JocelynnDrake

Last of the Holiday Videos

Mon, 21 Dec 2009 17:07:33 GMT

I had an excellent, non-writing weekend as I fulfilled a couple of my personal holiday traditions. Friday was a night out in downtown Cincinnati, Ohio, where a friend and I went to a fantastic Brazilian steakhouse and then attended the Nutcracker ballet. I've been going to see the Nutcracker ballet for several years now. I've got the music memorized and it seems like the holiday season doesn't actually start for me until I've seen this performance. My fingers are crossed that I'll be able to sneak in one more ballet performance in this season. After the ballet, we concluded the night with a horse-drawn carriage ride around the city to see some of the Christmas lights. Meanwhile, last night was a visit to the Cincinnati Zoo for their annual Festival of Lights celebration. The Festival of Lights is a chance to see the zoo decked out in millions of Christmas lights. Despite the cold, we had a great time walking around the zoo and seeing the animals and the lights. I have included a very short clip of some of the light display as we rode the train around the lake in the center of the zoo. Finally, one other tradition that I actually completed near the end of November was a visit to Krohn Conservatory. The flower hothouse has an amazing holiday display every year. However, my visit this year was two-fold, since I also include the Conservatory in Pray for Dawn. For a look at one of the places that appears in the upcoming book, Pray for Dawn, check out this video. In the meantime, it's back to work today. I've got to start making plans for book 6 so I can send some thoughts off to my editor by the beginning of the new year.

Completed Revision for Book 5

Tue, 15 Dec 2009 00:33:58 GMT

It was a somewhat long Sunday (and certainly wasn't helped by the poor performance of the Cincinnati Bengals), but I finally managed to complete my revisions of Wait for Dusk. They were emailed to my editor before 11 pm last night and I was glad to see the book out of my hands again. This one was a rough one to write as I was balancing something that was new for me to write and was faced with an ending that I love as a writer but hate as a lover of my characters. My fingers are crossed that my editor likes the book as well and I don't have to go in for another pass at revisions. That would result in a delay of the book, which no on wants.

In a quick recap:
5 new chapters were added
More than 15,000 new words were added
Countless thousand more words were deleted
Scores of adverbs were obliterated
Dozens of dialogue modifiers were destroyed
There were no new deaths in the revision that weren't already in the original
There was one death in the original that I was unable to reverse in the revision

I have to admit that both Pray for Dawn and Wait for Dusk have a new layer of darkness to them that has left me shaking my head. There are deaths in both books that I wasn't originally planning on. While I have to admit now that I think that they work quite well for the stories, I'm sorry to see these characters go. As a result, I have made it my duty that Book 6 will end on some kind of happy note. I have no idea how I am going to do this, but there will be happiness in Book 6! That's not to say that there won't be the usual dose of Mira's violence, sarcasm, and general chaos. I can't write a Dark Days book without those elements. However, I want to find a way to end Book 6 on a lighter note, because there are many dark days ahead for my beloved characters.

In the meantime, I am now playing catch-up with everything that has been neglected. I have only one package left sitting on my counter, waiting to be mailed. If you are expecting something in the mail from me, it should be arriving any day now. I am mostly caught up on my email and I even managed to complete the last of my holiday shopping (I think). Something last minute will probably crop up, but I think I'm done. Now, I'm down to cleaning the house and turning my thoughts to plotting out Book 6. I hope to start writing on the new book at the beginning of the New Year, if not sooner.

I do have my holiday decorations up, but then I had them up extremely early this year due to my move in November. It was just easier to put the tree up and the decorations out when everything was already spread around the house. I dread trying to find a place for it all later when I have to take it down again. Here is picture of my tree. It is artificial, but I hope to have a real one next year -- though I might regret it with two relatively young cats. Also, for the curious, yes, that is Tinkerbell as my tree topper. Her wings change colors. I am currently looking for a Jack Skellington tree topper so I rotate from year to year. The lights on the tree are red and white. So if I'm feeling somewhat evil, I can turn on only the red lights and have a bloody vampire Christmas tree.

Before I leave you, I have a special gift. Many of my readers are big Simon's Cat fans. They are great little videos and I am happy to report that he was kind enough to supply viewers with a new one just for the holidays!

Enjoy and have a great night!

Buried Alive in Revision

Thu, 10 Dec 2009 21:38:49 GMT

I'm just checking in quickly to report that, yes, I am still alive. I am finishing up the last 9 chapters of WAIT FOR DUSK at the moment. The book is due back to my editor on Monday and I am determined to have it waiting in her inbox when she gets in the office. Looking ahead, I've got one completely new chapter to write, several chapters to tweak, and the ending to rearrange. Can I do it in just under four days? Yes, I know I can.

