Visiting Dignitary/Brenda Novak

Okay guys. You've always been a really quiet bunch. But I'd appreciate it if you could be a little less shy than usual and give a really warm welcome to Brenda Novak.

Is there any one character you’ve written that is your absolute favorite? Why?

Wow—this actually changes from day to day. But, most of the time, I think my favorite character is Clay Montgomery from DEAD GIVEAWAY. I love a wounded hero, and he was so willing to shoulder the responsibility for EVERYTHING that happened in that book. He’d his own worst enemy because of it, but it makes him awfully endearing. J

You have chosen to specialize in, and have made a name for yourself in a particular genre. Any reason why?

I write what I love to read—suspenseful, character-driven stories. But someday, I hope to write a straight historical series (if I ever have the time), in addition to what I’m doing now.

Writing is hard work! Have you ever had the dread WRITER’S BLOCK? If so, what do you do to get past it?

I do get writer’s block occasionally, but only when I’ve made a “wrong turn” so to speak with my story. That’s generally how I can determine that I’ve headed down the wrong path—if I inexplicably come to a grinding halt. Once I unravel to a point where it still feels “right” and head off in a different direction, the story starts to roll for me. So…I think the writer’s block I suffer is merely my subconscious trying to tell me I’m making a mistake before I waste too much time. LOL

Almost every author I’ve met gives back to the community by supporting favorite charities. Do you have one? Could you tell me about it? Is there a particular reason why that charity?

I definitely have a favorite charity! When my youngest son was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at five years old, I knew enough about the disease to realize that he’d need constant care and that care wouldn’t be comfortable for him. But I didn’t realize the number of terrible side effects that go hand-in-hand with this dreaded disease. I don’t think a lot of people know that side of the issue. So I decided I was going to do all I could to fight back, to try and improve my son’s life and the lives of all those who are suffering as he is. Five years ago, I started Brenda Novak’s online auction for diabetes research at brendanovak.com. It runs annually May 1 – May 31st. My first year, I raised only $34,000, but my fourth year (last year) I raised $252,300. As you can see, it’s really grown. We’re coming up to action time again, and I’m hoping to break $300,000 in 2009.

So, what does your schedule look like for the next few months? Anything new coming out that we should keep an eye out for? Tell us a little about it.

I have three new books coming out this summer: THE PERFECT COUPLE (7/28), THE PERFECT LIAR (8/25), and THE PERFECT MURDER (9/29). These books follow up the first three books in The Last Stand series, which came out last summer. I will also have a Christmas novella out in November titled ONE SNOWY CHRISTMAS. You can visit brendanovak.com to read excerpts, view video trailers, read reviews, etc.

What type of books do you read for pleasure? Any favorite authors?

My all-time favorite authors are Janet Evanovich and Susan Elizabeth Phillips, but I’m an eclectic reader. I read in my own genre (I have too many friends there to name names—I wouldn’t want to miss any), but I also read the classics and straight historical fiction. Brenda Rickman Vantrease is a new find for me. I really loved her THE ILLUMINATOR. I also love true crime, and Ann Rule is my favorite author for that.

Do you have a day job, or do you write full-time?

I write full-time (at least when I’m not working on my diabetes fundraisings, which can feel like a full-time job).

Do you have any hobbies?

I run and bike, read and shop, and watch my five kids do various sports.

OKAY, I’m going to do one of those short MEME things here.

Favorite song: Too many to name, but IMAGINE by John Lennon is one of them
Favorite movie or TV show: LAST OF THE MOHICANS
Favorite color: periwinkle
Favorite food: Homemade salsa
Favorite drink: Water (okay, that’s boring, but…LOL)
Is the glass half-full or half-empty: Always half-full
What animal do you think is most like your personality? A bull (since I’m a Taurus—LOL)Vampire/Werewolf/Other: I don’t understand this question. I guess I’m not reading enough paranormal?

If you could only give one piece of advice to new or aspiring writers, that would help them in the business, what would it be?

BELIEVE!!
********************************
Thanks again for this. Do you mind if I take the piece of advice and put it in our newsletter and on our website in “The Craft Corner”? (If no, it’s okay, but I really would appreciate it.)

You bet!

Oh, and guys -- We've got a little contest going with Brenda. She's visiting both here and on MySpace, so whoever e-mails me first at catadamsfans@gmail.com from either site and says something about Brenda's visiting blog will get a Brenda Novak tote with autographed books and goodies.

Serial/Visiting Dignitary/RT

Sorry about not posting the serial. I will assume you all had bacon and eggs instead.

I was at RT. Had a wonderful time, but the entire situation was very technologically challenging. Anyway, back now, and back to work.Promise a better post tomorrow. I believe we're due for a Visiting Dignitary either this evening or tomorrow. I simply MUST check my calendar!

Cie

WE WON!!!!!!!!

I had to wait to post this until it was official but WE WON!!!! CAREER ACHIEVEMENT IN PARANORMAL ROMANCE!!!! WHOOOOOOO HOOOOOOOOO!!!!!

Going to the ceremony in 10 minutes and I'm SO PSYCHED!

THANK YOU to the folks at RT. And yes, we do get a statue, and we get to go up and "thank the Academy." :)

RT/Computer Fits/Calendar & Contest

RT/Calendar/Borrowing a Computer

TWICE NOW I'VE LOST THIS FREAKING POST! ARGH!!

I'm trying ONE MORE TIME. I am borrowing a netbook from Cathy. It is very hard for me to use because my fingers are large, the keys are small, and the flipping base jiggles every time I hit a key. But I am persevering because there is stuff you need to know.

FIRST, RT is a blast. Hi to everybody. Special Hi to the contingent from Rosemary's Books from Australia. And to the cover models because, well, because.But this is actually a business trip. And with that in mind, I've been working hard. I've done some writing. (Despite the perils of the freaking netbook.) I've also been in contact with LOTS of writers, many of whom have now agreed to be Visiting Dignitaries. WOO HOO. In the course of talking with everyone we (Cathy and I) came up with an idea.

It is very important that books be pre-ordered. The sooner the better. Buyers for the bookstores determine their orders six months before a release date. If they don't know your favorite author IS your favorite author, and that there is a demand, they won't order as many (or maybe even ANY) copies. Since more and more bookstores are going to face out, there will be less available shelf space and less variety. Cathy has done a wonderful post on this on Witchy Chicks blog, and we will probably put an article in the newsletter.

As a service to writers and readers, we are putting together a year-long calendar of releases for authors we know in various genres so that (a) you can order early if you like and/or; (b) you will know a book is available by your favorite author even if it isn't on the shelf. (And if it isn't you can always contact the staff at your favorite bookstore to have them order you one. They're there to help).

ON TO THE CONTEST. That's right folk, it's contest time. We have been told we're getting some cover flats for promotion purposes. SO, we're going to have a couple of autographed flats available to winners. Here's the plan. Those of you already signed up for the newsletter, write to us at catadamsfans@gmail.com with FLATTEN ME in the RE line. Those of you who haven't signed up, this entry will enroll you for the newsletter, but you can always unsubscribe. (But you'll break my heart. Not making you feel guilty or anything. Just saying . . .). SO, new subscribers put SWAG ME BABY in the RE line at the same address. One winner will be drawn from each group at random/name in a hat style. Entries are due by May 15.

Made it to Orlando/visiting dignitary for tomorrow

Hi Guys! Wanted to post earlier, but was on the road to RT in Orlando. Safe trip. Good flights. All is well. OK. On to Yasmine Galernorn's post:

Cie: So, welcome to the blog. Now if you just cooperate, it won't hurt a bit, and I'll hand you back the keys to the handcuffs. . . Oh, dear, we have an audience. Hello readers. Cie waves. (Sotto voice to woman in chair --"Wave your free hand at the readers and smile. NOW.")

ANYWAY, I’m going to dive right in. Is there any one character you’ve written that is your absolute favorite? Why?

Yasmine: I’m giving you a two-fer here. ~grins~ As far as main characters go, yes—Camille D’Artigo, of my Otherworld Series. Why? She’s free spirited and uninhibited. She’s a witch, a wild woman in many ways, we have similar tastes in fashion, makeup and men *koffs*…she’s lucky enough to have three lovers who accept that she’s not a one-man woman (albeit with some grumbling and testosterone wars). She’s not afraid to say what’s on her mind and yet—beneath it all, she feels intensely responsible for her family and takes care of her obligations before her personal interests. She often says, “I’m my father’s daughter” and means it—her father is a guard in the Des’Estar—the elite corp back in Y’Elestrial, Camille’s home city in Otherworld. She wants to make him proud and so she willingly does her duty, even when it means facing death and disaster.

My favorite villain so far (ha! Sneaking in one of the bad guys), is Karvanak—who was in both Dragon Wytch and Night Huntress. Karvanak was a demon—a Rāksasa, and he was one of those hedonistic sociopaths who cares only for his own pleasure. He had no compunction on using torture, he wasn’t swayed by pity or pleas. And yet he was calm, smooth, collected, and frightening in his cold-hearted nature.

Cie: Writing is hard work! Have you ever had the dread WRITER’S BLOCK? If so, what do you do to get past it?
.. ..
Yasmine: Um…no. I know you’ll hate me for this, but I don’t get writer’s block. What happens when I’m stuck is that I realize I’m not hearing the real story or the I’ve been trying to force the character into a situation/nature that simply isn’t right for the book or for them. I go back then, I let myself putter with what I’ve done, I take a day to think about it, and let the work settle into my subconscious. And usually, within a day of just mulling over what I’ve done till then, I’ll find the answer to why things aren’t flowing. Every book and every series has a different mood, a different nature, and I have to make sure that I’m not still hung up in the last one I wrote—that I’ve let that go for now and moved fully into the headspace for the current WiP.....

