Over the span of several years I wrote two novels – Changeling: Prelude to the Chosen and Angel of Death: Book One of the Chosen – which have been recently published in one volume and are the first two novels of The Chosen Chronicles.

This book is available through Amazon.com (http://tinyurl.com/aodonamazon) and signed copies are available through http://thechosenchronicles.com

The idea of the main character – the Angel of Death – being thrown into a world of Vampires, murder, intrigue, and mixed with romance and horror, came about through my involvement in an online Role Playing Game. It was in that same game that the characters of Father Paul Notus and the Noble Fernando de Sagres blossomed into being. It was the impetus and the main character’s desire to have his story told that drove me to write.

Do I believe my characters are real? Yes I do. After all, they are the ones that tell me what to write.:)

Changeling: Prelude to the Chosen is the origin story of the Angel and how his very early experiences shape him into the person he becomes. I drew from two main sources – Welsh Celtic mythology and Judeo-Christian mythology about the Angel of Death. It is in this first book that the Angel is introduced to the world of the Chosen, or Vampires if you will.

Angel of Death: Book One of the Chosen begins the Angel’s story in earnest when he is summoned by the Mistress of Vampires to discover who is murdering the Vampires of Britain and put a stop to it or suffer the death of one he holds dear. It is here that we are introduced the Fernando de Sagres, a Vampire of sadistic tastes, and the Angel’s love interest, Jeanie.

Throughout both books the theme of exactly who and what the Angel is continues to play out, and will do so into the next in the series Shadow of Death: Book Two of the Chosen 

Since the book’s release  last summer I have been on a whirlwind of adventure, being a Special Guest at Polaris, FanExpo and the Small Press Book Fair last year. This year I’ll be at AdAstra, Polaris and FanExpo, not to mention the Small Press Book Fairs, Word On The Street, Bazaar of the Bizarre and other events still in the works. Little did I realize the full extent of being a working author.would be so much fun.

To add to the enjoyment, I have a Win a Walk-On Contest for one lucky fan. What is a Walk-On, you ask? This is where I will use your name and likeness within my upcoming book Shadow of Death: Book Two of the Chosen in a minor character role, immortalizing you in print. There is no monetary value to the contest save that the winner will receive a free copy of Shadow of Death: Book Two of the Chosen when it is released this fall. The full details of the contest are here:

http://www.facebook.com/?ref=logo#!/event.php?eid=214124977853&ref=ts

I am found on Twitter https://twitter.com/KarenDales and Facebook http://tinyurl.com/cn27xa

I want to thank Natasha for giving me this wonderful opportunity and I look forward to all your wonderful comments and questions.

When I was little, my sisters sister in-law lived in this amazing old farm house & we’d spend a lot of time there. Since I was little, I don’t have any personal memories of things freaking me out but I was recently talking to sis in-law about the farm house. All sorts of weirdness would happen there, cabinet doors slamming, noises, a ton of stuff that my brain refuses to remember the details of but for one story. Anyways, one night they got into bed, tucked in and went to sleep. When they woke up in the morning the bed had been made with them in it! Tucked around them and all. Yep, they moved pretty fast after that one.

When I was 16, I worked at an old movie theatre, you know the older than dirt ones that show old movies. My best-friend was my assistant manager, so we’d work a lot of our shifts together along with the old dude that ran the projector. One night our phone in our office rang, call display said it was from the projectors booth. Hmm…the projectors booth phone NEVER EVER worked. We looked at each other & had a WTF moment, I picked up the phone & it was hollow…then breathing. I dropped the phone & ran upstairs to the projector room…the projectionist PASSED me on the way up the stairs. He wasn’t even in his office when the phone called downstairs. Yep, I ran back downstairs without even going near the locked projector room. Screw that. Another time I was in the washroom with the best-friend checking before we left for the night & the stall doors started swinging wildly & banging shut & open.

My first ”adult job” was at a Court House (Old City Hall in Toronto), lucky for me it’s one of  Toronto’s top 5 haunted places. Ha. My office was on the main floor and being that I worked in an office that had heavy criminal traffic, I had a bullet proof window to talk to “clients” through. You know the kind that have the little opening at the bottom so you can slip your papers through? In anycase, there would be times when I stood there to fill out some paperwork & I would get cold wind gusts strong enough to blow my hair. Umm…through about a fingers nail length of room? I worked in that office for around 4 years & that was really the only “strange” occurrence I had there. But I know cops who have been scared to death in that building.

