Time to post some winners!
Congratulations to:
Chris Bails
Barb P
They both win signed copies of:
And the winner of the signed ARC of Claimed goes to:
Martha!
*winners picked by random.org Watch your emails b/c you will be getting one shortly which you have 48 hrs to reply to with your address*
THANKS EVERYONE!!
Today I have a very special guest and an incredibly generous giveaway to tell everyone about. Last year I had the chance to grab an early copy of a book by a brand new author titled, Fated. Fated was the first book in a series from Rebecca Zanetti. I FELL IN LOVE! I think Fated is the only book I’ve ever given 5 stars out of 4 to. Rebecca is here today (SQUEAL) so I will let her take it away. I will be over here in the corner quietly freaking out that she’s here. Don’t mind me….
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Nikki was kind enough to let me guest blog today as a precursor to the Claimed blog tour that begins in the middle of September. Thanks, Nikki!
So…I saw a bear this weekend. We were camping, and he strolled into the river just a few yards from me. Big, brown and walking upright. It occurred to me…life is weird. You never really know what’s going to happen—which is how I write.
Nikki asked me to talk about writing a series. She asked specifically if I plot the entire series out or if I have to go back and add/tweak earlier scenes as I go along. I’m a tweaker. So many times I have to go back and add to a story that’s a work in progress. And so often I’m stuck with the world in an earlier book that I’ve created that could just be little bit different to make the newest book perfect. But that’s just another challenge in writing, isn’t it?
Some authors plot the entire series arc out before they write the first sentence. That is great for them. Other authors have no clue what’s even on the second page when they start the first. Sounds exciting.
Some of us have a glimmer of what might happen…maybe. For example, I know how the Dark Protector’s Series ends…why one of my characters (Janie) is the key to the entire war. But I didn’t figure that out until the middle of writing book two, which is Claimed. Sometimes things just fall into place. (I also don’t know at this point if the final book will be book seven or book nine. We’ll see).
I find it helpful to keep some mystery in earlier books. If you’re creating an entirely new world, you don’t have to do it all in book one. Leave some freedom for yourself in writing the later books. In Claimed, there’s an entirely new species of bad guys introduced. Also, in writing a series, keep in mind that everything that happened in earlier books is backstory in the current book. You don’t need it all. In fact, if you find yourself explaining…stop. The reader only needs to know what’s relevant for the book in their hands.
For me, writing is like camping. I truly don’t know what’s on the other side of the river. It could be my cousin Jill with a brand new lemonade dispenser that somehow has the perfect blend of lemon to vodka.
Or it could be a bear.
A Daring Rescue
Emma Paulsen is a geneticist driven by science. But she’s also a psychic, so when a dark, good-hearted vampire frees her from the clutches of the evil Kurjans, she realizes he must be the man who’s been haunting her dreams. But with a virus threatening vampires’ mates, Emma may discover a whole new meaning of “lovesick”. . .
A Deadly Decision
As King of the Realm, Dage Kayrs has learned to practice diplomacy. Still, it’s taken three hundred years to find his mate, so he’ll stop at nothing to protect her—even if it means turning his back on his own kind. . .
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Claimed will be released on November 1st and is available for preorder now. So…I’d love to give away two signed copies of Fated (Book 1) and one signed ARC of Claimed (Book 2) to commenters today. Comment about anything. Do you like reading a series? Have you ever seen a bear up close? Is writing like camping or is it more like golf? Or just say hi.
*OPEN INTERNATIONALLY AND UNTIL 11:59EST 9-16-11*
Marry Me
Cara Paulsen does not give up easily. A scientist and a single mother, she’s used to fighting for what she wants, keeping a cool head, and doing whatever it takes to protect her daughter Janie. But “whatever it takes” has never before included a shotgun wedding to a dangerous-looking stranger with an attitude problem. . .
Or Else
Sure, the mysterious Talen says that he’s there to protect Cara and Janie. He also says that he’s a three-hundred-year-old vampire. Of course, the way he touches her, Cara might actually believe he’s had that long to practice. . .
Ok…that’s a mouth full huh? But seriously, I want to thank everyone that entered the contest. I’ve never wanted to be rich more then I do now. If I was I would buy every one of you a prize! I hope each of you sticks around and continues to drop by. I can’t wait till I hear of another blog hop to be involved in. Until then, lots of books to read, and not much time to read them!