Unfortunately, that means that I'm not going to be doing anything else until then. I am behind on my emails. My house looks like a bomb exploded in the center of it, I'm afraid to go in my kitchen, and I keep forgetting to do that whole shower thing. Yes, the farthest I have been from my computer since Sunday has been out to my mailbox. This is the glamorous life of the professional writer.

As soon as the book is done, I'm heading out to buy cat food, people food, and mail an enormous stack of books to some contest winners. Sorry about the delay. I swear they will all be in the post by this weekend at the latest.

In addition, I've got a video to edit. I recently visited a location that appears in PRAY FOR DAWN (due out this summer) and I shot some video of the place. As soon as the edits are done, I'll be working on this and posting it to the site.

Insanity: German Style

Fri, 04 Dec 2009 20:03:29 GMT

Or maybe I should just call it Insecurity....

Nightwalker was released in German today and I have to admit that I spent the better part of thirty minutes letting Google translate German blogs for me so I can get a feel for how readers are reacting to the book. I know, it's sad. I'm supposed to be working on the revisions for Wait for Dusk.

I have been a professional writer for just over two years now (measured from when I acquired both an agent and a publisher) and there are things that I'm still learning. I'm learning that most writers are more than a little insecure about their work. I'm learning that paranoia is par for the course. I'm learning that you have to be more than a little insane to agree to these things. I'm learning that your skin will never be thick enough and too often you'll brush praise off as luck. I'm learning that if your a good writer and dedicated to your craft, you will never stop learning.

So, I've got a little release-day stress, which I never expected since Nightwalker has already been out for more than a year. And I'm sure I'll do it all over again when Dayhunter is released in May in German. Check out the covers I found! Pretty sweet!

In the meantime, this writer is going to step away from the Internet (or at least the Google search function) for a while, and finishing editing a handful of chapters so she can enjoy some of the weekend.

Also, don't forget that I'll be signing books in West Chester, Ohio on Saturday along with a number of great authors. Stop by and visit us!

Urban Fantasy Cover Art Contest

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 17:34:51 GMT

Today's I'm back at the grindstone, working on the revisions for Wait for Dusk. However, I do have a little fun to offer up to my faithful blog readers. All Things Urban Fantasy is running its 1st Annual Urban Fantasy Cover Art Awards and my darling little Dawnbreaker has been nominated in one of the many categories! Yeah, Dawnbreaker! Actually, it's a big YEAH for the amazing art department at HarperCollins. They do some truly magical work.

Stop by and vote in the contest. They are giving away some great prizes as well. You can get to the poll by visiting All Things Urban Fantasy. I’d give you a direct link to the poll but my Internet is being somewhat of a pain today.

So, hurry! Go vote! There are a lot of amazing covers out there!

And it really wouldn’t hurt my feelings if you voted for Dawnbreaker. She is such a pretty cover.

Romancing the Holidays Book Signing

Mon, 30 Nov 2009 23:30:47 GMT

I've gotten a bit of a slow start today, but I am happy to report that I managed to check a name or two off my Christmas Shopping List. However, I'm jumping in now to a brand new chapter for Book 5 -- Wait for Dusk. My fingers are crossed that I'm going to get it done tonight. The entire chapter is a fight scene loaded with lots of blood and violence. While scenes like that are fun to write, they are also slow and difficult to write.

In the meantime, I've got a book signing coming up. Are you going to be in the Cincinnati area on Saturday, December 5? Would you like to get some books signed by some amazing authors? Are you still looking for the perfect holiday gift for that avid reader? Then stop by the Romancing the Holidays Book Signing at the Barnes & Noble in West Chester, Ohio where more than 20 authors are gathering for a signing.

Some of the authors signing on Saturday include:

Toni Blake
Dianne Castell
Susan Crandall
Lori Foster
Heather Grothaus
LuAnn McLane
Patricia Sargeant
Kay Stockham
Shiloh Walker and many, many more.

If you're interested, come to:
Barnes & Noble
Streets of West Chester
9455 Civic Centre Boulevard
West Chester, OH 45069
513-755-2258
The fun starts at 1 pm!

Contest Round 20 Winner

Sun, 29 Nov 2009 14:44:28 GMT

I'm a little sad today because I'm giving away the last prize in the massive Contest Extravaganza. There were more than 140 entries in the contest and I truly wish I could give away more prizes, but I am simply running low on goodies. Don't worry, there will be more contests in the future, but we will now be returning to our regularly scheduled programming of me commenting on writing, revisions, publishing, and general life stuff.

