A Writer's Dream - Author Rae Lori

What? Another Interview? Why Yes, With CTR This Time. :-)

2009-12-01T08:23:00.000-08:00

Lototy of Coffee Time Romance interviewed me recently and I got to chat about my current 'Ashen Twilight' series.

Feel free to drop by and take a read if you like. This was a pretty fun interview. :-)

This month's newsletter should go out soon. I skipped November because I was offline most of the time and didn't have enough time to get back on track before the month was over. Don't worry I have lots of news and goodies to share plus a new book giveaway. So feel free to sign up before the new issue goes out!

Vampire's Defanged and the change of reading habits.

2009-11-30T16:51:00.000-08:00

I'm not sure what happened during the course of the year but I think my reading habits have changed. I used to love to pick up a pile of books and dive into them one after the other. Especially after I had been looking forward to them all year after hearing a blurb either through Publisher's Lunch, Goodreads or on some message board. But somewhere along the lines, I lost that interest. Now I'm finding that many of my faves in the paranormal genre are starting to read the same. This is especially with the new books and authors coming out. Nothing is reading with a unique voice or with an interesting spin. It's almost as if the same blurb and story is used one story after another with only the main settings and character names changed.

I dove into smaller presses for this reason but even there I'm seeing a trend where the market is glutted with the same type of books. It's one reason why I went back to the tried and true classics (hello Ray Bradbury! Where have you been all my life?) and also why I started reading some books in my TBR pile. I actually went as far to make a promise to myself that I wouldn't by anymore books until I started culling that list down to something reasonable. Not sure if it'll hold up but I figure I'd give it a go. Maybe my reading tastes are changing and I need something more than what I've been reading. Maybe the market has been glutted with too many look-a-like books to sustain the bottom line. Either way, I figured a change of genre may help a bit with that.

I'm hoping my writing doesn't fall into the same groove as well. One reason I love to write so many different genres is because the character's stories call for different settings and situations. Another reason is that I love to switch up my writing to keep myself on my toes. I think challenging myself to different stories with various challenges will hopefully make me a better writer. Perhaps the same could be said about changing up my reading material. We shall see.

Another thing I noticed recently is how vampires have been turned into hot bad boys. I was one of the folks who was glad to see a surge in paranormal books and tv shows in the media. I didn't mind that vampires had a sense of darkness around them that made them dangerously seductive. But now it's getting a little out of hand.

A recent interview with Catherine Hardwicke and the stars of that little young adult vampire romance series (you all know the one ;-) ) has gone on record saying the series was different because it humanized vampires. Wha huh? No no no. Vampires were always interesting because they were "the other". At least it was to me when I started reading them. Sometimes they had their own community as in Anne Rice's Vampire Chronicles or they were solitary predators like in Bram Stoker's Dracula. But they always represented the dark side of human nature. Whether it was about death, immortality, sex, blood or what have you, vampire lore lived across the centuries and cultures to represent that which we feared in our own lives. To make them human or just pale, pretty looking CW models with a bad attitude seems to lose the point entirely.

Now this could just be a trend. Like all things, this is just a cycle and soon we'll be back to vampires being gruesome, yet seductive monsters. True I even indulged in the vampire romance bit with my series (and my vampires will tread the line between killing machines and Romeos--oh yes, there will be blood) but I wanted to keep the inhuman side because of how long my creatures have lived and what they have experienced in warfare.

Ah well, perhaps switching it up will solve the issue. I have a few books sitting on my immediate shelf that keep getting moved over and tossed off. Two young adult, one historical and the other fantasy, a newish author to me who is writing a European fae centered urban fantasy series (where are the other non-Euro cultural fae stories???), a recently released fantasy romance anthology and of course a few ebooks on my phone that I need to clear off.

Then it's back to catching up on some classics.

If anyone else is having the same trouble as me with their current reading lull, I'd love to hear from you. Feel free to share any recs while you're here. :-)

Podcast Interview with Phoebe Jordan Now Up!

2009-11-26T22:19:00.000-08:00

Hello folks!

Tonight's podcast with Phoebe Jordan is now up in the on demand section. You can listen to here or download it at the source. Hope you enjoy it!

The permanent link will go up in my media room before the night is over.

Happy listening!

Suvudu Last Chance Ebooks and news from Rae!

2009-11-25T16:14:00.000-08:00

Hey everyone!

I know you're all either traveling to spend time with family members, cooking and/or preparing for tomorrow's festivities of Turkey Day so I'll make this short.

I have some goodies in store including some upcoming releases as you notice on the sidebar there. Contemporary sweet romance readers are in for a nice treat this December. I'm currently editing that story and will be offering it via Smashwords and all the online stores in as many formats as I can get them in. As you may have heard, Smashwords just signed up to sell with Shortcovers and have added Amazon Kindle to their list of affiliations with Barnes & Noble and the Sony Reader store. They've also acquired the New Zealand self-publishing company BookHabit so there will be a ton of new books available.

Random House's current free ebook offerings in their Suvudu library is holding a last chance offer to download their current crop of books until the end of November. List includes:

A Kiss of Shadows by Laurell K. Hamilton
Trading In Danger by Elizabeth Moon
The Best of Robert E. Howard: Vol. 1 by Robert E. Howard
Starfist: First to Fight by David Sherman and Dan Cragg
The Demon Awakens by R.A. Salvatore

Get them before it's too late! A new crop will be coming in December. I can't wait to see what will be available.

Kelly Meding, author of the upcoming Three Days to Dead (out now from Dell Publishing), is offering up two short stories under the name The Dreg Files at Suvudu. The first is The Hoarder which is told in 5 parts. The second is Pride Before the Fall. Grab 'em while they're hot!

Have a good one!

Massive linkage update and a return!

2009-11-22T09:43:00.000-08:00

Woo hoo.

My net is back and roaring. I think it'll be more stabilized now if my ISP company is nice.

Well, hope everyone is well. It's been two weeks since I've been in the waters but it seems like a lifetime. Anything change much out there? Flying cars? Any Trekkie like food replicators on the market?

Lots of news have happened and I came in time for a biggie!

By now you've probably heard of the big massive hoopla that is Harlequin Horizons, Harlequin's (yes, the big romance giant pub honcho) new "publishing venture".

