Thoughtful Thursday – Confessions of a Science Geek

Image courtesy of Microsoft Word Clip ArtI have a confession to make. I’m a science geek. Always loved messing with all those test tubes and doing experiments which is I guess why I was a science major in college.

One of the best Christmas presents I ever got was a chemistry lab and you can bet that I did every single experiment that came with that kit and proudly showed them to my mom who appreciatively murmured her approval at the bits of black gunk floating around in the test tube.

If Fate hadn’t thrown me a curve, I probably would have continued to pursue some kind of career in the sciences, but instead I ended up in law school and eventually, took up writing again.

Writing is a wondrous thing in so many ways, including allowing me to explore my inner geek again! I’m happy to say that I accepted a two book deal from Grand Central Publishing for a new paranormal romantic suspense series which relies heavily on science. TAINTED BLOOD, the first book in the series, is about a gene therapy victim who finds herself not only developing superhuman powers, but also accused of a murder she did not commit.

So the geek in me has been busy researching all kinds of things, like gene expression and splicing. Unusual diseases and using gene therapy treatments to cure them. Lots of fun stuff.

It helps that I took genetics, immunology, biochem and a bunch of other higher level science classes during college and I’ve been keeping up off and on on with what’s happening in the bio/genetic engineering world just ’cause it’s so interesting!

I know, I know. Geek. I’d be the perfect match for CHUCK or the guys from THE BIG BANG THEORY. But that’s okay.

Someone’s got to love the nerds. Of course, the hero in this book, Mick Carerra, is anything but a nerd. He’s ex-military and a man with a past who knows only one thing — he’s got a check with a lot of zeroes to compensate him for bringing in our gene-challenged heroine.

This book is slated for publication some time in 2010, so I’ll keep you posted on the progress!

On another note, I’ve got a friend, Lisa Daily — who’s a syndicated columnist, author, media personality — and she’s got a book out right now that you might like. Lisa will be visiting on April 2nd to tell us about her new release and offer up a prize to anyone who posts a comment on the blog. So please drop by then!

For information on Lisa in the meantime, you can visit www.lisadaily.com by clicking here.

Wicked Wednesday – THE CALLING Fresh Blood and another winner!

THE CALLING Complete E-Book CollectionToday’s Wicked Wednesday is what I’m calling FRESH BLOOD, namely, a free read that you won’t find in any of THE CALLING vampire novels.

This FRESH BLOOD free read occurs in the months after the conclusion of DEVOTION CALLS. I’ll be posting more FRESH BLOOD shortly to add some behind the scenes action for you to enjoy until the release of the next three THE CALLING novels in late Spring 2009. You should be seeing FURY CALLS, ARDOR CALLS and VENGEANCE CALLS by the middle of 2009!

If you like this FRESH BLOOD, also check out the DELETED BITS which are scenes that either totally ended up on the cutting room floor or have new sections you might not have seen in the original THE CALLING vampire novels.

Don’t forget that you can still read the free e-novella DESIRE CALLS at Eharlequin.com. You can click here to read it!

AND NOW — The winner of Tuesday’s B’Day Blog Contest is LISA R.! Please e-mail me your postal address so that I can get those goodies out to you.

Without further ado, here’s today’s Wicked Wednesday FRESH BLOOD!

**SPOILER ALERT**This may reveal
some information from the conclusion of DEVOTION CALLS.**

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Diana Reyes stared at the pile of files precariously stacked on the side of her desk. Earlier that night she had just finished the last of the paperwork from the day before when an apologetic clerk had dropped this fresh load in her office.

Anger surged through her at the thought of another day at her desk, checking references and other information so that the subjects of the files would receive their proper security clearances. This wasn’t why she had joined the FBI, but then again, there had to be some kind of punishment for failing to prevent the deaths of so many agents during her last real assignment.

Those deaths and the nearly crippling injuries to her partner David Harris weighed heavily on her mind as did the personal aftermath from the night of the failed raid.

The santero’s words to her from months earlier still troubled her.

I can’t heal what you have.

What she had, Diana thought, laying her hands out before her and staring at them hard.

