DC Area Storytellers

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New Book Trailer: Noble Blood, The Gray Court Book 2

My Son Best Seller at All Romance My short story, My Son, is a best seller at All Romance!

Sex, liquor, and men are not always a good thing. Kelly Ann Mitchell discovers this the hard way. One night of confusion, and misplaced trust result in a mistake she can’t take back. Forced to make a choice, she chooses the only thing she can live with which changes her life, and the lives of everyone around her forever.

Charles Mitchell failed his family, his daughter, once. He’s determined not to do it again. Jerry Harte must pay for what he’s done, and Charles will be the one to make sure he does.
Read More......

My Son Best Seller at All Romance Ebooks

Two early presents, really. The first is the gala itself. This Saturday, December 18, 7-9 p.m., the Borders at 4420 Mitchellville Road, Bowie, MD 20716, will host a book signing featuring:


- Rising romantic suspense star Jeanne Adams,

- Bestselling science fiction and fantasy writer Catherine Asaro,

- Break-out historical romance author Grace Burrowes,

- Award-winning children's author Deborah Da Costa,

- Three time Nebula Award nominee and veteran SF short story writer Bud Sparhawk, and

- Me.

Just in time for your holiday buying. And to help you get into the spirit of the holidays, there will be music by Catherine and Donald Wolcott. How can you you go wrong?

The second present arrived in my email earlier tonight: the Letter of Agreement for Dragon*Con 25. Nine months away and my mind is already there.

Jean Marie Ward Read More......

Holiday Author Gala & Early Holiday Present

Just a quick note to say my interview with Jeri Smith-Ready, the latest in my "Vampires Of" series, is now live at Buzzy Multimedia. She really is as nice in person as she is on the page.
And while you're in the clicking mood, don't forget Angela Kay Austin's Internal Rhyme for her hero Chance O'Malley.
Cheers! Read More......

"The Vampires Of Jeri Smith Ready" now live

Character inspired prose. Every once in a while my characters like to drop by and share what’s happening in their worlds. Now, there are a lot of ways in which they could do this, but I’ve asked them to express themselves through poetry at Internal Rhyme. Of course, my men argue this point, but we’ve found a happy compromise. I think. We hope that you’ll drop by and read what’s on their minds, and maybe sometimes mine.

These are not the works of Chaucer, Dante, Emily Bronte, Shakespeare, Emily Dickinson, Nikki Giovanni, Langston Hughes, Maya Angelou, or Alexander Pope.

But, character inspired poetic prose. As my characters meet, fall in love, fight love, deal with the pressures in their worlds they will drop by to share what they’re feeling with all of us. So, please visit often.


December 7th, Chance O'Malley, my hero from Love's Chance will share with us his feelings about the passing of his father in a piece he's titled "For My Father".
Read More......

Angela Kay Austin's Internal Rhyme

Jeri Smith-Ready (left) and Mindy Klasky sign autographs at CapClave 2010.

I know, I've been a bad blogger. I've been lost in the Revision Cave. But I couldn't let the month past without a report on CapClave 2010. It's all here. Enjoy!

Jean Marie Read More......

Saturday Six: Snapshots of CapClave 2010

Rite Men for Maya
by Zenobia Renquist

Changeling Press

eBook ISBN: 978-1-60521-535-8

Paranormal, Interracial, Menage (m/m/f), Shapeshifter

$4.49

Maya is a half human, half merman who has decided to attend the fertility-virility rite and learn more about her merman heritage. The rite is meant to help mermen find their perfect mates, but Maya is only interested in using it as research.

Tam and Kessen are participants who are searching for their third. They are drawn to Maya and she to them. But she refuses to acknowledge the bond and runs. Tam and Kessen must pursue her through her dreams if they hope to make their love a reality and prove they are the right men for Maya.


Read More......

New to Changeling Press: Rite Men for Maya

New Halloween anthology from the Jewels of the Quill.HALLOWEEN TREASURES, an anthology from Jewels of the Quill, an author group I belong to, has recently been published by Whiskey Creek Press. Check it out for stories both romantic and chilling. My Lovecraftian romance novella, "Mistress of the Shadow Hounds," features family secrets, an ancient artifact, and a portal between universes. Visit here for information on the book:

Halloween Treasures

Margaret L. Carter
Carter's Crypt
Read More......

Halloween Treasures

I'm going to make my fourth run in the National Write a Novel in a Month challenge. Anyone who wants to be a writing buddy can join me there. My direct link is:
http://www.nanowrimo.org/eng/user/233434
Two of the last three times I've completed NaNo, I've sold the novel by the end of January.
I'll be looking forward to y'all joining the insanity of writing 50k words in 30 days.

Anthony Stevens
http://masteranthonystevens.com
Read More......

Join Me in NaNoWriMo!

Just in time for Halloween, I've updated the JeanMarieWard.com "And Stuff" page with links to two real life ghost stories:

"Everyday Haunts" -- You think you know your neighborhood? Maybe it's time to talk to the resident ghosts. (And check out the great cover J.C. Wilder found for the story. Is that a great door to mystery or what?)

"Real Weird" -- More spooky stories from the most ordinary house on the block.

Happy haunting! And don't forget, I'll be signing Dragon's Lure and Fantasy Art Templates at Tea With the Authors at Constellation Books in Reisterstown, Maryland, from 3-5 p.m., Saturday, October 30. Looking forward to seeing you there.

Jean Marie Read More......

Just in time for Halloween--free reads!

Halloween Internet Event!!

It's time to read about bumping the things in the night.

48 Hours of Halloween
and
The All Saints' Day Event

***Where:
D. Renee Bagby Presents First Chapters
http://dreneebagbypresentsfirstchapters.blogspot.com/

***When:
30 Oct, 12:01 AM EST - 01 Nov, 10:01 AM EST

***What:
Every hour, one minute past the hour, starting 30 October at 12:01 AM EST the D. Renee Bagby Presents First Chapters blog will drop a new romance first chapter. Vampires, shapeshifters, witches, demons, angels, and other such Halloween creatures are the theme of this event.

***Prizes:
- Book Cover posters
- Free books/e-books

***GRAND PRIZE (only ONE winner for all three days):
- Those who comment on all 59 posts are entered to win a $50 e-gift card to Amazon, Borders, Barnes & Noble, or All Romance eBooks (winner's choice).

***How to Win:
- Leave a comment. The more posts on which you comment, the more chances you have to win. (Note: Multiple comments on one post from one person only count as one entry.)

- Include your name and/or email on each comment for notification purposes.