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So, on to the good stuff…the WINNER!!!
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Comment #36: DENISE!
“Wow this is great. I found your site through another blog and have signed up for your email blog. I love finding folks with like interests in books and a bit of a sense of humor. Thank you for participating in the Spring Blog Carnival giveaway, what a treat to find new folks and possibly win books – could it get any better! I look forward to receiving your blog and thank you for your efforts.”
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Denise is getting a copy of one of my favorite books, Fated by Rebecca Zanetti…AND…she gets to pick out her own book as well from thebookdepository.com!
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The book she picked is…
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*Winner picked by random.org*
Marry Me
Cara Paulsen does not give up easily. A scientist and a single mother, she’s used to fighting for what she wants, keeping a cool head, and doing whatever it takes to protect her daughter Janie. But “whatever it takes” has never before included a shotgun wedding to a dangerous-looking stranger with an attitude problem. . .
Or Else
Sure, the mysterious Talen says that he’s there to protect Cara and Janie. He also says that he’s a three-hundred-year-old vampire. Of course, the way he touches her, Cara might actually believe he’s had that long to practice. . .
My review of Fated in which I gave it 6 stars..or AKA off my grid
Here are a few places around the web this week where Rebecca will be doing promo for the book:
Feb 22nd: Savvy Authors Blog
Feb 23rd: The Qwillery
Feb 24th: Magical Musings
Feb 25th: Supernatural Smut
But seriously, why take the risk of not winning a copy? Just go buy yourself a copy!
Amazon/ Barnes and Noble/ Borders/ Book Depository
But don’t take my word for it. Here are a few more reviews for Fated:
Lynn Rush: “I must warn whoever picks up this book–it contains some steamy, steamy scenes. She reminds me of Gena Showalter. Steamy writing, but great stories, great characters, and great writing!”
Alternative Worlds: “Talented Rebecca Zanetti provides an entertaining engaging paranormal romance. Fast-paced, readers will appreciate the efforts of the hero and the mommy, who as they fall in love, risk their lives to keep her gifted toddler safe from a nasty group who has long term eugenic plans for young females with special skills.”
So in all the excitement for Christmas I completely forgot to draw the winner of the Rebecca Zanetti ARC, Fated…OOPSIE 
So let’s get to it shall we? The winner was picked by random.org as always and it picked…………
Who said ” Hi Rebecca!
Awesome interview… I think it’s great that you based a character off of your husband:) I know he’s already played one, but I think I would pick… Brad Pitt!”
I will be emailing you shortly to get a mailing address to forward on to Rebecca! If I don’t hear from you in 3 days, I will pick a new winner.
And please, let me know what you think of it after you read it! I hope you love it as much as I did!
I am so excited to introduce everyone to an AWESOME debut author, Rebecca Zanetti!! Does everyone remember my gushing episode when I talked about the ARC I read, Fated? No? Well here is my REVIEW of Fated. I LOVED IT SO MUCH! I thought about it for several days after reading it. I gushed and gushed to anyone that would listen how much I am in love with the male lead, Talon. When Rebecca offered to do an interview for me here on the blog, I almost fainted. This woman is gonna be a huge success…I can feel it!
HI Rebecca!! Thanks for being here today! Let’s talk Fated shall we? It’s hitting the shelves at the end of February. How long did it take you to write it?
Hi Nikki! Thanks for having me here today. Well, I wrote FATED in March/April of 2009. Part of the time we were on spring break in Cancun, so I wrote at the pool for a while. 
*See me turning green with envy* Cancun? Pool? Spring Break? *Le Sigh* That sounds so relaxing! I bet there were pool boys too huh? Just the kind of environment to write a steamy paranormal romance.
What’s been your experience to becoming a published author? Was it a long road?
I live in the Pacific Northwest, and we were snowed in December 2008, so that’s when I wrote my first book, a young adult book I called DEMI. I sold FATED to Kensington the following December, so it took about a year from typing my first sentence.
Wow, that’s fast! But then again, when you produce a story as good as Fated, I’m not surprised! Have I said how much I loved the book? Ok….done gushing…for now. So, if you could give any piece of advice to unpublished authors out there…what would it be?
Write the book you want to read. I kept hearing that vampires were dead (haha) and publishers were looking for other paranormal creatures. But this story wouldn’t leave me alone, so I figured I’d write it just for myself. Then I put it away. Finally in December of that year, I figured I should send a couple of queries out, and it sold in five days.
