Friday, December 13, 2013

Mistletoe Madness Time!

Yup, it's that time of year again, where you drunkenly kiss your hot boss under the...

Wait. No. Forget I said that. Sorry. Go back to daydreams of six-pack abs and thick thighs.

Just remember, he might be dreaming of you too.


Nope. It's time for the Mistletoe Madness Blog Hop!


So my prize for the hop is any ebook on my backlist, in either .epub (Nook, iPad) or .pdf (any). Just click on the link to find my book titles. To enter this contest, simply post below, and I'll announce my winner on December 21. 

Also, we've got a grand prize we're giving away: a $200 gift certificate to Best Buy, as well as a flash drive chock full of books from the following authors/sponsors:


To enter the giveaway for the grand prize, click HERE, and simply follow the directions listed. Good luck!

For a full list of blog hop participants, simply click here. To hop to the next author on the list, Christine d'Abo (YAY! I get to hop to Christine d'Abo!), click HERE.


P.S.: The series reading order on my website is left to right, so The Wallflower is the first Halle Puma book, followed by Sweet Dreams, etc.)

Tuesday, November 12, 2013

New Release: Mr. Red Riding Hoode

Look what's out today!


Poconos Pack Book 2
ISBN: 978-1-61921-614-3
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Length: NOVELLA
Release Date: 11/12/2013

The better to make you mine, my dear…

When it came down to saving his best friend Ben’s relationship, Steven Hoode didn’t hesitate to trade his Florida timeshare for a month at Red Wolf Lodge. Cold weather isn’t his favorite thing, but hot snow bunnies are, so he plans to make the most of his vacation.

Good karma kicks in when he sees a pretty brunette chatting with the lodge owner. All thoughts of nuptials and nookie take a back seat to the heat that flares between them.

When Graciela “Chela” Mendoza catches sight of the gorgeous man shivering in a red-hooded parka, she realizes why he makes her heart beat faster. He’s her mate. The problem? Steven has no idea his friends are Wolves.

Chela plans to break it to him gently, but when he accidently witnesses the whole Pack shifting, things get a bit…hairy. He bolts, locking himself in his cabin and refusing to listen, even to Ben.

Unless she can get him to see that Wolves are people, too, Chela will lose her mate faster than she can say woof.

Warning: This book contains explicit sex, graphic language, a man packing some nice goodies and a she-Wolf all ready to gobble them up.


Ben took a step back from the blonde with the huge green eyes and pouty, Cupid’s-bow lips. “Hi, Belle.”

“Don’t hi me, you traitor.” The blonde stopped in front of them with a vacuous smile. Her head tilted to the side, sending waves of blonde curls over her shoulder. God, she really was like a miniature Barbie doll, complete with the rack and teeny waist. In the sweetest, most inane tone he’d ever heard, Belle asked, “Where’s Rick?”

Ben gulped, squaring his shoulders as if he were facing a firing squad rather than the world’s most fuckable doll. If Steve hadn’t known better, he’d have sworn the guy was ready to run for his life. “I refuse to answer on the grounds that I might be eviscerated.”

Belle’s perfectly shaped brows rose slowly. “Ben?”

“Yes?”

Steve looked sharply at his friend. Was his voice actually shaking?

She smiled sweetly. “Who are you more afraid of?”

Ben actually paled. “Rick and Dave are in the solarium.”

Belle patted Ben’s arm. “There. That wasn’t so bad, was it?”

Ben whimpered.

The woman’s expression transformed from blonde bimbo to friendly and animated. The green eyes that turned on Steve were sharp, assessing. This woman was no bimbo, no matter what role she played. “Who’s your friend?”

Ben jolted. “Belle, this is Steven Hoode. Steve, this is Rick’s wife, Belle.”

Steve picked up Belle’s hand and kissed the back of it. “Charmed.”

Belle laughed, the sound low and wicked. “Oh, you’re a bad boy, aren’t you?”

Steve grinned. He’d never try and steal Rick’s girl, but God, she was a pretty one. Too bad Rick had gotten to her first. “Trust me, I’m a very good boy.”

She pulled her hand gently from his. “You’re going to be trouble.”

“Yup.”

Ben shook his head. “At least he’s honest about it.”

“Belle!”

Belle turned her head at the sound of her name. “Shit. Chela. I’m in trouble.” She waved airily, but her gazed remained on whoever had spoken. “Later, guys.”

Steve blinked. There was someone scarier than the woman who’d just terrorized Ben into throwing his boyfriend under the bus? This woman he had to meet. He glanced over to where Belle was headed to see…

He swallowed hard.

Whoa.

And he’d thought Belle was good-looking.

Little Steve uncurled from its fetal position to wave hello at the pretty brunette motioning Belle over. Dark, rich hair, the color of really good coffee, was pulled back into a ponytail, the tip of which brushed her shoulder blades. He couldn’t see what color her eyes were, but he was willing to bet they’d be the same rich brown as her hair. Her skin tone was warm, bronzed even in winter. Full, red-tinted lips were quirked up in a smile as she shook her head at the petite blonde headed her way. She was about the same height as Belle, her curves not as obvious, but there was something about her that drew his gaze.

“Here.”

Steve blinked at the tissue Ben held out. “What’s this for?”

“Your drool.”

Steve rolled his eyes, but he took the tissue. His nose was starting to run from the cold outside. “Who’s that?”

Ben crossed his arms over his chest as Steve blew his nose. “Graciela Mendoza, aka SeƱorita Lobito.”

“Graciela.” It was a name as pretty as its owner. He got a good look at her pert backside as she turned away with Belle, heading for the fireplace. Man, that woman filled out a pair of jeans like no one he’d ever seen before. That was Little Miss Wolf? “Tell me about her.”

Ben shook his head. “Steve.”

He put his arm around Ben’s shoulder. “Dude. You owe me.” He shivered from the cold as another group of skiers walked through the huge glass doors. “You so owe me.”

“She’s like a sister to me.”

“And you’re like a brother to me.”

Ben closed his eyes. “That just makes this wrong on so many levels.”