- All comments received PRIOR to 02 November 12:01 AM EST are entered to win. Winners announced 02 November ON THE BLOG -- that means you have to check back to see if you won.

- Winners have TWO (2) days from the date of notification to claim their prize (deadline - 04 November, Thursday).


*** Permission to forward granted *** Read More......

48 Hours of Halloween Event

Is Jon Stewart's Rally to Restore Sanity too crazy for you...or not insane enough?

What you need is a large dose of bacon-loving dragons and bad-assed fairies. To get it, join me for Tea with the Authors at Constellation Books, 303 Main Street, Reisterstown, MD 21136, this Saturday, October 30, from 3-5 p.m.

The event also features my partners-in-crime--er, fantasy--er, fellow writers Danielle Ackley-McPhail, Vonnie Winslow Crist, Kelly A. Harmon and Robert E. Waters. The spotlighted books will be Dragon's Lure (which includes my short story "Lord Bai's Discovery") and Bad-Assed Fairies 3: Halfling's Court.

There will be tea, cookies, costumes, readings and lots of fun. Hope to see you there!

Jean Marie Read More......

Dragons & Fairies & Book Signing, Oh My!

Yeah, I know "three" is a long way from "a thousand', but with the house in chaos from drywall repairs and painters (who used the WRONG PAINT, so we had industrial fans running in front of open windows all night-grrrrrrr), it sure feels like it. This time it's my Samhain blog offering a few of my choicer real life tales of the weird. Think of it as a companion piece to the Samhellion freebie scheduled for later in the month. Creeeeeepy. Mwahahahaha!

Jean Marie Ward Read More......

The Week of a Thousand Blogs continues

Halloween is my favorite time of year, not only do I get to celebrate my favorite holiday, I get to play at Capclave, the Washington DC area’s literary science fiction, fantasy and horror convention focusing on the short fiction form, held at the Hilton Washington DC/Rockville MD Executive Meeting Center, October 22-24. This year’s guests of honor are Connie Willis (writing), and Ann and Jeff VanderMeer (editing).

My schedule comprises two panels, a workshop and the ever popular Broad Universe Rapid Fire Reading, where I just might read from “Siren Bridge”. It’s strudel weather, after all.

Friday, 7 p.m.
Mutants: Gift or Curse? (Ends at: 8:00 pm)
Location: Plaza II M
Panelists: C.J. Henderson, Robert Scott, Jean Marie Ward
What are the joys and pains of being a zombie, vampire, werewolf? Discussion of trends in depictions of mutants in books, films, comics, and popular culture.

Friday, 8 p.m.
Writers and the Internet: When is Enough Enough? (Ends at: 9:00 pm)
Location: Plaza II
Panelists: Oz Drummond, Walter H. Hunt, Tee Morris, Karen Wester Newton, Jeff VanderMeer, Jean Marie Ward
How much of the Internet is needed for an author to successfully promote themselves and their works? And how much is too much?

Saturday, 2 p.m.
Reviewer's Workshop (Ends at: 4:00 pm)
Location: Randolph
Panelists: Doug Fratz, Peter Heck (M), Jean Marie Ward
A good reviewer does more then read free books and say "I like that". The panelists will demonstrate the hallmarks of a good review and how to create one. Did we mention Peter Heck is a regular reviewer for Asimov's Science Fiction?

Saturday, 7 p.m.
Broad Universe RapidFire Reading (Ends at: 8:00 pm)
Location: Montrose
Panelists: Roxanne Bland, Oz Drummond, Kelly A. Harmon, Dina Leacock, Jean Marie Ward
The women authors of Broad Universe serve up tasty bites of fiction...and free chocolate!


Note: The Fannish Dodo illustrating this post is the Capclave mascot, created by Lynn Perkins in 2005.


Jean Marie Ward
JeanMarieWard.com Read More......

Jean Marie's 2010 Capclave Schedule

The latest in my Buzzy Multimedia interview series, "The Vampires Of", is now live. This episode features Tanya Huff, author of two vampire series (including the Vicki Nelson novels, which inspired a first-rate Lifetime Channel TV series) and many other wonderful SF and fantasy books. Check it out. This is definitely one of my favorites of the series. Tanya's a delight to talk to--and read.

Jean Marie Read More......

"The Vampires Of" return with Tanya Huff

The Cruxshadows Dancers at the band's September 5 Dragon*Con performance.

I've posted a Thursday Thirteen of pictures for my monthly blog at Beyond the Veil. But be warned, those shots are just the teaser. To see the rest of the photos you'll need to follow the link at the end of the article. Enjoy! Read More......

My 2010 Dragon*Con Images Are Live

It was the opposite of Dragon*Con. ReConStruction, the tenth occasional North American Science Fiction Convention held in Raleigh August 5-8, was the definition of low-key. Preliminary counts put attendance at only a little over six hundred. But that only meant a glorious lack of queues.

There were no lines for Raleigh’s famous rickshaw taxis when Jana Oliver and I strolled out of our hotel the day before the con. Or for the restaurants or the small museums which dotted downtown Raleigh. Or the panels and exhibits, which sometime seemed dwarfed by their facilities. This gave the proceedings a very relaxed feel and, as Lee Martindale pointed out in her entry “Con Trails”, encouraged folks to make things work in spite of glitches and unexpected hotel issues.


Flying Saucer Draught Emporium, Raleigh, NC (photo by Jean Marie Ward)

Lots of stand-out memories remain, even after the six weeks it took me to post this. Ada Milenkovic Brown organized the con’s Broad Universe Rapid Fire Reading and a pre-reading get together at the appropriately named Flying Saucer bar. The saucers, though, had more to do with beer than little green men. The saucers lining the walls were awarded for drinking a thousand beers at the bar. While we were there, a gentleman was awarded his third. Hmm, maybe little green men were involved after all…riding to the rescue on pink elephants.

My panels included a one-on-one with con toastmaster and Baen editor Toni Weiskopf (“Urban Fantasy make-over”), and Susan and Clay Griffith, the husband and wife writing team whose The Greyfriar will be released in early November (“Writing with someone close to you”). Fan guest of honor Juanita Coulson recounted the most wonderful stories about collaborating in SF’s Golden Age on the Writing in Collaboration panel with Chuck Gannon and me. But “Worst panel ever” will always hold a special place in my heart. Not only did my fellow panelists (Michael D’Ambrosio, Chris Garcia, James Daniel Ross and Lawrence M. Schoen) reduce me to tears of laughter, but a member of the audience later greeted me with the words: “Worst Panel Ever—best panel ever!” Music to this panel moderator’s ears.

