Jeri Smith-Ready

Tidbit Tuesday #6 - Guest blog, giveaways & new releases

I'm back! Okay, I didn't actually go anywhere, but I'm trying like crazy to finish a rough draft of Shift ASAP so my critique partners have time to read it and give me feedback in the next month so that I can rewrite it and give my editor a second draft instead of a crappy first draft ("crappy first draft" is a redundant phrase).

To demonstrate the importance of that process, I'm writing a series of guest blog posts at TeenReads.com, where you can get a behind-the-scenes peek at the creation of Shade. The first installment went up last week, called "Putting the Shade in Shade."

If that's whetted your appetite for the book, there are a few places around the internet this week where you can win an ARC or the book itself:

1. Facebook fan page - I'll draw a name at 5pm Friday from the members of the page to win a signed final copy of the hardcover book. All you have to do is become a fan! Beyond giving you a chance to win a free book, the fan page is your best bet for hearing the latest on my contests, news, and events.

2. Class of 2k10 April giveaway - Comment to win a signed ARC of Shade, a signed hardcover of Rhonda Hayter's super cute middle-grade debut, The Witchy Worries of Abbie Adams, and much more!

3. Rosemary Clement-Moore's Nothing But Nets giveaway - To celebrate the paperback release of her YA novel Highway to Hell, the always awesome Rosemary is giving away a ton of prizes, including a $100 gift Barnes & Noble certificate, an ARC of her next book, and many other author-donated prizes, including a hardcover copy of Shade. All you have to do to enter is donate to the United Nations Nothing But Nets campaign, to provide low-cost mosquito netting to malaria-vulnerable areas.

I wanted to bring a special book and review to your attention this week. For What It's Worth reviewed Swati Avasthi's Split, which I am currently having the intense pleasure of reading. Swati Avasthi is one of my class of 2k10 classmates, and she coordinated a domestic violence clinic for three years, which was where she got the idea for Split. (You can read more about that on her TeenReads guest blog.)

Anyway, at the end of the review are some startling statistics (even for me, who worked on a domestic violence/sexual assault hotline for a few years). I especially agree with this assessment:

I hate to say this is an “important” book because it brings to mind words like – boring – lecture – preachy, and this book is none of those things, but I do think it is an important story to read. Not much is written about boys who suffer from abuse and the effect that has on their relationships.

If I weren't so tired, I would be able to string together a coherent sentence about Split (which I'm about 3/4 finished). But I'm running on empty, so I'll just throw out words like, "heartbreaking," "brilliant," and "irresistible." I expect it to win a bajillion awards. (EDITED TO ADD: Finished it this morning and wanted to add, "marvelous" and "perfect" to the list.)

Off to sleep now. Tomorrow I'll have a very exciting announcement about the WVMP Radio vampire series!

Labels: blog tour, Contests, current contests, good, reading

• posted by Jeri @ 8:20 PM
• 4 comments

SHADE excerpt & 1st SHADE-y interview

The website changeover is complete! Doesn't it look sweet?

No, your eyes aren't broken. The site looks the same, but underneath it works so much better. I can now change the wording of a page or update a link in about a minute instead of half an hour.

One unfortunate side effect to the change is that some links created prior to this weekend will no longer work. It's because the content-management system doesn't create an html file but rather directs to a

*snoooore*

Never mind.

And now that the evolution is complete, I can show you the entire first chapter of Shade, previously only accessible to my newsletter subscribers and the owners of Christopher Pike's Thirst 2 compendium. Enjoy.

Also, my first SHADE-y interview can be found at YA Book Queen. Find out where I came up with Aura's name, which young dude in the book is my favorite, and two cool things I can do to impress people at parties.

YA Book Queen will have an ARC giveaway for Shade tomorrow, so go show her the love!

Labels: blog tour, interview, website, YA series

• posted by Jeri @ 9:59 AM
• 0 comments

Guest blog - Do you believe in ghosts?

Hey, remember last week when I mentioned the class of 2k10 on Spring Break over at the Daily Dose? Even if you don't remember, my post is up today, on whether or not I believe in ghosts. The answer, of course, is rather complicated.

Everyone who comments on all the Spring Break posts will be entered to win a class of 2k10 prize pack, including an ARC of Shade.

So pop on over and tell me your "ghost stories"!

Labels: blog tour, Contests, YA series

• posted by Jeri @ 1:26 PM

Guest blog & Bring on the Night's 1st chapter debut!

Popping out of my prairie-dog hole for a moment to let you know that I'm giving away two signed sets of Wicked Game and Bad to the Bone over at the wonderful Plotmonkeys blog today.

The topic is teaser chapters and rewrites (yes, there's a connection). Buried in the blog post is the first glimpse of the entire opening chapter of Bring on the Night. All I can say is, don't kill me.

Speaking of Bring on the Night, I better get back to its copyedits. Lots of little changes, to all thirty-five chapters!

Labels: blog tour, Contests, craft, vampire series

• posted by Jeri @ 8:53 AM
• 6 comments

Q&A and giveaway at Booksmugglers

I'm doing an interactive question and answer session (that means live, as opposed to getting the answers ahead of time) all day today over at the fabulous Book Smugglers' blog.

The questions so far are fantastic, and my answers are long and detailed, because I don't know when to shut up. So if you want to learn more about me and my books and the relationship thereof between and betwixt heretofore and henceforth (ack, I can't even end this sentence!), check it out.

Oh, and maybe win one of two sets of the WVMP Radio books, Wicked Game and Bad to the Bone.

Deadline: Saturday, February 27, 11:59pm PST. I will mainly be answering questions today, as tomorrow I have to undergo oral surgery (which, I was dismayed to discover, is nothing like an oral book report).

Labels: blog tour, Contests, interview, vampire series

• posted by Jeri @ 1:17 PM
• 1 comments

Cool secret agent toys & another book giveaway

I'm guest blogging over at Literary Escapism today on the subject of "Cool Toys for (Kickass) Girls and Boys." Find out how I came up with some of the neat tricks of the paramilitary paranormal Control agency. Tell us which awesome gadget you'd give your hero or heroine, and be entered to win a signed copy of Wicked Game and Bad to the Bone, plus a shiny metal bookmark engraved with paw prints and a pithy quote (your choice of cat or dog version).

