It's here! Slayers: Friends and Traitors!

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There's something about dragons that makes geeks like me geek-out. I have absolutely no idea why we so adore giant flying lizards known to roast virgins for lunch, but, well, we do. Probably because they're imaginary. I can't see us holding the same love if our loved ones started getting barbecued on a regular basis.

The Slayers series by Janette Rallison CJ Hill proves my point: dragons might be pretty and sort of awesome, but when if you're ever given a chance to meet one... run. Run fast. Actually, better if you can fly. (Not that that will save you.)

I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of Slayers: Friends and Traitors and I. LOVE. IT! It's the perfect continuation from book one, with teenagers acting like teenagers would if they had superpowers and were instructed NOT to contact anyone from camp over the school year. Also, if the danger they thought they had years to prepare for was happening... oh... NOW. Lots of awesome high-flying action sequences and on-the-ground intrigue. And high-flying intrigue. And on-the-ground action.

Have I mentioned that you can't grow up with the name of a bird without loving all things that can fly?

One of these is for a giveaway. Both are awesome.

I asked CJ for a character interview, so she, um, attempted to interview Jessie, one of the hot guys you can see on the cover of Friends and Traitors, the book up there on the right. He was kind of squirrely, but can you blame him?

CJ: So I’ve had requests for a blog where I interview my characters and I thought it would be fun to try. I’ve got Jesse here with me today. He’s captain of the Slayers’ Team Magnus. (I shuffle through my papers because I’m disorganized and can never find what I’m looking for the first time around) Okay, Jesse, here’s my first question: How do you feel about having superhero powers?

Jesse: (looking squarely back at me) I don’t know what you’re talking about.

CJ: You know, the power of flight . . . the extra strength . . . night vision . . .

Jesse: You must have me confused with someone else.

CJ: I’m pretty sure I don’t. After all, I did create you. I’m your author.

Jesse: (shifting uncomfortably in his chair) I’m just an average teenage guy.

CJ: Except that you fight dragons.

Jesse: (sending me one of his intense glares) Look, if you’re really the author, you know that certain facts about me are supposed to be kept secret.

CJ: But . . . I mean . . . being a Slayer isn’t really a secret. You’re on the cover holding a weapon . . .

Jesse: Would you want me telling your secret identity to everyone?

CJ: I don’t have a secret identity.

Jesse: Really CJ, or should I call you Janette Rallison?

CJ: That’s a pen name, not a secret identity.

Jesse: Pen name, alias, secret identity—it’s all pretty much the same. It means you’ve got something to hide.

CJ: (putting my papers down) Um, okay. I guess that concludes my interview with Jesse, the average teenage guy, who isn’t necessarily a descendant of the knights who killed off most of the dragons during the Middle Ages. Can I at least say that dragons are coming back and a dragon lord is using them to take down the government?

Jesse: You can say it, but no one will believe you.

CJ: Right. Thanks for coming, Jesse. (To myself) Next time I’m so interviewing Tori instead.

I'm going to have to catch Tori's interview, too.

Anyway, Janette has been one of my favorite authors for years and years, and I was thrilled when she branched out in to urban fantasy. I'm loving the Slayers series and honestly still can't decide which guy I want Tori to end up with. Just when one seems obvious.... Ah, I'll just stop there and let you read them yourself.

To that end, Janette has given me a copy of Slayers to pass along to one lucky blog reader. I'm sort of torn about it, though. I mean, I HAVE a copy of Slayers, of course, and it's personalized and everything, but it has the old cover with the egg on it. And I love that cover, but this one has a DRAGON on the front! But, well, the letter that came with it said I had to give it away, so I guess I will. Unless there are no entrants. Then I'm keeping it.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Happy Blog-Day to Me!

Cake for everyone! Um, where'd it go?

One year ago, on October 28, 2010, I broke down and started a blog. Everybody was doing it, and I was close enough to the end of my very first WIP that I figured it was a good time to establish an online presence.

My awesome sister-in-law, Paula Weeks, took my pictures and made me look better than I thought I could.

My friend Devoney needed a website design project for school, and graced me with her talent.

Then I just had to think of some stuff to say.

Turns out, blogging can be fun--and not just because I get to display my mental vomit for the world to see. It's so much easier to get to know friends when you have a home to invite them to! It helps me feel like a real online person, rather than just a ghost, flitting around, looking at everyone else's stuff. Mostly, it helps me join contests, blogfests, blog chains, and other awesome community activities that just aren't possible for the blog-less.

Also, so much fun to collect followers. Just sayin.