Steve chuckled, but his attention was still mostly on Graciela. The woman was waving her arms around as she talked to Belle, her expressions full of animation, her body moving to a beat only she could hear. He wanted that animation, that passion, turned in his direction.

He bet she’d be wild in bed.

“Are you listening to me?”

A quick glance in their direction proved him right. She did have dark eyes. “Nope.”

“Shit.”

“Aw, c’mon, Ben. Don’t you trust me with your sister?”

The look on Ben’s face was priceless. It was worth freezing his balls off just to see that.

Monday, November 11, 2013

WINNER: Mr. Red Riding Hoode

There's a winner for Mr. Red Riding Hoode! It's...


FAYE M!

Congratulations, Faye, and enjoy your book!


The next contest will be held in December for a signed print copy of The Hob, and again in January for an electronic ARC of Bear Naked!

Sunday, November 3, 2013

Take What You Can Get

Things have been pretty hectic in la casa di Bell recently, which is why I haven't posted in so long. So I'm going to nail some highlights and get back to keeping my kids out of their Halloween candy.

If it was up to them, they'd eat nothing but Hersheys bars and Laffy Taffy for the next week. I have to guard the trick-or-treat bags like solid gold bars in Fort Knox.


So, first up: I'm almost done Of Shadows and Ash (Maggie's Grove 3). I think it's turning out well. I had a little issue in the middle of the book where I had to rearrange the scenes I'd planned on, but it wound up working much better when I did. I hope to turn it in to Carina Press some time early next month.

I'll be working on my M/M/F book, Not Broken, as soon as I'm done Shadows. I've already started on it a little bit, but Shadows has taken all my attention and I haven't written much. I hope to turn it in to Samhain in early January at the latest.

Also, I've completed edits (I hope) on Bear Naked! I think you all will like it. I'm not going to give anything away, but there are a few plot twists I think will surprise some of you. Hehehehe....




In other news, I've been experiencing some...problems with my back, so I've been taking it easy on the weekends. And by taking it easy, I mean sitting on a heating pad and playing video games until my own stench drives even the dog to hold her nose and back away from me.




Briefly? Assassin's Creed 1 bored me with its repetativeness, and now I'm afraid to try the others. Anna surprised me with its complex storyline, but be aware there's no combat. It's more an interactive novel/puzzle game. The Stanley Parable amused me, and Dark frustrated the crap out of me with its lack of a quick save feature and lack of weapons other than my vampiric abilities. I mean, why can't I have a gun like every other stinking person in the game? And who heard of a bad-ass vampire that can't JUMP? I know I'm white, but please! I can't friggin' jump over a TWO FOOT FENCE? I can't even STEP OVER IT? And no ability to climb anything? Pfft. That's no vampire, that's a first level mage with an iron deficiency and delusions of grandeur.

Ahem.

All right. Maybe it annoyed me more than I thought.

Add in the fact that we might be moving, and Dana has been one very busy lady this month. With both Dusty and I working from home now we've found that, even with the renovations, the current house just isn't working for us. We both need office space seperate from the family areas, and while we've managed to do that for him with the spare bedroom that used to be a library, I'm stuck in the family room, working on the coffee table. Not an ideal situation for me.

So...we're looking, hoping, maybe buying in the near future. Cross your fingers for us.

So that's it! Please remember, Mr. Red Riding Hoode comes out on the 12th, so I'll announce the winner of the contest for an electronic ARC on the morning of the 11th.

Monday, October 14, 2013

CONTEST: Mr. Red Riding Hoode

The contest to win an ARC of Mr. Red Riding Hoode is OPEN!


Poconos Pack Book 2
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Length: Novella
ISBN: 978-1-61921-614-3
Release Date: November 12, 2013

The better to make you mine, my dear...

When it came down to saving his best friend Ben's relationship, Steven Hoode didn't hesitate to trade his Florida timeshare for a month at Red Wolf Lodge. Cold weather isn't his favorite thing, but hot snow bunnies are, so he plans to make the most of his vacation.

Good karma kicks in when he sees a pretty brunette chatting with the lodge owner. All thoughts of nuptials and nookie take a back seat to the heat that flares between them.

When Graciela "Chela" Mendoza catches sight of the gorgeous man shivering in a red-hooded parka, she realizes why he makes her heart beat faster. He's her mate. The problem? Steven has no idea his friends are Wolves.

Chela plans to break it to him gently, but when he accidentally witnesses the whole Pack shifting, things get a bit... hairy. He bolts, locking himself in his cabin and refusing to listen, even to Ben.

Unless she can get him to see that Wolves are people, too, Chela will lose her mate faster than she can say woof.

Warning: This book contains explicit sex, graphic language, a man packing some nice goodies and a she-Wolf all ready to gobble them up.


eBook Contest Instructions: 

Go to my Write to Dana page and send me your name (or nickname, if you don't want your name on the web), your email address and your preferred eBook format. That's it! If you win, I'll send your book to your email address.The contest ends November 11.

NOTE: Only one entry per person. Any entry missing one of the three pieces of information (name/nickname, email address, format) will be deleted without being entered. However, if you hit SEND and realize you forgot something, send it to me again, and you'll be entered.

Friday, October 11, 2013

CONTRACT: Siren's Song

Siren's Song has been picked up by Samhain Publishing! Book Five of the Gray Court, Oberon and Cassie, will be out some time late next year.

Want a sneak peek?


The Gray Court Book 5
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Length: Novel

Two souls, blending in perfect harmony.

Oberon has lost his memory. Wandering and lost, he finds himself trusting a complete stranger, a woman who makes his heart race and his palms sweat. He has no idea why he's so drawn to the woman with the turquoise eyes and beautiful voice, but he knows she's the only one who can save him.

Cassie has troubles of her own, but all of that is overshadowed by the knowledge that the High King is her truebond, the one man born to be hers and hers alone. Restoring his memory is sure to end their time together, but Cassie can't imagine a world without the High King. She'll sacrifice anything to give him back what he's lost.

