Heroes and villains

For the past few months I've subscribed to Holly Lisle's newsletters. They're full of wonderful insight into improving your writing. My favorite so far was the post on making your villain stronger than you hero. If the hero can fell the villain with a wave of his arm, what's the point.

This made me think of my WIP. It's the sequel to the manuscript I'm shopping and is by far better than anything I've ever written because there is so much emotion tied into it. Including the villainization of my hero. He dObsessive-Compulsively Ruining My Nai...oesn't rape or plunder or anything like that, he's just selfish and thinks he knows best. His actions, though, are as devastating as any true murderous bad guy. It changes the heroine more than death ever could and I feel bad about it.

He was the first character "born" in this world. He's also the one people like the least. Not to be sappy, but everything he does he does for love. He makes the tough decisions that we don't want to make because we don't want to be the bad guy.

My guy couldn't give a shit what people think as long as the heroine is safe.

I find myself hesitating when he enters onto the scene. There is so much to him, so much that he wants to do, but he can't. He burned a huge bridge to become bigger and stronger and there's no way for him to get to the other side. I hate what I'm about to do to him, but it can't be helped.

Megan Crewe and Sharon Ashwood (and bragging) events at Bitten by Books

Join us with author Megan Crewe for an interview, chat and contest at http://bittenbybooks.com/. She will also be talking about her latest release Give Up the Ghost.

She will be giving away some amazing prizes. Open to readers worldwide except where noted.

Prize 1: A ghost book prize pack featuring my five favorite ghost books (Shadowed Summer by Saundra Mitchell, A Certain Slant of Light by Laura Whitcomb, Flying in Place by Susan Palwick, I Heart You, You Haunt Me by Lisa Schroeder, and Remember Me by Christopher Pike) and a $25 gift certificate for the online bookstore of the winner’s choice.


Prize 2: A large swag pack including a Give Up the Ghost tote bag, samples of all five ghost scents http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=31374652, battery-powered paper lantern, signed cover flat, and lots more.


Prize 3: 5 small swag packs including signed Give Up the Ghost cover flats, buttons, bookmarks, stickers, mini paper lanterns, and more.The first prize is US & Canada only, the second and third prizes are worldwide.

Check out Megan’s website here and get your questions ready for Friday .http://megancrewe.com/

Be SURE to give your friends this link: http://bittenbybooks.com/?p=12653 so they can RSVP too!

::Cough Cough:: In regards to the event below this obnoxious read lettering...part of the review I wrote for her first novel in the series, Ravenous, is being printed in Scorched, her new release! At least, it was in the Advanced Copy. : )

RSVP For: 11/16 Release Party, Chat and Contest with Author Sharon Ashwood. Event starts at 12:00 pm Central and runs all day and into the night. Contest runs until 11:59 pm Central on 11/22.

Join us with author Sharon Ashwood for a release party, chat and contest at http://bittenbybooks.com/. She will also be talking about her latest release Scorched.She will be giving away three great prizes! Open to readers worldwide.


Prize 1: $100.00 Amazon.com Gift Card

Prize 2: $25.00 Amazon.com Gift Card


Prize 3: $25.00 Amazon.com Gift Card

RSVP below and get 25 entries to the contest when you show up on the day of the event. If you don’t show up and mention your RSVP AND ask a question, you won’t be entered into the contest.


Check out Sharon’s website here and get your questions ready for Monday.http://www.sharonashwood.com/

Be SURE to give your friends this link: http://bittenbybooks.com/?p=12656 so they can RSVP too!

Jackie Kessler: Goddess in disguise?

I'm nothing if not a creature of habit. I like things a certain way, especially when I'm writing. I sit in the same spot with a water, cup of coffee, laptop, and random ass notes splayed across the couch. In the same respect I'm very superstitious. For some reason my brain thinks that if everything isn't exactly the same way, I won't be able to write, as if somehow my Muse see that the cup of coffee isn't sitting at exactly a 90 degree angle and decide to kick rocks.

Insane? Perhaps. But it works.

As I was preparing for NaNoWriMo this year, I realized something very important to my plotting was missing: Love Your Inner Demon sticky notes a la Jackie Kessler. I got my first set during Conestoga two years ago and they single-handedly helped me plot the manuscript I'm trying to sell right now. Something about a poll-dancing succubus gets the creative juices flowing!

As soon as this revelation occurred, I sprung into action and emailed the fabulously talented author. I explained my superstition regarding the post-it notes (and maybe laid it on a little thick regarding their importance to my burgeoning writing career) and was treated to a prompt response (and not a restraining order) saying she'd send me one of her last sets.

Victory! Glory! Yippy!!

Today the package came and it was a little big for a packet of post-it notes. It seems that Jackie sent me a little surprise...a signed copy of The Road to Hell, the book that chipped away at the blackness of my heart and made me bawl like a baby. I even wrote a review about it a year ago detailing the effect it had on me. It is easily one of the most hard-hitting yet strangely hilarious books I've ever read.

She didn't have to send me the book. She didn't even have to send me the notes. But she did. Why? Because she's more than just a writer. You can tell that it's about more than the money with her. She truly cares about her fans and rewards those loyal to her.

We need more authors like Jackie Kessler. (And no, this is not a plea for free stuff from authors. I'm actually being serious for once. Enjoy it while it lasts.)

Contests of the furry kind

Fangs, Fur, and Fey are having a HUGE contest for their 3rd Anniversary. The info:

Here are the prizes:

Grand Prize - One (1) lucky winner will receive a Kindle Reader, retailing for $259.00, more info here: ( http://www.amazon.com/Wireless-Reading-Display-International-Generation/dp/B0015T963C/ref=sr_tr_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1256770824&sr=8-1 ).

