Pen Names and Me: Guest Post by Kris DeLake With Giveaway

Pen Names and Me

Kris DeLake

Author of Assassins in Love

     At first, I did it for sheer survival.
     Fifteen years ago, publishers had just started using computers to track book sales. And one thing publishers discovered was this: Some genres sell better than others. Mystery sells better than science fiction. Romance sells better than mystery.
     I’m a greedy little writer. I want to write in every genre—who cares how well the genre sells? I got my start in science fiction as Kristine Kathryn Rusch. So any move to a new genre would be a move up, right?
     Wrong. Editors from other genres would look at my science fiction sales numbers and laugh. Then they’d refuse to buy the new book. So first, I committed a mystery pen name (Kris Nelscott). And then, because that mystery novel was so darn dark, I had to write something funny to make me feel better.
     I wrote my first romance novel, and it was sweet and light and goofy. Enter Kristine Grayson.
     I discovered that I liked having different names. It gave me freedom. It also let my readers know what kind of novel they were going to get. Something unpredictable (but probably science fiction or fantasy in nature)? Kristine Kathryn Rusch. Something dark and brooding, set in the past? Kris Nelscott. Something silly with HEA? Kristine Grayson.
     I have other pen names as well. Some I share with my collaborator/husband Dean Wesley Smith (Sandy Schofield, Kathryn Wesley), and some are secrets, just for me. I have another romance pen name for contemporaries and romantic suspense. That’s Kristine Dexter, who needs to write another novel Real Soon Now.
     Then I wrote a short story called “Drinking Games” for an anthology. I published the story as Kristine Kathryn Rusch because the story is science fiction (kinda) and it’s short.
     What I knew—and the anthology editor didn’t—was that “Drinking Games” is the opening scene to a full novel. One with impossible space travel and non-techy world building. One that focuses not just on the characters (people expect all of my pen names to focus on characters), but on a hot, sexy romance between two unlikely characters.
     Oh, dear. The hardcore science fiction readers would hate the impossible space travel. The sweet-romance-only Kristine Grayson fans would turn away from the hot sex (and [I’m guessing here] the fact that the meet-cute is over a dead body). What to do?
     Simple: I invented another new pen name. And at first, this one was for me. I didn’t want to tell anyone who Kris DeLake was. Then I gave the opening three chapters to some hardcore sf friends of mine. They loved it. And I gave the same three chapters to some romance readers. They loved it.
     So I decided—then and there—to own up to the name. Yep, I’m Kris DeLake and Kristine Dexter and Kristine Grayson and Kris Nelscott and Kristine Kathryn Rusch. And I still have a few secret identities I’m keeping under wraps.

 My Review of Utterly Charming -->

     Guess it’s still a survival strategy for me, but more of a silly survival strategy. I keep thinking I might need a secret identity some day, if my life ever devolves into some kind of world-threatening crisis. And I don’t want anyone to know that’s me.
     Yep. I make things up. Fortunately, I do it for a living. And I have fun with it.
     Just like I had fun with Assassins in Love.
     I hope you do too.

Sourcebooks is nicely offering a copy of the book for giveaway.
TO ENTER THIS GIVEAWAY: 

1. Visit the author's website and tell me something that interests you there. This is required for entry.

2.  For an extra entry, comment on my review of Assassins in Love. (Preceding Post.)

3.  For an extra entry, become a follower or tell me if you are already a follower.

4. For two more entries, blog, facebook, tweet (any of those networks!) about this giveaway and tell me where you did.

It isn't necessary to use separate entries unless you want them in different chronological order.
(Five total entries possible.)

THERE WILL BE ONE WINNER.

* This contest is only open to residents of US and Canada.

* No P.O. Boxes Please - for shipping reasons.

* Limit one win per household.

* This contest will close 10 PM (Central) on March 30, 2012.
The winners will be randomly selected from all entries and announced on March 31 with 72 hours to complete the winners form.

Book Review: Assassins in Love by Kris DeLake

Can two assassins meet or work together without killing each other?

Assassins in Love

by Kris DeLake

• Mass Market Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca; Original edition (March 6, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1402262825
• ISBN-13: 978-1402262821

Genre: Science Fiction Romance

My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0

Product Description
A fast, edgy, and passionate story."
—Mary Jo Putney, New York Times bestselling author

When one killer falls for another

Agent: Misha
Profile: Highly trained in every method the assassins guild has to offer. Always goes by the book.
Agent: Rikki
Profile: Rogue assassin who kills only to rid the world of hardened criminals. Hates organizations. Always does it her way.