Oberon is horrified by the sacrifice his bondmate willingly makes and swears to protect what he soon realizes is his. Beset by enemies, chased and attacked, he'll keep Cassie safe or die trying.

But Oberon's death isn't what his enemies seek, and when Oberon returns to his rightful place in the Court with his new Queen by his side all hell breaks loose. When Cassie's life is threatened, the fae world will bow before the High King or pay the price in blood.


Warning: This title contains explicit sex, graphic language, fishy shenanigans and royal naughtiness.

“Tell me what happened to me.”

Gods, the man was stubborn. “I can tell you a spell was cast on you, probably through something you ate or drank while you were in a weakened state.” And she knew exactly what had caused such a powerful man to become susceptible to that kind of spell. He’d gifted Robin Goodfellow’s mate with his own power, not only returning her to life but marking her as of his bloodline. She glowed now, her mortal shell shed, her silver hair and golden eyes standing out when she dropped her human Seeming.

As a healer, Cassie knew that what Oberon had done was only possible because somewhere in Michaela’s ancestry a fae had lain with one of her family members and gotten her with child. In truth, her whole family could become fae, with the right touch.

Oberon’s touch.

“You saved someone’s life, exhausting you. How the poison got introduced, I don’t know.” And she still wasn’t entirely sure it was poison. It could have been any medium. Breaking the skin could have introduced the spell to his system. She doubted he’d inhaled it, or there would have been more people cursed to lose their memories as he’d been. “Do you know if you’re wounded?”

He scowled for a second, before his expression once again became impassive. “Not that I’m aware of.”

“I’ll check when we find a place to stop for the night.” As a healer, it was up to her to make sure he was not only safe, but sound.

His brows rose. “I think I know my own body. I feel no odd aches or pains, only a lack of memory.”

“Still. I’m a healer. Let me check. The wound could be as small as a mosquito bite.”

“As if someone used some sort of dart?”

“Or a needle, yes.” She wouldn’t put it past a Black Court operative. “More curious to me is how you got poisoned. You’re extremely cautious, even around the ones you consider friends. So how did you wind up bespelled?”

“I thought you said I was poisoned?”

The distrust that shadowed his expression cut her to the quick. “You know you’re magical, Oberon. Did you think a simple poison would do this to you?” She waved her hand at him. “A normal poison wouldn’t work on a fae. It has to be bespelled, glamoured in some way. It’s possible it could be a fae’s natural toxin that would do something like this, but it would have to be introduced under the skin for it to be effective.” And that limited the pool of people who could have been the one to poison him. Very few fae had the ability to wipe a mind as powerful as Oberon’s. “Not to mention you don’t trust easily. Someone close to you had to deliver the toxin, either in your food, drink or by piercing your skin.”

“Someone I trusted.” Oberon’s gaze turned back to the passenger side window. His tone was thoughtful, but hardly surprised. He must have already suspected betrayal. “You called me fae.”

She grimaced. She was doing a lousy job of keeping the information she fed him to a minimum. “Yes. We both are.”

“What kind of fae am I?”

“I...” She blinked, prepared to lie her ass off. “I have no idea.”

His gaze bored into her. “And you? What kind of fae are you?”

“A siren. Some call my kind merfolk because we’re nymphs of the sea.” She didn’t see the need to keep what she was secret, only who. The less he knew about her royal heritage, the better, at least for now. They had bigger things to worry about than her family’s soldiers. “I can use my power to sing you well, but it will take time, and a delicate touch.”

“How will you heal me if you don’t know what I am?” His brows rose. “Doesn’t the healer need to know his patient in order to—?”

“Shit!” Cassie yanked the wheel to the side as a car dashed past them, the maneuver insanely dangerous on the wet, icy roads.

Oberon’s eyes flashed brilliantly silver. “Our enemies have found us.”

Cassie tried to ignore her terror as she slammed her brakes. The car in front of them had skidded sideways, blocking the road. “Stay in the car.”

“Cassie—”

“Your life is far more important than mine.” She undid her seat belt, prepared to fight for her mate. “Stay in the car.”

Cassie climbed out of the driver’s side, ready to do battle for the man who didn’t even know who she was.

Tuesday, September 24, 2013

Killer Bunnies, Pig Shifters in Space and The Witcher

Whoa. It's been a couple of weeks since I posted. Between the beginning of school and getting ready for RAW, time just got away from me.

Sorry!

So. I bet you're curious about the title of this post. Since The Witcher is a video game, I'll keep that part for the end of the post. The rest, well...

We're talking about dreams and triple dog dares.


Killer Bunnies

I had a dream a couple of nights before I left for RAW. See, I'd been reading Celia Kyle's bunny shifter, and saw a Monty Python reference to a killer rabbit that same day. So guess what I dreamed about that night?


Yup. A four foot eleven female bunny shifter who totally kicks ass and scares the crap out of the rulers of Maggie's Grove. And Dusty, who is a total enabler, loved the idea so much he helped me refine it. 

So I'll be breaking my own rule and writing a bunny shifter after all, only it won't be in the Halle Shifter world. Instead, we get to watch the residents of Maggie's Grove scramble to deal with the threat of the killer bunny.

Don't you love my brain?

Pig Shifters in Space

Did I mention the triple dog dare? I was at RAW, speaking at the Falling Leaves round table, when I someone asked about the sci fi series I've put on hold. I mentioned how it was driving Dusty nuts that I'm doing shifters in space. Someone mentioned the Muppets, Miss Piggy came up, and before you know it I'm being triple dog dared to make pig shifters.

In space.



Oi.

So now I've got to figure out how to make this work without losing my mind. I have a couple of ideas, but it will be a while before I get to that series. 

P.S.: All I keep thinking is "pigs have thirty minute orgasms".

The Witcher, or Geralt the Man Whore

I finished both Witcher 1 and Witcher 2, and I must say, Geralt of Rivia is a total man whore in Witcher 1.


You see, he seems to have this little problem with his pants. The zipper keeps falling down, and his peen winds up landing in random women.

No. I'm not kidding. I gave a starving elf some food, and the next thing I know Geralt's pants are down around his ankles and they're having angry hunger sex. I didn't even have the opportunity to say no!

