Silk & Shadows

First of all, today is Memorial Day here in the USA.  I hope everyone celebrating has a good BBQ, safe travels, and a chance for a quiet moment of remembrance.

Currently working on: Almost release day!
Mood: Whee!

This week’s topic here at Silk And Shadows is “the hardest part of writing.”  But I’m hijacking the thread, because this is a celebration week for me.   Book 2 of the Marked Souls, FORGED OF SHADOWS, comes out tomorrow, June 1, 2010!

The war between good and evil has raged for millennia, with the Marked Souls caught in the middle, but the new girl doesn’t play by old rules…

Liam Niall never meant to be a leader. Barely surviving the horrors of the Irish Potato Famine with body and soul intact, he escaped to Chicago…where he lost half his soul and gained a wayward band of demon-possessed warriors. Now, as the talyan face a morphing evil, Liam grows weary and plagued by doubt-until a new weapon falls into his hands. Her name is Jilly Chan. To save her demon-ridden soul, Liam must win her to his battle…and his bed.

Waging a one-woman war against the threats to the street kids she mentors, Jilly won’t be any man’s woman or weapon. But Liam-with his hard eyes, soft brogue and compelling hands-is a danger to her rebellious independence…and her heart.

These two halved souls sharing one fierce passion will sear a fresh scar across the city. Who’s in danger now?

“[F]or readers who love J.R. Ward’s Black Dagger Brotherhood, the Marked Souls series will hit the spot.”
–4 Stars RT BOOKReviews

This is only my second book, but so far, it seems to me that release week  is one of the EASIEST parts of writing.  Because by the time release week rolls around, it’s too damn late.  Everything has been done.  The story is written, edited, wrapped in a manly chest — or backside, as the case may be — printed, and shipped to the stores (hopefully) to appear on shelves.  From thence to fall into book baskets everywhere (again, hopefully).

Sure, there are other things for me to do: Bite my nails, obsessively click refresh on the Amazon ranking page, self-medicate with chocolate syrup (I already ate all the cookie dough).  But the story itself is done.  All that remains is for someone, somewhere, to read it.

If YOU want to read some of it, you can:
Check out the first chapters here.
Or read the alternate beginning here.
Or even buy it.

This is the moment (okay, months) of truth for a story.  I’ve heard of writers who say they write for themselves, but I write to share.  The release of the book into the wild is my chance — finally! — to share.

I sincerely hope you like it.

To celebrate, I’m giving away a $25 bookstore gift card this week.  Just tell me which of the two beginnings to FORGED OF SHADOWS that I posted in the links above you like better, and you’ll be entered for a chance to win.  Tell a friend about this giveaway, and have the friend enter your name in her comment, and you’ll both be double entered for a chance to win.  Thanks for celebrating with me!

Releasing a book is a strangely conflicting experience—or at least it was for me.

On one hand, it’s the fulfillment of a dream. The story you poured your heart and soul into for untold months is officially on store shelves, available for one and all to read. You run to the local bookstore and take pictures. You blog and twitter and email to share your happiness. You accept congratulations from family, friends, and peers. You celebrate (in my case, my sister had me over for a middle-of-the-week feast that included champagne).

Drawn into Darkness in store

But on the other hand, you also wake up to find all the build-up, all the tension, and all the fearful anticipation are suddenly over. This book is complete. It’s done. Yes, there’s still more marketing to do in order to get it the attention it so richly deserves, but all the really hard work has been done. As my colleague Kathryn Smith said, it’s a little like Christmas morning after all the presents have been unwrapped. The gifts are still wicked awesome, but the edge of anticipation is gone.

I floated on a terrific high most of my release day, beaming at strangers, telling people I met in the dog park that I was an author, and signing my books at the bookstore with a shaky hand. But I also had a contract in place for a second book, and by the time Drawn into Darkness hit the streets, I was already deeply entrenched in the second story and jotting down notes about the next.

My First Book Award from ORWA

Lachlan and Rachel will forever hold a special place in my heart because they were the heroes of my first book. And I’m keeping a copy of Drawn into Darkness in pristine condition, so I can easily look back and relive the excitement. But I’m looking forward to the day Brian and Lena take center stage, too.

I wonder if the next release day will be as surreal as this one was?