Seressia Glass: Blog Me

Seressia March 30th, 2008

The authors of WHAT WHITE BOYZ WANT are chatting over at Joyfully Reviewed all day today. Yeah, we crazy. But we also got free books.

Please stop by and say hello!

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Seressia March 30th, 2008

God, these characters won’t stop talking! Yeah I know you haven’t seen her since she ran out on the honeymoon, but can’t you stop talking and jump her bones already?!?

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Seressia March 29th, 2008

I’m sitting in my living room in complete darkness. Six candles are on the Asian storage table beside me, while my neighbors in the townhouse next to mine are making me want to write about their slow and exceedingly deaths via rabid ninja hamsters. I have unplugged my laptop and I’m draining its battery by listening to the emo mix on my iTunes while finishing up my final installment in the Vegas Bites universe.
Today is all about Earth Hour, an event in which more than 20 major cities and 200 smaller communities go dark between 8-9 PM for climate change awareness. Even Google got into it by darkening their search page:

I’m gladly participating, though I’d have much preferred 7-8 PM instead. At least I would still have some daylight coming through the windows. However, more daylight would lessen the impact I’m sure. I usually only have the electricity going in the room I’m in anyway, run the major appliances like dishwasher and dryer when I go to bed, that sort of thing. It’s as much about being environmentally conscious as it is that I’m a cheapskate who doesn’t like paying high utility bills.

I actually learned about Earth our through my company. Our corporate office is also participating. They normally power down at 7 PM anyway, but tonight, everything but emergency lighting will be turned off. Very cool of them.

Ah, the neighbors have decided not to prove how much bass their speakers have and I have 18 more minutes to go. I guess it’s back to black werewolves instead of rabid mutant ninja hamsters. Darn it.

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Seressia March 26th, 2008

From Publisher’s Weekly (or, as I call it, the W-T-F department):

The American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression (ABFFE) has blasted a new Indiana law that requires bookstores to register with the government if they sell what is considered “sexually explicit materials.” The new law, H.B. 1042, was signed by Governor Mitch Daniels on March 13, and calls for any bookseller that sells sexually explicit materials to register with the Secretary of State and provide a statement detailing the types of books to be sold. The Secretary of State must then identify those stores to local government officials and zoning boards. “Sexually explicit material” is defined as any product that is “harmful to minors” under existing law. There is a $250 registration fee. Failure to register is a misdemeanor.

Given the current heat level of everything but inspirational romance, even the local drugstore will have to register on the sex offender bookseller list.  (After all, it isn’t fair for the Borders to have to register and not Bob’s Drugstore.)  Or perhaps the store buyer will offer a questionnaire to publisher reps and distributors asking if a title has teh sex in it and having them sign a declaration stating that it doesn’t so that it could be sold.

Hhm,  maybe this will finally get all those clinches off the covers.

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Seressia March 26th, 2008

Rita finalists were finally posted to Romance Writers of America’s website. Once again, no black authors submitted black books to the contest. Here are the finalists:

2008 RITA for Best First Book Finalists

Dead Girls Are Easy by Terri Garey
HarperCollins Publishers, Avon Books - (978-0-06-113615-3)
Erika Tsang, editor

Graffiti Girl by Kelly Parra
Simon & Schuster, MTV Books/Pocket - (141653461X)
Jennifer Heddle, editor

Prime Time by Hank Phillippi Ryan
Harlequin Enterprises, Harlequin NEXT - (9780373881352)
Ann Leslie Tuttle, editor

Prom Dates From Hell by Rosemary Clement-Moore
Random House Publishing, Delacorte Press - (978-0-385-73412-7)
Krista Marino, editor

Silent in the Grave by Deanna Raybourn
Harlequin Enterprises, MIRA - (978-0-7783-2410-2)
Valerie Gray, editor

Snow Angel by Jamie Carie
B&H Publishing Group, B&H Fiction - (978-0-8054-4533-6)
Thomas Walters, David Webb, editor