I managed to stay loyal to Triss for the first half... of the first act.

Oops.

It was much easier to avoid random trou dropping in Witcher 2, so I managed to stay loyal to Triss. Hell, I even told her I loved her, and plan on remaining loyal in Witcher 3. Both story lines were really, really good, despite the random peen insertions, so if you like RPG's I do recommend both games. Just be aware that Geralt loves to love you, baby, whether you want to remain loyal to Triss or not.

Wednesday, September 4, 2013

News, Updates, and General Stuff



Got a lot of stuff done recently, and a lot of things to prep for Lora Leigh's RAW in two weeks.

Oh, boy. Two weeks! I'm looking forward to going. My eighties outfit is going to rock.

First up: I've got Siren's Song out to my beta readers! I'm really excited about this one. I think you're going to love how Oberon and Cassie resolve their issues. And yes, Rave will be the next book. I'm thinking the title will be Never More, and thanks to a quick reader poll on Facebook, Raven's girl will be Amanda (Ruby's best friend from Dare to Believe).

Second: I'll be starting Of Shadows and Ash next week, the third Maggie's Grove book. To give you a taste as to what's in store for Ash and Selena, I've been researching demonic hauntings. I'm going to have fun with this one.

Third: RAW! The schedule can be found on the website; just click on the link. However, it looks like I may not have any books at the signing. I'm hoping that at least Cynful arrives on time, but it might not. So I'm going to bring postcards with QUERTY codes leading to my website, and if you have a book you want me to sign at the event please pick it up online and bring it with you just in case. You can find me at the con at any time and ask me to autograph it for you; I'm more than willing to do that for you. I'm also hoping to bring posters of all my books this year, and I'll have a gift basket you can buy tickets for with some of my books in it.

Last: I've got good news about The Fire Within, The Nephilim book 2! I'll be updating my website soon. When it's officially official I'll give you a sneak peek at Dante and Beth.

So that's it. It's been a busy, busy two weeks, with the kids going back to school and finishing up Oberon and Cassie and prepping for a con. Fifteen days until I see you in Hagerstown!

P.S.: RAW is my last con of the year. I'll be going to the RT Convention in New Orleans in May 2014.

Monday, August 26, 2013

All Hail Our Furry Overlords

I was explaining to Dusty my morning routine and why it takes me so long to get started on writing (and why I wind up drinking cold coffee half the time). He was laughing half-way through.

Have I mentioned our house is ruled by Furry Overlords? Now that the children are old enough to make their own breakfast the animals are free to take up as much of my time as they want. Their demands are varied, but always involve certain rituals I've come to accept when I'm still decaffeinated. I think they've figured out my brain doesn't come on-line until half an hour after I ingest the beverage of the gods, because it's a lot easier to say no when I'm firing on all cylinders.

So here's a brief overview of my morning with the Furry Overlords. I think that those with their own Overlords will be nodding half-way through:

1.  Get up, get dressed, do morning stuff like brush teeth and tame wild nest of hair.
2.  Attempt to walk down the stairs while Cats perform their daily assassination attempt.
3.  Get to bottom of steps and patiently explain to Cats that yes, the furry teenage human has already fed them, so no, I ain't buying it.
4.  Check food bowls anyway, and refill dry food.
5.  Start coffee, because CAFFEINE.
6.  Explain to dog that she should eat her brekkies before I give her the morning's glucosamine bacon treat.
7.  Cave to dog breath, puppy eyes and waggy tail.
8.  Explain to Mr. Nip Addict that, yes, I remembered the cat nip in the scratchy toy.
9.  Explain to dog that she should eat her brekkies before I give her dog biscuits.
10.Cave to dog breath, puppy eyes and waggy tail.
11.Explain to cat that he's now sitting where I need to work.
12. No, really. You need to move.
13. Try and decide if my butt will fit in the two square inches of the eighty-six inch sofa the cat left for my behind.
14.Sit down and lift coffee mug.
14.Put coffee mug down, get up, and let dog out. All that food has made her need to go, like, now.
15.Sit down and lift coffee mug.
16.Put coffee mug down and let dog back in. How the hell did you pee so fast?
17.Really, cat? Really? How can one fifteen pound animal take up an entire frikkin sofa?
18.No, kitty! No caffeine for you!
19.Pick cat up and move to one end of sofa. Try desperately to ignore the fact that, from the death glare I'm receiving, he's now plotting my early demise.
20.Try desperately to ignore the fact that the other cat has entered the litter box, and...
21.DEAR GOD, CAT, WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN EATING??
22.Ugh. Kitty bombed the room. So much for the sex scene.
23.Sip coffee, finally. It's a good thing I like it iced...



Monday, August 5, 2013

A Winner!

The winner of the print copy of Shadow of the Wolf is....


Ashley Loos!

Congratulations, Ashley! I've emailed you about your prize.

The contest for an ebook ARC of Morgan's Fate ends on August 12!

Friday, July 19, 2013

Cover Pretty, Pre-Order Links and the Siren Takes a Dive

I promised on Facebook that I would have a cover pretty for you today.

Well, here it is:


Poconos Pack Book 2
ISBN: 978-1-61921-614-3
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Length: Novella
Release Date: November 12, 2013

The better to make you mine, my dear…

When it came down to saving his best friend Ben’s relationship, Steven Hoode didn’t hesitate to trade his Florida timeshare for a month at Red Wolf Lodge. Cold weather isn’t his favorite thing, but hot snow bunnies are, so he plans to make the most of his vacation.

Good karma kicks in when he sees a pretty brunette chatting with the lodge owner. All thoughts of nuptials and nookie take a back seat to the heat that flares between them.

When Graciela “Chela” Mendoza catches sight of the gorgeous man shivering in a red-hooded parka, she realizes why he makes her heart beat faster. He’s her mate. The problem? Steven has no idea his friends are Wolves.

Chela plans to break it to him gently, but when he accidently witnesses the whole Pack shifting, things get a bit…hairy. He bolts, locking himself in his cabin and refusing to listen, even to Ben.

