Would-be Wayfarer

ALL THAT BLEEDS release

2012-01-03T14:31:00.000-08:00

Finally!

I've been waiting for Merrick and Alissa's story to come out. Merrick is my favorite hero so far. Exceedingly deadly and dangerously romantic.

New York Times Bestselling author Janet Chapman called him the perfect hero. I hope you'll enjoy reading about him as much as I enjoyed writing about him!

Story Blurb:

In a glittering community in the Colorado Rockies called the Etherlin, the descendants of the ancient muses live behind a wall that separates them from the dangerous creatures that crave them.

Alissa North is inspiration made flesh, so she should never have met Merrick, a deadly half-vampire enforcer, but when they do meet, the connection is instantaneous, and an illicit flirtation is born. He sends her secret gifts. She writes him secret letters.

The long-distance friendship was never supposed to go any farther. But when she is kidnapped and thrown briefly into his world, everything changes. Now Alissa realizes he’s the only person she can trust, and Merrick finds he’ll do anything to protect her, even risk his life by crossing the wall.

As both worlds close in on them, Alissa knows that getting caught with Merrick could cost her everything she’s ever cared about, but giving him up proves harder than she ever imagined…

To read an excerpt click here: ALL THAT BLEEDS

The Adventures of Tammy Jo...

2011-10-04T04:20:00.000-07:00

A question that I get asked a lot is:

"Will there be more Southern Witch stories?"

The answer to that question is:

YES!

I bet I can predict your next question... "When?"

To that I can only say: "As soon as possible."

Until then, I can tell you that Tammy Jo is currently having an adventure in IRELAND

(See above picture as proof.)

When she returns, she will tell you all about it.

Dangerous in Denver

2011-07-18T11:12:00.000-07:00

How cool is this flyer?

Many, many thanks to the awesome Mario Acevedo for creating this!

For details on the Denver events visit my calendar.

Also check out the websites of fantastic fellow authors Nicole Peeler & Jeanne Stein!

ALL THAT BLEEDS Cover

2011-06-28T15:43:00.000-07:00

ALL THAT BLEEDS

Contemporary Romantic Suspense

In a glittering community in the Colorado Rockies called the Etherlin, the modern descendants of the ancient muses live behind a wall that separates them from the world and the dangerous creatures who crave them.

As both worlds close in on them, Alissa knows that getting caught with Merrick could cost her everything she’s ever cared about, but giving him up proves harder than she ever imagined…

Comicpalooza 2011

2011-05-26T19:14:00.001-07:00

Comicpalooza 2011!

Will we see Admiral Adama from Battlestar Gallactica?

Will we see Sam Merlotte from True Blood?

Might we spot some Firefly Browncoats?

Might we spy Wonder Woman...Spiderman...Green Lantern?

You know you want to come!

I'll be there at random times... including when I'm on some panels:

Friday 5/27

1 pm - Creating Your Own Superhero

8 pm - When Supporting Characters Try to Steal the Show

Saturday 5/28

10 am - Blending Humor & Horror

11 am - Survival Training for Writers

Sunday 5/29

11 am - What You'll Need in the Event of a Zombie Apocalypse

Tied With a Bow

2011-04-11T02:24:00.000-07:00

I discovered the cover for my Xmas anthology this morning on Goodreads, and I found it pretty eye-popping. In the past, I've had cartoon covers, so people have occasionally thought that I write children's books. I don't think they'll make that mistake with this cover.

Welcome to Romance!

HALFWAY HEXED!

2011-02-01T09:19:00.001-08:00

HALFWAY HEXED was released today.

So it's time to celebrate!

Houston Book Signings:

Saturday 2/5/11 at 4:30 pm

Murder By the Book

Saturday 2/12/11 at 2 pm

Katy Budget Books

Online Events** this week:

2/3/11 Bitten By Books Blog

(Launch Party/Interview with Tammy Jo & Rollie the vampire)

2/4/11 The Season for Romance Blog

2/5/11 Fang-tastic Books Blog

2/6/11 Coffee Time Romance Blog

** For the links to all these sites and more information,

click here to reach the calendar on my website.

I hope to see you online and in person! Thanks for reading! :)

Hugs,

Kimber

P.S. The great fireworks public domain photo comes from: http://www.publicdomainpictures.net/ They always have awesome pictures!

3 more days!

2011-01-29T17:54:00.000-08:00

Halfway Hexed comes out in ... 3 days!

February 1, 2011

Frost Fiction Newsletter releases even sooner. If you are not signed up with your current email address, do so immediately! Some things are not to be missed...like the bourbon chocolate truffle recipe! ;)

Missing In Action

2010-11-04T19:51:00.000-07:00

Rumors of my abduction to Belize have been greatly exaggerated. I am, in fact, alive and well and writing late into the night on the new book!! I had asked Mercutio to please answer my emails and keep up with blogging and posting on FB and Twitter for me, but I think he's just been playing Mafia Wars or something.

Anyway, I know I owe everyone a few long posts and a newsletter or two in the coming months. I will get on it. AND I will have fun news to share. But for the moment, I've got to pile on some Nano-worthy word counts.

More soon!

xoxo,

Kimber

Halfway Hexed Cover Art!

2010-07-20T14:07:00.000-07:00

My favorite memoirs...

2010-07-19T07:15:00.000-07:00

Sometimes when something is hugely popular, I avoid it. Not sure why that is (but I suspect it has its roots in the unfortunate incident of my reading The Celestine Prophecy.) Anyway, I resisted Eat, Pray, Love for a really long time, then finally broke down and got my copy after a close friend and I started a cozy two-person book club and chose EPL because it was about a woman's journey of self-discovery, which was something we had been discussing.

Anyway, the book is lovely, and I consumed it with the same relish that the author would consume a pizza in Naples. Elizabeth Gilbert meets the world as a friend, which I found endearing and instructional. She is witty and charming and, at moments, self-deprecating and unflinchingly honest; I found it impossible not to like her. And, while I learned a lot about Liz Gilbert and the world from reading this book, I also learned a thing or two about myself (and I didn't even have to scrub floors for five hours a day in India to do so. Thank you, EG.)

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

LOVED this book. Witty and poignant.

I would read about a lot more dysfunctional families/odd childhoods, if the tellers of the tales were as good as poet Mary Karr. Her follow up, Cherry was also great and I'm looking forward to her latest, which is called Lit.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

I don't remember where I first read about Among the Porcupines. It was in an article, possibly--probably--in Vogue magazine, which I read religiously for years though its featured $10,000 size-0 dresses are about as practical as a rocket ship.

Anyway, Among the Porcupines was an irresistible rags-to-riches and riches-to-rags story that featured supporting characters like Walter Matthau, Gloria Vanderbilt, Charlie Chaplin, and Truman Copote.

I was--and still am--quite taken with Carol Matthau. I'm sure that I will never relinquish my copy of this book.

Kimber Gets a Haircut

2010-07-17T10:50:00.000-07:00

I'm lucky enough to have two careers that I love, but because both writing and medicine are exacting professions, sometimes it's hard to focus on anything but those two things. Other parts of life tend to fall by the wayside...like raking the leaves in my yard (thank goodness I have big privacy fences or my neighbors would be appalled!). So the subject of my hair came up recently. I have wavy hair that's quite prone to Helter Skelter moments. My hair is, in fact, an excellent example of the scientific principle that things tend toward entropy.

Anyway, a few weeks back, I noticed that I'd been wearing headbands almost daily. I thought in exasperation: Who am I? Alice about to enter Wonderland? (Sighing heavily.) I am not a little girl. Not for a long time. And call me crazy, but I'm of the opinion that headbanded hair isn't really a look that a grown woman should sport much outside her own castle, er townhouse.

So I made the appointment with a certain amount of trepidation. When it comes to styles, my hair tends to be of the mindset: When in doubt, mutiny. So often after a drastic haircut, it's disaster, followed by regret, followed by another haircut to salvage things...

Enter Shayla, a gorgeous hairdresser at an upscale salon. I told her I was cutting my hair off and she was so enthusiastic about the prospect that I couldn't help but be enthusiastic along with her. Originally we were going for shoulder-length, but I did warn her about the curl phenomenon. Shorter = curlier = shorter than intended by the haircut.

At one point she asked, "What do you put on your hair to make it curly?" My dry response, "Water." And the strands rose up in rebellion, as they are prone to do. And the voice in my head was like...this is going to end badly. Most people can't do jaw-length, least of all you.

But it turns out Shayla is to hair what Tammy Jo is to pastries. Cut and snip, and shape and snip, and chat and snip, and miraculously, I got a short haircut that is fabulous. It loops and swoops and shimmies and bobs with such attitude. For once, my head owns its curls and cowlicks without a post-shower wrestling match with exasperated me.

So in the middle of July, I'm giving the kind of thanks that's usually reserved for a late November around-the-turkey-dominated-table toast:

Here's to everyone who is talented at what she does!

xoxo,

Kimber

P.S. By the way, Shayla loves paranormal fiction, which does, in fact, make her the most awesome hairdresser since Johnny Nguyen. So today I dropped off a couple of Southern Witch books, in addition to giving her a sneak peek at an excerpt of the young adult paranormal I'm thinking of debuting on my website. After all, one wonderful creative turn deserves another, right?

ApolloCon 2010

2010-06-30T13:13:00.000-07:00

Fantastic Faces
of
ApolloCon 2010

Boas & Tiaras Tea

2010-06-30T12:35:00.000-07:00

Any time someone invites me to wear a boa and a tiara

to a reader tea, I'm there!

This event which was sponsored by the Dallas-Fort Worth Readers Group was held in Richardson, Texas at the Chocolate Angel.

Was

Fabulous!

Eavesdropping & Experimental Cooking

2010-05-25T13:44:00.000-07:00

When I left for the airport on Friday, I never expected to start my vacation weekend by eavesdropping on a U.S. Marshall. In my defense, there can't really an expectation of privacy in a crowded airport, can there? Particularly when there are very few open seats at the gate. But if the marshall hadn't been talking about something that interested me, I suppose I would've put in my foam earplugs before I boarded rather than after. A South Florida sting operation, local cops who weren't as tech-savvy as the marshall thought they should have been, a judge who's routinely too lenient, some colorful turns of phrase... fun & fascinating. Probably somebody should warn people with secrets that writers may be lurking in the next seat, but that somebody won't be me. ;)

My friend's jewel of an apartment, which was built in the 1920s, is gorgeous (ghost Edie would definitely approve). The place was decorated so cute, I just wanted to put in my pocket and keep it for myself. I loved the silvery slate blue walls, funky modern chairs, French doors leading into a sun room with a chaise. Also, the place was within walking distance from the Tampa Bay and to a great little collection of shops, including an independent coffee shop named Indigo (love it), where I got quite a bit of work done.

The weather was warm and breezy and not humid at all. The temperature was perfect in the evening for walking to dinner, and the Mojitos in Florida are always refreshing after a stroll. Also, I'm in favor of visiting any city where dinner can come with plantains. Cuban and South American cuisine is great.

One of the highlights of the trip was throwing a party for some cool Florida-based writers on Sunday. My friend decided to make an old family recipe of Sweet & Sour Meatballs, except she wanted to try a gluten-free version that uses rice rather than breadcrumbs to form the meatballs. Unfortunately, even sticky rice isn't as sticky as it needs to be sometimes. Luckily, the party was a great success and the Sweet & Sour Riced Chili was delicious, despite the lack of geometrically-shaped meatstuff.

The fun party prep made me think that I need to host more get-togethers at my place, and I need to be more adventurous when cooking. I'm sure that Tammy Jo would agree that recipes should really just be a jumping off point. Plus, at my house, if the food turns out inedible, I have back-up plan, it's called a wet bar.