Cie: Almost every author I’ve met gives back to the community by supporting favorite charities. Do you have one? Could you tell me about it? Is there a particular reason why that charity?
.. ..
Yasmine: Three, actually. My husband and I regularly donate to Meow Cat Rescue—we’re ailurophiles, we adore cats and love them, and try to do our part toward supporting no-kill rescue centers. We also donate to Northwest Harvest. When I was in my 20’s, my ex and I were so poor that many times we had no idea how we were going to eat, let alone pay the bills. The food bank kept us alive more times than I want to remember. So I give back now that I’m in a position to help others—there are so many families struggling to make ends meet and they should not have to worry about how to feed their children, or where they’ll find their next meal.
.. ..
We also support Brenda Novak’s annual Juvenile Diabetes auction—I’ve been part of it since the first year. My husband has Type 1 diabetes and we know how harsh this disease can be. We live with it daily. This year I’m donating three things—a large Otherworld Faerie basket filled with wonderful goodies, a signed-by-the-artist print of Morio, the youkai-kitsune from my series (gorgeous!). There’s only one other one out there right now—the one in my office, and I commissioned my cover artist to paint it. I’m also donating a lunch with me and critique of your first chapter from your WiP. You can find the information for everything (along with pictures) on my website.....
.. ..
Cie: So, what does your schedule look like for the next few months? Anything new coming out that we should keep an eye out for? Tell us a little about it.
.. ..
Yasmine: Well, as far as new releases: On June 2, 2009 Demon Mistress, the sixth Otherworld book, hits the shelves. On November 3, 2009, an anthology called Never After will be released—it has Laurell K. Hamilton, Marjorie Liu, Sharon Shinn, and me in it. The novella I wrote for it is called The Shadow of Mist and is an Otherworld novella surrounding one of the secondary characters—Siobhan, the selkie.
.. ..
January 5, 2010—I have both Bone Magic (book seven in the OW series) and Inked, another anthology with another OW novella in it (Etched in Silver—the story of when Camille and Trillian first met and how they became sexually bound to one another).
.. ..
And in June 2010, Night Myst will be released--the first in my new Indigo Court urban fantasy series. After that my OW series will be releasing in January, the IC series in June.
.. ..
Berkley is also re-releasing my entire Chintz ‘n China series this year with new covers. I won’t be writing any new books for it—but Legend of the Jade Dragon will be in print again, and the new covers are fantastic.
.. ..
I’m also writing a short story for a Gardner Dozois anthology called Star Crossed Lovers, which will be out from Pocket, but I’m not sure when.
.. ..
Cie: What type of books do you read for pleasure? Any favorite authors?
.. ..
Yasmine: Favorite authors of all time: Ray Bradbury, Daphne du Maurier, Amy Tan, JRR Tolkien, Richard Adams…currently I’m hooked on the House of Night Series by PC & Kristin Cast, the Morganville Vampire Series by Rachel Caine, the Mercy Thompson Series by Patricia Briggs, the Dresden Series by Jim Butcher, and I’m reading so many more books—I read in almost all genres and you can find just about everything on my shelves. *pouts* I want more Thrall books, btw, from you and Cathy. ....
.. ..
Cie: Do you have a day job, or do you write full-time?
.. ..
Yasmine: Oh man, I passed having the time for a day job years ago. I write 50-70 hours a week, including research, admin, promo, etc. Been a long, long time since I had a day job though I’ve only the past year or so reached the live-off-my-writing stage.
.. ..
Cie: Do you have any hobbies?
.. ..
Yasmine: I used to have more but now I don’t have time for many. I love movies, TV, music, am a major audiophile and every book has a playlist. I love playing with our cats, hanging with a few close friends, playing hostess and cooking for friends, decorating (as in the house), makeup…are those hobbies? ~laughs~ I’m also heavily tattooed, but I don’t consider that a hobby in itself. LOL
.. ..
Cie: OKAY, I’m going to do one of those short MEME things here.
.. ..
Yasmine: ....
Favorite song: Depends on my mood, right now? Dream Killers by Gary Numan and Social Enemies by Orgy.
Favorite movie or TV show: Again, depends on mood but my overall favorite movie is Rebecca, and my favorite show is InuYasha.
Favorite color: Hmm…plum, burgundy, and black.
Favorite food: Tomatoes. Steak. Lobster. Chocolate.
Favorite drink: Iced triple shot soy lattes.
Is the glass half-full or half-empty: If I don’t like what’s in it, half-full, if I like what’s in it, half-empty.What animal do you think is most like your personality? Black panther is my main animal totem. Vampire/Werewolf/Other: Magical Fae. And not like the Victorians pictured them—the Fae are wild and don’t play by human rules.
.. ..
Cie: If you could only give one piece of advice to new or aspiring writers, that would help them in the business, what would it be?
.. ..
Yasmine: You must persevere if you want to make it—your words are not set in stone and you have to learn how to take critique and separate yourself from the work in order to make it the best it can be. It can take years—I have seven novels in the closet that will never, ever be in print. They weren’t good enough. They were, however, practice for where I am today.
.. ..
Is there any upcoming event you'd like to tell us about?
.. ..
I’d like to invite people to join us at the Tukwila WA Barnes & Noble on April 25th, where I’ll be answering questions and signing books with Jayne Ann Krentz and Cherry Adair, and then on May 2nd at the Covington WA library, I’ll be part of a paranormal panel and signing books again at an all-day Romance Extravaganza. You can find out more about both on my schedule of appearances.

Cie: There now, that wasn't so bad was it. Now where did I put that blasted key?

Yasmine: Hey, you should have used velvet. MUCH nicer on skin than nasty old steel. ~grins~
.. ..
.. ..
Bio: USA Today bestselling author Yasmine Galenorn writes urban fantasy for ..Berkley..: both the bestselling Otherworld/Sisters of the Moon Series for Berkley and the upcoming Indigo Court urban fantasy series. In the past, she wrote mysteries for Berkley Prime Crime, and nonfiction metaphysical books. Her books have hit the New York Times and USA Today extended bestseller lists numerous times.
.. ..
Yasmine has been in the Craft for over 28 years, is a shamanic witch, and describes her life as a blend of teacups and tattoos. She lives in ....Bellevue.. ..WA.... with her husband Samwise and their cats.
.. ..
Yasmine can be reached via her website at www.galenorn.com, and via MySpace: www.myspace.com/yasminegalenorn. She is also the co-founder of the Witchy Chicks.

Visiting Dignitary -- JADE LEE

WOOO HOOOO!! Folks, let's give Jade a warm welcome. She's even going to try to pop by and answer comments, so please do. There may even be a prize for the first to write in. ;)

ANYWAY, I’m going to dive right in. Is there any one character you’ve written that is your absolute favorite? Why?

I shouldn’t confess to having favorites. Really, there is something I love about every book I’ve ever written. Absolutely, flat out adore. But, if you’re going to force me to pick…I am thrilled by the love story between Sabina and Cordain in DRAGONBOUND. I know, I know, you think I’m promoting my latest book, and of course I am. But even my editor said this is his favorite book of mine. Plus, I’m having trouble writing my next book because this one worked so very, very well. I don’t know if I can do it again.

Individually, these two people are good, powerful, strong characters. That’s a must for my books. But for some reason these two gelled more than anyone else. I don’t know what it is, but once the two get on the stage together, the power just quadrupled. Sabina and Cordain FIT. They are the only one for each other, and it’s obvious from the get go.

A little background—DRAGONBOUND is a fantasy romance (and is the sequel to DRAGONBORN, but you don’t need to read them in order if you don’t want) Anyway, think medieval world with magic and DRAGONS. The hero Cordain used to be a dragon. (trust me, it gets explained). When he was a dragon, Sabina was his dragonmaid. She brushed his teeth, oiled his scales, cleaned up his poop…etc. They had a bond then like a woman and her pet, but thanks to secret magic, it grows into something more. But by the time he’s become a man, everything is twisted and difficult between them because of the bad guy. (There’s got to be a bad guy!) And then they have to find their way back to each other while preventing a war! It’s a wonderfully complex story of love, and I’m so pleased with it, I could just bust!


Writing is hard work! Have you ever had the dread WRITER’S BLOCK? If so, what do you do to get past it?

Writer’s Block, IMO, is having nothing important to say. No love story to express. No deeper themes to explore. And through I’m rarely without words, I’m often without important words. Okay, yeah, usually, I just babble. But to get past the …I-have-nothing-intelligent-to-say, I usually meditate, pray, and go rollerblading. I also read because that can sometimes really free up my creativity. Let me stress that I do NOT write religious fiction. I just use the quiet time to open myself up to something intelligent to say. And it turns out, that God has more intelligent things on His mind than anything I could possibly come up with! And He fits it into a format I can understand…which usually has a lot of sex, adventure, and LOVE!

Which genres do you like writing in best? Why?

ROMANCE. I write ROMANCE. Love stories. Sex. And HEA. Within romance, I can write anything, but I like historical romance and fantasy romance, with a smattering of contemporary too! My latest regency-era romance is THE DRAGON EARL. It opens with a woman about to marry an Earl. She’s in her white dress, at the altar with her groom, and they’re all in an old Norman church. When up the aisle walks a guy in saffron robes. He says, “I’m sorry, I’m sorry. I know I’m late, but I’m here now. We can get married.” He’s the long lost earl that everyone thought was dead. He’s been in China in a Buddhist fighting temple learning kung fu. And now he’s back and she’s supposed to marry him. But he’s in a saffron robe and bald!

You’ve already heard about my fantasy romances in Dragonborn and Dragonbound. I also write for Blaze. Newest one comes out in September called In Good Hands.

So, what does your schedule look like for the next few months? Anything new coming out that we should keep an eye out for? Tell us a little about it.

Check out Dragonborn and Dragonbound. If you have any joy in fantasy romance or dragons…they’re fabulous books!

What type of books do you read for pleasure? Any favorite authors?

EVERYTHING! Jim Butcher’s Dresden books are the only books I’ll buy in hardcover. I’m reading Water for Elephants right now and it’s delightful. Also can’t get enough of historical romance.

Do you have a day job, or do you write full-time?

I write full time!

Do you have any hobbies?

RACQUETBALL! I used to be a pro racquetball player then my knees went out. So…now I play as often as I can, but only as long as my knees work!

OKAY, I’m going to do one of those short MEME things here.

Favorite song: At the moment? My daughter was just Maria in West Side Story, and I cracked up when she sang, I Feel Pretty. It is so her! So…That’s my favorite song right now.

Favorite movie or TV show: I’m a Whedon-ite. I love his work. So…Serenity was awesome, Firefly (the tv show), Buffy. I’m enjoying Dollhouse too, but haven’t decided if I LOVE it.

Favorite color: Today? Green grass…fresh in spring.

Favorite food: Chocolate and coffee. No particular order.

Favorite drink: Mocha Latte. Duh. See above!

Is the glass half-full or half-empty: The glass is a whole yin/yang entity. It cannot be taken in parts without being diminished.

What animal do you think is most like your personality? A dog. Which is sad because I’m really a cat person.

If you could only give one piece of advice to new or aspiring writers, that would help them in the business, what would it be?

