Saturday, March 31, 2012

PROUDLY PARANORMAL Blog Hop Winner!

I had a great time at this month's PROUDLY PARANORMAL Blog Hop. Hope you did, too.

Special thanks go to Ariana Ryan for her hard work and dedication to getting this event going and keeping it going. It gave me an opportunity to check out several writers who were new to me. My TBR pile has grown substantially, thanks to Ariana!

The winner of an ebook copy of my debut BLEEDING HEARTS: Book one of the Demimonde and a Ten Dollar B&N gift card go to Liv Rancort. Email me, sweets, and collect your booty!

And everyone who isn't Liv--don't be sad that you didn't win this prize because there is still a chance to get your karma into the Bleeding Hearts end of book tour giveaway! It's an even bigger prize. And yes Liv, you can enter, too. I know you wanna.

Thank you to everyone who took the time to stop by. Have a great weekend...

Friday, March 30, 2012

I Was Nominated for Reader's Choice Award...please vote!


Voting for the March Readers Choice book awards is now open—please vote for Ash Krafton as your favorite author!

Earlier in March I had a guest spot on GraveTells.com. (You can check out my post where I talk about those times when vamps just ain't enough for a gal like me… ) It was my first blog appearance to promote my first novel…I'd love it if it turned into my first blog award.

I need your help!

Below is the voting link. Please pass it on—I'd truly appreciate your support! (Voting is EASY too—click a box and hit "vote".)

 
Voting closes March 30th at midnight so get your votes in today…


The voting will last for 4 days and winners will be announced on March 31st. Winners will also get a spiffy award graphic to put on their site. You have no idea how much I'd love a shiny blog badge. (The husband black-flagged me for buying new shoes so this is my new thing. :D Keep me from jonesing!)


Thanks for all your support…we're in the second week of my virtual book tour and going strong. Have you entered the Bleeding Hearts Book Tour prize drawing? If not, there is still time…read this post to see what you can win!                                                                                                                                                     



Bleeding Hearts Blog Tour: Host Lyndi Alexander

TGIF...because today I get to visit one of my favorite Pennwriters!

Lyndi Alexander is my host...we'll be sharing an excerpt from Bleeding Hearts. Read how I met my hero...and my main character, Sophie's. <3



I also wanted to thank everyone for their support in my first ever Reader's Choice nomination...I'm neck and neck for first, just a few votes away from the lead (when I last looked. And I really need to stop looking!)

If you haven't voted yet, I hope you will. I'd love to snag that shiny blog badge.

The voting link is at http://gravetells.com/2012/03/27/march-2012-readers-choice-awards-vote-here/ Thanks for all your support, guys!
Be sure to check out the fantastic writers and bloggers who are so generous in their support of my first novel launch. Don't forget to enter the mini-contests on each day's blog stop and, of course, THE END-OF-TOUR GIVEAWAY!

Thursday, March 29, 2012

Bleeding Hearts Blog Tour: Two for Thursday!

Today I'll visit two wonderful authors: Julie Kenner and Shelly Bell!

Author Julie Kenner invites me to share my journey: how I went from hobby writer to published author.

Julie brings new meaning to the term multi-tasking because she is one busy lady! She writes a range of stories including sexy and quirky romances, young adult novels, chick lit suspense and paranormal mommy lit. Her foray into the latter, Carpe Demon: Adventures of a Demon-Hunting Soccer Mom, was selected as a Booksense Summer Paperback Pick for 2005, was a Target Breakout Book, was a Barnes & Noble Number One SFF/Fantasy bestseller for seven weeks, and is in development as a feature film with 1492 Pictures. She also writes as JK Beck.


Then, author Shelly Bell and I bring you an important public service announcement from DAVE (Demivampire Against Vampire Evolution).


Shelly wrote A Year to Remember to share her strength and hope with compulsive overeaters and food addicts everywhere. A member of Romance Writers of America, she writes both women’s fiction and paranormal romance.

She also wrote a beautiful review of Bleeding Hearts. Thank you, Shelly!


