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Thursday, June 30, 2011

...And the Winner Is...

I don't know about you, but I've had an absolute blast this year on my Birthday Blog Tour. I've made some new online acquaintances and hopefully gained new readers, and definitely had a great time giving out prizes!
So, now it's time for the last one. The GRAND PRIZE. First, I'd like to make it completely clear how I arrived at the winner. I created a database with a list of every blog post for the whole tour. I then added the names of each person who left a comment under the date for the post they commented on. A few minutes ago, I tallied up the comments and they reached 70. Can you believe it? 70 comments all month long! That's great :-)
Once I arrived at that total, I took a trip to random.org and let their auto number generator find my winner. And the winner is...
CHRISTLE GRAY!!!!!!! Whoohoo, congratulations!!!!!!
Thank you EVERYONE who joined me on my tour. I hope you had as much fun as I did, and will be joining me again next year :-D

Friday, June 24, 2011

An Interview with N.L. Gervasio

When I first became serious about writing back in 2006, I hopped online and looked for resources and like-minded folks. There was a plethora of both, but one site caught my attention and lured me in. It was a community of aspiring writers who were willing to critique each others’ work. I immediately signed up and met some awesome people. One of those writers is N. L. Gervasio (known as Jinxie), a fabulous author and all-around awesome person. She’s hosted me on her sites a couple of times and now that she has a book being released I can finally return the favor. Her book is called Nemesis: A Kick-Ass Girls Club Novel, and is available through Running Ink Press. Would you like a taste? Following my enticing interview with Jinxie is a short synopsis.  

Missy: Jinxie, keep in mind that you’re my first ever interview and don’t laugh at me (Technically I interviewed Jimmy Thomas second). Now, let’s see…um, tell us how you came up with the names Nemesis for your heroine and Clancy for your hero?
Jinxie: First ever interview, really? I'm so honored!
Well, I'm not sure you read this story as I posted it on that site where we met, but originally, the main character wouldn't tell me her damn name (I know, right?), so I had to substitute—and this will sound crazy—mine in its place (the Jinxie name, not the N.L.). I just couldn't even think of a name for her, but her story was unfolding fast (it took two and a half months to write), so I had to get it written down and I sure as hell wasn't going to call her Heroine (although, that would have been hilarious on the site). Then, my CP/editor/business partner Sharon put a stop to it real quick once things started heating up in the story because she didn't want to read about me, which had me falling over laughing because it wasn't really me. Finally, I just started looking at nicknames with a particular meaning, used a Thesaurus, and ta-da—Nemesis, Nemy for short.
I can't believe I just admitted all that. Only for you, Missy. Okay, I'd have done that for Sharon too, but that's it!
As for Clancy—I needed an Irish name and I love Clancy Brown. 'Nuff said. Sharon will really hate me now. She can't stand Clancy Brown.

Missy: Cool. Okay, so did you already know Nemesis was going to be a kick-ass kinda girl? Or did she begin as someone different and evolve into her finished character?
Jinxie: Is there such a thing as multi-polar, rather than just bi-polar? LOL She was all over the damn place, but she was still a kick-ass type of girl. She's always been that. Her emotions have just been off the charts. I'm still fixing some of that in the final edit as I answer your questions. It's been hell. I keep catching things and thinking, "how'd I miss that the last four runs?" Bear in mind that I finished this novel two weeks after my 7 ½-year engagement to the love of my life ended, so MY emotions were all over the place too. I'm still trying to figure out how I even finished it after that mess. I think Nemy kept me sane somehow.
I'd say the kick-ass part of her is about the only thing that's been a constant throughout the book as it's changed.

Missy: I know you’ve been working on this project for a while, and I know of a couple of other projects I’m (impatiently) waiting on. Can you tell us what’s next on your publishing agenda?
Jinxie: Oh crap, that's right. You want the werewolf book. And that "other" one that I won't discuss in public because there's nothing else like it on the market. =) The next one is Dusk of Death, the first of my Armageddon trilogy. I think you've read the original. It's not changing much. I also hope to finish my novella Tir na nOg before the end of the year, but I'm working on finishing my Bachelor's degree by December too, so we'll see. After that, the werewolf book, Native Moon, will be next.
I'll also edit and re-release The Vampyre Prophecy and Gemini soon because I've been working (sort of) on the third book in that series. You can read the first person POV blog called Gemini Rising, but the book itself will be third person and filled with a lot of things you won't see on the blog. Though it's still fun to write from my vampire Shawn's POV. He's probably one of my favorite characters.

