You don't have to have a blog to join in - for those without a blog just FILL IN THIS FORM and I will add you to the list - just join the discussion in the comments section to let us know when you've read a book and what you thought of it! :)

• You can also follow each other's progress and chat about the VC books you read on twitter too - just use #100BooksInAYear :)

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Books read:

1) Tempest's Legacy by Nicole Peeler
2) Heart's Sentinel by PJ Schnyder

3) A Safe Harbor by Moira Rogers
4) Counterfeit Magic by Kelley Armstrong
5) The Grinrose Path by Rob Thurman
6) The Radleys by Matt haig
7) I Thought It Was You by Shiloh Walker
8) The Search by Nora Roberts
9) Flesh and Fire by Laura Anne Gilman

Review: The Radleys by Matt Haig

Book Blurb:  Meet the Radleys

Peter, Helen and their teenage children, Clara and Rowan, live in an English town. They are an everyday family, averagely dysfunctional, averagely content. But as their children have yet to find out, the Radleys have a devastating secret

From one of Britain’s finest young novelists comes a razor-sharp unpicking of adulthood and family life. In this moving, thrilling and extraordinary portrait of one unusual family, The Radleys asks what we grow into when we grow up, and explores what we gain – and lose – when we deny our appetites.

My Thoughts: I had a hard time getting into this book, it just didn't capture my attention. I probably would have put it down and moved onto another book if I hadn't agreed to write a review of it. The book isn't awful, though it is a bit dry. The humor is understated, which is fine; subtle can be good. But it felt at times as if there was nothing for me to sink my teeth into. That's not to say that the book is light and fluffy. Just the opposite in fact, it tackles such weighty topics as secrets and lies and the damage they do even when well-intentioned, relationships (familial, romantic and communal), and the consequences, both forseeable and unforseeable, of our decisions. Most books have something that catches my attention - humor, the characters, the storyline, etc. This book...not so much.

     For instance, I never really cared about the characters or what happened to them. I did come close with the teenagers, Rowan Radley and his sister Clara Radley (actually, I kept envisioning teenage Clara as a grown-up version of the 2 year old Clara in my pre-school class :D) I could empathize with their peer trouble. But for the most part, it didn't matter to me what happened.  
    
     I think part of the problem, for me, was that the author tried to tackle too much. In addition to the above mentioned topics, we also have Mr & Mrs Radley's mid-life (so to speak) crisis, and a mystery or two. Stylewise, there are multiple narrative view points. Actually, that last worked reasonably well; there were only a few instances where it was unclear which character was narrating. I know some readers don't like multiple narrators but it usually doesn't bother me and it didn't in this book. However I do think that the lack of focus on one narrator, as well as the broad focus on multiple characters, helped contribute to my inability to connect with the book.

     Overall, for me, this book was "meh".

Publisher:        US: Free Press                     UK: Cannongate Books Ltd.

Release Date: US: December 28, 2010      UK: July 1, 2010

More Info: goodreads

This paperback was received from the publisher for review.

Review: Tempest's Legacy by Nicole Peeler

Book Blurb:  Jane True has become proficient in basic magics, confident in herself and her abilities, and happily rooted in Rockabill. Her life is still divided between her supernatural brethren and her human friends and family, but it’s a division she maintains with very little trouble.

Everything changes, however, when Anyan brings Jane news that will force her to confront her dichotomized existence – supernatural females are being murdered, or have simply disappeared.

Jane and Anyan must embark on a desperate search to find out who is abducting these women, and how Jane can be protected from them. Aiding them is Jane’s former flame, Ryu. But can his stated motivations be trusted? And who are the mysterious figures dogging Jane’s and Anyan’s footsteps if not minions of Jarl?

Eventually, the trio stumble upon a secret so huge that it threatens to disrupt the tenuous traditions keeping humanity safe from the supernatural community that has, up until now, been content to lurk in the shadows.

Will they uncover the truth in time to save Jane’s friends? And just how far will Jarl go to protect his secrets?

My Thoughts:

I loved it. You need to read it. That is all.








Oh, you want more detail than that? Fine, be picky. :P

     Tempest's Legacy picks up several months after the end of book two, Tracking the Tempest. Jane is learning how to use her magic offensively. She has made friends with the other supernaturals in Rockbill and has achieved some contentment in her life. Life is going pretty well over all for Jane so naturally she gets bad news. Supernatural females are disappearing, even dying and Anyan is investigating. Jane gets involved and so does Ryu and some of his associates. Sadly, Caleb isn't around much in this story but Peeler assured me on Twitter that we'd see more of him *grin* in the next book. However, we do see more of Julian. He gets more attention in this book and also acts as a spotlight for the halflings, who play a major part in this book. The new halflings (most of them) are strong, smart, sassy women who intimidate Jane at first, but then she gets to know them. I hope we will see more of them.

     Peeler takes us deeper into the supernatural world, it's politics and culture. It's a fascinating world and we see up close how some of them live, especially the halflings. Jane, and the reader, learn more about the supernatural world. The Borderlands was a fascinating place, particularly it's relationship with the larger supernatural community.

     Jane's growth, emotionally and magically, continues in this book. That growth is something I appreciate about this series. Peeler has no qualms about changing things up and keeping the pace moving. There's no chance for anyone or anything to get stale. Despite the fast pace of the series, character development and growth are not forsaken. Since the book is told on first person, we see Jane's thoughts and to a lesser extent her feelings. We see, and feel, her frustration with the Alfar, the murders, her relationship with Ryu, and we see her growing determination to do whatever she has to in order to protect her human family and friends, and her less powerful supernatural ones too. She does what she thinks is necessary, even when it terrifies her but also listens, usually, to her friends. She can be a rush in headlong first girl but she learns and listens, and speaks up for herself.

     This book is darker, grittier, with more of an edge. This magical world is not all lightness, butterflies and tea cakes. Like ours, there's violence, corruption, politics, etc. But there's humor, love, loyalty, friendship, and of course, Jane's ever talkative libido. Still, it's clear that Peeler is moving this into a darker direction, and Jane also. I can't wait to see what happens next.

  **Note: the version I read was a galley, not a final copy and it contained numerous typos, misspellings, and half-finished sentences. Presumably, these were found and fixed before it went to print. I hope so, because they kept taking me out of the story, especially where the wrong word was clearly used, changing the meaning of the sentence.**  

Publisher:   Orbit                                                 Release date: January 1, 2011

More Info: goodreads                                          Series: #3 in The Jane True series


This book was provided by NetGalley as an eARC.

Interview with author Nicole Peeler

     It's no secret that one of my very favorite series these days is the Jane True series written by the wonderfully funny, and smutty, Nicole Peeler. I was introduced to her first book over at the Kelley Armstrong discussion board book club. I enjoyed that first book, Tempest Rising, and looked forward to the second one, Tracking the Tempest.  Well, I loved that book, it's one of the very few books I've given a 5 star rating on goodreads. I laughed so hard I was breathless and I talked it up on Twitter. Nicole is on Twitter also (@NicolePeeler) and is even funnier, smuttier, and more potty-mouthed than in her books. I knew that I had to interview Nicole. This interview doesn't do her justice, but maybe it will whet your appetite and encourage you to seek her books out if you aren't reading them already.

     First, some info about Nicole. Over the summer she moved to Pittsburg (in Pennsylvania in the US) to teach at Seton Hill University's Master of Fine Arts program in Writing Popular Fiction. When not teaching or writing, she enjoys cooking and eating, traveling, and spending time with her friends and families.

     Nicole can be found all over the web. In addition to Twitter, she's on facebook, has a website, and blogs at The League of Reluctant Adults or you can email her at IHeartSelkies AT gmail DOT com.

                                                             The Jane True books:

And now for the interview.  :)

BEA: Nicole, thank you for coming by and chatting with me. Maybe next time Jane, Anyan, and some of the others could visit also.

BEA: Why writing? Would you continue to write if you were no longer published?

NICOLE: I’ve always written, and I’ve always loved words, but I’d never really written fiction. To be honest, I don’t know if I would write fiction if I weren’t publishing it. But I would never stop writing. I’d probably go back to writing academic work. But who knows?

BEA: What is your favorite part of writing?

NICOLE: I think it’s being able to tell the stories I’ve always wanted to read.

BEA: What is your least favorite part?

NICOLE: How things get dropped from above into your lap, and need to be turned around in a few weeks.  I love my publishing company, and I know this is normal, but it’s hard when you have a pretty intense day job.

**as an example - during the week between Christmas and New Year's Day, Nicole tweeted about her work on revisions for book 4 that she was aiming to turn in for Jan. 2nd - Bea**

BEA: Was there someone who was, or is, particularly helpful to you?


NICOLE: I’ve had so many mentors, so many amazing teachers, and so many incredible friends. Too many to name, here. I can tell you there’s no way I could ever have done any of this alone.

BEA: Why urban fantasy?

NICOLE: I love the fact it’s so “real” and so fantastic, all at the same time. I can have my character deal with “real woman” issues, like sexual safety, at the same time that she’s worrying about being with a vampire. It’s fun, but it also allows me to say some things I think need to be said. ;-)


BEA: If you could be a character in a book, which one would it be, and what part would you play? (Romantic lead, sidekick, etc)


NICOLE: I’d definitely be the vulgar sidekick. I’d be like Grizelda in my books, saying really raunchy stuff in the background like some perverted peanut gallery. ;-)

BEA: Do you prefer paper books or ebooks? Why?

NICOLE: I’ve just come to ebooks, and I do love them. Don’t get me wrong, at heart I’m a paper book girl. But I’ve moved so much, and had to give up so many books over the years, it’s heartbreaking. With ebooks, they can always move with me.

BEA: Do you write by hand, on a typewriter, or on a computer? If on the computer, do you use any particular software program to help you?

NICOLE: I write on a computer, just using word or pages.

BEA: I saw on twitter that you were participating in NaNoWriMo. Why? What is useful or valuable about it? 

NICOLE: I didn't really do NaNo, but I signed up and I sponsored NaNo at my university with another professor. I think it’s a great way to get people writing, and to realize how much time they do have to write, if they just make that time. But I’m not really a NaNo gal. I have to write a lot, already, and I really have to edit. I can’t not edit as I go along. I tried with NaNo, and it was interesting, but there’s no way I can’t not edit.

BEA: How many books are currently planned for the Jane True series? Is there a possibility of a spin- off?

NICOLE: I’ve got six books planned for Jane, but only six. That said, I would love to do a spin-off, and already have it quite developed.



**yay!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! - Bea**

BEA: Why a selkie for your lead character?

NICOLE: I picked a selkie because Jane could be magical, but not bad ass. No one expects a selkie to be a ninja. ;-) And I wanted Jane to be more “human” than some urban fantasy heroines out there.

**I love this about Jane; it's also one of the things that I like about Mercy in the Mercy Thompson books by Patricia Briggs. I really like that they are more human, more relatable than some of the kick-ass, do-it-all heroines out there - Bea** 

BEA: What else do you want to write?


NICOLE: I want to write this spin off, and then I’m not sure. It’s still so early in my career, and I’m only now coming to terms with being a writer. It’ll take me a little while longer to start thinking about what else I want to do, in terms of story lines.


BEA: Who are some of your favorite authors?


NICOLE: I have so many: Philip Roth, Iris Murdoch, Muriel Spark, Sarah Waters, Mercedes Lackey, Charles de Lint… the list could go on and on. ;-)

BEA: You’ve traveled a lot, what do you like about traveling? What is your favorite place and why?

NICOLE: I think it’s really important to travel. It’s challenging, and it makes people see the world differently. I’ve lived abroad for many years, and the experience really made me who I am, today. As for my favorite places, I feel very at home in London, but I absolutely adore Istanbul.

BEA: You are active on twitter and several blogs. Where else are you active online and why do choose to use social media? Do you think it is necessary now for an author?

NICOLE: I think it’s absolutely necessary for writers to be media-savvy. Publishing houses expect us to do a lot of our own promo, nowadays, and the internet is the cheapest and most accessible way to do this. As for why I chose social media, it was all things my publisher told me to do when I started. Before I sold my book, I didn’t even have a Facebook page.

Nicole, thanks again for stopping by and taking the time to talk with me. I know that Tempest's Legacy will do well for you and I'm already itching for the next book, Eye of the Tempest.

Author Interviews - Kelley Armstrong board authors

     When I decided to try my hand at interviewing authors, I thought about what authors I wanted to inerview. Well, that list is long and includes some big names who will probably turn me down when I do get around to asking. But, it immediately occurred to me that I knew a group of authors, some personally, some not, who I wanted to spotlight and who might even agree to being interviewed by me. :P

     I belong to various author boards, including that of the awesome Kelley Armstrong. Her board has an online writers group that is very active and apparently very effective, as more and more are now published authors or have been signed by a publisher. So, I approached them and most graciously agreed. So, I will run a series of interviews over the course of the year with published members of the KA board OWG. I plan to run a review of their most current work along with the interview and some giveaways are also planned.

     The list of participants is subject to change as other OWG members get signed or published, and there's always the possibility of someone cancelling. The current line up is as follows, dates to be determined:

Morgan Ashbury - romance and erotica: interview, part 1; interview, part 2 2/14/11

Seleste deLaney AKA Julie Particka - paranormal romance as deLaney; YA as Particka: interview

Kelly Metz - urban fantasy - TBD

Ian O'Neill - mystery and urban fantasy - TBD

Angela Addams - paranormal romance: interview 4/30/11

Julie Campbell - YA urban fantasy: guest post 3/9/11; interview - October/November 2011

D.B. Reynolds - paranormal romance: Interview 5/16/11

Welcome 2011

                                     Happy New Year!

Another year is beginning; new dreams, new fears, new hopes, new tears. May it also bring you joy, peace, happiness, good health, and many, many good books.