RELEASE DAY!!!!!!!!!
(buy, read, and I sincerely hope: enjoy)
6.29.2010
6.28.2010
6.27.2010
Writing Questions & Advice
So tonight I made Drunken Lamb. I love that recipe, and while I have several variations of how to prepare it, it always involves the same things: lamb chops/rack of lamb, port, olive oil, dill, thyme, and parsley. I don’t always make the separate sauce to go with it though. So we had drunken lamb with heirloom tomatoes, and I whipped up a simple dressing out of soft chevre, olive oil, and dill for them. The dressing was also yummy on the lamb. We were going to have beets too but that slipped by the wayside and we were both quite happy with dinner as it was. We used the good china and sat at the table instead of the computer and frankly, it felt really, really good. No multitasking, no TV, just us, the table, the food, and the cats trying to win us over so they could partake. They did not succeed—no Port going down those kitty bellies.
I’ve been getting a lot of writing questions lately so thought I’d take a little time to do a blog to answer them.
One of the common questions I get is what to do about writer’s block?
The truth is, I don’t get writer’s block. True writer’s block is rare, in my opinion—I view it as the inability to write at all. But a lot of people have points where they don’t know what to write, which is different, or they come to a standstill on a story. That’s common and there are some ways to deal with it. I can tell you what I do.
If I’m in the middle of a scene/story and it stalls, then I know I’ve gone off course with my characters/the action. Even if you plot out your story, which I do not, what you are writing may not be the story that you need to tell. So, don’t automatically try to force the storyline to go in the direction you want it to when it won’t flow. I usually go back to where the story stopped flowing and look at what went wrong. Did I try to force the characters to do something out of character? That can throw things off. Did I overlook the logical progression of what was happening already? That can mess up your flow.
If neither progression of the story or character action seems off, then I take a look at myself. Am I overly tired? Am I hungry? Have I been drinking enough water—dehydration can cause brain fog. Do I need to get up and move around for a few minutes? The state of your body can totally disrupt the creative flow. Take care of your needs. If you need a break, take one and eat, drink, rest, shake off the fog.
Sometimes you’ll sit there, wondering what to work on—I don’t have that problem because I’m contracted and have deadlines. But if you aren’t on a deadline and you have competing ideas, you’re going to have to buckle under and choose one. But don’t throw away the rest of the ideas. Each time you get a new idea, write it down and file it for the next time you’re ready to start a new story. You will have to make decisions once you are writing for a career, and you will have to learn how to finish projects. Better you learn to pick and choose now, before you’re on the clock and fighting against a deadline.
Another question I’m asked a lot is how I have the focus to work the hours I do.
Well, the blunt answer is: you want to write for a living, you’d better learn to control yourself. You HAVE to develop discipline, or you’re going to fall flat on your face. Which means learning self-control. You want to go to lunch with friends instead of write? Maybe you’d better check your schedule again—have you gotten your work for the day done? No? Deal with it and stay home and work. You’re not feeling very inspired? Too bad. Write. The work you write during the times you’re uninspired is almost always just as good as when you’re flying on the Muse’s wings. So write. Put one word down, then another, then another. Build the discipline now when you’re starting out—by giving yourself a quota. I will write for fifteen minutes a day, every day. I will write 2 pages a day, every day. And build up from there.
Are any of your characters based off of people in your life?
The closest to basing characters I’ve had in my books on people in my life are: Camille is based a lot on me, and Maggie the Gargoyle was based on a friends dear kitty who just went over the Rainbow Bridge a week ago, at 22 years old. I may pick out aspects or qualities, but nobody is based on or deliberately named after anybody in my life or circle of friends, acquaintances, etc..
I’ll be answering more questions on my blog so feel free to list them in the comments trail, and if they aren’t spoilers, too personal, or rude, I’ll get to them. If you want more writing advice, see my website, and check out the writing tag on my blog here.
Yasmine
One of the common questions I get is what to do about writer’s block?
The truth is, I don’t get writer’s block. True writer’s block is rare, in my opinion—I view it as the inability to write at all. But a lot of people have points where they don’t know what to write, which is different, or they come to a standstill on a story. That’s common and there are some ways to deal with it. I can tell you what I do.
