Published Author On Board

[Mickey Finn]

Are you a professionally published author and a member of the board?

Tell us about yourself and your work.

[Richelle Mead]

I'm going to wait for someone else to go first.  I've already rambled about myself around here. 

[Mickey Finn]

Don't make me cut & paste your ramble.

[Richelle Mead]

Mickey, you crack me up.  All right.  Everyone keeps telling me to break out of my introverted personality and put myself out there if I want to sell books.

I'm an urban fantasy writer.  I sold my first novel SUCCUBUS BLUES and two sequels last November, and it'll be published in March 2007.  It's about a succubus with romantic problems (that whole inconvenient soul-stealing thing) who investigates a creature killing immortals in Seattle.  In January, I decided to quit my teaching job and write full-time.  I started another book called DARK SWAN (title to be changed) about a shaman.  It sold in January + one sequel and won't be out until after SB#2.  All of my books rely heavily on mythology and have a campy sense of humor (my succubus' demonic boss chooses to walk around in a body that looks like John Cusack).

I'm about 2 months away from an Amazon listing.  The website in my sig will give you more on the books, plus a review from Jim himself! *swoon*

I had to learn a lot about the publishing world to get here, so I'm happy to answer any questions folks have.

[Priscellie]

*laughs*  That sounds hilarious!  You'll have to let us know when it's released--I'd love to read it.

[Cathy Clamp]

Hi, all!

I'm also a published author of urban fantasy/paranormal novels for Tor Books in their Tor Romance line. I write with a co-author, C.T. Adams, and we presently have two series:

Tales of the Sazi, with:

Hunter's Moon (first person male POV of a Mafia hitman turned werewolf) December, 2004. To date, it's won eight regional and national book awards for paranormal romance.

Moon's Web (sequel, also in his perspective).  This one is the winner of the Best Werewolf Romance by RT BOOKreviews magazine for 2005!
August, 2005

Captive Moon (third person paranormal romance in the same world, just out this month. We're happy to report that it just made BOTH the USA Today bestsellers list, but is in its second week on the Waldenbooks Mass Market Paperback bestsellers list! Woo!   )
August, 2006

The Thrall:

Touch of Evil (first person kick-sass heroine in an alternative reality vampire world. Vampires aren't the "evil undead" but are instead creepy parasites that infect a person. They attach to the brain stem and take over a person's body using a hive mind and a queen. This also appeared on both the USA Today and Waldenbook list.)
March, 2006

Upcoming novels from Tor include:

Howling Moon (Sazi series), December, 2006
Touch of Madness (Thrall series), June, 2007
Moon's Fury (Sazi series), September, 2007 (just put this one to bed yesterday! Yay!)

We also have an historical fiction novel set in 1800's Colorado, during the building of the railroads called Road to Riches: the Great Railroad Race to Aspen from Western Reflections Publishing.  It won an award for "Best Historical Chronicle" from the Colorado Independent Publishers Association.  Lots of people who like steam trains and the clashes with landowners/cattle barons will probably like this.

And, of course, Cie and I both ADORE Jim's books!

HARRY RULES! 

[Darrington]

My name's Jessica Sherwood, and I'm an author in progress, published novel or not.  I've been writing for seven or eight years, I've really lost track.  My beginnings give me nightmares, but I really think I've gotten somewhere in the past few years, despite the fact that I haven't gotten to write much.  Most of what I've done so far is of the fantasy genre, either in a fantastical or distant past era setting.  Though I believe that since I've been reading the Dresden Files, I've been feeling more inclined toward the modern, urban setting.  He's rewiring me, I tell you!

Anyway.  Though I've got a ton of ideas for the general fantasy genre (a series coming from the gothic fantasy that's been published), I'm hoping to do a co-op with a good friend of mine and write out the books of our Dresden-esque RPG.  But, of course, to do that, we'd both want to acquire Jim's approval, and perhaps link it back to him in some way.  Maybe even get some tiny, miniscule little mention of my New York wizard in the Dresden Files.  I could die happy if that happened.

But alas.  I haven't written much of anything in over a year.  Procrastination and lack of alone time has bitten into that something fierce.  But anyway.  It's good to see this section of the forum dedicated to the writers out there.

Just a brief bit of information on my book, here.  It took me the better part of six years to write it, and it was published just over a year ago I believe.  It's titled BloodRune, and is written in first person, current tense, which I've never seen anywhere before.  It switches between several characters, showing the different perspectives of situations and the plot.  I wrote it mainly to focus on the characters and their individual stories rather than the plot.  The main characters are either vampires (my main love until Jim's wizardry stole my heart) or use magic.  It follows the rediscovery and collection of ancient, powerful artifacts that are, in fact, imprisoned souls.  I've taken a bit of my own twist on vampires in this, challenging the stereotypical view of them.