The RFR boasted a large audience and eight accomplished writers. Everyone read at their best, too. Afterwards, most of us decamped to the party of the con: the launch party for Mary Robinette Kowal’s Shades of Milk and Honey. The party featured the author in picture perfect Regency dress, scented fan souvenirs and a musical performance by Mary’s father Ken Harrison on the saw. Yes, you read that right. He played the saw, the same carpentry implement most of us use to cut wood, and he made it sing. Mary called it “an analog theremin”, and that’s a very good description of the sound. The eerie vibrato tone lent a special magic to the selection of traditional tunes he played. Unfortunately, your reporter neglected to pack her notebook to record the titles, but I did get pictures.


Ken Harrison (left) and Mary Robinette Kowal at the launch party
for Mary's Shades of Milk and Honey. (photo by Jean Marie Ward)

Regular roomies (Jana and Gail, I am looking at you) know that I can’t go to a new city without cruising the restaurants. Jana and I stumbled on bu*ku, an elegant bistro specializing in “global street food” after our rickshaw ride, and we ate more than one meal at Sitti, a friendly but sophisticated Lebanese café. The city saved its most unique dining experience for last, however—with a little help from fellow “Broad” and Samhain author Marcia Colette.

Marcia brought me to Spize, a café run by a friend and colleague. Imagine divine Asian fusion sandwiches on the best baguettes you ever ate. The owner, an IT superstar who founded the café during a brief sabbatical, has the bread flown in from New York. Yet the café is both unpretentious and green. There’s something decidedly fantastical about that, too.

(Glutton for pun--er, want more? Click here for the rest of my ReConStruction photos.) Read More......

Con Report: ReConStruction 2010

Remember my little ugly duckling of a story that no one loved because my heroine happened to be lesbian...and a sorceress...and totally unapologetic about any of it? Well, it's official, "Personal Demons" has turned into a swan, thanks to the kind offices of editors Catherine Lundoff and JoSelle Vanderhooft and the good folks at Drollerie Press. Look at the line-up "Personal Demons" will be sharing page space with. Heck, look at the cover. Even Greg, who's an artist in his own right, is in awe. Con crud? What con crud? Watch me dance! ;-)

Jean Marie Read More......

Cover dance of glee for Hellebore & Rue

Michael "Mookie" Terracciano, creator of the fantasy
webcomic "Dominic Deegan: Oracle for Hire", mugs
for your pestilential reporter.

It may seem backwards to post my photos of Intervention Con, the brand new Washington DC-area webcomics convention, first but it's only fair. Although I was pencilled into the program for two days, the horrors of Con Crud (my first-ever unwelcome souvenir of Dragon*Con) will keep me from playing on today's panels. I only hope I didn't spread my plague to the other attendees.

There was a lot to like at Intervention 2010. The organizers were friendly and helpful, and the attendees were thrilled at the chance to promote an artform they love to DC and the world. Guest Relations Chair Gloria Chapa deserves special thanks for dealing with my unexpectedly diminished schedule. But everyone I dealt with, from PR maven Brian Lynch to hotel liaison Colette Fozard (of the fabulous cat ears) to the dread photographer/videographers Wes Mason and Isaiah Beard, were first-rate folks.

Another special shout-out needs to go to Chris "Kilika" Malone (New Jersey's premier surfer and creator of Blue and Blond) and fellow DC Area Storyteller Anthony Stevens for helping to make Greg's (aka the Spouse Person and IV Caffeine's chief squirrel wrangler) first ever con as vendor and guest a success. Thanks guys! My only regret is I was too spacey to get Chris's picture. My reportorial instincts were obviously out to lunch all day long.

Oh well, with any luck they'll do it again next year. I'll be better then. Promise!

Jean Marie Ward Read More......

A little bit of Intervention

No, not that kind of intervention. This is Intervention capitalized, a very new webcomic convention gracing the Hilton DC/Rockville, Maryland, September 10-12. Yes, the con starts tomorrow, and yes, I do have panels. So do DC Area Storytellers' very own Anthony Stevens, as well as Greg, the darling spouse and squirrel wrangler of Intravenous Caffeine. This will be Greg's first con as a participating artist and guest, so come on by and show some con love. Our schedule is:

Friday, September 10
1 p.m.
Okay, I Finished My Story. What Happens Next?
How does your story get from your keyboard to into a reader’s hands? What’s the editorial process? Why does it take so long?
Panelists: Elaine Corvidae, Jean Marie Ward

7 p.m
Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Publishing, But Didn’t Know You Had to Ask.
Writers at all points in the publishing food chain share their experiences, good and bad. Panelists will discuss the various advantages of NY publishers, small press and self-publishing. Along the way you’ll learn what publishers really look for in a book, how to get your project noticed in a good way, and how to spot potential warning signs of trouble. (I had hoped to lure Ben Bova into this one, but alas, he had the flu and had to cancel. But trust me, Elaine and I have lots of experiences to share, good, bad, our own and others’.)
Panelists: Elaine Corvidae, Jean Marie Ward

9 p.m.
Free Is a Good Place to Start.
Do you have big dreams, but a minuscule budget? Never fear; our panelists can show you the path to Freedonia. This panel is a short seminar with hand-outs highlighting free word processing, graphics, audio and video programs, and free web site templates. (This is Greg’s first panel ever. Drop by and show him some con love.)
Panelists: Anthony Stevens, Chris Impink, Ryan Thompson, Greg Uchrin, Jean Marie Ward

10 p.m.
The Economies of Small Scale.
Just because your dreams are big doesn’t mean that you’ll be forced to break the bank. This panel deals with posting a comic on the cheap, a word about copyright, and the real costs of self-publishing in ink and paper.
Panelists: Anthony Stevens, Greg Uchrin

Sunday, September 12
11 a.m.
How to Use Social Media Without Inadvertently Seeming like a Jerk.
Social Media has changed the industry dramatically. Gone are the days when creators had little to no contact with their fans. Which services are worth using? How do we use them? What are some common mistakes? What are some creative promotional techniques?
Panelists: Chris Flick, Illya Kuryakin, Christiann MacAuley, Ben McCormick, Jean Marie Ward

1 p.m.
Creating Three-Dimensional Characters.
When writing an adventure or a story, having characters that the readers can get into is half the battle. If the readers or players become intrigued by the characters, then the rest of the story will fall into place. Join our panelists as they discuss creating characters that are non-flat and can intrigue.
Panelists: Pete Abrams, Chezhnian Angelus, Garth Graham, Michael Terracciano, Jean Marie Ward

And that’s just our panels. The con boasts three full-time tracks, workshops, a club (with dances) and a video room. See you there!