It’s a marathon not a sprint. Work a little every day and there’s no stopping you. Try to do it all at once and you burn out. Big time.

Thanks again for this. Do you mind if I take the piece of advice and put it in our newsletter and on our website in “The Craft Corner”? (If no, it’s okay, but I really would appreciate it.)

Sure. No problem!

ROSIE HUGHES/Meds are Kicking In/OOPS/NEWS/Saturday Morning Breakfast Serial

ROSIE HUGHES/Meds are Kicking In/OOPS/NEWS/Saturday Morning Breakfast Serial

Jeez -- I MUST have been gone a couple of days. There's LOTS to say.First -- THE ROSIE HUGHES PROJECT is with Jackie Kessler today. This may be the finale folks and there may be penguins. Truly "must see" blogging. Go forth. I trust you to come back.

http://www.jackiekessler.com/blog/
(I hope the link works. Tech is not my forte lately.)

Second -- THE MEDS ARE KICKING IN. Hallelujah! WOO HOO! I'm feeling LOTS better and should be able to fly to RT without exploding eardrums now.

Third -- OOPS! In the course of fevered idiocy I scheduled TWO Visiting Dignitaries for next week -- WHEN I'M AT RT. And then promptly forgot to post the information on one of them. So I sent out a special alert to the folks getting the newsletter (and if you haven't and want to, go to catadamsfans@gmail.com) and am posting here and on Blogger.

Monday we will have Jade Lee. And yes, I know I'm not varying the questions very much. There is madness to my method. . . um, switch that. (Although it's probably true either way). (1) I want to get different authors from different genre's take on things; (2) I'm on deadline; and (3) Do I look like Diane Sawyer to you?

On the 22nd (which is, I believe, Tuesday, but I will have to check) we will have Yasmine Galernon. WOO HOO!

Fourth -- NEWS -- A couple of things that are cool.

Jim Butcher hit #1 on NYT. WOO HOOO!!! It is so COOL when good things happen to a friend.

AND

Laurell K. Hamilton will be doing a Visiting Dignitary interview in July. :)

AND

The authors participating in The Rosie Hughes Project are working out the kinks, (NOT THAT WAY -- Get your mind out of the gutter!) and are kicking around the possibility of putting together the entire series into a book for sale, with illustrations, and all proceeds to go to charity. Stay tuned.

AND

Cathy and I are going to RT. There will be a big signing. There will also be all kinds of events. I do not know if I'm going to be blogging here much. I'll try, but it may be you get a recap when I'm back home.

Fifth - I want to apologize for a minute here. I've been writing very short entries for Rosie and The Saturday Morning Breakfast Serial the last couple of weeks. I'll do better after May 1. (Although Rosie will be over by then.) But the actual book writing has to take precedence, and if I get too "into" another world and hero/heroine I have problem getting back into the head of Celia in the book. So I have to be careful. Bear with me.

OKAY, that said. Do you have your bowl and milk?

When last we left our intrepid heroine, she was in the garden center at WalMart with Tracker, trying to escape Helena Troy (parents can be so cruel) and Evan. Tracker was unaware of the danger and thus got caught in their trap and is screaming in agony.

Old Friends/Old Enemies (Continued yet again)

Tracker was screaming.

CRAP. I had to do something. Had to. I had a gun. I even know the basics of how to use one. (You can't work for Bob and not get the firearms safety lecture. Too many loaded weapons lying around.) But you have to see the target. To do that I'd have to get in a position where they might see me first. I shuddered with real and reasonable fear, and with revulsion as I began to smell burning hair and flesh.

NO! Taking a deep breath, I slung my backpack on my back and began climbing the metal shelving like a spider monkey. I was trying not to make much noise, not that they'd be likely to hear me over Tracker's screams and Evan's laughter.

Yeah, LAUGHTER. The bastard.

They hadn't noticed me. Laying flat on the top shelf I got in the pack and pulled out the revolver as quickly as I could. Praying, I switched off the safety, and began firing.He stopped laughing when the first shot (my third) hit him in the thigh. Screaming in rage and pain, he fell to the ground, his left leg useless. Helena screamed too. Ducking around the corner, she gathered her magic and sent a blow where I'd been, missing me by a scant inch as I crawled down the top shelf until I was at a point just above and beside Tracker's moaning form. I felt Evan and Helena gathering for another blow. There was no more time. Gathering my own power I decided to try the only thing I could think of, opening a seam in reality beneath Tracker's body and diving in after him.

It was our only chance. It had better work.

UGH/STILL PUNY

Hi Guys!

I'm still puny. The flu has transitioned into a sinus infection that has blocked both of my Eustacian tubes. (I don't know if I spelled that right, but you know what I mean.) I am on drugs because I'm supposed to fly to Orlando to RT next week. You do not want to fly with your ears acting up. NOT a good idea at all. So I'm resting and taking heavy drugs, and trying to remember all of the stuff I have half done and need to finish. ARGH!!

I have started buying the swag for THE ROSIE HUGHES PROJECT prizes. I had to wait 20 minutes for my prescriptions, so I spent the time (and a fair amount of money) shopping for all things PINK.

Also, we'd been talking about a forum, but we're thinking maybe a Yahoo group instead. Checking with the folks on our mailing list for the newsletter is on my "To Do" list. A list that is growing longer by the minute.

Well, I'd better go. I'm kind of grumpy what with not feeling well and I don't want the post to get any more whiny than it already is. Be good, be happy.

Shannon Butcher Visiting Dignitary

So, welcome to the blog. Now first I want to deny all those pesky rumors that have arisen that I’ve resorted to beating other authors about the head and neck to drag them here, which is simply not true! They’re here because they WANT to be. REALLY.
ANYWAY, I’m going to dive right in.

Yes, ma’am. Anything you say, ma’am. Please don’t take out the hose again.

Is there any one character you’ve written that is your absolute favorite? Why? I have two favorites. My favorite hero so far has been Caleb from NO CONTROL. He sprang to life in my head fully formed, and was the easiest male character I’ve ever written. Plus, he’s all sexy and honorable, which I love.

I also have enjoyed writing the character Nika Madison, who readers won’t get to meet until January, 2010 when book two of The Sentinel Wars, FINDING THE LOST, comes out. She’s tortured and tragic and brave in a way I don’t think I ever could be. I haven’t yet written her story, but it’s bubbling in the back of my brain, anxious to get out. Her story will be the next paranormal I tackle.

Writing is hard work! Have you ever had the dread WRITER’S BLOCK? If so, what do you do to get past it?

I don’t really think I get writer’s block, mostly because I refuse to allow it to happen. I have times when the writing is hard, but a block implies something I’m unable to get past. Sure, sometimes I question if I’m headed on the right path with a story (and often have to delete huge chunks of suckfulness), or have a difficult time getting a scene just right, but I don’t stop writing. I take my writing seriously and treat it as a profession the same way I did engineering. I can’t imagine what kind of reaction I’d have gotten from my boss if I’d told him, “I’m sorry I can’t work today. I have engineer’s block.” J

You and your husband are both successful writers. Do you share an office? Act as each other's beta readers? Or do you avoid it like the PLAGUE?

No, we do not share an office. I need things neat and orderly and quiet in order to work. Jim enjoys his chaos. Immensely. In fact, I’m not even allowed to dust or vacuum his office, which works fine for me. As long as there’s a door I can shut so I don’t have to look at it, we’re good.

We occasionally beta read for each other, but it’s becoming more rare. The busier we get, the less time we have for it, which is probably one of those blessing-in-disguise things, as our writing styles are very different. We do, however, spend hours talking shop. We hash out plots and characters and discuss the business side of writing on a daily basis. It’s one of my favorite things about being married to a writer. He gets it.

Almost every author I’ve met gives back to the community by supporting favorite charities. Do you have one? Could you tell me about it? Is there a particular reason why that charity?

I’m a fan of both the Susan G. Komen Foundation (www.Komen.org) as well as American Cancer Society (www.cancer.org). My mom was diagnosed with breast cancer at 34 and died at 44, so it’s definitely one of those causes that’s near and dear to my heart.

So, what does your schedule look like for the next few months? Anything new coming out that we should keep an eye out for? Tell us about it.

I’m really excited about the release of my new paranormal romance series, The Sentinel Wars. It’s a project I’ve been toying with for years, and it’s a thrill to finally get to hold the first book in my hands. I wasn’t sure it would ever actually happen, but BURNING ALIVE comes out May 5, 2009.

I also have a new romantic suspense coming out this October, called LOVE YOU TO DEATH. It’s a stand-alone, and definitely some of the creepiest stuff I’ve ever written. So creepy, in fact, that I actually went out and bought a gun and learned how to use it, just in case.

What about appearances: Tour dates, signings and such. Gimme details!

I’ll be signing books at Mysterious Galaxy Books in San Diego on May 9, 2009, as well as at the Barnes & Noble store in Independence, MO on May 16. I’ll be attending a couple of conventions this summer in Chicago and Washington D.C. and you can find details for all of those at my website: www.shannonkbutcher.com.

What type of books do you read for pleasure? Any favorite authors?

I tend to read what I write, so I stick mostly to romantic suspense and paranormal romance. I do pick up other flavors of romance, but it’s not very often that I veer away from some kind of romance, ‘cause they just make me happy. I love Sherrilyn Kenyon, Suzanne Brockmann, J. R. Ward, Lori Foster, and Linda Howard, just to name a few.

Do you have a day job, or do you write full-time?

I’m fortunate to be able to write full-time, and started doing so within a few months of leaving my previous day job as an industrial engineer.

Any favorite hobbies?

I LOVE beads. Little bits of shiny glass, metal and crystal are like heroin to me. I can’t get enough, so I’m constantly making and giving away beaded pieces so I have an excuse to buy more beads.

I’ve also been known to quilt and do some costuming, but those obsessions have been completely overshadowed by my current bead addiction.

If you could only give one piece of advice to new or aspiring writers, that would help them in the business, what would it be?

Write. Write a lot. Slog through those first difficult books where you might not know what you’re doing, and learn your craft. Every one of those bad books is important. Once you get through those, don’t stick the good stuff in a drawer. Submitting your work for rejection is hard, but if you don’t, you’ll never see your name on that shelf at the book store. How sad would that be?

I’m also a big fan of critique groups. I’d recommend you choose the members of your group as carefully as you would a spouse (‘cause a bad crit partner can suck the will to write right out of you), but they’re definitely worth the effort if you get a good crit partner or group.