Hugs from Houston,

Kimber

P.S. Cool writing news is coming soon. :)

Edie Recommends...

2010-04-11T04:39:00.001-07:00

I like historical fiction and the 1920s is a favorite time period of mine (hence flapper ghost Edie in my Southern Witch books), so I was delighted to recently discover a charming series by mystery author Rhys Bowen.

Here's the Blurb from Ms. Bowen's website:

If you liked Bridget Jones...
If you adore royal scandals...
If you loved Charade and a touch of danger...
A sexy hero who is not quite trustworthy...
And you love to laugh...
Then you’ll want to read Rhys’s new venture:

Her Royal Spyness

Georgie, aka Lady Victoria Georgiana Charlotte Eugenie, cousin of King George V of England, is penniless and trying to survive on her own as an ordinary person in London in 1932.

So far she has managed to light a fire and boil an egg...
She’s gate-crashed a wedding...
She’s making money by secretly cleaning houses...
And she’s been asked to spy for Her Majesty the Queen.

Everything seems to be going swimmingly until she finds a body in her bathtub and someone is definitely trying to kill her.

Halfway Hexed - Back Cover Copy!

2010-03-15T08:50:00.000-07:00

Duvall, Texas.

A small town that’s about to be in some big trouble.

Pastry-chef-turned-unexpected-action/adventure heroine Tammy Jo Trask is finally ready to embrace her mixed-up and often malfunctioning magic. Too bad not everyone wants her to become all the witch she can be.

First, there are the local residents who form a scripture-spouting posse and kidnap Tammy to “defend” Duvall against witchcraft. Next, someone saddles her with a secret package chock full of dangerous visions, just as the president of WAM—the World Association of Magic—arrives with his entourage to investigate her. And who worse to examine Tammy’s entanglement with off-limits and drop-dead gorgeous wizard Bryn Lyons than his ex-girlfriend? Not to mention that the clash between the locals and the magical visitors leads to a series of unnatural disasters that may doom them all.

Will Tammy Jo's magical synergy with Bryn be enough to help her save the town or will her enemies succeed in putting Tammy out of commission for good? One thing’s certain: this would-be witch is ready to rumble, Texas style…

Quotes of the Week

2010-02-05T05:47:00.001-08:00

From now on, when in doubt of what photo to post... Henry Cavill. ;)

The editing of Halfway Hexed progresses. I have been living at coffee shops and cafes for the past week and was concerned that one Starbucks might actually start to charge me rent. To which pals quickly offered location suggestions so I could spread my loitering around. :) Thanks, guys!

Favorite Quotes from friends on Facebook this week:

from Laura M to me: "You can do it! Search for the spa at the end of the tunnel."

from Anna E in her profile update:

"intergalactic war has broken out, I'm being tailed by two alien fighters with lasers and my shields are down!!!" Followed by this in comments: "all while making spaghetti".

And an old one that I love... I was lamenting that I hadn't checked the care instructions on a blanket and had inadvertently washed it when it should've been dry-cleaned. To which Jennifer PJ (who is always hilarious) said she doesn't worry about care labels. "[If washing/drying doesn't work out]...barbie can have it." Gotta love her!

The Big D

2010-01-21T10:22:00.000-08:00

So I recently had a jam-packed visit to Dallas, Texas. I stayed with some friends of mine who are fantastic hosts, the kind of people who make a houseguest feel as though she'd like to move in. ;) (Thanks, Larry & Jane!)

In addition to visiting my friends, I spoke to a creative writing class at a Dallas high school, which I think was as energizing for me as it was for the kids. I also had lunch with a friend who's an aspiring author.

This is Peaches, the FreshFiction mascot.

Also while in Dallas, I visited a FreshFiction readers' tea as a guest author. They are a fabulous group of women who read tons and have wonderful and entertaining insights on lots of topics, not just books. They make me wish I lived in Dallas, so I could become a regular reader member.

Overall, January's been terrific for connecting with old friends and making new ones.

How about Kellan for Zach?

2010-01-19T06:55:00.001-08:00

What about Kellan Lutz for Zach? He's blond, blue-eyed, and buff. Another possibility would be Channing Tatum if we dyed his hair blond. Channing's a Southern boy from Alabama.

Who would I cast?

2010-01-04T19:28:00.000-08:00

Thoughts of casting the characters sometimes comes up when I'm guest-blogging or when I get emails asking if there will ever be a Southern Witch movie.

I think Isla Fisher would make a good Tammy because she's beautiful in a cute sort of way, is often hilariously funny in her roles, and has red hair, of course.

I couldn't come up with a Bryn at first, but then Liz, one of the fans of the series, suggested Henry Cavill. I googled and saw this picture of him and thought...yeah, that works. Now I have a couple of his pictures stuck to the top of my Halfway Hexed storyboard.

So far, I still haven't come up with a good Zach, but surfing the net for him is a fun pasttime.

Happy New Year!

2010-01-04T09:39:00.000-08:00

Happy 2010!

Last year, I decided not to make any New Year's Resolutions. After all, I was working and had two book releases scheduled and so much to do...but this year I'm thinking taking a good life and making it better is a great idea.

Kimber's New Year's Resolutions

1.) Return to regular exercise

2.) Eat more fresh produce and more organic foods

3.) Have even more fun with writing

(By: completing Halfway Hexed and brainstorming new stories)

4.) Connect more often with friends, family, and readers

So, what about you? Any new year's resolutions?

Readers & A Readers' Guide

2009-11-05T09:31:00.001-08:00

These young women are part of a paranormal book club in Alabama. They emailed to invite me to their meeting and asked if I had any suggestions for discussion topics.

I must confess that before their email it never occurred to me to create a reader guide for WOULD-BE WITCH, but I loved the idea of doing one. A lot of my favorite literary novels have them in the back and I always enjoy looking through the questions and coming up with my answers.

So here's a list of WOULD-BE WITCH discussion questions that I came up with:

WOULD-BE WITCH Reader Guide

1.) Tammy Jo’s closest family members are gone, leaving her with only the acerbic Edie for occasional familial support. How do you think this separation affects 23-year-old Tammy Jo? Have you ever been away from your home and those you know? Did it affect your behavior?

2.) Despite their often tumultuous relationship, Tammy Jo continues to be involved with her ex-husband, Zach Sutton. Is this understandable?

3.) The fictional town of Duvall, Texas plays a large role in the story. Is this a place you would want to live? Discuss the pros and cons of growing up/living in a small town.

4.) Was Tammy Jo’s voice authentically Southern? What do you think it is about the South that makes it a frequent and favorite choice for paranormal authors. (Anne Rice’s New Orleans, LA, Charlaine Harris’s Bon Temps, LA, Kimberly Frost’s Duvall, TX etc.) What Southern settings are your favorites for paranormal novels? Would Birmingham, AL make a good setting for one—why or why not?

5.) Discuss the interactions between Lennox and Bryn Lyons. Given Lennox’s actions and attitudes, do you feel that Tammy should continue to develop a relationship with the Lyons family?

6.) What question would you like to ask the author about the creation of this novel/series?

I will be visiting with the book club tomorrow night (via speaker phone) and can't wait to hear the discussion!

Thanks again to these ladies for choosing to read WOULD-BE WITCH and for inviting me to their club.

Book Club Coven

2009-10-28T10:08:00.001-07:00

Many thanks to Karla & the club for inviting me to their October book club. Kim was the most wonderful hostess and her house is a Halloween-lover's dream.

We had dinner, chatted, and discussed BARELY BEWITCHED. I loved hearing their thoughts about the storyline of the series so far. Then I gave them a sneak-peek reading from HALFWAY HEXED, which went well even if I'm not able to get Tammy Jo's accent right. If there are ever audio books, we'll need some East Texas native to do the reading!

Southern Witch Swag

2009-10-24T03:55:00.000-07:00

One day a few months back, I decided I needed a custom Southern Witch series coffee mug, so I designed this graphic with Tammy Jo quotes. Only when the mug came the script was too small to read. :(

So then I moved on to creating a Team Mercutio graphic. That turned out much better, except that the mug that arrived was chipped. Arg! Luckily Cafe Press replaced it for free. Hurray. I will definitely buy more stuff from them.

Anyway, I'm going to post some pictures of the mugs when I remember to charge my camera battery.

Meanwhile, it's been an awesome week for connecting with readers. A man e-mailed that he wanted autographed copies of my books for his friend who loves them and is a writer. So yesterday I dropped by Murder By the Book to personalize the inscriptions and to slip a note inside. I hope Victoria likes it! Then I got several emails including one from a fourteen-year-old fan and one from an international fan in Turkey. It's so cool to have such a diverse readership.

Then I got home and there was an envelope from Penguin (my publisher.) It was too thin to be contracts or books. I opened it to find a snail mail card from a reader that had been sent to me care of the publisher. So awesome.

I am feeling very authorly this week. Thanks, guys!

Let's get cozy...

2009-10-18T12:58:00.000-07:00

A beautiful new spot to brainstorm and write? Lately my routine's been disrupted because I've had workmen at my house putting in new French doors and a new floor. I have to say, I'm happy with the result. And maybe my own living room and back patio will become my home away from Starbucks. ;)

Also, it's probably time to have some writers over for brunch, etc.
I haven't entertained in too long!

National Bestseller!!

2009-10-13T14:44:00.000-07:00

Barely Bewitched is a National Bestseller.

Thanks you, Readers! You made it happen.

xoxo,

Kimber

Spirits of the Dead

2009-10-10T23:38:00.001-07:00

Edgar Allan Poe is credited with inventing detective stories and creating horror writing. When he died at the age of 40, his next of kin did not announce his death and virtually no one attended his funeral. His tombstone was destroyed and his obituary was apparently written by an enemy who succeeded in damaging Poe's reputation.

But truth and talent will out...eventually. One of the devoted has for decades left three roses and cognac on his grave. And tonight there will be an all-night vigil, followed by a new funeral. With his other admirers, I pay my respects with the reading of one my favorites...

Spirits of the Dead

by Edgar Allan Poe

Thy soul shall find itself alone

'Mid dark thoughts of the gray tombstone --

Not one, of all the crowd, to pry

Into thine hour of secrecy.

Be silent in that solitude,

Which is not loneliness--for then

The spirits of the dead who stood

In life before thee are again

In death around thee--and their will

Shall overshadow thee: be still

The night, tho' clear, shall frown--

And the stars shall look not down

From their high thrones in the heaven,

With light like Hope to mortals given--

But their red orbs, without beam,

To thy weariness shall seem

As a burning and a fever

Which would cling to thee for ever.

Now are thoughts thou shalt not banish,

Now are visions ne'er to vanish;

From thy spirit shall they pass

No more--like dew-drop from the grass.

The breeze--the breath of God--is still--

And the mist upon the hill,

Shadowy--shadowy--yet unbroken,

Is a symbol and a token--

How it hangs upon the trees,

A mystery of mysteries!

Life Lessons from Luna...

2009-09-13T13:54:00.000-07:00

I remember when my brother and I were reading the Harry Potter series, we both loved the adorably odd Luna Lovegood, so I was delighted to find her well cast and a fun focal point of the recent Potter movies.

The thing I love about her in the films is that despite being a little bizarre, she often strikes at the heart of the truth in the dire world of magic, giving Harry the advice he needs when he needs it. She is also wonderfully oblivious to other people's opinions, even the Ministry of Magic's. She marches contentedly to the beat of her own drum, while wearing some crazy "Fashion Don'ts"...which of course makes me like her all the more. :)

Spotted: Tink in Captivity

2009-09-10T10:41:00.000-07:00

Spotted: One of the minor fae in captivity.

This young faery, who sometimes goes by the name Tinker Bell, was seen trying to get out into the rain. Speaking on the condition of anonymity, she reported: "For the record, faeries do not live in townhouses, bungalows, and especially not skyscrapers in congested cities. True fae, in fact, do not live indoors at all, only underhill, and [she] was just coming inside for some honey and cookies when an annoying human closed a window."