Fast forward around 4 years when I came back to work as a Court Clerk. I would have to open whatever court room I was in that night (I worked Night Court) and I’d get the odd feeling of someone being around, but never saw anything. The worst was after a long night of Court, sometimes I’d be there until 11pm, ALONE. I am sure there was someone sitting in the room with me, just that feeling of being watched to the point I wouldn’t finish my paperwork in the Court Room, I’d RUN to my office & lock myself in then call Court Security to let them know I was still in the building. But again, I never saw anything. Just the sense of someone there was enough for me thank you very much. I would always say Hi whenever I entered a Court Room & Bye when I left. No sense in pissing anyone off right?

So today’s WLP Wants to Know is: Do you believe in Ghosts? Do you have your own Ghost Story?

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SYNDE!!

Silver plate curb chain holds beautiful micro cut baby pink glass beads nestled around sterling silver beads from Bali. A large black handcrafted Turkish Nazar bead drops from a pewter toggle clasp..more glass sways delicately below. 18″ plus drop

Cemetery Cat Designs
http://www.etsy.com/shop/psynde

Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages

Buy Blood of the Demon at:

• Chapters/Indigo
• Amazon
• Barnes & Noble

Welcome to the world of Kara Gillian, a cop with a gift. Not only does she have the power of “othersight” to see what most people can’t even imagine, but she’s become the exclusive summoner of a demon lord. Or maybe it’s the other way around. The fact is, with two troublesome cases on her docket and a handsome FBI agent under her skin, Kara needs the help of sexy, insatiable Lord Rhyzkahl more than he needs her. Because these two victims, linked by suspicious coincidence, haven’t just been murdered. Something has eaten their souls.

It’s a case with roots in the arcane, but whose evil has flowered among the rich, powerful, and corrupt in Beaulac, Louisiana. And as the killings continue, Kara soon realizes how much there’s still to learn about demons, men, and things that kill in the night—and how little time she has to learn it.

Blood of the Demon, the second book in the Kara Gillian series, follows Kara a Homicide Detective who also happens to be a Demon Summoner. This time around, Kara is still trying to find her Aunt Tessa’s missing “essence” which she “lost” in book one (Mark of the Demon). She is also trying to come to terms with dying & being saved by Demon Lord Rhyzkahl as well as her attraction to him which has been manifesting in her dreams. There is also something arcane going on in the town of Beaulac, Louisiana that is not only killing people but ripping their essence forcefully out of their bodies. Add to that, the reappearance of FBI Agent Ryan Kristoff and Kara’s got her hands full.

Blood of the Demon is remarkably MUCH faster paced than Mark of the Demon was & I found that I liked it a lot better than the first book. It’s like both Diana Rowland & the character of Kara are coming into their own, together. The story arc’s keep you wondering what’s about to happen next & truly keep you guessing.

The sexual tension between Kara & Ryan, the sex scene between Kara & Rhyzkahl is enough to make a reader burst into a cold sweat. I don’t know who I want Kara to end up with, but we know there is something not quite “right” with Ryan. There’s something developing there but we don’t learn enough to make a fair judgement. We do know the Demons do not like Ryan for some reason, can’t wait to find out what it is. 

Diana Rowland’s writing has only gotten better in Blood of the Demon, making this book one of my favorites of 2010. Blood of the Demon is an incredibly plotted police procedural steeped in the arcane, urban fantasy at it’s best! Rowland has outdid herself! If you want to read a gritty dark urban fantasy with a kick ass heroine, run out & pick up Blood of the Demon.

Mass Market Paperback: 336 pages

Buy Demon Possessed at:

• Chapters/Indigo
• Amazon
• Barnes & Noble

Psychologist and psychic Megan Chase has grown remarkably comfortable hanging out with demons. The demon “family” she leads is happy, her solo practice is stabilizing, and she and her steamy demon lover, Greyson Dante, are closer than ever. But when the couple books a week at a luxury hotel to attend a meeting of demon leaders, some unanticipated problems appear. An FBI agent with an unhealthy interest in less-than-legitimate demon business practices shows up; the demon community is urging Megan to undergo the rite that will make her a real demon; and a slightly shady minister is holding one of his wildly popular “weekend exorcisms” just down the road. And oh, yes, someone with scary magical abilities is attempting to kill her. Then, just when it seems as if things couldn’t possibly get any worse, a secret comes to light that could jeopardize Megan and Greyson’s future — if Megan manages to live that long. With things heating up, it’s becoming difficult for her to keep a cool head…

In the third and final book in the Megan Chase series, Megan still hasn’t decided if she’s going to do the rite that will make her a real demon, even though Greyson is now putting  pressure on her to complete it. Speaking of Greyson, he’s still hiding a few things from Megan which leads an FBI agent to try & gain her help on putting together a case involving Grey. Then we have the summit of the demon houses, where all sorts of problems pop up including a shady minister who’s performing exorcisms. As usual, Megan’s right in the middle of a ton of messes.