If I’m in the middle of a scene/story and it stalls, then I know I’ve gone off course with my characters/the action. Even if you plot out your story, which I do not, what you are writing may not be the story that you need to tell. So, don’t automatically try to force the storyline to go in the direction you want it to when it won’t flow. I usually go back to where the story stopped flowing and look at what went wrong. Did I try to force the characters to do something out of character? That can throw things off. Did I overlook the logical progression of what was happening already? That can mess up your flow.
If neither progression of the story or character action seems off, then I take a look at myself. Am I overly tired? Am I hungry? Have I been drinking enough water—dehydration can cause brain fog. Do I need to get up and move around for a few minutes? The state of your body can totally disrupt the creative flow. Take care of your needs. If you need a break, take one and eat, drink, rest, shake off the fog.
Sometimes you’ll sit there, wondering what to work on—I don’t have that problem because I’m contracted and have deadlines. But if you aren’t on a deadline and you have competing ideas, you’re going to have to buckle under and choose one. But don’t throw away the rest of the ideas. Each time you get a new idea, write it down and file it for the next time you’re ready to start a new story. You will have to make decisions once you are writing for a career, and you will have to learn how to finish projects. Better you learn to pick and choose now, before you’re on the clock and fighting against a deadline.
Another question I’m asked a lot is how I have the focus to work the hours I do.
Well, the blunt answer is: you want to write for a living, you’d better learn to control yourself. You HAVE to develop discipline, or you’re going to fall flat on your face. Which means learning self-control. You want to go to lunch with friends instead of write? Maybe you’d better check your schedule again—have you gotten your work for the day done? No? Deal with it and stay home and work. You’re not feeling very inspired? Too bad. Write. The work you write during the times you’re uninspired is almost always just as good as when you’re flying on the Muse’s wings. So write. Put one word down, then another, then another. Build the discipline now when you’re starting out—by giving yourself a quota. I will write for fifteen minutes a day, every day. I will write 2 pages a day, every day. And build up from there.
Are any of your characters based off of people in your life?
The closest to basing characters I’ve had in my books on people in my life are: Camille is based a lot on me, and Maggie the Gargoyle was based on a friends dear kitty who just went over the Rainbow Bridge a week ago, at 22 years old. I may pick out aspects or qualities, but nobody is based on or deliberately named after anybody in my life or circle of friends, acquaintances, etc..
I’ll be answering more questions on my blog so feel free to list them in the comments trail, and if they aren’t spoilers, too personal, or rude, I’ll get to them. If you want more writing advice, see my website, and check out the writing tag on my blog here.
Yasmine
6.26.2010
Blog Contest Winners as of 6/26
Congratulations to this weeks blog contest winners! From Ilona's blog the winners were Julissa F and Becka P. From Paranormality the winners were J. Meriwether, Stacey S, Mary K. And the winner from last night's Night Myst contest was Rebecca W! Thank you to all that have been stopping by and leaving comments!
Only three more days until the release of Night Myst!
--
J.L. Anderson
Yasmine's Personal Assistant
Only three more days until the release of Night Myst!
--
J.L. Anderson
Yasmine's Personal Assistant
6.25.2010
NIGHT MYST Friday and Contest! Part 10
I have a surprise for you! I’m going to attempt a regular blogging schedule, to be interrupted by mostly great announcements (if I have any) or massive work deadlines (a given). This doesn’t mean an every day schedule, but I’m going to try to hit the blog more regularly than I have been and lay off hanging out on Twitter and FB so much.
And for a treat, each Thursday’s post will be an excerpt from Night Myst until the book comes out.
Since the first chapter is up on my site, I’m giving you excerpts from the beginning of Chapter 2. (And don’t get greedy—no complaining or I stop). And if I find anybody reproducing this on other sites--I stop and everybody loses out. That means: NO cutting/pasting/copying/sending through email.
Chapter 1
NM Thursdays Part 1
NM Thursdays Part 2
NM Thursdays Part 3
NM Thursdays Part 4
NM Thursdays Part 5
NM Thursdays Part 6
NM Thursdays Part 7
NM Thursdays Part 8
NM Thursdays Part 9
For a chance to win a $25 Amazon.com gift card just follow the rules after the end of the excerpt!
NIGHT MYST:
CHAPTER 2 (part 10)
Copyright 2010 Yasmine Galenorn
DO NOT REPRODUCE
“Crap and double crap. What the hell was that?” As I stared at the departing silhouette, I thought, Shadow, it reminds me of a thin, nasty shadow. And the owl—where had the owl come from? Owls were nocturnal, but this one had been on full alert. The owls banding my arms stirred. Startled, I stared down at my sleeves, but the sensation stopped.
