Giveaway & Review: DYING BY THE HOUR by Kory Shrum

If you missed my first post interviewing and gushing about the talented Kory Shrum, you can catch up by reading it HERE. I adored the first book in Kory's Jesse Sullivan series, DYING FOR A LIVING. And I adore the second book, DYING BY THE HOUR, even more!

After 83 deaths, Jesse Sullivan knows how to die. As a Necronite, she is one of the population’s rare 2% who can serve as a death replacement agent, dying so others don’t have to. But using her NRD to save lives is why she’s being hunted.

For Ally Gallagher, death is permanent. If she fails to protect Jesse again, there will be no third attempt. After a quiet year the signs of serious danger have returned. People connected to Jesse are disappearing. Her home is vandalized and threatening messages are turning up in the safest of places.

Then Jesse is taken and Ally has only hours to get her back. But no salvation comes without its price.

My official review: Sexy, Snarky, & Supernaturally Fantastic! This one has it all! Just as awesome as the first! There was a lot more tension and action in this sequel to Dying for a Living. There was also a second POV, from Ally, Jesse's friend/coworker/love interest. I usually don't care for the alternating views when a book is written in first person, but it really made this story that much better. Ally's adventures were critically insightful, and a very interesting contract to Jesse's. This was much darker and more intense than the first book, but I was glad that Shrum still maintained the snark and humor I so enjoy in her work!

To celebrate the release of her much anticipated sequel, Kory is giving away all kinds of awesome goodies!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

You can also chat with Kory and win more goodies after her blog tour concludes, at the Facebook Afterparty on September 16th HERE.

Kory M. Shrum lives in Michigan with her partner and a ferocious guard pug. She has dabbled in everything from fortune telling to martial arts and when not reading or writing, she can be found teaching, traveling, and wearing a gi. She is author of the urban fantasy novels Dying for a Living and Dying by the Hour. She'd love to hear from you on Facebook, Twitter, or her blog: www.korymshrum.com 

Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads 

 

New Series by Monica La Porta: The Immortals

One of my favorite things about being a writer is making friends with other writers... because then I get to read their new releases before everyone else! Yay!!! Seriously though, writers are readers first, so this is a definite squee for me. ♥

I've know Monica La Porta for a little over a year now. We "met" when YA author Clare Davidson invited us both to participate in a big online giveaway. Then Jason Graves, another author in the giveaway, invited us to submit stories for an anthology, OFF THE BEATEN PATH. Monica and I have followed and reviewed each others books for a while now, and I recently recruited her for my online critique group and for a plot panel at the RT Booklovers Convention in Dallas next year! (Yay!!!!)

While I'm a big fan of Monica's Ginecean Chronicles, I was really excited when I found out she was starting a new series, and even more excited when I learned that she was dipping into mythology! There are vampires in there too.... but I'm definitely Team Immortals. The Lost Centurion is the first installment of The Immortals. I can't show you the cover yet, since Monica will be revealing that on Thursday. But I can show you this billboard teaser....

Marcus has sworn to avenge his wife's death—even if it takes an eternity to hunt down the vampire who murdered her. Once a Roman Centurion, Marcus is now immortal and, for the past two thousand years, impervious to human emotions. Until the night he rescues Diana…

Diana knew nothing of the paranormal world until her transformation into a vampling, a newborn vampire entirely reliant for survival upon the distant and seemingly emotionless Centurion, who found her in the throes of changing. Her protector turned her without her consent, but at his untimely death, she becomes the cold immortal’s responsibility.

The entire vampire community is determined to kill Marcus as he protects one of their own. While Marcus and Diana travel the Italian countryside, being chased by their enemies, Marcus must choose between avenging his dead wife or saving Diana from the same vampire who ruined his life. Bewitched by the Amalfi moon, he soon discovers his heart has already decided for him.

My review: I really enjoyed how this was a novel with vampires... but not really about vampires. I'm definitely more drawn to the Roman history of the Immortals. The colorful look at Italy was fun too, and though I thought the plot would be predictable at the beginning, I was delighted when it shifted gears and went off in a direction I would have never guessed. Paranormal romance and suspense done fresh and done right.