Read More......

Intervention Schedule

Look what I made! Read More......

Animal Attraction (Halle Pumas Anthology 2)

Diana Gabaldon! Peter David! Elizabeth Moon! Jeanne C. Stein! Jody Lynn Nye! Eric Flint! Not only are they all at Dragon*Con, they’re all on panels with moi. Not to mention all the other fabulous people on my twelve panels. Yes, twelve. Now you know where the Dooooom comes from.

FRIDAY 1 p.m.
Collaborations: Are Two Heads Better Than One?
See title. Is a good collaboration as good or better than a solo author's work? Why or why not?
Eric Flint, C. Robin (Moderator), Jean Marie Ward
Location: Hyatt – Greenbriar (SF/Fantasy Literature Track)

FRIDAY 2:30 p.m.
To Tell the Truth
For the non-fiction writer. Blogs, articles and books about the speculative fiction markets, including books, short stories, movies and television.
Dr. Bob Blackwood, John Flynn, Rosemary Ellen Guiley, Anya Martin, Jennifer Ouellette, Jean Marie Ward
Location: Hyatt – Manila/Singapore/Hong Kong (Writer’s Track)

FRIDAY 4 p.m.
Broad Universe Rapid Fire Readings: Time Travel
The women of Broad Universe take you on a time-traveling trip-tic of storytelling featuring visions of the past, present and future.
Kathryn Hinds, Racheline Maltese, Gail Z. Martin, Jody Lynn Nye, Jean Marie Ward
Location: Westin – International C - Westin (Alternate History Track)

FRIDAY 7 p.m.
True Blood – From Page to Screen
Like the changes to Sookie's world? Hate them? Come by and share your thoughts!
J.F. Lewis, Carol Malcolm (Moderator), Jeanne C. Stein, Jean Marie Ward
Location: Hyatt – Montreal/Vancouver (Dark Fantasy Track)

FRIDAY 10 p.m.
Sexy Science Fiction
What makes a book sexy? Naked women and actual sex scenes? Or are there other literary pheromones at work?
Diana Gabaldon, Gail Z. Martin, G. Mitchell (Moderator), Jean Marie Ward, Diane Whiteside
Location: Hyatt – Fairlie (SF/Fantasy Literature Track)

SATURDAY 10 a.m.
Turning Stellar Rejections into Sales
According to the rejection letter, your book just misses being bought. What can you do to turn a rejection into a sale?
Lynn Abbey, Peter David, Christopher Golden, Lee Martindale, Josepha Sherman, Anne Sowards, Jean Marie Ward
Location: Hyatt – Manila/Singapore/Hong Kong (Writer’s Track)

SATURDAY 11:30 a.m.
Broad Universe Reading
Discover new writers, rediscover ones you know! Up-and-coming women writers read from their own works and others. (2 ½ hours)
Kathryn Hinds, Mary Robinette Kowal, Racheline Maltese, Gail Z. Martin, Jody Lynn Nye, Jean Marie Ward, Diane Whiteside, Trisha Wooldridge
Location: Hyatt – Greenbriar (SF/Fantasy Literature Track)

SATURDAY 7 p.m.
The Worlds of Tim Burton
A fan panel about the works of Tim Burton. What did you think of Alice in Wonderland? Do you ever think he'll ever make that Dark Shadows movie?
Leanna Renee Hieber, DJ Ichabod (Moderator), Mari Mancusi, Jean Marie Ward
Location: Hyatt – Cairo (Dark Fantasy Track)

SATURDAY 8:30 p.m.
Gray Areas: Polymoral Characters
Sometimes bad people do good things and vice versa. Does this make the bad good or the good bad?
Larry Davis (Moderator), Van Plexico, Jean Marie Ward
Location: Hyatt – Greenbriar (SF/Fantasy Literature Track)

SATURDAY 10 p.m.
Love Rots
Zombies in erotica and romance.
Elizabeth Donald, John Everson, Stacia Kane, Mari Mancusi, M. Miller (Moderator), Jean Marie Ward
Location: Hyatt – Montreal/Vancouver (Dark Fantasy Track)

MONDAY 11:30 am.
The New Amazons
Women kick bad guy butt in urban fantasy, young adult fiction, television and real life. How are they doing in epic fantasy?
Lynn Abbey, Gail Z. Martin, Elizabeth Moon, Jean Marie Ward (Moderator)
Location: Hyatt – Greenbriar (SF/Fantasy Literature Track)

MONDAY 2:30 p.m.
Win, Lose or Draw – SF style
Use your drawing skills to win books and prizes in our version of the old game.
Jean Marie Ward (Moderator)
Location: Hyatt – Greenbriar (SF/Fantasy Literature Track)

Yeah, I’m going to be a gibbering ball of goo by the time it’s all over. But dang, what a way to go!

Jean Marie Ward Read More......

Jean Marie's Dragon*Con Schedule of Dooooom

"Personal Demons", a tale about demonic possession and tantric sorcery in Alexandria, Virginia, has been accepted and contracted for Hellebore and Rue: Tales of Queer Women and Magic edited by JoSelle Vanderhooft and Catherine Lundoff. (Insert demented happy dances here. :D) I've loved this story for ages, but people told me it would never sell because my protagonist happened to be a lesbian. Just goes to show the story (and its magically gifted heroine) knew better than anybody. They were waiting for the right home, and what a lovely home it will be. Drollerie Press has a rep for fantastic covers and amazing content. I can't wait to read the other stories in the anthology. Fortunately, the wait won't be too long. The editors and Drollerie Press hope to issue the ebook in time for Halloween. This year! Color me thrilled.

Jean Marie Ward Read More......

"Personal Demons" under contract

New review and it is totally worth sharing!

"...Renee takes pride in developing rich, three-dimensional characters that continue to grow at every turn of the page... I found myself stalking the novel, devouring each page, and craving to know what happens next. I was also incredibly impressed that there wasn’t a single grammatical error in the book, which is something I’m quite critical about when reviewing novels... I don’t do ratings, but if I had to categorize Eris, I would call it “Literary Perfection.”"
~ Zee, Fire Pages Reviews

Full Review:
http://firepages.wordpress.com/2010/08/18/eris-by-d-renee-bagby/

Along with the review is a contest: Absolute Chaos Giveaway
- Leave a Comment on the Review
- Leave a comment on the interview to be posted Thursday 19 August
AND
- Subscribe via email to Zee's blog

Prizes:
- $25 gift card to Barnes & Noble, Borders, Amazon, or Bookstrand (winner's choice)
- e-copy of ERIS

Contest ends Friday 20 August

Good luck and have a happy!

