Cover reveal: Her Deal with the Devil in OZ

HER DEAL WITH THE DEVIL, OZ & NZ cover, releasing in May!

You like?

Another indie success story

The publishing world is buzzing with news of another indie success story.

Jennifer Armentrout (YA author with Spencer Hill Press, Entangled Publishing, Disney Hyperion and Harlequin Teen-who has blurbed my paranormal YA SCION OF THE SUN ) also writes contemporary romances for Entangled as J. Lynn.

She recently indie published her first New Adult title, WAIT FOR YOU...that hit the NYT and USA Today bestsellers lists within days and stayed at #1 in the kindle store for a while.

Fast forward a few weeks...and Harper Collins Avon has snapped up print rights to this book and the 2 sequels for a high 6 figure sum.
Very exciting!

Read the full story here.

Congrats Jennifer!

(I stayed up very late last night to finish Wait for You! Review to come in Weekend Book Club here next weekend.)

Free book! Grab BRASH now

BRASH: Sexy Aussie celebrity chef (I pictured Alex O'Loughlin while writing Jack!) and small town US librarian Jess rekindle their past on an island while planning the burlesque wedding of the year.
Want to read more?

If you enjoy sizzling contemporary romance, go grab a copy of BRASH now.
It's FREE!

Amazon US
Amazon UK

And please tell your friends!

Weekend Book Club: The Secret Wedding Dress

I've been a fan of Ally Blake's fun, flirty, contemporary romance novels for a long time and her latest, THE SECRET WEDDING DRESS, is just as good as the rest.

It is part of the new Harlequin Kiss series (which all my Harlequin books will be a part of going forward) and from the books I've read so far, it's a fabulous series!

Here's the blurb:

A wedding dress...but no bride!  Paige Danforth isn't interested in setting herself up for an unhappy-ever-after-thanks to her father's betrayal, the closest she'll ever get to walking down the aisle is as a bridesmaid. But one bridal sale later, Paige is left clutching her own champagne chiffon wedding dress! Clearly she needs to end her self-imposed dating drought.... 

Enter ruggedly sexy neighbor Gabe Hamilton. He wants Paige in his bed and nothing more-no promises made, no promises broken. But will this big, bad adventurer stick around when he discovers not only skeletons-but the wedding dress-in her closet?

I love reading books set in my fabulous home city of Melbourne.

Paige is ballsy and quirky, Gabe is flawed and incredibly sexy. The kind of hero who makes this gal want to trawl the Docklands in search of him!

Thoroughly enjoyed!

What are you reading this weekend?

Tickle my funny bone

While waiting at the doc's today, I sat opposite an elderly couple.
The guy would've been 80 at least.
He was wearing a T-shirt with this slogan on the front: HANDSOME IS A HUGE UNDERSTATEMENT.

It made me smile.

Have you seen anything lately that made you smile?

WEEKEND BOOK CLUB: The One That Got Away

For fans of the Harlequin Mills and Boon Modern Heat/Riva series (in the UK) and Presents Extra in the USA, you'll be aware that the fun, flirty books are now part of the newly launched Harlequin KISS series.

THE ONE THAT GOT AWAY by Kelly Hunter was part of the launch line up in Feb.

It's no secret I adore Kelly's books.

Here's the blurb for this one:

"The man who's always left her wanting more!"

Good job? "Tick." Newly purchased apartment? "Tick." Evie's life is on a pretty even keel at the moment. The only thing missing? A man with an edge to keep things interesting.

Enter Logan Black. Tortured, distant and sexy, Logan has edge written all over him. He's also the man who tipped Evie "over" the edge a few years back - she gave him everything, but he didn't know when to stop taking.

Leaving Logan was the hardest thing Evie's ever done. Until now. Because Logan's back, the chemistry is as blistering as ever and this time he's not going anywhere....

Here's my short and sweet review:

Like the finest chocolate, it's rich, intense and satisfying.

I love a bad boy tortured hero and Logan is one of the best.

Could barely put it down.

Is this book as light as the cover? No. There are some dark themes touched on and it makes the book all the more tempting.

I think readers know that authors don't have much say in covers and if you're anything like me, you buy by author not by cover. And this is one book definitely worth buying!

What are you reading this weekend?