Thief With No Shadow by Emily Gee
BL Publishing, Solaris - (978 1 84416 469 1)
Mark Newton, editor

Treasure by Helen Brenna
Harlequin Enterprises, Harlequin Superromance - (0373714033)
Johanna Raisanen, editor

2008 RITA for Contemporary Series Romance Finalists

Always a Bridesmaid by Kristin Hardy
Harlequin Enterprises, Silhouette Special Edition - (0-373-24832-6)
Gail Chasan, editor

Fall From Grace by Kristi Gold
Harlequin Enterprises, Everlasting Love - (0-373-65404-9)
Beverley Sotolov, editor

Make-Believe Mom by Elaine Grant
Harlequin Enterprises, Harlequin Superromance - (0373714459)
Victoria Curran, editor

Night Mischief by Nina Bruhns
Harlequin Enterprises, Silhouette Nocturne - (0373617720)
Natahsya Wilson and Tara Parsons, editor

Sleeping Partner by Kelly Hunter
Harlequin Enterprises, Sexy Sensation - (978 0 733 58182 3)
Joanne Carr, editor

Snowbound by Janice Johnson
Harlequin Enterprises, Harlequin Superromance - (0-373-71454-8)
Laura Shin, editor

The Mile High Club by Heidi Rice
Harlequin Enterprises, Mills and Boon Modern Extra - (9780263854008)
Bryony Green, editor

The Tycoon’s Princess Bride by Natasha Oakley
Harlequin Enterprises, Harlequin Presents - (978-0-373-12667-5)
Jenny Hutton, editor

2008 RITA for Contemporary Series Romance: Suspense/Adventure Finalists

High-Risk Affair by RaeAnne Thayne
Harlequin Enterprises, Silhouette Romantic Suspense - (0-373-27518-8)
Gail Chasan, editor

Midnight Prince by Dani Sinclair
Harlequin Enterprises, Harlequin Intrigue - (13:978-0-373-69270-5)
Natashya Wilson, editor

Sara’s Son by Tara Taylor Quinn
Harlequin Enterprises, Harlequin Superromance - (0373714289)
Paula Eykelhof, editor

Stranded With A Spy by Merline Lovelace
Harlequin Enterprises, Silhouette Romantic Suspense - (978-0-373-27553-3)
Gail Chasan, editor

The Medusa Affair by Cindy Dees
Harlequin Enterprises, Silhouette Romantic Suspense - (978-0-373-27547-2)
Patience Smith, editor

The Medusa Seduction by Cindy Dees
Harlequin Enterprises, Silhouette Romantic Suspense - (978-0-373-27564-9)
Patience Smith, editor

Treasure by Helen Brenna
Harlequin Enterprises, Harlequin Superromance - (0373714033)
Johanna Raisanen, editor

Untouched by Samantha Hunter
Harlequin Enterprises, Blaze Extreme - (978-0373793037)
Birgit Davis Todd, editor

2008 RITA for Contemporary Single Title Romance Finalists

Blame It On Cupid by Jennifer Greene
Harlequin Enterprises, HQN - (0373771770)
Melissa Jeglinski, editor

Catch of the Day by Kristan Higgins
Harlequin Enterprises, HQN - (0-373-7724-6)
Tracy Farrell and Keyren Gerlach, editors

Coming Undone by Susan Andersen
Harlequin Enterprises, HQN - (0-373-77213-0)
Margo Lipschultz, editor

Sexiest Man Alive by Diana Holquist
Grand Central Publishing, Forever - (0-044-61798-9)
Michele Bidelspach, editor

She’s No Angel by Leslie Kelly
Harlequin Enterprises, HQN - (0373772157)
Brenda Chin, editor

Tangled Up In You by Rachel Gibson
HarperCollins Publishers, Avon Books - (978-0-06-117803-0)
Lucia Macro, editor

Tempt Me Tonight by Toni Blake
HarperCollins Publishers, Avon Books, Red - (978-0-06-113609-2)
Lucia Macro, editor