In the meantime, I've entered the data into the random number generator and it had produced a winner for me. The winner is:

Debbie's World of Books

who wrote on my blogger account:

"Please enter me! This is an awesome giveaway."

Debbie, please send me your name and mailing address to JocelynnDOTdrakeATgmailDOTcom by Sunday, December 6, 2009 so I can get your prize out to you!

I want to give a BIG thanks to everyone who has participated in the contests during these past several months. I hope you've had fun. I'd also like to thanks all the amazing authors that have donated books to this Contest Extravaganza! You guys are wonderful!

Flash Contest Winner

Sat, 28 Nov 2009 14:14:21 GMT

It's time to pick yet another winner. The Flash Contest for Jeri Smith-Ready's Wicked Game has concluded and we had more than 70 entries in just a few days. I've entered the numbers into the random number generator and the winner is:
Laeb

who wrote on my LiveJournal account:

"I keep addoing series to read to my tbr list with your contests.... Argh! (but in a good way) :)"

Laeb, please contact me with your name and mailing address at JocelynnDOTdrakeATgmailDOTcom by Saturday, December 5, 2009. If I don't hear from you by December 5, the book will go out for another contest.

Now, don't forget today is the last day to enter my mega-contest where I am giving away all of my books, magnets, and mugs. Just scroll down to Monday's entry and leave a comment with your name before midnight Eastern time tonight.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Thu, 26 Nov 2009 11:52:28 GMT

Today is the day in the United States where we load up the cars, travel many miles to relative's homes, and stuff our faces with good food until we can't move from the table. Yes, it's Thanksgiving! I'm headed out to my aunt and uncle's house today where we will eat way too much wonderful food and play some games. A good time will be had by all!

I just wanted to take a moment to say that I am thankful for all the amazing fans of the Dark Days series. You guys are awesome with your constant love and support of me and the series! Have a great holiday season!

To kick things off correctly today, I've got a few videos to put you in a jolly mood. Enjoy!

Don't forget the two contests that I've got running right now. Scroll down and leave comments in the appropriate blog entries from Wednesday and Monday!

Flash Contest: Jeri Smith-Ready

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 12:59:43 GMT

Don't forget that time is winding down for my mega-contest. Scroll down to enter to Monday's blog entry to enter to win all my books and a pair of mugs!

I dug around in my goody bag of books to giveaway and discovered that I've got one left, so I'm giving it away in a Flash Contest. Get ready. This contest comes and goes in a flash! For this contest, we've got the fabulous Jeri Smith-Ready and the first novel in her WVMP Radio series, Wicked Game.

Here is a quick description of Wicked Game:

"Late-night radio you can sink your teeth into
Recovering con artist Ciara Griffin is trying to live the straight life, even if it means finding a (shudder!) real job. She takes an internship at a local radio station, whose late-night time-warp format features 1940s blues, 60s psychedelia, 80s Goth, and more, all with an uncannily authentic flair. Ciara soon discovers how the DJs maintain their cred: they’re vampires, stuck forever in the eras in which they were turned.

Ciara’s first instinct, as always, is to cut and run. But communications giant Skywave wants to buy WMMP and turn it into just another hit-playing clone. Without the station—and the link it provides to their original Life Times—the vampires would “fade,” becoming little more than mindless ghosts of the past. Suddenly a routine corporate takeover becomes a matter of life and un-death.

To boost ratings and save the lives of her strange new friends, Ciara re-brands the station as “WVMP, the Lifeblood of Rock ’n’ Roll.” In the ultimate con, she hides the DJs’ vampire nature in plain sight, disguising the bloody truth as a marketing gimmick. WVMP becomes the hottest thing around—next to Ciara’s complicated affair with grunge vamp Shane McAllister. But the “gimmick” enrages a posse of ancient and powerful vampires who aren’t so eager to be brought into the light. Soon the stakes are higher—and the perils graver—than any con game Ciara’s ever played…"

Does this sound totally awesome or what?

Here are some quick rules:

Leave a comment and name in the blog entry in my blogger or LiveJournal account.

Do NOT leave your email address (This is to protect you from Spammers).

The contest is open to domestic and international readers.

The contest is closes at midnight Eastern Standard Time on Friday, November 27, 2009.

The winner will be announced on Saturday, November 28, 2009.

The winner will have until Saturday December 5, 2009 to contact me.

Contest Round 20: Jocelynn Drake

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 19:35:27 GMT

Several months ago, I got this brilliant idea to contact a number of authors that I am friends with and see if they would be willing to give away a couple of signed books on my blog. Twenty weeks later, I find that I've given away more than two dozen books and introduced you to a number of new authors that you absolutely MUST start reading. I am very pleased with the enthusiasm and the interest that has been shown on the blog during the past few months, and I'm more than a little saddened to see it all end, but this will be the last "official" week of the Contest Extravaganza.

