On Saturday the 19th, Book Love Affair will have an interview with me posted. I will be erudite and entertaining and brilliant and . . . well, anyhow, I’ll be me. So do come have a gander.

I have two bright shiny Advanced Reader Copies of Bitter Night. That’s right–they are early copies–you get to see them long before anyone else does. They are up for grabs. Here’s all you have to do to be in the running . . . .

In the comments of this post, offer at least one possible title for the sequel to Bitter Night. Heh. Without knowing what it’s about.

Here’s what I’m looking for. A two word title, with an edgey quality. Think darkness, apocalypse, grittiness. Think about invasion and war and the people who stand up and do what needs to be done because they’re the ones who can.

The contest will go until Friday morning at 9 a.m. Mountain time. I will send these anywhere, so anyone can enter. On friday, I’ll do a random drawing and announce the winners. You’ll have a few days to respond with proper addresses.

So . . . ready? Bring it on!

I periodically (actually highly infrequently, but I’m trying to remedy that a little) send out a newsletter of info, reminders, bits and stuff, and some of you may be on the list, and you may not. Do feel free to go the website and on the contact form send me an email to add you to the list.

Remember, contest on Monday. And I also have cover flats, so two arcs and coverflats to give away.

I’m running a fever. Have been for a couple of days. Makes me cranky, makes me unable to sleep well, and makes working hard. Don’t. Need. This.

I also find myself with little to blog about because of it. Mostly I’m dazing and feel like him stewing in my own juices, except the fever makes feel frozen. Frozen stew juice.

I wasn’t able to watch the Obama speech tonight, but I read it, and frankly I found it reassuring, and I found it to be rational and balanced. I hope that there’s health reform. Goodness knows we need it. Goodness knows I do. I still have major concerns about what the final product will look like–I am very much hoping the rational, public service side wins out. I just wish the Congress Critters had to have ordinary insurance and deal with all the hassles. They’d certainly move more quickly and sensibly. One thing the speech said that I agree with totally as that the last few months have made me despise our congressmen and women more than usual. They have acted badly and I hope they straighten up and fly right. Joe Wilson would be my top example of poor behavior. Simple civility is the least of what he and everyone else in this debate should offer. I wonder when we started electing children and spoiled brats to lead us.

Here is also where I start calling attention to the fact that Bitter Night will release in just over a month and I’m asking you to preorder and tell your friends. Get the word out for me if you would. I’ll be posting chapters soon. Look for an ARC giveaway next week. I figured out what the contest will be. Start thinking about it. I am going to need a title for the next book. No, you don’t get to know anything about it. But it should be something of the same flavor of Bitter Night–dark and gritty, possibly heroic and powerful. I want a two word name. So be thinking about that. I’ll be opening up the contest very soon. Soooooo . . . . think.

Yeah, I’m late. No wait! I’m early! Sunday! Snippet Sunday! It’s still alliterative.

From Bitter NIght, since it’s coming soon:

Her gaze ran over him. He was maybe seventeen and cute beneath the ugly uniform and acne. His face was still curved with baby fat, but in a few years he was going to be a lady-killer. She felt her face hardening. In a few years, he’d be a tempting target for a witch. He blanched at the sudden violence in her expression and took a step back. She heard his heart start to race and smelled the sour scent of fear. In a minute he’d pee his pants.

Fuck. She grabbed her change and the coke cup and went to fill it. She leaned her hip against a bolted down chair and studied the floor until her burgers were ready. No danger here. No danger here. She repeated it to herself, hoping Todd would feel it and believe. When he plopped the two grocery-sized sacks on the counter, she grabbed them without a word and strode out the door.

And now, your turn. Bring it on. Show me what you’re working on.

I know you’ve heard this from me before, but as I get into rereading this book (aka Crosspointe 4), and remember I’ve made a point of NOT going back and revising or reading, but have written it straight through, so this is my first real reading of it as a whole, I can say this:

Holy KRAP Batman! It doesn’t suck! I like it so far. Even the the necessary info-dumping background bits aren’t as heavy handed as I feared. Whoohoooo!!!!!

And some of you have asked, so explanation: This was going to be called The Traitor King. I thought it would focus more on one of two characters. But it took a left hand turn and that title just doesn’t fit. I think Cursed By Sylveth, which was the original title of The Turning Tide might work better, but not sure if that makes me happy. I will be trying to figure it out as I revise and then later when my betas read and tell me things.

I can go into more detail, but that might be spoilicious for The Turning Tide, so if you have questions, ask them, then I’ll answer them in a spoiler warning post. KK?