The Sleeping Beauty Proposal by Sarah Strohmeyer
Penguin Group USA, Dutton - (9780525950189)
Julie Doughty, editor

2008 RITA for Historical Romance Finalists

And Then He Kissed Her by Laura Lee Guhrke
HarperCollins Publishers, Avon Books - (978-0-06-114360-1)
Erika Tsang, editor

Beloved Warrior by Patricia Potter
Penguin Group USA, Berkley Sensation - (9780425215739)
Wendy McCurdy and Christine Zika, editors

Lessons of Desire by Madeline Hunter
Bantam Dell Publishing Group, - (9780440243946)
Shauna Summers, editor

Mine Till Midnight by Lisa Kleypas
St. Martin’s Press, - (0-312-94980-4)
Jennifer Enderlin, editor

Surrender to a Scoundrel by Julianne MacLean
HarperCollins Publishers, Avon Books - (0-06-081936-7)
Erika Tsang, editor

Tempted Tigress by Jade Lee
Dorchester Publishing, Leisure Books - (0-8439-5690-9)
Chris Keeslar, editor

The Leopard Prince by Elizabeth Hoyt
Grand Central Publishing, Forever - (0446618489)
Melanie Murray, editor

The Perfect Kiss by Anne Gracie
Penguin Group USA, Berkley Sensation - (9780425213452)
Wendy McCurdy and Christine Zika, editors

2008 RITA for Inspirational Romance Finalists

A Touch of Grace by Linda Goodnight
Harlequin Enterprises, Steeple Hill Love Inspired - (978-0-373-87426-2)
Allison Lyons, editor

Autumn Blue by Karen Harter
Center Street, - (1-931722-61-7)
Christina Boys, editor

Pursuit of Justice by Pamela Tracy
Harlequin Enterprises, Steeple Hill Love Inspired Suspense - (978 0 373 44236)
Krista Stroever, editor

Rainbow’s End by Irene Hannon
Harlequin Enterprises, Steeple Hill Love Inspired - (0-373-87415-4)
Melissa Endlich, editor

Ransomed Dreams by Amy Wallace
Random House Publishing, WaterBrook Multnomah - (9781590527474)
Julee Schwarzburg, editor

Splitting Harriet by Tamara Leigh
Random House Publishing, WaterBrook Multnomah - (1590529286)
Julee Schwarzburg, editor

Taming Rafe by Susan May Warren
Tyndale House Publishers, - (1414310188)
Karen Watson, editor

When the Morning Comes by Cindy Woodsmall
Random House Publishing, WaterBrook Multnomah - (9781400072934)
Shannon Hill, editor

2008 RITA for Novel with Strong Romantic Elements Finalists

A Gentle Rain by Deborah Smith
BelleBooks, - (978-0-9768760-7-6)
Debra Dixon, editor

High Noon by Nora Roberts
Penguin Group USA, Putnam - (978-0-399-15434-8)
Leslie Gelbman, editor

Learning to Breathe by Karen White
Penguin Group USA, NAL Accent - (978-0-451-22034-9)
Cindy Hwang, editor

Odd Mom Out by Jane Porter
Grand Central Publishing, 5 Spot - (0446699233)
Karen Kosztolnyik, editor

See No Evil by Allison Brennan
Ballantine - (9780345495037)
Charlotte Herscher, editor

Silent in the Grave by Deanna Raybourn
Harlequin Enterprises, MIRA - (978-0-7783-2410-2)
Valerie Gray, editor

Sugar Daddy by Lisa Kleypas
St. Martin’s Press, - (0-312-35162-3)
Jennifer Enderlin, editor

Thief With No Shadow by Emily Gee
BL Publishing, Solaris - (978 1 84416 469 1)
Mark Newton, editor

2008 RITA for Paranormal Romance Finalists

Dead Girls Are Easy by Terri Garey
HarperCollins Publishers, Avon Books - (978-0-06-113615-3)
Erika Tsang, editor

