Zara Lain Is Back: EXHUMED Releases
July 10, 2012
Well, it's finally here.
This book has been in my head since I FIRST wrote BLOODLINES, circa 2005/2006. It's the twentieth novel I've finished, it's probably one of the ones I'm most proud of. And it can now be yours to purchase in print and a variety of ebook formats.
Buy links (will be updated as links are live...I have no idea when that might be, sorry):
- Mundania
- Kindle US
- Kindle UK
- ARe/Omnilit
- Nook (incidentally, the first three in the series are going up on Nook right now too--you'll find Bloodlines so far)
Print will be up soon at various resellers (about a week or so). Purchasing ebooks through Mundania, as always, gives you a bonus short story. (Also, if you missed Nate's shorts Thrall and Sunrise they're still up here: http://www.facebook.com/SkylaDawnCameron--I'll be taking them down tonight, unless I'm drunk, and then maybe in the morning.)
A couple of friends read it early and want to tell you about the book--Melissa does, as does Histrel. And friend JA Saare says, "This ain't your momma's urban fantasy. The Demons of Oblivion series takes the genre to a whole new level. Hearts are broken, lines are crossed, and no one walks away unscathed. Skyla Dawn Cameron shocks, rocks, and leaves a reader eager for more."
After you read EXHUMED, you may have...questions. In particular about another side of the story. Unfortunately, these questions won't be answered in OBLIVION. While I feel EXHUMED has the *right* ending, there are some loose ends I hadn't planned to tie up until it was appropriate later in future books.
Why do I bring this up? Well, it's my release day, so what the hell--I'll say what I want to. If you follow my blog/Twitter, you probably already know this, BUT...
The series ain't doing well.
By "not well" I mean "persistent vegetative state". I've had a post announcing the cancellation drafted since early April, I just haven't posted it yet. 'Cause I don't wanna. Part of me wants to cancel it and put it to rest so I can move on; part of me wants to keep fighting. This leaves me on the fence.
But I am telling this to readers now because I don't want anyone blindsided.
The books may not continue past #5; this may very well be the last Zara-narrated book. At this point, I don't think I can afford to keep writing them.
As awkward as it is, it's my release day, so what the hell: I'm asking for help.
If you've already purchased the books and you want to do more, I can tell you that word of mouth is what gets things going. Tell a friend. Consider posting reviews on major sellers like Amazon (also: apparently adding tags on Amazon and making lists is helpful). Blog about the books. Request the books at your local library. Sacrifice virgins to Satan in exchange for higher sales rankings.
If you already do these things (you know who you are, as do I--I pay attention to these things), I thank you. You've already made a huge difference and I appreciate it.
There's no real magic key to these kinds of things--if there was, everyone would be a bestseller. But the more people who talk about something, the more likely it is others will check it out. Readers are the ones with the power--books can't be a success without you.
Incidentally, there's also a post up at the ELEW by me yesterday that relates to the writing of EXHUMED, called "Fear Itself" and you can clickity click and read right here.
Now, if you excuse me, I have to hang out with a friend who insisted no one would hate this book and get really drunk in case we decide to come trolling for reader reactions today...
Comments
#1 ARGGG
Maaaaaaaaaan, I haaaaaate reading news like this SO BAD. I'm sooooo disappointed for you. I just bought my copy from Mundania and will help spread the word. *fingers and toes crossed*
#2 Thank you! It's been really
Thank you! It's been really frustrating to have more books out and progressively fewer sales. I'm trying to put off a decision until November's royalties so I can compare all the statements and see if I can discern any slight trend upward again.
I really appreciate your support and I hope you enjoy! *is nervous* *and also about to start drinking*
----
"She wrapped evil around her like a large, evil Mexican serape."
#3 Well now, it just pisses me
Well now, it just pisses me off when well written, authentic novels like yours with strong female protagonists struggle to make sales when pieces of dribble like Fifty Shades of Grey are going gang busters. Makes my stomache churn! I shudder to think what kind of example we are teaching the young girls out there when the vast majority of books that do well seem to be the ones with snivelling heroines that need to be rescued (generalisation I know, but I am on my soap box here). Give me a good, well written, well edited book with a kick arse heroine who can not only save herself, but everyone else and I am happy.
I know that everyone will say each to their own, and there is obvioulsy a market out there for 'those kinds of books', but when will people open their eyes & realise that there is so much better out there to be read. I for one, will be telling everyone I know to buy your books and throwing my support behind this series. I will be sorely dissapointed to see this series end.
#4 Preach it, sister. I know,
Preach it, sister.
I know, it's very hard when I see writer friends who create these unique, fantastically written books and they don't have half the popularity of books with the same old tropes over and over. And I always worry, how long before they either write fewer books because their time goes toward other things for income, or end up writing for the market instead of outside the box? Either way, it's just sad.
Thank you so much for picking up the book--I sincerely hope you enjoy it!
----
"She wrapped evil around her like a large, evil Mexican serape."
#5 Let's rock this :)
I've gotten authors contracts, I don't see how or why I can't get you a sales boost! I'm going to buy them riiiiight now and then I'm going to post them on my facebook wall for my blog. After I read them, ( I have 4 books in front of them but I read like a machine at points ) I can get back to you with options!
