Lots of Congratulations!!!

I'm a bit late with this, but that's because the last two weeks have somehow bypassed me completely! Anyway, I am beyond thrilled and proud to announce my fabulous CP, Amanda Ashby, has made the New York Public Library's Stuff for the Teen Age 2010 with her brilliant YA, Zombie Queen of Newbury High! This honour was also awarded to my other CP, Sara Hantz, for her amazing debut, The Second Virginity of Suzy Green a couple of years ago. I have a lot to live up to!!!

In other fantastic news, talented Aussie Kylie Griffin has been having a truly breathtaking week! First of all she finalled in the paranormal section of RWA Golden Heart contest, and then today found out her entry in the Emily had been judged Best of the Best of the entire contest! Woot! Way to go, Kylie!

Plasticine Rules!

Well I just found out my fab CP Amanda entered her hysterical plasticine Zombie Queen of Newbury High book trailer in the You Gotta Read video contest for November - and forget to tell anyone. Whoops!!! So if you enjoyed the trailer and have a spare couple of seconds please pop over to the site and vote!!!

So has anyone seen New Moon yet? My three offspring were all over it on Saturday, and the younger two went again last night. I think the vote is firmly in Team Jacob!! not being a Twilight fan myself I'll wait until the DVD comes out. However, the other night I came across a site that displayed the 30 most disturbing Twilight merchandising. There was one thing there that completely floored me. Why would they be selling an open hamburger, and what did that have to do with the books or movies?

~*~* S P O I L E R ~*~*

OMG!!! Turns out it isn't an open hamburger at all. It's supposed to represent Bella's womb, complete with half vampire baby-creature-thingie in the middle. Gross is what I call it. Here's the link if you don't believe me!!!!!!!!!!!!

Your Friday Giggle!!!

Big thank you to Eleni for her fabulous blog post yesterday. It brought back lots of "OH MY GOD!!!" moments for me, that's for sure!! Eleni will be picking a winner for her super-cute mini pack after the weekend so be sure to drop by to see if you've won! And there's still plenty of time to leave a comment - you've got to be in it to win it!!!

Amanda Ashby has just made a new trailer for Zombie Queen of Newbury High. I laughed so hard this morning I woke my son up, who limped into my office and then of course I had to play it again (such a hardship - not!!) He also thought it hilarious! So here, just for you, is the updated version of Zombie Queen of Newbury High. I challenge you to watch this and not spit your wine at least once!!!

Hot Books Up for Grabs!

The book that would not end has ended! Hooray! It's polished and with my CPs, so now I just need to write the blurb and synopsis and what not and I'll send it off to my agent. It's a very weird thing but the minute I got to the end of my edits, my throat started to hurt. Now my throat is killing me and my head hurts like hell so I think this is my body's way of telling me to get away from the computer and rest!!

But before I do I want to share some goodies around, as some friends are giving away free books today yay! As part of the fabulous Eleni-Fest during October, the lovely Anna Campbell is over at Eleni's Taverna having a very rowdy party and a copy of Tempt the Devil is up for grabs for one lucky person who leaves a comment. And Erica Hayes, whose debut urban fantasy Shadowfae is out next week (and Erica will be here next Friday answering my hard hitting questions!!) wants to know what paranormal power you'd choose to take on for a day. For the chance to win a copy of her book, pop over to Literary Escapism!

And for all you zombie lovers (and I know you're out there!) head on over to the weloveya blog where my lovely CP Amanda Ashby is giving away a copy of Zombie Queen of Newbury High!

Exciting Bits & Pieces

Just hit 30k on the current book and am happy about the way it's shaping up, especially since a couple of weeks ago I had no idea where it was heading! This flying into the mist is scary stuff!

In other news the lovely Cari Quinn has recently signed a contract for her erotic novella, Full Disclosure, with The Wild Rose Press! Congratulations Cari and welcome to the Scarlet Roses!

And more exciting news! Amanda Ashby's Zombie Queen of Newbury High was released in Australia and New Zealand today! Squee! Tomorrow we go on a zombie hunt!!

Zombie Queen of Newbury High - Amanda Ashby

My special guest today is my fabulous CP and fellow Witch, Amanda Ashby, who's celebrating the release of her debut Young Adult novel, Zombie Queen of Newbury High.

Okay Amanda, it's over to you!

Amanda Ashby was born in Australia and has spent the last ten years dividing her time between England and New Zealand. When she’s not moving countries, she likes to write books (okay, she also likes to watch television, eat chocolate and sit around doing not much, but let's just keep that between ourselves, shall we?). She has a degree in English and Journalism from the University of Queensland and is married with two young children. Her debut adult book You Had Me at Halo has been nominated for a Romantic Times Reviewer’s Choice award. This is her first book for young adults. Visit her on the web

Can you tell us a little about your book?