'Net' V 'Cover': why royalty rates matter

If you're a writer, I highly recommend you read NYT bestselling author Laura Kaye's blog post on WHY ROYALTY RATES MATTER.

It's excellent!

And as an author with 10 years experience of varying contracts, I can tell you that 'net' versus 'cover' price makes a huge difference in your hip pocket!

Go read it now!

Scion of the Sun on Goodreads!

SCION OF THE SUN is now on Goodreads!

Please add it to your TBR pile.

And if inclined, vote for it in the 'Most Excited 2013 Releases.' It's currently #17 alongside amazing YA authors like Julie Kagawa, Richelle Mead, Lauren Oliver and Cassandra Clare.
(Yeah, I'm having serious fan girl moments!)

Check it out HERE to vote.

Her Deal with the Devil UK version

You've seen the new Kiss series cover for this book releasing May a few posts below.

Well, here's the UK version.

I like how it fits the jewellery theme of the book.
Would you do a deal with this guy?
Reckon I would!

Cover quote!

I received a great email this week from one of my publishers, MONTH9BOOKS, saying that USA TODAY bestselling author Jennifer L. Armentrout had read SCION OF THE SUN for a cover quote and this is what she had to say:

“Charmed and drawn in by Holly’s spunk and snark, Scion of the Sun will leave you spinning and falling for Joss right along with Holly. Marsh’s unique YA debut is packed with action, mystery, romance and suspense. This is not to be missed!”

I'm thrilled!

Here's a quick summary too:

A teenage supernatural misfit enters boarding school for the freakishly gifted, discovers she can teleport to a Druid parallel existence and battles coming of age issues while embarking on a quest to recover an icon that can change the world and her family as she knows it.

Releasing November this year, I can't wait!

New release: The War Bride Club

There are some stunning indie covers out there and this would have to be one of the best I've seen.

THE WAR BRIDE CLUB is a new release from Harlequin Romance author Soraya Lane and doesn't it look amazing?

Here's the blurb:

When Betty, Madeline, Alice and June depart London for New York at the end of 1945 they are complete strangers. But along with hundreds of other war brides, they are leaving home to be with their American husbands now the war is over. In the days they spend at sea, the four young women become firm friends, and vow to stay in touch no matter what their new lives bring. 

But life in a new country comes with many challenges…

Betty has no family, and she has no intention of being alone in her final stage of pregnancy. Her dashing pilot husband is the man of her dreams, and she can’t wait to be reunited with him, but tragedy awaits her in America. 

Madeline never wanted to leave her family, but she was also in love. She is excited about the ranch her new husband has told her so much about, but the reality of life with his family is nothing like she could ever have imagined. 

Alice fell in love with her soldier husband while she was nursing him in London, but the strong, capable man who returned to sweep her off her feet seems to have disappeared. In his place is a man so haunted by what used to be before the war, that she has doubts their marriage will last. 

It seems that June is the only one of the four friends to find happiness in America. Her husband and his family welcome her with open arms, but her inability to get pregnant makes her feel like a failure. 

The only thing these four brave women can count on is their friendship, but Betty, Madeline, Alice and June didn’t move half way across the world to give up without a fight.


I'm really looking forward to reading this when I get on top of manic deadlines.

You can buy it here.

Cover reveal: HER DEAL WITH THE DEVIL

For readers who enjoyed MARRYING THE ENEMY, featuring Ruby and her sister Sapphire, the Melbourne sisters running an exclusive jewellery store in Armidale...here's Sapphie's story!

HER DEAL WITH THE DEVIL is part of the new Harlequin KISS series and will release in May.

The story centres around Sapphire's deal with Patrick Fourde, CEO of a couture fashion house, and is set in Melbourne and Paris.

Patrick was inspired by Christian Bale and there are some suitably HOT scenes in the book! (available for pre-order now...the book, not Patrick or Christian, sadly!)

So what do you think of my first KISS cover?

Guest author: SHANNON DUFFY

Today I'd like to welcome Middle Grade author Shannon Duffy to my blog.

Shannon is a fellow Month9Books author and her MG novel, GABRIEL STONE AND THE DIVINITY OF VALTA released Feb 5th.

ABOUT GABRIEL STONE AND THE DIVINITY OF VALTA:

Gabriel Stone and the Divinity of Valta is a magical, fast-paced story that takes readers on a journey they won’t soon forget. It has enough mystery, intrigue and wonder to keep readers up, lamp lit, and reading into the night.