Don't forget to enter the BLEEDING HEARTS BLOG TOUR GIFT PACK! You still a chance to win it...but you gotta get in it.

Good luck to everyone who enters and thank you all for your support of my debut!

Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Picking Six With Heidi Ruby Miller: Bleeding Hearts Blog Tour

Heidi Ruby Miller, the author of AMBASADORA, will allow me to pick six…questions, that is! See what secrets I spill at http://heidirubymiller.blogspot.com

ABOUT HEIDI:

Heidi Ruby Miller has been putting too much sex in her Science Fiction since 2005 because she believes the relationship is as important as the adventure. She loves high-heeled shoes, action movies, Chanel, loud music, and video games...

...and, she's a Pennwriter. I love being a Pennwriter because our gals are the rockingest writers around. Now, I REALLY better get my conference registration in! (And I'm glad I have another place to show off my ridiculously awesome heels.)

AMBASADORA

If everyone told you love wasn't real, would you still be willing to die for it?

Sara Mendoza and Sean Cryer are.

In their multi-partner, caste-ruled society, love and jealousy are considered emotional fallacies, nothing more than fleeting moods and sentiments biased by hormones. Relationships and conceptions in this world obsessed with celebrity, beauty, and power are based on DNA and lineages...or should be. But not everyone believes in the ruling traditions of the all-powerful Embassy. A quiet rebellion prowls the dark underground of this shiny world where techno-militants calling themselves fraggers grow in numbers and bravado. The Embassy intends to silence the fragger movement before the heresy of equality spreads throughout the system.

Sara Mendoza is part of the Embassy's plan. Captured, tortured, and falsely accused of treason, she is given a chance to win back her freedom. She only needs to charm information from one of the fragger leaders, then kill him. But by the time she figures out the Embassy's intel is flawed and that Sean Cryer is her true mark, she's already in love with him.

Sean knows why Sara is on his ship from the start, but as a lonely, anti-social doser, he doesn't value his life, only his ideology within the fragger organization. Against his better judgment, he becomes her protector, each day caring more about a future he was always afraid to hope for.



Thanks for stopping by Heidi's page today...and remember to enter the prize drawing for the end-of-book tour giveaway...just fill out the contest form!

Go to http://ash-krafton.blogspot.com/2012/03/bleeding-hearts-blog-tour-gvewy.html for your chance to win!

Monday, March 26, 2012

Bleeding Hearts Blog Tour...this week!

Can you believe it? We're ready to start the second week of my debut virtual book tour...time flies when you're having fun!

Here is this week's fanatastic line-up:

MONDAY

We scoot over to Mom Cat's blog at for a guest post about the elusive muse.

Speaking of that muse, I also visit Susan Helene Gottfried. She asks me just one, single question: What song makes me think of my book?

WEDNESDAY

Heidi Ruby Miller will allow me to pick six…questions, that is! See what secrets I spill at http://heidirubymiller.blogspot.com

THURSDAY

Author Julie Kenner invites me to share my journey: how I went from hobby writer to published author.

Then, author Shelly Bell and I bring you an important public service announcement from DAVE (Demivampire Against Vampire Evolution).

FRIDAY

Lyndi Alexander is my host...we'll be sharing an excerpt from Bleeding Hearts.

Be sure to check out these fantastic writers and bloggers who are so generous in their support of my first novel launch. Don't forget to enter the mini-contests on each day's blog stop and, of course, THE END-OF-TOUR GIVEAWAY!

M is for Monday and Music and Muse

Serendipity...

I just love it. Love the word, love the meaning...heck. Love the movie!

Today is a day of happy coincidence because today's blog tour stop feautures not one but two posts about my writing buddy: Music, my Muse.

I always have music playing in my head. In fact, I can dial between stations as I move from one thought to the next so there's always something good playing. (And yes, it's all rock with no talk, commercial-free programming. *grin*)

My Muse and I worked hand-in-hand to write Bleeding Hearts. Today on Alexx's blog, I describe my Muse and introduce you to her, complete with YouTube links. (I never said my Muse is an imaginary friend!)

