It's The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

That's right, school starts tomorrow. Though, if I'm honest, the kid has reached an age where his being home from school doesn't affect my writing schedule all that much. He'd much rather hang out with friends than his mom, of course. But beyond school starting, there's plenty of things I'm looking forward to this month.

Blood and Bone comes out tomorrow in print. I may have mentioned that once or twice already. ;-) I'll be giving away a signed copy so be sure to check in before the end of the week.

I'm hoping to go computer shopping this week. As present laptop is merely limping along, I'm very excited at the prospect of a new computer. Still debating about whether to buy another laptop or a desktop. Laptop is convenient, but desktop would be sturdier...I think.

The Devil's Shadow is coming along nicely. As indicated by the little potato man from Writertopia above. I'm loving these characters. Though, after so much time on The Devil's Eye, maybe I'm just enjoying working on something different.

Eight More Days!

So I came back from vacation last week, and look what was waiting for me.

That's right my print copies of Blood and Bone had arrived! And I feel compelled to say once again just how much I love this cover. 

Only eight more days until it's released. Want to pre-order? You can at Samhain Publishing, Amazon or Barnes and Noble. 

Here's short excerpt:

Copyright 2011 Dawn Brown

The sucking slop of footsteps in wet mud rose from the surrounding black. The hair on the back of her neck bristled, and a chill tickled along her spine. 

Was it Hudson coming back to finish her off? Tic? 

What was she doing standing around out here anyway? A woman alone, late at night, on a deserted country road, during a thunderstorm? The scene had slasher flick written all over it. 

She started for the driver’s side door, but a low moan rose up from the darkness. 

The wind? Had to be. Still, she picked up her pace. 

The moan came again, louder this time. Shayne stopped and turned. A dark, hunched figure staggered toward her. 

“Christ.” She gripped the door handle and yanked open the door. 

The stooped outline lurched in front of her single headlight, and the glare illuminated the ugliest Hawaiian shirt she’d ever seen. Relief swamped her like a tidal wave, turning her muscles soft for the second time in one night. The feeling, however, was short-lived. He may not have been the homicidal maniac she’d imagined, but the jerk had scared the life out of her. And all because he was staggering drunk. Even from this distance, the smell of beer was nearly overpowering. 

As he pitched forward, the light cast a ghostly pallor over his face. Dark smudges beneath his left eye, along his lip and circling the edges of each nostril stood out from the stark whiteness of his skin. 

Blood. 

He wasn’t just drunk, he was hurt.

Technical Difficulties

You know it's been a long time since you last blogged when it takes you a minute to remember how to log in. Yes, I know I am the worst blogger ever. Hangs head in shame.

To be fair, I was dealing with some technical difficulties. I think when it comes to computers I might be cursed. First my computer crashed, so I started using my son's laptop, which I did something to and screwed up his hard drive. The hubbster managed to get mine limping a long again, and I thought maybe I might be able to put off getting a new computer for another couple of months. But every time I start to think that way something else breaks on it. Most recently the A button popped off the keyboard. So come September, I have decided to buy a new computer. Something sturdy, apparently. Any suggestions?

Enough of my whining. Despite broken computers, I'm hard at work on the The Devil's Shadow--sequel to The Devil's Eye. And I think Kyle might be my favorite hero ever. But it's early days yet, so I'll have to wait and see.

Finally, The Witch's Stone is free today and tomorrow or at Amazon. Happy reading!!

Summer Writing Cave

This past weekend was a holiday weekend here, and summer temperatures came with it. It was sunny and hot, the kind of day you want to be outside. And the kind of day that makes writing in the attic impossible after 9am.

This wasn't as big a problem for me in the past. I usually worked on new projects in the morning, and with my trusty laptop I could work on rewrites and promo anywhere. This year things are different.

I have a day job, which means my writing schedule has changed. I'm writing in the evenings now and there is no way I can do that in the attic. After noon. the temperature hovers between 85 and 90 degrees up there. This leaves me no choice but to find a new writing cave until the fall.