Love becomes a matter of life and death

Misha's mission is to get Rikki to join the guild or give up her guns. He completely underestimated the effect she would have on him...and what heat and chaos they could bring to each other...

Review:

This is fun and, in my opinion, better than Mr. & Mrs Smith, which had too much anger and bitterness. This story has gentleness, mishaps and decisions to trust or not to trust.
.
Rikki is a careful and successful assassin who is picky about the jobs she accepts. She doesn’t like organizational rules but she does have her own rules to follow. She only kills hardened criminals who deserve killing and she is particular to plan and execute the assassination in zones that won’t put her in trouble.

Misha is a highly skilled assassin who has been trained by the Assassins Guild and always follows the rules.  He has been questioned about several of Rikki’s recent kills so he seeks her out to determine what is going on.  Although Rikki doesn’t remember him, he remembers her from when she was a frightened child. Misha is drawn to the vulnerability he knows exists in Rikki and he tries to convince her to come into the guild as he thinks she can be better trained and safer there.

As Rikki wrangles an escape and a run from under Misha’s nose he begins to realize that she is much more clever than he first thought. Still he manages to follow her as he is pulled by their undeniable passion. Misha shows gentleness towards Rikki and growing respect for her skills. Can they really learn to trust each other? And why is someone seeking to hire Rikki for a job that could threaten both of them?

I was surprised that the betrayal isn’t revealed until the last thirty pages of the book. But there is plenty of action and anticipation that drew me along, eager to uncover the villain.  The alien world of space crafts, robots and futuristic gadgets is well developed and interesting.  The chemistry and passion between Rikki and Misha is intense and often, but not unpleasantly graphic. The villain seemed rather obvious, although there are a couple of possible suspects. Ms. DeLake does a good job setting up twists so that it is hard for Rikki and Misha to really trust each other. I especially liked the easy and fast flow of the story. If you are in the mood for a quick, light, fun, sexy read, this is a good choice!

Thank you to Sourcebooks for this book to read and review.

Comment on the author's guest post for a chance to win a copy of this book!

Spring Cleaning Giveaway Hop March 20 to 25, 2012

This is a great way to clear out some books!
Thank you to Kathy at I Am A Reader, Not A Writer for hosting!
*International Information is below the Spring Flower and Butterfly Divider*

US and CANADIAN ENTRIES:
I am clearing out boxes by giving away THREE sets of multiple books. There are six sets to choose from!
Most of these are ARC or review copies.
Here are the choices:

Package #1:

Historical Romance - review copies
Knight Trilogy by Margaret Mallory!

Package #2:

Romantic Suspense - ARC and review copies
Trilogy by Roxanne St. Claire

Package #3:

Paranormal Romance - ARC Copies

Stronger Than Sin by Caridad Pineiro; 

Sin Undone by Larissa Ione and
Beneath the Thirteen Moons by Kathryne Kennedy

Package #4:

Christian Fiction - New (extra) Books
(These are extras from upcoming Book Club box)

Everybody's Suspect in Georgia by Cecil Murphey

Calico Canyon - Lassoed In Texas by Mary Connealy 

Romance Rides the Range by Colleen L. Reece

Package #5:

Cowboys - ARCs and Review

Going Cowboy Crazy and Make Mine a Cowboy by Katie Lane 

The Comeback Cowboy by Cathy McDavid

Package #6:

Mysteries - Audios
Don't Blink by James Patterson (Audio CD)
All Cry Chaos by Leonard Rosen (MP3-CD)
Whiteout by Ken Follett (Audio CD)

US AND CANADIAN ONLY ENTER THIS RAFFLECOPTER

Book Review and Feature: The Slippery Art of Book Reviewing - Bewitching Blog Tour

This book is a wonderful resource for current reviewers and a must read for anyone who is contemplating  becoming a reviewer.
E book ON SALE FOR BLITZ DAY ONLY!

On March 19th, The Slippery Art of Book Reviewing will be on sale for that day only for $2.99 instead of the regular price.  The purchase links:

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Slippery-Art-Book-Reviewing-ebook/dp/B004OL2JTQ

Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/slippery-art-of-book-reviewing-mayra-calvani/1100069609

The Slippery Art of Book Reviewing

by Mayra Calvani and Anne K. Edwards

Publisher: Twilight Times Books
http://twilighttimesbooks.com/
ISBN: 978-1-933353-22-7
Genre: Reference/Writing
Format: Trade paperback
Price: $16.95 print, $4.99 ebook
Pages: 180
Chapter excerpt:
http://twilighttimesbooks.com/SlipperyArt_ch1.html 

Description:

Are you passionate about books? Do you have the desire to share your thoughts about a book with readers, yet are unsure about what makes a good review? Are you curious about the influence reviews have on readers, booksellers, and librarians?