Unless she can get him to see that Wolves are people, too, Chela will lose her mate faster than she can say woof.

Warning: This book contains explicit sex, graphic language, a man packing some nice goodies and a she-Wolf all ready to gobble them up.

Pretty, yes?

Also, pre-order links for Morgan's Fate, the fourth True Destiny book, are up on my website for Amazon, B&N's Nook, Samhain and Kobo.


True Destiny Book 4
ISBN: 978-1-61921-615-0
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Length: Category
Release Date: August 13, 2013

His Fate is finally in front of him…and he’s never letting go.

Morgan and Magnus Grimm return from their search for Skuld, Norn of the Future, only to find that she’s been living under their noses this whole time. Now that Morgan finally has the woman of his dreams within reach, nothing—not amnesia, not Odin, not even his father’s death—will prevent him from claiming the Fate he’s wanted for centuries.

Skylar Kincade is lost among these crazy people who swear that they’re the old Norse gods. But…there’s something that strikes a chord deep within her. Something from which the hot, redheaded Morgan wants to protect her.

But when the memories burst free, there’s no softening the devastating blow. For overstepping her bounds and changing their fates to save their lives, her powers were stripped away, leaving her as just another Norn.

And it seems more punishment is coming down: one of Logan’s children is missing. Skye is determined to do her part to make it right—by journeying all the way to Valhalla to meet a fate from which Morgan may not be able to save her.

Warning: This novel contains explicit nookie on a kitchen table, graphic language in one or more dialects, and a Fate worth living for.

And last but not least, Siren's Song, the fifth Gray Court book, is moving along nicely. Oberon and Cassie have arrived at the sea, and, well...

I'll leave it up to your salty imaginations what comes next. Let's just say this week's research has been... interesting.

Did you know dolphins have prehensile penises?

The things you learn when you're a writer.

Anyway, that's it for this week. We're hoping to take the kids to see Despicable Me 2 tomorrow, so if one of my characters develops a sudden love of bananas, you'll understand why.

Monday, July 8, 2013

Two Contests, A Contract and A Wall

Last week, I hit the wall. Hard.

I went to Lori Foster's Reader-Author Get-Together (always an awesome time), came home, and three days later left for Disney World. I had the idea that I'd take a couple of days off once I got back, rest up, and dive into work.

Silly me. I dove right into work the moment my butt hit the couch. I cleaned, went to the doctor's, did laundry... all the stuff a normal person does when they get back from vacation.

Wednesday night, I noticed I was really tired. More tired than normal. Thursday, I could barely crawl out of bed. The same thing happened on Friday. My body forced me to take the rest I should have when I got back from Disney. All I did was sleep and read, more sleeping than reading.

So,  long story short (I know, too late!), some of the stuff I was supposed to take care of last week got set aside until today.

First up, the Shadow of the Wolf print contest!


Heart's Desire Book 1
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Length: Novel

Strike a match, light the candle…and fall into the spell.

Christopher Beckett is from an ancient line of wizards, but with one aspect that sets him apart. His wolf. Right now that wolf is howling for a mate. Knowing it’s only a matter of time before the wolf’s needs override everything else in his life, Chris casts the spell all the Becketts have used to call their mates to them.

His wish list is short: She must be of a lineage at least as old as his own. And she must accept his wolf. When his mate appears, he realizes his list should have been one item longer.

Alannah Evans, a powerful witch of the Evans Coven, has no problem with Chris’s wolf. It's the wizard part that sticks in her magical craw. Witches and wizards have always been at odds, so by rights, she and Chris shouldn’t be striking sparks of attraction this bright. But Chris will not be denied, and gradually she finds herself trusting him—then falling into the fire of desire.

When it becomes clear an old enemy has targeted them both for death, Chris charges into a duel that could cost him his life. Or worse: Lana.

Warning: This novel contains explicit sex, graphic language, magic, mayhem, and a wet, naked wolf shifter bearing hot chocolate. Mmm… chocolate.


Go to my Write to Dana page and send me your name (or nickname, if you don't want your name on the web) and your email address. In the comments put PRINT CONTEST. That's it! If you win, I'll contact you for your physical mailing address and who the book should be made out to, if anyone. The contest ends August 5th.

NOTE: Only one entry per person. Any entry missing one of the three pieces of information (name/nickname, email address, PRINT CONTEST) will be deleted without being entered. However, if you hit SEND and realize you forgot something, send it to me again, and you'll be entered.

Second, the contest for an ARC of Morgan's Fate is now open!


True Destiny Book 4
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Length: Category

His Fate is finally in front of him…and he’s never letting go.

Morgan and Magnus Grimm return from their search for Skuld, Norn of the Future, only to find that she’s been living under their noses this whole time. Now that Morgan finally has the woman of his dreams within reach, nothing—not amnesia, not Odin, not even his father’s death—will prevent him from claiming the Fate he’s wanted for centuries.

Skylar Kincade is lost among these crazy people who swear that they’re the old Norse gods. But…there’s something that strikes a chord deep within her. Something from which the hot, redheaded Morgan wants to protect her.

But when the memories burst free, there’s no softening the devastating blow. For overstepping her bounds and changing their fates to save their lives, her powers were stripped away, leaving her as just another Norn.

And it seems more punishment is coming down: one of Logan’s children is missing. Skye is determined to do her part to make it right—by journeying all the way to Valhalla to meet a fate from which Morgan may not be able to save her.


Warning: This novel contains explicit nookie on a kitchen table, graphic language in one or more dialects, and a Fate worth living for.

Go to my Write to Dana page and send me your name (or nickname, if you don't want your name on the web), your email address and your preferred format (.pdf, .prc, .epub, .rb, SONYpdf). In the comments put eBOOK CONTEST. That's it! If you win, I'll email you your book the day the contest ends, August 12th.


NOTE: Only one entry per person. Any entry missing one of the three pieces of information (name/nickname, email address, ebook format) will be deleted without being entered. However, if you hit SEND and realize you forgot something, send it to me again, and you'll be entered.

Third, The Wizard King is under contract!


