Alpha winners!

First, let me say that I am completely overwhelmed by the response to this giveaway. I can't believe how many people entered to win a copy of Alpha, and I loved reading all the stories about how people found the series. And almost everyone left me one of those stories in the space provided. Amazon recommendation, Goodreads, store shelf or endcap, word of mouth (online or in person). It was all awesome to read and I can't thank you enough for participating.

Now for the good part. The random number generator has spoken, and the winners have been chosen. Here goes...

The first number drawn is 866: Ann Miller. Ann has won a signed copy of Alpha.

The second number drawn is 710: Karen Fuller. Karen has won a complete signed set of Shifters books.

The third number drawn is 746: Helen Ross-Soden. Helen has won a signed copy of Alpha and an Alpha t-shirt.

And since the number of entries passed the 1000 mark (1032, to be exact), I've drawn a fourth name and that winner will also receive a complete signed set of Shifters books. That number is 461: Natasha Baczyk.

Winners, please email me at rachelATrachelvincentDOTcom with your shipping information to claim your prize.

Everyone else, stay tuned! I'll be having a contest every week leading up to the release, less than a month away!

4 weeks and counting...

First of all, I want to say thank you to everyone who entered the Alpha giveaway this weekend. It isn't over (it ends at 11:59 pm Central tonight) but there are already over 900 valid entries--almost twice what I expected. I've expanded the contest and added a third winner because of all the enthusiasm, and if the number of entries hits 1000 before the cutoff tonight, I may just add a fourth.

Thank you all so much for the word of mouth that's gone into this. You're all already helping make the Alpha release--the last in the series--special for me. I've especially enjoyed reading about how you all found the Shifters series and what countries you live in. ;) I'm amazed by--and jealous of--how well traveled my books are, and I'm surprised by how many people found the Shifters series after reading the Soul Screamers books.

And, of course, there will be several more opportunities to win Alpha in the next four weeks, leading up to the release.

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Also this weekend, I saw the Alpha trailer. It's almost ready for public consumption--just needs a couple of minor tweeks. And I have to say, I love it!

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Today, I'm trying to fix a big plot problem in IF I DIE, so I can move forward and finally finish the rough draft. September is going to be a crazy busy month for me, between writing IF I DIE, releasing and promoting Alpha, and traveling for the Smart Chicks Tour. But I'm excited about every bit of it!

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It's not too late to enter the Alpha giveaway, and don't forget to check back tomorrow to see if you won!

Who wants Alpha? [Updated!]

This giveaway is now closed. Check back for the next one!

For those who didn't see this on Twitter and Facebook...I got a box of Alpha copies today!!! And suddenly this release feels really real. ;)


And since Alpha got a 4.5 star rating from RT Magazine today, I'm not as nervous as I thought I'd be just one month from the shelf date. Other people/reviewers may hate the book later, but there is no Alpha-hate today. Today there is only Alpha-joy.

Oh. And a giveaway... ;)


Up for grabs: One signed copy of Alpha, almost a month before the official release.



Details:

- open to international contestants
- to enter, fill out the form below
- deadline to enter is 11:59 pm (Central) on Monday, August 30, 2010
- One entry per customer--if you enter more than once, you WILL be disqualified
- not open to anyone I've already promised a copy to

AND... If the number of valid entries reaches 550, I will draw a second name, and that winner will receive a signed copy of every single Shifters book. That's Stray, Rogue, Pride, Prey, Shift, and Alpha, all signed. So spread the word!

UPDATE! 551 entries in just over 19 hours! You guys are awesome!!! So it's official. A second winner will win a complete set of signed Shifters books.

But there's still two days to enter. I'm not gonna hold my breath on this one, but if we reach 800 valid entries (WAY more than I've ever had before) I will draw a 3rd name, and that winner will receive a signed copy of Alpha and an Alpha t-shirt.

Surprise! (Italian werecats!)

It looks like Stray is out in Italian today--my first Italian release! Which I know because I found this on Twitter:

I believe the title, Il Graffio della pantera, translates as something like "The Scratch of the Panther." (Many thanks to all the Twitter followers who helped me out with that this morning!)

