Swag peeks for the upcoming Model Position tour & a chance for you to promote too!

I'm so excited! Model Position releases on February 20, in just two weeks! 
Leagh over at Romance Novel Promotions is throwing a huge launch party on February 21, which I'd love for you to pop into. She'll have LOTS of books to give away from all kinds of writers. Here's where you come in! If you have a romance-ish novel out, you can promote your book by giving away a copy in the launch party for Model Position. Leagh has an easy-peasy form to sign up, and heres' the link.

Kel over at Literary Nook has a Model Position tour scheduled for March 3 through 25. She's designed a really cute banner, don't you think? We'll be giving away all kinds of swag, including coffee mugs, wristlet bags and a Kindle with a pastel-blue cover. Niiiiice.

And my publisher, Inkspell is organizing a review-only tour. Thanks, Inkspell!

I have the first swag in my hands: a coffee mug, and here it is with its first hot cuppa joe in it. Sweet, huh? 

What fun activities are you up to?

Hot wings burning up the blogs-Cherie's astounding cover art for Reborn!

Fellow Untethered Realm author, Cherie Reich's new epic fantasy, Reborn comes out on May 23rd, but in the meantime the blogs have been burning up with her astounding cover reveal. I mean, seriously, I have never seen a more beautiful pair of wings on a magical bird. Like everrrrr. 
Makes you want to read the book! Put it on your Goodreads TBR list. Or if you'd rather be notified via Cherie's newsletter, sign up.
And let's hear some applause for her cover artist, Laura Sava. *enthusiastic cheers and claps*

To save a kingdom, a prophetess must challenge Fate.

On the day of Yssa’s death and rebirth, the god Apenth chose her as the Phoenix Prophetess. Sea serpents and gods endanger the young prophetess’s journey and sour the omens. Yssa is cursed instead of blessed, and her duties at the Temple of Apenth prove it. She spends her days reading dusty scrolls, which does nothing to help her forget Tym, the boy back home. But the annoying yet gorgeous ferryman’s son Liam proves to be a distraction she can’t predict, even though he rarely leaves her alone for two sand grains.

Her boring temple life screeches to a halt when visions of her parents’ murders consume her. Yssa races across an ocean to stop the future. If she can’t change Fate, she’ll refuse to be the Phoenix Prophetess any longer. Fate, however, has other plans for her and the kingdom.

Yssa must either accept her destiny or fight to change Fate.

A self-proclaimed bookworm, Cherie Reich is a speculative fiction writer, freelance editor, book blogger, and library assistant living in Virginia. Her short stories have appeared in magazines and anthologies, and her ebooks include the horror series Nightmare, a space fantasy trilogy titled Gravity, and a fantasy series The Foxwick Chronicles. She is Vice President of Valley Writers and a member of the Virginia Writers Club and Untethered Realms. Find her on her website & blog.

Cover reveal for Model Position by Kitsy Clare!

Hi everyone. I'm excited because today is the cover reveal for my new adult romance novella, Model Position! Inkspell's cover artist, Najla has outdone herself. She says that black and white with a pop of color is a growing trend, and I think it's cool. What do you think? Another cool thing is that Model Position is available for pre-order right here at e-junkie.com!

Here are the bloggers participating in the reveal. Stop by to say hi. And thanks to all of you who are helping out. You rock! Stay tuned for the book's launch on February 20. In the meantime, you can Like my Kitsy Clare FB page and my newsletter to get updates.

elliegarratt.blogspot.com
www.bellasshelf.com
www.chandarawrites.blogspot.com
http://drugscalledbooks.blogspot.com
http://paulettespapers.com
http://www.avidreadermusings.com
http://cicistheories.com
http://to-procrastinate.blogspot.com
http://raelori.blogspot.com
www.findyournextread.blogspot.com
http://kellyhashway.blogspot.com
ashelyndrake.wordpress.com
http://meradethhouston.blogspot.com
http://crystalcollier.blogspot.com
http://jackiesbookworld.blogspot.com/
extraordinaryreads.com
The Story of a Writer
vanessaebooks.blogspot.com

Gratitude list & Kitsy Clare on Love Romances Cafe

Happy New Year! It's a popular time to make resolutions, though I prefer to make a gratitude list and a fresh work plan. 

Topping my list is the extreme gratitude I feel for getting back to the USA after two nerve-wracking days stuck in the Dominican Republic airport. Ack, I was trying to fly Jetblue during that snow fiasco!

I have gratitude that my new novella, Model Position is going forward with Inkspell using my romance pseudonym, Kitsy Clare. Inkspell authors will be chatting about all things romance tonight (Jan 10) from 7 to 9 pm on Yahoo's Love Romances Cafe, and you're all invited to drop by!

For Sienna, love and art are perilous games. Is she ready to take that gamble? The cover reveal for Model Position is on for January 20! I'll give anyone who wants to participate in the cover reveal virtual hugs and a big, fat virtual box of delicious chocolates with no icky jelly centers--only the caramel and hazelnut ones. If you're interested in helping out with the reveal, please email my publisher, Shilpa at marketing@inkspellpublishing.com

I'm also grateful that I immediately came up with a wicked fun plot for novella #2, Private Internship, to keep the Art of Love series going strong, because sometimes it takes a while to think up good plots. I'm looking forward to tying up the last third of the story with some crazy switchback plot twists.