Monica La Porta is an Italian who landed in Seattle several years ago. Despite popular feelings about the Northwest weather, she finds the mist and the rain the perfect conditions to write. Being a strong advocate of universal acceptance and against violence in any form and shape, she is also glad to have landed precisely in Washington State. 

She is the author of The Ginecean Chronicles, a dystopian/science fiction series set on the planet Ginecea where women rule over a race of enslaved men and heterosexual love is considered a sin. She has published the first four books in the series, The Priest, Pax in the Land of Women, Prince at War, and Marie's Journey. 

She just released two new NA paranormal romances, Gaia, and Elios. She also wrote and illustrated a children's book about the power of imagination, The Prince's Day Out. Her published short, Linda of the Night, is a fairytale love story celebrating inner beauty. She has a new series, The Immortals, coming out soon, a paranormal saga set in Rome. Stop by her blog to read about her miniatures, sculptures, paintings, and her beloved beagle, Nero. Sometimes, she also posts about her writing.

Find Monica all across the interwebs...

Blog | Twitter | Goodreads | Amazon

Be sure to check out Monica's blog on Thursday for the big cover reveal! 

 

RT14 NOLA Round Up

We got back from New Orleans on Sunday, and we're still recovering...

The RT Booklovers Convention was a blast! Hands down, best week ever! I hardly know where to begin, so I'll just take it from the top...

Monday (May 11th), was a blur. I packed and unpacked half a dozen times before I finally decided that yes, I did need all eight pairs of shoes I'd picked out. Good thing we weren't flying. After my parents picked up our minion, Paul and I cranked up the music and popped open a bottle of wine as we finished organizing everything and going over our OCD checklists for the nth time. I swear, I need to find a little kitchen sink key-chain thingamabob, just so I can say I didn't forget it. 

After we played Jenga with our luggage Tuesday morning, we were off! I'll spare you all the exhilarating details of our 14 hour car ride. When we got to the hotel around 9pm, the plan was to go to bed early so we'd be nice and refreshed in the morning. Hahahaha That didn't happen. I think we saw 2:30am. There were just too many people to meet! Seriously. We made a lot of new friends last week. From all over the world. Also, we had our books shipped to the hotel for the book fair, and they were waiting for us. 

Backwoods Armageddon!

Paul's first book (my fifth), and this is the first time he got to hold a physical copy in his hands. I had to capture the moment. ♥

More squee-worthy photos...

 Charlaine Harris!!!! Ahhhh!!! I adore her. She was so very sweet and funny. 

I'm glad I got a picture with her, because I didn't have time to track her down later and get books signed. The lines were super cray this year.

With E. L. James at 3:30am. Yeah, not even my camera was sober at that hour. Shay, a lovely blogger with very soft hands (I'm a hand holder when I'm tanked, FYI) spotted James in the lounge and let me tag along to meet her. She was so nice! It must be something about RT. I didn't meet one unpleasant person all week.

Darynda Jones (2nd from the right--next to Chloe Neil!) was also another author I was really excited to meet in person. Her Charley Davidson series is fantastic! It's about reapers. How could it not be awesome? ; )

Kim Harrison!!! (on the left) I adore her too. Also, crazy lines at her tables. I did wait in one to get some books signed, but I skipped getting a picture taken with her, because I didn't want to get mauled by fans. I nabbed this picture at the humor panel she was on, moderated by Trent Hart (on the right). Really great info! Glad I took notes. Trent did a lot for RT this year, and we ran into each other in the elevator at one point. We had emailed a few times, but I didn't recognize him right off. He said my name, and I'm sure the look I gave him was of pure panic. I'm usually pretty good with names and faces. Convention tip: Look at the name badge! That's Tiffany Reisz under the center arrow. She writes steamy erotica, and I got to hang out with her in the lounge later that night, after visiting with Lucienne Diver, agent/author extraordinaire. If you're a fan of my Lana series and love mythology, you have to check out Lucienne's Latter-Day Olympians series! So much fun! 

