Hey all you spooky vampires, witches and sparkly princesses! How is your Halloween going so far?
I’ve been a bit silent over the past week, but have emerged from Revisions (with a capital R) triumphant. SO STILL THE NIGHT, which will release in May, has now been passed from my editor to production.
I’ll be out of the house most of the day, but have friends coming for a fun, junky, high-calorie dinner and trick-or-treating. How are you going to spend your Halloween?
Sonja! You are the winner of Jeff Rivera’s FOREVER MY LADY!
If you will contact me at kim@kimlenox.com, I’ll get your mailing information to Jeff so he can send you your book.
Thanks everyone for entering!
I hope you all have your Halloween costumes picked out! Me, I’m here neck deep in book revisions for SO STILL THE NIGHT. They are due tomorrow, so I’ll see you all on Friday!
I’m blogging at Fresh Fiction today, but that doesn’t mean my own blog’s going to be all drafty, dusty and dull — we’ve got a guest with us today!
Congratulations to Jeff Rivera, whose novel, FOREVER MY LADY releases today from Grand Central!
From Publishers Weekly
“Dio “Playboy” RodrÃguez grows up poor with a drunk single mother in gritty Las Vegas, leading him into gang life at 13. Now 17, Dio hides a softer side beneath a fierce exterior that’s known only to his middle school sweetheart, Jennifer. But when a drive-by leaves Jennifer wounded and sends Dio to prison boot camp, their soul mate relationship is put to the test. Rivera, who originally self-published this debut, traces a classic redemptive arc: perpetually scowling Dio resists the authority of drill instructor Jackson and clashes with fellow inmates, but he pours out his heart in letters to Jennifer, forms meaningful peer relationships and gains an appreciation for discipline. A genuine care for dynamic Dio allows Rivera to deliver a sincere story of transformation.”
Let’s ask Jeff a few questions:
How did you come up with your characters in Forever My Lady?
All the characters were based on myself or people that are in my life. Every single one of them from the main character Dio to the drill instructor Jackson (who was based on my father and my friend Doug, an actual drill instructor), Louise (based on my late best friend’s mother Louise and a friend named Tona) and so many others have roots in real people.
Why did you give your characters such gritty family lives?
I think that’s reality. No body wants read about characters with perfect little lives because that’s not the way the real world works. Everyone has had some type of tradegy in their lives and that’s what makes us all connect with each other.
What was life like growing up for you?
Looking back I appreciate every bit of it but while growing up being incredibly poor, feeling lonely, feeling misunderstood, depressed, ashamed, being homeless … none of it was easy. I’ve come out of it though to really like myself the way God made me.
What was like for you to be signed with Grand Central? What is it a writers dream?
I felt like I was dreaming when I got the news, sometimes I still feel like I’m dreaming.
Where can we find Forever My Lady?
You can get copies at your local bookstore, Amazon.com and www.JeffRivera.com
Say hello to Jeff or ask any questions you like! Everyone who posts will be entered into a drawing at midnight tonight, and will have the chance to with a copy of FOREVER MY LADY.
Thanks to everyone who came out on Saturday night for the joint book release party for NIGHT FALLS DARKLY and Sharie Kohler’s KISS OF A DARK MOON! As I’d mentioned on Friday, La Carafe is the oldest commercial building still in use in Houston, and the wine bar is reputed to be haunted. Alas, there were no sightings or floating orbs at our party! We had a fantastic time though, and enjoyed time with friends and family, as well as new readers!
Check back to my blog tomorrow, where I’ll be interviewing author Jeff Rivera, whose book, FOREVER MY LADY, debuts tomorrow from Grand Central (which used to be Warner Books). One lucky poster will win a copy of his book!
I’m a little late on posting this today — I’ve been at the air show all day! I’m sunburned and my brain is melted.
But NIGHT FALLS DARKLY is the Fresh Pick at FRESH FICTION today!
I was told the Fresh Pick is chosen by a group of readers. Thank you Fresh Fiction readers! I’ll also be blogging at the Fresh Fiction blog on Tuesday!
Kim
If you’re in the Houston area tonight, swing by my book party! Sharie Kohler (KISS OF A DARK MOON) and I will be signing books at La Carafe Wine Bar.
La Carafe, housed in Houston’s oldest commercial building still in use, is reputed to be haunted … Spooky!
Location: 813 Congress
Time: 9 PM
Details: Cash Bar (They aren’t equipped for credit cards)
Books: $7 each
Light fare and dessert will be provided
NYC! What fun!
After both experiencing flight delays, Cindy Miles and I arrived in NYC on Monday and headed to our hotel via van transfer (high-speed, jerky, bounce so high you whack your head on the roof of the van transfer). We got there after dark, ordered room service, and admired our spectacular view of the Empire State Building.
Over the next couple of days, we met and lunched with our literary agents, and also got to visit the Penguin Putnam offices and our editor. Oh, and I met with Steven Spielberg about the movie he’s going to make out of my book.
Matt Lauer and Al Roker interviewed Cindy about her latest release!
Okay … you caught me! We went to Madame Tussaud’s! Aren’t I funny? We walked and walked, and saw Phantom of the Opera at the Majestic (fantastic!) and shopped and ate all sorts of food, including what I think was our favorite: John’s Pizza!
We didn’t get to do half the things we wanted to, so … we’ll just have to go back!
Here’s a few of our favorite things! NYPD! FDNY! CHEESECAKE!
I hope you enjoy the pictures!
Kim
I’m home safe!
I’ll post a longer message with NYC trip pics later today.
We’ve got a contest winner!
Anyone who posted to the blog since October 2nd has had their name entered once into the drawing, and tossed into the Randomizer!
Our winner is: DINA!
Dina — you are the winner of a $15 gift e-certificate to Amazon! That’s right — after all my pondering over what to give away for a contest, I just kept coming back to “books”. Contact me at kim@kimlenox.com and let me know what e-mail address you’d like me to use.
Yes, yes, I admit it! I’ve been a little scarce over the past few days. Here’s why — my revisions for SO STILL THE NIGHT arrived from my editor, so I jumped into those. Also — early tomorrow morning, I’m headed off for a Big Adventure with author Cindy Miles . Cindy and I are headed to NYC! I’ll take pictures, and share once I return on Thursday. We’ll get to visit with our agents and our editor — and celebrate my birthday!
In closing, I had some great news today! NIGHT FALLS DARKLY has received a Coffee Time Reviewer’s Recommend Award. Click here to read more!
Everyone have a great week!
Hey all! I’m blogging over at Killer Fiction today on the topic of … Kim Lenox: Avenger
Come over for a visit!
Also, I’ll announce the winner of my contest, which ended last night at midnight, tomorrow afternoon! I apologize for the delay, and will explain everything then! So check back to see who the winner is — and the prize they’ll receive!
Kim