Meet The Drift Lords with Nancy Cohen and C*ntest

Today, Nancy Cohen has stopped by as part of her virtual blog tour.  She is here to introduce us to The Drift Lords, featured in WARRIOR PRINCE (Drift Lords #1), and WARRIOR ROGUE (Drift Lords #2), which were published by The Wild Rose Press.  Nancy if offering some great prizes on this virtual tour.  Read on for a list of prizes and your chance to enter and win! 

ABOUT WARRIOR ROGUE:  When fashion designer Jennifer Dyhr loses her lead actor for a video-game commercial, a replacement literally drops from the sky. Reluctant to let him leave, she hires him as a model for her studio. But when terrorists attack their flight home, Jen must awaken powers she didn’t know she had to protect them both. Will she be able to keep her heart safe from the sensual man beside her? When space ops warrior Paz Hadar falls through a spatial rift onto Jen’s set, he soon realizes she is essential to his mission. Not only must he protect her, his success depends upon her special powers. But as they struggle to stay one step ahead of the enemy, he discovers that fighting his attraction to the lovely Jen is as much a challenge as keeping them both alive.

Click the tab above to read Chapter 1 of WARRIOR ROGUE!

And now, let's talk to Nancy about her inspiration for these books as well as introduce us to the team members:

Where did the idea for the series come from?
The idea for the Drift Lords Series came from a ride at Disney’s Epcot theme park. In the Norway pavilion is a ride called Maelstrom. You board a boat that glides into a dark tunnel and rises up a steep incline. At the top are three trolls who cast a spell on you to disappear. Suddenly, your boat is whisked backward through time into Norwegian history. I loved the idea of evil trolls and Norse mythology. Thus my series took root. I decided to mix magic and myth into modern times.

Who are the Drift Lords?

The Drift Lords are galactic warriors sent to Earth to seal a dimensional rift opened by an ancient enemy. To defeat the invaders, they must join forces with a small group of Earth women, whose legendary powers are just awakening.

Rules of the Multiverse

Just as the Earth has tectonic plates, dimensional plates exist on a cosmic energy level. These fuel an electromagnetic grid that intersects at twelve distinct geographic areas. These points, known as Vile Vortices, are sites of anomalous activity. Twelve such locations exist around the world. The Bermuda Triangle is one of them.

When the dimensional plates grind against each other, the resultant pressure forces open a door between dimensions. Normally, the event horizon at this natural rift produces a substance called cors particles. When their mass reaches a critical level, the resultant pressure forces the rifts to close.

The Trolleks have devised a means to force open the rifts and keep them from shutting down. With the portals remaining open, the accumulation of cors particles will breach the point of no return. The dimensional drift will widen, causing a massive shock wave that will destroy everything in existence. In the meantime, the Trolleks have invaded Earth with the goal of enslaving mankind.

The Drift Lords are born with a special trait that becomes evident at puberty. They are able to sniff cors particles, meaning they can tell when a portal is open. Their job is to repel the Trollek incursion and seal the rifts.  However, it’s not so simple this time. They need the help of a special group of Earth women with special powers to deal with the mythological element and to fulfill an ancient prophecy.

How Do They Operate?

The Drift Lords work in teams of seven. The Sacred Seven represent earth, fire, water, air, time, space, and the Wise One, creator of all. The team trains at a mountain retreat on the planet Karrell for four weeks per year. When they are not engaged in training or off on a mission, the warriors follow their own careers.

The Drift Lords polarize themselves against the Trollek mind touch. If a Trollek touches you, it sets off a chemical reaction, and you become their mind slave. The Drift Lords can also use a nose numbing spray to ward off the alluring scent of a Trollek female. But the best method of protection is the immunity transferred by physical intimacy with their destined mate.

After one of them is killed during a skirmish with the Trolleks, only six are left. The rest of the League was decimated during the Great Purge. These six warriors are the only remaining hope to save mankind.

The Team Members

ZOHAR THORALD is Captain of the Drift Lords and Crown Prince of the Star Empire. He’s the military strategist. Reluctant to be crowned emperor, Zohar has to learn to accept his destiny.

PAZ HADAR is the Communications and Linguistics specialist. When not deployed as a Drift Lord, he repairs space telecom relays. He can say, “Come to bed with me” in numerous languages.

LORD MAGNOR is an expert swordsman who likes to whittle wood carvings of animals and watch crime shows on TV in his free time. Initially hired as Zohar’s bodyguard and lacking the genetic trait that defines a Drift Lord, he becomes a full-fledged member of the team.