And since this is my blog and my contest, I've decided to end with a set of my books. It seems only natural, right? I thought you would agree with me. So here's the deal. I'm not giving away just one book or two. I'm giving away 4 signed books along with two mugs and a set of magnets. This ultimate prize pack is a perfect holiday gift for the urban fantasy reader in your family. Or it's just the perfect prize pack to give yourself, because you know you've earned it!

I am giving away, Nightwalker -- the First Dark Days Novel. Here is a quick description:

"For centuries Mira has been a nightwalker—an unstoppable enforcer for a mysterious organization that manipulates earth-shaking events from the darkest shadows. But elemental mastery over fire sets her apart from others of her night-prowling breed . . . and may be all that prevents her doom.

The foe she now faces is human: the vampire hunter called Danaus, who has already destroyed so many undead. For Mira, the time has come to hunt . . . or be hunted."

I am also giving away Dayhunter -- the Second Dark Days Novel. Here is a quick description:

"A new day dawns blood red

A master of fire, Mira is the last hope for the world. For centuries she has secretly enforced the history-altering edicts of the Triad. Now she and her unlikely ally—the human vampire hunter, Danaus—have come to Venice, home of the nightwalker rulers. But there is no safety in the ancient city, for the threat of conflict is in the wind . . . with unholy alliances and earth-shattering betrayals taking hideous form in the shadows.

Banished for eons beyond the world's boundaries, the malevolent naturi prepare to feed once again upon a vulnerable earth—and treachery is opening wide the portal that will enable their dread re-emergence. The great battle that has always been Mira's destiny is looming, and she must remain powerful in the face of a shocking revelation: that Danaus, the only creature she dares to trust, is something more than the man he claims to be . . ."

I am also giving a

way a copy of Dawnbreaker -- the Third Dark Days Novel. Here is a quick description:

"The dawn brings new terror for the creatures of the night . . .

Those of her race fear Mira for the lethal fire she bends to her will—a power unique among nightwalkers, both a gift . . . and a curse.

The naturi despise Mira for what she is—as they prepare the final sacrifice that will destroy the barriers between the worlds. And once the naturi are unchained, blood, chaos, and horror will reign supreme on Earth.

Mira can trust only Danaus, the more-than-mortal vampire slayer, though he is sworn to destroy her kind. And now, as the day approaches when titanic forces will duel under cover of darkness, destiny draws them toward an apocalyptic confrontation at Machu Picchu. But all

is not lost, for a wild card has been dealt to them: a rogue enemy princess who can change the balance of power and turn the dread tide."

And finally, I am giving away a copy of the Unbound anthology, which has in it my novella, "The Dead, the Damned, and the Forgotten." Here is a quick description:

"Not all hunters are bound by human laws . . .

Revisiting the paranormal realms they've made famous in their wildly popular fiction, New Y

ork Times bestselling authors Kim Harrison, Jeaniene Frost, Vicki Pettersson, and Jocelynn Drake—plus New York Times bestselling YA author Melissa Marr with her first adult supernatural thriller—unleash their full arsenal of dark talents, plunging us into the shadows where the supernatural stalk the unsuspecting . . . and every soul is a target.

Get ready for the ride of your life—because the wildest magic has just been unleashed . . . and evil is about to have its day."

To add to the fun, I have dug up a pair of Nightwalker and Dayhunter mugs, as well as magnets that have Nightwalker, Dayhunter, and Dawnbreaker covers on them.

So, are you excited now? I thought so! Here are some quick contest rules:

Leave a comment with your name in either my Blogger or LiveJournal accounts.

Do NOT leave your email address (This is to protect you from Spammers).

This contest is open to domestic and international readers.

The contest closes at midnight Eastern Standard Time on Saturday, November 28, 2009.

The winner will be announced on Sunday, November 29, 2009.

The winner will have until Sunday, December 6, 2009 to contact me.

Also, to add to the fun this week. I discovered on other author's book in my goody stash that I'm going to give away in a Flash contest this week so stay tuned!

Contest Round 19 Winner

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 14:42:32 GMT

Another Sunday has rolled around and it's time to pick another winner. This week, I'm giving away a signed copy of Kim Harrison's White Witch Black Curse. There were more than 120 entries in this contest. I've put the numbers in the random number generator and the winner is:

LSUReader

who wrote on my blogger account:

"Harrison's series is great...and I think "White Witch, Black Curse" is the best of the lot! Thanks for the contest."

