Wednesday, May 29, 2013

Writing Makes Me Feel Like a Time Lord

I'm working on a new short story…kind of a "prequel" to Bleeding Hearts. I don't have any intention of turning it into a novel, though. This is one short story that is going to stay short. *grin*
It's funny…I feel a bit like Doctor Who when I'm writing in the Demimonde series--that's because I don't just try to imagine where the story is going. I also have to figure out where it's been.
Where did Sophie come from? What shaped her current mindset and emotional health? I know many of those answers because the story is told from her point of view. She tells us a lot about herself in those books.
But what about the other characters?
For me, this is the best part about writing a series. I don't just write the stories--I also write the history books that brought them all to the doorstep of the very first book. Like Doctor Who, I see the past, the present, and the future--all at the same time. Many people might assume that writing a series entails following a string of events with the strict progression of cause to effect but actually, from a non-linear, non-subjective viewpoint, it's more like a big ball of wibbly-wobbly... timey-wimey... stuff.
And, considering the longevity of my demivampires, that means there is potential for a lot of backstories. (Knowing my inability to keep short stories on the short side, I have been compiling notes on a true prequel, but that's another story altogether.)
This Demimonde short story "The Scent of Hope" will be available in a sneak peek in a future newsletter. You can be one of the first ones to read it when you sign up for the newsletter using the form on the right side…because it's my way of saying THANK YOU for all your support.
 
Can't see the sign-up form on your mobile? Click here to go right to the form. 
 
And because I am now thoroughly stuck in Doctor Who mode, I might just have to go watch one of my favorite clips of the Doctor and Donna...em, I mean Mr. Logan and Lauren Cooper. (You're welcome *mwah*)

Tuesday, May 28, 2013

BLOOD RUSH (Demimonde #2) News and Reviews

Just a quick note...I came across a fabulous review and thought it'd be a good time for a giveaway! Read on, Demimonde...

Reviews

Wondering if you should put BLOOD RUSH on your summer reading list? Let this review help you decide...

"Blood Rush is an exciting tale of romance, mystery, and danger which will intrigue readers who find that the roses of romance are made sweeter and more compelling by the subtle tinge of blood." --Foreword Reviews


Goodreads Giveaway

You are just a click away from entering to win a signed print copy of this book. Click the widget and cross your fingers...

Goodreads Book Giveaway

Blood Rush by Ash Krafton

Blood Rush

by Ash Krafton

Giveaway ends May 31, 2013.
See the giveaway details at Goodreads.
Enter to win



Blood Rush Blog Tour

Bewitching Book Tours is hosting the Blood Rush Release Tour...join us as we visit with some of the best damn blogs I've ever seen, :)

May 17 Guest blog and review

Penny For Them... 




May 20 Guest blog

Phantasmic Reads




May 21 Interview

A Writer's Mind-




May 23 Interview

My Book Addiction  




May 24 Interview

Pembroke Sinclair.  




May 27 Spotlight

Unraveling Words




May 31 Spotlight




June 3 Spotlight

Mythical Books




June 4 Spotlight

The LUV'NV




June 5 Interview

Bianca2b 




June 6 Interview

Books & Tales.




June 7 Spotlight

Books Books and More Books 




June 10 Spotlight

Paranormal Romance and Beyond 




June 11 Spotlight

Cover Reveals 




June 13 Spotlight

Place of Reads Book Review Blog




June 14 Guest blog



June 14 review

Sapphyria's Book Reviews




June 17 Spotlight and review

Faerie Tale Books  






 
 
 
And don't forget to enter the Book Tour Contests...
Need a reminder? Find them both in this post.

Tuesday, May 14, 2013

BLOOD RUSH (Demimonde #2) Release Day!

 
BLOOD RUSH (Demimonde #2) is HERE!
 
The wait is over...it's time to get back to our demivampires.

Sophie doesn't believe in happily ever after. These days, she'd settle for alive after sunrise.

Advice columnist and newly-appointed oracle to the demivampire, Sophie Galen has more issues than a Cosmo collection: a new mentor with a mean streak, a werewolf stalker she can't shake, and a relationship with her ex's family that redefines the term complicated. And then there's her ex himself, who is more interested in playing leader of the vampire pack than in his own salvation.

Becoming a better oracle is tough enough, but when Sophie encounters a deadly enemy - one she never dreamed of facing - it will take everything she's ever learned in order to survive...
 
Time to tour...
I've got two tours going this time around. There will be a Release Day Blitz today then, starting May 17, I'll be on a four week tour with reviews, guest spots, and interviews. Lots of blogs to visit. :)
 
That means...It's time again for my favorite contest...the Comment Contest!
All you have to do to enter is to stop by the participating blogs and show your support for BLOOD RUSH by commenting I BELONG TO THE DEMIMONDE!
 
Each time you comment, you earn an entry in a special raffle...someone is going to win a gift card. The Comment Contest will run until the end of the four week tour...winner will be announced on June 23.
 
