The Iron Duke comes out tomorrow. I’ve gone through a bottle of TUMS in about a week. Coincidence? I’m not sure.

Twimom227 has an interview up at her blog as part of The Iron Duke Week. Yesterday’s post included a snippet of Mina and Rhys in a lift.

On Saturday, I was up in the Seattle area for the Emerald City Writer’s Conference book signing. I met up with so many fantastic authors, it’s ridiculous. To my surprise, they had copies of The Iron Duke available. To my extra-surprise, they almost sold out. My sister was with me, and took pictures — hopefully I’ll have some of those soon, and more on the authors there. If you were there and took any pics, please feel free to post the link in the comments.

Proof that there is life after Demon Angel* — this review from Carole came up on Amazon yesterday (not that I check Amazon every hour day or anything):

She has a talent for keeping you on your toes and on the edge of your seat, where you couldn’t help but keep on turning the pages. Not only that, but she drew her characters with a bold pen, making them stand out, especially Irena. Her writing style has also improved a lot since Demon Angel and Demon Moon. I was one of those who couldn’t follow the jumps in her thoughts and I hated reading a story that didn’t flow, that required me to reread passages just so I could understand what the hell was going on. I was tempted to give all of her other books a miss, but at several bloggers’ and friends’ urging, I decided to give her another chance. I’m glad I picked this up.

See! These promo posts aren’t all about The Iron Duke! I can pimp my other stuff, too — and thank you to all of the bloggers and readers who keep on urging others to try the series. And now maybe my sister won’t narrow her eyes at me whenever I tell a reader to skip to Demon Night if they can’t get into Demon Angel.

Okay, back to pimping The Iron Duke:

Janine from Dear Author posted her review. (This is especially awesome, because she DNF’d Demon Angel — and her comments regarding that ended up being some of the most helpful feedback I’ve gotten.)

Kate from Babbling About Books, and More posted her review (and unrelated, but more importantly, check out Kate’s anti-bullying pledge and donation page … all you have to do is comment.)

Shiloh Walker writes the same type of book reviews that I do. But she says,

Folks… if you like science fiction type romance? You’ll probably dig this. If you like paranormal romance? You’ll probably dig this. If you like historical romance? You’ll probably dig this.

Listen to her, please. And Carolyn Jewel made me tear up a little with this:

It’s one of the best books I’ve read this year. Actually, I haven’t read a book this good in a really long time. The very best authors sweep you away into the story. It’s a rare talent. There are a lot of good authors out there but only a few great ones. I can’t think of any reason Meljean Brook shouldn’t be called one of the great ones.

I hope the book is this awesome. I can never tell when I’m writing it or reading it — I can only see the problems I’d like to fix. I do love it, though, and I hope I can keep writing in this world forever.

Terri from Night Owl Reviews gave The Iron Duke 5 Stars, and a Reviewer Top Pick.

…and with that, I’ll stop for today. Oh, wait! I forgot about this:

The bottom entry is a search that brought someone to my site: why is meljean brook’s book iron duke so

… what? So WHAT? Bad? Good? BIG? (Hehe, I’ve got an answer for that.) You realize, of course, that this search string is going to haunt me for days. But if you want to finish that search in the comments, I’ll be happy to answer it for you

Congrats to my fellow Odd Shots authors, Ilona and Nalini, for their nominations. (Luckily, we aren’t in the same categories, or it’d be ALL OUT WAR! Tee hee.)

And it strikes me again how much freaking work reviews are. On Twitter, Robin (Janet of Dear Author) had called her fantastic review “epic,” and I have to laugh and hang my head a little, because I know these books are a lot of work to get through, let alone try to sum up. So, because I probably don’t say it enough, THANK YOU to every reader who hangs in there.

Also, for hanging in here with my sporadic blogging. The Cold Of The Century has knocked me sideways, and combined with just a lot of writing trying to get Demon Blood out, and then finish up my other work that is quickly coming due, I know this hasn’t been the most exciting blog in the world. In fact, it might be the least exciting thing (aside from the proverbial drying paint.)

What color would you say this shade is? Eggshell white? (Actually, it’s #FFFFFF)

“A dark, gripping read…the characters are brilliant, and the breathtaking romance, vivid setting and darkly delicious adventure will immerse readers in this spellbinding world until the satisfying conclusion. ½” —RT Book Reviews

ISBN 0425230414 | October 6, 2009

Amazon.com ~ Borders.com ~ BN.com ~ Powells.com

The Book Binge has a review and a Demon Forged giveaway.

Rosario has her review up. (And I didn’t make this in time for the acknowledgements, but she also helped me with my Spanish in the novel — a huge, huge thanks.)