If you're looking for a simple run down, there's an excellent article on the Examiner by Pat Hauldren entitled Harlequin Regress to Vanity Press that is great for a quick primer on the situation. Another good Examiner article is by Holly Christine entitled Authors Arguing: The Harlequin Debate.

For a list of linkies around the web, check out author Angela Korra'ti's blog. She also links to John Scalzi's blog overview and commentary of the situation. Or if you're looking for a lighthearted version, check out the page over at LJ's fanwank section. The Smart B's have a wonderful back and forth dialogue going on at their announcement post which is hitting over 700 posts. Yikes! I watched that thing grow from under 100 to over 500 in just a day or so. The news is a hot one.

PR/UF author Jackie Kessler (who has an awesome superhero series coming up soon) breaks it down bit by bit for those wondering what exactly Harlequin Horizons has in store with their new vanity publishing adventure.

Meanwhile, New Moon has solidified its place as the number one opening of all time and its $140 million dollar box office has landed third in the best openings ever. I'm not a fan of the books or the franchise but I may check it out on cable just for kicks. I am dying to see 2012, though because I'm an Emmerich fan (go Roland)!

Special Message For My Novel Writing Students

2009-11-11T09:30:00.000-08:00

Hey guys!

Please accept my apologies for the last week. Apparently the net outage I thought would happen prior happened then and I didn’t have a chance to send a future mailing list message for the warning. Ack! And right during NaNo also. :-/

I hope you guys are busy writing away at your stories. I’d love to know the progress you’re having and if there are any obstacles you may coming across. I’m not sure when I’ll be back in-world but I’m working hard to get the net back up and running at home so we can resume things.

In the mean time keep working and penning those stories. You guys have some great ideas and I’d love to see that come to fruition. I’ll be around via my mobile for the time being.

Sending lots of positive writing vibes your way!

Rae

Black Ice by Anne Stuart

2009-11-07T12:00:00.000-08:00

Black Ice is the book that made me an Anne Stuart fan. As a classic author in the genre, I had heard many good things about Ms. Stuart's work from my fellow readers. Now I understand why.

I wouldn't recommend Black Ice, first entry in the Ice series, just to romantic suspense fans. There are lots of thrills, chilling suspense and some really complex characters that don't fit within the romance genre. I loved that aspect of it. The "hero" or perhaps the anti-hero, Bastien is a cold somewhat manipulative man who would do anything (and practically anyone) to get his mission finished. I'm not even sure I'd call him tortured because he knows exactly what he wants and how to get and he has no bones about telling anyone what he wants them to hear straight in their face. The heroine, Chloe, is somewhat innocent but not a pushover by any means. She acts as any sane person would when in the company of lunatics, killers and thieves and often feels like the connection to the reader who is just an ordinary person in an extraordinary circumstance. Sometimes she acted stupidly because of her interest in Bastien which put her life on the line but thankfully such moments as these didn't show up often.

Suspense fans will get a kick out of the story unraveling but romance fans may find the story a bit cold. Stuart pushes the boundaries of the romance genre in the amount of danger, violence and darkness that covers each page. You almost think there won't be an HEA but as the story goes on, shades of Bastien's humanity and interest in Chloe begins to shine through his coldness. I loved how the characters felt real. Bastien didn't feel like a cookie cutter hero but someone who's completely lost his way in life because of the losses he's felt and the darkness he's seen. Even when he starts to get romantically interested in Chloe, he's still a highly unpredictible and lethal man. I love that he didn't change on impact but you could see the little changes and the potential for their future.

Black Ice is an amazing suspense entry that I highly recommend for suspense lovers and romantic suspense readers who want a little something more gritty and real in the genre.

November Spotlight on Author Wendy Raven McNair

2009-11-02T02:00:00.000-08:00

Recently I had the blessing of meeting author Wendy Raven McNair. A fellow author, artist and speculative enthusiast, I was delighted to learn more about Wendy's premiere superhero teen novel, Asleep. Described as a fantasy love story about an African American teen who discovers a world of super beings, I knew this would be right up my alley since I love superheroes (as you can tell from a few posts back). Wendy has a trilogy planned with Asleep being the first of series and I'm excited to see what else she has planned for the future.

Q: When did you decide you wanted to be a writer?

I decided I wanted to be a writer after I had my daughter. Having her was a life altering experience that caused me to do some serious soul searching. I wanted to raise her to be unafraid to pursue her dreams and I wondered how best to achieve that goal. The answer was simple, I had to model it. All my life I’ve loved telling stories; nighttime stories to my younger sister when we were kids sharing a room, short stories written for my friends at school, and mini-stories to entertain my daughter when she was little. Becoming a writer was a natural choice for me once I really thought about it.

Q: How would you describe the genre in which you do most of your writing?

I write in the fantasy genre right now and again it’s due to my daughter. She’s a teen now and loves fantasy stories like Twilight and Harry Potter. But it’s challenging to find fantasy stories that have main characters who reflect her, an African American natural girl. I’m working on a fantasy series now that stars such a girl titled ASLEEP. It’s a YA novel and both adults and teens have given great feedback on it. It’s a story about a young African American couple, Adisa and Micah, and the plot revolves around Adisa’s introduction to a secret world (that exists right alongside of the normal world) in which the inhabitants have super powers.

Q: What would you say are the biggest challenges that you face?

My biggest challenge is finding the time to write. As a self published author, I do it all myself, the marketing, advertising, getting my title in stores, and many other things associated with writing and publishing a story. Additionally, I take care of my family which is a full time job all on its own. It’s a serious juggling act that sometimes causes me to fumble my writing and occasionally drop it all together.

Q: How do you deal with these challenges?

I handle the challenge of finding time to write by scheduling time for it. I don’t write everyday but I do write every week. When I select a day to write, I usually write all day and do little of anything else. I really lose myself in the story and just let it all spill out, flaws included. The next time I write, I begin by editing the previous part that I’ve written then I pick up the story where I left off. But even on the days I’m not actually writing, I’m thinking about my story and mentally working out the storyline and coming up with ideas to best convey scenes to move the story forward in a fascinating way.

Q: What will your next book be about?