Rachel busted out a deck of Cards Against Humanity, which is my new favorite game. It's so wrong and yet so right! This was my first time playing, and I won! We decided the grand prize would be the mystery box of cheesecake we found in our booth. lol

Next to Lucienne is Tristan Smith, a cover model who works with Jenn LeBlanc, to his left. In addition to being a great model, Tristan is an all around nice guy. He's raising money for a friend of his who was badly injured in an automobile accident. Find out how you can help HERE. 

I met Jenn LeBlanc last year at RT13 in Kansas City. She creates amazing covers, and she writes too! She moderated a fun cover design panel this year with Tristan.

 Speaking of cover models....

I went to the "Jade Lee Lampoons the Writing Life", where this guy (I believe they were calling him Scotty McHottie) posed as a were-dolphin for a mock cover shoot. I ♥ Jade Lee. She's so much fun! Pretty sure my husband still blames her for getting me hooked on Plants vs. Zombies though. lol

Alcoholic keepsakes. Remember: Write drunk. Edit sober. 

The book fair was cray. Over 700 authors. It was Paul's first official signing, so that was exciting too!

I sat next to a very charming man in a bow-tie, Joshua Roots. His work has been compared to Jim Butcher's. I just downloaded the first in his series today! 

Here are some balloon animals. The clown said I was special, so I got two! Not creepy at all...

Partay!!!

 Mardis Gras World!

The marketing panel I moderated was a huge success! Lisa Kessler talked about Facebook parties. Sierra Dean talked about the right ways to use Twitter. Paul Ross covered one-on-one sales, and I discussed putting together a charity/launch party on a budget. If you missed the panel and didn't get one of the goody bags with a handout, you can download it here:

I'm already putting together a panel proposal for next year. The ladies in charge get the ball rolling early. It's a huge event, so they really have to. 

There were so many more wonderful people! I know I'm missing some names I should be giving a shout-out to.... J. Hali Steel, Alexis Flemming, Bobbie Cole, Jenna Jacob... Mia Marshall, Gretchen Stull, Lisa Medley. Really, it was a blast getting to visit with you all!

I'll catch you lovelies in Dallas next year! In the meantime... Keep Calm and Read On! 

xoxo

Writer Brain...

I’d like to just call it ADD, but I’m pretty sure this has something to do with being a writer. I’m all set: big mug of coffee, writer hat firmly in place, two paragraphs into rewrites for chapter six… when suddenly, I need to know all about nuclear submarines. Most of my kindred author friends would respond with, I know, right? So off to the interwebs I go to hit up the Google gods for words of wisdom, much like climbing the temple steps of Delphi to consult with Apollo’s oracles. The answers I find are, all at once, vastly more thorough than oracle riddles, and yet, still obscure enough that I’m still not quite sure what the hell I’m doing… three hours later. 

Oracles. The original magic 8 ball.

The answer is "not likely." In my hand? Oh, that's just a laurel branch.

I'll take my payment in the form of Doritos and Cheez Whiz now.

About this time, a Facebook notification pops up, and like a sucker, I have to look. Someone in my writing critique group has posted something awesome. I’m reminded of the anthology we’re thinking about putting together. Research mode dissolves into brainstorm mode, and I start thinking about future projects we might do. A few of us write morbidly comic urban fantasy. There are reapers and zombies and vampires, oh my! So some word play on death would be fun. Like Dead Sexy or something less cliché…. Maybe a fun twisty pun on a sensual expression like ménage a trois? But how should it be manipulated? I look up the literal translation…. a household of three. Not too smutty, honestly, but the French words hold more weight here in the US. So something like ménage a morte could work, right? Or does that sound too much like necrophilia?

The website I’m researching the origins of ménage a trois on has links to polygamy, polyamory, and polyandry sites. One of my best friends has two husbands… so I follow the link, thinking I might find something fun to share with her. I read some legendary tale about a woman from ancient times (whose name I can’t pronounce) who had five husbands who were all brothers. Literally, brother husbands. This page has more links, from temple prostitution to concubines to ancient cultural norms. Another hour slips by.

I finally look up at the clock and realize it’s after 3am. FUCK. I have 300 words… and I still don’t know how many goddamned people it takes to operate a nuclear submarine. I click back on the first page I found with a cutout diagram of a submarine… and notice a little link in the sidebar for mini submarines, for leisure or research purposes. I click it, and my brain explodes. I delete the 300 words I wrote four hours ago and vow to start over fresh in the morning.