Now Folks, Shannon has a contest going on her website for April, so you need to stop by there. It's got VERY cool prizes. And for our readers here, the first one to comment gets an autographed copy of NO ESCAPE her romantic suspense book.

Sick, Visiting Dignitary, Contacted

Hi Guys.

I've got the crud. Respiratory/Flu symptoms with a fever. This is going to be very short and sweet. I'm not sure I'll be up and around tomorrow as I am contagious as he@*. So I am going to pretend it's tomorrow and post the Visiting Dignitary blog early and separately.

Oh, and I heard from my friend. Which makes me happy.

Gotta go. Can't stay upright too long with the fever. UGH.

Saturday Morning Breakfast Serial

Okay, now that you've gotten caught up on Rosie, you can have your morning serial.

Old Friends/Old Enemies - Continued (again)

"Oh shit." Tracker muttered. I couldn't have agreed with him more. Helena, at her best is hell on wheels. I don't even like to think about what she's capable of at her worst.

She's stunning, really seriously beautiful, with blue black hair that hangs down to her hips and milk white skin that wouldn't dare get a pimple. Her features are absolutely perfect. She'd be utterly irresistable if she wasn't so damned scary. As it is, most men, women, children and small animals are smart enough to stay out of her way. There was no way her coming here was a good thing. And if she'd found us, her mentor wouldn't be far behind.

Helena's a great match for Evan in looks, attitude, and power. Oh, and she was my supervisor on my first job. She knows me just as well as I know her. That was so bad. Because she'd know that no matter what she did to me, I couldn't use magic against her.

Life is seriously unfair.

While I am occasionally dense, I am not generally completely stupid. I swore, grabbed my backpack from the cart, and ran down the nearest aisle, dashing past fifty pound bags of potting soil and spray guns with fertilizer. I felt magical energies shifting as Helena gathered power to strike, and her reinforcements arrived through a portal.

"Helena NO." Tracker shouted. "Don't. She's innocent. She didn't do it!"

"Of course she didn't." Evan's voice was smooth, seeming to come from a spot not twenty feet away from me. I couldn't see him over a pallet of landscaping bricks, but I could tell he was sneering. "I did."

I felt him loose a bolt of pure power, and Tracker began to scream.

Rosie Hughes

Things are moving very quickly in the Rosie story. You miss a chapter now, you'll mis a LOT. SO, DON'T MISS IT, DUH!

(LINKS ARE PULLED DIRECTLY FROM JACKIE KESSLER'S LAST POST, BUT WITH THE 3 NEWEST CHAPTERS ADDED)
Chapter 1 - C.T. Adams
Chapter 2 - Cathy Clamp (scroll down)
Chapter 3 - Brad Sinor
Chapter 4 - Sue Sinor
Chapter 5 - Rachel Caine
Chapter 6 - Jackie Kessler
Chapter 7 - C.T. Adams
Chapter 8 - Cathy Clamp (scroll down)
Chapter 9 - Brad Sinor
Chapter 10 - Sue Sinor
Chapter 11 - Rachel Caine
Chapter 12 - Cie Adams (You're already here, go down a few days.)
Chapter 13 - Cathy Clamp http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.ListAll&friendID=141026485
Chapter 14 - http://sinor-sb13.livejournal.com/#post-sinor_sb13-1267

Grumpy

Grumpy

Shouldn't be grumpy today but I am. Frustrated. Maybe it's hormones. Maybe it's the fact that I apparently angered someone who I like quite a lot. Enough that she's not talking/e-mailing, contacting me in any way to tell me what it is I've done.

Argh.

Okay. First, let me say, I'm not the worlds most socially adept individual. I've spent a goodly part of my life living in my imagination, inside my own head. This doesn't necessarily lead to the greatest social skill set. Observation -- oh yeah. Writers observe the heck out of things. What kind of gestures people use, facial expressions, turns of phrase. But for me, the whole social thing . . . not so much.

One of my big problems is expectations. Everybody has 'em. And they are so ingrained that nobody thinks they should have to SAY anything about them. (Okay, I have my own expectations too, so I'm not down on everybody else here.) But if you don't TELL someone that you expect that "If you like me you will call once a week, e-mail daily, and never, ever, say I'm wrong about anything." they're probably not going to live up to it.

Now some expectations come from basic societal norms. And you'd think I'd be OKAY on that one. You'd be wrong. Oh, I got the top ten. Religion saw to that. But otherwise, um. . . you want me to what? And then there's the regional variations. And I'm now in Texas, which is SOOOO different.

But there you go. Either things wiill straighten out, or they won't. Have to go to work.

Stuff/OOPS

Good Morning!

Okay, first things first. My SISTER ROCKS!!! Ahem. See, here's the thing. Cathy and I have decided to do things like contests and such, and since our next book s COLD MOON RISING (note the first word) I thought I'd come up with something WARM to give as the ultimate prize for whatever contest we came up with. So, my sister makes quilts. Really, seriously, functional and beautiful quilts. And after some smooth talking (begging, grovelling, etc.) on my part, she will be making a quilt for the winner. (Actually, she was more than happy to do it, but that just doesn't play as well in the blog, now does it.) It will be in midnight blue and silver, have embroidery in the center, and I will post pictures for everyone everywhere when the time comes.

What I'm thinking, is that we may do what a friend of ours did. Basically, for a contest with prizes above a certain value the Feds require that no purchase be required. Fair enough. So she has had folks send in a digital snapshot (from their cameraphone, one of the cheapy throwaways or whatever) of themselves holding the book. They can be holding a library copy, a copy inside the store that they don't actually buy (but why WOULDN'T you buy it. I mean, REALLY. Unless, of course, you're seriously broke. I've BEEN seriously broke, so I can relate to that. I wouldn't want you to starve to read our books. [Well maybe . . . no. No. I wouldn't. But if you feel inclined to eat lots of cheap mac and cheese and Ramen noodles, I certainly won't stop you. ;)])

On to the next thing. Buying books. (See a trend here? I KNEW you were observant.) A major chain (that shall remain nameless because, honestly, I'm scattered enough this morning that I'm not sure I remember correctly and I don't want to screw it up) is going to ALL FACE OUT. Now this will give you the opportunity to see the cover big and bold, yes. BUT it means that there will be less books on the shelves A LOT less books. So many of your favorite authors may not be available except through preorder. This is going to be hard for folks who aren't really big names (a la, Nora Roberts, Laurell K. Hamilton, etc.), because they won't have things on the shelves for browsers. People may not even know they have books out! If you want the smaller name author's books, you'll need to preorder them at the bookstore and kind of keep track of when things are due out.

Cathy is going to do a big article and post on her blog and stuff that will have more details (and it will probably appear in our newsletter, too). But as an author, PLEASE preorder from your bookstore.

Also, for those of you who got ARCs (or are getting ARCs, I'm working on it, REALLY). If you liked it, PLEASE post a positive review on Amazon. (If you didn't, obviously, don't lie.)Let's see, Saturday is the breakfast serial. Monday we have Shannon Butcher as a Visiting Dignitary.

(Okay, on an aside here. I decided I wanted to do up some kind of nice gift for the folks that guest blog. I swear to you, I am such a dufus. I was fading off to sleep and thought, "Maybe hand-made bookmarks, something nice, but flashy. Maybe with the initials of the program." An image flashed through my mind. Big BOLD metallic letters saying "VD". Umnnn. . . maybe not.)

OY! It took me a while to go back to sleep after that.

Cie

Rosie Hughes

Cathy has gone all out on Rosie Hughes guys. You need to go look!

http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendId=141026485&blogId=481810657

I'm trying to get lackey packets out, so this is just a short post. More tomorrow.

Shirts
Okay, it's dumb. I know it's dumb. I'm on deadline. I should be thinking books. But I wanna do shirts. Minion shirts.

SO Posse mine. Since you probably won't get many chances to see us in person at signings this year (I'm in the process of moving to Denver, so travel will be minimized a bit) I'm going to do something else.

SO, those of you who are members of my posse. Here's the idea. You send me a photo of you holding your homemade card at catadamsfans@gmail.com (CJ, since you haven't had a chance to get your card yet, just send a photo.) with: I AM NOT A NUDIST in the RE and your shirt size and address in the email, SIGNED with your "not too terribly insulting" nickname.Now I'm in the process of designing, buying, and printing the shirts, so it'll be a while.

But I'm REALLY HOPING you'll participate.

Cie

KINDLE/BIG NEWS

ATTENTION ALL READERS --

We just found out that our books are going to be available in Kindle. Some are already there, but more are on the way! So, if you're looking for a good read in e-format, we're going to be there for you.

WOO HOOO!!!!!!

Special thanks to our publisher for making it happen.

Rosie Hughes v. Kristan Higgins and OY

Okay, today Kristan Higgins was scheduled for a visiting blog. But Rosie Hughes (like all good villains) has proved a LOT harder to kill off than originally suspected. And it's my turn. SO, in order to do both things properly (even I am not schizoid enough to post both in one blog in one day. So no.) I'm having Kristan's visit on MySpace, and Rosie here.

The MySpace address is: http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.ListAll&bID=481456558

She is awarding a prize to the first person who posts a comment. So go read.

All right. On to Rosie:

Chapter 12 - It's a Tough Unlife for Vampires

This was really and truly not my day. I mean, most vampires don't get days. But even for a day this one sucked rotten eggs. Way worse than that time in Savannah. Even worse than getting thrown off the building.

And it was all Max Hunter's fault.

Well, all of it except for the sunblock running. THAT could be laid at Pollyanna's door. I'd kill her for it if Morgana hadn't already done the deed.

Poor Morgana.

Sighing, I huddled further back in the shadows of the belfry of one of the city buildings. I needed rest, but how was I supposed to sleep with some stupid committee meeting going on? Talk talk TALK.

So, if I couldn't sleep, I might as well make my plans for the untimely (and ultimately slow, painful and ugly) demise of one Max Hunter. Hmnnn now let's see . . .

Saturday Morning Breakfast Serial and Reminder Re Rosie

OKAY, go read Rosie Hughes at Jackie Kessler's blog. It's hysterical. Then, when you're ready for something more serious, get your bowl and milk and read your Saturday Morning Breakfast Serial:

Chapter 3 - Old Friends/Old Enemies (continued).

I parked my butt under the heater vent as the bus lurched forward. Fate being as it was, I had a ton of money in my backpack, but had been forced to scrabble for enough change for the fare. I was so not putting a twenty in the slot. I mean, dream on.

