A Melody for My Muse

People often ask where I get ideas or how I overcome an uncooperative muse and for me the answers lie in music. When I'm plotting out a book, one of the first things I do is create a soundtrack for it. When I'm at a crossroads with a character or a hiccup in the plot, I listen to the songs I selected and usually it helps trigger and idea. Sometimes, the soundtrack will get new additions.

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For example, I was driving up to our summmer home in Rhode Island (the backdrop for Unleashed) and the song "All Summer Long" by Kid Rock came on and conjured up all kinds of great images for Samantha and Malcolm. That wasn't originally on the soundtrack for Unleashed but you can bet your butt it was added. I hope you enjoyed Malcolm and Samantha's story and will want to read more about the Amoveo.

"Sleepwalking to Dreaming"--Amy Petty *used in the book trailer for Unleashed
"All Summer Long"--Kid Rock
"Katmandu"--Bob Seger
"The Way You Look Tonight"--Frank Sinatra
"Don't Stop Believin'"--Journey
"Unwritten"-Natasha Bedingfield

Coming April 2012

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If you read Unleashed, then you've already met the heroine and hero of Untouched

and I'm hoping you're excited to read their story.

 Here's the soundtrack that I used while writing Kerry and Dante's story.

Enjoy!

"Honey on the Skin"--Amy Petty *song used in the book trailer for Untouched
"Hurts So Good"--John Cougar Mellencamp
"Teenage Dream"--Katy Perry
"November Rain"--Guns-n-Roses
"Fire Down Below"--Bob Seger
"Lay All Your Love on Me"--Mama Mia Soundtrack
"I'm So into You"--The Strike Nineteens
"Tipitina"--Professor Longhair *this gave me the Louisiana flavor when I needed it

Coming November 2012

Before I get to the soundtrack, can I tell you how much I'm loving the cover of Untamed?!

It is the arc (advanced reading copy) cover and will likely change a bit before the final version

 but I love it so far. The art department at Sourcebooks is amazing and

 somehow manages to capture the spirit of every single book.

Okay, on to the music.

William and Layla are a very different couple from the others you've read about. For starters, Layla knows what she is. She knows she's a hybrid. Half human and half Amoveo from the Cheetah Clan. She's spent her entire life in fear that her Amoveo mate will find her and

conk her on the head like a caveman and drag her away.  

William is a cold, calculating attorney and member of the Gyrfalcon Clan.

He is used to everyone following his instructions without question so when he meets his firey red-headed mate...the poor guy is baffled.

"Promise's Demise"--Amy Petty *this song is used in the book trailer

"Paris (ooh lala)"--Grace Potter & The Nocturnals

"I Run to You"--Lady Antebellum

"Can't Be Tamed"--Miley Cyrus

"The Edge of Glory"--Lady Gaga

"I Go to Extremes"--Billy Joel

"Going Under"--Evanescence



Dream on....

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Giveaway! Win an ARC of UNTOUCHED!

Look what I got in the mail!! I am so excited for the release of Untouched and I think the art department at Sourcebooks did an absolutely amazing job with this cover. When I first saw it, I just sat and stared at it for for several minutes because the guy on the cover is Dante. I don't know how they do it...I'm just glad they do.

For those of you who read Unleashed, you'll recognize the hero and heroine in Untouched. Dante and Kerry's story is definitely different from Samantha and Malcolm. Kerry has hidden a dark secret from everyone in her life, including her best friend, Samantha. When she touches another human being it causes excruciating pain and evokes mind-numbing visions.Except when she touches Samantha. When she touches her friend, there's no pain and all she sees is the image of a wolf. She doesn't know why it's different with Sam and not one to look a gift-wolf in the mouth, she doesn't dare question it.

 As a result of her bizarre curse, she's learned to navigate daily life without even the briefest of human contact. As a plus size model, she lives almost every day in the public eye but even amid all of these admirers she feels isolated.

Until she meets Dante.

Dante Coltari, the owner of Inferno Securities and an Amoveo warrior from the Fox Clan, has finally found his mate.  He realizes that like Samantha, Kerry is unaware of her Amoveo heritage. However, her gift of second-sight gives him hope that she'll be able accept who and what she is with ease.  Too bad she thinks he's a big Neanderthal and makes no secret of her opinion.


Most of this book is set in New Orleans, which is one of my favorite cities. My husband and I have been there several times and we're going back in April for a book signing at The Hotel Monteleone. I'm so excited for that trip! The Monteleone is one of only three Literary Landmark Hotels in the USA and it's featured prominently in Untouched. 

The first time we went to New Orleans was about ten years ago and we stayed at the Monteleone. We knew a hurricane was coming but decided to go ahead with our trip because the folks at the Monteleone assured us that we'd be perfectly safe at their gorgeous hotel.

They were right.

When we landed the airport was a ghost town and all of the screens had CANCELLED CANCELLED CANCELLED written all over them. Our flight was the last one permitted to land in New Orleans because of the hurricane that was bearing down hard and fast.

We arrived at the Monteleone in a deluge of rain. It was coming down in sheets and they were sandbagging the entrance of the hotel as we checked in. We got into our room, which was just gorgeous, and decided to run down to the CVS on the corner and pick up a few things. 

By the time we got out of CVS, the water in the street was up to our knees. I have to admit...I was getting nervous.  We had a great dinner in the hotel that night and went to bed hoping that New Orleans and the French Quarter wouldn't be under water when we woke up.

The next morning, the sun was out and the water was gone! However, Bourbon Street, and the rest of the quarter, was completely deserted. Everything was boarded up and I wondered if our trip would be a complete washout.

Nope.

By five o'clock that night, you'd never have known that there was a storm. The entire quarter was bustling and Bourbon Street was full of folks out to have a good time.

I've never seen anything like it.

Needless to say, we had an amazing time and have been back twice since. It's a gorgeous city with a rich, colorful tapestry of people and places.  I can't wait to go back!

How about you? What's your favorite vacation spot?

Leave a comment anytime from January 11-January 18 and be entered to win a signed arc of Untouched! Let me know if you Tweeted & FB'd it and get an additional entry for each. For every day you tweet or FB it, you get additional entries!

I'll announce the winner on January 19th.

UNLEASHED: Reader's Choice BEST BOOK of 2011 at Grave Tells!

Whoo Hoo!!! What a great way to ring in the new year. I am thrilled to report that Unleashed won Best Book of 2011 at the Grave Tells Reader's Choice Awards!

I have to throw out an enormous THANK YOU to everyone who voted, posted the link, re-posted the link and relentlessly passed the word about the contest. My readers are the best! Thanks for telling folks how much you enjoyed Unleashed  and for sharing this new shifter series with your fellow PNR junkies. I'm thrilled that you're enjoying the world of the Amoveo and hope you'll continue the journey this spring with Untouched.

I wish you and your loved ones a safe, healthy and happy 2012!

Dream on....