If you’re an experienced reviewer, The Slippery Art of Book Reviewing will serve as an excellent reference tool and amalgam of resources. If you’re a beginner, this book will show you how to write a well-written, honest, objective and professional book review. It will also teach you:

·        How to read critically

·        How to differentiate the various types of reviews

·        How to rate books

·        How to prevent amateurish mistakes

·        How to deal with the ethics and legalities of reviewing

·        How to tell the difference between a review, a book report, and a critique

·        How to start your own review site

·        How to publish your reviews on dozens of sites and even make money while you’re at it, and much more

If you’re an author, publisher, publicist, bookseller, librarian, or reader, this book will also bring to light the importance and influence of book reviews within a wider spectrum.

Amazon                               BN

Awards:

ForeWord Best Book of the Year Award Winner under the Writing Category!

2011 Global Ebooks Awards Winner for Nonfiction/Reference!

*US Book News National Best Book Award Finalist!

*Next Generation Indie Book Award Finalist!

*EPPIE Award Finalist!

*Used for reviewing course at 3 US universities and 1 university in the Netherlands.

For more information, visit Amazon or Twilight Times Books.

Authors’ bios:

Mayra Calvani writes fiction and nonfiction for children and adults. She’s had over 300 stories, articles, interviews and reviews published both online and in print, in publications such as The Writer, Writer's Journal, Acentos Review, Bloomsbury Review, Mosaic, and Multicultural Review, among many others. A reviewer for more than a decade, she now offers numerous book reviewing workshops online. She also offers workshops on the art of picture book writing. She's represented by Mansion Street Literary and Savvy Literary. Visit her website at www.MayraCalvani.com  

Anne K. Edwards is an award-winning multi-genre author, reviewer and editor of Voice in the Dark Ezine. Her latest novel is the suspense thriller, Shadows Over Paradise, published by Twilight Times Books. Visit her website at www.AnneKEdwards.com

 

Genre: Non Fiction; Resource
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0

Product Description (from Amazon)

This book was written not only with the aspiring reviewer in mind, but also for the established reviewer who needs a bit of refreshing and also for anybody--be they author, publisher, reader, bookseller, librarian or publicist--who wants to become more informed about the value, purpose and effectiveness of reviews.

2011 Global eBook Award Winner in the category of Reference Non-Fiction 

MBS Review:

The Slippery Art of Book Reviewing provides a lot of information in easy to read and follow chapters. The text is divided into three parts and the presentation flows well.

The longest section, and most “hands on” helpful, is Part One: The Art of Reviewing. The authors first identify five important keys to becoming a good reviewer: command of language; clarity of thought; honesty; objectivity and tact. The authors then discuss the parts of a book that may be covered for a careful and objective review. These elements to be aware of include: plot, setting, writing, characterizations, construction, point of view, “showing v. telling”, the mood of the book and the audience for the book.  The length of the review, the reviewer and the site instructions for where the review is to be posted will effect which elements are included. 

I like how the authors lay out steps and elements and then present specific formats for short or in-depth critique reviews.  They also give guidelines and examples of positive, negative, overly praising and inappropriate 'slamming' reviews. There are tips for specific types of reviews including audio, technical or non-fiction reviews and more. The authors discuss the different entities who might seek reviews, such as publishers, authors or publicists, as well as when and where reviews may be posted.  Ms. Calvani and Ms. Edwards even have a chapter comparing Reviewers and Bloggers, acknowledging that there are varying levels of formality or informality in reviews.

Part Two of the book provides information on The Influence of Book Reviews.  Many different points of view from various sources are discussed. I found the details and poll results interesting.

Part Three, Resources, contains very little narrative but provides an extensive listing of specific sites that can be researched for print, online and even paid reviews. This portion is useful for looking up sites for specific genres or purposes. 

There is a lot of very good information provided in this book. I believe that there were some updates added in 2010 to the original 2008 manuscript.  I was surprised however that sites like Goodreads, particularly but also Library Thing and Shelfari were not discussed but it seemed that the links were added as after thoughts in the resource section. One completely missing site for reviewers that I thought was a glaring error is NetGalley http://www.netgalley.com/.