I only took the bus a few blocks before exiting at one of the better hotels. There was a line of taxis out front, and taking a taxi would be quicker, warmer, and would drop me off right at the door to the store. Once there, I grabbed one of the blue plastic carts and went on my squeaky-wheeled way through the aisles. First stop, juniors where I was picking up the warmest coat I could find. Then accessories, for hat, gloves, scarf, etc. I was beginning to feel as if I'd never be warm again. There are folks out there who love the cold.

I'm not one of them.

I was in the toiletries section, stocking up on some of the things I'd left behind, like oh, you know, a toothbrush, hairbrush, that sort of thing, when I heard a familiar voice.

"Sahara, wait up!" I turned to find Tracker loping down the main aisle, headed in my direction.

My first thought was Oh hell. NOW what? Don't get me wrong, Tracker is my cousin. He's also my best bud. We'd worked together back when I'd had a job for the new age crystal manufacturing company my mentor's family owned. But he shouldn't know I was here. And he'd always promised not to use his best skill (you guessed it -- tracking) to hunt me down unless it was an emergency. So instead of staring at his studly form with lust (which was the reaction of 3 cashiers and two female stock clerks) I probably wore an expression of flat out horror.

"We need to talk." He said it sotto voice. Of course that didn't matter when half the folks in the store are staring and listening as avidly as they can. They couldn't really help themselves. He's just so stareworthy. He's big, around 6'8" or so, built lean but muscular, with the smooth grace of a hunting cat. His eyes are jade green, his hair tousled and naturally blonde. If I wasn't related to him I'd probably be a drooling idiot like everyone else. He'd had the sense to come here dressed for the weather, and was wearing jeans, work boots, a heavy plaid flannel shirt and distressed leather bomber jacket.

"Oh hell." I looked around, hoping for somewhere with at least a semblance of privacy amongst all the wide aisles and bright lighting, and finally found it when I caught sight of the sliding doors leading out to the garden center. Nobody in their right mind would be out there right now: which should make it just the perfect place for the two of us.

We'd barely made it through the doors when he started talking. "You have to turn yourself in."

"Hunh?" Clever, I know. But I'd had a rough day. Repartee was beyond me at the moment. Besides, I didn't have a freaking clue what he was talking about. I hadn't done anything turn in worthy. Then again, I hadn't done anything worth having people hunt me down and kill me either. So maybe I shouldn't have been so surprised.

"I know you. It had to be an accident. If you just come in and explain." He was so damned earnest. I just wished I knew what he was talking about.

"Explain what?"

"Sahara." He used that tone. You know the one. Sad, a little condescending. The 'don't bullshit me.' tone.

"I haven't done anything."

"Exactly!" He smiled. "Which is why you need to come back with me and turn yourself in. My dad can help you."

I wasn't sure how to answer that, but I didn't get the chance. I felt the shift of energies, saw the air a few feet away blur, just as a seam split reality. I caught a glimpse of Helena Troy (yeah, that really is her name), Evan's apprentice.

Oh crap. This was going to be bad.

Stuff

Stuff
CONGRATS TO CATHY on joining Witchy Chicks!!! YAY.

Okay I blogged yesterday, and it vanished. Poof. It didn't say much, but that's not the point.

Tomorrow there will be a Rosie Hughes posted by Jackie Kessler at her blog. You gotta go there. I hear there may even be penguins. There will also be your Saturday morning breakfast serial. I can do this because I've actually made PROGRESS ON THE BOOK. (Everybody stand up and cheer. Yes, I know, your co-workers will think you insane. Don't worry about it. They already do, or at very least suspect. . . [just joking])

Day job is now calling. I must go be a good girl. But I will blog tomorrow. And I HOPE it will actually post.

Cie/C.T. Adams

Fully Caffeinated and Functional

Okay, up, caffeinated and functional.

First, you NEED to go check out Rosie Hughes. REALLY.

> http://rachelcaine.livejournal.com/131162.html

Next, I'm not hearing from the posse regarding shirt sizes. Only one response. Does this mean you're closet nudists (or nudists without closets, because, after all, for a nudist, a closet is somewhat redundant/meaningless)?

Oh, we will be sending out the interim rebooted newsletter tomorrow. Look for it. This one is the work of Cie's own little fingers, future ones will probably be done by people who actually know what they're doing (GASP).

I'm also on deadline now, so posts will be short (how sweet will depend on how the writing is going). Bear with me. The book's due on 5/1 so it's only for this month.

Oh, and Bacchus came through the vet visit okay! But he may well be older than I thought (he was adopted from a no-kill shelter and they guesstimated his age). I now have samples of geriatric kitty food for him.

BESTEST.

Cie

No. Not morning. Yawn. Hit snooze alarm. . .

Didn't sleep worth a @#$&* last night. I am not doing morning yet. I am hitting the snooze alarm. Will post tomorrow.

G'night.

Cie/C.T. Adams

REMINDER/ROSIE HUGHES

OKAY folks, Rosie is progressing apace. Cathy's post tells the sad tale of poor Pollyanna, while Brad and Sue have left a real cliffhanger. You need to go look.

Visiting dignitaries have begun sending in their interviews. Since I'm on deadline, I used pretty much the same questions for everybody. (But this way you can compare the information).

Drawing for the ARC (possibly two since Cathy has been appropriately bribed with cyber chocolate) is this evening at 5:00 my time. If you haven't already registered go to catadamsfans@gmail.com . Winner will be notified by e-mail so that they can send a snail-mail address for mailing the prize.

The Duet Gazette Newsletter au deux (rebooted, version 2.0 or whatever) will be coming out April 1. It has all sorts of information in it. So you want it. (You know you do!) To sign up enter the contest above.

There is going to be Rosie Hughes swag. We are in discussions. It is in the planning stage. The contest will probably involve trivia, so be sure to go read it and pay attention.

Okay, gotta run. Day job calls.

If you can't be good, be careful.
If you can't be careful, be GOOD.

Bestest.

Cie

ATTENTION LACKEYS/MINIONS/POSSE MEMBERS

Attention all Lackeys/Minions/Posse Members.

I need your tee-shirt size. Unless, of course, you aren't ever planning on showing up at one of our events or book signings. In which case you won't be able to claim it anyway. But JUST IN CASE you actually HELD ON to that ugly, cheesy, hand-made (yes, I made it with my own two hands, computer, and office supplies) ID card, I have a deal for you. If you show up with it at any event where I'm live (and I don't intend to go to any dead. REALLY), you'll get a special Posse Members Only shirt. And YES it will probably be cheesy too. I LIKE cheese. E-mail the shirt size to: cat_cie@msn.com with "SHIRT SIZE" in the RE.

Mucho happiness. I gotta get back to work. Deadlines and whatnot.Cie

Saturday Morning Breakfast Serial

Saturday AGAIN, Already?
Current mood: busy

Saturday AGAIN. OMIGAWD. I mean, yeah, I'm GLAD the work week's over. But I haven't really even dealt with my serial.

Are you sure . . . Fine, fine. If you insist. But it's only going to be a short one. Short enough that I may have to do a mid-term installment on Wednesday to finish the chapter. (Or not. I'm on deadline now. So you may have to take it on faith without a cliffhanger this time. I'm sorry.)

RUN
Chapter 3 - Old Friends/Old Enemies (Part 1)

It was cool and dim inside the church. The only light was the sunlight streaming through the glass front doors, and casting beams of bright color where it passed through the jewel tones of the stained glass windows. I could feel powerful residual energy thrumming up from the floor, but it was calm, soothing. I needed to be soothed. I'd put the money and the gun in my backpack, and even though they didn't weigh that much, I was painfully aware of it.

I don't like guns. Don't get me wrong. I think in the hands of someone like Bob, they're perfectly okay. He knows what he's doing, and is careful. And I'm damned grateful he had that shotgun handy to keep me from becoming a "Scooby Snack". But I'm not Bob. It was going to take training and practice before I was comfortable shooting. But it might be worth investing the time. Because compared to my enemy I was practically helpless. Hell, compared to virtually any mage out there.

I did not curse my father. I was in a church. Honor thy father & mother and all that. And curses in my world carry weight. AND cursing is offensive magic. Oh no. So no. Because in the process of almost drowning me during my "baptism" he'd done something. My mentor hadn't been sure exactly what, so she hadn't dared mess with it. But there was an inhibition in my skull that made it impossible for me to use offensive magics. To the point where I collapse to the floor screaming in blinding pain if I so much as think about doing it.

So maybe the gun wasn't such a bad idea. But it still made me nervous.I walked toward the front of the church, approaching the altar a little timidly. I'm not religious (probably in reaction to dear old Daddy), but I have a healthy respect for the divine. I needed to come close enough to that altar that its latent energy would obscure evidence of my passage. But I didn't want to risk irritating the Almighty. If he/she exists. Which I'm not sure of. But I'm not sure he/she doesn't. So better safe than sorry.

I was dithering. I don't dither. Which meant the incident back at the office had shaken me more than I wanted to admit. Damn it I liked it here. I'd made friends. I felt a surge of helpless rage. Not that it mattered. If I cared about these people, I needed to not endanger them. It was time to leave.

Casting one last look around, I gathered my will and created a seam.There's a trick to moving about using seams. You have to be able to clearly imagine where you want to go, where nobody's liable to be, and where you're not liable to set off electronic alarms and/or get arrested. (So no popping into the bank vault, or robbing the museum.) Once I realized that I would be needing to move around a lot to stay ahead of the bad guys I made a point of going to the library, looking up the landmarks of various locations. The internet is a marvelous thing. You can, given enough time and patience, find the floor plans of most public buildings. And I can extrapolate. I might not know which colors they use for the bathrooms in Grand Central Station. But I betcha I know the basic layout. And just how much variety of layout is there in your average Super WalMart?

So, where was I going? Washington, D.C. home of the Lincoln Memorial, the White House, the Jefferson Memorial, Congress, etc. DC is cold in winter and early spring. There might be people around, but not many. And if I remembered correctly, the weather channel had announced they were in the middle of a blizzard. I might freeze my tuchus off. But I wasn't likely to land on top of anybody.I stepped through my little gateway in reality. In less than a minute I went from the dim shadows of a little local church, to the cold shadows of a marble monument.

Shit. Why couldn't I have looked up the major landmarks of Grand Cayman, or Bermuda --- no not Bermuda, not risking that triangle thing. Bad mojo. But still.I stepped out from beside the huge sculpture honoring the 16th President of the US. A tall blonde woman in a thick winter coat and plaid muffler blinked at me, looking a little startled, but she was standing on the South side of th1e building, where she'd been reading the inscription of the Gettysburg Address. I nodded in greeting, trying to act perfectly normal, and not as though I'd just appeared, literally, out of thin air, and moved purposefully out of the entrance and down the wide flight of steps toward the reflecting pool and the main part of the mall.