LSUReader, please send me your name and mailing address to JocelynnDOTdrakeATgmailDOTcom by Sunday, November 29, 2009. If I don't hear from you by Sunday, November 29, I will put the book out for another contest.

Make sure to come back next week, as I will be holding last of my book giveaways! You don't want to miss out on these books!

When Bad Books Happen to Good Writers

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 00:54:01 GMT

This blog entry could also be entitled “The Dreaded Revision Letter”.

If you’ve been following any of my comments on Twitter recently, you know that I received a rough revision letter recently from my editor. As always, she very clearly stated the flaws of the book and some of them were pretty big. Naturally, I was quite upset by the letter. No, not by the fact that it was attacking my “baby” but that I felt that she was completely right in all the problems that she listed with the book. I had clearly turned in an inferior product, far below what I was capable.

Now, I can make excuses for the book. There were a number of extenuating personal circumstances that came up during the writing of this book. But excuses don’t fix the book and they don’t make me a better writer. One thing a writer has to quickly learn is that your personal life will constantly try to intrude on your writing. You have to find a way to put the personal aside and still write the best that possibly can regardless of the chaos around you. And if you can’t write your best, you make sure the edited version you hand in is your best.

So, now that I’ve had some time to digest my ugly revision letter and spoken with my editor, let me share what guidance I have gained from both my experience and my wonderful editor.

1. Bad books happen to every writer. No matter how long you’ve been writing, a bad book will eventually happen. It’s like a rite of passage. Don’t let it stop you from being the best writer that you can be. Learn from your mistakes and make a better book.

2. Don’t immediately contact your editor after reading your revision letter. You’re going to be speaking based on pure emotion and not thinking clearly. You are going to say things that you’re going to regret. Sit on the letter for a couple of days. Let the comments sink in and think about how the suggestions could possibly make the book better. Contact your editor when you have a list of questions as well as a list of suggestions on how you’re going to improve your book. That way you have a rational, calm basis for a productive conversation.

3. It may be time to try new planning techniques for your books. As my books have progressed, they’ve grown more complicated. As a result, I need to switch to a more detailed outlining process for the book in order to properly weave all my plotlines. Since I am a fast writer, this process forces me to slow down and think more about my plotting, which could in the end save more time in the revision stage.

4. Leave time for a thorough review. One mistake I’ve made is that I’ve been trying to write on too tight a schedule. As a result, I’m not giving myself enough time for review and I’m handing in far too rough of a draft to my editor, forcing her to work harder than she needs to. I need to spend more time reviewing more work, looking for common mistakes and tightening up my prose.

In the end, the book’s not that bad. The plots need to be expanded and the relationship thread needs to be strengthened. The baddies needs made badder and the overall violence taken up a notch. While I managed to sum it all up in just a couple sentences, it is still a lot of work and it’s going to take me the better part of a month to fix it. Right now, I’m outlining one chapter at a time, making notes on which plots are being involved so that I can find the right balance.

Overall, the point that I want you to walk away with is that we all stumble eventually. The choice is whether you sit there or you pick yourself up again.

Contest Round 19: Kim Harrison

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 13:12:19 GMT

I've looked at my calendar and I've noticed that we are down to the last two weeks of this massive Contest Extravaganza. Yes, it has now been going for 19 weeks. I've given away close to two dozen signed books by some awesome authors, but I've got a few more in my secret stash of goodies that I've been saving. After the contest concludes, I'll be returning to my regular reporting of writing about writing, my progress on the books, and just my general thoughts on life. Stick around for the ensuing chaos and insanity.

But I've got a really good goodies this week that I've been saving. Months ago, I kicked off this Contest Extravaganza with a signed hardback copy of Dead Witch Walking by Kim Harrison. Well, this week, I've got a signed hardback copy of her latest novel White Witch Black Curse to give away. If you read Kim Harrison, this is definitely something that you want to add to your collection!

Here is a quick description of White Witch Black Curse from Publishers Weekly:

"Confusion reigns for characters and readers in the complicated seventh urban fantasy outing (after 2008's The Outlaw Demon Wails) for witch detective Rachel Morgan. Rachel's reputation is in tatters—to save humanity, she used powers that are considered evil—and she's still devastated by the mysterious death of her boyfriend six months earlier. Her attempts to solve his murder bleed into a case involving an emotion-sucking banshee, and soon Rachel has to bring in her PI partners—Ivy, a bisexual vampire, and Jenks, a pixie in existential crisis—along with empathic psychiatrist Ford and the banshee victim's father, Federal Inderland Bureau captain Edden. Harrison's unique vampire mythology unduly complicates world-building, and newcomers will be desperate for a glossary, but the nearly nonstop action nicely plays off the poignancy of Rachel's difficult life."