Deadline: February 25

Why the sudden flurry of guest blogs, you ask? Because Bad to the Bone is coming out in mass market paperback (aka the cheap version), officially on Tuesday. But it's already shipping from Barnes and Noble and Amazon--yay!

Labels: blog tour, Contests, vampire series

• posted by Jeri @ 9:49 AM
• 0 comments

Two interviews & book giveaways

Quick post between vet visits (nothing serious, just routine checkups):

For the few people who are actually on the internet this close to the holiday weekend, your diligence is rewarded! I have two interviews up with two different signed books being given away.

Furthermore, I did not repeat myself ONCE between the two interviews. Although I may have used the word "and" in both.

Jocelynn Drake's giveaway of Wicked Game continues through tomorrow, and is now joined by a short interview about the WVMP series. Then Brooke Reviews has a longer interview where I discuss entirely different things, and where I'm giving away a signed copy of Bad to the Bone.

Yes, I forgot this was Labor Day weekend. I'm an idiot. But hey, those of you who actually check it out will have an even better chance than usual to win, because you won't have to compete with people who are out having fun.

Not that reading an interview with me isn't fun.

Anyway, have a great weekend, holiday or not!

Labels: blog tour, Contests, interview

• posted by Jeri @ 12:39 PM
• 4 comments

The Ballad of Shane McAllister

I'm back! Bring on the Night is finished and turned in. Forks sticking out of it and everything. I am very happy with how it's turned out so far (realizing, of course, that I am in for the usual massive rewrite). For the second book in a row, I came up with an ending that changed almost everything I thought was true about its sequel. All part of the adventure, right?

Anyway, appearing today at Stephanie Kuehnert's blog, "Life, Words, & Rock 'n' Roll," is the hero of my WVMP Radio urban fantasy series, vampire DJ Shane McAllister (why I feel like I need to keep introducing him to you is beyond me. But you might be new, so hi!).

Shane is sharing his "ballad," a story of a pivotal point in his life and the music that formed the background, or, in his case, the foreground. It's all part of Stephanie's cyber-launch party celebrating the release of her amazing new novel, Ballads of Suburbia (which I talked about a few weeks ago).

Shane discusses how seeing Purple Rain changed his life, and not in the way he planned. If you leave a comment at Stephanie's blog, you can be entered to win a choice of Wicked Game, Bad to the Bone (signed, of course), or $20 worth of WVMP merchandise (new stuff added recently, including dog T-shirts and "Feed the Need" baby bibs).

Only three weeks until my next deadline (revisions for Shade), and loads of e-mail, etc., to catch up on before I go all hermit again. We should be getting our first foster cat either this week or next, so I'll have fun stories about her. In the meantime, go visit Twinkle's page and say, "Aww!"

Labels: blog tour, cq, foster cats, music, vampire series

• posted by Jeri @ 2:38 PM
• 6 comments

Two interviews and book giveaways

I think as of this morning, I'm finally caught up on sleep! Yay! I need the brain clarity, since Bring on the Night is due in a week (technically next Saturday), and I have a lot of plot work to do. Little things, like what the hell does the villain want?

Also, for the first time I am finding it a major inconvenience that the vampires can't go out during the day. The timeline for Bring on the Night is so tight, and events happen so quickly, it's hard to wait for sunset to get stuff done. But I'll work it out eventually; somehow I always do. (Of course, with every book comes the fear that this time the plot will kick my ass instead of the other way around.)

Anyway, today two blogs are interviewing me (luckily with mostly different questions), and each of them are giving away a signed copy of any of my books. Winner gets to choose from my vast library of published work. (OK, maybe not that vast.)

At the first one, Smexy Books asks you to answer the question, "Kick Ass Chick or TSTL?" Since TSTL stands for Too Stupid to Live, it seems kinda like a "Cake or Death?" question to me. But whatever. Just go leave a comment to enter.

Then over at Star-Crossed Romance, you can find out Ciara's all-time favorite song (it might surprise you) and a little bit more about my YA series. Leave a comment to enter to win any of my books, signed and personalized by me!

I might drop in next week if I have any major news (well, I have major news, but I'm sort of saving it for an awards round-up post next month), but otherwise I'll be trying to finish Bring on the Night. Wish me luck and much caffeine!

Labels: blog tour, craft, interview, vampire series

• posted by Jeri @ 9:07 AM
• 7 comments

Ciara & Shane interview--win a book, any book (of mine)

Ciara and Shane from Wicked Game and Bad to the Bone were interviewed over at Amberkatze's Book Blog, where Amber is generously giving away a copy of YOUR CHOICE of any of my books. I will send to the winner:

a) a signed bookplate--the next best thing to an autographed book
b) a signed coverflat of Bad to the Bone
c) a cool little metal bookmark engraved with a paw print and quote about dogs (or cats, if you prefer):

Because Bad to the Bone has animals and it's, you know, a book.

This is Shane and Ciara's first joint public appearance. The contest runs until July 3 (that's next Friday). Enjoy!

Labels: blog tour, Contests, interview, vampire series

• posted by Jeri @ 9:44 PM
• 2 comments

Signing tomorrow, book clubs, and Shane's Cat & Muse interview

Quick reminder: I'll be at Constellation Books at 303 Main Street in Reisterstown, Maryland, tomorrow 3-5pm. There'll be a reading, signing, discussion, and most important--cookies.

Last night I went to a book club meeting in Central PA where they were discussing Wicked Game. I had a ton of fun (and pizza)--it was great hearing everyone's thoughts on the characters. Really motivated me to keep writing!

If you have a book club in the mid-Atlantic area (within a reasonable drive of my house) and would like me to visit your book club, let me know. I'm also available to talk to book clubs over the phone (within the U.S.) or Skype (anywhere in the world).

As an aside, on the way up I heard The Killers' "Read My Mind," which is one of the first songs on the Wicked Game playlist. It made me "homesick" for the beginning of that book, when Shane and Ciara had just met. Things were so simple then. I'm working on Book 3 now, which takes place three years after their story began in Wicked Game. They're still together (and always will be), but their world has grown a lot more complicated. Such is the nature of a series where characters change and grow and make bargains with paranormal paramilitary organizations.

Anyway, there's a fun interview of Shane from the WVMP books over at Jackie Kessler's Cat and Muse blog. Our boy managed to keep out of the clutches of that former(ish) succubus Jezebel. A testament to his devotion to Ciara, or maybe Jez just isn't his type. He'll never tell.

