Spreading Holiday Joy and Germs

Hello everyone!

Sorry for the long absence from the blog. I assure you I've felt just awful about it. I've been entertaining family from far flung reaches of the earth. I am not used to children in my living space (currently, one is sticking plastic ants and snakes down my shirt)  and thus I fear I am allergic to them, for I come down with the most awful symptoms. Or, my theory of kids being walking petrie dishes is confirmed.

Sometimes I think I am turning green, not with jealousy, but like the Grinch. I can't stand all the noise, noise, noise. Can't we just carve the roast beast and be done with all this merriment.


I did find this enlightening personality quiz on Buzzfeed, and I scored quite high. But as my wise friend always said to me, "this, too, shall pass."

I think I can hold out. I got some great remedies and am figuring out new flavor pairings (Hot dogs and mac and cheese DO NOT go well with hot toddies.)

But you will all be happy to know that I did complete my NaNoWriMo commitment, though I have no title, I am happy with how the story turned out.

 I had planned on editing it and the third in the Angel Hacker Series, while I was on holiday break, but as you can see, there is a snake up my shirt.

I'll get to it eventually.

So I wish you a great new year, and hope I can get everything edited and published in this next year.

NaNoWriMo

So I've joined this crazy movement called NaNoWriMo. (National Novel Writing Month) I heard about it last year, but it was a bit late to join. So this year, I saw a few of my friends sign up and thought, "Hey, it seems like a great motivator. I've got a slight start on one novel, why not use this as a way to finish the first draft in a month?"

Good idea or another thing to stress me out? I guess we should find out.

I should confess, I feel like I am slightly cheating.  As I have mentioned I had a good start on this mystery novel I'm writing and wanted to make sure I had an accurate word count for this competition. Thus I entered the word count I had, plus the thousand words I wrote today and BOOM 7,106 word count on day one. Boy, don't I look like a super duper writer.

In reality, I struggle to get 1K a day. But now that I have a good start I think I can push the 1.5K I need to reach the 50K by the end of the month. Whoot!

In the meantime, the Christmas Anthology came out today. You can check it out HERE! Even if you aren't into the saccharine-Lifetime-movie-Halmark-channel-warm-fuzzy type of story, I highly recommend it. The stories are really good. They'll make you laugh, they'll make you cry, they'll make your shrivelled grinchy heart grow 10 sizes and then some.

Happy November Everyone!

Musical Inspiration (SinC-Up Blog Hop)

Music is the ultimate of inspirations. People listen to music to get pumped up while on the treadmill at the gym, to unwind after a stressful day, to get into the (wink wink) mood.

I am always listening to music while I write. I tend to go for some dark, yet energetic songs. Mostly they are Alternative Rock, but sometimes, I throw it a throwback classic.

Having always been the mixed tape type of person, I now make up playlists to go along with what I'm writing.

Nothing puts me in a good mood for writing about bad-ass hackers like a great group of songs.
(Click on the songs to watch the videos)

Here are some of the songs/artists to whom I listen to get in the mood:
She's Long Gone  by  The Black Keys
     I love The Black Keys for their gritty, underground vibe.

Fresh Blood by the Eels
The Eels I discovered late, but thank goodness for iTunes and their recommendations. I guess Fresh Blood is the opening song for some kind of show about vampires, I had no clue.


Take Me Out  by  Franz Ferdinand
I used to listen to this song full blast in my car with the windows rolled down, like a gangsta. Except that I'm horrifyingly white and drove a Hyundai Accent.

Do I Want to Know by Arctic Monkeys
  I like this for the same reason I like The Black Keys, except it's more rock.

Tainted Love covered by Imelda May
     Rock-a-billy cover of a great 80's song? Hell yeah!

Let's Dance by David Bowie
     Since I'm in an 80's mood. I'll listen to any Bowie, actually. Except for that one he did with Mick Jagger - that one sucks.

What the Water Gave Me by Florence + The Machine
     I love her haunting voice and lyrics. Makes me want to sit alone in a dark room and hug myself.