Ulean, what’s going on?
I don’t know. But that creature was out for your blood. Be cautious, Cicely—this woodland is not what it once was.
“I don’t know,” Leo said. “I’ve never seen anything like it.”
“Fae?” Rhiannon asked.
“I have no idea,” I murmured. “Whatever it is, it’s horribly strong. I don’t think it expected you guys to help me. And the owl startled it.”
Rhiannon turned to the forest, staring mutely at the trees. After a moment, she let out a long breath. “Do you think my mother came this way?”
Leo swallowed hard. “Maybe Heather went searching for my sister.” He turned to me. “Elise, my sister, is one of the members of the Thirteen Moons Society. She vanished a few months ago.”
“Somehow, I don’t think Heather went in the forest to look for her,” I said softly. “What about the Society? Can they help us?”
“Only Rupert, Tyne, and LeAnn are left, now that Heather’s vanished,” Rhiannon said. “With Marta dead,
and Heather missing, I guess we could go to LeAnn.”
“LeAnn has a new baby,” Leo said. “We can’t ask her to risk—”
But he was cut off when Rhiannon’s head dropped back.
“She’s here . . .” Her voice sounded far away, as if she was speaking through a tunnel, and her eyes glazed over with a white sheen.
“What is it? What do you see?” I let go of her hand and stepped back, motioning for Leo to give her some space. “Rhiannon, can you hear me?”
“That’s what my sister looked like whenever she went into trance. She was a seer.” Leo circled around behind her. “If she falls, I’ll catch her.”
“I hope she’s okay. Rhiannon, can you hear me? Where are you?” If she didn’t answer in another moment, I was going to shake her out of it. A trance as deep as the one she was in could suck a person under so far they’d never resurface. But then, her throat rattled and she opened her mouth. The voice that came out was ancient and keening, to where it might shatter like glass.
“The Indigo Court has risen. The Hunt has begun. All of my enemies, tremble with desire, and let your hearts fear.”
CONTEST IS NOW OVER! NO MORE ENTRIES WILL BE ELIGIBLE!
Night Myst Contest!
To finish the contests on my blog for Night Myst, I pose you a question: You are hanging out in a shadowed glen at night. You notice a shadow behind one of the trees. It’s Yasmine, only she is either Fae or one of the true vampires (you have to hope she’s not Vampiric Fae or she might rip you to shreds). If she is Fae, she may give you a Faerie gift. If she’s vampire, she’ll take a bite out of you. Do you chance meeting her? If so, which would you rather she be? Leave a comment with your answer AND your email address, and one person will win a $25 gift card to Amazon.com. You must be 18 or over to enter, and you must leave your email address in the comment that you post. Enter by 11:59 on 6.25.2010 to be eligible. Winner will be posted on Saturday’s blog.
Pre-Order Night Myst from Amazon, Borders, BN.com
Pre-Order Harvest Hunting from Amazon, Borders, BN.com
6.24.2010
Two Interviews Up
I have two interviews up today: one over at Grasping for the Wind, and the other at BSC Reviews. Find out more about me, my process, and my take on the books and life in general. :)
Yasmine
Yasmine
6.23.2010
Guest Blog/Contest & Review Of Night Myst
Guest blogging w/book contest over at BSC Reviews today, and there's a fantastic review of Night Myst over at Flames Rising.
Yasmine
Yasmine
6.21.2010
Borders Blog and Contest
Yasmine is over at Border's True Romance Blog today! There will be a contest to win a $15 Borders gift card but the comments seem to be closed until morning. Check back there later if the comment section is not up when you visit their site.
Please do NOT post comments here to enter as they will not be eligible to win!
-- J.L. Anderson
Personal Assistant to Yasmine Galenorn
Please do NOT post comments here to enter as they will not be eligible to win!
-- J.L. Anderson
Personal Assistant to Yasmine Galenorn
6.19.2010
Guest Blog Winners!
Congratulations to all of the winners from Yasmine's guest blogs! From Smexy books the winners were Tara SG, Heather C, and Jacquelin C. From the Elementals blog here the winner was Caitlin M. On Running With Quills the winners were Risa B, Lindy C, and Stephanie M.