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Now playing: Kasabian - Reason Is Treason
via FoxyTunes

Labels: appearances, blog tour, interview, vampire series

• posted by Jeri @ 10:27 AM
• 1 comments

Workaholics and OCD vampires

What could these possibly have in common? More than you think (unless you're thinking, "Quite a lot," in which case, it's not more than you think).

I wrote an essay about writers and workaholism over at SF Novelists. I think I've already made the First Step by acknowledging I have a problem (the other Eleven Steps are kinda yucky, so I'm stopping there).

At Patricia's Vampire Notes, I expound on vampires and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, which is so central to my WVMP Radio urban fantasy series, I can't believe I haven't blogged about it before. Duh. Comment to enter to win a signed copy of Bad to the Bone.

Don't forget, you have through Friday to enter to win a copy of Danielle Joseph's Shrinking Violet, the film rights for which were just bought by the Disney Channel. Big congrats to Danielle!

Labels: blog tour, Contests, vampire series, writing life

• posted by Jeri @ 9:41 AM
• 2 comments

My favorite book & a BTTB giveaway

Starting to crawl out of my post-deadline cave (it's even messier than the deadline cave) and hope to start blogging again on a regular basis, at least for the next few weeks.

Today I'm guest-blogging at Silk & Shadows, the group blog of several wonderful paranormal romance/urban fantasy authors, including Jessa Slade. I was honored to read her upcoming debut novel Seduced by Shadows for a cover quote. I had great difficulty finding the words to describe how much I loved it without using the phrase "OMFG!!", but I managed:

SEDUCED BY SHADOWS blew me away! Sera and Archer won my heart at first glance. Slade creates a beyond-life-or-death struggle for love and redemption in a chilling, complex, and utterly believable world--one I can't wait to return to again and again.

It's coming out October 6, and you must Must MUST read it. It features demons and angels battling it out here on earth, but also a separate group in between, the humans possessed by teshuva, repentant demons who are attempting to escape eternal damnation by fighting the really bad demons (djinn, ferales, and malice, to name a few). It's freaking awesome.

So anyway, speaking of other people's books, today at Silk and Shadows I'm talking about my favorite childhood book (the blog's topic of the week). You won't be the least bit surprised what it is. Leave a comment and enter to win a signed copy of Bad to the Bone. If you already have your copy, give it as a gift! Hope to see you there.

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Now playing: Cake - Haze Of Love
via FoxyTunes

Labels: blog tour, Contests, reading, vampire series

• posted by Jeri @ 10:17 AM
• 1 comments

Witchy Chicks guest blog & last BTTB giveaway (probably)

I'm guest-blogging over at Witchy Chicks today, about escapism in urban fantasy versus traditional fantasy, riffing off my world-building post from a few weeks ago.

Come comment to win a signed copy of that book that just came out. You know the one. (badtothebone) Even if you already have a copy, come comment so that my friends over there will think I'm cool.

Also, because I'm what in high school we used to call a dorkus maximus, I forgot to include the link to yesterday's Women Who Rock interview with Ciara. Ms. Griffin herself will be available to answer questions all week, and therein also lies a chance to win a signed copy of (badtothebone).

Hope to see you there, or at Balticon this weekend! If not, enjoy your long weekend (if you're American, and if not, enjoy your regular-size weekend).

Labels: blog tour, Contests, interview, vampire series

• posted by Jeri @ 8:44 AM
• 1 comments

Two chances to win Bad to the Bone!

There's a fun excerpt from Bad to the Bone over at Book Roast today, where you can enter to win a signed copy of said book by reading about how Ciara met Dexter the vampire dog and answering a fun question. It's a great site, with book giveaways most days of the week. The contest runs today only, so getcherself over there and say hi.

Speaking of the vivacious and loquacious Ciara Griffin, she was interviewed by one of my favorite authors and people, Stephanie Kuehnert (who wrote last year's I Wanna Be Your Joey Ramone (click that link for my review) and whose upcoming novel, Ballads of Suburbia, I just started and it's somehow even BETTER than her first).

Stephanie has a regular feature called Women Who Rock Wednesday, where she interviews authors, musicians, and other fabulous females. I think Ciara is the first person she's interviewed who doesn't actually exist (not that you can tell by her Twitter account).

Anyway, go make Ciara feel special. Not that she doesn't already.

Labels: blog tour, Contests, vampire series

• posted by Jeri @ 3:50 PM
• 0 comments

Freaky Friday at Bitten by Books

I'm doing the Freaky Friday feature this week at Bitten By Books. As you might imagine, things get a little odd:

The apocalypse must be nigh, because not only are dogs and cats living together, they’re now interviewing each other! Dexter, the canine vampire hero from Jeri Smith-Ready’s Bad to the Bone will sit down (or maybe lie down if he gets tired) with his feline friend Antoine. They’ll discuss what it’s like to live with adventure-prone humans (the living and the undead), the best ways to beg for supper, and which end of a dead rodent to save for last.

So hop on over and ask questions of Dexter, Antoine, or any of the human (living or undead) WVMP gang. One lucky winner will get an autographed set of Wicked Game and Bad to the Bone, and another commenter will win a $25.00 gift card to PetSmart or Petco (winner’s choice).

Labels: blog tour, Contests, vampire series

• posted by Jeri @ 11:46 AM
• 0 comments

Last day on the Island

Winner announced, and I'm back on the Island, this time with Shane McAllister doing my dirty work.

Also, you have one more day to enter to win a signed copy of Maria V. Snyder's Storm Glass.

That's all. Off to write. Bye!

Labels: blog tour, guests, vampire series

• posted by Jeri @ 10:00 AM
• 0 comments

Another day on the island

I'll be at a book event most of the day today, but you can visit a version of me (the version who wrote my guest blog post last night) over at Desert Island Keepers.

Today I'm discussing Dexter, the canine hero of Bad to the Bone. Go learn some of his basic stats (hint: his batting average sucks) and enter to win a pair of signed WVMP Radio books (that would be Wicked Game and Bad to the Bone). Tell us about your pets!

Labels: blog tour, Contests, pets, vampire series

• posted by Jeri @ 8:14 AM
• 0 comments

Husband of author tells all, in a Desert Island Keepers guest blog

They keep pullin' me back in! I was the debut guest author blogger last year at what was the shiny new Desert Island Keepers blog, a place for all things reading and movie-watching and beefcake-photos-looking-at. It was a ton of fun, so I invited myself back (I'm aggressive that way) as part of this year's Blog Whore Tour 2.0.

