Website Changes

I don't think I ever officially announced that my website has changed. Or if I did, my brain did not record the event.

Anyhow, my official site has switched over to a Wordpress format. I made the decision for a variety of reasons, including ease of updating for myself. I can play and add content* to my heart's content without bothering the amazing, patient woman who's helped me with it this last year or so. It's still kellymeding.com, but if you still see the old site, you may need to clear your cache (I did).

Even though it's a Wordpress site, I won't approve comments on the pages (most are disabled anyway). And I'm keeping this blog where it is, because I've had it for years and I love it.

*For example, I've created a soundtrack for THREE DAYS TO DEAD, and the page for it is now live. Rhapsody subscribers can find the playlist by searching the book title. If there's a way to create a playlist on iTunes without buying all the tracks first, I haven't figured that out.

Song Specific 2

In my ongoing quest to compile a soundtrack for THREE DAYS TO DEAD, I've been listening to lots of music. Especially from artists with which I'm unfamiliar. So I was quite happy to stumble across Remy Zero and realize they did the cool song used in the "Smallville" credits.

After listening to some of their albums, I found a song that, to me, really encompasses another of the book's supporting characters: Alex Forrester. Alex is the roommate and best friend of the dead woman my heroine, Evy, is resurrected into. He's completely unaware of the Triads, Dregs, or that anything untoward is happening in the city after dark. He's also my favorite character, because he's a Nice Guy. Loyal, generous, and a good friend.

So just as Disarm (Smashing Pumpkins) worked perfectly for hero Wyatt Truman, here's Perfect Memory (Remy Zero):

Topsy-Turvy

This has been a topsy-turvy week, I must say. I've been working extra hours at the day job, because one of the managers is on vacation until tomorrow, so all I've wanted to do when I come home is veg. Which I have, for the most part. But I've also been doing book stuff--scheduling some guest blogs, developing that "thing" I was teasing about last week, and doing a final read-through of AS LIE THE DEAD.

Yes, book two is now revised and back with my lovely editor. One of the benefits of not having read it all the way through in many months is fresh eyes. I was able to "see" little inconsistencies I hadn't noticed. I was also able to add little world-building details I hadn't considered during the first drafts. All in all, it's a much stronger book (as it should be).

Remember those short stories I've been working on? Good things have developed. More on that later. *g*

I also had the great fortune to score an ARC of Kelly Gay's THE BETTER PART OF DARKNESS, which releases November 24 from Pocket. Order it. Now. And I'm not just saying that. Her alt-Atlanta is so unique, and I love her heroine, Charlie. How often does UF give us a protag who's a single mom? There's so much I'd like to say, but won't for fear of spoilers.

Also, I haz swag!



They are 1.25" buttons, designed by a super-cool moderator at AbsoluteWrite. For clarity, Dregs are the city's non-humans, and the Triads are the folks who hunt/kill them. So yeah, they mostly don't like each other.

I'm not sure how I'll use them yet. We shall see...

Disney Undone

Twitter is an amazing repository of random links and tidbits. In the last few days, two different Disney character-related links have popped up. These are not your fairy tale characters, either. At least, not the way Disney interpreted them.

Most recently is Twisted Princesses - zombie-fied princesses, to be exact. I think Sleeping Beauty and Snow White are my favorite. Look at the dwarves!

Last week was These Ain't Ya Mama's Disney Princes - and duuuuuuuude. I admit, seeing Peter Pan on there was a tad disturbing, but it's worth scrolling to the bottom (er, no pun intended) for the Prince Edward from Enchanted.

Something's Coming....

...and I don't necessarily mean my book's impending release. Nor do I necessarily mean the Countdown: October! Contest.

No, something else is coming. And this new something may or may not include the following: free books, another author, receipts, one hundred bucks, Q&A's, a quiz, and/or shameless self-promotion.

Scared?

Excited?

Just plain puzzled?

Details to come...

New Interview

It's a drive-by posting. A new interview with me is up at Stop... Drop... And Plot! The blog is run by a fellow AbsoluteWrite member, and she was cool enough to drop me a note ask me a couple of questions about THREE DAYS TO DEAD and writing in general.

Stop by and give it a look-see!

Debut Release: The Shifter

Today is the release day for Janice Hardy's debut Middle Grade novel, THE SHIFTER: THE HEALING WARS, BOOK 1. Janice is a friend from AbsoluteWrite, where she dispenses her wisdom and thoughts on writing and publishing with great frequency and forthrightness.

The blurb:

Nya is an orphan struggling for survival in a city crippled by war. She is also a Taker—with her touch, she can heal injuries, pulling pain from another person into her own body. But unlike her sister, Tali, and the other Takers who become Healers' League apprentices, Nya's skill is flawed: She can't push that pain into pynvium, the enchanted metal used to store it. All she can do is shift it into another person, a dangerous skill that she must keep hidden from forces occupying her city. If discovered, she'd be used as a human weapon against her own people.

Rumors of another war make Nya's life harder, forcing her to take desperate risks just to find work and food. She pushes her luck too far and exposes her secret to a pain merchant eager to use her shifting ability for his own sinister purposes. At first Nya refuses, but when Tali and other League Healers mysteriously disappear, she's faced with some difficult choices. As her father used to say, principles are a bargain at any price; but how many will Nya have to sell to get Tali back alive?

Congrats, Janice!!!

Tag der glücklichen Freigabe!

(aka, Happy Day of Release!)

Today In drei Tagen bist du wieder tot releases into the wild in Germany.



We sold the translation rights to THREE DAYS TO DEAD and AS LIE THE DEAD back in late January to Droemer. They bought it for part of their new PAN imprint, which focuses exclusively on urban fantasy and paranormal. I also find myself in the awesome company of Maggie Stiefvater and Kathryn Smith.

So yes, I am in the strange position of having my very first novel release in a foreign country before it releases here. It's actually pretty cool.

I hope you like it, Germany! *kisses*

September Winner!

You guys rock! There were so many awesome and hilarious captions for that photo that I want to make them all into t-shirts. Thanks to everyone who participated in the Countdown: September Contest!

Randomizer.org has spoken, and the winner is:

LADAMS!

"Do me a favor, Clark. Lose your sense of humor!" -Batman

Shoot me your info [mail (at) kellymeding.com ] and I'll get your books and secret prize out to you!

Happy October!

Happy October! Another month down, only three more to go in 2009. Can't quite believe it.

There's still time to enter in the Countdown: September! Contest, so be sure to check it out. Contest closes at midnight, Pacific time, which leaves about sixteen and a half hours to play. I love all of the entries so far. You guys rock!

Today also kicks off Halloween Havoc, over at the League of Reluctant Adults.



It's a month-long celebration that will include interviews, guest blogs, and any other random miscellany we can come up with to entertain you. So be sure to hang out over there!

September ended on a high-note for me. Not only did I connect a couple of dots in my series's over-all story arc, but I also got my editorial letter for AS LIE THE DEAD! Double-score! Dear Editor loved it, said it was tight and well-executed. I've heard so many stories from other authors who've struggled with "second book syndrome" that I feel extremely lucky. ALTD was almost easier to write than TDTD--I think because I'd already built the world and laid out the groundwork. All I had to do in the sequel was expand upon what was there, instead of starting it all from scratch.

The trick, of course, was matching or surpassing the emotional impact of the first book, and sounds like I hit the mark. Phew! And Dear Editor's suggestions will make the book shine. The value of a terrific editor is impossible to put into words, but she is amazing and I can't wait to dig into this.

Plus, five pages of edits versus nine for TDTD? *pumps fist*

Countdown: September Contest

CONTEST CLOSED!!!

It's that time of the month again! Second to last Countdown contest for THREE DAYS TO DEAD, although certainly not the last contest I'll run. Just wait until I get my author copies. *g*

So I mentioned books in my last post. Books I will be giving away (not all at once). Here they are:



This contest's winner will receive four randomly selected books from that stack. As you can see, there are all kinds and lots of popular authors. There will also be a bonus prize (no, I'm not telling) with the books.

So what's the contest this month?

Y'all know I was at Dragon*Con earlier this month, and I had great fun snapping photos of all the folks in costume. Well, one night I caught this particular shot from across a hotel lobby, and it just makes me giggle every time I look at it.

It needs a good caption, folks! So...give me your caption ideas! Submit your captions in the comments section. Each caption is one entry, so if you submit six, you are entered six times in the drawing. Make them clever, make them funny, make them snarky! Just make them original!

The photo:



Entries will be accepted until Thursday night, 11:59 pm Pacific. So put your creative caps on and have at it!

New August Contest Winner & Future Contest Deets!

