Readying for the Shakedown Launch of my First Novel

MISSION SUCCESS
Fabulous February Triple Launch Update

Inherit the Stars

It appears (after just a teeny bit of panic and angst) that my third of the Fabulous February Triple Launch Party is on schedule and in route to the launch pad! I was able to complete the final edits (puff, puff!) and write the accompanying information sheets for all three parts, and ship everything off to my agent in the last two days. (Whew! *wipes sweaty forehead*)

As of now, it looks like we're a GO for the T-minus February 22 launch date for Inherit the Stars Part I: Flight.

Part II: The Network and Part III: Sacrifice are scheduled to launch just one week later on March 1st!

So needless to say, it's been a very busy couple of weeks! And as a debut author, I'm working through a lot of "firsts." I've had plenty of experience with critique partners, beta readers, and contest judges in the past, but this was my maiden voyage with a couple of honest-to-goodness editors.

I learned a lot from the experience and I so appreciate their professionalism and expertise, and everything they did to bring some of the subtler points out into the light and to refine my characters' thoughts, deeds, words and actions.

There are times the process can get a bit grueling, but I think the end product is going to be well worth the effort. It was a total education! My hats off to Paula Dooley who served as developmental editor, and Danielle Fine who was the line editor (as well as the cover artist for all of the fabulous covers).

I found this quote on Twitter that perfectly sums up my feelings:

Editing is nothing like writing. Writing is like giving birth to 50k+ words. Editing is like getting them through college.
— Carrie Bailey (@PeevishPenman) April 27, 2014

I've also been sticking my toe into the cool waters of the promotion pond lately. (And hey, I have to admit, it's a blast to finally have something to promote!) Here are the links:

Farewell Andromeda Cover Reveal - The Galaxy Express

Why I Wrote This Book: Farewell Andromeda - Pauline Baird Jones Blogher

Farewell Andromeda Announcement - Jessica Subject's Mark of the Stars Blog

SFR with a Twist: Why Write a SFR Solely From the Male POV? - SFR Brigade Blog
Inherit the Stars being the subject of this one. It had a great follow-up discussion.

Inherit the Stars Exclusive Triple Cover Reveal - The Galaxy Express

This month, I'll also be joining a host of other SFR authors as a guest on Anna Hackett Books Blog for the Sci-Fi Romance Authors Month. My scheduled day is February 13th--the day before Valentine's Day! Here's the link to her site: http://annahackettbooks.com/blog

NEW BLURB

Last but certainly not least, here's the brand new shiny blurb for Inherit the Stars, just off the press and still smokin'! Thanks (again) to Paula Dooley for helping to put a very fine point on it!

To escape the merciless Ithian Alliance, Sair, a fugitive slave, makes a desperate deal with Drea Mennelsohn, captain of the prototype ship, Specter. But putting his life in the hands of a woman as mysterious as she is beguiling could turn out to be the biggest mistake of his life, especially when the price on his head begins to escalate.

The daring captain seems to want far more from Sair than just payment for his passage. Though neither can deny the sizzling chemistry and growing bond between them, Sair must soon make an agonizing decision: maintain his own longed-for freedom or become a helpless pawn in an intergalactic coup against a ruthless superpower.

As the truth behind Sair's place in the galaxy and Drea's unique existence are revealed, it becomes clear that they are vital to the success of the coup. But their part in ending the Ithian Alliance may come at a terrible price for Sair: the loss of the remarkable woman he has fallen in love with—and their chance to inherit the stars.

INHERIT THE STARS GETS A NAMESAKE

Along with all the excitement of the upcoming launch, we had an arrival back on January 10th in the form of a black Thoroughbred filly out of our Lion Heart mare, Soulful. This little girl has a star studded pedigree (Secretariat, Seattle Slew, Storm Cat, Stellar Jayne and Relaunch among them!) so I got this crazy idea.

"Wouldn't it be fun if..."

I filed a name claim with the American Jockey Club and two days later our name choice was approved.

So world, meet the OTHER Inherit the Stars. :)

This little girl has a big brother who will have an unofficial birthday (all Thoroughbreds officially turn a year older on January 1) TODAY,~~February 2nd!~~and just a day before the launch of the novel he was named after, Sharon's ECHO 8!

Here he is when he was Inherit the Star's age a little less than a year ago. And note the "falling asteroid" marking on his face that helped us decide on his name--along with being a grandson of Seattle (where the book is set) Slew, and having parents that are Diabolical and Soulful (which is how I'd describe the plot of this fantastic book).

Let me just shout that out again! The long-awaited ECHO 8 releases tomorrow! Don't miss this one!

To celebrate the naming of our new foal, I'm offering a chance to win a free copy of the complete Inherit the Stars e-novel (in other words, all three parts) gifted via Amazon to the first person who comments with the name of their favorite racehorse or the name of their favorite Science Fiction Romance novel in the comments below. We'll choose a winner next weekend and announce it here, so check back if you enter.

2014 SFR GALAXY AWARDS PRESENTED

The SFR Galaxy Awards were announced on Saturday, and there were a host of great winners this year. The presenters for these awards choose novels based on a wide variety of criteria, so it's a lot of fun and provides a showcase for some of the super diverse shiny-ness that is SFR. If you'd like to check out all the winners, click here: 2014 SFR Galaxy Awards

PING PONG

Pippa, kudos, congrats and high five on the shiny new cover for Keir! It's gorgeous, dynamic and it also fits the characters to a T! What a work of art. Squeeeee!

Congrats to both Sharon for this weeks release, and to Donna who is also revving up for her debut release on February 24th, in the form of the brilliant, past RWA(c) Golden Heart Award finalist, Earth-based SFR, Unchained Memory. (And yes, I've already warned her there may be a future foal who will be named after her Interstellar Rescue series!)

Have a great week, everyone!

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