At Authors After Dark 2012!

Greetings guys and gals... just a little hello from New Orleans, a place I've been looking forward to visiting almost my entire life. o.O

Why am I here? I'm attending the Authors After Dark Summer Camp event, a bookish event meant to gather readers, authors, and all manner of bookish people in a smaller, more intimate environment (sounds saucy, put that way ^_^) to hang out and share our love of the written word.

So far it's been lots of fun (and the official event only began last night!). It's been such a head trip to finally see people that I've followed and conversed with in various online venues. I can't wait to meet more people--though I am rediscovering just how much of a shy introvert I can be. (Bad Alisha--go play in the sandbox, already!) And New Orleans has already been such a trip. Beautiful and vibrant, the very air seems imbued with magic. Wonderful setting for Authors After Dark, I'd say.

I'll have more coverage on my time at AAD soon. Till then, have a lovely day!

Armchair BEA Day 5: Experts Say...

And so all good things must come to an end. 

Today is the last day of festivities for both Book Expo America 2012 and Armchair BEA (well, Saturday is going to bring a wrap-up feature at the ABEA Central website…bit still ^_^). Unsurprisingly, Armchair BEA has been an enlightening and enjoyable experience, with all sorts of personal stories shared and many new bits of information learned. The organizers did a wonderful job, and they deserve all possible thanks.

The last topic for ABEA centers around the future of book blogging, both at the macro- and micro level. In other words, what will keep book blogging lively and fun for us all? What kinds of things can we do as individuals to improve our own personal piece of cyberspace as well as the whole of the book blogging community? The link-up page has a wealth of responses to those thoughts, going into the nitty-gritty detail about book blogging.

So I'll leave the details to others. ^_^

At its core, everything done on a book blog has to come from the love for reading, the love for books. Sure, for some there is a legitimate need to focus on the business or organizational side of having a book blog. But in the end, there's need to worry about having ARCs and the latest, biggest releases on hand. Notoriety in the community...far from paramount. Is your content book-related? Are you about sharing your excitement (or perhaps even lack thereof) about that which you read? I definitely believe in not forcing things...if you love what you do, hopefully others will, too. And there's no need to push out half-baked content "just because." In a way, that's something bloggers have in common with authors. Content is king, and passion is...queen? ^_^

Regarding plans for my own blog, I actually don't have aspirations of grandeur and fame. I like having a place where I can just share my thoughts when and how I wish, and have that reciprocated by other bookish folks. The tandem blog that I am a part of, Book Lovers Inc, is a much larger outfit, and I hope for as much widespread success for the Book Lovers as possible. It really is a place where contributors have different tastes in genre fiction (and come from different parts of the world), and thus share varied thoughts and opinions while maintaining a distinct sense of community (I know that I love those gals ta defff! ^_^). I'm confident BLI will have continued success because its team tries to keep fresh, informative, substantive content (absolutely key!) coming down the pipeline.

But on a larger scale, I forsee the book blogging community continuing to be a mainstay in the world of books and publishing. With the current shifts in how we consume our media, there will most certainly be greater emphasis put on the more social, interactive, and grassroots forms of entertainment consumption. (Think YouTube and Twitter.) I just hope that the book blogging community remains one of cooperation, generosity, friendliness, open-mindedness, and innovation. I also hope the community's unifying core stays the same: a genuine love of books and reading.

As always, be sure to check back at Armchair BEA Central, where the organizers will be sharing some very interesting book stats. Tomorrow, they'll be wrapping up and recapping the last several days' worth of activities, both at BEA and ABEA.  (For me, the fun is definitely far from over. I'll still be reading ABEA posts on peoples' blogs for a few weeks. Four hundred participants sure is a lot to handle!)

Did you enjoy Armchair BEA? Learn anything new and exciting? Has it changed or reaffirmed anything about how you look at books or the book blogging community?

J.R. Ward's LOVER AT LAST Cover Reveal...At Last!

It's the cover reveal heard round the book world! ^_^ 

For many fans of J.R. Ward's paranormal romance series The Black Dagger Brotherhood, the news of a book focusing on the characters Qhuinn and Blay has been a long time coming. When the Warden announced just that earlier this year, she made a lot of ladies and gents happy.

And now, this morning on her Facebook page, she treats us to another awesome announcement on the 11th installment in the series! Sporting the title Lover At Last (so dang apropos, don't you think?), the book cover features the image of Qhuinn (known for his mismatched eye color), hooded and oozing deadliness.