I'd still like to know how many freaking people it takes to run a sub... but I'm starting to think that might be classified information. Or maybe the Google gods are smiting me. Either way, my ADD/Writer Brain has given up. The book must go on.

Wishing you all visions of sugarplums.... unless you're a writer too. In that case, may the Google gods bless you and keep you well informed. Amen.

Happy New Year FREEBIE & News

Hey! Happy New Year! .... a couple weeks late. Yeah, so you can see how well my resolution to blog more is going. lol

I intended for this to be a vlog (Is that word even used anymore?), but now that my kiddo can vault over his playpen, he pretty much has full run of the house, although he prefers hanging from my head and limbs like Curious George. Plus, the tech guy is here to switch us from Dish to DirectTV. Fingers crossed that all goes well, because BITTEN premiers tonight on Syfy!!! 10pm EST, but I'm CST, so that's 9pm for me. Woot!




I'm a big fan of Kelley Armstrong's Women of the Otherworld series, so I'm giddy right now! I got to meet Ms. Armstrong at the RT Booklover's Convention back in May of last year, and she was super nice. She was moderating a panel for Teen Day. To be honest, I'm not a huge reader of YA, but I've been getting into it lately. So last night, I picked up The Summoning, the first book in Armstrong's Darkest Powers YA series. I meant to read for 30 minutes, and then write for 2 hours before bed.... instead I read for 4 hours, until I finished the book at 1am. Then I had to go grab the second book out of my office and read the first few chapters... so no writing for me last night. I'll play catch up today... and reward myself with more reading tomorrow. hehehe

In other news, Graveyard Shift, the first novel of my Lana Harvey, Reapers Inc. series, is FREE on Kindle and Smashwords (for all other formats) through the month of January. If you're suffering from the post holiday spending blues and haven't already checked out the Lanaverse, enjoy the freebie! 

 
I've already started preparing for the next RT convention this May in New Orleans! I'm moderating a marketing panel with my husband and coauthor, Paul Ross, as well as authors Lisa Kessler and Sierra Dean. Should be oodles of fun, and I can't wait! I'll have a few crafty videos to share in the near future, since there are some fabulous costume parties, and I have some fancy things to design for them. Plus, there's lots of fun giveaways coming up for the New Year, and that resolution to blog more, so check back soon! 

xoxo

We Survived the Prombie Apocalypse 2013!

It has been eleven days since the Prombie Apocalypse in Sedalia, MO, and I still feel like I'm recovering. lol We had such a great time!!! Here is a brief history of how this event came to be... since you're all in for a round two next year!

Back in July of this year (2013), my honey and I were hanging out in Grand Central Station (a.k.a. our living room) and we were discussing my new book, Crazy Ex-Ghoulfriend, which was due to release in October. I have three other titles out in my urban fantasy series, Lana Harvey, Reapers Inc., but this was going to be my first YA novel. I wanted to do something BIG to celebrate the release. In the past, I've always done book signings and blog tours. (btw There's a blog tour for Crazy Ex-Ghoulfriend going on right now! I'm giving away a paperback, a few ebooks, and a $20 Amazon card. Check it out HERE.) I wanted to do something more to commemorate this new genre I was diving into, and I also wanted to do something nice to give back to the community I grew up in. With it being so close to Halloween, and the novel themes of zombies and prom, the idea of the Prombie Apocalypse sprang forth effortlessly. Also, with the Sedalia Public Library preparing to move back to their original building, after the big remodel, raising money for new books seemed like a worthy cause. My honey, being the supportive and adventurous guy that he is, said, "That sounds like a swell idea!" So our work began...

After finding a venue (the Convention Hall at Liberty Park), we secured insurance for the event. Then we began hoarding decorations and other party necessities (i.e. raffle prizes, crowns for the Royally Undead Court, table centerpieces, fog machine, brain jello mold, ect.). Next, we commissioned one of Sedalia's favorite karoke DJs, Char Mickle, and a photo booth from Turpin Photography. We had tickets and flyers printed. We also reached out to the SFCC vo-tech Graph Design class, and they did a tee shirt design challenge for the event. We talked to the radio and newspaper about our plans. We also sought out some fantastic sponsors! 