Five days?! That’s great! Fated is going to be part of a series of books, how many do you foresee in the series? PLEASE tell me at least each brother is getting a book lol.
Each brother is getting his own book. (YAY, I’m jumping up and down right now!) I’m going to write nine books for this series – hopefully somebody will buy them all.
Uh, yeah….I WILL BUY THEM ALL! Oh, were you talking about a publisher? Well if they don’t can you just print them out for me??
Let’s talk about the man-candy…What/who was your inspiration for Talen…because wow, he knocked my socks off.
Well…okay. Talen is loosely based on my husband, Tony. I mean, he’s not a vampire or anything…but they have some of the same qualities. They’re both six and a half feet tall with dark hair—very sexy. Tony is a bit more reasonable than Talen, but they both think the world should work they way they want it to.
Ok, so this means I have the hots for your hubby. Hmmmmm ok, well keep him locked up away from me lol. Men, they all think the world should work the way they want it to. Alright, let’s move on before I start asking for pictures of your hubby….
The characters of Jordan and Katie in Fated touched me…I wanted more of their story. Will they get their own book or do you plan to interweave their story into other books?
Thanks! They were fun to write about. My plan right now is to make their story book four in the series, so we’ll see what my editor thinks about that. They make appearances in books two and three, so…
I can’t wait to read more of them. Katie is so headstrong…and she needs someone watching out for her when she gets into trouble!
Fated focused mostly on vampires and cougar shifters. Oh, and a werewolf. Though there was mention of Conn’s mate being a witch. Are you planning on venturing out further into the paranormal realm?
Yep. HUNTED is book three and features Conn (the soldier brother) and an Irish witch who uses string theory and quantum physics to make magic work. HUNTED is due March 1st at Kensington—I don’t have a release date yet. It’ll probably be July of 2012, if I had to guess.
So it sounds like I am going to get a book a year….of thereabouts. I will be marking my calendar! What’s on your plate right now? Are you working on something different?
I sent CLAIMED (book two) to my editor in September. Then I revised DEMI into an adult romance and my agent has it right now. It’s the first book in a trilogy about demigods, so I’m hoping to sell soon. I just finished a romantic suspense book called FORGOTTEN SIN, and after another revision, I’ll send that off to my agent as well. Then I need to get going on HUNTED.
I am so glad to hear that even though I have to wait a year for the vampire series, I will be able to get my Rebecca fix with other books! I was starting to worry there. I didn’t want to alarm you so I may have appeared calm…I assure you, I was not.
Who do YOU read? Do you even have time to read?
You know, I read a lot. I love to read. Usually in between writing my books, I’ll read several. I like Cynthia Eden, Nora Roberts, J.R. Ward, Janet Evonovich, Sayde Grace, Lora Leigh, and I could keep going…
You have just mentioned most of my favorite authors! You must be either reading or writing all the time!
Do you work a 9 to 5 job? Or has writing become 1st priority now?
I’m a lawyer, but I stopped trial work when our kids were born. (They’re both in elementary school now). Then our local community college asked me to teach legal classes two days a week, so I still do that. Otherwise I’d spend way too much time in my jammies writing.
There is nothing wrong with staying in jammies all day…shoot I see people at Walmart in jammies all the time *snicker*
What’s a typical day in the life of Rebecca Zanetti?
Um, I’m not sure I have a typical day. Some days I teach, I volunteer at the elementary school, am on the board of a couple of nonprofits, have two kids, a husband, two dogs…my parents live a mile away, my two sisters and their families live less than a mile away…and there’s always something going on. The kids play sports, we snowmobile, water ski, golf…I don’t think I have a typical day. Though I do try to write every day at some point. We’re getting dumped on by snow right now, so I’ve had a few days where the kids are at school, Tony is at work, and I sit by the fire and type away. I LOVE days like that.
WOW, you’re a busy lady! I guess I should let you get back to your life then huh? Ok, fine, I guess I have to…..but before you go, answer my last question?
KNOCK KNOCK…Hollywood is banging down your door. They are turning Fated into a movie..TODAY. Who is playing the main characters?