Then, by a shining act of serendipity, Susan Helene Gottfried--also a rocker chick and quite possibly the kewlest Pennwriter evah--invited me to play on her page because she wants to know just one thing--What song makes me think of my book?

You'd think that a one-question interview would be easy, right? Um, NO. She didn't realize I had an entire playlist for this book. I can only name one song? A little more pressure, please. It's like trying to choose my favorite child (although my kids have discovered I'm easily bribed.)

So, enjoy the feater-touch of a bit of serendipity today. Stop by to visit my Muse and enjoy the symphony.

Cheers!

Saturday, March 24, 2012

Bleeding Hearts Blog Tour Host: RaeBeth McGee



Today I'll be talking with RaeBeth McGee about writing in general and Bleeding Hearts in detail. Join us for chat as we talk about perseverance, writer's block, and carburetors.
It's an anything-goes kind of Author Spotlight today...

(Actually, I'm preparing this post Friday night as I stand on line waiting to see the Hunger Games on opening night. I figure if I don't get it done now, I'll never get this up—my daughter is absolutely exhausting me with her nervous energy. She's going to go completely low blood sugar before the doors even open and she'll pass out before the commercials are over. Wish me luck…I need some lemonade!)


Be sure to check out the other stops along the tour for other posts about Bleeding Hearts and be sure to enter the huge end-of-tour prize package!

Good luck to everyone who enters and thanks for celebrating my new book with me!

Friday, March 23, 2012

I'm PROUDLY PARANORMAL...Are You?

Welcome to my stop on the PROUDLY PARANORMAL BLOG HOP!

Once upon a time, I came across a bit of wisdom that went along the lines of: "Truth is stranger than fiction...because fiction needs to make sense."

Boy, were they were right.  Ever come across an inconsistency or an inaccuracy or flat out WTF? moment in a novel?  It just knocks you right out of the story.

Or what about those last minute plot rescuers that sound like "...and then an uncle whom everyone thought was dead shows up out of nowhere and saves the heroine with his riches."  A little too convenient, in my opinion. It leaves me shaking my head and dreading the next crazy plot twist.

As a writer, I know in my heart that truth is stranger than fiction because otherwise, the fiction would be awful.  I know in my heart that it's a good rule, one that never should be broken.

I also know I'm the rebel kid who broke rules for no other reason than to see them broken.

My mom called me a "non-conformist".  I just agreed with her because I didn't know what the word meant. In hindsight my mom was right nearly 100% of the time so I'm glad I just went with my gut instinct and believed her. Eventually non-conformist became my motto.

So why would I want to break such a lovely rule? Just the rebel in me, I guess. But even I can't bring myself to cross that line.

Maybe that's why I'm one of the proudly paranormal.  Writing paranormal fiction allows me to get as close to possible to breaking that rule without actually doing it, thereby preventing a situation that might make my readers want to hurl things at me.

Sure, truth is stranger than fiction...but when it comes to paranormal fiction, it's sometimes hard to tell.

The paranormal genres open up doors to cellars and attics and dungeons not usually visited by mainstream fiction.

Heroes are sexier and stronger, villains are more dangerous, heroines are able to tap into strange powers to overcome their obstacles.

And paranormal fiction isn't just about mythical beasts -- not that I ever get tired of reading about vampires and werewolves -- it's psychic phenomena, ghost encounters, journeys to other dimensions or planes of existence. Heck, it's even teenage Grim Reapers.

Sure, there are still rules to writing fiction like that, but in a paranormal, you get to make a lot of those rules up as you go along.

That's part of the reason why I love writing paranormal fiction. There's no limit to my imagination. I have complete control over the world I'm building and if I want magic rocks in my world, or a royal lineage of German Werewolves, or crabby genies who seek psychiatric help, all I have to do is write it.

Sure, sometimes there are last minute plot rescuers that sound like "…and then her uncle sprouted horns and a tail and he breathed fire and saved the heroine" but that might actually make sense in the story. It's paranormal, after all.