Thank you to everybody who has been participating! We will post the winners from the other blogs as we get their information. Please keep checking back here for updates on Yasmine's guest blogs where there will be chances to win books and other prizes during the month of June. Keep on checking back since we will have more prizes and blogs this week! Only a little over a week until Night Myst is released!
-- J.L. Anderson
Personal Assistant to Yasmine Galenorn
Thank you to everybody who has been participating! We will post the winners from the other blogs as we get their information. Please keep checking back here for updates on Yasmine's guest blogs where there will be chances to win books and other prizes during the month of June. Keep on checking back since we will have more prizes and blogs this week! Only a little over a week until Night Myst is released!
-- J.L. Anderson
Personal Assistant to Yasmine Galenorn
6.18.2010
NIGHT MYST Friday, Part 9
I have a surprise for you! I’m going to attempt a regular blogging schedule, to be interrupted by mostly great announcements (if I have any) or massive work deadlines (a given). This doesn’t mean an every day schedule, but I’m going to try to hit the blog more regularly than I have been and lay off hanging out on Twitter and FB so much.
And for a treat, each Thursday’s post will be an excerpt from Night Myst until the book comes out.
Since the first chapter is up on my site, I’m giving you excerpts from the beginning of Chapter 2. (And don’t get greedy—no complaining or I stop). And if I find anybody reproducing this on other sites--I stop and everybody loses out. That means: NO cutting/pasting/copying/sending through email.
Chapter 1
NM Thursdays Part 1
NM Thursdays Part 2
NM Thursdays Part 3
NM Thursdays Part 4
NM Thursdays Part 5
NM Thursdays Part 6
NM Thursdays Part 7
NM Thursdays Part 8
NIGHT MYST:
CHAPTER 2 (part 9)
Copyright 2010 Yasmine Galenorn
DO NOT REPRODUCE
I slipped out onto the back porch. Down the steps, a narrow stone path led into the backyard where the kitchen garden and herb gardens sprawled. There was no lack for privacy, that was for sure.
I was about to call out Heather’s name, but then realized that it was ridiculous to hope she’d answer. I started walking the perimeter of the land toward the forest, leaving a trail of footprints in the fresh snow. I motioned for Leo and Rhiannon to head the other way.
Maybe my aunt had fallen and hurt herself. Maybe she’d hit her head on a rock and had knocked herself out. Maybe . . . a flash of snow lightning—a phenomenon that happened around the Pacific Northwest now and then— illuminated the sky, directly over the wood. I stared at the flickering light as the thunder hit, slamming through the air like a sledgehammer.
If Heather’s around, please, blow me in her direction, I whispered.
A gust sprang up, chilling me through, pushing me toward the northeast. Right toward the forest. Shit. Four members of the Society were dead. Five members were missing.
I headed toward the wood, first reluctantly, then my fear broke through and I set off, jogging across the lawn. As I neared the tree line I heard shouts behind me and looked over my shoulder to see Rhiannon and Leo following. I skidded to a halt and turned, waiting for them.
“You think she’s in there?” Rhiannon said.
“The wind led me here.” I glanced over my shoulder at the dark path that beckoned. At that moment, a figure came racing out, dark and spindly on two legs, with a bloated belly and long, jointed arms.
“What the fuck?”
The creature went straight for my throat and I stumbled back, clawing at it as it wrapped unnaturally strong arms around my neck. I smashed the palm of my hand into its nose, but it tightened its grip and everything began to go fuzzy. The next thing I knew, an owl swept out of the trees, savaging my attacker with its talons. As the bird spiraled up to get a better vantage, Leo jumped in, beating the creature off of me while Rhiannon tugged me away by one arm.
I scrambled to my feet, rubbing my throat as the thing let out a screech and backed off, hissing before it turned to disappear in the foliage.