Wind cut through my lightweight jacket like a knife, and my teeth started chattering. I didn't swear out loud. But the language going through my mind wasn't pretty. I needed a coat. And gloves. And sooner rather than later. The thing is, while I could visualize the monument from pictures on Wikipedia. I had no idea where the nearest store was. I moved as quickly as I dared across the icy walkway. There was a major thoroughfare up ahead. I could see a bus stop. Buses are heated. Right now heat sounded good. Oh yeah. And who knew, maybe the bus driver could tell me how to get to the nearest shopping center. I could only hope.

ME ME ME ME

Okay, I was getting the Visiting Dignitary questions done up (and realized that I am SOOOOOO not Barbara Walters). And a thought hit me. (I've warned you about those.) ANYWAY, it occurred to me that I haven't really answered these questions to you guys. So, in lieu of the usual ramblings, I'm answering my own interview. It makes me feel VERY much as though I have Multiple Personality Disorder (Really? Me too!). ANYWAY, here goes:

I’m going to dive right in. Is there any one character you’ve written that is your absolute favorite? Why?

To me characters are like people, and I try to make them as vivid as I can. Which means that to be realistic I have to make both people I like and dislike. There are some characters I'd love to have over to dinner. Others would scare the crap out of me. For a weekend in the Bahamas though -- Raven Ramirez. In a HEARTBEAT.

Writing is hard work! Have you ever had the dread WRITER’S BLOCK? If so, what do you do to get past it?

It's very hard for me to write when I'm exhausted or sick. So I try to take care of myself. Once I'm feeling well I can't seem to STOP writing.

Almost every author I’ve met gives back to the community by supporting favorite charities. Do you have one? Could you tell me about it? Is there a particular reason why that charity?

I support several different charities. Some are for humans -- like Heifer International and Habitat for Humanity. Others are for animals, like no kill shelters and wildlife sanctuaries. I try to spread it around.

So, what does your schedule look like for the next few months? Anything new coming out that we should keep an eye out for? Tell us a little about it.

Well, Magic's Design hit the shelves a couple of months ago with our new pen name. And in August we have Cold Moon Rising. It's the next Sazi book, and it returns to Tony Giodone's point of view and features Ahmad, the Councilman for the Snakes. We're really looking forward to seeing how the fans like it. We're trying to do a bunch of new things to interact with our fans, particularly on the internet. It's a lot of fun.

What type of books do you read for pleasure? Any favorite authors?

I read a LOT. Seriously. It's one of my major vices. And yes, I have a LOT of favorite authors. Too many to name here, but in urban fantasy I'm a big BIG fan of Jim Butcher and Laurell K. Hamilton; in paranormal romance I'm a fan of Shannon Butcher and (of course) US. I read a lot of mystery and PI novels, so there's always Robert B. Parker, and Dick Francis. . . (I'd better stop now. This could go on for hours.)

Do you have a day job, or do you write full-time?

I have a day job for now in a law office and title company. I'm hoping to move into writing full time when I relocate to Denver. Then again, the cost of living being what it is, who knows.

Do you have any hobbies?

I like creating things. Whether it's painting, drawing, knitting, sewing, braiding a rug. I have a nasty habit of underestimating the time it will take though, so that I wind up having to quit in the middle to get back to the book/work/housework and then taking months (or years) to actually FINISH the blasted thing. I have a million half-finished projects that got packed for the move. Because I WILL finish.

OKAY, I’m going to do one of those short MEME things here.

Favorite song: Varies from day to day. I do love me my hair metal. I don't DARE listen to Rap. Rap makes me aggressive/angry. (Picture Cie turning green and her clothes shredding.) "You wouldn't like me when I'm angry."

Favorite movie or TV show: Anything I love on television gets canceled. VERY depressing. I fell hard for Life on Mars, and now I hear it's going under too. The West Wing was one of the few exceptions. I loved that show (enough to buy the dvds of the whole series) and it actually got to stay on the air! Love cartoons. Particularly things like Danger Mouse, Tom & Jerry, and Wiley Coyote.

Favorite color: (s) Burgundy, gold, and emerald green. Really like jewel tones.

Favorite food: Chocolate. Steak. Shrimp. Hmnnn.... I can't choose. But those three are way up there.

Favorite drink: Non-alcoholic - Pepsi. Alcoholic - usually a screwdriver with Schmirnoff Silver, BUT I've been on a Margarita kick lately.

Is the glass half-full or half-empty: (GLUG GLUG GLUG) No decision. Just empty. Next question.

What animal do you think is most like your personality? A bobcat. (TOLD you you wouldn't like me when I'm angry.)

If you could only give one piece of advice to new or aspiring writers, that would help them in the business, what would it be?

Work hard on your craft. A lot of people assume if you can write a sentence, you can write a publishable book. But it's harder than it looks. Learn what you're doing so that you can do it well. Inspiration comes and goes. But even if you have a brilliant idea, it's not going to fly if you can't present it in a publishable form.

C.T. Adams/Cie.

ARC CONTEST

We Have ARCs/Contest
(Advance Review Copies)
Current mood: distractable

We have ARCs of Cold Moon Rising (formerly Malevolent Moon). (Every time we get ARCs Cathy and I do this seal noise thing . . . but I digress.

We have ARCs. Which MEANS two things. The two members of the posse who did not get their packets mailed yet will now as a consolation prize, get a signed ARC.

And Toadie, you get one because, you were the FIRST member of the posse to sign up. (I'll really try to mail it out quick. Honest. Can't promise though.)

And FINALLY, A CONTEST. WHO WANTS AN ARC? HMNNNN?

It's a Sazi book from Tony's POV featuring Ahmad. Any takers?Okay, here's how to go for it. Send an e-mail to our new Fan e-mail site: catadamsfans@gmail.com . Yes, it will sign you up for the new newsletter. Yes., you can unsubscribe later if you REALLY hate that idea. But Monday at 5:00 p.m. our time I will draw a name at random from the responses and send that person an autographed ARC. So there you go!

Let the games begin.

Cie

Welcome to Wednesday.

Welcome to Wednesday

Okay, Rosie is up on Cathy's blog. Sally forth and get your view, but come back and read this after. ;)

Due to technical difficulties (read blue screen of death, actually, I think it was a black screen of death, but you get what I mean), the entire mailing list for the Duet Gazette is GONE. Poof. (Actually more like crackle crackle with lots of accompanying swearing.) SOOOOOOOO, we're having to start the newsletter over. Sort of a Duet Gazette 2.0. But without the mailing list I'm having to make it up as I go along. I'm culling from e-mails sent to us, and people (like my family and friends) who I THINK want to be on it with the caveat that they're welcome to unsubscribe.

BUT if you're interested, I've set up a gmail to handle it, and will be doing it manually for the first quarter (I'm thinking quarterly. Monthly isn't as likely when I'm on deadline until I can get to Denver and hire myself an assistant type.) SOOOOOOO if you wanna get one (and I won't spam you, sell you out, or display your e-mail when I send it) e-mail me at: catadamsfans@gmail.com or cieadams@yahoo.com with MAIL ME BABY or something like that in the Re.

In the personal area, RT is coming up fast. (Think Indy car with no brakes fast.) We're going. Hope you are too. There will be signings. There will be drinking (at least by me). There will be networking and schmoozing opportunities. Hope to see you there.

Good News.

GOOD NEWS
Current mood: awake

Okay, today is a day for good news. First -- THE DRAFT OF THE BOOK IS WITH THE EDITOR. Woot! Go Cathy, Go Cathy, you Rock, you ROCK. I still have the finish the draft I'm working on, but it's coming along.

SECOND bit of good news, I've received lots of responses from various authors who are willing to be visiting dignitaries. Enough responses that I'm going to have to get my act together and get things organized. OY. But seriously wonderful nonetheless.

I think I may have found an artist to work with on some of the ad/promo materials, which is cool. And have my flight information and hotel reservations for the RT trip.

I do like the direction the blogs (I keep trying to put BOGS, how very IRISH of me) are going. And we're looking at various folks regarding finalizing the website. (Neither Cathy nor I have time, and the guy we hired previously had his life explode because of the economy.)

So, progress is being made. I'm not THERE yet, but I'm on my way. Now if the blasted migraine meds will kick in, I'll be ready to face another morning at the day job.

Oh, and Anna Genoese -- if you're out there, please e-mail me. I'm a little worried about you. Haven't heard a peep since you moved.

Cie/C.T. Adams

Aw come on guys. . .

Somebody write something. Comment. I'm getting LONELY over here. Do you even like the stuff I'm doing? Or should I just talk? PLEEEEEEEEEEEEASE?

Rosie Hughes -- Chapter 7 The TRAITOR

Okay, as you guys know, we've been doing a round-robin blog chain on The Rosie Hughes Project. Previous chapters include:

here are the paths.
Chapter 1 - C.T. Adams
Chapter 2 - Cathy Clamp (scroll down)
Chapter 3 - Brad Sinor
Chapter 4 - Sue Sinor
Chapter 5 - Rachel Caine
Chapter 6 - Jackie Kessler - http://www.jackiekessler.com/blog/2009/03/21/the-rosie-hughes-project-chapter-6-enter-the-slayer/

Chapter 7 -- The Traitor

I would’ve listened at the doorway, but I didn’t need to. Magenta’s shouts were clearly audible throughout the house. Almost as audible as Rosie’s ear-piercing (and glass shattering) shrieks.

An uncontrollable shudder wracked my body. Dear God, please let this work. I was so tired of pretending. But when I realized that. . . that. . . thing was using my beloved Suzi Q products to enslave . . . to eat my customers. . . . Well, I had to do something. Even if it meant giving up my job and my friends and pretend enthrallment to the very creature I hated.

So I worked. And I waited. Until the perfect opportunity arose. So simple. Just delete one word from a memo to manufacturing so it read:

"You absolutely must use purified garlic in the formula."

Perfect. It wouldn’t harm the humans. But the vampires . . . scores of them, more than any one person could slay . . . well, they’d be as dead as poor, poor Magenta of the ill temper and man bones.

It would have been perfect if only . . .

"PollyANNA!!!!!" A familiar shriek tore through the house, shattering crystal goblets and lesser glass.