Hmm, sorry about that, and about occasionally misrepresenting the fae in books. It's just that research is tough because our paths don't cross all that often when creatures of the twilight live outdoors and most human authors do not. (The good news is that my backyard looks more wild every day, so I should have some wee folk out there soon to interview for research purposes.)

Hope everyone's doing great this week, and I wonder: Do you have a favorite fae legend?

"Fairy Muse" by Linda Ravenscroft

2009-09-03T15:10:00.000-07:00

I just had tea with my friend Laura, and, knowing that the fae play a big role in BARELY BEWITCHED, she brought me a fantastic gift. It's a book called ENCHANTED by Linda Ravenscroft. For anyone who likes fairy stuff, Ms. Ravenscroft's work is beautiful.

Here's the link to her website: http://www.lindaravenscroft.com/store/

Meanwhile, the Labor Day weekend's kicking off. I've got a book signing this weekend at Katy Budget Books that I'm looking forward to.

What about you guys?

Are you traveling?

Are you planning to read, and, if so, what?

Tomorrow (9/2/09) - 2 Events!

2009-09-01T14:59:00.000-07:00

Kimber Live!

In Person - Discussing the Southern Witch series and Signing Books!

6:30 P.M on 9/2/09

Murder by the Book

2342 Bissonnet St.

Houston, TX 77005

(713) 524-8597

AND...

Tomorrow in CyberSpace!

Learn what I think Bryn's theme song might be + other Kimber musings at:

Visit BittenByBooks.com to...

read my interview and...

win prizes like a Bevy of Witches!

(Also giving away Barnes & Noble gift cards and a stack of books!)

Release Day on the Cyber Road

2009-08-31T23:41:00.000-07:00

Today I'm guest-blogging (and giving away a copy of Barely Bewitched)
at Fang-tastic Books where my post will be all about my favorite ocelot, Mercutio.

Parapalooza - Winners Day 6 & 7

2009-08-31T23:35:00.000-07:00

The Day 6 winner is Cait045

The Day 7 winner is Shel

Congratulations!!

And thank you, everyone, so much for being part of Parapalooza. It was great fun seeing you and reading all your wonderful and creative answers this week!

Hugs,
Kimber

PARAPALOOZA - Day 7

2009-08-30T22:15:00.000-07:00

Southern Witch series Quote of the Day

"Georgia Sue's voice on the answering machine kept going. I love her dearly, but she's the sort of person who can't see why anyone would say in one sentence what could be said just as well in three." ~ Tammy Jo on her best friend.

* * *

Kim Lenox writes a historical paranormal series set in Victorian times, and I swear that when you read her books, you'll feel like you're there. In Night Falls Darkly, the first in her Shadow Guard series, the powerful immortal hunters are on the trail of Jack the Ripper, and Kim creates a very interesting explanation for why the Ripper might have disappeared without a trace. As a reader, I really love when an author bends reality to create something original and fresh for me to think about.

I recently asked Kim what her most creative solution to writer's block is, and here's what she had to say:

"My most creative solution for writer's block while writing So Still the Night was to pull out my publisher contracts and emails from readers who had enjoyed Night Falls Darkly. They gave me the mental and emotional boost I needed to get back in the saddle, and give my very best, most enthusiastic effort." ~ Kim Lenox

I thought this was very clever of Kim--to look at the physical reminders of what we as authors promise. We've promised our publishers that we'll turn in a book, and if we've promised our readers an entertaining read. It's always good to remember what we're trying to do as we try to do it. ;)

Although her novels have a darker tone, I feel compelled to point out that Kim has a wonderful sense of humor. When she first got her cover for Night Falls Darkly, she sent it out to our local writing chapter's loop with a note that said something like, "Boy that wind in London is something. It blew the buttons right off Archer's shirt." LOL I just adore Kim and her books, and I bet you will too!

Visit Kim at: www.KimLenox.com

* * *

In this installment of Kerrelyn's Love at Stakes series, a vampire with a temper has to go to anger management classes. (Hee hee hee.)

Vanda the vampire never expects a mortal to be able to handle her, but sexy Phil Jones has a secret. As a shape-shifter, he can hold his own against just about anyone. When these two face off, the sparks fly. If you haven't seen the book trailer for this novel, go to Kerrelyn's home page now and click on the first trailer to watch it. It's great! www.kerrelynsparks.com

I also couldn't resist putting in this photo (that I snagged from Kim Lenox's blog) of Kerrelyn in a purple hat at a reader tea/book signing event. I love it. The look is sort of "lovely creative genius meets the Count of Monte Cristo," and like most things, Kerrelyn pulls it off brilliantly.

* * *

I think you can tell from the posts I've written this week that I value my friendships with the wonderful writers that I've been fortunate enough to meet so far in my career. It's what inspired the idea for this big contest giveaway, and it's what inspired today's question.

If you'd like to win signed copies of Barely Bewitched, Night Falls Darkly by Kim Lenox, and Forbidden Nights with a Vampire by Kerrelyn Sparks, please drop by in the comments and answer the following question:

1.) What character from a book or movie would you like to be friends with and why?

Parapalooza - Day 5 Winner

2009-08-30T22:13:00.001-07:00

The Day 5 Winner is throuthehaze.

(I have your e-mail from your post, so I'll send you an e-mail to

get your snailmail address to send the books.)

Congratulations, Througthehaze!

PARAPALOOZA - Day 6

2009-08-30T00:35:00.000-07:00

Southern Witch series Quote of the Day:

"All I needed was to drive the werewolves off, find Edie, cure Zach, and get a new job. Piece of cake. Well, a five-layer, two-days-in-the-making, and every-pan-in-the-kitchen-dirty Death By Chocolate Cake maybe."

* * *

I know several things about Dakota Cassidy.

First, she looks fabulous in a little black dress. (I met her very, very briefly at a cocktail party in Dallas)

Second, she's very generous. I'm pretty sure she was crazy busy with her own writing when my editor asked her if she'd be willing to read a book by a new author for a possible cover quote.

Third, she's got a great wry, self-deprecating humor that makes you want to have a million margaritas with her.

When I asked if her: "If you were a song from the 80's which would you be?" here's what she said...

"I'd like to say Like a Virgin is the song I'd be from the 80s, but that'd be a total lie. 'Cause I was no virgin. So I've decided on Let It Whip. See, I'm old--all my body parts whip around in one way or the other. :)"

I crack up every time I read that quote, and every time I read one of her books. She's great! Visit Dakota at www.dakotacassidy.com

* * *

Wonderfully talented, Sharie Kohler (who I've had margaritas with!) writes great paranormals under her name and fabulous bestselling historical romances under the pen name Sophie Jordan.

Recently, I asked Sharie which is her favorite villain from her books. Here's what she said:

"As a favorite villain, I would have to chose Darius from MARKED BY MOONLIGHT ... but then, I've begun to reform that naughty werewolf. He's destined to be the hero of his own book soon. Hmm, how about Jonah from my current release, TO CRAVE A BLOOD MOON? He's a pretty bad half-werewolf dude who actually tries to "off" the hero and heroine of TO CRAVE A BLOOD MOON. But hey, he has his reasons! ;) Actually both Darius and Jonah are reform-worthy. Personally, I believe the best villains are never all bad ... a great villain is always redeemable. You be the judge. Check out my series and let me know if villains Darius and Jonah are heroes in the making."

You can visit Sharie at:
http://www.shariekohler.net/
AND
http://www.sophiejordan.net/

* * *

If you'd like to win a signed copy of Barely Bewitched, a copy of The Accidental Werewolf by Dakota Cassidy, and an autographed copy of Marked By Moonlight by Sharie Kohler, please drop by in the comments and answer a one of the following questions:

1.) Who's your favorite shapeshifter?

OR

2.) Who's your favorite fictional villain?

Parapalooza - Day 4 Winner

2009-08-30T00:30:00.000-07:00

Mary D is the Day 4 Winner! Congratulations, Mary. :)

I'll e-mail you to get your snail-mail address.

More Me & More Free - Upcoming

2009-08-29T15:29:00.000-07:00

UPCOMING SCHEDULE!

September 1, 2009

It's the Barely Bewitched Release Day, and I'll be visiting the wonderful review site Fang-tastic Books. If you come and comment, you can win a copy of Barely Bewitched!

September 2, 2009

I'll be a guest at the fantastic paranormal book review site Bitten By Books. I'd be giving away prizes (including Barely Bewitched, other authors' books, B&N gift cards, and the sexy witch figure you see below). The site awards prizes based on points you earn, so if you plan to attend the event, go and comment as an RSVP to earn more points. The link is: www.bittenbybooks.com

PARAPALOOZA - Day 5

2009-08-28T21:00:00.000-07:00

Southern Witch series - Quote of the Day

"And how come the Glenfiddle workers remembered me splashing them with the passionflower potion? Weren't these potions supposed to cause at least a little bit of amnesia? I mean how was a witch supposed to spell-cast without getting caught?" ~ Tammy Jo, realizing that when she rescues people from monsters, she needs to be sneaky about it.

Life as a witch is so complicated!

* * *

Maria Lima is a terrific cyber-friend that I met at my friend Nancy Pickard's blog awhile ago. Maria writes a wonderful series of paranormal books (the Blood Lines series) that are set in Texas and are packed with mystery. How could I not love them?

Here's the first line from Matters of the Blood: "I know the dead, and the dead know me. Not a personal choice, mind you, just the result of being born into a family of necromancers." Maria hooked me with that opening and pulled me through the rest of her story, which is just as great.

Recently, I hit Maria with my "music question," and here's what she had to say:

"If I were a song from the 80s or 90s, I would be...The Future's So Bright I Gotta Wear Shades by Timbuk3 because I'm the ultimate optimist in many ways. One of my favorite lines from the song: 'Things are going great, and they're only getting better.' Despite the daily craziness of life, I try to see a silver lining in everything. Who'd have thought that my first book, Matters of the Blood, would have been reborn so many times and now by one of the top New York houses. I'm gobsmacked! Hand me those Raybans, 'k?" ~ Maria Lima

Visit Maria at http://www.thelima.com/

* * *

On Parapalooza Day 3, I told you how much I adore Kerrelyn Sparks and her books. One thing in particular that I admire about Kerrelyn's stories are the fun premises. Vamps and the City is a about a female TV producer who's part of a vampire harem. She starts a reality show where humans compete against vampires, and she needs a vampire contestant to win. Too bad she's falling for the sexy human contestant, Austin. (It's also too bad that he's a vampire slayer! It's Buffy & Angel in reverse). Now tell me you don't love that!

Here's what Kerrelyn has to say about mixed marriages between humans and the undead...

"Vampires make the best husbands. They never snore; they never expect you to cook, and while they're asleep all day, you have free access to their credit cards." ~ Kerrelyn Sparks

Visit Kerrelyn at: www.kerrelynsparks.com

If you'd like to win autographed copies of Barely Bewitched, Matters of the Blood by Maria Lima, and Vamps and the City by NYT-bestselling Kerrelyn Sparks, please drop by in the comments and answer the following question:

If you could marry and have kids with any kind of supernatural creature, would you? And which creature would you pick?

Parapalooza - Day 3 Winner

2009-08-28T19:17:00.000-07:00

I decided that we needed more pictures of the Spike action figure, because can a paranormal blog ever have too much Spike?

Witchy Woman is our Day 3 winner. Congratulations WW!

PARAPALOOZA - Day 4

2009-08-27T21:00:00.000-07:00

The Day of the Dieties?

Today's a young adult-friendly day! Tera Lynn Childs is a young adult author, Kelly McCullough's hero, Ravirn, is in college, and I know that I've got some teen readers of the Southern Witch series!