Today my real-life hero* Christian Ready is blogging about what it's like to be married to a writer. Some of it might surprise you, unless you're also married to a writer, in which case you will nod, and perhaps even shed a tear in sympathy.

Tomorrow I'll be blogging about Dexter, the new canine vampire hero of Bad to the Bone. Shane McAllister, the human vampire hero of the WVMP Radio series, might also stop in to chat.

Everyone who comments on today's and tomorrow's posts gets a chance to win a signed set of Wicked Game and Bad to the Bone (or a substitute book if you already have Wicked Game).

While I'm there, Maria V. Snyder is here, guest blogging and interviewing about her new release STORM GLASS, and giving away a signed copy to one very lucky commenter on Wednesday night.

So there. Between the three of us, you have your Monday morning reading. Enjoy your coffee, tea, pineal gland juice, whatever gets you moving and shaking. See you on the Island!


*and I mean HERO, because I was, as usual, at a panicky loss for blog topics until he offered to help

Labels: blog tour, Contests, guests

• posted by Jeri @ 8:46 AM
• 3 comments

Urban fantasy worldbuilding & last chance to win BTTB ARC

Whew! What a week. Finally got back from RT last night after a loooong train ride. I'll try to do a recap on the blog here, but in the meantime you can check out my Twitter comments, or just look at the pictures on Twitpic. I have a few more to upload today.

No time to rest, because I'm guest blogging at Lynda Hilburn's Paranormality blog on worldbuilding in urban fantasy. I discuss the two major types of UF worldbuilding--the kind where the paranormal elements are secret (like in Wicked Game and Bad to the Bone), and the kind where they've become a part of the world and create a sort of parallel universe to the one we know (like in my young adult series).

This is the first time I've discussed the YA series in any detail since the initial sale announcement, so if you're curious or want to see the kinds of questions I answer when I'm building my worlds, stop on by. One lucky commenter will win an ARC of Bad to the Bone. And then they'll all be gone.

The contest runs until tomorrow night. Hope to see you there!

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Now playing: Counting Crows - Colorblind
via FoxyTunes

Labels: blog tour, Contests, conventions, vampire series

• posted by Jeri @ 8:54 AM
• 0 comments

Guest blog and penultimate BAD TO THE BONE ARC giveaway

Dropping in real quick to let you know I'm guest blogging at The Book Girl today and throughout the weekend. We're talking about "quirky" characters in books, movies, and TV.

One lucky commenter will win his or her choice of a signed copy of Wicked Game or a signed Advance Review Copy of Bad to the Bone.

Gotta go get a good night's sleep now for tomorrow's MS Walk. Thanks to your amazing generosity, I'm now up to $375, a 50% increase over last year's donations! You rock! If you'd like to donate and be entered into a drawing for a Bad to the Bone ARC, you have through tomorrow to do so, and then I'll draw a name. The bigger the donation, the more chances you get.

I'll try to give a report on the walk tomorrow night, assuming I can still breathe.

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Now playing: Anders Parker - Oh Monkeywrench
via FoxyTunes

Labels: blog tour, Contests, good, vampire series

• posted by Jeri @ 9:33 PM
• 1 comments

More widgets and ARC for Charity update

First, the important stuff. Remember a couple weeks ago when I mentioned I was participating in the Multiple Sclerosis Walk this Saturday, April 4? And I offered to do a drawing from the folks who donated?

This year, I've raised $50, and so far my only donors are 1) my mom, and 2) one of my original Street Team members, both of whom already have an ARC.

Which is great news for you! If you go to my team page and give a small donation, say five dollars, you have a pretty good shot at winning. Plus you'll be helping to fight a devastating disease. My friend who captains the team lost his mom to MS, so it would mean a lot to him if we could get some extra help. Last year I raised $250 from the ARC contest for Wicked Game, and he was blown away by the generosity of strangers (well, strangers to him, and to me as well, in many cases).

Second I have a few more Wicked Game widgets for the Spread-the-Word contest, in which you can win a bookstore gift card and a Bad to the Bone ARC. These are nice and skinny, so they'll fit into a Blogger sidebar. Again, just click on the "Share" button and follow the easy-peasy instructions.



AND



More widgets to come, including for Bad to the Bone!

And don't forget the big iPod Shuffle/Visa Gift Card giveaway over at Bitten by Books. Go comment and be a winnah!

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Now playing: The Strokes - Hard to Explain
via FoxyTunes

Labels: blog tour, Contests, good, vampire series

• posted by Jeri @ 11:42 AM
• 4 comments

Win an iPod Shuffle or Visa gift cards at Bitten by Books!

As I mentioned earlier (I think), I'm guest-blogging at Bitten by Books today on how to create a unique vampire. Is it possible these days to come up with something new in this subgenre?

Yes. Yes it is. Find out why, and enter to win one of those fancy newfangled second-generation iPod Shuffles, the kind that will tell you, in a pleasant robotic voice, which song is playing at the press of a button.


Sweet, huh? It's smaller than even my stubby little hand. Runner-up prizes are two $25 Visa gift cards, which you can spend anywhere.

So stop by and chat!

Labels: blog tour, Contests, vampire series

• posted by Jeri @ 2:09 PM
• 0 comments

Today's blog tour stops and giveaways

You've waited patiently a whole year to see me hop from site to site yakking about my books and offering prizes to whoever is willing to stop and listen. The moment has arrived: it's the Blog Whore Tour Version 2.0!

Today's stops:

In Bed With Books, where Shane McAllister (of Wicked Game and Bad to the Bone fame) answered 20 questions provided by my Twitter followers and Facebook friends. Some are deep, some are goofy, and some are deeply goofy. The prize is winner's choice of a signed copy of the Wicked Game mass market (officially releasing today) or a signed ARC of Bad to the Bone.

Book Roast, a fun site where they post an excerpt of new books and ask a silly question. The author picks the best answer to win a prize, which in this case is an autographed copy of the Wicked Game mini-me version.

Later today I'll post my own contest here, for the chance to win an ARC and enter a raffle for a gift card to the bookstore of your choice. All you have to do is help me spread the word about the wee Wicked Game. Stay tuned...