Truth is, when it comes to paranormal writing, sometimes strange fiction is better.


Sophie Galen's "truth" gets pretty darn strange in my new novel, BLEEDING HEARTS: BOOK ONE OF THE DEMIMONDE, now available from Pink Narcissus Press.

BLEEDING HEARTS: Book One of the Demimonde...
Saving the world one damned person at a time—shy advice columnist-turned-oracle must find a way to save her dangerous demivampire lover from the fate that threatens each of his race: evolution and the destruction of his soul.

When advice columnist Sophie meets dark and alluring Marek, she learns life-changing secrets about them both—he’s a demivampire struggling to avoid evolution and she’s an empathic oracle destined to save him. Sophie possesses the rare ability to reduce the spiritual damage that causes a demivamp to Fall, making her the only thing that stands between a DV and evolution. However, as Marek's dangerous past propels him toward his desperate fate, his enemies make darker plans for him: once vampire, powerful Marek would be second only to the Master himself. The vamps want to cause Marek's Fall and they intend to use Sophie to do it....


Want to win an ebook of Bleeding Hearts? Just leave a comment below to enter the contest! (Want to take a chance at winning an even BIGGER prize? Visit this post to enter the Bleeding Hearts Blog Tour gift basket contest!)

Next up... everyone's favorite Adriana Ryan. Be sure to visit her when she blogs on March 24th!

More about the PROUDLY PARANORMAL Blog Hop...


Each of the authors participating in this blog hop has super cool, ridiculously exciting prizes to giveaway. They’ll also be talking about their books and how you can win a copy! Check out the list below to see when and where you can visit your favorite writers!
1. M. L. Archer: THURSDAY March 1st
2. Gabrielle Bisset: SATURDAY March 3rd
Gabrielle will be giving away a $10 Amazon gift card and swag (i.e. bookmarks, pens, and other goodies!) for Blood Avenged, an erotic paranormal romance!
3. J.D. Brown: MONDAY March 5th
J.D. Brown will be giving away her e-book, Dark Heirloom!
4. Chastity Bush: TUESDAY March 6th
Chastity Bush will be giving away one of her books, reader’s choice!
5. Krista D. Ball: WEDNESDAY March 7th
Krista will be giving away a copy of her e-book, Sprits Rising!
6. Wren Emerson: THURSDAY March 8th
Wren will be giving away a copy of her YA novel, I Wish… She’ll also give away a collection of short stories based in the same universe!
7. Janie Franz: SATURDAY March 10th
Janie will be giving away an e-copy of her book, Ruins Artifacts!
8. Dianne Hartsock: MONDAY March 12th
Dianne will be giving away e-copies of her book NATHANIEL!
9. Jan Fischer-Wade TUESDAY MARCH 13th
Jan will be giving away a $20 Barnes & Noble Gift Card for one person and one free copy of Veiled Virtues to another person!
10. Rosalie Skinner WEDNESDAY March 14th
Rosalie will be giving away a copy of Book One in the Chronicles of CaleathExiled: Autumn’s Peril or reader’s choice if they have read Book One!
11. Sky Purington: THURSDAY March 15th
Sky will be giving away e-copies of The Victorian Lure (Calum’s Curse: Ardetha Vampyre)!
12. Liv Rancourt: SATURDAY March 17th
Liv will be giving away a couple paperback versions of A Vampire’s Deadly Delight, as well as a PDF copy, and a Smashwords code for a copy of Bites – Ten Tales of Vampires!
13. Rebecca Ryals Russell: MONDAY March 19th
Rebecca will be giving away a tote bag filled with swag (note pad, pen, keyring, bookmark, postcard cover art from her YA series, Seraphym Wars)!
14. A.H. Browne: TUESDAY March 20th
A.H. Browne will be giving away coupons for a free download of her book, Dark Illusions, from Smashwords!
15. Marsha A. Moore: WEDNESDAY March 21st
Marsha will be giving away a copy of her e-book, Seeking a Scribe: Enchanted Bookstore Legend One!
16. Alexandra Kane: THURSDAY March 22nd
Alexandra will be giving away 1 free copy of Darkness Rising (reader chooses print, Kindle, Nook or PDF) + a pen, 2012 calendar, magnet, and chocolate!
17. Ash Krafton: FRIDAY March 23rd
Ash will be giving away e-copies of Bleeding Hearts: Book One of the Demimonde & a Barnes & Noble gift card!
18. Adriana Ryan: SATURDAY March 24th
Adriana will be giving away a $10 Amazon gift card and an e-copy of her novella, Her Heart’s Desire!
19. Savannah Chase: MONDAY March 26th
Savannah will be giving away a copy of her e-book, Bid For Love!