~ Renee
---
D. Renee Bagby
Building New Realms of Passion
http://dreneebagby.com Read More......

Buzzy Multimedia has published the second in my series of mini vampire interviews. This one features top Ace Books editor Ginjer Buchanan. Enjoy! Read More......

The Vampires Of: Ginjer Buchanan

Fran Lee of the Salt Lake City Romance Novels Examiner interviewed me.

Check it out and leave a comment. Read More......

SLC Examiner Interview!

Is now live--with pictures--at Beyond the Veil. Enjoy! Read More......

My 2010 Pre-DragonCon Post

This one slipped past me, but I'm sure happy to see it. :D

5 Divas!
"If this were a movie, it would be a box office smash... So if you’re looking for a fast paced book with hunky immortals born in the thirteen century who find themselves captivated by a twenty first century woman, this book is definitely for you!"
~ Dakota, Dark Diva Reviews

Full Review - http://ddrreviews.blogspot.com/2010/08/eris-eternal-truths-series-by-d-renee.html


Eris by D. Renee Bagby

Genre: Fantasy Mainstream Menage (m/f/m), Interracial, Unorthodox Time Travel
Publisher: Siren Publishing, Menage Amour Imprint
ISBN: 1-60601-837-X
Length: 160,003 words (508 pgs PDF)
Format: eBook
Price: $6.99

Read Excerpt
Read First Chapter



Centuries of planning have finally come to fruition. Lucien and Ranulf have a short amount of time to make Eris love them, because once time has her, everything could come to an end.

Renee
-----------------
D. Renee Bagby
Building New Realms of Passion...
http://dreneebagby.com Read More......

5 Delightful Divas for ERIS

Eris is up for Book of the Month over at Happily Ever After Reviews!

Vote NOW

Read More......

Vote for ERIS at HEA (Book of the Month)

When I'm not committing fiction, I write nonfiction. Since April, I've been collecting mini-interviews with writers of vampire fiction in support of a larger project. The larger project is still in the "Don't rush me, I'm thinking" phase. (Did I just quote Jack Benny about money. Oh noes! I did.) But the mini-interviews have found a home.

Buzzy Multimedia has bought six brand new interviews with some of your favorite vampire writers--and editors. The first one, starring the ever-delightful Rachel Caine, has already been posted on the site. Future interviews feature Charlaine Harris, Ginjer Buchanan, Gail Z. Martin, Jeri Smith-Ready, Tanya Huff and whoever else I can strong-arm--er, persuade to stand in front of my tape recorder. Click the link and enjoy.

I hoped to be sharing my ReCONStruction schedule, but unfortunately, there's still a big disconnect between the program grid and panel list on the site. :-( But I'll be around, as in nine panels around. Yikes! And as you can see from te picture, there will be a Broad Universe Rapid Fire Reading. For the reading, I'll be offering folks a choice: dragon or syren? But don't worry, they're both evil.

And I won't be the only Samhain author there either. Marcia Colette will be sharing the bill, too. Poor woman, she doesn't know what she's in for. Mwahahahaha! Hope you'll join us. There's nothing to be afraid of. Really... Read More......

Mini-vamps and ReConStruction Update

The spotlight is on me again. This time I'm at The Long and the Short of It's Whipped Cream site.

http://www.longandshortreviews.com/WC/index.htm

Stop by if you would like to enter to win a copy of ERIS. Or just stop by to leave a comment on one of my posts. The spotlight lasts from Monday to Friday with a new post each day. Don't miss out.

~ Renee
---------
D. Renee Bagby
Building New Realms of Passion
http://dreneebagby.com Read More......

LASR-WC Spotlight: D. Renee Bagby

I'm in the spotlight at Melodee Aaron's site and her Yahoo loop.

Read the interview (and fast facts):
http://www.melodeeaaron.com/
Click on the "Spotlight" button in the left side column


I also did a guest blog over at You Gotta Read Reviews Guest Blog. It was a quick interview. Give it a looksie.

On to the contests!

Contest #1
Join Melodee Aaron's yahoo group and hang out with me for the week to chat about my books and for fast prizes:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/melodee_aaron/


Contest #2 - Best of the Best of June
http://dreneebagbypresentsfirstchapters.blogspot.com/

Come out to D. Renee Bagby Presents First Chapters so you can vote on the best
of those chapters posted in June. Choose the best cover, the best first line,
the best last line and the best overall first chapter.

4 lucky voters will be entered into a lottery to win one of these 4 prizes:
- Eris tote from me (snail mail address required)
- eBook download of Acknowledging Meirion (ARe account required)
- eBook download of The Lovely Kittengirls of Mew Orleans by GG Royale
- eBook download of The Flapper and the Fellow by GG Royale

Voting for Best of June ends 31 July. Don't be late. Though you can always vote
for Best of July in August and so on.

The prizes and the number of winners varies each month so stayed tuned. Who
knows, you may even find a book you want to read.


******
Contest #3 - Author Island
http://bit.ly/9h2Xz7

I'm hosting a contest. Three lucky winners will receive a book from mybacklist to celebrate the rave reviews of my new release ERIS.

Visit the above link for details.

Contest ends 15 August.

Renee
-----------------
D. Renee Bagby
Building New Realms of Passion...
http://dreneebagby.com
http://www.bookstrand.com/eris Read More......

Spotlights and Contests, Oh My!

Eris has gotten a second review from Happily Ever After Reviews.


"I cried, laughed, had moments of incredible frustration, but in the end fell in love... This is a must read for anyone who likes time travel romance..." ~ Yadkny, Happily Ever After Reviews, 5 Tea Cups




Read More......

HEA Reviews - Eris Gets 5 Tea Cups

I did a guest blog at Nana Malone's about crying. No, no, no. I'm not crying. You just have to read the blog and see. :P

Take a look

~ Renee
----------
D. Renee Bagby
Building New Realms of Passion...
http://dreneebagby.com Read More......

Guest Blog at Nana Malone's

Although this isn't technically a DC Area Storytellers' issue, it hits very close to home. After a five-year medical nightmare, former DC area writer SJ Willing has lost the use of his pancreas. He can survive and thrive with the right meds, but they cost $250/month he can't afford, and like most writers, he lacks insurance. His fellow writers at Beyond the Veil have started a number of projects to help out. The first, a "Save our SJ" Donate button on the cover of the group novel Dunvegas, is now live. Please, visit and click. If you need more incentives, I've posted 13 reasons why you should. And I'll add one more: He's a good guy with family who loves and needs him. Thanks! Read More......