Missy: Speaking of publishing, you have your hand in a few pies at the moment. How did the e-zine Forever Nocturne begin and what’s new with that project?
Jinxie: That is the understatement of the year. LOL Aside from my own writing, I'm a freelance editor, run Running Ink Press with Sharon Gerlach, designed the site and gear and write posts and attend conventions for Zombie Survival Crew, and as you mentioned, produce the free e-zine Forever Nocturne with Sharon.
FN actually began quite simply—Sharon and I carried on a conversation on each other's profiles on the site where we all met, and I think I said, "we should just start our own damn magazine." She agreed and the dialog continued along that vein until a friend, Tammy L Boehm, saw it and said, "DO IT!" And the rest is history. FN was put on hold for our March issue this year, but we are taking submissions for our October issue. We take short stories, poetry, and art, all of which can be submitted to forevernocturnezine (at) gmail (dot) com with the genre (short, poetry, art) in the Subject line. Attachments are only allowed for art images.

Missy: And lastly, as an author I know I put a little of myself into my heroines. Is there something of you in Nemesis? If not, is there some part of her you wish you had more of?
Jinxie: There's quite a bit of me in Nemy, and yet, she's evolved into her own person, which I'm in awe of, truly. The part of her I wish I had more of—aside from Clancy—is that she's much stronger than I am, even though I had her emotions all over the place. In certain situations, the girl just kicks ass, and I do that as well, but our circumstances that bring that ability about are completely different. I have to be backed into a corner. She doesn't at all. She'll put you in your place immediately. Ha!

Missy: Jinxie, thank you so much for visiting my blog today! 
Since we’re both doing Birthday Blog Tours this month (because we’re both awesome Gemini gals) our readers get the gifts! Ms. Gervasio is giving away a copy of Nemesis to one lucky reader here, and I’m giving away a prize pack over on her blog. All you have to do to enter either/both is leave a comment: here answer the question, if you were written into a fantasy story, what is one trait the character would have to have to truly be you? The winners will be chosen tomorrow evening using random.org, and ALL comments on both blogs will be thrown into the pot for my Birthday Blog Tour grand prize. Good Luck!

Nemesis by N. L. Gervasio:
Prince Charming was a putz.
Prince Charming number two was even worse.
After the last prince ran off without any notice, breaking her heart and their engagement along the  way, Nemesis Mussolini swore off  men and passed the time kicking ass and slinging drinks, something her mafia father would never approve of. But, when her boss Clancy ups his flirtations, it’s difficult to remember she’s not interested, especially when he gets that delicious evil glint in his eye that has her melting. Just when Nemy starts to think all men might not be bad, she hears whispers about Clancy’s less than legal past, and wants to run like hell from the idea that he could be just like her father.
Great … Prince Charming number three may possibly be on FBI’s Most Wanted.
While Nemy and Clancy tumble down the romance road, hitting potholes every step of the way, Nemy discovers how much of her heart already belongs to Clancy, and how much of a Don’s daughter she really is. When Clancy’s daughter is kidnapped, they must work together to use every talent and connection they have to get her back, which means Nemy must learn to trust again. If they fail, Clancy could lose his daughter forever. Can Nemy surrender in time to get her happily ever after, or is she hell-bent on letting her past keep her from the one man who could be her true Prince Charming?

Bio:
N.L. "Jinxie" Gervasio was born on Friday the thirteenth. Her dad wanted to call her Jinx. Her mom said no. It took thirty-four years for her to discover the nickname, and she's grown quite attached to it. She lives in Tempe, Arizona with Umi (her mother) and Moon (her Alaskan malamute). She enjoys riding her beach cruiser "The Betty" around downtown Tempe, loves a good pub crawl, and has had the pleasure and the heartache of experiencing a love far greater than she could have ever imagined.

She welcomes you to her world.


Links:
Unclouded Perspicacity blog: http://nlgervasio.wordpress.com

For a preview taste of her new release, go here: http://nlgervasio.wordpress.com/projects/nemesis/nemesis-chapter-1/

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Oops!

Ahh, don't you just love schedules? They keep you on track, let you know where to be and when...and tell everyone when the train derails. So, obviously my Birthday Blog Schedule says there should be a review of They Call Me Death on Book Chick City today, but there isn't. In it's place for today's stop I'm posting this question here:
What are you currently reading? Me? I'm in the middle of two books, Mister B. Gone by Clive Barker and Full Dark, No Stars by Stephen King. After that I already have Lynsay Sands' newest Argeneau vampire novel calling my name ;-)
Comment away and don't forget to include your email address. Good luck!

Friday, June 17, 2011

Birthday Blog Tour Update #2

Whew! This has been a hell of a week. I turned thirty-six, had a new release and ran around the web giving away prizes. We're halfway through my Birthday Blog Tour, so it's time for an update.
Congratulations to all of the winners so far. Tomorrow I plan to finally get my butt to the post office and put your packages into the system. I apologize for the delay. I'm sending everything regular USPS, first class, which generally takes about five business days. However, if you're outside of the US please give it extra time.