ZOMBIE QUEEN OF NEWBURY HIGH is the story of what happens when a teenage girl tries to do a love spell to stop her prom date from dumping her but instead she accidentally turns the entire senior year into flesh-eating zombies (seriously, it could've happened to anyone). Then she is forced to work with a do-it-by-the-book zombie hunter hottie to try and find a cure before she ends up being first course in an all-you-can-eat-buffet.


We're dying to know, how did the idea for the plot come about?

Well, Christina, like you I am a very deep thinker, so obviously the idea didn't come about because I thought the word 'zombie' was funny. Nor did it come about because I use to jokingly threaten my cps that if all else failed I could always write a book called, 'I Was a Killer Zombie Bride' because either of those reasons would make me come across as silly and a perhaps a little bit shallow. Er, so how about we move onto the next question?

(C) Um yeah, deep thinker... that's me...

I love sale stories (ok I am just nosy!!) so can you tell us about your road to publication - and your call story?

You say road, I say long and winding stone track that was filled with potholes and large immovable objects in the way!!!! Basically I had been writing for about six years (okay, so longer than that but the other manuscripts were so bad that I really can't count them!). Anyway, I knew I was getting closer, but I still couldn't break through.

Then in 2005 my father died. I was living in England at the time and I had to fly back to Australia for the funeral (had I mentioned that I'd just returned from my final visit to see him a week earlier?). Anyway, the day of his funeral was surreal. Not only was I jet-lagged and in shock, but I somehow ended up having an imaginary conversation with my dad (that's right, the dead one). A couple weeks later I suddenly got an idea about another dead person who was watching their funeral and from there the story poured out of me. I finished it three weeks later, signed with an agent not long after and she sold the book two weeks after she submitted it. Sometimes it still doesn't feel real but there is no doubt in my mind that my dad managed to pull a few strings from up above!

We are all about the love here, so please share your fave books, movies, TV shows or current fantasy squeeze (it's all in the line of research!)

It is no secret that I'm a MASSIVE Buffy/Angel/Firefly fan (and if you didn't know that, you would probably guess once you read ZOMBIE QUEEN OF NEWBURY HIGH since in a wild coincidence, so is my heroine, Mia. Go figure!). My other all time favorite television show that I can watch over and over again is Friends. It's just so funny and it never ceases to make me laugh - I'm all for the laughing!

I can't quite believe Amanda didn't mention her not-so secret-beloved, so because I am a very kind, sensitive CP I've posted up a naked photo here of David Boreanaz for her to drool over.

And of course Christina is almost beside herself with excitement now that I've finally seen the light and started watching Battlestar Galactica. What can I say about that show apart from the fact it's awesomely amazing (okay, I could actually say a lot more but then that would just set Christina off and in turn the world would see us for the couple of pathetic fangirls that we are!!!!! So don't worry, Christina - your secret is safe with me...)

Thanks, Amanda. That's a relief...

Can you tell us what you're working on now?

I recently finished another young adult book about a girl who can see invisible killer fairies (and we're not talking Tinkerbell with a bad attitude) and now I'm working on a mid grade book which is lots of fun and I've only rewritten about one hundred times!!!


How can readers keep up with your writing and books?

This will take you to my website, which will take you to my blog, which will take you to my twitter account, which will...well, you get the picture!!!

New Books!

Several friends had books released during this last week, so I'm giving a shout out to them here!

Enjoy!

Animal Instincts by Nell Dixon


Down-to-earth Clodagh Martin is very fond of her glamorous actress step-sister, Imogen - in small doses. So when Imogen turns up on her doorstep drunk and clutching a bottle of champage and announces that she's come to stay, Clodagh isn't exactly thrilled. It's not a great time. The animal sanctuary she runs is stony broke and the animals; a foul-mouthed parrot, two gay donkeys and a goat, aren't enough to attract the hoardes.It's not a great time for Imogen either. Let's face it, staying at Rainbow's End animal sanctuary wouldn't exactly be her first choice. Unfortunately, a combination of debt and a humiliating public scandal involving a live TV show and too much booze, has left Imogen with very little choice but to throw herself on Clodagh's mercy until things blow over.But actually, this could be a heaven-sent opportunity to get both her career and the sanctuary back on track. What could possibly go wrong?

Date Published - Thursday, March 05, 2009 Little Black Dress

Nell's Website


Leticia's Lovers by Shelley Munro

Order at: Ellora’s Cave (eBook)


Middlemarch Mates, Book Seven.

