Monthly Archive for July, 2007

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Release Day!!

Published on July 20, 2007 in 6 Degrees of Sexy, Promotion and The Bond That Ties Us. 20 Comments

I want to start this post by saying thank you! I’ve met so many wonderful people over the past year of blogging. You’ve been there for me when I’ve struggled, and to share my successes. The support I’ve received over the past few days, weeks, month has made me realize how truly lucky I am. To everyone who has ever linked to my site, offered a word of support, or simply been there to chat, I’m sending you cyber HUGS, KISSES and my most sincere gratitude.

And now…

OMG IT’S OUT!!!

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This day is special for a number of reasons. First, The Bond That Ties Us is officially out from Ellora’s Cave. :D This full length novel is near and dear to my heart. I really learned how to write with this book. It had gone through several incarnations to get to where it is today. Please, if you do buy it, I’d love to hear what you think: the good, bad, and ugly.

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Second, today is the release day of my cyber friend Joely Sue Burkhart!! I’ve been reading Joely’s blog for quite a while now, after having discovered her through Thursday Thirteen. A wonderful lady! Survive My Fire sounds delicious and I can’t wait to buy this once I get home.

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 Last, today is the official Launch of 6 Degrees of Sexy!!! I’m joining Wylie Kinson, Amy Ruttan, Renee Field, Robin L. Rotham, and Red Garnier on a wild adventure into the world of sexy. Yes, another blog you MUST add to your list. The official release is today, so stop by and say hello!

Cleaning Hunks!!

Published on July 19, 2007 in Fun. 6 Comments

OMG look what I found!!!

http://www.cleaninghunk.com/

Brian the Gladiator in the bathroom with latin music…

Thursday Thirteen #36

Published on July 19, 2007 in The Bond That Ties Us and Thursday Thirteen. 38 Comments

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Well everyone, the day will finally be here tomorrow! The Bond That Ties Us is set for release bright and early tomorrow morning from Ellora’s Cave. Am I nervous…damn straight! But here are thirteen things I’ve done to try and keep my mind off of R-Day.

1. Work. Yes, no calling in sick for this trainer. It’s actually a good week for me because I have my customer service class to train. No time to think about the fact my soul will be bared to the world tomorrow.

2. Watch season three of Doctor Who / season one of Torchwood. And reading every damn bit of trivia I can find on the show. Other than Star Trek, Doctor Who is the one sci-fi show I’ve been watching since I was a kid. Has a special place in my heart. Plus I love David Tennent!

3. Write. Okay, so this week hasn’t been so good on the writing front. I did much better last week. Sven will be upset. But I’ve still managed 5000 or so words, so not too bad.

4. Talk. When I’m nervous I talk…a lot. Even more than normal. It’s really quite scary.

5. Haunting the blog world. I’ve been reading so many blogs this week it’s crazy. People I haven’t met before, checking out new places. Every time I start to panic about Bonds, I simply look for a new blog.

6. Promo. Or at least try to promo. It’s all so new to me still.

7. Go to the Ellora’s Cave Coming Soon Page. Sad as this is, I’ve been watching my cover move up the list. The art work is finally up too! Which is good considering it’s releasing TOMORROW!

8. YouTube. I’ve been spending more time than usual on YouTube. I’ve found some very strange things. That will have to be another TT list. :D

9. Make marks on my calendar. I actually have three locations where I’ve marked the day. I have a white board at work with the countdown number in the corner. I have it circled on my calendar in my cube, and at home. You’d think I know the date already. OCD anyone??

10. Read. I’ve actually have been on a bit of a vampire kick, which is odd because I don’t normally read vampire books. I finished December Quinn’s Blood Will Tell (which totally rocked – go buy it!), Rises the Night by Colleen Gleason (which also totally rocked!) and I’ve just started J.R. Ward’s Dark Lover. Loving Wraith so far. :D

11. Exercising! I’ve been saying for a while I needed to get back to exercising, and I’ve actually started. Nothing major yet, but I’m going to set up my routine this weekend and start.

