Meljean Brook

Woot! I was just on Amazon.com, and I noticed they have a cover for WILD THING up. (I guess this means it really is Wild Thing, with no “s”)

I wonder if the USA Today Bestselling Author thing is wishful thinking? Or does my publisher know something I don’t? Hmm. I’m guessing this is just a first version, because my editor never sent it to me…I wonder if it was even supposed to be sent to Amazon? Weird.

Oh, man. I guess I better update the site again.

OMG. You know how bad it’s going to be if DA doesn’t become a bestseller now and my name has to be removed from the top and put down on the bottom all lonely and stuff? *sob*

First, have you entered the contest yet? It’s HOT SPELL week!

I’ve discovered that one of the best moments in this publishing process is getting that first look at the cover. When I saw the first version of the HOT SPELL cover, I think I died. There was a guy with wings. And he was way good-looking (okay, and I think I squealed: holy crap, he looks like Anthony!). And he was in the act of doing something, instead of just posing.

What I didn’t notice until a few minutes later was the chest hair. Sparse, scraggly chest hair.

I love this cover, even though I don’t normally go for the bare-chest-guy covers. I don’t know if it’s just because it’s good (I think it is) or because it has my name down at the very bottom. Click to see the first draft of the cover (it’s a big file).

So it was lavender (kind of like DEMON ANGEL is now), which I thought was fine (although the dark blue they ended up with is much better…I guess they thought it was too light for a paranormal erotic romance anthology?) Her nails were unpainted. The wings showed less. And he had icky, straggly chest hair. (And OMG! my name was centered right over his angel-nip! …it was meant to be, angel-titty and me.)

And it solved for me a question I’d long asked: why are all of the cover models waxed (which I actually prefer, but it hardly reflects the hero inside?)

It’s because hair looks Icky.

Courtesy of Arti

I just read the December RT Magazine

I really need to come up with a better name for this series than “The Guardians” or whatever. God, it’s worse than trying to think of a title.

I have demon-slayer.com reserved for my use if I ever get around to creating a site for it; the name is based on a game inside the novels. It could be that. The DemonSlayers. That’s okay, only it runs the “too close to Buffy, she’s a rip-off” feeling.

Lilith’s Brood (sigh. I miss Octavia Butler)

Caelum’s … something or Warriors of Caelum or Warriors of Heaven or something (but really, that doesn’t mean anything unless you know where Caelum is, and “heaven” makes it sound a little too inspirational? And is “warriors” (or “knights” or anything like that too generic now?)) Ah, sheeeeit! Ninjas of Caelum!

The Fallen (only they kind of aren’t…not all of them…although I do play with fallen and falling in love a lot. probably too much, but it’s always important when someone falls, physically or emotionally or spiritually or whatever.)

DarkAngels? Because they have to sound all sexy and stuff, and the books are kind of dark. And bloody. But BloodAngels sounds all vampire-y. Guardians of the Blood? Sigh. And blood is really important for Guardians, and there are vampires, but I don’t want to give the wrong impression (I’ll let my books do that.) But “Dark” is done in a lot of variations, “Night” is done in a lot more….hey, I can take it to another level with a big ‘O’: Meljean’s DorkSeries

GAH! See, this is the problem. It always delves into silliness when I do this stuff.

ETA: I can’t stop.

I suppose there’s also playing with Hell and such. Like The Demon Rising series or The DemonFall series or Demon Burning series. Or the Hell Hath No Fury series.

Heh. I kind of like that, but none of my heroines are scorned.

Or souls. The Tortured Souls (Eaten in Chaos and Don’t Make a Bargain or You’ll Regret It) series.

Ooh, so bargains work, too. The DemonSex Bargainers: The I’ll Show You Mine If You Show Me Yours series. Hee.

Stop posting before Noon and/or before you have some caffeine.

You are kinda nonsensical before then.

2nd note to self: Your legs do not shave themselves.

First: have you entered the contest yet?

Okay, so one of the FAQs I see on other authors’ sites a lot is “where do you get your ideas?” and usually the answer is “everywhere, nowhere, the ether, my muse,” and etc. Sometimes, there’s a specific story to go along with it: a first line, a title, a cloud formation (I just read this somewhere…a cloud formation.)

Anyway, I can tell you exactly how I came of with the idea of “Falling for Anthony”: pure, unadulterated shock.

Okay, not exactly. But pretty much. This is what happened.

Editor: Hey, I read your chapters for TEMPTING HUGH (the title for DEMON ANGEL way-back-when). I like the idea, your characters and voice are great, but your execution sucks.

Melissande Brooke (because that was totally going to be my non-fanfic erotic-paranormal-author psuedonym): Okay. That’s way cool.

Melissande Brooke’s heart: *dying, even though I know she’s right*

Editor: But though they aren’t strong enough to offer a contract on that book, I can offer you a spot in an anthology.

Melissande: Wh….whuh?

Editor: With Emma Holly, Lora Leigh, and Shiloh Walker.