My next book is AWAKE, the sequel to ASLEEP. It continues the exciting story of Adisa and Micah. Adisa was introduced to the secret super world in ASLEEP. Now, she learns more about its inner workings, the variety of super powers, and her own familial connection to the super world. AWAKE is scheduled for release in November 2009. For updates, visit my web site at wendyravenmcnair.com

Asleep is already garnering some awesome reviews around the web. Check them out at these links!

Girls Can't WHAT?

Color Online

Learn more about Wendy's current and upcoming works on the web!

Website: http://www.wendyravenmcnair.com/

Purchase Asleep at Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Asleep-Wendy-Raven-McNair/dp/0982501307/ref=ed_oe_p
Purchase Asleep for the Kindle:
http://www.amazon.com/Asleep-ebook/dp/B002FB6AZQ/ref=ed_oe_k

Keeping the Ebook Revolution Green

2009-11-02T01:26:00.000-08:00

You guys know I'm an ebook fan both as an author and a reader. I'm jazzed about all the ebook readers coming out and am excited because these are just the beginning.

Since ebooks are always touted as going green whether in the submission and editing process (thank you guys for this, you're life savers!) but also in book releases, publishers and the big companies have to keep this in mind also.

Agent Richard Curtis blogged a month ago at E-Reads under the title Getting Rid of E-Trash? Dump it on Asia's Poor. It's a wonderful write-up (make sure you check it out) where he brings up a good question: when the next generation of e-readers arrives, what's going to happen to the Kindle or Sony E-Reader you replace?

The answer?

If what's happening in Europe is any guideline, it will end up in a toxic e-waste landfill in Asia and Africa where the destitute, many of them children, will scavenge it for scrap. These scavengers incur horrifying and often fatal skin, lung, intestinal and reproductive organ ailments from the plastics, metals and gases that go into discarded cell phones, televisions, computers, keyboards, monitors,cables and similar e-scrap.

The picture on the site of a dump truck carrying tons of discarded cellphones, computers and other devices is disheartening. These are all current, but what will happen in the near future when the current Kindles, Sony Readers and other readers are out of style for the next gen tablets?

Hopefully the industry will keep this in mind as the ebook revolution continues to rise.

ECataromance becomes Singletitles.com

2009-10-31T01:13:00.001-07:00

Very cool change going on over at Ecata! Ecataromance and SingleTitles.com are merging into one location for all single title romances. The new and spiffy SingleTitles.com will feature articles on techie topics (like the latest ebook readers) as well as reviews of romance ebooks. I'm really excited about this because I've enjoyed checking the sites for releases and advertisement. I'm going to tune in more for their ebook reader news.

New reviews have already been posted on the new site. They'll also be having weekly guest bloggers and a big contest for authors in the next month.

It's not just for romance readers and authors anymore also! Fans of mystery and suspense books be sure to check the site for some cool new reads!

Click the pic to check out the new and improved website!

Diversity in SF and Romance

2009-10-28T15:01:00.000-07:00

There's an interesting discussion going on over at Dear Author about cultural appropriation in the romance genre. On the heels of Racefail 09 which happened over in the SF genre, it's quite refreshing to read another call to action for more diverse characters.

The comments didn't take long to be derailed but some of it got back on track to talk about the issue at hand. Most particularly depressing was author Jade Lee's experience at Harlequin which ended up in having to use the pen name of Kathy Lyons because Jade Lee was "tainted as too Asian".

I've heard of many authors who have had a hard time selling diverse stories and characters to New York. Many mainstream agents and authors say they "can't connect to" or "sell" stories that feature characters of color and it's a shame because that's shutting down not only a demographic but also a new voice.

Science fiction had their own situation earlier this year. For a rundown check out Fan History's thread on the subject with a compilation of many links. http://www.fanhistory.com/wiki/Race_Fail_2009

After reading the sad display of ignorance from many of the authors who seem perfectly clueless, I had to yank a lot of titles and authors from my list. It was sad to read such disparaging remarks to people aimed at me as if I was subhuman and just plain stupid. Not only have I removed authors, I've also removed a major sci-fi publishing company from my submission list due to the crazy postings of the editors in charge there.

Science fiction has always been my greatest love along with fantasy because of how open to discussions of diversity and humanity can be acknowledged there. I've been on an X-Men kick for the past few days, even watching the old 90s show, and it was awesome to see again because these discussions need to be out in the open. The speculative genre is ripe for this because SF has always had a history of being able to discuss matters in a context that mirrored our own via an allegory. I'm glad RaceFail 09 happened because the after effects are still being talked about in the open and many authors and readers are forced to look at the situation.

Now it's romance's turn.

I haven't been reading romance as long as some of my romance fan friends but I have enjoyed the genre recently because I've found some great stories there. A romance blog named Dear Author recently had a guest blogger by pen name of "Handy Hunter" wrote an awesome post ab0ut the lack of diversity in romance today. Naturally in these discussions I expect tons of derailment and posters being on the defense to prove that the poster is wrong wrong wrong! but there are a good amount of posts that stay on topic and actually have a discussion about the problematic things brought up. Check out the full post here: http://dearauthor.com/wordpress/2009/10/27/a-special-guest-post-on-cultural-appropriation-by-handyhunter

Many of the authors in the posts who have tried to sell diverse stories to NY are not surprising but still disheartening. Mainstream publishing is a big giant lead by corporations and the media who have a certain point of view and believe they are right in that point of view no matter what.

That's why I love the smaller press and e presses. I've had much fortune being able to place my books and stories with some great editors who are open to stories with voices and characters of color that aren't shown in the typical fashion. For instance, I love interracial romance and stories that feature IR couples in suspense, futuristic and other settings and genres. I write about that and I've been fortunate enough to have a diverse readership who enjoy my stories. I try to buy the same to support the authors who are also writing such stories. It does get disheartening when I can't find such stories or authors but the more I dig, the more I find some great recs.

Eirelander Publishing, the new publisher I just signed with recently, is blowing me out of the water. Some of my fellow author friends have books coming out within the sci-fi romance genre with interracial couples, characters of color and such diversity that it makes me want to sing. Plus these are amazing stories! Our editor, Lee, is all about story and world building with strong, complex characters so I know there are going to be some strong stuff coming out.