Month9Books, a new publisher of speculative fiction for teens and tweens, launches its inaugural list on January 1, 2013 with the release of GABRIEL STONE AND THE DIVINITY OF VALTA, a middle grade title from Canadian author, Shannon Duffy, whose first title, a young adult paranormal romance, SPECTRAL, was published in April 2012 from Tribute Books.

Gabriel Stone is a twelve-year-old boy still reeling from the unsolved disappearance of his mother. With a dad who’s hard to relate to, and mounting pressures at school, Gabriel lets off steam by hiking in the place where his mother was last seen. There, Gabe and friends find a crystal that proves not only beautiful, but magical beyond their wildest dreams. Only, magic and beauty come with a price: in order to return home, they must save the dying world of Valta.

GABRIEL STONE AND THE DIVINITY OF VALTA is perfect for the classroom. Reading and Teacher Guides are available. Contact Caroline Patty at:educationm9b@gmail.com to request guides. GABRIEL STONE AND THE DIVINITY OF VALTA also makes a great gift for readers ages 9 and up who enjoy fantasy stories like THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA and THE BRIDGE TO TARABITHIA.

ABOUT SHANNON DUFFY

Shannon Duffy grew up on the beautiful east coast of Canada, and now lives in Ontario, Canada with her husband and son, Gabriel. She’s mom to one boy, and several pets. Shannon loves writing, reading, working out, soccer, and the sport of champions: shopping. Shannon Duffy is available for quotes, signings, video or podcast appearances, and all opportunities relative to GABRIEL STONE AND THE DIVINITY OF VALTA. 

GABRIEL STONE AND THE WRATH OF THE SOLARIAN, Book 2 in the Gabriel Stone series will be available from Month9Books in February 2014!

ABOUT MONTH9BOOKS:

Month 9 Books is a publisher of speculative fiction for teens and tweens… where nothing is as it seems. Month9Books will donate proceeds from each of its annual charity anthologies to a deserving charity. Individually, authors may donate his or her advances and royalties to a charitable organization. Month9Books will also release 10-12 non-charitable titles annually. GABRIEL STONE AND THE DIVINITY OF VALTA is Month9Books’s first Middle Grade release. Month9Books is distributed by Small Press United, a division of IPG. You may visit www.month9books.com for more information.

LINKS:

Goodreads GABRIEL STONE AND THE DIVINITY OF VALTA: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15841297-gabriel-stone-and-the-divinity-of-valta
Goodreads SHANNON DUFFY: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3873156.Shannon_Duffy
Shannon Duffy Twitter: https://twitter.com/ShannonDuffyLit
Shannon Duffy Website: http://www.shannonduffylit.com/
Goodreads Month9Books: http://www.goodreads.com/group/show/67761-month9books
Month9Books Blogger Central: http://month9booksblog.com/?page_id=477 
Month9Books Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/#!/month9books
Month9Books Twitter: http://twitter.com/Month9Books
Month9Books Publishing Website: http://www.Month9Books.com 

And now, over to Shannon:

Top ten editing tricks every writer should know:

Okay, so I’m always hesitant to give advice on these kinds of things cause it’s not like once you get a book published you’re suddenly an expert. So, with that in mind, I’ll share what works for me:

1. Read your writing aloud. I always do this to see if I stumble or if something isn't quite clear enough. Or sometimes a sentence is just way too long. If you can't finish it without gasping for breath, try cutting it into two sentences. Sometimes I'll get my husband to read my stuff aloud too, just to see if he stumbles or doesn't understand something etc. This really helps with clarity.

2. Be consistent. Make sure your characters are staying true to who they are. For example, if you say they hate chocolate mint ice cream in chapter one, don't have them eating it in chapter four--unless some evil wizard is bent on making them suffer and forcing them to eat their hated treat. Same goes for anything like character description etc.

3. Check your tense. Make sure you don't switch from past to present tense or vice versa. It happens, trust me.

4. Know when something isn't working and when to cut it. It's not always fun to cut a scene that you love, but if it's slowing down the plot or making the tension wan, cut it. You can always save a scene you love and use it in another book--maybe the sequel!

5 Have critique partners check out your writing too. Often, they pick up stuff you missed, whether a typo or a plot hole. A good CP is invaluable.