DAL FIZORE is the Demolitions expert. He’s a sinewy, muscled fighter who likes to blow things up for recreation.

KAJ DURET is the team’s engineer. He prefers working with machines rather than people, as they can’t hurt him. In his spare time, he puts together old spacecraft engines.

YARON OF THE GLADE is a medic and science officer. When off duty, he plays melancholy music on his larp, a stringed instrument, and he enjoys the serenity of nature.

Where can readers find you?
Website:  http://nancyjcohen.com
Blog: http://nancyjcohen.wordpress.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Nancy-J-Cohen/112101588804907
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/nancyjcohen
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/91508.Nancy_J_Cohen
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/njcohen/

BUY Warrior Rogue at The Wild Rose Press
http://www.wildrosepublishing.com/maincatalog_v151/index.php?main_page=index&manufacturers_id=831

ENTER NANCY’S CONTEST April 26-May 24 to win a hand-made Troll figurine from Trolls of Norway: http://nancyjcohen.com/fun-stuff/contest/

Follow Nancy’s BLOG TOUR at http://nancyjcohen.com/appearances/
Grand Prize drawing from commenters for a $25 Amazon or BN gift card.

One lucky commenter on this blog will win an ebook copy of Keeper of the Rings.  Enter via rafflecopter below:

Tour Wide Prizes include:

Grand Prize: $25 Amazon or BN gift card

14 Ebook copies of Keeper of the Rings

For your chance to win, enter below:

a Rafflecopter giveaway  

Drive-By Review: Apocalypse Cow, by Michael Logan (W*n a Copy!)

First off, only one new guest post today--an interview over at Keeping Up with the Rheinlanders, where I'm answering the dreaded "Tell us five interesting things about yourself." It always reminds me that I'm really not interesting at all...but head over if you get a chance and see for yourself--and yes, there's a giveaway! (And also thanks for the great review of Royal Street!)

If you've missed some of the earlier spots during the week, you can scroll down to find the links. There are lots of giveaways.

Now, I'm excited today to be bringing you a book that I'm cheating on a bit because it's not really a drive-by review in that I didn't stop at page 50. Actually, I finished it. I had to finish it. I couldn't NOT finish it. So let me introduce you to a delightfully perverse novel that will be out next Tuesday (in the US; it was previously released in the UK) called Apocalypse Cow.

ABOUT APOCALYPSE COW: If you think you've seen it all -- WORLD WAR Z, THE WALKING DEAD-- you haven't seen anything like this. From the twisted brain of Michael Logan comes Apocalypse Cow, a story about three unlikely heroes who must save Britain . . . from a rampaging horde of ZOMBIE COWS! Forget the cud. They want blood. It began with a cow that just wouldn't die. It would become an epidemic that transformed Britain's livestock into sneezing, slavering, flesh-craving four-legged zombies. And if that wasn't bad enough, the fate of the nation seems to rest on the shoulders of three unlikely heroes: an abattoir worker whose love life is non-existent thanks to the stench of death that clings to him, a teenage vegan with eczema and a weird crush on his maths teacher, and an inept journalist who wouldn't recognize a scoop if she tripped over one. As the nation descends into chaos, can they pool their resources, unlock a cure, and save the world? Three losers. Overwhelming odds. One outcome . . . Yup, we're screwed.

Drive-by Review: Well, obviously, I loved this book, probably because I've been somewhat perplexed by the onslaught of zombie novels in the last few years. I'm not sure why, but I don't like zombies. In fact, I need to rewrite the lyrics to the old Boomtown Rats song "I Don't Like Mondays," only my version will be "I don't like zombies."



Now, putting that video in here isn't as weird as one might think. (Never mind that I was a big B-Rats fan and it gave me an excuse to listen to them for the first time in twenty years.) The mastermind behind the band was vocalist Bob Geldof, who was quite the social activist and went on to organize the big Live Aid benefit among other events. One of our heroes in Apocalypse Cow is Geldof, the socially awkward, eczema-riddled son of a socially active (read: fanatical) woman who named her only child after her hero Bob Geldof. Of course, Geldof is quite embarrassed by his name--and his mum--and is relieved when the bullies in his school call him Gandalf.

So that gives you a feel for what I think is a quite brilliant satire of the zombie craze. There are layers of in-jokes that, if you don't get them, still leave plenty on top to make you laugh. I mean, there's something about slobbering, revenge-seeking undead bovines that sets me off.