And...you can read the first chapter in Italian here. This really makes me wish I spoke Italian. Or had some pasta.

And, as always, I'm fascinated by how different the covers are for different foreign versions of my books. So here's a comparison:

(US, UK, Australian, French, Italian)

*The US and Canadian covers are the same

The French and Italian covers both focus on Faythe's cat eyes (which I love!) and they've changed the titles to "The Claws of the Night" and "The Scratch of the Panther" respectively. While Australia keeps the same title and cover art, but uses different fonts (my name on the Aussie cover is exactly the same as my name on the US and Aussie versions of my Soul Screamers series) and a stark black background. And so far, the Aussies are the only ones to add the official series title.

So, what do you think? Have a favorite?

Out of focus

I'm working on the rough draft of IF I DIE right now, and I think the hardest thing about writing this, the fifth book in the series, is holding the tone of what I've written so far in my head, along with what I know comes next. It's really hard to maintain a consistent "feel" of a series while still pushing the characters to develop and mature.

Why is that hard? Okay, you asked for it... ;)

Writing a rough draft is like standing too close to the mirror. So close that you can only focus on one feature at a time, and everything else is kind of blurry. You can’t truly see your whole face at this point in the process. Much less the rest of your body (the previous books in the series).

Right now, in IF I DIE, I can see the scene I’m working on, and on the periphery, I can see parts of the previous two scenes. That’s like seeing my nose and part of one cheek. But I have yet to see the entire face of this novel, and for all I know, once I do, the parts won’t line up. It’ll look more like one of Picasso’s disjointed women than anything truly recognizable.


If I follow this analogy, that makes rewrites analogous to corrective surgery—rearranging the parts until they all match. At this point, the manuscript feels more like Frankenstein's monster. The features are all there, and in focus, and lined up. But the seams are still visible. And there might be a slight greenish tint. ;)



After that comes plastic surgery (revisions), where I smooth over the scars and do whatever repair work I missed in the previous round. With any luck (even if it takes multiple operations) by the end of this process my manuscript has a smooth, pretty face (the words on the page, and their rhythm and flow) over a sturdy bone structure (the plot--the story itself).

But I'm not going to illustrate that part because just as no face in a magazine is ever truly flawless, neither is any book. There will always be typos and even some small inconsistencies. Minor flaws that drive the writer nuts (I hate my lazy eye, and the way some of my freckles group together to form Superfreckles) but that readers only really notice if they're out to analyze or criticize, rather than reading for pleasure.

So, that's how writing a manuscript is like piecing together Frankenstein's monster. Now...does anyone know a good plastic surgeon? ;)

Who's coming?

After nearly two weeks away from it (that short story took waaaay too much time), I'm back to working on IF I DIE today, and it feels like going home after too many days on the road. I'm really excited about this story, which is a good thing, because it's due very soon. So hopefully I'll have regular updates on my progress again.

39306 / 90000 words. 44% done!

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A question for bloggers: are you coming to any of the Smart Chicks tour stops? If so, it looks like there will be a "pre-event media hour" at each of the stops, during which you can interview the participating authors before the signing. For details, email infoATsmartchickskickitDOTcom. For a full schedule of the stops and participating authors, click here. (My stops are Houston, Pasadena, and San Diego.)

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Also, Jennifer, the winner from last week's giveaway, still hasn't claimed her prize. If she hasn't turned up by the end of the week, I'll draw a new winner, so if you know Jennifer, please let her know that she's won!

Winner; mini-excerpt

And the winner of a signed copy of My Soul To Keep, a signed (by me only) copy of Kiss Me Deadly, choice of Smart Chicks t-shirt is...

Jennifer, who wrote, "I am currently reading Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers."

And I swear her win had nothing to do with what she's reading. The random number generator selected her. ;)

Jennifer, please select your t-shirt style and size here, then email me at RachelATrachelvincentDOTcom with your shipping information and your choice, and I'll put your prizes in the mail. But please remember that if you live outside the US, I'll have to draw another winner for the shirt, as it'll be shipped straight from the vendor.