Melissande (who knew exactly who all of these people were, because she’d been on an Ellora’s Cave kick for a while, and had discovered Holly through AAR): Oh. Cool.

Melissande’s brain: I think you may have died. Or accidentally inhaled some really strong-ass copy toner. This is a dream sequence. Oh, and mothereffing *squeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee*!

Editor: So it’d be a really great way to work out the details of your world, and an introduction to it. Let me know when you have an idea. I’ll have them send out the contract.

Melissande: Oh. Cool. Can I be called Meljean instead?

Editor: Sure thing. (Or something, but way more awesome.)

Meljean: *puts down phone*

Meljean: *thinks* … and it goes something like this: (more…)

Yeah, that’s right. This week is all about HOT SPELL (and a little about DEMON ANGEL). If you haven’t yet entered the contest to win a copy, now is a good time to do so. Or anytime between now and next Sunday.

But the book isn’t just about me! HOT SPELL includes a novella “The Countess’s Pleasure” by Emma Holly that is set in the same universe as THE DEMON’S DAUGHTER and her new release PRINCE OF ICE (which got an awesome review over at AAR). A steampunky universe — Victorian England meets a technologically advanced demon culture — and the result is pretty damn fantastic. And, did I mention, way hawt?

And then there’s Lora Leigh’s “The Breed Next Door”, which is part of her uber-popular Breed series (available at Ellora’s Cave). Set a few decades in the future, these genetically engineered Breeds (HOT SPELL kicks off the start of the Lion Breeds) are fighting for their lives and their humanity. Tarek, the hero of “The Breed Next Door”, also shows up in Leigh’s single title follow-up, MEGAN’S MARK, which is available now. HARMONY’S WAY, the second single title in the series, releases this December.

And, for some sweet vamp/wolf luvin’, there’s Shiloh Walker’s “The Blood Kiss”, a Romeo and Juliet story (but with, of course, a much happier ending.) Though not set in the same world as her popular Hunter’s series at various e-pubs, it’s a great introduction to her style — particularly if you haven’t read her yet. (Okay, really, who hasn’t that’s been ordering from e-pubs or buying EC’s print versions?) Walker’s paranormal Hunter’s series (shifters, vamps and witches) for Berkley kicked off this summer with HUNTING THE HUNTER, and in April, HUNTERS: HEART AND SOUL will be available from Berkley Heat.

Alrighty. I’ve got a couple of copies of HOT SPELL to give away. Last time, my contest was something like “choose which excerpt from a Harlequin Presents is fake” but I’m too lazy still too busy working on the proposal to write a fake excerpt this time. But Halloween will do my work for me!

So, here are the rules:

In the comments, tell me what your favorite horror novel is (or story, if it’s not novel length.)

That’s it. I’ll choose five winners by random drawing in…ah, hell, let’s make it Nov. 5th, since the 7th is the release date, and I’ll get in touch with the winners via e-mail. (So, er, fill out the e-mail section (I think it’s required?) but don’t leave your e-mail addy in the comment form itself (because you might get spammed). I won’t do stuff with it, like sell it. But even if you don’t leave it, I’ll announce the winners on the 6th, so if you see your name up there and it says, “EMAIL ME!” that means I don’t have your e-mail address, or it bounced, but you won a book.)

Oh, if you want to be entered twice, tell me what your favorite horror movie is.

And here’s an excerpt from “Falling for Anthony” (a different excerpt that is on the main site.) (more…)

Thank you so much for messing with my head tonight. A Halloween joke, right? Scaring the shit out of your owner? Because, you know, I just love it when I’m sitting in front of a Burgerville, chowing down a bunch of oh-so-fricking-good sweet potato french fries and staring at the poster of their pumpkin milkshake and thinking yeah, my hips can take that baby, ah yeah, give me some of that cream, and turn the key…and nothing happens, I kind of freak out.

When I’m in Vancouver, of all places. When I should be delivering a present to a friend’s newborn baby. With my tot and husband in the car — because it’s really easy for me to get around alone, but with two kids a three year old and a man? You’ve got to be joking.

When the only person I can call for a ride is my father-in-law. I’d have never heard the end of it. And he might have made me promise to tell him my psuedonym.

So, thank you even more for starting again — even though the fifteen minutes you didn’t do anything but flash a light at me when I turned the key almost made me cry. And, okay, I didn’t really mean it when I said I was going to $#@% your #%$ing starter all to #$@$ and crush your little alternator like a #%$#@!%$ melon. That was just a joke, I swear!

So, please start tomorrow. I promise I’ll take you to the nice mechanic, and he’ll give you a lovely lube job and check out your wiring and all that.

Sincerely,
Meljean

I just got my copies of the mass market reprint of HOT SPELL — which means I should probably have a contest.

Does anyone read this blog that hasn’t read it yet? (Out of pity, if no other reason?) If you haven’t, stay tuned! I’ll come up with a contest ASAP.

Oh, and it’s not just me, remember — Emma Holly, Lora Leigh, and Shiloh Walker all have novellas in the anthology. So if you like them, stay tuned, too!