12. Trying not to whine. This is hard, because of #4. When I talk a lot it can come dangerously close to whining. My husband usually give me “the look” and I stop. :)

13. Coming up with a TT list. You’d think this would be easy! I’ve toyed with a few ideas over the past week but couldn’t think of a thing to say. So I did what I normally do – just sat down and wrote. :)

Happy TT everyone!

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

Christine’s Cool Contest!

Published on July 18, 2007 in Contest, Promotion and Seventy Days Of Sweat. 15 Comments

There is soooo much going on this week it’s crazy. Or maybe I’m crazy. I keep forgetting…

As you all know, The Bond That Ties Us releases on Friday! I’ve been going crazy trying to get the word out on different sites, conducting interviews, and get what…

Running contests!

I’d like to announce my very first contest. If you and a friend sign up for my brand-spanking new newsletter, your names will be entered into a draw to win a copy of the book. The great news is, if either you or your friend’s name is drawn, you both win! Great see! :D

The newsletter will be super cool and I’ll make sure to put lots of fun stuff in there, including writing tips, book reviews and a section I like to call Wikipedia Says.

I’ve also been trying to write this week. Admittedly, there have been a number of distractions. I’ve managed ten pages on The Bond That Heals Us, and another 3000 words on another story. No, it’s not a new one, but I had an idea to fix All Bottled Up. I’ve gotten the word count almost to 80k, so I’m really happy. I’m back to focusing on Heal today.

And remember, not only is Friday the release of Bonds…but something super sexy is on its way.

Six Degrees of Sexy!

EDIT: Here is the link to the contest! Sorry about that.

Blog Swap with Gabriella Hewitt

Published on July 17, 2007 in Promotion. 14 Comments

Just want to thank Christine for Blog Swapping with me today. If you want to know where she is, Christine is over at my blog chatting away.  

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Hot Summer Nights sounds like a really sizzling title for a book. Unfortunately, it has been my life story for the past few days and let me tell you it is anything but romantic.

The A/C crapped out and I have had two men in my attic for the past three days trying to install a new one. One day to haul the old junk out, another day to install it and another day to fix it because it’s already busted!

Of course, Murphy’s Law.  The stupid machine is replaced during the hottest days of summer, a good sweltering 90 degree heat & humidity. Ain’t that the way?

Oh well, enough of my crying and moaning.

Let’s talk about real sultry summer nights. Since I have kids, the hubby and I getting naked, all hot and heavy under the sheet in the boudoir with a fan going is out of the question. Instead I let romance novels feed my 4th of July firecracker orgasmic needs.

I must not be the only one because every book publisher has their line of summer must reads. And you better believe I have a pile of them stacked up and ready to go by the beach bag.

Touch of Madness by CT Adams and Cathy Clamp (won it from Midnight  Moon Café)
Talons Anthology by Samhain authors
Stray by Rachel Vincent (Do you see a huge a paranormal theme here?)

Here are a few summer e-reads that are coming out that I want  –

(Gonna read these on the laptop on my deck while I BBQ)
Show Me by Jaci Burton (erotic romance)
The Last Thing I Want by Heather Rae Scott (romantic comedy)
Inventing the Abbots by Jerri Drennen (romantic suspense)
Starkissed by Lanette Currington (I am such a sucker for futuristic & aliens – don’t ask!)
Secret Agent Reunion by Caridad Pineiro (romantic suspense)

And most definitely…

The Bond That Ties Us by Christine D’Abo (another futuristic!)

There are so many more titles I want but alas the new A/C has made me broke.

I tell you, if I won the lotto I’d keep the romance publishing industry in the black. Of course right now my biggest concern is praying that we don’t have a blackout with everyone running their A/C’s. Knowing my luck I’ll be having another hot summer night.

If I don’t have a blackout then I’ll be online. Come visit me anytime over at www.gabriellahewitt.com

Squee!!