Tomorrow I'll be guest-blogging on Bitten by Books on a subject dear to my heart: creating new twists on the vampire mythology. We'll be giving away one of those brand-new iPod Shuffles, as well as a couple of gift cards as runner-up prizes. There are lots of ways to enter. Check back here tomorrow for details.

Off to send out my newsletter and write the aforementioned blog post. Busy, busy, busy....

Labels: blog tour, Contests, vampire series

• posted by Jeri @ 10:22 AM
• 2 comments

Jaci Burton giving away an ARC of BTTB

I'm working on a thorough blog post (complete with photos), of Meadow's months-long, sad-with-happy-ending bout with herniated discs, but I wanted to sneak in real quick and let you know about a new contest over at the blog of author Jaci Burton.

She's giving away an ARC of Bad to the Bone (you have until Saturday to enter but go do it now before you forget), many awesome daily prizes including other ARCs, plus four grand prizes, all to celebrate the release of her new novel Riding on Instinct (coming April 7 from Berkley). Her series is about a Dept of Justice agent who works with the Wild Riders, a government agency of bad boy bikers.

Just the phrase, "a government agency of bad boy bikers" makes me want to read this! And one of the grand prizes is a ginormous Harley Davidson purse.

*Covet*

She doesn't know it, but Jaci is the one who finally convinced me to give Twitter a go. So you can blame her.

Labels: blog tour, Contests, vampire series

• posted by Jeri @ 10:12 AM

Guest blog and another chance to win a BAD TO THE BONE ARC

I'm guest-blogging over at Lori Devoti's 30 Days of Vampires about vampires and rock 'n' roll (go figure). Come tell me which rock star you think is a vampire (or should be), or how you would handle immortality, and automatically enter to win a choice of a signed copy of Wicked Game or a signed ARC of Bad to the Bone when they're available in February.

The contest runs until the end of the 30 Days, which is December 11 at midnight, so stop by and say hi!

Labels: blog tour, Contests, vampire series

• posted by Jeri @ 3:08 PM
• 0 comments

Interview and your first chance to win an ARC of BAD TO THE BONE!

More big news on a Monday (scroll down for the other thing):

Bitten by Books has a brand-new interview with yours truly. One lucky commenter will win their choice of an autographed copy of Wicked Game or an autographed Advance Reading Copy of Bad to the Bone when it becomes available (probably January or early February). This is the very first opportunity to win the latter, so go read my sleep-deprived thoughts and leave a comment. Get extra chances to win by spreading the word (see the bottom of the interview post for details).

Thanks to Rachel at Bitten by Books for the interview! Comments will be taken from now until 3pm Eastern Time tomorrow. I'll be stopping by all day today and tomorrow morning, so feel free to ask more questions. See you there!


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Now playing: Joni Mitchell - Woodstock
via FoxyTunes

Labels: blog tour, Contests, interview, vampire series

• posted by Jeri @ 10:34 AM
• 0 comments

Ending a series, and newsletter reminder

I'm the Affiliate of the Month over at my favorite bookstore, Mysterious Galaxy, which means I wrote a guest blog post connected to my new release, The Reawakened. "When 'The End' means THE END" discusses what it feels like to end a series on purpose (hint: there are smiles involved) and when an author knows it's time to say goodbye.

I'd love to hear your thoughts on when a series should end. If you don't have a MySpace account, feel free to discuss it here. I've copied the questions from that blog post here:

Is the "stand-alone trilogy" a thing of the past? Are you more likely to start reading a series if you know when it will end? Do you have different expectations for open-ended series versus those with a defined story arc? Does it depend on the genre or subgenre?

---

Monday I'll be sending out the Fall issue of my quarterly newsletter. As always, I'll draw two names to win a prize just before it goes out and announce it in the issue. This issue's prize will be an autographed copy of The Reawakened.

And that's not all! Newsletter subscribers will get a link to my new short story, "When the Music's Over," which depicts the weird and wild way Jim from Wicked Game became a vampire. I swear, I was not on drugs when I wrote it, except Aleve and Tylenol. The rest of the world will have to wait an extra week to read the story.

If you haven't read the previous tie-in short stories, here they are: "Crossroads" (Monroe) and "Rave On" (Spencer).

To subscribe, just put your e-mail address in the SIGN UP FOR JERI'S NEWSLETTER box on the sidebar over there. I'm getting really close to 1,000 subscribers, and I think there might be a special prize for #1,000. Good luck!

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Now playing: You on the Run - The Black Angels
via FoxyTunes

Labels: blog tour, craft, short stories, The Reawakened, vampire series

• posted by Jeri @ 10:00 PM
• 6 comments

New Interview and Wicked Game giveaway!

You thought the Wicked Game Blog Tour was over? Ha! After twenty-some stops, it's just getting started.

Actually, it is almost over. Soon you'll have to give up on getting a free copy and go buy your own.

But not today! Patricia's Vampire Notes is posting an interview with me, and a name will be randomly drawn from comments today through tomorrow night to win a signed copy of Wicked Game.

Patricia reviewed Wicked Game for Library Journal in May, saying that "A colorful premise and engaging characters make the author's latest a fun read."

I'll be sitting close by throughout the day to answer any questions or comments, so it'll be almost like a chat. In the same way that telegrams are almost like phone calls.

NOTE: to enter, you must make your comments at the interview post, not here, because Patricia will be doing the drawing. Also, you can get extra entries by asking me a question or linking to the interview from your own blog, and possibly by standing on your head while reciting the preamble to the Constitution, but I could be wrong.

ANOTHER NOTE: You have until 11:59 tonight to enter the contest for an ARC of The Reawakened, the last installment of my Aspect of Crow trilogy.

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Now playing: Science Killer - The Black Angels
via FoxyTunes

Labels: blog tour, Contests, interview, The Reawakened, vampire series

• posted by Jeri @ 8:05 AM

New interviews and quintupled Wicked Game giveaway

My Conestoga update will have to wait for tomorrow, as I need to finish my proposal today to stay on schedule. Plus I have a ton of e-mail/MySpace/Facebook messages to catch up on--a never-ending battle. So I need to spend my online time today carefully.

So the stuff:

Fellow author Jon Armstrong interviewed me for his podcast, "If You're Just Joining Us." I haven't listened to it yet, because we did the interview in the morning, when I'm not at my best. So if someone out there would listen to it and report back as to whether I said anything grossly stupid or offensive, that'd be swell.