So, as a present to my awesome followers, I'm giving away TWO $10 gift cards to either Barnes & Noble or Amazon by random drawing.

Easy requirements to earn one entry:

1. Comment on this post (Hi!)
2. Leave your ee-mail address (you can't win if I can't find you)
3. Total your points for me (dammit, Jim, I'm a lawyer, not a mathematician)

You can win up to 3 extra entries (total of 4 possible):

1. 1 entry for following my blog (new followers welcome!)
2. 1 entry for tweeting/facebooking/G+ing and/or blogging about the contest
3. 1 entry for answering one or more of the following questions:
1. What is your favorite thing about blogging?
2. What is your favorite thing about MY blog?
3. What would you like to see more of on my blog?
4. What is the best book you've read this year?
5. Which book are you looking forward to reading as soon as it comes out?

Contest will run through November 4th at 5:00 PM MDT.

Thanks for a great year, everyone!!

Selfless Self-Interest: The Benefits of Mutual Support

In the interest of Mutual Support, today is my very first guest blog! Also, my very first blog exchange! ALSO, my very first blog give-away. A red-letter day, fer sure.

Blogging for me today is Michelle Davidson Argyle, who is the author of the e-book CINDERS and the upcoming MONARCH, which will be released on September 15, 2011.

I will be blogging over at Michelle's blog today--after you read her post, head on over and read me there!

In honor of our topic, Michelle will be giving away one free copy of her ebook CINDERS. Instructions for entering our awesome contest are at the bottom of the post.

Heeeere's Michelle!

You Give, I Give!

When I first started writing, I didn’t blog. I didn’t connect with people online, and I certainly didn’t know many other writers. I thought writers were all hermits, holed away in their houses typing away so they could ship off big envelopes stuffed with their manuscripts to their publisher. I had no idea that a few years later I would be asking other writers for advice and handing them my novels to read. Little did I know that conversing with authors would become a daily activity.

When I self-published Cinders, I was shocked by how many other authors stepped forward to help me promote the book. Many read the book and did reviews and passed on the news to other friends who weren’t online. The book would not have been such a success without everyone’s help. Now that’s all happening again with my novel, Monarch. I have lists of readers willing to help out. I’m floored. I’m honored, and I want to give back.

Get that?

I want to give back.

See, that’s what happens when you help other writers. They’ll help you when your turn comes around.

I’m already giving back where I can. Starting next month I’ll be offering one free manuscript, short story, or query (your preference) critique every two months to those who enter the drawing. All you have to do is subscribe to my mailing list. If you’re subscribed, details about that will go out soon. I don’t believe in helping only those you’re good friends with because, honestly, lots of people who helped me out with Cinders are people I don’t know very well. Writers in general are nice and open and willing to give back wherever they can.

Here's a few things I've learned...

Writing does not have to be lonely. It shouldn’t be. Good writers live. They interact. So make sure you’re interacting in real life, online, wherever.

Good writing doesn’t happen in a vacuum. Every single writer I’ve ever met shares their stuff with someone, even if it’s only one other person. We seem to have a need to share, to get feedback. Don’t ignore that. Let others help you. Just keep it in perspective and realize that YOU are the one that makes the final decisions. Be in charge, but let others help you.

You’d be surprised what you can get if you JUST ASK. I’ve had writers ask me how to find beta readers or critique partners or blurbs for their books or reviewers. You ask. Simple as that. Some people might ignore you and not even answer your email - the really busy ones. They’re the ones you don’t want to be talking to anyway. There is always time to answer an email, even if it’s a polite no.

Connect to those like you, but don’t turn your back to everyone else. That’s self-explanatory. I don’t write straight YA fiction, but I certainly interact with a lot of YA writers because they rock. It’s amazing how many of them help me out, too, no matter what genre I’m writing.

Be genuine in everything. Period. People can tell, and when you honestly want to help out, it will come back two-fold right when you need it.

Thank you to Robin for hosting me here today!


Isn't she great? Don't you want to read her book? Watch this trailer, and you'll REALLY want to:



You want to read it, right?

Okay, to win a copy of CINDERS, here's what you do:

• Comment below AND on my post at Michelle's blog to qualify (one point for commenting on both)
• You get extra points for tweeting, blogging, or Facebooking about the contest--one for each mention, and you must include what you did in one of your comments
• Contest ends midnight on Thursday
• Check back on one of our blogs on Saturday for the winner

And that's it! Obviously, we'd love for you to follow both blogs, as well, but Michelle didn't want it to be a requirement. She wants people to follow because they want to! :)

So what do you do to contribute to the writing community?