Admittedly, this book is not going to be everyone's cup of tea. You probably know whether or not you enjoy well-done satire. Apocalypse Cow is irreverent. It's over-the-top outrageous. No one is safe, from football fans to the president of France. People behave badly. There's some blood and gore and, okay, the bulls get a little smexy with some of their victims. (See what I mean by over the top?) But it was a fun, fun read that had me literally laughing out loud at least once every couple of pages as our unlikely heroes seem to be the only ones capable of stopping the Moo-ving apocalypse.

Want to win an ARC of Apocalypse Cow? Just leave a comment and tell me what YOU think of zombies. Have you read any of the recent rash of zombie fiction? Does zombie romance kind of give you the heebie-jeebies?

Jean Lafitte and Will Ludlam...Together at Last

I was going to spend today's "Shop Talk" railing at Internet piracy after finding my Penton series at a pirate site yesterday where more than 1,700 people had downloaded free copies--don't they realize that every stolen copy means a reduced chance that the author will make enough sales to warrant the publisher buying more books?

But that's a hopeless cause. Most of the pirate sites are registered outside the U.S., which conveniently allows them to ignore copyright laws.

So, instead, I'll invite you to a special interview I'm doing today with Steph at Fangs, Wands and Fairy Dust. DJ came along, although she was in a bit of a pout over something, and so did Jean Lafitte, who's always ready to run his mouth. And Will Ludlam of Penton, who's also always ready to run his mouth. Somehow, that meeting was awkward and the undead pirate and the vampire seemed wary of each other. Can't imagine why! Head on over....there are giveaways!

I'm also at Manga Maniac Cafe today, answering questions about Storm Force--fun things like what Kell would never have in his house, and what Mori would never be without...and there's a giveaway!

And thanks for the spotlights at Cover Reveals and Fae Books today, for Sentinels and Storm Force, respectively.

If you missed any of yesterday's stops, hop over to my author site to find the links and comment for chances at a $10 book gift card, as well as any giveaways being offered on the sites.

And to the Internet pirates, the Undead Pirate of the Gulf Jean Lafitte says, "Bah!"

Laura Bickle on "Beginnings" and Giveaway

A quick housekeeping note...pleases take a few minutes when you finish here today to pop over to my author website, where I several tour stops today. For each stop comment, you'll be in the running for a $10 gift card or equivalent book from your choice of etailer!

Today, I'm delighted to welcome Laura Bickle to Preternatura.  Laura is here to talk about "Beginnings".  For any of you aspiring writers, whether you are thinking about writing a short story or a novel, Laura provides valuable insight into how to get started and the things that are important to include in the beginning.  And as always, read on for your chance to win books from my always growing TBR pile.

Laura Bickle's professional background is in criminal justice and library science. When she's not patrolling the stacks at the public library, she can be found reaming up stories about the monsters under the stairs. She has written several contemporary fantasy novels for adults, including EMBERS and SPARKS, and THE HALLOWED ONES is her first young adult novel. Laura lives in Ohio with her husband and five mostly-reformed feral cats.  You can learn more about Laura at her website or on facebook. 

ABOUT EMBERS:  Unemployment, despair, anger--visible and invisible unrest feed the undercurrent of Detroit's unease. A city increasingly invaded by phantoms now faces a malevolent force that further stokes fear and chaos throughout the city. Anya Kalinczyk spends her days as an arson investigator with the Detroit Fire Department, and her nights pursuing malicious spirits with a team of eccentric ghost hunters. Anya--who is the rarest type of psychic medium, a Lantern--suspects a supernatural arsonist is setting blazes to summon a fiery ancient entity that will leave the city in cinders. By Devil's Night, the spell will be complete, unless Anya--with the help of her salamander familiar and the paranormal investigating team --can stop it. Anya's accustomed to danger and believes herself inured to loneliness and loss. But this time she's risking everything: her city, her soul, and a man who sees and accepts her for everything she is. Keeping all three safe will be the biggest challenge she's ever faced.