Other prizes - Twenty-two (22) lucky winners will receive a gift card in the amount of $20.00 from one of these five book retailers: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Borders, Books-A-Million, or Powell's - winner's choice which.

Contest Rules: All you have to do to enter is email your name and a shipping address to fangsfurandfey AT yahoo DOT com. Only one entry per person allowed, UNLESS...

If you blog about the contest and link back to this post, send a second email with the link showing where you blogged about it. Any double-entry without a link enclosed that shows where you blogged about the contest will be deleted.

Contest starts today, October 30th, and will close on Friday, November 13th, at 11:59 pm Eastern time.

Wicked Awesome and Jennifer Rardin

One of the perks of working in the hotel industry is getting free tickets (SOMETIMES) to events. Last night, I used two of my handy dandy tickets too see Wicked and it was AMAZING. I wasn't sure if I was going to like it because the book bored me to tears. The author droned on and on and on and on and on and...crap...what was I saying? Oh! Right...and ON about nothing. The musical was much better. Galinda (the "gah" is silent) was a little annoying, but that was the point, and, of course, the bad girl won. : ) I love a story where the villain is shown to be anything but. That's probably why I like my vampire stories so much.

Anyway...

Jennifer Rardin is at BBB! And I'm lazy, so I'm copying the RSVP info...
10/28 Release Party, Chat and Contest with author Jennifer Rardin. Event starts at 10:30 am CDT and runs all day and into the night. Contest runs until 11:59 pm CDT on 10/29.

Description: Join us with author Jennifer Rardin for an interview, chat and contest at http://bittenbybooks.com/. She will also be talking about her latest release Bite Marks.

She will be giving away some amazing prizes! The contest is open to readers worldwide!
1 $100 Gift Certificate from Amazon
1 set of autographed books from several urban fantasy authors who make up the League of Reluctant Adults.
1 set of autographed books from the Jaz Parks series, #1-#5, the UK version–which are quite collectible for Americans because a couple of the covers are different.
1 laptop case (Which we all know Jaz would use as a weapons bag–picture also provided).

Erica Hayes at Bitten by Books!

This is going to be short and sweet. Erica Hayes is having an interview, chat, and contest over at Bitten by Books today so stop by, say hello, and enter for a chance to win an iPod!

Aaaaand the laziness continues...

...and now for a word from our sponsors...


One of the best things about reviewing (::cough cough:: Bitten by Books is the best review site for paranormal fiction EVAH ::cough cough::) is getting early releases. That's right, my friends, the book in my son's grubby little hands isn't due out until the end of the month. And it's gooooood. Soo gooood. Vayl...::drools::


Heard of Bitter Night by Diana Pharaoh Francis? Oh yeah. Totally read it. The new Nalini Singh, Blaze of Memory? Yup. On its way. Deborah Cooke's Winter Kiss? In the same shipment!



I should probably mention the ton 'o contests BBB is having. But first...another pic of Dorian pimpin' Jennifer Rardin's new book...


All month long BBB is hosting a 31 Days of Halloween contest. Or contests. However you want to look at it. 31 days to win, and most of the time the task is as simple as naming your favorite Halloween costume.

RSVP For: 10/14 Character Interview, Chat and Contest with author Cinsearae Santiago. Event starts at 10:30 am Central on 10/14. Contest runs until 11:59 pm PDT on 10/15.

Description: Join us with author Cinsearae Santiago for an interview, chat and contest at http://bittenbybooks.com/. She will also be talking about her latest release Abraxas: The Haywire Halloween.

She will be giving away an amazing prize package that includes an ABRAXAS tote bag, signed mini poster, button, magnet, crucifix keychain, exclusive handmade bracelet created for and inspired by the series, handmade earrings, a Halloween goody bag chock full of candy and toys, and E-copies of her Halloween short stories, “The New Kid”, “Doppelganger”, “A Sensual Situation” and “A Love Story, or: Be Careful What You Wish For” on CD. Open to readers worldwide!

RSVP below and get 25 entries to the contest when you show up on the day of the event. If you don’t show up and mention your RSVP AND ask a question, you won’t be entered into the contest.

Check out Cinsearae’s website here and get your questions ready for Wednesday.
http://bloodtouch.webs.com/

Be SURE to give your friends this link: http://bittenbybooks.com/?p=11647 so they can RSVP too! Lets show Cinsearae the love she deserves from her friends in the US and abroad!

This Event starts at 10:30 am Central on 10/15. Contest runs until 11:59 pm PDT on 10/19.

Description: Join us with author Christine Rose for an AWESOME Release Party, chat and contest at http://bittenbybooks.com/. She will also be talking about her latest release Witch on the Water.

She will be giving away an amazing array of prizes! The contest is open to readers worldwide!

GRAND PRIZE:Signed copies of both books & a Deluxe Vampire Slayer Kit, handmade by Ethan ($70 Value)
Includes hammer, stake, holy water, garlic, and coffin-shaped display case
1st Place: Vampire Slayer Cross & Signed copies of both books ($50 Value)
2nd Place: “I’m in love with a vampire” bottlecap choker & signed copies of both Rowan of the Wood and Witch on the Water ($30 Value)
3rd Place: 10 PDF eBooks sets of both Rowan of the Wood and Witch on the Water (10 winners)

RSVP below and get 25 entries to the contest when you show up on the day of the event. If you don’t show up and mention your RSVP AND ask a question, you won’t be entered into the contest.

Check out Christine’s website here and get your questions ready for Thursday.
http://www.christineandethanrose.com/

Be SURE to give your friends this link: http://bittenbybooks.com/?p=11648 so they can RSVP too! Lets show Christine the love she deserves from her friends in the US and abroad!