Already on the list are Annie Nicholas' Red Dawn and Sandra Sookoo's Blink, both sci-fi romances with diverse characters/main characters of color and/or IR couples at the forefront; A Feast of Shadows, my dystopia sci-fi with romantic elements featuring a Native American/Egyptian heroine and a Chinese hero; there's also a paranormal erotic romance by Charisma Knight called Soul Seduction featuring an IR couple. Author Aasiyah Qamar's recent release Light My World takes place on the western coast of Mauritius, a multicultural island with a really rich history. Check out the making of the story: http://aasiyah-nolwynn.webs.com/makingoflightmyworld.htm

The good news is that the publishing industry is changing in so many ways that we can't imagine. With the advent and rise of digital publishing, self-publishing and publishing in the new media, many more authors are having their stories told. Just this week two more small presses geared toward speculative fiction popped up. I was so excited because many of the small presses are geared toward romance, erotica or horror. It's great to see more publishers focusing on science fiction and fantasy. The obstacles and walls that keep just a few voices and authors past its gates are shutting down as we speak. It may be a scary time for readers who want some kind of screening system for their work but if Philip Roth is correct about the novel being only for a core niche group (which is a bit scary in itself), there won't be much to worry about.

In my blog hopping I'm finding a lot of wonderful reads based on recommendations alone. Even though romance and science fiction haven't been quite diverse as it could be, the Young Adult genre has been much more open thanks to blogs like Color Online, Reading in Color and YA author Justine Larbalestier's blog where they all chat about books that feature characters of color at the forefront.

Things may seem quite hopeless at times and I can see how young authors who want to write diverse characters or characters of color that reflect themselves may want to give up. But don't. Even if you can't get into NY, there's a ton of smaller presses who are open to taking a risk in releases the stories. The only other obstacles are getting readers who aren't used to or seek out such books because they are comfortable reading about their experiences and culture. Discussions like this help ease those folks on in and open their eyes to other stories in the world. We may have to work extra hard at getting books in those people's hands but at least a dialogue is going on to show that more diversity and representation for people of color are necessary, especially in this day and age with more multicultural families and couples rising.

If you're new to my blog, feel free to hang around a bit. I interview a host of authors with some great books and I currently have a bunch of great books in my reading pile that feature tons of characters from different cultures and backgrounds that I'm happy to post about. I'm also at work on an essay for a current academic romance journal on IR and its reflections on contemporary society.

Further Reading
Romancing the Blog: Equal, but Separate?
Justine Larbalestier: The Advantages of Being a White Writer
Dear Author: A Special Guest Post on Cultural Appropriation By Handy Hunter
A Comprehensive timeline about RaceFail 09 at Seeking Avalon
A themed summary of RaceFail ‘09
Fan History: RaceFail 09
Ari’s Guest Blog No. 2: Reading Outside Your Comfort Zone
Susan's Unofficial List of Great YA by or About Women of Color
Reading in Color

Cover and Blurb for Voice of Abandon

2009-10-28T00:00:00.000-07:00

His music inspired her to live again. His heart inspired her to love again.

After losing her husband to a fatal heart condition, Her Serene Highness Julianna DeWinters falls into a depression. She lives her life on auto pilot, making preparations and setting things in order for her country but not for herself. On one particular evening night out to a classical concert assisted by her in-laws, Julianna hears the most beautiful sound that awakens her to life once again. The violinist’s passion through his music not only livens her will but also her heart as she finds the ability to love. If she allows herself the possibility...

Andrew Graham never settled down and loved again after losing the love of his life. Throwing himself into his music, his passion is in the strings of his violin. Once he stops in Welshire to play for the royal family, a beautiful princess captures his interest and his heart. Soon he finds himself on the edge of a romance that will test his ability to trust and love once again.

Voice of Abandon or, The Princess and the Violinist is a sweet, classical novella that proves life and love can begin after loss. Even when you least expect it.

Coming December 2009

Superhero Cast Do-Overs

2009-10-24T21:37:00.000-07:00

This is a post of pure total randomness. I'm not a fan of remakes, redos, reboots and do-overs but if I had a time machine and could go back, I'd send some major mental waves for some superhero casting changes.

Here's who I would love to see in the place of:

Jake Gyllenhaal
as Peter Parker

I'm not a huge Spidey fan (aside from the MTV cel animated run and the ooooold tv cartoon (and yes, I even liked the 'supposedly' bad live action Spiderman, too). An 'close but no cigar' casting miss happened between the first and second movie when Maguire was almost out for health reasons. If I can go back in time, I'd whisper Jake's name to Sam Raimi before he can think "Tobey who?"

Matt Damon as Matt Murdock

A few reports flooded the net about Matt playing Matt but most are old reports before Affleck took over the role. I really wish they would have went with Damon. Not only do I completely heart him just because he's just an awesome actor, he's shown he can do action like a pro with the Bourne movies. I would have loved to have seen him tackle Daredevil with a better director and writer behind the camera.

Leonor Varela as Elektra Natchios

I'm a late bloomer Elektra fan. I got hooked on this awesome kick butt assassin from the recent Marvel Knights "Gregs Run". That is, Greg Horn (one of my fave comic artists) and Greg Rucka. If we look at Horn's Elektra art, Leonor Varela has the anti-heroine's look and, from her Blade II stint, she had the chops to handle the action. Some training here and there and she'd be a sai wielding butt kicker in no time. Jennifer Garner ended up the role and was rather flat but I think since Alias was popular at the time, Marvel thought they could cash in on her name at the time. I would have loved to have seen Leonor given the role with a better writer and director and also a possible spin off based on some of her comic stories which are awesome in their own right. I loved the character arc in A dream would be the Punisher/Elektra one shot I read ages ago.

Imagine the possibilities of their first meeting at Columbia University and then their inevitable showdown.

Or just watch this awesome Elektra fan film instead.

Honorable Mention

Clive Owen as James Bond

Seriously? Who doesn't think Clive could've nailed Bond?? At one time, Owen was offered the role but declined it as he saw it beneath him. Seeing as this was during the time of Brosnan's last few movies, I couldn't blame the guy. But with an awesome new writer and director, Owen would have restarted a really cool, sleek new Bond franchise.