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Okay, here's the part where I apologize for my recent internet absence. I've been mostly offline the last few days spending time with family, and people are starting to ask if I'm okay. Which is sweet. ;)

However, I've also been neglecting the Alpha extras and the reason is this: I was planning (hoping) to start giving away copies of the book last week, but my author copies haven't come in yet. So, I can't give them away yet. But I'm crossing my fingers for later this week.

Until then, here's another mini-excerpt set to music. Hopefully that'll hold everyone over until the real excitement starts. Theme? Anger. Justice. A call to arms...

"[...] I don’t want to relax. I want to stay pissed off, so I can finish putting this thing together with a clear head.”

His frown deepened and he crossed dirty arms over the front of his dress shirt. “Anger gives you a clear head?”

I nodded. “It gives me clarity like twisting the focus knobs on a microscope.”

Marc blinked, and for an instant, I read confusion in his eyes. Or maybe something darker. The hair rose on the back of my neck, though I couldn’t have said precisely why.

“I take it that doesn’t work for you?”

He shook his head. “Anger makes me see red, and I lose all perspective. You may recall past fits of irrationality, followed by an excess of broken stuff.”

"Yeah.” I frowned up at him. “That’s kind of what we’re going for, with Malone and Dean.” And anyone who gets in the way.

One of the songs from my playlist for this scene is "Riot" by Three Days Grace. In this scene, the lyrics and tone specifically apply to Faythe, but at various points throughout the story, they could apply to nearly anyone in the book. Good guys and bad guys, because the bad guys don't see themselves as bad. (Except for maybe Colin Dean. He has few illusions on that point.)

My favorite lyrics:

If you feel so empty
So used up, so let down
If you feel so angry
So ripped off so stepped on
You're not the only one
Refusing to back down
You're not the only one
So get up

Inquiring minds wanna know...

[Scroll down for details on how to enter the current contest! And click here to read the latest interview!]

I've been hearing a lot of talk online lately about cliffhangers in books. This is not new. It's one of those recurring topics (like love triangles, the direction of the publishing market, and whether or not ebooks will eventually replace print books). But this time, it's made me wonder...

Recently several people have referred to the ending of My Soul To Keep as a cliffhanger. I, respectfully, disagree. My reasoning is this: the plot of the book is completely resolved, with no threads left dangling. Yes, the romance is left without a definite conclusion, but that wasn't intended to be a manipulative "hook." It was (hopefully) the realistic, healthy conclusion of a sixteen year old girl who's just been badly burned by love.

So I leave it to you, readers. And, of course, you're free to disagree with me. I welcome discussion. ;)

If you've read the book, please take my poll!






Warning, comments may contain Soul Screamers spoilers!!!

I'm givin' away stuff!

Look what came in yesterday?!


And I bought a couple more from B&N while I was out, so I can finally give one away! Yes, a giveaway! How long has it been since I did that?

Up for grabs:

One copy of Kiss Me Deadly (signed by me), one copy of My Soul To Keep (signed by me) and winner's choice of Smart Chicks tour t-shirts (click here for sizes and styles).


How can you win? Comment in this post by 11:59 pm (Central) Saturday, August 21 and tell me what you're reading, or the most recent book you've read.

• One entry per person.
• This giveaway is open to international contestants, but since the shirt will ship straight from the vendor, that part of the prize can only be shipped to the US. If someone overseas wins, s/he will get the books and I'll draw another winner for the shirt.
• Please do not leave your email address in the comments
• You must check back here on Monday to see if you've won. I don't have time to track down winners. For real.

Okay, start commenting!

Rachel is a loser.

I'm sorry. I know I'm a big loser. This week's Countdown to Alpha extra has been derailed by technical difficulties. Maybe we'll double up next week. Sorry!

In blogging news, I'm at The Deadline Dames today talking about how I got published. While you're there, scroll down and read how Dames Devon and Jackie got published too. Then come back later for similar entries from all of the Dames.

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In writing news, I'm STILL working on that short story. How can 6000 words be so difficult to write? I could have written half a novel by now!

To my credit, I haven't been working on the same 6000 words this whole time. I've started the story over (almost from scratch) three times, and one of those times was a complete change of POV. That's right, the story now has a new narrator.