Thursday, March 22, 2012

Bleeding Hearts Blog Tour Host Katheryn Lane



Today's blog tour stop is at romance author Katheryn Lane's blog for a proper writer's interview.We'll talk about the inspiration for writing Bleeding Hearts and discuss the lore behind my demivampires. Join us!


About Katheryn Lane's new book The Royal Sheikh:

The Royal SheikhClare McKay is a dedicated architect with no time for womanising men. That is, until she accidentally meets Sheikh Rafiq Al Kahil, an Arabian prince, known in the international press as the Playboy Prince. Clare is intent on not falling for his seductive charm, but when he asks her to design a mansion, he presents her with an offer that she can’t refuse. Once she finds herself alone with him in the Arabian desert, how long will she be able to hold out against his advances? And will he be able to cast aside his womanising past for her, as well as a secret engagement to an Arabian Princess?

What reviewers are saying

"This was a great read. I have read it four times since I have downloaded it." ~ Jessica Follis on Smashwords

"I think this is an incredible read" ~ Michelle Hughes, author of A Night at Tears of Crimson

"I could not stop reading this book . . . a great romantic story" ~ Lisa M. on Readers Favorite

"Romance at its best . . . If you believe in romance then you will want to read this book. " ~ Regina Pukett, author of Waiting for Mary Elizabeth

"The characters and setting of this fast-paced novel make it a romantic treasure.' ~ Alle Wells, author of Lame Excuses

"This story is sweet, heartwarming, yet sexy. You're in for a treat!" ~ Jan Romes, author of One Small Fib and Lucky Ducks
You can find Katheryn Lane's debut romance novel, The Royal Sheikh 

Wednesday, March 21, 2012

UF Reviews: Guest Post and Goodies!

Today's Bleeding Hearts Blog Tour Stop is at UF Reviews.


I guest-blog about Ancient Egypt and the origins of the Demivampires...complete with excerpt and giveaway. If you'd happened to see the press relese for Bleeding Hearts, you'd already know that I LOVE ancient Egypt--I've been dragging my family to all sorts of museums for years. Small wonder my love for the ancient culture found its way into my book.

No mummies in my series, however...at least, not yet. :)

Remember, the tour schedule can be found here. Don't miss a stop!

And the BIG CONTEST is here. Feeling lucky?

Red Tash and Black Humor

Today, I'm fooling around over on Red Tash's page. It takes a lot of talent to be both dark and humorous...so I'm paying her a bit of homage with my take on why I think Black is the New Funny.

Check out Red Tash's book This Brilliant Darkness available on Amazon.com.

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Shelly Bell's Review of Bleeding Hearts



About Shelly Bell:

A member of Romance Writers of America, Shelly Bell writes writes both women’s fiction and paranormal romance. Vist her website at http://shellybellbooks.com/ to learn more about her book, A Year To Remember.

A YEAR TO REMEMBER

A food addict’s road to recovery as she searches for her soul mate under the watchful eye of the nation.

When her younger brother marries on her twenty-ninth birthday, food addict Sara Friedman drunkenly vows to three hundred wedding guests to find and marry her soul mate within the year.

After her humiliating toast becomes a YouTube sensation, she permits a national morning show to chronicle her search. With the help of best friend Missy, she plunges head first into the shallow end of the dating pool.