Cooks.com I heart You

2009-10-23T00:06:00.000-07:00

I'm generally a meh cook. The best things I can make (from what my victims, er family members who have eaten my stuff, have told me) are pork chops, scrambled eggs topped with cheese, cookies, brownies and now pie. When low on ingredients, I've found that a quick google search brings up a ton of quick and easy recipes. Cooks.com has become my go to place. When I didn't have Manwich for Sloppy Joes (and I love me some manwich) a recipe there lead me to use BBQ sauce on ground turkey. With a dash of spike, it was awesome. I've also found an awesome recipe for easy Very Blueberry Pie.

Allrecipes.com is another fave and there I found some an easy homemade maple syrup recipe. Per some of the comments I added butter and YUM. Awesome syrup.

My aunt (maternal side) is the big baker in the family and I'll have to call her for some baking recipes. Either that or make a quick trip just to dive into her yummy dishes. I wish my grandmother (paternal side) was alive because she made some amazing dishes that I still remember from when I was younger. I wish she wrote down her recipes, especially her famous brownies I hear a lot about. I try to catch my mother when she cooks to see what she puts in her food but she's more of a 'creative cooker'. She often takes recipes and adds a little something extra that always turns out so good. I don't know how she does it but it happens. I wish I had that talent but for now I'll be happy making small and easy dishes until I can work my way up to the heavier stuff!

Cover art and Blurb for Within the Shadows of Mortals

2009-10-21T08:21:00.001-07:00

Here's the spiffy cover art and blurb for Within the Shadows of Mortals (Book 2 in the Ashen Twilight Series) coming 2010.

The war between immortal and mortal begins

For centuries, a group of Nightwalkers, Lycans and Shifter Elves have lived within the shadows of mortals to ensure their survival…until an old foe reemerged and brought the realm of the Fae into the mortal world.

After the fall of the enemy, a string of events unfolds. Ariya is now an Aziza faerie Queen settling with Jace Archane, a Regent in the House of Blood in the Aziza realm. The houses continue to move West after fighting for their survival against the elemental led by Liam Blakedon, a former guard in the Archane house.

A new beginning is on the horizon until blood is spilled on their lands once again…

Late on the highway leading to California, a massacre breaks out in the darkness of night ending in the death of a Lycan family. Word gets back to Ariya and Jace in the Aziza Fae realm and they return, seeing how much has changed since they took their retreat. Mortals have become aware that Nightwalkers, Lycans and Shifter Elves are alive and well in their city. Worse yet, Rich and his pregnant mate, Joanna, have disappeared on the trip from Arizona to California. As they race to find Rich, before it’s too late, a group of mysterious hunters begin picking off members of the houses, one by one.

Ariya knows that Jace is tired of running and hiding after centuries of living within the shadows of mortals. Now, she must choose a path that will force her to decide whether to help her immortal allies or rule the broken kingdom left behind after her parent's death. Soon, she finds that Jace's presence in the Aziza realm brings an ancient evil to life that only lived in fairytales...until now.

Jace Archane knows the depths humans will go to destroy the immortals. Tired of hiding and living hidden from mortals, he is ready to rise and fight against their hunters. However, as he gives in to his baser Nightwalker instincts, his relationship with Ariya tenses. Jace may end up losing more than his humanity as he gives into revenge against his mortal enemies.

Coming February 2010

For Fae Lovers: Free ebook from Juno Books

2009-10-08T11:53:00.000-07:00

Juno Books is giving away a free ebook this month. If you're a fae lover like me you'll want to pick this one up!

This year, download SCARY FAIRIES: FOUR FEARFUL TALES of the FEY. The contents:

"The Child That Went With the Fairies", Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu
"The Adventure of Cherry of Zennor", Robert Hunt
"Ethna the Bride", Lady Francesca Speranza Wilde
"Tamlane" and "Tam Lin", John Joseph and Anonymous

Why fairies? We realized that two upcoming releases -- BLOOD KIN by Maria Lima and HALLOWED CIRCLE by Linda Robertson -- featured some fairies that were, well, not "good" by any means.

Download the FREE PDF of SCARY FAIRIES (http://www.juno-books.com/Scary_Fairies.pdf) now and enjoy!

October Spotlight on Author Elissa Gabrielle

2009-10-04T18:11:00.000-07:00

This month we have another wonder trailblazing author at A Writer's Dream. I'm so excited every time I spotlight an author here because I discover such a great variety of books with wonderful fresh voices. Author Elissa Gabrielle is no exception. A prolific author and poet, Elissa's current release is A Whisper to A Scream which is a blend of contemporary romance and suspense with a hint of IR, both of my favorite romance subgenres.

As a Literary Entrepreneur, Elissa is the founder of the greeting card line, Greetings from the Soul: The Elissa Gabrielle Collection, collaborator and creator of The Triumph of My Soul, and publisher of Peace In The Storm Publishing Company, a rising independent publishing company with an array of voices. Peace in The Storm recently was honored as Independent Publisher of the Year at the 2009 African American Literary Awards.

Elissa has also graced the covers of Conversations Magazine, Big Time Publishing Magazine, Disilgold Soul Magazine and has been nominated for the African Americans On the Move Book Club (AAMBC) Publisher of the Year award.

As a graduate of the Connecticut School of Broadcasting, Elissa holds a degree in Communications, a certificate in Business from Tulane University, and is a member of the NAACP, the NABFEME, and the National Association of Black Female Executives in Music and Entertainment which is a professional empowerment, networking and support base for African American women in radio, recorded music, media and related entertainment industry fields. Elissa also serves as the media consultant to First Bethel Baptist Church in Newark, NJ.

Elissa took some time out of her busy schedule and gave some insights into her current release A Whisper to A Scream and her writing process.

Q: Which aspects of the work that you put into the book did you find most difficult?

A. A Whisper to a Scream is the story of Queen Thomas, a successful defense attorney who is very passionate about defending the African American male. She has seen that the justice system has not been so fair and kind to them, so it is her mission to save as many of these men as she possibly can. A speedbump comes along in the form of Dr. Quincy Hughes which makes her question everything she’s believed in and has fought for, for so long. The interracial element of the book was the most difficult part to write effectively. I had to do a lot of research, because I had no direct knowledge or experience with interracial relationships, so in order to make it authentic, I had to really work hard.

Q: Which did you enjoy most?