Also interestingly, both Tera's OMG series and Kelly's WebMage series feature Greek gods. So far, no Greek gods have turned up in the Southern Witch series...but you just never know when one might.

* * *

Southern Witch series - Quote of the Day

"Hey there, God. It's me again. Tammy Jo. I guess you've probably seen what's going on here in Duvall, but in case you've been too busy in some other part of the world to notice, I have to mention that I've kind of brought on an accidental Armageddon down here." She paused. "Yep. Sorry about that."

* * *

In addition to being a super talented Young Adult author, Tera Lynn Childs's one of the best road trip passengers of all time. If you scan back through my blogposts, you'll probably find a tale of our misadventures in Austin. (All I'm gonna say is: Down with rain and flat tires. Up with cupcakes!)

I recently asked Tera if she could hang out with a Greek god, who would she choose? Here's what she said:

"If I could hang out with a Greek god it would be Athena because she is the whole package. She's a jock with a brain, combining wisdom and competitive athletic ability with a patronage of the arts and industry. If she were a character in one of my books, she'd be the student body president, captain of the soccer team, and a blue ribbon-winning artist. What college wouldn't recruit her? As long as she wasn't too much of a know-it-all I think she'd be great fun to be around." - Tera Lynn Childs

I'd like to hang out with Athena, too. Although Apollo's beautiful, and Ares is the ultimate bad boy so hanging with him could be exciting as well. (Kimber thinking...) One thing I can say is that I'd hang with any of the Greek gods (yes, even Hades) if I knew Tera was going to be there because we always have hilarious adventures together.

* * *

Kelly McCullough and I are the best of cyberbuddies. We met in the comments of a our wonderful friend Nancy Pickard's blog, and Kelly and I sparked a friendship. Once we were each sprinting toward the finish of our respective novels and after we finished, we cyber-celebrated with Nancy & our other friends at her place. (Such good times!)

Of course, any friendship doe have its limits. When Kelly tried to rise up against the cats who own him, I was forced to be the cat's representative. Of course, it wasn't my fault that I had to side with the United Feline Overlords (a.k.a. UFO) because as most cat owners know, the UFO collective is secretly in charge of the world. Anyway, Kelly's books are great. Hercules meets Hackers, I say. When I asked him what song he'd be from the 80s or 90s, he said...

"If I were a song from the 80s or 90s, I would be Nowhere Fast by Fire Inc. from the Streets of Fire soundtrack because it's exactly the right mix of blazingly fast, unrepentantly silly, and deadly serious. Oh, and it really rocks." ~ Kelly McCullough

Kelly definitely rocks, too!

If you'd like to visit Tera at her site, you can find her at www.TeraLynnChilds.com And if you'd like to visit Kelly at his site, you can find him at www.kellymccullough.com

If you'd like to win a signed copy of Barely Bewitched from the Southern Witch series, an autographed copy of Oh.My.Gods by Tera Lynn Childs, and a copy of Cybermancy by Kelly McCullough, please drop by in the comments and answer this:

1.) If you were a descendent of a Greek god who would it be?

Parapalooza - Day 2 Winner

2009-08-27T20:49:00.000-07:00

Here's the Spike doll I told you guys about in the comments of the Day 3 post. The Spike action figure has removable goggle-glasses and comes with a kitten (remember the demon card game?), a chalice, and Giles's "Kiss the Librarian" coffee cup. The cup's filled with blood (and a cinnamon stick or something) as it was when Spike was sleeping on the couch at Giles's.

Day 2's winner is Brandy W. Congratulations Brandy!!

PARAPALOOZA - Day 3

2009-08-26T19:00:00.000-07:00

Southern Witch series - Quote of the Day:

"Hey, watch those paws. Remember you're not a tabby. With jungle cat strength comes jungle cat responsibilities."

~ Tammy Jo to Mercutio

* * *

Okay, I just adore Kerrelyn Sparks, so expect to see more of her later in the week. For those who don't know, Kerrelyn Sparks writes the fantastic "Love At Stakes" series of humorous vampire romances. And she doesn't just write them great, she writes them fast, often delivering more than one book a year! She's amazing, so I was very interested in hearing about her process. Here's what she had to say on the subject of writing:

"When I've completed a book, I adore writing! When I'm starting a book, I suddenly develop an interest in laundry." ~ Kerrelyn Sparks

(Hee hee hee. I love that quote!)

Kerrelyn went on to admit that she's "a lazy slug" at the beginning of each story because she writes character-driven books, and it takes her time to get to know the characters. "I don't fill out charts or personality profiles for them because that would be too logical," Kerrelyn joked. Instead she lives her life while the characters grow in her head. A book's first hundred pages might take her six weeks to write, but once she knows the characters, she writes faster and faster to the end. The last hundred pages may be written in a week.

As a reader, finding a great writer like Kerrelyn who's prolific is always a treat because don't you always want to say to your favorite author... "Write faster!" I know I do.

And Kerrelyn's not the only person in the Sparks family who has a vision of Kerrelyn's characters. Her daughter did some creating of her own by "vamping up" her Barbie Dolls. Check out the video of Kerrelyn showing off her daughter's handiwork at Vamp Dolls Vid. Also, go visit Kerrelyn's site at www.kerrelynsparks.com

* * *

And speaking of prolific writers whom I adore, let's talk about Annette Blair. When I joined the publisher's author loop (a place where the writers can talk to each other), she was one of the first people to welcome me and has continued to be wonderful and warm to me and to everyone else. She's also fabulously talented. If I had witch powers, I'd pop myself over to the East Coast to have coffee or tea with her because I just know that would be a delightful experience.

My question for Annette: I love it when characters from one series pop up in another unexpectedly. It's a little nod to the author's most loyal fans, who know all the characters that came before. Is it true that you've got some "guest appearances" in your upcoming novels?

"Yes. In my new Works Like Magic novels, my heroes come from parallel places and times. They're magical supernatural ancients who are able to cross into present-day Salem where they can interact with my witches. Melody from The Kitchen Witch shows up in Naked Dragon (1/2010). Kira from My Favorite Witch will show up in Bedeviled Angel (8/2010). Also, Reggie, a minor character from Sex and the Psychic Witch, will be the heroine in the third Works Like Magic novel which is about a time-traveling pirate who comes back to Paxton Island for buried treasure." ~ Annette Blair

Ancient supernatural hunks? Time-traveling pirates? Plus witches? I am SO there!! To visit Annette at her site, go to www.annetteblair.com

* * *

If you'd like to win a signed copy of Barely Bewitched, an autographed copy of Secret Life of a Vampire by NYT-bestselling author Kerrelyn Sparks, and a copy of The Kitchen Witch by bestselling author Annette Blair, please drop by in the comments and answer one or both of the following:

1.) What fictional character would you like to see made into a doll?

2.) If you could take a character from a TV show or movie and drop him (or her) into a different show for a guest appearance who would it be and where would you put him?

(For example, I might like to see Dr. Who drop into an episode of Psych. LOL I crack up just thinking about Gus's reaction to that.)

Rocking Parapalooza Day 2

2009-08-26T18:55:00.001-07:00

Wow. You guys ROCKED again today, and there's so much I want to say that I have to do an entire post in between the posts.

Okay, first off, so many people wanted to help other people. I love that. You guys are awesome!

Now to Robert, whom I believe said he'll "maybe put someone else in charge. Cats, I think." I wanted to let you know that I believe the cats are already secretly in charge. I checked with Mercutio, and he confirmed it. (Also, this topic of cats ruling the world will be covered a bit more in a later post when I giveaway a book by my friend Kelly McCullough somewhere around Parapalooza Day 4.)

Also, Mercutio approved of the icon of Calvin & Hobbs. As it turns out, RK, I am not related to Jeaniene Frost, but her books are great and I think she's got a great last name. ;)

Hugs back to you, Jillena (and to everyone).

To those who want the time-travel powers, I wanted to say that I want them, too. I'd use them to go back in time to steal Jamie from Claire. (Don't get me wrong. I think Claire's great. I'd love to hang out with her. But the minute she left the room, I'd spike Jamie's whiskey and into a magical duffel bag he goes. C'mon who's with me?)

Other great comments... reading minds to win at poker --LOL Excellent. Wanting to be called "The Asthma Witch" while healing people -- fantastic.

To Nancy who wants to catch Jacker the Ripper. First of all, go get him, girl. He deserves to pay. And second, I've actually got a book you'll be interested in. It's a historical paranormal by my friend Kim Lenox. I'm going to be giving it away later in the week, somewhere around Parapalooza Day 6.

To those who want to read minds. Boy, are you brave! Some people are scary. I don't want to know more about what they're thinking.

Now, it could be lack of sleep, but I actually started wanting to combine the magic powers. Like I want Sweet Vernal's pet dragon on my shoulder so the dragon can direct someone else's flying falcons to do my laundry. I want the power of persuasion so that I can bring about world peace. I want to ride a unicorn into the heart of a hurricane and cast a spell to stop it. And I'd take the power to clone myself so I could fight terrorists in one part of the world at the same time I was doing a book signing in another part. Or I'd sport a Jennifer Aniston bod while driving my hybrid Bentley that could teleport me anywhere in the world ;) ...Okay, so I'm getting carried away.

I wanted to say that I think Ally's right; working for goals makes achieving them all the sweeter, and there is usually "fine print" on magical spells--at least in my series, magic has a price (often it's funny, but sometimes it's scary.)

Anyway, thank you to EVERYONE who commented. I loved all the comments, and I'll draw a winner and post it tomorrow.

Sleep tight, parapalooza peeps!

PARAPALOOZA - Day 2

2009-08-25T18:07:00.000-07:00

Southern Witch series - Quote of the Day:

"I don't know why people pay for rental cars when so many friends and family members just leave their keys lying around unattended."

~ Tammy Jo Trask, whose car is often misplaced.

* * *

NYT bestselling author Nina Bangs writes awesome sexy, funny paranormal romances, but she didn't always know that she would become a writer. When asked in an interview what she wanted to be when she grew up, she said:

"I wasn't so practical when I was young. I wanted to ride horses. I wasn't too clear on the concept of how I'd manage that, but I was open to suggestions."

Don't you just love that? Amazingly, she went on to raise and show Arabians for a few years. So apparently Nina's good at turning all kinds of dreams into reality. I'm taking notes! (To learn more about Nina's terrific books, visit her site - www.NinaBangs.com)

* * *

Another author whose work I love is Alyssa Day. She writes about the lost city of Atlantis (which I know existed and am fascinated by) and the incredibly sexy Warriors of Poseidon-- c'mon, who wouldn't love buff boys from the deep blue sea who are on a mission and fall in love along the way? Clearly most people do love them since Alyssa hit the New York Times Bestseller list with her latest release. (Hurray! People have such good taste.)

Now, I could envy Alyssa because she's beautiful, talented, and because she has her own sea-faring warrior (in the form of her husband who's in the Navy), but I don't envy her those things. What I'm actually sea-weed green with envy over is her new author portrait that she unveiled on her blog on August 20th. I too want a live-in artist who will illustrate scenes from my books and my life. I'll hold a trident, an ocelot, or even hunky warrior if it's absolutely necessary.

If you'd like to win a signed copy of Barely Bewitched from the Southern Witch series, an autographed copy of A Taste of Darkness by Nina Bangs, and a copy of Atlantis Rising by Alyssa Day, then please drop by in the comments and answer the following:

If you had magical powers, which of your dreams would you make come true?

Parapalooza - Day 1 Winner

2009-08-25T18:06:00.000-07:00

Okay through a very complicated process that involved two Aruban coin tosses and then pulling numbers from a small plastic bag, we have a Parapalooza Day 1 winner!