Alas, the original winner of the Countdown: August! Contest has gone missing, so I've drawn a new winner.

Congrats: UniquelyMoi! Email me [ mail@kellymeding.com ] your prize choices (any 3 in-stock mass market paperbacks) and I'll get them out to you.

On the September and October contest fronts, I've got a pretty neat prize packs accumulating. Every year for a few years now, my dad helps out after his local library's book sale is over by hauling away the leftovers. He knows a wonderful lady out my way who takes them off his hands. After helping him pack, haul, and unpack two van-loads of books (appox. 6000 or thereabouts), we still had a few boxes of paperbacks leftover that didn't fit. So instead of leaving them at the library, we went through them. Kept some. Tossed some.

I found some awesome titles in perfect shape hiding in amongst cracked spines and torn covers. Some I kept for myself (woot!), but also I will be giving away ten of them--urban fantasy, paranormal romance, historical romance, and SF. Names such as Briggs, Vincent, Green, Armstrong and Sizemore.

So stay tuned!

Prey - Spoilers!

Prey by Rachel Vincent


My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I only first picked up "Stray" last month, and once I received the rest of the books from Amazon, I dove into them, finally finishing with "Prey" last night. Finished it after lusting over the last 200 pages for five hours at work! Know when I had to put the book down and go to work? Right around the time Jace and Kaci came racing out of the woods. ARG!!!!

This is my favorite so far. The tension is high almost from the start, because of all the events of previous books, and it never relents until the final showdown. Faythe is pummeled, both literally and figuratively, from all directions in this one, and she's finally starting to grow up and act like the leader she's going to be.

One of the things I love the most about this series is that Ms. Vincent isn't afraid to punish her characters. Not just physically, but also emotionally. They don't always get what they want. There isn't always a happy outcome. But the characters persevere.


SPOILERS!!!!!

SERIOUSLY, SPOILERS!


I like an author that makes the sacrifices for the sake of the story, so kudos for having the guts to kill off Ethan. And for having a deft writing hand and the ability to make the scenes afterward bleed with emotion and grief. Well done.

I am now with the rest of Ms. Vincent's fans, eagerly awaiting "Shift" next year.

View all my reviews >>

Two Quickies

(it's not what you think)

First, my website is currently down for maintenance. Hopefully it will be back soon.

Second, TWO MORE MONTHS! Sixty days! Ack!

Calling August Contest Winner!

Yes, I can be somewhat scatterbrained at times. Between Dragon*Con, recovering from Dragon*Con, and other crazy things, I neglected to realize that I never heard from the Countdown: August winner.

faerywitch! If you're out there, please contact me by Saturday (9/26). If I don't hear from you, I'll have to draw a new winner. :(

Top 3 Emmy Moments

Yes, I watched the Emmy Awards last night. I actually liked the new format, dividing the awards up by genre. I knew exactly when to take a snack break.

As expected, Neil Patrick Harris was an amazing host--funny and personal.

My top 3 moments:

3. Battlestar Galactica was included in the Drama Series clips, finally getting some mainstream love.



2. Angel and Bill. Together. On stage. In formal wear.



1. Dr. Horrible's Interruption

Talk to Me

This is the post in which I open up the comments section to my blog readers and ask you: What Do You Want Me to Post About?

Sometimes I find things to blog about each and every day for a while. Sometimes the blog goes a week without a peep. It ebbs and flows according to my meatspace life and mental state, which is the same for many, many 'Net related things.

But I want to know--what do you guys want to see? What sort of posts do you like? Should I talk more about THREE DAYS TO DEAD? Less? More book reviews? Fewer book reviews? More discussion posts? More silly rants in which I make a goofball of myself?

Sound off and talk to me. I really am interested. You're my audience, and I want to keep the blog interesting for y'all.

Night Owl Romance Top Pick!

Lookee what I have:



THREE DAYS TO DEAD received a 5/5 heart rating at Night Owl Romance!!!

I don't know what to say, except thank you, Leslee, for your generous and wonderful review. I am beyond thrilled and awed and extremely humbled by the advanced reviews TDTD has received so far. Sixty-nine more days!

RIP, Patrick Swayze

One of my all-time favorite movies is Francis Ford Coppola's adaptation of "The Outsiders." It's a fabulous novel and a truly wonderful piece of cinema--especially the recently released extended version, which includes previously cut scenes and a new soundtrack.



I just watched this film a few weeks ago, for the bazillionth time, and was, as always, struck by the quality of acting from the cast of (then relatively unknown) actors. Including the portrayal of eldest brother Darryl Curtis, by Patrick Swayze. Equal parts angry caretaker and vulnerable sibling, he made the role his own.



Patrick made his mark with a varied career: a guerrilla teen warrior in "Red Dawn," a southern gentleman in "North & South," the sexiest dance instructor ever in "Dirty Dancing," and most recently in the A&E series "The Beast." He made clay sculpting into an erotic art form in "Ghost," and he made cross-dressing look easy in "Too Wong Foo."

Even after his twenty-month struggle with pancreatic cancer, I was shocked to hear Patrick passed away today. Shocked and truly saddened.

Rest in Peace.

"It's amazing Molly. The love inside, you take it with you."
--Sam Wheat, "Ghost"

Changing Seasons

Good grief, where did September go? No, seriously. Where? Two weeks into the month already, and I feel like it's still August (except for the chilly nights we've had recently). The weather is cooling off, it's getting dark sooner, and before I'm ready for it, the leaves will start to turn.

I think I'm partial to spring, rather than fall. In the spring, things are warming up, waking up, coming alive. In the fall, the world is cooling off and going to sleep. And it will officially be autumn in a week. *boggles*

Summer? Where, oh where did you go?

Home Again

And very sad about this. I had so much fun at Dragon*Con! I am definitely going back next year.

Will, of course, post details and pix as soon as my brain un-fogs. The lack of sleep and deluge of bad food has made me somewhat fuzzy-brained today. Thank God I don't have to work the day job.

I think my cat missed me. She's been attached to my hip since I got home last night. Silly thing.

Coffee IV-drip, STAT!

Away for the Weekend

As if anyone is surprised. I'm leaving early tomorrow to head to my parents' house. They've lovingly volunteered to drive me 3 hours to the airport, so I can fly to Atlanta, GA for DRAGON*CON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ye-haw! I'm am both excited and terrified. Thank God there are bars in the hotels. If anyone is about, be sure to stop by the New Blood panel on Friday morning and say hello!

There will be many pictures and updates when I get home. Well, maybe the day after I get home. So probably Tuesday.

Peace!

Tempest Rising by Nicole Peeler


My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I was very lucky to get an e-ARC from the awesome Nicole Peeler, for her debut novel TEMPEST RISING.

Jane True is a fresh new voice among urban fantasy heroines. I don't want to say too much, for fear of spoilers, but if you want a book that's sassy, funny, and full of less-seen mythic critters, this one is for you. Be sure to pick it up come November!

View all my reviews >>

Contest Winner

Thank you, all, for the amazing responses to the Countdown: August! Contest. There were some great books mentioned--some I've read, some I've been meaning to. Plus a few I've not heard of. Yay!

Reminder of the prize: choice of 3 mass market paperbacks that are available in stock at either Amazon or BN (nothing out of print, nothing not yet in print).

And the winnah is....

faerywitch!

Please email me your book choices by Wednesday of this week, if you can, because I'm leaving for Dragon*Con on Thursday. If I don't hear from you before I go, I won't be able to get them out to you until I get back early next week. :)

My email: mail (at) kellymeding.com

Thanks for playing, everyone!

Anthology Q at FFF

Wow, you guys! Such amazing responses so far on the Countdown: August! Contest. Just a reminder, it's open for comments until Sunday, 8/30.

Today, I asked a question about Anthologies, over at Fangs, Fur & Fey. Stop by and weigh in!

Countdown: August! Contest

No worries, I didn't forget this month! I just haven't been online much this week. I've given myself a break from writing and decided to immerse in reading. Which has been fun, because I've read three books since Sunday--usually the max I can manage in a week, and it's only Thursday!

So far, I've read:

Red-Headed Stepchild, by Jaye Wells. I'm ashamed it took me this long to read my agency-sib's book, and feel equally dumb for putting it off because I enjoyed it so much. Hairless cats rule! So if you haven't read Jaye's book, what are you waiting for?

Stray, by Rachel Vincent. I'm equally ashamed to admit I bought this when it was first released. Why the wait? No idea. I've only heard good things about this series. But I finally read it (started it while waiting at the vet's with a cat, LOL!) and it was awesome. I was very annoyed my local bookstore didn't have any of the others in stock. I hate waiting!