Constanza rushed past, broom and dustpan in hand. Shuddering, I gathered my courage and made my way to the sitting room.

"Yes mistress?" I gave Rosie my very best empty smile—all shining white teeth. She blinked, eyes narrowing against the glare. "Have Constanza bring the Dyson in." She waved manicured nails at the mess on the settee, and the priceless rug lying scorched beneath it. "And we need to do an immediate product recall. Some idiot at corporate changed the formula. If I get my hands on them . . ."

I shuddered at the look on her face. I didn’t want to think what she’d do to them—or to me if she found out I was the traitor.

"Anyway, darling, I need you to take care of the details. A complete product recall. Oh, and while you’re at it, bring me some more sunblock for my personal use. It seems I may be having to go out during business hours to pay corporate a visit. And call the reupholsterers." She paused, tapping a nail against her perfect lips. "While you’re at it, order some new flamingos. The old ones are starting to look . . . tacky."

"Of course mistress." I scurried out of the room, presumably to do her bidding. In truth, I had to get out before she sensed my elation. If what happened to Magenta happened to even half of the vampires . . . But no. Celebration was premature. The worst of the monsters was not only perfectly healthy, she was angry, and more dangerous than ever.

Next installment from Cathy Clamp -- Wednesday.http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.ListAll&friendID=141026485

VISITING DIGNITARIES and PEACE THROUGH SUPERIOR FIREPOWER

Okay folks, on the MySpace page people said that the visiting dignitaries idea was a good one. (You guys over here have been AWFULLY QUIET, but that's okay). So I contacted a few people and 'LO AND BEHOLD' I have DIGNITARIES.

Now this is Saturday, and you get your Breakfast Serial.

But FIRST I want to do something less serious, i.e. say a few words to the posse.

If you haven't received your stuff yet, you will. Honest. For the most recent volunteers I've had to dig stuff out of boxes I've packed for the move. Since we're on deadline, I haven't had a lot of time to do that. But I will try to make it up to you.

For those of you who HAVE received your boxes, or will soon, I have a couple of messages:

First -- Toadie -- I hope you like your garden toad. Also, YOU have a special keychain. It is the key to the ultra-secret lair under the chateau. NO ONE else got the key shaped key ring. Feel special. Feel VERY special. Those of you who got the toad shaped key rings -- well, have hope. These are the key chains for the trusted types who will only have access to the weapons stores for those occasions when other, more evil, overlords attempt to move on the chateau.

I have selected a Grand High Inquisitor and have acquired Trusted and Not so Trustworthy Allies.

I am also going to be starting a newsletter. I hope you all will be willing to participate. In fact, there will probably be additional booty for posse members who sign up. Send an e-mail to: cat_cie@msn.com if you're interested. Put CIE/NEWSLETTER in the Re.

NOW ON TO CHAPTER 2
PEACE THROUGH SUPERIOR FIREPOWER

"Get out." Roberta Jacobs Ross was a lady, and an attorney, so she was far too dignified to shout. But her face was an ugly, mottled red, and the body beneath her exquisitely tailored dove gray suit was quivering with suppressed rage. The paramedics who'd showed up to check on Bob had stopped by the door. He might be fine, but it looked as though she might stroke out if her blood pressure went any higher.

"But mom. . . " Bobbie Jo interrupted. "She saved our lives."

"Irrelevant. You wouldn't have been in danger in the first place if it wasn't for her."

"Roberta Elaine . . ." Bob's voice was stern. I decided to interrupt before things went downhill.

"It's all right." Everybody, up to and including the paramedics turned to stare at me. "I need to go anyway." I reached down to grab the backpack Bobbie had brought in for me. "You can take the damages out of my final paycheck."

"I fully intend to." Roberta answered, her chin rising so that her nose was even further up in the air than usual.

"Roberta . . ." Bob's voice was a low growl, but I didn't stay to listen to what he had to say. She was being a b****. But I couldn't blame her. She'd come to work planning for an ordinary day and discovered something out of a horror or disaster movie. When she'd seen the corpse of the hound . . .

Oh, crap.

I had a flash of intuition. Or, maybe I finally managed to collate a lot of random information. Whatever. Normal people do not keep loaded guns within hands reach---even in Texas. Roberta's animosity had been strong from the start. I'd overheard her accusing her father of "taking in a stray cat" by hiring me. He'd answered "Everyone deserves a second chance Bobbi Sue."

She'd been on the run once too. Maybe even from the same type of danger I was.

It changed everything; and absolutely nothing. I needed to go.

I brushed past the paramedics on my way out the door. Yes, I could've opened up a seam, but you don't use obvious magic in front of the humans. Bad form and all that. Besides, you can trace back a seam--if you get back to the origin point quick enough. I did not intend to give Evan any reason to go back that office.

So I walked toward the one place that would have its own natural shielding. A church. Any church.

I wouldn't have to walk far. Tucker, Texas is a tiny town, but there are a LOT of churches. The closest was the Catholic church. Just three blocks -- straight up the tallest hill in town. And me in heels. UGH.

I'd only gotten halfway up when I heard the wheels of a truck crunching on the gravel edge of the paved road right behind me. The engine sounded familiar. I turned to look just as Bobbi Jo put her grandpa's old beheamoth in park and cut the ignition. "Sahara, wait up."

"Are you insane? Your mother's going to kill you."

She opened the door and jumped down. (It was a big truck.) Reaching back in she grabbed a shoebox. "Grandpa wanted me to give this to you. He said I needed to catch you before you made it to the church, or we'd never see you again." She gave me a look that held equal parts anger and sadness. "Are you really leaving? Without explaining anything? Without saying goodbye?"

I looked into a pair of blue eyes that were shinier than they should have been. Dammit, dammit, dammit. I like Bobbi Jo. She is the closest thing I have to a friend next to Tracker. She wasn't that much younger than me, but she'd been raised to be an innocent and I did not want to get her killed.

"Bobbi, your mom's right. I'm trouble. Now that they know I'm here . . . You've got to go."

"Sahara Jones isn't even your real name is it?" Her voice was harsh with accusation. She thought I'd lied to her. That everything was a lie. I hadn't. At least not any more than necessary.

"It's what I want to be called."

She shook her head, and a single tear escaped.

I sighed. I should leave. Just go. Standing here was wasting time I might not have. It was probably a weakness to care what she thought. I'd never even see her again. But I couldn't leave it like this. I just couldn't.

"Fine. My real name is Beulah Emmaline Cotter."

"Beulah?"

I nodded.

"Ew. I mean, that's. . . that's the kind of name they'd give your great-great-maiden aunt or something."

"This from the woman whose family has only used one name for how many generations?"

She shook her head, presumably at the perfidy of parents and nomenclature. But when she looked at me next the tears were gone, and there was even a hint of amusement in her expression "So, Sahara. My grandfather told me to give you this." She shoved a battered cardboard shoebox, the lid held down with a large rubber band, toward my chest.

"Open it."

I did. And blinked. Slowly. Twice. At which point I remembered to close my jaw before flies could fly in. Because the inside of the box held cash, worn 20 and 100 dollar bills. A lot of them. And with the cash there was something else. A handgun. A Ladysmith revolver (undoubtedly loaded---this was from Bob after all) with a pink hand grip. And extra ammo.

"The gun was my grandma's. I'm supposed to tell you 'It may not do anything against that bastard, but it'll take down his dogs. And that's something.'"

It was my turn to blink back tears. I mean, to the Jacobs, this gun was a family heirloom. And that was a lot of cash.

"Gramps has kept this box in his bottom desk drawer for years. 'Just in case.' I never knew what was in it."

"Bobbi, I can't . . ."

"You saved my life Sahara. You could've just run, but you came back and saved my grandpa. You take it."

I did.

IT'S FRIDAY!!!!! WOOT!!!

Greetings and Salutations.

Okay guys, I had a thought. (For those of you who are new to the blog, this is always a dangerous thing.) But one of the BEST things about the whole writing gig is you get to meet some of the coolest and most creative people. So I was (as I said) THINKING, what if I do a Guest Blog every so often?

Now, I can't guarantee it's going to be weekly. It's hard to get people when they've got deadlines, and we've ALL got deadlines. (And there's always that herding cats thing -- see previous post.) But would you like it?

Let me know.

Oh, and be sure to tune in tomorrow for the Saturday Morning Breakfast Serial.

Cie/C.T. Adams

ROSIE CONTINUED

Okay guys, Rosie is up on Rachel Caine's Blog today, and it is a HOWL! Please go visit. You want to laugh, you KNOW you do! Besides, the plot has THICKENED.

rachelcaine.livejournal.com

Oh, and guys, because it's not moving fast enough to wrap on one time around, it looks as if we'll be doing a second round. SO, I will make sure to CAREFULLY LABEL which posts are ROSIE and which are your Saturday Morning Breakfast Serial. Although honestly, you can tell them apart because Rosie is funny (and PINK, very PINK), whereas the SMBS ISN'T.

Okay, gotta go.

Hasta.

Cie/C.T. Adams

Happy St. Patrick's Day

Happy St. Pat's.

I am 1/2 Irish. I am Catholic. YES, I am wearing green. You BETCHA BABY.

I'm also pondering all things writing. I did plan out approximately what's going to happen with the Saturday morning breakfast serial.

Rosie Hughes is proceeding apace. If you didn't catch the latest installment (from the POV of Rosie's driver/chauffeuse), you definitely should. It's a hoot.

Have oodles to do, so I'd better get to it. Enjoy yourselves mightily, but be good/be safe/be happy.


Cie/C.T. Adams

Sorrow and Sympathy

I just found out that good friends of mine lost their 11 year old daughter last Friday. I have no words for how sorry I am for them. I'm sure that there's nothing I could say that would lessen their grief and devastation. All I can do is pray for them. And I will. But it isn't enough.


Cie

Chapter 1 - RUN (cont.)

Okay, I didn't get to get as much down as I wanted, which meant I cut out with my heroine looking like a woos. SOOO. . . you get a bonus post before next Saturday.

Oh, and guys, please let me know what you think. I hate to think I'm doing this in a vacuum.

THANKS.

CHAPTER 1 - RUN (CONTINUED)

Okay, I’d like to say that my first instinct was to protect Bob and Bobbie. I’d be lying. My first instinct was to run like hell. But looking at the dead hound on the floor, I couldn’t. I couldn’t abandon a 16 year old kid and her 86 year old grandpa to deal with what would be coming behind that hound. Yeah, she was a smart kid. And he was a tough old Texas coot who kept a loaded shotgun in his office, his truck, and by the front door of his house. But that didn’t change anything. Not really.

