Bantam just sent me the cover for Moon Sworn, and I thought I’d share. It’s great!

Just heard that Piatkus (UK) have purchased the right for Destiny Kills and its sequel, Mercy Burns, for release in the UK and Commonwealth territories. So, all you lovely people in both England and Oz wanting to get your hands on the books without paying import prices will now be able to. Woohoo!

Of course, I have no idea of release dates yet, but I’ll let you know as soon as I hear anything.

On related news, the release date for Mercy Burns has been pushed back–instead of May 2010, it’ll now be Jan 2011. Sorry, folks, it’s a publisher decision. But the good news is that Moon Sworn (Riley 9) is now being released in Summer 2010 (still no definite date yet)

here’s the writing update:

Story–Dark Angels

New pages – 6
Time spent writing – 4
Current page count – 101
Intriguing things – a character becoming bisexual and the background of another changing. The muse, she plays with me.
Annoyances – the muse changing the plot!
Music – Eco Zen 2
Taking care of Keri – trying not to eat crap after a binge filled weekend. lol
Muse food – I’ve been on a Jane Austen binge. I do so love an Austen hero

Cynthia Sterling (aka Cindi Myers) has a great market news newsletter aimed at writers. In the latest one, she’s summarizes the Spotlight on St. Martin’s Press from the Romance Writers of America annual conference in Washington, DC. I thought I’d share some of it, because it’s good general advice for writers:

The 10 Most Important Things You Need to Know About Publishing

1. Publishing is a labor of love
2. We want to be transported (to the world of your story.) We want “the words to fall away…and for it to become a movie in our mind.”
3. Getting published takes talent, hard work and luck.
4. We want to find brand new author. Nothing is more exciting to us.
5. The most common reason we don’t buy a book is not because it’s bad, it’s because it’s average.
6. You shouldn’t pay too much attention to trends.
7. Publishers and authors both have to do their part for things to work.
8. The most important person in this process is the reader. If you write for yourself rather than the reader when you see a lot of overwriting in the book. The author is entertaining herself, rather than the reader.
9. You have to be both left-brained and right-brained — analytical and creative.
10. Attitude is everything — don’t be bitter, jealous, grudging others’ success. You have to learn to move past that.

Anatomy of a trend spiral
1. Someone writes a really great book.
2. Readers snap up anything remotely like that 1st book
3. Publishers and authors sense a trend
4. More people write in that area and publishers buy in that area.
5. A few of those books sell well also.
6. Publishers start to creates lines and imprints in this area.
7. It becomes easier to sell in this area. The temptation is so strong to sell your soul and write in the area that people think is hot at the moment.
8. Publishers have slots to fill and lower their standards.
9. The quality of the books goes down.
10. Readers catch on become cynical and jaded.
11. Contracts aren’t renewed and authors become bitter.
12. Lines fold.
13. No one is happy – publishes, authors or readers.
14. Readers look for anything new and different.
15. Someone writes a really great book.

Her rule of thumb — “Once you see someone creating lines around a certain book, I, personally would head for the hills.”

Piatkus (UK & Aust) are rereleasing the Riley series from March next year, and have redone the covers to match the style of both Deadly Desire and Bound to Shadows. And they rock!

Love, love, love the new look 

In other release-related news, Moon sworn (riley 9) should be out summer 2010. As soon as I know the full date, I’ll let you know 

In writing news, Risa still seems to be rolling along nicely. She’s gone and had a chat to Riley and Liander, and she’s now about to get into another fight. Bad men want to snatch her. She’s not planning to go along with this plan. lol. Here’s the official update:

Story–Dark Angels

New pages – 6
Time spent writing – 5
Current page count – 82
Intriguing things – Riley becoming a photogragher. Who knew?
Annoyances – not knowing the plans of the bad men. Muse needs to get to work pronto and provide a reason for their actions!
Music – Eco Zen 2
Taking care of Keri – rested the knee today and trying not to feel guilty about not get to the gym. lol. Who would have thought I’d ever be addicted to exercise!
Muse food – been on a movie binge. Today I watched Watchmen and Shoot ‘em Up. The first was strange and not really likeable, the second over the top but brilliant fun. Plus it featured the ever watchable Clive Owen. 

Riley 9 has a new title. Instead of Captured by Vengeance, it’ll now be called Moon Sworn. Which is pretty cool, I think

Bantam have also asked me to write a free short story for their November newsletter, so keep an eye out for that one. It’s a Riley and Quinn short about a date that goes a little wrong.

Here’s the writing update: Story–Dark Angels

New pages – 5
Time spent writing – 4
Current page count – 55!
Intriguing things – shifters that aren’t
Annoyances – the arrival of edits. They disturb story flow!
Music – Eco Zen 2
Location – The desk.
Taking care of Keri – sweet and sour popcorn. It’s surprisingly good and low fat to boot.
Muse food – Burn Notice was on last night. Another fab episode

for those of you who have been following my dyeing dramas over on facebook, the end result actually turned out quite well (even if I ended up having to re-dye socks and a skivvy at 3pm on Sat arvo, because the jumper chris gave me didn’t match the socks, and the attempt to dye the socks to match the jumper ended up turning them gray. Don’t ask me how!). Anyway, here’s a pick of me, standing with birthday girl Kez

The fabulous Stephen Fry made a great post on writing. Head over to his blog if you’d like to check it out.

Writing wise for me, the story continues to roll along, albiet slower than I might wish thanks to the headache attacks (which I think is being caused by the fact I need my eyes tested again). There is a looming problem, however, and that’s the whole theological angle. I really don’t want to get into deep discussions on the whole issue, but when you’re writing about reapers and the Aedh (who are–were–the gatekeepers to the light and dark paths) then some sort of explanation and discussion has to happen. I’m just getting a little worried it’ll bog down the story. I guess I’ll have to wait for my fellow lulus to read it and see what they think. Here’s the official update:

Story–Dark Angels

New pages – 4
Time spent writing – 2hrs
Current page count – 45!
Intriguing things – Reapers with sexy smiles
Annoyances – theological discussions (of a sort)
Music – Eco Zen 2
Location – The desk.
Taking care of Keri – got slaughtered by my trainers two days in a row. The body, she aches. Both assure me its good for me. Not believing it right now.
Muse food – been on a Jane Austin binge. Currently listening to Pride & Prejudice. Great fun

I’m posting over at the Deadline Dames today. Life has caught up with me (aka I’m flat out) so I’ve posted a snippet from Dark Angels, the work in progress (also known as Risa’s story). Head over there to check it out

Bantam have released Full Moon Rising as a free digital download over on Suvudu free book library.  There’s several format option available, so head on over there if you’d like a free digital copy 

In other news, Dark Angels (Risa’s story) is rolling along nicely. I doubt I’ll get much done today, as I’ve been at the hospital most of the day with my mum, and really don’t feel like writing right now, but I’m loving this story so far. Here’s the official update:

New pages – 0 today. 4 yesterday
Time spent writing – 0 today. 3 yesterday
Current page count – 35
Intriguing things – reapers are sexy. Who knew?
Annoyances – none so far (touching wood as I type this)
Music – Eco Zen 2
Location – The desk.
Taking care of Keri – my spearole tea arrived. Even if it doesn’t help get the weight off as claimed, it smells divine and its green tea, so it’s at least good for me.
Muse food – Burn Notice is on tonight! yay!