Patti (of the "Book Addict" & "Sleepless in New Orleans" blogs), please e-mail me through my website to claim your books. (Or post your e-mail in the comments of this post)

And we're moving into Parapalooza - Day 2.

See you in the new comments section!

PARAPALOOZA - Day 1

2009-08-25T00:00:00.000-07:00

Southern Witch series - Quote of the Day:

"I'd never kill anyone with hair that fabulous."

~ Rollie the vampire

* * *

Gerry Bartlett writes a terrific humorous paranormal series featuring a beautiful full-figured vampire. Here's what Gerry has to say about becoming one of the undead herself...

Since you write about vampires, if you had the choice, would you want to be one?

"Lots to consider here. First, my heroine, Glory St. Clair, was turned when she had a few extra pounds to lose and then she was stuck like that. So first, I’d have to diet down to a perfect weight. And that’s obviously not going to happen. I have the self-control of a mosquito in a nudist colony. Then there’s the whole liquid diet thing. Sorry, but I love my food too much to give it up. What fun is it to live forever without steak and a baked potato? Not to mention chocolate truffles. I have to have crunch in my diet too, just like my heroine. She suffers just to taste the occasional Cheeto.

On the serious side, the immortality thing is a big deal. If I were given the option, I wouldn’t want to be turned vampire. No way. Not unless everyone I know and loved would live forever too. I can’t imagine watching them die while I lived on. There could be nothing worse.

Hey, this is getting way too gloomy now. In REAL VAMPIRES HATE THEIR THIGHS, coming in February, Glory has her pick between two hot guys. Now that’s what I’m talking about. I write fiction, folks. And there’s nothing more fun than escaping into a book where all your dreams can come true. So, sure, I’d live and look young forever. I’d have hot guys at my feet and elsewhere, if you get my drift. And figure out a way to eat too. If I’m writing this story, then I can make it happen. Right?" ~ Gerry Bartlett

Hee Hee Hee. Yeah, there's a reason I love Gerry & Glory. Now if you'd like to win a signed copy of Barely Bewitched from the Southern Witch series (and Book 1 Would-Be Witch, if you don't have it) and an autographed copy of the first book in Gerry's series (Real Vampires Have Curves), please pop into the comments and tell us whether you'd like to be a vampire or not.

P.S. If you'd like to visit Gerry's site, you can find her at www.GerryBartlett.com

Parapalooza in 2 days!

2009-08-23T08:22:00.000-07:00

While I was busy writing the next book in the series, the Barely Bewitched release date (September 1st) was lurking around the corner and is now ready to pounce like a cat...well like an ocelot. In Book 2 of the Southern Witch series, Tammy Jo Trask returns with bigger adventures, more romance, and much bigger hair. Texas-sized hair extensions, you ask? Why no. It's magic. Well, a magical cover artist anyway. Maybe he'd like to work in Duvall at Johnny's hair salon. I'll have to check with Berkley about that...

Anyway, in honor of going from being a debut novelist to a multi-published novelist this year, I'm hosting my first-ever contest. Right here. Beginning on Tuesday 8/25/09 for seven straight (or twisted) days. I'll be giving away copies of BARELY BEWITCHED (& WOULD-BE WITCH if you missed Book 1) as well as copies of other fabulous paranormals. All you have to do is show up and comment for a chance to win.

Let the partypalooza begin!!

Keeping It Weird in Austin

2009-08-12T19:25:00.000-07:00

Do you know Austin, Texas's unofficial slogan?

I love that! Love it, and it fits. There's a guy selling cupcakes out of a trailer in the middle of an empty lot. There's bat-watching from the bridge (I swear those rabies shots are totally painless), and I've spotted some twenty-somethings sporting dreadlocks, making me wonder just what they and Robert Pattinson have against combing their hair. (Not that I'm anti-Pattinson. I just liked his hair better in Goblet, you know?)

Anyway, I'm going to try to stay weird this weekend at Armadillocon 31, a science fiction & fantasy literary conference. So if you live in Austin and want to try to talk me into dreadlocks, wander over to the DoubleTree hotel. We can discuss that along with Hollywood hair gel experiments gone wrong and which books we love and which we'd love to forget.

Here's a place to check out who'll be where and when: DilloCon31

The Soap Lady

2009-08-08T13:53:00.000-07:00

Today I was at a presentation for writers, and the presenter was sharing anecdotes. She mentioned that for a time there was a rather prolific reader who devoured romance novels and, if she found any profanity in a story, would write a letter to the author threatening to send them a bar of soap to wash out their mouths.

At today's presentation, there were a couple of published authors in the audience who had received these poisoned pen letters. But it has apparently been some time since anyone has heard from The Soap Lady. Obviously she was very passionate in her mission to rid the world of profanity. This, of course, made the mystery fan in me wonder: what happened to her?

Did she:

1.) Give up on her quest to sanitize literature's language?

2.) Move to another genre of books?

3.) Go to a Tarantino movie and die of shock?

Have a great weekend,
Kimber the Curious

Tammy's First Kiss

2009-08-04T19:05:00.000-07:00

My friend TJ Bennett asked me to do a guest blog spot over at her place, and each month she does a theme. This month it's "This Kiss, This Kiss" of Faith Hill fame. Since I knew the story of Tammy Jo's first kiss, I decided to write it. (Because the passage was a bit to long, I cut it down and the original longer version will be published on my website at some future date.)

For now though, for an exclusive look at the excerpted first kiss scene (and for a chance to win a copy of Would-Be Witch), visit TJ's Blog In My Humble Opinion on August 5th.

Also, do check back here. I'll be running a mega-contest at the end of August in preparation for the September 1st release of Barely Bewitched!

Mercutio approves new book in series...

2009-07-21T09:08:00.000-07:00

Okay, today is crazy, but I had to take a brief moment to announce the big news in the Southern Witch world. I've accepted an offer to write a third book in the series. It's tentatively-titled, Halfway Hexed. Tammy Jo and Mercutio have sent word that they're on-board, which is, of course, crucial. I couldn't do it without them. ;)

More news, when I stop celebrating.

Hugs,
Kimber

LOLkimber on Saturday

2009-07-11T13:40:00.001-07:00

I woke up horrifically early today and saw the trailer for Bruno. There's a moment where he's on a talk show explaining how he swapped an ipod for a baby. Between his earnest delivery and the audience reaction...yep. LOL

And I learned a new term from my often hilarious younger brother. "Emo" He made me promise to watch an Emo Xmas video. And yes, me again...LOLing. Black comedy. It does work.

Emo Xmas

Emo Kitty

Congested at 4 am

2009-07-07T02:14:00.000-07:00

I have a cold, so I'm too blurry-eyed and fuzzy-headed to concentrate on much. As such, I'm listening to books on tape. I just tried Diane Mott Davidson for the first time. Sweet Revenge was terrific. (Tammy Jo approves of a caterer/amateur sleuth as a series main character.)

Meanwhile, don't you think we should take a road trip to see this little guy? He's an "aye-aye" and is a new addition to the Denver Zoo. They claim he's a primate, but I'm thinking alien.

Me @ ApolloCon 2009

2009-06-26T20:59:00.000-07:00

Saturday, June 27th

11:00 am Reading

Noon - 1:00 pm - "Realistic Fantasy & Other Oxymorons" panel

2:00 - 3:00 pm - "Sometimes A Vampire is just a Vampire" panel

5:00 - 6:00 pm - Autograph Session

Sunday, June 28th

10:00 - 11:00 am - "West Sidhe Story: Fairies in Urban Fantasy"

Social Networking II

2009-06-25T10:46:00.000-07:00

My friends pointed out that I did not offer any links yesterday. It turns out that's true.

At Twitter, you'll find me as: FrostFiction

On Facebook, I'm Kimberly Frost. You'll know you've got the right one by my book cover. :)

Quote for the day:

If you're already in a hole, quit digging.

(paraphrased from Roy W. Walters)

Question for the day: Is Houston as hot as the surface of the sun?
Answer: No, but it's pretty darn close.
Someone please pass the Gatorade!

I'm socializing...kind of...

2009-06-24T10:16:00.000-07:00

After intense pressure, I have caved in and joined two more social networking sites. FaceBook & Twitter. (I was already here on Blogger (my home blogging site), LiveJournal (infrequently), and MySpace (sporadically, but enthusiastically.)

I really love connecting with people, but I'm not sure I'll like having to check two more sites. I want all my applications to talk to each other so I can get one massive feed into my inbox...or preferably my brain ;)

Oh yes, and I'll be "in person" socializing this weekend at ApolloCon in Houston!

It's June?!

2009-06-08T06:33:00.000-07:00

Hello, World!

Here's a photograph of the Mystery Lovers Bookshop in Oakmont, Pennsylvania. I took it from across the road and down on the train tracks. Aren't the rich colors lovely?

What I really want to know today is where the heck the first half of 2009 went. I know I've been busy with the first book release and the impending release of book 2 in the Southern Witch series, but I honestly feel like someone is stealing days of the week. Time just seems to melt, like the clocks in those Dali paintings. Are you feeling that, too?

Meanwhile, here are some pictures from the Festival of Mystery trip. I had a great time and met so many cool readers. I recently got an e-mail of the shop's bestseller list and Would-Be Witch is on it. Very exciting!!

Here's part of the list:

Mystery Lovers Bookshop - Trade Bestsellers

1---Death of a Cozy Writer by G M Malliet---Midnight Ink

2---Paper, Scissors, Death by Joanna Campbell Slan---Midnight Ink

3---Would-Be Witch by Kimberly Frost --- Berkley

4---Dead Man Dancing by Marcia Talley--- Severn House

5---The War Against Miss Winter by Katherine Miller Haines---Harper

Purple Haze

2009-05-04T07:19:00.000-07:00

(This slightly surreal photograph is one that I altered to create the

purple effects. I'm posting it in honor of my yesterday's

drive-time adventure.)

Today I'm in Oakmont, Pennsylvania for the Festival of Mystery. (Yay!) It's drizzling, and naturally I didn't pack an umbrella since I had about fifty pounds of bookmarks and brochures. What was I thinking!? Anyway, the drive from the Pittsburgh airport was especially interesting. Like the rest of America, Pittsburgh roadways are under construction, and at one point the orange cones seemed to imply that the expressway ended completely and where it did, we'd be forced to exit.

Since I was armed only with my Mapquest directions, I was not in favor of a detour. Then, as if I was in a CS Lewis novel, the cars in front of me magically continued on the expressway. I really couldn't see how they did it, but I decided that if I had to mow down a few cones, it was better than getting hopelessly lost. Fortunately, it was just an optical illusion. The curve in the road had made it impossible to see that the lane continued. I thought: They really needed a sign a mile back to say that we didn't have to exit. Then, about fifteen feet after the transition, there was a sign that said, "Stay in Lane." Um, thanks. I believe I will?!...(sighing)...Better late than never I suppose.

The silver lining is that the people in Pennsylvania are wonderfully friendly, which makes it a such a pleasure to visit here. Random factoid... I was staying in a hotel just outside of Hershey, Pennsylvania when I began writing Would-Be Witch. Hmm. Tammy Jo's a pastry chef and chocolatier...coincidence?

It's tough to be cool when...

2009-04-14T07:37:00.001-07:00

There has been some beautiful weather lately in Houston. So I was driving along with my convertible top down, listening to music a tad too loudly, and feeling great. Then I stopped at a light and felt sprinkles. I looked up at the clear sky, confused, then got blasted with a bit of cold water. A d#$! corporate sprinkler caught me unawares. It was watering the flowers that were planted on the divider. Now I'm all for flowers and plants, but I don't think the citizens should have to get watered with them! I am not a tulip and I have a shower that works, thanks. ;)

How was your Easter/Passover/weekend?

Hugs,
Kimber

Author Intrusion?