6. Change your writing to a different font while editing. Sometimes doing this will get you to notice errors more clearly. PDF works for me.

7. Watch out for bad habits that you use in your writing. The use of certain words like "just" or some favorite phrase that you like to use repeatedly. Maybe you use emdashes too much etc. I have my nemesis words too--we all do. You can do a search and find if you suspect overuse of a word, then replace some of them with another word.

8. Try to stay away from using passive voice. Example, you can change, "The house was burned down by the blazing fire," to the more active, "The blazing fire burned down the house."

9. Read from beginning to end without stopping except to scribble notes as you go. Look for any plot holes or areas that you could amp up the descriptions or tension. Look for a sagging middle. Are all loose ends tied up? etc.

10. Put that bad boy away. Wait. Repeat editing. Once you've done editing the first round, let your book sit for a while and take a break at least a couple of weeks or so. Then go back at it with fresh eyes. When querying agents, you get one shot. It's worth the wait and the added look with a clear mind.

Thanks for inviting me to your blog today!

~Shannon

Thanks for stopping by, Shannon.

I wish you many sales!

New release: BRASH

I'm thrilled to let you know that BRASH is now live on Amazon!

I adore this book and by the 5 star reviews within the first few hours, I'm hoping readers will too!

Here's the blurb:

Jess Harper is so tired of being good…

Thrust into the dazzle of Burlesque Bombshells, Vegas’s premier dance venue, the small town librarian has no option but to embrace her inner vixen.
Especially when blast from her past, sexy Aussie celebrity chef Jack McVeigh is still determined to keep their relationship strictly hands-off.

This time Jess isn’t surrendering without a fight and armed with her hot props and Bombshell moves, Jack doesn’t stand a chance.

When Jess and Jack are sequestered on an island to orchestrate the burlesque wedding of the year, sun, surf and sizzling sex are on the menu!

But will the fiery couple come back for seconds?

Buy BRASH here
Add to your GOODREADS shelf here

(And huge thanks to fabulous author Kelly Hunter for reading before publication and providing a cover quote. Much appreciated!)

GUEST BLOGGER: Lisa M. Basso

Today I'm thrilled to welcome Lisa M. Basso to my blog.

Lisa is fellow MONTH9BOOKS author and her YA book, A SHIMMER OF ANGELS, has just released.

Welcome Lisa!

Here's a little about the book:

MONTH9BOOKS ANNOUNCES A SHIMMER OF ANGELS: THE PERFECT MIX OF REAL LIFE, PSYCHIATRY and FANTASY in a YA NOVEL

Psychiatry, fantasy and real life come together in A Shimmer of Angels, as a young girl struggles with identity, secrets, and confronting her greatest fears. A Shimmer of Angels is for anyone who has ever felt like an outsider, or perhaps has felt like giving up entirely. It touches on themes of suicide, ostracism and emotional pain. The author, personally exposed to suicide through the death of a beloved family member, will donate a percentage of sales of this novel to a suicide prevention and outreach program in San Francisco, California.

Month9Books, a publisher of speculative fiction for teens and tweens, announces the release of A SHIMMER OF ANGELS, a debut young adult title from Lisa M. Basso.

Sixteen-year-old Rayna sees angels, and has the medication and weekly therapy sessions to prove it. Now, in remission, Rayna starts fresh at a new school, lands a new job, and desperately tries for normalcy. She ignores signs that she may be slipping into the world she has tried so hard to climb out of. But these days, it’s more than just hallucinations that keep Rayna up at night. Students are dying, and she may be the only one who can stop it. Can she keep her job, her sanity, and her friends from dying at the hands of angels she can't admit to seeing?

Author of THE IRON WITCH, Karen Mahoney, says, “A SHIMMER OF ANGELS has a courageous heroine who finds herself in the middle of two gorgeous angels, a fascinating world, and a story that builds to an exciting climax - I'll be looking forward to more from Lisa M. Basso!"

ABOUT LISA M. BASSO

Lisa M. Basso was born and raised in San Francisco, California. She is a lover of books, video games, animals, and baking (not baking with animals though). As a child she would crawl into worlds of her own creation and get lost for hours. Her love for YA fiction started with a simple school reading assignment: S.E. Hinton’s The Outsiders. When not reading or writing she can usually be found at home with The Best Boyfriend that Ever Lived ™ and her two darling (and sometimes evil) cats, Kitties A and B. Lisa M. Basso is available for quotes, signings, video or podcast appearances, and all opportunities relative to A SHIMMER OF ANGELS. 