ABOUT SPARKS:  Anya Kalinczyk is the rarest type of psychic medium, a Lantern, who holds down a day job as an arson investigator with the Detroit Fire Department—while working 24/7 to exterminate malicious spirits haunting a city plagued by unemployment and despair. Along with her inseparable salamander familiar, Sparky, Anya has seen, and even survived, all manner of fiery hell—but her newest case sparks suspicions of a bizarre phenomenon that no one but her eccentric team of ghost hunters might believe: spontaneous human combustion. After fire consumes the home of elderly Jasper Bernard, Anya is stunned to discover his remains—or, more precisely, a lack of them; even the fiercest fires leave some trace of their victims—and she is sure this was no naturally occurring blaze. Soon she’s unearthed a connection to a celebrity psychic who preys on Detroit’s poor, promising miracles for money. But Hope Solomon wants more—she’s collecting spirits, and in a frantic race against time, Anya will face down an evil adversary who threatens her fragile relationship with her lover, her beloved Sparky’s freshly hatched newts, and the wandering souls of the entire city. 

ABOUT THE HALLOWED ONES:  Katie is on the verge of her Rumspringa, the time in Amish life when teenagers can get a taste of the real world. But the real world comes to her in this dystopian tale with a philosophical bent. Rumors of massive unrest on the “Outside” abound. Something murderous is out there. Amish elders make a rule: No one goes outside, and no outsiders come in. But when Katie finds a gravely injured young man, she can’t leave him to die. She smuggles him into her family’s barn—at what cost to her community? The suspense of this vividly told, truly horrific thriller will keep the pages turning. 

And now, let's hear from Laura:

Beginnings

By Laura Bickle

            “As in the beginning, so in the middle, so in the end.”

                        -Buddhist saying


Beginnings are scary. The vast expanse of an empty page can intimidate just about anyone. They are my least favorite parts of a novel to write, primarily due to all that white silence that’s staring back at me.

But they’re important, really the most critically important part of the work. Beginnings are the first (and often only part) that a prospective reader, editor, or agent will read. The beginning is the make-or-break moment of the book, upon which its future in the slush pile hinges.

No stress, huh?

I try to focus on the beginning as the place where all the shiny things go for their first appearance. Beginnings are important because:

-They introduce the reader to my protagonist. It may not be in the first line or the first scene, but the reader will have her first encounter with my heroine in the opening pages. I want this to be a meeting that will intrigue the reader, show a bit of my heroine’s motivation and a bit of what scares her.

-The beginning shows my voice. The intro should show what’s in store throughout. This feeds into the mood of the piece. A reader should be able to tell in the first few pages whether the story’s going to be lighthearted, serious, sexy, action-oriented, scary, introspective…or any combination.

-The reader gets dropped into the world I’ve created in the first chapter. This world may be similar to our everyday world, but it is different in some ways. And I’ve got to leave clues about where these worlds diverge. Are there ghosts or other supernatural creatures wandering about? Is there magic? Are we even still on Earth? Setting is exposed at the beginning, and I want to make it count.

-The start of the story sets up conflict. I have to tell the reader that all isn’t right in my newly-hatched world, and here’s why. A body turned up. A house burned down. A helicopter fell out of the sky. Something happened that changed the heroine’s world, something that she’s going to have to deal with.

-This is my chance to startle, intrigue, or challenge the reader. This is where I leave a hook or a breadcrumb, some mystery that’s opening up, some unfinished thought that I hope resonates with the reader. I want to pull her in, make her wonder what happens next and keep flipping those pages. What can I show her that she hasn’t seen before?

The thing that I always have to remind myself is not to save ALL the good stuff for page 250 or the ending. Sometimes, the beginning is all I have, and I’ve got to make the most of it. And I find that if I really hit a beginning hard, it creates a framework that helps carry me through the middle and the end. 

Thanks, Laura!  That is some very useful and helpful information for anyone thinking about putting pen to paper.

New Releases May 11—May 17 and Readers Choice C*ntest

This week we get a bit of a break in the number of new releases.  My TBR pile and my book budget both need that!  However, there are still some very interesting books coming out this week including those by some industry heavy-hitters like Neil Gaiman, John Scalzi, Daniel Abraham. For me, though, I'm going to be pimping up Alex Bledsoe's "Shall We Gather." It's a digital short set in the world of the Tufa, in which last year's The Hum and the Shiver took place. That was one of my absolute favorite reads of 2012, and the ARC of the new one, Wisp of a Thing, is shouting at me from atop the TBR pile.

Also, if you get a chance, hop over to Paranormal Unbound and weigh in on my discussion about the whole Charlaine Harris/end of Sookie series brouhaha. And thanks to Ella at Speculative Salon for the awesome review of River Road today! 