There are two possibilities, the family office or the backyard. (The latter I have just abandoned because it started to rain.)  Clearly there are pros and cons to both.

Family office pros: A door. A proper desk. Reasonable lighting. Cons: Clutter. Chair is broken so I feel like I'm sitting in a hole. Room comes with a mean, hissing bird.

Back yard pros: Lovely view. Fresh air. Comfortable chairs. Cons. Weather dependent. No door to cut back on interruptions. A glare on the computer screen so I have to squint even in the shade.

I'll likely go back and forth between the two. Which one would you pick?

Sinful Sirens Winner

Congrats to Yvette! She's won an ecopy of Blood and Bone. Yvette, I've sent you an email, let me know if you don't receive it.

Thanks to everyone who took part!

Sinful Sirens Blog Hop

Welcome to the Sinful Siren Blog Hop, hosted by Under the Covers and Guilty Pleasures. The hop begins May 15th and runs until the 20th. I'm giving away a copy of my ebook, Blood and Bone to one lucky winner. (Open to international participants.) Just leave your name, email address with a comment and I will announce a winner on the 21st. Good Luck!

The deeper they dig into the past, the closer they come to a killer.

Crime writer Shayne Reynolds is looking for the next book that’ll get her out of her parents’ basement and on track to rebuilding her life. She’s found it in Robert Anderson, a confessed murderer who’s out on parole. Something’s never added up about that case.

From the moment she sets foot in Dark Water, nothing goes as planned. Anderson’s family wants her to drop the story—especially surviving son Des. A man who ignites sizzling heat even as he stands firmly in her way.

Laboring under his father’s crushing legacy and his grandmother’s iron resolve to get rid of the nosy writer at any cost, Des struggles to save the self-destructive sister who once saved him. There’s something honest and forthright about Shayne, though, that tempts him to help her get to the truth. Even if it means double-crossing his powerful grandmother.

Despite their resolve to keep it strictly business, sexual sparks quickly set fire to tangled emotions. And threads of a fragile bond that someone with a vendetta could use to weave their death shroud…

Product Warnings
This story contains a feisty writer, a sexy younger man and a mystery with enough twists and turns to cause vertigo.

Excerpt

Copyright 2011 Dawn Brown

Des gripped her heel tightly, with quick fingers pulled out the glass and pressed a gauze pad against the wound to stem the bleeding. Fresh pain soared up her leg, before settling into a dull throb. 

“Your foot’s really bleeding.” He lifted the gauze. She tried to pull her foot away, but his hold tightened, and he grinned. “I still need to clean the cut and bandage you up.” 

She glared while he opened the antiseptic pad’s foil package. The same brand he’d complained hurt when she’d used it on his face. “Remember, I could have left you at the side of the road last night.” 

“Duly noted.” He applied the damp wipe to her oozing injury. Stinging flames licked at her nerve endings. 

“Sadist,” she hissed. Closing her eyes, she bit her lip and waited for him to finish. At last, the pain receded. When she opened her eyes, he was carefully applying a bandage. 

“All done.” He bent his head and pressed his lips to the arch of her foot in a feathery kiss. A delicious tingle rippled over her skin. He peered up at her, those smoky eyes watching her through the hair that had fallen into his face. 

She forgot the pain in her foot and a new ache settled low and deep inside her.

Follow the links for more great giveaways!

Weekend Giveaway!

Wow, this week went by fast. And yes, I realize that I missed Wednesday's blog. I know, I suck. But I have good news. Tomorrow and Sunday The Witch's Stone will be free at Amazon. And please a help a girl out by liking it if you like it and tagging it. Hugely appreciated.

So what's everyone's plans for the weekend? Me? You guessed it rewrites. But I'm hoping to carve out a little time to read. I just started 50 Shades of Grey. What are you reading?