Oh, you know that you're dying to get your hands on this one! Here are some quick contest rules:

Leave your name and comment in this entry in either my blogger or LiveJournal account.
Do NOT leave your email address (This is to protect you from Spammers).
This contest is open to International and domestic readers.
The contest closes on at midnight Eastern Standard Time on Saturday, November 21, 2009.
The winner will be announced on Sunday, November 22.
The winner will have until Sunday, November 29 to contact me or the book will go out for another contest.

Good luck and have a great day!

Contest Round 18 Winner

Sun, 15 Nov 2009 13:54:13 GMT

It's Sunday! Whoo-hoo! It's time for some football. And being that I live in the Cincinnati area, I am a Cincinnati Bengals fan. Yes, I know. It's a team that has been difficult to root for some years, but we're having a great season this year and we're having a lot of fun. Today is an important game against the dreaded Pittsburgh Steelers (boooo!). So, to get through this tough game and celebrate my recent move I am having some family over to watch the game and eat lots of food. Yum!

Oh, wait! You're not here to read about my plans for the day. You want to know who the winner is for Jackie Kessler's double-book giveaway! It's as if I was drawing out the suspense or something. This week, I'm giving away signed copies of her Hell's Belles and The Road to Hell, which are the first two books in her Hell on Earth series. We had more than 80 entries in the contest and I've put the numbers into the random number generator. The winner is:

LadyDeathFaerie

who wrote on my LiveJournal account:

"count me in"

LadyDeathFaerie, you have until Sunday, November 22, 2009 to email me your name and mailing address to JocelynnDOTdrakeATgmailDOTcom in order to claim your prize. If I don't hear from you by November 22, the books will go out for another contest.

In the meantime, I am sad to report that the Contest Extravaganza is winding down. I am getting down to my last few prizes so you want to stick close during the next couple of weeks to see what I've got in my goody bag. I think you'll be please. Overall, this has been a fun experience and I hope that it had introduced you to some awesome writers that you weren't aware of before. Because we all need to expand our to-be-read pile just a little bit.

Well, before I jump back into cooking, I'm off to edit a few more pages of Pray for Dawn so I can ship it back to my editor very very soon.

Contest Round 18 Bonus

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 17:47:02 GMT

Jackie Kessler is feeling generous! Yesterday, I announced that I would be giving the first book in her Hell on Earth series, Hell's Belles. Well, Jackie has decided to up the stakes. The second book in her Hell on Earth series, The Road to Hell, was just released in mass-market paperback. So to celebrate, she is giving away a signed copy of Hell's Belles AND The Road to Hell! Yes, get the first two books in this awesome series and get them signed.

Here is a brief description of The Road to Hell:

"Jesse may no longer be a succubus, but she’s got a Hell of a past. She wants to come clean about her infernal history with Paul Hamilton, her white-knight-in-training lover, except he’d never believe her. Just like some people are worth being (shudder) monogamous for, some secrets are worth keeping. So Jesse keeps mum—until three of her former associates strong-arm her into returning to the Pit. Now, unless Jesse faces off against the King of Hell, she’ll lose Paul’s immortal soul. If she’d known love was this tough, she never would have turned her back on Lust..."

Okay, so here's the deal. If you left a comment yesterday in Monday's blog entry, then you're already entered for both books. If you haven't entered yet, then scroll down to Monday's blog entry and leave a name a comment there!

In the meantime, it's time to batten down the hatches. The doors are locked and the windows are barred. I've got the copyedits for Pray for Dawn that are due in 10 days back to my editor. In addition, I am compulsively checking my email for the edit letter for Wait for Dusk. It's beginning to look like I'm booked through the holidays.

Speaking of the holidays, I've got a book signing coming up at the beginning of December. If you live in the Cincinnati area, this will be a great chance to get a bunch of books signed by some wonderful local authors. I'll be providing more details soon.

Contest Round 18: Jackie Kessler

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 00:25:49 GMT

All right, so I'm running more than a little behind. I've got a good excuse. I moved over the weekend and now I've spent the past couple of days unpacking, trying to get my house in order. I'm nearly there. I've got a couple pieces of new furniture arriving later this week and I'm planning my first house party for my family this weekend.

But you don't care about any of this. You're worried about the next contest as we continue you this Contest Extravaganza. This week, we've got the first novel in Jackie Kessler's Hell on Earth series, Hell's Belles.