Now….What do you want to read? As always, leave a comment telling me the book you’d most like to win, and maybe random.org will make your wishes come true. Your choice of print or digital unless otherwise stated. International? Of course! As long as Book Depository delivers to your country, please enter. If you’d prefer the first book in a series listed here, that’s okay, too. 

Magician's End: Book Three of the Chaoswar Saga (The Chaoswar Saga #3), by Raymond E. Feist, (May 14, Harper Collins)

An uneasy quiet has settled upon Midkemia in the wake of a surprise invasion. Leaderless, the Kingdom is on the brink of anarchy and civil war, unless Hal conDoin, Duke of Crydee, and his brothers can rally their allies to crown a new king. War has left the land vulnerable to an agency of horrific destruction not of this world. The bravery of determined warriors is not enough to ensure the Kingdom's preservation without the magic of the Master Sorcerer Pug. A powerful spell has trapped him, his son Magnus, and two unlikely allies in an unfamiliar realm. They must find their separate ways home, a journey of memory and discovery that will illuminate the truth of the destiny that awaits them. To save Midkemia Pug will have to pay the ultimate price. 

Make Good Art, by Neil Gaiman, (May 14, William Morrow)

In May 2012, bestselling author Neil Gaiman delivered the commencement address at Philadelphia’s University of the Arts, in which he shared his thoughts about creativity, bravery, and strength. He encouraged the fledgling painters, musicians, writers, and dreamers to break rules and think outside the box. Most of all, he urged them to make good art. The book Make Good Art, designed by renowned graphic artist Chip Kidd, contains the full text of Gaiman’s inspiring speech. 

Midnight's Kiss: Part 1, by Donna Grant, (May 14, St. Martin’s)

The Dark Warriors, men who have been bound by gods, fighting a deadly war that normal humans know nothing about. It is a brutal, unforgiving battle that may cost them their souls, unless they can find the one woman whose love can set them free. Dr. Veronica “Ronnie” Reid is not just another pretty face. She is a world-renowned archeologist who has a “knack” for finding unexpected treasures. She gets more than the unexpected when she meets a tall, dark and mysteriously powerful man named Arran. Arran is a man with a dark secret, a Highlander whose barely controlled power lurks just beneath the surface. He is a Warrior, one of an elite few who are bound with the power of a god. He is searching for answers and Ronnie could be the key.  (ebook Only) 

Mouse Bird Snake Wolf, by David Almond And Dave McKean (Illustrator), (May 14, Candlewick Press)

The gods have created a world that is safe and calm and rather wonderful. They have built mountains, forests, and seas and filled the world with animals, people, and unnamed beasts. Now their days are fat with long naps in the clouds, mutual admiration, and tea and cake. But their world has gaps in it filled with emptiness, gaps that intrigue Harry, Sue, and little Ben until they begin to see what might fill them. One by one the children conjure, from twigs and leaves and stones, a mousy thing, a chirpy thing, and a twisty legless thing. But as the children’s ideas grow bolder, the power of their visions proves greater and more dangerous than they, or the gods, could ever have imagined. Is it possible to unmake what’s been made?   (U.S. Release) 

Nebula Awards Showcase 2013, edited by Catherine Asaro, (May 14, Pyr)

The Nebula Awards Showcase volumes have been published annually since 1966, reprinting the winning and nominated stories in the Nebula Awards, voted on by the members of the Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers of America(R). The editor selected by SFWA's anthology committee (chaired by Mike Resnick) is two-time Nebula winner, Catherine Asaro. This year's volume includes stories and excerpts by Connie Willis, Jo Walton, Kij Johnson, Geoff Ryman, John Clute, Carolyn Ives Gilman, Ferrett Steinmetz, Ken Liu, Nancy Fulda, Delia Sherman, Amal El-Mohtar, C. S. E. Cooney, David Goldman, Katherine Sparrow, E. Lily Yu, and Brad R. Torgersen. 

Never (Lightbringer #3), by K.D. McEntire, (May 14, Pyr)

The Never is on the brink of destruction by the Lady Walker. Wendy, shorn of her Light by the Reapers, must be the one to save it from the beasts between the worlds. Now no more powerful than an average spirit, Wendy reluctantly strikes a balance between Elise, the new Reaper matriarch, and Jane, a Reaper gone rogue. Torn between her duty to her friends, the Riders, and her duty as the Lightbringer, Wendy must rush to learn the secrets left behind. She must make the ultimate sacrifice to bring the worlds into balance once more, even if it costs her very soul. 