Save the SJ!

CONTEST #1

Desiree Holt has featured ERIS on her "Desiree Holt Tells All" blog. Stop by and leave a comment and you are entered to win a book from HER backlist. That's right. Hers. She's footing the bill this time. :P

Click HERE to enter.

CONTEST #2

"D. Renee Bagby Presents First Chapters" the best of the best of June's posts contest is LIVE. Stop by and cast your vote for the best first line, the best last line, the best cover, and the best overall first chapter and you could be entered to win one of FOUR great prizes:

- ERIS tote from me
- ebook download of ACKNOWLEDGING MEIRION via ARe from me
- ebook download of THE KITTENGIRLS OF MEW ORLEANS by GG Royale
- ebook download of THE FLAPPER AND THE FELLOW by GG Royale

Click HERE to vote NOW. Read More......

Two Contests!!

Eris has gotten it's first review from Rites of Romance.


"I was so taken in by the characters I loved, yes loved this book... The characters came to life for me, they all had flaws and imperfections and that’s what made them real to me."
~ GJM

Read the full review

Buy Now
Read First Chapter Read More......

First Review: Eris by D. Renee Bagby

I have a guest blog post up with the Seattle Examiner on how badly I still panic when I hit that SEND button:

http://www.examiner.com/x-31460-Seattle-Writing-Careers-Examiner~y2010m6d17-Daring-to-Believe-Hitting-that-send-button--by-Dana-Marie-Bell

Go ahead. Laugh. You know you want to. Don't worry, I can take it.
Read More......

Guest Blog Post with the Seattle Examiner

Well, look at that. I have no idea how long it will be up there, but seeing my little romance on the front page of anything makes me squee.  I am so easy.  Of course, I just finished watching "Comes a Horseman" again on Syfy.  Now off to bed, hopefully with dreams of Domain in my head... Read More......

"Hoodoo Cupid" is front & center at Fictionwise

Eris by D. Renee Bagby

Genre: Fantasy Mainstream Menage (m/f/m), Interracial, Unorthodox Time Travel
Publisher: Siren Publishing, Menage Amour Imprint
ISBN: 1-60601-837-X
Release: 14 June (today)
Length: 160,003 words (508 pgs PDF)
Format: eBook
Price: $6.99

Read Excerpt
Read First Chapter





Contest

Three lucky people will win a download of Eris What to be one of them? Visit my cyber launch and leave a comment or a question. That's it. You'll be entered into the lottery. This is a one-day thing only and that day is today (14 June). Winners announced tomorrow (15 June) at the same location.

Good luck and have a happy!

~ Renee
------------------
D. Renee Bagby
Building New Realms of Passion...
http://dreneebagby.com Read More......

New Release: Eris by D. Renee Bagby

Eris by D. Renee Bagby

$6.99 - (Out 14 June) Pre-Order NOW

[Ménage Amour: Mainstream Ménage a Trois Romance, M/F/M, Interracial, Unorthodox Time Travel]

Immortals born in the thirteenth century, Lucien Riordan and Ranulf Styr have waited centuries to be reunited with their love. Want for her cemented their friendship through time, even as it tore it apart. She changed their lives, made them want better, and they plan to show her that. There's only one catch--she's never met them before.

Eris Brue is flattered by Lucien and Ranulf's attention, but they are her bosses. She doesn't want to get tangled up in an office romance, especially not with two men. Their joint seduction overcomes her resolve, and she gives in even though she knows they are keeping secrets that could doom their relationship.

Centuries of planning have finally come to fruition. Lucien and Ranulf have a short amount of time to make Eris love them, because once time has her, everything could come to an end.

Read first chapter at D. Renee Bagby Presents First Chapters on 14 June. Excerpt coming to my website on 14 June.

~ Renee
Building New Realms of Passion
http://dreneebagby.com Read More......

Eris by D. Renee Bagby - Pre-Order Today!

Rose of Night Shade Industries (right) and yours truly at Balticon 44.

If you want to know what kind of mischief I got into at last week's Balticon, the story is now live. The photos, too. Enjoy!

Jean Marie Read More......

All This & Glitter Too

ISBN: 978-1-60504-765-2
Length: 272 Pages
Price: 15.00
Publication Date: June 1, 2010
Cover art by Anne Cain

Claiming your mate? Best. Game. Ever.

The Wallflower
Emma’s loved Max for years, but to him she was invisible. Now she’s in business—and out of her shell. Max returns home to become the Halle Pride’s Alpha, and he finds Emma has blossomed into—his mate! Taking her out for a bite ensures she’ll be his. But first she must convince the Pride she has what it takes…

Sweet Dreams
Getting attacked by some she-devil wasn’t part of Becky’s plans when she agreed to attend a masquerade. In a few slashing moments, she learns things about the man she loves that she never suspected. When Simon rescues Becky from one of his Pride, he finally confirms that she’s his mate. Carrying her off gives him the chance to mark her as his. But a strange illness threatens to turn their sweet dreams into a nightmare.

Cat of a Different Color
Adrian has friends, a thriving business, and the occasional Saturday night date. Life is good. Until Sheri hits town. Sheri knows Adrian is her mate, but she’s running from an ex who’s got the teeth to take whatever he wants. With Adrian by her side, though, she might just survive—if he doesn’t become lunch…

Warning: This title contains a hot blond Alpha, his tall, dark and handsome Beta, and a Puma willing to do whatever it takes to protect his mate.

Enjoy an Excerpt from Cat of a Different Color:

Chapter One

“God, I hate winter. If it wasn’t for the hurricanes I’d move to Florida.”

Adrian knocked on the hotel room door and sighed, rolling his eyes at the sight of his breath in the air. He hoped the girl (Cheryl? Shelly? No, Sheri!) didn’t keep him waiting too long. Adrian shivered and wished desperately he was back in his own warm home, with a roaring fire and a good book.

He’d been volunteered by Max to pick up the newest Pride member. Tonight was supposed to be her formal introduction, though she’d already been approved by both the Alphas and the Betas. Only Max could get Adrian to stand outside in the cold like this, but that was okay. He planned on exacting his own kind of revenge. He grinned, thinking of all the ways he could encourage Emma’s pre-marital madness.

The Alpha’s mate had gone completely insane, post-it bombing the office with little notes and to-do lists. She either kept forgetting that he shared desk space with Max or enjoyed tormenting him with wedding cake photos. It was enough to send a confirmed bachelor into sugar shock.

