Blogs

New Release...Sort Of?

So in a little while, you will hear about some fundraising efforts for my dog. If you follow me on Twitter or FB, you'll know Stuff Is Going On and It Has Been a Nightmare.

As a thank you gift, I'm giving away free ebook copies of an unpublished book of mine to anyone who tosses pennies in the jar. There have been no plans to submit this book anywhere or publish it, so it'll be exclusively available here.

FAQs:

What formats?
I'll send you a zipped file with PDF, PRC, MOBI, HTML, and EPUB.

Will it be on Kindle, etc?
No. This is a fundraising effort. I'm not raising funds to give Amazon my money. You can load those file formats on your ereader--I'll google you help if you need it.

How much?
Whatever you want to give.

What's the book about?
It's a full length "rural" fantasy (as opposed to urban) novel for adult audiences. There is mystery and suspense, elements of paranormal horror and monsters (comparable to most UF), romance (and a non-erotic but explicit sex scene), and all that good stuff. It's a different kind of book and came from a desire to deconstruct certain UF tropes I saw (and wrote myself), though it spiraled from there so isn't actually meta. I continue to be proud of it even if it's quirkier. It's also standalone--I tried very hard to write a sequel, but I was honestly happy with it as-is.

I'll post the blurb below.

When can I get it?
Hopefully later today/tomorrow!

Why aren't you giving away any of your published books instead?
Because I only get a certain number of free ecopies (they're under contract, after all), and print is expensive.

Will this book be in print?
Nope. But you can print out a copy.

I'll chip in for fundraising without you giving me a book.
I like working for money and I like giving back. This is a little something I'm able to do; if you like this kind of book, hey, it'll give you a few hours of entertainment (I hope) as thank you for your support.

Anais Peake was created to devour the souls of otherwise unkillable monsters, but with every soul she eats, she loses a little of her own. She’s been in retirement for eighteen months when her monster hunting best friend shows up one winter night needing help, and so Ani temporarily returns to a life she tried hard to escape.

Their plans go awry on a deserted highway when a harpy attacks and Ani’s friend is killed. Ani is pulled out of the role of sidekick and thrust into the uncomfortable shoes of heroine in a mystery involving both human and otherworldly monsters, with only her neighbour/cat babysitter, an old friend still suffering grief and anger, and an empath funeral director for help to solve her friend’s murder.

But fate has patiently been waiting: Ani was created with a purpose in mind and retirement or not, she has to face what she is and what she's capable of.

Even if her soul doesn't survive it.

"My Sanctuary" Review and Interview with Sarah-Jane Lehoux

Today marks the release of a fantastic novella called My Sanctuary.

A lonely girl who dreams of an impossible future. A sullen boy with a troubled past. Together, with a stained glass angel, they form a bond that shelters them from the cruel indifference of life in a church-run orphanage in the 1950s. When a “secret game” leads to the unthinkable, a choice must be made that no mother, real or imagined should ever have to face.

My Review

A child can’t choose its mother, but maybe a mother can choose her child.

My Sanctuary is the story of Dot, a young teen growing up in a Catholic orphanage in the fifties. It isn’t a nice place to be, but there are bright spots in her life, from her crush on her school teacher Mr. Martin to taking care a fellow orphan named Kenny who she has dubbed her “baby.” Beyond that, though, Dot finds what we all need sometimes: a sanctuary, somewhere to go where a stained-glass angel smiles down on her and she can escape the everyday brutality she faces from other kids and the adults responsible for them.

Dot’s voice is distinct, authentic, and engaging; she draws the reader in with her first words. Among Ms. Lehoux’s great skills as a storyteller is her ability to peel back the layers of Dot’s world and shine a light on the horrors occurring while never leaving the perspective of a young girl. Without spoiling the story by giving details, I can say all it takes is one phrase to answer the question of why Dot is there or what happened to Kenny’s real mother, making the reader’s stomach bottom out and realize what has occurred. Though the themes the novella touches on are decidedly adult, My Sanctuary never feels like an adult is telling a child’s tale. No, Dot could be any fourteen-year-old, so real that as I listened to her tell her story, I wanted to wrap my arms around her and assure her everything would be okay.