The Darkest Whisper, by Gena Showalter. Devoured this, as with all the other Lords of the Underworld books. I can't get enough of this series. The side stories and subplots are continually as intriguing as the main couple's story, and the world continues to expand with each installment.

EDIT: CONTEST CLOSED!!!

THE CONTEST

This one is simple. Tell me about the last three books you read, and you're entered in the drawing. Contest is open until Sunday evening, at which time I'll draw the winner.

THE PRIZE

Prize is three In-Stock Mass-Market paperbacks of your choice. Mass-market means the small books, usually priced between $6.99-7.99 retail. They must be current releases (I can't get not-yet-published or out-of-print books, sorry) and available in-stock from either Amazon or B&N.

And....GO!

First Chapter Online

I always stumble across this stuff and get all *SQUEE!* when I see it.

The first chapter of THREE DAYS TO DEAD is up at Barnes & Noble.com. So run on over if you want a sneak peek at what's coming soon!

Three more months. Ack!

It's Amazing What You Find...

...when you randomly Google yourself.



The German translation of THREE DAYS TO DEAD, also known as "In drei Tagen bist du wieder tot," is available on the German/Europe version of eBay. Five copies. It makes me wonder, though, since it isn't scheduled for official release until 10/5.

Huh.

After lack of sleep and a rousing morning with the plumbers pulling dryer sheets (yes, I said dryer sheets, and I blame the previous tenants) out of the main line, my day of oddball amusements continues.

New Review & Other News

Wendy, at The Book Lush, has posted a terrific advance review of THREE DAYS TO DEAD. She has some wonderful things to say, and I am absolutely thrilled at the response TDTD has been getting.

Thanks, Wendy!

In other book news, work has begun on cover copy for AS LIE THE DEAD. Cover copy is the written stuff--all of the words you see and where they are placed, from the title and author's name, to back cover summary and blurbs. It's fun to see what they're using and where.

I also have a tentative release date for ALtD. I'll post it soon, but it's definitely Summer '10.

And I can't believe Dragon*Con is in two weeks!!!! Eep! I'm so excited to go and see so many fabulous authors (oh yeah, and actors and stuff). I don't remember if I mentioned it before, but I'm on a panel. Friday, 11:30 am, and I believe it's called "New Blood." I've already told Nicole Peeler that she's doing all my talking for me. Public speaking scares the crap out of me. *wibbles*

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins


My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This was didn't make a 5-star book for me because of the slow beginning. I started it six days ago, got about seventy pages in, and put it down. It took me five days to pick it back up. I was having a hard time seeing what was so special (other than the hook).

Doing my duty as an aunt and babysitting my infant niece last night, I had a block of four hours to sit down and read, so I took this book. And couldn't put it down. Once Katniss begins the steps that take her to the playing field, the story really kicks into high gear, and I was sucked back in.

And wow. I sobbed at least three times. It was impossible to forget that these were KIDS! which just added to the tragedy. The tension was wonderfully done throughout Parts 2 and 3, and the final solution to the Games was perfect.

Now that I've given the book a chance, I'm very eager for the sequel next month.

View all my reviews >>

FOX's Peter Pan and the Pirates

Every once in a while, I'll go browsing around YouTube. It's amazing what you can find on it, and somehow I found myself watching the opening themes to half a dozen different cartoons I loved as a child (My Little Ponies, Jem, Gummi Bears, She-Ra, to name a few).

Then I thought about a show I adored during its first run: Peter Pan and the Pirates. I was completely in love with this show, as it came on right around the time I was really discovering Peter Pan--the Disney film, the novel, and a few of the other novels that have come out since.

I remember loving the opening theme music, and after hearing it again, I still do.



And apparently all 65 episodes are available online.

Must. Resist. Time. Sink.

What old shows do you find yourself wanting to go back and re-experience?

Oh, For Frak's Sake!

Anyone who dares to tackle yet another re-imagining of "Battlestar Galactica" has either got a pair of brass ones, or he's a lunatic. Stark raving mad.



After the critically acclaimed run of Ron Moore's BSG on the SciFi Channel (I refuse to admit to such a thing as SyFy), the need to succeed at bringing the franchise to the big screen is enormous. There are millions of dedicated fans to not impress, but blow away. Oh yes, this film Bryan Singer is developing will have to be something extra special good to appeal to the fans of the new show.

Granted, there are fans of the original 1978 series who thumbed their noses at Moore's vision, and who've yet to give the new series a chance. Perhaps Singer hopes to appeal to those fans? I dunno. Maybe.



The SciFi series had it's flaws, to be sure, but those flaws were far overshadowed by a series rife with excellent narrative, superb acting, amazing special effects, and moving, emotional storylines. I'm sure some folks will argue with this assessment, but to me, as far as television shows go, BSG was pretty darn close to perfect.

I'll be keeping an eye on this as it develops, trust me.

One Week as Lovers by Victoria Dahl


My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This one is definitely going into my Top 10 So Far list.

I admit, it's my first foray into historical romance in at least a decade. I was inspired to pick it up by a review from the Book Smugglers blog, and I am so grateful.

(MINOR SPOILERS)

It was beautifully written, and had a sweet and satisfying love story that, while ending with the promise of an HEA, didn't tie it up in a neat little bow. They had to work for it.

I'll also admit to a weakness for damaged heroes (as my best friend, who's read all of my unpublished books, can attest to), and Nick certainly fit the bill, hurting hard beneath a jovial exterior.

Definitely recommend.

View all my reviews >>

Song Specific

When I was writing THREE DAYS TO DEAD, I had a specific compilation of music I played over and over. It's a mix of songs with lyrics and scores. Songs often popped up that remind of situations and themes. There are songs that remind me of Evy, and songs that make me think of specific scenes in the novel. But I never had one that, to me, screamed WYATT!

Wyatt Truman, the hero of TDTD, is such a complicated, reticent guy, that I didn't really get a handle on him until writing AS LIE THE DEAD. He was finally forced to face some metaphorical demons and, as goofy as this always sounds to non-writers, I finally learned more about him.

The other day, I was stuck in a traffic detour around a 2-lane accident (my third, accident-related detour in 2.5 weeks, no less). I was flipping stations, trying to get a traffic report, and hit on a song that stopped me cold. It was the chorus that hit a chord in me. I know I'd heard the song before, but I couldn't place it. As soon as I got home (an hour and a half later), I Googled.

And found it. Wyatt's song.

Three Days to Dead - First Review!

Remember how I said knowing review copies were going out, that it made the whole process feel more real? Wanna know how it feels to see the first review of your book show up online?

Frakkin unreal! And fantastic!

The very generous Rachael, from Enchanted by Books, has posted her thoughts on THREE DAYS TO DEAD, and I couldn't be more ecstatic.

Check it out!

In Two Months....

...my book will be for sale in Germany.

Thinking about this continues to crack me up. The (mis)adventures of Evy Stone and Company will available across the pond a full month and 19 days before it releases here in the States (and Canada and the UK). And it's fitting, in a way, me being a little more than a quarter German (my dad's half, and there's some on my mom's side, too).



So YAY! for the Germany release countdown!

Posting at the League

Today I have a discussion post up at the League of Reluctant Adults, called Twisting the Classics.

Please stop by and weigh in!

A Present in the Mail

Last week, a good friend who works in a Calgary library emailed and said she'd found something on her desk. It was a cover flat for THREE DAYS TO DEAD that had been sent to her library, and did I want it?

Um, YES!

It arrived this morning, and it's absolutely gorgeous. It's hard to photograph something with a shiny finish, so the colors aren't as vivid in the photo as they are on the cover. The details of the background are amazing. I'm tempted to wrap it around another paperback just TO SEE, but I don't want to bend its loveliness.



The back has a little ad for the second book, as well as book/ordering information, marketing, and notes about already selling German rights. SQUEE!

After fighting with the internet all morning, this was a great way to get rid of the Monday blahs. Thanks so much, Marie-Anne! You are the best!

Closer to Real

There are many, many steps on the path from contract to publication, and each one makes the entire thing feel more real. And I think I've stumbled into the next-to-last step right before holding the book in my eager little hands: reviews and promo.

One of the awesome reviewers who'd requested an ARC of THREE DAYS TO DEAD emailed me yesterday to say she'd received the manuscript. I had a brief moment of WAAHOO!!! followed by sudden terror.

It's one thing to convince an agent and editor your book is worth their time and investment. It's another thing to get wonderful cover blurbs from authors you adore. It's a fantastic feeling for folks to love your cover art as much as you do.

But hearing that a complete stranger will now be reading and reviewing this book I've lived with for the better part of two years? Terrifying.