Adrian didn’t want a mate. He smiled to himself. His best friends had both become pussy-whipped, all in the space of weeks. Emma said “Jump!” and the big strong Alpha asked not only how high but which direction. As for Simon, if Becky so much as sighed he panicked. Watching the two strongest members of the Pride buckle under the Breast Brigade made him all the more determined to stay sanely single.

“Just a moment,” a soft voice called from inside. It sounded shy and sweet, and Adrian’s Puma raised its head curiously. He could feel his dick hardening slightly at the sound of her velvety voice.

“What the hell?” he muttered, frowning at the closed door. Shrugging, he tried to dismiss his body’s reaction.

“Who is it?”

That soft voice sent a shaft of pure lust through his veins. He twitched his shoulders and tried to dismiss the low growling sound of his Puma. “Adrian Giordano. I’m the friend Max said would be picking you up tonight.” Why the hell the woman couldn’t drive herself was a mystery, but he’d been so busy he’d forgotten to ask.

He could hear the locks disengage and tensed. His Puma let loose a low growl he’d never heard from it before, and he had to clamp his lips shut to keep it from emerging from his human lips. His eyes flashed, the colors of the setting sun turning from red to gold as he lost the red/green color spectrum. He forced them to change back, closing his eyes just as the door to the room swung open.

“Hi, Dr. Giordano. I’m Sheri Montgomery.”

He opened his eyes to find a snow princess staring back at him. She had the palest, softest-looking blonde hair he’d ever seen. The nearly white locks fell in delicate waves just past her shoulders. Pale, crystal blue eyes surrounded by equally pale lashes glowed in a face that could make the angels weep. She was small and dainty, the top of her head barely reaching his shoulder. Her breasts were perfect for her slight frame. He had the inexplicable urge to pick her up, toss her over his shoulder and carry her off to his den where no one else would ever see her. Would ever want her.

Mine.

Adrian’s eyes widened as his Puma snarled in his mind. “Crap.”

Read More......

Wannan Play Some Mating Games?

Come and give a listen to my blog talk radio interview 29 May (Saturday) at 6pm EST with One World One Voice. Raven Starr is getting me out of bed early (I sleep days and works nights) to entertain all the lovely listeners. Don't miss out. You never know what I'll say in my half-sleep state. :D



~D. Renee Bagby
Building New Realms of Passion...
http://dreneebagby.com Read More......

Blog Talk Interview (29 May)

I took a page out of S.J. Willing's book today and posted a short short story for my Samhain blog. Consider it a free pass into the weirder corners of my mind. It's "All About the Flies". Really. ;-) Read More......

New Short Story by Jean Marie

Memorial Day and Balticon—the two go together like fun and three-day weekends. Balticon is the premier Maryland regional science fiction and fantasy convention, which this year runs from May 28-31 at the Marriott Hunt Valley Inn. Tanya Huff will be the Writer Guest of Honor, but that’s only the beginning, folks: Gail Carriger, Keith R.A. DeCandido, Laura Anne Gilman, Gail Z. Martin, Jeri Smith-Ready, Maria Snyder… and, well, me.
This year I snagged five fabulous panels. Hope to see you there.

Friday, 7 p.m.
Are You Sure You Want to Go There? Writing about the darker things in life: Rape. Torture. Childhood trauma. Sex with Dwarves. Sometimes it's done for a laugh. Sometimes it is done for an emotional response. Sometimes, we ask ourselves "What was THAT all about?!" So why not ask the pros who do it? When is shock essential to the story, and when is it sensational? Find out if authors add in moments of terror and extreme situations in order to surprise an audience, or as an alternative to group therapy. Jennifer Andrea, Allison Duncan, Chris Lester, Tee Morris (moderator) and Jean Marie Ward.

Friday, 10 p.m.
Broad Universe Rapid Fire Reading – Seven Broad Universe authors resent tasty, bite-sized readings of their work that will leave you hungry for more. Danielle Ackley McPhail, Roxanne Bland (moderator), Elaine Corvidae, Kelly A. Harmon, Gail Z. Martin, Roberta Rogow and Jean Marie Ward.

Saturday, 11:30 a.m.
The Many Faces of Fantasy or the Road to Victory – Peter Beagle once divided fantasy into High and Low categories. One web site lists more than 20 sub-genres. Let's discuss some examples of these. Can we say that Frodo Baggins and Vicky Nelson are characters from the same genre? What is urban fantasy? Is it the same as contemporary fantasy? Elwin Cotman(m), Tanya Huff, Misty Massey, Darrell Schweitzer, Jean Marie Ward

Sunday, 6 p.m.
Creating Three Dimensional Characters – When writing an adventure or a story, having characters that the readers can get into is half the battle. If the readers or players become intrigued by the characters, then the rest of the story will fall into place. Join our writers as they discuss creating compelling characters. Gail Carriger, C.J. Henderson, Kory Kaese (moderator), Bernie Mojses, and Jean Marie Ward.

Sunday, 7 p.m.
The Legendary Triple Launch – Bad-Ass Faeries 3: In All Their Glory, Dragon's Lure, and New Blood. Faeries, dragons and vampires; a little bit of something for everyone. See writers in costume try to read their works. There will be too many of us to name. And yes, I will be wearing wings. Be afraid, be very afraid.

Read More......

Waiting to Balticon--Jean Marie's Schedule

Siren-Bookstrand has just given me my cover for ERIS, my first menage title due out some time this summer (as soon as I get a concrete date, I'll pass that info along)



What do you think?

~ Renee Read More......

Book Cover: ERIS

Read More......

Coming Soon to a Balticon Near You

Finally finished my April con reports on RavenCon, the Library of Congress, Turn the Page Bookstore Cafe's 2010 mega-signing and the Washington Romance Writers Retreat. The results, plus twelve occasions for blackmail--er, photos are now live at Beyond the Veil. That means if you want to know what Roxanne St. Claire and Charlaine Harris are doing with those sugar packets, you'll just have to click the link. Mwahahahahahaha!

Jean Marie Read More......

Con Catch-up

It is a truth universally acknowledged that the more fun I’m having away from the keyboard, the less likely I am to blog. Guess who’s been having way too much fun this month. We’ll draw a veil over the household’s Easter/Oster celebrations. Suffice it to say much chocolate was consumed—necessary fuel for what was to follow.

Next came RavenCon, which this year featured two of my favorite people, Rachel Caine and her husband R. Cat, as Writer and Artist Guests of Honor, respectively. And that’s not even counting the great people who run the convention. If you’re interested in a visual tour of the fun, my April 9 and 10 photos can be found here. Sunday, April 11, I was too busy to shoot. Honest!