Of course, the sad thing is that’s rarely true. Though set over fifty years ago, My Sanctuary is very much relevant today. Children suffer abuse and grow up too soon. Women have their bodily autonomy stripped away. People hide behind religion while committing horrible acts.

And everyone still needs a sanctuary.

Ms. Lehoux doesn’t merely depict darkness in this story but confronts it, unflinching and unwavering. At all times she remains true to her characters and the tale she set out to tell. Much like the angel in the sanctuary, the storyteller’s steadfast gaze never leaves Dot in her time of need when a weaker person would look away in fear. Through Ms Lehoux, the reader remains with Dot as well—even long after the story has ended.

Gut-wrenching, timely, brave, and nothing short of brilliant, My Sanctuary is a powerful read about the bonds of found family and the struggle to find refuge when we’re at our most vulnerable. I absolutely urge everyone to read it. Well done, Ms. Lehoux. Well done.

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Read on for my Q&A with Sarah-Jane!Read more

Uppity-Update + Signal Boost Request

So prognosis for the lump removed from Caboose is excellent--it was a trichoblastoma.

Prognosis for the uterine lump...isn't.

This, I already knew. She's nine, which is a little old for a major surgery like spaying, and my vet hasn't done a lot of bunny spays so recommends seeing someone else for that if I wanted to try. At her age, from everyone I've spoken to, the best we can do is leave it and monitor her quality of life.

Cancer sucks.

If you have a female bunny: HAVE HER SPAYED. Just do it. They all get cancer. Like, all of them. Because God hates bunnies. I'd've had her done if I'd known she was a girl sooner (look, she hates me and has repeatedly attacked me over the years--you try flipping her over to check her lady bits). She's paying for my mistake now. Just find someone who knows bunnies and get them spayed, like a cat.

There's your PSA for the day.

In other news, the new series covers are popping up here and there. So far, the only ebooks remade are the Bloodlines ones (even then, I don't know where beyond Kindle). Since it's technically an old book, the Bloodlines price point has dropped to $2.99 to see if that helps. I'm not a fan of the low pricing of full length novels, but with the fourth book about to come out and the fact that Bloodlines has been kicking around in one incarnation or another since 2008, it's an okay experiment.

If you like the book (or me) and can boost the signal, that would be great. Here it is at Mundania, here's Kindle, and here's ARe for starters (this weekend, just $2.09 after the rebate). (As you know, I thank you.)

If you want to see the new covers, because I haven't updated my website yet, you can check them all out at Mel's site here. (And do leave her a comment--she doesn't get near the recognition she deserves for all that she does for people.)

Dear Readers: Thank You

Dear Reader,

You and I need to have a little talk.

It has been a rough few weeks/months. Beyond my bunny (btw, you know how you get old and miscalculate things like age? I did--she's not eight, she's turning nine this month) and her tumors, my old dog injured herself (not as bad as it could yet become, though I might be looking at huge expenses in my future), and I had to keep Rodney Ballsnomore. Vet bills have been high, between getting everyone vaccinations, needed medical attention, supplements, and all those things our fur-kids need. Beyond that, I do have other things I'm trying to save for (like human babies) as well as supply my addiction to cheap $3 DVDs from the discount center instead of having cable.

So here's the point of this post: I get royalties quarterly (Feb, May, Aug, Nov, middle of the month). The royalties I get this Tuesday are from sales made at Mundania.com Jan, Feb, and Mar of this year, as well as sales made at resellers (ARe, Kindle, FW, etc) during Oct, Nov, and Dec of last year.

That money? It is helping me buy a few groceries this month. It's ensuring I don't have to choose between Sophie's glucosamine supplement and dog food. It let me pay for the test for Caboose's tumor to see how bad it is without worrying whether or not I'll still be able to feed her as well.

Readers: Thank You.