I guess that gives you a good look at my musical tastes, though that is just the tip of the iceberg of my musical collection.

Thank you for stopping by on the SINCBlogHop.

Please take time to visit these authors:

Fellow Sister in Crime member E.M. Powell is the author of #1 Amazon bestselling historical thriller, The Fifth Knight. The sequel, The Blood of The Fifth Knight, will be published by Thomas & Mercer on December 09 2014. Find out more HERE!

Jessie Bishop Powell is author of Marriage on Rue Morgue and the delightful blog on her website, Jester Queen.

Also Paty Jager, Author of the Halsey Brothers Series and numerous other romance, paranormal, and action adventure novels with a western flair. Visit her blog here.




If you'd like to participate in the hop please go here for more info.

Sweet Romance? Seriously?

Hey,

If you know me, and I think you do by now, you know that I write mostly in a more macabre genre. So, it may surprise you that I am going to be in a sweet romance anthology.

Yup.

Sweet.

Romance.

Me.

I am in a critique group with some award winning authors and we all decided to put together a collection of Christmas themed stories.  Did I mention that the other authors in the group are romance writers?  Well, they are. And I am not.  But I still have a story in the book and it comes out November 1st.

Here is the cover.

But to be truthful, my story dances on the edge of Sweet Romance, with her pants around her ankles, slapping her behind... Romance? Barely. Sweet? Hardly. Heartwarming? Perhaps, if you are as demented as I am.

Anyhoo, I am excited about getting published again and in good company.  I've heard most of these stories, and they are very good.  I hope you will run out and get yourself a copy, it would make a great gift.

Welcome Fall

You may hate me for this, but I'm happy it is finally fall.
I love the cooler weather, the change of seasons, the brisk smell in the air, the screaming from the living room as I try to write... I say this every year.

Anyhoo, I wanted to update you all on what I've been doing.

I had a virtual book tour this summer to promote my latest release, Angel's Betrayal.
I want to announce the winners of a free copy of the book now.
((Drum roll))
Cassidy Frazee and Catherine Lee

Congrats! (I'll be contacting you separately)

I just finished a short story that will be published in an upcoming anthology of Christmas themed storied done by Montanan Authors.  I'll post more on that when we get closer to the release date.

Also on my plate, I am starting a new series. My first full fledged murder mystery, using the experiences I've had in my life (not murdering people... working in a sorority).

If you missed it, I did an interview with Barry Eva in June.  Here is the link to listen.

Other than that, I hope you enjoy the fall, no matter what the weather.

Up and Coming!

Hey everyone.

I must have hit the right blog because now I have all these likes and followers.  I feel so blessed and loved. Thank you all.

I want to keep the love going.  Today, I am doing my first interview with Barry Eva and his podcast Book and a Chat.  I've listened to his podcasts and it should be a good time.

You can drop by and comment or call in, or just listen live (6:30 EST) or at your leisure later.

I hope you enjoy the show.  I should make myself a drink to calm my nerves.

Covergasm

 Thank you to Herding Cats for sponsoring this hop!

I am pretty new to the publishing world.  Just over a year, and I've learned so much, and yet have so much to learn.  I keep telling people that writing the manuscript was the easiest part.

One thing that makes it easier is having a great artist to design your cover.  No matter what is said, people DO judge a book by it's cover.  That is why I was so excited when my first book cover came in my inbox for my approval.

 Needless to say, I was blown away.  It said so much, yet kept it mysterious. Angel's Code takes place in London, is about cyber hackers, and lots of hoodies.  This cover really has a wow factor, and people I showed it to also said the same thing.

Then came the sequel.

Even darker and mysterious, and hoodie-rific.

I really can't wait to see what the next cover in the series will look like.

So, are you enthralled, interested, want to know more?  I will randomly give away a copy of either Angel's Code or Angel's Betrayal, either a digital download or a paperback signed copy.  

Just follow the link below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thanks for showing up and enjoy the hop.

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