A. I challenged myself on so many levels with A Whisper to a Scream. Queen Thomas is an African American defense attorney, so I had to research to make sure that the courtroom drama was real. In addition to that, I needed to highlight the domestic violence parts of the book. Poetry is something that is laced throughout the book as well as the recurring theme of “whispers” and “screams” so this was the most technical book I’ve ever written. I enjoyed the challenge of having a book that was so well thought out and well written. That was my goal and I enjoyed reaching that goal.

Q: What sets the book apart from the other things you have written?

A. A Whisper to a Scream has many of the same things that my other books have, including romance, erotica, poetry. What sets this book apart is that it is interracial and some of the subject matter that I tackle in the book are very intense, including race, domestic violence, mental illness and the criminal justice system.

Q: In what way is it similar?

A. You’ll find Elissa Gabrielle’s signature style of writing in A Whisper to a Scream. The chapters alternate so that you can hear the perspective of the main characters. All of this is laced in a sexy, moving and emotionally charged ride. You’ll get that in all of my novels.

Q: What will your next book be about?

A. 1. My next book is Eye of the Beholder which comes in 2010. It is the story of two souls that find one another. They ultimately realize that beauty is skin deep and what truly matters when it comes to affairs of the heart, is what lies within the heart and in the soul. Very emotional tale of love and self-acceptance.

Thanks for stopping by AWD, Elissa!

A Whisper to A Scream will be available November 1st at the Peace in the Storm Publishing store and wherever books are sold!

Check out more of Elissa Gabrielle's books and other works on the web!

http://www.elissagabrielle.com

http://www.myspace.com/elissagabrielle

http://www.peaceinthestormpublishing.com

Dressing the Blog & Hopping around the blogosphere

2009-10-02T22:15:00.000-07:00

Ahh! My blog is naked!

Sorry I haven't updated lately. I've been addicted to the short 140 character tweet-a-thon at Twitter and the mini updates from Facebook that I haven't had time to post a good and healthy blog here.

Don't worry, I shall return.

I'm currently working on a few projects at the same time so I'm a big scatter brained.

If you're jonesing for some Rae bloggy goodness, I'd love to invite you to on over to my Paranormal Romantics posting for this week. Just in case you want to add to that growing TBR pile, I have a few book suggestions you should add to your cart. There's also some goodies from my fellow Paranormal Romantics there!

Also feel free to stop on over to my posting this month at Pop Culture Divas. October is a time for paranormal, horror and dark fantasy goodies so come on down and share some of your fave Oct. happenings this month!

I'll be chipping away at these projects in the mean time but I'll be back with more posts when I can.

Until then...

Happy writing and reading!!

Boom Boom Satellites - Techno Rock Magic

2009-09-25T01:54:00.000-07:00

I love Boom Boom Satellites. If they had a fan badge, I would grab on and put it on this blog.

Ever since watching the first CG Appleseed movie, I've been hooked on the soundtrack, particularly the song Dive For You. The song comes on the movie during a particularly awesome and somewhat twisty fight scene. Ever since then, I had it in my head and on repeat as I thought about some scenes in my current Sci-Fi Romance. The song has a rockin' beat, catchy lyrics and a sound you can't help bouncin' your head to. They have a sound that's distinctly futuristic/cyberpunk and I think that's one reason I love them so much.

I checked out Boom Boom Satellites and noticed they were a group from Japan. Not to mention Michiyuki Kawashima, the vocals and guitarist, was a yummy yummy guy. The band consists of Michi and Masayuki Nakano on bass. Not only did they do the soundtrack from Appleseed, they also did another anime feature length favorite Vexille.

I'm a relatively new fan, but I'm definitely going to be checking out more of their music on their currently released albums. I'm already hooked on their soundtracks!

State of Publishing, Sci-Fi Romance & a Free Kresley Cole Ebook

2009-09-18T16:14:00.000-07:00

Okay I know I'm supposed to be taking time off but I came across some good articles on the state of the publishing industry that I wanted to pass on as sort of an index post.

With the news that the digitally pirated editions of Dan Brown's latest has reached more readers than the print version, publishers are up in arms and people are talking about how digital is quickly moving away from niche to the a possible future of reading solely digital works. One school library in Boston already got rid of their entire paperback library as they move into digital format.

“When I look at books, I see an outdated technology, like scrolls before books,’’ said headmaster James Tracy.

Thanks to my fellow writing buddy author J. Hali Steele for link about the Nathan Bransford posting.

And we shall begin.

Agent Nathan Bransford posted earlier this week about if authors will need publisher's in the near future. (Hint: Cloudy with a chance of maybe). Be sure to read the comments because a lot of posters bring up some very good points. Author Mark Terry makes a really good one:

What seems to be missing from your analysis is marketing and publicity. Once upon a time publishers did it, but now they primarily do it with bestsellers. If things shift to e-publishing, that can be a very strong negotiating point for an author (aside from a cash advance, I suppose). "Okay, sure, I'll stay with you guys if you put X number of dollars into print ads, get me a shot on Today, and send me on a 10-city book tour scrawling my signature on the back of everybody's Kindle."

Editorial Assistant Moonrat posted a link on her blog to a detailed insiders overview of how the publishing industry works. Grab a drink before hand.

Financial success in front-list publishing is very often random, but the media conglomerates that run most publishing houses act as if it were not. Yes, you may be able to count on a new novel by Surething Jones becoming a big bestseller. But the bestseller lists paint nothing even remotely like the full financial picture of any publication. Because that painting's most important commerce color is the size of the advance. The second-most important color is the general level of book-buying

E-book distributor Fictionwise is pulling an Amazon 1984 totalitarian situation with yanking books already sold. Their reasoning is that it's outside of the geographical restrictions (think DVDs and their regions) so it was a boo boo on their part for selling them to customers out of the zone. Now they're amending it. Customers are speaking out (check the comments at the Teleread site) and noticing the changes in Fictionwise since Barnes and Noble acquired them earlier this year. Not sure how long FW will be around considering Barnes and Noble opened their own ebook store recently and the acquisition could have been a way to eliminate the competition to level them up to Amazon Kindle/Sony Reader levels.