Her journey leads her to question the true meaning of soul mates, as she decides between fulfilling her vow to marry before her thirtieth birthday and following her heart’s desire. But before she can make the biggest decision of her life, Sara must begin to take her first steps towards recovery from her addiction to food.


Monday, March 19, 2012

Bleeding Hearts Blog Tour Kick Off!

Today is the first day of the rest of my blog tour! =)

Welcome, everyone, and thanks for stopping by--I am so excited to begin my very first virtual book tour. Hope you'll stop by often to visit each of the stops in my tour...we've got interesting posts, fun interviews, and...of course...lotsa prizes!

The complete tour is listed here so check out the links to see some of your favorite bloggers. And don't forget to enter the BIG CONTEST! Just use the Rafflecopter form below to get your karma in!

Today I'll be visiting Reading And Writing Urban Fantasy And Paranormal Romance to talk about "Writer's Voice".

The best definition I've found for "writer's voice" is:

Definition: Voice has two meanings as it concerns creative writers:
  • Voice is the author's style, the quality that makes his or her writing unique, and which conveys the author's attitude, personality, and character; or
  • Voice is the characteristic speech and thought patterns of a first-person narrator; a persona. Because voice has so much to do with the reader's experience of a work of literature, it is one of the most important elements of a piece of writing.


Many thanks to the host of Reading and Writing Urban Fantasy and Paranormal Romance for helping me begin my blog tour and to help me introduce my debut novel, Bleeding Hearts: Book One of the Demimonde.
Hope you'll stop by and leave a comment--as well as enter the BIG CONTEST! You can enter using the Rafflecopter form below.

Sunday, March 18, 2012

Bleeding Hearts Virtual Book Tour Begins Tomorrow!

To celebrate the release of my first novel, I'll be embarking on a month-long virtual book tour. I'll be visiting a group of fantastic bloggers and authors, sharing interviews and secrets and excerpts along the way.

At the end of it all, one lucky reader will win a Bleeding Hearts prize package, filled with whatever retail therapy finds its way inside. There will be books, shiny things, and gift cards...even more!

Hope you'll stop by to meet my hosts and to say hello.

The Opening Week Line-up

Monday: The tour kicks off with a guest blog about writer's voice and giveaway at http://readingandwritingurbanfantasy.blogspot.com.

Tuesday: Author of chick lit and women's fiction Shelly Bell reviews Bleeding Hearts at http://shellybellbooks.com/!
Wednesday: Guest post with excerpt and giveaway at Urban Fantasy Reviews http://ufreviews.com. Did you know my demivamps trace their origins to Ancient Egypt? Find out how the god Horus started it all...

Wednesday: I'll also visit with Red Tash for Writer Wednesday at http://redtash.com. The dark fantasy equivalent of wackiness will ensue.

Thursday: An interview with author Katheryn Lane at http://katheryn-lane.blogspot.com reveals the secret of the Sophia Oracle and her role in the destiny of a demivampire.

Friday: I'm participating in the Proudly Paranormal Blog Hop...along with great authors like Liv Rancourt and Adriana Ryan. Be sure to check out these and other fabulous writers, too!

Stop by for fun reads and great prizes. Thanks to all my wonderful hosts who are taking the time to celebrate with me...hope you will, too!

Thursday, March 15, 2012

RELEASE DAY for Bleeding Hearts!


Today is my release day... BLEEDING HEARTS: BOOK ONE OF THE DEMIMONDE has been unleashed!

 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

BLEEDING HEARTS:
Book One of the Demimonde
 
Saving the world one damned person at a time—shy advice columnist-turned-oracle must find a way to save her dangerous demivampire lover from the fate that threatens each of his race: evolution and the destruction of his soul.

 When advice columnist Sophie meets dark and alluring Marek, she learns life-changing secrets about them both—he’s a demivampire struggling to avoid evolution and she’s an empathic oracle destined to save him. Sophie possesses the rare ability to reduce the spiritual damage that causes a demivamp to Fall, making her the only thing that stands between a DV and evolution. However, as Marek's dangerous past propels him toward his desperate fate, his enemies make darker plans for him: once vampire, powerful Marek would be second only to the Master himself. The vamps want to cause Marek's Fall and they intend to use Sophie to do it....