VampFanGirl continues her Guardian extravaganza today with … Demon Forged, and another giveaway.

I’m over at Odd Shots today, filling in for Nalini, and geeking out about comic character trading cards (and the DF cover).

I saw a tweet that mentioned a review for Demon Forged would be up at Dear Author today. I don’t have a link yet, but here is their main site. ETA: The link!

I have to run, but I’ll keep this post updated as I receive more links.

Did she love love love “Falling for Anthony”? Well…not exactly. See who she hated by clicking the link (hint: Lilith hated her, too).

Second — Ana at the Book Smugglers just wrote a review of Demon Forged that might be better than the book, and they are giving away one copy. The review does have minor spoilers for the series (at this point, that just can’t be helped) but skim through quickly if you don’t want to know.

***

Their argument hadn’t gone unnoticed. Beyond the mouth of the hallway, Becca sat curled on one of the common room sofas, pretending to read. Though the novice’s nose was buried in the book, her eyes were too wide and her body too still. Listening, then. And if she’d understood their French—which was likely—perhaps she was wondering if Irena intended to kill Lilith.

But Irena doubted Becca would ask. Although the novice possessed a bold mouth with anyone aged less than one or two centuries, she became a mouse around the older Guardians.

At the end of the hall, Alejandro paused in front of one of the closed doors, turning his head as if he’d caught a scent. Irena caught up to him just as the door opened.

Dru’s brows rose when she saw them. Her body blocked Irena’s view of the room.

How is she? Alejandro signed.

The healer sighed. She squeezed out of the room, followed by her novice apprentice, Pim. They carried the odors of a human and dried blood with them—Hugh, Irena recognized, and Rosalia.

Physically, she’s fine. Mentally, we will have to wait and see. Dru rocked back and forth from the toes to the heels of her red sneakers. Usually, she bobbed; Rosalia’s condition must have been worrying her. Hugh is speaking with her now—telling her how you found her.

Soundproofing shielded the room; with the door closed, Irena couldn’t hear anything of Hugh’s and Rosalia’s conversation. Should we give her a personal account? Irena asked.

Dru shook her head. What you can give her is ten minutes with Hugh.

Irena narrowed her eyes; Dru’s never lost their friendly expression, but her voice dared Irena to argue when she shoved her hands into the pockets of her lab coat and repeated, “Ten minutes.”

The healer would fight her if she didn’t comply, Irena knew. Dru only appeared bubbly and soft, as if she was composed of smiles and laughter. But when she’d specialized with Irena almost twenty years earlier, the healer had revealed a stubborn streak comparable to a deaf ox. Every time Irena had severed one of the healer’s limbs—teaching Dru to fight through that shocking loss—Dru had simply reattached it, despite Irena’s commands to the contrary.

Dru had been one of Irena’s favorite assignments.

“Ten minutes,” she agreed.

Dru nodded. “I’ll be downstairs if I’m needed. Pim?”

The novice hurried after the healer, the expression on her round face open and awed before she caught up to Dru and began gesturing wildly, questioning Dru’s method of removing the bone shards from Rosalia’s brain and rebuilding her skull. The novice’s awe went far beyond appreciation for the healer’s skill, and Irena wondered if Dru had realized yet that Pim was in love with her.

And she wondered if she and Olek were the only two Guardians who looked outside Caelum and the vampire communities for their bed-partners. They had that in common. . . although Olek’s arrangements typically lasted much longer than hers. Years, rather than a single night.

She knew the name of his most recent lover by accident; four months ago, while visiting Drifter in Seattle, she’d overheard Jake telling young Charlie that he’d teleported into a bedroom while searching for Alejandro—and found a human in with him.

Emilia.

Irena had known a few Emilias. They’d all had long, curling dark hair, ripe-cherry lips, and passionate spirits.

And she’d liked each of them. His Emilia probably wouldn’t be any different—and Irena wanted to hate her for that.

She felt Olek watching her, but didn’t look up as she walked past him into the common room. The floor shivered beneath her feet. The novices practiced in the gymnasium on the first level, and the soundproofing between the floors and the thick rugs spread around the sofas didn’t completely absorb the impact vibrations. The clattering of keyboards and the murmurs of phone conversations floated up the stairs from the main offices.

Though plenty of seats were available, Irena plopped down next to Becca. The microfiber upholstery was cool and soft against her back; she put her feet up on the low table, made herself comfortable. The novice lifted her dark head and gave Irena a tight, quick smile before returning to her book.

Ah, so she tried to cover her unease with polite disinterest. Irena couldn’t allow that. She called in a billet of steel, and began working the metal with her fingers and her Gift.

