happy Vladurday!

german with a southern accent

or it comes out with a southern accent. so I've decided that I want to learn to speak German. this is because if I want to go to grad school, I have to speak a historically significant second language. apparently Spanish is not significant and I don't get that. also, two of my characters are German and sometimes think in German and I don't trust Google Translate. another reason is because I just want to learn another language. this isn't exactly easy where I live despite the fact that the University of Florida is here. so I've been investigating programs like Rosetta Stone and the like. I don't know how successful that will be because I think if you can't learn it in a classroom, the next best way is to just have your ass dropped off in the country and force yourself to learn it but that won't be happening any time soon. if anyone has any suggestions or recommendations for me, let me know.

it's getting closer now!

so I finished my edits and now it has gone to internal design. I'm getting so excited because it is actually happening!! I have ISBN numbers, a lovely cover and my edits are done. WOW. now I have to come up for my marketing blitz when it releases. I plan on touring but I am definitely going to give away some sweet vampire related things along with my book on my blog when the time comes.
also, I want to host some of my sister Cambridge Press authors as guests here next month and in Novemeber. so stay tuned!!

sexy viking vampire tuesdays

tuesdays are hereby dedicated to the sexy viking vampire on True Blood Eric Northman played by Alexander Skarsgard.

super exciting fall line up!!

I am SUPER excited to show you the lineup of fall releases from my publisher, Cambridge Press US. please Cambridge Press's website to read about them. there are some kick ass stories written by some brilliant writers. I am honored to be in the same line up with them!!!

Cambridge Press US

happy Vladurday!

Please welcome Tory Michaels, author of Blood Rage and Blood Mage Rising

my friend Tory Michaels is taking time out of her VERY FULL schedule to answer a question I have always wondered about her. how does she manage to write with such an active home life?

Hi there, and thanks for having me here today, Alison. I appreciate you offering me a shelter for a stop on the ever-busy world of blogging and everything else.  I love your question and greatly appreciate it. The short (and supposedly) easy answer to that is I cut back on my sleep. I really do.

Now here’s the long answer: Most week days I’m up between 4 and 5.  Supposedly I do this to get extra writing time. In actuality, for about the first 20-30 minutes, I’m trying to wake up, read blogs, and suck down coffee, all sans children. A great deal of time is spent in my daily life trying to avoid crying children.

Don’t get me wrong. I absolutely adore my girls and boy. They’re hilarious and as the girls grow past the “baby” stage into the rambunctious “little girl/toddler” phase, they’re incredible. They’re just very………needy. If Mommy’s around, she’s the best toy in place. It’s fine if I sit on the floor and stare into space. Then they ignore me. I try to get up and sit at the computer? Oh lord, chaos reigns. Hence my 4a get-up time.

Another quick secret: I got the two books out close together because they were both written before I got an acceptance on Rage, and Rising was almost ready to submit at that point as well. I’ve since struggled with getting anything else done. However, I’m pleased to announce that I’ve got the first draft of the third book down, with definite plot ideas for the 4^th (and final) in the Dream-Walker War series. I know what needs to be done.

Sorry – as you can tell, I ramble! Anyway, when I’m working on something, I have 3 primary writing times: 4:45 – 5:30, 7:15 – 8, and 12:30 – 1:30p (when I first get up, after dropping the kids off, and my lunch hour). If I’m in “the zone” (usually the 1^st quarter and last quarter of the book), I can write between 800 & 2500 words in each of those zones. Otherwise (or if it’s an infernal sex scene), it varies. If you’re curious, you can check out my daily progress to see how Prophecy shaped up at my StoryToolz history HERE. I need to write more because I’d love to get more books out there for y’all to read!

My evenings, most of the time, are reserved for hubby and TV because, for some reason, hubby likes spending time with me without me having a laptop on my lap, so we talk. Only time I can weasel out of that (presumably for writing time) is if I’m right at the end and in “the zone” and he knows it would be pointless to make me stay anyway.

Weekends, if I’m lucky, I’ll write during their naps, and word production varies greatly. Saturdays and writing almost NEVER get along. Sundays, sometimes better. But weekdays are my prime.

Hope I haven’t bored you and thank you again for having me, Alison! Hope to see you around!

YAY! Thanks for sharing! you are my heroine!

if you haven't read her first two books, you should! 

Blood Rage

The Dream-Walker War, Book 1

For eighty years since the Great Awakening, humans and non-humans have lived in relative peace together. The peace is threatened when three bodies turn up less than a mile from the Bureau of Non-Human Affairs in Tampa, all bearing the signature of vampires who once terrorized Europe.

The Bureau’s chief liaison to the vampires, Dara MacKechnie, learns that the Tampa victims are not alone when her ex-lover, and head of the vampire’s Great Council, Anthony Caldwell comes calling.

The pair discovers the lie that separated them two centuries ago only banked their passion, not extinguished it. Dara must decide whether she can trust Anthony with her heart a second time as they

Blood-Mage Rising

The Dream-Walker War, Book 2

In the eighty years since the Great Awakening, humans and non-humans have lived side by side, relatively at peace.  In an attack that leaves his wife dead, Jordan MacNaught is caught up in the start of a war meant to turn the other races against the vampires. He knows beyond a doubt the vampires of yesteryear are not involved in the attacks. They're all dead, except for him.

     Jordan asks for Chris Javert's help in hunting those who murdered his wife. She's no stranger to hunting vampires. After all, she nearly destroyed Jordan when she ended the reign of his Aristocrats in Europe two hundred years 

Tory is graciously giving away a 25 dollar gift card and a digital copy of both of her books.
check it out!

the swag!

Join me September 14 for my friend, author Tory Michaels!

as part of her tour, author and my friend and supermom Tory Michaels will be stopping by to share some wisdom this friday. she's really cool and a brilliant writer. if you haven't read her books, then this is the perfect opportunity because on her blog tour she is giving away a 25 dollar gift card and a digital copy of BOTH of her her awesome Urban Fantasy books Blood Rage and Blood Mage Rising.