2009-04-09T05:08:00.000-07:00

There's a term in writing for when an author interrupts the normal flow of the story to inject something that she wants the reader to know. The intrusion can take many forms, but they're all generally bad because it reminds the reader that she's reading a book (rather than living through an experience with the character.)

Anyway, I wondered if I might be an in-the-flesh author intrusion when I was invited by a wonderful (hugs and kisses to Karla) bookseller from Katy Budget Books to sit in on a paranormal readers' group that was going to discuss Would-Be Witch. How could they have a real discussion about what they thought with me sitting in the circle? Also, what if someone hated the book and wasn't afraid to say so? Would that be awkward?

In true Tammy Jo tradition, I felt bringing chocolate would be a good way to break the ice, so I had mint fudge brownies with me. (The brownies were pretty gooey in the center. I'm not sure what's up with that, but it turns out gooey brownies are as good as fully cooked ones.) Anyway, the ladies had their own supply of snacks and sodas, and I tried Peach Fresca. Amazingly good!

I was asked to talk a bit about how I'd come up with story, which I did. Then I listened to their thoughts. They're quite a savvy group of readers, which is very cool. And it was a relief to hear that they enjoyed the book. Many of them have been incredibly generous to me by telling people about the book. Caribbean pirates probably wouldn't think so, but book buzz/word of mouth recommendations are better than gold!

So it was a terrific experience for me--though because I was a bit nervous, I talked more than I'd intended to. Those who know me will not be surprised to hear that. ;)

Anyway, I hope it was good for them, too, but to learn what they really thought of my being there... intruder v. welcome visitor, I'll have to debrief with Karla this weekend. What I wouldn't give to be a fly on the wall sometimes...

The DMV...Hell on Earth?

2009-03-26T03:55:00.000-07:00

Every once in a while, I come across a show that I really love. Such was the case with Reaper. Have you guys seen it? Kevin Smith of Clerks, Mallrats, Chasing Amy and Dogma fame is a show consultant. The premise is that a young guy turns eighteen and gets a visit from the devil, who's got the smile of the Joker and too-tan skin a la George Hamilton. The devil, in fact, fits the stereotype of a used car salesman.

Anyway, the parents of our hero apparently promised their first born to the devil in exchange for him granting them a favor. When Sam, the hero, turns eighteen, he's got to pay up by becoming a bounty hunter for Hell. This means he has to collect escaped souls and return them to Hell, using amazing implements like toasters and dustbusters. The drop-off point for the captured souls is the DMV where a horned demon named Gladys mostly looks bored, but often has a zinger for our boy and his pals.

If you like humor mixed with horror...a la Would-Be Witch and Buffy the Vampire Slayer, you should give this show a look. I love it and bet you will, too.

Hugs,
Kimberly

P.S. In between watching episodes of Reaper, I did manage to turn in my copy edits. Hurray! Anyone in Houston, meet me for margaritas... ;)

100-proof berries?

2009-03-07T12:02:00.000-08:00

(This little guy had breakfast with us at Empire Cafe a couple weeks ago.
Seemed an appropriate photo for this post.)

I click on a lot of news items as I switch sites to check my various e-mail accounts, and a week or two ago, I came across this story from the AP, posted in the Chattanooga Times Free Press

MEMPHIS — Some drunks got out of hand near Beale Street in Memphis, but instead of barflies it was birds intoxicated from eating fermented fruit.

The Health Department investigated this week after receiving calls about dead and floundering birds, cedar waxwings to be exact. The birds were crashing into buildings in the Peabody Place area.

An investigator told The Commercial Appeal he traced the problem to berries from nearby holly trees. Recent freezes ruptured berry cells, allowing the wild yeast to convert sugars into alcohol.

The birds apparently got tipsy from consuming the fermented berries.

Health officials say they don’t how many birds died from flying intoxicated.

(Yikes! Note to self...don't eat wild holly berries after a freeze and then try to fly...)

On being collected...

2009-03-02T20:44:00.001-08:00

So I was on the phone with my friend, David, who keeps me informed of things I need to know about like nice reviews and the date my new book will be released (Sept 1st according to Amazon.)

Anyway, so we're chatting about God-knows-what, and he suddenly says, "Someone is selling a collectable Would-Be Witch for more than double the cover price."

I pause, perplexed, and say, "What's collectable about it?" I have visions of someone gilding the lettering in real gold, and I'm just about ready to sign on to buy that fabulous copy myself, when he answers, "You signed it."

This response leads to about five minutes of laughing out loud on my part.

I quite doubt that the seller will find a buyer for the book at that price, but I wish them well and thank them for cracking me up.

Meanwhile, anyone with an unsigned copy who wants to convert it into a collector's item, contact me through my website. I'll happily send you an autographed bookplate to stick inside, and it won't cost you a thing.

Pleasanton, California

2009-02-23T10:33:00.000-08:00

I spent last week with a group of writers who were working on elevating their stories to breakout novel status. It was quite inspiring to see artists hard at work. In addition to helping them with their stories, I did some work planning a proposal for Book 3 in the Southern Witch Series.

Pleasanton, California where we stayed was lovely. Main Street has the look and feel of an older era. (I wish I had taken a picture of it to show you. The one above just shows wonderful fall color.) Anyway, I couldn't help but wonder if the creators of the movie Pleasantville (which I loved) had been to Pleasanton for inspiration.

Have a wonderful week!

In search of Mellisa...

2009-02-15T18:16:00.000-08:00

A reader named Mellisa just contacted me through my website, but the replies I've tried to send keep bouncing.

Mellisa, if you happen to see this, please contact me again via the website or in the comments section of this post. I wonder if you may have typed your e-mail address in wrong.

Hoping to connect,

Kimberly

You know a road trip's going to be legendary when...

2009-02-12T05:04:00.000-08:00

"Start every day with a smile and get it over with." W.C. Fields

So, I'm just back from Austin, and you know a road trip is going to be legendary when the road tries to kill you twice, but despite everything you get to hang with a friend, visit other writers, and buy treats from a silver trailer with a rotating cupcake on top.

I dragged my friend (and fabulous YA author) Tera Lynn Childs with me out of town. I went there to do a presentation for a group of writers (which was great fun, by the way) and managed to (a) blow out a tire (I swear that curb came out of nowhere!) and (b) navigate in the dark through a torrential downpour. With my windshield wipers whipping back and forth, I could barely see through the sheet of rain. It was quite scary. Luckily, Tera and I did a great job pretending that nothing was amiss while my poor convertible which was rolling on three regular wheels and a spare nearly got washed away.

Anyway, I'm safely home in Houston, and the carrot cupcake was delicious. Despite our lives being in peril, I think Tera and I would go back to Austin in a heartbeat. :)

If it's Monday, this must be Houston...

2009-02-09T06:25:00.000-08:00

Good morning, world!

There was a famous tour book called, "If it's Tuesday, this much be Belgium," and that's how my life feels right now. What day is it? Where's my boarding pass? LOL It's fun, if a little dizzying.

I just got back from a whirlwind weekend. I went home to Michigan and had a fantastic signing at Borders in Taylor. (I'm going to write a full post about that in a few days.) Today, I've got to finish keying in the proofreading changes to Barely Bewitched and then I have to prepare for a lecture that I'm giving in Austin. Wanted: one personal assistant with a stack of Post-its who knows the way to my favorite coffee shops. I can't pay much, but I promise to be a cheerful boss. ;)

Anyway, I thought I'd leave you with a quote...

"I believe my music is the healing music. I believe my music can make the blind see, the lame walk, the deaf and dumb hear and talk, because it inspires and uplifts people. It regenerates the ears, makes the liver quiver, the bladder splatter, and the knees freeze." Little Richard

I'm not sure that having my "bladder splatter" would constitute "musical healing", but I like his energy and his confidence. Let's all pretend we're Little Richard today and go out to conquer life. :)

Michigan Book Signing!

2009-02-06T09:59:00.000-08:00

Saturday

February 7th, 2009

1:30 pm - Presentation for Writers

2:00 pm - Would-Be Witch Book Signing Event

Borders at Southland Mall

Taylor, MI 48180

(734) 374-5345

Sometimes it's difficult to see the sun...

2009-02-05T19:42:00.000-08:00

"If you're going through hell, keep going!" Winston Churchill

A friend's husband is laid off and money is tight for their family, so I know that, though she doesn't say so, she must be stressed. Another friend of mine who desperately wants to be a published writer got a rejection letter from an agent that she had believed was going to take her on as a client, and the frustration reduced her to tears.

When people are going through difficult times, I really wish life was a book where an author, namely me, could hand out happy endings in the span of 304 pages. I wish their troubles were dragons that I could slay. But, of course, reality is a different beast.

So here are some things to think about...

JK Rowling had lost her mother and was a broke single mother herself when she wrote a story about an orphan named Harry Potter.

Walt Disney was fired from a job for lack of imagination.

Honda, as a small unknown inventor, started small repair shops. Both times they were bombed to dust by Allied Forces. He pawned his wife's jewelry to start a business that would later be destroyed. He collected scrap materials to get enough money to build a new factory. The building was decimated by an earthquake.

Lucille Ball was kicked out of drama school and told she was wasting her time.

During his life, Abraham Lincoln went bankrupt, couldn't get into law school, lost his fiancee, and had a nervous breakdown that kept him in bed for six months. He was also defeated in eight elections before he became president.

So when times are rough, remember there's always hope for a better tomorrow...

Rock Star Moment...

2009-02-05T08:50:00.000-08:00

(Holy Cow!) Last night was my first ever bookstore signing. Many of my colleagues and friends turned out, as well as members of the Murder By the Book reading community. As I began talking about Would-Be Witch, I realized that every chair was full and that some people were standing. (Standing room only?!) It was surreal.

People asked questions; friends later told me that I answered them all articulately and seemed to be in my element. Honestly though, I don't remember a lot of what was said during that part. What I remember--what I'm sure I'll remember for the rest of my life--was how much energy there was in the store. It was mind-boggling in the very best sense of the word.

I had a line of people waiting for me to autograph their books. (A line?!) One lovely reader invited me to stay with her if I come to Galveston to do research for any later books in the series. And I thought...I may just take her up on that offer. That sounds like a lot of fun to me. (I have readers? I can be their houseguest?!)

The after party at my friend Elizabeth's was a great celebration, too. I can't say how touched I was to have so many friends come out to support me and to share in my joy, both at the bookstore and at the party. And I realize that this was not a typical signing experience for a debut author, but in a perfect world, it would be.

So now I'm working on my Book 2 revisions surrounded by flowers and cards and bottles of champagne that people brought last night, and I still can't believe it all. I was CinderKimber at the ball, having my rock star moment, and in terms of memories, it doesn't get any better than that.

Feeling like an author - PART 2

2009-02-04T09:05:00.000-08:00

Tonight!

Murder By the Book
6:30 pm

2342 Bissonnet St.
Houston, Texas
(713) 524-8597

I'll be talking about & signing copies of Would-Be Witch!

(And this weekend...I'll be signing in Taylor, Michigan. Then next month, I'm coming to Katy, Texas! You can see all my events on my calendar, under the miscellaneous tab on my website!)

Would-Be Witch is out today!!!

2009-02-03T06:40:00.000-08:00

Would-Be Witch is finally in stores!!!

To celebrate how about a preview...
of the Southern Witch Series's Book 2 Cover?

Would-Be Witch goes multi-media...

2009-01-27T06:56:00.000-08:00

Would-Be Witch Video World Premiere!

A friend of mine is SO wonderful & talented!
She made me this jazzy Would-Be Witch video.
Isn't it cool?
I love it.
Thank you, Fleury!

Clouds in the Road?