And so...the BLOOD RUSH (Demimonde #2) tour begins!
 


Today you'll be seeing a lot of BLOOD RUSH...thanks to the hosts from Bewitching Book Tours. Please stop by and leave a comment to let them know you JOINED THE DEMIMONDE!

Fang-tastic Books
Roxanne’s Realm
The Creatively Green Write at Home Mom
From the Writer's Nest 
Sapphyria's Book Review
Laurie's Thoughts and Reviews
Darker Passions
Share My Destiny
3 Partners in Shopping, Nana, Mommy, & Sissy, Too!
Books, Books the Magical Fruit
 
There is also another giveaway that will run until the end of the BLOOD RUSH tour...and here's the Rafflecopter that might make you a WINNER...


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Be sure to enter and watch for the start of the BLOOD RUSH tour, beginning May 17. There will be more blogs to visit and more opportunities for you to earn entries for the Comment Contest.

I'm really looking forward to this month...and I hope you'll join the Demimonde. My demivamps would love to meet you...

FIND BLOOD RUSH (DEMIMONDE #2) and other titles at Amazon.com 

F*R*E*E on Amazon May 14-18: Strangers at the Hell Gate

 
Jagger Sintallon, a half-demon warrior, has dedicated his existence to fighting demons who enter the world through Hell gates. A loner of conflicting ideals, he offers shelter to a troubled woman but knows he is too rough, too dangerous, and too cocky for her delicate nature.

Dedicated to Divine Will, Sonya Camael, a Seraph, is determined to discover why she is drawn to Jagger's doorstep and the reason behind her mission. She needs the demon's help but fears he may get himself killed before she can figure it out and the world slips into Hell's dominion.

Sonya faces grave danger with evil stalking her every move, and Jagger shouldn't care but realizes he cares more than he'd likely admit. Sonya knows Jagger cannot win this war alone, but will her divine intervention mean his imminent end? Or will just the right combination of Heaven and Hell set the world right once again?
 


My first book with the renowned romance publisher The Wild Rose Press is the Black Rose release Strangers at the Hell Gate.

She's a determined angel on a mysterious mission. He's a demon hunter, who is half demon himself. When she knocks on his door, heaven meets hell...and opposites do more than attract....they ignite.

*Amazon Reviews*

"I hope this will be part of a series because I'd like to read more about Jagger and Sonya...MORE, MORE, MORE!" 

"...a wonderful blend of romance, suspense and humor into this book making it a thoroughly enjoyable book..."

"Very hot and sweet at the same time. Great read!"

You can pick up STRANGERS AT THE HELL GATE on Amazon for free this week (May 14 to May 18) so don't wait!

 
SHOUT OUT to Bewitched Book Tours for hosting a Free Kindle Blitz and to the bloggers who are supporting this book on its free Kindle days...
 
Announcing the Blitz Line-Up:
 
May 14
 
Laurie’s Paranormal Thoughts and Reviews

Sapphyria's Book Reviews 

Saph's Steamy Books

Cover Reveals 

A Bibliophiles Thoughts on Books

Total Eclipse Reviews

Escape Into A Book

Words of Wisdom from The Scarf Princess

Babylone the Geek Reads

Sun Mountain Reviews

Literal Hotties Book Reviews

Bookswagger

 
May 15
 
Demons do it Better

LilyElement

Pembroke Sinclair.  

Elfie Books     


May 16
 
Immortality and Beyond

Faerie Tale Books

CW Book Reviews

Pick Your Poison Book reviews

Indie Paranormal Book Reviews

4 the LUV of SANITY

Books and Pals


May 17
 
The Wormhole 

Penny For Them.... 

Gimme The Scoop Reviews

Fandom Fanatic

3 partners in Shopping, Nana, Mommy, & Sissy,  Too!

Offbeat Vagabond

Books, Books the Magical Fruit

 
May 18
 
2 Bibliophiles Guide    

A TiffyFit's Reading Corner

Reviewing in Chaos     

Ramblings of a Coffee Addicted Writer 

Share My Destiny
 
 

Tuesday, May 7, 2013

Pre-launch W!NNER and Birthday Presents For All!

Pink Narcissus Press, the publisher for the Books of the Demimonde, is celebrating a birthday this month. They are turning three years old...and they've given us a lot of words. :)

Happy Birthday, Pink Narc! *throws confetti* You've brought us some fantastic books!

We are also celebrating the imminent birth of my second Demimonde novel...Blood Rush is due May 14th.

Oddly enough, that's my birthday, too. Hmm. Coincidence? Maaaaaaybe...

Since I can't buy everyone a Bleeding Heart drink (the kind my editors were fond of consuming) I thought I'd let you in on a devious plot to lure more readers into the Demimonde (yes, marketing really IS that easy)--

BLEEDING HEARTS (Demimonde #1) is on sale for the month of May...you can pick up your Nook or Kindle copy for only $2.99!