Demon Possessed has a grown-up Megan, who doesn’t depend on Greyson as much as she did in the previous novels. There’s a big blow out between the two of them, that is so emotionally charged it felt like you were in the middle of it. I was yelling at Meg to pay attention & just go for it through most of the book! It’s not all emotional though, we still have the Brothers (Maleficarum, Malleus & Spud) & Roc (Meg’s personal demon) who are always good for laughs & snorts, some of the things that come out of their mouths!  We also get visits with Tera (Meg’s friend that is a witch), Brian & Nick. There are a ton of twists & turns, that will leave you breathless, somethings always happening & most of it isn’t good. Stacia Kane can write one hell of a love scene let me tell you, whoa.

Demon Possessed is fast-paced from start to finish, you won’t be able to put it down, trust me. Stacia Kane couldn’t have picked a better ending to the series, though I’ll miss Roc & the Brothers a bit more than Megan.

Ever since she was child, Jem has kept a secret: Whenever she meets someone new, no matter who, as soon as she looks into their eyes, a number pops into her head. That number is a date: the date they will die. Burdened with such awful awareness, Jem avoids relationships. Until she meets Spider, another outsider, and takes a chance. The two plan a trip to the city. But while waiting to ride the Eye ferris wheel, Jem is terrified to see that all the other tourists in line flash the same number. Today’s number. Today’s date. Terrorists are going to attack London. Jem’s world is about to explode! 

Read the first chapter of Num8er’s here: http://www.scholastic.com/numbers/ 

3 lucky commentor’s *US ONLY* will win a copy of Num8er’s, which I can tell you I loved! 

To enter, tell me why you want to read numbers. Contest closes Friday March 19th.

This is the bookcase coffin.  It’s two seven-inch-deep boxes hinged together.  The shelves are adjustable.  When preparing it to be used as a coffin, the shelves are laid on the bottom of the coffin.

That had me googling, with my morning coffee. Yes, googling caskets before Noon. Weird. This is my favorite & really what a great conversation piece, though it’s a bit morbid.

So I want to know, what do you think? Would you pick one of these up? Does it creep you out?

I also want to thank you all for your comments & emails & tweets due to my little rant and thank you to all the authors who stopped by to voice their opinions on the matter.

Come back tomorrow when I will be giving away THREE copies of Rachel Ward’s YA novel Num8er’s!

My friend Synde (who does the Vampire Academy Jewellery) posted about strict & soft on sale dates for a booksellers point of view to the rant issue.

Jackie at Literary Escapism has posted her third newsletter of the year which is full of interesting information.

A big congrats to K-Khan (the normal half to KC Khan’s nutty country self) over at Smokin Hot Books who’s getting married soon! She wants to hear your horrible wedding stories, so head over & say congrats!

Abigail at All Things Urban Fantasy has posted her regular feature of Win On Wednesday which has a list of 117 contests around the blog world.

The Mighty Buzzard FINALLY got around to starting a blog, so go over & have a peek.

That’s just a quick update…for now….until next time….

Um.  Wrong.

Here’s how it goes for me.

Tuesday: I hit as many local bookstores as I can (assuming I’m not otherwise engaged-lately, Tuesdays have come with previous engagements) so I can sign stock, leave bookmarks, talk to the booksellers.  Booksellers…they are my friend. 

Come 6pm, after I wrangle my little ones home and feed them, I stumble to PC, check email.

Then…from Tuesday and until, oh say… Friday, with random periods for break to eat, sleep, pee, take kids to sitters, etc, this is my life.

Check Google for:

Reviews… are people liking it? Hating it?

Check Amazon for:

Ratings…yeah, they don’t necessarily mean much, but still, I’m obsessive so yes, I’m checking.

Check Mrs. Giggles site…I LOVE her, did she read it? Did she like it? Did she hate it?

Check the pirate sites…I spent fricking months busting my ass on that book, please don’t let them be stealing from me already.

Check the blogs…are people talking about it?  Are people reading it? Are they hating it?

Check my email…has anybody emailed me?

Check my email again…has anybody fricking read it?

Check my mailbox…there is supposed to be a check.  Right?  Um.  It’s not there.  Do I email my agent? Come on, I need to pay for the ads, the contests, whimper, I need to pay my bills…

Login into facebook on the offchance that somebody is talking about it there.  Nope. Sigh.  But I’ve got bazillion friend requests, so I clear out those.

About this time, assuming it’s night time and the kids are in bed, I might stumble to the cabinet and get a rum and diet coke.  THEN…

I begin to…

Check Google for:

Reviews… are people liking it? Hating it?  Come on, people, it’s late, surely by now, somebody has read it, right?