Pre-Order Night Myst from Amazon, Borders, BN.com
Pre-Order Harvest Hunting from Amazon, Borders, BN.com
6.17.2010
6.15.2010
Ice Shards Playlist
Here's the playlist (prelim) for ICE SHARDS, the Iris novella:
3 Doors Down: Kryptonite
Aerosmith: Dream On
Air:
Napalm Love
Playground Love
Alpha Beta Gaga
Al Stewart: Life in Dark Water
Alan Parson's Project: Breakdown
Audioslave: Set it Off
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club: Fault Line
Bravery, The: Believe
Cat Power:
I Don't Blame You
Werewolf
Celtic Woman: Scarborough Fair
Chris Isaak: Wicked Game
Clannad:
Banba Oir
Newgrange
Crosby, Stills & Nash: Guinnevere
CCR: I Heard it Through the Grapevine
David Bowie: Sister Midnight
Depeche Mode: Dream On
Donovan: Season of the Witch
Doors, The:
People Are Strange
Waiting for the Sun
Not to Touch the Earth
Enya: Cursum Perficio
Eric Clapton: Cocoaine
Fleetwood Mac: The Chain
Gary Numan:
Child With the Ghost
Dream Killer
Down in the Park
Dead Heaven
Heather Alexander: Fallen Angel
Jethro Tull:
Jack-A-Lynn
Overhang
King Black Acid: Great Spaces
Ladytron: Mu-Tron
Led Zeppelin: Ramble On
Low: Half-Light
Ringo Star: It Don't Come Easy
Roisin Murphy: Ramalama Bang Bang
Rolling Stones:
Gimme Shelter
Sympathy for the Devil
Sarah McLachlan: Possession
Shiny Toy Guns: Major Tom
Susan Enan: Bring on the Wonder
Tears For Fears: Mad World
Tina Turner: One of the Living
Tingstad & Rumbel: Chaco
Warchild: Ash
Zero 7: In the Waiting Line
Yasmine
3 Doors Down: Kryptonite
Aerosmith: Dream On
Air:
Napalm Love
Playground Love
Alpha Beta Gaga
Al Stewart: Life in Dark Water
Alan Parson's Project: Breakdown
Audioslave: Set it Off
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club: Fault Line
Bravery, The: Believe
Cat Power:
I Don't Blame You
Werewolf
Celtic Woman: Scarborough Fair
Chris Isaak: Wicked Game
Clannad:
Banba Oir
Newgrange
Crosby, Stills & Nash: Guinnevere
CCR: I Heard it Through the Grapevine
David Bowie: Sister Midnight
Depeche Mode: Dream On
Donovan: Season of the Witch
Doors, The:
People Are Strange
Waiting for the Sun
Not to Touch the Earth
Enya: Cursum Perficio
Eric Clapton: Cocoaine
Fleetwood Mac: The Chain
Gary Numan:
Child With the Ghost
Dream Killer
Down in the Park
Dead Heaven
Heather Alexander: Fallen Angel
Jethro Tull:
Jack-A-Lynn
Overhang
King Black Acid: Great Spaces
Ladytron: Mu-Tron
Led Zeppelin: Ramble On
Low: Half-Light
Ringo Star: It Don't Come Easy
Roisin Murphy: Ramalama Bang Bang
Rolling Stones:
Gimme Shelter
Sympathy for the Devil
Sarah McLachlan: Possession
Shiny Toy Guns: Major Tom
Susan Enan: Bring on the Wonder
Tears For Fears: Mad World
Tina Turner: One of the Living
Tingstad & Rumbel: Chaco
Warchild: Ash
Zero 7: In the Waiting Line
Yasmine
6.14.2010
Over at Running With Quills
Blog and contest over at RUNNING WITH QUILLS. Contest open there till 8:00 AM June 15th, (NOT the 14th).
DO NOT ENTER HERE OR VIA EMAIL--you will be DISQUALIFIED if you do. Follow instructions on the blog there at RWQ. Okay? Thank you. :)
I am absolutely thrilled that Stella Cameron called NIGHT MYST a 'groundbreaking book'...she made my week. ;)
Yasmine
DO NOT ENTER HERE OR VIA EMAIL--you will be DISQUALIFIED if you do. Follow instructions on the blog there at RWQ. Okay? Thank you. :)
I am absolutely thrilled that Stella Cameron called NIGHT MYST a 'groundbreaking book'...she made my week. ;)
Yasmine
6.13.2010
Night Myst Elemental Contest!
In the world of the Indigo Court Series, primal, elemental magic plays a very big role. Wind, water, earth, fire—all elements that the magic-born work with. Myst, queen of the Vampiric Fae, has the ability to work with ice and mist. And Cicely, her enemy, is bonded together with a wind spirit—an Elemental named Ulean, since Cicely was barely six years old.