It makes the entire thing seem closer to real. I didn't just imagine this book deal, or hallucinate the cover. Copies are going out. Strangers will be deciding whether or not they like it. Gak! I'm as scared of this step as I am excited by it.

So in the interest of not appearing too wussy about the whole thing: Bring it on!

*g*

July Contest Winner and Another (Not Mine) Contest

And the randomized winner of the Countdown: July! Contest is:

RKCharron!

Congrats! Be sure to email me [ mail(at)kellymeding.com ] with your mailing address, and I'll get your books out to you!

#

Also!

Over at Literary Escapism, Jackie is holding a contest that is very dear to my heart. Her Devil Speak Contest is an answer to the recent way that covers for UF and PNR novels have come under fire. These are the questions she asks:

What other novels have been grossly underappreciated due to the Tramp Stamping trend? For all those “meh cover, story not worth it” attitudes, what have they missed out on?

So run over and speak your mind. There are even prizes involved. *G*

Countdown: July! Contest

(side note: I just realized this is my blog's 300th post!)

EDIT: CONTEST CLOSED!!!

This month's Countdown Contest is a simple one, inspired by an email conversation I had last week with my crit partner, Nancy. I couldn't decide on which book from my massive TBR pile was next for consumption. So many choices, so little time, and I didn't know what I was in the mood for.

She emails me back: start from the left and count over five books. Read the sixth.

To which I promptly replied: which shelf? There are three.

Her answer: Third shelf (damn woman!)

Ha!

Usually, it doesn't take three emails for me to pick a book. If I just bought something new I've been waiting for, it gets read. If I'm in the mood for a particular type of story (romance, werewolves, vamps, other...), I pick one of those.

What does this have to do with the contest? The contest is a simple drawing from the comments section. In order to enter, please Comment and tell me how you usually decide what to read next. Do you keep all new purchases in order and read them that way? Do you close your eyes and pluck a book off the shelf?

How do you choose?

The prizes for this contest are two books releasing this week that I'm eager to read:

DESTINED FOR AN EARLY GRAVE, Jeaniene Frost (okay, so eager isn't quite a powerful enough word for how much I want to read this)

THE THORN QUEEN, Richelle Mead (2nd Dark Swan book)

Contest is open until Wednesday 7/29, Noon EST.

Not Really Gone

Yes, I am alive. Sorry for the extended absence.

Ever have one of those weeks where you feel like the needle has fallen off your compass, so you can't tell if you're going around in circles or making progress? That's been me. I can't say for sure if the needle is firmly attached yet. We'll see.

News that has nothing to do with anything important: I have a tan for the first time in several years. Okay, so it's a farmer's tan (shorts and sneaker lines), but my arms and face are a lovely shade of honey brown now. And the weather is holding steady in the mid-eighties. I wonder if we can make it all the way to August without turning on the air conditioning....

We went to the Delaware State Fair last night. First time in several years that I've been here and able to go. I have so many memories of the Fair. Attending with my grandparents and walking through each and every barn (horses, cows, and goats, oh my!). Going on the midway rides on coupon day with my sister and dad (and nearly having a sun stroke one year). Eating fried chicken at the Grange. Fresh kettle corn. The World's Smallest Horse. Vendors and freebies and shows...

It was my niece's first year at the Fair, and she just had a blast. She pet her first goat and her first horse. *g*

And yes, there will be a Countdown: July! contest. I'll either do it tomorrow or Monday, I haven't decided. So stay tuned!!!

An Experiment in Writing

As promised, a bit more about the manuscript I mentioned having finished over the weekend. Normally, I don't try to get any real work done while I'm attending a convention, but I was in the middle of the final chapter and I knew the ending. I was thinking about it for the entire 3-hour drive to Baltimore. Not finishing it was impossible.

So what's this one about? Four words: djinn, vampires, Necromancy, hostages. (Oh my!)

Yeah, I know, it doesn't tell you much. Writing this one (and I'll call it DVNH, because I can't come up with a title I like yet) was a bit of an experiment for me. I brainstormed the initial idea in the wee hours of a Friday night sangria-and-movie fest with my best friend. Ever seen the movie Feast? It's an awesome horror film, so go out and rent it (but avoid the sequels, they kind of sucked....no, they really sucked). There's a line in the film, in which a character says, "We're being held hostage." Something about it clicked--monsters holding people hostage.

No, wait, vampires holding people hostage! But where? And why? And who would deal with such a crisis?

That's how it started.

I woke up Saturday morning (May 2, as a matter of fact) amazingly not hung over, spent about three hours doing some basic research on a few things and coming up with a handful of characters. Then I started writing it. I wrote almost every day for the entire month of May and banged out 50k words (it was like my own NaNoWriMo). In June, I put it aside for a while to do some revisions on other things, and came back to writing it again around the middle/end of June. It was hard getting back into the story, but once I did the last 35k poured out.

Granted, it needs some work, because I allowed myself to do something a little different while writing this draft--I used placeholders. If I didn't know a location, I wrote PLACE or TOWN. If I wasn't sure about a specific detail, I left RESEARCH in the paragraph. So the draft is littered with little roadsigns, places I need to return to and expand on. I need to expand on the world building quite a bit, and add tidbits of backstory now that I know my characters better.

I have a different book with my agent right now, so I don't have any immediate plans for DVNH, beyond shaping it up and coming up with a title that actually stands for something. Fortunately, I have an awesome crit partner (*waves at Nancy*) who's listened to me blather on about this book since I started it, so knowing she'd waiting to read it makes me happy.

So I chalk this up as an experiment gone right. We'll see what the end results bear in the future.

Shore Leave Recap

Home again.

Shore Leave 31 was a blast, as always. I arrived fairly early on Friday, so I was able to lounge by the pool and read for a bit. Over the weekend, I finished reading one book and started another, so yay! Spent a lot of time Saturday bouncing around to different writing-specific panels. For the last few years, I've been attending a Screen (and Other) Writing Workshop lead by tie-in and comics author Howard Weinstein, and it was really cool to speak with him afterward. Mostly to say thanks for the advice over the years and tell him about my book. It's awesome to be able to tell someone that their workshop has affected you in a meaningful way. So thank you, again, Howie!

And having my niece Jade around was cool. She was a big hit with people. She's such a happy baby. And having a stroller helps get you through the autograph line quicker. Hehe. She was quite taken with actor Ethan Phillips (Star Trek: Voyager).



Saturday night they turn the ballroom into a kind of techno dance club called Ten-Forward, and there's a cash bar. I spent the night dancing with a Klingon. Yes. I did. It was a lot of fun (*waves at To's*), if somewhat exhausting.

If you're a SF fan, and you ever get a chance to see Robert Picardo and Ethan Phillips speak together, DO IT. They are hysterical, and their comic timing is genius.

Over the weekend, I also finished writing another book. I think I've teased this WIP a bit, but I'll do a longer post on it later in the week. More the process than the contents.

How else had a good weekend? Bueller?

Shore Leave Ahoy!

Yep, it's that time of year again. Tomorrow I shuttle off for Shore Leave 31, a fan-run convention in the Marriott's Hunt Valley Inn, just a few miles outside of Baltimore, MD. This is my eighth or ninth year attending (they're starting to blur), and it's always a fun weekend of geekery, fandom, fun and entertainment.

Plus I'm going early tomorrow in order to lounge by the pool for a few hours. Yay!

Have a great weekend!

Go Deeper....

Deeper by Megan Hart

My review

rating: 5 of 5 stars
With each new release, Megan Hart takes us on a journey of emotion--love, pain, anger, regret, joy, all of it. DEEPER is a journey through regret. Choices made and pasts we can't escape. Loves we never forget.



It's nearly impossible to say what I loved about this book without spoiling it. For both its simplicity and complexity, it's a wonderful story, and the ending (which is also the best kind of new beginning for heroine Bess) was a perfect fit. I think DEEPER has just surpassed BROKEN as my favorite Hart novel.



It doesn't hurt that I have a soft spot for the location of the novel. Having been raised at the Delaware beaches, I loved that this one was set in Bethany Beach. Spot on.


View all my reviews.

Say What Now?

So part of what made last week so stressful was the sudden, conscious realization that I had one month to pack up a house, find a place, and move. One month. And I'm a pack rat with a pack rat roommate, so yes, we have lots of stuff.

What happened Saturday morning at 8am? The phone rings, and it's our landlord. He's decided not to sell, he tells us, and is sorry he didn't let us know sooner. After I about fell over laughing, I wanted to slap myself for not following up on the whole moving thing sooner. Yes, I take some responsibility for this. *sigh*

The good news, though, is that we're no longer moving. I really do love living here (even though the bathroom door is having closing issues). I love the town and the huge kitchen and the back porch. So we get to stay at least another year, which is a huge weight off my shoulders. *happy dance*

Now I just need to unpack all 13 cartons of books I'd already boxed up, and hope the recycle guys take these dozens of empty boxes I toted home from work last week.

