Here’s a peek at the blurb:

A match made in adventure… and blessed by Chuck Norris.

As bad days go, this one qualifies as one for the books. Elaine knew being late for her jiu jitsu class could earn her a reprimand from her sensei. But the sensei’s not there. And suddenly, neither is her car. Even walking home becomes problematic when she stumbles onto things that most definitely do go bump in the night. One of whom is too handsome for his own good — and too sexy for hers.

An Alpha Pantera Noir — black panther shifter — Cade operates on his immense skill, superior strength, and dominant personality. There’s something about this small spitfire of a human woman that threatens to bring him to his knees. She blundered into the middle of his mission to transport his queen to safety, and now it’s his responsibility to keep Elaine safe as well. Except no matter what he does, danger finds her at every turn.

Thrust into a world where the supernatural is commonplace, Elaine finds her considerable martial arts skill tested to the limit-and her ability to resist Cade crumbling by the second. But when nothing is as it seems, the last things she can trust are her own instincts…

If you want a look at the character descriptions (which might clear up the Chuck Norris references a bit), check out the page on my website for the book, which will be updated as more information becomes available.

CAT’S CRADLE comes out in ebook on January 5th and in print late next year.

Looks like CAT’S CRADLE has gone up on the Samhain Publishing “coming soon” pages, but the cover hasn’t made it up yet. I saw the cover a week or two ago, so I know it’s done. I’m not sure what the hold up is, but I’ll be checking to see when it goes up so I can post it for you. (The cover isn’t official until it goes up on the Samhain site, which is my signal it’s been approved by The Powers That Be.)

I’m working on the galley proof of ONCE BITTEN, TWICE DEAD right now. As soon as I’m done with that, the book is done – on my end at least. If my last Kensington Brava book is any indication, the next thing that will happen is I’ll get some ARCs in the mail. Can’t wait for that!

I’m also working on the second round of edits of CAT’S CRADLE. We’re behind schedule on this book because of all the turmoil in my life. I can’t thank the folks at Samhain enough for working with me during this time. They’ve been very supportive and flexible on the timing of my deadlines, which is a really big help. Since the book is due out on January 5th, we still have a nice amount of time to get everything done, so I’m not too worried. I just need to find the time to do the work in between and around doctor’s appointments, cooking, coaxing Mom to eat, and housework. Ah, what a glamorous life.

So that’s it from here for now. More news as it becomes available.

My personal belief system is complex and many faceted. I have a great deal of respect for the traditions of the past and I think there’s a lot our modern religions owe to those that came before. I like the idea of the Wheel of the year with the various parts watched over by the three aspects of the goddess – Maiden, Mother and Crone. We’re passing out of the Mother’s influence as harvest comes to an end and Winter begins – the time of the Crone. But then it won’t be long before the Maiden shows her sunny face in the Spring. My favorite time of year.

I usually enjoy Halloween, but this year, as you may know, I’m dealing with family tragedy in the making. My Mom fell ill at the end of August and by the end of September, we were told it was an advanced stage of lung cancer. She’s not a smoker, and usually very active, so this took us by surprise to say the least. It’s been a shock and a time of turmoil for my Dad and me. He’s eight years older than she is, so we always just assumed that if/when they were to die, he’d go first. Now it looks like that may not be the case and he and I are both lost. Confused, grieving in anticipation of something we don’t know how to deal with and completely lost as we try to look after her.

She’s going through chemotherapy now and I’m having a difficult time dealing with the side effects. She’s not eating and I take it as a personal failure on my part. I’m not a good cook. I’ve never been “domestic.” I was the youngest of her two children (my brother is not involved with the family much and lives 3000 miles away). I never took care of anyone. I never even babysat. I’m single and have no children. So being on call 24/7 as her personal helper is something I’m ill prepared for, but cannot deny her. She’s my Mom. I’d walk through fire for her.

So I’m cooking, cleaning, have remodled part of my house to make a bedroom for her and basically being her cheerleader, coach, nurse, dietician, and all around Gal Friday. And doing my best not to lose it every few minutes. First, I’m scared. More afraid than I’ve ever been in my life. I can’t lose her. I’m not ready. She’s not ready. She has so much to live for. So much to enjoy in life. It’s not fair. Second, I’m ill prepared for the roles I’ve been forced into and feeling incredibly inadequate and guilty for things like her weight loss. If only I could find a way to make her eat more! If only I could cook something she’d actually eat. If only… If only… If only…

One of the worst side effects she’s experiencing is weakness in her muscles that makes it incredibly difficult to walk. She’s using a walker, but it’s pitiful to watch. She shakes so much in fear she’s going to fall and weakness in her leg. I want to cry but I also know she has to keep moving or she won’t be able to. Then I beging to second guess everything – is it a sign of deterioriation? Or is it just a side effect that will end when the chemo has done its job? Am I going to lose her even sooner? I’m so scared. I want to cry but I can’t really cry in front of her. Then I do and I feel guilty for letting her see me blubber and break down. It only makes things worse.

My plate is full. My mind races in a million directions and I can’t take much more. If you believe in such things, please say a prayer for my Mom. I’d like to think that the chemo is working and she’ll be with me for at least a few years to come. But I just don’t know. No one can say. Please pray for that outcome. I need her. I need her wisdom as I try to reassemble the broken pieces of my life. I can’t do it without her and I pray that I won’t have to. Just a little more time. A few more years. I need my Mom with me. Please.

So at this auspicious time – the turning of the year – the Eve of All Hallows and the beginning of the Feast of All Saints – that’s my dearest wish, my fondest desire, my most fervent prayer. If the lines between the realms are indeed blurred tonight, perhaps my prayer will be heard and answered.

A match made in adventure… and blessed by Chuck Norris.

String of Fate, Book 1

As bad days go, this one qualifies as one for the books. Elaine knew being late for her jiu jitsu class could earn her a reprimand from her sensei. But the sensei’s not there. And suddenly, neither is her car. Even walking home becomes problematic when she stumbles onto things that most definitely do go bump in the night. One of whom is too handsome for his own good—and too sexy for hers.

An Alpha Pantera Noir—black panther shifter—Cade operates on his immense skill, superior strength, and dominant personality. There’s something about this small spitfire of a human woman that threatens to bring him to his knees. She blundered into the middle of his mission to transport his queen to safety, and now it’s his responsibility to keep Elaine safe as well. Except no matter what he does, danger finds her at every turn.

Thrust into a world where the supernatural is commonplace, Elaine finds her considerable martial arts skill tested to the limit—and her ability to resist Cade crumbling by the second. But when nothing is as it seems, the last things she can trust are her own instincts…

Warning: This book contains bad language, great sex, sometimes hostile, but always sexy, big cat shifters on the prowl, and lots of tuna for Chuck Norris—wait a minute—tuna?

I’ve got a page for the book and it’s prequel, the novella Simon Says in the Half Past Dead anthology on my website as well. I absolutely love the covers for both books and can’t wait to see what they come up with for the rest of the series! I’ve just finished writing the second novella in the series, tentatively titled Smoke on the Water, which is suppoed to go in the 2010 Brava Halloween anthology. There will be 2 more novels in the series, untitled as yet. More news as it comes in…