Demon’s Kiss by Maggie Shayne
Harlequin Enterprises, MIRA - (0-77832497-4)
Leslie Wainger, editor

Games of Command by Linnea Sinclair
Bantam Dell Publishing Group, Spectra - (978-0-553-58963-4)
Anne Groell, editor

He Loves Me, He Loves Me Hot by Stephanie Rowe
Grand Central Publishing, Forever - (0446619019)
Melanie Murray, editor

Lover Revealed by J.R. Ward
Penguin Group USA, Signet, Onyx - (978-0-451-41235-5)
Kara Ceseare, editor

Prince of Magic by Linda Winstead Jones
Penguin Group USA, Berkley Sensation - (978-0-425-21448-0)
Christine Zika/ Wendy McCurdy, editor

Raintree: Haunted by Linda Winstead Jones
Harlequin Enterprises, Silhouette Nocturne - (0-373-61764-X)
Leslie Wainger, editor

Touch of Darkness by Christina Dodd
Penguin Group USA, NAL - (0451221842)
Kara Cesare, editor

2008 RITA for Regency Historical Romance Finalists

Blackthorne’s Bride by Shana Galen
HarperCollins Publishers, Avon Books - (978-0-06-112497-6)
May Chen, editor

Claiming the Courtesan by Anna Campbell
HarperCollins Publishers, Avon Books - (978-0-06-123491-0)
Lucia Macro, editor

Lord of Scandal by Nicola Cornick
Harlequin Enterprises, HQN - (9780373772117)
Kimberley Young, editor

The Secret Diaries of Miss Miranda Cheever by Julia Quinn
HarperCollins Publishers, Avon Books - (0061230839)
Lyssa Keusch, editor

Untouched by Anna Campbell
HarperCollins Publishers, Avon Books - (978-0-06-123492-7)
Lucia Macro, editor

2008 RITA for Romance Novella Finalists

“Angel and the Hellraiser” in Demon’s Delight by Vickie Taylor
Penguin Group USA, Berkley Sensation - (978-0-425-21381-0)
Cindy Hwang, editor

“Born in My Heart” in Like Mother, Like Daughter by Jennifer Greene
Harlequin Enterprises, Harlequin NEXT - (0-373-88134)
Melissa Jeglinski, editor

“Christmas Cravings” in Holiday with a Vampire by Maureen Child
Harlequin Enterprises, Silhouette Nocturne - (0-373-61776-3)
Melissa Jeglinski, editor

“Christmas Day Family” in A Western Winter Wonderland by Cheryl St. John
Harlequin Enterprises, Harlequin Historical - (0373294670)
Ann Leslie Tuttle, editor

“Eternity in Death” in Dead of Night by Nora Roberts
Penguin Group USA, Putnam - (978-0515-14367-6)
Leslie Gelbman, editor

“Fallen Angel” in A Western Winter Wonderland by Jenna Kernan
Harlequin Enterprises, Harlequin Historical - (0-373-29467-1)
Ann Leslie Tuttle, editor

“Mischief and the Marquess” in Perfect Kisses by Sylvia Day
Kensington Publishing Corp., Brava - (075820941X)
Kate Duffy, editor

“On the Fringe” in Dead of Night by Mary Kay McComas
Penguin Group USA, Berkley Jove - (978-0-515-14367-6)
Cindy Hwang, editor

2008 RITA for Romantic Suspense Finalists

Die for Me by Karen Rose
Grand Central Publishing, Vision - (0446616915)
Karen Kosztolnyik, editor

Ice Blue by Anne Stuart
Harlequin Enterprises, MIRA - (0778324788)
Margaret O’Neil Marbury, editor

Ice Storm by Anne Stuart
Harlequin Enterprises, MIRA - (0778325008)
Margaret O’Neil Marbury, editor

Prime Time by Hank Phillippi Ryan
Harlequin Enterprises, Harlequin NEXT - (9780373881352)
Ann Leslie Tuttle, editor