Human hands. Warm and filled with life. But within that life was something new. Different than before. And something that worried her still.

Deciding that she couldn’t linger a moment longer, she escaped the confines of her office, racing past David’s empty one and onto the elevator.

Out on the street before Federal Plaza, she stopped and breathed in the warm summer air. Thick and humid. The faint scent of garlic wafted from the Italian restaurant a few doors down. Her stomach growled with hunger.

She hadn’t eaten dinner that night, but she’d grab a bite later with Ryder.

Right now, she had something else to do. Something that called to her more than the physical demands of her body.

With a blast of inhuman speed, she surged to the nearby subway entrance. She stopped to catch a breath and still the wild beating of her heart. A wave of weakness ripped across her body, reminding her that all was not right.

The superhuman healing and powers that had taken over her body after her injuries during the raid were slowly leaving her. Worse, even her everyday tasks seemed to take more of her energy than before.

She worried that soon she might not have the strength left for even the every day things and after that . . .

Diana drove that thought away and headed for the subway for the trip up to Spanish Harlem.

Ricardo may have told her that he couldn’t heal what she had, but she had never asked him just what that was.

She intended to do so that night.

Fun Friday – Let’s Party, Like it’s my birthday!

Image courtesy of Amazing AnimationsWHOA! It’s my b’day and also, happy b’day to my hubby, nephew, best friend’s daughter, colleague’s wife, hubby’s aunt, Rita’s niece and a whole mess of other people born on my b’day.

Well, can I still call it my b’day since I share it with so many other people? LOL! Since I’m about 12 hours older than hubby — a fact he never lets me forget — I guess I can!!

So, we’re starting a celebration today that’s going to run all the way to next Friday! Anyone who leaves any kind of comment on the blog will be eligible to win a copy of SOUTH BEACH CHICAS and your choice of either HOLIDAY WITH A VAMPIRE or MOON FEVER or SECRET AGENT REUNION along with a t-shirt and some other goodies.

If you’re also a member of my newsletter/contest loop and are the daily winner, you’ll get an extra special treat — a copy of one of the out-of-print CALLING vampire novels as well as another special treat. If you haven’t already signed up, it’s not too late to do so. Just click here to get to the contest page and sign up.

Sis and I played hooky yesterday and went to the Philly Flower show. We had a blast and I’ll be posting photos from this year’s show soon for you to check them out!

Have a great day and a great weekend! Good luck with the contest. Remember, just leave a comment on the blog any day from today to next Friday and you could be a winner.

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Worldbuilding

The World of THE CALLINGAs an author, you do hold the world in the palm of your hands when creating your novel. This is particularly true if you are writing science fiction, fantasy or paranormals (the SFP from now on to save some time).

What’s the first thing to do on your way to building a world for your novel? The first thing to do is to decide what kind of world it is, namely:

Wicked Wednesday – The Ultimate Vampire Kiss

Click here for more info on HOLIDAY WITH A VAMPIRE!Take an early lunch today and join me and authors Michelle M Pillow and Mandy M Roth on Raven Radio as we take calls, talk books, vamps, kitty shifters and sexy, sassy chicas!

Date: Wednesday, January 9
Time: 11 am to 12 pm EST

Listener dial-in number during LIVE shows
(646) 595-3998 (New York number, long distance charges apply)

There is also a LIVE chat during the show. Follow the link below and look for Click to Chat buttons. You can type your questions or comments in there during the chat and we’ll ask/answer them on air!

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/ravenradio

Hope you can drop by. 🙂

And now to this Wicked Wednesay day treat! Those of you who have been following THE CALLING vampire novels may have seen that there are different kinds of kisses a vampire can bestow. There’s the kiss to make a keeper or one for that night’s meal for starters. For more on the different kinds of kisses, including the ultimate kiss, you can visit the Vampire Rules section at THE CALLING site where I’ll shortly be adding another rule — one having nothing to do with a vampire’s kiss. If you’ve read FATE CALLS, you may have already realized what it is!

For today, however, I’m going to leave you with a little sampling from FATE CALLS in HOLIDAY WITH A VAMPIRE. Continue reading “Wicked Wednesday – The Ultimate Vampire Kiss”