Yes, Virginia, I AM An Idiot

I just got a contract for Only In My Dreams. Why does that make me an idiot? THIS is why that makes me an idiot:

I contacted Angie to find out why I'd gotten the contract. I thought it was a mistake for some reason. She said, "Didn't you see where I said you'd be getting one?"

"No," my reply was.

"Surprise!" was hers.

The bigger surprise? The Coming Soon section in Dare To Believe that states that Only In My Dreams is, well, coming soon. D'oh. So Bunny got put on hold for a day for paperwork, but it was happy paperwork. Still, I feel like a bit of an idiot. You'd think I would have noticed that little thing in the back of my own book.

That's going to make me chuckle for a few days.

So that's two contracts this month and I'm feeling pretty good. Happy birthday to me!

Bunny Update

Now that the initial mad rush of "OHMYGODIT'SOUT!" is over, I can set aside the promo I've been doing for Dare To Believe and get back to work on Bunny. I'll still be promo'ing for the rest of the week, but it won't be the quite the madwoman dash it's been since Monday.

Bunny, Julian and Tabby are finally speaking pretty strongly. They've been pretty patient, waiting for me to get to them. Julian has shown himself to be something extraordinary and the other two are going to have to learn to live with what he is. It's going to be a bit of a haul, especially with the problems Tabby's been having. And Bunny? Bunny is actually having a hard time holding on to, of all things, his temper.

Yup. It's going great.

Pretty soon Gabe Anderson is going to have to be called in to deal with some stuff. They've met Jamie Howard, the local doctor and Marie Howard's mate. And Chloe Williams, Bunny's cousin, has been whispering a bit, too. She'll have to wait her turn, though.

No word yet on Dreaming of You, Gabe and Sarah's story. I know Angie's been having some computer problems so I hope to hear something once she has them straightened out. Also no word on Eye of the Beholder, for the same reason I'm pretty sure. I'll have to remember to ping her next week if I haven't heard anything.

A blurb is now up on Liquid Silver's Coming Soon page for Shadow of the Wolf. Just remember I'm pretty sure it hasn't been edited. If you'd like to take a look, follow this link.

Okay, time for me to get back to work. A certain tall, bear-like shifter is starting to pull on my Muse's arm.

Dare To Believe Available Now!

Buy from MBaM!
Read An Excerpt Online
Genre: Paranormal Romance

ISBN: 978-1-60504-632-7
Length: Category
Price: 4.50
Publication Date: July 28, 2009
Cover art by Tuesday Dube

He’ll fulfill her wildest fantasies… but only if she believes.

The Gray Court, Book 1

Leo Dunne has been searching his entire life for the one person born just for him. He finds her working in his own company, but the shy little Ruby Halloway constantly hides from him. He hatches a devilish plot with her best friend to bring her out of her shell, and the result proves her desire is more than a match for his own.

Ruby has had the hots for her boss for some time now, but she knows business and pleasure shouldn’t mix. While that can’t stop a girl from dreaming, she sticks by her guns and does her best never to be alone with the handsome CEO. Until the company masquerade party, where she discovers a passion with him that leaves a mark on her soul.

A family emergency calls Leo away, and rather than spend one night out of Ruby’s arms, he convinces her to go with him. With his brother’s life on the line, it’s vital she learn how to deal with who, and what, her new lover really is…before it’s too late.

Warning: This book contains explicit sex, graphic language, some violence, a bit of bondage, and a Sidhe Lord determined to claim and protect what is his.

Read An Excerpt Online

Buy from MBaM!

New Cover and a Contest Winner

Did I not tell you it's sweet?



And the winner of the Dare to Believe ARC is...

JOY R!

Congrats, Joy!

Through The Meat Grinder

Sing We Noelle is now with my beta readers. It's set in the world of The Gray Court (Dare to Believe's world). I'm hoping it passes muster with my betas even though I decided after I sent it to change something. I originally planned on having three distinct "tribes" of vampires but I changed my mind. Three might be a bit too complicated, especially in a world with Sidhe, leprechauns, brownies, redcaps, sylphs, gremlins, etc. If I was doing a series just about vampires that might be different, but I'm not.

Anyway, work will now commence on Bear Necessities, the first full-length shifter novel. Not sure which of the WIP's running around my brain will follow it, but Bunny, Julian and Tabby have been patiently waiting their turn so...

Here we go!

P.S.: Don't forget to visit the Samhain Cafe tomorrow between two and three EST! Remember, I'm giving away two books!

P.P.S.: Monday someone gets their ARC of Dare, so if you haven't entered yet enter now!

I Have Seen The Art

And it is gorgeous. I can't wait until I get the final copy of Shadow of the Wolf's cover art. Just from the mock-up it's going to be in my top three favorite covers. I don't have a release date yet (they moved fast on the art though!), but I'm hoping to hear soon.

In the meantime, I have most of the rough of Sing We Noelle done and finished the rest of the Bear Necessities outline. I admit, I goofed a little. The original outline for Bear was for a novella length and I promised full length. I didn't realize it until I looked it over last week. Mea culpa, it's fixed now, and I'll be working on it again next week.

Yes, Jambrea, I'm working on Bunny, I promise.

In the meantime I'm gearing up for the release of Dare to Believe. I can't believe it's next week! The contest for the ARC is still open so if you haven't entered, please do.