Heart's Desire Book 3
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Length: Novel

She's the Queen of his soul.

The time has come for Gareth Beckett to take his place as the king of the wizards. There's only one problem. The woman who stole his heart, the one he wants as his queen, is missing. He casts the Beckett mate spell, hoping with everything in him that it will call his Gen home.

Genevieve Godwin is the daughter of the Beckett's most hated enemy. She's sworn to hunt down her brothers and end their evil before it can harm the man she loves, but a vision from her Goddess sends her back to Gareth.

Gareth is not about to allow Gen to leave his sight for a second time. But being the king isn't quite what it's cracked up to be. Not everyone is thrilled to have a warlock as the queen-consort. Between scheming courtiers, the threat of the Godwin brothers and Gen's insistence that she be allowed to continue her work as one of Hecate's Own, Gareth is about to lose his mind.

When the king decides to put an end to the threat against his mate, the rest of the magical world will sit up and take notice.


Warning: This title contains explicit sex, graphic language, and a king who can't live without his queen.

And for those who have been asking, Mr. Red Riding Hoode will be coming out November 12th. I hope to have the cover soon. Also, I've begun Siren's Song, the fourth Gray Court book, featuring Oberon and Cassie.

All right. That's it for me today. It's Enbrel Monday, and I can already feel the nap coming on. Have the best Monday you can, and hang in there! The weekend is only five days away!

Monday, June 24, 2013

Disney, La Nouba, and Oberon

We're back from Disney World, and guess how things went?
The kids are slumped at their keyboards, Dusty is wearing his wrist brace and puttering around the house with a confused expression, while I?

Was trying to enjoy Enbrel Monday, aka Nap Day, when a certain orange fuzzy creature of pure evil decided he'd missed me so much he had to turn me into a human pretzel while I slept, thus waking me up because my head was on my pillow while my feet were trying to crawl up my butt.

But I have to say, we had a blast. I rode Harry Potter for the first time, and got to revisit some old favorites like Haunted Mansion, Pirates of the Caribbean, and Soarin'. The only bad part was we had rain almost every single day. For the most part, it rained in the afternoon into evening, and didn't impact our plans too much. I mean, it was a major pain, and I was soaked through more than once, requiring a rest day at the parks and again once I got home, but the last day?

The last day was our one day at Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure, where Harry Potter is. So of course it started to rain before noon.

And it rained.

And rained.

And rained.

Which meant my kids, who love water rides, moped the entire dreary, wet way out of the park that night, because even though they got on Harry Potter, and Despicable Me, and The Simpsons, they did not get to go on the water ride.
Oy.

One of the best parts of the trip was going to see La Nouba for the first time. Oh. My. GOD. It was so good! The little girls with the funny cup thingies on ropes (you had to be there), and the clowns with the boxes, and the trampoline artists...

I can't decide which part I liked best, so I'm going to go with all of it. If you ever have the chance to see it, do it. You won't be disappointed.

I also learned some stuff I didn't know before, which was cool. For instance, at Animal Kingdom, we learned that tigers are the only large cats that mate for life. We also learned that there is actually a vegetable out there that M wants to eat.

So guess who's got to learn how to make zucchini and mushroom stir-fry over white rice with ginger sauce? 

All in all, we had a blast, despite the rain and my son turning into a pod person. (And if you don't get that reference, gods, I feel old.) But it's good to be back home. I have characters whispering in my ears, and if I don't start writing soon, Oberon might get testy. So I start work on Siren's Song tomorrow, and will turn in The Wizard King by the end of the week. One of the best things to come out of the trip was some inspiration for Siren's Song. We ate lunch at Mythos, a restaurant in Universal, and the interior gave me some pretty good ideas for how Cassie's palace might look once they get there.

And for everyone who wants to know, the third point of view in Siren's Song will be Raven's. So guess whose book is after Oberon's?

Monday, June 10, 2013

Winner and Release Day: THRONE OF OAK

And the winner of the ARC of Throne of Oak is...


Genre: Paranormal Romance
Length: Novel
ISBN: 978-1-42689-561-6
Release Date: June 10, 2013

His past could end their future.

Vampire Dragos Ibanescu, Mayor of Maggie's Grove, is about to lose his mind. His mate, the dryad queen Mina Chainey, refuses to have anything to do with him after her ordeal at the hands of an evil witch. If he doesn't mate with her soon, he may lose control of the beast within him—a force far more dangerous than anyone in town knows…

Mina's nightmares of her time with the witch haunt her. The Queen of the Forest can't muster the strength needed to fight her terror. Unable to leave the Throne, she vows she will not accept Dragos until she can stand at his side as an equal. But the nightmares are only growing in strength, and soon she realizes that there's more to her pain than simple fear.

Dark forces are converging on Maggie's Grove, and a horde of hunters stalk supernaturals from the shadows. Only by uniting in body and mind will Mina and Dragos find the strength to defend their home.



LORI!

Enjoy your book, Lori!


Tuesday, June 4, 2013

June? It's JUNE?

Where the hell did the rest of the year go? Tell me I'm not the only one thinking, "Crap, the little stinkers are out of school in one week!"

So much for afternoon nookie. Hmph.

Anyways, June is going to be GAH! BUSYBUSYBUSY! because I'm doing Lori Foster's Reader & Author Get-Together followed by Disney with my family.


I leave tomorrow for RAGT on a road trip with Stephanie Burke and Joy of Joyfully Reviewed, where we will have much fun laughing at each other.


Yup. It's Road Trip 2.0! Unfortunately, this version is minus the PJ, as she had commitments she couldn't get out of.

We miss you already, PJ.

So if you're looking for me in Ohio, I'll be in the lobby, or at the bar, or the Carina Press game Saturday night, or the book singing Saturday morning, or in the Samhain boardroom... at some point. I'm still going over my schedule and making sure all my little duckies are quacking like they should be. I'm also giving away a prize at the raffle, with a Nook tablet in it, as well as print copies of Bear Necessities and Cynful.

And yes, I will have posters.

I get back home, and two days later I head to the House of Mouse with my family.



(Yes, I'm crazy. You doubted that?)

Please forgive me if I don't answer any emails during this month. Things are going to be crazy insane. I have a release June 10th (Throne of Oak), plus the con, plus family vacation, and when I get back R and I both have doctor's appointments.

I am so totally sleeping during July.

I'm going to do my best to get a blog post up when Throne releases, and when I get back from Disney. Until then... have a great start to your summer, and I'll see you at Lori's!

P.S.: I'm hoping to send The Wizard King to my betas before I get back from Lori's. If I can, I'm going to try and send it out today.

Thursday, May 23, 2013

Well. This Sucks: Part Two

I think the month of May hates me.



I came home from the RT convention and immediately got sick. I got over the cold, only to hurt my back.

Now I'm about to go on antibiotics because I'm sick as a dog. It may (or may not) be strep throat. The lab culture hasn't come back yet, but I feel even worse than I did yesterday, and my voice is completely gone, so Dana gets antibiotics as a precaution...and no Enbrel shot on Monday. You can't take it when you're sick and on antibiotics, even if you're feeling better.

Okay, May. I've got your message. I'm going to go lay down now, m'kay?

Good news: I've broken the 75% mark on The Wizard King. Despite my ass being kicked by this bitchy month (I think she's jealous of my fabulousness), I've managed to nearly finish the book. I should be putting it in the first round of the Meat Grinder by June 3rd, and off to my betas June 4th.

Bad News: I'm feeling pretty icky, so it's slowed me down. I should  have the rough draft done well before I leave for Lori Foster's RAGT. I'm hoping to hand it off to my beta readers before I head for the con. If I don't, I may need to work on it at the con. A feat any author will tell you is nearly impossible, unless you hide in your room and, well, skip the con.

Con News: I'm giving away a Nook and a print copy of Cynful at the Reader-Author raffle, so if you're attending, look for my bag! It will be a clear tote bag with black straps and a black paw print on the front. Oh, and a freakin' Nook inside.

Now to go drink some hot tea and pretend I don't feel like hammered death.


Wednesday, May 15, 2013

Well. This Sucks.

I managed to hurt myself yesterday. I was napping on the sofa, minding my own business, when someone ( a salesmen, Dusty told me this morning) rang the doorbell. The dog, who'd been napping as well, jumped up and barked so loudly she startled me awake. I jumped, twisted just the wrong way, and managed to hurt my back, causing my AS to flare up.



Oops.

I did heat therapy last night, went to bed early, got plenty of rest and took my pain meds. And after all of that, I can barely walk today. The pain is doing that shooting down my leg thing, and it's sharp and hard. Moving the ten feet to the fridge is a huge production as I shuffle my way to my diet cherry Pepsi stash.

So it's with a great deal of regret (and some guilt) that I bow out of the Frederick Book Festival



Damn it. I was looking forward to that, too. I had plans to see Carrie Ann Ryan and PJ Schnyder. I'm even on a panel! I feel awful about it. This is the first time my AS has forced me to bow out of something I'd given my word on, and I feel awful about it.

Stupid doorbell.

Dusty's all, "You can't feel guilty over something like this," but I'm going to do it anyway. I'm really sorry, but there's little I can do but continue the heat therapy and pray I'm better before I have to head to Lori Foster's RAGT. For everyone who was hoping to see me at the book festival, my apologies. There are still a lot of really good authors who will be there, and I'm aware of at least one raffle, so please go and enjoy. Heck, post pictures so I can pretend I actually got to go.

And I'm putting the damn No Soliciting sign back on my front door.

Monday, May 13, 2013

CONTEST: Throne of Oak

Today is Enbrel Monday, but before I give myself my injection and take a sofa dive for the day, I'd like to let you know about the ARC contest for Throne of Oak.


Release Date: June 10, 2013
Publisher: Carina Press
ISBN: 978-1-42689-561-6
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Length: Novel
Formats: Mobi, aka Kindle (.prc) and Nook (.epub)

His past could end their future.

Vampire Dragos Ibanescu, Mayor of Maggie's Grove, is about to lose his mind. His mate, the dryad queen Mina Chainey, refuses to have anything to do with him after her ordeal at the hands of an evil witch. If he doesn't mate with her soon, he may lose control of the beast within him—a force far more dangerous than anyone in town knows…

Mina's nightmares of her time with the witch haunt her. The Queen of the Forest can't muster the strength needed to fight her terror. Unable to leave the Throne, she vows she will not accept Dragos until she can stand at his side as an equal. But the nightmares are only growing in strength, and soon she realizes that there's more to her pain than simple fear.

Dark forces are converging on Maggie's Grove, and a horde of hunters stalk supernaturals from the shadows. Only by uniting in body and mind will Mina and Dragos find the strength to defend their home.

Warning: This book contains explicit sex and graphic language.


To enter, go to my Write to Dana page and send me your name (or nickname, if you don't want your name on the web), your email address and your preferred eBook format. That's it! If you win, I'll send your book to your email address.

NOTE: Only one entry per person. Any entry missing one of the three pieces of information (name/nickname, email address, format) will be deleted without being entered. However, if you hit SEND and realize you forgot something, send it to me again, and you'll be entered.


The winner will be announced here and on my website.

Monday, May 6, 2013

Just A Quickie

I came home from the RT Convention yesterday and woke up this morning with a fever.

Blargh.

So. Just a couple of quick announcements before I go back to hugging my orange juice bottle and moaning piteously:

1. The winner of the Cynful print book has been emailed!



Congratulations, Jennifer!

2. The RT Convention was fantastic. I'll post on that when I stop sniffling. (I rocked the kitty ears at the Samhain Safari!)



3. I has cover pretties! Throne of Oak's cover arrived my first day at RT:


4. And Bear Naked has been contracted! No release date yet, but I'm betting very early 2014.


And now, pardon me while I go hug my Dayquil and my blankie. 

Friday, April 26, 2013

RT Convention, Part OMG I NEED TO PACK!

I leave for the Romantic Times Convention on Tuesday.

TUES. DAY.