Parallel, by Lauren Miller, (May 14, Harper Teen)

Abby Barnes had a plan. She'd go to Northwestern, major in journalism, and land a job at a national newspaper. But one tiny choice, taking a drama class her senior year of high school, changed all that. On the eve of her eighteenth birthday, Abby is stuck on a Hollywood movie set. The next morning, she's in a dorm room at Yale, with no memory of how she got there. With the help of her friend Caitlin, Abby discovers that this new reality is the result of a cosmic collision of parallel universes that has Abby living an alternate version of her life.  Meanwhile, her parallel is living out Abby's senior year of high school. Abby must learn to focus on the present, without losing sight of who she is, the boy who might just be her soul mate, and the destiny that's finally within reach. 

Shall We Gather: A Tor.Com Original, by Alex Bledsoe, (May 14, Tor)

When one world brushes another, asking the right question can be magic.   (ebook only)

Sold for Endless Rue, by Madeleine E. Robbins, (May 14, Forge Books)

Laura finds peace and purpose in the home of a midwife and healer. She enrolls in Salerno's famed medical school. Laura falls hard for a fellow student who abandons her for a wealthy wife. Her mother rejects her as "impure." Her heart is bitter. When she sees a chance for revenge, she takes for her own Bieta, the newborn daughter of a woman whose husband regularly raided the physician's garden for herbs. Determined to protect her daughter from the ravages of the world, Laura isolates the girl in a tower. Bieta escapes, and finds adventure, and love. Bieta's betrayal of her mother's love comes at a price as lives are ruined and families are torn apart. Laura's medical knowledge cannot heal her broken heart; only a great act of love can bring everyone forgiveness and peace. 

Spirit and Dust (Goodnight Family), by Rosemary Clement-Moore, (May 14, Delacorte Books)

Daisy Goodnight can speak to the dead. It’s not the result of a head injury or some near-death experience. She was just born that way. And she’s really good at it. Good enough to help the police solve the occasional homicide. But helping the local authorities clear cold cases is one thing. Being whisked out of chemistry class by the FBI and flown to the scene of a murder/kidnapping in Minnesota? That’s the real deal. Before the promotion can go to Daisy’s head, she’s up to her neck in trouble. The spirits are talking, and they’re terrified. There’s a real living girl in danger. And when Daisy is kidnapped by a crime boss with no scruples about using magic, and Daisy, to get what he wants, it looks like hers is the next soul on the line. 

The Cydonian Pyramid (The Klaatu Diskos #2), by Pete Hautman, (May 14, Candlewick Press)

More than half a millennium in the future, in the shadow of the looming Cydonian Pyramid, a pampered girl named Lah Lia has been raised for one purpose: to be sacrificed through one of the mysterious diskos that hover over the pyramid’s top. But just as she is about to be killed, a strange boy appears from the diskos, providing a cover of chaos that allows her to escape and launching her on a time-spinning journey in which her fate is irreversibly linked to his. Tucker Feye and Lah Lia each hurtle through time, relating their stories in alternating viewpoints that converge at crucial moments. Fans of the first adventure will be intrigued by the chance to see the world through Lah Lia’s eyes, no matter how disturbing the vision might be. 

The Human Division (Old Man’s War #5), by John Scalzi, (May 14, Tor)

The people of Earth now know that the human Colonial Union has kept them ignorant of the dangerous universe around them. The CU has defended humanity against hostile aliens, deliberately keeping Earth an ignorant backwater and a source of military recruits. Now the CU’s secrets are known to all. Other alien races have come on the scene and formed a new alliance. They’ve invited the people of Earth to join them. Against such possibilities, managing the survival of the Colonial Union won’t be easy. It will take diplomatic finesse, political cunning, and a “B Team,” centered on Lieutenant Harry Wilson, that can be deployed to deal with the unpredictable and unexpected things the universe throws at you when you’re struggling to preserve the unity of the human race. 

The Rithmatist (Rithmatist #1), by Brandon Sanderson, (May 14, Tor Teen)

Joel wants to be a Rithmatist. Chosen by the Master in a mysterious inception ceremony, Rithmatists have the power to infuse life into two-dimensional figures known as Chalklings. Rithmatists are humanity’s only defense against the Wild Chalklings, merciless creatures that leave mangled corpses in their wake. Having overrun the territory of Nebrask, the Wild Chalklings now threaten all of the American Isles. As the son of a lowly chalkmaker, Joel can only watch as Rithmatist students study the magical art that he would do anything to practice. Students start disappearing. Assigned to help the professor investigating the crimes, Joel and his friend Melody find themselves on the trail of an unexpected discovery, one that will change Rithmatics, and their world, forever. 

