I think this is my favorite review for SO STILL THE NIGHT so far, by KMont at Lurv A La Mode.
I love KMont’s reviews, and have bought a number of new-to-me authors after reading about them on her site.
Hey, and if you like to win free books and STUFF, Cindy Miles has a great contest going on right now at her blog.
What are you doing tonight? I’ll be up, scratching out at least five pages by candlelight. Okay, not by candlelight, and I’ll be pecking them out on my laptop, but it sounded a lot more romantic the other way.
Gannon at Romance Novel TV has reviewed SO STILL THE NIGHT!
In part, her review says, “So Still the Night is brimming with passion, suspense and a spooky gothic element. I’m looking forward to the next book in this engaging series. If you’re in the mood for an historical with a liberal helping of paranormal, then this is a book you won’t want to miss.”
Thank you Gannon and Romance Novel TV!
My books put a paranormal spin on true crimes from the past. I had a reader recently ask why I used the real victims as characters in my book.
I’ve answered the question at Love Romances & More, a blog run by Danny, who had I had the pleasure to meet at the Romantic Times Conference in Orlando.
If you get a chance, swing by and say hello!
Here’s the elevator from SO STILL THE NIGHT. That’s “scarlet”, right?
Tomorrow, around midday, I’ll be blogging at Silk & Shadows about a day in the life of a writer (me!) There’s a reason why I’ll post at midday.
And if you missed the Kim-Lenox-Got-Low-Blood-Sugar-and-Gave-Ten-Copies-of-her-New-Book-Away-Extravaganza yesterday, then remember — you can post on any of the Silk & Shadows posts before midnight tomorrow, and be entered to win one of two copies!
I had ten entrants in my contest, and guess what? I’ve got TEN winners!
So,
Amy S.
Jane
Caffey
Heather Riley
Doug Knipe
Dani
Lisa
L.A.
and CASIE
Send me your mailing address through my website contact (subject CONTEST WINNER) and I’ll send out your signed copy! And actually, you can pick either NIGHT FALLS DARKLY or SO STILL THE NIGHT, so let me know which one you’d like as your prize.
I know! I’m crazy! What can I say?! But it’s my hope you’ll enjoy the book, and share your opinion with someone, whether through word of mouth or online reader board or online review. If you hate the book, please do not write a thesis on how terrible my writing is and post it everywhere on line. That would seriously hurt my feelings! Actually, I’m completely joking about that. This is the Internet, people, and we can share our opinions!
I’ve got a couple more contest winners, and people who have requested bookmarks, and if that’s YOU, I am amassing a tower of packages that will go out Friday. I’d say tomorrow, but that would be a big FIB as I am lunching with the super talented author of the Would Be Witch series, Kim Frost.
Happy Wednesday to all!
So who is Mark, the hero of my new release, SO STILL THE NIGHT?
Here’s how I imagined him in my mind:
That’s Gabriel Aubry. That lucky Halle Berry.
Mark is an immortal, but he hasn’t been around forever. Only since around 29 BC.
The Egyptian queen Cleopatra and her Roman triumvir lover, Mark Antony, (seen above, as painted by Lawrence Alma Tadema) had twins together. Mark is their son. Though he was born Alexander Helios, he goes by Mark, after his father. Another of my Shadow Guards is Selene, his twin sister.
They were about twelve at the time of their parents’ legendary deaths. I thought it would be interesting to consider how that past history affected both of them.
So how does he end up in Highgate Cemetery, in 1889, on a hilltop overlooking London? Gosh, you’ll have to read and find out!
I’ve got BOOKS!
That’s right! SO STILL THE NIGHT releases on Tuesday, May 5th, but it’s customary for authors to get some copies for themselves. My box arrived today.
So anyone who posts a comment to my blog by Tuesday, midnight, will have a chance to win a free and autographed copy. I’ll give away two here, and if you miss your chance, head over to Silk & Shadows, because I’ll give away two copies there next Friday to anyone who posts there through the course of the week.
All I ask is that if you enjoy the book — tell someone. Post an Amazon review, or tell your best pal, or post a note on your favorite reader blog. I don’t usually talk business, but we all have authors that we’ve enjoyed reading, that suddenly don’t put out anymore books. The reality is that they (usually) don’t disappear because they’ve decided to stop writing books. Publishing is a business. If an author’s books don’t sell enough copies, then the author doesn’t get another contract. And I think that may be even more true in today’s challenging economy. End of sermon! That’s all I’ll say about that.