For more information on Hell's Belles, here is a description:

"Jezebel’s not your average exotic dancer. For one thing, she’s a 4,000-year-old succubus. For another, she’s on the run from Hell (which isn’t easy to do in high heels). Hiding on the mortal coil as a human doesn’t protect her from muggers, lactose intolerance…or having feelings for Paul Hamilton, a man haunted by his past. Demons are closing in, which is enough to make Jezebel shiver in her G-string. But it’s her love for Paul that’s going to have deadly consequences. (Humans, she laments, really should come with instruction manuals.)"

For something a little different in the urban fantasy genre, throw your hat in this contest.

Here are some quick rules:

Leave a comment with your name in this entry on my Blogger or LiveJournal account.
Do NOT leave your email address (This is to protect you from Spammers).
This contest is open to domestic and international readers.
The contest closes on Saturday, November 14, 2009.
The winner will be announced on Sunday, November 15, 2009.
The winner will have one week to respond or the book will go out for another contest.

Contest Round 17 Winner

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 12:40:48 GMT

Sorry I'm late announcing the winner to the Bad to the Bone contest. I was moving all weekend and didn't get to my computer until now. However, we received more than 80 entries or the contest and I plugged the numbers into my random number generator. The winner is:

Book Whisperer

who wrote on my blogger account:

"I read the first book, I am anxious for the second.. Count me in..."

Book Whisperer, please send me your name and address to JocelynnDOTdrakeATgmailDOTcom by Sunday, November 15, or the prize will be put out for another contest.

And to those that didn't win, stay tuned because I will be announcing another contest later today!

I Will NEVER Move Again

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 12:53:54 GMT

Yes, I'm moving again. A year has come and gone, and apparently it's time for me to move again. It's not like I had lease or that I had to move, but apparently I've developed this restless bug that forces me to move once a year. I hate boxing up my stuff and hiking it from place to place. I hate unpacking and discovering that things got broken or somehow lost along the way. In short, I hate moving, but I'm doing it again anyway. This will be at least my sixth move in four years.

The movers arrive today to get the furniture and I should be able to finish up the small things this weekend, if not today. I'm remaining in the Cincinnati area so I can be close to my family and friends, and I'm hoping to stay in this place for at least two years to give myself a proper moving break.

In the meantime, I've got the copyedits for Pray for Dawn sitting on my partially dismantled desk and my editor is threatening to send me the edit letter for Wait for Dusk any day now. Oh, I did you know that I'm also writing in NaNoWriMo, working on Book 6. Take a wild guess at how that's going. Ugh. If I just get through this weekend, my life will be back to normal.

In other, less whiny news, I completed a guest blog at Silk and Shadows yesterday. Take a peek at it and enter to win a copy of all my books, including the anthology!

Also, don't forget to enter to win a signed copy of Jeri Smith-Ready's Bad to the Bone! The contest ends on Saturday.

Contest Round 17: Jeri Smith-Ready

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 13:41:21 GMT

I'm feeling a bit under the weather today and I'm doubting that I'm going to be crawling out of bed much. However, the party must continue, even if it is without me. Round 17 in this Contest Extravaganza features the lovely Jeri Smith-Ready and the second novel in her WVMP Radio Series, Bad to the Bone.

Here is a quick description of Bad to the Bone:

"If you’re just joining us, welcome to radio station WVMP, “The Lifeblood of Rock ’n’ Roll.” Con-artist-turned-station-owner Ciara Griffin manages an on-air staff of off-the-wall DJs—including her new boyfriend Shane McAllister—who really sink their teeth into the music of their ‘Life Time” (the era in which they became vampires). It’s Ciara’s job to keep the undead rocking, the ratings rolling, and the fan base alive—without missing a beat.

For Halloween, WVMP is throwing a bash sure to raise the dead. They’ve got cool tunes, hot costumes, killer cocktails—what could go wrong? Well, for starters, a religious firebrand ranting against the evils of the occult preempts the station’s midnight broadcast. Then, when Ciara tracks down the illegal transmission, the broadcast tower is guarded by what appears to be…a canine vampire? And behind it all is a group of self-righteous radicals who think vampires suck (and are willing to stake their lives on it).

Now Ciara must protect the station while struggling with her own murky relationship issues, her best friend’s unlikely romance with a fledgling vampire, and the nature of her mysterious anti-holy powers. To make it to New Year’s in one piece, she’ll need to learn a few new tricks.…"

I know you're interested now and would love to win a signed copy. Here are some quick contest rules.

Please leave a comment with your name in this blog entry on my Blogger or LiveJournal account.

Do NOT leave your email address (This is to protect you from SPAMMERS)

This contest is open to domestic and international readers.

