Come See Me At HallowRead- I'll be fangirling over Kami Garcia!

I'll be at HallowRead next weekend! It's a labor of love putting this convention on for the readers and my fellow authors. From the panel names to the haunted house, I have a heavy hand in all aspects of the event. It's truly my favorite time of year and I cannot wait! Today I got to announce our Keynote Speaker- Kami Garcia. I know, I know! I already did the fangirl dance, trust me! Here's some more information on her appearance. 

#1 New York Times Bestselling Author and Keynote Speaker- Kami Garcia 

Kami Garcia is the #1 New York Times bestselling coauthor of the Beautiful Creatures Novels and Dangerous Creatures and the author of the instant New York Times bestseller and Bram Stoker Award nominated novel Unbreakable in the Legion series.
Books for Kami Garcia will be available courtesy of Books A Million. YOU MUST PURCHASE AT LEAST ONE BOOK FROM BAM FOR THE SIGNING EVENT. There is also a 1 book limit for outside books. While we understand reader enthusiasm to get beloved copies signed, n order to ensure all readers have an equal opportunity we have to set limits. * Note E-readers are considered books.

Sherri 2.0

Just in time for my favorite time of year- HallowRead and Halloween! I am happy to say my free horror short Sherri 2.0 is now available. So far readers and reviewers really seem to be enjoying it. It's a quick read, about thirty-one pages but don't worry, I packed a lot in there. If you haven't read it yet, check it out. It's available in all the usual places. I don't normally enter writing contests because for me it's not about being compared to or beating someone else but a friend told me about this writing contest called Nevermore. I mean you all know how much I love Poe, how could I possibly resist a writing contest with a name like that, lol! So I entered and Sherri is doing pretty well. If you read it and enjoy it, give her a vote. the link is below. I'd sure appreciate it! 

Jeffrey Rivera Guest Post

This is a first for the blog- a guest post! Let's all give Jeffrey a warm welcome and wish him a happy birthday! He's a friend and colleague who's helped me a lot this year! His upcoming release Sing To Me is a beautiful contemporary love story, a little different from the worlds where Maurin and Jax live but one I'm happy to share and know you'll enjoy reading!

An Interview With Jeffrey Rivera

Why did you choose such a surprising twist?

You know, the writer in me wants to create a story that’s more realistic, but I know that’s not what readers want.

Readers don’t want something believable. They don’t want something realistic necessarily. What they want is a fantasy, and I like to give them what they want. The reader in me wants the same.  I think that we have enough tragedy in the world that we don’t want to put up with having to read that too. We want to escape. We want to live a life and experience a life in which we don’t have to deal with all the pain and suffering. And if there’s pain and suffering then we want to know that everything is going to be all right in the end. And so I wanted to create a story with Sing to Me that would make people happy, and allow them to escape and give them what they want and what they’ve been dreaming of.

What inspired you to create the character Cody?

I was inspired by this person I heard about who was trying to pursue his dream in light of having a wife who was suffering from some serious medical issues. I wanted to create a really sexy guy who is tough and who has a heart of gold. And I know a lot of guys like that in my life. I have a really good friend who is sort of a rocker type of guy. He’s an attractive guy who is great with his wife and has a heart of gold; a sensitive guy; a good person who would do anything for you. And so I really wanted to create a character sort of like that.

What inspired you to create the character Emma?

I wanted to create a character that was a strong woman who wasn’t afraid to speak her mind. I loosely based her a little bit on my sister who’s soft and sweet but feisty. I wanted to create a character that could be strong enough to be against a strong guy like Cody. I do not like weak characters, let alone weak women characters. And I don’t think readers want that either, but, you know, they also want someone who’s vulnerable and who has a softer side to her. I can think of a good friend of mine who is a performer, and she is a sweetheart, and she could be kind of tough as nails at times. But she’s got the biggest heart. She will help anybody and even people who she shouldn’t help, because she’s just that kind of person, and has always been that person. So, Emma is sort of like that too.