Today’s Night Myst contest is about elemental magic. If you were to bond with an Elemental, and could work one type of magic, which would you choose?
Would you prefer to conjure fire? Remember, it can backfire in horrendous ways, as Rhiannon, Cicely’s cousin, has found out.
Or water? Would you like to glide through the water like a dolphin, sleek and able to stay below the waves for far longer than most humans?
What about wind—tornadoes are terrifying, but a gentle breeze can bring you secrets. Or earth?
And then there’s earth magic, which can quake the ground, enchant plants, or cover your tracks?
Leave a comment with your answer AND your email address, and one person will win a $15 gift card to Amazon.com. Only entries left in reply to this blog will be counted! Do NOT email Yasmine your answers as they will not be counted. This contest is open to U.S. and international fans. You must be 18 or over to enter, and you must leave your email address in the comment that you post. Enter by 11:59pm on 6.13.2010 to be eligible. Winner will be posted on Saturday’s blog.
Yasmine
CONTEST NOW CLOSED! NO MORE ENTRIES WILL BE ELIGIBLE! Thank you to all that participated!
6.12.2010
Contest Winners from Spider Blog and Fresh Fiction!
Congratulations to Carol Shenold for winning the Spider Blog contest from June 7th and Barbara Hanson for winning the Fresh Fiction blog contest from June 4th! Thank you to everybody who has been participating! We will post the winners from the other blogs as we get their information. Please keep checking back here for updates on Yasmine's guest blogs where there will be chances to win books and other prizes during the month of June. Right now there are contests still going on over at Smexy Books until June 13th and Book Binge until June 15th.
-- J.L. Anderson
Personal Assistant to Yasmine Galenorn
-- J.L. Anderson
Personal Assistant to Yasmine Galenorn
6.11.2010
Am Over At Smexy Books...
Am at Smexy Books, contest runs through June 13th there.
DO NOT ENTER HERE. DO NOT ENTER BY EMAILING ME. ENTER THERE, ON THEIR BLOG. GOT IT? If you do not pay attention, I will simply delete the emails and entries--I do not have time to fix your mistakes.
Okay, minor rant over, enjoy the weekend, peeps. :)
Yasmine
DO NOT ENTER HERE. DO NOT ENTER BY EMAILING ME. ENTER THERE, ON THEIR BLOG. GOT IT? If you do not pay attention, I will simply delete the emails and entries--I do not have time to fix your mistakes.
Okay, minor rant over, enjoy the weekend, peeps. :)
Yasmine
6.10.2010
Quiz and Gift Card Giveaway
I'm over on Ilona Andrew's blog today, with a fun quiz and a gift-card giveaway to celebrate the upcoming release of Night Myst! Contest ends by midnight tonight so hop to it, people. :)
Yasmine
Yasmine
6.09.2010
NIGHT MYST Wednesday. Part 8
I have a surprise for you! I’m going to attempt a regular blogging schedule, to be interrupted by mostly great announcements (if I have any) or massive work deadlines (a given). This doesn’t mean an every day schedule, but I’m going to try to hit the blog more regularly than I have been and lay off hanging out on Twitter and FB so much.
And for a treat, each Thursday’s post will be an excerpt from Night Myst until the book comes out.
Since the first chapter is up on my site, I’m giving you excerpts from the beginning of Chapter 2. (And don’t get greedy—no complaining or I stop). And if I find anybody reproducing this on other sites--I stop and everybody loses out. That means: NO cutting/pasting/copying/sending through email.
Chapter 1
NM Thursdays Part 1
NM Thursdays Part 2
NM Thursdays Part 3
NM Thursdays Part 4
NM Thursdays Part 5
NM Thursdays Part 6
NM Thursdays Part 7
NIGHT MYST:
CHAPTER 2 (part 8)
Copyright 2010 Yasmine Galenorn
DO NOT REPRODUCE
Leo Bryne was in the living room. I wasn’t sure what I’d expected a day runner to look like, but whatever my expectations were, Leo didn’t meet them. He was in his late twenties, tall with tawny hair and a crooked but sweet smile. Lean and a little gangly, the Windbreaker he wore made him look younger. Rhiannon introduced us.
“What’s your specialty? Were? Magic-born?”
He grinned. “Witch. Herbs and healing.” Then, sobering, he added, “Your aunt is training me in advanced studies. I can’t believe she just upped and walked away without telling anybody.”