Sponsors and raffle donors include: Sedalia Reader's World, Stone Laser Imaging, Kay's Bridal & Tuxedo, The Academy of Salon Professionals, The Gallery Salon & Spa, Preferred Properties, Formal Affairs, Woods Supermarket, The Sedalia News Journal, 92.3 Bob FM, Precision Paint & Auto Body, and Pepsi. 

As with any event this big, there was the last minute hand grenade. In our case, it was the insurance, one of the first things we secured. We received a call 4 days before the event stating that underwriting had decided they couldn't insure us. They had even sent us a certificate the month before. : ( So we ran around at the last minute trying to find new insurance. Most places told us it was too short notice for them to put together a bid. When we were just shy of heart failure, Ahrazue Wilt with American Family Insurance in Sedalia came to our rescue! She even found us a great price.

Everything finally came together, and we had a great time! Here are some pictures and a final shout-out to all the fantastic people and businesses who helped us make the night a huge hit!
 





So there you have it. Come join us on the Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/PrombieApocalypse 

We'll be discussing themes for next year, music selection, and also, as with this year, we'll have the court nominations and tee shirt designs up on the page for voting! You'll also be the first to know when tickets go on sale. Can't wait to see you all again next year for a spooky good time!

Crazy Ex-Ghoulfriend & the Prombie Apocalypse Giveaway

This was intended to be a video blog, which is why it's so terribly late. My office is crammed full of books that I don't have enough shelf space for and decorations for the Prombie Apocalypse.... plus, I look like a real life zombie right now, due to a severe case of sleep deprivation. It's one part insomnia, one part todolistitis (I'm no doctor, but this condition seems pretty legit to me), and one part night owl kiddo (what can I say, he has my genes).

If you follow me on Facebook or Twitter, then you probably have an idea of what this is all about, but either way, here are all the nitty gritty details....

My new book, CRAZY EX-GHOULFRIEND, is out!!! Woot! It's available on Amazon, Kindle, Nook, and a zillion other places. It's also available at Sedalia Reader's World.

To celebrate the release, I decided to do more than just a book signing. This may be my fourth novel, but it's my first YA novel, and it's my first venture away from the comfort zone of my Lana series. I wanted to do something BIG. I also wanted to do something to give back to the community that I grew up in. There isn't a lot for teens to do in my little hometown, and with Halloween just around the corner and the macabre nature of my new book, a zombie themed prom seemed like a great idea!

And that's how the Prombie Apocalypse came to be...

The party is for teens as well as zombie lovers of all ages. It will take place on Saturday, October 19th, 2013, from 6-10pm at Convention Hall in Liberty Park, Sedalia, MO. The tickets are $8 at Sedalia Reader's World. There will be refreshments, karaoke, and a photo booth. We'll also be hosting a Zombie Walk-Off contest that Stone Laser Imaging is designing a trophy for. And we'll be naming a zombie king, queen, prince, and princess. There is still time to upload and vote for nominees on the Prombie Apocalypse Facebook page. Nominees can also be voted for via the tear-off stubs on the event tickets. The SFCC graphic design vo-tech seniors have also submitted tee shirt designs to be voted for on the event page. The winning design will be printed on shirts to be sold at the event. All profit from the ticket and shirt sales will be going towards purchasing new books for the Sedalia Public Library.

Additional brain donors (sponsors) include Preferred Properties of Sedalia, Kay's Bridal & Tuxedo, Woods Supermarket & Pharmacy, The Gallery Salon & Spa, Academy of Salon Professionals, Sedalia News Journal, 92.3 Bob FM, and Bilan Gomez of Bee's Knees Home Bakery. You can check everyone out in the giveaway links below. Like their Facebook pages to earn more entries for a chance to win one of three CRAZY EX-GHOULFRIEND ebooks, or the grand prize of a bound copy and 2 tickets to the Prombie Apocalypse.

a Rafflecopter giveaway