It’s only a month till Shadow City releases. Are you ready?

Here’s a snippet between Giselle and Alexander:

The witch returned quickly, wearing jeans, hiking boots, and a fuzzy green pullover. Her hair was caught behind her head in a ponytail.

She caught him examining her. “What?”

“It always surprises me how . . . natural you are.”

“Natural? I bathe every day, and it’s not like I let my body hair grow wild,” she said with a scowl.

“It was meant as a compliment.”

“Oh. Where’s Niko?”

“I sent him to find Oz and the angels.”

“Did you, now? Making yourself at home as Prime?”

“I am at home, and I am Prime. You just have to decide if you want to bind me to service.” His grin promised violence. “It will certainly make it harder for you if you do not.”

Giselle came and stood close, looking up at him. Magic swirled in her eyes, and he felt it crackle through her body. He scowled. She was too much on edge and was losing control of her magic. She needed protecting from herself.

“You’ll be Prime when and if I say you are and not before. Do you understand?”

He bent so that his nose nearly touched hers. “Try to stop me.”

Romantic Times named Shadow City a Top Pick for Urban Fantasy for January and gave it 4.5 out of 4.5 stars. Whoohoo!

They’ve also nominated Max for best Urban Fantasy Heroine for 2011. I’m so excited!

My publisher has posted up some interview questions and other things about me on their website. Come have a look.

A breeze ruffled the trees overhead and Max swiveled her head, sniffing the air. Uncanny magic pooled thick in the canyon. It was an odd combination of bitter and sweet—like a mouthful of salt and cigar butts all drenched in honey. The Divine magic was wafted through in thin curls. It was both caustic and sweetly pungent, like lye and pachouli. Mixed in were human smells—sweat, blood and flesh. A rank wet smell coated the back of Max’s throat. It reminded her of black mold and carrion.

The winner of the title contest is Livejournal’s Roseaponi with Blood Winter. So that is now the title of book four of the Horngate books, unless my editor puts a kaibosh on it. But right now, i think it fits very nicely. Whoohoo! Thank you for all the suggestions! Roseaponi, send me your mailing info and I’ll send you a title flat. I’ve got more to give away, so shortly I will figure out another contest to let you have at them!

Here are my top choices for titles, including some that I came up with. I’m curious about what you think of them. I’m leaning toward one. Also, there was one I can’t use because it’s too much like Shadow City.

Iron Rain
Shattered Wings
Iron Ice
Blood Winter
Winter’s Bite
Winter’s Blade

I have a huge and excellent list of titles to choose from, so I am narrowing it down. I’ll give you updates soon!

I’m still title-less for Horngate 4. But here’s a kind of overview of it if you have a suggestion. Here’s the thing, I want it somewhat in keeping with the first three books: Bitter Night, Crimson Wind, Shadow City. And if I use your title, I will send you a cover flat of Shadow City and I’ll put your name in the Acknowledgments of unnamed book 4.

here’s the blurb:

Shadowblade warrior Max’s niece is missing and it looks like she’s been kidnapped by a witch-hating cult. What should be an easy rescue turns into a deadly battle when Max finds out that the cult’s leader is far more dangerous than he first seems. He claims to be the Hand of God and his power is very convincing. A fanatic, he vows to burn all witches at the stake, starting with Horngate.

Even as the cult stirs up hatred against the covenstead, winter descends, bringing hunger and desperation. Townspeople are twisted up in a knot of ancient fear of witches, the fight for survival and a promise of God’s help. Can one crippled covenstead survive a human army led by an insane Preacher with superpowers?

Without aid from former allies, Horngate teeters on the edge of annhilation. Max’s only chance to save Horngate is to die. But she’s never been good at dying . . .

Lessee. The contest for this ends when I get a title I like? Or by Friday October 14th at noon. How’s that? And there may be runners up (more cover flats!)

Reply here to enter and enter as many times as you like!

In writing The Turning Tide, I had a terrible time becoming acquainted with the main characters. In an effort to know them, I did an interview with them. It’s terribly fun and so I thought I’d share. I particularly love Shaye’s interview. He was not easy.

Click here for the full interview

I figured some of you might want to know just where I got the concept of Horngate as a name. At the entrance of the covenstead is an arch of antlers and horns from animals. Moose, elk, and deer all lose their antlers once a year and a lot of people go hunting in the mountains for them. Or the antlers are taken as part of the harvest of the animal. Anyhow, living in Montana, I’ve seen some of these arches. They seem kind of magical to me in a way that connects to the earthmagic of Horngate.

Here’s a picture of one from Jackson Hole, Wyoming: