The last day of the year. I find I'm doing things I do at the end of every year. Straightening and cleaning. Trying to get rid of stuff. My goal for 2009 is to remove as much stuff from my life as possible. A stuff a day. That's a good goal. I'm going through all the email and making sure I've sent out all the contest prizes (hope to make it to the PO today). I'm working on a puzzle. I love puzzles, and have done them since I was a kid. Seems the last week of every year I always get a new one to work on. This one is bugs, a creation by Christopher Marley, one of my new favorite artists.

Workwise, I feel invigorated. I've spent most of December not really connecting to anything on the page. Unable to even produce a good amount of pages, when I should have been drafting out a book. But I've gotten about 50 pages done in the past week (yes, even with inlaws staying for four days) and now when I sit before the computer in the morning I'm excited, because I have scenes in my head that need to be written. I'm working on a Rogue Angel, a Nocturne Bites, and an unsold Nocturne idea keeps demanding some attention too. That rocks.

Looking over the past year, I've written 4 Nocturnes, 1 Nocturne Bite, 1 Rogue Angel, and I think half of a Nocturne duet. I got a lot accomplished. Personally, I suffered new kinds of loss: The Boy leaving for college, having to put one cat to sleep, and watching the other cat touch death and then survive (Toast is doing much better now; he's beating on Max and growling expertly). Heck, I even count the huge cottonwood tree in the backyard as a loss. It defined this yard, a part of my life. It's weird to watch things go away. It hurts. It is painful. But they never leave without something replacing it. Maybe not immediately, but all things go in cycles. So that was a neat lesson to learn this year.

Another constant goal for the new year is this: live in the NOW.

For my 2008 Movies in Review, go to RWTTD.

Have a Happy One!
M

In bookstores now

At least I hope THE DEVIL TO PAY made it to bookstore shelves. One always gets a little nervous with a Christmas-time release. Will bookstores be too busy to put it out? Will it get forgotten until the holidays have cleared away? I know that doesn't happen (to often), but it is a worry.

Anyway, a few facts about this story since it's on my mind...

This is the follow-up to KISS ME DEADLY. I don't really think 'sequel', because HIS FORGOTTEN FOREVER came between the two. Actually, I wanted to start writing TDTP immediately after KMD, but I knew that would take the storyline 28 years into the future, and I wanted to do Truvin's story closer to Nikolaus's, so that one had to come next. And to note: TDTP is in the future, but I didn't want to think 'future' too much. I was always aware it was not 'in this time period' but wanted to utilize 'story magic' to keep it as close to 'now' and not have to think about what kinds of electronics or foods might exist almost three decades from now.

That said, the next series, Wicked Games, takes place in the same world as Bewitching The Dark, so in essence, it thirty odd years from now. Again, I didn't think of future stuff to much, just didn't mention time all that much to avoid that.

TDTP is as much Himself's story as it is Ivan's story. I actually have an entire story planned out for Himself. Have had it in my brain for a decade. His romance in Victorian times with a woman (who I had originally decided was a vampire; not her choosing). Set in Paris, and I picture Himself as Alice Cooper from the Welcome To My Nightmare album with top hat and tails. He's a little blonde familiar who looks like she's six and her eyes are all white, who follows him all over. I had enough for a full single-title story, but when TDTP came along, I knew I could incorporate it in this one. Unfortunately that meant cramming that complete story into a chapter. Sigh... Maybe someday I'll write the whole thing.

There are many legends that state wild roses keep vampires back. I like the one that says only wild roses planted by a witch are effective against a vampire. You'll see how that works in TDTP.

There are indeed geodes as large as I have featured in the story. Of course, I had this great exciting, sexy scene planned for the geode, but once I got my characters inside it, it just didn't want to go there anymore. You'll see once you read that scene.

I based Dez's perfume business on the Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab. The mixing of natural oil perfumes with interesting names.

The house Dez lives in might be very similar to the Victorian house from the movie Practical Magic. I love that house. I want to live in that house.

Himself insisted on at least one scene where he wasn't au natural. So, you get Sean Connery. :-)

Bloody Mary! How much do I love her? I sent Ivan to a bar to track Himself and she just showed up. I had no idea I'd find her there, or what she'd be like. It was one of those scenes that just sort of writes itself; a gift. Doesn't happen often, but I'll take it when it does come. Loved the mermaid tattoo!

The Book Of All Spells turned out to be pretty cool, so I'm using it again in HER VAMPIRE HUSBAND. Himself also has a cameo in that story, actually just one speaking line. But how could I not bring them back?

Alliotriophagy - (I'm just guessing on the spelling; to lazy to look up). The spellcraft of making others vomit up objects, such as frogs, pins, birds, nails, etc. Found this during research. How could I resist?

Just a few of my favorite moments from THE DEVIL TO PAY. Check it out in bookstores!
M

Winners!

So here's the deal, only seven commented. One was Lou, who I know has the book already, and he took himself out of the running. So guess what? All the other six commenters win!

So send me your snailmail address, and I'll get a copy of the book in the mail. Let me know if you want it autographed to you, a friend, or just signed.

toastfaery@gmail.com

Merry Xmas!
M

'Tis the Season...

...for giving.  I like to give things, if I can.  I much prefer to give something than to receive.  Heck, if I want something, I'll get it for myself.  And it won't be the wrong size, color, or edition.  Trust though, that I don't mind receiving a gift.  Who wouldn't?

But seriously, when Xmas eve rolls around, and we gather around the tree to rip open packages, it wouldn't bother me if there were not a thing under the pine needles for moi.  I like to watch others get stuff, especially my kids.  

I used to be a staunch non-GC person.  Couldn't imagine giving a piece of plastic with a dollar value on it when wouldn't it mean so much more if I spent the time to pick out an item that I wanted that person to have?  I got over that.  And probably for the better.  I love to receive GCs, and why wouldn't everyone else?  You get to spend the $$ on whatever you want!  So my shopping list gets a little trimmer because half of it is GCs.  Restaurant GCs are the best.  Grocery GCs are great for college kids.  I gave LUSH cards to many.  (Okay, so I have my fingers crossed I might get an Amazon GC for myself.  You can never go wrong with Amazon.)

So what about you?  What do you like to give for Xmas?

And because I like to give, I've got five copies of THE DEVIL TO PAY I'm going to mail out after Xmas to five lucky commenters.  Let me know what your favorite gift to give is, and I'll include you in the drawing.  I'll draw winners and announce them on Xmas eve.

Happy Holiday!

M

So I added yet another title to my 2009 releases at the right.  It's a title that came out in 2007.  Kiss Me Deadly.  Here's the cool thing.  In January, Harlequin celebrates it's 60th anniversary.  On January 29th they are going to give away a complete book from each of its 16 series lines (I think the promotion lasts longer than a day, but not sure how long.  Months?).  You can download one or all of them, for free.  KISS ME DEADLY is the Nocturne title.  Cool, huh?

So this is what I'm thinking...  If you read THE DEVIL TO PAY (which hits bookstores next week), then wonder 'Hmm, I'd like to know about that hero's parents.' then you can download their story and read all about it!

Note: If you own a Kindle, head to Amazon. View Kindle books and sort from 'lowest priced to highest'. There's about ten great books by great authors free right now. I downloaded a bunch.

I just have to give a big shout-out thanks for heated car seats! How much do I adore thee? It's -6 degrees here right now (with the weather man promising we'll get to -25 tonight). I usually don't go out when it's below zero. Just principle. But I had to get some groceries so I warmed up the car and plunked down on the heated seat. Joy! Truly, I don't know what I've done to survive in Minnesota all my life without heated car seats. There is no down side to them. Even that weird moment when I step outside into the brisk icy air, and my butt is still hot yet the rest of my body takes on perma-freeze, I'm still able to rejoice the fact that said warm butt stays warm until I get into a store.

It doesn't get any better than that.

What are you thankful for today?

M

This and that

So I started with Uranium, but I think I'm going with Diamonds instead.  That's all I can say at this point.

I put my hat in for VP of the FF&P chapter of RWA (Fantasy, Futuristic & Paranormal)  I'm the only one running for that position, so...   I've done it before, years ago, and have the great desire to get the PRISM award back up in the spotlight where it belongs.  It is THE contest for FF&P books, and I think it needs a little help right now.  Despite the fact that I seem to keep pretty busy with the book writing thing, I think I can manage a little time for this chapter.  If you write FF&P, check it out.

I've been thinking about starting a blog related to my Ultimate VampList.  I know, just what we all need, another blog.  Somebody stop me before I start.  On the other hand, it's a weird compulsion I feel, and I know better than to ignore that feeling.  But what exactly, would make the blog interesting?  I tossed around the idea of doing author interviews.  Marta Acosta, who has the excellent Vampire Wire blog is starting that kind of blog in January, so I don't have to.   :-)  Go, Marta!  But is there something missing?  Some part of the vampire genre that needs to be addressed?  I'm not sure.  Have you looked at the Ultimate VampList?  Go take a look, and send suggestions for a blog.

Cat update:  Today is day four of Toast's struggle.  He has eaten only a tablespoon of food and some water.  He isn't vomiting anymore, but only because he's reached the max on that.  He's actually talking a bit (meowing), and seems a little perkier, though he still just lays around and it seems a trial to stand and walk a bit.  Though he does growl at Max, compared to letting the little bugger literally walk all over him a few days ago.  I have my fingers crossed if I can get him to eat more, he'll be on the road to recovery.  

Every year I get a cute little desk calendar with the tear off daily sheets.  It's small, about two by three inches.  This year I had the ZEN calendar.  I love the daily quotes.  Here's my favorite from April 23rd that I saved:  

"The quieter you become, the more you can hear." - Ram Daas

Be quiet today.

M

Still not feeling it on the current WIP.  I had a great idea for the villain's plot, and then I thought to check with the editor to make sure it hasn't been done in any of the RAs previously or to come...it has.  So back to the drawing board, so to speak.  I'm thinking I'll spend the day reading, maybe that will spark some ideas.  Got a few research books for the project I've yet to complete.

Cat news, and it's not good again.  Well, Max is doing awesome.   He's sitting on the window ledge right now watching the birds outside in the feeder.  I think he truly believes he can catch one, even though there is the window between him and utter destruction.  Go, Max!

My other cat, Toast, is not doing well.  He has an obstruction in his small intestine.  Vet thinks he ate something, but the x-rays don't show anything clear.  He suspects it's a piece of string.  Weird, because Toast isn't a cat who chews on things at all.  He hasn't eaten or drank for days, and merely lays in one spot.  I won't get into the gross stuff, because it's bad.  We can't afford surgery for him, so we have to sit back and see if this will pass through him.  Please pray for him.  I'm really worried.

Wish I had better news to post lately, but that's where things are at.

M

On Thursday, Dec 11th, there's some kind of cyber-Holiday party over at eHarlequin.  All day, authors from each of the various lines will be online chatting and giving away prizes.  I'll be there from 8-9 pm central, with half a dozen other Nocturne authors.  Stop by at eHarlequin.com  and say 'hey!'.

So I just started watching the TV series, WEEDS.  Pretty good, actually.  I picked up the first season on Black Friday thinking it would be worth a try.  I may now have to get the rest of the seasons.

Even though I don't believe in writer's block, I have a weird kind of writer's...disfunction.  I'm supposed to be working on a new RA story, but it's just not coming as I want it to.  I know various scenes and can sit down and write one up, but to work from beginning to end just isn't working for me. And yet I want to work from start to finish, so I'm protesting by not working at all, and that's getting me absolutely no where.  I need to get over this.  But first, a few errands.  And when I return home, I'll be completely out of the writing mood.  See how this has been going for the past ten days?  Not good.

M

Yet another new cover to share with you. This one is out in June '09. The spray of faery dust is supposed to sparkle, so that should look cool. My story in this antho is "Dust Me, Baby, One More Time"

Just got back from running errands. Do men ever run errands? Seems like a chick thing.
Anyway, had to grab a copy of WANTED. For some reason I picked up the version with the 'digital copy' that you can download to your iPod or computer. I can't put movies on my iPod, so why I bought that version, I have no clue.
As well, amongst my purchases was a bottle of wine. It's called Pure Evil. That's the label.


Thing is? I don't drink wine. I absolutely hate it. I've never tasted wine I like. It either tastes like cork, tree or pure alcohol to me. And yet, I bought the wine. I've decided I must collect wine. I have five bottles now, sitting atop the stove, just looking pretty. I have the VAMPIRE stuff, and it's an oldy but goody, probably ten years old. I've some faery mead, which is so cool, and the label was created by Brian Froud. I had him sign my bottle. I'll never drink it, and never part with it. And now I've got the PURE EVIL sitting with the others. I wanted to get another bottle that looked like the artist Mucha had painted on it. I'll save that for the next trip.
So does five bottles make me a collector?

Speaking (or rather, typing) about wine. My current story in progress has a character in it who is a billionaire wine collector. He drinks the wine though. Spendy bottles that cost tens of thousands of dollars. I'm currently reading THE BILLIONAIRE'S VINEGAR which is about an alleged bottle of wine made specially for Thomas Jefferson that went to auction for an astronomical sum. Not sure if the wine was good or had changed to vinegar, because I haven't read that far yet. But the research is fun! Heck, just because I hate the stuff doesn't mean I can't fake it on the page. ;-)

M

For the next two weeks the Riders will be giving prizes away almost every day!