My royalties are not huge. They're better than a nice dinner out but not "let's go to Vegas!" good. Every damn sale helps.

I don't think you hear it enough, Reader. You hear me bitch about pirates (well, they fucking PISS ME OFF). You see me get depressed because my numbers aren't enough to continue the series. You see me get annoyed when asked for freebies. Blah blah. I'm sorry. I'll stop. Because you over there? Who bought Lineage on release day? You helped this month. You who got Bloodlines for Xmas on Kindle? You helped this month. Both my friends and the lurkers who don't make it into my lengthy dedications because I don't know you: you helped. Those who spread the word and got others to buy: you helped. You who blogs about the books as well as buys, and you who buys but never says a word: you helped.

Never doubt the profound impact you, gentle reader, can have for the writers and books you love.

I usually make between $1.25 - $2.50 on ebooks, depending on where they're sold. It seems very tiny--and it sort of is. But it adds up. All of those sales make a difference, not just in my life but for my furry family I'm providing for. If I didn't know I had a bit of extra money coming in this month, I might have had to put off Caboose's surgery. I'm still waiting on test results but it's entirely possible YOU helped save her life.

So again, I say thank you. Thank you.

Thank you.

Love,

Skyla
(And the horde of animals.)

Bunny Surgery Day

Caboose had her surgery today.

But let's back up to last night.


Read more

A day in the life of Skyla working at home....

"Why does Poser keep crashing?"

"Did this get done yet?"

"Oliver, stop chasing Rodney."

"I've asked three times for this cover art form and it hasn't been done yet--WTF??"

"I should do the dishes."

"I'm going to kill Poser."

"I wish I had cupcakes."

"Gmail hates me today."

"Poser hates me today."

"Fuck you too, Photoshop."

"WILL NONE OF YOU CATS LET ME PEE IN PEACE???"

"I should pick a movie for background noise."

"I think that plant is dying."

"Giving up that edit just made me really, really sad."

"I still haven't done the dishes."

"I wish I had vodka."

"Can no one follow instructions?"

"Damn, that's a nice cover."

"I don't want to have to write this email."

"I love it when authors and editors heart each other."

"Fuck it--I'll render the characters separately."

"Do I *have to* open to submissions?"

"Temperance, leave Marcus alone!"

"The spinning blue circle of doom must mean I killed Photoshop."

"I wish I had cupcake flavored vodka."

"I'm sure the penalty for collecting royalty info early is that I messed something up."

"I should just change my work name to 'Mom.'"

"Dinah, quit attacking everyone!"

"I haven't picked a movie yet."

"Either everyone does what I say or I start breaking kneecaps."

"I can probably do the dishes tomorrow."

Update: Bunny Cancer, Nancy Drew, & Job Upgrade

I figured I should update anyone following along at home (and not on Twitter or my personal FB): Caboose has bunny cancer surgery on Tuesday. I've had lots of assurances it's safe now and I know she's in good hands, so I'm trying not to worry. I've bought things in preparation for post-op care and the benefit of working from home is that I'll be there to look after her.

If you are a rabbit person and have advice/reassurances regarding bunny surgery, specifically lump removal, please let me know, as I'm new to this.

Speaking of, I've had a job upgrade, so now I'm looking after the art department as well. I...am very, very tired. Very. I've put in mostly 12+ hour days this week and I'm completely fried. Of course, even though I promised myself a weekend away from day job stuff, I have freelance stuff and my own stuff to try to finish today/tomorrow. Blargh. I am also ridiculously behind in email. I hate being this behind on communication, but at the end of the day, I mostly want to just curl into a ball and vegetate.

My WIPs are languishing. I'm getting that really angry, bitchy, flustered thing going on again, like I do any time I'm too exhausted to write for more than a week. Writing is what keeps me from being arrested, in more ways than one. Here's hoping this week will be a little less busy so I can structure time to write at night. I have both Oblivion and Solomon's Seal up on my desktop.