Lion shifter Leticia Huntingdon has FIV, the feline version of AIDS. For months she’s been in remission, treated by Gavin Finley, the Middlemarch feline doctor. Now the disease has returned. Her feelings for Gavin can’t go anywhere because of the FIV, so it shouldn’t hurt when Gavin turns to Charlie, the new male cop.

Gavin can’t believe how good sex is with Charlie, can’t believe he’s found a mate.

The loving is amazing and hot, but Gavin can’t forget Leticia. He wants her in his life. He wants Charlie too. Confusion and jealousy create torrid undercurrents for the trio.

Charlie McKenzie falls for Gavin quickly and can’t understand why he’s attracted to Leticia. A nightmare changes everything, drawing the three together and bringing new possibilities. A ménage a trois. Raw need and passion brings them closer. If only the disease threatening Leticia’s life didn’t loom on the horizon…

Release Date: Feb 27, 2009

Shelley's Website

Angels' Blood by Nalini Singh

Vampire hunter Elena Deveraux knows she's the best—but she doesn't know if she's good enough for this job. Hired by the dangerously beautiful Archangel Raphael, a being so lethal that no mortal wants his attention, only one thing is clear—failure is not an option...even if the task is impossible. Because this time, it's not a wayward vamp she has to track. It's an archangel gone bad. The job will put Elena in the midst of a killing spree like no other…and pull her to the razor's edge of passion. Even if the hunt doesn't destroy her, succumbing to Raphael's seductive touch just may. For when archangels play, mortals break…

Nalini's Website

ANGELS' BLOOD BERKLEY BOOKS March 2009

Zombie Queen of Newbury High by Amanda Ashby

Quiet, unpopular, non-cheerleading Mia is blissfully happy. Rob-super hot football god-has asked her to prom! Life couldn’t get any better. Enter Samantha -cheerleader queen and Miss Popularity-who has made it quite clear that Rob should be her prom date. Mia is desperate to make sure she doesn’t end up dumped in front of the whole school. So with prom in just a few days, she turns to Candice-her holistic, hypochondriac best friend-and decides to try a love spell to make Rob stay with her. Unfortunately, she ends up inflicting a zombie virus on her whole class instead, and she is their zombie leader! At first she loves all the attention. But when she learns from zombie hunter hottie Chase that her classmates will actually try to eat her in a few days, she’s not too thrilled. She’s sure she and Chase can figure something out, but in the meantime, she’s suggesting that no one wear white to prom, because things could get very messy.

5th March 2009 (Puffin)

Amanda's Website

Don't forget to pop back to catch Amanda's interview here on Friday!

Zombie Queen Party!

It's almost March which means (apart from the odd fact that autumn arrives in March down under!) my good friend and excellent CP Amanda Ashby's Zombie Queen of Newbury High is about to hit the shelves!

To celebrate, Amanda's holding a ten day party over at her blog where lots of authors will be dropping in bearing gifts! Fun times. To be in with a winning chance all you have to do is leave a comment. I'm scheduled in for next Wednesday, but I'll remind everyone on the day so I'm not left over there all on my tod!!!There's also a chance of picking up a copy of Zombie Queen just by spreading the word of the party! So there you go, a fantastic start to the week!!

Zombie Trailer

I'd always wanted to do a book trailer for Foretaste of Forever, but never got around to it. Mainly because I thought it would be Far Too Hard and I'm all for making life as easy as possible (which, obviously, is why I became a writer! ha ha...)

Anyway, my great mate and CP Amanda Ashby has just created an awesome trailer for her upcoming novel, Zombie Queen of Newbury High. She told me it was a lot easier than grappling with our respective websites (we both use Frontpage. Seriously, it's a wonder we have any hair left on our heads!!) Immediately intrigued, I hunted for Movie Maker on the computer (okay, I lie. I asked my genius daughter to find Movie Maker) and then proceded to have a play with my Demon.

OMG. It was soooo much fun and horribly addictive! I still have some tweaking to do, but am keeping everything crossed I'll have it all finished and ready to show next week.

In the meantime, check out Amanda's Zombie Queen Blog Party Vid on Youtube or her blog
(and catch a glimpse of Naked Chested Man!!!)

Amanda's book is coming out the week before Touch of the Demon (it's going to be a busy month!) and yes I will be securing her in the hot seat and fire my breathtakingly insightful questions at her!!!

Hopping About

The wonderful Shelley Munro has a great post on her blog about promo, which I found massively helpful as I stumble my way through that tangled maze. After reading her post I went and joined AuthorsDen an online community of readers and authors (and it was free to join!!)

Then I decided to revamp my website. Again. I think I really like it this time! If you have a moment I'd love to know what you think of it!

And finally today my CP Amanda Ashby has put her completely adorable new cover up on her blog for her Spring 09 release, Zombie Queen of Newbury High. And how fabulous is that title!!!