A SLITHER OF HOPE, Book 2 in the ANGEL SIGHT series will be available from Month9Books in February 2014!

ABOUT MONTH9BOOKS

Month 9 Books is a publisher of speculative fiction for teens and tweens… where nothing is as it seems. Month9Books will donate proceeds from each of its annual charity anthologies to a deserving charity. Individually, authors may donate his or her advances and royalties to a charitable organization. Month9Books will also release 10-12 non-charitable titles annually. A SHIMMER OF ANGELS is Month9Books’s first Young Adult release. Month9Books is distributed by Small Press United, a division of IPG. You may visit www.month9books.com for more information.

LINKS:

Goodreads A SHIMMER OF ANGELS: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13572197-a-shimmer-of-angels
Goodreads Lisa M. Basso: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3201662.Lisa_M_Basso
Lisa M. Basso Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Lisa-M-Basso/340213186037936?fref=ts
Lisa M. Basso Twitter: http://twitter.com/LisaMBasso
Lisa M. Basso Website: http://lisa-basso.blogspot.com/
Goodreads Month9Books: http://www.goodreads.com/group/show/67761-month9books
Month9Books Blogger Central: http://month9booksblog.com/?page_id=477
Month9Books Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/#!/month9books
Month9Books Twitter: http://twitter.com/Month9Books
Month9Books Publishing Website: http://www.Month9Books.com 

And now, here's Lisa!

Music and Writing: How I Use Music

            I don't play any instruments, unless you count failed piano lessons in the first grade and a year of playing the recorder in the fourth grade, but I do love to sing. So I would definitely consider myself a musical person, though most people that have heard me sing would probably voice a different opinion. Seriously, I make up songs when I'm doing mundane chores to get me through it. Since I love music in real life, I can't stop myself from incorporating it in my writing.

            Each book, character, and scene gets their own playlist or song. These songs help me gather a mood or feeling that I then try to translate into the scene with dialogue, narrative and even setting. For example, when I was doing a character interview with Rayna, the main character in A SHIMMER OF ANGELS, she mentioned to me she loved the band Paramore. When I started writing the first draft, I listened to a lot of Paramore, picking out two specific songs that worked best in the book. This helped me sink deeper into her head, and gave me a good jumping off point for what other bands to look for.

            Music keeps me connected to my characters, especially when they have some big decisions to make. Those of you that write know a huge part of a great story is all about your character's decisions. I choose songs for them that remind me who they are and what they want, even if they don't know it yet. Sometimes it's the lyrics I go by, other times it's all guitar, bass, and drums that get me there.

            When I'm stumped, that's right, I listen to music. I take a break, walk, exercise, do dishes, laundry, clean, or take a long shower. All while listening to music. A lot of times this unblocks me or at least relaxes me enough that I can stop obsessing over the problem and let a fresh set of ideas come. Turning up the tunes also picks up my spirits after a bad day, writing or otherwise.

            During my first draft, I'm usually always listening to music, whether it's a station I created for the book on pandora.com or a specific playlist I made on playlist.com. Now, things get a little complicated when editing comes into play. When I read over the editorial letter and the comments from my editor, I work in complete silence. After this stage is done, it's notebook time and back to cranking up the music.

            Unfortunately, not all the songs make it to the final cut. A lot of the them change during revisions, most get edited out, but that doesn't change the fact that I loved them and relied on them before that point. I keep all my old and failed playlists. Who knows when I may need to pluck an older song out of obscurity? Respect the music.

            Right now I'm working on compiling a playlist for book three in the Angel Sight series, A MATTER OF TIME. While I'm jotting down important plot points, I'm also making notes on what songs might fit this scene or help me establish the overall mood or goal for the characters.

            Music will always be a huge part of writing for me and I hope, as I learn and grow as writer, that this truth will never change, because I couldn't imagine myself typing The End on any book without letting a tear or two slip out while listening to the final song of the book on deathloop and wondering what will happen for these precious characters next.

THANKS FOR STOPPING BY, LISA.

I WISH YOU MANY BOOK SALES!
And please check out Lisa's daily giveaways throughout her blog tour.