The very next day, Danielle Ackley-McPhail, Sarah Avery, Christine Norris and I upheld the honor of Broad Universe at the Library of Congress. We didn’t get any photos of the Rapid Fire Reading itself, but if you want to see the unusual suspects, click here.

On April 16, it was off to Turn the Page Bookstore Café in Boonsboro, Maryland, for the annual mega-signing with Nora Roberts and the featured guests of the Washington Romance Writers annual conference, “In the Company of Writers”, then the conference itself. The Retreat, as it’s called, is always a highlight of my year. I just wish the love came through in the photos. The subjects are so much lovelier than their photos.

I’ll write a longer report for my monthly Beyond the Veil blog on May 8. But until then, I leave you with this. Enjoy!


(Left to right) authors Charlaine Harris, Diane Whiteside and Ginjer Buchanan, Ace/Roc editor-in-chief at the WRW Retreat, April 17.


Jean Marie Read More......

RavenCon, Retreat and the Library of Congress, Oh My!

RavenCon isn’t the only thing on my calendar this month. Monday, April 12, barely hours after I return from Richmond, I’ll be reading at the Library of Congress in downtown Washington, D.C. The Library of Congress! You can’t see it, but I’m grinning so hard my cheeks are aching.

The reading resulted from a collaboration between the library’s Science Fiction and Fantasy Forum and Broad Universe, an international organization dedicated to exploring and promoting the work of women writers in science fiction, fantasy and horror. It will take the form of a four-person Rapid Fire Reading featuring Danielle Ackley-McPhail, Sarah Avery, fellow BtV blogger Christine Norris and me. You’ve already seen the poster I prepped when the reading was announced. Now you can read the bios, too, in the hand-out I’ll be using as our program.

But that’s not the only reason I may expire of excitement. I’ve been added to the roster of major authors (like Charlaine Harris!) signing with Nora Roberts at Turn the Page Bookstore Café in Boonsboro, Maryland, on Friday, April 16. My name and web site link seem to wander around the page, but the confirmation of my presence is right there at the bottom of the page: the buy link for Fantasy Art Templates.

I signed With Nine You Get Vanyr at the Turn the Page spring mega-signing in 2007. Nora and the top names sell hundreds of books, and even small fry like me sell in the dozens. This time, there are some new rules. For example, the writers can only sign books purchased at the event. Trust me, that’s a relief. Yes, you sign that much.

Finally, it’s official. I’m on the guest list at DragonCon. Atlanta, here I come. I can’t wait. Read More......

The Library of Congress, signing with Nora, and DragonCon--oh my!

RavenCon 2010 makes Richmond, Virginia, the place to be this weekend, April 9-11. The con features Rachel Caine, author of the best selling Weather Warden and Morganville Vampire series, her multi-talented artist husband R. Cat and gaming guru Steve Long as guests of honor, as well as lots of other talented writers, artists, gamers and costumers you really want to meet.

Read More......

RavenCon Anon

The Library of Congress Science Fiction and Fantasy Forum has invited four Broad Universe members--Danielle Ackley-McPhail, Susan Avery, Christine Norris and me--for a Rapid Fire Reading at the Library's Madison Building at 12:10 p.m., April 13. You can see the details (and our neat flyer) here.

This is not Broad Universe's first RFR at the Library of Congress this year. We were preceded by Catherine Asaro, Kelly A. Harmon, Ellen Kushner and Sue Lange earlier this month. Which means we've got a tough act to follow.

I'm bringing Bai.

Hope to see you there! Read More......

Library of Congress... Squeee!

You can now hear my voice, almost as if you were stuck next to me at a con.  ;-)  I'm the second of four featured writers on the Women's History Month edition of the Broad Universe Broad Pod podcast.  My readings are two of the very short stories at JeanMarieWard.com: "Clear as Glass" and "Green Eyes". The other readers are Phoebe Wray, Karen A. Romanko and Elissa Malcohn.
Broad Universe is an international organization of women and men dedicated to exploring and promoting the work of women writers in science fiction, fantasy and horror.  They're the organization which sponsors the Rapid Fire Readings I'm so addicted to, including the one scheduled for the Library of Congress April 12.  But more about that tomorrow.  This post is all about the Pod, the Broad Pod.
Cheers, Read More......

For those who only know me from my posts on teh Intarwebs...

Today it's all about the links.
About a week ago, Carole Nelson Douglas asked me to weigh in on the Fort Wayne Journal Gazette's great Cat vs. Dog Mystery debate. I...ahem, Duz couldn't resist. Just got word they posted my--er, Duzie's reply--with book links! Score!
Speaking of good stuff, today I also posted a Thursday 13 at Beyond the Veil. It concerns 13 great characters and creatures mentioned in Fantasy Art Templates. But the real reason you want to click the link are the pictures--the cover and three of the book's luscious interior pages.
Enjoy!

Jean Marie Ward

Read More......

Duz is Famous! Plus pics from Fantasy Art Templates

Just saying you can see the details here. Also just saying Anne Cain is fabulous. Cheers and smiles, Read More......

UnderCover Selections Features With Nine You Get Vanyr

Are you ready for the Romantic Times convention in Columbus, OH? I'm not! I'm doing my typical pre-convention dance: run around like a maniac while muttering to myself. I sound like a cross between the Nutty Professor and Ghengis Khan. There are times it's been so bad my husband hides behind crosses and holy water.

So far I've accomplished... not much. I've got cover flats for an upcoming print release, Dare to Believe; I've got pens, chapstick with my logo on it, and an outfit for the Fairy Ball. My plane tickets are bought, my room is reserved and my Ad-Libs for the Sinfully Sweet party are... um. (I'm working on that, Renee. *cough*)

I've even made sure that the infamous scooter is ready to go.

Book toting capacity has been tested, as has the distributed weight vs. tilting ratio. I've even got a neat cane holder so I don't have to clench the darn thing between my thighs again this year. (I swear, my thighs could crush Volvos after I got back last year.) And I've got some nifty slide shows to show on my netbook.

So maybe I'm more prepared than I thought. Maybe I'm just experiencing that "OMG! RT! RT! I can't wait!" that usually winds up mixed with "OMG! RT! RT! AHHHHH!"

And maybe I'm just a crazy redhead who likes drama, as Mr. Bell has mentioned once or twice. I may not be ready for RT yet, but damn, I'm looking forward to it. What about you? Read More......

Gearing Up for RT