Published on July 16, 2007 in Promotion. 14 Comments

I just got this wonderful quote from New York Times Best Selling author Julianne MacLean!

“Christine d’Abo’s debut novel sizzles with sexy-hot prose and deelply intriguing characters – a must-read for fans of steamy futuristic romace. The Bond That Ties Us will leave you sighing with satisfaction. Don’t miss this hot new author!”

Thank you so much Julianne!

Sleepy Monday

Published on July 16, 2007 in Seventy Days Of Sweat, TV and Writing. 11 Comments

Well Sven and I had a bit of a falling out yesterday. In order for me to get 35 pages this week, I need to write five pages a day. Needless to say, I didn’t yesterday. I managed three, which isn’t bad, but it isn’t five.

It’s totally Doctor Who’s fault. Damn him.

The good news is I only have one episode left and then we’re done. And after that, no more TV shows. At least for a week or two. ;) I’ll try and make up the two pages I’m behind today. It shouldn’t be too bad.

As I’ve been watching the Doctor and Martha this weekend, it’s made me wonder what it is about certain characters that really get to me. I’ve been hooked on Doctor Who since I first saw Tom Baker as a kid traveling around the galaxy. The character is enigmatic and charming, and just out of reach for his companions who grow to love him. In the new series he’s also a wounded soul.

It got me thinking about some of the other characters who have struck a chord with me over the years. The Phantom of the Opera, House, Robert Goren (Law & Order: CI), Jack O’Neill…they are all Alphas with a wounded heart. Apparently, it makes me gooey inside.

I’ve seen this coming over into my writing. Most of my heroes, while strong, are definitely wounded in one way or another. Mostly psychologically, but I’ve been toying with the idea of adding in some physical elements with an upcoming character.

As a writer, these are the types of people I like to explore. Not the boy/girl growing to man/women themes, but the man/woman who’s been beaten around by life and now has to make a change or be lost forever.

I wonder what that says about me?

Weekly Goals mixed with Sweat

Published on July 15, 2007 in Goals, Seventy Days Of Sweat and TV. 4 Comments

What a week. I’m proud to say I completely my goals for last week. I was able to write 35 pages on The Bond That Heals Us. I wasn’t sure I’d be able to do it for a while, but I’m doing the happy dance.

Having the motivation of Sweat has been good for me, but it also shows me how much time I spend doing other things. I’ve barely done any reading, with the exception of December Quinn’s new book Blood Will Tell (I’ll have a review later – but it rocks!). I’ve had to give up a lot of the little things I like to do in order to get this written. It makes me want to slow down a bit and relax. That said, I won’t because I’m on a roll and am scared to stop.

On a side note, I’ve been watching season three of Doctor Who. OMG did they ever ramp up the intensity this season! David Tennant is completly owning the role of the Doctor now. I wasn’t sure if I really liked him at first, but now I’m hooked. I hope he stays on for many seasons. It will break my heart when he leaves. :( I like the character of Martha as well. It’s very hard to walk into a role and try to fill a gap left by a character people loved. Freema Agyeman is great as the new companion.

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Sweat Day 7

Published on July 14, 2007 in Seventy Days Of Sweat. 6 Comments

I did it! I finished 35 pages (15,634 words) this week on The Bond That Heals Us. :D I wasn’t sure if I would be able to pull it off due to some craziness this week, but I finished it up tonight. 

Sven would be proud!

Ahoy There!

Published on July 14, 2007 in Life. 3 Comments

We just got back from the Tall Ships at Halifax habour. What a great turn out of people and ships. The morning started out a bit cool, but it heated up in no time. We got to see some very cool ships – and a few you would recognize!

This is the Providence, the ship in Pirates of theCaribbean 2 that got pulled down by the giant squid. It looked much smaller in person than it did in the movie, but still very cool.

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This one is the ship that is used on the Pirate Master TV show. I think this was my favourite of the bunch. Quite big and very impressive looking.

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I have more pictures I’ll show you later. For now, I have to go sweat!