Oh man, I don’t know. I have never thought about this. Well, I see Gerard Butler as the oldest brother, Dage. Talen – no clue. You get to choose, since I kind of see my husband as Talen. Kane…it would have to be someone who really looked smart and sexy with a cold temper—maybe Chris Pine. I see maybe Paul Telfer playing Conn and Justin Bruening playing Jase. Grown up Zane could be played by Steven Strait.
Oh wait…did you mean the heroines? Haha. Well…
So…how about a giveaway? Please leave a comment about what actor/model/man would play the best alpha male vampire in a movie. (Yes, I expect Alex O’Loughlin to be in there somewhere! Love that guy). We’ll draw a name and send an ARC of FATED to the winner.
Bio: Rebecca Zanetti has worked as an art curator, Senate aide, lawyer, college professor and hearing examiner – only to culminate it all in stories about vampires and science. Her debut book FATED, will be released on February 22, 2011 by Kensington Brava. Please visit her at: http://rebeccazanetti.com/
I will leave the contest open until Christmas Eve at 11:59pm. This contest is open to US residents only.
Available Feb/March 2011
Publisher: Kensington
Pages: 336 (ARC)
From Author’s Website:
Cara Paulsen does not give up easily. A scientist and a single mother, she’s used to doing whatever it takes to protect her daughter. But “Whatever it takes” has never before included a shotgun wedding to a dangerous stranger with an attitude problem…
Sure, the mysterious Talen says that he’s there to protect Cara and her daughter. He also says that he’s a three-hundred-year-old vampire. Of course, the way he touches her, Cara might actually believe he’s had that long to practice…
Have you ever read a book where you were so on the edge of your seat that your belly tingled, your heart beat just a bit to fast, and your brain keeps saying skip ahead I want to know the ending NOW! That’s what Fated did to me.
Talen is a vampire that has been around for centuries. Him along with his band of brothers rule their Realm and try to keep the peace between races. For years he has searched for his one true mate. When he finally finds her in an empathic stubborn single mother, Cara, he knows he has his work cut out for him. He has been and always will be a dominating alpha male. His combat skills are as lethal as his smile. Taking no for an answer is laughable. Not gonna happen.
Cara has an independent streak a mile wide. She wants nothing to do with the overbearing, arrogant vampire who has just popped up announcing he is her mate and they must be married to ensure her safety. But with the realization that her and her daughter Janies lives are about to be shattered by an evil race of vampires, she figures she will submit….for now. Protection for her daughter is the most important thing after all. Since Janie is a high functioning psychic and both sides need her in the upcoming war.
Being thrown into another world filled with all kinds of creatures makes Cara’s head spin. Talen fills her nights with touches and embraces that set her skin on fire. But during the day his overbearing personality grates. Learning to open herself up to not only him, but her own abilities proves to be a hard challenge. Once her shields are down, and she starts caring for the man, can she come to grips with his do or die mentality? Can she fully submit to her calling as his lifelong mate?
Not many books make my heart pound. I am totally in love with big bad alpha, Talen. His drive to possess and protect was so thrilling. I found myself yelling at Cara to submit already! Give your heart to this guy because he is melting mine! The emotions as possess and protect turned into love and cherish was nearly my undoing. And the fact that he would charge headfirst into an ocean of big guys, slashing throats and ripping off heads to get to his woman….wow *le sigh*. I want him…BAD.
I also enjoyed Janie’s character. So cute, sweet and wise beyond her tender age of four. She knew Talen from the beginning, knows what is going to happen and is willing to stand against it. She communicates in her dreams with a young boy a few years older than her that seems to be her future mate. He will have a fight coming I’m sure, as the other sides young protegé wants her as well.
The secondary characters of the brothers (Dage, Conn, Jase and Kane) are well wrote and they definitely hint at future stories in the series. I also hope we get some closure for Jordan and Katie either in their own book or woven into the books of others. Those two cougar shifters are destined to end up together I just know it.
Seriously, this book has got to be one of my all time favorites. I LOVE IT! I really don’t know how I am supposed to wait for the next book in the series, Claimed (Emma and Dage’s story),which to my knowledge doesn’t have a release date yet. LOL. The suspense is gonna kill me!
Thank you Rebecca for allowing me to read Fated and for pulling me out of the book slump I have felt myself sliding into recently. Fated will pull you into a world of dominating, hot and hard vampires…steal your breath…and never let you go.
I give Fated 5 stars…awww what the hell I give it 6 because I loved it that much, and I can because it’s MY blog