2009-01-18T06:00:00.000-08:00

"Aerodynamically, the bumblebee shouldn't be able to fly, but the bumblebee doesn't know it, so it goes on flying anyway." Mary Kay Ash

I was only half awake at four-fifteen a.m. as I drove, and there was some morning mist obscuring my already hazy I-should-not-be-up-this-early state of mind. Then I saw them. Clouds littering the road. Big bits of white fluff, too foamy to be solid. A scan of the surrounding area revealed more clusters on the grass and people's front lawns.

I slowed the vehicle and rolled down my windows as if I might say to them, "How did you get down here?" or "Don't you know that if you're that weighed down with water, you should just give it up as rain? You're not supposed to sink this low. Hurry and get back up in the sky."

When I was traveling at 1 mile per hour and had rubbed the sleep from my eyes, I spotted the frothing fountain that belonged to an apartment building off on my left-hand side. Enormous billows of snow-white soap foam was cresting up over the brick enclosure, and I understood. Someone had poured laundry detergent or some other cleanser into the fountain and the lighter-than-air suds had been carried across the street by wind. Whether it was a prank or part of a routine winter fountain-cleaning, I'm not sure. I can only say, that it provided a surreal start to the morning, and, for that, the artist in me is grateful.

Edgar Gets a Stamp!

2009-01-17T10:39:00.000-08:00

I love snail mail and send lots of it, so I often get different types of stamps to spruce up my envelopes. Last week, I got sunflowers and Chinese dragons that are cool. But today, they finally got in the Edgar Allan Poe stamps.

Poe's work is so dark in an awesome way. I remember reading and loving the poem Annabel Lee in high school. Do you know it? Edgar falls in love with the sublime Annabel Lee, but the angels are jealous and sending a killing chill. Despite her death, he vows their souls will never be separated and lies down next to her body.

Love & death. Always a fabulous literary combination. ;)

17 Days 16 Hours 24 Minutes Until WOULD-BE WITCH

2009-01-16T05:08:00.000-08:00

Feeling Like a Real Author - Part I

Over the past few weeks, some people that I've never met have sent me e-mails through my website telling me that they've heard about the book and that they can't wait to read it. These messages make me misty-eyed with joy every time I get one. The internet continues to be an incredible tool for helping people connect. Don't we live in amazing times?

Further, aren't people amazingly generous with their good will and support for other human beings? A couple of my MySpace friends have created "widgets" that are counting down to my book release. I can't describe how warm and fuzzy (important in these times of frigid temperatures) it feels to have others celebrating this event with me. Also, the widgets allow me to cheat...sometimes people ask how long until the book comes out and I go to my friends' pages to get an exact number of days. Probably, I should have a "Would-Be Witch Countdown" widget on my own MySpace page, but I like visiting their pages better.

Happy New Year!

2009-01-03T17:16:00.001-08:00

This year, I've made a resolution not to make any resolutions, but that doesn't mean I'm not in the mood to hear other people's.

Here are some from the princess set...

Fairy Princess's New Year's Resolutions:

1. No eating poison apples

2. No fraternizing with evil queens

3. No wasting time spinning my own clothes when I can buy them at the Disney store

4. No contracting sleeping sickness that makes me miss parties.

5. Get my own magic wand!

Holiday Mayhem

2008-12-15T07:54:00.001-08:00

I am covered in glitter. Except for the sardonically raised eyebrow, I look like Kimber the Good Fairy. Where did all this glitter come from you ask? Did I invade Tinker Bell's secret supply of pixie dust?

Ahem. No. I don't think anyone's allowed in Neverland who is over the age of fourteen--fifteen on the outside--and I'm well past that now. No, my glitter stylings come from shedding Xmas cards. And these weren't cheap cards, so what's the deal?

Obviously, I'm trying to get some holiday cards out...at least to the people whom I don't talk to very often, but the world is crazy. I'm working. I'm editing. I'm trying to get things in order for my book's February release. I'm trying to be social and have and attend parties... it's madness.

And on top of everything, I've run out holiday stamps or even the nondescript Forever stamps with the Liberty Bell. So, now I'm slapping on any stamp that I can find. Which means some people who have the envelope with "the deer in the winter woods" scene are going to have a bright yellow sunflower stamp in the corner. Sighing heavily. Coordinating stamps and envelopes is officially beyond me.

That's why I can't wait for Xmas to actually get here, when the stores and the post offices will be closed, and I'll finally get to kick back. Then I'm going to do nothing...except perhaps watch a few favorite holiday movies. Here's my want-to-watch list:

1. A Christmas Story (The ultimate holiday movie, full of wisdom imparted through wisecracks. Love it!)

2. Elf
(As far as I'm concerned, Will Farrell has created a new holiday classic.)

3. Harry Potter & The Sorcerer's stone
(Hey, there's Xmas in it! Harry gets the invisibility cloak as a Xmas present.)

4. The Year Without A Santa Clause (It's the one where the seasons are at war. The Heat Miser's one of the main characters. You know it?)

Do you have any favorites holiday traditions or movies?

Mushroom Madness

2008-12-01T18:27:00.000-08:00

I'm pretty sure that I have a greater love of mushrooms than the average person on the street, but even I blinked when I read that a one-kilogram white truffle sold at auction for $200,000.

The proceeds of the auction are going to charity, so at least this bit of excess is tied to some pretty tasty philanthropy. And, of course, yay for the 'shroom's rise to the top of the food chain. ;)

Happy Thanksgiving!

2008-11-27T08:14:00.000-08:00

Happy Turkey Day!

This morning, I'm watching Home For the Holidays which stars Holly Hunter and Robert Downey Jr. If you haven't seen it, you should. It's a hilarious take on dysfunctional families over the holidays, and it's become a tradition for me to watch it this time of year.

Later, I've got Christmas music to play while I make stuffed portobello mushrooms to take (along with some wine and dessert) to a friends' Thanksgiving celebration. I can't wait!

What are you doing? Any special holiday traditions?

2008-11-21T09:16:00.000-08:00

"Like music and art, love of nature is a common language that can transcend polital and social boundaries." ~ Jimmy Carter

It's such a cool, sunny, beautiful day today that I've got the windows open. It's a little chilly though so I'm editing from within the cocoon of my comforter while drinking hot vanilla tea. Lately I've been in the midst of a reading festival. I thought I'd provide a few excerpts over the next few days in case some of the books I've enjoyed are ones that you might like, too...

From Kim Lenox's paranormal romantic suspense titled NIGHT FALLS DARKLY about an immortal who is hunting Jack the Ripper in 1887 London...

Without waiting for an answer, he shouldered his way through the crowd, drawing Elena behind, his thumb pressed against the underside of her wrist. Their heels sounded against the parquet. Feeling more ferocious with each passing moment, he took the printed card from her hand and released it to fall in a zigzag descent to the carpet. The members of the orchestra ogled them, their various instruments poised in hand.

I love the way Kim Lenox blends the genres, and her writing is wonderfully evocative.

But [Dean had] lost interest in food. "Don't you own anything pink?"
She looked down at her bike shorts and camouflage t-shirt. "What's wrong with this?"
"Nothing if you're planning to invade Cuba."
She shrugged. "I'm not into clothes."
"Now there's a surprise."

Hee hee. I love that scene and loved the book. It's from Susan Elizabeth Phillips' contemporary romance, NATURAL BORN CHARMER

Have a great Friday!

September?!?

2008-11-09T02:56:00.001-08:00

"Life likes to be taken by the lapel and told, 'I'm with you, kid. Let's go.'" Maya Angelou

I hope you're having a great weekend! Wednesday night I went out for drinks with the girls and had the best time laughing about what lunatics people can be. Some of those stories weren't fit to print, but others I think I'm going to have to post later.

In other news, there were a bunch of e-mails last week. One of the documents that Penguin sent was the proposed back cover blurb for Book 2 in the Southern Witch Series, and when I looked at the top, I saw that BARELY BEWITCHED will come out September 2009. Holy Cow! It's perfect timing since it's right before Halloween, but I never expected it to be scheduled so fast since (a) Book 1 doesn't come out until February and (b) I haven't even turned in the first draft of Book 2 yet. (It's not even due until January.)

Anyway, I'm bewildered, but thrilled, and considering everything, I better get back to work!

Allhallows Eve

2008-10-31T02:44:00.000-07:00

This week, I'm editing BARELY BEWITCHED (the sequel to WOULD-BE WITCH) and in it, Halloween plays a prominent role. I don't want to give any details of Tammy Jo's adventure away, but while I would advise you to look both ways for cars when crossing the street, Tammy Jo would advise you to look both ways for accursed creatures.

That's right, people. All Hallows Eve, which was once the feast of Samhain, marks the beginning of the so called "Dark Season" when the doors to the supernatural world are opened and all kinds of scary preternatural creatures spill over into our world. This is a excellent excuse for humans of all ages to don a costume...aka, a disguise. Then the vampires and witches will think you're one of them and pass you by, looking for human victims. So dress in scary wear, and be safe!

Hugs & Happy Halloween!

Anatomy of a Week's End...

2008-10-28T07:21:00.000-07:00

Thursday - The page proofs for Would-Be Witch arrived. The fonts are so cute that I got misty-eyed. I know...being a tad ridiculous.

Friday morning - worked on creating a brochure for booksellers. It came out really well. Microsoft Word is almost too powerful, you know? I have The Terminator-like fears of the days when the machines take over. It's always the software that you have to be afraid of.

Friday night -worked at the "day" job. It was a long shift.

Friday overnight - crazy random insomnia. I never take sleep aids, but sometimes I am REALLY tempted.

Saturday morning - proofread part of Would-Be Witch. Yay!

Saturday afternoon - missed a pumpkin-carving extravaganza because was busy sleeping all day. Arg! (Still waiting to see pix...hint to friend, RH)

Saturday night - Kim Lenox & Sharie Kohler's book launch party at La Carafe (cool wine bar in very old/awesome building) Neighborhood was too scary to take my expensive Nikon camera. :( Alas, no pictures. Tragic because everyone looked so gorgeous!

Saturday later night - Rick and I drove aimlessly...well, we had an aim, but it never seemed to work out except for the brief stint at Empire Cafe. We still managed to have a good time, as always.

Sunday - worked on staying hydrated. Got a fever, and hence had to watch millions of DVDs rather than doing anything ambitious like standing upright.

Monday - Proofread during illness recovery. Page proofs ready to go to New York. The next time I see this manuscript from Penguin, it'll be a real book. Yahoooo!

Unexpected Acrobats

2008-10-17T05:51:00.001-07:00

"I want to be John Cleese, and it took some time to realize that the job was in fact taken." Douglas Adams

I have recently been leaving my gate unlocked because there's been a lot of backyard clean-up since Hurricane Ike and workers have needed to get in and out. So yesterday without any heads-up (pressing the doorbell would have been good to alert me to take a look around before coming downstairs in scanty attire. There are French doors with big glass leading from my living room to my yard.) some men turned up back there.

Anyway, luckily I heard them crunching over leaves and hesitated before wandering by the windows. My initial plan was to treat them like all the creatures who pass through my backyard...if they don't bother me, I don't bother them. This policy has worked with squirrels, birds, raccoons, cats, and possums in the past and I couldn't see why humans should be any different. If anything, people should be smarter and require less supervision than woodland creatures.

But then I notice one of the men walking along the top of the fence. It has no platform and is not designed to be walked on, but I do allow the squirrels to use it as a bridge. Of course, they only weigh two pounds and have claws for traction. Ditto for the cats. This man is wearing boots that are decidedly wider than the fence.

Now fully dressed, I open the door and say, "Hey. What's up?"

"We're from the cable company," the one on the ground responds.

"Do you also have circus training?" I ask.

The one walking along fence clutches a half-broken tree limbs for balance.

"He's okay. That's the only way to get to the cable."

"Isn't the cable underground?"

"Well, yeah, it's along the ground, but it's easier to pass it along this way. He's fine. We do it all the time."