Word around Readerland is that the upcoming tablet Apple reader will knock out all other ereaders if done well. Considering Apple's ties over Itunes with audio books and music being the primo place for buying both, the same can happen with ebooks like crazy and complete the shift into the digital age. The tablet may pop up before Christmas if rumors are correct. Last month, Apple Insider reported that Apple were evaluating 4-12 inch screens as it gets closer to their entry into the tablet and sub-notebook market. PalmAddicts chimed in with an overview and some very awesome looking renderings of what the tablet may look like. This is one to watch.

See Amazon emerge. Watch Amazon Grow. Now Amazon is selling their own content (a la Costco's Kirkland brand) and it's expected the company may eventually grow into it's own publishing company. Not surprising considering the big NY pubs are owned by larger corporations themselves.

Heather Massey over at The Galaxy Express just posted about a Science Fiction romance feature at Romantic Times Magazine! This is pretty big considering how the magazine is widely read. She gives a full overview of what is included in the spotlight and it's awesome.

She also gives a fabulous list of Print Publishers (Part 1) who are looking for SFR and also Digital/Small Press Publishers (Part 2) who are on the look out for it. Authors get your subs ready!

Whew! And now for your goodie link for getting to the end of the post! ;-)

Bestselling PNR/Historical author Kresley Cole of the Immortals After Dark series is giving away a special edition free (yes FREE) ebook download of her novella The Warlord Wants Forever which kicks off her 'Immortals' series. It's only available a limited time so grab it while you can! Direct download is available here.

And with that.

Have a good weekend everyone!!

When Movies Get it Spot On

2009-09-16T19:46:00.000-07:00

Time to take some time off the interwebs again to recoop the ole tired brain. TBR pile here I come! Tomorrow I'm posting at Paranormal Romantics and then I'll be away. I'll probably pop back soon.

Yep, it's been one of those weeks lol.

Does anyone else feel like they should be watching a Zach Braff coming of age movie whenever they hear a John Mayer song?

No? Just me? Okay.

(Even though I do like his music and Garden State is one of my fave films)

Grabbing my pen and paper and wandering off into the void.

Wait a minute, I need some inspiration to take with me.

There we go!

Against the Odds by Jewel Adams

2009-09-11T17:39:00.000-07:00

Against the Odds is good ole fashioned romance wrapped in your favorite blanket. I really enjoyed the author's voice in this story and the way she presented the story, although not traditionally romance, was a nice welcome addition to the genre.

As we open, our heroine Raine is getting a divorce from her cheating husband Jerome. She moves to New Mexico, leaving the comforts of her home and her high paying modeling job, to start anew on her friend Caroline and David's farm. As she settles in, she gets to know the farm hands, an easy going life and eventually David's brother Hayden. Although interest is there for both Raine and Hayden, they start out as friends and get to know each other before entering a romantic relationship. As they continue their relationship, they battle people and life as they try to find their own happily ever after.

The trials and tribulations the couple face aren't entirely complex more so than life itself getting in the way. People with a certain viewpoint for how they should live their lives and who they should be with try to deter the couple. And Hayden himself who has been burned and used to living by himself for so long has some trouble breaking down his walls. I loved that he was a complex characters who, although an easy going sweet-natured sexy country boy also had tendencies of a romantic Alpha hero when his family or those he loved were threatened.

The story is written in first person and it reads like a close girlfriend writing you a letter as she gets on with her life. Raine is a character you can relate to with a good head on her shoulders and a good heart. You want to see her finally find the happiness with Hayden who quickly became one of my fave romance heroes as we got to know him. The first person narrative doesn't allow for getting to know him intimately as some romance heroes but Raine does give an idea for his personality and background through her descriptions. I have to say, I adored the ending which doesn't just end at the altar. We get to see Hayden and Raine's family and how Hayden dotes over his children (which is too cute).

If you're looking for a contemporary romance on the sweeter side and gives you a good feeling by the time you get to the end, I recommend picking up Against the Odds. Jewel Adams is another author I'm definitely going to keep an eye on. I'll also be checking out her other works available.

Against the Odds is now available in Ebook & Print formats.

C heck out more of Jewel Adams' work on her website

Back in the Saddle Again

2009-09-09T00:16:00.000-07:00

The sucky/cool thing about long weekends is you get an extra few days to be lazy and slack off. Woo hoo. But then when those days are over, you feel like Rip Van Winkle and wonder where the heck the past few days went!

Well, I'm wondering the latter and now it's time to get back to work. I've got a YA story I want to write for a call for anthology at a new small press and I need to practice butt in the chair syndrome. Diving in and just writing the darn thing. Of course I'm posting this a few minutes past my bedtime but I figure I'd write it here so I can dream about it and hopefully wake up ready to write like I've never written before!

At least a gal can hope. ;-)

I have a short list of projects I need to finish before deadlines: a fantasy for a Wizard anthology, another YA for an upcoming antho, an academic romance paper and a book to start waay later. I'd rather dip into some short projects first so I don't have to spend too long before hitting the finish line. It's already September and...whoa! I just realized it's 09-09-09. The geek in me is squeeing as we speak.

Anyway, October will be here in no time when edits will start on A Feast of Shadows and hopefully I'll clear my short works before then.

Time to break out the old word count meters!

First I must tackle the books in my reading pile I haven't had a chance to read in the past few days. Looking forward to diving back into them!

Later today starts a new cycle.

Quick News - Where to Find Rae Around the Blogosphere

2009-09-03T22:38:00.000-07:00

Hey folks!

Giving you a quick note because I'll be making some appearances for the next few days and I invite you to come on down, check out some of my posts, comment if you like and take a look around my new digs.

First off, I posted about Musings on Writing today over at Paranormal Romantics and chatted a bit about my previous writing formats.

Tomorrow is my inaugural post over at PopCultureDivas. A wonderful place for lots of musings on media stuffs and all sorts of goodies you'll want to check out. I'll be introducing myself and talking a little bit about living in our virtual future, which includes some info on Second Life. If you ever wanted to join or wondered what it was all about, feel free to stop on by.

Speaking about Second Life, Saturday I'll be chatting about theme and character for the upcoming Novel Writers class. Stop by Saturday at 6 pm SLT (PST) and bring your work!

For the month of September, Coffee Time Romance is hosting a Reader's Retreat for Freya's Bower and Wild Child Publishing authors! I'll be joining the fun in the main forum and also my own thread where I'll answer any q's you may have or just hang around for a bit of book chatting. ;-) Come on down and join me and the other authors! You may have some goodies to add to your reading list!