What inspired you to create Emma’s grandmother?

I wanted to create a character that would be interesting to read. I love

minor characters in stories whether it’s movies or TV shows or books that kind of steal the scenes and are memorable. And so that’s why I wanted to create this grandmother character. I so love Lauren Bacall and I wish I could have gotten to meet her before she passed away. But I love feisty older women who don’t lose their personality in being older; who stop trying to be nice and start being real, and will say whatever’s on their mind. My great-aunt; we called her Aunty Diva; she was sort of like that too. She would say how it is and say things that sometimes hurt, but you knew she didn’t mean anything by them and she would always tell the truth. I just loved that about her. She would say things that were slightly inappropriate, but we loved it. And so I wanted to create a character like that.

SING TO ME

by Jeff Rivera

They want to pull the plug on his brain-dead wife.

When rock-star-to-be, Cody White meets sassy Emma Lohan, he doesn't know what to make of her.

Obviously out of his league, she’s outspoken, full-figured, beautiful, college-educated and has a heart of gold.

She's perfect and he can't stop thinking about her. She’s nothing like the girls he's dated before.

It doesn't make any sense.

And yet, true love rarely does.

Little does he know she will teach him what it means to love, what it means to fight for the girl of his dreams and what it means to give up everything he's ever wished for; for the chance at something he never thought was possible.

True love and kisses from the heart.

But when tragedy strikes and her life is on the line, Cody is broken. He must make a choice: accept that the girl he knows will never be the same again or stay with her when she needs him the most and give up his life-long dream of becoming a rock star forever.

Get your copy today. Click here: http://bit.ly/SINGTOME

Taking over the airwaves in August!

August was a crazy cool month where I had the opportunity to take over the airwaves not once but twice! First I met with Matthew over at Dragon Radio on campus at Howard Community College. It was my first in studio interview. I've done a few over the phone for Cutting Room Floor but going in to the studio, with the mic and everything was really neat! I loved seeing where the magic happens and a little behind the scenes on how they cut segments. Knowing this was prerecorded definitely helped keep me at ease. Matthew definitely had his work cut out for him because once I got going, there was no stopping my mouth! Lol! We talked about everything, books, the writing process, life and even HallowRead. I'm pretty sure there were hours of editing I didn't see involved afterward. There's a link below if you'd like to take a listen. 

Last week I was unexpectedly interviewed for 98Rock, the #1 Rock station in Baltimore, MD. This was crazy cool! And my nerves definitely got the best of me, especially in front of a live crowd. I never was one for public speaking. Sure, I've done panels but there's more people to focus on than just me. I'm not the center of attention kind of girl so knowing everyone in the room was looking at me had me a little more than tongue tied. So did the knowledge that friends, family and hopefully new readers were listening! Despite the nerves I had a great time! Check out the pics of me and Mickey, evening DJ for 98Rock and the best "wing man" a girl could ask for, Gladys from NerdGirl Blog!

Check out Rachel's interview with Dragon Radio here! Wednesday at 6pm and Sunday at 9am.

Fall Appearances

Summer's in full swing but I'm already gearing up for fall! 

In September I'll be celebrating my birthday with a bunch of my favorite authors at Baltimore Book Festival (booth number and street location to be announced). Rounding out that weekend will be a long awaited tattoo appointment for the portrait of my grandmother on my forearm. Oddly enough it will be a year at the time of getting the tattoo since she passed. I had hoped to have the appointment sooner but I firmly believe the timing was meant to be. What a way to remember and celebrate her life and passing. I'm really looking forward to the experience and sharing the completed artwork with all of you. 

October brings my favorite time of year HallowRead, which combines my to favorite things- books and Halloween. This year we have an incredible line up. For a full list of attending authors check out the HallowRead blog or website. I'm happy to announce I'll be participating on to panels this year- Name That Vampire where we read excerpts from popular vampire novels, some we've written and some from our favorites. Readers guess and the first person to answer correctly is given a small prize. I did it last year and we had a blast! The second panel is  a new one for HallowRead, Holding Court which focuses on the Fae courts and the creatures who belong to them. With the addition of som many Fae elements in my series I am really excited about this panel!