Also, CK2S Kwips & Kritiques posted their interview with me yesterday. In it I discuss both series of books, what it's like to foster dogs, and discuss a tiny bit about Wicked Game's sequel, Bad to the Bone. Check out Kelley's and Debbie's sweet reviews of Wicked Game while you're there.

Renowned tabloid National Examiner is giving away 5 copies of Wicked Game in their "Fantastic" summer giveaway. If you get a chance to pick up a copy, check out page 46 of the July 28 issue (click for larger image):


So if you're wondering how I got a free ad in a magazine with a circulation of 420,000, it happened this way: Pocket sent the Examiner a review copy of Wicked Game, and I guess someone there liked it (described it in the ad as a "delightful comedy") and asked if they could do a giveaway.

Not bad, eh? And in this issue, the ad faces an exciting article about the pyramid-shaped "Car of the Future," an eco-friendly machine that uses NO gas, is bulletproof, and hits 200 mph.

There are no airbags as the nose cone and interior of the eco-friendly car is lined with a 3-inch-thick layer of bubble wrap.

Get yours today.

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Now playing: Iggy Pop - High On You
via FoxyTunes

Labels: bizarrity, blog tour, interview, vampire series

• posted by Jeri @ 6:48 AM
• 5 comments

Guest blog and giveaway at Paranormality

One day only! A chance to win a signed copy of Wicked Game. Monday I'm guest-blogging at Paranormality, discussing the supernatural things I'm skeered of and how I overcome these crazy fears through writing.

(And no, I'll never write about monkeys or clowns. I only dispel irrational fears through writing.)

Also in this guest blog post, I discuss for the first my new young adult work-in-progress. This should not be taken as a guarantee that it will ever see the light of day. After you read about it, immediately wipe your memory, or we'll all have jinxed its chances for publication.

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Now playing: The Prophecy - Howard Shore
via FoxyTunes

Labels: blog tour, Contests, Eyes of Crow, life, Requiem for the Devil, vampire series, writing life, YA series

• posted by Jeri @ 11:59 PM
• 0 comments

Brief Tommy update and a new interview/giveaway

Tommy made it to the basement this morning by going in the lower back door to the storeroom. I guess a few concrete stairs are not such a big deal. So now he has the run of half the house, with access to the backyard. Baby steps!

I did an interview with the lovely Sidhe Vicious, who posted it this week on her blog. And of course, you can win a signed copy of Wicked Game by commenting on the interview (there, not here).

I'm making a big trip to the post office tomorrow, so anyone waiting for me to send them stuff, it'll be on its way this week. Hopefully by the end of July I'll be all caught up on e-mail and maybe *gasp!* filing. Today and tomorrow I hope to bang out a few sample chapters of my proposed YA novel to send to my agent, then I'll get to work on Spencer's story, which I hope to have up by mid-August at the latest.

Lastly, but most important, thanks a million to the *gulp* 200+ people who sent me birthday wishes by e-mail, MySpace, Facebook, and LiveJournal. I was flabbergasted, to say the least, and I promise to reply to each of you before my next birthday.

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Now playing: The Smiths - Girl Afraid
via FoxyTunes

Labels: blog tour, Contests, foster dogs

• posted by Jeri @ 9:24 AM
• 3 comments

Last day on the Island

Wahhh, it's already time to leave my new friends at the Desert Island Keepers blog. They really know how to treat a guest.

Stop by today to see which 6 books and which 7 CDs I'd bring with me to our desert island. Maybe a few surprises.

Ongoing contest update:

Signed copy of Wicked Game: Amberkatze's Book Blog (interview and giveaway)
Blues CD giveaway: My post about Monroe's story

I'm off now to scrutinize the typeset for The Reawakened. It'll be the last time I get to make changes to it. I'm a bit sad the series is over, but sad in a good way. And as long as people are reading it, I guess it's never really over.

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Now playing: The Killers - Why Do I Keep Counting?
via FoxyTunes

Labels: blog tour, music, reading, The Reawakened

• posted by Jeri @ 1:13 PM
• 5 comments

It's all about Shane (for once)

First, Happy Canada Day to my friends from the north!

If I were really organized and forward-thinking, today would be the big debut of Regina, the Canadian vampire from Wicked Game. But alas, I didn't think of that until now.

Instead, I'm giving Shane McAllister his day in the sun--er, moon. (Sun bad, very very bad!)

First, I'm telling the world a little more about him over at Part Two of my stay on the Desert Island Keeper island (why yes, the daquiris are divine). The drawing for a signed copy of Wicked Game (or one of my other books if you've got that already) will take place at 11:59pm eastern tonight, so put your commentin' boots on.

Also, his MySpace page is up at last! He even blogged a couple of times. Go friend him and make him feel all warm inside, because the only other way to do that is--well, you know.

I think part of his incentive to get off his butt and onto the social networking site was to referee the escalating tension between Ciara and vampire (sorry, nightkind) Dante Baptiste from A Rush of Wings. Things should really get interesting now. Shane's never been one for delicate politicking.

In case you missed my late-night posting, Monroe's story is up on my website now for your reading (and listening) enjoyment. To celebrate, I'm giving away a brand-new copy of my favorite blues CD. For details, read last night's post.

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Now playing: The Black Crowes - Horse Head
via FoxyTunes

Labels: blog tour, Contests, MySpace, vampire series

• posted by Jeri @ 11:57 AM
• 0 comments

Join me on the Desert Island

I'm the leadoff guest author over at the hottest new blog for readers, Desert Island Keepers. I'm giving away a signed copy of Wicked Game (or another book if you already have that one) to one person who leaves a comment on either today's or tomorrow's post.

Today I'm introducing myself by running the gauntlet of "About Me" questions the DIK ladies (hee) all succumb to. Find out my favorite love (and sex) songs, which hero I would be (hint: he has a butler and a lot of cool toys), and which series I would live in (other than the fantasy that is my real life).

Monroe's story will be up later today/tonight. I'll post when it goes live!

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Now playing: Junior Wells - Blues Hit Big Time (alternate take)
via FoxyTunes

Labels: blog tour, Contests, interview, vampire series

• posted by Jeri @ 11:08 AM
• 0 comments

Interview and giveaway on Amberkatze

Thanks to everyone who stopped by last night to chat with me on Jacquelyn Frank's Marathon Chat, and congrats to those who won books, WVMP swag, and the marvelous raffle bags Jacki was giving away. It was great to meet and hang out with some new readers.