Happy 4th of July!

It's been a bit of a bummer week, so instead of trying to be interesting or funny, I'll leave you with one of my favorite film speeches of all time.

Fangs, Fur & Fey Post

I have a discussion post up at Fangs, Fur & Fey today!

25 Weeks, 35 Books

Since today is the last day of June and marks the end of the first six months of 2009, I wanted to a quick recap of my reading habits. I started the year with a personal goal to read at least a book a week. Sometimes I met it, sometimes I didn't. Once I eve managed three books in a single week (yay!).

I won't list all 35 books I read this year, but if you're interested, check out my Read in 2009 Goodreads sidebar a few scrolls down the page here.

What I thought I'd do instead is pick out my five favorite for this half of the year. In December, I'll do the same thing for that half (and set a goal of 40 books, how about that!?).

In no particular order, my five favorite reads of 2009:

The Darkest Pleasure (Lords of the Underworld #3), by Gena Showalter

Stranger, by Megan Hart

Hotter Than Hell (Hell On Earth, Book 3), by Jackie Kessler

Iron Kissed (Mercy Thompson #3), by Patricia Briggs

Nice Girls Don't Have Fangs, by Molly Harper

What are your favorite reads of the year so far?

Countdown: June! Contest Winner

The winner has been announced over at the League.

Congrats, Beth! Not only will you receive a signed copy of Linda Robertson's debut, VICIOUS CIRCLE, but you're also entered into the pot for this fall's drawing for an early copy of THREE DAYS TO DEAD.

Countdown: June! Contest

I knew I forgot to post somewhere yesterday. Oops.

The June contest is up and running over at the League of Reluctant Adults. There's a fabulous interview with debut author Linda Robertson, and she'll be answering your questions until Monday (29th) morning. A random commenter will be selected to win a signed copy of Linda's debut, VICIOUS CIRCLE, on sale June 30th!

So head over and check it out!

The Number 24

Maybe this is, after some reflection, my new lucky number. Let me count the ways.

* Today is the 24th, also my birthday

* "24" is one of the best TV shows ever

* The song "24" by Jem is one of my favorite songs, and something I listened to repeatedly while writing THREE DAYS TO DEAD

* 24 hours in a day

* December 24 is Christmas Eve

* 2+4=6, and 24 is divisible by 6, 2, and 4 (I don't know if this means anything other than I've overthought this a little)

* The 24th of November is when my book comes out, 5 months from today!!!!

So after spending the bulk of today reading and poking at a story, I'll be heading off the continue Birthday celebrations with a viewing of Transformers 2, and then on to drink and dance at Seacrets in Ocean City.

Have a great Wednesday, folks! And don't forget, Countdown: June! Contest will be hosted at the League this coming Friday!

Mark of the Demon

Today marks the release of debut author and fellow Reluctant Adult Diana Rowland's urban fantasy novel MARK OF THE DEMON. If you don't have a copy, get to your local bookstore. You don't want to miss it!



Congrats, Diana!!!

June Contest is Coming!

Countdown: June is coming soon, probably the end of this week. Friday is looking good.

It will also be a little different this time. The contest will be hosted over at the League of Reluctant Adults, will consist of an interview (with someone not me), a signed book giveaway, and questions from you guys!

So stay tuned!

15 Books

I found this meme via Literary Escapism, who found it via Carrie Vaughn's blog. The deets: Don’t take too long to think about it. Fifteen books you’ve read that will always stick with you. First fifteen you can recall in no more than 15 minutes.

My Books:

1. Watership Down, by Richard Adams
2. The Story Girl/The Golden Road, by LM Montgomery
3. My Dark Places, by James Ellroy
4. The Girl With the Silver Eyes, by Willo Davis Roberts
5. The Fear Street series, by RL Stine
6. Night World series, LJ Smith
7. Iron Kissed, by Patricia Briggs (all the Mercy books, but this one especially)
8. The Alien Huntress series, Gena Showalter
9. The Stand, by Stephen King
10. Ramona Quimby series, Beverly Cleary
11. Imzadi, by Peter David
12. Band of Brothers, by Stephen
13. North & South, by John Jakes
14. White Fang, by Jack London
15. The New Teen Titans comic series (1980), created by Marv Wolfman & George Perez

Buffy V Edward

Love. This. Vid.

Memory Lane

So my Google-Fu turned up a nostalgic article from "The Cape Gazette," the local paper where I grew up. Dated July 6, 1994, it announced me as the grand prize winner of our middle school's Accelerated Reading Program.

Basically, we read books from a specific list, then took computer tests on those books. We were awarded points based on how many questions we got right, the length of the book, the reading level, etc... I was always a voracious reader, and I remember taking tests almost every day during that program. Sometimes several tests per day. I was never an athletic child, so reading was something I could be good at, something I thought I could even be the best at.

I suppose it's just another one of those little sign posts that should have pointed me toward this current time in my life--being a published novelist. Thank you, Milton Middle School.

They Say Imitation is the Sincerest Form of Flattery

It's been a long, strange week. Lots of thunderstorms have come in and out of the area, which makes me nervous for hurricane season. I mean, we get rain in the spring and early summer, but not severe storms with lightning, thunder, wind, and hail, and not several times a week. Yikes. Our little section of the Eastern Shore hasn't been directly hit by a hurricane since the sixties. Makes me wonder if we're due.

So while the yard sale of several weeks ago was a complete bust, our trip down south to a local flea market was not. Roomie and I loaded up both of our cars and sold about a third of what we took (not quite half). Lots of big stuff went away, and we both have extra cash for Shore Leave next month (woo hoo, it's almost here!). Plus I got a nice tan, and local veggies were cheap at one of the stalls. Definitely a win.

Needless to say, getting up 4:30 am to trek to the flea market and being in a sun all day made for fatigue. So I vegged on a couch for a while and watched the end of Serenity on the SciFi Channel. As it ended, they played a preview for their Saturday night movie of the week, and I didn't pay attention until the voice over guy said "starring Enterprise's Connor Trinneer, and Heroes' James Kyson Lee."

I perked up. I decided to give it a chance.

The movie was called Star Runners. The effects were pretty cheesy. The storyline was very derivative. But you know what? The acting was overall very good, so I found myself entertained for two hours. Plus, scruffy Connor is always a win for me. I liked seeing him play the lead/hero for a change. Even if he was playing some odd amalgamation of Malcolm Reynolds and Han Solo.

It was Serenity, Pitch Black and Star Wars, rolled up with a small side dish of X-Men (gotta love the "next stage of human evolution" line).

Here's the gist (SPOILERS): a pair of smugglers (*cough*) played by Trinneer and Lee are captured by the insidious, intergalactic ruling body (*cough*) and blackmailed into helping them retrieve a package from a space station. Instead of a package, they find a frozen girl in a box (*COUGH*) who is very, very special (*cough*COUGH*). They get off the station on board a public transport ship, which then crash lands on an uncharted planet (*cough*), and only a handful survive. They aren't alone on the planet--giant carnivorous insects live there, but they only come out at a certain time of day (*cough*), which had something to do with solar flares. Survivors start getting eaten. We start to see there's something unusual about the frozen chick (like rapid healing, impervious to radiation, being a human torch, those sorts of things). (*snort*) Turns out the insidious, intergalactic ruling body was part of some slimy cover-up to do with both the uncharted planet and frozen chick's home town. The good guys want to get the word out and make sure people know this. **COUGH** *gasp* *wheeze*

Anywho, the movie was built on the spare parts of things we've seen and were done better, but it was still entertaining. There was a death I didn't expect when it happened, and the climax was a little unbelievable. They didn't do the cliched "rugged hero gets the girl" thing at the end.

And like I said, scruffy Connor is made of WIN!

The Return of Zack Morris

I promise to post something more substantial than videos fairly soon, but I came across this one and it just tickled me. I grew up watching "Saved by the Bell." I still catch reruns on TBS whenever possible. The show, for all its dated styles and slang, still cracks me up.

So if this reunion happens, I'm so tuning in.

This Is Why I Adore NPH

I'm All For Suspension of Disbelief...

...but come on!

Last night I sat through My Bloody Valentine 3-D (the 2-D version, though, because rentals don't come with 3-D glasses). I was in the mood for a splatter movie. Jensen Ackles and Kerr Smith are hot. It got half-decent reviews. And aside from the strange-looking 3-D-effects-rendered-2-D moments, it wasn't a bad story. I liked the "twist."