Speak No Evil by Allison Brennan
Ballantine - (9780345495020)
Charlotte Herscher, editor

Traceless by Debra Webb
St. Martin’s Press, - (0312942222)
Jennifer Weis, editor

White Heat by Cherry Adair
Ballantine/Ivy, - (978-0-345-47644-9)
Charlotte Herscher, editor

2008 RITA for Young Adult Romance

Girl at Sea by Maureen Johnson
HarperCollins Publishers, HarperTeen - (978-0-06-054144-6)

Graffiti Girl by Kelly Parra
Simon & Schuster, MTV Books/Pocket - (141653461X)
Jennifer Heddle, editor

Leaving Paradise by Simone Elkeles
Llewellyn Worldwide, Flux - (978-0-7387-1018-1)
Andrew Karre, editor

Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr
HarperCollins Publishers, HarperTeen - (978-0-06-121465-3)
Anne Hoppe and Nick Lake, editors

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Seressia March 24th, 2008

My leisurely get-writing-done weekend turned into a too-busy-with-drama weekend and lots and lots of people. The lovely Emma Petersen asked me to blog for Divas of the Dark today and I said sure, and that I’d send the post Saturday night. She got it Sunday at 9 PM or so. Lucky for me, she didn’t tell all and sundry that I’m a hypocrite and the blog post is up today as scheduled. I’m talking about my love of paranormal romance–and I’m giving away a copy of Dream of Shadows or a copy of Vegas Bites Back. Go forth and comment–you have until midnight tonight!

And snow again today. In Atlanta. After it was 65 degrees yesterday. It’s a sign of the Apocalypse, I tell ya.

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Seressia March 20th, 2008

Let me start with a confession: my first crush was on Bruce Lee. The movie was Enter the Dragon, and my mom took us kids to the Rialto theater in downtown Atlanta to see it. I’ve been hooked ever since.

Now I love Jet Li and Jackie Chan. And April 18th, I get to see them both in a movie, called The Forbidden Kingdom. Happy Spring for me!

PS: Speaking of spring, I’m blogging over at Blogging in Black today. Look for my post entitled “The Call of the New”. and comment if you can. I’ll be going on a writing vacation tomorrow (checking into a hotel for the weekend, coming out with an edit, a novella, and a couple of proposals, I hope. And a blog post for Divas of the Dark.) Here’s hoping your weekend is a happy and productive one!

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Seressia March 15th, 2008

I haven’t posted in a bit, so I thought I’d see if anyone would like to read the prologue to Dream of Shadows. Instead of posting it on the blog or my website, I thought I’d make a handy-dandy PDF for you to download and read at your pleasure.

To download a copy of the prologue, just follow this link.

Happy Reading!

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Seressia March 10th, 2008

Is it okay for me to hate on the Pussycat Dolls for looking that damn good in the middle of the ^$#@! Iraqi desert?

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Seressia March 10th, 2008

So all this weekend while I was dosing up on store-brand Advil for my ear pain, I could have just been drinking tap water instead.

Hey, Atlanta’s better off than most. We only have acetominiphen, caffeine, and something called cotinine. According to Wikipedia, continine,

…is used to measure the grade of tobacco smoking, but might also improve mental function.

So really, Atlantans should be some smart, perky, pain-free folks, doncha think? Course, to hear some say it, most of our water’s going to Alabama and Florida anyway.

Let’s not even talk about the tornado on Friday, the snow on Saturday, and the sunny and 70 on Sunday here in Atlanta.

Just when I think I can deal, the Vatican releases a new set of sins:

He cited “violations of the basic rights of human nature” through genetic manipulation, drugs that “weaken the mind and cloud intelligence,” and the imbalance between the rich and the poor.

This is a very wide net. There’s good and bad with genetic testing. When I was on Zoloft, my brain felt like oatmeal, but I know it helps many others. Maybe he means pot instead.

But I do think this means those millionaire political refugees from Nigeria who want me to launder their money are going to hell.

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