“That’s because she didn’t. You know it. Rhiannon knows it. I know it. The only people deluding themselves are the cops. So, tell me, what does a day runner do?”
He blushed. “I run errands for Geoffrey and his wife that they can’t do during the day. Pick up dry cleaning, personal shopping, mail off stuff at the post office, things like that.”
“They pay well?” I knew I was being nosy but it didn’t hurt to find out my options. Marta might have left me her business, but I doubted it brought much in the way of money.
“Eh—not bad. I get benefits, which helps.” He caught Rhiannon around the waist with one arm and she rested her head on his shoulder. It was obvious they’d been going out for a while—they seemed so comfortable together. “And benefits will be important over the next few years.”
Blushing, she swatted him off. “I haven’t set the date yet, and until we find my mother, I can’t even think about it. So shoo, pest.”
Staring at the pair, I noticed then that Rhiannon was wearing a thin silver band on the right fourth finger of her hand. It had a diamond in it—minuscule, but a diamond nonetheless.
“You two are getting married?”
She smiled softly. “We’re engaged to be engaged. But yeah, Leo is the one. We’ve been dating for three years now. Cicely, can we go look for Heather? It’s getting colder out there and if she’s caught somewhere . . .”
“Yeah. She could die of hypothermia. Bring a blanket, just in case we find her.” Blankets were bulky but better safe than sorry.
Pre-Order Night Myst from Amazon, Borders, BN.com
Pre-Order Harvest Hunting from Amazon, Borders, BN.com
6.08.2010
Heroines Who Can Give as Good as They Get
I'm up over on the Book Binge today, talking about strong heroines, giving away copies of Witchling (contest there runs through 15th)!
Review of Night Myst there, too.
Yasmine
Review of Night Myst there, too.
Yasmine
6.07.2010
Night Myst Spider Contest! (Contest Closed)
EEEEEEEEEKKKKKKKKK….I have a special scream. Samwise calls it my ‘spider’ scream. I’m arachnophobic. So how does someone terrified of spiders end up writing about werespiders in the Otherworld Series, and now—Myst, a queen who works with the magic of spiders and mist and snow in Night Myst? I dunno—just quirky, I guess. And even though I’m afraid of spiders and if they come in my house, they’re fair game, I do understand their importance in the cycle of life. And I find them fascinating, if prone to inhabiting my nightmares.
So today’s Night Myst contest is about spiders! (Woohoo, I knew you’d love that one!). Are you afraid of spiders? Do you like them? And what’s the freakiest incident you’ve had with one?
Leave a comment with your answer AND your email address, and one person will win a $10 gift card to Amazon.com. This contest is open to U.S. and international fans. You must be 18 or over to enter, and you must leave your email address in the comment that you post. Enter by 11:59 on 6.7.2010 to be eligible. Winner will be posted on Saturday’s blog.
CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED! PLEASE DO NOT ATTEMPT TO ENTER!
Yasmine
6.05.2010
Night Myst Thursday (6/3) Contest Winner!
Congratulations to Jenni Rimbaugh for winning the first Night Myst Thursday contest from June 3rd! We will post the winners from the other blogs as we get their information. Please keep checking back here for updates on Yasmine's guest blogs where there will be chances to win books and other prizes during the month of June.
-- J.L. Anderson
Personal Assistant to Yasmine Galenorn
-- J.L. Anderson
Personal Assistant to Yasmine Galenorn
6.03.2010
NIGHT MYST Thursday, Part 7
I have a surprise for you! I’m going to attempt a regular blogging schedule, to be interrupted by mostly great announcements (if I have any) or massive work deadlines (a given). This doesn’t mean an every day schedule, but I’m going to try to hit the blog more regularly than I have been and lay off hanging out on Twitter and FB so much.
And for a treat, each Thursday’s post will be an excerpt from Night Myst until the book comes out.
Since the first chapter is up on my site, I’m giving you excerpts from the beginning of Chapter 2. (And don’t get greedy—no complaining or I stop). And if I find anybody reproducing this on other sites--I stop and everybody loses out. That means: NO cutting/pasting/copying/sending through email.
Chapter 1
NM Thursdays Part 1
NM Thursdays Part 2
NM Thursdays Part 3
NM Thursdays Part 4
NM Thursdays Part 5
NM Thursdays Part 6
CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED!!!
