…at AAR. Ms. Bishop, the reviewer, hadn’t read any of the Guardian series before Demon Forged, so the DIK surprised me (I know there is a LOT of backstory in this series) but I’ll take it

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)

First up, I’m guesting over at True Romance, where I’m also giving away 20 copies of Demon Forged to random commenters.

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.

First up — VampFanGirl is having a week-long (actually, nine days) Guardian review and giveaway extravaganza! First up is Hot Spell and “Falling for Anthony,” tomorrow will be a review and giveaway for Demon Angel, and on Wednesday … well, you get it.

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.

First of all, Must Love Hellhounds hit #18 on the New York Times list. This is very cool, and I want to thank everyone who picked up the anthology. I hope you enjoy it!

Secondly, today’s Friday, so I’m over at the Odd Shots talking about a review of Demon Forged. Yes, I’ve been Klausnered. And not only has she managed to get everything wrong, she’s thrown in something … a little special.

I just saw you quoted in a great post over at Racy Romance Reviews*.

The only bad thing about online friends is when you don’t see them as much anymore**.

*Even if I’d had a drink with you at RWA, dinner with you, twittered with you, etc — eviscerate my books if that is what the books deserve. Say my heroine needs to be smacked with a haddock. (I actually had to go look it up, because I’d forgotten what kind of fish Candy mentioned). My feelings won’t be hurt (and you shouldn’t worry that they might be, anyway.) It’s a book. (And actually, I like knowing what didn’t work. Probably masochistic but…well, there you have it.)

And most authors have lots of practice taking criticism/comments (some of it harsher than I’ve ever seen in reviews) from friends — all of the people who give me early feedback are on my BFF list. And they still are on my BFF list afterward (even more so, because they just made my book better than it was). My sister told me she didn’t like my first novella. She is still my sister.

**coughCrankyReadercough

Lisa (#14), you’ve won the Karen Rose/Roxanne St. Claire pack, along with any book from my backlist! Congratulations!

Also, Jill Myles is hosting a contest over at her blog, with a chance to win a signed copy of DEMON BOUND. The post includes her comments on the novel and a short interview with yours truly, including a piece of poetry that I’ve written just for the occasion. Go check it out!

Dear Missy,

I have a problem. You see, I lurk at a message board where readers talk about … what else … books! And I really love going through the threads where people talk about what they are reading, because I end up with a massive TBR that way and tons of recommendations. And, yes, every once in a while I get a thrill when someone mentions they are reading one of my books! But recently, a thread popped up titled: Books You Hate That Others Love. I’m curious … but should I click?

Confused Lurker In Turmoil

Dear Confused,

Are you a complete masochist? Sure, you’ll see everyone mention what books they don’t like, and how much they hate on them … but WHAT IF YOUR BOOK IS IN THERE? Really, in a thread like that, only pain awaits you. Don’t click, C.L.I.T.

Missy

Dear Missy,

I read a review one minute ago that really, really, REALLY pissed me off. I really want to call the reviewer an ignorant pig. What should I do?

Not an Ignorant Pig

Dear NIP,

Back away from the keyboard. No, if you can read this screen, you’re too close. Turn around, walk into the kitchen, and eat the pint of Ben and Jerry’s stashed there. Go outside and run a mile. Kick your husband off the sofa and curl up with your favorite book. Tell your husband/friend/writing partner that the reviewer is an ignorant pig. It’s probably better to do it in person or on the phone. If you use e-mail, make sure you really, really, really trust that person.

Then, slowly, ease back into your seat. Now, is the review riddled with errors? BIG errors? Not, “you spelled the heroine’s name with an extra ‘L’” or “Jesus Christ, didn’t you notice the gun on the mantle in the first act that the heroine used in the final confrontation? WTF do you mean, ‘out of nowhere?’ Can’t you read??!!!111′” but “you said that the hero tortured a kitty to death on the first page before shoving it down the heroine’s throat — when in fact, he gave her p**** a good licking and then kissed her.” If it’s a small thing, or a matter of taste, or you just don’t like the grade they gave your book or how they interpreted your character’s actions, LEAVE IT ALONE.

But if it’s not, and you absolutely have to respond — and if you can do it without writing an insult anywhere within the comment — maybe you can reply either by e-mail (if it’s a blogger) or in the comments (for bloggers or Amazon) and make your clarification. And it doesn’t hurt to preface that correction by saying something like, “I’m sorry that the book didn’t work for you.”

Sometimes readers will still be upset that you corrected a big error in the review, but most won’t be. And anyone else coming across the conversation will note who is polite and who is belligerent/crazy.

Missy

Dear Missy,

A chick e-mailed me and said she can make my penis bigger! Only, I don’t have a penis! Now I’m confused … am I really a man? After all, I am tall. And I think boobs are pretty awesome. Should I pay her the $199.99 and get a pleasure stick that will make her scream all night long?