The Tyrant's Law (The Dagger and the Coin #3), by Daniel Abraham, (May 14, Orbit)

The great war cannot be stopped. The tyrant Geder Palliako had led his nation to war, but every victory has called forth another conflict. Now the greater war spreads out before him, and he is bent on bringing peace. No matter how many people he has to kill to do it. Cithrin bel Sarcour, rogue banker of the Medean Bank, has returned to the fold. Her apprenticeship has placed her in the path of war, but the greater dangers are the ones in her past and in her soul. Widowed and disgraced at the heart of the Empire, Clara Kalliam has become a loyal traitor, defending her nation against itself. And in the shadows of the world, Captain Marcus Wester tracks an ancient secret that will change the war in ways not even he can forsee. 

Towering (Kendra Chronicles #3), by Alex Flinn, (May 14, Harper Teen)

Rachel is trapped in a tower, held hostage by a woman she’s always called Mama. Her golden hair is growing rapidly, and to pass the time, she watches the snow fall and sings songs from her childhood, hoping someone, anyone, will hear her. Wyatt needs time to reflect or, better yet, forget about what happened to his best friend, Tyler. That’s why he’s been shipped off to the Adirondacks in the dead of winter to live with the oldest lady in town. Either that, or no one he knows ever wants to see him again. Dani disappeared seventeen years ago without a trace, but she left behind a journal that’s never been read, not even by her overbearing mother, until now.

Five entries possible: +1 for comment to tell me what book you want, +1 for blog follow, +1 for Twitter follow, +1 for a Tweet or RT about the contest, +1 for a Facebook follow. This contest is international to any place Book Depository ships. Contests end at midnight CDT U.S. on Saturday, and winners are announced on Sunday’s blog. It’s the responsibility of the winner to contact me with their mailing info. Books unclaimed after a month will go into the Book Horde list (see tab at the top of the page).

Now….go forth and comment!

Behind the Scenes with Elysian Fields (& Lots of W*nners)

After a couple of weeks off, I'm slowly getting back on schedule. I'm also beginning the process of migrating Preternatura to my official website but it might take a while. Hopefully, it will be seamless to the blog followers. If you subscribe to both this blog and my website updates you might get two email notifications for a while, and my apologies for that.

Today, I'm continuing my trip through the Style Sheet for Elysian Fields, book three of the Sentinels of New Orleans series. And read on to the end for prize info!

So, here's how the Style Sheet works. In the process of getting a book actally published, authors go through a number of stages. Copyedits are when an editor with an eagle-eye for detail has combed through the manuscript, made grammatical and house-style changes, asked questions, or made notes when something needs clarifying. They also create a Style Sheet that makes notes of unusual words or spellings, or proper nouns, as they occur in the book.

So...I thought it would be fun to go through the Style Sheet for Elysian Fields, which might give some clues as to things you'll see in there, as well as some background on the series in general....Today, we tackle the letter E (you can find the As here, Bs here, Cs here, Ds here).

Elfheim. This is the portion of the Beyond that is the home of the Elves. DJ makes a couple of trips here in Elysian Fields, although she doesn't actually get to see much of the landscape since she's kind of busy (tease!). I've used this analogy before, but if you think of the world as kind of an Oreo cookie, the top cookie is our reality, in this case modern New Orleans. The thin layer of filling is the "border town" of Old Orleans. The bottom cookie is the Beyond, which is made up of many territories such as the City of the Gods, the Realm of Vampyre, and Elfheim.

Elven Synod. The ruling body of the Elves, which are divided into four clans or tribes. There's a Synod member for each clan, representing earth, air, fire and water. The four Synod members are Mace, Betony, Vervain and Lily. We briefly met Mace Banyan, who's not only the head of the Elves of the Air but also the head of the Synod, in River Road. We'll see all four of the Synod members in Elysian Fields. Now that they know DJ has Charlie, she can't escape their attention any longer. Getting the Elves' attention is not necessarily a Good Thing! I have cast Jeremy Irons in the role of Mace Banyan.