The contest closes at midnight on Saturday, November 7, 2009.

The winner will be announced on Sunday, November 8, 2009 and he/she will have one week to contact me or the book will go out for another contest.

Good luck!

Contest Round 16 Winner

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 02:00:08 GMT

I'm running a bit late this Sunday in announcing the winner of a signed copy of Rachel Vincent's Stray. But then, I'm watching my DVR version of Simpson's Treehouse of Horror right now, so I'm not running too late with things. Anyway, we had more than 130 entries for this book. I entered the numbers into the random number generator, and the winner is:

Southern Princess

Who wrote on my blogger account:

"OME! I would love to win this one!!!

I love Rachel's books!

http://princesscourtneysbarr.blogspot.com"

Southern Princess, please email me your name and mailing address to JocelynnDOTdrakeATgmailDOTcom by Sunday, November 8, 2009 to claim your prize. If I don't hear from you by November 8, the book will go out for another contest.

In the meantime, stay tuned for more giveaway goodies. Also, don't forget that National Novel Writing Month starts today. It's not too late to join in the fun! Come and be my writing buddy!

Preparing for Halloween

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 16:25:23 GMT

Time is winding down for the big day! Halloween!
I just dumped a massive pile of candy into my black cauldron and I checked the candles in the jack-o-lanterns. I think I'm ready for a little trick-or-treating.

This year, I'm going to be handing out candy with my parents and then I'm off to see a friend's band play. In addition, I'm heading out for a little pre-Halloween celebration by attending Cincinnati's 96Rock Band e-monium concert tonight to see another friend's band play -- Faceblind. If you're living in the Cincinnati area, come out and support some great local bands at the Madison Theater!

But for a few hours today, I'm planning to work on the outline for Book 6 in the Dark Days series. It's a little earlier than I was planning considering that I've still got some edits coming my way for books 4 and 5. However, Sunday marks the beginning of November, which is National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo). For the first time, I have officially signed up to participate. Do you have novel that you've been meaning to work on? Now is the perfect time to start! Sign up and we'll cheer each other on as we work toward writing 50,000 words in one month. Join and be my writing buddy!

And don't forget that Saturday is the last day to enter to win a signed copy of Rachel Vincent's Stray! Scroll down and leave a comment in Monday's blog entry!

Contest Round 16: Rachel Vincent

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 12:36:07 GMT

It's Monday and it's going to be a very busy, busy day! Just a reminder: I will be hanging out at Bitten By Books all day, answering questions and chatting it up with readers. They are also running an awesome contest, so come over and hang out with me!

But wait! There's more and you know it! It's Monday, so that means it's time for another super entry in my Contest Extravaganza! This week, I'm giving away a signed copy of Rachel Vincent's Stray. This is the first book in her Shifters series. If you haven't started this series yet, winning a this book is a great way to get started! And even if you have read the series, wouldn't you like to own a signed copy of the first book in the series?

Here is a description of Stray:

"I look like an all-American grad student. But I am a werecat, a shape-shifter, and I live in two worlds. Despite reservations from my family and my Pride, I escaped the pressure to continue my species and carved out a normal life for myself.

Until the night a Stray attacked. This brush with danger was all my Pride needed to summon me back... for my own protection.

Yeah, right. But I'm no meek kitty. I'll take on whatever and whoever--I have to in order to find my friends. Watch out, Strays--'cause I got claws, and I'm not afraid to use them..."

I've read this one and it's awesome. You don't want to miss out on this book or series. If you're interested in throwing your name in the hat, here are some quick rules.

Leave a comment in this entry on either my Blogger or LiveJournal account.
Do NOT leave your email address (This is to protect you from SPAMMERS)
The contest is open to domestic and international readers.
The contest closes at midnight Eastern Standard Time on Saturday, October 31.
I will announce the winner on Sunday, November 1.
The winner will have until Sunday, November 8 to contact me or the book will go out for another contest.

Thanks and good luck!

Mega-Giveaway

Sun, 25 Oct 2009 15:21:32 GMT

I've got one last announcement that you don't want to miss out on! I'm doing an interview over at Bitten by Books on Monday along with answering questions during the next 24 hours. During that time, they will be taking entries into their contest. We are giving away 10 signed copies of Dawnbreaker. In addition, the grand prize is a 4 giga-byte, 60-minute recording Flip camera with one of the Dark Days covers on the front. I got one of these camera's myself and I've absolutely fallen in love with it! They are a lot of fun to use and very easy.

So, stop over to Bitten By Book today to RSVP for their contest, which will get you 25 extra entries. And then come back on Monday to read the interview and ask me all kinds of interesting questions!