Although I felt the book may have been missing some up-to-date data, it is still an excellent learning and resource tool.  I plan to use a brief checklist of the tips to help keep me on track with my own reviewing. This is a book that any existing reviewer could glean from for improvement and anyone interested in reviewing would want to read for guidance and insight.

Thank you to the authors and Bewitching Books Blitz Tour for providing the pdf for review.

Practical Advice to Remember When Reviewing

By

Mayra Calvani

•           Keep your writing style concise, direct and reader-friendly. Don’t try to impress readers with fancy words.

•           Whenever possible, try to specify the intended readership. Some books are specialized and appeal to only one group of people.

•           Stay away from clichés like “A real page-turner!” “Un-put-down-able!” It’s a pity, but even big newspaper reviewers sometimes use these expressions. You see them on the back of paperbacks all the time.

•           Don’t let a few typos affect your review if the book is good. Even books published by major houses sometimes have small errors.

•           Be advised that the most commonly preferred tense when writing a review is the present.

•           Read different types of reviews to get a feel of what a review should be like. Soon you’ll be able to differentiate the well-written reviews from the mediocre.

•           Try not to review books from family members, friends or people you know. The less you know about the author or publisher, the less chance of conflict of interest and the more freedom you have to be honest.

•           If you read all kinds of books, then review all kinds of books, but if you mostly read books in one genre, then it’s more sensible to only review books in that genre. Your reviews will have more insight, more ‘meat’ when you’re familiar with other authors and books in that particular genre.

•           Try to review books in the order in which you receive them. This will help in keeping up with deadlines and is only fair to the person who submitted it.

•           If you plan to review books in all categories, make sure you understand the various types of genres and subgenres. It’s embarrassing to complain in your review that a story has highly improbably situations if the story in question happens to be a parody!

•           Don’t be prejudiced. Don’t assume that a self-published or small press book will be poorly written. Give it a fair chance and let it speak for itself. Likewise, never assume a book published by a major NY house has to be good.

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? March 19, 2012

This meme starts at Book Journey!

What Are You Reading, is where we gather to share what we have read this past week and what we plan to read this week. It is a great way to network with other bloggers, see some wonderful blogs, and put new titles on your reading list.

I attended the 2012 EPICon in San Antonio this weekend, with events Thursday through Saturday.  I didn't read quite as much as I thought on the plane rides as I was so tired from getting up early.  I did complete three books. I posted four book reviews last week, an author interview, an author guest post and three Giveaways. Plus I posted the regular Friday Pick Giveaway and Saturday Sharing Beyond Books Comment Giveaway and a brief Sunday Words. 

Thank you once again to the nice people who visited me last week. I got to visit a dozen blogs last Sunday night but never got to visit more during the week.
These were last week's posts plus a Winner post not listed.

• It's Monday What are You Reading? March 12, 2012.

• Interview with Pauline Baird Jones, Author of the Project Enterprise Sci Fi Romance series. 

• Book Review and Giveaway: Kicking Ashe by Pauline Baird Jones; Sci Fi Romance;  my rating 5.0. Open Worldwide. Ends 5/23.
  

• Book Review: Shadow Boxing by Karen Wiesner; Contemporary, Christian Fiction;  my rating 4.0. 

• Book Review: True Highland Spirit by Amanda Forestor; Historical Romance;  my rating 4.25.

• What Me Funny? Guest Post by Amanda Forester and Print Giveaway  Ends 5/23.

•  Martha's Bookshelf***Friday Pick Giveaway March 16, 2012.  Open Worldwide.  Ends 3/22.

• Book Review and Giveaway: The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey; Fiction;  my rating 4.5.  

• Sharing Beyond Books #40 Comment Giveaway.  Open Worldwide. Ends 3/23.

• Sunday Words of Encouragement March 18, 2012.

Finished Reading:

1. Kindle/NetGalley
 

True Highland Spirit 

by Amanda Forester

Review, Author Guest post and Giveaway

linked above. 

2. Print

Assassins in Love 

by Kris DeLake

This is a fun, fast moving read.

I will be posting the review with Author Guest Post on March 20. Read for Sourcebooks

Product Description - click on title

3. eBook/Kindle

 

The Slippery Art of Book Reviewing

by Mayra Calvani and Anne K. Edwards

This is a great resource. 
I will post a review  on March 19.

I am reviewing this for a Bewitching Books

Blitz Tour.

Product Description - click on title.