My issue?

The movie is set in a West Virginia mining town, in February. February! So why were folks running around in light sweater coats? And there were leaves on the trees!

I know, I know, they probably had the film the movie in April or something, but come on. There are not leaves on the trees in WV, in the ass-end of winter.

*sigh*

Books, Books, Everywhere!

Since last month's contest winner was already the proud owner of the books I offered up as prizes, she will soon be the proud owner of the following titles:

NICE GIRLS DON'T HAVE FANGS by Molly Harper
RED HEADED STEP CHILD by Jaye Wells
ANGELS BLOOD by Nalini Singh

Awesome choices!

Yesterday was also a great day for New Releases, and I invaded my local bookstore as soon as I was off from work. One of the books I went for hadn't been shelved yet, but I found others to remove the sting. Among the new, amazing titles weighing down my TBR pile:

BLACK & WHITE, Jackie Kessler and Caitlin Kittredge (I am not allowed to read this until I've finished edits on my own super-hero novel--it's a good incentive, since I've been dying to read this since I first heard about it)

STRANGE ANGELS, Lilli St. Crow

THE REPOSSESSION MAMBO, Eric Garcia (as a huge fan of REPO: THE GENETIC OPERA, I had to try this one)

MAGIC IN THE BLOOD, Devon Monk

STREET MAGIC, Caitlin Kittredge

So much to read, so little time.

What have you guys purchased lately?

New Release Date

So the news I mentioned two posts ago...

THREE DAYS TO DEAD now releases on November 24. It's being pushed back because of an in-house scheduling conflict (no, I don't know with who). The Random House site, as well as a few others, have the new date up. Amazon and everyone else will probably follow shortly.

Please help me pass the word!

Winner! Countdown: May

After a random drawing, the winner of this month's contest is:

Caffey!

You mentioned you had the books offered up as the prizes, so email me at "mail@kellymeding.com" and we'll talk. :)

Congrats!

Housekeeping

The Countdown: May contest is officially closed. Thank you to everyone who participated. The answers were varied and gave me several new authors to check out. I'll post the winner tomorrow afternoon.

I've also got some news I'll post tomorrow (not bad news, but not YAY-SQUEE news, either).

Fun With Numbers

I wonder if the number 27 is my new lucky number. Good things happen for me on the 27th of months.

For example...

On May 27th of last year, I received a career-changing email from my now-agent, Jonathan Lyons, offering representation (a year ago today, which just makes me grin).

On January 27th of this year, I first received word of German interest in my books. A deal was made not long after.

And on October 27th of this year, THREE DAYS TO DEAD releases into the wild, exactly one year and five months after the representation offer.

I think I like the number 27.

Five more months until TDTD is out. *looks at calendar*

Holy crap, when did June get so close?

*boggles*

Countdown: May Contest!

CONTEST CLOSED!

I think I said I'd do this yesterday, but since it was a holiday here in the States, I didn't. I did, however, have a yummy dinner of steamed shrimp and corn on the cob, and I chased it down with the last two episodes of "True Blood" Season One.

Eventually I'll post my thoughts on the series as a whole (as well as my new crush on Sam Trammel). Needless to say, though, I've got vampires on the brain, so this contest is going to revolve around vampires. And it'll be an easy one, I swear.

First, the prizes! Keeping vampires in mind, I thought hard about a fun, vamp-oriented prize, and I decided on books. We all need more books, right? But for added fun, the winner gets a choice.

CHOICE #1: The first three Southern Vampire Mysteries books, by Charlaine Harris (Dead Until Dark, Living Dead in Dallas, Club Dead).

CHOICE #2: The first three Night Huntress books, by Jeaniene Frost (Halfway to the Grave, One Foot in the Grave, At Grave's End).

Both series feature awesome heroines, humor, drama, and varying degrees of sexiness. Plus hot vampires!

So what must one do in order to be eligible for this prize? Leave a comment on this post answering the question below, and you'll be entered into a random drawing. You have until Thursday evening (May 28) to comment.

The Question: IF YOU COULD BE A VAMPIRE IN ANY AUTHOR'S FICTIONAL WORLD, BOUND BY THEIR VAMPIRE RULES, WHICH WOULD YOU CHOOSE AND WHY?

My own answer: I'd like to be a vampire in Molly Harper's NICE GIRLS DON'T HAVE FANGS world. They are starting to mainstream into society, and they can go outside in the daytime with, like, SPF 500 sunscreen.

How about you?

And don't forget: the winner of Countdown: May! is automatically entered into an October drawing for an advance copy of THREE DAYS TO DEAD!

Jacob in the Box

My nephew playing with packing peanuts, courtesy of my brother and Youtube.

I *heart* Shapeshifters

I do. I prefer them over vampires. I suspected as much before, but my taste was reinforced yesterday when I threw myself into Season One of "True Blood." I don't have HBO, so I had to wait for the DVD release last week to get it. After the exhaustion that was our yard sale, all I wanted to do last night was watch TV.

Seven hours of TV. I finally quit at quarter til two, after devouring the first seven eps of TB.

Love. It.

I've probably ranted before about judging movies/shows on their own merits--especially those adapted from another medium, such as graphic novels or books. Part of it is my former-film student geekiness, that recognizes the necessary differences between visual and print media. I have read the first two Sookie books (I'm working on it!), so I could ruthlessly make comparisons. But I won't.

Because I can't. One is not the other. And I love both for their own charms and quirks.

So where is the evidence that I will, 99% of the time, choose the shapeshifter over the vampire? In both the Sookie books and TB, I was rooting for Sam. I love Sam.

Want more evidence? I've never even read the Twilight books, and I will willingly cast my vote for Team Jacob--cuz werewolves are hot. I fell over myself to read all four Mercy Thompson novels once I started them, because of the werewolf awesomeness in those books (heroine shapeshifter bonus!). Give me a paranormal romance with the heroine stuck between choosing a shapeshifter or any other sort of character, and I'll be rooting for the shapeshifter (unless they are irrevocably evil, duh).

I'll chat more about my impressions of "True Blood" once I've finished the series, but for now, I'm enjoying the hell out of it. And I'm seriously considering paying for HBO this summer, just for the new season.

A Note On Growth

I'm sure I've mentioned, at least in passing, the revisions (I like to think of it as a surgical procedure, at the very least) I did back in February/March on my superhero novel. The one I was slapping around in preparation for presenting it to my agent.

The good news is that he likes it. Yay! On Tuesday, we chatted a while about revisions and something he said made me laugh (internally, I'm pretty sure I didn't giggle about it over the phone). (Paraphrasing) "You wrote this before THREE DAYS, right?" "Yes."

Which is where growth comes into play. I have a lot of trunk novels, and I don't regret a single one of them. They helped make me into the writer I am now. I needed the practice, and that simple exchange was confirmation that I have grown as a writer. And growth is important.

The superhero novel still has flaws. Most of my Jonathan's notes hit upon some of the problems I still had with the book, and some of the things my lovely beta Nancy had pointed out to me. Things that still need to be fixed. But I let my subconscious work out the problems for me these last few days, and I think I figured out how to solve several of those issues in one fell swoop.

Cross your fingers for me.

How about you guys? Any moments like this where you realize, "Hey, I have gotten better at this writing thing"?

Heroes, Contests, and Tony, Oh My!

Just a couple of quick things.

First, the awesome Jackie Kessler is giving away copies of her upcoming release BLACK AND WHITE, co-authored with Caitlin Kittredge. I am uber-excited about this book (superheroes!). To get in on the giveaway, you just have to follow Jackie on Twitter. She'll have drawings as she reaches 600, 700, and 800 followers.

Countdown: May! Contest will commence Monday, May 25th. This one will be a little simpler than the last contest, and there will be prizes. As with April, the winner of May is automatically entered into an October drawing for an Advance Copy of THREE DAYS TO DEAD. So look for details this coming Monday!

The new project is moving along swimmingly. In just over two weeks, I've hit the halfway mark and this feat coincided with a flash of insight. I now know who the Big Bad is. Yay! This book is giving me several new Favorite Lines.

And the best part of about last night's "24" finale? It made me dream about Carlos Bernard. *happy sigh*

That New Idea Smell

If only new ideas came with a neat scent, like new cars do. Did you know you can actually buy air sprays that smell like New Car? I kid you not. It's strange, but there's something exciting about that scent. It screams SHINY! NEW! FUN!

It's pretty rare (for me, at this point in my writing career) for me to stumble upon an idea that just reeks of the New Car Smell. The one you want to inhale for hours, roll on the seats, and revel in its awesomeness. I stumbled into one of these ideas on Friday, May 1st, over a pitcher of sangria and an eclectic movie marathon.