Stay positive!
#6 Aw, thank you, Misty! I do
Aw, thank you, Misty! I do hope you enjoy them and your support means a lot to me!
----
"She wrapped evil around her like a large, evil Mexican serape."
#7 I hate being the last one to
I hate being the last one to comment!! I was to be the first dang it. Stupid technology!
Well, you know my feelings on it all. So, congrats on the awesome book release. And glad to see all the links are up now. And love the little kitty cat's the one really looks like a preacher! LOL.
:) Breathe.
#8 Breathing! Also drinking.
Breathing! Also drinking. Alas, not at the same time or that would kill me...
----
"She wrapped evil around her like a large, evil Mexican serape."
#9 Fucking love this book!
Fucking loved this book! Fucking love this series! Best one yet; stayed up until 3.00am this morning to finish. Don't mean to dis Miss Lilli, but Zara has now surpassed Dante as my favorite book character. Unapalogetically flawed, nasty, but loyal. Takes no shit, but loves limitlessly even tough she believes herself incapable & loyalty is given without question as long as returned. A 'real' vampire and woman who doesn't excuse her flaws, but owns them! Nate; what can I say? I only hope that I am privileged enough to read the rest of his & Zaras story along with the rest of their 'family'.
Skyla, my hat tips to you; to overcome the adversity of your illness & the financial constrates that you endure & still manage to produce a story of this quality is amazing. I can see why you were concerned you may have offended people & I do believe, however would never dare to presume, that Ms St Crow had the same conundrum with her ending of Strange Angels, but you have stayed true to Zara & the purety of The Demons of Oblivion Series.
Congratulations. One very happy, loyal reader! No sparkling to be found here thank fuck!
#10 Dude, you totally just made
Dude, you totally just made me start blubbering. THANK YOU so much. So, so much. And Lili is my favourite living author, so...yes, thank you. I am honored to be mentioned in the same breath as anything by her.
I believe I have your email address--I'm going to send you the Nate POV novella 9 Crimes that I wrote just for your awesomeness (it covers him in Exhumed from the moment he slams the door after "that" phone call to after their conversation in "Hurt"). I've otherwise been sitting on it but a couple of friends have read it and I'd love for you to have it too.
Thank you again!
----
"She wrapped evil around her like a large, evil Mexican serape."
#11 I would consider it an honor
I would consider it an honor and a privilege to read this. THANK YOU.
#12 Rocking Great Book!
Exhumed totally blew my mind away. I LOVE LOVE LOVE Zara and I think this book is the best of the series. The betrayals I totally never saw coming, the heartbreak, I mean it was just so real and shocking I was actually moved to tears by certain scenes and my heart broke for Zara. I was so angry at Nate I felt like if he was in front of me I would have slapped him the face for his actions. I agree with the reviewer at amazon that I felt he should have fought harder for her. I mean he spent what was it, four months? looking for her when everyone else believed she was dead, but as soon as M. shows up its like Zara who? A total one-eighty that left Zara and me both reeling. I also appreciated the fact that Zara's reaction to his betrayal is so real. Honestly, if I was in her place I would have reacted the exact same way. A lot of authors these days seem to wimp out and have their heroines forgive the betrayals like it was no big deal, yeah there's a little crying and pity parties but ultimately the heroine forgives the hero because love is all it takes. I'm sorry that's just not how it works in the real world and I loved the fact that Zara's reaction is real and held no punches. I would have reacted exactly the same in her position. Bring on the bloody vengeance of a woman scorned! After all some lines, once crossed, are a point of no return. Some things cannot be undone, cannot be forgiven, and trust may never be regained. Zara still loves Nate, and probably always will, but love doesn't necessarily equal forgiveness, just like real life. Some things just don't work out, no matter how much you might want them to. And I really love and appreciate that kind of real-world reaction and ending in a novel.
It's crazy that this series has not got a huge following. I mean really? Come on this is far and above the likes of sparkly teenage angst vampires! I've been reading about Zara since Bloodlines was first published on Fictionwise (waaay before Amazon published it). I will post a review at amazon and tag line it and booklist it and recommend it to absolutely everyone else because I HAVE TO KNOW how Zara ends up! Does she get back together with Nate? At this point I'm not sure he deserves to have her back, maybe Zara's HEA will include someone else in the future? Plus, just how big of a role does Zara herself play in the prophesized apocalypse? The only thing I know for sure is that I want MORE MORE MORE! The other characters are awesome too, but its Zara I love. I have to read another Zara POV novel! So keep up the good work S.D. Cameron, you rock! And I will be a cheerleader in your personal corner to keep this series going!
#13 Thank you very much for the
Thank you very much for the comment!
I will say...there's an entirely different side to the story. Zara's POV is very deep, very focused, and very one sided. There's a whole lot she doesn't know (and wasn't ready to hear). But Zara, while entirely honest with regards to herself, isn't reliable as a narrator when it comes to other people.
I'm glad readers have thus far (that I've heard) enjoyed the book and stuck with it through some dark stuff--I've known all the Exhumed plot twists were coming since I wrote Bloodlines and have been keeping them underwraps for years, hoping it would hit hard along with Zara and biting my nails LOL.
----
"She wrapped evil around her like a large, evil Mexican serape."
Post new comment