Etienne Boulard. Etienne is a vampire Regent (think sheriff with fangs), in charge of the Louisiana vampires. Even before the borders between New Orleans and the Beyond officially dropped, Etienne had moved back to the city. Now, he runs a very posh nightclub called L'Amour Sauvage, as well as Tour Blood (pun intended), a vampire-led vampire tour of New Orleans. (Vampires mainstream very well.) Etienne was turned vampire back in the early 1800s, at which time he was a plantation owner along the River Road southwest of New Orleans. He knew Jean Lafitte and frequently offered Jean access to his lands and his plantation's river port so Jean could smuggle his plundered goods upriver. In his human life, Etienne was a wizard and a necromancer. He lost all of his magic when he turned vampire, except the necromancy. For Etienne, I have cast a younger Daniel Craig.

Just FYI. I used the name Etienne Boulard as a sort of bastardization of Etienne Bouret. Monsieur Bouret owned a large plantation in what is now the uptown area of New Orleans, and made his living in growing indigo and sugar cane. Bouret developed the process of refining sugar; until then, cane juice was the primary sweetener.

Eudora Welty. Ms. Welty was, of course, a popular American writer, primarily known for her short stories. Since Jean Lafitte has claimed the Eudora Welty Suite at the Hotel Monteleone in New Orleans for his home away from the Beyond, I've had fun with it by having Jean reading The Collected Stories of Eudora Welty in Royal Street. In Elysian Fields, we're mostly talking about the Eudora Welty Suite at the Monteleone, which does, in fact, exist. Here's a photo of the parlor--nice digs for the pirate, yes?

And, finally, we have Eugenie Dupre, DJ's best friend (well, until she met Alex, who's become her real best friend and confidante). Eugenie, who's human and doesn't know about the "other" world, knows DJ keeps a lot from her and is hurt by it. Now, with Eugenie's boyfriend Rand in the picture, the strain between them will continue to grow as Rand becomes more and more obsessed with DJ. I know several folks in NOLA named Eugenie, and Dupre is named after a street in the Broadmoor neighborhood where my friend Dave lives. 

And there you have it!

Now....did you win a book over the last few weeks? You know the drill. If you see your name, please email me at suzannej3523 at gmail dot com with your mailing info. I've been gone so much lately, I'm behind so this is winners from the last three weeks:

* Copies of a choice of signed Penton series book (Redemption, Absolution, Omega) in a swag bag to GALENA and WILDWEST2974.

* A $10 Amazon GC (or equivalently priced book from Book Depository) to AURIAN for participating in this week's Shop Talk.

* RT Booklovers Convention Swag Bags to JUNE M and SUSAN.

* JC won this week's Reader's Choice contest, and selected Icons.

* SANDYG won the first book in Marsha Moore's Enchanted Bookstore series. (Sandy, I think this is digital only, so let me know what format you need.)

* BARBARA E won last week's Readers Choice and selected AA Aguirre's Bronze Gods.

* LIZ won a $10 Amazon (or B-and-N) gift card for following the blog tour maraton week before last.

* M PAX won a $10 Amazon (or B-and-N) gift card for participating in the Shop Talk post on gender bias.

* STEELERLADY won a copy of Kate SeRine's RED.

Back tomorrow with a new Reader's Choice contest!

A Tip of the Sword to the Big, Foul-Mouthed Scotsman

Some fab recognition has been given to our own Mirren Kincaid, aka the Slayer, aka the big bad teddy bear of Penton, and his mate Glory Cummings. Mirren and Glory's story is told in Absolution, written by me, er, that Susannah Sandlin woman.

I'm excited to announce that ABSOLUTION, the second book in my Penton "paranormal romantic thriller" series, is one of three "Dark Paranormal" finalists in the annual Prism Contest, hosted by the Fantasy, Futuristic and Paranormal Special Interest chapter of Romance Writers of America. This is a big chapter, big contest, amazing group of authors, so I'm very honored to be among them.

You can read the full list of finalists in all categories here. Winners will be announced during the RWA national conference in Atlanta in July. And I will be there this year, seeing as I live only a couple of hours outside Atlanta.

In honor of the Prism awards, I'm giving away two swag-and-book packs to a commenter. Choice of any of the Penton books in paper, digital, or audiobook, plus assorted bookmarks, posters, pens, totes...swaggishness, in other words. If you have all the books, you can choose one of my Sentinels books instead, or let me pick a mystery book for you.

So, to use Mirren's favorite phrase, "Aw, f...." Oh, wait. I can't say that here. But he says it. A lot. Which is why my mom, age 87, will never read this book :-)