So I gathered up my wits and my courage, and when I opened a seam in reality, instead of travelling to. . . oh, Barcelona, maybe the Bahamas, I went back into the front office. Making damned sure, by the way, that I was not in the line of fire from the hallway. Just in case Bob had the chance to reload.

In other words, on top of the counter.

I crouched down, preparing to attack the back of the dark-clad figure gathering a glowing ball of pure power in his left hand to throw at the defiant old man who was charging up the hall, shotgun held like a club.

"HEY UGLY" I screamed the words at the same time I threw the first thing that came to hand—a stapler. He spun around at the sound of my voice, the ball of power flying straight toward me.
Shit! I dived off, into the small space between the counter and my desk, raising my shield, as the marble where I’d been exploded, sending hot shards of stone and dust in a stinging rain that had slowed just enough not to break skin.

"You should’ve run while you could child." Evan Shadows, smiled, but there was no warmth in his eyes. His handsome features were as cold and beautiful as carved marble.

I watched him gathering his will and his power for a strike that would, undoubtedly, kill me, and I wondered why? Why me? What had I ever done? I wasn’t the strongest. Obviously, I wasn’t the smartest. In the three years since I’d been discovered by the magical community I hadn’t done anything to set myself apart as special. It didn’t make sense.

Bob hadn’t stopped his insane charge. He was behind the wizard now, and he swung his makeshift club with all of his might at the back of Evan’s dark head, only to have it bounce harmlessly off an invisible barrier.

"Get back Grampa." Bobbie’s voice was calm, steady. "And you, drop the . . . whatever, or I’ll shoot. I’ve already called 9-1-1, the cops are on their way."
Like I said, smart. God love her.

Evan snarled, and let the power dribble away. It was a smart move. Because he couldn’t put up a new shield without dropping the old one, and he couldn’t shift the old one without giving gramps an opening.

He looked down at me, his expression one of pure malice. "This isn’t over."

"Of course not." I answered. But he wasn’t there. In less time than it took me to form the words he’d opened a way, cutting a seam in reality, and was gone.

END OF CHAPTER 1 – RUN

COMING SATURDAY –
CHAPTER 2 – PEACE THROUGH SUPERIOR FIREPOWER.

Saturday

OKAY guys, it's SATURDAY!!! WOOT, no day job today. YAHOO!

First -- be sure to hie thee thither to the Sinor's blog for Day 3 of Rosie.

Saturday, 3-14, Brad Sinor: http://sinor-sb13.livejournal.com .Monday, 3-16, Sue Sinor: http://sinor-sb13.livejournal.com . They share a blog, but Sue will post separately.
Wednesday, 3-18, Rachel Caine: http://rachelcaine.livejournal.com
Saturday, 3-21Jackie Kessler: http://www.jackiekessler.com/blog

AND NOW, FOR YOUR VIEWING PLEASURE -- SATURDAY MORNING SERIAL:

It must have been putting the key in the lock that set of the trip spell. All I knew was that I saw a flicker of something out of the corner of my eye. I grabbed Bobbie Jo, flinging her bodily out of the line of fire so that the shaft of power missed skewering her. Instead, it passed through the empty air where she'd stood moving like lightning seeking the first solid object in its path. In this case, a battered old pick-up truck which went careening into the intersection amidst the sound of tearing metal and blaring car horns.

I didn't stop to help, not the driver, and not Bobbie, who was sprawled on the ground with her jaw hanging open with shock. There wasn't time. And damn it, they'd all be safer without my help. The best I could do for the innocents in the way was to run. I was the target.

I grabbed the key, twisting open the deadbolt that held the office door as the air shimmered not ten feet from me. I was diving through by the time the hound began to materialize. Slamming the door behind me I bolted past the marble topped counter that had once been the cashier's station of the bank. I was past the secretarial area and halfway down the hall when I heard the plate glass windows shatter. A muscled black form hurtled through the air, eyeless snout raised in the air to bay as he scented the fear of his prey.

"What in the he. . ." I zoomed past the figure of my boss, standing in the open doorway of his office. I only caught a glimpse of his expression, wide-eyed and horrified.

"Get back! Close the door!" I ordered, hoping he'd have the good sense to listen. I didn't wait to watch. My goal was in sight. The ancient bank vault that now served as our file room. My only hope was that the heavy steel door was thick enough to hold off not only the hound, but whoever held his leash long enough for me to open a gate.

I was running full out, but it wasn't going to be enough. The beast was right behind me. I could smell his foetid breath. Instinct made me dive, head first into the vault rolling to absorb the impact. The hound howled in frustration, his jaws having snapped air where my neck would have been.

A shotgun roared, and the nearest best squealed in agony. Blood and meat sprayed across the front of the old metal file cabinets. I rolled to a stop in time to see Robert Jacobs pump another round into the chamber and turn to aim down the hall. I scooted around the beast's carcass, grabbed the vault door. Pulling with all my strength I managed to get it moving. It swung to with a clang that cut off a second shotgun blast.

(AND I'M OUT OF TIME, SO THAT'S IT FOR TODAY FOLKS. SEE YOU NEXT SATURDAY.)
Cie/C.T. Adams

Recovering

Recovering from a virus that had me down yesterday. Still a little . . . off.

Hope you enjoyed Cathy's installment. The Sinors are next. Be sure to stop by and see them tomorrow and Monday.

Okay, since Rosie is humorous (albeit a little bit dark), I'm thinking the Saturday Morning Serial will be serious this time out. I even have something in mind. Be sure to stop by!

Bestest.


Cie

ROSIE DAY 2

OKAY, Rosie is on Day 2, go to Cathy's blog to find out what happens when her rivals try to hire her arch nemesis -- MAX HUNTER.

Wednesday, 3-11, Cathy Clamp: http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.ListAll&friendID=141026485

No Comments?

No comments on Rosie? Bummer.

Let's see, I was talking with another author who is a friend of mine, and she's talking about starting up a forum. The trick is, knowing whether or not you have enough people interested to actually HAVE a forum. Nothing seems as lame as a beautifully laid out board with nobody showing and posting. Sort of like one of those parties that no one attends. (Been there, done that. Wasn't fun the first time.)

Don't get me wrong, I've had some great parties too. But some . . . not so much.

ANYWAY, back to the point. How do you know when? I mean, for someone like Laurell, or Sherrilyn, or Jim, it's obvious. They're huge. But what about for the rest of us?

Oh, and have you made any decisions on the swag and contest stuff?

THE ROSIE HUGHES PROJECT

Ladies and Gentlemen -- Welcome to "The Rosie Hughes Project."

It is a blog chain running Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays. I get to start, then we're going round to various other participants for the following installments. If it doesn't wrap on the 21st, it will be back to me:

Wednesday, 3-11, Cathy Clamp: http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.ListAll&friendID=141026485
Saturday, 3-14, Brad Sinor: http://sinor-sb13.livejournal.com .
Monday, 3-16, Sue Sinor: http://sinor-sb13.livejournal.com . They share a blog, but Sue will post separately.
Wednesday, 3-18, Rachel Caine: http://rachelcaine.livejournal.com
Saturday, 3-21, Jackie Kessler: http://www.jackiekessler.com/blog

Rules are fairly loose, but not loose enough to get us in trouble on public blogs. We can go humorous, or dark, or both. You just have to read and play along. Our villaness is the terrifying vampire Rosie Hughes.

AND WE'RE OFF: (Way off, but that's another story) ;)

*******************************************

Dear Morgana:

I do hope you are well and that your shoulder isn’t still giving you trouble. Damned crossbows anyway.

As you’ve probably guessed, I’m having to start anew. You were right to warn me about that investor. I suppose there is no fool like a (very, very) old fool. He’s in the limelight too much at the moment, but soon, very soon, I will do to him things that would make your dear little Marquis (how is he doing by the way?) blanch.

But enough of that. Exciting news! I’ve started a new venture and it’s going amazingly well. Cosmetics. That’s right darling. I stumbled onto the idea when I was out for a bite. Not only did the little tidbit show me a perfectly lovely fang whitener, she had sun block. For the first time in centuries I can actually go out before dusk. Well, of course I had to hear more! Lo and behold, by siring a mere ten, and enthralling a few dozen, I now have a sales force that works twenty-four hours a day. Who knew it could be so profitable? In next to no time I’ve earned the coveted "pink limo," (with driver) and have bought myself a perfectly lovely stucco home. You simply must fly by sometime. (You can’t miss it. Just look for the tasteful arrangement of flamingos around the pond.)

I know you worry, but you shouldn’t. One of those annoying teenage girls did pop by with her stakes, but I showed her a truly effective acne cream, and now she’s referring all of her friends. And there’s been no sign of any of the descendants of that hideous troll of a man. (What was his name dear? Van or Von something . . . Trapp? Beetho. . . no, that was the musician. Drat my memory. Well, you know who I mean.)

Please tell me you’ll come by return bat. It’s the perfect set-up. What could possibly go wrong?

Rosetta "Rosie" (Stone-Red-. . .) Hughes.

P.S. I’m enclosing a sample of the new night cream. My Renfe. . . Assistant, says it’s "to die for."

FUNNY

Okay guys, sometimes I like to think I'm funny, or clever, or whatever. But then I read something hysterical and think "Oh, I am SOOOOOO dull." But you have to read this, okay. Maybe you won't think it's as funny as I do, and that's okay, but I love it.

http://pbackwriter.blogspot.com/2009/03/publishing-911.html

Now this does not mean that you get to skip out on the whole Rosie thing come Monday. Unh unh. Nope. I've invested too much time in prepping you. I mean, I even nibbled your EAR for crying out loud. Nope, I expect you to show up.

Anyway, have a great weekend.

More Teasing

Hmnnn, I'm supposed to keep teasing you.

Boy, this is really hard. I mean, you're there, I'm here. I suppose it's sort of like phone sex. Only there's no phone. And no sex. JEEZ. Okay, maybe it isn't.

Okay, so come by Monday. Read the blog. PLEEEEEEEEEEEASE?

Oh, and I've contacted a couple of tech types to see if they can work with me to get the website finished. Cathy and I are really on deadline, so we can't do it, and having it half-done is driving me nuts.

Oh, and I LUCKED OUT and got an autographed ARC (advanced review copy) of the new Jim Butcher book, Turn Coat. OHMIGOD IT SO ROCKS!!! I wanna write like him when I grow up. Really. Really really. You NEED to buy this guys.

OK, gotta go.