I had fun creating a new Facebook author page for Kitsy Clare. Click to see it. What do you think? The new book cover will appear on the right side of the FB banner on the day of the cover reveal. I'd be thrilled if you Like my author page! That way, you can be informed of the Model Position launch, giveaways and tours.
Thanks! That's it for me. How about you? What are you grateful for?

Holiday Picture Fun. December in NYC!

Santacon Saturday. Lookout! A bunch of drunken Santas
are wandering around Gramercy.

Mr. Bulldog says No Smoking, yo!

December is always a magical time in New York City! Check out some of the holiday flavors in this all-pix post.

Pete's Tavern, Gramercy

Brownstone door

Hieronymus under the tree, gussied window & the lion guards a hotel

The National Arts Club, all duded out

Okay, this isn't Manhattan, but I had to sneak in my snowman family.

What's your favorite wintery scene in your hometown? 

Indie Life, Reaching your Readers! Plus the Launch of Fairchild's Diamonds & Dust

Today is Indie Life, a feature devised by the lovely Indelible authors. It takes place the second Wednesday of each month, where they invite fellow authors to chat about the indie writing life.

In prepping for the February launch of my new adult romance novella, Model Position, I've been thinking about effective ways to get the word out to readers. Methods of the day change so fast it's dizzying. Reminds me of how Apple and other digital companies are always launching upgrades. But one must keep up; it's an industry essential, indie or not. I think a blog tour is still advisable, or at least a cover reveal and book blitz. Reviews matter, and it's smart to get arcs out to people who are eager to read and review. I've done Netgalley with good results. Another reader site is Wattpad.  I have yet to do a Facebook event, which I will do for Model Position. I have yet to put together a street team--intimidating without a zillion hours a day to devote to it. I'm thinking of hiring an intern... maybe in the new year? Those who have done street teams, how has it gone? I know two authors who hired publicists. I'd have to barter the cost because it's expensive! Though one colleague got TV interviews and the other landed an interview in the Atlantic. Not too shabby! I'll be exploring Yahoo chats and similar venues for my new novella, trying to reach the readers of my genre. What have you all found most effective to get the word out?

Book 1 of the
Jewels of Chandra series

Another creative indie move is to join up with a group of like-minded authors to cross promote. That's how the Indelibles formed. I joined Untethered Realms, an author group who writes speculative fiction. On that note, I'd like to mention the launch of Untethered Realmer, River Fairchild's new novel, Diamonds and Dust!

Magic is real. So is betrayal.

Two heirs. A Kingdom of dust on a troubled world. One might resurrect it. One might destroy it all. Archaeologist David Alexander investigates the cave where his father disappeared and hurtles into another world, one filled with magic and bizarre creatures. The mad ravings in his father's journals of icemen and dragons may not be fantasies after all. 

Convinced his father may still be alive, David begins a treacherous journey to find him and discover a way home. Along the way, he encounters a few unlikely friends. A Dreean warrior, a beautiful thief and a satyr join him as he searches. David's arrival into this new world sets off an explosive chain reaction of events. Faced with powerful adversaries and few clues, he may not get the chance to rescue his father before disaster strikes, condemning both of them to death. Or worse.

AmazonUS, AmazonUK, AmazonDE, Kobo, Barnes & Noble

Apple, SmashWords, Paperback

River Fairchild brandishes a dry sense of humor, and is owned by several cats. Lives in a fantasy world. A fabricator of magic. Makes stuff up and spins tales about it. Believes in Faerie crossings and never stays in one place for very long. Speculative Fiction wordsmith. The secret to her stories? Spread lies, blend in truths, add a pinch of snark and a dash of tears. Escape into her world. She left the porch light on so you can find your way down the rabbit hole.        
Blog / Facebook / Twitter / Amazon /

OBSESSIONS!!!

I'm thinking about things I'm obsessed with lately.

I’ve been obsessed by Anthony Bourdain’s Parts Unknown, a travel show to very offbeat places, but also a foodie show (which I’m not, or didn’t think I was until this). At first I found him to be wayyy full of himself, but I got totally hooked into the show watching the Tokyo’s dark nightlife episode, and the Detroit one where industrious folks set up makeshift eateries in their yards and living rooms. I’ve walked the streets of Detroit. It’s a train wreck, but a fascinating one. Here is Bourdain in Libya, uh, yeah. His wicked humor and clever scripts have invaded my brain. So, as a convert, I’m on a marathon episode watch.

I’m preoccupied with reading romance, since I’ve been writing new adult romance. Easy by Tammara Webber rises far above the pack. M Leighton’s Down to You with sexy twins Cash and Nash is sizzling yet silly in a super-fun way, and Aubrie Dionne’s space opera romance Colonization is quite creative (with beautiful yet creeptastic killer plants). I'm getting used to my pen name, Kitsy Clare in prepping for the launch of my NA romance novella, Model Position in early 2014. And I'm passionate about bad boy artist, Casper Mason in my next romance WIP.

I’m absorbed by holiday shopping, trying to find the perfect gifts for people: Craig Venter’s book, Life at the Speed of Light for my science nerd friend, vinyls at Rough Trade in Williamsburg, Brooklyn for my musically inclined son, Met opera tickets for the hubby--should it be Borodin's Prince Igor, Puccini's Madame Butterfly or Dvorak's Rusalka? Wow, the choices! Oh, and I booked an upcoming anniversary trip to the Dominican Republic, it doesn’t get much
better than that! Looking forward to riding dune buggies and segways, and taking a horseback trek through the jungle. You?

What are you obsessed with this season? Any cool new finds for holiday gifts?