My Books are Official!

It's still a little bit hard for me to believe, but I've actually seen copies, in real stores, so in spite of the bumpy road, and in spite of the April Fool's Day release date, I'm happy to say that my first two novels, Cinderella: Ninja Warrior and Sleeping Beauty: Vampire Slayer are officially out!

As Molly mentioned, last Friday night my family threw me a surprise book launch party and boy was it a a surprise. I didn't have a clue.

And look at the fabulous cake! Thanks to my sister, Sue, for that one! And mom for the stand up cards of my covers...

And here's a very red me... (It was a surprise party. No make up. Not even sure if I had clean hair. No, I'm sure I didn't...)


And here are some photos of the books in actual stores!

Thank you to my sister-in-law and to author Claudia Osmond for the photos. :) I've been reminded a lot over the past few days what a fabulous family and group of friends I have. Big hugs to you all.

I feel like I should be saying something about, you know, the books--but I've already been on a few blogs and will be doing quite a few more...

If you're interested in reading more about the books (and why wouldn't you be, LOL) here are a few links to other places where I've been blathering on. :)

Where the (not-so) Wild Things Are

Brant Flakes

Get Lost in a Story

And over the next few weeks I'll be interviewed/features at a bunch of lovely book bloggers' blogs. (say that fast five times)

Happy Release Day to Me!

Ta da!!! Today is the official day that Dead on Delivery, my follow up to last year's Don't Kill the Messenger, hits the shelves, babies!!

I'm super excited because this book is my first ever Top Pick from Romantic Times. I actually cried a tiny bit when I found out. Of course, I also cried watching Despicable Me on Friday night, but that's another story (Sinead, I don't think we should watch movies together or maybe we should because I wouldn't have to share the tissue box).

Fresh Fiction liked it, too, and said my "distinctive voice rings gleefully throughout . . ."

So if anyone has been hankering for another installment of Melina's adventures, hanker no longer. It's here!

Keepin' It in Perspective

I like what I do and, frankly, most people are pretty impressed when you tell them you're a published author. While I've encountered some snobbery about the fact that I write romance novels, it's not as common as one is occasionally led to believe.

Yesterday, I did a radio interview at the local NPR station. Jeffrey Callison is a terrific interviewer. Smart, funny, smooth, and honestly, not too hard on the eyes, either. When I told everyone at my day job that I'd need to be late yesterday because I was being interviewed, they were all so impressed.

Then I got to the station . . . I walked into the green room to wait my turn and plopped down on the couch next to a woman who was already waiting. We introduced ourselves. I asked her what she did. She is the Deputy Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court at The Hague. Yep. She spends her days prosecuting the people who use rape as a weapon of war. Talk about impressive!

Anyway, a little dose of humility is probably healthy for all of us. I had mine yesterday. After she told me what she did, I told her "I wrote a vampire book."

She looked at me for a second and then we both burst out laughing. It was a great moment and one I'll keep in mind any time my head starts getting a little too big to fit through doorways.

That all said, click here if you want to listen to the interview. My part starts about halfway through. Also, if anyone out there is northern California, stop by the Borders in Davis tonight between 7 and 9. Have a glass of Vampire wine and a snack and help me celebrate the release of Don't Kill the Messenger!

I like my men like I like my Diet Coke . . .

Cold and in the can, baby!

Okay. Bad joke, but seriously, why do we like vampires? More specifically, why do I find them fascinating? Or, at least, fascinating enough to write a book with them in it?

Here's my true confession. I'm not fascinated by vampires. I'm not enthralled by werewolves. Elves don't make me weak in the knees and goblins do nothing for me. What I love is the idea that all these things might exist in my world. Even more, I'm intrigued by what they would have to do to get along. Now you know why I love the idea of urban fantasy.

Ever since I was a little girl, I always wanted a little magic in my life. Even now as a grown-up, I prefer life with a sprinkling of fairy dust on it. At the same time, I am, at heart, a very conventional kind of girl. While I like reading the occasional full-on fantasy that takes place in a completely imagined world (you rocked my world, George R. R. Martin!), I can't imagine myself IN that world. My world with some twists to it? Now THAT I can totally put myself in. Writing urban fantasy gives me a chance to create a world like that, even if the fairy dust I'm sprinkling is a little dark and gruesome.

What do you do to get a little magic in your life? Leave a comment and automatically be entered to win a copy of DON'T KILL THE MESSENGER.

And just in case you haven't had enough of me today, stop by Mysteries and Margaritas for a little more background on me and the book.