Most of my ideas start with a question. THREE DAYS TO DEAD began with, "Why would a dead vampire hunter be brought back to life? What could only she do?" It evolved into something a tad different, but that was the basic question.

The New Car idea I'm playing with now began as, "Why would a coven of vampires hold a town hostage?" I had no idea, so I let my mind wander a bit over the course of the movie marathon. At some point (probably around 2 am), another question occurred tome: "If vampires did take a town hostage, who would be sent in to negotiate?"

I woke up Saturday morning with my mind whirling, did a few hours of research, and by noon I had half a dozen characters and an opening scene in mind. So I started writing. I've written every day since, and my word count is sitting pretty at a healthy 33,000 words.

I'm having fun with this idea, more fun than I've had since I wrote the first draft of TDTD. Exploring a new world, with new characters and their issues, is very freeing. I'm excited to write this, because I'm uncertain where it's going. I'm getting there at the same time as my heroine, and that's part of the excitement of the journey.

Now all I need is a title. :)

How do you guys react to new ideas? Do they take you over?

Read in 2009 Update

As of last night, my count of books read since January 1st is twenty-three. It may not seem like a lot to some, but for me, it's an amazing number. Especially when we're only 18 weeks into the year.

Last week I set a nice little personal record of three books in one week: NICE GIRLS DON'T HAVE FANGS (Molly Harper), TAMING THE FIRE (Sydney Croft), and FOOL MOON (Jim Butcher). Yes, I know, I'm woefully behind on the Dresden books, which is why Grave Peril is next, then I tackle a few more new-to-me authors.

I've said it before, but reading is one of the greatest tools in a Writer's Toolbox, and it's one we have complete control over. I hear a lot of people say, "I don't have time to read," or "I've always wanted to write a novel, but I don't like reading." Um, what? For me, books have become the gasoline in my creative fuel tank--if I don't refill it once in a while, I'm going to lose steam.

What's everyone reading right now?

Star Trek

The new movie was frakkin' awesome! And I say this as someone who did not particularly like the original series. I got started with The Next Generation, and became addicted through Deep Space Nine. And yes, I admit it--I'm one of twelve people who loved Enterprise.

But this movie just rocked. It rocked its cast, its concept, its music, and its fans, without excluding non-fans. The nods were awesome--lots of fun things in there for fans to enjoy, from the first "red shirt" to "Admiral Archer's prized beagle."

Eric Bana makes a truly bad-ass Romulan.

In Drei Tagen Bist Du Weider Tot

If you haven't stopped by the League of Reluctant Adults yet this week, we're having another theme. This week is "The Mother of All Vampires" Week, to celebrate both a Leaguer's release and Mother's Day (this Sunday, folks!). So stop by and join the conversations!

In other news, some random Googling of my name landed me on Droemer's website, where I discovered my German listing for THREE DAYS TO DEAD, as well as the super-hawt cover. The Bond-girl, spy-leather look is pretty awesome.



The title (In Drei Tagen Bist Du Weider Tot) literally translates: In three days you are dead again.

Two other fun facts:

Germany release is 10/05/09, twenty-two days before the US release.

There are apparently three German horror films with the exact same title.

Happy Friday!

Writer Beware Blogs!: Victoria Strauss -- Why You Are Probably Not an Independent Author (or, Another Post for Which I Expect I Will Get Some Flack)

Writer Beware Blogs!: Victoria Strauss -- Why You Are Probably Not an Independent Author (or, Another Post for Which I Expect I Will Get Some Flack)

Or "why changing what you call something doesn't change what it is beneath the label."

Taming the Fire by Sydney Croft

My review

rating: 4 of 5 stars
As soon as my box arrived from Amazon today, I cracked this one open. It didn't disappoint (not that any of them have).



More exciting action from our favorite ACRO operatives, as well as some new and interesting faces. I would have liked more Annika and Creed (cuz they're my favorite couple), but it's a minor thing, since the other story lines were so fascinating.



My only real complaint is that I read it too fast, and the next one isn't due for a while.


View all my reviews.

Author Scoop Interview

I was asked to participate in the "5 Minutes Alone..." series of interviews on Author Scoop, and the interview is now online. I chat briefly about THREE DAYS TO DEAD and writing in general.

If you don't follow Author Scoop, add it to your list. It's a fun and informative resource. Thank you, William Haskins, for allowing me to participate.

DragonCon

The humidity is here, and it's only May 1st. Ick. Not to mention the high pollen alerts. Every morning, my poor car is dusted yellow. Double ick.

I have fun news! Thanks to the awesomeness that is Kat Richardson, I have a room for DragonCon! I am thrilled to be able to attend this year. Working in retail for so many years, I've never been in a position to ask off on Labor Day weekend (traditionally a busy weekend for shoppers). Now that I'm a lesser peon, I asked my manager about getting the time and he said no problem!

DragonCon! Have you seen the guest list? Authors, actors, and entertainers, OH MY!

Now comes the big decision: fly or road trip it to Atlanta. Road trips are less fun alone, I admit, but I have so much fun thinking and plotting while I drive. Plus I've flown in one plane in my life and it freaked me out. Hmm...

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In other news, my cover is starting to pop up on Amazon and other sites. Woot!

In Which I Gush....

...just a bit more about my Cover Art Love.

Winner!

And we have a winner for the Countdown: April contest - alanajoli! Congrats!

For those interested (and whose Google-fu failed them), here are the correct answers.


1) "Home, sweet home."
2) Don't ever get him wet. Keep him away from bright light. And the most important thing, the one thing you must never forget: no matter how much he cries, no matter how much he begs . . . never, never feed him after midnight.
3) P3
4) "Moon Child"
5) Sonny Bono
6) Killing his wife's rapist
7) Bogus
8) Vampires
9) Bill Nighy
10) An American Werewolf in London

Countdown: April Questions!

ETA: I'm extending the deadline for turning in answers. You've got until tomorrow, noon-ish, EDT. :)

Naturally, Blogger would choose this morning to act weird on me. Arg!

Anywho, moving on to the fun stuff...

Feel free to ask questions or make comments on the blog, but remember! All answers must be sent to [ mail (at) kellymeding.com ] in order to be entered into the drawing. I'll reply to all entries (at some point during the day) to let you know if you answered correctly or not, and if you're in the drawing.

Good luck!

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1. In "School Hard," a season 2 episode of "Buffy, the Vampire Slayer," what is Spike's first spoken line (this is also his first appearance on the series)?

2. According to the film Gremlins, what are the three basic rules for raising a Mogwai?

3. What is the name of Piper's night club on the television show "Charmed"?

4. In The NeverEnding Story, what is the name Bastian gives to the Childlike Empress? (the answer here is based more on the book itself, since it's dang hard to hear what he's shouting into the storm at the end)

5. Which former 70's icon has a small role in the 1986 film Troll?

6. On the short-lived 1998 television drama "Brimstone," the main character, Ezekial Stone, dies and is sent to Hell for what crime?

7. In the climax of the 1987 cult classic The Monster Squad, what is the single word Frankenstein says to Dracula right before he tosses him onto an iron spike?

8. In the UPN series "Special Unit 2," set in a modern Chicago crawling with creepies, what is the only mythical creature said to not actually exist?

9. Which Underworld vampire actor has also appeared in recent films potraying Davy Jones, a German general, and a zombie?

10. What film helped create the Academy Awards category for Best Makeup, and garnered a first-ever win (in this new category) for makeup artist Rick Baker?

Contest Details

Alrighty, seeing as tomorrow marks six months until Street Date, it will also be host to my first Countdown Contest. I'll be hosting six of these, all on or around the 27th of each month (although August will either be early or late, because I believe my vacation begins on the 23rd).

Hopefully each contest will be fun for you guys, and each will come with a prize. As a BONUS for playing along, each single contest winner (winner for April, May, June, etc...) will automatically be entered into a drawing to be held in October, to win a signed copy of THREE DAYS TO DEAD.

So, on with the details.

Countdown: April will be a 10-question quiz/scavenger hunt. It's not multiple choice. You'll have to find the answers. The topic is somewhat narrowed down to SF/F/Horror films and television shows. Some are obscure, some are popular. Most of the questions relate to the critters in the Dreg City/Evy Stone books in some way.

I decided to change it from a "first person to correctly answer all wins" format, because it's limiting for folks who work and aren't on US time. So, all folks who send me ten correct answers will be entered into a drawing to win the Swag. I will post the questions to my blog tomorrow morning (Monday, April 27th) around 8 am EDT (barring disaster). Please don't answer them in the comments. All answers must be emailed to me [ mail (at) kellymeding.com ]. I will keep the contest open until 8pm EDT, so you'll have a window of twelve hours to play. Again, everyone who submits all ten correct answers will be entered into the drawing to win.