Also tomorrow, I'll be chatting all day at The Romance Reviews. This stop is not a part of my regular Birthday Blog Tour schedule, however, I'll still be giving one lucky reader a copy of my brand spankin' new ebook, Erotic Images. Check in at any time and leave your comment or question. I'll be checking in first thing in the morning and then all day as my schedule allows.

We still have five more stops to go, including a double on the 24th! Jinxie Gervasio will be here on my blog and I'll be guesting on hers. That will be two chances to win that day and double entries for the grand prize!
I hope ya'll are having as much fun as I am :-D



Wednesday, June 15, 2011

It's My Birthday!!

Today is my thirty-sixth birthday! And it's even more special because it's also the release day of my sixth e-book! Erotic Images is my newest erotic novella from Ellora's Cave Publishing, and they gave me a real treat this time by putting the delectable Jimmy Thomas on my cover. He is easily one of the most recognizable faces in the Romance world, as well as a super nice and all-around cool guy. Not only is he making my new book look great, he was also gracious enough to answer a few question for me to post on this special day. So here it is, my mini-interview of Romance cover model Jimmy Thomas:
Missy: If you even have time (just reading your bio wore me out!) do you ever read the books you're featured on? If not, do you prefer another genre, or read for fun at all?

Jimmy: I rarely have time to do anything other than work, so unfortunately, I haven't read any of the books I'm on. If I did, I wouldn't get new images shot and uploaded for all to use on their covers ;)

Missy: Your site romancenovelcovers.com is phenomenal and unlike anything I've ever seen. What made you decide to market yourself in this way?

Jimmy: Thanks :) I've been modeling for 13 years and have always shot "couples" images of romance, sensual and erotica, and I knew the romance industry needed a place to go to get exactly that, without extensive searching on random stock image websites that didn't have much of what they wanted/needed. And I've always been one to come up with marketing, network and advertising ideas that work well ;)

Missy: I've browsed the covers on your site and you seem to have every sub-genre of romance there. Historical, sensual, steamy, paranormal and even you in a kilt! (sigh) Do you have a favorite pose or type of cover? If so, why is it your favorite?

Jimmy: Not really. I love any style/genre, as long as I produce great images that I love within any genre during a shoot, I'm happy :) Of course those where I'm holding a half naked/naked beautiful woman doesn't hurt ;)


Lol, and don't we all wish we were that naked, beautiful woman? All right, readers, what do you think? Do you have a favorite Jimmy Thomas pose? Describe it, link it or name the book title in a comment below and you're entered into my Birthday Blog Tour giveaway!Please include your email address in your post. I'll choose a winner via random.org tomorrow evening. Good luck!
In case you were wondering, here are my faves:

 Romantic Times Convention April 2008                                                            

Friday, June 3, 2011

Birthday Blog Tour Update

I finally got around to buying up books for my Birthday Blog Tour prize packs. What do ya'll think of the selection to the left? Don't worry, there will be more as the month wears on. The pretty, purple baggies are also prize pack goodies that include some candy and Missy Jane magnets.

Congratulations to Christle and Ju for being my first two winners! Your next chance will be Sunday over at Victoria Gray's blog. The rest of the schedule is in the previous post and on my site. Good luck!

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

Birthday Blog Tour 2011!

 It's that time again! That's right, it's June, and with the first month of summer comes my birthday! Last year I decided to celebrate another year of life by giving away prizes to my readers at different stops around the web. It was awesome. I met new authors wonderful enough to allow me onto their blog, and I met their fabulous readers, gracious enough to read my rants. So, this year I decided to do it again even bigger!

Each day of my tour I'll select one comment to win the daily prize pack shown above. Then on June 30th ALL comments will be entered to win the grand prize box of goodies pictured to the right, which includes a signed print copy of They Call Me Death!

It all starts with this post so leave your comments to win, and don't forget to include your email address. Good Luck!
Here's the schedule:

June 1st:  My blog

June 2nd: Kaily Hart

June 5th: Victoria Gray

June 8th: Stephanie Julian

June 10th: Tina Donohue

June 12th: Christine Bell

June 13th: Storywings

June 15th: My blog (birthday post!)

June 16th: Samhain Publishing

June 19th: The Speculative Salon

June 21st: Book Chick City (review of They Call Me Death)

                 My blog!

June 24th: My blog where I interview N.L. Gervasio!

June 28th: Texas Authors of Romance Fiction

June 30th: My blog (GRAND PRIZE winner announced!)