I'm going to need to re-learn the sacred art of SAYING NO, I think. The thing is, I love being helpful and I love doing things for people, but I'm currently a basket case. I'm going to try to schedule in some long weekends coming up and I'm taking a break around Exhumed's release (second to third week of July) to unplug and go dark for a bit, recharging.

I did, over a couple of nights, get to play my new Nancy Drew game, and the shining highlight of next week will be going to see The Avengers.

I'll post during the week about Caboose's surgery. I've purchased her treats and am prepared to grovel extensively for her forgiveness.

Bunny Cancer

No, it is not cancer shaped like bunnies. It's mostly like people cancer. Which sucks.

In all likelihood, that's what my Caboose has. She has an "irregular" mass in her abdomen, and if you know rabbits and uterine cancer, you know where that's going. The growth on her side is likely a tumor as well--first thought was an abscess, but it was hard to get cells from. They're looking into it more then we'll figure out what to do.

The bright side is that she's otherwise healthy and miserable as always. Excellent dental health. Eyes are good. Good weight. Even though she loathes me, I'm a good Rabbit!Mum and have always ensured she has top quality food, vitamins in her water, toys/things to chew, etc.

But we're still looking at cancer.

And I haz a sad.

I'm lucky in that my vet is awesome, so I'm not freaking out, just intermittently crying with that feeling resolved melancholy when our animals age faster than us and start breaking down, and the barest pinch in the back of our minds when they're little that says "One day they'll get older" suddenly becomes a heavy dark weight of certainty that these tiny, gentle lives don't go on forever.

It sucks.

Of course, I'm not cuddling with her. She glared at me, thumped three times loudly, kicked shaving up and ran into her house at the indignity of me taking her to the vet. She came out once to dump her fresh bowl of food and jerk on the bars a few times until I looked at her and allowed her another death stare at me before she ran away.

We have a complicated relationship.

I'll maybe see you tomorrow, chickadees. My heart's a little broken right now.

Signal Boost

Hey all.

So my good friend Sarah-Jane Lehoux (you might have, um, heard of her, what with my gushing now and again) did an awesome, kick ass thing the other day...

She left a shitty work situation and quit her job.

It's that thing we all want to do when working for a douchecanoe, but don't always have the courage for. Well, she did it, and I cheered her when I heard via email. But now she's in that awful predicament so many of us end up in...

She needs work.

Sarah-Jane, incidentally, is a fabulous artist--kicks ass doing photo manips. You might recall some Zara fan art. (Seriously, the one at the very bottom by her? Has there ever BEEN someone more Zara? I think not.)

She's offering up her services right now as an artist, with mock covers in her portfolios for genres with everything from erom to horror. http://silverc.deviantart.com/gallery/31840684

If you need a quick turnaround for an ebook cover design or know someone who does, please point them here: http://sarah-janelehoux.com/coverart.htm Help with the signal boost! It'll bring you good karma.

Happy Release Day to Aline Hunter (J.A. Saare) for Enemy Mine

The second book in Aline Hunter's hot Alpha and Omega series is now available over at Ellora's Cave.

Divided by blood. Destined by fate.

Emory is a shifter living on the edge. For years he’s struggled with his Alpha nature. Then he meets the one woman capable of soothing the savage beast—Mary incites a carnal hunger that leaves him eager and burning. Sweet, kind and impossibly beautiful, Mary is everything he and his wolven half have been craving. Unfortunately, she’s also something else, something dangerous—a Shepherd, bred of the line of hunters determined to destroy his kind.

Emory discovers earning Mary’s trust is the least of his concerns. Her relatives want Mary back. If Emory won’t hand her over, they’ll do everything in their power to take her from the pack. As danger closes in, the passionate connection between them flares into a lascivious bond that refuses to be broken.

If Emory wants to keep his mate, he’ll have to protect her—at any cost.

You can also still check out the first book in the series, Omega Mine, available at Ellora's Cave, Amazon, All Romance eBooks, and other fine retailers. http://www.jasminejade.com/p-9592-omega-mine.aspx

Happy Book Birthday, Jaime (aka Aline)!