There's an interview with me up at Amberkatze's Book Blog. You can enter to win a signed copy of Wicked Game. Enter once by leaving a comment or question, enter twice by blogging about the interview somewhere else, and enter thrice by joining Amber's newsletter. Triple the contest-entering fun! Entries will be taken until next Sunday, July 6.

I'm also excited to announce that the short story about vampire DJ Monroe Jefferson's 'turning' will definitely be up here at jerismithready.com tomorrow. It's done, just needs a bit of polish and formatting for the web. I finished it off last night while watching the DVD of Eric Clapton's Crossroads benefit concert, which is four hours of phenomenal music. Almost makes me want to learn to play the guitar. Almost.

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Now playing: Eric Clapton - Little Queen of Spades
via FoxyTunes

Labels: blog tour, Contests, music, vampire series

• posted by Jeri @ 4:32 PM
• 2 comments

Guest blog/giveaway at the Maverick Authors

The Blog Whore Tour is back on the virtual road! Today I'm blogging over at the Maverick Authors about the Top Ten Signs You're on Deadline.

Everyone who comments gets put into a drawing for a signed copy of Wicked Game, so tally ho! You have until 3PM eastern time Sunday to enter.

Labels: blog tour, Contests, vampire series, writing life

• posted by Jeri @ 9:58 AM
• 0 comments

Guest blog (and giveaway!) at The Bradford Bunch

Today I'm guest-blogging at The Bradford Bunch about some of the weird stuff I learned while researching Wicked Game.

Come learn about:

— "Real" vampires (real people who drink the real blood of other real people--really!)
— The oldest con artist trick in the book (page 122)
— How good a guitar player you have to be to acousticize (yes, it's a word, as of....now) Nirvana's "Drain You."

Oh, and one lucky commenter wins...a signed copy of Wicked Game!

NOTE: to enter, you must comment over there at the actual post, though you're welcome to comment here as well.

Labels: blog tour, Contests, research, vampire series

• posted by Jeri @ 9:25 AM
• 3 comments

Holy Jinks, another interview!

Damn the paparazzi--they've cornered me again and forced me to talk about myself and my new book. We all know how I hate that.

Today's stop on the Blog Whore Tour is an interview with Love Romances, who gave Wicked Game a sweet review a couple weeks ago. Come find out why I can't write like Margaret Atwood and whether Ben or Matt would make a better Messiah.

Thanks very much to Dawn for having me over to the site!

No. I mean, damn her for getting me to talk.

Again.

About my new book.

Wicked Game.

In stores now.

Labels: blog tour, interview, vampire series

• posted by Jeri @ 12:26 PM
• 2 comments

New interview and Wicked Game giveaway!

Up-and-coming superstar author Stephanie Kuehnert interviewed me about Wicked Game. Since her own interests (and forthcoming YA novel I Wanna Be Your Joey Ramone) center around music, most of the questions focus on the rock 'n' roll aspects of the book.

Come and leave a comment, ask a question, or tell us how music has inspired you or your creativity. One lucky commenter (from a pool of commenters on the Blogger, MySpace and LiveJournal versions of the interview) will win a signed copy of Wicked Game! You have until 5PM Eastern time on Thursday to enter.

Also, I did an hour-long interview on Blog Talk Radio yesterday, on the Romance with Regan show. Regan Taylor was a fantastic host, and I look forward to coming back in November before the release of The Reawakened. Hmm, that book really needs its own page on my website. No cover yet, but the back cover copy is ready, and soon there'll be an excerpt.

Speaking of TR, line edits are due Friday. Gotta run!

Labels: blog tour, Contests, interview, vampire series

• posted by Jeri @ 8:19 PM
• 0 comments

Interview with League of Reluctant Adults

Mark Henry and Carrie the Book Girl dragged me into the League Lounge for a very special interview this morning.

Hey, what's that on the bottom of my shoes?

*sniffs*

Huh. Anton scat. Three, four days old.

Labels: blog tour, interview, vampire series

• posted by Jeri @ 11:45 AM
• 1 comments

Blog Whore!

I mean, Blog Tour. If you're not already sick of reading my inane babblings, here are three more opportunities to have your brain cells coated with my thoughts (I recommend a nice vinegar rinse afterward). One of them has something in it for you.

Interview at Ann Aguirre's blog. Find out my secret celebrity boyfriend, my favorite drink, and whether a dolphin could take on a ninja. Or a pirate, I forget. Anyway, one lucky commenter will win a signed copy of Wicked Game.

Interview at Fangs, Fur & Fey. Rachel Vincent asks about my favorite scene from Wicked Game, how I researched the book, and why the hell I chose to write in first person present tense.

Big Idea at John Scalzi's Whatever blog. This is one of my favorite blogs going way back, so I'm tickled and terrified at being featured on it myself. The Big Idea is--well, just go look. It's pretty short.

Thanks to Ann, Rachel, and John for picking my brain!

Labels: blog tour, Contests, craft, food, interview, vampire series

• posted by Jeri @ 11:55 AM
• 2 comments

Guest blogging at Southern Fried Chicas

The blog tour makes its first post-publication stop today at Southern Fried Chicas, where I discuss the concept of "brainspace" (I think I made this word up). Basically, how do writers settle into "the zone," what interferes with it, and how to tell if distractions are getting the best of you.

I'm giving away a signed copy of Wicked Game to one commenter. You have until noon Eastern time tomorrow to comment (EDITED TO ADD: on the SFC blog itself, not here), so let's hear your strategies for conquering the Enemies of Brainspace! How do you resist the internet, television, and other things that clutter up your mind?

Also, my final answers to the intriguing questions at Fallen Angels blog are up. Find out something shocking about me, where I got the idea for the playlists, and more!

Labels: blog tour, Contests, craft

• posted by Jeri @ 10:22 AM
• 2 comments

Blog tour and erratum

There'll be a big sniffly Release Day post coming up after sunrise, but I wanted to cover some other important stuff.

First, the heroine of Wicked Game, Ciara Griffin, had a very special interview with Jezebel, the (ex-)demon star of Jackie Kessler's fabulous HELL ON EARTH urban fantasy series. Ciara was astonishingly frank about her job and her sex life. So check it out if you want the dirt about her and Shane and WVMP. Some of it might even be true.