You can find it under both Amazon and B&N, as well as the publisher's site and even google book search.

[Mandy]

I'm also a published author. I write historical romances as Madeline Baker and paranormal romances as Amanda Ashley. I've published over 50 novels and short stories.

My latest book, DESIRE AFTER DARK, is in stores now.

My next book, DEAD SEXY, will be published in February, followed by NIGHT'S TOUCH (a sequel to Night's Kiss) in July.

I love writing. Even after 50 plus books, the process is still a mystery to me! I have no idea where my stories come from, and since I don't outline, I rarely know what's going to happen from one chapter to the next.

For a sneak peak at upcoming books, as well as sample chapters from all my published books, please visit my website at www.madelinebaker.net

I have to say, I love Jim's books and think he's one of the best authors out there!
Mandy

[BigMama]

I have read several of your books written under the Amanda Ashley name and have enjoyed them very much. Thank you for giving me many hours of pleasure. 

[Sara Dennis]

I haven't been around a lot, because my life got crazy (in good ways!), but I'm still a big Jim fan, so I hope I'm welcome to come back and say hey, I'm published too!

Currently e-published, but always working toward the first big break into print. I write romance of various flavors (suspense, contemporary, paranormal) and fantasy/sf novels. 

So, hi!

[Richelle Mead]

Welcome, all!

Hey Sara...I've seen you around the blogosphere.    I hope you're going to enter the Double Succubus ARC Contest!

[Mickey Finn]

Hey! I've seen Amanda Ashley on the shelf. (Paranormal romance isn't my normal field, so that's a good thing that I recognize the name).

And I've been waiting for someone to use Dead Sexy as a title...it's a line I've been meaning to work into a story I'm writing.

I'm going to post a bio on myself. Honest.  I'm waiting on my roommate to get a hidden webpage up with some of my shorts for interested parties to read. *pokes roommate*

[Willowhugger]

Hey, my name is Charles Phipps.

Alas, with a company that has sold sixty copies of my best selling book in Windstorm Creative.  :le sigh:  That's why I've submitted my next book to the Donald Maas literary agency (don't let ANYONE say otherwise-you need an agent).  It's called Hard Broiled Magician.   I'm very proud of the work and think its my best yet.  My previous books in the Machines Unbound series sadly cost an incredible period of two years in my life to write.  I even got friends involved in the writing.  Seeing it bomb so spectacularly (I can't even join the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Association of America) really sent me into a deep depression for awhile.  I actually worry it's hurting my chances to become professional.

I wish I'd had a community like this to guide me through the bad steps along the way.  I also used to be head of a RPG company called Seraphim Guard.  Sadly, my time there was sort of marked by a lot of infighting in the ranks and all of our projects failed to materialize much in the way of RPGs.  I was actually quite proud of some of my projects that fell through.

Nevertheless, the best advice from my trials and tribulations is to keep trying and never give up your dream.  As soon as I succeed, I'll be able to say how it was worth it :-)

I also wrote some silly children's books called the "Wooing of Ozma" and the "Engagement of Ozma"."

[Paige]

I have three books published through e-publishers. Two came out in print. Both are paranormal romances. The Shaman's Daughter, is a shapeshifter/ time travel. Fallen For You, involves a fallen angel and a witch. Fallen For You is a novella in Ellora's Cave, Cavemen anthology, Dreams of the Oasis 1 which is a collection of erotic stories. My third book is only in electronic format for now and it's a romantic comedy entitled Queen of Hearts, released through Cerridwen Press. I've got a short erotica coming out in February through Ellora's Cave, I, Robot Valentine, and, as always, am striving toward landing a contract with a brick and mortar house. I write under two names now, Alison Paige for works of erotic romance, and Paige Cuccaro for everything else. Depending on your definition of published I am and I'm not.

www.paigecuccaro.com
www.alisonpaige.net

[Drew]

Hi, I'm Drew Henriksen.  www.DrewHenriksen.comI hate talking about myself, but it is getting easier and easier.  The third book of my Dragon Tales & Stories triology, Dragons & Science is due out this summer by ArcheBooks.  My first two, Dragons & Wolves and The Dragon & They Detective are out now.  I'm not giving up my day job, or my night one.

I've been a stunt fighter on a few low budget movies.  One of the stuntmen www.mhstunts.com asked me to write a low budget horror flick for him.  Long story short, Saint Dementia was born.  They have distribution and things look good for investors.

I was just invited back to Icon and hope to meet Jim and Mickey too.  I asked to be put on any author panels that deals with martial arts, so I hope to get on one with Jim.

If I can only spell better.