I quirk a brow. Three quarters of my fence fell down during Hurricane Ike. One of the sections that was recently repaired still has bits of exposed nails. Also, though I'm no structural engineer, I have noticed that the squirrels have been avoiding the un-replaced area, so I've got my doubts about its stability.

The man on the fence wobbles. I know that if he falls and cracks his head, I'll have to help him, but I'm supposed to meet a friend for coffee, so the timing of his concussion would be really inconvenient for me.

"Well, unless you've got trapeze training and insurance, I'd prefer it if you'd stay a little closer to the ground while you're in my yard."

They grumble, but the would-be gymnast hops down.

"Thanks," I say and wave, retreating back into my house.

Fifteen minutes later, I hear a whoomp. I look out. My yard is empty, but I see the non-climber standing in my neighbor's yard trying to look over my neighbor's fence into a different yard.

I open the window. "Do you have a man down?" I ask.

The non-climber whirls and says quickly, "He's fine."

I nod. "Is he talking?"

"Of course!"

"Is he bleeding?"

The non-climber glowers but doesn't answer because, naturally, he doesn't know. "Go around and check. If there's blood or he can't walk or talk, ring my doorbell."

"Why?"

"Don't waste time," I say, waving a hand. My Hippocratic Oath is my business, and there isn't much time before I need to leave. I finish getting ready and gather my stuff. Downstairs, I go first in my yard, but I don't hear any sounds from the surrounding area.

So I walk to the front of the house, and note the would-be gymnast limping to the cable van. There's no blood and he's grimacing, but coherent.

"I didn't fall," he announces.

Sure you didn't, I think. The sky's raining sacks of flour.

"Okay." I say, getting in my car.

I start to pull out of my driveway, but stop. I'm not sure if the cable guys' mission was accomplished. There could be more of them coming...

I hop out and stroll over to the metal gait and lock it. Guys who aren't as nimble--or as smart--as squirrels shouldn't be in my yard without supervision.

Homecoming...

2008-10-12T03:37:00.000-07:00

"I've wrestled with reality for 35 years, Doctor, and I'm happy to state I finally won out over it." ~ Elwood P. Dowd (Jimmy Stewart) in Harvey

My pal, David, is coming home this weekend from Aruba. Yay! Here's hoping the weather was better at the end of the week, because it rained the first part of the week and he was stuck in the hotel a lot, reading, which, as he pointed out, he could have done in his apartment. Sigh. Would it kill the weather to be a little more cooperative when my best friend's trying to have a beach vacation?

Anyway, after hurricane Ike, he stayed at my place and one of the movies we had fun watching together was Harvey, so the quote above is for him.

Hope everyone else is having a fantastic Sunday!

Who says typos are bad...?

2008-10-08T04:27:00.000-07:00

"When I was born I was so surprised I didn't talk for a year and a half." Gracie Allen

Okay, there are parts of the writing gig that I love, that I'm addicted to, that I couldn't live without... and then there are parts that I would gladly trade for more pleasurable experiences like a root canal or a stint in a military prison camp. Yes, I'm talking about re-writing, which is a rather significant part of the writing process.

There are those writers who reportedly prefer revising to writing. When they say that though, I'm pretty sure that they are either (a) lying or (b) insane. Ahem. I am a professional, so I shall cease complaining.

As I get my coffee, I'm going back to polishing Would-Be Witch's sequel, Barely Bewitched, which if I'm pressed I'll admit needs an editing pass--or two. And, by the way, you're unknowingly glad I'm revising because you would have hated that silly souffle metaphor that I deleted from page 87. Honestly, what was I thinking when I wrote it in the first place?

Your hard-at-work author,
xoxo,
Kimberly

A helpful guide...

2008-10-04T08:02:00.001-07:00

A Brief Guide to American Newspapers

The Wall Street Journal is read by the people who run the country.

The Washington Post is read by people who think they run the country.

The New York Times is read by people who think they should run the country and who are very good at crossword puzzles.

USA Today is read by people who think they ought to run the country but don't really understand The New York Times. They do, however, like their statistics shown in pie charts.

The Los Angeles Times is read by people who wouldn't mind running the country - if they could find the time - and if they didn't have to leave Southern California to do it.

The Boston Globe is read by people whose parents used to run the country and did a far superior job of it, thank you very much.

The New York Daily News is read by people who aren't too sure who's running the country and don't really care as long as they can get a seat on the train.

The New York Post is read by people who don't care who's running

the country as long as they do something really scandalous, preferably while intoxicated.

The Miami Herald is read by people who are running another country but need the baseball scores.

The San Francisco Chronicle is read by people who aren't sure there is a country... or that anyone is running it; but if so, they oppose all that they stand for. There are occasional exceptions if the leaders are handicapped minority feminist atheist dwarfs who also happen to be illegal aliens from any other country or galaxy, provided of course, that they are not Republicans.

The National Enquirer is read by people trapped in line at the grocery store.

Groovin' on Wednesday Afternoon

2008-10-01T05:35:00.000-07:00

"There cannot be a crisis next week. My schedule is already full." Henry Kissinger

So I'm finally settling back into my normal routine, post-Ike and post-vacation. (I went home last week to Michigan to see my family.) My nephew is utterly adorable, but there are only so many science experiments one can do from a Borders activity kit before one wonders what in the world one was thinking when she bought it for a 6-yr-old in the first place. (Why yes, we were digging through cupboards and closets for things like tin foil and protractors.) Anyway, mini-MacGyver is back in school where I'm pretty sure he's not making rockets from balloons and fishing line. (That's right the teachers leave the hard stuff to the aunts and uncles.) Still that Borders kit may one day make a difference in his life. You never know who'll end up on Survivor. ;)

Have a great week!

700 billion has a lot of zeroes

2008-09-30T08:51:00.000-07:00

Wall Street had a big sell-off yesterday amid disappointment that the U.S. government (i.e. the American tax-payer) was not going to bail them out of their current financial crisis. In their shoes, I'd be bummed, too. But as someone who's been watching the debt rise amidst consistent deficit-spending, I worry about the government's plan to "lend a hand."

Last I checked the United States is 9.8 trillion dollars in debt. I'm no economist, but I do balance my checkbook each month and 10.5 trillion (our post-bailout balance) sounds like a lot of red ink to me. All I can say is that if they end up having to auction stuff out of the Smithsonian to pay the bill, those corporate executives on Wall Street who are making $44 million a year better be at the auction buying things and donating them back.

What do you think?

Fricka Frack!

2008-09-24T20:41:00.000-07:00

How in the world is everyone else doing?

I'm a little dizzy after a whirlwind week. I wrote a column for our writers' chapter newsletter, judged four writing contest entries, edited 200 pages of the sequel to Would-be Witch, worked some overnight shifts at work, met with a contractor to fix Ike's damage to my fences, etc. AND dealt with some people who tried to StEaL My IdEnTitY. *$A%!! Bastards!

Anyway, I haven't been to a police station in...well...ever. It was kind of surreal, and I felt like a character in one of my books. "At least I can use it for research, right?" she asked, while perpetually trying to look on the bright side.

Also, I hate to complain, but honestly... after Hurricane Ike gorged himself on entire houses on the coast, did he really need to eat some shingles off my roof, too?!

Thanks to everyone who sent well wishes! I luv ya.

xoxo,
Kimber

Through the Rain!

2008-09-14T09:19:00.001-07:00

Hurricane Ike was a wild ride. I didn't know trees could bend that way! From 2 a.m. to 5 a.m. Saturday was a bit of an adventure, but I survived without flooding or broken windows. Yahoo!

I hope to get some pictures of the aftermath for you later, and like most everyone here I did lose power, but mine is back on now. My fences were blown down so I have a community yard and there are huge branches blocking my driveway, so I'll be doing some manual labor when I finally do decide to venture out, but overall I feel extremely lucky.

Thanks for all your good thoughts!

xoxoxo,
Kimber

Hurricane Central

2008-09-12T08:45:00.000-07:00

Houston - 10:45 a.m.

It's sunny and hot. There are intermittent swells of wind followed by a stillness that's not quite ominous but is getting there.

I'm eating up my frozen foods, doing laundry & dishes, and, in case the windows later decide to cave into pressure from the wind and the trees, moving anything that might (with the right inspiration) fly around the house. Oh, yeah, and I'm charging every battery that can take a charge.

More later (er, at least I hope so.)

Spitting in the Hurricane's Eye

2008-09-11T11:20:00.000-07:00

Monday (on e-mail) -
"I just don't worry about hurricanes anymore."

Tuesday (at work) -
"It's too far out to know where it will hit. We all made ourselves miserable and exhausted getting ready for Rita, which turned out to be much ado about nothing as far as Houston weather was concerned."

Wednesday (on the phone)-
"Hmm. Yeah, I guess we should cancel our Saturday meeting. There could be a lot of rain. No use driving in that."

Thursday 5:10 a.m. (at the gym)
"It looks like Hurricane Alicia because it's wide, warm, and slow-moving? I didn't live here then, what was Alicia like? Tornadoes, huh. People lost power for weeks? That would be a serious problem for me. I can't go more than a day or two without using a laptop."

Thursday 5:45 a.m. (in the car)
"No one else is awake. I'll be able to pick up a few supplies just in case. Wait, what are all these cars doing in the Randalls' parking lot before 6 a.m.? Don't people work?"

Thursday 6:10 a.m. (in the grocery store)
"This is more canned food than I've ever bought in my life. If we don't lose power, my pantry's going to be overcrowded for months. Now what kind of batteries does my flashlight take? Oh, must be D since there's a big space where the D batteries used to be. What the hell, I've got candles and matches at the house. Time to go home and back to bed."

Thursday Noon
"Wow, look at the traffic. The lines to get gas are outrageous. I wonder if the stations will run out like they did before Rita. Glad I have 3/4 of a tank. Unlike during Rita when I was on my last 1/4 tank and had to drive back and forth to the hospital every day, coasting on fumes at the end of that stint was rough on the nerves."

We have not forgotten...

2008-09-11T11:09:00.000-07:00

Guest-blogging Gig

2008-09-09T03:41:00.001-07:00

I am guest-blogging today at my friend Shane's place. Come and visit Jaunty Quills to hear me dish about the search for happy historical fiction.

Unmastering Zen

2008-09-06T03:26:00.000-07:00

I was at an outside table at Starbucks in the morning--an interloper in Smoker's Territory since when it's ninety degrees they're usually the only ones out there. But I was chatting on my cell and hate to do that in a restaurant or cafe. I prefer the privacy of the open street ;)

Anyway, while I was outdoors enjoying the pollution of the nearby intersection, some mosquitoes bit me. I tried not to be furious at them. I tried to remember that lots of bigger creatures need mosquitoes for their food supply...like bats, the inspiration for great comics. I tried to be in a zen-like state. At one with the universe. But instead I squished them.

Here's a little reminder to myself to appreciate nature. ;)

"To see a world in a grain of sand
And a heaven in a wild flower,
Hold infinity in the palm of your hand
And eternity in an hour."
- William Blake

Have a great weekend!

Make like a pin cushion...

2008-09-03T14:55:00.001-07:00

Hey there,

So today I went to get a TB skin test, and the nurse asked when my last tetanus shot was. It's been over ten years. Naturally, since I update practically every trauma patient that I see, I agreed to a booster myself.

And honestly the needles for the TB test and the tetanus immunizations are so small, I couldn't even feel them at the time. Afterward, however, the tetanus site feels like I slammed my shoulder into something hard enough to raise a bruise. I suppose it is better than getting tetanus though. I am very much anti-lockjaw. That smile might have worked for Heath in Batman, but us normal people not so much.

Anyway, tomorrow morning's workout should be a lot of fun. ;)

Are you due for a booster?