The Samhain Cafe will be having a Christmas in July party this weekend, and I'm scheduled for Saturday, July 25th. Since that's also my birthday I'll be giving away two books: one ARC of Dare and one book from my backlist, winner's choice! I'll be chatting from 2 - 3 p.m. EST., and I'd love to see you there!

New Contract!

Shadow of the Wolf has been picked up by Liquid Silver Books! Here's the quick blurb I came up with; just remember that it will more than likely change, but it gives you the gist of the story:

Christopher Beckett is tired of being alone. His wolf is howling for his mate, and Chris knows it is only a matter of time before his needs override everything else in his life. He casts the spell all the Becketts have used to call their mates to them. What he wants is a woman of an older lineage, of power to equal his own. And she has to accept the one aspect that sets him apart from almost every other wizard: his wolf.

What Chris gets is Alannah Evans, a powerful witch of the Evans Coven. The petite, dark haired woman has no problems with the wolf. What she does have a problem with is the fact that Chris is a wizard. Since wizards and witches don’t get along very well, neither should they, but the sparks flying between them can’t be denied. Chris isn’t taking no for an answer. When it becomes clear that an old enemy has targeted them both Chris will wind up engaging his enemy in a duel that could cost him his life.

Or worse: Lana.

Of course, it's a series. This is book one of Heart's Desire.

Hi. My name is Dana Marie Bell, and I'm addicted to series.

Anyway, once I know the release date I'll post it for you.

I've Been Ducked!

The Good, The Bad and The Unread has interviewed me! Want to know if I prefer milk chocolate or dark, or what my favorite word is? Want to hear something about the vampire Christmas story I'm working on? Then go check it out!

And if you want to win a book from my backlist, leave a comment or ask a question!

Summer Colds Suck

I started feeling poorly yesterday, so I wound up setting my WIP aside and getting some rest. Woke up today with chills and a fever. I'm wearing a sweater and socks in July.

Aren't summer colds great?

So I'm taking my medicine (and making the Robitussen face), drinking my juice, and trying to kick this thing as quickly as possible. I have too much to do to be sick, damn it. It's five o'clock and I think I've written thirty pretty sucky words.

Oh well. I'll post the current word count on Noelle and call it a day. Hope everyone has had a better one than me!

Got Kids?

I just wrote a blog post over at the Samhellion Blog about what it's like to try and write with kids in the house. I bet it sounds familiar to all the authors who have their own little darlings home for the summer. Heck, it will probably sound familiar to any parent with their kids home. Monkeys and blenders were mentioned. For that alone you should check it out.

Interview with MakeBelieve Mondays

I have an interview up over at Make-Believe Mondays! Want to see what role dreams play in my work? Go read the interview.

This Week's WIPs

I've turned in all the edits on Dare to Believe and submitted the re-write on Only In My Dreams. Now I'm turning my attention to my works in progress pile.

What am I currently working on? Two stories at the moment, because both are demanding attention from me.

First up is a holiday novella called Sing We Noelle, a m/f/m menage set in the world of the Gray Court. I've always wanted to do a vampiric Christmas story, and here's my chance.

My other work in progress is Bear Necessities, book one of the new shifter series. It's a m/m/f menage starring a Wolf and two Bears.

But for those of my readers who don't like menages, have no fear. I'm beginning to outline the next True Destiny book, tentatively titled Howl for Me. It will be my first m/m, after which will be a m/f in that same series. And I've submitted a m/f story, Shadow of the Wolf, to Liquid Silver. I'm hoping to hear back from them soon. Oh yes! And Dave and Ben of the Poconos Pack have been howling for my attention. In fact, I've got a lot of people howling in my head right now, which is why I'm working on two projects at once. Wish me luck!

Win an ARC of Dare to Believe!

Want to win a copy of Dare to Believe the day before it's released? Just go to the Contact Me page of my website and send me your email address and the electronic format you'd like to receive the book in. I'll send the winner their book and announce their name the day before Dare comes out!

The winner will be posted here, on my website, and on my MySpace blog. Good luck!

Genre: Paranormal Romance

ISBN: 978-1-60504-632-7
Length: Category
Price: 4.50
Publication Date: July 28, 2009
Cover art by Tuesday Dube

He’ll fulfill her wildest fantasies… but only if she believes.

The Gray Court, Book 1

Leo Dunne has been searching his entire life for the one person born just for him. He finds her working in his own company, but the shy little Ruby Halloway constantly hides from him. He hatches a devilish plot with her best friend to bring her out of her shell, and the result proves her desire is more than a match for his own.

Ruby has had the hots for her boss for some time now, but she knows business and pleasure shouldn’t mix. While that can’t stop a girl from dreaming, she sticks by her guns and does her best never to be alone with the handsome CEO. Until the company masquerade party, where she discovers a passion with him that leaves a mark on her soul.

A family emergency calls Leo away, and rather than spend one night out of Ruby’s arms, he convinces her to go with him. With his brother’s life on the line, it’s vital she learn how to deal with who, and what, her new lover really is…before it’s too late.

Warning: This book contains explicit sex, graphic language, some violence, a bit of bondage, and a Sidhe Lord determined to claim and protect what is his.

Keep Your Eyes Open

Because tomorrow I'll be setting up a contest for an ARC of Dare to Believe!