This story is for a roadtrip-themed anthology coming out next year, and right now, it's set in the Soul Screamers universe. Though, considering the trouble I'm having that could change. Who knows...?

I'm hoping to finish it tonight. Of course, I was hoping that four nights ago.

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And...Today, I go to the post office! For real, this time. I owe bookmarks, and prizes, and other stuff to a bunch of people. So, people, I'm very sorry for the delay.

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Also, I have about 1000 Alpha bookmarks. If you're willing or able to take some to your local book store, library, reading club, or...anywhere else avid readers frequent, send an email to AlphaATrachelvincentDOTcom for directions on how to get these bookmarks. They're free, for the cost of postage!

TV. Yes, TV.

I'm back to working on IF I DIE today, but will probably have to take a break from that this weekend to write the rough draft of a short story that's due very, very soon. But since life isn't all work (though that's debatable some days), I've also been watching some TV with #1 at night.

TV is my guilty pleasure. But because of my work schedule, I rarely ever get to watch anything while it's actually playing, so my DVR and premium On Demand programming have become a couple of my favorite modern conveniences.

What am I watching?

So you Think You Can Dance. Because I know I can't dance. I've been a fan since the very first season, before Cat Deeley, before the quarter-million dollar prize, and the massive audience. I thought Melody L. should have won that first one, but Nick... well, he was also awesome, so it's ok. ;)

The only season I've missed so far was season 6 (the only fall season so far), when I didn't realize it was on until it was nearly over, and my schedule (including the move to San Antonio) was too hectic for me to watch much of anything. But this past season with the all-star dancers was kinda awesome (Poor Alex!), and it gave me an idea! Fantasy casting my characters with SYTYCD contestants! Who wants to play?

I'll start things off with the observation that Neil would make an AWESOME Tod from Soul Screamers. Seriously. Except for the fact that his hair is straight and he dances rather than reaping souls (insignificant details, really), he'd be perfect! See?



I also think that Robert would make a nice Marc, if he beefed up a little and I could find a picture without a cheesy grin. (He's so pretty!) Anyone else got any SYTYCD casting ideas? Leave them here!

I've also been watching Weeds, and my conclusion is that it's one of the funniest, edgiest comedies on TV. My favorite season was season 2, my least favorite was season 3. And I'm all geared up for the season 6 premier next week. And thanks to Shane, I will NOT be ordering that croquet set I was considering. So I ordered this instead:



For those who don't know, I collect coffee mugs. (Thanks, but no. Please don't send me one. I'm running out of space. ;)) And this coffee mug is awesome because it's an ANDY coffee mug. When Andy first showed up in season 1, I wanted to push him in front of Conrad's car. Then back over him. I swore he was irredeemable, for the little cyber-incident with Silas's underage girlfriend alone. But I am now eating my words. (Also, drinking my coffee.) I love Andy. He's wonderfully flawed and quirky, and I can't wait for more!

And since I was ordering coffee mugs (someone stop me!) I ordered this one too! I love Dexter. My best friend Kim got me hooked on Dexter this past spring, when she and her family came for a visit, and I watched the entire series in about a month. John Lithgow (been a fan for years) was the most awesome bad guy ever, and I'm dying to know where the next season is going, after one of the most shocking finales I've ever seen. (Even if I knew it was coming--stupid internet spoilers!)


Yes! The mug DOES change colors when your coffee gets cold!

Now, if only there was a Veronica Mars coffee mug... ;)

The scoop on the Tod novella...

I just turned in revisions on the Tod novella, and I have to admit, I'm nervous about the reactions, from both my editor and readers. Because, as I've said before, people love Tod. Which is awesome. I love Tod. But with that much love going around, expectations for his story are pretty high, which means there's a huge chance the story won't meet them.

I appreciate all the confidence in me that Tod fans seem to have (really, I do!), but I won't breathe easy on this one until it's out and readers are (hopefully) able to legitimately enjoy the story.

About the story (and keep in mind that since it's still in revisions, any/all of this could change):

The novella features Tod and Nash when they were younger, and Tod was still alive. Before Nash started at Kaylee's school. The story shows a couple of defining moments for the Hudsons as a family and illustrates how Nash and Tod became the people they are in the novels. Because they start off pretty different from how you're used to seeing them.

