SNUFF THE MAGIC DRAGON: And Other Bombay Family Bedtime Stories will be available by the end of June.  I'm really, really happy about this project!  Why?

Because I have total and complete control - MWAH HAH HAH HAH! (This should have implied evil laughter. If it didn't, I apologize.)

But seriously folks - this book would never have passed muster with my former publisher.  And it's because of them that I had to do it.

When I was working on I SHOT YOU BABE, my editor informed me that this would be the last book in the Bombay series.  At first, I was relieved because I'd written four books in a really short period of time and was a little fried.

So I did it.  I ended the series.  Then I realized what I'd done.  I'd ended the series.

The Bombays had so much more potential and I agreed to throw it out because NYC told me to do it.  I was an idiot.

Statistics show that most mystery series don't find their following until book 6.  I ended with 4. Not good.  And when I got my rights back to the 4 and self-pubbed them on my own - I realized that I couldn't write another Bombay book because they were done with assassination.

I had a brief moment where I realized I could write PARADISE BY THE RIFLE SIGHTS because Paris could be working on a job before Coney goes off to Mongolia.  But that was it.  I couldn't keep messing with the space-time continuum because there are rules against that according to Star Trek.

And then someone came up with the idea of history - and this book idea was born.

I wasn't sure I was smart enough to do a full-length book involving all the research.  I have friends who write historical fiction - quite successfully too - but they spend months getting all the research together from what people wore and ate to the words they used and the politics of the era.  It's a lot of work.

So then I thought - short stories.  I could briefly visit the highlights in Bombay history.

I didn't realize how much fun I'd have.

The book will be up in four weeks and I really hope you like it.  It's a way for the Bombays to keep killing people for your entertainment.

We'll see how it goes!

The Assassin

Don't you love a good Avon title? The title parodies endless for a blog review.

I am sadly behind the times where Gayle Callen is concerned. Right here on the cover of SURRENDER TO THE EARL is an endorsement from la Christina Dodd herself, "Gayle Callen writes one dazzling gem of a book after another." And after reading this one, I have to say I will be going to Gayle's backlist and finding more of her stories, namely the book before this one, RETURN OF THE VISCOUNT, which starts this series. (Don't worry. This one totally stands alone. It's just I got to meet the viscount and his lovely bride and I was all, "Oh, I have got to read me one of these.") If it is half as dazzling as this one was, I will be in for a great treat.

So here are the familiar things: the soldier hero who returns home from war, needing to make good with someone who died while he was fighting (redemption); the heroine who will do anything to claim her independence. The twist? The heroine is blind.

Robert Henslow (Earl of Knightsbridge) comes to find the widow of the man who died--at his fault--and make restitution. Audrey Blake--virtual prisoner--takes Robert up on his offer of help by saying, "Get me the hell out of here." I'm paraphrasing. She's a lady. So he hatches a plan to get her out; and she gains her freedom. Conflicts ensue when Audrey realizes being free isn't all it's cracked up to be without the protection of those who would not do her harm; and Robert realizes...well...he really, really likes her and wishes it wasn't so much a fake engagement as a real one.

He's really quite deliciously heroic--the kind of man to root for; and she is a heroine worthy of such a man. I was really quite pleased with this happy ending. Do yourself a favor--surrender to my review and find yourself a copy.

May 28th is a big release day for many of our favorite authors. Have you read Gayle Callen and do you have any special plans for one of the books being released today?

I've been reading a lot of children's books lately. My little boy is just to the age where he's starting to follow along with the story instead of just batting the book out of my hand and giggling. And he seems to be hooked. I read him 3 books before bed, and when I check on him later, I usually find him sound asleep, a book open with his finger in it, or asleep on top of a book he'd been hugging (seriously cute).

And of course, reading all these children's books has put that little whisper ear of, "I could do this."  Don't get me wrong - I have no illusions it would be easy. Writing is hard no matter the audience. And I probably never will -- I like my dark themes and bad asses and violent fights too much.

But still, there's something about the idea that feels bright and refreshing. Something about getting back to the basics and telling a great story with only a few words and a few pictures.

And children's books can take on just about any genre out there. Mysteries (Bear's Underwear Mystery, anyone?) or fantasy (Where the Wild Things Are) or horror (any of the Grimm fairy tales) or even romance (parent-children love, of course, but still, they're chalk full of love).

Then of course, there are decisions on what types of characters to have. Bunnies, kangaroos, talking plants, the character possibilities are endless children's books.

What are some of your favorites? Do you think that children's books have echos of the same genres we use to categorize adult books?  Would you have a bunny in your children's book? What would your bun ny be hopping over?

 JACK: Welcome, gentlemen and wenches, to another adventure of Discovery Island—















































 
HELLIE: There you have it! Now you—what’s your favorite place on the island or what do you hope the island has? And if you haven't already, download your copy of MEANT TO BE--it's on sale, starting today!

And this is where you come in. How do you handle these sorts of events? Were you a basket case before your wedding? Did you ditch your graduation ceremony because it all felt too heavy? Were you like me (those of you who have kids) and had that I'M GOING TO BE THE MOMMY moment somewhere around month eight?

Sorry, guys, I've been running around for days until way past my bedtime and actually having to use work hours for work. I did read a book; I just didn't have time to review it. Will review it at the next available opportunity.

What are you reading this week? Everyone getting enough sleep?

Easy as pie! We welcome every stage of writer and at Musetracks, we strive to help other writers, the way we were all helped when we first started out, and the way we are supported today.