Because I always have to parse things for meaning when I see new covers, I immediately wondered whether there was any particular significance to Qhuinn's actually weilding the sword, an item that has been portrayed on all previous covers as a floating image superimposed over the main image. ::ponders:: But the silver and gold tones to the cover are fabulous and fitting, putting to mind the opposing yet complementary forces both pulling the two characters apart and drawing them together.

I must admit that I myself am about three books behind in the series (Lover Avenged was the last I'd read)…but I've been soooo hoping for a Qhuay book release for a long time, so I'm going to have to read up (and perhaps reread) in order to prepare for the release, currently scheduled for Spring 2013.

What do you think about the cover and title? Have you been eagerly awaiting this particular installment of the DBD series?

Book Trailer Love: Sophie Littlefield's Aftertime Series

So, I'm not usually one to look at book trailers. My think has been, if I'm looking to read a book, why would I want to watch something that could alter what my imagination might've come up with--the very reason why I'm very wary of watching book-to-film adaptations before having read the source books.

But on a lark, I decided to watch the book trailer for Sophie Littlefield's Aftertime series; specifically, for the second book, entitled Rebirth. And indeed, it is a big bundle of awesomeness. Check it out below.

What most excites me is the glimpse of the third book, Horizon. I swear, I could hug the artist(s) who created this trio of covers. I definitely can't wait to have all three sitting together on my bookshelf. ^_^

Note: It looks like Ms. Littlefield is holding a contest along with the trailer's release, so feel free to check out the deets on her blog post.

Armchair BEA Day 2: Best Of 2011

2011 is shaping up to be a great reading year for fans of genre fiction series. I tried my very best to narrow down the books that I'm most excited about this year (both released and upcoming), but barely scraped by under ten selections. ^_^ Check it out.

Already Released

Aftertime (Aftertime, #1)

by Sophie Littlefield

Quick Take: This book had my pulse racing for much of the time I spent reading it. The lush visuals, the emotions, the mystery and (of course) the high chill-factor made this an absolutely wonderful read. I was so spooked and unnerved, but absolutely could not tear my eyes from the page. (full review)

The Restorer (The Graveyard Queen, #1)

by Amanda Stevens

Quick Take: Loved it. Loved. It. Stevens's writing style is so easy to get into. To say that I look forward to more of this series is a serious understatement. Highly recommended to all of my ghost-story-friendly urban fantasy peeps. (full review forthcoming)

5 Very Good Reasons to Punch a Dolphin in the Mouth

by The Oatmeal

Quick Take: Freaking. Hilarious. (full review)

Upcoming Sequels

Heart of Steel (Iron Seas, #2)

by Meljean Brook
I sort of have to not think about this book's release, or else I get too excited and whiney about the release date still being a good ways off. But you can bet I'll be first in line to buy this one. And oh, the wait will have been SO worth it.

Release date: November 1, 2011 by Berkley

Shadowflame (Shadow World, #2)

by Dianne Sylvan

A paranormal romance series that reads like urban fantasy…I'm hooked. This installment continues the adventures of newly minted vampire Miranda Grey.

Release date: July 26, 2011 by Ace

Rebirth (Aftertime, #2)

by Sophie Littlefield

I absolutely fell in love with the first book, and from the quick synopsis of the second, I think my love affair with this series is bound to continue. Protagonist Cass Dollar is a supremely intriguing character.

Release date: July 19, 2011 by Luna

Runners up ('cos it's so hard to pick JUST three!):

Heartless, Archangel's Blade, Spider's Revenge, The Renfield Syndrome

Upcoming New Series

My Life As A White Trash Zombie (White Trash Zombie)

by Diana Rowland

This book has a fabulous premise, making me so excited to read about a good (and good looking) zombie. ^_^ I have the feeling this series will become a favorite; Rowland's Kara Gillian series is already near the top of my lists.

Release date: July 5, 2011 by DAW

Nightfall (Dark Age Dawning)

by Ellen Conner

From the writing team of Ann Aguirre and Carrie Lofty, this paranormal romance series looks like it will have all the necessary elements for a good time. The three books (Nightfall, Midnight, Daybreak) will be released within months of each other.

Release date: June 6, 2011 by Berkley Trade

Dead Iron (Age of Steam)

by Devon Monk

As far as I'm aware, I've never before read a Devon Monk book. But when I hear the word "steampunk," I automatically sit up and take notice. Monk's Allie Beckstrom series is quite beloved…so I'm sure the author is fully capable of creating another winner.