Alejandro moved around the room, stopped behind the facing sofa. He rested his hands on the curving back. His gaze fell to the regal stag forming between Irena’s hands, its body caught in a mighty leap.

Becca glanced over. Then looked again, brown eyes lighting with curiosity.

Snared as easily as a hare.

Beneath Irena’s fingertips, her Gift molded the steel antlers into a wide forehead, a powerful jaw. A running wolf quickly took shape, its fur ruffled by the speed of its passing.

“You are not training with the others, Becca?” Irena asked in English, smoothing away most of her accent.

Despite that effort, the mouse almost went back into her hole. Then Becca tilted her book, showing Irena the spine. “I’m supposedly training my mind.”

Irena worked through the Chinese characters of the book’s title. She could read symbols more easily than alphabets, but she was hardly well-read. And so when she made out the name, she was surprised to recognize Lao Tzu’s work.

She hadn’t read it, but she’d heard it recited—in Caelum and on Earth—many times.

She didn’t follow any part of it.

“The Tao Te Ching?” Alejandro said. His fingers flexed against the back of the sofa with each pulse of her Gift. Irena’s breath moved to the same deep rhythm.

“Lilith recommended it. To help me find inner peace and balance.”

The wolf in Irena’s hands became a razor-edged dagger. “And has it trained your mind to obey like a dog or sharpened it?”

“I don’t know yet. I’m still trying to figure out the ‘being like water’ part.” The novice hesitated, her gaze on the spear rising out of the knife. “Do you have any suggestions?”

To be like water? “Submerge yourself in a lake with a sword, and practice with it.”

As if finally noting his response to her Gift, Alejandro straightened and clasped his hands behind his back. “Perhaps Sun Tzu’s The Art of War. It is somewhat similar to Irena’s philosophy.”

Her lip curled, and she said to him in French, “Sun Tzu too often ignores his gut in favor of his head. That is the best way to get a sword stabbed through it.”

Becca looked at Alejandro, a hint of mischief in her smile. “So it’ll teach me to fight without arms and legs? Eat hearts?” She glanced back at Irena and her shoulders hunched. “Or so I’ve heard.”

She’d never forced anyone to eat hearts. “I suppose you will find out when you specialize with me in a few decades.”

Becca’s eyes widened. “God, I hope not.”

There it was—that spark Irena had wanted to see. She grinned and reshaped the spear to resemble Mackenzie, the novice’s vampire lover. She tossed the statue to Becca.

“Oh, wow. Thanks. Holy crap, it’s just like him.” Her fingers ran over the chest, the face. She jerked her hand away, sucking in a breath. Blood welled on her thumb, and the novice stuck it between her lips.

Irena frowned. “You put blood into your mouth but balk at eating a heart?”

Becca yanked her thumb out. “Was that a lesson? Was I supposed to learn something useful?”

Learn something useful—from a statue of a skinny vampire? Yet Becca was in earnest. Irena closed her eyes and fought to remain silent. The sort of laughter she was prone to might destroy the small progress she’d made in drawing out the novice.

“Yes,” she heard Alejandro say with dry amusement. “A simple lesson: Fangs are sharp.”

“Oh. I already know that.”

“Good,” Irena said, rocking up to her feet. She didn’t know if ten minutes had passed, but it felt as if they had. “And if you do specialize with me, bring Lao Tzu’s book with you.”

She sensed they were both going to need it.

Here’s the FIRST BLOOD giveaway.

Here’s the DEMON ANGEL/DEMON NIGHT giveaway.

And here’s an excerpt for DEMON FORGED. To avoid DEMON BOUND spoilers, it starts after chapter one.

I’ve got just a bit left to fix, then I’ll be back Tuesday-ish with the winners (“ish,” because I might crash).

And I found this in my inbox (I hope it uploads without timing out, or I’ll be back in a little while to fix it):

I have no words to express my love.

“If you win your fight to understand me, perhaps you will tell me why, after all of these years, it is you. You, with your way of looking down upon me, and with your raw pride.” Her hand slid into his hair and fisted. She yanked him closer, until his eyes were level with hers. Her face hardened, and he knew the pain she caused was deliberate. “A part of me would like to destroy you. Would like to rip you apart, so that I never imagine how you see me from your great height.” (Irena to Alejandro, circa 1590 AD)

Also, this is one of my new favorite reference books: THE ILLUSTRATED HISTORY OF WEAPONRY. It’s not very detailed beyond era, location, and materials, but it has great pictures, which I always appreciate. After I find a few weapons that interest me, it’s an easy thing to do further research on them, and decide whether a specific weapon is appropriate for the story/character.