NIGHT MYST:
CHAPTER 2 (part 7)
Copyright 2010 Yasmine Galenorn
DO NOT REPRODUCE
After jumping in the shower to rinse off, I towel dried and dressed in a clean pair of black jeans and a black knit turtleneck. Shrugging into my leather jacket, I took another look in the mirror.
“Right on.” I might be Value-Mart chic, but I had the goth rocker chick look going on, and I wore it well. Turning sideways, I patted my abs. Tight, but not concave. While most women angsted over their weight, I didn’t mind packing an extra twenty pounds. At five four, and one hundred-forty pounds, I was solid and muscled from my workouts and life on the road.
My hair was straight, draping just past my shoulders, jet-black and in need of a trim. I pushed the long bangs back behind my ears and stared at my face. The smooth, straight-as-silk strands contrasted against my green eyes and pale skin.
A gust blew against the window, startling me out of my thoughts. Welcome back, Cicely. Aren’t you going to come say hello?
Cautiously, I opened the sash. The inner radiance I’d always associated with the copse had faded. The welcome mat had been pulled. As I stared at the forest, a shadow covered the wood. I leaned on the sill and stared out at the thicket, fat flakes of snow drifting down to blanket it in a lacework of white.
“Are you really still out there?” I whispered. “Are you waiting for me? Do you still want me? What happened, Grieve? The light’s gone from the trees.”
Grieve . . . you never forget your first love. I’d been six years old when we first met, but it was on a visit when I was seventeen that he took me in hand, laid me down, made love to me, and stole my heart. And I’d broken his.
Grieve . . . Was he still out there? My wolf told me he was. Was he waiting for me to find him again? Time would only tell. And did he know what happened to Heather? That . . . I could only hope.
There was only one way to find out the answers to my questions. I headed downstairs.
Night Myst Contest!
To kick off release month we’re having the first Night Myst contest on my blog. Leave a comment as to what you are most looking forward to in Night Myst here and one person will win a $10 gift card to Amazon.com. You must be 18 or over to enter, and you must leave your email address in the comment that you post. Enter by 11:59 PM on 6.3.2010 to be eligible. Winner will be posted on Saturday’s blog.
CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED, PLEASE DO NOT ATTEMPT TO ENTER!
Pre-Order Night Myst from Amazon, Borders, BN.com
Pre-Order Harvest Hunting from Amazon, Borders, BN.com
6.02.2010
At Bitten By Books Today!
Come join me, peeps, at BittenbyBooks:
I'll be answering questions and giving away a $25 gift card and five copies of Bone Magic (to US/Canadian residents). :)
Yasmine
I'll be answering questions and giving away a $25 gift card and five copies of Bone Magic (to US/Canadian residents). :)
Yasmine
6.01.2010
Night Myst Release Party Month
Okay, it’s NIGHT MYST RELEASE PARTY MONTH. Yasmine will be giving away many books (books are thanks to her publisher) and several online gift cards.
Here’s the schedule so you know where Yasmine will be what day. Some of the gift card contests are open internationally, but since Berkley Publishing is offering the books, those are only open to US and Canadian residents. Read the instructions on each blog to find out which is which.
On my Blogger Blog:
June 3: Night Myst Thursday & Contest.
June 7: Night Myst Spider Contest
June 9: Night Myst Wednesday (excerpt)
June 14: Night Myst Elemental Contest
June 18: Night Myst Friday (excerpt)
June 25: Night Myst Friday & Vampire Contest
June 29: NIGHT MYST RELEASE DATE PARTY
Guest Blogs and Interviews (all giveaways)
June 2: Bitten By Books Interview/Q&A and giveaway.
June 2-26: Grasping For the Wind Blog & giveaway.
June 4: Fresh Fiction Blog and giveaway.
June 8: Book Binge Blog & giveaway
June 10: Ilona Andrews Blog and giveaway
June 11: Smexy Books: Post and giveaway
June 13: Running with Quills: Post and giveaway
June 17: Paranormality Universe: Post and giveaway
June 21: Borders True Romance Blog and giveaway
June 23: BSC Review Blog and giveaway
June 24: Grasping for the Wind: Interview
June 28: Flames Rising Blog and giveaway
June 30: Book Pushers Blog & Giveaway
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)