If you want to get in on the fun go to www.hallowread.com and grab your tickets! Did I mention there is a haunted house? I cannot wait! We're having our first haunted house team meeting next week. It's going to be awesome getting the scare crew back together again! I won't be able to give too much away but I'll be sure to share some of the details as soon as I can! <3

I've been working on an anthology project and can't wait to share it with you! Hoping to announce details in the next couple weeks. I found this image to promote my piece Sherry 2.0 and the anthology over all. With all proceeds going to Wounded Warriors, I'm really hoping it does well! This story is a little different than what I've written in the past, not from a first person pov, and more sci-fi horror than paranormal urban fantasy. Can't wait for you to read it and tell me what you think!

Work In Progress

Here's a little snipet of what I've been working on, Payable On Death. New world, new characters but still Urban Fantasy. It's weird to be some where other than Salem with Maurin and the crew but I think you'll like Jax as much as I do. smile emoticon

I reached into my bag, fumbling around until I got a hold of the neck of the vodka bottle. I yanked it out and cracked it over the head of the demon. The bottle bounced off his head without any of the satisfying shattering glass I'd come to expect from the movies but he did drop me. After gulping in air, I smashed the bottle against the wall and slashed out with the jagged neck. I missed, taking a sharp jab to the ribs in the process. Doubled over, but still holding the broken glass, I tried for another strike, managing to slice Lazarus's thigh. He hissed from the pain but didn't back down. He had me by the neck again, slamming me into the brick wall of the building behind me. Close to blacking out, the bottle neck slipped from my grip. Resolved to my fate, I stopped fighting and prepared to meet the Devil.
The sound of footsteps and someone shouting reached my ears as I slid down the wall. Lazarus took off, disappearing at the end of the alleyway. The lessor demons scattered like wharf rats down by the peer. I sat there on the damp ground, surrounded by trash bags and over flowing dumpsters, trying to catch my breath. The person who'd been yelling reached the alley, their footsteps slowed as they realized my attacker fled the scene. Grateful the guy passed by at the same time Lazarus was kicking my ass, I looked up to thank my rescuer.
He extended a hand to help me up off the ground, waiting patiently when I stared at him with my mouth agape. He wiggled his fingers, trying to encourage me to take his hand but I smacked it away. I've never believed in coincidence before and I wasn't about to start. Dane didn't just happen by, he'd been looking for me.
"I'm going to file for a restraining order if you keep this up." I pushed off the cement and stumbled to my feet.
Dane reached out to help me after I swayed a couple times but I shook my head.
"You want me to take you to the emergency room? Get those ribs looked at?" Dane glanced at the arm I'd wrapped around my midsection. "You can fill out a police report while you're there."
"I'm fine. No hospitals, no police." Because when you tell people demons are attacking you they didn't put out an apb for the assailant, they locked you up.
"I really think..."
"I said I'm fine." Far from fine, I gritted my teeth and slowly made my way out of the alley.
Of course he followed.
"Who was that back there? Who did this to you?" Dane reached for my arm, then thought better of it.
It could have been from all the wincing in pain or the don't touch me vibe I threw off. Either way I was relieved he kept his hands to himself.
"You saw him?" It hadn't occurred to me when Dane showed up, but if he saw me fighting someone in the alley then he saw Lazarus. No one saw Lazarus. Not ever. So how did Dane?
"No. I didn't get a good look at the guy. I saw you go down. Whoever it was must have hauled ass down and out of the alleyway when they heard me coming."
I smelled the lie. Dane saw the demon. Which meant one of two things. He didn't think I'd believe him when told me he saw a demon or he knew about the demon before he found me in the alley. Either way he was keeping something from me.