Finally, the September newsletter should be going out next week. The month came upon me quickly and took me off guard so I'm preparing for some big news, a new cover to possibly share and some other goodies you may want to check out. You can join on the front of my site and don't forget to check out the fun questions when you sign up. :-)

That should be it for now. Stay tuned!

September Spotlight on Author Brian Moreland

2009-09-01T00:01:00.000-07:00

This month, A Writer's Dream welcomes a renaissance man and dreamer: Brian Moreland. I'm happy to have him at AWD this month to share his work in books, film & video and also a little bit about living the writer's dream. He shares such stories about his journey through publishing on his own blog over at Adventures in Writing (aspiring authors take note) along with a little bit of his background a producer and film/video editor. His portfolio includes editing the documentary Band of Champions, as well as a slew of corporate videos under his belt. I found it really cool that his latest project is a World War II documentary about his grandfather called My Grandfather's Story which he also showcases at his blog.

This month, Brian shares his latest release along with his writing background and influences.

Q: When did you decide you wanted to be a writer?

I started dreaming about being a writer when I was in high school. I loved books. I remember going to the paperback racks at the grocery store and just staring at all the book covers. The artwork inspired me to imagine the stories inside each book. I saw books as parallel worlds you can travel into, escape from every day reality. In high school I wanted to be the next Stephen King. I attempted my first novel, writing by hand on a yellow tablet. My wrist got tired, so I quit after about five pages. My freshman year in college I learned to type on Microsoft Word and that made writing much easier for me. At age 19, I wrote my first full-length horror novel and the feeling of accomplishment was such a rush. It was like this story just poured out of my soul. I had so much fun just letting my imagination run wild and making up this imaginary world. I created a group of characters who were like real people to me, living in an alternate universe. After writing all semester and completing my first novel, I was hooked. A novelist was born. I changed majors from business finance to creative writing and screenwriting. From that day on I was determined to make a living writing and publishing novels.

Q: How would you describe the genre in which you do most of your writing?

Even though I write mostly supernatural horror and suspense, I love writing cross-genre novels that include mystery, romance, and history, as well. My first novel, Shadows in the Mist, which is set during World War II, is very much a war novel interwoven with a supernatural mystery based on the Nazis and the Occult. There are scary moments, as well as an adventure story about an infantry platoon leader and his platoon who have to cross enemy lines to fulfill a top-secret mission. I also included espionage and conspiracy theory to drive the plot, so it’s very complex. I’m a big fan of Dean Koontz who is a master at mixing genres and giving his readers a multidimensional book. That’s my aim, as well. While my publisher categorizes my novel as horror, the story encompasses much more than just your typical horror novel. I’ve been surprised by how many readers who don’t read horror have told me how much they enjoyed the book. I think of Shadows in the Mist as more of an adventure novel with a supernatural mystery and lots of suspense, and hopefully a wider audience that includes men and women can enjoy the book.

Q: Who would you say has influenced you the most?

I’ve already mentioned two of my influences, Stephen King and Dean Koontz. A couple of others are Robert R. McCammon and John Saul. When I was a teen, I read a good number of their books and studied how each of these four authors wrote fast-moving action and scary scenes. I modeled each of them, especially Dean Koontz. I wanted my stories to grip the reader from the first page and not let go until the last page. As an adult I got to learn from John Saul at a writer’s retreat, and when I was struggling to finish my novel, he encouraged me to keep writing, saying, “Just finish the damn book!” John Saul gave me the motivation I needed to stick with my dream of being a published author. I was also greatly influenced by movies. When I was a kid, from age five on up, I used to watch monster movies with my mom every weekend. That was before cable or DVD’s. I remember every Saturday and Sunday one of our local stations aired back-to-back creature features: classic monster movies like Dracula and The Wolfman and Creature from the Black Lagoon, as well as Sci-Fi movies like Day of the Triffids and Island of Dr. Moreau. I loved monsters and the adrenaline I felt being scared. My love for horror movies eventually led me to reading scary books and that opened up a whole new experience for me. Instead of watching people on screen running from monsters, I was suddenly inside the head of a character, feeling as if the monsters were after me. As a reader, I got the full visceral experience of being the hero. Reading novels also activated my imagination, and I began to dream up my own stories.

Q: Do you write everyday? How much time do you spend on your writing?

I don’t write every day. I wish I did, but I’m not a full-time author just yet. I still have another career as a video editor/producer, which can be demanding at times, so I spend some weeks focused on earning the paycheck. Sometimes my personal life can offer it’s own distractions, like the car needing to get fixed. Also, now that I have a novel out, I spend several hours each week focused on book promotion and corresponding with readers. I get a lot more emails than I used to. I also write a blog “Coaching for Writers” which offers tips to writers on how to be more successful. So for now I write in stages. When I’m in between projects, which is every couple of weeks, I focus on my book writing. Some weeks I get up at 4:00 or 5:00 a.m. and write for a three hours before work. When not working on a video project, I’ll write all day for a week to ten days straight, writing as fast as my hands can type. On average, I probably write 10 to 15 days a month, just not all in a row. As a part-time writer once said to me, “I write in between the margins of life.”

Q: What will your next book be about?

My next novel, Dead of Winter, is nearly complete. I’ve been writing and doing research on it for two and a half years. It is also a historical horror novel, this time set in Ontario, Canada in 1870. It’s the middle of winter and a remote fur-trading fort is isolated by a series of blizzards. There is something evil in the storm that is stalking the fort villagers and spreading a vicious disease that turns people into cannibals. The novel is based on a Native Canadian legend and an event that really happened to a fort in Quebec. My main character is a British detective from Montreal who teams up with a French priest who is also an exorcist. Both men have past connections with the evil that’s behind all the killings. The epic mystery is very complex with numerous characters and subplots. There are plenty of twists and turns and white-knuckle moments. My goal is to have it in print by late 2010 or 2011.

Shadows in the Mist of Available Now in stores!

and other Venders

Check out more about Brian Moreland and his books on the web

http://www.BrianMoreland.com

http://www.CoachingforWriters.com

http://www.BrianMoreland.blogspot.com