So what’s SO STILL THE NIGHT about? If you have read NIGHT FALLS DARKLY, you know my Shadow Guard series focuses on a shadowy order of immortals known as the SHADOW GUARDS. Shadow Guards are tasked with tracking down and Reclaiming the most evil and depraved of mortal souls … souls that have become so wicked that they have taken on the powerful, supernatural state of Transcension, and have the dangerous ability to defy Death’s claim.
NIGHT deals with the hunt for Jack the Ripper. I’m not sure what you know about Jack the Ripper. Researching Jack, I just got angry. Not only was he pure, inhuman evil, but he was arrogant and conceited to boot. What upset me the most was that he likely got away with his crimes. I really, really wanted to see him get his, if you know what I mean. So in that way — not to overdramatize my role as a writer — I wrote NIGHT as a way to avenge Jack’s victims. To make sure he paid for what he did.
Lots of people have heard of Jack the Ripper. But not many know of the Thames Torso Murders. These crimes took place during Jack’s crime spree, and immediately afterward. I’ll give more details in coming days, here on the blog.
In brief, some theorize that Jack also committed the Thames Torso Murders, but reading through the accounts and research, it seemed very clear to me (a highly unqualfied investigator, with only common sense to make this determination!) that the crimes were the work of two different killers. And so, SO STILL THE NIGHT continues my alternate interpretation and fictionalization of the true crimes that took place in London in 1888 and 1889. There is another killer to bring to justice.
Oh, and yes … in case you’re wondering, there is more. More terrible death, more murder in Victorian London’s history. I’m working on a third book in this series, titled DARKER THAN NIGHT. It is Selene’s story. Selene is the Shadow Guard’s only female member. She’s inspired love, and she’s inspired hate in readers. I think whatever side you fall on, you’ll enjoy getting to know her better. And if you don’t mind my saying so, I think you’ll really love her “hero”.
I hope you’ll enjoy both NIGHT FALLS DARKLY and SO STILL THE NIGHT, and cheer on our brave Shadow Guards as they bring history’s worst murderers to justice, and of course, fall in love.
Hello to all!
I am hearing reports that some people are already picking up SO STILL THE NIGHT in advance of its release date. I hope everyone enjoys the book!
I’ve also heard from a lot of new readers — readers just now picking up NIGHT FALLS DARKLY. I’ve received some good questions, so I’ll be answering those over the next few days.
The Romantic Times Convention was tons of fun! It was very exciting to meet some of you there, including a number of international readers.
If you’ve got time, swing by www.silkandshadows.com and post a comment to Kerrelyn Sparks’ blog post! She’s giving away a copy of one of her books!
My (seven-year-old) assistant has pulled the winner’s name out of a bowl, and congratulations to LISA!
Lisa, you’ve won a copy of Cindy Miles’ MacGowan’s Ghost and Kim Frost’s Would Be Witch! And last but not least, an advance reading copy of SO STILL THE NIGHT!
Lisa, if you can just send me your mailing address through my “CONTACT” button here on the site, and I’ll get your package in the mail to you!
I do also have some beautiful new bookmarks, so if any of you who visit the blog would like some, just send me an e-mail and I’ll mail you a couple.
I hope everyone had a great weekend!
Thanks to all of you who have entered the contest to win Cindy Miles’ MACGOWAN’S GHOST and Kim Frost’s WOULD BE WITCH!
Want to know a little more about these books?
Odin’s Thumb Inn and Pub may be owned by brooding Highlander Gabe MacGowan, but it is actually run by a crew of ornery ghosts, who aren’t eager for their home to undergo a change in management. Gabe intends to sell the pub not only to give his son a more stable environment but to escape what really haunts him—his wife’s death.
Leave it to fun-loving American Allie Morgan to come to Gabe’s rescue. Hired to oust the sneaky spirits, who are chasing away potential buyers of the inn, Allie ends up winning the hearts of everyone in the Scottish seaside village, including those of the ghost of a sea captain and Gabe himself. Now all she has to do is find a way to help the sexy Highlander chase away his own ghosts
In the small town of Duvall, Texas, the only thing more troublesome than gossip — is magic.
The family magic seems to have skipped Tammy Jo Trask. All she gets in the way of the supernatural are a few untimely visits from the long dead, smart-mouthed family ghost, Edie. But when her locket—an heirloom that happens to hold Edie’s soul—is stolen in the midst of a town-wide crime spree, it’s time for Tammy to find her inner witch.
After a few experiences in dysfunctional magic, Tammy turns to the only one who can help; the very rich and highly magical, Bryn Lyons. He might have all the answers-and a 007 savoir faire to boot-but the locket isn’t the only heirloom passed down in Tammy’s family. She also inherited a warning…to stay away from anyone named Lyons.
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And don’t forget – the winner of this contest also wins an ARC of SO STILL THE NIGHT, which releases on May 7th!