It's told in first person, from Tod's POV and includes five characters (four of whom you've already met in the series) and one cameo appearance.

In the series timeline, most of this story takes place about a week after "Fearless" (the Sabine story in the Kiss Me Deadly anthology) and a year before Kaylee was hospitalized in "My Soul To Lose."

So, chronologically, the order of the Soul Screamers stories is:

"Fearless" (Kiss Me Deadly antho)
"Reaper" (e-novella, Dec 1, 2010, tentatively)
"My Soul To Lose" (e-novella)
My Soul to Take (book 1)
My Soul To Save (book 2)
My Soul to Keep (book 3)
My Soul To Steal (book 4
If I Die (book 5)

Ya know, just in case you were wondering... ;)

I'm Just A Girl

Okay, sorry for the delay, but here's this week's Countdown to Alpha extra. For next week, I have something different planned (*crosses fingers*) but this week you get one more mini-excerpt set to music. Theme?

Girl Power!

“Run!” I gasped. “It’s right behind me.”

“I don’t hear any…”

When he didn’t move, I let myself collide with him, collapsing into his
arms like beauty running from the beast. That way he was too busy holding me up
to go for his gun. But I wasn’t. When he stood me up, I grabbed the 9 mm from
his waistband—my third capture in half an hour. Not bad for a girl,
huh?

One of the songs from my playlist for this scene is "I'm Just A Girl" by No Doubt. And actually, if Faythe had her own anthem, this would probably be it (though there are a couple of others close in the running). Because like her or not (and *gasp* not everyone does!) it can't be denied that from the moment she stepped onto the first page, Faythe was kicking a#@ and taking names. For herself. She doesn't let anyone else fight her battles, and even when she needs help (and can be forced to admit it), it's not because she's a girl. It's because she's only (mostly) human, and no one can force a revolution alone.

And no, before anyone complains, Faythe has no problem using other people's ignorance and underestimation of her (as a woman) against them. Just like most of the men she's up against have no problem using their greater size and strength against her. Her world is brutal, and the only way to survive is to use the weapons at your disposal. All of them.

My favorite lines from "I'm Just A Girl":

Don't you think I know
Exactly where I stand
This world is forcing me
To hold your hand

Cause I'm just a girl, little 'ol me
Don't let me out of your sight
I'm just a girl, all pretty and petite
So don't let me have any rights

and

I'm just a girl, living in captivity
Your rule of thumb
Makes me worry some

I'm just a girl, what's my destiny?
What I've succumbed to
Is making me numb

Rogue, down under!; assorted news

Because I'm swamped with both housework and deadlines, this week's Countdown to Alpha extra will have to wait until tomorrow. Sorry.

Writing Progress:

I'm up to chapter eleven in IF I DIE (Soul Screamers book 5).

It's going pretty well, but so far this rough draft isn't working like most of my novels have. It seems to want to be written in the middle of the night (which is more of a short story pattern for me) and it evidently wants to be written out of order. Which just NEVER happens for me. I have partial scenes and bits of dialogue written from several scenes that haven't happened yet and I have no idea if they're still going to fit the book when I get to those parts. But I HAVE to write them down as they come or I'll forget them.

But today I have to take a break from IF I DIE to revise the Tod novella. Wish me luck!

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Tour News:

The Smart Chicks Kick It author tour has a cafe press store! I'll probably be giving one of the shirts away, along with a couple of Soul Screamers books and a copy of Kiss Me Deadly, if I ever find it. It's not being carried at my local Walmart or Target, so I guess I'll have to hit B&N next time I'm out.

Also, there have been a couple of changes in the tour lineup (not involving me or my stops), so if you're planning to come to one of the stops, check out our website for the most current information!

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International Releases:

It looks like Rogue comes out in Australia on September 1, the same day My Soul To Save comes out in France! Below are the AU covers for the first two Shifters books, Stray (which is already out in Australia) and Rogue. I think I prefer the US versions of these, but I do like the closeup of Faythe's cat eyes on this version of Rogue.