So wrote over 3K today. This is good, because I also got the copy edits for Bitter Night. So have to work on them. And write an acknowledgements page. And I have to make sure I don’t forget people, especially since a number of you have been terribly important to this book. My in-laws are coming to visit tomorrow for a few days also, so I’ll have to get some serious work done in the early a.m. every day.

So this is where I stand on The Traitor King:

43132 / 120000 words. 36% done!

I’m not actually sure it’s going to be 120K. I actually have taken to shooting for 100K, since I inevitably go longer. And since I usually add a lot in revision.  If ‘m already at 120K and add a bunch, then I have to also cut a bunch. But since the revision process means that I probably already cut all the fat AND added in new stuff, it leaves me with a lean manuscript and little to cut. This is crazy-making. So the long and the short of it is that I’m actually further along than that looks. But most importantly, I’m on track to have a draft by my birthday, which will give me time to revise before the deadline.

On the subject of movie kisses: Six Days, Seven Nights: Blech. Doesn’t work. Charlotte Gray–nope, and all the more disappointing for an earlier, more emotional scene. The kiss was flat as paper.  REviewing movie kisses will be an ongoing fetish for me. So feel free to join in (TV kisses too). Who does good kisses?

And on the subject of the Criminal Minds season finale: WTF? Anybody want to comment on that?

So some of you know that my favorite uncle died a few days ago. Thanks for all your condolences. It means a lot.

My inlaws come and visit in a few days for just a few days. This means I’ll miss Miscon, which saddens me. I ordered a furminator. This apparently is an super special dog comb. I’m hoping it works as advertised. Also, what sort of an idiot delivers the new telephone book by dropping it over the fence onto the ground into a yard of two puppies? They weren’t hiding. So today I had a confetti party. It looks like the government is going to pass some controls on the credit card companies. I have to admit, I’m fairly happy with most of these controls. I do have to say–how the hell did the carry concealed weapons in state parks bit get added to a credit card bill? This folks, is one thing that’s wrong with lawmaking. You shouldn’t be able to tack on odd things to a bill. It should be considered separately.

Now for a bit of braggery and happy dancing.

First, Faith Hunter, (also Gwen Hunter), who writes the Rogue Mage novels, likes Bitter Night! She says:

“In Bitter Night, Diana Pharaoh Francis has created a dark, unique, and electrifying world in the Urban Fantasy Genre… Max is a Shadowblade warrior to die for!”

And Rob Thurman, who writes the Cal Leandros books, says:

“Maximum supernatural ass kicking, maximum attitude, maximum action. Who can deliver all that and more? Max to the max, that’s who!”

AND a couple of great reviews of The Black Ship:

First one from Errant Dreams Reviews and the second from a reader on Chapters.

Also, a review on The Turning Tide, which includes spoilers. And you should know Jess is a friend of mine, but I think if you want to talk about spoilery things, it could be a great place to have a discussion.

Today was exhausting and productive. Exhausting because the job just always has to poke at me with a sharp stick. And then last night I had diet coke too late and it made me sleep not well. Darnit. But many words were done and I am happy about that. Some introspection that may have to be cut later, but for now . . .  And of course a shocking moment for one character. And someone nearly died.

But about that the subject line . . . I have coverflats of The Turning Tide to give away. Dunno how many. They aren’t within reach. But at least six or seven. Here’s all you have to do to win.

Between now and say . . . . next Thursday, the 21st . . .  comment in this post. All you have to do is say something about something that happens in the book. Ask a question even. This may mean spoilers! So careful if you read the comments. Or  . . . You can tell me something about what you expect or hope to see in the next book, based on what you read in The Turning Tide.

I’ll draw for the winners (if there are enough answers) on the 21st. You can comment on the ljay or on the website (not both please).

Also, if you’ve read the book and want to post reviews on BN or Amazon or your blog or what have you, I’d be grateful.

And don’t forget. If you’re in the US and you want a printed map of Crosspointe, send me an email at dpf AT dianapfrancis DOT com  and put Map in the subject line and your snail mail in the body, and I will send you one. If you are not in the US, I can email you a pdf.

The fabulous Ann Aguirre, author of Blue Diablo and Grimspace and Wanderlust (all of which I love huge, especially Blue Diablo which is why I was hoping she would agree to read it), was invited to read Bitter Night for blurb purposes. Here is one of the things she had to say:
“In the deliciously epic Bitter Night, Diana Pharaoh Francis has married the Charles de Lint-style old school urban fantasy to the new college of asskickery in a pagan-pirate handfast. I totally loved this book.”

I am a complete puddle of goo and over the moon. *bounce bounce bounce*