Join the Demimonde!

Bleeding Hearts Goodreads page

Bleeding Hearts on www.PinkNarc.com

Bleeding Hearts on Amazon

Bleeding Hearts on Barnes & Noble

Bleeding Hearts Blog Tour line-up and links to tour contest


Thank you to everyone who has supported me along the path to publication: my family, my friends, and my editors at Pink Narcissus Press. Rose, Stacy, Josie, and Duncan: I could not have imagined a more devoted and more wonderful team. I have been truly blessed. Namaste to you all.

My heart is within you always...

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Beware the Ides of March...tomorrow.

The Ides of March has been my favorite day of the year since tenth grade with Mrs. Delaney. That was when I fell in love with Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare.

Although I developed an enormous crush on Wills and his entire catalog, Juius Caesar was the one that really struck a chord. Brutus and Marc Antony--how can you choose between them? And the best line, despite what you expect me to quote here, is by Casca. Peace, ho! Caesar speaks! I freaking LOVE that line.

When I was a senior, our class took a day trip to see the local university's performance of ole Julius C. Lucky for them, lucky for us, and especially lucky for me was that the class had a celebrity director that term: Sir Richard Harris. *sigh* My hero.

He did Caesar like no one else ever could have. He was a presence. A master. A genius. And I stood up and applauded every time he spoke like I was a besotted school girl screaming in the audience. (Oh, wait. I *was*. Strike "like" and insert "because".) I'll never forget that day. I'll never forget him.

And, just to rub it in in case you're drooling with jealousy, it was only the year before that I saw him on the same exact stage  performing Camelot. You heard me. Richard Harris. In the King Arthurly flesh.

I like to think of those experiences as "that little thing" Sir Richard and I had.

Although Dear Richard is no longer around to satisfy my need to see him on stage, I do carry on my tradition or wearing a black ribbon on The Ideas of March. I wear it for my fallen Caesar and for my fallen Richard.

And I always will. God rest them.

When beggars die, there are no comets seen;
The heavens themselves blaze forth the death of princes. (2.2.30)

Saturday, March 10, 2012

GraveTells: Ash Krafton

Bleeding Hearts: Book One of the Demimonde will appear on GraveTells: Paranormal News and Reviews today!


Stop by for a peek at my guest post "When Vampires Just Ain't Enough." Also, see how you can win a copy of Bleeding Hearts!

Don't forget...the big release day is Thursday!

*bounce bounce bounce*


Thanks for your support...Enjoy!

Friday, March 9, 2012

Balticon 46, Here We Come!


I'll be appearing at Balticon 46 on Memorial Day weekend...Thanks to my editor, Rose Mambert of  Pink Narcissus Press, for the invite. This is the first convention I've signed up to attend and I am psyched!


Balticon: A Four Day, 24-hours-a-day Extravaganza!

Over 300 Hours of Multi-Track Programming featuring authors, publishers, editors, artists, scientists, musicians and other creative SF luminaries. Join over a thousand SF fans for the area's largest and longest running convention of its kind! Visit our huge art show, dealer's room, concerts, dances, gaming room, computer room and video room.
Everything Science Fiction and Fantasy in one huge package.   May 25-28, 2012

Looking forward to participating on Saturday and Sunday afternoons and to fooling around at the Pink Narc table. And just wait until you see the shoes I plan to wear. (Sister Johanna, pray for me!) A glimpse at those heels will in itself be worth the price of admission.

Great science fiction and fantasy...awesome costumes...and my shoes. It's going to be a good time.

Hope to see some of you at Balticon!

Monday, March 5, 2012

The Bleeding Hearts Virtual Book Tour *updated*

To celebrate the release of my debut urban fantasy BLEEDING HEARTS: BOOK ONE OF THE DEMIMONDE on March 15, we'll be embarking on a month-long virtual book tour.


