News

The HARLEQUIN came out in paperback yesterday. It’s Anita #15. Just writing that seems odd. BLOOD NOIR will be #16, and I’m two hundred pages into #17. We are so closing in on #20. I’ve no idea why, but that is a magic number for me in a series. The concept that I could have twenty books in one series is entirely too cool.
I think I am so enamoured of the idea because my first series that began with NIGHTSEER died a tragic and abortive death. Because my first series never got a chance to live beyond one book, makes the success of Anita and Merry all the sweeter.
Interestingly, THE HARLEQUIN has chapters from BLOOD NOIR in the back. A little preview for those of you who don’t want to wait until the new book comes out. The truly interesting part is that it’s taken Jon awhile to get the tech in line, and we’ve only just this week gotten the video up on You Tube and My Space, of me reading the first three chapters of BLOOD NOIR. The reading was originally at the last Wolf Howl at the Wild Canid Research Center. We read inside either because it was cold, or raining. I can’t remember which now, but inclement weather put us inside. Many of you have complained that you only have the first three chapters on the video, and you can’t wait. Well, in the paperback of HARLEQUIN are four more chapters that you wouldn’t have to wait for. Between the video of the reading and the preview in the paperback, you’ve got almost the first ten chapters.
Oh, and BLOOD NOIR breaks a rule that I’ve had for years. I put the first sex scene in a book more than sixty pages in, because most readings last about an hour. I read about a page a minute. So if the sex is more than sixty pages in, then I never have to read the scene in public. Well, it just worked out that the first sex scene is very close to the beginning of the book. Close enough that I’m reading it on the video, and you can hear the crowd reaction.
Why did I decide to break my rule after so many books? Because I realized the rule was about being embarrassed. I just realized one day that I’m not embarrassed about what I write, so why should I be embarrassed about reading it aloud? The result is the beginning of BLOOD NOIR. I hope everyone enjoys hearing, and reading the opening, as much as I enjoyed writing it. Go team.