Also, I posted my answers to the first slew of questions over at Fallen Angel Reviews. You have until noon to ask me a question, and then we'll be drawing a name to win a signed copy of Wicked Game. I'll answer the second batch of questions at that time. I'm getting some fascinating ones, so go check it out!

Finally, I must hang my head in shame. In yesterday's post about almost turning into Runway Pancake, I accused FTD of not delivering my mom's Mother's Day flowers. Heh. It turns out, they didn't deliver the flowers because I told them to send them this Friday instead of last Friday. D'oh! So mea culpa, Mom, and sorry, FTD. You're as awesome as always, and I'm as braindead as ever.

Labels: blog tour, I'm a dork, interview, vampire series

• posted by Jeri @ 1:26 AM
• 0 comments

Join the Q& A at Fallen Angels

Ever wanted to ask me a weird question? Here's your chance!

Come visit me guest-blogging today at Fallen Angels Review. Everyone who asks me a question will be entered in a drawing for a signed copy of Wicked Game.

You have until noon Eastern time tomorrow to enter. I'll answer one question tonight and one tomorrow when we announce the winner.

HINT: The more original the question, the more likely I am to answer it.

Labels: blog tour, Contests, vampire series

• posted by Jeri @ 3:09 PM
• 0 comments

It's Podcast-ic!

Happy Mother's Day, everyone (or at least, you know, mothers)!

I had a great time at Mysterious Galaxy's 15th Birthday Bash yesterday. Tomorrow I'll post more about it (including actual pictures, including one of giant monkeys).

Today I wanted to tell you about two interviews available online for your listening pleasure:

My friend Rob Usdin at Jersey Jamcast hooked me up with two wonderful podcasters. The first was Brian Noe of Studio C. Last week I had my very first phone-in (or Skype-in, technically) interview.

Here's a shot of me during the interview, thinking of wise and witty words. By the wet hair and lack of makeup, you can tell it was NOT my idea to have my picture taken. But at least I changed out of my jammies for the occasion.

One thing I like about the interview is that two of the tracks that I couldn't get for my playlist ("I'll Never Get Out of These Blues Alive" by John Lee Hooker and "Ciara" by Luka Bloom) made it onto the podcast, at least briefly.

Then later that week I did an interview with Zack "The Mothman" Daggy for his Shameless Plugcast. I really enjoyed this one as well. Zack told the world that if you love the humor and drama of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, you'll love my book. And that as a DJ, he really sympathized with the characters in Wicked Game.

I love their theme song. It's now stuck in my head ("Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! Yeah yeah yeah yeah yeaaaaahhhh....")

NOTE: you don't need an iPod to listen to a podcast. You just need one of those thingies, what do you call them? Computers! That's it.

I'm now going to avail myself of the free continental breakfast. Such as it is.

Labels: blog tour, interview, vampire series

• posted by Jeri @ 9:38 AM
• 2 comments

Guest blog at Simply Romance

Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday!

The Blog Tour rolls on, making a quick stop at Simply Romance Reviews*, where I talk about how I got the idea for Wicked Game. They're giving away a signed copy to one lucky commenter, but you only have today to get your name into the drawing.

Oh, and you have one more day to enter Rachel Vincent's chocolate-and-book-giveaway, featuring Wicked Game and Godiva.

You know what I like about Blog Tours? No jet lag.

*which by the way gave Wicked Game an A+ Outstanding Read!

Labels: blog tour, Contests, vampire series

• posted by Jeri @ 9:05 AM
• 0 comments

Guest blog at Fresh Fiction

Today's stop on the Blog Tour is Fresh Fiction, where I discuss how a character's place and time of origin affect his or her personality. Whether it's an economically ravaged Youngstown, Ohio, or the segregated Deep South in the early 20th Century, or the corn fields of Saskatchewan, the characters in Wicked Game each have roots that make them who they are--or who they try not to be.

We all come from somewhere. So stop by and tell us how your background has affected who you are. Do you embrace it or rebel against it? Are your favorite characters a product of their hometowns? Or just come by and say hi to an awesome blog.

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Now playing: Brain Damage - Pink Floyd
via FoxyTunes

Labels: blog tour, craft

• posted by Jeri @ 10:59 AM
• 0 comments

Just you and me, ChickLitGurrl...

I'm kicking off my Blog Tour with an interview at ChickLitGurrl's blog. Find out how I got the idea for Wicked Game, which three songs would be on the soundtrack to my life, and my single biggest piece of advice for writers.

Excuse me while I go follow that advice....

Labels: blog tour, craft, interview, vampire series, writing life

• posted by Jeri @ 11:52 PM
• 1 comments

Guest blog, ARC giveaway, and rewrites

I'm today's guest over at the blog of author Jaye Wells, as part of her Adopt a Vampire Novel Month. The topic is "Vamp Like Me: In Defense of Defanging," in which I discuss whether vampires have gotten too mushy and romantic in today's literature. Find out how feminism and Archie Bunker have entered the argument.

Oh, and I'm giving away an ARC of Wicked Game to one lucky commenter. But you only have one day to comment, so skedaddle!

Speaking of prizes, the winner of a signed copy of Justin Gustainis's Black Magic Woman is...Lori! Lori, please send your mailing address to jeri AT jerismithready DOT com, and I'll pass it on to Justin for your prize.

You have until Monday to enter the giveaway for a signed copy of Rachel Vincent's new book, Rogue.

I finished the rewrite of The Reawakened last night (okay, early this morning), and today I start the revision stage. I'll explain the difference in more detail in a post soon, but basically in the rewrite I change the story, rip out scenes, and add new ones. For instance, in this draft of The Reawakened, three characters who died in the first draft get to live, while three (edited: four edited again: five) others who lived get to, well, die. The ending of both Parts One and Two are completely different. The epilogue is the same, though (except without those formerly living characters).

Revisions, on the other hand, consist of going through the manuscript to see if the rewrite makes sense, filling plot holes and smoothing out character inconsistencies. The final pass is the polish, where I make every scene and sentence as strong as it can be.

Have a great weekend!

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Now playing: Evenstar - Various Artists
via FoxyTunes

Labels: blog tour, Contests, craft, The Reawakened, vampire series

• posted by Jeri @ 8:56 AM
• 8 comments