I've already got my clothing packed, and I'm doing my best to ignore the little voice in my head that's telling me to FIX IT FIX IT OH GOD YOU'RE GOING TO LOOK LIKE HAMMERED ASS. AND THERE WILL BE PICTURES OF IT.





So. I'm not touching the clothing bag, not at all. I've tried everything on at least twice, and the amount of ass that will be visible should be at a minimum.

I still have to do my nails, pack my fold-able bins for Promo Alley, put some books on the Nook I'm giving away at Club RT, sign the print copies of Bear Necessities and Cynful that are going into said tote...

Did I forget to mention I'm giving away a tote with swag at Club RT? And that one of those bits of swag is a copy of Cynful, which won't be out in print until May 7?

Oh. Consider yourself told.

I'll also be signing The Gray Court series at the Giant Book Fair. I wanted to celebrate the release of The Hob by signing the previous books this year. It will be interesting to see which Dare to Believe cover shows up on my table. Come check it out, you might get one of the last white covers!

And my schedule wound up getting slightly changed. Instead of being at the FAN-Tastic Party 6:15 to 6:45, I'll be there from 6:30 to 7:00. It doesn't leave me a lot of time to change outfits for the Carina Press Cocktail Party or the Harlequin dance, but it will be worth it.

And that's it. I won't blog next week, because I'll be in Kansas City. I will send out my newsletter a few days early. Expect it some time on Sunday, as Monday I'll be hobbling around screeching like a howler monkey (when the Enbrel hasn't knocked my hammered ass out) and throwing shit into my suitcase.



You can find my full schedule here. If I'm at one of these events, or you see me at the bar, feel free to walk up to me and talk to me. I'd love it. :D

Friday, April 19, 2013

Gearing Up for the Romantic Times Convention

I leave in twelve days (TWELVE DAYS!!!) for the Romantic Times Convention in Kansas City, MO.

EEP.

I think I have all my outfits picked out, my jewelry and my headbands and tiara and...

And...

Did I remember to order those posters?

Gah. I always go a little insane right before a convention. And things are a little different this year, which is giving me hives, but is also a good thing. Instead of selling three eBooks at the eBook Expo, we're selling them all. You can purchase my entire eBook inventory currently on All Romance eBooks!

Which means, if you're attending and plan on purchasing eBooks from some of your favorite authors, make sure your device can read Qwerty (aka QR) codes. We'll be slapping stickers onto post cards with the code that takes you to the author's ARe page. And in case you're wondering, this is what a QR code looks like:

Go ahead. Scan it. It should take you to my ARe page. (If not, let me know; I'll need to fix that ASAP!) All of the authors selling eBooks will have these on something, be it postcards or something else.

If your device doesn't have that QR code reader attached, you can check your device for a QR Code Reader app. Most mobile devices have them available for free. In fact, I realized I didn't have one on my phone and downloaded it. There was more than one to choose from, and it was pretty easy! (PLEASE NOTE: Your phone or mobile device, like an iPad, needs to have a camera function in order to read a QR code.)

If you don't want to mess with QR codes and downloading apps to your device, you can simply click or type in this link into your tablet, phone or PC internet browser:

http://www.allromanceebooks.com/storeSearch.html?searchBy=author&qString=Dana+Marie+Bell

That will take you directly to my ARe author page.


FOR THOSE WHO *CANNOT* ATTEND THE EXPO IN PERSON

Mark Your Calendar for the RT EXPO on May 2  from 4 to 6 pm and join in the virtual EXPO event!

THIS YEAR THE RT EXPO IS GOING GLOBAL! ARe is the official bookseller for RT's Expo and this year we are making the book lover event global so that everyone from home can participate. Join in the fun by visiting this page on May 2 from 4 pm to 6 pm and attend the virtual event! Just click on any author’s name and it will take you to their unique author page on All Romance e-Books website where you can begin purchasing. We recommend that, if you do not already have an account with ARe  you set one up before the EXPO begins on May 2 to make your purchasing easy on the day of the event. We will be tweeting and Facebooking from the hotel with a live feed so feel free to join in the fun!

And in case you're wondering where I'll be at the convention, I'm posting my full schedule here.

P.S.: My Hob posters came in on time! 

Favorite Quotes

"I had the right to remain silent, but I didn't have the ability." Ron White

"So let me get this straight. You want me to kill the little guys, kill the big guys, crowd control those I can't, buff the team, debuff the boss, keep myself alive, AND keep you alive, all while waving a stick and dressed in a towel?" - Anonymous Role Playing Gamer

"I think that statue over there is a statement on modern life. The statement is, "Well, shit." - Varric, Dragon Age II

"Why is it all claws and guns? Can't we piss off a fuzzy planet? Still dangerous, but hey. Bunnies." - Joker, Mass Effect

"Last night, I lay in bed looking up at the stars in the sky and thought to myself, "Where the heck is the ceiling?" - Dilbert


"Aim at the high mark and you will hit it. No, not the first time, not the second time and maybe not the third. But keep on aiming and keep on shooting for only practice will make you perfect. Finally you'll hit the bull's-eye of success." - Annie Oakley

"It is only when you fall that you learn whether you can fly." - Flemeth, aka The Witch of the Wilds, Dragon Age 2

"The very existence of flamethrowers proves that sometime, somewhere, someone said to themselves, 'You know, I want to set those people over there on fire, but I’m just not close enough to get the job done.'” - George Carlin

"I hear there's a wild bridge tournament down the street. And you know Bridge. It's a lot like sex. If you don't have a great partner, you'd better have a good hand." Barry Weiss, Storage Wars

"You know, I used to think it was awful that life was so unfair. Then I thought, wouldn't it be much worse if life were fair, and all the terrible things that happen to us come because we actually deserve them? So, now I take great comfort in the general hostility and unfairness of the universe." - Marcus Cole, Babylon 5, "A Late Delivery From Avalon"

"I aim to misbehave." - Capt. Malcolm Reynolds

"Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid." - Albert Einstein

“If you think you can or think you cannot, you are correct.” - Henry Ford
Powered By Blogger