(I know Nook is up-to-date but if the Kindle price doesn't show, give it a bit. It'll be along shortly.)

What better time to pick up the first book? You won't have a long wait for the sequel. :)

Another birthday present--and a very special one, this is--goes to the winner of the pre-launch contest. Lots of you have been waiting since February to find out the winner of a lovely Franz porcelain pedant. So, without further ado, the lucky duck is...


a Rafflecopter giveaway

CONGRATS! *more confetti*

I'll be emailing you shortly to find out your shipping info so watch the inbox, sweetie!

Finally, a present for me.

With only a week to go before the release of BLOOD RUSH, Dark World Books is hosting an ARC review tour and it kicks off...TODAY!

Visit the Darkest Sins blog to see the first stop in this week-long tour. You can see the rest of the schedule in yesterday's post here.

Be sure to check out each of the other stops this week and don't forget to enter to ARC tour giveaway!

THANK YOU to EVERONE who has shown such fantastic love and support for these books. It drives me to keep writing them...so WOLF'S BANE, here we come!

Monday, May 6, 2013

BLOOD RUSH (Demimonde #2) ARC Review Tour!

I'm pleased to announce a pre-release tour for Blood Rush (release May 14th), the second installment in my urban fantasy series The Books of the Demimonde!

The tour is running from May 7th to May 13th, 2013 with reviews AND a special International giveaway!

 
This tour is being hosted by Dark World Books
(and they are holding an INT giveaway!)



Blood Rush

Add caption

(Demimonde #2)
 
Sophie doesn’t believe in happily ever after. These days, she’d settle for alive after sunrise.
 
Advice columnist and newly-appointed oracle to the demivampire, Sophie Galen has more issues than a Cosmo collection: a new mentor with a mean streak, a werewolf stalker she can’t shake, and a relationship with her ex’s family that redefines the term complicated. And then there’s her ex himself, who is more interested in playing leader of the vampire pack than in his own salvation.
 
Becoming a better oracle is tough enough, but when Sophie encounters a deadly enemy – one she never dreamed of facing – it will take everything she’s ever learned in order to survive.
Add Blood Rush to your Goodreads list!
_________________________
 
Bleeding Hearts
(Demimonde #1)
 
Sophie Galen is an advice columnist who is saving the world – one damned person at a time.
 
Shy and sensitive Sophie has all but given up on love until she meets Marek, a mysterious stranger who seduces her with his striking good looks and his take-charge attitude. Yet the darkness she senses within him may be more than she is prepared to handle when Marek draws her into a world of vampires, werewolves, and treachery. Forced to leave behind the comfortable routines and certainties of her past, Sophie makes unbearable sacrifices and uncovers hidden truths about herself and the world around her.

Amazon – Barnes & Noble
New to the series? No better time to start than today...BLEEDING HEARTS is on sale for $2.99! Feed your ereader today! <3 font="">
 
 
Blood Rush Tour schedule:


Stay tuned...because tomorrow we announce the winner of the PRE-LAUNCH GIVEAWAY! Yup, it's in all caps because I was shouting the words when I typed them.

Love leaving on a great cliffhanger. See you tomorrow. :)


(Oh, you haven't entered yet? Well, if you read this in time...go here and good luck...the winner just might be YOU!)

Wednesday, May 1, 2013

My First Local Author Event!

In only a week I'll be participating in a book talk event at my local library. The staff of the Mahanoy City Public Library has graciously invited me to meet with local high school students to talk about my writing on Wednesday May 8, 2013. (You can view the event at Facebook and Goodreads--and please spread the word if you are in the area!)

I've been going over several ideas of what to present at the book talk. Although I've been seeing my work published for nearly five years (I had to count it on my fingers twice because I can't believe it started that long ago) I still feel like a noob sometimes. I use it to my advantage, though, because as long as I feel like I'm new to this thing, I'll be eager to learn, to explore, and to improve my craft.

I suppose that is the message I want to convey at my book talk. As an indie writer who has published both with small presses and on my own, I want to share my enthusiasm for getting my work out of my notebooks and into the hands of editors. I want kids to know that writing and publishing isn't a far-off dream, or an unattainable goal.

Publishing and all its satisfaction is absolutely attainable for the writer who perseveres. It's a message I often share in my articles at the Query Tracker Blog. Persevere.

I hope to share my experiences with teens who may be considering following the path to publication someday--and I'll let them know that "someday" may very well be "now". All they need is encouragement, informative resources, and dedication to working on getting better with each new piece they write.

Plus, I get to show off my new author banner. :) I might even have new books to bring along, if I'm lucky.

Does anyone else remember their first author appearance--either as an author or a guest? I'd love to hear your thoughts on what works...and what doesn't. (As for me, I'm bringing a lot of gum to hand out to people to actively participate. Bribery with candy always works.)