Release date: July 5, 2011 by Roc Trade

**Note: Release dates may not be finalized.**

In Anticipation: Rebirth by Sophie Littlefield

Near the beginning of this year, I was given the opportunity to read a galley of a book by Sophie Littlefield, author of crime novel A Bad Day for Sorry and YA thriller Banished. The book in question, Aftertime, knocked my freaking socks off, a fate from which I've yet to recover. The post-apocalyptic tale of personal redemption and love was wonderfully written, with a scope both epic and intimate, themes both frightening and comforting, and so much more than I could have hoped for. At the moment, it's my favorite book of the year.

Needless to say, when I found out that the book was in fact the first in a series, I was over the moon. The sequel, Rebirth, is set for release in the middle of this summer...and from the blurb below, it sounds like it'll be a doozy. (Note, if you've not read the first book, decide now whether you care to read the info below!)

     Civilization has fallen, leaving California an unforgiving, decimated place. But Cass Dollar beat terrible odds to get her missing daughter back—she and Ruthie will be happy.


     Yet with the first winter, Cass is reminded that happiness is fleeting in Aftertime. Ruthie retreats into silence. Flesh-eating Beaters still dominate the landscape. And Smoke, Cass’s lover and strength, departs on a quest for vengeance, one that may end him even if he returns.
 

    The survivalist community Cass has planted roots in is breaking apart, too. Its leader, Dor, implores Cass to help him recover his own lost daughter, taken by the totalitarian Rebuilders. And soon Cass finds herself thrust into the dark heart of an organization promising humanity’s rebirth—at all costs.
     Bound to two men blazing divergent paths across a savage land, Cass must overcome the darkness in her wounded heart, or lose those she loves forever.

From the looks of it, Rebirth might have some of the dichotomy of scope that was present in its predecessor. One got glimpses of the great magnitude of the fate that's befallen society, but saw it through the eyes of a flawed individual who had much soul searching to do. That'd be a great thing for this story, because Cass has been a supremely compelling character to follow. It's too bad Smoke might be out and about for some of the time, but it's equally intriguing that there might be new faces to look forward to.

The cover art is great, in my humble opinion (props to the artist!). It's visually in line with the first book of the series, with similar visual cues (the lone figure in the distance, the murky and diffuse atmosphere, the delicate bird perched upon some barbed wire, etc.). But what's noticeably different are the signs of life and civilization hinted at by the pristine wire fence and...(gasp!)...is that electricity in the street lamp? Oh, and the risk of over-analyzing, I'll also point out the choice of green as the main color in the scene fits the title, at the very least. What else to represent rebirth than the hue of our beloved flora?

Rebirth is scheduled to be released in July, 2011 by Harlequin LUNA.

LUNA website: here

Sophie Littlefield website: here

Guess who's newly covered up?

...that'd be Jeaniene Frost! The author just released the cover and stepback for the upcoming 6th novel in the Night Huntress series, entitled One Grave at a Time.

click on cover for full-size image

I'll give you a moment to figure out if there are any major changes. ..... got it yet? Well, the model is different, of course!  As Frost notes in her blog entry, the previous "Cat" model is no longer doing book covers. While the woman made for some nice covers, I must say that I super dig this new gal. Personally speaking, she's actually a closer match to the Cat I've had in my mind. This is a hell of an introduction; I hope she sticks around as the model for the following 3 installments!

New cover model, BUT same cover artist. Thomas Egner continues to bring just the right kind of tone and atmosphere. The stepback cover is fantastic:

click on image for larger size

Mystery, intimacy, intensity. Well done, sir. Well done.

Just for the sake of comparison, you can find below the full complement of Egner's Night Huntress covers up to this point.

One Grave at a Time is scheduled to be released on August 30, 2011.

A new series (from Rachel Vincent) is born!

Callooh! Callay! I'm chortling in my joy! Author Rachel Vincent, of Shifters and Soul Screamers fame, has recently updated her blog with news of a new adult paranormal series! Ever since the last Shifters book was published last autumn, I know many have been eager to find out what was up next for the author. Fortunately, the wait is over--for the information, at least. The series will be called Unbound, the first book named Blood Bound. Its tentative release date is September 1, 2011.

A good lot of information (though all subject to change given the early stage) can be found at Rachel Vincent's website. Ms. Vincent says explains all best, so check out the details from the initial announcement HERE.

In the one day since the original post, Ms. Vincent has unsurprisingly received what seems to be (already) frequently-asked questions, including:

• What POV is the book in?
• What are the characters (re: paranormal abilities/species)?
• Will BLOOD BOUND be available in electronic/audio formats?
• When can we see the cover?

Responses to those can be found in her follow-up post, HERE.

So exciting! It's always wonderful to hear about new projects from great authors. Can't wait for more details! Thanks for sharing your news with us, Ms. Vincent!