I had to snag these images off the internet, so unfortunately they're not very good quality.

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Unfortunately, I'm really behind on mailing out prizes and scheduling the Alpha blog tour. IF I DIE has kind of taken over my life. I'm planning to schedule all the rest of the blog tour stops tonight and mail out packages tomorrow. If I still owe you a prize, feel free to email me to make sure it hasn't gotten lost in the mail or overlooked in my pile.

Okay, I'm off to try to rein Tod in. Wish me luck!

A new direction...

If you posted the countdown widget on your site, you've probably already seen the My Soul To Steal cover. It should have magically appeared at midnight. Unfortunately, the widget seems to have squished it. Re posting the html fixes that problem and puts the image in proper proportions. But if you want a larger image, look no further!



If you look very closely, this one has a word ribbon similar to the one on the other US covers, and it reads "Steal" over and over. You should be able to click on the cover for a larger image.

I have to say, I love the colors and the pose, and I like my name positioned at the bottom, because it stands out more. This one's definitely my favorite of the US covers so far. What do you think?


So, here they are, in order:

La voleuse d'ame!

Just a reminder, if you want the cover reveal of My Soul To Steal to happen on your blog or website, post this countdown. At midnight (Central) tonight (if all goes well), it will become the release day countdown, showing off the new cover.

And speaking of covers, I found this little beauty on Amazon France late last night. It's the French cover for My Soul To Save, which comes out Sept 1. Whadda ya think?

I believe the title La voleuse d'ames translates roughly to "The Thief of Souls," and if memory serves, the French series title is something very similar to that.

Also, I find it fascinating that they evidently only capitalize the first word of a title in France. Who knew?!

And, just for comparison, here are the US, UK, and French covers for the first two Soul Screamers books, side-by-side for your comparison. Got any thoughts? Got any favorites? I can't wait to see what Darkiss (the French HQTeen imprint) cooks up for My Soul To Keep, which comes out in France on Dec. 1.

My Soul To Take (US, UK, France)

And here are the covers for My Soul To Save (US, UK, France).

All things must end.

Today I'm at the Deadline Dames, explaining why the Shifters series is ending.

Also, I'm writing chapter seven of IF I DIE (Soul Screamers book 5).

22486 / 90000 words. 25% done!

So far, it's flowing well, if not exactly quickly. I'd really love to explain why (and give dozens of mini-quotes), but I can't, because you guys haven't read My Soul To Steal yet, and I would be spoiling things for you.

For the cover synopsis of My Soul To Steal and details on how the cover reveal could happen on your blog or website, scroll down to yesterday's post.

That's it for today! I'm off to write...

Who wants to see a new cover?

A message from a reader this morning reminded me that I still haven’t shown off the cover for My Soul To Steal, nor have I released the cover copy (the description on the back of the book), beyond the early peek members of The Pride have had.


So…I hereby interrupt the Alpha countdown extravaganza for this:

From the back of My Soul To Steal…

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YOU WANT MY SOUL AND MY BOYFRIEND?

Trying to work things out with Nash—her maybe boyfriend—is hard enough for Kaylee Cavanaugh. She can’t just pretend nothing happened. But “complicated” doesn’t even begin to describe their relationship when his ex-girlfriend transfers to their school, determined to take Nash back.

See, Sabine isn’t just an ordinary girl. She’s a mara, the living personification of a nightmare. She can read people’s fears—and craft them into nightmares while her victims sleep. Feeding from human fear is how she survives.

And Sabine isn’t above scaring Kaylee and the entire school to death to get whatever—and whoever—she wants.

I DON’T THINK SO.

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Disclaimer: this synopsis is just a teeny bit misleading. Sabine isn’t actually out for Kaylee’s soul. But other than that, it’s pretty accurate.

If you want an early peek at Sabine, go pick up Kiss Me Deadly, which is out today! There’s a short story called “Fearless” in there, which I wrote from Sabine’s POV, ‘cause I thought she deserved a chance to be seen through her own eyes before we see her from Kaylee’s. Because trust me, the two perspectives differ greatly.