Meljean

Dear Meljean,

…

No. There’s no point.

Missy

Dear Missy,

I have a problem. You see, I lurk at a message board where readers talk about … what else … books! And I really love going through the threads where people talk about what they are reading, because I end up with a massive TBR that way and tons of recommendations. And, yes, every once in a while I get a thrill when someone mentions they are reading one of my books! But recently, a thread popped up titled: Books You Hate That Others Love. I’m curious … but should I click?

Confused Lurker In Turmoil

Dear Confused,

Are you a complete masochist? Sure, you’ll see everyone mention what books they don’t like, and how much they hate on them … but WHAT IF YOUR BOOK IS IN THERE? Really, in a thread like that, only pain awaits you. Don’t click, C.L.I.T.

Missy

Dear Missy,

I read a review one minute ago that really, really, REALLY pissed me off. I really want to call the reviewer an ignorant pig. What should I do?

Not an Ignorant Pig

Dear NIP,

Back away from the keyboard. No, if you can read this screen, you’re too close. Turn around, walk into the kitchen, and eat the pint of Ben and Jerry’s stashed there. Go outside and run a mile. Kick your husband off the sofa and curl up with your favorite book. Tell your husband/friend/writing partner that the reviewer is an ignorant pig. It’s probably better to do it in person or on the phone. If you use e-mail, make sure you really, really, really trust that person.

Then, slowly, ease back into your seat. Now, is the review riddled with errors? BIG errors? Not, “you spelled the heroine’s name with an extra ‘L’” or “Jesus Christ, didn’t you notice the gun on the mantle in the first act that the heroine used in the final confrontation? WTF do you mean, ‘out of nowhere?’ Can’t you read??!!!111′” but “you said that the hero tortured a kitty to death on the first page before shoving it down the heroine’s throat — when in fact, he gave her p**** a good licking and then kissed her.” If it’s a small thing, or a matter of taste, or you just don’t like the grade they gave your book or how they interpreted your character’s actions, LEAVE IT ALONE.

But if it’s not, and you absolutely have to respond — and if you can do it without writing an insult anywhere within the comment — maybe you can reply either by e-mail (if it’s a blogger) or in the comments (for bloggers or Amazon) and make your clarification. And it doesn’t hurt to preface that correction by saying something like, “I’m sorry that the book didn’t work for you.”

Sometimes readers will still be upset that you corrected a big error in the review, but most won’t be. And anyone else coming across the conversation will note who is polite and who is belligerent/crazy.

Missy

Dear Missy,

A chick e-mailed me and said she can make my penis bigger! Only, I don’t have a penis! Now I’m confused … am I really a man? After all, I am tall. And I think boobs are pretty awesome. Should I pay her the $199.99 and get a pleasure stick that will make her scream all night long?

Meljean

Dear Meljean,

…

No. There’s no point.

Missy

If it helps, as soon as I read Magic Bites I thought, “I hate this author, her sparse prose, her tight plotting, her ridiculously amazing world-building, and the KATE SHE RODE IN ON!!” So, you know, we’re even.

P.S. That chick really did have Pantene hair. But, ahem — I can’t help but notice that your own cover girl has a sultry glower. And what’s more– Shh! Shhhh! Listen:

Do you hear that whisper? I think she’s saying, “Don’t hate me because I’m beautiful.”

(First — congrats to loonigrrl for winning the copy of Demon Night over at Nose in a Book! (And, um, there’s a little excerpt posted over there, with Ethan being … well, a little hungry.))

(Second, I’m still guest blogging over at The Book Binge. Today and tomorrow, it’s all about Q&As.)

(Third, Demon Night kinda-sorta hit a bestseller list last week. It was #41 on the Borders/Waldenbooks romance mass market list! My first list evah! *happy dance* (Also, go congratulate Nalini, who hit in the awesome numbers … also in the week before the official release.)

(Fourth, Borders Stores is running a promotion on Demon Night — $1 off (no coupon necessary.) So if you have a Borders bookstore near you, it’ll be less expensive than other options might be.)

Explore the seductive corners of the dark, as a forbidden attraction tempts danger under the canopy of the…

DEMON NIGHT

$7.99 Berkley Sensation
ISBN 0425219771

Charlie Newcomb worked hard to get her life back together. But all that is shaken when she’s set upon by three vampires desperate to transform her beauty into something evil. Because Charlie is the vital link to something they want—and need. It’s Charlie’s flesh and blood sister, a medical scientist whose knowledge could be invaluable to the predators.

But to get to her, they must first get to Charlie, now under the intimate protection of Ethan McCabe. As her Guardian, Ethan is attracted to her vulnerabilities—as well as her strengths. The closer he gets, the more protecting her becomes not just his duty, but his desire. But will it be enough to save Charlie when the demon night falls?

Read an excerpt.

Read a really long excerpt.

Reviews after the cut (and please let me know if you want me to add yours — I’m sure I forgot some).