Line Edits/Releases: I didn't get to work on the releases this week since I had to prepare to go out of town for EPICon which was a wonderful experience.

Currently reading:

1. Audio CD (in car)

 

Lothaire

by Kresley Cole

I am still listening to this 
and enjoying some of it.

 I am on disc 12 of 14 
so I hope to complete it by the end of the week.

Reviewing for Simon & Schuster through AudioJukebox

Book Description - Click on title for full description.

2. ebook/Kindle
 

The Day of First Sun
by Sheryl Steines
I am starting this tonight. Reading for Blog Tour with Novel Publicity for later this week.

Product Description
When Princess Amelie of Amborix is murdered by magical means, Annie Pearce and Bobby “Cham” Chamsky of the Wizard’s Guard are called in by the FBI. Their job is to help solve the crime while keeping the non-magical world from discovering the existence of the Wizard Council.

During their investigation, Annie and Cham discover that Princess Amelie’s death is connected to a series of other crimes in the Chicago area. A larger plot involving, a vampire, a rogue wizard and an army of soul-less zombies is revealed, but can Annie and Cham discover who is responsible before The Day of First Sun? 

3. Print

 

Believe It or Not
by Tawna Fenske

I just started this and it is going to be fun!

I will be reading this for Sourcebooks.

Product Description
Do you believe in...accounting?
Numbers never lie, so Violet McGinn found safe haven in the most boring profession she could find. Until her renowned psychic mother lands in the hospital and Violet has to run her business. Now you can have your taxes filed and your aura read, in one convenient location.
Do you believe in...music?
Drew Watson is the jaded owner of the local hot spot next door, and doesn't need a single thing except a good crowd to dance to what he's spinning on Saturday night.
Do you believe in...love?
The only thing Violet and Drew seem to have in common is that neither believes in that psychic hoo—hah. Except Drew seems to play exactly the right song at exactly the right time. And truth be told, it makes Violet's heart dance just a little ...

4.  Print
 

Love to Water My Soul (Dreamcatcher Series #2)
by Jane Kirkpatrick

I have to get this read for Book Club this Saturday.
Book Description
Series: Dreamcatcher | Publication Date: September 16, 2008
Based on historical characters and events, Love to Water My Soul recounts the dramatic story of an abandoned white child rescued by Indians. Among Oregon's Paiute people, Shell Flower seeks love and a place of belonging...only to be cast away from her home.

A remakable story of God's constancy and provision for all lovers of history, romance and faith...

Based on historical characters and events, Love to Water My Soul recounts the dramatic story of an abandoned white child rescued by Indians. Among Oregon's Paiute people, Shell Flower seeks love and a pace of belonging...only to be cast away from her home.

In the years that follow, she faces a new life in the world of the white man--a life filled with both attachment and loss--yet finds that God faithfully unites her with a love that fills all longing in this heartwarming sequel to Jane Kirkpatrick's award-winner, A Sweetness to the Soul.

I am again listening to The Listener's Bible NIV read by Max McLean. 

[Reading and listening on my new MP3.]

Instead of studying with the Tyndall One Year Bible this year I am studying with Through the Bible in One Year by Alan B. Stringfellow. It is a Study that I used for teaching back in around1989 so I will enjoy it again. This week's reading will be 1st & 2nd Kings.

Line Edits: As soon as reports are finished I will be back to continuing to work on print releases and making special arrangements for a children's book.

I have at least four books to post reviews for this week.
I still have 7 books to read for the month so one or two may yet slide into April.
March:
Scheduled:
3/19 The Slippery Art of Book Reviewing by Calvani and Edwards (Bewitching Blog Tour)
3/20 Assassins in Love by Kris DeLake with Guest Post (Sourcebooks)
3/22 The Day of First Sun by Sheryl Steines  (Novel Publicity)
3/24 Love to Water My Soul (Dreamcatcher Series #2) by Jane Kirkpatrick, review (my Ladies' Book Club)

Sourcebooks
Believe it or Not by Tawna Fenske
A Light on the Veranda by Ciji Ware

Author Reviews:
Promise Me by Dee Julian
Echo Falls by Jamie McDougall
An Irish Rogue by Suzanne Barrett


[To be posted - I am setting these up for interview/feature days.
These were read and ready for reviews for Authors.
Quest for Magic by Jean Hart Stewart - Read; review to be posted with interview.
Seeing for the First Time (What You See is What You Get) and To See (What You See is What You Get) by Nicole Zoltack - Both Read; setting up author interview with reviews.]