Now, about that cover…

I’m trying something new (to me) this time. It may be a spectacular failure if someone leaks the cover before I’m ready, but I’m willing to take that risk. So here’s how this is going to work:

I’ve made a countdown widget for My Soul To Steal. Yes, it’s early, and here’s why—for the moment, this widget counts down the days and hours until I will post the cover. But on that day, this widget will become (through the magic of the internet and my own design!) a release countdown/cover reveal. On Saturday when you wake up (unless you’re in the eastern hemisphere, in which case it will happen in the middle of the day), the plain black countdown will be replaced with the actual cover for My Soul To Steal. And we will all, simultaneously, shout “Ta da!” then sigh as one over the beauty that is my new cover.

That's the plan, anyway.

I’ll post the cover on my blog later that day, and on my website later that night, when #1 is home to make that happen. But the initial reveal this time will be through the widget. And if you post the widget, the cover will actually appear on your blog before I post it on mine.

Interested? Feel free to post the widget and/or spread the word. ;)

Excerpt Set to Music #2

I’m back! Okay, you guys probably didn’t notice my absence, but I had visiting family for most of last week, so I was mostly offline for several days while I did some sightseeing and quality time (the mirror maze, and board games, and Rock Band, and Schlitterbahn!) with my dad, stepmother, and my two baby brothers. Only one of whom is anywhere near infancy now.

But now I’m back, and playing catch-up. I’m still organizing the Alpha blog tour, so if I haven’t answered your request to join, I swear I’m not ignoring you. I’m just behind. Perpetually.

Today (at the end of this post) I have this week’s “Countdown to Alpha extra,” another mini-excerpt set to music. But first…some other stuff.

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Last week, my publisher released got eARCs of Alpha to 22 fortunate souls as a thank you for helping promote the bus tour I was a part of in June. (And before you ask, no, I don’t have any copies, and no, it’s on up on NetGalley for general review yet. Sorry!) So, now I’m officially nervous waiting for those first few reviews to pop up. I’ve been nervous before—every release is both stressful and wonderful at the same time—but never quite like this. I’ve never ended a series before, and while I know it’s impossible to please everyone with the way everything wraps up, I can’t help wishing I could.

Along those lines, Larissa has a non-spoilery review of Shifters books 1-5 up today, and she’s promising an early review of Alpha tomorrow. No word yet on whether or not this review will contain spoilers from any of the books, so be prepared, just in case.

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Kiss Me Deadly (young adult paranormal romance anthology) officially hits the shelves tomorrow, and there are already a few reviews of it floating around, several of which mention my story, “Fearless.” I’m hoping to get my hands on a copy to give away soon, so stay tuned for giveaways of both that anthology and of early copies of Alpha, as soon as I get my hands on copies.

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And now, what you’ve probably been waiting for…

Lest you think that Alpha is all mushy romance and unbridled sexual tension, today I offer you a glimpse of one of several fight scenes from this, the last Shifters novel. Which, for the record, is also FULL of action. (Though early reports indicate that readers also recommend reading with a fresh box of tissues on hand for the emotional parts.)

So, here is a glimpse of Faythe kicking ass, but taking neither names nor prisoners:

Pain bit into my left rear thigh, and I inhaled the scent of my own blood. I swiped blindly and ripped through more flesh. Fresh pain tore through me as teeth sank into my right foreleg. I snapped my own muzzle around the back of the tom’s neck and tasted more blood.


I clenched my jaw as hard as I could. His neck broke with a crunch I felt in my own bones. His teeth fell away from my leg. He went limp beneath me.

The playlist for this scene includes:

Bodies, by Drowning Pool

I first heard this song several years ago, when # 1 recommended to me while I was writing the fight scene at the beginning of Prey. And wow, did it work. It’s now my go-to fight scene music (though there are others I also use a lot), though it’s never fit quite as well as it did during the first and last fight scenes in Alpha. The lyrics are sparse at best, but most of them seem to apply.

My favorite lines (and those most relevant to Faythe’s position in this book):

And:

Beaten why for
Can't take much more

Push me again
This is the end


Here we go...Here we go...Here we go

And, of course:

Let the bodies hit the floor, let the bodies hit the floor