I'll be visiting a group of fantastic bloggers and authors, sharing interviews and secrets and excerpts along the way. At the end of it all, one lucky reader will win a Bleeding Hearts prize package, filled with whatever retail therapy finds its way inside.



TOUR SCHEDULE


3/19 The tour kicks off with a guest blog about writer's voice and giveaway at http://readingandwritingurbanfantasy.blogspot.com.

3/20 Author of chick lit and women's fiction Shelly Bell reviews at http://shellybellbooks.com/!

3/21 Another guest post with excerpt and giveaway at http://ufreviews.com


3/21 I'll also visit with Red Tash for Writer Wednesday at http://redtash.com. The dark fantasy equivalent of wackiness will ensue.

3/22 An interview with author Katheryn Lane at http://katheryn-lane.blogspot.com reveals the secret of the Sophia Oracle and her role in the destiny of a demivampire.

3/23 PROUDLY PARANORMAL BLOG HOP STOP!

3/26 We scoot over to Alexx's blog at http://alexxmomcatgatewaybookblog.blogspot.com for a guest post about the elusive muse.

3/26 Speaking of that muse, I also visit Susan Helene Gottfried's site http://WestofMars.com where she asks me just one, single question: What song makes me think of my book?

3/28 Heidi Ruby Miller will allow me to pick six…questions, that is! See what secrets I spill at http://heidirubymiller.blogspot.com

3/29 Author Julie Kenner invites me to share my journey: how I went from hobby writer to published author.

3/29 Then, author Shelly Bell and I bring you an important public service announcement from DAVE (Demivampire Against Vampire Evolution).

3/30 Lyndi Alexander is my host...we'll be sharing an excerpt from Bleeding Hearts.


4/2 A double-header: first, an interview with Carolyn Kaufman on the Query Tracker blog...

4/2 ...then I'll share an excerpt with Robin Badillo on her smexy blog!

4/4 Fellow Triberr blogger and paranormal fanatic Laurie Jenkins loves excerpts and giveaways--and I'd never disappoint her. Stop by for a sneak-peak of Bleeding Hearts as my main character Sophie gets tested for oracular powers at the gathering of the Demivampire Conclave.  

4/4 Guest post and prize over at Sidney Bristol's website!

4/5 Meet fellow Pink Narcissus Press author Stuart Sharp when I stop by for a chat at http://www.stu-stusplace.blogspot.com

4/6 Guest-blogging at Sapphyria's Book Reviews! She'll be reviewing Bleeding Hearts later in the Spring, too.

4/9 A review and interview (and giveaway, of course!) at Niina's gorgeous blog http://niinas-reading-and-reviewing.blogspot.com/


4/11 Laurie's my host at the Reader Girls'  blog www.readergirlsblog.com Read an excerpt and see why I chose this special selection.

4/12 Carmel of the howl-worthy Rabid Reads will review Bleeding Hearts at her blog http://www.rabidreads.ca/ Want to become namesake to a Were from the Books of the Demimonde? Enter this special giveaway!
4/14 Friend and fellow author Tricia Schneider http://www.shadowsofromance.blogspot.com helps me wrap-up the tour with a look of what lies ahead in the Books of the Demimonde.


The blog tour contest will run until April 18. The widget below will go live on March 17--so be sure to get your name in!


What's up for grabs? Hmm...let's see...So far, there's--


  • A copy of Bleeding Hearts: Book One of the Demimonde
  • Pink Narcissus Press Prize Pack: Rapunzel's Daughter, Court of Dreams, and WTF!
  • A "Bleeding Hearts" necklace from the Victorian Trading Company
  • Body Fantasies "Vampire" fragrance gift set
  • Bleeding Hearts coffee mug (naturally)
  • gift cards, bookmarks, swag, swag, swag!


Are you in it to win it? Jump into the Rafflecopter entry form and enter away. Some things (like Tweeting about the giveaway each day) will get you extra points so you can increase your odds of winning.