I'll announce the winner on Tuesday.

Easy, no?

Oh, yes. I mentioned Swag. You wanna know what you win.



The swag: a $10 B&N gift card, Professor Dalrymple's Fairy Catching System, and two fun sticky note pads from a company called KnockKnock. One says NOTE TO SELF (and has options such as Urgent, Relay, File Away, and Put in Novel) and the other says BLAH, BLAH, BLAH.

And don't forget, the winner of Countdown: April is automatically entered into a drawing to win a signed copy of TDTD in October!

Questions? Comments?

Writing and Planning

So what have I been up to since Monday? Writing and planning, mostly.

The writing has been the fun part. I've been working on a short story that I'm currently calling "Bird-Watching." It's a mixed-POV story set about two years prior to the events in Three Days to Dead, and introduces us to a minor character from the book. Well, minor as in overall page-time, but not in terms of plot importance. Writing for Original Recipe Evy is a kick, because her perspective on the world (and the creepy things in it) is so black-and-white. And it's giving me a few little details I can plug into As Lie the Dead. So keep your fingers crossed.

The planning has been...at times stressful, and at times kind of fun. On Tuesday morning, the man we rent our house from calls and says he's getting out of rentals and will be selling all of his properties. Including our house. *headdesk* He did say he wanted to offer it to us first, before it went on the market. Not that me or my roommate are even in the market to buy a house. So we have roughly three months to find a new place and move.

I'd like to stay in this town, but I also wouldn't mind moving a bit closer to Salisbury (where we both work). Fortunately, there are plenty of places for rent around here, and all at competitive rates. I had just hoped to be here at least two years before moving again. My dad hasn't completely recovered from last summer.

Countdown Contest Update

I wanted to update quickly, before the big blob of red on the radar strolls through and potentially knocks out the power (candles are lit!). My first contest kicks off a week from today: Monday, April 27th.

Blog readers who've been around a while know I love random trivia, especially from movies and television. So my first contest is going to be a quiz/scavenger hunt. Later in the week, I'll let you know exactly when I'll be posting the quiz to my blog (obviously it'll be at some point on 4/27), as well as more details, such as the number of questions, plus the prizes. Yes, plural prizes. The first person to email me all correct answers is the winner.

I've also been working on a little book-related extra, and I hope it ends up being as fun for y'all as it is for me. More on that later, too.

I'm just a big tease today, aren't I? *g*

Bone Crossed by Patricia Briggs

My review

rating: 5 of 5 stars
Minor Spoilers.



This book proved that if you really love an author, you must trust them to do right by their characters. After reading a handful of reviews on the previous book in the series, Iron Kissed, some folks seemed dismayed by the very end.



I loved that Bone Crossed rewound just a bit and started with that same final scene, adding some texture and internal dialogue, and giving a very different twist. Made me love Adam all the more.



One of the things I really enjoy about these books is how details from one will come back to play again two books later. It makes the world feel fluid and connected, and it shows the consequences of choices made.



One of my favorite relationships in this one was Marsilia and Stefan. Marsilia is one of those characters I just can't hate, because she's so darned conniving. And yet everything she did was for one particular reason.



I'm eager to dive into the Alpha & Omega series now, but have a couple of vampire debuts to read first. I need a little balance in my literary diet, no?


View all my reviews.

Dust Bowl Dreamin'

So what does a Dust Bowl town, an old barn, a tornado, and actor Luis Guzman have in common? They were all in my dream last night.

I often remember my dreams. Sometimes I'll take the time to write them down when I wake up, because something really sparked in my imagination. But last night's was one of those rarer dreams--the kind of dream in which I remember consciously thinking and making choices. Sort of like what folks call lucid dreaming.

I remember it taking place in a ramshackled barn that served as...something. Not a restaurant, but maybe a blacksmith shop? Dunno, but a guy who looked just like Luis Guzman (and I have no idea why he was in my dream) ran the place. I was a stranger in town, looking for work. Stuff happened. A tornado was coming, so a bunch of us hid in the basement.

The really vivid, surreal part of the dream was the bit of conversation in the basement. He asked why I was there. I remember thinking "I can't tell him the truth, not all of it. He won't understand. Be vague." So I lied to Guzman.

When I woke up, I had to really think about this dream. I came to the conclusion that I didn't recall ever having such a conscious internal dialogue during a dream. I definitely recall a dream in which I realized I was dreaming, and therefore decided I wanted to fly (and flew). But not internal decision making and dialogue.

It was pretty weird.

First Fifteen

Fifteen weeks, that is, of 2009. On New Year's Eve, I made a promise to read more this year, and in just these first few months I've probably surpassed last year's total. My personal goal was one book a week.

My count of finished novels is standing at 17 (and will probably hit 18 by tomorrow night). Yay! You can check out my GoodReads sidebar for all of the books. Some are brand new. Some are books I've meant to pick up and read for a while now and just didn't. Some are short story/novella collections.

Currently on my nightstand: Bone Crossed, by Patricia Briggs.

What's on your nightstand?

Weekend Round-Up

Well, it's been a hectic couple of days. On Thursday, my dad and I went to an auction in Lebanon, PA, and bought some fun stuff. We do some side selling on eBay and at flea markets, so we were stocking up a bit. I managed to pick up some awesome things from my childhood: the My Little Ponies Show Stable and Nursery playsets, with most of their furniture, and about ten ponies. I still need to wash them (dirt accumulation points toward being in someone's garage for a while), but they're both in good shape.

I couldn't even tell you where Friday went, but yesterday was spent cleaning and cooking in preparation for today's Easter dinner guests. Let me tell you, chicken pot pie is not as easy to make as my mom always made it seem. Plus, I stole a method from Semi-Homemade and concocted a yummy-looking lemon pudding cake (and I say "looking" because I haven't tried it yet).

Saw the movie "Quarantine" last night. The shaky camera was starting to make me seasick, but as far as horror films go, this one rates up there. Good set up, good build of tension. My only complaint was the final scene--given the "we aren't really sure what's going on" vibe from the rest of the film, it felt unnecessarily tacked on. That's about all I can say without spoiling it.

Gotta finish making crusts for the pot pie. I'll leave you with this thought to ponder: if the Easter Bunny was a paranormal creature, what species would he be?

Outlining and Famous Last Words

I'm blogging over at the Fangs, Fur & Fey community on their Topic of the Month. We're discussing whether or not we outline.

Come on over and play. :)

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And on a completely tangential note... Last night, I was at my day job (well, night job, I guess), and a customer rushed in at ten minutes 'til close, wanting to exchange something. My associate teased him, and he teased back. We all joked a little bit, and he (customer) starts getting flirty. He guesses my associates name on the nose (impressive!), but (God bless him) he guesses me...

"Hmm...eighteen or twenty?"

I started laughing. Since he was off by about ten years, it really made my night.

It really made my night (side-splitting laughter notwithstanding) when he left on these final words as he walked out the door: "Be good, and if you can't be good, be good at it, because if you're not good at it, you'll get it all over you."

I admit, I had to think about that one for a minute. When I finally got it, I think I turned six shades of red. Thankfully, he was already gone and the store was closed.

Something Fun in the Works

First, I have to say the response to the cover for TDTD has been overwhelmingly positive. Comments in various places have ranged from "I want her abs" (me too!), to "I want her hair" (ME TOO!), to "If I saw that in a bookstore, I'd stop and pick it up" (YAHOO!). So thank you to everyone who gave a shout-out! You are all awesomesauce!

Mostly, though, I want to tease y'all a little bit. With a bit over six months until Street Date, I'm in the planning stages of a six-part contest/giveaway to be hosted here on my blog. The first five parts will be smaller contests (with prizes), one a month, each leading up to the final, sixth Grand Prize contest in October. I'll have more details as I finalize things, but if anyone has ideas for for contests (I want to do a scavenger hunt one month) or prizes, feel free to comment.

Cover Art Awesomeness

Is it possible to fall in love with a fictional character? Because after seeing my (Amazing! Fabulous! Gorgeous! Inspired!) cover art for THREE DAYS TO DEAD, I'm in love. Evy is gorgeous (She's wearing her cross! Important plot point alert!). The background is atmospheric and gritty, and the shadowy man behind her? Buwahahaaaa!

Okay, enough raving (for now).

TADA!



Didja see the awesome Patricia Briggs quote?

I've got the back and spine, too, for added goodness (and official summary).



My name is on a book cover. OMG.

*thud*