RT Book Lovers Convention

I know it's still four-and-a-half months away, but I am already super stoked about the RT convention in Kansas City in May. I've been dying to go since my friends swung through Indianapolis for lunch on their way back from last year's convention in Chicago. I met them at Bob Evans and listened to them talk about what an awesome experience it was and how much they had learned and all the free books they got and...well, let's just say it was awesome.

I vowed that very minute that I would attend next year's.

As soon as I learned where the convention was being held, I made my hotel reservations. That was done months ago. And just his past week, I finally registered. My friends convinced me that I needed to obtain some promotional space, so I now have a table along "Promo Lane," where I'll be setting out bookmarks and other swag for people attending the convention. Part of me wants to participate in one of the other promotional events, but the other part of me wants to make sure I don't miss any of the classes I want to attend. And there are a lot of wonderful classes, let me tell you. Classes on marketing, promotion, craft, genre-specific classes, and sooo many more.

I'll be at the convention for five days, and I don't think it will be enough time to do and see all that I want. All the authors, materials, agents, fans, parties, books, and everything else. But this will be my first RT, so it'll get me geared up right for the next year. Because, oh yes, I'm already planning for RT in 2014, because I want to fully take advantage of ALL the promotional opportunities in 2014, and want to unveil the book that all my fans have been waiting for there, as well. Yep. That's right. Trace's novel. He deserves such an unveiling.

And I think I just heard a few of my fans fall over, because now they know when to expect Trace's book. :) And if you want them autographed, come see me at RT in 2014. Wherever and whenever it may be held.

Happy reading and writing.
-D

Rebel Obsession—The Cover! Yes, Io's Book is Almost Here!

My next novel in my All The King's Men series is due out in January, and it's time to unveil the cover and blurb on my blog! Woot!

Former cobalt addict and AKM drug counselor, Io is a male vampire known as much for his abrasive personality as for his playboy lifestyle. In other words, he's not the likeliest to make friends and settle down. Life on the edge suits him, and he lives full throttle, making his own rules, and damn the consequences. What he wants, he takes, and what he wants now is Miriam. If only he can find a way to see her again without getting himself killed, but her father stands in the way.

Miriam is the daughter of the king. Strong-willed and defiant, she feels like a prisoner in her own home and struggles to break free from under her father’s oppressive hold. The king’s law surrounding Miriam is explicitly clear: No one touches her. Period.

In a fit of rebellion, Miriam has turned to cobalt to find relief and freedom, but now she’s a prisoner to addiction as much as to her father’s strict control. What's more, she can’t get sexy Io, who tended to her so gently as she recovered from her first overdose, off her mind. Will she ever see him again?

When Miriam overdoses a second time, she and Io are thrust back together, and all bets are off. Seeing each other was the one thing both wanted, and not even the king’s laws and threats of punishment will be enough to defuse their rebellious obsession with one another now that they’ve found each other again, even if the consequences are death.

Author’s Note: As we follow along with Io and Miriam, new and old enemies begin to emerge, and we get a glimpse of their deranged plans for the vampire race. Traceon’s story continues to develop as new characters are introduced who have had, and will have, a profound effect on his life. As usual, Micah is a dominant force, because…well…it’s Micah. Need I say more? I hope you enjoy this new installment to my All the King's Men series, due out in January, 2013. –Donya Lynne

My thanks to cover model, Zach Tesar, and Joem Bayawa Photography in Chicago. Love, love, love their work!

It's December? Ack! Bumping Up My Book Release Will Cost Me Christmas.

Hee hee, ha ha, ho ho! That's not Santa Claus. That's my delirious laughter. The manic sound of having too many things to do and not enough time in the day to do them. I'm so busy I have to remind myself it's December and that Christmas is only 21 days away. I might have time to celebrate the holidays...in February or maybe March of next year, right after the Super Bowl, but right now? Not gonna happen.

My next book is due out in January, and I'm on a tight deadline to get the last edit —which was a proof until I decided to deepen my POV, based on what I learned and posted about in my last blog post—finished. Now I'm trying to cram in a final edit AND a proofread in only a couple of weeks so I can have the manuscript formatted and ready to publish by December 31. Talk about pushing my luck.

I had initially announced that Rebel Obsession (my next book) would be out on January 15, but due to a miscommunication between my assistant and I, my blog tour got scheduled for the first half of January instead of the second half, so now I'm trying to get the book ready two weeks early so the release can coincide with the tour. It would be kind of a waste to miss out on all the excitement the blog tour will generate by not having the book available for purchase, so now my holidays will be spent putting in double-time to finalize the manuscript.

Consequently, my blog series on Showing vs. Telling is being temporarily set aside along with everything else in my life until I get my manuscript ready. Sleep? Who needs sleep? And my husband is probably going to slit his wrists by the time this book is released, because he's having to do most everything around the house right now while I lock myself in my office and hunker down on corrections, swag orders, and promotion...and did I mention corrections?

This is the longest book I've written to date at 111,000 words, and as I trudge my way through the manuscript, which I've read in its entirety at least five times now, it's not something that can be done in one night. Not even two. Not even five if I want to make sure I'm being thorough. Proofing is not about "reading." It's about looking at each individual word and punctuation mark, and it takes a great deal of brain power to proof properly, which means once the eyes and mind grow tired, you can't plow ahead. You have to stop so you can bring a fresh mind and a fresh set of eyes back later. Ugh. I don't have time for my eyes and brain to grow tired, know what I mean?

Stress? Yes, I'm there. But in January, it will have all been worth it.

Hope everyone else is having a less stressful and mroe enjoyable December than I am. :) Happy Holidays and roasting chestnust and all that jazz!

Oh, and as always, happy reading and writing!
-D