Check Amazon for:

Ratings…yeah, they don’t necessarily mean much, but still, I’m obsessive so yes, I’m checking.  Oh, no…the ratings are dropping already?  How am I ever going to hit the big lists if this keeps happening????

Check Mrs. Giggles site…I LOVE her, did she read it? Did she like it? Did she hate it?  Choke.  No.  Review.  She doesn’t like my stuff anymore????

Check the pirate sites…I spent fricking months busting my ass on that book, please don’t let them be stealing from me already.  &#^@^@.  These people say they love my work, talk about it all the time and how much they enjoy it and this is how they show their appreciation-they fricking sabotage my career by stealing from me…whimper.  Where is that rum and diet coke?  Screw it.  Where is my strawberry wine?

Check the blogs…are people talking about it?  Are people reading it? Are they hating it?  Hey!  Somebody mentioned my book.  It’s in the TBR pile.  But still… hey, I exist!!!

Check my email…has anybody emailed me? Oh.  Lookie here…smile.  This reader picked it up because she liked the cover…and it turns out she couldn’t put it down.  I’m breathing again.

Login into facebook…and I find the most touching note from a reader I think I’ve read in…years.

Bliss?  No.  Not likely.  The days after a book comes out can be majorly stressful, but getting those notes from readers, seeing people talking about it blogs, those are the things that pull me through.  And when I sit back down in my chair on Monday, and get to work on the next book, those are the sort of things I’ll be thinking about.

So… you want to know which book I’m stressing about right now?  It’s called BROKEN.  And it’s pretty aptly named.  The characters of it are…well, pretty much broken…and they are trying to pick up the pieces of their lives when they find each other.

Shattered

Quinn Rafferty is working as a bounty hunter and bail bondsman in St. Louis when a new neighbor catches his eye. He’s tempted by her beauty—but he knows from experience that anyone desperate enough to live in his building is damaged goods. Besides, he has his own soul to mend before he can worry about anyone else.

Desperate

Sara Davis is on the run, but not for the usual reasons a woman goes on the lam. She’s not an abused wife, and she’s not a criminal. But she does have a plan for her future. And as much as she finds herself attracted to her gruff, tough neighbor, she can’t risk telling him the secrets she’s hiding. There’s just too much at stake.

Driven to desire…

But Quinn must get closer to Sara when she turns out to be the target of his new missing persons case, and he discovers that there is something more complex and dangerous to her than he thought. Now, both Quinn and Sara will have to expose their true feelings—as well as their fragile hearts—if they hope their love will survive…

If you’d like to read more about it, and maybe salvage my sanity, convince me that I do exist and check out my work, you can read an excerpt of BROKEN here at my site…and right now, if you buy BROKEN during release week, you can be entered to win a NOOK, the new ebook reader from Barnes and Noble.

I’ve noticed some rather crappy things around the net this week & it’s not only bothered me, but authors have observed this & aren’t happy either.

Here’s the thing.

Even before I blogged, I would spend over $100.00 a month on books (prior to knowing the book depo existed). Now think about it, that’s over $1200.00 a year I would spend on books. Now it’s a bit less, thanks to wonderful Publishers/PR & Authors…yet I still spend in the range of $60-$80 a month on books. That is MY money, keep in mind I was laid off in July but yet that’s my only indulgence, books. I don’t ask for presents now, I ask for gift-cards to bookstores. Add to that, the cost that I myself pay to host this blog & domain name, money out of MY pocket no one elses.

So when I read & actually encounter authors telling me when and where and how I should spend MY money on their books, you can bet your ass I am upset & angry. Not only was I told not to buy books online, but to go in store because online won’t help NYT rankings…I was told afterwards that my sales didn’t count because I am Canadian. I was not the only one either, countless times readers were being spoken to rudely & it’s so freaking wrong. I couldn’t sleep I was so angry lastnight & it takes a lot for me to be that angry. For the record, I have never read this authors books & was asking about her FIRST BOOK.

In any case, after that lovely exchange, every single one of that authors books got taken out of my cart. No thanks, I was & am extremely offended.

Yes, bloggers/readers have feelings.

I work my ASS off, to the point where I could be either found staring at a book for hours or emailing an author for an interview, or spending HOURS sitting at my computer working on this site. FOR FREE! I do this because I love to read & I love to share good books, I don’t have to do this, none of us do. I don’t pirate books, I buy them with cash that is hard to come by for all of us!!

I have to give kudos to both Bree/Donna (Moira Rogers) & Stacia Kane for sticking up for us readers & bloggers and a special thanks to the author who apologized to me on behalf of all authors, I do not blame all of you for a few peoples actions.

But I will never buy a book, when I am told how, when, & where I should spend MY money the same way I wouldn’t expect an author to read my review & change their book because I didn’t like it.